Shi Sunrui came on horseback, followed by two knights.
He rushed to Liu Xie and did not dismount. He just turned his horse's head and walked side by side with Liu Xie, ready to leave at any time.
"Your Majesty, has there been a change?"
Liu Xie explained Jia Xu's suggestion again.
Shi Sunrui frowned slightly. "Can your Majesty trust him?"
"Which is the lesser of two evils, I can only gamble again."
Shisun Rui was calm and nodded in agreement. "I understand. I will go back and adjust the position now. The generals will have their own ministers to explain. Your Majesty does not need to bother."
Liu Xie smiled silently. "Before Yang Gong left, he recommended Wei Wei to replace him."
Scholar Sun Rui was noncommittal.
Of course he knew about this, but he couldn't tell it in front of the emperor, otherwise it would become a secret alliance among the ministers.
This kind of thing happens often, but it cannot be said.
It's like the emperor knew that they had a personal connection but didn't reveal it.
"If the guards can defeat Li Jue like he defeated Li Shi, and behead Li Jue." Liu Xie looked directly at the scholar Sun Rui. "I will fulfill Duke Yang's wish."
Shisun Rui's expression remained normal, as if he was listening to something perfectly normal.
"Your Majesty is wise."
Liu Xieyang raised his hand. "Guardian, please work hard. I will go to General Xingyi's camp to have a look."
"Your Majesty." Shisun Rui held his riding whip upside down and saluted with his hands. He watched Liu Xie riding away with dozens of ministers, then he put down his hand and let out a long breath.
The emperor said this, no matter whether he wanted to or not, and no matter whether he would follow Zhou Yafu's footsteps in the future, he could only try again.
On the contrary, Yang Biao, the serving captain, went far away to Hedong, where he was free and at ease.
——
While Yang Xiu was galloping, he secretly looked at the emperor's face.
Hearing the emperor's words, he felt very frightened.
This incident was like a thorn in the emperor's heart. Even if he pulled it out in the future, he would be bleeding and might even tear off a piece of flesh.
"If you look again, I will blind your eyes." Liu Xie suddenly said.
Yang Xiu was startled and quickly looked away. "Your Majesty, I'll forgive you. I drank too much last night and I'm still drunk."
"Are you hiding your shame by being drunk?" Liu Xie glared at Yang Xiu fiercely. "Are you afraid of me or Cai Yan?"
Yang Xiu was stunned. "Your Majesty is approachable and treats his ministers like brothers and sisters. How can I dare to be afraid of your Majesty?"
Don’t be afraid. Are you afraid or not?
Liu Xie didn't know what to say.
"As for Cai Yan, I'm not even afraid. I just don't want to fight with a woman." Yang Xiu's face turned red and he spoke a bit fast.
Thinking of what happened last night, he felt embarrassed and even resented Cai Yan.
I saved you from trouble, and this is how you repay me, refute me in front of the emperor, and make me look embarrassed?
Now the emperor still thinks that I am afraid of you. This is really a huge misunderstanding.
"Then you are worried because of what I and the guard just said?"
"Uh..." Yang Xiu nodded vigorously. "Actually, the guard is loyal to His Majesty and will definitely do his best. Your Majesty does not need to induce him with heavy rewards."
Liu Xie looked at Yang Xiu and ignored him.
Everyone is understanding, why are you pretending to be confused?
His promise to Shi Sun Rui in front of such people, especially in front of Yang Xiu, was not out of a momentary whim, but rather calculated.
Scholar Sun Rui took control of the Northern and Southern armies and even annexed Dong Cheng's men, but he was not worried about this.
These people cannot play a decisive role.
According to his plan, in the future, to establish a foothold in Bingzhou and rebuild the Han Dynasty, he would have to rely on many forces, but the Northern and Southern Army, which was mainly composed of Luoyang people, was the most inconspicuous one.
Those responsible for the important task are the old Yellow Turban troops represented by the Baibo Army, and the infantry and cavalry composed of Bingliang people.
These are powers that Shi Sunrui and others cannot truly grasp.
Shi Sunrui is not as extreme as Wang Yun, but can he truly trust and respect Lu Bu?
Impossible.
Their contempt for Lu Bu and his like is deep-rooted, and they may accept power for a while, but they will not respect them from the bottom of their hearts, believing that they are qualified to sit on an equal footing with them and discuss politics with them.
How can a scholar's aloofness be broken so easily?
This is his advantage, even Shi Sunrui couldn't learn it even if he wanted to.
——
Several hundred steps away from Yang Feng's camp, the camp gate suddenly opened, and Yang Feng galloped out of the camp with nearly a hundred riders.
Wang Yue and others were a little nervous. As if facing a powerful enemy, they drew their swords out of their sheaths and unfurled their bows and loaded arrows.
Yang Xiu was so frightened that his legs became weak and he could hardly hold the horse's belly and slid off the horse.
Liu Xie reined in his mount and sat firmly on the horse, watching Yang Feng's performance.
He didn't believe that Yang Feng would be so stupid and would be disadvantageous to him in this situation.
He just wanted to express himself, but couldn't control the appropriateness of his expression.
The cavalry spread out to the two wings and lined up, kicking the horses so that the earth flew up, making it difficult to open one's eyes.
Yang Feng reined in his horse and came slowly, more than ten steps away from Liu Xie. He turned over and dismounted, hurried two steps forward, and bowed down in front of Liu Xie's horse.
"General Xingyi, I respectfully welcome your Majesty."
The knights on both wings raised their spears and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty, long live! Long live!"
The shouts of "Long live" also sounded in the camp, and the atmosphere was warm.
Wang Yue and others heaved a sigh of relief and sheathed their swords one after another.
Liu Xie smiled and said: "General, you are really a tiger descending from the mountain and a dragon coming out of the sea. The movement is too scary. Look at the warriors around me, they are all suppressed by you."
Yang Feng looked at Wang Yue and others and laughed awkwardly. "Your Majesty, how dare I, how dare you."
"Let's go into the camp and talk." Liu Xie waved.
Yang Feng was so happy that he squeezed to Liu Xie's side and bowed his hands in salute. "I am brave enough to hold the bridle for your majesty."
"What makes this happen? You are a meritorious minister who has just made military exploits."
Yang Feng chuckled and stretched out his hand to hold the horse's bridle. "Your Majesty's compliments are ridiculous, and I cannot bear to say that I cannot bear them. Compared with Your Majesty's great wisdom and courage, my modest achievements are not worth mentioning. I made an appointment with the generals last night.
I should examine myself three times in order to make progress, so that next time His Majesty celebrates his victory, I will also have the opportunity to accompany him at the last table."
Yang Xiu's face darkened after hearing this. He was about to speak, but was stopped by Liu Xie's eyes.
"How many beheads did the general behead yesterday, and how many were captured?"
"Beheaded 132 people, captured 81 people, captured 1,800 stones of wheat and grain, and some other supplies."
"There were many beheadings and many seizures."
Liu Xie had a smile on his face, but he was so angry that he wanted to give Yang Feng two whips.
You knew clearly that I was short of food, but you seized so much food and didn't even say you would send me some, so you just kept it to yourself?
I paid for this opportunity with my life. You are taking advantage of me and living alone. How can you still have the nerve to complain that you were not invited to celebrate?
"What about the casualties?"
Yang Feng hesitated, a little embarrassed. "The incident happened in a hurry, with insufficient preparation, and the casualties...were roughly equivalent to the number of casualties."
Although he defeated Hu Feng, he did not gain much advantage. If Yang Xiu and Guo Wu had not come from Yang Ding's camp for reinforcements and scared Hu Feng away, his losses might have been even greater.
After returning to camp, he thought hard for a long time and suddenly understood the reason.
This should have something to do with the emperor.
Dong Cheng was able to defeat Guo Si, and scholar Sun Rui was able to defeat Li Shi. It was not because they were good at fighting, but because they were close to the emperor and had the emperor's luck.
If you want to become stronger, you must get closer to the emperor.