Yuan Xi admired Cao Cao in many aspects, but he felt that it would be difficult for him to pee in the same pot as Cao Cao.
The bottom line he insists on is completely different from Cao Cao. He believes that there is a moral ruler in people's hearts. Although people must have their own persistence and ideals, without this ruler, they will lose their original intention.
Yuan Xi had to admit that the ruler in his heart was greatly influenced by Liu Bei's two sentences in later generations.
Do not do evil because it is small, and do not do good because it is small.
Liu Bei experienced ups and downs in troubled times, suffered countless losses, spent his whole life to realize his persistence, and was able to say these two sentences before his death, which greatly touched Yuan Xi.
This undoubtedly affected Yuan Xi's principles of life, just as he knew that Cao Cao's massacre of the city was very useful in fighting a war, and he also knew that killing all the soldiers and civilians in Chen Liucheng would indeed ensure the elimination of future troubles, but if it were Yuan Xi, he still couldn't do it.
But this also means that Yuan Xi has chosen a path similar to that of Liu Bei, but more difficult, because in this world, the final winner is not determined by moral standards, but ultimately by strength.
Strength is still strength. Yuan Xi sighed inwardly and leaned out to look at the bottom of the city. Zang Hong was leading soldiers and people out of the city and surrendered to Gao Lan.
There are quite a few of these people who are loyal to Zang Hong and do not want to stay in Dongwuyang. How to arrange them has actually gone a long way.
Logically speaking, the people in the city were all registered as Jizhou residents and could not leave the city without authorization. However, this was the condition for Zang Hong's surrender. In order to prevent further casualties, Yuan Xi still made the decision and agreed.
Gao Lan took over Dongwuyang, and Tian Feng wanted to stay to rectify the city affairs. Yuan Xi later returned to Yecheng to resume his duties, but before that, he needed to have a good talk with Zang Hong.
When Yuan Xi walked down the city, Gao Lan and Zang Hong were handing over seals from officials and generals. Zang Hong and Gao Lan looked normal as they talked.
After all, after Yuan Shang left, Gao Lan led his troops to besiege the city just to pretend to fish, and basically did not organize any decent attack, so there were not many casualties on both sides, and no deep hatred was formed.
When Gao Lan saw Yuan Xi coming, he turned around and saluted, "I've met the envoy."
Yuan Xi returned the gift, and the two of them had a tacit understanding that Gao Lan would not work hard because he had received hints from Yuan Xi before. Now that the matter was finally resolved, Gao Lan felt a stone fall in his heart. After all, if Yuan insisted on attacking the city, he would
But it’s hard to explain.
Zang Hong came up and said to Yuan Xi: "There are still more than ten thousand soldiers and civilians in the city. If you want to follow Hong, please tell me where to go."
Yuan Xi saw more and more people pouring out of the city, and suddenly his heart moved, "Is Mr. Ziyuan from Guangling?"
Zang Hong was a little surprised, "Yes, I was born in Sheyang, Guangling."
Yuan Xi spoke up: "Since you don't want to stay in Jizhou, the most suitable place I can think of is Guangling County."
"I am now named Xuzhou Mu, and Guangling is occupied by me. If the prefect brings people there, I can still accommodate him."
"How about I write a letter now and take this to Guangling to see Mr. Yuanlong and ask him to help resettle the people?"
After hearing this, Zang Hong cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your great kindness."
Yuan Xi nodded. He did not promise Zang Hong any official position because he could not see Zang Hong clearly for the time being and could only wait until later.
A few days later, Yuan Xi returned to Yecheng and met with Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao was obviously quite satisfied with the result.
Zang Hong went to Xuzhou, and Dongwuyang returned to stability. This large city occupying the key point of the Yellow River was returned to the hands of the Yuan family. Next, Gao Lan could free his hand and lead the army to Heishui to support Yuan Shang.
Yuan Xi also achieved his goal. Although the order of conquering Montenegro and courting the emperor was deviated, things finally returned to normal. The next step was to go to Montenegro to finish.
As long as Jizhou opens the Black Mountain Pass and enters Bingzhou, it can defend Youzhou from the threat of the Southern Huns. If the Youzhou army wants to use the passage to go south to Hanoi, all it takes is Yuan Shao's nod. It can be said that this is a result acceptable to both sides.
Yuan Shao said to Yuan Xi: "You did a good job this time. You have contributed a lot to the growth of the Yuan family in recent years."
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "We all rely on your envoy's care."
He meant what he said. Many times it would have been difficult for him to pull off Yuan Shao's actions.
Yuan Shao said to Yuan Xi: "Xian Yi plans to go to Montenegro next?"
Yuan Xi thought for a moment and said: "The matter in Black Mountain must be ended as soon as possible, and then I will return to Jicheng to prepare for the next sudden movement of Yuan Shu's army."
Yuan Shao said: "Xian Yi thinks Yuan Shu may attack Xuzhou?"
Yuan Xi nodded and said: "The possibility is very high."
"The Shouchun where he is located is too close to Xuzhou, so it is impossible for him not to covet this place."
"According to my calculations, he will become emperor in about half a year."
"When the time comes, the whole world will mobilize to attack him, and he will also attack Xuzhou to find a way out. Who can take advantage will depend on who strikes quickly."
"That's why I want to completely resolve the Montenegrin Army's troubles before that."
"The Black Mountain Army has Cao Cao's back. I don't think he will let us get what we want."
Yuan Shao nodded and suddenly said: "I heard that Xian Yi's wife, Zhen,..."
Yuan Xi quickly said: "We are indeed happy."
He didn't dare to say that he actually had a child with Mrs. Wu. If Yuan Shao knew that he was having sex with Sun Jian's widow, he would look very wonderful, right?
Yuan Shao is also happy in his heart. He is not young anymore. In many big families, he can be a great-grandfather at this age. But now, let alone the fourth generation, even among the third generation of the Yuan family, there is no male son yet!
He then thought about the agreement between Yuan Xi and Lu Bu to marry Lu Lingqi and adopt him as an heir to the Lu family. He finally made up his mind and said, "Let's start the six rites for Zilong and Yuan Xing's wedding."
Yuan Xi was overjoyed and quickly called Zhao Yun in from outside the door.
After hearing this, Zhao Yun bowed to Yuan Shao and said, "Thank you, envoy."
Seeing Yuan Shao's expression stiff, Yuan Xi thought to herself that Zhao Yun had a really tough temper and would not change his tune until the six rites were completed.
He patted Zhao Yun on the shoulder and said, "I'll leave first. You can discuss the remaining matters with the envoy."
Then Yuan Xifei seemed to leave, leaving Zhao Yun and Yuan Shao staring at each other.
Early the next morning, Yuan Xi received news that although Zhao Yun's parents had died early, his eldest brother was still in the family. According to the Han system, the eldest brother should be hired on behalf of his parents, so Zhao Yun sent someone to Changshan Zhending to pick up his eldest brother.
Yuan Xi had already prepared the betrothal gift for Zhao Yun, and the rest of the etiquette required Zhao Yun's elder brother to arrive. Yuan Xi was happy to have some free time, so he took the opportunity to find Lu Lingqi who was practicing martial arts and said, "I want to discuss something with you.
Come with me to Zhen's house."
Lu Lingqi put away her halberd and said, "What's so serious about this?"
Yuan Xi said: "I want you to worship my wife, Zhen's biological mother, Zhang, as your adoptive mother."
Lu Lingqi was almost dizzy by these words. She thought about it for a while before she realized what she was saying, and asked in confusion: "My father and mother are still alive, so why should I recognize my adoptive mother?"
"Besides, it would be possible to recognize my father's friends or relatives as adopted fathers and mothers, but that is the custom of Hu and Han people in Bingzhou. How can the Jizhou nobles accept it?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "You think it through."
"This kind of thing is still made for outsiders to see."
"To be honest, your current status is very uncertain. If your status is lowered, Marquis Wen will not be happy."
"If you recognize Mrs. Zhang as your adoptive mother, I will express my opinion to Marquis Wen, so that the relationship between you and my wife will be closer and there will be less suspicion and fighting between the two parties."
"Of course, if you agree, I will also seek Mrs. Zhang's opinion. After all, this means that I admit that you are a candidate for the main wife. If she has a grudge, she may not agree."
After hearing this, Lu Lingqi shook her head and said: "I really don't understand the twisted thoughts of you nobles. I was attracted to you at the beginning. As for other women, I am not interested at all."
"This kind of thing doesn't matter to me, but since you brought it up, I'll just go with you."
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "It's better to choose a different day than to hit the sun. It's better to leave now."
Lu Lingqi nodded, threw down the two halberds, walked a few steps, looked at the Hu clothes on her body, "Just go like this?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "It's up to you."
Lu Lingqi thought for a while, then went into the house and changed into the dark clothes given by Yuan Xing, walked out, turned around, and said, "How about it?"
Yuan Xi felt his nose was a little warm and praised: "Very good."
The two of them were sitting in the carriage. Lu Lingqi opened the curtain and curiously looked at the scene in the streets of Yecheng. She asked questions from time to time. As the carriage shook, the curves of Lu Lingqi's body trembled constantly. Yuan Xi felt that his mouth and tongue were dry.
, the movements become extremely stiff.
Lu Lingqi noticed something strange, lowered her head and looked at Yuan Xi's robe, and understood immediately. She felt her face was hot, and said bitterly: "It's really a lewd tiger!"
Yuan Xi defended: "It's just that you are too attractive."
"Really?" Lu Lingqi still didn't believe it, "Why does my mother say that I am crazy and have no charm like a noble woman?"
Yuan Xi thought of Yan's slender figure and smiled: "She doesn't understand, or she is jealous of you."
Lu Lingqi became even more suspicious, "Are you lying to me? What is the most attractive part of me?"
Yuan Xi coughed dryly and moved his palms, "Do you really want to know?"
Lu Lingqi opened her eyes wide and nodded in confusion.
The carriage arrived at the gate of Zhen's Mansion. Sun Li, who was driving the carriage, handed over a greeting card. The gatekeeper immediately opened the door and welcomed the carriage in.
Sun Li stopped the carriage, knocked on the door twice, and said, "Sir, we've arrived."
The carriage door slowly opened. Yuan Xi immediately jumped out of the carriage and reached out his hand into the carriage. After a while, Lu Lingqi covered her chest and stuck her head out with a red face.
She gave Yuan Xi a hard look and then stretched out her hand. Yuan Xi took his arm and tried to help her down.
Lu Lingqi felt that her legs and feet were weak. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she stumbled and almost fell. She quickly leaned on Yuan Xi to regain her balance.
Thinking of the situation inside the carriage just now, she was so angry that she stepped hard on Yuan Xi's boots. The force of this kick was so great that Yuan Xi hissed in pain, and Lu Lingqi's anger subsided a little.
Yuan Xi limped and led Lu Lingqi to the door of the hall, only to find that Ms. Zhang was already waiting. When she saw Yuan Xi coming, she bowed first and said, "I've met the envoy."
Yuan Xi hurriedly replied: "I've met my mother."
After hearing this, Mrs. Zhang showed a trace of relief on her face, but when she saw Lu Lingqi next to Yuan Xi, she was confused: "Who is this girl?"
Yuan Xi smiled bitterly and said, "She is the daughter of Marquis Wen."
He winked, and Lu Lingqi bowed to Mrs. Zhang: "I've met Madam."
After hearing this, Mrs. Zhang felt complicated and said, "Come in."
The three of them went in and sat down. They had just exchanged a few words, but before they got to the main topic, someone said, "Mrs. Zhen Si is here."
Before he finished speaking, Zhen Rong walked in and said, "Mom, I'm here!"
She glanced around and saw someone in the room. When she looked closely, she saw that it was Yuan Xi, and her face became dull.