Chapter 12: Zhang Liao at the Yanmen Gate

  Ao Lie turned around, facing the three thousand soldiers below the stage, raised his right hand and shouted loudly: "Those who dare to offend the Han Dynasty, no matter how far away they are, will be executed!"

  This sentence was originally the slogan issued by General Wei Qing and General Huo Qubing when they fought against the Xiongnu during the early days of the Han Dynasty. For hundreds of years since then, it has been the traditional military slogan of the Han soldiers. This slogan is an invincible declaration forged with the blood of enemies and themselves by tens of thousands of elite Han warriors.

  However, in the past few decades, several emperors of the Great Han Dynasty have successively taken power and indulged in pleasure-seeking. The struggle between the imperial relatives and eunuchs has intensified, leading to stagnation or even regression in various fields such as military, politics, and economy. As a result, this earth-shaking slogan is no longer as loud as it used to be. In recent years, it has become rare for people to chant this slogan again. After all, the common people can't even fill their stomachs with food, and soldiers can't receive their military pay. Who would still be willing to shout slogans with all their might?

  But at this moment, with Ao Lie's loud shout, the three thousand soldiers below looked at the second young master who was only about ten years old and was so heroic, and they were also excited, shouting in unison: "Those who offend the Han Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away! Those who offend the Han Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away!!"

  Ao Lie waved his hand and the shouting voices from below immediately stopped, waiting for Ao Lie to continue speaking. Ao Lie shouted again: "Point General!"

  The soldiers, who were already in a neat formation, readjusted their ranks once more, striving to present the most orderly formation and best appearance to welcome General Ao Lie. Standing aside watching, Lü Bu couldn't help but nod his head slightly, muttering to himself: "This army is usable."

  Ao Lie quickly walked down the platform, selecting vanguard troops among the warriors. Along the way, Ao Lie selected dozens of people through his aura, all of whom were tall and strong, with a fierce aura about them. The presence of this aura indicated that these warriors had been to battle before, were veterans who had seen blood on their blades, and were most suitable for serving as vanguard troops.

  Suddenly, Ao Lie felt someone staring at him, a strong desire to fight transmitted through the gaze. Turning his head, Ao Lie saw a warrior around twenty years old with a face as purple jade and eyes like bright stars staring intently at him, his eyes filled with endless battle intent. Ao Lie walked up to this warrior and asked: "Want to fight?" The warrior replied loudly: "Willing to follow the second young master to gallop on the battlefield!"

  Feeling the killing intent from the other party that was extremely mismatched with their age, Ao Lie suddenly had a thought: around twenty years old, face like purple jade, heaven, I wouldn't be so lucky, would I? Could it be that I've picked up a famous general just like this?

  Want to go back, but still have to confirm again. Ao Lie stretched out his hand and patted the warrior's shoulder, asking: "What is your name? Where are you from?" The warrior with a face like purple jade replied: "I am a man of Yanmen, surname Zhang, name Liao, word Wen Yuan."

  It's really him! Ao Lie's heart was stirred with excitement, another famous general of the Three Kingdoms. Zhang Liao is considered one of Cao Cao's top five generals in history, not only excelling in martial arts but also skilled in leading troops. During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhang Liao led 800 elite soldiers into the midst of Sun Quan's army of 100,000 at the Battle of He Fei, causing Sun Quan to flee in disarray, a testament to Zhang Liao's bravery and command on the battlefield.

  I didn't expect to find Zhang Liao among Father's subordinates! Ao Lie turned his head and took a glance at Lü Bu not far away, thinking to himself: "In history, Zhang Liao was originally Big Brother's subordinate. Am I considered poaching? Never mind, this matter will be discussed later. Since I've found Zhang Liao, there's no reason to abandon him. If he's willing to follow Big Brother in the future, then I'll just have done a good deed."

  At this point, Ao Lie no longer hesitated and said to Zhang Liao: "From now on, I will promote you to military marquis and make you my deputy general." After hearing Ao Lie's appointment, everyone, including Zhang Liao himself, looked at Ao Lie in disbelief. Only Lv Bu nodded slightly, having observed that Zhang Liao was a man of extraordinary martial arts skills and calm demeanor, indeed a good material.

  Zhang Liao hesitated and said, "A military general like myself, commanding five hundred soldiers, dare I ask the two young masters why they would entrust such a heavy responsibility to someone as insignificant as myself?"

  Ao Lie burst out laughing and said: "Today's unknown little junior, how can he know that he cannot be a general and guard one side in the future? Don't forget, I am also an unknown little junior now. Is Wen Yuan afraid of battle and dare not respond?" Zhang Liao was stirred up by Ao Lie's first half sentence, and his competitive heart was stirred up by the second half sentence. His face turned into a plum purple color.

  With a proud and stern expression, Zhang Liao loudly declared: "I, Liao, accept the order! I am willing to follow the two young masters, fighting bravely in the forefront!" Ao Lie nodded slightly, then turned around and continued to inspect the troops. Zhang Liao hastily stepped forward, following closely behind Ao Lie with his sword at the ready, as if he were one of Ao Lie's subordinates.

  The roll call continued, and finally, Ao Lie pointed out 497 people. Including himself, Lü Bu, and Zhang Liao, there were exactly 500 people. After finishing the roll call, Ao Lie walked back to the front of the platform, saluted Liu Yu on the platform, and said: "Report to the governor, Colonel Ao Lie has completed the roll call."

  Liu Yu glanced at Lü Bu, who was standing beside Ao Lie with his hands hanging down. Over the past two years, Lü Bu had also been invited by Ao Lie to visit the governor's mansion several times as a guest, so Liu Yu was familiar with him. Liu Yu knew that although Lü Bu was not one of his own subordinates, he was Ao Lie's sworn elder brother and an exceptional martial artist. With him by Ao Lie's side, Liu Yu felt more at ease. Hurrying down from the commanding platform, Liu Yu came to stand before Ao Lie, but first turned to address Lü Bu: "War is cruel and battle is perilous; I hope you will assist Ao Lie often."

  Lü Bu made a bow and said, "Uncle, rest assured that as long as I still have breath in me, no one will be allowed to bully my brother." Liu Yu's expression relaxed slightly, then he turned his head and stared deeply at Ao Lie, saying loudly, "Commander Ao Lie, lead your troops forward first!"

  Ao Lie cupped his fists and bowed, answering loudly: "Yes!"

  The next moment, Xiaohuzi led over the mounts of Ao Lie and Lü Bu. Ao Lie leapt onto his Zhaoye Snow Dragon Colt, took the long spear handed to him by Xiaohuzi, pointed the spearhead straight at the sky, and shouted: " Vanguard, mount up!" Lü Bu and Zhang Liao were the first to leap onto their mounts, then raised their weapons on hand, pointing them straight at the sky like Ao Lie. Afterwards, 497 soldiers under Ao Lie's command simultaneously leapt onto horseback, raised their weapons in unison, and pointed them straight at the sky.

  Lü Bu suddenly swung down his long spear and shouted: "Set off!" Zhang Liao and the other warriors followed, shouting loudly: "Set off! Set off!! Set off!!!

  After three loud shouts, the 500 vanguard cavalrymen galloped forward with a whirlwind, charging out of the military camp. It was as if men were fierce tigers and horses were dragons! The remaining soldiers under Liu Yu's command watched with boiling blood, shouting hoarsely to cheer on their comrades: "Wind! Wind!! Wind!!!"

  All the way north, Ao Lie led the vanguard troops to quickly approach the northern border. It took only two days to arrive at the boundary of Jiuyuan County. Here is also the border of the Great Han Dynasty. To the north is where the Xiongnu people are active.

  Looking at the village ravaged by the Xiongnu, Ao Lie sighed and turned back to say: "Wen Yuan, take a few brothers into the village to see if there are any survivors. If there are any survivors, rescue them quickly." Zhang Liao nodded and waved his hand, calling out several soldiers, who galloped into the village on horseback.

  Three moments later, a soldier rushed out and dismounted in front of Ao Lie, bowing his fist to say: "Reporting to the Second Young Master, ah, reporting to General, General Zhang has found some survivors in the village. General Zhang is currently investigating the Xiongnu army's situation." Ao Lie nodded and said: "Let's go, lead me and Big Brother inside to take a look."

  The soldiers turned over the horse, leading Ao Lie and Lü Bu to run towards the village. After Ao Lie and others entered the village, they saw Zhang Liao asking several young men dressed as hunters. Those young men said: "The Xiongnu people are probably around 5,000 or 6,000 in number, and their leader seems to be called something like Zuo Xian Wang. They rode horses into the village, swung long knives and killed all the strong young men in the village, then robbed the village's money and grain, and took away all the young women, and set fire to the village. We were hunting on a nearby mountain and saw the atrocities of those Xiongnu people with our own eyes. When we rushed down from the mountain to fight with the Xiongnu people, they had already ridden far away." One of the young hunters cried to Zhang Liao: "General, our whole village has hundreds of people, all killed by those damn Xiongnu people! My wife who hasn't even passed the door yet was also taken away by the Xiongnu people. Please, General, do something for us!"

  Ao Lie walked up to the front, reached out and patted the shoulder of the crying young hunter, saying: "We are the Han Dynasty's garrison soldiers, this time we have come to fight against these Xiongnu people, blood debts must be repaid with blood." After hearing Ao Lie's words, the other surviving hunters looked at him suspiciously, completely not understanding why the great Han Dynasty's garrison would send a teenager of over ten years old.

  Zhang Liao noticed the hunters' confusion and explained, "Everyone, this is our commander, the second son of Liu Xun, the governor of Jiuyuan!" The hunters heard that Ao Lie was the son of Liu Xun and all showed a look of understanding. Liu Xun was different from other governors, not only being a member of the imperial family but also diligent in governance, never oppressing the people, and promoting frugality every day, which earned him the hearts of the people. Moreover, Ao Lie had been talented in both literature and martial arts since childhood, with a reputation outside, which made the hunters feel at ease. What's more, as the second son of a governor's family, he dared to come to the front line battlefield at just over ten years old, this courage, who wouldn't admire?

  The young hunter who had cried out in grief earlier knelt before Ao Lie and said, "I am willing to follow the young general, hold the reins and stirrups, and fight against the Xiongnu!" Ao Lie helped the hunter up and asked, "What is your name? Why do you want to follow me?" The hunter replied, "My name is Tian Chou, courtesy name Zi Tai, and I am a local hunter. My wife who has not yet entered my household was taken away by the Xiongnu people, and her life or death is unknown. I would rather join the army and fight against the Xiongnu to save more husbands and wives from suffering at the hands of the Xiongnu."

  Tian Chou? Tian Zi Tai? Another famous person from the Three Kingdoms period. Ao Lie thought to himself. In history, Tian Chou was the chief strategist under Gongsun Zan, if following the normal course of history, it should have been Tian Chou who suffered the pain of his fiancée being kidnapped by the Xiongnu people when he was young, and then joined Gongsun Zan's camp with a resolute attitude towards foreign tribes. However, because Ao Lie was reborn in Eastern Han, the trajectory of history made some subtle changes, which led Tian Chou to join Ao Lie's camp instead.

  Ao Lie turned his head and said to Zhang Liao: "Wen Yuan, give him a horse. From today on, Zi Tai will be my military advisor." Tian Chou was shocked by the words, he never thought that Ao Lie would entrust him with an important task at their first meeting. As for Zhang Liao, it was nothing strange to him, just a few days ago, he was still an ordinary soldier, but because of his young master's words, he had become a military marquis leading 500 soldiers.

  As Zhang Liao led a horse over and handed the reins to him, Tian Chou knelt down in front of Ao Lie again, with two lines of hot tears on his face: "Chou deeply feels the kindness of his lord's knowledge, even if he dies, he will not regret it."