Liu Bei returned to Youzhou, and the task on the surface was to mediate the conflict between Liu Yu and Gongsun Zhan, and his goal in private was to gain a firm foothold in Youzhou and have his own place. After a few years in the Central Plains, he was fed up with the white eyes of the Central Plains family, and he also saw the strength of Yuan Tan, Sun Ce and others, and knew that there was no opportunity there, so it was better to go back to Youzhou. There are no big families in Youzhou, so it's relatively easy.

But no matter which task it is, he has to face Gongsun Zhan. Although he used to be a classmate, although he treated Gongsun Chan as a brother back then, Gongsun Chan had nothing special about him, and after he switched to Tao Qian and Yuan Shao, what would Gongsun Chan think of him, Liu Bei didn't have any bottom in his heart. He avoided Hejian Country and entered Guangyang County through Zhongshan Kingdom, which was intended to avoid Gongsun Zhan.

The reason why this is so is, of course, because Gongsun Zhan is strong, although he was beaten by Yuan Shao and his nose and eyes were swollen, it was very easy to clean him up, and he was really angry, and he could kill him at any time. If Gongsun Chan fell for Yuan Shao's plan and was severely injured by Yuan Shao, it would not be a bad thing for him. If he can take this opportunity to save Gongsun Chan once, he may be able to make up for his mistakes and release his previous suspicions.

This is the opportunity that Zhao Yun is talking about.

Liu Bei discussed with Zhao Yun, Jian Yong, and Zhang Fei for a long time, and decided to send Jian Yong back to Zhuo County, first, to see the situation at home, and second, to find an opportunity to meet Gongsun Zhan, first to make a foreshadowing, to see what Gongsun Zhan's attitude towards him was.

Without further ado, Jian Yong didn't even enter Jicheng, and immediately went south.

Liu Bei returned to the city gate and prepared to enter the city. There were more than 500 horsemen such as Zhao Yun behind him, and there was no need for Liu Bei to say anything, the captain in the city was like a great enemy, and while ordering to strengthen the guard, he personally went down to the city to greet him. After checking Liu Bei's documents and learning that Liu Bei was a messenger from Chang'an with an edict, the lieutenant breathed a long sigh of relief and enthusiastically sent Liu Bei to the governor's mansion.

Liu Bei entered the city proudly, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei were left and right, and five hundred knights led and followed, majestic, and the pedestrians on the street avoided one after another, their eyes in awe. Jicheng is not only a state government, but also a county government, but also the former capital of Yan State, which is considered a northern metropolis, the people here are well-informed, and when they look at these knights around Liu Bei, they know that they are not idle people, and they are far away to avoid unwarranted disasters.

Liu Yu was not in the city, and Xian Yufu received a report and rushed out to meet Liu Bei. Xian Yufu is about thirty, young and strong, with a Chinese face, a thick short beard, a smile before speaking, very polite, but his eyes are vigilant. Seeing that Liu Bei had a large entourage, he asked them to rest in the post house first, and he sent someone to ask Liu Yu to come back to receive the edict, but he never mentioned where Liu Yu was.

Liu Bei knew that Xian Yufu was wary of himself, after all, his relationship with Gongsun Chan was known to everyone, and Liu Yu had a very unpleasant quarrel with Gongsun Chan. He asked Xian Yufu to arrange for his subordinates to rest in Jicheng, and he went to see Liu Yu with Xian Yufu alone to save time. Xian Yufu was worried about a little less, and personally led Liu Bei to the post pavilion.

Liu Bei settled down and left all the more than 500 knights in the post pavilion, and only took Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei out of the city with Xian Yufu. Halfway through, Xian Yufu told Liu Bei that a few days ago, Gongsun Zhan robbed Liu Yu of what he was going to reward the Wuhuan people, which caused strong dissatisfaction among the Wuhuan people, and Liu Yu was appeasing the Wuhuan people.

Out of the city gate, Zhao Yun suddenly pulled Liu Bei's elbow. Liu Bei turned his head, and Zhao Yun quietly stretched out his finger and pointed. Liu Bei looked in the direction he pointed, and saw a high platform in the southeast corner of the city, which was very abrupt, and looked much higher than the city wall of Jicheng on the side.

"Brother Xianyu, what is that?"

Xian Yufu glanced at it and said with a wry smile: "The Jingguan built by General Gongsun." He always suspected that Liu Mu would be unfavorable to him, built this Jingguan, sent heavy troops to guard it, and returned to Jicheng to live in Jingguan, and did not see Liu Mu in person, but only sent envoys to and fro to deliver messages. ”

Liu Bei didn't say anything, but he couldn't help but be surprised in his heart. He and Gongsun Chan have known each other for many years, and they know Gongsun Chan's temper too well. That is a person who is not afraid of heaven and earth, and he is not afraid of the fierce Hu people, how can he be afraid of Liu Yu, and he also specially built a Beijing temple. Either he lost his courage after his defeat to Yuan Shao, or Liu Yu gathered a heavy army, which made Gongsun Zhan also feel threatened. Gongsun Zhan's main force confronted Yuan Shao in Zhuo County, and he only brought his personal guard battalion back to Jicheng, and he would not bring too many people.

Either way, this is his chance.

"Has Gongsun Boqi been back recently?"

"Just left the other day."

Liu Bei remembered what Zhao Yun said, and paid more attention. "Did he ask for a lot of grain and grass before he left?"

Xian Yufu sighed. "General Gongsun has been fighting with Yuan Shao continuously for the past two years, with many casualties and countless losses of ordnance and baggage. He refused to give up, he had to take revenge, and expanded his men and horses one after another, and he needed more and more grain and grass, and Youzhou was overwhelmed. Liu Mu has worked hard for so many years, and finally made the people's livelihood in Youzhou improve, and he made it like this, all his previous efforts were abandoned, the price of grain was one price a day, and the people complained very much. If the messenger does not believe, he may as well go to the market, and it will be clear. ”

Liu Bei echoed a few words. He had experience leading troops into battle and knew that it cost a lot of money to fight, especially cavalry. He is also a native of Youzhou, and knows that Youzhou is not a rich place, and it cannot be compared with Jizhou. Objective factors determine that Youzhou cannot support a long-term war. If you can win, you can also invade Jizhou and take Jizhou's financial self-sufficiency. Now Gongsun Chan is not Yuan Shao's opponent, he has been defeated in successive battles and suffered heavy losses, which will definitely have a great impact on the people's livelihood in Youzhou, and his reputation among the people will definitely not be good. It can be seen from Xian Yufu's tone that Gongsun Chan is unpopular.

Liu Yu has a good reputation, won the hearts of the people, and has a good relationship with the Hu people, but he is too angry and does not know how to use soldiers. Gongsun Chan was good at using soldiers, but he was reckless in his army, and the people were very angry. The two have their own strengths, and they are incompatible, and conflicts are inevitable. Mediation may not be very useful, and it is more practical to use this opportunity to take a seat.

Liu Bei thought as he walked, and suddenly he was full of confidence. It's a godsend. Liu Yu is at war with Gongsun Zhan, and someone like me is definitely needed. There is no shortage of martial artists in northern Xinjiang, but most of them rely on talent, accumulate experience in actual battles, and look at the world, there are few people who attach as much importance to military training as Sun Ce. Although I have not been under Sun Ce for a long time, the skills I have learned are almost unmatched in Youzhou, especially the foot soldiers.

Liu Bei had already made up his mind in his heart, and chuckled: "The Art of War: Although the country is big, it will die if it is belligerent." Youzhou is barren, and it is not as rich as Jizhou. If you can't win a battle, you should rest and recuperate, and you can train your soldiers, how can you attack easily. Brother Bo Jue is brave and unparalleled, but his temperament is a little frivolous, no wonder Liu Mu is troubled. Although I am not talented, I can't bear to see the suffering of the fathers and elders in Youzhou, and I am willing to use the power of the imperial edict to do my best to help Liu Mu persuade Bo Jue, strike the army and truce, and raise troops to cultivate the valley. When I see Liu Mu later, I will ask Brother Xian Yu to present it on my behalf. ”

Xian Yufu was secretly happy in his heart, and he had a little more affection for Liu Bei. "What Liu Jun said is very true, I will definitely convey your good intentions to Liu Mu."