Lu Yu seemed to have suddenly grown up and matured a lot after his father's death.
Following Liu Bian, he was very cautious in every move he made and never exceeded the rules.
Lu Yu's face remained unchanged as he said, "Your Majesty, do you want to go to Jizhou?"
Yanzhou has been pacified for more than two years and is basically stable, and efforts are being made to restore people's livelihood. Jizhou, on the other hand, is still suffering from constant banditry due to the plundering of the Black Mountain Army the year before last, making it difficult to stabilize.
Liu Bian continued to walk forward with a smile on his lips and said: "Not only Jizhou, I also want to visit Qingzhou."
Leaving aside Liangzhou, among the northern states, the most chaotic one right now is actually Qingzhou.
Although Cao Cao recruited and surrendered nearly a million Yellow Turban troops, he was never able to completely recover. The most important reason was that he had "no food." Cao Cao followed Liu Bian's wishes and carried out farming, but this only treated the symptoms rather than the root cause. In Cao Cao's case, After leaving, the "benevolent government" implemented by Kong Rong in Beihai, Huangfu Jianshou in Donglai County was somewhat unable to support himself, and the Yellow Turban Army in Qingzhou had a tendency to resurrect.
Lu Yu understood immediately and said: "Your Majesty, I am afraid that the princes in the court will not agree."
In Jizhou, the court might be able to agree, but if we go deep into Qingzhou, the courtiers will never agree - it's too dangerous!
Of course Liu Bian also knew.
As the court situation continued to stabilize, Liu Bian's constraints as emperor became increasingly clear, and he could not do many things "willfully".
Liu Bian wore regular clothes and took Lu Yu out of the palace. He said, "Lu Yu, I heard that Da Sima is not in good health recently?"
Lu Yu said: "Yes, Wei Chen went to see it. His legs are wet and cold. When the weather gets cold, he can't stand."
Liu Bian couldn't help but put his hands behind his back, looked at the bustling streets, pondered for a while, and said: "Prime Minister, are you also interested in becoming an official?"
Lu Yu's heart tightened, his expression remained unchanged, and he said: "Wei Chen has heard it too, but it should be a rumor."
Liu Bian hummed, and under the leadership of Dian Wei, he turned a corner and came to an inconspicuous teahouse at the back of the street.
When Liu Bian went up to the second floor, a skinny middle-aged man knelt down with a thud and said: "The guilty minister Kong Ni, please see your majesty!"
Liu Bian glanced at him, and after sitting down, he said, "Does Dong Zhuo know if you come out?"
Kong Nao turned to Liu Bian in panic and said: "I don't know, the guilty minister left Pei State in the name of raising food. He has done this many times before, but Dong Zhuo didn't suspect it."
Liu Bian hummed and went to make tea.
This person is the Prime Minister Pei Guo appointed by Dong Zhuo, and he has been with Dong Zhuo for almost two years.
Kong Min is also a famous person in the world. He writes excellent articles and is highly praised by many people.
But some people's evaluation of him is: Kong Gongqing talked about high things, only talked about dry things, and had no military talent, nor was he capable of perseverance.
To put it simply, many people think that Kong Niao likes to talk loudly and has no talent.
"Tell me about it." Liu Bian brewed tea slowly.
Kong Min knelt on the ground and said quickly: "Yes. Sinful minister, guilty minister has been observing carefully since he was forced to become a thief. Dong Zhuo is a wealthy man from Xiliang. He has neither the virtue of education nor the heart of awe." …”
Liu Bian listened to him preparing a long speech, and let him play with the tea set leisurely.
Not to mention Dong Zhuo and others, even if Yuan Shu and others rebelled, countless people from the shogunate and the army secretly surrendered. This Kong Niao also had his "heart toward the imperial court" and would use his connections to express his "loyalty" to the imperial court whenever he had the opportunity.
Kong Niao was also one of the relatively "high-level" members of Huangfu Jianchang's development in Dong Zhuo's power.
Kong Ni spoke for a long time and then quietly raised his head. Seeing that Liu Bian didn't seem to care, he suddenly stopped talking and said quickly: "Your Majesty, Dong Zhuo in Pei State, Liang State and other places, expropriated and killed wantonly, causing the anger of heaven and the resentment of many people. The family was steadfast and unyielding, resisted to the death, and constantly confronted Dong Zhuo. They all prayed for the sudden arrival of the king's master to put down the rebels..."
Liu Bian curled his lips unconsciously and continued to make tea.
It was true that these aristocratic families resisted Dong Zhuo, but Liu Bian didn't believe it at all when it came to being unyielding and resisting to the death.
It is not that there are no aristocratic families who yearn for the Han Dynasty, and there are not a few, but there are more who fall in love with the wind.
Lu Yu stood behind Liu Bian and finally understood why some people's evaluation of this person was "a clear talk". After talking for a long time, there was not a single important point.
Seeing that Liu Bian was slow in making tea, Lu Yu turned to Kong Niao and said calmly: "What is Dong Zhuo planning now?"
Kong Min glanced at Lu Yu, but he didn't recognize him. He paused and said, "Dong Zhuo has joined forces with Lu Bu and is trying his best to persuade Yuan Shu. He wants to form a three-party alliance and carve up the three states of Yu, Yang and Jing."
Lu Yu was still waiting for him to speak. Seeing that he had been listening for a long time, he couldn't help but said: "Keep talking."
Only then did Kong Min realize something, and he quickly said: "Your Majesty, Dong Zhuo has already formulated a strategy. He will attack Yuan Shao first. After destroying Yuan Shao, he will surround Sun Jian of Wu Commandery with Lu Bu and Yuan Shu. Then he can completely put down the threat in the southeast, and then split up. Go south and north, carve up the world, and each will achieve great things..."
Lu Yu frowned unconsciously. Kong Ni's words always felt strange and without any point.
It's like reading and ruining your brain.
Liu Bian took a sip of tea and felt that it was half boiled. He poured it down and asked casually: "Dong Zhuo forms an alliance with Yuan Shu?"
Kong Ni seemed to have thought of something and said hurriedly: "Yes, no. That's it. Yuan Shu wants to become a son and daughter with Lu Bu. This is how they form an alliance."
Liu Bian raised his eyebrows, glanced at the tea cup in his hand, and said to himself, "Why does today's tea taste so bad?"
After throwing away the tea in his hand and boiling it again, Liu Bian turned to look at Kong Min and said, "Dong Zhuo didn't have any intention of taking Xuzhou?"
It stands to reason that Xuzhou has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times, and it is close to Pei State. Dong Zhuo's annexation of Xuzhou can not only expand his territory, increase his strength, but also expand his depth. There is no reason to let it go.
When Kong Min heard this, he seemed to think of something and said: "Originally, Mr. Dong and the old thief Dong wanted to take Xuzhou, but they were dissuaded by military advisor Jia Xu. Jia Xu thought that it was not possible to confront the imperial court now, so for the time being, Leave Langya County as a buffer."
Liu Bian then realized something and said, "How many troops and horses does Dong Zhuo have now, and how much food does he have?"
Kong Min knelt on the ground, thought for a while, and said: "Military advisor Jia Xu suggested to imitate Cao Cao in farming. Therefore, it is difficult to say the exact number of troops and horses. There should be one hundred thousand. The money and food can be used for three years."
"I really underestimated them..."
Liu Bian was a little surprised and said, "Tell me what you think."
Kong Nao's expression perked up, he stood up suddenly, raised his hand and said: "Your Majesty, Dong Zhuo's wolfish ambitions must be eradicated as soon as possible. Please send a large army to conquer, and I will serve as an internal response. Dong Zhuo will be destroyed within a month!"
Liu Bian was completely disappointed with this man. He not only talked nonsense, but also talked nonsense, which was quite stupid.
Liu Bian picked up the teapot again, made tea seriously, and said: "Write a detailed memorial of what you know, focusing on the key points."
Kong Nian seemed to sense Liu Bian's attention, and he looked excited and grateful. He said to the ground: "The guilty minister accepts the decree, thank you!"
Liu Bian frowned, how could Kong Niao be so grateful?
After Kong Ni left, Liu Bian said, "What do you think?"
Lu Yu bowed and said: "Your Majesty, this person's words are confusing and confusing. I'm afraid I can't believe it."
Liu Bian nodded and said, "Send a message to Huangfu Jianchang that this person should be used with caution. Then tell him to let Yuan Shu go and keep an eye on Dong Zhuo."
"Yes." Lu Yu said.
Lu Yu now gradually took over from Pan Yin and was mainly responsible for liaison with Huangfu Jianchang.
Liu Bian picked up the tea cup and took a sip. He still felt the slight bitter taste, so he put it down directly, stood up and said, "I will pass the message to Liu Biao again. Since Sun Ce and Zhou Yu have made great achievements in fending off the enemy, I will order them to go to the capital to receive rewards."
"Yes." This time it was Pan Yin who answered.
Lu Yu was still a little confused and didn't react, but Pan Yin understood.
Sun Ce, the eldest son of Sun Jian, transferred Sun Ce to Beijing not only to restrain Sun Jian, but also as a warning.
Sun Jian acted recklessly in Wu County and even occupied Guangling County. He already had the intention of "contempting the imperial court".
When Liu Bian returned to the palace, Cao Cao had already returned to his mansion.
Guo Jiajiu never left his hand, listening to Cao Cao talking about what happened today.
Guo Jia was recruited by Liu Bian into the Grand Sima Mansion last year, but was kicked out by Huangfu Song because of several episodes of drinking.
With this 'rush', Guo Jia's official career was basically cut off, but he had no interest in it at all, but he lived very comfortably in Cao Mansion.
Guo Jia lay on his side on the small bed, waiting for Cao Cao to finish speaking, and said with a drunken look on his face: "Your Majesty just clicked these few words, which shows that the direction of the policy has not changed, and your Majesty's attention is still on the northern states."
"I also believe so,"
Cao Cao's narrow eyes flashed with a stern look, and he said: "In the past few years, the imperial court's taxes and people's livelihood have been restored. It is reasonable that your Majesty does not want to be interrupted. However, Yuan Shu was defeated, Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian, Now that Liu Biao and others have been exposed, even if the imperial court does not want to start a war, it will be no longer possible."
"And Yizhou."
Guo Jia nodded and said: "Then Liu Yan's health is very poor, and the court is holding Liu Zhang captive. If the situation becomes urgent, Liu Yan may not be able to act recklessly."
Cao Cao's face remained calm and he looked very serious, and said: "Since the year before last, there have been unknown forces attacking Hanzhong. I suspect it is Liu Yan."
Guo Jia drank, thought for a while and said, "I feel that His Majesty has not made up his mind yet."
Cao Cao was startled and said, "What determination?"
Guo Jia sat up, looked at Cao Cao and said: "Some people in the imperial court are afraid of the general, so your majesty wants to allocate food and grass to the general. This food and grass must be limited and cannot be broken. But the national power of the imperial court cannot support this. of a great war.”
Cao Cao suddenly woke up and said with blazing eyes: "So, His Majesty suddenly changed his mind and ordered me to pacify the Black Mountain Army first?"
"The Black Mountain Army is His Majesty's last worry among the northern states,"
Guo Jiadao: "It is inevitable that the Black Mountain Army will be pacified sooner or later, but your Majesty may not use this matter to delay time."
Speaking of this, Guo Jia shook his head and sneered: "Before, His Majesty said not to pay too much attention to Yuan Shu, but the government and the public were very afraid, thinking that Yuan Shu would subvert the Han Dynasty. Looking at it now, it is really ridiculous."
Cao Cao also sneered at Yuan Shu and didn't take him seriously, saying, "Then, what should I do now?"
Guo Jia drank the wine and slowly looked south, saying, "According to my estimation, after the general pacifies the Black Mountain Army, he will probably go south."
(End of chapter)
