Chapter 168: Cutting off territory and asking for peace, giving protons (5,000 words)
Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Jin with a somewhat scrutinizing gaze. At this time, the softness in his eyes had disappeared.
Liu Bei asked Zhuge Jin: "Does Ziyu mean that that little thief Sun Quan intends to seek peace with Gu?"
Liu Bei's questioning voice reached Zhuge Jin's ears, and the somewhat mocking tone in Liu Bei's words was clearly revealed.
He was afraid that Zhuge Jin was Sun Quan's envoy, but when he caught the ridicule in Liu Bei's words, a look of shame appeared on Zhuge Jin's face.
It's just that as a minister of Sun Quan, since Zhuge Jin took over the important task of going on an envoy, he naturally could no longer shrink back.
Zhuge Jin bowed to Liu Bei and said, "My master has this intention."
"Your Majesty came to Xiangyang in person, probably because General Hussar intended to seize Jingzhou and murdered General Guan. He had deep grudges, so he felt that he wanted to seek revenge from General Hussar.
However, the king's intentions here were too small and he did not pay attention to the big ones.
Jin Shi was the king and discussed its importance and size.
If the king suppresses his power and anger and carefully considers what Jin said today, the matter can be decided immediately and things will turn around.
Today, the Han thief Cao Cao conquers the emperor and abuses the people. Jiuzhou accounts for six of them, and his military power spreads across the sea.
Since Chibi, the Liu and Sun families have been united for more than ten years. Although there were frictions in the process, they were able to reconcile in the end.
Because of the alliance between the two families, Cao Cao was defeated in Chibi in the past, but now he is humiliated in Hanzhong.
From this we can see that the Liu and Sun families benefit both from cooperation and lose from conflict.
Your Majesty, do you think personal grievances are as deep as national hatred? Who is the big or small in Jingzhou and the rest of the country?
If we all respond to hatred and disease, who should take precedence? If you look at these numbers, it will be easy to turn your hand."
When Zhuge Jin finished speaking, the tent instantly fell into silence.
Does what Zhuge Jin said make sense? Of course it does. In the past, this was the consensus of the Liu and Sun families, and it was also the situation that Zhuge Jin's younger brother Zhuge Liang wanted to create.
But when Zhuge Jin said the above words at this time, the look of disdain on the faces of the officials in the tent became even stronger.
Fortunately, Zhang Fei was not here, otherwise he would have started to curse loudly.
After Liu Bei heard Zhuge Jin's words, he couldn't help but sneered a few times.
He bent slightly and looked at Zhuge Jin with dangerous eyes, and said with a coldness in his mouth:
"Tzuyu is really knowledgeable, but I would like to ask, since Ziyu has this insight, why didn't Ziyu advise your master like this when Sun Quan launched his army to attack Jingzhou?"
"If Tzuyu didn't use this principle to admonish your master at the beginning, then how can you use these words to admonish me today?"
"If Tzuyu could not use this principle to dissuade you from raising unjust armies and doing evil things.
So how confident is Tzuyu today that he can use this principle to persuade the king's teacher to stop the people and punish the crimes?"
"Can Ziyu answer Gu's doubts?"
Liu Bei's face was now filled with a look of solemnity.
Under Liu Bei's three consecutive questions, cold sweat began to appear on Zhuge Jin's face.
Liu Bei has been fighting for decades, step by step, relying on his own hard work from the bottom to reach the throne of the King of Hanzhong today.
When he questioned Zhuge Jin with a cold voice, the kingly aura in him was clearly revealed to Zhuge Jin.
Zhuge Jin had never felt this kind of momentum from Sun Quan, so facing Liu Bei's strong pressure, Zhuge Jin's heart suddenly felt fear.
Coupled with Liu Bei's rhetorical question, Zhuge Jin was unable to answer at all.
Because Liu Bei's rhetorical question was based on facts, human feelings, and morality. How could Zhuge Jin refute this?
Zhuge Jin kept saying that one thing was the overall situation and the other was national hatred, but it was Sun Quan who destroyed the overall situation first and forgot the national hatred first.
It was Sun Quan who betrayed his trust and attacked his allies first. Faced with the sneak attack and betrayal of his allies, Liu Bei decided to send troops to avenge his enemies and demonstrate justice in the world. What could be wrong?
Seeing that Zhuge Jin was speechless and sweating coldly under his retort, the disdain on Liu Bei's lips became even stronger.
They are from the same mother, but they are as different as heaven and earth.
Kong Ming is better.
When Zhuge Jin was at a loss, Liu Bei stood up directly and walked towards Zhuge Jin.
This scene made Zhuge Jin unconsciously take a few steps back.
Liu Bei stood up with his hand on the king's sword. He looked at Zhuge Jin with cold eyes and said: "In the 20th year of Jian'an, although Sun Quan had the intention to seize it, at least at that time he dared to send troops to attack Jingzhou openly."
"But last year, after he had already demarcated the border with the Xiangshui River, he dared to ignore the covenant and resort to such despicable means as a sneak attack."
"The vicious tactics are rare in the world. Now that his army was defeated by Zi Sheng and suffered heavy losses, now he thinks of asking for peace again?"
"I would like to ask which prince in the world can tolerate such a despicable and cunning man in the world."
"Gu believed in Sun Quan, but Sun Quan betrayed Gu. This was both hatred and humiliation for Gu.
Does Ziyu think that you can make Gu forget this great hatred and humiliation with just a few words that confuse right and wrong?"
Liu Bei's words were sharp and well-founded. Every time he spoke, he took a step closer with his sword in hand. Under the pressure of Liu Bei's words and the coercion on his body, Zhuge Jin kept retreating and was almost out of the commander's tent.
When Liu Bei was young, he spoke little. Later, he raised troops and traveled around the world. Because his career was not going well in the early days, he often stayed under the influence of other countries.
During that time, in order to protect himself, he honed his eloquence.
In terms of eloquence alone, he is not inferior to any of his ministers.
Guan Yu and the officials in Jingzhou in the tent looked at Liu Bei's sharp words and the way he spoke every step of the way, and they recalled the figure of a young man in their minds.
In the military tent outside Fancheng, Mi Yang also refuted Pan Jun step by step.
It turns out that Mi Yang learned this from the king.
When Zhuge Jin was about to exit the king's tent, he finally suppressed his confusion and stopped himself.
He knew that Liu Bei was a wise master after all and could not be persuaded by words alone.
Since words can't move the needle, we can only use practical benefits.
After Zhuge Jin stabilized his body, he suppressed the fear of Liu Bei in his heart, bowed to Liu Bei and said, "What the king said makes sense."
"Jin tried to persuade my lord at first, but my lord didn't listen. Jin is a minister and cannot disobey my lord's orders."
"I am sending an envoy today. Jin also knows that your Majesty will be very angry with our Lord and it will not be easy to seek peace. However, my Lord asked me to go, but I have no choice but to go."
"When Jin left Yong'an, my lord made it clear to Jin that as long as the king can agree to my lord's request for peace, and the two families can form an alliance, my lord is willing to return the two counties of Changsha and Guiyang as a sign of sincerity."
After hearing what Zhuge Jin said, the cold expression on Liu Bei's face became slightly lowered.
But he felt that simply returning the two counties was not enough.
Liu Bei said to Zhuge Jin: "When the Xiang River was demarcated, Sun Quan separated the three counties of Jiangxia, Changsha and Guiyang from Guhe."
"Now that he has violated the Xiangshui treaty signed that year, let's return all three counties."
When Liu Bei said this, the look on Zhuge Jin's face changed drastically.
When he left Yong'an, Sun Quan held his hand and said to him "Protect Jiangxia".
This shows that these four words are the bottom line in Sun Quan's heart.
Because Jiangxia County is so important to Jiangdong.
Jiangxia borders Jiangdong to the east, Jingzhou to the west, and Yuzhou to the north. It is an extremely important hub in the southeast of the Han Dynasty and a strategic location that the three families must compete for.
In addition, Jiangxia also plays a very important role for Jiangdong.
Jiangxia has crisscrossed waters and developed water transportation. The Yangtze River, the largest river in the south, flows through the entire territory of Jiangxia, dividing Jiangxia into two.
After the Yangtze River enters the territory of Jiangxia, there is a corner near Xiakou. After passing through that corner, the water of the Yangtze River flows straight to the east of the Yangtze River in a mighty way.
If once Jiangxia County is captured by Liu Bei, then if Liu Bei builds ships in Xiakou and invades Jiangdong in the future, the Jiangdong navy, which is completely downstream, will be at a disadvantage, which will be extremely detrimental to Jiangdong.
Losing Jiangxia County would expose the hinterland of Jiangdong to Liu Bei's military front. Such a result was absolutely unacceptable to Sun Quan.
Zhuge Jin immediately bowed to Liu Bei and said: "Back then, most of Jiangxia was in the hands of my lord. When the Xiang River was demarcated, although the two families stipulated that each of the two families should be divided into three counties of Jingzhou, in fact, what my lord got at that time was only
Changsha and Guiyang counties."
"If your Majesty wants to ask for a county in Jiangxia, it would be a bit unreasonable."
Zhuge Jin is right about this. Before the demarcation of the Xiang River, the area Liu Bei actually controlled was Nanjun and the four counties of Jingnan.
In the thirteenth year of Jian'an, on the eve of the Battle of Chibi, Sun Quan, with the assistance of Zhou Yu, finally attacked and killed Huang Zu and captured most of Jiangxia County, but some counties were not captured.
But in the same year, Liu Qi was seeking refuge. After he learned about Huang Zu's death, he asked Liu Biao to be the prefect of Jiangxia and go out to control the counties that Sun Quan had not yet conquered.
These counties later became Liu Bei's initial stronghold after arriving in Jiangxia.
After the victory in the Battle of Chibi, Liu Bei felt that he could not realize his ideals while living in several counties in Jiangxia, so he proposed to Sun Quan to exchange several counties in Jiangxia for part of Nanjun as a place to live.
At Liu Bei's suggestion, and because Zhou Yu needed Liu Bei's assistance when he attacked Jiangling, Sun Quan agreed to the request.
From then on, Liu Bei gradually captured the four counties in Jingnan based on part of Nanjun.
After Zhou Yu's death, at the suggestion of Lu Su, Sun Quan agreed to lend Nanjun Jiangling counties to Liu Bei, and Liu Bei completely occupied Nanjun.
In other words, when the Xiang River was demarcated, Jiangxia County was actually in Sun Quan's hands.
When delimiting the Xiang River, Liu Bei only actually gave up the two counties of Changsha and Guiyang, and formally handed over the ownership of Jiangxia to Sun Quan in name.
Although Zhuge Jin was right, after Liu Bei listened to Zhuge Jin's words, he said to Zhuge Jin: "When the Xiang River was demarcated, I and your lord made an agreement to divide Jingzhou equally and never cause any disputes over this.
.”
"The love between Gong Jin and Zijing was repaid by giving up the two counties of Changsha and Guiyang."
"Half of Nanjun, I can repay it with two counties. I have done my best to Sun Quan, and I owe nothing more."
"But last year, Sun Quan had evil intentions again and launched a sneak attack on Jingzhou. This was such an outrageous thing. If this time he just repays the two counties of Changsha and Guiyang, wouldn't it be too easy for Sun Quan?"
"When people do something wrong, they should pay the price."
"There is no need for Ziyu to say anything more. If Sun Quan really wants to seek peace, he will hand over the three counties of Jiangxia, Changsha and Guiyang to Gu."
"Otherwise, once the war breaks out, all life in Jiangdong will be devastated. Sun Quan will not regret it when the time comes!"
Facing Liu Bei's tough attitude, Zhuge Jin was in a panic. He was about to bow down and fight for it again, but Liu Bei said angrily:
"Tzuyu, do you think this is still the same as then?"
"Back then I was worried that Cao Cao would annex Hanzhong, so I had to return my troops in time, so I demarcated the border with you on the Xiang River."
"But now Gubei has retreated from Cao Cao and defeated your 100,000-strong Jiangdong army in the east. The military front is at its peak, but your Jiangdong vitality has been greatly damaged, and all the troops in Jiangdong are defeated."
"It is a great blessing to you, Jiangdong, that I am willing to accept your Lord's peace proposal."
"Don't go into too much detail. Gu Jing is Kong Ming's brother, so I'm sharing this with you. Don't think that Gu's courtesy will mean I won't raise troops to attack Jiangdong."
"Remember these four words: the present is different from the past!"
"You quickly return to Jiangxia and tell Sun Quan that if you don't get a reply from him within ten days, then wait until after the autumn harvest and the two armies will fight."
After finishing speaking, Liu Bei turned his back to Zhuge Jin and said to the soldiers in the tent: "Send the envoys out of the camp."
As soon as King Liu Bei gave the order, the soldiers in the tent immediately stepped forward and came behind Zhuge Jin.
Feeling the fierce gaze of the soldiers behind him, Zhuge Jin could only sigh secretly in his heart. He had tried his best.
Zhuge Jin bowed to Liu Bei's back and slowly left Liu Bei's handsome tent with a lonely figure.
After Zhuge Jin left Xiangyang, he quickly rushed back to Yong'an City by waterway because of the ten-day deadline given by Liu Bei.
Sun Quan, who was in Yong'an City, immediately summoned Zhuge Jin in the meeting hall as soon as he heard the news of Zhuge Jin's return.
During the days when Zhuge Jin left, Sun Quan had been anxiously waiting for Zhuge Jin's return.
The moment he saw Zhuge Jin, Sun Quan had a look of joy on his face.
After Sun Quan ordered Zhuge Jin to take a seat in the hall, he immediately asked Zhuge Jin: "This time Ziyu went to Jingzhou as an envoy to express his wish for peace on behalf of Gu Gu. Did Liu Bei agree?"
At this time, Sun Quan still had confidence in whether Zhuge Jin could succeed in suing for peace.
Because when Zhuge Jin left, Sun Quan had already revealed his intention. As long as Jiangxia could be protected, Changsha and Guiyang counties could be separated.
In Sun Quan's opinion, this condition was already very generous.
But in the face of Sun Quan's inquiry, Zhuge Jin's face showed bitterness, and he said to Sun Quan: "The King of Hanzhong intends to agree to peace, but the prerequisite is that the Supreme Lord cedes Jiangxia."
After Zhuge Jin said this, he told Sun Quan roughly what Liu Bei said.
Of course, Zhuge Jin deliberately omitted those words Liu Bei scolded Sun Quan.
After hearing what Zhuge Jin said, Sun Quan's face first showed a look of surprise, and finally a look of anger.
He raised the case and said angrily: "The old thief Liu Bei is hateful. He has already made such concessions, but he is still not satisfied."
"Jiangxia must not be lost, otherwise in the future I will be a piece of cake on Liu Bei's record."
"Since the old thief won't allow Gu to seek peace, then Gu can't make peace!"
The table lifted up by Sun Quan rose from the air and fell high on the floor of the hall with a loud noise.
Seeing Sun Quan's uncontrollable anger, the other Jiangdong officials in the hall were all silent.
At this time, only Minister Lu Xun in the hall dared to face Sun Quan's anger and admonish him, "Your Majesty, please calm down for the time being."
Sun Quan saw that he was from Lu Xun, and the anger on his face temporarily subsided.
But his mouth was still full of anger: "Bo Yan, you heard it too."
"Liu Bei deceived people too much. He was not satisfied with the two counties, but he wanted Jiangxia."
"How can Jiangxia County be ceded?"
As the lord of Jiangdong, Sun Quan was well aware of the importance of Jiangxia to Jiangdong. As a great talent of the time, how could Lu Xun not know this?
It’s just that Lu Xun has his own opinion.
Lu Xun said to Sun Quan: "The spring plowing is about to begin, Liu Bei will not immediately send troops to attack our army."
"But once this year's autumn harvest is over, according to Liu Bei's temperament, he will definitely send troops to Jiangxia if he keeps his word."
"Our army's public security force has been severely weakened in the first battle, but now Liu Bei dominates the two states of Jingyi and is powerful."
"If his army comes by then and the two armies are fighting, the enemy will be strong and we will be weak, and the situation will be unfavorable to our army."
"The most important thing is that if Cao Cao takes advantage of the battle between our two armies and sends troops to attack Lujiang County, our army will be attacked from both sides and will be in danger!"
"Therefore, it is the best policy to make friends with Liu Bei at this time."
After listening to Lu Xun's advice, although he knew what Lu Xun said was reasonable, he still held on to another glimmer of hope.
Sun Quan asked Lu Xun, "Now that Liu Bei has taken advantage of the situation and deceived others too much, he can also strengthen his alliance with the King of Wei."
"When the King of Wei helps me, Gu Yi may not be afraid of Liu Bei!"
When Lu Xun heard Sun Quan's words, worry appeared on his face.
Lu Xun bowed solemnly to Sun Quan and said, "Your Majesty! Cao Cao is ambitious and has never been trustworthy."
"The Supreme Being had good relations with Cao Cao many times before. In the end, didn't Cao Cao send troops to attack Jiangdong many times?"
"After the First World War, our army will need at least five years to recover."
"Today there are three pillars of defense, Cao Cao is the strongest. Although Cao Cao and Liu Bei are mortal enemies, Liu Bei has now occupied Xiangyang, and with the Han River as a defense line, it will not be easy for Cao Cao to defeat Liu Bei."
"If Cao Cao is unable to attack Liu Bei for a long time, he will definitely turn his gun and attack Jiangdong. At that time, what will Jiangdong have to rely on?"
"And if he has a good alliance with Liu Bei, with Liu Bei's reputation, he will not tear up the alliance at will like Cao Cao."
"At that time, if Cao Cao attacks Jiangdong, our army can rely on Liu Bei's troops to protect itself."
"And after Liu Bei made an alliance with our army, he will definitely keep the Northern Expedition in mind at all times. By then, Cao Cao and Liu Bei will be fighting each other, and our army will have a chance to breathe."
After hearing what Lu Xun said, the anger on Sun Quan's face gradually dissipated.
But he still felt unwilling to do so. He asked Lu Xun, "Is it true that Gu really has no choice but to hand over Jiangxia County?"
Faced with Sun Quan's concerns, Lu Xun had a compromise in mind.
Lu Xun advised Sun Quan: "Liu Bei wants Jiangxia because he is worried that our army will attack Jingzhou again."
"I suspect that he has no intention of annexing Jiangdong for the time being, otherwise he would not agree to the peace proposal."
"In this case, I suggest that the Supreme Lord send the eldest son to Jingzhou."
"With the eldest son in Jingzhou, Liu Bei can feel at ease if he comes."
After Sun Quan heard Lu Xun's proposal to send Sun Deng away, a look of shock and anger appeared on his face. He shouted to Lu Xun: "You are brave!"
Sun Deng was his most beloved eldest son.
Facing Sun Quan's angry shouts, Lu Xun fell to his knees, but there was no look of regret on his face for making this suggestion.
Lu Xun knelt down and replied: "Liu Bei has a reputation of benevolence and righteousness. The eldest son's life will not be in danger if he enters Jingzhou."
"Only in this way will Liu Bei feel confident in our army. Only in this way can Jiangxia be preserved."
"My suggestions are entirely out of public interest, and I hope that the Supreme Being will understand them clearly."
"I hope that the Supreme One will not abandon the foundation of thousands of miles of rivers and mountains because of petty love!"
After speaking, Lu Xun bowed his head to Sun Quan.
Lu Xun's words fell into Sun Quan's ears. Sun Quan listened to Lu Xun's words and recalled the current situation in his mind. Finally, all the anger on his face disappeared, leaving only helplessness and sadness.
Sun Quan was unsteady and fell down on his seat.
After a long time, in the silent hall, Sun Quan's old voice echoed through the hall.
"Wen Ze, please go back to Jianye in person and bring Deng'er over."
Modifying the timeout is not a big problem.
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!