Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 393 Hanguan Zhuang Emperor’s Residence (2)

Because of the domineering feudal town, Zhao Ke's liver qi was stagnant, and he couldn't sleep peacefully all night.Just after the fourth watch, the officials ordered the memorial to be sent to the Imperial Study Room for review.At this time, the eunuch reported that Deng Su, the Minister of Rites, was waiting outside the palace gate to see him.Zhao Ke looked up at the sky, but it was still pitch black.He looked at the hourglass again, it was still Yinchu time.Because the early court was at Mao time, and the courtiers usually asked for an audience after the early court.Zhao Ke was slightly surprised, so he asked Deng Shilang to meet the king in the imperial study.

Zhao Ke straightened his clothes in front of the bronze mirror, saw his bloodshot eyes, and thought to himself, Deng Su is famous for his moral knowledge, so he shouldn't persuade himself not to be obsessed with women.

After a while, Deng Su walked into the imperial study. His face was slightly pale, his eyes were also bloodshot, and he seemed to have stayed up all night.Although he was full of worries, he still followed the rules, first greeted the official, and then waited for the official to inquire before he got it right.This person's behavior is like this, even if Mount Tai collapses in front of him, he will not change his face, he will follow the rules and do things in a rigid manner.Although it didn't look like someone flattering him, Zhao Ke felt more at ease, thinking that he was so selfless in his heart.

"Deng Shilang is here, what's the matter?" Zhao Ke raised his hand and asked the eunuch to bring an embroidered pier for Deng Su to serve tea.

Deng Su hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said: "Forgive me for the crime of usurping, the matter is confidential, please stand back from your majesty."

Zhao Ke's face darkened.Thinking that Deng Su was never a pompous person, he snorted and ordered the eunuchs in the imperial study room to retreat outside the door of the imperial study room so as not to overhear the performance of the emperor and ministers. Then he said coldly: "Deng Shilang can speak."

Deng Su apologized again, and then slowly said: "Yesterday, Your Majesty summoned the ministers to the palace to discuss the assassination of Zhong Shimin. After returning home, the ministers thought about it. If the court really does not pursue it, it will be a big mistake as soon as this case is opened. , The majesty of the imperial court was completely lost. The soldiers in the battalion only know that there is a commander-in-chief, but they don’t know how to be restrained by the imperial court, and it will be too late to regret. From then on, the 15 soldiers in the Xijing Camp will no longer be owned by the imperial court. Therefore, I came here specially to ask Your Majesty to think twice." Every word he said was extremely sincere, every word was like a small hammer hitting Zhao Ke's heart.

Zhao Ke hesitated and said: "But what Zhao Xianggong and Privy Councilor Shao said last night, if the 'fuck' is too hasty, I am afraid that Cao Di will be 'forced' against him." Zhao Ke felt relieved that the minister's vassal town received military power for the imperial court.

"My minister believes that although Cao Di has military power and commanded the 15 forbidden troops stationed in Xijing, most of the soldiers are still loyal to the imperial court. As long as the handling is done properly, the imperial court can strictly enforce its prestige and take advantage of the momentum to control the Xijing camp." Deng Su pondered. Dao, "I thought that Cao Di would not openly rebel until the end. He sent people to assassinate Zhong Shimin, and his domineering attitude was obvious. He was worried that Zhong Shimin would divide his military power. If the Xijing camp is really monolithic , why did Cao Di make such a bad move. If Cao Di openly rebelled, he would lose his righteousness, the army would not be attached, and the people would betray their relatives. Luoyang is a small land, and there is a shortage of food and wages. There is Xia Guo in the west and our army to fight against the rebels in the east. lasting."

Zhao Ke nodded, feeling a little helpless: "But I'm worried, Cao Di coerced the army, and simply voted for Kanxi Xia Kingdom."

Deng Su immediately said: "Cao Di killed Zhong Shimin because he only cared about military power. As far as I know, the Kansai system is very different from our dynasty. The sergeant elects a school lieutenant, and he cannot be a general unless he is a school lieutenant. If Cao Di really voted to Kansai, it would be tantamount to self-liberation of military power. For the vassal, this is the last resort. With its hereditary military power, our dynasty has no generals who will vote for Kansai. As long as there is still half a point of room between Cao Di and the court, he will never vote for Kansai."

Zhao Ke was moved by what he said, and he murmured: "Then Deng Qing thinks, how should we deal with this matter?"

"If you kill an officer without authorization, you can be beheaded according to the law."

These words were so loud that Zhao Ke's eyelids jumped in fright.Although he has been intending to cut down the vassal for a long time, and gritted his teeth with hatred for King Jing's father-in-law Cao Di, he did not expect that Cao Di, who had the power of 15 soldiers, would be beheaded immediately.Shyness and excitement rose from the bottom of Zhao Ke's heart at the same time, and the flickering candles in the hanging arch hall reflected the changes in the official's face. He took a deep breath and listened to Deng Su's continuation.

"Cao Di sent people to assassinate Zhong Shimin, and appointed Li Ji as the guard of Hangu Pass without authorization. He intended to test the court. Therefore, the court appointed Li Ji first to comfort his heart. Cao Di was always arrogant, so he must think that the court is weak. , this matter can still be reduced to a minor one. Then, the imperial court sent an envoy to Xijing to announce the decree, and revealed the news to Cao Di in advance that he was only a lax under the imperial court. In fact, hundreds of strong men were selected from the front of the hall to accompany the envoys. Cao Di was ordered to gather all the generals in the camp to listen to the announcement. When the decree was announced, the guards captured Cao Di together, and replaced Cao Di with the festival of being a teacher. Handsome. Cao Di will be escorted back to Beijing immediately, and the three courts will review the crimes and then execute them according to the law. Zhong Shidao has always had prestige in the army. With the loyalty of one of the Zhong clan, 15 elites from the Xijing camp will return. In the palm of the court."

Just hearing this matter, Zhao Ke felt heartbroken.Bianliang has not experienced swordsmanship for more than a hundred years. He is used to living in a peaceful world. Although he is dissatisfied with the unruly feudal towns, he is always worried about stirring up chaos, and it is difficult to make a painful decision.

"However," he hesitated, "The Cao family has been operating in Xijing for nearly a hundred years, and the old subordinates are all over the camp. The change is in a hurry, and if these Cao family members make 'chaos' immediately, how should we deal with it?"

Seeing this, Deng Su persuaded in a deep voice: "It's better to make a quick decision than to appease the 'treacherous'. Cao's use of personal favors to form a party to plot 'chaos' has no way of being a courtier. Can you still expect others to be loyal to him? What does the court rely on to obey? People all over the world rely on righteousness. Even if Cao Di offered favors and favors, the righteousness lies in the court. The soldiers all have families and children, so how could they easily rebel. There are 15 people in the Xijing camp, and the soldiers who are loyal to the court must be a hundredfold As long as Cao Diming is punished with lightning speed and his gangsters are forgiven, the soldiers will tremble and disappear. Taking a step back, even if the Xijing camp rebelled, Bianliang Shang There are more than 15 elite soldiers, and the Hulao Pass is also in the hands of the imperial court, which is enough to shield the capital. As the minister said, the imperial court uses the world to attack a corner, and the small land of Luoyang City cannot last long. When the bandits are exhausted, the imperial court sends a good general The military system is used to eliminate future troubles. Our dynasty governs the world with benevolence and virtue, and has not lost its virtue. People's hearts are in the court. It is self-evident. However, if the court sits on the sidelines of the teacher Min Han's injustice, everyone in the Xijing camp will be chilled, thinking that the court's loyal officials are nothing more than that That's all. From then on, the arrogance of the 'treacherous' bandits could not be contained, and the [-] troops in the Xijing camp all fell into the hands of Cao Di."

Zhao Ke listened, his expression changed several times, and he finally made up his mind.However, it is difficult to decide who is the minister who went to Luoyang to proclaim the decree and punish Cao Di.This person must not only have sufficient prestige, but also be able to adapt to changing circumstances.If things fail, there is a danger of being murdered by the rebels.

"Among the officials and bureaucrats of the Manchu Dynasty, who can go to Luoyang to announce the decree?"

As soon as the words fell, Deng Su kowtowed on the ground, and said in a deep voice, "I am willing to eliminate thieves for the country, and I will not hesitate to do so, please Your Majesty's permission."

"Please get up quickly, please get up!" Zhao Ke said with emotion: "Deng Shilang's loyalty and righteousness can be seen in the sky." He got up and came out from behind the imperial case, and personally helped Deng Su up.The two monarchs and ministers also discussed how to draft two decrees, light and dark, and secretly asked Zhu Bona, the governor of the Wuchang Army, to lead the guards in front of the palace and other matters.In order to prevent leakage of information, what Zhao Ke gave to Deng Su was Zhongzhao, and did not go through Prime Minister Zhao Zhifu and Privy Envoy Shao Wu.

After everything was agreed upon, it was the beginning of Mao.On the bluestone ground in front of the gate of the White Jade Palace, ministers who were preparing to go to court stood in twos and threes.As soon as Deng Su came out of one side of the palace gate, he attracted everyone's attention.The sky had not yet dawned, and countless gazes focused on this person.Being able to be summoned before the early court shows that the holy family is very deep.

Deng Su ignored those surprised, envious, and jealous eyes.His face was sinking like water, his eyes looked at his nose, and his nose looked at his heart, just like an old monk in meditation.

Zhong Shimin, the guard of Hangu East Gate, was stabbed to death. The news spread to Guanzhong, which caused quite a stir.Just in case, Xia Guo immediately strengthened the guard at Hangu Xiguan.However, because Cao Di did not enter Hangu Pass, the trade between Xia and Song was not affected.There is only one Yellow River between Guanzhong and Hedong, and there are many people on both sides of the river who are related to each other.The Mierbo people invaded, and many people from Hedong fled to Guanzhong.Talking about the tragedies that are happening in Hedong, the fleeing people all shed tears, and some even beat their chests and feet, scolded and begged for forgiveness.Although most people have never seen it in person, the scene of burning, killing and looting according to word of mouth is still shocking.Because of the rapid action of the Mierbo cavalry, most of the east of the river were attacked without warning.When the people in the village saw the Mierbo cavalry, there was almost no possibility of escape.Originally, the Liao army raided Grass Valley only to plunder, and then captured some signing troops. Occasionally, there were incidents of burning and killing, but they rarely slaughtered entire counties and villages on purpose.However, the Mierbo people deliberately abused the people of the Song Dynasty. They often scattered hundreds of miles around with more than a thousand horsemen, relying on the cavalry to come and go negligently. .There was a county town that was unable to close its gates in the future, but was galloped in by Mierbo cavalry, and under the wanton burning and killing, the densely populated place turned into a ghost town with dead bodies clogging the roads.

Whenever he heard about this matter, Zhao Xingde couldn't help feeling angry, his indignation was beyond words, and he wished he could go to battle and fight these demons for a while.He selects and trains elite soldiers and generals every day, and the firecracker battalion gradually becomes an army.He didn't pay attention to the compliments from all over the army, but he only hoped that he could lead an elite army to the east of the river to fight and kill all those murderous beasts.

Before the Double Ninth Festival, the lieutenants of the Guanzhong Army who were discussing affairs in the Huguo Mansion returned, and after the Double Ninth Festival, Zhao Xingde would go to the Huguo Mansion with another group of lieutenants to discuss matters.Although he has been the captain of Chengying Camp for several years, he has been fighting abroad all year round, and he is quite careless about the rules of the Huguo Mansion's discussions.Chen Qianli specifically pointed out some ways of discussing matters in the Huguo Mansion.