I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 927 Release
The next day.

While Luoyang City was still bathed in the light morning mist, the front of the General's Mansion was already bustling with the noise of carriages and horses, and soldiers like a forest. The solemn atmosphere made the passers-by who got up early to chop wood or carry water hold their breath and look sideways.

Zhang Su was dressed in court robes and straightened his clothes. Looking at the magnificent mansion, he couldn't help feeling a little dissatisfied.

Frankly speaking, it is somewhat unreasonable for foreign princes to come to pay tribute to see the general before meeting the king.

But now, considering the power of the general, Zhang Su naturally did not dare to say much about the ceremonial officer's request.

Just like that, with an uneasy mood, Zhang Su, led by the guards, finally stepped into this mansion that symbolizes supreme power.

After passing through many courtyards, Zhang Su was led to a wide hall. Civil and military officials were standing on both sides of the hall, all standing solemnly. Zhang Su took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to the overly young man on the main seat:
"Yizhou's deputy governor Zhang Su, I pay my respects to the general!"

Su Yao nodded slightly: "Zhang Biejia, you have come from afar and have worked hard. I heard that Liu Yan, the governor of Yizhou, is seriously ill, so I specially asked the three princes to return home to show their filial piety. Is this true?"

Zhang Su's heart tightened, and he quickly replied, "General, that's true."

"Envoy Liu is old and suffering from an old illness. He has been bedridden recently and is unable to manage affairs. Therefore, I am sending this official to fulfill my tribute obligations this year and beg the court to let the three princes go home to serve them with medicines, so as to fulfill my filial duty as a son."

Zhang Su's words were sincere and full of facts, and did not sound false at all. The civil and military officials around him were talking about it for a while.

However, Su Yao was not confused by his statement. He knew very well that Liu Yan would indeed die of illness, but not so early.

So, Su Yao waved his hands and said with a half-smile, "This is really strange. I heard that Liu Yizhou has been making great efforts in the state in recent years, suppressing rebellions, rectifying the administration, and suppressing the powerful. How could he suddenly become seriously ill, and it happened so coincidentally? Is there something hidden?"

Zhang Su's forehead was covered with sweat. "General, please understand. Envoy Liu is old and weak. It is because of the many things in Yizhou that he was overwhelmed and suddenly fell ill."

"Oh, if that's the case, then why did he attack and kill the governor of Hanzhong and the governor of Qianwei this year? Could it be that he was the one who did it?"

Su Yao's eyes were as sharp as torches, piercing straight into Zhang Su's heart.

Zhang Su felt cold sweat on his back and quickly bowed his head:
"General, please understand! Hanzhong Su Gu colluded with the rice thief Zhang Xiu and intended to rebel; Qianwei Ren Qi even openly raised troops to attack the state capital. As the governor of the state, it is your duty to suppress the rebellion and protect the people!"

"is it?"

Su Yao sneered, pulled out a bamboo scroll from the desk and threw it on the ground:

"Then why did the secret report I received say that Liu Yan first sent Zhang Lu to cut off the Xiegu Road and secretly funded the rice thieves to rebel? And Ren Qi's complaint clearly stated that Liu Yan had levied heavy taxes and killed good officials in Yizhou!"

The bamboo slips fell to the ground with a crisp sound, and Zhang Su trembled all over. He didn't expect that the court knew so much about the internal situation of Yizhou, and he didn't expect that Ren Qi had left a memorial before his death.

However, Zhang Su was not unprepared these days. He had already figured out ways to shirk responsibility for possible accountability from the court.

The affairs of Hanzhong were all Zhang Lu's fault.

This man deceived the emperor and used the troops of Yizhou to seize Hanzhong. Afterwards, he broke away from Liu Yan's control, and the two sides turned against each other.

As for Ren Qi of Qianwei, his unilateral statement is totally untenable. The fundamental reason is that Liu Yan actively promoted the new policies of the court and suppressed local tyrants, which affected the power of his Ren family, so he took the opportunity to cause chaos. Liu Yan was just defending himself.

"General, please report!"

Zhang Su took a deep breath, bowed his head and said:
"Zhang Lu's wolfish ambitions were beyond our expectations. Envoy Liu sent him to fight in order to stabilize Hanzhong and protect the gates of Yizhou. Who could have thought that he would repay kindness with enmity and establish his own regime?"

"Since Zhang Lu's rebellion, Envoy Liu has been worried day and night. He has sent people to persuade him many times, but they were all rejected. He was even slandered and framed by Zhang Lu. As for Ren Qi, he was born in a wealthy family in Shu County. He pretended to obey the new policy of the court, but Ren Qi attacked for his own selfish interests. Envoy Liu suppressed the rebellion to clear obstacles for the court and maintain the stability of Yizhou!"

After that, Zhang Su handed over another memorial, which contained Liu Yan's apology and a detailed description of the recent situation in Yizhou. Seeing his words, the ministers in the hall were talking about it, and Yuan Shao sneered:
"Zhang Biejia is really good at speaking. According to what you said, the court really misunderstood him. Liu Yizhou is a loyal minister."

Although there was no evidence, it was obvious that Yuan Shao did not believe Zhang Su's lies.

We are all foxes who have been around for thousands of years. How could Yuan Shao not know what Liu Yan's intention was when he first abolished Shi and established Mu?

Even if Liu Yan had a brain cramp, the fact that he immediately asked to be transferred to Yizhou when he heard that Yizhou had the aura of an emperor clearly exposed his little thoughts.

However, as mentioned before, there is no evidence for this matter, Yizhou is too far away, and Liu Yan has not yet done anything illegal like building a carriage for the emperor, so it will be very difficult to investigate it for the time being.

Zhang Su did not argue with Yuan Shao and others, but said directly to Su Yao:
"General, please understand. Envoy Liu has been loyal to the court. Now he is seriously ill and may die at any time. He only asks to see the three young masters for the last time. If you can fulfill this wish, everyone in Yizhou will be grateful to the court and will never forget it!"

After listening to Zhang Su's statement, Su Yao tapped the table with his fingers, his eyes deep and unfathomable. The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the rhythmic tapping sound echoing in everyone's ears.

Obviously, this matter cannot be left unresolved.

After thinking for a moment, Su Yao slowly spoke: "The imperial court governs the world with filial piety. Since Liu Yizhou is so seriously ill, the imperial court cannot ignore him out of both emotion and reason."

"How about this, I will send the imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital to accompany you back to Yizhou to treat Liu Yizhou. As for the three princes, let Liu Fan go back on behalf of his brothers to take care of them. Liu Dan and Liu Zhang will stay in Luoyang and continue to serve the court."

Zhang Su's face turned pale when he heard this.

If the imperial court sends an imperial physician over, wouldn't the real illness or fake illness be exposed immediately?
What will happen to the two young masters who remain in the capital at that time?
Zhang Su kowtowed anxiously and said, "General, Envoy Liu is seriously ill and may not have much time left. The three young masters are his dearest children. If they cannot all return home, I am afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?" Su Yao's eyes turned cold. "Does Liu Yizhou still not trust the imperial physician sent by the court? Or is there another hidden reason for his serious illness?"

Zhang Su's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and he quickly explained: "No, no! Envoy Liu has no such intention! It's just the deep love between father and son, it's human nature!"

Su Yao snorted coldly: "This general has already shown special favor and allowed the eldest son to return home to fulfill his filial duties. If Liu Yizhou is really loyal to the court as you said, he should understand the court's painstaking efforts. This matter is settled, no need to discuss it further!"

Zhang Su knew that arguing further would only backfire, so he kowtowed and thanked the emperor: "On behalf of General Liu, I thank the general for his grace!"

After Zhang Su left, Guo Jia stepped forward and whispered, "General, judging from what he said and did, Liu Yan might be cheating. If he really lets Liu Fan go back..."

"That's fine." Su Yao raised his hand to interrupt, and said with a smile, "It's better if he rebels, so we don't have to waste time dawdling."

"really."

Jia Xu also smiled slightly, twirling his beard and said:
"How can a mere Yizhou resist the current imperial court?"

"But if the general is interested in advancing, why not take this opportunity to march into Hanzhong."

"Didn't Liu Yan say that Zhang Lu had turned against him and would not be under his control?"

"We can seize the opportunity to send troops to capture him. By then, the gates of Yizhou will be wide open. In addition, we can send troops from Jingzhou to the east to provide support. If Liu Yan really dares to have any rebellious thoughts, he will be destroyed overnight!"

"Wenhe is right, that's why I sent Liu Fan to go back with him." Su Yao laughed.

"So that's how it is." Guo Jia suddenly realized, "Although Liu Fan is the eldest son, he has been an official in the court for a long time and knows how powerful we are. The general sent him back. If Liu Yan really has the intention of being disloyal, I'm afraid they will start the chaos first."

(End of this chapter)