Great Han Empire

Chapter 584: Troubled Times Heroic Chapter Dangerous
In mid-August, Chang'an.

Ever since Li Hong and Yuan Shu ordered to cut off the trade of goods with Gyeonggi, the emperor continued to issue decrees, and the Prime Minister Dong Zhuo and the ministers of the three princes also wrote urgently, urging Li Hong and Yuan Shu to obey the emperor's order and reopen the pass immediately.Now that there is a shortage of supplies in the Gyeonggi area, the people's lives are very difficult, and they urgently need help from Beijiang, Jing, Yu and other counties, but Li Hong and Yuan Shu have no intention of letting go.

Li Hong said to the Son of Heaven that he either abolished small money immediately, or bought goods with five baht in northern Xinjiang, or bartered things. In short, northern Xinjiang firmly forbade the use of small money.Li Hong said in the memorial that the minister obeyed the last emperor's decree, defended and governed the northern border, defended the capital, and defended the country.The minister believes that His Majesty's proposal to abolish the five baht coin is an act that harms the country and the people.Your Majesty is young and unable to observe state affairs clearly. Because of being trapped by courtiers, he has lost today.Your Majesty should make up for it, and immediately issue an edict to abolish small money and re-implement five baht money to stabilize the world.
Yuan Shu did not go up to remonstrate the emperor, nor did he write back to the ministers, but directly ordered the soldiers stationed at various passes to strictly forbid anyone from Jingji to set foot in Jing and Henan, even the emperor's special envoys.Gyeonggi and Jing and Henan were completely isolated immediately, and northern Xinjiang became the only hope for Gyeonggi.

The emperor ordered the princess to persuade Li Hong.Taiwei Zhao Qian, Situ Wangyun, Sikong Zhongfu, Henan Yin Zhujun and other ministers also urgently wrote to the officials of the northern Xinjiang prefectures through their various relationships, asking them to put the emperor, Sheji and the people of Gyeonggi first, and try their best to persuade Li Hongzhong switch pass.Under great pressure from the northern Xinjiang prefectures, Li Hong had to reopen the Pubanjin and Maojin ferry crossings, but both he himself and the officials of the northern Xinjiang prefectures agreed on one thing.The prefectures of Gyeonggi and the aristocratic families can come to northern Xinjiang to buy various daily necessities other than food, such as salt, but they must use five baht or barter. No one in northern Xinjiang will accept small money.

Then there was a very embarrassing scene in the Han Dynasty. Small coins were used in all parts of the capital, and five baht coins were used in northern Xinjiang and other states and counties. Two currency systems appeared in one country.

Beijiang's actions angered Dong Zhuo and the ministers of the court and China.

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Dong Zhuo was extremely angry when he learned of the alliance between Li Hong and Yuan Shao.It was very clear what Li Hong was going to do next. For the survival of Northern Xinjiang, he finally chose Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, abandoning the emperor and the court.

Although Li Hong's statement in the memorial and Zhu Mu's eloquent explanation are gorgeous and reasonable, they cannot conceal their real purpose at all. With their sufficient money and food support, Northern Xinjiang can quickly overcome the crisis.

Perhaps Li Hong wanted to wait until Northern Xinjiang regained its strength to attack Chang'an and welcome the emperor back to Beijing to rule, but from Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu's point of view, they could not let Li Hong get what he wanted. Northern Xinjiang is strong, and they can only be slaughtered , so they must take advantage of sufficient money and food to restrict northern Xinjiang, and coerce Li Hong to agree with them to abolish the current emperor and rebuild the imperial line.From Li Hong's point of view, it is impossible for him not to have thought of this point. It can be seen from his counterbalancing strategy that he has recognized the two powerful forces, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. In other words, Li Hong may have already made In the event of a last resort, prepare to abolish the current emperor and rebuild the imperial line.For Li Hong now, the interests of northern Xinjiang are far higher than the interests of the Great Han Sheji, the interests of the emperor and the court.

Li Hong and Yuan Shu blocked the Gyeonggi from the north and the south on the pretext of opposing the emperor's abolition of the five baht coin. Xu Sanzhou put down the rebellion, does this mean that Li Hong, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu have reached some kind of agreement that is not conducive to the emperor and the country?

If Li Hong decides to give up the present day, with the great help of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, Luoyang and Chang'an will surely fall if the three parties join forces.The current three-party blockade has put Gyeonggi in a desperate situation, and the food and wages of the 12 troops have become an unsolvable problem. Once this problem turns into a rebellion, Luoyang and Chang'an will be self-defeating.

The expedition to the desert severely damaged the vitality of the imperial court, so after the rebellion in the prefectures and counties, neither Li Hong nor Dong Zhuo wanted to fight, and both wanted to use checks and balances to gain time to recover their vitality.Now Li Hong bought this time at the cost of sacrificing the emperor and the court, but Dong Zhuo got nothing. On the contrary, he was cornered. up.

Dong Zhuo proposed to take the initiative to go south to attack Hedong, Hanoi, Yanzhou, Jingzhou and Yuzhou.Dong Zhuo wanted to fight Li Hong, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu at the same time, all three of them, wherever there was food, he would grab it.

Dong Zhuo said that the purpose of our attack is to destroy the checks and balances and solve the problem of money and food, and the most important thing is to destroy the checks and balances.We first attacked Hedong and Hanoi, stationed heavy troops in Luoyang, and cut off the Guandong passage from Jingyu to northern Xinjiang. In this way, Li Hong could not get Yuan Shu's help. He could only turn to Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu had turned against each other. Unable to get Yuan Shu's help, as a result, Li Hong and Yuan Shao will fight for money and food in Jizhou.You must know that after the ant thieves riot in Yanqing and Xu Sanzhou, there was basically no harvest in the fields this year, and they could only rely on the money and food in Jizhou to survive.

As long as Li Hong and Yuan Shao are torn apart, the check and balance carefully planned by Li Hong will be completely broken.At a time when Northern Xinjiang is overwhelmed and Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu are fighting against each other, we can not only regain control of the initiative and get rid of the current crisis, but also destroy the weakest Yuan Shu first.Yuan Shu was wiped out, Yuan Shao and the ant thief were entangled endlessly, and the rebel army was gone. Li Hong should be very clear about how to choose at this time.

Liu Ai and Tian Yi thought for a long time, full of worries.

Tian Yi said that Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu's armies are busy suppressing the rebellion in Yanqing and Xu Sanzhous, and this is indeed a good time for us to attack south and destroy the check and balance.However, there are three unknown problems in our active attack. One is that the current balance will be broken because of our attack. How will Li Hong react?Will he take the opportunity to attack Chang'an and Luoyang?Secondly, when do we choose the time to attack?Is it before the autumn harvest at the end of September, or after the end of the autumn harvest at the end of October?In the attack at the end of September, northern Xinjiang was busy with the autumn harvest, and was unable to mobilize heavy troops to the south for a while, which would help us achieve the goal of the attack first.If we launch an attack after the autumn harvest ends in late October, the Northern Xinjiang army will react much more quickly, and we may be hit hard by Li Hong.Third, will Han Sui and Ma Teng of Xiliang attack Chang'an when Chang'an is empty?

After careful discussion with Liu Ai and Tian Yi, Dong Zhuo felt that the army alone could not solve the current crisis at this time.Li Hong's strength should not be underestimated. If he is angered and forced to abandon the desert and border counties, and go south with an army of [-] troops outside the Great Wall, then it will not be a question of whether Luoyang and Chang'an can be defended, but the defeat of the country. problem.

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Liu Ai suggested that Dong Zhuo immediately convene the senior ministers in the court to discuss the matter.These people are important ministers of the Han Dynasty who have gone through ups and downs. At the time of the survival of the country, they should have a better solution.

Liu Ai said that because Yuan Shao told the world that he wanted to rebuild the imperial line, and he killed four ministers in a row, the voices of crusade against him from all over the court have been heard endlessly.Li Hong first ignored the tripartite checks and balances between the Son of Heaven and the imperial court, and later reneged on the covenant and formed an alliance with Yuan Shao alone. His actions have fully proved his ambition.Compared with Sheji, Beijiang is more important, doesn't he know?Obviously Li Hong has ulterior motives and other purposes.The voices of condemnation inside and outside the government and the opposition have already explained everything.Li Hong's ambition is not only seen by us, but also by those hungry people.

"Li Hong and Yuan Shao are not eliminated, and the great Han is at stake, so many ministers in the court should be more worried about the survival of the country than Lord Xiangguo." Liu Ai said, "At this time, they must be willing to tide over the difficulties with you."

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Dong Zhuo followed Liu Ai's suggestion, and asked the emperor to invite the former Taiwei Cui Lie, the former Taiwei Zhang Wen, the former chief minister Yuan Pang, and then invited the Taiwei Zhao Qian, Situ Wangyun, Sikong Zhongfu, and Taichang Ma Ri. More than a dozen ministers, including Li, Chen Ji, Da Honglu, Han Rong, Shang Shuling Ding Gong, Zhong Cheng Huangfu Song, Huang Wan, Yang Biao, Cai Yong, etc., went to the Xiangguo Mansion to discuss matters.

Today's big man is in danger and is on the verge of collapse. Dong Zhuo, who is in a desperate situation, sat down with the veterans and worked together to discuss countermeasures.

How to save the country in distress?
The focus of the ministers was all on northern Xinjiang. In their eyes, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Han Fu and others were not worth mentioning at all. As long as Li Hong was tamed, the world would be settled.

Why did Li Hong have the heart of separatism?Because he is not only in charge of the military power of the six prefectures of You, Bing, Ji, Yan, Qing, and Xu, but also snatched the military and political power of the sixteen counties of northern Xinjiang from the hands of the emperor, and no one can restrain him.

How to restrict Li Hong's power?
Today, the emperor’s prestige is lost, the imperial power has fallen, and the imperial decree has no effect. Forcibly depriving Li Hong of his authority will only force him to rebel. The only way is to implement power checks and balances in northern Xinjiang, and use power checks and balances to restrict and reduce Li Hong’s power. authority.

How to achieve checks and balances of power in northern Xinjiang?
Huang Fusong said: "Li Hong's greatest power is not the military power of the six prefectures, but the military and political power of the sixteen counties in northern Xinjiang. He has a ten-year agreement with the imperial court, and we cannot forcefully resolve this agreement, so we can only set up in northern Xinjiang. A government office with greater power than the General Hussar's Mansion, and a government office in charge of the military and political power of the six states including Northern Xinjiang."

Dong Zhuo and the ministers immediately thought of Princess Changping and Princess Changping's mansion.

"According to the law of the Han Dynasty, the princess cannot interfere in the government affairs, let alone take charge of the military power of the prefectures and counties." Huangfusong said slowly, "But now is the time when I am a big man, in order to revitalize the country, what can we not do? What? Can't the law be changed?"

Dong Zhuo and the ministers immediately became excited, and the discussion was extremely heated.

"Brother Yizhen, even if the princess is in charge of the military affairs of the six states, with her prestige and strength, can she restrain Li Hong?" Dong Zhuo asked suspiciously, frowning.

"We can invite the emperor to worship Princess Changping as the eldest princess, and set up the eldest princess mansion in Jinyang." Huangfusong said calmly, "Then recruit a group of highly respected veterans from the imperial court to work in the eldest princess mansion. In this way, The prestige and strength of the princess are all there."

"Brother Yizhen, this strategy is very good." Zhang Wen stroked his beard and said with a smile, "From a political point of view, the General Hussar's Mansion oversees the sixteen counties in northern Xinjiang, and is completely under the Princess's Mansion. From a military point of view, The Hussar General's Mansion is in charge of conquest, and the Prince's Mansion is in charge of the military administration (military administration). The two mansions check each other. Okay, okay... If Li Hongruo wants to cover the sky with one hand in northern Xinjiang, it will be even more difficult. But, The eldest princess still lacks an elite army, if Mr. Xiangguo can supplement it with an elite tiger from the eldest princess's mansion, then the Hussar General will really sigh to the sky and be at a loss what to do."

Dong Zhuo clapped his palms and laughed, "Okay, I will immediately ask the emperor to send two thousand tiger and cardinal guards to the northern border to protect the eldest princess."

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The Son of Heaven was young, although he didn't understand the reason for this, but he knew that after the imperial decree he promulgated was out of the capital, it was like a gorgeous scroll of silk, which had no effect other than being beautiful.Li Hong is the hero I have admired since I was a child, and the most trusted and valued pillar of the country by my father. Why is he like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu who are rebellious? ?The ministers said to themselves that Northern Xinjiang has 12 frontier troops and is powerful. In this case, why didn't Li Hong lead the army to suppress the rebellion?Why not kill Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu and welcome him back to Luoyang?Is it true that Li Hong, as the ministers said, has different ambitions and wants to plot evil and usurp the Han Dynasty?
The emperor was terrified and restless, and buried himself in his studies in the newly renovated Moyang Palace.It's not up to me, a child, to point fingers at the affairs of the world. Now I can only read more books and learn more skills. At the very least, I have to figure out why Yuan Shao and a group of ministers betrayed me. Disobeying the imperial decree and unwilling to help the court to kill the rebels, what did Dong Zhuo do to suddenly become a traitor of the Han Dynasty?So many things have happened in this year, I am dazzled, overwhelmed, at a loss, and confused from beginning to end.I didn't understand it, so I asked the ministers, and the ministers' opinions were quite different.It seems that only when I grow up and understand the truth, can I probably know who is right and who is wrong.

However, there is one thing he knows very well, he is the emperor of the Great Han Kingdom, and no one can disobey his orders.I humbly begged Li Hong to open the pass and help the court and the people of Gyeonggi to tide over the difficulties. This request is reasonable and there is nothing wrong with it. As the general of Hussars of the Han Dynasty, why did he insist on not obeying Li Hong?Even if Li Hong didn't listen to himself or the court, what reason would he have to watch the lives of people in all parts of Gyeonggi be devastated?

The emperor intuitively thought that what Li Hong did was wrong.Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and a group of big men rebelled and drove themselves and the ministers to Chang'an, but Li Hong not only put the big man's society in jeopardy, but even took up a knife to wipe out Gyeonggi. He was also a big man rebellious.The emperor shuddered when he thought that Yuan Shao had killed four court officials in one go, and one of them was an important minister of Jiuqing who was a big Han.Her elder sister, Princess Changping, is in Jinyang, and she is now her relative. If Li Hong...

The emperor didn't dare to think about it, and immediately issued an imperial edict to the ministers who were discussing affairs in the prime minister's mansion, asking them to immediately draft an imperial edict to bring Princess Changping to Chang'an.

After Dong Zhuo, Zhao Qian and others received the decree, they did not draft the decree according to the emperor's intention, but rushed to the Moyang Palace in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, Princess Changping is not suitable for receiving Chang'an." Dong Zhuo said.

When the emperor heard this, he was very frightened and stared blankly at Dong Zhuo, not daring to make a sound.If I don't take my sister to Chang'an, wouldn't my sister's life be in danger?The terrified expression on the emperor's face did not hide the eyes of the ministers. Taiwei Zhao Qian immediately explained, and finally Zhao Qian said, "Your Majesty, for the sake of the great Han society, it is better for Princess Changping to stay in Jinyang for the time being. Wait for the future society." Once it is stable, His Majesty can bring the princess back to the capital at any time to share the prosperity."

Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun and other ministers knelt down to beg at the same time, and their words were very sincere.

The Son of Heaven didn't understand why the ministers wanted the princess to stay in Jinyang, and why the princess could revitalize the country if she stayed in Jinyang, but since so many ministers strongly requested with one voice, he had no choice but to nod in agreement.

The emperor was very unhappy, but he had no choice. He knew that even if he didn't nod his head, the imperial decree would be sent to Jinyang.

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The emperor made a decree to worship Changping Princess Liu Xiao as the eldest princess, lead the military and political affairs of the six prefectures of You, Bing, Ji, Yan, Qing, and Xu, add festival biography, axe, and huben.

Taichang Ma Rixun, eunuch Chen Ji, Shangshu Ling Ding Gong, and Guanglu doctor Cai Yong were envoys of the imperial court, and they led two thousand tiger and ben guards to Jinyang to announce the decree.After the decree was announced, the four were dismissed from their posts, and they were assigned to the eldest princess's mansion according to the order of the emperor.

Former Taiwei Cui Lie, former Taiwei Zhang Wen, and former Grand Secretary Yuan Pang accompanied them, and they were all assigned to the Palace of the Eldest Princess.

At the end of the eighth month, Dong Zhuo, the ministers of the Sangong, the ministers of the Jiuqing and other officials sent seven veteran ministers to Bashang.

After this time, no one knows whether we can see each other again.Yuan Shao was able to slaughter ministers with a knife, why couldn't Li Hong?
Ma Rixun and other seven veterans bid farewell to the court officials one by one and headed east.

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Under August, Jinyang, Longshan.

Zhu Mu rushed back to the Hushi General's Mansion as quickly as possible.

After listening to Zhu Mu's words, Li Hong looked solemn and remained silent for a long time.

Li Wei said eagerly: "General, immediately prevent them from entering Jin Dynasty and send the princess back to Chang'an, otherwise we will be in big trouble..."

Li Hong stood up suddenly and said with a smile, "Let's go, let's congratulate the eldest princess."

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(End of this chapter)