Chapter 279 Abnormal Means
Lantian, on the banks of the Bashui River.

When the black bear returned, he saw more than a hundred girls washing mushrooms and wild vegetables they had picked by the river.

He watched for a moment and felt that Yuan Shang was very generous.

The girl on the other side of the river is only one-third of the dowry team from Hebei.

He definitely didn't need so many people, and even the female soldiers and maids recruited and trained by Zhen Mi, Black Bear was a little resistant.

Therefore, in the future, most of these Hebei girls will marry their own personal guards.

Or you can raise her by your side and educate her well, marry her to a new and talented military officer who has been promoted in the army, or marry her to an outstanding scholar.

Parasitism, resurrection.

These words flooded into Black Bear's heart, and he did not think that Yuan Shang and the Hebei scholars had acted excessively.

While thinking, he controlled his horse to jump into the slightly warmer Ba River. Although the Ba River in the afternoon was not far from the mountainous area, it was much warmer than in the morning and at night.

A dozen Taoist puppet soldiers followed on horseback, causing huge waves.

Soon, a group of black bears arrived at the east bank of the Ba River.

Among the girls, Xin Xianying, who looked ordinary, was holding a basket of fennel and sitting on a stone by the river, squinting at the "Tai Shi Wengong" holding the Fang Tian Ji.

I always feel that the other person looks so hideous when he is riding his horse.

Her uncle was killed by this Grand Historian Wengong in the western suburbs of Yecheng.

If the judge had not shown leniency to his colleague's wife and daughter, Xin Xianying might have been secretly executed in June or July last year.

The black bear returned to the earth building and saw from afar two large pots set up outside the building, with steam rising from the stove.

In front of the big pot, Ma Yun, wearing a bamboo hat and a white veil covering her face, was leading the girls, both young and old, to blanch the Osmanthus fragrans.

Osmanthus fern is a kind of fern. Black bear has two perceptions of this thing. One is Osmanthus fern, and the other is called "hairy fern" in the spoken language of his hometown in his previous life. However, the shape of Osmanthus fern is more like "hairy curl".

When he arrived, he saw two maids carrying a basket of blanched osmanthus to dry in the sun; when he looked over, he saw a dozen people, big and small, turning the osmanthus in the drying area.

Collecting seasonal wild vegetables, blanching them and drying them for consumption in winter or to prepare for famine was common knowledge in this era.

Even someone like Zhen Mi would participate in picking wild vegetables and drying them to make dried vegetables.

Not only the wild vegetables are dried in the sun, but also mushrooms and other wild vegetables.

Black Bear got off his horse and said to Ma Yun and the others who were walking towards him, "Hurry up and cook. I'm hungry."

"Yes, I will ask someone to supervise the meal."

Ma Yun was the first to agree, and ordered two personal maids, one big and one small, to turn around and leave.

Then she directed the other maids to fetch clean clothes, and then stepped forward and said, "My dear, please change your clothes first."

"Ah."

Black Bear nodded and smiled at Yuan Xuan who was beside Ma Yun, and Yuan Xuan bowed in greeting.

She was two years younger than Ma Yun, short in stature and slow in growth, and when she stood there her head only reached Ma Yun's shoulders.

As for appearance, this was after all the winner selected by Yuan Shang from a dozen women of the same clan. She had delicate features and fair skin, and was more delicate and beautiful than Ma Yun.

Zhen Mi was not here. Before Yuan Xuan arrived, Zhen Mi had already taken her maids and female soldiers to Ganquan Mountain to build her own manor.

Zhen Mi is hiding from Yuan Xuan, but Yuan Xuan is not much better.

Her father once served as the prefect of Weijun County, but was currently unemployed; it was not that Yuan Shang did not want to use him, but that he did not dare to use him; because Yuan Xuan's grandfather originally followed Yuan Shu, and after Yuan Shu's defeat, he could only take refuge in Huainan, which was under the rule of Cao Cao.

Inside the pavilion, Ma Yun, who had just turned sixteen, took out the clothes she had sewn during this period.

After the maid washed the black bear, she went forward to help the black bear put on new clothes.

After not seeing each other for more than a month, she gestured and said, "My dear, you have grown taller again."

Zhuge Liang was eight feet two inches tall, and the black bear was almost catching up with him.

If you are taller, it will be a bit inconvenient.

The black bear had no choice but to reduce the intake of white mana.

I always feel that if I use white magic too much, if I am buried in the ground in the future, I may really become an immortal zombie.

"Brother, have you sent any letters recently?"

"Yes, my brother has upset father again."

Ma Yun couldn't hide the truth, and immediately spoke with a smile on her face: "He kept a little Qiang girl who was herding sheep by his side. My father was angry, but he couldn't say anything to him."

"My dear, you don't know that father was looking for a good match for brother. There was no suitable one among the big families in Guanzhong, so he was just about to ask Longyou and Hehuang. I didn't expect brother to raise a little Qiang girl. How could father be happy?"

In her opinion, it was very interesting that Ma Chao made Ma Teng very angry.

The black bear also started laughing. After Ma Chao stood firmly on his feet, he began to let himself go.

It seems that Ma Chao likes this working method that only cares about the results and not the process. It is really no big deal for him to have a little Qiang girl by his side.

As long as Ma Chao doesn't rebel, he can do whatever he wants.

After all, no matter how hard Ma Chao tried, he couldn't attract more than 100,000 enemy cavalry.

It would be even better if we could attract it.

Ma Yun's tone suddenly became depressed as she spoke: "Father has given birth to another little brother. My dear, when can we have children? The eldest lady has gone to Ganquan again, and I am like a stranger to Madam Yuan. My dear, you are always on the go, and it is very boring for me to stay here."

"Let's start working on it tonight."

"When will you go to Ganquan?"

"Official documents from Guanzhong will be sent to Ganquan tomorrow morning. I have to leave tomorrow morning."

While Black Bear was talking, Ma Yun approached and said, "I also want to go to Ganquan."

"Alu, you can't go now. You have to accompany Yuan Xuan. Other things can't be discussed. Going to Ganquan is no different from staying here." Black Bear wanted to explain clearly, but he forced himself to hold back and just said, "After a while, I will go to inspect the three counties of Hedong, Taiyuan, and Yanmen."

Ma Yun had no choice but to go forward and make contact.

The two maids who were helping with the changing of clothes retreated tacitly and left the small earthen building.

Hedong, Wenxi, and both sides of the Sushui River.

When he returned with Guan Yu to the place where Zhang Liao's army was stationed, he saw that the fields on both sides of the Sushui River had been reclaimed. The fertile fields near the river bank, which were convenient for drawing water, were all planted with wheat, while the fields farther away were roughly sown with millet and sorghum.

Guo Mu, who stayed behind to assist Zhang Liao's troops, followed Guan Yu and pointed to the green fields in the distance and said, "After the two gentlemen entered Guanzhong, it rained twice, which is very rare."

The growing period of spring wheat is just over 100 days, so later spring sowing will not have any impact.

Often when other crops are damaged during spring plowing and sowing, the government will arrange for the people to rush to plant wheat to combat the disaster.

Although there are still some bran left after pounding the wheat and it tastes terrible, eating such wheat is better than eating tree bark.

Zhang Liao continued to gaze into the distance. The endless green in his sight would be the basis for his future.

Guan Yu was somewhat envious. He was not envious of Zhang Liao for having more than a thousand soldiers, but also for having so many fields for military settlement.

Instead, he envied the other party for being able to settle in his hometown and cultivate 70,000 to 80,000 acres of land, which was something he had not dared to imagine in the past.

Not only Guan Yu was envious, but also the soldiers recruited by Guan Yu were envious.

If each of them had more than a hundred acres or dozens of acres of fertile land by the river in their hometown, they would not apply to be a soldier.

After inspecting for a short period of time, Guan Yu and Zhang Liao climbed up the earthen platform built by Yuan Tan, observed, studied and discussed the battle in which the black bear attacked and killed the Chanyu, and then they returned to the military camp.

Zhang Liao's military camp has been divided into eighteen garrisons. Only by spreading out in this way can it be convenient to cultivate the land.

In the barracks, we first washed up to wash away the dust, oil and sweat.

After he felt better, Guan Yu left Guo Mu outside to guard the door and keep watch.

Inside the barracks, Zhang Liao spread out a map and began to explain to Guan Yu the internal changes of Cao's army in the past two years, as well as the garrison status of various passes and important locations.

Zhang Liao has promised not to be hostile to Cao Cao, so in the next military operations, Zhang Liao will only provide intelligence to Guan Yu, and he and his troops will not intervene in the Central Plains.

Knowing each other well, Zhang Liao knew exactly what Guan Yu wanted to do.

The black bear will attack Cao Cao between April and May, and Guan Yu will naturally follow him at the risk of his life.

Rather than chopping off Cao Cao's head, Guan Yu wanted to vent his anger.

Therefore, the information Zhang Liao told was mainly about the defense of Xu Du and the manors outside the city.

Cao Cao's family was divided into two parts, one living in Qiao County and the other living in Xudu. There were also concubines accompanying him in the army to take care of Cao Cao's daily affairs.

Only concubines who had given birth to children or were pregnant would stay in the rear. The concubines that Cao Cao brought with him were all childless.

By memorizing the information about the government offices and manors in the suburbs and city of Xu Du, Guan Yu would have the opportunity to persuade the black bear to launch a surprise attack on Xu Du.

Even if he just touched it while passing by, it could seriously undermine Cao Cao's morale!
Guan Yu looked at the manor where Mrs. Du lived on the map. He no longer had much in mind for this woman. Because of her, his anger towards Cao Cao was almost gone.

But if you could pass by, why not give Cao Cao a slap?

As long as Black Bear dares to go to Xudu, he will follow him.

When the real fight comes, it won't just be the Du family. The Du family is just the beginning.

When Xuzhou City was broken, not only civilians and soldiers died, but also many wives, sons and daughters of officers!

Guan Yu had a blank expression on his face and squinted his eyes as he listened carefully to the information Zhang Liao told him.

After Zhang Liao finished speaking, he looked at Guan Yu's slightly stiff expression and said to him in comfort, "Lord Cao is extremely wise and strategic. If Brother Yunchang's whereabouts are exposed, he will definitely set an ambush."

Guan Yu wanted to explain something, but when he looked at Zhang Liao's eyes, he opened his mouth and stopped.

Zhang Liao added, "Even I know what Brother Yunchang is thinking, not to mention Lord Cao. Brother Yunchang has an unusual appearance, so it is difficult to hide his whereabouts. I think if he really goes to Xudu, he will definitely be ambushed. And Marquis Liang is a chivalrous man who has no taboos."

"Wenyuan, there is no need to say more. This is a personal vendetta against me, Cao Mengde. How can I not avenge someone who killed my wife and took my love?"

Guan Yu's face was devoid of extra emotion, he was indignant: "This is the best opportunity at the moment, the Grand Marshal will not allow Lord Xuande to ally with the court! I will join hands with him to harass Xu, the court will be disturbed and the people will be in a panic, and Cao Mengde's prestige will plummet. This move is no less than 30,000 soldiers!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao was silent for a moment, not knowing how to persuade him.

It cannot be said that after Cao Cao got Du, he felt a little regretful and was embarrassed to give Du to Guan Yu.

While he was still hesitating, Guan Yu hung up his seal and sealed his gold, and left a letter to say goodbye.

After thinking about it, Zhang Liao changed his perspective and hypothetically said, "Brother, if Cao Gong knew your intention and was willing to help you, and let you go all the way and escorted you back to Wankou with courtesy, how should I repay you for this?"

Let's put it in perspective, Cao Cao really let it go all the way...

Guan Yu was stunned, thinking that Cao Cao was actually just like a black bear, and was also very willful in many cases.

What Zhang Liao said made sense. Guan Yu knew very well that Cao Cao often adopted methods and attitudes that were beyond common sense when dealing with him.

Just as the two were silent, Chen Zhen, who had come to the DPRK to express gratitude on behalf of Black Bear, began his return journey.

During the half month in Xudu, Chen Zhen was recruited as a counselor, then as a secretary, and a few days later he was transferred to the position of lecturer and imperial censor, and stayed with the emperor for three days.

Finally, Mao Jie, the East Cao of Sikong Mansion, recommended Chen Zhen to the Shangshutai as the governor of Tianshui County. The procedure was completed quickly, and Chen Zhen suddenly became the governor of Tianshui County.

As if sleepwalking, Chen Zhen was only one "usher" away from becoming one of the top three leaders.

On the way back, Chen Zhen sat on the ox cart covered with a green umbrella, looking at the green fields on both sides of the road.

He also knew that once he returned to Guanzhong, the armistice agreement between him and Cao Cao would expire.

He also didn't expect that such a fierce conflict would break out in the Xudu court because of his arrival.

The old ministers of the Han Dynasty, led by Yang Biao, actively pushed for it. If he did not leave, in half a month, he might be appointed as the Shizhong and then have free access to the Forbidden City.

(End of this chapter)