"I don't know why His Highness summoned us."
Xu Ming, Meng Bai, Zhou Qing, and Chen Chi, who were from the Runan noble clan, gathered together and felt heavy.
The military camp they were assigned to was actually not small, but the four of them felt unspeakable pressure and uneasiness.
The four of them sat next to a simple table, their eyes unconsciously falling on the table, as if looking for answers.
Xu Ming was a burly young man. He frowned and silently squeezed the wooden cup in his hand, seeming to be thinking about a countermeasure.
"How should we resolve this matter?"
Xu Ming was born in the Xu family in Runan, and his same clan was Xu Shao. He once conducted a Yuedan review and evaluated Cao Cao as "a traitor in peace and a hero in troubled times."
After Xu Shao ran away to the south, the Xu family in Runan also became lonely.
At this time, Xu Ming didn't even have a filial or honest background, nor did he even have an official status.
Meng Bai was an elegant young man. His fingers tapped lightly on the table, and a layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. It was obvious that he was quite anxious inside.
"Is it possible that His Highness is here to question me?"
Meng Bai is one of Zhuge's four friends and a member of the same clan as Meng Jian. Now in Xinxi, he is just a powerful man.
Zhou Qing's eyes flickered, his hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles were slightly white, as if he was looking for the right words to defend himself.
He was originally from a poor family, but because he curried favor with Li Ji, he had a fortune in Xinxi. Speaking of which, he was not even considered powerful.
"Rumors have been circulating in Xinxi City these days. Could it be that His Highness wants to scare the monkeys and take action on us?"
Chen Chi has a white beard and hair. His family is quite wealthy. He is proficient in "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" and is quite famous.
Later generations named him together with Xu Shang, Du Zhong and Wei Wangcan in the Han Dynasty.
Xu Ming finally raised his head and looked at the other three people. His throat rolled, and he spoke with difficulty: "Everyone, we have not tried our best to donate food and grass these days. I am afraid that the Crown Prince of Hanzhong will blame us."
Meng Bai nodded, and sighed softly: "Yes, if I had known earlier, I would have donated some."
"Donate some? What if King Wei arrives and recovers Xinxi?"
Zhou Qing frowned, took a deep breath, tried to calm down, and then said: "The situation is urgent now. In order to survive, we still have to take out some belongings. Otherwise, we will not be able to pass today's test."
Chen Chi's eyes became much firmer and he said resolutely: "I am willing to give up half of my family's assets in order to survive. Afterwards, I plan to move to Yingchuan to ensure safety. Hey~"
Qianglong is here, and local snakes like them are caught on both sides. They are really not human beings inside and outside.
Originally, the family was in ruins and was being exploited by both parties.
This day is really unbearable.
At this moment, a messenger hurriedly walked into the tent where the four people were.
"Everyone, Your Highness invites you."
The four of them looked at each other and stood up.
Hiss~
Xu Ming took a deep breath and said: "This is a blessing, not a curse. It is a curse that cannot be avoided. Everyone, please leave."
The others remained silent, but they could only follow the armored soldiers in an uneasy mood, heading deeper into the military camp.
When they arrived in front of the main tent of the Chinese army, the four of them discovered that there was a large open space in front of the main tent. A high platform had been built in the open space. On the high platform stood dozens of executioners wearing red robes and holding decapitating knives.
Hiss~
Chen Chi took a breath of air and almost fainted.
"Mr. Chen, are you okay?"
Meng Bai, with quick eyes and quick hands, helped Chen Chi up, who was about to faint.
A smile uglier than crying appeared on the latter's face.
"I was wrong, I was wrong. I am willing to donate all my belongings. I just ask His Highness to spare my life."
Seeing the execution ground, Chen Chi thought Liu Chan was going to kill him!
Xu Ming looked heavy and said, "What's the use of this situation? Let's go."
The four of them walked towards the Chinese army's tent.
The curtain of the tent was opened, and the four of them saw Liu Chan, the crown prince of Hanzhong, sitting on the main seat.
Liu Chan was wearing a battle armor. Although he was young, he was wearing a battle armor and his heroic aura overflowed from himself.
Normally, Chen Chi and the other four would still have the time to appreciate it, but now.
How can they still have such leisure and leisure?
Liu Chan's face was kind and peaceful, and he didn't seem to be stern. He looked at the four of them with a smile and said: "You are my wise men in Runan, why do you look so sad? Is it because you have something on your mind?"
Liu Chan naturally knew what they were thinking, but at the moment he was pretending to be confused.
The four of them looked at each other, first bowed to Liu Chan, and said respectfully: "I will pay my respects to His Highness."
Liu Chan waved his hand, indicating that they should not be too formal, and then asked: "You don't have to be like this, just say what you have to say."
Xu Ming pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Your Highness, there is a high platform outside the tent, and there is an executioner. Are you planning to behead us?"
Before Liu Chan could speak, Chen Chi said excitedly from the side: "I am willing to donate my family's assets, and I hope Your Highness will spare my life. Although the common people have not donated food, they have not done anything harmful to nature!"
Meng Bai nodded heavily, with some panic on his face, and added: "I heard that His Highness is a loyal and righteous person, and will not kill people for no reason. If Your Highness asks for food, we will donate it."
"You don't need to worry too much."
Liu Chan smiled, waved his hand to show them not to worry too much, and then said slowly: "I summoned you not to blame you, but to discuss something."
Don't you want me to wait for my life?
When the four of them heard Liu Chan's words, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and their eyes relaxed a little.
Zhou Qing's eyes flashed. He was originally trying to curry favor with Li Jicai, who had a family business, but he was very polite at this moment. He quickly stepped forward and asked: "What do you want, Your Highness? Just ask me. Even if you go up to the mountain of swords and to the sea of fire, we will do it for Your Highness." Good thing."
Chen Chi took a deep breath, feeling that his life might not be saved, so he quickly said: "Me too!"
"When I summon you, I have no intention of killing anyone, nor do I have the intention to use the power to oppress others or seize family property. That is what gangsters do, and I am the king's master, and I want to do justice."
Liu Chan looked at the four people, the smile on his face became brighter, and then said: "I know that you have always been loyal. You are the subjects of the Han Dynasty and the people of the Han Dynasty. They have hated Wei Ni for a long time! Although you have not donated food and grass, you still have your own The difficulty is understandable, and by calling you here today, I, you, and the Runan nobles can open our hearts."
Open your heart?
When the four of them heard what Liu Chan said, they unconsciously believed it a little more.
seem...
The Crown Prince of Hanzhong is really not here to kill them.
only...
Open your heart?
How to open up?
"I wonder how His Highness wants us to open our hearts?"
"hehe."
Liu Chan smiled softly and said, "I'll let you guys watch the show first."
Liu Chan stood up and left the main tent of the Chinese army, and the four of them had no choice but to follow him step by step.
"Bring the people up."
As soon as Liu Chan gave instructions, a group of people dressed in silk and fine cloth immediately poured in in front of the high platform in front.
Xu Ming and others knew many of them.
"Isn't this the shopkeeper who runs a wine shop in the city?"
"That man is the chief shopkeeper of the cloth shop, and he is a distant relative of Li Ji. Didn't you expect that he was also arrested?"
"And Miss Ling, the number one in Yinchun Garden, was also arrested?"
...
"They sneaked out of the city. I had to catch them."
Sneak out of the city?
The four of them gasped.
When the rumors spread, many people did escape from the city, but unexpectedly, they were all captured.
The crown prince of Hanzhong set up the execution ground, did he want to kill these people?
Gulu~
Xu Ming swallowed secretly, hesitated for a moment, and said to Liu Chan: "Your Highness, although these people escaped from the city, their crimes will not lead to death!"
Seeing Liu Chan's silence, Xu Ming encouraged himself and said: "Please forgive his sins, Your Highness, and we will definitely persuade them to donate money and food."
At this moment, Liu Chan's stern eyes were already heading towards him.
Xu Ming's heart rose in his throat.
Is my life at risk?
"No matter how bad it is, we shouldn't kill Miss Ling, the number one in Yinchun Garden..."
"You guys are joking."
The stern look in his eyes just now seemed to be just an illusion. Liu Chan's expression at this moment made people feel like they were taking a breath of spring breeze.
"Rumors have been spreading in the past few days. They want to leave the city, which is common sense. They are not the people I want to kill."
Soon, dozens of people in the camp were dressed in prison uniforms and were escorted by soldiers on a high platform. They were all kneeling on the ground, waiting for the executioner to behead them.
Kneeling on the high platform were a group of Wei craftsmen and traitors. Their bodies were trembling, their faces were pale, and their eyes were filled with fear.
Around the high platform, the people in the city who secretly left the city, as well as the four powerful representatives of the noble clans who were 'invited' by Liu Chan, were looking at these people with complicated thoughts.
On the high platform, the executioner stood with a knife in his hand, his eyes cold, and the knife in his hand shone with a cold light.
The workers' breathing became rapid, their throats were dry, and the sweat on their faces fell like raindrops.
"Spare my life!"
"I am willing to be an internal agent! Please give me a chance to make meritorious service!"
"Please spare your life, Crown Prince of Hanzhong!"
"Ahhhhhh~!"
...
Screams and begging for mercy could be heard endlessly, but Liu Chan turned a blind eye.
"cut!"
With a cold roar, the executioner's blade fell instantly, blood spattered, and the first carefully crafted head was chopped off.
A human head fell down and hit the ground, causing a splash of blood.
Then, the second, third... dozens of heads fell one after another. The scene on the high platform was extremely bloody, with blood gushing out like running water, and a terrifying atmosphere filled the air.
Under the high platform, the representatives of the Runan noble clan looked pale and their hearts were trembling. Their hands were clenched into fists and their knuckles were white.
The people in the military camp were also scared out of their wits. Some people even squatted on the ground and trembled.
Many people were even scared to death.
This horrific scene seemed to be frozen in everyone's mind. The sword light, blood, and severed heads formed an unforgettable picture.
As the last head rolled off, the screams on the high platform finally calmed down, leaving only the gusts of fishy wind blowing in the face.
The representatives of the Runan noble clan and the common people in the military camp seemed to be shrouded in nightmares. Their faces were as pale as paper, and their eyes were full of fear and panic.
Tap tap tap~
Liu Chan stepped onto the high platform, not caring that his feet were stained with blood.
"You don't need to panic."
After getting to the high platform, Liu Chan looked at the almost soulless people in front of the high platform, and shouted loudly: "These people who were beheaded in public are the Wei Guoxinzuo who have been spreading rumors in Xinxi City in the past few days. Now they are dead." , the news will be peaceful, and everyone will be safe."
certainly...
After saying these words, the people in the audience still looked frightened.
"The news circulating in the city in the past few days is just a rumor. Our army of one hundred thousand has set off in Jingzhou, and we have enough food and grass for several years. Even if the main force of the Wei army comes, we are not afraid at all.
What's more, the main force of the Wei army cannot reach Xinxi at all. Sun Zhongmou from Jiangdong has made an oath of alliance with me. This is the oath of alliance. Wen Wei, come and read it.
Liu Chan handed the alliance letter to Fei Yi, who was beside him. The latter read the contents of the alliance letter softly. The panic on the faces of the people in the audience, as well as Xu Ming and the four people in the audience, became much lighter. The young man still had a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Sun Quan from Jiangdong is about to attack Hefei, but the main force of the Wei army will not be able to come. Moreover, although Zang Ba was defeated, he has returned to Xuzhou to regroup. I will lend 10,000 troops to Zang Ba in Jiangxia. In less than a month, he will be able to pull out another With an army of 50,000 to 60,000 people, Qingxu will be in turmoil at that time, and the Wei army will have no time to attack Runan. This is a letter of alliance with Zang Ba."
Liu Chan took out the alliance letter with Zang Ba and handed it to Fei Yi, who slowly read out the contents of the alliance letter.
"I am a clan member of the Han Dynasty, and you are all subjects of the Han Dynasty. How can you serve Wei? When Cao Wei took control of Runan, how many officials and generals were there in Runan? How much grain and grass were in the hands of the people? One or two Ten years ago, how many people in Xuzhou were slaughtered by the Wei army, have you forgotten?"
Liu Chan took a breath and then said: "Now that Runan is occupied by me, Runan County is the Runan County of the Runan people, not the Runan County of the Wei State. You scholars and heroes from Runan County, Everyone can become an official, a general, and be the master of their own family, wouldn’t it be nice?”
Seeing that some of the people in the audience were silent and some were deep in thought, Liu Chan also felt that it was almost done.
After all, these people were just spreading some news to him.
What he really wants to convince is the Runan nobles.
"You can leave as you please. Whether you return to Xinxi or go to another place, I will never stop you."
After speaking, Liu Chan waved his hand, and the gate of the camp was opened.
The hidden trust among the people immediately began to exert force.
"Your Highness is benevolent and righteous, I admire you."
"Yes, His Highness said this. If we leave Xinxi, wouldn't we be heartless and unjust people?"
"I am a Han citizen, not Wei Ni. Now the king has tens of thousands of soldiers. How can I be afraid that the Wei army is nothing?
"Yes, we will capture Xudu and welcome His Majesty back!"
...
The support in the crowd aroused the emotions of the people. They originally wanted to leave Xinxi City, but they were slowed down by these things, and it was difficult not to return to Xinxi City for a while.
At this moment, Liu Chan stepped down from the high platform and looked at Xu Ming, Zhou Yang and the other four people.
"Your Highness is of high righteousness and is willing to stand up for the scholars of Runan. The common people today are willing to follow Your Highness."
Xu Ming's head is very clear.
The Crown Prince of Hanzhong's move was obviously to win over the Runan gentry.
Runan people from Runan!
As long as you are from the Runan noble family, you will not be able to reject this slogan!
He promised to be a pioneer for the king and be used by His Highness!
Zhou Yang and others quickly reacted and knelt at Liu Chan's feet.
"My lord is so righteous, we are willing to do the hard work of dogs and horses!"
Although Chen Chi knelt down with everyone, there was a wry smile on his face.
"It's just that we are in Runan and have no reputation. Even if we know His Highness's ambitions, it won't be of much use."
This is also what worries Liu Chan.
It is true that the scholars of Runan County were severely suppressed by Cao Wei.
Reputable people, like Xu Jing, have already run away.
Those who remained were those without prestige.
Without reputation, no one would believe his words.
What to do about it!
"Your Highness."
Meng Bai, who was kneeling on the ground, his eyes lit up.
"My brother Meng Jian still has some reputation in Runan. If he knows His Highness's ambition and raises his arms, he will definitely be able to unite the Runan nobles and serve His Highness."
Meng Jian.
One of Zhuge's Four Friends.
Liu Chan also knew his influence, but he was in Shangcai, where Liu Chan's troops had not reached.
How could he let Meng Jian know his intentions and serve him if he couldn't see this person?
Water from afar cannot quench thirst from near!
