Ji Han Liu Zhang

Chang'an official residence.

Lightly, as if throwing away a toilet token after going to the toilet, Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry Liu Zhang firmly refused the title of king bestowed by Liu Xie, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. His straightforward and neat style of action caused many people in the courtyard to look surprised.

Among them was Shi Huan, the deputy envoy from Xudu. Shi Huan showed an expression of disbelief. He could not believe that the great Sima Liu Zhang in front of him had no greed for the title of king. As soon as the edict was issued, Liu Zhang refused, and his attitude seemed quite resolute.

"Unbelievable and unbelievable." Shi Huan sighed twice in his heart. He didn't expect that someone could remain unmoved by the title of a king. This kind of character is really as solid as a rock.

Of course, there were also people who looked calm, as if they were expecting it, like Liu Ai, the envoy from Xudu. Liu Ai looked extremely calm. Before he came to Chang'an, he had concluded that Liu Zhang would not accept Liu Zhang's refusal of the title of king, and he had made sufficient mental preparations.

After all, Liu Ai had been to Guanzhong once before, and through his interactions and conversations with Liu Zhang, he had some understanding of Liu Zhang's character. He saw that Liu Zhang was not a power-hungry person, and his character was particularly tough and steady. The reward of a mere king title was not enough to shake Liu Zhang.

"It's not enough to refuse in person, you have to submit a memorial to the emperor later." Liu Zhang, who refused the offer of the title of king with just a few words, planned to submit a memorial to the emperor in Xudu, which would be considered a formal refusal.

However, there was no rush to submit the memorial. Liu Zhang focused on the present. He stretched out his hand and called the two angels, Liu Ai and Shi Huan, into the main hall.

When his strength did not crush everything, he habitually pretended to be a virtuous member of the Han royal family. He was very humble to the emperor's envoys, greeted the angels kindly, and even kept his position on the same line with the chief envoy Liu Ai.

Liu Zhang just wanted to use this opportunity to express his respect for the emperor's envoy, but the attendant Liu Ai was a little panicked. He took one or two small steps and successfully fell one body position behind Liu Zhang, making Liu Zhang the leader and he followed behind Liu Zhang.

Entering the main hall, another banquet began.

The banquet that Chang'an Ling Zhang Ji prepared for Liu Ai and Shi Huan in the relay station yesterday was just a welcoming banquet. Today's banquet is the real reception banquet for the angels Liu Ai and Shi Huan. The envoys of the Han emperor should be treated with courtesy and respect by the princes from all directions.

Perhaps other daring and cruel princes may not take angels seriously and fail to give them due courtesy, but as a member of the royal family, Liu Zhang must treat angels with courtesy and show them due respect.

There is no other reason. The emperor and Liu Zhang both have the surname Liu, and their interests are consistent in some areas. The emperor's face is also related to Liu Zhang. If other people bully and humiliate the emperor, it is equivalent to slapping Liu Zhang in the face.

If Liu Zhang didn't even try to save the emperor's face, who would respect the Liu family and how could we restore the glory of the Han Dynasty?

Banquets are always joyful, and joyful times always pass quickly. Before we know it, the banquet has come to an end.

Liu Zhang left the chief envoy Liu Ai behind, and allowed the deputy envoy Shi Huan to go back to the inn to rest. When Shi Huan walked to the door, he unconsciously looked back at Liu Zhang at the top, and the chief envoy Liu Ai who was left behind beside Liu Zhang. Shi Huan's expression was quite complicated.

"How is the emperor?" Liu Zhang first asked about the emperor Liu Xie's recent situation. Seeing Shi Huan leave, Liu Ai had no scruples and replied: "The emperor is in Xu, and General Cao is in charge of the government. General Cao is not like Dong Zhuo, Li, or Guo. He treats the emperor with respect and courtesy, and has never been rude."

Here Liu Ai said something extra, telling the secret he heard in Xudu: "Cao Mengde intends to resign from the post of general and become the Minister of Works. After a month or so, he should be called Cao Minister of Works."

"Sikong Cao? Is it because of the leader Yuan from Jizhou?" Liu Zhang asked casually, but it could not be said that he was seeking Liu Ai's confirmation, his tone had already confirmed it.

Liu Zhang knew that in history, Cao Cao, who had initially served as the general in the first year of Jian'an, later gave up the position of general to Yuan Shao because Yuan Shao was dissatisfied with the position of Taiwei granted to him, and appointed himself as Sikong.

Speaking of which, Yuan Benchu, the young master Yuan from Jizhou, who was one of the three highest officials in his family for four generations, was really arrogant. After all, the Grand Marshal was one of the three highest officials, and the chief of them.

But because the position of Grand Marshal was below that of General Cao, Yuan Benchu ​​was dissatisfied and resentful. He first refused the position of Grand Marshal, and then spread some threats to Cao Cao, which frightened Cao Cao into giving up the position of General and taking the position of Sikong, the lowest of the Three Dukes.

It was just a mere official position, no big deal. To Liu Zhang, it was all acceptable, whether it was higher or lower. However, Yuan Shao, a man with great ambitions but little wisdom, fierce appearance but weak courage, could not swallow this humiliation and was unwilling to be above him by Cao Cao, his childhood friend.

"You don't fight for what you should fight for, and you are so unreasonable when you shouldn't fight for it." Liu Zhang sighed in his heart for Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao treated the emperor like a worn-out shoe, did not welcome the emperor to Yecheng, and let Cao Cao seize the emperor. Now he is still obsessed with the empty title of general. He doesn't know what is important and what is not urgent. He is really a mediocre person.

The attendant Liu Ai widened his eyes, a little surprised. He had not expected that Liu Zhang had figured out the inside story so quickly. Or, judging from Liu Zhang's tone, he probably knew that it was because of Yuan Shao that Cao Cao gave up the position of general. Presumably, the great Sima in front of him had spies in Xu Du and Ye City who were aware of the confidential matters.

"Yes." Liu Ai didn't stay stunned for too long. After a moment he nodded.

"At first, Yuan Benchu ​​was granted the titles of Grand Commandant and Marquis of Ye, but he submitted a petition to refuse the title. There were also rumors that Cao Mengde was on the verge of death several times, and it was Yuan Benchu ​​who saved him. Now Cao Mengde is ungrateful and has become a general, but he has granted Yuan Benchu ​​the title of Grand Commandant. He does not distinguish between superiors and subordinates, and is simply not a human being."

Liu Ai, who was in Xudu and knew the inside story, told the whole story.

"After hearing this, Cao Mengde was afraid of Yuan Benchu's current power, so he gave up the position of general and took over the position of minister of works... But he had to wait until next year to send an envoy with the emperor's seal to Yecheng to appoint Yuan Benchu ​​as general. After all, if he appointed him now, it would not look good on Cao Mengde and would damage his prestige."

At this point, the Chamberlain Liu Ai couldn't help but compare Yuan Shao with Liu Zhang in front of him. Yuan Shao was unhappy that he did not get the position of general, so he complained and submitted a letter to resign. However, the Grand Marshal Liu Zhang in front of him treated the King of Shu who came to his door like a worn-out shoe, and his expression showed that he didn't take it seriously at all.

From this we can see that Liu Da Sima is superior to Yuan Da Jiangjun. (End of this chapter)