The cold wind blew away the snow and dust outside the Desert Pass.

On the far horizon, chunks of leaden gray clouds were accumulating, as if another heavy snowfall was brewing, ready to fall at any time.

In the winter of the fourth year of Dahan Taixing, the weather seemed to be colder than in previous years.

In the past few years, even the dullest person can clearly feel that winter has become longer, coming earlier and leaving later. This is especially true in this desert borderland. Once October enters, basically

It was one heavy snow after another, shrouding everyone in this boundless cold, as if everything in the world was frozen.

A group of men and horses, wearing iron armor, wearing hoods on their heads, and wrapped in large cloaks, were quietly reining in their horses and standing on a hill.

Under the general's flag is General Zhao Yun of Pingbei in Youzhou.

The bitter cold in the desert is not just a lie.

Today, Zhao Yun is naturally a little thinner than when he was in Guanzhong. The lines on his face are more distinct like a knife and an axe, and his bare skin has a bronze color. His beard is not long, and in the cold wind

It was fluttering slightly. It was still a bit green when it merged with Beiyin Mountain in the past, but it has faded away completely.

Suddenly, two or three scouts pointed northward under the mound: "General! The men are coming!"

Zhao Yun looked up and saw that there was gradually some smoke and dust in the north. A group of about ten riders were meandering towards them. The cold wind blowing in the desert tore their robes, cloaks, etc. into disorder.

Not long after, they saw this group of people approaching, and the person in front was Zhang He.

When they reached the foot of the hill, Zhang He and others jumped off their horses and walked up the mountain.

Zhao Yun also dismounted and met Zhang He.

"General Zhao..." Zhang He saluted. Zhang He's eyes glanced at the armor on Zhao Yun's body, and then lowered his gaze.

Zhang He himself wore only leather armor. It’s not that Zhang He respected Zhao Yun so he wore leather armor, but because in such weather, he could only wear leather armor and leather robes...

Just like eating popsicles in summer, you must not choose those that are extremely frozen. Don't ask why you know this.

Unless they want to taste the charm and sweetness of iron pieces, leather armor and leather robes are the only choices for Zhang He and others in winter.

But Zhao Yun and others are different. Under the iron armor, there are not only cotton cloth, but also furs. Whether in combat or daily activities, basically no iron pieces are touched. This kind of craftsmanship and luxury, for Zhang He and others,

Especially for a few Xianbei people, this is unimaginable.

In Europe, it is common for people to regard a piece of armor at home as a family heirloom. In the current era of the Han Dynasty, the price of a piece of armor is already worth more than half a million yuan. The armor of a general like Zhao Yun starts at one million yuan. It can be said that Zhao Yun

This outfit is equivalent to wearing millions of dollars on your body...

Zhao Yun looked calm and returned the gift without saying much.

Zhang He curled his lips and didn't say much.

What can a defeated general do?

If Zhao Yun is willing to meet him, he is already giving him a lot of face. How can he be expected to be more cordial?

In the past, when Zhang He was under Yuan Shao, although he was not a very popular minister, at least everyone had to respect him when they saw him. At that time, Zhao Yun was just a bandit in the Black Mountain...

The rise of Zhao Yun has been regarded as a miracle for the Han Dynasty. It has been talked about by many people and has also given many people new hope. After all, a remnant of the Yellow Turbans and the leader of the Black Mountain bandits can now become General Pingbei, so what if he

How can he become famous if his skills are under the control of a hussar?

Therefore, this is one of the reasons why Zhang He led the Xianbei people to find Zhao Yun.

Another reason is the weather.

The severe wind and snow made all Zhang He's plans come to naught. Without enough food and fodder, no supply areas and pastures, migrating in an unknown direction in the wind and snow was no different from seeking death.

There was no way to go, and there was no place to stay, so looking for Zhao Yun became the only way to survive.

This is where the advantage of civilization lies.

Compared with other nomadic peoples in the desert, Zhang He and the remaining Xianbei people prefer to choose the more civilized Han people. At least even if the Han people kill them, they will not use their skulls to drink...

For Zhang He, it was not his original intention to cooperate with the Xianbei people. It was just forced by the situation at that time. Although he has now won over some Xianbei people and has about 3,000 fighting troops, the Hu people's fighting troops

Well, basically it's like that, it's easier to use than the Han militia, at least it's the militia on horseback.

Therefore, the number is not small, but it does not have anything to do with strength. In addition, Zhang He cannot have complete command authority over the Xianbei people. In many cases, it has to be passed through the second hand, so the dispatching cannot be called such.

Arms point.

Living with these Xianbei people is enough. Even if such a mixed army and horse go north, what will they do? Once a battle is fought, there will only be failure. It is precisely because of this that even if Zhao Yun no longer dislikes Zhang He and his attitude no longer

Even if Zhang He is cold, he won't say a word.

Zhao Yun looked past Zhang He and landed on the Xianbei people who followed Zhang He.

Several Xianbei people were somewhat embarrassed.

After all, they were in a hostile state before, and now they have become losers, seeking asylum from the Han people. Their morale has been invisibly reduced by three points. Under Zhao Yun's sharp eyes, everyone suddenly shrank their heads and did not dare to express their anger.

Zhao Yun didn't speak, and everyone didn't dare to speak.

Zhao Yun commanded the army and always took the lead when facing battle. There was nothing to say about his bravery. No one in the whole army refused to obey him. He also strictly abided by military discipline and was selfless. Even if his bodyguards violated military discipline, they would still be punished and punished. No one would be exempted.

, In addition, Zhao Yun lives a simple and hard-working life, does not pay attention to extravagant expenses, and does not have much fun in the army. When it comes to his character, he is even more thumbs up. Needless to say, naturally the whole army respects, fears and respects Zhao Yun.

Peace of mind.

In addition, Zhao Yun was favored by hussars, and from time to time he would be sent armor, sharp weapons, and good horses. Even though Zhao Yun was in the desert of Youzhou, his favor was not reduced by half. Therefore, under Zhao Yun's command,

The military here in Youzhou is extremely sharp from top to bottom, has strict military discipline, and has the demeanor of a strong military.

Zhao Yun suddenly asked coldly: "Among you, are there any who have brought troops into the territory of the Han Dynasty to harass the people? Are they raping and plundering? Are they massacring innocent people?"

Several Xianbei people suddenly felt excited.

These Xianbei people can understand some Chinese to some extent. Even if they can't understand it, they can still feel some problems from the tone...

At that moment, some Xianbei people fell to their knees with a thud, "General, general! Since the general arrived here, we, we have never done anything like this again! I can swear to God that what I said is the truth!"

』

Zhao Yun's eyes fell on Zhang He.

Zhang He smiled bitterly and said, "General Zhao, I am also a Han, how could you do such an unjust thing?"

Zhao Yun nodded slowly. Zhao Yun was not completely unreasonable or unreasonable, but Zhao Yun had his own insistence on some things.

Of course, what the Xianbei people said is also true. In recent years, the Xianbei people have been suppressed and beaten by Zhao Yun, so naturally they have no intention to go south to plunder every year. Don't look at how pitiful they are now.

, before Zhao Yun came, the Xianbei people were ferocious and did all kinds of evil, invading the borders and killing the people.

"Whether your words are true or not, you have to verify them yourself..." Zhao Yun did not want to investigate the things that happened before he came. "After entering the Han Dynasty, you should respect the Han laws. If there is any wanton behavior or bad people breaking the law,

You know the consequences."

Zhao Yun's voice was not loud, even in a light tone, but the coldness in his tone was as irresistible as the severe winter at the moment.

Several Xianbei people knelt on the ground, repeatedly promised and kowtowed in thanks.

As for the crimes committed by the Xianbei people before Zhao Yun arrived...

At that time, even the court was ignored, and all the local governors and captains ran away. If they deserved to be killed, those who abandoned the border areas and ignored their own people deserved to be killed even more!

It is understandable that one is bullied by foreigners because he is not strong. However, if he has become stronger, but when he sees foreigners, his knees become weak and he becomes half shorter. To some extent, this kind of person is better than

Foreigners who do evil are even more hateful!

After sending these Xianbei people to retreat first, Zhao Yun looked at Zhang He and asked, "What is the current situation in Mobei? Where are Ding Ling and Wuhuan's people?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang He slowly took out a parchment scroll from his arms. Zhang He's movements were very slow, even very careful. Even the parchment scroll did not dare to be handed to Zhao Yun directly, but was given to Zhao Yun.

The guards around Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun took the parchment scroll in his hand, weighed it, and then glanced at Zhang He.

Zhang He smiled bitterly and said: "In the desert, there is a lack of pen, ink and paper... so we can only make do with it..."

Zhao Yun nodded slightly.

Who said the sheepskin was made of saltpeter, but I don’t know if the workmanship is incomplete or because of being in a hurry. It still has some smell. It is not as smooth as the leather of later generations, and the drawings on the leather are not written with pen and ink...

…

Zhao Yun reached out and touched it gently, it seemed to be charcoal.

Zhang He on the side lowered his head and remained silent.

A worthless person is not even as good as a pig. At least there are people who buy pork, but most people don’t want human meat. Zhang He had already considered it before coming to Zhao Yun. If he could not bring Zhao Yun any valuable information, then he would not care about Zhao Yun.

It's the same as being worthless...

What would you do with a person or item that has little value?

Perhaps it would turn Zhang He into a social figure who could only rely on himself, to show that the Cavalry General was magnanimous, open-minded and broad-minded?

Zhang He doesn't want to take that road, so Zhang He has to come up with something. Even if Zhao Yun doesn't ask, Zhang He will take the initiative to come up with it. But if it's the opposite, when Zhao Yun asks, Zhang He can't come up with anything, or even something.

I can't tell you anything, so even if you have martial arts skills, you won't get any good treatment.

But Zhang He still had some doubts. He had heard in northern Youzhou and the Xianbei tribe that Zhao Yun and others had magical powers, that they could be protected by gods, and could come and go unimpeded in wind and snow...

Of course, Zhang He thought these rumors were too unreal, but today when he saw Zhao Yun looking at the parchment he drew very carefully, he suddenly had a feeling...

Maybe these things are all true?
To be continued...