At the end of the Han Dynasty: a stingy husband from his hometown

Chapter 245 Negotiations break down, causing trouble to the east

Tan County, in the city, three brothers reunited after a long separation.

"Pfft!"

After Zhang Fei saw Liu Bei, his eyes filled with tears, and then he knelt on the ground and remained silent.

Liu Bei's eyes were also wet. He stepped forward to support Zhang Fei, hugged him tightly in his arms, and cried: "I thought before that I really had to say goodbye to Yide Tianren!"

After saying this, the two brothers hugged each other and cried.

Guan Yu stood beside him holding the Qinglong Yanyue Sword, and he also felt his nose was sore.

The two reunited after a long separation. After venting their emotions, Liu Bei hurriedly pulled Zhang Fei to Zhou Qi and Xi Zhicai and said, "If it hadn't been for the planning of the general and Xi Zhicai, it would be really difficult for you and me to get along with each other." See you."

After speaking, Liu Bei immediately informed Zhang Fei of their speculations and plans.

Zhang Fei already respected scholars. After learning the details, he admired Xi Zhicai even more and hurriedly stepped forward to thank him.

Xi Zhicai does not take any credit, he is extremely humble.

Zhang Fei also solemnly thanked Zhou Qi, but Zhou Qi just smiled slightly and said: "It is my duty to save De, so why do I need to say thank you?"

After this incident, the alliance between Zhou and Liu became closer, and Zhou Qi knew that he had gained the favor of Liu Bei's generals.

But in the battle last night, Xi Zhicai planned to defeat Yuan Jun, capture Yuan Tan alive, and capture more than [-] prisoners. It was definitely a great victory.

Coupled with Zhang Fei's safe return, the soldiers and people in the city suddenly rejoiced.

Yuan Jun camped in the camp, and the commander camped.

Yuan Shao looked at Yuan Tan who was kneeling on the ground and suddenly asked: "Have you ever seen Zhou Ziyi?"

Yuan Tan replied: "The general visited me personally before leaving."

"Humph!"

Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao's face darkened when he heard the title "General", and then he snorted coldly.

Zhou Qi's so-called position of general was just a title conferred by the southern puppet court, and Yuan Shao would not recognize it at all.

By calling Zhou Qi this way, doesn't Yuan Tan recognize the legitimacy of the southern court in disguise?
Hearing his father's cold snort, Yuan Tan's heart suddenly tightened. He knew that he had said something wrong, and hurriedly said: "My child made a slip of the tongue. You shouldn't call the national traitor Zhou Qi the general."

Yuan Shao's expression softened slightly and he continued to ask, "Did he ever tell you anything?"

When Yuan Tan heard this, he couldn't help but show hesitation on his face.

Yuan Shao narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "If you have something to say, it's okay to say it. There's no need to hide it."

Yuan Tan then said tremblingly: "Zhou Ziyi told the boy that the reason why he did not hesitate to offend Liu Xuande and Guan Yunchang and asked Dian Wei to save the boy was because he missed the friendship with his father in the past."

When Yuan Shao heard this, his face softened a little, and his eyes couldn't help but reveal a look of nostalgia.

I think back then, Yuan Shao was nicknamed "Xiao Mengchang" and he made friends with many children of aristocratic families and heroes of the time. Unexpectedly, it was Zhou Qi, a person with a poor background but who was like-minded to him, who could finally reach such a high position and become his own The biggest enemy.

Every time Yuan Shao thinks about this, he feels a lot of emotions.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shao couldn't help but sigh: "Regardless of the enemy's and our own camps, Zhou Ziyi's ability to reach this position from a humble background is indeed a genius in the world."

"If you don't look at background and just talk about ability, all the heroes in the world will be inferior."

Yuan Tan couldn't help but be surprised to hear that his father had such a high opinion of Zhou Qi.

He knew how proud his father was, and the person who could be given such an evaluation by him was by no means an ordinary person.

After sighing, Yuan Shao continued: "Based on my understanding of Zhou Ziyi, that guy definitely said other unpleasant things. You can tell them all."

Yuan Tan hesitated for a moment, but faced Yuan Shao's burning eyes, he finally bit the bullet and said: "He said that my father has the talent to govern the world. If he loses to him one day, he is willing to treat him as the prime minister of the new dynasty."

Yuan Tan originally thought that after hearing these words, his father would feel humiliated and become furious.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao burst out laughing, and then cursed: "After all these years, that fellow Zhou Qi still likes to show off his rhetoric."

"It's a coincidence that Gu Yi admires Zhou Ziyi's talents."

"If I can capture him alive one day, I am willing to treat him as prime minister!"

Yuan Shao was relatively tolerant towards his eldest son, and did not scold him harshly because he was defeated and captured.

in contrast.

Yuan Shao also comforted Yuan Tan and told him that Zhou Qi was full of tricks and even he didn't see through his tricks.

If you encounter it again in the future, it is like a seemingly beautiful bait, so remember to take caution.

After appeasing Yuan Tan, Yuan Shao summoned his subordinates Wen Wu and said, "Gu Yu wants to negotiate peace with Zhou Qi and Liu Bei and withdraw his troops back to Hebei. What do you think?"

Although the generals were reluctant, they knew that there was not much food and grass in the army, but no one spoke up to refute.

In this way, after finalizing the withdrawal of troops, Yuan Shao immediately sent a messenger into Tan County and invited Zhou Qi to come out of the city for a talk.

After Zhou Qi got the letter, he showed it to Xi Zhicai, Zhou Yu and others, and asked: "Do you know why Yuan Benchu ​​invited me out of the city to meet him?"

Xi Zhicai did not speak, but looked at Zhou Yu with a smile.

Nowadays, Zhou Yu has reached the crown and is extremely smart.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that General Zhou Qi has high hopes for Zhou Yu, his nephew, and has tried his best to train him.

Zhou Yu is still too young after all, so he is always taken by Zhou Qi to practice.

Xi Zhicai did not reply, also wanting to leave the opportunity to Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu sat down and pondered, then said: "If my prediction is correct, Yuan Benchu ​​should be preparing to withdraw his troops."

When Zhou Qi heard this, he couldn't help stroking his hands and laughing, saying: "Gong Jin's words are exactly what I want!"

The next day, the north gate of Tan County opened wide.

Liu Bei led Xuzhou soldiers and horses to garrison on the city wall, but Zhou Qi led Jingzhou civil and military officials, all wearing bright armor, to form an array outside the city.

Looking from a distance, one can see that the military formation is rigorous and murderous.

Not long after, Yuan Shao also led his troops and horses to arrive at Tan County City in a mighty manner. However, the number of Yuan's troops who came this time was not too large.

When Yuan Jun stopped in front of the formation, Zhou Qi took the initiative to pat his horse and walked into the formation, shouting: "Brother Benchu, you can make my foolish brother wait so hard!"

Yuan Shao also laughed loudly and rode his horse to the front of the formation.

When they were about to get close, the two of them dismounted in a tacit understanding, put down the weapons they carried, and then slowly walked towards the other party's location.

"Brother Benchu!"

"Brother Ziyi!"

After several years of separation, these two former best friends stood face to face again.

The two of them saluted each other, smiled knowingly, and then walked arm in arm in the center of the battlefield. The soldiers on both sides were stunned.

"After a few years of separation, brother Ben Chu's demeanor is even better than before."

Zhou Qi sighed.

"How can I not be a good brother Ziyi?"

When the two met again, there was no tension as before, and the atmosphere became very harmonious.

They couldn't help laughing as they recalled the glorious past and the places worth remembering.

I do not know how long it has been.

Seeing that it was about to be noon, Yuan Shao suddenly said: "Thank you very much for letting someone rescue Quanzi this time."

When Zhou Qi heard this, he said nonchalantly: "Xiansi is also my son and nephew. Although we are on opposite sides now, the child will be innocent after all." "Brother Benchu, please rest assured, no matter what the future holds, I will never It involves my brother’s family.”

When Zhou Qi said this, his face was full of sincerity.

Yuan Shao also said seriously: "This is also my promise to Ziyi!"

Zhou Qi suddenly blinked at this time and asked slightly mischievously: "I built a Duke's Mansion in Xiangyang for Brother Benchu. I don't know when my brother will be able to move there."

Yuan Shao was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "What a coincidence."

"I also built a Duke's Mansion for Ziyi in Ye City, and I hope that my dear brother can move there as soon as possible."

After finishing speaking, the two looked at each other and laughed.

After laughing, Yuan Shao suddenly said seriously: "Since Ziyi knows that our army does not have much food and grass, he should know why I asked you to go out of the city to meet me, right?"

Zhou Qi also suppressed his smile and said, "Brother, do you want to withdraw your troops?"

Yuan Shao smiled bitterly and said, "It won't work if we don't retreat."

Zhou Qi said: "Brother, it would be best if we withdraw our troops and you and I shake hands and make peace."

"Should the Langya Kingdom that Brother Ran took previously be returned?"

Xuzhou doesn’t have much territory to begin with.

Langya Kingdom is also a prosperous land along the coast. If Yuan Shao occupies it and does not return it, Liu Bei will definitely suffer a great loss in strength, which is not in Zhou Qi's interests.

Yuan Shao shook his head and said: "If we return to Langya Kingdom and achieve nothing in this southern expedition, wouldn't we become the laughingstock of the world?"

Zhou Qi said: "If brother is unwilling to return it, we will lead troops to take it."

"Since Xuande entered Xuzhou, he has won the hearts of Xuzhou officials and people. If Xuande leads troops to attack Langya, there will be countless people who will respond. At that time, there were attacks from both inside and outside, and his brother withdrew the army due to lack of food. After all, Langya country could not be defended. live."

"Instead of wasting money and food and then losing the city and land, why not do a favor now and get some benefits, right?"

Looking at Zhou Qi who was unyielding in the face of interests, and thinking about how the two of them had treated each other before, Yuan Shao felt as sick as if he had eaten a fly.

As Zhou Qi said.

Compared with Liu Bei's prestige and popularity in Langya Kingdom, Yuan Shao was an invader with no foundation.

Especially after the people of Xuzhou experienced Cao Cao's massacre, they had a strong xenophobia towards outsiders.

Once Yuan Shao runs out of food and supplies and withdraws his troops, if Zhou Qi and Liu Bei join forces to attack Langya Kingdom, it will not be easy to defend Langya Kingdom.

If Yuan Shao leaves a heavy guard here, it will definitely consume a lot of money and food.

But what Yuan Shao is lacking now is food and grass.

Although Yuan Shao knew this, but now being forced by Zhou Qi, he felt a little unable to step down.

the most important is.

If Yuan Shao really returns Langya Kingdom, he will really have returned in vain, and he will definitely become the laughing stock of the world.

With Yuan Shao's face-saving character, how could he tolerate this kind of thing happening?
Seeing the smell of gunpowder in the air getting stronger and stronger, Zhou Qi knew that if he did not give Yuan Shao a step forward today, Xuzhou would inevitably fall into an endless tug of war in the future.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qi hurriedly said: "Brother Benchu, don't get angry, please listen to what I have to say first."

Yuan Shao then calmed down and said in a deep voice: "Speak!"

Yuan Shao cherished his words like gold at this time. He was obviously extremely angry and was not even willing to talk to Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi said: "I will never let my brother return to Langya Kingdom in vain."

"We can return those captured soldiers of Army Corps. Presumably, their parents and relatives will be heartbroken if these soldiers are captured."

"Brother cares about the people and cares about the soldiers. That's why he is willing to give up the Langya Kingdom and exchange these prisoners. If word spreads, it will be a good deal at first sight!"

When Yuan Shao heard this, his face looked a little better.

There were approximately [-] captured Yuan troops. If they could all be exchanged for Langya Kingdom, it wouldn't be a loss-making deal.

It should be noted that most of the soldiers who can be mobilized by Yuan Shao are young and strong.

Nowadays, wars are frequent, and the number of young men is not large. Only one out of every five people can be selected as a soldier. This is almost an extreme algorithm.

Seventeen thousand prisoners meant that it would take 9 people to gather so many troops.

This is still an ideal algorithm.

If we want to take into account people's livelihood and logistical supplies, it may actually take 20 soldiers to deploy so many soldiers.

It should be noted that Xuzhou is said to have a household registration of one million, but after suffering from war, Liu Bei only has [-] to [-] troops that can be mobilized.

After previous battles and losses, Liu Bei's current number of troops is less than [-].

In other words, the number of prisoners of Yuan's army who fell in Tan County may be equal to the number of Liu Bei's soldiers.

This does not mean that Liu Bei cannot recruit more soldiers and horses.

However, once it goes to war, it will inevitably affect the future development of the territory and cause people to become disloyal and complain.

Yuan Shao pondered for a long time, then shook his head and said: "If that's all, it's not enough."

Zhou Qi frowned slightly and asked, "Brother, what else do you want?"

Yuan Shao smiled and said: "It's very simple. Get rid of the pseudo-emperor title of King Chenliu."

When Zhou Qi heard this, his face darkened and he said, "Brother, do you think we will agree to this condition?"

Yuan Shao said: "If you don't agree, then we will continue to fight."

"Although Hebei cannot supply 30 troops for the expedition, if only [-] to [-] troops are left in Langya Kingdom to defend the city, it is expected to be able to sustain it."

"It should be noted that I am not the only one who has to go on an expedition, my dear brother is also doing the same."

"I guess you are eager to use troops against Liu Zhang. How can the army be kept in Xuzhou forever?"

"Even if you are willing, how long can Jingzhou's food and grass last?"

Zhou Qi's heart sank, it was obvious that Yuan Shao understood his weakness.

If Yuan Shao really wanted to do that, Zhou Qi would never be able to keep a large army to help Liu Bei recover Langya Kingdom. If Liu Bei alone had too few troops, he might not be able to do so.

Zhou Qi took a deep breath and said, "I have to discuss this matter with Xuande first. After we have discussed it, I will reply to my brother."

After saying this, the two of them said goodbye.

But after Zhou Qi returned to the city, he told Yuan Shao's request and everyone changed their expressions.

obviously.

To cut off the title of Emperor Liu Xie for the sake of a single county is equivalent to telling the world that Zhou Qi, Liu Bei, and Yuan Shu are rebellious officials and traitors, and that the northern court is the orthodox one.

This kind of thing must not be done.

Guan Yu was furious and said: "If he is unwilling to return to the Langya Kingdom, I will personally lead the troops to conquer it!"

"Yun Chang, don't worry."

At this moment, a voice sounded.

"I have a plan that can divert the trouble to the east, leaving Yuan Benchu ​​in a hurry, and return the Langya Kingdom obediently!"

Everyone looked up and saw that the person speaking was none other than Xi Zhicai.

(End of this chapter)