Ma Teng Han Sui's station was near Qishan, passing through the area where Li Dao Guo Yan's rebels were active, for the sake of safety, Liu Bei disguised himself as a vendor selling straw shoes, rode a donkey day and night, and hurried for days, and finally secretly came to Ma Teng Han Sui's military camp.

Before he could get close to the camp, a team of cavalry came out of the barracks and blocked Liu Bei's way. One of them, a very good-looking person, asked Liu Bei fiercely: "Who dares to break into the military camp without permission, and he will die?" ”

Liu Bei looked light-hearted, took out the edict from his arms unhurriedly, raised it high, and said loudly: "Liu Bei of Zhuo County, according to the edict of the Son of Heaven, come to see Ma Shoucheng and Han Wenyue. ”

The chief was stunned for a moment, and looked Liu Bei up and down. Although Liu Bei looks poorly dressed and is a little unkempt after a few days of traveling, the kind of momentum exuded by his body cannot be concealed, and he is not an ordinary person at first glance.

Shi Chang's attitude was a little respectful, and he arched his hand and said, "Your Excellency, let me report later." After speaking, he glanced left and right, ordered his subordinates to look at Liu Bei, and turned around and returned to the barracks.

Ma Teng Han Sui was discussing the current situation in the camp tent at this time, and when he heard his chief come in and report that an envoy from the imperial court was asking to see him in front of the camp, he couldn't help but be stunned, and glanced at each other. ”

"Alone." Shi Chang replied.

Alone? Ma Teng couldn't help but groan. The current situation is so tense, this person dares to come to the enemy camp alone, which can be regarded as quite bold. Ma Teng nodded approvingly in his heart.

Han Sui said coldly on the side: "This person must be a lobbyist of the imperial court, and he came to persuade us to surrender." It is better to send someone to cut him off, and he will end up with a clean ear. ”

Ma Teng shook his head and said, "This person dares to come alone, it is quite timid, it is better to let him come in and listen to what he has to say." ”

Han Sui wanted to meet Ma Teng, but he didn't object, just smiled contemptuously, and said, "Shoucheng said so, I want to see what powerful characters the imperial court will send!" ”

Han Sui ordered the soldiers to set up a fire and oil pot in the barracks, and then ordered the chief to bring Liu Bei in.

When Shi Chang returned to the barracks to find Liu Bei, the scene in front of him made him stunned.

The envoy named Liu Bei was sitting on a bluestone, and his subordinates who were in charge of guarding him gathered around him, each with a pair of freshly changed straw sandals on their feet. Liu Bei was also weaving straw sandals while talking to the soldiers next to him.

"How old are you?" Liu Bei asked a childish soldier who was obviously still a teenager.

"Sixteen." The young soldier replied honestly.

"Where is your hometown?"

"Golden City."

"Who else is in the house?"

"My mother."

"Homesick?"

The young soldier was silent for a moment, then nodded heavily.

"Yes! I miss my mother. Since the family's land was occupied, and my father was forced to death by the government bullies, I came to the army again, and my mother was left alone in the family. I don't know how it's now, but I don't think it's going to be anymore. ”

The young soldier couldn't help but burst into tears as he spoke.

Liu Bei handed the braided straw sandals in his hand, patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, "No, your mother must be waiting for you to go home at home." Let's try this straw sandal fit first. ”

"Over the years, those officials have been corrupt and bribed, forcibly taking and plundering, and they don't treat us as human beings at all." Infected by the sad atmosphere of the teenager, another middle-aged soldier said indignantly.

"Yes, especially if you don't treat us Qiang people as human beings." Another soldier, who was clearly an ethnic minority, also chimed in.

For a while, everyone was excited, accusing the government of corruption. Liu Bei also took the opportunity to follow and said: "When I was a county lieutenant in Anxi County when I was young, I also hated those corrupt officials who were rampant. Once, a superintendent from the county asked me for a bribe, and when I refused to give it, he threatened to dismiss me from my post in the court. The people of the county came to him to intercede for me, but he beat me up. I couldn't get angry, so I tied him to a tree and whipped him so hard that he cried and cried for his mother. ”

Liu Bei's words made everyone laugh, and the Qiang soldier applauded again and again: "Happy, it's so happy!" ”

The middle-aged soldier asked puzzledly: "Since Brother Liu, you beat the post governor, how can you still become an envoy of the imperial court?" ”

Liu Bei replied: "That's because today's son is young and promising, wise and wise, and doesn't mind that I am a person who escapes from crime, forgives me for my previous sins, and promotes me to be a military advisor, which allows me to represent the imperial court here." ”

Liu Bei's words silenced the surrounding Xiliang soldiers. Most of these soldiers were oppressed by the government to embark on the road of rebellion, and they were still peasants in their bones, with no great ambitions, and no one thought that they would make themselves prosperous by rebellion. On the contrary, these people are pessimistic about their future. After all, there is no way out of this kind of life with your head in your hands.

And Liu Bei's words gave them a glimmer of hope, the court didn't have to kill people like them, like the fast and good brother Liu who made straw sandals in front of him, he was pardoned by the court and became a big official. Although these Xiliang soldiers did not expect to be rewarded as officials and knights as Liu Bei, as long as the imperial court could pardon their crimes and return to good citizens. It would be even better if there were a few more acres of thin fields to make ends meet!

Liu Bei saw that the soldiers around him were a little moved, so he took the opportunity to say loudly: "In fact, the imperial court has promulgated a lot of good policies that are beneficial to our people and unite the Qiang brothers. It was those corrupt officials who distorted the good intentions of the imperial court and forced the people to rise up and become thieves. ”

"Brother Liu is right, an old gentleman in our village once said that the emperors are all good, and the bad ones are those ministers in the middle." The young soldier chimed in.

"Yes, it's all the dogs in the middle." The Qiang soldier roared along.

For a while, everyone was excited, and they scolded the corrupt officials for misleading the country and the people.

The chief on the side had already seen it, and he really couldn't understand how his subordinates had become so good with the imperial envoy after only going in and out of the barracks for a short time? Looking at the form at this time, even if the messenger raised his arms and shouted, his subordinates might mutiny and run away with him.

How exactly did he do it? Could it be a spell like the Great Liang Ancestor Zhang Jiao that would confuse people?

Shi Chang was puzzled and froze in place, even forgetting Han Sui's military order to bring him to the military camp with envoys. Or Liu Bei looked up and saw him by chance, smiled kindly, and asked, "Little brother came out, but is it because Ma Han and the two princes are willing to see me?" ”

He bowed. "My lord asks my husband to come in." Shi Chang unconsciously became more respectful towards Liu Bei.

"I'm tired of the little brother leading the way."

Liu Bei stood up and straightened his clothes, and followed Shi Chang into the barracks. When the pair of soldiers surrounding him saw the commander coming, they finally restored their original organization and discipline, stood upright, and walked into the barracks with Liu Bei. It's just that following Liu Bei seems to be his personal guard.

Walking into the barracks, Liu Bei saw that a fire and an oil pot had been set up in the camp to boil water, but Liu Bei thought in his heart that these preparations were not Ma Teng Han was going to invite himself to dinner.

Regarding Ma Teng Han Sui's appearance of sharpening his knife, Liu Bei still behaved extremely calm, did not squint, and walked into the Chinese military camp tent proudly.

The tents were already full of rebel generals, and everyone had a hideous face and almost wanted to devour people. Behind the long case in the middle are two generals sitting on the left and right. The general on the left had a majestic body, a wide face and a wide mouth, and put on a grim face towards Liu Bei. The general on the right was slightly thinner, with dark skin, and a pair of sharp eyes shot out a cold light under the inverted eight-figure eyebrows, staring at Liu Bei deadly.

Liu Bei guessed that these two people should be Ma Teng Han Sui, although he didn't know who they were, but he still secretly marveled in his heart that these two people were really heroes in the world, no wonder the imperial court couldn't eliminate them after repeated conquests.

While Liu Bei looked at Ma Teng and Han Sui, Ma Teng and Han Sui were also observing him at the same time. At the first glance at Liu Bei, Ma Teng had a strange feeling. The big-eared and long-armed court envoy in front of him had a kind face and a soft gaze, giving him a sense of déjà vu. It was as if it was his old friend or a neighbor from his hometown, which gave him an indescribable sense of intimacy.

Although he was secretly surprised in his heart, Ma Teng's face was still pretended, and he asked coldly, "Who is here?" ”

Liu Bei bowed his hand and replied: "Under the order of Liu Bei, the military commander of the Northern Army of the Han Dynasty, dare to ask Your Excellency, but the two of you are Ma Teng and Han Sui, the two princes?" ”

Ma Teng snorted coldly and said, "It is Ma Shoucheng." ”

The black and thin general also spoke: "It's Han Wenyue." ”

Liu Bei showed a kind and soft smile, held up the edict and said: "Prepare for the order of the Son of Heaven and come to announce the edict." ”

Ma Teng's eyes widened suddenly, and he said sharply: "Sure enough, he is a lobbyist of the imperial court, relying on clever words to disturb the hearts of our army." Come on, push it out and cook! ”

The soldiers on the left and right made a sound, stepped forward and grabbed Liu Bei and pulled him out of the tent. Liu Bei didn't struggle at all, let alone refute it, just smiled and let the soldiers pull him out of the tent.

Ma Teng saw that Liu Bei's face was not afraid, and he was secretly surprised in his heart, seeing that Liu Bei was about to be pulled out of the camp, he hurriedly stopped the soldiers.

Liu Bei was pushed back into the middle of the tent, still with the same smile on his face.

Ma Teng asked curiously, "You're not afraid of death?" ”

Liu Bei said: "Why aren't you afraid, but I know that Ma Fujun and Han Fujun will not kill you at all." ”

At this time, Han Sui, who had been silent on the side, suddenly laughed for a while, and then stopped abruptly, his eyes were gloomy, and he asked Sensen: "How do you know that we won't kill you?" ”

Liu Bei said solemnly: "The two are loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty, how could they kill the envoys of the imperial court." ”

Ma Teng also laughed after hearing Liu Bei's words, and said: "We have many wars with the imperial court, and we are regarded as rebels by the imperial court, how can we become loyal ministers of the imperial court?" The fallacy is ridiculous. ”

The surrounding generals also laughed happily, but Liu Bei didn't mean to laugh at all, but raised his face at a forty-five degree angle, looked at the top of the tent, and showed a sad and compassionate look with tears in his eyes.

Seeing Liu Bei like this, Ma Teng and Han Sui laughed more and more embarrassed, and finally the two had to stop laughing and asked puzzledly: "What do you mean by this?" ”

Only then did Liu Bei retract his gaze from looking up, put on a distressed look, and said: "Ma Fujun was originally a descendant of the Great Han Dynasty after Ma Fubo (Ma Yuan). And Han Fujun is a famous man in Jincheng, who once raised filial piety and honesty, and offered advice to the general He in Beijing, and conspired to punish the ten permanent servants. The two were originally loyal men, but they were forced to be thieves, how could the court not know? Even His Majesty often sighed when he mentioned the two generals: 'What a thief is a beautiful woman!' ’”

Liu Bei's words almost reached Ma Teng Han Sui's heart. It is true that the two of them did not want to be traitors and rebel against the court in the next life, as Liu Bei said, they were forced by current events. Looking back on the beginning, the two of them also had the heart of a child, and had the ideals and ambitions of helping the Han and making contributions. It's just that I was born in troubled times and couldn't help myself, and I can't turn back until now.

Thinking of this, Ma Teng and Han Sui couldn't help but bow their heads, and sighed in their hearts. After a while, Ma Teng raised his head and asked, "We have a deep grudge with the imperial court, is the imperial court really willing to let us go?" ”

Hearing that Ma Teng's voice was no longer violent, Han Sui was also pondering, Liu Bei understood that the two of them had moved, and said more vigorously: "When today's son is young and smart, he already knows the loyalty of the two, so he let the edict come to him, hoping that the two can return to the Han Dynasty as soon as possible." When I came, His Majesty also asked me to bring a message to the two princes: Ma Shoucheng and Han Wenyue, as the people of the Han Dynasty, have been trapped in thieves for many years, and they are helpless and helpless. The Han Dynasty didn't have time to save it, it was really the fault of the imperial court! I'm sorry, I'm ashamed. ”

Speaking of this, Ma Teng Han couldn't help but be moved. The imperial court basically regarded them as misguided teenagers, and earnestly hoped that they could return to the right path and return to the arms of the Han Dynasty.

Han Sui felt like a confidant on the side, sighed and said, "In the whole world, there are still people who know about my suffering? ”

Ma Teng stood up even more excitedly, stepped forward to take Liu Bei's hand, and said with red eyes: "Your Majesty's words, I am even more ashamed." ”

As he spoke, he pulled up Han Sui and bowed to the ground, and said in unison: "Ma Teng (Han Sui) listens to the edict." ”

Liu Bei nodded with satisfaction, unfolded the edict and read it out from beginning to end.

If Liu Bei's words just now brought Ma Teng Han Sui closer to the imperial court, and the content of this edict completely made the two of them lean towards the imperial court.

Ma Teng and Han Sui are not willing to be mediocre, they still have feelings for the imperial court, but the reason why they still did not surrender to the imperial court immediately is that they hope to be able to make capital and sell at a price. And the conditions offered by the imperial court were quite tempting, so that the two of them jumped from traitors wanted by the imperial court to princes on the shepherd side, and this treatment made Ma Teng Han Sui have to be tempted.

Taking the edict in Liu Bei's hand, the two read it carefully. After reading it, the two exchanged glances with each other, and Ma Teng said to Liu Bei respectfully: "Your Majesty's grace, I am grateful." Envoy Liu went down to rest for a while, and we will make a decision after discussion. ”

Although Ma Teng Han Sui did not give Liu Bei a positive answer, Liu Bei had already seen that the two of them had completely accepted the court's recruitment in their hearts. On the surface, it is just a formality to discuss again, and it is estimated that there will be an answer tonight. Therefore, Liu Bei didn't say anything else, and let Ma Teng call the soldiers outside the tent loudly.

The chief who brought Liu Bei in just now walked into the camp tent, and Ma Teng said to him: "Take the angels of the court down to rest, and the arrangements for good students must not be lazy." ”

Shi Chang looked at Liu Bei, and then at Ma Teng Han Sui's look of cordial reverence that he had shown as his subordinate soldiers just now, and the shock in his heart and his respect for Liu Bei were no longer attached.

Liu Bei still had his approachable expression, and said to him with a smile: "Little brother, I have to work for you again." ”

After Shi Chang led Liu Bei out, Ma Teng Han began to discuss. The two of them basically had no objection to accepting the imperial court's recruitment, but Han Sui proposed that they should cooperate with the imperial court next, attack Li Dao Guo Yan's rebels, and make such a knife in their backs. And Ma Teng hesitated for a long time about Han Sui's proposal, and also rejected his proposal, shook his head and said: "Li Zhiran (Li Daozi) is not good for me, it is no longer appropriate for me to be recruited by the imperial court, how can I do this unrighteous thing again?" ”

Han Sui saw that Ma Teng was opposed, and he did not insist on his opinion. In the evening, the two invited Liu Bei over again, expressing their willingness to accept the appointment of the imperial court, but they wanted to rush to the garrison to guard the frontier for the imperial court.

Seeing that Ma Teng Han was willing to accept Zhao'an, Liu Bei's task was completed. As for their unwillingness to deal with Li Dao, Guo Yan and others, the Son of Heaven did not strongly ask them to do so, but only told Liu Bei to act at the opportune point and not to force them too much. So Liu Bei didn't insist on this.

Ma Tenghan was overjoyed to see that the imperial court did not insist that they fight with Li Dao and Guo Yan. Then a banquet was held to entertain Liu Bei, who was an envoy. Because he has become an official of the imperial court, coupled with the infection of Liu Bei's personal charm, Ma Tenghan Sui's attitude towards Liu Bei during the banquet is also a lot more intimate.

Liu Bei has always been bold, good at making friends with famous people in the world, and he did not refuse to come to Ma Teng Han Sui's initiative and enthusiasm.

When the wine passed the third round, Ma Teng twisted and put forward a difficulty to Liu Bei, that is, the imperial court asked him to send his family to Beijing as a hostage.

Ma Teng didn't know that this request of the imperial court was for the good of everyone, so that the court and the local government would not suspect each other and each would feel at ease. But Ma Teng's eldest son, Ma Chao, has grown like pink jade and eyes like meteors since he was a child, and he is a handsome and good man. Ma Chao, who is now in the year of dancing elephants, has grown rapidly after entering puberty, and has become a tiger-backed bear, with a lofty weapon, and has the potential of a generation of fierce generals. Ma Teng, who loves Ma Chao very much in his heart, is reluctant to let Ma Chao enter Beijing as a hostage, hoping that he can grow up by his side.

Liu Bei understood that the imperial court meant to ask Ma Teng's family to enter Beijing, but since Ma Teng's eldest brother, who had become very strong, begged him, Liu Bei, the "Xuande Brother", naturally had to help think of a way.

In fact, in daily contact, with Liu Bei's understanding of Liu Wei and his eagerness to cut off the wings of the Xiliang rebels, if Ma Tengzhen opened his mouth to ask Liu Wei, Liu Wei would not necessarily refuse.

Therefore, Liu Bei first bowed his head and pondered for a while, and then slowly comforted Ma Teng and said: "In fact, today's son is the most lenient and benevolent ruler, and Brother Ma's request is not completely impossible. It's just that I don't know if the ministers of the court will have doubts and make trouble. It is better for Brother Ma to repair a letter and be presented to His Majesty by the younger brother, stating the details, and the younger brother is talking around beside him, there should be no difficulty in this matter. ”

Hearing Liu Bei say this, Ma Teng was grateful, and actually got up and saluted, and thanked: "Then there is Brother Lao Xuande." Brother Xuande has something to do with him, and I, Ma Shoucheng, am willing to be sent. ”

Liu Bei said after listening to the truth: "General Ma's words are wrong, the reason why Bei helps you, Yu Gong, is that you and I are both Han ministers, and we should help each other and help the community; Privately, I have always admired General Ma for being bold and open-minded, and loyal to the Han, so I made friends with all my heart, not because I wanted to have something for the general. If the general wants to repay, then repay the Son of Heaven and the country, and shepherd one side well. ”

Liu Bei's words were righteous and righteous, and Ma Teng was ashamed, and he and Han Sui couldn't help but admire Liu Bei's high demeanor and loyalty to the Han family in their hearts. The attitude towards him became more and more respectful and intimate.

Liu Bei's words made Ma Teng put down the stone in his heart, and he felt very relaxed, and the three of them took over the topic and had nothing to do with political affairs, and they chatted about it. They drank until late at night, and the three of them got drunk and went home.

In the early morning of the next day, Ma Teng and Han Sui followed Liu Bei's words, each of them revised a book, prepared a letter of surrender, and Liu Bei brought it back to the Son of Heaven, and the two returned to Liangzhou with soldiers and horses.

(To be continued, stay tuned for the next chapter)