Liu Qi couldn't help but sneer secretly when he heard this: "You slippery head, to put it mildly, isn't it for your own interests?" You're still my cousin. ”

However, Liu Qi didn't care about this, because he also knew that even if he was a brother, if he didn't have enough interests, it would be absolutely impossible for him to let others do things for him, not to mention that before he came to Guangling, he was already ready to ask for benefits from the other party.

So Liu Qi laughed and said: "My cousin's concern is not unreasonable, I don't know what kind of reason my cousin needs?" ”

Chen Deng thought for a while, and then said: "My conditions are also very simple, first, Guangling needs to maintain the status quo; Second, before you captured Xiapi, I still belonged to the imperial court on the surface, after all, the current Xuzhou Thorn Shi is Zang Ba, although our Chen family has some strength in Xiapi, but it is impossible to guarantee the safety of the ethnic group; Third, after you get Xuzhou, you need to ensure that our Chen family is exempt from taxes for ten years. As long as you agree to these conditions, my Guangling will surrender to you immediately, not only that, but when you attack Xuzhou in the future, my Chen family will secretly help you. ”

Unexpectedly, Liu Qi said: "There is no problem with the first two conditions, but the third one I can't agree to, your Chen family has a big business, if you are rent-free for ten years, I'm afraid that the income of the entire Xiapi country will not be enough to spend, I will take Pi down in the future to pay taxes, if I not only can't get the tax at that time, but I have to put it upside down, then what use do you say I want it?" ”

Chen Deng smiled and said lightly: "Since you don't want it, then it's better to send it to my Chen family directly, hehe, your uncle and his old man don't think he has enough money." ”

Unexpectedly, Liu Qi refused directly without thinking about it: "Hehe, my uncle was originally given by Cao Cao a 2,000-stone salary, and later he added the title of ten counties, isn't that much of a fortune enough?" I'm afraid it's not that my uncle is not satisfied, but that his unscrupulous son wants to take advantage of the opportunity. Cousin, now don't tell lies in front of real people, your Xiapi Chen, I only promise to be rent-free for three years at most, you can just promise this matter, if you don't agree, I will lead my troops to take Xuzhou in the future. But at that time, don't blame the younger brother for forcing the Chen family to pay taxes because I don't miss family affection. ”

"Oh? Hehe, do you really think Xuzhou is papier-mâché? Even without the participation of our Chen clan, I am afraid that although your military strength is strong, it will be difficult to defeat Zang Xuangao. Chen Deng couldn't help but sneer and said sarcastically.

Liu Qi's face did not change, and he responded lightly: "Hehe, that's not necessarily, the younger brother has also fought a lot of vicious battles in his life, and a brave person like Sun Ce has not been defeated by the younger brother?" What about Cao Ren? Although Zang Ba is strong, he may not be as good as those two, right? ”

Chen Deng couldn't help laughing, and said slowly: "In this case, can the virtuous brother dare to gamble with me?" ”

"Oh? How to bet? Although the cousin said that it is enough, the younger brother must accompany him to the end. Liu Qi couldn't help but be interested, and said with a light smile.

"In that case, you're welcome to be a brother." Chen Deng now doesn't know his cousin more and more, I really don't know why Liu Qi, who was cowardly and bullied by himself until he lost his temper in his childhood, has become so shrewd now? However, he still didn't believe in this evil, so he stubbornly said: "Then we will bet that your army will enter and occupy Xuzhou within five years, if you can really capture Xuzhou without our help, my Chen family will pay rent and taxes as usual, and even my Guangling will completely belong to you, if you don't take Xuzhou after two years, or take Xuzhou with our help, then my Chen family will not have to pay rent and taxes for ten years, and Guangling will also be permanently used as my Chen fief." ”

Unexpectedly, Liu Qi snorted and said in a deep voice: "Cousin, you are really insatiable, but this time I bet with you, because this time you are destined to lose." ”

Chen Deng laughed and said disapprerovingly: "Haha, even if you really lose at that time, I won't regret it for my brother, I can get such a powerful and courageous master, even if I Chen Deng pays rent and taxes as usual, I will definitely be willing." ”

"In that case, then we will make up our minds." Liu Qi stretched out his right palm and high-fived Chen Deng three times, indicating that the bet was reached.

After that, Liu Qi said with a smile: "In this way, this bet will not suffer for both of us, at least I can get Xuzhou, and cousin, you can also get a fief or a Ming lord, this is really a win-win agreement." ”

"Hehe, that's not necessarily, in case your cousin is not strong and is defeated by Cao Cao, and you will confess to your brother in the future, I'm afraid that my entire clan will be buried for you, I risk the destruction of the whole clan to help you get up, but you are so small, it's really a bit unkind, and we are still cousins." Chen Deng shook his head lightly and said helplessly.

However, Liu Qi is not a fool, and then refuted: "Cousin, you really know how to say, now Guangling still maintains the status quo, your Guangling Taishou is still equivalent to a prince of one side, the entire Guangling is only nominally under my control, and even in name it is not counted, because with your shrewdness, you will never publicly declare that you will submit to me Liu Qi from now on, so you are still your original Guangling Taishou, if I am defeated, you are still Cao Cao's subordinate, only after I completely occupy Xuzhou, you will publicly admit to belonging to me." So, whether I win or lose, it doesn't do you any harm. As for what you said about the little brother and the little weapon, it will be even more wronged, because according to our agreement, if I lose, then you will be equivalent to being a hereditary county marquis. ”

"Hehe, who made us cousins? You should also contribute a little bit to your mother's family. Chen Deng was said to be in his heart, no longer defended, and said with a smile.

"Alas, I really can't help you, it's still my cousin, who is so cheeky." Liu Qi shook his head, and didn't bother with Chen Deng, so he didn't say anything more.

After the two finished their business, they each achieved their goals, and then they chatted about learning, although Chen Deng was erudite, where could he compare to Liu Qi, a college student who traveled from later generations? Therefore, Liu Qi often talks about some strange things, which can attract Chen Deng's attention, and in the end, almost Liu Qi is talking and Chen Deng is listening.

As a result, the more Chen Deng listened, the more frightened he became, he really didn't expect his cousin to be so knowledgeable, whether it was astronomy and geography, military books and war strategies, poetry and book learning, and even military administration, he could tell some unique opinions, many of which he had never heard of.

"Alas, I really didn't find out that my cousin turned out to be a genius in the world, no wonder he Lao Tzu can be called Bajun with my grandfather, it seems that Lao Tzu's crooked theory of being a hero is not crooked, because this crooked theory is also suitable for him."

Time flies quickly, the night has passed in a blink of an eye, the sky has already brightened, the more Chen Deng listens, the more he feels that he has long knowledge and opened his eyes, but the subordinates who are waiting outside the hall are really a little impatient, because their Taishou is diligent in official business on weekdays, and has never had a history of delaying the opening of the office, but today I don't know why, until the sun is three poles, the main door of the hall has not been opened for a long time, and I asked the soldiers who were waiting on the side, but I heard that they were accompanying an important guest, and no one saw them.

Everyone had no choice but to wait outside, but after waiting for a long time, they didn't see Lord Taishou open the door, so they urged Chen Deng's personal captain Chen Hao to go and ask for instructions, but after a while, he saw Chen Hao and said with an unhappy face: "Lord Taishou said, I won't be a director today, please go back." ”

One of them, a young scribe named Chen Jiao, said to Chen Hao: "Captain Chen, which master Taishou is seeing today?" He even ignored political affairs. ”

I saw that although Chen Hao was reprimanded when he saw Lord Taishou, and he was quite resentful in his heart, he knew that Chen Jiao was currently Chen Deng's celebrity, so he didn't dare to make a face, and hurriedly squeezed out a smile that was more ugly than crying, and said respectfully: "Chen Gongcao, as far as the last general knows, the guest that Lord Taishou met with today seems to be a person called What Fish and What Fish. ”

"What fish?" Chen Jiaonian chattered for a moment, and suddenly opened his mouth and said, "Could it be Huaziyu?" ”

"That's the man." Chen Hao nodded, and then echoed.

"Hehe, no wonder, Lord Taishou has always admired Huaziyu's noble character, and it is understandable to have a long talk after this meeting, but isn't this Huaziyu Liu Qi's Yuzhang Taishou? How did you get here? Also, Hua Ziyu is a virtuous person, how can he let Lord Taishou ignore political affairs because of the talks? This doesn't fit his character, right? ”

Chen Jiao asked a few words, but Chen Hao couldn't say why, so he had to leave it at that, and then sighed softly and returned to his house.

Not long after Chen Jiao left, Liu Qi decisively terminated the conversation, and then said with a smile: "It's not too early now, my cousin should be in charge, and the younger brother is inconvenient to disturb and leave." ”

Chen Deng slapped his head and said violently: "Oh, I actually missed the time to open the door to manage the government, this is really a sin, alas, cousin, don't be in a hurry to leave, we haven't seen each other for more than ten years, why don't we get together?" ”

Liu Qi said with a wry smile: "The younger brother doesn't have such a good life as his cousin, now that our army is besieging Sun Quan, the three armies are indispensable for a day, I want to go back and preside over the overall situation as soon as possible." ”

After Liu Qi finished speaking, he bowed his hand to Chen Denggong, retreated to Hua Xin's side, and became an ordinary entourage again.

Although Chen Deng was reluctant, he also knew that Liu Qi was busy with military affairs and did not dare to stay, so he ordered the sergeant to escort Hua Xin and others all the way to Quanjiao.

It was not until it was confirmed that they had entered Yangzhou safely that the sergeants who had been ordered to escort them returned to Guangling.

"I don't know who we're escorting this time? It seems that the identity of this person called what kind of fish is definitely not ordinary, otherwise it would not have made Lord Taishou pay so much attention to it, if this is not a person who is generally not enough, we adults can ignore it. A pro-soldier leader looked at the back of Hua Xin, who was leaving not far away, and sighed softly.

And another personal soldier also chimed in: "Yes, a few years ago, a man named Xu Yan went to see Lord Taishou, but Lord Taishou ignored him, and went to the big bed by himself, and let Xu Yan sit on the bottom bed. I really don't know what kind of charm this fish is, and it deserves to be treated like this by Lord Taishou, which is really envious of others. ”

In fact, if Hua Xin heard this, he would definitely feel wronged, because although Chen Deng was also courteous to himself, but what was treated by this specification was actually not him, but his lord Liu Qi, he dared to guarantee that if Chen Deng could be treated with such a high standard, I am afraid that there is only one lord in the world, even if Cao Cao comes, he may not be able to get such courtesy.