Lu Bu: My wife comes from two thousand years later

"Want to compromise?"

On the way back to Jinyang, Zhang Mo looked at the latest news sent by Lu Bu and muttered to herself in a daze.

She knew that some people in Jizhou would be dissatisfied and would rebel, but she had not expected it to be so large. Since receiving the news of Zhongshan's rebellion, Lu Bu had sent her many news reports one after another. The clan rebels were like a spark, and in just half a month they had almost spread throughout Jizhou. It was already difficult to control. For the first time, she felt firsthand the capabilities of the aristocratic families of this era. If they united, they could really overthrow a regime.

"princess……"

Xu You called out to Zhang Mo, who seemed somewhat distracted, and reminded her, "The king and his ministers are still waiting for your decision."

She came to her senses and said nothing. She just dismounted and climbed up a nearby high slope. Xu You and others hurriedly followed her.

Standing on the slope, she gazed at the vast land before her, its network of roads and canals. She took a moment to catch her breath and spoke calmly, "Eight years ago, I passed by here on my way to the Xianbei tribe in search of someone. What I saw was the Xinzhou Basin, overgrown with weeds and desolate. Five years ago, I traveled the world with my master. I saw refugees crouching on the roadside like wild dogs, gnawing on carrion. I saw a father bartering his daughter to save his life. I saw a child nearly choking to death after stealing wheat seeds. I saw a mother cutting off her own flesh to feed her child. I saw wealthy families enslaving their followers like livestock, trampling on their dignity and lives at will. Yet, to survive, they worked like slaves, not daring to say a word. Last winter, I was in Jingzhao Yin, and I saw that the once prosperous Sanfu area was now deserted, with not a sound of chicken or dog."

"Counties and states are divided, wars are everywhere, and human life is worth less than a dog. What has become of this world? I want to overthrow the country and establish a new system. I want to end this chaotic world where people are suffering and want to give the people a place to stand. Is that wrong? I don't want to wipe out all the noble families in the world. I will give them a chance. I will also use the loyal and capable people of the Sima and Zhang families in Henei."

Her tone suddenly grew sharp as she spoke, "But what about them? For the selfish interests of one family, they've provoked wars across Jizhou, robbing and killing civilians. They deserve death! If I compromise today, even if I conquer the world in the future, I'll only be the spokesperson for the aristocratic families. In just a hundred years, the people will be plunged into another cycle of misery. What's the point of such a world? It's better to fight to the death right now. Even if I lose in the end, at least I tried my best, and I can die without regrets!"

She paused, her voice rising suddenly. "But if we win by chance, anyone who wants to rebel in the future will have to ask the Tang Empire's 100,000-strong army for permission! And ask the millions of people under my rule for their consent!"

"Do you still want to ask me whether the Tang Dynasty's civil and military officials agree?" Xu You stood solemnly and said loudly, "I am willing to swear allegiance to the princess until death, and fight to the death!"

The others were also passionate and swore in unison, "I swear to be loyal to the princess until death, and fight to the death!"

"Be loyal to the princess and fight to the death!"

"A fight to the death..."

Heart-wrenching cries echoed across the Xinzhou Basin. Zhang Mo took a deep breath, calmed herself, and turned to look at the crowd, then asked jokingly, "The Jizhou rebels said they'd abandon me once the world is at peace. Aren't you worried?"

Xu You laughed and said, "How can we take the words of a traitor seriously? Anyone in this world would do such a thing as abandoning a donkey after it has served its purpose, but the King and the Princess would never do that."

Zhang Mo laughed. "So sure? That's not the way to flatter someone."

Xu You said seriously, "Every word I say comes from my heart, and is not meant to flatter."

As she walked down the slope, she said, "Tell me everything from your heart today!"

Xu You followed behind and said, "If the princess really wanted to get rid of the donkey after it has served its purpose, why didn't she call the children of the civil and military officials to Jinyang to study and practice martial arts, and cultivate them carefully?"

"That's because I want to use them as hostages!" she laughed jokingly.

"If they were hostages, they wouldn't be allowed to be so close to the eldest son. The princess is clearly training the next generation of loyal ministers for the eldest son."

She nodded, "You are a wise person!"

Xu You continued, "Furthermore, the king and the princess have been married for many years, and he has always adhered to his promise to you, not taking concubines or having a maid. For a man of such high status and power, who can do such a thing?"

"What does this mean?" she asked puzzled.

Xu You said, "Princess, compare yourself to Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu. Both were founding emperors. One despised his wife and even wanted to replace his eldest son with a concubine's son. The other, never forgetting his original promise, endured for years to help his first wife become empress and made her son the crown prince instead. Now look at how these two treated their meritorious officials. The ruthless one was also unrighteous. After becoming emperor, he executed all his meritorious officials. How many of those who followed him through thick and thin had a good ending? The affectionate one also valued righteousness. He reformed the official system and favored meritorious officials, which led to the creation of the Twenty-Eight Generals of the Cloud Terrace."

"The actual situations these two people faced were actually different, but... your example is very appropriate, I like it!"

She smiled slightly, suddenly stopped, turned around and asked, "Ziyuan, when you were with Yuan Benchu, were you familiar with Cui Jigui?"

She had changed the subject so quickly that Xu You was stunned. He replied, "I wouldn't say we're familiar with each other. He's a prominent figure among the scholars in Jizhou, and his heart is filled with benevolence, righteousness, morality, and the rules of propriety between monarch and minister. As for me... as you know, I once tried to depose the emperor. We're not on the same side, so we're just nodding acquaintances."

"Is that so..." She said with some regret, and then asked, "Then among the former civil and military officials of Jizhou, who had the best relationship with him?"

"I'm not quite sure about this. Why do you ask this, Princess?" Xu You was puzzled.

As far as he knew, when the king and the princess were on their way back to Jinyang, they dealt with a county magistrate named Cui who violated the prohibition on alcohol. Then several of Cui's children were implicated, and Cui Yan was also dismissed from office and sent back to his hometown in Qinghe.

Zhang Mo said, "When I dismissed Cui Jigui and sent him back to his hometown, I actually wanted him to be an insider, but... now that Jizhou has become like this, I'm not sure if he's still loyal to the Tang Dynasty. And you also said that he's full of the etiquette of monarch and minister. When he surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, the Han emperor had already died. He might have had no choice but to agree to me. Now Cao Mengde has established another emperor in Yanzhou. Although he is a puppet, he is under the banner of restoring the Han Dynasty. Will Jigui betray me and surrender to Cao like the others?"

After hearing this, Xu You couldn't help but admire him secretly. He originally thought that she wanted to use Cui as an example to scare the monkeys, but it turned out that she had left a backup plan from the beginning. With Cui as an insider, Jizhou's chances of winning this matter had increased from 20% to 40%.

Xu You smiled and said, "Your Highness, you only see that he values ​​etiquette and law, but you don't know that scholars also value integrity. Especially a man like him, who is upright and incorruptible. Since he has already promised your Highness, he will never do such a thing as defecting in the face of battle. Even if he no longer wants to follow you, he will not go to Cao Mengde. That guy massacred several cities in Xuzhou. Now he pulls out a royal relative and establishes a court to whitewash these atrocities. Is it possible? Those who now rely on him to revive the Han Dynasty are either truly confused, or pretending to be confused, or they really are... in love."

"Ha..." Zhang Mo laughed out loud, "Couldn't Cui Jigui be true love?"

Xu You said, "As I said before, Cui Jigui values ​​benevolence, righteousness, and morality. The princess has been benevolent and kind in the Tang Kingdom, loving the people and gaining their hearts. He will not betray you."

"In that case, help me go to Qinghe County to meet him." Her eyes, once shimmering with light, were covered with a layer of coldness. "If you don't compromise, I will directly counterattack."

Xu You understood and bowed, "Don't worry, Princess. Ziyuan will definitely fulfill your mission!"