After Zhuge Jin used his own plan to secretly instruct Chen Deng and Jian Yong, he did not act rashly immediately.
That afternoon, Chen Deng quietly returned to the city, doing nothing and continuing to keep a low profile - Zhuge Jin had told him that haste makes waste.
Chen Deng now needs to continue to play the red face and play the role of representing Lu Bu's interests. If exposed, the effectiveness of subsequent strategies will be compromised.
As for Jian Yong, he did not return to Xiapi City that afternoon and simply disappeared.
However, Lu Bu did not supervise him strictly, so that Jian Yong walked for a whole day without anyone noticing.
In the end, Chen Deng saw that the time was right, so he pretended to make an excuse to hold a banquet at his house, and then sent people to send invitations to various houses.
When he was sent to Jian Yong's house, he naturally "discovered" that the hospital was empty, so Chen Deng was very "loyal" and sent someone to remind Lu Bu.
Lu Bu then asked Chen Deng personally, but couldn't find him, so he gave up and just asked Chen Deng how long it had been since he saw Jian Yong.
Chen Deng said that he hadn't seen him for three or four days.
Lu Bu had no doubt that he was there, so he really felt that Jian Yong had escaped long ago.
After another two or three days, the wind became calmer and quieter, and this episode was almost forgotten.
Jian Yong, who had been missing for "many days", suddenly returned to Xiapi with a high profile. He also brought Liu Bei's letters and seals, and openly asked to see Lu Bu.
Obviously, his character is "he rushed to Huaiyin after escaping from Xiapi, and was sent back after meeting Liu Bei."
Lu Bu didn't care about Jian Yong at first, but now he was aroused. On the same day, he formally summoned Jian Yong in the Mufu Mansion in Xuzhou, wanting to give him some color.
You just ran away. After you ran away, you dared to come back openly to bring a message. Isn't this a provocation?
Jian Yong, neither humble nor arrogant, came to the main hall and bowed deeply to Lu Bu.
There were no civil servants standing next to Lu Bu, only Wei Xu and Song Xian. It was obvious that he did not intend to come to listen to diplomatic rhetoric today. He just wanted to bring a few reckless men to the execution to make the other party look good.
"A common man! I left you to continue serving as an official in Xiapi. How dare you run away to join Liu Bei? Why do you dare to come back! Aren't you afraid that I will punish you?"
When Lu Bu spoke, he held the sheathed sword in his hand and waved it casually. Obviously, he didn't care at all whether or not someone like Jian Yong would stay. All he wanted was majesty and for others to fear him.
Jian Yong, however, said neither humble nor arrogantly: "The general and Duke Xuande have always been in harmony, and they worked together to ensure the peace of Xuzhou. I have been at the general's office for the past few days, and I have been assisting Duke Xuande in governing the place. Why should I defect to him?"
Of course, Zhuge Jin had repeatedly taught him these lines, but to be able to speak them so clearly, without fear, and to polish them on the spot is considered a skill.
Zhuge Jin himself didn't want to reason with a reckless man like Lu Bu because he was emotionally unstable. Zhuge Jin only likes to compete with other yin people in a battle of wits. The more yin people are, the more rational and regular their words and deeds will be.
On the opposite side, Lu Bu was also confused for a moment after hearing Jian Yong's words. He didn't expect such a development at all.
Liu Bei and I have been fighting tooth and nail to grab territory, but the people sent back by Liu Bei actually said that both sides are still "working together as one heart". Is it possible that we haven't woken up?
Because he was too shocked, Lu Bu didn't know how to refute.
Jian Yong had no choice but to remind him proactively: "Does the general think that what Xuande Gong said is wrong? But Xuande Gong still feels that the general is his support, and he is working hard to help him stabilize the rear to prevent the rebels from joining.
In order to commend the general's righteousness, Xuande Gong also drafted a memorial to the Xuchang court. The table elaborates on his contribution to defeating the Yuan thieves and defeating Guangling. It also says that the general's achievements are second only to his.
If the general had not punished the rebels, the hinterland of Xuzhou would have been sacrificed to Yuan Shu by the rebels. Therefore, Xuande Gong took the merit of Yuan Shu for this purpose and represented the general as the Mu of Xuzhou! Or the governor of Xuzhou! "
Lu Bu was stunned for a moment. Hearing this "or", he felt very strange.
No matter why Liu Bei expressed his opinions, shouldn't his internal and external suggestions be clear? Even if the imperial court does not allow Xuzhou to be granted the title of Mu and be demoted to the rank of governor, it is still the court's decision. How could Liu Bei provide the imperial court with multiple alternatives?
However, Lu Bu's surprise was quickly resolved by Jian Yong's small action.
Jian Yong took out two scrolls from his arms, which were obviously two confessions from Liu Bei. You can still choose which one to hand over to the court.
Lu Bu had always been greedy for profit, so he was attracted by these two seals, so he stopped thinking about other rational issues for the time being, and just followed this bait and asked in detail:
"So, of the two seals drawn up, one of them is to represent me as Xuzhou's pastor due to my merits, and the other is to represent me as Xuzhou's governor? Which one should be handed over in the end? It's up to you Do you want to negotiate some terms with me? Can you let me take a look first?"
"General, you are really wise. You can guess right." Jian Yong respectfully presented it and let Lu Bu take a look first.
Lu Bu first checked the seal and other letters on the watch to make sure it belonged to Liu Bei - it indeed had Liu Bei's signature and the seal of General Zhendong.
Then he read the content with peace of mind, and then he became more and more shocked as he read.
"Zhendong General and his ministers are preparing an edict to attack Yuan..."
"However, it is deplorable that the Yuan thief secretly colluded with the Danyang thief Cao Bao, Xu Dan, Zhang Kuang and others, promising huge profits and fake positions, making them an internal agent, secretly occupying Xiapi, and ending the rebellion against the king's master...
"Fortunately, Lu Bu, the general of Pingdong who was guarding Peijun, was brave and decisive, and fought hard without caring about his own life. Hearing of the uprising, he rushed to the rescue at starry night. When Zhang Fei, the captain of Xiapi, was in a stalemate with the traitor Xu Dan and other troops, he secretly attacked the traitor Xu's back. All night And by pacifying the rest of the thieves, Xiapi will not fall into the hands of the Yuan thieves, and the rebel king's army will not be cut off from support and collapse..."
"After that, he broke Ji Ling, annihilated Liu Xun, and regained Guangling. They all felt that Lu Bu had stabilized the rear and transported military supplies. The envoys were able to transfer Zhang Fei to the front line of Huaiyin and made a desperate move to defeat the thieves..."
After Lu Bu read it, he was dumbfounded.
"Liu Bei actually said that my attack on Tapi was to quell the rebellion of Danyang soldiers and help him stabilize the rear?"
This is really an unexpected way to put gold and credit on his face.
How could Liu Bei be so tolerant and lose three counties of Xuzhou? Not only did he admit it, but he also helped Lu Bu to cover up his lies, and even went so far as to ask for an official position from the imperial court like this?
But when Lu Bu thought about it carefully, this excuse did make sense.
As long as Liu Bei is willing to do this, the chances of the court believing him are not small.
Because in the past month, although Lu Bu occupied the two counties of Xiapi and Pengcheng, he did not take any further hostile actions against Liu Bei's army in the front. In the original history, after Liu Bei was stolen from Xiapi, he tried to come back to counterattack and recapture it. , so that the two sides would have a bloody battle, and they would be completely torn apart and the show would not be able to continue.
But the problem is that Liu Bei in this life was led to another path by Zhuge Jin's plan. He chose to block the news and continued to fight against Yuan Shu. Lu Bu was also happy to digest the unsecured territory first, and did not want to make more enemies, so he had been in peace this month.
It makes sense in name to say that Liu Bei lacked troops and was unable to defend his home, so he asked Lu Bu to help him secure a retreat.
Lu Bu felt that his brain was no longer enough, but his tone of voice when he spoke to Jian Yong was much gentler: "Brother Xianhe, you said that Duke Xuande would like to declare me as the shepherd of Xuzhou, but how can the court believe what he said in his heart? ? He said that I came to quell the Danyang soldiers who rebelled. Can this statement be concealed from Cao Cao? "
Jian Yongzheng raised his hand and said: "My Lord Xuande has always been sincere to others. Whether he can convince Cao Cao is not something he can guarantee. But he can do his best to speak out and be honest.
Moreover, didn't the general notice the difference between the two seals? The first letter to declare that the general is the governor of Xuzhou requires less evidence. Whether Cao Cao is willing to believe it or not depends entirely on God's will.
The second seal indicating that the general is Xuzhou Mu requires more evidence from the general and is more difficult, but it is therefore easier to be accepted by Cao Cao. Even if he cannot be granted the title of Zhou Mu in the end, if he wants to be promoted, a governor should be fine. "
Lu Bu was so blinded by interests just now that he didn't even have time to look carefully at the conditions he needed to pay. When Jian Yong reminded him, he looked carefully again and noticed:
The letter Liu Bei wrote relatively solemnly, indicating that he was the Mu of Xuzhou, contained an additional statement, that is, "Zhang Fei presented the heads of the traitor Cao Bao at the palace, and Lu Bu presented the heads of the rebels Xu Dan and Zhang Kuang at the palace." Down".
That is to say, all three rebels who were accused of being Yuan Shu's collaborators were killed and their heads were taken to Xuchang to prove that they hated Yuan's thieves as much as they hated him and would not be lenient.
Your credit, Lu Bu, is to put down the rebellion and kill the traitors who were Yuan Shu's collaborators!
If you don't take the traitor's head to Xuchang, the probability of Cao Cao trusting you will of course be lower, and your contribution will be much smaller.
If you send the head, although I dare not say that Cao Cao will believe it, at least the probability will be greatly increased, and your nominal credit will also be much greater.
Lu Bu had no friendship with those people, but after hearing about it, he couldn't help but have thoughts.
He very much needed the serious title of Xuzhou Mu and the canonization by the imperial court to strengthen the legitimacy of his rule over the three counties in central Xuzhou, which would help him quickly and completely take over the territory.
It might even help him formally conquer Zang Ba who was occupying Langya County.
In contrast, Cao Bao is dead anyway and his head has been taken away by Zhang Fei. What is there to be stingy about the two remaining little fishes and shrimps, Xu Dan and Zhang Kuang?
Cao Bao was originally the captain of Xiapi and the chief general of Tao Qian's Danyang soldiers. And Xu Dan and Zhang Kuang were just other commanders around Cao Bao.
Moreover, Lu Bu himself has betrayed his master many times, so no one understands those who betray their master better than him.
He knew that those people could betray Liu Bei yesterday, and they might betray him in the future. What use would such unfaithful and unjust villains have?
Now there is a legitimate excuse to chop it off, and then let Gao Shun's camp swallow up the Danyang soldiers. Wouldn't it be beautiful?
The cruel and profit-seeking Lu Bu couldn't help but order: "Song Xian, go and tell Gao Shun to ask Xu Dan and Zhang Kuang to come..."
When Song Xian and Wei Xu heard this, they suddenly looked troubled.
Of course they don't care about Xu Dan and Zhang Kuang's life or death.
But they knew Lu Bu too well: sometimes Lu Bu made an impulsive decision, regretted it later, and would take his anger out on others, blaming the bystanders for not stopping him.
They had all suffered this loss and suffered military sticks, so they tried to persuade them:
"General... this is a serious matter. Once the news is leaked, no matter whether Xu Dan or Zhang Kuang is summoned or not, it will be very difficult... Should we invite Mr. Gongtai and Mr. Yuan Long to discuss it together before making a decision?"
Lu Bu was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that he had indeed been reckless.
His original intention today was just to scare Jian Yong and challenge this guy's provocation, so he didn't bring any advisers to watch.
This is not a team configuration for discussing foreign affairs at all, and I almost got trapped.
Lu Bu felt embarrassed in his heart. He coughed a few times to cover up his soft ears, and then commanded in a pretentious manner:
"Song Xian, please take Jian Yong down and confine him! No outsiders are allowed to meet or talk to him! Wei Xu, go and invite Gongtai and Yuan Long to discuss matters!"
Wei Xu and Song Xian were relieved and went to do it immediately.
They have already reminded that if there are any subsequent mistakes in decision-making, it will also be Chen Gong and Chen Deng's responsibility.
