Yuan Shao nodded and said, "What the two of you said is exactly what I want!" It is better for us to unite the princes of the Kanto region to establish a new court and a new monarch, and with the assistance of our loyal martyrs, we will definitely be able to get rid of the national thieves and support the Han family! ”

Several people were shocked when they heard this, they just wanted to unite against Ma Chao, but they didn't expect Yuan Shao to go one step further and simply give up Liu Xie completely and set up another emperor. But if you think about it carefully, this move is not a bad idea, even Liu Yan in Shu is called the emperor, instead of working hard for the king, it is better to unite to build a court, anyway, there are many old Liu families. Not to mention the far away, Liu Dai in front of him is a relative of the Han family, in addition to Liu Biao, Liu Yu, Liu Miao and even the big-eared thief Liu Bei, as for those ordinary marquis, there are more, and they can't be counted, anyway, as long as they are Liu Bang's descendants.

The stakes are very high, Cao Ying and the others are all silent, this private Son of Heaven is by no means ordinary, if you don't get it right, it will cause you to kill yourself, and you, the Son of Heaven, may not be recognized by the world.

After a long time, Bao Xin clenched his fists and said: "Although what Yuan Mengzhu said is reasonable, but the matter of establishing the Son of Heaven is definitely not something that I and a few others can agree on, this matter still needs to be discussed in the long run, and the top priority at the moment is to rescue the Son of Heaven and the ministers!" I wonder if you have a good plan? ”

Cao Ying said: "Bishui Pass is urgent, but Ma Chao can go straight to Rongyang from the direction of Luoyang, it is a matter of time before the Son of Heaven falls into the hands of Ma Chao. Let's see how Ma Chao treats the Son of Heaven and deals with Li Ru, Li Dao and others? If he has a disobedient heart or takes the remnants of the Dong thief under his command, we can use him to shield the national thief and unite with the evil people to fight against him in the name of colluding with the evil people. ”

Yuan Shao nodded and said: "That's right, Li Ru, Li Dao and others are the murderous people who helped the abuse, and Li Ru is the direct murderer who killed the Empress Dowager He and King Hongnong, if Ma Chao dares to accept Li Ru and others for his own use, he will be with Dong Zhuo's comrades, and we can unite all the princes of the world to crusade against him!" ”

"What the alliance leader said is very reasonable!"

Let's say that Ma Chao has 50,000 soldiers and goes straight to Rongyang, and he is also worried along the way, he can incorporate the Xiliang soldiers, but he can't include Li Ru, Li Dao and others, otherwise he will be scolded to death by the world. But if Li Ru and the others are not given a chance to live, it will be difficult for the 50,000 Xiliang elite soldiers to be subdued, which is really a tangled matter. Ma Chao has been slow to start, and it is precisely because of this.

Coming to Rongyang City, Ma Chao pressed the camp and then stood still. The next time, Li Ru led Guo Yan, Hua Xiong, Xu Rong, and Fan Chou to lead 5,000 troops out of the city to fight.

Ma Chao led Zhao Yun and Pang De to fight, and in front of the two armies, Li Ru stepped forward a hundred steps under the escort of Hua Xiong and Fan Chou, and shouted: "Champion Hou dare to step forward to answer? ”

"Why don't you dare?" Ma Chao waved his hand to retreat Zhao Yun and Pang De, rode forward a hundred steps alone, hung up the halberd and hugged his fists and said: "Wen You, don't come to harm, after the last time, things are already wrong." We don't have to talk nonsense, what conditions do you have! As long as it's not too much, this will naturally be satisfied! ”

Li Ru said: "Champion Hou is really quick to speak, even so, Confucianism is no longer roundabout. The Son of Heaven and all the ministers are in Rongyang City, as long as the champion Hou agrees to our two conditions, whether they live or die depends on your word! ”

Ma Chao chuckled and said, "Wen You really understands people, try to put it mildly!" ”

Li Ru said: "First, I want the champion Hou Gao to raise his noble hand and return my family members and prisoners of war!" ”

Ma Chao nodded and said, "Although this matter is a little difficult, it is not excessive, continue!" ”

Li Ru said: "Second, I want the champion Hou to let the customs be a habitat for me and others, as a thanks, but it will be useful, we will never shirk, and it will be an ally in the future!" ”

Ma Chao sneered: "Wen You's appetite is too big, right?" Do you think Ben Hou will say yes? Now that you are at the end of the road, how can a small Rongyang City stop the tiger and wolf army of the candidate? ”

Li Ru said: "The little Rongyang City is naturally not in the eyes of the champion Hou, but Confucianism can dedicate the Son of Heaven to the princes of Kwantung, I think Yuan Shao must want to get the Son of Heaven, as for me and the others, there are still 60,000 elite soldiers in hand, there is always a place in the huge world!" ”

Ma Chao shook his head slightly and said: "Even so, I will give you three choices, and there is no other choice!" ”

"Oh! Tell me about it! ”

Ma Chao said: "First, Ben Hou immediately sent a large army to attack Rongyang, completely drove you out of Henan Yi and pursued them with all their might, and came out of this turtle shell from the princes of the East to clean you up." As for the ownership of the Son of Heaven, it depends on their ability and luck! This is the next resort, and it has to be done! ”

Li Ru pondered for a while, and couldn't help but be afraid, if Ma Chao disregarded the surname of the Son of Heaven, this move was undoubtedly a desperate plan, once they withdrew from Bishui Pass, there was only one way to die. frowned and said: "There is a lower policy, there must be a middle policy and an upper policy, and please ask the champion Hou Mingyan!" ”

Ma Chao nodded and said, "Hand over the Son of Heaven and all the ministers, and wait for you to withdraw from Rongyang and Bishui Pass to seek your own future." If the princes are divided today, you have the strength to compete with the princes of the Kanto region, and you will only sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and will never interfere! At the same time, some of the captives and their families will be returned to you! This is the second one, and the middle strategy is also! ”

Li Ru sneered: "Champion Hou Ruyi is making a good calculation, this move is nothing more than trying to use our hands to weaken the princes of the Kanto region, while you are sitting on the profits of the fisherman." But we have no foundation in Kanto, and sooner or later we will be wiped out by the masses, but it is just a matter of dying early and dying soon! ”

Ma Chao smiled: "You have no choice, there is a best strategy, I don't know if Wen You still wants to hear it!" ”

"Since it's the best policy, how can Confucianism not listen?"

Ma Chao smiled: "Third, first of all, we still have to hand over the Son of Heaven and all the ministers, and you will lead the people to surrender and accept the incorporation, and you will have a good future!" ”

Li Ru was slightly surprised, frowned, and said: "We are notorious, and the champion Hou dares to recruit us?" Aren't you afraid of being spurned by the world? ”

"Of course I'm afraid!" Ma Chao said what was in his heart without hesitation, and continued: "This general will only absorb a small part of the Xiliang soldiers, as for you and other senior generals, although this general can't immediately take it for his own use, he can show you a clear way to atone for your sins, as long as you can do this, not only can you clear your identity in the future, but you will also be able to seal the king!" ”

Li Ru was greatly moved, and even Hua Xiong and Fan Chou's faces changed greatly, and they hugged their fists and said: "Please champion Hou Mingyan!" ”

Ma Chao pointed to the east and said: "There is a huge island on the other side of the Oriental Sea, which is three or four thousand miles away from my Chinese land. ”

Li Ru thought for a while and said: "Could it be that the champion Hou said that it is the Japanese slave country, as I know it is not bad, in the second year of the Guangwu Emperor, the Japanese slave country once sent an envoy to the Han Dynasty, and the Guangwu Emperor gave the "Han Japanese slave king" a five-character gold seal. ”

Ma Chao nodded and said: "Yes, Wen You is really a talented person, and what Ben Hou is talking about is the country of Japanese slaves, also known as the queen country." The Wa people in the southeast sea, Yishan Island as the country, there are Yamato, Tsukushi, Izumo and other local surnames of the country established. The land is ruled by women, far behind my Han, I am willing to calculate that these insignificant Japanese people will harm my Chinese nation sooner or later, so I want to strike first to be strong, and take advantage of its weakness to exterminate the clan, I don't know if Wen You dares to take on this heavy responsibility?"

Seeing that Li Ru frowned and was silent, Ma Chao continued: "Originally, we could build fifty big ships in Bohai County, prepare enough grain, grass and blades, and it only takes more than ten days to reach the giant island. The Xiliang Qiang soldiers under Er and others are the best at burning and killing silver plunder, and only 20,000 elite soldiers are enough to gain a foothold, and with the wisdom of Wen You and the talents of Li Dao, Guo Yan, Fan Chou and others, they can be wiped out in less than ten years! ”

Li Ru was thrilled when he heard this, but he was relieved when he remembered what Ma Chao had done to the Southern Huns, Wuheng and Xianbei, after all, Ma Chao still had "Ma thugs!" "The title of "horse butcher". After pondering for a while, he hugged his fists and said: "It's a big matter, how about asking the champion Hou Rangru to go back and discuss it with Li Dao and the others?" ”

Ma Chao said: "That's how it should be! After three days, Ben Hou came to fight again. The warship had already been prepared, and if you wished, you would be able to set out in three months. If this matter is successful, you can stay in the local area and call the king and emperor, if you are attached to your homeland, you can also return to Middle-earth, even if you will risk the world, you will reuse it, the lowest is the county! ”

Li Ru nodded, believing in his heart, with Ma Chao's identity and strength, there was no need to lie to him. At the moment, he hugged his fists and said: "Thank you champion Hou for raising love, this matter is really the best policy, but Confucianism does not dare to respond arbitrarily, so I will reply to the champion Hou after three days according to the agreement!" ”

Ma Chao smiled: "Okay, I believe you will make a wise choice and say goodbye!" ”

Back in the camp, Ma Chao finally breathed a sigh of relief, Li Ru and the others couldn't accept it, and if they let it go, it would cause countless troubles. If you lead an army to attack, even if you can win, you will suffer heavy losses, which is really a hot potato. It would be best to get them and their Qiang soldiers to the island country.

At this time, the island country was still in the transition stage from a matrilineal society to a patrilineal society, and there was no real meaning of the country. The 20,000 elite soldiers of Li Ru and others can be used to destroy them, even if they can't be wiped out, they can still deal a heavy blow to their vitality, and then send a large army to clean up the mess in the future.

And the remaining 30,000 or 40,000 Xiliang elite soldiers can be absorbed with confidence, and no one can escape the problem. As long as they are disrupted and planted in the army, and restrained by military law, it will not be difficult to get rid of their bad habit of burning, killing and looting. In addition, the generals of the Xiliang Army are not all incompatible, such as Xu Rong and Hua Xiong, who are not infamous, are still no problem.

The wait is always long, although Ma Chao is confident that Li Ru will definitely agree. Two days passed in a blink of an eye, and I saw that there was still one day to get a reply, but at this moment, an unexpected news made Ma Chao excited. It turned out that Meng Da, who had been out for more than two years and was recruiting talents for Ma Chao everywhere, finally rushed back, and came directly to the military camp outside Rongyang City, accompanied by five or six Confucian scholars and an old man.

Ma Chao was overjoyed and personally went out of the camp to greet him. (To be continued.) )