Chapter 90

Pang De was still serving under Cheng Yin and had not yet joined Ma Teng.

But unlike other officials,

Pang De was originally a court official!

His position as "Nan'an Attendant" was bestowed by the previous Liangzhou Inspector.

Later, Cheng Yin occupied Nan'an, and Pang De’s family was held hostage, so he had no choice but to join Cheng Yin’s command.

Now,

Gu Yi, representing the Han court, arrived here with an army.

Pang De naturally supported the submission with both hands and feet!

Knowing Pang De’s bravery, Gu Yi immediately kept Pang De to serve in the army,

intending to bestow another position upon him after returning to Chang'an.

And after finishing off Cheng Yin, Nan'an was also officially incorporated into the territory.

The entire Liangzhou entered integration in a sweeping manner.

Later, Gu Yi stayed in Liangzhou for about half a month,

and after handing over all matters,

Gu Yi then led the army to return in triumph.

At night,

on the way back to Chang'an,

in the marching camp,

Ma Teng and his daughter Ma Yunlu were recalling the experiences of this period.

"Yunlu, you’ve worked hard."

"Sigh~~~"

"It is all because I am incompetent, otherwise why would I let my daughter suffer such hardship?"

Ma Teng blamed himself.

Perhaps because he was a border person, Ma Teng did not have those rules and regulations of the aristocratic families of the Central Plains regarding Ma Yunlu.

On the contrary,

compared to his three sons Ma Chao, Ma Tie, and Ma Xiu,

Ma Teng often favored his little daughter Ma Yunlu more.

After all,

compared to the disobedient "rebellious sons,"

the little cotton-padded jacket Ma Yunlu didn't make Ma Teng, as a father, angry all the time.

At this moment, hearing Ma Teng’s self-blame, Ma Yunlu hurriedly comforted him:

"Father, don't say that."

"Actually, I didn't help much."

"This time, even if I hadn't arrived in Chang'an, Dong Zhuo would have sent troops to Liangzhou under the suggestion of his grandson-in-law Gu Yi."

Hearing this, a trace of helplessness appeared on Ma Teng’s face.

He had now deeply experienced Gu Yi’s ruthlessness.

Except for Cheng Yin, who resisted stubbornly and died in battle,

all the separatist forces in Liangzhou had chosen to surrender under Gu Yi’s military edge.

You must know

that Liangzhou had been a place of separatist chaos since ancient times.

Even Dong Zhuo himself did not eliminate all the Liangzhou warlords at the beginning.

But this matter was accomplished in Gu Yi’s hands.

"Sigh, Dong Zhongying getting a grandson-in-law like Gu Linzhi is truly a blessing from Heaven!"

Ma Teng sighed from the bottom of his heart.

Although Dong Zhuo was very strong, he was an old man over fifty, old and decrepit.

Even if he were stronger, he could only jump around for a few more years at most.

And Gu Yi?

He was still very young!

If the power in Dong Zhuo’s hands were all handed over to him in the future, one could imagine how huge a shock Gu Yi would bring to the world!

"Father, that Gu Yi is indeed a very capable person."

"I think you can communicate more with him in the future and build a good relationship."

Ma Yunlu recalled the bits and pieces of getting along with Gu Yi recently and suggested to Ma Teng.

However,

the look Ma Teng cast toward his daughter gradually showed a trace of indescribable strangeness.

"Uh, Father, what is wrong with you?"

Ma Yunlu felt this strangeness and hurriedly asked Ma Teng.

"Yunlu, what do you think of Gu Yi?"

"Gu Yi? He is very good."

"There is no one in the Dong Zhuo army who doesn't admire him."

"Especially Li Jue and Guo Si; originally, they intended to make things difficult for Gu Yi, but now they are tamed to be obedient."

Ma Yunlu recalled.

Who knew, Ma Teng waved his hand and said:

"Yunlu, Father is not asking you about this aspect."

"I mean, what do you think of Gu Yi as a person?"

"If he were your husband, could you accept it?"

Ma Yunlu was a bit dumbfounded.

She didn't expect her father to be playing this idea?

However, for Ma Yunlu, Gu Yi indeed fit the image of the husband she dreamed of.

He was handsome, capable, and had a high status in the Dong Zhuo army.

Plus, when Ma Yunlu lived in the Gu residence, the hostess Dong Bai also treated her quite well.

Whenever it was late at night,

Ma Yunlu heard the movements of Gu Yi and Dong Bai in the room,

and she often let her imagination run wild.

If she could also have such a husband, how wonderful that would be!

"Gu Yi has indeed already taken Dong Zhuo's granddaughter as his wife."

"But, for a man as outstanding as Gu Yi, what harm is there in taking a few more concubines?"

"Besides, my daughter, Yunlu, is no useless person."

"With your martial arts, Yunlu, if Gu Yi goes on a campaign in the future, you can stay by his side to guard him."

Ma Teng voiced the thoughts in his heart.

With his status and position, he naturally could not compare to Dong Zhuo.

Dong Bai is Gu Yi's primary wife; no matter who it is, they cannot shake this fact.

Therefore, Ma Teng did not harbor the extravagant hope that Ma Yunlu could replace Dong Bai's position.

Being a concubine was already quite good.

Moreover, among concubines, there is also a distinction of high and low, noble and base.

For example, the concubine Lady Bian, who was favored by Cao Cao in history.

In reality, it was not until Cao Cao's later years that he elevated Lady Bian from the position of a concubine to that of a primary wife.

Before this, Lady Bian had always held only the status of a concubine, not that of a primary wife.

However.

Did Cao Cao's other concubines dare to treat Lady Bian as an ordinary concubine?

The several sons born to Lady Bian.

Except for Cao Xiong, who died young.

The rest were the heirs most favored by Cao Cao.

Therefore.

Although Lady Bian was nominally always a concubine, because she was favored by Cao Cao, her status and position were simply incomparable to those of other concubines!

By the same token.

Gu Yi currently has only one concubine, Diao Chan, by his side.

If Ma Yunlu chooses to marry Gu Yi, she would become Gu Yi's second concubine.

Relying on her own outstanding martial arts, Ma Yunlu possesses advantages that others do not.

She can follow Gu Yi on campaigns and stay by his side.

This determines that even as a concubine.

Ma Yunlu will have a high probability of being favored by Gu Yi and becoming a favored concubine.

And after Ma Yunlu marries Gu Yi.

For Ma Teng and the entire Ma family, it will be a matter of infinite benefit.

"Father..."

"Will Gu Yi really accept me?"

Ma Yunlu felt somewhat uneasy in her heart.

After all.

Gu Yi's residence already had both Dong Bai and Diao Chan.

Dong Bai goes without saying; her status as the primary wife is secure.

Although Diao Chan is only a concubine, her beauty is enough to look down upon all others.

Although Ma Yunlu's appearance is not low, compared to Diao Chan, she is ultimately somewhat inferior.

However, the two belong to different types of young ladies.

Each has her own charm.

"Rest assured, Yunlu, leave this matter to your father to discuss with Gu Yi."

"Presumably, he will not refuse."

Ma Teng laughed.

Regarding his own daughter, Ma Teng was very confident.

Even looking across the entire Liangzhou, those who could compare to her were likely few and far between.

However.

Ma Teng also had his own regrets in his heart.

That is, after joining Dong Zhuo's army, he would likely never be able to carve out a territory for himself again.

He only hopes that this sliver of regret can be made up for by Ma Chao, Ma Tie, Ma Xiu, and the others.

A cold winter chill swept across the entire Guanlong land.

On the journey of Gu Yi's army returning to Changancheng.

Across the Guandong region, war was also raging.

Yuan Shao seized Jizhou from Han Fu.

He finally managed to recover a wave of strength.

But before he could even warm his seat.

Gongsun Zan had already led tens of thousands of fierce Youzhou soldiers to attack Jizhou.

The two sides broke out into a fierce battle at Jieqiao.

What was different was.

Due to Gu Yi's butterfly effect.

Yuan Shao suffered heavy losses during the Battle of Hulao Pass, while Gongsun Zan had basically suffered no losses.

Besides this.

Zhang He and the Great Halberd Warriors, who should have appeared under Yuan Shao's command, did not appear because of Gu Yi.

This caused Yuan Shao to appear particularly difficult in his confrontation with Gongsun Zan.

Even his nephew Gao Gan, who should not have died here, also perished in Gongsun Zan's surprise attack.

However.

When the campaign reached its later stages.

The fated nemesis of Gongsun Zan and his White Horse Followers still appeared in Yuan Shao's camp!

He led eight hundred Vanguard Death Warriors, like saviors, to snipe at Gongsun Zan's White Horse Followers!

Eight hundred vanguard heavy crossbows roared in the land of Jieqiao!

The leader of the White Horse Followers, Yan Gang, died on the spot from Qu Yi's sniping!

In Yan Gang's final moments.

A sentence from Qu Yi kept echoing in his ears:

"White Horse? Hmph! I shall ensure they have no return!"

Three thousand White Horse Followers were all buried at Jieqiao.

This elite force, which once shook the lands beyond the frontier, fell like yesterday's flowers, drawing the curtain.

And the last three hundred White Horse Followers remaining in the world,

are likely the three hundred who were exchanged into Gu Yi's command along with Zhao Zilong.

After this battle.

The power under Gongsun Zan was far inferior to before.

Many noble families in Youzhou, incited by Yuan Shao, launched one rebellion after another.

These rebellions, springing up like mushrooms after rain, left Gongsun Zan unable to cope.

He was originally a warlord who was not good at handling internal administrative affairs.

To be precise, the military of Youzhou had always been under Gongsun Zan's jurisdiction.

But when it came to government affairs, they had always been controlled by Liu Yu.

Liu Yu was not only the legitimate Inspector of Youzhou but also a member of the Han imperial clan.

Under Yuan Shao's incitement, Liu Yu's dissatisfaction with Gongsun Zan deepened day by day.

The contradictions between the two sides gradually intensified.

Given Gongsun Zan's personality, it is likely that before long, he will take military action against Liu Yu!

At that time, the situation in Youzhou will likely only be more chaotic than it is now.

At the same time.

Several major events that changed the original situation also occurred in Yanzhou.

First, the Qingzhou Huang Jin, claiming to be a million strong, invaded Yanzhou on a large scale.

The land resources and population resources of Yanzhou suffered great losses as a result.

The Inspector of Yanzhou, Liu Dai, and the Chancellor of Jibei, Bao Xin, led their armies to suppress the invading Qingzhou Huang Jin.

As a result, these two men died one after the other in the chaos of battle.

In an instant, Yanzhou fell into great chaos.

The Inspector of Yanzhou, Liu Dai, was originally the top leader of Yanzhou.

The Chancellor of Jibei, Bao Xin, was equivalent to the second-in-command.

The deaths of these two people undoubtedly brought greater turmoil to Yanzhou.

At a critical moment, the Administrator of Chen Liu, Zhang Miao, recommended the Administrator of Dongjun, Cao Cao, to become the new Inspector of Yanzhou.

Cao Cao quickly integrated the various forces in Yanzhou.