"Fortunately, thanks to the arrival of your army, General, I was able to escape from the jaws of these barbarians. I kowtow to thank you for saving my life!"
He Jian, seeing that the young general in front of him was still young and inexperienced, thought he could be easily fooled and immediately thanked him profusely with tears streaming down his face.
This acting was so good, it would be a waste not to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor!
If a member of the Imperial Guard hadn't whispered something in Zhang Liao's ear, Zhang Liao probably would have believed what he said:
"Manager He, why are you here in this freezing cold Sheyanze instead of Luoyang?"
Zhang Liao looked at He Chang with a smile.
He Chang's smile froze instantly, and his face turned ashen.
So they knew his background!
"General, you...you've mistaken me for someone else!" He Chang still tried to argue.
Zhang Liao sneered: "How could we admit our mistake? If you tell the truth, we might spare your life. If you say nothing, then you'll become fertilizer for the Sheyan grasslands along with these Xiongnu people!"
"However, before you make fertilizer, someone will make you experience all sorts of unbearable suffering."
As soon as Zhang Liao finished speaking, two Imperial Guards stepped forward, ready to take He Chang away.
Even if the Embroidered Uniform Guard didn't have instruments of torture, they had hundreds of ways to extract confessions waiting for He Chang.
"I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Before the Imperial Guards could even arrive, He Chang collapsed to the ground, yellow liquid leaking from his crotch.
"What a coward, we haven't even used any methods on him yet!"
The two Imperial Guards immediately lost interest.
"Speak quickly!"
Zhang Liao's expression was stern, and he held his breath slightly.
This guy's urine smell is just too strong!
He Chang stammered as he told He Jin that he had been sent to Bingzhou and that Dong Zhuo had ordered the Xiongnu tribe of Shitugu to ambush Liu Wei, while he stayed behind to supervise.
As a result, Shi Tu Gu, eager for revenge, left him here.
"Completely worthless!"
Zhang Liao shook his head. He thought He Chang was probably just a pawn of He Jin, merely a messenger.
Who knows, once this is done, they might just find some excuse to kill him.
"Take him away!" Zhang Liao waved his hand.
"General, didn't you say that I would be spared if I told you?" He Chang cried out in terror.
"Of course I'll let you live!"
Zhang Liao was extremely disgusted with He Jin, who was plotting to murder his lord, and He Jin's cronies.
In his mind, anyone who dared to offend Liu Wei would be made to suffer by Zhang Liao.
"You two are in trouble. Handle the situation carefully! Remember, keep him alive. I think our lord wishes for the same thing!"
Zhang Liao said meaningfully to the two Imperial Guards.
"Hehe, General Zhang, we understand. Don't worry, we'll torture him slowly."
What!
Seeing two Imperial Guards approaching him with wicked grins, He Chang wet himself again.
......
Zhang Liao launched a night raid on the last remaining Southern Xiongnu tribes gathered at Sheyanze and wiped them out in one fell swoop.
After a night's rest, take stock of your spoils.
They beheaded or burned 7,000 Xiongnu cavalrymen and seized countless warhorses, gold, silver, cattle and sheep.
This Xiongnu tribe had 20,000 to 30,000 members. After removing the old, weak, sick, and disabled, they also gained 10,000 women and girls.
Zhang Liao's 5,000 cavalry suffered 500 light cavalry losses, while his 2,000 Beiwei soldiers escaped unscathed.
At daybreak, he dispatched a captain to lead 2,500 light cavalry to escort the spoils of war back to Guluo City.
Naturally, He Chang was also taken along.
On the Bingzhou army's side, Hua Xiong's troops retreated to inside the Great Wall on their way to Zhenlin.
Meanwhile, Niu Fu's army was located west of Baitu, about a hundred miles southwest of Sheyanze.
Therefore, Zhang Liao's cavalry escorting the spoils back should have been quite safe along the way.
However, to be on the safe side, Zhang Liao also dispatched a thousand Beiwei soldiers to escort them.
Even if Hua Xiong brought five thousand Flying Bear soldiers, he could easily deal with these thousand Beiwei soldiers.
He himself led a thousand Beiwei soldiers to Hengshan.
The Xiongnu leader of this tribe, Shi Tugu, was not present; he must have gone to participate in the siege and killing of Liu Wei.
Although Liu Wei's Yan Yun Eighteen Riders were brave and skilled in battle, the Xiongnu cavalry selected to participate in the encirclement were also the tribe's elite.
Zhang Liao, of course, wanted Liu Wei to enter Guanzhong safely.
As long as Liu Wei enters Guanzhong and raises the banner of the King of Yunzhong, no one will openly attack him.
Even He Jin wouldn't do it openly.
Hengshan Pass is the key passage into Guanzhong.
If Shi Tugu failed to surround and kill Liu Wei in Shangjun, then Hengshan Pass would be his last chance.
At the same time, only by killing Shi Tu Gu could the Xiongnu forces in Han territory be completely wiped out.
To get to Hengshan Pass, you must pass through Fushi.
Zhang Liao led a thousand Beiwei soldiers at breakneck speed toward Fushi.
......
now!
A large caravan from the Hetao region, carrying a large quantity of salt, coal, and other goods, has also arrived in Guluo City.
They were waiting for news of Zhang Liao's forces eliminating the Xiongnu so they could head south.
At this time, Guanzhong was still very cold, and the powerful families of Guanzhong would certainly not refuse coal from the Hetao region that could be used for heating.
And then there's the highly profitable salt and fine salt.
Before Lü Meng crossed the Yangtze River in disguise, merchants were protected and could travel freely within Han territory.
Aside from the possibility that foreign tribes might harbor ill intentions towards them, even Dong Zhuo and Ding Yuan would not launch an attack on the merchants.
Because merchants can bring the goods they want and also collect taxes.
The two, who are expanding their power, naturally wouldn't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Meanwhile, Yao Guangxiao also sent envoys to Jinyang to prepare for another round of negotiations with Dong Zhuo.
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