Western Hubei is adjacent to Wan County, which was originally a large county with more than 10,000 households. However, since the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Zhongping, it has been plagued by wars for more than ten years, causing the people to be separated and the fields to be barren.
When Du Xi came to Xi'e last year, he found that the grass in the city was three feet deep, and there were only a hundred households, which was about the same as one li in the past. In addition, it borders Liu Biao's Zhangling County, and thieves were rampant in the county, and the people were trapped in the city.
, no farming is allowed. The people in the wilderness are hungry, and the barns and barns are empty.
After Du Xi took office, he became benevolent to the people and selected dozens of strong men in the city to serve as county soldiers to guard the city. He sent all the old and weak out of the city and dispersed them to farm in various places. After a year, initial results were achieved.
On this day, Du Xi was leading the officials in the city to strengthen the city fortress and accumulate wood and stones to prepare for thieves. Suddenly, he received a report from the county soldiers that someone outside the city claimed to be Liu Wenlang, an old friend of the county monarch, and came to visit the county monarch. Du Xi was overjoyed when he heard this
, immediately went out of the city to greet him in person.
Seeing the undressed and elegant Liu Yao from afar, Du Xi couldn't help laughing loudly: "Wenlang, it's really you..."
Liu Gao smiled and said: "Brother Du, you are fine."
The two were overjoyed to meet again after a long absence. Du Xi took Liu Yao into the city and asked, "How did Wenlang know that I was an official in Xi'e?"
"Kong Ming told me," Liu Yao replied, "He moved his family southward a few days ago to seek refuge with Zhongda, and he met me on the road."
When Du Xi heard this, his heart moved. Liu Yao's words revealed a lot of information and said: "Wenlang, Liu Biao's army was defeated in Jingnan. There are so many rumors nowadays that it is difficult to tell the truth. You come from Changsha, you must know
Tell me the whole story, tell me what the real situation is?"
Liu Gao did not rush and said calmly: "Zhongda was at the foot of Lingxian County and wiped out a hundred thousand Northern troops, all in the south of Jingnan. This time I was ordered by Zhongda to go to Xudu to pay tribute."
Du Xi was startled at first, and then overjoyed. Among the many rumors, this one was the most exaggerated, so he never paid attention to it. Unexpectedly, the one that seemed the most unbelievable turned out to be true.
In this way, the pressure on the country and Duke Cao was greatly reduced. They no longer had to worry about Liu Biao in the south and could focus on dealing with Yuan Shao in the north. Liu Jing really helped the country a lot this time.
Du Xi couldn't help but praise Liu Jing: "In the past, Kui Xiao was domineering, and Dou Rong protected Hexi to serve the ancestors. He became famous in later generations and had a beautiful song in the world; now Liu Biao is treacherous, and Zhongda has occupied Jingnan to serve the country.
His achievements are comparable to those of Dou Rong."
Liu Dao said: "Zhongda is fond of reading "Zuo Zhuan". Whenever he comes to "Following the king's orders to fight against the court," he often stops reading and sighs: "There are no heroes in the world, and it is difficult to bring peace to the world." He has always had the ambition to eliminate troubles and clear up the world.
This is beyond the comparison of Dou Rong."
Du Xi was silent for a long time after hearing this, and then sighed: "Back then, I couldn't bear that Zhongda, a genius in the world, was buried among the wild reeds in Jiangxiang, so I wanted to invite him to go north with me, serve under the emperor, and show his ambition. Although Zhongda didn't say it explicitly
He refused, but he was actually unwilling in his heart. I found it quite puzzling at the time, but now I understand a little bit of its meaning. If he follows me northward, he will only be killed for a hundred miles at most, what will it benefit the country?"
These last words were actually inspired by Du Xi. He had been the magistrate of Xi'e County for more than a year, and almost all his energy was spent just to protect the poor people in the remnant county. Sadly, what he did was
In Liu Biao's view, everything he did was nothing more than a praying mantis blocking the car. If it weren't for Liu Jing, Liu Biao would have transferred Jingnan's army back to the north. He and Xi'e would have borne the brunt, and the result is obvious.
Du Xi invited Liu Yao to enter the county temple. The two sat at the same table and talked for a long time until late at night before going to the bed to rest and fell asleep.
The next day, Du Xi wrote a letter and gave it to Liu Yan, saying: "Cao Gong and Yuan Shao are confronting each other in Guandu, and Xun Lingjun is currently in charge of the government. This is the letter I wrote to Xun Lingjun. After you arrive in Xudu,
You can directly bring this letter to visit Xun Lingjun."
"Thank you, Brother Du..." Liu Qian nodded lightly and took the letter. Xun Lingjun is the world-famous Xun Yu and Xun Wenruo. Because he holds the position of Shangshu Ling, he is called "Xun Lingjun".
Du Xi shook his head and asked, "Wenlang, are you serious about not staying one more day?"
Liu Gao shook his head and said: "Zhongda has the actual basis of Jingnan, but without the name of Jingnan, he is like a duckweed without roots. He must obtain the imperial court's order as soon as possible in order to solidify his foundation."
Du Xi also knew the priorities and sighed: "If that's the case, then I won't keep you."
Liu Gao said goodbye to Du Xi, left the warship in Xi'e, took only a few guards with him, and took a chariot to Xudu. Du Xi also sent a clan brother to accompany him to take care of him.
Xi'e is about five hundred miles away from Xudu. Liu Yao worked hard all the way and finally arrived at Xudu successfully on the first day of October.
Xudu is located in the world. It is bounded by the Yellow River to the north, Chenggao to the west, and Jianghuai to the south. It is actually the most beautiful place in the world and a place for military power. It is also surrounded by dense water networks and fertile land. It is not enough for Cao Cao to set his capital here.
That's weird.
Since Liu Yao went north, he has seen that the mountains and fields are barren, the houses are empty, and the bones are exposed in the wild. It is a depression. Only the Xudu area has crisscrossed fields, ponds with fish and livestock, and dense settlements. From this, one can tell the autumn leaves, and Cao Cao can rise in Henan.
The outline of China is no accident.
Liu Yao took a conveyor and arrived at Xuduguo. When he was interrogated by the gatekeepers, Liu Yao took out a one-foot-five-inch long wooden message and showed his identity, and then he was able to enter the city smoothly.
Under the guidance of his brothers from the Du Xi clan, Liu Yao settled in Duting in the city and did not leave for Xun Yu's residence until almost sunset. Here, he was subject to far more stringent interrogation than at Guomen. After all, the people who lived here
Everyone is a powerful person in the dynasty. If anything happens, all of them will be implicated.
After various interrogations, Liu Gao was finally released. He came to Xun Yu's residence alone and presented the assassin and Du Xi's letter.
The servant looked different from Liu Gao, and because he was a foreign envoy, he was introduced to the private school next to the door.
The bullock cart was rolling slowly, and Xun Yu, who was wearing a robe and a crown, was sitting in the cart. He was nearly forty years old, with handsome features, a beautiful beard, and a strange appearance. The old saying goes: "A humble gentleman is as gentle as jade."
Xun Yu deserves it.
At this moment, Xun Yu frowned. A few days ago, Cao Cao received a letter, saying that he had been fighting with Yuan Shao for half a year and had been unsuccessful in the battle. Now that the army was running out of food, he wanted to lead his army back to Xudu, lure Yuan Shao to go deeper, and wait for work under Xudu city to attack Yuan Shao.
Xun Yu knew that the current situation was just like when Gaozu and Xiang Ji confronted each other in Xingyang and Chenggao. Both sides refused to retreat first. The one who retreated first would definitely be passive.
Therefore, Xun Yu persuaded Cao Cao to continue to persevere and wait for the opportunity, just as he had previously asserted: "Tian Feng was strong and committed crimes, Xu You was greedy and did not rule. The judges were dedicated but without plans, and they used the results according to discipline..." In the long run, there will be consequences.
Change.
Although Xun Yu successfully dissuaded Cao Cao, will "variables" really appear?