Zang Ba hesitated for a moment and then said: "Ba Jie Dao saved his father and fled to the East China Sea. As a bandit, I am fortunate to be trusted by my brothers. Now they gather together and recommend me as their commander. Ba Ben is also willing to join the envoy's command, but
Since these brothers recommend me as their leader, I naturally have to think about them. I have no ambitions, I just want to settle down in a corner and let my brothers have a place to live."
Zhou Ping heard Zang Ba's refusal and could only comfort him: "Brother Xuan Gao, don't worry, the land of Langya and even the land of Qingzhou will be your Taishan brothers' resting place in the future. Now Liu Shijun is in charge of Xuzhou,
And Yuan Shu claims to be the uncle of Xuzhou, and he will come to capture it soon. Although there are many fierce generals under your command, there is still a shortage of elite soldiers. When the time comes, I hope that Brother Xuan Gao will lead his brothers to come to help and resist the enemy to protect the state. Your Majesty will not be weak.
Waiting for you."
Zang Ba immediately replied: "Your Majesty has been kind to Ba, but Ba is an ungrateful person! If Yuan Shu raises his troops to attack, Ba will definitely lead his troops to help you. Please rest assured, Sir and your Majesty, Ba will never do anything to you."
Two minds!"
Zhou Ping understood his choice. After all, Zang Ba had an army of more than 8,000 troops, and Liu Bei was just a state pastor who had just come to Xuzhou and took office, and was not strong enough for him to be willing to surrender and recognize his master.
If you recognize Liu Bei as your lord and become his subordinate, you will go wherever he orders you to go. But as his subordinate, I can listen to your orders, but I want to take root in Langya.
Just like Zhang Xiu's attachment to Liu Biao in Nanyang, it is similar to Liu Bei's attachment to Yuan Shao and Liu Biao's attachment. It is just a vassal relationship, not a principal-subordinate relationship.
But none of this matters anymore, as long as Zang Ba doesn't betray him.
Xu Chu, Chen Dao and Zhang Wu all won and received 10,000 yuan each. Zang Ba also rewarded Wu Laowu and Yan Mei each with 10,000 yuan.
Zhou Ping stayed in Kaiyang for three days. During this period, he often talked with Zang Ba, Sun Guan, Sun Kang and others. He knew that although these people had a reckless attitude, they were all loyal and righteous people.
The martial arts of Xu Chu, Chen, Zhang Wu and others impressed the Taishan scholars even more. Yin Li always went to Xu Chu for a drink, and the two seemed to have similar temperaments. Xu Chu, the leader of the knights, easily got together with these people.
When Yin Li and Wu Dun learned that Xu Chu was followed by more than two hundred knight-errant swordsmen, they admired him even more.
They talked about the fight against the Yellow Turbans again, and couldn't help but marvel when they heard Xu Chu dragging the ox back a hundred steps by its tail.
However, Yan Mei took Zhang Wu to practice riding and shooting. Zhang Wu, who usually ignored others, always had a lot to say to Yan Mei.
Only Chen Dao didn't like drinking and followed Zhou Ping all the time, seemingly taking over Zhang Wu's errands.
When Zhou Ping and others left, Zang Ba led everyone out of the city.
"Brother Xuan Gao, the envoy is about to move to Xiapi. I can't stay here for a long time. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will come to meet you again." Zhou Ping cupped his hands to Zang Ba and said, "Before I came here, the envoy had told me that I hope Xuan
Brother Gao must restrain his men and not plunder the people again, so that your people are also your brothers’ people and should protect each other with one heart and one mind. If there is a shortage of food and supplies, you will do your best to provide it. I hope Brother Gao will remember it!"
Zang Ba cupped his hands and said, "Ba will remember your envoy's order and will never let his brothers rob the people again. If anyone violates this rule, I will punish him severely!"
"Brother Xuan Gao must also recruit troops as soon as possible. Can we recruit 5,000 people in three months?"
"There are only three months left, and the envoy needs to recruit more elite troops. It seems that he has to recruit 5,000 people..." Zang Ba looked troubled.
Recruiting soldiers is not that simple. You don't just go up to the top and call out, and thousands of people will apply immediately.
Moreover, many people who come to apply are usually from families with little food and little land, and they come to serve as soldiers just for a bite to eat. Most of these people are old and weak. When they go to the battlefield, they usually only kill people. Sometimes they even do it out of fear.
And retreated, thus disrupting the morale of the army.
What Zhou Ping wanted were young and strong elite soldiers. It would be really difficult to recruit 5,000 such elite soldiers within three months.
Taishan and Langya are more mountainous, and the people's physical fitness is better than that of other counties in Xuzhou. Zang Ba and others are from Taishan and have been in Langya for many years, so it is easier than Liu Bei to recruit soldiers.
"Three thousand or two thousand are fine, as long as they are elite soldiers." Zhou Ping added.
"I will try my best." Zang Ba replied.
"Okay, everyone, take care!"
Zhou Ping said goodbye to everyone again, took Xu Chuchen, Zhang Wu and the others to hit the road and headed for Tan County in a cloud of dust.
Looking at the retreating figures of Zhou Ping and others, Sun Guan said: "Xuan Gao, I really didn't expect that Tao Gongzu never treated us so well before. Liu Xuande just arrived in Xuzhou and gave Langya to us."
"Yes, do you think what Zhou Wen'an said is credible?" Zang Ba also raised his eyes and looked at the retreating figure.
"Whether it is credible or not, we will know soon. As long as Xiao Jian really leaves Langya and moves to Pengcheng, and you really become the prime minister of Langya, then it is credible." Sun Kang replied, "Zhou Wen'an is very knowledgeable. Since he can
He predicted in advance that Dong Zhuo would die, he also predicted that Cao Cao would take over Yanzhou, and he also predicted that Cao Cao could defeat the Yellow Turbans, which shows that this man is really not simple."
Zhou Ping mentioned to them the things he had expected before and analyzed the reasons in detail, just like he had analyzed with Liu Bei.
Sun Kang paused for a moment and then continued: "Liu Xuande has a benevolent heart and an ambitious mind. He has this person to help him, and there are so many brave generals. In my opinion, the one who is causing chaos in the world must be Cao Cao, and the one who is bringing peace to the world is Cao Cao."
It must be Liu Bei!"
Yin Li also came over at this time and said: "I heard that when Liu Bei left Yuzhou, tens of thousands of people lined the road to see him off, and they were very reluctant to leave. Many people gave gifts to each other. But Liu Bei strictly ordered the soldiers not to accept them, saying that it was a disaster.
The year is not over yet, and people's lives are still difficult. Let them keep everything. This man is really kind to the people! But Cao Cao killed so many people in Xuzhou!"
Zang Ba sighed: "Yes, there are few people in the world who are as benevolent and righteous as Xuande. Now he treats me kindly. If he is kind to me, I will repay him with righteousness. This is the foundation of our humanity. You all should be prepared."
, after Xiao Jian leaves Langya, we will start recruiting troops for him."
Sun Guan and Sun Kang both nodded in agreement.
Zang Ba is not a fool. He is a man who cares about kindness, but he must also be allowed to see real kindness.
If Xiao Jian doesn't leave, Langya won't give it to him, and he won't receive the favor.
At this time, in the Prime Minister's Mansion (Prefect's Mansion) in Ju County, Tian Yu was sitting in the hall, and the person sitting at the head was Xiao Jian.
"I heard that Commander Liu is moving the state capital to Xiapi?"
After the polite exchanges, Xiao Jian asked Tian Yu.
"Exactly." Tian Yu replied.
"Liu Shijun is famous for his benevolence and I have admired him for a long time. However, when Shijun and Tao Gongzu were in Tan County, I was already here and had no chance to meet him. Now that he is in charge of Xuzhou, we, the people of Xuzhou, will be at peace!
"
Xiao Jian finished speaking with a smile, but Tian Yu just looked at him quietly and did not answer.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Jian asked: "Why did the envoy ask you to come here?"
Tian Yu smiled slightly and replied: "Your Majesty asked me to save you."
Xiao Jian was shocked when he heard this: "Save me? How to say it?"
