Jia Xu woke up at dawn the next day. After washing himself with water from the village's well, he called his accompanying subordinates for morning exercises. At Chen time, Huotou cooked three pots of porridge with the millet left by Han Ji, and cooked one pot of soup with the marinated mutton. The group of people squatted on the ground to eat with a bowl in each hand.
When they had almost finished eating, Han Ji happened to arrive on horseback and informed Jia Xu: "Jia Gong, you can go. Your Excellency has made arrangements. Jia Gong will go to Didao to rest tonight and wait for Song Gong tomorrow. It’s time for the conference.”
So everyone packed up and saluted again and continued walking north. Because the terrain was flat, they were finally able to ride on horses. The fifty miles traveled easily under the horses' hooves, and they covered it quickly in two hours.
Didao City is the county seat of Longxi County. Because it was the front line of Pingqiang, it is also the most important town in Liangzhou after Gaoping. In people's imagination, Didao has been in war for many years, and the so-called important town in the past is probably just a deserted high city with few people.
But when Didao City really appeared in front of them, they found that the place was incredibly lively. Outside the city, warriors practicing archery, horses eating grass and roaming, and flags of various colors flying in the forts could be seen everywhere. People in Hufu came and went in the city, and it was impossible to tell whether they were Han or Qiang people. However, when Jia Xu and his party passed by, most of them would stop and look at the flags of Jia Xu and his party curiously. Apparently they had never seen them before. .
Jia Xu's flag is a yellow swan with a blue background, as if it is flying high in the sky. But upon closer inspection, I feel that the yellow swan has lost its elegance and lacks the killing spirit of the battlefield. Instead, it looks a bit lonely in the indigo. But among these flags of jackals, tigers and leopards, it can be considered unique and unforgettable.
Zhang Xiu greeted Jia Xu at the city gate early. When he saw Jia Xu from a distance, he led his horse to greet him and said, "Uncle Wen He said that there are countless heroes in Liangzhou, and I can count on seeing them today." Jia Xu just smiled, and then continued I heard Zhang Xiu say: "It is said that the troops of King Heshou will arrive this evening, and it is impossible to discuss matters tomorrow morning. Therefore, Han Gong said, let us rest first and wait for the news tomorrow."
Jia Xu said "Oh" to express his understanding, but he was actually a little surprised. This recruitment meeting was originally proposed by himself. Logically speaking, Han Sui should discuss it with him privately first. But Han Sui let himself rest, which was really not in line with common sense. After some thought in his mind, he already got the answer: Not only was the Liangzhou Alliance close to collapse, but Han Sui himself was not firm in his will. It seemed that he planned to throw all the pressure on himself for tomorrow's discussion.
This made Jia Xu laugh slightly. After all, this was also a sign of weakness. Well, Jia Xu thought, this is a good opportunity for me to take the initiative.
After a groggy night, at Mao o'clock the next day, a messenger came to the camp to inform him that Han Sui had summoned everyone to discuss matters. Everyone was ready, and all the people attending the meeting were present. For example, Liang Xing, who was in peace, still had an arrow wound on his leg. Even though he could not move, he was still carried by his family on a chariot.
There were about thirty people in attendance, either the most outstanding leaders of the rebel armies in Xiliang, or the most famous among the Qiang and Di tribes.
The Han people have lived in Liangzhou for a long time. After advancing and retreating with the Qiang and Di for many years, many of them also wear Hu clothes, but their hairstyle is still the same as that of the Han people. They may wear futou, turban, or use hairpins to hold their hair, and wear brocade belts or gold belts around their waists. , either kneeling or sitting cross-legged on the mat.
Han Sui, who led Liangzhou Mu and Zhenxi General, was wearing a red military uniform and a turban on his head, sitting with his head in the middle.
The others sitting at the top are:
He led Fufeng to the right and conquered the west general Ma Teng.
Since then, he has been named Heshou, the king of Han Dynasty and Jian of Song Dynasty.
Huang Yan, the governor of Jiuquan.
He named himself Liang Xing, the governor of Hanyang.
He named himself Zhang Heng, the prefect of Wuwei.
He named himself Cheng Gongying, the prefect of Jincheng.
Those present are:
He named himself Ma Wan, the prefect of Zhangye.
He named himself Chengyi, the governor of the North.
He named himself Yang Qiu, the governor of Anding.
He named himself Southern Captain Liu Xiongming.
He named himself Li Kan, Captain of the West.
Jia Xu, the former Huayin school captain and now the prefect of Wudu.
The entourage brought by each person was separated outside the courtyard. The guards inside were Han Sui's son Han Ji and Ma Teng's son Ma Chao. Ma Chao knelt and sat at the door, placing his sword on the mat on the right side. Han Ji wanted to protect his father, so he sat behind Han Sui holding a sword. Although there were only two guards, Ma Chao was well-known among the Liang people as the Hundred-Man Killer and was very trustworthy. Although he was young, he had fought to the death with Lu Bu on the battlefield last year, and the two were evenly matched.
Because Lu Bu was known as a flying general among the enemy troops, everyone called Ma Chao "Little Huohou". In fact, Ma Chao is in his early twenties, and Huo Qubing, who is the same age, has already become a wolf.
Due to language barriers, the remaining Qiang leaders sat on either side of the main room, with tribesmen fluent in Chinese and Qiang beside them interpreting for them. Apparently they intended to listen to the results of their deliberations and were not prepared to speak.
Han Sui personally presided over the meeting.
Everyone sat down and noticed that there was a new face named Jia Xu among the seats. Jia Xu remained calm and allowed their eyes to look up and down on his body. In fact, everyone knew his identity, but their attitude was not clear. No one took the initiative to greet Jia Xu.
Han Sui also met Jia Xu for the first time. He sat for a while with his eyes squinted, as if he was falling asleep, but in fact he was secretly observing Jia Xu's expression, but there was only indifference and calmness on Jia Xu's face, which made him gain nothing. This forced him to introduce Jia Xu to everyone first. Then he introduced everyone around him to Jia Xu, and then said directly: "Everyone is invited to gather today. I mainly want to discuss matters in the North."
Although they all knew it in their hearts, everyone couldn't help but feel a little sad when they heard these opening words.
In the first year of Yanxing, Lu Bu led 20,000 soldiers into Liang. The two sides fought several battles in Shanggui and Longban, but Lu Bu lost due to the lack of troops. Therefore, everyone thought that although they could no longer compete for supremacy in Guanzhong, they could still secede Longyou to defend themselves.
But two years after Yanxing, the situation suddenly changed. Lu Bu settled in the barren Beidi County and concentrated on training his troops in Ningwu and Niyang. It seemed that he no longer wanted to compete with the Liang people for supremacy, but in fact he secretly sent people to recruit the Qiang. people. With the full support of Chen Chong, gold, silver, brocade, and corn paste were continuously sent to Ningwu, and brothers Zhang Chang and Zhang Meng used this to bribe the Qiang of Lingwu.
As a result, within a year, Lu Bu was able to march into Fuping and Lingzhou.
Lingzhou is located in a gentle place in the middle and upper reaches of the river. The plains and ditches are intertwined like a network, and lakes are connected in between. It can grow wheat, millet and rice. It has always been known as the "blockhouse in the south of the Yangtze River". Lu Bu immediately made Lingzhou his state government, recruiting troops and training the Qiang people here. In the winter of the third year of Yanxing, Liangzhou Prefecture had 40,000 soldiers and 80,000 horses, which was far better than at the beginning of Liangzhou.
Lu Bu started the war again. Although the number of soldiers was still at a disadvantage, the heroes in Liangzhou were not united in their hearts. Therefore, they won more victories than lost in two years. So far, they have captured the northern part of Anding and the southern part of Wuwei. The military front threatens Hanyang and Jincheng. county.
If Lu Bu is allowed to continue his campaign to the west, he will attack Yuzhong and Jincheng counties. He was able to cut off the north and south of Liangzhou, preventing the heroes of Liangzhou from rescuing each other, blocking them in each county, and wiping them out one by one. Once he succeeds, it will probably take less than two or three years for the Liangzhou War, which has caused chaos for the Han Dynasty for more than ten years, to come to an end.
But no one can make up their minds on how to resist.
After Han Sui made his sect clear, Ma Teng, who was second in rank, said something to make everyone unite. Song Jian, the king of the river, simply didn't say a word, and the others just echoed and perfunctory, which made Han Sui frown slightly. He coughed and then said: "To be honest, since the second year of Chuping, this is the first time for us to gather together to discuss matters like this. It can be seen that it is a matter of life and death right now. Everyone, we have been side by side on the battlefield for many years, so it can be said that A life-long friendship. Let’s speak truthfully here. What do you think?”
After saying that, he looked around with pleading eyes.
However, everyone has their own plans in mind, and most of them are unwilling to open their mouths to speak. But Song Jian, who had been silent just now, sneered after hearing these words, met Han Sui's eyes, and said: "Han Laohu, when you say these words, have you forgotten how you murdered Brother Bian? Brother Beigong and Brother Li! You and the three of them still have a sworn relationship. If I believe you, can I still have the loess to bury my bones?!"
Song Jian was one of the Yuan Cong involved in the chaos in Liangzhou. Among the people present, only he and Han Sui participated in the rebellion in the first year of Zhongping (184). The rest, such as Ma Teng, Huang Yan and other current Liangzhou giants, had to wait until the fourth year of Zhongping to join the rebellion. , in terms of merit and qualifications, they are not enough to argue with Han Sui.
But what Song Jian just said was exactly what everyone was worried about: Although Lu Bu was terrifying, he couldn't swallow up his leader. If he and Han Sui worked together, Han Sui might take the opportunity to annex him. It would be nothing more than annexation, but no one knows where the successive Liang Rebellion leaders such as Bian Zhang, Beigong Boyu, Li Wenhou, Guo Guo, and Yan Zhong are buried, so how can they dare to reveal their true feelings? In this way, Han Sui's reputation as a hero is truly genuine.
When Han Sui was questioned, his face did not change, and he said slowly: "In these extraordinary times, we can only do extraordinary things. All the previous things were not what Han Sui wanted. They were just a matter of life and death. They had to do it because of the public opinion. Er. Brother Song, why do you do this?"
Song Jian had a sarcastic look on his face, and then he closed his eyes and said nothing.
Han Sui saw that everyone looked strange, and knew that he had lost one after another and his prestige could no longer convince the crowd, so he simply retreated in order to advance, saying: "If you have any scruples about me and think that I am utilitarian, you are shameless and greedy." Man, then I am willing to abdicate in favor of someone worthy of my position. As long as I can protect everyone’s lives, what’s the point of regretting the mere power?”
After Jia Xu heard this, he immediately looked around and saw that everyone looked embarrassed. I couldn't help but admire in my heart: Han Sui is worthy of being a Xiliang falcon, he is indeed brilliant!
The position of Liangzhou Mu was the result of Han Sui's painstaking efforts for several years. Now he has shown his willingness to abdicate, which shows that he is public-spirited. Anyone who is dissatisfied with Han Sui can no longer criticize him. But in the current situation, who is willing to face Lu Bu and the court? Once you sit in this position, it is impossible to surrender and beg for mercy.
Sure enough, except Song Jian, everyone else said it was impossible. Han Sui smiled, looked back at Song Jian, and asked, "Brother Song, are you willing to be the Patriarch?"
Song Jian was tired of helping the case, so he replied: "I have been king at the head of the river for many years, and I have not been with you for a long time. How can I be qualified to give orders?"
The implication was that he recognized Han Sui's words and no longer dwelled on the past.
