After Gao Fei heard Ma Chao's answer, he was very happy and immediately said: "I have Meng Qi, so why worry about the uncertainty in the northwest!"
Afterwards, Gao Fei had a thorough and detailed discussion with Ma Chao, telling Ma Chao all about how to use troops in the northwest and his plans for the next few years.
Ma Chao wanted to avenge his country and his family. Gao Fei's words undoubtedly gave him great motivation. Using troops in the northwest and fighting Cao Cao would undoubtedly make him a famous general, and he was full of confidence in his future.
After a long chat, it was already dusk before we knew it. Gao Fei asked someone to treat Ma Chao's food kindly, and then left.
After leaving the place where Ma Chao was imprisoned, Gao Fei went straight to the cave where Tai Shici was imprisoned.
The lights in the cave were dim, and the weak light illuminated the huge cave. Only a figure was seen hiding in the corner, facing the wall, looking so desolate and lonely.
"Facing the wall, facing the wall, what's so good about a wall?" Taishi Ci was unhappy, facing the wall, muttering incessantly.
After a while, Taishi Ci heard the sound of footsteps and immediately said angrily: "How many times have I told you, I won't eat or drink, take them all away!"
The footsteps stopped, and then a voice came out: "The general is very angry. If you dare to face the wall like this, the general is not thinking about his fault, but blaming me!"
When Taishi Ci heard this voice, he was startled. He quickly turned his face and looked over, but saw Gao Fei appearing alone at the entrance of the cave. He felt speechless and hurriedly knelt down and said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I mistakenly thought that Your Majesty was the emperor just now."
It’s a soldier who delivers food. I’m not hungry to begin with, but that soldier keeps bothering me. So now...”
"Get up. Actually, I'm just here to bring you food. I heard from Song Xian that you haven't eaten since yesterday. Now it's another dark night. Others don't know you. Don't I know you?"
"
After saying that, Gao Fei moved his hands behind his back to the front, carrying a jar of wine in his left hand and half a roasted sheep in his right hand. He walked straight to Tai Shi Ci and ordered: "Go and wash your hands."
, how can you eat when you are so dirty?"
"I... I'm really not hungry!" Taishi Ci glanced at the roasted lamb, and the aroma of the meat in his nose suddenly reminded him of the Temple of the Five Internal Organs, but he kept speaking harshly.
"Not hungry? That's fine, I'll eat while you watch. If you don't eat now, don't blame me for not giving you food in the next few days. People are iron and rice is steel. If you don't eat one meal, you'll get hungry. Besides,
, there are only two of you and me here, there are no kings and ministers, only brothers. In terms of age, you are one month older than me, so I should call you my adopted brother."
"No matter what you do, the emperor is the emperor, and the ministers are ministers. I will never dare to do anything arrogant."
"How can you accept death as a person like you? Now I have put aside the airs of the emperor and come to talk to you, but you don't appreciate it? Well, then I will use the airs of the emperor to order you to accompany me here to drink wine and eat meat!"
"this……"
"What is this? This is my imperial edict. How dare you disobey it?" Gao Fei said angrily.
"I don't dare, I just obey the order."
Gao Fei suddenly laughed, handed the meat to Tai Shici, and said, "That's right. This is my Tiger Wing General. Come on, let's take a bite each. I'll drink it first, and you can eat some meat pad first."
It’s not good to drink on an empty stomach to fill your stomach.”
"I obey the decree!"
So Taishi Ci took the mutton from Gao Fei's hand. He was so hungry that his chest was pressed against his back. When he saw the delicious food in front of him, he immediately started to wolf it down.
Gao Fei drank wine and said with a smile: "Slow down, slow down, you look like a hungry wolf, and you still say you are not hungry? Are you doing this to show your anger at me?"
"Click!"
Taishi Ci ate so fast that he choked and hiccupped immediately.
"Why are you eating in such a hurry? Hurry up and have a drink." Gao Fei hurriedly handed over the wine and took the mutton from Tai Shici's hand.
Taishi Ci held the wine jar and drank heavily, and then he stopped hiccupping.
"Your Majesty, I am not angry with the Emperor. I really don't understand. Why does the Emperor still protect Ma Chao when there are obvious signs of rebellion?" Taishi Ci calmed down and opened his mouth to ask.
Gao Fei smiled and said: "I knew you would ask me this question. Ma Chao was burdened with the hatred of his family and the country, and wanted to take revenge by killing Cao Cao, Chen Qun, Yang Xiu and others. For a person who is eager for revenge,
say, conquering
First to eliminate the Qiang, then to win over and use the first to eliminate the Qiang, secretly train an army of his own, and then attack Chang'an. This should be what he wants to do most. Rebellion? This is pure nonsense! Since I dare to use it
he,
I must be on guard against him, so I asked Guo Jia to lead 20,000 Xiongnu soldiers to attack the north, and I brought 30,000 Xiongnu soldiers to follow from behind. It was said that he was marching personally, but in fact it was also to prevent Ma Chao from rebelling. If he really
has rebelled, and they will definitely be able to kill him in one fell swoop while he is still on a weak footing, but the wolf cavalry led by Ma Chao may not be willing to rebel with Ma Chao. For Ma Chao, rebelling at this time will undoubtedly end his life."
After hearing this, Taishi Ci said: "The emperor still has foresight and has made arrangements in advance. It seems that I have made a mistake."
"Yeah. However, your interference like this has given Ma Chao a warning. In the next few days, I will lead my troops to pacify the entire Beidi County. At that time, I will set up Lingzhou City here as a future
Attack the important military town of Liangzhou. Do you know the purpose of why I brought you here this time?"
Taishi Ci thought for a while, his eyes lit up, and then he asked: "Does the emperor want me to guard the border here?"
"I just don't know if you agree or not."
"I agree, of course I agree. Being able to directly face that old thief Cao Cao and guard the border for the emperor is what I wish for. A real man should carry a three-foot long sword and gallop on the battlefield. To be honest, the period in Yunzhou
I'm tired of spending time. Being able to lead troops in a complex place like the northwest requires fighting, and I like fighting the most!" Taishi Ci said happily.
"Since you agreed, it's settled. When the time comes, I will leave you to guard Lingzhou, and Ma Chao and Pang De will serve as your lieutenants..."
"Ma Chao? Your Majesty wants Ma Chao to stay with you?" A trace of displeasure appeared on Tai Shici's face.
"Is there a problem?"
"Can you change someone? Wei Yan or Chu Yan can do it. If not, Zhang He can do it too. Just don't keep Ma Chao."
"Haha, don't you and Zhang He deal with each other very well? Why are you asking for him by name now?" Gao Fei said with a smile.
"That's better than Ma Chao. We have been together for at least several years and are familiar with each other. Now that we are separated, I really feel a little lonely with no one to argue with..."
"Okay! I will transfer Zhang He, Wei Yan, and Chu Yan to you. But Ma Chao must stay!"
"Why? Your Majesty? That Ma Chao has a traitor in the back of his head. If he stays, the northwest will definitely be in chaos!"
"Don't ask why, Ma Chao must stay anyway. If you are not willing to do it, I will let Zhang He do it, and you can go back to Yunzhou to guard it."
Taishi Ci sighed heavily and said: "Your Majesty! I can do it, can't I do it? I am a Five Tiger General in name, but I am only allowed to guard Yunzhou. Compared with Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Gan Ning,
When Zhang Liao and the others came, I was far away. Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Zhang Liao were all in the Central Plains.
Gan Ning also built a navy in Tianjin. They went to sea for training every day, but he left me on the vast grassland, saying that I was guarding. What enemies could there be in that circle? All the people who came were caravans and his soldiers.
It’s so pitiful. Your Majesty, I don’t want to go back to that damn place in Yunzhou…”
"What the hell is this place! Yunzhou is an important commercial base for our country's fiscal revenue!"
"I know I was wrong, I said the wrong thing!" Tai Shici quickly admitted his mistake, "But, can your Majesty tell me why Ma Chao must stay in the northwest?"
"Ma Chao is known as the mighty general and has a deterrent effect on the Qiang people. As long as he is around, the Qiang people will not dare to invade Lingzhou. Now that the national treasury is empty, it is not the time to use large-scale troops. We can only defend Lingzhou first. After a few years, the national treasury will
Only when there is enough and the people live and work in peace and contentment can we launch a full-scale war. Otherwise, the soldiers will not be paid!"
"I understand. I will abide by the emperor's will, but I will never give Ma Chao too many troops and horses, no more than..." Taishi Ci originally stretched out three fingers, but later he seemed to think it was a bit too much, so he
He hurriedly changed it to one, and then said, "It can't exceed a thousand riders!"
"Well, you can arrange this however you like, but don't go too far. After all, Ma Chao has a lot of self-esteem, and it's not good to hurt him."
"I understand."
So Gao Fei and Tai Shi Ci drank and ate meat together, and talked like brothers until late at night.
The next day, Jia Xu and Gai Xun arrived at Lingwu Valley with all the follow-up troops. They learned that Ma Chao and Tai Shi Ci were imprisoned in the cave, facing the wall and thinking about the past. Neither of them said anything.
The army rested in Lingwu Valley for three days. On the fourth day, Gao Fei received the news that Guo Jia had captured the entire Beidi County, so he ordered Urd to lead 100,000 Qiang people to move to Beidi County, and the rest remained in Beidi County.
Lingwu Valley and even the Helan Mountain area. After that, Gao Fei
He released Ma Chao and Taishi Ci in advance, renamed Lian County where the Helan Mountains are located, Helan County, mobilized Pang De from Linrong City to garrison, and he led the army with Jia Xu, Gai Xun, Ma Chao, Tai Shi Ci, etc.
Everyone went to the county seat of Beidi County.
The army marched slowly and arrived at the county seat of Beidi County three days later.
At this time, Guo Jia, Kalisi and the Huns lined up to welcome them. Seeing Gao Fei and others arriving, Guo Jia went up to greet them.
After meeting each other twice, Gao Fei saw that Guo Jia's arm was injured, so he hurriedly asked with concern: "Aiqing's injury..."
"It's not a problem. Your Majesty is overly worried. It's just a superficial wound. It will take a while to heal." Guo Jia hurriedly replied.
So, everyone entered the county town of Beidi County to discuss the big plan.