Ma Chao and Guo Huai were beaten until their legs were dripping with blood, and Guo Huai even passed out. Everyone watching was shocked. No one could have imagined that Xu Shu, who looked gentle and elegant, could enforce the law so harshly.
Ma Dai gritted his teeth and waited until the execution was over, then quickly ordered people to carry the two men down for treatment. He asked Pang De to go back to the military camp first to appease the soldiers, and then he came to the government office to report the news.
As soon as he arrived at the door, he heard the sound of laughter coming from inside. He looked up and saw Xu Shu and Li Yan sitting opposite each other, drinking and talking and laughing, and he suddenly felt angry.
Xu Shu was still full of sadness when he punished Ma Chao just now. My eldest brother was beaten outside and was in so much pain that he was dying, but you are eating and drinking here. It turns out that all scholars are hypocrites.
Remembering that he had just knelt down to plead for Ma Chao, he became even more angry. He strode up two or three steps to reprimand Xu Shu, and led the Xiliang army to escort Ma Chao back to Xiliang.
When they arrived at the door, they heard Li Yan laughing and saying, "Yuan Zhi has worked so hard. If he can weaken Meng Qi's temper, my big man will have one more general!"
But Xu Shu sighed: "Meng Qi has been a prince for generations, he has been pampered since he was a child, and he is invincible due to his natural supernatural power. He doesn't know the heights of the world. If we don't take this opportunity to strike, when the government is in order in the future, it will definitely cause a big disaster."
Ma Dai paused when he heard this and hid behind the pillar at the door, listening carefully to the discussion between the two of them.
Li Yan said: "This is very true! Fortunately, Meng Qi was left in Luoyang this time. If he had sent to the Central Plains to support him before, under Zhuge's command, and with the strictness of Kong Ming's military rule, I am afraid that he would have hung up his head by now, and there would be no room for me. Come and intercede."
Ma Dai was moved when he heard this, and realized that Xu Shu was taking the opportunity to beat Ma Chao. Suddenly he was glad that he was under the command of an acquaintance this time.
But I heard Xu Shu say again: "Although Meng Qi is commanding an army, except for the difficulties in Jincheng, he has experienced few hardships. It is pure gold and jade and still needs to be tempered. The Xiliang army has been arrogant for a long time and often violates military laws. Sooner or later, It will implicate him, and by killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, I am also deterring the three armies!"
Li Yan nodded and said: "I heard that those who are good at running an army must put the law first and make clear rewards and punishments before they can serve the masses. Yuan Zhi took this opportunity to establish his authority. If he enforces orders and prohibitions in the army, he will be invincible."
Xu Shu smiled and said: "Winning or losing is a matter of military affairs. I cannot distinguish between right and wrong! In the past, I discussed the management of the army with Kong Ming. He said that the difference between victory and defeat does not depend on the number of soldiers, but on the commander. If the general is incompetent, even though there are many soldiers, What's the use? If Meng Qi can understand his shame and be brave after this experience, he can directly pursue his Zuma reinforcement general!"
Li Yan raised his glass and laughed and said: "Everyone says that my lord has a sleeping dragon and a phoenix chick, and the world can be determined. From what I can see, Yuan Zhi is also my lord's Zhang and Xiao Liangfu!"
When Ma Dai heard this at the door, his face was full of shame, and he cursed himself for being a villain. He stretched out his hand and slapped himself, and then walked into the hall to report the execution.
Xu Shu sighed: "It's not that I'm ruthless, but it's because I have been entrusted by my lord and I don't dare to be selfish. The general must appease the morale of the army and don't mess up the position and be laughed at by the world."
Ma Dai clasped his fists and said: "Brother disobeyed the order first, we have no complaints, military advisor, please rest assured."
Xu Shu was slightly relieved and nodded: "I will send Meng Qi back to Luoyang tomorrow. I will visit him later."
After Ma Dai left, Li Yan suddenly sighed again: "Yuan Zhi beat Ma Chao this time, although he had good intentions, but it would be a pity that Guo Huai would be punished."
Xu Shu raised his eyebrows and smiled: "Guo Huai is young and energetic. He often thinks that I don't use his tactics and is dissatisfied. This time he also learned that using troops is not a piece of cake and should not be taken for granted."
"Guo Huai is also among those who are beating?" Li Yan paused slightly while raising the glass, and suddenly exclaimed: "Yuan Zhi sent Guo Huai to join the army as Ma Chao, could it be..."
"Hush!" Xu Shu signaled Li Yan to whisper, and said: "I have been at odds with Xu Huang for a long time. It is not necessary for Meng Qi to send troops. If there is a miraculous effect, I will respond. However, although this battle is defeated, my plan has come true. , within half a month, I will take Hanoi."
Li Yan nodded: "Tigers also have their naps. If Xu Huang is so vigilant day and night, how can the Wei army be safe for a long time? Now Meng Qi and Guo Huai cannot command the troops. If the military advisors are dispatched, they will be willing to do the work of dogs and horses."
Xu Shu also knew that Li Yan was not content with just transporting grain to the rear, so he smiled and said: "General, I will stay with the army for the time being. I have my own arrangements."
Li Yan was so happy that he took out the money and grain account book from his arms and showed it to Xu Shu for counting.
Ma Daiben rushed to the military camp. On the way, he remembered Xu Shu's worries just now. He was also afraid that Ma Chao might misunderstand and be resentful, so he turned around to visit the injured.
In the camp, the military doctor had already given Ma Chao medicine for the sores. He was lying on the couch with a pale face, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Ma Dai waved back, checked Ma Chao's injuries, and said angrily: "Brother, since you were young, even your uncle couldn't bear to lift a finger. The Qiang people have never hurt you in the slightest, but now you are being beaten like this. How can you bear it?"
Ma Chao breathed in the cold air and said with a smile: "What does a little injury mean? I blame my eagerness for meritorious service and messed up the rules. Yuan Zhi is kind to us, so we must not embarrass him."
Ma Dai said angrily: "It's in vain that you and I trust Xu Shu so much. I didn't expect that he is actually a hypocritical villain. Since he is unkind, don't blame us for being unjust. Why don't we lead our troops back to Xiliang? We regard my brother as the lord of Xiliang and stand on our own." , You are so carefree and majestic, why should you suffer this humiliation?"
"Bastard, hiss -" Ma Chao got up from the bed angrily, bared his teeth, pointed at Ma Dai and yelled: "The princes of the Ma family have been loyal and good for generations, how can they stand on their own? When we avenge our shame and honor our ancestors, you come out here Yan, what’s your intention?”
Ma Dai said in astonishment: "My brother has been respected by everyone since he was a child. The tribes of the Qiang people even regarded him as the mighty general, but he was humiliated by Xu Shu in front of the three armies. How can everyone swallow this tone? Punishing my brother like this is just a punishment." Slap us in the face!"
"You know..." Ma Chao resisted the urge to curse, shook his head and sighed: "My lord has a good saying: Old people are innocent without a blow. This time Yuan Zhi blamed me, but it made me sober: state-owned and state-law , there are family rules in the family. The land of the Central Plains is no better than Xiliang. Since you and I serve General Liu as our master to prosper the Han Dynasty, we should abide by the law."
Ma Dai asked again: "Brother, you really don't have any resentment in your heart?"
"If my lord hadn't sent Yuan Zhi thousands of miles to rescue me, how could you and I be here today?" Ma Chao sighed softly: "A man should know how to repay his kindness, but my lord has hidden dragons and crouching tigers under his command. There is no shortage of you and me. If we don't contribute, it will be too late! After I leave, , you tell them to restrain themselves, if anyone embarrasses the Xiliang Army again, I will tell him not to go back to his hometown."
Ma Dai suddenly laughed: "Brother, this beating was not in vain!"
Ma Chao glared: "How dare you laugh at me?"
Ma Dai helped Ma Chao lie down and told Ma Chao everything he heard outside the house. He had no complaints, which showed that the two of them were in love with each other.
"Good boy, you came to test me?" Ma Chao scolded with a smile, his heart became more and more moved, and he sighed: "I will never be able to repay Xu Yuanzhi's favor in this life."
