Great Han Empire

Chapter 1016 The Banner of Heroes in Troubled Times Unrolled
In the fourth year of Yuanping in the Han Dynasty (206 AD), in September, Chang'an.

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Prime Minister's House.

It was already very late at night, but Li Wei was still reading the papers at his desk, without the slightest sign of burnout.Since he became the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, he has worked hard day and night, his temples have become white, the wrinkles on his forehead have become more and more, and his once tall body has become thinner day by day.

Suddenly, a rush of footsteps came from outside the house.Li Wei frowned slightly, put down the bamboo slips in his hand, and looked up towards the door.

Shi Jiakui, the head of the prime minister's mansion, pushed open the door and walked into Li Wei with a nervous look on his face, "My lord, Da Sima invites you to rush to the Qilin Palace, saying that we have something important to discuss."

"What happened to the general?" Li Wei's expression changed in shock.

"Probably not, I guess something happened on the Nanyang battlefield." Jia Kui said in a low voice, "I went to Shangshutai yesterday, and I heard from Lord Wang Ling that after General Yang's attack on Wancheng was blocked, he immediately went south to attack Xinye, intending to cut off the rebels. Retreat. Going south to fight Xinye is more risky. If you are not careful, you may be surrounded by rebels. Therefore, Da Sima and Taiwei rushed to General Yang, asking him not to take risks. It is better to continue to besiege Wancheng. Conceited, probably at the same time as sending out the memorial, I have already led the army south to attack Xinye."

Li Wei was anxious, and nodded noncommittally, "Prepare the car, hurry, hurry..."

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The carriage galloped on the spacious avenue, Shibati rode left and right to protect him, and flew towards Weiyang Palace.

Li Wei leaned on the car seat, hid himself in the darkness, closed his eyes tightly, his mind was full of Yang Feng, and the Nanyang battlefield.

This is a battle that shouldn't be fought, but as the court revises its foreign policy, the conflicts between the court and the court that have been suppressed have finally broken out. The battle, and the instigator is himself.

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The general and the civil and military officials of the border county requested to revise the joint memorial of the foreign strategy, indicating that the situation in the border county and the desert is very dangerous.If the two northwestern borders cannot be stabilized, the imperial court will be unable to go south to suppress the rebellion. This is a bloody fact. In order to ensure the smooth progress of ZTE's great cause, the imperial court was forced to revise its foreign strategy in advance.

Li Wei put forward five revision suggestions.One is to gradually relocate foreigners to live in border counties, guide and help them change from animal husbandry to farming, give tax relief for a period of time or in times of famine, and gradually implement the policy of "separate tribes" on this basis, and strive for a few generations. After the Han people, even hundreds of years later, all foreigners who moved into the border counties were included in the Han household registration.

The second is to re-use foreigners, especially the government offices at all levels in border counties. The subordinates in the government must enlist some foreigners to manage foreign affairs in order to win the trust and loyalty of foreigners, and on this basis, gradually move a group of foreign dignitaries to Live in the capital or other big cities, and incorporate them into the scholars and into the Han.

The third is to defend the frontier, relying heavily on a group of foreign generals, and the soldiers of the border counties should also be recruited from foreign tribes as much as possible to reduce the northward migration of the Central Plains people, and alleviate the problems such as pastures, fields, customs, etc. caused by the mixed residence of Han and Hu. All kinds of contradictions have gradually built trust between the parties living together, and on this basis, slowly implemented laws such as intermarriage that would help speed up the pace of integration between the various ethnic groups.

The fourth is to set up school palaces and mentors in Shanyuting and royal courts of foreign ethnic groups, so that the descendants of princes, dignitaries, and leaders of all ethnic groups can speak Chinese, write Chinese characters, read Chinese books, and go to the Taixue School when they grow up. After further study, those who pass the test (examination) can become officials.The Ming teachers who went to Bianjun to teach were selected from the students of the Taixue, and they were changed every three years, and they were reused after returning to the court.

The fifth is the relief system, which is the basis for ensuring the stability of the Northwest Xinjiang and the desert.Li Wei's relief system is not a unilateral free gift, but a joint prevention and defense of disasters by the imperial court, foreigners, and people in border counties.Official warehouses were built in border counties, and some of the millet hoarded in the official warehouses were transported by rich people from all over the country who "worship millet", some were transported by the imperial court, and some were raised by the local government.The border county established horse administration, and the imperial court invested money, and used the horses, livestock, pastures, etc. of various foreign races in the border counties and deserts to raise horses and livestock together with the foreign races to prepare for wars and disasters.

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The principle of Li Wei's external strategy is "conquest and appeasement", but he focuses on appeasement, and many policies can only be seen after several generations, or even a hundred years later. Therefore, this new external strategy was quickly approved by the court. However, what happened next left everyone dumbfounded.

In order to implement this new external strategy, Li Wei persuaded Her Royal Highness the Princess Elder Princess, Grand Sima Xu Rong and Taiwei Zhang Yan to make some personnel adjustments.

Yang Feng was worshiped as a chariot general, Wei Weiqing was removed from the post, and became a general without real power.Yan Liang, the general of the left, served as Wei Weiqing, who was in charge of the southern army and guarded the palace.

Yang Feng thought that Li Wei intended to drive him out of the court, and was extremely resentful towards Li Wei, but Li Wei seemed to calm down Yang Feng's anger, and immediately transferred Lu Buzheng, the general of the left guard, back to Beijing, and asked Zhong Yao, the general of Zhengnan, to replace Lu Bu as the governor of the Qing Dynasty. The military affairs of the two places.Then he dismissed Zhao Yun's Guanglu Xunqing and was replaced by Dahong Luqing Yuan Yao.

Yang Feng, Lu Bu, and Zhao Yun have all become generals without real power, so who will supervise the military affairs in Yuzhou?
Instead of announcing it, the imperial court announced a new Dahongluqing.

The Youxian King of the Xiongnu and General Du Liao Liu Ming served as Dahong Luqing, the first member of the Jiuqing from a foreign nationality in the history of this dynasty.

The whole court was shocked, and the memorials of opposition flew to Jinyang like snowflakes.In the past, during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu, Jin Rixun (di), the son of King Xiutu of the Huns, was one of the four ministers of Tuogu, but he was only a doctor of Guanglu.Today, Liu Ming, He De and He Cai are in the position of Jiuqing?Is it just to please foreigners?

The eldest princess was far away in Jinyang, and the ministers did not dare to go out of Beijing without an imperial decree. No one could persuade them face to face, so this memorial against impeachment fell into the sea without any news.

Grand Tutor Yang Biao really can't accept it. It's okay to change the system, but can't it be changed like this?what is this?This is also called the policy of governing the country?I think this is a traitorous strategy.He continued to play the eldest princess, but the eldest princess ignored him. Yang Biao resigned angrily, and he quit.This time the eldest princess replied immediately, comforted her with kind words, and then agreed.

Clan Liu He served as Taifu.

Guanglu Xunqing Yuan Yao also quit.When Yuan Shu was serving as the Captain of Changshui in the Northern Army, Liu Ming was the commander of the Changshui Camp and Yuan Shu's subordinate.Yuan Shu was almost killed by the general in Xindu City, and the reason was because of Liu Ming's betrayal.He felt very ashamed to be in the same palace as a treacherous man, and a Hun at that.He submitted his resignation on the form and wanted to take up a post in the state and county, so he offered to be released.The capital couldn't stay any longer.

The court gave Yuan Yao a surprise.He worshiped Yuan Yao as General Pingnan and supervised the military affairs of Yuzhou.

Why the imperial court made such an appointment, Chang'an has a lot of speculation, but one thing is certain, that is, it is better for Yuan Yao to go to Yuzhou now, but Zhong Yao can't stay any longer.

Liu Biao fell into Zhong Yao's trick and killed Yuan Xi. Later, when he understood, he scolded Zhong Yao in Xiangyang, which was well known in Jingxiang and Jianghuai.The power of the Yuan Clan spread throughout Jing and Henan, and the disciples and old officials scolded Liu Biao and Zhong Yao at the same time.Yuan Shao is dead, why can't his two sons be spared?Even if you want to kill, you have to kill in an upright manner. Why bother to use such despicable means?Many disciples of the Yuan Clan in Yuzhou packed up their bags and left in a fit of anger, not to hang out with Zhong Yao anymore.

Yuan Yao was originally talented in both civil and military affairs, and was officially recognized by the court as the head of the Yuan Clan. Now that he is sitting in Yuzhou, he will of course win people's hearts and deal with Jingzhou Liu Biao with all his strength.As for why Zhong Yao was asked to oversee the military affairs of Qingyan and Yanzhou, it is estimated that the [-] troops of Lei Zhong, the general of the gangsters, were considered.Compared with Lu Bu, Zhong Yao commanded Lei Chong, and father-in-law commanded son-in-law, of course, they were more handy.

When Liu Ming came to the court, who would do General Du Liao?Who commanded the Liao iron cavalry?Henan Yin Xuhuang served as General Du Liao.

Yuan Yao is gone, who is the new Guang Luxun?Zhang He.Zhang He, the general of Zhenhu and the governor of Qingzhou.

Who is the governor of Qingzhou?Young Minister Xu Jing.Xu Jing was released.

Who is the young minister?Originally Jingzhao Yin Yupeng.Li Wei's classmate.

Who is Jing Zhaoyin?Zhu Mu, the former Dasinong Cheng.Li Wei's brother-in-law.

Who is the new Henan Yin?The original Shangshu left servant shot Sima Lang.

Who is the new Shangshu Zuo Pushe?Ding Li, Li Wei's classmate.

General Zhijinwu Yushi has always commanded troops to fight outside. Yan Liang used to take the post of Zhijinwu, but now it is replaced by Chen Hao.Zhu Mu's younger brother Zhu Wei served as the imperial censor.

The people of Chang'an suddenly realized that Prime Minister Li Wei took this opportunity to pull his classmates Liu Ming, Yu Peng, Chen Hao, Ding Li, and his close relatives Zhu Mu and Zhu Wei into positions, and his power became even greater.

Of course, the eldest princess also gained something, and the clan minister Liu He finally returned, and Li Shangshu participated in the decision-making.

Grand Sima Xu Rong and Taiwei Zhang Yan can also accept it. After all, Yang Feng has become a chariot general, Yan Liang and Zhang Yun have also risen to the top, and Lu Bu and Zhao Yun are both outstanding generals, and no one can regret their status.

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Under the banner of implementing the new system, Li Wei blatantly accepted nepotism, but the eldest princess and Da Sima ignored it.

Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Li Wei didn't care and approved everything.Just say hello if you want to go.

In April, the imperial court issued an edict to the world that according to the new system, talents should be selected by test scriptures once every three years. However, during the period of great Han revival, there is an urgent need for talented people, so the first selection directly recruited the world to inform Yijing, Guji, Tianwen, Talents from Calendar, Zhonglu, Elementary School, History, Materia Medica, Five Classics, The Analects of Confucius, The Classic of Filial Piety, Erya, etc. gathered in the capital to test scriptures (examinations) to become officials. .

All of a sudden, the government and the public were shaken, Confucian scholars and virtuous scholars from all over the world flocked here, and Chang'an Taixue was overcrowded.

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The selection of scriptures has always been an auxiliary selection system in this dynasty. It mainly tests Confucian scriptures. The examination methods include shooting and countermeasures.Shece is a lottery examination, the content focuses on the interpretation of the scriptures, and it is mainly used in the internal examination of Taixue. The purpose is to urge all students to read the scriptures carefully and understand the meaning of the scriptures.The countermeasures are to write articles based on major political and theoretical issues raised by the emperor or academic officials. They are mainly used for scholars recommended by the court. After the emperor and academic officials pass the examination, they can be awarded officials.

According to the new system of selection, there are three types of test scriptures, which are action policy, scripture test, and law theory.These three examination methods are divided into three subjects: A, B, and C according to the degree of difficulty, and each subject has a prescribed number of officials.

According to the degree of difficulty, the initial archery examination in this dynasty was divided into two subjects: A and B.During Wang Mang's reign, two subjects were changed to three subjects, and the number of officials selected for each subject was increased.Before Wang Mang usurped the country, this kind of examination was taken once a year. After Emperor Guangwu rejuvenated, he resumed the two subjects of A and B, and took a test every two years.However, as the scale of Taixue expanded and the number of Confucian scholars increased, the examination system began to change immediately, and gradually became a mere formality, focusing on examining and recommending scholars.

In May, the Trial Classics exam began.Prime Minister Li Wei and other ministers, Xu Shao, Wang Jian, Yang Biao and other famous Confucian scholars gathered in Taixue to discuss papers and select scholars.

In mid-May, the first exam selection ended.Because the number of virtuous men far exceeded the prescribed number of officials, the imperial court rushed to the eldest princess and asked for an increase in the number of places.The eldest princess replied that there is no limit to the number of people, take as many as you have, and don't miss one.

The imperial court took 540 seven virtuous persons, all of whom were appointed officials.The court's talent crisis was greatly improved immediately.

After hearing the news, all scholars in the world rejoiced and prepared for a larger test and selection three years later.

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Li Wei's trial and selection system was successful, recruiting a large number of outstanding and urgently needed talents for the court, but at the same time, he was hated by the powerful family.

Now they understand why the eldest princess, Da Sima, and Taiwei are all supporting Li Wei behind their backs, because Li Wei has persuaded them a long time ago, and he promised that the test could recruit a group of extremely outstanding talents for the court, and he did. , dealt a heavy blow to the aristocratic families, and also laid a solid foundation for the big man in distress to go to ZTE.

The aristocratic family and the civil and military ministers who were excluded in the court came together. When they were about to join forces to attack Li Wei, the Nanyang War broke out. This war came so timely that Li Wei cheered in the prime minister's mansion.

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Last year, the court in Chang'an was perilous, and this year, the crisis in the Chang'an court was even more imminent. Chang'an's emperor Han went on an expedition outside the Great Wall, Chang'an's Princess Chang stayed far away from Jinyang, and Chang'an's Optimus Prime General Li Hong was on the two sides of the northwest. Fighting to the death in Xinjiang, the court of Chang'an is like a big tree that is about to fall, and like a leaf of duckweed in the stormy waves. will be swallowed by the storm.

The people of Xiangyang couldn't help it, Liu Biao, who was indecisive and hesitant, couldn't help it, Cao Cao, who was struggling on the line of life and death, couldn't help it, Sun Quan and Zhou Yu, who had ulterior motives and intended to reap the benefits of fishermen, couldn't help it, and always wanted to break into Chang'an Liu Bei couldn't bear it any longer. Special envoys' fast boats sailed back and forth on the Yangtze River, and impassioned faces came and went in and out of Xiangyang City, attacking, Northern Expedition, and unifying the country... Excited shouts resounded After Jianghuai, Jingxiang, and Bashu, all forces are mobilizing their troops, and the torrent of the Northern Expedition is irresistible.

In May, Liu Biao of Xiangyang sent troops, Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, Wen Pin, Xu Shu, Ma Liang and other Jingzhou generals led an army of [-] to Luyang and Yingchuan.

In May, Liu Pan and Liu Bei of Yizhou sent troops. The two met at Yangping Pass and assembled an army of [-] to attack Longnan.

In May, Sun Quan and Zhou Yu personally led the Jiangdong army to the north, and joined forces with Cao Cao in Shouchun, Jiujiang County. Kill Yuzhou.

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Three years, for Chang'an, a snap of the fingers, nothing is done, time is gone, but for the southern states and counties, it is a long three years, they have tried their best during these three years, Trying every means to recover their vitality, expand their army and prepare for war, they are always on guard against the roar of the northern army, their efforts have been rewarded, they finally found an opportunity, and they launched a counterattack against the powerful enemy.

However, just as Li Wei said at the Qilin Palace military meeting, since Yuan Shao's death, there has been no hero in the world. Liu Biao, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, and Zhou Yu have insufficient prestige, and no one can control the princes from all walks of life. Defeat is only a matter of time Things.

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In mid-May, General Lei Chong raised an army of [-] and marched southward, defeated Sun Quan and Zhou Yu's Jiangdong army in Mengxiang (now Mengcheng), and beheaded [-] troops.Sun Quan and Zhou Yu hurriedly withdrew across the Huai River, not daring to advance half a step.

General Zhong Yao commanded Gao Shun, Zang Ba, and Wei Xu to defend the Xu-Yan border. Cao Cao dared not cross the border.

In mid-May, General Zhao Yun of the Right Guard, General Chen Hao of the Wuwei Army, and General Yu Du of the Central Base led the Fourth Battalion of the Northern Army to Longnan, joined Hua Xiong, Sima Yi, and Wei Yan, and assembled an army of [-] to fight the rebels outside Hechi City.

Chen Hao, general of Wuwei, and Hao Zhao, lieutenant of Li Feng, led three thousand soldiers from the vanguard battalion to rush forward bravely, tore apart the middle formation of the Shu army, beheaded twelve generals, cut down the banner of the Shu army, and severely injured Liu Pan.

Zhao Yun and Sima Yi swung their troops to hide and kill them, and they won the battle.

Liu Bei led his army to retreat to Xiting to defend.That night, Liu Pan died of serious injuries, and the morale of the army was shattered. Liu Bei had no choice but to withdraw his troops and returned.Zhang Ren, Zhang Song, Huang Quan, Huang Zhong, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong and other Bashu and Jingzhou civil and military forces persuaded Liu Bei to sit in Chengdu and stabilize the army's morale, so as not to be taken advantage of by the northern Xinjiang army and lose the entire Yizhou.

At the end of May, Liu Bei left Zhang Fei, Zhang Ren, Pang Tong, Liu Yan, Li Xiu and other civil and military officials to guard Hanzhong, and led the army south to Chengdu.

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Pingnan General Yuan Yao led an army of 10,000 troops to defend Guangyang Pass, Luyang and Kunyang. Originally, he expected that after Lei Zhong defeated Jiangdong's army, he would quickly return to help. Yan border, not a single withdrawal, held back the [-]+ army of the Northern Xinjiang Army.

Kuai Liang commanded an army to storm Luyang, and Yuzhou was in a hurry.

Yang Feng, the chariot general, led an army of [-] troops out of Wuguan, directly killed Wancheng in Nanyang, implemented the strategy of besieging Wei and saving Zhao, and forced the Jingzhou army to retreat.

The Jingzhou army withdrew, but Yang Feng refused to withdraw, and repeatedly appealed to the court, demanding to lead the army to attack Wancheng and recover Nanyang.General Pingnan Yuan Yao later also played, saying that now Sun Quan and Zhou Yu's army was dragged along the Huaihe River. They wanted to withdraw but were worried that the Han army would cross the river, so they were in a dilemma.Jingzhou has lost the support of Jiangdong, and is completely unable to resist the attack of our army. Please think carefully and don't miss this opportunity.

At this moment, the rebellion in northern Xinjiang is still undecided, and the court's strategy is to defend. Grand Sima Xu Rong and Taiwei Zhang Yan resolutely rejected Yang Feng and Yuan Yao's entreaties, but Li Wei said a word at this critical moment, "The court has enough money. Fu supported the chariot and cavalry generals to recover Nanyang."

Since the Prime Minister supports the fight, then this battle must be able to be fought, so the Taifu Liu He, the imperial historian Xun You, and many ministers and ministers in the court immediately went up and asked the army to continue to attack south, but Xu Rong and Zhang Yan's attitude was very different. Resolutely, withdraw, immediately withdraw to Guanzhong.

The ministers wrote to the eldest princess.

In terms of military affairs, the eldest princess dare not make decisions casually. Now that the general is not here, of course she must listen to Xu Rong and Zhang Yan, so the eldest princess intends to order Yang Feng and Yuan Yao to withdraw their troops.At this time, Shi Jiakui, the head of the prime minister's mansion, rushed to Jinyang Palace day and night, and delivered a secret letter from Li Wei to the eldest princess.

Li Wei said in the letter that there are still three years before His Majesty takes power. If the army cannot put down the rebellion in the south within three years, will the general leave the court?Three years later, the emperor is only 13 years old. According to the usual practice, His Highness will continue to hold power and hand over power step by step. At this time, the world is still uncertain. Will the general dare to leave the emperor?Even if he is willing to leave, what about the military spirit?Who can guarantee that the morale of the army will not be disturbed?Who can guarantee that there are no villains like Dong Zhuo, Li Jue (jue), and Guo Si in the army?
The court's wealth is indeed very tight, but the general's prestige in the desert is too great. Since he arrived in northern Xinjiang, how many battles have he fought so far?If the situation in northern Xinjiang continues to develop like this, it won't be long before the Xianbei people themselves will solve the problem.The general accompanied His Majesty to inspect Liaodong just to give the Xianbei people time, so the imperial court's wealth can fully support the Nanyang War.If Nanyang is captured this year, the army will surely be able to cross the Yangtze River next year.

The eldest princess was so moved that she ordered to attack Nanyang.

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This battle lasted for three months.If the Northern Xinjiang Army could not conquer Wancheng, it would not be able to regain Nanyang.

At the end of August, the news that the emperor and the general pacified the northern border, the hussar general Xian Yufu died of illness, the general was seriously ill, and the eldest princess insisted on going to Youzhou to visit the general, spread to the commanders of the armies one after another.

At this time, Zhong Yao, the general who conquered the South, received a letter from his nephew Guo Yuan.Guo Yuan is a school lieutenant under Yuan Yao's tent, and he is currently attacking Wancheng in Nanyang.In his letter, he briefly talked about the situation in Chang'an, and then asked an inexplicable question, "The general is critically ill, and the traitors in the court are taking power and ruining the country, and the country is crumbling. I want to save the big man, but where is the way?"

Zhong Yao's complexion changed drastically, and he wrote vigorously.Attacking Nanyang requires the cooperation of the entire southern battlefield. Attacking Wancheng alone has little chance of winning and consumes a lot of money. At this time, it is a critical moment for the imperial court to restructure. With the style of the prime minister, he will never agree to the chariot general's attack Nanyang, but this time, the Prime Minister is uncharacteristically and actively supports, which must have a deep meaning.You must not listen to greedy words, go astray, and harm the nine clans.

After this letter was sent, there was no further news from Guo Yuan.Zhong Yao was anxious and restless, he wrote a letter to Lei Zhong, and paid close attention to Nanyang, and if necessary, secretly dispatched an army back to Xuchang, just in case.

Zhong Yao didn't elaborate on the reason, but Lei Zhong hurriedly dispatched [-] troops back to Xuchang without even thinking about it.

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"My lord, we have arrived..."

Jia Kui's voice woke up Li Wei, who was half asleep and half awake. He opened his eyes suddenly, looking at the dark night sky outside the car window, with a murderous look in his eyes.

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(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please visit www.CMFU.COM, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)
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