The great man will live forever

Chapter 232
The strange thing about history is that it may take many years for someone to turn the world around, but no one knows when.

Obviously, Liu Xiu is such a person. In the 400 years of the Han Dynasty, there was only one Liu Xiu. In 500 years, a king will appear. His rise and fall will be sudden.

In this battle, the Han army achieved unprecedented results.Not only did they defeat the New Mang Army and eliminate its main force, they also captured a large amount of supplies that took more than a month to transport.

After this battle, the Xinmang dynasty collapsed completely, and the powerful powers from all over the country killed the local officials of the new dynasty and obeyed the orders of the Han army.

The city of Chang'an was in a bleak state, "Your Majesty, I am ashamed of my expectations of you."

Da Sikong Wangyi burst into tears and prostrated on the ground. In this battle, Xinmang no longer had a large army that could suppress the uprising. Just like the Battle of Julu and the later Battle of Guandu, one battle would determine the outcome.

"How could this be?"

"That's an army of 40 people?"

"Is it God who wants to kill me?"

Wang Mang questioned the sky, with great grief and anger, his lips were trembling, his acting skills were becoming more and more perfect.

"Please give me death, Your Majesty." Grand Sikong Wangyi was heartbroken, and he did not expect such a result.

"Why die? You are my cousin. Now, the rebels are probably coming. Can Chang'an be defended?"

"Your Majesty, I am sworn to defend Chang'an to the death and be loyal to Your Majesty. The rebels want to touch Your Majesty unless they step over my body."

"I don't have to worry about having no firewood to keep the green hills. I want to escape. If you do this, find someone who looks similar to me to replace me. When they come in, you can take him and escape. If you can't escape, commit suicide. That's all." …”

"Your Majesty, I am not afraid of death."

Wang Yi's eyes were loyal and firm, and everything he had was given by Wang Mang.

"Oh, I can't bear it, why don't you escape with me?"

"No, if I run away, they will think that your Majesty is cheating to death. If I don't run away, I wish your Majesty a long life!"

The two of them looked loyal and benevolent, and chatted a lot. Wang Yi returned home in the evening. He seemed relieved to have returned home. The burden on his back was gone. Sometimes death is not terrible.

Wang Mang, sitting on the dragon chair, gently touched the handle of the dragon chair, "Haha, sir, you are really powerful. Now we are waiting for them to break into Chang'an. Show off, show off, Guangwu Zhongxing, destiny, we are destiny." , Time does not add up, reincarnation blows and reappears."

……

On Liu Xiu's side, taking advantage of the great victory in Kunyang, they were extremely fierce and attacked the city and territory. But when they arrived at their father's city, they attacked for several days without success.

At this time, they were discussing in the military camp, and Liu Xiu's brother-in-law Deng Chen sighed with emotion, "We took advantage of the great victory in Kunyang and didn't encounter much resistance along the way, but we hit a nail in the father's city and fought hard one after another. They haven't been defeated for several days, the commander of the city guard, Feng Yi, is really powerful."

At this time, Liu Xiu looked at Liu Long, "Uncle Yuan, you should be familiar with these places, but do you know this Feng Yi?"

Yuan Bo was Liu Long's name, and he belonged to the Anzhonghou clan. When he was born, Wang Mang took full power and stepped up his efforts to usurp the Han Dynasty.

In April of AD 6 (the first year of Jushe in the Western Han Dynasty), Anzhonghou Liu Chong raised an army against Wang Mang.Liu Long's father Liu Li participated in this military operation. After the operation failed, he was implicated and punished. Liu Long was spared from execution because he was under seven years old.

After experiencing the pain of "extermination of his family", Liu Long went to Chang'an to study. When he learned that Liu Xiu and others had started an army, he naturally came to join them.

"To be honest, when I was studying in Chang'an, I met Gongsun several times, and I knew him well. He was both civil and military, and proficient in the art of war. He is currently the governor of Yingchuan County, and was ordered to oversee the five counties. Together with Miao, the magistrate of Fucheng County, Miao Meng is resisting us in the city. Miao Meng loves the people like a son, and his soldiers are united, so we can't attack for a while. It's normal. As the saying goes, a thousand troops are easy to get, but a general is hard to find."

After hearing this, Deng Chen sighed, "This is really tricky. What should we do?"

Liu Xiu had no choice but to think for a while and said: "Let's not confront them head-on. We should retreat first and let him relax his vigilance and think that our army is retreating. Then we can find a way to lure this person out and take the opportunity to capture him."

Sure enough, they caught Feng Yi when he went to inspect the front line in person.

If most people are caught by the enemy, they will either surrender or be killed. There is nothing to worry about.

But Feng Yi was obviously not an ordinary person. Except for Liu Long whom he knew, his cousin Feng Xiao, fellow countrymen Ding Wei and Lu Yan all worked under Liu Xiu at that time.

When they heard that Feng Yi had been arrested, they all recommended Feng Yi to Liu Xiu, saying that he was a great talent and they must not miss it!
Of course, Liu Xiu would not miss it. He was a man who did big things and was always hungry for talents. He immediately summoned Feng Zhuangshi in person to inspect the goods in person.

The two met late, drank fine wine, and talked about everything. Liu Xiu felt that Feng Yi was indeed a talented person who could take the lead, and Feng Yi also felt that Liu Xiu was a worthy leader.

But just when Liu Xiu wanted to take Feng Yi back to his account, Feng Yi said that his old mother was still in the city and hoped that Liu Xiu could let him go back temporarily. After he settled down, he would take the five cities under his jurisdiction. Get up and take refuge with Liu Xiu.

Liu Xiu really cared about Feng Yi and didn't care whether there was fraud in it. He immediately expressed high praise for Feng Yi's filial piety and looked forward to his early return, so he released him.

Later, Feng Yi kept his word and surrendered as promised.

Not long after the Battle of Kunyang ended, Liu Xuan issued an edict and ordered the generals to Wancheng.Liu Xiu was highly vigilant and believed that there might be a conspiracy against their brothers, so he advised his brother to be on guard.Liu Yan thought that the general meeting was a routine matter and laughed it off.

The Liu brothers first gathered with their own families in Wancheng. Naturally, they were very happy and got very drunk. One of them even vomited and left with red and swollen eyes. That person was Liu Ji.

Liu Ji is the same ancestry of the three brothers of the Liu family, and they have the deepest relationship with each other. This man is the bravest of the three armies.

At the beginning of the army, during the Battle of Huyang, Liu Ji was appointed as the vanguard officer of the Han army by Liu Yan and selected a group of men as the vanguard battalion. After he made the selection, he urged Wu Haima to lead the vanguard battalion to quickly leave the army and rush to the new army. And go.

The county lieutenant saw a general commanding the troops speeding forward. He looked at this general again. He was tall and strong, with a heavy iron gun. He did not dare to be careless. He shouted loudly: "Can you dare to give me your name, general?"

Liu Ji did not stop, and rushed straight towards the county captain. As he rushed, he shouted: "I am Liu Ji, the pioneer of the Han Dynasty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the iron spear had already been thrust out. The county lieutenant raised his halberd and knocked it outwards. The spears and halberds collided with each other. Liu Ji's iron spear did not change its path. The county lieutenant tried to dodge sideways again, but it was too late, so he secretly shouted: "It's over. !”

There was just a click sound, the iron gun smashed the breast shield, and came out straight through the body. Liu Ji lifted the dead body under the horse.

"Run!"

"Help!"

When the new soldiers saw it, they stabbed the county captain to death and fled in all directions as if they had seen a ghost.

"Kill." Liu Ji immediately led his troops to pursue him and captured Huyang County.

……

Seeing Liu Ji walking out drunk with red eyes, the attentive Liu Xiu quickly chased after him, "How are you? You're not drunk, are you? Are you drunk?"

He stepped forward to help Liu Ji and found that he was crying.

"What's wrong? If you have something to say to Third Brother, Third Brother will vent your anger for you."

"Third brother, please let me get drunk, otherwise I won't feel happy."

"Didn't we just win the battle? Why aren't you happy?" Liu Xiu patted his chest to cheer him up.

"Third brother, I feel so uncomfortable here." Liu Ji covered his heart, a big man, crying bitterly. He yelled, "I want to kill someone, I want revenge." "Who are you going to kill?"

"Cen Peng, if it hadn't been for him and Xiao Changanju, so many of our relatives wouldn't have died so tragically."

This sentence instantly awakened Liu Xiu, making him forget the joy of victory, and memories began to spread.

Little Chang Anju watched a relative being slaughtered with his own eyes. He rode a fast horse and whipped his horse, but he could only hear the screams of his relative. He wanted to save the third sister but couldn't. At that moment, he seemed so small and cowardly.

His eyes were red, as if he saw his relatives spurting blood in front of him, and heard his screams. Those memories came to his mind like a tide, and he began to cry.

A man doesn't shed tears lightly, but he hasn't reached the sad point yet.

But he could only say helplessly: "He has surrendered to Big Brother now."

Liu Ji grabbed his collar and said: "I know, the eldest brother said not to cause trouble for him, and also said that third brother, you know the importance of severity best, you can all tolerate it, you are doing it for big things, but I can't bear it, I swallow it If I don’t take this tone, tonight, no matter what, I will take Cen Peng’s head as a sacrifice to my dead relative.”

Liu Xiu patted him on the shoulder and continued: "You are drunk." Liu Ji shook his head quickly, "I am not drunk, I am sober, I know what I want to do, I have already thought about it, and I will do it tonight , even if it costs my life, I will definitely take his head off to pay homage to my dead relatives."

Liu Xiu said quickly: "No, you can't go, listen to what the third brother says..."

Liu Ji interrupted him directly, "Third brother, listen to me. The eldest brother can't do it, but I can, I will go."

As he said this, he was about to get up to get his bow, arrows and weapons. Liu Xiu grabbed him instantly and said extremely coldly: "You are drunk and can't kill Cen Peng. I'll go."

At this moment, his eyes were full of murderous intent, "Don't worry, I will do this well and give you, our Liu family, and those deceased relatives an explanation."

That night, under the dim moonlight, Liu Xiu came to Cen Peng's house with his sword.

"General, General Liu Xiu wants to see you." A servant came to report.

Cen Peng also roughly knew what Liu Xiu was going to do. He was writing on the silk with a pen, "Let him come in."

"promise."

The moment Liu Xiu opened the door, he stopped the pen in his hand, looked at Liu Xiu, and said unhurriedly: "The third general came to me so late, are you here to take my life?"

"Exactly, you knew I would come?" Liu Xiu was a little surprised.

"I heard that Liu Xiu and Uncle Liu Wen attached great importance to friendship, and both my brothers and sisters died in Xiao Chang'an. I have already predicted that the general will come tonight."

"Chong!"

Liu Xiu did not hesitate to draw his sword and put it on Cen Peng's throat.

"Cen Peng, it has been 212 days since I left Little Chang'an. I have never forgotten every day. Today I will take your head to avenge my relatives."

"Hahaha!"

At this moment, Cen Peng suddenly burst out laughing, and Liu Xiu quickly asked: "Why are you laughing?"

"Third General, according to your statement, among every soldier in this troubled world, who is not a victim of blood feud? Of all the New Army soldiers who died in the Battle of Kunyang, among my subordinates who starved to death while guarding Wancheng, which one No parents or brothers? Who doesn’t have a wife, sons and daughters?

The two armies are fighting each other for their own masters. As a military general, it is my responsibility as a soldier to abide by my duties. If the general feels that I, Cen Peng, should be killed, just go ahead and do it. The day Wancheng was destroyed, I already knew the outcome of today. Well, thanks to the great Situ Liu Boxheng for saving my life, I can live a few more days, and I am already satisfied. "

Liu Xiu gritted his teeth and said, "Don't think that if you use my eldest brother to suppress me, I won't dare to kill you!"

"Of course not. Liu Boxheng is broad-minded and does not care about personal grudges. He is a wise master in troubled times. I, Cen Peng, sincerely surrender and am willing to serve. It is a pity that I cannot repay his kindness. The three generals will kill him if they want. Just do it."

At this time, Liu Xiu pointed his sword at the words he wrote on the silk, "What's wrong? There's an extra stroke here."

It is the word "武", but it has more glances than the word "武", it is the sum of "Zhi Ge".

"When I was young, I once read Guigu and understood that joining the army in troubled times means that fighting is to stop the war."

Liu Xiu paused for a moment, then cut Cen Peng's hair with his sword. Cen Peng's whole body trembled. He thought he was almost killed. He was stunned when his hair fell from his eyes.

However, Liu Xiu said: "If you cut off your hair and become the leader of an owl, the grudges between you and me will be wiped out. If you dare to betray the Han army or my elder brother in the future, you will be killed and the owl will be liquidated as well. Say goodbye!"

After Liu Xiu finished speaking, he left without looking back. Tears fell from his eyes. Cen Peng looked at his leaving figure and remained silent for a long time.

In the mansion of the lord of Wancheng City, Liu Xuan was reading the memorial. Zhu Tuna said calmly in front of him: "Your Majesty has given many rewards to Liu Yan and Liu Xiu brothers in recent days. He has also given many rewards to Deng Chen and the Yin family. In order to be generous, Wang Kuang and others said that if Liu Yan makes great contributions in the future, he is afraid that his majesty will not reward him."

"Liu Yan fought tooth and nail to capture Wancheng. Liu Xiu defeated the Mang army in Kunyang and killed Wang Xun. They deserve this reward. What's wrong with Wang Kuang?"

"Your Majesty is right, many heroes and heroes have come to seek refuge in recent days."

Liu Xuan smiled slightly, "Our army is so powerful that more and more people will come to join us. This is a good thing."

"But Your Majesty, they are all here to serve Liu Yan. They only have eyes for the general, not you, Your Majesty."

Liu Xuan looked at him and asked, "Isn't that the way it is?"

Zhu Tuna was extremely worried and said quickly: "Having said that, your Majesty had the support of Wang Kuang and other green forest heroes before, so Liu Yan's small number of troops was not enough to cause trouble, but now Kunyang and Wancheng have won great victories one after another, Liu Yan The power is growing step by step, not to mention Wang Kuang and others, even your Majesty’s position is in jeopardy!”

At this time, Liu Xuan's face turned a little cold, and he comforted himself by saying: "Right now, the new situation is not settled, and the great cause is still undecided. Liu Yan and Liu Xiu are not so stupid, right? Do they have evil intentions?"

"Even if Liu Yan doesn't know how to do it, are there any guarantees that his disciples of the Liu family won't usurp him?

Since Liu Xiu came to Wancheng, Liu Yan began to entertain the generals for days. Liu Xiu also went to Cen Peng's house. Logically speaking, both Liu Yan brothers had a grudge against him regarding the Xiao Chang'an matter, but now they have saved their lives. He deliberately tried to save his life, obviously trying to win over people's hearts!
I also heard that Liu Ji recently said in front of everyone that your Majesty was given up your position by his eldest brother Liu Yan, and that you are not worthy of being emperor at all. "

At this time, Liu Xuan turned to look at him angrily, and Zhu Tuna continued to be angry, "Wang Kuang and the others are afraid that Liu Yan can't stand the temptation, so I asked you to remind your majesty that if you let the tiger return to the mountain, there will be endless troubles!"

Liu Xuan naturally knew what Wang Kuang and the others were thinking, and sneered, "They are trying to kill people with my hands!"

"I know that Your Majesty does not want to be controlled by others, nor does he want to be notorious for killing the relatives of heroes, but Your Majesty, now that you are still young, you are bullying the Lord, let alone have the kindness of a woman!"

Liu Xuan was moved and said quickly: "According to what you said, how should we deal with him?"

"Aren't you going to have a celebration party?"

Liu Xuan understood in an instant, "This is to imitate the Hongmen Banquet. Since Wang Kuang and the others have already planned it, why bother asking me?"

"Since it is the Hongmen Banquet, the Overlord is indispensable. Your Majesty, Wang Kuang and the others are waiting for you to use the jade pendant in your hand as a command to kill Liu Yan."

Liu Xuan finally nodded in acquiescence. Liu Yan and the others didn't know yet that a conspiracy against them was about to begin.

(End of this chapter)