At the end of the month, Xin Bi, who was Yuan Tan's envoy, arrived in Chang'an City lightly and sneakily.

Hussar General's Palace.

"Ming Gong, Na Xin Bi presents the atlas and letters, and asks Ming Gong to meet him as soon as possible."

Fu Gan, the secretary of the book, took off his silk shoes outside the hall, bowed inside, and reported to Yan Xingyu, who was only wearing a swallow suit and discussing with several confidants in the hall.

"Heh, in recent years, Hebei has been defeated in successive battles, lost its division and lost its land, and the foundation has been declining. But I don't want this Yuan brother not to want to protect the territory and the people, and also raise troops to fight, this Xin Bi wanted to ask for help three times and twice in the post house, it seems that Yuan Shang, this little child, has indeed forced his brother into a desperate situation. ”

Yuan's internal strife, the matter of the Hebei and Qing wars, Yan Xing had already learned in advance through the school affairs in Kanto, and he had already guessed a thing or two about the mission of Xin Bi, who had traveled thousands of miles from Qingzhou and came to Chang'an in disguise, so Yan Xing deliberately forgot Xin Bi in the post house these days, so that the various rhetoric prepared by Xin Bi in advance could not be played, and he gradually fell into an anxious and helpless predicament.

Now, it seems that Simbi can't sit still at all.

The ministers also showed a knowing smile, since Jian'an defeated Yuan and Cao in the Northern War in the sixth year, the situation in Kanto is very good, although there are also small setbacks in the Battle of Nanyang, but on the whole, the trend of Kansai's foundation is still thriving, compared to the Yuan and Cao families who have not recovered after the defeat, the advantages of Kansai in all aspects have become more and more obvious.

Yan Xing glanced through Yuan Tan's handwritten letter at a glance, a sneer appeared on his lips again, he handed the letter to Fu Gan, signaled him to pass it on to Xun You and the others, and began to open the atlas presented by Xin Bi, when he saw the states and counties divided by Yuan Tan, he couldn't help but laugh.

"It's really a cub selling Yetian, and it's not distressing. Yuan Tan sent troops to Kanto to help Gu in order to ask for Gu, and promised to cede half of Jizhou to Gu, if Gu could help him win Jizhou, he would also have a thick currency and a pledge, and take Gu as the leader of the alliance. ”

Zhao Hong's eyes also showed a gleam when he heard this, and he said with a smile:

Jia Sheng once said that the dispute between Qin and the Six Kingdoms, the Six Kingdoms lost from the dissolution of the treaty, fought for the land and bribed Qin. Qin had the spare strength to control its disadvantages, chasing the dead and chasing the north, ambushing millions of corpses, bleeding and drifting; Because of the convenience of profit, slaughter the world, and divide the mountains and rivers. The strong country is convinced, and the weak country enters the DPRK. I don't want to repeat the events of Qin Shi today, the Yuan brothers are like enemies, competing to invite foreign soldiers to attack each other, our army is out of Taihang, and most of Jizhou can be obtained at your fingertips, which can be said to be the achievement of the Ming Gong by God! ”

As soon as Zhao Hong's words fell, Yang Fu, who had read the letter carefully, questioned it.

"Ming Gong, Yuan Tanshi sent envoys to beg each other, empty promises, but there was no sincerity. It is said that he wants to cede half of Jizhou to Ming Gong, but in fact, the cut county is not for me to go east to Taihang to attack by myself, I think this is just a plan to move the troubles eastward, it is nothing more than to lure each other with profit, instigate our army to attack Yuan Shang, and force the soldiers and horses of Jizhou to return to the division to protect themselves, so as to solve the urgent need of Qingzhou. And the thick coin commission, as the leader of the alliance, is a matter of no evidence, now the Ming Duke has decided to attack Bashu, must not be rash for the small profits, but also have to think twice. ”

Yang Fu's words made Yan Xing immediately put away his smile, he lowered his head and pondered for a while before he nodded and said:

"What Yishan said is very true, and this matter should be pondered deeply."

After finishing speaking, Yan Xing looked at Xun You again, his personality dictated, although after the death of Xi Zhicai, Xun You had become the mastermind he relied on by his side, but Xun You was still cautious in his words and deeds, walking on thin ice, on some big things, if it was not for Yan Xing's personal consultation, he would never easily express his opinions.

"What does Gongda think?"

Xun You felt Yan Xing's gaze, and thoughtfully, he stroked his beard and muttered for a while, before slowly saying to Yan Xing above:

"What Zhao and Yang Erjun said has its own reason, since this is the case, it is better for Ming Gong to see this Yuan Tan's envoy first."

···

Yan Xing followed Xun You's advice and personally met with Xin Bi, who was the envoy of Qingzhou.

In the lobby, although Yan Xing's Xinbi grade was light, he already had the appearance of a celebrity, he suppressed the nervousness and excitement in his heart, took out the words that had been prepared when he came out, and said to Yan Xing:

“······ Survival is extinct, and the righteousness of Spring and Autumn is also. I look at the world today, the strong of the soldiers and horses, not from the Guanxi, the loyal and righteous, no more than the general, Cao thief hijacked the Son of Heaven, mutilated the minister, Yuan Shang attacked the long with a young child, disregarded the etiquette, Yuan Qingzhou although the wisdom is shallow and weak, still want to declare the righteousness in the world, the situation is the general's majesty. Therefore, he was ordered to send an envoy to Chang'an, ······ The people of Kwantung are looking forward to it, and I hope that the general will send troops to the east as soon as possible, unite loyal ministers and righteous soldiers, help the Han Sheji, and save Qingzhou and the people of the world from fire and water······"

Yan Xing, who lowered his eyebrows and was silent, waited for Xin Bi to finish his remarks heartily, and was noncommittal, while Yang Fu on the side laughed, stared at Xin Bi and said:

"Mr. Ren is so skillful, but I still know a lot about Kanto. Jizhou Yuan Shanglian Cao Fa brother, Qingzhou is in danger of hanging upside down, Yuan Tan is unable to protect himself, so he sent Mr. to Chang'an, wanting to lure each other with profit, instigating our lord to send troops to help, in order to relieve the siege of Qingzhou. It's just that the ceded half of Jizhou is a thing on the map, and the thick coin is entrusted with quality and enshrined as the leader of the alliance is just a few empty words, how can my lord be gullible, such a disaster moves eastward, and a three-year-old child in Kansai can't hide it, does Mr. think that today he can rely on this three-inch tongue to move my million heroes in Kansai? ”

Xin Bi's face turned slightly red when he heard this, and although the words of the argument came to his lips, he didn't dare to say it in front of everyone immediately.

In the final analysis, the situation in Qingzhou is clearly revealed, no matter how Xin Bi forcibly covers it up, he can't hide the fact that Yuan Tan is in danger, and the monarchs and ministers of Guanxi are all people with outstanding wisdom, if they have other plans in their hearts, they really can't be moved by their own words.

Xin Bi groaned, secretly raised his eyes to look at Yan Xing, just now Yan Xing has been noncommittal, allowing the advisers around him to argue with him, which makes Xin Bi's heart even more unpredictable The mind of this majestic hussar general in Kansai, and he hesitated and hesitated for a while.

"If that's all the Mr. said, then please go back first, and I'll think about sending troops to Kanto."

Just when Xin Bi hesitated, Yan Xing, who had not spoken, finally spoke, as soon as he heard Yan Xing's words of expelling guests, Xin Bi's face suddenly changed color, these days he has worked hard to scatter all the gold silk, in order to say that Yan Xing sent troops, and finally got Yan Xing's reception by doing everything possible, if he can't take this opportunity to say that Yan Xing will send troops, then I am afraid that there will be no chance in the future, and this mission will be in vain.

"Wait! General, Bi Dou dared to guess that Chang'an was reluctant to send troops to Guandong, did he think that Yuan Qingzhou's words were not credible, and planned to sit and watch the tiger fight and use troops in Bashu? ”

When it came to the end, Simbi could only take a risk and speak out loud about his guess.

Yan Xing smiled, looking at this interesting Qingzhou envoy with blazing eyes, and for the time being, he had no intention of continuing to chase away guests.

Taking advantage of this gap, Simbi quickly adjusted his emotions, and his face returned to normal, and he continued:

"The general doesn't ask about the letter or the deceit, and he talks about it directly. Yuan's brothers are fighting each other, not to say that others can be in between, Fang Jin's two Yuan are not far away and the internal phase is plotted, which can be described as chaos; The military revolution was defeated outside, the ministers were punished inside, the brothers were slandered, the country was divided into two, and the war was fought for many years, and the locusts were born in the middle of the army, and the drought locusts were carried out, and the famine was achieved; Natural disasters should be at the top, personnel are trapped at the bottom, and the people are not stupid, and everyone knows that the land has collapsed, which can be described as death. This is the time when the sky is still dying, with the power of a general, to deal with the poor enemy, to fight the tired of the enemy, is like the swift wind of the vibrating autumn leaves. Tian Yishang and Ming Gong, Ming Gong did not take Bashu, and lost the use of soldiers. Yizhou is full of happiness, the country has not provoked, and the three armies are afraid that they will have the worry of fortifying the city. ”

"In the past, Zhong Yu once said: 'Take chaos and insult death', Yuan's internal strife, people think of the Lord, and now because they ask for help and take it, Li Mo is great. And the Quartet is no bigger than Hebei, Hebei is flat, then the six armies are prosperous and the world is shaken. If he waits for his year, Yuan Shang will join Hebei, Cao Cao will capture Qingzhou, and Guandong will join the vertical, although the general has the strange plot of Liangping and the martial courage of Benyu, he has lost the momentum of the world, and it is too late to regret! ”

Xin Bi's words impressed everyone in the hall, and Yan Xing, who was on the top, was also amazed, he looked at Xin Bi and asked with a smile:

"Sir's words were beyond Lone's expectations. It's just that what Mr. is planning now, is it for Qingzhou, or for himself? ”

"Bi is plotting for the master of the world and the people of the world!"

After speaking, Simbi bowed down and said no more.

···

After everyone left, Yan Xing left Xun Yu alone, the two of them stood in front of the map, the album presented by Yuan Tan was already hanging, Yan Xing pondered for a long time, and then asked:

"Gongda thinks that what Simbi said is credible?"

Xun You didn't answer immediately, but asked:

"Ming Gong thinks that Hebei and Bashu are in the world, which is more important?"

Seeing Yan Xing's contemplative face again, Xun You continued:

"There is something going on in the world, and Liu Biao sits between the Jiang and Han, and Liu Zhang divides the corner of Bashu, and these two people have no ambition to know. And the Yuan clan is based on the land of the four states, with hundreds of thousands of armor, and Yuan Shao won the hearts of the people with his generosity; If the two sons are in harmony with each other to keep their careers, then Hebei cannot be determined suddenly. Now the brothers are evil, and they can't have both, if there is a combination, they will be specialized, and they will be difficult to try; and its chaos to take it, the north can be determined, and it cannot be lost at this time. ”

"Besides, even if the Ming Duke is not worried about Yuan Shang unifying Hebei, he should also guard against Cao Cao from encroaching on Hebei after attacking Qingzhou, Cao Mengde is the hero of the troubled times, if he makes it based on Hebei and the Central Plains, then the Kanto will be very difficult to control, even if the Ming Duke has the land of Bashu, but if he wants to go out of the army, I am afraid it will not be an easy task!"

"These orphans also know, but Gongda, have you ever thought that Hanzhong is a place where soldiers must fight, and if you lose Hanzhong, Bashu is in danger, and Hanzhong is a lonely gain, and in Shuzhong, it is a matter of critical survival. If Lone does not take advantage of the victory to capture Bashu and lead the army to the east, once the Shu soldiers attack with all their might, Hanzhong will be in danger. ”

"When the shogunate was preparing to capture Bashu before, it didn't dare to attack without permission, all because the land of Bashu was easy to defend and difficult to attack, once Hanzhong was lost, not only did the previous achievements be abandoned, and tens of thousands of soldiers and laborers went down the drain, but also wanted to recover Hanzhong in the future, although 100,000 soldiers were sent, as long as the Shu soldiers strangled the mountain and guarded the danger, it was not easy for the army to take it."

The invincible hussar general said with concern that although he did not personally lead his troops to the battle of Hanzhong, the documents sent back from Yan Xing from time to time from the army can know the geographical overview of Hanzhong and Bashu. As the military book said, "Nanzheng is the heavenly prison, and the middle slope valley road is 500 miles of stone caves", the soldiers and horses of the army marched along the plank road, experienced all the hardships and dangers, and the advantages of foot horses and equipment could not be brought into play at all, and when they spent a lot of grain and grass to reach the dangerous mountain pass, the enemy army had already waited for work, and the exhausted soldiers attacked the mountain barricades, and often had to pay a heavy price to pull out one or two strongholds of the enemy, and more often it was a loss of troops and generals, and it was in vain.

These heavy prices are really not something that Kansai soldiers and horses can bear many times.

Xun You listened to Yan Xing's worries, and also fell into deep thought, and after a while, he seemed to have an understanding, and suddenly said:

"Since the Duke of Ming is worried about sending troops to Guandong, Hanzhong is empty, and it is attacked by Shu soldiers, it is better to send an envoy to Chengdu and discuss with Liu Zhang about returning Hanzhong!"

Yan Xing's brows suddenly raised when he heard this, and the light in his eyes flickered from time to time.

"Gongda means—"

···

Chengdu, the state capital.

Liu Zhang, who was slightly chubby and had a short white face and short beard, sat on the top seat, frowning, turning a pair of small eyes, and observing the controversial people in the hall suspiciously.

As the youngest son of Yizhou Mu Liu Yan, he was not outstanding in talent and morality, and he originally had nothing to do with the foundation left by his father, and Liu Zhang had no intention of competing with many brothers, but several of his brothers either died in the rebellion of Li Dao or died of illness, and died before Liu Zhang, and in the end, only his young son remained by his father Liu Yan's side.

Therefore, after his father died of illness, he was inexplicably succeeded to the throne by many civil and military forces in Shuzhong and took over the power of Yizhou.

It's just that Liu Zhang, who succeeded to the throne, soon found that his own control of Yizhou was only a nominal matter after all, and the counties under the rule of Yizhou could be described as turbulent and dangerous, and none of the generals under his father's command, the Haoqiang of Bashu, Zhang Lu of Wudou Midao, and the barbarians of Nanzhong were willing to succumb to themselves, and the reason why they supported them was just an expedient measure, and they just liked their own weakness and incompetence.

And things are indeed not much different from what Liu Zhang thought, the consequence of the branch being greater than the stem is that there have been rebellions of Shen Mi, Lou Fa, Gan Ning, Zhao Wei, Zhang Lu and others in Yizhou, if it were not for the Dongzhou soldiers left by his father, Liu Zhang would almost have been cut off by the rebellious Zhao Yun and others.

Although the rebellion has been quelled, Liu Zhang has barely secured the position of the state pastor, but the situation in Yizhou is still grim, there are Pang Xi, Li Yi and other generals to support the army and self-respect, and there are Xiliang soldiers who have captured Hanzhong outside, especially the latter, it is said that there is already a plan to go south to Bashu and attack Chengdu, and Shu County under his rule may fall into war again at any time.