Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 208 Thoughts
Jingkou.

"Governor Huan has always admired Governor Liu. This is just a small token of my appreciation." Huan Qian clapped his hands, and his entourage unloaded boxes from the carriage.

Open one at random, and you'll find either brocade or gold inside.

There were also a dozen or so beautiful women, striking seductive poses for Liu Laozhi, making the surrounding Northern Army soldiers stare wide-eyed and constantly swallow their saliva.

The Huan Commander Huan mentioned by Huan Qian was naturally Huan Xuan, who had just been appointed by the court as the military commander of the seven prefectures of Jing, Si, Yong, Qin, Liang, Yi, and Ning, as well as the General of the Rear, the Governor of Jingzhou, and the one who was granted the authority to act on behalf of the emperor.

Sima Yuanxian hoped that by making his compromise, he could reassure Huan Xuan to stay in the Western Palace.

However, Huan Xuan was more radical than his father Huan Wen. Having just taken Jingzhou and Xiangyang, he couldn't wait to openly and secretly fight with the court. In addition to these seven prefectures, he also didn't want to give up the original governorship of Jiangzhou.

"No reward without merit, what does Governor Huan mean by this?" Liu Laozhi pretended to be confused even though he knew the truth.

"I have no other intention than that the nation is in peril and China is declining. The Northern and Western Prefectures are the pillars of the country, and we should get closer to them in the future." Huan Qian was Huan Chong's second son. He was an upright man with considerable talent and reputation. He entered officialdom through family connections, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yiyang County, and served as the Assistant General.

He was considered a truly talented and learned person among the sons of the Huan clan.

"In the Battle of Fei River, the Northern and Western armies joined forces to resist the Di and Qin, sharing the same blood and spirit. Why must Governor Huan be so polite?"

One cannot hit a smiling face; even Liu Laozhi was moved by the sight of more than twenty boxes of valuables.

Although he was the Governor of the Northern Prefecture, he was still far inferior to these top-tier noble families.

"In the Battle of Fei River, who in the world does not know of the Commander's bravery? With the Northern and Western armies working together with one heart, all matters of the world can be decided with a single word." Huan Qian said with a smile.

He knew before he came that Liu Laozhi would accept the Huan family's goodwill.

While Liu Laozhi was undoubtedly brave and invincible on the battlefield, he was utterly naive and easily seen through when it came to political maneuvering.

He was the same way when he served under Wang Gong. He wore his heart on his sleeve. Not only did Sima Yuanxian see that he was going to rebel, but even Wang Gong's military advisor He Danzhi saw it and advised Wang Gong several times to get rid of Liu Laozhi first. However, Wang Gong was stubborn and did not listen.

Liu Laozhi seemed not to have grasped Huan Qian's implied meaning and laughed, "The important matters of the world are decided by the officials of the court. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, I hold a high position and great power, and have no other ambitions."

Huan Qian was taken aback and quickly glanced at him, only to find that his face was full of sincerity and not hypocritical. He quickly flattered him, saying, "The governor is a true loyal minister. With the governor in the court, the country will surely be peaceful and prosperous."

The words carried a hint of sarcasm; Liu Laozhi's betrayal of Wang Gong was completely devoid of loyalty.

I originally thought Liu Laozhi would have bigger ambitions, but I didn't expect him to only want to stay in the position of Governor of the Northern Army...

Liu Laozhi still didn't understand, and nodded, saying, "If this can be done, it will truly be a blessing for the country."

Liu Yu, who was standing next to him, showed a slight change in expression, but lowered his head and remained silent.

He Wuji stared at Liu Laozhi, wanting to say something but holding back, but in this situation, he couldn't very well speak up to dissuade him.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Huan Qian left satisfied.

Liu Laozhi stroked the brocade with satisfaction. The brocade had a faint luster, like the skin of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old woman, delicate and soft. "It is actually a top-quality Shu brocade!"

Due to years of war in Sichuan, Sichuan brocade was extremely rare and almost as valuable as gold.

The journey from Sichuan to Jiangdong alone was fraught with difficulties and obstacles.

Although Liu Laozhi became the Governor of the Northern Army, he did not own much property and rarely saw so many luxurious items.

He Wuji coughed lightly beside him, “The Huan family has come to test your intentions, Uncle. Huan Xuan is extremely ambitious. Only the Northern Army can resist the Western Army. The world is in turmoil, and the Prince of Langya is a suspicious man. It is not advisable for him to get too close to the Huan family.” With the resources Liu Laozhi has, he can completely influence the situation in the world. There is no need for him to be tempted by a few boxes of gold and silk.

"How could I not know what the Huan family is thinking? What does their fighting with the court have to do with my Northern Army?" Liu Laozhi was in a good mood, his face full of smiles.

He Wuji glanced at the surrounding officers and waved his hand, signaling them to leave.

Liu Yu cupped his hands in greeting and prepared to leave, but was stopped by Liu Laozhi: "Ji Nu is not an outsider, speak your mind."

He Wuji said, "Could it be that Uncle intends to sit back and watch the tigers fight?"

Liu Laozhi looked up from the brocade and at He Wuji. "Shouldn't it be like this?"

Jiankang, sandwiched between Jingkou and Jiangxiang, ironically became a bulwark for Jingkou.

Sima Yuanxian also had the support of Sima Shangzhi, Sima Xiuzhi, Xie Yan, Gao Heng, and other forces under his command, plus the support of the gentry, so his strength on the surface should not be underestimated.

Liu Laozhi wouldn't act without seeing the benefits; he initially saved Sima Yuanxian and his son because of the lucrative position of the Northern Army Commander.

Sima Yuanxian has nothing now, and the imperial court has not issued any edicts, so Liu Laozhi is even less likely to take the initiative to approach him.

He didn't have such grand ambitions to dominate the world, but he did have the idea of ​​taking advantage of the internal strife between the Huan and Sima clans to rise to the top of the powerful clans.

He Wuji earnestly advised, "Uncle has become a pillar of the court. Now you should take the initiative to take a step further, unite the Northern Army under the banner of righteousness, seize power, and then rally the heroes of Jiangzuo to resist the Huan clan. With popular support, the great cause can be accomplished. What is wealth and glory worth?"

The Northern Army was not a unified whole; military power was dispersed among various generals.

That's why people would flock to Sima Yuanxian.

After pondering for a while, Liu Laozhi said, "It hasn't come to that point yet. Even Sima Yuanxian isn't in a hurry, so why should I be?"

He Wuji was quite frustrated. The Northern Army didn't have much time left. Huan Xuan had unified Jingzhou and Xiangyang, clearing away all the obstacles within the Western Army. After a year or two of recuperation, their strength would only be stronger than it is now.

The Northern Army remained unchanged, with military power not being centralized and the generals each having their own agendas.

Huan Xuan has consolidated the Western Army, which now possesses the most powerful navy and controls the upstream area. When they clash in the future, the outcome is already clear...

However, He Wuji also knew that Liu Laozhi and his son were both old friends of the Xie family. They had only climbed up the ranks thanks to Xie Xuan's promotion. They had finally become the Governor of the Northern Army, so naturally they dared not gamble and were unwilling to lose everything they had gained.

Moreover, Liu Laozhi did not possess such great talent and ambition.

At this moment, Liu Yu cupped his hands and said, "The General Headquarters of the Expeditionary Army requests reinforcements. Please make the decision, Commander."

Liu Laozhi laughed and asked, "Is it Huan Hongshang's official document or Agui's?"

Although Liu Daogui's advice was not adopted at the time, upon reflection, he felt that Liu Daogui was thinking of him, since the Liu family of Pengcheng shared both prosperity and adversity.

Clan unity was the rule in the Jin Dynasty. Liu Laozhi did not even use his own clansmen, let alone others.

"Agui sent someone to deliver it," Liu Yu said without any concealment.

Liu Laozhi wanted the same thing. His gaze returned to the brocade, and he waved his hand, "This is a small matter. You can let him handle it."

(End of this chapter)