Yuan Shao's situation has become much better since he deposed the false emperor of Jizhou last month and submitted his vassal declaration to the Emperor of Luoyang.
Liu Bei withdrew his troops, and Gongsun Zan also tightened his defenses. At least on the surface, the two sides were no longer at war with each other, and there was quite a tendency to shake hands and make peace.
Yuan Shao himself knew very well that the imperial court needed to ease the conflicts in Jizhou and adjust the conflict between him and Liu Bei Gongsun Zan, so Liu Yu agreed to his request, and the two sides finally stopped fighting.
It's not that the imperial court doesn't want to take back Jizhou, but that the combined size of Jizhou and Qingzhou Youzhou is too large, reaching a battle with a strength of four to five million troops. Liu Yu is not Liu Xie without power, he can give orders. Liu Bei.
The imperial court also has a group of think tanks, and a group of ministers such as Yang Biao, Zhu Jun, Zhao Wen, etc. still exist. Without full certainty, the imperial court does not dare to rush into a decisive battle with Yuan Shao, so a easing period is needed.
War is just a continuation of politics. In many cases, if it can be solved by political means, try not to use force.
The Chou Kingdom of later generations spent decades immersed in the war situation in the Middle East and spent countless hours to learn the experience that the Chinese ancestors had already used to perfection thousands of years ago.
The imperial court had concerns, and Chen Mu had Chen Mu's plans. Not only did he need Gongsun Zan to be driven out of Jizhou to prevent this unstable factor from turning against Liu Bei in the end. At the same time, he also had to take into account the stability of the south, so Yuan Shao longed for a truce, and he also longed for this. One thing, for him, this is a multi-purpose thing.
As for Yuan Shao.
Easing the pressure is second, and the most important thing is to stabilize Qingzhou and Luoyang in order to realize his own plot. Therefore, in Jizhou's dethronement of the puppet emperor, Yuan Shao passed all the blame on Wang Fen, and then submitted his pledge of vassalage to the imperial court as a political show. In fact, it is an outcome that all three parties want.
The game between big forces is often not a battle between swords and swords and battlefields, but a contest between imperial courts. Perhaps the only ones who are kept in the dark are Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shu.
Yecheng.
Before dawn, Zhao Gong went out with an umbrella.
August is September in the Gregorian calendar, which is already autumn. Autumn in the south is often hot and cold, so it is called autumn tiger.
Autumn in the north is different. The temperature is dropping visibly to the naked eye. Especially during the Little Ice Age in the late Han Dynasty, the temperature is getting colder and colder. There are continuous autumn rains, the sky is overcast, and thunder is booming. Standing in the biting wind, you can feel your breath. Human bones are almost melting away.
Zhao Gong's robes were fluttering, and his gray temples hung slightly on his chest. A carriage stopped at the door, and he slowly got on it. There was no one following him. Apart from the carriage driver, there was only an old servant and an entourage.
Opposite Tingwei's Mansion is a high-gate courtyard, covering an area of several acres. The red building, gray tiles, and white walls reveal a bit of pride.
This is the mansion of Yuan Tan, the prefect of Wei County. There are several soldiers squatting at the door of the mansion. As Yuan Tan, it is normal for the mansion to be located opposite Tingwei Mansion, but everyone knows that most of the soldiers at the door of his mansion are Used to monitor the Tingwei Mansion opposite.
After Yuan Shao, the leader of the Youth Party, came to power, the first thing he was afraid of was the group of old party members who supported him. Isn't this an irony?
But now it has become a fact.
Whether in history or today, Yuan Shao has used party members to make him famous, and many of them have made great efforts to fight for the world, such as recommending alliance leaders, threatening Han Fu, and seeking to capture Jizhou.
Otherwise, as a concubine of the Yuan family, and with Yuan Shu, a legitimate son of the Yuan family who also participated in the plot to kill the eunuchs, how could he be qualified to become the leader of the alliance against Dong?
But now, the outstanding young people trained by the party members have become the main force against them at this moment.
Perhaps, this is the so-called human heart.
The raindrops hit the bluestone floor, making a crackling sound. The drizzle of raindrops fell along the eaves. The carriage slowly drove into North Street and arrived in front of a mansion.
Compared to Tingwei's Mansion, the guards at Taiwei's Mansion were several times tighter. There were soldiers on the steps and under the eaves, on the left and right sides.
These people were divided into six groups and changed their posts every two hours without rest for twelve hours. The euphemistic name was to protect the Taiwei, but the meaning of surveillance was obviously stronger.
This is not the first time that Zhao Gong has come to the Taiwei Mansion. Since their group of old party members have been closely monitored, although their daily lives are controlled by Yuan Shao, at least they can still gather together. Otherwise, at this age, they can still
If we can't see each other every now and then, that would be too unkind.
"Tingwei."
The captain of the guard on duty saw Zhao Gong coming and didn't pay attention. He just saluted and said hello as before.
Zhao Gong nodded and prepared to enter.
At this moment, someone from behind suddenly shouted: "Ting Wei."
He looked back and saw that it was Fengji.
Fengji is a Nanyang faction. Now that there is no Jushou Tianfeng, the local forces in Jizhou are not overbearing.
Moreover, compared with the three factions of Yingchuan, Nanyang, and Jizhou under Yuan Shao's command in history, there is now an additional faction of Min Chun and Geng Wu.
One of them came from the Min family in Guanzhong, and the other came from the Geng family in Gaoyang. Neither of them had factions, so they banded together and formed a new faction.
In order to balance the power, Yuan Shao assigned one main general to each of the four factions.
For example, Xu You of the Nanyang faction was brought under his command and stayed in Yecheng during the period. Guo Tu of the Yingchuan faction led the troops while Xun Chen stayed with him. Liu Hui of the Jizhou faction was sent as an envoy and stayed at the front line.
The same was true for Min Chun and Geng Wu. One stayed in Yecheng and the other was under his command.
In this way, compared with the dominance of the Jizhou faction in history, at least currently the counselors of the various factions under Yuan Shao have achieved a good balance.
But balancing is one thing, fighting for power is another. If there are too many factions, it will be even more complicated.
Seven or eight main counselors, plus more than a dozen minor counselors with not too high status, such as the current Xin Ping, Li Li, Xinpi and others, are scheming and intrigues with each other, just like raising poisons, and one day there will be an outbreak.
.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! When Zhao Gong saw that the visitor was Biejia, who was currently guarding Yecheng, he asked, "It turns out to be Yuan Tu. When did it happen?"
Feng Ji was also a party member in his early years. He had a good relationship with He Yong and Xun You. He had friendship with many party members. He bowed his hand to Zhao Gong and said with a smile: "Ji has met Tingwei, but nothing happened. He just went on patrol on the street.
I happened to be passing by here and saw Ting Wei, so I took the liberty of disturbing him."
Zhao Gong sneered inwardly. It was a rainy day and it was early in the morning. He happened to be patrolling the streets and happened to pass by the Taiwei Mansion. What a fool?
However, he knew that the old-school party members and Yuan Shao's group were currently in a very delicate relationship.
Yuan Shao planned to give them all high positions without real power. At least on the surface, he seemed to attach great importance to the old-school party members. Apart from having no power, he respected them all, shelved them in the cabinet, and praised them to the sky.
Although the old-school party members knew that they had become mascots, they had no choice but to do so because they did not fall out and were provided with delicious food and drinks. If they turned against them, they would be the unjust ones.
So facing Feng Ji, Zhao Gong put on a hypocritical face and said with a faint smile: "Oh? That's really a coincidence."
"hehe."
Feng Ji smiled, but looked at Hou Xu and Tai Shi Ci without saying anything.
Zhao Gong saw that he seemed not to leave, so he said, "Does Yuan Tu have anything else to do? If nothing else, I am going to visit the Taiwei today, so I won't chat with Yuan Tu."
Feng Ji said, "It's nothing. It's just that I have seen several of the attendants in Tingwei's residence. However, when I met these two today, they seemed very unfamiliar to me, so I asked."
Zhao Gong said calmly: "These are my new followers, Zhou Fu and Zhou Da. Do I need to ask Yuan Tu for instructions when I recruit two followers?"
Hou Xu and Tai Shici bowed slightly to Feng Ji as a greeting.
"Don't dare, I'm just asking."
Being pushed back by Zhao Gong with a gun and a stick, Feng Ji waved his hands repeatedly and said with a smile: "It's just that the city has not been peaceful recently. I am afraid that enemies will sneak into the city to cause trouble. Therefore, I am worried about Ting Wei's safety, so I still have to check on them."
Identity is."
Check identity?
Zhao Gong suddenly became nervous.
Did he know that Hou Xu's identity is definitely exciting? He was born in the Yellow Turban and is now a court official. Once he is found out, the consequences will be...
However, in the face of Fengji's inquiry, Hou Xu nodded and bowed to Fengji with a smile: "I've seen people doing this before."
"you know me?"
Feng Ji is confused.
"The little old man is from Fanyang. He has been in Yecheng for seven or eight years. He has been living in Xicheng and doing some small business on West Street. I have seen him doing it many times before when he was patrolling the streets."
Hou Xu memorized Zhou Da's information very well, and he spoke it very smoothly when faced with Fengji's interrogation.
"oh?"
Feng Ji asked: "Then why did you come to Tingwei Mansion?"
Hou Xu sighed and said, "Because business has not been very good recently, I heard that the Tingwei Mansion was recruiting slaves and the pay was good, so I took my dog with me."
"I see."
Feng Ji nodded, turned to the soldiers behind him and said, "Go and call the Hucao Lingshi who is in charge of the common people in Xicheng."
"only."
The soldiers rushed away.
Feng Ji turned his head and looked at Zhao Gong with a smile.
Zhao Gong's face was ugly, and he seemed to be suppressing his anger, and shouted in a low voice: "Is Yuan Tu doubting me?"
"I don't dare, I'm just worried about Wei Ting's safety."
Every time there is a needle hidden in the cotton.
"Hmph, if you want to check, just check. If you dare to come to my mansion in the future, I will break your legs!"
Zhao Gong was furious and walked away.
Instead of leaving Hou Xu and Tai Shi Ci alone, he entered Tai Wei's Mansion to find Xun He.
After all, Xun He has the highest status and is now one of the only party elders left. Maybe he will give him some face in due course.
As soon as Zhao Gong left, Feng Ji's face suddenly became serious and he looked at Hou Xu and Tai Shi Ci with a serious look.
Hou Xu pretended to be scared and looked at him with a flattering smile.
Taishi Ci couldn't suppress his anger and wanted to chop Fengji to death with a knife. But Hou Xu touched him lightly when he bent down, signaling him to endure it.
In fact, they still have a stronghold in the city. If there is any commotion, it is not difficult to escape. You can run to the stronghold at any time and use the horses hidden in the stronghold to quickly escape from the city before the city gate has time to close.
However, they came with a mission this time, and the matter was too important to be careless, so they had to tolerate it for the time being.
Few people spoke, and the atmosphere gradually solidified.
Here Zhao Gong found Xun He, who was sitting cross-legged in front of the court, drinking tea and watching the rain.
Hearing the sound of hurried footsteps coming from the corridor, he looked through the bead curtain on the corridor and saw it was Zhao Gong. He smiled and said, "Zi Qian, you are still so impatient."
"Something happened, Gongshu."
Zhao Gong looked around and saw that there was no one around, so he came to Xun He and said, "The imperial court sent an envoy to see us, but Feng Ji stopped him."
"Messenger from the imperial court?"
Xun He frowned: "Is he here under a false identity?"
"no."
Zhao Gong shook his head: "He came secretly. My family is looking for slaves. He came to recommend himself and then revealed his identity. I was about to bring them to see you, but I was stopped by Feng Ji at the door."
"Let's go and have a look."
Xun He stood up immediately, holding umbrellas, and walked quickly outside the courtyard. When they approached the door, they suddenly stopped again.
"What's wrong?"
Zhao Gong asked.
Xun He looked in the direction of the door.
On weekdays, the door to Taiwei's Mansion is closed.
Because there were all soldiers sent by Yuan Shao outside, they had to follow them even when they went out. In order to stay out of sight and out of mind, Xun He simply closed the door tightly, and the servants of the mansion were all recruited from Wang Fen's period.
Servant, don't give Yuan Shao a chance to intervene.
Zhao Gong came in just now, knocked on the door, and was opened by the concierge.
The door was now half open, and people could be vaguely seen outside. The old concierge was lying in the small room under the corridor next to him. When he saw them coming, he stood up and walked over and bowed down to salute.
"Close the door."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Xun He suddenly said.
"Gongshu."
"Go and close the door."
Xun He said it again.
The concierge hurried over and closed the door tightly.
Zhao Gong frowned slightly: "Gongshu, what are you doing?"
"Protecting you."
Xun He stood quietly under the corridor inside the gate and said calmly: "If their identities are found out, you have to sever the relationship as soon as possible."
Zhao Gong's frown deepened a little deeper. He knew what Xun He meant, but he still felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.
But there's nothing we can do about it. The old faction has lost power and can't move anymore. If they stay, they'll have to walk on thin ice.
If Yuan Shao were to find out that they had connections with the imperial court, even if they were a group of like-minded party members who had talked and laughed together and shared their good hopes for the imperial court in the future, I am afraid that he would not miss the old friendship.
Zhao Gong will die by then.
Therefore, Xun He could only watch and could not help.
The two of them just stood there, with their hands in their sleeves, and the rain was dripping, beating on their hearts.
Outside the mansion, Hucao Lingshi was hurriedly found.
When Hou Xu saw him, his eyes lit up, and he immediately bent down and saluted: "Wang Lingshi."
Feng Ji looked at Ling Shi suspiciously and asked, "Do you know him?"
Hucao Lingshi wiped the rain off his face, took a closer look, and said in surprise: "Old Zhoutou, isn't this Old Zhou from West Street? What are you doing here?"
Hou Xu smiled bitterly and said: "Isn't it true that business has been bad recently, and the family has no income. We, father and son, still have to eat, so we had to think of other options. I heard that Tingwei Mansion was recruiting workers, so we were recruited as slaves, all in order to support our family.
That’s all.”
"Engagement, this person is Lao Zhou from West Street. His name is Zhou Fu. He is from Fanyang. That person is his son Zhou Da. He has lived in West Street for almost seven or eight years."
Hucao Lingshi explained to Fengji: "Everyone in the neighborhood knows him, so there is no problem with his identity."
"Oh, I see."
Feng Ji turned to look at Hou Xu, stared for a while, and suddenly chuckled: "It's better to be a slave than to be a commoner. I think your son has a strong body and should be enlisted in the army. He can also take care of the family's meals."
Hou Xu suddenly panicked and said: "Well, what can we do? I only have a son. People will die on this battlefield. If something goes wrong, my old Zhou family will be wiped out. Moreover, my son has been withdrawn since he was a child and will only sell himself to death."
I don’t like to talk to others because of my strength. If I join the army, I’m afraid I won’t be able to do anything.”
"Now we in Jizhou are in need of young men and women to serve as state shepherds. Your son is young, strong and suitable, so let him be his son. If you dare to be nagging again, the whole family will be thrown into jail."
Feng Ji's eyes showed a fierce look, and he was still a little worried.
Even if their identity as father and son is proven, new strangers cannot be allowed to approach the group of party members. What if they are bribed?
What's more, Yuan Shao does have a new plot now. Once the war starts, there will be a war, and young men are needed to die for him.
Getting the father and son away from Zhao Gong can be described as killing two birds with one stone.
"Crunch!"
At this moment, the door of Taiwei's mansion suddenly opened.
Xun He and Zhao Gong walked out slowly.
"I've met the Taiwei."
When Feng Ji saw him, he had to salute to show respect.
"I have heard that Yuan Benchu forcibly recruited Dingkou, a slave from a powerful family, to serve as a soldier on the front line, but I have never heard of anyone who dared to recruit slaves from Jiuqing's residence."
Xun He put his hands behind his back and looked at him indifferently: "Yuan Tu, you were once a member of the Shabab. I am optimistic about the younger generation. Do you think that after joining Yuan Shao, you can do whatever you want and bully me to wait until you grow old?"
No more power?"
"Don't dare."
Feng Ji quickly waved his hands and shook his head. He could still say a few words about Zhao Gong, but Xun He's status was too different.
Let’s not talk about the identity of the older group of party leaders. Let’s just say that he once led the world’s powerful men to the side of the Qing emperor of Luoyang. He also held a sword and entered the palace to kill the eunuchs to avenge the general. Later, he helped Wang Fen govern Jizhou and made great achievements.
Xun He had a high prestige among the scholars, party members, common people and many powerful people in the world, and he had good relations with many powerful families. This was the main reason why Yuan Shao did not dare to touch him lightly.
Yuan Shao's fame not only relied on the Yuan family, but also on party members' help in publicity. Even Chen Mu's original deal with Xun He was to let party members make him famous.
If Yuan Shao kills Xun and Chen Yi, the most prestigious old-school party members, the consequences will be very serious. All the powerful families in the world may be disappointed with Yuan Shao. Without the support of powerful families, no matter how many troops Yuan Shao has,
It is also bound to end in failure.
Therefore, when faced with Xun He, he naturally did not dare to make any mistakes.
Xun He said calmly: "Okay, you can go. Today Ziqian comes to me to talk about old times, so I won't keep you any longer."
"Then don't bother the Lieutenant."
Feng Ji bowed his hands and saluted, turned around and left with the soldiers. Only the group of soldiers who had been standing guard before were left at the door.
Xun He looked at his leaving figure, then turned to look at Hou Xu, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
This is a dark battle.
Because Hou Xu’s identity is a handle.
If Fengji found out that Hou Xu was from the imperial court, that would be another matter. Xun He would come forward to help Zhao Gong clear up their relationship and protect himself.
Unexpectedly, Hou Xu actually hid his secret. This was naturally a different matter. He had to step forward to drive away Feng Ji.
Because Fengji didn't get this handle, if he didn't come forward, it would be a guilty conscience. Now that his identity is innocent, if he has a tougher attitude, he will appear more righteous.
In this confrontation, if you show a little weakness, all previous efforts may be wasted.
Xunhe.
It can be said that the older you get, the better you become.
Only Hou Xu looked at him with a smile.
Back then, Xun He led his party members to hunt him down behind the scenes. The two plotted against each other and barely managed to fight each other.
But who knew that in the end it was Siming who had the last laugh and plotted against both of them at the same time.
But today, it is the same.
It seems that Si Ming has already seen through everything, prepared his identity in advance, and resolved all potential crises.
Compared with Siming, Xunhe and I were as childish and ridiculous as children.
Thinking of this, Hou Xu felt even more interesting.
He suddenly came close to Xun He and whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Hou Xu, I have met the Taiwei."
Hou Xu?
Why does this name sound familiar?
There was a roar and muffled thunder rolled.
Countless waves flashed in my mind.
Many things in my memory resurface again and again.
That...yellow turban bandit?
Xun He's eyes widened and he looked at him in astonishment.
Seeing his surprised expression, Hou Xu couldn't help but smile triumphantly.