Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 684: The name of a righteous man
Yuan Xi led his soldiers and followed the Tian brothers and sisters all the way to the center of Xu Wushan. They walked for almost half an hour, bypassing several hills and seeing hundreds of houses along the way, but it seemed that they had not arrived yet.

Seeing that the girl seemed tired from walking, he asked the soldiers to lead a horse, but the girl looked shy and said she couldn't ride.

Yuan Xi said a few words to the soldier. The soldier understood and gave some instructions to the girl. The girl climbed onto the horse tremblingly, but the soldier held the reins and pulled the horse to move.

The girl was extremely frightened at first, hugging the horse's neck tightly and not daring to move. Later, she gradually discovered that the horse was extremely docile, then she stood up with a red face and looked around curiously.

As the team moved forward, they met more and more people along the way. Maybe there was something going on today, so many people were going out from home, either carrying packages or cloth, and some even pushed flat carts with bundles on them. holding a struggling pig.

Yuan Xi was a little strange and asked the girl, "What are they doing there?"

The girl covered her mouth and smiled, "There is a market today, and everyone is going to exchange things."

Hearing the word "market", Yuan Xi's memory of his childhood was instantly recalled, and he said, "If you are on your way, come and take a look."

The girl raised her finger and pointed in the direction. Yuan Xi asked Sun Li to lead the way, and everyone walked along the road. Pedestrians on the road were very frightened at first when they saw the soldiers coming. But when they saw the young man and girl leading the way, their faces showed relief. Some even He greeted the two with a smile.

Yuan Xiqi said: "You two seem to be very popular."

The girl said: "That's natural. My brother and I are both from the Tian clan. In the fourth year of Chuping, Liu Hou was killed by Gongsun Zan. The head of the family cried bitterly in front of Liu Hou's grave and hated Gongsun Zan, so he took our family to move to Xu Wushan."

"The first half year was extremely difficult because of land reclamation. There were venomous snakes and mosquitoes everywhere. Several people died because of this."

"At that time, many people backed down and wanted to go back. The head of the family overcame everyone's objections and personally led people to trek through the Xuwu Mountain for a long time before they found the suitable place to live at their feet."

"Although we encountered many difficulties later on, our lives got better day by day. When the homeless people around me heard about it, some families came to seek refuge. Gradually, more and more people came to seek refuge."

Yuan Xi listened and nodded slightly. Opening up wasteland is not easy. Tian Chou was able to do this. It seems that he is not only highly respected among the Tian family and can convince everyone, but also has the ability to open up wasteland and lead everyone to survive.

The two of them were talking, causing the young man in front to look at him frequently. He had heard of the vicious tiger's reputation, but he didn't think it was kind to his sister. However, the other side had many soldiers, so he could only worry now.

After walking for a while, the sound of lively people came. In the distance was a large piece of flat land. Yuan Xi glanced at it and saw a bustling crowd, stopping to watch in front of the endless stalls on both sides of the road.

Yuan Xi asked the soldiers to stop and took Tian Yu and others there. He saw that there were many goods on the stalls on both sides, from herbs to furs, from grain to silk, from fresh fish to dried meat, from honey to pottery. There were even specialties from beyond the Great Wall, which amazed Yuan Xi.

He said to Tian Yu: "There are thousands of people in Xu Wushan, but judging from the goods, there are quite a few craftsmen."

Tian Yu also agreed: "It is true that Tian Zitai can manage this place like this, which is really extraordinary."

After hearing this, the girl looked proud. Just as she was about to speak, two people came from a distance, walked to the front of Yuan Xi Pier and cupped her hands and said, "The master of the house heard that the envoy was coming, and sent a villain to guide the way. Please."

Yuan Xi nodded and asked the two of them to lead the way, but they turned to the east. After bypassing a mountain pass, Yuan Xi saw someone waiting in front of the door of a small courtyard on the opposite hillside from a distance. .

When Yuan Xi and others approached, the man took a few steps forward and bowed to Yuan Xi: "I have seen the envoy in Tian Chou, a common man."

Yuan Xi saw that the man looked quite young, and was about 30 years old. He was immediately surprised and said, "Are you Tian Zitai?"

No wonder he was surprised. The man in front of him was young and in the prime of life. Yuan Xi had preconceived ideas and thought that since Tian Chou was the head of the family, he must be quite old and very prestigious, but he didn't expect that he was so young!
He turned over and dismounted, helped Tian Chou, who was hunched over, and said with a smile: "Zitai's reputation has spread far and wide. When I see him today, he is really extraordinary."

Tian Chou said calmly: "Thank you very much for your compliment. Chou just did something trivial."

Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Mr. Zitai is too humble. Seeing such a scene in Xu Wushan, he must be a great talent. No wonder Benchu ​​Gong Sanlian asked him to serve as an official twice."

After hearing this, Tian Chou said: "Thank you for your love. It's just that Chou is self-aware and can barely live as a village man. But if he becomes an official, he will be embarrassed by his big job."

Yuan Xi listened to Tian Chou's tone and thought that this person was indeed difficult to convince. Yuan Shao asked him to be an official several times, but he was rejected. This shows that he is a very independent person.

Tian Chou led Yuan Xi and others into the small courtyard. Yuan Xi looked around and found that several thatched cottages inside were covered with soil from the walls to the roofs, and there were traces of smoke and fire on them.Looking at the appearance of the house, Yuan Xi guessed that the frame should be made of wood or branches first, and then the soil was poured in. After it dried, firewood was piled under the wall to harden it. The earth house made in this way was extremely hard. , the roof is covered with a layer of branches, and the top is covered with thatch straw to divert water.In this way, even if it rains heavily for many days, the house will not collapse due to water soaking in the soil.

In the future, Yuan Xi's later civil servants could not help but marvel at how difficult it was for Tian Chou to achieve this level of work with the limited tools at hand in such a harsh environment.

Tian Chou led Yuan Xi into the house. There were several straw mats spread on the ground inside. The two sat opposite each other. Tian Chou bowed down and said, "I didn't know that your envoy was here. I couldn't welcome you from a distance. I hope you'll forgive me."

Yuan Xi also returned the greeting and said: "I came here in the name of Mr. Mu, and what I see now is amazing. I really live up to my reputation."

Tian Yu bowed and said, "I have given you such praise."

Both of them had their own thoughts, but neither one wanted to speak first, so they started talking casually. Yuan Xi heard Tian Chou's age and found that he was born in the second year of Jianning (169 AD), and he was only 28 years old now.

However, Tian Chou became famous very early. He was from Wujing County, Youbeiping County. He was a local tycoon, good at studying and fencing, and was quite famous. He was recruited by Liu Yu at the age of 22.

Tian Chou's most famous deed is that when he was conquered by Liu Yu, he was ordered to send an envoy from Youzhou to the Han court in Chang'an.

But the journey was far away, and there were wars and wars all along the way. It was a near-death experience, so that when Tian Chou set out, Liu Yu personally came out to worship the road god and see Tian Chou off.

Tian Chou took more than 20 people from his family to Juyongguan, left the border fortress, and went directly to Shuofang County along the Yinshan Mountains. They followed the path and traveled thousands of miles, passing through the control of foreign forces such as Wuhuan, Xiongnu, and Xiqiang. dangerous area, finally arrived in Chang'an and completed the mission.

After the imperial court learned of his deeds, they were extremely shocked and issued an edict to appoint Tian Chou as the Cavalry Commander. Tian Chou believed that the emperor had just returned from exile and had not yet settled down. He could not bear such an honor and favor, so he refused and refused. The Sangong Mansion also recruited him at the same time. Tian Chou also did not accept it.

At this time, Liu Yu had already started a war with Gongsun Zan. Liu He was detained by Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao successively. After Tian Chou learned about it, he hurried back, from Chang'an to Luoyang, passing through Sili, Yanzhou, Jizhou, and then into Youzhou, but when he arrived, , Liu Yu had been killed by Gongsun Zan.

Tian Chou cried bitterly in front of Liu Yu's tomb. Gongsun Zan was furious after hearing this and detained him for punishment. Tian Chou reprimanded Gongsun Zan face to face. At that time, Gongsun Zan wanted to kill Tian Chou, but Tian Chou's reputation was too great and Gongsun Zan needed to win people's hearts, so he had to kill Tian Chou. Let go.

So in the end Tian Chou led his tribe to live in seclusion in Xu Wushan, and his reputation gradually spread. At that time, Tian Chou was the most important righteous man in the world, and he was ordered to go thousands of miles to the Han court, and his loyalty to Liu Yu not only made him famous throughout the world, but also in Youzhou. Tribes such as the Wuhuan, Xianbei and other tribes in Guannei came here to offer gifts.

Moreover, Tianchou's name is very strange. The word "chou" represents field and fiefdom. It is a very big name. Since ancient times, few people have dared to name it with this word.

This character is similar to Yuan Xi’s character Xi. They are both characters that have rarely been used in people’s names since ancient times.

Of course, what Yuan Xi is most interested in is Tian Chou's path-finding ability. He can't find the right direction on thousands of miles of vast routes outside the customs, and he can also find water and food in time. This ability is really precious in this era.

Even so, Yuan Xi did not feel that he could easily persuade the other party. Tian Chou's reputation should be much greater than his official position, otherwise he would not refuse the appointment of high-ranking officials from the Han court and Yuan Shao.

What makes Yuan Xi even more troubled is that although Yuan Shao and Liu Yu have a good relationship, it is very likely that Tian Chou's loyalty to the Han court is extremely special.

But what Yuan Shao did showed that his behavior was not completely loyal to the Han Dynasty. Therefore, Yuan Xi, who is also a member of the Yuan clan, came to visit and was not rejected, which actually surprised Yuan Xi.

Of course, if Yuan Xi has soldiers in his hands, he can also use force, but forceful melons are not sweet. Only when Tian Chou is willing to serve can he exert his maximum ability.

While Yuan Xi was thinking about how to speak, Tian Chou said: "I heard that the young master killed Gongsun Zan in Yijing and avenged Liu Hou. Chou is very grateful. Please pay homage to Chou."

Seeing Tian Chou bowing deeply and saluting him, Yuan Xi returned the courtesy with a wry smile, thinking that Tian Chou was really loyal to Liu Yu.

Tian Chou raised his head and looked directly at Yuan Xi, "As the lord of Youzhou, you have to travel all the way to see Chou, a mountain villager, in person. This makes me really scared."

"Chou also roughly guessed what the envoy was doing, but before that, Chou knew some news from the outside world and wanted to confirm it from the envoy."

Yuan Xi was confused and said, "Mr. Zitai, please tell me."

Tian Chou looked at Yuan Xi and asked, "Did something happen to the Han court?"

(End of this chapter)