At the same time, Huai County, Hanoi.
Because of Cao Cao's request and support, Zhang Yang sent troops northward at the beginning of the year and occupied most of Shangdang.
Yuan Shao's army occupied Taiyuan, forced the Black Mountain Army into the mountains, and then confronted Zhang Yang's army in Shangdang. With the strong support of Lu Bu, Zhang Yang was able to partially compete with Yuan Shaojun. Until the drought became severe. Only then did both sides withdraw their troops.
Zhang Yang finished handling the important military and political affairs. Then return to the mansion. He took off his robe and asked his servants to serve food and wine. Fuchu kabuki was also announced and performed.
After drinking two cups, Zhang Yang, smelling of alcohol, hugged a dancer and became flirtatious. The dancer was shocked, scared and happy. The status of artists raised by wealthy families was low. Let alone sleeping with them, even if the master was willing, it was not illegal to execute them privately. And their only way out is to be favored by their master.
At this time, Zhang Yang's eyes were blurred and he was not satisfied with his frivolous hands and feet. He dismissed the other servants and was about to accomplish the good deed, when the butler ran in.
"General, Lord Yu Du came to see you and said he was bringing great news to the general," the steward said.
"What happened at this time!" Zhang Yang said angrily.
Although he was unhappy, Zhang Yang still asked the housekeeper to bring Yu Du up. After the defeat of the Black Mountain Army in Jizhou, Yu Du rebelled against Zhang Yan and offended Yuan Shao, so he fled west to Hanoi and joined Zhang Yang. Speaking of which, there are quite a few people who defect to Zhang Yang, and the other one is naturally the macho Lu Bu.
Yu Du stepped forward, cupped his fists and said, "General, I have something to report."
Zhang Yang waved his hands impatiently and said, "If you have anything to say, just tell me."
Yu Du's dead fish eyes glanced at the dancer and paused unconsciously.
"Yu Du! What are you doing?" Zhang Yang shouted angrily.
"Ah!" Yu Du woke up with a start and said, "I have been entrusted by someone to send a great deed to the general."
"What a good thing, and who asked for it?" Zhang Yang suppressed his anger and asked.
Yu Du smiled, slowly stepped forward and said with a smile, "It's Yuan Benchu and Yuan Chaqi. He asked the general to lead his troops to surrender. If the general agrees, then you will be Bingzhou Mu, if..."
Hearing this, Zhang Yang was clever. He pushed away the dancing girl and shouted angrily: "Yu Du, did Yuan Benchu send you to be a lobbyist? But I am a minister of the Han Dynasty, how could I submit to him! Don't mention this matter again, otherwise I will treat you as a collaborator!"
Yu Du changed his humble expression, straightened his back and sneered: "I advise the general to agree. Now that Yuan Cheqi is commanding Hebei and occupying Qingzhou, who else in the world can match his power? The general has an agreement with Cao Cao. But only by taking refuge in a wise master can you find a good way out for yourself! General, you should think twice."
Zhang Yang was shocked and angry, and sneered: "You were a Black Mountain bandit at first, and you were part of the Kouluo army in Jizhou, right? Now you have defected to Yuan Shao! What a joke!"
Yu Du laughed loudly and said, "It is said that those who understand the current affairs are heroes. Mr. Yuan is the hero of the world. Why shouldn't I join him? If the general persists in his stubbornness, don't blame me for being rude."
Zhang Yang was surprised and asked: "Why are you so rude? I don't think you can leave this courtyard today!"
Yu Du didn't care and stared at Zhang Yang coldly.
"Lao Liu! Let the soldiers outside come in!" Zhang Yang shouted.
Yu Du still looked calm and composed. After a while, outside the backyard, the sound of swords and guns and the sound of fighting came. When Zhang Yang felt uneasy, a group of more than 20 soldiers ran in. Those soldiers did not kill Yu Po, but surrounded Zhang Yang.
"Wan Ba, have you betrayed me too?" Zhang Yang pointed at a general in shock and anger, not believing it.
"General, I am also forced to have no choice. Please agree to surrender to General Yuan." The general advised.
Listening to the fierce fighting outside the courtyard, Zhang Yang knew that the other party must have been planning for a long time, but he was angry at being plotted and betrayed. How could he surrender in such a rage?
"General Uncle Zhi, do you still remember me?" A middle-aged scribe wearing a long robe walked out from behind Yu Du.
"You? You're Guo Tu!" Zhang Yang exclaimed, feeling enlightened.
"We have been away from Luoyang for several years. It's rare that you still remember me, General Zhizhu." Guo Tu smiled and said, "Mr. Yuan has spoken. We are all old acquaintances in the capital and have worked together. As long as you nod, I will take the lead. If your subordinates join Duke Yuan, then the position of Bingzhou Mu will be yours, and in addition, Duke Yuan will give you more rewards."
"Reward? How virtuous and capable is Yuan Benchu that he wants to reward me, an official of the imperial court?" Zhang Yang said angrily. This Yuan family is really shameless.
"Uncle Zhi, can't you see the current situation in the world clearly? The Han Dynasty is in decline. Although Cao Cao sends troops everywhere, he is not the opponent of Yuan Gong who monopolizes Hebei. You..."
Before Guo Tu finished speaking, Zhang Yang cursed angrily: "Mengde said earlier that Yuan Shao had a disobedient heart, and it seems that it is true! And I am a pro-fief general of the imperial court, how can I be so rebellious!"
Guo Tu sneered, cupped his hands, and said, "I'm sorry for offending you. I will find a feng shui place to bury you. This way, our acquaintance will be in vain."
After saying that, Guo Tu waved his hand. The dozen soldiers received the order and raised their swords and spears to stab Zhang Yang. After a burst of wailing and roaring, the late Han Dynasty hero finally fell into a pool of blood.
Guo Tu sighed and ordered: "After controlling the troops and horses outside, find a good coffin for burial."
Yu Du agreed. After Guo Tu went out, he smiled and grabbed the dancing girl who had fainted due to fright.
Waves of wailing, women's cries for help, and gasps could not be calmed down in the big tent for a long time.
Bingzhou, the eldest son of Shangdang.
In the military camp outside the city, Lu Bu was wearing strong armor, holding an iron halberd, and riding a red tug to patrol the camp. Behind him was a bodyguard of a hundred men.
A middle-aged man wearing jīng armor walked over from a distance. The middle-aged general clasped his fists and said, "Marquis Wen, how about you come to my tent for a drink? I hunted a young deer this morning. It's so fresh and tender."
Lu Bu agreed: "Hao Meng, let me go to your tent and talk about it."
Hao Meng happily took Chi Tu's reins and personally led Lu Bu into his tent.
Lu Bu sat at the top, and a soldier stood aside holding a painted halberd. Hao Meng asked people to serve drinks and fresh fruits, and he sat on the lower right hand side with him.
"Food has been tight recently, how is the progress of your department's food preparation?" Lu Bu glanced at Hao Meng and asked.
"Shangdang is really a bitter and cold place, with little oil and water. Brothers are living a miserable life!" Hao Meng complained.
"Let's be patient for a while. We will make big moves next year." Lu Bu said helplessly. After all, even a penny can't faze a hero, let alone the food and fodder for many soldiers.
Hao Meng seemed to be nostalgic, but also seemed to be unhappy, and said, "When we were galloping around the pass with Marquis Wen, how majestic and majestic it was? What kind of wealth do you want, what kind of woman do you want? But when you come to Zhang Yang, Brothers are going to die of poverty!"
When Lu Bu said this, he picked up the wine glass and drank it down in one gulp.
Hao Meng said again: "Marquis Wen, is it worthwhile for us to follow Zhang Yang? I think his strength is only second-rate. He doesn't even provide us with enough food and grass. Other rewards are even less, and the brothers are not allowed to get them by themselves. Take the last time we rescued a driver as an example. We obviously made the most merit, but the reward was all given to Zhang Yang. Except for a few titles, the brothers didn’t get anything!"
Lu Bu drank a few glasses of wine, raised his head and said, "As you said, Zhang Yang is not a person who can achieve great things. We don't have many soldiers, and we are not enough to monopolize a state. So in your opinion, who is worthy of entrusting you?" "
Hao Meng looked like he was thinking and said: "First we took refuge in Yuan Shu, who was at the height of his power. Unfortunately, he was also a villain in name only. He secretly restricted our hands and feet many times. How can we achieve great things with such magnanimity? Looking at today's powerful forces. The most prosperous one is Yuan Benchu, who monopolizes Hebei. He has many soldiers and a vast territory, and Jizhou and Youzhou are rich and prosperous places. Compared with the previous Guanzhong, Yuan Benchu is not too generous. Yuan Benchu is the leader of the Kwantung Army and comes from a famous family. His magnanimity is extraordinary. . Besides, after the Jizhou Army takes over Hebei, it will inevitably go south to fight, so doesn’t it need a general like Wen Hou?”
Lu Bu nodded in agreement at first, but when Hao Meng said the next thing, his expression became uncertain. Lu Bu naturally thought of the humiliation in Luoyang. Lu Bu couldn't accept that he had to work in the same place as his enemy, and that he might eventually belong to Yuan Xi.
"Don't mention this matter again! Yuan Shao hates the Xiliang army to the core. If we go to join him, wouldn't we be sent to his door to be slaughtered by him!" Lu Bu said resolutely.
Hao Meng didn't know the reason. He didn't expect Lu Bu to react so strongly. Looking at Lu Bu's unruly attitude, there was a hint of cold murderous aura. Although she guessed that Lu Bu's anger was directed at Yuan Shao, Hao Meng's heart was still beating wildly and she nodded in agreement.
After a while. Hao Meng stood up and said, "Marquis Wen, let me go and see if the cook has prepared the deer." After that, he left Lu Bu drinking alone.
Hao Meng went outside the tent and went straight to a small tent not far away, where several middle-aged men were sitting.
"General Hao Meng, what did Lu Bu say?" asked a middle-aged man.
Hao Meng shook his head and sighed, "I've tried my best, but Lu Bu is very determined. For some unknown reason, he seems to hate your Jizhou Army."
"Then it's not our fault! General Hao Meng, if you gather the troops quietly, you will definitely keep Lu Bu behind!"
"Ah!" Hao Meng exclaimed. "That fellow Lu Bu is extremely brave. Wouldn't it be better if we let him escape..."
The middle-aged leader sneered: "General Hao Meng, no matter how brave Lu Bu is, he is only one person. Can you still not defeat him with thousands of troops?"
Hao Meng's face turned pale and he was very hesitant.
"General Hao Meng, don't forget the benefits that Duke Yuan promised you. How can you receive such a generous reward if you don't make a great contribution?"
Hao Meng gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement.
The middle-aged man handed over a small cloth bag and said, "This is strong medicine. If you let the cook mix it in the dishes, Lu Bu will be weak after eating it."
Hao Meng immediately withdrew the result. After a while, he led his soldiers to bring several plates of dishes to the big tent.
"Marquis Wen, please try this venison!" Hao Meng said.
Lu Bu looked at several plates of dishes, including steamed, fried, stuffed, and grilled. They were all bright in color and full of fragrance.
Suddenly, Lu Bu's brows jumped and he felt a faint killing intent. This was his instinctive feeling for many years. Reminiscent of Hao Meng's unusual behavior, Lu Bu secretly paid attention. He picked up a piece of braised venison with chopsticks and took a bite.
Seeing Lu Bu's somewhat unnatural expression, Hao Meng's heart skipped a beat and she said with a smile, "Is this venison still fresh and tender? It was made by a newly recruited famous chef from Yanzhou, saying it has a unique local taste."
Lu Bu spit out the meat fiercely and said with an evil expression: "Why does it smell fishy!"
"Ah!" Hao Meng turned pale with fright, and explained: "Maybe... the cook didn't make it clean..."
Lu Bu sneered and said disdainfully, "You are still a famous chef, but you can't cook such a small amount of venison! Come here and have a taste!"
After all, Hao Meng couldn't bear the strong pressure Lu Bu put on him. He took a step back and shouted. Following Hao Meng's shout, the soldiers surrounded the tent and poured into it, pointing their swords and guns at Lu Bu.
Hao Meng shouted: "Marquis Wen, you'd better seek refuge with Mr. Yuan, otherwise don't blame me for being rude."
Lu Bu laughed loudly, took the painted halberd from the hands of the soldiers, and sneered, "You have taken refuge with Yuan Benchu, right? Do you want my head to take credit? If you have the ability, come and take it!"
Hao Meng gritted his teeth and let the soldiers rush forward. Lu Bu's fierce and cold eyes were full of murderous intent, and he swung the iron halberd forward, bringing up streams of blood.
After crossing the river, Yuan Xi and others headed west, passing through Qinghe to Wei County, and then to Yecheng. Yuan Xi, Jia Xu, and Tian Feng entered the city with more than two hundred tiger guards. Taishi Ci led the remaining 1,000 horses to camp at the Jizhou Army camp outside the city.
Those who came out of the city to greet Yuan Xi were Xu You and Shen Pei, whom they had not seen for a long time. They led a large group of people and enthusiastically welcomed Yuan Xi back to the Prefecture Mufu.
"Second Young Master, the wedding team has already set off. It is expected to arrive in Yecheng in half a month. The wedding ceremony will be held as scheduled. Congratulations to the Young Master." Shen Pei stepped forward and said.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhengnan. I wonder which guests will be invited?" Yuan Xi continued to ask.
Xu You smiled while riding on the horse. Said, "The emperor announced the news of the young master's wedding to the world half a year ago. You are marrying a royal princess. I am afraid that the world's most powerful people will send envoys to congratulate you. Speaking of guests, I am sure it is on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor. The wedding envoy Dong Cheng and the envoy from Yizhou Liu Zhang have also arrived in Yecheng. In addition, the envoy from Jingzhou Liu Biao has also arrived."
Yuan Xi nodded. Once he married a royal princess, it was a big deal. This move would definitely affect the nerves of the princes in the world. Thinking of this, his heart skipped a beat and he asked, "Who did my father send to welcome the bride?"
Xu You looked a little strange, so he said: "There are five people, Guo Tu, Feng Ji, Ju Yi, Yan Liang, Han Meng, and more than 8,000 troops."
Yuan Xi was very surprised. Although he said that he should be careful to prevent those who were interested in obstructing him, except for the escort team sent by Liu Xie, Yuan Shao actually sent more than 8,000 soldiers and horses at this time when military supplies were in short supply.
There are also three generals: Ju Yi, Yan Liang, and Han Meng. This cannot but make Yuan Xi and others suspicious.
The judge saw the doubts of Yuan Xi and others. So he explained: "It's a confidential matter, so we can't reveal too much, but we are telling the outside world that we will send more than a thousand people to the wedding venue. For the specific details, I'd better ask Mr. Yuan in person."
Yuan Xi, Tian Feng, and Jia Xu were each thinking. They walked through the streets and alleys like this, while the people in Yecheng pointed at them. Yuan Xi was not surprised by this. After all, he was quite famous and was the protagonist of this wedding.
Yuan Shao deliberately asked Xu You to match two people, and led a large group of people to greet Yuan Xi with great fanfare, so that the people in the streets knew who Yuan Xi was.
Yuan Xi looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar roads and shops around him and wondered, "Why are every house decorated with lights?"
Xu You smiled and said, "This is all Mr. Yuan's intention. He said it was to show off the power of Jizhou."
Shen Pei frowned. Nothing was said. Yuan Xi and others naturally guessed that this was something Yuan Shao forcibly ordered the people to do. And Tian Feng suddenly straightened up his face. Yuan Xi was silent.
