In mid-to-late November, news from the Beiguan front line was sent back to Chang'an.
It happened to be the last dynasty at that time. The ministers understood it well, and the timing of sending this news back was a bit coincidental, just in time for the court meeting. I'm afraid it was His Majesty's deliberate arrangement...
The ministers listened and stood in the front row.
"Recently, Beiguan has won a great victory. The champion Hou Chu sent troops from Chang'an and attacked the enemy thousands of miles away, breaking through the right Beiping County. The rebels were unable to advance or retreat, and were in a dilemma.
The next day, the champion defeated six thousand enemies. He also rushed to attack the two counties in western Liaoning and eastern Liaoning to explore the enemy's strength.
Then he sent his army to take back Yuyang and went up to the valley to build the Guancheng.
A few days ago, the champion Hou Zhengbing left Liaoxi and joined our Han frontier army at the right time, with sufficient troops. The champion Hou Ling's army surrounded three and left one, leaving only the north direction of Liaoxi County, without forming an encirclement.
One day later, there were sergeants in the city who opened the city gate to welcome our troops into the city. The rebels fled northward in panic, and the champion Hou raised three thousand troops. They pursued them but failed to attack, and entered the grassland. On that night, they suddenly rushed to the north of the grassland and attacked the Green Mountains under Wuhuan's command. More than 2,600 of his troops were routed in the night.
The leader of the Green Mountain Tribe, Heluo Houjian, was captured alive, and more than 3,200 people in the tribe were captured.
The next day, Huo Hou once again sent troops to attack Wuhuanzuo Qianyang tribe, defeating more than 2,900 enemies...
This is the message from the day before yesterday... Please listen to the Holy Spirit. "
The chamberlain read it out in front of the palace, and all the ministers heard it.
After hearing the news, all the ministers thought: The champion is not fighting the rebels. He has turned his troops to attack Wuhuan and other troops on the northeastern front. The change is most natural... Wuhuan at this time The tribes were shocked, fearing that they had been disrupted by the champion.
"My lords, I think that the war news from the border said that he deserves the title of great military exploits. Do your lords have any objection?"
Seeing that all the ministers bowed their heads and no one had any objections, the emperor smiled and announced his withdrawal from the court.
He arranged to read out the battle situation in Beiguan at the court meeting, just to let the ministers know that fighting in Beiguan had begun, and the battles were victorious. It was useless to stop it, and all ministries needed to cooperate with each other.
The news reached Dong Zhongshu's ears at noon that day.
"The champion sent troops from Beiguan... and also attacked the Wuhuan tribes?" Dong Zhongshu frowned.
The clerk Bai Yu sent back to deliver the news nodded and said:
"Yes, the news sent back from Beiguan said that the champion Hou's troops were so sharp that none of the northern border barbarians were his enemies, and he won consecutive battles. Some border barbarians heard his name and moved north, not daring to fight.
The champion Hou Zhenmao is also a hero, and he exaggerates the power of my great man. "
Even the little official was a little excited, his face full of joy.
Dong Zhongshu glanced at the clerk, but felt bitter in his heart. The champion went to the border to quell the rebellion, but by the way, he led the war to the grassland and never came back. What should we do?
It depends on what Champion Hou wants. If he is allowed to continue fighting, can he wipe out all the foreign invaders along the Northeast?
"I want to go to the palace."
Dong Zhongshu made some preparations and soon entered the palace again to ask for an audience with Emperor Liu Che.
study.
Dong Zhongshu, led by the chamberlain, bowed in and said with a salute: "I have seen your Majesty."
"Master Dong, what's the matter?"
"I do have something to ask of Your Majesty.
Can your Majesty issue an order to transfer Lang Zhongling from the border back to Chang'an? "
Liu Che looked away from the memorial in his hand and looked at Dong Zhongshu.
Master Dong was about to speak when Liu Che pulled out three memorials from the low seat and pushed them over the air: "Master, take a look at these memorials first."
Dong Zhongshu bowed his head, picked up a volume, and unfolded it.
The content of the volume is that three months ago, Huo Qubing attacked the Xiongnu for the second time, defeated the Xiongnu royal court troops, swept through the royal court's subordinate ministries, suffered losses in that battle, and captured the gains of each tribe.
According to statistics after the war by the Da Nong Order, the gains from the victory were higher than the battle losses.
Because it was the Xiongnu royal tribe that was defeated, the income gained was quite a lot. After the defeat, there was still a surplus, which was used to replenish the national treasury.
"After attacking the Xiongnu, Lang Zhongling led his troops back. The captured baggage stretched for several miles, including horses, cattle, sheep, prisoners, various types of leather, animal horns, treasures and other items.
This is what Qu Bing said. If you can keep winning, you will get richer as you fight. "
Dong Zhongshu remained silent and silently picked up the second memorial.
This volume is written about Huo Qubing's expedition out of Xiguan to attack the Qiang people during his wedding. It is also about the post-war losses and captures.
"The doctor ordered to attack the Qiang people. Not much was captured, but even fewer troops were sent. He only led 200 forbidden troops, so the losses were almost negligible."
The emperor kept writing on a memorial scroll and spoke in a distracted manner.
Dong Zhongshu picked up the third bamboo slip.
"This volume is about Lang Zhongling's attack on the front line of Yuyang."
"The comparison between battle losses and capture gains has not been finalized yet, but the defeated rebels were well-armed and had thousands of armors. The gains from capture are still much higher than the battle losses."
"Lang Zhongling has recently had several battles with the Xiongnu, Western Qiang, and Huainan rebels. He has swept through all the enemies and has made a surplus.
Master, do you still want to oppose me and Lang Zhongling’s ambition to open up new territories? "
The emperor's tone became increasingly harsh, and he stated that opening up new territories was the common aspiration of himself and Huo Qubing, and his meaning was clear.
Every time there is a war, there is a surplus. No wonder the Da Nong Order has no objection to war recently... Dong Zhongshu's thoughts fluctuated.
He took a deep breath, took out the dossier he had prepared before coming, took it out of his sleeve, and presented it to the emperor:
“Your Majesty, please look.
This is the income and expenditure of our treasury in recent years. The cost of raising troops, combat costs, and training costs are all among the top five.
In addition, there is chaos in the currency system, chaos in the coinage of counties and states, private ownership of salt and iron, and consumption such as loss of balance.
Each one is shocking.
If His Majesty does not make adjustments and establish a new inspection system, he will be virtuous and upright. The national treasury is empty, and our country’s national strength is getting weaker and weaker! "
The emperor frowned slightly as he flipped through the simple book in front of him.
Isn't he unaware of these situations? However, when governing a country, some matters touch upon so many interest groups that even the emperor cannot resolve them in one word. It takes time to make improvements.
"My veteran is not opposed to the war, but is worried about these things and wants to discuss with His Majesty to postpone the use of troops.
Give me a few years of buffering in the middle of the court to manage everything, and then I can use troops again. "Dong Zhongshu said.
The emperor said: "Then I also want to ask Master. Good generals have been hard to find in ancient times, and generals such as great generals and champions who have never been born in the world are even rarer.
I got it, I feel so happy, Master, can you possibly understand it?
Having good generals but not using them is like having a good opportunity but not seizing it.
I have been adjusting the state affairs, but now that the Xiongnu have suffered a new defeat, it is the time to expand their territory and sweep across the barbarians. If we miss this opportunity, it will be too late to regret it.
Regarding the relevant war, I, the general, and the lieutenant general have deduced it many times, and they all feel that to endure the temporary hardship, even if I scrimp on food and clothing, I still have to fight. If I want to fight, I will definitely not allow the barbarians to raise their heads. Master, do you think so? "
Dong Zhongshu sighed: "The champion has always won every battle, and I have seen this too.
The Xiongnu and other tribes are so ambitious that as long as they have a little respite, they will come again. Kou Bianchen also knows it.
I think about it every day. What the champion said is not unreasonable, so let’s fight. "
Why?
The emperor was startled. In the first half, you seemed to be trying to convince me with facts and truth, but in the second half, you took a sudden turn and agreed to fight?
Why does it spin so fast?
Dong Zhongshu: "The old minister hesitated several times and wanted to use his strength to stop the war, but these days I thought about it again and again, so let's fight.
However, I believe that a strict supervision system must be set up to prevent excessive military expenditure and all money being used for war. "
The emperor vaguely understood what Dong Zhongshu meant.
Although the old master turned a corner, he did not turn completely.
He planned to change his approach.
With Huo Qubing's victorious military record and the emperor's strong support, he couldn't stop him even if he wanted to.
If we continue to obstruct him, the relationship with the emperor and Huo Qubing will become increasingly rigid, which will only make things worse and nothing can be done.
So Master Dong was going to change his routine and discuss it.
The saying goes, join if you can't beat them, that's what it means.
Of course, the main reason was that after several months of observation, Huo Qubing's continuous victories increased Dong Zhongshu's confidence in fighting and made him change his original intention.
The strong-willed Master Dong was ready to become a wallflower and move closer to the emperor and Huo Qubing.
In a powerful group, there cannot be all those who charge forward. There must be people who can remind and brake at critical moments.
The emperor himself also likes a group of ministers who can coordinate civil and military affairs and restrain each other.
Liu Che's thoughts changed slightly and he said: "If Master is ready to become an official again, I can allow Master to serve as prime minister or censor."
Dong Zhongshu: "Your Majesty can appoint me as the head of the Imperial Academy. I can offer wine in the contemporary academy. My wish is enough. I can also make suggestions for Your Majesty."
The head of Taixue is equivalent to the president of a national university in the Han Dynasty and a leading figure in contemporary culture.
In a sense, he is equivalent to the head of the staff group behind the emperor, participating in discussions on the direction of national policy and correcting the emperor's direction of governing the country.
This position was very suitable for Dong Zhongshu. He had a detached status and would not directly compete with the various factions in the DPRK, which was conducive to making troubles.
"For the champion, I am also convinced. I am seventeen years old...oh, now I am eighteen. He is the only one who can fight for supremacy on the battlefield and win many battles. Throughout history, he is the only one.
Could your Majesty please recall Huo Hou to Chang'an first? Winter is about to come and it will be difficult to continue using troops.
When Marquis Huo returns to Chang'an, the ministers and others will discuss all matters together? "Dong Zhongshu turned the topic back to the original request.
The emperor thought that Qubing had secretly announced yesterday that he had sent out troops one after another to defeat many tribes in Wuhuan and captured the enemy leaders with lightning speed. The base of the secret forces has been found, east of Fuyu. After leaving Liaoxi County, one needs to go deeper into the northeast.
If you want to completely remove it, you can wipe out the Wuhuan tribes at the same time. Qubing's secret book also said that there are signs of Xiongnu activities in this area... Regarding related matters, it is indeed necessary to summon Qubing back to Chang'an. After discussion, we can fully promote it.
In late November, Huo Qubing received the emperor's edict, so he made some arrangements and returned to Chang'an from Beiguan under the protection of his own army.
In the afternoon of late November, Weiyang Palace, study room.
"I have met Your Majesty." Huo Qubing bowed and saluted.
"No need to be polite, sit down."
The emperor looked up and down, with a look of joy on his face: "Master Dong and others haven't come yet, but I happen to have something to talk to you about alone. You come with me."
Huo Qubing was slightly surprised. Why should he go to a special place to talk about something?
Immediately he stood up with the emperor.
Liu Che waved his hand and the stars began to change.
The two came to the depths of Weiyang Palace, outside an independent palace.
In this palace, the entrance hall is shrouded in rich purple energy, and the huge door, which is three feet high, looks like two pieces of purple jade, brilliant and gorgeous.
On the huge purple jade door, there are countless symbols engraved on it.
Huo Qubing glanced around. This was another completely sealed secret courtyard in the palace.
He has been in and out of the palace for many years, and this is the first time he knows that Weiyang Palace has such a place.
The emperor personally stepped forward and pushed the door with one hand.
There were red and purple patterns on the door, which met in Liu Che's hands, and finally opened on both sides with a heavy sound.
Suddenly, the national destiny of Weiyang Palace was filled with purple energy, shining brightly in the sky.
(End of chapter)
