These words deceived Kuai Yue quite a bit.
Liu Biao was suspicious by nature, and if he became suspicious because of this matter, his power in the army might be weakened.
He said cruelly: "Cai Degui, I really belong to you."
He glared at Cai Mao and immediately retorted: "What did De Gui mean by this? At that time, Zhang Ji died in the battle, and Zhang Xiu and the Xiliang army came to fight. If I hadn't suggested that Zhang Xiu stay in Nanyang, you would have been able to withstand Cao Cao's army. ?”
When Liu Biao saw them arguing, he felt irritated. He waved his hand and said, "Yidu! Now that Zhang Xiu has become a force, if he establishes himself in Nanyang, he will definitely threaten Xiangyang. What should we do about this?"
Kuai Yue felt his throat was a little itchy. Zhang Xiu's problem was difficult to solve. It was impossible for him to give up Nanyang and leave. After thinking about it, he coughed and said, "Your Majesty, Zhang Xiu defeated Cao Cao all because of Jingzhou's food and grass." Help each other. Without food and grass, Zhang Xiu is just a paper tiger and is nothing to worry about."
Cai Mao felt cold in his heart. All the food and grass came from my family, and Kuai Yue was just paying lip service.
Seeing that they couldn't come up with any good ideas, Liu Biao became even more irritated and regretted not driving him out at that time. He frowned and said, "Since Zhang Xiu has defeated Cao Cao, we should express our gratitude. Yidu, you can go on my behalf." Let’s find out what Zhang Xiu’s tone of voice is like.”
Kuai Yue didn't dare to go. Zhang Ji died in Rangcheng. If he went there, he wouldn't be hacked by Zhang Xiu? He rolled his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, the food and grass are in De Gui's hands. You can ask De Gui to make a trip on your behalf."
Liu Biao looked at Cai Mao: "What does De Gui think?"
Cai Mao thought to himself: "Just go. If Zhang Xiu is someone you can befriend, you might as well contact him. This can alleviate the embarrassing situation of my Cai family having no soldiers to use." '
He then said, "In that case, Degui is willing to go."
Liu Biao nodded.
At this moment, Meteor Ma came to report: "Yuan Shu proclaimed himself emperor in Shouchun, named Zhongshi."
Liu Biao stood up in shock.
Kuai Yue and Cai Mao's eyes widened in shock.
Liu Biao slapped his thigh angrily: "This is a national traitor! I will send troops to attack him immediately."
Cai Mao had an idea and said, "You can ask Zhang Xiu to lead his troops there. We can help him with weapons, food and fodder."
Kuai Yue was surprised by Cai Mao's reaction. He was thinking about his intention in his mind, but he couldn't think of it for a while. He immediately added: "Zhang Xiu has few soldiers, so Wenpin can go there with 10,000 people."
Liu Biao was well aware of their struggle and nodded in agreement.
…
Wancheng.
Jia Xu sorted out the letters written by Nanyang powerful men to Cao Cao. The most hateful among them was the Han family, the second most powerful man in Wancheng.
The earliest ancestor of the Han family can be traced back to Han Xin, the founding hero of the Western Han Dynasty.
Now it has withered.
Nanyang is the hometown of the emperor, the place where Liu Xiu raised his troops in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Nanyang has a superior geographical environment, rich products, and a large population. It can be said that Zhang Xiu occupied Nanyang with both food and soldiers.
But not now.
All the food and troops are in the hands of these powerful people. Now is the time for Zhang Xiu to use both kindness and power to attack the powerful people.
Zhang Xiu hosted a banquet for Nanyang's ten powerful men in the county governor's mansion.
Among the top ten powerful families, the most representative ones are the Deng family of Xinye, the Zong family of Anzhong City, the Hu family of Yiyang City, the Huang family, the Han family and the Liu family of Wancheng.
At the banquet.
The powerful men were on pins and needles, and some began to sweat on their heads.
Zhang Xiu is sitting in the middle, with Jia Xu on his right, Wei Yan and Hu Che'er on his left, and behind him are the murderous sword and axemen.
Looking at these powerful men who had never met before and were on pins and needles, Zhang Xiu raised a smile at the corner of his mouth.
If you are upright, you are not afraid of a slanted shadow. It is obvious that they are not upright.
Zhang Xiu said in a kind tone: "Everyone, Xiu came from Xiliang and has been based in Nanyang for more than a few months. I haven't visited you yet. I am inviting you to a banquet today because I defeated Cao Cao and found a place to settle down here."
Each powerful person looked at his nose and his nose, his eyes looked at the people at the banquet from time to time.
"Xiu knows that his talents are shallow, and he is walking on thin ice to take on this important task in Nanyang. He must be careful every step of the way. I am hosting a banquet for you all today, and I hope you will support me in the future."
After finishing speaking, Zhang Xiu raised his glass to invite wine, and all the heroes forced themselves to smile and agree.
"Xiu defended Nanyang from the war and blocked Cao's army outside Duyang City, but -" Zhang Xiu's voice sank, and there was a fierceness in his eyes, "- Xiu was fighting desperately to resist Cao's army outside, but I, Nanyang, unexpectedly Anyone who surrenders to Cao Cao's thieves is really hateful. Someone, come and bring the things up."
When the bamboo slip weighing a hundred kilograms was carried up, the expressions of all the powerful people present suddenly changed.
Especially Han Chong.
Han Chong immediately jumped up and stared at Zhang Xiu with sharp eyes: "What does General Zhang mean? Are you going to harm our lives with these bamboo slips? Huh! Without our support, General Zhang is capable of establishing a foothold in Nanyang." ?”
Zhang Xiu smiled gently.
But this smile is a bit scary in Hao Qiang's eyes.
Everyone saw Zhang Xiu stand up, walk out of the banquet and return with a torch in his hand. Zhang Xiu glanced at everyone calmly and put the torch into the bamboo slips.
Immediately, the fire started.
All the powerful men breathed a sigh of relief, couldn't help but secretly wiped the sweat from their foreheads, and sighed at Zhang Xiu's broad-mindedness.
Seeing that the powerful men were relieved, Zhang Xiu looked sincerely: "Although Xiu is not talented, I am willing to guard Nanyang with you. The past will not be held accountable. You should think about the future. Is that okay?" "
All the heroes think about it individually.
Deng Shu stroked his beard and thought: "What Zhang Xiu is doing is to win people's hearts, and he may have great ambitions." Seeing Zhang Xiu's magnanimity, he thought about it and asked, "Does the general want to occupy Nanyang?"
Deng Shu's question had a double meaning.
The first meaning is to ask what Zhang Xiu's ambition is. If he only holds Nanyang, he will be destroyed by others in the future. He should not drag his people into trouble. If he has ambitions to dominate, he should be able to help him.
Zhang Xiu understood what Deng Shu meant and said with a smile: "Deng Gong, as big as the sky is, so is the heart."
Deng Shu nodded, thought for a moment, and then bowed solemnly: "In this case, the Xinye Deng family is willing to lend a helping hand to the lord."
The Deng family was one of the powerful representatives in Nanyang. When the Anzhong clan saw Deng's surrender, they also bowed forward and said, "The Anzhong clan is willing to help the lord."
Afterwards, everyone agreed.
Jia Xu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Nanyang Haoqiang surrendered, and Zhang Xiu no longer had to worry about troops and food in the future.
Zhang Xiu was overjoyed. He immediately helped Deng Shu up and said with a smile: "With the help of all the gentlemen, great embroidery events can be expected. Please accept the embroidery and pay your respects."
Then the standard bow was rude, and everyone hurriedly returned the bow.
Then Zhang Xiu looked at Han Chong with a fierce look: "Master Han, I can accept others, but you can't."
Han Chong and everyone were a little confused.
Zhang Xiu shouted to the door: "Bring it in."
Not long after, two people came in carrying dozens of bamboo slips. They were all letters written by the Han family to Cao Cao.
Zhang Xiu picked up one at random and said to Han Chong: "Han Chong, you secretly colluded with Cao Cao. I can tolerate this, but you want to spy on Cao Cao's military intelligence. You are really a selfish villain. You don't care about the people in Nanyang." It’s really hateful to try to be alone when your safety is in danger.”
When the other powerful men heard this, they glared at Han Chong.
Han Chong broke into a cold sweat and immediately retorted: "Does General Zhang have any enmity with my Han family? Which family in Nanyang has not exchanged letters with Cao Jun? Why is the general staring at my Han family?"
"Because your Han family underestimates me," Zhang Xiu sneered, with a murderous look on his cold face. "The purpose of other families' correspondence with Cao Jun is to survive, but you want to put me to death."
"Zhang Xiu! Our Han family can be traced back to our ancestors. How dare you, a simple and humble man from Xiliang, risk the world's disapproval to kill my Han family?" Han Chong glared, showing no regrets to Zhang Xiu. .
hehe!
Zhang Xiu smiled and waved to Wei Yan.
Wei Yan went over and grabbed Han Chong's shoulders as if he were carrying a chicken.
Han Chong was anxious: "Zhang Xiu, how dare you do this? Put me down quickly. Everyone, if Zhang Xiu kills me today, he can kill you tomorrow too. Don't you know that your lips are dead and your teeth are cold?"
The other powerful men were also furious at the Han family's actions. Who would intercede on his behalf?
After a while, Wei Yan was still on the ground holding a bloody head.
The heroes were so frightened that they could not understand.
Seeing that they were all scared, Zhang Xiu smiled again and said, "Don't be afraid, gentlemen. This is Han Chong's own fault and he is not doing your business. I, Zhang Xiu, have a grudge and I must repay kindness to you. Hu Che'er !”
Hu Che'er comes out.
"Lead a thousand troops and behead everyone in the Han family!"
"The last general takes orders."
An invisible sense of chilling flowed through the banquet, causing the remaining nine people to panic.
Zhang Xiu comforted them: "The Han family has done evil and should be eradicated. My lords, the future hegemony of Xiu depends entirely on you."
Others bowed their heads.
Deng Shu nodded in agreement with Zhang Xiu's combination of kindness and power.
