The next morning, after a brief government affairs meeting, Liu Cun rushed to Licheng by car with Guan Ning, the minister of Jinan, and Huo Jian, the master craftsman, to make a final on-the-spot review and confirmation of the new Licheng, which had been planned and designed for nearly a year, and ignored Yuan Shao's shoddy tricks.

Liu Cun and his entourage had just left Linzi City for more than ten miles, and two fast horses caught up with Liu Cun's carriage, and the chief officer of the military affairs office sent the urgent report he had just received to Liu Cun.

After reading it, Liu Cun immediately apologized to Huo Jian and Guan Ning, handed over the affairs of Jinan New City to the two of them to deal with together, and then got out of the carriage and rode back to the state capital.

The scale of the Prefecture Pastoral Mansion has more than doubled compared with the beginning, and the seven surrounding courtyards that have been purchased successively have been continuously reconstructed and expanded, and have formed four connected garden-like areas, the eastern area is the administrative office area of the state government yamen, the central area is the headquarters of the Qingzhou Army, the largest area of the western area is the residential area of Liu Cun and more than 30 henchmen and military personnel, and the northern area is the barracks of 2,000 officers and soldiers of the pro-guard battalion.

Liu Cun and 500 guards, who hurriedly returned, rode into the middle gate facing Chengxi Street.

Although the gate built with granite stone strips is not big, but it is thick and solemn, there are more than eight fully draped sergeants standing guard on both sides of the gate every day for twelve hours, enter the gate and go straight for 50 steps, that is, you can reach a heavy eaves type building with a height of 12 zhang, a length of 36 zhang, and a width of 24 zhang, which is the location of Liu Cun's general's palace yamen, and also the center of the Qingzhou army and the Langya army.

Seeing Liu Cun enter the conference room, Gongsun Pei, Guo Yuan, Zhao Rong, Tai Shici, Xu Sheng, Lu Pei, Lu Jiu and Zhao Li all stood up, Liu Cun invited everyone to sit down, and immediately asked Lu Jiu, the commander of the "Zhushan Battalion": "Has the intelligence confirmed it?" ”

Lu Jiu replied: "It has been confirmed." And the accurate figure was obtained, and the army led by Liu Bei to the south was less than 800 men. The deputy generals around him are still Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and there is a scribe of the Beihai Kingdom named Sun Qian. ”

"Sun Qian?"

Liu Cun seems to have heard of this name somewhere.

Guo Yuan explained: "It was before the lord took over the history of Qingzhou Thorn. Sun Qian, who was temporarily hired by Lord Huang Wan to engage in and accompany the inspection of the Quartet, was 26 years old, who had been an auditor at Langya Academy for several months, and liked to listen to Master Zheng's lectures on scriptures and righteousness, and he left the academy before his subordinates came to the lord's side, but I don't know why he was with Liu Bei. ”

Liu Cun remembered Sun Gan, who he had met, and he didn't care about a little person like Sun Gan at the moment, so he nodded and asked his confidants: "Everyone." Liu Bei was recommended by Lord Liu Yu as the commander of Fanyang County for his counterinsurgency, and it has been less than three months, why did he throw down the Fanyang County Order, who had been in charge for less than three months, to lead the troops south to Jizhou? Does General Gongsun Chan, who is currently stationed in Shanggu County, know? What's going on here? ”

Everyone immediately fell into nervous thinking, and Lu Jiu secretly blamed himself for not getting more detailed information.

Half a year ago, Liu Cun severely beat Lu Jiu, sternly pointed out the many shortcomings of the "Zhushan Battalion", instructed Lu Jiu to rectify internal and strict military discipline within two months, and sent supervision officers into the "Zhushan Battalion" to assist Lu Jiu. After half a year of vigorous rectification and compensation, the "Zhushan Battalion" was recognized by the supervision yamen, otherwise the 2,500 brothers, including the commander Lu Jiu, would probably have to change careers.

Guo Yuan first put forward his opinion: "Everyone should be able to see the mystery from the power struggle between Lord Liu Yu and Gongsun Zhan. Lord Liu Yu used every opportunity to weaken Gongsun Zhan's strength, and it was easiest to win over Liu Bei. ”

Of course, it is not excluded that Liu Bei took the initiative to move closer to the respected Han clan relative Liu Yu. The intelligence in the past six months shows the fact that Liu Bei is grateful to Lord Liu Yu on the surface, but in private he is closer to his fellow classmate General Gongsun Zhan. ”

"Although I don't know much about Liu Bei. But a person who vacillates between two factions that are fiercely fighting usually ends up not being trusted by either faction. ”

Zini said. Hit the nail on the head! ”

Zhao Rong agreed with Guoyuan's view and further argued: "In April last year, that is, a few days after the lord Jinzhou Mu and the general Zhendong were crowned, Lord Liu Yu of Youzhou was awarded the post of Taiwei and crowned as the Marquis of Xiangben for his meritorious service in pacifying Wuhuan. In the winter of last year, Dong Zhuo bought the hearts of the people in order to win the clan, and moved Liu Yu to the Great Sima, and at the same time named Gongsun Zan as the general of Fenwu and the Marquis of Ji. ”

"These two awards did not mention Liu Bei, who made great contributions to quelling Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun's rebellion, so it is not difficult to guess: In the reports of Lord Liu Yu and General Gongsun Zan to the imperial court, Liu Bei's merits were not mentioned, or Liu Bei was listed with many meritorious soldiers, otherwise the imperial court would not have seen Liu Bei's merits."

"Yes! The lord helped Liu Bei take away 3,500 elite soldiers, all the way from Jizhou to Youzhou, others are getting stronger and stronger, Liu Bei only has 800 horsemen left, don't you think it's strange? Could it be that Lord Liu Yu and General Gongsun Zan didn't see Liu Bei's exploits? Don't take into account Liu Bei's feelings? ”

Tai Shici didn't say anything, but the continuous questions have made everyone understand such a possibility: Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan don't trust Liu Bei, and Liu Bei himself has an unshirkable responsibility!

At this point, there was no need to continue to explore, Liu Cun immediately issued an order to Lu Jiu and Lu Pei: to further explore the strength of the various princes of the Huimeng Sour Jujube, find out the backers of the major merchants who support the princes of all walks of life, and understand the grain, grass, horses, ordnance and resumes of the main generals of the various armies of the Huimeng!

At the end of the meeting, Liu Cun stopped Lu Jiu and asked in a low voice: "Have you found out, is Changshan Zhao Zilong really under the command of Gongsun Zhan?" ”

Lu Jiu nodded helplessly: "After repeated verification, Zhao Zilong served as the leader of Gongsun Zhan's personal guard battalion, so his subordinates personally went to Changshan, and met Zhao Zilong's brother Zhao Jun through Mr. Fan Yong, the assassin of Youzhou. ”

"Zhao Jun was very surprised, he respected the lord very much, but he was still hesitating, saying that he could only decide after discussing with his brother Zhao Yun, and his subordinates were worried that it would backfire if they were too eager, so they didn't dare to force it, and agreed to meet again next time to discuss in detail."

"My subordinates can see that Zhao Jun is moved, and he really yearns for the political clarity of my Qingzhou officialdom and the peace and contentment of the people."

Liu Cun nodded with satisfaction: "Very well done, we can continue to keep in touch with Zhao Jun through correspondence, persuade him to join me in Qingzhou as much as possible, and at the same time pay close attention to Zhao Zilong's movements, and if necessary, I will come forward to recruit him personally." ”

"Changshan Zhao Zilong is brave and strategic, brave and loyal, he is a tiger general who is rare in a century, if he is used by me, his future achievements may not be under Taishi Xiandi, or even higher."

Lu Jiu was slightly surprised, he didn't expect the lord to give such a high evaluation to the young Changshan Zhao Zilong, and immediately understood the direction of his next efforts.

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