When the government officials and county soldiers collected all the "cold iron" in the river, Kong Xu stepped forward, picked out the largest one, held it in both hands, walked up to Liu Xiu, and said seriously: "Your Majesty, Hong Fu
Qitian, you should offer sacrifices of cold iron to the heaven and the earth!"
Liu Xiu smiled calmly, nodded, and said, "Just follow the opinion of County Magistrate Kong!"
The government officials and county soldiers took the "Hantie" salvaged from the river and followed Liu Xiu to Mount Dagong. As expected, an altar was built on the top of Dagong Mountain. The altar was made of bluestone.
Therefore it is called Qingtan.
Kong Xu had already ordered an offering table to be placed on the altar, with various tributes on it. The largest piece of "cold iron" was also placed in the middle.
Liu Xiu straightened his clothes and walked up to the altar step by step.
He came to the altar table, and a priest next to him lit three incense sticks and handed them to Liu Xiu.
Liu Xiu held incense in both hands and said loudly on the altar: "The great ancestor founded China and created the foundation of the Han Dynasty. The emperors of the past generations, with their literary and military achievements, majested the world, brought peace to the world, and filled the world. Wang Mang bullied the young master, usurped the throne, and humiliated the world.
I have been in the Han Dynasty for fifteen years. I have been favored by all the people, and I have been appointed by heaven. I am really ashamed of my virtue and dare not specialize in it. Now, I would like to appeal to heaven and earth, and ask all the gods in heaven and earth to bless me, a great man, and may I have great prosperity!"
After speaking, Liu Xiu knelt down and knelt down to worship. Everyone under the altar also knelt down and sang in unison: "We pray to all the gods in heaven and earth to bless me, a great man, and bring prosperity!"
Liu Xiu was very solemn in offering sacrifices to heaven and earth at the Qingtan of Dagong Mountain. He spent nearly a whole morning. The whole scene was solemn and solemn from beginning to end.
After the memorial ceremony, Liu Xiu took Yin Lihua and Xu Xiling to have a good time in Dagong Mountain. It was not until evening that they returned to Liyang City.
On the way back to the city, you can see many people walking out of the city.
The news that the Emperor had discovered Han Tie and had collected all of it had been sent back to the city by Kong Xu. Those who came to Liyang in search of treasure were all disappointed.
Some people were disheartened and immediately left Liyang and returned home. Others were suspicious of the news and continued to stay in Liyang, wanting to see with their own eyes whether the emperor had really discovered Han Tie.
As for the cold iron picked up from the river, the county government did not hide it, but put it all on an open carriage for the people in the city to watch.
Seeing those black iron lumps, the skeptical people no longer had any doubts. Soon, a large number of people left Liyang.
Liyang, which was originally overcrowded, was much deserted on the second day. Based on the situation on this day, it is conservatively estimated that there were at least thousands of people walking in Liyang City.
On the third day after Liu Xiu arrived in Liyang, he took Yin Lihua and Xu Xiling with him and went hunting in the mountains and forests near Dagong Mountain. That night, Liu Xiu and others did not rush back to Liyang, but stayed at the hunting ground to rest.
However, that night, there was no calm in Liyang City. Government officials, county soldiers and a large number of Luoyang soldiers, under the unified command of the county government, conducted a large-scale search of the entire city of Liyang.
This search was personally directed by Kong Xu. He first divided Liyang City into four large areas, searching the north of the city first, then the east, south and west of the city. This kind of divided search can make the search more detailed.
.
The residents of Liyang City are easy to identify as they all have registered residences. If this group of people is removed, the rest will be the migrant population.
Businessmen who come to Liyang for business need to provide a local witness. If the witness cannot be found, they will be taken away immediately. Foreigners who come to Liyang to look for Hantie need to provide their hometown and current residence. Under cross-examination, there is something wrong.
Wherever they are, they are taken away immediately.
In just one night, Kong Xu used lightning speed to arrest tens of thousands of people in Liyang City, including men and women, old and young.
Such a large number of people could not be accommodated in the cell, so the government officials and soldiers detained all the captured people in the military camp. In addition, the government officials and soldiers also found a large number of swords, spears, and spears in the city.
Some weapons such as halberds and crossbows can find their owners, but most weapons cannot.
Looking at the weapons confiscated by the government officials and soldiers, the number was so shocking that Kong Xu was secretly shocked.
It seems that His Majesty's judgment is correct. There are indeed a large number of Liu Yong's subordinates among the outsiders in Liyang City.
Fortunately, your majesty came in time and saw through the enemy's tricks. Otherwise, if so many people suddenly launched an attack in the city, how could the county government withstand them? I might not even know how I died!
He ordered the county officials to conduct a rigorous trial on those who were arrested. One or two people would have a tough mouth. It is impossible for everyone to have a tough mouth. Under severe punishment, you can always find a few soft-bodied people who are willing to confess.
Careful work.
Kong Xu was indeed a man who could do things and was very efficient in his work. Liu Xiu and others returned to Liyang on the afternoon of the second day of hunting. As soon as Liu Xiu returned to his house, the county magistrate Kong Xu arrived.
Liu Xiuren invited Kong Xu in. Looking at Kong Xu entering the lobby, Liu Xiu said cheerfully: "County Magistrate Kong, the city suddenly became a lot deserted today!"
"Your Majesty!" Kong Xu knelt down before speaking. Liu Xiu was startled and asked in confusion: "What is Magistrate Kong doing this time?"
"The minor minister's negligence almost led to a catastrophe. Your Majesty, please severely punish the minor minister's mistake." Kong Xu spoke and kowtowed forward.
Liu Xiu blinked. It seemed that Kong Xu's investigation had come to fruition. Liu Yong had really sneaked his subordinates into Liyang City! Liu Xiu made a sound and said softly: "Mr. Kong, please get up and take a stab at it."
Be wise."
"Your Majesty, I am a humble minister..."
"If I hadn't suffered from Liu Yong before, I probably wouldn't have thought that he would secretly send people to sneak into Liyang in order to take over the entire Wei County. This time, County Magistrate Kong didn't notice Liu Yong's trick. I don't blame you, but next time,
If County Magistrate Kong is still unaware..."
He paused deliberately and looked at Kong Xu with a smile. Kong Xu said urgently: "Report to your Majesty, there will never be a next time."
Liu Xiu nodded with satisfaction, waved to Kong Xu, and motioned for him to stand up and sit aside. Kong Xu kowtowed and thanked him, then stood up and sat aside in a dignified manner. Liu Xiu asked: "Last night and this morning, Kong Xu,
The county magistrate arrested many people, right?"
"Last night, Weichen arrested a total of 11,673 people in the city. They are all detained in the military camp. Weichen has ordered county officials and government officials to interrogate them. Some of them confessed,
It is indeed Liu Yong's order to sneak into Liyang and wait for the opportunity." As he spoke, he waved to the outside.
Two government officials lifted a large box and walked in. When they put it on the ground, they made a muffled sound. Kong Xu got up, walked to the box, opened the lid, and Liu Xiu looked inside.
Curly bamboo slips.
"Your Majesty, these are Liu Yongjun's confessions."
Liu Xiu got up, came to the box, took out a roll of bamboo slips, untied the rope, unfolded it, and looked at it carefully.
The person who wrote this confession was a soldier of Liu Yong's general Zhang Yi. In the confession, he clearly explained which song, which camp and which team he belonged to.
After reading the confession roughly, Liu Xiu put down the bamboo slip in his hand and picked up another bamboo slip. The source of this confession also came from Zhang Yi's subordinates. Liu Xiu picked up the third confession, this time confessing
The people are different, they are no longer Zhang Yi's tribe, but Sun Cheng's soldiers.
Liu Xiu read a dozen confessions in a row, either from Zhang Yi's subordinates or from Sun Cheng's subordinates. Liu Xiu pondered for a moment and asked: "It seems that the Liu Yongjun who sneaked into the city either came from Zhang Yi's subordinates or from the subordinates of Sun Cheng."
In Sun Chengbu."
Kong Xu leaned forward and responded: "Your Majesty has a keen eye, that's exactly what it is!"
Liu Xiu narrowed his eyes and asked word by word: "So, where are Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng now?"
Since their subordinates have infiltrated into the city, it is impossible for these many people to be leaderless. Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng must be in the city.
Liu Xiu thought about this problem, and so did Kong Xu. He said seriously: "Currently, Wei Chen has not found out the two thieves Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng. However, according to Wei Chen's inference, they are likely to be arrested soon."
Among the people arrested!"
"Investigate! Investigate strictly! We must find out these two people!" Liu Xiu said categorically: "I think most of the people who confessed are soldiers, captains, village chiefs, etc. Their level is not enough, so naturally they will not
We know the whereabouts of Zhang and Sun."
Kong Xu said seriously: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will definitely find these two people and hand them over to your Majesty!"
Liu Xiu nodded and waved to Kong Xu. Kong Xu stood up, bowed to the ground and said, "Wei Chen, please retire."
Just as Kong Xu was about to exit the lobby, Liu Xiu suddenly stopped him and said with a smile: "Magistrate Kong has worked hard these days."
"Your Majesty's words are serious, and the humble minister will not feel the hardship." Kong Xu said quickly.
Liu Xiu smiled, turned to Long Yuan and said, "Give the deer I hunted to County Magistrate Kong!"
Long Yuan bowed in response, and Kong Xu was shaken. He quickly knelt down and kowtowed, and said loudly: "I thank your majesty for your kindness!"
Kong Xu accepted the reward and left happily. How much a deer is worth is a trivial matter. The key is that it was given by His Majesty, which is of great significance. It also represents His Majesty's affirmation of him. Kong Xu did not let Liu Xiu
Disappointed, Kong Xu actually found Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng the next day.
Speaking of which, Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng were also quite unlucky. Liu Yong's plan was actually very clever. He first created rumors that Han Tie was discovered in Li Yang, causing a large number of people to flock to Li Yang.
Taking this opportunity, Liu Yong sent two generals, Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng, to lead eight thousand elites, break them into pieces, and sneak into Liyang, waiting for an opportunity to capture the county government, capture Liyang in one fell swoop, and open the door to Wei County for himself.
Everything was going smoothly originally. Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng were ready to attack Liyang County Government. But at this juncture, Liu Xiu arrived.
The arrival of Liu Xiu suddenly disrupted the deployment of the two of them. The total number of government officials and county soldiers in Liyang City was only about a thousand. With their eight thousand elite troops, they attacked from within and captured the county government.
, it is not difficult to capture Liyang. But when Liu Xiu arrived at Liyang, he brought nearly 20,000 Han troops with him. Under such circumstances, if the two of them wanted to capture Liyang, their chances of success were already very slim.
Misfortunes never come singly. On the second day after Liu Xiu arrived in Liyang, he announced that he had found Han Tie at the foot of Dagong Mountain. After Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng learned the news, they immediately realized that something was wrong, but they did not dare to evacuate Liyang privately.
.
The sneak attack on Liyang was personally planned by Liu Yong. If they wanted to evacuate, they had to get Liu Yong's approval. Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng hurriedly sent people back to Suiyang to report the matter to Liu Yong and ask Liu Yong to
The two of them were allowed to evacuate Liyang.
But the distance from Liyang to Suiyang is not close. It takes ten and a half days to go there and back.
But Kong Xu didn't give them such a long time at all. On the second night after Liu Xiu discovered Han Tie, the county government cooperated with the Han army to launch a joint operation and started a large-scale manhunt in the city.
All suspicious persons were detained on the spot. Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng considered whether to fight and resist, but upon second thought, they felt it was inappropriate.
The Han army is numerous and has sealed the city. They are now like turtles in a urn. If they use force against the Han army, they will only die in the end.
In addition, the two of them still had a sense of luck and did not think that Liyang County Government could grasp their own strategy. If they cooperated with the Han army's investigation, they might be able to get through.
With this in mind, Zhang Yi and Sun Cheng ordered their subordinates not to resist the Han army.
