Chapter 1787

"My Lord's insight is high." Li Ru nodded in agreement, "The land of Yizhou is best taken peacefully; if that does not work, then it needs to be pacified quickly with the momentum of a thunderbolt. It is just that in this process, Zhang Lu's attitude cannot be ignored."

"Zhang Lu?" Dong Zhuo squinted his eyes, "Although this person occupies Hanzhong, he is ambitious and may not be willing to be used by me. However, if he can know the current situation, I do not mind giving him a way to survive."

"My Lord's words are very true." Li Ru echoed, "If Zhang Lu can be used by me, then Hanzhong can be a springboard for our army to advance into Yizhou; if he is obsessed and unrepentant, our army also needs to prepare early to prevent him from becoming a flank threat."

Just as they were discussing, a guard hurriedly stepped in, knelt on one knee, and reported: "Reporting to my Lord, someone claiming to be an envoy from Yizhou requests an audience, saying there are important matters to discuss."

"Oh?" Dong Zhuo raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Ru, "An envoy from Yizhou? Coming at this time is truly interesting. Wenyou, what do you think?"

Li Ru smiled slightly and said: "My Lord might as well see him; perhaps we can glimpse the internal movements of Yizhou from this, which will be of great benefit to our army's future layout."

Dong Zhuo nodded and ordered: "Bring the envoy in."

Not long after, a middle-aged scholar dressed in gorgeous clothes with a tired face was introduced into the hall. As soon as he saw Dong Zhuo, he immediately bowed and said: "Zhang Song, an official of Yizhou, greets Prime Minister Dong."

"Zhang Song?" Dong Zhuo looked him up and down, "You have come to Chang'an—for what purpose?"

Zhang Song looked up, a flash of determination in his gaze, and said: "I have come here truly for the future of Yizhou. Administrator Liu (Liu Yan) is aged, and an heir has not been decided; internal undercurrents are surging in Yizhou. I fear that once Administrator Liu passes away, Yizhou will fall into chaos, so I have specifically come to seek the assistance of Prime Minister Dong."

Dong Zhuo and Li Ru looked at each other, both having realized something in their hearts. Dong Zhuo pretended to ponder and said: "The matter of Yizhou is your internal affair; how can I, the Prime Minister, intervene?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Song said unhurriedly: "Prime Minister Dong is a hero of the world, and the Xiliang Army's prestige shakes the four seas. If Yizhou can obtain the Prime Minister's protection, it will certainly be stable and secure. Moreover, although Administrator Liu had grievances with the Prime Minister in the past, I believe that with a great enemy before us, we should join hands to advance and resist external insults together."

"Great enemy? What enemy?" Dong Zhuo pretended to be puzzled.

Zhang Song said: "Southern barbarians often invade; Liu Biao in Jingzhou in the east is eyeing us covetously; plus Zhang Lu occupies Hanzhong, posing a direct threat to Yizhou. If Yizhou falls into chaos, not only will the peace of the Prime Minister's western line be difficult to guarantee, but I fear the situation of the world will change because of this."

Li Ru interjected: "Official Zhang's words are reasonable, but if Yizhou seeks help from our Xiliang, what will be the reward?"

Zhang Song had long been prepared and answered: "I am willing to persuade Administrator Liu to acknowledge the Prime Minister's sovereignty over Hanzhong and am willing to form an alliance with Xiliang to jointly resist external enemies. In addition, the materials of Yizhou can also be supplied to Xiliang in appropriate amounts to show sincerity."

After listening, Dong Zhuo secretly calculated in his heart; Zhang Song's arrival here was undoubtedly the result of the intensification of internal contradictions within Liu Yan. If Yizhou fell into chaos, for Xiliang, it was both an opportunity and a challenge. He looked at Li Ru, and seeing the latter nod slightly, he said: "Official Zhang's intention, I, the Prime Minister, already know. You may return to the post house to rest first, and after I, the Prime Minister, discuss with my strategists, I will give you an answer."

Zhang Song bowed and withdrew, but his heart was uneasy; he knew that his bet this time was extremely large, and once it failed, not only would he be unable to escape punishment, but the future of Yizhou would also be even more bleak.

After Zhang Song left, Dong Zhuo smiled: "Wenyou, it seems this Zhang Song was sent by Liu Yan to probe the tone of our Xiliang; what do you think?"

Li Ru stroked his beard gently and said: "My Lord, Zhang Song's words are half true and half false. The internal situation of Yizhou is indeed turbulent, but what he seeks is I fear not just assistance. I think we can use this opportunity to probe the reality of Yizhou, and at the same time, we can also put pressure on Zhang Lu to make him not dare to act rashly."

"Hmm, Wenyou's plan is wonderful." Dong Zhuo nodded, "In this way, you will be responsible for dealing with Zhang Song to probe his background, and at the same time, send an envoy to Hanzhong to warn Zhang Lu to make him behave himself."

Li Ru took the order and left, while Dong Zhuo looked out the window, secretly pondering in his heart: This situation of the world is gradually becoming confusing, and Xiliang will surely play a pivotal role in this chaotic world. ===== CHAPTER 1788 =====