—184 A.D.——

In the third year of Guanghe, Lu Zhi was named the Great Sima for his revision of the "Xiping Stone Scripture" and Huangfu Song's meritorious service in quelling the rebellion.

The imperial court claimed that Huangfu Song voluntarily gave up the credit, but anyone with a discerning eye can see that in fact, because the credit is too great this time, it has been sealed, unless he is given the position of He Jin's "general", but on this point, the new generation of relatives who have gradually become powerful will never give in.

Although this position is in name only, it is still regarded as the "third duke", Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan are naturally very happy, but because of the unsettled affairs in Youzhou, they can't get out, so they plan to go to Luoyang to congratulate them.

But this move was stopped by Jian Yong.

Previously, Liu Bei was promoted to the county guard of Guangyang County after the assassination of alien races in Zhuo County, but because there was really no one to use under his subordinates - although there were only two places under Guangyang's rule, Liangxiang County and Ji County, but the first county and the other county still could not speak the same day - he asked Jian Yong to come to help.

Jian Yongzi Xianhe, a person from Zhuo County, ordinary appearance, moderate figure, Wen Ke quoted scriptures and debated with scholars, Wu Neng picked up the long sword to fight away the thief, the whole person is as "modest" as his name, if you want to find any advantages, there is only "entrust things to him to rest assured".

He had known Liu Bei since he was a child, and went out to study in the same year, and when Liu Bei worshiped under Lu Zhi, he also worshiped under the disciple of the great Confucian Hua Xin (Xin), who was in the same door as Lu Zhi but had a slightly inferior reputation.

Unlike the high-profile Lu Zhi, Hua Xin was going to the government due to illness at this time, so he could explain a little about the turbulent undercurrents between various relatives, eunuchs, families, and courtiers in Luoyang at this time in his correspondence with his disciples, and suggested that Jian Yong should not go to Luoyang for the time being.

"At this time, Luoyang is like a shallow reef everywhere, and if foreign ships rush in, they have to risk running into the reef and sinking." Jian Yong said.

"In this case, we must go instead," Liu Bei said, "If the tide continues to recede in this 'shoal', how can the master and uncle who are left in the 'reef' group protect themselves?" ”

"Xuande thinks twice, Master and Uncle are well-known Confucians, no one will dare to offend, but you are different." Although Jian Yong looked disapproving, the "warmth" he sent betrayed him.

"In front of a group of guys who only have power in their heads, writings and reputation can't protect Master and Uncle Shi," Liu Bei couldn't help but smile, and insisted on his point of view to Jian Yong: "Brother Bogui and I will take people to Luoyang as originally planned, but after Daohe, I will try to persuade Master to leave Luoyang, if not, I will wait in hiding, and forcibly take Master away after I can't do anything - during this period, Guangyang will be handed over to Xian and you to take care of." ”

"It will live up to the trust of Xuande!" Jian Yong replied without hesitation.

However, because the Wuhuan assassins had not completely disappeared, the newlywed Yan'er's Gongsun Zan could not make the trip, and only Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei went to Luoyang to send congratulatory gifts...... and Xiahou Ji.

Although I was a little worried that there would be a conflict when I met someone from Xiahou's family, seeing that the girl would never leave Zhang Fei, she couldn't leave her and her third brother in Jixian County.

————

Liu Bei had no place to live in Luoyang, and the house he originally lived in belonged to Lu Zhi, so he sneaked in and couldn't use it anymore, so he finally asked Jian Yongxiu to write a letter and go to Uncle Hua Xin to disturb him.

Hua Xin is a gray-haired old man, who has served as Langzhong, Yilang, and Shangshu, and has a total of three houses in Luoyang, after Liu Bei and the four of them came with letters, they could not persuade them to leave, so they had to sigh while ordering the servants to take them to a vacant house to live temporarily.

In order to prevent Liu Bei and others from being noticed by the "scattered horses" everywhere, the house he selected was extremely remote, and only the Hua family mansion and another family surnamed Rong lived on the whole road, so this road is also called "Huarong Road".

It is said that the head of the Rong family is named "Rong Sheng", who once served as a counselor, and was deposed by Emperor Ling because he forcibly cited the evidence of the ten permanent servants many times without looking at the occasion, and many outsiders speculated that they actually had more evidence of the ten permanent servants, and they were planning to find an opportunity to break it out in one fell swoop, so they did not dare to deal with it.

Therefore, when a black-scarf masked man climbed over the wall from Rong's house, but strayed into Liu Bei's courtyard, it was natural to fight with Guan Yu, who thought he was an assassin.

Both sides seemed to have concerns, and both tried to keep the noise to a low level as they fought.

......After repeatedly observing the bald head and black clothes of the uninvited guest for a period of time, Liu Bei finally stopped the two who were in the middle of the battle: "Stop, Yun Chang, this is evil, evil, you should have recognized us a long time ago, what is the reason why you have to fight?" ”

Guan Yu didn't stop as he expected, he put away his knife and stood aside, looking at the masked man with no confusion.

"Huh? Recognizable? The masked man grabbed the face towel from his face, revealing Dian Wei's slightly vicious face: "The lord said that this is a secret operation, don't fall in love with the war, and flee as soon as possible, but if someone finds out the true face, you have to kill it." ”

He looked at Liu Guanzhang and the others with a very embarrassed look, and seemed to feel that it was a bit difficult to extinguish the mouth.

Was this influenced by Yuan Shao? Liu Bei shook his head, feeling the need to increase the intelligence of the guards for Cao Cao: "No, evil, what you want to kill is 'those who will be unfavorable to Meng De after discovering your identity', that is, those subordinates of the Ten Standing Attendants, just imagine, if you are seen by a roadside child, do you also want to kill him?" ”

"Uh, no."

"But big brother, we're not children." Zhang Fei interjected.

Great, there is also a person on our side who needs to improve his intelligence, Liu Bei looked at his third brother speechlessly.

"No, no, no, Yun Chang and his brother will not be unfavorable to Meng De, I am very sure." Dian Wei quickly cleared up the logic.

"That's right," although he felt that something was wrong, but this was not the time to delve into it, Liu Bei continued: "Evil come to continue your mission, if Meng De needs help in Luoyang, you can come here to find our brothers." ”

"Oh, so-" "Chirp~Chirp~"

Dian Wei was about to answer, but he heard a strange animal cry, and was surprised, when he saw a snow-white, sheep-like animal jumping in from outside the wall, and on her back sat a little girl in yellow clothes and green hairpins who looked quite lively.

"I've found Adian!" She happily announced: "With a white uncle, a red uncle, and a black uncle~"

"......" Liu Bei was speechless for a while, the third brother was indeed black, but the second brother was originally a fair-skinned person, but with the growth of force after comprehending "Wushuang", his face became more and more red, and he didn't know if the "Bodhisattva" would help cure it.

"Uh...... This is Mr. Cai Yong Cai's youngest daughter Wen Ji", Dian Wei scratched his bald head: "Probably because I have been away for too long, Meng De can't persuade me." ”

Liu Bei was about to say something to end the friendship of the landlord, but when he saw Guan Yu's expression, he flicked his robe sleeves and climbed onto the courtyard wall, and the water-colored long knife slashed through a trajectory like a quarter moon.

After two short screams, a slightly familiar voice came from Huarong Road outside the hospital: "Yun Chang, don't come unharmed?" ”

"Huh? Lord Mengde? Cai Wenji probed his brain on the back of the animal, and Xiahou Ji, who was originally hiding behind Zhang Fei without saying a word, also looked over curiously.

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao to ......

————

"The assassination of a certain Ten Standing Servants just now failed, which made Xuande smile."

When Guan Yu went out to check whether there were other trackers, Cao Cao walked in from outside the door with his clothes tidied up, he was wearing a set of lake blue brocade robes with hard lines and similar to armor, which could not only fight on horseback, but also read the papers in the study, even if he went to the city wall to supervise the work, it was not abrupt.

I heard that Cao Mengde's name is Jinan Xiang, but he is actually half of the Qingzhou Thorn History, could it be that there is a shortage of manpower under his command, so that he himself has to go everywhere from time to time to help? Liu Bei thought with deep sympathy.

Fortunately, Youzhou Thorn Shi has many subordinates and can borrow them...... Wait, did he just mention lightly that the assassination of the Ten Standing Servants failed?

Seeing that there were too many people in the courtyard at this time, Liu Bei led Cao Cao into the house and said casually: "Now the eunuchs of Luoyang, relatives, courtiers, and all the forces of the family are intertwined, all of them are fighting for the matter of establishing a prince, and Meng De still needs to be cautious. ”

Cao Cao smiled: "There is nothing to do." ”

Assassination of the Ten Constant Attendants for Pastime? Liu Bei originally just wanted to explain that he was not ignorant of the situation in Luoyang, but he was robbed of the limelight by Cao Cao's casual words, so he had to continue: "Then invite Meng De to the table." ”

This place is Hua Xin's private residence, which is taken care of by its own domestic servants, and it is needless to say that they are loyal, even if they are asked to prepare a banquet when they are not eating, they will not have an opinion, of course, they don't have to prepare a banquet seriously, just get some supplementary food for the little girl, and prepare a few jars of wine and appetizers for a few men.

Guan Yu Zhang Fei and Dian Wei pushed the cup to change the lamp, Cai Wenji and Xiahou Ji whispered without mentioning it, Liu Bei and Cao Cao found a viewing hall in the garden with slightly higher ground and flowers and trees outside to sit and drink.

After three rounds of drinking, Cao Cao raised his glass and pointed in the direction of the palace: "Luoyang is surging at this time, but what those people who stir up the wind and rain are only who will do that position, Xuande thinks it's right?" ”

"Since Gaozu beheaded the White Snake Uprising, the successive emperors have worked hard, even if Wang Mang interrupted halfway, there is also light force to turn the tide, but in the past hundred years, the emperor has been accused of being in the hands of relatives and eunuchs, but it is unprecedented," Liu Bei said: "If Your Majesty returns to heaven, you must not let the emperor control the throne in the hands of relatives and eunuchs, otherwise it will repeat the cycle of nearly a hundred years, which is meaningless." ”

Cao Cao said: "But if the courtiers and the family participate, it will be another disaster of the party, after the first two disasters of the party, the power of relatives or eunuchs is even more prosperous." ”

Liu Bei said: "The new emperor is young, and the people he trusts must come from these two, no matter how loyal the family and the courtiers are, the new emperor can't understand it in vain, so ......"

Cao Cao continued: "Therefore, if an adult and powerful royal family succeeds to the throne, this situation will be self-defeating. ”

Liu Bei put down the wine cup and was silent.

"Oh, Xuande don't have to worry, you can't do it." Cao Cao looked at Liu Bei's expression, and suddenly thought of something to continue.

“……”