Zhao Yun saw Yuan Xi speaking in an extremely secretive manner, and understood that he must have some difficulties.
Yuan Xi has always been open and honest with himself, but his current behavior may not be because he doesn't believe himself, but because he is afraid that after telling himself, his response will be unnatural, which will reveal his flaws.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yun couldn't help but shook his head. He thought it was better to be straightforward on the battlefield. Things like people's hearts and ghosts were really not suitable for him.
If it had not been for Yuan Xi's task, Zhao Yun would have been very resistant to such a mission with an unknown purpose, especially when it came to dealing with the emperor and the Han court.
Yuan Xi also understood Zhao Yun's thoughts, but still handed over this extremely important task to Zhao Yun, which in itself means trust.
Moreover, although Yuan had an obvious desire to be independent, Yuan Xi never restricted Zhao Yun's actions and thoughts. This time, he was allowed to act according to his own judgment, which made Zhao Yun feel very mixed.
The general's ideas may not be completely consistent with his lord's. Zhao Yun always had his own ideas when he took refuge with Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei before, and it was the same when he came under Yuan Xi's command.
But the good thing about Yuan Xi is that he can understand and support Zhao Yun's ideas, and gives Zhao Yun the greatest freedom in the matter of courting the emperor.
This is enough, Zhao Yun thought.
But inside Gao Shun's mansion in the city, Zhang Liao came to see Gao Shun for a drink.
The two of them were quite congenial. Although Gao Shun himself did not drink, he would always entertain Zhang Liao with wine whenever he came to visit.
Other meals are very simple, with only a few side dishes and a bowl of rice.
Zhang Liao lowered his head to grab the rice. Halfway through the meal, he suddenly put it down and stopped talking. Gao Shun saw him and said calmly: "Wen Yuan has something to say, but it doesn't matter."
Zhang Liao hesitated for a moment and said: "Xiaofu (Gao Shun's nickname), you know that Marquis Wen and Uncle Zhi (Zhang Yang) and I were both generals under the Grand Master."
"And Gongtai is the only mastermind under Marquis Wen, and Xiaofu led the trap to defect to Marquis Wen, so we all have the title of general."
The so-called general refers to the person under Lu Bu who leads the army alone and has a superior status than other generals.
Chen Gong was backed by the Yanzhou gentry, Zhang Liao was one of Lu Bu's early peers, and there were also the Northern Governors and Lu Prime Ministers who were conferred by the imperial court. Gao Shun originally brought the most elite infantry. These three people had a special status and were more like partners.
Therefore, he was awarded the title of General.
On the surface, it looks very beautiful, but the relationship between the lord and his subordinates is not so ideal. If the subordinates are too capable, it will also be a problem for the lord.
Just like the Yanzhou nobles behind Chen Gong, when they recruited Lu Bu, a large part of the reason was that Lu Bu was easier to control than Cao Cao, so it was impossible for Lu Bu not to be wary of Chen Gong. He delayed sending troops to Chen Liu to rescue Chen Gong, who was on good terms with him.
Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao may not have had this kind of intention.
Lu Bu did not save the Zhang Miao brothers because he was worried that Chen Gong would be dissatisfied. At this time, the Huaicheng rebellion happened, but Chen Gong was accidentally accused by Cao Xing of colluding with Yuan Shu.
Regardless of whether the matter is true or not, Chen Gong will definitely be suspected, and some of his power will be emptied by Lu Bu.
Lü Bu was Dong Zhuo's chief clerk. This was a civilian position. Although it meant to oust Lü Bu, it did not mean that Lü Bu knew nothing about officialdom. He had stayed under Dong Zhuo for a long time and had learned some checks and balances in officialdom.
This is true for Chen Gong, and it is also true for the military power of Gao Shun's fallen camp. It is impossible for someone who can reach a position like Lu Bu's to know nothing about tactics.
Even taking Zhang Liao away this time was not necessarily to reassure Zhang Liao, but because he was afraid that Zhang Liao would stay and communicate with Zhang Yang, who was about to come back, and seize the opportunity to seize power.
It can be said that Lu Bu now, after experiencing several betrayals, has become a frightened bird, so he introduced Yuan Xi, an outsider, to check and balance his subordinates.
Regarding this point, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun were both veterans, so they naturally knew it well. Even Gao Shun knew that Zhang Liao must have something to say to him when he came to see him today.
Zhang Liao began by saying: "Liao has never understood why my brother betrayed the Chenliu Gao family since he took the title of filial father."
Gao Shun, courtesy name Xiaofu, Dunhou Shaohua. "Old Biography of Chen Liuqi"
The Chenliu Gao family is the family of Yuan Shao's wife.
Among the Gao clan members in later generations, Gao Qian served as governor of Bingzhou under Yuan Shao's administration, while Gao Rou "raised his clan to Hebei" and attached himself to Yuan Shao.
(Gao) Rou Cong's brother (Gao) Qian, Yuan Shao's nephew, called (Gao) Rou in Hebei, and Rou Ju followed him. "The Biography of Gao Rou in the Book of Wei"
Gao Gan and Gao Rou were all nephews of Yuan Shao, and later generations of senior officials could serve as governors of Bingzhou, which was similar to the Yuan family's sons. It can be seen that the Yuan family valued the Chenliu Gao family very highly.
Liao's current meaning is very obscure. Gao Shun's current situation may not be better than that under Yuan's hands.
Gao Shun remained silent. Zhang Liao's personality was completely different from his. Gao Shun's personality was aloof and could not get along with other people.
On the contrary, Zhang Liao likes to make friends, has a good relationship with everyone, and is highly popular. Because of this, Lu Bu is worried about leaving Zhang Liao in charge.
Gao Shun could hear Zhang Liao's words, and he was already vaguely dissatisfied with Lu Bu. He didn't know whether Zhang Liao was sincere or testing himself. He said slowly: "I had the difficulties of that day. Now that it's over, I can't bring it up again."
It’s also meaningless.”
"Whether it's right or wrong, I can't look back now, otherwise I will be ridiculed by everyone in the world."
After hearing this, Zhang Liao understood that Gao Shun didn't want to talk about these things anymore, and couldn't help but sigh: "If my filial father has such thoughts, there is no need for Liao to say more."
"We'll wait until we welcome the emperor. Maybe there will be other choices then."
After Gao Shun heard this, he cupped his hands and said, "Wen Yuan's words must be remembered by Shun."
Zhang Liao came out of Gao Shun's mansion and couldn't help but look back at Gao Shun's figure standing at the door. He thought that Lu Bu was really not a suitable lord. He could not tell the difference between loyal and treacherous. If he followed him, he would not reach the end.
Zhang Liao was not optimistic about Lv Bu's plan to please the emperor. Dong Zhuo was much better than Lv Bu in terms of political strategy and courtship, but he still died in the end. Was it so easy for the emperor to please him at that time?
He shook his head and rode away, thinking that in this world, it would be really difficult to seek refuge with a lord who would break his heart.
In Lu Bu's mansion, Yan had a bad look on his face and said angrily to Lu Bu: "It's a good idea to beat this boy from the Yuan family!"
"After working on it for a long time, the jewelry he gave us as dowry has been going around and around, but it still has to be returned to his own hands!"
"This is such a beautiful idea. If you don't give Ling'er the title of a legitimate wife, you still want to be free of money. It's really not a thing!"
"No, how can such a good thing happen!"
Lu Bu was also quite helpless and said, "Don't make any noise."
"Who else is willing to join forces with me right now besides him?"
"Now I have just relaxed my tone a little, and I have not promised him anything."
"Everything has to wait until the emperor is welcomed and the dust has settled before we can see the outcome."
"If I can be granted a high position at that time, I may not be able to find a better husband for Ling'er with the help of the emperor's name."
After hearing this, Ms. Yan's face became happy, "I knew your husband was not dizzy!"
"It seems that the Yuan family is really cunning. He has deliberately planned to sabotage the marriage between our family and Yuan Gongli. He has bad intentions from the very beginning!"
After hearing this, Lu Bu's face darkened and he said, "There is no need to talk about Yuan Shu. He has already brought an army to fight!"
"I'm going to Hedong right now, and I don't know when I can come back. If Yuan Shu comes, this city will have to be defended by the Yuan family's fierce tigers!"
"The lives of all the people in this city, including Madam and Ling'er's safety, all depend on this person. Even if Madam has ten thousand reluctances in her heart, she can't show it to her face!"
Seeing Lu Bu's seriousness, Yan could only nod his head in agreement.
Lu Bu was also a little anxious. He didn't know whether it was right to place the bet on Yuan Xi.
Lu Bu was not sure about the truth of the Huaicheng Rebellion, and whether the masterminds were the same people as they revealed. He had given up on pursuing the truth, and now he could only seek a turning point by flattering the emperor.
He left with Zhang Liao and most of his elite troops. In fact, he had prepared for the worst. If Huaicheng fell, he could still retain some of his strength.
If possible, he would like to take his wife and daughter away with him, but firstly, if he does so, others will see his intention at a glance, and secondly, the war is dangerous, and he is not confident that he can definitely defeat the princes who covet the emperor.
Lu Bu suddenly found that he was back to the situation he was in when he first made his fortune, fighting for his life alone. No one could believe it, and no one could protect him. He was doing his best to survive on his own.
The human heart is so complicated, and the choices we make are full of helplessness and gambling. Everyone wants to get what they want, but in the end, how many can get what they want?
In the panic that no one could see the way forward, Lu Bu took Zhang Liao to join forces with Zhao Yun Jushou outside the city and headed for Hanoi.
He looked back from his horse, with a long convoy of baggage behind him, and on top of the city was Yuan Xi, who bowed his hand to say goodbye.
He thought to himself that this ferocious tiger was really well-calculated. The food that Youzhou sent earlier would be enough for him to send troops!
If my daughter really wants to marry such a sinister villain, she doesn’t know how she will be deceived!
Yuan Xi stood on the top of the city and saw the team drifting away. He thought that he would have to stay in Huaicheng for at least a month or two to help Lu Bu clean up the mess.
There are too many problems in Huaicheng. General Lu Bu is alienated and the military discipline is loose. There is no one on his side who can help, so he can only rely on himself!
The city defense must be rectified. As a temporary city guard, Wei Xu has great problems. He is afraid that he will not be able to resist Yuan Shu's army. Now Yuan Xi needs to find a breakthrough.
Chen Gong who is under suspicion, Gao Shun who is ignored, Zhang Yang who is about to rush back to Huaicheng, or Lu Bu's wife Yan?
Yuan Xi had a headache. Without Guo Jia and Jushu around, he was forced to think about things by himself again. It was so painful!
He glanced at Sun Li next to him and saw that he was stunned and unconsciously making knife-wielding movements with his hands. He couldn't help but shook his head. This child was considered useless.
Ever since he was attacked by Yang Feng, Sun Li began to practice martial arts crazily, forgetting Guo Jia's instructions to study military skills every day, fearing that he would become a pure martial artist in the future.
Not to mention that Zhao Yun, Taishi Ci Tianyu and others were all able to make suggestions, even when Qu Yi was there.
A deep feeling of guilt surged into his heart. Qu Yi had done so many things for him, but he didn't have time to repay him. Counting the time, his coffin had already been transported back to Beixin City, right?
Beixincheng, Yuan Xi's Residence.
With a bang, the tea tray in Ma's hand fell to the ground, and several tea bowls were smashed to pieces.
She looked pale, pointed at the coffin and said tremblingly to the two guards: "Whose coffin did you just say this is?"
The guard lowered his head and said, "This is the coffin of General Qu Yi."
"He was killed in battle by the enemy in Montenegro. The Master ordered us to transport his body back for burial."
Ma's body shook a few times, and his face was ashen.