(The fourth update today, making up for yesterday’s)
Tianshui County, Jicheng.
The wind and sand are gathering withered grass, the sky is gray, and in early spring in the northwest, it is still freezing and making people shiver.
In the wilderness in the city, countless corpses were lying on the ground. The wild dogs were enjoying this rare meal, while the women were crying and searching for the cold corpse of their husbands among the corpses.
The cries of women and the excited barking of wild dogs mixed together and echoed on the battlefield where the war still lingered.
Several skinny old men, carrying their sons who died in the battle, staggered on their way back to Jicheng.
The majestic Ma Chao galloped at the front. When he saw civilians blocking the way, he raised his whip and shouted: "You untouchables with no eyes, get out of here."
The old man was deaf and blinded. He just walked forward with tears streaming down his face, but he was completely unaware that a group of cavalry was coming from behind.
Ma Chao looked angry, but he didn't rein in his horse. Instead, he whipped his whip fiercely and continued to run forward.
The war horses galloped past, knocking the old men away and falling heavily to the ground. However, Ma Chao did not even blink and rode straight into Jicheng.
He rode his horse and galloped all the way to the county mansion.
In the lobby, Ma Teng sat high up, while his cousin Ma Dai and the other brothers lined up on both sides.
Ma Teng held a letter in his hand and turned it over, his eyes flashing with a different look than usual, as if he was weighing something.
Ma Chao strode forward, cupped his hands and said, "I wonder if my father is calling my son back urgently. What's the hurry?"
"Your sister has a letter, please read it." Ma Teng raised the letter in his hand.
younger sister?
Ma Chao was stunned for a moment. He didn't react for a moment, as if he had forgotten that he had a biological sister.
When he came to his senses, he couldn't help but look strange, and he quickly took the letter and read it.
It was indeed a letter written by my sister Ma Yunlu. In addition to reporting that they were safe, the letter also said a lot of good things for Yan Liang and persuaded his father not to go shopping with Han Sui anymore. He should abandon the old grudges and join forces with Yan Liang.
Come and deal with Cao Cao together.
After reading this letter, Ma Chao's eyebrows slightly furrowed, "How did my father get this letter from my sister?"
Ma Teng stroked his beard and said, "It was Yan Liang who sent a messenger named Yi Ji to deliver this letter. He also lobbied hard to persuade his father to stop enmity with Han Sui, and the three families joined forces to deal with Cao Cao.
.”
"Then what does Commander-in-Chief think of this matter?" Ma Chao asked.
Ma Teng sighed, "What Yi Ji said makes sense. Now think about it carefully, we did fall into Cao Cao's trick to attack Yan Liang. If not, our Ma family's strength would not be the same."
If we are weakened to this point, Han Sui will not take advantage of his strength to attack, and in the end our Ma and Han armies will not be forced by Cao Cao to retreat to Longyou."
Ma Teng finally understood, and his resentment towards Cao Cao was revealed in his words.
After hearing his father's words, Ma Chao calmed down and gradually cleared his mind. He began to realize that perhaps, as his father said, this was Cao Cao's conspiracy from beginning to end.
After pondering for a long time, Ma Chao said: "I heard what my father said, and I probably want to agree to Yan Liang's proposal. I think it's not impossible. I'm just afraid that old man Han Sui won't agree."
"Don't worry about that. That Yiji comes from Han Sui. Han Sui has already said that as long as we are willing, he is willing to put aside his past grudges and reconcile with our Ma family."
Ma Chao fell into deep thought.
He knew very well that the Ma family and Han Sui were equally powerful. Even if they fought each other for ten more years, it would be difficult to determine the outcome.
However, Longyou and Xiliang are remote places. The more you fight, the fewer people you live in. The more you fight, the poorer you become. Life is far less comfortable than in Guanzhong. If it continues like this, it is obviously not a long-term solution.
In fact, Ma Chao had long thought about making peace with Han Sui. All he needed was a suitable excuse. Now Yan Liang's proposal just gave them both a decent step.
After weighing for a long time, Ma Chao said happily: "My father's words are reasonable, and my son agrees with my father's decision."
When Ma Chao spoke like this, the rest of the Ma family, such as Ma Dai and others, all agreed.
Ma Teng was very happy to see that all his sons agreed with his decision. He immediately ordered a banquet to be held in the evening to entertain Yan Liang's envoy Yi Ji.\\\\
At this time, Ma Dai hurriedly said: "Uncle, now that Yan Liang has proposed an alliance, we should take advantage of the opportunity to bring our little sister back to prevent her from suffering again."
"Ziyue's words make sense. Yunlu has been held captive for so long, which really made her suffer."
Ma Teng nodded slightly, ready to agree.
Ma Chao said: "Since my little sister has fallen into the hands of Yan Liang, I think that instead of taking her back, we should go with the flow and marry her to Yan Liang, and use her as an informant buried beside Yan Liang. In the future, we will defeat
After Cao Cao's death, we will have to take revenge on Yan Liang sooner or later, and then we can use my little sister as an internal agent."
Hearing this, Ma Dai's expression changed immediately and he said anxiously: "My little sister fell into the enemy's hands because she fought for the Ma family. Now she has suffered so much. If we don't take her back, we will let her go."
Serving Yan Liang, an enemy like this, wouldn’t it chill my little sister’s heart?”
Ma Chao snorted coldly, his face showing indifference.
"Since my little sister is a member of the Ma family, there is nothing wrong with making sacrifices for the interests of the Ma family. Besides, she has been in Yan Liang's hands for so long. With that guy's despicable methods, I'm afraid he has already taken the little sister as his own. Since this is the case,
So, if we leave her there, we are not doing her best good."
"Brother, you-"
Ma Chao's indifference made Ma Dai very angry. Although he was angry, he didn't know how to refute.
At this time, Ma Teng, who had been silent, sighed: "Meng Qi is right, our alliance with Yan Liang is just a temporary measure. He has killed so many of our soldiers. This revenge will be avenged sooner or later. Leaving Yun Lu behind
Yan Liang's place can be regarded as a cover-up."
When Ma Teng said this, he agreed with Ma Chao.
Although Ma Dai held a strong objection, his uncle had already spoken, so what else could he do?
In desperation, Ma Dai had no choice but to remain silent and sighed secretly.
######
Xiangyang, Military Mansion.
In the past few days, good news from each other has been spreading back, further boosting the morale of the Yan family's army.
Xu You's spy stationed in Yecheng received intelligence. It was said that Wei King Yuan Shao had not been in charge for more than a month. All major military and political affairs were entrusted to review and distribution, and Feng Ji was in charge. The generals of the various garrison guards in Yecheng were also there.
Through frequent transfers, all key generals have been replaced by troops from the Hebei faction.
News also circulated in the Wei palace that Yuan Shao had suffered a sudden stroke and fell into a coma.
The news spread like wildfire, and soon spread in the streets and alleys of Yecheng. For a time, the soldiers and civilians in the city were talking about it, and people were panicked.
There are various signs that Yuan Shao's end is approaching, and Shen Pei and others are working hard to seize power and prepare for Yuan Shang's succession.
Such information could even be obtained by Xu You, let alone Yuan Tan. From this, Yan Liang became more certain about his speculation and began to mobilize a large number of troops from Xinye and Fancheng to go south.
On this day, Yan Liang was in the military mansion discussing with his advisers how to use troops against Jiangling. An army from outside came to report that the Yi nationality had returned from Guanzhong.
Yan Liang perked up and waved his hand: "Uncle Ji is back, please invite him in quickly."
Not long after, the tired Yiji walked into the hall with a smile on his tired face and bowed his hands in greeting.
"Thank you for your hard work, please forgive me now."
Yan Liang saw signs of good news on Yi Ji's face, walked up the steps with a smile, and helped Yi Ji up before he could bow down.
"Uncle Ji, I wonder what the outcome of this trip to Guanzhong will be?" Yan Liang patted his shoulder and asked.
Yi Ji said happily: "Fortunately, Han Sui and Ma Chao have agreed to join forces."
Hearing this, Yan Liang's spirit perked up again, and everyone on the left and right showed joy when they heard this.
"Very good. Cao Cao has caused many obstacles for me. This time it is my turn to make him uncomfortable. Uncle Ji, you have done a great job this time."
Yan Liang laughed and immediately wanted to give Yi Ji a reward
At this time, Yi Ji's expression changed, and he smiled slightly and said: "My lord, there is no need to rush to reward me. Although Ma Teng agreed to the alliance, he also put forward an additional condition."
"What conditions?"
"Ahem, that's it. Ma Teng wants to betroth his daughter to the lord. Only if the lord agrees to the marriage will he agree to the alliance."
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the hall was stunned for a moment, and then they all laughed secretly.
Xu You came forward and said with a smile: "Last time, it was Cao Cao who presented his daughter, and now it is Ma Teng who is presenting his daughter. It seems that your lord is really blessed. I look forward to congratulating you on having another wife."
After Xu You made such a joke, everyone else followed suit and congratulated him, and the atmosphere in the lobby suddenly became festive.
Yan Liang was quite surprised.
You know, the situation in which he imprisons Ma Yunlu now is quite different from the situation in which he imprisoned Cao Jie.
In the previous period, Cao Cao retreated to Guanzhong and was in a disadvantageous situation. At that time, he wanted something from him, so he wanted to win him over by getting married.
But now, Yan Liang wanted to use Ma Teng to contain Cao Cao. To put it bluntly, it could also be said that he wanted something from Ma Teng.
Once the status of beg and begged was changed, Ma Teng was fully qualified to take back his daughter. However, to Yan Liang's surprise, Ma Teng not only failed to do so, but instead wanted to betroth Ma Yunlu to himself.
"To offer your daughter for nothing is to be either an adulterer or a thief..."
Yan Liangliang was sneering.
At this moment, he couldn't help but think about the scene that day, the beautiful scene of the beauty taking a bath, and the exotic and touching figure.
Thinking back to the words that Ma Yunlu said when leaving, Yan Liang could vaguely feel that this mixed-race female general of the Ma family actually had a secret crush on him.
Since you, Ma Teng, have legitimately sent your daughter to your doorstep, if I don't accept her, how can I be considered a man?
Even if you have other intentions, how can I, Yan Liang, be afraid of you?
Thinking of this, Yan Liang's heart suddenly became clear, and he laughed and said happily: "Since General Ma is so enthusiastic and wants to recruit me as my son-in-law, how can I go against his good intentions? Our Xiangyang City is also
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a lively event, so get ready and have a good drink at my wedding bar.”