By the beginning of November, North Korea and China officially announced the plan to resume communication with the Western Regions, and announced the relevant candidates for the Western Regions.
In addition to Hu Zhen's post as governor of Dunhuang and long history of the Western Regions, Shangshutai also planned to set up Xihai County near Juyanze, with Tuoba Xianbei's eldest son Tuoba Pigu as the governor of Xihai to recruit Western Xianbei; in the original Liuzhong City and Jinman City, Shu
Gaochang County was newly established on the basis of Le City, with Youzhou Tiankai as the governor of Gaochang; Yihe County was established in Yiwu, Pulei, and Yinzhi, with Xiongnu Juqu Wujiu as the governor; and left and right Wu were reestablished.
Ji Xiaowei will be appointed by Duan Gu and Wang Ling, with two thousand troops each. Shazhou will be set up in the four counties of Xihai, Dunhuang, Gaochang and Yihe. Hu Zhen will also serve as the governor of Shazhou. These are only two thousand stones.
The selection of the above officials and the mobilization of officials and soldiers below them are even more complicated and will not be described in detail in the article.
Such a major personnel change is unprecedented since Yanxing's restructuring: personnel appointments come from all ethnic groups and counties in the country's borders, and the country's newly trained 40,000-strong Chinese army is the main force. Among the tens of thousands of laborers accompanying them
, there are as many as a thousand merchants, farmers and craftsmen who can build cities on the spot after capturing the land. Even in the plan of the general government, hundreds of Tai students are also prepared to accompany them to record what they see and hear during this expedition to the west.<
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When the government and the public learned about this plan, they all discussed it secretly: "The country has not made such a big move in the Western Regions in more than a hundred years. I am afraid that only Emperor Sejong's conquest of Hexi three hundred years ago can be compared with this." Of course, some people questioned it.
The expedition to the west was considered to be nothing more than a wasteful expedition, but more people still praised it and said: "If we can really transform Kunshan and restore it to me [1], this trip will be remembered for thousands of years and leave a lasting legacy."
Famous forever."
However, this will all happen in the spring of next year. What the country needs to do now is to stock up on food, soldiers and armor and repair roads in Dunhuang. Therefore, in mid-November, Hu Zhen will take office with his entourage.
Before leaving, many generals from the Liang people gathered at Hu Zhen's house and had a banquet with him to see him off.
Of course, those attending the banquet this time include Dong Yue, Zhang Xiu, Wang Chang, Li Xian, Li Ying, Fan Lin and others. Except for a few direct descendants of Hu Zhen in the Forbidden Army, they are basically all former members of Dong Zhuo's Imperial Palace.
.It is rare for everyone to get together in such an open and honest manner, and we are very happy to be able to meet again at this time.
This group of people cooked cheese and roasted two lambs as they had done in Liangzhou in the past. They also took two pots of wine and sang while drinking. Time flew by and soon it was night. The lights in Chang'an also became dim.
It’s become rare, but Hu Zhen’s house is still as bright as day.
At this time, Wang Chang raised a wine cup to congratulate Hu Zhen and said: "After the death of the Grand Master, I once thought that our generals would have no chance of glory and would not even survive. I did not expect that after ten years, I would still see Hu Du take up the post. It is really
Let me be happy. In the future, when Governor Hu is promoted, he will have to take care of him more!" Hu Zhen used to be under Dong Zhuo's command and often supervised all the armies, so he was called Governor Hu by them.
Unexpectedly, after Hu Zhen drank a glass of wine, he forced a smile, and then said casually: "Achang is still too young. I am not promoted here. I am just going to suffer!"
Li Ying, who was standing next to him, couldn't help laughing after hearing this: "Director Hu is drunk! I also want to suffer this kind of crime, but the dragon head doesn't like it." Everyone also laughed and tried to persuade him to drink again.
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However, Hu Zhen ignored the atmosphere and still waved his hand and retorted: "How do you understand? For most of my life, I have either led troops immediately or led people to farm. Now I am nearly sixty years old, but I have to manage civil affairs. How can I do a good job?
?" He paused here and whispered in a complaining voice, "With a criminal background like ours, I don't know how many people are watching. Once we make a mistake, there will be countless criticisms.
I will be imprisoned according to the law, can you protect me?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the meeting immediately fell silent, and even the original joy of the banquet was wiped out. Only Zhang Xiu looked around and said cautiously: "Although Longshou enforces the law strictly, he also deals with humane things. Didn't I hear that?
, Longshou plans to let two students serve as Hu Du’s staff, so why should Hu Du worry?”
Hu Zhen said: "What can a few yellow-haired boys do?" He then sighed, "I tell you, I am waiting for these cool people, who are often suspected in the court, to be able to serve as officials in a smooth and stable manner.
Being an official is God's blessing. Being rich is not a good thing. I am now in Chang'an and can eat two kilograms of meat every day. If I have nothing to do, I go to the south of the city to ride my horse and walk the dog. When I am happy, I go to have fun with two beauties. It is no better than in Long.
How happy is it that the wind blows from the sky?"
Then he pointed to an empty seat next to the table and said: "I originally reserved this seat for Jia Wenhe. You see, he doesn't even come, for fear of causing trouble. This is really smart. You should learn from him later.
, being free from illness and disaster in the future is the greatest blessing." When it came to this, everyone thought about it, and felt that what Hu Zhen said was quite reasonable, so they encouraged each other to drink and drink heavily, but what was different from before was that,
Even though the wine tastes sweet, everyone clearly feels that the glass is filled with bitter wine.
Li Xian was not without resentment towards Chen Chong because of Dong Bai's incident. He used Jiu Jin to say: "I don't think Chen Tingjian is as selfless as others say. Look at the people he uses, who is not someone close to him?
It's just that he has a good face and no courage, so he ended up like this. I think he is worse than the grand master! When the grand master is here, how can he allow Cao Hao to jump around?"
This brought out the pain in everyone's heart, and they all said: "Soldiers and soldiers have been bleeding all year round. How can we treat them with ordinary people's principles? We are fighting to the death under the banner, but we don't even let anyone take away any gold or silver. How can we
How can we live on? You see, Sun Ce said he was his nephew, but didn't he just do it in disguise? Chen Tingjian is really not a good soldier!" As he said this, he began to miss the good days when Dong Zhuo conquered the two capitals and everyone was filled with gold, silver and beauties.<
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At this time, Hu Zhen asked everyone to be quiet, and then said to his old friends: "A man must take his own wealth, so what's the point of taking advantage of him with his mouth?" After that, he took Dong Yue's hand and said, "If you really feel dissatisfied,
, When I get to Dunhuang, take control of the four counties, and have old Dong in the army, what can I do that I want to do?"
This was so shocking that everyone was shocked when they heard it. They sobered up and looked at Hu Zhen in disbelief. In this awkward atmosphere, Dong Yue slapped Hu Zhen's hand away and said after careful consideration: "Hu
What the governor just said was probably just a joke!"
Hu Zhen, still drunk, waved his hands and said: "Can it still be true? Otherwise, I said earlier that foreign positions are not as good as those in Beijing. Didn't you hear?"
Everyone was relieved and had a few more drinks, until it was almost time before they dispersed.
But Huben Captain Zhang Xiu returned home and was restless and unhappy for a while. His wife Hu was very strange when she saw this, so she asked him why. Zhang Xiu hesitated a little, then told his wife what he saw and heard at today's banquet, and then
Said: "What Hu Du said is really scary. I don't know whether it is true or not. If you say it is true, how can it be possible?"
After hearing this, Mrs. Hu's face changed drastically and she said repeatedly: "This is no small matter. You should go to Sili Mansion quickly and tell the matter to Longshou, so as not to cause trouble in the future and end up implicating you."
Zhang Xiu was doubtful and hesitated: "But if it is false, isn't this a false accusation? How will I gain a foothold among my fellow villagers in the future?"
Hu said: "But there is a slight possibility that the relationship must be estranged. Will it be possible for adults to regret it when a disaster strikes in the future?"
Zhang Xiu felt that his wife was right, so he nodded and said, "Then I'll go tomorrow." Madam Hu brought him a robe, put it on him, and said, "How could anyone snitch in the daytime? You are now
Just go! If someone says it before you do, that's a bad thing."
Zhang Xiu had no choice but to take a thin horse at random and drive to Sili's mansion alone. At this time, Chen Chong had just fallen asleep and was very surprised to hear that Zhang Xiu had told him something important, but he still treated him with great solemnity.
Welcoming him into the small house by the lake, they made tea and talked with him. Zhang Xiu told him everything he heard at the banquet, and kowtowed and said: "I really don't know whether Hu Zhen's words are true or false, but even if they are false, these words are extremely treason."
, making it difficult for Xiu to sleep and eat, so he told him. I hope you will understand clearly, but if this statement is false, I hope you will treat Hu Zhen lightly."
Unexpectedly, Chen Chong heard such news in the middle of the night and was stunned for a while. He said after a long time: "I know about this matter. Don't worry. The country just enacted a new law last year. Just deal with it according to the law. The country will not treat loyal ministers badly."
, I won’t treat the heroes badly, but I won’t kill people indiscriminately if there is a glimmer of hope.”
Zhang Xiu breathed a sigh of relief and said goodbye to Chen Chong. Chen Chong held a candlelight to guide him. Zhang Xiu went out and looked back to see Chen Chong standing among the plum blossoms. Under the light of the fire, there was no sadness or joy on his face. Zhang Xiu's mood
He couldn't help but quietly mention that this time, he was purely worried about Hu Zhen.
The next day, Chen Chong ordered Tingwei Wang Xiang to arrest Hu Zhen and Dong Yue, and search their residences in Beijing. If there were any signs of rebellion, they would be beheaded in accordance with the law. If not, Hu Zhen should no longer serve in the army. Chen Chong's
The original intention was to directly expel Hu Zhen, but his family assets would not need to be confiscated, and he would be able to live out his old age in peace.
But what is unexpected is that after Hu Zhen was arrested and imprisoned, before Wang Xiang could hold a trial, Hu Zhen immediately committed suicide in prison. He peeled off the gold nails from his belt and drank it to death. There was no trace of his death.
There was no argument, and no last words were left. Only the jailer guarding his cell said that before his death, the cool man gave him the remaining belt, and murmured in his mouth: "The firefly of summer night, summer night."
Night Firefly..."
After Hu Zhen's last words were heard by the people of Chang'an, they spread quickly. Everyone said that Chen Chong had handled an unjust case. They may not be able to understand the right and wrong of it, but the four "Fireflies in the Summer Night" One word is enough to move people.
For thousands of ordinary people, the fate of life is like fireflies on a summer night. Perhaps no one will notice or understand under the moonlight, but they are still fighting silently in their own way, even though in the past , they will also kill and despise each other, but there are also brief and emotional moments like this, where they understand others who were difficult to understand in the past.
【1】Takan: refers to Takan City, an important city in the Qiuci Kingdom. It was the former residence of the Protectorate of the Western Regions. Dingyuan Hou Banchao lived here for a long time and completed the great cause of connecting the Western Regions.