Ji Han Liu Zhang

When Liu Zhang divided his troops to defeat Wudu, sent his generals to attack Chencang, and expanded his power in full swing, although it was still a small fight in a corner of the southwest, under the butterfly effect, it finally caused waves in the world, making the chaotic situation The current situation has become unpredictable, and history has begun to take a different direction.

In December of the second year of Xingping, Hongnong County, Caoyang County.

The Wang Division, which was following the Emperor Liu Xiedong back to Luoyang, was experiencing a major defeat. The Wang Division failed to contend with the elite troops of Liangzhou led by Li Que and Guo Bang. Futian Fen, Yushi Dengpin, Da Sinong Zhang Yi and others died in the battle.

Bai Bo Shuai Li Le, who was summoned by the emperor's edict to escort him, saw that the situation was not good. He had the idea of ​​​​escape and advised the emperor Liu Xie: "Your Majesty, the matter is urgent. Please mount your horse while the thieves are unable to encircle you. , I still have a glimmer of hope.”

Hearing this, the young Liu Xie had an extremely determined expression on his immature face. His eyes were firm and he shook his head and said: "As the emperor, if I see that the situation is not going well, I will abandon all the officials and leave. How is this?" Guilty!"

'Pedantic. Bai Bo Shuai Li Le complained in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it clearly. As the battle situation became more and more critical, his face became more and more anxious: "Your Majesty is unwilling to abandon hundreds of officials. Now the war is unfavorable. Please return the camp and use it to take a breather. If you are forced to stay here, I'm afraid there will be no survivors. "

Li Le changed his words. He no longer persuaded Liu Xie to flee on horseback, but instead persuaded Liu Xie to retreat to the camp.

Li Le's suggestion this time was supported by hundreds of officials who followed Liu Xie back east, such as Taiwei Yang Biao, Zongzheng Liu Ai, Uncle Dong Cheng, etc. They all gave advice to Liu Xie, saying that a gentleman will not stand behind a dangerous wall. Liu Xie was obedient to the officials' advice and nodded in agreement.

Not long after, under the protection of the Huben and Yulin guards, Liu and his officials retreated into the camp. Relying on the fort's toughness, they fought against the sharp soldiers of Liangzhou.

After a great victory, Li Que came to the outside of the camp. He was not in a hurry. He did not order his soldiers to attack the camp with iron heads. Instead, he pointed to the camp where Emperor Liu Xie had retreated and said to Guo Si beside him: "Your majesty, at this moment, It has become a turtle in a urn."

After saying this, Li Que and Guo Si laughed regardless of their appearance, mocking the emperor Liu Xie and considering Liu Xiegui as the emperor. But now they shrank their heads like frightened turtles in the water. .

"Come and shout around the camp with me. The rest of us will rest today. We will seize the camp tomorrow and welcome the emperor back to Chang'an." Li Que felt relaxed and happy in his heart, which was reflected in his body. As a cavalry general, he shook his head. He doesn't have the authority of a general at all.

Guo Bang also became interested, and he carefully ordered the soldiers who were shouting around the camp: "Shout louder, louder, to show the loyalty of me and Zhiran to the emperor, so that the emperor should voluntarily leave the camp and follow us back to Chang'an , Don’t wait until the next day when we and our army attack the camp. If the emperor is injured in the melee, we will be guilty. "

"Ah Duo, you and I have contributed a lot to today's victory. Let's celebrate by getting drunk tonight." Li Que took Guo Si's arm and invited Guo Si to have a drink.

"It's natural, congratulations on the last one." Guo Si did not shirk. Although they were still fighting, the two of them came from a despicable place and were contaminated by Yi Feng. They adhered to the life principle of drinking now and getting drunk now. Get ready to get drunk.

At night, the lights were brightly lit in the Chinese army's tent in Li Que and Guo Si's camp. From far away, the sound of singing and dancing could be heard, and the aroma of wine overflowed from the tent, which attracted the soldiers stationed at the door of the Chinese army's tent. Licking his lips and tongue.

Here, people are drinking happily and turning into a singing and dancing place. Over there, in the camp where Emperor Liu Xie is, there is a miserable atmosphere. Today's battle was indeed a bit tragic. I don't know how many ministers died in the battle, but They had no time to grieve for the dead. The Liangzhou thieves were like a sharp knife hanging on their foreheads, not allowing them to trace their sorrows. They needed to be more realistic and consider the future. To be precise, consider Li Li who would come to attack the camp tomorrow. Que, Guo Si.

"Your Majesty, Cao Yang is not far from the Yellow River. He sneaks out of the camp tonight, and then takes a boat east on the Yellow River. He can reach Mengjin directly. Li Que and Guo Si will definitely be unable to catch up, and they will be able to escape." Baibo Commander Li Le continued. Promoting the escape plan to Liu Xie, he was really panicked when he listened to the soldiers of Li Que and Guo Si going around the tent and shouting, and he just wanted to get away from this place as soon as possible.

But Li Le's plan was once again rejected by Liu Xie: "The son of a rich man cannot sit down in the hall. This is the truth that cannot be broken. Besides, Confucius was worried about the violent tiger Feng He, so he sneaked out late at night and took a boat to the east. , this is not the way to live in peace.”

Liu Xie was not the only one to object. Taiwei Yang Biao attended and advised Liu Xie: "I am a native of Hongnong and know the geography of Hongnong very well. There are thirty-six dangerous shoals from Caoyang to Mengjin by boat eastward." , it’s too risky to act like this.”

Zongzheng and Liu Ai attended the meeting and seconded the proposal: "I once served as the magistrate of Shaanxi County, and I also know about the dangerous shoals mentioned by the Taiwei... Moreover, even if there are boatmen who are familiar with the dangerous shoals, it is still dangerous to take a boat, not to mention that there are no boatmen now? The captain is very worried."

Li Le's plan was rejected, and the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became a little silent. At this time, Dong Cheng, the uncle of the state, stood up and gave a more practical suggestion: "It is not feasible to cross to Mengjin eastward. With the current plan, Your Majesty You can cross the Yellow River to visit Hedong County, which is a relatively safe way."

"Yes." Lieutenant Yang Biao nodded in agreement: "It's better not to delay, otherwise things will change. Your Majesty will cross the Yellow River north tonight. Li Que and Guo Si will not expect it. This will help him to live in heaven."

"It's good to go to Hedong, it's good to go to Hedong." Li Le jumped up and responded enthusiastically to Dong Cheng. Originally from Hedong, he supported Dong Cheng's plan for the emperor to go to Hedong.

"In this case, I will follow your plan." Emperor Liu Xie knew that staying here was not a good plan, and he was afraid that he would fall into the hands of Li Que and Guo Si sooner or later, so he agreed to the plan to go to Hedong County.

However, how to implement the plan still required some calculations. A group of people talked in a few words and came up with a plan, which was for Baibo Shuai Li Le, who was born in Hedong, to cross the Yellow River north first, first to find a safer road, and secondly. He came to find the boats needed to cross the river, and then Li Le raised fire on the other side to respond, and then sent the emperor Liu Xie on the boat.

Li Le looked cheerful, and he said boldly: "I will find a smooth way for your Majesty so that your Majesty can reach Hedong County safely."

"I believe in the general's ability." Facing the vulgar Bai Bo Shuai Li Le, Liu Xie lowered his face and expressed his trust in Li Le.

But just when Li Le was about to turn around and step out of the Chinese army's tent, he heard a report from the soldiers, saying that Li Que and Guo Si had sent envoys to ask for peace, and were willing to release the officials, palace men and women who were captured in today's battle, and Return the looted carriages, utensils and uniforms.

Please and? Li Que and Guo Si sent envoys to ask for peace after a great victory?
The ministers in the tent looked at me, and I looked at you, and they all looked puzzled.

When the two armies are fighting, there is no reason for the winner to ask for peace. It is always the loser who surrenders and asks for peace. The ministers all doubted their ears, whether they had misheard the news reported by the soldiers, and someone asked who reported the message. Soldier, let this soldier say it again.

When the soldier who reported the message faced the Emperor's minister, he thought that what he had just said could not be more clear, but the important minister who was the minister actually asked him to say it again. He couldn't help but doubt his own accent, so he timidly repeated what he had just said. , Li Que and Guo Si sent envoys to ask for peace, and the envoys asking for peace were outside the camp gate.

Is there a conspiracy?
After the officials in the tent confirmed the words of the soldier who reported the news, they consciously smelled a bad smell, that is, Li Que and Guo Bang must be planning something, otherwise why would Li Que and Guo Bang, as the victors, actually send people? Please make peace.

"Your Majesty, there must be a conspiracy." Bai Bo Shuai Li Le took the lead in speaking out the thoughts of the ministers.

The lights in the tent were dim and the night wind was swaying. The emperor Liu Xie's face was bright and dark, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

Zongzheng and Liu Ai made the first remarks: "Li Que is brave and cunning, and is good at using troops. He is better than Sun Jian, the Marquis of Wucheng in the past. He suddenly sent an envoy tonight and explicitly asked for peace, so we need to be careful."

"It is appropriate to order all armies to be on alert at night." Taiwei Yang Biao followed Liu Ai's words and said.

The uncle Dong Chengfu said: "What the Taiwei said is true. No matter what Li Que and Guo Si do, we must be on guard... In addition, we should not keep the envoy for a long time. It is better to invite the envoy to see him and see what he has to do." By the way, let’s check out the messenger’s tone.”

The decision was made, Baibo Commander Li Le stepped out of the camp as usual and crossed the Yellow River north to find a way. Liu Xie dismissed the ministers who were discussing, leaving only Taiwei Yang Biao, Zongzheng Liu Ai, Uncle Dong Cheng and several guards. people, and then asked the soldiers to bring the envoys of Li Que and Guo Si.

Not long after, the envoy sent by Li Que arrived in front of the emperor Liu Xie. When Liu Xie saw this person, his face suddenly lit up. Regardless of his identity, he stepped forward and held the envoy's hand and said, "Wang Qing."

Liu Xie was not the only one to be happy here. Taiwei Yang Biao also looked happy. He recognized the identity of the envoy. The envoy's name was Wang Chang. He was a tiger warrior. Although he was under Li Que's tent, he was loyal. A scholar should not be treated as the same as other Liangzhou thieves.

"I know that your servant shot Huangfu Li and got away. It was your fault." Liu Xie told a secret story. In May this year, Li Que and Guo Si fought in Chang'an. The emperor was robbed and the minister was robbed. He sent his servant Huangfu Li to persuade him to make peace, but Li Que refused to listen. Soon after Huangfu Li left the camp, he sent Wang Chang to chase and kill him. However, although Wang Chang caught up with Huangfu Li, he dismissed Huangfu Li. He was loyal and upright, so he let Huangfu Li go and went back to report to Li Que that he had not caught up.

"Your Majesty." Wang Chang took Liu Xie's arm and spoke of his loyalty and meritorious service. His face was filled with emotion, his eyes were red, and he sobbed "Your Majesty."

"Wang Huben, what happened to Li Que and Guo Si's army? Why did they win a big victory, but they sent you to ask for peace? Is there any conspiracy in it?" The current situation is tense, and there is not much time to reminisce about the past. Taiwei Yang Biao spoke hurriedly and asked Wang Chang, eager to know what was happening at the moment, forcing Li Que and Guo Si to ask for peace.

Wang Chang suppressed his eyes that were about to shed tears, and said with a happy face: "Your Majesty, Taiwei, the two thieves Li Que and Guo Si asked for peace because Liu Yizhou honored the royal family."

"Yizhou Mu Liu Jiyu?" Liu Xie read out a name with a confused look on his face. He didn't know what Li Que and Guo Si's request for peace had to do with Liu Zhang.

Regarding Liu Zhang, the newly appointed shepherd of Yizhou, Liu Xie had met him before. At that time, Liu Zhang was serving as the Captain of Fengche and in charge of chariots. The two met occasionally. Liu Xie did not have a very good impression of Liu Zhang. , Liu Zhang was a coward, but as a member of the clan he could not take on much responsibility. He was not as capable as his eldest brother Liu Fan and second brother Liu Dan.

Later, Liu Yan did not listen to Dong Zhuo's orders when he was in Yizhou. Dong Zhuo was angry and arrested the three brothers Liu Fan, Liu Dan, and Liu Zhang who were staying in Chang'an. They set up a private prison in Yiwu and detained him. Later, Liu Yan said that he was ill. , Liu Zhang asked to visit Liu Yan. Although he didn't like Liu Zhang's temperament, he felt Liu Zhang's filial piety, so he also extended a helping hand and sent Liu Zhang to Shu with an imperial edict to inform Liu Yan.

When Liu Xie heard the news about Liu Zhang again, it was that the late Yizhou Mu Liu Yan died of illness early last year, leaving Yizhou without an owner. Now the Yizhou Mu is like a prince in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the position of Yizhou Mu must be taken from Liu Yan's. Choose one of the heirs.

Liu Yan's eldest son, General Zuo Zhonglang Liu Fan, and his second son Liu Dan, the official secretary and censor, both died at the hands of Li Que and Guo Si. Only his third son Liu Mao and fourth son Liu Zhang remained. Liu Xie clearly remembered that at that time, the important ministers of Yizhou jointly submitted a letter recommending Liu Zhang to serve as the pastor of Yizhou.

Regarding the joint recommendation of the Yizhou ministers, Liu Xie felt that the Yizhou ministers did not know how to judge people. With Liu Zhang's cowardice, how could he assume the position of state pastor and maintain the power to control a state? Liu Zhang was not as good as his elder brother Liu If Mao is talented, the position of Yizhou Mu should be occupied by Liu Mao.

However, he did not have the power to manipulate the appointment of Yizhou Mu at that time. Li Jue and Guo Si controlled the government and agreed very much with Liu Zhang, a coward, as Yizhou Mu, and forced him to nod and agree to the appointment.

Now he was besieged by the Liangzhou elite soldiers of Li Que and Guo Si. When he was hanging upside down, it seemed that he had received help from Liu Zhang, who he thought was cowardly by nature, forcing Li Que and Guo Si to make peace despite their great advantage.

"What did Yizhou Shepherd Liu Jiyu do?" Liu Xie asked Wang Chang patiently.

Wang Chang responded loudly: "Your Majesty, Liu Yizhou has sent generals Gan Ning and Lou Fa to capture Chencang. The two thieves Li Que and Guo Si are in great panic, fearing that Liu Yizhou's troops will enter Chang'an and cut off their escape route. their wives."

"Now the two thieves, Li Que and Guo Si, are bent on settling the dispute with the king's army and leading their troops westward to Chang'an as early as possible. Therefore, they intend to make peace and have sent me as ministers."

Liu Xie sighed, and then said with emotion: "The governor of Guandong Prefecture saw that I was forced by the Liangzhou thieves, and no one came to help me. Instead, it was the despicable Shu land, and there were Liu Jiyu, a clan minister who cared about the royal family... I usually think of Liu Jiyu as a coward but not a warrior, but I didn't expect Liu Jiyu to do such a big thing today." (End of Chapter)