After talking with Liu Bei, Chen Chong was not in a hurry to rush to the Eastern Capital. In addition to the previous conversations with Liu Bei about major events, Liu Bei also entrusted Chen Chong with a task before leaving: to tour Bashu on his behalf.
Liu Bei's original intention was to tour the country before his death to appease all parties. Now, although he has made the trip to Qingxu, Hebei, Shanxi, and Guanzhong, his body no longer allows him to continue traveling, which forces him to shelve his plan to go to Long and then to Shu.
Then he hurried to Henan.
But Liu Bei was still thinking about this matter. He had attached himself to Longyou for many years, and it would not have much impact if he didn't go. But Bashu had only been attached for two years, but he had to pay attention to it. After all, Liu Fan was still struggling in Jiangzhou, and although Pang Tong in Nanzhong
He used both suppression and appeasement to barely quell the rebellion, but failed to eradicate the rebels. If news of his death spread, Liu Bei was worried that another chaos would start. Therefore, before leaving, he asked Chen Chong to patrol the south on his behalf. After all, in the eyes of the world, the two
People have long been indistinguishable from each other.
Chen Chong knew that this was his last meeting with Liu Bei, and he was very sentimental for a moment. But he didn't say much. Unlike young people who faced death fiercely, he had been on the line of life and death too many times, and he had already accepted death in his heart.
Destiny, so when they were parting, he said to Liu Bei: "Don't worry about having no friends in the future. No one in the world knows you."
In the days that followed, he first contacted several students in Luoyang and arranged accommodation for his family. Then he entered Baoxie Road with more than a hundred guards and informed the counties in Bashu that he would take the emperor's place.
Governor. During the cold dew season, Chen Chong arrived in Nanzheng. Han Ji, the prefect of Hanzhong, came to greet him. The two parties exchanged pleasantries. Then Han Ji asked Chen Chong about Liu Bei's condition in a vague way. Chen Chong was shocked and said with caution: "The prince has gone.
Take care of Your Majesty. In the past two years, most of the state affairs have been decided by the Crown Prince. With him by Your Majesty's side, there will be no major problems." Han Ji immediately said yes.
In the next few days, Chen Chong secretly observed the public sentiment in Hanzhong incognito. He found that although Zhang Lu left, the folk rice trade was still prosperous. County officials could collect taxes, but they could not mobilize the people at all. Instead, they continued to offer wine and teach people, which could be seen from time to time.
People built roads in accordance with the law and prayed quietly. Although the number of charity houses set up by Zhang Lu was reduced, the scale was still considerable. Seeing this scene, Chen Chong sighed to his followers: "The country's blessings are not deep, and it is still unable to win the hearts of the people in Hanzhong.
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Then he led his troops southward and followed the Jinniu Road through Zitong to Mianzhu. It was already late September. When Ma Chao and other generals in the Xifu heard that the Prime Minister was coming from afar, they all came to greet Chen Chong. Chen Chong saw that they were still the same as before, and he was heartbroken.
It was also heartwarming. At the same time, he summoned all the ethnic groups in Shu who responded the year before last and had a long talk with them about the local customs. He also invited the children of all ethnic groups to study at Taixue. Many young people responded. For example, Qiao Zhou in Brazil and Zhang Jun in Chengdu all planned to study in Taixue.
When Chen Chong returned to Beijing, they went to Luoyang together.
In mid-October, the news of Liu Bei's death finally reached Chen Chong's ears. At that time, he was making tea in the backyard of the state capital. The messenger who came to inform him hurriedly informed him, left a book and newspaper, and then went south to Ning.
The state was gone. All the officials were shocked, but Chen Chong was extremely calm. After all, when he came, he knew that such a day would come.
Chen Chong picked up the book and newspaper and read it carefully, and learned that Liu Bei passed away on the Double Ninth Festival. Now the prince had ascended the throne in Luoyang, and mourned in Chongde Hall. At the same time, he respected Liu Jia as the empress dowager, and ordered that the former emperor Liu Bei be honored as Liezu, and the temple title was Liezu.
Xinchou was buried in October. The burial location has been chosen, just ten miles east of Heyang River Bridge. It is a flat and open area with high terrain. Folks have already dug a large pit with divided rooms in the middle. The coffin and funerary objects were buried in the pit.
, covering the loess city tomb, with pines and cypresses and other trees transplanted around and on it. From a distance, it looks like a hill. Wang Can and others were also ordered to make an epitaph for Zhaowu of the Han Dynasty and erect a monument in front of it.
Liu Bei also left a posthumous edict before his death, appointing Chen Chong, Guan Yu, Zhong Yao, Liu Bao, and Xun You as assistant ministers, and Chen Chong was still the head of the officials. After hearing this, everyone in the Xifu congratulated Chen Chong, but Chen Chong
But he remembered the last conversation with Liu Bei, and the scene when Chang'an first met Liu Xie. Time passed, and he once again came to the position of the minister who cared about life. But this time, could he escape unscathed? Of course, these words
It is difficult for him to say it, and no one will understand him if he does say it.
Not long after, I heard news from the court that the new emperor had ascended the throne and announced a general amnesty for the world. There was also an edict saying: "I am a young man who flatters the holy cause. I am afraid day and night and dare not live in peace. The late emperor was appointed by fate and was virtuous.
The emperor, the king, harmonizes all nations, acts as a leader above and below, shows kindness to all gods, and benefits widows and widowers. I inherit the great fortune, inherit the body and keep the text, do not know the hardships of farming, and fear of failure. The holy grace and precepts, care for the world, and use Yuan
The Yuan Dynasty is the leader. How can the ministers and ministers assist me if I don’t catch them? They give all men in the world nobility, the second level; the three elders, filial brothers, and Litian people the third level; if the nobility exceeds the public chariot, they can be transferred to the son. If they are born together, they will have children;
And the unknown number of people who want to occupy themselves are in the first class; widowers, widows, lonely, alone, Duhuansu, ten dendrobium. The punishments imposed on them and the disciples of the county were committed before the pardon in April of the fourth year of Zhangwu.
Those who are arrested and tied up later will be exempted from punishment. Also, people from the border area are in trouble and become the wives of people from the inner county. Before Ji Mao pardons them, they will all be sent back to the border area and they can do as they please."
This was an edict to benevolent to the world. After reading it, Chen Chong was very surprised. After all, with Liu Xie's arrogant temperament, he actually used such modest words in the document. This was something he had never thought of. This also made Chen Chong feel sad.
I feel a little more relieved, and I can't help but think that after several years of handling political affairs, Gong Lin can learn to win over people's hearts. With his talents, there is probably nothing he can't do.
That night, Chen Chong began to pack his luggage and prepare to return to Beijing. Although he had planned to continue his southern tour to Ningzhou and talk more with Pang Tong about pacifying the barbarians. But now that he thought about it, with his sensitive status, it was not appropriate for him to be too local.
Liu Bei may not care about it for a long time, but given Chen Chong's understanding of Liu Xie, I'm afraid the edict to recall him is already on the way.
Sure enough, two days later, an envoy came to see Chen Chong urgently. It was already early winter, but when the envoy dismounted, his head was steaming, his face was red, and his boots and clothes were full of mud.
He traveled day and night without rest. Chen Chong hurriedly welcomed him in. Before the envoy could sit down, he drank two sips of water and was still breathing heavily. He said to Chen Chong: "Prime Minister, Your Majesty has issued an edict for the Prime Minister to return to the capital."
, and took out the edict from his arms.
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After Chen Chong took it, he read it for a while and found that there was no real content except polite words, so he asked the envoy: "Your Majesty, can you tell me what it is?"
There was a troubled expression on the envoy's face, and he obviously didn't know much about it, so he said to Nono: "Of course I have something important to discuss with the Prime Minister."
Chen Chong did not embarrass him when he saw this, but asked him: "What is your name? What is your official position?"
The envoy hurriedly replied: "My subordinate is the new secretary Lang Liu Fang. He was born in Fangcheng, Zhuo County, and is the queen of Xixiang Marquis."
Hearing that he was from Hebei, Chen Chong became interested. He said "Oh" first, and then asked: "Did you come to the DPRK last year?"
Liu Fang did not dare to be negligent and answered cautiously: "Yes, in the tenth year of Xia Yanxing's reign, I was lucky enough to be the most talented person in the pseudo-dynasty, and served successively as the county magistrate of Jinan and Dong'an. Last year, when I returned to the imperial court with my master, the late emperor gave me an examination, and then
He asked me to be the chief registrar of the Sili school, and this year I was promoted to secretary-general by His Majesty."
Chen Chong learned that Liu Fang had also been a subordinate of Kong Ming, so he couldn't help getting closer and asked him about the situation in Hebei. Liu Fang was naturally very moved to see that he was so concerned about people's livelihood, but the situation in Hebei was so bad that words cannot describe it.
Yes, he just said a few words hastily, made an appointment with Chen Chong to return to Beijing the following day, then resigned and went to rest.
Chen Chong, however, could not sleep. He still had an unreal feeling when he thought about returning to Luoyang. Although he had been there a few years ago, Luoyang was only barely repaired at that time, and the ruins were still everywhere.
It can be seen that it has now returned to the political heart of the country. Going back this time reminded Chen Chong of the first time he went to Luoyang when he was young. It was not a beautiful experience, but for Chen Chong now,
It is also difficult to say whether this journey will be memorable.
After a night's rest, Chen Chong sent a letter to all officials in Mianzhu, informing him of his upcoming return to the capital. He especially advised Ma Chao's generals to perform their respective duties, and hinted to them: "Today, your majesty is sharper in wisdom and stricter in law than the late emperor. You must
Don't take any chances and take Jiangzhou as soon as possible." The generals were immediately awe-inspiring.
The next day, Chen Chong and Liu Fang rode on the road. It was early winter, but the heavy snow did not hinder the journey. It seemed like the sky was covered. The mountains, trees and rivers were all covered with a layer of snow-white that was as deep as the legs. Even the sounds of everything
It was all covered up. Fortunately, Chen Chong walked quickly and crossed the plank road overnight. On the second day after arriving in Yi County, he heard that a wooden bridge in the middle of the plank road had collapsed due to snow. Everyone who was coming and going was blocked, so they had to turn back and go around.
The road was changed to Luogu Road.
Chen Chong continued to walk eastward and entered Guanzhong. The road was much easier to walk. After all, there were people clearing snow on the official road. As he rode past, he was still thinking about the current situation in the court. Unknowingly, thousands of mountains were
Wan Shuidu was gradually left behind by him. When he arrived at a dangerous place, he seemed to think it looked familiar. After asking, he remembered that this was Dianji Slope!
The past events were vivid in his mind, and memories were pouring out. Chen Chong smiled to Liu Fang and said: "It was from here that I entered Hedong, visited Wang Yi, who was the governor of Hedong at the time, and formed an alliance with him to help quell the Baibo Xiongnu rebellion.
”
But when talking about Hedong, Chen Chong immediately remembered a hermit at the banquet in Hedong. He seemed to be named Jiao Chu. He said that he was a fish that swallowed a boat, and he made an appointment to meet again in thirty years. Now
It has been twenty years. Should I go see him? Is he still alive? Chen Chong thought for a while and then laughed. Since we have made an appointment for thirty years, we will find out when the time comes!
So Chen Chong crossed Tongguan and Hangu Pass again. In mid-November, Chen Chong finally arrived at Luoyang, the capital of Jihan at this time. Speaking of which, since Chen Chong was promoted to prime minister, not only has he never been to Luoyang, but he has also visited Luoyang about three times.