The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 71 Negotiation and Card Manipulation, Hao Pu Reports the News

"In other words, Cao Mengde's envoy was real, and the rewards were real. Except for the unresolved issue of the market horse, Zhuge Ziyu's words were not false?"

Ma Liang looked at Mi Wei with a solemn expression.

After the small banquet, he no longer regarded the other party as a junior.

Mi Wei nodded and said:
“I have several Jingyi people under my command who are from this area. They went to the riverbank to inquire earlier and found that Envoy Cao had landed a few days ago!”

"Moreover, if this can be used to prevent the two sides from forming an alliance, why wouldn't Cao Mengde be happy to do it?"

Most importantly, Cao Cao actually did this in history!

The difference is that originally, it was Sun Quan who took all of Jingzhou, and Liu Bei went from prosperity to decline.

Now, Liu Bei has maintained his upward momentum, while Sun Quan is suffering in silence.

It was all the same to Cao Cao anyway.

It is necessary to stir up an alliance between the two rivals.

Ma Liang nodded and asked, "Do you know who Envoy Cao is?"

Mi Wei understood the other party's meaning and said bluntly:

“A minor official in charge of official vehicles, of humble origin.”

"This shows that Cao Mengde's days were indeed numbered."

"The officials of Luoyang are preoccupied with matters after their deaths and have no time to look south."

"So he sent a minor official, insignificant as a stone digger, south, just to try and catch them, no matter what!"

Upon hearing Mi Wei's final analogy, Ma Liang and Fei Yi, who were present, nodded in agreement and couldn't help but smile.

At this moment, Fei Yi suddenly asked, "Is Envoy Cao really at the post station on the other side of the city?"

"Wenwei is indeed clever!"

Miwei, seizing every opportunity to latch onto a future powerful figure, continued:
"The messenger's staff at the post station was genuine, but the person had already been moved elsewhere."

"Clearly, the Sun family does not want us to collude with Cao's envoy in private."

Fei Yi sighed with regret upon hearing this:

"What a pity. We were hoping the Sun family would discuss the market horses, while we would discuss the 'market people'!"

Mi Wei was slightly taken aback: "Is this the King's intention?"

Fei Yi: "Exactly."

Mi Wei understood.

Fei Yi's reference to "city people" certainly doesn't refer to buying people.

Rather, it refers to the two important hostages held by their side.

One was Yu Jin of Wei, whose seven armies were flooded by Guan Yu.

One was Yu Fan, a famous scholar who had his head shaved by a mob led by Mi Wei.

Yu Jin, in particular, held a very high position and was considered a great general of the state before his defeat.

No matter which Cao Wei envoy came, they dared not ignore him.

This could be a good asset for Liu Bei's side.

If used properly, it can easily neutralize the momentum that Sun Quan deliberately created.

Thinking about this, he couldn't help but wonder what conditions Liu Bei had set for this negotiation.

Ma Liang didn't hide anything and told him everything.

First, Sun Quan's forces must immediately withdraw to the east of the Xiang River and restore the pre-war border between the two sides.

Later, Ma Liang was transferred to the position of Prefect of Wuling, and he originally intended to work with Liao Hua, one in the south and one in the north, to supervise the withdrawal of troops from Jiangdong.

Secondly, as the undisputed loser, Sun Quan had to cede territory and pay reparations.

Guan Yu directly demanded Jiangxia Commandery, which was in a similarly important position to Nan Commandery.

However, these conditions are unlikely to be agreed upon; it's just the usual practice of asking for an exorbitant price.

Because this period lasted until the Tang and Song dynasties.

South of the Yangtze River is still a barren land that has not yet been developed.

Jingzhou's core resource area is limited to the Nanyang Basin and the Jianghan Plain.

Going south, it only extends to a small circle around Dongting Lake, no more.

Therefore, just as Liu Bei losing Nan Commandery was equivalent to losing Jingzhou.

With the loss of Jiangxia, Sun Quan essentially lost all hope of gaining control of Jingzhou.

Therefore, Liu Bei and Guan Yu's bottom line was: to demand Jingling and Dukou, located within Jiangxia territory on the banks of the Han and Mian rivers.

Mi Wei recalled the map briefly and realized that both places were important strongholds in the Han River basin.

Especially blocking the entrances.

It serves as an important water outlet for the Xia River to flow into the Han River.

Once occupied, the entire Xiashui Channel can be controlled.

From then on, when Guan Yu's army marched north to Xiangfan, they no longer needed to rely on others.

Ma Liang: "In addition, the King also had Grand Tutor Xu Wenxiu write a letter to Shi Weiyan of Jiaozhou."

“When Xu Gong was a guest in Jiaozhou, he was treated with great courtesy by the Shi brothers.”

"Although it may not be able to truly win them over, it is just right to deal with Sun Quan's earlier secret dealings with Yong Kai of Yizhou."

Did Xu Jing write a letter to Shi Xie of Jiaozhou?
Upon hearing about this famous figure from Liu Bei's camp, Mi Wei's eyes lit up.

Xu Jing was Xu Shao's cousin from Runan.

The two brothers once organized a "Monthly Appraisal," which attracted not only local celebrities but also many others.

Even scholars from other prefectures came to him seeking his opinion, such as Cao Cao.

Therefore, Xu Jing had long surpassed the status of a local celebrity and his reputation spread throughout the country.

In the words of Mi Wei's descendants, it was "breaking out of its niche".

How could Sun Quan sit idly by while such a famous person was showing goodwill to Shi Xie?

They're just making up cards for each other, who's afraid of who?

You play a card featuring Cao Cao's envoy, and I'll play a card featuring Yu Jin as a hostage. If you want to seize control of Yizhou and Nanzhong, I'll win over Shi Xie of Jiaozhou.

You're using Hao Pu and Shi Ren to disgust me.

Let me show you Yu Fan's bald head.

This is roughly how the behind-the-scenes maneuvering during negotiations works.

While he was pondering, a servant suddenly came to report.

Hao Pu requested an audience outside the door.

The group looked at each other in bewilderment, and Ma Liang decided to meet them first.

"Pu Yulu, I have failed the trust of the King of Hanzhong!"

"If we had chosen to die rather than surrender back then, we wouldn't be suffering this humiliation today."

"I really regret it now..."

Upon meeting, Hao Pu immediately knelt down facing north and kowtowed to the ground.

However, Ma Liang was a man of great composure; he remained completely silent, his face as still as water.

Mi Wei and Fei Yi both sat motionless.

Only after Hao Pu's voice had become hoarse from crying did he say, looking embarrassed:
"I know I am guilty beyond redemption and dare not hope for the forgiveness of Your Majesty and the gentlemen."

"I only ask for a chance to make amends, so that I won't spend the rest of my life in regret!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Liangcai finally spoke:

"How do you plan to make amends?"

Hao Pu quickly got up and stepped forward, saying:
"I know where Cao Mengde's envoy is hiding!"

Ma Liang raised a slight white eyebrow: "And then?"

Hao Pu: "Although I am foolish, I know that the Han and the traitors cannot coexist. How can I sit idly by and watch the traitor Cao disrupt the alliance between the two sides?"

At this point, Hao Pu took a deep breath and said with a ferocious grin:
"Why don't you gentlemen follow the example of Marquis Yiyang and Marquis Dingyuan!"

Upon hearing this, both Ma Liang and Fei Yi were moved to tears.

Now, let's talk about the two "Marquises" that Hao Pu mentioned.

They are Fu Jiezi of the Former Han Dynasty and Ban Chao of the Later Han Dynasty.

They were all Han envoys whose names are etched in history.

Both men killed Xiongnu envoys during their missions, intimidating many small states in the Western Regions.

He was a true hardcore Han envoy, and has been praised by people all over the world throughout history.

To be honest, Ma Liang did not dispel his suspicions about Hao Pu.

But at this moment, I was genuinely tempted.

Firstly, if they successfully kill Cao Shi.

Sun Quan would have to turn against him on the spot.

Otherwise, if you lose your best hand, you can only accept defeat.

Given the current military situation, what leverage does Sun Quan have to turn against his enemies?
This is a quick and decisive solution!
Secondly, who wouldn't want to be a peerless hero like Marquis Dingyuan (Ban Chao)?
His saying is, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

In later generations, it became the dream of countless people who yearned for success.

Ma Liang's mission to the enemy was certainly motivated by a desire to achieve personal fame and success.

To put it even more bluntly.

This allowed Ma Liang, a trusted confidant, to seize the opportunity to gain fame and subsequently be sent to herd the land.

This was one of the reasons why Liu Bei chose him as the chief envoy.

Not to mention Ma Liang, the chief envoy, even Fei Yi, who was just a guest accompanying him, had several changes in expression at this moment.

I'm also falling in love.

Only after the two fell in love.

He subconsciously turned to Miwei beside him.

But the latter simply stared quietly at Hao Pu, whose face was contorted with rage.

His expression was actually somewhat... comical?
"Lord Mi (Lord Xuanxin), do you still not trust me?"

Hao Pu naturally noticed Mi Wei's gaze and couldn't help but smile wryly.

Mi Wei pursed his lips, unsure how to explain it to the other party.

no way.

It's not that he doesn't trust this guy Hao.

The opponent's innate ability to deceive is simply too easy to ruin their teammates.

He even considered that Hao Pu might not have been ordered to commit fraud.

Instead, they were being used without even realizing it.

No, we can't say "again" yet.

After a moment's thought, he decided to play it safe.

He then said to Ma Liang:
"This matter is of great importance, and I believe it should be carefully considered!"

"Alright."

Ma Liang nodded respectfully and ordered someone to take Hao Pu away to settle him in.

It's basically just placing him under house arrest for now.

Then he dismissed everyone around him, leaving only Mi Wei and Fei Yi by his side.

Then he smiled at Mi Wei and said:

"What brilliant plan does Master Mi have? Tell me quickly!"

……

Thank you so much to reader [洋洋洋2019082] for the generous donation! If I remember correctly, you're a loyal reader of my first book? I'm truly flattered!

(End of this chapter)