Liu Jin nodded, his eyes carefully sizing up Zhao Yun, liking him more and more the longer he looked.
Just his heroic and powerful demeanor made him somewhat infatuated.
It was like Cao Cao in history looking at Guan Yu, full of admiration, but unfortunately, what he got was only an experience or fragments.
Zhao Yun, standing in front, sensed some unusual gazes and slightly looked up, seeing Liu Jin’s fervent eyes, his body couldn't help but tremble.
He was a bit puzzled in his heart why his Marquis’s gaze was so strange.
After observing for a moment, Liu Jin returned to normal, a smile on his face, and slowly said!
“You are Zhao Yun of Changshan, Zhao Zilong.”
Zhao Yun heard this, cupped his hands, and said loudly!
“Reporting to the Marquis, I am indeed Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong.”
Liu Jin nodded, and his voice continued!
“I have heard, Zilong, that your martial arts are extraordinary and you are brave and skilled in battle, which has made me cherish your talent.”
“Would you be willing to join my command as a Qu Junhou, to guard the border and protect the people of Great Han?”
Zhao Yun heard these words and rejoiced in his heart, not expecting the Marquis to value him so highly and promote him immediately.
That was a Qu Junhou of six hundred shi, much higher than his current Tuncun, so it was impossible not to want this official position.
However, his resolve remained firm, and he glanced at Cheng Pu beside him, seemingly asking for his opinion.
After all, he owed his promotion in the army to Tuncun to Cheng Pu, and one should not forget the source of their blessings.
Even if he were to follow Liu Jin, he would need Cheng Pu’s consent.
If Cheng Pu did not agree, he would rather give up the position of Qu Junhou and continue to stay in the army, serving as a Tuncun under Cheng Pu.
Cheng Pu saw that look, stroked his beard, and laughed heartily!
He naturally understood Zhao Yun's thoughts, and this alone made him very satisfied.
At the very least, his Marquis extended an olive branch, and with the temptation of an official position, Zhao Yun was not swayed, but instead sought his opinion.
Clearly, he was a loyal and righteous person, who had not forgotten the one who promoted him.
No wonder his Marquis wanted to recruit this person; he indeed had outstanding qualities and was worthy of being entrusted with important tasks.
He grinned and said with a chuckle!
“Zilong, you don’t need to worry. I am the Marquis’s retainer, and we are already one.”
“Now that you are favored by the Marquis, it is your good fortune.”
Zhao Yun heard this and was stunned, a little surprised in his heart.
He hadn't expected his General to be Liu Jin’s retainer.
Cheng Pu saw Zhao Yun still in a daze and quickly said!
“Zilong, what are you still hesitating about? Why don’t you pay your respects to the Marquis?”
Zhao Yun heard this, snapped out of his daze, looked at Liu Jin, and bowed respectfully, saying!
“Yun thanks the Marquis for the kindness of promotion; I will certainly bear it in mind and never forget it.”
Liu Jin heard this and nodded with a smile; although he didn't acknowledge him as his lord, his words weren't particularly passionate.
But he already knew in his heart that Zhao Yun greatly recognized him, it just wasn't outwardly expressed, and he wasn't good with words, but rather kept it hidden in his heart.
As long as he treated Zhao Yun well, over time, he would surely recognize him as his lord and never leave him in this life.
After a few casual chats here, he had Zhao Yun lead his hundred-plus men to join his army, serving as a Qu Junhou.
A day passed in a flash!
Liu Jin did not stay long in Changshan Commandery; after bidding farewell to Cheng Pu, he led his civil and military Generals and set off again.
Over a thousand cavalry and three thousand soldiers, escorting dozens of carriages, traveled west.
After several days of travel, they entered the territory of Yanmen Commandery in Bing Province.
On the official road, the army slowly advanced, and inside one of the carriages.
Liu Jin lifted the curtain and looked at the surrounding area of Yanmen.
His brows furrowed, and with a look of emotion on his face, his voice came out!
“Ever since entering Yanmen, the roads have been desolate, villages are few and far between, and I haven’t even seen many people.”
Tian Feng, sitting nearby, heard this, stroked his beard, and slowly said!
“Yanmen Commandery is close to the north, and occasionally it is harassed by these bandit Hu. Many common people, in order to survive, move their families elsewhere.”
“Therefore, after the Marquis takes charge of Yanmen, he must find a way to stabilize the hearts of the people within the three commanderies and give them a sufficient sense of security.”
“If they are frequently harassed by these Hu, I fear that the people of these three commanderies will be completely wiped out.”
Liu Jin heard this and nodded slightly, having already prepared himself mentally before coming.
If he wanted to realize his ambitions, he naturally had to experience these things.
After all, being stationed in Yanmen had its pros and cons; the disadvantages were very obvious, which were facing the threat of the Hu and the dwindling population.
But the advantages were also evident: being far from the imperial court and unrestricted, allowing for a great deal of autonomy.
He could acquire a large number of prairie warhorses and high-quality soldiers.
Furthermore, the civil and military authority of the three commanderies would all be under his management. For an ambitious person like him, this was a very rare opportunity.
At the very least, he could make early arrangements, control a certain territory and military forces, laying a good foundation for his future struggle for天下.
Moreover, he could also increase his prestige and standing in the world by conquering the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and other tribes.
In the future, it would be very easy to recruit ambitious individuals to serve him.
Instead of being like now, although he had been enfeoffed as a Marquis and appointed a General, his foundation was ultimately weak.
For some prominent clans, aristocratic families, and powerful magnates, he was ultimately not worth pledging allegiance to.
And in this era, anyone with a bit of knowledge and cultural literacy came from aristocratic families and powerful magnates.
Therefore, if he wanted to contend for天下 and have enough civil officials and strategists to assist him, he had to accumulate prestige, so that everyone in the world would know that he was worth following.
Thus, the army continued along the official road for another two days, finally arriving at Yin'guan County, the administrative seat of Yanmen Commandery.
There were quite a few more villages around, and even people walking on the official road.
But upon seeing the vast army arrive, they all showed panic and prepared to flee in disarray.
Only when they clearly saw the Han banner did these common people relax, but their faces still showed lingering fear.
Because these people had already developed a psychological reaction: whenever they saw an army arrive, their first thought was that it was the Hu coming to plunder, and their subconscious reaction was to flee.
Soon, the army arrived at the city gates, and the officials within the commandery all came to the city gate to respectfully welcome them.
They had already known beforehand that Liu Jin, the Prefect of Yanmen Commandery and Defender General of the Xiongnu, was coming to take up his post.
The carriage quickly stopped, and Liu Jin, surrounded by the crowd, stepped down. He saw a large number of officials gathered at the city gate.
The leader was a middle-aged man, dressed in a gray robe, with a bronze seal and yellow ribbon at his waist, an official of six hundred shi.
The middle-aged man, along with the commandery officials, all stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said loudly!
“We respectfully greet the Prefect.”
