Ma Teng was so angry that he raised his whip and whipped Ma Jian more than a dozen times in one breath, so he was still angry, rushed up and kicked a few more times.

"The reputation of my Ma family is ruined by your kid, you bastard." Ma Teng shouted loudly, "I will give you two thousand men when I leave. But what about now? How many more do you have for me now? ”

"Big brother, big brother......" Ma Jian knelt on the ground, raised a bloody face, and shouted angrily, "The barbarians in Northern Xinjiang deceive people too much, and they are the ones who killed us first." ”

"I'll kill you." Ma Teng shouted furiously, "Who is Cheng Qiu? Don't you know that there are heinous people whose sins cannot be punished? What good can you do if you follow him? You acted as Cheng Qiu's thugs, not only were you scolded, but you also lost my face. You've let me down so much. Don't say it's the leopard in the northern Xinjiang, even I, I'm going to kill you. , a bunch of. The more Ma Teng thought about it, the more angry he became, and he rushed up and gave him another kick, kicking him into the air.

"Big brother, what are you doing? How do you help outsiders? He is our brother......" Ma Yu hugged Ma Teng and shouted loudly, "He stayed in Hanyang, he was weak and weak, what did Lord Assassin Shi tell him to do, did he dare not do it?" ”

"You just can't do this kind of thing." Ma Teng threw Ma Yu away with all his might, glanced around at his subordinates, and said coldly, "This kind of thing just can't be done, and I'd rather rebel than do it." ”

"Who is Meng Tuo? He is a bandit in Xiliang and the biggest bandit in Xiliang. In order to curry favor with the powerful, he bribed the eunuchs, and searched all over Xiliang for the people's fat and ointment, eager to plow the ground. This kind of person, how dare you take my Ma family's cavalry to guard the courtyard for him? Ma Teng pointed at Ma Jian with the whip in his hand, trembling with anger, "The faces of the eight generations of ancestors have been lost to you." ”

A group of Ma Teng's subordinates all felt ashamed and bowed their heads one by one. Ma Jian knelt on the ground, suddenly realizing that he was being used by others, and his heart was cold.

"The corrupt officials and corrupt officials in Xiliang have done all kinds of bad things, these people have been evil in Xiliang for many years, we don't know it. Why did Lao Bian and Mr. Wenyo rebel? Why did Bo Yu and Li Wenhou rebel? Why? Do you want to get rich? It's not for these corrupt officials to knock out the bones and suck the marrow, there is really no way to live. ”

"I want to kill them too, but I don't have the power. Now it seems that it is not that I do not have the strength, but that I lack the guts. I, Ma Teng, are ashamed of the world's great names for my ancestors and ancestors. ”

Ma Teng pointed to the camp outside the city and shouted, "Who is taking the evil officials of Xiliang now?" Who killed their people and raided their homes? Who avenged the people of Xiliang? Are you blind? Is there even a black and white distinction between right and wrong? ”

The soldiers on the city tower scolded Ma Teng with red faces and were ashamed.

After Ma Teng received Geng's letter in Anding County, he immediately returned to Hanyang with his army over the mountains and mountains. On the way back, he heard about Li Hong's corruption in Xiliang, and he admired Li Hong's courage and courage. Xiliang's malignant tumor has never been solved, but it has been cut open by a newcomer from northern Xinjiang. Then he got the news that his cavalry had been attacked at the Zixiushan military camp. Ma Teng immediately felt the crisis. He knew that his army had been exploited by Geng's group. He hurried back, but was still a step too late.

Ma Teng's 2,000 cavalry left in the Assassin's Mansion, under the leadership of his cousin Ma Jian, openly intercepted and killed Li Hong's Fengyun Iron Cavalry, which annoyed the leopard. Yesterday, Ma Jian's army was overtaken by Li Hong, and there were many dead and wounded. He desperately broke through and fled into the city of Lüyang. Dong Zhuo, who was stationed in the Zixiu Mountain camp, received a call for help from the assassin Shi Geng, and immediately led his troops to support. Ma Teng happened to rush to the outside of Longxian County at this time, and after receiving the news, he was so shocked that he didn't even pay a visit to Geng Contempt, the Lord of the Assassin Shi, and immediately rushed into Luoyang with three thousand iron horsemen at the fastest speed.

"My Ma family has been loyal and good for generations, and all of them are iron-clad, how can there be a scum like you?" Ma Teng pointed at Ma Jian and scolded angrily, "You kid has tarnished the reputation of my Ma family for hundreds of years. Someone came, dragged him down and killed him. ”

Everyone looked at Ma Teng in surprise. Ma Jian's eyes widened even more, and he shook his head vigorously. He didn't believe that his eldest brother would kill him.

"My lord......" Ma Yu knelt down in front of Ma Teng in pain, and begged bitterly, "My lord, he is just being used, and his sin will not lead to death." We, martial artists, know how to kill people with knives all day long, where can we fight the treacherous villains in the officialdom. Your Excellency, he's your brother......"

Ma Teng waved his hand and gave him a horse whip, his eyes widened angrily, and he roared loudly: "My Ma family does not have this kind of person, and my Ma Teng does not have this kind of brother......"

"Your Excellency......" The crowd around them all knelt down.

Ma Teng's right hand whip was raised high to the sky, and he shouted: "Ask the two thousand brothers who died, should this person be killed?" How to avenge this revenge? ”

Ma Teng suddenly couldn't control his feelings, tears rushed out of his eyes uncontrollably, he waved his hands, and roared hysterically, "You tell me, tell me, who will I seek revenge for...... Who to call for ......"

=

This time, Li Hong led an army of 8,000 cavalry to the dock fort of the former Liangzhou assassin Shi Mengtuo. Ma Jian didn't expect that Li Hong, under the fury, would lead a huge army to Wubao to arrest people. Ma Jian was greatly frightened, and while asking Geng Cong for help, he fled to Longxian with Meng Tuo. On the way, they were caught up by Li Hong's cavalry, 1,800 iron cavalry were slaughtered, Meng Tuo and his family were all captured, only Ma Jian and a few personal guards fought desperately out of the siege and fled into Luoyang.

Li Hong's army was then intercepted by Dong Zhuo's army near Lüyang.

Li Hong originally wanted to make things bigger and take the opportunity to establish his authority, but he couldn't ask for it. He immediately ordered all the 36,000 troops remaining in the Pingxiang camp to rush to Luoyang and confront Dong Zhuo's 30,000 troops. Now his army, plus the Xiliang army of Xu Rong, Liyi, and Huaxiong, has 44,000 men, and its strength is strong. Li Hong's purpose is very simple, he is now alone, whoever wants to move him, first think about the consequences, Xiliang anti-corruption matter, who wants to block it, first weigh and weigh whether he has this ability.

Li Hong is a general in Pingyu, holding a festival, holding a talisman in his hand, to tell the truth, now in Xiliang, except for Zhang Wen, there is really no power greater than him.

Inside the big tent, Li Hong looked through the documents found from Meng Tuowu Fort, and said to Yan Liang who was sitting beside him, "Zishan, next time you encounter this kind of thing, retreat first to save your own lives and those of your brothers." These things are gone, we can still torture Meng Tuo, Meng Tuo doesn't say, we can catch another one, but you and your brothers only have one life, you know? ”

Yan Liang nodded, "Thank you for your concern." ”

Li Hong glanced at him, frowned and said, "Did you listen to what I said?" Just because you're skilled doesn't mean your subordinates are skilled. Now you are alive, but what about your personal guard? ”

Yan Liang's face showed sadness, and he didn't make a sound.

"I know your mind, you want to attack the city. But even if you kill all of Ma Teng's people, you won't be able to save your brothers' lives. Li Hong stretched out his hand to hug him, patted his thick shoulders hard, and comforted, "Although you are a military horse, you are already a military master who leads the army, and there are nearly 10,000 brothers under your command, so you must consider them first in everything you do." You are no longer my thief, and you can't do anything that you can't look back again. This time, if you retreat in time under the cover of shooting tigers, the losses will not be so great, and the Qinwei Tun will not be completely annihilated. ”

Yan Liang lowered his head and was silent, his eyes were already red.

"Ma Teng is a descendant of the Fubo general Ma Yuan, he is famous in Xiliangwei, known for his uprightness and loyalty, bravery and good fighting, and will not help the evil. We all know that Ma Teng has been stable recently, and his subordinates have done these things without him, so if we attack the city, it will be ......"

"I know." Yan Liang said, "We have killed all those who should be killed, and we can be regarded as avenging our brothers." I am responsible for their deaths, and I feel guilty. I feel bad in my heart, I just want to sit here with you. ”

Li Hong smiled.

"I want to come back and be your personal guard." Yan Liang said, "Zhengqing is more suitable to lead the army than me. ”

Li Hong smiled: "Okay." Now you go and invite the three Captains and Zuo Sima here. ”

Soon, Xian Yufu and the four of them walked into the big tent one after another.

"The arrest of Meng Tuo this time has gained a lot, and we now have at least the evidence that Zhang Rang and Meng Tuo are in cahoots and embezzle huge military funds and disaster relief materials." Li Hong was very excited, handed the relevant record scrolls to Xian Yufu, Xu Rong and Lu Yi, and continued, "Zishan used two hundred lives to exchange these things for finally let us breathe. ”

Lu Yi took a look at it and sighed: "If you don't witness it with your own eyes, who would dare to believe that the sanctimonious Meng Tuo is actually a huge greed." According to his property, isn't the traitor in the court rich and rivaling the country? ”

"What's so strange about this, there are many people in the Han country who are rich and rival the country." Zuo Yan said angrily, "With so many moths, how can the country not die." ”

Li Hong said with a smile: "There are too many corrupt officials in Xiliang, and they can't be caught. Meng Tuo had already confessed to several Taishou of the same period as him, and I sent Zheng Xin to investigate carefully, and they all lived in Chang'an City. Cloudy day, you take someone to catch it in the afternoon. ”

Koji Yi nodded happily, he pointed to the document on the case and asked, "My lord, will this evidence be sent to Your Majesty immediately?" ”

"Yes." Li Hong said, "Now we have to get His Majesty's full trust as soon as possible." Now, the traitors and bureaucrats in the court and the central government have been offended by us, and they will definitely impeach me and frame me every day. I am wary that your Majesty's faith will be shaken over time. Once His Majesty orders me to be investigated, there will be no room for recovery, so I plan to let Brother Yu Xing personally go to Luoyang with this evidence. ”

Li Hong looked at Xian Yufu and said with a smile: "This evidence is too important to us, and we can't make a mistake." Brother Yu Xing went in person, it was the safest. It's just that Brother Yu Xing is tired. ”

Xian Yufu smiled: "It's nothing. I'm going to do it now. ”

Xu Rong said cautiously, "My lord, send a few brothers with high martial arts skills to follow Brother Yuxing all the way, this matter must not be sloppy." ”

Li Hong nodded, and said to Xian Yufu: "The righteousness of the black panther is too obvious, I think let Zilong and Zishan accompany you." ”

"It's fine." Xian Yufu smiled, "Just have the two of them." The other guards were not brought, so that too many people would show their whereabouts. ”

Zuo Yan took out a square brocade box and handed it to Xian Yufu, and whispered: "The chapter and evidence will be personally forwarded to Your Majesty by Liu Shangshu." The stolen goods handed over to His Majesty should be handed over to Lord Zhou in person, and Lord Zhou will forward them. ”

Xian Yufu glanced at Li Hong and asked, "Lord Liu can't believe it?" ”

Li Hong shook his head and said, "I want to make sure that nothing goes wrong." The lives of tens of thousands of people are at stake, and I have to be cautious. ”

＝

Ma Yu took Ma Jian's head, and on Ma Teng's order, went to Li Hong's camp to apologize.

After listening to Ma Yu's narration, Li Hong was very moved. Ma Teng is really a well-known man.

He asked Ma Yu to bring Ma Jian's head back, and the people were already dead, so he would bury the whole body.

"My lord is going to take us back to Longxi."

Li Hong didn't care, and asked casually: "Go to the border pass?" ”

"My family felt that they had done something sorry for the people of Xiliang and insulted the reputation of their ancestors and ancestors, so they were a little disheartened and resigned." Ma Yu sighed.

Li Hong was surprised and asked, "Will Lord Geng agree?" ”

Ma Yu sneered, gritted his teeth and said: "He killed Ma Jian, Ma Wei, and killed our two thousand brothers. He dared to say a word, and our brother copied the guy and killed him. Sooner or later, this traitor will die at our hands. ”

Li Hong nodded and said, "At that time, Geng Cong and Cheng Qiu sent your family to Anding, and it is estimated that they had this in mind. They have two thousand iron horsemen at their disposal, and of course they are going to do a little bad thing. ”

"My lord, isn't that Cheng Qiu dead yet?"

"It's coming." Li Hong said with a smile, "He is better than dead now, he is tortured and miserable every day." ”

Ma Yu said hatefully: "If you want to kill him, my lord will inform me, and I will break his body to Ling Chi to vent the hatred in my heart." ”

Li Hong smiled and nodded.

Ma Yu continued: "My lord, do you know who the biggest corrupt official in Xiliang is? ”

Li Hong looked at him with great interest and said with a smile: "This needs proof." Otherwise, it will be illegal to arrest people indiscriminately. ”

Ma Yu smiled slightly, took out a roll of bamboo slips from his arms, and respectfully sent it to the desk in front of Li Hong.

Li Hong hurriedly opened it and exclaimed in a low voice: "Dong Zhuo." ”

＝

After Zhang Wen saw off Song Dian and Zhen Ju, he hurriedly walked into the study. Gai Xun, Sang Yang, Tao Qian and Sun Jian had already arrived first.

"Meng Tuo's arrest is enough to show that Li Zhonglang's mind is getting bigger and bigger, and his eyes have been aimed at the master of two thousand stones. Xiliang's affairs are out of control. Sang Yang smiled bitterly, "We definitely didn't expect that we recruited a bloodthirsty beast from Jizhou." He paused for a moment and glanced at Zhang Wendao, "Roughly calculated, since Li Zhonglang slaughtered Zuochang's entire family in Chang'an, in the past ten days, thousands of people have died because of corruption, and the scale of this corruption is beyond our control." ”

"He has to be stopped." "If we don't stop him, we're all going to be eaten by this leopard." ”

"How to stop it?" Sang Yang spread his hands and said helplessly, "Li Zhonglang now has nearly 50,000 troops in his hands, and he still holds a talisman in his hand. ”

"Li Zhonglang's methods of suppressing corruption are becoming more and more bloody and large-scale, and Lord Taiwei and we have long been unable to tolerate it, but because the army really needs money and food, and he needs to help to counterbalance the rebellion, we are still conniving with him."

"In addition, there is no way for us to disarm him at this time. It is too dangerous to forcibly remove him from military power, and once he does not handle it well, there will be chaos, and no one can afford to take this responsibility. If we had known that things in Xiliang would have turned out like this, we should have played to Your Majesty and asked Your Majesty to take back his talisman. ”

Sun Jian said: "At that time, we considered using his power to balance Xiliang's army, so we have been ignoring the issue of the talisman, who knows that now this talisman has become his lifesaver." If we can't control his army, we can't move him. Now we can only count on the emperor to make an order himself. ”

Tao Qian said with a smile: "If the emperor wanted to move him, the traitors would have already received the holy decree." Now the eunuchs are helpless, don't talk about us. This matter has developed so far, it seems to be a bit mysterious, what does Your Majesty want to do? ”

"Your Majesty's earliest meaning is that there is no money in the treasury, and there is no military expenditure for the Western Expeditionary Army, so he asked us to find a way to do it to the Xiliang people." Gai Xun said, "Before we could figure out a way, Li Zhonglang began to arrest people." We had no way to save the situation, so we had to make mistakes and follow Li Zhonglang to make trouble, because we couldn't see Li Zhonglang's true intentions at that time. What's more, his approach is still the same as our thoughts, and it is also in line with His Majesty's intentions. But now it's different. Li Zhonglang's arrest of an official with two thousand stones is definitely not a trivial matter. Without the Holy Decree, Li Zhonglang would never do it, and he is not an idiot, and he will kill himself. If His Majesty gives him a secret decree alone, it is to support him in Xiliang to fight corruption. ”

Li Zhonglang openly led the army to arrest Meng Tuo this time, and the confrontation with General Dong is a clear proof of this. He didn't tell Lord Taiwei, nor did he inform the Taiwei Mansion, he acted privately, if there was no support from the emperor, how dare he do this? ”

Gai Xun sighed, "Meng Tuo is Zhang Rang's person, and everyone knows it. Li Zhonglang arrested Meng Tuo, and Meng Tuo naturally wanted to confess to the bureaucrats of the clan to attack us. If Li Zhonglang led people to rush into Chang'an and wantonly arrested some of Xiliang's former Taishou, the matter would be completely troubled. At that time, except for the emperor, there was no one to stop Li Zhonglang. The more people Li Zhonglang arrests, the more evidence, and the more evidence, the more people are implicated. The more people involved, the greater the amount of money involved. When the emperor sees this evidence, this money, he will be furious. If he resolutely orders a thorough investigation, the far-reaching calamity will far outweigh the calamity of the party, and once this matter involves the whole country, the blow to the Great Han State will be immeasurable, so we must stop him, and even do not hesitate to join forces with the traitorous eunuchs. ”

The expressions of the people in the room were solemn, and even Tao Qian did not say anything against this time. If the Great Han Kingdom falls into the wave of anti-corruption, and various forces dump and bite each other, then I don't know how many innocent people will die, and the blow to the forces of the government and the opposition will be fatal.