Yuan Xi felt that Liu Xie was actually very pitiful. If Liu Bei still had some hope of reviving the Han Dynasty, Liu Xie had basically no hope.
Even though Liu Xie held the title of emperor, he did not have as many cards to use as Yuan Xi.
Yuan Xi thought that if he were Emperor Xian of Han, he would have given up long ago and fallen asleep with Empress Fu in his arms, as he was in such a difficult situation and was being coerced by different warlords.
Of course, Yuan Xi understood that Liu Xie would never sit still and wait for death. He had struggled many times in later generations, including the Yidaizhao incident, but he met Cao Cao and had to exit the stage in disgrace in the end.
Yuan Xi thought to himself that he was not a good person either. What he wanted to do now was similar to what Cao Cao did, he wanted to get a piece of the pie when the emperor returned to the east.
To achieve this goal, it is necessary to open the road from Youzhou to Hanoi.
The first obstacle standing in his way was the Montenegrin Army.
Thinking of this, Yuan Xi said to Xian Yu Fu, "I have also heard about the Dingling caste."
"This is not a problem at all. Isn't it just that several generations have intermarried with the Xianbei?"
"It is not necessarily true that Han people today have not married. Since they are all registered as common citizens of the Han Dynasty, they should be treated equally without distinction."
The so-called "registration of the common people" means registering your household registration, which means you have the identity of a citizen of the Han Dynasty.
Xian Yu Fu was shocked to see that Yuan Xi's expression was not fake, and said, "I thought that the envoy was very disgusted with our family, which has both Han and Hu bloodlines."
The Central Plains gentry looked down on these border families and often used bloodline as an issue, making families like Xianyu Fu feel inferior and unable to integrate into the circle of Central Plains gentry.
Now that Yuan Xi, as the head of the branch of the Yuan family, a prominent aristocratic family, did not care about this, this made Xianyu Fu feel strange.
Yuan Xi really didn't care. Isn't it just Xianbei ancestry? Didn't the royal families of the Sui and Tang dynasties have some of that too?
Bloodline is bloodline. Among the descendants of Yan and Huang in ancient times, who can tell the bloodline apart?
Therefore, it is impossible to have a truly pure ethnic group, but as long as we can distinguish the primary and the secondary, we can become a family.
Just like in the Sui and Tang dynasties, although Xianbei and Xiongnu women married into the royal family, it can only be said that they had foreign blood. But who dares to say that the Sui and Tang dynasties were Xianbei dynasties?
No one can deny that the Sui and Tang dynasties were Han dynasties, not to mention the Dugu and Changsun families who married into the royal family. Apart from their surnames, their customs and heritage were no different from those of the Han people.
This is what is called priority.
The Chinese tradition places the most importance on cultural identity rather than bloodline identity. It is for this reason that in ancient times there took place the first great ethnic integration of the Dongyi, Sanmiao and Huaxia. If it was possible in ancient times, why not now?
You should know that the later Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties were the second great cultural integration of Chinese civilization after the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and the scope of this integration was far wider than the first.
The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period was mainly a period of integration of various native cultures of China. Secondly, the previously undiscovered folk cultures including Persia, India, Sogdia, the Western Regions, the Barbarians, the Baipu, the Northern Tribes, Southeast Asia and all parts of the Central Plains were integrated into the new culture with Chinese traditional culture as its main body with unprecedented depth and breadth. As a result, Chinese culture flourished and became even more brilliant and glorious.
If we fail to distinguish between friends and enemies and shut out those foreigners who are loyal to China and willing to integrate into the country, we will be closing the door to ethnic exchange and integration, and inclusiveness will become an empty talk.
Because the greatest characteristic of Chinese culture is its openness to all, rather than certain ethnic groups carrying out genocide against those who are different from them.
Yuan Xi felt that the path taken by the ancestors of later generations was correct and there was no need to go against it. In addition, as he was now vigorously developing maritime transportation, he would be exposed to more foreign cultural customs. It was unrealistic to stand still.
What Yuan Xi really disliked about foreign races were those bandit foreigners who refused to integrate into Chinese culture, yet at the same time wanted to suck the blood of Han people and do evil things.
As for these people, Yuan Xi naturally had to defeat them like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing did, and make them convinced. If they were willing to enter the pass and integrate into the system, Yuan Xi would welcome them very much, but if they wanted to make a living by looting and killing, then he could only beat them back to the desert to fend for themselves.
Yuan Xi told Xian Yufu what he was thinking, and finally said: "Since we are all Han people, there are naturally only Han people, not Hu people."
"If someone takes advantage of the Han Dynasty and still has the desire to be independent, I don't like it."
"Customs can be preserved, but we must consider ourselves as subjects of the Han Dynasty. This is a choice that all ethnic groups in Youzhou will have to make sooner or later."
"Youzhou is the Youzhou of the Han Dynasty, not the Youzhou of foreigners."
"Otherwise, I, the governor of Youzhou, would not indulge them."
Xianyu Fu listened and became thoughtful. Yuan Xi's hint was very clear. As long as he and Yan Rou considered themselves as subjects of the Han Dynasty and did not think of establishing their own country, Yuan Xi would stand on their side!
On the other hand, the Wuhuan were in trouble, because Chanyu Tadun clearly had other intentions!
Xian Yu Fu was delighted, he found that there was no need to waste words when talking to someone like Yuan Xi!
He said aloud: "If the Xianyu family submits to the envoy..."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi said, "I will present a petition to the Han court together with Liu He to clear the name of the Xianyu family."
"As long as the Xianyu family protects the northern border for the Han Dynasty, I will make sure that General Xianyu gets a satisfactory reward."
Xian Yu Fu was delighted when he heard this. This was of course the result he wanted, because he and Yan Rou's bases were in Guangyang counties, which were adjacent to Zhuo County. If he could not get along well with Yuan Xi, his family would be the first to be affected.
In this chaotic world, the idea of making friends with distant countries and attacking nearby ones is completely useless, because they simply do not have enough cards to confront Yuan Xi and the Yuan family behind him, and they are just making wedding dresses for others. Only fools would do this.
As for Yuan Shang, no matter how good the conditions were, Xianyu Fu was not interested. He would do it unless he could kill Yuan Xi, make a great contribution, and leave no future troubles.
But what Yuan Shang gave might not be much better than what Yuan Xi gave.
But the risk is so great that the difference in returns is completely negligible in comparison.
The Yuan family has a reputation as a vicious tiger. If he fails in the gamble, not only will he die, but the Xianyu family will also suffer a miserable end!
Thinking of this, Xianyu Fu said, "I am willing to serve you on behalf of the Xianyu family."
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "General, do you regret it?"
"It's very hard to work under me."
Xian Yu Fu gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "As a citizen of the Han Dynasty, I value keeping my promise. I sincerely surrender to you, and I hope you will understand."
"Okay!" Yuan Xi said, "I will definitely not let the general down!"
"Then please condescend to serve as my subordinate and command the military affairs of Yuyang. I will also arrange military posts for the brave men of the Xianyu family."
Xian Yufu was overjoyed when he heard this, but then he hesitated and said, "Yan Rou is now in Yuyang. He was previously the Sima of Wuhuan..."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi laughed and asked, "Did this Wuhuan Sima have any conflicts with Chanyu Tadun?"
Xianyu Fu listened and smiled bitterly, "My lord, you have foreseen the situation. What Chanyu Tadun wants to do is to gather the Wuhuan and unite them. He..."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi nodded and said, "I understand. I hope the general will go back and tell Yan Rou that the Wuhuan issue cannot be resolved in a short time. I am short of a military commander. Ask him if he is interested."
"In this case, he should be able to recruit Wuhuan soldiers in my name and do things at his convenience with his own prestige, which should be a lot easier, right?"
Xian Yu Fu heard this and bowed quickly, saying, "I will go back immediately and tell Envoy Yan Rou what he said."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi nodded and said, "Where is he now?"
Xian Yufu said: "Now in Yongnu."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi smiled and said, "What a coincidence! It's just north of Quanzhou. I'm going there tomorrow."
"In that case, you can go with me."
Xian Yu Fu immediately accepted the order.
He thought to himself that the Yuan family's reputation as a fierce tiger was well-deserved. They used himself and Yan Rou to contain the Chanyu Tadun who wanted to become more powerful.
He was asked to guard Yuyang, but Yan Rou was kept by his side, separating himself from Yan Rou.
He reacted quickly and did not even give himself the chance to go back and discuss with Yan Rou. He went straight to meet Yan Rou.
In addition, he had previously appointed Liu He to lure out the Xianyu family, Yan Rou and Wuhuan, which can be said to be closely linked.
He can use all these methods so easily, is he really a 20-year-old young man?
After Xian Yu Fu left, Yuan Xi narrowed his eyes.
Xian Yu Fu got what he wanted from me now, but that doesn't mean his appetite won't get bigger in the future.
Xianyu Fu and Yan Rou are not simple characters. When they were Liu Yu's subordinates, they valued the reputation of the Han Dynasty. It does not mean that they are really less capable than Liu Yu.
If I cannot show my ability to suppress them, these two people may become rebellious in the future.
Yuan Xi made this judgment based on a fact.
Before the Battle of Yijing and the fall of Gongsun Zan, Yan Rou and Xianyu Fu had actually already taken control of the situation in Youzhou and actually controlled half of Youzhou.
Now that the two of them have come to me without any achievement, I cannot promise them too high conditions. It is impossible to say that there is no psychological gap between them.
Therefore, Yuan Xi felt that there were many reasons why the two men surrendered to him, including pressure from the Yuan family, threats from the Wuhuan, and finally, they did not want to be his enemy.
It is easy to gain a person's support, but it is a long process to gain a person's loyalty.
Xianyu Fu was like this. He came to me mostly because he was forced by the situation. He cannot be said to be very loyal.
But Yuan Xi had no other choice. It was better to get the two's support than to break up with them.
Because the person who should be eliminated from Youzhou right now is Chanyu Tadun, who is secretly colluding with Yuan Shang.
Yuan Xi had a very bad impression of Chanyu Tadun. In his opinion, since the other party chose Yuan Shang, there was no need for him to be nice to him.
He would not offer a higher price in order to win the support of Chanyu Tadun from Yuan Shang. This might be exactly what the other party wanted, to bet on both sides and have the best of both worlds.
Since you want to have it all, I will make sure you have nothing to eat.
If it weren't for the fact that Liaoxi County was difficult to get to and he had to deal with the Black Mountain bandits, he would really want to teach them a lesson.
However, the two sides are currently separated by the Great Wall pass, and I am unable to reach them. After I have dealt with the Black Mountain Army, I will sooner or later be able to free up my hands and completely resolve the problem of the Wuhuan.
Yuan Xi sighed. There were many forces that could be used in Youzhou right now, but the only ones he could trust were the direct troops led by Qu Yi and Zhao Yun in Beixin City.
Others like Yan Rou and Xian Yu Fu would not tell him everything. If it were Yuan Xi himself, he would not entrust his entire life to a lord whose background he did not know.
At present, Yuan Xi is using Yan Rou and Xian Yu Fu to contain the Wuhuan, and using his own direct lineage to contain Yan Rou and Xian Yu Fu. The key is to distinguish the primary from the secondary.
If he fails to suppress Yan Rou and Xian Yu Fu, the other side may very likely turn the tables. Yuan Xi's own direct troops have no more than 10,000 people, while the troops that Yan Rou and Xian Yu Fu can mobilize should be no less than 30,000.
In this case, the situation would be somewhat unbalanced, especially when dealing with the Black Mountain Army, a large part of Yuan Xi's direct lineage might have to be used to send troops.
Therefore, Yuan Xi had to utilize the fourth force in Youzhou.