Thirty-seven years ago, Dong Zhuo, who was in his prime, stood out under Zhang Huan and was taken to the temple by Zhang Huan to pay homage to Emperor Xiaokang, who had just ascended the throne. Time passed quickly, and Dong Zhuo gradually became one of the pillars and commander-in-chief of the Han Dynasty.
The two armies of the North and the South fought unethically and defeated the foreign enemies. However, it was also at the time of his greatest glory that this old man, who was nearly 70 years old, ended his life of outstanding achievements.
Countless soldiers were looking forward to him succeeding Zhang Wen, speaking out in the temple, leading them during the war, and achieving countless meritorious deeds. However, no one thought that the old general with an exceptionally strong body would die like this without any warning. He
He collapsed in the palace. When the imperial doctor's order came, he had already lost his breath, but he still had a smile on his face.
Many times, death comes like this, suddenly and without warning.
The emperor ordered that Dong Zhuo be buried in a grand burial. Also buried with him was the Taiwei Mianfu that he had always remembered. Hua Xiong had personally put this Taiwei Mianfu on him in the palace. Dong Zhuo looked majestic when he wore it.
Of course, he also entered the Zhonglie Hall. Even though the officials hated him for launching a war and disrupting the development of Liangzhou, the martial atmosphere still existed in their hearts. The war was ordered by the emperor, and Dong Zhuo did not let down the emperor.
Hope also ushered in a glorious victory. Therefore, Dong Zhuo's status was like that of Zhang Huan, Duan Jue, and Huangfu Gui in the past, becoming the legendary generals of the Han Dynasty.
In these days, Hua Xiong was busy with Dong Zhuo's funeral, and even Liu Mastiff and others did not go to meet him.
Liu Mastiff was preparing to meet Hua Xiong, but Huang Men came to visit and asked him to go to the palace. Liu Mastiff set off immediately and rushed to the palace. As soon as he entered, Huang Men led him to Yongci Hall, which surprised Liu Mastiff.
, he finally understood in his heart that it was not his father who was looking for him, but his mother.
As soon as he arrived at the Yongci Hall, the small yellow gate said goodbye and left. The palace maid welcomed him into the hall and hurriedly closed the door. Liu Mastiff felt a little confused and slowly walked into the hall. The queen was sitting in the distance.
On the table, her belly was bulging high. She was pregnant with Liujia. This would be her father's third child. Liu Mastiff hurriedly came forward to pay homage. However, the queen did not look as kind as before.
She stared at Liu Mastiff solemnly with a cold face. She did not return the bow to Liu Mastiff, and Liu Mastiff could only maintain his greeting posture without moving.
"Hand out!"
She said, and then Liu Mastiff dared to stand up and slowly stretched out his right hand. His eyes were full of doubts. Empress Cai stood up with some difficulty. Only then did Liu Mastiff see that she was still holding a small stick in her hand.
He walked up to Liu Mastiff, raised his stick high, and hit Liu Mastiff's palm. Liu Mastiff's expression remained unchanged, his head lowered, and he didn't even pull his hand back.
Empress Cai held back her tears and beat her several more times.
"Do you know you were wrong?"
"My child knows his fault."
"What mistake was made?"
"The child doesn't know."
"Hold out your other hand too!"
Liu Mastiff did not retort, and honestly stretched out his other hand. Empress Cai hit it a few more times, and this hand suddenly turned red. Liu Mastiff did not take back his hand, and still lowered his head. Empress Cai sat back on her
In the position, Liu Mastiff lost his wooden stick and stared at Liu Mastiff in front of him. The two of them were silent for a long time. After a while, Liu Mastiff heard sobbing.
He quickly raised his head, but his mother was sobbing softly. Liu Mastiff suddenly panicked and walked to her side quickly. He said at a loss: "Mom, I admit my mistake. I know my mistake. Mom, please don't cry."
"Mom," he stretched out his hand to wipe away the tears on the queen's face, but the queen pushed his hand away violently.
"Your Majesty and I have never hit you. No matter how angry your father is, he only scolds you and never takes action. You have been weak and sick since you were a child. When you were just born, I didn't know if I could raise you to this age. Adult, we love you in every possible way, and your father tolerates you in every possible way. Since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, has there ever been a prince who was able to contact the generals early? Has there ever been a prince who was able to win over important ministers?"
"Is this how you repay your father's favor?"
"Do you think that no one else knows what you do? Your father and I have raised you to such an age, do you think we can't see your thoughts?"
"I have never seen your father so lonely. Others say that your father is filial, inhumane, tough, and cannot be disobeyed by others. However, only I know that your father is the most affectionate emperor. , he can avenge the prince, even if he loses his reputation, he will also cook the assassin alive. He goes to worship He Zi and the officials of Zhonglie Hall every year, but it is not to gain fame, he goes there in private! "
"He seems to be strict with you, but he has helped you and protected you over the years. Do you know that since you left the palace, the number of embroidered messengers who have protected you overtly and covertly has exceeded 70, and He went on patrol by himself, with less than forty men!"
"Did you know that your father-in-law personally selected the personnel in your East Palace for you? Even your guards, Han Hao and Shi Huan, are the most outstanding disciples of the emperor's personal swordsman Wang Yue! "
"Why are you so anxious? The world will belong to you sooner or later, so why do you want to hurt your father's heart? Why are you so impatient? You haven't even reached your prime!!"
Empress Cai kept talking, Liu Mastiff fell into silence, looked at the crying mother in front of him, hugged her, and whispered: "Mom, don't cry, the child knows that I am wrong, the child knows that I am wrong Let’s go to Houde Hall and confess to my father.”
After he persuaded Queen Cai for a long time, she stopped sobbing. Liu Mastiff bowed to her again, and then left Yongci Hall and walked to Houde Hall. When he arrived at the door of Houde Hall, Han Men was standing at the door, looking at When the prince arrived, he quickly stepped forward to salute. Liu Mastiff asked, "Is father here? Could you please let me know?" Han Men quickly went in to report.
Later he walked out and let Liu Mastiff enter.
Entering the Hall of Houde, the emperor was sitting in front of the case, looking particularly lonely. Sitting there, frowning and holding his forehead with one hand, Liu Mastiff walked up to the emperor. The emperor ignored him and just looked in front of him. On the slips, there is a memorial about the Kushan War, which clearly states the various battles that took place, the casualties between the enemy and ourselves, and the names of some generals who made meritorious services.
"Alas, this is what Dong Zhuo himself wrote and wanted to report to me." The emperor's face looked a little sad, and he said sadly: "My Taiwei is gone, just like that. All the Situ and Taiwei that I thought about are not here. "
"Mastiff, one day, if you ascend the throne as king and want to use someone, don't hesitate, use him directly. Don't wait until the end, and feel the same regrets as me," the emperor said.
Liu Mastiff nodded and said, "Father, I understand."
"Um"
"Father, I'm here to confess my sin to you."
"oh?"
The emperor raised his head and looked at Liu Mastiff in front of him. Liu Mastiff thought that he would ask what his fault was, but the big fat man did not do so. He laughed, shook his head and said: "You don't need to say more, I will do it." "Prince, I understand your thoughts. The position of prince is a terrible position. It always makes people impatient and impatient. However, when you really reach your current position, you will realize that you were naive and ignorant at that time."
"When I became the crown prince, I also wanted to hold more power. I also wanted to be like my father and be respected by all the officials. When there was a scientific performance assessment, I became an inspector. I said I was going to supervise and assess, but it was just to go. Just making friends with future ministers, you are not as good as me!"
Hearing the emperor's words, Liu Mastiff was a little stunned and didn't know how to speak.
"But, Mastiff, you don't have to be so anxious. Sooner or later, this son will be yours. No one can take it from you. I gave it to you, and it is yours. Because you are the eldest son, I will not be close to you. I know , this must make you feel uneasy. You have planned early to consolidate your position. I have given you the Heavenly Book, so why do you need to do anything extra?"
"My child knows his mistake! My child will stay away from everyone, return to the East Palace, and study behind closed doors!" Liu Mastiff bowed.
"Bullshit, how can the burly prince work behind closed doors and lock himself in the East Palace all day long? What can he do? Keep doing what you should do, and don't touch what you shouldn't do. That's fine." The fat man said without caring. said.
Liu Mastiff nodded and bowed again.
"The more anxious you are now, the more regretful and bitter you will be in the future." The fat man said with a smile, but Liu Mastiff did not understand.
"Okay, let's go back. Don't write any more for the next few days."
Liu Mastiff nodded.
After Liu Mastiff left, the emperor called Yuan Shao, Lu Zhi, and Liu Bei over.
The death of Dong Zhuo interrupted the emperor's inner plan. The post of Taiwei was once again vacant. Should he recruit Jia Xu from Xizhou again? Or should he choose someone else? The emperor has not yet made a decision in his mind about these matters. The three of them were able to be found to discuss together, and the three of them knew in their hearts the emperor's purpose in finding them. Sitting in the Hall of Houde, everyone began to discuss.
"I think that since Jia Gong was in Xizhou, when Xizhou was first established, it was necessary for Jia Gong himself to send officials and rectify the place. It would be inappropriate to bring him back to Luoyang again. In Luoyang, there are people more powerful than him. The suitable candidate is Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu has been in the army for a long time and he should be quite familiar with war. Besides, he is now at home without official duties." Yuan Shao began to talk.
Lu Zhi and Liu Bei looked at each other in confusion. Isn't this your brother? How dare you seek official positions for your family in such a legitimate and fair manner?
Or do you, the Yuan family, still want to occupy the second position of Taiwei or the position of three Dukes?
As a farmer, Liu Bei and Yuan Shao did not dare to speak too much, but Lu Zhi couldn't bear it anymore. He quickly said: "This is not possible!" Yuan Shao was stunned, looked at him and asked: "Why not? ?”
"General Yuan is indeed a suitable candidate to be a lieutenant. However, I heard that he was injured. Over the years, it has become more and more serious. Some days, he can no longer stand up. The post of a lieutenant is complicated, so Yuan Gong promoted his younger brother As a Taiwei, isn't this harming him?" Lu Zhi can indeed speak. When he said this, Yuan Shao nodded and sighed: "That's true."
He stopped talking. Lu Zhi looked at the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, I recommend a person, Sun Jian, the Marquis of the Southern Army. This man has been in the army for decades. He has made outstanding achievements and is a brave man. He can be a Taiwei!"
Hearing this, the emperor frowned, thought for a long time, and said, "Yes."