The Marquis Is Innocent

Chapter 41:

Wei Liang led 2,000 men and horses to ride ahead, followed the trail of Chen Xiangs bridal procession according to the report of the spies sent by Gongsun Yang, and found the bridal procession in Liyang North a few days later.

Because the procession contained ten thousand drachms of grain, it was difficult to travel fast. Although they started early, they have not even reached half of the journey. Wei Liang led his men to ambush in a mountain pass.

When the procession entered the pass, the ambushers came out with shouts from both front and back. Gao Shun, the general of Zhenwei who was escorting the procession under the order of Chen Xiang, was taken aback and hastily raised his halberd to ask who was coming. Wei Liang, with a cry of Your grandfather is coming, shot his horse forward and swung his sword.

Gao Shun raised his halberd in response, but Wei Liang was not his opponent. After three rounds he was cut off under the horse. When the other generals saw Wei Liangs fierceness and they were surrounded by men and horses, they were frightened, waved their horses, and fled.

The remaining soldiers can not continue their resistance, and instantly the formation is broken down and scattered.

Wei Shaos purpose for this trip is not to kill the enemy or to chase. Wei Liang instructed people to gather the provisions and rations. He goes up to open the carriage and sees a beautiful woman shrinking in the corner, shivering. She was already out of color, and when she saw Wei Liang come in with a messy head, she shrieked and fainted, and gave Wei Liang a shock. The two servants on the side also look as pale as dirt, kneeling and kowtowing to beg for mercy.

Wei Liang knew this fainted woman was Chen Xiangs daughter. He asked the soldiers to escort the carriage to Yangzhou instead. In a few days, he arrived at Huainan and stopped at Xia Cai. A spy reported Yang Xin had sent his envoy Song Xian to welcome him. Song Xian respectfully invited Wei Liang and his party to enter the city. Wei Liang refused and ordered the soldiers to stand outside the city, strictly ordered them not to go near Chen Xiangs daughters tent, and patrolled day and night in shifts.

Yang Xin and Xue Tai have a long history of grudges. The previous encounters are equal. Each has won and lost, but these two years, they have been holding each other down.

A few days ago, Wei Shaos messenger, Zhang Yong, arrived unexpectedly and handed Wei Shaos handwritten letter, expressing his intention. Wei Shao was a powerful man in the north, and the worlds great men went to join him. Yang Xin had heard of him, but he never interacted with him. Suddenly, he sent an emissary Zhang Yong as a lobbyist. Zhang Yong was from a Jiangdong family. Because he admired Wei Shao, he went to join him and become the official minister. He could speak well, and in three or two sentences, he convinced Yang Xin and made him his confidant.

Although Chen Xiang is strong, with Wei Shao standing in the way, there is no need to be afraid. Launching an attack on Xuzhou, which only has 20,000 soldiers and horses left, the chances of winning are great, and there are also the grain, silk, and northern horses promised by Wei Shao.

Those grain and silk are nothing. A thousand northern horses are the most important. The southern region does not produce horses. If they can obtain a thousand northern horses, it is undoubtedly worthy of a tigers wings. He agreed on the spot. Zhang Yong took a blood oath, arranged a banquet, selected 100,000 soldiers and horses the next day, and went to Xuzhou in three directions.

Xue Tai, who had been in Yanzhou for half a month, robbed the people of their money, not leaving any chickens or dogs behind, and the people were complaining. His army arrived in Juye, only a hundred miles away from Dongxian, and his spies reported 30 miles outside of Juye, Qiao Ping and his son had led 50,000 soldiers and horses to stand by. He was not worried and urged his army to go straight ahead.

The two armies met outside the city of Juye. Xue Tai looked to the opposite side and saw the formation circle. A middle-aged general sitting on a white horse in the lead, with a face like a scholar, and he knew it was Qiao Ping. On the other side was a red horse with a young general sitting on it, wearing a silver robe, holding two halberds, with starry eyes, and very handsome. He guessed it was Qiao Pings son and laughed loudly: Yanzhou has no one left. They even sent a girl to fight the battle!

When these words came out, laughter rose in all directions. Qiao Ci was young and proud. How could he bear such humiliation? Despite Qiao Pings obstruction, he rushed out of the line on his horse, angrily cursing the old man Xue. On the other side, there was Xue Tais 18-year-old son, Xue Liang, who was going to marry Chen Xiangs daughter. He rushed his horse and raised his weapon.

The two sides met in the open space of the formation. Both sides of the soldiers shouted. After a vicious fight, dozens of rounds, Qiao Ci pushed Xue Liang under the horse. Xue Liang fled to his position, but Qiao Ci caught up and stabbed Xue Liang in the back of his heart. Xue Liang fell to the ground and died.

Qiao Ping watched the battle from behind, very nervous. Although his eldest brother sent an envoy to Yuyang to ask for help, he had not heard any news, not to mention the arrival of Wei Shaos troops. When he learned Xue Tais army was approaching, Qiao Ping led his troops to stand in formation in Juye, ready to fight to the death.

His only son was not yet an adult, and Qiao Ping did not want him to fight with him on the front line and ordered him to stay behind and guard the city. But although Yanzhou could gather 50,000 soldiers and horses, they could not find a few good generals who could hold down the fort. Qiao Ci was determined to fight in the front line. When he saw Qiao Ci could not stand the provocation and fought with Xue Liang but finally killed him, he was relieved and hastily ordered to make his return to the line.

The battle has not started yet, but Xue Tais son has died at the hands of a young boy. He was shocked, mournful, and furious and ordered the left and right generals to attack and kill Qiao Ci. General Cao Xu and Zhang Biao received the order, headed out on horseback, and surrounded Qiao Ci in the horse formation in a flash.

Although Qiao Ci is a junior soldier, but not yet an adult. He has not experienced many battles. Cao Xu and Zhang Biao are Xuzhou experienced generals, accustomed to fighting in battles. Qiao Ci one against two, how can he hold on? When he was careless, his left arm was cut with a knife and blood flowed.

Qiao Ping saw his sons path of retreat was cut off and his body was wounded. He was anxious and led two generals to rush to help, but it was too late. Before he reached the front, he heard Cao Xu shouting, Yellow-mouthed little boy, I will take revenge for my young master! He watched as he threw his spear at Qiao Cis chest. Qiao Cis halberd was against Zhang Biaos long knife, and he could not dodge it. He was about to be splattered with blood, and suddenly a fast horse came like lightning in the wilderness and rushed to the front.

The man on the horse wore a hat. He put his finger on his lips and whistled a sharp whistle towards the three horses in front. Three war horses hearing the magic sound hissed in unison and angrily raised the front hooves. They threw Cao Xu, Zhang Biao, and Qiao Ci together off the horse.

Cao Xu and Zhang Biao are riding the long-used Dawan horse. Qiao Ci mounts raised in its childhood. Did not expect when the stranger whistled, the horses throw the master to the ground. The three fell and rolled together. The man drove his horse to the front, leaned down, picked up Qiao Cis arm, dragged him onto the horse, turned, and ran towards Qiao Ping. When he reached Qiao Pings horse, he pushed Qiao Ci down, Qiao Ci landed and stood on his feet, but he was still in shock and did not react for a while.

Qiao Ping thought his son would be splattered with blood, but he never dreamed the man with the bucket hat would come out and save his life. He was surprised and grateful. He knew this man was not from the two armies. He looked at him and saw his bucket hat was low, covering his forehead and eyes. He looked like he was only in his early twenties. He cupped his fist and thanked him: Thank you for saving my son. Before the battle, I had no time to express my gratitude, but please leave your name, I will thank you again later!

Qiao Ci stood on the ground and saw the mans eyes under the hat. His one eye was green. He felt he seemed familiar but could not remember. Xue Tai beat the drums and ordered them to attack. There was no time to think further. He hurriedly whistled, called back his war horse, and turned up to meet the enemy.

The two armies fought together in the blink of an eye. Qiao Ping, who was well-versed in military science and had been practicing diligently, tried his best to command the formation. But there were no good generals around, and his troops were only half as strong as the opponent. His position was getting squeezed down to a smaller size. He could only walk and fight. Suddenly there was a cannon shot from the left and right, 10,000 men from Xue Tais sides were pressed up, and the Yanzhou soldiers formation was scattered.

Qiao Ping knew if the battle continued, all 50,000 soldiers would be wiped out. He wanted to retreat into the city, but the formation was already in disarray. If he suddenly sounded the bell, the situation would be even harder to manage. He was struggling to hold on when he saw the man with the hat kill two Xue Tai soldiers who surrounded him with a single slash.

He roared with his sword. His roar was like a thunderclap, dozens of people in front of him looked scared, but they didnt dare to approach, and watched him clear a path through the blood and rushed to the front of Qiao Ping, sternly shouted: Your Excellency, quickly sounded the bell and retreat into the city. Otherwise, all your troops will be wiped out! I will cover for you here!

Qiao Ping was amazed.

This young man who came from nowhere, although his clothes are simple, and seems to be just an ordinary person, somehow, in such a chaotic battle, he is like a god of war, making people follow his orders. He turned around and was about to gather his soldiers when he heard Xue Tai sound the bell first. He was surprised and saw the opposite side seemed to have something unexpected. Xue Tais face filled with anger, pointing to the sky and cursing, ordered his men to withdraw their troops back to the formation, took his sons corpse and retreated, and went in the direction of Xuzhou.

Outside Juyes city, which had just been filled with death, suddenly stopped. Qiao Ping felt he experienced an afterlife. He still could not believe it. Why Xue Tai suddenly retreated when the situation was so good? He did not bother to think about it and ordered to clean up the battlefield and sent the fallen and injured soldiers into the city. He took a breath when he suddenly remembered the man with the bucket hat and hurriedly looked around, but where was he?

Qiao Ci chased after him all the way. The person in front of him can not shake him off and stop the horse at the side of the road.

Qiao Cis face was stained with blood. The blood scabs on his arm wound have not solidified, still dripping blood, but his eyes are shining brightly. Catching up with one breath, stop his horse and pointed his sword at the other side, and said: I know you! Your green eyes! Did you take my sister away? Where is she now? What have you done with her?

Bi Zhi slowly raised his hat: I have married her. Dont worry, I will do my best to treat her. You are seriously injured. You should go back to treat your injuries as soon as possible.

Qiao Cis eyes widened, showing an unbelievable look.

Bi Zhi nodded slightly at him, then urged his horse to raise its hooves and galloped away. His figure disappeared at the end of the wilderness path.

Qiao Ci was frozen in place.

When Da Qiao ran away with Bi Zhi, the Qiao family strictly concealed it. Qiao Ci was unsure, but it seemed related to the family horse slave, Bi Zhi. Therefore, as soon as the war was over, he focused on Bi Zhi and chased him here.

He did not expect his cousin Da Qiao had married him. And listening to his tone, it seems Da Qiao is willing.

Qiao Ci could not imagine such a thing could happen.

He could not accept it. He paused and remembered when he was about to die by the sword, it was this man who saved him. In front of the two armies, he was brave and amazing, with a powerful force he had never seen before.

What kind of a person is he?

Qiao Ci is confused.

After Wei Shao leaves with his troops, there is one less man in the house. As if the main backbone is missing and the Wei Manor becomes cold all of a sudden.

Xiao Qiaos day was free, except when she had to face Mrs. Zhu. But she was worried about the military situation in Yanzhou and was on tenterhooks every day. Fortunately, half a month after Wei Shao left, news finally came.

While Xue Tai was attacking the Eastern County, Xuzhou was attacked by Yang Xin from Huainan, and he retreated to return for rescue. The two sides encountered a big battle at Jiu Li Mountain in Liucheng. Xue Tai was defeated, lost his troops and countless provisions, returned to Xuzhou in distress, and remained behind closed doors. He was wounded and should not be able to attack again in the short term.

Xiao Qiaos heart, which had been hanging in the air for days, finally relaxed. She returned to her room. She was about to write a letter to her father, Qiao Ping when word came from the north house saying Mrs. Xu asked her to come over.

Xiao Qiao put down her pen, changed her clothes, and went to the north house. Wei Yan was also there, sitting on his knees beside Mrs. Xu. Wei Yan bowed to Mrs. Xu, got off the couch, and turned around. He met Xiao Qiao, and his eyes stopped at her face.

Every time Wei Shao leaves on a military expedition, he always gives Wei Yan the responsibility of defending Youzhou. Its not surprising to see him here at the moment.

Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes and called Uncle.

Wei Yan nodded and turned to Mrs. Xu, Ill leave now. Grandmother, please be prepared, and I will send you off in the morning.

Mrs. Xu nodded her head.

Wei Yan glanced at Xiao Qiao, passed by her, and left.

Xiao Qiao went up to the couch and sat down on her knees by Mrs. Xus hand. She saw a few rolls of letters and silk on the desk. They seemed sent from different places.

Mrs. Xu smiled and said, Zhong Lin has been out for most of the month. Grandmother fears you will be worried. As soon as there is news, I will tell you first. The army arrived at Shiyi a few days ago, and the troops have set up their fortresses and formations, and it is going very well.

Xiao Qiao suddenly felt guilty.

These days, her thoughts are hanging on Yanzhou the most. Perhaps because Wei Shao was strong enough and knew he would return, she didnt think about him. She said, I hope my husband will return soon.

Mrs. Xu nodded and said, I received another letter today. Tomorrow Im leaving for Zhongshan to visit an old relative. I think you have nothing to do at home. Why dont you come with me and introduce yourself there? Ill have a companion on the way.

Xiao Qiao was surprised. She didnt expect she would be going away all of a sudden. She didnt know what Mrs. Xu would do in Zhongshan, but since she asked, she nodded her head.

You go back and pack up, and well leave early tomorrow morning. Mrs. Xu smiled and said.