On the seventh day of September, General Liu Bei of the Han Dynasty suddenly appeared at the Northern Army camp on the outskirts of Chang'an City. He ordered the Northern Army to practice vigorously in front of Longshouyuan and review their military appearance. So Chang'an's Anmen Gate and Xi'an Gate were sealed, and the 20,000 soldiers of the Northern Army were organized into ten battalions. They held swords and guns and held high flags. The sound of golden drums was loud, and soldiers came like clouds in the city.
The officials in the city of Chang'an didn't know what was going on. All the officials in the south of the city heard loud shouts of thunder and drums beating incessantly, they all speculated that the rebellion was caused by the Northern Army, so they were greatly frightened. Although there was no edict, they still gathered in front of the Weiyang Palace and went to the Shangshu table to wait for orders from the Sili Colonel and the emperor.
The emperor didn't know why, so he could only ask Chen Chong to come out and take charge of the overall situation. At that time, Chen Chongfang came out of the Chancellor's Stand, thinking that the Northern Army was loyal and would never rebel, so something must have happened suddenly. Therefore, he suggested that Jian Yong go out to the south gate to inquire about the situation. After going back and forth, all the officials learned that the general suddenly came to Beijing to review the Northern Army in the south of the city.
Hearing that it was not a mutiny, the officials were slightly relieved, but then they thought about it and felt a deeper fear. Liu Bei neither made an appearance nor issued an edict, but he unexpectedly came to Beijing and directly ordered the Northern Army to drill. What he meant was that he was dissatisfied with the North Korean army's order to stop the troops last month. Demonstration at court. However, he is in charge of the military power of the world and cannot be criticized.
It’s just that the momentum is so great now, how will it end in the end? I'm afraid a few lives will be lost! Even after the emperor heard the news, he was speechless for a while. He only asked all the officials to wait and wait for the general to review and then go to the court to discuss matters.
As a result, all the officials looked at Chen Chong. Except for the officials in the Sili Mansion, whose expressions were as usual, the other officials had different expressions, either flattering, disgusted or frightened, which made Chen Chong think he was in a theater. Chen Chong consoled everyone in public and said: "Please don't worry, the general is loyal to the country and there will be no trouble."
This review lasted for three hours, and it was not until noon that day that Liu Bei completed the review. Then he led dozens of people to the front of Weiyang Palace and entered the court with swords and shoes. At this time, the emperor and all the officials were already sitting in the palace, already waiting a little numbly. When they heard the palace people singing Liu Bei's name, they were suddenly startled. Hold the light in your mouth and purse your lips tightly. His eyebrows are like flying, and there is a heroic spirit coming from him, as if a tiger is walking like a sheep, which is frightening.
After Liu Bei bowed, the emperor asked him why he came. Liu Bei said bluntly: "I know that there are thieves in the court who are stealing the country and disturbing the emperor's hearing, so I have come to get rid of them."
As soon as he said this, everyone in the audience was shocked. Zhao Yan, the councilor, came out and laughed and said: "Why did the general say this? The whole dynasty is a loyal minister and serves the court. How can there be a thief who steals the country?"
Liu Bei sneered and said: "If you are not a thief who steals the country, I'm afraid he is colluding with a thief who steals the country!"
The emperor couldn't sit still after hearing this. He stood up and said, "General, if you have anything to say, you might as well say it directly."
Liu Bei looked directly at the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, who are the people who made such treacherous remarks to Your Majesty and asked me to stop my troops and return to the annexation? And who thinks that Yuan Shao, a huge thief of the country, is still a court official?"
Many people in the court did not expect Liu Bei to be so straightforward. They were all shocked when they heard what he said. The emperor was also speechless for a moment. He said: "The general is ordered to stop the army for the sake of the well-being of the people and to reduce military disasters. How can it be treacherous and slanderous? What the general said , I don’t understand.”
Liu Bei replied: "Your Majesty is well aware that you should have listened to Bian Que's discussion of medicine. Diseases are located in the body, where soup and iron can reach; in the blood vessels, where needles and stones can reach; in the intestines and stomach, where wine and mash can reach; Bone marrow, even if you are in charge of orders, there is nothing you can do about it." After reciting this famous saying, he added: "Yuan Shao and other giant bandits are to the imperial government what disease is to the human body. This year has gone too far. It can be said that the disease is in the intestines and stomach. If we indulge again, the disease will penetrate into our bones. When the country falls, how can we regret it?"
After hearing this, the emperor wanted to say, "Is it not a disease of the bone marrow that you dominate the house?", but he restrained himself. After all, although Liu Bei's words were unpleasant, he had already obeyed the imperial edict and stopped his troops. In the future, it can be said that "tolerance serves the country", but I can't express the worries in my heart. At this point, even if I talk about it for three days and three nights, I can't stand the truth.
He suppressed his resentment, pretended to be deep in thought, and then said slowly: "The general is right, but I made a mistake. It's just my fault for not thinking carefully about this edict, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."
Liu Bei said slowly: "Your Majesty has not been in the Yuan Dynasty for a long time. He usually just observes political affairs. He bows humbly and is praised both internally and externally. But there are thieves in the court who secretly communicate with Yuan Ni. His sincerity can be deceived. Your Majesty seems to be focusing on the overall situation today." , in fact, it is creating great danger for the country tomorrow, and we must not let it go!"
After that, he turned to Jian Yong and said, "Wen He, didn't you say that someone signed the petition at that time? Go to Taichung to get the petition and let me see it." Jian Yong immediately agreed and went out of the palace to the Chancellor's desk. Get a joint form.
As Jian Yong's footsteps gradually faded away, people such as Hua Xin, Fu Wan and others in the court couldn't help but turn pale, and there were even more people in the corner who were trembling secretly.
At this time, Kong Rong stood up from his seat and said to Liu Bei: "Xuande is so disrespectful of his ministerial nature. Could it be that you took the list and wanted to offend people with it? Isn't it ridiculous for a courtier to be convicted for his words?"
Liu Bei said: "The country is already guilty of speaking evil. Those who speak evil will be guilty of the nine tribes! And our crime of being a regular servant is nothing more than slandering the late emperor? Mr. Kong, if the words are innocent, what crime do I have to be a regular servant? This traitor must be eliminated and the government will be set straight!" Kong Rong was speechless for a moment, and all the officials were even more frightened when they heard these words.
Gradually, the sound of footsteps was heard outside the hall. All the officials could not see it, but they all knew in their hearts that it was Jian Yong who had obtained the book and table and was slowly walking towards the hall. Looking back at Liu Bei's iron eyes, I couldn't help but feel awe. Even the emperor in the palace felt slumped and powerless, thinking painfully in his heart: Maybe the person in front of him is the emperor, and he is just a puppet.
Liu Bei waited for Jian Yong to come to him and took the book. Seeing that the book was quite thick, he couldn't help but sneered again. Before he could open it, Chen Chong stood up and said, "Hold on, Xuande."
He walked between the emperor and Liu Bei, saluted the emperor first, and then said to Liu Bei: "Xuande, maybe there are people with bad intentions in the court, but people are not sages after all. Who can make mistakes? What if some of them are not He really meant bad things, but he was confused by the situation and could not distinguish right from wrong, so he jointly signed the petition. Isn't it unjust to die because of this? When the world talks about it, it will also be criticized."
But Liu Bei said loudly: "Ting Jian, you told me at the beginning that the way to govern a country should be to be both lenient and strict, and to be disciplined at the top and bottom. I deeply believed that, but today it is unstable! It can be seen that you have indulged too much, and I can't do it." Just don’t act like that.”
Chen Chong suddenly showed a sad look, but he still insisted: "The so-called leniency and strictness, leniency means leniency to help the people, and strictness means strict law enforcement. Only in this way can we help both. The severity of the general today is the severity of punishment, not the severity of punishment." What I said. I hope the general will understand clearly!"
When Liu Bei heard this, he looked at Chen Chong for a long time, and then said slowly: "Since Ting Jian said so, let's find a way."
Chen Chong lowered his head and said: "You can go to the local area first, entrust them with actual duties, and see how they perform. Those who have merit will be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes will be punished. That's all."
Liu Bei looked around and saw many ministers showing concern. Knowing that the drama was about to get underway, he sighed and said, "It's as you said!" Then he claimed that Wuhuan Xianbei was powerful because of it. These people should be moved to the area between You and He to resist the barbarians. Chen Chong, on the other hand, said that the quality of the officials was difficult to defend against powerful enemies, so he advocated sending the people on the list to the five prefectures of Henan, Jing, Yi, Yang and Jiao, one to manage the people's livelihood, and the other to maintain good relations with the prefectures' pastoral officials. There will be no change in the south. Liu Bei pretended to be embarrassed and refused. He remained silent several times and argued with Chen Chong several times. It was not until the sky turned dark that he gave in and agreed.
At this time, as many as seventy-four court officials were reassigned to local officials, including Hua Xin, Shisun Rui, and Wang Zifu, who were close to the emperor. Time became increasingly scarce, and they were almost controlled from top to bottom by Liu Bei and Chen Chong.
Even Dong Cheng and Fu Wan, the two great uncles of the country, were also implicated this time. Jianping General Dong Cheng was reused because of his military duties and was ordered to go to the right to help Feng rectify the army. This move was nominally to allow him to lead the army against the Liang people in Wudu, but in reality he was only responsible for farming with Dong Zhuo's remaining troops, Hu Zhen and Dong Yue, as companions. Later, on the grounds that Situ Zhao Qi was not effective in controlling Jizhou, he was removed from the post of Situ, and took this opportunity to promote Zhijinwu Fuwan to Situ. Situ was in name only, but he was in charge of Jinwu, but he was in charge of the palace and provincial imperial army. This was a promotion and demotion in secret, taking back important powers in his hands. As for the close ministers that the emperor knew well, there were only a few people such as Zhao Yan and Wu Shuo.
After this incident, Liu Bei became famous in both the government and the public, and the unfavorable remarks against Liu Bei in Chang'an almost disappeared instantly. However, this matter did not damage Chen Chong's reputation. Before taking office, many officials came to the Sili Mansion to express their gratitude to Chen Chong to show that they did not forget Chen Chong's kindness in fighting for the superiors.
But the far-reaching impact of this incident is unimaginable by everyone at the moment.
On that day, Dong Cheng was urging his slaves to pack their luggage and vehicles. He felt a little tired for a while, so he went back to his room to pour wine to drown his sorrows. Suddenly he heard a strange sound at the back door. After three sounds, Dong Cheng opened the secret door and welcomed a person, it was Dong Zhao.
Upon seeing Dong Zhao, Dong Cheng couldn't restrain his anger and shouted angrily at him: "It was you who suggested that His Majesty take the opportunity to launch an attack, but now it has ended like this, how dare you come!"
Dong Zhao heard the accusation, but the smile on his face was as if it was made of iron. He waited for Dong Cheng's anger to pass, and then slowly said: "I came this time to congratulate Mr. Dong. Mr. Dong is now released. Could it be that Mr. Dong re-captured it?" A great time to be free?”
In Wudu County, a man was whipping a fast horse and traveling quickly through the mountains and forests. He crossed the old road and reached the river. Finally, he delivered a letter to a wooden house and breathlessly reported inside: "General, Chang'an. secret message."
The people in the room walked out slowly, took the letter from the messenger's hands, and tore it open carefully. The messenger looked up to see Jia Xu's reaction, but saw a solemn expression on Jia Xu's face, which then gradually dissipated and turned into a smile.
After waving the messenger away, Jia Xu put the letter in front of the lamp with his hands, lit it, and turned it into ashes. Then he called a few soldiers and ordered them: "Go and inform the ministries that I have a military meeting." After that, , he stood there like a petrified statue.
After a long while, he muttered to himself: "From now on, people's hearts are no longer with you."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
I can’t finish this volume this month, so I’ll release a complete stage first. In fact, I’m still not satisfied with this.
