novel-bin Chapter 246 Jiangdong Liu Biao
Chapter 246 Jiangdong Liu Biao
Chapter 246 Jiangdong Liu Biao
In the second year of Yonghan, on the third day of July, early in the morning.
For the south, July has already started to get hot.
Zuo Li appeared in Leiyang wearing only a single garment.
Leiyang is located in the east of Guiyang County and is currently the power center of Jingzhou. The imperial court power headed by Jingzhou Governor Liu Biao and the local power represented by the Jingzhou and Jiangdong families are basically concentrated here.
Zuo Li was wearing casual clothes and only brought one guard with him, wandering around the streets openly.
"After being bored for so long, I can finally take a breather..." Zuo Li shook his sleeves, looking very excited.His already snow-white face turned a little pale due to being in the room for too long.
The guard beside him smiled and whispered, "In Jiangdong, almost no one knows the general. You can have fun."
Zuo Li became even happier after hearing this. After receiving the imperial edict, he was about to return to the capital. In the past, he was frightened and had to hide everywhere, but now that he was leaving, he could finally go out and walk around openly.
"After all, it can't be compared to Luoyang." Zuo Li wandered around for a while, feeling a little uninterested.
Leiyang is located in the east of Guiyang County. It has a strategic geographical location, but it is an ordinary county town that is not very prosperous.
The guard immediately understood and whispered, "Sir, the Liu Mansion is now more lively than the entire Jiangdong."
Zuo Li threw his sleeves, followed Liu Bian's example and put his hands behind his back, looking in the direction of Liu's residence, his smile growing more and more sinister, and he shouted, "Let's go!"
The guard followed closely and asked worriedly, "Sir, do you want to bring more people?"
Zuo Li snorted coldly and said, "If we go there openly today, will Liu Biao still dare to rebel?"
The guard hesitated and said nothing more.
The two of them walked one after the other and arrived not far from Liu's mansion.
At this time, there was a long line in front of Liu's mansion, and festive atmosphere could be seen everywhere.
——Today, Liu Biao remarried!
Zuo Li stood not far away and observed quietly for a while.
He knew many of the people here, all of whom were powerful and wealthy families in Jiangdong. Now they were lining up, holding gifts, and entering the mansion one by one.
The guard saw more familiar people behind him and whispered, "Sir, Envoy Liu is so generous."
The fact that so many important figures came to congratulate him on his wedding naturally showed that Liu Biao's status in Jingzhou and Jiangdong was extraordinary.
Zuo Li suddenly remembered the letter from the palace, his eyes were cold, he sneered and said, "Go, buy something, and we will also go to give gifts."
The guard was startled and asked, "Just buy something?"
Zuo Li nodded and said, "Buy two pounds of dog meat."
The guard was stunned for a moment, and after making sure he had heard correctly, he turned around to buy it.
It didn't take long before Zuo Li came walking past the line and towards the gate, carrying two kilograms of shiny dog meat.
"Who is this person? Why is he cutting in line?"
"... Judging from his attire, he doesn't look ordinary, not like a servant. However, he was carrying two kilograms of dog meat..."
"Does this person want to emulate Emperor Gaozu?"
"Stop talking, look, it's the eldest son."
Zuo Li paid no attention to the buzzing sound around him, but he noticed that a young man dressed in strange clothes, looking elegant and noble, who was also not queuing, appeared in front of him.
"It's Liu Qi." The guard whispered in Zuo Li's ear.
Zuo Li's eyes moved, watching Liu Qi step over the threshold and walk into the gate.
"Young Master, wait a minute..."
Suddenly, a tall, thin, middle-aged man with a gentle smile stopped Liu Qi and said, "My Lord, the envoy said that Yinshan is a strategic location for the army, and you must guard it and not leave without permission."
Liu Qi said quickly: "I didn't leave without permission, but my father..."
Before he could finish, the middle-aged man said solemnly, "My Lord, you must know that state affairs are of great importance, and you must not act willfully."
Liu Qi was speechless after hearing his words, but he still said stubbornly: "Then I will meet my father, congratulate him and then go back."
The middle-aged man was a little impatient and said, "Young Master, if you leave your post without permission, you will definitely cause the envoy to be furious. At this time, does the young master have to spoil the envoy's fun?"
Liu Qi's expression changed again and again, and finally he turned around and left helplessly.
Zuo Li blinked and looked back at the guard.
The guard was also puzzled and said, "We don't have any information on this."
"Who are you?" As soon as Zuo Li turned around, he met the middle-aged man's gaze.
The middle-aged man came over, looked Zuo Li up and down, and said with a bad look, "What do you want to do with two pounds of dog meat?"
"Who are you?" Zuo Li couldn't help but raise his head and chest, looking down at others, and said lightly.
He used to hide and didn't dare to see anyone. Now he is going back to Beijing and can show his face in public. As the second in command of the palace, how could he care about such an insignificant little person?
The middle-aged man stared at Zuo Li and said in a cold voice, "Jingzhou Governor's Office, Chief Clerk Zhang Yun."
Zuo Li naturally knew this person, but it was the first time that the person and the name matched.
Seeing that Zhang Yun not only drove away Liu Biao's eldest son at the gate, but also bossed him around, Zhang Yun threw two pounds of dog meat at Zhang Yun's feet and said, "You are not qualified to ask who I am. Tell Liu Biao to come out."
Zhang Yun immediately shouted, "How dare you! How dare you address the envoy by his name! If you can't explain why today, don't blame me for being rude!"
Zuo Li stood with his hands behind his back, a look of disdain on his face.
The guests around were looking at them and hearing their conversation. They couldn't help but look surprised and gathered together to whisper.
"Who is this person? Why does he want Envoy Liu to come out and meet him?"
"I haven't seen him, but judging from his accent, he doesn't sound like a Jingzhou native."
"Your accent sounds like someone from the north. Which family does he belong to?"
"I don't have any impression of this. Could it be that he is causing trouble on purpose?"
Since Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, the three highest officials have been replaced like a revolving lantern. Coupled with the rise of various aristocratic families and the royal family, various important figures have emerged one after another.
Zhang Yun was a little suspicious, but he quickly calmed down, waved his hand, and shouted, "If you want our envoy to come out to see you, even if the Three Lords come, it won't work!"
Five or six strong men rushed out of the door and surrounded Zuo Li and his guards. They were ready to fight, just waiting for Zhang Yun's look, so that they could beat Zuo Li up and bury him somewhere.
Zuo Li showed no fear at all, with a cold flash in his eyes, and said: "The servants raised by Liu Biao are really powerful!"
Zhang Yun was the chief clerk of the governor of Jingzhou. He was not of high rank, but he held a strategic position, so he had a special status. Everyone in Jingzhou, from top to bottom, was very "obedient" to him and had never been rude to him. No one would even call him a "house slave"!
Seeing the gazes from all around him again, Zhang Yun's face suddenly darkened, anger surged in his heart, and he turned around and left abruptly.
The five or six servants immediately understood and instantly controlled Zuo Li and the guards and dragged them into the mansion.
The guard was anxious and shouted: "How dare you! Do you know..."
"Shut up!" Zuo Li's face was grim and he stopped the guard from reporting his identity.
His identity cannot be fully exposed to everyone!
The guard had a look of fear on his face as he was dragged into Liu's mansion by a powerful servant.
"Hey, another one who doesn't know whether to live or die."
"I guess he's the son of a big family somewhere. He doesn't know the seriousness of the situation and is acting recklessly."
"Liu Shijun defeated Yuan Shikai in Jingzhou, and he is the people's favorite. I don't know how many people recommended him to be one of the Three Dukes. In addition, he is the emperor's uncle. How can anyone be trampled on to seek fame?"
"I think that young man is in great danger."
Amid the murmurs of the crowd, Zuo Li and the guard were dragged into the backyard and were beaten and kicked.
The guards managed to hold on, but Zuo Li held on for a while before screaming.
The servants attacked with great force, without holding back at all, as if they were going to beat the two men to death.
"Okay, stop fighting."
At this time, a young man who looked less than 30 years old and had a calm demeanor came over and frowned, saying, "It is not appropriate to see blood when the envoy is so happy."
When several servants saw that it was Kuai Liang, they stopped and dragged the dying Zuo Li and the guards away, preparing to throw them out through the back door.
Kuai Liang glanced at the person on the ground, was stunned for a moment, then opened his eyes slightly and said quickly: "Stop!"
Then, he came to Zuo Li, squatted down, and examined him carefully. He was still a little unbelievable and whispered, "But is it the noble man?"
Zuo Li, who was holding back the pain and breathing with difficulty, opened his eyes, but he did not recognize him. He said weakly, "Who are you?"
Kuai Liang was shocked. He never expected to see Zuo Li here!
It was Zuo Li who was almost beaten to death by the powerful servants in Liu Biao's mansion!
This man is a noble in the palace, deeply favored by His Majesty. When he was in Luoyang, he met Zuo Li and heard of his "great reputation"!
Kuai Liang broke out in a cold sweat and waved his hands to drive away the servants. He looked around, helped Zuo Li up, and asked, "My lord, why are you here?"
When Zuo Li saw that he was recognized, he lost his fear. He sat on the ground with a terrifyingly cold look in his eyes. He gasped and asked, "Who are you?"
Kuai Liang was extremely worried, but he still said sincerely: "I am here to serve as the governor of Nanjun for the time being, Kuai Liang. Before that, I was the deputy director of the Ministry of Personnel."
Zuo Li understood immediately, and holding his waist with one hand, he struggled to stand up and said, "Are you the great talent from the Kuai family recommended by Liu Biao?"
Kuai Liang no longer doubted Zuo Li's identity, but became even more worried. Seeing that Zuo Li couldn't stand up, he quickly supported him and walked to the pavilion not far away, saying, "Yes, yes. Um, why are you here? What happened?"
Zuo Li was supported by Kuai Liang and secretly gave a look to the guards behind him.
This guard was in a better condition than Zuo Li. He could move with difficulty. After understanding the situation, he left quietly.
Kuai Liang noticed it but did not stop him. He helped Zuo Li sit down in the pavilion, and all he was thinking about was why Zuo Li appeared in Jingzhou and here.
Zuo Li fell on his buttocks, and his whole body was in great pain. His expression was terribly gloomy, and he sneered: "Liu Biao married Cai Mao's sister and formed a powerful alliance with the aristocratic family. It seems that he has the final say in Jingzhou."
Kuai Liang could hear the deep resentment in Zuo Li's voice and quickly explained, "My lord, this is all a misunderstanding. The envoy must not know about this yet. I will send someone to inform him now."
As he spoke, Kuai Liang didn't care about Zuo Li's attitude, called someone over, and whispered a few words in his ear.
The man was startled, glanced at Zuo Li, and ran away in a hurry.
Zuo Li didn't care and kept adjusting his body, trying to feel more comfortable and recover a little.
When Kuai Liang saw this, he ordered someone to call a doctor.
Zuo Li estimated the time in his mind, endured the pain, sat there, and thought about how to deal with Liu Biao later, and vented his anger.
On the other side, today's groom, Jingzhou Governor Liu Biao, is in the backyard, chatting with Cai Mao, Pang Ji, Zhang Yun and others.
"Yuan Shu and his ilk are already at the end of their rope, so there is no need to be afraid of them."
"Jingzhou is now infested with clan thieves like ants. They must be eradicated to ensure the safety of the people."
"What the court is worried about is what I am thinking about. At present, the priority is to maintain domestic stability rather than to raise an army to fight against the enemy..."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Cai Mao's face was round and his upper and lower parts were almost equally strong. He continued, "Your Excellency is right. We had fought many fierce battles with Yuan Shu before, and our soldiers are exhausted and food is scarce. The main strategy at this time is to rest and recuperate."
Zhang Yun looked thoughtful and said, "What Governor Cai said makes sense. Yuan Shu and his gang are already in a situation of self-destruction. We must not rush ahead and strengthen ourselves to cope with any unexpected situation."