My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 659 What the Zhao Family Requests

Putting aside other factors, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun, and Xiahou Yuan were almost all staunch supporters of Cao Ang.

Cao Hong was by nature stingy and valued wealth as much as his life. Later, Cao Pi once asked Cao Hong to borrow five thousand bolts of silk, but Cao Hong refused without hesitation. Moreover, in his letter to Cao Pi, he referred to himself as an old man and completely disregarded Cao Pi, who was the heir apparent.

Cao Pi harbored resentment because of this and almost killed Cao Hong after ascending the throne. However, Cao Hong was completely convinced of Cao Ang's worthiness of respect and was very obedient to him, which clearly showed the difference between them.

This is not only because Cao Ang possessed remarkable personal charisma, nor solely because he was the eldest son of the legitimate wife; more importantly, Cao Ang represented the original shareholder power of the entire Qiao Commandery, and his mother, Lady Ding, held a position equivalent to that of Empress Lü in the early Western Han Dynasty.

In the original timeline, after Cao Ang's death, Lady Ding turned against Cao Cao. All the key members of the imperial clan, including Xiahou Dun, tried to persuade her, but they still failed to mend the rift. As a result, Cao Cao lamented before his death that he did not know how to face Cao Ang after his death.

If Liu Feng could capture Cao Ang alive on the battlefield, he would then have the initiative and the power to decide whether to fight or make peace, which would undoubtedly be a significant advantage.

Under such circumstances, even if Xiangyang is at a disadvantage, or even if the situation deteriorates to the point of losing Xiangyang, as long as Jingbei is not completely destroyed, there is still room for negotiation. Moreover, the sooner Shu is resolved, the sooner resources can be freed up.

At that time, whether it is to attack Hanzhong to relieve the siege of Wei, or to use the Yangtze River as a base to transfer troops and launch a counterattack in Jingbei, it will be a matter of ease.

This was one of the reasons why Liu Feng did not want to govern Kuai Yue.

Even if Kuai Yue's troops were prepared, it would still take them at least two to two and a half months to travel from Bushan in Yulin to Xiangyang in Jingbei. On the other hand, with the southeast winds and high water levels on the Yangtze River, Liu Feng could transport his main force to Xiangyang in just over half a month. Furthermore, one method relies entirely on foot, while the other involves traveling by boat, resulting in vastly different levels of physical exertion.

Most importantly, the most elite troops of Kuai Yue's Jiaozhou army had already participated in the war in Shu as the Southern Expeditionary Army.

The remaining Jiaozhou army was actually about the same strength as the Jingnan County troops. Even if they went north, they would only be able to defend the city walls. It would be unrealistic to expect them to fight in the field, even with Kuai Yue in command.

It was for these reasons that Liu Feng temporarily rejected the suggestion to conscript Kuai Yue and instead focused his attention on the war in Shu.

Since Liu Feng wanted to expedite the end of the war in Shu, the actions of Zhao Yan and his son Zhao Yi were even more despicable, and Liu Feng's patience was also limited.

On this day, as Liu Feng was considering whether to summon Zhang Song, Qin Mi, and Yang Hong again to hear about the Zhao family's situation, Zhang Song, Qin Mi, and Yang Hong unexpectedly came to his door on their own initiative.

Upon hearing the report, Liu Feng immediately ordered that the guest be invited inside.

Upon meeting, Liu Feng saw that Zhang Song and the others had joyful expressions on their faces. Observing their expressions, Liu Feng secretly thought to himself that good news was coming.

As expected, after exchanging greetings, Zhang Song reported with a smile, "General, we have successfully completed our mission and persuaded Huang Gongheng to return!"

Although he was short in stature, he stood tall and proud, and said in a loud voice: "I have just received a letter and a letter of surrender from Gong Heng, who is willing to lead his four thousand elite soldiers to surrender Xindu County. I implore the general to quickly send troops to take over the city and accept this powerful army."

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng abruptly stood up, his face lighting up with joy: "Is that really true?!"

Seeing Liu Feng's delight, Zhang Song and the others envied Huang Quan for being highly regarded and certain for future promotion. They were also grateful for Liu Feng's eagerness to seek out talented individuals and his sincere sincerity. Furthermore, although Huang Quan came from Ba County, he had long been on good terms with renowned scholars in Shu. His submission would greatly benefit everyone, and their efforts in persuading him over the past few days would not have been in vain.

Zhang Song then took out a silk scroll from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "How dare I speak falsely? Huang Gongheng's surrender document is here. Please take a look, General."

Liu Feng strode down the steps, took the surrender document in his own hands, but did not rush to read it. Instead, he took Zhang Song's hand, his gaze sweeping over the three men, and said earnestly, "I am pleased that Gongheng has come to surrender; however, I am even more grateful for your sincere service and loyalty!"

At this moment, regardless of whether Liu Feng was feigning it or not, Zhang Song and the other two felt a surge of warmth and deep gratitude. Even if a ruler's feelings are merely feigned, such condescension is enough to win hearts and minds, making one willing to die for him.

After a brief discussion, Liu Feng ordered someone to summon Lu Xun and entrusted him with temporarily taking charge of all affairs in Chengdu. He himself intended to lead troops to Xindu to accept the surrender.

Lu Xun, Zhang Song, and others were shocked upon hearing this and offered their advice, but Liu Feng waved them off.

"Gentlemen, there is no need to worry."

Liu Feng said with a sigh, "Xindu is only twenty li away from here. We can leave in the morning and arrive in the evening. It is nothing to worry about. Huang Gongheng is a famous general in Shu. He is a man of great talent and strategy, humble and loyal. It is a pity that Liu Zhang could not recognize his great talent. Now that he is willing to submit, I will definitely make good use of him. This trip is to show my sincerity and respect. What doubts could there be?"

Lu Xun and the other three knew that Liu Feng valued Huang Quan, but seeing that he had personally gone to a dangerous place, they realized that it was still not enough. They secretly thought that Huang Quan's importance needed to be increased even more.

Soon, Liu Feng made a decision to personally lead 3,000 of his personal guards, along with the troops of Wei Yan and Ling Tong, plus 2,000 of Gan Ning's naval forces, to Xindu by both land and sea to accept the surrender.

**
"what?"

Huang Quan suddenly stood up, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at his subordinate: "What did you just say?"

This man was a member of the Huang family and was currently serving as a military commander under Huang Quan. He was responsible for guarding the south gate of the new capital, but he appeared before Huang Quan at this moment.

"General, the Left General has arrived outside the city."

Huang Quan then believed what the other party said, feeling both surprised and suspicious, as well as a mix of indescribable emotions. He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, straightened his clothes, and immediately led his personal guards to the south gate.

As soon as they stepped out of the city gate, they saw a heavily armed army with banners fluttering in the wind on the open field to the south of the city.

Among them, a red banner with the character "Liu" embroidered in gold fluttered in the wind, while on the side was a black general's banner with the three gilded characters "Left General" embroidered on it.

Upon seeing the large banner, Huang Quan had no further doubts and immediately ordered, "Open the city gates wide!"

He immediately charged out alone, until he reached the central army formation, where he dismounted and prostrated himself to surrender.

Surrounded by generals such as Sun Yi and Zhou Fang, Liu Feng stepped forward a few steps and laughed loudly, "Gongheng, why are you so late!"

Immediately, he dismounted and personally helped Huang Quan up. Although this man was over seven feet tall and not as imposing as Zhuge Liang or Zhao Yun, he possessed a dignified appearance and upright demeanor. His brows were stern and solemn, which pleased Liu Feng even more.

Huang Quan bowed again, his voice booming: "This sinful subject did not know the Mandate of Heaven and recklessly resisted the royal army, deserving to die ten thousand times. Now I surrender the city and am willing to accept the general's punishment. I only hope that the general will forgive the soldiers under his command, for this is all my fault."

"It doesn't have to be this way."

Liu Feng helped the other man up with one arm and the other arm, comforting him, "In the past, you and I belonged to two different sides, each serving our own master, and there was no right or wrong between us. Liu Jiyu was appointed by the court, but he could not pacify Yizhou internally, nor could he defend Hanzhong externally. I was entrusted by the court to oversee the southern provinces. How could I stand by and watch the war in Sichuan and the people suffer without doing anything?"

"Since entering Shu, I have long admired Gongheng's name and longed to see him. Today, I am fortunate that Gongheng has abandoned darkness and embraced the light."

Liu Feng's words carried a sincere sincerity, which moved Huang Quan deeply.

He had previously heard Zhang Song and others mention that Liu Feng greatly admired him, and Fa Zheng had even written him a private letter, offering his life as a guarantee for Liu Feng. This was one of the main reasons that prompted him to surrender the city.

Huang Quan was skeptical of what Zhang Song and Fa Zheng said. It wasn't that he thought Zhang Song and Fa Zheng would lie to him, but rather that he felt his two friends might be exaggerating.

Therefore, Huang Quan had high expectations for Liu Feng and had even fantasized about what it would be like if he surrendered and was given an important position by Liu Feng.

But it wasn't until they met that Huang Quan truly understood that Zhang Song and Fa Zheng's words were not untrue at all, and in fact, the truth was even more so.

These words, spoken with utmost sincerity, stirred Huang Quan's heart. Although he had previously received secret letters from Zhang Song and Fa Zheng praising Liu Feng's wisdom, none of them could compare to the awe he felt upon witnessing him firsthand. Now, having met a wise ruler and received such an honor, he felt a lump in his throat and was unable to speak.

"The General's kindness in recognizing and recognizing my talent."

Huang Quan bowed down again: "Even if I were to give my life, I could not repay even a fraction of your kindness!"

Liu Feng was overjoyed to have Huang Quan surrender, and together they marched into the new capital. That very night, they spent the night in the city, winning over the hearts and minds of Huang Quan's troops.

While Liu Feng was on his way to Xindu to accept the surrender, the atmosphere at the Zhao family mansion in Chengdu was quite different.

The next morning, Liu Feng left Wei Yan to garrison Xindu, and then led his army back to Chengdu with Huang Quan.

Upon returning to Chengdu, Lu Xun, Zhang Song, Qin Mi, Yang Hong, Fa Zheng, and others came out of the city to welcome him. Liu Feng was overjoyed to have acquired Huang Quan and was in high spirits. He immediately decided to hold a banquet that evening to celebrate Huang Quan's surrender.

Huang Quan naturally declined repeatedly, not daring to do so, but Liu Feng insisted, and in the end he had no choice but to agree.

After entering the prefectural government, Zhang Song and the others said they had something to report, so Liu Feng let everyone else return to their posts, and only took Lu Xun, Huang Quan, Zhang Song and a few others into the inner hall.

"Ziqiao, what is it that you need to report so urgently? I just got back!"

Once seated, tea was served. Liu Feng was in a very good mood and even started joking around, teasing Zhang Song.

Zhang Song seemed a little nervous, and laughed a few times as if following the crowd, but there was no joy on his face.

Upon seeing this, Liu Feng's smile gradually faded, and he said calmly, "Tell me what it is."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Song quickly replied, "Reporting to the general, we have persuaded the Zhao family, but..."

"Just what?"

Liu Feng picked up his teacup and took a small sip: "But you can't make the decision on the conditions you've set?"

Zhang Song's forehead was beaded with cold sweat as he forced a smile and said, "General, you are wise. The Zhao family did have some conditions, and to be precise, these conditions are not excessive. However, the favor is from above, and the Zhao family is using this as leverage. I really dare not act on my own."

"Tell me, what demands did the Zhao family make?"

Liu Feng remained noncommittal and continued to ask.

At this moment, he was also a little curious about how big Zhao's appetite was, that it made Zhang Song seem so troubled.

With Liu Feng's permission, Zhang Song slowly revealed Zhao's request.

I wouldn't have listened if I hadn't, but once I did, wow, it was really something.

Surprisingly, Zhao made two requests in one go. The first request was that Liu Feng recruit Zhao Yan as his assistant, and the second request was that Liu Feng recommend Zhao Yi to be the magistrate of Chengdu County.

Liu Feng remained silent, while the expressions of the people in the hall varied.

Lu Xun was somewhat annoyed, clearly angered by Zhao's greed; Zhang Song was somewhat nervous, obviously feeling that he had not done a good job and had betrayed Liu Feng's trust; Qin Mi, Yang Hong and others also had mixed feelings, both worried about Zhao's marriage ties and annoyed by the other party's stubbornness and refusal to compromise.

The newly arrived Huang Quan was also shocked. He had learned about this matter from Zhang Song and Fa Zheng's letters, but he did not know the details. Now, hearing Zhang Song say this, he was also extremely surprised.

For a moment, only the sound of Liu Feng gently tapping on the table could be heard in the hall.

The sound seemed to strike a chord in everyone's hearts, and the atmosphere in the hall became quite heavy.

What do you all think?

A moment later, Liu Feng's voice rang out, but he was asking for everyone's opinion.

The crowd hesitated, knowing that Zhao's request was excessive, but they secretly hoped that Liu Feng would accept it. After all, Zhao's attitude was firm, and they didn't know whether she had some confidence or had lost her mind, as she refused to budge an inch.

If the Zhao family and General Zuo continue to clash like this, the Zhao family will definitely be the one to suffer in the end.

Apart from Lu Xun, everyone present was either related to the Zhao family by marriage or an old friend of the Zhao family, and naturally, they all hoped to resolve this difficult situation. As for who should back down, Liu Feng had always acted with courtesy and respect, which naturally gave rise to their own inappropriate thoughts.

Liu Feng was fully aware of everyone's ulterior motives. He even knew that Zhang Song and the others' desire for Liu Feng to make concessions was not entirely driven by selfishness.

With Chengdu newly captured, the city is short of food, and people's hearts are naturally unsettled. In addition, although Cao Ang and Liu Zhang have abandoned Chengdu, their army of 70,000 to 80,000 men still exists and is entrenched in a place about 100 miles northeast of Chengdu.

Out of public interest, Zhang Song and others hoped that Liu Feng could be more patient and make concessions first in order to stabilize the situation. They thought that they could deal with Cao Ang and Liu Zhang first, and then settle accounts with the Zhao family later.

Therefore, Liu Feng was not angry with Zhang Song and the others, especially Zhang Song and Yang Hong.

In the original timeline, Zhang Song lost his life for Liu Bei, and Yang Hong was the first to propose the total war slogan of "men should fight and women should transport" during the Battle of Hanzhong. This was quite offensive, especially to the powerful clans of Shu.

Huang Quan didn't want to say much, but Zhang Song and Yang Hong were both giving him meaningful glances, so he had no choice but to stand up and say, "General, I have an idea, but I don't know if it's appropriate."

Liu Feng immediately waved his hand and said, "Gongheng, please speak frankly. Even if you are wrong, I will forgive you."

Huang Quan felt relieved. After thinking it over for a moment, he said, "My lord, the Zhao family is indeed extremely hateful for their stubbornness. However, now is not the time to make a decision. Let's tolerate them for a while and see how they behave."

(End of this chapter)