Bing Province.
At the border between Changshan and Zhaojun, within Black Mountain Fort.
An open-air training ground, in the center of which was placed a large table. The table was laden with fine wine and meat, exceedingly abundant.
Something peculiar was that the wine vessels were large bowls, and the cut meat was all in large chunks, creating a full visual of eating meat heartily and drinking from large bowls.
"Hahahaha..."
A sighing laugh echoed from the area. Seated at the head of the table was Zhang Yan, the commander of the Black Mountain Army, while in the guest seat was the so-called "Imperial Envoy," Cheng Yu.
"Commander Cheng, I have long admired you... I've heard that wherever Commander Cheng goes, enemies surrender at the mere sight of him. To have the honor of meeting you today, I, Zhang Yan, truly consider myself thrice fortunate! However, I wonder how Commander Cheng plans to persuade me, Zhang Yan, and the Black Mountain Army to surrender? Ah, hah..."
Although his tone held a hint of jest...
Zhang Yan's attitude towards Cheng Yu was very respectful, a significant departure from his usual demeanor as a "bandit leader."
To be frank, Zhang Yan's attitude stemmed from his inherent intention to submit to the imperial court.
This fact...
Cheng Yu was naturally unaware of it, but Lu Yu knew it very clearly...
According to ancient historical records, during Cao Cao's Battle of Guandu, Zhang Yan corresponded with him. When Cao Cao attacked Bing Province, Zhang Yan led his forces to surrender completely, aiding Cao Cao in defeating Yuan Shao's remaining forces in Bing Province.
"General Zhang, your words are too kind. Commander of the Black Mountain Army, General Zhang Yan... I, Cheng, have long admired, long admired you..." Cheng Yu stroked his beard, then changed the subject, deliberately adding, "My apologies, to be precise... I should address you as General Chu Feiyan!"
Huo...
At these words, Zhang Yan paused slightly. His eyes instinctively narrowed, and a hint of wariness entered his expression.
"I haven't used this name in ten years. I never imagined Commander Cheng would know it!"
Indeed...
Zhang Yan's real name was Chu Feiyan, a native of Zhending, Changshan. He was a fellow townsman of Zhao Yun. His original surname was Chu... When he participated in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, due to his robustness and extraordinary agility, he was called "Feiyan" (Flying Swallow) in the army, hence the name "Chu Feiyan"!
As for...
Why he later changed his surname to Zhang, that was a story about deep brotherhood.
"How could I know this..." Cheng Yu waved his hand at this point. "My young master told me. However... my young master also said that among the entire Black Mountain Army, the one he admired most was not General Chu, but rather..."
Cheng Yu deliberately left a suspense.
This piqued Zhang Yan's curiosity. Who else could Cheng Sima refer to as his young master, if not Lu Yu, the commander of the Dragon Cavalry Camp?
And within the Black Mountain Army, there was someone he admired...
Zhang Yan was very interested.
"Someone that Young Master Lu admires? May I ask Commander Cheng? Who is it?"
The question was posed...
Cheng Yu, however, frowned, his tone carrying a hint of regret and sorrow. "General Chu, you are not unfamiliar with him. He was a former leader of the Yellow Turban Army, General Zhang's sworn elder brother—Leader Zhang Niujiao!"
Hoo...
It was evident that upon hearing the name Zhang Niujiao, Zhang Yan felt as if he had been struck by an electric current.
Few people in the entire Han Dynasty knew of the bond between him, Zhang Yan, and Zhang Niujiao.
It was a brotherhood of sharing meals and sleeping in the same bed;
It was... the brotherhood where, during an ambush in the Yellow Turban Army, in order to save him, his elder brother Zhang Niujiao did not hesitate to cover the rear, dying from several arrows;
It was the brotherhood where, when Zhang Niujiao decided to cover the rear, he instructed his subordinate soldiers to obey his virtuous brother "Chu Feiyan" from that day forward, entrusting all his soldiers to Chu Feiyan;
This brotherhood was not much weaker than the oath sworn by Liu, Guan, and Zhang in the peach garden.
It was precisely because of the passing of his elder brother Zhang Niujiao that Chu Feiyan changed his surname to Zhang. He wanted to live on for his brother, and the leader of the Black Mountain Army would forever be surnamed "Zhang"!
Now...
Upon being mentioned by Cheng Yu, and hearing that Zhang Niujiao was admired by Young Master Lu, Zhang Yan couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. Coupled with that... Zhang Yan felt a sense of inexplicable closeness towards this Commander Lu Yu.
This was the so-called "psychological warfare"...
That night, before Cheng Yu departed on his mission.
Lu Yu had whispered some things into his ear. In addition to informing him of his mission, he also told him of Zhang Yan's weakness.
Just as Yuan Shao's weakness was indecisiveness;
And Lü Bu's weakness was arrogance;
Then... Zhang Yan's weakness was deep brotherhood!
His deep brotherhood with Zhang Niujiao was known to few.
Precisely... Lu Yu knew, not only knew... but could also exploit this to the fullest.
And the best way to win over Zhang Yan was not through gold and silver, nor through high positions and generous salaries, but precisely through this deep brotherhood!
"Really? Did Young Master Lu truly say that..."
"Naturally, it is true." Cheng Yu replied in a low voice. "Otherwise, how could Young Master Lu know that General's surname is not 'Zhang,' and how could he know whose sake General changed his surname to Zhang for!"
Hoo...
With a long sigh, Zhang Yan felt a surge of emotion.
And... the reason why he, during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, commanded a million soldiers... yet actively sought to approach the imperial court, approach the Son of Heaven, and hoped to be pacified, was largely due to the entrustment of his elder brother Zhang Niujiao.
In this chaotic world, no one is born a bandit. Zhang Niujiao had served as an official and wished to realize his dream of serving the country with his own efforts, but... whether it was the dominance of the imperial relatives or the corruption of the Ten Eunuchs, neither gave him this opportunity.
Therefore, he joined the Yellow Turbans, but also broke away from them!
The Black Mountain Army became his foundation, used to realize his vision of serving the country through a roundabout path. Much like Song Jiang on Mount Liang, from beginning to end... Zhang Niujiao and the Black Mountain Army's constant thought was to be pacified.
This vision was even passed down, passed to his brother, this Chu Feiyan who changed his surname to Zhang.
"Others may not understand the intentions of Leader Zhang Niujiao, but Young Master Lu understands them best..."
Cheng Yu's words continued. Seeing Zhang Yan's inexplicably melancholic and moved expression, Cheng Yu became increasingly confident.
This at least proved... that the rhetoric Young Master Lu taught him was highly effective!
"Alas, Young Master Lu actually wanted to contact the Black Mountain Army early on, as a way to... fulfill the vision of the late Leader Zhang. However... this Bing Province is Yuan Shao's territory. If he hadn't marched south with his army now, there wouldn't have been an opportunity to send me north to Changshan... otherwise, this imperial edict for pacification would still be unable to reach you!"
Cheng Yu's speech was not fast, but every word and every syllable was extremely clear.
Especially the five characters "imperial edict for pacification" made Zhang Yan's pupils suddenly widen. Who knew how long he and his elder brother had waited for this edict?
How many springs and winters had they waited!
"Commander Cheng, is this imperial edict for pacification genuine?"
"This is an imperial edict that Young Master Lu specifically requested from Commander Cao, from His Majesty... on your behalf, and on behalf of your Black Mountain Army." Cheng Yu's speech was very rapid... and he even took out the seal and ribbon from his embrace.
His words continued. "Originally, His Majesty intended to issue a decree according to the enfeoffment of General Zhang during the previous emperor's reign, but Young Master Lu pleaded persistently, even confronting officials of the Han court, and only then was he able to secure... in addition to the official title of 'General Who Pacifies Troubles,' the bestowal of the titles of General Who Pacifies the North and Marquis of Anguo Ting upon you, Zhang Yan. Here... the seal and ribbon have been brought by me!"
This...
Zhang Yan was stunned, but before he could speak, Cheng Yu's words continued.
"Besides you, your elder brother Zhang Niujiao also received enfeoffment from the court, being made Marquis of Beiguo Ting. His loyalty was proclaimed, his name was cleared, and a temple was to be built for him in his hometown of Boling!"
Boom...
Rumbling!
If the previous enfeoffment by the court had already made him somewhat dazed, then now... the enfeoffment of his elder brother Zhang Niujiao, that made him... made his heart tremble even more.
A wise ruler, what is a wise ruler?
Because of him, because of his elder brother, Young Master Lu spared no effort in pleading with the Son of Heaven... This... this...
With a "swish," Zhang Yan suddenly stood up. He cupped his fists and bowed to Cheng Yu. "Zhang Yan thanks Young Master Lu for his great kindness and virtue on behalf of my deceased elder brother, and also thanks Commander Cheng for traveling such a long distance to deliver this good news to me!"
"From now on, I, Zhang Yan... I, the Black Mountain Army, will obey Young Master Lu's commands alone!"
Before Cheng Yu could react, Zhang Yan's waist was already bent like an arch bridge.
"Haha..." Cheng Yu smiled and handed the imperial edict and the seal and ribbon to Zhang Yan...
Zhang Yan carefully accepted them. He had waited for this imperial edict and seal and ribbon for a long time, and it felt so heavy... This made him even more able to appreciate Young Master Lu's kindness.
Wait...
Zhang Yan suddenly remembered something.
It seemed that according to popular rumors... any general that Commander Cheng had pacified and surrendered to Young Master Lu was required to present a "token of allegiance"!
This... he couldn't just accept official titles and positions without doing anything...
"Commander Cheng... I have an idea."
Thinking this, Zhang Yan took the initiative to suggest.
Cheng Yu's eyes darted, he was about to speak himself.
Who would have thought that Zhang Yan would speak first?
"Commander Cheng, I have received such great favor from Young Master Lu. If I were to join Young Master Lu like this... how would I show my sincerity? Precisely now... I hear that Yuan Shao is leading thirty thousand troops south, seemingly intending to cross the Yellow River to contend for the world with Cao Mengde. And I am located here in Changshan. If I were to launch a surprise attack on Yuan Shao's rear..."
Before Zhang Yan could finish speaking...
"Hahahaha..." Cheng Yu immediately burst into laughter. "General Zhang, ah, General Zhang, you and Young Master Lu have thought of the same thing! Young Master Lu also mentioned this matter to me, and I was just about to find an opportunity to ask you to dispatch troops..."
"What is there to ask or not ask?" Zhang Yan waved his hand. "I am Young Master Lu's general, and the Black Mountain Army is Young Master Lu's soldiers. At Young Master Lu's command, be it a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I, Zhang Yan... I, the Black Mountain Army, would not blink an eye, let alone that scoundrel Yuan Shao!"
Speaking of this, Zhang Yan's gaze turned towards the south...
"Hmph, I, Zhang Yan, have suffered enough from that Yuan Shao all these years. Now that I have the Young Master's backing, it's time to release this pent-up anger... Commander Cheng, how about we dispatch troops tonight?"
Zhang Yan was impatient.
Among his Black Mountain Army, there was a cavalry unit. Dispatched tonight, they could reach Ji Province within three days and strike Yuan Shao's rear in Yecheng!
Who would have thought that while Zhang Yan was eager, Cheng Yu kept waving his hands.
"No hurry, General Zhang, calm yourself..."
"Young Master Lu has prepared five routes of surprise for Yuan Shao. General, please wait a little longer... when the five routes advance together? Then... Yuan Shao will likely fall into a huge dilemma!"
Five routes?
Zhang Yan was taken aback. He had heard that in Yanmen... the Dragon Cavalry Camp had rapidly gathered an army of tens of thousands, and there was also Gongsun Zan of Wangjing City in You Province. But... even so, counting himself, it was only three routes?
Who were the remaining two routes?
"Commander Cheng? These five routes... which five routes?" Zhang Yan asked curiously...
Cheng Yu waved his hand. "The heavens' secrets cannot be revealed..."
He said so verbally, but the key was... he, Cheng Yu, was not inside Lu Yu's stomach, how could he know?
...
...
The region of Henei, a vital transportation hub.
Connecting the Central Plains and the Sanfu region.
Speaking of which... ever since Cheng Yu successfully incited Yang Chou to revolt and beheaded the Governor of Henei, Zhang Yang!
This area had always belonged to Cao Cao. Of course, besides Cao Cao's forces, there was also a special force here—the Xiongnu, or to be precise, the Southern Xiongnu!
Since the second year of Xingping, when the Son of Heaven returned east, taking advantage of the civil strife among the Han warlords, the Southern Xiongnu descended along the Yellow River and occupied numerous counties and prefectures in the Yellow River basin, including a part of the Henei region.
Of course, to say "occupied"... it was more accurate to say they roamed this area, sometimes plundering here...
One must know...
The Xiongnu dared not occupy cities in front of the Han people. This was because... in the past, Emperor Wu of Han had waged several campaigns against the Xiongnu, and Wei Qing had burned the Xiongnu's sacred site—Dragon City.
During the Battle of Mobei, he also captured Zhaoxin City. After being defeated in this battle, the Xiongnu completely understood a principle, which was to never build cities in front of the Han people, otherwise... they would inevitably face the fate of their cities being broken and their people annihilated.
At this time...
The main body of the Southern Xiongnu was stationed on the grasslands of Henei.
Along with them... there were countless barbarian merchants. They attempted to contact Han merchants to purchase Han cloth and grain, so that the main body of the Southern Xiongnu could survive the winter.
The grain plundered alone was not enough to support the expenses of their cavalry.
The lives of the common people were difficult in this chaotic era, but the lives of the Southern Xiongnu were also not easy.
Here, in a large tent.
"Five-stone powder? Oh my... is this really five-stone powder?"
A barbarian merchant's eyes sparkled with an exceptionally bright light, more excited than if he had seen grain, gold, or silk, and even more thrilled and agitated.
For him... for the barbarians.
Five-stone powder was wealth!
This thing was too tempting for the barbarians!
Every barbarian merchant was extremely sensitive. One should know... in the past, five-stone powder had appeared outside the frontier for a period of time, and during this period, it had caused countless tribal disputes...
It had even directly led to the destruction of countless tribes!
Even a very small amount of fifty-stone powder could be exchanged for a large number of cattle and sheep, and horses among the tribes!
It was no exaggeration to say that any tribe that obtained five-stone powder could indirectly control the entire frontier, the entire Southern Xiongnu, no... not only the Southern Xiongnu, but even Xianbei and Wuhuan could be controlled!
This...
"Hahahaha..." The barbarian tasted it several times, and his lips curved into a sighing laugh.
"As expected of the Zhen family of Wuji in Zhongshan! You are lifelong good friends to us Xiongnu people, hahaha... I never imagined you could also get this five-stone powder!"
In front of the barbarian merchant were Zhen Jiang, the eldest daughter of the Zhen family, and Zhen Tuo, the second daughter of the Zhen family.
They were both disguised as men.
Of course...
This was not important.
There was also a tacit understanding among the barbarians, and they would not lay hands on the women of the Zhen family of Wuji.
However...
Beside Zhen Jiang and Zhen Tuo, there was a man. Although his appearance was handsome, he looked somewhat sickly. Besides that, he also appeared somewhat dissolute, like a debauched rake. The wine gourd at his waist was often opened, as if he could not go a moment without this drink.
Of course...
Such a man, in the eyes of the barbarians, was contemptible, lacking any masculine spirit, like a woman!
"Father and Uncle Hu Yan Mu have a deep relationship. When our Zhen family has something good, the first people we think of are Uncle Hu Yan..." Zhen Jiang was graceful and composed. This was not the first time she had met this barbarian merchant with the surname "Hu Yan."
In the past, she had followed her father on business trips and had met this Hu Yan Mu several times, so they were quite familiar.
Zhen Tuo, standing beside her, was meeting him for the first time and was a little nervous. Guo Jia gently placed his hand on her waist, signaling that with him around, everything would be fine.
"Niece Zhen... Hahaha, as you Han people say, 'business is business.' How about this, I'll put it here, name your price for this five-stone powder. I'll buy as much as your Zhen family has!"
At these words, Hu Yan Mu appeared quite pleased, muttering repeatedly... "I presume the Great Khan will be very happy to see this!"
One must know...
The barbarians valued martial arts, which also indicated that they were strong in limbs but simple in mind...
Just like at this moment, for normal Han merchants, no matter how much they liked an item, they had to maintain an expression of utter indifference in order to bargain and gain the advantage in business.
But... this barbarian merchant's expression had already given him away completely.
And Zhen Jiang, having keenly noticed his expression, intended to propose a trade for border horses.
Who would have thought...
Guo Jia, however, spoke first. "Cannot sell... cannot sell..."
Saying this, he put down the wine gourd by his mouth and staggered towards Hu Yan Mu.
"Who is this?" Hu Yan Mu asked curiously.
"This is..." When introducing Guo Jia, Zhen Jiang paused for a moment, almost saying he was her brother-in-law. "This is a business advisor we've hired, named Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao. After my father passed away, it was he who managed the Zhen family's business."
The lie Zhen Jiang told was without hesitation. Of course, the more beautiful a woman, the more she could deceive.
"Oh..." Hu Yan Mu nodded, muttering to himself that the Zhen family had likely chosen the wrong person...
However, because he desperately wanted to obtain the five-stone powder, he treated Guo Jia with the utmost courtesy.
"Hahaha... Good! Young Master Guo, at such a young age, can manage the Zhen family's business. It's clear he's a dragon among men!" Hu Yan Mu said loudly in broken Chinese.
Who would have thought...
He was smiling, but Guo Jia was playing hard to get.
"Don't try to get close..."
"You said it yourself, business is business... How precious is five-stone powder? You don't know, do you?"
Guo Jia's eyes narrowed, but his tone became exceptionally serious.
"Xianbei has already offered to exchange it for superior border horses, and each year they propose to exchange ten thousand horses for the Zhen family. With such a stake, I originally intended to agree!"
"However... the current Zhen family has already moved to the Central Plains, and trading with Xianbei requires passing through Yuan Shao's Bing Province. With different trade routes, naturally, this matter had to be shelved. Otherwise... how could such a good thing fall into the hands of you Southern Xiongnu, and you... what's-his-name Tuoba?"
Huo...
To be honest, Guo Jia's tone was impolite, and he didn't show any regard for their relationship.
But precisely...
Many key pieces of information he mentioned made Tuoba Mu's mood inexplicably tense.
Good heavens...
So, this five-stone powder business... the Zhen family had also contacted Xianbei?
And Xianbei even... even offered to exchange ten thousand horses for the Zhen family annually?
This... this...
Tuoba Mu's brows furrowed, and he immediately replied with a smile.
"Mr. Guo, my name is Tuoba Mu?"
"What Mu?" Guo Jia continued to ask...
"Tuoba Mu..."
"What Tuoba?" Guo Jia was still asking.
At this point, Tuoba Mu's heart skipped a beat, and he muttered to himself, could it be that this Mr. Guo looked down on their Southern Xiongnu people?
...
...