Section 21 Ask Price

Jiang Gan was very awesome, and he was very arrogant and knocked his palms with a folding fan made of Jingzhu in his hand, and smiled relaxedly: "In order to prevent you from bullying you, please ask the Major General to choose a personal guard as his opponent."

Han Yin's lungs were so angry that although he was not a top expert in the Xiliang army, he dared not compare with a brave man like Ma Chao, Yan Xing, and Cheng Gongying, but he was also a brave man. If he couldn't even deal with a personal guard, what kind of face he would have? What's more, he was so excited by Jiang Gan's unworthy general. The little flame in his heart immediately encountered a gasoline bomb, which turned into a sky-high fire, and his eyes were red.

"It's you." Han Yin Long Dao pointed at the tall and gloomy guard standing in front, and shouted loudly: "Looking at you like this, I hope you are the most powerful. If you can't do it, just change to the one who can fight the most."

The guard's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard him, but he just turned his eyes to Jiang Gan. Jiang Gan grinned at the corner of his mouth, as if he wanted to laugh, but he quickly stopped it. He waved his hand and said, "You just go with him a few moves, be careful, try not to kill him. General Han is so old, but he can't stand the pain of losing his son."

"It's outrageous." Han Yin was furious and roared sharply, swung the long sword and slashed it violently. According to his posture, he would never give up without slashing the personal guard in half.

The already depressing atmosphere in the tent suddenly became cold. Not only Cheng Gongying and others stared at Han Yin, but even Han Sui, who was pretending to be asleep, opened his eyes and stared at the guard intently. The guard stood there without moving. The sword in his right hand pointed at the ground in front of him, but he narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at the sword that struck him in front of him with the sound of wind.

Han Yin's eyes were fierce and he fiercely nailed the guard in front of him. In his eyes, this guard had become a dead person.

In an instant, the long sword had already slashed over the head of the guard.

"Kill!" A sudden shout was heard, and the long sword in the guard's hand rolled upside down, and he drew half a circle against Han Yin's long sword. A silver light flashed and a light sound, cutting off Han Yin's long sword like cutting a rotten wood. The long sword stopped steadily at Han Yin's neck. The murderous aura oozed out of the sharp blade immediately made Han Yin's neck feel goosebumps.

The victory or defeat is immediately judged.

Han Yin's half long sword sounded softly and inserted it on the ground. He shook it twice before he fell to the ground.

The silence in the big tent was as dead as a silence.

Han Yin was frozen there, his eyes pressing down at the Xueliang Long Knife, which was close to him. He didn't dare to move at all, for fear that the long Knife would cut his throat if he moved. His crossbow was less than three inches on his left hand, but he didn't even have the idea of ​​moving his hand.

"Good knife!" Cheng Gongying called out, stepped forward, and stood in front of Han Yin. He raised the scabbard in his hand and inadvertently opened the long knife. The cold face of the guard suddenly loosened, revealing a bright smile and snow-white and neat teeth. The long knife turned around in his hand, lifted it back and took a step back, bowed and gave a gift to Cheng Gongying and Han Yin, who was sweating coldly behind him: "Take aside."

Cheng Gongying quickly returned the gift: "Your sword in your hand cuts iron like mud. I think you are not just a personal guard under the chariot General's tent, right?"

The personal guard smiled: "The general has been awarded too much. In the following Wen Qin, it is the general's tiger soldier. This time, he accompanied Lord Jiang to discuss matters with General Han on the order of the general. He did not want any accidents to occur here and delay the important matters. It is the general's sincerity. If he is not good at martial arts and has rudeness, please let the Major General He begs."

Cheng Gongying blushed. He originally praised Wen Qin for his good knife, and said that Wen Qin was not an ordinary personal guard, just to save some face for Han Yin. Unexpectedly, he was just a personal guard, but not Jiang Gan's personal guard, but Cao Chong's personal guard, but Cao Chong's personal guard was also a personal guard, and he did not lie. The general sent a personal guard to protect his men to negotiate, which was a manifestation of caring for his subordinates, and it was not known in advance that he would compete in martial arts.

Han Yin heard Wen Qin's words and his face suddenly turned red with shame. Of course, he understood that Cheng Gongying was giving him a way, but he knew it. Even if Wen Qin didn't have this sword, he was still not an opponent with the speed, ruthlessness, accuracy and stability he showed in one move just now. He felt ashamed of himself, but in front of so many people, he was defeated by an opponent's personal guard, and he was defeated so thoroughly in one move, so he still couldn't get out of the way, even if the opponent was Cao Chong's personal guard.

Just when Han Yin was not convinced but had no choice, Han Sui said softly: "Good skills, Ziyi, you are defeated, please step back."

"Here!" Han Yin also held half of the long sword and glanced at Wen Qin fiercely: "Han Yin has learned the lesson." After saying that, he stepped back to Han Sui and stood, lowered his head and said ashamed: "Father..."

"I heard for a long time that there are twenty personal tiger soldiers under the tent of General Cheqi and Cavalry. They are Qiao Pei warriors trained by Master Hu Chi. Any one of them comes out, they are all famous. When they see them today, they are indeed well-known." Han Sui said with a calm expression. He coughed twice and signaled Han Yin to help him up. Han Yin quickly bent down and gently hugged Han Sui's thin and light body, let him lie down halfway, and stuffed a pillow behind his back and tucked it for him.

Jiang Gan smiled and did not refute Han Sui. Although Wen Qin was not trained by Xu Chu, Han Sui was basically correct.

"I just don't know if the divine sword that is as sharp as iron as mud is under the chariot and cavalry general's tent?" Han Sui coughed and his face was a little flushed, and he looked back. He smiled and pointed to the long sword in Wen Qin's hand and said, "If this is the case, I would be honest and begged for a pity from the Xian Envoy. The divine sword created by Pu Yuan in Hanzhong is worth no market in Xiliang, and it is hard to find a fortune. I am willing to exchange a thousand-mile horse from the Western Regions. I don't know what the Xian Envoy wants."

Jiang Gan smiled slightly and sat back in front of Han Sui. He spread his folding fan twice and then closed with a "hurrying" sound. His expression was extremely chilly. Even this season was still chilly, and the fan was obviously a bit inconvenient, so the generals of Xiliang curled their lips disdainfully, expressing their contempt for Jiang Gan's behavior.

"The general is right. The magical sword created by Pu Yuan is hard to find in the world. Even with the strong strength of the General of the Cavalry, only generals above the lieutenant. Ordinary soldiers only use weapons slightly better than the Major General. It is far inferior to this kind of long sword." Jiang Gan said, smacking his lips, which seemed a little regretful, but in the ears of Han Sui and others, they changed their faces. This kind of sword that they thought was worth a thousand gold can be worn by officers like the lieutenant in Cao's camp. The difference in weapons between the two sides is not a little bit. Moreover, according to Jiang Gan, the long sword used by ordinary soldiers of the Cao army is better than that used by generals like Han Yin. Even if it is bragging, as long as it has half of the credible ingredients, it is amazing.

Han Sui's eyelids trembled, and he looked at Jiang Gan who was shaking his head, trying to see some hypocrisy in his face, but what he saw was Jiang Gan's calm expression and no trace of utterance. He frowned slightly, turned his head to look at the round tent, and sighed silently. He remembered the battle in Yangshugou, and Xiahou said that Deng Ai and two young generals led 15,000 people to attack his camp, and fought for 4,000 infantrymen to defeat Cheng Gongying's two thousand cavalry, and even gained the upper hand. Especially when Cheng Gongying said that Xu Yi cut off his bamboo stalker with one knife, he believed Jiang Gan's words. Judging from the achievements of Cao's army at that time, even if Jiang Gan was talking about it, it was extremely limited.

He felt a little scared in his heart.

The two sides have similar forces, but there are big gaps in other aspects. The battle of Yangshugou has shown that although the other side is mainly infantry, unlike the people of Xiliang, their strength cannot be underestimated and they are not advantageous. Another important point is that an important factor that can confront Cao Chong is that he can restrain himself, so that he can live in peace with Ma Chao. But now he is over 70 years old, and his life is rare. What's more, his current physical condition is extremely poor. I wonder if he can still see the sun tomorrow. If he leaves, with Han Yin's personality, can he control these arrogant soldiers and generals? Can he be humble with Ma Chao? If the two families have a dispute again, wouldn't they have to repeat the defeat in Guanzhong? What's more, Cao Chong, who is pacified Jiangnan, is not Cao Pi, who is highly keen.

Xiliang, can you still hold on?

"Xiliang is a whole. Since you have come to me, I must have sent someone to Jicheng." Han Sui was silent for a long time and suddenly asked softly.

"The general said it is right." Jiang Gan nodded and talked freely, without any intention of hiding it: "My general wants to pacify Xiliang, hoping that the people of Xiliang will no longer live in dire straits, no longer worry about escaping military disasters all day long, and no longer run around to survive, so he hopes to negotiate with the two generals. The general and General Ma dominate Xiliang and become the leader. Since we have to negotiate peace, we must of course negotiate together. The general should believe in the sincerity of our general. He does not want to fight one and divide and govern it. He really wants to negotiate with the general sincerely."

He paused for a moment, leaned towards Han Sui, getting closer to Han Sui, and said sincerely: "Jiang Gan also heard from Mr. Jia that when the general was young, he was also full of passion and wanted to be loyal to the country. Unfortunately, the treacherous and slandered in the court, and the eunuchs were in the harem, He Jin was not planning, and Dong Zhuo was cruel, which made the general have no way to serve the country. General, your Han family is also a large clan in Jincheng. Are you willing to meet the ancestors of your Han family as a rebellious person? Now General Cheqi is willing to put aside his previous grievances and grievances, let go of his past, and work with the general to reappear in the stable situation in Xiliang. General, this is a good opportunity for both sides. Jiang Gan dares to ask the general to think twice."

Han Sui's eyelids trembled suddenly, and the blood vessels in his temples jumped up. The biggest hidden pain in his heart caused his heart to contract suddenly, and his breathing was a little uncomfortable, forcing him to open his mouth and try hard to inhale more air.

"Father..." Han Yin was shocked and rushed over and hugged Han Sui and looked nervously. Seeing that Han Sui was a little excited, he turned around and shouted angrily at Jiang Gan: "Shu Zi, what are you talking nonsense? We are not rebellious. Xiliang should be ours."

Jiang Gan didn't say anything, but just looked at Han Yin quietly. Han Yin was stunned by his eyes and couldn't help but look up at Wen Qin behind Jiang Gan. Wen Qin held the hilt of the knife with expressionless face and stood up. Han Yin suddenly became frightened and took back the words behind.

"Ziyi!" Han Sui gasped a little lighter, grabbed Han Yin's hand, and shouted hard.

"Father!" Han Yin quickly turned his head and looked at Han Sui with concern.

"Empress..." Han Sui gasped, turned his head reluctantly, and looked at Jiang Gan: "Thank you with the kindness of General, I am very grateful. But I am very involved in this matter. Please allow me to think about it, discuss with you generals, and give you an answer to Empress. How about it?"

Jiang Gan nodded: "It's okay, the general is to take care of his health. Jiang Gan is willing to stay here for a few days and wait for the general to recover. If the general needs it, I can also send a message to my general and ask him to send some doctors." He smiled and said: "Since the general knows that Pu Yuan has built a magic knife in Hanzhong, he should also know that the Medical College in Xiangyang was chaired by Master Zhang. Now Chang'an College has also set up a medical college, which is taught by the master's favorite disciple Wang Yu. The level of medical students is also good. Today, the Imperial Physician Lord Ling Ji Benji is also Wang Yu's junior brother."

"Then I'll have a hard work." Han Sui grinned and showed a smile, but there was no laughter, as if he was extremely tired. He waved to Cheng Gongying, Cheng Gongying put his ears on his mouth and listened a few words, straightened up and apologized to Jiang Gan: "Sir, my general is unhappy. I'm afraid he can't talk to Xian for a while. Please come with me, and I'll take the adults to rest for a while."

Jiang Gan stood up and bowed to Han Sui: "General, please take care of yourself." After that, he followed Cheng Gongying out the big tent. Cheng Gongying took him to rest, arranged a ** tent for him, and arranged a drink and food for him, and then returned to the big tent. Jiang Gan knew that Han Sui was taking the opportunity to delay time and wanted to discuss with his subordinates. He was not in a hurry anyway, and stayed in the tent and drank with Wen Qin and others to read books, and quietly waited for Han Sui's reply.

When Cheng Gongying returned to Han Sui's tent, Han Sui had already sat up, coughing softly while looking at the people with different expressions. When he saw Cheng Gongying coming back, he waved and asked Cheng Gongying to sit next to him: "Yuanjie, what do you think about this?"

Before Cheng Gongying spoke, he looked at the expressions of the people in the tent. When the candidate, Cheng Yin and others touched his gaze, they all let their eyes go away and did not dare to look directly at him. Cheng Gongying could see from the dull atmosphere in the tent that Jiang Gan's words just now shook their minds. Although the strength of Cao's army was not overwhelming, it was obvious to all. Cao Chong pacified Jiangnan, had great military achievements and strong strength. His subordinates are not only in Xiahou Yuan.

The important generals include three of the five good generals, and a young young general. He is now engaged in the new policy in Guanzhong. His actions show that he is obviously not the one who wants to make some military achievements. Even if he can't eat Xiliang for a while, he will not retreat easily. In time, Xiliang, who is already poor, will fight him. Now, whether the Han or Qiang people, they all want to run to Guanzhong. When the people run away, even if they have a million troops, they will be defeated without fighting.

Besides, their strength has been swallowed up by Han Sui, and they can't make a name for themselves if they follow Han Sui. Instead of waiting for death, it's better to make a living by themselves. Cheng Gongying can know without thinking that these people must be ulterior motives now and think about how to contact Jiang Gan in private.

"General, although Cao's army is strong, it is not yet at the point where it can be determined to defend Xiliang in one battle, otherwise they would not have sent people to negotiate." As soon as Cheng Gongying spoke, he calmed down the restless hearts of the people in the tent, and then reminded them: "General Cheqi and Cavalry are far away in Guanzhong, and General Ma is in Jicheng, only a hundred miles away, and the cavalry arrives in an instant."

Cheng Xuan and others' expressions changed immediately, but Han Sui smiled slightly and stroking his beard without saying a word. Although he was still very weak, he was far from the way he looked like he was just now, he couldn't tell whether he could get up in the next breath.

"What do you mean?" Han Sui smiled faintly.

Cheng Gongying bowed to Han Sui and said slowly: "The general and General Ma raise an army together, share life and death. If you want to fight, you should fight together. If you want to talk, you should also talk together. The subordinates think that the general should communicate with General Ma immediately to see what his opinions are. When our army's relatives' food and grass are about to be exhausted, should we return to Jincheng or persist, this also requires consultation with General Ma to avoid any misunderstandings."

Han Sui nodded with satisfaction. What he was worried about was Ma Chao. If he did not pass Ma Chao, he surrendered himself. If Ma Chao also surrendered at that time, they would definitely work together in Xiliang. There would definitely be conflicts. If Ma Chao was unwilling to surrender, then once he learned that he was going to surrender, with his temper, he would likely start a war immediately. He is now less powerful and has a single power, but he is unwilling to fight with him again, so that Cao Chong can get a bargain. Cheng Gongying has a good idea and put the decision to Ma Chao. If he is willing to surrender, everyone will sit down and negotiate terms with Cao Chong. This way, he will have greater strength and richer negotiation capital. Of course, there will be more benefits to get. If Ma Chao is unwilling, then okay, I have no food to eat. If you have Jicheng, support me a little more. You can't let me fight with you on hungry days.

"Do you have any better opinions?" Han Sui glanced around and looked at the faces of the candidate and others one by one. Those people were uncomfortable with him, as if he had seen through his mind and said hesitantly.

"Yuan Jie is right, just do it..."

"After everything, follow the general's arrangement..."

"I wish to listen to the general's arrangement..."

"Since that's the case, I'll send someone to Jicheng." Han Sui looked at them again, then waved his hand: "I'm tired, you go down and discuss it well. When the news from General Ma comes back, we will talk to Jiang Ziyi again." Just as everyone was about to leave, he coughed again: "Before this, don't take your own initiative, and others take advantage of the loopholes, which ruins everyone's future."

Although his voice was not loud, the warning inside was very obvious. Everyone was so stern and nodded quickly.

Jicheng, Liangzhou Governor's Mansion.

Ma Chao hugged Ma Tie and looked left and right, tears couldn't help but burst out from his eyes. He trembled with his lips and asked anxiously: "How is Father?"

Ma Tie was also in tears. He knelt in front of Ma Chao with a thud, hugging Ma Chao's legs and cried bitterly, and said while crying: "Brother, I thought... I thought... I thought we would never meet again, but I didn't expect... I didn't expect... My brother will have a day to meet again. In the past few years... we... have all spent in prison. Look, look at my face, it's as white as a woman."

Ma Chao also knelt down on the ground, holding Ma Tie's cheeks with two thick palms, and cried: "You have suffered in the past few years, father... how good my father is, how good my mother is?"

"My father is fine, he is much older, his hair is all white, and he even carries a lot of his waist." Ma Tie cried for a while, gradually stopped the crying. He raised his sleeves and wiped the tears from his face: "Mother left five years ago."

"Mother... is leaving?" Ma Chao was struck by lightning, staying there, looking at Ma Tie with his eyes wide open, unable to believe it.

"Yeah." Ma Tie nodded and sobbed, "We were just arrested and went to prison. My second brother and I were almost beaten to death by the jailers. My father was also severely punished and dying. My mother was frightened and was overly sad. She left after a few months."

"It's outrageous." Ma Chao was furious, stood up with a loud voice, pulled out the long knife from his waist, chopped it up on the pillar next to it, the blade penetrated deep into the pillar, and said in a cold voice: "If you don't avenge this, you will not be a human being."

Ma Tie shook his head and said helplessly: "Brother, who are you going to seek for revenge? Can you avenge this?"

Ma Chao turned his head viciously and glared at Ma Tie: "What are you saying? Why can't I take revenge?"

Ma Tie smiled bitterly and stood up: "Do you know who framed our Ma family?"

"Of course I know, I'm not from the Cao family." Ma Qi said hatefully.

Ma Tie shook his head, walked to Ma Chao, pulled Ma Chao's long sword from the pillar, inserted it back into the scabbard around Ma Chao's waist, patted Ma Chao's clenched fist, and patiently advised: "Brother, there are too many people in the Cao family, can you kill them all? Besides, the one who hurt us was Cao Pi, but the General of the Carriage and Cavalry who saved us was. If you kill him together, wouldn't you be inseparable from grudges?"

"He is not a good person either." Ma Chao said angrily: "Don't be deceived by him. He left your life because he was afraid that I would enter Guanzhong. He just wanted to wait for you to persuade me to surrender today. If I am defeated, do you think you can still survive?"

Ma Tie nodded: "Brother is right. General Cheqi and Cavalry keeps us and wants to persuade you to surrender, but after all, he saved us. Otherwise, our brothers would not have the chance to meet again today. Besides, Cao Pi had not been to Guanzhong. Have you taken revenge? Even Guanzhong was lost. Now General Cheqi and Cavalry is here, can you take revenge? He is in Meiwu. Do you dare to go?"

"Why don't I dare to go?" Ma Chao was furious when Ma Tie said it. He shook Ma Tie's hand away, strode back to the seat, and sat down angrily. Ma Tie followed him and sat down in front of him, saying solemnly: "Brother, before I come, my father said that if you are really sure to enter Guanzhong and dominate Xiliang, he is willing to give up his life and willing to die under the sword of the general of the chariot and cavalry, and let me stay and help you. But can you guarantee me that you can enter Guanzhong and not let your father and others die in vain?"

"I..." Ma Chao said for a moment. How could he be sure to fight to Guanzhong? If he had such a skill, would he still sit here? He would have been out of the city and attacked Xiahou Yuan fifty miles away. Xiahou Yuan's army of more than 20,000 was in Xiahou Yuan, like a heavy stone, pressing on his heart, making him unable to even sleep. If it weren't for the easy defense of Jicheng, he would have robbed the city and left.

Ma Tie stared at him seriously for a while, and saw that he was blushing and had no face to respond, so he slowed down and persuaded: "Brother, you have been fighting for several years. You should know that the current situation is not enough. Now General Cheqi is willing to negotiate with his brother and give our Ma family a chance. It is a great opportunity for our brother to return to the court and to reunite our family. Why do you need to separate from one's life and death and meet the ancestors with a rebellious reputation? Our Ma family has had a sage like General Fu Bo and Empress Mingde. Do you have the heart to let our Ma family become a shame for them?"

"What's the shame of the winner, the king and the prince, the loser." Ma Chao gave him a blank look, but his confidence was obviously lacking.

"Brother is right, but can't you win now?" Ma Tie took out Ma Teng's handwritten letter and handed it to Ma Chao with both hands. Ma Chao took it, but did not open it immediately. Instead, he looked at Ma Teng's familiar handwriting, hesitated for a moment, put the letter on the desk, held his forehead with both hands, and bowed his body. He could think of whatever Ma Teng said in his letter without looking at it, but he was really unwilling to ask him to bow his head to surrender to Cao Chong now.

"Besides, General Cheqi is very tolerant and has ambitions for thousands of miles. He has long heard of his brother's talents. He has expressed his wish to recruit his brother into the tent. Brother, your ability is no worse than that of Pang Lingming and Yan Yanming. If you get to General Cheqi, it is expected to be appointed as a marquis." Ma Tie moved to Ma Chao and said earnestly: "Look at Pang Lingming's son, he has not yet been crowned. Now he is the personal guard of General Cheqi. Are we worse than him? Will the brother feel inferior to him?"

"It's okay to ask me to surrender." Ma Chao suddenly waved his hand and interrupted Ma Tie and said, "You go back and tell Cao Chong that I want to be the former general, Huailihou. That was my father's original official position and title. The Cao family took it away. Now they still have to return it to my Ma family as much as possible. I want Guanzhong, the Ma family army cannot be disbanded, and he cannot send other people. I also want him to put you all back."

Ma Tie heard Ma Chao willing to surrender. He just smiled and heard Ma Chao's words behind him, the smile on his face froze immediately. He stared at Ma Chao in a daze. After a long time, he said something: "Brother, General Cheqi is a young genius, not the kind of powerful child born in the hands of women. Do you treat him as an idiot? Will he agree to such a condition?"

Ma Chao snorted disdainfully and waved his hand to interrupt Ma Tie's words: "You don't understand! I have tens of thousands of Qiang cavalry in my hand, and he can't swallow me. Why can't I go back to the things that should be my Ma family? It was taken away by his Cao family by tricks and should have given them back to my family. He is just a stele with a hair that has not yet grown enough to be a general of a chariot. Why can't I even be a former general? If I don't hold on to the people in my hand firmly, he will take me seriously? I'll be named a marquis today, and I may come and pick up my head tomorrow."

He stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked up at the sky: "Now, only by strength can one have wealth and honor. This is the law of nature."

Ma Tie sat without saying a word, and after a long time, he said something: "Brother, do you really want to send us under someone's knife?"

"What are you saying? I am working hard for the glory of the Ma family." Ma Chao looked at him unhappily: "I hope you can be safe every day, so how could you send you under the knife? That's how you see me?"
Chapter completed!