Xu Shao blushed and was about to speak when Liu Yao winked and smiled.
"Brother Jiamou is really honest even though he is old, but his courage is still the same as before. We haven't seen each other for many years, and when we meet, we are overwhelmed. Come, temporarily suspend the anger of thunder, and allow me to show my friendship with the earth for a while. It will not be too late to ask for your favor again."
Seeing Liu Yao's change of attitude, Zhou Zhong also gave in and laughed as if nothing had happened.
Liu Yao prepared wine and food in a pavilion by the roadside, invited Zhou Zhong to take a seat, and chatted freely.
Regardless of whether they can achieve cooperation this time, they have been friends for many years and scholars who share the same goals.
Zhou Zhong introduced the changes in recent years to Liu Yao and Xu Shao in detail, especially what happened after the Battle of Huayin.
In his opinion, the hope for the resurgence of the Han Dynasty flashed at that time, marked by the vision from the sky, and the victory of Huayin as an important turning point. After that, the emperor seemed to be a different person, leading the Han Dynasty to
Another way.
A path that is both exciting and unsettling.
Liu Yao and Xu Shao listened very carefully, and they quickly figured out Zhou Zhong's purpose.
Zhou Zhong came not only to recruit people from the imperial court, but also to provide checks and balances.
When the world is in chaos, it is expected that the emperor will use force and emphasize military personnel. However, there is an imbalance between civil and military affairs, and most of the military personnel are from Bingliang. This is by no means a situation that Zhou Zhong and other veterans want to see.
"Brother Jiamou is really experienced in planning for the country." Xu Shao said jokingly: "I'm afraid the emperor may not be able to listen because of his youthful spirit. If you speak too hastily, it will be bad if the party bans you again."
Zhou Zhong retorted. "Although the emperor is a young man, he still has the intention of teaching and teaching. Even Han Sui was suppressed by him and did not dare to act rashly. Yuan Benchu was nearly fifty years old, but he was not as energetic as before, and was played by the people of Jizhou.
superior."
He looked at Liu Yao. "Do you really think that with Yuan Benchu gaining power, your Liu family will be able to climb dragon scales and attach a phoenix tail?"
Liu Yao frowned slightly, covered his lips and coughed twice, taking the opportunity to avoid Zhou Zhong's eyes.
He still knew something about the situation of Yuan Shao and his son. Yuan Shao was threatened by the people of Jizhou, Yuan Tan was left out in the cold, and Yuan Mai, born to the Liu family, had no chance of inheriting the heir. Now the most competitive one is Yuan Xi
, and Yuan Xi will marry someone from Jizhou.
For the Liu family, the benefits of marrying Yuan Shao were basically lost.
In this case, whether to continue to be bound to Yuan Shao or to rely on the imperial court became a question he had to face.
Zhou Zhong made it clear that the world was in chaos, the royal bloodline was lonely, and the emperor wanted to reuse the clan. As long as he was willing to serve the court, the emperor would be able to forget the past. Even Liu Bei, who can't explain his lineage, can restore his clan status. He has a clear lineage.
Not to mention people.
This seemed to be a very simple question, but he was still worried.
One of them is the emperor's attitude towards the wealthy families in Hedong.
What if that is not just for the Hedong clan, but for all the clans?
In terms of the strength of the gentry, how can the people of Hedong be compared with the people of Shandong?
As a member of the noble clan, Liu Yao naturally knew the influence of the noble clan and how dangerous the emperor's move was.
The emperor directly controlled the people of Bingliang, and was definitely not comparable to Emperor Xiaoling who was unable to control military power. His control over the court may exceed that of Emperor Xiaohuan, and is comparable to that of Xiaowu and Xiaoxuan. Once he raises his butcher knife, he will attack the Shandong gentry.
, if a strong man strikes, blood will flow, and the damage will not be comparable to that of the party.
Xu Shao also thought of this. "Brother Jiamou, do you want to persuade Yuan Benchu to surrender?"
Zhou Zhong looked at Xu Shao.
Xu Shao smiled. "If you want to check and balance the Bingliang people, just the ministers in the court are not enough. Furthermore, without the support of force, the civil servants are just lambs to be slaughtered. They can't even fight against the eunuchs, let alone the Bingliang people in their hands.
The hero of the Liang Jing soldiers?"
Zhou Zhong nodded. "If Yuan Benchu can be persuaded to surrender, of course I am willing to give it a try. If he cannot be persuaded to surrender, then he can only force him to surrender."
He took a sip of wine and added: "This is not my business alone. It must be done with courtesy and my generals can help me."
Xu Shao's eyes flashed and he suddenly smiled. "Brother Jiamou has Sun Bofu and Zhou Gongjin supports him. Do you still need us?"
"Bingliang's soldiers are fierce. Even Sun Bofu, Zhou Gongjin may not be able to stop him. We should gather the strength of our colleagues, the more the better."
"Liu Jingsheng has agreed?"
Zhou Zhong smiled, raised his glass and signaled to Xu Shao, "The general is the general."
Xu Shao said nothing more, and just exchanged a look with Liu Yao.
The two of them raised their glasses at the same time to pay tribute to Zhou Zhong.
Not long after, Yuan Shao's envoy also arrived in Yuzhang.
Under Zhou Zhong's instruction, Liu Yao and Xu Shao proposed a new plan, persuading Yuan Shao to negotiate peace with the court and join the government.
Civil officials without the support of force could not compete with the Bingliang people. Although the combat effectiveness of the Shandong soldiers was not as good as that of Bingliang, they had the advantages of strong financial resources and large numbers. They acted as the backing of the Shandong scholars and competed with the Bingliang people in the court.
Not impossible.
Anyway, Yuan Shao's appeal also mentioned the matter of peace talks, so it would be better to follow the trend.
Liu Yao and Xu Shao also proposed that if Yuan Shao could accept this suggestion, not only could a fierce battle be avoided, but there would also be a chance to regain the title of head of the Yuan family.
Compared with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu was far behind in both fame and strength. All he could do to become the head of the Yuan family recognized by the imperial court was to be the first to become a vassal. Once Yuan Shao also became a vassal, Yuan Shu would have no advantage at all.
By then, Yuan Shao will be the legitimate head of the Yuan family again, and the disciples and officials accumulated by the fourth and third sons of the Yuan family in Runan will still belong to Yuan Shao.
This condition is not unfavorable, especially for Yuan Shao, who is facing betrayal and separation from his relatives.
Negotiating peace with the court is an opportunity to erase the mistakes of the past and start over.
Liu Yao and Xu Shao also took this opportunity to express their attitude.
If Yuan Shao accepts their suggestion, they will still be on the same path and will advance and retreat together in the court in the future. If Yuan Shao insists on his own opinion, then they can't blame them for surrendering to the court and fighting with Yuan Shao.
Liu Yao's statement was so weighty that Yuan Shao couldn't help but think about it seriously.
Once Liu Yao decides to surrender to the imperial court, not only Sun Ce and Zhou Yu can safely cross the river north, but Liu Yao will also lead Yuzhang's troops across the river to besiege Yan Liang. In addition, Zong Cheng and others have already entered Runan, and it will only be a matter of time before Yan Liang abandons Lujiang.
question.
When things have reached this stage, it is no longer a temptation as Tian Feng mentioned. Regardless of whether Yuan Shao is willing or not, it is imperative to negotiate peace with the court.
Even the people of Jizhou are not opposed to negotiating peace. If you can just accept it when you see a good outcome, why bother killing people and leaving them with blood?
Faced with Han Sui, who had hundreds of thousands of Bingliang elite soldiers and was bent on making meritorious deeds, and Xun You, who was eyeing him in northern Xinjiang, no one dared to say that he was sure of victory. The reason why he gritted his teeth and fought hard was because he wanted to
Conditional sum.
Over the years, Yuan Shao's civil and military officials have reached a rare consensus. Whether they are Jizhou people, Ruying people, or others, they all agree that Yuan Shao can make a living for the world, endure the humiliation and bear the heavy burden, and negotiate peace with the imperial court.
Anyway, Yuan Shao was the only one who endured the humiliation.
In desperation, Yuan Shao went to the court to ask for peace.