Wanting to go to court

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

Wanting to go to court

“There’s no need to blame someone if you want to!”

After learning about Liu He's specific situation, Zhang Yue only had these words that kept echoing in his heart.

According to Zhang Yue, even if Liu He is not as good as Liu Bingji, he is not much worse.

Later generations have always talked about the imperial edict to announce Zhongxing. In Zhang Yue's view, it was mainly Huo Guang's credit.

Needless to say, during the reign of Emperor Zhao, Emperor Zhao did not truly rule until his death.

The main achievements during the reign of Emperor Xuan were also achieved when Huo Guang was in power.

Although Emperor Xuan had achieved some achievements after Huo Guang's death, without the foundation laid by Huo Guang, Liu Bing would have been unable to achieve much.

Zhang Yue instead believed that the cause of the demise of the Western Han Dynasty was actually left by Emperor Xuan.

Zhang Yue made this judgment mainly because of the following points.

The first one is naturally the powerful ones. Since Huo Guang's death, Liu Bing has completely given up suppressing the powerful forces.

The result is that in just a few decades, powerful forces have expanded beyond control.

Why did the Eastern Han Dynasty choose to share the world with the powerful powers? In fact, it was because the powerful powers were too powerful and the emperor could only choose to compromise.

The second is to let Confucianism take charge of politics. Although the former emperor "deposed hundreds of schools of thought and only respected Confucianism," he was just using Confucianism to regain power.

In the end, the emperor never allowed Confucianism to hold real power throughout his life, let alone use its ideas to govern the country.

He even left a posthumous edict when he died, warning future generations that Confucianism could only be used as academic thought and could not be used to govern.

It was not until Liu Bing took power that Confucianism entered the core level and quickly usurped central power.

By the time of Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty, the children of the six counties who were originally the foundation of the Han Dynasty's rule were no longer visible in the court.

The last one is the improper selection of the successor. He knew clearly that Emperor Yuan was not suitable to be emperor, but because of a trace of guilt for Xu Pingjun in his heart, he sent someone who was not suitable to be emperor.

This is not what a qualified emperor should do.

It was precisely because of this judgment that Zhang Yue was determined to use the emperor's death as an entry point to secure Liu He's position as emperor.

…

In the blink of an eye, it was already August of the sixth year of Yuanfeng.

After strict layout, Zhang Yue already has considerable strength in Chang'an.

Zhang Huan is now the captain of Yulin and has taken charge of the palace guards of Weiyang Palace.

In addition, with the help of Huo Guang's wife Huo Xian, Jin Bo, who had long been dissatisfied with Huo Xian, gradually became alienated from the Huo family.

Jin Bo is the son of Jin Rixi and is also a guard. His military and political influence are extraordinary.

Thanks to Du Ling's efforts, the cavalry general Zhang Anshi and the right general Bingji also became Zhang Yue's allies.

In addition, Guanglu doctor Liu Changle, Zongzheng Liu De, Zhonglang general Li Han, and Shaofu Shi Lecheng also secretly joined Zhang Yue's camp.

Although Zhang Yue has been far away in the Western Regions, his influence in Chang'an is not weaker than that of General Huo Guang.

…

In September of the sixth year of Yuanfeng, Zhang Yue summoned the generals from the Western Region Protectorate and the four major festival towns to Luntai to discuss matters.

"Have you made your decision yet?"

Liu Yi had already guessed Zhang Yue's intention of summoning him and others.

Zhang Yue nodded immediately without concealing anything and said: "Now that His Majesty is critically ill, someone intends to return to Chang'an to govern!"

When Zhao Guanghan heard Zhang Yue's words, he immediately jumped up excitedly and said: "Your Majesty should have taken charge of the world long ago!"

Geng Shu frowned when he heard this and said: "If you want to take over the power, General Huo Guang will have a hurdle that you can't get around!"

Zhang Yue said with a serious face: "Yes, there will definitely be a head-on conflict with the general this time!"

Guo Kai said thoughtfully: "Did the Lord have a plan in advance?"

Zhang Yue did not hide anything, he said bluntly: "Yes, the emperor is now terminally ill and in danger..."

"The general wants to first support Liu He, the king of Changyi, as the emperor, and then depose Liu He and make the emperor's great-grandson Liu Bing the emperor..."

Guo Kai heard this and said: "The emperor's great-grandson Liu is ill, but he is the grandson of the violent prince?"

Zhang Yue nodded and said: "Yes, it is this person!"

Han Jiang frowned and said, "Anyone can be the emperor, but this is absolutely impossible for Liu Bing!"

"If Liu Bing becomes emperor, I, the Protector of the Western Regions, will probably be doomed, and decades of hard work will be ruined!"

Geng Shu then bowed to Zhang Yue and said, "How do you know the general's plan?"

Zhang Yue took out a letter at this time: "My lords, this letter is handwritten by the son of Marquis Jingjing (Jin Rixi) and the son-in-law of General Huo Guang, who was rewarded with gold. Please take a look at it!"

Cai Ting, Yang You, and Liu Yi had already read the contents of the letter in advance, so they just sat still.

The others were impatient, and in the end Zhang Yue gave the letter to Geng Shu first.

After Geng Shu finished writing, he silently handed the letter to Guo Kai.

At this time, he had mixed feelings in his heart. On the one hand, he felt that it was normal for Huo Guang to do this.

Liu Bing is, after all, the grandson of Prince Rong, and he retains the knowledge of the Wei family. Considering the relationship between the Wei and Huo families, it can be said that they are one family.

However, since Liu Bing became emperor, it was a great disadvantage to the Western Regions. Everyone knew that Prince Ru was on the same level as the Western Regions when he was alive.

While Geng Shu was thinking about things, Guo Kai, Han Jiang, Pan Hong, and Zhao Guanghan also read the contents of the letter.

At this time, Pan Hong stood up and worshiped: "Your Majesty, for the sake of the Han Dynasty and the Western Region... we must stop the general's plan!"

Han Jiang said with a serious face at this time: "It may not be easy to stop Huo Guang. The Northern Army, the Lieutenant Army, and the Weiwei Army are all in Huo Guang's hands now..."

Zhao Guanghan said: "Why don't you let me lead the army into Chang'an!"

“This is absolutely impossible!”

Cai Ting and Pan Hong jumped out to stop him almost at the same time.

Zhang Yue also waved his hand at this time and said: "It is absolutely forbidden to lead a large army into Chang'an before gaining power in the court... If you lead an army into Chang'an, the Han Dynasty will definitely fall into war!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guanghan spread his hands and said, "What should we do?"

Guo Kai analyzed: "In fact, it is not impossible. Although Huo Guang is strong, he does not fully control the army in the Guanzhong area."

"The gentleman now has two elites, Yulin and Weiyang Palace Guards... The gold reward is the Guards. This army can also be used by me!"

"The chariot and cavalry generals control the three auxiliary troops; the right general controls the Changshui School Lieutenant Division..."

"If we can find the support of General Chariot and General Right, there is still much to be done!"

Pan Hong agreed: "What Guo Hou said is absolutely true. In addition, Junhou, Liu Hou, and Genghou can also visit the emperor and request to return to the capital..."

"In this way, we can lead at least 900 armored soldiers back to Chang'an... The 900 elite soldiers from the Western Regions can be enough to defeat the 2,000 Northern Army soldiers!"

Cai Ting also added at this time: "More than nine hundred, Liu Hou can bring more troops and horses in the name of escorting the goods to Beijing... In addition, if necessary, we can also ask Xinjian Hou to lead the troops from Hexi to assist."

Guo Kaidao: "With great kindness, such great things can be accomplished!"

Zhang Yue bowed to Liu Yi and Geng Shu and said, "Please help me, Second Duke!"

Liu Yi, Geng Shu and the others bowed back and said, "I will definitely help you succeed!"

"Thank you all the more!"
Chapter completed!