Shen Chen was on his way back to Nanyang at this time.
He must fight for Zhang Xiu. Only in this way can the plan go smoothly.
In fact, most of the time, his thinking is very simple.
As a new young man who admires great men in the new era, he only sees the poor and suffering lower class people.
In this era where classes are solidified and aristocratic families control land and voice, if he wants to do practical things for the people, he must pay unimaginable efforts and costs.
Sun Ce killed the Jiangdong family, which ultimately led to Sun Quan having to compromise with many Jiangdong families after his death, and he also killed many people in the middle and late stages.
Cao Wei was integrated with the aristocratic family and had a nine-level Zhongzheng system, but how miserable were the people under his rule?
In the end, the three families returned to the Jin Dynasty, and the five random families ruined China. Isn't it the result of the aristocratic families taking power, the upper class fighting for power and profit, and the people at the bottom living in difficulty, allowing the barbarians to take advantage of it?
Therefore, he would choose to cooperate with Liu Bei, just like Xun Yu cooperated with Cao Cao. In the name of supporting the great Han, he could successfully seize power and implement plans to weaken the family and benefit the people in the future.
The biggest difference between Shen Chen and Xun Yu is that Xun Yu only saw the Han Dynasty in his eyes, while Shen Chen only saw the Han people in the world, and he never wanted to repeat the mistakes of the Five Husbands who destroyed China.
But in the end, Xun Yu lost the bet, so he chose to commit suicide, feeling ashamed of the Han Dynasty.
Now Shen Chen is gambling.
If he helps Liu Bei seize the country in the future, and Liu Bei betrays his class and becomes the emperor from a commoner background, he will no longer cooperate with him to suppress aristocratic families and carry out land reform to help poor people obtain land.
Then Shen Chen naturally lost the bet.
Maybe then, Xun Yu will be happy, because Xun Yu made the wrong bet on Cao Cao, but Liu Bei still supported the Han Dynasty. As long as the world is still Han, then Xun Yu will naturally rest in peace.
Only Shen Chen could only end up being ashamed of all the people and committing suicide.
But he still chooses to gamble, because throughout the history of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei is the only prince who treats the people well, and he cannot stand on his own, so in the end he can only choose to cooperate with Liu Bei to gamble on the future of the people of the world.
After losing the bet, Shen Chen committed suicide.
If the bet wins, he will learn from the great man together with Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, work hard to transform the country, and strive to let the Han Dynasty peacefully move towards a bright future!
This is his ideal.
Maybe very naive.
But the founding leaders of the new era in later generations are also working hard towards such an ideal world, and taking actions, have they finally succeeded?
What's more, even if it wasn't for the sake of the common people, even if it was to prevent the Han Dynasty from falling into the miserable situation of the Five Husbands, he couldn't join Cao Wei's quagmire of aristocratic families, a group of insects fighting for power only for family interests.
Cao Cao himself is a typical example of a young man who slays dragons and eventually becomes an evil dragon. He helped the Han Dynasty in his early years and paved the way for Cao Pi to usurp the Han Dynasty in his later years. It seems that he left the last fig leaf for the Han Dynasty, but he was not a good man after all.
Therefore, Shen Chen could only fight for such idealism.
As for Liu Bei's own character problems, he will also find ways to solve them and try not to make him extreme.
At least for now, no matter how talented Cao Cao is, looking at the corpses of innocent people on the ground in Xuzhou, he will never be able to think of helping Cao Cao.
July 29th, early morning.
Shen Chen and dozens of guards on horses had already arrived at the gate of Rangcheng.
There are many cars and clouds inside and outside the city. Rangcheng is located to the west of Nanyang, close to Wuguan. This area has a large number of people who migrated here from Guanzhong.
Ever since Zhang Xiu arrived in Rangcheng, he had become the city lord here peacefully, not even Wancheng.
After all, he had a lot of hatred with Cao Cao. Although Cao Cao was currently fighting Yuan Shao in Guandu and tried his best to win over him, Shen Chen's persuasion still made him hesitate. He simply stayed in Rangcheng and did not interfere with the north. things.
After Shen Chen entered the city, he immediately went to the county government residence to ask for an audience with Zhang Xiu.
Upon learning of Shen Chen's arrival, Zhang Xiu quickly let him in.
Jia Xu often advised him to surrender to Cao Cao these days, but Shen Chen's troops in the north came to Xu's capital several times, which turned Cao Cao's rear upside down and made Zhang Xiu clearly realize that Cao Cao was not that terrible.
Maybe it won't be long before Cao Cao will be eliminated by Yuan Shao.
Recently, Yuan Shao also sent people to seek cooperation with him. He and Yuan Shao had no hatred, so Zhang Xiu also considered surrendering to Yuan.
It's just that Jia Xu has a high prestige in the Xiliang army. Although he can command this army, he can't ignore Jia Xu's opinions, so he has been delaying it like this.
Now that he heard Shen Chen coming, he naturally wanted to hear Shen Chen's opinion.
Soon Shen Chen saw Zhang Xiu in the middle hall. After entering, Zhang Xiu opened his eyes wide and looked up and down. After a while, he praised: "Ah Chen, you have changed a lot since your last expedition."
His skin has become much darker, and his whole temperament has become tougher. After all, he was killed in several life-and-death battles. The several battles in Runan, Yingchuan, were much more brutal than the previous Battle of Nanyang. Even Shen Chen himself is in danger.
Shen Chen said in a deep voice: "General, I have a keen eye. The several battles I had with Cao Jun were like tempering iron, and I benefited a lot."
"I heard how many times you visited Xudu?"
Zhang Xiu asked.
Shen Chen said: "Yes, Cao Cao is actually not that great. Didn't the general defeat him in Nanyang? Now Yuan Shao is marching south in the north. This is a good time for us to go north to attack Cao Cao and serve the emperor."
"To welcome the emperor?"
Zhang Xiu lost his voice and said: "Do you want to welcome the emperor to Nanyang?"
"This is a helpless move."
Shen Chen said: "For us now, it is best for both Cao Cao and Yuan Shao to lose. But if Cao Cao loses, we must get the emperor, shoulder the honor of justice, and cooperate with Liu Jingzhou to fight against Yuan Shao."
"Forehead"
Zhang Xiu was in shock and doubt, and it was difficult for Cao Cao to deal with him, let alone Yuan Shao.
Shen Chen continued: "General, today there is great chaos, heroes are vying for the throne, and those who have no ambition will eventually be controlled by others. Nanyang is not a place where you can stay for a long time, how can a man be trapped in the city? If you don't uphold righteousness and ride on the wind, won't you be living? A generation?"
Zhang Xiu asked: "What do you mean?"
Shen Chen said: "General, you should lead your troops to go north to Kunyang with me and wait for the time to move. If Yuan Shao is defeated, we will attack Xudu so that Cao Cao cannot take the north. If Cao Cao is defeated, we will still attack Xudu and the emperor will go south to Jingzhou. , seeking to conquer the world out of great righteousness, generals and soldiers fighting, if you can serve the emperor, you may not be able to achieve a great career."
"Well"
Zhang Xiu hesitated for a moment, and then said: "I understand. Ah Chen will go back first. I will organize the troops, horses and food and grass. I will come to Kunyang to find you soon."
"Thank you, General."
Shen Chen was overjoyed. He didn't expect Zhang Xiu to be so easily persuaded, so he thanked him and said, "I will go back to Xinye first to supervise the grain and grass supply. I also ask the general to come to Kunyang as soon as possible."
"You go ahead."
Zhang Xiu nodded, then stood up and walked Shen Chen to the door, then returned to the hall with his hands behind his back.
Go north to meet the emperor?
He could tell such a dangerous thing.
Zhang Xiu was thinking in his mind.
It is definitely not possible to welcome the emperor. Now he only wants to surrender to Yuan Shao.
Although Cao Cao also tried to win over him, some of Shen Chen's words were right. He was the one who wanted to win over people now because they needed him.
If he really surrendered to Cao Cao and helped him defeat Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao turned against him and settled the score, wouldn't the entire family suffer?
Therefore, for the sake of safety, Zhang Xiu cannot surrender to Cao Cao. At this time, Yuan Shao is powerful and has the potential to annex Henan. By then, most of the world will belong to Yuan Shao, so it is most cost-effective to surrender to him.
The reason why Zhang Xiu agreed to Shen Chen's journey north was simple.
After arriving in Kunyang, if news of Cao Cao's defeat came from the front, he would immediately attack Xudu with Shen Chen.
His is a cavalry. When the time comes to capture Xudu and hijack the emperor's officials, it will be a great achievement for Yuan Shao. With this merit, isn't it much better than bringing the emperor to Nanyang and working hard to fight Yuan Shao?
More importantly, if Yuan Shao is defeated, he can indeed attack Xudu as Shen Chen said, forcing Cao Cao to be unable to pursue Yuan Shao, and capture the entire north.
Otherwise, as someone who has a deep hatred for Cao Cao, once Cao Cao gains power and he is in Nanyang, wouldn't it be a dead end?
Therefore, whether it was to betray Shen Chen, stab Yuan Shao in the back when he was winning, capture Liu Xie and offer it to Yuan Shao, or to prevent Cao Cao from getting Hebei, he had to go north to Kunyang to join forces with him.
In the final analysis, Zhang Xiu did not have the high consciousness to help the Han Dynasty. He only thought about his own interests and was unable to stand on his own. Naturally, he could only choose to hug Yuan Shao's thigh.
But what Zhang Xiu didn't know was that at this moment, a guest from the north also came to Jia Xu's mansion.
This man's name was Wang Bi, who was the chief clerk of Cao Cao's Sikong. When Cao Cao captured Lu Bu, Cao Cao originally intended to recruit Lu Bu. In addition to Liu Bei's words, he also played a key role in persuading Cao Cao to kill Lu Bu. Hanged.
Historically, Cao Cao called himself the King of Wei and opened his own palace in Yecheng. The political focus shifted to the north, leaving Wang Bi to look after Liu Xie. It can be seen that Wang Bi was Cao Cao's confidant and secretly did some dirty work for Cao Cao.
Now he came to Nanyang, naturally to persuade Zhang Xiu.
Wang Bi and Jia Xu were sitting opposite each other in the hall. He said to Jia Xu: "Sikong is now in Guandu, confronting Yuan Shao. Yuan's army has come from afar, and it will not be possible to fight for a long time. Besides, Sikong is entrusted by the emperor to command the world, and heroes from all directions are coming. Surrender, Xuzhou and Qingzhou are all responding to Duke Cao's call. How can Yuan Shao be invincible? Sir, he is a sensible person, and we must not let General Zhang fall astray."
Jia Xu sighed: "Yuan Shaolian cannot tolerate his brothers, let alone the country's scholars? I also know that Duke Cao has the magnanimity to tolerate others and has the ambition to dominate, so he will surely dominate the north. However, Zhang Xiu killed Duke Cao's eldest son and his most trusted general. , I am afraid that Cao Cao will be liquidated later, so I refuse to surrender. I have tried many times to persuade him, but there is nothing I can do."
Wang Bi smiled and said: "Sir, there is no need to worry. General Zhang is only worried about this matter. Cao Gong sent me here this time just to understand this knot. The general has a son and a daughter who are properly married. Sir, you know that Cao Cao
In addition to his eldest son Cao Ang, the Duke also has an eldest daughter and a second son, both of whom were born to Mrs. Liu. They are of the same mother as Cao Ang. If they marry each other, can it relieve the general's worries?"
Cao Cao's first wife was Mrs. Ding. Because Mrs. Ding could not have children, she married Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu gave birth to two sons and one daughter, the eldest son Cao Ang, the second son Cao Shuo, and the eldest daughter Princess Qinghe, who later married Xiahou Mao.
The one who almost murdered her husband.
Guo Jia and Xun You's idea for Cao Cao was to get married. It happened that Zhang Xiu's son and daughter were both in their teens and twenties, about the same age as Cao Shuo and Princess Qinghe.
You must know that these two people and Cao Ang's mother married each other with the Zhang family. If Cao Cao really settles the scores in the future, he will have to consider the situation of his son and daughter. For the sake of a son who died young, he would destroy the happiness of another son and daughter.
Apparently he also had to think twice.
So this is to dispel Zhang Xiu's concerns.
Although my eldest son was killed by you, doesn't it make you feel at ease if I marry his eldest son's younger brother and younger sister to your son and daughter?
The only person who made Cao Cao feel guilty was Mrs. Ding.
Due to Mrs. Liu's early death, Cao Ang, Cao Shuo and Princess Qinghe were initially raised by Mrs. Ding. Later, Cao Ang died in battle and Mrs. Ding divorced him. In recent years, Cao Shuo and Princess Qinghe were raised by Mrs. Bian.
It's just that the kindness of upbringing is still there. Although Mrs. Ding has the best relationship with Cao Ang, Cao Shuo and Princess Qinghe are also like his children.
Now Cao Cao has killed his son, but for the so-called great cause, he wants to marry Cao Shuo and Princess Qinghe, who are the same mother as Cao Ang, to Zhang Xiu's son and daughter, and to marry the enemy who killed his son. If Mrs. Ding knew
, I’m afraid I will never forgive him in this life.
However, he had no choice.
The situation in Guandu is extremely serious. Shen Chen and Liu Bei are eyeing Kunyang again. If no sacrifices are made, the Cao family is likely to be destroyed.
For this reason, Cao Cao had to adopt the suggestions of Guo Jia and Xun You and marry Zhang Xiu.
After learning about this, Jia Xu was very happy and immediately said: "If this is the case, then we can persuade General Zhang. Please come with me, Chief Secretary, and we will go to the general's mansion together."
"Thank you sir."
Wang Bi quickly handed over his hand and thanked him. Jia Xu was a staunch supporter of Cao Cao. If it hadn't been for his help, Zhang Xiu would have been involved long ago.
He has made great contributions to this matter and is likely to be reused by Duke Cao in the future, so Wang Bi also respects him very much.
The two immediately went to Zhang Xiu's mansion.
At this time, Zhang Xiu was still in the mansion thinking about how to send troops. When he heard that Jia Xu was coming, he thought to himself, could it be that Jia Xu had heard about Shen Chen's arrival and wanted to persuade him again?
But Jia Xu had high prestige among the Xiliang army, and he had no choice but to let him in.
Soon Jia Xu and Wang Bi entered the hall and saw Zhang Xiu. He introduced to Zhang Xiu: "General, this is the envoy of Duke Cao. Sikong is in charge of Wang Bi."
"I must have seen the general."
The king will bow his hands in salute.
"oh?"
Zhang Xiu was surprised and said, "Did Duke Cao send an envoy again?"
Wang Bi smiled and said: "Unlike before, this time Bi is here to congratulate the general."
"congratulate?"
Zhang Xiu sneered and said, "I killed Dian Wei and Cao Ang, and Duke Cao wished he could kill me and then do it quickly. What else can I say to congratulate him?"
Wang Bi said: "General, don't believe the slander. Mr. Cao has always been tolerant. How could he ruin the important affairs of the family and the country because of hatred? This time Mr. Cao sent me here because he planned to marry his eldest daughter to the son of the general. I propose to marry the general’s daughter and marry him to Duke Cao’s legitimate son for the good of the family.”
"Mutual in-laws?"
Zhang Xiu was very surprised. He didn't expect that Cao Cao would actually spend a lot of money to win over him.
Jia Xu advised: "General, this time Duke Cao's children are unusual. They are the legitimate son and the eldest daughter. They are the same mother as Cao Ang. They were not born from a concubine. This shows that Duke Cao is sincere. Moreover, this time it is Duke Cao and his wife. During the battle between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shao, if the general helps him, he will achieve great honors, and since the two families are well connected, if Cao Gong gains power, the general will definitely be able to make him a marquis and worship him as a general."
"this"
Zhang Xiu only hesitated for a moment and then immediately said: "What my uncle said is true. I am willing to join Duke Cao. However, before my uncle came, Shen Chen asked me to send troops to help attack Xudu. He has only been gone for an hour now. Before it's too late, I'll hunt him down immediately."
"No!"
Jia Xu stopped him and said: "At this time, Cao Gong is still in Guandu and cannot be rescued, but Zhang Xian is dead. Liu Biao is about to conquer Jingnan and will definitely go north! Shen Chen doesn't know that the general has surrendered. If he attacks rashly, even if he is killed, he will be killed." While Liu Bei is still in Kunyang, he will definitely join forces with Liu Biao to attack the general."
Zhang Xian died of illness in June this year. Huan Jie supported his son Zhang Yi to continue fighting against Liu Biao. However, Zhang Xian relied on his personal prestige to gather troops from four counties, making it difficult for Liu Biao to conquer, but Zhang Yi was not that big Prestige.
Therefore, as soon as Zhang Xian died, the morale of his army dropped sharply. Liu Biao had already attacked Changsha and Wuling counties, and Lingling and Guiyang counties had not yet been recovered.
But at present, Zhang Yi may not be able to hold on for long. Once Liu Biao is freed, he will definitely take the opportunity to attack the north.
Now Liu Bei still controls the exit of Nanyang. If Zhang Xiu wants to go north, he has to pass through Kunyang in Ye County. Shen Chen died in Nanyang, which caused great harm. Xinye and Xiangyang are close at hand, and Liu Bei is in Ye County. They will face two sides. After a flanking attack, they will either be eliminated in the end or flee from Wuguan to Guanzhong.
No matter which angle you consider it, it is not in Cao Cao's interests. After all, Cao Cao is in Guandu now. If he still fails to defeat Yuan Shao, when Liu Biao and Liu Bei eliminate Zhang Xiu, they will definitely attack Xu Du from behind.
Zhang Xiu asked, "What should we do?"
Jia Xu pondered and said: "The general can use his plan and send troops to Kunyang first. When Liu Bei and Cao Gong's troops are fighting in the morning, Liu Bei suddenly switches sides and they will be wiped out in one fell swoop!"
"good."
Zhang Xiu nodded. Although Shen Chen and he were friends, they were nothing in the face of interests.
At that moment, Zhang Xiu did not hesitate and immediately chose Jia Xu's strategy. He planned to mobilize his troops and go north to Kunyang. At the same time, he asked Wang Bi to take his daughter to Xudu, and then asked Wang Bi to bring Cao Cao's daughter. .
As long as the obsequies between his children were completed, he would be reassured and could launch a rebellion in Kunyang with peace of mind.
I didn’t expect that after seeing this, there are still people who are opposed to the protagonist cooperating with Liu Bei. Let’s not mention that the protagonist is the opposite of the protagonist in my last book, a person who has feelings for family and country. I just talk about whether Liu Bei will betray the class, I I have the final say in the book. If I say he won’t betray the class, he won’t. Do you understand?