Chapter 238 A Pragmatic Person
After Black Bear led the vanguard to Yan'an, he returned to Fushe where the central army was located that night.

Because he had to cover the retreat, by the time he actually set out to return to Guanzhong, it was already the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Liu Bao led a thousand cavalrymen to see them off all the way, reluctant to leave.

Although he was frightened following the black bear, he was only afraid of the black bear.

Now that Black Bear has left with his army, and so many people have died in various Hun tribes, many people want to kill him.

The last knight of the black flag walked slowly. Liu Bao took out the golden knife decorated with red and blue sapphires from his arms and presented it with both hands: "I am very reluctant to say goodbye to the Great Commander today. I just hope that this knife will always be with the Great Commander, just to show my humble gratitude."

Black Bear caught the one-foot-long golden knife. It felt heavy in his hand. When he pulled it out, he saw that the blade had a snowflake texture.

"I accept the Shanyu's kindness."

Black Bear put the golden knife into the sleeve of his leather boot and took out an eight-sided Han sword with gold and silver diamond patterns that was polished as finely as a mirror from the harness. The scabbard was made of ordinary copper-ringed black wood.

It felt heavy in his hand, and he handed it to Liu Bao with both hands: "This sword is strong and sharp, I hope it can protect the Chanyu in peace."

Liu Bao caught it with both hands and stared at the black bear. He was really scared.

Seeing his expression, Black Bear said with a smile: "Around March or April next year, I will come to Gaonu to build a tall tower to show my merits to future generations. I plan to change Gaonu's name to Yan'an, which means the continuation of peace between Han and Xiongnu. If the Chanyu is interested, you can come to Yan'an to meet."

"How dare I refuse the invitation of the Great Commander?"

Liu Bao held the sword in both hands, bowed deeply, and in terms of etiquette, he was no different from the scholars in the Han area.

Black Bear smiled when he saw this and glanced at the hundreds of Xiongnu nobles nearby. Some of them followed Liu Bao and bowed deeply.

The rest of the people pretended to be serious, but when they noticed that the black bear turned its head to look at them, they all bowed their heads and were possessed by the spirit.

Seeing this, Black Bear supported Liu Bao and said, "Take care, Chanyu. See you next year."

"Master Daqu..."

Liu Bao choked up and bowed deeply. The nobles who followed him had just straightened their backs and now they followed suit and bowed deeply.

"drive!"

When Liu Bao heard the light shout of Black Bear whipping his horse, he looked up and saw that Black Bear was already riding more than twenty steps away.

Liu Bao was choking with sobs and could hardly control himself, and his trusted followers came forward to support him.

Liu Bao looked at the black bear's back getting farther and farther away, and felt his heart empty.

Raising his hand to wipe away tears, Liu Bao noticed other nobles approaching him and calmed down: "This man is finally gone."

The nobles were silent and no one dared to speak.

They had seen the black bear and the divine horse that could travel a thousand miles a day under Taishi Wengong, and they knew very well what this divine horse meant.

These are just two horses. If they are bred in good quality, there will be more than ten, dozens, or even a hundred horses in the future.

With a peerless and brave general like Taishi Wengong in command and control, he was like the god of death to the Huns.

Not to mention black bears, if any of the nomadic tribes suddenly obtains a greatly improved breed of horse, their rise will be unstoppable!
Liu Bao couldn't bear to leave Black Bear, and Black Bear also felt a little reluctant to leave Liu Bao.

He was afraid that this acquaintance would be killed by the Xiongnu nobles, and it would take time and cost to train a new one.

As he galloped on his horse, the black flag hundred-man teams that were slowly advancing gradually accelerated and headed towards Guanzhong along the Qin Straight Road.

A few days later, on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhuge Liang and his entourage left the Lantian Valley.

Zhuge Liang was also a strong laborer and pushed a wheelbarrow himself.

In the narrow donkey cart, Huang Yueying lifted the curtain and looked at both sides of the road.

She felt puzzled when she saw men and women in a village repairing collapsed houses.

When they arrived at the next inn to rest, she asked, "My husband, there are so many people who have migrated from Guanzhong. Now they all have houses. Why are you still repairing them?"

"Three counties were recovered in the north of Heizhen, and another 80,000 men and women moved inland."

Zhuge Liang warmed himself by the fire, ate wheat cakes, and drank a sip of hot tea before saying, "Eighty thousand men and women, with at least a hundred thousand children."

They had been married for two years and still had no children. Huang Yueying felt a little embarrassed when she heard Zhuge Liang say the word "child".

He frowned and asked, "Could it be that all the Qiang tribes in the north were destroyed by him in a blink of an eye?"

"Not really. I think many of these men, women and children were rescued from the Huns."

Zhuge Liang was not in the mood to eat the wheat cakes. He drank tea and said, "We have rescued no less than 400,000 men and women, including children. These people have been saved and will fight to the death."

Huang Yueying also felt a strong pressure after listening to this. Among the men and women who were rescued, the ratio of men to women was three to one. Those who could survive in the hands of the Hu people must be young and strong.

Even if there is a elimination, one hundred thousand dead soldiers can be selected.

There is no one in this world today that black bears dare not or cannot kill.

Even if Wang Yun was alive, he could be easily torn to pieces by the black bear.

Not to mention Wang Yun, even if Dong Zhuo were to be resurrected, he would not be able to stop the black bear now.

Soldiers from all over the world have various limitations and weaknesses.

And the people rescued by Black Bear this time, such a large number of people, are people who have been tortured by the Hu people, and this group of people is full of resentment.

There is no need for Black Bear's guidance, nor is there a need to merge with the Taiping Dao. The resentment that has accumulated over the years alone is enough to destroy the imperial court.

The existence of the Han Dynasty court, the well-dressed people, and the hereditary dukes and marquises are meaningless to these people.

This is an extremely powerful force that Cao Cao can’t stop, Yuan Shang can’t stop, and even Jingzhou can’t stop it!

If either side responds alone, they will be overwhelmed.

Zhuge Liang viewed the world as a chessboard, and now it was clear that the Black Bear side had seriously disrupted the balance.

Given the strength of Hebei at that time, Yuan Shao still had to win over and make friends with the Wuhuan through marriage.

As for the black bear, it regards the meat of the Xiongnu and Qiang people as delicious, and it takes such a big bite that it is equivalent to the accumulation of others for decades.

Among all the forces in the world, who can have 100,000 dead soldiers under his command?

It is not easy to recruit soldiers who will dare to die. If they are trained properly, they can become the Wei Wuzu and Qin Ruishi, the backbone of any force.

Can black bears train soldiers?

He must be able to train troops. Zhuge Liang judged others by himself and thought that Black Bear was very skilled in training troops.

While the couple was chatting, they suddenly saw the southern part of the official road being used for riding.

He made the rider stick two white feathers on his back and galloped away on his horse.

Before he arrived, the head of the small post station led people out to greet him, and brought four horses. When the emissary arrived, he said, "Jingzhou's 600-li express delivery!"

At this time, the knight who was traveling with them also arrived. He was so tired and breathless that he jumped off his horse.

The rider was also helped to the new horse by the pavilion chief and his men. After he sat firmly, he drank two bowls of warm tea and immediately set off leading a spare horse.

A guard in the post station had already put on leather armor, jumped on his horse, and also led an empty horse to serve as the new guard, riding in pursuit.

Zhuge Liang looked at the two men and four horses heading north, and asked Ma Liang who had come up to him, "Ji Chang, what do you think is going on?"

"Perhaps there is an explanation for the Xiangyang incident."

Ma Liang went to see Cui Zhouping, who was seated nearby and received at the post station. Cui Zhouping had served as the governor of Xihe County and had been treated with great courtesy on his way north.

Even in this small, newly established inn, the head of the inn had allocated a seat for Cui Zhouping to rest.

Zhuge Liang also went to see Cui Zhouping. Cui Zhouping raised his hand and stroked his beard. He was in his forties, at the prime of his life.

The situation in the world is changing very rapidly now, and he has some ideas.

So when he left Jingzhou, he married Mrs. Cai's younger sister and became Zhuge Liang's uncle.

Before his death, Cai Mao originally wanted to use his younger sister to marry Huan Jie of Changsha. Huan Jie declined, and soon after, Cai Mao was beheaded by Gan Ning.

This time, Cui Zhouping brought not only his newlywed young wife to the north, but also a generous dowry.

The dowry was not limited to wealth, but also included various servants and warriors. These were the foundation and confidence for Cui Zhouping to quickly establish a manor.

Seeing Zhuge Liang also looking at him, Cui Zhouping said with a smile: "Why should Kongming look at me? From my point of view, Wen Zhongye has led his troops to Xiangyang, and the matter has been settled."

"Liang thinks so too."

Zhuge Liang stood up and went to the table to make tea in his wooden bowl. He smiled and said, "Given how much Hei Zhenbei values ​​Liu Fubo, who can guarantee that Wen Zhongye will only have soldiers from Jingzhou in his army when he goes south?"

This is the key. If you cooperate with Wen Pin honestly and handle everything in an orderly manner, then everything will be under control.

If they rebelled against Wen Pin and caused the Guanzhong soldiers in Wen Pin's army to take action, the problem would not be solved by the death of a group of leaders.

Are there any soldiers from Guanzhong hidden in Wen Pin’s army?

Judging from my own experience, even if there are not 700 to 800 soldiers in a battalion, there are at least 200 to 300 elite soldiers.

As long as Wen Pin starts a mutiny, who among the troops stationed in Xiangyang dares to resist?
After Cai Mao was crippled, Cai's troops shrank and disintegrated, and their vitality was severely damaged.

Now Wen Pin has launched a mutiny under the instructions of Liu Qi and Hei Xiong. Who near Xiangyang dares to resist?
If you fail, your whole family will die. If you succeed in resisting and attract a black bear, your entire clan will be killed.

There is almost no need to think too much. If Wen Pin launched a mutiny, the outcome would be inevitable.

This mutiny was not something that even Liu Qi could prevent or control.

As long as Liu Biao is not killed, no matter how many people are killed... Liu Qi will accept this as a fait accompli.

The initiative is in Wen Pin's hands, and it is highly likely that he will launch a mutiny.

Zhuge Liang and several others speculated about what happened in Xiangyang and felt more urgent.

If Black Bear captured Liu Qi, it would be like capturing the throat of Jingzhou.

Thinking of the current situation, Zhuge Liang frowned slightly. The next change in the world will be when Liu Yuzhou invades the Central Plains next year.

If we can swallow Cao Cao in one breath, eliminate the mortal feud between the Central Plains and Hebei, unite together and support the Han emperor, then we can still compete with the black bear.

After a few years of confrontation, if Black Bear is unable to quickly inflict heavy damage on the alliance, Jingzhou will also be shaken, and this is not something Liu Qi can control.

If we want to curb the black bears, we must resolve the deadly feud between Central Plains and Hebei.

Only by ensuring the overall peace in Kanto can we have orderly recuperation and serve each other well.

After Guandong was stabilized, the Black Bear could not be defeated quickly, and the people of Jingzhou dared to waver and change camps.

Therefore, if you want to attract the black bear's attention, you must describe the future crisis to the black bear in full and then find a solution.

And this is the way to progress.

If it fails, it will inspire Black Bear, and Black Bear himself will find a way to destroy the Kanto Alliance.

By then, Black Bear will be under house arrest and it will be difficult to escape.

Even if you escape, you still have to think of new points of strength for forming alliances and making divisive alliances.

Cui Zhouping saw Zhuge Liang in deep thought, but did not interfere. He just drank tea and ate yellow rice.

I am also repeatedly thinking about my own path.

Currently, Guanzhong and Hebei are allies. I am from Hebei and married a woman from the Cai family in Jingzhou.

Therefore, with Black Bear, he can be competent for negotiations and diplomatic missions with Hebei and Jingzhou.

In return, there should be no obstacle to establishing a small estate.

At worst, I can give up this manor and build my own farm with my servants.

They did not run the manor economy, but only focused on farming and grazing, and did not participate in the sale of daily necessities such as salt, iron, and cloth.

When the situation is stable in the future, we will find ways to engage in trade with the various Hu tribes, which will make money quickly.

Only with sufficient financial resources can one provide for his son to grow up to be a successful person.

Just because he was willing to spend money, his father Cui Lie spent five million to buy the position of Taiwei.

Although the two brothers laughed at this matter in public many times, no matter how much they laughed, they could not break away from Cui Lie.

For example, now, the family of Cui Zhouping naturally recognizes the resume of Taiwei Cui Lie.

It is not shameful to spend money to buy a general; it is shameful to let this matter be exposed.

How to make money, make a lot of money, and use money to pave the way is one of the family traditions that the Cui family has inherited.

Since Cui Zhouping had chosen to enter the world, he had to follow the golden rules summed up by his ancestors and naturally married a woman who was more than 20 years younger than him.

He left Jingzhou, where he had lived for more than ten years, and headed towards Guanzhong.

The goal is to make the Cui family stand tall again in the world.

As for the changes in the vertical and horizontal alliances that Zhuge Liang had thought of, and the survival of the Han Dynasty, they were not within Cui Zhouping's consideration at all.

Now he just wants to do something practical.

(End of this chapter)