In June of the ninth year of Yanxing, Liu Bei and Chen Chong led 100,000 troops to evacuate Pei State. However, unexpectedly, neither government returned to Chang'an and Jinyang directly after deploying troops as usual. Instead, they ordered the army to station troops at Heqiao to threaten the emperor.
He was temporarily stationed in Luoyang, the eastern capital. Just when everyone was suspicious of his intentions, the Bafu quickly announced that the emperor had not returned home for a long time, and this time he returned to the eastern capital temporarily to worship his ancestors in Mang Mountain.
At the same time, Xingtai issued another edict, saying that in the past few years, the country had been in turmoil and war, but the country had not been destroyed because of this, and the country had turned around. This was mostly due to the courage and bravery of the soldiers, even if the war was unfavorable this year.
, is not enough to offset the merits of the soldiers. Therefore, the emperor ordered that all veterans who served in the army before Yanxing would be rewarded with a reward of three thousand yuan and promoted to the second rank. Those who had survived the chaos of Yanxing for six or seven years would be rewarded with a reward of two thousand yuan.
Those who participate in the war will be rewarded with a thousand rewards, the entire army will rest for five days, and there will be a banquet for three days.
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For a time, the whole army cheered and cheered. Although Luoyang has not yet been able to restore the prosperity of the Guanghe period due to the destruction of the palace by Dong Zhuo, when the rewards were distributed, it became a bit more festive. The army
At the same time as the banquet was held, Xingtai also gave permission for the capital to open a night market, so noisy things could be seen all day and night both inside and outside the east capital: during the day, soldiers were outing and horse racing in the suburbs, and at night, the markets and temples were brightly lit.
During the day, men and women were having fun, and it was very lively.
The people of Dongdu have not seen such a scene for about ten years. If it were not for the east of Qinshui and Danshui, as well as Chenggao and Xingyang, there are many military camps facing each other in the distance, and the cavalry coming and going as if facing a powerful enemy.
People really thought that they had returned to the peaceful times of the Guanghe period.
After the banquet and sacrifice, the two governments were still not in a hurry to return immediately. Instead, they discussed the merits and demerits of each army in the past six months in the Eastern Capital. Generally speaking, the dispatch of troops to Xuzhou failed to achieve the effect of blocking the Eastern Army before the dispatch.
In particular, Chen Chong, as the mastermind, could not escape the blame for his misreading of Wu Jun's movements. Therefore, he petitioned and had his seal reduced by two thousand yi and his salary fined for two years, thus shouldering most of the blame for this defeat.
As for the rest of the generals, after the discussion on the stage, most of them were mainly praised. As long as they can fight effectively or save the army, they will not be promoted, but they will also be given more gold and silver.
Entrusted with important positions, such as Linsui Colonel Huang Zhong, Longxiang Colonel Zhao Yun, Huben Zhonglang General Xu Huang, Changqi Colonel Yang Qiu and others were all promoted to Guannei Marquis, and Yang Qiu and Zhao Yun were appointed as generals.
Huang and Huang Zhong were appointed as partial generals, and each received a reward of 500 yuan. They also carved a stone tablet in front of the gate of the eastern capital to commemorate their merits.
The only thing that caused controversy in the army was the reward and punishment of Grand Sima Quyi. Although Quyi had a high official position, his actual jurisdiction was no different from that of an ordinary captain. In the three battles, he only participated in Wuyuan and Huoshibu.
In the battle, Qu was credited with defeating the Shenpei Zuo Army, but he failed to perform well when holding on to the pontoon bridge, causing a general collapse in the entire army and involving the death of many generals. Therefore, many in the army believed that Qu's righteousness outweighed his merits.
.But there are also objections. After all, facing the Eastern Army alone is extremely stressful, and no one can be sure of success, so they advocate that there is no need to be harsh.
Chen Chong and Liu Bei were also troubled by this. After all, Qu Yi was the hero who assassinated Yuan Shao. He traveled thousands of miles to seek refuge with him. He was not their direct subordinate and his political status was sensitive. Therefore, after several discussions, they finally decided
It was determined that Qu's good deeds outweighed his faults, and he was rewarded with a hundred gold, a sword, and he still served in the old ministry.
By June, there was nothing going on at home and abroad, people were gradually becoming more at ease, and the two governments also began to prepare for their return to the west.
One night, Liu Bao went to his house to ask for an audience with Chen Chong. After Liu Xuan's death, Liu Bao was the only surviving descendant of the Qiangqu Chanyu and the recognized future leader of the Xiongnu. In recent years, as he grew older,
Liu Bao's behavior already appeared extremely stable and mature. Even though he was strong and tall, when talking to ordinary people, he made people feel like spring breeze without feeling cramped. At this time, Chen Chong saw him wearing Confucian clothes and wooden clogs standing beside him.
When he was in front of him, he couldn't help but be surprised by his changes. But he was more pleased in his heart. He thought that there would always be good young people growing up.
Liu Bao's trip was to invite Chen Chong to Liu Bei's house for a gathering. After all, in the past few years, the two of them had been together less and more apart, and they always discussed business matters when they met. And as people get older, they are particularly prone to sadness, so
When they were about to part ways this year, Liu Bei called together Qian Zhao, Jian Yong, Zhang Fei, Wei Yan and other elderly people, hoping to get together before leaving. Chen Chong was also touched by this, so he called Chen Qun, Xun You and others together.
They were also called, and each of them rode a fat white horse, and together they went to Liu Bei's house.
When they arrived, a banquet was already held at Liu Bei's house. As soon as Chen Chong got off his horse, he heard the faint sound of silk and bamboo among the lights in the courtyard. They followed Liu Bao in and saw several singing girls playing piano and drums at the banquet.
Se, while Liu Bei was playing time on the side. Seeing Chen rushing in, Liu Bei patted the straw mat next to him and motioned for him to sit next to him. He smiled and said: "Ting Jian, I have been waiting for you for a long time. If you are late, the wine will be cold."
."
Chen Chong was not polite, took off his shoes and sat on it, then picked up the wine cup and took a sip, then listened attentively and asked Liu Bei with a smile: "What song is this playing?"
Liu Bei said with a smile: "This is a popular song in Xuzhou a few years ago." When he said this, he clapped his hands slightly, and a woman playing the harp stood up and sang to everyone:
"When the clear breeze comes, it blows the train of my clothes. The green robe is like spring grass, and the grass is long and windy.
Climbing Jinliang Mountain towards the mountains, wearing clothes and looking at what I am thinking about. I am able to hold a pillar and hold a letter, and the bright sun will last for a long time."
The woman's singing voice was elegant, her words were like a stream, and the string strings between her fingers were like jade beads falling one after another, very clean. Gradually, the sound of the strings became faster and louder, and it was like sparkling waves, like a fish leaping up. Everyone saw that the singer's lips were red, her teeth were white, and her skin was crystal clear.
Jade, I was so obsessed with listening to it. When the song was played, everyone was high-fiving and drinking happily.
Liu Bei pointed at the singing girl and smiled at Chen Chong: "Ting Jian, what do you think of my wife in Xina?" Chen Chong then knew that this was his concubine Gan in Xina, Yuzhou. He looked at Gan again and saw her beautiful lady.
Her skin was soft, her appearance was charming, and her original peaceful smile slowly disappeared, but she still managed to hold back the attack. She said to Liu Bei as calmly as possible: "Madam, you play the piano very well, but I have been in the army for a long time, and my heart is not so good."
I am proud of myself as a man of iron and stone, and when I first listen to the soft music, I feel quite exhausted."
As soon as he finished speaking, unexpectedly, before Liu Bei could answer, Gan actually bowed and replied: "Music comes from the heart and is composed lyrically. However, it can be passed down from generation to generation and move people, but in the end it is nothing more than innocent." Ziwen "Guan Ju"
The song is considered to be "happy but not obscene, sad but not sad". It can be seen that it is not just the song that is innocent, but the thoughts of those who listen to it. The dragon's head feels like it is grinding. Because of self-denial and exhaustion, you might as well take a nap.
, listen to me play another song."
After saying that, she mistook the letter, and the style of the song suddenly changed, from the original lightness to the empty and lonely, as if she was in the infinite sky, but saw endless white clouds and nothing else. At this time, Chen Chong heard again
Gan sang:
"The yellow swan is far away, but it wanders back after a thousand miles. The horse has lost its flock, but its thoughts and hearts are always attached to it.
What's more, the two flying dragons are good with their wings. Fortunately, there are string songs that can be used as metaphors in my heart.
Please chant for the wanderer, how sad it is to be cold. The sharp and clear sound of silk and bamboo is full of sadness.
The long song is intense, but the heart is filled with sorrow. I want to show the Qing Dynasty Shang opera, but I can't return home.
I feel sad inside and can't shed my tears. I wish I could be two yellow swans and fly far away when I send my son off."
The lyrics and music are moving, and Gan's voice is as sad as the sound of wild geese. It is not as gentle and leisurely as before, but it is slow and relaxed, with a certain degree of control, which is enough to touch people's hearts. After Gan finished singing and stopped, Chen Chong thought about it for a long time, and he thought: She
She saw that I was dissatisfied with her, but she was neither arrogant nor arrogant. She used a sad song to talk about her close friend, not only expressing her own helplessness, but also trying to cheer up my heart. What a rare good person.
So he applauded and admired her sincerely, and said to Mrs. Gan: "Madam Sister-in-law is not only beautiful, but also thoughtful. I am the one who spoke just now, Meng Lang." Then he said to Liu Bei: "You have this concubine, so I won't worry about you.
I'm slacking off."
When Liu Bei heard this, his face was solemn. He had just picked up a piece of meat from the plate, and now he slowly put it down. He said: "How can I forget the country's giant invaders before they are eliminated? It's just that people are not saints, and they also need to be happy and forget their worries.
Ah!" He then pointed at Chen Chong and said with a smile: "Look at you, I knew it as soon as you came in. You talk about business wherever you go. I think I will lose ten years of my life because of you."
Having said this, he sighed, drank the wine in the glass, and asked the gray-headed singers around him to disappear, leaving only seven or eight people participating in the banquet. He continued to say to Chen Chong: "What do you have to say? I
I will pay more attention."
When Chen Chong saw his appearance, he couldn't help but laugh a little. He nodded and said: "I lost Xuzhou this time and it doesn't look good on my face. I think there will be some discussions between the government and the public, and I'm afraid it won't sound good."
Liu Bei frowned slightly, but before he could say anything, Zhang Fei next to him said first: "If there are such flies, you don't have to be coddled, just kill Li Wei and see who dares to scream!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Chong immediately shouted and rebuked: "What can Yide say! Crime of speech is a taboo in politics! If you are not benevolent to the slightest, it is difficult to be benevolent to the public. If people are killing people and stopping discussions now, won't people slander them in the future?
?History is like iron, who can escape?"
After Zhang Fei fell silent, he said to Liu Bei: "Nowadays, most of the people in the government and the public are our people, and there are not many people who dare to speak out. Their words may be stupid, but they don't have much power. They may not have ulterior motives or mysterious intentions.
Virtue, at this time of confrontation between East and West, if you want to have great ambitions, you must be tolerant of others."
Liu Bei pondered for a while, then suddenly smiled and said: "I know which people you are talking about. It doesn't matter. As long as you don't chop me with a knife, it won't be a big deal."
Chen Chong saw that he spoke easily, and thought to himself: "Xuande doesn't know how fast those people are, so he can speak so lightly."
Therefore, he added: "Even if something happens, don't pay attention to it, don't have any thoughts of murder, just leave it to me to deal with it."
When the meeting was about to end, Liu Bei brought up the jug and poured wine for everyone. He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp. He said, "Cao Cao has lost his tiger and leopard cavalry. I'm afraid he won't be able to launch another offensive for two or three years. Ting Jian, what did you do last time?"
I believe that there may be a turnaround within five years. I hope that the next time we fight with him, we can defeat Heluo and reach Youyan!"