After the emperor returned to Luoyang, Nangong became lively again.
At the great court meeting that day, Liu Ji rarely sat upright for a long time, and proudly accepted the congratulations from the ministers.
After all, he is over fifty years old. He went out for an expedition. Although he had won a great victory and felt refreshed, the hard work of exposing his clothes and traveling by boat, coupled with the discomfort caused by the cold and dry wind in the north, still made him tired. The numbers showed on his face.
The courtiers who stayed behind secretly looked at the emperor's obviously thinner figure, and looked at the many white hairs on his temples. They all sighed to themselves, time is really not forgiving.
After scolding the dead Zang Tu again, Liu Ji said that now that the world was completely stable, he would take advantage of this opportunity to defeat Zang Ni and reward those who had not yet had time to reward them. And sealed.
In fact, everyone knows in their hearts that the emperor has made this promise more than once since the day he ascended the throne. However, it has been nearly a year since the founding of the dynasty. In addition to a dozen well-known heroes, there are still thirty or forty other meritorious officials. , it has been a long time since I got the reward I deserved.
This group of inferior heroes are gearing up and looking forward to it every day. They are also dissatisfied with each other, and their resentment gradually grows.
The reasons why Liu Ji didn't seal them off were firstly because he had no money and land, and secondly because he had no chance.
It is easy to understand that there is no money and no land.
In order to stabilize the people's hearts and the foundation of the Han Dynasty, Liu Ji issued the Emperor Gao's five-year edict at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which provided the greatest possible fulfillment to the wealth, livelihood, fame and wealth of the 600,000 grassroots soldiers of the Han army.
The soldiers all gave up and returned home to reward their land and houses for their merits.
Soldiers were knighted according to their military merits. Even those who had no merit in battle were given five ranks of knights and five hectares of land.
This was a complete reshuffle of the old order and the beginning of a new empire.
Those soldiers and officials who had achieved social status and wealth built the first solid foundation for the Han Dynasty and consolidated the first layer of earth and stone that would last forever in Jin'ou.
However, in order to win the support of these 600,000 soldiers and the three million family members behind them, the price paid by the Han government was that a full 30% of the land was distributed free of charge as a reward.
Coupled with the tax-free and corvee policy implemented to stabilize public sentiment, the current national treasury is really stretched thin.
Therefore, during Liu Ji's personal expedition this time, even Yan State did not dare to fight thoroughly. He only made quick decisions and showed mercy. One was to win people's hearts, and the other was to save internal funds.
In addition to the worry about the empty treasury, the emperor is also waiting for an opportunity to implement the ulterior ambition he has always kept deep in his heart, and that is——
Kiss the virtuous and seal them together, kiss the virtuous and the virtuous.
***
Most of the heroes had the illusion that Liu Ji, who came from a rough background, would repeat the pattern of the Emperor of Zhou, ruling the world with virtuous ministers, and ruling the world with meritorious ministers. There would be a co-lord of the world above, and eight hundred princes below.
Unfortunately, Liu Ji never believed that imperial power could be shared. He did not want to be on an equal footing with the heroes, nor did he want to share the world's wealth and power with them.
This expedition against Zang Tu was carried out with such great fanfare and announced to the world. This was his warning to the heroes and kings with different surnames——
Times have changed and circumstances have changed, the sea has changed and the fields have changed. The time when you bargained with me is gone forever.
Your power comes from me, and life and death belong to me alone.
The old King of Yan, Zang Tu, has been exterminated, and the selection of the new King of Yan will be fully decided by the emperor, and no one else will be allowed to comment.
"This time, the soldiers fought bloody battles against the rebellion, and they all deserve rewards. But the one who has made the greatest contribution, in my opinion, must be Xiao He of the Prime Minister.
I am going to give him another five thousand households and a city. What do you think, my dear friends? "
Although this was a question, the majesty in the emperor's tone seemed to carry unquestionable authority.
Hearing this, all the ministers looked at each other, chewing and digesting this thunder in silence. No matter what, the generals who were brave and brave should be the first to be praised.
Why is it Xiao He's turn first again?
Several hot-tempered generals present were thinking this way, and they couldn't hold it any longer. Their eyes were split, and they all tried to argue with each other, but they were also afraid.
And Xiao He, who suddenly became the target of public criticism, felt a splitting headache.
The people's cries of grievances were still fresh in my mind. This happened when the emperor was on his way back to Luan. Although the officials did not know the inside story, Liu Ji clearly accepted the petitions, but still ignored them and praised him lavishly——
The emperor used this ulterior and sinister trick, which shows that he was deeply suspicious and guarded against him, and he was really uneasy.
His original wishful thinking was completely disrupted, and he panicked and his legs and feet became weak. However, at this critical moment, he knew that the aloof emperor was observing his attitude intently, so he could only grit his teeth and take a few staggering steps. , knelt on the ground with a plop, kowtowed,
"Your Majesty, this old minister is just a literary official, with no great achievements. He just talks in writing.
Now it is absolutely unreasonable for you to be ranked above all the meritorious officials. I hope Your Majesty will think again. "
Seeing that Xiao He did not dare to take the responsibility himself, all the ministers whispered in agreement,
"Xiao Xiangguo's words are extremely true.
Even if it is to be sealed, in terms of Xiao Xiangguo’s contribution, it is really not as high as that of the generals who conquered cities and territories——"
"——Yes, it is true that the Prime Minister and the Supervisor of the Country have merits, but the soldiers really go into battle with their heads high and work hard!"
Liu Ji listened with great interest and remained silent. When the civil and military discussions in the court gradually died down, he glanced at Xiao He who was still lying on the ground, and then said to the ministers in a serious voice,
"Let me ask you, do you know how to hunt?"
***
"Yes." Everyone replied in unison.
"Then do you know about hunting dogs?"
"I know."
"Well, hunting is nothing more than sending out hunting dogs to chase wild boars and rabbits.
And who does the hunting dog listen to? Listen to the hunter.
You have hunted many beasts today, all of them are meritorious hunting dogs, but Xiao He is the hunter who can discover wild beasts and command you to hunt them down.
Therefore, what you have accomplished is a temporary achievement, while what Xiao He has accomplished is an eternal achievement. "
There was silence in the main hall, but Xiao He lowered his body even lower.
Liu Ji stroked his beard and continued,
"Besides, when you all followed me, you were almost all alone, and you could only bring a few brothers with you.
But Xiao He sent all the men of the clan to my command. I dare not live up to the loyalty of the whole clan.
That's it, don't be nagging anymore. "
Xiao He lay on the ground, not daring to move, and a thick layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
To control the country, to care for the people, to provide them with wages, and to never stop food supply, this was the emperor's earnest words to him before he ascended the throne. The words are still in his ears, but things have changed and people have changed.
He unconsciously dug his hands into the cold floor tiles, and his mind wandered, recalling a certain day when he was guarding Guanzhong.
***
Probably in the midsummer of that year, King Liu Ji of Han took Han Xin out to conquer the world. He was responsible for guarding the rear, recruiting troops, transporting grain and grass, and taking care of everything. He was so busy that he worked hard.
At that time, his only pleasure was to take a break from his busy schedule and drive to visit his old friend Zhaoping near Qin Dongling Tomb outside Xianyang City.
Zhaoping was the Marquis of Dongling granted by the First Emperor of Qin. As the name suggests, he shouldered the important task of guarding the tomb of the First Emperor's parents.
Later, when the Qin Dynasty broke out, Zhaoping's family was defeated and he was demoted to the rank of commoner. However, with his extraordinary talent, he opened up hundreds of acres of melon fields and made a living by growing melons.
It is strange to say that there are so many melon farmers in the world, but the melons grown in the fields of Zhaoping are the ones with thin skin, juicy and especially sweet. The world calls them Aventurine melons and also called Zhaoping melons.
That day, when he saw him coming, Zhao Ping specially picked the largest and roundest melon, immersed it in the cool well water for a long time, and cut it open with a knife. The fruity aroma was fragrant.
Under the hut in the field, they sat facing each other and gnawed melons. Zhao Ping recalled a past event——
"A few years ago, Prime Minister Li Si was falsely accused and was sentenced to five punishments by Hu Hai, the second emperor of Qin, and was sentenced to be cut in half in the Xianyang market.
Do you know what Li Si said before he died? "
"Well, what did you say?"
When Qin still existed, Xiao He was just a local clerk in Peixian County. He was the lowest-level official in a large and complicated bureaucracy. He had no way of knowing the secrets of the government and the public involving important officials of the country, so he was very curious.
"At that time, he and his second son were tied up and escorted to the execution ground. He suddenly said to his son,
'I want Ruo Fu to lead the yellow dog and go out to the east gate of Cai to chase the cunning rabbit. How can we get it? '"
I want to take the yellow dog with you and go hunting together at Cai Dongmen, but I'm afraid I won't be able to do it again.
