Section 35: Internal Worries

Pang Xi cursed in his heart, but he did not dare to refute it. He knelt in front of Cao Chong, without saying a word, but just kept kowtowing.

"Since Mr. Pang doesn't defend himself, he will admit it." Cao Chong waved his hand, "But don't worry, I will not wrong you. I will definitely find out and deal with you. As for the position of Brazilian prefect, you don't have to sit for the time being."

Two tiger soldiers rushed up, took off the seal on Pang Xi's waist with neat hands and feet, and took Pang Xi down. Cao Chong glanced at the people next to him and smiled, "Don't panic, I'm here to check the matter of Pang Taishou's greed, and it has nothing to do with you. If you have any participants, I will give you two days to tell them yourself and take the initiative to explain. As long as you spit out the stolen goods, I will not blame you for turning against others. If you have other ideas, don't blame me for turning against you."

He said it easily, but the officials of Brazil below were not relaxed. They all had a stern face and let the sweat beads on the forehead fall on the floor tiles, making small flowers. Cao Chong saw it but didn't see it. He glanced at everyone again, and then said: "I also know that Brazil is poor, and it is indeed a bit harsh to you if you want to be honest. Let's set a bottom line. Those who are greedy for less than 100,000 yuan in three years will not be investigated as long as they can reform themselves."

As soon as he said this, many people below breathed a sigh of relief, and their faces suddenly became much more relaxed. Several people even raised their hands and wiped the shaking sweat beads on their foreheads.

Cao Chong asked the Brazilian county magistrate to act as the prefect of Brazil, and asked Park Hu and others to make the outer wall of Brazilian city as iron barrels, so that they could enter and not leave. The great clans in Langzhong saw that the 4,000 people from Hanzhong entered the city safely and soundly. Later, they found that the prefect was not showing up. They all felt very strange. Slowly, some people heard the wind and knew that General Zhennan, Xiao Cao, had quietly entered the city. The Ba people outside the city were set up by General Zhennan, waiting for the Yizhou governor Liu Zhang. They were not very concerned about Liu Zhang's life and death. As long as they knew that there was no danger to them, they were satisfied. After satisfying their curiosity, they stayed at home and chatted about the experience of this little Cao since his debut, and spent the boring time that he could not go out for a trip. While waiting for General Zhennan's arrangements to decide whether to cooperate with this little Cao.

When Yang Yi, who came from Xiangyang, went to discuss contracting the salt well with Huang, Ma, Hu and other families by Cao Chong's order, they all showed great enthusiasm. Some people thought that Yang Yi was too smart, and although they made a profit, they did not make huge profits, they asked the prefect to come to the prefect's mansion and asked General Zhennan to take time to go to their mansion in their busy schedules. They wanted to help the general wash away the dust. Some people heard about the reason for the rapid rise of the Cai family in Xiangyang in the past two years. Family with appropriate daughters began to inquire about Cao Chong's husband and wife's life. Everyone knew that although Cao Chong married two wives, he had no children yet. Is it impossible for those women to have children? That was a great opportunity.

As for Liu Zhang, the governor of Yizhou who is stepping into the trap step by step, no one can think of it.

After waiting for a few days, the person sent by Deng Zhi escorted Huang Quan to Langzhong City. When Cao Chong heard that the guy with a bad face in front of him was Huang Quan, he asked him to sit down and smiled: "Chief Huang, I'm almost impatient when will Liu Jun arrive?"

Huang Quan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "General, Liu Envoy is at most to Jiange now. It will take at least ten days for so many people to arrive in Langzhong."

Cao Chong sighed: "Envoy Liu is so arrogant. I want to meet him, why is it so difficult?" Huang Quan was speechless. Cao Chong joked for a while and expressed his intention to recruit him. Huang Quan shook his head and refused. He said that I was sick from Liu Yizhou, ran back to Langzhong and became a general's subordinate. That was disloyal to Liu Yizhou. Seeing that he was like this, Cao Chong did not force himself to persuade him, so he asked him to go back to recuperate first.

In early March of the 15th year of Jian'an, in Chengdu, Liu Xun and Liu Yu sat opposite each other, silent.

Liu Yu is the son of Liu Zhang's third brother Liu Mao. After Liu Yan died, Liu Mao should have taken over as the governor of Yizhou. However, the Yizhou tribe led by Zhao Wei felt that Liu Mao was too smart and difficult to control. It would be better for them to let the cowardly and unscrupulous Liu Zhang be the governor of Yizhou, so he found an excuse and joined forces to help Liu Zhang as the governor of Yizhou. Liu Mao has been working hard in Yizhou since he was a child, and he has no credit and worked hard. Since his brothers Liu Fan and Liu Dan died, he has always thought that he was taken for granted.

The heir was ambitiously prepared to make a career in Yizhou. Even if he could not go out to Hanzhong to pacify the world like Emperor Gaozu, he could at least be the same as Gongsun Shu as he could, and continue his bloodline in the Han family. For this goal, he prepared for several years, cultivated his moral character, and became a famous among the scholars of Yizhou. Unexpectedly, when Liu Yan died, the families who were very good at interacting with each other changed directions and helped the incompetent Liu Zhang to the stage. He had nothing to do with him.

This hit Liu Mao very much. He couldn't turn around and couldn't come out to protest. Unexpectedly, it was exactly what Liu Zhang and others thought, so he served delicious food and drink, which made him leisurely for more than ten years. In the 13th year of Jian'an, Liu Zhang was sent to Jingzhou Jin by Zhang Su's brothers to meet Prime Minister Cao Cao. Cao Cao inherited the title of Liu Zhang as General Zhenwei and Liu Mao as General Pingko. Liu Mao suddenly realized that his silent protests for more than ten years were of no use at all, so he sent his eldest son Liu Yu to Jingzhou to meet Cao Cao, requesting to work in Xu County, and leave Yizhou.

When Liu Yu arrived in Jingzhou, Cao Cao was so embarrassed that he was burned by Wu Lin. He didn't care much about Liu Mao's thoughts, so he agreed. Liu Yu returned to Yizhou happily, but he didn't have time to tell Liu Mao the good news.

Liu Mao was so crazy that he died.

Of course, this was what his family said. After Liu Yu asked in detail, he found out that he had just left Yizhou. Not long after Liu Zhang came to invite Liu Mao to come to the mansion and said that he had congratulated both of them. After returning, Liu Mao sat in the room and pondered, and no one saw him. Then he cried and laughed for two days and committed suicide by drinking medicine. Liu Zhang came to pay tribute to Liu Mao, cried bitterly, and then rewarded a large amount of money and property to express his condolences.

Liu Yu didn't believe this bad news. His father was still fine when he left. It was only a month ago, how could he have had a crazy disease? However, although he had doubts, he could not find any evidence. At that time, no one knew what his father and uncle said. The servant who collected a lot of money from him said that when Liu Zhang and Liu Mao were drinking, the others were outside the yard. They only knew that their brothers had quarreled, but no one heard why they quarreled and what they said.

Liu Yu had no choice but to finish the funeral, he hid in his father's study room, searching madly all day long, and he didn't even know what to look for. The fact is that there was nothing in the study room. Since Liu Mao lost the opportunity to be a governor of Yizhou, he has stopped studying much, and the study room is empty. But Liu Yu always felt that if his father had something to do, he would definitely leave clues. He must know why his father committed suicide by drinking medicine.

God pays off. He found a small piece of silk burned in the wastebasket that only one corner was left, with two incomplete words on it. Liu Yu looked at the piece of silk for a long time. With his familiarity with his father's handwriting, he finally recognized these two words as "Naohe". Liu Yu was very familiar with these two words, not because he often reads his father's writing, but often heard his father say that every time his father talked about Liu Zhang's intentional or unintentional suppression, he would say these two words when his father talked about Liu Zhang's intentional or unintentional suppression, and instead let Zhao Wei and Pang Xi and those outsiders become older, he would say these two words. There was endless grievance and unwillingness in these two words. Liu Yu believed that it must be his uncle Liu Zhang who felt the threat and put pressure on his father. For the sake of his family's safety, his father had to give up the idea of ​​leaving Yizhou to become an official in Xu County and committed suicide by drinking medicine.

From then on, Liu Yu hated Liu Zhang to the core, but on the surface he pretended to be nothing. He did not serve as a government official like his father back then. He read every day and occasionally asked Du Qiong and Zhou Qun for some knowledge. He lived a leisurely life. He secretly bribed Liu Zhang's close ministers and paid close attention to Liu Zhang's movements. Just when Zhang Song and Jiang Gan arrived in Chengdu for the first time, Liu Yu felt Cao Chong's attempt to regain Yizhou. On the one hand, he was very happy that Liu Zhang's Yizhou master could not be long, but on the other hand, he felt that Yizhou belonged to his Liu family. Although Liu Zhang should not be done by Liu Zhang, he could not be given so carelessly to Cao Chong. The person who should be the governor of Yizhou should be the one who should be the governor of Yizhou should be Liu Yu. So he was secretly paying attention. When Cao Chong took Nanzheng and sent someone to persuade Liu Zhang to surrender, he immediately sent a letter to Liu Xun, who was leading troops in Baishui Pass, and asked him to rush back to Chengdu immediately.

He knew that Liu Xun, like his father, was full of desire to inherit the position of Yizhou Governor, and he would not want the Liu family to give up Yizhou like this and go to Yecheng to be a rich man like Zhang Lu. As expected, as soon as Liu Xun received his news, he immediately rushed back to Chengdu day and night, and came to him to discuss that night in the name of giving gifts.

The matter behind was very simple. He didn't have much verbal talk, so he persuaded Liu Xun to adopt his suggestion and persuade Liu Zhang to reject Cao Chong's persuasion, which made Xu Jing, who was full of thought, not even a chance to speak. Then he designed a plan for Liu Xun, persuaded Liu Zhang to personally lead his troops out of Chengdu and rush to Langzhong to solve Pang Xi. As soon as Liu Zhang left Chengdu, Liu Xun, who had the power of Chengdu, immediately sent someone to find Chengdu Order Li Yan and Shu County prefect Wang Shang to test their wishes and decide whether to be tough or soft.

Wang Shang has been the prefect of Shu County for nearly ten years, and he is very treacherous. When he saw Liu Xun coming to him, he agreed to cooperate with him to manage Chengdu well. In his words, Liu Zhang is already over fifty years old. Once he dies, Liu Xun is the governor of Yizhou. Now he is just accustomed to being familiar with government affairs in advance. As an old minister in the Liu Yan era, he must support him. Liu Xun was overjoyed and rewarded a great gift. With the power in his hand, he released both sons of Wang Shang and became the county magistrate.

Compared with Wang Shang, Li Yan had to be much more cautious shortly after he had just started Chengdu Order. After hearing Liu Xun talk for a long time, he respectfully said that cooperating with the young master to manage the safety of Chengdu was a matter of duty. There was no need for the young master to come and send someone to notify him. Seeing that he was careful, Liu Xun didn't say much. He knew that he, a foreigner, was promoted to Chengdu Order by his father shortly after he arrived in Yizhou, so he naturally knew the right way. At the moment, the two of them politely argued with each other and smiled tacitly and parted. Then, at Liu Yu's suggestion, Liu Xun gave Li Yan a generous gift and made Li Yan's son Li Feng the worker. Li Yan then asked Li Feng to pass the message, and only the young master's leader was following everything.

The task was completed. Before Liu Zhang arrived in Langzhong, Liu Xun became the actual governor of Yizhou with the support of Wang Shang and Li Yan. As for Cao Chong's envoy Zhang Song and Jiang Gan, they seemed to feel something was wrong and stayed at the Zhang family with peace of mind, staying behind closed doors.

Everything was in control. Liu Xun, who had been busy for a month, finally had the opportunity to sit down and drink quietly with Liu Yu and talk to him.

Liu Yu's face was calm, wrapped his silk robe tightly, reached out to the stove and baked it, and sighed quietly: "Zi Jing, you are in great spirits. After so many days of busyness, you are still full of energy. Unlike me, it's already March, and you still can't get rid of this winter clothes."

Liu Xun smiled and said, "Brother, I am the one who leads the army. I am with those barbarians every day. How can I not be cruel? You are different. You are a scholar. It is difficult to stay in the room and study every day. Of course, you must be weaker."

Liu Yu smiled bitterly: "Yes, the scholar's health is not good. Like my father, I like quietness and not moving. I am really worried that I will die early in middle age, just like my father."

Seeing that he mentioned the uncle who died in vain, Liu Xun was a little sad, and he quickly comforted him: "Brother, don't be pessimistic. When we have an agreement with Cao Zhennan, we will send you to Xiangyang for medical treatment. With Zhang Zhongjing's medical skills, there will be no problems."

Liu Yu smiled and bowed: "Then I will thank Zijing first. I will wait for Zijing to become the governor of Yizhou. Then I will go to Xiangyang to be a rich man."

Liu Xun smiled and shook his hand, "That's not possible. I still expect my brother to stay in Yizhou to help me. How could you be a rich man so easily? I said..." He paused and frowned in a little embarrassed manner: "My father-in-law has walked too slowly on the road. It's been more than a month and hasn't arrived in Langzhong yet. I'm afraid... my father-in-law can't hold on anymore. If those barbarians attack Langzhong City, my house will be in trouble."

Liu Yu smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? Anyway, my uncle is not going to go for those mountain people. Since he has sent troops, he cannot give up halfway. If he doesn't solve the problem in Brazil, he will not look back. Without those mountain people, things will be better done. If your father-in-law is killed by mountain people, it is not your business. Anyway, his Pang family is wrong first. What are you worried about? Even a woman can't control her husband. How can you be the governor of Yizhou?"

Liu Xun scratched his head awkwardly, laughed dryly for two days, changed the topic and said, "Brother, my father has solved the Pang family. So should I go to Badong to solve Li Yi personally, so I can make some contributions?"

Liu Yu thought for a while, and gently tapped his fingers on the Hongqi table with rhythm: "The reason is that he should go to Badong, but my uncle took away 30,000 soldiers. Chengdu is empty now, and you don't have enough troops to send. Otherwise, you send someone to explore Li Yi's tone first. I guess when people arrive in Badong, Pang Xi's affairs will be solved. With Pang Xi's first lesson, Li Yi will be more honest." He raised his eyelids and looked at Liu Xun and smiled: "If Li Yi can be solved like this, it would be much better than if my uncle used 30,000 soldiers to solve Brazil."

Liu Xun smiled and thought for a while and said, "If you don't fight, you will be defeated by others. Only a wise man like your brother can come up with such a good plan. I will send someone to Badong."

Liu Yu shook his hand: "You have to send a suitable person. If you get too fast, Pang Xi has not solved it yet, and it is useless for him to arrive in Badong. Instead, he has exposed his military force."

Liu Xun rubbed his hands anxiously and complained: "Father is really the case. People say that rescuing soldiers is like putting out fires. He is fine. He brought 30,000 troops to travel around the mountains and rivers. He has not arrived after walking for more than a month. I don't know how much food and grass have been wasted."

Liu Yu stared at Liu Xun, smiled and said without saying a word. After Liu Xun finished complaining, he said, "Since you are anxious, why not let Ziming urge you. Ziming is deeply loved by his uncle. If he follows his advice, he will say it better than you."

Liu Xun's face turned cold, as if he had remembered something, his cheeks twitched twice and said, "What brother said is exactly."

Just as Liu Xun and Liu Yu were discussing, Liu Zhang finally arrived outside Langzhong City. When he heard that the mountain people had been defeated by Meng Da's troops, the army of General Meng Da whom, whom Pang Xihe came to help, was overjoyed. Without the mountain people being in the way, it would be more convenient for him to deal with Pang Xi. While setting up a camp outside the city, he sent Zhang Yi to the city and summoned Pang Xi and Meng Da to meet.

When Zhang Yi entered the city, he soon met Pang Xi and Meng Da. Pang Xi's face was not very good and looked a little pale. It seemed that he was very upset by the mountain people during this period. Zhang Yi was guessing Pang Xi's body while conveying Liu Zhang's orders.

Pang Xi and Meng Da agreed readily, but Pang Xi said that he would take a thousand personal guards out to ensure safety, so as not to be exploited by the Ba people who were still wandering nearby. Zhang Yi laughed in his heart, "Where are you guarding against the Ba people? You are clearly guarding against the Envoy Liu, but even if you bring a thousand people, you are still a drop in the bucket. Can you defeat Liu's Envoy Liu's Envoy? Before coming, the Envoy probably got your little care and told me a long time ago."

Zhang Yi pretended to think about it, then responded to Pang Xi's request, agreed to the time, and left the city to report to Liu Zhang first. As soon as he left the city, Cao Chong walked out of the inner room and smiled at Pang Xi, "Mr. Pang, do you understand your situation now?"

Pang Xi smiled bitterly. Before Liu Zhang arrived in Langzhong, Cao Chong went to talk to him and analyzed Liu Zhang's purpose. In fact, without Cao Chong's words, Pang Xi knew that he was in danger and had no choice but to choose from. After thinking about it, it would be better to surrender to Cao Chong than to surrender to Liu Zhang. Anyway, Liu Zhang was not a capable person, and sooner or later he would have to be dealt with by Cao Chong. He could still make some contributions before him, and his life might be better in the future. Therefore, he readily agreed to Cao Chong's suggestion and went out to fool Liu Zhang. Of course, the 1,000 people were not his personal guards, but Cao Chong's 200 Tiger Soldiers Camp and 800 Iron Armored Army.

Liu Zhang sneered when he received Zhang Yi's return. He immediately put on a squad and waited for Pang Xi to release the camp. All his 30,000 people were unable to camp outside the city, but the generals who led the troops arrived. Even Yang Huai and Gao Pei from Baishui Pass rushed outside Langzhong City. How could he be afraid that Pang Xi would bring more personal guards? Even if he brought out all the guards of Langzhong City, he wouldn't care. At worst, he would die a few more people.
Chapter completed!