Chapter 573 Negotiation

Soon, a carriage drove from Henei County into Shangdang County and went straight into Gaodu. Sitting in the carriage was the anxious former Han prince Liu Xi.

At this time, the Duke of Shanyang was extremely nervous and even a little panicked. Especially his sensitive identity made him feel insecure when surrounded by the Han army.

He had heard from Cao Wei a long time ago that his father had been officially recognized as dead for more than ten years by Ji Han, and even his posthumous title was given. In this case, Liu Xi was very worried about his fate.

The main reason was that Ma Su's strategy was too fast. It seemed that he conquered the entire Bingzhou in the blink of an eye and pushed the front line to Henei County. Liu Xi was intercepted by Jiang Wei before he even had time to run away.

Soon, the carriage arrived in Gaodu under the escort of a group of Han cavalry. Liu Xi, who had been uneasy, finally met the famous Han cavalry general Ma Su.

"Duke Shanyang Liu Xi, meet the general!" Liu Xi was still somewhat rational, and he called himself Duke Shanyang directly, wanting to see what Ma Su's attitude was.

If they had murderous intentions, Liu Xi estimated that he would be missing.

Fortunately, the situation in Liu Xi's imagination where Ma Su smashed the cup as a signal did not happen. Not only that, Ma Su also solemnly withdrew from the table to return the greeting, and said firmly,

"What Duke Shanyang! You are the only surviving prince of Emperor Xiaomin, and the crown prince of the Later Han Dynasty! The pseudo-Wei forced Emperor Xiaomin to abdicate and usurp the Han Dynasty, and shamelessly named you Duke Shanyang to humiliate you. You must have suffered a lot in the pseudo-Wei over the years, right?"

"And I also heard that Emperor Xiaomin had actually been assassinated long ago, and the one who died two years ago was a substitute for the pseudo-Wei to cover up the truth. Is that true?"

Ma Su quickly asked a series of questions, leaving Liu Xi confused. However, after years of being treated as the Duke of Shanyang, he had some political wisdom and quickly understood Ma Su's hint.

Come on, this is to use me as a signboard to veto the legitimacy of Cao Wei's succession to the Mandate of Heaven.

After all, what the people of the world can accept is a willing abdication, not a usurpation by coercion and inducement. And as a prince of the previous dynasty, if he admitted this, it would be a big blow to the pseudo-Wei.

Thinking of this, Liu Xi breathed a sigh of relief. At least now it seems that Ji Han still values ​​his value, and he will not disappear for the time being.

"That's right! Cao Pi coerced and induced, and even used weapons to force my father to abdicate! Less than half a year after the abdication, they suffocated my father with a quilt..."

"It should be a month after the usurpation." Ma Su reminded him kindly, don't go to Chang'an and make a bug.

"Oh, that's right, a month!" Liu Xi nodded and quickly connected seamlessly.

To be honest, it is still against filial piety to lie with open eyes. But now that Ma Su looked at him kindly, he could not care so much.

And to be honest, this cannot be completely false. At least Liu Xie's abdication was indeed the result of Cao Pi's coercion and inducement.

Finally, after a secret talk, Liu Xi rehearsed the lines. Later, under Ma Su's suggestion, Liu Xi volunteered to go to Chang'an, and in the future, as the crown prince of Han, he handed over the destiny of the unification of the Han Dynasty to Liu Chan.

Of course, as an equal exchange, Ma Su swore very seriously on his own reputation that he would never cross the river and burn the bridge. In the future, Liu Xi will be granted the title of King of Shu and King of Yizhou, and all the benefits of the pseudo-Wei will be granted five times by Ji Han.

In the final analysis, as long as Liu Xi does not talk nonsense, his existence is extremely beneficial to Ji Han. So after completing the handover of the destiny, there is no need for the Han Dynasty to silence him.

After instructing Liu Xi, Ma Su ordered people to escort him back to Chang'an for the final process. At the same time, Ma Su finally received intelligence that the two armies of the Wei army launched a counterattack against Ji Han.

Fortunately, under Zhuge Liang's personal expedition on the southern front, the people in Nanyang quickly stabilized. The 150,000 Wei troops were stuck in Nanyang and did not achieve any success.

The other 100,000 Wei troops that invaded Hongnong along the Yaohan Ancient Road also began to retreat to Luoyang Yin at this moment.

If it were not for the obstruction of Henei County in front, Ma Su would probably have been able to hold this group of Wei troops in Baierqin Pass.

"Why hasn't Sima Wang come yet?" Ma Su couldn't help asking.

"General, the rear general is still on his way on horseback and should be here in two days."

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Just before Liu Xi was escorted to Chang'an, the rear general Sima Wang also came to Gaodu to meet Ma Su. Not only that, he was accompanied by Chen Zhi, who had already entered the Shangshutai!

Chen Zhi was ordered to serve as the governor of Bingzhou, and he also brought Liu Chan's edict. In the edict, Liu Chan ordered Ma Su to continue to stay in Bingzhou, and at the same time lead Bingzhou's troops to push the front line forward as much as possible.

Because the Shangshutai has sorted out the finances and reached a conclusion. After the autumn harvest next year, the Han Dynasty can officially gather food and fodder for the Eastern Expedition, and then the Han Dynasty will start the war in Guandong.

At present, it is necessary to prepare for the Eastern Expedition in advance, so Ma Su will not be able to return to Chang'an in a short time.

Ma Su didn't care about this. After all, it doesn't matter where you fight. What he cares about is whether Sima Wang can solve the problem of Henei for him.

"Zi Chu, most of the prominent families in Henei are now resisting my great Han's eastward expansion. Can you negotiate with them on behalf of the Han Dynasty?"

"If we really can't reach an agreement, I'm afraid I can only force it..."

For this question, Sima Wang was obviously confident and immediately answered with a bow.

"General Huoqi, you are too serious. This matter is not as troublesome as expected. Most of the prominent families in Henei are actually loyal to the Han Dynasty, but they are worried about it now, so they are resisting fiercely."

"As long as the general sends people to negotiate with them and gives them conditions for surrender, the prominent families in Henei are very willing to serve the Han Dynasty."

In fact, the stubborn resistance of Henei County is still because Ma Su is progressing too fast. Before the prominent families in Henei are ready to bet on both sides, Ma Su has already reached their doorstep.

Because they have not yet negotiated conditions with Ji Han, most of the prominent families in Henei are worried about surrendering, so they resisted with their entire family.

Sima Wang, who is also from Henei, knows the nature of these fellow villagers very well. As long as they are willing to talk, their interest in surrendering is definitely higher than anyone else.

"Really... It's not that we can't talk." Ma Su shook his head gently, and then looked at Sima Wang with a serious face.

"Let Zichu arrange this matter. Please invite all the prominent families in Henei to come and negotiate."

"But I must make it clear in advance that even if they accept surrender, there are conditions. There are many bottom lines that cannot be crossed. If there are some conditions that they cannot accept at all, then it is better not to come, so as not to make everyone lose face!"