Cao Zhang took care of the prisoners of war and invited Duan Xuan to return to the Chinese army's tent.
Time was running out and he could no longer delay and decided to take action immediately.
He summoned everyone to the Chinese army's tent and announced his decision: according to the original plan, he and Zhong Yao would go to Tianshui to meet Ma Teng and recruit them.
"Chief... Coach!" Xiahou Ba wanted to call Zi Wen casually, but suddenly remembered Cao Zhang's previous warning and quickly changed his words, "Have we not already defeated Li Jue, why do we still need to meet Ma Teng and Han Sui at this time?"
"Zhong Shizhong went to recruit the princes of Guanzhong according to the emperor's decree. How could he give up after a letter was rejected? Then the imperial edict became a joke? As for the reason why I want to see Ma and Han in person, I have already said it before. There’s no need to repeat it.” Cao Zhang responded calmly.
"Young master, if you go now, your chances of success will be much higher than before. After all, the battle the night before yesterday severely damaged Li Jue, which also demonstrated our strength. This will also be a shock to the princes in Guanzhong and will make them reconsider." Xu Shu first started Expressing his opinion, he fully supported Cao Zhang's recruitment.
"Then you will only take Ji Ji and a hundred guards with you this time?" Xiahou Ba asked worriedly.
"Of course, time is now more pressing than before, and I have to seize the time. We have to move forward quickly and strive to reach Ma Teng's station within three days. Therefore, Zhong Shizhong also needs to accept some grievances and move forward quickly with me." Cao Zhang After answering Xiahou Ba, he turned to Zhong Yao and said apologetically.
"It is the lower official's duty to go to Tianshui to convey the decree. If the young master can personally accompany me and protect me, he is already helping me. How dare I say any more grievances? Everything is done according to the young master's arrangements." Zhong Yao answered quickly.
Cao Zhang told Xu Huang and Duan Xuan to mobilize troops and horses to surround the city of Chang'an. Now their military strength was basically the same as that of Li Jue's army, and they were fully equipped to besiege the city.
Cao Zhang didn't want Li Jue to take the opportunity to escape from Chang'an and go to other places when he went to find Ma Teng and Han Sui, and he had to chase them hard.
Duan Xuan and Xu Huang immediately followed Cao Zhang's instructions and mobilized troops to surround Chang'an City on all sides.
Xu Huang, Duan Xuan, Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru each led 5,000 troops to garrison one gate, while Xu Shu took charge of the central army.
Cao Zhang arranged everything, took Li Jin and a hundred-man personal guard, and set foot on the road to Tianshui with Zhong Yao.
Ma Teng was stationed in Tianshui, Hanyang County, Yongzhou, about 700 miles away from Chang'an.
In order to speed up the journey, Cao Zhang brought a total of 300 war horses, constantly alternating horses and moving forward.
In this way, it only took two days for them to enter the territory of Hanyang County and continue to move towards Tianshui.
As they got closer to Tianshui, Cao Zhang ordered the troops to slow down their march and continue moving forward.
The group continued to move forward and were already less than twenty miles away from Tianshui.
"Help!" Cao Zhang and others were slowly moving forward when a cry for help suddenly came from behind a small hill in front of them. Along with the cry for help, screams and howls of wild beasts could also be heard from time to time.
"Someone is in danger, go and have a look!" Cao Zhang realized that something was wrong and immediately gave an order to Li Jin.
Cao Zhang and others immediately rushed towards the hill in front of them.
Cao Zhang and others rushed to the top of the hill and saw the scene on the other side of the hill clearly, but they were stunned.
On the plain on the other side of the hill, dozens of wolf-like animals were surrounding a small group of people and launching attacks. Around them, several human corpses had fallen dead. Obviously, the screams just now were from them. Issued before death.
There were only seven or eight human beings left. They were all dressed as bodyguards, trying hard to protect a teenage girl in a short fighting outfit who was riding a horse. They vigorously waved the swords in their hands and fought with the beasts that kept coming around. Fighting.
Cao Zhang looked at those wild beasts with a puzzled expression. This kind of animal looks very similar to a wolf, but it is much smaller, more like a dog, but much more ferocious than a dog.
Moreover, these beasts have strong ability to attack in groups, and they cooperate very well. Several of them attack together from all angles, making it difficult to guard against them. In the blink of an eye, two more people were bitten.
"What kind of beast is this? It's so ferocious?!" Cao Zhang asked in shock. This was the first time he saw such an animal.
"Master Qi, this is a pack of jackals! Jackals like to attack in groups. Once encountered, it is a narrow escape! In the Yongliang area, there has been a popular saying that it is better to encounter a lone wolf than a pack of jackals. This is what this pack of jackals is talking about. Fierce." After all, Zhong Yao had served in the Chang'an court for many years, so he recognized this unique animal in the northwest at a glance.
It turns out that this is a jackal. I have always heard the word jackal, tiger, and leopard, and I just had the opportunity to see it for the first time today!
Cao Zhang muttered silently in his heart.
While they were talking, several more guards were thrown to the ground and died under the crazy attack of the group of jackals.
There were only three or four guards left around the girl at this time, and most of them were injured, making it difficult for them to hold on any longer.
The girl held a saber in her hand. Although her eyes revealed a fierceness and unruliness, she was still a little panicked when she looked at the raging group of jackals.
"Hurry and save people!" Seeing the critical situation, Cao Zhang gave the order to save people without hesitation.
He rushed out first, took off the stiff bow on his horse, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the jackals.
Li Jin and several personal guards also took action quickly, took off their weapons together, and followed Cao Zhang towards the jackals.
Just when a jackal launched an attack on the girl and pounced on her, with a roar that broke through the air, a sharp arrow flew and penetrated directly through the jackal's head, killing it on the spot.
The girl turned around in surprise and saw Cao Zhang coming on horseback. He sat on the horse, stretched out his bow and arrows, and shot continuously. The arrows were not missed, and he killed all the jackals who were about to attack. .
Li Jin and his guards quickly rushed toward the jackals with weapons in hand.
Li Jin waved the green sword in his hand, and in the flash of cold light, he had killed two jackals.
The other guards also took action quickly, and in the blink of an eye, several more jackals were killed, and the crisis for the girl and the guards around her was completely resolved.
Cao Zhang rode his horse and rushed to the girl's side, protected her, and then loudly ordered: Kill all these evil jackals, don't let them harm anyone again! "
Li Jin and others led the troops and immediately rushed towards the jackals and started a massacre.
Li Jin and others were well-equipped with weapons, and their numbers were far greater than the group of jackals. They killed all the remaining jackals in a blink of an eye.
After seeing all the jackals being killed, the last few guards guarding the girl realized that they had been saved and let out a sigh of relief.
"Miss, we're fine!" the leader of the guards said to the girl.
The girl ignored him at this time, and her eyes stayed on Cao Zhang, dumbfounded.
Cao Zhang's handsome appearance, coupled with his archery skills and his calm command, all exuded the heroic spirit of a man, which instantly impressed the girl's heart.
Cao Zhang turned around and found the girl looking at him dreamily. He was also slightly startled. He thought she was injured and quickly asked with concern: "Girl, are you not injured?"
When the girl heard Cao Zhang's inquiry, she came back to her senses and hurriedly responded: "I'm fine. Thank you for saving me, sir! I dare you to ask me your name. When I get back, I will ask my father to thank you profusely!"
Cao Zhang responded with a smile: "Girl, you don't have to be polite. We are just passing by here. How can we not save you when we see you in danger? As for thanking you, that's not necessary."
The girl was a little unhappy after being rejected by Cao Zhang, but she still said unwillingly: "You said you were passing by here, then where are you going?"
"We are going to Tianshui!" Cao Zhang responded to the girl.
"You want to go to Tianshui? Then it's right that you meet me, otherwise you won't even be able to enter the city gate?" the girl said with a smile.
"Why?" Cao Zhang asked puzzledly.
"Because my father said that people from the Central Plains are not allowed to enter Tianshui. Looking at your dress, you are from the Central Plains. Do you think you can go in? But it doesn't matter now. I saved me, and I will definitely help. You entered the city." The girl explained to Cao Zhang.
Hearing the girl say that his father did not allow people from the Central Plains to enter Tianshui, but she had the right to take him in, Cao Zhang felt faintly in his heart, and then asked: "Girl, your surname is Ma?"
The girl smiled and nodded and replied: "Yes, my surname is Ma, and my name is Ma Yunlu!"
