A few days later, Luoyang City, the Imperial Palace, and the Yushitai.
Censor Zhongcheng Liu Biao has recently felt tremendous pressure, not only from changes, but also from various overt and covert struggles between the government and the opposition.
There were hundreds of impeachment memorials received every day, and they were distributed throughout the imperial court, local governors, governors, prefects, and generals at all levels.
What he has received the most in the past few days is the impeachment of Dong Zhuo, accusing him of holding back his troops and sitting back and watching Yuan Shu's rebellion, and he should be punished.
He looked at these impeachment memorials and had a headache and didn't know what to do with them.
First, the power of Yushitai covers the whole country, and those who can actually operate it are limited to Sili, and Sili's officials, large and small, have a complicated network of relationships that he cannot easily control.
Secondly, he didn't know what to do. Like Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, Prime Minister Yang Biao, and Zuocheng Wang Yun, what could he do? Simply push it to the top, and if something happens later, he will still have to bear the responsibility.
Thirdly, Liu Biao also took his reputation into consideration and offended both the government and the public. What else could this official do?
"Zhongcheng!"
A clerk hurried in, handed over an official document, and said, "He's from Chenliu County."
Liu Biao took it calmly, glanced at it, his expression suddenly changed, and said: "The supervisory censor Jiang Sheng and more than ten people were killed by bandits?"
Then, with a serious look on his face, he stared at the official document, his eyes constantly changing.
This official document was written by a surviving historian, but the content was vague, vaguely pointing to the fact that someone in Chenliu County was silenced!
Liu Biao felt a strong sense of uneasiness in his heart. Chen stayed with Sili and openly killed the court official, which meant that Jiang Sheng and others must have found something, which led to the disaster of death!
Liu Biao thought about it, but still felt it was inappropriate, so he got up and walked out of the Yushitai and went straight to the Shangshutai.
After entering the Chancellor's Desk, he saw that it was busy inside. When he came to the door of Prime Minister Yang Biao's duty room, the clerk hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Prime Minister Liu Zhongcheng, the Prime Minister has left the capital to inspect the Third Assistant."
Liu Biao exclaimed, suddenly reacting, remembering that Wang Yun had gone to Bingzhou, and asked, "Who else is at the Chancellor's desk?"
"Xun Shangshu is here," the clerk said.
also.
Liu Biao nodded and turned directly to the officials.
Xun You's status in the Chancellor's Desk was special. He seemed to represent the palace, and no one could underestimate him.
Liu Biao came to Xun You's room door and saw him immersed in writing and waiting quietly.
Not long after, Xun You, the clerk on duty, came from outside. When he saw Liu Biao, he quickly raised his hand and said, "I have seen Liu Zhongcheng."
Xun You inside heard the sound and raised his head. When he saw it was Liu Biao, he put down his pen and came out to greet him, saying, "Who is Liu Zhongcheng?"
Liu Biao smiled slightly and said: "There are some things that need to be discussed with Xun Shangshu."
"Cheng Cheng, please." Xun You turned around, doubts flashing in his eyes.
Liu Biao was the censor Zhongcheng and was in charge of the censor's platform. He had a special status. However, he was low-key and never participated in court affairs. He seemed to focus on the censor's platform and was rarely seen.
Liu Biao entered the room with a smile and sat down with Xun You respectively.
After the clerk served tea and left, Liu Biao sipped the tea and said with a smile, "Did Shangshu Xun get this tea from Yingchuan?"
Xun You didn't know the purpose of Liu Biao's visit, so he put down his teacup and said, "This official doesn't understand tea, which makes Zhongcheng laugh."
Liu Biao was really not familiar with Xun You, and seeing that he could no longer exchange pleasantries, he took out the official document, handed it to Xun You, and said, "Xun Shangshu, take a look at this first."
Xun You was already prepared. He took it and opened it. He read it carefully and was puzzled. He said, "What does Liu Zhongcheng mean?"
Liu Biao pondered for a while and said: "Xun Shangshu, I suspect that something has happened to Chen Liu."
Xun You's heart skipped a beat, thinking about Chen Liu's position, and asked, "What is the specific matter?"
Liu Biao said: "I don't know yet. However, the reason I sent the supervisory censor there was because someone was impeaching Zhang Miao for being related to Qiao Mao. I sent people to Chenliu in the name of 'investigating corruption'. Not many people know."
Xun You understood what he said and said, "What Zhongcheng means is that Zhang Miao killed people and silenced them?"
Liu Biao nodded calmly and said, "I suspect that Jiang Sheng has found something. Chen Liu, maybe something big will happen!"
Xun You was thinking about Chen Liu, then turned to Chen Guo and Dong Zhuo who were right next to him. His expression became solemn, and he suddenly said to the door: "Is Your Majesty in the palace?"
The clerk pushed open the door and said, "Go back to the minister, your majesty is not in the palace."
Xun You frowned and said to himself, "Your Majesty has been out of the palace a lot lately. Is there something wrong?"
The clerk listened and said: "I heard that your Majesty recently visited the Forbidden Army Camp, Taicang, the arsenal, and the bank... It seems that he also intended to go to Shenyuan Pass, but he was persuaded by the Grand Sima."
Xun You was startled, then looked at Liu Biao and said, "Zhongcheng, how about we go to see Da Sima together?"
Liu Biao thought for a moment and said, "Okay."
The two of them got up and walked around the Jiade Hall to the Grand Sima Mansion.
Huangfusong was equally busy and exhausted. The whole Han Dynasty seemed to be in a war. The strategies, tactics, successes and failures involved in various wars, and the subsequent conscription, resettlement, money and food, pensions, etc., Huangfusong wished that there were seventy-two hours in a day.
The three of them sat down, and Xun You said directly: "Da Sima, Chen Liu and Zhang Miao may have something unusual."
Huangfusong has an expressionless face and a cold demeanor. At first glance, he seems to be the kind of person who is not easy to get along with.
He looked at Xun You, then glanced at Liu Biao, and said, "Zhang Miao rebelled."
"What!"
Xun You and Liu Biao were shocked and couldn't believe it.
It was just a corruption investigation, how could it lead to rebellion?
Xun You suddenly calmed down, frowned, and thought: "It's probably related to the eunuch or the Yuan family."
The recent series of bad things, if seriously investigated, can more or less be traced back to the eunuchs, He Jin, and the Yuan family.
Liu Biao glanced at him and shook his head secretly.
If the imperial court acted decisively and wiped out all the members of the eunuchs and Yuan family, how could things like this happen today?
From Yuan Yi to Qiaomao, the fall of Yanzhou three times, and then the Black Mountain Army's attack on Jizhou, they came and went freely. The weakness of the imperial court was exposed time and time again. How could such ambitious people still sit still?
Liu Biao felt that the imperial court was too weak. If he were to guard the place, even if he did not rebel, he would probably be able to stand on his own.
"Zhang Miao leads an army of ten thousand and is marching towards Luoyang." Huangfu Song said calmly.
Xun You and Liu Biao were horrified and their mouths were open, unable to say a word.
They could guess that if Zhang Miao rebelled, he must be colluding with Yuan Shu. They never expected that Zhang Miao would actually send troops to Luoyang!
"Then, what should Da Sima do?" Liu Biao felt his mouth was dry and his heart was in panic.
There is almost no defense between Luoyang and Chenliu. If a large army comes, they can march straight in and hit Luoyang City!
Seeing Huangfu Song's calm expression, Xun You asked, "Has Grand Sima already prepared a response?"
Huangfu Song said: "Zhonglang General Zhao Yun has led 10,000 troops and has left the capital."
Xun You looked at Huangfu Song with a strange look in his eyes.
The reaction of Da Sima Mansion was a little too fast?
"Zhao Yun?"
Liu Biao was a little skeptical and said: "He is just starting out, can he win?"
Huangfu Song said nothing, his expression was cold, as if he was distant from others.
Liu Biao's mouth moved and he turned to Xun You.
Xun You made some calculations silently and said, "Da Sima, have you given orders to Cao Cao?"
Huangfu Song said: "Cao Cao should leave."
Xun You felt relieved and said, "That's okay."
"Does your Majesty know this?" Liu Biao suddenly asked.
Xun You also looked at Huangfu Song. Recently, Liu Bian often left the palace, which was unusually high.
"Xu Huangmen has gone." Huangfu Song said.
Xun You was thoughtful, raised his hand and said: "Concerning Yuzhou, may I ask the Grand Sima if he has any new countermeasures?"
Huangfu Song had no expression on his face. He pondered for a while and said, "Shang Shu Xun needs to ask His Majesty about this."
Xun You frowned and looked at Huangfu Song slightly. He had many problems with Yuan Shu's rebellion and the court's response before, and he seemed to be conniving.
Xun You didn't say much, and left with Liu Biao.
Not far from Da Sima's mansion, Xun You suddenly whispered: "Liu Zhongcheng, is it your intention to investigate Zhang Miao?"
Liu Biao was stunned for a moment and said, "Someone made a complaint, so I sent someone to investigate secretly."
Xun You became more and more confused and nodded without saying anything more.
Puguang Temple, backyard wing.
Liu Bian got out of bed in his single clothes, sat in front of the charcoal stove, and took a pile of memorials and official documents from Xu Yan.
Xu Yan quietly glanced behind the curtain, and there was a vague shadow shaking. He lowered his head silently, not daring to look more.
The first memorial was written by Mu Dingyuan of Yanzhou. Both inside and outside the memorial were about impeaching Cao Cao, killing innocent people indiscriminately, cultivating private individuals, supporting soldiers to respect themselves, etc.
The second is a memorial written by Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou, requesting the imperial court to send troops for support.
The third one comes from the memorial written by Mu Zhujun of Qingzhou, saying that the Yellow Turban Army was regaining its momentum and requesting the court to increase troops, supply money, food, and military pay.
The fourth is a memorial from Youzhou Mu Liu Yu. This memorial contains good news. Wuhuan, Xianbei and others withdrew their troops, confessed their crimes, promised not to invade the border, and could send troops to assist the Han Dynasty in quelling the rebellion.
Liu Bian looked thoughtful, and after a moment, he picked up the official document again.
These official documents came from various departments of the imperial court and local officials. They were different from the formal memorials and described things in more detail and miscellaneous ways.
Liu Bian flipped through the pages one by one, picked up the pen, and commented a few sentences from time to time.
"Um?"
Suddenly, Liu Bian saw a letter from Lu Zhi, the pastor of Bingzhou. After explaining the reform of Bingzhou, he finally recommended Liu Bei, the former Gaotang magistrate, as the prime minister of Pengcheng.
At the back is Liu Bei's detailed resume, especially his military exploits, which is densely packed and contains more than a dozen lines.
Liu Bian narrowed his eyes slightly and leaned back.
Cai Wenji got dressed and came out and sat next to Liu Bian. Seeing his happy face, she poured tea and laughed softly: "What is your majesty happy about?"
Liu Bian took the tea cup and said, "Well, Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu, has rebelled and is sending troops to Luoyang."
Cai Wenji's pretty face froze, what kind of happy thing is this? Seeing the teasing look in Liu Bian's eyes again, he rolled his eyes angrily.
Liu Bian smiled and sorted out the memorials, official documents, etc., handed them to Xu Yan, and said: "Tell the Grand Sima to follow the established strategy. Zhang Liao is about to leave Youzhou, and sent a message to the Grand Sima, ordering Zhang Liao to station in Jizhou and obey the orders of Zhisu. Captain Xun Yu. Inform the officials that I have approved Liu Bei's appointment."
"Yes." Xu Yan took the memorial and lowered his head. He never dared to visit Cai Wenji. His Majesty the Emperor went out of the palace to have a private meeting with the widow. If this spread to the palace, it would probably cause big trouble!
