Chapter 89 Enemy...
The winter in Luoyang is no different from last year, but it seems a little different this year.
Liu Hong looked towards Qiao Yan who was praying in the hall.
After the fire in Yutang Hall, he continued to collect money on the grounds of repairing the palace. Now more than two years have passed, and the Yutang Hall has not been repaired yet, so he still lives in Jiade Hall.
That was also the place where he met Qiao Yan last time.
But obviously since this place is now the residence of the emperor, it is not so suitable for this purpose, so this meeting was held in Lanting.
This was supposed to be a place for compiling history books, but after Liu Hong moved to Nangong, it was used as a study. At this moment, the shadows of the bamboo outside the window were reflected into the hall through the open window sashes. Due to the setting sun, the shadows were stretched into crisscross lines, extending all the way in front of Qiao Yan.
The slanting light shining into the hall made her white clothes look even more rosy.
Zhang Rang watched the scene in front of him without daring to breathe.
Although I knew Qiao Yan was a bold person, I didn't expect to see her appear in front of Liu Hong in this way three years after leaving Luoyang.
Who would dare to appear before the emperor in such an unlucky manner wearing mourning clothes?
The emperors of recent generations seldom attended the funerals of the three dukes in person, and were obviously quite shy about it. However, Qiao Yan walked into the Lantai Palace dressed like this in such a dignified manner, under the pretext of accepting an audience with the emperor.
Especially, listen to what she said before.
When the Baibo bandits disturbed Bingzhou, she "arbitrarily" sent troops to suppress them.
When the Xiutuge Hu invaded Bingzhou and massacred the people in Guyang County, she continued to "arbitrarily" send troops to suppress them, and even took the heads of the Xiutuge people to visit the Southern Xiongnu, just to achieve a deterrent effect.
If everyone could act arbitrarily like this, wouldn't the order of the world be disrupted?
Fortunately, she finally realized that it was indeed inappropriate to send troops like this, so she came to Luoyang to report to Liu Hong, but she said halfway through her apology:
"My grandfather's tomb and temple are located in Leping. As Marquis of Leping, Yan should protect their peace. My grandfather had the ambition to protect the peace of the Han Dynasty during his lifetime. Yan should also take it as his responsibility."
"Bingzhou is in turmoil and people's livelihood is uneasy. If we allow Xiu Tuge Hu to act recklessly, invade from Guyang Road, break through Guanglu Pass, and break through the Great Wall, the Southern Xiongnu will seize the opportunity to rise up and join forces with Xiu Tuge to rebel. The Baibo bandits will think it is profitable and interfere in the southwest of Bingzhou. Then Bingzhou and my grandfather's temple will be in danger."
"Yan is incompetent and can't prevent the disaster before it happens. He can only kill all the Xiu Tu Ge Hu, instigate the Bai Bo bandit leader to turn against him, disintegrate the bandit force, and use the Xiu Tu Ge Hu's head to intimidate the Southern Xiongnu."
"There is no other way to go beyond the rules. I feel guilty and ashamed of the trust and kindness Your Majesty has placed on me."
It sounded like he was sincerely apologizing.
As a result, she changed the subject just after she finished speaking.
"I only ask Your Majesty to severely punish those who recruited soldiers, re-appoint the General Du Liao, and keep Bingzhou stable. Then Yan will not have to wear mourning clothes to comfort his grandfather and Bingzhou."
"The disaster in Guyang left only a few people alive, and the people had no way to preserve the bodies, and there was no one to offer sacrifices to the dead. This was truly the worst tragedy."
"..." Zhang Rang felt that it was not easy for him to keep his expression stable.
This Qiao Hou is too...too...
Zhang Rang couldn't think of a suitable word to express his feeling that Qiao Yan was unrestrained, arrogant, willful, and acted beyond the rules.
The only thing he could think of was that, if he remembered correctly, Qiao Yan had done the same thing two years ago. After all, it was also for the stability of Bingzhou, so she first restricted the actions of the governor and the prefect of Taiyuan, and then started to act in a big way.
But the apology and house arrest punishment imposed by Liu Hong two years ago seemed to have no effect on her. It had been less than two months since the house arrest was lifted from the time she went to the capital to confess her crime, but she had no intention of learning any lessons from the past.
The only difference is that this time she doesn't plan to just write a letter to apologize, she's going to come in person!
He even did not forget to send another message to Bingzhou:
The situation in Bingzhou is so chaotic that although it has not caused any trouble so far, if we can send more people to serve as General Du Liao and command the border troops, there will be no problems.
These words... in most cases, will not come from the mouth of someone who comes to apologize.
Zhang Rang looked cautiously in Liu Hong's direction.
It was not yet completely winter, and the emperor had already put on an extra layer of padded jacket. He looked plump and healthy, but his complexion was obviously not that good.
Fortunately, he was sitting at the top, so the slightly gloomy complexion was hidden in the light and shadow, making him look uncertain instead.
"General Du Liao?"
Liu Hong turned these four words around in his mouth. What exactly was he thinking under his seemingly calm face? Perhaps only he himself knew.
After three years, the girl who was only eleven years old back then is now fourteen years old.
Apart from her figure that was as tall as the green bamboos around her, what did not surprise Liu Hong was that her eyes and eyebrows were sharp, like a sharp blade that had been polished into shape, and she also had an unconcealed arrogance that came from her victories in battles.
The cold air has entered Luoyang, and she looks even colder in her white clothes. But the meaning that emanates from her bones...
She had truly become just as she had said in her previous letter, just like the courtesy name she gave herself, a fierce flame that would burn to ashes anyone who tried to set foot in Bingzhou!
It did...it did not disappoint his expectations.
However, when this troublemaker appeared before him in person, Liu Hong increasingly had the illusion that he was already very old. He could not help but doubt whether such a lone general and capable minister was still someone he or his successor could control.
He withdrew his gaze a little and read the letter of apology that Qiao Yan sent him word by word, then picked up the report on the facts of her victory and read it again, and he felt this way more and more.
If she had not come to Luoyang City in person this time, and he had received two letters like this, he would probably have to find someone to bring her to Luoyang.
But now...
After she finished speaking, she looked at him without hesitation, her face full of expectations for him, the emperor, to be the master of Bingzhou, and her unyielding spirit, even though she apologized for her crime.
Good courage.
What a great Qiao Yeshu!
Liu Hong even found it a little funny!
Comparing it with the recent war situation in the four states of Jizhou, Youzhou, Jingzhou and Liangzhou, although Bingzhou did not send troops according to regulations, at least he did not see another fire.
So in a sense, he was still satisfied.
However, this kind of satisfaction obviously cannot be expressed openly.
At this moment, he suddenly regretted assigning Cui Lie to Bingzhou to be the governor of Bingzhou.
That guy was able to say in the court that he supported giving up Liangzhou, so it was clear that he was not a very courageous person.
So although Liu Hong's intention of indulging Qiao Yan was achieved, his intention to try to tighten the reins of this wild horse was obviously not at all related.
But with fires breaking out everywhere, even if he wanted to think about it, he didn't have the extra energy to do so.
He only asked at this time: "Then who do you think can be the general of Du Liao?"
Qiao Yan seemed to have considered this position before, and answered without thinking: "General Huangfu."
"He can't." Liu Hong quickly denied the answer. "He has other plans."
He was indeed wary of Huangfu Song's military power, but fortunately, the battle against Liang Province proved that Huangfu Song was not really able to win every battle, which also slightly reduced Liu Hong's vigilance against him.
Now the war situation in Liang Province has reached a stalemate. Ma Teng, Han Sui and that villain from the Kingdom have become more and more arrogant and domineering, and have even broken through from Liang Province to the Sanfu area.
After Fu Xie died in battle, Huangfu Song wrote to the emperor many times requesting to go to the battlefield. Liu Hong has been hesitant until now and still plans to re-employ Huangfu Song.
In this case, Huangfu Song cannot be the candidate for General Du Liao.
However, as soon as he opened his mouth, he saw that Qiao Yan's face did not show any depression due to his suggestion being rejected, but instead a hint of joy flashed across his face.
The child's usual sharpness was still on display at this moment, but considering what happened when she last met the emperor, it was not surprising.
She had obviously realized that since he was saying that Huangfu Song was not suitable to be the General Du Liao, it meant that he did not actually reject the suggestion.
So she continued without getting discouraged: "General Du Liao needs to supervise the battle in Bingzhou against the barbarians. He must be brave and capable of commanding troops. General Huangfu's uncle has held this position before, and General Huangfu also has this ability, so I suggest this."
"But if Your Majesty feels that there is a need for other arrangements for him and it is not convenient to place him in this position, I wonder what about Sun Jian, Sun Wentai? This man's loyalty and bravery in sacrificing his life have been fully demonstrated in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion. If he is appointed as the General Du Liao, I believe he will be able to do the job well."
"He can't do it either," Liu Hong denied. "In the battle of Liangzhou, he won some small victories but failed to achieve big ones. But he is indeed a good talent. After being transferred, he is now the governor of Changsha. There are bandits in Lingling, and Changsha, Lingling and Guiyang are connected. I intend to have him lead troops from Changsha to quell the rebellion. It is not appropriate to move him to another place."
Qiao Yan thought for a moment and then asked, "What about Cao Cao and Cao Mengde?"
"I heard that he was a strict and upright person when he was the prime minister of Jinan. Now he has returned home and is unemployed. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he served as a cavalry commander. Although he is not as strong as Fu Nanrong and Sun Wentai, he is good at rectifying the atmosphere in the army and managing military affairs. I think he can also take on this important task."
Liu Hong did not give a negative or positive judgment on this answer. He just pondered for a moment and slowly asked: "Why are you recommending those who had friendships with you during the Yellow Turban Rebellion?"
If someone else were in front of Liu Hong, he would probably be a little anxious at this moment, as if he were criticizing nepotism.
Qiao Yan was able to answer calmly: "To recommend someone, one must know his talent and personality before he dares to be recommended to Your Majesty. Otherwise, if he is just a name, then rashly recommending him would only mean that he is unworthy of the position. Your Majesty has placed great trust in me, so I will not do this."
After hearing her reply, Liu Hong remained silent for a while.
To be fair, if she had done such a thing a few years ago, he would have made her stay in jail, or at least stripped her of her title of Marquis of Leping. In short, he would not allow her to discuss with him so comfortably about the selection of General Du Liao.
But it’s different today.
Just as he had to re-activate the system of provincial governors in order to resolve the current situation in various parts of the country, it was acceptable to make an exception at this time.
Especially when he felt increasingly exhausted and Liu Bian, the prince supported by He Jin, was not to his liking, he knew that he really needed some special ministers.
Qiao Yan's answer at this time undoubtedly satisfied him.
The people she nominated were those she thought were suitable, not certain nobles in Luoyang city.
But he also felt that Cao Cao was not a feasible choice.
This is also someone he needs to put in a special position.
Many years ago he had intended to form an army and lead it himself.
The Lingling rebel Guan Hu started an uprising and called himself "General Pingtian", which made him very angry. Fortunately, Zhang Rang understood his intention very well and suggested to him that since the other party wanted to call himself General Pingtian, why didn't Your Majesty call yourself "Supreme General" and suppress those traitors. 1
It would be best if we could form an army under the name of this general to intimidate the areas surrounding the capital, and let those rebels know that the current emperor is admirable for both civil and military achievements.
Liu Hong himself knew that this sounded childish, but it was undeniable that this statement once again aroused his ambition to establish the Eight Schools in Xiyuan.
If he had such an army in his hands, even if he still needed to rely on his relatives to do some things for him, he could hand over the army to someone he trusted when necessary, as support when he was choosing a crown prince.
The conditions for establishing this army are now in place.
Part of the money accumulated from selling official positions and titles was naturally used to satisfy his needs for enjoyment, and the other part could be used as military funds.
To be precise, it is to train the military resources for the emperor's private army.
The only thing missing was that after Cao Song was willing to donate money to seek a position of Grand Marshal, and Zhao Zhong suggested that he could sell the title of Guannei Hou, it was probably enough. 2
The only question now was how he could conduct the event in a way that would not arouse other people's thoughts.
The emperor's private army should be the emperor's private army, and not a place where anyone can interfere. At most, because of Cao Song's donation, he would consider including Cao Cao, a loyal minister, in it, but he would never let the aristocratic families and the butcher He Jin interfere.
With this thought in mind, his gaze towards Qiao Yan became a little calmer.
Her visit to Beijing this time most likely brought him an extremely special opportunity.
Is it possible to select him, the captain of the Xiyuan Army, from those who failed in the election on the grounds of selecting the General Du Liao?
Liu Hong tapped his fingertips lightly on the report spread out on the table.
Qiao Yan came prepared. In addition to the letter of apology, the memorial, and the petition, he also brought something else. It was the painting left on the stone wall by Xiu Tu and his men after they massacred Guyang.
This was originally Qiao Yan's proof to illustrate the brutality of Xiu Tu and his men, but in Liu Hong's view at this time, it had another meaning.
Because the rubbing was not very clear, it just looked like everyone was looking around at the things in the pot, so that at that moment he felt that this was the situation he was in at the moment.
He rose from the position of Marquis of Jie Duting to the throne of emperor overnight, and used cruel officials and eunuchs to consolidate power in his own hands.
But driven by this common people's mentality, he still believed that only when the decisive power was in his own hands, could he feel at ease. Otherwise, these aristocratic families, foreign relatives and uprising forces in various places would be like enemies who wanted to take a piece of his flesh.
Therefore, even if he chooses a private army, he has to be careful.
He didn't realize it, because he kept his eyes on the painting rubbing for a long time, and there was a hint of empathy between his eyebrows, which made Qiao Yan see some clues.
He then said casually: "Let me think about this matter. Cao Mengde is not suitable for this position. Perhaps we can choose someone from the army. You can go down first."
Seeing Qiao Yan was about to leave after hearing this, he shouted "Stop" again.
Liu Hong couldn't help but pinch his eyebrows.
He was so distracted by the opportunity to select the captain of Xiyuan that he almost forgot something.
Qiao Yeshu said she came to apologize, but we can't really let her get away with it just by making a statement.
If this is true, everyone will have to follow her example from now on.
The last time he was confined to his house for two years, and this time the trouble was even bigger, so the same punishment method as last time was not appropriate.
Nowadays, there are frequent uprisings around, especially some rebels who do not have the ability of others and just want to copy others. Taking advantage of the fact that more than three years have passed since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, they have raised this banner again.
Although the debate between Qiao Yan and Zhang Jiao had made the size of these people much smaller than he had expected, it was still much easier to deal with Zhang Jiao's rhetoric than to instigate people with empty words.
If she were confined at this time, it might give those people an excuse, and she might even be needed if a special situation really occurred.
But education is a must.
"Go to the Shangshu Mansion and pass on my oral order. You should listen carefully to the Shangshu Ling's teachings during your stay in the capital," Liu Hong said in a deep voice. "If you do something presumptuous like this again, don't think I won't punish you."
Qiao Yan bowed and said yes, but a hint of deep thought flashed across his eyes as he lowered his eyes.
Something is wrong...
Liu Hong's reaction this time was somewhat different from what she expected.
The proposal to reinstate the post of General Du Liao in Bingzhou was indeed a tactic of retreating in order to advance that she had agreed upon after consultation with Guo Jia, but this did not mean that she had retreated to the point where she could be freed from the guilt of mobilizing troops without authorization.
Including what she and Cheng Li said in their farewell before leaving Leping, this time coming to Luoyang, they must be cautious and careful.
But now it seems that Liu Hong is actually trying to be gentle with it.
Unless - her suggestion to establish the post of General Du Liao at this time happened to hit the mark of his plan.
In the fourth year of Zhongping, or between the fourth year of Zhongping and the sixth year of Zhongping when Liu Hong passed away, was there any major event that coincided with this?
Qiao Yan was pondering in his mind, but he just looked up and pretended to "obey instructions" and was led out by Zhang Rang.
Afterwards, she was "escorted" to the Shangshu Mansion by the imperial guards sent by Liu Hong.
It is said that the person who currently holds the position of Shangshu Ling is an acquaintance whom I met during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
After the rebellion in Qiantang area was quelled, this chief general, who was then named Marquis of Qiantang, was summoned back to Luoyang by Liu Hong.
Probably in order to prevent him from having too much military power again, Liu Hong was quite straightforward in assigning him to the position of Shangshu Ling, from which he remained for three whole years.
Of course, it was basically impossible to move, even though Cao Jie once served as the Minister of the Chancellery, which greatly reduced the value of this position. This was also the highest official in the inner court. 3
This person was none other than Lu Zhi.
Seeing Qiao Yan suddenly brought over, in this appearance, even though Lu Zhi considered himself knowledgeable, he couldn't help but be stunned at this moment.
He hadn't really lost contact with Qiao Yan before this.
For example, before the great epidemic in January of the second year of Zhongping, Qiao Yan wrote to him, reminding him to be careful about preventing infectious diseases. Another example is that after Qiao Yan was confined to her house for blackmailing the governor, Lu Zhi wrote to her, reminding her that although she was young and frivolous, she should also pay attention to the limits.
Of course, from Qiao Yan's perspective, Lu Zhi's letter at that time was more of an encouragement than a reminder, because Lu Zhi himself was a man who could both stabilize the country with literary means and rule the country with military force, and he always had a strong backbone.
So when she heard Liu Hong asking her to come and listen to the teachings of the Shangshu Ling, she even had a moment of suspicion that Liu Hong might not be asking her to come here to cultivate her character, but to accept the typical expression of the martial virtues of the Han literati.
Just as she had guessed on the way here, after Qiao Yan reported her recent "results" in Bingzhou to Lu Zhi, this great scholar of the time not only did not think that Qiao Yan needed to be taught anything, but instead clapped his hands and laughed, saying: "Ye Shu is really, really happy this time!"
Qiao Yan coughed lightly and reminded in a low voice: "Mr. Zigan, please be careful with your words."
The imperial guards who escorted her here are still here.
Lu Zhi immediately straightened his face and said, "Since His Majesty has entrusted you, you should study the Book with me during your stay in the capital."
He then turned to the imperial guards and said, "General, please tell His Majesty that I am aware of the mistakes that Marquis Qiao made this time. Since I and General Huangfu recommended Marquis Qiao to Your Majesty in the past, I should naturally take this responsibility and will not let her act recklessly."
Lu Zhi's title of Shangshu Ling was an official position, and the "Book" he mentioned was also called "Shangshu", which recorded the official records of the ancient princes handling state affairs and their conversations with ministers.
He even wrote a book titled "Shangshu Zhangju" while practicing and studying the Book of Documents in his position as Shangshu Ling.
It seems that Liu Hong's punishment was correct in name only.
Learning this can increase one's wisdom in handling government affairs and submitting memorials, and at least provide an explanation to the outside world.
But how to say it?
When Lu Zhi was teaching his disciples in his hometown, one of his disciples, Liu Bei, could be considered a man who dared to take on responsibilities. However, another disciple, Gongsun Zan, is currently leading his troops to fight against Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun because of the Yuyang Rebellion. Neither of them seems like a man who is cautious in his words and deeds.
Most people in Luoyang who don’t have some information know what’s going on.
Then the meaning of this "punishment" is more subtle.
Even after Lu Zhi brought Qiao Yan into the inner courtyard, because the imperial guards were no longer around, he praised Qiao Yan's actions again.
After asking her about what she had gained in Leping in the past two years, he couldn't help but stroke his beard and sighed: "Now that chaos has broken out in various places, it is hard to maintain a good reputation even if you have learned the classics without a talent like Zheng Kangcheng. The governors who died at the hands of the thieves in various places are examples. Ye Shu has the strength to fight tigers and kill the barbarians, which is worthy of my evaluation of you back then."
Lu Zhi had never actually seen how Qiao Yan trained her subordinates, nor did he know what system she adopted when rewarding her soldiers.
The simplified version he heard was just that Qiao Yan wiped out two gangs of bandits in Bingzhou, and after gathering them together, he used them as a force to launch a surprise attack on the Xiu Tu Hu. Then, thinking about how he himself had suppressed the rebellion in Jiujiang in the past, he felt that the evaluation of the other party's talent as a king's assistant was well deserved.
Although she is a woman, she is indeed a talented person who can save the Han Dynasty.
It’s a pity that I don’t know when I will have the opportunity to see her take up a position of real power.
Or perhaps, Liu Hong had this in mind when he asked her to study Shangshu?
Lu Zhi was somewhat unable to figure out Liu Hong's thoughts.
The power of the Shangshu Ling position has been greatly reduced in recent years. At most, he is only qualified to give advice. As for whether he is listened to or not, it is purely a matter of luck.
When he heard Qiao Yan mention that she came this time in the hope that His Majesty would reassign a Du Liao governor to Bingzhou to ensure that there would be someone to command the war against the Xianbei and the Xiongnu, he actually felt a little jealous, but he did not show it on his face or in his words. He just asked Qiao Yan about the accommodation of her entourage when she came to the capital.
Since Qiao Yan was sent here by Liu Hong to study, it would be better to let her followers live here as well to avoid any inconvenience in movement.
"I only brought a personal attendant and a coachman with me this time. It would be great if I could settle down in the Shangshu Mansion."
There really wouldn't be any trouble with just two of them.
But Lu Zhi probably didn't expect that the number of people he said was two was actually three.
Qiao Yan had paid special attention when choosing the coachman before the trip, and the man she chose was particularly similar in figure to Guo Jia. When this man drove the carriage into the stable of the Shangshu Mansion and then came to see her with Dian Wei, the face he revealed when he looked up was Guo Jia's.
Seeing Qiao Yan's playful punishment, Guo Jia looked at the word "Jing" written on the table and said with a smile: "It seems that Marquis Qiao has passed a big test today. You have grasped the temperament of the current emperor very well."
"No, you are wrong." Qiao Yan raised his eyes and looked at him, "Even after meeting him today, there was a little change."
Fortunately, it is a variable that is within the controllable range.
If we look at it from the perspective of future generations, especially with Liu Hong's performance witnessed today as evidence, and analyze his words and deeds carefully, there is only one possibility for his open punishment and covert reward for Qiao Yan's actions.
He happened to say a few more words, including "selected from the army", which further verified Qiao Yan's judgment.
When she left the Lantai Palace, the thing she was thinking about that would be beneficial to Liu Hong was to take advantage of the opportunity to select the General Du Liao to continue his path of centralization, that is, to take the opportunity to establish the Eight Schools of Xiyuan that appeared at the end of the Zhongping Period.
I have to say, this is really a good time for selection!
Bingzhou is a cold and bitter place, and being a General Du Liao is not only not a lucrative position, but there is also a thorn like her next to him, so there is no guarantee that there won't be an arrow that forces General Du Liao to be replaced. If a selection is really to be made, the candidate must be of a rare background.
This is undoubtedly more in line with Liu Hong's interests than the original selection of the eight schools in Xiyuan.
But this would go somewhat against Qiao Yan's original idea.
Her original plan was to force herself into danger first, induce the forces in Luoyang to make a statement, and then take a step towards becoming Liu Hong's lone minister.
Only this word "lonely" can allow her to gain greater benefits.
Now her situation was going too smoothly, and she was in trouble instead.
But...it's not like there's no way to save it.
"Feng Xiao," when Guo Jia was still thinking about what the variables were that Qiao Yan mentioned, he suddenly heard Qiao Yan calling his name, "I want to trouble you to do something."
"Since you invited me to Luoyang, I must be able to help you in some way." Guo Jia bowed to her and said, "Just tell me, Lord Qiao. I will definitely do it."
"Please visit He Boqiu tomorrow and convey a message to him for me."
Qiao Yan's eyes were gloomy. When Guo Jia looked at her, he could see a calculating look beneath the smile. But at this moment, if people did not make a plan, they would only die. This look made him feel more at ease.
Obviously, today's unexpected events did not affect her mentality.
"He Boqiu works for the Three Dukes' Mansion, but he is also very close to the Yuan brothers, and has a good relationship with the General's Mansion. I would like you to tell him -"
He Yong and Yuan Shao could even be considered sworn allies during the Factions and Factions Persecution, so it was most appropriate for this person to convey the message.
"Just say that there are no eternal friends or eternal enemies in this world. I have something I want to tell Yuan Benchu through him. In the past, I coerced the governor Zhang Yi and offended the Runan Yuan family. Now I am paying them back, which can be regarded as my intention to repair the relationship."
The weight of this news can really achieve this goal.
She spoke word by word, "The emperor intends to select the imperial guards under the guise of selecting generals for Du Liao. If he wants to place them there, this is the time to do it."
"However, I am not telling you this without any conditions. If the General Du Liao selected in the future has any connection with them, you must not restrict my military training in Bingzhou! If you go against this, I can tell you this today and make other arrangements tomorrow."
Guo Jia was shocked by the news.
But he soon realized that Qiao Yan leaking the matter to Yuan Shao and others was undoubtedly the best option for her. It is precisely because of the conditions she proposed that it is easier to gain people's trust.
He even saw Qiao Yan pick up a pen and write the word "change" on the new piece of paper. Then he said slowly, "Remind them of one more thing——"
"When a dog is cornered, it will jump over the wall. Don't push the emperor too far."
He felt like he was a piece of meat rolling in a cauldron.
But there's no guarantee that he won't do something shocking...right?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
