Double penetration: This Three Kingdoms has dragon energy

Chapter 128 Self-created Invincible Secret Technique: Vacuum Great Handprint!

It also has drawbacks.

The downside is that the three people's fates are intertwined; the death of any one of them will have a huge impact on the other two.

This impact not only reduces their strength but also affects their fate.

Let them die along with us in a short time.

This must be the effect of the proverb in the introduction to the bond secret technique of the Oath of the Peach Garden: "We do not seek to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we seek to die on the same day, month, and year."

"However, overall, the bond technique of the Oath of the Peach Garden is still very powerful!"

"It is even more powerful than those acquired secret techniques that require special talent or resources to cultivate!"

"Most importantly, this bond technique requires neither talent nor resources. As long as you find the right person, you can activate the bond."

"Just like Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, they didn't know that becoming sworn brothers would grant them a secret bond technique before they did so."

"And there must be more than just the three of them who swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, but only the three of them obtained the Secret Technique of Bonds!"

"So this bond technique does have a bit of a fatalistic feel to it."

"If it were anyone else, they would definitely be completely baffled by this bond technique."

"We can only try our luck."

"But I come from the modern world and have access to historical materials from the Three Kingdoms period, so I might actually be able to activate a few more bond-based secret techniques!"

Ji Qiu recalled the legendary bonds and connections from the Three Kingdoms period recorded in later generations.

For example, the Cao Wei camp:

The Three Caos: Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhi.

The five strategists were Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, Jia Xu, and Cheng Yu.

The Five Elite Generals: Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, Yu Jin, Zhang He, and Xu Huang.

The Eight Tiger Cavalry: Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Cao Chun, Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, and Xiahou Shang.

The Shu Han camp:

The Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix: Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong.

The Three Heroes of the Peach Garden: Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

The four outstanding statesmen: Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and Dong Yun.

The Five Tiger Generals: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong.

Jiangdong camp:
The Two Beauties of Qiao: Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao

The two Zhangs: Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong.

The four commanders-in-chief were Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Lü Meng, and Lu Xun.

The Twelve Tiger Generals: Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Gan Ning, Ling Tong, Xu Sheng, Pan Zhang, and Ding Feng.

Other factions:
The Four Pillars of Hebei: Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan.

Lu Bu's Eight Generals: Zhang Liao, Zang Ba, Hao Meng, Cao Xing, Cheng Lian, Wei Xu, Song Xian, and Hou Cheng.

……

"If I could activate these bonds, I wonder what the effects would be!" Ji Qiu thought to himself.

Besides innate and bond-based secret techniques, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei also each possess some acquired secret techniques.

However, these are all relatively common acquired secret techniques. Even the Black Python Secret Technique that Zhang Fei used earlier was not a powerful secret technique.

The reason why the Black Python Secret Technique is so powerful is simply because Zhang Fei is very strong!

Therefore, I will not go into detail about each one here.

After learning about the three men's secret techniques and agreeing on the time and location for delivering supplies to the Fan army, Ji Qiu bid them farewell.

However, he did not return to Taishan County, but instead opened a time portal and went to Fufeng County.

His purpose in coming out this time was not just to recruit Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

This was only one of his objectives.

He had two other objectives.

One of them is the secret technique for finding the materials needed to build the Eight Trigrams Formation!
The Eight Trigrams Formation recorded in Sun Tzu's Art of War is a very powerful architectural secret.

If enough Eight Trigrams Formation could be built to cover his entire sphere of influence.

Then he wouldn't have to constantly think about retreating to Taishan County.

Rather, it means that once he occupies any place in the world, he can never take it away again!
However, the requirements for building the Eight Trigrams Formation are very high, requiring hundreds of types of dragon artifact materials.

Fortunately, Ji Qiu had previously obtained a large number of materials and secret manuals stored in Qianjintang.

He also trained almost all the scholars related to the secret arts of materials.

This allowed Ji Qiu to obtain most of the materials needed to construct the Eight Trigrams Formation.

Even so, two main ingredients are still missing.

One of them is Tianjing.

This is an extremely rare material for dragon artifacts; it's simply not available on the market.

According to Jia Xu's investigation, only the Ma family of Fufeng possesses the ability to manufacture Heavenly Crystals.

Therefore, in the autumn, he had no choice but to make a trip to Fufeng County.

They first arrived in Luoyang City through the time portal and learned about the current situation in Luoyang and the surrounding Three Auxiliary Regions from Wei He.

They learned that the soup kitchens of the Rare Treasures Pavilion had been opened all over the Three Auxiliary Regions.

Dong Zhuo's conscription and grain requisition plan has officially begun.

He appointed 30,000 Bingzhou wolf cavalry as tax collectors, conscripting soldiers and grain in the Three Auxiliary Regions, causing immense suffering to the people of the Three Auxiliary Regions.

Every day, no fewer than 100,000 people come to the soup kitchen of Qizhenyibao Pavilion to drink soup, and more than 10,000 people are recruited every day!

Ji Qiu's face was somewhat gloomy.

On the one hand, it was because Dong Zhuo's actions were perverse and aroused public outrage, and he truly deserved to be killed!

On the other hand, it was because these 30,000 Bingzhou wolf cavalry were probably in serious trouble.

Dong Zhuo was not without strategy.

He used these 30,000 Bingzhou wolf cavalry as tax collectors to conscript soldiers and collect grain, clearly intending to use them to appease public anger afterward.

These 30,000 Bingzhou wolf cavalry were all former subordinates of Ding Yuan. After Ding Yuan was killed, they surrendered to Lü Bu.

Clearly, just as Dong Zhuo distrusted Lü Bu, he distrusted them even less.

So it's perfectly normal to use them for this kind of dirty work.

These 30,000 Bingzhou wolf cavalry, nominally Dong Zhuo's troops, had in fact long been regarded by Ji Qiu as his own troops.

If they tarnish their reputation and find it difficult to gain a foothold in the Central Plains, then Ji Qiu's strength will be lost!

"However, there is still room for maneuver in this matter."

"If we can make contact with the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, we can get them to cooperate with the Qizhenyibao Pavilion's recruitment of civilians during the conscription and grain collection process."

"That would kill two birds with one stone!"

"However, Dong Zhuo must not be aware of this matter. We need a wise strategist to take charge of the coordination and command."

"Well, it's better to leave this to Jia Xu than to bother two people."

"With his intelligence, deceiving Dong Zhuo wouldn't be a problem," Ji Qiu thought to himself.

He then sent a message to Jia Xu, informing him of this arrangement.

Only then did they leave Luoyang and head to Fufeng County.

Fufeng County is located in the central part of the Guanzhong Plain.

It was once a rich and prosperous land.

The soil here is fertile, the climate is mild, and rivers crisscross the land, nourishing vast farmlands. It has always been known as the "hometown of wheat, rice, and rapeseed oil".

Unfortunately, the Han dynasty declined, Dong Zhuo seized power, and the Liangzhou army took advantage of the situation to rise up.

This area is inevitably affected as well.

Today, Fufeng County is in chaos due to the actions of the Xiliang soldiers.

Everywhere you look, you can see the figures of Xiliang soldiers. They wear crude yet flamboyant armor, long swords at their waists, and their steps are unsteady yet full of arrogance.

They strolled around the market with an air of nonchalance, grabbing whatever caught their eye. Any complaints from the stall owners would result in a beating or verbal altercation.

The old farmers selling vegetables could only sigh inwardly as they looked at their stalls, which had been ransacked by the Xiliang soldiers.

The woman selling cloth watched helplessly as the cloth she had painstakingly woven was snatched away, tears welling in her eyes, but she dared not utter a sound.

At the city gate, Xiliang soldiers set up checkpoints and harassed the passing civilians at will.

Some people who were in a hurry to leave the city for business were stopped by them under various pretexts and asked for money.

If they couldn't produce the item, they would be pushed aside, or even physically assaulted.

Those who came from outside the city with some agricultural products to sell would also have "tolls" forcibly levied by the Xiliang soldiers, instantly reducing their already meager income by more than half.

The tavern was their playground for unbridled behavior.

They made a lot of noise, slamming their wine bowls down on the table, splashing wine everywhere.

If anything goes wrong, they'll overturn the table, scaring the other customers in the shop into trembling. The shopkeeper can only force a smile and dare not offend them in the slightest.

These Xiliang soldiers, on the land of Fufeng County, seemed to have become all-powerful tyrants. Their actions made the people dare not speak out in anger, and their originally peaceful lives were shrouded in a thick gloom.

Overall, however, the people of Fufeng County were still able to survive.

Unbeknownst to them, the people of Luoyang and the surrounding Sanfu region were already on the verge of being driven to their deaths by Dong Zhuo.

The Guanzhong region connects to Xiliang and was considered Dong Zhuo's base of operations. Dong Zhuo also regarded this region as the foundation for his future.

Therefore, we should show leniency towards the people here.

Unlike the people of Luoyang and the Sanfu region, Dong Zhuo did not consider them as his own people at all.

Being ready to abandon someone at any time means they can exploit them without any psychological burden!

Fufeng Prefecture, Maoling County.

The Ma family of Fufeng is a family with a relatively long history.

Their origins can be traced back to Zhao She, a famous general of the Zhao state during the Warring States period.

Zhao She once defeated the Qin army in the Battle of Eyu and was enfeoffed as Lord Ma Fu for his merits. His descendants later took Ma as their surname.

After Qin conquered Zhao, the Ma family gradually migrated to the Maoling area of ​​Fufeng, and after a long period of development, they became a prominent clan in the area.

The Ma family of Fufeng truly rose to prominence during the transition between the Western and Eastern Han dynasties.

The head of the Ma family in Fufeng at that time was Ma Yuan, who later became the General Who Subdued the Waves.

Ma Yuan served in Wang Mang's regime in his early years, and later submitted to Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu.

He made outstanding contributions to Liu Xiu's unification of the country, successively suppressing rebellions such as those of Kui Xiao in Longxi and the Zheng sisters in Jiaozhi. Ma Yuan was not only a brilliant military strategist, but also renowned for his heroic spirit of "dying on the battlefield."

He once said, "A man should die on the battlefield, his body wrapped in a horsehide for burial. How can he lie in bed, in the hands of women and children?"

In his later years, he still led troops to conquer the Wuling and Wuxi barbarians, and eventually died of illness in the army, making a great contribution to the stability of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the peace of the border.

However, after Ma Yuan's death, the Ma clan of Fufeng quickly declined, lost military power, and was driven out of Luoyang.

However, the Ma family of Fufeng did not completely decline. After losing their military power, they began to transform into a family of scholars specializing in classical studies.

Ma Rong, a great-grandson of Ma Yuan, was a famous scholar of classics and writer during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

He annotated numerous classic texts, bringing the study of ancient texts to maturity and exerting a profound influence on the development of classical studies in later generations.

Ma Rong was a man of great talent and erudition, a renowned scholar who taught thousands of students.

His students included renowned scholars such as Lu Zhi and Zheng Xuan.

Ma Rong lived a life of luxury, often sitting in a high hall with a crimson gauze curtain, teaching students in front and female musicians behind. This teaching method was quite unique at the time.

However, after Ma Rong's death, no outstanding talents emerged from the Ma family of Fufeng in the field of classical studies.

Their family has once again shifted gears, entering the field of technology manufacturing.

The head of the family, Ma Yun, became the chief craftsman of the imperial court.

However, Jack Ma has not achieved any outstanding success in the field of craftsmanship.

The one who truly brought the Fufeng Ma family to the pinnacle in this field was their son, Ma Jun.

Ma Jun was the most famous mechanical inventor of the Three Kingdoms period.

He restored the compass cart, improved the cumbersome loom of the time, and invented a dragon-bone waterwheel that could draw water from low to high places.

They created a rotary catapult that could continuously launch stones up to hundreds of steps away.

A wooden drive wheel is attached to the bottom of the puppet to create a "water-powered acrobatic spectacle".

They also reformed the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow, contributing to scientific development and technological progress.

However, after Ma Jun's death, there was no further news of any outstanding figures from the Ma family in the field of scientific invention.

It seems they've changed course again.

This family seems to possess this characteristic.

Each time, they quickly reach the pinnacle in one field and then switch tracks.

It's as if they're trying to prove they can reach the pinnacle in this field.

At this point in time, the Ma family of Fufeng is in the middle to late stage of their transition from the field of classical studies to the field of scientific invention.

Not long after Jack Ma's death, Ma Jun, only sixteen years old, became the new head of the Ma family in Fufeng.

Although Ma Jun was very talented in invention and creation, he was not good at speaking, had poor interpersonal skills, and also had a stutter.

Therefore, the Ma family of Fufeng has greatly declined in influence and has now become a mid-level family in Maoling City.

Well, actually, back when Jack Ma was the head of the Fufeng Ma family, the Fufeng Ma family had already lost Wubao and a large amount of farmland outside the city and moved into Maoling City, becoming a family within the city that was a level lower than the families outside the city.

However, at that time they were considered one of the upper-class families among the prominent families in the city.

Now, however, they have fallen further and have become a middle-class family in the city.

It must be said that the relationships between powerful and influential families are actually quite complex.

Not all powerful families can continue to develop and grow stronger over hundreds of years.

In fact, if talented individuals cannot continuously emerge and occupy high positions, it will lead to problems.

The development trend of the vast majority of aristocratic families is getting worse and worse.

Even the Ma family of Fufeng, a top family during the founding of the Eastern Han Dynasty, was no exception.

Each time they switch career paths, it can be seen as a choice they have to make due to a significant decline in their family's status.

When a company decides to switch to a new track, but before it reaches the top of the new track, that is when it is at its weakest.

Therefore, this current point in time is when the Ma family of Fufeng is at its weakest.

As Ji Qiu turned into the quiet alley along the bluestone path, he came to the residence of the Ma family of Fufeng.

This mansion lacks the imposing grandeur of a wealthy family's residence, but it possesses its own refined elegance.

The outer wall of the courtyard is built with blue bricks and covered with dark tiles. A few branches of red plum blossoms and green bamboo peek out from the top of the wall, adding a touch of elegance.

Although the main gate is not wide, it is decorated with carved vine patterns on the door frame. The two wooden doors are painted with vermilion lacquer, and the door knockers are made of brass, gleaming with a warm luster.

Above the lintel hangs a wooden plaque with the words "Ma Mansion" written on it in vigorous and powerful characters.

Just as Ji Qiu was about to knock on the door, he suddenly heard the sound of hurried horse hooves.

Accompanied by the sound of hooves, a troop of three hundred Xiliang cavalry appeared on the street and galloped to the gate of the Ma residence.

The commander of the Xiliang army shouted, "Where are the Ma family members? Come out here at once!"

As he shouted, the gates of the Ma residence opened, and two boys, about fifteen or sixteen years old, walked out.

One of them looked dull and somewhat dim-witted.

The other one had sharp eyes and seemed extremely intelligent.

"Who are you? This is the residence of the Ma family of Fufeng. Your rudeness is unacceptable!" The seemingly intelligent young man asked first.

The Xiliang captain glanced at him and said, "We're looking for the Ma family of Fufeng! Are you Ma Jun, the head of the Ma family of Fufeng?"

"No, the man next to me is Ma Jun, the head of the Fufeng Ma family, and I am Fa Zheng of the Fufeng Fa family."

"But the Ma family of Fufeng and the Fa family of Fufeng have been on good terms for generations, like one family. If you have any questions, you can tell me directly!" Fa Zheng said in a deep voice.

The Fa family of Fufeng was also a prominent family in the city, and even a superior family.

However, they were not a prominent family from Maoling County, but rather from Mei County.

In earlier times, the Fa family of Fufeng was actually a vassal family of the Ma family of Fufeng. Their ancestors established the family with the support of the Ma family of Fufeng.

However, as the Ma family of Fufeng declined in power, the Fa family of Fufeng also broke away from its status as a vassal of the Ma family and became an independent family.

However, the Fa family of Fufeng and the Ma family of Fufeng maintained an extremely close relationship.

For many years, the two families have supported each other, maintained a good relationship for generations, and jointly withstood the storms of the outside world.

Fa Zheng and Ma Jun were childhood friends.

Now, the Ma family of Fufeng has suffered another heavy blow. The old patriarch, Ma Yun, has died, and the new patriarch, Ma Jun, has taken over.

Fa Zheng even knew about his friend's shortcomings in interpersonal skills, so he came to help him handle family affairs.

With Fa Zheng's help, Ma Jun has gradually sorted out the internal affairs of his family in recent days.

I never expected that just after I settled the internal affairs of the family, external affairs would come knocking on my door!

"Is it the same if I tell you? Fine, then tell Ma Jun to hand over three hundred mid-grade or higher dragon weapons within three days!" the Xiliang captain said coldly.

Fa Zheng's expression immediately changed, and Ma Jun's expression also changed drastically, his eyes filled with anxiety. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't speak because of his stutter.

Fortunately, Fa Zheng was by his side, and Fa Zheng had already spoken for him: "General, let's not even talk about the fact that the Ma family of Fufeng simply cannot produce three hundred mid-grade eighth-rank dragon weapons. Even if they could, why would they hand them over to you without any proof?"

"Hahaha, why?"
Because our Xiliang army wants it, you have to hand it over!

Now that Prime Minister Dong is in charge of the court, the words of our Xiliang army are law!
Anyone who dares to defy the law will have their property confiscated and their entire family exterminated!

As for the Fufeng Ma family not being able to produce it, humph, isn't the Fufeng Ma family a large family with a history of hundreds of years?

The recently deceased Jack Ma was the Grand Supervisor of Crafts in the imperial court, in charge of manufacturing imperial artifacts.

"How could you not even produce a mere three hundred mid-grade eighth-rank dragon artifacts?" the Xiliang captain sneered.

"you!"

Fa Zheng was speechless when faced with this unreasonable Xiliang captain.

No matter how talented he is, a scholar can't reason with a soldier.

In this situation, there is nothing that can be done.

As for Ma Jun, who was standing next to him, he was sweating profusely with anxiety.

He knew perfectly well that the Ma family of Fufeng could not possibly produce three hundred mid-grade eighth-rank dragon artifacts within three days.

Judging from the attitude of the Xiliang Commandant, there was absolutely no room for negotiation.

Is the Ma family of Fufeng, which has been passed down for hundreds of years, really going to come to an end?
And he, the new head of the Fufeng Ma clan who has been in office for less than a month, will also be the last head of the Fufeng Ma clan.
Just when Ma Jun and Fa Zheng were extremely anxious and didn't know what to do.

A mocking voice came from not far away: "The Xiliang soldiers are really quite imposing."

It's just that you rely on Dong Zhuo's power to act so arrogantly and domineeringly.

Little did he know that with retainers like you, Dong Zhuo could not last long.

Upon hearing this, the Xiliang captain, who had been feeling smug, immediately turned grim.

Ma Jun and Fa Zheng were also slightly taken aback, wondering who would dare to mock Dong Zhuo in public when Dong Zhuo was at the height of his power.
Not only the crowd that had gradually gathered, but also the Dongda people’s ancestral talent for watching the excitement, all turned their attention to this place.

All eyes in the room were drawn to the direction from which the sound came.

And there, right there, was Ji Qiu's location!

"Who are you? How dare you criticize the Prime Minister? Are you tired of living?" the Xiliang Commandant said viciously.

Ji Qiu chuckled and said, "The affairs of the world are for the people of the world to discuss."

Since you have committed such evil deeds, you should be prepared to be condemned by both words and writings!
Who am I, and what does this have to do with me?

"Hehe, good! It seems you're really tired of living."

In that case, I will grant your wish!
Men, seize him and take him back to camp.

"I'm going to skin him alive and let him experience the consequences of offending our Xiliang army!" the Xiliang captain said coldly.

The Xiliang cavalry behind him responded in unison, and immediately two squads, totaling twenty Xiliang cavalrymen, rushed out of their ranks and pounced on Ji Qiu.

But Ji Qiu faced twenty Xiliang cavalrymen alone, yet showed no fear on his face, instead revealing a faint smile.

"Only twenty Xiliang cavalrymen were sent? They're really cautious!"

"But what difference does it make whether you're cautious or not when facing me?"

"Take this! Vacuum Great Handprint!"

Ji Qiu chuckled softly and suddenly clapped his hands out.

In an instant, the air within a radius of a hundred feet suddenly froze, as if an invisible giant hand had pressed the freeze button.

The dust kicked up by the horses' hooves hung suspended in mid-air, the scimitars raised high by the riders gleamed coldly but could not fall even an inch, and even the white mist exhaled by the warhorses remained frozen in place, turning the entire battlefield into a strange three-dimensional painting.

Ji Qiu twitched her fingertips slightly, and spiderweb-like, dark blue patterns appeared in the sealed space.

The astonished expressions of their comrades were reflected in the pupils of the three hundred Xiliang cavalrymen. The veins on their necks suddenly bulged, and they let out a silent roar.

These ruthless bandits, who usually ran rampant in Fufeng County, had their hearts instantly stopped by an invisible force before their armor was even stained with blood.

Before the suspended blood droplets could fall to the ground, hundreds of bodies crashed off their horses like puppets with broken strings. The dust that rose up finally broke free of its restraints and intertwined with the splattering blood mist in the air to create a horrifying scene.

(End of this chapter)