After the envoy from Jingnan left, Jinyang City received a new envoy from the west.
Compared with Gao Congjie's envoy, Liu Zhiyuan obviously paid more attention to the envoy from the west and had a more friendly attitude. He ordered people to bring him into the inner hall of the palace for dialogue.
The messenger was a young man with a strong build. It could be seen at a glance that he was a warrior in the army. He came from Jingzhou, Guanzhong, and was a subordinate of Shi Kuangyi, the military envoy of Zhangyi Army.
"The last general, Shi Cheng, pays homage to the King of Peking!" Faced with Liu Zhiyuan's scrutiny, he looked serious and bowed solemnly.
Liu Zhiyuan saw his solemnity and felt good in his heart. He asked in a gentle tone: "No need to be formal. What do you mean when Duke Jimei sent you here?"
Shi Kuangyi, courtesy name Jimei, was born in Daijun County and was born in Jiangmen. His father was Shi Jiantang, known as the second most powerful general in the "Five Dynasties", who fought against Wang Yanzhang for 200 rounds. However, Shi Kuangyi may not have fully inherited his father's strong military force, but he was also a talented general who understood the art of war, strategy, and integrity.
He is a few years older than Liu Zhiyuan. He served in the Tang and Jin dynasties. Last year he moved from Beizhou to Jingyuan to serve as the military envoy of the Zhangyi Army. In the border areas, calming the people and pacifying the army will be a great contribution to the country.
This time he took the initiative to send people to Taiyuan with a very clear purpose: to make friends with Liu Zhiyuan and fight against the Khitan together.
The envoy Shi Cheng seemed to have a very open-minded character. When Liu Zhiyuan asked questions, he did not say any convoluted words and directly stated his purpose: "Hu Qi went south and lived in Liangji. The commander-in-chief did not want to succumb to Rong Di. I wanted to lead the army. Head east to fight against the enemy, but in the four prefectures of Jingyuan, the soldiers are few and the people are poor, but our strength is still strong. I am willing to serve as the leader of the King of Peking, expel the Khitan, and return the world to our Han family!"
Lai Shi looked at Liu Zhiyuan boldly, with a solemn expression and a sincere tone. He was much more sincere than Gao Congjie.
When Liu Zhiyuan heard this, he felt a little happy in his heart, but he didn't show any emotion, and his words were perfunctory: "Brother Jimei is in a humble place, but he still doesn't forget to worry about the country. It's really admirable. But how can you be so virtuous? Brother Jimei thinks so highly of me? If Brother Jimei is determined to attack thieves, I will definitely help him!"
After receiving such an answer, Shi Cheng raised his neck and said urgently: "Although the general is a warrior, he is not a rude person. Please forgive me for being rude. My commander-in-chief treats each other with all his heart and has no regrets in life or death. Is it possible that Peking Will the king just use these prevarications to ask the general to reply?"
Such a naked question was indeed rude, but Liu Zhiyuan was not angry about it and laughed a few times: "It's my fault!"
When Shi Cheng's expression softened, Liu Zhiyuan stood up, walked back and forth in the hall a few times, looked at the person, and slowly narrated: "The Khitan invaded, marched straight in, occupied the two capitals, and were invincible. The Khitan leader conscripted all the towns and fought in all directions. Mi will not sneak in. Only Shi Gong Ji Mei sticks to the city and refuses to accept orders. Such heroic deeds, even in Jinyang, are heard and yearned for. "
"Brother Jimei has sent an envoy to express his sincerity. How can I deny my sincerity and despise the heart of a lofty idealist?" As he spoke, Liu Zhiyuan himself felt a little emotional, and there was a sense of moistness in his undulating eyes. He raised his finger and pointed. Shi Cheng: "Reply to Brother Jimei and protect the country of the Han family. It is also Gu's ambition. You will live up to it!"
"King Gaoyi of Peiping!" After hearing what Liu Zhiyuan said, Shi Cheng bowed his head.
After helping the man up personally, Liu Zhiyuan asked with a smile: "Your name is Shi Cheng, are you the nephew of Brother Jimei? What is your official position?"
"The last general is the adopted son of Jieshuai, and now he is Jiedu Yajiang!"
"Brother Jimei has great vision, he is a hero!" Liu Zhiyuan boasted casually, and then ordered to Liu Chengxun who was waiting beside him: "Da Lang, order someone to invite General Shi down and take good care of him. Tonight, I will personally Give him a banquet to wash away his dust!"
"yes!"
"By the way, there is one more thing that needs to be reported to the king!" As he was leaving, Shi Cheng suddenly turned around and said with his hands in hand.
"But there's no harm in talking!"
Shi Cheng sighed and replied: "Xiongwu Jiedu envoy He rebuilt, killed the Khitan envoys, and surrendered the three states of Qin, Cheng and Jie to Shu. The Lord of Shu has sent troops to assist He Rebuild and attack Guanzhong. When the last general came east, the Shu army We are jointly attacking Fengzhou with He Jun. With Fengzhou’s strength, I’m afraid they won’t be able to stop it..."
After hearing the news, Liu Zhiyuan frowned. Just by imagining, he could guess the current chaotic situation in Guanzhong. After thinking for a while, he sighed heavily and said: "Rong Di Pingling has no owner in the Central Plains, so it is attached to Fangzhen. I am alone in the east of the river and have done nothing. It is a good thing to be ashamed of. It is time to take care of this great mountain and river." !”
After Shi Cheng was taken away, Liu Zhiyuan's expression returned to calm and he exhaled a breath: "What a simple young man!"
Even though Liu Zhiyuan kept saying "Brother Jimei" in front of the envoy, in fact, the two had no friendship at all, and they only had one or two photos many years ago. He was so enthusiastic just because he also needed a prince with sufficient ability, prestige and qualifications like Shi Kuangyi to give him a "platform".
"Father, even Shi Gong has come to offer his loyalty!" Liu Chengxun turned around and walked to Liu Zhiyuan's side, saying with a happy face.
Glancing at his eldest son, Liu Zhiyuan asked, "Why do you think Shi Kuangyi sent someone to watch?"
"Of course my father is very virtuous!" The words came out of Liu Chengxun's mouth almost without thinking.
Liu Zhiyuan smiled and looked at the eldest son who was waiting respectfully in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If it were the second son, I'm afraid he would reply coldly: It's just because Hedong's soldiers and horses are strong!
Liu Chengxun couldn't guess what his father was thinking, so he stepped forward and helped him sit down, asking: "We are also sending envoys to persuade them to come in. Why is my father's attitude towards the envoys from Jingnan and the envoys from Jingyuan so different?"
Facing the doubts of his eldest son, Liu Zhiyuan smiled coldly: "In the Qiancheng of Shi Kuangyi's country, my father needs the support of such old ministers to gather people's hearts. Gao Cong teaches scoundrels and shrinks like a mouse. It is of no use to me. If he enters the Central Plains one day, You have to be careful, so why give him a good look?"
After listening to his father's explanation, Liu Chengxun seemed to understand. He hesitated for a moment, and then asked in a low voice: "I wonder when father plans to become emperor?"
Glancing at Liu Chengxun, Liu Zhiyuan said, "Why do you ask this?"
"In the past few days, many people have asked me insinuatingly. I am so excited that I don't know how to answer them."
"Haha, it seems that they really can't bear it anymore..."
...
The night is shrouded, the twilight is heavy, and the darkness seems to have calmed down the restlessness in Jinyang City during the day. On the east wall of the West City, Liu Chengyou crossed his fingers and rested his elbows on the female wall, staring at the south-flowing Fen River outside the city wall.
The evening breeze blew gently, stirring up a few stray strands of Liu Chengyou's hair. The boy gently tapped his chin on his knuckles, thinking deeply. He has been thinking about too many things in this short period of time.
"Military Lord!" Liu Chengyou naturally wouldn't be here for no reason. After waiting for a while, thick footsteps could be heard. Zhang Yanwei crossed the guard and walked to him to salute.
He didn't make any movement. Liu Chengyou was still leaning against the wall and said: "Has everything been discussed?"
"Yes! We have made an agreement with Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao and others to ask for orders together tomorrow!" Zhang Yanwei replied.
"Yes!" Liu Chengyou finally nodded and whispered softly: "Remember, restrain the soldiers and don't cause trouble. If there is an accident, I will ask you!"
"Please rest assured! The brothers who are petitioning are all personally selected by Commander Ma!" Zhang Yanwei assured confidently.
"Go!"
"yes!"
After lying on the city wall for a while, Liu Chengyou straightened his spine, looked back to the west, and looked at the Taiyuan Palace shrouded in the hazy night in the distance, before he called the guards and returned home.
As expected, Liu Zhiyuan will take over within a few days.
In fact, the time has basically been set, and Xinwei (the 15th) of this month is a good day. But before that day comes, some necessary processes are still needed.
