Yang Xiu waited for a while and then said: "However, etiquette is acquired. The difference is only in the order. As long as you are willing to study and learn, there is nothing you can't learn. After your Majesty defeated Li Jue, he accepted his old ministry and sent Confucian scholars as
Teacher, teach soldiers etiquette."
Ma Teng had already given up, but after hearing Yang Xiu's words, he suddenly became hopeful again.
"Is this happening?"
Yang Xiu smiled. "The general doesn't know something, and I am one of them. I gained your majesty's trust and offered wine as a teacher. I first taught the soldiers in the camp of General Yang Ding. Now that everyone can act independently, I am free to serve as an envoy."
"
Ma Teng was surprised and happy.
Yang Xiu was of noble birth, and he was the teacher appointed by the Emperor to offer wine. Ma Chao and Yang Xiu hit it off instantly. This was an opportunity that fell from the sky.
Ma Teng had a plan in mind and became more enthusiastic about Yang Xiu.
Yang Xiu didn't get what he asked for, so he asked Ma Teng for advice on the situation in Liangzhou.
Speaking of Liangzhou, Ma Teng was filled with emotion and let out a long sigh.
"Does your servant know the story of Duke Duan's defeat of the Eastern Qiang in Lingwu Valley?"
Yang Xiu had heard Jia Xu say something, but he really wanted to hear what Ma Teng had to say again. "I dare to ask for advice."
Ma Teng pointed around with the riding whip in his hand. "This large area of land has been the territory of the Han people since Meng Tian opened the border. There were many famous generals who guarded the county. The flying general Li Guang served as the prefect of the county twice. The capital of this dynasty was Luoyang.
There are many people in Guandong who are governors. But they are good at making money, but they are not equipped with enough weapons. This place has gradually become the territory of Qiang and Hu."
Ma Teng sighed quietly. "Baima Tong was moved from Xiutuze in recent decades. Before that, this place was the territory of the Qiang people. Duan Gong fought hard for two years and put down the Qiang rebellion.
Here comes White Horse Copper again. Today I defeated White Horse Copper, but tomorrow I don’t know which tribe will come here to graze.”
Yang Xiu looked around and thought for a moment. "The prefectures and counties of the Han Dynasty should be controlled by our Han Dynasty. How can we allow the Qiang and Hu to herd horses?"
Ma Teng turned to look at Yang Xiu. "Servant, can the imperial court have such determination? For the Qiang and Hu, this is a treasure. But for the imperial court, this may be a burden. Each of them requires a lot of support from the inner county.
Only money and food can sustain it.”
"Why can the Qiang and Hu people be self-sufficient, but the Han people cannot?"
The corner of Ma Teng's mouth twitched, thinking that after all, this kid is just a well-dressed kid who doesn't know the hard work in the world.
"How can the Han scholar-officials be willing to endure the hardships of the Qiang and Hu people? Not to mention anything else, how many of them are willing to ride on a horse like a servant? Who is not cheering in front and supporting behind, with a guide in front and a leader behind?
Official."
Yang Xiu was thoughtful.
Tushen Jersey.
Ma Chao reined in his mount, raised his hands, and clenched his fists.
The knights following him stopped one after another and looked at Ma Chao in confusion.
After marching in the desert for several days, everyone was exhausted and their reactions became a little sluggish. Not far ahead was Tu Shenze, and they just wanted to drink water, drink their horses, and replenish their fluids.
Not having water to drink is even more unbearable than not having food to eat.
Ma Chao turned around, called Pang De, and pointed in the direction of Tu Shenze in the distance. "Take a few people to have a look. I feel something is wrong."
Pound responded, led two knights, and rushed forward.
Ma Chao dismounted and ordered everyone to drink the last of the water, eat as much solid food as possible, feed the horses, and prepare for battle.
Most of them had run out of water and could only eat dry food. However, they still obeyed the order and tried their best to swallow the unpalatable dry food.
Fights may happen at any time, and if they don't replenish their physical strength in time, they may not be able to persist until the end.
The more you eat, the more chance you have of survival.
Although they haven't seen the shadow of the enemy and there are no signs of danger, they trust Ma Chao's beast-like intuition.
Pang De rode his horse for several miles, and the humidity in the air became thicker and thicker.
After turning around a sand dune, a large swamp appeared in front of us, with rippling water.
Pound glanced around and whispered to a knight beside him to take off the water bag from his waist and let him get water.
Another knight also took off the water bag and handed it to his companion. At the same time, he adjusted the bow bag on his waist to the appropriate position, ready to draw arrows at any time.
The knight took it, rode forward, came to the water's edge, turned over and dismounted, and while watching the surroundings warily, he threw three water bags into the water, held the water in both hands, and took a big sip.
The water gurgled into the water bag, and the war horse lowered its head and took a gulp of water.
There was silence all around.
The knight finished drinking the water, put away the three water bags, remounted his horse, returned to Pound, and handed the water bags over.
"Sima, there's something wrong. It's too quiet."
Pang De did not take the water bag and looked around. "Go back first and report to the Major General."
"Here." The knight responded, took three water bags, and rode off.
Pound and another knight rode their horses to the water's edge and let the horses drink. He glanced around, while the knight kept looking back until his companion disappeared behind the sand dunes.
After less than half an hour, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance. Ma Chao and his men appeared behind the sand dunes. The team dispersed and rushed to the water's edge.
For a moment, the waterside became lively, with people shouting and neighing.
Pang De rushed to Ma Chao and grabbed the horse's rein. "General?"
Ma Chao laughed, turned over and dismounted. "Don't worry, I've already given the order. Ling Ming, who do you think it will be?"
Pound shook his head.
It was also his first time here, so he was not familiar with the situation here and did not know what tribes there were around.
"I guess they are from Xianbei."
"Xianbei people?"
"Yeah." Ma Chao nodded confidently. "After the Qiang people were defeated by Duan Gong, the Huns moved south to the Lingzhou area, or eastward, to Xihe and Shangjun. There are very few left in this area. Xianbei
The people took advantage of the situation and occupied the Huns' old territory. They are the only ones who dare to ambush me here."
"What about the tribe of White Horse Copper?"
"Either they were scared away by me, or they defected to the Xianbei people." Ma Chao curled his lips disdainfully. "These people have no loyalty to speak of. Today they will vote for you, tomorrow they will vote for him. Whoever is stronger will follow whoever is stronger."
Pang De did not answer Ma Chao's words and pointed to the west. "I will lead people to guard. General, please be careful."
Ma Chao was very satisfied and waved his hand, indicating to Pang De to help himself.
There is a mountain to the west. According to the map and the confessions of the Huns captives, there should be Cockcrow Fort, but it is already deserted. Whether it is Xiutugehu or Xianbei, if there is an ambush, it is most likely to come from that direction.
Pound led a group of bodyguard knights and rushed to the west side. Just after running two miles, he saw a group of cavalry galloping towards them.
Pound took his time and rode his horse up the sand dune nearby, blowing the warning horn.
The horn sounded loudly. Ma Chao and others beside Tu Shenze heard the warning and immediately took action, mounted their horses and prepared to fight.
They never relaxed their vigilance and maintained their formation. As soon as people got on their horses and started to accelerate, they entered a fighting state.
The only surprise was that Pound's warning horn sounded longer than they expected.
This showed that the attacking enemy was more numerous than they expected, at least 10,000 horsemen.
In an instant, countless pairs of eyes looked at Ma Chao.
They had less than a thousand horses, and they had just crossed the desert. They were stranded and out of horses. Facing ten times the enemy, everyone felt a little panicked.
Ma Chao raised his spear, waved it twice in the air, and pointed forward.
"Flying Geese Array"
The messenger blew the horn. The cavalry quickly gathered behind Ma Chao, connected end to end, forming a slender formation like the neck of a wild goose, like an arrow leaving the string, facing the opponent.