Ji Han Liu Zhang

Taking advantage of others is something that should only happen once but not twice, because the person who was taken advantage of has learned a lesson and will be on guard. The next time he encounters the same thing, he will be more cautious and less likely to fall into the same trap again.

Liu Zhang has a clear understanding of this point.

This year is the fifth year of Jian'an. The dispute between Yuan and Cao is like a fight between a snipe and a clam. Both sides have worked hard for more than half a year, but neither side has gained any benefit. Instead, Liu Zhang, an outsider, has made a huge fortune.

Yuan Shao lost Taiyuan and Yanmen, Cao Cao lost Henan Yin, and the old capital Luoyang fell into the hands of Liu Zhang.

The fisherman gets the benefit!!!

Liu Zhang now realized the happiness of the King of Qin. The Qin land is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and is fortified on all sides. It is blocked on three sides and can control the princes from the east with one side alone. That is why the six kingdoms were all destroyed by the King of Qin. What Zhang Liang said was absolutely correct.

Given the topography of Qin, it was very difficult for the princes in the east of the Guanzhong Kingdom to invade Guanzhong, but it was relatively easy for them to compete for the Central Plains from Guanzhong. No wonder Guanzhong became the cornerstone of the Han and Tang Dynasties and gave birth to two magnificent empires.

However, in a good time like this year, Liu Zhang didn't dare to think about it a second time. After Yuan Shao and Cao Cao suffered a loss this time, it would be difficult for them to make such a big mistake again next time. They would fight to the death and let Liu Zhang eat his fill.

After thinking for a moment in the morning, Liu Zhang got up, washed, cleaned his hands, ate and drank with the help of his maids, and then dressed himself neatly with the help of his maids. He did not wear any crown and clothes that a king should wear, but a plain robe and a scarf wrapped around his head. The scarf was made of silk, but it was not expensive silk or fine satin.

Simplicity is a virtue that Liu Zhang has always upheld.

It was also because Liu Zhang had no pursuit for external things. As for food, clothing and other daily necessities, it was enough for him to get by. He did not need to wear fine clothes and eat delicious food, or live like a prince.

After everything was ready, Liu Zhang came to the meeting place of Chang'an government office. The meeting place was not big and could only accommodate a dozen people. It was a bit like the Grand Council of Qing Dynasty. Military and national affairs did not need to be consulted with everyone.

"Father." As Liu Zhang's eldest son, Liu Xun also came to the conference hall at this time. He saluted Liu Zhang respectfully.

There was a soft look in Liu Zhang's eyes. He stroked Liu Xun's little head and led Liu Xun into the conference room.

Although Liu Xun's mother died early and there were no talented people in his maternal family, and he had no relatives to rely on, Liu Xun was his eldest son after all. Liu Zhang had no intention of deposing the eldest and enthroning the youngest, so he planned to cultivate Liu Xun well and intended to train Liu Xun as the next successor.

Therefore, in addition to studying Confucian classics with Wang Shang and Xun You, Liu Xun was often pulled by Liu Zhang to listen to how to handle government affairs and military and national affairs, which could not be learned from textbooks.

When Liu Zhang and Liu Xun stepped into the conference room, there were already three or five people seated inside, waiting for their arrival. When they saw Liu Zhang and Liu Xun, they all stood up and saluted. Liu Zhang waved his hand and let them take their seats safely, without having to go through the mundane etiquette.

The first matter discussed today was about Jiaozhou. Xun You handed two documents to Cheng Yu, who then passed them to Liu Zhang's desk. He explained, "Shi Xie of Jiaozhou sent people to Chang'an several months ago to ask for a gift for the king at the end of the year. The group hurried and arrived in Chang'an yesterday, just before the New Year's Day."

At this point, Xun You smiled slightly and said, "Shi Xie's kindness is not limited to this. This time he did not send any outsiders as envoys, but sent his two sons, Shi Xin and Shi Zhi. Moreover, these two have come here and do not plan to return. They will stay in Chang'an."

"Hostage?" Liu Zhang also smiled. A thought came to his mind. Shi Xie's move was decisive. It seemed that Jiaozhou had completely turned to him and put all the chips on him.

At this time, Cheng Yu just spread out the two documents handed by Shi Xie on the table in front of Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang bent down and took a quick glance, but saw that one document was an expression of loyalty, and the other was a list of gifts at the end of the year.

But in the document expressing his loyalty, Shi Xie first extended greetings to Liu Zhang, and said some words of praise and flattery, such as "the four barbarians are feared by all the people in the world and admired by all the people in the world." Although he was far away in the barbaric Jiaozhou, his words were like thunder in his ears.

Then Shi Xie said that he had originally intended to go to Chang'an to meet Liu Zhang in person, but he was old and frail and it was inconvenient for him to travel long distances, so he asked his two sons to come. Finally, he hoped that Liu Zhang could leave his two sons in Chang'an to listen to the king's teachings, which would also be a blessing for them father and son.

Liu Zhang felt a little hot in his ears. The old man Shi Xie's bragging made him feel like he was in the Xingxiu Sect, and he was the Xingxiu Immortal who was flattering and praising the Xingxiu disciples. It was really embarrassing.

Moving his eyes to the document of the gift list, it starts with thousands of various spices and fine-grained hemp cloth, followed by rare and precious treasures such as pearls, large shells, colored glaze, jade, tortoise shells, rhinoceros horns, and ivory. It can be seen that Shi Xie was truly surrendering and spent a huge amount of money.

Liu Zhang only glanced at the gift documents and hastily withdrew his gaze. He instructed Xun You: "Shi Xin and Shi Zhi are tired from the long journey, let them rest for a day, and I will hold a banquet for them in the hall tomorrow."

"Yes." Xun You nodded.

"Shi Xie is a man of great learning and good at governing. When the country was in chaos, he saved a state. There was no war for more than ten years, and the people were all protected by Shi Xie." Liu Zhang pointed out Shi Xie's merits and virtues, and then said: "I propose to make Shi Xie the General of Anyuan and confer the title of Marquis of Longdu Ting to reward Shi Xie's merits and virtues."

"It should be so." Xun You responded. Shi Xie was so respectful now and was serving Guanzhong, so he should give Shi Xie some benefits. Only in this way could he make people from afar admire him. Otherwise, people from afar would not come to him for surrender if he just talked big.

After dealing with the affairs of Jiaozhou, Xun You talked about the situation in Guandong, or more precisely, the affairs of Qingxu: "After Yuan Benchu ​​fled from Guandu, his eldest son Yuan Tan continued to fight in Taishan and Langya. Until today, the weather is cold and the ground is frozen, which is not conducive to mobilizing troops, so he had to withdraw his troops... There is no war in Guandong now."

"After all, he is the eldest son. He is indeed very diligent and has the demeanor of an elder brother. He is a role model for his younger brothers." Zheng Du, an official, praised him.

"In fact, Yuan Tan's behavior is not due to diligence, but because of the succession to the throne." Xun You shook his head calmly, and with a smile on his face, he explained to Zheng Du: "Yuan Benchu ​​favors the youngest son and dislikes Yuan Tan. He has privately rumored to make Yuan Shang the successor. Now, the competition for the succession to the throne in Yexia is fierce, between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. "

"Heh." Zheng Du said frivolously, "Is this the family tradition of the Yuan family, brotherly love and respect for each other?" (End of this chapter)