After Dong Zhuo's death, Yuan Shu from the Central Plains supported his troops and proclaimed himself emperor. In just two years, Ma Teng received two emperor's orders and led his troops to Jiangdong to attack Yuan Shu.

Two months ago, Yuan Shu was defeated. Ma Teng obtained Yuan Shao's secret message during his crusade and led his army north to Yecheng, Yuan Shao's base.

Yuan Shao was powerful and controlled the four states of You, Bing, Qing, and Hebei. Youzhou was the largest state in the Three Kingdoms period, with abundant food and grass. Yuan Shao also married into the Zhen family, a prominent family in Hebei, and gained financial support, making his reputation skyrocketing.

The Ma Teng family only held the post of Wuwei Governor in Xiliang. After all, they needed to unite with the princes of the Central Plains, and Yuan Shao was chosen.

However, Ma Teng sent out troops in April and did not return in nearly November. Nearly half of Wuwei's troops were taken away, and the entire city was on heightened alert.

Ma Teng is over sixty years old, and his only eldest son, Ma Chao, is only nineteen years old.

Qilin remained silent, turned his head and looked at Ma Chao carefully, frowning slightly, Lu Bu said a few words casually, explaining the origin of the two of them, still speaking like a hunter from Longxi.

Ma Chao was hospitable for a while and repeatedly invited Lü Bu to the Wuwei Mansion. Lü Bu waved his hand inexplicably and said indifferently: "We and other people from outside the customs practice martial arts to repel the Xiongnu. How can we repay him in return?"

Ma Chao said curiously: "Brother, this horse..."

Lu Bu said: "Sweat and blood, wild horses tamed while hunting in Bingzhou."

Ma Chao nodded, the sweaty horse and the night-glow jade lion are both famous horses, which are not available to ordinary people. It is believable to say that they are tamed fierce horses. He then looked at the unicorn behind Lu Bu and said: "This is your lady...?"

"

Lu Bu poked his thumb behind him and said, "It's also a wild horse, tamed on the road."

Qilin laughed behind Lu Bu's back.

Ma Chao was immediately embarrassed and said: "Madam... I am a talented man and a beautiful woman, so we are a perfect match for you."

Lu Bu said: "You go back, we two are walking around the city, there is no need to be more polite."

Ma Chao saw that Lu Bu was not appreciative, so he had no choice but to give him his hand: "Meng Qi's family is at the prefect's mansion at the end of the street. If my brother is interested, please be sure to show your favor and come to stay at the mansion for a few days."

Lu Bu's nostrils were on the top of his head and he didn't even look at Ma Chao, so Ma Chao had no choice but to take his subordinates and leave.

People are gone.

Lu Bu huffed and stuck out his tongue: "Where are we going to play now?"

Qilin smiled and said: "Go shopping on the street first, look for someone, and then see what they sell."

Xiliang is known as having two important places: "Jincheng" and "Yinwuwei", which refer to Jincheng, the jurisdiction of Han Sui, and Wuwei, the jurisdiction of Ma Teng. Wuwei is connected to the Tengger Desert in the north and Gulang Gorge in the south.

, is also a famous production area of ​​white yak. ​​At this time, winter is approaching, and people have taken the yaks and dragged wooden carts into the market to exchange goods.

Wuwei is more than a hundred miles away from Longxi, and the city looks like a foreign country, full of Western style.

Lu Bu and Qilin led the horses and walked into the market. Qilin looked around, took a bunch of frozen grapes, picked one and put it in his mouth. His mouth was full of cold and sweet, and his heart was full of joy, and he fed one to Lu Bu.

"It's delicious." Lu Bu smacked his lips and put his hand into his pocket to touch the silver coins: "How much did it cost? I bought all the grapes on the stall."

The Han man said: "Five coins per cart, how many carts do you want to buy?"

Qilin checked the grapes and said, "It's too expensive. Can I sell it for a thousand taels of gold?"

Lu Bu: "..."

The Han people laughed and said: "A thousand taels of gold can only buy people, not grapes."

Lu Bu: "???"

Qilin smiled and said: "There is nothing more cost-effective than buying a military advisor with a thousand taels of gold."

Lu Bu was completely dumbfounded and couldn't understand what Qilin and the vendor were talking about.

The Han hawker smiled, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please come this way."

Qilin stretched out his hand toward Lu Bu: "Come."

Lu Bu had a question mark on his head, and he and Qilin were sitting side by side behind the cart. The Han hawker drove the yak, pulled the grape cart wobblingly, and turned into a remote alley and entered the backyard of a house.

"This little brother...what do you call him?"

Qilin jumped out of the car, looked around and said, "I am military advisor Qilin, and this is the Marquis."

The Han hawker was instantly frightened and hurriedly knelt down and said: "I have seen my lord!"

Qilin said: "Get up, I remember that they all brought their families here. How about your family?"

The hawker stood up and said: "When we return to the army, I have been waiting with my mother-in-law, Jiu Jin Wuwei. She is weaving at the front door. The villain bought this yard and happened to plant a lot of grapes, so he took it to the market.

We sell it on the street and are waiting for our people every day."

Lu Bu suddenly realized it and said happily: "It turns out! You are a spy!!"

Qilin couldn't laugh or cry: "Keep your voice down, I'm afraid no one will know."

Lu Bu finally guessed it right, but was poured cold water on him again. He became silent and Qilin praised him: "My lord is so smart."

Only then did Lu Bu smile proudly.

A few months ago, as soon as Qilin arrived in Longxi, he conspired with Chen Gong to send messengers to Jincheng, Wuwei, Dunhuang and other places to sneak into the city to detect the movements of the enemy forces. The secret code for the contact was naturally set by Qilin casually.

Lu Bu said: "How come you don't know how to greet me?"

"What's the use of telling you?" Qilin teased. He just ate the grapes and casually rewarded the letter with some money.

The messenger hurriedly prepared hot water for the two of them to wash their faces, then helped them sit down, served hot milk tea and sweet barley, and then began to report on the happenings in the city - since Ma left Xiliang and went to the Central Plains, until now Ma Chao is guarding Wuwei.

Lu Bu still understood, but didn't interrupt. Qilin asked a few questions casually:

Qilin: "Ma Teng hasn't been back for seven months."

Xinbao: "Yes."

Qilin: "Who is in charge of the city?"

The Xinbao: "The city gate army was mobilized by Ma Chao, Ma Teng's idiot nephew, and the internal affairs were supervised by Cheng Yi."

Qilin was silent for a moment, and Lu Bu asked, "Is Cheng Yi also a loser?"

Xinbao: "..."

Qilin said: "How many troops are there in the city?"

Xinbao: "More than eight thousand, less than ten thousand."

Lu Bu: "That's good..."

Qilin: "Don't think nonsense. How can we attack the city in the winter? It's too difficult to defend the city with eight thousand soldiers, and Han Sui is watching, so we can't mess around."

Lu Bu and Qilin were used to talking nonsense. They could expect everything, so they didn't mind. They replied, "Oh." Then his eyes wandered and he began to imagine the scene of conquering the city.

Qilin said: "Get a pen and paper."

Qilin wrote a letter, explaining that Chen Gong and his two men were in Wuwei and that they could send someone to notify the hunting team and ask the Bingzhou Army to come back. He also listed the general situation in Wuwei City and asked Chen Gong for his opinion for reference.

"You give it to Chen Gong with your own hands, and then find Diao Chan... Fengxian, where is the box placed?"

Lu Bu was in a daze, his face was painted with Qilin, and he came back to his senses: "Why don't you put a seal on the shelf in the room? Do you want a token?"

Qilin said: "No need, only Chen Gong can understand the words on the letter."

Qilin then ordered: "Ask the mistress to give you the luminous pearl with the word 'qi' engraved in the box and bring it back to Wuwei. Go and come back quickly."

The messenger received Qilin's letter and went out immediately. Qilin drank the milk tea and poured another bowl to Lu Bu. The two of them had full stomachs and went out to play.

After a while, the two went to stay in the hotel. For several days, they patrolled the city. Qilin held a homemade notebook in his hand, comparing the construction of Wuwei City, copying and writing.

On the third day, Lu Bu held the red rabbit horse in one hand and Qilin in the other. The two of them interlocked their fingers and wandered aimlessly in the market. Qilin frowned slightly and said, "What kind of person do you think Yuan Shao is?"

"

Lu Bu's eyes were dull and he said: "Yuan Shao is just an Adou who cannot be helped."

Qilin: "..."

Lu Bu smiled and said, "What?"

Qilin said: "Ma Teng went to see Yuan Shao. Why did it take so long? According to my guess, after Yuan Shu died, Yuan Shao should plan to deal with Cao Cao."

Lu Bu nodded and said, "Exactly."

Qilin said: "Then Xiliang Wuwei is Yuan Shao's help. Yuan Shao should not put Ma Teng under house arrest. Why not let him back?"

Lu Bu said: "Do you think Ma Teng is imprisoned?"

Qilin: "It's very possible. I hope my guess is right."

Lu Bu asked: "What will happen if Ma Teng is imprisoned?"

Qilin said: "According to the intelligence analysis given by the spies, Ma Chao cannot convince the public in Wuwei. If Ma Teng dies, there will definitely be a power struggle in the city."

Lu Bu's brain suddenly became useful again, and he asked: "Can we send troops to fish in troubled waters?"

Qilin nodded and said: "What do you think? In fact, Ma Teng does not have to die. We can find a way to spread rumors and forge a letter, pretending to be Ma Teng's subordinates from Hangu Pass, and send it to Wuwei to inform Ma Chao of his

News of uncle’s death.”

"Send some more soldiers, disguised as the mighty troops who escaped from Yecheng, to wait outside the city and observe the movements in the city..."

This plan was so complicated that Lu Bu didn't understand it at all.

"Speak directly." Lu Bu said.
To be continued...