Chapter 304 Chen Gong VS Jia Xu
"This is a great plan!"

Jin Mao was full of praise, "However, Cao Cao swallowed up 200,000 shi of my grain, I can't just let it go!"

The Poison Master has a strong sense of the overall situation, and Jinmao feels that he is very easy to use.

"Of course." Jia Xu nodded.

"Later, I'll have to trouble Wenhe to help me deal with Chen Gong."

"Give it your all."

Posthouse.

Chen Gong was wearing a dark official uniform, a Jinxian crown on his head, and a silver seal with a green ribbon hung around his waist, which was the symbol of a high-ranking official with a salary of two thousand stones.

Before coming, Cao Cao appointed Chen Gong as the prefect of Jiyin County, but this was not what Chen Gong wanted most.

Chen Gong and Xun Yu have many similarities. They are both very smart and ambitious. The only difference may be their different capacities.

The main purpose of Chen Gong's coming to the negotiation this time was not only to hope that General Jin Mao would let Cao Cao go, but also to request another wave of support.

Simply invincible.

"Mr. Chen, the general wants to see you."

Chen Gong looked towards the door and saw a tall and handsome general in a white robe saluted him with a fist clasped and his attitude was very good.

Chen Gong slowly stood up, threw his sleeves behind him, straightened his crown, took a few steps, walked to the door, bowed and asked, "What's your name, General?"

Zhao Yun quickly stepped aside to avoid the salute, then clasped his fists and said, "Mr. Chen, thank you for the compliment. I am just a small captain."

Chen Gong took in all the elite soldiers outside the gate as his eyes turned, and said to Zhao Yun with a smile: "You are not a simple captain."

"I heard that the general's personal guards are very elite, and can fight ten to one. Moreover, a team has not only fifty people, but two hundred, which is equivalent to the number of people in a normal army."

"Ten times two hundred." Chen Gong calculated with his fingers and said, "You, as a captain, are equivalent to a lieutenant commanding two thousand troops!"

Zhao Yun had never heard such compliments before, and he waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Chen Jun Shou, please don't make fun of me. This is all groundless."

Chen Gong did not refute and asked, "What is the general's name?"

Zhao Yun sighed and said, "You can just call me Zhao Zilong. Please don't call me General anymore."

"I'm afraid the general will misunderstand."

Zhao Yun was still too timid. Although there was only one general in the Southern Army from top to bottom, the real power of a captain of a main battalion was greater than that of an ordinary general with miscellaneous titles. The only difference was the title.

Chen Gong understood this very well.

"Zilong, where is the general?"

However, Chen Gong's purpose of coming this time was very difficult, and he shamelessly tried his best to get close to Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun stopped struggling and clasped his fists, saying, "The general is in the prefectural governor's mansion, which is a little far from here. Please take a ride there, Governor Chen."

"That's fine." Chen Gong smiled and said, "Zilong, just lead the way."

Zhao Yun didn't say anything more. He had already tried to persuade Chen Gong. If Chen Gong didn't listen, it was his own business.

"Attsu~"

Zhao Yun put his fingers in his mouth and blew hard, making a chirping sound.

Soon, a snow-white divine horse appeared, came to Zhao Yun, and approached him affectionately.

Zhao Yun jumped on his horse, clasped his fists towards Chen Gong, and said, "Please!"

Then he rode away.

The personal guards followed closely behind, one by one they jumped on their horses and followed Zhao Yun. In a few breaths they disappeared, leaving Chen Gong alone with his eyes wide open.

Is this how you entertain envoys?
Aren’t you afraid that the messenger will die on the way, leading to a war between the two sides?
Well, the general is not afraid of going to war, but Cao Cao is.

Chen Gong had no choice but to take a step forward and walk quickly towards the county magistrate's mansion.

A quarter of an hour later, Chen Gong, sweating profusely, finally arrived at the gate of the county magistrate's mansion.

It's May and even though the rain has just stopped, it can't hide the fact that it's still hot and humid.

Chen Gong originally wanted to tidy up his appearance, but now he was sweating all over and it was useless no matter how much he tidied up.

Now, Chen Gong suspected that Zhao Yun was deliberately making him look bad.

"who?"

Even more disgusting was coming. Chen Gong looked at the two personal guards who stopped him at the door and said word by word with gritted teeth: "I am Chen Gong, the governor of Jiyin County, and I have come to see the general!"

The expression on his face showed that he wanted to bite these bastards in front of him into pieces.

"Wait." The imperial guard didn't give any face and said, "I'll go and inform them."

What was even more outrageous was that the guards next to him looked as if they couldn't hold back their laughter. They wanted to hold it back but couldn't, which made Chen Gong's rage burn even more fiercely.

He is not blind!
He is not so stupid that he still cannot understand it. This is Jinmao's way of intimidating him.

To be honest, Chen Gong really wanted to leave, but he couldn't, which made him feel depressed.

After a while, Chen Gong was finally welcomed in.

After passing through the entrance hall and the garden, we finally arrived at the meeting hall.

Chen Gong looked around and saw that the main seat was empty except for a high-ranking official with a salary of two thousand stones, who was also wearing a black scholar's uniform.

Looking at the man's age, Chen Gong immediately guessed who it was.

Jia Xu, the prefect of Guangling County!

"Chen Gong greets the prefect of Guangling County." Chen Gong introduced himself, which was a sign of submission.

"May I ask where the general is?"

Jia Xu did not answer, but just held the tea bowl and sipped it.

Chen Gong was already full of anger on the way here, and this time his anger completely exploded. He asked in a cold voice: "Is this the general's way of entertaining guests?"

This time, Jia Xu finally reacted. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Chen Gong in the hall, and said in a calm tone: "How to entertain guests? May I ask who are you?"

Lore!

Chen Gong was instantly discouraged. He could not understand the meaning of Jia Xu's words.

If he came on behalf of Cao Cao, there would be no room for negotiation. If he came on behalf of the Yanzhou gentry, the general would naturally come out to entertain him.

In short, what Jia Xu meant was that Chen Gong had to reveal his identity before the conversation could continue.

This is a fatal question. No matter which faction Chen Gong represents, he will not end up well.

Representing the gentry?

Does Cao Cao still want to save face? At that time, Chen Gong does not need to return to Cao Cao, but can just go home or change his allegiance to a wise leader.

As for representing Cao Cao, there is no need to say more, he couldn't even see Jin Mao.

But Chen Gong was a smart man, he immediately caught the loophole in the words, and said righteously: "On behalf of the millions of people in Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Qingzhou, I want to see the general."

Jia Xu nodded secretly. Chen Gong had passed the first level, but as a poison master, how could he not be prepared?

"I heard that the current master of Yanzhou is Lu Bu. Where did the people of Qingzhou come from when the Yellow Turbans were wreaking havoc?"

"Xuzhou." Jia Xu snorted coldly, "Xuzhou is under the jurisdiction of my lord. How can you have the nerve to represent the people?"

"Could it be that Guangling County under my jurisdiction is full of starving people and bandits are rampant?"

Another fatal question.

Guangling County still belongs to Xuzhou in name. If Chen Gong says Guangling County is not included in Xuzhou, he will offend Jia Xu. Now Jin Mao doesn't even show up. If Jia Xu, the only person who may contact Jin Mao, is offended, Chen Gong doesn't need to stay and should go home as soon as possible.

In addition, Jia Xu kept asking for the Xuzhou land that Cao Cao had promised him. It made no difference whether Chen Gong agreed or not. He would definitely be nailed to death by Jia Xu, and there would be no further developments.

As for the previous descriptions of Yanzhou and Qingzhou, they are all facts.

Chen Gong seemed to be backed into a corner, but a smart man would not admit defeat verbally.

He stroked his beard gently, a cunning look flashed in his eyes, and a faint smile slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth, as if he had already made up his mind.

Chen Gong spoke slowly, his voice was not loud, but every word was clear and touched people's hearts: "What Jia Gong said is very true. The land of Xuzhou has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. Its importance is self-evident.

However, the world is like a chess game, each game is new, and whether the promises of the past can adapt to the current changes still needs our joint discussion. "

“Although General Kim was not present in person, his intention was clear: he wanted to coexist peacefully and seek common development.

The land of Xuzhou includes Guangling County, a part of it. Its ownership not only concerns the honor and disgrace of one place, but also affects the balance of the four directions.

Although I am not talented, I know very well that it is difficult to determine the overall situation through verbal disputes alone.

Why don't we put aside the dispute for the time being and invite heroes from all over the world to hold a grand meeting in Xuzhou to pool our wisdom and discuss the future of Xuzhou."

“If General Jin is willing to come in person, that would be great; if he is busy, he can also send an envoy to do it for him.

We can take this opportunity not only to resolve the dispute over the ownership of Xuzhou, but also to explore how to resist foreign enemies, promote people's livelihood, and make Xuzhou a truly peaceful place.

In this way, we can live up to our past promises and adapt to the changing times. Isn't this the best of both worlds? "

Chen Gong's words not only demonstrated his wisdom and foresight, but also cleverly avoided directly answering Jia Xu's sharp questions, shifting the focus to more grand issues, leaving room for himself and giving the other party room to think.

Although Jia Xu did not agree with Chen Gong's proposal, the power of this sophistry should not be underestimated.

However, who is Jia Xu? How could he be fooled by Chen Gong?

"Mr. Chen is exaggerating." Jia Xu looked Chen Gong in the eye and said, "Cao Mengde can hardly protect himself now, how dare he talk about justice?"

"It is only a matter of time before Yuan Shao, the governor of Jizhou, annihilates Gongsun Zan. How can Cao Mengde stop him then?"

Chen Gong clasped his fists and said, "What Jia Gong said is indeed a serious situation, but the general trend of the world cannot be determined by the victory or defeat of a particular time and place.

It is true that Yuan Shao is powerful and Gongsun Zan is on the verge of defeat.

However, the reason why Cao Gong was able to rise in troubled times was not only because of his strong army, but also because he cared about the world and was committed to the people's peace.

Although Yuan Shao is strong, he will not be able to last long if he loses the support of the people.

The once powerful Qin unified the six kingdoms, but it eventually perished due to tyranny; Xiang Yu was strong enough to move mountains, but he lost the world due to a lack of harmony among people. "

"Furthermore, the Art of War says, if you know yourself and your enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger. Cao Gong not only knew Yuan Shao, but also knew the enemy's strengths and weaknesses.

The Art of War also says, "Use the normal to unite, and the unusual to win." Under Cao Gong's command, there are many brave generals and counselors, so there is no way he can't find an opportunity to defeat the enemy and turn danger into safety.

Besides, who among the heroes of the world is not vying for the throne of the Central Plains? Although Yuan Shao is strong, he is not invincible. Cao Gong can take this opportunity to unite the princes of all parties and make plans together, which may be able to turn the tide. "

"As for us, as subjects, we should do our best to assist the lord in order to restore the Han Dynasty and stabilize the world. Personal honor and disgrace should be placed behind the interests of the country. Lord Jia is a wise man of the time, and he will surely understand this great cause and work together to devise a good strategy."

Chen Gong's words were powerful and not only responded to Jia Xu's doubts, but also demonstrated his profound insight into the current situation and his firm confidence in Cao Cao.

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in his eyes. However, the two were in different camps, so naturally he could not say words of praise.

After passing the three levels, Jia Xu, on behalf of Jin Mao, extended an olive branch: "Mr. Chen is very intelligent and quick-witted. Are you willing to give up your evil ways and serve my lord?"

This is where Jia Xu's trump card comes in.

Whether Chen Gong agreed or not, a big deal would be made of it and all kinds of strategies would be thrown at him.

By then, Chen Gong will have no way to defend himself and will inevitably part ways with Cao Cao.

Jia Xu believed that territory was a minor issue and that the important matter was to cut off the supporters around Cao Cao.

After all, territory can be seized from other places, but talent is hard to come by.

Cao Cao has talents like Chen Gong to assist him. Even if he is defeated now, he will make a comeback sooner or later.

After a moment's thought, Chen Gong understood Jia Xu's meaning. He raised his head, looked at Jia Xu deeply, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. That smile showed both recognition of Jia Xu's wisdom and his adherence to loyalty and belief.

"I am not a talented person, but I know the truth that 'a man will die for his friend'. Cao Cao has shown me kindness and helped me to succeed. We are also in the same boat.

The place can be changed, people can be moved, but the mind cannot be changed.

Although I am not talented, I do not want to be a traitor, and I do not want to be a knife in the hands of others to hurt innocent or close people. "

Jia Xu was disdainful in his heart. He knew too well the character of the Guandong gentry.

He speaks righteously but secretly hides all kinds of evil and does all kinds of bad things.

Although not all nobles were like this, if they killed two and then one in between, there would definitely be some that slipped through the net.

Since Chen Gong refused, Jia Xu also knew how to tell his lord.

Jin Mao didn't really want to see Chen Gong, otherwise, he would have chased him away and sent troops to rob him.

He just wanted to vent Cao Cao's anger on Chen Gong.

Chen Gong had some guesses about this, but he couldn't be sure.

"What a pity." Jia Xu looked at Chen Gong with pity and said, "Please wait a moment here, Governor Chen. I will go and ask the general to come."

Chen Gong was a shrewd man, so he could see the pity in Jia Xu's eyes. He felt puzzled and wondered if there was anything wrong.

No!

Today’s performance was perfect, but what the hell did Jia Xu’s look mean?
the other side.

When Jia Xu came to the backyard, Jin Mao was enjoying massage services from two beautiful women.

The woman was naturally the beauty that Jia Xu had prepared long ago. Not to mention the entire Southern Army, even the outside world knew how stunning Jin Mao was.

Although these two women were not the best looking, Jia Xu had spent a lot of effort to find them, and he himself was reluctant to touch them.

"Wenhe is here." Jin Mao stood up and stretched, then scolded with a smile, "You old boy really know how to enjoy yourself, having such a beauty serving you every day."

Jia Xu bowed his head and made no excuses, nor did he say anything about giving the beauty away.

Although the mistress is virtuous and not jealous, and the concubines are well-educated and well-mannered, if Jia Xu sets this precedent, the lord's house will surely be filled with beautiful women in the future.

By then, even the least jealous woman will hate him.

Jia Xu is a very smart man and would never do such a stupid thing.

After some teasing, Jin Mao suddenly felt bored when he saw that Jia Xu had no reaction, so he asked, "What about Chen Gong?"

Jia Xu had prepared his words on the way here. He waved away the strangers with his hand and said, "My lord, you must keep Chen Gong and not let him return to Cao Cao's side!"

Jin Mao asked seriously, "He doesn't want to serve me?"

Jia Xu nodded: "No."

Jin Mao sneered and said, "Then stay in Guangling County!"

"Oh, those two beauties..."

Jia Xu thought his lord was being impatient.

Unexpectedly, Jin Mao said: "Send them all to Chen Gong and tell him to start a branch for the Chen family in Guangling County. I believe Cao Cao will take good care of his family in Dongjun, his hometown."

snort!
It would be best if Chen Gong’s wife was very beautiful. It would be interesting if Cao Cao couldn’t control his lower body.

Jia Xu bowed deeply and said, "Yes."

(End of this chapter)