Plan to cut off the nine states

There are still thirty miles away from the border of Liangzhou, with desolate fields and rugged roads. Ma Touqing is still drunk and is swaying on the horse, but it is still stable and shows no sign of falling off. Occasionally, he looks up and glances at Xu, who is not far ahead. foundation, make sure people are still there.

The team marched relatively slowly, only covering 20 miles in nearly two hours. It was getting late, and Ma Tou Qing had woken up from seven to eight minutes of wine, so he urged everyone to go faster.

In a hidden path ahead, a series of gongs suddenly sounded, and then a large group of people came out, whistling incessantly.

The few guides left by Yang Meng's army were shocked. They turned around and galloped towards Ma Touqing, shouting something. One of them said in Central Plains dialect: "Bandits! There are robbers!"

Chang Yan was startled, "There are robbers in a place like this?"

"The world is in chaos and bandits are everywhere. Where are they not seen?" Xu Chu was not surprised.

Ma Touqing was one of the twenty-four heroes, and his reputation was not unearned. He was shocked when he first heard the news. He immediately woke up and was completely drunk. He touched his bow and loudly ordered more than a hundred soldiers to fight.

The bandits had the advantage in numbers, but they fought in an unorganized manner. They had long been accustomed to the business travelers either fleeing or surrendering after the sound of a gong. They did not expect that the other party would launch a counterattack, and it was a very effective counterattack.

Ma Touqing fired several arrows in succession, and the two robbers fell down at the sound. The remaining robbers quickly shouted slanderous words at each other, turned around and ran away. After running for dozens of steps, they turned back and shot arrows from a distance. They took turns speaking in Central Plains dialect and He Rong dialect. Threats were issued, ordering them to keep the money from selling the goods, and the demands were gradually lowered, and finally they only needed a silver ingot to maintain their face.

When Ma Touqing encounters a battle, he becomes full of energy. Even the horse he dismounts has three points more strength than usual. He carries his master like lightning and takes the lead, pressing against the enemy.

Two more bandits fell off their horses. Although only four people were lost, the morale of the bandits dropped by 99%. Someone leaned down to pick up an arrow from the ground and said loudly: "Thanks!" It was considered a robbery. If you get something, you won’t leave empty-handed.

With this thanksgiving, the robbers fled into the wilderness, running in all directions to get rid of their enemies, and afterwards they found a rendezvous point.

Ma Touqing was commanding and pursuing at the same time. He wanted to kill as many enemies as possible. To him, the identity of the opponent was not important. If he dared to provoke, it would be a capital offense.

It wasn't until he finished shooting two pots of more than twenty arrows that Ma Touqing stopped, whistled, called back his soldiers, and counted the results and losses.

The robbers left behind more than a dozen corpses and seven or eight injured people, all of whom were killed with one last blow.

Ma Touqing was still full of enthusiasm. If he hadn't still had a heavy responsibility, he would have chased further. Soon, he regretted his recklessness and became angry.

No one of He Rong's cavalry was injured, but two men were missing. The two Central Plains men actually took advantage of the chaos and escaped.

Ma Touqing scolded several of his men and immediately turned around and chased them along the road, hoping to catch up with the two men before the sky darkened completely.

When He Rongren went to chase the robbers excitedly, Chang Yan asked Xu Chu, "Is this the time?"

Xu Chu nodded, and the two of them turned around and ran back at the same time. They looked back frequently at first, then turned a corner and then galloped.

After running for three or four miles, the two slowed down their horses and Chang Yan said: "Master, I don't think so. It's just this road, and there's not even a hiding place in the wilderness on both sides. At most, we can hold on until dawn. Gotta be caught up.”

"Pay more attention. Maybe there is a path leading to somewhere else, and you can get rid of the He Rong people."

"Well, the robbers came out of the alley. I hope we can find another one, but the He Rong people don't find it. These robbers appeared just in time... Oh my, are there another robbers ahead?"

A knight stopped on the side of the road. The sky was already dark, and only the last glimmer of light was left. It was not until he was dozens of steps away that Chang Yan realized that it was not an upright stone.

After Xu Chu received the guidance, he realized that it was a living person.

The knight saw the man and heard the sound, turned suddenly, and rode into the wilderness.

"Follow us, that's the path we're looking for." Xu Chu said.

"Is it safe? Master."

"It's safer than the Heron people."

The two followed the knight. The path was even more rugged and difficult to navigate. Many sections of the road even had no traces. Without anyone to guide them, Xu Chu and Chang Yan would quickly get lost even in the daytime.

The walk lasted for two or three hours. People could bear it, but the horses could not. For the remaining distance, the three people in front and behind had to dismount and walk.

No matter how Chang Yan asked, the man in front of him didn't respond. Late at night, he held up a torch, and the light floated in front of him to guide the way.

Xu Chu suddenly said: "Do you think the front looks like a will-o'-the-wisp?"

Chang Yan trembled, knowing that it was a living person, but his heart still beat violently, "Master, don't talk nonsense, that is obviously a human being, we all saw it."

"You saw it, but I didn't."

"I...I see it clearly." Chang Yan felt terrified and couldn't help shouting: "Those in front of me, say something!"

The "front one" still refused to respond.

I don't know what time it was, but the fire in front suddenly went out, and under the shining of the stars and moon, several figures not far away were reflected.

Chang Yan was shocked. He stretched out his hand to touch the knife, but it was empty. Only then did he remember that he had not been equipped with a weapon for a long time.

"Xu Chu?" someone asked loudly.

"General Yang?" Xu Chu replied.

A figure approached, and it turned out to be Yang Mengjun. He held his hand slightly and said, "I can only use this method to rescue Mr. Xu, and I can't let you enter the boundaries of Liangzhou."

"Are those people really robbers?"

"Well, he is also my friend, and he is willing to do me a small favor."

"This is not a small favor. Before we escaped, we saw Ma Touqing shoot down two people."

"He Rong people are indeed strong. I will make up for those brothers afterwards."

Chang Yan was surprised that Yang Mengjun was an officer and a soldier, and he was also the son of King Liang, and he actually made friends with bandits. Chang Yan didn't dare to ask.

"Thank you, General Yang. I can only repay your kindness later. Where is this place? Where does it lead to?"

"Don't worry about where it leads. Just follow me and I'll keep you safe. You can see the Golden Saint in a few days."

"Going north?"

"Um."

"Thank you for your kindness, but I don't want to go north, I want to go south."

"Where south?"

"Let's look at the situation in Hanzhou first, and then we may go to Yizhou, or we may go to Jingzhou, or we may go down the river and drive directly to Wuzhou."

"Do you want to travel around the world?"

"Travel around the world and find a true hero who can stop the He Rong people."

"The Golden Saint's plan is not feasible?"

"It's feasible, but it can only delay the Shanyu, but it can't force the Shanyu to retreat."

"Beyond the Great Wall is Shanyu's lair. His family members and treasures are all there. Shanyu..."

"The family members Shanyu cares about most are always with him, and the treasure he cares most about is the world. When he first entered the fortress, he was controlled by the adults and might be forced to withdraw his troops. Now that he has penetrated deep into the hinterland of the Central Plains, it is impossible for him to retreat. Retreat. Not only will Shanyu not retreat when the Shicheng army leaves the fortress, he will also use this news to inspire the He Rong people to take revenge."

Yang Mengjun was silent for a while, "Do you know Shan Yu very well?"

"After staying with him for so long, I can still figure out a bit of his temper even if I'm not familiar with him."

"Perhaps the true hero you are looking for is also in the north."

"Maybe it's the Golden Saint, but I've already met him. There are a few people in the south that I haven't met yet and I need to take a look."

"I heard that a true counselor knows the autumn by looking at a leaf, travels around the world without leaving the door, and knows the depths of the heroes. I have never heard of anyone who insists on meeting him like Mr. Xu."

"I'm a counselor who's running errands, and I'm different from them." Xu Chu said with a smile.

Yang Mengjun thought for a while, "Okay, it's Mr. Xu's business where to go. You make the decision yourself. There is a high probability that Ma Touqing will come after me. You will save me some trouble if you go south. I will send someone to guide you. The road becomes more and more chaotic as you go south, and I can't guarantee your safety."

"I feel so grateful to have been rescued."

"I still have to see the Golden Saint. Do you have anything to say to her?"

"The Golden Saint has Cao Shenxi to make plans and General Yang as her ally. I have nothing to say."

"I went to observe the situation and choose the opportunity to act. I didn't say that I wanted to be an ally of the World Army. You said that the Chanyu will not retreat beyond the Great Wall. What's the point of helping the Golden Saint?"

"Well, just tell her my speculation about Shan Yu. You don't need to say anything else. Let's see how she does it, and the general will make a decision."

"Okay, let's say goodbye. If Mr. Xu finds a 'true hero' in the south, I hope he can send someone to notify me so that I can see him."

"If I find this person, the whole world will know about it."

"Hey." Yang Mengjun obviously didn't believe it, so he turned and left. Soon another man came up with two horses, "Mr. Xu, please follow me."

"What is your name?"

"I am not 'Your Excellency', I am just a soldier. My surname is Ding. Mr. Xu can just call me 'Old Ding'."

The sound of horse hooves faded away, and Yang Meng's army had already led the people on the road. Old Ding said: "Master Xu, are you in a hurry? If you are not in a hurry, let's rest here for a while and let the animals eat some fodder. I'll go ahead and see if there are any He Rong people blocking the way."

"No rush."

Lao Ding left the horse behind, took off the fodder bag and water bag, and walked to inquire about the situation. Changyan fed the horse, while Xu Chu found a place to sit down and waited quietly.

It was a bit cold at night, so Xu Chu wrapped himself tightly in his robe and murmured: "Another winter is coming soon."

Chang Yan took care of the horses and came over and said, "No, when I think of the wild grass growing in Siguo Valley, it seems like a scene from a previous life."

"Haha, I have experienced too many things."

"Why don't you go north, Master? The Golden Saint and the little princess are both there."

"I've already told you why."

"But I can at least take shelter at the Golden Saint's place for a while. I don't know how much suffering I will have to endure when I go south."

"Do you miss Si Guo Gu?"

"Well, over the years, life in the valley has been the most comfortable."

"I miss it too, but once Liang Bing arrived, Si Guogu had to join the world, and a good place turned into a dangerous place. Chang Yan, I have already thought about the things and reasons that I should think about. It's time to do something, and I can't do anything anymore. I just blindly ask for shelter. I can take refuge there for a while, but what I’m afraid of right now is the word ‘temporary refuge’.”

"Well, wherever the young master goes, I will follow him, but...it's just that the Golden Saint and the little princess will be sad, and I don't know who will be sad more."

"Ha, you must underestimate the two of them..."

The sky was slightly bright, and I saw Old Ding walking from a distance. He waved and said, "It's time to leave."