Can I get to the other side?

Looking at the old woman's face full of earnestness and sincerity, Liu Xie was silent and speechless.

He didn't know how to express his feelings at this time. Countless words were choked in his throat. In the end, he could only say: "There will be such a day."

"I will make everyone in the Han Dynasty have food to eat, everyone has books to read, and no longer suffer from the pain of war."

"That day will not be too far away."

Liu Xie reached out and touched Zhaodi's little face, took a deep look at the spirit tablet, and said goodbye and left.

Riding in the carriage returning to Yecheng, Liu Xie looked at the setting sun in the distance and fell into deep thought.

The situation of Zhaodi's family is by no means an isolated case. There are many such widows and widows in the Han Dynasty, and there are many people who suffer from suffering.

And all he can do is to resolve this war as soon as possible, let the Han Dynasty get rid of the war, and then concentrate on developing people's livelihood.

He must create a real Datong prosperous era!

...

A month passed in a flash.

After entering December, the weather gradually became colder, but this did not have much impact on the court's troops.

This expedition will be led by Zhang Liao as the commander-in-chief of the three armies, Sima Yi as the military advisor, and Lu Bu, Taishi Ci, and Zhao Yun as the generals, with a total of 80,000 troops.

Ma Chao's Xiliang Army's strength should not be underestimated, so in addition to Lu Bu, Liu Xie also sent Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci out.

Outside Yecheng.

Today is the day when the army officially sets out. The weather is particularly clear and cloudless. A full 80,000 troops stand solemnly outside Yecheng, ready to go.

The so-called major affairs of the country are sacrifices and wars.

When the army goes out, it is necessary to kill three animals and six livestock to offer sacrifices to the sky. This is an indispensable process and link.

The Temple of Heaven for sacrifice has been prepared outside the city, and various offerings such as three animals and six livestock have been placed on it.

There was a divine fire burning in the altar, and the curling green smoke went straight to the sky and soared up to the sky with the wind.

Invite the nine heavens and ten directions of the saints, and the underworld and Fengdu.

Although Liu Xie did not lead the army to the battle this time, as the emperor, he naturally held the incense and went forward to worship and swear for the army to go to the battle.

After the sacrifice, Gao Lan knelt in front of Liu Xie with a sword, holding the emperor's sword high above his head with both hands.

"Your Majesty, please draw your sword!"

Gao Lan bowed his head respectfully and said in a deep voice.

Liu Xie's eyes slightly stern when he heard the words, stretched out his hand to grab the hilt of the sword and slowly pulled it out, and the light reflected by the sword body shone like the sun!

The sharp edge was revealed!

Liu Xie stood on the altar of heaven with a sword, wearing a majestic and noble black dragon robe, and his eyes were full of sharpness. ,

The Han dragon flag erected on the altar fluttered.

Countless troops under the stage stood in silence.

Zhang Liao, Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong and other generals were all in the audience, each with extraordinary momentum and a murderous intention, waiting for the emperor's order!

"Three armies listen to the order--!"

Liu Xie said, pointing his sword to the west.

"Go to war, fight against the enemy!!!"

Wherever the sword points, the iron hoof will go.

So thousands of troops and horses galloped, as if thunder shook the sky and the earth, and as if a strong wind swept the earth!

A strong wind rose!

...

Sizhou, Chang'an.

The news that Ma Teng returned to the army had already spread.

After learning that the old general was tortured by Lu Bu and had to stay in bed, many of Ma Teng's old subordinates in the Xiliang Army were indignant about this.

However, these emotions were suppressed by Ma Chao, and the army began to prepare for the expedition of Lu Bu and Yuan Xi.

Because the news that the court had labeled Ma Chao a traitor had spread throughout the world, the crusade was inevitable, and there would be a battle between the two sides.

During this period, a letter from Jingzhou arrived in Chang'an and was handed to Ma Chao.

In the central army camp.

After reading the letter in his hand, Ma Chao looked at the scholar in front of him and asked with a raised eyebrow: "Does Cao Mengde want to form an alliance with this general?"

"That's right."

The scholar smiled slightly and said: "The general is a loyal and righteous man, but he was labeled as a traitor by the false emperor and Lu Bu, which is really infuriating."

"My master has long admired the name of the Godly General. Now he heard that the false emperor's court is going to send troops to attack the general, so he wants to form an alliance with the general."

"After all, the power of the false emperor's court cannot be underestimated. Although the general's Xiliang army is unparalleled in the world, it is afraid that it can't stand alone."

The scholar talked calmly and calmly.

However, after hearing this, Ma Chao sneered, slapped the letter in his hand on the table, pointed at him and scolded: "You are so presumptuous!"

"Your Majesty in Yecheng is the real emperor, but now he is held hostage by two villains, Lu Bu and Yuan Xi. When did he become the fake emperor you mentioned?"

"Cao Mengde pretended to be the emperor, and now he is still trying to win over this general to serve the fake emperor with him. It's just wishful thinking!"

Ma Chao ruthlessly rejected the scholar's proposal.

And scolded him.

Although forming an alliance is a good thing, he is under the banner of clearing the emperor's side and eliminating treacherous ministers. If he forms an alliance with Cao Cao, it will be equivalent to ruining his reputation.

"General, you are wrong!"

The scholar shook his head and said seriously: "The so-called emperor in Yecheng is just a fake emperor. The real emperor is now in Jingzhou."

"It's a pity that the world is deceived by the fake emperor, causing the orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty to fall and the real emperor to fall into trouble."

"General, since you are the descendant of General Fubo, you should distinguish the true from the false. How can you believe in the fake emperor?"

Every word of the scholar was sincere.

However, Ma Chao stood up with an angry look on his face and said: "You madman is so bold, how dare you say such confusing words!"

"If this general hadn't never beheaded the envoys, I would have killed you today!"

"Come here! Blow him out!"

Ma Chao stopped talking nonsense with the scribe and asked his guards to drive him out of the tent. At this time, Pang De just walked into the tent.

Seeing the scribe being escorted out by his personal guards, he couldn't help but asked in confusion: "General, who was that person just now?"

"It's just a lobbyist sent by Cao Cao."

Ma Chao waved his hand and snorted coldly: "The thief Cao wants me to join forces with him to fight against the imperial court and support the false emperor of Jingzhou. How can I let him do this?"

"Even if I lose to Lu Bu and die at the hands of that traitor, I will never ally with him, Cao Cao!"

Ma Chao's words were so convincing that many generals in the camp showed admiration on their faces.

"As expected of a general."

Pang De also said with admiration, and then took out a military report from his arms and reported to him: "General, there is news from Jizhou that Lu Bu's troops set out ten days ago and have now arrived in Bingzhou and are heading towards Coming from Sizhou."

"This time, Lu Bu personally led the troops. There were 80,000 soldiers and horses. The attackers were quite evil."

Pang De told the news with a solemn expression.

The imperial army had strong soldiers and horses, and they defeated powerful opponents like Yuan Shao, and Lu Bu was the most powerful general in the world.

This time, 80,000 troops were sent and Lu Bu personally led the troops, which shows how seriously he took this war.

"It's winter again..."

Upon hearing the news, Ma Chao's expression changed slightly, and a gloomy look flashed in his eyes.

It was no secret to him that the imperial army was good at fighting in winter. He had seen it before when the imperial army sent troops to attack Bingzhou to wipe out high-ranking officials.

As far as he knew, the imperial court equipped the soldiers in the army with various warm clothing woven from wool, which gave them the ability to fight in winter.

"Hmph, many of the soldiers in our army are from the Qiang people, and they are also good at making clothes from fur."

"It is simply wishful thinking to defeat me through the climate!"

Ma Chao thought secretly in his heart.

The Qiang people have long had the habit of using fur to make warm and cold clothing. Basically everyone has a sheepskin jacket to resist the severe cold.

Although the sheepskin jacket may have limited effect on winter operations, it will not be as helpless as the high-ranking army.

The error-free version is being read! 6=9+Book_Bar debuts this novel.

"I see."

Thinking of this, Ma Chao looked at Pang De and ordered: "Let the army guard Tongguan, Lu Bu can't attack it."

Needless to say, Chang'an, as the imperial capital, has a superior geographical location. As long as it guards Tongguan to the east, no amount of enemy troops can attack it.

"Yes, General."

Pang De respectfully accepted the order, and then asked after a slight hesitation: "The old general has been in bed to recuperate for a long time. I wonder if the situation has improved recently?"

It had been a long time since Ma Teng returned to Chang'an, but he still felt a little strange that he was still bedridden and unable to see anyone after such a long time.

"Yes, how is the old general's injury?"

"Damn Lu Bu, he's so cruel!"

"The old general has really suffered a lot..."

"General, let us go and visit."

The other generals in the tent also asked questions after hearing this.

The corner of Ma Chao's mouth twitched slightly, but he still said with a serious face: "My father's injury is still not getting better. It is not appropriate to visit him at the moment. Let him continue to cultivate."

The generals had no choice but to give up after hearing this.

After Ma Chao ordered the generals to prepare for the war, he left the camp, while Pang De looked at his back and frowned.

A deep suspicion arose in my heart.

Not long ago, he asked the soldier who was the first to report the mission's arrival in Chang'an. The other soldier said that the old general did not look like he was being tortured.

Then why did you stay in bed and recuperate for so long?

…

Chang'an, General's Mansion.

After Ma Chao left the military camp, he rode back to Chang'an City, went all the way to the mansion, and then walked into the study.

In the study, there was a scribe waiting.

It was the envoy sent by Cao Cao.

The other party looked at Ma Chao walking into the study and asked with a smile: "The general left, but then asked the soldiers to bring me here. I don't know why?"

"Forging an alliance with Cao Mengde, what can he give me?"

There were no outsiders, so Ma Chao also put away his previous attitude in the military camp and asked straight to the point: "Tell me your conditions."

There were a lot of people outside before, so he definitely couldn't negotiate terms with the other party in front of his subordinates, so he just drove them away.

Some things cannot be brought to the table.

The scribe chuckled and said, "I don't understand what the general said. Didn't the general say that he supports the false emperor in Yecheng before?"

"Stop making these twists and turns!"

Ma Chao knocked on the table impatiently and said with a cold face: "Whether the emperor of Yecheng is real or fake, I don't care."

"What I want is to break the earth and become the king!"

"Cao Mengde also has the emperor in his hands. As long as he can agree to my condition and let the emperor of Jingzhou decree to make me the King of Liang, I will agree to join forces with him."

It makes no difference to him whether the emperor of Yecheng is real or fake. As the so-called winner and loser, the one who can win in the end is the real emperor.

After hearing this, the scribe also suppressed his smile and said in a deep voice: "This matter is of great importance and I cannot decide it alone. I need to go back and ask the lord for instructions."

How could he casually agree to split the earth and become a king? At least he didn't have the right to make the decision.

"I didn't ask you to agree now."

Ma Chao said nonchalantly: "Lu Bu has brought troops to attack me. Go back and tell Cao Mengde that if you want me to support the Emperor of Jingzhou, send troops to help me contain him. This is the prerequisite for my joining forces with him."

"After all, he is capricious and likes to backstab his allies. Sun Quan and Liu Cong are examples of this. I need to see his sincerity."

"As for whether or not to join forces with him in the end, it depends on whether he can let me be the King of Cool. Do you understand what I mean?"

Ma Chao knew why Cao Cao wanted to win over him. It was just because he took a fancy to the soldiers and horses in his hands.

Cao Cao's strength alone cannot compete with the imperial court. Only by joining forces with him can we do it.

And this was exactly the reason why he dared to make conditions.

After hearing Ma Chao's conditions, the scribe frowned and pondered for a long time, and finally said slowly: "I will truthfully convey the general's words to my lord."

After saying that, he saluted Ma Chao.

Then strode away.

After he left, Ma Chao returned to the desk, quickly wrote a letter with a pen, then called a confidant and handed the letter to him.

"Send this letter to Bingzhou and give it to Lu Bu."

Ma Chao ordered.

The confidant was stunned when he heard this, and couldn't help asking: "General, general, send a message to... Lu Bu?"

The imperial court is currently sending troops to attack them. If you send a letter at this time, what is the difference between that and seeking death?

"Don't ask so many questions, just go."

Although Ma Chao was a little impatient, when he saw the slightly frightened expression of his confidant, he still said: "The two armies are fighting without killing the envoy, so don't worry too much."

"If something happens to your wife, I will take care of her."

The confidant gritted his teeth, gave Ma Chao a heavy fist, then put the secret letter in his arms and hurriedly left the study.

Ma Chao was relieved and smiled.

There was a glint of pride in his eyes.

"Two emperors are fighting, and I will benefit. Whichever of you offers a higher price, I will take refuge in whoever you offer!"

In the letter, he revealed the news that Cao Cao had roped him in, and planned to use this as a bargaining chip to try again to win the chance to become king.

After all, if he can be crowned king by the true emperor, it will definitely be better than turning his back to support the fake emperor in Jingzhou, and will not cause opposition from his soldiers.

He believed that the Emperor of Yecheng would not sit still after hearing the news that he was going to join forces with Cao Cao, and would definitely try to win him over.

Because if he joins forces with Cao Cao to fight against the imperial court and support the fake emperor in Jingzhou, once the imperial court is defeated, the country of Han Dynasty will be stolen by a fake emperor.

He didn't believe that the Emperor of Yecheng could remain indifferent to this!