Chapter 626 The Negotiation Failed
With Luo Kong's clear refusal, the atmosphere between the four of them suddenly became stagnant.
Dong Zhuo felt envious but also felt a hint of strong dissatisfaction. He and Li Ru looked at each other and saw determination in each other's eyes.
Crown Prince Bian must be obtained, and the Luo family must be eliminated.
As long as they rule together with the Luo family, the final outcome will be being sidelined.
It took tens of thousands of Xiliang cavalry more than ten years to reach this point, not to help the Luo family.
Dong Zhuo's voice was cold and grim. "Lord Ziming, what you just said means that you are unwilling to obey His Majesty's order and are going to disobey the Emperor's order?"
Luo Kong looked directly at Dong Zhuo and said the same eight words, "This is a chaotic order. I will not obey it!"
"good!"
Dong Zhuo was so angry that he laughed and said coldly: "There are people like you Luo family in the world, do you still think it is the pre-Han period?
People all over the world respect you, so you have a great reputation, but if we really talk about weapons, what is the Luo family?"
Seeing Dong Zhuo's immediate confrontation, Li Ru continued his words, "Lord Ziming, I have looked at the general situation of the world and have some words for the Luo family. Please listen carefully.
When the pre-Han dynasty was founded, the ancestors of the Luo family were extremely capable. Their influence was extremely huge both in the imperial court and in local areas, so much so that they were known as Luo and Liu, sharing the world.
Ordinary people may still be immersed in fame, but I will never give up on exploring the truth because of these false reputations.
There are only tens of thousands of Luo clan members in Zhaocheng. Excluding the elderly, the weak, women and children, there are only a few thousand so-called Luo clan warriors.
Even if we are invincible in the world, it is ultimately just manpower. My ten thousand or twenty thousand Xiliang cavalry are enough to resist them.
The Luo family of Zhaocheng was the foremost family of Confucian classics scholars, superior to many other aristocratic families.
However, the Luo family was not as power-hungry as other Confucianist families; in fact, the number of their students and former officials was even less than that of the Yuan family of Runan, which rose to prominence in just a few decades.
In the past, when the Luo family raised their arms in Guandong, the princes and common people responded in unison, and even launched a second Jingnan Rebellion. This was what the royal family feared most about the Luo family.
But a hundred years after the Han Dynasty, how many of Luo's allies were still around?
The so-called five surnames, Xiao and Zhang each had their own thoughts, Han and Lu gradually declined, Changping Hou Wei had been stripped of his title long ago, and the descendants of Bowang Hou and Guanjun Hou Huo were not good and were only second-rate.
The princes have declined, and although the nobles of the world respect the Luo family as their leader, don't you understand what is going on behind the scenes, Lord Ziming?
As for the common people in the world, even the poor have no place to speak out, let alone the common people?
The common people of the world, if they are big, follow the nobles of the prefectures and counties; if they are small, they follow the powerful people of the counties and prefectures.
Or he could be like Zhang Jiao. But as Ziming Gongni said before, Zhang Jiao's Taiping Army, which is connected with the common people, will probably soon become a powerful army.
Besides, it is impossible for Zhang Jue to be with Luo Shi.
In which province or county in the world can the Luo family control the people?
The world was in chaos, business was difficult, and even silk was blocked, so Liangzhou was not as prosperous as before.
The nobles and powerful families in all provinces and counties throughout the country strengthened their local commerce. Although the Luo family was able to travel throughout the country, they still encountered some exclusion.
Zhaocheng values commerce and relies on commerce to support the country. After experiencing these blows, wouldn’t its strength decline?
The Luo family has neither internal strength nor external support. It has long been weak inside and no longer has the glory it once had.
Why do you, Lord Ziming, still look like you're not worried at all about us taking action against you?
Why don't you want to have a good talk with us in a friendly manner?"
Jia Xu couldn't help frowning after hearing what Li Ru said. Of course, he could hear the flaws in Li Ru's words, but overall there was no problem.
Luo Kong laughed softly upon hearing this and said, “Wushuang Marquisate is a branch of Zhaocheng. If you regard Zhaocheng as an imaginary enemy, you are totally wrong.
And you have analyzed so much before, I just want to ask one question, is Xiliang a match for Zhaocheng?"
This last question made Dong Zhuo feel a little upset. He and Li Ru both knew that if Zhao Cheng went all out, he would probably still be defeated even with more than a decade of accumulation.
Li Ru smiled sinisterly and said, "Is it a good thing for both sides to suffer losses? The strongest man in the world is Zhang Jue now. If Zhang Jue leads his troops eastward, can the Luo family still resist?
Could they resist the elite of the Taiping Army with only a few thousand brave warriors? Could they resist the invincible Zhang Jue?
"What Lord Ziming said just now about the endless descendants of our ancestors makes a lot of sense to me. I don't want to confront Lord Ziming, so I hope Lord Ziming can give in."
The meaning of Li Ru's words was very clear. The current Luo family is no longer the family that can occupy most of the world on its own, and should keep a low profile.
Why do you have to fight against us at this time?
Luo Kong laughed softly, and then said while laughing: "Dong Zhongying, Li Wenyou, you really don't know the Luo family well enough.
During the Bang Zhou period, the family made countless sacrifices, which led to the eventual demise of the Luo Kingdom, but they never regretted it.
In the pre-Han period, the family was so powerful that its power even far exceeded that of the Zhou Dynasty. There were even cases where the head of the family died while living abroad.
You understand political families, but you don't know what the Luo family is.
Now, you want me to give up Prince Bian with just one sentence. Is it Prince Bian that I am giving up?
This is what our Luo family has been adhering to for thousands of years.
I am a Han subject now when I am alive, and I will still be a Han subject when I die. I will be a Han subject all my life.
I can blame the emperor, even scold him, but remember, anyone who wants to trample on the Han Dynasty must step over my dead body. "
Even if he is my brother!
There was a trace of confusion in Luo Kong's eyes. He didn't understand why his brother chose to overthrow the Han Dynasty. If he overthrew the Han Dynasty, he would die, but his brother would never kill him. This paradox made him confused all the time. He didn't know what his brother wanted to do.
Han minister!
As soon as these two words came out, Dong Zhuo and Li Ru knew that this matter would not end peacefully. Dong Zhuo snorted coldly, stood up and left. Li Ru sighed slightly and said, "Mr. Ziming, you are too loyal."
Luo Kong and Jia Xu stood up, and Jia Xu comforted them, "My lord, you don't have to listen to Wen You. Luo's loyalty is the foundation of our existence. Only by adhering to benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness can Luo always be the leader of the world."
Luo Kong did not speak, but turned around and said: "Wenhe, you don't have to stay here.
You take Cai Yan, the guards, the ladies-in-waiting, and the three hundred elite cavalrymen of the Luo clan, and go from here to Zhaocheng, taking the Hebei Road. I also have twenty guards with relatively strong martial arts skills who can protect you along the way. "
The twenty guards with relatively high martial arts skills are spiritual soldiers. Luo Kong guards the Western Region, and his family has always equipped him with life-saving items.
Jia Xu never expected that Luo Kong would just let him go. Although entering Zhaocheng was what he had always wanted, it was just like that...
Luo Kong held Jia Xu's shoulder with his hand and said in a deep voice: "Wenhe, you are now a member of the Luo family.
Just now Li Ru said that the family’s strength has weakened, which is both accurate and inaccurate.
The family has indeed become much weaker.
But as long as you are willing to pay the price, you can become very strong, at least you can protect yourself in troubled times.
But if the family wants to become stronger, it still has to rely on talented people like you.
You are an extremely smart person. There are not many people like you in the world. With you joining the family, the fists extended by the family will be harder.
Now that things have come to this, staying with me would only be a waste of your talents. Go to Zhaocheng.
We must pay attention to Cai Yan's safety. She is a remarkable woman. When she joins the family, she will have a very high status and may even marry directly to Luo's son.
If you protect her well along the way, things will go more smoothly in the future."
There were some things Jia Xu said that were hard to understand, such as he said that as long as you are willing to pay the price you can become very strong. This sentence was incomprehensible, but I could vaguely guess it.
Luo Kong's words sounded like instructions for his last wishes, and even a man with a heart as hard as iron like Jia Xu couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
He placed the feather fan in front of his face and asked in a deep voice: "My lord.
Please stay useful. Wenyou is an extremely smart person. He absolutely does not want to kill you. He just wants to take away your power."
Luo Kong smiled indifferently, "Life and death are of no importance. The most important thing is to stick to the path in your heart. Well, let's leave here quickly. If the melee breaks out again, you will have to make more sacrifices if you want to leave."
Having made up his mind, Jia Xu was not the kind of person who would drag his feet, so he immediately took Cai Yan away.
Cai Yan had a good impression of Jia Xu, her always kind uncle. She was a very smart woman. Knowing that the uncle who took her away might die, she waved goodbye, holding back tears.
Li Ru naturally knew about Jia Xu's departure.
But seeing that Crown Prince Bian and Prince Xie were still in the army, he turned a blind eye to his good friends and let it go.
Seeing Cai Yan leave, Liu Xie, who was smarter than the silent Liu Bian and the more naive Tang Ji, felt extremely uneasy. He couldn't help but ask, "Marquis Wushuang, is that Dong Zhuo in front? Does he want you to hand us over to him?"
Luo Kong nodded and said, "That's right."
Liu Xie sighed slightly. It was indeed the case. He said solemnly, "Please cheer up, my lord."
Wushuang Hou's attitude has always been very good, and Liu Xie thinks this is very good. If he really has to choose someone to control him, he would still choose Wushuang Hou Luo Kong.
Luo Kong bowed and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. Even if my army is defeated, you and the Crown Prince will be fine for the time being. After all, Dong Zhuo is not a Taiping Army. His purpose is to hold you two hostage."
Liu Xie's pupils shrank. The word "hostage" was well chosen. It would have been better not to say it. How could one live a good life being held hostage?
Isn’t life and death always in the hands of others?
As the female officials all left, Tang Ji suddenly burst into tears. Luo Kong hurriedly left Liu Xie and came to Tang Ji's carriage. The little girl was curled up with a look of fear on her face.
Tang Ji's face was covered with tears, and she looked so pitiful and pitiful that Luo Kong felt a little sad. This little girl must have suffered a lot.
After all, she is still a child, and looks so young. Luo Kong thought she was ten years old before, but later he found out that she was already twelve years old when he asked.
Luo Kong said with a slightly kind smile on his face: "Don't be afraid, I will protect you."
Tang Ji moved her small body closer. There was an indelible smell of blood lingering on Luo Kong's body, but Tang Ji felt warm and was not as scared as before.
Luo Kong looked at Tang Ji leaning in his arms and couldn't help but think of the daughter of the marquisate. She would definitely be a beauty when she grew up, even more beautiful than the Tang Ji in front of him.
After Tang Ji leaned on him for a while and then fell into a deep sleep, Luo Kong put her in the carriage to rest, and he began to put on his armor and prepare for the upcoming war.
The situation between the Western Regions Army and the Xiliang Army became increasingly tense, and Luo Kong didn't know when the Xiliang Army would suddenly launch an attack.
Before the Xiliang army attacked, Luo Kong told the generals that they did not have to fight to the death. If they were put in a desperate situation and surrendered to Dong Zhuo, he would not blame them.
Especially since there were many soldiers from the Western Regions among them, who had traveled thousands of miles from the Western Regions to follow him to serve the king. It was not a big deal if they failed, but in the end they were killed here because of internal friction, which really made people feel quite uncomfortable.
Since we have come to the Central Plains, we might as well waste time in the Western Regions, where the throne changes frequently.
Especially for the two Xia countries, if Luo Kong cannot go back on time, there may be a coup in the country and Liu will be driven off the throne.
This battle was to tell Dong Zhuo that surrendering without doing anything was absolutely impossible!
Dong Zhuo and Li Ru are not the kind of people who would drag their feet. "Although Wushuang Hou is from the Luo family, who can one person represent?
It’s not the first time that Luo’s sons outside have died in a chaotic battle, and this isn’t an attack on Zhaocheng, so there’s no need to worry about anything else.”
Li Ru shook his head and said, "My lord, Wushuang Hou Luokong wants to die. We will win this battle. Then we will see what fate God has for him."
Li Ru was unwilling to kill Luo Kong. Killing a son of the Luo family would not benefit him or Dong Zhuo at all. It would only have a negative impact, which naturally caused dissatisfaction among the Luo family in Zhaocheng.
But sometimes, whether to kill Luo's son or not is really not up to them to decide. Now they are worried that Luo Kong will ask for death. More than 10,000 people against 60,000 Xiliang Iron Cavalry, and they are all elite Xiliang Iron Cavalry. Isn't this just courting death?
As long as there is a chance, Luo Kong must be saved. Li Ru made up his mind that as long as Luo Kong did not deliberately seek death, he would find a chance to let Luo Kong survive.
Find a chance to send Luo Kong back to Zhaocheng and don't let him get in the way.
————
Dong Zhuo was cruel and treacherous. He wanted to seize the crown prince Bian and the prince Xie. Wushuang resisted him with the country and the people. Dong Zhuo led his troops to attack him. At that time, Dong Zhuo's army had 60,000 elite cavalrymen and Wushuang's army had more than 10,000. Wushuang was defeated. Dong Zhuo held a knife and asked, "Your army is defeated. Do you dare to test the sharp knife with your neck?"
Wushuang smiled and said, "The neck is like a rock, you can give it a try."
Seeing Wushuang refused to yield, Dong Zhuo was furious and drew his sword. Xiaomin was a coward and fled to Zhangye to protect Wushuang. He cried, "Wushuang is a loyal minister, and you are also a loyal minister. How can you kill two loyal ministers? If you draw your sword, just kill me first."
Dong Zhuo stopped, Wushuang was shocked and wanted to survive.
(End of this chapter)
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