Two days later, Su Zhe got up and left Biyang and went south to Xiangyang.

Before leaving, he only left no more than 100 village soldiers for Biyang City, and the remaining 1,000 foot soldiers and more than 50 elite cavalry were all taken away by him.

This includes his own 300 soldiers and horses, as well as 700 soldiers who surrendered with Zhou Cang, these horses were recruited by Su Zhe himself, without spending a penny of the government, according to the unspoken rules that everyone tacitly assumes, these thousand men and horses naturally became his private soldiers.

Su Zhe ordered Su Fei to take these thousand soldiers and horses and camp on the north bank of the Han River, while Su Zhe took Zhou Cang and Su Xiaoxiao, escorted by thirty personal guards, to cross the river to Xiangyang City.

The next morning, Liu Biao met with Su Zhe in the Prefecture Governor's Mansion and announced Su Zhe's appointment as a tribute envoy in public.

This was a very formal reception, Liu Biao praised Su Zhe's outstanding performance in Biyang, and solemnly explained to him some precautions for entering the court, but did not mention the promise to Su Zhe of recruiting talents.

After a short meeting and appointment, Liu Biao ordered his eldest son Liu Qi to talk on his behalf, citing the busy government affairs.

As soon as Liu Biao left, Liu Qi enthusiastically proposed to take Su Zhe to visit the back garden of the State Governor's Mansion, and Su Zhe naturally had no reason to refuse the kindness of the eldest prince and happily obeyed.

Walking into the back garden, the entourage followed far behind, and there was no one left or right.

At this time, Liu Qi smiled and said: "I have admired Ziming for a long time, and I have long heard Mr. Shuijing mention that you are our first genius in Jingzhou, and I only hate myself for coming to Jingzhou with my father for a few years late, and I couldn't study with Ziming in Lumen Academy and see Ziming's demeanor." ”

The dignified prince of Jingzhou Mu suddenly praised himself so much, but I am afraid that he is not good-hearted......

Su Zhe immediately became alert, but smiled humbly: "The eldest prince has won the award, what is the first talent in Jingxiang, it is just the false praise of Teacher Shuijing, and the lower officials dare not be it." ”

"Ziming, don't be modest, you have pacified the scourge of Biyang Yellow Turban in just half a month, which is enough to prove your name as Wolong." Liu Qi's tone and expression became more and more appreciative.

Su Zhe could only smile, secretly wondering in his heart, what kind of medicine was sold in the gourd of this eldest prince.

After the words of compliment, Liu Qi suddenly sighed lightly: "Actually, father, he wanted to reward you for meritorious deeds and promote you to Nanyang Taishou, but because of Cai Taishou's face, he did not immediately fulfill the promise made to you at the recruitment meeting that day. ”

Liu Qi actually shifted the topic to this matter, and also euphemistically expressed Liu Biao's unavoidable jealousy of the Cai family, which is interesting.

Su Zhe's thoughts flew in his heart, but he said generously: "I understand, of course the lower official understands, after all, the lower official is just a humble family, and in terms of family status, it is incomparable with Cai Taishou." ”

"Ziming is really a person who understands the general situation, I am not mistaken."

Liu Qi nodded with satisfaction, suddenly took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to him, and said in a low voice: "Actually, my father admires you very much, and he has long planned to reuse it for you, so he will let you go to Chang'an, this is a secret letter from your father's hand, after you arrive in Chang'an, you will hand over this secret letter to Situ Wang Yun." ”

Situ Wang Yun, how did he involve this person.

Su Zhe became more and more suspicious in his heart, took the letter, but asked: "Forgive the official for taking the liberty to ask, I don't know what is in this letter from the lord to Wang Situ." ”

Liu Qi smiled and said: "It doesn't hurt to tell you, in fact, this is a letter of recommendation, in which my father hopes that Wang Situ can use his influence on Dong Taishi to appoint you as Nanyang Taishou in the name of the imperial court, so that my father can justifiably promote you to Nanyang Taishou." ”

Su Zhe suddenly realized, and the corners of his mouth quietly swept up with an imperceptible sneer.

He probably understood the thoughts of the father and son of the Liu family, the father and son nominally relied on Cai Huang and other Jingzhou clans, but in private they were also jealous of the growing power of the clan, so they wanted to take this opportunity to win over and reuse their own humble family and transfer Cai Mao out of the position of Nanyang Taishou, so as not to prevent Cai Mao from becoming a general on the side of the army like Huang Zu who guarded Jiangxia, which affected Liu Biao's actual control of the entire Jingzhou.

It's just that Liu Biao still has to rely on the Cai family after all, so he can only restrain him secretly, but he doesn't dare to weaken the power of the Cai family openly.

Therefore, Liu Biao wanted to use the name of the imperial court to replace Cai Mao as the Taishou of Nanyang, so that Cai Mao would not target Liu Biao with dissatisfaction.

"This is really a wonderful move, I don't know who came up with it for Liu Biao, it's okay, it's right in my arms......" Su Zhe laughed secretly in his heart.

Liu Biao wanted to use himself to weaken Cai Mao's power, so he just took this opportunity to get the position of Nanyang Taishou in his hands, the territory was bigger, the official position was bigger, and he had more capital to expand his strength.

Going to Chang'an can be said to be a double errand, and he has no reason not to accept it.

His thoughts were flying, Su Zhe quickly weighed the pros and cons, then he gave up his hand and said happily: "Then the lower official will thank the lord and the eldest prince for their weight, this time to envoy Chang'an, the lower official will not pay the trust of the lord and the eldest prince." ”

"Okay, well, with your words, my father and I are pleased." Liu Qi had a satisfied smile on his face.

After Liu Qi told him to woo him again, he asked Su Zhe to go down and prepare as soon as possible and leave for Chang'an as soon as possible.

Su Zhe took his leave.

"How is it, what is Su Ziming's attitude?" As soon as Su Zhe walked on his front foot, Liu Biao turned out from behind a big tree behind him.

Liu Qi was a little proud, and said with a smile: "Father, don't worry, this Su Zhe is just a poor disciple, and if he can be appreciated and reused by his father, he is naturally flattered, and he is grateful to Dade, and he will die for us." ”

"Well, that's good." Liu Biao nodded with satisfaction, but sighed again: "If you talk about talent, this son is indeed far superior to Huang Shot, but it's a pity, he is from a poor family after all, he can be used by me, but it can't be used, it's a pity......"

……

Su Zhe received Liu Biao's warrant, went to the state capital's main register to receive the relevant tribute, and after withdrawing the money and food from the envoy, he left Xiangyang on the same day and set off north.

The convoy left Xiangyang City and went all the way north to Hanshui, and when it reached a fork in the road, it looked far away, but saw a small road in the east, faintly leading to a manor.

"Why does that manor look familiar to me?" Su Zhe reined in his mount and muttered to himself.

Su Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Childe, have you forgotten, that is Miss Huang's home." ”

Huangjiazhuang?

Su Zhe's eyes suddenly appeared in front of Huang Yueying's delicate face, and he remembered the agreement with Huang Yueying at the recruitment meeting.

He was very curious about what kind of agreement he had when he was in Lumen.

Thinking of this, Su Zhe's horse turned his head and turned in the direction of Huangjiazhuang.

Zhou Cang and Su Xiaoxiao were stunned, so they had to beckon the convoy to turn around and follow Su Zhe to Huangjiazhuang.

At dusk, Su Zhe came to the front of the village, knocked on the door of the village, reported his name, and claimed to be Huang Yueying's old friend.

The servants of the Huang family, who were guarding the door, hurriedly went to the inner courtyard to report.

In the inner courtyard, in the exquisite pavilion, Huang Yueying and Cai Shu were sitting opposite each other, and the two were chatting about family life while embroidering female red.

"Sister, sister wants to congratulate you." Cai Shu glanced at Huang Yueying, and suddenly smiled.

"Congratulations, how happy am I?" Huang Yueying didn't look up, still focusing on the embroidery in her hands.

Cai Shu showed sarcasm on her face and said with a smile: "Sister, don't you have to pretend, haven't you heard that the eldest prince Liu has decided to marry your Huang family and plans to marry his sister as his wife, the eldest prince is the future state pastor, and my sister is naturally the future state pastor, isn't this worth congratulating?" ”

"Hmm~~"

Huang Yueying snorted lightly, but the needle pierced her fingertips, her eyebrows couldn't help but stare at it, and a little disgust flashed in her bright eyes.

She opened her lips lightly, brushed her bleeding fingertips, and said disapprerovingly: "What's so gratifying about this, my sister values the future Mrs. Governor very much, since that's the case, I will give it to my sister." ”

As soon as these words came out, Cai Shu's delicate body was shocked, and there was a hint of surprise in her eyes.