Great Han Empire

Chapter 488
General He Jin suddenly encircled General Hussar's mansion, which caused an uproar in Luoyang, and the atmosphere in Kyoto suddenly became tense.

After hearing the news, Sikong Liu Hong, Guang Luxun Liu Bo and other clan ministers went to the palace to see the Empress Dowager He.Sikong Liu Hong angrily reprimanded the general He Jin for being arrogant and reckless, and he has no law.Before the bones of the first emperor were cold, the general wanted to kill Dong's family on the pretext of crimes, which is really chilling.Guang Luxun and Liu Bo were even more furious, and asked loudly: "Queen Mother, the general said that General Hushi colluded with the little Huangmen Jianshuo to conspire against him. Is there evidence? Where is the little Huangmen Jianshuo now?"

Empress Dowager He was shocked when she heard this, and hurriedly asked Zhang Rang and Guo Sheng, who were accompanying her, "You two beauties, did the general encircle the Hussar General's mansion?"

Zhang Rang and Guo Sheng shook their heads.Ever since the conspiracy to kill He Jin came to light, a group of Zhongchang servants were afraid of being retaliated by He Jin, so they hid in the palace and dared not go back to their residence.Although they have many eyes and ears outside the palace, they have not received any reports of this sudden incident for a while.Zhang Rang thought for a while, then whispered: "Queen Mother, there is no need to panic about this matter. According to Yichen, the general has no intention of killing General Hussars, but has another purpose."

"Ai Qing, tell me, what is the purpose of the general?"

"Queen Mother, the General is for the military power of the Xiyuan Army." Zhang Rang said, "The Queen Mother did not hand over the military power of the Xiyuan Army to the General. The General must be very angry. In order to regain the military power of the Xiyuan Army, he wanted to The purpose of using such a bad strategy to encircle the Hussar General's mansion is nothing more than to coerce the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager He was skeptical, and asked: "The North Palace has handed over the Xiyuan Army to General Cheqi, what should we do now?"

"Queen Mother, ignore the general, and order him to withdraw his troops and horses to the Baijun Mansion, and temporarily entrust General Cheqi to be responsible for the siege of General Hussar's mansion." Guo Sheng replied: "The relationship between General Cheqi and General Hussar They have always been very close, letting General Hussars surround Hussars General's mansion can not only save the general's face, but also ensure that Generals Hussars will not be in danger of life."

"But it's not a long-term solution." Empress Dowager He sighed, "May I ask the Grand Tutor and the three ministers to persuade the Empress Dowager to go back to Hejian Kingdom immediately with General Hushi?"

Zhang Rang said with a smile: "Don't worry, Queen Mother. I have already said that the general has no intention of killing General Hussars. He surrounded the mansion of Generals Hussars with troops, but he just wanted to make trouble after Jian Shuo's incident. There is no great danger. The minister thinks that the Empress Dowager should take this opportunity to blackmail the Empress Dowager and force her to take out the money from Yongle Palace. Empress Dowager, solving the military resources of the Northern Expedition Army is a top priority at present, and there should be no delay."

The queen mother nodded again and again, and immediately ordered the general He Jin to enter the palace to meet him in the name of the emperor, and at the same time ordered him to withdraw the army that surrounded the general's mansion. Investigate the collusion between Dong Zhong and Jian Shuo.

"Decree, please come to Changqiu Palace quickly, Lord Taifu and Lord Situ."

===

Grand Tutor Yuan Kui, Situ Dinggong, Sikong Liu Hong and other ministers rushed to Yongle Palace to meet Empress Dowager Dong under the order of Empress Dowager He.

Empress Dowager Dong's complexion was very bad, and her emotions were very agitated. Instead of talking calmly, she and the ministers were accusing and abusing very angrily.

First, Jian Shuo of the little Huang family was killed in an instant, the military power of the Xiyuan Army was seized, and then his nephew Dong Zhong was trapped in the Hussar General's Mansion and was in danger. These things all showed that Queen Mother He and He Jin were impatient. To kill the Dong family, all forces that threaten the current emperor and the He family must be eliminated.

"You... how did you promise before the late emperor? Why did you help that butcher? Why?" Empress Dowager Dong pointed at Yuan Kai and said loudly, "I want to send the late emperor to Wenling and take away the little Marquis Dong Otherwise, I will never leave Luoyang."

Yuan Kui knelt down and begged: "Queen Mother, it's not that the old minister was not loyal to the late emperor, but that Jian Shuo recruited everything before he died. Now that the Queen Mother He and the General have ironclad evidence, how do you ask the minister to speak?"

Empress Dowager Dong looked shocked, with fear in her eyes.

She was the one who urged Jian Shuo and Dong Zhong to unite with the middle officials in the palace to wait for an opportunity to kill the general.Jian Shuo disagreed at the time. He advised the Queen Mother to take advantage of the opportunity of holding the military power of the West Garden Army to find a way to leave Luoyang with Xiao Donghou as soon as possible.Jian Shuo said that at this time the Empress Dowager He was already in charge of the court, and the general He Jin had led his army back to Beijing. The overall situation in Luoyang was settled. Young Marquis Dong is the emperor, but Empress Dowager Dong won't listen.Empress Dowager He's disapproval of her taking away Young Donghou irritated her and made her lose her mind.

If Jian Shuo confessed everything, he and Dong Zhong would die, and so would Xiao Dong Hou.At this moment, Empress Dowager Dong hated and regretted, and cried bitterly while hugging Xiao Donghou.

Yuan Kui and the ministers felt ashamed, and they knelt on the ground and bowed their heads in silence.

"You promised the first emperor to save Dong Hou's life, and you promised..."

Yuan Kai's heart was sour, and he burst into tears, "Even if the ministers are smashed to pieces, they will escort the Queen Mother and Dong Hou to leave Luoyang, but now..."

"How is it now?"

"The war in northern Xinjiang is tense now, and the army is in urgent need of military resources." Yuan Kui said, "The Empress Dowager He said that as long as the Empress Dowager can make the most of the Yongle Palace's wealth, she should pardon General Hussars for all crimes, and Xiao Donghou will also let the Empress Dowager The Empress Dowager took her away from Luoyang."

"Really?" Empress Dowager Dong hugged Xiao Donghou tightly, a hint of surprise appeared on her desperate face, "Is this true?"

Several ministers replied in unison: "The ministers will never speak nonsense."

Yuan Kui persuaded: "Queen Mother, as long as the war in northern Xinjiang is over, General Zheng Bei Da will spare his hands to look south. Not only will the lives of the Queen Mother and the little prince be safe, even His Majesty's last wishes will be fulfilled one by one. There is no army of General Zheng Bei Da , what can we do to help the queen mother and the little prince?"

Empress Dowager Dong thought of the secret decree sent by the emperor to General Zhengbei before his death, and hope was ignited in her heart.

"How is the war in northern Xinjiang?"

"The latest battle report says that the armies of Li Hong and Xu Rong have joined together, and the coalition forces of the Hu nationality have been encircled on the Daqingyuan." Yuan Kai said, "If there is no accident, the war in northern Xinjiang will be over in half a month. .”

Empress Dowager Dong's mood improved a little bit, she choked up and said to Yuan Wei and Ding Gong and other ministers: "Please, my lord Tai Tuo and all my lords, please."

===

June of the first year of Guangxi in the Han Dynasty (AD 189).

=

In early June, Luoyang.

Under He Jin's order, the soldiers and horses of the Northern Army refused to leave the Hussar General's Mansion.

The chariot general He Miao was very angry, and rushed to the mansion of the general hussars with a team of horses.Lieutenant Cao Cao of the Dian Army went up to He Miao and sued Zhang Liao, the censor of the General's Mansion who commanded the Northern Army, "This kid won't even let me in the gate of the General Hussar's Mansion because he has the General to back him up." It's too shameful to get close."

He Miao snorted coldly, rode his horse angrily and rushed to the gate of the mansion, shouting loudly: "Zhang Liao... Where is Zhang Liao?"

Seeing General Cheqi coming, Guan Qiuyi hastily went up to meet him and bowed and said, "My lord, Mr. Zhang has been recalled to the Baijun mansion by the general."

Wu Qiuyi is in his 40s, with a medium build, a sharp-edged face, a pair of resolute and energetic eyes, and a neither humble nor overbearing demeanor.He was originally a Sima of the Northern Army, and after fighting a few battles with the general in Hanoi, he was promoted to captain.

"Not here?" He Miao looked around and whispered, "Not here."

When Zhang Liao first arrived in Beijing, he went to the Cheqi General's residence several times on business, and he was very familiar with He Miao.He Miao respected him as a mighty fighter who participated in the Battle of Yanmen Pass, treated him very well, and even rewarded him.He Miao originally wanted to scold Zhang Liao severely, but Zhang Liao was not around, so he had no choice but to take the blame on Wu Qiuyi.

He Miao pointed at Wu Qiuyi with the horsewhip in his hand and said arrogantly: "The people who brought you get back to Baijun Mansion immediately, I will take over here."

With a solemn expression, Guan Qiuyi said unhurriedly: "Without the general's order, the subordinate cannot leave here."

He Miao was furious, and shouted at the top of his voice: "This is the sacred decree, and those who disobey the decree will be beheaded!"

Cao Cao waved his hand back, and the soldiers of the Xiyuan Army immediately rushed forward.

Guan Qiuyi retreated a few steps and shouted loudly: "Liu Bei, stop me, anyone who trespasses will be killed."

Liu Bei yelled, and flew forward with dozens of soldiers. The long sword in his hand cut off three long halberds at once, and then smashed a Sima of the Xiyuan Army into the air with his fist.Guan Yu on the left was even more brave. He didn't even draw the saber from his waist, and beat a dozen soldiers of the Xiyuan Army to the ground with just his fists and kicks.On the right, Zhang Fei led a dozen men forward all the way, flying up and down with spears in his hand, picking up a dozen aggressive Xiyuan soldiers one after another, and rushed towards He Miao at high speed.

He Miao was startled, and hurriedly backed away, "Stop it, block it..."

Cao Cao flew forward and slashed at Zhang Fei who was galloping towards him.Zhang Fei was not afraid, he raised his spear and stabbed, "Get out of here..."

When the swords and spears intersected, there was a crisp sound of "Dang...", Cao Cao let go of his sword, turned over and fell off his horse.

Guan Qiuyi saw that the Xiyuan army was driven fifty steps away, and immediately ordered to stop the attack.Liu Bei led his men back slowly.

Cao Cao got up from the ground in embarrassment, picked up his saber, looked at the soldiers of the Northern Army who were gradually retreating, and suddenly chased after them.

===

"What's your name?" Cao Cao pointed at Zhang Fei and shouted angrily.

"Zhang Fei."

"What about you?" Cao Cao pointed at Liu Bei who was at the back again, "What's your name?"

"The next officer, Sima Liu Bei."

"What about him?" Cao Cao asked, looking at the tall and mighty Guan Yu.

"Marquis Guan Yu." Liu Bei replied coldly.

Cao Cao's anger gradually subsided, and he suddenly laughed, "Okay, good work. I didn't expect there to be such a master in the Northern Army. I have seen it."

Liu Bei cupped his hands at him, and said apologetically, "The Shangguan ordered me to offend you so much. Please forgive me, Mr. Cao."

Cao Cao didn't care, waved his hands and smiled, "When did Lord Liu join the Northern Army? I have many friends in the Northern Army, why have I never heard of you? Liu Bei..." He suddenly thought of something, pointed at Liu Bei again, He asked in surprise, "Are you beating Liu Bei, the postal supervisor, in Anxi?
Liu Bei glanced at him alertly, "The first emperor has already pardoned the subordinate."

"I know, I know." Cao Cao sheathed his sword and said with a smile on his face, "General Zheng Bei wrote a letter to plead for you, and the late emperor pardoned your crimes because of this. I know all about it. How did you join the Northern Army? Didn't you go to Bingzhou to find General Zhengbei?"

Seeing that Cao Cao's tone of voice had changed, Liu Bei wondered what Cao Cao's purpose was, and was very puzzled.Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and a group of Liu Bei's old subordinates surrounded him one after another.

"After the accident in Anxi, Xiaguan took a group of brothers south to Qingzhou to seek refuge with Master Zou Jing and Zou Jing. On the way, Xiaguan met Lord Mu Yang of Jizhou. Thanks to Master Yang's care, Xiaguan went to Yecheng to serve as a guard of the city. Sima. This time the general went north to suppress the bandits, and Lord Yang introduced the subordinate to the general, so..."

"Oh, so that's how it is." Cao Cao said regretfully, "Why don't you join General Zheng Bei Da? You can join the Northern Expedition when you are under his tent, and now you are at least one..."

At this time, Cao Cao saw Wu Qiuyi striding forward, and immediately became furious. He left Liu Bei and rushed forward, "Wu Qiuyi, what do you want to do? Do you want to bring chaos to Luoyang?"

Guan Qiuyi sneered, and said word by word: "The officer only listens to the general's orders."

"Okay, since you want to die, then I won't stop you." Cao Cao turned and left.

===

He Miao lost face and angrily led people to Baijun Mansion Xingshi to interrogate him.

When He Jin saw He Miao walk in, his face was as cold as frost, and he didn't say a word.Seeing He Jin, He Miao's anger immediately disappeared.He timidly walked up to He Jin, bowed and shouted, "Brother..."

"You still know my big brother..." He Jin slammed his case and shouted angrily, "I have been back to Luoyang for more than 20 days, why haven't you come to see me? What are you and those gangsters doing behind my back?"

"Brother, the Empress Dowager left me in the palace and told me to do this and that. I don't have time..." He Miao said with her head lowered, "Didn't the Elder Brother never enter the palace to see the Empress Dowager?"

"What do you know?" He Jin scolded, "Those traitors tried their best to kill me, I couldn't guard against it, how could I enter the palace? If you become a weapon, why am I like this?"

He Miao glanced at him secretly, and muttered dissatisfiedly: "If I knew today, why bother? You are not in Luoyang this time. If it weren't for their help, how could Xiao Shihou inherit the great power? Brother, can you..."

He Jin raised his hand and gave him a slap, "You bastard, why didn't you grow up at all? Think about how the great general Dou Wu died? How did the Queen Mother Dou die? Dou's hundreds of years of foundation How did it get its reputation? How many generals are still alive since the eunuchs ruined the court? Liang Yi, the domineering general, was killed by the eunuchs, let alone me?"

He Miao covered his face and said angrily, "Brother, why did you shake hands with them before returning to Beijing?"

"Then why did they conspire with Jian Shuo to murder me this time?" He Jin said with widened eyes, "Be sober, the eunuchs won't let us do whatever we want in order to monopolize power, do you know?"

"If you kill the middle official, the scholars will kill you afterward." He Miao said, "That's what they all say."

"But if I don't kill Zhongguan, I will die faster. Sooner or later, my He family will be wiped out." He Jin waved his hands excitedly and said, "Open your eyes and look at Luoyang, look at Beijiang , look at Xiliang, you know how difficult our situation is. Do you know why I sent He Yong, Yuan Shao, Wang Yun and Xun You out of the General's Mansion? Do you know why I hide in Baijun Mansion all day long? ?”

He Miao stared at He Jin dumbfounded, not understanding what he meant.

He Jin approached He Miao suddenly, and said loudly: "Do you know how many officers of the Xiyuan Army have been bought by eunuchs? If I can't control the Xiyuan Army, I can't eliminate the dissidents of the Xiyuan Army. I don't have enough strength to guarantee today's victory." Safety, to ensure the safety of my He family, but the queen mother and you can't see the situation in Luoyang clearly, you blindly trust a bunch of treacherous villains, and you don't even trust your elder brother. You are dying, do you know Know?"

He Miao stared at He Jin disapprovingly, like looking at a madman.

"Brother, can you let Dong Zhong go?" He Miao said, "Although he..."

He Jin's eyes widened suddenly, and he slapped him viciously, "You're looking for death."

"Brother..." He Miao stood up from the ground, blushing, waving his hands, and roared angrily, "I am General Cheqi, I am Shangqing of the Han Kingdom, I am not from Nanyang Butcher, why do you beat me? You are just a general, what’s the big deal? You can go to Luoyang to be a relative of the emperor without a middle-ranking official in the palace? Can you be a general? You are still selling pork in Nanyang now, What are you so angry about?"

Pointing at his nose, He Miao shouted loudly: "I don't want to turn against you, and I don't want people in the world to see that you and my brothers are fighting each other, so I didn't order the Xiyuan Army to drive away your Northern Army. You think I'm afraid Did you die? I will go back and command the Xiyuan Army to drive away your Northern Army. Dong Zhong is my friend, and I just want to save him. What can you do to me?"

He Jin was trembling all over, unable to speak for a long time.

He Miao kicked the desk away, pointed at He Jin's nose and cursed, "I'm dying? I think you're dying."

He Jin couldn't bear it anymore, and shouted towards the door: "Come on, arrest him for me."

Wu Kuang rushed in with more than a dozen attendants, surrounded by them, no one dared to make a move.He Miao is a chariot general, without an imperial edict, who would dare to arrest him?

He Miao spat on the ground in disdain, turned around and walked out the door.

"Catch it." He Jin roared again, "Catch it for me."

Wu Kuang flew up and kicked him to the ground. Seeing Wu Kuang's attack, the other dozen attendants rushed forward and tied He Miao tightly.He Miao was so angry that he cursed.

He Jin walked up to him and said word by word: "As long as we kill Dong Zhong, Dong Empress Dowager, and little Dong Hou, we will be safe."

He Miao was startled and dared not make a sound.

"I wrote a memorial to send people to various places to recruit soldiers." He Jin said, "Do you think the Queen Mother will agree?"

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(End of this chapter)