"My third brother-in-law's younger brother is here?"
Zhao Chenhan was very surprised when he got the news.
"Let's go see him."
Zhao Chenhan found Ma Changshan.
Ma Changshan laughed: "Prince Zhao, long time no see."
Although Ma Changshan is a few years older than Zhao Chenhan, Zhao Chenhan's status is so important that Ma Changshan has to be polite.
"Why is Brother Changshan so polite?"
Zhao Chenhan was a natural person and said with a smile, "Could it be that we haven't seen each other for a few years and we've become unfamiliar?"
"Ha ha."
Ma Changshan felt relieved.
I hope Zhao Chenhan hasn't changed.
Ma Changshan asked, "Are you okay here?"
"not good."
Zhao Chenhan said angrily, "Those unruly people were just trying to collect a few things to help His Majesty build a garden, but they were so violent and rebellious that I haven't even finished it yet."
Ma Changshan said, "I will lead my troops to help you after I have quelled the rebellion."
Zhao Chenhan was overjoyed: "Thank you, Brother Ma. I want to go with you."
"Come with me?"
Ma Changshan frowned, then relaxed. "Alright. You're the son of a general, having been personally taught by Lord Zhao since childhood. Your military strategy is undoubtedly superior. Just bear with it for now and serve as my follower. When you quell the rebellion and return to the capital, I'll take the credit for you."
Zhao Chenhan quickly said, "Thank you, second brother. Why did you only give me a deputy general? What merits did Yang Nantian have to climb over my head?"
Ma Changshan said angrily: "He is a powerful eunuch's man."
Zhao Chenhan's eyes turned, and he leaned closer to Ma Changshan and said in a low voice, "Why not let him die at the hands of the rebels?"
Ma Changshan was startled.
Zhao Chenhan said, "As long as he's alive, Second Brother will always be a deputy general. Even if he gets credit for suppressing the rebellion, it won't go to you. Don't you want to be given the title of general like Third Brother's husband?"
Zhao Chenhan's third brother-in-law, Ma Changshan's eldest brother Ma Changda, was awarded the title of General Dingyuan for his meritorious service in battle.
This is a real titled general, one of the most famous in the entire Daqi Dynasty.
Even though the civil family is noble and the military family is humble, the Ma family is still a powerful family.
Ma Changshan naturally wanted to too.
After much thought, Ma Changshan gritted his teeth and said, "Alright! Once he dies, I can take over the army. If you make some contributions, I will definitely give you some military merit."
The discussion has been finalized.
Zhao Chenhan brought his men to join Ma Changshan's army.
Ma Changshan led a vanguard of 3,000 men, responsible for investigating the enemy situation and clearing the way.
"I've heard about Kulong Mountain. The mountain range stretches for dozens of miles and there are so many caves that even the local veteran hunters might get lost."
Ma Changshan looked troubled: "If those rebels stay in hiding, it will be difficult to fight them."
Zhao Chenhan smiled slightly: "I know that Second Brother has this concern, and I have been prepared for it."
"Oh?" Ma Changshan was surprised: "What did you prepare?"
"I have a secret guard gifted by my mother. I've already sent him out to gather information. When he returns, we can go straight to Huanglong... Here he comes."
A secret guard came back in a hurry and handed a map to Zhao Chenhan: "Thank goodness you have fulfilled your mission."
"good!"
Zhao Chenhan handed the map to Ma Changshan and said, "This is the rebels' hideout and their troop deployment."
Ma Changshan was delighted: "If it succeeds, you will be the first to take credit."
Zhao Chenhan said modestly, "The first achievement naturally goes to you, second brother. I'm satisfied with just a little military merit. Should we go first, or wait for Yang Nantian to come?"
"Humph! Just a bunch of bandits. The three thousand men under my command are enough. No need to tell Yang Nantian."
Ma Changshan shouted, "Go straight ahead, quell the rebellion, and return to the capital as soon as possible to ask for your reward."
"Second brother is brave." Zhao Chenhan praised.
Ma Changshan hesitated for a moment and said, "Don't follow me. Be careful of the sword."
Zhao Chenhan laughed and said, "Second brother, you underestimate me. Although I have never been on the battlefield, I have learned a lot from my father. I am just a bandit. With you here, how can you kill me?"
Ma Changshan laughed loudly: "Haha, you are worthy of being the prince of Zhenbei Marquis Mansion. Let's go, today, you and I brothers will join forces to make meritorious deeds."
Zhao Chenhan smiled.
Zhao Lin, Zhao Lin, so what if you leave before me?
The matter of the Flower and Stone Gang is almost done. When I make more military achievements, I will surely receive various rewards.
You, just stay in your post as the prefect of Qingzhou.
Yang Nantian led the army forward slowly.
It is more than thirty miles away from Kulong Mountain.
"Report!"
A messenger came to Yang Nantian, dismounted and knelt: "General, General Ma has been ambushed. Please go and rescue him as soon as possible."
"Oh! It's really the young master of the capital, even worse than the rebels."
Yang Nantian looked disdainful and asked, "What's going on?"
The messenger said, "General Ma underestimated the enemy and entered their territory, falling into an ambush. He is currently fighting desperately. Please come to his rescue as soon as possible."
"Damn it!"
Yang Nantian cursed and ordered, "The cavalry will follow this general at full speed to rescue their comrades. The others will follow."
Of the 20,000 troops, excluding the 3,000 people taken away by Ma Changshan and the 3,000 people responsible for logistics, there were 14,000 people left, including only 2,000 cavalry.
Yang Nantian led two thousand cavalrymen and rushed to Kulong Mountain, but because it was a mountainous area, it was not suitable for cavalry combat. He had no choice but to dismount and fight on foot. He barely repelled the rebels and rescued the remaining soldiers.
In just a short while, five or six hundred of the three thousand people were lost, and the rest were all injured and their morale collapsed.
Yang Nantian shouted, "Where's Ma Changshan? Tell him to get out here!"
These are all his soldiers.
Fighting a rebel army, no, they were not rebels at all, at most they were bandits, but Ma Changshan killed so many of them.
It is not certain whether the remaining ones dare to go to the battlefield again.
What a damn thing!
"General Yang, Second Brother Ma, and General Ma died in battle!"
A miserable voice responded.
"What?"
Yang Nantian was shocked.
Although he was very dissatisfied with Ma Changshan.
But I didn't want him to die.
Yang Nantian looked at the young man in front of him and shouted, "Who are you?"
Zhao Chenhan bowed and said, "I am Zhao Chenhan, the heir of the Zhenbei Marquisate, and the current Tongzhi of Qingzhou."
Yang Nantian immediately understood who was in front of him.
Who doesn't know the name of Zhenbei Marquis Mansion?
Yang Nantian's expression softened and he said, "Tell me in detail."
Zhao Chenhan said, "We were ordered to search for the rebels. We thought we had found their lair and wanted to report back to the general, but we were ambushed along the way. General Ma was tragically shot and killed. Before he died, he entrusted his army to me, so we managed to hold out until the general arrived."
Yang Nantian sneered in his heart.
What did he mean by going back to report to me? He probably found the rebels' lair and wanted to take all the credit for the military achievement, but he didn't expect to be ambushed.
Ma Changshan was just a minor general, so he died.
But his brother is General Dingyuan, so he must find a good excuse to avoid implicating himself.
Yang Nantian looked at Zhao Chenhan and said, "Fortunately, Zhao Tongzhi was here, which prevented the front army from collapsing. I will report the truth to Your Majesty and commend Zhao Tongzhi for his achievements."
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