In the Long Live Hall, Murong Yanchao and his son met together. Emperor Liu seemed very happy that the father and son had returned to the court. He immediately summoned him to the hall to ask questions, and his attitude was extremely close.
"No gifts! Get flat!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Let the two of you sit down and serve hot soup in your own room. Because of the severe cold weather, during this period, when the ministers visited, Emperor Liu was served soups that could dispel the cold and keep warm.
He looked at Murong Yanchao and then cast his eyes on Murong Chengtai: "Although the emperor's uncle goes out on official business from time to time, he stays in the palace for a long time. I can see him often. But Chengtai, I haven't seen you for many years. !”
Murong Chengtai was always very high-spirited whether in the army or in the local area, but when he came to Liu Chengyou, he was very restrained. Just like other contemporaries who were related to the royal family, they were just as awe and even afraid of Emperor Liu. .
Sensing Emperor Liu's caring tone, Murong Chengtai said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! I have been greatly favored by the Emperor and promoted by Your Majesty. I am here today. I am extremely grateful!"
"Sure enough, he got it through experience outside!" Emperor Liu said to Murong Yanchao: "Chengtai has become a general of the Han family and can be entrusted with important tasks. Uncle Emperor, are you relieved?"
Murong Yanchao responded with a smile on his lips: "Your Majesty has given you too much praise. I still need to continue to practice, do more work for the court, and be loyal to Your Majesty!"
There was a porcelain plate on the imperial desk, containing some candies wrapped in floral paper. Emperor Liu gestured to Yantuo, and then said: "These are candies made by the palace cook. My grandson was born. He is in Beijing." All the civil and military ministers have divided some, you should try it too!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The father and son ate together, with smiles on their faces. Emperor Liu asked how it tasted, and the answer was of course yes, sweet!
Murong Yanchao said: "The former heard that the emperor's grandson was born, and I was outside the capital, so I only had time to express my congratulations. When I return to the capital this time, I should make up for the gifts!"
Murong Yanchao's family was wealthy and he had good financial management skills. Among the officials, there were few who were richer than him. Looking at his generous face, Liu Chengyou was in a good mood, but he said: "I'm just a kid. How can I do it?" Does it affect the world? It’s good that the emperor has this intention!"
Then he looked at Murong Chengtai: "I heard that you fell ill on the way back to Beijing?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! I have been in Guangnan for a long time. I am returning to Beijing this time. I have been traveling for days and am only caught by the wind and cold!" Murong Chengtai reported.
"Then you should pay more attention. In this way, after the interview is over, you can go to the Imperial Hospital to see someone!" Emperor Liu looked serious.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" This was probably the first time Murong Chengtai had received such care from the emperor, and all he could do was keep expressing gratitude.
"The Privy Council has been there!"
"yes!"
"Pan Mei can ask you to return to the court to report that the war in Annan should be going smoothly! You have returned from the front line. Let me know how it goes!" Liu Chengyou said.
"Yes!" Looking up, he saw that Emperor Liu had regained his seriousness, and his calm face made his heart tighten, as if the gentle words just now were just an illusion.
Secretly sighing that the power of God is unpredictable, Murong Chengtai hurriedly calmed down and handed over his hand to report: "Shuai Pan Du asked for the imperial edict to march into the army. When he returned to Guangnan, he immediately dispatched troops and horses to move to Guangxi. On the one hand, he raised supplies and on the other hand, he
Block the checkpoint roads to block information, and at the same time strengthen the exploration of the Annan area.
Before winter, the civil strife in Annan was fierce. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Ding tribe leader who had separatized the central part led tens of thousands of tribal coalition troops to go north to attack the old officials of the Wu family in the north who were suffering from internal strife, with the intention of expanding and unifying the central and northern parts of Annan.
Leader Ding was a cunning figure. After Wu Changwen's death, the Wu regime collapsed. On the one hand, he recruited troops and built momentum, but at the same time, he stayed still, mobilizing alliances among the separatist forces and watching their fights.
If the imperial court had not intervened, all the forces in the north would have been wiped out. However, no matter how smart he was, he never thought that the Han Dynasty had already decided to send troops.
Our army marched south from Liangzhou, built bridges and paved roads all the way, and approached Longbian City. By the time the army arrived, the war in the north of Annan had come to an end. The Ding tribe won a great victory, occupied Jiaozhi City, and sent envoys to recruit surrenders and rebels.
However, as our army passed through the border, it was also reported that the Jing navy was descending on Jiuzhou County, and the descendants were like clouds..."
"The leader of the Ding tribe must have struggled a lot!" Obviously, the smooth march of troops in the Southern Expedition was not enough to make Emperor Liu happy, so he just asked lightly.
"Exactly!" Murong Chengtai said: "Leader Ding is indeed a local tycoon. Our army suddenly pressed on the border. Although he was frightened, he did not lose his fighting spirit.
Not knowing the true strength of our army, he did not dare to attack rashly, so he strengthened the city defense in Jiaozhi, and at the same time gathered all the surrounding people, livestock and grain together, and sent envoys to invite the local tyrants who had been defeated by him, with the intention of uniting to fight against the Han Dynasty.
Our army had been marching for several days and needed to rest and recuperate, so it was temporarily stationed at Longbian. Pan Dushuai's only concern was that Ding's leader would flee without fighting. Fortunately, he was reluctant to bear the consequences of marching north.
While he was preparing for the war, Pan Du decisively ordered Tian Qinzuo to lead 3,000 troops to sneak south, surround Zhu Yuan City, cut off their retreat, and then march into Jiaozhi City.
After the whole army had rested and reorganized, and the troops were approaching the city, Dingbu leader did not dare to sit back and watch our army cross the river and besiege the city. He personally led the army and refused to stay on the river bank. Our army, with the Pingqian Army as the vanguard, crossed the Zhuyuan River by boat and raft and fought on the right side of the river.
The battle across the river lasted more than two hours, and more than 3,000 Ding rebels were killed, but our army suffered less than a thousand casualties. Ding led the remaining troops and retreated to Jiaozhi City, and our army took advantage of the victory to lay siege to the city.
After being defeated, the leader of Ding tribe no longer dared to rush out of the city to fight, and chose to defend the city with all our troops, intending to use up food and fodder in order to retreat.
Since Jiaozhi was strong, General Pan Dushuai rashly launched an attack on the city. He fortified the ditch walls and built siege equipment. At the same time, he persuaded the city to surrender. He also divided his divisions to seize the cities in the east and west of Jiaozhi and plundered their men, money and food to supplement the military.
The city was besieged for half a month. After its morale was low and our army was well prepared, we attacked the city from three sides. The Ding tribe led Jiaozhi, but after all, their foothold was not stable and it was difficult to hold on for a long time. On the second day, the city was broken and Jiaozhi was recovered.
But Ding's leader was quick and fled at the entrance of the pass. The pursuit failed, so he was allowed to escape. It was expected that he would definitely escape back to his lair in Dahuang Hualu Cave, and Pan Dushuai led Tian Qinzuo to go south to destroy him."
"So, Jiaozhi has been recovered!" Liu Chengyou suddenly asked after hearing what Murong Chengtai said.
Murong Chengtai: "When I returned to the north, all the prefectures and counties in the northern part of Jiaozhi had been collected. Tian Qinzuo also pursued the Ding tribe to their lair, defeated their tribesmen, and marched into Aizhou.
However, the leader of the Ding tribe was not dead, and he still led the rest of the tribe to flee south. It is said that his father and son had served as generals in the southern prefectures and counties, and had some prestige, so they defected, with the intention of making a comeback.
After the First World War in Jiaozhi, all the separatist forces in the central and northern parts of Annan have been wiped out, and the remaining ones are no more than the patients of the Third and Fourth Envoys in the South. In line with the idea of eliminating evil and doing everything possible, after the situation in the central and northern parts is temporarily calm, we should continue the southward purge. , to restore the old land of Annan and return it to the rule of the Han Dynasty!"
"Well done!" Finally, a smile appeared on Emperor Liu's face.
"Shuai Pan Du said that the imperial court can send officials to the south and naturalize them to govern!" Murong Chengtai continued.
"This is natural!" Liu Chengyou nodded, but sighed slightly: "However, we are located in the south of the sky, so I am afraid that this candidate will not be easy to select. Lingnan is already far away, and Jiaozhi is even more intolerant..."
As he said this, Emperor Liu moved his hands skillfully. He took out a piece of paper and put pen to paper. He used the printer to call a general officer and ordered: "Send this article to the Political Affairs Hall!"
"yes!"
"Let's give the prime ministers a headache for a while first!" Emperor Liu chuckled.
After saying that, he looked at Murong Yanchao again: "What is the matter with the emperor's uncle returning to Beijing this time!"
After hearing the question, Murong Yanchao immediately became energetic, took out a large drawing, and with the help of the chamberlain, slowly unfolded it in front of Emperor Liu, and introduced it to Emperor Liu: "This is where I call on architectural talents. , it took two years to draw the layout drawings of Xijing’s palaces, cities, and roads, which are specially presented to His Majesty for his royal inspection.”
His eyes fell on the unfolded drawing. This was a brand new design drawing of Luoyang City. Even if he couldn't understand it, Emperor Liu knew from the momentum and appearance shown on the drawing that if it were completed, it would definitely be no less than Kaifeng today. city.
Uncle Murong seemed to understand Emperor Liu's thoughts.