In the end, Zhang Xiu agreed to all the conditions proposed by Deng Hong.

Stationed in Wancheng, several surrounding county towns belonged to him, contacted the surrounding yellow turbans, and helped Liu Biao resist the northern princes and several other small demands.

The terms of cooperation proposed by the two sides were satisfactory to each other, Zhang Xiu gained territory and respite, Liu Biao gained peace, and even Deng Hong and Shen Chen benefited from it, and only the world where Zhang Ji was injured was reached.

After the talks, Deng Hong said goodbye to Zhang Xiu, and Zhang Xiu personally sent him back to Yucheng.

The two talked and laughed along the way, at least this trip had a good result for both parties.

The next day, Deng Hong said goodbye to the guard and set off on the road.

The grandfather and grandson were in the same car again.

In the spring breeze and drizzle in early February, there was a bamboo stalk on the car, which covered the light rain.

In the distance, the sides of the road are gradually regaining some popularity, and since the recent war in the city, many villagers have gone into hiding.

After Zhang Ji's death, the two sides made a truce, and the villagers rushed back to continue to take care of the crops.

Seeing the peasants working in the fields in the light rain, Deng Hong sighed: "Fortunately, Zhang Ji died in the stray arrow, otherwise I don't know how many people in Jingzhou would have been displaced this time." ”

Shen Chen nodded in agreement: "Yes, fortunately, our Huangmen Pavilion is east of Nanyang, not close to Wuguan, otherwise, with our current strength, if we want to resist the invasion of the Xiliang Army, I am afraid that we will end up with a chicken and a dog." ”

Deng Hong said in a deep voice: "Ah Chen, you are right, I used to think that since I had already devoted myself to Liu Yuanjun's account, why did I need to develop the power of the clan. Now it seems that if there are no soldiers and horses, they will be fish and meat in this world. ”

"The Sixth Uncle Ancestor finally understands this truth."

Shen Chen was very happy with Deng Hong's enlightenment, not to mention the common people in this troubled era, even the big families have the risk of dying in an instant, like Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Zhang Yang, these people, there are countless broken families, if there are no soldiers and horses to resist the enemy, how can they keep their homes safe?

However, Deng Hong still said with some hesitation: "But what did you say Ah Chen..... If you really do this, wouldn't you deceive Liu Yuanjun? If he finds out in the future, I'm afraid he will blame us. ”

"Blame?"

Shen Chen snickered, "What's there to blame for this? Don't forget, my uncle and grandmother are still here. If you want to blame the Deng family, let your uncle and grandmother go to Mrs. Cai to talk about it, and everything will pass. What's more, this is not a big deal in the first place, it is Zhang Xiu's order, and it is not what we meant. ”

Deng Hong pondered for a moment, nodded and said, "Okay, then let's do it first." ”

The grandfather and grandson successfully completed the task and went back.

Under the escort of Gan Ning, they returned to Xiangyang, and they also promised Gan Ning on the way that it would not be long before there would be a war between Nanyang and the Yellow Turban, and they would inevitably give him a chance to perform at that time.

In mid-February, Deng Hong returned to the Xiangyang Mansion, but this time Shen Chen did not follow, but first went back to the academy to ask Song Zhong for a period of leave.

After briefly reporting his safety to Cai's family, Deng Hong washed up and changed his clothes before going to the state governor's mansion.

Liu Biao learned of Deng Hong's return and immediately summoned him in the middle hall.

Deng Hong came in and saluted Liu Biao first, and only after Liu said that he wanted him to sit down, he sat down on the seat under the other party's right hand.

"How's it going?"

After he sat down, Liu Biao immediately inquired about the situation.

Although the number of Xiliang troops is small, he has no problem if he wants to annihilate them, but no one wants his army to suffer heavy losses.

Deng Hong replied, "Ming Gong, everything is going well. Now the leader of the Xiliang army is Zhang Ji's nephew Zhang Xiu, who also understands that he has lost his ground and cannot return to Guanzhong, and if he does not surrender in Nanyang, he can only die, so he is willing to surrender to Ming Gong. ”

"That's good, that's good."

Liu Biao Fuxu laughed happily: "Jingzhou can avoid the war, and the young master is indispensable." ”

Deng Hong arched his hand and said: "It's just a little bit of doing something for Ming Gong, if it weren't for Ming Gong's deep understanding of righteousness, I'm afraid it wouldn't have made things so smooth." ”

"Youshuo is humble."

Liu Biao can feel that Deng Hong has made more and more progress, at the beginning, Deng Hong couldn't even memorize the scriptures, but in just a year and a half, he has been very calm and courageous, which makes people more and more admired.

And speaking of which, the two parties are still relatives, Deng Hong's wife is Mrs. Cai's cousin's niece, and Deng Hong has to call Liu Biao his cousin.

With this relationship and the meritorious service of recruiting Zhang Xiu, he originally wanted to promote him to an official, but Deng Hongcai had been engaged in the state government for less than two years, and it was not reasonable to be promoted again, so Liu Biao thought about it and was ready to give him some gold, silver, Shu brocade and other property.

Just thinking about it, Deng Hong said again: "Ming Gong, on the way there, I discussed with Ah Chen for a long time and thought about a lot of things. So when he was negotiating peace with Zhang Xiu, he made his own decisions and made some plans, and asked Ming Gong for forgiveness. ”

"Oh?"

Liu Biao frowned slightly and said, "What kind of plan did you decide?" ”

Deng Hong said: "Back to the Ming Dynasty, after the Huangmen Pavilion moved from Xuzhou to Xinye, it was often disturbed by the yellow turbans in the mountains because of its proximity to Dabie Mountain. Not only Huangmen Pavilion, but also the surrounding Huyang, Pingshi, Biyang, Wuyin and other places, as well as the bandits in the Gaoling Mountains in the northwest of Nanyang, often neglect Nanyang, making the surrounding cities unpeaceful. ”

"Hmm."

Liu Biao nodded: "These Yellow Turban remnants are hidden in the deep mountains, and they are surrounded by steep mountains, which are easy to defend and difficult to attack. And entrenched in the periphery of Nanyang, as many as cow hair. It is not easy to clean up one by one, so I also have a headache in this matter. ”

Deng Hong said with a smile: "So I discussed with Zhang Xiu and asked him to contact Yingchuan, Runan, Nanyang and other places of the Yellow Turban, saying that he had defeated the army sent by the Ming Gong to conquer him and occupied Wancheng, and was willing to invite them to occupy Nanyang together and participate in the grand event. ”

Let Zhang Xiu contact the Yellow Turban Yu Party around Nanyang?

This ploy sounds familiar.

Liu Biao thought for a while, and finally remembered, wasn't this the strategy that Kuai Yue offered when he first arrived in Xiangyang four years ago?

At that time, when he came to Xiangyang, Jingzhou was not peaceful, and all the cities and counties were occupied by others.

To put it bluntly, these people are the so-called local powerful forces, who run rampant in the countryside and county towns with clan forces as a unit, and are called clan thieves by the people of the time.

Before Liu Biao came to Jingzhou, hundreds of cities in the seven counties of Jingzhou were entrenched by them.

Strictly speaking, the major families in Jingzhou used to belong to this part, but they were more powerful and smarter.

In the beginning, they also reigned in the mountains.

After Liu Biao's arrival, the major families valued the legitimacy given to Liu Biao by the imperial court, and supported Liu Biao's ascension.

In return, Liu Biao also gave them feedback and gave them a certain official position.

Those who did not obey Liu Biao were designed by Kuai Yue Kuai Liang Cai Mao and they to wipe them out.

Since then, Liu Biao has completely pacified Jingzhou.

Time flies so quickly in a flash.

Liu Biao remembered that at that time, Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, Cai Mao, and the way they designed to get rid of those thieves was to call them to a meeting.

In the name of jointly fighting against Liu Biao, they discussed resisting the imperial court, and then beheaded all the thieves.

How similar is Deng Hong's plan now to this one?

Just as Kuai Yue and them gathered the thieves in the name of fighting against themselves, Zhang Xiu also gathered the remnants of the Yellow Turban Party in the name of fighting against themselves.

It's just that the original clan thief forces have become the Yellow Turban Yu Party entrenched around Nanyang, and Zhang Xiu has become Kuaiyue Kuailiang Cai Mao, and he is still the same himself.

For a while, Liu Biao was a little emotional, looked at Deng Hong and nodded approvingly: "Yes, this plan is very wonderful, it reminds me of when I first came to Jingzhou a few years ago, Xenodu, Zirou, and Deqi used this plan to destroy the Jingzhou sect thieves." ”

Deng Hong hurriedly said: "I also arrived in Jingzhou, and learned that the deeds of the Ming Dynasty were widely spread, so the remnants of Shouling learned from Handan, thinking that if they could get rid of these yellow scarves, they would share their worries for the Lord." ”

"Good."

Liu Biao said with relief: "Youshuo's plan is very popular with me, so let's do it according to your ideas." At that time, I will inform Wen Ping and Zhang Yun and ask them to fully cooperate with you. ”

"Thank you, Ming Gong."

Deng Hong arched his hand and said, "Hong still has one more thing. ”

"You say."

Liu Biao listened attentively, and his subordinates who could share their worries were good subordinates.

Deng Hong said: "I thought it would be good to let Zhang Xiu be stationed in Nanyang." But if the soldiers, horses, money and food are supplied by Xiangyang every year, it is always inappropriate. Giving less caused Zhang Xiu to be dissatisfied, and giving more made him stronger, so Hong thought of another way to solve this problem. ”

"Oh?"

Liu Biao asked, "What's the way?" ”

Deng Hong said: "The table embroidered for Nanyang Taishou. ”

Table embroidery for Nanyang Taishou?

Liu Biao frowned and said, "What is the explanation?" ”

Deng Hong said with a smile: "The purpose of our recruitment of Zhang Xiu is to let him help us guard the Nanyang Gate, but as Bei just said, if the grain and grass are all provided by Xiangyang, I am afraid that he will be insatiable." It's better to give Nanyang to him, but it's not all given. ”

"Not all? What does you mean? ”

"Hong thinks that Wancheng and several surrounding cities can be handed over to Zhang Xiu for management, so that he can manage the people's livelihood by himself, so that his military needs come from the local county, and we don't need to supply him with money and food. At that time, the north of Nanyang will be guarded by Zhang Xiu, and the Ming Dynasty will be based on Caiyang, Fancheng, Dengxian and Zhangling as the Xiangyang barrier, and the north will be stable from then on. ”

"The Xiliang army has always burned, killed and looted, and they will also govern the people's livelihood?"

Liu Biao sneered and said: "Don't rob the people again when the time comes, causing chaos in Nanyang." ”

Deng Hong said: "Ming Gong thinks about it, if he governs well, it is his ability to pay more taxes." If the governance is not good, the people will naturally migrate to Zhangling and other places. It's really not good, Ming Gong can also send the county commander to help him govern, so that his military needs still have to be controlled by us, even if Zhang Xiu is accused by us, he has nothing to say, we can only blame him for not having the ability to govern the place. ”

"Hmm."

Liu Biao thought for a while, nodded and said: "Hanshu cloud: If you don't cultivate your virtues, Zheng should be the brunt." You have some truth in what you say, I have already given him a few cities, and it is his business if he can't govern it himself. Even if he is well governed, there are only a few cities in the Communist Party, and he can't be strong, so he still has to be used by me. Youshuo, this is a very good plan. ”

Deng Hong said modestly: "This is all taught by Ming Gong, since Ah Chen and I came to Jingzhou, we felt that we were shallow when we were in Xuzhou, so we tasted more learning." Whether it is studying in the academy or learning in the Ming Dynasty, they have gained a lot. Just like the plan I thought of before, it was because of Ming Gong that I thought it out. ”

"Good."

Liu Biao praised: "You helped me recruit Zhang Xiu, and you want to help me get rid of the remnants of the Nanyang Yellow Turban, I don't know how to reward you." ”

Deng Hong hurriedly said: "Ming Gong is already very grateful for being able to accommodate my clan to return to the ancestral land, and Hong does not ask for a reward. ”

"I see."

Liu Biao thought for a moment and said, "You go first." I'll talk to Zirou about this matter first, and I'll give you an answer in two days. ”

"Yui."

Deng Hong retreated.

.....．

.....．

Here, when Liu Biao was still thinking about making a move on the Nanyang Yellow Turban, and on the Yanzhou side, Cao Cao was also thinking about it.

Since being attacked by Lu Bu in the rear the year before last, Cao Cao has been very embarrassed.

For a certain time, he almost sent his family to Jizhou to Yuan Shao as hostages, in exchange for Yuan Shao's support for grain and grass.

Fortunately, with the support of the fathers and elders in Cheng Yu's hometown, the grain and grass were finally replenished.

In the end, he regained his strength, and finally defeated Lü Bu last year and recovered the entire territory of Yanzhou.

After a year of recuperation, Cao Cao's grain and grass were finally able to barely cope with the military.

In the first month of this year, he began to send troops to Chen and Liang to occupy Yuan Shu's living space.

Yuan Si, the prime minister of Chen sent by Yuan Shu, surrendered to Cao Cao, and since then, the land of Liang State of Chen has been taken by Cao Cao.

And his next target is Yingchuan County and Runan County.

These two lands were not Yuan Shu's territory, but they were currently occupied by a large number of Yellow Turban remnants, who allied themselves with Yuan Shu and threatened Cao Cao's rear.

Therefore, as early as the beginning of this year, Cao Cao had already considered disposing of these Yellow Turban Army.

Jiyin County, Dingtao County, Cao Cao's Yanzhou Pastoral Mansion.

Chen Gong rebelled and followed Lu Bu to Xuzhou, and recently Xi Zhicai occasionally felt cold and recuperated at home, and there were only Cheng Yu and Xun Yu in the hall at this time.

Cao Cao looked at the empty hall, a little lost for a while, and said, "How is Zhicai's illness?" ”

Xun Yu only visited Xi Zhicai yesterday, shook his head and said, "It's not good." ”

"I still need more decoctions."

Cao Cao was very concerned about the health of his subordinates, and carefully advised: "Don't shy away from medical treatment." ”

"Well, thank you for your concern, I will instruct Zhicai."

Xun Yu nodded in understanding.

During this period of history, he always called Cao Cao a general, and even when he died, he did not call him Ming Gong, at most he was Cao Gong and others.

Because Xun Yu always considered himself a subordinate of Hanchen and not Cao Cao, they were in a relationship of equal relations to some extent.

"That's good."

Cao Cao finally began to talk about business: "Zhongde, Wen Ruo, I want to go south to Yingchuan Runan Yellow Turban, what do you think?" ”

Cheng Yu frowned and said, "Now that we have just had some surplus of grain and grass, will we send troops now?" ”

"Time doesn't wait for me."

Cao Cao sighed and said: "Yuan Shu colluded with the Yellow Turban of Yingchuan in Runan, if you can't defeat them, I'm afraid that you will suffer from the enemy." ”

Xun Yu thought for a while and said: "That's true, it seems that we can only send troops and break them one by one." ”

Cao Cao nodded and said, "I want to conquer Runan in person, and Yanzhou will be entrusted to the two." ”

"Yui."

The two of them surrendered at the same time.

During this time, Cao Cao was fighting in the east and west, and he had always been two people guarding the house, and this time was no exception.