"Shopkeeper, is the Dong Sima you mentioned named Dong Zhuo?" Lu Li asked casually.
The old man paused for a moment, looked at Lu Li in surprise, and asked, "You know Dong Sima?"
It seems he guessed correctly; this person was indeed Dong Zhuo!
"Oh, I don't know him, I've only heard of him," Lu Li replied casually, then changed the subject, asking, "By the way, shopkeeper, were you referring to the Qiang people when you mentioned the foreign tribe?"
"Indeed, there are Qiang people gathered in western Liangzhou. Although their numbers are not very large, they have caused great trouble for the people of Liangzhou. In particular, in recent years, the Qiang people have frequently raided the border, robbed livestock, and burned down villages."
"And Commander Dong is the guardian deity of Liangzhou!"
When Dong Zhuo was mentioned, the shopkeeper's face showed admiration.
This kind of worship comes from the heart and is not mixed with any utilitarian purpose.
"I see."
Lu Li nodded and didn't ask any more questions. It seemed that if he wanted to understand the situation in Liangzhou, he would have to deal with Dong Zhuo.
However, he was not in a hurry. After finishing their meal, Lu Li and his two disciples arrived at the foot of the Great Wall, which was the main defensive fortification of Liangzhou.
The Great Wall stretches from Jiayuguan all the way to Liaodong. Because it is so long and thick, it looks like a giant dragon coiled in the barren desert, exuding a vast and ancient aura.
At this moment, the grassland below the Great Wall was empty, with only the occasional gust of wind stirring up clouds of yellow sand.
Lu Li stroked the mottled marks on the city wall, feeling the weight of history.
"Back then... Cangwu and others died here in battle."
Lu Li murmured to himself, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes. Cangwu and the others were besieged and killed by the Xiongnu.
Time has passed, and this area has now become part of the Han Dynasty's territory, and the Xiongnu people are mostly gone.
The wheels of history did not change. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Huo Qubing sealed the wolf's lair and defeated the Xiongnu, making them look northward.
Huo Qubing was even more ruthless than Lu Li and Meng Tian in their conquest of the Hetao region; he almost wiped out the Xiongnu.
The Xiongnu people of later generations even had songs and poems.
Losing my Yanzhi Mountain has made my women lose their beauty.
Losing my Qilian Mountains has caused my livestock to cease breeding.
This was a feat that even Lu Li couldn't accomplish, but Huo Qubing did.
Suddenly, a deep voice rang out from behind Lu Li: "How did you get up here?"
Lu Li looked up and saw the three people, including Dong Zhuo, who had been there before. The one speaking was the burly man with a full beard.
Not every section of the Great Wall is guarded, so Lu Li naturally knew where to climb it.
"Sorry, we just wanted to see the Great Wall." Lu Li said politely, cupping his hands in greeting.
He did hope to have a conversation with Dong Zhuo, perhaps he could obtain some useful information. After all, Dong Zhuo's identity was not simple.
"Hmph, you're probably spies from another race, aren't you?"
The bearded man snorted coldly, clearly not believing what Lu Li said.
"Bullshit! You are the spies of the alien race!" Dian Wei roared angrily.
Upon hearing Dian Wei's words, the burly man flew into a rage, immediately drawing his sword and slashing at Dian Wei, roaring, "I'll kill you, you barbarian spy!"
Dian Wei was not afraid at all. He drew his twin halberds and went to meet the attack.
"clang!"
The two halberds clashed, sparks flying everywhere.
Dian Wei took half a step back, while the burly man took three steps back.
The burly man was immediately startled; what incredible strength!
Such strength is probably no match for ordinary soldiers! No wonder they dared to sneak up on the Great Wall to spy.
The burly man looked at Dian Wei with a hint of apprehension, and then drew his sword again to stab Dian Wei.
Dian Wei did not dodge, but instead swung his double halberds to meet the attack.
"Clang clang clang..."
The two instantly became entangled in combat, their blades flashing and halberds clashing, the clanging of metal against metal echoing throughout, causing Dong Zhuo, who was watching from the sidelines, to frown involuntarily.
I became extremely curious about Dian Wei. He was highly skilled in martial arts and very fierce. He was not an ordinary person at all. In particular, Lu Li, who was the leader, looked extraordinary and should not be an ordinary person either. Who exactly was he?
Dong Zhuo felt a sense of doubt and pondered to himself.
The two were incredibly fast, exchanging fifty moves in the blink of an eye, but neither could gain the upper hand.
Dian Wei possessed immense strength, but he had never learned any advanced halberd techniques. Lu Li did not want to limit Dian Wei's talent.
Therefore, he was simply taught some techniques for using the halberd, and left to Dian Wei to figure them out on his own.
Back then, Xiang Yu's Overlord Halberd Technique also caused Lu Li considerable trouble, but Dian Wei's double halberds, in addition to being powerful, also possessed the characteristics of being light and agile.
Bang!
In another fierce clash, the burly man was clearly no match for Dian Wei and was sent flying back, staggering a few steps before regaining his footing.
"Hmph, the alien spies are indeed formidable!"
The burly man snorted coldly, staring at Lu Li with a cold glint in his eyes. He was about to make another move when Dong Zhuo stopped him.
"Hua Xiong, step down," Dong Zhuo said calmly.
"Yes, ma'am."
The burly man named Hua Xiong respectfully responded and sheathed his sword.
Lu Li was immediately stunned. This burly man was actually Hua Xiong?
Everyone knows the story of Guan Yu warming wine before beheading Hua Xiong, but that is just a fabrication in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
In real history, Hua Xiong was highly skilled in martial arts, proficient in archery and horsemanship, brave and good at fighting, and loyal and righteous. Before Lü Bu joined Dong Zhuo, he was Dong Zhuo's number one general.
Back then, when the eighteen warlords attacked Hulao Pass, Hua Xiong single-handedly defeated them all, leaving them unable to raise their heads.
Yuan Shao didn't even dare to send his two generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou.
Finally, it was thanks to the fierce tiger of Jiangdong, Sun Jian, that Hua Xiong was finally killed, though Sun Jian himself was also seriously injured.
Lu Li never expected that he would encounter Hua Xiong here!
This was a truly famous general in history who once followed Dong Zhuo in conquering all directions, becoming a powerful force in the north and south, and making outstanding military achievements.
"My name is Lu Li, also known as Lu Xunzhen. I am from the Central Plains and not a spy from a foreign race," Lu Li said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "I am Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhongying. This gentleman has an extraordinary bearing and is certainly not like a barbarian."
At this time, Dong Zhuo still retained the elegance of his youth. Coupled with his handsome face and tall figure, Lu Li wondered how this guy had become that pot-bellied traitor Dong Zhuo.
"The Great Wall is a strategically important military site, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to approach it. Please, Brother Xunzhen, move over here," Dong Zhuo said. Although it was a polite invitation, his tone left no room for argument.
At this moment, Lu Li finally took a good look at Dong Zhuo and felt a sense of familiarity and inexplicable warmth towards him.
Just as Lu Li was engrossed in watching, his heart suddenly tightened, as if he could hear the sound of thousands of horses' hooves!
He was already at the level of a minor grandmaster, and his hearing was far more sensitive than that of ordinary people. Moreover, he had fought against the Xiongnu before, and was extremely sensitive to the sound of the hooves of these foreign cavalrymen.
"Not good! A large number of cavalry are approaching!" Lu Li exclaimed.
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