"Brother Shoucheng, I must return to Jiuyuan. I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you on the rest of the journey!"

Ma Teng looked at Lü Bu, who had come to say goodbye early in the morning, with some surprise, but quickly understood Lü Bu's thoughts.

Ma Teng then nodded, “Alright, it’s been so long since I’ve been home, I really should go back and visit. Don’t worry, Fengxian, once I get back, I will definitely recommend you to the Emperor.”

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Shoucheng. We shall take our leave now!"

"Okay, see you in Luoyang!"

"good!"

Lu Bu clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ma Teng, then mounted his horse and rode away.

"Wait a minute!!"

Lu Bu had just walked a short distance when he heard shouts from behind. He immediately reined in his horse and turned around to see Yan Jin and her brother running towards him.

"Huff huff..."

Yan Jin, who had run up to Lu Bu, looked up at him on horseback and said, "Brother Lu, would you take us with you? I want to go home too!"

Seeing Yan Jin's sincere, pleading eyes, Lü Bu's heart softened.

"good!!"

Lu Bu nodded, then pulled Yan Jin and her brother onto his horse and headed towards Jiuyuan.

Gongsun Zan stepped forward: "Brother Shoucheng, who is that person? Does he really need you to personally recommend him to His Majesty?"

"Haha~ You'll find out when he gets to Luoyang!"

Ma Teng did not answer Gongsun Zan's question, but instead laughed loudly and led his soldiers, who had already changed into their Imperial Guard uniforms, toward Luoyang.

"Hmph~ I'd like to see what he's got up his sleeve!"

Seeing Ma Teng's smug look, Gongsun Zan, who was following behind, couldn't help but sneer inwardly. He then spurred his horse forward, keeping pace with Ma Teng and refusing to fall behind in the slightest.

Inside the military tent in Jiuyuan, Zhang Huan was teasing Lü Zhen in his arms. The soldiers guarding outside the tent couldn't help but smile knowingly at Lü Zhen's giggling laughter.

Now that the Bingzhou army has had plenty of food and supplies after the autumn harvest, and their morale is high, the walls of Jiuyuan have been fully repaired. Zhang Huan has entrusted Gao Shun with the task of training new recruits. Apart from inspecting the area once a day, Zhang Huan spends his time playing with his newly adopted granddaughter, which can be described as quite pleasant.

Gao Shun was not only extremely self-disciplined, fair and just, but Zhang Huan also discovered that he had an unparalleled talent for training troops, so he greatly appreciated him and spared no effort in promoting him.

On the training ground of the Bingzhou army camp, five thousand newly recruited soldiers stood in neat rows on the open ground, holding shields in their left hands and gripping long swords tightly in their right. Each of them was exceptionally skilled and had clearly been carefully selected.

"attack!"

"drink!!"

At the front of the column, with Gao Shun's command, five thousand soldiers shouted and thrust their long swords straight forward.

"Yu!"

"Drink!!"

With another command from Gao Shun, the soldiers abruptly withdrew their longswords, slammed their shields down, and then joined them together to form a tight, seamless shield wall.

In this way, with each command from Gao Shun, the soldiers could quickly adapt to various situations, and their movements were very coordinated. Once they were tempered by the battlefield, they would soon become a rare elite force.

Just as the soldiers were training, a scout rushed to the Bingzhou camp and headed straight for Zhang Huan's tent.

Report!

"What is it?"

Zhang Huan got up, handed the baby in his arms to the wet nurse beside him, and then dismissed them.

"Reporting to the general! Dong Zhuo and his Xiliang cavalry have returned!"

"Oh? Where are they?" Zhang Huan asked.

"Twenty li north of the city!"

"It's been so long, I'm finally back!"

Zhang Huan couldn't help but sigh, thinking of how they had ventured deep into the grasslands alone, and how they had managed to return safely, but he didn't know how much hardship and suffering they had endured.

"Order all officers and soldiers to accompany me out of the city to welcome them!"

"promise!"

Zhang Huan waved his hand and walked out of the tent. After the officers had gathered, he led everyone north towards Jiuyuan City.

At this time, Dong Zhuo was leading his troops slowly toward Jiuyuan. After many days of marching, everyone was exhausted.

"General, look! We've arrived!"

The steward beside Dong Zhuo looked excitedly at the Jiuyuan city wall that appeared on the horizon.

"We're home!!"

"I'm home!!"

With Dong Zhuo's shout, the soldiers' fatigue vanished, and everyone began to cheer.

Then, led by Dong Zhuo, they rode their horses towards Jiuyuan City.

Before long, the city walls of Jiuyuan appeared before everyone's eyes, much taller and more majestic than when they left.

"Slow down!!"

Dong Zhuo spotted Zhang Huan and his men waiting at the city gate and immediately shouted.

Everyone immediately reined in their horses, halting their rapid advance, and then followed Dong Zhuo slowly toward the gates of Jiuyuan City.

"These Xiliang cavalry are indeed rare elites. Even after suddenly slowing down, they showed no signs of chaos!"

The Bingzhou army generals, led by Zhang Huan, were full of praise and envy, wondering when their Bingzhou army could also have such a cavalry.

Gao Shun, standing in the crowd, kept a close eye on Dong Zhuo and his men as they drew closer, pondering whether his trained soldiers could defeat the cavalry in equal numbers.

After mentally rehearsing the scenario several times, Gao Shun shook his head helplessly. The aura of these Xiliang soldiers was truly extraordinary, and Gao Shun's several simulations all failed.

Two hundred meters from the city gate, Dong Zhuo reined in his horse, dismounted, and led it toward Zhang Huan and the others.

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