Before Chen Gong appeared, Han Zhan was still secretly thinking in his heart: Chen Gong came to Yecheng to see him this time, probably to thank him for sponsoring him as the Taishou of Dongjun, and even thought that he would call him to the theater to play later on.

But when Chen Gong appeared in the main hall and saw him looking embarrassed, Han Zhan couldn't help but be surprised, and he hurriedly asked, "Gongtai, why are you so embarrassed." ”

"Anyang Hou, it's not good, it's not good."

"What's wrong?" Han Zhan asked puzzled.

"Chen Liu was captured by Cao Mengde."

"What, Chen Liu is occupied by Cao Mengde?" Hearing this news, Han Zhan was taken aback, and he hurriedly asked, "Gongtai, didn't Your Majesty order Taifu Ma Riyan to go to Dongjun to pass the decree and recruit Cao Mengde into the court as an official?" Cao Mengde has already agreed, saying that he will enter Beijing soon, when will he capture Chen Liu? ”

"Anyang Hou, you have all been deceived by Cao A." Chen Gong, who had just gotten up, was so anxious that he stomped his feet: "On the one hand, he and Ma Tai Fu Xuan and the snake, and on the other hand, he appointed Yu Ban as the general, Li Dian and Cao Hong as the deputies, Cheng Yu as the military advisor, led 20,000 troops, and quietly went south to attack Chen Liu.

It's a pity that Chen stayed too guarded by Zhang Miao, and when he learned that the Cao army was coming, he thought that the Tanma lied about the military situation, and killed several people in a row, so that the other Tanma did not dare to report it again. Two days ago, Cao Jun's soldiers came to the city, Zhang Miao's brother Zhang Chao led his troops to meet the enemy, but he couldn't fight Sanhe, and he was beheaded by Li Dian under his horse, and the soldiers and horses who fought together suddenly collapsed. Li Dian entered the city with the rout and took Chen Liu.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Gong took several cronies and fled from the west of the city and rushed here day and night. ”

"Luo Bu," Knowing that Chen Liu was lost, Han Zhan immediately realized that the situation was out of control, and hurriedly called Luo Bu and instructed him: "Go and invite the military advisor back quickly, just say that Ben Hou has something important to discuss." ”

Taking advantage of Luo Bu's efforts to invite Guo Jia, Chen Gong continued: "Cao A's plan to hide this is really vicious, he knew that the imperial court did not plan to let him continue to serve as the Taishou of Dongjun, so he secretly sent troops to attack Chen Liu. In this way, he can give up Dongjun and take Chen Liutaishou by himself. ”

"What the public station said is extremely true." Han Zhan agreed with Chen Gong's statement. Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty only dismissed Cao Mengde from the post of Dongjun Taishou, if he gave up Dongjun and led Chen to stay too guarded, the court really had no way to take him for a while, even if he wanted to send troops to fight, he would be unknown. "If Cao Mengde takes Chen Liutaishou by himself, the court really has no way to take him."

Guo Jia learned that Han Zhan had something to look for him, so he hurried over. Seeing Chen Gong standing in the main hall so embarrassed, he couldn't help but be surprised, and hurriedly asked, "Why is the public platform so embarrassed?" ”

After Han Zhan repeated what Chen Gong said to Guo Jia, he asked, "Fengxiao, what should we do now?" ”

"My lord, this matter is indeed a bit tricky." Guo Jia shook the feather fan lightly, frowned and said, "Once Cao Mengde gives up Dongjun and goes to Chenliu." Then he may collude with Yuan Shu in Yangzhou, Liu Yan in Yizhou, and Liu Biao in Jingzhou at any time, and then he will become our confidant. ”

Hearing Guo Jia's words, Han Zhan couldn't help but smile bitterly. I thought that I could blackmail the Son of Heaven to order the princes and order Cao Mengde to enter the court as an official, so that he could cut his wings and let him serve himself in the court. Who knew that Cao Mengde came up with a trick to hide from the world, on the one hand, he and the Taifu Ma Riyan sent by the imperial court, and on the other hand, he secretly sent soldiers and horses to attack Chen Liu. In this way, once the tens of thousands of soldiers and horses left by Chen were integrated by Cao Mengde, plus a group of princes in the south, they would become his confidants.

"Otherwise, we'll send troops early." Han Zhan asked Guo Jia tentatively: "Taking advantage of Cao Mengde's unstable foothold, let Han Sheng send troops south to capture Chen Liu?" ”

"My lord, this matter is not so simple." Guo Jia opened his mouth and said: "Now we don't know whether Chen Liutai guards Zhang Miao is dead or alive. If he is still alive, with his friendship with Cao Mengde, it would not be surprising even if Chen Liu was dedicated to Cao Mengde. ”

"Oh, Zhang Miao will take the initiative to dedicate Chen Liu to Cao Mengde?" Han Zhan asked curiously, "Why is this?" ”

"As far as Jia knows, Zhang Miao, Cao Mengde, and Yuan Benchu have a good relationship. Last year, when the princes of the Eighteenth Route crusaded against Dong Zhuo, because Zhang Miao offended Yuan Benchu, Yuan Benchu was going to kill him, but fortunately, Cao Mengde tried his best to save him, and Zhang Miao escaped from death. With such a life-saving grace, he said that he would dedicate the city to Cao Mengde, even if Cao Mengde wanted his life, he was afraid that he would be killed. ”

Hearing Guo Jia say this, Han Zhan immediately realized that he had thought about the problem too simply. If Zhang Miao wrote to the imperial court, saying that because he was unwell or lacked ability, he was willing to give Chen Liu to Cao Mengde, and recommended the other party to be Chen Liutaishou. In this way, if he wants to go south to crusade against Cao Mengde, he will become unknown.

At that time, I am afraid that as soon as the DPRK and China raise this matter, they will be met with opposition. Don't see that the court is now in the area under its control, but there are not a few courtiers who are working against themselves openly and secretly, and they can't kill or scold these ministers in order to win over the world's wealthy families. Otherwise, the last time Yang Qi and the others sent assassins to assassinate themselves, they would not have ended so hastily.

Seeing Han Zhan's sad look, Guo Jia hurriedly comforted him and said, "Lord, although in a short period of time, we can't do anything about Cao Mengde for the time being, but we can slowly figure it out." Sooner or later, one day he will be completely eradicated. ”

"What's going on?" Han Zhan asked.

Guo Jia's eyes looked at Chen Gong and said to Han Zhan: "My lord, since the imperial court has issued an order to appoint Chen Gongtai as the Taishou of Dongjun, it is better to let him take office as soon as possible." ”

"Let Chen Gongtai go to Dongjun to take office at this moment?" Regarding Guo Jia's proposal, Han Zhan said worriedly: "Dongjun is all Cao Mengde's people, and if the public platform goes, I'm afraid it will be hollowed out." ”

"Anyang Hou, please rest assured." When Chen Gong heard Guo Jia's proposal to let him take over the post of Dongjun Taishou, he couldn't help but feel a burst of secret joy in his heart, and he was worried about Han Zhan, he hurriedly said: "Many county orders in Dongjun have an old relationship with the palace, if you see the palace serving as the Taishou of Dongjun, you will definitely be able to help." ”

When Han Zhan heard Chen Gong say this, he muttered to himself in his heart: Maybe these county order friends of yours have long been eradicated by Cao Mengde, and they have all been replaced by his henchmen. If you go to Dongjun alone, I'm afraid you won't be able to get out of the Imperial Palace. But in the current situation, he didn't stimulate the other party, but looked at Guo Jia and asked: "Fengxiao, Gongtai is probably inappropriate to go to Dongjun alone, why don't we send troops to escort him?" ”

"That's very good." Guo Jia took the initiative to propose to Han Zhan: "Jia thinks that he can order Gao Lan, Lu Kuang, and Lu Xiang to lead 5,000 troops and escort Gongtai to Dongjun." Before the public station takes control of the overall situation, let them stay in Dongjun for the time being. ”

Since Cao Mengde is already preparing to go to Chenliu, he must not leave any soldiers and horses in Dongjun, and sending 5,000 people over should be able to control the entire situation. After thinking about it in his heart, Han Zhan felt that Guo Jia's suggestion was good, so he nodded in agreement. However, before giving the order, he still had to ask Chen Gong's opinion: "Gongtai, I don't know what you think?" ”

Han Zhan was willing to send troops to escort him to Dongjun, at least he would not have to worry about his life, where was there any reason for Chen Gong to be unwilling, he hurriedly bowed to Han Zhan and saluted: "Thank you Anyang Hou for your kindness, then the palace will be respectful and obedient." ”