My younger brother Zhuge Liang

Chapter 211 Zhang Liao Surrenders
Zhang Liao, who had been under house arrest for more than a month with good food and drink, finally had the opportunity to meet an outsider. It was impossible to say that he had no expectations in his heart.

House arrest and loneliness are the most likely to wear down a person's will, but Liu Bei did not treat him harshly. His food, clothing, and daily life were fully met. Zhang Liao could not find any fault with him, and could not accumulate hatred.

Following Zhao Yun on horseback and passing several streets, Zhang Liao soon arrived at the former Xuzhou Mu's government office. When he entered, he saw Liu Bei preparing a banquet to entertain Sun Qian who had returned from afar.

The banquet was not large, with only seven or eight people participating. Apart from Liu Bei and Sun Qian, the others were important civil and military officials in Liu Bei's camp, and Guan Yu was also present.

Zhang Liao was an enemy of them, but he had no personal grudge against them. After being under house arrest for a long time, he was in urgent need of socializing, so he subconsciously bowed.

Liu Bei's expression did not change, but he spoke just right: "Hmm? Zilong, Wenyuan's injury seems to have healed a long time ago?"

Zhao Yun responded: "I have also observed along the way, and there is indeed no hindrance to the movement."

Liu Bei then put on an expression that said "Oh, I'm so negligent" and said, "I was negligent in asking. If I had known that Wenyuan had recovered, I should have met him as soon as possible. I forgot about it because I have been busy these days. I hope you don't feel bored."

Even though Zhang Liao originally wanted to say "How can house arrest and loneliness make me surrender?", he completely lost his temper after hearing this excuse.

Liu Bei had already said it clearly: he didn't want to put him under house arrest, he just knew he was injured, so he didn't talk to him immediately, but just gave him good food and drink to take care of him, and then forgot about it.

What is there to complain about?

Zhang Liao's resentment was like hitting cotton, with nowhere to vent the force.

Just when Zhang Liao was depressed and didn't know how to respond, Liu Bei stood up and walked over, patting his left arm that had been hit by a crossbow arrow five months ago. Everything seemed so natural.

Liu Bei's force was not too strong, and he even pinched it with his fingers. It was obvious that he had experienced many hardships and was very experienced in wound assessment. Then, without waiting for Zhang Liao to answer, he commented to himself: "It should be fine. He will be able to go into battle next month."

The most serious wounds on Zhang Liao's body were the two crossbow arrows five months ago. In comparison, the two shots that Zhao Yun shot him off his horse a month and a half ago were just some bruises and internal injuries, not serious, and healed faster than the crossbow wounds.

Liu Bei's familiar attitude completely irritated Zhang Liao.

Liu Bei certainly did not give Zhang Liao a chance to think. He quickly returned to his seat and sat down. He pointed to the empty table next to Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao and made a gesture to invite them in. Zhao Yun sat down immediately. Zhang Liao, following Zhao Yun's lead, also sat down first without knowing what was going on.

Liu Bei then casually expressed his concern: "Marquis Wen and General Gao have already surrendered to the court and have made peace with Prime Minister Cao. Wen Yuan should not object to serving the court, right?"

Zhang Liao held it in for a long time before finally having the chance to speak. He immediately protested, "Does the General of Chariots and Cavalry also want to consider himself as a representative of the court? I serve the court, not you."

During the period when Zhang Liao was under house arrest, he had no way to learn about the recent situation of Lu Bu and Gao Shun. Even when Pengcheng was captured, he was not the first to know about it - although he had a hunch because he was taken to Pengcheng by Zhao Yun that day to undermine the morale of the Pengcheng defenders when persuading them to surrender.

Later, Cao Cao hurriedly sent Xiahou Yuan to replace Zhao Yun to besiege the east gate of Pengcheng and let Zhao Yun come back. At that time, Zhang Liao had already sensed that Cao's army was going to launch a general attack, and Lu Bu might be in danger.

But everything was not really confirmed until this morning when Zhao Yun went to find him again and told him everything. To this day, Zhang Liao still feels a little unreal.

Liu Bei didn't care when he heard him say that. He just smiled and said, "Wenyuan thinks that I can't represent the court, so he wants to go to Xudu and serve Cao Cao? To be honest, although I captured Xiapi, Xuzhou was originally mine. It was Lu Bu who attacked it three years ago. He was the one who wronged me first.

For three whole years, I kept my word and forgave him for returning my family. This time, Yuanlong was unwilling to die for Lü Bu's ungrateful followers, and I couldn't sit idly by and watch my old friend fail, so I came to take him over.

Anyway, if Xia Pi doesn't fall into my hands, it will fall into Cao Cao's hands, and Lü Bu will inevitably be divided. I have endured it to this point, and I have done my best! Wen Yuan is so unclear about the situation. He doesn't hate Cao Cao, but hates me! Besides, do you think Lü Bu and others will be safe if they go to Xudu?"

Zhang Liao was speechless after hearing Liu Bei's repeated arguments. After all, Liu Bei was morally impeccable. After he explained the right and wrong of taking Xia Pi, Zhang Liao had to admit that Liu Bei was not unjust.

Zhang Liao choked for a few seconds before changing the subject. He stopped talking about morals and asked about Lu Bu's recent situation:

"General Chariot and Cavalry invited me here today because he must have learned about Marquis Wen's recent situation from Xudu and knew that they were in a difficult situation, so he wanted me to know as well, right?"

Liu Bei did not deny this. He waved gently to Sun Qian beside him, and Sun Qian knew it was his turn to speak.

Sun Qian put down his wine cup and said solemnly, "I sent the maidservant of Marquis Wen and the families of Marquis Cheng, Song Xian and other generals back to Xudu the day before yesterday. Cao Cao did not pay attention to this matter personally. He just heard that the families of the surrendered generals had been sent and thanked them casually.

But a few days later, when I came into contact with the surrendered generals, I saw that Hou Cheng and Song Xian resented Wen Hou for this. They said that most of their maids and loyal servants were detained, but Lu Bu Gao Shun's maid was released. It must be that Lu Bu was still making friends with foreign vassals and took the initiative to mention it to Cao Cao, asking Cao Cao to beware of Lu Bu.

I have also found some circumstantial evidence. If Wenyuan does not believe it, he can retrieve it at will. In short, when Wen Hou first arrived in Xudu, he was restrained by the generals who surrendered first. In my opinion, as long as Wen Hou is alive, Hou Cheng and Song Xian will be uneasy, always worrying that their former master's status will surpass them again in the future."

Sun Qian's words left Zhang Liao speechless.

If Sun Qian started speaking ill of Cao Cao right from the start, saying that Cao Cao had been targeting Lu Bu in various ways since he arrived in Xu Du, Zhang Liao would probably have been suspicious.

But Sun Qian spoke sincerely. He laid his cards on the table right from the start and told Zhang Liao openly: Cao Cao is busy with all kinds of affairs and does not have the time to make things difficult for a surrendered general who has been stripped of his military power.

Even if Cao Cao still wants to deal with Lu Bu in the future, given his cunningness, he will definitely not be in a hurry.

But just because Cao Cao is busy doesn’t mean that others are busy too.

In the city of Xudu, a small circle has formed to spontaneously suppress Lu Bu and Gao Shun. It is composed of those generals who surrendered earlier than them.

This is very credible. Zhang Liao just used his own logic to make a simple guess and knew that this was absolutely true.

Cao Cao was smart. He didn't need to suppress Lu Bu himself. It was enough to let those surrendered generals fight each other out of fear. It also showed that Cao Cao was magnanimous and didn't care about these petty things. Lu Bu and Gao Shun had already surrendered, and the people they surrendered to were obviously not good. They had no choice, and it was impossible for him to follow them.

Now Zhang Liao has no third choice but to either remain unknown from now on or find another force with a good reputation that can barely represent the court and be loyal to it.

When Liu Bei saw that Zhang Liao looked embarrassed and remained silent, he knew that the news Sun Qian brought back from Xu Du had taken effect and had won the other party's trust.

He inadvertently winked at Sun Qian again, indicating that Sun Qian should tell him all the rest of the news in one go.

Sun Qian understood what he meant and immediately continued to add fuel to the fire: "Wenyuan, there is another piece of news from Xudu. Although it is not directly related to Marquis Wen, it is related to the Grand Marshal. Perhaps you will be interested in it."

Zhang Liao was slightly stunned, as if he was still trying to recall who the Grand Marshal was. After a few seconds, he finally remembered and asked back, "Grand Marshal? Zhang Zhishu (Zhang Yang) who is stationed in Henei?"

Zhang Yang, the Grand Marshal, was appointed the year before Cao Cao welcomed Emperor Liu Xie. He was honored for his service in protecting the emperor during his return trip to the east. After Liu Xie arrived in Luoyang, Zhang Yang also provided the court with food and cloth for half a year and helped Liu Xie to hastily rebuild the palace in Luoyang. Liu Xie was grateful for his protection of the royal family and appointed Zhang Yang the Grand Marshal the following year.

A few months after the title was conferred, Liu Xie was taken to Xu Du by Cao Cao. Among the other loyal ministers who returned to the east, Yang Feng, Han Xian and others were excluded by Cao Cao. However, because Cao Cao did not find any handle against Zhang Yang, he always held the honorary title of Grand Marshal, but he had no real power. In fact, he only controlled the Henei County.

When Lü Bu was forced out of Guanzhong by Li Jue and Guo Si, he temporarily took refuge with Zhang Yang in Henei, so he had a good relationship with Zhang Yang. Later, when Lü Bu launched the "Purge the Court of Emperors and Punish Cruel Officials", nominally speaking for Taiwei Yang Biao, but in fact to compete with Cao Cao for territory and official positions, Zhang Yang also supported Lü Bu and thought that Yang Biao should be pardoned and that he should not be implicated.

Last year, when Lü Bu and Cao Cao went to war again due to friction, Zhang Yang once again expressed his support for Lü Bu, thinking that even if Lü Bu had friction with the troops directly under the court, he was not guilty enough to be killed, and Cao Cao should not have attacked him in this way. Now that Lü Bu has finally been killed, it seems that Zhang Yang's days will definitely be difficult.

Zhang Liao didn't know that according to the original history, Zhang Yang had already died at this time - Zhang Yang was supposed to die three months after Lu Bu's death, and was purged as a sympathizer of Lu Bu. Cao Cao also instigated Zhang Yang's subordinates to commit murder.

Now, because Lu Bu was killed late, Zhang Yang also lived a little longer.

Seeing that Zhang Liao was indeed concerned about this news, Sun Qian confessed everything: "Just when I was sending the families of Hou Cheng and other generals to Xudu, I heard the bad news: Cao Cao summoned the Grand Marshal, who had disagreed with him on the issue of Wen Hou, to the capital in the name of 'Wen Hou has surrendered', saying that he wanted to mediate and appease him.

The Grand Marshal knew that Cao Cao might be plotting against him, so he was unwilling to go to the capital. He stationed troops in Henei to defend himself, and sent an envoy to Yecheng, hoping to submit to General Yuan. However, as soon as the envoy was sent out, his generals began to oppose him. One of his generals, Yang Chou, openly assassinated the Grand Marshal and led the civil and military officials of Henei to submit to Cao Cao.

Wenyuan, think about it. Cao Cao didn't even let go of the noble man like Da Sima who once supported Wen Hou. Is it possible that Cao Cao would let Wen Hou and his men go in the future? Although it is now announced to the outside world that Yang Chou murdered his master on his own initiative, do you believe that there was no Cao Cao behind this?"

As soon as this breaking news came out, Zhang Liao's face changed completely.

He didn't expect that Cao Cao would not even let go of Zhang Yang, who had once supported Lu Bu.

Although Zhang Yang had a high status and had other conflicts with Cao Cao, Cao Cao eventually made a big deal out of it at this critical juncture.

Zhang Liao had already predicted that Lu Bu would definitely not have a good ending if he stayed with Cao Cao.

After much hesitation, Zhang Liao finally couldn't stand the multiple rounds of information bombardment that day and finally gave in.

He stood up and left the table, bowed to Liu Bei and said, "You are ignorant and guilty, and you cannot distinguish between kindness and evil. You have wasted time until now. The general of the chariot and cavalry is benevolent and righteous. In the future, you will be the one to rectify the Han Dynasty and eliminate the thieves who deceive the emperor. Liao is willing to surrender and follow in his footsteps, so that we can join in the great cause."

Liu Bei finally waited for these words, and inevitably felt a little proud. He said nothing more at the moment: "It's not too late for Wenyuan to wake up today. You are from the same hometown as Yunchang, and you will follow Yunchang in the future. You can also retain your original military position, but the position of prefect cannot be granted for the time being.

If you make great achievements in the future, you won't have to worry about not being able to give your wife and children a title. Come, come, come, since we have such a happy occasion today, you can all drink together and celebrate Wenyuan's return."

As Liu Bei spoke, he and other civil and military officials raised their glasses and drank to celebrate Zhang Liao's surrender.

Zhang Liao was a little embarrassed at first, but he soon discovered that the rules in Liu Bei's camp seemed to be more relaxed than those in Lu Bu's camp, and there were no strict etiquette of respect and hierarchy.

During the banquet, everyone took turns to urge Zhang Liao to drink and encourage him at first, but soon the topic turned back to discussing the important military news brought back by Sun Qian.

After all, everyone had just heard the news that Sun Qian brought back today. In addition to being used to persuade Zhang Liao to surrender, there were many more details worth digging into.

At this moment, Zhang Liao had already surrendered and there were no outsiders in the hall. Liu Bei directly allowed him to participate in high-level military discussions, which was also a way of showing trust, so that Zhang Liao would feel that he was no longer treated as an outsider as soon as possible.

Liu Bei asked a handsome scholar in his early twenties in front of Zhang Liao without hesitation: "Zi Yu, do you think that Zhang Yang wanted to join Yuan Shao, but Yang Chou killed Zhang Yang and joined Cao Cao instead, will it immediately lead to a fallout between Yuan and Cao? If so, will Yuan Shao suffer in terms of his righteousness?"

After hearing Liu Bei's address, Zhang Liao realized that the young and handsome scholar was the famous Zhuge Jin, whom he had never met before.

"I didn't expect that the great sage who helped Liu Bei escape from desperate situation would be such a young man? It's really amazing, he looks to be only in his early twenties?" Zhang Liao couldn't help but be amazed.

Zhuge Jin, who was sitting next to Liu Bei, was calmly waving his folding fan, his heart filled with emotion. He was organizing his words and thinking about how to answer.

In his heart, Zhuge Jin was of course fully aware of the far-reaching impact that the series of cases involving Yang Chou killing Zhang Yang would have later on - this was the direct fuse for the feud between Yuan and Cao, and was also the remote cause of the subsequent Battle of Guandu.

Of course, now, all this seems to be a little different from what he knows in history books - in history, three months after Lu Bu's death, Zhang Yang wanted to surrender to Yuan Shao, but was killed by his general Yang Chou, and then Yang Chou surrendered to Cao Cao. But Yang Chou also failed to surrender to Cao Cao, and was killed by his own general Sui Gu on the way. Sui Gu raised the banner of "avenging Zhang Yang and killing the rebel Yang Chou", and then Sui Gu went to surrender to Yuan Shao again.

Therefore, in the original history, Yuan Shao took advantage of the repeated changes in the Henei Incident, which satisfied Yuan Shao's vanity of "forgetting his life for a little profit" and delayed the Battle of Guandu for a while before it broke out (on the other hand, it was also because before the incident of the belt edict, Yuan Shao had no excuse to go to war with the court in full force).
Now Yang Chou killed Zhang Yang, but Sui Gu did not kill Yang Chou. Zhuge Jin did not know whether it was because of the butterfly effect, the triggering conditions were not sufficient, or it was simply because time was too tight and it had not happened yet.

He felt that no conclusion could be drawn for the time being and that it would take another month or so to see how all parties reacted.

(End of this chapter)