People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 596 Selling oneself
In the reception hall of the Council of State, three men were looking at each other in bewilderment. The atmosphere was a little awkward. Before Xu Chen arrived, they were unfamiliar with each other and could only bow to each other in their respective seats and greet each other with fake smiles.

Zhang Lu and Shi Xie were more familiar with each other. After all, they had been getting along closely these days and had a pretty good relationship.

Ma Teng was relatively unfamiliar with them. Although they were each powerful lords, they seldom interacted with each other in the past. Especially in this situation, it was a bit awkward for them to be together.

Before coming, Zhang Lu and Shi Xie had not heard of any news that Liangzhou wanted to surrender, so they were still surprised to suddenly see Ma Teng. In addition to this surprise, they also had a sense of sympathy and grief. After all, they were just brothers in distress.

Of course they could understand Ma Teng's decision. After all, the situation had come to this point and he had no choice but to give in. Taking the initiative to make a choice could at least give himself some dignity.

Zhang Lu could not help but sigh: "It is really unpredictable. Who could have thought that the situation in the world would change so drastically in such a short period of time? Not only did the Han Dynasty fail to save itself, but even the heroes from all walks of life failed to come to the fore. Instead, the most unlikely Yellow Turbans suddenly emerged and seized power. You and I can only end up like this, becoming Xu Chen's prey."

Shi Xie's expression changed slightly when he heard this. He looked around and saw no one there. He coughed and leaned over to whisper, "Brother Zhang, please be careful with your words. The Yellow Turbans are destined by heaven, and Prime Minister Xu is the image of a saintly teacher. It is a blessing for the people of the world that Xuan Xia can take the throne. You and I have joined forces to turn from darkness to light and to be devoted to justice. What a blessing this is!"

Hearing Shi Xie's reminder, Zhang Lu, who was immersed in his emotions, suddenly woke up and beads of sweat appeared on his back.

This time, he almost slapped himself twice. Why was he still complaining at this time? What if Xuan Xia’s people heard it, wouldn’t that be digging a hole for himself?
In fact, after choosing to submit to Xuan Xia, Zhang Lu naturally knew that he had to be careful in his words and actions in the future. However, the sudden meeting with Ma Teng still aroused his unwillingness, so that he relaxed the string in his heart.

"That's right, that's right. Huang Jin and I came from the same sect. Now that I can see Xuan Xia in charge of the country, it is indeed a great blessing."

Zhang Lu reacted and hurriedly tried to make excuses for himself, but what he said was not false. Although he felt a little aggrieved that he could not become a local emperor after giving up Hanzhong, he was also happy about the prosperity of Taoism.

Regardless of how much of the true Taoist meaning there is in the Natural Way, it is still Taoism in name only. Xuanxia's victory was also a comprehensive victory of Taoism over Confucianism in the field of thought and academia. As a member of the Taoism, Zhang Lu was of course happy to see this.

At this time, Ma Teng, who had been silent all this time, finally responded: "I heard that after you two submitted to the imperial court, you were both appointed to important positions by the imperial court. This is something worth celebrating. I just don't know what the imperial court's attitude is towards me, Ma Teng."

As soon as Ma Teng spoke, Zhang Lu and Shi Xie fell silent.

Being entrusted with important positions by the court is just a nice way of saying it. In reality, the court has just assigned them two idle people in the church who can do nothing. It is no different from raising pigs.

Of course, they knew that Ma Teng was not mocking them, but now that he had made his choice, they could not say that the man was being mean.

At this moment, Ma Teng only asked this question because he was worried and uneasy. After arriving, he realized that this was how Xu Chen settled the people who surrendered to him, which was obviously a little unacceptable to him.

I came to Beijing from Liangzhou with sincerity, not to be a pig.

Even if you want to sell yourself, you have to sell it for a good price.
However, Shi Xie and Zhang Lu were obviously not optimistic about Ma Teng's outcome. They sighed and shook their heads, and then said something that made Ma Teng completely disappointed.

"The court will certainly not treat Brother Ma badly. Prime Minister Xu specially received you and me together, which is enough to show the importance he attaches to Brother Ma. The prime minister's intention is to let us inform Brother Ma in advance so that Brother Ma can be at ease about the court's arrangements in the future."

Ma Teng was not stupid, and he immediately understood that these words should be heard in reverse, but when he heard them in reverse, his heart sank. The reason why they chose to meet him, Zhang Lu and Shi Xie together today was to let Shi Xie and Zhang Lu communicate with each other, but this communication was obviously not to reassure Ma Teng, but to set an example for Ma Teng.

No matter whether you, Ma Teng, can accept it or not, the treatment you will receive after surrendering will be the same as that given to Zhang Lu and Shi Xie.

After being reminded and hinted by Zhang Lu and Shi Xie, Ma Teng also understood the meaning, and then his face became a little ugly.

No matter how harshly he spoke in Liangzhou, Ma Teng's mind was still clear. He could still see whether Ma had any chance of making a comeback. Facing a terrifying behemoth like Xuan Xia, honest cooperation was the only way out.

However, he knew that the arrogant Ma Chao would certainly not accept such a decision, so he simply went to meet Xu Chen in person and do the job himself. By then, Ma Chao would have no choice but to acknowledge him.

No one knows a son better than his father. Ma Teng knew very well that if he didn't do this, Ma Chao's violent temper would definitely cause trouble.

Only by creating a fait accompli in this way can we force Ma Chao to accept his fate.

It's not good for his son to be too strong. Ma Teng can hardly control him, so he can only use this method. However, the price offered by the court is still far from what Ma Teng wanted, so this method has held him back.

Is there still room for a fallout now? If not, will that man let me bargain?
When Ma Teng was feeling nervous, he heard the soldiers' greetings coming from outside the hall, followed by the sound of unhurried footsteps.

Several people stood up subconsciously, and the atmosphere in the hall became even more tense.

Even though they were all powerful princes entrenched in one area, at this moment, they actually felt a kind of nervousness almost like a student paying a visit to his teacher, even though the other party had not actually shown up yet.

This is the invisible oppression brought by pure identity. The man who now dominates the entire Xuanxia, ​​or the land of China, naturally possesses authority similar to that of an emperor, not to mention that Xu Chen is also a person comparable to an entrepreneurial king.

This kind of authority, just the sound of approaching footsteps, made the hearts of several people beat faster and they couldn't help but hold their breath.

But when the footsteps actually entered the hall and a tall and imposing man appeared before them, they suddenly relaxed.

It was like bathing in the spring breeze, or like the warmth was spreading. As Xu Chen walked over with a smile on his face, his approachable and casual and relaxed temperament inexplicably made people let go of all their tension and anxiety.

At this moment, they had an illusion, as if they were not meeting the ruler of this land, but were meeting with good friends in a relaxed and pleasant manner.

"I was reluctant to leave home, so I kept you waiting for a long time. Please don't blame me."

(End of this chapter)