On the way back to the camp, Yuan Xi's thoughts were changing.
Guo Jiaqi rode his horse to Yuan Xi and asked, "Young master seems to have a lot of things on his mind. Did Yuan Chaqi ask you to do anything?"
Yuan Xi turned around and saw that there was no one else around, so he whispered the question and answer between Yuan Shao and his son to Guo Jia, hoping that he could help analyze it.
Guo Jia nodded and said, "Young master, you answered well. There are some things that must be measured carefully. In front of Yuan Cheqi, you are first of all a filial son who cares about his father, and secondly, a capable son. And I don't think those achievements should be disputed." Too much."
"Why don't you fight? Aren't we here to establish prestige in Jizhou?" Yuan Xichi asked.
Guo Jia smiled faintly, paused and said, "It's very easy to establish prestige. Kill a few, dozens, hundreds or thousands of people, and prestige will come naturally. But people's hearts are elusive!"
"Then what should I do? Please help me answer my questions." Yuan Xi circled the horse and looked at Guo Jia and asked.
Guo Jia smiled and said, "The road is not difficult. Young Master, you have to strive for the lead in everything. You want Yuan Cheqi and everyone to know your talents. At the same time, bring along other military generals and give all the credit to They. In this way, Yuan Cheqi will naturally know your abilities, and the generals in the army will understand your situation. At the critical moment, they will at least remain neutral."
Emperor Taizong Li Shimin did the same, and during the Xuanwumen Incident, many generals did remain neutral.
"Then based on the current situation, what should we do?"
Yuan Xi couldn't comment and asked again.
"wait."
"Wait? What are you waiting for, our Qingzhou Army?"
Guo Jia narrowed his eyes and said slowly, "Master, have you noticed that Guo Tu did not show up at the reception banquet, and neither Mr. Feng Ji nor Yuan Cheqi and the others not only did not rush our Qingzhou Army, but they did not get into trouble at all. The worried expression of the bureau.”
"Fengxiao, you are saying that my father and the others have a countermeasure and are still implementing it. What plan will it be? Could it be..."
"Liu Yu!" Yuan Xi and Guo Jia said at the same time.
"This is a wonderful move, sitting on a mountain and watching the tiger fight. Yuan Shu colluded with Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian, and Yuan Cheqi provoked Liu Yu, who was already dirty with Gongsun Zan. However, Gongsun Zan's enemies seemed to include Xianbei and Wuhuan people. Right?" Guo Jia laughed.
"Although Gongsun Zan lost two games to us, Liu Yu is probably no match for Gongsun Zan. Although Youzhou sent strong troops, the soldiers Liu Yu recruited have not been on the battlefield for how many years? Liu Yu himself is indecisive. Once If I encounter Gongsun Zan, I am afraid that I will be defeated like a mountain." Yuan Xi worriedly said that Liu Yu in history was defeated by Gongsun Zan with a small number of troops.
"Although Liu Yu is a prince, he is frugal by nature. He wears no clothes, no ropes, no shoes, and no meat to eat." Guo Jia thought, "He is really a benevolent and good official. No wonder people from all states are rushing to defect to him."
The same was true for Liu Kun, who merged with the state at the end of the Western Jin Dynasty. He was loyal to the country and treated the people well and made friends with the barbarians, but he was not good at caring for the officials and employing people. He was eventually captured and killed by Shi Le.
"Wu Cun was lenient in government, encouraged and supervised agriculture, opened up the benefits of Guhu City, and opened up the salt and iron fields of Yuyang." Yuan Xi also said, "He actually managed Youzhou into a prosperous place comparable to Xuzhou."
"The Hu people have not invaded Youzhou for many years. It is said that they are grateful to Liu Yu for his moralization. He has won the hearts of the border people in the Hu area!"
"Converting the barbarian people?" Yuan Xi sneered, "I'm afraid Liu Yu will be defeated by his gentleness. Youzhou is bordered by Hu land to the north and Jizhou to the south. It is really a place for war. The Hu people in the north are temporarily Being gentle may bring them home, but wolf cubs are wolf cubs after all, and they will still bite when they grow up!"
Indeed, this was the case with the Five Husbands in the late Western Jin Dynasty. The foreigners only obeyed the power and did not harbor any evil intentions.
"Young master, do you disapprove of Liu Yu's strategy of pacifying Hu?"
Yuan Xi looked to the north and said quietly, "It's a pity that we are restrained by Gongsun Zan, and there is nothing we can do if we want to send troops to Jixian to assist. But whether Liu Yu's policy of calming the people and being gentle is correct, we have to wait and see, haha."
■■■
Chang'an North Palace, the main hall.
Twelve-year-old Liu Xie sat on the dragon chair. He looked tiredly at the ministers below. The government affairs for more than a year have been nothing more than the ministers stirring up trivial matters. All he had to do was give Guo Si and Li Jue their approval and say, "It's very much what I want, I agree."
Guo Si and Li Jue stood on the left and right respectively. The relationship between the two was no longer what it used to be. Even Liu Xie could see the meaning of decentralization and confrontation.
Fan Chou, Yang Feng, Xu Rong, Li Ru, Jia Xu and others also ranked first among Guo and Li. However, a group of veterans headed by Lieutenant Yang Biao had prominent official positions but no real power. They had to allow Guo Si and Li Jue to decide all affairs.
Yang Biao came out of the queue, handed the two lists to Liu Xie, and said: "This first list is from the Marquis of Xiangben and Liu Yu, the governor of Youzhou. It explains his political achievements in the past two years in Youzhou. Your Majesty, do you think it’s time to send a minister to commend him as a sign of divine grace?”
Liu Xie did not dare to answer, but looked at Guo Si and Li Jue and asked, "General Yang Wu, General Yang Lie, can you two commend Liu Yu?"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty can do whatever you want to do with the matter of enfeoffing and rewarding meritorious officials." Guo Si said. He was too lazy to take care of the matter.
Li Jue thought about it and thought it was an opportunity to win over Liu Yu, so he agreed, "I also agree, I recommend Guanglu Qing and Huang Yuan to go to Youzhou on behalf of the court." Li Jue recommended naturally his confidants.
Yang Biao was shocked. He originally wanted to take the opportunity to send an old minister to contact Liu Yu and ask him to come to King Qin to escort him, so he said, "General Yangwu, this Guangluqing is a security official, and the reward minister Dahonglu , or Dahonglu is suitable for being an official."
"Yes, let's leave this reward to Da Honglu." Guo Bang said with a strange tone.
Li Jue was angry in his heart, but since both Yang Biao and Guo Si, the lieutenants in the court, spoke up, he could not defend himself alone, so he endured it.
Yang Biao was secretly happy and continued: "This second list is from Kong Rong, the governor of Beihai, Qingzhou, recommending Yuan Xi and Yuan Xianyi as the governor of Qingzhou."
It is said that one stone stirs up a thousand waves. The words "Yuan family and Yuan Xi" are absolutely taboo among the Xiliang army. Because the Chang'an court is controlled by Guo Si and Li Jue, they try their best to avoid the sensitive Yuan family. words.
As soon as this table appeared, all the ministers in the court were talking about it like a pot exploding. Guo Si and Li Jue had no hatred towards the Yuan family. It was because of Yuan Xi that they had the honorable position of controlling the court today. But under the guise of revenge for Dong Zhuo, the Yuan family naturally became enemies.
When Liu Xie heard Yuan Xi's name, he immediately became energetic and said happily, "What did the higher-ups say? How did Yuan Xianyi get to Qingzhou?"
Yang Biao raised his hand and said respectfully: "Last year, Yuan Xi led his troops to defeat Tian Kai, the governor of Qingzhou appointed by Gongsun Zan, and occupied the entire territory of Qingzhou."
Liu Xie heard the news about Yuan Xi and said happily: "Yes, I will make him the governor of Qingzhou."
"Wait! Your Majesty, how can you name the culprit who assassinated Grand Master Dong!" A civil servant stood up.
When Liu Xie looked at the middle-aged civil servant, he suppressed the hatred in his heart and said in his still childish voice: "Li Qing's family, the matter of Grand Master Dong is a case without a solution. There is no clear explanation as to who the murderer is. Massacre." The murderers of Grand Master Dong were Wang Yun and Lu Bu, and they were also killed by General Yang Wu."
Liu Xie felt hatred in his heart for the murderer who poisoned his brother.
Li Ru was also filled with resentment. His wife and children were hunted down and killed by Lu Bu. Li Ru himself escaped with his own life. He always wanted to kill Lu Bu for revenge. Although Yuan Xi was not his direct enemy, he was also the leader in overthrowing Dong Zhuo. Naturally, Li Ru would strongly oppose it.
"Your Majesty, regardless of whether Yuan Xi is the murderer of Taishi Dong, the Yuan family has always been a traitor against the imperial court. Mr. Li is right. If you canonize a traitor who murdered Taishi Dong, aren't you afraid that the ministers will be disappointed?" Guo Si threatened. .
Liu Xie had seen Guo Si and Li Jue kill people, and he was deeply afraid of them who were in power. When Guo Si threatened him, he trembled and dared not speak again.
Situ Zhao Wen had always hated Guo Si and others for being unreasonable. When he heard him threatening Emperor Xian like this, he couldn't help but said angrily: "Guo Si, are you saying this as a minister?"
Guo Bang glared and said, "Master Situ, please tell me, as a minister, I don't know how to speak. I'm a rude person and I really don't know!"
Li Jue couldn't stand the arrogance of these old ministers. He also sneered: "Zhao Situ, you should tell me whether you should speak to the heroes of Sheji like you do!"
Zhao Wen was very angry, but Yang Biao stopped him in time and said to Guo Si and Li Jue: "General Guo, General Li, and Zhao Situ are also quick to talk, so don't take it to heart."
Guo Bang snorted and said, "I think Yuan Xi cannot be canonized. What do you think?"
Li Jue also summoned a group of confidants he had supported to join him. Jia Xu, who had been watching with cold eyes, moved the corners of his mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but in the end he did not speak.
Guo Si was somewhat proud of being able to reject the decision of Liu Xie and those ministers, so he decided, "The matter is settled, Yuan Xi will not be canonized and commended."
Li Ru's eyes were gloomy and he went out and said: "We can ennoble Kong Rong, the governor of Beihai, as the governor of Qingzhou, and canonize Cao Cao as the shepherd of Yanzhou, and order him to attack the Yuan family and Yuan Xi, and let them bite each other."
"Wonderful!" Li Jue clapped his hands and said, "Don't those people in Guandong like to fight each other? Let them fight on their own."
Yang Biao was angry and anxious. The area around Chang'an was controlled by Guo Si and others. Although they, veterans, still controlled some imperial guards, after Dong Zhuo's chaos, the number and quality of the imperial guards were far inferior to before. Guo Si and others cannot resist. Without the approval of Guo Si and Li Jue, Liu Xie's imperial edict could not leave Chang'an at all.
After some more discussion, Guo Si and Li Jue led their troops and left Beigong, while Yang Biao left behind Situ Zhao Wen, Taichang Wang Jiang, Wei Wei Zhou Zhong, and his servant Huangfu Li.
In the back hall, Yang Biao led several ministers to kneel down and said with shame, "It is the incompetence of the ministers that has caused His Majesty to be humiliated."
Although Liu Xie is twelve years old, he is still somewhat smart. He knows the helplessness of these veterans, "My lords, please get up. I still have to rely on you to support the country. Why are you so incompetent?"
Yang Biao became excited and cried: "It was Dong Zhuo before, and now it is Guo Bang and Li Jue. They are all wolves in Xiliang. We Han ministers not only have to be in the court with those wolves, but also What a shame it is to act based on their faces!"
Liu Xie was a young man at heart. Seeing them crying and thinking about his own situation, he couldn't help but sob.
"Your Majesty, gentlemen, there is no need to despair, there is no way to get rid of the two thieves." said an officer in his forties.
Yang Biao looked at it with surprise in his eyes, so he asked: "Yuan Chang, could it be that you have a better way?"
The middle-aged official was none other than Zhong Yao and Zhong Yuanchang. He held up his hands and said, "Dong Zhuo, who was in sole control of the government and had all the power for a while, could be removed so easily, let alone Guo Si and Li Jue, who were at odds with each other. "
Several ministers looked at Zhong Yao expectantly, but Weiwei Zhou Zhong shook his head and said: "Master Zhong, you don't know something. Guo Si and Li Jue learned the lesson from Dong Zhuo's death. They were escorted by personal soldiers when they came in and out. There are soldiers guarding the palace outside the palace. It would be as difficult as climbing to heaven to take action!"
"Master Zhou is right, but I am not intending to assassinate the two thieves." Zhong Yao said, "The two thieves have soldiers all over Guanzhong. The only way to get rid of them is to use external force."
"External force?" Yang Biao nodded, "I think so too, why don't we take this opportunity to have someone contact Mr. Liu Yu."
"Although Master Liu's Youzhou is rich in products and has a strong military force, he must also guard against the invasion of people with ulterior motives, and must not devote all his efforts to serving the king." Zhong Yao said, "I suggest a multi-pronged approach."
"Why a multi-pronged approach? Yuan Chang, please tell me." Yang Biao asked.
"Mainly start from the two sides of Guandong and Guandong. Liu Yu is not the only loyal hero in Guandong. As long as your majesty secretly issues an edict, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Zhang Yang, Tao Qian and others can summon King Qin. It is best to have another one to punish the traitor. An alliance. This way we can confront the two thieves head-on." Zhong Yao explained his strategy.
But these thoughts were more or less thought by everyone present, and they were not considered any earth-shattering ideas.
Zhong Yao saw everyone's thoughts and continued: "My strategy focuses on this pass. You know, Guo Bang and Li Jue are friendly on the surface, but they are suspicious of each other on the inside. We only need to provoke them, and the two will Thieves will kill each other. And there is no shortage of people loyal to the emperor in the Xiliang army. According to my observation, people like Yang Feng, Duan Xuan, Jia Xu, etc. are still in awe of the imperial power of the Han Dynasty. Your Majesty can win them over, or give Guo Si and Li Jue will come to drain the cauldron, or protect His Majesty from leaving Chang'an."
Several ministers discussed with each other and felt that it was feasible, so they secretly discussed the specific details of the implementation.
The minister was here, and it was not the young man's turn to say anything. These ministers were respectful to Liu Xie, but Liu Xie was still young after all, so they took the big things on themselves in order to gain a reputation as a wise minister of ZTE.
Liu Xie took the eunuchs to move to the bedroom at the back. At this time, the palace had gone through several military turmoils and was no longer what it used to be. Although daily expenses were indispensable, with the word palace, it seemed a bit shabby inside and out.
Next to Liu Xie's dormitory was a side hall. Liu Xie did not return to his dormitory, but entered the side hall. A few rays of sunlight shine in, adding a touch of warmth to the cold palace. A girl in palace clothes is standing with a pen. Papers and bamboo slips are scattered on the ground.
Liu Xie picked up a piece of paper. The writing on it was neither official nor seal script, but a kind of upright and gentle yet powerful and beautiful handwriting. "Sister Huang, do you miss him again?"
Wannian Princess Liu Yan, who was dressed in palace attire and looked haggard, turned to look at Liu Xie and said, "Brother, where are you thinking? What is wrong with him?"
Liu Xieping dismissed the maid and eunuch and said, "Sister, you haven't smiled since you came back from Mr. Wang's place. You seem to have changed. You are no longer the sister I recognized."
Liu Yan forced a smile, "Sister Huang is still the same sister. Your Majesty, you have grown up and become the king of a country. You are no longer that child."
"Really?" Liu Xie raised the paper in his hand, "Then what is this? This is the character he created, right? There are not many people who can write. Sister Huang, you are the one who has learned the most."
Liu Yan's autumn-like eyes finally overflowed with tears, and she said sadly, "So what? We, brother and sister, are trapped in this palace, and we are separated from him forever. The last news from Hebei was not Say, is he married to Luoyang Gaoyue and a local girl from Jizhou? He is really married now."
Liu Xie sighed and said, "Sister Huang, the news from Jizhou last time is not accurate. He did not stay in Jizhou to get married, but led his troops to Qingzhou. During the morning meeting, there was a petition commending him as the governor of Qingzhou. Woolen cloth."
Liu Yan seemed to be reborn in despair. She grabbed Liu Xie's hand and asked urgently: "Is this true? He led troops to Qingzhou. It was so dangerous. Are there any injuries?"
But the next moment Liu Yan's expression returned to her haggard and resentful look, "Why are you talking about this? How he lives is none of our business. Now that the foundation of our Liu family is in danger, what we should be concerned about is helping the country."
Liu Xie's eyes revealed perseverance. He patted Liu Yan's hand and said, "Sister Huang, it is my duty to protect our ancestors' legacy. I will never destroy our ancestors' legacy. Now the ministers are going to summon the world again." Heroes and kings of diligence will protect you. Once you succeed, he will come too."
Liu Yan kissed Liu Xie's still immature face and said happily, "Brother, you have grown up. Although the Han family's empire is huge, there is a strong man who will hold it up."
Liu Xie's eyes were moist and he said solemnly, "I will not let the Han Dynasty fail. And in this world, I have only one relative, the emperor sister, and I will definitely make you smile like before!"
