Yang Xiu frowned secretly, realizing that he had made a mistake.

He knew the content of the edict, and subconsciously regarded Ma Chao and Yan Xing as his subordinates, and recently he had been fighting with the Nanyang family every day, and he didn't think of sending someone to greet him, thinking that he would just wait, but he didn't expect Sun Ce to take the lead and send Guo Jia to meet him. Looking at it like this, Guo Jia has instilled Ma Chao and Yan Xing a lot, and has successfully won over these Xiliang martial artists.

These Qiangs, have they forgotten their mission, so easily deceived?

"The edict is for General Sun?" Yang Xiu asked knowingly, and at the same time did not forget to give Ma Chao a look and remind him not to make a mistake about his position. Ma Chao turned a blind eye and turned the horse's head. "Guo Jun, which city gate is closer to you?"

Guo Jia said with a smile: "Two generals, although the edict is for General Sun, the martial arts competition will be organized by the Nanyang Taishou Mansion, so the two of you still live in the city for the time being, take a break, let me inform the general, and rush to receive the edict." ”

"Tournament?" Ma Chao was surprised. "What jousting tournament?"

"Isn't the imperial court going to build a martial arts hall? General Sun is the founder of the martial arts hall, he supports the decision of the imperial court to be martial, so he wants to hold a martial arts competition, invite the heroes of the world to Nanyang to compete, the two generals are on the mission of the imperial court, of course, the most distinguished guests. The general was busy with military affairs and had no energy to handle this matter, so he had to ask Nanyang Taishou Mansion to cooperate. Yang Gongzi knows the situation, and he will convey it to you. ”

Ma Chao was not mentally prepared at all, and he was stunned all of a sudden. He didn't even say that he was going to compete with Sun Ce, he only said that he was here to pass on the edict, but he didn't expect Sun Ce to not only prepare for the competition, but also to hold a martial arts competition. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong, how could Sun Ce know about the martial arts competition, this must have been revealed by Yang Xiu.

What does their father and son mean, while letting the Xiliang people challenge Sun Ce, and at the same time joining forces with Sun Ce to hold some kind of martial arts competition, is this to trap the Xiliang people in injustice? Two fists are hard to beat with four hands, good tigers are also afraid of wolves, a large group of people compete, maybe they were injured or even killed before they had a chance to fight Sun Ce.

Ma Chaoyue thought more and more uneasy, exchanged opinions with Yan Xing, accepted Guo Jia's opinion, met with Yuan Yao first, lived in a post house in the city, and figured out what was going on before thinking about countermeasures.

Guo Jia didn't enter the city, handed over Ma Chao and the others to Yang Xiu and left. His task has been completed, and the next trouble is handled by Yang Xiu. Whether the contradictions between them will eventually affect Chang'an, and how big a storm it will turn into, depends on whether Yang Xiu can deal with it. For him, these people are all chess pieces, and only he and Xun Yu, who is far away in Chang'an, are chess players.

Guo Jia met Liu Bei who came in a hurry on the way. He had already received news from Sun Ce and knew that Sun Ce had sent Guan Yu to Lujiang, and now Liu Bei was in charge of security during the martial arts competition. After the martial arts competition, Liu Bei will leave Sun Ce, or go to Chang'an, or return to Youzhou.

Guo Jiale held his mount and exchanged information with Liu Bei. Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that Ma Chao and others had entered the inner city and were meeting with Yang Hong and Yang Xiu, and that they would not leave the city in a short time. He was most afraid that the Xiliang people had just arrived, and he didn't know the mentality of the Nanyang people, so he thought he was the envoy of the imperial court and had a conflict. Sun Ce promised him the equipment of 200 people, he didn't want to be messed up by these Xiliang people.

"Fengxiao, how are these Xiliang people, do they have a good temper?"

Guo Jia's eyebrows frowned slightly. "It's okay, it shouldn't be a problem to say it well, but they have to be tough when they should be tough, and they definitely can't be by their temperament. You don't have to worry, you are the person arranged by the general, and they dare not do anything to you. There is only one thing to worry about. ”

"Which point?"

Guo Jia looked around and lowered his voice. "Don't you think that they and Yang Hong and Yang Xiu are one after the other, one article and one martial arts, and the arrangement is too coincidental?"

Liu Bei nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, it's not normal. Oh, it can't be that Yang Hong and Yang Xiu want to win Nanyang, and they transferred these Xiliang people from Chang'an to help, right? ”

Guo Jia shrugged. "Who knows, anyway, it is a well-known thing that the imperial court wants to rob Nanyang, there was before, there is now, and there will be in the future. Okay, don't talk about it, I'll go to see the general, you take care of it more, and report to the general immediately if there is any situation, don't delay. ”

Liu Bei agreed and watched Guo Jia leave. He sighed and said, "Xianhe, Yide, the burden on our shoulders is not light. General Sun didn't want to have a head-on conflict with the imperial court, so we were in the middle to reconcile, if there was a conflict, we would bear the brunt, the crime would be inevitable, and it would be difficult to go to Chang'an in the future. ”

Jian Yong also smiled bitterly: "Yes, General Sun, Yang Situ, Xiliang people, there is no one to mess with." We are just rats, we are also angry when we enter and angry when we retreat, and we will be burned if we are not careful. ”

Liu Bei patted his forehead. "The people of the Central Plains are too insidious, let's go back to Youzhou."

——

Guo Jia returned to the camp and reported the situation along the way to Sun Ce. Sun Ce also informed Guo Jia of the relevant situation. Although there has always been a connection between the two, after all, it is not as detailed as saying it in person.

"The general wants to keep Guan Yu?" Guo Jia asked.

"If he can get rid of that temper, I'd like to keep him, but it's unlikely, just try my best."

Guo Jia nodded. "Zhang Fei and Jian Yong are both members of Liu Bei's Township Party, and it is indeed unlikely that they will switch to generals, and Guan Yu is the only possibility. However, the general doesn't have to care too much, Guan Yu is already an adult, and his temperament has been completed, so there will not be much change. Besides, Youzhou is barren, and Gongsun Chan is in front of him, without our funding, it is difficult for Liu Bei to achieve anything, even if he has ambition, it is just a division of one side, and it will not affect the overall situation. ”

Although Sun Ce was not as confident as Guo Jia, he felt that Liu Bei was really going back to Youzhou, and he would definitely not be able to occupy Bashu and establish himself as king as he did in history. Bashu has the solidity of mountains and rivers, the climate is suitable, the economy is developed, enough to be self-sufficient, suitable for separating one side in the troubled times, but Liaodong is a horse and a flat river, when the Central Plains is in turmoil, they can also close the door and hey, once the Central Plains is stable, they will either be vassals or perish. The reason is simple, the population is too small, the climate is cold, and the economy cannot be developed. Without the help of the Central Plains, it would be difficult for them to even be self-sufficient, let alone fight for a long time.

"How are Ma Chao and Yan Xing?"

Ma Chao is arrogant, and he relies on his father's strength, I am afraid that it will be difficult to subdue. Yan Xing's family background is average, although he is trusted by Han Sui, but Han Sui has a son Han Yin, and a henchman named Cheng Gongying, Yan Xing is just a young general, and his future is limited. If the general puts some effort into it, it should not be difficult to subdue. In addition, there is another one named Pang De, who is Ma Chao's general, his martial arts are also good, and he is loyal, so he can also fight for it. ”

"Wow, and Pound." Sun Ce was surprised and chuckled.

Guo Jia was surprised. "Does the general still know about this man?"

Sun Ce nodded, his eyes glancing at Guo Yuan outside the tent. In history, Guo Yuan seems to have died at the hands of Pound. And Pang De really became famous, but he refused to surrender Guan Yu during the Battle of Xiangfan and died unyieldingly. Guo Jia said that he was loyal, but he hit the nail on the head.

"Fengxiao, think of a way, it's best to leave all these two hundred people behind, don't live up to Xun Wenruo's kindness."

Guo Jia smiled and nodded. "I do my best." He paused, and then said, "General, while there is still some time in the martial arts competition, you can go to the meeting." At that time, arrange a trustworthy person to be appointed as the county leader, and you will be free. ”

Sun Ce twisted his fingers. "That's what I wanted, so I asked Guan Yu to go to Jiujiang to help."