Luoyang City, General Zuo's Mansion.

In a hidden side hall, General Zuo Dong Cheng and his henchmen Chongji, Wu Shuo, Wang Fu and other courtiers were secretly discussing.

Dong Cheng sat on the top, stroking his beard and smiling, with a confident posture of self-concealment.

In the past two years, he has relied on his unique identity to form friends and gather the party, and check and balance Zhang Liao with the tacit consent of Liu Xie, the son of heaven, he has ambitions, but the pressure of confrontation with Zhang Liao in the court is undoubtedly great, although Zhang Liao has been very low-key in the past two years, and it seems that he has not taken any domineering and tough measures, but that is in the open, in fact, Zhang Liao's strong governance ability, absolute control over military power, financial power, and supervision power, like a mountain standing in secret, pressed Dong Cheng, the left general, can not breathe at all.

If Zhang Liao is as high-flying as Dong Zhuo and Li Dao, Dong Cheng is not afraid and can find ways to deal with it, but Zhang Liao is not Dong Zhuo, the arrows that are not shot are terrible, and they are more deterrent than what they shoot, Zhang Liao is in a high position above 10,000 people under one person, and has enough ability to sweep the court, and even replace the Son of Heaven, but he is very low-key, and the more low-key he is, the more afraid and jealous Dong Cheng is.

The battle under the court was undoubtedly dark and cruel, Dong Chengming secretly tried to probe Zhang Liao several times with the acquiescence of the Son of Heaven, but they were all fruitless, like a stone sinking into the sea, but even Cao Cao and other princes who recruited to check and balance Zhang Liao also tended to Zhang Liao, which made Dong Cheng tremble and be out of breath.

And with the passage of time, Zhang Liao's influence and roots in the court and the local area became deeper and deeper, and the more frightened Dong Cheng became, until the news came from the palace a month ago that his daughter Dong Guiren was pregnant, and the queen Fushou has not moved so far, Dong Chengcai suddenly unloaded the mountain in his heart, and his confidence suddenly became full.

He was almost ecstatic, couldn't sleep all night, and immediately conspired with Chongji and others to win over the courtiers, otherwise in half a year, he didn't know if he still had the courage to resist Zhang Liao.

The Son of Heaven is a major event for the country, and it is the beginning of a new round of power struggle, the thoughts of the courtiers are floating, and Dong Cheng has taken the opportunity to win over many courtiers.

At this time, Dong Cheng was plotting with his henchmen to seize some important official positions, and he now understands that as long as Zhang Liao does not want to break with Liu Xie, the Son of Heaven, he is safe.

After several provocations and secret observations in the past two years, Dong Cheng also had a certain understanding of Zhang Liao, and he found that although Zhang Liao was high in the court, his essence was not Dong Zhuo's greedy and tyrannical person, nor was he an insidious person who took power in the court, but focused most of his energy on people's livelihood, which damaged the interests of many families and offended many people, which was also one of the main reasons why Dong Cheng was able to win over many courtiers.

In addition, Dong Cheng found that Zhang Liao had no intention of usurping up to now, and the cronies such as Xun Yu he used were all so-called loyal people, Dong Cheng disagreed, but such Zhang Liao could indeed make him feel a little relieved.

"General, now we should take advantage of the situation to take important positions, and we must not hesitate!"

The loudest shouting in the hall is the kind of series, the expression is impassioned, this person is narrow-minded, although he has some talents, but he often uses public weapons for private purposes, and his heart is not right, Dong Cheng recommended him several times in the past two years, and Shang Shutai did not pass, so he hated Zhang Liao the most in his heart.

"What should I do?" Dong Chengfu asked.

"You must first take the power of the army!" Chong Ji said loudly: "Captain Sili, Captain Wei, Captain of the City Gate, Fifth Colonel of the Northern Army, Zhi Jinwu, General Huben Zhonglang, General Yulin Zhonglang, this must be taken!" It can be figured out Zhang Liao! ”

Dong Cheng disagreed: "These are all important positions, how can Zhang Liao be willing to give in?" ”

Chong Ji laughed and said: "The general pretends to be the prestige of the Son of Heaven, and competes for official positions above the court, this is the Son of Heaven to fight for profit, why be afraid!" ”

On the side, Wu Shuo said: "The positions mentioned by the Lang are all fought for by the generals in the court, how can Zhang Liao refute them, and if you get one or two, you can gather people's hearts and reduce Zhang Liao's momentum." ”

Dong Cheng's expression perked: "This method is wonderful!" Just do it! ”

The people below also cheered up, gossiping and discussing, and they were already planning what position they should take.

Dong Cheng looked at everyone, but saw one of the Tsing Yi scribes sneering silently, his expression changed slightly, this person was taken refuge in him half a year ago, surnamed Liyan, Lu people, lonely temperament, do not seek official positions, but have a lot of schemes, Yu Dong Cheng has made many contributions to Zhang Liao's Huangfu Li and other officials, Dong Cheng does not like Liyan's temperament, but after suffering several losses, he attaches great importance to Liyan's strategies and suggestions.

At this time, although he was swept away by Li Yan's expression, he still endured his displeasure, put on a posture of a corporal Lixian, and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Li has a high opinion? ”

The hall fell silent all of a sudden, and the others looked at the sneering Liyan and sneered.

Li Yan sneered and said, "I have a word to ask, will Zhang Liao let the general get the position of lieutenant and general of Hu Ben?" ”

Dong Cheng was silent, for the many official positions proposed by the series, some of them can be sought, but there are some that have no hope at all, such as the captain of the division who supervised the hundred officials, and the tiger ben Zhonglang who guarded the court will have no hope at all, and in the face of Liyan's problem, he could only shake his head: "It's difficult." ”

Li Yan asked again: "If you get other official positions, you may confront Zhang Liao?" ”

Dong Cheng's face was ugly, but it was difficult to deny: "No." ”

Chongji said loudly: "Even if you can't, you can also strengthen our strength, slowly figure it out." ”

Li Yan sneered: "You say that Zhang Liao is stupid? Taking such an official position will only make him vigilant! If he forcibly kills someone, who can stop him? ”

Dong Cheng's face changed immediately, and Liyan's words were like a basin of cold water poured down, causing his soaring confidence to sink to a low point all of a sudden.

Chong Ji and the others didn't look good-looking, when even someone asked: "Could it be that I don't do anything, just sit back and watch Zhang Liao grow?" ”

Li Yan said proudly: "I have my own clever plan, but I am not equal to the energy!" ”

Chongji and the others were so ashamed and angry by him that they reprimanded him angrily, but Liyan was completely ignorant of it, which only made everyone even more angry.

"Don't be angry, gentlemen," Dong Cheng groaned, and then looked at Liyan: "But I don't know what Mr. has planned?" ”

Li Yan glanced at everyone: "There are many people, and it is inconvenient to speak." ”

As soon as these words came out, Chongji and the others were all dumbfounded, and they just hated to rush over and beat this Liyan violently.

Dong Cheng saw that the situation was wrong, so he could only end the discussion hastily and make everyone retreat.

Not long after, in the back hall, Dong Cheng summoned Liyan to discuss secretly, although he trusted Chong Ji and others more, but Liyan's strategy was undoubtedly far superior to others, and the more isolated and proud Liyan was, the more he trusted, such a person can hardly be said to be a spy sent by others.

"Please also ask Mr. for advice, how to deal with Zhang Liao?"

At this time, Dong Cheng's posture was very low.

Seeing Dong Cheng's posture, Li Yan stopped putting on a score, shook the fan in his hand and said: "I don't know if the general has ever heard a sentence that if he wants to be defeated, he will be assisted." ”

Dong Cheng hurriedly saluted: "Please speak clearly, sir." ”

"As the so-called prosperity and decline, glory and humiliation," Li Yan stroked his beard and smiled: "Zhang Liao is a very human minister, even more so, as long as he is promoted to the position of Wang Mang, Dong Zhuo, and Li Dao, his death is not far away!" ”

Dong Cheng was a little dazed: "What does Mr. mean?" ”

Li Yan squinted his eyes and said: "Yuan Shu is the emperor, everyone rebels against him, outside this court, not to mention in the court, the general can encourage his ministers to push Zhang Liao further, or for Xiangguo, such as Dong Zhuo; or for the Great Sima, such as Li Dao; or even seal the duke, add nine tin, such as Wang Mang; Or a different surname to seal the king, so that the country is established, then the world will ask for it! ”