From Xuzhou.
Xu, Shuye, rustic and soothing. Its land reaches the sea in the east, Dai in the north, and Huai in the south.
Countless stories happened in Xuzhou during the Three Kingdoms period.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, there were three forces in Xuzhou: the Danyang faction from outside; the lower-class armed faction; and the local wealthy faction.
The representative of the Danyang sect from outside was Xuzhou Mu Taoqian.
Tao Qian is from Danyang. Danyang County in Yangzhou has a dangerous and mountainous terrain and strong folk customs. It is a place where elite soldiers are often produced.
In the fifth year of Zhongping, the Yellow Turban thieves from Qingxu and Xuzhou rioted again. The locals in Xuzhou stared at them and couldn't defeat them!
The court said with a stroke of pen: Waste! Tao Qian, you come to be the governor of Xuzhou and fight me with your Danyang soldiers!
Tao Qian came to Xuzhou with his troops and wiped out all the Yellow Turbans with three strikes and five strikes.
In the process of pacifying the Yellow Turban, the second force in Xuzhou came into being, the Taishan generals!
The Taishan generals are the Taishan thieves who dominate the mountains in the Taishan and Yimeng Mountains. They basically operate in the junction of Qingxu and Yanzhou.
It can be said that they are the leaders in northern Xuzhou!
The Taishan generals include: Zang Ba, Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li, Chang Xi, Sun Kang, etc.
These eldest brothers followed Tao Qian in his crusade against the Yellow Turbans, and one after another they came ashore with nothing to gain and gained official positions.
As for the third force, it is the local big clan faction, which includes Biejia Mi Zhu, Diannong captain Chen Deng, Guangling prefect Zhao Yu, etc.
Later, it became a familiar story in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Tao Qian surrendered to Xuzhou three times, and Liu Bei took Lu Bu in, but was attacked by surprise. Lu Bu lost to Cao Cao, and Baimen Tower was beheaded.
In the process of returning Xuzhou to the Cao Cao, Tao Qian's Danyang faction suffered heavy losses and their influence in Xuzhou almost disappeared. The local wealthy faction also suffered a serious loss due to the Mi family's investment in Liu Bei and Chen Deng's betrayal several times.
On the contrary, the Taishan generals preserved their strength better in this process and became the actual controllers of Xuzhou.
Zang Ba was the leader of the generals in Taishan, so he was able to command Xuzhou, so that Cao Cao did not dare to attack Zang Ba, and could only win over him.
However, when Cao Cao was alive, the two lived in peace, and Zang Ba was very obedient. If you wanted to send troops, I would send troops, and if you asked for food and grass, I would give him food and grass. It was as if he was his own county.
but...
This situation changed after Cao Cao's death and the Liu Chan Merchant Alliance's operation.
Without Cao Cao's suppression, Zang Ba's ambition grew, and he had the idea of separatist rule over Qingxu.
Hey~
Pengcheng guest house.
Jiang Gan, who was already in his sixties, sighed.
The disaster that the late king had not eradicated finally broke out after his death.
Fortunately, Zang Ba has been defeated, and it is probably only a matter of time before Xuzhou regains control.
but...
Although it is a matter of time, we still have to seize this time.
The king is about to move his army to Runan to quell the rebellion of Liu Gongsi, the crown prince of Hanzhong. Zang Ba is not dead yet. When he comes to Xuzhou, he is afraid that he will cause another turmoil.
The situation in Xuzhou must be stabilized before the main force of the Wei army leaves and before Zang Ba returns to Xuzhou.
"Mr. Jiang."
While Jiang Gan was thinking, a young man wearing fine armor came outside the door. This man was Li Xu, the general of Pinglu Zhonglang.
Li Ji rebelled. Logically speaking, the crime of treason was against the Yi tribe. However, Cao Pi only ordered the execution of Li Ji's wife, concubines and children in Luoyang, and did not attack Li Tong's bloodline.
Li Xu, in order to save his merits, came with Jiang Qian as an envoy to Xuzhou.
Li Xu saluted Jiang Qian and said slowly: "Zang Ai invites Mr. Jiang to discuss important matters."
Discussing important matters?
Jiang Gan's eyes lit up.
"Is it because he relented? Is he ready to surrender?"
Zang Ai is the son of Zang Ba, and he has good skills.
Even though news of Zang Ba's defeat had come to Xuzhou, Zang Ai was still able to stabilize the overall situation by relying on Zang Ba's remaining power.
but...
A few days ago, Jiang Gong had sent people to spread the news that Zang Ba was dead. Now, this kid is going to be unable to sit still, right?
"I don't know about this."
Jiang Gan nodded and stood up slowly. If he could surrender Zang Ai, the overall situation in Xuzhou would be certain!
For example, the governor of Donghai, the governor of Langya, and the governor of Guangling have secretly sent people to contact him. The intention of surrender is self-evident.
A peaceful Xuzhou is indeed what Wei wants.
But if you don't know the truth, you will have to start a war in Xuzhou.
Zang Ai, I hope you know the current affairs!
...
Soon.
Jiang Gan walked into the lobby of Pengcheng Prefectural Mufu. This was once the residence of Zang Hegemony, but now it has become gloomy and withered. The lobby was empty except for one figure, and that was Zang Ai, the son of Zang Ba, who was sitting on the main seat.
Zang Ai's face was solemn and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't had a good rest for many days.
Jiang Qian had a special status. He was both an envoy of the Wei State and a great Confucian, and his words had always been highly valued.
Jiang Gan stepped in front of Zang Ai and said with a smile: "Stay here. You invited me here today. I wonder if there is anything important to discuss?"
A smile appeared on Zang Ai's face, and he waved his hand gently, gesturing for Jiang Gan to sit down.
After Jiang Gan sat down, he immediately said: "Left behind, Xuzhou is in danger at the moment. The situation of the Zang family in Xuzhou is not optimistic, right?"
Zang Ai nodded and remained silent. At this time, Zang Ai's situation could indeed be described as a desperate situation.
Jiang Gan continued: "The matter has come to an end, and if you stay behind, you may wish to consider the option of surrendering. General Zang Ba of Zhendong died in the battle, and the direct lineage of the Zang family suffered heavy losses. If you insist on resisting, I am afraid that the only outcome will be the annihilation of the family."
Zang Ai frowned slightly. He knew that Jiang Qian's words made sense, but his inner persistence made it difficult for him to make an immediate decision.
surrender...
Can you really live?
What his family does is a treasonous business, which will lead to the annihilation of three clans!
Jiang Gan struggled against Zang Ai's face and continued to add firewood under the pot that was almost boiling.
He continued: "Not only that, our Wei State has negotiated peace with Jiangdong, and the two parties are about to cease war. The Wei State's army will arrive in Xuzhou soon. If you choose to surrender, you may be able to protect the people of Xuzhou from the harm of the war, and you can also Save the family’s life and wealth.”
Zang Ai remained silent. He looked out the window, his eyes seeming thoughtful.
Jiang Gan saw the opportunity and continued: "At the same time, the nobles and powerful people in Xuzhou, as well as the officials and county governors appointed by your father Zang Ba, they have expressed their willingness to surrender, either openly or secretly. If you insist on resisting, you will Falling into isolation under internal and external attacks, there will be no other possibility but defeat."
Zang Ai's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. He felt the pressure from inside and outside, and he held his hands tightly, and his nails dug into his flesh without even realizing it.
Jiang Qian saw that the situation was achieved and said firmly: "Zang Ai, don't miss this opportunity to surrender. If you choose to surrender, you will be able to preserve the blood of the Zang family. Your Majesty guarantees with his life that you will protect the wealth of the Zang family. You can do whatever you can." Don't worry, at the same time, staying behind and surrendering can also protect the people of Xuzhou from the suffering of war. Otherwise, continuing to resist will only lead to greater tragedy."
Zang Ai closed his eyes, feeling the struggle in his heart. He understood that Jiang Gan's words revealed the reality, but he was unwilling to give in easily.
Father is dead?
Really? I do not believe!
After a long time, Zang Ai opened his eyes with determination: "Mr. Jiang, I invite you here today not to surrender, but to declare war. Unless I, Zang Ai, die, Xuzhou will not surrender. If the two armies are fighting, they will not kill the envoys." , but the sword has no eyes on the battlefield, so I would like to ask the envoy to pack his luggage and return to Wei today."
The smile on Jiang Gan's face suddenly froze.
Declare... declare war?
Looking at Jiang Qian's frozen expression, Zang Ai could only smile bitterly, but he knew in his heart that since the incident, there was no turning back for the Zang family.
