Chapter 21 The North and South Army of the Former Han Dynasty
The new year is approaching, and there are a lot of things to deal with.
It doesn't matter if you have connections or not. If you are still an official, or you still want to exert influence after someone has left, you can hand out notes to say hello, deceive superiors and deceive others. There are always ways you can think of.
Not to mention Chen Mu, a minister, even an ordinary minister could help his relatives find jobs as low-level officials in Taicang.
What power you have is different from what yamen you are in.
Just like the first-class imperial masters, Taifu and Taibao in the Ming Dynasty, as long as they did not hold other actual positions, no matter how many false positions they held, they would not be as effective as the words of a doctor in the Ministry of official affairs.
Even Ling Shi would show favoritism, and Chen Mu would certainly do the same.
Nowadays, county magistrates in various places in Qingzhou are almost all people who came from Taishan Academy.
These people cannot say whether they are loyal or not, because except for the four brothers, even Jushoudian, Wei, Taishici and others only think that they are only attached to Liu Bei's group.
The Han Dynasty has not yet fallen, and now is not the time for everyone to be his own master at the end of the Han Dynasty.
However, due to the current system, Ju Shou and others are indeed led by Liu Bei, because they are Liu Bei and Chen Mu's subordinates. They were recommended by them, so of course they obey their orders.
This is a bit like the scholar-bureaucrats in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, who were attached to the officials, who were attached to the princes, and the princes were attached to the Zhou royal family.
Generally speaking, if Jushu was transferred to another place by Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, he could be regarded as Liu Bei's disciple and former official.
"Zi Guidi, some time ago people in the county said that I was asked to do Ling Ju Ling because of the imperial decree. At first, I thought it was my talents that were valued by the imperial court. Later I found out that it was you who recommended me. Last time
I have not repaid you for what I have done, and now... I have been so kind that I cannot express it in words. Brother Yu, I am so ashamed of myself."
Looking at the letter sent by Yan Zhong from Lingju County, Liangzhou, Chen Mu cursed in his heart, since you are so ashamed and you dare not live up to it? Then you, the county magistrate, have gone? Are you just a famous person in Liangzhou? Your status in the Han Dynasty is not high, so you want to get one.
Isn’t it easy to hold an official position for only half a year? A county magistrate is enough for Yan Zhongle.
"Is my brother a man of great talent? He has a strategy in his mind. Is it just a matter of luck that my brother got the official position and selected talents for the emperor? As the saying goes, you should not avoid relatives when promoting talents, and your brother has both ability and political integrity? Liangzhou Chuping? It was the time for my brother to use force.
, I hope that my brother will do his best. If I come to Liangzhou in the future, I can reminisce about our old friendship with my brother."
Will the written letters be sent out by Dianwei in the form of official documents? The Shangshutai is responsible for all documents in the world? Naturally, there is a delivery system that belongs to them.
Although Chen Mu estimated that this letter would be sent to Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty first, it didn't matter. It was not a secret letter for conspiracy, and he didn't worry about being investigated.
In the morning, the clapper sounded, and Chen Mu set out from home to go to work. The carriage slowly drove into the palace and stopped outside the Qinglong Gate. He followed the complex road all the way to the Xuanwu Gate and entered Luoyang Nangong.
But we haven’t reached Mingguang Hall yet? There is a small yellow gate waiting for us, saying that the emperor has summoned us.
Coming to Yutang Hall? The interior of the hall is still as warm as spring.
When was Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong most powerful? From the second year of Zhongping to the third year of Zhongping? Because he helped Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty collect a large amount of wealth, so much so that he made him say that Zhang Rang was my father and Zhao Zhong was my mother.
This famous saying.
However, as disagreements arose over the issue of successors, although Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty did not alienate the two of them, he obviously allowed them to spend less time together.
Seeing that Jian Shuo was on duty today, Chen Mu's heart moved and he kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty."
"Well, sit down first."
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty was drinking honey, and there were fruits and melons brought as tribute from the Western Regions on the table. Being able to eat these things in winter was really a great luxury in the Han Dynasty.
Chen Mu sat down.
Jian Shuo was waiting beside him, looking at Chen Mu with a lukewarm attitude.
Although they are both close ministers of the emperor, Jian Shuo has only gained favor in the past two years, and he has little contact with Chen Mu, so it cannot be said to be friendly, but it cannot be said to be hostile.
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty put down his cup, waited for the maid to wipe his mouth, and then said lazily: "Zi Gui, I seem to be very busy recently. I used to go to the palace to visit the array, but recently I have come less often, and I seem to be a bit distracted.
some."
"It's the end of the year. There are indeed dozens of times more things to do at the Chancellor's desk, and it's no less leisurely than in the past."
"Well, what are you busy with every day?"
"Your Majesty, in addition to handling government affairs at the Chancellery, I also met some people and talked about some things."
Chen Mu answered with a smile.
"oh?"
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty looked interested and asked: "Who did you meet and what did you talk about?"
Chen Mu considered his words in his mind and said slowly: "I met with several ministers and said that I would help my nephew to arrange for him to become an official. Your Majesty also knows that I am in charge of the minister's desk, and the documents for selecting officials must go through me."
hand."
There were three types of officials in the Eastern Han Dynasty: the promotion of filial piety and integrity, the promotion of talents and the recruitment system.
Strictly speaking, Xiyuan's selling of officials is the third type, spending money from the emperor and then being appointed as an official by the emperor.
But by the end of the Han Dynasty, it was collectively referred to as buying an official position.
This is because no matter whether you are promoted to an official position by being a filial, honest and talented person, or you are recruited by the Three Gongs and Nine Ministers, as long as you are an official, you have to spend money.
The difference is that there is no promotion of filial piety, integrity and talent, and the cost of buying an official position is ten times that of a normal official appointment.
For example, Cao Song was a member of the imperial family, so buying a Taiwei would cost 100 million yuan.
Cui Lie was promoted to be a filial and honest official, so he should have paid 10 million yuan to buy the position of Sangong.
But he found some connections and got a 50% discount, so he only spent five million, which was twenty times cheaper.
So don’t think that all officials are in Xiyuan. Shangshutai and Sangong and Jiuqing also have the right to appoint officials. For example, Sangong and Jiuqing can give people a quota of filial piety and integrity every year.
This matter was not considered taboo. Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty nodded and said, "Who are there?"
"I was about to report to His Majesty."
Chen Mu smiled and said: "I intend to recommend to your majesty, General Hu Ben Zhonglang Yuan Shu as the prefect of Changsha, and Yulin Left Supervisor Yuan Shao as the prefect of Yongchang."
Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu?
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty leaned on the wooden slump and tapped the armrest with his index finger.
Is this Yuan Wei’s intention or Chen Mu’s intention?
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty had always regarded Chen Mu as a confidant. After all, he had solved a lot of troubles for several conspiracies.
Only this time, if it was Chen Mu's idea, as the emperor, how could he not know the reason?
An emperor is not afraid that his officials may have selfish motives, but what he is afraid of is that his officials may have other selfish motives.
"Did Yuan Wei find you?"
After a while, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty slowly asked.
Chen Mu replied: "Your Majesty, this is Mu's suggestion, but Yuan Shao seems to be reluctant and rejected my good intention."
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty looked around and said to the guards and the little Huangmen around him: "Get out."
Everyone left, leaving only the powerful Jian Shuo.
"Zi Gui, tell me, what are you doing? You are not related to the Yuan family, so why did you suddenly recommend Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao?"
After everyone had left, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty went straight to the topic and asked with a sincere expression.
Chen Mu smiled and said: "I do this all for Your Majesty."
"For me?"
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty was a little puzzled.
Chen Mu said sternly: "Although the number of the Tiger and Ben troops is small, they are the Imperial Guards in charge of the palace gate. It is related to the safety of the palace. Although Yuan Shu is a disciple of our family, he is an outsider. How can he control the palace gate?"
It seems reasonable to say so. It seems that Zigui is thinking about my safety.
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty thought for a while and said, "Who can take on this responsibility?"
"In my opinion, Yue Cavalry Colonel He Miao is qualified to take on this responsibility."
Chen Mu said seriously: "He Miao is the Queen's half-brother. According to blood, he is closer to His Majesty than the General. Naturally, he is not an outsider."
He Miao was originally supposed to defeat the Xingyang Peasant Army this year and be promoted to the rank of Chariot and Cavalry General. Unfortunately, the Xingyang Peasant Army did not revolt because they could no longer survive. As a result, He Miao is still serving as a captain under He Jin's Northern Army.
The two brothers are called brothers, but they are not actually related by blood. He Jin was born to Butcher He and his ex-wife, and He Miao was born to Butcher He’s current wife and her ex-husband. Therefore, He Jin and Queen He are half-brothers, and He Miao is.
He and Queen He have the same mother and father, but He Jin and He Miao have nothing to do with each other.
Historically, He Miao was the one who helped the eunuch faction to murder his eldest brother. It can be seen that not only are the two not related by blood, they are not even brothers in name, and they have never been harmonious.
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty naturally knew this very well. When he heard Chen Mu's suggestion, he just thought about it in his heart and said, "Yes, then I will see my son return."
Chen Mu bowed his hands and said meaningfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I have something else I want to tell Your Majesty."
"What's the matter?"
"I remember that during the Pre-Han Dynasty, there were Southern and Northern armies in Chang'an?"
"Indeed."
"But why are there only the Northern Army left now and no Southern Army?"
"Don't Zigui know this?"
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty said with a smile: "Because in the former Han Dynasty, there were often people with ulterior motives in charge of the northern and southern armies to cause chaos, so after the Zhongxing Emperor Shizu, he merged the two armies into one and put them in charge of the emperor's close ministers."
Chen Mu smiled and said: "That's it. Thank you Your Majesty for informing me and solving my doubts. If there is nothing else, I will retire."
"Well, you go ahead."
Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty didn't pay attention and asked Chen Mu to leave.
After he left, Emperor Han Ling suddenly woke up after a while.
Southern Army or Northern Army?
Why did Chen Mu suddenly mention the Southern Army and the Northern Army to himself?
During the period of the former Han Dynasty, because the two armies were often controlled by those in power, they fought with each other. For example, during the period of Empress Lu, Zhu Lu was in charge of the northern and southern armies. He was so powerful that he almost had the possibility to replace Liu.
For this reason, Zhou Bo, the Marquis of Jiang, asked Li Ji, a friend of Lu Lu who was in charge of the Northern Army, to persuade Lu Lu to let him hand over the military power. Li Ji betrayed his friend and asked for honor, deceiving Lu Lu and asking Lu Lu to hand over the military power of the Northern Army. Only then did Zhou Bo
He took charge of the Northern Army and put down the Zhulu rebellion.
In view of the dangers of separate commanding of the two armies, Emperor Shizu combined the two armies into one in the early years of the Later Han Dynasty, collectively known as the Northern Army. It became the only forbidden army in the Gyeonggi region of the dynasty, and is now in the hands of the general.
Why did Zigui suddenly tell me this?
If you think about it carefully, the general was in charge of the Northern Army.
Then I only have the Palace Guards and the Forbidden Army left in my hands, and among them, the Huben Army is still led by Yuan Shu.
Yuan Shao is a vassal of the general, and Yuan Shu is also a member of the Yuan family. So what is Zigui’s purpose today...
Thinking of this, Emperor Han Ling suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
Chen Zigui is reminding me to make plans in advance.
Although Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty had already had this idea before, it was just an idea and he had not yet thought about how to implement it.
Because his original plan was to divide He Jin's military power, he hesitated whether to make He Miao a chariot general and let him take charge of part of the Northern Army. In this way, He Miao was a member of the eunuch, but because he was a member of the He family
, He Jin will not have an attack.
But Chen Mu came here today to suggest to him that the best way would be to establish a new army. It seems that Zigui saw something and secretly gave me his opinion.
Thinking of this, Emperor Han Ling breathed a sigh of relief.