More than a month passed in a flash.
After the emperor returned to the capital, the court headed by Wang Yan seemed to have been in contact with the princes, and messengers kept coming and going.
In mid-December, the emperor issued an edict: Change Yuan to Yongxing.
In other words, the remaining half of this year is called the first year of Yongxing.
This year was really troubled for the emperor, so much so that he changed his reign several times.
The year name was Yongxing in the first month, changed to Yong'an at the end of the month, Jianwu in August, Yong'an in October, and Yongxing again in December.
The historians responsible for recording the actual records of today were all dumbfounded. After a heated debate, they decided to name this year's era in the history books as Yongxing.
The emperor also issued an edict: deposing Sima Ying as the crown prince's younger brother, he will still be the king of Chengdu, and he will stay in the capital and not leave without authorization.
At the same time, the position of Queen Yang Xianrong was restored, and the position of Prince Sima Tan was restored.
After a lot of twists and turns, just like the year number, it is back to the starting point.
The battle seemed to have been fought in vain, and the men seemed to have died in vain.
But people have to look forward and life has to go on. Amidst the heavy snow, the second year of Yongxing (305) came unexpectedly.
"Taizai Sima Yong petitioned Sikong to be Taifu. News came from the East China Sea, and Sikong Jian refused to resign." Pan Tao, the Huangmen servant in the northwest of Hualin Garden, said.
Shao Xun did not answer his words, but picked up his bow and arrow and shot down a pheasant.
The sergeants cheered in unison.
Chen Yougen, Huang Biao, Yu An, and Yao Yuan rode out quickly. In the end, Huang Biao, with his quick eyes and quick hands, caught the pheasant in his arms.
After riding his horse back, he jumped down lightly, half-knelt in the snow, raised the pheasant high above his head, and said: "General, the prey is here."
"Thank you." Shao Xun laughed.
Behind him were two packhorses, with a lot of game hanging on the sides of the saddles - I told you not to hibernate and to wander around in the cold weather. Is something wrong?
Some of the strong men in the teaching team who were good at riding and shooting also made gains, mostly pheasants and hares.
This meeting has already peeled off the skin and guts and dealt with it.
Meat, of course, must be eaten together by everyone.
"The general is really a great shot." Pan Tao followed closely beside Shao Xun and praised.
Shao Xun still looked ahead, his eyes catching the decaying grass in the mountains and forests, not letting go of any movement.
"Dong dong dong..." The drums sounded, and several groups of soldiers held spears, lined up in neat formation, and walked forward quickly.
There was a ruckus in the forest, and several prey animals ran out in panic.
Shao Xun caught the bow as fast as lightning, and with a rough aim, the arrow flew out.
A fiery red fox rolled on the ground, swept its legs, and stopped moving.
The soldiers who were confident in their archery skills also opened their bows and hunted, and there was constant laughter in the field.
Wang Que'er rode a fast horse and ran to the fox. He fished sideways and rode back.
Zhang Daniu, a student soldier of the second phase of Luoyang, sighed regretfully and failed to grab it.
The fox was quickly sent over.
"Master Shao shot the fox's eye..." Wang Que'er said with the eyes of a god.
Shao Xun coughed. He planned to shoot his right eye, but ended up shooting his left eye.
This error is reasonable, right?
"Cook it while it's hot. Keep the skin, I'll use it." Shao Xun handed the fox back and said.
Sikong is far away in the East China Sea, and the princess is alone in Luoyang. She should not be in a good mood - well, it seems to be pretty good.
Anyway, shoot some more foxes and make a new fur for the princess as a belated New Year's gift.
In addition, hunting in autumn and winter is also a kind of military training.
According to the requirements of flags and golden drums, the soldiers advanced or retreated in unison to drive away the prey.
Those who hunt can also improve their archery skills.
People who are not very proficient can also participate, and their hands will become more familiar when fighting in the future.
As the population in the Luoyang Basin decreases, there are more and more animals in the mountains and forests. In the future, more hunting can be organized, which can not only eat meat, but also train soldiers, which is the best of both worlds.
While he was thinking about it, another fox ran out.
"Whoosh!" The arrow shot through the air and killed him on the spot.
The cheers rang out again.
The newly joined soldiers after the Battle of Dangyin looked at Shao Xun with awe. They didn't take aim just now, they raised their hands and shot, and they actually hit the target.
It has long been rumored in the army that General Shao's archery skills are the best in the capital. Even though he may be over-reputed, he should be among the most powerful ones.
After the formation of the Central Army in Luoyang was destroyed, and the guards were dispersed from the base camp archers, he may have been promoted to the most powerful one.
"There are so many prey. This was a forbidden garden before, right?" Shao Xun put down his horn bow and asked.
"It's still a forbidden garden now, but the fence is broken." Pan Tao said with a smile: "Since the Cao Wei Dynasty, there has been a forbidden land in the northwest of Fanglin Garden, which is more than a thousand miles wide. Gao Rou once wrote a book about it, saying that there are six hundred tigers in it. There are 500 wolves, 10,000 foxes, and no deer. After Shaoling County Duke (Cao Fang) succeeded to the throne, it was renamed Hualin Garden. This was the reason for the country. Unfortunately, no one has repaired it in the past 20 years, and many tigers and wolves are running out. But it’s rare.”
To put it simply, the Forbidden Garden is a man-made, abnormal ecosystem dedicated to royal hunting.
There is a fence around it, which is "more than a thousand miles wide" and the people are not allowed to farm or cut wood.
The animals inside are all artificially put in, and the types are relatively single.
Deer and rabbits are at the bottom of the food chain, tigers, foxes, and wolves are predators, and they are also prey for humans.
When the emperor is off hunting, the animals inside will multiply rapidly and the ecology will be on the verge of collapse. At this time, artificial intervention is even required, either to kill or release prey.
To put it bluntly, this is not a real mountain forest, it is just an artificial place for royal hunting. It is a simple and easy version.
Luoyang has been eventful in the past ten years or so.
Not many people care about Forbidden Garden anymore, and it is gradually being encroached upon by aristocratic families.
Part of Shi Chong's Jingu Garden encroached on the forbidden garden grassland, but no one took care of it.
Of course, the aristocratic families that encroached on the Forbidden Garden don't really want these lands anymore.
Some people were convicted in the political reshuffle, some lost their families in the war, and some fled to other states. Just like the climate of the entire Luoyang Basin—some people come and some leave, but the population has been decreasing.
"Shilang Pan..." Shao Xun picked up the bow again and said.
"What's the matter, General?" Pan Tao was a little surprised. The few times he had started a conversation just now, the other party was not very enthusiastic. Why would he take the initiative to talk to him again?
"The wind is cold in winter, but the minister does not have a pair of cold-proof shoes. How can I treat such a big-hearted minister poorly!" After that, he raised his hand and shot another arrow, knocking a fleeing wolf to the ground.
When the knights saw it, they rushed out to fight for the prey.
"I gave the wolf skin to the servant to make a pair of boots to keep out the wind and cold." Shao Xun looked back at him and said with a smile.
Pan Tao was slightly moved and solemnly saluted and said, "Thank you, General, for your kindness."
"Can a general of the Kingdom also be called a general?" Shao Xun laughed and asked.
"The imperial court has appointed Caiguan General." Pan Tao said.
"I resign." Shao Xun waved his hand and said, "I am a general of the Yue Mansion. How can I accept this imperial post without Sikong's permission?"
Strictly speaking, Lieutenant Sima was also a court official, because it was appointed by the imperial court, and the king had no right to appoint an official of this level, even an eighth-grade official.
But rules are rules and reality is reality.
Lieutenant, Lieutenant Sima, even internal history, Lang Zhongling, Da Nong and other feudal official positions are strictly speaking "officials of the imperial court", but in the eyes of the world, these are "officials" with very obvious personal dependence, especially recently. Over ten years.
Therefore, the emperor happily promoted Shao Xun to the post of "General Caiguan" (fifth rank) in order to show his merit in welcoming the emperor, and Shao Xun "confirmed his resignation".
This result almost made the emperor autistic.
Why would such a loyal minister not want the fifth-grade general I gave him?
Shao Xun was embarrassed to tell him that even if he was promoted to an official position, I would not dare to ask for it.
An eighteen-year-old boy has been promoted to the rank of general with no rank so quickly. Regardless of what others think, does Sikong still dare to use me? Everyone in the shogunate is still not allowed to rebel?
This is not an era when one can become a military governor at the age of nineteen or twenty.
At that time, as long as you dare to fight hard, have courage, have the support of brothers, and kill generals and drive commanders, what can you do after you are sealed? Doesn't the imperial court have to hold its nose and make up for you with a formality, send you a banner, a map, and a seal to turn your stay into a genuine military envoy?
But not now.
The emperor's trust can only be betrayed unless Sikong agrees.
"You don't want the title of general, and you can't be appointed outside. The young man is caught in the middle." Pan Tao looked into Shao Xun's eyes, as if he wanted to capture something.
"Don't look at me like that." Shao Xun smiled and said: "The reconstruction of the Forbidden Army has not yet begun, and the officers and generals are really useless. Do you want me to recruit my master to build roads? It is not wise to use a false name to bring about real disasters. for."
If he now takes a military position and works as a political officer, he can only be a county magistrate.
Don't think this is small.
Danyang Ganzhuo once declined Sikong's invitation, but last year he was invited again and again, and finally served as the shogunate and joined the army. However, he soon left the government to serve as a replacement for the magistrate of Lihu County.
No matter what family background a person has, how can he be admired by Sikong, but when he is transferred to a local official, he will just be a county magistrate.
When Lieutenant Sima becomes the county magistrate, it can be called a "promotion". Is that a promotion?
But Shao Xun was stupid and gave up his military position to join politics. He was courting death.
Pan Tao smiled when he heard Shao Xun's straightforward answer.
It is really rare to find such a clear-headed and rational person who clings to military power and refuses to let go of rabbits.
He appreciated it more and more.
"Actually, General, there is no need to worry at all." Pan Tao said suddenly.
"Oh? What do you mean, Mr. Pan?"
"I dare to ask the general, why are county magistrates, governors and even governors valued by others?"
"People, land, money?"
"That's right." Pan Tao didn't expect Shao Xun's thinking to be so direct to the essence, and said happily: "Even a small county magistrate can call on masters, recruit soldiers, and raise money and food. This is difficult for many court officials to do. of."
Shao Xun looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"General, since you know the key, why not figure it out?" Pan Tao asked with a smile.
"You mean..." Shao Xunruo had some realization.
"Of course!" Pan Tao clapped his hands and laughed, saying: "In more than ten counties in Henan County, there have been wars for years, and countless people have deserted and fled. Even the fertile soil is guarded in the air, but food needs to be transported from other states to Beijing. General Why not put it to use?”
Shao Xun thought for a while, shook his head and said: "No, the court will not allow large forts and manors to appear near Luoyang."
"Then go a little further." Pan Tao said without hesitation: "Do you know that during the Qi Wannian Rebellion in Guanzhong, the refugees from Xizhou moved out on a large scale, first into Shu and then into Henan, where they planted and harvested their own crops and settled in large groups. Wu? Moreover, the general may have heard about it. Liu Yuan raised troops in Bingzhou, defeated Dongying Gongteng, captured several cities, and captured Taiyuan. A large number of people in Bingzhou went south, passing through Hanoi, and headed straight to Luoyang. These people will also be in the future. Just like the refugees in Xizhou, who live together in Chengwu, can the imperial court control them?"
Shao Xun was a little moved.
Pan Tao observed his words and added more energy, saying, "General, does he know about Yingchuan Yugun?"
"Shishi Yugun?" Shao Xun asked.
Pan Tao smiled: "He was indeed a virgin before, but he is not just a warrior. Four years ago, Zhao Wanglun usurped the throne, and the kings raised their troops, causing a melee. During this period, Zhang Hong led his army to attack Yangzhai, and Yu Gun gathered to defend it. Yushan, built Yushan dock. Seeing that it was in good order, Hong did not dare to violate it, so he retreated."
"I see." Shao Xun nodded and said, "I underestimated Yu Gun before, thinking that he was just a timid person who hid in the mountains with his wife."
"Yu Shubao is indeed a timid person." Pan Tao laughed and said, "Now he has taken his wife to Jijun, built a fort in Linlu Mountain, and gathered people to farm."
Shao Xun laughed dumbly.
He had to admit that he was moved by Pan Tao.
Everything he has now relies too much on the trust of his superiors.
If one day Sikong listens to the slander, thinks that he cannot control himself, or no longer trusts himself for other reasons, then the resources available to him will be greatly reduced.
Forewarned is forearmed, without prejudging the waste.
Even if they are destined to leave Luoyang in the future, before that, it would be good to occupy more fields, recruit more villagers and refugees, and produce money and food.
The Silver Spear Army is his own private army.
How should we explain that Sikong returned to Luoyang in the future? What if he must incorporate them into the Royal Army or even the Imperial Army? What if he refuses to pay the Silver Lancers?
Pan Tao allowed himself to occupy more land and raise his own troops. This was the right thing to do.
But how to operate it specifically and where to choose to build the manor still need to be considered.
At the same time, Shao Xun was also speechless.
He held great military power in Luoyang and was well-known. He thought he would attract some low-level talents who were unwilling to join him. Unexpectedly, I caught a big shark after just one stroke...
Most people don't dare to use Pan Tao, a poisonous person like Jia Xu. You still have to think carefully about what he said.
