Bingzhou, Jinyang.
Liu Kun, the governor of Bingzhou in the Jin Dynasty, was sitting in the bright hall of his mansion. One of the two maids next to him was warming the newly brewed plum wine, and the other was playing with the spices in the smoker.
Liu Kun was born in a wealthy family, and he has always pursued exquisite luxury in food and clothing since he was a child. Although he is now devoted to the great cause of conquering Hu, whenever he has free time, this basic blend of warm wine and incense has never been able to Less.
At this time, Liu Kun's wife and nephew, Sikong's lieutenant Lu Chen, walked in hurriedly with a look on his face.
"Uncle, Cui Yue is back."
Lu Chen said softly.
The fact that Liu Kun sent Cui Yue, a lieutenant in charge, to Jizhou to persuade the Qingzhou thief Liu Yu to surrender was still kept secret in Bingzhou.
"Oh, let him in quickly!" After hearing this, Liu Kun immediately put down the wine glass in his hand.
Soon, Cui Yue, dressed as an ordinary scholar, came to Liu Kun.
After Liu Kun expressed his condolences, he immediately asked about the results of the trip.
"Liu Yu has always admired Sikong's reputation, but he didn't say anything important to me. He just asked me to bring him some gifts and a letter to give to Sikong."
The results Cui Yue said were basically within Liu Kun's expectations.
Regarding those so-called gifts, Liu Kun heard that they were just some pearls, jade and silk, and there was nothing strange about them.
But it was Liu Yu's letter that made Liu Kun a little curious.
What would that audacious Qingzhou thief leader say to himself?
However, after receiving the letter from Cui Yue, Liu Kun did not immediately open it and read it anxiously. Instead, he first asked Cui Yue about his experiences during his trip.
"Taoist Confucianism returned to Jizhou and saw any difference along the way?" Liu Kun asked.
These people are all from Hebei, but they have not been back to their hometown for several years.
"The people's livelihood is in decline, and business travelers are rare. However, it is a prosperous and prosperous place, and crops can still be seen in the fields. It is not like here in Bingzhou, where there are barren wilderness everywhere."
Cui Yue said very seriously.
"However, the war troubles in Jizhou may be reduced a lot in the near future."
When Liu Kun heard this, his eyes lit up and he asked.
"But the remaining Shihu tribe of Jiehu still occupy the Zhao and Wei areas. Doesn't Liu Yu plan to march westward to attack?"
Ever since Liu Kun ordered Tuoba Xianbei to retreat and tried his best to give Liu a good omen, he knew that the Shihu forces in Zhao Wei would definitely be pursued by Liu Yu.
"After Liu Yu led his army into Jizhou, he widely publicized the so-called "Killing Hu Order". As long as a Jiehu beheaded, he could immediately transform from a Cangtou Guizhou official to an officer with acres of land. As soon as this order came out, all the people in the Zhao and Wei areas The Zahu Wuhuan and other ugly people were originally afraid of the strong military strength of the puppet Han in Qingzhou, but now they were lured by the "Kill the Hu Order" with huge profits, so they all killed the Jiehu people in the army and surrendered to Liu Yu."
Liu Kun had heard about this "Killing Hu Order".
However, in Liu Kun's view, this order to kill Hu was really ridiculous. If all the Jiehu in the Central Plains were really killed, then all the land in Jizhou occupied by Liu Yu would not be enough to reward him.
"But the number of people who slaughtered the barbarians in Bingzhou was probably no less than a hundred thousand. How could Liu Yu defeat the barbarians with just a so-called "Order to Kill the Barbarians"? Moreover, how did he know that those who were beheaded were all Where are the barbarians?"
Liu Kun shook his head.
"Sikong, the so-called 'Hu people' we want to kill in this Hu Lingzhong are not ordinary Hu people, but Jie Hu people like Shi!" Cui Yue explained to Liu Kun.
"Jiehu?"
Liu Kun was stunned for a moment.
Liu Kun, the governor of Bingzhou, naturally knew what these so-called "Jiehu" looked like.
Liu Kun couldn't help but think of the Jiehu people he had seen. They all had yellow-brown hair, some were black, but most of them were curly, and their eyes were very different from those of the Jin people and ordinary Huns in the Central Plains, and the men Most have curly beards.
"If you just kill Jie Hu, it would be easy to tell!" Liu Kun said.
"But why did Liu Yu target Jie Hu alone?"
Cui Yue thought for a while and then explained to Liu Kun.
"Sikong, when I think about it, when the killing of Hu Ling started, it should just be to drive a wedge between the Jiehu among the Hulu and the ordinary Huhus and Jin people. However, Liu Yu's military strength is strong now, and Wuhuan among the Hulu and other Zahus, This is how I used Jiehu’s head to find a way out for myself.”
After hearing this, Liu Kun nodded, and then asked again.
"According to Taoism and Confucianism, what is the effect of killing Hu Ling?"
Cui Yue said very seriously after hearing this.
"The effect is very good! Now Liu Yu leads his army to sit in Xindu, with the descendants of Jizhou's rich families as officials, and the surrendered general Zhang Jack and others as his minions. The barbarians in Zhaojun and Julu are already frightened by the news. Many Jiehu are afraid of being attacked by Wuhuan , the Jin people beheaded them, and they all abandoned the city and fled to the State of Xiang. In just half a month, all the Jiehu in Zhao and Julu counties had been killed and fled."
"Moreover, those Wuhuan people who killed Jiehu and surrendered were organized into several troops by Liu Yu. I am afraid that the Jiehu people who attack Xiang State in the future will not need to mobilize the people of Jizhou at all."
After hearing what Cui Yue said, Lu Chen next to him showed a hint of surprise.
"Use Wuhuan people to attack Jiehu? This is a good strategy to drive away tigers and devour wolves!"
Liu Kun, the governor of Bingzhou, smiled softly after hearing this.
"Wuhuan Zahu are not tigers. They are just lost dogs. The real tigers are the soldiers in Liu Yu's hands."
Speaking of this, Liu Kun suddenly asked Cui Yue again.
"Tao Ru, I know you are good at recognizing people. What kind of person do you think Liu Yu is?"
After Cui Yue heard this, he lowered his head. After thinking about it seriously, he raised his head and said.
"Sikong, when I look at Liu Yu's behavior, he neither cares about my court etiquette nor is he self-conscious. He can be called a magnanimous and unconventional hero."
"What about the soldiers under Liu Yu? I heard people say that the strength of Qingzhou's soldiers is not the general, but the soldiers." Liu Kun asked.
"Those puppet soldiers of the Han army often have hundreds of acres of farmland in their homes, and they all have their own landowners. Although they are called 'soldiers', they are actually no different from the small tyrants in the counties. So in this way Soldiers raised with rich resources are naturally very strong." Cui Yue said.
Hearing this, Liu Kun fell silent. If this was the case, then there would be no possibility for Liu Kun to learn from him.
Today's Bingzhou not only lacks soldiers, but also lacks land, because we don't know when the Huns and Barbarians will attack, and the farmers who farm the land are very close to the fortress Wubao, and they don't dare to go too far away.
As a result, it was difficult for Liu Kun's soldiers to even cultivate the fields to support themselves, let alone follow the Qingzhou Han army and use so many fields to support one soldier.
Cui Yue and Lu Chen talked with Liu Kun for a while, then resigned and left.
At this time, Liu Kun opened the letter on the desk and read it.
However, the more Liu Kun read the letter, the more exciting the expression on his face became.
After reading the letter in his hand, Liu Kun's face was already very ugly.
He clenched the letter in his hand tightly, and the joints of his hands made a "bang" sound under the force.
"Prince of Zhongshan County?"
"Huh, that's just ridiculous."
Liu Kun whispered in his mouth, while picking up the letter in his hand and about to throw it into the charcoal wine stove.
At this time, Lu Chen and Cui Yue, who had just left, returned.
The two of them looked at Liu Kun with frightened expressions on their faces.
"Sikong, the news just came that the emperor passed away in Pingyang City!"
"Died!?"
Liu Kun was shocked when he heard this, but the movements in his hands stopped.
The letter that was supposed to turn into ashes was once again received into Liu Kun's arms.
=·=·=·==·=·=
Jizhou, Xindu.
After a spring rain, the earth was moistened for the upcoming spring plowing.
"With this rain, this year's spring plowing will have a good start."
Liu Yu looked at the endless farmland outside Xindu City, and something called hope surged in his heart.
"What your Majesty said is absolutely true. Jizhou will definitely have a stable life this year."
Cui Yu from the Cui family in Qinghe immediately echoed.
"Cui Gong now also serves as the chief agricultural officer. After I leave, the farming affairs in Jizhou will have to be entrusted to Cui Gong!"
Liu Yu said encouragingly.
"Since Your Majesty does not despise meager ministers and incompetent talents, I will definitely do my best to supervise Jizhou's agricultural affairs properly this year!"
Cui Yu said with great confidence.
Nowadays, more than a dozen members of the Cui family in Qinghe have been appointed as officials by Liu Yuzheng. They have several positions such as Jiuqing and Erqianshi. They can be said to have become Liu Yu's first family in Hebei.
Especially after Cui Yu concurrently served as the chief agricultural officer, his main responsibility was to manage Jizhou's farming affairs.
Jizhou is different from other places. It is not just about relying on the sky. Jizhou has rivers and canals. As long as water conservancy can be repaired, it can have strong resistance even if it encounters natural disasters.
Now the Jiehu Shi clan has been driven out of most of Jizhou, Liu Yan's troops in the north dare not come to invade, and Sun Wei and others in Zhangwu County have just defected to the Han army.
Now that Cui Yu controls the central area of Jizhou, there is a very safe environment. As a result, Cui Yu is still very confident about this year's agricultural harvest.
"As long as Jizhou has food, the people can live in peace and the production of various industries can be restored."
Liu Yu said.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. As long as you give me one year, the people of Jizhou will be able to have enough food and clothing. In another two years, you can save several years of wealth."
At this time, Cui Yu was full of confidence, and the doubts he had about Liu Yu in his heart had disappeared.
Today, Cui Yu just wants to be a great farmer of his own, and then he will have the opportunity to be ranked among the three public servants, and then become a key figure in the "official imperial examination" that Liu Yu will build.
If he could become the founding figure in the 'official examination', then not only Cui Yu, but also the Cui family of Qinghe would become a truly famous sect like the Kong family.
However, Liu Yu always maintained a mysterious state about the so-called specific method of "opening the imperial examination", and even Cui Yu couldn't figure it out at all.
In addition, there are potential competitors, such as the Boling Cui family, Yingchuan Xun family, Taiyuan Wang family, Hua family, etc. Cui Yu cannot act too impatient, otherwise he may end up in a bad situation.
"Now that Sima Chi has been killed by the Huns, Sima Ye, the King of Qin in Guanzhong, will definitely ascend the throne. After the new emperor, these remaining members of the Jin Dynasty may unite and make some big move."
Liu Yu said to Cui Yu.
"Now Sun Wei of Zhangwu County has thousands of troops and horses, which can serve as a barrier to the north. Cui Qiong and Zhang Jie of Julu County also have nearly 10,000 troops and horses, which can defend the west. Cui Gongke must guard the Qinghe River. The county is well run, but if there is a war in the future, if there is no supply of grain and grass from Jizhou, I am afraid it will be difficult to support it with just Qingzhou."
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will definitely support your Majesty's herdsmen. When the remnants of the Jin Dynasty make any changes, I will not only provide your Majesty with soldiers, but also provide sufficient food and grass!"
After Cui Yu's statement, Liu Yu felt a little relieved.
After just learning that the captured Jin Dynasty Emperor Sima Chi was poisoned by the Huns, Liu felt a pity in advance, and then realized the danger in the future.
Today's Jin Dynasty royal family members were almost slaughtered by Wang Mi, Shi Le, Liu Yao and others before them.
If calculated based on the bloodline and actual situation of the succession to the throne, there are only three most qualified members of the Sima royal family left.
They are Crown Prince Sima Ye of Chang'an City in Guanzhong, Sima Bao of Nanyang King of Qinzhou, and Sima Rui of Langya King of Jiangdong.
However, after Jin Emperor Sima Chi was killed, before the news of the succession of Jin Dynasty Crown Prince Sima Ye in Guanzhong came, there was news of internal strife among Yan Ding, Liang Zong and others who were assisting the government in Chang'an City.
Yan Ding, the regent of the Jin Dynasty, was afraid that Liang Zong, a local faction in Guanzhong, would usurp his power, so he made a decisive plan to kill Liang Zong.
Later, Suo Wei, the prefect of Shiping, and Liang Zong's younger brother jointly attacked Chang'an City. Yan Ding was defeated and was killed by the rebels while escaping.
After this round of internal strife, the entire Jin army in Guanzhong suffered heavy losses.
The opportunity to take advantage of the Xiongnu Liu Yao's departure to capture Hongnong County, the gateway to Guanzhong, was missed.
When Liu Yu returned to Xindu City, he saw the messenger who had just arrived from Yanzhou.
"Your Majesty, the three Hulu armies have gathered in Luoyang. According to reports, there are nearly one hundred thousand in number. The reinforcements sent to Luoyang by Jin generals Li Ju, Guo Mo and others from Xingyang have been blocked, and the reinforcements from Yingchuan County have been blocked. Xun Song is restrained by Wang Mi, and Zhao Gu of Luoyang City will definitely not be able to defend Luoyang."
After learning the latest information from the messenger, Xi Jian immediately analyzed the situation for Liu Yu.
"If the Jin army in Guanzhong does not have civil strife, I am afraid that the battle of Luoyang will consume more Hulu troops."
Liu Yu said with some regret.
"However, now that the Hulu have no worries in Guanzhong, and only rely on the remnants of the Jin army in the Central Plains, it is probably impossible to help Zhao Gu defend Luoyang. In fact, I am afraid that not many Hulu people will die. "
Xi Jian continued.
"In this case, if the barbarians attack Luoyang and advance eastwards, they will threaten our Yuzhou!"
