The Three Kingdoms: The Cold Gate World

Chapter 219
The Xiahou brothers led [-] old, weak and remnant soldiers to create a confrontation in the east of Wuguan. As time went by, after establishing solid defensive measures, the second general began to obey Cao Cao's military order and harass Wuguan every now and then, but it was always thunder and rain. In a small battle, the Jinfan Army has been transferred away. Yan Yan and Pang Tong, who were stationed in Wuguan, suffered little losses, while Cao Jun either lost hundreds or nearly a thousand every time he attacked the city. The comparison of military strength in Wuguan gradually changed. The gap in the number of soldiers and horses began to narrow.

Chunyu Qiong took over the troops left by Zhang Jaw. He learned his lesson and began to fight steadily. Zhang Liao no longer robbed the camp. They all failed once, and the [-] soldiers had rapidly shrunk to less than [-] within a month.

No one in the world expected Yuan Shao and Cao Cao to join forces to attack Guanzhong. One month later, it turned out to be the current situation.

Guo Jia seems to be safe and sound in Guanzhong.

Yizhou Fuling County

Since Guo Jia implemented the imperial examination to select scholars, Zhang Baiqi moved away from the prefect's mansion, but built a new mansion by himself. His post of prefect was also removed by Guo Jia after Xu He's rebellion.

After all, he had acted to expand the army privately back then. Putting it under the tents of other princes is already a death penalty, and Guo Jia did not seize his military power, but just removed him from the nominal prefect position and replaced him. Other officials who stood out from the imperial examination served as the prefect of Fuling. At the same time, Guo Jia retained Zhang Baiqi's salary, which was originally two thousand shi a year.

Proceeding from reality, Guo Jia had very few people who could be used by his subordinates at the beginning. It was not an exaggeration for military generals to serve as prefects or other internal affairs officials, but Guo Jia had more talents who could be used after the imperial examination. , also appointed new officials to take up important positions in the local area. Not only Zhang Baiqi, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and others were all removed from the civil positions of governing the local area. Let Yan Pu replace Zhang Liao.

If a military general has both military power and the power to govern the local area, it is difficult to control the military and political power in one person. Guo Jia wants to separate powers, not only to prevent politicians from forming cliques to gain military power, but also to guard against military generals. Raise troops locally.

This is a long-term plan, not targeting anyone or suppressing anyone. In this regard, Guo Jia treats everyone equally.

Zhang Baiqi was originally a rough and majestic man. Over the years, he has become pampered and rich, and the mansion is full of Yingying and Yanyan. Zhang Baiqi has realized one of the dreams of many men throughout the ages: having wives and concubines in groups.

"My lord, my lord..."

More than a dozen wives and concubines whispered softly in the mansion, Zhang Baiqi was in the middle of flowers, it should be a time when life was proud, but he walked through the courtyard, frowning.

Enjoy, human nature.

But he always feels that he is living a hard life now.

He likes to listen to music and watch dances, he likes to drink and carnival with a house full of friends, he likes brocade clothes, beautiful clothes and jewels, he likes to be surrounded by beauty...

In the early days of establishing a foothold in Fuling County, he had all of these.

He has dancers and kabuki at home, fine wine and food, silk and satin, and he has everything and nothing to worry about.

However, time passed and the scenery was gone. It was not that Guo Jia gave him a lower salary, but that the income and expenditure in Zhang Baiqi's mansion were not balanced. The expenditure was huge, and the income was only a stable salary every year.

He has more and more wives and concubines, more and more servants serving his wives and concubines, more and more children, and naturally more and more mouths in his mansion to open their mouths to eat.

Not to mention his profligacy, it is not bad for him to be able to barely support his family.

The song and dance troupe for his personal entertainment was dismissed from the mansion, silk and satin can only be exchanged for food to make up for the shortage in the mansion, and the banquet must be carefully calculated.

Sometimes, Zhang Baiqi would also ask himself, why do people become so burdened when they are alive?

It is often not enough to rely solely on reducing expenditures on finances. Zhang Baiqi also thought about increasing income, but the rich people in Yizhou had fawned on him before. Later, Zhang Baiqi's status under Guo Jia's command gradually declined. His value is not even comparable to that of the prefect of Fuling. .

Zhang Baiqi is just an ordinary general. His contribution to Guo Jia is not a great achievement. Even if it is a top-notch contribution, it is only in Guo Jia's heart. In the eyes of outsiders, Zhang Baiqi is insignificant.

It can’t be blamed on Guo Jia for not reusing him, but Zhang Baiqi’s ambition gradually faded after he came to Fuling. Guo Jia can hear about his enjoyment in Fuling every month, but Guo Jia doesn’t care, he won’t obliterate Zhang Bai The credit for riding should be given to Zhang Bai, and Guo Jia will not miss him.

Since you want to enjoy your life in peace, I will fulfill you.

As long as Liu Biao does not invade Yizhou, the soldiers and horses in Fuling will continue to be stationed. Guo Jia thought that if Zhang Baiqi could die one day, it would definitely be a happy death that everyone would envy!

Think about the generals in the Taiping Road, not counting those unknown soldiers who later became famous, how many of the 36 Fang Qushuai did not die unexpectedly?

With heavy steps, Zhang Baiqi came to the backyard of the mansion alone with no expression on his face, walked into a remote room, Zhang Baiqi pushed open a secret door in the corner, and stepped into the dark secret room.

Secret rooms were commonplace in the homes of wealthy families in ancient times.

Landlords hide money, politicians hide secrets, etc., and even many rich families build basements in their mansions, and various agencies and secret passages emerge in endlessly. This is a normal thing.

Zhang Baiqi walked into the secret room, lit the candles by the wall, and then knelt down in front of a low table. There was a brocade box on the low table. Zhang Baiqi gently opened the brocade box and looked at the brocade box. According to the imperial decree, Zhang Baiqi's expression was uncertain.

Holy decree!

Zhang Baiqi lived his whole life, even his ancestors for several generations, probably would never have imagined that one day he would receive the imperial edict!

It is impossible for ordinary people to receive the emperor's imperial edict alone, and Zhang Baiqi never dreamed that one day he would be able to take up the imperial edict that the emperor is qualified to issue.

Zhang Baiqi already knew the content of the imperial decree. At this moment, he stretched out his hand to gently caress the imperial decree, struggling fiercely in his heart.

Betrayal?
Betrayal?
Betrayal?
The Son of Heaven asked him to assist Yuan Shao and Cao Cao to attack Guo Jia.

After the matter was accomplished, he was granted the title of Marquis of Han Ping, hereditary.

Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty implemented the Tweet Order, the hereditary titles have been weakened by one level in each generation compared to the previous generation. This is the emperor's mind, a means to check and balance and suppress powerful princes.

Hereditary non-replacing is different from hereditary. Hereditary non-replacing is that the next generation completely inherits the title of the ancestors without weakening.

There are quite a few princes with titles at present, but there is no hereditary rule anymore. For example, Sun Ce, the Marquis of Wucheng died in battle, and his title could not be inherited by Sun Ce. Inheritance depends on Cao Cao's face. Cao Cao coerced the emperor to order the princes to give him the title, which is his.

In fact, Zhang Baiqi doesn't care whether it's hereditary or hereditary. He cares more about the title. Hanpinghou refers to Hanping County. , but has the economic power of Hanping County. This income is incomparable to the eunuch's salary.

With this huge income for Zhang Baiqi, his current plight will be reversed.

Moreover, Zhang Baiqi was in awe from the bottom of his heart when facing the imperial decree.

In the past, he was a Taipingdao general and a rebel, and his descendants will also be named as thieves.

King and loser.

If Guo Jia wins, he will be king.

If Guo Jia is defeated, he is a thief!

Zhang Baiqi also wanted to give his descendants a clean and noble background, not a street rat.

The world's three major princes are fighting in Guanzhong, and the world is focusing on it!

Gongsun Zan definitely hoped that Yuan Shao would be defeated, preferably with his entire army wiped out, and Yuan Shao himself would be buried in Guanzhong.

Lu Bu and Liu Bei probably hoped that Cao Cao would also be buried in Guanzhong.

As for Liu Biao, I am afraid that neither Guo Jia nor Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are expected to be defeated.

Sun Ce and Yuan Shu's attitude towards this battle should be the same as Liu Biao's. They both need time to recuperate and strengthen themselves. In the Guanzhong battle, it is best not to make a quick decision.

Zhang Baiqi's hands began to tremble, and he swallowed hard.

A choice determines life and death!

Snapped!
Suddenly closing the lid of the brocade box, Zhang Baiqi let out a long breath, feeling relieved.

Yuan Shao and Cao Cao's soldiers and horses cannot enter Guanzhong, so he dare not fight back!
The imperial decree said that Liu Biao would lead the army to support, but Liu Biao did not move at all in Jingzhou, and Zhang Baiqi only had [-] soldiers and horses.

Han Pinghou, within reach, but as if far away in the sky.

This imperial decree was sent secretly to Zhang Baiqi's mansion by Cao Cao's order long before the start of the war.

Cao Cao accurately gave Zhang Baiqi a county lord as a bait. You must know that after Cao Cao welcomed the emperor to Xudu to appease Yuan Shao, he only made Yuan Shao a Tinghou.

Of course, Cao Cao can also designate Zhang Baiqi as a prince and a king, but that is too fake. Zhang Baiqi knows how much he has, so it is reasonable to let him be a prince with a little more income and a higher status. , if he was granted the title of duke and king, Zhang Baiqi would directly burn the imperial decree.

Zhang Baiqi left the secret room with a normal face, and returned to the courtyard to have fun with his wife and concubine.

He is rebellious.

Because of the bargaining chip for betrayal, Cao Cao has already given it enough.

However, one must be sure about betrayal, otherwise stealing chickens will not make a lot of money, and if the success is on the verge of failure, the new master will be displeased, and the old master will turn against him. Isn't that just asking for trouble?
Zhang Baiqi wants to sit and watch the development of the battle in Guanzhong. At least for now, if he is given 1 guts, he will not dare to rebel.

Zhang Baiqi nervously waited and watched the development of the situation in Fuling County in the east of Yizhou. Yuan Shu, who was far away in Jiujiang, Yangzhou, also asked questions three times a day, eager to understand the situation in Guanzhong.

Yuan Shu, who built the palace in Shouchun, stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, overlooking the city.

Looking up at the blue sky, Yuan Shu was already over forty, and he muttered softly to himself.

"The one who inherits the jade seal of the country should be the son of heaven. The throne, the throne, the throne..."

(End of this chapter)