The night is deep, and it is already the hour.

Anyi County Guardhouse, front yard inner hall.

Yang Chou, who was guarding the door, squinted at Zhang Yang and glanced at Zhang Yang's meal, his figure flashed across the threshold, walked lightly to the side of the desk, took the tray in the hand of the maid casually, flicked his sleeves and motioned for the maid to retreat, and skillfully held up the teapot and poured hot tea for the teacup in front of Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang, who had just returned home, seemed to be a little tired after filling his stomach, and he dozed off with one hand on the desk supporting his chin with one hand, as if he closed his eyes to recuperate. The ring finger of his right hand subconsciously tapped lightly on the tabletop, obviously pretending to be asleep, and his slightly sparse eyebrows twitched from time to time, and there was an obvious sadness between his eyebrows.

This qiē shows that Zhang Yang is very sober at the moment, and his expression and demeanor reveal his inner anxiety and uneasiness.

"Please serve tea to the lord, if there is something troublesome, you may as well say it, so that the last general can share the worries for the lord." Gently putting down the teapot, Yang Chou sent a cup of hot tea to Zhang Yang's right hand, while observing his expression attentively, and said in a low voice.

"Don't bother me, step down!"

Zhang Yang, who suddenly woke up and came back to his senses, had not yet opened, so he reprimanded quite angrily, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Yang Chou bowing down and standing beside him, and suddenly his anger eased slightly: "Oh, it turned out to be you, I thought it was a cheap maid who didn't open his eyes." You haven't rested so late, you must have something to report when you think about it, you don't have to be formal, sit down and talk. ”

Yang Chou bowed, then knelt on Zhang Yang's left side, and said respectfully: "The last general has just heard the soldier's report, and he knew that the lord rushed back to the county government from the north bank overnight, so he hurriedly came so that the lord could send it." ”

"Hmm. You have a heart, it's very rare. Zhang Yang nodded with satisfaction, and raised his hand to signal Yang Chou to drink tea together.

After taking a sip of tea. Yang Chou cautiously asked softly: "The lord seems to have something on his mind, isn't it that the war in Loudi is not going well, which makes the lord worry so much?" ”

Zhang Yang was stunned when he heard this, holding the teacup in his hand, and raised his eyes to look at Yang Chou, but saw Yang Chou's concerned expression, but other than that, his expression was no different.

Immediately. Zhang Yang bowed slightly, and whispered in a heavy mood: "That's right." The Xiliang Army under Li Li'er is indeed powerful, and there are many generals. The soldiers are brave and their combat power is amazing. In the battle of the generals during the day, the two generals Wen Chou Yan Liang under the command of the alliance leader were all killed, as well as Liu Bei's sworn brothers. Zhang Fei and Zhang Yide, who were known as 'taking the head of a general in a million army, were also inferior to the Xiliang generals. And that's not all. Even Wenhou Lu Bu was defeated at the hands of Huan Fei, and was seriously injured, almost losing his life.

In addition, when Sun Ce and I left the battlefield, the Xiliang Army only relied on more than 40,000 infantry troops to defeat the 60,000 or 70,000 front troops of the Allied Army, and then more than 100,000 cavalry rushed out to attack the formation. It is precisely because the shape is not good that I am in a hurry to return to Hedong so as not to be drawn into the battlefield. Can't get out. ”

After Yang heard the scandal, he was surprised: "So to speak. This time, our allies have no chance of winning the decisive battle of Loudiyuan, and the shape is not optimistic! ”

"That's true." Zhang Yang nodded lightly and said worriedly: "Although our allied army occupies the advantage of troops, I am afraid that its combat effectiveness is difficult to compare with the Xiliang army. In particular, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry was extremely brave, and Li Li'er took the lead, and no one could stop him, so that the morale of the Xiliang Army was high, like a fierce tiger, and the formation was very terrifying. Therefore, in this decisive battle, I think the allies are really choking, but I am afraid that there will be more defeats and fewer victories, and the situation is worrying! ”

After speaking, Zhang Yang's face was sad, his brows were tightly locked, and four ravine-like horizontal stripes protruded on his forehead, showing his real age, which was beyond the age of confusion.

Seeing Zhang Yang's sad face, Yang Chou also frowned, his heart was frightened, and his eyes showed a bit of resentment when he looked at Zhang Yang, as if he was quite dissatisfied with Zhang Yang. However, his dissatisfaction was well hidden, and it disappeared in a flash, and when Zhang Yang raised his eyes to look at each other, he saw that he had a worried look on his face, as if he was in the same spirit.

It's just that Yang Chou's city government is limited after all, and he can't hide things in his heart, so when he spoke again, he revealed a little bit of heart: "The last general has always wondered why the lord was nominally attached to Li Li in the first place, but secretly threw himself to Yuan Shao?" Don't you know that the strength of the Xiliang Army was already very strong at the beginning, and it was by no means comparable to the Jizhou Army? If we had completely defected to the Xiliang Army at that time, why would we have the trouble we have today? ”

At first glance, when he heard Yang Chou's words, Zhang Yang was very annoyed, and secretly scolded Yang Chou for not being interesting, which pot is not opened. However, calm down and think about it, what Yang Chou said is not unreasonable, and it coincides with what he is thinking at the moment.

In fact, since the moment when the Allied forces were unable to attack Hangu Pass for a long time last year, Zhang Yang had already regretted it a little. Because from then on, he had a premonition that it would not be so easy for the princes' allies to defeat the Xiliang army, and it was even possible to sink into the sand under Hangu Pass and suffer a heavy setback. If that's the case, then he's going to be in for a catastrophe. If the allies are defeated, the princes from all walks of life can completely slap their butts and leave, but he has nowhere to escape, after all, his territory is in Hanoi County, under the front of the Western Liang army. However, once he abandoned Hanoi County and followed Yuan Shao to Jizhou, then he had nothing to rely on, and he had no choice but to obediently hand over the soldiers and horses in his hands.

And this is exactly the scene that Zhang Yang least wants to see, and it is also a fact that he categorically cannot accept. For a person like him, who has become a prince of his own way, he clearly understands the importance of holding soldiers and horses in his hands, and only with soldiers and horses can he have territory, and only with territory can he straighten his waist and have a place under Yuan Shao. And once he has nothing, then he will be nothing in Yuan Shao's eyes, and he will be reduced to a dispensable and abandoned little person, and sooner or later he will die at the hands of Xiaoxiao.

Yes, to this day, Zhang Yang sincerely regrets it. He regretted that he should not have openly betrayed Li Li, even if he did not want to be annexed by Li Li, he could make a false accusation, and if he could not do anything, it was not too late to hand over the military power. After all, judging from Li Li's popular personality and style of doing things in recent years, he is a person who is true to his word and is more nostalgic, as long as he is not his enemy, he will generally not be wiped out. In this way, after he flamboyantly handed over his military power, he would at least be able to become rich and noble, and he would not have nothing and die.

However, it's too late now, and regret won't help. According to Zhang Yang's understanding of Li Li, he knew that Li Li was tolerant and generous. But he can't tolerate the betrayal of his subordinates, it's not just that Li Li can't tolerate betrayal, all the princes in the world can't tolerate people who betray their old masters. Therefore. Even if he wanted to turn back at this time, he was afraid that Li Li would not accept him, let alone let him go.

However, if the road goes to the dark, Zhang Yang is pessimistic about whether the allies will be able to defeat the Xiliang army. In other words, he was deeply worried about the ongoing decisive battle of Loudiyuan and was very unoptimistic about the Allies. It was believed that the Allies were highly likely to be defeated. And the reason why he felt this way came from his clear understanding of the contradictions within the allies and the intrigues between the princes of all walks of life. Each has a ghost. What's more important is that the leader of the alliance, Yuan Shaoqi, is not right, as the leader of the princes, he does not think about channeling the contradictions between the princes, but deliberately creates incidents, causing the rift between the princes to become bigger and bigger. The contradictions are intensifying. Such a foolish move. How can it be done?

It's a pity that these heartfelt words that have been pondered repeatedly can only be hidden in the heart, and they can't be said to anyone. Even in front of Yang Chou, the confidant general, he can't reveal half a sentence, otherwise it will definitely be a disaster from the mouth, and sooner or later he will be killed.

In a daze, Zhang Yang figured out a lot of things that he had never thought of before. also sorted out the pros and cons involved very thoroughly. Late at night, he didn't feel a little sleepy. On the contrary, his mind is very clear, and his thinking is extremely quick. And he himself was completely unaware of this anomaly, completely unaware of why he had no sleep tonight.

After pondering for a long time, Zhang Yang did not reprimand Yang Chou, but said earnestly: "In fact, in my early years, I also thought about completely defecting to the Xiliang Army, handing over the military power, and seeking an official position above the court, and then enjoy wealth and prosperity, and spend the rest of my life peacefully. However, Li Li was too young at that time, which made people wonder whether he was capable of taking charge of the Xiliang Army and whether he could sit firmly in the position left by Dong Zhuo. Therefore, for the sake of safety, I secretly befriended Yuan Shao so that I could leave us a way back. Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao took the opportunity to plan the Hanoi Alliance, and in one fell swoop completely pushed us to the opposite side of the Xiliang Army, and had to openly betray Li Li, and then came to this day step by step.

But tonight I suddenly felt very scared, because our net worth and life were pinned on Yuan Shao, not in our own hands. Once the Allies are defeated, what will we do? If we follow Yuan Shao to flee to Jizhou, we will send people under the fence from now on, and always look at people's faces to live; But if we don't go to Jizhou, we will face the crusade of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, and the result will definitely be broken bones and there will be no place to bury you. ”

After chattering and talking, Zhang Yang looked lonely, helpless, and extremely melancholy, not knowing what to do. Perhaps his only hope at the moment is that the Allies can win, only in this way can he have a glimmer of life, after all, it is better to die than to live, and it is better to be under the fence than to be in a different place.

Seeing Zhang Yang's lonely expression, Yang Chou was also in a heavy mood, so he got up lightly and poured a cup of tea again, and served it to Zhang Yang personally.

When Zhang Yang took the tea cup and drank the tea absentmindedly, he only heard Yang Chou ask softly: "According to the lord's opinion, this decisive battle in Loudiyuan, my allies are destined to have no hope of victory, right?" ”

Hearing this, Zhang Yang stopped at the teacup and nodded lightly: "Well, that's roughly the case." When I left, the morale of the Allied forces was low, and the Allied generals suffered heavy casualties, while the Xiliang army was brave and unstoppable. In my estimation, the Allies will lose more than they will win, and the chances of victory will not be great. ”

"I see, it seems that Zheng Gu is right, we have really reached the point of exhaustion, and it is time to make up our minds." Yang Chou moved to Zhang Yang's side as he spoke.

"Ahem, ahem!" Zhang Yang was shocked when he heard this, and the mouthful of tea that he hadn't swallowed choked so much that he coughed violently, and tears came out.

"Solid? You said, but the leader of the Montenegrin thieves who used to have dealings with us is solid, didn't he join Li Li? Ah??????h Finally stopped coughing, and said urgently. However, before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a pain in his back, and he screamed in pain. Immediately, he looked down at his chest in amazement, and saw the tip of the blood-soaked sword passing through his chest, and Yang Chou was standing behind him at this moment.

"Puff puff??? This、、、 why? Kill, kill me、、、 what's in it for you? In the midst of vomiting blood, Zhang Yang climbed on the desk and turned his head in amazement, glared at Yang Chou angrily, and vigorously raised his blood-stained right hand to point at Yang Chou's cold cheek, and asked.

"There is no other, but just to live." Yang Chou did not let go of the hilt of the sword in a hurry, and did not immediately pull out the long sword, only in this way could Zhang Yang stay in a breath and listen to him finish speaking, so that Zhang Yang did not know why he died when he was dying, and he did not blink an eye.

"Actually, there is another way for us to get through the current crisis and continue to live, but you will never say it yourself. Because this qiē is all because of you, as long as you die, the general will naturally not pursue us for the crime of rebellion. What's more, now is the time for a decisive battle, and we will rise up to help the general kill the rebels and cut off the retreat of the allies, which is a great achievement. So, if you don't die, do you want tens of thousands of soldiers in Hanoi County to go to hell with you? ”

After hearing Yang Chou's murderous words, Zhang Yang's eyes widened angrily, and he said with a bloody mouth: "Good, good, good!" Yang Chou, you listened, a person like you who kills the lord and seeks glory will definitely be retributed sooner or later; Today I am dead, and so will he be tomorrow! Poof??????"

Just when Zhang Yang said the last cruel sentence, Yang Chou pulled out his sword in annoyance and shame, and suddenly Zhang Yang knocked over the case and fell in a pool of blood.

―――――――――――――― (To be continued......)