The next day!

The sky is breaking into dawn.

The Hutuo River flows quietly not far ahead.

This great river, which originates from Wutai Mountain in Xinzhou, flows through the Taihang Mountains in a large S-shape, and then leaves the mountains at Puwu, entering the vast North China Plain.

The place where Liu Wei and his group camped last night, Jiumen, was a prefecture-level city during the Qin Dynasty. However, during the Han Dynasty, Jiumen Prefecture was merged into Changshan State and downgraded to a county-level city.

Today we are marching to Zhen Ding, which is the later Shijiazhuang!

The thought of meeting Zhao Zilong of Changshan, a man of unparalleled loyalty and whose martial prowess was second only to Lü Bu, filled Liu Wei with excitement.

Zhao Yun became Tong Yuan's disciple and his last student.

Liu Wei was summoned to return to Luoyang from the Hetao region. At Baitucheng outside the Great Wall in Shangjun, he encountered Zhao Yun's senior brother, Zhang Xiu, the Spear King of the North!

At that time, Zhang Xiu was surrounded by the Qiang people. It was Liu Wei who sent the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun to help him escape danger.

However, Zhang Xiu had already completed his apprenticeship and only knew that he had a senior brother, Zhang Ren, but he did not know that his master had also taken in a closed-door disciple.

Moreover, this disciple's marksmanship will far surpass that of the eldest and second eldest brothers in the future!

According to intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhao Yun has returned from his apprenticeship and is currently serving his elderly mother in his hometown of Zhen Ding. The address has been identified, and he is just waiting for Liu Wei to come and subdue him.

It is said that several years later, Zhao Yun was recommended by Changshan County and led the local militia to join Gongsun Zan.

Changshan was located in Yuan Shao's territory, and Yuan Shao had a strong and well-equipped army.

Gongsun Zan suspected Zhao Yun of having ulterior motives and asked, "I heard that everyone in Ji Province wants to submit to Yuan Shao, so why are you the only one who has seen the error of his ways?"

Zhao Yun replied, "The world is in chaos, and we do not know who the wise ruler is. The people are in dire straits. After discussion, we, the people of Changshan, have decided to follow the place that can implement benevolent governance. It is not because we want to distance ourselves from Yuan Shao and favor you, General."

Subsequently, Zhao Yun fought for Gongsun Zan in various battles. At one point, Gongsun Zan borrowed Zhao Yun to serve Liu Bei, and together they went to Xuzhou to resist Cao Cao with Tao Qian.

In his later years, Gongsun Zan's morale was dampened after the Battle of Longcou. ​​He adopted a self-preservation strategy, gradually lost the trust of his subordinates, was defeated by Yuan Shao, and was eventually trapped in a high-rise building, where he set himself on fire.

Zhao Yun did not leave until the moment Gongsun Zan set himself on fire.

About seven years after Zhao Yun left Gongsun Zan, he met Liu Bei in Ye City and began to follow Liu Bei.

Zhao Yun's life trajectory shows that he was loyal and courageous, cared deeply for the people, and was determined to follow a benevolent ruler.

Once he's with you, he'll be faithful to you forever, no matter how depraved or depraved you are.

Having learned about Zhao Yun's basic situation, Liu Wei was confident that he could persuade Zhao Yun.

"Master, when will we be able to find some equipment?"

As soon as Zhang Yan and Zhang Baiqi saw Liu Wei, they couldn't wait to ask about the equipment.

"Hehe, after crossing the Hutuo River, not far to the west, in a valley, you'll find the equipment you need!"

Liu Wei said calmly.

Last night, he spent over 300,000 gold coins from the system shop to exchange for 1,300 sets of yellow equipment, which he placed in the valley across the Hutuo River, waiting for the main force to cross the river and collect them.

Since subduing the three brothers of Taoyuan, the population has been increasing by 8 people per second, reaching 640,000 people per day.

The population has now reached over 20 million.

It's perfectly fine to spend a little bit of money casually.

"Master, is what you're saying true? Then let's cross the river quickly!" Zhang Yan exclaimed excitedly upon hearing this.

"Alright, issue the order to break camp and cross the river immediately!"

Zhang Yan and his group had crossed the river before, so they naturally knew where the water was shallow and they could cross it on horseback.

Immediately, Liu Wei summoned Wang Fangyi, Yan Da, and Tian Kai to meet Zhang Yan and Zhang Baiqi.

Last night, Tian Kai was appointed by Liu Wei as the chief clerk of the General of the North's Office, handling daily paperwork and important matters.

He never expected that Zhang Yan, the leader of the Black Mountain Army, who was famous and feared in both Zhongshan and Changshan, would actually submit to Liu Wei.

When Tian Kai learned that Liu Wei's trip was to Zhen Ding to recruit Zhang Yan's 30,000 troops and the million-strong Black Mountain Army in the Taihang Mountains, he was so shocked that he was speechless.

Shocked, their admiration for Liu Wei has reached an unparalleled level.

Such a ruler is a wise and enlightened ruler of our time!

It's a pity he's a prince born out of wedlock. If he could ascend to the throne, wouldn't Tian Kai also be a minister who helped the emperor rise to power?

It's alright, we'll just find a way to encourage him to seize the throne!

Tian Kai almost burst out laughing at what he considered a genius idea.

If Yao Guangxiao knew about Tian Kai's inner thoughts, the two would probably feel like kindred spirits.

Similarly, Zhang Yan was even more secretly alarmed.

Unexpectedly, their leader wielded such great influence that even the magistrate of Wuji County abandoned his post to serve him.

However, since Liu Wei didn't reveal his identity, Wang Fangyi, Yan Da, and Tian Kai naturally didn't expose Liu Wei's identity either, and all addressed him as their lord.

Soon, more than 1,400 riders were moving.

Since Zhang Yan was carrying 30,000 shi of grain, he left 500 men nearby to guard the grain, while the remaining 800 soldiers led Liu Wei and the guard battalion across the Hutuo River to Zhen Ding, picking up equipment along the way.

His two chieftains, Huanglong and Baibo, had sent scouts with urgent reports that Gao Lan in Zhengding City seemed to have figured out the true strength of the 30,000 Black Mountain troops outside the city.

There were only 10,000 men capable of fighting, and supplies were insufficient.

These 30,000 Black Mountain soldiers only dared to besiege the city, but dared not attack.

Gao Lan has assembled a thousand light cavalry, ready to break out of the city and shatter the encirclement of the Black Mountain Army.

After crossing the Hutuo River, it's only about 30 li (approximately 15 kilometers) from Zhen Ding.

Because the Black Mountain Army had arrived in Zhen Ding City, the people in the villages outside the city all went into hiding.

As we drove along, there wasn't a soul in the villages nearby.

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