Just when Zhao Yun was relaying the news of Liu Bei's self-immolation in Pengcheng as intelligence and preparing to send it to Luo Yang through Jin Yiwei, at the shore of Baima Lake thousands of miles away from Pengcheng, a small team of dozens of people was quickly walking along the lake.
Head towards the south!
When these dozens of people were about to walk out of the shore of White Horse Lake, the leader tightened the reins hard and stopped his mount. He gestured to the people behind him to signal them to stop, and at the same time looked left and right at the surrounding situation.
After confirming that there was no danger around, the rider pulled the reins, turned his horse and walked back a few steps, came to the dozens of riders behind him, clasped his fists at the rider in the center and shouted: "Lord! We are here!
It should be right here!”
After hearing this, the knight in the center stepped out from the surrounding crowd. He looked around cautiously, and after making sure everything was okay, he breathed a sigh of relief and said to the knight in front of him: "Uncle! Thank you for your hard work.
Got it!"
The general immediately clasped his fists and shouted: "This is the responsibility of the general, so why do you have to say this, my lord? My lord! The general suggested that the lord take a rest here for a while! We will be safe when the military advisor and the third general arrive!"
"
"Yes!" The rider nodded, dismounted, took off his helmet, and revealed his bright head. It was Liu Bei who should have burned himself to death in Pengcheng! The other rider also took off his helmet,
But it was Chen Dao, the strongest general under Liu Bei except Guan Yu and Zhang Fei! He threw his helmet to the soldiers behind him, and then Liu Bei walked straight to the lake, sat down directly, and sighed: "Sure enough, it's better.
I'm old! I used to just ride a horse and run around, how can I be so tired? I think back then, my second brother, third brother and the others..." When he said this in general, Liu Bei stopped, obviously mentioning Guan Yu.
At that time, Liu Bei felt a little depressed.
Liu Bei had already known that both Guan Yu and his son were killed in the battle of Shanghe City. Although Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were sworn sworn friends back then, he more or less intended to take advantage of them. But after so many years of sharing the joys and sorrows, it has passed.
If there is no emotion, it is definitely a lie! Now Guan Yu takes the first step, and Liu Bei even fails to save Guan Yu's wife in order to escape for his life. This makes Liu Bei feel happy!
Seeing that Liu Bei was in a low mood, Chen Dao immediately comforted him and said: "My lord! Don't be sad! I believe that the second general has a soul in heaven, and he will also hope that the lord can escape this disaster smoothly! As long as the lord can survive, the second general will
General, even if he dies, he will die without regrets!"
Hearing Chen Dao's consolation, Liu Bei also showed a wry smile, shook his head helplessly, and said: "Uncle Zhi, don't try to persuade me! You! Second brother! Third brother! And the military advisor! Which one of you?
Aren’t you all the same talents! If you had arrived in Western Qin, you would be many times stronger than you are now! It’s also your unlucky fate to meet a lord like me! Alas!”
"My lord, please don't say that!" Upon hearing what Liu Bei said, Chen Dao and the soldiers around him all knelt down. Chen Dao clasped his fists and shouted at Liu Bei: "It is really important for the general to meet a wise master like my lord.
This is the greatest blessing in my life! The lord's kindness to me will never be fully repaid even in the next life! I believe that the second general, the third general, and the military advisor all have the same idea!
Although my lord has suffered a setback now! But there is still a chance to make a comeback! Please don’t lose heart, lord. When the military advisor and the three generals arrive, they can naturally make plans for your lord!"
"Oh! I hope so!" Liu Bei also sighed longly. Of course he knew that these words were meant by Chen Dao to comfort him. Now Liu Bei is almost seventy! The foundation he has worked for all his life is gone in the blink of an eye.
, where does Liu Bei have time to start over now? What makes him most heartbroken is that this time, in order to escape from Pengcheng, Liu Bei even sacrificed the lives of his wife and children! Now Liu Bei is already a lonely old man. In the following days, it can be said that
There is no hope left!
Seeing Liu Bei's lonely look, Chen Dao tried to persuade him a few times, but it had no effect. In addition, Chen Dao was not a good talker in the first place, so it became more and more embarrassing to stay here. Finally, Chen Dao took a look around.
, said to Liu Bei: "My lord! Why don't I go to the front to check the situation first! See if the military advisor and others have arrived!"
Liu Bei naturally agreed to Chen Dao's request and nodded, acquiescing to Chen Dao's request. Chen Dao gave instructions to the soldiers, and then he mounted his horse and rushed forward. As for Liu Bei and others,
He didn't do anything. After coming all the way from Pengcheng, Liu Bei and the soldiers were very tired. Especially Liu Bei, who was almost seventy years old. How could his body bear the whole night's journey? Let the soldiers stand by.
while Liu Bei lay by the lake for a while.
After about three sticks of incense, suddenly, there was a sound of horse hooves coming from the east side of the lake! When the soldiers heard this, they all stood up and looked at the direction of the sound warily.
One of the soldiers immediately shouted to his companions: "Wake up my lord! The other party is not alone, not General Chen! Take cover first!"
As soon as the soldier's words were settled, the two soldiers closest to Liu Bei immediately leaned over and shook Liu Bei awake, shouting to Liu Bei: "Lord! Someone is coming! Let's hide first!"
"Huh?" Liu Bei was still sleeping just now when he was suddenly woken up by his soldiers. Before he understood what was happening, he was helped to stand up by his soldiers. Just when Liu Bei stood up, the sound of horse hooves was already heard.
It came through very clearly! Liu Bei couldn't help but trembled, and he immediately woke up. He looked around at the surrounding environment. Apart from the endless White Horse Lake, there was only a shoal, and the only woods were where the sound of horse hooves could be heard.
Direction. Immediately Liu Bei frowned and said: "There is no place to hide here! Let's take off our clothes and armor! Qiao pretends to be a passerby!"
"Here!" The soldiers immediately followed Liu Bei's orders, took off all their armor, threw it into the White Horse Lake next to Liu Bei's armor, and then put on some ordinary clothes. Fortunately,
When escaping from Pengcheng this time, everyone had to prepare some clothes, otherwise it would be really troublesome! After disguising themselves, at first glance, they really looked like passers-by on their way. Liu Bei took a deep breath and looked around
The soldiers signaled for them to sit together.
Just as they sat down, nearly a thousand riders came through the woods. Judging from the style of their clothes and armor, they were exactly those of the Western Qin Army! The two leading generals were the ones who were supposed to be stationed in Guangling at this moment.
Zhang Liao and Gan Ning!
Although Liu Bei had never met Zhang Liao and Gan Ning before, he immediately guessed their identities based on the information he had seen before. Looking at the number of people on the other side, Liu Bei couldn't help but secretly rejoice. Fortunately, he had no choice to escape like this before.
Otherwise, how could they escape the other party's pursuit with their small numbers? Liu Bei immediately winked at the soldiers on the left and right, and they all sat around motionless, pretending to rest.
Zhang Liao and Gan Ning led their army to the Baima Lake. They looked around and found only about ten people sitting by the lake. They immediately frowned. Zhang Liao said to Gan Ning: "Xingba!
Are you sure the message you got is here?"
"It can't be wrong!" Gan Ning nodded firmly and said, "This is all the information sent by the Jin Yiwei. Liu Bei and others are indeed preparing to meet Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fei here!"
"Oh!" Zhang Liao frowned and looked around again. Except for the dozen or so people dressed as passers-by resting there, no one else was seen. Zhang Liao immediately stepped forward and came.
He went to those people and shouted loudly: "Who are you? Where do you come from?"
Seeing Zhang Liao and others coming over, although the soldiers seemed to be resting on the surface, they were all extremely nervous. They tightly held the weapons hidden under their bodies and did not dare to move rashly. Liu Bei, on the other hand, lowered his head.
He looked alert, but when he raised his head, he showed a flattering smile. He stood up, bowed his hands to Zhang Liao, and said with a smile: "This general! I and others are all merchants coming from Lujiang.
I was getting ready to go to Guangling, but I was tired of traveling all the way, so I took a rest here!"
"Businessmen from Lujiang?" Zhang Liao's eyes narrowed to a slit, staring closely at Liu Bei and the soldiers around Liu Bei, and shouted in a deep voice: "They don't look like merchants, do they?"
"General, you have good taste!" Liu Bei was not panicked by Zhang Liao's sudden question, but replied with a smile: "They are all bodyguards recruited by the villain from Lujiang! The villain heard that Xuzhou is not at peace recently, and for his life
For this reason, I spent a lot of money to hire them to protect the villain all the way! These people are all very skilled charlatans!" As he spoke, Liu Bei's face showed a distressed look, as if he was sorry for spending so much money.
He was reluctant to hire an escort, and he really looked like a businessman.
"Oh?" Zhang Liao responded, but his eyes were fixed on the soldiers. From their bodies, Zhang Liao could smell a strong smell of blood. However, the other party's answer was reasonable. These days
, if you have never killed someone, how can you dare to be someone's bodyguard? Moreover, Zhang Liao also felt that if the other party had problems, why would he continue to stay here? Why didn't he run away earlier? Zhang Liao nodded immediately and said calmly.
He asked in a loud voice: "Since you are resting here, did you see anyone passing by here just now?"
Hearing Zhang Liao's question, Liu Bei's face darkened, because from Zhang Liao's question, Liu Bei keenly realized that the other party was likely to know his and Zhuge Liang's plan in advance! Could it be that someone leaked the secret? He was thinking in his heart
But Liu Bei's face had a different look, and he said innocently: "This, report back to the general! The villain has been here all the time, and I haven't seen anyone pass by yet!"