?Liu Bei let out a long sigh, a smile flashed from the corner of his mouth, and then he was furious, rubbing the hilt of the sword with his fingers, staring at Xu You with a cold look, and he looked as if he was ready to draw his sword and chop Xu You to avenge Gongsun Zan at any time.

Xu You curled his lips, snorted carelessly, and looked back with impatient look on his face. "When I came, I met Zhang He's scout. I guess I'll arrive in Zhuo County within an hour. Soon tonight, and at noon tomorrow, Yuan Jun will lead 20,000 infantry here. You can also use this time to dispatch troops and fight, and then let Zhang Ze clean up the mess."

Liu Bei felt a little relieved, but he refused to retreat. He shouted sternly: "My senior brother is in a different place. Although it was Liu He who did it, Liu He is a subordinate of Yuan Envoy, father and son. If Yuan Envoy had not been deceived by it, how could it be so tragic?"

Xu Yougong bowed. "The emperor of the mansion is extremely loyal, and You deeply admires him, so he said goodbye." After that, he turned around and left.

Liu Bei was stunned and angry. Xu You still had the bad temper and looked rebellious. Is there anyone who did this messenger? I think you were here to send a letter of war. Even so, he didn't dare to let Xu You leave like this. He was bitten by Zhang He and Yan Liang, and it was difficult to retreat to Anci City safely. Even if someone was sent to summon Guan Yu and Tian Yu, it would take two or three days to arrive here. If this battle really started, he would definitely suffer a loss. Even if he won, he would win miserably. In the end, Zhang Ze was all the better.

Liu Bei looked around and wanted someone else to keep Xu You, but besides the personal guards, Guan Jing was only Guan Jing. As an old official of Gongsun Zan, Guan Jing was obviously not suitable to make peace with Xu You on his own initiative. In desperation, he had to catch up with two steps, stop Xu You, and smiled and said, "Jun Xu stayed."

Xu You stopped, twisted his body, tilted his head, looked at Liu Bei with contempt. Liu Bei wanted to draw his sword and chop Xu You, but he could only squeeze out a bright smile on his face. "Xu Jun, please stay."

Xu You slowly turned around and bowed carelessly. "I don't know what advice do you have?"

"This... Speaking of which, I haven't seen Xu Jun for many years. I shouldn't have been so rude, but Bo Gui's new mourning..."

Xu You raised his hand and interrupted Liu Bei. "Liu Fujun, you should tell those words to those people. I have no interest. Liu Gongheng and Gongsun Bogui are the enemies of killing their father, and no one can solve them. Now this result is the best result. We take over Zhuo County, you take over Gongsun Zan's subordinates, and each takes their needs. What's wrong with it? Although your surname is Liu, the Han family has been exhausted, which is known to the world. If nothing else, Sun Ce occupied the five states, what can the court do to him? Instead, he wants to marry a princess as a concubine in exchange for some leftovers. The imperial court has already been wiped out. Why do you have to bury him with him? Those who know the times are heroes, and the royal family is a hero of the world. Why don't you think about yourself?"

Liu Bei was shocked. "Xu Jun, what did you say? The court wants to marry the princess and Sun Ce?"

"Yes, and I'm a concubine."

Liu Bei's face changed and he was speechless for a while. Zhong Shao didn't tell him this. If the situation was true, the court would be exhausted and would not last long. But what he cared more about was not the court, but Sun Ce. Is Sun Ce so strong? Will he plot against Jizhou and Youzhou next?

Whether Sun Ce attacks Youzhou first or Jizhou first, it is not a good opportunity to turn against Yuan Tan now.

"Xu Jun, it's too cold outside, talking in the car?" Liu Bei smiled even brighter.

Zhong Shao rushed to the road overnight, but was lost after being frozen overnight. When he arrived at Anci, Liu Bei had already returned to Anci City. Zhong Shao didn't know the situation yet, so he enthusiastically persuaded Liu Bei to attack Yuan Tan and seize Zhuo County. Zhang Ze led his troops to assist. After taking Zhuo County, Zhuo County was also under the jurisdiction of Liu Bei.

After listening quietly, Liu Bei said sincerely: "Since that's the case, please ask Shen Fu to reply to the envoy, allowing me to dispatch people and prepare food and grass. Once the preparation is done, I will immediately march towards Zhuo County. If the envoy can mobilize Huqi from various ministries to assist me and allocate some food and grass for me, it would be great."

Zhong Shao was anxious. "Mr. Rescue soldiers are like putting out fires. Now that Liu He is newly aged, Yuan Tan is unstable, and the urgent attack is still possible. If he can gain a foothold, it will be too late to plan for Zhuo County. Zhuo County is the county of the Majesty. Are you willing to watch Zhuo County fall into Yuan Tan's hands?"

"It's not that I can't do it, but it's really impossible." Liu Bei sighed. "Bo Gui is newly devastated, and his morale is frustrated. Although I tried hard to comfort me, I could not stabilize the situation. If I go to fight in a hurry, I am afraid it will be difficult to get what I want." He paused and said, "Brother Shen Fu, can I ask you something?"

Zhong Shao was confused. He wasted time, and something might have happened in the middle. Although he didn't know what happened, judging from Liu Bei's expression, he was not enthusiastic about attacking Zhuo County. If he could not convince Liu Bei, the situation in Youzhou would be in charge. He would have been in vain this time when he came all the way. At this moment, he didn't expect Liu Bei to ask him what he would ask him.

"Please tell me, Mr.

"Does the court want to marry Sun Ce?"

Zhong Shao was stunned and immediately became alert. "Who did you hear?"

Liu Bei smiled, but he just smiled a little fake. "Is this true? Is it true that the eldest prince married Sun Ce as his concubine?"

Zhong Shao didn't say anything. Liu Bei said so in detail, indicating that he had obtained accurate information and was very unhappy about his intentional concealment. If he quizzed again, Liu Bei might drive him out. He sighed. "There is indeed such a statement, but when I left Chang'an, the court had not issued a clear edict, so this matter..."

Liu Bei nodded and looked slightly slowed down. "So, how should the court deal with Yuan Tan?"

Zhong Shao's heart moved and shook his head. "What the court thinks? Shao hasn't heard of it, so he dare not explain it nonsensely, so as not to mislead the emperor. However, according to the theory of the Constant theory, since the court chose Sun Ce, Yuan Tan's crime of forgery of edicts may not be able to escape. If Yuan Tan was willing to bow to the court, he might have a chance to make meritorious service. If not, the court would probably send troops to conquer."

Liu Bei smiled. "Since that's the case, then please ask Brother Shen Fu to go back and discuss with the envoy, report to the court for Yuan Tan's battle for Zhuo County, and ask the court to issue an edict to severely denounce it to avoid the danger of swords and weapons. If the army is not bloody, wouldn't it be good? If Yuan Tan does not know the current affairs, once the imperial edict arrives, the envoy will order that he must lead his infantry and cavalry to drive the emperor forward."

Zhong Shao had no choice but to nod and agreed. He also knew that the court had no prestige and Zhang Ze had no strength, so he could no longer control Liu Bei. Similarly, Youzhou was also out of control. From now on, only Youzhou people could determine the fate of Youzhou people. The majestic court could no longer control Youzhou by sending one or two strong men.

Zhong Shao was discouraged. He looked at Liu Bei quietly and bowed. "Tao Jun, take care of him, see you again if you are destined to do so."

Liu Bei raised his eyebrows and did not get up to return the favor. He watched Zhong Shao walk out, and suddenly felt indescribable, empty and helpless. The court could not be reliable, and Zhang Ze could not be reliable either, but Yuan Tan put one foot into Youzhou and occupied the strongest Zhuo County. In the farther Central Plains, Sun Ce was eyeing him and didn't know when he would appear in Youzhou.

Can I be their opponent?

Zhong Shao received news from Zhang Ze on the way, and Zhang Ze had withdrawn from Guangyang. Zhong Shao immediately rushed back to Guangyang to ask for a meeting with Zhang Ze.

After three days of not seeing each other, Zhang Ze seemed to have been ten years old and his hair was almost white. The night after Zhong Shao set out, he received news that Yuan Tan entered Zhuo County and Liu Bei arrived in Anci. The two reached a tacit understanding and divided Youzhou.

Zhong Shao apologized to Zhang Ze. If he hadn't been lost, he might not have let Yuan Tan take the lead. Zhang Ze shook his head with a wry smile. This is God's will, and it cannot be saved by human power. Although Liu Bei did not understand the general trend, he was not stupid and would not fight against Yuan Tan without a stable foothold. Since he could take the risk without any effort to accept Gongsun Zan's subordinates.

"Shen Fu, go back to Chang'an."

"Where is the envoy?"

"I will hold on for a while and contact the counties to see if there is any chance." Zhang Ze smiled bitterly and said, "The court ordered me to settle Youzhou. Now that the situation in Youzhou is like this, how can I leave with seals? I have to receive the imperial edict from the court."

Zhong Shao stared at Zhang Ze for a long time and leaned forward. "I'm sorry, I think you'd better go back to Chang'an."

Zhang Ze turned his head and looked at Zhong Shao, frowned slightly. "Why?"

"You have been a lieutenant of the Qiang Guardians and have a lot of prestige among the Qiang people. Although the affairs of Youzhou are not harmonious, the court recognizes your loyalty and ability. Maybe they will send you to Liangzhou again. Youzhou is in chaos and Bingzhou is in Niu Fu's hands. The only thing the court can rely on is Liangzhou. Although the court does not have an imperial edict, it is speculated from various signs that the court may take a risk to attract Liangzhou people to Guanzhong to enrich the population. The strong are soldiers and the weak are the people, and then compete with Guandong."

Zhang Ze frowned even tighter, and after a while, he said, "This is a way to quench thirst."

"That's right, even though he knew it was a cup of poison wine, the court had to drink it. Guanzhong was insufficient, and the court could not pacify the world by relying on Yizhou alone. Moreover, Cao Cao was originally a eunuch, and he also followed Yuan Shao at that time. When could he be loyal to the court? Who knows? He led the people of Liangzhou to Guanzhong, cultivated and prepared for war in Guanzhong, and even if he could not pacify the world, he could at least last for a while to wait for Guandong to invade itself."

Zhang Ze's eyes flashed. "Why is Kanto in chaos?"

"I don't know, but the six kingdoms were destroyed by Qin back then. The situation is vaguely similar to that in the past, and the court may not have no chance. If not, why would Xun Yu suggest that Your Majesty move the capital to Guanzhong?" Zong Shao paused and said, "Although Xun Yu was young, he was not a profit-oriented person. I heard that he rejected Sun Ce's invitation, went to Guanzhong alone, and opposed the court's alliance with Yuan Tan, and was devoted to the court. Even if everyone gave up the court, he would not."

Zhang Ze stroked his beard that was left with only a few black beards, thought for a long time, and nodded. "Since that's the case, I'll write a memorial to the court to talk about the situation in Youzhou."

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Chapter completed!