As soon as Li Hong walked out of the alley where Bian Zhang's family lived, he was attacked by the assassins. Although Yang Qiu led a group of soldiers to resist, Li Hong was still seriously injured. This group of extremely martial arts assassins were very strong, and they fought fiercely, tearing through the interception of the Xiliang guards, killing a bloody path from the crowd, and rushing towards the black panther attendants who tightly surrounded Li Hong. At this time, several assassins disguised as Xiliang guards took advantage of the chaos to approach Li Hong, and they shot Li Hong at close range with sharp crossbow arrows.

Zhao Yun and Xu Rong immediately commanded the Black Panther attendants to swarm up, kill the assassin, and quickly run back to the palace with the unconscious Li Hong.

＝

After listening to Han Sui's narration, Bian Zhang asked in a low voice, "How is Li Zhonglang's injury?" ”

"The crossbow arrows on his body have been taken out, but the wound has been bleeding non-stop, and Li Zhonglang is still in a coma." Han Sui said hatefully, "Assassins are all dead soldiers, and we would rather die than surrender, and none of us have been caught." ”

Bian Zhang said worriedly: "The people behind this are very vicious, and they are bent on putting Li Zhonglang to death." This assassination failed, and there will definitely be a next time. Let's send troops to protect the government, and we can't make any mistakes. ”

Han Sui bowed his head slightly, and said with a faint smile: "I was going to open my mouth to keep Li Zhonglang later and continue to negotiate the conditions for appeasement, but this kind of thing happened. That's fine, don't let me say, he can't leave now if he wants to, we can talk for a while. ”

Bian Zhang glanced at him sideways, and said slowly: "Wen Yue, I heard Li Zhonglang say that the conditions you put forward are difficult for the court to accept, what conditions did you put forward?" ”

Han Sui said it succinctly.

Bian Zhang was silent for a long time and said, "This condition is indeed difficult to accept. Are you planning to revise the conditions for retaining Li Zhonglang? ”

Han Sui shook his head and said, "I want to ask what the conditions he gave us?" ”

Bian Zhang looked at him and said, "Wen Yue, do you have other ideas?" ”

Han Sui bowed his head and did not make a sound.

"You promised me that we would surrender as long as the opportunity is right, why did you suddenly repent? These demands you made are obviously territorial separation, and it is clear that you are unwilling to negotiate with Li Zhonglang. Bian Zhang stared at him, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Do you really want to cut off the hegemony?" ”

A wry smile appeared at the corner of Han Sui's mouth, and he said melancholy: "Old Bian, our friend for so many years, what do I think, don't you know?" I was reluctant to surrender, and I was even more reluctant to return to that filthy court. That's not the Great Han Kingdom, that's the Great Han Kingdom of the traitors. ”

"It is indeed a good thing that the court issued an order to appease him, especially for you and me, and for the leaders of our subordinates. In these two years of conquest and riots, we have been full, drunk, we have accumulated a lot of money, even if the court does not give us officials, we will not worry about food and clothing for the rest of our lives, we are not afraid of no money to spend, we can live a good life at ease, and both of us can teach and teach in the city with peace of mind. Yang Qiuma doesn't have to be bandits anymore, they can use the money of the whole car to buy a manor, make a dock fort, buy a field, and be a rich man. But what about the soldiers? And what about those junior officers? What about the people of Xiliang? ”

"After two years of war, they are used to this kind of life of fighting, killing, robbing, and robbing. Old Bian, have you ever wondered what they will do after being appeased? They all had to be sent home, they all had to pick up hoes, climb plows and work in the fields again, pick up horsewhips and lassoes and go up the mountains to graze livestock, and those who were homeless still took up swords and guns and stepped on war horses to become bandits. Except for the death of a group of brothers and friends, nothing has changed, those who should be poor are still poor, and those who should be bullied and humiliated are still humiliated and oppressed by others. This is their fate. ”

"What will they do when they return home and find that everything is worse than before the rebellion?"

Han Sui looked at Bian Zhang, smiled slightly, made an explosive gesture with the horizontal flute in his hand, and said: "They will gather again, find a leader again, and live this kind of bloody and exciting life again." ”

Bian Zhang was silent in thought.

"Do you know why I suddenly changed my mind?" Han Sui paced back and forth in the room with his hands in his hands, as if he was talking to himself, as if he was talking to Bian Zhang, "I heard that Li Zhonglang was coming that day, I was still excited, and I have been thinking about how to get His Majesty's amnesty from the emperor and live a stable and leisurely life again." I couldn't sleep at night, and as I walked around the courtyard, I overheard a few guards gossiping together about the way out after the dismissal. Of the five people, none of them wanted to go home to farm and graze. They were all discussing becoming mountain bandits, horse bandits, and bandits, but none of them said that they were willing to go home and hold the woman and the child, and honestly become new people. In their hearts, the world is back to the past, even worse than the past, and for them, it is still a rebellion except rebellion. Because only profiteering and bloodshed can make them find the dignity of being human beings, find the feeling of happiness and revenge, let them eat food they have never eaten, drink wine they have never drunk, grab gold and silk that they may never have seen, and live in a luxurious manor that they could never have dreamed of. Only in this way can they get closer to the good days and feel the hope of living a good life. For them, if they are humiliated, hungry and cold, and miserable for a lifetime, it is better to be crisp, comfortable, and vigorous for a moment. ”

"These dismissed soldiers were first organized in twos and threes, and they went to steal and rob to become bandits, and everyone wanted to get something for nothing. Small bandits will accumulate into large bandits, and large bandits will accumulate into an army, and with an army, they will attack the city more unscrupulously. After the things in Xiliang are robbed, they may have to organize a greater force to burn, kill and loot outside Xiliang, who will suffer in the end? It's all innocent people. ”

"This is the consequence of the appeasement, is this the appeasement you want to see?" Han Sui said bitterly, "Don't think I'm alarmist, think about how our current team is pulled up." ”

Bian Zhang let out a long sigh of helplessness and grief.

"Old Bian, you know what? The soldiers have begun to hate us. Two years of war have left them with blood and death, pain and poverty, and humiliation that will never be erased. What about us? We have gained fame because of the war, we have saved our lives because of the sacrifices of our soldiers, we have gained wealth because of the captives of our soldiers, we have turned everything illegal into legal because of appeasement, and we are the ones who have profited in the end. Lao Bian, if you are a soldier covered in scars, do you have no anger, no disappointment, and no hatred in your heart? ”

Bian Zhang closed his eyes, obviously in pain.

"It's not as simple as we thought it would be. After the appeasement, who will govern Xiliang? Who will govern the two border counties of Jincheng and Longxi? If the officials sent by the imperial court are still so cruel and greedy, or even as good as before, how will the people live? How can the Qiang people be treated equally? What if they riot again? ”

"After two years of war, Xiliang is full of desolation, the people are struggling on the line of life and death, the economy is extremely poor, and they are unable to resist the invasion of the Hu people. The number of border troops in the imperial court was originally small, and now we have beaten us to the ground. If our army is dismissed after the appeasement, there will basically be no border troops on the border, and the border passes will be useless. In this case, if the overseas Qianghu take the opportunity to fall down, how can we resist? Let the people be trampled and ravaged under the iron hooves of the Hu people? ”

Han Sui quickened his pace with some excitement, and his voice became louder and louder.

"Am I asking too much? I don't think it's too much at all. Although something violates the laws of the Great Han Dynasty, in the current situation, this is the only way to protect the Western Frontier, ensure the stability of the Western Liang, and accelerate the recovery of the national strength of the Great Han State. Looking at the history of our western Xinjiang, why did the Qianghu Rebellion repeatedly ban and be indecisive? Why has Xiliang struggled to survive in the war for decades? The most fundamental reason for this is that there are too few border troops. Why are there so few border troops? Bureaucrats at all levels have been corrupt and perverted the law, withheld military salaries, and falsely reported their heads, with the result that the number of border troops has become smaller and smaller, their morale has become more and more demoralized, and more and more money has been spent. Who can eradicate this disease? ”

"Do you think that Li Zhonglang is corrupt in Xiliang, kills a few people, and raids a few homes, Li Zhonglang can turn things around and make the sky in Western Xinjiang completely blue? Lao Bian, are you too wishful thinking? The reason why Xiliang's stubborn disease has not been cured for a long time is not because the place of Xiliang is rotten, but because the entire Han Kingdom has been rotten. If you want to recover, don't say that Li Zhonglang, an idiot, can't do it, even if the Son of Heaven comes in person, he can't return to heaven. Only by destroying it completely and starting over again will there be no possibility of governance. ”

"Why should I befriend June Thunder and Wind and Sand, am I willing to bear this reputation of being in cahoots with the Hu clan? However, if I don't make friends with them, they will immediately attack Xiliang and plunder our western territory, what can we use to resist? What to defeat the enemy? If we are defeated, the Great Han Kingdom will not immediately lose Xiliang. But what about the people of Xiliang? What they have endured is never-ending humiliation and killing. ”

"Li Zhonglang, what does he know? A hairy boy who has not dried up, because of the good opportunity, is thirsty for killing, and has made some bullshit contributions, and he actually sits in front of me and points fingers, what does it mean, I am angry when I look at him? What does he know? What else would he do but kill? ”

Han Sui stood in the room, stabilized his excitement a little, and continued: "In Xiliang, who knows Xiliang's past, present and future better than me? Who is better at governing Xiliang than me? Who better than me to restore the stability and strength of Xiliang? ”

"I am loyal to the Han and His Majesty, and this heart can only be expressed by heaven."

"Now that I have rebelled, I still care about my reputation, and I have decided to do so, whatever others say, even if future generations call me a traitorous villain, the most hateful and shameless traitor of the Han Dynasty, I will do the same. I'm determined, and no one can stop me. ”

Bian Zhang looked at Han Sui's handsome face, which was slightly pale because of excessive excitement, and was speechless.

After a while, he said slowly: "Wenyue, the reality in front of us is that we are already in a desperate situation, even if you want to realize your grand wishes, we need a period of recovery in order to accumulate strength and increase strength. At the moment we are not in a good condition and cannot give you enough strength and support, and we do not have the strength to compete with the imperial court. So, what's not to do with a temporary compromise? ”

Han Sui slowly walked to the old bedside and was silent.

"Our friends for decades, growing up together and rebelling together, you don't need to hide these things from me at all."

"You're getting worse and worse, and I really don't want to tell you these things to make you worry more and feel more pain." Han Sui grabbed Bian Zhang's hand and said sincerely, "However, I don't want you to misunderstand me and think that I have some ulterior motives and inflated selfish desires. Think about it, I have abandoned my reputation for decades, abandoned the teachings of my ancestors, and I raised the flag to rebel with you, what greed do I have, and what selfish desires do I have. ”

Bian Zhang shook his hand back vigorously, full of emotion.

＝

"Old Bian, what do you mean, or do you want to promise the court to appease you first?" Han Sui asked.

"Yes." Bian Zhang said, "You privately promised the gate lord, refused to be appeased by the imperial court, and provided Fang forces with an opportunity and excuse to assassinate Li Zhonglang, what good will it do us?" If the clan of the gate lords, under the pressure of the eunuchs and the Son of Heaven, immediately sent troops to encircle and suppress us after Li Zhonglang's death, how would we deal with ourselves? When will these profit-seeking villains have faith at all? ”

"You only think that the DPRK-China forces are too far away from us and cause us little harm, but why don't you think that after eliminating Li Zhonglang, the DPRK-China forces will soon recover, and they can still kill us. Are they unwilling to appease us? Bian Zhang said, "Think about it, how many Yellow Turban soldiers did Huangfu Song kill in Jizhou?" Is it because there is no food? No, Huangfu Song is for bloody suppression, to kill the rebellious courage, so that they no longer dare to rebel. ”

"Last year, if we hadn't had the foresight to release Yan Zhong's rebellion in Luoyang in advance, we might have been killed by Huangfu Song. Therefore, the policy of the gate lord clan towards rebellion is definitely bloody suppression, and there is no such thing as appeasement and persuasion. ”

"Li Zhonglang is different. You can see that he defeated the Yellow Turban Army in Jizhou last year, and defeated us this year, and he recruited a large number of prisoners. Li Zhonglang was born as a slave, and he is still very sympathetic to us, which can be seen from the fact that he did not kill Beigong Boyu and their Qiang people. Why don't you take advantage of this kind of person who is similar to us? Dealing with those jackals instead?

"We took advantage of the chaotic situation in Xiliang to cultivate and raise Li Zhonglang's forces, forming a situation for the imperial court. Li Zhonglang is in the western frontier and has a strong army, so he naturally wants to suppress all the forces in the imperial court, and the various factions in the DPRK and China will definitely not sit idly by and may join forces to fight back. When they are fighting, we can grow rapidly under the shade of the big tree of Li Zhonglang. ”

"Therefore, I think that if he eliminates Li Zhonglang and reduces the trouble for the forces in the DPRK and China, it is better to support Li Zhonglang and increase the trouble for the forces in the DPRK and China, so that they can take care of one thing and lose the other, and bite each other together, don't we have more opportunities and more time, and the requirements in the future can not be put forward higher?"

Han Sui suddenly woke up with a happy face. Bian Zhang probably said that he was tired, paused for a moment, and continued: "I'm going to die, although I don't agree with you to rebel all the time, but your idea just now still makes sense, and I didn't think of it before." I was too conservative, I only thought about the stability of the people in Xiliang, and I didn't think that stability does not mean food and clothing. If there is no food to eat, everyone still has to make hair, and the people still have to suffer. You're right, I don't want you to do it, but I'm going to die, and I'm willing to help you do it. As long as it is to let the people of Xiliang live a good life, I will help you. ”

＝

Li Hong heard Xu Rong's hearty laughter coming from the front hall, and immediately turned over and strode up to meet him.

"How? Zilie, what did Mr. Bian say? Li Hong asked eagerly.

Xu Rong bowed down and said: "Mr. Bian said that Mr. Wenyue has agreed to be cared for, and he is negotiating this matter with his subordinates in the past two days, and it is estimated that we will be able to talk in a day or two." In addition, he asked me to tell the adults that he had already sent someone to arrange the things entrusted by Master Fu, and as long as the adults returned to the Zixiu Mountain camp safely, someone would send the things over. ”

Li Hong patted Xu Rong excitedly and said with a smile: "Mr. Bian is really majestic and powerful. Did he say he wanted to send me across the Yellow River? ”

"Mr. Bian said, you are seriously injured, it is better to recover from the injury first, and don't worry about going back for the time being. He said that when the two of us had reached a good deal, he and Mr. Wenyue would send the adults across the Yellow River together. Xu Rong said with a smile, "Your Excellency's plan to deceive yourself has worked very well, and the government has been much quieter in the past two days." ”

Zhao Yun laughed, and then laughed.

Li Hong glanced at him strangely and asked, "Zilong, what are you laughing at?" ”

I laughed...... It was so much fun to laugh at the adult. Zhao Yun endured it, his handsome face turned red, "At that time, the assassin's three crossbow arrows were all shot on the adult's chest, and the adult was fine because there was an iron plate in the armor, but the assassin didn't know." He looked stupid, and he must have thought to himself, what kind of person is this, why can't he even shoot a crossbow arrow. What's even funnier is that the adult took the time to pull three crossbow arrows from his armor, smiled at the assassin, and then plunged them into his stomach, and blood spurted from him. You didn't see it at the time, the assassin's eyes widened......" Zhao Yun gestured with his hands as much as he could, and said exaggeratedly, "It's about to fall." Lord Commander chopped off his head with a knife, didn't he notice that his eyes were extraordinarily large? ”

Xu Rong shook his head and said with a smile: "Warning, serious warning once, this method can't be used next time, it's too dangerous." If the bolt reaches the neck above, then it will be a disaster. ”

Li Hong smiled: "You guys are too nervous, when you dragged me to run away, it hurt my waist, are you nervous or anything?" I have a very strong judgment about this kind of thing, and I will never go wrong. In the past, when I was in Xianbei, the commander thought I was an assassin. Now it seems that I must have been a very good assassin in the past. Last time, I was able to get out of danger outside Huaili City, relying on instinct. As soon as Zilong's face moved, I naturally looked at Zilong's eyes, and immediately discovered the situation, and then reacted all over my body, and that feeling ......"

Li Hong thought for a moment and said, "That feeling is so wonderful. You haven't lost your memory, you don't know what it's like. ”

Zhao Yun hurriedly said: "My lord, if I lose my memory, you can remember, don't lose me." ”

Li Hong and Xu Rong glanced at each other and burst out laughing.

At this time, Nie Xiao walked in.

"What are the adults laughing at? Tell me about it. ”

Zhao Yun then said it again. Everyone laughed and made fun of each other.

"Old Nie, I've got in touch with Master Zheng." Li Hong asked with a smile.

Since Nie Xiao was invited by Li Hong to be the contact person between the two parties, Li Hong has always respected him and trusted him, pulling him together every time he discussed something and asking for his opinion. Nie Xiao was the high-ranking leader of the rebel army, and he was familiar with the situation of the Xiliang rebels, and it was indeed helpful for him to go through many details of the negotiations. Nie Xiao was very moved by this. Li Hong and his subordinates all affectionately called him Lao Nie.

"Got in touch. I asked a friend to arrange for Lord Zheng and his party to be in a dock fort outside the city, which was very safe. Nie Xiao said, "Will you leave tonight?" ”

Li Hong groaned for a moment and said, "I met with Mr. Han in the evening to probe his tone. You'll pick me up in the middle of the night. ”

＝

The news that Li Hong was assassinated in Yunwu and was seriously injured was quickly sent to Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo took the news and looked at it for a long time, and then said to Li Ru, who was sitting beside him: "Changsheng, this Li Hong can't afford to be seriously injured, and the matter of Jincheng is a little troublesome." ”

"Who sent this assassin to catch it so poorly. Isn't it looking for death when committing murder on the street? Li Ru said slowly, "It's just that in this way, Li Hong is lying in the palace every day, and the guards are tight, and our original plan cannot be implemented." General, immediately send an order down, cancel the assassination plan in the city, and concentrate on arranging an ambush outside the city. ”

"There is news that Lao Bian seems to be going to personally send Li Hong to Jincheng. If we kill Lao Bian together, it will be more than worth the loss. The role of Lao Bian is still immeasurable, especially in the current situation, it is even more unkillable. Dong Zhuo stroked his black hair, frowned slightly, and said thoughtfully.

Li Ru waved his hand and said resolutely: "Solve the first problem first." If Lao Bian walks with him, he will be killed together. If we can't kill Li Hong this time, things are quite tricky, and the pressure on us from all sides is too great. And after Li Hong runs back, he will definitely retaliate wildly. This idiot, who knows what he's going to do. ”

He stood up, looked at Dong Zhuo, and asked strangely, "Which assassin sent out by this family?" ”

＝

In the study room of the Huaili City Mansion, Zhang Wen and Gai Xun, Sang Yang and others were also discussing this issue.

"Li Hong is seriously injured and can't afford to come back in a short time. If he stays in Yunwu for a long time, and Bian Zhang, Han Sui repeatedly negotiates the matter of appeasement, there may be changes in the middle. Gai Xun said, "Bian Zhang and Han Sui are both talented people, if they see the trick in it, they support Li Hong to deal with us after carefully weighing the pros and cons, and the situation is not good." ”

"Rebellion is rebellion, they never put the country's society first, and this concern of Lord Gai is very reasonable." Sang Yang said worriedly, "Bian Zhang and Han Sui have a lot of thoughts, maybe they want to divide one side and claim the king." From this point of view of theirs, they certainly hoped that the court would be as chaotic as possible. ”

Then he looked at Zhang Wen with a look of disdain, "What can Dong Zhuo do?" Speaking of which, they have been mixed in Xiliang for decades, and they can't even do this little thing. ”

Zhang Wen smiled: "Don't worry? Let's wait, maybe there's a chance. Yuan Gu, what news has Your Majesty had recently? Two days ago, he came to the edict to inquire about Li Hong's affairs, and he seemed very concerned. ”

Gai Xun smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty recently complained in the edict, saying that since Li Hong left, Xiliang's anti-corruption has stopped, and there has been no progress so far, his income has decreased sharply, and the treasury has not been paid. In his edict, he scolded the Taiwei Mansion and the Liangzhou Mansion for their ineffective work. His Majesty has eaten this delicious meal for Li Hong, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to stop it in the future. ”

"Your Majesty won't deduct our rank again, will you?" Sang Yang asked nervously.

"Possibly." Zhang Wen smiled, "Your Majesty has done this in the past. ”

"Nan Rong has any news?" Zhang Wen asked Gai Xun again.

"Nope. Li Hong Jincheng was assassinated, and many things had to be delayed. Gai Xun said dissatisfiedly, "Where did Dong Fatzi invite a group of stupid people, and they can't even kill people." ”

＝

Li Hong quietly returned to the Zixiu Mountain camp.

When a group of high-ranking officers heard the news, they rushed to the Chinese army's tent to see him.

"These Assassins are in good hands." Li Hong lightly slapped Koji Yi and said with a smile, "Quasi-head and foot, if you say that you want to shoot your chest, you will shoot your chest, and there is no ambiguity at all." How much did you pay to bring it in? ”

Koji Yi pretended to be nervous and asked, "Are you okay?" As long as I shoot one point, I can deduct half of their fees. ”

Zuo Yan smiled: "You have paid all the money, what else will you deduct?" ”

The generals laughed.

"Everyone is here today, so don't leave." Li Hong smiled happily, "Who wants to treat you to dinner and give me a pick-up?" ”

Wen Chou shouted loudly: "Of course it's Lord Koji." ”

"Why?" Koji yelled dissatisfied, "I've cheated you on several meals lately. ”

Wen Chou touched the three small holes on Li Hong's armor, and said in a matter-of-fact manner, "Let's see, all three arrows are shot crookedly, this is clearly a third-rate character with a low level and a low asking price." Koji-sama...... You ......"

Koji Yi was so angry that he rushed up and kicked it, and scolded loudly: "Little white face, you dare to say that I have ill intentions, I will kill you......"

Everyone was laughing, and Zhang He, who was on duty at Yuanmen, hurriedly walked in.

"Xianyu Lord, there is an official from Longxi County who said that he asked to see your lord."

Xian Yufu asked, "What did he say?" Are you here to mention someone? ”

"No, he said he had something important to see your lordship."

"Junyi, what's his name?" Li Hong asked.

"Pound."

＝