The land of Shuzhou is full of outstanding people.
Xu Mu always believed this sentence, but his heart became even more painful. The military advisor in front of him seemed to be leaving behind his words.
"Wenlong, have you drank the medicinal soup prescribed by Dr. Wang in the past few days?"
"Drinking it, it's a bit bitter, but fortunately the puppy gave me the preserved honey." Jia Zhou smiled calmly.
"Previously, the princess told me that she planned to set up a school in the palace to teach children like Xiaowu Fu how to read. But after thinking about it, I thought that not only literacy, but also the art of war and strategy can be taught."
"My lord, you must remember that this group of villagers and the Xu family army who entered Shu are the lord's trusted family members. Their children, when they grow up, should also be my lord's soldiers."
"Wenlong, I remember. But it's past noon, so you should go take a nap. If not, I will carry you back to your room myself."
Jia Zhou stood up with a smile and was about to pick up the wooden stick, but Xu Mu approached and carefully supported him.
"Wenlong, can I ask you why... Wenlong worshiped me as his master?"
If it was a life-saving grace, in fact, after the incident, Jia Zhou could choose to leave and assist another Ming Lord.
But Jia Zhou didn't, and stayed to help him guide the country.
"My lord is a complicated person, but no matter how complicated he is, my lord has never forgotten his original intention along the way."
"What's the original intention?"
"We will not see the chaos and filth in the world, but we will create a prosperous world for all people."
Xu Mu exhaled, supported Jia Zhou, and continued to walk forward.
…
Outside Liangzhou City, the sandy wind blowing from the Gobi became more and more whimpering.
Sima Xiu hugged Shahu and sat on the ground. In front of him, Dong Wen, who had been appointed as the crown prince, had already put on a gorgeous robe and an exquisite hair crown.
"One hundred thousand troops have been gathered to unite the two states. My father's intention is to temporarily seek peace." Dong Wen's voice was deep.
"The whole world thinks that after Dong Rong's death, the eight counties of Liangzhou will no longer have the prestige of the past."
Sima Xiu raised his head and looked in front of him.
"My lord wants to go on an expedition."
"If we retreat from this battle, the army of the eight counties in Liangzhou will have low morale in the future. You have to know that in the past, when the two states were united, they were like dogs and did not dare to cross the border."
"But my lord, you are not the king of Liangzhou yet. The armies of the eight counties will not listen to you." Sima Xiu let go of his hand, and the sand fox jumped away.
"The entire Liangzhou army only has an army of 70,000 people. When the two states are united together, it already has an army of 100,000 people. It is also equipped with good horses and a mixed brigade of infantry and cavalry, which can attack and defend."
"This is not a problem. I can win the fight. Shuzhou can't see the changes clearly and won't move for the time being." Dong Wen said calmly.
"How many troops will my lord send?"
"Fifty thousand is enough."
Sima Xiu smiled and said, "As I said before, my lord has been hiding for twenty-three years, and the whole world will know about it."
Dong Wen raised his head and looked at his military advisor.
"Commander, I can't wait any longer. These 70,000 Liangzhou troops will follow me to conquer the country in the future. They cannot retreat and their morale cannot be insulted."
"Can you convince the King of Liangzhou?"
"cannot."
Sima Xiu was silent for a moment, "My lord, you should understand what will happen if someone discovers you if you take this step."
"The ancient bamboo book is written by the victor."
"Sima Xiu, I am willing to follow my lord."
Dong Wen nodded and continued expressionlessly, "One more thing. If fifty thousand Liangzhou troops go out to fight, the Qiang people may be in trouble."
"If you lend me eight thousand Liangzhou troops, no Qiang people will dare to move."
"What if it moves?"
Sima Xiu raised his head, his eyes blazing, "I will rush out of Yumen Pass and slaughter ten Qiang tribesmen to serve as a warning to others."
Dong Wen stood up with satisfaction and said, "Commander, don't hide anymore. In these troubled times, it's your turn and my turn to come out."
"Wish to follow."
"My lord, be careful all the way. If you come here alone, I'm afraid some of Dong Guang's retainers will be angry with you."
Dong Wen smiled, clasped his fists, turned around and mounted his horse.
The horses' hooves galloped on the sand, and the sandy wind stirred up by them seemed to float higher and higher, blocking the clear moon in the desert.
The sandy wind blows faster and faster, captivating people's eyes.
After Dong Wen rubbed his eyes for a while and opened them again, he discovered that seven or eight sword-carrying men holding bamboo hats were standing in the middle of the road.
"You want to kill me." Dong Wen smiled, "Well, I've been pretending to be a crybaby for so many years, and it's time for me to get bolder."
Seven or eight heroes in bamboo hats roared and jumped up from the ground, brandishing their long swords, and all rushed towards Dong Wen.
The Liangzhou horse under his crotch made a sharp long neigh.
Before the horses neighed, the first hero with a sword had his chest pierced by an arrow and fell from the air. His body was covered with sand and dust.
"Come forward!" Dong Wen smiled ferociously, abandoned his bow and picked up his spear, straightened his body, and flew out on horseback.
An ordinary iron gun stirred up bursts of gunfire. After the clashing sound, corpses fell to the ground one after another.
Seven people were intercepted and killed, and in the end, only an older man with a knife was left, coughing blood and looking at the crybaby young prince in front of him in horror.
"You know martial arts!"
"I know more things than you think." Dong Wen showed no expression as he shot the person in front of him in the chest.
Then he clapped his hands, recalled the horse, and continued to gallop towards Liangzhou City.
In Liangzhou City, the royal palace is located in the north.
Dong Teng, the king of Liangzhou, slumped powerlessly on the throne. The sadness in his eyes filled the entire palace from time to time.
"Don't say any more, and make peace with An and merge two states... Ahem, send five thousand Liangzhou horses and one hundred thousand taels of annual money, asking for peace!"
"retreat!"
When the civil servants and generals retreated, the huge Liangzhou Prince's Palace suddenly became empty.
Dong Teng closed his eyes with difficulty, raised his face, and took a deep breath. The thousand-mile horse that he had finally raised died for no reason.
Could it be that it was impossible to let that little lame horse lead the army into battle?
"Meet my father."
In a daze, Dong Teng heard the sound, looked up, and found that the little lame horse had entered the royal palace and was walking towards him.
"Wen'er, have you practiced martial arts today?"
"I'm used to it. It's windy outside and my father is seriously ill. I'll close the palace door to make my father feel more comfortable."
"Wen'er, there's no need to be like this -"
Before he finished speaking, Dong Teng opened his eyes wide, suddenly understood something, and looked at the third son in front of him in shock.
The two palace doors were closed, and there seemed to be no sound. No footsteps of the attendants were heard outside.
Dong Wen's face was cold, and his originally pitiful look turned murderous.
"My son——"
Dong Wen stretched out a hand, spread it out into a palm, and covered Dong Teng's face. He could vaguely hear waves of hoarse coughs emanating from between his fingers.
Dong Wen's face was expressionless.
He slowly closed his eyes, grabbed a glass of wine on the counter, raised his head and poured it into his mouth.
After drinking the wine, let go.
The body of King Dong Teng of Liangzhou had been slumped on the throne, and there was no sound anymore.
Turning around, Dong Wen opened his eyes, his eyes filled with burning fighting spirit.
"Father, eldest brother, and second brother are watching from the sky. This world must belong to the Dong family."
"I, Dong Wen, am the great horse of the Dong family!"
"I have been hiding for twenty-three years, and the whole world knows about it!"
"I, Dong Wen, want to be the master of the world!"
…
Seven days later, it was known all over the world that King Dong Teng of Liangzhou died of illness, and Crown Prince Dong Wen succeeded to the throne. He led 50,000 Liangzhou cavalry and sent troops out of Yinlang Pass to prepare for the attack.