Three Kingdoms: I choose Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao, why are you crying, Diao Chan?

Chapter 254: Promotion of the title?! (Thanks to Moment Actually Not Taking Away for the 1200z monthly ticket support~)

After Wu Yi was beheaded, Zhang Liao ordered his men to bury Wu Yi with great honor outside the city.

Before this, he had distributed the antidote to the soldiers and civilians in the city.

After taking the antidote, the diarrhea stopped immediately and the signs of evil fire running rampant in the body also disappeared.

Hundreds of soldiers and civilians died of diarrhea and exhaustion.

Yan Yan was very sad when he learned about it, but at least it was much better than poisoning as he had proposed at the beginning, which resulted in corpses everywhere in the city.

Naturally, the credit for this battle goes to Yan Yan.

Zhang Liao reported directly to Lu Bu and promoted Yan Yan to the rank of Lieutenant General.

After the capture of Yangqu City, Zhang Liao continued to lead his army to Jiangzhou, the capital of Ba County, in the next half month.

Seeing that no reinforcements were sent from the rear, the defender of Jiangzhou City was obviously planning to abandon Ba County, so he simply surrendered the city.

When the defenders in the northern part of Ba County who were confronting Zhang Lu learned that the county seat Jiangzhou had surrendered, they all surrendered as well.

From then on, the entire Ba County was completely controlled by Lu Bu’s army!

……

Lujiang County, Wancheng.

When Lu Bu read the letter sent by Zhang Liao, he was deeply moved when he saw that Wu Yi died for his sister Wu Xian.

Fight thousands of miles, attack the pass and kill the generals!
Wu Yi was also a rare and outstanding general in the late Shu Han Dynasty, but it was a pity... he was born at the wrong time.

"Wu Yi is not here. He has already sent another group away..."

Lu Bu murmured something and silently kept Wu Yi's last request in his heart.

At this moment, Kuai Liang's cough suddenly sounded outside the door:

"...My Lord, the eunuch from the imperial court has arrived to deliver the imperial decree."

"Oh?"

Lu Bu pushed the door open and looked at Kuai Liang, who was coughing lightly with his hands covering his mouth, and asked with concern:
"Zirou's cough still hasn't healed completely?"

Seeing that the man was more concerned about the health of his subordinate than the imperial edict, Kuai Liang felt warm inside and replied with a smile:

"Thank you for your concern, my lord. Once you get some diseases, they will stay with you for life.

"But the miracle doctor has taken care of me. Apart from... coughing, coughing occasionally, I'm fine now."

Lu Bu patted Kuai Liang's shoulder and sighed helplessly.

After all, the other party was infected with the disease because he was helping him defend the city, and he felt somewhat guilty about it.

"By the way, the imperial court sent us an imperial edict at this time. Could it be a reward for our army occupying Ba County?"

Facing Lu Bu's doubts, Kuai Liang shook his head slightly:

“Although the area of ​​Ba County is as large as eight or nine Jingzhao counties, nearly half of it is mountainous.

“The imperial court is not going to reward us just for a county.

"The most important thing is that we have no reason to come here this time. In my opinion, the imperial court's visit this time may not be a good thing."

Lu Bu thought it made sense.

But it doesn't matter. With the foundation of occupying two states and seventeen counties, he is not afraid of any accusations from the court.

Even if Liu Xie took the initiative to break up with him, it would be easier for him to take the next step!
Lu Bu brought Kuai Liang straight to the reception room and met the eunuch who was already waiting there.

The so-called Xiaohuangmen refers to the eunuchs of the court and the eunuchs who convey imperial decrees.

When the eunuch saw Lu Bu coming, he immediately put down the teacup in his hand, stood up and bowed:

"This servant has met Lord Wen."

Lu Bu pressed his hand:

"You are welcome, sir. I wonder what is the important matter that brings you here this time?"

The eunuch took out a roll of golden silk from his sleeve and presented it with both hands:
"This is not an ordinary imperial edict, but your majesty wants to discuss something with Marquis Wen, please have Marquis Wen take a look personally."

"Discussing things?"

A trace of suspicion flashed across Lu Bu's eyes. He took the imperial edict with both hands and opened it to read:

"In the winter of the first year of Xingping, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty issued an edict:

"My dear minister, you have taken Hanzhong and Pingba counties, and your power is known to the whole world. I am truly pleased.

"However, Hanzhong is the place where the royal family made their fortune and it has extraordinary significance." I want to exchange Chenliu and Yingchuan counties for Hanzhong County. What do you think?

"If you have any other requests, please feel free to ask. As long as I can do it, I will do my best to satisfy them.

"I appreciate your kindness and await good news!"

After reading the contents of the imperial edict, Lu Bu frowned.

After a long silence, he bowed to the eunuch and said:
"This is a serious matter. Please stay in the city for two days. When I make a decision, I will inform you."

The eunuch was not surprised and nodded with a smile:

"I will follow Marquis Wen's wishes."

After watching the eunuch leave, Lu Bu's eyes quickly became solemn.

Although I guessed that the other party would not have good intentions this time, I didn't expect it to be such a matter of exchanging counties for each other.

Lu Bu immediately ordered Kuai Liang to summon all the civil and military officials in the city to his mansion to discuss the matter with them.

Soon, the military generals led by Gao Shun and the civil officials led by Zhang Zhao all came to the mansion and took their seats.

Lu Bu sat in the highest seat and handed the imperial edict to his subordinates to read in turn.

I tapped the armrests of the chair with my fingers, making a "da da da" sound:

"I wonder what you think of His Majesty's will?"

Gao Shun immediately stood up and clasped his fists:

"Hanzhong is the throat of Yizhou and the gateway to Shu. Once lost, the enemy can march straight into the plains of Shu!
"Although Yingchuan Chenliu is more prosperous, its geographical location is totally incomparable to Hanzhong!"

Seeing Gao Shun's serious face, Lu Bu nodded slightly:

"Father Xiao, please sit down first. I will listen to other people's opinions first."

Gao Shun said "hmm" and sat down with a sullen face.

At this time, the secretary Jiang Gan stood up and said:
“Although General Gao’s words make sense, this is the emperor’s will after all.

“Your Majesty seems to be discussing with Marquis Wen, but if we reject him, I’m afraid he will not only be unhappy, but will also bear a grudge against us.

"It will also give him an excuse to attack us..."

Jiang Gan also made sense, and this was also what Lu Bu was worried about:
"So do you have any idea to have the best of both worlds, so that we can keep Hanzhong and the emperor won't hate us?"

After Lu Bu asked this question, all his subordinates started thinking about it.

When the whole hall fell into silence, Zhang Hong, the counselor of education, rubbed his philtrum, stood up and said:
"My lord, I have a plan that may make His Majesty the Emperor give up on his own initiative."

"Oh?"

Lu Bu looked at the other party expectantly:

"What good ideas do you have, Zi Gang?"

Zhang Hong smiled innocently and said:
"Didn't the emperor say that the lord can make any request he wants?

"My lord has been the Marquis of Wen for a long time, and he controls seventeen counties, making him the greatest lord in the world.

"Now is the time to upgrade your title to 'Duke'!
“In addition, you can ask the emperor to give us Hongnong County in Sizhou as well.

"If he can agree to our demands, it won't be a loss even if we give Hanzhong County to him!"

When Zhang Hong said this, everyone present, including Lu Bu, were all shocked.

Raise the title from Marquis to Duke? !

Should Hongnong County of Sizhou be exchanged as well?
Zhang Hong dared to say it, but they didn’t dare to think about it!
You should know that Lu Bu's title of Marquis Wen belongs to the ranks of marquises and county marquises, which is the highest level of marquisate.

This was also a major reward he received for killing the traitor Dong and supporting the Han Dynasty.

If one wants to be promoted to a more honorable duke, it is difficult to obtain the court's approval without sufficient merit.

As for Hongnong County of Sizhou, it is not only the heartland of Sizhou, but also an important place connecting Jingzhao with Henei County and Henan County.

Liu Xie might not be able to accept any one of the above two requests, let alone both of them together.

Of course, the emperor would not refuse the request to promote the title, but he would most likely not give up Hongnong County.

Lu Bu thought Zhang Hong’s suggestion was brilliant!
If his title could be upgraded to "Duke", his reputation throughout the world would undoubtedly be further enhanced!
If Liu Xie was really willing to agree to these two requests, it would not be a loss even if he gave Hanzhong County to the other party!
At worst, we can just fight back later.

Everyone thought that Zhang Hong's idea was excellent, so Lu Bu invited the eunuch over early the next morning.

After receiving Lü Bu's reply, Xiao Huangmen immediately returned to Jingzhao with his letter...

(End of this chapter)