Great Han Empire

Chapter 221
As soon as Li Hong walked out of the alley where Bian Zhang's family lived, he was attacked by assassins frantically.Although Yang Qiu fought hard with a group of soldiers, Li Hong was still seriously injured.This group of assassins with extremely high martial arts skills was very powerful. They fought fiercely and tore through the interception of Xiliang guards. They cut a bloody path from the crowd and rushed to the black panther attendants who tightly surrounded Li Hong.At this time, several assassins disguised as Xiliang guards took advantage of the confusion and approached Li Hong. They shot Li Hong at close range with sharp crossbow arrows.

Zhao Yun and Xu Rong then commanded the Black Panther attendants to swarm up to kill the assassin, and quickly carried the unconscious Li Hong back to the government office.

=

After listening to Han Sui's narration, Bian Zhang asked in a low voice, "How is Li Zhonglang injured?"

"The crossbow arrows on his body have been taken out, but the wound has been bleeding, and Li Zhonglang is still in a coma." Han Sui said bitterly, "Assassins are all dead men, and they would rather die than surrender. We didn't catch any alive. .”

Bian Zhang said worriedly: "The person behind this is very vicious, and he is determined to put Li Zhonglang to death. If the assassination fails this time, there must be another time. Let's send troops to protect the government office, and there will be no more mistakes."

Han Sui nodded slightly, and said with a faint smile: "I was planning to ask Li Zhonglang to stay later and continue to discuss the conditions of recruiting, but this happened unexpectedly. That's fine, don't tell me, he can leave now if he wants to." No, we can still talk for a while."

Bian Zhang glanced at him sideways, and said slowly: "Wen Yue, I heard from Li Zhonglang that your conditions are difficult for the court to accept. What conditions did you propose?"

Han Sui said it concisely.

Bian Zhang was silent for a long time, and said, "This condition is really difficult to accept. Are you trying to modify the condition to keep Li Zhonglang?"

Han Sui shook his head and said, "I want to ask what conditions he gave us?"

Bian Zhang looked at him and said, "Wen Yue, do you have other ideas?"

Han Sui bowed his head and stood silently.

"You promised me that as long as the opportunity is right, we will surrender. Why did you suddenly go back on your word? These demands you made are obviously territorial divisions, and it is clear that you are unwilling to discuss with Li Zhonglang." Bian Zhang stared at him, hesitating for a moment , asked: "Don't you really want to separatist and dominate?"

Han Sui let out a wry smile, and said melancholy: "Old Bian, our friends for so many years, don't you know what I think? I didn't want to surrender in the first place, and I didn't even want to go back to that dirty place. It’s not the Han Kingdom, it’s the Han Kingdom of the eunuchs.”

"It is indeed a good thing for the imperial court to order appeasement, especially for you and me, and for the leaders of our gang. During the two years of war and riots, we have had enough money and drunk enough , we have accumulated a lot of money, even if the imperial court does not give us official positions, we will not have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of our lives, and we are not afraid of having no money to spend. Teach and teach apprentices. Yang Qiuma doesn’t need to be bandits anymore. They can buy a manor with a whole load of money, build a dock, buy fields, and become a rich man. But what about the soldiers? Those low-level officers What about the people of Xiliang?"

"Two years of war have made them used to this kind of life of beatings, killings, and looting. Old Bian, have you ever thought about what will happen to them after they are recruited? They will all be sent home, They have to pick up hoes and plows to work in the fields again, pick up whips and lassoes to go up the mountains to graze livestock, and those homeless still pick up knives and guns and step on horses to become bandits. Except for a group of brothers and friends who died, nothing has changed. , Those who deserve to be poor are still poor, those who deserve to be bullied and humiliated are still humiliated and bullied. This is their fate."

"What will they do when they go back to their hometown and find that everything is worse than before the rebellion?"

Han Sui looked at Bian Zhang, smiled slightly, made an explosive gesture with the flute in his hand, and said: "They will gather again, find a leader again, and live a life of blood licking with the knife head again, reaping without work, burning, killing and looting." , a bloody and exciting life.”

Bian Zhang was silent in thought.

"Do you know why I suddenly changed my mind?" Han Sui paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his hands, as if he was talking to himself, or as if he was talking to Bian Zhang, "I heard that Li Zhonglang was coming that day. Still excited, I kept thinking about how to get the amnesty from His Majesty the Emperor, and live a stable and leisurely life again. I couldn't sleep at night, and I was walking in the courtyard, and I overheard a few guards chatting together, discussing the way out after being dismissed. Of the five people, none of them was willing to go home to farm and herd. They were all discussing how to become bandits, horse bandits, and bandits, but no one said that they were willing to go home, hug a woman and hold a child, and honestly start a new life. In their hearts, this world has returned to the past, and it is even worse than the past. For them, there is rebellion besides rebellion. Because only huge profits and blood can let them find the dignity of being a human being, and find the feeling of happiness and hatred, so that they can eat The food they have never eaten, the wine they have never drunk, the golden silk that they may have never seen, and the luxury of living in a manor that they can never imagine. Only in this way can they be better Only by touching the good life up close can they feel the hope of a good life. For them, as long as they suffer humiliation, hunger and cold, and live a miserable life, it is better to simply and comfortably, A moment passed with a bang."

"These disbanded soldiers were first organized in twos and threes. They went to steal and rob to become bandits. Everyone wanted to get something for nothing. Small groups of bandits would accumulate into large groups of bandits, and large groups of bandits would accumulate into an army. With an army, it would be even more difficult. Unscrupulous attacking the city and pulling out the stronghold. After looting all the things in Xiliang, they may have to organize more forces to burn, kill and loot in places other than Xiliang. Who will suffer in the end? They are all innocent people."

"This is the aftermath of appeasement. Is this the appeasement you would like to see?" Han Sui said painfully, "Don't think I'm alarmist. Just think about how our current team got together."

Bian Zhang sighed helplessly and indignantly.

"Old Bian, do you know? The soldiers have begun to hate us. Two years of war have left them with blood and death, pain and poverty, and humiliation that will never be erased. What about us? We Gaining fame due to wars, saving lives because of the sacrifices of soldiers, gaining wealth through plundering by soldiers, turning all illegal things into legal things because of appeasement, and we are the ones who profit in the end. Old Bian , if you are a soldier covered in scars, do you have no anger, no disappointment, no hatred in your heart?"

Bian Zhang closed his eyes, obviously suffering.

"Things are far from being as simple as we imagined. After the appeasement, who will govern Xiliang? Who will govern the two border counties of Jincheng and Longxi? If the officials sent by the imperial court are still as cruel and greedy, and even better than before, the lives of the people How? How are the Qiang people treated equally? What if they riot again?"

"After two years of war in Xiliang, the people are desolate, the people are in dire straits, the economy is extremely scarce, and they are no longer able to resist the invasion of the Hu people. There are not many left. If our army is dismissed after appeasement, there will basically be no border guards on the border, and the border will be in vain. Under such circumstances, if the overseas Qianghu takes the opportunity to fall, how can we resist? Let the people Trampled and trampled under the iron hooves of the Hu clan?"

Han Sui accelerated his pace with some excitement, and his voice became louder and louder.

"Is my request too much? I don't think it is too much at all. Although some things violate the laws of the Han Dynasty, under the current circumstances, this is the only way to protect the western border, ensure the stability of Xiliang, and accelerate the national power of the Han Dynasty." The only way to recover. Looking at the history of our western Xinjiang, why did the Qianghu rebellion persist? Why Xiliang has been struggling in the war for decades? The most fundamental reason is that there are too few frontier troops .Why are there so few frontier troops? Bureaucrats at all levels corrupted the law, deducted military pay, and falsely reported the number of soldiers.

"Do you think that Li Zhonglang was corrupted in Xiliangsu, killed a few people, and ransacked a few houses, so that Li Zhonglang can turn the world around and turn the sky in Xijiang completely blue? Old Bian, you are too wishful thinking? Xiliang The reason why the persistent disease of Xiliang can't be cured for a long time is not that Xiliang is rotten, but because the whole Han country is rotten. If you want to recover, don't say that Li Zhonglang is an idiot, even if the emperor visits him, he can't recover. The only way is to completely destroy it. Do it all over again, otherwise there will be no possibility of governance.”

"Why do I have to befriend June Jinglei and Kuangfengsha? Am I willing to bear the reputation of collaborating with the Hu people? But if I don't make friends with them, they will immediately attack Xiliang and plunder me In the land of Xijiang, what can we use to resist? What can we use to defeat the enemy? If we are defeated, the Great Han Kingdom will lose Xiliang immediately. But what about the people of Xiliang? What they have suffered is endless humiliation and humiliation kill."

"Li Zhonglang, what does he know? A young boy, because of a good opportunity, bloodthirsty, made a bit of bullshit credit, sitting in front of me majestically gesticulating, what kind of emperor does he represent? I get angry when I look at him? What does he know? What else can he do besides killing people?"

Han Sui stood in the room, stabilized his excitement a little, and continued: "In Xiliang, who knows Xiliang's past, present and future better than me? Who is better at governing Xiliang than me? Who Is there a better way than me to restore the stability and prosperity of Xiliang?"

"I am loyal to the big man and to His Majesty, and only God can express my heart."

"Now, I have rebelled, what reputation do I still care about, I have decided to do this, no matter what others say, even if later generations say that I am a treacherous villain, the most hateful and shameless traitor of a big man, I will Do it. I have made up my mind and no one can stop me."

Bian Zhang looked at Han Sui's handsome face that was slightly pale due to over-excitement, and was speechless.

After a while, he said slowly: "Wen Yue, the reality in front of us is that we are on the verge of desperation. Even if you want to realize your grand ambitions, we still need a period of recovery in order to accumulate strength and increase strength. At present, we Your condition is not good, we cannot give you enough strength and support, we do not have the strength to contend with the imperial court. So, why not make a temporary compromise?"

Han Sui walked slowly to the old side's bed, groaning silently.

"We have been friends for decades. We grew up together and rebelled together. There is no need for you to hide these things from me."

"Your health is getting worse and worse. I really don't want to tell you these things to make you worry more and feel more pain." Han Sui grabbed Bian Zhang's hand and said sincerely, "But, I I don’t want you to misunderstand me and think that I have some ulterior motives and inflated selfish desires. Think about it, I abandoned decades of reputation, abandoned the teachings of my ancestors, and I raised the flag to rebel with you. What greed, what selfishness is there."

Bian Zhang shook his hand vigorously, deeply moved.

=

"Old Bian, what do you mean, should you agree to the imperial court's appeasement first?" Han Sui asked.

"Yes." Bian Zhang said, "You promised the clan in private, refused the court's appeasement, and provided the Fang forces with the opportunity and excuse to assassinate Li Zhonglang. What good would that do us? After Li Zhonglang's death, immediately sent troops to encircle and suppress us, how will we deal with ourselves? When will these mercenary villains have faith?"

"You only think that the forces in North Korea and China are too far away from us, causing little harm to us, but why don't you think that after Li Zhonglang is eliminated, the forces in North Korea and China will recover soon and can still kill us. They don't want to appease us Bian Zhang said, "Think about it, how many Yellow Turbans did Huangfusong kill in Jizhou? Was it because there was no food? No, Huangfusong did it for the bloody suppression, to break the courage of the rebels, so that they would no longer dare to rebel. Heart."

"Last year, if we hadn't had the foresight to release Yan Zhong in Luoyang in advance to persuade him to rebel, we might have been beheaded by Huangfu Song. Therefore, the policy of the powerful family to deal with rebellion is absolutely bloody suppression, and there is no such thing as appeasement and persuasion. Such a thing."

"Li Zhonglang is different. You can see that he defeated the Yellow Turban Army in Jizhou last year, and this year he defeated us. He recruited a large number of prisoners. Li Zhonglang was born as a slave, and he still has great sympathy for us. This is from the fact that he did not kill Beigong Boyu and It can be seen that they belong to Qiang soldiers. Why don't you use people who are similar to us? Instead, deal with those jackals?
"We took advantage of the chaotic situation in Xiliang to cultivate and grow Li Zhonglang's power, forming a situation that the imperial court could not lose. Li Zhonglang is a tiger in the western border, holding a powerful army, and naturally wants to suppress all forces in the imperial court. The various factions will certainly not sit still, and may join forces to fight back. When they are fighting endlessly, we can develop rapidly under the shade of Li Zhonglang, a big tree."

"So, I think that instead of eliminating Li Zhonglang and reducing troubles for the forces in the court, it is better to support Li Zhonglang and increase troubles for the forces in the court, so that they can ignore each other and bite each other. Wouldn't we have more opportunities and more time? In the future Can't the requirements be raised higher?"

Han Sui woke up suddenly with a happy expression on his face.Bian Zhang was probably tired, stopped for a while, and continued: "I'm going to die. Although I don't agree with you rebelling all the time, your idea just now is still reasonable, which I didn't think of before. I'm too conservative. Thinking about the stability of the people in Xiliang, I didn’t realize that stability does not mean food and clothing. If there is no food, everyone still has to make hair, and the people still have to suffer. You are right, although I don’t want you to do this, but I am about to die, I am still willing to help you complete this matter. As long as it is to make the people of Xiliang live a better life, I will help you."

=

Hearing Xu Rong's hearty laughter in the front hall, Li Hong immediately stood up and strode forward to meet him.

"How is it? Zilie, what did Mr. Bian say?" Li Hong asked eagerly.

Xu Rong bowed and said: "Mr. Bian said that Mr. Wen Yue has agreed to be caressed. He is negotiating this matter with his subordinates in the past two days. It is estimated that we can talk about it in a day or two. In addition, he asked me to tell the Lord, Fu He has already sent someone to arrange the matter that your lord entrusted, as long as your lord returns safely to the Zixiu Mountain camp, someone will deliver the things there."

Li Hong patted Xu Rong excitedly, and said with a smile, "Mr. Bian is indeed very talented and powerful. Did he say he would send me across the Yellow River?"

"Mr. Bian said, you are seriously injured, you should heal your injuries first, and don't worry about going back for the time being. He said that after we have reached an agreement, he and Mr. Wen Yue will send you across the Yellow River together." Xu Rong laughed. , "My lord's trick of defrauding injuries is very effective. The government office has been much quieter these two days."

Zhao Yun laughed, and then laughed out loud.

Li Hong gave him a strange look, and asked, "Zilong, what are you laughing at?"

"I laughed... It was so interesting to laugh at your lord that day." Zhao Yun resisted it, his handsome face flushed, "At that time, the assassin's three crossbow arrows shot at your lord's chest, and your lord because there is an iron plate in the armor It’s all right, but the assassin didn’t know. He looked stupid, and he must be thinking in his heart, who is this? Smiled at the assassin with a crossbow arrow, and then stabbed it into his stomach, and blood spurted out immediately. You didn't see it at the time, the assassin's eyes were wide..." Zhao Yun gestured with both hands as much as he could, exaggerating , "It's about to fall. The captain chopped off his head with a knife, didn't you notice that his eyes are extraordinarily big?"

Xu Rong shook his head and said with a smile: "Warning, serious warning, this method cannot be used next time, it is too dangerous. If the crossbow arrow hits above the neck, it will be a disaster."

Li Hong said with a smile: "You guys are too nervous. When you dragged me to run, it hurt my waist. What are you nervous about? My judgment is very strong in this kind of thing, and I will never make a mistake. In the past, I When I was in Xianbei, the commander-in-chief thought I was an assassin. Looking at it now, I must have been a very powerful assassin in the past. The last time I was able to escape outside Huaili City, I relied on instinct. When Zilong’s face moved, I was very natural I looked into Zilong's eyes, and immediately noticed the situation, and then my whole body reacted, that feeling..."

Li Hong thought for a while and said, "That feeling is so wonderful. You haven't lost your memory, so you don't know this feeling."

Zhao Yun hurriedly said: "My lord, if I lose my memory, you can remember, don't lose me."

Li Hong and Xu Rong looked at each other and burst out laughing.

At this time Nie Xiao walked in.

"What are the adults laughing at? Tell me."

Zhao Yun then said it again.Everyone laughed and made fun of each other.

"Old Nie, I have contacted Mr. Zheng." Li Hong asked with a smile.

Since Nie Xiao was invited by Li Hong to be the contact person of both parties, Li Hong has always respected him and trusted him, and every time he discussed anything, he would pull him together and ask for his opinion.Nie Xiao is a senior leader of the rebel army, and he is familiar with the situation of the rebel army in Xiliang. It is indeed helpful for him to refer to many details of the negotiations.Nie Xiao was very moved by this.Li Hong and his subordinates affectionately call him Lao Nie.

"We got in touch. I entrusted a friend to arrange Mr. Zheng and his party in a dock outside the city. It's very safe." Nie Xiao said, "Are you going to leave tonight?"

Li Honglue pondered for a while, and said, "I will meet with Mr. Han at night to find out what he has said. Come and pick me up in the middle of the night."

=

Li Hong was assassinated in Yunwu, and the news that he could not afford to be seriously injured was quickly sent to Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo read the news for a long time, and then said to Li Ru who was sitting next to him, "Changsheng, this Li Hong can't afford to be seriously injured, and Jincheng's affairs are a bit troublesome."

"Who sent this assassin? The timing is so bad. Isn't it courting death to commit murder in the street?" Li Ru said slowly, "It's just that, Li Hong lies in the government office every day, and the guards are strict. Our original plan It cannot be executed. General, send an order immediately to cancel the assassination plan in the city, and concentrate on arranging an ambush outside the city."

"There is news that Lao Bian seems to be personally sending Li Hong to Jincheng. If we kill Lao Bian together, the loss will not be worth the loss. The role of Lao Bian is immeasurable, especially in the current situation. You can't kill him." Dong Zhuo said thoughtfully, stroking his black beard with his hand, frowning slightly.

Li Ru waved his hand and said firmly: "First solve the problem first. If Lao Bian goes with him, we will kill him together. This time we can't kill Li Hong. The matter is quite difficult, and the pressure from all aspects is too great. And Li Hong ran away. After he comes back, he will definitely retaliate wildly. This idiot, who knows what he will do."

He stood up, looked at Dong Zhuo, and asked strangely, "Which family sent this assassin?"

=

In the study of Huaili Chengfu, Zhang Wenwen, Gaixun, Sangyang and others were also discussing this issue.

"Li Hong can't afford to be seriously injured, and he will definitely not be able to come back in a short time. If he stays in Yunwu for a long time, he and Bian Zhang, Han Sui repeatedly discuss the matter of recruiting, and there may be changes in the process." Gai Xun said, "Bian Zhang Both Zhang and Han Sui are talented people, if we show them the trick, and after carefully weighing the pros and cons, they support Li Hong against us, the situation will be bad."

"Rebellion is rebellion. They never put the country and society first. Lord Gai's worries are very reasonable." Sang Yang said worriedly, "Bian Zhang and Han Sui have very big thoughts, maybe they want to separate one side and become king and hegemony." From their point of view, they certainly hope that the court will become more chaotic."

Then he looked at Zhang Wen with contempt on his face, "What can Dong Zhuo do? Speaking of which, he has been in Xiliang for decades, and he can't even do such a small thing well."

Zhang Wen smiled and said, "Don't worry? Let's wait a little longer, maybe we still have a chance. Yuan Gu, what's your Majesty's news recently? He came to inquire about Li Hong two days ago, and he seemed very concerned."

Gai Xun said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty recently complained in the edict, saying that since Li Hong left, the matter of suppressing corruption in Xiliang has stopped, and there has been no progress so far. His income has dropped sharply, and the treasury has not received any money. In the edict, he scolded the Taiwei Mansion and Liangzhou Mansion for their incompetence. His majesty gave Li Hong such a delicious meal, I am afraid it will be difficult for him to stop in the future."

"Your Majesty won't deduct our rank salary again?" Sang Yang asked nervously.

"It's possible." Zhang Wen said with a smile, "Your Majesty has done this before."

"Any news from Nan Rong?" Zhang Wen asked Gai Xun again.

"No. Li Hongjincheng was assassinated, and many things will be delayed." Gai Xun said dissatisfiedly, "Where did Fatty Dong invite a group of idiots, they can't even kill a single person."

=

Li Hong quietly returned to Zixiu Mountain Camp.

After hearing the news, a group of high-ranking military officers rushed to the central army tent to see him.

"These assassins are quite skilled." Li Hong slapped Qu Yi lightly, and said with a smile, "He's right on the head and feet, he shoots the chest if he says he wants to shoot the chest, it's not ambiguous at all. How much did you pay for it?"

Qu Yi pretended to be nervous and asked: "Are you alright, sir? As long as the shot goes wrong, I can deduct half of their fee."

Zuo Yan smiled and said: "You have paid all the money, so what deduction is there?"

The generals laughed.

"Everyone is here today, so don't leave." Li Hong smiled happily, "Who wants to treat me to dinner and welcome me?"

Wen Chou shouted loudly, "Of course it's Mr. Qu."

"Why?" Qu Yi exclaimed dissatisfied, "Recently, I have cheated you of several meals."

Wen Chou touched the three small holes in Li Hong's armor, and said in a serious manner, "Look, everyone, the three arrows are all shot crookedly. This clearly invites a third-rate character with a low level and low asking price. Mr. Qu ……you……"

Qu Yi was so angry that he rushed up and kicked, and cursed loudly: "Little boy, how dare you say that I have ulterior motives, I will kill you..."

Everyone was laughing and joking when Zhang Xi, who was on duty at the gate, hurried in.

"Master Xian Yu, an official from Longxi County said he wanted to see Your Excellency."

Xian Yufu asked, "What did he say? Did he come to pick someone up?"

"No, he said he has something important to see your lord."

"Junyi, what's his name?" Li Hong asked.

"Pound."

=

(End of this chapter)