Everyone knew that Guan Yu was here to ask for a fight, and they all laughed, making Mr. Guan blush.
Liu Qi brought Guan Yu into the government office and ordered the banquet to continue. Guan Yu could not follow the order directly, so he had to socialize with everyone.
After the banquet, Zhuge Liang invited Guan Yu alone to explain the importance of guarding Jingzhou, and that the two of them still needed to coordinate the entire Central Plains war.
Liu Qi immediately sent an order to Yizhou and mobilized 50,000 elite troops to gather in Hanzhong. He also sent people to Lingling to bring Fazheng back to prepare for the Northern Expedition.
After Fazheng returned to Jingzhou, Zhang Ji examined him and said that the cold had invaded his internal organs and that it was difficult to cure him by just taking medicine. If he delayed for another two years, it would be impossible for the gods to save him.
Fortunately, when Zhang Ji was serving as the prefect of Changsha, he learned that there was a sacred spring in Lingling, which was warm all year round. If the people had cold symptoms, they could be cured by soaking in it for an hour, so Fa Zheng came here to treat the illness.
Now in the past three or four months, it should be almost enough to ward off the cold. With him and Pang Tong as military advisors, it is more than enough to deal with Han Sui and Xia Houyuan.
Nowadays, Cao Jun's layout in Guanzhong and Xiliang is still relatively weak. Cao Cao and Sima Yi are not here. This is a God-given opportunity.
When Liu Qi was dispatching troops and generals to prepare for the Northern Expedition, the entire Xiliang was in chaos.
Ma Chao went to Jincheng for an appointment to reconcile with Han Sui. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a Hongmen Banquet. He led his soldiers to risk their lives and fought out of the city. However, he was chased and intercepted by Cao Jun and Qiang soldiers, and he had no choice but to escape to Gaolan Mountain.
Gaolan Mountain surrounds Jincheng from east to west and stretches for more than 20 miles. The terrain is steep. The north peak is called Wuquan Mountain because of the five-eye spring.
When Ma Teng was in Xiliang in his early years, he often lived in the mountains and donated money and food to build temples. Ma Chao fled here, guarding the mountain pass and dealing with the enemy.
Two months passed in the blink of an eye, and the two sides were fighting bloody battles. The Taoist priest in the temple went down to the mountain to inquire about the news, but was killed by the Qiang people. There were only a dozen of Ma Chao's soldiers left, and their lives were hanging by a thread.
Being tightly shut down by the enemy, everyone retreated to the Jade Emperor Palace on the highest peak, relying only on the last spring water to survive. After continuous fierce battles, the mountain was already stained with blood, and the human wall built with corpses was shocking.
All resources have been exhausted, there are no arrows left, the bow string is broken, and even the rocks on the mountain have been dug out. There are only a few holes dug to find them.
The most important thing is that the food stored in the temple is no longer enough. They have been eating porridge and digging wild vegetables to satisfy their hunger these days. Everyone is at the end of their rope.
Ma Chao was covered in blood and his face was haggard. He looked at the setting sun and felt infinite melancholy in his heart. He drew his sword and sighed: "My husband, Ma Chao, can't avenge my father and brother. How can I live in this world with dignity?"
Ma Dai saw that he was going to commit suicide and hurriedly advised him: "Brother, there is no need to be like this. Ma Le has arrived in Jingzhou early at this time. Liu Qi is brave and loyal and will definitely invite reinforcements."
Ma Chao gritted his teeth and said: "Ma Chao would rather die than be a prisoner of his rank. Cao Cao and Han Sui, old thieves, even if I turn into a fierce ghost, I will never let you go!"
Ma Dai advised: "In the past, Wu Zixu died in Zhaoguan overnight for revenge. He finally saw the light of day. My brother must not give up easily! Even if we risk our lives, we must let our brother escape from this place."
Ma Chao shook his head and said: "Ever since Ma Le left, there have been enemy troops patrolling the back mountain. Han Sui, the old thief, knows that he is no match for us and wants to eradicate them. We can only fly with wings."
Pang De held the big knife with a serrated blade, cupped his fist and said, "Master, rest for now. I will protect you two from going down the mountain in the middle of the night. I will fight my way out and leave a bloodline for the Ma family."
Ma Chao looked into the distance and frowned: "I don't know what Yunlu and the others are doing in Wuwei now."
Ma Dai said: "Yunlu has been practicing martial arts since she was a child, and her martial arts skills are not weak. Even if Han Sui sends troops, she can still find a way to escort the young family to escape. We must not give up until the last moment."
Ma Chao took back his sword, looked at the clear spring at his feet, and prayed to the sky: "In the past, Huo Qubing came out of the spring with his whip in a desperate situation and defeated the Huns. Now I, Ma Chao, am trapped here. If I can get my revenge, this spring will not dry up. The spring water A few of them were buried here."
Ma Dai's eyes were firm and he comforted: "Brother, don't worry, Liu Qi will definitely send someone to rescue us!"
Pang De also nodded and said: "Liu Qi once helped the old master to capture Chang'an and work together to prosper the Han Dynasty. Now Xiliang is in chaos. He will send troops both public and private. If he persists, he will see the moonlight."
"Okay, I will never give up while we wait for the Jedi to survive!" Ma Chao regained his energy and shouted: "For the humiliation I suffered today, I, Ma Chao, must make the old thief repay tenfold."
It was a night when the moon and stars were sparse, the mountain wind blew, and the pines and waves surged. I saw torches moving from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside. Han Sui deployed heavy troops here and patrolled day and night. If he could not conquer the top of the mountain, he would trap Ma Chao to death on the mountain. .
Ma Dai stood under an ancient pine, his eyes full of worry. Even if Ma Le invited reinforcements, it would be of no use to the dragnet. Unless Liu Qi sent tens of thousands of troops to attract Han Sui's troops down the mountain, there would be a chance of escape.
When he was confused, suddenly a night owl screamed from the cliff, three long and two short. Ma Dai stood up suddenly and stared at that place.
This is Ma Chao's internal communication code. Now that everyone is on the mountain, who is sending the code down the mountain?
He picked up the knife and cautiously reached the cliff, only to see a patrol passing by in the distance. The cry came from an old pine on the cliff, and there seemed to be a shadowy figure.
"Who?" Ma Dai asked in a low voice.
"Second brother, it's me!" The man whispered, "Ma Le."
"Ma Le?!" Ma Dai suddenly felt the blood rushing through his body and asked in a trembling voice, "You...you came alone?"
Ma Le replied: "No, I have invited reinforcements. Quickly ask my elder brother to go to the cliff on the left to pick people up the mountain!"
"You... how can you go up the mountain?" Ma Dai's heartbeat accelerated, and he even felt that his breathing was a little tense. His whole body couldn't help but tremble, and he finally waited until reinforcements arrived.
Ma Le urged: "Go down the mountain quickly, it's too late to explain!"
Ma Dai was shocked, ran away, rushed directly into Ma Chao's bedroom, pulled him up from the bed, and shouted: "Brother, the reinforcements are here!"
Ma Chao was not slow to react and kicked Ma Dai away. He was looking for a weapon to defend himself when he heard Ma Dai's voice and asked urgently: "What did you say?"
"Ma Le, Ma Le has brought in reinforcements, hurry up!" Ma Dai, trembling with excitement, urged Ma Chao.
"Hahaha, there is no perfect way!" Ma Chao knelt on the bed, looking up to the sky and laughing.
Ma Dai rushed out, woke everyone up, and asked them to get up and gather in the back mountain with only weapons and ropes.
Coming out of the back door of the temple, Ma Chao kept asking if it was true. This late at night, it seemed like he was dreaming.
When everyone came to the cliff, they saw a row of people standing darkly under the shadow of the moon, standing like rocks.
Ma Dai leaned forward and asked, "Are you the reinforcements invited by Ma Le?"
"Brother, I'm here, come down quickly!" Ma Le stood over, beckoned and called in a low voice.
"Ma Le, it is indeed him!" Everyone was in a commotion and excited.
Ma Dai tied a rope to the tree, put it into the hands of Ma Chao who was in a daze, and urged: "Quickly, why are you walking?"
