During the Northern Expedition of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Zu Ti was the most regrettable. If the imperial court had specially commissioned Zu Ti to manage it, even if it could not take all the land in Hebei, the south of the Yellow River should be able to be recovered. However, the imperial court did not trust the refugee commander, which made it difficult for this mid-range hero to attack the enemy.
Later, Yu Liang, Chu Pei, and Yin Hao made several Northern Expeditions. They were either defeated or returned without success. Only in the tenth year of Yonghe and the twelfth year of Yonghe were Huan Wen's two Northern Expeditions achieved results, especially Huan Wen's second Northern Expedition.
During the Northern Expedition, Luoyang was recovered. However, the Jin royal family and the powerful families had mixed feelings about Huan Wen's victory in the Northern Expedition. Needless to say, they were happy and worried about the decline of the royal family, and the power of the Longkang Huan family expanded rapidly. They occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and cut off half of the world.
, brothers Huan Wen, Huan Huo, Huan Chong, and Huan Mi all occupy high positions and hold real power, which has broken the balance of "king and horse, sharing the world" between the royal family and the family's co-governance. This is something that high-ranking families do not like to see.
However, there is no outstanding figure in the court who can check the Huan family. The Wang family of Langya has long lost the momentum it had when Wang Dao was alive. The Wang family of Taiyuan is not strong enough to compete with the Huan family. The Yu family of Yingchuan has been suppressed by Huan Wen. The Xie family of Chen County is now cautiously flattering.
Written by Huanshi——
At this time, Huan Wen proposed the third Northern Expedition, which made Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji, worried. On the afternoon of April 17, Sima Yu urgently summoned the servants of the minister to shoot Wang Biaozhi.
Wang Shu, the governor of Yangzhou, and Gao Song, his attendant, went to Situ's Mansion to discuss matters. Wang Shu was about to dismiss the post of governor of Yangzhou and transfer it to Shangshu Ling.
Wang Shu said bluntly: "Huan Fuzi's first two Northern Expeditions went north from Jingxiang, but this time the Northern Expedition was even more powerful. It is said that 30,000 boatmen came down the river from Jingxiang, and Gushu's 30,000 steps
Riding together, this 60,000-strong army is approaching Jiankang, and its intentions are unpredictable——"
The emperor was ill, Empress Dowager Chu was in charge of the government, and Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji, was in charge of all internal and external affairs. He had heavy responsibilities on his shoulders and was walking on thin ice. He kept flicking his tail in his hand, showing his inner anxiety. Huan Wen's army approaching Jiankang was to threaten the imperial court. If Huan Wen this time
If they win again in the Northern Expedition, they will definitely urge the imperial court to increase their power and then force the emperor to abdicate. This is what the Cao family and the Sima family did in the past -
Sima Yu and Sun Chuo, Wang Shu, Gao Song and others present here did not think that Huan Wen's Northern Expedition might fail, because Huan Wen had never been defeated since he took over the military power. It was precisely because of Huan Wen's two Northern Expeditions that he showed his powerful power.
This is why Fu Qin and Murong Yan dare not underestimate the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which is located on the left side of the Yangtze River, and have not dared to invade the south on a large scale. Therefore, the royal family and the aristocratic families of the Eastern Jin Dynasty both rely heavily on Huan Wen and are afraid of Huan Wen——
Wang Biao said: "Xie Xuang has just returned to the capital from Gushu. Why doesn't the king summon him for questioning?"
Sima Yu then asked Wang Shu what he thought. Wang Shu shook his head and said: "The staff of Huan Wen's military mansion can be divided into three categories. The first category is from high-ranking families such as the Wang family of Langya and the Xie family of Chenjun. My son Wang Tanzhi will also
Entering the Xifu, these people enter the Xifu because of the family's plan, and are not really loyal to the Huan family. Huan Wen also does not trust them. They just use the reputation of the great clan. They cannot enter the power center of the Xifu; the second category
Those who were not as high-born as Wang Xie but had special status, such as Xi Chao, Zhou Chu, Yuan Qiao, etc., were willing to sacrifice themselves for the Huan family, and they were the ones Huan Wen relied on the most; the last category were the Jing and Xiang people.
, like Luo Han, who was a senior in the Chi Chi Teeth Group, Huan Wen had to rely on the local people to develop his power in Jingzhou, but they could not play a key role in Huan Wen's military mansion——"
Wang Shu made it very clear that Xie Xuan could not influence Huan Wen's decision-making.
Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji, frowned and said: "Xi Chao is Huan Wen's mastermind, but Xi Chao even disobeys his father's orders and follows the Huan family wholeheartedly, how can he speak for the court!"
Gao Song, one of the attendants, laughed and said, "There is a man who is ranked in the Xifu, but he is not among the three types of staff of Huan Da Sima. Why doesn't the king call him to ask?"
Sima Yu was stunned for a moment, then realized: "Is Gao Shizhong referring to Chen Caozhi?"
Gao Song nodded and said: "Yes, Chen Caozhi is neither a member of the royal family nor a native of Jingxiang. He has a special status. He has not yet entered the center of Xifu, but he has a very good relationship with Xi Chao. It is said that the two of them arrived at the Football Association bed the night before. , a long night of chatting——"
As soon as Sima Yu flicked his tail, he immediately ordered the waiter to pass on Chen Shang, the prime minister of the Dian Dynasty, and ordered Chen Shang to invite his younger brother Chen Caozhi to come to Situ's Mansion to discuss matters.
After Chen Shang left, Wang Shu and others temporarily took refuge in other rooms, so as not to be afraid to speak out when Chen Caozhi arrived.
Half an hour later, Chen Caozhi followed his third brother Chen Shang to the study room of Situ Mansion to meet with King Sima Yu of Kuaiji. Sima Yu did not hear the cicadas chirping and frogs singing this time, so he first asked Chen Caozhi how he was preparing to go to the West Mansion. After a long while, Fang Fang said: "Come to think of it, Duke Huan is about to go on an expedition to the north. You have just entered the military mansion and you are facing such a big event. What should you consider?"
Chen Caozhi knew Sima Yu's worries and replied: "I haven't thought about it yet. I'm just following orders."
Sima Yu said: "Cao Zhi once said that every man is responsible for the rise and fall of a country. Has his original intention not changed?"
Chen Caozhi said respectfully: "I don't dare or I have forgotten."
Sima Yu nodded and asked, "What do you think Duke Huan's intention is in his northern expedition?"
Chen Cao said: "There is nothing wrong with Duke Huan's ambition to restore the Central Plains, but I think this Northern Expedition is not the right time."
Sima Yu opened his eyes and said, "I would like to hear the details."
Chen Cao said: "Your Majesty, Duke Huan's proposal to move the capital failed due to objections from the courtiers. The emperor issued an edict and ordered Duke Huan to deal with all the affairs. "The people are vast, and after hard work and hard work, they are tired and pregnant." Duke Huan's Northern Expedition was precisely to manage Heluo and prepare for moving the capital. Because the court officials thought that he was "incompetent", it was only Fu Qin and Yan. The country is strong and there is no way to conquer it. The king asked, but I thought that the king should appease Duke Huan and make proper preparations. The Northern Expedition could not be rushed because it would be burdensome to move the capital."
Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji, nodded frequently and said: "Gong Huanjun attaches great importance to Cao Cao. If Cao Cao enters the Western Mansion, Duke Huan Jun will ask you about the strategy of governing the country and the Northern Expedition. I hope Cao Cao will put the country first and guide him well."
Chen Caozhi only said yes.
After Chen Caozhi left, Sima Yu summoned Wang Biaozhi, Wang Shu, Sun Chuo, and Gao Song to discuss matters. Wang Biao said: "Chen Caozhi asked the king to appease Duke Huan. It seems very possible." It was Xi Chao's plan. Huan Wen's proposal to move the capital failed, so he was inevitably a little resentful. He raised troops in Jingxiang instead of the Northern Expedition, which was to intimidate the imperial court."
The five people discussed secretly, and in the evening, Sima Yu entered Taicheng again to report to the Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi. The next day, April 18, the order was issued to recruit the Western General Huan Wen Shizhong and the Commander-in-Chief. All military officials at home and abroad recorded the minister's affairs, and using the yellow axe, they ordered Wang Tanzhi, the lieutenant of Situ's mansion, to go to Gushu to announce the decree.
The Lu Shangshu Shi is the general-in-charge of the Shangshu Shi, and the power is above that of the Shangshu Ling. Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, this position has been owned by the ministers in power. Huan Wen is already the Grand Sima, and now he is also the governor of all Chinese and foreign military affairs and the Lu Shangshu. The military and political power lies in In his hand, the power is overwhelming, and the yellow ax is an ax decorated with gold, which is only used by the emperor. The fake yellow ax is a golden ax given by the emperor to an important minister who specializes in conquest. This is an honor given to Huan Wen.
When Xi Chao heard the news, he raised his beard and smiled, thinking: "Dong Huan's Northern Expedition did not move his troops, but his work has been accomplished. Zizhong also played an important role." He also knew that the imperial court issued an edict to the west at the same time.
Zhonglang General Yuan Zhen was in charge of the military affairs of Ji and the three states, and Bei Zhonglang General Yu Xi was in charge of the military affairs in Qingzhou. This was barely enough to contain Duke Huan. It is said that the imperial court also intended to recruit Xie An, the prefect of Wuxing, to serve as an official in Beijing. Details
The position has not yet been determined.
The purpose of Xi Chao's trip to Jiankang was achieved. He could have gone to Gushu with Chen Caozhi to show that Duke Huan valued Zhu Yingtai, so Xi Chao stayed and specifically urged Zhu Yingtai to join the Xifu.
Sima Yu, King of Kuaiji, ordered Chen Caozhi and Xie Xuanhu to set off on the same day, and on April 19 they went to Xifu together with Wang Tanzhi.
Chen Caozhi had prepared his luggage and decided to take Ran Sheng, Lai Zhen, Xiao Chan and Huang Xiaotong with him. He gave the ten pounds of yellow gold donated by Xie Daoyun to his third brother Chen Shang, and asked the third brother to plan the construction of the house.
He asked a famous craftsman to build the house and garden according to the house and garden diagram he drew, mainly with an all-wood structure, divided into four parts: east, west, north and south. The east garden was built first. After the family's land income increased, the remaining three parts were built.
When Chen Shang saw Chen Cao take out ten kilograms of gold, he was surprised and asked where the gold came from. Chen Cao said: "Brother Yingtai lent it to me. Third brother, be careful not to say too much."
Chen Shang nodded and said: "With these ten kilograms of gold, the one million yuan loaned by Changkang, and the three hundred bolts of silk given by the Empress Dowager, our Chen family's house in Jiankang can be built on a certain date.
Construction has started." He added: "The clan will send someone to Beijing next month, and after arriving, I will inform the sixteenth brother."
On the morning of April 19th, Chen Caozhi rode a big bay-red horse out of the city. During his break from painting murals at Waguan Temple last month, Chen Caozhi practiced riding under the guidance of Ran Sheng. Although he was not as naturally gifted as Ran Sheng.
He was a knight, but he quickly mastered the basic essentials of riding a horse. Xi Chao learned that Chen Caozhi could ride a horse, so he gave his mount "Purple Smoke" to Chen Caozhi.
Another new pavilion farewell. The last time I went to Jingzhou for Huan Ji and Princess Xin'an, it was mid-spring. This time it was Mengxia. The river was still rushing, and the vegetation was even more lush, including jasmine, oleander, mallow, and wood brocade.
Open and colorful.
King Sima Yu of Kuaiji personally came to see off Wang Tanzhi, Chen Caozhi, and Xie Xuan. During the conversation, Jiang Kai, the son of Jiang Sixuan, came over to Chen Caozhi and said, "Brother Chen, my father has been waiting at Banshan Pavilion for a long time. I would like to continue."
That game two months ago."
Sima Yu was worried yesterday, but he is in high spirits today. This shows that the people of the Eastern Jin Dynasty are good at enjoying hardships. He smiled and said: "Sixuan Gong is really elegant and patient. I still miss a game of chess two months ago. Well, today
Everyone, please go up to the Chrysanthemum Terrace to watch Cao Zhi play chess with Duke Si Xuan."
The crowd dispersed and went up to the Chrysanthemum Terrace one after another. Only then did Chen Caozhi see the chestnut and short hoe. The two brothers and sisters came to see Chen Langjun off on the order of Lady Wei Rui, but they saw Chen Langjun and all the officials.
During the conversation, the two of them had not dared to come over. Now that they had time, they hurried forward and presented Miss Wei Rui's letter and two sets of summer clothes.
Short hoe said: "Chen Langjun, this is made by Miss Wei Rui herself."
Chen Caozhi said in surprise: "Can Wei Rui know how to sew?"
Short hoe said: "I just learned it this year."
Chen Cao said: "Short hoe, give my regards to Madam Wei Rui and say that I miss her very much. When I get to Gushu, I will send a letter to her and ask the chestnuts to be picked up from the Gu Mansion."
