Three Kingdoms: Intercepting Liu Bei's forces and marrying Lady Mi.

Although Chen Xin had doubts about the origins of the cavalry, he did not pursue the matter further.

Chen Ming handed over the two hundred cavalrymen to Guan Yu for command.

Guan Yu rode a black warhorse, wore a green battle robe, and held the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

His phoenix eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and he looked like a god of war.

Chen Ming recruited thirty high-level cavalrymen with a combat strength of 40 and sixty high-level infantrymen with a combat strength of 20.

These infantrymen were all heavily armored, carrying long spears, round shields, and short swords; they were fully equipped.

Everyone wore an iron mask, so their faces were not visible.

Chen Ming's personal guard consisted of thirty cavalrymen and sixty infantrymen.

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu walked side by side at the front, both serving as vanguard cavalry generals.

Zhang Bao has a bulging head and piercing eyes; he looks fierce.

On their way from Zhuoxian to Jixian, Chen Ming's troops encountered several groups of Yellow Turban rebels, each numbering between several hundred and a thousand men.

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu led their cavalry in a charge and slaughtered all the Yellow Turban soldiers; not a single one survived.

Having witnessed firsthand the formidable power of a warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men, Chen Xin had even greater faith in Chen Ming's judgment.

"Tap tap!"

"Tap tap!"

"Tap tap!"

The rapid sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached.

Zhang Fei led more than ten cavalrymen galloping from afar.

"Big brother, second brother!"

"The village ahead is deserted. I've searched all around, but I haven't found a single survivor."

Zhang Fei shouted.

Chen Ming nodded and said, "The root of the Yellow Turban Rebellion lies here."

"They loot things and even recruit civilians into their gang. If we don't eliminate them soon, they will only grow stronger."

Chen Xin nodded and said, "Yun Qing is right. If we hadn't listened to you back then, the people of Zhuo County would have been finished."

"Yun Qing is indeed incredibly resourceful; that's a fact!"

Guan Yu sat on his horse, stroking his beard, and spoke slowly.

Chen Ming blushed and felt embarrassed when he heard the praise from everyone.

Jixian County is right in front of us, getting closer and closer.

Instead of passively defending, Prefect Guo Xun and Liu Wei actively prepared to defend against the Yellow Turban Army.

They adopted a scorched-earth policy, relocating all the nearby residents into Jixian County.

It also burned down all the neighboring villages.

Before the war even began, Ji County was already surrounded by dilapidated walls and desolate landscape.

Chen Ming could see the tall and sturdy city walls of Ji County in the distance.

As the capital of Youzhou, Ji County's city walls were more robust and magnificent than those of other counties.

Before they even entered the city, they encountered another cavalry force that had come to reinforce them outside the city.

From afar, he saw the military flag fluttering in the wind, embroidered with the two large characters "Gongsun".

Upon seeing these two words, Chen Ming immediately thought of someone.

Gongsun Zan!

A warlord who would later control more than half of the north and rival Yuan Shao, whose family had held high office for four generations.

After the two armies approached in the same direction, Chen Ming was able to see the composition of the opposing force.

They were all cavalry, numbering about three hundred.

The leader was a tall, robust young general.

"Is that Magistrate Chen of Zhuo County ahead?"

The young general on horseback shouted.

"It is I. And who are you?" Chen Ming asked.

"I am Gongsun Zan, the Chief Administrator of the Liaodong Dependent State, here to provide support on behalf of the Prefect and Governor!"

Gongsun Zan responded loudly.

Chen Ming raised an eyebrow; it really was Gongsun Zan!

Military strength 78, command 86, politics 85.

Intelligence: 79, Charisma: 65

Skill: White Horse Cavalry

The two teams were allies, so they joined forces.

Chen Ming looked closely at Gongsun Zan and suddenly froze.

He saw another person standing next to Gongsun Zan.

That person is Liu Bei, the Imperial Uncle Liu!

Chen Ming's expression froze when he saw Liu Bei.

He thought that by cutting off Liu Bei's retreat route, the Imperial Uncle, having lost Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, would fail and disappear from history.

But the Imperial Uncle is still the Imperial Uncle.

He didn't give up; he was still making a final struggle.

Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan were both students of Lu Zhi, so they were classmates.

When Lu Zhi lectured, his classroom was open to the public, and hundreds of people attended his classes.

Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei are just two of the more famous ones.

Gongsun Zan's teacher was Liu Kuan.

Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan were fellow disciples.

It's normal for Liu Bei to be following Gongsun Zan now.

Chen Ming recognized Liu Bei, and Liu Bei also recognized Chen Ming, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei, dressed in armor and with a sword at his waist, smiled and saluted Chen Ming, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

"I've met Young Master Chen and the two of you before. I didn't expect to meet you today," Liu Bei said with a smile.

"Does Xuande know him?"

Gongsun Zan looked at Liu Bei in surprise and asked.

Liu Bei nodded and said, "Bo Gui, this is Magistrate Chen's son. I've seen him at the market before."

"I greatly admire Young Master Chen's feat of lifting a thousand-pound stone block with one hand."

Liu Bei said to Gongsun Zan.

"These two men beside Young Master Chen seem to be quite extraordinary as well," Liu Bei added.

"Lifting a thousand-pound stone with one hand?"

Gongsun Zan stared wide-eyed at Chen Ming.

It's unbelievable that this seemingly frail scholar could lift a massive boulder weighing thousands of pounds with one hand.

"You flatter me. I only used a little technique. In terms of real skill and bravery, I am no match for Brother Bogui."

Chen Ming smiled modestly.

"Does the young master know me?"

Gongsun Zan stared at Chen Ming and asked.

Chen Ming nodded and smiled: "I've long heard of the White Horse General in Liaodong, who strikes fear into the hearts of foreign tribes. It must be Brother Gongsun Bogui."

Gongsun Zan and Chen Ming are about the same age, at most a few years older, so it's normal for Chen Ming to call him his brother.

Hearing this praise, he immediately smiled.

Gongsun Zan, who came from an ordinary background, was naturally very pleased to receive praise from the gentry of Yingchuan.

Liu Bei kept his eyes fixed on Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Chen Ming was also helpless in the face of Liu Bei's gaze.

As Liu Bei walked, he recounted in detail his experiences after meeting Chen Ming and the others.

After parting ways with Chen Ming that day, Liu Bei packed his belongings and left Zhuo County to seek refuge with Gongsun Zan.

At the time, Gongsun Zan was in a good position and took Liu Bei in out of consideration for their friendship as classmates.

During the Taiping Rebellion, Liu Bei joined Gongsun Zan's forces and went to Ji County to provide support.

Chen Ming lamented the fickle nature of fate, noting that Liu Bei was indeed resilient.

But at the same time, I'm also curious: how could Liu Bei survive in this chaotic world without Guan Yu and Zhang Fei by his side?

On the city wall of Ji County, Guo Xun and Liu Wei were waiting anxiously.

When they saw the reinforcements, they both smiled.

"Let's go down to the city."

Guo Xun, accompanied by Liu Wei and a group of personal guards, went directly to the city gate.

The city gates opened, and Chen Xin and Gongsun Zan walked out together.

Gongsun Zan and Chen Ming were the same age, but Gongsun Zan was an official appointed by the court and the commander of three hundred cavalrymen. His status had to be equal to that of Chen Ming's father, Chen Xin.

At this time, Chen Ming did not hold a formal official position; he was merely serving as a cavalry general on a temporary basis.

"Ha ha!"

"With Dafang and Bogui coming together, quelling the bandits is a piece of cake!"

Guo Xun, who had just emerged from Jixian County, laughed loudly.

Dafang was the courtesy name of Chen Ming's father, Chen Xin.

Chen Xin and Gongsun Zan greeted Guo Xun and Liu Wei, who had come from Ji County, and both dismounted to pay their respects.

Chen Ming, Liu Bei, and the others immediately dismounted.

While Guo Xun was talking to Chen Xin and Gongsun Zan, Prefect Liu Wei was secretly observing the army they had brought.

This time, Chen Xin brought more than a thousand county soldiers.

Among them were two hundred elite cavalry and eight hundred infantry.

This number does not include Chen Xin's personal guard.

The cavalry was jointly commanded by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, while the infantry was personally led by Chen Xin.

Liu Wei's eyes lit up when he saw the thirty elite cavalry and sixty high-ranking infantrymen beside Chen Xin.

These elite cavalry and advanced infantry were well-equipped and stood out in the ranks.

The soldiers recruited by Chen Xin were not only well-equipped, but also tall, far exceeding the average person.

Those thirty high-ranking cavalrymen were recruited by Chen Xin at a high price, and they consumed 300 catties of grain every day.

They were imposing and visually striking.

"Please come into the city, everyone. We have prepared fine wine to welcome you."

"With your help, the Yellow Turban rebels are nothing to fear!"

Guo Xun smiled and took Chen Xin and Gongsun Zan's hands, leading them into Ji County.