That night, Xu Zongwen hosted a banquet for all the civil servants in Sizhou, including Pei Qing, the driver of Sizhou, and dozens of county magistrates from various places.
"Everyone, Xu will drink this bottle first as a token of respect!" Xu Zongwen held up a bottle and said in respect to everyone.
Everyone was trembling, walking on thin ice, and did not dare to offend the general Xu Zongwen. They all raised their copper jugs and porcelain cups and enthusiastically agreed.
After three drinks and five dishes, Xu Zongwen stood up and walked around: "Everyone! You are all Confucian scholars who have read poetry and books. You have been officials for more than ten years. You are all talents of the country. Today, Xu once again seeks talents for the country. I want to Invite a few people to serve as my special envoys from the Jin Dynasty and Xu Xiao, and rush to Guzang, Jinyang, and Shengle to convey our message to King Lu Guang of Liang, King Fu Pi of Qin, and King Tuobagui of Dai. Willing to seek peace with its alliance."
Not long after Fu Jian died in Xinping, Duke Fu Pi of Changle ascended the throne in Jinyang with the support of Fu Xi and Zhang Huo. The news had just reached Luoyang from Bingzhou.
"I wonder if among you, there are people as loyal and unyielding as Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, and Su Wu, the Marquis of Guannei, who would serve as our envoys to the Jin Dynasty?"
Seeing that most of the people were bowing their heads in silence, Xu Zongwen continued with the strength of his wine: "If you can form an alliance and return and fulfill your mission, Xu will recommend important positions to the court, and it will not be difficult to become a marquis and a general!"
There were really too few talents, so Xu Zongwen had to take this step.
The so-called fighting against diplomacy means that a war without diplomacy is always accompanied by great risks. On the contrary, if we can establish distant relations and close attacks, we can get twice the result with half the effort and achieve miraculous results!
Zheng Lue and Tian Luo are bound to conflict with Yao Chang when they attack Guanzhong. A mere Yao Chang is naturally not worthy of Xu Zongwen's attention, but in addition to Yao Chang, Qifu Guoren of Qinzhou, Lu Guang of Liangzhou, and especially Lu Guang This man has many soldiers under his command who have returned victoriously from the Western Regions!
The Xiaoqi Army has never fought against Lu Guang. Although they have had a lot of experience in bloody battles with the Qin army in the Central Plains before, Liangzhou is far away from the Central Plains and Guanzhong. The Xiaoqi Army is unfamiliar with the place and has never fought an enemy in Liangzhou. The Jin army attacked from all sides. In other words, if you try your best, if you attack rashly, you will definitely get into trouble!
Among the three parties, Lu Guang is the strongest. If he can form an alliance with Lu Guang, then there will be nothing to worry about such as Fu Guoren and Yao Chang!
The Fu Pi brothers and Murong Chui in the north were fighting in darkness, and the Xiangyang soldiers and the Beifu soldiers secretly planned to attack Yecheng. It would be easier if they could annihilate these two worries in the north in one fell swoop, so Xu Zongwen prepared to end the fight with Dai Guo and fight for With the support of Tuoba Gui, this will be of great benefit to the Jin army without any harm!
Contacting Fu Pi was nothing more than a show-off. Xu Zongwen wished that Qin and Yan would fight each other, and both sides would suffer. The Jin army could sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, and the fishermen would benefit!
As for the bargaining chips, what Lu Guang and Tuoba Gui are only thinking about is their title. As long as the Jin court gives them a king's title, some gold seals on their robes, and announces to the world the existence of Liang and Dai, they will probably not send troops. , being able to stand still would be a great favor to the Jin army.
"General, my subordinates are willing to serve!" After a brief silence, a middle-aged official under Xu Zongwen stood up.
"This person is Xue Zan, the assistant minister of Zhongshu of Qin. After Murong broke through Chang'an, the Qin state was in chaos, so this person came to Luoyang incognito. Later, during the screening by the royal guards, his true identity was discovered..."
"My subordinate Xue Zan is currently the Prime Minister of Yinjun, Henan."
Pei Qing was introducing Xue Zan to Xu Zongwen, but Xue Zan came out to express his identity.
Because Henan County is the seat of the state government of Sizhou and governs Luoyang and Henan, Zheng Lue, the governor of Henan, can also be called Henan Yin.
A dignified servant of Zhongshu was actually willing to calm down and become a small county magistrate!
Xu Zongwen was overjoyed and said: "Xue Juncheng is very courageous and wise, but I don't know where you would like to go as an envoy?"
Xue Zan raised his head and replied: "Back to the general, I have an old relationship with Lu Guang, and I am willing to fight for the general to form an alliance with Liangzhou."
"Okay!" Xu Zongwen immediately agreed: "From now on, the county magistrate Xue Zan will enter our shogunate and serve as an army planner to sacrifice wine."
Hearing this, everyone in the house was shocked!
Xue Zan has entered the shogunate directly!
The position of military adviser and wine-sacrifice was established by the Prime Minister Cao Cao's government at the end of the Han Dynasty. The position is roughly the same as that of the military advisor and wine-sacrifice.
"I would like to thank my lord!" Xue Zan readily agreed. Qin was a thing of the past, and it was time for him to plan a future for himself!
Under the temptation of Xu Zongwen to join the shogunate, all the officials began to recommend themselves. However, this time they did not have the same luck as Xue Zan. Xu Zongwen asked Pei Qingzhen to select talents and only selected two of them. He did not say that after serving as an envoy, he could directly enter the shogunate. .
After the banquet, Xu Zongwen reviewed Xue Zan's files.
Xue Zan was indeed a central official of the Qin State. He was recommended by Prime Minister Wang Meng to become an official, up to the position of Vice Minister of Zhongshu. His suggestions could influence the decisions of King Fu Jian of Qin, and his status around Fu Jian was even equal to that of Zuo Pu Shequan. Wing comparison!
Shogunate, Shogunate, Bafu?
Xu Zongwen thought about it and called Pei Qing over: "Assistant machine, does the state have a custom name for opening a mansion?"
"I don't know what your lord wants?" Pei Qing was confused. He had drank so much wine in the middle of the night. He was about to fall asleep when he was woken up by his attendant. He was feeling sleepy and uncomfortable.
Xu Zongwen explained carefully: "In the past, Cao Cao's prime minister's shogunate was called Bafu. I also want to change the general's shogunate into Bafu. It's just a one-word difference. There should be no big problem, right?"
The first person to establish a Bafu was Han Taizu Gao Emperor Liu Bang, and then there was Cao Cao's Bafu. Since the Jin Dynasty, all the ministers who were awarded the title of Kaifu Yitong and the Three Divisions have set up a shogunate. So far, there has not been a third Bafu.
Hearing that Xu Zongwen wanted to change the name of the shogunate, Pei Qing sobered up!
"My lord, no!"
"Why not?" Xu Zongwen was puzzled. Isn't it just a name? Why not?
Pei Qing shook his head heavily, his face full of solemnity: "Master, what a mistake! Although there is only one word difference between the shogunate and the hegemony, the hegemony has always been unique to the clan kings, and no one even dares to use it!"
"What's the explanation?" Pei Qing's words immediately attracted Xu Zongwen's attention.
"Since the emergence of Bafu, only Han Gao and Wei Wu have used it. These two people were the founders or founders of Han and Wei. If the Lord rashly uses the name Bafu, I am afraid it will arouse the suspicion of both the government and the public! "
Pei Qing gave detailed examples and strongly refused to allow Xu Zongwen to use the name Bafu.
"At that time, not only the lord, but even the general's palace and all the soldiers of the Knight Cavalry Army will be put on fire. They will spread rumors that the lord wants to imitate Cao Cao, relying on his own merits, harboring different ambitions, and wanting to usurp the throne! "
Pei Qing finally said: "The Northern Expedition must not be abandoned. It is not advisable for my lord to bear the name of treason for a false name!"
Yes, no wonder even the powerful Sima Huanwen didn’t use the name Bafu!
I see!
Everyone knows Sima Zhao's heart, and the reasons for this are all here.
"In that case, let's give up."
"Has the selection of the envoys to Jinyang and Shengle been completed?" Xu Zongwen had already left the banquet just halfway through.
Pei Qing replied: "Everything has been decided and the gifts have been prepared. The three-way envoys can set off tomorrow."
Xu Zongwen snorted lightly: "The matter of sending envoys to contact and form an alliance should have been taken first, but I was far away in Shangyong at the time and would forget about it for a while. Now it seems that the war is about to begin, so I am afraid it is a bit late."
"Actually, it's not too late. No one can predict the outcome of the war. I will instruct my followers to choose the fastest route and try to make contact as early as possible." Pei Qing thought about it and could only do this.
"That's good." Xu Zongwen warned Pei Qing when he was about to leave: "Assistant machine, the matter of the overlord——"
Pei Qing arched her head towards Xu Zongwen: "I understand that no third party will know about this matter!"
