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  "First it was a test of strength, now it's a test of endurance. This Ma Chao is indeed quite capable."

  At this time, Liu Feng saw the initial skills of Ma Chao and added a few more points to his confidence in the young strategist he had chosen.

  A large number of soldiers were depressed, and before Liu Biao's time, they had always adopted a policy of self-defense, and the large-scale battles with external enemies were only a few times. Therefore, most of the troops under Liu Biao's command had been in a state of idleness all along, and these 400 people were no exception.

  Let me count on my fingers, the last time they had a forced march with heavy loads was who knows when, and now they're being asked to put on their armor and take up their spears, and carry three days' worth of rations while running five miles - isn't this just asking for their lives?

  Liu Feng didn't care about that much, in order to give Ma Chao a boost of confidence, he immediately shouted loudly: "Didn't you hear the orders from General Ma? Why aren't you moving yet?"

  Liu Feng's majestic and awe-inspiring presence at the Northern Camp was still vivid in their minds. With this one shout, the soldiers shuddered all over, how could they dare to dawdle again? They hastily shouldered their rations, picked up their weapons, and rushed out of the camp gate, racing along the main road towards the dock outside the city.

  Liu Feng and Ma Chao then mounted their horses, one in front and one behind, and followed the 400 soldiers who were rushing wildly.

  At this time, the sun was about to set in the west, and there were fewer and fewer people on the road. The soldiers ran out without encountering any obstacles. Liu Feng rode his horse at a steady pace, feeling very relaxed. Just as he had run two miles, he suddenly saw a horse-drawn carriage parked by the side of the road. With his sharp eyes, Liu Feng recognized the person in the carriage, who was none other than Mi Zhu.

  "Uncle."

  Liu Feng had little contact with this uncle who was not close to him, and this person was usually serious and stern, not likable. Liu Feng always kept a distance from him, but today he accidentally ran into him, so out of politeness, he couldn't pretend he hadn't seen him.

  The soldiers rushed past the side of the carriage, raising dust that filled the air. Zou Jing was afraid of being choked by the dust and could only cover his mouth and nose with a handkerchief. Seeing that the officer leading the troops was Liu Feng, he frowned and asked: "Ah Feng, it's almost dark, what are you doing again?"

  "The two words '折腾' sound like you're saying I'm not doing my job properly, messing around. Liu Feng heard this and said: "Nephew, I'm not messing around. Father ordered me to lead a branch of the army to go to Lushan to assist Wu's army, we'll be departing in two or three days. I'm currently rushing to train the new troops that were assigned to me."

  "Has the Marquis allocated troops to the various departments? Are they also being sent to assist the Wu army in battle?" Zou Ji looked somewhat surprised.

  "That's right. I still have something to do, so I won't accompany my uncle in conversation, and I'll take my leave first." Liu Feng was glad to be rid of him, bowed his hands in a salute, and then turned his horse around to chase after the troops once again.

  Gazing at that lithe and elegant figure disappearing into the distance, the sparse grey-white eyebrows furrowed even tighter.

  "Go, to General Zi Long's camp."

  Mi Zhu's chariot and Liu Feng went in opposite directions, returned to Xiakou City before sunset, and rushed straight to Zhao Yun's large camp in the north of the city as soon as they entered the city.

  Due to his meritorious service in saving Adou at Changban Slope, Zhao Yun has now been promoted to General of the Imperial Guard and, by order of Liu Bei, took over more than 3,000 Jiangxia troops from Liu Qi's hands and undertook the heavy responsibility of defending Xiakou City.

  The main threat to Xia Kou came from the northern route of Cao's army. Although Zhang Fei's more than 10,000 naval forces were deployed in the north of Xia Kou, the direct threat to Xia Kou was not heavy at this moment, but Zhao Yun did not dare to underestimate it. After receiving this appointment, he moved his residence from the city mansion to the central camp set up near the northern city, which was convenient for directing the defense of the northern city area.

  Mi Zhu arrived at Beiying when Zhao Yun was still outside inspecting the city walls and had not returned, Mi Zhu could only wait patiently in Zhao Yun's large tent for him to come back.

  The night was cool as water, and the moon was above his eyebrows. Before he knew it, an hour had passed, but Zhao Yun still hadn't returned.

  In the four-cornered hanging fire basin, charcoal was crackling, and the dim light and shadow formed a pattern on the dome-shaped top of the large tent, like ferocious beasts dancing wildly.

  Under the vaulted ceiling, the old man paced back and forth ceaselessly, his eyes, deeply sunken in a face full of wrinkles, occasionally flashing with anxious expressions.

  At this moment, the urn containing his sister Mei's ashes would occasionally appear in his mind, and at a certain instant, Liu Feng's robust back would suddenly flash before his eyes, that back which made his heart uneasy. This was the reason why he had been waiting for Zhao Yun to return for so long, yet still hesitated to leave.

  Because his heart was shrouded in a terrible suspicion, if he didn't figure out the truth today, he would be restless and unable to eat or sleep.

  "So late, yet you've come to visit, is there something urgent?" A metallic voice came from behind, Zou Zhong's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly turned his head to see Zhao Yun standing in the tent, but he had no idea when he had entered, and he hadn't even noticed.

  Mi Zong quickly wiped the anxiety off his face and smiled: "I'm back from outside the city, I passed by Zi Long's camp on the way, so I came in to take a look."

  Zhao Yun, with a tired face, put down the silver spear in his hand and placed it back on the weapon rack. As he took off his helmet and armor, he said: "But I heard that the soldiers said that Zizhong has been waiting for almost an hour. He wouldn't have just come to see me, would he?"

  Zhao Yun's heart is as delicate as a cotton thread, and Zuo Ci's forced excuses cannot conceal his true motives for this trip.

  "Zi Zhong, if there's something urgent, just say it." Zhao Yun was clearly not the kind of person who liked to beat around the bush.

  Zi Long understood Zhao Yun's feelings, and with that in mind, he made up his mind not to be polite anymore. He took a deep breath, his expression serious as he said: "To be honest with you, I didn't come this time for official business, but for a personal matter."

  Zhao Yun's eyes moved slightly, and from Zuo Ci's tone and expression, he sensed a few points of abnormality, but he calmly said: "What private matter is it, Sub-Commander? You may speak freely."

  "Actually, it's about the matter of my sister Mei Zong. I've always wanted to ask you personally, Subduer Dragon, how did she really die?"

  Zhao Yun had already sensed something, and when Zuo Ci asked the question, Zhao Yun replied calmly: "Didn't I say it last time? The master is afraid of dragging down Master Adou, so he died by hitting the wall."

  Mi Zong moved closer to Zhao Yun, staring into his eyes: "I certainly remember what was said earlier. Now I just want to know, did Zilong see with his own eyes that Little Sister had smashed herself against the wall?"

  Silence, this sentence from Zuo Ci made Zhao Yun fall into silence.

  At first, he and Liu Feng went through life and death together, and finally escorted Adou to find Liu Bei. In order to avoid making Liu Feng suspicious for no reason, he rushed to say those words that seemed to be snatching credit before Liu Feng did. Although no one raised further questions at the time, Zhao Yun had a faint premonition that the matter would not pass so easily.

  Now, what he didn't want to see finally happened anyway.

  Zhoa Yun believed in Liu Feng, but his principle was that nothing could change anything.

  After a moment of silence, under the stern gaze of Zuo Ci, Zhao Yun calmly replied: "I didn't see Madam kill herself with my own eyes, these are all what Da Gongzi said."

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