Upon hearing that the person coming from the city wall was Zhang Liao, Ding Yuan immediately ordered Shi Tu Gu to stop temporarily.
He led Zhang Yang and Lü Bu on horseback to the city walls, where they faced Zhang Liao, who was riding high on the city walls, from fifty paces away.
Ding Yuan was filled with complex emotions, but his face remained expressionless.
Zhang Yang seemed lost in thought, while Lü Bu's eyes held a playful expression.
We were colleagues before. Zhang Yang, Lü Bu, and Zhang Liao were all from Bingzhou, and they all came from different places outside Yanmen Pass.
If they were to become enemies or allies, such a reunion would surely evoke a sense of melancholy.
"Wen Yuan, how have you been?"
Ding Yuan spoke first, his words tinged with affected enthusiasm: "I have come here to take over Yunzhong by order of the imperial court."
"Have you come to welcome me into the city?"
Zhang Liao stood atop the city wall and said loudly:
"My apologies, sir. I have been ordered by the Marquis to come and defend the city!"
"The Marquis is currently engaged in a fierce battle with tens of thousands of Xianbei barbarians, yet you are joining forces with the remnants of the Xiongnu to repeatedly attack the counties and prefectures that the Marquis has conquered."
"Doing this will only make your loved ones hate you and your enemies rejoice. Are you still the same person who hated foreign races like the plague?"
Last night, he led eight hundred cavalrymen to launch a surprise attack on the camp of Grand Tutor Murong Hu of the Xianbei army, intimidating the Xianbei people.
Early the next morning, Zhang Liao led his 5,000-strong spear battalion to Shaling, appearing before Ding Yuan launched his attack on the city.
According to Yao Guangxiao's plan, Zhang Liao only needed to hold off Ding Yuan for five days.
Five days later, the imperial court will surely send an urgent message to Ding Yuan, ordering him to withdraw his troops and be transferred away from Bingzhou.
At the same time, Dong Zhuo will try his best to get this matter settled as soon as possible!
During these five days, the two Xianbei armies from Shuofang and Wuyuan will also pursue Zhou Qing, the cavalry commander of 1,000 troops stationed in Xi'an Yang, Wuyuan, cross the Barbarian Valley, and come to Yunzhong to join forces with Tuoba Gao.
Meanwhile, the 7,000 troops of Li Su and Pugu Huaiyu, who had been tasked with blocking Helang, continued to block the Manyi Valley shortly after the Xianbei army left, together with the militia of Wuyuan County left behind by Xue Rengui.
Pugu Huaiyu's Doyan Three Guards, a force of two thousand men, marched along the south bank of the Yellow River and launched a surprise attack on Linrong, the capital of Shuofang County!
Yao Guangxiao's plan for Liu Wei was to completely resolve the issue of the three counties south of Yinshan, making Liu Wei's title of Marquis of Yinshan truly deserved.
And Liu Wei's fiefdom, Shuofang Wuyuan City, should also welcome its official master!
At this moment, Zhang Liao's words made Ding Yuan's old face turn red, and then he shouted:
"Wen Yuan, you're too young. What do you know about the power struggles in the imperial court?"
"Get out of the way immediately, don't obstruct my troops from entering the clouds."
Zhang Liao immediately shouted:
"My lord, do you know what the Marquis is doing right now?"
“He is truly driving out the foreign tribes here and recovering the four prefectures of Yunzhong. He said he would also fight his way to the southern and northern deserts and even the Western Regions.”
"He wants us to inscribe our names on Yanran Mountain, seal the wolf's lair, and drink from the vast sea..."
“Fengxian, didn’t you always tell me that one day we would drive out the foreign tribes here and fight our way back to our homeland!”
"Just a few days ago, our cavalry reached Linwo and Jiuyuan! Once we drive out the Xianbei, this place will be back in our arms!"
"And Uncle Zhi, do you know how glorious it was when we led our troops into Cloud City five days ago!"
"Last night, I led eight hundred men and raided the Xianbei camp. It was so exhilarating!"
"......"
Zhang Liao spoke with great enthusiasm, "My lord, you are the wise ruler I admire, and I would follow you to the death!"
Yunzhong and Jiuyuan are their hometowns!
Upon hearing Zhang Liao's words, Zhang Yang and Lü Bu had different thoughts.
"Don't listen to his nonsense. He thinks he can conquer the Western Regions? Dream on!"
"He is a thorn in the side of the General and the Empress, and they want to get rid of him as soon as possible."
"The more trouble he causes, the more trouble he'll attract; he'll die sooner or later!"
"I have always cherished talent, and my door is always open to you!"
"Once I become the governor of Bingzhou, I will forgive and forget and make you the chief clerk of the governor's office."
Before Ding Yuan had even become the governor, he was already making empty promises.
Lu Bu frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face. Wasn't it agreed that he would be promoted from Chief Clerk to Commandant?
Why are you now making promises to someone who betrayed you in the past?
When Zhang Liao heard Ding Yuan trying to tempt him with an official position, he couldn't help but shake his head secretly.
I previously thought Ding Yuan also had the ambition to expel foreign tribes, but in the end, it turned out he was only after power.
Compared to the Marquis, their vision and level of understanding are worlds apart.
The last shred of goodwill she felt for Ding Yuan vanished completely.
"Wen Yuan, listen to my last piece of advice: following this Marquis of Yinshan will only lead to your downfall!"
"Don't think that just because he recruited some soldiers and used the Hu people to defeat the Xiongnu outside the pass, he can act with impunity. These are useless."
"Does he dare to rebel and defy the entire Han Dynasty?"
Ding Yuan thought he understood the current situation of the imperial court.
Previously, due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the General was temporarily unable to attend to matters outside the Great Wall.
Now that the Yellow Turban Rebellion has been quelled, He Jin immediately has time to deal with Liu Wei's affairs.
Furthermore, He Jin and Empress He have now seized control of the court, and Emperor Ling of Han is being manipulated by them like a puppet.
Even though Liu Wei is a prince and a marquis, it's still up to the siblings to decide whether to send troops to attack!
Even if the imperial court sent its best troops, Liu Wei would be more than capable of dealing with the combined forces of Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo.
Liu Wei's idea of defying the imperial court with only four prefectures, less than 200,000 people, and 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers is simply delusional.
If Liu Wei dares to rebel, I guarantee he won't even be able to get into Yanmen Pass!
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
