Three Kingdoms: Liu Bei seeks the master and seeks to conquer the world

Chapter 254 General of Zhengbei, Marquis Liu Xuande of Linzi

The first year of Xingping, April.

Guan Yu arrived in Linzi City with the angel Liu Ai, and Zheng Ping also returned from Huai Ling City.

The military disasters in Xuyang and Yangzhou caused by Cao Cao's filial piety, although it ended within half a year.

However, the hidden dangers left by the military disaster cannot be easily solved.

Especially in the Huainan area, after being expropriated by Yuan Shu, the people were exhausted and starved to death.

Although Chen Ji, Zheng Hun and other famous officials were in Huainan to help the people, the consumption of Fumin was too high, and Zheng Ping had to write to Liu Bei, calling on wealthy merchants in Qingzhou to send a large amount of grain to Huainan for disaster relief.

Zheng Ping also stayed in Huai Ling City to dispatch money and food from the three prefectures of Qing, Xu, and Yang, so as to minimize the impact of military disasters on the people.

It was also because of this that Zheng Ping stayed in Huai Ling City until the end of April before returning to Linzi City when he was free.

As soon as he returned to Linzi City, Zheng Ping didn't even care about taking a rest, and came to the State Shepherd's Mansion non-stop.

Zheng Ping had calculated the time early, and today was the day when Guan Yu and the angel Liu Ai arrived in Linzi City.

Inside the State Shepherd's Mansion.

Liu Ai has finished reading the imperial decree.

Although Guan Yu and Tai Shici were the leading contributors to the suppression of Yuan Shu this time, and both of them were canonized as the governor of a state, Liu Xie did not forget to add a title to Liu Bei.

After discussing with the ministers, Liu Xie added Liu Bei as the general who conquered the north, and he was granted the title of Marquis of Linzi.

"Your Majesty knows very well that the ability to capture Yuan Shu alive this time and exalt our dignity in the Han Dynasty is all due to Marquis Linzi's silent support behind Marquis Guan and General Taishi."

"Although Zhang Situ and Chen Shangshu strongly opposed it, thinking that it is not appropriate to add officials to the Marquis of Linzi, but His Majesty still resisted all opinions and conferred the titles of General Zhengbei and Marquis of Linzi."

"Your Majesty's intention is also to hope that the Marquis of Linzi will forge ahead, conquer the north, capture the false emperor, and destroy Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan, Ma Teng, Han Sui and other rebels."

Liu Ai handed the imperial decree to Liu Bei, and told about some affairs in the court.

Although Zhang Miao and Chen Gong intentionally or unintentionally implied in front of Liu Xie that Liu Bei was too powerful and could easily be overwhelmed, but because of Guan Yu's reaction, Liu Xie became suspicious and defensive towards Zhang Miao and Chen Gong.

After thinking about it, Liu Xie decided to add Liu Bei again. On the one hand, he wanted to use Liu Bei to conquer the false emperor and Yuan Shao, and on the other hand, he also wanted to use Liu Bei to counter Zhang Miao, Chen Gong and other court officials.

After Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun, Li Jue and others took power, Liu Xie also had a deeper understanding of the emperor's art.

It just so happened that Zhang Miao and Chen Gong changed the title of holding the emperor to serving the emperor, nominally returning the government to Liu Xie, which gave Liu Xie the pleasure of being in power, and naturally also had a certain degree of imperial majesty.

Regarding Liu Xie's decision, although Zhang Miao and Chen Gong strongly opposed it, they failed to change Liu Xie's determination.

If Liu Xie wants to establish his prestige, he is doomed not to let his courtiers influence his decision.

The more Zhang Miao and Chen Gong objected, the more Liu Xie wanted to add Liu Bei to tell the court officials.

The former puppet emperor Liu Xie no longer exists!

On the throne today is the Han Emperor Liu Xie who has the ambition to rejuvenate!
Liu Bei was also very happy with Liu Xie's conferment.

From General Zhenxi to General Zhengbei, this has crossed a level.

Although General Sizheng is still just a miscellaneous general, unlike the generals, hussars, chariots, and guards who are heavy generals, General Sizheng is already the one with the highest authority and honor among miscellaneous generals except Sifang General.

"Your Majesty has favored you, and you must remember your responsibilities. If Your Majesty orders you in the future, you, Liu Bei, will personally lead the army to fight against the false emperors and rebels for Your Majesty!"

Liu Bei's attitude made Liu Ai very satisfied.

Although many people in the court said that Liu Bei was too powerful and should be cut, but in Liu Ai's view, who else could conquer the false emperor for the emperor except Liu Bei?
Is it Liu Yao, the governor of Yangzhou who couldn't even defeat Sun Jian?
Or Liu Biao, a Confucian scholar who claimed to be single-riding Jingzhou, but actually only settled in Jiangxia County, and is still worrying about how to convince the scholars and people of the nine counties of Jingxiang?

Or was it Liu Yan, Yizhou Shepherd who was impeached by Liu Biao for disobedience?

In Liu Ai's view, among the clansmen of the Han Dynasty, only Liu Bei can help Liu Xie rule the world!

The rest of the clan, the state herdsmen, are nothing more than a group of corpses.

As for Yanzhou Mu Zang Hong and Yuzhou Mu Cao Cao, Liu Ai looked down on them even more.

One is the Yanzhou Mu who was pushed up by Zhang Miao and Chen Gong, and he listens to Zhang Miao and Chen Gong in everything; the other is the Yuzhou Mu who kills the state and herd ministers for his own selfishness, and has no respect for monarchs and ministers in his eyes.

"Marquis of Linzi, I have to go to Shouchun to proclaim the decree, so I won't stay in Linzi City." Liu Ai stood up and said goodbye.

Although Liu Bei tried his best to persuade him to stay, Liu Ai insisted on not accepting it.

So Liu Bei sent Tian Yu to personally escort Liu Ai to Shouchun to announce the decree.

Liu Ai left on the front foot, and Zheng Ping arrived at the State Shepherd's Mansion on the back foot.

Knowing that Liu Bei was conferred the title of General of Conquering the North and granted the title of Marquis of Linzi, Zheng Ping was very happy for Liu Bei from the bottom of his heart: "Congratulations to the envoy, today is the conquest of the North, and he will be promoted to the rank of General in the future."

Liu Bei laughed: "I don't dare to expect extravagant generals, I only hope that being a general of hussars is enough."

Zhang Fei said, "Brother, why should you underestimate yourself! Even Lu Bu can be a general, why can't you be a general? After the false emperor and Yuan Shao are eliminated, with the merits of the elder brother, then Lu Bu has to give up the position of general!"

Liu Bei reprimanded lightly: "Yide can't talk nonsense, Marquis Wen has served the king twice to rescue him, and the position of general is well-deserved."

Zheng Ping looked at Guan Yu: "Yun Chang, tell me about your experience in Chang'an. The reactions of the Son of Heaven and all the ministers are detailed, so please tell me all about it."

Just when Guan Yu nodded in agreement, Liu Bei said: "If you want to explain in detail, you won't be able to finish it in a short while."

"In the past two years, the four of us have been together less and more apart, and we rarely have time to get together. Now that the peach blossoms are in full bloom, how about going to Taoyuan to get together and have a drink and chat?"

Liu Bei opened up a Taoyuan alone near the State Shepherd's Mansion. When he was depressed, he would often go to the Taoyuan for a walk, reminiscing about the past.

It is the end of April, and the peach blossoms are in full bloom.

So at Liu Bei's suggestion, Zheng Ping, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei came to Taoyuan one after another.

As soon as he arrived in Taoyuan and saw the peach blossoms in the garden, Zhang Fei couldn't help but think of the Taoyuan in Zhuojun: "I don't know when I can go back to Zhuojun. I miss my Taoyuan in Zhuocheng a little bit, and I don't know which boy gave it to me now." Occupied."

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Don't worry about Yide, we will fight back!"

Guan Yu also stroked his beautiful beard, looking at the peach blossoms in the garden with some emotion.

Zheng Ping lightly shook his feather fan and picked up a peach blossom that fell on the ground: "It's a pity that this peach blossom can't be soaked in wine. If you pick fresh peach blossoms on March 49rd, soak them in high-quality white wine and take them after [-] days. If you take them for a long time, you can drink them." Eliminates disease and improves beauty. Benefits water, invigorates blood circulation, and laxative effect."

Liu Bei laughed loudly: "Xianmou, I'll wait here to reminisce about the past, but you are better off, I just want to pick flowers and make wine."

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was interested. Zhang Fei leaned closer and asked, "Mr. Xianmou, is what you said true? Can it really cure diseases and improve beauty?"

Zheng Ping threw out a peach blossom petal in his hand, shook his fan and smiled lightly: "Is it possible that Yide is sick recently?"

Zhang Fei shook his head again and again: "I'm as strong as a cow, how could I be ill?"

Zheng Ping laughed again: "Then Yide wants to improve his face? You are a fighter, do you still want to be more handsome?"

Zhang Fei stomped his feet: "Mr. Xianmou, you have misunderstood. I am asking my wife."

Zheng Ping laughed loudly: "I didn't expect Yide to be so caring! Ambassador, you have to learn more from Yide on this point. It is a good thing to be diligent in government affairs, but don't neglect the beauty's heart."

Guan Yu squinted his phoenix eyes, raised his head slightly: "Guan will not get involved, Madam never likes these things."

Zhang Fei turned his eyes around and said in surprise: "Second brother, you don't care about your sister-in-law too much. My wife said that my sister-in-law often laments that she has been away for many years and her appearance has become vicissitudes. Now I am afraid that she is not good enough for you, second brother." .”

Guan Yudan stared at him with phoenix eyes: "Whoever chews his ears in front of Madam, Guan will go back and chop him off!"

Zhang Fei shrank his neck, pretending to be stupid, and said, "I don't know, that's what my wife told me. Second brother, the point is not who is talking about the ears, you have indeed alienated and cared about your sister-in-law."

Liu Bei knew Zhang Fei's personality well, so he naturally guessed that Zhang Fei was making nonsense on purpose, and said with a smile, "Second brother and I were indeed negligent."

"Xianmou, does this wine have to be the peach blossoms of March [-]rd?"

Zheng Ping shook his head: "It doesn't have to be March [-]rd, it's just used by the editor to keep the season in check, just pick fresh peach blossoms."

"Although this peach blossom wine is good for the face, but drinking too much will hurt the body, so you can't be unrestrained."

"Yide, don't drink secretly."

Zhang Fei laughed embarrassingly: "Mr. Xianmou, will I drink secretly? I am a fighter, I can't drink more and more handsome, right? If I am too handsome, who will be afraid of me on this battlefield?"

Chat for a while.

The four sat around warming the wine.

The Xianren Niang brewed by Zheng's Distillery does not need to be steamed like water wine.

However, Linzi City in April is still a bit chilly, warming some immortal brews will make the taste better.

While drinking, Guan Yu recounted what he had seen and heard in Chang'an in as much detail as possible.

"Although the Son of Heaven is in charge of the government, the ministers in the court are still in harmony with each other. This false emperor has not yet been punished, but he has started to fight for power and profit."

"How can such behavior help the emperor to fix the big man?"

Liu Bei couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Zheng Ping carefully figured out what Guan Yu described about Chang'an, and had a clearer understanding of Zhang Miao and Chen Gong's thoughts.

After pondering for a moment, Zheng Ping said: "Emissary, you wrote a few days ago, saying that Cao Cao intends to invite the envoy to play with the emperor and move the capital to Luoyang?"

Liu Bei nodded: "The matter of moving the capital is very important. At that time, Xianmou was busy with disaster relief in Huainan, so I didn't reply to Cao Cao's emissary."

"Xianmou brought up this matter again today, so he must have made a decision."

Zheng Ping asked, "Does the envoy want the emperor to move the capital, or does he not want the emperor to move the capital?"

The matter of letting the emperor move the capital involves a lot.

Zheng Ping had to confirm Liu Bei's true thoughts before he could plan a countermeasure for moving the capital.

After all, Zheng Ping is not someone who likes to overwhelm others.

Now that he has chosen to assist Liu Bei, it is natural to follow Liu Bei's ideas as much as possible.

The counselor is not the real decision maker, it is always Liu Bei who makes the decision.

If Liu Bei didn't want the emperor to move the capital, Zheng Ping would naturally destroy Cao Cao's plan to let the emperor move the capital.

Liu Bei thought for a while, and said, "I can also guess a little bit about Cao Cao's intentions."

"The emperor moved his capital to Luoyang, and Cao Cao in Xu County can meet the emperor more easily."

"But I am far away in Qingzhou, and it is not easy to meet the emperor once."

"In the battle of Huainan, although Cao Cao and I were friendly on the surface, we had already become enemies. If the emperor came to Luoyang, it would be bad for me."

"However, if the emperor is far away in Chang'an, it will be disadvantageous for conquering the false emperor."

"Pian Anguan, how can you order the six states in the east of the Guandong to fight against the false emperor?"

"Privately and publically, I hope that the Son of Heaven will come out of Guanzhong and, as the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, order the six states to fight against the false emperor!"

Zheng Ping closed his eyes slightly and thought quietly: "I understand what the envoy means."

At this time, Liu Bei had no ambition to become emperor.

Liu Bei's long-cherished wish at this time is just to be Situ Yi or a general of a big man.

Whether private or public, Liu Bei hopes that Liu Xie's idea of ​​moving his capital to Luoyang is all right.

However, there is always a gap between this ideal and reality.

The reason why Zheng Ping let Yuan Shu go to Guanzhong, and promised Guan Yu that Yuan Shu would die this year, was not simply for the sake of the overall situation.

There was another factor that no one could have predicted except Zheng Ping.

In the first year of Xingping, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong!
This severe drought will destroy all the ambitions of Zhang Miao and Chen Gong!
This was also one of the reasons why Zheng Ping didn't care much about the success of Zhang Miao and King Chen Gongqin.

Although Zhang Miao and Chen Gong succeeded as King Qin, it was not at the right time!

Guanzhong, which had already been ravaged by Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and others, had another severe drought, and any political ambitions would disappear with the clouds.

Rest for three years?

Zhang Miao and Chen Gong, if they can survive this year, it's not bad!

As for whether Zang Hong, governor of Yanzhou, would help Zhang Miao and Chen Gong?
If the severe drought in Guanzhong cannot be effectively dealt with, it will cause locust plagues in Yanzhou.

The locusts flying from Guanzhong will cause famine in Yanzhou.

Zang Hong couldn't take care of himself, how could he help Zhang Miao and Chen Gong?

When Zheng Ping sent Mi Heng to visit Zang Hong, he was already prepared.

If Zang Hong respected Zhang Miao and Chen Gong, Mi Heng would not have told Zang Hong about the solution to the locust plague.

If Zang Hong respects Liu Bei, Qingzhou will fully assist Yanzhou in dealing with the locust plague.

Although it is cruel to the civilians and civilians who are ravaged by the locust plague in Yanzhou, if Zang Hong is unwilling to cooperate, even if Zheng Ping has a good strategy, he will not be able to deal with the locust plague in Yanzhou.

Only in his position can he manage his government and protect his people.

"The envoy can write back to Cao Cao to support the move of the emperor's capital to Luoyang." Zheng Ping said slowly.

It would be more beneficial for Liu Bei to reply at this time.

When Liu Bei suggested that the emperor move the capital, Zhang Miao and Chen Gong would definitely oppose it.

At this time, when the drought came, Liu Xie might even guess whether he had violated God's will, which caused the drought in Guanzhong?

Then if Liu Xie wants to sin against himself, he will inevitably bring up the matter of moving the capital to Luoyang.

And the officials and officials did not dare to object at this time.

Do not move the capital?
The drought has punished the capital, so why not move the capital?

Paused.

Zheng Ping said again: "As for moving, it will make it easier for Cao Cao to win the emperor's favor, so you can rest assured that the emperor will not trust Cao Cao."

"The matter of Guanzhong, so that you don't have to pay attention to it for the time being. The most urgent thing is to integrate the financial resources and manpower of the three states of Qingxuyang and Yangzhou as soon as possible, and organize and train troops to deal with the changes in the north!"

(End of this chapter)