Three Kingdoms: I rely on system loopholes to survive

Chapter 199 Attendant Zhu Zhan
Dong Cheng was indeed as anxious as Zhongping thought.

In the past, in Luoyang and Chang'an, Liu Xie could only rely on Dong Cheng, who held military power and was a relative of the country. Whenever he encountered major issues that could not be decided, he almost always discussed it with Dong Cheng alone.

The feeling of being able to influence the emperor's decision is really wonderful.

Occasionally, Dong Cheng felt that he could not understand Zhang Rang and Dong Zhuo, but he was different from these people. As the uncle of the state, in a sense, he and Liu Xie naturally stood together and shared their interests. identical.

Their relationship was supposed to be unbreakable until Tanehira showed up.

If the king is weak, the ministers are strong. If Liu Xie is always in a weak position, as Liu Xie's most trusted minister, the more power he can divide and control, the less power Liu Xie will have.

The more isolated Liu Xie is, the more he can only rely on him.

Dong Cheng did not deny that he had had the idea of ​​imitating Yi Yin Huo Guang's story, but it was not that he wanted to abolish the throne again, but that he wanted to control the court so as to better assist the young emperor.

After all, the ministers above the court have different thoughts and complicated interests, and it is impossible to know them all. However, if one person can suppress them with force and command hundreds of officials, it will prevent these ministers from having any different ideas and obediently perform their duties. , run the government.

Although he also had selfish ambitions and ambitions to seize power, he felt that Liu Xie was harmless.

This kind of mentality that Zhong Ping inadvertently revealed means that in his eyes, Liu Xie is no different from ordinary people, except that they are distant and distant.

Dong Cheng seemed to accept Zhang Xi's relief on the surface, but in fact he was still worried and did not dare to take Liu Bei lightly.

Ever since Liu Bei came to court for the first time and Liu Xie introduced him to the side hall as a ceremony to honor uncles and nephews, Dong Cheng had a faint sense of crisis.

He saw Liu Xie getting closer and closer to Liu Bei, until the gift of clothes happened... Among the three people who received the clothes, he was the only one who was not summoned, and the clothes he was given were not given by Liu Xie himself, but were sent to him. It was delivered to his house.

As long as they are close to each other, that's it. What if one day they become enemies?
Thinking about it, in Zhong Ping's mind, there would be no difference between killing Liu Xie and killing a commoner. At most, he just considered the price to pay for the cleanup.

Dong Cheng couldn't help but be paranoid. He thought about it for a long time in his mansion, but decided to go to Zhang Xi to discuss the matter.

In Dong Cheng's view, what this represented was actually terrifying.

Therefore, although Dong Cheng was hostile to Zhongping, he had no worries that he would one day be replaced by Zhongping.

In the final analysis, his greatest advantages over the officials in the dynasty were, firstly, his blood relationship as "uncle", and secondly, the military power in his hands.

"Your Majesty seems to want to promote Liu Bei... Liu Bei went to see that kind of Bo Heng late at night a few days ago. I don't know what these two people are planning in private. I really can't rest assured."

Given the personalities of Liu Xie and Zhong Ping, if it weren't for their status as monarchs and ministers, they probably wouldn't have had any intersection in the first place.

Thongpei is completely different.

On that day, he went to Zhang Xi's house and discussed Liu Bei with Zhang Xi. Zhang Xi only said that Liu Bei was a guest general after all and had no foundation in Xudu. He also had no reputation as a young general and was not something to be afraid of. He asked Dong Cheng not to Be anxious.

It's not that Zhongping doesn't respect Liu Xie, but all his help and rescue for Liu Xie are due to the friendship between Beimang and Chang'an, and Liu Xie's identity as a child in need of help.

Zhong Ping doesn't understand people's hearts. He seems to know etiquette and observe etiquette, but in his eyes there is no distinction between dignity and inferiority.

Dong Cheng trusted Zhang Xi very much. The two of them had known each other for a long time. One looked down on Zhong Ping and the other couldn't stand Zhong Ji. In Dong Cheng's heart, they had the same hatred and the same spirit.

Now that Liu Xie is alienated from him for no reason, how can he be so angry?
What's more, Liu Xie now revealed that the people he was close to were Zhong Ping and Liu Bei, which made Dong Cheng even more uneasy.

Dong Cheng can say that before Liu Xie took the initiative to call "I" to Zhongping, Zhongping had never truly regarded Liu Xie as the king of a country.

But Liu Bei is different. Liu Bei may really pose a threat to his status.

There are many people in history who were so close to the emperor that they were like friends and elders when they got along with each other. However, most of these people knew their status as courtiers and always treated the emperor with heartfelt awe and respect.

He was far more afraid of Liu Bei than Zhong Ping.

Zhang Xi set up a small stove under the window and boiled tea on it. There were three or two branches of plum blossoms in the narrow-necked pottery vase on the small table. Perhaps it was not the time yet, and most of the branches were decorated with buds. There were only buds on the branches. A few wisps of tea aroma emerge from the "gululu" tea.

"Zhong Boheng's every move is being watched by Cao Cao. It's too late to avoid suspicion. How could he be so stupid as to make friends with Liu Bei at this juncture?"

Zhang Xi disagreed, opened the tea cup and added a spoonful of ginger slices into it.

"If you are really afraid of Liu Bei... Zhang Jin of Jiaozhou recently went to court to request military assistance from the imperial court. You might as well recommend him to the court earlier."

Zhang Xi didn't think there was anything noteworthy about Liu Bei. Dong Cheng was just afraid that Liu Bei and Liu Xie, the uncle and nephew, would be too close and would take his place.

When the emperor and his officials were being chased by Li Jue, he had seen that Dong Cheng wanted to take advantage of the chaos to murder Empress Fu.

Although Dong Cheng did not succeed, he could still guess a bit of the other party's thoughts.

Zhang Xi was not the first to know about Dong Cheng's intolerance, but he never thought that Dong Cheng was so ignorant and only focused on Liu Bei... It was too stupid. What should really be paid attention to was the relationship between Liu Xie and Liu Bei. What kind of thing is right?

The treasures Liu Xie rewarded came from the inner treasury, and they were all compared with the slips and slips. It was almost impossible for that thing to be mixed with the treasures given.

The most likely possibility is that it is hidden in the jade belt of the reward.

Zhang Xi had seen Dong Cheng's brocade robe. The clothing was a bit thick, and if it contained something frivolous, it would be extremely difficult for outsiders to see it.

The cloth that Liu Xie tried his best to send out of the palace... must be some kind of secret edict.

"Why do you think your majesty wrote the secret edict?"

Dong Cheng didn't speak, so Zhang Xi had to take the initiative to ask.

"Secret edict?"

Dong Cheng was still thinking about what reasons to use to send Liu Bei to Jiaozhou.

After all, in a place like Jiaozhou, there is no difference between the past and the exile. If he made a strong demand, wouldn't he appear aggressive and make Liu Xie worried? It is still necessary to give Liu Bei some sweetness and do enough to save face.

Zhang Xi's words were very pointed. Dong Cheng was just stunned for a moment and quickly realized what he said.

"Give Zhong Boheng a secret edict..." He tugged at the end of his beard and thought.

Whenever this edict is given to others, they will feel that Liu Xie cannot bear Cao Cao's dictatorship and wants to contact loyal ministers in the court to assassinate him.

But what I got was Zhongping.

"Is it possible that you want that kind of Bo Heng to contact other princes and resume the work of King Qin in the past?"

Dong Cheng put down his hand, with a hint of joking in his tone.

Zhang Xi didn't smile, he frowned, as if he was really considering this possibility.

Dong Cheng gradually calmed down the disdain on his face. He compared today's Cao Cao with Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and others in the past - it stands to reason that it is impossible for Zhong Ping to succeed... Zhang Ji's face suddenly appeared in his mind.

Zhongping is indeed an evil person and cannot be treated with common sense.

Maybe Liu Xie really thinks this way.

"Except for Liu Bei, it seems that only Xu Shao, Xi Liu, and Sun Qian have gone to see Zhong Ping these days. If His Majesty really asked him to contact people in the court, he should take action now."

Zhang Xi added: "Let's wait a few more days to see whether this kind of Bo Heng dismissed the courtiers privately, or whether he sent an envoy on purpose."

"No matter what His Majesty thinks, we should help Zhong Boheng. This is the duty of ministers."

Dong Cheng was still on Liu Xie's side. It was a fact that he didn't like Zhong Ping, but with a traitor like Cao Cao in front of him who manipulated power and despised the emperor, what couldn't he accept if he temporarily put aside his prejudices to help Zhong Ping?
Thinking this way, he couldn't help but secretly sigh at his broad-mindedness.

A few days later, the unrest in the Southern Barbarians in Jiaozhou was brought up again during the court meeting.

Some people proposed to Zhennan General Yang Ding, but there were many objections in the DPRK.

Later, there were suggestions from Li Xian, the nephew of Zuo Ling, the governor of Nanjun, Yang Feng, the general of Xingyi, and Wei Jie, the infantry captain. Some ministers even believed that Jingyang and Yangzhou were adjacent to Jiaozhou, so Liu Biao and Yuan Shu should send troops to assist Zhang. Tianjin.

Dong Cheng saw that the selection of the reinforcements was still undecided, and he was thinking about the time. He was about to signal the people around him to propose Liu Bei, when he saw one of the officials coming out to salute.

That person is Zhu Zhan, the servant.

Zhu Zhan used to be attached to Yang Biao. He rarely spoke in the court and did not like to interact with others, so he had no sense of existence. Today, he spoke out uncharacteristically, which attracted the attention of the people around him.

"I think Liu Bei, the general of the left, can take on this responsibility."

Dong Cheng immediately went to see Zhang Xi.

Why didn't he know that Zhang Xi was still related to Yang Biao's people?

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xi also looked confused and looked towards where Dong Cheng was. His eyes were obviously asking whether this person was acting under his orders.

The two looked at each other, and both understood that Zhu Zhan's words were not the other's instructions. They were both puzzled and secretly wondered whether the man recommended Liu Bei out of his own heart or under the instigation of others.

"Dan Meng, the prefect of Jiuzhen, died due to rebellion. There is no official to govern this place. I thought that General Zuo could take over the post of prefect and enter Jiaozhou to quell the rebellion."

Zhu Zhan glanced at Cao Cao's expression as he spoke.

Naturally, Liu Xie didn't want Liu Bei to leave Xudu and go to Jiaozhou, but how could it be his turn to make the final decision on the affairs of the court?
He asked Cao Cao's opinion in a low voice: "What do you think Sikong?"

Cao Cao smiled and said: "General Zuo is also in charge. Why doesn't Your Majesty ask General Zuo if he has this intention?"

Liu Xie responded with a smile: "What Sikong said is true."

He followed his instructions and went to see Liu Bei. Cao Cao and Liu Xie were talking loudly, and Liu Bei heard clearly. He stepped forward and saluted: "I am willing to relieve your majesty's worries."

"even so……"

Liu Xie hesitated, wondering about Cao Cao's attitude in his mind, trying to get some clues from his appearance.

However, there was almost no change in Cao Cao's expression, which made Liu Xie feel unable to start.

"I have only been with General Zuo for a few months, and it's really hard to let go..."

Halfway through his words, he saw Cao Cao's eyes narrowing slightly, thinking it was Cao Cao's refusal. He secretly resented it and quickly changed his words: "But the southern barbarians in Jiaozhou killed the officials of the court, did not respect the king, and harmed my people. I deeply hate it and should punish Zuo Cao." The general entered Jiaozhou to quell the chaos, restore order, and preach enlightenment to bring peace to the people."

Liu Xie also knew how difficult the environment in Jiaozhou was. Liu Bei didn't know whether he would be able to come back after leaving. He felt guilty in his heart, so he added: "Cangwu County has no chief, and it is also managed by General Zuo."

Seeing that Cao Cao did not object, Liu Xie secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The army's baggage was handled by Xun Yu himself. Xun Yu's character was trustworthy, so he didn't have to worry.

The envoy sent by Zhang Jin had not yet left. Liu Bei accepted the order. When the dynasty dispersed, Liu Xie took him to the side hall to talk with the envoy and discussed the situation in Jiaozhou in detail.

Zhongping didn't think that Liu Xie had a plan to subvert things, but when he went to court today, he felt that Liu Xie probably didn't know that the secret edict was in Liu Bei's belt, otherwise he wouldn't have let Liu Bei go so easily.

Judging from Liu Xie's appearance, he seemed to really think that the secret edict was in his hands.

Does Liu Xie really have such superb acting skills? Or is there another truth behind it?

Zhong Ping followed Zhong Ji, thinking and thinking, his thoughts turned to Zhu Zhan.

He had met this man before in Zhongji's official office. He only knew that he was taciturn and that he was the same servant as Zhongji. He had never heard of any official close to this man.

...I don’t know when this Zhu Shizhong became a pawn of Dong Cheng and Zhang Xi. He was really well hidden. Let’s ask Uncle Xun tomorrow to see if he knows the details of this person.

Zhong Ping is only wary of Dong Cheng and Zhang Xi. Liu Bei has not yet left Xudu. He is not willing to create any more complications. One day, he will suffer inexplicable losses because of this sudden appearance of a person...

(End of this chapter)