I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 526 Advice
After not seeing each other for several years, Zhu Jun looked much older than before.

Outside Luoyang City, even though Zhu Jun repeatedly declined, Liu Bian still took Zhu Jun to ride in the same carriage with him to show his favor.

This is naturally a great honor for the minister.

In the car, Zhu Jun, who came from a poor family, made no secret of his attitude towards the rebellion: "Your Majesty, on the way here, I encountered many problems in Jingzhou. I think that at this moment, we should use thundering means to wipe out all evil!"

Before Zhu Jun arrived in Luoyang, Huang Wan, who heard the news, resigned gracefully. Thus, Huang Wan followed in the footsteps of Zhang Wen and became the Inspector of the Imperial Guards from the position of Grand Marshal.

Although the official rank and power were reduced, it was still acceptable.

Zhu Jun had already heard on the way why Huang Wan lost his power.

Zhu Jun was ruthless when he suppressed the Yellow Turbans, and now, more than a decade later, he has not changed his character.

Zhu Jun, who could not even be considered to have a powerful family background, did not feel the slightest bit of grief when facing the damned powerful families and tyrants. He just felt that Huangfu Song and his men were killing too slowly.

Liu Bian said: "The Grand Commandant is in charge of the military affairs of the four directions. I have summoned you back now because I want you to stay in Luoyang and help the four-way army to clear the world."

After confirming his future prospects, Zhu Jun introduced his governance of Jiaozhou to Liu Bian.

Although these can be seen in Zhu Jun's memorials and official documents, hearing them from the parties involved in person provides a different perspective.

……

With Zhu Jun's arrival in Luoyang, all the officials in the court once again reached a consensus on the war, and Zhu Jun quickly adapted to the job of Grand Marshal.

At the court meeting two days later, Zhu Jun wrote in a letter: "Now the people in Runan, Chen, Pei, Pengcheng, Xiapi and other places have become rioters. We should dispatch troops to suppress them first."

"The Xiyuan Army has been recuperating for several months and should be dispatched immediately. Mikawa should also recruit the best soldiers to join the expedition."

The generals on the front line may not be able to grasp the overall situation as well as Luoyang, who has a comprehensive grasp of the situation. With the assistance of court officials like Xun Yu, Liu Bian immediately agreed to Zhu Jun's request.

Under Zhu Jun's vigorous and decisive action, the central bureaucratic system, which was already highly efficient, operated even faster.

Huang Zhong and others went on another expedition, and to Lu Bu's disappointment, the title of General Zhengdong was still given to Huang Zhong.

In this way, the four generals who were temporarily established due to the war were all ready, and under the command of the court, they wiped out the rebellion outside the eight passes of Luoyang.

After Zhu Jun returned, Liu Bian felt much more relaxed.

He usually only needed to choose the best plan from the military strategies proposed by Zhu Jun, Xun Yu and Jia Xu, and then discuss the feasibility. In many cases, the plans proposed by these three, who are now considered the most outstanding military strategic talents in the Luoyang Central Committee, are similar.

In this way, Liu Bian didn't even have the chance to suffer from decision-making difficulty.

Therefore, although there was continuous artillery fire on the front line, when the rebellion was put on track, Liu Bian had some free time.

At this time, there is naturally no time and energy to focus on any reforms. Even the people's livelihood, which Liu Bian usually pays most attention to, has to be lowered in priority because of this massive rebellion that affected many regions.

That is to say, the officials in Sanhe had a good foundation, many of whom were Taixue students and local officials. This prevented the Sanhe area, which was most severely affected by military service, from evolving into the tragic situation described in Du Fu's "The Stone-Hao Officer".

However, even so, Huang Wan, who was transferred to the post of Sili Xiaowei, gave up openly opposing Liu Bian, but firmly seized every opportunity to get along with Liu Bian to persuade him. - "Your Majesty, as early as last year, the people of Sanhe have suffered from military service and labor, and the labor far exceeds the stipulated year and month. As for the rebellion in Guandong and other places this year, the labor is even worse."

"Since I became the lieutenant of Sili, I have visited the four corners of Sili and have seen good farmland lying barren. I have asked the owners and learned that the men in their families have either been in the army or worked as laborers, leaving only the elderly and weak women at home, unable to till the land."

Facing Huang Wan, who was deeply distressed, Liu Bian knew that the other party was telling the truth, which was also an important reason why he was still willing to listen to Huang Wan.

Liu Bian explained: "You should understand that all this is only temporary. As long as those rebels are eliminated, all the states and counties in the world will surely usher in great peace!"

Huang Wan naturally understood this logic, but he was unwilling to watch the killing happen.

Seeing that the emperor was stubborn and trying to persuade him, Huang Wan finally made up his mind, knelt on the ground, and said resolutely: "Your Majesty, I have heard that war is a major issue for a country, a matter of life and death, and a matter of survival and destruction. Now I hear that Your Majesty is sure that the rebellion will be victorious. I am willing to die to hear this. Arrogant soldiers will be defeated. This has always been the case since ancient times!"

Before the emperor could get angry, Huang Wan changed his perspective and advised, "When Your Majesty first took charge of government affairs, everything you did was out of benevolence. Even if they were criminals, Your Majesty would allow them to reform if they could be forgiven."

"But among the rebels today, many are deceived and misled and are unable to see clearly. Why is Your Majesty so stingy with kindness towards these people?"

"Now the rebels are facing the army to suppress the rebellion. They have lost their courage. If they are appeased, they will surely surrender in droves! By then, the manpower, material resources, and lives of the people can be saved. How much, Your Majesty, will understand!"

After Huang Wan finished her persuasion, she knocked her head on the palms that were supporting his body, waiting for the emperor's response.

This time, he was really determined to give it a try.

During the long silence, Huang Wan could even hear her own breathing and heartbeat.

"Okay, very good!"

Even though he could clearly hear the anger in the emperor's words, Huang Wan actually felt relieved after hearing the emperor's words.

"Is it that I can only be considered a wise ruler? A benevolent ruler if I do what you want me to do and do what you tell me to do?"

Hearing the emperor's heart-piercing words, Huang Wan hurriedly said, "I am terrified. I dare not!"

"You don't dare? Didn't you just say that I am not as benevolent as before? Even the officers and soldiers fighting outside only heard the saying "arrogant soldiers will be defeated" from you."

"I think you are very brave!"

Huang Wan did not dare to look up, and remained kneeling on the ground, defending himself: "All I ask is that Your Majesty change the general strategy, reduce the number of casualties, and focus on pacifying the rioters... Before these rioters were bewitched, they were also Your Majesty's subjects!"

"Of course, we need to appease the ordinary rioters, but how can we exempt the culprits hiding among them?"

"There is no need to say more, Lieutenant Si Li... Go back to your residence. You are not allowed to go out without permission!"

Afterwards, Huang Wan heard the emperor's footsteps leaving.

After a while, he heard the voice of a eunuch: "Captain of the Imperial Guards, please return home quickly!"

Huang Wan's legs were numb from kneeling at this time, and the eunuchs, seeing the emperor's attitude towards Huang Wan, would not help Huang Wan. They only watched Huang Wan with mocking eyes as he slowly got up and limped out of the Yuntai Palace.

(End of this chapter)