Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 167 Kong Rong surrenders, Gongsun Zan falls into a trap
"Prime Minister, it's time to eat."

While Kong Rong was holding the imperial edict in deep thought, Taishi Ci walked into the study with a tray carrying food.

After returning to Beihai County from Yecheng, Taishi Ci stayed there.

Kong Rong was unable to tell the true emperor from the false, so his reputation was ruined and he was reviled by people all over the world.

Even after returning to Beihai County, people would occasionally throw stones and cow dung at the Prime Minister's Mansion. There were even some radical scholars who wanted to climb over the wall and question Kong Rong in person.

In order to protect Kong Rong's safety, Taishi Ci had to give up his plan to take his mother back to Liaodong and stayed in the Prime Minister's Mansion with his mother's support.

"Well, put it there."

Kong Rong said absentmindedly.

At this moment, he had no appetite for food. His eyes were fixed on the imperial edict, and his expression was sometimes happy, sometimes worried, and sometimes conflicted.

Taishi Ci couldn't help but feel confused when he saw this.

Since Kong Rong returned to Beihai, he had stayed indoors all day, either handling government affairs or reading and writing at home, and he never smiled again. This was the first time in such a long time that he saw Kong Rong have such complex emotional fluctuations.

"What is troubling the Prime Minister?"

Taishi Ci's eyes fell on the imperial edict, which was sent by the emperor of Yecheng and had just arrived at the mansion this morning.

In response to Taishi Ci's question, Kong Rong did not hide anything and asked, "Ziyi, have you heard recently that Yuan Shao and his son turned against each other and that Yuan Shao was driven out of Yecheng?"

"Have heard a little bit."

Taishi Ci nodded. Recently, various news about Yecheng and Yuan Shao have been circulating widely.

Nowadays, people on the streets are discussing whether Yuan Xi committed treason and murdered his father, or whether Yuan Shao was really a traitor who held the emperor hostage.

Could the contents of this imperial edict be related to this matter?

"Now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from Ziyi anymore."

Kong Rong restrained his expression and said to Taishi Ci, "The emperor in Yecheng has always been hiding his incompetence. Although he is controlled by Yuan Shao on the surface, he is actually plotting something very deep in secret."

"The Yecheng Incident was led by that Majesty behind the scenes. Now he has driven away the tiger and swallowed the wolf, successfully driven away Yuan Shao and captured Yecheng."

Kong Rong kept Liu Xie's concealment of his abilities secret in his heart and never told anyone, not even Taishi Ci, for fear that the information would be accidentally leaked and put Liu Xie in danger.

But now he doesn't have to hide it anymore, because that Majesty has successfully escaped and ascended to the sky.

"what?"

Taishi Ci was shocked when he heard this. "This... Yuan Shao and his son killed each other, and Yuan Shao was driven out of Yecheng. It turned out that the emperor of Yecheng was behind this? How is this possible?"

He could not imagine how an emperor who was forced to flee to Yecheng, had no foundation, and was controlled by Yuan Shao could accomplish such a plan.

This cannot be simply summarized by the word "hiding one's shortcomings".

"It's true."

Kong Rong said with deep emotion: "That emperor has a thunder in his heart, but he is still waiting for the opportunity to soar into the sky. He is truly a great emperor with great talent and strategy! The Han Dynasty is lucky to have such a great ruler!"

He could imagine that the emperor must have endured and worked hard behind the scenes in an unimaginable way, slowly accumulating strength to achieve the current result.

Such means and such character are fully worthy of the words "great talent and strategy"!

When Taishi Ci heard Kong Rong's words, he couldn't help but blink his eyes. He could see that Kong Rong was more in agreement with the emperor and even said something like "the Han Dynasty is lucky".

Kong Rong did not notice the change in his words and continued, "Your Majesty now wants to take control of Yecheng and restore Jizhou to the Han Dynasty. He has ordered Lu Bu to send a large army to station there to prevent Yuan Shao from attacking again."

"But if Lü Bu's army wants to go to Jizhou, it must pass through Yanzhou or Qingzhou. In order for the army to pass smoothly, your majesty asked me to raise troops in Beihai County and seize the surrounding counties to attract Yuan Tan's attention so that Lü Bu's army can pass through."

"This is exactly what I am hesitating and struggling about right now... Ziyi, do you have any good suggestions?"

It was really difficult for Kong Rong to make a decision.

He seemed to be back to the time when he was in Yecheng and facing Liu Xie's questioning. His heart was filled with pain and struggle, which was even more painful than killing him.

"In fact, the Prime Minister already has the answer in his mind."

Taishi Ci smiled at Kong Rong and said, "If the Prime Minister does not want to help the Emperor, then why bother? Your hesitation is your choice."

"I think the Prime Minister doesn't need to think too much and should just follow his heart for once."

Taishi Ci threw the question back.

Kong Rong fell into silence. He supported the table with one hand and stroked the imperial edict in the other hand. The words that Liu Xie had said to him flashed through his mind from time to time.

"When you return, manage Beihai County well."

"I want to show you how I killed the thief Cao and the false emperor, wiped out the disloyalty, and restored the country!"

After a long time, Kong Rong's eyes became firm.

He turned around, took off the military token from his waist, put it in Taishi Ci's hand, and said in a deep voice: "Ziyi, I will give you the military token, and the five thousand troops in the county... will be handed over to you."

Having said that, how could Taishi Ci not understand what Kong Rong meant? He immediately clasped his fists and said, "Prime Minister, rest assured! I will definitely fulfill my mission!"

After saying that, he turned and left the study.

Watching Taishi Ci leave, Kong Rong felt relieved. He looked at the imperial edict on the table and muttered to himself, "Even if I am wrong and sorry to the previous emperors of the Han Dynasty, I am also worthy of the Han Dynasty."

……

Youzhou, Yicheng, and the prefectural government.

After reading the battle report from the front, Gongsun Zan could not help but curse, "I didn't expect that old thief Yuan Shao would escape from Yecheng so quickly. He is so lucky."

This time, he wanted to take advantage of the fact that Yuan Shao was still imprisoned by Yuan Xi, and attack Yecheng with lightning speed to rescue the emperor.

But who knew that the army had just entered Jizhou when it encountered sniper attacks from Yan Liang's army. Now there was news that Yuan Shao had escaped and arrived at the front line in person.

All I can say is that God helps Yuan but not Gongsun!

Jia Xu was also in the hall. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lord Yi. Although Yuan Shao has escaped, he has lost Yecheng, a major base, and his strength has been greatly weakened."

"Right now, Jizhou is facing internal and external troubles. As long as we, Yuan Shao, keep fighting and make him show signs of fatigue, and attract most of his troops, Cao Cao will definitely send troops to attack Jizhou. With the pincer attack from both sides, Jizhou will surely fall."

All this was part of his plan.

Gongsun Zan said with a worried look on his face: "Of course I know this truth... But in terms of background, I am far inferior to Yuan Shao. How can I continue to fight with him?"

"I even gave up farming in order to send troops to attack Jizhou. If we can't achieve results before winter, it will be difficult to continue."

It is no exaggeration to say that this military expedition was a desperate gamble.

But now he is neither going any further nor any better, and even has to compete with Yuan Shao in a consumption contest. If this continues for a long time, he will undoubtedly be defeated, and by then he may have to lose Youzhou and retreat back to his hometown in Liaodong.

Just as Jia Xu was about to continue persuading him, Gongsun Xu hurried in, shouting, "Father! Father!" Gongsun Zan was already in a bad mood, and seeing his son so impatient, he became even more impatient and scolded him, "How can you be so flustered! And I've told you so many times, except at home, you have to call me by my title when you see me on weekdays!"

Gongsun Xu came happily but was scolded. He felt depressed and replied reluctantly, "Yes, General."

Seeing this, Gongsun Zan snorted coldly: "If you have anything to say, please tell me now, don't delay my discussion with Guanglu Xun... What's in your hand?"

He noticed that Gongsun Xu was holding a jar in his hand.

Judging from the style, it is something only foreign races have.

"This? This is good stuff!"

Gongsun Xu was excited, opened the jar and showed the contents to Gongsun Zan, and said excitedly: "This is all refined salt, much finer than the fine salt we usually eat!"

"These are what I seized from the alien races. They weigh more than a hundred kilograms!"

This time he led the White Horse Volunteers out of the border to wipe out those foreign tribes and seized a lot of spoils, the most precious of which was undoubtedly the more than 100 kilograms of salt.

Salt is a strategic material at all times, let alone such fine refined salt!
"Hundreds of kilograms of refined salt?"

Gongsun Zan was startled. He took the jar, grabbed a handful of salt and looked at it carefully. Then he tasted a little and found that it melted in his mouth. It had none of the bitterness and roughness of coarse salt, but only the purest taste of salt!
Excellent product!

Gongsun Zan couldn't help but ask, "Where did those crude foreigners buy all this salt? I haven't even eaten such fine salt, how could they have hundreds of kilograms?"

The quality of this salt was the best he had ever seen in his life, and he didn't believe that the foreigners could make it.

"This... has not been clarified yet."

Gongsun Xu said somewhat awkwardly. He was so happy that he forgot to investigate this. "Don't worry, father. I will go and capture a few foreigners and torture them severely!"

Gongsun Xu was about to leave, but Jia Xu stopped him and said, "No need to go. I know who sold the salt to those foreigners."

Gongsun Xu and Gongsun Fan looked at Jia Xu together.

"who is it?"

Jia Xu waved his feather fan lightly and smiled faintly: "When I was in Jizhou, I heard that the Mi family had mastered a new method of making salt. This refined salt is the product of that new method. I didn't expect that they would even do business with foreign races."

"Mi? Isn't this a coincidence?"

Gongsun Xu was very happy, rubbing his hands, eager to try, and said: "The Mi family caravan is currently stationed in Yicheng to rest! Father, do you want me to take people to capture them all?"

"I'm sure I can make a fortune this time!"

During wartime, smuggling salt and iron is a taboo, especially salt of this quality. Selling hundreds of kilograms to foreigners at one time is a capital crime punishable by the death penalty!
Of course, Gongsun Xu would definitely not kill anyone. Instead, he wanted to take this opportunity to extort money to save his life. Who made them break the law?
"I said the job title!"

Gongsun Zan glared at him and said, "The Mi family is related to your uncle Xuande by marriage. If you capture their people, how can I explain to your uncle in the future?"

"Just bring someone to invite the manager of the Mi family caravan over. Don't touch the rest of the people. Remember not to be rude."

If it was any other caravan, they would have been arrested, but since the Mi family was related to his good brother Liu Bei, he had to give Liu Bei some face.

But the person still needs to be caught and interrogated.

"Yes, father!"

Gongsun Xu clasped his fists in response, then turned and left.

He came back again half an hour later.

However, when he came back this time, he was followed by a middle-aged fat man dressed in silk and with an extraordinary demeanor. He was the manager of the Mi family caravan.

"I have met the governor of Youzhou."

Upon seeing Gongsun Zan, the Mi family steward bowed respectfully to him, then asked with a smile: "My Mi family caravan has just arrived in your precious land. I wonder if the governor of Youzhou..."

"First time in this treasure land?"

Before he could finish his words, Gongsun Zan interrupted him and threw the jar of refined salt directly into the arms of the Mi family's steward. "You have sold so much refined salt to the foreigners, and you told me that you are new to this precious land?"

"Don't you know that selling salt and iron to foreigners without permission is a capital crime?"

The Mi family's steward was immediately horrified and said quickly, "Youzhou Mu, please forgive me! Youzhou Mu, please forgive me!"

Gongsun Zan snorted coldly, "I really don't understand. Isn't the business in the Central Plains enough for your Mi family? Why do you have to go to other tribes to do business? If you raise those foreign tribes outside the Great Wall, what will you do if they invade the border in the future?"

"That is to say, this general and Jingzhou Mu Liu Xuande are classmates, and he has a close relationship with your Mi family. If it weren't for his kindness, I would not let you off easily this time!"

Although there is no plan to touch the Mi family's caravan.

But necessary intimidation is necessary.

Otherwise, how could he get Liu Bei to accept this favor?
"Thank you very much, Youzhou Mu."

The Mi family steward finally breathed a sigh of relief. After hesitating for a moment, he continued, "Actually... the governor of Youzhou doesn't know that we do business with foreign races precisely to help the governor of Jingzhou."

"Oh? How do you say this?"

Gongsun Zan raised his eyebrows and asked with some confusion.

Doing business with foreign races to help Liu Bei?

The Mi family's steward sighed, "The governor of Jingzhou wants to form a cavalry, but he has no war horses, so we can only go outside the pass to buy them. Otherwise, why would we sell salt to foreigners?"

"We have been carrying out this matter in secret. Please forgive me, Governor of Youzhou, for the sake of Governor of Jingzhou. Our Mi family will not lose any benefit from you."

As he said this, he bowed deeply to Gongsun Zan.

After hearing his words, Gongsun Zan's eyes suddenly lit up. He stepped forward to help the Mi family's steward up, and then said kindly: "This general and Liu Xuande have a deep friendship. Since you are here to help him, how can this general not show some leniency?"

"But I have a suggestion... You don't need to buy horses from other races in the future. How about trading directly with me?"

The Mi family's steward was stunned for a moment, then asked in disbelief, "The governor of Youzhou is willing to... sell us war horses?"

"That's right!"

Gongsun Zan said solemnly: "How many war horses do you want? I will sell them to you, and they are cheaper than those foreign barbarians!"

He has no shortage of war horses!
He would lead his troops to the foreign lands to rob as much as he wanted. Why would he spend money to buy from the barbarians? Isn't this a waste of money?

Just grab it and it's done!
The Mi family steward said excitedly: "Thank you, Youzhou Mu! Thank you, Youzhou Mu!"

"It's just a small favor. It's my duty to help my classmates and friends!"

Gongsun Zan said with a smile that in his eyes, the Mi family's steward was no longer a human being, but a walking cash cow!
This is a big customer!
Behind him, Jia Xu gently waved a feather fan and looked at Gongsun Zan who was chatting enthusiastically with the steward of the Mi family, with an imperceptible smile on the corner of his mouth.

Fall into the trap.

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(PS: I will soon write about the scene where the protagonist stands on the stage. I will sort out the outline. Today I will only update 9000 words.)
(End of this chapter)