Han family achievements

Chapter 526 So brave
After receiving Liu Bian's order, the Secretariat quickly made arrangements and convened a meeting of the heads of the six ministries and nine temples.

Faced with the rebellions that broke out one after another in various places, the Secretariat remained relatively calm, but the heads of the six ministries and nine temples were quite worried and uneasy.

Because this scene is too similar, a similar situation occurred before the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Could this be a sign of chaos in the world?
No matter what, they still followed the arrangement of the Shangshutai. Chen Lin, the Minister of Rites, went to Youzhou, Chen Gong, the Minister of Works, went to Yuzhou, and Wang Lang, the Minister of Personnel, went to Yingchuan County...

After a series of things were arranged, the three ministers of the Secretariat were also preparing to leave the capital.

Zhong Yao was the first to leave. He packed his things and went to Xun Yu's residence to say goodbye.

"Are you here to say goodbye to me?" Xun Yu asked with a probing look.

Zhong Yao sat opposite him, with a serious face, and said, "Tian Feng has left the capital."

Xun Yu frowned and asked, "Where did you go?"

Zhong Yao said: "Chenliu County, I just got the news as well."

Xun Yu pondered for a moment and said, "I remember that Dong Cheng has been pardoned and released. He is in Luoyang?"

Zhong Yao nodded.

Dong Cheng was the nephew of Empress Dowager Dong, so he was naturally close to Liu Xie. He was also the prime minister of Chenliu State. Last year, he was involved in imperial examination fraud and his property was confiscated and he was exiled.

Because of his great achievements in Youzhou, Youzhou Mu Zhu Jianping reported his merits to the court, and the court pardoned him.

Xun Yu saw that he didn't say anything, looked at his expression, and asked, "Anything else?"

Zhong Yao took a deep breath, and said with a more serious expression, "I just got the news. When Tian Feng was interrogating Wu Jing and others, he found a lot of clues. These case files were transferred to the Huangmen Beisi Prison. Among them, the names of Dong Cheng and Chenliu King Liu Xie were mentioned many times."

Xun Yu's expression gradually changed and he fell into deep thought.

Many people feel that the recent events are too abnormal and wrong, and it is obvious that someone is planning it.

What Xun Yu didn't expect was that Dong Cheng and Liu Hui would be involved.

If Liu Xie was involved, regardless of whether he was the mastermind, then the matter must be serious and involves conspiracy to usurp the throne!
After thinking for a while, Xun Yu slowly raised his head, stared at Zhong Yao with cold and burning eyes, and asked, "Who else knows?"

A strange look of awkwardness appeared on Zhong Yao's serious face, and he said hesitantly: "I don't know. But... Logically speaking, such things... shouldn't be revealed... At this time, it just happens that it's me."

Xun Yu raised his eyebrows, glanced in the direction of the palace, and said, "What do you mean?"

Zhong Yao nodded slightly, his understanding was self-evident.

Xun Yu's frozen expression slowly relaxed, and he said thoughtfully, "That makes sense. It's impossible for Your Majesty to be completely unaware of such a big event in the court and the country, and have no reaction. When you think about it this way, many things become reasonable."

"What are you talking about?" Zhong Yao was confused.

"Xuzhou."

Xun Yu smiled and said, "Zao Rong has been under surveillance for a long time. His every move cannot be hidden from the Imperial City Office, cannot be hidden from Your Majesty, and certainly should not be hidden from Xuzhou Lieutenant General Zhang Liao."

Zhong Yao's expression changed, and he asked in surprise, "Are you saying that this is also a plan of His Majesty?"

Xun Yu nodded, thinking more, and looked at the sky above Luoyang City with a vague gaze. He said lightly: "You should have discovered that the high-ranking officials of the court, the Shangshutai, the six ministries and nine temples, have left the capital one after another. Luoyang City seems to be left with only the lonely imperial palace."

Zhong Yao's eyes flashed with surprise, and he said, "You mean, someone could cause chaos in Luoyang City!? Impossible, the Yulin Army and the Imperial Guards are all under the control of His Majesty, who could cause chaos? Outside Luoyang City? It shouldn't be the Imperial Guards camp? Or, is there someone in the Eight Passes who has rebelled?"

Xun Yu shook his head and said, "Your Majesty has been acting out of character since he came back last year. It's obvious that he has noticed something long ago. Now, I'm afraid he will show his true colors."

Zhong Yao's tone was uneasy, and he asked, "If we leave the capital at this time, what if something happens to His Majesty?"

Xun Yu remained calm and said, "Your Majesty is cautious by nature and would never take risks. We don't need to worry."

Zhong Yao shook his head and said, "We must have a foolproof plan!"

"What do you mean?" Xun Yu saw that Zhong Yao seemed to have some ideas.

Zhong Yao paused again and again, then moved closer to him and said, "Take the Crown Prince out of the capital. It's not the first time that His Royal Highness has been out of the capital for an inspection, and you are his teacher, so you are the most suitable person."

Xun Yu thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Okay, I will tell Your Majesty before I leave the capital."

Zhong Yao was relieved, his expression was calm, he looked at the sky of Luoyang City, and couldn't help but sighed: "Since ancient times, the court and the country have never stopped fighting. Tell me, when will there be a world of great harmony, without so many intrigues and deceptions?"

Xun Yu shook his head slightly. Such a world was just a delusion of saints to escape the mundane world. Perhaps it would never appear.

When Zhong Yao and Xun Yu said goodbye, the city of Luoyang was still bustling.

The impeachments against Tian Feng, Xun Yu, Zhong Yao, Xun You, Wang Lang and others continued one after another, and instead of stopping, they became even more intense.

Compared with the rebellions in various places, the discussions in Luoyang City were strangely much smaller, and it seemed that people were not that concerned.

Dong Cheng's residence.

It was pitch black, without a single light or sound.

In the secret room under the backyard, a dim light flickered, casting flickering shadows on the faces of the people on both sides.

"Brother Dong, I didn't lie to you, did I?" Qiao Mao said to Dong Zhuo with a gentle smile.

Dong Cheng was wrapped in a thick blanket, with dishevelled hair and cold eyes. He said, "You are quite good at this."

Qiao Mao smiled even more and said, "The world is in chaos now, and many heroes have risen up. Brother Dong, do you approve of my plan?"

Dong Cheng raised his eyebrows and asked, "The matter in Luoyang City was also your plan?"

Qiao Mao immediately shook his head and said, "I don't have that much ability. I just added fuel to the fire. The court is seeking its own death, and I am just helping them along."

Dong Cheng lowered his eyebrows, looked at the imperial edict on the table, and said calmly: "Do you think that just those dozen people can accomplish anything? They are scattered all over the place, without a leader, and will be wiped out by the court in half a year at most."

Qiao Mao smiled and said, "Zao Rong has already occupied most of Xuzhou. Liu Zhang, Liu Biao, and Yuan Shao will march north at any time. The court is facing internal and external troubles. How long do you think it can hold out?"

Dong Cheng sneered and said, "If this is all you have to plan, I can only say it's ridiculous!"

Qiao Mao was a little surprised and asked, "Brother Dong, what do you think?"

Dong Cheng said expressionlessly, "You know better than me what happened before and after Liu Bian ascended the throne, but what happened in the end? Five or six years have passed, and he has all the soldiers and men he needs, as well as money, food, and armor. He wants to change the dynasty with just those people. He is as stupid as a pig or a dog!"

Qiao Mao's smile did not fade, but became even more intense. He said, "Brother Dong is very wise. I have a backup plan, but now is the time to tell Brother Dong. How about this edict?"

Dong Cheng looked at Qiao Mao deeply and said, "It is so lifelike that I can't tell it's fake. However, the Prince of Chenliu no longer has that kind of heart. Even if he thinks this will is real, he will just burn it quietly and pretend he has never seen it."

Qiao Mao put away the "last will" and said with a gloomy smile: "When the time comes, it will not be us who force the Prince of Chenliu to take the throne, but in accordance with the last emperor's will, the Prince of Chenliu will take the position on his own."

Dong Cheng looked curious and asked, "What's your backup plan?"

Qiao Mao looked yearning, his eyes filled with enthusiasm, and said, "This is a back-up plan that no one could have imagined!"

Dong Cheng knew he couldn't ask any more questions, so he lowered his head and said, "I won't help you until I see your back-up plan."

Qiao Mao smiled slightly and said, "You will see it, and everyone will see it."

Dong Cheng did not ask any further questions, but just wrapped himself tightly in the blanket. He had done some work in Youzhou and had developed some illnesses from the cold.

The Liu Xie they were talking about lived a relatively comfortable life during this period.

Liu Xie was stripped of all his official posts, retaining only the title of King of Chenliu. The imperial court was even planning to deprive Liu Xie of his throne and demote him to a commoner.

Liu Xie was quite happy to see this happen. Only when he was completely no longer a threat could he continue to survive.

The happiest thing for him in the mansion was taking his son back and forth from the front yard to the back yard. He was happiest he had ever been.

As for the eunuchs and palace maids stationed in the palace, he turned a blind eye to them.

The only one who was not very happy was probably Empress Dowager Dong, who sighed from time to time.

"Husband, what happened?" Fu Shou, who had been fast asleep, slowly opened her eyes and looked at Liu Xie, who was sitting beside her with a frown on his face, and asked in confusion.

Liu Xie shook his head and said, "I feel that something big is going to happen in the court."

Fu Shou was not as sensitive as before. She lay on her side and said, "My husband is no longer in the court. No matter how big the incident in the court is, it won't affect my husband, right?"

Liu Xie nodded subconsciously and said in annoyance: "I shouldn't be involved this time, but every time something big happens in the court, it is not good for the country or the people. Why can't it be more peaceful?"

Fu Shou understood her husband, so she put her hand on his chest, gently comforted him, and said, "Husband, don't worry about it."

Liu Xie glanced at her, sighed, and had no desire to sleep at all.

Fu Shou had no choice but to sit up with him and said, "I heard that the Crown Prince and the Second Prince are going to study at Hongdu Gate School, and our Shen'er is going too."

"More than a gentleman,"

Liu Xie was distracted and said, "The sons of high-ranking officials in the imperial court basically go to Hongdu School."

Fu Shou frowned and whispered, "So many people are against Hongdu School and the 'imperial examination system'. Your Majesty, are you going to stick to it?"

Liu Xie was not thinking about this and nodded silently.

Fu Shou's sleepiness faded a lot, and he became more alert. He asked, "Your Majesty, do you really not care about the attitude of the noble families?"

Liu Xie was in a depressed mood and just said, "He never cared. I'm just worried that he would act too hastily and cause an unprecedented chaos."

Fu Shou opened her eyes and said, "My husband, are you worried about the rebellions in the states? Didn't the imperial court say that it was just some corrupt officials who were desperate and there was nothing to worry about?"

"A single spark can start a prairie fire."

Liu Xie turned his gaze out the window, looking towards the direction of the imperial palace, and said, "My brother has always had an indescribable self-confidence. Now the whole world is in rebellion and the court is in turmoil. It is not too late to turn back. I hope he can reflect on himself."

Fu Shou pursed his lips and said nothing.

She had a deep-seated fear of Liu Bian. After being afraid of him for so many years, she was no longer willing to mention or hear his name.

Liu Xie also remained silent, hoping in his heart that his royal brother would stop and turn back.

……

The next morning, Wang Lang gave instructions to the Ministry of Personnel, then took a horse-drawn carriage and left Luoyang for Yingchuan County under the escort of 500 imperial guards.

There was another person in his carriage - his student, Yang Xiu.

Yang Xiu lifted the curtain and looked at the city of Luoyang that was getting farther and farther away. He said with some emotion, "After going around in circles, I'm back home again."

Wang Lang was at ease and took a nap with his eyes closed.

Yang Xiu looked at it for a while, then drew back and remained silent, but his face was full of worry.

"If you have something to say, just say it." Wang Lang, who was pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke.

Yang Xiu pursed his lips, as if trying to hold back, and after a while he said, "Teacher, will it really get chaotic?"

Wang Lang swayed with the carriage, without opening his eyes, and asked, "What do you want to say?"

Yang Xiu moved his body and faced Wang Lang, saying, "I heard that almost all the lords in the court have left the capital to provide relief to the local areas, and your majesty has even sent half of the imperial guards to protect you. Is it really that serious?"

Wang Lang opened his eyes a little, looked at Yang Xiu, and said calmly: "I don't know the truth, but there is one thing I am sure of, that is, although it seems to be a big deal, it is actually just a minor illness and there is no need to worry."

Yang Xiu was even more confused and asked, "Then, why is the court doing this?"

Wang Lang closed his eyes, looking relaxed, and said, "'New Policy'."

Yang Xiu was startled and asked, "The court is making such a big fuss, is it because of the 'New Deal'?"

Wang Lang said: "The 'New Deal' has been stagnant for a long time. The palace has long been fed up. This time, they want to take the opportunity to force the local authorities to push it forward."

Yang Xiu always felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was.

Wang Lang did not explain much in this regard, and said: "What do you think of this trip to Yingchuan?"

Yang Xiu quickly calmed down and said, "Yingchuan County has Huanyuan Pass, one of the eight passes, which is the only way for Yuzhou to enter Luoyang. Your Majesty sent me to Yingchuan County, which shows that you value me."

Wang Lang closed his eyes and said, "You still don't understand. When your majesty first ascended the throne, there were eunuchs in the palace, relatives outside the palace, and the lurking Yuan family. Your majesty will never forget that difficult situation. Therefore, he has always opposed party struggles and hated court officials forming factions. Although the 'Yingchuan Party' was not a deliberate clique, and there were reasons why your majesty deliberately promoted it, it is still your majesty's Achilles' heel. As long as the time is right, it will be natural to eliminate the 'Yingchuan Party'."

Yang Xiu's eyes flashed with horror, and he said, "Your Majesty, you want to get rid of the Yingchuan Party? But, but..."

"But the Yingchuan Party is entrenched in the imperial court and has infiltrated the Han Dynasty?"

Wang Lang laughed strangely and said, "This will only make Your Majesty more determined to get rid of the Yingchuan Party."

Yang Xiu couldn't believe it, let alone imagine the impact of "eliminating the Yingchuan Party".

Suddenly, there was a burst of anxious horse hoofbeats outside. Not long after, a voice whispered beside Wang Lang's carriage: "Master, there is some news."

Wang Lang opened his eyes and said calmly, "Speak."

"The first one is Taishan County,"

The voice outside said: "The bandits in Taishan County have colluded with the rebels. The governor of Taishan County has abandoned the city and fled. Taishan County has fallen into the hands of the rebels."

Wang Lang opened his eyes suddenly and said, "The second one!"

"The second one is about Xuzhou. Zhang Liao and Sima Fang fought fiercely with Zuo Rong, but were betrayed by a traitor and have retreated to the border with Qingzhou."

Wang Lang's expression became solemn, and he said in a low voice: "The third one."

A voice from outside said, "The remaining Wuhuan people in Youzhou have rebelled again, and the Xiongnu Chanyu Yufuluo has also appeared."

Wang Lang's face was as hard as iron. He asked, "What are Youzhou Mu Zhu Jianping and Liaodong Governor Gongsun Du doing?"

"There's no rest for now." said the person outside.

Wang Lang's eyes flickered violently, and he said in a cold voice, "No news... They are really brave!"

(End of this chapter)