Your Majesty, please spare Diao Chan; your yang energy is too strong.

Actually, compared to the three, Yuan Shao's son was the best choice.

However, Zhou Heng was the sixth son.

Yuan Shao's son was of little significance to him.

Perhaps in Yuan Shao's mind, their importance was indeed incomparable to that of Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Xin Ping.

But what I was thinking was, if you come here as a hostage, aren't you one of us?

He plans to poach these people and recruit them to his side.

As for Yuan Shao's son, there was no way he could poach him from within the organization.

Then it wouldn't make much sense.

This is why he chose three people.

the next day.

Zhou Heng immediately ordered his troops to camp outside the city.

Then he sent Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun to Xuzhou with his three handwritten letters.

The first letter was naturally addressed to Mi Zhu.

Although the other party has now wholeheartedly pledged allegiance to him.

You have full authority to make this decision.

However, the other party was not his subordinate in the strictest sense.

Rather, it was his good brother, his brother-in-law, who was the foundation upon which he built his fortune.

We should still ask for the other party's opinion.

After recounting the entire backstory, he even revealed his cooperation with Yuan Shao in its entirety.

In addition, they also revealed their plans to deceive Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Xin Ping, and to make their subordinates work together.

what?

You said that the three of them were loyal to Yuan Shao and it was virtually impossible for them to be turned against him.

That's okay.

Wouldn't it be better if Yuan Shao died?

Anyway, Yuan Shao won't live much longer.

In short, if you agree, come with Zhao Yun.

If they disagree, it's even at the risk of completely offending Yuan Shao.

He absolutely disagreed.

At worst, we can just fight our way out of Ji Province.

The second letter was to Mi Zhen.

Let's talk about her older brother's matter again. I need to let my wife know about this.

Otherwise, if there is a misunderstanding, the consequences could be disastrous.

Therefore, Zhou Heng would naturally not fail to inform his wife.

The third letter was intended for Mi Fang in Jianghuai.

However, this would only be given if Mi Zhu agreed.

Of course, Zhou Heng knew perfectly well that Mi Zhu would agree.

After all, this matter is entirely beneficial to me.

They could also openly and legitimately undermine Yuan Shao's faction.

Why not?

Mi Zhu could only be considered to be on vacation at best.

I'll take him back in a few days.

Of course, it's impossible to refuse.

So I wrote it down in advance.

He was to hand it over to Mi Fang, who was far away in the Jianghuai region.

Let him return to Xuzhou to take charge of the overall situation.

Jiang Huai only needs Liao Hua and Zhou Cang.

With Mi Zhu gone, the Mi family's vast empire naturally needs someone to take charge.

What could be more suitable than Mi Fang?

In fact, in terms of official duties, military command, politics, and overall situation, Mi Fang was indeed inferior to Mi Zhu.

However, speaking specifically about handling family matters and business management.

Mi Fang was undoubtedly superior.

This is why Mi Fang was in charge of handling family affairs before.

The reason why Mi Zhu chose to serve as a civil official under Liu Bei.

Each has its own use.

Previously, Zhou Heng needed Mi Fang to go to Jianghuai to make arrangements, so he could only entrust the affairs of Xuzhou to Mi Zhu.

Now Mi Zhu has more important things to do.

Naturally, Mi Fang had to be called back.

Of course, besides bringing Mi Zhu back to Xuzhou, the reason for sending Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun back together was also to pick them up.

It also implies that Zhang Liao should succeed Mi Zhu.

He commanded the troops of Xuzhou to resist Liu Bei and Lü Bu.

After all, you can't say that with Mi Zhu gone, Xuzhou is leaderless.

Naturally, I need to go back and take charge of the overall situation.

Mi Fang clearly doesn't have that ability yet.

The only person under Zhou Heng with this ability is Zhang Liao.

You can have Zhao Yun leading the charge without any problem.

It would be somewhat difficult to put someone in charge of a city.

So I became a bodyguard on the road.

Protect Mi Zhu's safety.

We'll talk about everything when I get back.

Furthermore, in order to prevent being intercepted by Cao Cao on the way.

Zhou Heng even made him take the route through Qingzhou.

Rather than going through Yanzhou.

There were streetlights lit by Yuan Shao.

With an unobstructed journey, wouldn't going through Qingzhou be the best option?

.............

Two months later.

This marks exactly one year and four months since Zhou Heng arrived in Jizhou.

It is now the ninth month of the third year of Jian'an.

Mi Zhu finally arrived, albeit late.

There was no other way but to make it take so long.

Because of Mi Zhu, the matter in Xuzhou needs to be handled properly.

We still need to wait for Mi Fang to return to Xuzhou and for Zhang Liao to successfully take command of the troops in Xuzhou.

It will also take some time to adjust.

It took so long.

According to normal circumstances, Jizhou is not far from Xuzhou.

If we ride at full speed...

It should take no more than seven days to reach Xuzhou.

A round trip like this only takes half a month.

Xin Ping was also helpless in the face of this phenomenon.

He also knew Mi Zhu's identity; it was impossible for him to come and go as he pleased.

It also requires some planning.

During these two months, Zhou Heng also became familiar with Zhang Hegao Lan and Xin Ping.

How to describe the relationship between the four people?

They're somewhat like confidants, somewhat like friends, somewhat like masters and servants, and somewhat like enemies.

Especially Xin Ping.

The views expressed by Zhou Heng, as well as his various literary works in later generations.

It always gives people a refreshing feeling.

If it weren't for the Xin family, they would have already been tied to Yuan Shao's warship.

He probably even considered joining Zhou Heng's forces.

no way.

For people of this era.

Zhou Heng's viewpoints, and various novel and unheard-of knowledge.

It always manages to catch people's eye.

This put the other party in a difficult position during this period.

As a friend.

They shouldn't have schemed against Zhou Heng.

But as his opponent, he had no choice.

Therefore, the relationship between the group is now very strange.

As for Zhang He and Gao Lan, during this period, their relationship also changed from hostility to that of close friends.

Especially under Yuan Shao's command.

Yuan Shao was a man who appointed people based on nepotism.

If you're not one of his close associates, it's very difficult to rise to a high position under them.

Even though they were the four pillars of Hebei.

Even now, there is still a sense of unfulfilled potential among Yuan Shao's subordinates.

Because they were not Yuan Shao's direct subordinates.

At least as Yan Liang and Wen Chou, they are still far from being worthy of the title.

Not to mention Han Meng, Chunyu Qiong, and Gao Gan, who are the most loyal of the loyalists.

After all, they are different from these generals.

They were originally under Han Fu's command, and were no match for those who fought alongside Yuan Shao.

This is why it was done later on.

Yuan Shao preferred to let someone like Chunyu Qiong, who was ambitious but incompetent, guard such an important place as Wuchao.

There was no reason to use them.

Now, Zhou Heng employs only those with talent.

This stands in stark contrast to Yuan Shao.