I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 192 Liangzhou

In Jincheng County, Ma Teng was watching the heroic figure of his young son Ma Chao at the school ground.

Ma Chao was only fourteen or fifteen years old, when he was most energetic. He held a one-handed sword and danced with great wind.

On the other side, the younger Ma Tie and Ma Xiu were cheering for their elder brother.

Such a harmonious scene, in Ma Teng's eyes, made him unhappy.

A few months ago, he received news that the imperial court issued a new edict to punish the three tribes who rebelled against the officials without mercy.

This made him extremely anxious. Han Sui used a pseudonym at the time, but he did not.

During the Zhongping period, the Han Dynasty declined. This was something that any wise man could see.

Ma Teng naturally views it this way, otherwise why would he, a good military commander, be inappropriate and start a rebellion as a bandit?

It was precisely because he saw the prospect that he was willing to pay the price.

But when did things start to change?

Ma Teng thought about it and felt that it probably started with the reinforcements that suddenly appeared in Ji County.

This is also due to confidentiality considerations.

But if the Han Dynasty insisted on not pardoning him, he would have no choice but to resist to the end.

There was no way Liangzhou would know that Ma Teng was going to surrender before the imperial court sent troops.

Then the kingdom adopted Li Xiangru's strategy, intending to capture the third assistant in one fell swoop...and then, there was no more.

He was not Emperor Guangwu who had sworn the oath of Luoshui, so what if he broke the oath? The Battle of Chencang proved that Han Sui was completely unreliable.

And judging from the news he received from other states and counties, how could the Han Dynasty, which was originally on the verge of collapse, gradually improve?

In addition to the Taifu, Sangong and Jiuqing, all those who participated were generals, captains and others.

Ma Teng was the defeated general at that time, and he was very clear about Huangfu Song's methods of dealing with the rebels. In addition, he believed that this was just the Han Dynasty's final counterattack, and of course there was no reason to surrender.

But then, he found that the Han Dynasty's strategy towards Liangzhou had changed, and it became increasingly difficult for him and Han Sui to deal with it, and fewer and fewer Han and Qiang reunited under their command.

It should... be possible, right?

After all, Ma Teng usually feels that Ma Chao is very filial to his father and takes good care of his younger siblings.

Seeing that life in Jincheng County was getting harder and harder, Ma Teng finally made up his mind and sent a private message to Fu Xie.

At this point, he can only lament that he made one wrong step, one wrong step after another, and there is nothing he can do about it.

Ma Teng looked at Ma Chao who was wiping his sweat. Ma Chao was not his eldest son. His eldest son died in the war. Ma Teng was not sure whether Ma Chao would be able to take care of his younger siblings if something unexpected happened to him.

As for the oath he and Han Sui made across the river?

……

Ma Teng felt a little aggrieved. If the Han Dynasty had treated the Liangzhou people like this earlier, he would definitely not resist!

Regarding the issue of Liangzhou, although Liu Bian held a court meeting, there were far fewer officials involved than Chang Chao.

After Huangfu Song finished talking about the current situation in Liangzhou, the courtiers realized that this was indeed a good opportunity.

Regarding Ma Teng's request to surrender, the court officials had a tacit understanding and placed the unpardonable scope of the imperial edict drafted in accordance with Lu Zhi's wishes until after the edict was issued.

Without him, once Ma Teng returns to the imperial court, it will provide great convenience for the imperial court to regain Liangzhou.

All that is saved is money and food!

Moreover, the central and western parts of Liangzhou, which were isolated by the Jincheng rebels, had been cut off from contact with the DPRK for five or six years. The current situation of these places was unknown to the court. Huangfu Song, who had always advocated strict treatment of traitors, took the initiative to mention Ma Teng and used it as an opportunity to regain Liangzhou, which fully illustrates his attitude.

Liu Bian finally expressed his position: "To pacify Liangzhou, we should forgive those who have a heart for the Han Dynasty and severely crack down on those who refuse to repent."

He set the general tone of pulling in one group and defeating another.

Huangfu Song suggested: "If you want to make Ma Teng surrender with peace of mind, he needs to stay in Liangzhou as an official, and his soldiers and horses need to be retained for the time being. Ma Teng's eldest son is dead, and he has three sons. He can be called into the court or made a man. Become an official, or enter the Imperial Academy..."

Zhu Jun questioned: "Based on this, doesn't it mean that Ma Teng is worth two thousand stones? It would be too preferential treatment."

Huangfu Song said: "Otherwise, we cannot win the trust of Ma Teng, and if his three sons enter the court, if he rebels again, the clan will be destroyed!"

Historically, one of Ma Chao and Han Sui ignored his father and brother who were hostages to Cao Cao, and the other ignored their son who was a hostage. The two became father and son.

Liu Biandan knew that Ma Chao was Thanos, but he didn't know if Ma Teng looked like Han Sui.

However, based on the concept of family inheritance at this time, Liu Bian felt that as long as Ma Teng was willing to let all three of his sons join the court, then at least Ma Teng would not rebel until the Han Dynasty declined again.

With a conclusion in his mind, Liu Bian still did not rush to express his position.

Lu Zhi said: "Most of the rebels are still gathered in Jincheng County. Ma Teng can be the prefect of Jincheng. After he responds to the imperial edict, he will definitely not be in the same county as Han Sui."

In the end, Liu Bian adopted Lu Zhi's suggestion. The essence of recruiting Liangzhou to surrender and accept rebellion was to divide and disintegrate.

After discussing Ma Teng's arrangements, the next big thing was how many troops to send and how much food to prepare.

Great Sinong Yuan Pang held it in for a long time and finally had a chance to speak. However, he simply said that the state treasury could not afford the money.

Huangfu Song paid his respects and said: "In the past, Duke Duan led five thousand elite troops into Liang to quell the chaos. Now Ma Teng is here to help me. I am not talented, so I am willing to imitate Duke Duan."

Lu Zhi, Zhu Jun, Zhang Wen and others who knew the army were all shocked when they heard that Huangfu Song said that only five thousand elite soldiers were needed.

Huangfu Song explained in detail.

His so-called five thousand does not mean that he only uses five thousand troops, but that in addition to the troops and horses in Liangzhou and the Han army in Hanyang and other places, except for the troops in Liangzhou and other places, he needs the support of the court.

There is no need for the court to recruit additional troops. The Xiyuan Army now has three captains outside, and the remaining troops are more than 5,000.

Huangfu Song continued: "Liangzhou initially set up five thousand cavalry, and if there were casualties, they would be replaced by the sons of good families. They were good at fighting against rebels and had many victories. The Qiang people under them were righteous from two thousand, and when the war started, they were increased to Five thousand is not much."

"The number of new recruits to the Sanfu camp has not yet been determined. It is not appropriate to transfer too many of the Sanfu school captains. Two thousand is enough."

"This May, the newly harvested grain from Sanfu's fields has been gradually put into the warehouse. According to last year's story, it will not be used until the end of the year. You can use it first and then replenish it."

"The Xiongnu in the north can stabilize the Qiang people and can be used as righteous followers when necessary."

"As long as Ma Teng and Han Sui are removed, the remaining rebels will be nothing more than scattered sand. There is no need for tens of thousands of troops."

In fact, under the most ideal situation, once Ma Teng surrenders, as long as he can maintain a stalemate with Han Sui, he does not even need an additional 5,000 soldiers and horses. Liangzhou's 5,000 infantry and cavalry plus the Qiang righteous followers will be enough.

As soon as he finished telling the good news, Huangfu Song poured cold water on him again.

"The Qiang people are scattered inside and outside Liangzhou. It is difficult to regain the Qiang people in Liangzhou. The Eastern Qiang are attracted by farming and their hearts are drawn to the Han Dynasty. However, the Qiang people east of Wuwei may not be aware of the court's virtues. They still need to follow the story of Hanyang County and slowly Picture it."

(End of this chapter)