Liu Qi's intention was actually very clear. He wanted to send Gongsun Zan to the northern front line and let him serve as his front line to unite with Zhang Yan.

In this way, he may play a key role in the battle with Yuan Shao in the future.

In fact, Liu Qi's proposal is not excessive, and can even be said to be reasonable. Since Gongsun Zan wants to break free from exile and return to the court, words alone are not enough, and as a representative of the border generals, Gongsun Zan

, expressing one's surrender through meritorious service is naturally the best way.

In this way, Liu Qi allowed him to go to Hebei, which was a chance for him. Moreover, the Gongsun family in western Liaoning had a great reputation in Youzhou, with a big tree, deep roots, and a wide range of contacts.

Even though Gongsun Zan has not been back for several years, his prestige is still there, and the foundation of several generations will not be lost forever.

Logically speaking, Gongsun Zan should be eager to go back.

But what Liu Qi didn't expect was that when the leader of Gongsun Zan's attendants heard this, he knelt down to Liu Qi on the spot and said urgently: "General Gongsun is determined for revenge and intends to be in the south of the Yangtze River. Please don't send him to Hebei!"

Liu Qi frowned: "Determined for revenge, in the south of the Yangtze River? Why, if he surrenders to the imperial court, he doesn't do meritorious deeds for me first, and wants me to deal with Sun Jian for him first? Is he here to seek refuge with me, or do I have something to ask of him?

?”

"This...this is not..." The guard was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to answer.

Liu Qi looked at him with a half-smile but not a smile: "Besides, what's the grudge between Jihou and Sun Jian? Isn't it because he failed to seize Sun Jian's Wu Commandery and was defeated by Sun Jian? Victory and defeat are common affairs for military strategists. The one who leads the troops into battle,

Who has never suffered a defeat, who has never suffered? Ji Hou is so broad-minded, how can I safely use him?"

The guard's face turned red when Liu Qi said it, and he didn't answer for a long time.

Then, he turned to look at Liu Bei again.

The look in his eyes looked a little pitiful, and Liu Bei looked quite sympathetic, because from an emotional level, Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan were relatively close, but he could not give any words to advise.

Because in Liu Bei's view, Liu Qi was right. Since Gongsun Zan came to submit, if he was still picky, he really didn't understand his position.

When the guard saw that Liu Bei didn't speak for him, he couldn't help but sigh and said: "Your Majesty, it's not that Ji Hou doesn't understand the rules and insists on making demands of your Majesty. It's just that Ji Hou and Sun Jian have a sworn hatred. If Sun Jian cannot be eliminated, Ji Hou will

If you wait for a day, there will be no peace."

Liu Qi frowned when he heard this: "Is the revenge of the defeat really so important to your Ji Hou?"

The guard shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, it's not what you think... Jihou and Sun Jian are grudges for killing their sons, not for defeat."

"Revenge for murdering your son?" Liu Qi was stunned when he heard this: "What's going on?"

Liu Bei also looked confused.

"To be honest with your Majesty, when Jihou was defeated by Sun Jian, Sun Jian ordered Cheng Pu and Han Dang to lead their troops to pursue Jihou. At that time, Jihou was exhausted and had no other way out. At the critical moment, it was the eldest son who took the initiative to step forward and put on his clothes.

Jihou's armor was put on Jihou's pocket, and he led his soldiers to another route, attracting the attention of Cheng Pu and Han Dang..."

Liu Qi couldn't help being speechless after hearing this.

"So, it's Ji Hou's biological son...Gongsun Xu who died for Ji Hou?"

"yes."

Liu Qi grinned helplessly and said: "How big is the difference between Ji Hou and Mr. Xu?"

"Sixteen short."

"At such an old age, wouldn't Cheng Pu and Han Dang be able to tell?"

The guard heard this and said: "It was dark at that time, and Young Master Xu was very similar to his father in both body shape and appearance, and Cheng Pu beheaded the Young Master directly on the battlefield, so he was able to hide it.

"

Liu Bei nodded suddenly and said: "This can explain it clearly."

On the battlefield, the heads were chopped off and then transported to Soochow. There was a long lapse in the process. The heads usually lost blood and were stained with rotting corpses. Generally, the heads were greatly different from when they were alive. In some cases, they were smeared with lime.

This makes it even more difficult to identify.

Liu Bei asked the attendant again: "Didn't you tell me at the beginning that Mr. Xu died of illness in Huainan?"

The attendant sighed: "It is a huge shame for Jihou to die on his behalf. How can he have the nerve to tell the truth to others? I have no choice but to tell your Majesty the truth just now."

Liu Qi nodded when he heard this, and felt a bit of admiration for Gongsun Xu in his heart.

No matter how you say it, dying for your father is a great act of courage.

"I really admire your young master's actions. Go back and tell Jihou that when the time comes, I am willing to write a separate biography of Mr. Gongsun in the Han Dynasty to pass on his merits and virtues so that future generations will know about Mr. Gongsun's deeds of loyalty and filial piety.

Set an example for all generations to come."

When the guard heard this, he hurriedly bowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"However, my request for Jihou has not changed. He must ask for it in Hebei. I cannot use troops against Sun Wentai for his own personal vendetta. This is my bottom line. Go back and tell him, Gongsun Bogui

If he agrees, I will wait for him in Nanjun. If he is unwilling, I will not publicize his affairs to the outside world. It will be up to him to decide whether to stay or leave."

"this……"

"No need to say more, just take my words directly to Jihou."

Seeing that they could not persuade Liu Qi, Gongsun Zan's bodyguard had no choice but to resign with regret.

After the guard went down, Liu Bei admonished Liu Qi: "Your Majesty, I know Gongsun Bogui. My classmate has a bad temper and a strong character. If your Majesty insists on letting him go to Hebei, I don't know what he will do."

Liu Qi curled his lips: "Does it mean that if he comes to seek refuge with me, I have to listen to his opinions and make arrangements for him? Then who is seeking refuge with whom?"

Liu Bei hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this is not what I mean."

Liu Qi smiled and said: "I don't mean to blame the emperor. Don't worry. Gongsun Bogui has no choice this time. The world is settled. He and Jiangdong have an sworn hatred. Now Hebei and Luoyang, he can only make peace with them."

And if you rely on me, I will not avenge him, so will Yuan Shao avenge him? In the end, he can only come to me to beg me, and there is no second way out."

…

At this time, Gongsun Zan led his remnants and roamed around the Huainan border like rogue bandits, but the only difference between him and rogue bandits was that he had soldiers, generals, armor, and war horses.

Therefore, Gongsun Zan can be regarded as a high-level... rogue bandit.

Today, Gongsun Zan and his troops are stationed on Leiwu Mountain near Langling County, and they are recruiting grain and grass nearby to devour the troops with peace of mind.

Due to the chaos during Yuan Shu's reign, bandits were everywhere near Jianghuai, and Gongsun Zan was the only one missing him. Moreover, since Liu Qi ascended the throne, the court's attention was not on exterminating bandits, so he was allowed to live a free and easy life.
Chapter completed!