Great Han Empire

Chapter 567
In the middle of March in the first year of Chuping of the Han Dynasty (AD 190), Jinyang.

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Longshan Mountain is located in the middle of the Western Mountains of Luliang Mountains, connecting Xuanweng Mountain and Tianlong Mountain to the south, and Mengshan Mountain to the north.

On March [-], Princess Changping Liu Xiao and Hushi General Li Hong arrived at Longshan Camp.

Longshan Daying has been the military and political center of northern Xinjiang for several years. The Mansion of General Zhenbei, Mansion of General Zhengbei, Mansion of General Cheqi and Mansion of General Hussar have successively stationed here.Li Hong likes Longshan.The scenery here is good and quiet, you can avoid the hustle and bustle of the city, and the terrain here is good, suitable for military training.Longshan is only forty miles away from Jinyang, so it is easy to contact and will not affect the handling of official affairs.When Zhao Qi temporarily took care of the Xingyuan affairs in Jinyang, because he considered that he still had to supervise and protect General Tian Zhonglang's mansion, he moved all the main subordinates of Xingyuan to Jinyang City.After learning that Li Hong was about to go south, Zhao Qi immediately moved the family members of Xingyuan back to Longshan.

Regarding the palace of Princess Changping, Li Hong and Zhao Qi agreed that it should be arranged in Jinyang City.Although no one can determine the date when Princess Changping will return to Luoyang, one thing is certain, that is, Princess Changping will not return to Hejian Kingdom.

Jieduting of Hejian Kingdom is the former emperor's homeland, not the fiefdom of the princess. If the crisis in the capital city cannot be resolved for a long time, the princess will not only be unable to solve the salary of the subordinates and guards without income, but may even maintain her own survival. something wrong.If the Jizhou government and the Hejian government can take the initiative to bear this additional expenditure, then it is easy to say, if they are not willing to bear it, then things will be very troublesome.But judging from the present, all the prefectures in Jizhou are very flattering to the princess, and no one dares to offend her. The property that the princess only brought to Jinyang is filled with hundreds of carriages.The princess brought all the belongings of the servants and servants to Jinyang. Obviously, she had no intention of returning to Hejian Kingdom. She wanted to return to Luoyang, and returned to Luoyang after the crisis in Gyeonggi was resolved.

The first emperor let Liu He take the princess out of Beijing in order to solve the problem of imperial rule. Now that the problem of imperial rule does not exist, Xiao Donghou has inherited the great rule. Logically, the princess should return to Beijing. However, due to the earth-shaking events in Luoyang However, instead of returning to Beijing, the princess shouldered the important task of eradicating traitors and rectifying the Han Dynasty, which no one expected.The first emperor would never have imagined that the edict he left behind to solve the problem of imperial rule and the princess who had been sent to Luoyang in advance would play an unexpected role under Yuan Kai's careful planning and become a huge force to revive the country.

Now Li Hong felt the threat of this force to him.The status of a princess is dignified and dignified. She came all the way to the northern border to represent the royal family, the emperor, and the Han community. Even if she didn't have an imperial edict, she still had enough authority and qualifications to ask the general of the hussars to march south for the safety of the Han.Li Hong could not listen to Yuan Kui and Liu Yu now.He didn't obey the orders of the two Tuogu ministers, at most he would be charged with arrogance and lawlessness, and offended the court. Is the world.In the name of righteousness, the princess asked herself to lead Qin Wang's army to eradicate the traitors and rectify the Han Dynasty. Why would she not listen?If you don't listen, what about your subordinates?Will the northern border governments and the northern border armies continue to faithfully execute their orders?
Since the princess arrived in northern Xinjiang, many subordinates of Hushi General's Mansion suddenly felt the supreme authority of the imperial power and the heavenly power of the Great Han Kingdom.The only princess of the first emperor stood in front of him, who can say that he turned a blind eye?The reverence and admiration for the imperial power, and the love and loyalty to the Dahan community directly led to a change in everyone's understanding of this crisis and changed their attitude towards solving this crisis.At present, there are not many staff members in the General Hussar's Mansion who agree with Li Hong's strategy of checks and balances.Zhu Mu mentioned this issue more than once. He hoped that Li Hong would face up to the reality, put the country as the most important thing, and give up northern Xinjiang for the time being, but Li Hong deliberately avoided talking about it.

Li Hong decided to separate the princess from the Hussar General's Mansion, otherwise things would become more and more troublesome.Now not only the attitudes of Zhu Mu and others have changed greatly, but even himself has been shaken a little.

After the army passed the Juzhu Fortress, Li Hong reported to Princess Zuo that Zhao Qi, Xu Shao, and Wang Yi had already arranged a residence for her in Jinyang. Although it was a bit simple, it was barely ok.Northern Xinjiang is currently facing many difficulties, and there is really no financial resources to build a palace, so I implore His Highness to give in for a while.

Liu Xiao hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Is your lord also in Jinyang?"

Li Hong said: "I live in Longshan Daying, not in Jinyang. But Zhao Qi, Xu Shao and many other adults are in Jinyang City, they will..."

Liu Xiao shook his head, and interrupted Li Hong softly, "Where are you going, where am I going." The tone was very firm, and there was no room for negotiation.

Li Hong was stunned for a moment, and just about to say a few more words of persuasion, he saw that Liu Xiao was already in tears, ready to cry.Li Hong's heart softened, thinking of all the favors the late Emperor and Empress Dowager Dong had given him, he felt sore for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Okay, okay, don't cry, Your Highness, follow me to Longshan."

Li Hong was very depressed and depressed because of this.Feng Xue asked him, why is Her Royal Highness going to Longshan Camp?Li Hong said, I asked her to move to Jinyang City, but she was unwilling.Xiao Yu sighed, don't you want her to be with us?Li Hong remained silent.Xiaoyu persuaded in a low voice, Her Royal Highness told me that day that she had long thought of looking for you in Beijiang.After she left Luoyang, she had no relatives. She didn't know anyone except you, and you were the only one who could help her in this world.Don't you want to help her?Li Hong was speechless.Feng Xue leaned into Li Hong's ear and said softly, the princess cried very sad that day, and said that after she found you, she would never leave you again, unless you sent her to Luoyang personally, otherwise she would not leave you for half a day step.Her Royal Highness admires you very much. When talking about you, the look on her face makes people jealous.

Li Hong smiled wryly.Suddenly he thought of something and asked, "Does Wen Ji live in Xingyuan or return to Jinyang?"

"I heard from Wen Ji that His Highness left her behind and wants to live with us." Xiao Yu smiled, "General Zilong must be very relieved when he hears the news."

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Zhao Qi and other officials from northern Xinjiang were very surprised when they heard that the princess was going to move to Longshan camp, and hurried to Longshan to pick her up.Hundreds of officials, big and small, crowded the gate, a large area in chaos.After Zhao Qi and others knelt down to greet him, they sent the princess to the luxurious tent that had been prepared.Zhao Qi, Wang Yi and others persuaded her again, but the princess insisted not to go to Jinyang.Everyone had no choice but to leave.

In the evening, the Longshan camp was brightly lit, and the northern border prefectures put up a grand banquet, first to welcome the princess, and second to welcome the general of the hussars.It sounds like a grand feast, but the dishes are actually very simple. There are four dishes on a table, and there is only one meat, which is so shabby.It seems that Beijiang is really struggling.

At this banquet, Li Hong saw many new faces.These people are all the subordinates that Zhao Qi recruited for the Hussar General's Mansion recently.Linghu Shao, Wang Rou, and Guo Ce are the powerful people in Jinyang, and Li Hong knew them in the past.Qianzhao and Shi Lu turned out to be the subordinates of Chariot General He Miao. Although Li Hong had heard his name for a long time, this was the first time they met.Xu Hun is the son of Xu Shao, the prefect of Taiyuan. Not long ago, he brought his family to northern Xinjiang to join his father.Sun Zi was recommended by Wang Rou.

Sun Zi was born in Zhongdu, Taiyuan (now Pingyao). He lost his parents at the age of three and was brought up by his brother and sister-in-law.When he grew up, he entered the Taixue. Wang Yun appreciated him very much and recommended him as the county magistrate.Later, when his elder brother was killed, Sun Zi immediately resigned from his official position, killed his enemy, and took his family to escape disaster at Wang Rou's house in Taiyuan.This time Wang Rou happened to be forcibly recruited by the General Hussar's Mansion, so in desperation, she had no choice but to recommend Sun Zi by the way.

After the princess left the table early, the atmosphere in the big tent immediately relaxed.Li Hong is an easy-going person, talking and laughing, and there is no distinction between superiority and inferiority. Everyone feels very kind, and there is no scruple in speaking.Since there were not many generals, there were only Hua Xiong, Pang De, Duan Xuan, Zhang Zhen, Zhang Xiao, Chen Jian, and Chang Gong in the big tent, and the rest were gentry officials, so the topic immediately turned to current affairs.

The immediate priority is to resolve the crisis in Gyeonggi, but Zhao Qi, Xu Shao, Guo Yun and others believe that to resolve the crisis in Gyeonggi, we must take care of the crisis in northern Xinjiang, and we must not abandon northern Xinjiang.In their view, the crisis in Gyeonggi is far from imminent. On the contrary, the crisis in northern Xinjiang is at a critical moment, and the crisis in northern Xinjiang must be resolved first.

Wang Han, Yang Qi, Cui Jun, Zhang Fan and Xing Yong of Princess Changping's Mansion immediately expressed strong opposition.They believe that the safety of the country is far greater than the safety of northern Xinjiang.If the country collapses, what is the use of stability in northern Xinjiang?How long can it last?First go south to fight Dong Zhuo.

Linghu Shao, Wang Rou, and Guo Ce immediately refuted.The northern border is stable, the refugee problem is solved, and the 10,000+ army has food and wages, where can the capital be in chaos?The states and counties raised troops, King Qin was false, and it was true to drive Dong Zhuo away.In order to escape the responsibility of treason, these people even threatened to depose the current emperor. What kind of chaos is this?Who is the minister of disaster?Who is the army in northern Xinjiang fighting?

As soon as the issue of Huangtong was raised, it immediately caused an uproar.The debate in the big tent suddenly became fierce.

Qianzhao, Shi Lu, Zhu Mu, Liu Fan and others believe that the imperial line cannot be abolished, and that there is no contradiction between Qin Wang and seeking Dong.It is necessary to unite Yuan Shao and other prefectures and counties to attack Luoyang.

Yu Peng, Yin Si, Tian Chou, Sun Zi, Xu Hun and other young officials raised a question that no one could avoid.Yuan Shao said that he "ruled" the world, if we unite with him, does that mean that the Hussar General will obey his command?What is the princess doing in northern Xinjiang?Crusade today?If Yuan Shao and Dong Dajun don't give up the so-called "inheritance system" and don't recognize the present day, we can't join forces with Yuan Shao.

Li Hong has been listening quietly.The local officials in northern Xinjiang were unwilling to give up northern Xinjiang and to recognize Yuan Shao's "inheritance system", which was beyond Li Hong's expectations.Can I use this excuse to perfunctory the princess?Can the strategy of checks and balances be realized with the help of local officials in northern Xinjiang?

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The next day, Princess Changping Liu Xiao and Hussar General Li Hong led all the officials from northern Xinjiang to the Zhonglie Hall at the southern foot of Longshan Mountain, and held a grand memorial ceremony to pay homage to the spirits of the heroes in heaven.

The Zhonglie Hall has not been completed, and thousands of craftsmen are still busy.Zhao Qi said that at this rate, it will be almost the same by this winter.Li Hong asked, is there enough money to build the Zhonglie Hall?Zhao Qi smiled and said, even if I starve to death, I still have to build the Hall of Loyalty, otherwise I will be sorry for those heroes who died for the country, and I will also live up to the great trust of the emperor.

This sentence was heard by the princess, and she said to Zhang Fan without hesitation: "Donate all the property we brought from Jizhou to Zhonglie Hall for the construction of Zhonglie Hall."

Zhang Fan frowned and said in a low voice, "Your Highness won't keep any?"

"No more." The princess waved her hand and sighed, "Look at what everyone ate last night? Northern Xinjiang is indeed very poor."

In the afternoon of that day, the officials of all the governments bid farewell to the princess and returned to Jinyang.Li Hong also went to Jinyang to listen to the reports of the various governments on farming, taxation, spring plowing and other matters.

In the middle of the night, Linghu Shao, Wang Rou, and Guo Ce were left behind by Li Hong.Li Hong asked them for advice on how to solve the crisis in Gyeonggi.These three clans were almost in unison, firmly opposed to helping Yuan Shao attack Dong Zhuo.

Linghu Shao said, whether it is Yuan Shao or other officials who are begging Dong Dajun, the purpose behind it is too obvious. If you are begging Dong, you will be begging Dong. Who will believe that you want to dethrone the emperor and engage in such a ridiculous "inheritance system"?Who are they lying to?Just lie to themselves.After all, isn’t it for authority?What do you want authority for?Isn't it for the benefit of your own clan and clan?Sacrifice us to make others better, who would do such an idiotic thing?They couldn't get off the tiger, so they tricked the princess to the northern border, trying to use the former emperor to suppress you, my lord, don't be fooled by this.

Wang Rou said, sir, don't send troops now, it's best not to offend either.Dong Zhuo has the Son of Heaven in his hands, who is very powerful. Your Excellency should use this opportunity to establish a good relationship with him and earn more benefits.Yuan Shao and other prefectures and counties controlled the grain, and the adults also used this opportunity to fight against him, trying to move out the victims as quickly as possible and buy more grain.

Li Hong thought for a while, and said, "To achieve this, it is impossible to avoid offences." He paused and asked, "Look, what is the three-party check and balance strategy?"

Wang Rou, Linghu Shao and Guo Ce looked at each other and smiled.Wang Rou said happily: "We have exactly this intention. In Beijiang, we and adults are destined to live and die together. As long as Beijiang prospers, both adults and us will benefit from it."

Li Hong was overjoyed when he heard the words.In northern Xinjiang, the biggest family is the Wang family.The Wang family is divided into two branches, Qixian and Jinyang.The most famous Situ Wang Yun of the Wang family in Qi County, the current head of the family is Wang Yun's elder brother.Jinyang Wang's family is Wang Rou and Wang Ze's brothers.Wang Rou used to be Zuo Zhonglang General, and Wang Ze is now Daijun Taishou.The Linghu Clan, the Guo Clan, and the Wang Clan are all related by marriage. If these three families can support him, at least one-third of the officials in Northern Xinjiang will stand by him.

"If you want to implement the three-party check and balance strategy, the most important thing at present is to relocate the victims to Gyeonggi and Jizhou, buy a lot of food, and quickly stabilize the northern Xinjiang, so as to get enough time for checks and balances." Guo Ce said, "We don't have to worry about money. , Beijiang already has the right to cast money. We can also buy food. As long as we come forward, Jizhou's grain will be sent to Beijiang in a steady stream. The key now is..."

"I know, I'm trying to find a way to force Dong Zhuo to leave, and Han Fu to give up counties." Li Hong nodded and said, "But what I need now is for the prefectures in northern Xinjiang to accept the checks and balances, so that I have a proper excuse to refuse. The princess's request. If we quarrel like this every day, not only will the officials of the northern border be at a loss, but it will also affect the morale of the northern border army."

"It's not difficult to do." Wang Rou said with a smile, "Three ways, one is to ask the officials of the prefectures and counties in northern Xinjiang to write to the princess, vowing to keep northern Xinjiang to the death. The second is to encourage all the students in Jinyang University to denounce Yuan Shao In order to defend the imperial status of today's emperor. We need to let the princess know that Yuan Shao and Dong Dajun's real purpose is not to revitalize the country, but to destroy the country. Thirdly, of course, it is up to us to come forward Yes. We, along with the Wei, Fan, and Du clans in Hedong, Xu Ling, Qu Zhong, and others, went out to persuade the princess. The northern border has fallen, what should we do with our losses? Will the imperial court make up for it? Now we have the strength Not good, King Qin not only ruined the northern border, but may also ruin the great Han. If the northern border is prosperous, then the general Hussars will have [-] soldiers and sufficient food and pay. thing."

Li Hong nodded again and again, and then discussed with the three of them specific countermeasures.

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The next day, Li Hong paid a visit to Fu Xie's wife, the Marquis of the Zhuang Festival.Fu Xie's son, Fu Qian, is sixteen years old and looks tall and heroic.Li Hong told Mrs. Fu that Yan is not young, and he should apply what he has learned after studying with Mr. Wang for several years.I think, let's go to the Hussar General's Mansion to serve.Mrs. Fu was very grateful, and Fu Gan was also very happy. He bid farewell to his mother and followed Li Hong with his bags on his back.

Before Li Hong left Jinyang, he went to Jinyang University Hall in Xuanweng Mountain.First came to pay a visit to Mr. Wang Jian, the great sacrificial priest, and secondly, Fu Gan had to bid farewell to the teacher, and the last thing was to set a date for Pang De's marriage.Li Hong said, I have one more matter, I wonder if my husband can help me solve it?Wang Jian said, as long as there is no war, I can probably help.Li Hong said that there have been many battles in northern Xinjiang in recent years, many wounded soldiers, and many people have been homeless and have been stranded in Longshan. I really want to find a way for them to survive.Now the population of counties and counties in various places is increasing rapidly, and there are very few pavilion chiefs, village chiefs, and township chiefs. I plan to let them go to various places to serve.There is absolutely no problem with their loyalty to my big man, but they lack the ability to read and write. Therefore, I would like to ask you to send a group of disciples to the Longshan camp to teach these wounded soldiers to read. I wonder if you can help?

Wang Jian said happily: "Your Excellency is thoughtful. I will send a hundred disciples to Longshan tomorrow."

"Master Xiangkai came up with this idea." Li Hong smiled, "He wrote me a letter some time ago, saying that when he was preaching and treating diseases in various places, he found that many places lacked pavilion chiefs and village chiefs, and caused troubles and fights. Repeatedly banned, very chaotic, so he gave me such an idea. When he comes back from Montenegro, I will thank him very much."

Wang Jian shook his head and sighed: "Master Xiangkai probably won't come back."

"Why?" Li Hong asked strangely.

"Since the study of ancient Chinese classics was changed to official school, Confucian scholars of modern classics have attacked us very fiercely, especially for the governance policy of northern Xinjiang. The way of etiquette over law." Wang Jian said, "Master Xiangkai was very dissatisfied with this, so he came forward to refute it. Master Xiangkai pursued the learning of Huang and Lao, and believed that the world should be governed by inaction, and he also used Mohism's "evaluating the virtuous, Shang Tong' and other governance policies, which are quite similar to the policy of integrating Confucianism and Legalism we advocate, but he was unanimously attacked by Confucian scholars of modern and ancient Chinese classics. Master Xiangkai left in a huff and traveled around the world .”

Li Hong shook his head and smiled wryly, "These Confucian scholars are not good at doing things, but they are clear when they talk."

"What does your lord think about this matter?" Wang Jian asked.

"I think there are advantages and disadvantages in the academic propositions and governance strategies of various schools and schools, but for northern Xinjiang, who can solve the stability problem in northern Xinjiang, who can solve the problem of feeding millions of people in northern Xinjiang, and whose Academic opinions and policies for governing the country are the best, otherwise, it’s all gossip and nonsense, which is of no benefit to the country or the people.”

"Does your lord mean to say that you support Jinyang University to study all kinds of academics, so as to find the most suitable governance strategy for the stability and revitalization of northern Xinjiang?" Wang Jian asked.

"Of course it's the best way." Li Hong laughed, "For example, Mr. Wang Fu's "Theory of Latent Fu", in which the policy of immigrating to farmland and guarding the border, and paying equal attention to the development of agriculture, industry and commerce is very effective for northern Xinjiang. Why can't we learn more from it? How beneficial is the strategy for the development of northern Xinjiang? I have been reading this book and benefited a lot from it. I have read many classics and know that during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period, Confucianism and Mohism were the most prominent academic schools at that time, and they were famous all over the world. But at that time the legalists were also respected by all countries. Shang Yang and Li Si were all models of ruling the country by law. The legalists did not distinguish between relatives and estrangements, no distinction between high and low, and they were all determined by the law. The gist of this Legalism is still far behind. If Northern Xinjiang wants to quickly recover its vitality, and even restore the prosperity of Emperor Xiaowu's dynasty, it must be Confucianism and Law, Confucianism and Law complement each other, and Confucianism and Taoism complement each other. Only when you have the strengths of the law can you achieve something. I think the technique of grand etiquette and law promoted by Xunzi is very advisable. What's wrong with paying equal attention to ceremony and law?"

Wang Jian nodded appreciatively and said, "My lord is right. It's a pity that people are too biased now, and there are even fewer rational people."

Li Hong said with a smile: "Mencius said that the people are the most important, the society is second, and the king is the least. If you can re-learn Xunmeng's art in Jinyang University, all students can understand this sentence and remember it. This sentence, perhaps there are fewer biased people."

Wang Jian hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Is there any deep meaning in your lord's sudden suggestion that all the students in northern Xinjiang should study Xunmeng's art?"

Li Hong waved his hands hastily and said, "No, no, it's just a suggestion. I'm a warrior, and I have only a half-knowledge about academic matters and the strategy of governing the country, which made me laugh."

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(End of this chapter)