Prancing Horse Xiliang

Chapter 53 The Last Tail
On the north shore of Qiushui.

Dozens of fleeing Han Chinese panicked and fled downstream when they saw a large group of cavalry by the Qiushui River.

Luo Zheng sent people to shout, and soon brought more than 50 panicked refugees over.

These Han people include old people, women, and children.

Most of the males have branding iron on their foreheads, which symbolizes their status as slaves.

Luo Zheng asked: "Where are you Han people, when were you captured outside the Great Wall?"

No one spoke, and everyone was still in a state of panic.

The Han people who were captured by the Xianbei outside the Great Wall would often end up miserable.

Even if they survived the catastrophe and fled to the Han territory, no one tattooed these foreheads and expressed sympathy for the refugees who were slaves of the Xianbei people.Therefore, although they already knew that this cavalry was a big Han cavalry, the refugees were still very panicked.

After waiting for a long time, an old man replied tremblingly: "As far as the general is concerned, the little old man is from Macheng. He was taken to Tianmayuan by Xianbei people 30 years ago. Eagle Department escaped."

"Black Hawk Department?"

Luo Zheng frowned.

The old man replied: "The Black Eagle tribe is one of the three big tribes in Tianmayuan, with a population of two thousand."

Luo Zheng said "Oh", and asked about the situation of the Xianbei people with great interest.

The old man has lived in Mobei for 30 years, and he knows the Xianbei people very well, and he answers all questions.

Luo Zheng soon had a general understanding of the nearby Xianbei people. Tianmayuan is only a few dozen miles away. It is a very fertile grassland in the lower reaches of Qiushui River. There are more than ten Xianbei tribes, large and small.

Among the three largest tribes, the population has reached more than [-].

Of course, in Mobei, only tribes with a population of over [-] can be called big tribes.

As for the tribe of 2000 people, it can only be regarded as a small tribe in Xianbei.

Among the dozens of Han people who fled, there was a famous woman who was holding a little girl who was just five or six years old.Perhaps because she was often hungry, the little girl was almost skinny, with sunken eye sockets, and her eyes were full of numbness and bewilderment.

On the prairie, the captive Han slaves often lived worse than cattle, horses and animals.

It is already a blessing to God that the child born can be raised.

Most Han slaves have no right to bear offspring at all.

"Little sister, come here."

Luo Zheng waved at the little girl, and the woman's face immediately changed.

The old man hurried over and whispered something in the woman's ear, and the woman's expression relaxed.

The little girl was a little stupid, and when she was pulled to Luo Zheng by the old man, she was a little numb.

Luo Zheng touched the little girl's withered and yellow hair, and asked with a smile, "What's the name of the little sister?"

The little girl stared blankly at him and said nothing, wondering if there was a real problem.

The old man hurriedly said: "This child has no name, we all call him girl."

"No name?"

Luo Zheng was a little surprised and asked: "Why doesn't she speak?"

The old man hurriedly said to the little girl, "Girl, talk to this general."

The little girl's dull eyes finally became brighter, she bit her finger and said, "Grandpa Zhang, I'm hungry."

The old man's face darkened, and he sighed deeply.

Luo Zheng smiled and said: "It's good to know that you are hungry, go get a few pieces of dried meat."

The last sentence was for the soldiers around him.

The soldiers quickly brought the jerky, and the little girl's eyes lit up immediately, she snatched the jerky, and gnawed like no one else was there.

"Eat slowly, don't choke!"

Luo Zheng patted the head of the little girl, with a rare and gentle expression.

In the depths of his eyes, some long-lost things slowly returned to him.

"Give them something to eat."

After Luo Zheng put his hands down, he ordered another sentence.

The Xiliang soldiers quickly brought in a lot of dried meat for the refugees to eat.

Seeing that the big man's general was very friendly, the escapees slowly let go of their heartstrings that had been tensed.

The little girl ate in a hurry and was choked up, and a soldier next to her immediately handed over the water bottle.

At this time, Zhao Yun chased and killed for a while, and led [-] cavalry back to the main formation, none of which was damaged.

"My lord, Yun is fortunate not to disgrace her life."

Zhao Yun's face was calm, and he strode forward and handed over to Luo Zheng.

Luo Zheng said loudly: "Okay, Zilongqi shoots Tianxia Wushuang, this general really has a big vision today."

Zhao Yun's expression was pale, and he stepped aside respectfully.

Luo Zhengdao: "Does Zilong still care about the gambling?"

Zhao Yun cupped his hands and said, "Don't dare!"

Luo Zheng sighed, and said: "Although this general is not upright, but because he really loves Zilong's talent and loyalty, he has to use a little trick. If Zilong can't let go, how can this general feel at ease."

Zhao Yunfang wanted to speak, but was interrupted by Luo Zheng.

Just listen to Luo Zhengdao: "Zilong doesn't need to explain. This general has always regarded the soldiers under his command as brothers and sisters. Even if he has a knife in his ribs, this general is obliged to do so. I want to make an agreement with Zilong. If a year later, I can't let Zilong Rest assured, it means that I haven't done enough, and then I will no longer fight each other, Zilong can decide to stay or not, how about it?"

Zhao Yun's lips moved, but he didn't say anything after all.

Luo Zheng leaned over and picked up the little girl who had finished eating the dried meat, and said with a smile: "This child has suffered a lot."

Zhao Yun looked at the little girl, then looked at Luo Zheng, his face changed slightly.

Luo Zheng asked the little girl again, "What's your last name?"

The little girl was a little scared and dared not speak.

The old man next to him said sadly: "I have to ask General Lao, this child has no father."

Luo Zheng was stunned, "No father? Then how did she come out?"

The old man's expression was miserable, as if he had something to hide.

Zhao Yun whispered in his ear: "My lord, after Han women are captured by Xianbei people, they are often given away as slave girls, and they have to serve many different men. Even if they give birth to a child, they don't know who the biological father is."

It was only then that Luo Zheng realized that he felt more compassion for the little girl.

After thinking for a while, he said to the old man: "This general is the captain of the big Han Xiaoqi. This time, he passed through the desert and wanted to go south from Wuyuan to return to Luoyang. If you have no place to go for the time being, follow this general and wait until Luoyang. decide for yourself.”

Unexpectedly, the old man didn't even think about it, so he prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowed and said: "Thank you General, we are all willing to be the General's slaves, as long as we have something to eat, we will serve the General for the rest of our lives, and we will never betray each other."

The dozens of refugees in the back also bowed down, weeping with joy.

Luo Zheng nodded, "Get up!"

The old man quickly got up and stood aside respectfully.

Luo Zheng returned the little girl to her mother, and then asked the old man, "The water here is deeper, do you know where to cross the river?"

The old man replied: "The river five miles upstream is relatively shallow, and the horses can pass through it."

Luo Zheng made a 'hmm' sound, and said: "Okay, the army is ordered to set off immediately, and cross the water to go west."

"As ordered."

All the military academies took orders in unison.

A small school hesitated and said, "General, do you want to crush that Black Eagle tribe?"

The rest of the military academies also looked eager to try. They hadn't killed anyone for a few days, and these executioners were a little itchy.

Luo Zheng waved his hand, "Forget it, if the Black Eagle Department is destroyed, the Xianbei people will only retaliate more brutally. In the end, it is my Han people who suffer and suffer. When we have the strength to wipe out Mobei in the future, let's take the Xianbei people. !"

"The general is wise."

All the military academies praised and were convinced.

Zhao Yun was also a little surprised, looking at Luo Zheng's eyes was a little less resistant.

Being able to have this insight shows that Luo Zheng has a keen eye and is good at considering the overall situation.

And being able to think about the people of the Han people shows that Luo Zheng has a kind heart for the people.

Zhao Yun started from humble beginnings and deeply sympathized with the suffering of the common people, so he will naturally resonate with him.

Soon, more than [-] Xiliang cavalry gathered quickly and rushed upstream along the Qiushui River.

Dozens of refugees also rode on the extra horses, followed by the old and the young.Even Gan Qian, Xun Yu and their wives and young sons rode horses and marched with the army, and were not placed in the vegetable garden.

Soon, the river ahead suddenly opened up.

Luo Zheng condemned people to try the water, and the deepest part was less than the knees, so they could really cross the river.

The more than [-] Xiliang cavalry were divided into three groups, crossed the Qiushui successively, and then looked for the direction and rolled westward.

When the sun went down, the army had already traveled a hundred miles, felled trees by a lake, set up a camp, and entered the camp to rest.

By the lake, on a cleared lot.

The bonfire was raging, Luo Zheng sat on the grass, his brows were deeply locked, and he was silent.

Li Meng and Wang Fang sat on both sides, and they were in a good mood at first, but after waiting for a long time, when the general did not speak, each of them felt inexplicably uneasy, wondering why the general had summoned him.

After nearly half an hour, I finally couldn't bear it anymore.

Wang Fang asked in a loud voice: "I don't know why the general summoned someone. Please show me the general."

Luo Zheng sighed and said: "At the beginning in Qiao County, my general ambushed and killed Hu Mao and Niu Jin. Although the situation forced me to do this as a last resort, but I killed the commanding officer without authorization. After all, the crime is not small. This time When we return to Luoyang, the prime minister will definitely punish us!"

The hearts of the two of them froze. You looked at me, and you didn't know how to speak.

After a while, Wang Fang said nonchalantly: "I'm afraid he's a bird. Hu Mao and Niu Jin led their brothers to attack each other. They are purely looking for death. As long as we don't tell it, the prime minister will not know."

Li Meng thought of something, was startled, and quickly looked at Luo Zheng secretly.

Eight thousand Xiliang iron cavalry fought all the way, until now, the military academy that Luo Zheng had killed Hu Mao and Niu Jin at the beginning, after being attacked by the Jizhou army in Luancheng, most of them died in battle, leaving only him and Wang Fang two people.

As long as they are killed, no one will know the truth of the matter.

As for the other soldiers and the lower-level military academies, it was always believed that Hu Mao and Niu Jin killed each other by killing each other.

At that time, as long as there is no evidence, no one can convict Luo Zheng.

Li Meng couldn't help worrying, after all, this matter was really serious.

Luo Zheng turned his head and glanced at Li Meng, expressionlessly said: "Li Meng, what are you worried about?"

"No, nothing."

Li Meng's face was a little pale, and his heart was even more disturbed.

Wang Fang, however, was a bit outraged, and said in astonishment: "General, you..."

Immediately, he reacted, his heart trembled immediately, and his face turned pale.

(End of this chapter)