Xun Shuang and others all knew what wrong things Lu Zhi had done and what he had paid for.
Therefore, they better understood how sad and depressed Lu Zhi was when the ancient literature school actually split.
He has done so much, and all he has done is to make the Ancient Literature School develop better, and he can be said to be public-minded. However, in the face of more interests, those guys who were protected by him in the Ancient Literature School still chose Yuan Wei without hesitation. .
So Lu Zhi's heart for the Ancient Literature School died.
Lu Zhi was in a very low mood during that time, and they all knew it.
To this day, although this incident is almost over, Lu Zhi is still worried about it.
Looking at this look, Lu Zhi must have completely despaired of the Ancient Literature School.
"Ziqian, I don't want to advise you, but at least Xuande still needs you."
Ma Rixi said slowly: "You may not care about the Ancient Literature School, but can you not care about Xuande?"
Lu Zhi looked at Ma Rixi and smiled bitterly.
"If it weren't for Xuande, I would not have agreed to accept Duke Zheng's instructions before he left. Xuande is my direct disciple. I led him into Luoyang. I will always be responsible for him. I can't Throwing your hands away and not caring about anything else is not what a good teacher should do."
Hearing this, the other three people breathed a sigh of relief.
Xun Shuang nodded slowly.
"Soon, Xuande will come, and then it will be a battle between dragons and tigers. If the emperor wins, the world will be stable. If the emperor loses, we will not end well. Ziqian, are you sure?"
"As long as the emperor does not think about abolishing the elders and establishing younger ones, I will never allow the He family and the Yuan family to cause trouble."
Lu Zhi's position on this point was very clear. He said slowly: "Everyone knows what the He family and the Yuan family think. They just want to recreate what happened to their relatives in the past. I am a Hanchen, not Yuan Shichen, not even He Shichen!"
The other three people also nodded together. As for whether the meaning of this nod was somewhat the same as that of Lu Zhi, which was pure selflessness, it was really hard to say.
At least Xun Shuang and Ma Rixi are definitely not like this.
On February 23, the sixth year of Zhongping, Liu Bei led his army to Shanglin Garden west of Luoyangcheng, where he ordered his troops to station on the spot and start daily training.
After making arrangements for the army, Liu Bei followed Zhang Rang, the emperor's envoy, who was waiting for him in Shanglinyuan, and went to Luoyang to meet the emperor Liu Hong.
On the way to Luoyang City, Liu Bei and Zhang Rang did not communicate in private.
It was still the same. It wasn't until he entered the Luoyang City Palace and walked to the familiar uninhabited road that Zhang Rang slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I've accomplished what you asked me to do. Now that you're back, it's time for you to fulfill your promise. My life is in your hands."
"Don't worry, Lao Zhang. Mr. Liu is a man of his word. I will definitely do what I promised you."
Liu Bei smiled and reached out to pat Zhang Rang on the shoulder: "I would also like to thank you for helping me finalize the matter of opening the mansion. Without your input and fueling the situation, I am afraid that I may not be able to successfully open the mansion."
"It feels like you are scolding me."
Zhang Rang smiled and shook his head: "But I did this just to save my life. I did what I could and put everything I had on stake. Liu Xuande, you must never betray my trust. "
"I keep my word."
Liu Bei smiled and said: "Of course, that doesn't mean you have nothing to do next. Give full play to the role of Dongyuan and try your best to provide me with detailed and reliable information. I need to know all the actions of Yuan, He and their subordinates as soon as possible. Can I I will know everything you know, and let me know what you cannot know even if you try your best to overcome all difficulties."
"You are so domineering."
Zhang Rang said this, but his expression became visibly relaxed: "But these things happen to be my expertise. By the way, according to your request, I will keep some news that is not suitable for the emperor to know during this period. I didn’t tell the emperor.”
"well done."
Liu Bei nodded: "As for the emperor's condition, what do you think?"
"This time the condition is severe. It should be because the cold was not recovered from the last time."
Zhang Rang looked around and said in a low voice: "The emperor was exposed to cold before. When he recovered from a serious illness, he couldn't help but indulge in sex. He drank a lot. He didn't follow the doctor's advice. He didn't listen to others' advice. He had been sick for more than half a month. I'm taking medicine, but I'm not getting better.
The day before yesterday, I had a private chat with the attending physician and asked him about the actual situation. He told me that the emperor's condition was a bit serious, but it was not incurable. The main reason was that the emperor could not quit drinking and sex, and could not adhere to dietary restrictions, so the condition could not get better. If things go on like this, I am afraid that Something big has happened. "
Liu Bei nodded slowly.
"Continue to keep an eye on the emperor's condition. During this period, I will do my best to deal with the He and Yuan families. Don't be idle here. You must do your best to control the palace, especially Queen He. You must not let the Queen He Jin delivers too important news.”
"The Queen still trusts us. We have cooperated with each other from a long time ago and are very grateful to the Queen."
Zhang Rang smiled and said: "The queen is not as ungrateful as He Jin. The queen still cares about us. In addition, the emperor hates the queen and is unwilling to see the queen. Now if the queen wants to know anything, ask me. From me We know the news about the emperor here."
"Well, that's right."
Liu Bei thought for a while and asked: "What about Dong's side? If I remember correctly, the troops of the imperial city guards and city gate captains who protect the palace, and even Jinwu's team, are all under Dong Chong's side. Under control, the emperor trusts Dong Zhong very much, right?"
"Dong Zhong is the nephew of the Queen Mother and a member of the emperor's family. Of course he trusts Dong Zhong."
Zhang Rang whispered: "Dong Zhong has always been at odds with He Jin. He is a good helper who can be roped in. There are not many people who can help you deal with He Jin and Yuan Wei. Among these people, Dong Zhong is definitely very important."
"It's not that he can't win over, the main thing is that the safety of Luoyang City is under his control."
Liu Bei touched his beard: "I'm not used to leaving my own safety issues to others. I feel that I can feel at ease only when my own people take control of this matter. Lao Zhang, what do you think? You don't want to risk your life either." Leave the matter to someone you can't trust, right?"
"That's what I said."
Zhang Rang hesitated for a while, looked at Liu Bei and said: "Xuande, the emperor is still here, don't always make considerations based on the fact that the emperor is gone. Now if the emperor is gone, you will be the one to deal with the He and Yuan families." , there is an emperor with the blood of He family behind him, can you rest assured?"
"Lao Zhang, you have to remember that the situation we are facing is a situation where everything is lost if you are not careful."
Liu Bei said seriously: "We must consider any situation, no matter whether it is possible or not, no matter whether it is reasonable or not, we must always think of the worst plan. When it comes to competing for the highest power, the palace and the imperial city are always the top priority.
By taking down the imperial city and palace, all the crucial enemies can be wiped out. After all the enemy leaders are dead, even if the remaining people are scattered outside, they will be unknown and have no righteousness. Sooner or later, they will decline. Isn't this what Lu Zhi's rebellion was like? "
Zhang Rang felt that what Liu Bei said was reasonable.
"What you said makes sense, but Dong Zhong's appointment was issued by the emperor, and the emperor also trusted Dong Zhong. What can you do?"
"Don't worry, I'll talk to the emperor first."
Liu Bei said slowly: "During this period, the situation in Luoyang will not intensify so quickly. We need to make careful calculations. Anyway, you first do your best to collect the information I need, and monitor Jian Shuo, Empress Dowager Dong, and Empress He at all times. Also, inform me of Dong Zhong’s actions every night.”
"You have to know every day?"
"Every day, time is life. One step ahead can kill someone."
"This is new, but it makes sense."
Zhang Rang nodded: "In that case, I will do as you say, but it is difficult and the risk is high. If I am discovered, I will die without a burial place. If something big happens in the future, What treatment will you give me?"
"Whatever the emperor can give you, I can give you."
Liu Bei raised the corners of his mouth and looked at Zhang Rang: "Old Zhang, believe me, I will not treat you badly."
"I believe you, and I can't help but disbelieve you."
Zhang Rang chuckled: "From now on, the power of the Ten Constant Attendants will be at your disposal."
An unbreakable political alliance was reached, and the two people, who each wanted what they wanted and had their own agenda, began to tacitly work together. The two walked to Liu Hong's bedroom together and saw Liu Hong who was ill.
(End of chapter)
