Liu Yu sat upright in the central army tent, waiting for his subordinates to report on the gains and losses of the battle.

"Reported to the prefect, the vanguard of the major general's troops, 389 people were killed in battle and more than 4,000 Xiongnu cavalry!"

"Report to the prefect, the Zuoxian King of the Huns was killed in front of the formation by the major general, and all the vanguards of his troops were surrounded and killed in Balin Mountain by the major general!"

"Report to the prefect, our army attacked last night and killed more than 5,000 troops from the Xiongnu Youxian King! The Youxian King fled back to Mobei with only more than ten cavalry!"

Listening to his subordinates reporting the battle reports one by one, Liu Yu was filled with joy. After clearing his throat, everyone in Liu Yu's reconciliation said: "This battle has brought about the might of our great Han Dynasty, killed more than 10,000 Xiongnu cavalry, and even killed the Zuoxian King of the Xiongnu, forcing the Right Xian King to flee in a hurry. I will give this to the court and express the merits of the generals."

The generals in the tent bowed together and said, "Thank you, the prefect!"

After counting the battlefield, Liu Yu's army did not stop and went straight back to Jiuyuan. Just like when he went on the expedition, Ao Lie was still the vanguard and led his troops to the forefront. However, after this battle, only more than a hundred people were left behind Ao Lie. However, these more than a hundred people were elite among the elites, all of whom could be one or ten. In other troops, these elites were fully qualified to serve as low-level officers such as team leader and garrison leader.

On the way back to the army, something that was pleasant to happen. Tian Chou found Ao Lie and knelt up in front of Ao Lie for a long time. It turned out that Tian Chou was very grateful for Ao Lie's rescue of Hua Ling. He knelt in front of Ao Lie, and was grateful and lost. Ao Lie immediately made the decision to marry Tian Chou and Hua Ling. That night, hundreds of elite soldiers of Ao Lie came to Tian Chou's wedding. Everyone laughed and quarreled for a long time before they sent Tian Chou into the tent that served as a bridal chamber. When the newlyweds were in love, Tian Chou and Hua Ling were even more grateful to Ao Lie. They also strengthened Tian Chou's belief in following Ao Lie.

On this day, the vanguard troops led by Ao Lie rushed to a small village for a while on their way forward. After learning that this army was the vanguard troops that defeated the Huns, they warmly welcomed the soldiers and took out their wine and food to entertain the soldiers. After Ao Lie's command during this period, the elite soldiers had completely implemented orders and knew that what Ao Lie hated the most was the act of fishing and meat of the people. So they smiled and politely rejected the kindness of the people.

An old man in the village with white hair and beard and blushed face, saw the behavior of the soldiers under Ao Lie's troops, nodded in slightest and walked towards the entrance of the village with a smile.

After a while of rest, Ao Lie rectified the army and prepared to continue his departure. At this time, a soldier came over and bowed to Ao Lie with his fists and said, "Report to Major General, an old man was sitting on the stone bridge at the entrance of the village and refused to make way out, blocking our army's way." Ao Lie felt strange in his heart. Logically speaking, he led his troops to defeat the Huns, and the Han people should be very enthusiastic about him. How could anyone block his way?

With a strange look on his face, Ao Lie led his troops to the stone bridge at the entrance of the village. He saw an old man with a long hair and a childlike face sitting cross-legged in the middle of the stone bridge, as if he was closing his eyes to rest. The crutch in his hand was even cross-legged on his knees, blocking the already-not-wide stone bridge tightly. Ao Lie stepped forward and said politely: "Brother-in-law, I will lead my troops to leave. Please give up my way."

The old man sitting on the stone bridge seemed to have not heard it, and he still closed his eyes and rested calmly, without even moving a beard. Ao Lie raised his voice a little, "I'm sorry, my father-in-law, let me give way, Rong led my troops to leave." The old man still turned a deaf ear and sat steadily, without any intention of getting up. Ao Lie said in his heart: "Can this old man be deaf?" So he stepped forward a few steps, walked to the old man, gestured, and repeated: "Brother-in-law, we are leaving, please let you go down the road."

The old man suddenly opened his eyes, and the shiny light flashed in his eyes, returning to a turbid and unsightly state. He spoke, "Young man, I am not a deaf man. Why are you talking so loudly?"

Ao Lie's face turned red when he heard this, he quickly took a few steps back, bent down and bowed, and said sincerely: "Boy knew he was wrong and offended his father-in-law. But our army was about to leave, and I hope his father-in-law will give way." Hearing this, the old man stretched out his voice and said, "Oh——" Then he stood up, but accidentally slid the crutch in his hand under the bridge.

Seeing this, Ao Lie hurriedly ran under the bridge, picked up the old man's crutch, held the crutch in both hands and handed it to the old man, and said, "Young man was frightened and disturbed the old man." The old man smiled and said, "It's nothing, young man, after I sat for a long time, I was unable to move for a while. Can you help me get up?" Ao Lie took two steps forward, bent down, reached out to support the old man's arm, and helped the old man stand up. After the old man stood up, he sighed, "Oh, as old as he was, he became a burden. Young man, are you helping me back to the village?"

Before Ao Lie could answer, the elites under Ao Lie were reluctant. Ordinary soldiers did not dare to say anything in front of Ao Lie, but everyone had anger on their faces, obviously expressing dissatisfaction with the old man's repeated and repeated behavior. Others dared not say anything, but Lu Bu ignored those and couldn't help but snorted coldly.

Ao Lie hurriedly waved his hand to Lu Bu and signaled Lu Bu not to talk too much. Then he helped the old man back to the village. After Ao Lie sent the old man back and returned to the army, Lu Bu was the first to ask, "Second brother, why should you be so humble to an old man and a weak man?" Ao Lie knew that his elder brother's arrogance had started again, and explained patiently: "Brother, think about it, what does war depend on?" He was determined to explain for his elites, so Ao Lie turned his head and said to his subordinates: "You think about it, what does war depend on?" Lu Bu replied without thinking: "Of course the courage of those who were not generals." Ao Lie shook his head slightly when he heard this. Seeing that Lu Bu's answer was not recognized by Ao Lie, the soldiers said one after another--

"It's the commander who has the right command!"

"It's the finest clothing and weapons!"

"It's the courage to move forward!"

Seeing that everyone was almost said, Ao Lie said, "What you said makes sense, but they are all factors in winning the battle. But—" Ao Lie clenched his fist with his right hand, tapped his left chest hard, and continued, "But the most important thing is the hearts of the people. Since ancient times, those who win the hearts of the people have won the world. If there is no one to rely on the hearts of the people, where will our clothes and weapons come from? Where should our food and grass come from? Even, where will our soldiers be recruited?"

Listening to Ao Lie's words, the elites fell into deep thoughts. Yes, if they were not popular with the people, where did all this come from? If it weren't for all this, how could they win the battle?

Zhang Liao took the lead in understanding and bowed to Ao Lie: "I understand, thank you for your advice." Ao Lie nodded to Zhang Liao and asked his subordinates: "Do you all understand?" The elite soldiers raised their heads and looked at Ao Lie, their eyes full of admiration and admiration. As elite soldiers of the Han Dynasty, they had been fighting against the Huns on the border for a long time, and had long been cold-blooded and numb. They turned into pure war machines. Today, Ao Lie's words made them turn from war machines back into flesh-and-blood people. After all, they had their parents and family members, and they also changed from ordinary people to today's elite soldiers of the Han Dynasty.

The elites fell to the ground and said, "I understand."

After this incident, Ao Lie stepped onto Zhaoyexue Dragon Horse again and led his elite subordinates to the Jiuyuan County District.

Shortly after Ao Lie and others left, the old man who was helped back to the village by Ao Lie flashed out from behind a big tree. His movements were so agile that it was completely different from his old attitude just now. The old man stroked his long beard and said to himself with a smile: "What a favorite of the people will win the world. This boy is indeed extraordinary. It seems that my husband's robe can be passed on."

Ao Lie and others walked all the way, and a few days later, they returned to the Jiuyuan County Captain. After sending their severance back to the camp, Ao Lie pulled Lu Bu, Zhang Liao and Tian Chou and his wife back to the prefect's mansion together, arranged the residences of several people, and made an appointment to have dinner together in the evening.

Later, Ao Lie came to the back hall and was about to pay his respects to his mother, Mrs. Ao. I believe that since he went to war, my mother has not slept for a safe sleep? Now that he has returned from a great victory, the first thing he did is of course to pay his respects to his mother and to report peace by the way, so that his mother can feel at ease.

When he arrived outside the door of the master bedroom in the back hall, Ao Lie walked to the door and was about to knock on the door when he heard a sigh from inside. Mrs. Ao's faint voice sounded: "Yan'er, are you saying that Lie'er sneaked into the Hun camp alone, not only saving you, but also assassinated more than a dozen Hun officers in succession? Why is this child so bold? If anything goes wrong, can you teach me what to do?" Ao Lie was stunned when he heard this, Yan'er? Could it be Cai Yan? Well, I guess that's the case. When he met his father a few days ago, his father said that for the sake of safety, he had already escorted Cai Yan back.

Sure enough, Cai Yan's unique crisp and pleasant voice sounded, and she comforted Mrs. Ao: "Mother, if you saw the second son's majesty with your own eyes, you would definitely not be so worried. At the beginning, Yan'er was also extremely worried about the second son, but later the second son was invincible and powerful. The Huns could not hurt the second son at all." Mrs. Ao chuckled softly and said, "You, you know how to help Lie'er say something good to deceive my mother." Cai Yan seemed a little shy, with a hint of shyness in his tone: "Mother, look at what you said, why did Yan'er

Will lie to you." Mrs. Ao took Cai Yan's hand and said, "Yan'er, since you have changed your name to my mother, how can you still call me a second son? I hope you two couples get married soon." Cai Yan blushed when she heard this, and said in a low voice: "It's better to wait for the second son to come back." Mrs. Ao pretended to be angry, her face darkened, and said, "Why are you still calling me a second son?" Cai Yan's face became even more rosy, and her voice became more and more low: "Then, then wait for your husband to come back and discuss this matter."

Standing outside the door, Ao Lie suddenly felt that he was surrounded by huge happiness. Yan'er actually changed his words to be his husband! In a state of pride, Ao Lie forgot his identity as the eavesdropper, and accidentally touched the buckle on the door.

Mrs. Ao in the room stood up and asked to the door, "Who is there?" There was a hint of severity in her tone. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, she was very concerned about etiquette, so Mrs. Ao certainly didn't like the servants to eavesdrop on her conversation with Cai Yan. However, when the door was pushed open, the hint of severity in Mrs. Ao's tone immediately turned into a surprise: "Lie'er! You're back."

Ao Lie walked into the room with a embarrassed face, saluted and greeted Mrs. Ao: "Lie'er returned to the mansion this morning and settled the soldiers, and came to pay tribute to her mother." Mrs. Ao cried with joy, and two tears that looked like pearls slid down her face, but Mrs. Ao ignored her completely, hugged Ao Lie's head and hugged her in her arms, and cried in a low voice: "It's good to come back, it's good to come back. Your cruel father actually asked you to be a pioneer. He knew that my son was only ten years old!"

Ao Lie's already awkward face suddenly became even more awkward. He quickly patted the back of his mother's hand and said, "Mother, I am not ambitious enough to be old. Isn't the child back now? That, mother, Yan'er is still watching from the side."

After Ao Lie's reminder, Madam Ao realized that she had lost her composure. She let go of her simple hand holding Ao Lie, looked back at Cai Yan, who was blushing, and then she burst into tears and laughed: "It's my mother who lost her composure, Yan'er, don't laugh at him." Cai Yan waved her hand shyly: "Mother, what are you talking about? Well, husband, um, the second young master is back, you talk first, Yan'er has taken his leave." When Ao Lie was away, she didn't feel too embarrassed to call him husband, but now Ao Lie is standing in front of him, how could he say the word husband in front of him? So Cai Yan panicked and found an excuse to let go.

What a shrewd person Ao Lie is? How can you not see Cai Yan’s thoughts at this moment? But Ao Lie did not intend to let Cai Yan escape successfully, but instead planned to take this opportunity to completely take Cai Yan off. Seeing Cai Yan gently move his lotus steps and walk out of the room, Ao Lie grabbed Cai Yan’s sleeve and turned to Mrs. Ao and said, “Mother, look at the matter between me and Yan’er—” Mrs. Ao was a person who came here, so he naturally understood what Ao Lie said, and smiled and said, “Well, I’ll just inform Cai Lingjun now. When your father comes back, an engagement ceremony will be held for you.”
Chapter completed!