Three Kingdoms: Cao Cao and Liu Bei help me to ascend the throne

Chapter 95: Giving a Man a Fish is worse than Teaching a Man to Fish

When it comes to the Southern Huns, it mentions the frontier.

I have to mention the competition for living resources and development space throughout human history. Different empires and nations have their own unique thinking logic in this competition.

And these strategic confrontations can be broadly divided into two categories.

In the first one, one party pays one copper coin, and then receives two copper coins from the other party;

In the second, one party pays a copper coin, and then forces the other party to pay a copper coin, or more.

The Hu people's way of thinking about the Han Dynasty is the first.

The Han Dynasty's strategic approach to the border areas, whether it is the Sanhu, Qiang, or Man, is the second type.

When the population and livestock of the Hu people died of freezing and starvation on the Mongolian plateau, dozens or millions of refugees in the Han Dynasty were also struggling to die.

Even the number of these refugees is larger than the total population of Sanhu.

This is the underlying logic of Hu and Han's centuries-old battle at the strategic level!

At this moment, Jian Shuo delivered the urgent report to the emperor Liu Hong, and at the same time, his report came out.

"Your Majesty, General Zhonglang of the Xiongnu and Zhonglang of Xianbei will be sent back seven hundred miles from the border for an expedited rush. The leader of Xianbei, Tan Shihuai, sent envoys to the Southern Xiongnu, intending to win over the Southern Xiongnu and become their vassal."

"A vassal?" As soon as these words came out, Liu Hong's eyes turned cold, and he quickly unfolded the bamboo slips.

It doesn't matter if you don't look at it, at a glance, Liu Hong's face suddenly turned from joy to freezing.

Beads of sweat slipped from between the brows...

After reading the last sentence, he handed over the urgent matter to Zhang Rang.

Take a cold drink.

——"You read it!"

Zhang Rang hurriedly took the bamboo slips and read out the contents of the letterhead.

It turned out that it was Tan Shihuai, the leader of the Xianbei who completely occupied Mobei. After all the tribes were unified, they gave birth to new ambitions.

He, who claims to have nearly 200,000 people who control strings, intends to unite with the Southern Huns to go south on a large scale.

He wants to step out of the Mongolian plateau and set foot in the northern territory of the Han Dynasty and the Central Plains, which are richer in resources.

Based on the geostrategic level, sandwiched between Xianbei and Dahan is a key force-the Southern Huns!

Since the time of Emperor Xuandi of the Han Dynasty, the five armies of the Han Dynasty attacked the Xiongnu, and tens of thousands of Huns and livestock were killed, and the Xiongnu completely disintegrated.

Some Huns migrated further west and became the Northern Huns, who were split by the big Han.

The other part is subordinate to the Han Dynasty and attached to the Han Dynasty, which is the Southern Huns.

The vassal relationship between the Southern Huns and the Han has lasted for nearly a hundred years.

During the period of Emperor Hanhe, the Southern Huns provided reinforcements to help the Han army defeat the main force of the Northern Huns again, causing the Northern Huns to completely split.

Two years ago, when Emperor Han Ling sent Xia Yu and Tian Ying to lead the Han army to the northern expedition to Xianbei, the Southern Huns also provided a cavalry team of [-] people, but they were defeated in the end.

If the original trajectory of history is followed, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty Liu Xie was trapped in Chang'an by Li Jue and Guo Si, and one of the troops that helped Emperor Xian of the Han return to Luoyang was the cavalry of the Southern Huns.

Of course, when Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was sent back to Luoyang, the Southern Xiongnu took away a woman when they returned to the northern part of the country, that is, the famous Cai Yan and Cai Zhaoji.

Generally speaking, in the past hundred years, the relationship between the Southern Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty has been relatively friendly.

Similarly, the existence of the Southern Huns also relieved the pressure on Bingzhou and Youzhou in the process of resisting Xianbei for the great Han.

if…

As stated in this letter, Xianbei took the Southern Huns as a vassal, and that would be a fatal blow to the border defense of the Han Dynasty.

"Tan Shihuai is quite ambitious!"

After Zhang Rang finished reading the content of the urgent report, Liu Hong sighed...

Jian Shuo reported it immediately.

"Your Majesty, the Southern Huns have been attached to the Han Dynasty for hundreds of years and are loyal vassals of the Han Dynasty. However, the situation is a little different this time. Since Tan Shihuai became the leader of Xianbei, he quickly regained the various ministries of Xianbei in just a few decades, and established an army that is better than before. The "Hun" is a more terrifying nomadic kingdom, and the Southern Huns are caught between the Han and the Xianbei, trying to survive, and now... they are bound to reconsider and reselect the object of attachment."

This is out of the way...

Cao Song, who was silent for a long time, opened his mouth and said, "Jian Xiaowei means that the Southern Huns will reconsider who will become their vassal? Whose vassal?"

"Exactly!" Jian Shuo continued.

Speaking of this, he looked up at the emperor Liu Hong.

Liu Hong signaled him to continue.

Jian Shuo continued: "At this critical period, the Southern Huns sent envoys to the south to meet His Majesty."

"The Xiongnu Zhonglang also mentioned in the letter that the southern Xiongnu are martial arts. They brought the most valiant warriors in the grassland this time, just to compete with the generals of the Han Dynasty and test whether the "Wu De" of the Han Dynasty is sufficient. Also test the depth of the big man."

In fact, Jian Shuo still had some things in his heart that he didn't dare to say.

Two years ago, the Son of Heaven ordered Xia Yu and Tian Ying to lead the Han soldiers to attack Xianbei bravely in the north, but in the end they were defeated by Tan Shihuai and returned in a complete defeat.

And this naturally became one of the important reasons for the Southern Huns to reassess the situation.

seem…

The great man who was passed down from Emperor Wu's dynasty, who was able to sweep the Xiongnu and restore the style of the Western Regions, no longer exists!
After pondering for a moment...

Liu Hong recalled it.

"I understand, the Southern Huns sent their envoys to the south this time because they were well prepared, and they wanted to put down the ring to compete with the warriors of the Han Dynasty!"

Liu Hong got up slowly and took a step to the left. "Hehe, this is very in line with the Huns' usual style! Then, it seems that I must accept this challenge and must win!"

"Your Majesty..." Cao Song quickly reminded. "The big man has a law, 'The generals at the border will not enter the capital, except for the court officials and nobles, and will not come within a hundred steps of your majesty'. Everyone in the gate will be stationed at the border, not in Luoyang City. The Southern Huns will put down the ring. Where will Luoyang City dispatch them? What about the big warriors?"

What Cao Song said is the truth...

It is an iron law in the Han Dynasty that generals at the border will not enter the capital!
Hearing this, Zhang Rang rolled his eyes, and he suddenly thought of something.

"Your Majesty, do you have someone to choose?"

"Who?"

"Once in Yongliang, Feng County Marquis 'Duan Jiong' was known as one of the 'Liangzhou Sanming'."

Zhang Rang recommended.

Liu Hong was taken aback for a moment, and then gave Zhang Rang a meaningful look. "I forgot that General Duan Jiong Duan, who took over the title of Taiwei from Qiaoxuan but was dismissed because of the solar eclipse, happened to be in Luoyang."

Liu Hong nodded slightly. "When he was young, he defeated the Western Qiang, defeated the Eastern Qiang, put down the Gongsunju rebellion, and fought against the Qiang nearly [-] times in his life. He was known as one of the "Liangzhou Sanming". Warriors of the Huns?"

"General Duan will fulfill his mission..." Zhang Rang quickly agreed.

Speaking of which, although Duan Jiong himself was not an eunuch, he was a member of the eunuch family, and he and the ten permanent attendants wore the same pair of trousers.

A Fu eunuch is a huge "stain" in his life!
In the past, Qiao Xuan was dismissed from the title of Taiwei because of his righteous words. Under the black-box operation of the "Ten Permanent Attendants" headed by Zhang Rang, Duan Jiong took over as Taiwei.

It should be known that in the Han Dynasty... the solar eclipse is known as "unknown", and it is intended to remove one of the three princes to appease the "wrath of the sky", and Duan Jiong, who has just taken the post of Taiwei, is perfect for carrying this blame.

This time, Zhang Rang naturally spared no effort when he finally had the opportunity to activate Duan Jiong from the eunuch family again.

"Then arrange it like this. Tomorrow, if the envoy of the Southern Huns proposes the ring, I will take over." Liu Hong seemed a little tired. Speaking of this, he knelt back on the dragon chair and closed his eyes, as if starting to laugh. sleep soundly.

Zhang Rang, Cao Song, and Jian Shuo were naturally aware of this appearance. They bowed and paid their respects to Liu Hong, and then they would leave the Palace of Long Live.

Just when they were about to turn around.

"Jian Shuo stay!"

With eyes closed, Liu Hong suddenly opened his mouth and said.

"Here!" Jian Shuo agreed and stayed where he was, while Zhang Rang and Cao Song quickened their pace and left the Qianqiu Long Live Hall.

For a while, only Liu Hong and Jian Shuo were left in the Hall of Long Lives.

The atmosphere became inexplicably silent, and finally in the silence, Liu Hong blurted out his words.

——"What did Yu'er do in Yulin Temple recently?"

It seems that during this period of time, because of hoarding and selling donkeys, the emperor Liu Hong's business is very enjoyable.

But drinking water and thinking about the source, after the troubles of the treasury have settled, Liu Hong's attention will of course turn back to Yu'er again.

He was very curious, what has this "unicorn" been doing recently?
"Your Majesty..." Jian Shuo's eyes were fixed, and he reported truthfully. "Recently, there have been a few words about the eldest son of the emperor, which have been widely circulated..."

"What?"

——"It looks like ice and snow in the world, and the dark fragrance is floating in the river. I know the hero's road all over the world, and there is a willow man in Yulin with his head bowed!" Jian Shuo raised his voice.

hiss…

When Liu Hong heard it at first, he thought the poem was good, but if he tasted it carefully, it would have a more artistic conception.

Isn't Yulin the same as Yulin Temple?

Isn't Liu Lang his Yu'er?

Emperor Liu Hong has a very high attainment in poetry and is extremely sensitive to such poetry.

"Where does this poem come from?"

"On the surface, it appears that it appeared suddenly, but in fact...it seems...it was written by the eldest son of the emperor!"

Hey…

Blunting this, Liu Hong was amused. Is Yu'er deliberately trying to improve his reputation?

Before Liu Hong could think about it, Jian Shuo's words came out again.

"Your Majesty, in today's world, no matter the dignitaries or the common people on the streets, they all call the eldest son of the emperor a 'Qilin talent'. People say that a Qilin talent can pinch and count, and the name of the emperor's eldest son is very famous for a while!"

This?
Liu Hong narrowed his eyes slightly.

He recalled that Yu'er's purpose was to enter the court for Taoists, but...

"Only the titles of 'Kirin Talent' and 'Yulin with Liu Lang bowing his head' are not enough for Yu'er to enter the court as a Taoist! At least he needs the support of some courtiers."

"Your Majesty is wise." Jian Shuo continued. "However, the eldest son of the emperor has a great reputation. Countless dignitaries and dignitaries rushed to send invitations, wanting to meet him, but the eldest son of the emperor ignored it like a deaf ear. I really don't know what kind of medicine the eldest son of the emperor sells in this gourd?"

hear here...

Liu Hong's eyes were narrowed.

The donkey wind swept across and the national treasury was full, which proved that many of Yu'er's actions could indeed help the court and his father.

So?How will he enter the court?
For a while, Liu Hong couldn't help feeling infinitely curious.

In fact, Liu Hong wished to directly recruit him into the inner court in the name of the Son of Heaven, but driven by curiosity, he couldn't help but look at Yu'er's methods.

This is like an old father, although his family is well-off, he is still pleased to see his son break through the world with his own ability.

This feeling, this mood, is unparalleled.

"Pay close attention to Yu'er, but don't disturb him, and don't let him find out that someone is staring at him, and report any situation as soon as possible."

"Here!"

"In addition, we should pay more attention to the arena set up by the warriors of the Southern Huns." Liu Hong's words were a little more meaningful.

Jian Shuo heard a hint of deep meaning, "Your Majesty is worried about General Duan Jiong!"

"Is this old thing going to be fifty this year?" Liu Hong groaned softly.

"Three out of fifty..."

"Hehe, how hard can the bones be at this age for a lifetime of military service?" Liu Hong's eyes were condensed...

"Then...Your Majesty...have you...allowed Zhang Changshi's request?"

Jian Shuo hurriedly asked.

However, it was Liu Hong's cold gaze that responded to him.

Jian Shuo immediately realized that he was wrong, he hurriedly lowered his head, he shouldn't try to figure out His Majesty's intentions, this is a big taboo!

"Hehe..." Liu Hong sneered, pondered for a moment, and then opened his mouth and said, "Eunuchs must look like eunuchs. If Duan Jiong makes great contributions and regains military power, will eunuchs and military power collude together? Is that still the way eunuchs should be?" ?”

Uh…

Jian Shuo's heart tightened suddenly, and he suddenly realized that this arena... Your Majesty is deeper than he thought.

He lowered his head and dared not speak.

Liu Hong's words came out again. "General Du Liao Huangfugui has a nephew named Huangfusong. I have always asked him about his high martial arts skills and eccentric personality. He disdains to be with the big clan and is hated by eunuchs. Pass on my will and pass him on in secret. After Duan Jiong's defeat , The next day he defeated the warriors of the Southern Huns and stationed at the border, and I will use him again."

"Here...here..."

Jian Shuo surrendered immediately!

His heart is already turbulent, the heart of an emperor is not easy to fathom!

...

...

Xun Yu sat in a newly built pavilion in Yulin Temple and played the piano.

Liu Yu quietly walked into the pavilion, and stood behind Xun Yu, listening intently.

Suddenly the strings of the zither snapped, the sound of the zither stopped abruptly, and Xun Yu's hand was slowly lowered. Only at this moment did he discover Liu Yu.

"Wen Ruomo wants to talk, let me guess what Wen Ruo is thinking."

Liu Yu paced leisurely in the pavilion. "Wen Ruo and Miss Tang's marriage will be three months later. Wen Ruo probably feels that not only is his reputation not good, but people in the clan are also drifting away from you, and he has no official title. Even if the clansmen come to participate, Miss Tang will definitely be looked down upon, and Xun Yu loves Miss Tang."

While speaking, a wisp of fragrance from Xun Yu's clothes wafted into Liu Yu's nose, refreshing.

After a period of contact, Liu Yu has gotten used to the delicate fragrance on Xun Yu's body. The most important thing is that this fragrance also has the function of repelling mosquitoes, which is very practical.

Looking at Xun Yu again, he was told what was wrong, and this was a sore spot in his heart.

It's not that he doesn't believe in Liu Yu, but... the wedding is imminent, and I'm afraid that time is too tight. In just a few months, he has not been able to enter the court, nor can he win a good name. Whenever he thinks of the wedding, the guests sneer , he had a headache.

"My virtuous brother is free now." Xun Yu changed the subject.

"Haha!" Liu Yu laughed. "Wen Ruo, with you in Yulin Temple, you are big enough to buy surrounding acres, build granaries, and stockpile enough grain, and small enough to take those refugees to dig the fields to plant flax, chives, broad beans... and you are also in the periphery of Yulin Temple Building fences to serve as courtyard walls, and even ramming soil and repairing Taoist temples, you have almost done all the miscellaneous things of the entire Yulin Temple by yourself, and I, the temple owner, will naturally be at ease."

No wonder Liu Yu said that...

Since Xun Yu came to Yulin Temple, it has completely exhausted the "logistics capabilities" of Yulin Temple.

The farm work in March was not very busy, so Xun Yu organized the refugees to clean up the trenches and channels around the Taoist temple, repair the houses, and prepare for the coming summer.

The refugees had no place to live, so Xun Yu took the lead and led everyone to build houses. Each house with one hall and two rooms could accommodate hundreds of refugees.

The most powerful thing is that Xun Yu built a tall building in the backyard of Yulin Temple. He usually arranges people to observe the surrounding situation and monitor the movements of every refugee. It is like a small watchtower!
Under Xun Yu's series of operations, the entire refugee team is in order, and even Yulin Temple has a taste of a luxurious manor.

Even the refugees in Yulinguan can not only eat porridge without sand, but also be distributed with clothes, daily necessities, and housing.

Every refugee sees hope in his eyes and is full of energy...

These are all thanks to Xun Yu.

"Why are you talking about this... How can I get rid of money for what I did?" Xun Yu waved his hand without taking credit. "If it weren't for you, the master of Yulin Temple, who can provide a steady stream of money, then I will end up as 'a clever woman can't cook without rice'..."

Liu Yu smiled, and sat down opposite Xun Yu.

"Wen Ruo doesn't want to ask, when will he be able to enter the court as an official?"

Xun Yu stroked the strings. "When Brother Xian thinks he can tell me, he will naturally tell me. Do you still need to ask specifically? But..."

Xun Yu changed the topic. "Brother Xian doesn't think that the 'donkey wind' has swept the big man recently, and the Zhen family's donkeys have been bought out, but there are still a steady stream of merchants selling donkeys in the market. This is very strange."

"I sent people to investigate. These merchants seem to have no background, but it seems that a pair of invisible hands are pushing them. Isn't this strange enough?"

Xun Yu's eyes froze suddenly, and there was a little more suspicion in his eyes.

Liu Yu looked at Xun Yu. "Wen Ruo wants to know?"

"Of course!"

"Then you come here with your ears, and I'll tell you!" Liu Yu deliberately put off a trick.

Xun Yu didn't speak, and listened to it, but when he heard the two words from Liu Yu's mouth, his face tightened... He lowered his voice, and asked quickly: "Is Your Majesty selling donkeys?"

Liu Yu nodded.

Xun Yu had a look of disbelief.

But Liu Yu opened his mouth and said: "Wen Ruo might as well think about it deeply, His Majesty is obsessed with doing business, he will set up commercial streets in the palace, collect rents on time, let maids and eunuchs set up stalls to operate, hawking and bargaining are like a market, So... I may not be able to attract his attention by hoarding beards, but I am very sensitive when hoarding horses, and it is bound to attract his attention, and the attention of this emperor is actually very dangerous."

"How do you say it?" Xun Yu asked quickly.

Liu Yu continued to explain: "The hoarding of beard utensils only earns tens of millions of dollars, which is insignificant compared to Your Majesty, but hoarding horses is different, more than a thousand good horses, earning more than tens of millions? Even Cao Jie, Wang Fu, and Cao Song have been greedy for ink for so many years, and it is still not enough for the tenth they earned from hoarding horses, how could His Majesty not pay attention? Don't you care?"

what…

Hearing this, Xun Yu exclaimed, cold sweat dripping down his back.

How wise he is, he didn't think of this level before, and he didn't think about His Majesty at all.

But thinking about it now... he just felt sweaty all over his body. After a long time, his mood calmed down a lot, and he murmured: "Brother Wei always thought that Brother Zhen used the hands of the Zhen family to hoard horses, and he did it in a concealed way. Besides, the Zhen family is also an official of 'Qianshi', so it won't attract the attention of the imperial court, but...but if it has already attracted His Majesty's attention early in the morning, then...then..."

Speaking of which...

"Gudong" sound.

Xun Yu subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva, he paused each word, and continued to recite eight words: "Every man is innocent, but pregnant is guilty!"

"That's right!" Liu Yu nodded. "What Wen Ruo said about 'everyone is innocent, but pregnant is guilty' is absolutely correct!"

"Aren't you afraid, my virtuous brother?" Xun Yu was so nervous that he stood up abruptly, and slapped the strings with his palm, causing another string to break.

Contrary to Xun Yu's excitement, Liu Yu waved his hand lightly, looking calm and breezy.

"Not afraid!"

"Why aren't you afraid?"

"Because apart from the eight words 'everyone is innocent, but pregnant is guilty', there is another sentence..."

Liu Yu made another trick.

Xun Yu was about to panic, he even had the feeling that his younger brother was in danger.

It's also my fault that he didn't think about the court before, and didn't persuade...

negligent, negligent...

At this moment, Xun Yu's appearance is only four words - too regretful.

"Wen Ruo, calm down, calm down." Liu Yu also got up and patted Xun Yu's shoulder. "The big man Taishan collapsed in front of him without changing his face, what do you look like?"

"Because of my fault, what if my virtuous brother made a mistake? Then what kind of man am I, Xun Yu?" Xun Yu's voice became more and more sad.

"Isn't there another sentence?" Liu Yu pulled Xun Yu to sit down on his knees again.

"What are you talking about?" Xun Yu's voice was as thin as a gossamer.

Liu Yu smiled, and finally blurted out the most crucial sentence.

——"Teaching a man to fish is worse than giving him a fish!"

"Teach a man how to fish?"

"That's right!" Liu Yu explained with a smile. "Your Majesty is the emperor of a big man. How can I hide it from him by hoarding horses with the hands of the Zhen family? According to His Majesty's temperament, how can he not be jealous? So, when he is jealous, I will show another one." A new method, let His Majesty also participate in it, and make a lot of money!"

"Hoarding donkeys?" Xun Yu interrupted.

Liu Yu nodded. "Exactly, His Majesty, who is obsessed with commerce and business and is extremely short of money, will no longer envy me because he hoards donkeys and makes a fortune, but regards me as a reliable business partner, even It's the God of Wealth...no, it's a cornucopia!"

Liu Yu almost said the word "Ye" for "God of Wealth", but after all, he felt that the "Ye" of the emperor was a bit rebellious, and it was still a cornucopia!

"It's too risky!" Xun Yu's forehead was covered with beads of sweat.

Liu Yu smiled faintly. "Wen Ruo, I admit that I was a gambler, but I won the bet! Your Majesty understood my purpose of 'hoarding donkeys', and successfully hoarded a large number of donkeys, and created this 'donkey style' , as expected, all the gold and coins obtained from these donkey sales are now pouring into the treasury, and His Majesty is enjoying it and never tires of it!"

Speaking of this, Liu Yu paused for a moment before continuing to speak. "Wen Ruo doesn't know yet, right? There is an extra layer of protection on the periphery of Yulin Temple today. If the prediction is correct, it must be the Xiyuan School Captain. In other words... His Majesty not only paid attention to our Yulin Temple, but also regarded me as a Cornucopia, if anyone dares to harm me, harm Yulin Temple, he will be the first to refuse!"

hiss…

Hearing this, Xun Yu gasped.

What a neat game.

Even he...he Xun Yu...had been in Yulinguan for half a year, but he...couldn't notice it!

It’s better to teach a man how to fish than to give him a fish... This is to die and survive. It seems extremely dangerous, but in fact, the virtuous brother has long been sure of winning!
And what he got in the end was the protection of the Xiyuan Army... This... This is incredible!
Subtle!

Xun Yu only felt that the whole arrangement was exquisite!
wait, then...

Xun Yu suddenly thought of something, he immediately opened his eyes and asked.

"My dear brother, if according to what you said, His Majesty has noticed you, and your method of hoarding donkeys has also helped the big man to fill the treasury, then why didn't His Majesty directly recruit you into the court?"

"That's it, brother, why do you need to waste time and effort to plan to enter the court, isn't it superfluous?"

...

...

(End of this chapter)