The spring breeze blew through the fields in the countryside, gently swaying the short wheat seedlings, shaking the brown pale green like a wave. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoIn fact, it's still early spring, and there is still a little bit of cold in the warm wind, but looking at this green seedling that is thriving in the slightly thawed brown map, the withered and simple faces are always filled with a heartfelt smile.

"Our land!" This is such a simple sentence, but it is something that all farmers in the world have always wanted to get but finally sighed. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion arose, these people who just wanted to get land also thought it was an opportunity, but they didn't want this so-called opportunity to be a fancy thing. The turmoil caused by the Yellow Turban Rebellion not only did not bring them much benefit, but because of this turmoil, all forces, large and small, were fully armed, and in the name of suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion, they were pressed into the most miserable situation. Instead of getting what they wanted, they lost even more. Many of them had to leave their hometowns in tears in the midst of the smoke of war, and they did not know the so-called peace in a foreign land, forming a tide of displaced people.

Most of the displaced people went south in search of their dreams. For them who have left their hometowns, it is their best choice to go to Jingzhou, which is free of war.

From the Central Plains to Runan, then over the Dabie Mountains to Jiangxia County, and then from Jiangxia to Xiangyang -- most of the displaced people from the north went to Xiangyang by this route. They brought a lot of labor to Xiangyang, which was not very populous at that time, and also caused headaches to Liu Biao, the lord of Jingzhou.

Known as "benevolence", he really had no reason to refuse the exiles, but so many people gathered in one place in Xiangyang, and all the things caused by him and his subordinates who liked to talk were too busy, and he very much hoped that someone could help him - as long as it could greatly relieve the pressure on his population of Xiangyang, and not hurt his reputation for benevolence and righteousness, he would agree to almost any condition. This is not only his own idea, but also the idea of all officials in Jingzhou.

At that moment on the New Year's Day of the sixth year of Jian'an, they were already dizzy with the 30,000 people who had arrived this year. Although they managed to settle these newcomers, who had almost nothing, in the open space on the edge of Xiangyang City, it was only a temporary danger. When they heard that after these 30,000 people, there was a group of Jizhou refugees of about 100,000 people who were about to cross the Dabie Mountain and drive towards them, and the color on their faces suddenly faded and became extremely pale. For them, the current 30,000 people are already giving them a headache, and if another 100,000 people come, wouldn't it be for them to hang themselves one by one?

"Damn Cao Cao and Yuan Shao!" They gritted their teeth. For the two culprits who triggered this wave of displaced people, they really hated it. After all, if it weren't for the confrontation between these two forces on the Yellow River, Jizhou and Yanzhou would definitely not be unstable and produce such a large number of displaced people.

"Trouble!" They lamented loudly.

At this time, a reform opinion sent by Li Sheng from Xiyang made their eyes light up. They are naturally disgusted by all kinds of deviant and absurd ideas in this opinion. It's just that no matter how disgusted they are, they can't ignore Li Sheng's last sentence in the opinion: "...... If this law is followed, the four counties in the northern part of Jiangxia alone can support more than 300,000 people......"

"Can you really support so many people?" The eyes of everyone in Xiangyang couldn't help but light up. Confused by the prospects outlined in this opinion, and at the instigation of Sima Hui, Pang Degong, Huang Chengyan, and others, whom Li Sheng had at his disposal, they finally issued an order agreeing to the implementation of the new policy in the four northern counties of Jiangxia. They decided to let Li Sheng give it a try. After all, if Li Sheng succeeds, it will greatly alleviate the population pressure on Xiangyang, and if it fails, it will also slow down the speed of the displaced people to some extent, so that Xiangyang can be more prepared. This is definitely a good and harmless thing for Jingzhou. Although there are some things that violate the ancestral system in Li Sheng's behavior, it is not impossible. In this chaotic environment, as long as the large and small forces want to survive, they must accept adaptation. This is already a general trend.

Jingzhou sent an envoy to Xiyang again, which was already after the Lantern Festival. Because it is not a matter of importance, it is about to understand that Xiyang has already done it first, and the envoy Yi Ji is walking very slowly on the road. Especially after entering the realm of Xiyang, he is like playing in the mountains and rivers, savoring all kinds of Xiyang. He actually didn't agree with Li Sheng's proposal for a new policy. He didn't think the "New Deal" would solve the problem, as most people in Jingzhou do.

In order to be able to effectively put forward counter-arguments, he looked at everything with a critical eye all the way, and used sharp words to provoke the simple people, trying to find out the unfavorable side of the New Deal. However, he failed in the end. Because what he saw in his eyes was the thriving situation in Xiyang, and what he heard in his ears was the people's appreciation for the new policy. He was sure that the hearts of the people were clear, and it was clear to them who was good to the people and who was bad to them.

"It seems that he is really working hard for the people!" In the end, the Iraqi had to admit this. After watching and listening too much, his disgust with Li Sheng gradually dissipated, and turned into a regretful emotion: "It's a pity! He is undoubtedly a talent, but such a talent is indeed from Cai Mao's villain. ”

Jingzhou has some signs of instability. Although this sign is only slightly revealed and not known to most people, it is enough for some powerful people in Jingzhou to make them more vigilant:

Liu Biao, the sovereign of Jingzhou, already looks a little "old". After obtaining the four counties south of the river and completing the unification of Jingzhou's territory, he obviously wanted to settle down, no longer interested in the world's major affairs, and only wanted to continue his life in peace, keep his existing territory, and train his young son.

Although Liu Cong, the little son who is only a few years old now, always looks well-behaved and cute, harmless to others, and does not seem to have shown the intention of competing for power with his brother Liu Qi, everything in Jingzhou seems to be as calm and united as before, but in the eyes of people of insight such as Yi Yuan, Liu Biao's spoiling of Liu Cong in his usual life is definitely a bad signal.

Some of the people who followed Liu Biao to the south at the beginning, old and old, died, which made the "ex-wife" group, which was not very strong, even more withered, and they have gradually faded out of the core of Jingzhou. And then the ones who filled the vacant seats they faded out of were people like Cai Mao and Zhang Yun. They are closer to Liu Cong in terms of feelings and relationships. This makes people secretly feel sorry for Liu Biao's eldest son Liu Qi.

Although Yi was also born in Jingzhou, he hated Cai Mao, so he joined the camp of the eldest son Liu Qi.

Li Sheng never said which camp he belonged to, but his brother-in-law Kong Ming was the son-in-law of the Huang family, and the Huang family and the Cai family were in-laws, plus he had recently frequently sent people to give gifts to Cai Mao, so in the eyes of the Yi nationality, Li Sheng was classified into Cai Mao's camp.

Because the camp of the Yi nationality and the camp of Cai Mao are "hostile", the Yi nationality has a certain prejudice against Li Sheng from the beginning.

However, Yi is not a narrow-minded person. When he truly saw the benefits of Li Sheng's "New Deal" to the people, he let go of his prejudices against Li Sheng. Although he was still dissatisfied that Li Sheng was not in his camp, he approved of Li Sheng's plan.

"It would be great if Xiangyang could also implement the new policy like Xiyang." After finishing his observation of Xiyang after traveling around, Yi Yuan couldn't help but sigh.

However, after sighing, he also understood that it was impossible to implement the same new policy in Xiangyang in Xiangyang. Because the situation in Xiangyang is different from that in Xiyang - the land in Xiangyang is in the hands of various big families, while the land in Xiyang is in the hands of Li Sheng alone. Li Sheng can splash ink at will on the land in his hands like facing a blank piece of paper, while Lord Liu Biao can only face the land in the hands of everyone like facing a picture that has long been full of colors, just looking at it but there is no way to start.

When Yi arrived at Xiyang County Ya with Liu Biao's order to agree to implement the new policy, it was the seventh day after Cui Hao and Xu Shu arrived in Xiyang. Although these two people also got up after the Lantern Festival, and they had only arrived in Xiyang not long ago, because they had received the task assigned to them by Li Sheng as soon as possible, they knew what they were going to do in Xiyang, and they had certain preparations in advance, so they could get started very quickly. By the time the Yi arrived, they were already basically familiar with the tasks under their jurisdiction, and they had everything in their hands on the right track.

Yi Ji walked into the gate of the Xiyang County Ya with a trace of complicated feelings, but after entering the gate and coming to the hall of the county ya, he saw Li Sheng and his staff members sitting there waiting for him, and his complicated mood suddenly changed to be extremely surprised.

"Boling Cui Zhouping, Yingchuan Shi Guangyuan, Xu Yuanzhi, Wuling Liao Yuanchang, Xiangyang Ma Jichang......" Looking at the young faces and feeling the kind of wind and spirit exuded by these young people, Yi's heart involuntarily swept over the life of this young man.

"I can't imagine that there are so many 'celebrities' hidden in the small Xiyang County Ya." Ichi sighed.

If the people under Liu Biao's account are all Jingzhou celebrities of this generation, then the people led by Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, Xu Yuanzhi, Liao Yuanchang, and Ma Jichang are undoubtedly a new generation of Jingzhou celebrities. Almost all of them came from Sima Hui, Song Zhong, Pang Degong and other world-famous Confucian disciples.

Although they are not famous in the world because they are young and have not yet entered the ranks, their abilities are widely spread among officials and people in Jingzhou. Many people believe that these new generation are much stronger in terms of ability than those who originally came out of Liu Biao. They can see the general trend of the world clearly, and they will not be confused with the Liu Biao regime.

"Young hermit!" Everyone in Jingzhou who is familiar with them sees them as such.

Because they are not out of office, they all linger in the mountains and forests, and they are attached to poetry, and they do pose as hermits. Although Liu Biao, the lord of Jingzhou, also summoned them to the curtain several times, they were politely declined. They all say that they have no ambitions and just want to live in peace, but such statements can only be concealed from ordinary people. Several capable people in the high-level of Jingzhou can see at a glance the real reason why they don't want to be in the office-these young people are not just Liu Biao.

In a chaotic world, only positive progress to obtain the monarch has a future. A person like Liu Biao who just wants to be partial is undoubtedly a forgotten character.

"Now under Liu Biao's account, not only can he not immediately get a high position, but he may be regarded as a spineless general in the future." They all thought of this when the situation in the north became clearer. Although the Jingzhou army has always shown tenacity in Jiangxia, almost no one would believe that the lord of Jingzhou would still have the idea of stubbornly resisting when he sent a large army south after the unification of the north.

“…… Maybe resistance will not avoid defeat after all. In their simple thinking, the millions of soldiers gathered after the unification of the North were invincible. And they also vaguely guessed that it was very likely that the one who led the million-strong army south was the world-famous Cao Cao.

"Lord Liu Biao is definitely not Cao Gong's opponent!" They all think so. Although due to their own reserve, attachment to the local township land or various other reasons, they did not rush to Xuchang to join Cao Cao like Meng Jian and Meng Gongwei, but they still would not go to Liu Biao when they understood the general trend of the world. So, with reluctance, they became hermits. They are not in a hurry to enter the office, because the most they have when they are young is undoubtedly time. One by one, they endured and watched quietly, trying to find their approved lord from their surroundings and from the whole world.

Yi Ji quietly looked at the people in the county hall with a calm face. He hadn't heard much of the idea that these "young hermits" had changed their minds lately, so he thought they had chosen Li Sheng to be their lord from among the vast crowd.

"They think Li Sheng is better than Liu Biao?" Although no one has said this, the Iranians can still draw this conclusion from their performance.

"It seems that this Li Sheng is also a very ambitious person!" Yi sighed, and he immediately sensed that something was wrong: "Huh? Ambition? Doesn't that mean that Li Sheng is not a member of Cai Mao's camp, and he is not infinitely loyal to Liu Biao, but has always wanted to betray and be self-reliant? If that's the case, that's not bad......"

As far as Yi nationality is concerned, as long as Jingzhou is not handed over to a villain like Cai Mao, it is acceptable. After all, he also knew what kind of character Liu Biao's eldest son Liu Qi was: average ability, too indecisive personality, kindness of a woman, but good wine, and really not a suitable candidate for the monarch. If it weren't for the fact that he was Liu Biao's eldest son and could become a banner for everyone to oppose Cai Mao, I am afraid that no one would regard him as a confrontation.

If there were a better choice, then no one would consider a person who is not capable of it as their head. Therefore, after confirming that Li Sheng was not from Cai Mao's camp, but had his own ambitions, the first thing Yi thought of was not to tell Liu Biao to prevent all this from happening, but to think about how to join their camp in order to find a better way back. Yi believes that he is still young and should not stick to Liu Biao's regime and finally "finish" it.

"If Li Sheng is really ambitious and capable, then I should really have a good relationship with him." Thinking about it, a faint smile appeared on Izuku's face.

After changing his mentality, he discussed things with Li Sheng, and Yi Yuan felt extremely relaxed. He was surprised to find that his views on many issues were so similar to Li Sheng's. From the policy of the people to the understanding of the general trend of the world to the deployment of the strategy for the future, often one of them has made a start, and the other person can guess the other party's ideas very smoothly. Although the two sides still have different views on certain things because of the length of their horizons, as long as they express those ideas, they will find that in fact, they have also thought about these so-called different views, but it is only for one reason or another that they are not sure about that idea, so they give up that choice. At this moment, these things that were not originally determined were said by the other party for such a reason, and they couldn't help but be a little surprised: "It turns out that there is also such a possibility." ”

First, Yi and Li Sheng communicated, and then Xu Shu, Shi Tao and others also joined in, and everyone communicated together. I said so much unconsciously, until the sky gradually darkened, and the people who lit the fire and candles in the hall, and the slightly tired people realized that they had been talking for so long. Looking at the world that had become a gray basket outside, Yi Ji was indeed smiling: "You are really powerful, and you are worthy of being the pillars of Jingzhou." It's a great relief to talk to you today. ”

"Where, where, I'm just a junior who doesn't know the height of the sky. Where can it compare to the role of the Yi lord in the mainstay of Liu Biao's side! Li Sheng humbly patted the horse.

"The mainstay!?" Yi Yuan's eyes couldn't help but light up when he heard this, and he seemed to immediately grasp the meaning of this unprecedented word, and then he became humble: "Don't dare to be, don't dare to be." At best, I can only be regarded as a rotten old wood, and I am afraid that you are the only ones who have the real potential to become the mainstay. As he spoke, Yi Ji stared at Li Sheng and the others with burning eyes.

"That's also with the help of the seniors." Li Sheng's answer was not leaky.

"Huh!" Yi didn't say much, just smiled faintly and put the topic aside: "The reunification of the north is a matter of the past few years. Do you think it is possible for us to win them once the unification army of the North moves south? If you are in command of the army, how should you fight the enemy from the north? He was testing Li Sheng to complete his own final test of Li Sheng.

"It depends on whether the army of the north goes south immediately after reunification, or whether it goes south after several years." Li Sheng squinted his eyes and said.

"How?" Yi asked.

"If the army of the north moves south within a year or two after the completion of unification, it will surely be defeated, for our army can be dealt with by giving up its territory and inducing it further south. Because the army of the north is not accustomed to the water and soil of the south, and is not good at water warfare, it can only be defeated. This was the same for both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, because the reasons for their defeat were not something they could change. Li Sheng thought for a while and said.

"And what if they go south a few years after reunification?" Yi Yuan thought silently for a moment and continued to ask.

"That's going to be between two and two. This is because in the next few years, the North will make more adequate preparations for the southern expedition, and our southern work will be more meticulous in resisting the North. If at that time, the north and south sides fight again, it is very likely that it will be a protracted and bitter battle, and it is impossible to distinguish the winner at once, just like Cao Cao and Yuan Shao at the moment. Li Sheng said very objectively.

"So......" Yi wanted to say something.

But what he wanted to say, Li Sheng already basically understood. "If I were to command the external defense of Jingzhou, I would be confident that I would dare to completely annihilate the army from the north." Li Shenghao assured angrily.

"Good, good!" Yi Yuan stroked his palm and laughed, and then whispered: "I don't know if it's convenient here?" ”

"Within four places, there is no one who cannot be spoken." When Li Sheng heard this, the smile on his face bloomed faintly. He knew that the "play" was coming.

As soon as Li Sheng's words came out, it was like throwing a stone into the calm water, and there were ripples in circles: Ma Liang and Liao Li, who had come to Li Sheng on their own not long ago, were moved by Li Sheng's trust in themselves, and they all felt that their choice this time was the most correct - after all, only those who trust their subordinates can get the trust of their subordinates, which is always two-sided, not a happy effort; As for the Yi nationality, he felt a kind of arrogance from Li Sheng's simple but firm words. "There is no one to speak within the four places!" This is really heroic and tight for the Iraqi nationality.

"In that case, then I'll ask directly." Yi Ji retracted the smile on his face and asked solemnly, "Zixu is aspiring to the world?" ”

"Yes, of course!" Li Sheng replied without hesitation: "In fact, everyone in the world should have the ambition to be in the world. Note, the world is not a world of one person. Of course, I'm more enthusiastic about the world than anyone else. ”

"Good!" Yi Yi praised it, and was very satisfied with Li Sheng's confessional and subtle answer. What a brilliant answer. Such a statement is not only simple and clear, but also will not become someone else's handle. Well, that's brilliant! Yi secretly praised in his heart.

He glanced at Li Sheng in a deep light, and asked again, "Does that Zixu have the heart to obtain Jing Xiang?" ”

"Heart!" Li Sheng replied simply: "Jingxiang is the land of the four wars, and its land and people are rich in other places in the south of the Yangtze River. As long as Jingxiang is the base, the south is handed over to Jiaozhou, the west is Bashu, and the north is in Dingguan, this world is also a matter of easy reach. Knowing what the Iraqi wanted to do, Li Sheng slightly revealed some of his strategic intentions to the Iraqi.

"In this case, why is Zixu willing to be a small county magistrate in Xiyang?" Yi asked a question that many people don't understand: "With your relationship, it's not very difficult to become a high-status Changshi and a county prince!" ”

"Governing a big country is like cooking a small meal, I just want to try my own means of governing the country in one place. Zhao Kuo was really a genius in the art of war, but he commanded the army because he had no personal experience and practice, and finally ended up with a Changping defeat. This cannot but be said to be a mistake. The reason why I am willing to nest in this small place is because I don't want to become a person like Zhao Kuo. Li Sheng explained with a smile.

"I see." Yi nodded, and suddenly understood. "So what's next for you? If you don't have a certain amount of strength before the northern army goes south, I'm afraid you will have great ambitions, and you will be powerless after all. Although he already understands the reason for Li Sheng's current weakness, after combining the situation of the whole world, he is still worried about Li Sheng's future.

"Before the northern soldiers go south, I don't need to control the whole of Jingzhou, I just need to become the Taishou of the south. Although it is necessary to lure the enemy deep by throwing a city arrow, it is better not to be the executor of such an execution. As the recovering of Jingzhou, we should be indomitable, right? Li Sheng showed a sinister smile on his face, he glanced at the Yi nationality who agreed with his words, and then said: "The two major forces in the north are facing each other on the front line of the Yellow River, and their decisive battle may be this year's thing, but even if Cao Cao or Yuan Shao wins, it will take several years for one side to completely swallow up the other side and complete the control of the north. In the past few years, I think I should have had time to take it one step at a time. ”

"That's really ......" Yi Yuan thought about it, looked straight, and respectfully said to Li Sheng: "Zixu's arrangements for the future are really proper, I don't know if there is a place for me in this plan?" Although for other reasons, I can't recognize you as the Lord now, but in the future, anyone who needs my help, Zixu can ask for it. ”

"So, thank you. I can't ask for someone like Mr. Jibo. Li Sheng said happily. He sincerely welcomes everyone who comes to him. Because he understands that if he wants to achieve his ideals, he must have the support of more people.

Yi went down to rest, and his subordinates left the county government and returned to their houses in the city—it was getting late, and the bright moon in the night was already hanging there, spreading its glory on the earth without hesitation.

Li Sheng sat on the main seat in the lobby, facing this deserted place, but quietly but did not move. A strange question came to his mind, and he frowned in confusion. He was thinking about something, but the result of this thinking was not so easy to come to - he fell into depression because of it.

"Why is Brother Sheng still sitting here?" I don't know how long it took, but a soft voice came to mind in this empty place, interrupting Li Sheng's thoughts. When Li Sheng raised his head to look, he saw that his wife Zhong'er was leaning on the door a little sleepily, looking at him worriedly. After New Year's Day, she did not return to Longzhong, but insisted on staying by Li Sheng's side and took on the task of taking care of Li Sheng.

"Think about some questions?" Facing his wife's concerned gaze, Li Sheng smiled bitterly and replied honestly.

"What do you think?" Zhong'er gently walked to his side and sat down, the flowing autumn water in her eyes was full of tenderness.

"I wonder why someone would come to us when we're so weak. You must know that we are now asking for money and no money, and we want to be famous, how can people like Liao Li and Ma Liang come here in a hurry? They don't usually have much to do with me. Li Sheng directly expressed the doubts in his heart. He felt that this was not a confidential matter, although it was a little difficult to say to his subordinates, but he could confide in his wife.

"I see." Zhong'er slowly breathed a sigh of relief: "For such a thing, why does Brother Sheng have to get to the bottom of it?" As long as the other party is here to help us, isn't it? Why think so much? She smiled and comforted Li Sheng softly.

"Don't think too much?" Li Sheng shook his head lightly with his face as he spoke, "How can you not think too much?" He is already the master of the party. If you don't think about things thoroughly, a random mistake can cause everyone's destruction. With great power comes great responsibility, and Li Sheng feels that he can't be as unafraid as before.