Great Han Empire

Chapter 160

Fu Xie looked at Li Hong carefully, and said with a smile: "This time I came to Handan, one is because Mr. Liu misses you two so much, so I must come and visit, and the other is to announce the decree on behalf of His Majesty."

Li Hong looked at Liu Yu quite unexpectedly.Liu Yu hurriedly explained: "We received the imperial decree from His Majesty in Yingtao the day before yesterday, so we got up immediately and rushed to Handan day and night. Last time, several adults in Youzhou wrote letters to show your merits for you, which alarmed Your Majesty, so Your Majesty has always paid close attention to you. This time, Lord Mu Guo of Yizhou and Lord Feng of Julu County were killed in the battle with the ant thief, and the entire army of Jizhou was wiped out. This incident has alarmed the entire government..."

Fu Xie saw that Liu Yu was about to go on in detail, so he hurriedly interrupted Liu Yu, "Master Xiaowei led the Youzhou cavalry to turn the tide in the Battle of Yingtao, and killed the leader of the ant thief Zhang Niujiao in the scuffle, and rescued the gall. Taocheng and Jizhou are in danger, and they have made outstanding military exploits." Fu Xie said in admiration: "Your Majesty is above the court, and I heard that the people and cavalry have displayed their supernatural powers, and they will try to protect Jizhou. Reward the people and all the soldiers of the cavalry army."

Li Hong and Xian Yufu immediately exchanged a look of surprise.This time, His Majesty finally showed mercy and wanted to reward something.

"The last time His Majesty rewarded you as a Lieutenant of Zhenglu, it was indeed too light a reward, and it's no wonder that everyone complained about you, so this time His Majesty promoted you to Xingpinglu Zhonglang General." Liu Yu laughed. .

A hint of envy flashed across Xian Yufu's face.Although Li Hong knew that Zhonglang would be a good official, he felt a little puzzled when he heard the word "Xing".

Fu Xie saw it, and immediately said: "Pinglu Zhonglang will be a miscellaneous Zhonglang general, and his rank salary is more than two thousand shi. Although the rank salary is the same as that of Zhenglu Captain, his salary is higher than that of me and Mr. Liu." Too much. Although Master Liu and I can go to the court to discuss politics and look very beautiful, we are actually very poor, but we are just officials with a rank and salary of six hundred shi, which is not much different from a military marquis in your army."

Liu Yu laughed loudly. He pointed at Fu Xie and said, "My brother is starting to call you poor again. People, you have been in the army for less than two years. Although you have fought many battles and made great achievements in battle, the speed of your promotion is already an anecdote to me. Yes. It stands to reason that you can be rewarded as a general for such great military exploits, but you still have to follow the rules in some things, and don’t just arouse jealousy and endless troubles. The officialdom is not like a battlefield, it’s despicable and dirty.”

Fu Xie said: "Lord Liu is right. This "doing" is just a transition, so don't worry too much." Fu Xie said with a smile, "The battle situation in Jizhou is still undecided, and my lord will have to fight for a while, so His Majesty specially gave you a leave of absence." Festival, (section, is a certificate given by the emperor to senior officials to exercise their powers. It is a bamboo pole about 180 cm long, with triple knots made of yak tails tied on the handle, which is a symbol of increasing the power of the general , That is to grant the general the power of the president's army. False, the original intention is to borrow, this is the meaning of grant. False festival, has the right to kill anyone who violates the military order.) All the county soldiers in Jizhou's counties are under your command, Anyone who disobeys the military order will be killed."
"My people, the situation in Zhao State is gradually stabilizing. If you can go north to Changshan to kill the remnants of the Yellow Turban Army in Jizhou and put down the rebellion before this spring, that is, in April, then you will be the best." Liu Yu stroked his mustache. , said solemnly, "This month, the new governor of Jizhou and the prefect of Julu County, Zhao Guoxiang will arrive one after another. After you hand over the government affairs, you should lead your troops to the north as soon as possible."

"My subordinate understands." Li Hong replied respectfully.

"You are now Xingpinglu Zhonglang General. Although you are the lowest rank among Zhonglang Generals, you are even smaller than Lieutenant Sili, Lieutenant Chengmen, Lieutenant Hu Karamaru and other important township lieutenants. , but at any rate he is also a Zhonglang general, with the real power to lead troops and conquer, far more beautiful than those school lieutenants, so when you see us low-ranking Beijing officials and local prefects, don't call yourself an inferior official, and you will make trouble It's a joke." Liu Yu immediately patted his hand and whispered in his ear.Li Hong's face immediately turned red.

"Didn't your lord send someone to Handan last time, didn't you tell us to leave immediately and return to Luoyang? Why did you stay so long?" Xian Yufu asked in a low voice, seeing Liu Yu talking non-stop with Li Hong, afraid of snubbing Fu Xie.

Fu Xie sighed.

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"I can't get away even if I want to." Fu Xie said slowly, "Although Zhang Niujiao, the leader of the ant thief, is dead, his son Zhang Yan seems to be even more powerful. After Pan Feng, the captain of Julu County, led his troops to occupy Gaoyi, Greedy for meritorious deeds, led his troops to take the initiative to attack Yuanshi City, but was ambushed by the Yellow Turban Army on the way, and the whole army was wiped out. Pan Duwei broke through desperately, and finally escaped with only more than 100 people. Master Liu received the news Afterwards, he rushed to Gaoyi with his troops, and together with Pan Duwei's troops, attacked Yuanshi City again."

Xian Yufu immediately asked, "Master Liu captured the Yuanshi City?"

Fu Xie nodded and continued: "The two sides fought for three or four days, and the battle was fierce. Qingzhou Pingyuan County's troops are very strong, and their soldiers Cao Shushi, Liu Bei, and Liu Xuande are even more powerful. Dang Shishi fought fiercely and was unstoppable. The ant thief saw that he could not resist, so he took the initiative to withdraw from the battle and gave up the city. Master Liu was worried about the situation in Jizhou and stayed in Yuanshi City, reluctant to leave for Luoyang. I have no choice but to wait for him in Yingtao, so our trip has been delayed until now."

"That Liu Xuande is also from Beijiang, from Zhuo County, Youzhou Zhuo County." After Liu Yu and Li Hong finished a few private words, they just heard Fu Xie mention Liu Bei, and hurriedly added, "I asked him carefully, He was actually the great-great-grandson of Emperor Jing of the previous dynasty after King Jing of Zhongshan. I remember that Liu Zhen, the son of Emperor Jing of the previous dynasty, was conferred the title of Marquis of Lucheng Ting in Zhuo County about six years before Yuanshou, that is, 70 years ago. The gift money used by the deacon did not comply with the regulations, so he was revoked as a marquis, and his family has been in decline since then. This Liu Xuande is Liu Zhen's great-grandson. In terms of genealogy, he is still my nephew."

Fu Xie asked in surprise, "Why haven't I heard from you?"

Liu Yu smiled and said, "Aren't I talking about that? Liu Xuande's grandfather and father were both officials in the prefecture and county. He lost his father when he was young, and he and his mother lived by selling shoes and weaving mats. Their family was relatively poor. When he was 15 years old, he His mother begged his clan relative Liu Yuanqi, hoping that he could help Xuande to study abroad. Brother Yuanqi is a big man in Zhuojun County. He is a bold man. He likes Xuande very much, so he naturally agreed. So he sent him to the great Confucian Lu Zhi to learn art from him. Listen It is said that he and Gongsun Zan are still classmates and friends. This time, he has contributed the most to the capture of Yuanshi City. I think this son is taciturn, knowledgeable in books and etiquette, steady and bold, without showing emotions of happiness and anger. He takes the lead in battle, brave and fearless , is also very friendly to his subordinates, as long as he is given a chance in the future, I am afraid he will not be a thing in the pool."

"Your Excellency values ​​him so much, you should have recruited him to the Governor's Mansion when you were in Youzhou." Xian Yufu said.

Liu Yu sighed regretfully and said, "The first time I came to Zhuojun, Liu Yuanqi recommended it to me. I was too busy at the time, so I didn't care, and I forgot about it later. Last year, the Yellow Turban resurgence in Jizhou, Zhang Niujiao occupied After the Kingdom of Zhongshan, Xuande summoned volunteer soldiers in the village and prepared to go south to Jizhou to help the government and army suppress bandits. At that time, Zhongshan businessmen Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang fled to Zhuocheng with their families. They were introduced by Liu Yuanqi and got to know Xuande. Zhang Shiping, Su Shuang saw that Xuande was not an ordinary person, so he funded him with a thousand gold and a hundred horses. Xuande used the money to form a rebel army of 500 people."

"My lord, when that horn attacked Zhuojun, why didn't I meet him in Zhuocheng?" Xian Yufu asked strangely.

"When I resigned due to illness and passed through Zhuojun, Liu Yuan came to see me at the post and mentioned the matter of Xuande and the rebels again. At that time, Zhang Niujiao had no sign of attacking Youzhou, and Jizhou was in full swing, so Xuande De wants to lead the rebel army to the south. Liu Yuanqi asked me to write a recommendation letter to Xuande, lest Xuande lead the rebel army to Jizhou and no one would pay attention. But I am not very familiar with several state and county officials in Jizhou, so I recommended him to Mr. Liu Ziping of Pingyuan County in Qingzhou. Pingyuan County is a large county with a population of one million. It is adjacent to Jizhou. He should have the opportunity to participate in the Qing Dynasty. He had already gone south to Pingyuan County before Zhang Niujiao attacked Youzhou, so you guys It’s impossible to meet him.” Liu Yu explained, “It was a surprise to meet him this time. He came here to thank me, and I realized that he was the first to attack the tower. It was a surprise.”

"Your Excellency praises Liu Xuande so much, he must be a very capable person. After I lead my troops to the north, I must meet him." Li Hong said with a smile.

"That's the best." Liu Yu said, "My son, you are less than 20 years old, and you don't even have a beard on your face. You have already been worshiped as a general of Zhonglang. This is a very rare thing in my Han Dynasty. Although your martial arts and talents are rare in the world, your luck and opportunities are even rarer in the world, so you should cherish all these, share your worries for His Majesty, be loyal to the Han Dynasty, and think about the people of the world."

Li Hong knelt down moved and said: "You must remember the teachings of the adults and swear to serve the country to the death."

"Get up, get up..." Liu Yu pulled him up, and said with a smile: "You are kind and honest, you will definitely do what you say, I believe in you. After you go north, you must support Xuande a lot. Compared with you, he He is older than you, and his luck and martial arts are not as good as yours, but his knowledge is higher than yours, his family background is better than yours, and he is better than you in many places, so you have to do your best to help him, which can be regarded as recommending him to the Han Dynasty. talent, you know?"

"Don't worry, my lord, I will definitely keep it in mind." Li Hong said respectfully.

"Also, this is the first time you have led troops in a false festival, and you are in charge of military affairs in Jizhou. You must pay attention to building a good relationship with the new governor of Jizhou and the prefects of various prefectures and counties. You must be humble and elegant, do you know?" Liu Yu tirelessly urged, "Put on the hair crown, and don't allow your hair to be disheveled."

Li Hong felt Liu Yu's love for him, his nose was sour, and tears almost fell down.

"Also, the imperial court abolished the Jizhou Mu and changed Mu Shou to the governor. It is also to let you not be restrained, let go of your hands and feet, and calm down the Yellow Turban Army as quickly as possible. So you have to understand the painstaking efforts of the emperor, do you know? ?”

Li Hong nodded repeatedly.

"And Yuxing, don't go back to Youzhou Governor's Mansion for the time being, stay with the people, watch him for me, don't let him make any mistakes. After I return to Luoyang, I will immediately play the Emperor Ming, and I will serve you Captain. With your merits, you should have been promoted a long time ago. With the two of you together, our cavalry army in Youzhou can be completely invincible."

Xian Yufu hurriedly knelt down to thank him.

(End of this chapter)