Xi Zhicai forced himself to arrange some things, but he was exhausted and sweated coldly, so he had to ask Peng Yu to help him rest. Before Xin Ping left, Xi Zhicai took care of something and asked him to take time to visit Lai Min.

Xin Jing understood and agreed immediately. Lai Min was a family of Nanyang and founding fathers. He had an old age with Liu Yan. He was a scholar in advising Liu Yan in the process of Cao Cao's recovery of Yizhou. He should have been rewarded with great rewards, but Lai Min relied on his identity and had no son. He did not look down on Cao Cao, a eunuch, and never came to see Cao Cao. He had a talent for opera. However, his level of classics was average, and he did not like a Confucian scholar like Lai Min. He was so happy that he had a quiet ear. He had never been invaded by the rivers in recent years.

But Lai Min abandoned his family and wasted his life. He had not lived well in the past two years. Although he had good knowledge, his temper was not good, and he was not happy with the Yizhou family. Xin Ping was a famous scholar in Yingchuan and was still able to talk to Lai Min. He said a few words to Lai Min in front of Xi Zhicai, reminding Xi Zhicai that Lai Min's brother-in-law was Huang Wan, and his sister had gone to Taihu to reunite with Huang Wan not long ago. If he couldn't stay in Yizhou, he might just go back to Nanyang or rely on Huang Wan, which was not good for Cao Cao's reputation.

Xi Zhicai ignored it, but now he asked him to visit Lai Min, so he naturally let go.

Xin Ping returned to his official office, thought about it, took the waiter, left the provincial governor's mansion, and went straight to the inn to find Lai Min. When Lai Min first came to Yizhou, he lived in the provincial governor's mansion because of Liu Yan. Later, a fire broke out in Mianzhu, and Liu Yan moved to Chengdu and was immediately defeated. Cao Cao became the lord of Yizhou. Lai Min could no longer live in the provincial governor's mansion, so he bought a house. Lai Min was born in a wealthy family and used to being too big. This house cost a lot of money and was also famous in Chengdu. Lai Min was also hospitalized. He invited the famous scholars and Confucian scholars from Central China to visit him. He stayed there for several months, for more than half a year, and even stayed there without leaving.

When Xin Ping arrived, Lai Minzheng talked about knowledge with Meng Guang, a native of Henan, and a few Confucian scholars sat next to him. Seeing Xin Ping come in, Lai Min put down the book in his hand. "Don't come here, I wonder if there is any advice?"

"I dare not take the advice, but I have to ask for some advice." Xin Ping knew Lai Min's temper, but she was not angry. She smiled and waved her hand. The waiter stepped forward and placed a large roll of paper in front of Lai Min. Lai Min glanced at her, but didn't move, but looked at Xin Ping suspiciously.

"Jingda, these are some of Kong Wenju's recent articles about Wang Mang. Have you read it?"

Lai Min Xiaoxiao, and refused to respond to Xin Ping's closeness. "I know a little bit."

"Jingda thinks, who has the advantage?"

Lai Min stroked the neatly trimmed short beards, as if she was smiling. This question is not easy to answer. Kong Rong's knowledge and articles are better than Lu Cui, but discussing Wang Mang is a difficult thing for all Confucian scholars. From the perspective of loyalty to the emperor, Wang Mang is naturally a rebellious minister and a traitor who usurped the throne. Especially in the current situation of promoting the court, Wang Mang is even more targeted. However, from the perspective of Confucian scholars, Wang Mang is a pioneer in practicing the Confucian sage king politics. Although he failed, Confucian scholars once waved flags and shouted for him, and now it is impossible to deny them completely. Therefore, on this issue, Kong Rong was not as tyrannical as Lu Cui, and the offensive was fierce.

“Is this the latest article?”

"Yes, but Chengdu is too far from Chang'an, and the closest one is from half a month ago."

"Then I have to read it. I'm still reading the article from two months ago."

Xin Ping did not force him too much. He knew that Lai Min was not easy to answer. As a founding nobleman, he could not support Sun Ce to imitate Wang Mang. As a child of a noble family, he could not agree with Sun Ce's qualification to imitate Wang Mang, otherwise he would not have been stranded in Yizhou. Even Liu Yan had the intention of rebelling at the beginning, he strongly opposed it.

"You need to read the article, but you can't just read it. If you are unfair, you will be rumored. If Jingda doesn't plan to speak out?"

Lai Min looked through the newspaper and smiled faintly: "Why, Cao Mu also plans to open a seal shop in Yizhou and run a newspaper?"

"Do Jingda intend to give a manuscript?"

Xin Ping looked at Lai Min with a smile. Cao Cao followed Sun Ce and built schools in various counties and counties to promote education. However, most of the teachers in county schools were occupied by locals in Yizhou. Lai Min refused to be arrogant and competed for a county school to sacrificial wine. He was not interested in even urging the state to encourage students to do it. As a result, he hesitated and had people in all positions, and even if he was willing, he would not have a chance. Xin Ping wanted to help him, but he did not dare to easily touch the interests of Yizhou people. After thinking about it, he felt that it would be better to invite Lai Min to preside over the newspaper. This position is not an official position, and there is no fixed position. Whoever has the best articles will be used, and there is no problem of excluding anyone.

For Cao Cao, if Lai Min is willing to speak out, he can suppress Yizhou people at home and raise his reputation from the outside, killing two birds with one stone. For his Xin Ping, he not only won the opportunity to make a living for Lai Min, but also solved practical problems for Cao Cao, but also won two birds with one stone.

Lai Min thought about it for a moment and agreed. There is no embarrassing thing to write an article, let alone defending the court. Others are in Chengdu, but they are not unfamiliar with Nanyang affairs. They know that the academic style of Nanyang County has changed drastically in recent years. Scholars publicly express their academic views, and even fight in newspapers. Not only is it good, but it is very elegant. The argument between Handan Chun and Hu Zhao and Liaodong priest Guan Ning has become a favorite thing for scholars to talk about. He has long wanted to devote himself to it, rather than to watch it on the wall.

Besides, he also needs to have an economic income. If this continues, his house will not be preserved. When publishing newspapers, not only will he have a personal source of living, but the Confucian scholars he interacts with also have the opportunity to make a living.

Xin Ping was not surprised at all. He immediately talked about the current dilemma. Faced with Sun Ce's two attacks, the situation in Yizhou was very tense. He hoped that Lai Min could write a memorial for Cao Cao, ask the court to mobilize more troops to siege Sun Ce, and reduce the pressure on Cao Cao. Lai Min's family background and reputation were outstanding. He spoke for Cao Cao, and the court would not take it lightly. This was not only for Cao Cao, but also for Yizhou.

Lai Min knew that this benefit would not be without conditions. Considering that he had to give Xin Ping a favor, he had to give him some face. In addition, Xin Ping's statement made sense. If Sun Ce broke through Yizhou, it would not only be Cao Cao, but also very unfavorable to the court, so he agreed.

Xin Ping returned with satisfaction. After reading the memorials that Min had drafted for Xi Zhicai in the future, he changed them slightly and sent someone to Chang'an.

——

The atmosphere in Chang'an is very tense.

Huang Zhong captured Fangling and wiped out 10,000 reinforcements led by Pang Xi. The news that Shangyong City had become an isolated city reached Chang'an, and the court was shocked. Even Xun Yu and Liu Ye were a little panicked.

Huang Zhong and Zhou Yu marched into Yizhou in two directions, one blocked by Fangling and the other blocked by Qinglangtan. The two sides confronted each other for a year and failed to move forward. This was undoubtedly a good opportunity for the court. The hard army was blocked from expeditions but was blocked by the strong city, which consumed a lot but gained nothing. This was undoubtedly the best footnote for the destruction of war, and it also proved that Sun Ce was not invincible. Since Fangling and Qinglangtan could be defended by the advantage of the geographical advantage, there was no need to worry about Guanzhong. The power of the crossbow cannot penetrate Lu's silk, and the power cannot float on the feathers at the end of the wind. As long as the court can calm down, the opportunity for Zhongxing may be in front of us.

All these beautiful fantasies were shattered in the face of the sudden battle report. Although Shangyong's gains and losses were not yet determined, Shangyong might not be able to be alone when Fang Ling was broken. He would not be able to defend without help, and if Wu Yi could not reinforce in time, Shangyong's fall would be a matter of time sooner or later.

In response to this situation, whether the court sent troops to Hanzhong to help the battle has become the focus of discussion. If Hanzhong is lost and the court loses Yizhou, the situation will further deteriorate. Some people are worried that it was his personal matter for Cao Cao to attack Jingzhou and restrain Sun Ce - at least on the surface. If the court sent troops from Guanzhong, it would tear apart from Sun Ce and officially break up with Sun Ce. Will Sun Ce give up Yizhou and concentrate his troops to attack Guanzhong?

The ministers argued endlessly, and the emperor was inconsistent. The recent changes have changed too quickly, and he was a little too late to respond. In addition to the war in Hanzhong, the war in Henan also left him blank. Yuan Tan attacked Henan and recovered Luoyang. The court promoted Yuan Tan's title. As a result, in a blink of an eye, Yuan Tan retreated, Lu Su regained the Arc destiny, and the situation in Luoyang returned to its original state. Only Yuan Tan was the only one who benefited, but the court was slapped hard.

The emperor was embarrassed - he felt that he had been fooled by Yuan Tan and was even more desperate - Sun Ce's strength exceeded their estimates, and the situation was even more serious than they expected. If Huang Zhong could make such progress in the Hanzhong battlefield, Zhou Yu might also make a breakthrough in the Wuling battlefield. If there was no further action in other directions and restrain Sun Ce's troops, Yizhou would probably be taken down by Sun Ce. When the court really reached that point, if the court lost the Yizhou granary, Sun Ce had two of the three points in the world, Zhong Revival would be completely hopeless.

Should we immediately decide with Sun Ce and fight hard, or give up this last chance, leaving it to fate, become the choice that the emperor must face.

Lai Min's memorial came at the right time. The emperor repeatedly considered it and decided to take the initiative. Others were unreliable, and their destiny could only be in their own hands. As long as you defeat Sun Ce head-on, you could turn the situation around and prove that the Han Dynasty was invincible, and the court still had the opportunity to revive. If you miss this opportunity, not only will Yizhou fall into the hands of Sun Ce, but people will also betray the court.

The Lai family in Xinye is not an ordinary aristocratic family, and Lai Min is not an ordinary scholar. He is the representative of nobles. Once such a noble family loses confidence in the court, the court will completely lose Guandong. Even if he can defend Guanzhong, he is just a barbarian king.

The Grand Tutor Huangfu Song and the Grand Marshal Sun Rui immediately expressed their opposition. The court had just recovered a little vitality and could only defend and not take the initiative. Once defeated, Guanzhong must collapse and there was no possibility of any damage. Wait a little longer and let Yuan Tan, Liu Yao and others launch an attack from both wings. It is better to restrain Sun Ce's troops. The court should not come forward in person.
Chapter completed!