Before the trial and dispatch to Luoyang, Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia explained to him in detail, the most important thing is the attitude, must be strong, and show strong dissatisfaction with Dong Zhuo, so that it is possible to give both grace and power, so that Dong Zhuo can accept the proposed conditions, and for additional benefits, it is necessary to try and match according to the situation.

The trial arrived in Luoyang in mid-May and stayed in Zuixian Pavilion.

On the same day, Su Shuang sent someone to deliver the famous assassin to the Taishi Mansion and waited for Dong Zhuo to arrange a meeting.

Dong Zhuo and Li Ru had already prepared, and early the next morning, they sent people to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to meet the trial, for fear of being blamed for treating Gao Shun's envoy for being slow.

Military strength determines everything, and Dong Zhuo and Li Ru have to deal with it carefully.

In the reception hall of Taishi Mansion, the two sides sat down, and Li Ru accompanied them.

used the glass of Gaoshun's Shanggong Imperial Court, and drank the green tea that Su Shuang gave to Dong Zhuo.

After the greetings, the trial first asked: "Taishi Dong, the counties in the eastern part of the country are in turmoil, and the imperial court cannot quell the rebellion, which has caused wars in several states and the people to fall into dire straits, and the imperial court has done nothing and allowed the people to be displaced, why not?" ”

Li Ru was shocked, the champion Hou really came to ask for the guilt, his guess was right, the champion Hou just wanted to borrow their hands to fight the Kwantung clan; Fortunately, he was prepared, so he explained unhurriedly: "Zhengnan, the imperial court does not want to quell the rebellion, the imperial court also has difficulties, the position of the Taishi is unstable, the scholars are secretly in chaos, just now the Taishi was assassinated by the scholars, almost caused a catastrophe, therefore, during this time, first joined forces with Liu Jingsheng, the assassin of Jingzhou, to pacify Nanyang County, and annihilated all the troops of the thief Yuan Shu; Later, two armies were sent to confront the thieves in Chenliu County and Yingchuan County respectively; Now the imperial court is focusing on the Sili area, cracking down those restless or colluding with the families and individuals of the thieves, and if the situation is stable, the court will definitely send a large army to quell the rebellion. ”

Dong Zhuo was very dissatisfied with Li Ru's answer, and his tone was too weak, so he said to the judge: "Zhengnan, wouldn't it be better if the Kwantung princes are fighting each other now?" After they consumed and weakened each other, the court sent strong troops to sweep them all away with the power of thunder, so that the people could live a stable life; If they send troops to suppress it now, they will only unite against the imperial court, and waste money and food in vain; The imperial court has a plan of the imperial court, how can foreign ministers interfere? ”

The trial was not lightly angered by Dong Zhuo's words, and he didn't take the champion Hou in his eyes, so he asked sharply: "Taishi, Liangzhou Han Sui and Ma Teng are making trouble, and the imperial court also has arrangements?" Do you allow the Han people to be plundered and killed? If the court does not act, can't the foreign ministers ask? Besides, my lord, as a chariot general, has the power to quell the rebellion, so why can't I ask the imperial court about the counterinsurgency plan? ”

Dong Zhuo was stunned when he was asked, and his face was very embarrassed.

Li Ru hurriedly explained: "Due south, the Qiang-Han battlefield in Liangzhou lasted for a hundred years, and the imperial court spent countless money and grain, but the effect was minimal. ”

The judge picked up the teacup, gently blew the floating tea leaves, took a small sip of tea, calmly put down the teacup, looked directly at Dong Zhuo, and said dissatisfiedly: "Taishi, for the rebellion in the Kwantung states, the imperial court hopes that they will kill each other and not go to quell the rebellion; The rebellion against Liangzhou was powerless for the imperial court to quell the rebellion; Let the people of the two places suffer, and the court does nothing, what use does such a court want him? ”

Dong Zhuo's face has turned pale, since this period of time, even the emperor has to be respectful to him, everyone in the court, who dares to speak to him like this?

Li Ru saw that things were not good, so he was afraid that Dong Zhuo would be angry, so he hurriedly changed the topic and asked, "Zhengnan, I don't know what the champion Hou wants?" ”

After judging the sinister smile, he said: "Hehe, my lord doesn't have any special requirements, since the court has not done anything, my lord has decided to stop paying taxes to the court, use the money and grain to form an army, and exercise the power of the general of the chariot to quell the rebellion for the court." ”

Dong Zhuo and Li Ru's hearts trembled violently, what they were worried about, what they were worried about, the champion Hou really would not let them go easily, if the territory under the jurisdiction of the champion Hou stopped paying taxes to the imperial court, only the taxes in the subordinate area and Jingzhou were not able to support so many troops, and more importantly, if the champion Hou stopped paying taxes to the imperial court, how could Jingzhou continue to pay?

Dong Zhuo was so shocked that he didn't know what to do.

As a wise man, Li Ru naturally understands that since the champion Hou sent an envoy here, there is still room for negotiation, it is just an exchange of interests, but he doesn't know what the champion Hou wants and how big his appetite is?

Now is not the time to hesitate, so Li Ru asked directly: "Zhengnan, what are the requirements of the champion Hou, please say it directly." ”

The judge was very satisfied with Li Ru's attitude, and it was simple to talk to a smart person, but he didn't want to make a request directly, but said with a smile: "Haha, Wen Youyan is serious, my lord has been determined to stick to the border county and protect the peace of the people of the Han Dynasty since the day he started the army, and he has never made any requests to the imperial court; No matter what kind of tasks are given by the imperial court, my lord will overcome many difficulties and complete them with quality and quantity; Now that the lord of my family is living as a general of chariots and cavalry, he naturally does not want the rebels to cause chaos, wars, and poison the people; Since the court doesn't do anything, my lord has no choice but to do it for him. ”

The more he said this, the more bottomless Dong Zhuo's heart became, he expected that Gao Shun would open his mouth, but he didn't expect Gao Shun's appetite to be so big, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou and other places are rich places with large populations.

Li Ru's heart is running rapidly, Yanzhou, Yuzhou and Xuzhou, as well as the north of Yangzhou, a horse Pingchuan, if the cavalry of the champion Hou goes south, it will be easy to quell the rebellion in various places, these places will no longer be owned by the imperial court, and if the champion Hou occupies these states again, then the land of the Han Dynasty is basically under the control of the champion Hou, at that time, the Luoyang court still has the meaning of existence?

In any case, the champion Hou Nanxia cannot be given an excuse.

In Liangzhou, the Qiang-Han War has been fought for hundreds of years, and the more it is fought, the stronger the rebel army becomes, which has become a heavy burden on the imperial court, and the imperial court has several times wanted to completely give up the idea of completely abandoning it.

The imperial court was unable to quell the rebellion in Liangzhou with the strength of the country, how could the champion Hou succeed on his own? Yongzhou has not fully accepted it, and the champion Hou wants to seek other territories, which is really greedy.

Seeing the faces of the two of them, the judge was very happy in his heart, and secretly said that the method of the military advisor to sacrifice wine and play Zhicai was indeed effective, and the tougher the attitude, the more afraid Dong Zhuo became; The military advisor is young and really powerful, and the lord's ability to look at people makes him admire; This time, you may get unexpected benefits, and when you go back, you will definitely receive a rich reward from the lord.

Dong Zhuo looked at the sinister smiling face of the judge, and he hated it very much in his heart, but he couldn't show it on his face.

Li Ru thought to himself, since the champion Hou is so greedy, then let him be greedy enough, directly send Liangzhou to the champion Hou, let him go to quell the rebellion, it is best that the champion Hou is deeply involved in the Qiang-Han War and can't extricate himself, this is not to blame the court, he is self-inflicted.

However, such a big matter is not something he can call the shots, so he said to the judge: "This matter is very important, and it needs to be carefully negotiated by the important ministers of the imperial court before giving a reply, and as soon as there is news, Confucianism will tell you in time." ”

The judge knew that they would discuss, and it was inconvenient to continue to force each other, so he said: "Okay, then the match will retire for the time being, and wait for the notice of the master." ”