Chương 111: Leaving Beijing, System Talents Arrive

Cai Yong, Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Liu Bian arrived, as did Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, and even He Jin sent a representative.

"Uncle, take care on your journey!"

"Write to me often once you arrive in Youzhou!"

"If you encounter any difficulties, remember to contact us!"

Liu Ce bowed to each of them in farewell.

Cai Yong held his daughter's hand, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Zhaoji, take good care of yourself over there. Write to your father often."

"Father, rest assured." Cai Yan also cried.

"Bo Lue!" Cai Yong came over and took Liu Ce's hand.

"Take care on your journey! Zhao Ji... is entrusted to you!"

"Don't worry, father-in-law," Liu Ce said solemnly.

Lu Zhi patted him on the shoulder: "When you get to Youzhou, write to me if anything comes up. Although I am old, I can still say a few words in the court."

Huangfu Song was even more direct: "If the Xianbei dare to invade, beat them hard! Show no mercy!"

Zhu Jun laughed and said, "Don't we know how capable the Marquis of Champion is? Those barbarians in Youzhou are probably in for a rough time."

Cao Cao also came over, cupped his hands and said, "Marquis of Champion, you will surely achieve great things on this journey. I am in Luoyang, awaiting your good news."

"Take care, Brother Mengde," Liu Ce returned the greeting.

"If fate allows, let's drink together again in the future."

"must!"

After saying goodbye to everyone, Liu Ce looked at the group.

Cai Yan and Ren Hongchang's carriage was in the middle of the procession. The curtain was slightly lifted, and Cai Yan was looking at him.

Liu Ce nodded to her, indicating that she could rest assured.

Behind the group were the newly recruited talents.

Guo Jia, still yawning on his horse, had drunk too much the night before.

Xun Yu, on the other hand, looked serious, as if he was already thinking about a governance plan for Youzhou.

Lu Bu looked around excitedly, while Yan Liang and Wen Chou whispered among themselves...

Everyone's facial expressions were different, but they all had one thing in common: anticipation for the future.

Liu Ce took a deep breath, turned his horse around, and faced north.

"Set off!"

With a flick of his whip, the army set off.

Amidst the swirling dust, Liu Ce turned back for one last look at Luoyang.

On the city wall, there seemed to be a purple figure gazing into the distance.

But he did not stay.

"drive!"

Liu Ce spurred his horse forward, never looking back.

The procession wound its way north, like a long dragon, and gradually disappeared at the end of the official road.

On the city wall, He Lian stood in a corner, gazing into the distance.

She was clutching a handkerchief in her hand, her knuckles white.

The wind lifted the hem of her skirt, and also scattered her whispers:

"Take care of yourself……"

……

On the way, Guo Jia poked his head out of the carriage, holding a wine jug in his hand:

"My lord! Where shall we go first?"

"Zhuojun!" Liu Ce answered loudly, "Let's go see my old subordinates first!"

"Alright!" Guo Jia took a swig of wine.

"Let's go! To Youzhou!"

Xun Yu sat in another carriage, shaking his head and smiling bitterly:

"This Guo Fengxiao..."

Xi Zhicai laughed and said, "Let him be. He'll have plenty to do when we get to Youzhou."

Jia Xu closed his eyes to rest, remaining silent.

Lu Bu rode behind Liu Ce on horseback, his halberd slung over his shoulder, exuding confidence and pride.

"Finally, we're going to the battlefield! I've been so bored!"

Huang Zhong, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and Yu Jin—all the generals were in high spirits.

Zhao Yun and Dian Wei stood guard on either side of Liu Ce.

The sunlight grew brighter and brighter, shining on the team as if they were draped in golden armor.

……

Liu Ce led his men away from Luoyang and traveled about twenty miles north.

On both sides of the official road were fields in early autumn, where the crops had been harvested and only stalks remained.

When the wind blows, it makes a rustling sound.

As Liu Ce rode on his horse, he thought to himself: It's time.

He silently ordered in his mind: "System, release Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yuwen Chengdu, and the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun, and place them one kilometer ahead."

[Ding! Placing... Placing complete.] As soon as the system notification sound ended, Liu Ce saw the faint shadows of horses in the woods beside the official road ahead.

Then Dian Wei, with his sharp eyes, pointed ahead, his face wary: "Brother, there are more than twenty men on horseback ahead! Judging from their attire, they don't look like ordinary people!"

Zhao Yun also gripped his gun: "Should I go take a look?"

Liu Ce waved his hand, looking calm: "Don't be nervous, those are our people."

"Huh?" Dian Wei scratched his head.

"Our people? How come I didn't know?"

Zhao Yun also looked at Liu Ce with a puzzled expression.

Liu Ce smiled mysteriously: "I arranged it all in advance, I've been scouting ahead. Let's go meet them."

The procession continued forward.

After walking about a mile, they indeed saw more than twenty riders lined up in front of them, blocking the road.

The three men at the head: On the left was a middle-aged scholar in his twenties, wearing a blue long gown, with a lean face and wise eyes; The person on the right is also a scholar, about the same age, but with a more composed demeanor, like an old piece of jade; In the middle is a young military general, nine feet tall, with a face like jade and eyes like bright stars.

He wears a bright silver armor and carries a phoenix-winged gilded halberd (already changed into a different outfit), which glitters in the sunlight.

Behind them were eighteen knights in black.

These people were dressed entirely in black from head to toe—black clothes, black armor, black horses, and even their faces were covered with black cloths, leaving only their eyes visible.

Those eyes were as cold as ice, devoid of any emotion when they looked at people, exuding a murderous aura. Even though it was daytime, they looked like they had crawled out of hell.

Dian Wei clicked his tongue in amazement: "Good heavens, that aura..."

Liu Ce rode forward.

The three men immediately dismounted upon seeing Liu Ce.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui stepped forward and bowed with their hands clasped in greeting:

"Fang Xuanling (Du Ruhui) pays his respects to our lord!"

Yuwen Chengdu knelt on one knee, his voice booming:

"Yuwen Chengdu greets his lord!"

The eighteen black-clad knights dismounted in unison, clasped their hands in a fist salute, and performed the same movements in perfect unison.

"The Eighteen Riders of Yanyun pay their respects to our lord!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling, menacing aura.

Liu Ce quickly dismounted, jogged over, and first helped Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui to their feet:

"Please rise, gentlemen! With your assistance, we are truly blessed!"

Then he helped Yuwen Chengdu up, saying, "General Yuwen, please rise! I have long heard that you are the bravest in the army, and seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved! With you here, how can we worry about unrest in the northern frontier!"

Finally, he walked up to the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun and looked at them one by one.

These people had cold eyes, but when they looked at Liu Ce, they clearly showed respect.

"Please rise, everyone," Liu Ce said.

The lead knight rose, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "My lord, this humble general is Yan Yi. These seventeen brothers are, in order, Yan Er, Yan San... Yan Shiba."

Liu Ce secretly praised: This numbering system is simple and straightforward enough.

"Good!" He patted Yan Yi on the shoulder.

"The Eighteen Riders of Yan Yun truly live up to their name! With you all here, the pacification of the grasslands is just around the corner!"

Then he turned and waved to Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, and the others:

"Come on, let me introduce you!"

Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, Lü Bu, Huang Zhong and other military generals all gathered around.

The scholars, led by Xun Yu and Guo Jia, also came to pay their respects.

Liu Ce introduced them one by one: "This is Mr. Fang Xuanling, and this is Mr. Du Ruhui—both of them are great talents."