Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 685 Hidden dangers
After hearing Tian Chou's words, both Yuan Xi and Tian Yu looked surprised.

The first reaction in their minds was that it was impossible.

Because Cao Cao kidnapped the Emperor, although it is a great thing, if it is spread, it will definitely shock the world, but in this era, the speed of news transmission is actually very slow. If it does not go through special channels, even if it is a major event in the world, the news It is normal for it to take a year and a half to reach Youzhou from Sili.

Looking at Tian Chou's behavior, it was obvious that he had guessed something, but since he was living in seclusion in Xu Wu Mountain, where did he get the information from?

Yuan Xi thought for a while and tentatively said: "Before answering, I would like to ask you a question."

"Based on the latest news that I learned before, sir, what is Hanting like?"

Tian Chou replied: "What the common people know is that the envoy sent troops to defeat Li Jue and Guo Si, and together with Cao Mengde and Wenhou, they welcomed the emperor to Huaicheng. The emperor made the envoy and general Zilong the governor of the state and the general of the four directions."

Yuan Xi thought to himself that this happened more than a year ago, which was normal in terms of time. Moreover, the fact that he and Zhao Yun were granted the title was an extremely important event for Youzhou. It was not surprising that it was spread to Tian Chou's ears.

But this news is obviously not the big event Tian Chou said.

He wondered: "Then why do you think that the Han Dynasty will change?"

Tian Chou shook his head and said, "Actually, I'm not sure either."

"But although I am not talented, I am somewhat famous. Including Benchu ​​Gong, I have recruited ordinary people and made you take charge of Youzhou for several years, but I ignored you. So I thought for a time that I made you right. I'm not interested."

"In the past few years, I have also paid attention to the envoy's actions. He fought in the south and north, and blocked the foreign barbarians. It can be said that he is famous and powerful in the world."

"Your Majesty's conquest was so fast, and he had so many powerful advisers. I thought that your Majesty didn't really care about Xu Wushan."

"But today the envoy suddenly arrived here, bringing with him many soldiers and horses. He is obviously preparing to use troops. But here in Xu Wushan, why is there any need to dispatch the Youzhou Iron Cavalry?"

"So I'm trying to guess whether some big changes happened that caused your thoughts to change."

"After much thought, the person who can influence the envoy's presence is either the neighboring Jizhou or Sili. So with this casual remark, it seems that I really guessed it right?"

Yuan Xi and Tian Yu smiled bitterly at each other. It turned out that Tian Chou was just guessing, but his reasoning process was well-founded, and Yuan Xi did take the opportunity to expand in Youzhou because the situation between Sili and Jizhou could not be opened for a while. On point, Tian Chou did guess right.

Moreover, among the changes in Jizhou Sili, Tian Chou asked the emperor instead of Yuan Shao, which obviously showed that he was more concerned about the Han court.

Yuan Xi spoke up: "Sir, your guess is very accurate. Changes have actually occurred in both places."

"Dong Benchu ​​passed away."

Tian Chou's expression changed, and he immediately bowed solemnly in the direction of Jizhou, "I was originally a good friend of Marquis Liu, but he passed away suddenly. I really didn't expect it."

In fact, Tian Chou was extremely surprised. Yuan Shao was actually in his prime. He never expected that Yuan Shao would die at this time!

But what does the other party mean when he says something happened in both places?
Yuan Xi said slowly: "As for what happened in Huaicheng, it was even more tragic."

"Cao Mengde, together with Ma Teng, Han Sui and Yuan Shu, attacked Huaicheng, killed Marquis Wen and a group of ministers, and took the emperor hostage and fled to Yanzhou."

"What!" Tian Chou was shocked and lost his composure for the first time. He stood up suddenly, "How is this possible!"

"Could it be that you are lying to me?"

Yuan Xi sighed: "Sir, do you think I need to lie?"

Tian Chou's face was uncertain, "No, I'm sorry, I just can't believe that Cao Mengde would do such a thing!"

"As far as I know, he was a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty. He rebelled against Dong and was loyal to the Han Dynasty. How could he do this?"

Yuan Xi thought to himself that from the perspective of later generations, Cao Cao would have fallen out with the emperor several years earlier because of the incident of the belt edict.

On the one hand, this was certainly because Liu Xie wanted to take action first and was discovered by Cao Cao. On the other hand, it was also because Cao Cao was in a very bad situation because of his own targeting, so he was forced to attack in advance.

He opened his mouth and told what Cao Cao had done in Huaicheng. Tian Chou was dumbfounded when he heard this. Finally, Yuan Xi said: "After Wen Hou and his wife and Dong Cheng's father and daughter were released, Cao Cao also killed Kong Rong, Zhong Ji, Wu Shuo, Wang Zifu, Wu Zilan, Zhang Miao brothers and other ministers were all wailing and screaming in Huaicheng."

Tian Chou said in despair: "How could it be? How could it be like this?"

Yuan Xi looked at Tian Chou's expression and thought that in future generations Tian Chou would not even respond to the call of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shang as the general of Jizhou. However, when Cao Cao came to conquer, he gave him a county magistrate, and Tian Chou became an official.

It seems that Tian Chou has always had a good impression of Cao Cao?
But now that Cao Cao has done such a thing, what will Tian Chou think?

But in fact, Yuan Xi didn't have much hope. In the fifth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao fell out with Liu Xie due to the Belt Edict incident, and it was seven years later when Tian Chou was conquered. Tian Chou couldn't have known anything at that time, right?

He didn't say anything, and just looked at Tian Chou quietly. After a while, Tian Chou came back to his senses and realized that he had lost his composure. Then he sat back down and apologized to Yuan Xi.

He also knew that Yuan Xi must have a purpose for coming here this time, so he said: "Your Majesty, do you want Chou to serve you when you come here?"

Yuan Xi did not beat around the bush and said straightforwardly: "Exactly."

"I heard that your husband traveled thousands of miles to the Han Dynasty in the desert outside the Great Wall and returned successfully, so I guess that your husband must have found a unique way to find the way. Youzhou is now surrounded by barren mountains and swamps to the east, and the marching road is difficult to find, so Xi Xi I would like to ask you, sir, to come out and help me." Tian Chou heard this and said, "Your guess is correct. I am indeed on this path and have some experience."

"But now the people in Xu Wushan are all refugees, and their situations are different. If I leave, I'm afraid Xu Wushan will be in chaos."

Tian Yu said: "Forgive me, the people in Xu Wushan today are all gangsters, right?"

"He is in Youzhou, but he is not listed in the household registration. If this is the case in Youzhou, and no one pays taxes, how will the envoy deal with himself?"

After hearing this, Tian Chou turned to Tian Yu and replied: "What the general said makes sense."

"I admit that many of these people are entering Xu Wushan to escape war and taxes."

"There is no government here, and the people rely solely on the dozens of commandments I proposed."

"If you feel that they should collect taxes, at worst you can send a county magistrate, and we will definitely obey your order."

Yuan Xi saw that Tian Chou said this, but his tone was obviously conflicting, so he smiled and said: "Mr. Zitai's thoughts, in fact, I have the same feelings since I met the people of Xu Wushan."

“This paradise-like place is indeed an ideal place for people to live and work in peace and contentment.”

"But Mr. Wentai thinks this place can continue to be like this forever?"

Tian Chou hesitated, "Why not?"

Yuan Xi smiled slightly, "After I came in, I roughly counted the number of people. There are at least 2000 people in Xu Wushan now, right?"

"And judging from the bridges, farm tools, and goods sold, there are at least blacksmiths, carpenters, cobblers, stonemasons and other craftsmen. It is obvious that Mr. Wentai put a lot of effort into it."

"But judging from the population, the number of these craftsmen will not exceed a hundred. There are only three or five craftsmen of each type. Not to mention there are many other types of craftsmen, which are even harder to find."

"If these craftsmen's skills were lost or an accident occurred, Xu Wushan's life would be much worse, right?"

Tian Chou hesitated and said, "I will let people become apprentices and pass on the skills."

After hearing this, Yuan Xi said: "These are not the most important things."

"Xu Wushan's biggest weakness is his inability to resist foreign enemies."

"They are enjoying peace, but if a foreign enemy invades one day, should the Youzhou Army protect them?"

Tian Chou subconsciously said: "As the people of Youzhou, they should naturally"

He immediately realized that he had just admitted that the people of Xu Wushan were gangsters and were quite resistant to taxes, but now he was going around in circles and was stuck in the other party's words!

As the people of Youzhou, they have to pay taxes, and the army will protect them. On the other hand, if they don't pay taxes, can the army abandon them?
Yuan Xi struck while the iron was hot: "Sir, you should also understand that as the lord of Youzhou, I naturally have the responsibility to protect the land and serve the people."

"But the food that soldiers need to eat is definitely not a small amount, so a large part of it still has to come from taxes."

"These taxes, of course, come from the people. To put it bluntly, these are the expenses paid by the people in order for the army to protect themselves."

"But I don't think there's anything wrong with this. Nothing happens for no reason in the world. If you want to profit from it and don't pay any price, wouldn't it be unfair to the person who paid?"

Tian Chouqiang said to himself: "The Xianbei Wuhuan in Guan are all very friendly to Xu Wushan. I don't think they will be disadvantageous to Xu Wushan."

Yuan Xi said calmly: "With all due respect, sir, what you are talking about is only a small group of people. Others, such as Xianbei outside the pass, will burn, kill and loot when they enter the Han territory. Do you think they will bypass Xu Wushan?"

"And to take a step back, most of the forces that have befriended Xu Wushan are interested in Mr. Xu Wushan's reputation. But if Xu Wushan doesn't have Mr. Xu in the future, will they still be so friendly to Xu Wushan?"

Tian Chou thought deeply, and he found that what Yuan Xi said seemed to be true!

He said solemnly: "Is your Majesty coming here to bring Xu Wushan under your control?"

Yuan Xi saw that the other party was already wavering, so he struck while the iron was hot: "Yes, and no."

"If you, sir, can do me a small favor, it will be fine for Xu Wushan to maintain the status quo."

"But I would like to remind you, sir, that precepts cannot replace Han law. As Xu Wushan's number of people increases in the future, the good and the bad will definitely be mixed, and the situation will become more complicated. What if something outside of the precepts occurs?"

"It's just one or two things. If things go on like this, it will inevitably accumulate and cause trouble. Your reputation will be damaged, and the people of Xu Wushan will gradually lose confidence in this kind of life."

"Not only that, there are barbarians outside the Guan Guan who are always harassing people outside the Guan, as well as forces with ulterior motives inside the Guan. If they reach out to Xu Wushan, sir, do you think you can stop them based on your reputation alone?"

After hearing this, Tian Chou's face became uncertain. What Yuan Xi said was also what he was worried about. He thought to himself that at least in the next few years, this situation would be unlikely to happen, but what about in the future?
Thinking of this, Tian Chou Surong paid homage to Yuan Xi: "Chou would like to ask the envoy for advice, what should I do?"

(End of this chapter)