Dragon map of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 868 Lobbying
Jingzhou, State Shepherd's Mansion.

"Your Majesty, our Yizhou is very sincere to get along with Jingzhou in harmony, but the final decision is still in the hands of your Majesty. Whether you want to fight or make peace, it is up to you to decide!" Yi Yi Ji said with a smile.

"Yiji, are you threatening someone?"

There was a gleam of coldness in Liu Biao's eyes: "Do you believe that our Jingzhou dare not fight with you?"

The so-called negotiations have been going on for three days.

But little progress has been made.

Yizhou clearly wants to eat Xiangyang, but Xiangyang is the main city of Jingzhou.

This is where the dilemma arises.

"of course not!"

Yi Ji said solemnly: "My lord accepted the surrender of Hou Qing for the sake of the stability between Jingzhou and Yizhou, not to underestimate the envoy. In the past, Yizhou was under the leadership of the first envoy, and there was indeed a rift between Jingzhou and Jingzhou. , but now times have changed, our Minghou Mansion likes to live in peace!"

"Being in peace?"

Liu Biao sneered: "Since we live in peace, then you Minghou's mansion clearly knows that Xiangyang is the most important city of our Jingzhou, so why do you want to invade? Although our Jingzhou has few soldiers and weak soldiers, we can still protect one side's peace. If Yizhou is willing to be a bad guest , I am not afraid to fight!"

"Liu Shijun think twice!"

Yiji cupped his hands and said: "Although there are disputes about the matter of Xiangyang, it is not easy to hurt our two families. Now that Xiangyang has established itself as a county, we are just following the people's will. I think Lord Jun should also know that there is no one in the north now. Peaceful!"

The north is not peaceful, this sentence is the key.

Yiji is reminding Liu Biao.

If Liu Biao really wants to send troops to take back Xiangyang, then the Mu army will not be polite. At worst, the interests of Xiangyang will not be used, and the wolves will be led south to attack Jingzhou together with Nanyang Huangfusong. It will not be a simple local war at that time. .

"Good courage!"

Liu Biao clenched his fists slightly, his eyes were cold, he stared at Yi Ji, he had seen many people who were not afraid of death, but this was the first time he had seen such a person who was not afraid of death.

Threatening himself under his nose, even if Mu Longtu came, he would not be so bold.

"Please make me think again, Yizhou is indeed rude in this matter, but since Hou Qing is willing to surrender, it can save one party from war, and the Minghou Mansion will do its part. As for Jingzhou, the Minghou Mansion is willing to apologize for it!" Yi Ji said. Unchanged, so indifferent.

"Apologize?"

Liu Biao suppressed all the resentment again.

Up to now, it is impossible for him to take back Xiangyang, unless there is a war, but the war is not because he is cowardly, but Jingzhou really does not have this ability now. After the war, Jingzhou needs more than two years of rest.

Otherwise, if the fight continues, Jingzhou will have to recruit ordinary young men to the battlefield, which will sharply reduce the population of Jingzhou, and at the same time affect the development of Jingzhou's economy and people's livelihood.

The essential……

Another point is the threat from Jiangdong.

In the past, he was not afraid of Jiangdong, it was because the Jiangdong tiger had not yet risen, but now the Jiangdong tiger is dominating Jiangdong, and the soldiers have advanced to the land of Chaisang, the purpose is self-evident.

For this reason, he even had to dispatch the two navy generals, Huang Zu and Cai Mao, to guard against changes in the east.

If there is another war with Yizhou at this time, there is no guarantee that Jiangdong will not take the opportunity to enter. Once Jiangxia is also caught in the flames of war, then the entire Jingzhou will be in a land of no peace.

So at this time, if the Minghou Mansion is willing to give in and get face back, even if Xiangyang is lost, he can only knock out his teeth and swallow blood in one gulp. This is how form is better than people.

"Then you Yizhou, how are you willing to pay for this gift?" Liu Biao asked calmly.

"Jingzhou is willing to give three thousand pieces of gold, eight thousand pieces of brocade, and four hundred horses as an apology gift to Yizhou. Yizhou and Jingzhou, establish friendship, and we will be able to spend time together in the future!" In fact, Yiji is very heartbroken, and Yizhou is not rich, but this time the strategy is to spend money to buy peace of mind.

After all, the purpose of Yizhou is to go south, and he doesn't want to get entangled with Liu Biao in Jingzhou. If possible, he would rather spend money to buy a Taiping.

"You are generous!"

Liu Biao didn't really care about three thousand pieces of gold, eight thousand pieces of brocade, but more about four hundred horses. It was a fact that Jingzhou lacked cavalry. For Jingzhou, four hundred horses were definitely an immeasurable number.

He pondered for a while, stopped haggling, and said calmly: "I need to think about this matter!"

..................................................................

Xiangyang City.

With Zhou Cang leading the army into Xiangyang, the overall situation has been settled. Even some families with different intentions in the city dare not take the lead at this time. You must know that the blood at the entrance of the market has not yet been drained. .

Xiangyang has become a little quieter.

In the city, Dongcheng, Zhuoxingli, in a simple courtyard.

"That's all for today's Analects of Confucius. When you go back, you should study hard!" The middle-aged man, who was about forty, stood up from the bamboo mat in a long robe, picked up the ruler, and said in a deep voice to the six or seven students in the hall. He said: "Students who failed to complete their homework yesterday, stand up!"

"gentlemen!"

Two little boys about ten years old stood up and stretched out their hands obediently.

"This is a lesson!"

The middle-aged man exerted himself, hitting each of them five feet before speaking.

"Follow the teacher's instructions!"

The two students looked a little poor, but they respected their teachers and respected middle-aged men.

"get out of class has ended!"

The middle-aged man said.

A group of students packed up their books and left.

Today, although papermaking and printing are controlled by a few people, they have not been completely popularized in the world, and some places are not even available, but even so, it has changed the plight of many scholars to a large extent.

Jingping's study is open to the world, buying and selling books, earning huge cultural profits, but it can also benefit many poor scholars.

"Husband!"

A woman came out from the inner hall, carrying a meal, and said softly: "It's time to eat, today the Song family brought a bunch of bacon, which means Shuxiu!"

"This Song family is not rich, so don't accept gifts from it in the future!"

The middle-aged man said softly.

"I'm a little worried about Heng'er!" The woman said softly, "Is there any news from the family?"

"Heng'er insists on joining the family mansion, let him go!"

The middle-aged man said softly: "He has read poetry and books, and he is mostly a civil servant in the army, and he doesn't know how to kill at the front line. Moreover, he is such a big man, what is his future? Stop worrying!"

"How can I not worry!"

There were tears in the woman's eyes: "I went home to fight against Yizhou in Jingzhou City the year before last. The sons of the family died and injured, there were fifty or sixty sons, and there were no eyes for swords and guns on the battlefield. If Heng'er had something wrong, how could I live?" go down!"

The middle-aged man let out a long sigh: "It's my fault, too. If it wasn't for my incompetence, the family's expropriation of young and strong soldiers would not have spread to our family!"

Back then, he saw a bright future, but he fell overnight. The Mu family succeeded and the Mu family lost.

Over the past few years, he has thought a lot about it. When he was in Wuyin, he took in Mrs. Mu. Whether it was right or wrong, he can't say now.

Tuk tuk tuk! ! ! !

At this time, there was a knock on the door outside.

"It's already evening, who's coming?" The middle-aged man frowned.

"Maybe it's You Heng'er's family letter!"

The woman's eyes lit up, and regardless of the etiquette, she went to open the door of the front yard in person, but the people outside the door made her a little disappointed. They were not from the family. If it was a letter from home, it must be delivered by the housekeeper of the family. of.

"Who are you looking for?"

the woman asked softly.

"I'm looking for Cai Mengting!" Li Yan fought for many years, but the evil spirit all over his body could not cover up his scholarly temperament, and he still looked gentle and refined.

"Square?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Cai Tu put down the bowl and chopsticks, peeked out from inside, and was slightly surprised to see the familiar face.

"Please come in!"

Although the woman was not a woman from a wealthy family, she knew how to be courteous. After inviting Li Yan in, she went to pour two glasses of water. If the tea was expensive, there was no tea in the house, so she could only serve guests with water.

In the courtyard, Cai Tu and Li Yan knelt and faced each other.

"I haven't seen you for so many years, how did you find Brother Zhengfang?" Cai Tu asked with a smile. Li Yan was his staff back then, and he also regarded him very highly. Turned upside down.

These years, even if he has not been an official, he is still a descendant of the Cai family. He has his own news channel. He usually gathers with some friends to talk about the affairs of the world. He also knows the general situation of the world.

The Mu family marched to Guanzhong from Nanyang, fought back from Guanzhong, entered Hanzhong, and plundered the southwest, large and small. After countless battles, many people on the battlefield were famous all over the world.

For example, Mujing's number one military division, a man of wisdom and wisdom, is rumored to have the wisdom of gods and ghosts.

For example, the number one fierce general of the Mu army, side by side with Lu Bu under the command of the Xiliang army, Huang Zhong, the king of Nanyang swords who is known as the world's most powerful warrior.

Li Yan is not ranked high.

But he also has a small reputation. After all, as the deputy general of the Violent Bear Army, he has a great reputation in Jingzhou, Nanyang.

"My lord has ordered me to be the prefect of Shu County. I will return to Jiangzhou immediately and rush to Chengdu. I pass by here. I have some military affairs to deal with. Suddenly there is an old friend, come to visit!"

Li Yan said with a smile.

"Old man?"

Cai Tu was slightly bitter: "I really forgot, we are still old friends!"

Li Yan was just a low-level official back then, between an official and an official, not even a legitimate official, but now, he is a prefect of one side, ruling a county, but he himself has fallen to this point.

"The lord has never forgotten brother Meng Ting. When the former master was dormant in Wuyin, if brother Meng Ting hadn't protected him, he might not have been able to enter the hall!" Li Yan said in a deep voice: "It's just that brother Meng Ting left with his seal back then. , the lord also sent someone to look for you, but they couldn't find you!"

"When the former lord was in charge of the court, he did not treat me badly. After the first lord went to the north, Liu Jin, the prefect, took over as the prefect of Nanyang. The whole party is subject to liquidation, although I can't help it, I still chose the family, abandoned the former master, and left with my seal!"

Cai Tu said in a deep voice: "I have to blame the First Master for this matter, and I have no face to see the Young Master!"

"The general situation is so, the young master didn't blame you!"

Li Yan said in a deep voice.

He sighed, and said: "It was very difficult for us to survive back then. Everyone in the world already believed that Mrs. Mu would never be able to turn around. If there was no young master's fortitude and bravery, he could fight a way out of desperation. Maybe take Hanzhong, we have all died in Guanzhong!"

"I'm afraid you didn't come just to tell me this!"

Cai Tu narrowed his eyes: "Brother Zhengfang, you and I have a little friendship, so if you have anything to say, just say it!"

"I haven't seen you for many years, but I'm overwhelmed!"

Li Yan admitted his narrow-mindedness generously, and said in a deep voice: "I am ordered by my lord, please Meng Ting to come out to help!"

"I?"

Cai Tu frowned a little: "What can I do to help Marquis Ming?"

"How does Meng Ting view the dispute between Jingzhou and Yizhou?"

"You mean Xiangyang!"

"Exactly!"

"The Marquis of Ming is determined. It doesn't matter if we fight a war. Liu Jingsheng has no hope of regaining Xiangyang, and he lost the support of the people in the battle in Xiangyang City. Otherwise, the previous rebellion would not have been thunderous and raining!" Cai Cai Tu thought for a while, and then said softly: "It's just that the people in Xiangyang will not submit to Yizhou. It is not difficult for Ming Hou to get Xiangyang, but the most difficult thing is to govern Xiangyang!"

"It seems that although Brother Meng Ting lives in the courtyard, his heart cares about the world!"

Li Yan said with a smile.

"Although the family taboos some relationships and abandons me, they have studied poetry and books for more than [-] years, and they are not reconciled!" Cai Tu smiled bitterly. In front of Li Yan, he did not hide how dissatisfied he was. Care, Li Yan understands himself, and he also understands Li Yan. There is no need to do anything extra about things that cannot be concealed. The opportunity made the family believe again that it is still possible to become an official in the future.

"Then if Brother Meng Ting is allowed to govern Xiangyang, would Brother Meng Ting be willing?"

Li Yan asked.

"what?"

Cai Tu's eyes widened, a little unwilling.

"My lord has already established Xiangyang County, which governs Xiangyang City, including Xinye City, a total of eleven counties, but there is the enemy of Nanyang in the north, and Jingzhou in the south. It is difficult for ordinary people to control. In addition, the people of Xiangyang are quite For exclusion, the same decree, outsiders and our own people, have different effects!"

Li Yan said in a deep voice: "So after thinking about it, my lord, I want to conscript brother Meng Ting to become an official. Although brother Meng Ting has no experience in governing, he was also a talent who walked from the local area to the prefect's mansion step by step, and now he is hiding in the mansion. After studying hard for several years, there will be more growth!"

"I'm from the Cai family!" Cai Tu said quietly.

Li Yan remained silent.

"Perhaps Minghou meant to use someone from the Cai family, so I am the most suitable!" Cai Tu reacted quickly, and quickly got some inspiration from Li Yan's face, and quickly figured out the matter up.

"One party's prefect, if you get it, there must be advantages and disadvantages!" Li Yan said softly: "Brother Meng Ting's decision depends on your own choice. That's all for now, I won't say more!"

Li Yan took out a jug of wine at this time and said: "The official business is over, let us get drunk next time. Brother Meng Ting is my teacher. He taught me a lot in Wuyin back then. In Yan's heart Always remember!"

"I can't teach you anything. In terms of intelligence, talent and learning, and ability to judge the situation, you have advised me. If you hadn't been the one who advised me back then, how could I have found a way to get the best of both worlds in the chaos? The former master was beheaded when he attacked Wuyin!"

Cai Tu said with a wry smile.

He was in a mess, he had two glasses of wine to reassure his mind, and it was good, so he drank with Li Yan, and it was not until the third watch that Li Yan left Cai Tu's small courtyard.

They drank a lot.

However, Cai Tu did not fall asleep that night, so he sat quietly in the courtyard for a whole night...

On the second day, after my wife got up, she felt a little heartbroken when she saw this scene. While cleaning up the mess on the desk, she scolded: "Mr. What should I do if I just sit here after suffering from the wind and cold..."

"Ma'am, I'm afraid we will turn against the family!"

Cai Tu said calmly.

A decision has been made.

Opportunity is not easy.

He doesn't want to miss it.

Even if the family is in front, it cannot block his way.

(End of this chapter)