Han family achievements

Chapter 508 Not Simple

While the discussion was still going on in the Secretariat, the news that the 'Grand Examination' would be renamed the 'Imperial Examination' and that a series of new rules would be introduced spread like wildfire throughout Luoyang City.

This caused a huge stir in the officialdom and among the aristocratic families.

The voices of opposition rose up like a wave, roaring and rolling towards the court and rushing towards the imperial palace.

But this time, the court was surprisingly calm. Whether it was the Yingchuan Party, the largest faction in the court, or the Yang Party, the second largest faction, or the upright people represented by Kong Rong, they all remained silent, which was rare.

Xu You's impeachment memorial included all of them.

The admission list for the college entrance examination, which they had worked so hard to keep "fair", was still filled with all kinds of filth.

Stopping it with Chenliu Xiang Dong Cheng, or in other words, stopping it with Chenliu King Liu Xie, is already the best outcome. They don't want any more trouble.

Therefore, the city of Luoyang was in turmoil, while the court was calm and silent.

No matter how loud the roar is or how huge the waves are, time still moves forward in an orderly manner.

Early October.

Liu Bian led a group of people to inspect the altar outside the east gate of the city.

Zhang Liao, the General of the Central Army of Xuzhou, accompanied Liu Bian and reported on the situation in Xuzhou.

Zhang Liao was considered tall among the generals of the Han Dynasty. He was shorter than Dian Wei and Guan Yu, but still half a head taller than Liu Bian, who was of average height.

He followed Liu Bian and said calmly, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, there should be no special relationship between Sima Prefecture and Zuo Rong. It was just that after Sima Prefecture took office, Zuo Rong donated a large sum of money and grain to help Sima Prefecture solve a major problem."

Liu Bian hummed indifferently and said, "Zuo Rong has amassed countless wealth in Pengcheng and has done all kinds of evil things. I want to punish him according to the law and serve as a warning to the world. His wealth is enough for the court to use for several years. Keep an eye on him and don't let him get away."

"I understand," Zhang Liao replied.

Liu Bian looked at the altar that had been built and the craftsmen from Gongcao were decorating it, and said, "Sun Ce is ambitious, but Wujun is not enough to support his ambition. Yuan Shao is also ambitious, but his ability is not enough to support him to succeed. The court is powerful, and Sun Ce and Yuan Shao are unable to go north, so they can only go south. They are destined not to coexist. Liu Biao, Shi Xie, Liu Zhang and their ilk are not even capable of maintaining the status quo, let alone achieving anything."

At this point, Liu Bian took a few steps, looked at the other side, and said: "The court is now in a state of disrepair and has too many things to do. As long as we can fight for another three to five years, I can destroy them in a snap."

Zhang Liao's expression changed when he heard this, and he immediately said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, as long as I am in Xuzhou, Xuzhou will be in your hands, without any surprises!"

Liu Bian looked back at him and said with a smile: "How can I not believe you?"

Zhang Liao bowed, his face serious, calm and powerful.

Liu Bian looked at the altar and said thoughtfully, "There is a lot of opposition to Cao Cao's appointment as Grand Marshal. I heard that there are also many voices in Xuzhou?"

Zhang Liao said in a deep voice: "No one in Xuzhou will be perfunctory about the orders of the Grand Marshal's Mansion!"

Liu Bian nodded and said, "I know everything about your stay in Xuzhou. Compared to others, your military discipline is strict and you have never harmed the people. You are the most reliable in the entire Han army. After a while, I will transfer you back to the Imperial Army Camp and train you well. Some of the soldiers brought back by the Grand Marshal are wild and unruly, and some are lazy."

"Yes." Zhang Liao replied.

As a veteran who has worked his way up from the bottom, Zhang Liao is full of gratitude and loyalty to Liu Bian.

Huangfu Jian came up quietly from behind, came behind Liu Bian, and whispered: "Your Majesty, Yuan Shao has sent troops to Jiaozhi."

Liu Bian couldn't help but snorted, turned around, and said to Zhang Liao with a smile: "Yuan Shao has sent troops to Jiaozhi."

Zhang Liao was startled and asked, "Isn't he afraid of Sun Ce's sending out troops? Does he trust the imperial court?" Liu Bian narrowed his eyes slightly, looked towards the direction of Yangzhou, and said, "I am curious too."

Zhang Liao followed his gaze and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Liu Bian said what he wanted to say, "Unless Yuan Shao, Sun Ce, or even Liu Bang, have reached some kind of tacit understanding."

Zhang Liao bowed his body, his face showing a thoughtful expression.

He also thought so. Yuan Shao dared to go south without fear of being backstabbed, so he must have some kind of support. The most likely possibility was that Yuan Shao and Sun Ce had secretly formed an alliance.

Huangfu Jianchang asked: "Your Majesty, do you want to make some preparations?"

Liu Bian put his hands behind his back and thought, "Where is Liu Bei now?"

Huangfu Jianchang said: "While visiting famous people from aristocratic families everywhere, the voices of Liu Bei's admiration for talents are heard everywhere in Luoyang."

Liu Bian smiled again and said, "Guan Yu will stay in Yuzhou for the time being, and Liu Bei will be appointed as the right Sima and transferred to the capital."

Chen Gong, the Minister of Works who had been silent, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Liu Bei has only a reputation for benevolence and righteousness but no achievements. His sudden promotion to the position of Right Sima may cause controversy."

Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "He made contributions during the campaign against Dong Zhuo. In addition to this flood control, he was the governor of Xuzhou the year before last. His promotion to the position of Right Sima is nothing out of the ordinary. Pan Yin, please give a heads-up to the Grand Sima's Mansion and ask him to recommend him."

Pan Yin said: "Yes."

With Cao Cao's endorsement, things became much simpler.

Chen Gong said no more. He was a cautious man of few words.

But his heart is like a mirror.

Liu Bei's transfer from Yuzhou greatly relieved Yuan Shao's pressure, which was equivalent to encouraging him to go south and fight against the Jiaozhi Shijia.

Huangfu Jian waited for a while, and seeing that no one spoke, he had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, Yuan Shao has many advisers and brave generals. If he can take Jiaozhi and then plot to seize Jingzhou, perhaps, he can really..."

It can really divide the world with the imperial court!

Liu Bian's eyes twitched, and he said disdainfully: "You underestimate the Shi family. They have been operating in Jiaozhi for many years. Although the land is vast and the population is sparse, their strength is not weak. They have been fighting against the barbarians for many years. Yuan Shao wants to take Jiaozhi easily, but he can't even dream of it."

Huangfu Jianchang was a little surprised. In the past few years, he had been trying to infiltrate Jiaozhi and obtained a lot of useful intelligence, but the conclusion he came to was that Jiaozhi was a "poor and barren place with few people" and there was no need to pay attention to it.

Now it seems that perhaps he did not investigate deeply enough.

"His Majesty,"

Xu Yan came hurriedly and said directly: "The people sent by Liu Zhang have arrived in Beijing and brought rich gifts. Liu Biao sent his eldest son, Yuan Shao also sent his second son, and the three Qiang tribes each had important figures come to Beijing, all with rich gifts."

Liu Bian seemed not to have heard and said to Zhang Liao: "You should stay in Luoyang for the time being. There are some things I need you to do."

"I obey your command." Zhang Liao said.

Seeing that Liu Bian did not respond, Xu Yan paused for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, the three judicial departments have made a verdict on the 'examination fraud'. Dong Cheng has been dismissed from all official positions, his property has been confiscated, and his entire family has been exiled. In addition... the resignation letter of the Prince of Chenliu has been sent to the palace by the Secretariat. There is a lot of discussion outside the palace."

(End of this chapter)