"What are you waiting for? I think they left for an excuse and will never come back."
Zhang Fei said bitterly.
He had disliked Mi Zhu and Mi Fang at the beginning. Their eloquence was just that, their vision was not far-reaching, and they were not from a local wealthy family, but only had strong family assets.
Besides, the feeling of getting along with each other is far inferior to that of my brother. Even if we accept and appoint them, it is just for each of them to get what they need.
Liu Bei grinned heartily and said, "Mi Zhu joked that he wanted to marry all his girls to me as his wives. How could he abandon me?"
"Even if the Sun family's talents are not persuaded, they will find a way to come back. We will just wait a little longer."
"Hey! Okay," Zhang Fei and Guan Yu heard this and had no objections. They could only look at each other angrily and never mention the matter again.
However, what Zhang Fei just said was right. Since they arrived in Xia Qiu, they had done nothing wrong to the people and never bothered them. They even personally went to divert water to irrigate the fields with the people to resist drought.
In just one month, he had won the love of many people, and he could collect food from local merchants and large households. Even if Lu Bu didn't give him food, he could still wait for about ten days and then withdraw.
This wait is seven days.
Sun Qian took Mi Zhu and Mi Fang out of Xuzhou and went to Xiaopei to meet Zhang Han.
Since Lu Bu took office, many people who did not want to serve as officials under him also resigned and went back.
The Mi brothers took this opportunity to say goodbye and return home, but the Chen family and other wealthy people in Xuzhou could not escape and could only continue to serve as officials.
During this period, many wealthy families left Xuzhou, and talented people either moved south or north.
Going to the north requires going through a war, so most of them fled south. Maybe someone in the Xuzhou family was responsible for this. Anyway, when Lu Bu wanted to forcefully stop them, they were already almost gone.
However, as long as Chen and his son are still in Xuzhou, his power will not collapse instantly, and he will still have resources behind him.
Therefore, the departure of Sun Qian and others was just one of the small streams following the big flow. Their departure did not cause too much waves. After all, Sun Qian had already received the opportunity to return to his hometown during the Tao Qian period. Permitted.
After seven days, Liu Bei decided not to wait any longer.
Xiaqiu is only a small city and cannot support his garrison here. If he doesn't leave, perhaps what awaits him will be an attack by Lu Bu's army to collect Liu Bei's life for him.
By this time, he also understood that brothers Mi Zhu and Mi Fang might have changed their minds, or maybe they were trapped in Xiapi for some reason and could no longer travel freely.
Liu Bei was preparing to march away from Xia Qiu, but at this time, Jian Yong hurriedly came from outside and told him one more thing.
"Most of the people want to follow the lord."
Jian Yong bowed down with a solemn look on his face. He understood that once these people followed, the march would be slow and they would most likely be overtaken. Moreover, since he had nowhere to go, he could not take the people with him.
Liu Bei was stunned, and Er Qing burst into hearty laughter, "It's a good thing that the people can rely on them! So these days we govern sincerely and lead the people peacefully, which also makes these people rely on trust. It would be great if we could really take them away. .”
"It's a pity that I took them with me, but I couldn't go far before I was overtaken by Lu Bu. After all, it would be useless for him to take back an empty Xia Qiu, and I kidnapped so many people."
When he said this, he looked at Jian Yong curiously and said, "Xianhe, what did these people say? Why do they have to follow me?! Could it be that Xia Qiu and the others can't stay by themselves?"
"After Lu Bu took office, the taxes were a little higher, the soldiers were recruited into the camp, and the city defenses were built. Every policy was not to support the people. The implementation of the decree has reached Xiapi, Tancheng and other places in Xuzhou."
"People would rather be refugees when they flee, because it would be a conscription, which would harm the whole family. The men would die in battle or from exhaustion, while the women would be captured and brought in... Even if this were not the case, it would be difficult for the family to live without men, so these people I would rather follow my lord.”
After hearing this, Liu Bei couldn't laugh anymore. There was only a look of pity on his face, and he sighed: "How can I get out of Xuzhou with them?"
"Let's go and see!"
Liu Bei strode forward and soon arrived outside the military camp. A large number of cavalry and infantry were being dispatched by Guan and Zhang to take the baggage and the remaining grain and grass out of the city in batches.
Now that he has nowhere to go, Liu Bei plans to leave Xuzhou first and go to Yuzhou in the name of quelling the chaos to see if he can gain a foothold. Yuzhou has gone through years of war and is full of bandits after Huang Wan left.
There are so many leaders who gather together, it may be a merit, and they can also get help and support.
As mercenaries, they can only make a living like this for the time being.
Soon, an old man emerged from the crowd of people. As soon as he came, he quickly bowed to Liu Bei. He didn't know what a great gift was, but if he was asked to kneel down and he couldn't kneel down, he had to use his legs when bowing. All trembling.
"General, please save us, general!"
"General, life in Xuzhou is no longer safe! We just want to live. In troubled times, the journey is difficult and dangerous. Without General, we will definitely be captured and used as slaves!"
"My father-in-law, please rise. You don't need to call me general. I am not a general. You can just call me Xuande." Liu Bei's face was moved, his eyes moved slightly, and he looked at the people behind the father-in-law. They were all eager to live in peace. The eyes of both men and women looked at him with hope.
Each of these people had a gray face, their hair was messed up, and most of their bodies were covered in mud. They gathered together, thinking that with their large number, Liu Bei would take pity on them and take them to escape together.
"Everyone, let's be honest," Liu Bei sighed and said, "I don't like the new governor of Xuzhou, and I don't like the policy of disturbing the people and conscripting soldiers, but now I have nowhere to go."
"I, Liu Bei, have devoted my life to pursuing the land of benevolence and ensuring the people's survival. However, no one's words are enough to shake the mighty man. I can only use my best efforts to achieve peace. How can I bear the trust of all the elders!"
Liu Bei cupped his hands and bowed down.
Although he felt helpless, he really didn't dare to take the people away. If he did, he would be hunted down by heroes like Lu Bu who had no thoughts of life, in order to frighten the other officials in the territory.
"General!"
"Please General, take us forward!"
"General Liu, we are all Han people..."
"General, you don't have to take us far, we only need to go to Pengcheng! We want to go to Duke Cao in Yanzhou!"
One person said this, and the others seemed to have reacted, shouting one after another: "Yes, we are going to vote for Cao Gong!"
"General Liu! Duke Cao is a man of great benevolence. The people in the territory can be accommodated. We are willing to go and join him!"
"He will definitely take it in! There is a lot of food in Yanzhou!"
"I heard before that Yanzhou has been preparing for a severe drought for a long time. Although the weather is dry this year, the farmland is still fertile and we can still produce food. I also ask General Liu to show his kindness and take us to Pengcheng for resettlement."
"Okay!" Liu Bei thought carefully. It was only a few days away, so he could take them to Pengcheng. However, he didn't know who the Pengcheng guard was now. Can he allow us to enter the city?
But in any case, for the purpose of protecting the refugees, you can go and find out whether Cao Mengde has truly upheld benevolence and righteousness. You will know as soon as you go!
I just don’t know where my two friends Mi Zhu and Mi Fang are now. It would be great if we could go together.
…
Juancheng.
"Bang!" Cao Cao slapped the letter sent by Zhang Han on the table, with a look of disgust on his face, and said to Xun Yu next to him: "If you have time, Wen Ruo, you can teach him calligraphy."
What the hell was written, it made my eyes sore and my brain dizzy.
"Okay," Xun Yu smiled and cupped his hands without saying anything else.
"Dong Zhao," Cao Cao stretched out his hand and knocked on the table a few times. After thinking for a moment, he said to Xun Yu: "Help me reply to Bo Chang. Dong Zhao is now under Yuan Shao. He is good at foreign affairs. He has been with us many years ago. He broke away from the family and has little contact with Dong Fan, who I happen to know."
"After sending this news to Bochang, I ordered Cheng Yu to visit Juancheng with Dong. I have something to ask him personally."
"Sincerely," Xun Yu cupped his hands, then raised his head with a smile and said relaxedly: "I think Lai Bochang already knew Duke Ming's good intentions for him, but he is still thinking about Juancheng in Xiaopei."
"Hmph," Cao Cao chuckled twice, raised his eyes to Xun Yu, and showed a sincere expression, "He is an independent man who only knows how to make meritorious deeds but does not know how to cultivate his wings. How can he achieve results in the future? Bo Chang is not good at this. Just go to Xiaopei and win over a few people."
"Ming Gong has good intentions," Xun Yu handed over his hand.
He was not jealous, but rather envious. Every time Ming Gong mentioned this kind of thing, he would smile and show his old father's eyes.
It's rare to find someone as pure as Zhang Han. This may be related to his background as a white man, and he is naturally resistant to intricate relationships, or he doesn't care at all.
Moreover, it was even rarer to see Ming Gong be so attached to a person. He and Zhicai almost chewed up Xiaopei's Sun family and fed it to their mouths.
It can be said that the two of them were heartbroken.
Cao Cao sighed with emotion and said: "Well, as long as he can win over this family, from now on... he will take his time based on his merits."
…
Xiaopei.
"Gong Gan is going to host a banquet for me?" Zhang Han looked at Dian Wei blankly, and the latter nodded solemnly.
There's nothing wrong with it, that's what the skinny boy who came to report just now said.
"He also said that sir, please be sure to bring Dian Mou with you."
"You're talking nonsense," Zhang Han was stunned. "The second half of the sentence must be false. People don't even know you."
"Then I am your bodyguard, and I should protect you personally, right?" Old Dian Wei's face turned slightly red, "How can this be considered nonsense!"
