"Brother, why do you want to follow the princes and kings?"
"The Demon Queen brought trouble to the Han Dynasty, and the powerful ministers controlled the Liu family's imperial power. Why do you think I should follow the princes and kings?"
"But the Four Kings let the bandits go to Chang'an and did something that would hurt their loved ones and make their enemies happy. Is it worth following them?"
“Those who achieve great things don’t stick to trivial matters!”
"Brother, have you ever thought about what this world will be like?
Have you ever thought about what role you want to play in this world?
Have you ever thought about how to stabilize the world? "
"What do you want to do? As long as you have a weapon in your hand, where can't there be a place for you and my brother?"
"Brother, you are wrong.
Those who do not plan for the eternity cannot plan for a moment.
In the days since we left Nanyang County, we traveled across the entire Central Plains and saw countless scenes of displacement. Didn’t you notice that?
Nowadays, there are wars and chaos in the world, and the people are suffering. However, the root cause of the chaos lies not only with the people, but also with the powerful people all over the world. It is they who have caused the world to become chaotic.
To untie the bell, one must tie the bell. If you want the world to settle down as quickly as possible, you must let the powerful stay in the counties and counties safely, and let these powerful people enter the order of the court safely. "
"But it is the national policy of the Han Dynasty to attack the powerful. Although Wang Mang's restructuring failed, it is right to attack the powerful. Taking back the annexed land must be done."
"Yes, it is right to attack powerful people.
But the price of displacement in this world is the ubiquitous war, the plague that may appear at any time, the bones lying on the roadside, and the empty cities in the counties. These are the price of fighting against the powerful!
When I just left Nanyang County, I dreamed of becoming Zhi Jinwu, executing the emperor's orders to fight against the powerful and safeguard the Han Dynasty.
But now, I wonder how much more blood will be shed?
How many more people are going to die?
Once the powerful are completely defeated, won't new powerful ones appear?
The man's vitality was exhausted in this. Wouldn't the surrounding enemies take advantage of this opportunity to invade?
Can the Han Dynasty's country survive in such chaos?
Now I just want to make the world stable, even if it means compromising with the powerful.
I want the war to disappear from the Central Plains, and I don’t want to see those scenes of human tragedy again.
I want the Han Dynasty to continue to exist, and not to see the current situation of turmoil.
The restructuring of Wang Mang and that young master Qi may be right in the future, but I don't agree with it now.
I will use my own way to stabilize the world and let the destiny of the great man still remain in the sky.
Brother, those four princes and kings are short-sighted and cannot achieve great things.
Come back to Nanyang County with your brother. We will join the imperial army and defeat those bandits.
It can not only prevent the big man's destiny from declining, but also absorb the strength of those thieves. This is the best way to grow stronger.
When we become stronger, we will be able to do what we want to do. "
…
Liu Xiu rode his horse and galloped on the straight road, surrounded by hundreds of warriors. His brother's voice seemed to still be lingering in his ears, "Axiu, please take these hundreds of brothers back. We brothers will say goodbye. I hope we won’t encounter them on the battlefield.”
Thinking of this, Liu Xiu felt like a knife was twisting in his heart.
Although he is a Confucian scholar, he is not a thin Confucian scholar, but a fierce man who can charge into battle.
After the rebels crossed the Liang Kingdom, they fought a protracted battle with the imperial officers and soldiers around Luoyang. Facing the rebels who were so powerful and more proficient in military warfare, the imperial army retreated steadily.
It wasn't until the Knights of Three Rivers returned to their hometown that they were completely stable.
The imperial court did not dare to send all the troops to the Sanhe area because the current imperial court was suspicious of all Han clan clan members. There was only Wuguan between Nanyang County and Guanzhong.
What if the Forbidden Army gets out of the pass and is blocked directly outside the pass. When the pass is empty and the army of the Han clan directly breaks into the pass, what should we do?
The orphans of Yulin and the children of the six counties are to deal with those who may pose a threat to Guanzhong, and subsequently deal with the princes.
Liu Xiu joined the war against bandits in the name of a clan member of the Han Dynasty and was appointed as a school captain. He quickly became famous for his bravery in battle and good strategies.
Not all powerful men in the Han Dynasty were against the imperial court. They were only opposed to the imperial court's policy of equalizing land. However, due to the traditional loyalty of scholar-bureaucrats, they were still loyal to the Han Dynasty. Their goal was to replace the current rulers, the four princes. There are many such powerful men under the king's command.
Naturally, they suppressed the rebels like Chimei and Donghai crazily. At the same time, the rebels from the Jingzhou Governor's Department began to rise at the same time. Nanyang County was the first to bear the brunt and suddenly became the front line to protect Guanzhong.
The clansmen and powerful people in Nanyang County began to defect to him. These powerful clansmen were all descendants of the same clan. They were familiar with weapons and had extremely high fighting qualities. They did not need training at all. Moreover, they came in hundreds or even thousands of people and brought their own weapons. Liu Xiu's strength quickly expanded.
During the thousand-year history of the state, Haojing only served as the capital for two hundred years, while Luoyang served as its capital for eight hundred years. There were several passes around Luoyang.
After the rebels broke through Hulao Pass with lightning speed, the defenders and rebels guarding other passes launched a fierce battle for these passes. On the contrary, the main city of Luoyang was ignored by both sides.
As Liu Xiu's reputation gradually increased, Liu Xiu, who had thousands of people, soon became a thorn in the side of the rebels. Betrayed by the traitors, nearly 50,000 people from the Eastern Navy surrounded Liu Xiu's army.
When there is no way to heaven and no way to earth.
It turned out to be cloudy and rainy, and it was difficult to see in the darkness.
Liu Xiu took advantage of this opportunity and led the cavalry to attack decisively. In the fierce wind, they raided the rebel barracks.
Amid the roaring shouts, the rebels could not look at each other and fled in all directions, suffering heavy casualties.
Liu Xiu killed the King of East China Sea on the spot without anyone seeing it. When he killed the King of East China Sea, a little purple star rushed into his body.
In the first battle, he defeated a rebel army and killed a rebel king. This battle made Liu Xiu famous. He was appointed by the imperial court as a general of Ping Kou and promoted to Marquis of Guannei. For Liu Xiu's forces, he also recruited and surrendered a large number of people. The rebel army, for Liu Xiu personally, started a family and started a career, and this battle was completed.
Although he did not become Zhijinwu, he married Yin Lihua, and his life wish was half fulfilled.
Liu Xiu, who suddenly became one of the most powerful warlords in Luoyang, still adhered to his previous path. He continued to fight bravely. His power became stronger as he fought, and his personal abilities also grew stronger.
Not only the rebel army, but also the coalition of princes and kings. When the number of troops under his command exceeded 30,000, Liu Xiu wrote to the four princes and kings, saying sincerely: "The emperor rules in the center, and the princes and kings guard on the four sides. Such a big man His destiny will not be lost.
Now that you are pressing forward like this, it is the internal strife between the Liu family. Regardless of victory or defeat, the Liu family will lose after all. Our ancestors and clans are on top, won’t they shed tears when they see this scene? "
This letter was immediately discarded as soon as it arrived. How could things stop at this point? Liu Xiu naturally knew this, but after making peace with him, it was spread throughout the world that he was both loyal and filial. , take the overall situation into consideration, and have the reputation of being determined to prosper the Han Dynasty.
The sudden rise of Liu Xiu suddenly frustrated the rebel army's desire to march into Guanzhong, and the shortcomings of these refugees' armed forces without a base were exposed.
Liu Xiu organized continuous battles with the rebels, and skillfully used the tactics of luring the enemy in. The two sides were killed with blood and flesh, and Liu Xiu's power was damaged. However, the rebels also suffered heavy losses, and the three largest rebel armies were all killed. He was beaten to pieces.
During this process, Liu Xiu was promoted to a noble rank.
But a turning point that no one expected came at this time. Seeing that the rebel army was continuously hit hard by Liu Xiu, the coalition of princes and kings could not sit still, and directly crossed Hulao Pass and attacked Liu Xiu.
The princes and kings of the Liu family actually united with the rebel army to attack a Liu family member!
Who could have imagined this?
Moreover, the imperial court believed that the heavily damaged peasant army could no longer pose a threat, and also asked Liu Xiu to attack the princes and kings' army. The imperial court denounced the coalition of princes and kings as "treason."
However, to the court, there was really no difference between the coalition forces of princes and kings and the peasant army. When these two groups entered Chang'an, starting from the Empress Dowager and others, Wang Mang and others were probably not able to survive.
Naturally, Liu Xiu would not obey the imperial edict. He wrote a letter directly to Chang'an, "Although the bandits are tired now, they are like sparks. This chaotic world is like firewood. If we let it go, it will soon be over." Rekindled the fire.
There should be full cooperation between the court and the princes.
The imperial court should abolish the land-related part of the New Deal so that the heroes of the world can safely serve the imperial court. "
These words could almost be regarded as a political statement. Liu Xiu waited uneasily for the news from Chang'an. This was the best solution he chose for the world's situation and his last effort to deal with the situation of the Han Dynasty.
He has been keenly aware that as the peasant army gradually declined, his army also began to have strange thoughts. Those powerful people who had previously supported him turned to the princes and kings in their thinking.
This is an extremely bad signal. The imperial court is powerful, but the powerful forces in Guandong can defeat Guanzhong together. The battle between the two sides must be extremely fierce. I don't know how it will end.
If the court is willing to compromise, he can mediate the relationship between the court and the powerful, thereby quelling the chaos among the princes and kings.
Liu Xiu hurried back to the city and asked anxiously: "Where is the Holy Apostle?"
When Yin Lihua sent the imperial edict, Liu Xiu quickly opened it and saw that the sky was dizzy and the earth was spinning. Wang Mang scolded him sternly, saying that as a general, he only had to obey the orders of the imperial court and fight. How could he discuss the important affairs of the imperial court? !
Liu Xiu could see from this his infinite distrust of the Liu clan, and the court was suspicious of his intentions.
The news of the imperial edict spread quickly. When the heroes who joined Liu Xiu saw such a strongly worded edict, they completely thought of switching to the army of princes and kings.
Liu Xiu was naturally aware of this situation. He looked around and felt a sense of despair. The land of Luoyang was now in his predicament. How could he save the world of this great man?
The imperial court, princes, kings, and powerful men were all digging for the foundation of the Han Dynasty. Yin Lihua accompanied Liu Xiu and looked at her husband. A great hero who was upright and upright said warmly: "My dear man, if the world does not do what you want, you can do what you want!"
There are still loyal ministers in the world, and there are princes in the land of Guandong. You are now a great hero. Maybe the five clans and seven families are waiting for your appearance?
Who says that the Han Dynasty cannot be revived? "
Yin Lihua's words were like thunder exploding, like a clear spring flowing straight into his heart, which made Liu Xiu excited. Although it would be difficult to get the approval of the Five Clan and Seven Families, it would be as difficult as climbing to the sky, but it would be like sitting in a trap here. many.
"Having a good wife at home is a blessing."
Liu Xiu made up his mind.
…
"Where is Mr. Liu Jun? There is an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager."
"Uncle Wen went to the land of the five families!"
The messenger looked pale, and after being delayed by flash floods for several days, he could not find the rightful owner.
————
Enlisting heroes and fighting in Heluo, the group of thieves were somewhat calm. However, the kings were cunning and Wang Mang manipulated power, and they were separated. He said with emotion: "There is no way for the group of thieves to make plans!"
So he traveled to five states alone. ——"Book of the Later Han Dynasty·The Chronicles of Guangwu"
(End of chapter)
