,,,,,,,,,,,,

Although Cao Cao had a full idea and hoped to form an alliance with Liu Bei, the two families echoed north and south to jointly deal with the increasingly powerful Liu Jing, the reality was very skinny. One traffic cut off and the two families had to rely on the expression of the Han Dynasty, not to mention that Cao Cao actually supported Liu Bei.

He could not give Liu Bei the financial and material resources he wanted, and at most he could meet Liu Bei's spiritual requirements for becoming king. However, this spiritual satisfaction was not enough to make the two families form a substantial alliance.

This destined that Zhong Yao's mission to Jiaozhou had more symbolic significance than his actual effect. Although there were a series of meeting activities afterwards, the basic style had been set and even Liu Bei had no interest.

On the contrary, Liu Bei was very concerned about Sima Yi's mission. He wanted to capture Liu Jing's true intention from Sima Yi's mission. Liu Bei never wanted to go to war with the Han army. He only hoped to realize his strategy and gain Jian'an County and Linhai County without having a feud with the Han army. He had given up the central areas such as Jingnan and Yuzhang County, and only hoped to develop on the coastal edge.

This is Liu Bei's attitude. He hopes to reach an agreement with the Han army to support the Han army in the Central Plains in exchange for the Han army's recognition of Jiaozhou's annexation of Jian'an County.

During the talks with Sima Yi, Liu Bei proposed this plan. Of course, Sima Yi did not refuse at all, but expressed his intention to go back and ask His Highness the King of Han.

In short, the talks were pleasant and full of hope. No matter whether this hope was the moon in the well or the flower in the mirror, at least Liu Bei knew that the Han army would not make any moves before the end of the year.

On the other hand, Liu Bei also adopted Zhuge Liang's plan to avoid war as much as possible, but also to prepare for war. He ordered Guan Yu to lead 10,000 troops to Cangwu County to deal with the Han army that might go south from the Jingnan Line. Zhang Fei also led 10,000 troops to Luling County to deal with the Han army that might go south from the Yuzhang Line, and at the same time transported 100,000 stones of grain to Guangxin County of Cangwu County and Gan County of Luling County.

...........

In early December, on his way back to Yedu, Zhong Yao was intercepted by the Han army in Xiangyang and could no longer go north from Nanyang. Instead, he was guarded or escorted by the Han army and walked around the Nanxiang Pass Road to Chang'an north. Ten days later, Zhong Yao finally arrived at Chang'an City.

The first heavy snow fell in Chang'an in mid-November, and then the second heavy snow fell in early December. When Zhong Yao arrived in Chang'an, the entire Chang'an and Guanzhong had become a snowy world.

"Mr. Zhong, is it heavy to fall in Yedu?" The military marquis who escorted Zhong Yao to the north was Qian Ning, a native of Chang'an. They had been with Zhong Yao day and night, and the two of them had already become very familiar with each other.

Zhong Yao smiled and said, "Yedu should be a little colder than Chang'an. I have been in Chang'an for more than ten years. I know that Chang'an is surrounded by northern mountains. The cold north wind has weakened when it enters the Guanzhong Plain. There is no stop in the north of Yedu. When winter comes, it will be a world of ice and snow. In contrast, I still hope Chang'an."

"Then Mr. Zhong stayed in Chang'an! The people of Chang'an miss you very much. My parents always said that if I had no Mr. Zhong, I would not have been born."

Qian Ning was less than 20 years old and spoke quickly, but Zhong Yao heard what he said very comfortably. He smiled and said, "Your parents have been awarded. Chang'an has changed a lot now!"

"There has been a big change. I guarantee that Junshi Zhong will not recognize him. I almost got lost when I went home last year."

"Well! I can imagine that after entering Guanzhong, the changes were huge. There were large farmhouses everywhere, and the population increased a lot, which was completely different from when I was in Guanzhong."

As he was speaking, a team of cavalry came across from the opposite side, and it was the Secretary of the Secretariat Fei Yi. He came to greet Zhong Yao on the order of Liu Jing. Qian Ning knew him and shouted, "Envoy Fei, Junshi Zhong is here."

Fei Yi hurried forward to salute, "Secretary Secretary Fei Yi came to greet Junshi Zhong at the order of His Highness the King of Han!"

Zhong Yao also knew that Liu Jing had a deep meaning to arrange for Fei Yi to welcome him. Liu Jing promised himself in the letter that the Secretariat Ling was waiting for the crowd, and Fei Yi was appointed as the Secretariat Cheng, who was the Secretariat Ling's deputy. It was obvious that Liu Jing hoped that he could serve the Han Dynasty.

Zhong Yao replied with a smile and said, "I also asked the envoy Fei to go out of the city to greet him personally. Zhong Yao was ashamed of being aware of it!"

At this time, Zhong Yao suddenly saw a minister behind Fei Yi, who looked very familiar. When he looked closely, he turned out to be Zhang Ji. Zhang Ji was once Zhong Yao's most capable aide. After he followed him for many years, he could be called his right-hand man. After Zhong Yao withdrew from Guanzhong, Zhang Ji was appointed as the governor of Nanyang County, and later surrendered to Liu Jing and served as the governor of Jingzhao.

Zhong Yao was stunned for a moment, "Derong, is it you?"

Zhang Ji urged him to step forward and bowed and said, "Mr. Zhong, can you always be good?"

Zhong Yao didn't expect to meet an old friend here. His nose was a little sore and nodded, "I'm fine!"

Fei Yi smiled and introduced: "This time Mr. Zhong visited the old place in Chang'an, His Highness the King of Han specially arranged for Zhang Shou to accompany him throughout the journey, hoping that Mr. Zhong could have a pleasant journey to Chang'an."

Zhong Yao was both happy and moved, and nodded repeatedly and said, "Okay! OK!"

"Mr. Zhong, please go to the city!"

Fei Yi turned his horse's head and asked Zhong Yao to enter the city. The group urged the horse to start and slowly walked into the city.

Although it was covered with heavy snow outside Chang'an City, there was another scene in the city. As soon as you entered the city gate, a bustling and noisy atmosphere came to you. The snow on the street was swept clean and piled up by the corner walls. People came and went on the street, and all kinds of goods were filled with shops. The guys shouted at the top of their voices, mostly for the New Year.

At this time, only half a month has left before the New Year's Day, and the festive atmosphere in Chang'an City is becoming more and more intense. Red lanterns are hung in front of the doors of every household, long poles are lifted in the yard, and various colorful banners are hung.

Many people were wearing glossy fur coats and pushing deer carts, which were filled with fresh New Year goods they had just purchased, with good fragrant wax and vermilion paint for plates, as well as roosters, fruits and vegetables, furs, game and bundled fat sheep.

Zhong Yao was a little stunned. He could not recognize the changes in the city. Moreover, the bustling and prosperous city was a world of difference from the quiet and desolate Chang'an in the past.

At this moment, an employee came on a horse and whispered to Fei Yi. Fei Yi hurriedly bowed to Zhong Yao and said, "There is an important discussion in the Political Affairs Hall, so I will not accompany Mr. Zhong."

"Please give me some advice!"

Fei Yi turned his horse's head and ran towards Weiyang Palace. Fei Yi left, and Zhong Yao became much more comfortable. He pointed to several newly built houses not far away and smiled at Zhang Ji, "Derong, I remember that there was a temple market there, but how did it become a mansion now?"

Zhang Ji smiled and said, "Every in Chang'an City is worth every inch of land, so the temple market can no longer be arranged. The temple will be moved outside the south city, and the market will have East City and West City. There will be no need for the original spontaneous market in the city. Of course, there are also spontaneous markets, and it is still next to the temple outside the south city. Every year, there will be markets in Hanlu and Temple Festival, which are crowded and very lively."

Zhong Yao nodded. He saw a carriage driving out of the mansion. An old man was sitting in the carriage. The curtain was not pulled. He recognized the person at a glance. Zhong Yao couldn't believe his eyes and said to Zhang Ji anxiously: "That person just now... seems to be Yang Wei!"

Yang Wei was Yang Biao. After Yang Xiu was killed, he returned home as an ill and did not care about the government. He should be in Hongnong now. How could he appear in Chang'an shocked Zhong Yao. Maybe he had read the wrong person.

Zhang Ji looked at the mansion and nodded and said, "This mansion is the mansion of Hongnong Yang in Chang'an. It should be Yang Biao. He sometimes comes to Chang'an to see it. I heard that he has been to Chang'an a few months ago."

"Did he hold an official position in the Han Dynasty?" Zhong Yao asked again.

"He probably did not hold an official position, but Sun Yangxiao was admitted to the imperial examination this year, and was only 18 years old. He became the magistrate of Nanzheng County and had a bright future."

Zhong Yao looked at Yang Biao's carriage again. He wanted to say hello, but Yang Biao's carriage had gone away, which made him feel a little regretful.

At this time, Zhang Ji pointed to the other two mansions next to him and whispered: "Did Mr. Zhong see that? The owners of these two mansions are extraordinary. One belongs to the original Wang family and the other belongs to the Boling Cui family. However, they are very low-key, and only a few people know the owners of these mansions."

After looking at it for a while, he felt a little incredible. Zhang Ji understood the shock in his heart and said with a wry smile: "Chang'an built a capital, and the wealthy families of all the people flocked to buy land and houses in Chang'an. They all wanted to have a place in the Han Dynasty, so the land in Chang'an became worth every inch of land. Zhong Gong, what people want!"

Zhong Yao was silent. After a while, he sighed softly. Cao Pi eliminated dissidents in Yedu and suppressed the gentry, but Chang'an accepted Sichuan and tolerated his old enemies. No wonder Liu Jing's broad mind can make the gentry all over the world recognize as orthodox.

Zhong Yao felt very disappointed, and he had no intention of sighing at the lively and prosperity of Chang'an anymore. He walked silently. Zhang knew that Zhong Yao had something in his heart and no longer disturbed him. He followed him quietly and walked for a while. Zhong Yao suddenly asked, "Just Fei Yi said that he would participate in the meeting of the Political Affairs Hall, can the Prime Minister also participate?"

Zhang Ji explained: "There are two types of discussions in the political affairs hall. One is the discussion of the ministry of the Central Secretariat, which is also called the small discussion. There are fewer participants. In addition to the current six prime ministers, there are also the left and right ministers and the left and right Huangmen. Fei Yi served as the secretary of the Central Secretariat. He can participate in such small discussions. The other is called the Guangyi. In addition, the six ministers and the chief officials of each prison and temple are usually held every half a month. This is a system defined by the King of Han. Major military and state affairs and appointments and removals must be submitted to him after the appointment and removal of officials."

Zhong Yao nodded, "This is a good way to prevent the prime minister's autocracy and understatement."

"Mr. Zhong is right. After the king and the prime minister divide the power, they will prevent the minister from being too heavy, so they use broad discussions to check and balance."

The two of them walked while talking. Soon, the group came to the Guibin Inn. At this time, the postmaster rushed over in a panic and said anxiously to Zhang Ji: "Zhang Shou, the King of Han is coming down, and I'm waiting in the hall."

Zhang Ji was startled and hurriedly said to Zhong Yao: "This must be His Highness the King of Han is here to visit Mr. Zhong, please come with me!"

Zhong Yao nodded silently, and Liu Jing actually came to visit him in person. He was moved and turned over and dismounted, followed Zhang Ji to the hall. When he walked to the central hall, Zhong Yao saw Liu Jing, the King of Han in a royal robes, standing in front of the steps with his hands behind his back, looking at him with a smile.

Zhong Yao hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, "See Your Highness the King of Han!"

Liu Jing smiled and said, "It's really a bit rude to intercept Mr. Zhong halfway and invite him to Chang'an. I hope Mr. Zhong can understand Liu Jing's heart."

"I am ashamed of my humbleness, and I am troubled by Your Highness."
Chapter completed!