Just today, Zang Ba heard the scout's report, Liu Lan entered Jiqiu County and set up camp, leaving Yangcheng only a few hundred miles, as long as he wanted, tomorrow he could see flags planted all over Kaiyang City.

He thought of the letter sent to him by Zhenrong again, and asked him to insist, he would sneak attack Xuzhou City from Guangling, but in the current situation, can he hold it for two or even three months as Zhenrong said? Now his situation is not to mention defending the city in February and March, that is, defending the city for more than a month is a fool's dream, so he just smiled after seeing the letter, and he didn't plan to really resist at the beginning, but to surrender to Cheng, and to surrender to Cheng, he only has two ways to choose, one is Lu Bu, the other is Liu Lan, but compared to Lv Bu will immediately compete with Cao Cao, he is more inclined to vote for Liu Lan in his heart.

But Liu Lan didn't react for a long time, he thought that he would send an envoy to lobby, so that he could wait for the price and sell, and strive for the greatest benefits, but the wishful thinking did not start, but lost the possibility of fleeing west to Yanzhou.

What should I do now, do you just wait for Liu Lan to arrive, and then sacrifice the city? At that time, Mo said that his soldiers would not be able to keep it, but I was afraid that this Kaiyang Taishou's false post would also be removed.

Zang Ba returned to the mansion worriedly, but as soon as he arrived at the gate of the county guard's mansion, he saw a pawn in the distance shouting: "General Zang! ”

Zang Ba looked back, it turned out to be the captain of the city gate, Yanghe, stopped, and asked, "What happened?" ”

The arrival of the captain of the city gate can only mean that something big happened outside Kaiyang City, could it be that Liu Lan is here? can calculate the distance, Liu Lan will never come so fast, although it is not him, but Zang Ba's heart is still raised in an instant, whether it is Liu Lan or not, I am afraid that it is not a good thing.

Captain Yang He of the city gate stepped forward and bowed. "There are two people from outside the city, and one of them claims to be an old acquaintance of the general. Come and visit. ”

"Old knowledge?"

Zang Ba looked at Xiang Yanghe in surprise, how could there be an old acquaintance visiting at this time? I'm afraid I can't hide yet. In a deep voice, he said: "Can he say his surname and place of origin?" ”

"He didn't say it." Yang He shook his head, but then said: "But listening to the accent, it looks like a Dongyang person!" ”

"Dongyang people? Is it Engong or Zhenrong! ”

Zang Ba's heart moved, and he immediately ordered Yang He, saying: "Go and pick him up quickly, remember that this is a critical period, don't open the city easily, just put down the basket and pull him up!" "Now Dongyang is occupied by Zhenrong. If this person is not the messenger of Zhenrong, or Engong is coming, but Engong is coming to Kaiyang at this time, what is the so-called? Thinking in his heart, he suddenly blessed his heart: "Could it be Liu Lan......" If this is the case, then this famous 'Wei Qing' is really a caring person, so it seems that the danger of opening the sun this time can also be resolved.

Either way, as long as he is willing to send an envoy. Then he had a glimmer of hope of retaining his military power, and even if it was not a messenger he had sent, but a messenger from Zhenrong, he would be willing to listen to what he had to say. It's just that if he still insists on two or three months, then he naturally doesn't need to talk about it.

Not long after, Zang Ba's personal soldiers led Chen Jiao into Zang Ba's study. Although it is called a study, there is not a single book in the room. Some were just blades he had collected.

As soon as he entered the room, Chen Jiao smiled and bowed. Said: "Xuan Gao, we are meeting again!" ”

"Liu Jiao, it's really you!" Zang Ba greeted him with a smile and said, "It's been almost ten years in a flash, but I didn't expect your kid to have changed for ten years, and it's still the same as before!" Looking at Liu Jiao, who was handsome and white-faced, the years did not leave any traces on his face.

"It's that Xuan Gao looks a lot older, and he is no longer as brave as he used to be!" Chen Jiao said meaningfully.

"People are like this when they get old!" Zang Ba laughed embarrassedly and said, "Ji Bi, please take a seat!" ”

The two of them were polite, and the guests and hosts sat down, only to hear Zang Ba say: "Ji Bi came here this time and I don't know what to do?" ”

Chen Jiao stared at Zang Ba for a long time, but did not speak, the relationship between him and Zang Ba was not as good as it seemed on the surface, Zang Ba's father was only a little sheltered by the Liu family, but after the defeat of the Liu family, there has been no contact since then, and he has not seen him for ten years.

Seeing that he was about to enter the year of establishment, when Tao Qian was in charge of Xuzhou, he was a small county gongcao, and he thought that he would be promoted by virtue of his talent when the new state pastor arrived, but he could only continue to wait in the county gongcao.

He knew that Liu Lan had not even promoted his old subordinates, and even if he was really talented, it would never be his turn, just when Chen Jiao wanted to abandon his official position and go to another county to seek promotion opportunities, Xu Fang found him.

Such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he naturally won't miss it, he must take this credit as a promotion gift, and said: "In fact, I came here this time to be a lobbyist!" ”

Zang Ba had already guessed Liu Jiao's intention, although he had a plan to dedicate the city in his heart, but not now, his face immediately turned cold, and said: "Liu Jiao, if you come to catch up with me, I will still treat you as a guest, if you come just to persuade Zang to open the city and surrender, then don't blame Zang for not thinking about the friendship for many years!" ”

"Of course it's a reminiscence!" Chen Jiao's heart trembled, knowing that the opportunity was not ripe at this time, so he changed his tone and said: "Xuan Gao doesn't know, since his father passed away, Liu has taken his mother's surname, and now he is called Chen Jiao!" ”

The room fell silent, and after a while, I heard Zang Ba laugh awkwardly and said, "It's so sad that it has aroused Ji Bi's sadness." ”

"It's okay!"

Chen Jiao's nose was slightly sour, and he barely squeezed out a smile, and said: "Now that my lady has given birth to a linzi, named Chen Ben, I don't know if Xuan Gao has ever married his own son?" ”

"Born, called Zang Ai, born in the fourth year of Chuping!" Zang Ba's eyes showed joy, and he had great hopes for his smart son Zang Ai, hoping that he could ascend to the rank of the Son of Heaven, instead of being like him, who was breathing in Kaiyang.

His mind had already wandered out of the sky, Chen Jiao looked at Zang Ba's thoughtful appearance, and called a few times in a row, only then did he wake him up, and said, "Xuan Gao, have you heard that Yuan Shao attacked Qingzhou?" ”

How could he not know what the children in the market knew, but he knew that this was Chen Jiao testing his bottom line step by step, he hoped that in this way, only in this way would there be room for bargaining, instead of being a lobbyist like he just said, if he had to continue to listen at that time, it would only reveal his true thoughts, not only could he not talk about the conditions. On the contrary, he will be led by Chen Jiao's nose.

"Liu Zhoumu passed through Kaiyang this time, isn't it just to rescue Qingzhou. How could I not know such a thing! Zang Ba said meaningfully, so that he grasped the righteousness. said: "Deqing Wangxu, if I were Liu Zhoumu, I would only rush to rescue Qingzhou, instead of staying in Kaiyang, are you right?" ”

Chen Jiao knew Zang Ba's purpose, and while he was talking about him, why didn't he want to persuade Liu Lan to give up attacking Kaiyang through himself, but how could this be possible, Liu Yuanjun would not be stupid enough to leave Zang Ba in such a big trouble to save Qingzhou. And Guangling also has a Rong, even if Qingzhou is saved, I am afraid that Xuzhou has become owned by others.

But he didn't dare to say that, there are some things that everyone knows what is going on, but they just can't say it, if they say it, Chen Jiao believes that not only Zang Ba wants to kill him, but also Liu Lan knows. His life is still in jeopardy.

In fact, his errand this time was very simple, that is, to deliver a letter for Liu Lan, but he was eager to make meritorious contributions and wanted to persuade Zang Ba with his incorruptible tongue. But he still underestimated the latter. Instead of buying his account, he didn't have any intention of surrendering, since that was the case. Why should he provoke him, like Liu Lan's explanation to Xu Fang. This time, the first thing is to ensure life, otherwise there will be no merit and no merit.

On the other hand, Zang Ba. I have already seen the difference between Liu Lan and Tao Qian, the biggest difference, one of the two is a general, and the other is a literati, so Tao Qian needs him to be in Kaiyang Mubian, but Liu Lan will never let the military power fall aside, and a small feudal town like him appears in Xuzhou, but since Liu Lan wants to take back his military power, what attractive price will he offer?

and his old subordinates, how Liu Lan will be placed, this is Zang Ba's primary concern, but Chen Jiao's sudden silence made him a little suspicious, didn't Liu Lan let him come with any promises? It's just an attitude of eating yourself, and if you don't fall, the jade will not be burned?

If this is the case, then he Liu Lan will underestimate him too much, does he really think that he Zang Ba is built of mud and sand!

Just when Zang Ba looked at Chen Jiao gloomily, the latter also happened to look at Zang Ba, and the moment their eyes met in the air, they only heard Chen Jiao say: "Here is a handwritten letter from Liu Zhoumu, if Xuan Gao is willing, why not open it and take a look?" ”

Zang Ba didn't speak, but his sharp gaze softened, although he didn't agree, he didn't refuse, Chen Jiao knew that Zang Ba had acquiesced, and he was willing to see the conditions proposed by Liu Lan.

Chen Jiao took out Liu Lan's handwriting from his arms and handed it to Zang Ba with both hands. The latter took the letter expressionlessly and read it quietly, Liu Lan's price was beyond his expectations, but soon he understood that these two sentences meant something else.

First, if Liu Lan really wants to retain his military power, then he only needs to seal him as an evil appearance, so why do you have to do it like now? Come to Kaiyang and beat him.

So the first condition is more like handing over the military power, and he will be appointed as the evil minister, but the letter does not mention the second condition, which makes him a little confused, if he only agrees to the first condition, he can keep the military power, then what will be the second condition he proposed! Looking up at Chen Jiao, since the letter was not explained, it must be a message, but asked: "In addition to this letter handed over to you, what else does Liu Zhoumu have to say?" ”

Chen Jiao saw Zang Ba's heart in an instant, although he didn't know the content of the letter, but he could think that the conditions inside must be very tempting, but he didn't dare to express any jealousy or envy, he believed that his future high-ranking officials should be a three-foot sword, and he couldn't build a world's merits, but in an instant, the turmoil in his heart calmed down, shook his head, and said: "The state pastor just asked a certain to hand over this letter to Xuan Gao, and he didn't say anything else!" Chen Jiao paused, wanting to say that Liu Lan was still careful about settling them, but after thinking about it, he still didn't say it, after all, if he said it, it didn't have much effect on Zang Ba Toucheng.

Looking at Zang Ba frowning slightly, Chen Jiao said: "Xuangao, don't miss the opportunity, don't fall under yourself and the dangerous wall!" ”

"I know this in my heart!" Zang Ba pondered for a long time before he said again: "You go back first, tell Liu Lan, I need three days to think carefully, and then I will give him an answer whether to fight or accept his conditions!" ”

Chen Jiao was stunned, although he didn't bring back a satisfactory answer, but now this result is already the most happy, it's better than throwing his life in Kaiyang, not staying, arching his hand, and said: "Then I'll leave first, I hope Xuan Gao can make a wise choice in three days!" ”

“……”

Zang Ba didn't speak, but shouted while sending Chen Jiaoli out of the house: "Send Mr. Chen out of the city!" ”

After watching Chen Jiao's back disappear, he said to the guards beside him: "Go and tell the generals to invite me, just say that I have something important to discuss." ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three days later, the Xuzhou army surrounded Kaiyang County, but after setting up the camp, Liu Lan never stood still and did not attack.

At this time, all the generals sat in Liu Lan's main tent, and all of them were eager to try and want to take this credit. I saw Zhang Fei brushing his armor and stepping out: "Lord, I am willing to ask for help and seize this city." ”

Everyone saw that Zhang Fei had taken the lead, and no one was willing to compete with Zhang Fei for this credit, but Guan Yu, who was sitting upright, smiled, looked at Liu Lan and said: "The lord can make Yide fight, and he will win the little Kaiyang!" ”

Zhang Fei listened to him also say something for himself, and after glancing at Guan Yu gratefully, he turned to Liu Lan with a prayer, but he didn't want the latter to shake his head and veto, and said: "This battle Xu Junshi has already made a plan, you just need to wait patiently!" ”

Everyone looked at Xu Shu together, and Liu Lan also looked at Xu Shu, signaling that he could reveal some news, Xu Shu nodded to Liu Lan secretly, smiled at everyone unpredictable, and said: "Although Kaiyang City is not to worry, but if it is attacked, there will be casualties, the art of war: the soldiers who surrender without fighting, we should send the advance messenger to persuade them to surrender, if Zang Ba knows the current affairs, then it will take no soldiers to get Kaiyang, if it does not surrender, then the army will attack and take Kaiyang in one fell swoop!" ”

Glancing at everyone, he said: "But I can't take it lightly, before Zang Ba agrees to surrender, I must prepare to attack the city." He interjected at the right time and said: "Actually, the envoy has been dispatched, and the agreed deadline is until today, now we have to catch it second-hand, and assume that Zang Ba surrenders today, if this is really the case......"

As he spoke, he looked at everyone and said in a deep voice: "After all, Kaiyang City is a special product produced by Tao Envoy Jun to resist the Yellow Turban thieves during his lifetime, so the generals must not be reckless, let alone disturb the people. ”

Everyone was savoring the meaning of Liu Lan's words, but they heard him say: "The second step, if Zang Ba resists to the end, what should we do!" ”

The reason why I didn't take the initiative to attack the villages and counties under the jurisdiction of Kaiyang does not mean that I don't have the determination to completely stabilize the situation in Xuzhou, we only have 50,000 people now, which is very weak compared to the princes of Kanto, although weak, but it doesn't mean that I don't have the ability to fight violence with violence! (To be continued.) )

PS：~~~~~~~~~~~

PS: Chen Jiao's original surname was Liu, and he changed his surname to Chen because of his step-family and mother's family.