Liu Yu smiled slightly: "If even you, Xianzhi, can't handle the balance of interests, then no one can do it. The Xie family also has its own problems. Judging from the results of this defense battle, Xie Hun Xie Hui, the uncle and nephew, have already had a conflict over the head of the family. Xie Hui drags Xi Sengshi to want to go to Kuaiji to stand on his own, while Xie Hui is willing to stay in the capital and share the good times with Mrs. Xie. Xi Le, this of yours How are you going to deal with these two long-time allies?"
Liu Yi's eyes narrowed slightly and he said: "The reason why I made friends with Xie Hun and Xi Sengshi was because I had no foundation in the capital. I needed to rely on the strength of these disciples of the big families to build a wide network of contacts. But looking for One of their prerequisites is that I cannot become their subordinate. It is absolutely impossible to treat me like the Xie family did to Liu Laozhi, just as a thug and eagle dog, or as a domestic slave who controls the army for them. "
Xu Xianzhi laughed: "But in these years, Xi Sengshi and even Xie Hun have become your followers. Is this turning the world upside down?"
Liu Yi sneered: "They lost military power and realized that they would also lose political power, so they turned to curry favor with me. On the surface, they looked down upon me, but in fact they couldn't see it in their hearts. I am very clear about this. Just like this time when I returned to the city alone, Xie Hun and Xi Sengshi avoided seeing me at first. They probably thought that I was looking for them to ask them to send the slaves to the slaves. Please spare my life."
Liu Yu laughed: "Yes, yes, these two probably thought that I would kill you, a defeated general, just like I did to Wei Shunzhi. However, they still underestimated your strength. To be honest, even I underestimated you. Oh, I didn’t expect that you still have such power in Jiankang City, that you can pull out tens of thousands of troops in one day."
Liu Yi curled his lips: "Of course I have my own way to control those old soldiers. At that time, I went to Xie Hun and Xi Sengshi. In fact, I wanted them more to provide food and military supplies. Many of these underground legions were from aristocratic families. I have to say hello to someone as a bodyguard, but I didn’t expect them to reveal their true nature of adding insult to injury, which disappointed me. Therefore, I also saw their faces clearly, and I won’t do it again in the future. If we have any dealings with each other, from now on, I will take care of Yuzhou, Jiangzhou and Yanzhou, and won’t bother with these aristocratic families in Jiankang City.”
Liu Yu looked at Liu Yi motionless and said: "You don't even want to compete with me again to be the first person in the Jin Dynasty?"
An indescribable look flashed in Liu Yi's eyes, and he sighed: "I've been mixed up like this. I didn't give you any military treatment. I've already burned a lot of incense. How can I have the nerve to fight with you again? Apart from these old troops of mine, In gratitude for my previous kindness, I am willing to continue to follow you. Other officers and soldiers of the Beifu Army, especially the young marshals who are coming up, and even Meng Huaiyu, cannot follow me anymore. I have been fighting with you for so many years, Jinu. I admit that you are stronger and more powerful than me, not only in terms of ability, but also in destiny. Your cloak and black robe will die in your hands. Based on this alone, I don’t dare to fight with you again. Fight."
Liu Yu's heart moved. From Liu Yi's words, it could be heard that he had surrendered, but there was a hint of unwillingness in his expression. Just now, he still thought of himself as the general of the pursuing army. , completely wiped out the armies of Lu Xun and Xu Daofu, but after realizing that he was unwilling to give in, he retreated to the next best thing and only wanted to lead the three states by himself, go out to defend the feudal towns, and even bowed his head to himself for the first time in his life. It feels like it's just a temporary expedient.
Liu Yi wanted to go to Jiangzhou. No matter how many reasons and excuses he had, his fundamental purpose was still to recruit He Wuji's old troops and make his military strength stronger again. Only with the tens of thousands of troops in Jiangzhou could he go to Yuzhou. To suppress Yu Yue, at this time, relying on more than 10,000 men under his command to return to Yuzhou, because the previous defeat was too disastrous, I am afraid that he will not get the support of the Yuzhou scholars and common people, and may even be unable to gain a foothold. He Wuji's remaining troops will be collected first. , once he has the strength, he can take advantage of the conflict between Yu Yue and Yuzhou's powerful forces to return to Yuzhou. This is Liu Yi's wishful thinking.
And Liu Yi wants to take over three large states and have 100,000 troops. The purpose is probably to one day take the opportunity to compete with him for supremacy. In Yuzhou, he can use it as an excuse to attack Sima Guofan and Sima Chuzhi at any time, launch wars abroad, and even trigger follow-up. In the war of the Later Qin Dynasty, once he had the opportunity to make achievements in this battle and occupy the Central Plains, he would have achieved no less than his own contribution to destroying the Yan Dynasty. In the future, he would take advantage of conflicts with the Wu family and even the Sima clan to take advantage of this opportunity. It is not impossible to return to the court from the border town, or even to divide power and resist with myself again.
Thinking of this, a sneer appeared at the corner of Liu Yu's mouth. It turned out that his old comrade was not really surrendering to him. He still wanted to retreat in order to advance. He would first leave the town of Bianzhou and then expand his power. The time was ripe. At this time, you still have to fight for power with yourself. No matter how hard he talks, Xie Hun and Xi Sengshi will always be his allies and reinforcements in the court. At critical moments, they will still unite again. Even if he wants to kill Yu Yue, it is still to please Xie Hun and Xi Sengshi gave them the opportunity to carve up the Yu family's property in Wudi and increase their strength.
With a smile on Liu Yu's face, he took Liu Yi's hand. From now on, his journey to becoming an emperor has also included playing tricks and duplicity, just like their ancestors in the Sima Ancestral Temple. After all the things he had done, Liu Yu said: "Xile, the world of Jin Dynasty is still inseparable from you. Now there are internal and external troubles, and there are too many things to worry about. For the time being, in the army of the DPRK, I need to take the lead. After the Jin Dynasty is pacified, we brothers will still take turns to govern and share power. This will be the same as when we first raised the army and will not change."
Liu Yi laughed: "I am grateful enough to be able to maintain my current status. I don't dare to ask for too much. I just hope that you can fulfill the things we discussed just now."
Liu Yu nodded and said: "This is not my achievement, it is your contribution this time and the reward you deserve. I have to trouble my brother to deal with the matters in Yuzhou and Jiangzhou. I will attack the thieves next." , I’m afraid we won’t be able to leave heavy troops to guard the rear, Xi Le, you have a heavy responsibility.”
Liu Yi said in a deep voice: "I understand, the field battles are all up to you. Except for leaving some of my men to guard the capital, most of them will set out with me to wipe out the rebel forces in the villages and roads along the way. Don't worry, I will not go against your policy and go on a killing spree, and the culprit will be punished. I will never ask for threats, and I will do as you say."
(End of chapter)
