After three months of wandering around, Liu Bei finally returned to Jinyang. But as Chen Chong said before, the impact of Sangqian's defeat was far from over. The court was still undecided, and officials in Taiyuan were still worried, fearing that the emperor would be furious and send carriages to escort the relevant people to the capital.
Chen Chong was calm. He let Liu Bei rest assured and selected herbs for him to decoct and take. After giving instructions on the matters related to the medicinal drink, he made an appointment with the county prime minister Dou Fu, the meritorious minister Rong Yufan, and the southern governor Zhang Gu, and followed them south to the counties as a staff to review the administrative gains and losses of the counties last year.
In fact, the county magistrates have not been in office for a long time, and the longest one has been in office is only four months. Most of the county residents under his command are in Xihe, and they will return to their hometowns near the end of the year. Whether the county magistrate is mediocre or virtuous, it is difficult to tell at this time. .
However, Chen Chong was still prepared, and his party went south to Qixian first. When Wang Gai, the magistrate of Qi County, greeted him, he saw Chen Chong in the team and took the initiative to salute and talk to him. Chen Chong discussed with him the policy coordination of Qi County this year: when asked about encouraging learning and farming, Wang Gai answered fluently; when asked about the management of officials and the prevention of bandits, Wang Gai He looked troubled, but he still tried his best to answer. When asked about the lawsuit, Wang Gai was speechless.
Chen Chong was not angry because of this. Instead, he checked for Wang Gai's omissions and explained the key points of governance. Finally, he said: "I don't like the theory that Han Fei has an evil nature, but there are many insights in it. You can use your discretion."
Then he recited Han Fei's "Two Handles": "The master of the Ming Dynasty guides his ministers with only two handles. The two handles are the virtue of punishment. Killing is called punishment, and celebrating and rewarding is called virtue. Being a minister is fearful. Punishment brings benefits and rewards, so if the ruler himself uses the virtue of punishment, then the ministers will be afraid of his power and return to his advantage." Speaking of this, Chen Chong couldn't help but sigh: "The people are not stupid, as long as you can understand Xing's virtue clearly, Rewards should be rewarded, and punishments should be punished. Then the people will know the laws and regulations, and they will naturally be well governed."
Chen Chong stayed in Qixian for two days, and then set off for Yangyi. In the eleven counties south of the county, Chen Chong took the exams as he did in Qixian.
When Chen Chong returned to Jinyang at the end of the month, Zhongdu ordered Guo Mian to write to his father Guo Quan, saying: "The dragon head has the elegance of dry bamboo and flowers, but it can carry out the heroic strategies of clouds, dragons, winds and tigers. It can be said that it is complete in both civil and military affairs." When Prime Minister Long talked about it, he only hated the shallowness of what he had learned, and his anxious thoughts were scattered like the wind. As for fame and fortune, he felt that he was in the clouds."
Chen Chong's trip was precisely to eliminate the uneasy atmosphere in Taiyuan where people were afraid of punishment due to defeat. Now is the spring planting season, and the harvest of the year depends on it. Last year, there was no rice harvest in Taiyuan. If we can't cultivate in time now, it will only cause another large-scale famine, and then it will be considered a catastrophe.
I don't know whether to call it a coincidence or an accident, but Chen Chong and his party bumped into an investigation team sent by the imperial court in Gengyang. When the two groups met, they stopped to greet each other.
The leader was Ding Yuan, the new governor of Bingzhou. After Dong Zhuo successfully stayed in Liangzhou as he wished, General He Jin proposed that since there was no suitable candidate for the shepherd, it was better to reset the governor of Bingzhou. Therefore, Ding Yuan was elected from the Southern Army as the governor of Bingzhou and also served as the leading cavalry captain.
The first thing Ding Yuan did after taking office was to investigate Liu Bei's defeat. Although it was an investigation, Ding Yuan had no say in how to investigate or report the matter, because there was someone else who was actually in charge of the investigation. Chen Chong hid in the cavalry and saw Dou Fu and others coming up to greet him. He neither scolded nor talked with them, but only exchanged some pleasantries.
On the contrary, a Cangtou came out of the motorcade and asked the crowd, "I wonder where the dragon's head is?" The voice was loud, and Chen Chong could hear it in the crowd. He did not shy away from hiding, and rode out alone and said: "Chen is indeed here. I wonder who taught Chen?"
Hearing that the man in front of him was the famous Xiping Dragon Head, Ding Yuan took a deep look at Chen Chong and finally said, "Just let him go. You will know when the time comes."
Chen Chong followed the Cangtou into the motorcade. Cangtou led him to an inconspicuous two-seater car. Chen Chong opened the curtain and went in, but unexpectedly saw a person he had never expected.
It turned out to be the current captain of the Xiyuan Military Academy and the most trusted official of the emperor - Jian Shuo Jian Changshi.
Jian Shuo is already sixty years old. As a eunuch, he has been in the court all year round, so he ages faster than ordinary people. Now his hair is half as white as snow, and the wrinkles on his face are squeezed together lifelessly, like paper soaked in water and dried in the sun. Only the protruding eye sockets reveal a pair of black and white eyes.
He smiled at Chen Chong and said, "Longshou, last time we said goodbye, how long has it been since we last met?"
When Chen Chong saw him in the car, his expression was complicated. Finally, Taixi said: "Jiangong is deeply favored by the emperor. He must be in power when he comes here. Why don't you ask questions in public, but stop with me on the road?" The secret message behind the curtain of the car?"
Jian Shuo was dressed in regular clothes, sitting in the car with his sleeves rolled up. He looked at Chen Chong's broken finger, glanced past it, and then said with emotion: "The Dragon Head must still be resentful of me. At that time, Dong Zhuo and I insisted on killing and surrendering. In Longshou’s eyes, I’m probably already a thief.”
Chen Chong's face was expressionless. He sat on one side and asked, "Presumably Duke Jian came here to discuss this matter with me, right?"
Jian Shuo shook his head and laughed: "Longshou is still so quick to talk." Then he sighed and said: "I do have something to ask of Longshou, but I always know that my reputation has been ruined. If anyone knows that Longshou is talking to me, there must be dirt. The dragon's head has a good reputation, so I am here to wait for the dragon's head."
Chen Chong squinted at Jian Shuo. When Jian Shuo saw his silence, he continued: "I came here because I want to make a deal with the dragon head and let each of us get what he deserves."
Chen Chong understood what he meant, so he simply pointed it out: "I think Jian Gong meant that Xuande's defeat can be reduced to a minor issue and easily overcome." Seeing Jian Shuo nodding happily, Chen Chong asked again: " Then I wonder what Duke Jian wants to ask for? If even Duke Jian finds it difficult, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do about it!”
There was no response to this, and Jian Shuo was speechless for a while. Chen Chong waited for a long time before the Chang Shi said: "I never thought in the past that one day I would beg the Longshou Sect, but if there was a way, how could I do this? What?" After playing riddles for a long time, he finally got to the point: "Longshou, your Majesty's condition is getting worse and worse, and I'm afraid he won't last until June."
Chen Chong had already prepared for this. Zhong Yao had written to him before. He asked, "Is the position of the prince yet to be decided?"
Jian Shuo nodded, and then sighed: "Your Majesty's idea is simple and concise, but he still prefers 'Dong Hou'. But the ministers are determined to object, and more importantly, General He is also determined to object." Chen Chong leaned back slightly and said with a smile: "Is the General willing to give up his position as regent? Even if he is, many famous people in the world have turned their hearts to the General, will they be willing to give up?"
"Exactly!" Jian Shuo said sarcastically: "What are you talking about Qingliu Party members? What are you talking about loyal ministers and filial sons? To put it bluntly, eunuchs like us are all after money. They not only want wealth, but also fame and fortune!" At this point , his already high-pitched voice was like needles, and he continued: "If the general and the queen are allowed to serve as regents, I'm afraid the court will never have peace!"
At this point, Jian Shuo stopped and looked at Chen Chong. Chen Chong asked: "But Chen is currently white and he may not be able to do anything to the court. Why is Duke Jian looking for me different from asking Yu blind?"
Jian Shuo shook his head resolutely and said: "I came to find Longshou to sell him a favor." "A favor?" "Because once His Majesty Yuji leaves, I'm afraid my days will be numbered."
Chen Chong was surprised when he heard this. He looked at Jian Shuo seriously for the first time, but he saw that the eyes of this notorious old man were full of emotion. He did not look at himself, but clearly looked at someone, but he was very familiar with that kind of emotion. Emotions, my grandfather and father often looked at me this way.
He heard Jian Shuo continue to say: "Your Majesty entrusted 'Dong Hou' to me, and I must find a way to make him succeed to the throne." "I'm afraid this is too difficult. What do the other ministers say?" "Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong , Xia Yun and others have not expressed their stance. I know them too well, and not expressing their stance is opposition. They will definitely not oppose He Jin and the Queen's regency."
Chen Chong asked in a deep voice: "What are Duke Jian going to do?" "I plan to assassinate He Jin after His Majesty's imperial concubine. Afterwards, I will rely on the Queen Mother and General Hussar to take charge of the overall situation and support Prince Xie's ascension to the throne."
"It's too dangerous, it's too dangerous!" Chen Chong thought for a moment, and finally he could only conclude: "The general's gang members are spread inside and outside the court. Even Jian Gong's subordinates can hardly say that there are no inner factions. Even if Jian Gong succeeded by luck, many of the general's subordinates The ministers may take the opportunity to cause trouble, and even if Duke Jian has the power of Taigong Wang, it will be difficult for him to accomplish anything!"
But Jian Shuo's expression remained normal, and he said calmly: "I have to give it a try. If I don't even have this chance, how can I be worthy of your majesty's great trust in me?"
Chen Chong was speechless, and Jian Shuo continued: "If I am lucky enough to succeed, today's matter will be over. I hope Longshou will pay more attention to the matter in Northern Xinjiang." He paused, slowed down and asked, "If I fail, , I also hope that Longshou will take more care to take care of Prince Xie. He Jin and the Queen are not soft-hearted people, but they still care about their reputation. If Longshou is willing to do his best to protect him, he will not be in danger of death. "
"Chen Chong promised Jian Gong." Chen Chong was silent for a long time and finally answered. Then he couldn't help but ask: "Why did Jian Gong bother to do this? The emperor's family affairs have nothing to do with Jian Gong. Jian Gong is now extremely powerful. Everything succeeds and fails. He can't make it happen." My father went one step further, Chen Chong really can’t understand.”
Jian Shuo laughed loudly when he heard this. He took a breath and replied: "In Longshou's eyes, Jian Shuo is still a mediocre person! Back then, Longshou was giving lectures in Taixue, saying that the way of heaven is universal, and that all people, regardless of high or low, have feelings of love and affection. , His Majesty was furious at that time, but Long Shou was able to talk him out of it. But I remember it clearly."
"The old man is a eunuch and has no descendants. There are many relatives in the clan who were implicated by me and forced by the party. But I brought up your majesty. When your majesty entered the palace, he had just turned ten years old and was not yet tall. It reaches my chest, I didn’t expect that in the blink of an eye, the prince would be as big as he was back then.”
Speaking of this, Jian Shuo smiled at first, and then his eyes slowly dimmed. He couldn't help but lamented: "I never thought that Your Majesty would become ill so urgently and so quickly! If I had known this, I should have taken him with me on weekdays. I’ll hunt together!”
The two of them talked in the car for an hour. After Chen rushed out, the team started again. To everyone's surprise, Ding Yuan and his party only went through the process and left after entering the city for only one day. Even Liu Bei only met once to send some condolences and supplements. The governor said that he was appointed by the emperor and was eager to train a new army between Shangdang and Hanoi. Zhang Yang, Zhang Liao, Lu Bu and others from the former governor's office were all recruited for him.
The implication is that everyone understands that this matter must have been revealed. Only Chen Chong knew the reason, but he didn't know whether he should be sad or happy.
But at this time, a new round of civil strife in the Xiongnu finally broke out.
