When Xia Houyuan was escorted to the meeting hall, Liu Bian's subordinates, both civil and military, were very surprised.
They had heard of Xiahou Yuan more or less. He was Cao Cao's cousin, and he was a rare general under his command. His martial arts skills were slightly inferior to his brother Xiahou Dun's, but his ability to command troops was far better than Xiahou Dun's.
Such a general was actually captured and brought in front of him. What is even more surprising is that the one who took down more than 5,000 Cao Jun was not Liu Bian's regular army, but Huaxia Academy Xie
The servants in Xin's home.
What is a servant soldier? They are soldiers in war and Ding soldiers in leisure time. They are actually servants who sold themselves to the Xie family. Their descendants will all be slaves of the Xie family, unless the Xie family falls and they have to be dismissed.
It is conceivable that a group of servants successfully attacked Cao's army and captured the other party's general without anyone noticing. How strong did it take to do this?
It has to be said that when he first learned about this matter, not to mention the civil and military personnel under Liu Bian, even Cao Cao, who knew about this matter, couldn't help but be shocked.
However, when a memorial submitted by Huang Zhong was handed over to Liu Bian, the mysterious veil of this panic was finally lifted, and its true face was exposed.
In the memorial, the battle situation at that time was described in detail, almost every step, every action, and even the meaning of doing it were written down one by one.
At the end of the memorial, Liu Bian was advised to personally organize a group of such special forces, so that the Han army could reduce many casualties wherever it went and at the same time expand its results.
I have to say that Liu Bian was moved, and so were everyone after reading it.
However……
"Earlier, we have discussed Xie Xin. Everyone knows that this person will not pose any harm to us. However, he has such a terrifying force under his command. If he cannot control it well, someone may
I'm going to have trouble sleeping." When everyone was excited, Liu Bian poured a spoonful of cold water on them.
It is not difficult to understand what he meant. If such an army cannot be controlled in his hands, then God knows if Xie Xin has any thoughts in the future, when he sleeps, whether his head will still be on his neck the next day.
This idea quickly spread, and like a poisonous snake, it wrapped directly around their hearts, with the tendency to bite them at any time.
"Haha, actually Your Majesty doesn't need to be so nervous." Xun You stood up and said.
"Oh, what do you think Gongda said?" Liu Bian immediately became interested.
"Since Governor Huang suggested that we also establish such a force, Xie Xin must also know about this.
It is imperative to form such a powerful force. However, our biggest problem is that no one present is familiar with this force, let alone truly train it.
Therefore, in order to train this force, it is natural to 'borrow' Xie Xin's Spirit Snake Army. Use them as the standard to establish a new special force.
In this way, the Spirit Snake Army must come to Chengdu. That is to say, when they come to our stronghold, we are fully responsible for everything from the camp to the supplies. There are many opportunities to take action." Xun You reported seriously.
"But what if they take the opportunity to attack the lord?" Huang Quan stood up and asked.
"My advice is given without Xie Xin not taking any action at all. Because I know that Xie Xin will never harm the lord!" Xun You said confidently.
"How do you say this?!" To be honest, this is the answer Liu Bian most wants to know.
"Actually, Xie Xin's identity has been exposed. Many people in the Central Plains already know that Xie Xin is an outer elder of the Xiaoyao Sect. And the Huaxia Academy he founded is actually a place for disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect to practice in the world. All its teachers are
It's from this sect.
In other words, Xie Xin, the well-known dean of Huaxia Academy, is actually a monk. It’s just that their sect emphasizes being in the world, so they wandered in the secular world and founded Huaxia Academy. Of course, there is no denying that teaching and educating people is also
his ideal.
No matter what, as a cultivator, he would not be greedy for worldly glory and wealth under normal circumstances. If he really had the intention, as an elder of the outer sect, to mobilize hundreds of disciples to conquer everywhere, I wonder if we can resist it.
?
To put it bluntly, since to him, we are just ants, then why bother ordering the Spirit Snake Army to attack and kill? If he really wants to assassinate without anyone noticing, with his monk's ability
Identity, there are many such methods!" Xun You said loudly to everyone.
For a while, the discussion went up and down.
Obviously, many people didn't know about this situation, so when they found out that Xie Xin was a monk, they couldn't help but be shocked.
As for Liu Bian, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Xun You is right, the opponent is a monk, a monk who can turn his hands into clouds and turn his hands into rain. If he really wants to harm himself, he is no match for him. In this case, what's the point of worrying about this or that?
But what reassured him the most was Xie Xin's identity.
Xie Xin is just an elder of the outer sect, not a disciple of the inner sect, let alone an elder of the inner sect. With those people from the inner sect suppressing him, no matter how ambitious Xie Xin is, under the dogma of the cultivation world, he may not dare to
move?
Otherwise, there is no need to deal with him by oneself, just to deal with the pursuit of the sect, which is enough to make him feel unsatisfied and sleepless.
"So, let's immediately order the best soldiers from the army to form this army. Let's start with three thousand people, then wait for the Spirit Snake Army to arrive, and then slowly eliminate and select them.
Yang Ang, I will leave this matter to you!" Liu Bian immediately made a decision and finalized the matter.
"Here!" Yang Ang stood up and took the order.
"Lord, what should I do with Xia Houyuan?" Zhang Su stood up and asked.
"What else can we do? Just take it back to Nanyang and leave it to Huang Zhong to deal with it on his own. I remember that in the fourth phase of reform, it seemed that there was a reform of neighborhood relations..." Liu Bian said with a smile.
"Your lord is wise!" The civil and military ministers quickly responded and praised Liu Bian in unison.
But in his heart, he secretly envied Huang Zhong. Because Liu Bian's move completely gave most of the rights to Huang Zhong to drive on his own.
In other words, today's Nanyang County has almost become a small vassal state under Liu Bian's command.
What is even more enviable is that Huang Zhong and Xie Xin have known each other as brothers for a long time. Now that Xie Xingui is the outer elder of the Xiaoyao sect, Huang Zhong may have made a lot of money in the Xiaoyao sect due to his relationship with Xie Xin.
benefit?
But no matter how envious they are, they will not be jealous. Because life and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor are determined by heaven. Huang Zhong is lucky to be able to make friends with such noble people as Xie Xin.
However, a letter of thanks is not something that is exclusive to anyone. Just because there is no friendship now, it does not mean that there will not be one in the future.
It would be too immature to care too much about current gains and losses.
Finally, Xia Houyuan turned around and returned to Huang Zhong's hands.
After reading Liu Bian's instructions, Huang Zhong smiled and immediately sent another letter to Cao Cao.
Not long after, the letter arrived on Cao Cao's desk.
"Huang Zhong of Nanyang County agreed to hand over Xia Houyuan and at the same time support us with some food and grass. However, he also put forward a series of conditions. I can't see why, so I asked you to give me some advice." Cao Cao wrote the letter.
It was conveyed.
"Actually, it's nothing. These conditions are also beneficial to us, but relatively speaking, it will bring long-term benefits to Nanyang County, and the harvest will be even greater for us." Xun Yu looked at it carefully and said to Cao Cao with a smile.
"How do you say this?" Cao Cao didn't understand.
"The general principle is described in "Economics". If the lord needs to know more about it, my subordinates will explain it in detail later.
However, it cannot be denied that as long as we agree to this condition, not only will General Xiahou be able to return safely, but we will also be able to obtain enough food in a short period of time.
The situation in our army is getting more and more serious, and Lu Bu and Yuan Shao are watching eagerly from the sidelines. After learning that we have betrayed our alliance, Gongsun Du is on the border with Chen Bing, and there is a possibility of invasion at any time.
At this stage, we need to recuperate. As long as we have this batch of food and grass, the farm strategy can be launched smoothly. Once successful, the Lord will not be trapped by military food in the future!" Xun Yu said solemnly.
"We were beaten up by them and we just compromised like this?" Cao Hong said dissatisfied.
"Zilian!" Cao Cao yelled.
In fact, when Xia Houyuan fell into the hands of the other party, he had the intention of compromising.
Not to mention that Xiahou Yuan is his favorite general, and his eldest brother Xiahou Dun is standing there. Now when he attacks Nanyang, doesn't he want Huang Zhong to kill Xiahou Yuan?
By that time, even if Xiahou Dun won't say anything, I am afraid that he and the Xiahou family will be separated from each other in the future.
The Cao family and the Xiahou family are the foundation of his success, and he will never allow any problems to arise between the two families.
After careful weighing, Cao Cao finally let Xun Yu stay. After a good discussion with him, Cao Cao finally compromised.
Ten days later, the two sides met at the 'border'.
In this meeting, Cao Cao agreed to Huang Zhong's five conditions, and Huang Zhong also promised to return the captured Xia Houyuan, and at the same time, Cao Cao was given enough food.
The five conditions are:
1. All merchants in Nanyang County are not allowed to collect customs tax when they enter Cao Cao's rule. The only thing that can be levied is transaction tax.
Nanyang has already started to do this, and it is impossible for Cao Cao not to know. So he also knows that this is not Huang Zhong making things difficult for him, although doing so will indeed reduce taxes a lot.
2. Civilians in Nanyang County can enter and build roads under Cao Cao's rule. The roads to be built are designated by Cao Cao, but after construction, Nanyang County must be allowed to set up traffic jams on this road and collect tolls for three years.
Earlier, Cao Cao actually wanted to build roads. But now there is a shortage of population under his rule, so he is powerless. Now Huang Zhong helps him build roads for free. In addition, there are few people in Yanzhou, so he can't take in much in three years.
Money, so Cao Cao naturally allowed it.
3. Merchants in Nanyang County opened shops under Cao Cao's rule, and Cao Cao was not allowed to exploit them at will.
Nowadays, the urban market under Cao Cao's rule is very sluggish, and many commercial taxes cannot be collected. Cao Cao wants to attract investment, and he is clamoring even in his dreams. Now that Nanyang County has taken the initiative to come to your door, is there any reason not to welcome it?
4. Within twenty years, Cao Cao will give priority to purchasing goods produced in Nanyang for all military purchases. Of course, if the price is too outrageous, Cao Cao can choose not to buy it. But both are at the same price, even those from Nanyang County.
When it is slightly lower, Cao Cao must buy goods produced in Nanyang.
Cao Cao didn't think anything of this either. After all, he could buy it anywhere, so what's there to be afraid of?
5. Cao Cao personally wrote a letter to apologize to Liu Bian for betraying the alliance.
Although he couldn't live with it in terms of face, Cao Cao was not a person who wanted to save face and suffer. He just wrote a letter to apologize, and he just wrote it.
If you are lucky enough to capture the entire territory under Liu Bian's rule, you can just chop off Liu Bian's head to avenge him.
Therefore, such a contract was successfully signed in a "you are willing to do so".
This also directly leads to Yanzhou's local economy being unable to develop in the next few decades.
Until Cao Cao realized what he had lost, he didn't know how much he had lost.