Three Kingdoms: Liu Bei seeks the master and seeks to conquer the world

Chapter 213 Stopping with static, Liu Bei sits firmly in Qingzhou

Cao Cao claimed to support Liu Xie, the emperor of Chang'an, and threatened to crusade against the false emperor in Zhuocheng, which broke the balance of the forces in the states south of the Yellow River watching the two emperors compete.

Zang Hong followed Cao Cao closely and sent Zhang Chao to pay tribute to Chang'an. Liu Xie named Zang Hong Mu of Yanzhou, General of Anbei, and Marquis of Juancheng.

Lu Kang, the prefect of Lujiang, and Hua Xin, the prefect of Yuzhang, also called on the counties to support Chang'an.

Zhou Xin, the governor of Danyang, and Zhou Ang, the former governor of Jiujiang, supported the emperor of Zhuocheng.

Tao Qian, governor of Xuzhou, at the suggestion of Wang Lang, sent Wang Lang to pay tribute to Liu Xie to express his support for the Han Dynasty in Chang'an. Then he was appointed as the prefect of Kuaiji.

Zhang Xian, the prefect of Lingling, refused to accept Liu Biao and chose to support the emperor of Zhuocheng.

Yuan Shao ordered Zhang Xian to be the prefect of Changsha, supervising the two counties of Lingling and Guiyang.

Shouchun.

Zhou Xin and Zhou Ang were ordered by Yuan Shao to temporarily give up fighting with Yuan Shu.

The Zhuocheng angel appointed by Gongsun Zan also arrived in Shouchun via Qingxu.

Seeing the seals of the Hussar General, the seal of the Inspector of Yangzhou, and the imperial edicts issued by the governors of Yan, Yu, Yang, and Xu, Yuan Shu's expression was uncertain, which made Gongsun Ji, who announced the edict, feel uneasy.

"General Gongsun has great admiration for General Yuan, and has always believed that General Yuan is the most outstanding member of the Yuan family in Runan."

"Therefore, General Gongsun asks His Majesty to grant General Yuan the title of General Hussars, Inspector of Yangzhou, Governor-General of Yan, Yu, Yang, and Xuzhou, and ranks above Yuan's chariots and horses in Yecheng."

If it's another person, it is estimated that he has accepted the order to thank you.

However, Gongsun Ji's words pierced Yuan Shu's heart like a sharp knife.

Anger grew from the bottom of Yuan Shu's heart.

Yuan Shu's gaze towards Gongsun Ji also became unswerving.

"The Jade Seal of Chuanguo was originally found in Luoyang!"

"Why didn't Gongsun Zan think of this general when he stole the jade seal of the Chuan Kingdom and pretended to be the king of Hejian Liu Kai to proclaim himself emperor?"

"I will set myself up as the governor of Yangzhou, why should Liu Kai be canonized?"

"Governors Yan, Yu, Yang, and Xu's soldiers and horses are even more ridiculous. Could it be that Tao Qian, Cao Cao, Zang Hong, and Liu Yao will hand over the soldiers and horses to this general after receiving the order?"

"General Hussars, who is under the Great General, is this worthy of this general?"

"Even the little concubine of Yuan Shao was raised as Marquis of Ye, and Gongsun Zan wouldn't even give him a Marquis of the county?"

Yuan Shu asked several times, and Gongsun Ji was a little stunned: "General Yuan wants a county lord, and General Gongsun will definitely give it to him. When I go back and report to General Gongsun, I will definitely give General Yuan a county lord."

Yuan Shu was even more dissatisfied: "If the general doesn't ask, isn't Gongsun Zan going to ask the general to be a marquis?"

"Go back and tell Gongsun Zan that the general can be given to him, but he wants to make him the chief minister, Kaifu, and holiday, and also the governor of the six prefectures of Yan, Yu, Yang, Xu, Qing, and Ji."

"And, Marquis of Jiujiang!"

Gongsun Ji was stunned: "General Yuan, the highest feudal marquis is the county marquis."

Yuan Shu glared: "Nonsense! There have been county marquises since Emperor Wudi. What do you mean the highest is a county marquis? Under the Tweet order, how many county marquises would this general not know?"

Gongsun Ji was speechless.

You also know that it is the county lord under the Tweet order.

Only the clan members of the Han Dynasty are eligible!

Even the clansmen of the Han Dynasty now have no county marquis.

"General Yuan, that is the previous dynasty—" Gongsun Ji tried to dispel Yuan Shu's thoughts.

However, how could Yuan Shu wave his sleeves like Gongsun Ji wanted, and said, "It's fine if you don't make him Marquis of Jiujiang, but you can make him Duke of Jiujiang."

Gongsun Ji was completely speechless.

It's not even good to be named a county marquis, but you still want to be named a county prince?

"General Yuan, there is no precedent for this county magistrate." Gongsun Ji said bravely.

Yuan Shu laughed loudly: "Who says there is no precedent? Wasn't Wang Mang the Duke of An Han who was bestowed the title in the past? Go back and tell Gongsun Zan that he will directly seal the generals Da Sima, Duke Jiujiang, General Hussars, and Yangzhou Mu. the right to festival."

"No more words!"

"If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will force you out of the city."

Yuan Shu ordered people to directly seize the seal, ribbon and imperial decree, and then expelled Gongsun Ji from the city.

"Yue Zhang, why do you have to ask for Da Sima and Duke Jiujiang? In this way, won't you offend Gongsun Zan again?" Huang Yi didn't understand Yuan Shu's reaction.

Now that Yuan Shu is surrounded by enemies in Shouchun, it is the time when he needs allies.

Yuan Shu sneered: "Great Sima, Duke of Jiujiang, General Hussars, Shepherd of Yangzhou, Kaifu, and Fake Festival, with these titles, when I drive out the rebels in Yangzhou and establish myself as King of Jiujiang in Shouchun, Gongsun Zan will also have to give it to me I will send Wang Yin to Shouchun!"

"As for offending Gongsun Zan? So what if you offend him?"

"With the current situation, he has to agree to all the king's requests!"

Yuan Shu perfectly explained what it meant to be a lion with a big mouth open.

If there is the Jade Seal of Chuanguo, let alone supporting a new emperor, Yuan Shu would dare to proclaim himself emperor.

Now he only asks for a little Duke of Jiujiang, and Yuan Shu is already saving face for Gongsun Zan.

Yuan Shu has been thinking about the future since he lost the Jade Seal of Chuanguo.

Until by chance, Yuan Shu looked through the history books and saw Wang Mang proclaiming himself the Duke, and then from An Hangong, Prime Minister, false emperor to the last real emperor.

Thus, Yuan Shu had an idea for the future in his heart.

When Cao Cao announced his support for Liu Xie in Chang'an, Yuan Shu knew the opportunity had come.

Gongsun Zan of Yuan Shao was fighting fiercely with Dong Zhuo in the north of the Yellow River. Now that Cao Cao openly declared his support for Liu Xie, it was bound to break the balance of waiting and watching among the forces in the south of the Yellow River.

as predicted.

The statements of Lu Kang, Zhou Xin, Zhou Ang, Zang Hong, Tao Qian and other prefects and governors made the forces south of the Yellow River a threat to Yuan Shao Gongsun Zan.

Gongsun Zan also came to deliver the imperial decree as Yuan Shu expected.

"Send a letter to Zhou Xin and Zhou Ang in advance. Since I am the Hussar General, Yangzhou Mu, Governor Yan, Yu, Yang, and Xu Sizhou's soldiers and horses, they have to obey my orders." Yuan Shu didn't have the slightest dissatisfaction. adapt.

Zhou Xin and Zhou Angben were Yuan Shao's old officials, and now the situation forced them to give up fighting with Yuan Shu for the time being.

Zhou Xin and Zhou Ang did not object to Yuan Shu's request.

After all, in Yangzhou, if you don't obey Yuan Shu, you have to fight with Liu Yao, Lu Kang, Hua Xin and others who support the emperor of Chang'an, and then fight Yuan Shu at the same time.

That would be an enemy.

The chaos in Zhuzhou, including the assassination of King Chen and Liu Chong, spread to Linzi city one after another.

The series of turmoil caused by Cao Cao's first declaration of support for Liu Xie also aroused heated discussions in Qingzhou's civil and military affairs.

The core of the discussion in Qingzhou is not whether to support Liu Xie or Liu Kai, but whether to express his position to Liu Xie.

For nearly a month, this discussion has not stopped.

And Zheng Ping, who is not a driver, left Linzi City temporarily on the grounds of inspecting the counties after Cao Cao claimed to support Liu Xie.

Didn't return until today.

"Brother Xianmou, Qingzhou is the only state whose position has not yet been clarified among the prefectures. Are you really not persuading the envoy to express his position to the Son of Heaven?" Mi Heng, who had returned from Chen State, was quite puzzled by Zheng Ping's intentions.

Hua Ji also stood aside, also not quite understanding Zheng Ping's intentions.

Zheng Ping chuckled and asked back: "Zhengping also agrees to express his position to the emperor?"

Mi Heng said: "Of course! If you don't express your position to the emperor, the emperor and the officials in Chang'an will mistakenly think that the emperor supports Liu Kai in Zhuocheng."

Hua Ji also said: "I also think that showing the emperor's superficial position can make the emperor trust the envoy more. After all, the true love can only be seen in times of crisis."

Zheng Ping was noncommittal to the words of Mi Heng and Hua Ji, but asked: "Zhengping, Zicheng, who entrusted the envoy, Qingzhou Mu and Zhenxi General?"

Without hesitation, Mi Heng said, "Naturally, it was conferred by the emperor of Chang'an."

Zheng Ping chuckled: "Since it was granted by the emperor of Chang'an, why bother to express our position to the emperor?"

Mi Heng was puzzled: "Brother Xianmou, how can this be superfluous? If Qingzhou does not express its position, how can the envoy be granted the title again? How can the five prefectures of Yan, Xu, Yu, Yang, and Jing understand the envoy's position?" position?"

Hua Ji also said: "Cao Cao took the lead in expressing his position. Not only was he promoted from the governor of the state to the governor of the state, but also became the general of Zhengdong and Xuhou; Zang Hong, the governor of Yanzhou, was named Yanzhou Mu, General of Anbei, and Marquis of Juancheng; He was also named Xuzhou Mu, General Anton, and Marquis of Tancheng."

"The rest of the prefects and prime ministers who expressed their support have also received awards."

"Isn't it a pity that Shijun didn't get any benefits?"

Zheng Ping's gaze shivered slightly: "You really think so?"

Mi Heng and Hua Ji nodded one after another.

Zheng Ping's tone was a little more cold: "I don't persuade the emperor to express his position to the emperor, because the emperor does not need to express his position to the emperor at all, let alone send envoys to Chang'an to ask the emperor for a reward!"

"The emperor is the guide for the ministers. The emperor can give the rewards of the ministers, but the ministers cannot ask for them."

"The two of you have been with me for a long time, why can't you even understand this?"

"Or, you have forgotten what is the outline of a monarch and his ministers?"

Mi Heng and Hua Ji felt ashamed.

They really only considered the benefits of expressing their position to Liu Xie, but they didn't think about asking for benefits like this, which was already a provocation to the monarchy.

As the governor of the state, it is his duty to support Liu Xie. When did he need Liu Xie's favor to support him?

If so, what is the difference between a rebel and a power minister?
Zheng Ping got up: "My wedding date is approaching. From today onwards, the two of you should temporarily put aside your official duties and go to Beihai to handle this matter for me."

"Kong Beihai is good at etiquette and law. When you go to Beihai, don't be arrogant and ask for advice."

Mi Heng and Hua Ji were even more ashamed.

Zheng Ping's wedding is still a few months away, and this is for Mi Heng and Hua Ji to learn rituals from Kong Rong.

After reprimanding Mi Heng and Hua Ji, Zheng Ping came to see Liu Bei.

Liu Bei has also been troubled by civil and military disputes for the past month.

Because of Zheng Ping's absence, Liu Bei has never expressed his attitude, leaving civil and military to argue.

Seeing Zheng Ping's arrival, Liu Bei's mood instantly relaxed a lot, and he said with a smile, "Xianmou, you are always absent at every critical moment."

Zheng Ping also said with a smile: "If I am here, it will be even more difficult for the Lord to make a choice."

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Liu Bei invited Zheng Ping to sit down: "It's just that I didn't expect that after Xianmou left for nearly a month, this debate is still not over."

Zheng Ping sat down and said: "Everyone is imagining for the envoy, there is no malice."

Liu Bei sighed: "I also know that everyone has no malicious intentions, so I just let it go. Now that Xianmou is back, this debate should be over."

Zheng Ping shook his head: "There's no rush! Shijun just maintain this hesitant appearance."

Liu Bei asked in surprise, "Why?"

Zheng Ping restrained his expression slightly: "After Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao supported the new emperor, Yuan Shao promised Cao Cao the post of General Conquering the South, but Cao Cao did not expressly express that he would be the General Conquering the South."

"It shows that Cao Cao's previous strategy was the same as that of the envoy, who wanted to wait and see the changes and wait for the opportunity."

"If Dong Zhuo wins, we will unite with the states to attack Dong Zhuo; if Dong Zhuo loses, we will unite with the loyal minister Qing Jun in Chang'an."

"However, Cao Cao suddenly broke with Yuan Shao and was the first emperor to express his support for Chang'an."

"The one who drew up this strategy for Cao Cao was Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao, a sage from Yingchuan who was recently recruited by Cao Cao."

"Guo Jia's strategy is aimed at the envoy!"

Liu Bei's eyes were serious: "Aiming at me? Could it be that Cao Cao hates me for sending troops to rescue Xuzhou?"

Zheng Pingdao: "In terms of ambition, Cao Cao, like the envoy, wants to help the Han Dynasty and calm the world; but in terms of reputation, Cao Cao is not as good as the envoy."

"If Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao Gongsun Zan really decide the outcome, then no matter whether it is to unite the states to attack Dong Zhuo or to unite with the loyal minister Qingjun in Chang'an, it will only be the envoy, not Cao Cao, who can achieve such a great feat."

"Cao Cao is not a generation willing to be inferior to others, and his governance philosophy is also different from that of the envoy. He will not tolerate such great achievements being obtained by the envoy. From now on, he can only live under the envoy."

"Cao Cao wants to seize the opportunity and win the king, so he has to support the emperor of Chang'an first."

"In ancient times, there were thousands of gold to buy horse bones, and Cao Cao was a good steed for thousands of miles. Seeing that Cao Cao was willing to attach himself, the emperor of Chang'an would naturally give Cao Cao high-ranking officials and rich salary to win Cao Cao."

"And the rest of the state and county ministers saw that Cao Cao had benefited, so naturally they refused to lag behind."

"There are no worthless men under a great reputation. Guo Fengxiao destroyed the balance of the struggle between the two emperors with just one strategy, and also made the states and counties south of the Yellow River very different from each other."

"Amazing."

Liu Bei frowned: "Yanyu and Xudu were changed from the governor to the governor of the state. Qingzhou can't easily intervene. The secret edict given to me by the emperor is of little use."

"This Guo Fengxiao is really cruel."

Liu Dai was the governor of Yanzhou. It was a violation of Han law to attack and kill the prefect of Yanzhou. Liu Bei can be ordered to attack Liu Dai.

Zang Hong, Cao Cao, and Tao Qian have all become state shepherds, so even if they killed the prefects of various counties and states, it is still legal, and Liu Bei cannot use this as a reason to crusade.

Zheng Ping said with a smile: "Where there is gain, there will be loss. The post of state pastor has too much power. This will make Zang Hong, Cao Cao and Tao Qian more unscrupulous in placing cronies and eliminating dissidents."

"After internal purges, conflicts will extend outside the state."

"You can't manage the state's internal affairs, but you can manage the state's foreign affairs!"

"Just wait and see!"

"When this group of state shepherds who ask the emperor for rewards are self-reliant and unwilling to listen to the emperor's orders, the envoys who have not asked the emperor for rewards will become the most trusted people of the emperor."

"Braking statically and responding to all changes without changing, you can be invincible."

Liu Bei was overjoyed: "The words of conspiracy are very suitable for me! If you ask the emperor for a reward at this time, isn't that just taking advantage of the fire?"

(End of this chapter)