Ma Jiajun is not the only one who feels confused in this turmoil...
In fact, this Guanzhong Rebellion not only means that Bingzhou's attack on the Guanzhong forces represented by Li Jue and Guo Si who control the Chang'an court, but also a major reshuffle of the Xiliang area by Bingzhou's army that they are about to take over.
.
Since it is a major reshuffle, it will naturally clean up a group of people while supporting a new group of profit makers.
Therefore, how to treat the people of Bingzhou during this turmoil has become the top priority for many forces.
because,
Xiliang is the Xiliang of Xiliang people.
This slogan was left behind when Dong Zhuo finally chose to retreat from Luoyang.
Perhaps it was to boost morale and avoid leaving an image of "fleeing in a hurry" that would shake the morale of the army. Perhaps this was originally one of Dong Zhuo's political goals, but he had always had the opportunity to control the world before, so naturally there was no need for such a sense of division.
Absolutely something. Or maybe this is just an inadvertent idea of Dong Zhuo, but it has been affirmed by most Xiliang people.
As a half-outsider, Li Shu had no way of knowing what was right and wrong, but this kind of thinking would indeed affect the attitude of the Xiliang people towards the Bingzhou Army, an outsider, during this large-scale turmoil.
However, after all, Xiliang is not only the Xiliang of Xiliang people, but also the Xiliang of the Han Empire.
Therefore, there are also Hedong people, Yingchuan people, Bingzhou people, and people from other areas. Perhaps these people alone cannot compete with the Xiliang people, but if their strength is twisted together.
That's very impressive.
At least it was enough to give the Xiliang people a warning before Li Shushi entered Guanzhong.
Chang'an City has been very lively recently.
A sudden heavy rain forced the originally aggressive Bingzhou Army to stop all their movements. Even after the heavy rain, facing the swollen rivers and roads that had been soaked soft by the rain, it was undoubtedly a nightmare for the cavalry.
Nightmare.
Even if some villagers hadn't given guidance and retreated in time, tens of thousands of people might have been swept away by flash floods caused by heavy rains.
It can be said that even if you force yourself into the swamp and step into the mud pit, the time required for the original attack plan will be extended to two or three times as long as before. It is hard for anyone to imagine what the situation will look like by then.
Just like the current Chang'an City.
If there is a place least affected by heavy rains, it is definitely Chang'an City, the former capital of the Western Han Dynasty.
Not only because the streets here are much stronger than the land outside, but also because as the former capital of the Han Dynasty, this place has an extremely advanced drainage system. The location of Chang'an City is the highest platform nearby. So even outside
When floods surge due to wind and rain, most of the accumulated water in Chang'an City can still be drained quickly.
Although Luoyang was the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, many facilities here were aging and could not be repaired in time, and they even suffered certain damage due to multiple foreign invasions. However, as Dong Zhuo moved the Han Dynasty westward, these problems were improved.
Today's Chang'an City. Except for a few city walls that collapsed in the wind and rain, and some buildings that could not withstand the storm and collapsed, the remaining facilities and personnel did not suffer much damage.
Since no losses were suffered, the battle before the rainstorm will naturally continue.
And this has also become the main theme of Chang'an City in recent times.
The Xiliang army led by Li Jue and Guo Si, and the rebel forces led by Dong Cheng, Wei Xu and others, were fighting back and forth in Chang'an City, each showing their own capabilities, and trying to kill their opponents.
Had it not been for the sudden heavy rain, the rebels might have had a greater advantage - their surprise attack was obviously beyond Li Jue and Guo Si's expectations.
Moreover, at that time, the troops of the Bingzhou Army had only just invaded the northern part of the country and had not shown any intention of continuing to penetrate into Guanzhong. As a result, under the planning of some courtiers, Li Jue and Guo Si did not feel much external pressure.
The main focus was still on competing with the other side for control of Chang'an, and it was precisely because of this judgment that both sides believed that the sudden attackers were new forces recruited by the other side.
The presence of a new force obviously means that the already fragile balance in Chang'an City has been broken.
Therefore, Li Jue and Guo Si, who misjudged the situation, worked hard to pull back their own troops outside Chang'an City. At the same time, they fought several times under the instigation of thoughtful people, and each lost thousands of troops in the melee.
Although it did not reach the level of breaking the muscles and bones, it was enough for the generals of both sides to fight with real fire.
It is said that smart people will not fall in the same pit twice, but if two guys fall in the same pit twice, and these two people are familiar with each other, then these two people should be fools, and fools
, or a fool?
Ahem, well, if you can calculate Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun probably is not a fool. But in the face of a good situation where Li Jue and Guo Si are fighting each other and fighting among themselves, those courtiers seem to have once again made the mistake of left-leaning optimism.
——This group of guys who overestimate their capabilities actually want to rely on the troops of Dong Cheng, Wei Xu and others to eliminate Li Jue and Guo Si, the two great enemies of the imperial court, in one fell swoop.
Well, if it can really succeed, the courtiers who have the army and control the emperor may have to go through a lot of trouble even if Li Shushi wants to deal with it. After all, Liu Xie, the little emperor, still has such righteousness.
of status.
That is, that kind of magical existence that seems useless, but feels uncomfortable when used.
The idea is really wonderful, but just like Wang Yun's sky-breaking yy, if you don't have the appetite of a big eater but plan to challenge the appetite and speed of a big eater, then the result can be imagined - even if the appetite is astonishing
A certain flying fish also has to divide so many things into eight meals to eat, otherwise it will definitely become a dead fish.
Well, you only need to look at the fate of those courtiers who sought death to know.
Li Jue and Guo Bang were not fools. Their previous fight was just that they were blinded by power, the supreme power. Their nerves were numbed, so they regarded the abnormal movements as the war between their former comrades.
Signal.
Well, in fact, if the courtiers hadn't planned to take advantage of the situation to "protect" the emperor and thus completely stand on the side of "justice", maybe the two silly geese Li Jue and Guo Si hadn't reacted so quickly. After all, they didn't know anything else.
, but they knew very well that the little emperor played a "talisman" role for the two of them.
And when they felt the malice from the courtiers and their spies began to put abnormal information on their desks, they woke up and understood their previous mistakes. In addition, Li Shushi's sudden invasion of soldiers
.The momentum was overwhelming. The two of them calmed down completely and felt a strong chill.
With a common opponent, Li Jue and Guo Si are still good friends, and they are still good comrades who once cooperated and fought side by side.
Of course, there was also the timely rain that was life-saving for the two of them.
It was precisely because of this rain that not only did Dong Cheng, Wei Xu and others have to temporarily stop their attacks, but it also allowed Li Jue and Guo Si to wait for their reinforcements and block their preparations when they realized something was going to happen.
Dong Cheng's men called for reinforcements.
This is truly a classic reversal.
What is even more classic is that because he did not want Li Shushi to have the opportunity to get involved in the situation in Chang'an City, Dong Cheng vetoed Wei Xu and others' proposal to ask for help from Bingzhou before the heavy rain and asked Bingzhou to send a brigade of light cavalry to Chang'an.
Apparently, the previous success caused the ambition of a guy who claimed to be a member of Empress Dowager Dong's family to rapidly expand.
Therefore, although a wise man can guarantee not to fall into the same pit twice, this pit can trap thousands of people thousands of times - power is fascinating to the eyes, and it is smoky to the people, and it is always repeated no matter what time it is.
That familiar story.
The only difference may be the size of the stage and the setting.
All in all, five days after the heavy rain finally stopped, Dong Cheng's head was hung on the Qingming Gate due east of Chang'an City.
"Dong Cheng is dead?"
"Yes, that guy originally planned to escape through the secret door, but how did he know that everything was under your control, sir? But what happened? It's not that his head was hung on the city gate tower and couldn't be taken off. Greedy
This guy deserves such retribution!"
"He's dead. He really took advantage of that guy. So where are those guys Wei Xu, Song Xian and Hou Cheng?"
"They should have fled outside the city, but when they took advantage of the chaos to annex Lord Niu Fu's troops, many Xiliang people dared not speak out against them. Now that they are in such a mess, I'm afraid some of us will also come out.
Uncontrollable accidents. Sir..."
"Hmph! Don't think that I don't know about your little tricks in private. But, whatever, just don't kill them all anyway. If they all escape well, there will always be people who are suspicious of us. This kind of thing
Although it won’t have any negative impact on us, it will always be a pity if my plan ends imperfectly.”
"My lord, you are still so strict with yourself."
"Okay, let's go and finish everything that needs to be done. It's time for me to leave."
"Don't worry, sir, I won't smear you!"
Watching his men leave, he turned around and took out the sword he carried with him. Reflected on the sword's body was a pair of slender eyes, which shone with a cold light that was even more dangerous than the cold light on the sword.
"The final finishing touches must be done beautifully."
Xuanshi Hall of Weiyang Palace.
During the Western Han Dynasty, this place was the core area ruled by the Han Dynasty. It had a huge palace complex with countless treasures and countless stories. However, with the years of war and the eastward movement of the Han Dynasty's ruling center,
This place has long lost its original glory. Even Dong Zhuo once
Efforts have been made to restore it to a certain extent, but the turmoil in Chang'an City after Dong Zhuo's death and the continuous battles between Li Jue and Guo Si have made it impossible to see the original huge and glorious palaces here.
What replaced it was a dilapidated place where even shelter from the wind and rain was difficult.
And this is still the living place of the emperor, the nominal supreme ruler of the Han Dynasty.
The once supreme palace has now fallen into such decline. This former palace complex can obviously serve as a microcosm of the changes in the empire.
It's always been very deserted here.
After all, for Li Jue and Guo Si, they would never follow the etiquette and laws that ministers should abide by when meeting the emperor. And the emperor would never like Xiliang Junmang, including these two people, who had an aggressive light in their eyes.
Husbands.
They were different from Dong Zhuo. Liu Xie knew very well that in the eyes of those who had no political demands or whose political demands were extremely simple and straightforward, he, the emperor, was just their plaything, or a beautiful ornament to decorate their hegemony.
They have no pursuit of Dong Zhuo, and the only thing they believe in is the weapons in their hands and the troops under their command.
So the two sides quickly formed a tacit understanding - the emperor would never take the initiative to summon those "ministers" who made him uneasy, and Li Jue and Guo Si would not take the initiative to ask for anything from the emperor, but just
Send a subordinate with some status to convey your orders to the emperor. Anyway, the little emperor, who exists as a puppet, has no room for resistance.
It was just like when Dong Zhuo was in power - at least in their eyes.
As for the other so-called "important ministers of the imperial court", they are either cleverly holding the thighs of Li Jue, Guo Si and others, or they are plotting some conspiracy in private - those guys who are not clever enough to hide themselves have already been in Xiliang Army.
During the rounds of purges, they were sent underground to serve the emperors of the Han Dynasty, instead of living in the chaotic Chang'an City in fear.
As a result, even the court meeting that could have been a good show was canceled without realizing it.
The Royal Palace, well, this complex of buildings that is still capable of sheltering from the wind and rain can probably still afford such a title. It has become the deserted and barren land it is today due to constant changes.
Liu Xie saw all this in his eyes and remembered it in his heart. He clenched his still young fist vigorously, and then helplessly let go of it like he had done countless times before, and then quietly sat back in his seat.
It was as if nothing happened.
However, when he was about to pick up the book at hand, arm himself with knowledge, and at the same time paralyze himself, a gentle, seemingly nonexistent, but so clear footsteps appeared in this empty and silent space.
The sound interrupted his movements.
"Weak minister, please see Your Majesty."
"Is it you? What are you doing here? Do you plan to kill me, the culprit after General Dong's death, just like my innocent brother and nominal mother?"
"It seems that His Majesty dislikes Wei Chen very much. In other words, His Majesty probably hates Wei Chen deeply. I don't know if what Wei Chen says is true or not."
"You are very self-aware."
"But judging from His Majesty's expression, it seems that he still has something to ask Wei Chen. Although Wei Chen has little talent and knowledge and cannot be compared with the other ministers in the court, he is still willing to answer His Majesty's doubts."
"Then let me ask you, was it you or Dong Zhuo who made the proposal to kill my brother and mother?"
"Haha." Seeing the anxious and regretful expression of the emperor in front of him when he mentioned Dong Zhuo, the stranger suddenly broke in. No, in fact, the identity of the visitor can be known from what Liu Xie said -
—The strategist who suddenly appeared at the critical moment of the Xiliang army and successfully integrated the Xiliang army to counterattack Chang'an, but then went into seclusion after the Xiliang army regained power in Chang'an. Li Ru suddenly laughed softly.
Seeing Liu Xie's puzzled and dissatisfied eyes, Li Ru restrained his smile, but did not explain his behavior to the emperor. Instead, he answered the emperor's question:
"Although Enxiang has been dead for many years, I don't need to blame the dead people for what I did. Yes, everything your Majesty said was planned by Wei Chen, so it's okay to arouse His Majesty's resentment.
There is nothing you can do. However, your Majesty, ask yourself, do you think you really have a reason to hate me who contributed this strategy to the grace minister?"
"What do you mean!"
"His Majesty's biological mother was the late Emperor's favorite Wang Meiren, but because Your Majesty was favored by the late Emperor, he was murdered by Empress He. It was the late Emperor's biological mother, Empress Dowager Dong, who raised Your Majesty, but because of his dislike of Empress He and the brother and sister of General He Jin
What the two of them did depends on
The late emperor was brutally murdered by the brother and sister when his body was still cold. What qualifications does such a vicious woman with whom you have a sworn hatred have to become your majesty's mother? She was killed by a humble minister. Although your majesty cannot avenge it with your own hands, you should be able to.
Please fulfill Your Majesty's filial piety."
"What about brother? Brother has done nothing wrong, right?"
After pondering for a while, Liu Xie finally didn't say anything to refute it. Just like what Li Ru said, perhaps Empress He is indeed more qualified to be Liu Xie's "mother" than Miss Wang from the perspective of patriarchal clan, but in terms of blood,
His feelings, the kindness of raising him, and the resentment that he and his brother He Jin brought trouble to the Han Dynasty. The hatred of the country and the family made him only feel happy about the death of Queen He.
A little bit of the sadness of the death of a rabbit or a fox.
But Liu Bian was different.
Although Liu Bian is the son of that woman, Liu Bian did not inherit that woman's ruthlessness at all. Instead, he was like his father Liu Hong, protecting him with a not generous chest, even if this protection seemed to be
So clumsy.
That's a good brother.
It was a pure brotherhood that had not been stained with color.
Because it is so rare, it is even more deeply engraved in my heart and unforgettable.
"His Royal Highness the Young Emperor has indeed not committed any mistakes, but his existence itself is a mistake, at least for His Majesty."
"Just because of this, does my brother have to die?"
Liu Xie is not stupid. He knows very well what Li Ru wants to express, but his brother has left him long ago. He left him at the most innocent age, leaving only the most innocent memory.
The power of the dead is powerful, not to mention that most of the things Liu Bian left to Liu Xie were beautiful things, which are even more precious in this dirty family and modern era, so every night when he dreams back,
This beauty has been solidified and even beautified, making Liu Xie unwilling to think more about the thoughts that taint this beautiful relationship.
"This feeling is indeed very precious to Your Majesty, but Your Majesty is Your Majesty after all, so if Your Majesty still wants to continue to be His Majesty and not be like the Young Emperor, it is better to bury such feelings deep in your heart."
"That's enough! Li Wenyou, you came here to see me just because you want to talk about these things! If you have other things to do, just do it quickly. There is no need to be so hypocritical. I am the emperor, no
I need this sympathy from you!"
"It is naturally easy for Your Majesty to seek death, but His Majesty, who has the country of this great nation on his shoulders, would seek death so easily. Is it really worthy of the great Han's ancestors?"
"Aren't you going to kill me? You must know that I am joining forces with Dong Cheng, Wei Xu and others to kill Li Jue and Guo Si, the two evil thieves who brought trouble to the court. If you don't kill me, I will still continue to think of a way.
Kill these two thieves!"
"Li Zhiran and Guo A'duo? Speaking of which, I also feel that what these two have done in recent times is really unworthy. If Your Majesty has the ability to get rid of these two people, I will definitely welcome it. However, after Dong Cheng's incident,
Does Your Majesty think you still have a chance of success?"
"Since you don't want to kill me, why are you here?"
"Young people, don't be so impulsive. Enxiang should have taught Your Majesty in this regard."
"Huh, you don't have to be pretentious here. If you have anything to say, just tell me."
"It's best if Your Majesty thinks so. Then I would like to ask Your Majesty, have you ever heard of the allusion of 'Shen is born inside and dies, and the middle ear is safe outside'?"
The smile on Li Ru's face at this time was profound and unpredictable. (To be continued...)
