I, Liu Bian, the hero

Chapter 22
In the middle of the night, Eldest Changqiu Zhao Zhong hurriedly summoned his younger brother Zhao Chun to Changqiu Palace to inquire carefully about what happened in Chongde Hall today.

Zhao Chun didn't dare to hide anything, so he told his elder brother exactly.

Zhao Zhong was horrified when he heard this, and murmured: "Shi Daoren really deserves to be a person who has attained the Tao. He actually cultivated Shihou so schemingly, and deceived most of the people in the palace. Fortunately, we have never had any enemies with Shihou... "

Zhao Chun asked Zhao Zhong, "Second brother, what should I do?"

Zhao Zhong pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked: "How does Shihou treat you?"

"It should be taken seriously." Zhao Chun thought for a while and replied: "Shihou has told me more than once that as long as I am loyal to him, there will be rewards in the future.... I didn't feel anything at first, but after what happened today , I suspect that this may be Shi Hou's warning to me."

"Well."

Zhao Zhong nodded in agreement, and immediately told Zhao Chun, "Since Shihou values ​​you, you must not let Shihou down."

After all, he sighed with emotion, and said again: "I am afraid that the days when Brother Wei and Zhang let you be in power will not be long, and Guo Sheng is not too young, so he should not pose a threat to you. It seems that if it is as I said before, In the future, most of my brothers will rely on you."

"Second brother..." Zhao Chun's face changed slightly, and he felt a little stressed.

"Don't act like a little girl." Zhao Zhong scolded with a smile, and then lowered his voice and said: "The foundation of my life lies in the word loyalty. Shihou has no confidants in the palace. As long as you seize the opportunity, you will be powerful in the future." Limited quantity... By the way, keep an eye on Zhang Rang, I looked at his expression today, he doesn't seem to give up, you have to be very vigilant, and I will watch for you as a brother."

"Yes!" Zhao Chun nodded seriously.

Looking at the back of his younger brother saying goodbye and leaving, Zhao Zhongxin thought to himself that he was lucky. Fortunately, he had an idea at that time and took the opportunity to put his younger brother Zhao Chun next to that Shi Hou, otherwise he would inevitably worry about gains and losses like Zhang Rang.

At the same time, in the dormitory of Jiafang Hall, Liu Bian, who was lying on the couch, did not fall asleep with his arms around Cai Yan, but lay on his back with his hands on his pillow, recalling what happened today.

Of course he knows that his performance today will definitely have a certain impact on Lu Zhi, especially Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and others, which may lead to some negative reactions, but he does not regret it, after all, he wants to get the prince of Jian Guo If he is a young man, then no one can despise him because of his age.

"It should be that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages..."

he murmured.

Xu Shi heard Liu Bian's murmur, and Cai Yan who was on the same bed suddenly turned around.

It's strange to say that Cai Yan has always disliked Liu Bian's hugging her to sleep every night, and his hands are not regular, but today Liu Bian suddenly stopped hugging her, and she felt a little uncomfortable instead.

"Your Highness, did something happen in Chongde Hall today?" Cai Yan asked worriedly.

"It's nothing." Liu Bian shook his head, not intending to tell the troubles in his heart to the girl beside him, so he changed the subject and said, "Wen Ji hasn't slept yet?"

Cai Yan didn't have the nerve to say what he felt in his heart, but seeing Liu Bian's refusal to tell the truth, he turned his back angrily.

Seeing such a big movement, Liu Bian immediately understood, and said with a smile: "I understand, it's because I didn't hug Wen Ji, Wen Ji couldn't fall asleep..."

After that, he grinned and put his body on it.

"Bah." Cai Yan spat softly in embarrassment, but she didn't struggle. Maybe just like what Liu Bian teased her, she was indeed gradually getting used to being hugged by the person next to her every night, otherwise she would feel a little uncomfortable.

At dawn the next day, when Liu Bian and Cai Yan got dressed and walked out of the bedroom, Liu Bian saw Zhao Chun and the two young eunuchs standing outside the house at a glance.

"Shihou."

Zhao Chun bowed and saluted, more respectful than usual.

Liu Bian nodded, and while Cai Yan was washing up, he asked Zhao Chun, "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

He was just probing casually, but after Zhao Chun hesitated, he said in a low voice: "Last night, my brother called me to meet at Changqiu Palace."

"..."

Liu Bian looked at Zhao Chun in surprise, and asked, "What did you say?"

Zhao Chun said in a low voice: "My brother told me to be loyal to Shihou, and told me to keep an eye on Zhang Rang. He might do something that displeased Shihou. My brother also said that he would Help Shihou stare at Zhang Rang, and solve some unnecessary troubles for Shihou."

Liu Bian took a deep look at Zhao Chun, and nodded secretly in his heart: Zhao Zhong's ability to climb to the current high position really cannot be underestimated.

Through Zhao Zhong's hint, Liu Bian could easily guess that both Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong should have realized that the rights of their servants in the palace would be restricted to a certain extent in the future, and they would no longer be as unscrupulous as they are now.

Regarding this matter, Zhang Rang's attitude is still unknown for the time being, and he may still want to struggle as Zhao Zhong hinted, while Zhao Zhong chose to cooperate and compromise in exchange for his younger brother Zhao Chun to take the position.

I have to say, it is indeed quite shrewd.

Thinking of this, Liu Bian said to Zhao Chun: "Go back and comfort your brother for me. Da Changqiu has worked hard to serve my mother all these years, and I hope he will do his best in the future. As for you, I still say the same thing as before, as long as you treat me Be faithful, I will not treat you badly."

"Thank you Shihou." Zhao Chun, who understood the hint, had a look of joy.

After a while, after Cai Yan finished grooming, Liu Bian took her to Changqiu Palace as usual to greet Empress He.

And Zhao Chun also took the opportunity to tell Zhao Zhong what Liu Bian said, which made Zhao Zhong very excited.

It is worth mentioning that upon learning of Liu Bian's arrival, Guo Sheng rushed to show his loyalty, which made Zhao Zhong a little wary. Didn't intend to target him.

On the contrary, after Zhang Rang left yesterday, he talked with Guo Sheng for a while and formed an alliance in private.

Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng praised Liu Bian's performance in the Chongde Palace yesterday in front of Empress He. There was a faint meaning in their words that Lu Zhi was regarded as a buffoon, saying that Lu Zhi was speechless by Liu Bian's questioning, which made He The queen was astonished.

Fortunately, Liu Bian was still fair, and said with a smile: "How can Lu Shangshu be as bad as what Zhao Changshi and Guo Changshi said? However, it is indeed not as thorough as my teacher Shi Daoren."

Since he couldn't explain his insight of "not like a ten-year-old child", Liu Bian could only push all this to the teacher who had no impression of him.

Empress He has always believed that Shi Zixuan is a master of Taoism, she has no doubts about what Liu Bian said, praised him repeatedly, and even happily ordered Guo Sheng to bring a gift to visit Shi Taoren on the spot.

This frightened Liu Bian very much, until Guo Sheng said with a bitter face that he had sent someone to visit Shi Daoren before, and when he learned that Shi Daoren had gone wandering around and disappeared, Liu Bian secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

Not long after returning to Jiafang Hall, Liu Bian's teacher of calligraphy and painting, Shi Yiguan, came. He didn't know what happened in Chongde Hall yesterday, and Liu Bian didn't mention it.

In the afternoon, Zhao Chun, who was sent by Liu Bian to inquire about the news, hurriedly reported: "Today, His Majesty is still handling state affairs in Chongde Hall."

So Liu Bian took Zhao Chun to Chongde Hall.

"Report to Your Majesty, Shi Hou is asking to see you."

When the visiting officials reported to the hall, Emperor Ling, Zhang Rang, and Lu Zhi had different expressions.

If Lingdi was mostly surprised and Lu Zhi was mostly happy, then Zhang Rang's mood can be said to be the most complicated.

After Lingdi approved, he hurried out of the hall.

"Shihou."

When saluting Liu Bian, Zhang Rang gave Zhao Chun a hard look.

Speaking of it, when Liu Bian came yesterday without warning, Zhao Chun was also glared at by Zhang Rang. At that time, Zhao Chun lowered his head in fear, but today, Zhao Chun looked at Zhang Rang expressionlessly, which made people feel old. The treacherous Zhang Rang faintly felt a little bad.

You know, Zhao Chun is Zhao Zhong's younger brother. To some extent, Zhao Chun's performance can explain Zhao Zhong's position.

But now that Zhao Chun is not pretending to him, it means that Zhao Zhong has completely fallen for the Shihou in front of him. When Hou's side was reused, they immediately abandoned their previous covenant of advancing and retreating together.

He didn't even think about it, didn't he himself betray Sun Zhang and others before?

Fortunately, Zhang Rang also has the confidence, after all, his daughter-in-law is the sister of Queen He.

Walking into the Chongde Hall, Liu Bian was still talking like yesterday. Firstly, he was inquiring about the Emperor Ling, and secondly, he was curious about the major events reported by officials from all over the country. He hoped to release it in advance and learn how to deal with political affairs.

When Zhang Rang and Lu Zhi spoke for Liu Bian at the same time, Emperor Ling naturally would not veto it, and asked someone to bring a small case, and asked Liu Bian to sit behind the case and read the memorial after his and Lu Zhi's approval.

During this period, while Emperor Ling was taking a nap in the inner hall, Lu Zhi continued to argue with Liu about yesterday's topic: "Yesterday, Shi Hou tested me, Yan Dongguan, Xu Yan, Li Xun and others are not enough to manage the forbidden province of the harem, and the minister and Yang Wenxian ( Yang Biao) and Uncle Ma Weng (Ma Rixun) have been thinking hard and can't understand it, I hope Shihou can clear up the confusion for my minister."

Hearing this, Liu Bian shook his head and said, "I have heard my teacher Shi Daoren say that the existence of things in this world is justified, and it should not be shifted based on people's subjectivity. Eunuchs, foreign relatives, and scholars are also the same. Forcibly digging out one corner, the result will be that the other two will grow stronger, and it will be difficult to check and balance..."

"what……"

Lu Zhi let out a light ah, looked at Liu Bian with some incredulity in his eyes, and then fell into deep thought.

At that time Zhang Rang was also eavesdropping, seeing that Lu Zhi was speechless again by Liu Bian, he felt a little proud.

For nearly two months thereafter, Liu Bian went to the Chongde Hall to report every afternoon. The guards outside the Chongde Hall and the eunuchs in the hall have gradually become accustomed to this matter. small case.

During this period of time, Liu Bian pretended to seriously study and approve the memorials in front of Emperor Ling, and when Emperor Ling came to rest in the apse, he chatted with Lu Zhishan from all over the world.

And Lu Zhi also admired this Marquis Shi very much, and was happy to exchange opinions with him. The only thing he regretted was that this Marquis Shi had a deep-rooted prejudice against scholars, thinking that scholars and eunuchs are "as black as crows in the world", This made Zhang Rang secretly chuckle - anyway, their eunuchs have received enough infamy over the years, and he is happy to see that they can drag the scholars into trouble.

During the period, Liu Bian also purposefully asked Lu Zhi to tell about the process of putting down the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and mentioned Liu Bei as a disciple.

Liu Bian waited for a long time and finally waited for Lu Zhi to mention Liu Bei. He suppressed the joy in his heart and said immediately: "I never imagined that there are such heroes in my Han clan? Why didn't Lu Shangshu recommend Liu Xuande to be an official in Luoyang? My second uncle's subordinates are in short supply." manpower."

Lu Zhi didn't think about Liu Bian's claim that it was He Miao and not He Jin, so he took the opportunity to intercede for Liu Bei: "...in the past, Xuande served as a lieutenant in Anxi County, because the governor asked for bribes and violated the people, he beat the governor severely Abandoning his official position and fleeing for his life, the minister pledged his life, Xuande is a loyal man, suffering from having no way to serve the country, if Shihou can persuade His Majesty to forgive his transgression, I, a great man, can gain a good minister."

"It's easy." Liu Bian said with a smile, "Lu Shangshu will write a letter to summon Liu Xuande to report to my second uncle."

On the same day, Liu Bian ordered Zhao Chun to send someone out of the palace to contact his second uncle He Miao and recommend Liu Bei as an official.

Since Liu Bian never neglected to contact his second uncle during this period of time, He Miao naturally would not refuse his nephew's request, and immediately ordered Liu Bei to be recruited as Henan Captain, and he will take office immediately.

(End of this chapter)