Chapter 114 The He Family! To save or not to save?
"Daozhang Shi, is it really you?"
He Xian couldn't believe it.
The man in apricot-yellow Taoist robes in front of me is really Shi Zixuan from Luoyang.
You know, Shi Zixuan was prosperous in Luoyang, so why did he need to go to Nanyang to practice?
"How did you..."
He Xian looked in disbelief and asked tentatively: "Why did you come to Nanyang? And you are still dressed like this, and where are the disciples beside you?"
"My fellow Taoist, please don't be impatient."
Shi Zixuan sat down, twirled his beard and sighed: "Listen to the poor Taoist."
At that moment, Shi Zixuan briefly told the story of how he helped Hongnong King Liu Bian escape from Luoyang, and how he escaped from Dong Zhuo's clutches and came to Nanyang.
"So that's actually what happened."
He Xian was filled with shock and kept nodding his head in praise: "Taoist priest is really smart, he actually took the poison antidote in advance. I didn't expect that you could do this for His Highness King Hongnong."
"He admires me."
He Xian cupped his hands and clasped his fists, bowed and said, "I wonder why you came here today?"
Shi Zixuan twisted his beard and said: "To be honest, Shi Hou is in Nanyang now. Zhang Zi posted a notice today that the He family will be publicly executed in three days. The real purpose should be to force Shi Hou to show up."
Hiss~~~
He Xian couldn't help but gasped and nodded with interest: "That's right! This will explain the whole thing. I was wondering why Dong Zhuo didn't come for so long, but he sent Niu Fu to kill him a month ago.
Wan County.”
"turn out to be....."
He Xian sighed and said softly: "Their target is not my He family, but His Royal Highness King Hongnong."
Shi Zixuan nodded: "I understand that this is unfair to your He family, but now that the matter has come to this, I hope that fellow Taoist He can ignore the past grudges and help Shi Hou escape from death."
"snort!"
He Xian snorted softly: "Master Shi, it's not that He is unwilling to help, it's just that we don't even know where His Highness is, so how can we save him?"
"Even if I have to save him!"
He Xian said sonorously: "I, He Xian, also give priority to saving my people. It is impossible to give priority to saving King Hongnong. In a sense, he is the one who brought the disaster to Nanyang and my He family!"
"The poor man will naturally understand."
"but......"
Shi Zixuan still refused to give up: "Isn't Shihou a member of your family? When your father and the Queen Mother forcibly pushed Shihou to the throne, and after experiencing this series of blows, did he ever complain about your father at all?"
"My father has passed away."
"But you are still here!" Shi Zixiao said loudly, "You are the head of the He family!"
"I......"
He Xian frowned, knowing that King Hongnong's fate was also inseparable from the He family.
As the son of He Jin and the head of the He family, there is no reason to ignore him.
Shi Zixuan took a long breath and whispered softly: "Have you ever thought that Shi Hou is just a fourteen-year-old child. He just wants to survive. What's wrong with him?"
"He sneaked into Nanyang alone, isn't it because this is the only place in the world where his relatives are still alive? As the head of the He family and the cousin of Shi Hou, do you really want to die without saving him?"
"I......"
For a moment, He Xian was speechless.
Shi Zixuan stared at the other person with burning eyes: "Pindao and Shi Hou are not related by blood, but I was ordered to raise him for three years, but even so, I am still willing to lend a helping hand."
"Fellow Daoist He~~~"
Shi Zixuan's voice was low, but it was like a sharp sword, piercing He Xian's heart: "You really disappoint Pindao. Fortunately, Pindao once took you as a confidant."
"Director Shi, I have no intention of not saving His Highness."
"only......"
He Xian waved his hand to interrupt Shi Zixuan who was about to get up, and said with an embarrassed look on his face: "Well, to tell you the truth, I am also preparing to rescue the He family, but since the other party's real purpose is to force His Highness to show up, he must have heavy troops to handle it."
"Although we have hundreds of troops in Xiaoyao Village, we can't compete with the officers and soldiers and the Xiliang knights. I'm afraid that once we show up, not only will we not be able to save He's family, let alone His Highness."
Shi Zixuan was well prepared and waved his hand: "Friend He Dao, you must not underestimate Shi Hou. When he was in Luoyang, his situation was many times more dangerous than now. Didn't he escape anyway?"
"I believe it!"
Shi Zixuan was certain and affirmative: "If Shi Hou comes, he must be prepared. He is by no means a reckless person. We just need to cooperate secretly, provide protection, and act according to the opportunity."
"this......"
He Xian nodded with interest: "It makes sense! His Highness could escape from the heavily guarded palace, how could he appear in Wancheng without any preparation."
Shi Zixuan smiled lightly: "Yes, that's exactly the truth."
He Xian paused and pondered for a moment: "Okay, He has done this."
*****
Xinye.
Deng family.
Early next morning.
Liu Bian met the patriarch of the Deng family as scheduled.
This man was not older than expected, only about fifty years old, with a slightly narrow forehead and a slightly wide chin. He had a typical triangular face shape. He sat upright and did not smile. He seemed not to be interested in the purpose of Liu Bian's trip.
Actually, if you think about it carefully, it's quite normal.
Dong Zhuo was the prime minister of the dynasty, with power over both the government and the public. Although his actions did indeed make people in the world angry, he represented the court after all. The Deng family's support of Liu Bian was tantamount to rebellion in a sense.
Of course.
Liu Bian's reasons are very sufficient.
But just because of his identity as a deposed emperor and his clever words, the Deng family was allowed to take risks. This was unacceptable to Deng Xun, who was in charge of the fate of the entire family.
The Military Advisor Alliance reminded: "Master Bian, in fact, you don't need to convince Deng Xun. The other party is the head of the Deng family. He controls the fate of the entire clan. He will not easily support you when the situation is unclear."
"In fact, if you can see Deng Xun today and express your intention to come, you have already registered with Deng Xun. Once the wave of criticism against Dong starts, they will naturally choose to take sides."
"Compared with Yuan Shu, you have advantages in both status and ability. As long as the head of the Deng family is not stupid, he will definitely choose to support you!"
"so......"
The Military Advisor Alliance finally emphasized: "There is no need to push too hard, just do your best, and leave the rest to time. Once Qiao Mao's three official letters are spread to Nanyang, we will naturally win a great victory."
"Um."
"I know."
Liu Bian thought: "But I still want to work hard. With Dong Zhuo's power in Nanyang, I always feel that this old boy will not let me go so easily. If I can get help from the Deng family, even if it is just secret help.
"
The Military Advisor Alliance was very satisfied with Liu Bian's answer: "Master Bian is really becoming more and more mature. Just do what you want. Anyway, we are already in an invincible position."
"good!"
Liu Bian was completely relieved and began to persuade him: "Mr. Deng, Dong Zhuo is just a ruthless man from Xiliang. Now he dares to steal the imperial court and harm Luoyang. How can scholars tolerate this?"
"The Deng family in Nanyang, starting from Taifu Deng Yu, has gone through ten generations of emperors, and has been a member of the Han Dynasty. They are all loyal and loyal ministers. They will never sit back and let Dong's thieves bring trouble to the court."
Deng Xun's thick eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his thoughts were as fast as lightning.
Actually.
Although the Deng family was in decline, the situation in the DPRK and China could not escape their eyes at all.
Just as King Hongnong said, Dong Zhuo is just a reckless man from Xiliang, but he dares to steal the court and ride on the neck of the noble family to dominate. Those scholars who have been in Luoyang for hundreds of years will never give in.
.
Especially after receiving Yuan Shu, Deng Xun could vaguely feel from the other party's words that a huge disaster was about to break out, which was exactly in line with what King Hongnong said.
Deng Xun was very conflicted.
He didn't want to give up this opportunity, but also wanted to protect the Deng family to the maximum extent.
But how can you have your cake and eat it too?
Phew~~~
Take a long breath.
Deng Xun said solemnly: "How could Deng not know what His Highness said, but with His Highness alone, even if I, the Deng clan, are added to it, I am afraid it will be difficult to compete with the Dong thief."
"Deng understands His Highness' desire for revenge very well, but fighting is no child's play. The Xiliang Xiaoqi, Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, and Luoyang Army in the hands of Dong Thief are all elite, and it is easy to defeat Nanyang."
"unless......"
Deng Xun started to speak, but there was no follow-up.
However, Liu Bian took advantage of the situation and took over without any scruples, blurting out: "Unless all the princes in the world can raise troops to resist Dong's thieves, in this case, I will have a chance of survival, right?"
"this......"
Deng Xun looked slightly embarrassed: "Your Highness said this himself."
Liu Bian smiled faintly, even more powerful than Deng Xun: "First of all, I want to correct some of Mr. Deng's mistakes. In fact, I came to the Deng family to seek help, not for revenge, but to help the Han Dynasty, eliminate traitors, and replace others.
The Way of Heaven."
"I think personal gains and losses of honor and disgrace are really insignificant compared to the interests of the family and the country. Even now that the emperor has been dethroned and his mother has been poisoned, has Mr. Deng ever mentioned it once?"
"this......"
Deng Xun thought about it carefully, and it seemed that since King Hongnong came in, he had never mentioned anything about Dong Zhuo's dethroning and killing the emperor.
Is it possible that he really didn't put personal humiliation and gain and loss first?
However......
Liu Bian did not give Deng Xun much time to think, but continued to go straight to the point: "As a descendant of Gaozu, of Guangwu blood, I shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing the Han Dynasty. This is the real purpose of coming to the Deng family."
"As for the princes all over the world starting to rebel against Dong, I don't think it will be too far away. I hope Mr. Deng can take this time to consider whether to be loyal to the great Han!"
"this......"
Deng Xun was indifferent and didn't know how to answer.
"Master~~"
"Master~~~"
At this moment, a call came from outside the hall.
Deng Xun raised his eyes and looked.
However, Deng Tong hurriedly went to the palace, bowed and handed over his hands: "Your Highness, clan leader, just now news came back from Wancheng that Zhang Zi is planning to publicly execute the He family in three days?"
"What?"
Liu Bian stood up abruptly, looking shocked: "Zhang Zi is planning to publicly execute the He family in three days?"
Deng Tong nodded: "That's right, the news was just sent back."
Deng Xun pinched a strand of beard under his chin: "This is not a public execution. It is clearly to force His Highness to show up."
Deng Tong sighed: "Well, the intention is very obvious, and I heard that even Niu Fu is back."
"Your Highness~~~"
Deng Xun bowed his head towards Liu Bian and said solemnly: "Let Deng tell the truth, the He family is connected to you by blood. If you can't even save the He family, I'm afraid the Nanyang family won't help you even if you tell the truth."