It turned out that at that time, there were many people under Xu Ji's command who believed that the Montenegrin Army had lost its value of use, and the army should be eliminated as soon as possible led by Bo Cai, but Bo Cai was unique, he thought that Zhang Yan was a hero in the world, since it could be seen that Xu Ji used the Black Mountain Army some time ago, it could naturally be seen that the situation was very unfavorable to him. With Zhang Yan's IQ, the surrender of the Montenegrin Army is simply just around the corner.

Only then did Zhang Yan realize that at that time, the Black Shangjun had already passed countless times in front of the Ghost Gate. It seems that the Black Army still exists, and it should be thanked to Bocai.

Xu Ji said in a deep voice: "This point was actually expected when the army under my command fought with Zhang Yan and your Black Mountain Army for the first time. Because the defeated Montenegrin army has nowhere to go at all! Hearing this, Zhang Yan raised her head and looked at Xu Ji.

Xu Ji looked at Zhang Yan and said, "It is impossible for the Black Mountain Army to defect to Yuan Shao, because the grudge is too deep. It's even more impossible to take refuge in Cao Cao, right? ”

Zhang Yan's body was shocked when he heard this, and the two answers Xu Ji said were the reasons for the infighting in the Black Mountain Army.

Xu Ji stared at Zhang Yan tightly and said: "The general is a smart man, of course, if he surrenders to Cao Cao, Cao Cao will immediately tie you up and send me to Jizhou, right?" ”

Zhang Yan was finally defeated, lowered his head, and said convincingly: "My lord Mingjian, this is what the young general meant at that time, but unfortunately the others were unwilling to reconcile with the adults, and they had to take refuge in Cao Cao, completely ignoring how difficult it was to break through the blockage of General Bocai from Jizhou to Xuzhou, and his subordinates could not sit still, so they had to launch a mutiny." ”

A smile escaped from the corner of Xu Ji's mouth and said: "Those things have passed, Zhang Yan, the new fate of you and the Montenegrin Army is about to begin, I hope you can get along well with General Bocai." ”

Zhang Yan nodded yes. There was an indescribable resoluteness in his expression. Xu Ji nodded with satisfaction and said to Zhang Yan: "Don't think that Yanzhou is too peaceful. In the future, you and Yuanyi will have to be busy. ”

When Zhang Yan heard this, he immediately understood that Xu Ji was referring to Yuan Shao, who had escaped, and Yuan Shu, who was strong. He said in a deep voice: "Zhang Yan knows. Rest assured, my lord. ”

Xu Ji nodded, and beckoned the three of them to continue eating. Not for a while. The four of them were full, and Xu Ji saw that Zhang Yan had a difficult look on his face, so he asked Liang Xi to arrange for Zhang Yan to rest. He and Gao Shun walked out of the door and took a walk in the yard.

At this time, the heavy snow for a long time stopped understandingly, and the two walked side by side, chatting and laughing, listening to the creaking sound made by stepping on the snow under their feet, which was indescribably comfortable.

Gao Shun said with a smile: "The lord is really powerful, and he can convince that Zhang Yanxin in just a few words." Since then, I have one more fierce general. It also added to the master's grasp of plotting to seize Xuzhou and deceive Yuan Shao. ”

Xu Ji smiled indifferently and said: "I have long known that I can't hide it from you, and now that I have Jizhou and Yanzhou, the next step is to plot to capture Qingzhou and then take Xuzhou, and the Bocai army has now made a move to Xuzhou." I think it's hard for Yuan Shao not to be fooled. ”

Gao Shun nodded and said: "That's true, the lord's order to return to Chenliu has created a false impression of discord between the top and bottom of Yuan Shao, and the army under the lord's command is scattered, and the Bocai army is advancing to Xuzhou. I think Yuan Shao will definitely suffer another big loss on Zhang Yan. ”

Xu Ji smiled: "Zihe really knows me." ”

"However," Gao Shun said in a deep voice: "I think that the lord should not wait and watch the current situation in Jizhou, but should take the initiative to attack, so that he has a greater chance of deceiving Yuan Shao." ”

Xu Jida said with interest: "Oh. Let's hear it. ”

Gao Shun said in a deep voice: "I thought that the lord should send troops to Chang'an, presumably the military division also means this, right?" ”

"Send troops to Chang'an?" After Xu Ji heard Gao Shun's words, he fell into deep thought. Gao Shun is obviously very different from when he was in Luoyang before, after such a long time leading alone. His vision and insight also began to grow slowly, which was something Xu Ji was surprised by.

And Gao Shun saw that Xu Ji was playing with his words, and hurriedly said: "Judging from the current situation in the world. The lord has become the undisputed overlord of the Central Plains, and on the surface it seems to be infinitely beautiful. But in fact, further down is a difficult step. ”

Xu Ji didn't expect Gao Shun to come to such a conclusion, and looked at Gao Shun with expectations. Gao Shun sorted out his thoughts and said: "I don't know if the lord has ever thought about what is the truth of our future use of troops abroad after seizing the two states?" After all, you can't be unknown. ”

Xu Ji smiled when he heard this: "I know what Daozihe means, are you asking me to 'coerce the Son of Heaven to order the princes'?" ”

Gao Shun didn't expect Xu Ji's thinking to be so fast, and his body shook and said: "The lord is smart, it turns out that the lord has already made up his mind, Gao Shun is too talkative." ”

Xu Ji was ashamed when he heard this, this was actually just what Guo Jia said in the letter, although he naturally didn't expect it, he didn't have such firm confidence, so he waved his hand and said, "Zihe don't want to say that." It is one thing to know the Tao by coercing the Son of Heaven to order the princes, but it is another thing to find the right time to do it. In the world, there are many eyes and masters. ”

Gao Shun saw that Xu Ji was not the slightest bit arrogant, and said happily in his heart: "The lord's words are reasonable. ”

Xu Ji sneered and said: "To put it bluntly, everyone is playing the trick of the fox and the fake tiger, but this tiger is just a paper tiger." The biggest difference between me Xu Ji and others is that no matter what I do, I am here to end the troubled times, unlike others, who only think about holding power in their own hands. ”

Gao Shun nodded and said: "That's true, today, the Han family has already been in turmoil, and none of the orders of the Han Emperor are out of his own wishes, and they are completely manipulated by the ministers." After a pause, he said embarrassedly: "In fact, at the beginning, the subordinates thought that there was no difference between the lord and others, but since the service, especially after experiencing this wind and rain with the lord, I found that the lord is thinking about the long-term peace and stability of the world, maybe the lord wants to stand in a higher position, but the lord stands in this high position not only for his own selfish interests, but more for the world, otherwise the lord will not sit in the eyes of ordinary people to fight the thankless thing of the family." Therefore, the subordinates thought that no matter what position the lord was standing on, it would not be too much. ”

Xu Ji's body was shocked, and he naturally heard the meaning of Gao Shun's words. Although Gao Shun was not a scribe and was not good at governing government, he was the first person besides Guo Jia to vaguely know that he wanted to replace the Han family. And what made Xu Ji have to admit was that Gao Shun was so bold that he didn't take the Han family in his eyes. It can also be seen from this that Gao Shun is indeed loyal to himself, otherwise if he says such things in his own identity, it will be tantamount to looking for death, and if he is not loyal, he will never say such a thing, Xu Ji couldn't help but look up to the sky and let out a breath of hot air, watching the water vapor condense in the cold air, as if the world is changing, and thought: "Those are all things in the future, I just want to sweep away the troubled times now, and I will go down today." The princes competed for victory, and everyone relied on different things. But generally speaking, there are nothing more than four kinds of "imperial order", "imperial family", "academic", and "religious". I don't know if Zihe thinks so. ”

Of course, Gao Shun didn't think about this, he just hoped that Xu Ji could have greater achievements and end the troubled times faster, hearing Xu Ji's words, he couldn't help but start thinking about this, Gao Shun of course didn't expect Xu Ji to grasp the strength of the world so well, and after a while, he couldn't help but say: "Lord, Gao Shun can serve the lord." There are no regrets in death! Xu Ji Dalu smiled and said: "Zihe, why do you say this, there are only a few people in the world who can understand my words, and Zihe is my confidant." It's what I can't ask for. ”

Gao Shun's eyes flashed with the color of swearing to serve his life, Xu Ji looked at Gao Shun's expression, and knew a faint warmth. was happy in his heart, but he didn't show it but explained: "The first person to see this is, of course, Zhang Jiao of the Yellow Turban Army. He is using 'religion'. ”

Gao Shun nodded and said, "That's true, my subordinates vaguely knew it when they were in the Yellow Turban." Zhang Jiao has no background, and if he wants to achieve great things, the first three points are not enough, but once something like 'religion' develops into a national thing, it will be almost the same as 'academic'. Or maybe 'religion' is just a deformation of 'academic'. ”

Xu Ji nodded and said: "That's true, it's not so much that Zhang Jiao was defeated in the hands of the Han family, but rather that he was defeated in the hands of the family, where would there be a family family like the set that Zhang Jiao promoted?" Since ancient times, there have been frequent ideological struggles between Confucianism and Taoism, and Zhang Jiao simply chose the wrong direction. ”

Gao Shun said with a smile: "In fact, my subordinates feel that Zhang Jiao has been doing well before starting the army, at least up to the first emperor and down to the locality, many people have already believed in his set." ”

Xu Ji said with a smile: "This is what I said about timing, Zhang Jiao chose the wrong time and overestimated his strength, so he would die of a miserable defeat, which only increased the laughing stock." ”

Gao Shun also sighed when he heard this: "That's true, even if there is no lord in the battle of Wancheng, I am afraid it will be defeated." However, there is no way, because Zhang Jiao does not have the power of public opinion, and if his set of doctrines is spread normally, no one will believe it. I had to incarnate as a religion. ”

Xu Ji nodded, of course what Gao Shun said made sense. The big family can't tolerate religious doctrine pretending to be a ghost there, and what worries the big family even more is that even their own family members believe in the nonsense made up by religion, and if they let it go and let it develop, they are afraid that they will eventually become completely subordinate to religion.

Gao Shun was silent for a while and said with a smile: "That's why I said that the lord is really a god and a man." Xu Ji didn't understand why Gao Shun suddenly said this, and looked at Gao Shun for some reason.

Gao Shun said with a smile: "Although I don't follow the people who follow the lord's cavalry, I know that the governance concept of the lord of the Daoist Dao is actually very different from the set propagated by Confucianism, and it can be said that it is completely a new academic. ”

Xu Ji was stunned and immediately understood what Gao Shun meant. Gao Shun continued: "In fact, as early as when the lord seized and occupied Nanchenliu, I vaguely felt that the decrees implemented by the lord seemed to be different from the usual habits of the imperial court, but the lord did not say it explicitly at that time, and at that time he was short-sighted, and he did not listen to the military advisor's admonition to read more because he was puzzled, but now it is clear, because with the lord's background, even if he puts forward a new doctrine, no one will believe it. In the end, he could only follow the old path of Zhang Jiao and turn his scholarship into religion, or he could give up his dream and devote himself to the account of a prince to serve him. ”

Gao Shun saw that Xu Ji listened attentively, and then said: "But the lord is unwilling to be this result, the biggest gain of Luoyang and his party is that the lord's reputation has been greatly improved compared to when the yellow turban was exterminated, and the identity of the big Han horse also provides considerable protection for the lord, and it is also from this time that the lord finally does not have to hide his governance philosophy." If you think about it, the lord's adventure is worth it. ”

Xu Ji heard this. couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, and secretly screamed shame and luck in my heart. Where could I still take care of these many things at that time? It's just survival. remembered that when I had a long conversation with Guo Jia, I wanted to fulfill my arrogant dreams without knowing the sky, and when I started the army, I was also ambitious to build a happy land where I could let go of my actions. But as time went by, all I got was all kinds of confusion, if I wasn't a natural atheist, I was afraid that I would have embarked on the road of "religion" that Gao Shun said. Fortunately, it was Yining's appearance, it was this girl who took more than ten years to set Xu Ji on this completely different path, and it was not until after Luoyang really took root that Xu Ji realized the importance of academic prestige, and it was then that he began to consciously use it. It's been a long road. Thinking about it now, it actually made Xu Ji feel like a world away. Of course, if it weren't for Zhang Rang's deliberate care, Xu Ji would not have doubted that he was already a corpse.

Come to think of it. Xu Ji sighed: "No matter what, the emperor pays off, and there will be a reward for his efforts." ”

Gao Shun said with a smile: "This is natural, I am from a poor family like the lord, and I know the hardships of the Dao, and the taste of it is not something that the children of the big families like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, who were born with academic strength in their hands, can really understand." ”

Xu Ji nodded and said: "But God is still fair, because of this, Yuan Shao and they have been children all their lives, and it is impossible for them to take on the heavy responsibility entrusted to them by God." ”

Gao Shun's eyes lit up and said, "That's true." As the saying goes, 'the heavens will descend on the people'. ”

Xu Ji teased: "Zihe will chew the words? But Zi is right with you, but we have to admit that the children of these big families are born in a highly political environment, and they know how to use their scholarship better. I also know how to give full play to the power of academics. I know that the pinnacle of academic power is the beginning of the use of the 'imperial mandate'. ”

Gao Shun smiled disdainfully: "Of course." Otherwise, how could Yuan Shao do something that did not recognize the current emperor and preferred to establish Liu Yu as the emperor of Youzhou. ”

Xu Ji looked at Gao Shun and said with a smile: "Zihe's vision is getting sharper and sharper. One sentence exposed Yuan Shao's conspiracy. ”

Gao Shun nodded and said: "This is the difference between 'dominating the world' and 'dominating one side' mentioned in the book." Yuan Shao IV and the third duke are already the first in the world. If you look at it according to common sense, as long as the world is peaceful. The Yuan family will one day be able to lean into power and monopolize power, but Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were really born at the wrong time, and one after another things shattered their dreams. ”

Xu Ji nodded and said: "That's right, first He Jin blocked their way, and then Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhuo's holding the emperor in his own hands is the most difficult thing for Yuan Shao to accept, as the head of the world, the leader of the academic world, without the emperor's order, Qiang Ji is just a prince who dominates the party, how can Yuan Shao be willing to do this?" It is inevitable to install a new emperor as a fig leaf for him to dominate the world. ”

Gao Shun's eyes became brighter and brighter the more he spoke, and he smiled when he heard Xu Ji's words: "Yuan Shao still has some skills, there are so many royal clansmen in the world, Yuan Shao actually took a fancy to Liu Yu at a glance." This is indeed the best candidate. ”

Xu Ji thought for a while and then smiled: "That's true, because compared with other royal families, Liu Yu is a person with no ambitions, and Liu Yu's talent is important in internal affairs rather than military, so this kind of person is the easiest to be used and controlled by Yuan Shao." However, what made Yuan Shao fail was precisely because Liu Yu had no ambition, so he would not be the emperor at all, so Yuan Shao had nowhere to use it if he wanted to. ”

At this time, the two came to a small waterhole that had been frozen in ice, stood down, and Gao Shun said: "So I said that the lord is now also facing the problem of Yuan Shao, and the lord has now replaced Yuan Shao and become the first in the world, it can be said that the lord has used the power of academia to the peak, and because of the strength of the military, no one in the world except Yuan Shao, who hates the lord deeply, will have the idea of plotting against the lord again, which is undoubtedly self-defeating, Now the general trend of the world is precisely because of the lord, but there has been a short period of peace, except for Yuan Shu, who does not understand the power of the spoiler, no one will act rashly, let alone give the lord a handle to send troops. That's why I said that while the lord achieved absolute superiority in the Central Plains, he also lost the pretext for using troops abroad. ”

Xu Ji nodded and sighed: "So for me, now sending troops to Chang'an and welcoming the emperor is the fundamental way to solve this problem, as long as there is the emperor's order in hand, we will have a lot of reasons to use troops abroad." Gao Shun said with a smile: "That's right, in fact, what Dong Zhuo wants to do is nothing more than that, but being too brutal has made him lose his popularity, even if he holds Cai Yong and other great Confucians in his hands, he can't win back the lost popularity." ”

When Xu Ji heard Cai Yong's name, his heart trembled, and he remembered Cai Wenji, who was still living in his house, and he was also touched for a while, but he heard Gao Shun say again: "So if you put aside your personal feelings and hostile positions, this Dong Zhuo is really a masterpiece of a generation, and his eyes are amazing." ”

Xu Ji nodded and said, "But Dong Zhuo is difficult to become his general trend. Gao Shun raised his eyebrows, and couldn't help asking, "Why did the lord say this?" The military advisor once said that now Dong Zhuo retreated to Guanzhong, using the strategy of strengthening Qin in the Warring States, the so-called 'sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight', with that kind of dangerous terrain, it is difficult for outsiders to attack, as long as the strategy is right, Dong Zhuo can sit and watch the success or failure, he can sit back and enjoy the results of the princes fighting each other and eventually weakening each other, and then follow the story of King Qin sweeping Liuhe, you can dominate the world. Why is the lord so sure that Dong Zhuo will not be able to achieve great things? ”

Xu Ji said with a smile: "Dong Zhuo is not the first emperor, although the first emperor has a severe criminal law, but he is by no means brutal, the people in the country are all sworn to serve to the death, but Dong Zhuo does indulge his subordinates and wreak havoc on the people, and although his subordinates can fight habitually, they ignore the law, I think Dong Zhuo will die in the hands of his own men sooner or later, even if he does not die, Dong Zhuo's internal instability, how can he talk about sweeping the world?" (To be continued......)