The first person to arrive was an old man in his fifties or sixties. Although his temples were gray, he walked with energy. After entering the door, he bowed his hands to Liu Dai and said with a smile: "Why did you call me?"
Liu Dai returned the courtesy and said with a smile: "Yuan Wei is here, please sit down for a while and wait for the heroes to arrive before making any further calculations."
Hearing Liu Dai's name for this person, Zhang Heng understood the identity of this person. He was Qiao Mao, the governor of Dongjun, and the first person to fake a letter to the Three Dukes, calling on the heroes of the world to challenge Dong.
It seems that he and Liu Dai have a good relationship.
Following closely behind him was Zhang Chao, the governor of Guangling, who was Zhang Miao's younger brother.
Then there is Yuan Yi, the governor of Shanyang, the elder brother of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. The last person who arrived late was Jibei Prime Minister Bao Xin.
None of these people attracted much attention from Zhang Heng. It was not until he saw a young man next to Bao Xin that Zhang Heng's expression became slightly solemn.
This man is short in stature and has no outstanding appearance, but his eyes are piercing and full of energy. It seems that there are countless strategies inside, which is breathtaking to watch.
If the guess is correct, this person should be Cao Cao.
Just as Zhang Heng was guessing, Liu Bei suddenly walked up to the man, held his hands in his hands and said with a smile: "Brother Meng De, you're fine!"
When the short man saw Liu Bei, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he smiled.
"Xuande, you're here too!"
"Challenging Dong is a great cause of justice, how can Bei allow Brother Meng De to take the lead!" Liu Bei said with a smile.
"Well, Xuande is indeed a descendant of the great ancestor Miao. His courage is admirable!"
Cao Cao and Liu Bei looked at each other and smiled, feeling the enthusiasm and kindness in each other's eyes.
In Cao Cao's view, Liu Bei was a person very similar to himself. They both had great ambitions, were determined to help the Han Dynasty, and were passionate about serving the country bravely. Today's meeting in Suanzao just confirmed this point, and also convinced Cao Cao that Liu Bei was his comrade.
Bao Xin, who was standing next to him, saw that Cao Cao and Liu Bei were chatting happily, so he came up to ask what happened.
"What Yuncheng doesn't know is that this Liu Xuande is not only a clan member of the Han Dynasty, but also a student of Duke Zigang, and also my best friend!" Cao Cao introduced to Bao Xin with a smile.
Hearing this, Bao Xin quickly raised his hands in greeting and said: "It turns out that he is a disciple of Duke Zigang. How disrespectful! How disrespectful!"
It has to be said that mentioning Lu Zhi's name in the circle of aristocratic families is quite useful. Gongsun Zan was able to rise quickly back then, not only because of his own bravery in battle, but also because of his teacher Lu Zhi.
"Mr. Bao Fu, you are too polite. You are just a humble name, not worth mentioning!" Liu Bei quickly returned the courtesy.
"Xuande is too polite."
As Yuan Shao's number one younger brother, although Cao Cao can't be called a prince now, he is very popular among the princes. With his endorsement and recommendation, Liu Bei quickly became involved with the princes present, at least on the surface it was a happy scene.
After the princes gathered together, after each of them had paid their respects, they found their places and settled down.
Those who were eligible to be invited by Liu Dai were all princes, and they had already had their seats. Only Liu Bei and Zhang Heng were still standing in the hall after everyone took their seats.
It's not that they don't want to sit, it's just that there are so many seats arranged during normal discussions, and there's no room for them to sit.
The princes also looked over one after another. While guessing Zhang Heng's identity, they also wondered whether Liu Dai's gathering of people today was related to the two of them.
Strangely enough, it was the first time in Liu Bei's life that he was surrounded by so many big shots, but he was not afraid of the stage. He even showed confidence and saluted all the princes without being humble or arrogant. He showed extraordinary magnanimity.
Looking at Zhang Heng again, although he looked calm on the outside, his heart was already in his throat.
Many of his plans were just to gain a place among the princes and gain access to the palace. To this end, he did not hesitate to forge letters and even forge edicts from the emperor.
Now, it's finally time to test the results.
At the main seat, Liu Dai saw Zhang Heng and Liu Bei standing, and immediately waved his hand to summon the waiter.
"Add one more...two desk cases."
Liu Dai originally wanted to add a table to invite Zhang Heng to take a seat, but then he thought about it. Liu Bei was a disciple of Lu Zhi after all. If he could use this to promote Lu Zhi's banner, it would be the icing on the cake, so he simply gave Liu Bei another seat. Anyway, he didn't Nothing to lose.
After hearing these words, even Liu Bei's city couldn't help but look happy, and his body even trembled slightly.
Of course he understands what this means!
The status that the big guys don't care about is a threshold that Liu Bei may not be able to cross in his lifetime. Being able to get it today is all thanks to Zhang Heng's previous operation and Cao Cao's icing on the cake just now.
Thinking of this, Liu Bei looked at Zhang Heng with gratitude in his eyes.
Zhang Heng also slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and a big stone fell to the ground in his heart.
Fortunately, Liu Dai didn't kill the donkey, and finally got the most important thing!
While the envoy was moving the tables, Liu Dai introduced the identities of Zhang Heng and Liu Bei to everyone.
Although all the princes disagreed, they all stood up and bowed their hands to the two of them.
The sedan chair was carried by everyone, and when there was no conflict of interest, the princes did not mind showing goodwill.
Then Liu Dai took the opportunity to tell the story of the secret edict, and the princes suddenly became energetic.
An edict from the emperor?
Appoint an official and make a wish?
This feeling is so good!
In the remaining time, the princes, as expected, began to scold Dong Zhuo for not being a human being, and at the same time expressed their loyalty to Luoyang, saying that they would definitely obey the emperor's edict and eradicate the national traitor Dong Zhuo.
The princes said righteously that we are not here for rewards. Even if the emperor does not give us anything, as loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty, we will definitely enter Luoyang and help the Han Dynasty.
Yes, that’s it!
Seeing that the atmosphere was reaching its climax, Liu Dai decisively seized the opportunity, slapped the table and stood up, saying that he would hold an oath of alliance in ten days, and then mobilize all his elite troops to attack Luoyang!
The princes all praised and expressed their agreement.
Thief Dong is just a common man from Xiliang. Why should he bully the emperor? If he doesn't agree, fuck him!
Finally, Liu Dai waved his sleeves and went to eat.
That’s right, it’s a feast.
Since the arrival of these princes in Suzhou, they have had a small banquet every three days and a big banquet every five days to actively communicate with each other. The euphemistic name is waiting for the coalition, but in fact they are exchanging business.
After all the trouble, it was getting late, and the princes returned happily, patting their bellies and belching wine.
As newly promoted princes, Liu Bei and Zhang Heng were naturally given improved treatment and were assigned to a courtyard within the city, thus avoiding the tragedy of camping outside the city.
Liu Bei always had a good drinking capacity. Although he drank a lot during the dinner, he was not very drunk. After seeing off the waiter who was leading the way, he ordered Guan Yu to close the courtyard door and took Zhang Heng into the main room.
"Does Mr. Xuande know Cao Mengde?" There was no one else in the room at the moment, so Zhang Heng asked the doubts in his heart.
Liu Bei was full of questions, but he didn't expect Zhang Heng to ask the first question and nodded immediately.
"Yes, speaking of it, Meng De and I are old acquaintances..."
As he spoke, Liu Bei showed a trace of nostalgia in his eyes.
In the past, Liu Bei was fighting against the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and after fighting all over the place, he only got the official position of Anxi County Lieutenant. But even so, I didn't sit in this position for long.
At that time, the state's judicial supervisor came to inspect and prepare to remove a group of officials. Liu Bei had no backing, so he was obviously among those to be removed. Liu Bei thought about paying a visit to see if he could open the joint, but he didn't know that the governor thought he brought too few gifts and refused to meet him.
In a rage, Liu Bei rushed in and beat the governor, then abandoned his post and went to Luoyang to join his teacher Lu Zhi.
It was also at this time that he met Cao Cao in Luoyang. The two hit it off, talked happily, and became close friends.
Later, the general He Jin sent people to recruit troops everywhere, so Liu Bei asked his teacher Lu Zhi to make some connections and went with him. He met bandits on the way. Liu Bei fought hard and made meritorious service, so he became the order of Gaotang.
Zhang Heng couldn't help but be surprised after hearing Liu Bei talk about this experience.
Unexpectedly, Liu Bei and Cao Cao knew each other so early. This is not recorded in history books.
"Zi Yi, did my master Zi Qiangong really receive a secret edict from the emperor?"
After Liu Bei finished telling his story, he immediately asked the question that he had been holding back for a long time.
Zhang Heng shook his head.
"Since there is no such thing, how can you tell the princes..."
Before Liu Bei finished speaking, he was interrupted by Zhang Heng with a wave of his hand.
"Mr. Xuande, please be patient. I have not denied this matter."
Liu Bei was a little confused, "Then you shook your head just now..."
“I just don’t know.” Zhang Heng explained, “Mr. Duke Lu stepped forward and denounced the traitor Dong!"
Hearing these words, Liu Bei's eyes widened with anger, his fists clenched, and his anger almost burst out.
"My teacher is unparalleled in loyalty and bravery, and he is worthy of being the pillar of our Han family! What happened later, did Thief Dong harm the teacher?"
From Zhang Heng's description, he could completely imagine the scene at that time.
All the civil and military officials in the entire dynasty were like clay puppets. Only Lu Zhi was not afraid of power and used his passion to stop Dong Zhuo's perverse actions.
Although there are tens of thousands of people, I am going there, it is a great courage!
It's a pity that I wasn't with the teacher at the time, otherwise Thief Dong's blood would have been splashed on the spot!
"Later, Duke Lu was afraid that he would be harmed by Dong's thieves, so he resigned from his post and returned to his hometown. Therefore, I don't know whether Duke Lu received a secret edict from the emperor."
After hearing this, Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief.
But then I thought about it, since the teacher had resigned, he probably had no chance to receive the emperor's secret edict.
This guy Ziyi is really...
Liu Bei smiled bitterly and shook his head, once again giving Zhang Heng a bold label in his heart.
"So..." Zhang Heng said with a smile, "Gong Lu and Thief Dong are at odds with each other. Xuande Gong is a disciple of Duke Lu, and this time he will fight against the thieves on his behalf!"
"Yes, that's what I meant. Thief Dong wants to harm my master, so I'm going to kill him with my own hands!"
Liu Bei nodded sharply, indicating that he approved of Zhang Heng's approach.
"But begging for thieves is not something you just talk about, and principles can't sway Dong thieves. For the current plan, Duke Xuande should expand his strength first." Zhang Heng said with a smile, "Only when Duke Xuande's soldiers and horses are strong can we attack. Enter Luoyang and kill the national traitors."
"Expand our strength?" Liu Bei asked in confusion, "Aren't we marching together with the coalition forces of the princes?"
"Xuan De Gong really thinks that the coalition of princes can achieve something?"
Zhang Heng chuckled and said with disdain.
