Chapter 834

"It seems not everyone among the Huang Jin is a fool. If they had known it was the Lord himself who had arrived, they probably would have been scared off long ago."

Hua Xiong said with a chuckle.

This group of Huang Jin soldiers came from Youzhou.

Last year, Duan Yu had burned Tanhan Mountain to the ground and captured Wang Ze, the Administrator of Dai Commandery and younger brother of Wang Rou, in Dai Commandery.

Furthermore, because Youzhou bordered the Xianbei, places like Lulong Pass, Yuyang, and Shanggu were plagued year-round by the incursions of the Xianbei and Wuhuan.

Duan Yu had burned Tanhan Mountain and even shot the Xianbei Chanyu to death.

His reputation had already been established in Youzhou long ago.

Compared to Jizhou, Duan Yu's reputation was even more resounding in Youzhou.

Watching the fleeing Huang Jin soldiers, Duan Yu did not order a pursuit.

These would all be the population of Liangzhou in the future.

The less slaughter caused now, the better.

One reason was to leave behind a good reputation, so that these Huang Jin soldiers preparing to migrate to Liangzhou would have no resistance toward Liangzhou.

Another was that every one killed was one less.

Moreover, his main target was inside the city, not outside.

The Flying Bear Cavalry slowed their pace.

Duan Yu, riding the Red Dragon Cloud-Treading Beast, also moved leisurely toward the north gate of Wuji County.

On the city wall, seeing that the Liangzhou cavalry had scared off the Huang Jin rebels outside with just a single encounter, joyous cheers erupted instantly from the battlements.

The soldiers who had been living in fear all day, along with the commoners who had been temporarily conscripted to defend the city, all felt their hanging hearts finally settle.

Zhen Jian also excitedly clenched his fists and knocked them against the crenellations, his face filled with joy.

"Great, this is great!"

Zhen Jian said excitedly: "With the Liangzhou troops being this elite, we don't have to worry anymore."

Zhen Jian was no fool; he naturally knew how much stronger the Liangzhou troops were compared to Li Zhao's commandery soldiers.

Zhen Ren and Zhen You, the heads of the third and fourth branches of the Zhen clan standing behind Zhen Jian, also nodded with happy smiles.

"Big Brother, can we ask the Liangzhou army to escort us to transfer to Gaoyi? After all, the large numbers of Huang Jin rebels from Youzhou haven't arrived yet."

Zhen Ren stood behind Zhen Jian and said: "There are still so many Huang Jin rebels in Xiaquyang."

Zhen Jian looked at the Liangzhou cavalry outside the city, nodded slowly, and said: "We won't need the production methods for white paper and snow salt anymore. As long as we bring out some money and grain, we should be able to hire the Liangzhou troops."

Zhen You, who had been silent the whole time, looked at the cavalry unit and suddenly pointed toward Duan Yu's direction.

"Big Brother, look, look at that warhorse!"

Zhen You said with wide eyes: "Big Brother, rumor has it that Duan Yu has a dragon-steed, red as fire, shaped like a fire cloud."

"Could... could that be the General of the Front, Duan Yu?"

Zhen Jian and Zhen Ren immediately widened their eyes to identify him carefully.

Although no one had seen Duan Yu in person, the rumors about him had never ceased for over a year.

Perhaps the legends of Duan Yu had not spread as far among ordinary commoners or in the south, far from Bingzhou and Liangzhou.

But in places like Jizhou, Youzhou, and the Sili Colonel's jurisdiction, Duan Yu's name and legends were known to every scholar-official and powerful clan member.

"It seems..."

"It really seems to be him," Zhen Jian said after distinguishing him.

"Big Brother, if it is Duan Yu who has come, isn't that even better? Should we go down to welcome him?" Zhen Ren added.

Zhen Jian immediately nodded excitedly and said: "Yes, yes, yes, yes."

"Go welcome him immediately, go down and welcome him immediately!"

"Quick, let's go quickly."

"Third Brother, have the servants return to the manor immediately and have them prepare everything well," Zhen Jian said while walking toward the city gate. "If it really is Duan Yu, then it's even more secure."

"As his hosts, we must treat him well. Have the manor prepare the best wine and food, as well as the most beautiful maids, singers, and dancers."

Zhen Ren also hurriedly nodded in agreement.

The three brothers hurriedly headed down the city wall to welcome them.

Outside the north gate of Wuji County.

Duan Yu had already arrived outside the city gate with the Flying Bear Cavalry.

Eight hundred heavy-armored Flying Bear Cavalry sat neatly on their horses behind Duan Yu, their killing intent soaring to the heavens.

Hua Xiong stood at Duan Yu's side, holding a large saber.

As the city gate opened.

Duan Yu's gaze turned toward the group of people pouring out from the city.

There were officials of Wuji County wearing official robes, as well as three middle-aged men wearing brocade robes with armor over them and precious swords hanging at their waists. A large number of soldiers ran out from both sides of the city gate and stood in two rows on either side of the moat outside the gate.

Duan Yu, riding on his horse, held the reins in one hand and the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd in the other, standing as immovable as a mountain, waiting for the group to reach him.

Zhen Jian walked at the very front of the crowd, hurried to Duan Yu's horse, stopped at a distance of about ten paces, and then respectfully cupped his hands and bowed.

"I am Zhen Jian of the Zhen clan. May I ask if you are the General of the Front?" Zhen Jian bowed low, his head pressed down very low.

Zhen Ren and Zhen You behind him followed suit, cupping their hands and bowing to Duan Yu.

Among this generation of the Zhongshan Zhen clan, besides the former Magistrate of Shangcai, Zhen Yi, there were no others currently serving as officials.

Whether it was Zhen Jian, Zhen Ren, or Zhen You, they were all commoners.

Any one of Duan Yu's official positions, including his title of nobility, stood before the Zhen clan like a great mountain.

The Magistrate of Wuji County, Guo Zong, also hurriedly bowed to Duan Yu.

Duan Yu, riding on his horse, glanced at Zhen Jian and said in a flat voice: "It is I. You are Zhen Jian?"

Hearing Duan Yu's voice, Zhen Jian immediately nodded excitedly and happily.

"In reply to the General of the Front, it is indeed I."

Zhen Jian said flatteringly: "I have long heard of the General of the Front's great name. Seeing you today, it is truly as the rumors say."

"The General of the Front's reputation as a tiger general of the age has scared off thousands of Huang Jin rebels. It is truly well-deserved!"

"I am thrice fortunate to meet the General of the Front. I pay my respects here."

Zhen Jian said this while bowing again.

Hua Xiong, beside Duan Yu, was grinning so wide his mouth was almost splitting.

What was the use of saying things so nicely?

This group of idiots before them didn't even know who they had offended.

Now, never mind flattery; even kneeling and kowtowing would be useless.

Their Lord was known for being protective of his own and doting on his wife.

Since Lady Zhen had suffered such a great grievance, how could this matter just be let go for no reason?

"General of the Front, please enter the city for a chat," Zhen Jian said after straightening his back, inviting Duan Yu. "I have already prepared light wine at the manor. The General of the Front has come from afar and must be exhausted; you can rest for a while."

"As for the grain and supplies for the General of the Front's troops, we will certainly arrange them to your satisfaction."

Duan Yu waved his hand and hung the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd in his hand onto the saddle.

Then he flipped off his horse.

As Duan Yu flipped off his horse, Hua Xiong beside him also hurriedly followed suit.

The movements of the eight hundred Flying Bear Cavalry were almost perfectly uniform, full of oppressive force.

Duan Yu, having glanced at Zhen Jian, looked toward the west of the city and said with a smile: "No rush. My wife has not arrived yet. I must trouble you all to wait here for a moment."

Wife?

Zhen Jian, Zhen Ren, and Zhen You were all stunned.

How could one bring a wife along while marching to war?

What kind of operation was this?

However, Zhen Jian was the quickest to react.

He immediately piled on a smiling face and said: "The General of the Front is truly hardworking, bringing family along while out on a campaign. No rush, no rush, it is only right and proper."

In the distance, at the corner of the west side of the city, a line of carriages and horses appeared from the edge of the moat and then slowly approached in this direction.

Hmm?

The sharp-eyed Zhen You frowned. ===== CHAPTER 836 =====