Ji Han Liu Zhang

Changan.

The moonlight is light and not very bright. There are only a few stars in the night sky, and the rest of the place is quiet and dark. Under the moonlight, the city of Chang'an is in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

This was something that Chang'an had not experienced for a long time. Since Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an, the city was often filled with chaos, burning, killing and looting during the day, and fires as bright as stars at night. Many powerful and tyrants led their troops to attack, and the city of Chang'an never had a moment of peace.

Just over a month ago, Li Jue and Guo Si, who had been wreaking havoc in Guanzhong for many years, were executed. There were no more rebellious soldiers and no more dictators. Under the pacification efforts of Grand Marshal Liu Zhang, Chang'an, Jingzhao and Sanfu enjoyed unprecedented peace and tranquility.

At this moment, in the Grand Marshal's Mansion in Chang'an City, Liu Zhang and a group of civil and military officials discussed day and night for the sake of the people of the world and peace in the universe.

After everyone in the east pavilion of the mansion discussed the affairs of Liangzhou, the chief clerk Xun You turned the topic to Hedong and Henei, two important places located in the center of the world.

Xun You reported to Liu Zhang, "Mingsir, this morning, emissaries from Wang Yi, the governor of Hedong, and Zhang Yang, the governor of Henei, arrived in Chang'an. They said they heard that Ming Gong was gathering in Guanzhong and killing Li and Guo, and they wanted to meet you in person, so they showed their courtesy. However, you were farming outside the city, so I received them. Now the emissaries from both families are resting at the posthouse."

"Wang Yi, the governor of Hedong, and Zhang Yang, the governor of Henei." When Liu Zhang, who was in the upper position, heard the names of these two princes at the end of the Han Dynasty, he was a little unimpressed. After all, in real history, Wang Yi had been in Hedong for more than ten years, and Zhang Yang had been in Henei for five or six years, but they had not made any major moves and were just thieves who defended themselves.

However, although Wang Yi and Zhang Yang were insignificant, the Hedong and Henei they now controlled were extremely important places. Taking this into consideration, Liu Zhang felt that he should meet the envoys of the two families.

"I will meet him tomorrow, you can make some arrangements." Liu Zhang issued an order.

"Yes." The chief clerk Xun You responded. In fact, he had already made arrangements. Whenever Liu Zhang wanted to meet with the envoys from Hedong and Henei, he could make it happen.

Peng Ying interrupted and asked, "Mr. Xun has met the envoys from Wang Yi and Zhang Yang before. Do you know what their purpose is?"

Peng Ying was quite interested in the intention of sending envoys from Hedong Governor Wang Yi and Henei Governor Zhang Yang. He had hopes for this. If the governors of Hedong and Henei were willing to serve his wise minister Liu Zhang, it would be a great thing for Liu Zhang's group.

Hedong is bordered by the Yellow River and the Fen River, and is protected by the Guan and Luo Rivers, making it a powerful and vigorous area.

Henei connects to Shangdang in the north, Luoyang in the south, and Yecheng in the east. It can be said to be an important road.

Hedong, Henei, and Henan County, the Three Rivers are in the center of the world, like a tripod, where the king resides.

If he could seize Hedong and Henei, Peng Ying remembered Deng Yu's words to Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, who revived the Han Dynasty: "Henei is surrounded by mountains and rivers, which is strong enough. Its land is rich and noble, and it was the capital of the Yin Dynasty. Your possession of it is like Emperor Gaozu's possession of Guanzhong. Advance your troops to conquer Jizhou, take You and Bing in the north to make use of the Hu horses; take Qing and Xu in the east to draw the benefits of Fuhai. Once the three states are gathered, facing south to command the world, the world will not be stable." If you can take Hedong and Henei, the world will not be stable.

Peng Ying's idea was good, but Xun You's words interrupted Peng Ying's beautiful hope: "Today I met with the envoys from Hedong and Henei. From their expressions and what they said, I know that their intention is just to spy on the situation in Guanzhong and find out whether you have any intention of going east. I am worried that you have some plans for Hedong and Henei."

Peng Ying drooped his eyelids upon hearing this, and immediately lost his energy. He sighed, "Your Excellency has conquered Guanzhong and eliminated Li and Guo, and your power has shaken the world. However, the two families of Hedong and Henei did not immediately submit, but instead wanted to resist. You really don't know your fate."

Peng Ying, who wanted Wang Yi and Zhang Yang of Hedong and Henei to surrender, now belittled Wang Yi and Zhang Yang, thinking that Wang Yi and Zhang Yang were ignorant of the times. After Liu Zhang pacified Guanzhong, they did not immediately surrender, but were worried that Liu Zhang would seize Hedong and Henei. They had no foresight of destiny at all.

Zheng Du took over the conversation and sneered, "Since the government was weakened and Your Majesty was exiled, all the prefectures and counties in the world and the princes in all directions have been doing their own thing and enjoying their own power. I think no one, whether it is the Wangyi in Hedong or Zhang Yang in Henei, would be willing to give up such a happy life."

By analyzing the weaknesses of human nature, Zheng Du revealed the psychological state of Wang Yi and Zhang Yang. No one would be willing to give up the power in his hands and become a subject under someone else, listening to other people's orders and watching other people's faces.

"My lord, you will march east sooner or later. With only the soldiers from Hedong and the armor from Henei, Wang Yi and Zhang Yang, who are just ordinary men, cannot resist them. It would be better for us to surrender to my lord as soon as possible. The earlier we surrender, the more generous the treatment will be. If we surrender too late, I'm afraid we will get nothing." Peng Ying said with a smile. He laughed at Wang Yi and Zhang Yang, who did not know the current affairs and the weather.

"That's what you said." Zheng Du agreed, and then he stroked his beard and said, "But if Wang Yi and Zhang Yang surrender and give up their power, how could they be willing to do so? They will not give up until they reach the Yellow River. If they don't see your army approaching, Wang Yi and Zhang Yang will have some luck and think that they can resist your army and dominate the area."

Listening to the conversation and debate between Peng Ying and Zheng Du, Liu Zhang was inclined to Zheng Du's side. In order to make a powerful prince who had been arrogant for a long time give up his power, it would probably not be easy except by sending a large army to invade the country.

If he really wanted to rely on his current reputation to win over the princes of all directions, it would most likely be a pipe dream. After all, in history, in the tenth year of Jian'an, after Cao Cao pacified Hebei, he summoned Hedong Prefect Wang Yi to the court in the name of the emperor and replaced him with Du Ji from Duling County, Jingzhao County. Despite Cao Cao's prestige in conquering the Yuan family and the emperor's edict, Wang Yi still refused to go to the court.

Therefore, a famous reputation is useful in recruiting wise men and talents, but it is not enough to subdue the princes in all directions. One must have good generals and strong soldiers under one's command and win over talents with martial virtues.

"What do you think?" Liu Zhang asked Xun You and asked him about how to deal with the envoys from Hedong and Henei.

Xun You said calmly: "Although neither Hedong nor Henei has the intention to submit, they have sent envoys to congratulate you. You should treat them well and make the envoys feel at home."

Xun You's view was very simple: one should not hit a smiling person. Since the envoys from Hedong and Hedong came to congratulate Liu Zhang for pacifying Guanzhong, they should be received well and a good impression should be left on them. As for the plans for Hedong and Henei, they could be discussed later.

After all, Liu Zhang, who had conquered Guanzhong, had Liangzhou as his top priority. (End of this chapter)