After the outbreak of the Mingtang dispute, the construction of Sanyong Palace was immediately shelved, but in order not to affect the progress of the reconstruction of Chang'an City, the eldest princess issued an order in the name of the Son of Heaven to worship Xu Rong, the general of the left chariot cavalry, as the chief eunuch of the camp capital, and Dong Zhao, who would be the master craftsman, as the deputy supervisor of the camp capital, and began to recruit the people to build the Weiyang Palace and repair the Chang'an city wall after the autumn harvest.

The reconstruction of Sanyong is related to the issue of the ritual system, and the issue of the ritual system is closely related to the fate of Han Zuo.

Judging from the officials on both sides of the debate, most of the ministers who adhered to the "present ceremony" and adhered to the nine-room Mingtang system were in foreign dynasties, such as Prime Minister Cai Yong, Taiwei Xun You, Imperial Historian Liu He, Zongzheng Yang Qi, Imperial Lieutenant Zhang Miao, Imperial Servant Kong Rong, General Craftsman Dong Zhao, Guanglu Doctor Zhong Xuan, Sili Captain Chen Gong and other ministers. They are clear and there is no room for compromise.

Most of the ministers who adhered to the "ancient rites" and adhered to the five-room Mingtang system were in the Middle and Inner Dynasties, and Shangshu Ling Cui Yan, Zhongshu Jian Chen Qun, and Shizhong Sun Zi and others also fought on the basis of reason, and refused to let them die.

The outer and inner dynasties once again went toe-for-tat, and the government was seriously disrupted.

The eldest princess was very cautious in this matter. After all, Sanyong is not a building, it represents the etiquette system and is a symbol of the Han Dynasty. What kind of Mingtang system to adopt is related to the long-term peace and stability of the society, and decisions cannot be made casually, and the debate in the court is necessary and necessary.

The construction of Sanyong, starting from Emperor Xiaowu and completed in the first four years of Emperor Xiaoping, lasted more than 100 years, and experienced countless arguments in the middle. Many ministers and Confucian scholars even paid with their lives for this. After Emperor Guangwu was revived, the construction of Sanyong was repeated several times, and it was not officially completed until the first year of the Zhongyuan Dynasty, which shows the difficulty of determining the ritual system.

If the "ancient rites" are adopted, and the five-room Mingtang system is adopted in the construction of Sanyong, then the imperial court's code system must be based on it.

If the "present ceremony" is adopted, and the nine-room Mingtang system is adopted in the construction of Sanyong, then the imperial court's code system must be based on it.

It is respected by ancient scholars and valued by modern scholars. The controversy between "ancient rites" and "modern rites", and the controversy between the five-room Mingtang system and the nine-room Mingtang system, can also be said to be a continuation of the controversy between modern and ancient texts and scriptures to a certain extent.

Today's official study of the imperial court is the "New Classic", which is a new scripture that integrates the strengths of modern and ancient scriptures after decades and generations of research by a group of scholars such as Ma Rong and Zheng Xuan. In the "New Scripture", Master Zheng Xuan put forward the name of "Three Rites" for the first time, believing that the "Three Rites" should be equally important and should learn from each other's strengths.

Although the "New Classic" advocates the equal emphasis on the "Three Rites", Master Zheng Xuan has a wonderful refutation in the Mingtang system, he believes that the five rooms are the Ming Hall system of the Zhou people, the nine rooms are the Ming Hall system of the Qin people, and the five room Ming Hall system is much earlier than the Nine Rooms Ming Hall system. In other words, Master Zheng Xuan has a clear tendency to the five-room Mingtang system.

In fact, the "new scriptures" have an obvious tendency towards the ancient scriptures themselves, because the modern scriptures have been closely linked with the study of the weft after more than 200 years of development since the Guangwu Emperor.

Emperor Guangwu raised troops with Fu Rui Tu, said that the emperor admired the prophecy of the Wei and announced that the diagram was in the world, and the study of the Wei became an important part of the academic thought of the dynasty and had high authority. The "seven latitudes" such as 、、、、、 and other "seven latitudes" that have been handed down in the world have also become compulsory classics for Confucian scholars. The popularity of the Confucian classics led to the fact that the imperial court had to rely on the Wei in the use of people to govern and make decisions on various major issues, and the interpretation of the Confucian classics should also be on par with the Wei Wei, which greatly promoted the theologization of the classics of the dynasty. At the same time, it also led to the serious proliferation of ideas such as the induction of heaven and man, and the difference between yin and yang.

To put it bluntly, it is artificially made, it is conjecture out of thin air, and it can be used by some ill-intentioned people to spread the prophecy of changing the dynasty, which is especially obvious in the past ten years. "Those who represent the Han Dynasty should be Tu Gao" and other prophecies once spread all over the state and county. Therefore, after Zhang Wen, Ma Riyan and other ministers arrived in northern Xinjiang, they once asked the imperial court to ban the Wei Wei and confiscate the Wei books, but because of the huge power of today's literature and classics, the foundation is firm, and the results are very small.

If today's imperial court adopts the five-room Mingtang system in the construction of Sanyong, as the basis of the imperial court rules and regulations, and prefers to adopt the concept of governing the country of ancient scriptures in the "new scriptures", then the modern literature and scriptures will suffer a continuous and long-term blow, and the study of the weft will naturally become the first target of the blow. This is tantamount to openly smashing the "rice bowls" of the gatekeepers, families, and scholars who study modern literature and scriptures, and cutting off their official careers, which is a matter of life and death, and of course they must defend it to the death.

The study of the Wei Wei has been passed down for more than 200 years, and the erosion of ancient scholars is also very strong. This can be seen from the writings of Liu Xiang, Liu Xin, the originator of ancient literature and classics. In order to help Wang Mang usurp the country, Liu Xin openly preached Fu Rui's weft, so a large number of ancient scholars also studied it. Ma Rong, Zheng Xuan, Cai Yong, Lu Zhi and other ancient scriptures are all masters of Wei Learning. However, in terms of the attitude towards Wei Weixue, the ancient scholars represented by Ma Rong and Zheng Xuan and Cai Yong and Lu Zhi are completely different. Ma Rong and Zheng Xuan were proficient in the Wei Wei and believed that the Wei Wei was harmful to the scriptures and the society and should be banned. Cai Yong and Lu Zhi agreed.

In the Mingtang system, Cai Yong also wrote, he said in detail in the book, that the Mingtang is a symbol of the rule of virtue. The unification of the Mingtang sacrifice and the role of the government is based on the doctrine of the induction of heaven and man, and the nine-room Mingtang system is highly praised and affirmed.

This is an important reason why Prime Minister Cai Yong and many ministers of the DPRK and China have taken a clear-cut stand against the five-room Mingtang system.

The eldest princess wrote to Zheng Xuan, Hu Zhao, Wang Jian and other Confucian celebrities from all over the country, asking them to rush to Chang'an before the end of the year to debate the Mingtang system, so that the court could decide what system to adopt to rebuild Sanyong.

Now the eldest princess is hesitant and has no choice. Prime Minister Cai Yong and other ministers adhered to the nine-room Mingtang system. Li Wei, Cui Yan, Xi Xi and other ministers adhered to the five-room Mingtang system. There are also some ministers who are not resolute and are in a vacillation for various reasons, among which Taifu Yang Biao is the most typical.

With Yang Biao's qualifications and prestige, it was clear that his support for that side would have an important impact on the court's decision-making. The Yang family in Kansai is a family of modern scriptures, and in Yang Biao's generation, because of the gradual revival of ancient scriptures, Yang Biao also began to study ancient scriptures. If Yang Biao supports the five-room Mingtang system, he will have to oppose his family. Yang Qi, Yang Yi and many of Yang Valve's protégés and former officials of the same sect will definitely turn against him. The Cui family in Jizhou has already been infighting because of this matter. Cui Lie's son Cui Jun and Cui Yan's younger brother Cui Lin both studied the modern scriptures, but Cui Yan studied under Zheng Xuan and learned the "New Scriptures". Yang Biao is old and sophisticated, he is unwilling to let this matter affect the unity of Yang Valve, so he repeats his old tricks, and he has a leg disease again, and he has a small stroke.

The warriors of Northern Xinjiang led by Li Hong, the great general of the Great Sima, were the largest force in the court, and the position of this force in the Ming Hall system could completely influence the decision-making of the imperial court. However, as in the past, the warriors of Northern Xinjiang have adopted a consistent silent attitude on political affairs, especially such matters involving academics, etiquette, and national policies. There is also a very interesting phenomenon in this, when the controversy in the court occurred, almost all the warriors of Northern Xinjiang went home to bury their heads in reading, and some even went to the mansion of the Northern Xinjiang officials who had a close relationship with them to humbly ask for advice. To tell the truth, they really don't know the origin of the controversy over the "present ceremony" and the "ancient ceremony" and the far-reaching impact on the fate of the country behind it. Although everyone knows that "Sanyong" and "Mingtang" are related to the etiquette system of this dynasty, they do not have a clear and correct understanding of how much this ritual system has a strategic effect on national policy and how much it has a role in the rise and fall of the society.

Over the years, Li Hong, Xian Yufu, Xu Rong, Zhang Yan and others have been urging the warriors of Northern Xinjiang to study scriptures and increase their knowledge, and at the same time, they themselves are also taking advantage of every opportunity to learn. However, it is another thing to be able to read the scriptures and understand the scriptures, and it is another thing to understand the scriptures and grasp the essence of the scriptures, and then apply these essences to the practice of government affairs, and there is a world of difference. Ministers like Zhang Wen, Huangfu Song, Lu Zhi, and Zhu Jun, who are generals when they come out and are secretaries when they enter, are originally rare, they are considered dragons and phoenixes among people, and there are not a few in a generation. Before they were reused by the imperial court, they also governed prefectures and counties, participated in the decision-making of the imperial government, and had been in politics for a long time and had rich experience in governing the country. They struggled all their lives, worked hard all their lives, and finally achieved fame.

Except for a few people such as Xian Yufu, Xu Rong, and Zhang Yan, few people have ever had the opportunity to govern prefectures and counties, and they are even more ignorant of political affairs, especially specific affairs related to financial income, such as the field system, taxation, salt and iron, etc. Therefore, even if they read the scriptures and learned a lot of statecraft in the Jinyang University Hall, they have no opportunity to practice and no experience, and it will take a long time to gain a foothold in the court. On the contrary, the scholars in northern Xinjiang, especially Li Wei, Xie Ming, Tian Chou, and Tian Yu, participated in the governance of the prefecture and county very early. In the past ten years, they have stabilized northern Xinjiang, and in the process of implementing the new policy, under the guidance of Zhang Wen, Cui Lie, and a group of old ministers, they have gained extremely rich experience in governing the country, and have firmly established themselves in the court.

Part of the reason why the Northern Xinjiang warriors remained silent this time was because when there was a fierce confrontation between the internal and external dynasties, the Northern Xinjiang warriors were regarded as a balancing force in the court, and it was inconvenient to intensify the contradictions. Another part of the reason is that because of his limited knowledge, he can't interject if he wants to. This incident has greatly stimulated the warriors of Northern Xinjiang, who cannot fight, read scriptures, or know the principles and methods of governing the country, and must have profound knowledge and rich experience in governing the country. Otherwise, when you get to the court, you can only stand aside awkwardly, at the mercy of others like an idiot.

The warriors of Northern Xinjiang were the first to learn from the great Confucian Wang Jian, Xiangkai, Cai Yong, Xu Shao, Zhao Qi and other great Confucians, and learned ancient scriptures, and they learned the strategy and method of governing the country from the great Confucian Wang Fu, which had a great impact on them. Later, after Zheng Xuan arrived in northern Xinjiang, they began to study the "New Classics", and they personally listened to the lectures of Zheng Xuan, Hu Zhao and other great Confucians in Handan and Jinyang University Hall, and benefited a lot. This time, they opened their eyes, the fierce and wonderful debate in the court seemed to open a door to the palace of Confucianism, they suddenly found that the original etiquette, Confucianism, national politics, national policy, national Zuo fate is inseparable one, the wonderful and mystical are far better than the battlefield of Bo abandonment.

The day after the controversy broke out in the court, Li Hong hosted a banquet in the palace for three disciples of Master Zheng Xuan, Cui Yan, Xi Xian, and Zhao Song.

The general carefully consulted about the five-room Mingtang system. If the imperial court adopted the five-room Mingtang system in the construction of Sanyong as the basis of the canonical system, would it conflict with Master Zheng Xuan's doctrine of equal emphasis on the "three rites" in the "New Classic"? Will it affect the status of the "New Classics" in government schools? Will it affect the general direction of ZTE's strategy? In terms of the new policy, what kind of strategic adjustments will the imperial court make in the coming period?

Cui Yan said that the adoption of the five-room Mingtang system in the "Three Yongs" does not conflict with Master Zheng Xuan's "Three Rites" doctrine, on the contrary, it is very conducive to the consolidation of the status of the "New Classic".

The imperial court has only been able to compare the status of the "New Classics" with modern and ancient classics for a very short time, less than ten years, and there is no way to quickly eliminate the controversy between modern and ancient classics that has lasted for more than 200 years. Therefore, the top priority of the imperial court is to use various methods to continuously consolidate the status of the "New Classics," safeguard and enhance the absolute authority of the "New Classics," and cut off the attacks and challenges to the "New Classics" by modern and ancient scriptures. Only when the status of the "New Classics" has been improved and it has become the absolute authority of the official studies of the Han Dynasty can the controversy between the modern and ancient classics gradually decrease and even disappear, and the modern and ancient classics can learn from each other's strengths and complement each other's weaknesses and integrate with each other, and the imperial court's Zhongxing strategy and new policies can be stabilized, and can they continue to promote and develop in the correct direction of "valuing the people and honoring the law".

In the past two years, the dispute over the strategy of ZTE, the battle over the counterinsurgency strategy, the dispute over the New Deal policy, and even the dispute over the Dingdu and the dispute over the construction of Sanyong show that it seems to be a battle of strategy, but in fact, behind it is a struggle for power. But what is the root of the power struggle? It is a dispute between government and academia, and it is a dispute between academics.

Whether it is a minister who studies modern scriptures, a minister who studies ancient scriptures, or a minister who studies the "new scriptures", because of the different concepts and concepts, the strategies adopted in the great cause of Zhongxing are of course different. But as long as they make the scriptures they study become official studies, and become the authoritative official studies of the Han Dynasty, then they can control the decision-making power. If you control the decision-making power, you will also control the government, and you will be able to get the authority you need.

Officialdom, decision-making, and authority are complementary to each other and are one.

Now the "New Scripture" is an official study, and the Northern Xinjiang scholars and warriors who study the "New Classic", including those of us who studied under Master Zheng Xuan's disciples and protégés, are all in high positions, and we control the decision-making power of the imperial court and the authority of the Han Dynasty.

The ministers who studied modern and ancient scriptures, including their protégés and disciples, including their relatives and former officials, had their own strategies for the revival of the scriptures. They believe that there is an obvious mistake in our ZTE strategy, which will lead to the failure of ZTE, and will push the Han into the abyss of defeat again, so they want to seize our authority and deprive us of decision-making power.

How can we achieve this goal without affecting the stability of the court and the balance of power in the court, and at the lowest cost? It's very simple, change the official school.

When the imperial court was formulating the Zhongxing strategy, it was most worried about official learning. If the government cannot be revised, the ZTE strategy cannot be correctly formulated and implemented. However, at that time, the officials who studied ancient literature and scriptures in the imperial court occupied an absolute advantage, and now as an official study of the Han Dynasty for more than 200 years, its position is extremely stable and difficult to regret. At this time, Master Zheng Xuan suddenly arrived in Hebei, and the "new scriptures" that were both modern and ancient and ancient scriptures sprung up. In the case of fierce battles between modern and ancient scriptures and defeats, the "New Classics" unexpectedly became the new official school of the Han Dynasty.

Although the "New Classics" are both modern and ancient, relatively speaking, they focus on ancient scriptures. This is an important reason why it was able to get the support of the imperial court in the first place and become an official school.

As more and more land was recovered by the imperial court, the institutions of the imperial court became larger and larger, and scholars from all over the country also entered the court one after another, and the number of ministers studying modern literature and scriptures in the court increased suddenly. At the same time, the struggle for power in the court is becoming more and more fierce, and the progress of the great cause of ZTE is getting faster and faster. In addition, the ministers of the imperial court who studied the ancient scriptures and the ministers who studied the "new scriptures" also became more and more divided in the strategy of Zhongxing. As a result, in order to formulate and implement a strategy for the revival of the Chinese scriptures that suited their own interests, the ministers who studied modern and ancient scriptures immediately joined forces to jointly deal with the ministers who controlled the decision-making power of the imperial court and mainly studied the "new scriptures".

The two factions of modern and ancient scripture joined forces to deal with the "New Scripture" faction, and the power struggle in the court intensified. In the past two years, there have been constant disputes in the court, and it is precisely because of this. And this time the "Mingtang System Dispute" finally pushed this battle to the top, and the two sides did not fight and vowed not to give up.

The outcome of the argument is either a win or a loss, and there is no such thing as a tie.

If the "five-room Mingtang system" wins the final victory, there is no doubt about the stability of the status of the "new classics".

The stability of the government and academia will affect the direction of the imperial court, which is the direction of the Northern Xinjiang Department to control the government and control the Zhongxing strategy, and the officials of the Northern Xinjiang Department will be appointed in large numbers.

If the "nine-room Mingtang system" wins the final victory, the status of the "new classics" will be dealt a serious blow; although because of the irreconcilable contradictions between modern and ancient scriptures, the "new classics" can still maintain the status of official schools for the time being, but its influence will decline rapidly, and the authority that has just been established will be wiped out. However, public and private schools in various places are likely to abandon the "new scriptures" and continue to teach modern and ancient scriptures. Over time, it was inevitable for the imperial court to abandon the "New Classics" as official learning.

The authority of the government and the school was lost, and the etiquette system, which was the foundation of Confucianism, changed, and the strategy of Zhongxing changed accordingly. Although this change has little impact on the court for the time being, with the continuation of time and the continuous advancement of ZTE's great cause, this change will gradually appear, and eventually control the general direction of ZTE's strategy. The northern Xinjiang system will gradually lose its decision-making power and eventually lose control of the government.

Li Hong finally understood it completely this time.

In the past, when Zhang Wen, Lu Zhi, Ma Riyan and others were formulating the ZTE strategy, they were most worried about official learning, and Li Hong was not clear about its importance at that time. Later, the matter of official learning was unexpectedly resolved, and of course Li Hong could not further understand it deeply. Now, he understood, but things had become very complicated, and it wasn't easy to solve the matter by supporting either side.

In this matter, Dong Zhuo once made a big mistake, which eventually led to his complete defeat. Dong Zhuo listened to Yuan Kui's words, relied on the force in his hands to revise the official school, set up a doctor of ancient scriptures, and incorporated the ancient scriptures into the official school, which angered the scholars of the modern scriptures and caused a bloody tragedy, and then the allied forces of various states and counties crusaded against Dong Zhuo, and the situation was no longer controllable.

Although official learning is related to the fate of Guozuo, it is a matter of Confucianism, an academic matter, and has nothing to do with martial artists. The involvement of the warriors will only make this academic battle more complicated, more bloody, and even cause violent concussions in the situation.

Cui Yan hoped for Li Hong's support, but his words were very tactful, and it was clear that he was also worried that the martial artist's intermediary would cause things to get out of hand.

Li Hong understood what he meant, and appreciated Cui Yan's caution, but now the question is not whether the martial artists can intervene, but how to ensure the stability of the court, and how to ensure that Zhongxing Daye will not be harmed by this matter.

After thinking about it for a while, Li Hong asked solemnly, "So, how can I help you?" ”

Cui Yan said without thinking: "General, before this matter is resolved, you must not use soldiers, no matter what." The general's expedition is not only a matter of the court losing its deterrence, but the safety of the army and the safety of the community. The grain and grass are all controlled in the hands of the imperial court, once the imperial court threatens the general with the safety of the army, what will the general do? Once a few states and counties are in turmoil, the imperial court is too busy to take care of itself, and the general is sending troops outside, what should be done about the safety of Sheji? ”

Li Hong's heart trembled, and his face changed slightly.

"I know that the affairs in the western Xinjiang are very urgent, but the affairs in the court are even more urgent. There are priorities, please think twice. ”

Li Hong nodded slightly, and asked again, "Is there anything else?" ”

"If the general is willing, please make an appointment to meet Lord Li Wei of the Great Si Nong and Lord Shi Zhu Xiaolan, the head of the Eldest Princess's Mansion." After Cui Yan finished speaking, he stared at Li Hong with his eyes extremely expectant.

Li Wei's position in the court is very important and powerful, which directly affects the decision-making of the Central Scribe. At present, although he has made his position clear, it is a matter of stability in the imperial court, and it is very likely that he will not be able to withstand the pressure from all sides and give up his support for Cui Yan. Of course, if there is Li Hong's absolute support, it is another matter. Xiao Lan's role is more important, at present, she is the only one who can influence the eldest princess's decision-making, if the eldest princess is forced by the situation and makes a decision early, then it will be a big trouble.

In the anticipation of Cui Yan, Xi Xi and Zhao Song, Li Hong finally nodded, "I'll find an opportunity to go to Lord Li's mansion." ”

In the evening of the same day, Li Hongshu told Xian Yufu, Xu Rong, Lu Yi, Zhang Yan, Lu Bu, Yushi, Yan Liang, Yang Feng, Zhao Yun, Wen Chou, Fan Li, Zhang Baiqi, Zhang Liao, He Feng, and a dozen other military generals in Beijing, expounding in detail their worries and warning them not to participate in the controversy over the "Mingtang system." In the court, only ears are taught, no speech is allowed, and no speech is allowed.

The general's appointment to meet with Cui Yan's three ministers obviously stimulated the ministers in the court. The controversy in the court became increasingly fierce.

The eldest princess was irritable and repeatedly sent people to urge the princess Yang Biao to enter the court to discuss matters, but Yang Biao refused in every possible way, but she just didn't go. The eldest princess is angry, and the general Li Hong is the general, you can go and see it in person. If he can't go, bring him here.

Yang Biao cried bitterly, "General, why do you embarrass me? I'm going to have to say a few words, right? What did I say? Li Hong smiled, "It's really not good, you just pretend to be deaf and dumb." ”

Yang Biao stood on crutches and went up. He can really pretend to be deaf and dumb, people say that he is talking about the east and the west, and he is messing around, and finally the eldest princess waved her hand angrily, "You go home to recuperate, don't come." ”

At the end of October, the development of the situation was somewhat out of control, and the ministers put the cart before the horse, ignoring the matters that should be discussed, and arguing endlessly about the Mingtang system all day long. Then some ministers began to criticize the "new scriptures".

The first to start attacking the "New Scripture" was the servant Kong Rong. Kong Rong is a master of both modern and ancient scriptures, and he quoted scriptures and pointed out many deficiencies in the "new scriptures". Then Zongzheng Yang Qi also started, Yang Qi is a master of today's literature and scriptures, his words are ugly, and he almost scolded the "new scriptures" to the end, and finally almost didn't say that Zheng Xuangu was famous.

Cui Yan, Xi Xian, and Zhao Song were furious and immediately retorted.

After all, Cui Yan and the three of them are younger generations, and under the excitement, they are quite disrespectful to the older generation in their words, and some refutations of modern and ancient scriptures are obviously inappropriate. This angered Prime Minister Cai Yong, Taiwei Xun You, Tingwei Zhang Miao, Guanglu Doctor Zhong Xuan, Sili Captain Chen Gong and other ministers, and everyone rushed up to fight in unison.

Cui Yan and the three couldn't resist it, and they were a little in a hurry. Dasi Nong Li Wei stood up at the right time, and then Dahonglu Yuan Yao, Jingzhao Yin Zhao Jian, as well as Zhu Mu, Tian Chou, Tian Yu, Yu Peng, Xie Ming and other ministers refuted each other.

There was chaos in the courtroom.

The eldest princess was a little overwhelmed, she saw that the situation was gradually getting out of control, and immediately asked Zheng Xuan, Wang Jian and other masters to speed up the speed of entering Beijing, and asked the great Sima general Li Hong to mediate and stabilize the situation in the court as much as possible.

Recently, because of the affairs in Western Xinjiang and Yizhou, Li Hong and a group of generals held military discussions in the Dasima Mansion every day to discuss countermeasures, but did not participate in the court meeting. After receiving the edict from the eldest princess, he was very surprised. Unexpectedly, the situation developed so quickly, and the contradiction between the three schools of scripture broke out in a blink of an eye.

The end of the year is approaching, and there are too many things to do in the imperial court, and if you spend all your time on this, the government will be seriously delayed.

Li Hong immediately came to visit Prime Minister Cai Yong. Cai Yongchu was very angry at Li Hong's appointment to meet Cui Yan and other three ministers, but later saw that a group of warriors from Northern Xinjiang first took leave of absence, and then the people who stayed in the court kept silent and did not say a word. What's even funnier is that Wuwei General He Feng actually fell asleep in the court, which shows that Li Hong is still very keenly aware of the key to it, and promptly withdrew from this scripture dispute that has nothing to do with the martial artists in Northern Xinjiang, so his attitude towards Li Hong has changed greatly.

Li Hong persuaded Cai Yong, saying that the governors of various prefectures, the state guards of various counties, and the ministers of state were about to enter Beijing to plan a lot of affairs, so it was better to put aside the "three yong" in advance, put aside the controversy for the time being, and there was no need to expand the situation.

Cai Yong sighed, "I heard, you're planning to go on the expedition again?" ”

Li Hong smiled. "Did Zilong tell you? He and Wen Ji should move out and shouldn't live with you anymore. ”

"I have a daughter and a son-in-law of Zilong, if they all move out, who will serve me?" Cai Yong smiled and touched the white beard under his chin, "I'm old, I don't have many years to live, I can see them every day, and I am very content to hear the laughter of my grandchildren." ”

Li Hong smiled and comforted: "I think Mr. can live to be at least 100 years old." ”

"Forget it, don't comfort me." Cai Yong waved his hand and smiled, "If you hadn't saved me back then, I would have died in Beisi Prison." In the past ten years, I have seen Wen Ji married Zilong and live happily, and I have no luxury when I see my grandchildren around my knees, innocent and lovely. ”

"Really?" Li Hong asked with a pun, "Sir, there is one of the biggest expectations that has not been fulfilled, isn't it?" ”

"I can't see it, maybe you can see it again." Cai Yong's expression gradually became serious, "The matter of the Mingtang system involves a wide range of things, and it is estimated that you have also heard about the cause and effect from Master Cui Yan, so I won't say more." I want to thank you for this, it is indeed not easy for the general to stay out of the court battle and see what is after the battle clearly. ”

"I'm a person from the court, even if I want to be alone, I'm afraid I won't be able to escape." Li Hong said with a smile on his face.

"Of course." Cai Yong said, "But as long as you can see the truth of the matter and know what to do, I am relieved." ”

"So I'm going to go to the western frontier."

"Nope." Cai Yong shook his hand very resolutely, "Going out is the next step. The court is about to be bloody, you can't leave Chang'an, let alone go on an expedition. ”

"Only when I go out on the expedition can I temporarily suppress the contradictions in the court and avoid this bloody storm." Li Hong looked at Cai Yong's old and tired face, and said word by word, "As soon as the end of the year comes, the officials of various prefectures and counties will gather in Kyoto, and things are likely to get out of control. ”

"The court has no wealth." Cai Yong's white eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he said in a cold voice, "You want to fight Western Xinjiang, but how much does it cost to fight Western Xinjiang?" After conquering Western Xinjiang, how much does it cost to move back to the people of Western Xinjiang and appease the Qiang people in Western Xinjiang? Occupying the western frontier, we want to hold the western frontier, we want to send troops, and we want to move the population westward to the Tuntian border in the Hehuang and Hexi areas, how much does it cost? Han Sui struggled in Western Xinjiang for more than ten years, why did he finally risk the destruction of the entire army to forcibly attack Guanzhong? ”

"People, calm down, if we conquer and occupy the western frontier, it does not mean that we have stabilized the western frontier. On the contrary, it is a heavy burden on the back. If you want to take this burden, it will take a long time for the imperial court, maybe even ten or twenty years, or even longer, so you can't rush to fight the western frontier. We must first be prepared to carry the heavy burden of the western frontier on our backs, and then we will go to the western frontier. ”

Li Hong secretly sighed. He has always wanted to test Cai Yong's attitude, but now it seems that Cai Yong has made up his mind, and this bloody storm in the court is inevitable.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" After Li Hong was silent for a long time, he asked respectfully.

"Stabilize Kyoto, stabilize the prefectures, and stabilize the army." Cai Yong said calmly, "As long as the army is not chaotic, the prefectures and counties are not chaotic, and Kyoto is not chaotic, even if the imperial court is chaotic, it will not affect the overall situation." ”

In the next few days, Li Hong visited Taiwei Xun You, Yushi Da Liu He, Taichang Xu Shao, Zongzheng Yang Qi, Tingwei Zhang Miao, and Taifu Kong Rong, and finally he walked into the house of Li Wei, the great farmer.

Li Wei and Xiao Lan introduced Li Hong into the study. The three of them chatted for a while. Xiao Lan said, the general should take good care of your family's Xiu'er when she goes back, she is eight years old, and she will get married in four or five years, and she is still as "crazy" and lawless as a boy. Li Hong knew that Xiu'er must be in trouble again, and he was very embarrassed, "What happened?" Xin'er was beaten again? ”

"Yesterday, Liu Tan, the son of Liu Ming, the king of Youxian, came, and several of their children agreed to go hunting in the northern suburbs together. Your Xiu'er said that shooting is boring, and if you want to shoot, shoot people. Before Xiao Lan finished speaking, Li Hong knew what was going on. Li Wei hurriedly stopped Xiao Lan. But Xiao Lan felt sorry for her son, and counted a few words angrily. Several children take off the arrows and divide into two teams to "fight". Li Xin accidentally shot Xiu'er, Xiu'er was furious, rushed up and beat Li Xin violently, and went home with a blue nose and swollen face. Li Xin didn't dare to say it when he went home, but it happened that Pang De's son Pang Hui would be, and Xiao Lan "cheated" the whole thing in three or two sentences, Xiao Lan doted on her son, and she was so angry that tears came out.

Li Hong apologized again and again, "That's it, I'll accept Xin'er as an apprentice and personally teach him martial arts." The next time she encounters this incident, Xin'er will at least not suffer. ”

"What?" Xiao Lan was anxious, "Is there a next time?" You go back and warn Xiu'er that she is not allowed to beat our family letter. ”

"Okay, okay." Li Hong and Li Wei looked at each other and smiled bitterly. When this kind of thing happened, the two men had no choice but to let Xiao Lan scold twice.

At this time, Xiao Lan suddenly reacted, "General, you have to count what you said just now, and you are not allowed to go back." ”

"I know. In a few days, you will let Xin'er come to my house to live. Since I have taken him as a disciple, the child will be handed over to me. ”

"That's not going to work." Xiao Lan immediately shook her hand and said, "No, no, your family Xiu'er will bully him, absolutely not." ”

Li Hong laughed, "You are too doting on Xin'er." Xin'er looks very weak, but in fact he has a strong personality. If he tempers more, he will definitely be able to be like his grandfather in the future. Good, good, whatever you want. But if I go on a campaign, he will have to follow me, and he can't stay at home any longer. Last time, you should listen to me and let him go to the Luoyang battlefield to have a look. ”

"Yan Ba, Zhao Tong, and Pang Hui are more wild than the other, and Xin'er is with them, and they suffer every time." Xiao Lan said with a heartache on her face, "If Xin'er goes, won't they be used as horses and rides?" In my opinion, if Xiao Tianzi gives you such training, sooner or later he will be like you, and he will not be a leopard in the future, but also a tiger. ”

Li Hong smiled: "Of course it's a tiger." ”

The three of them talked and laughed for a while, and the topic gradually turned to government politics.

"Zhong Yuan, the things in the court are getting more and more wrong." Li Hong told him about visiting Cai Yong, Xun You and other ministers, "I have a premonition that something is going to happen. ”

"Of course something has to happen." Li Wei said with a smile, "If I hadn't been supporting Cui Yan and several adults, they might have had an accident." ”

Li Hong groaned slightly, and turned his head to look at Xiao Lan. Xiao Lan smiled calmly, "Your Highness's attitude is still very resolute, otherwise she would not have repeatedly urged Master Zheng Xuan to rush to Chang'an as soon as possible." But His Highness obviously overestimated Master Zheng Xuan's influence. Today, whether in the court or in the scriptures, no one can compare with the prestige and authority of Lord Cai Yong. In this debate, Master Zheng Xuan is very likely to lose. ”

"Is there a solution?"

"If Lord Yang Biao and Lord Xu Shao can help, Master Zheng Xuan may have a chance to win."

Li Hong thought of Yang Biao's sophistication, and shook his head with a wry smile.

"General, the soldiers are coming, the water is flooding, there is nothing to worry about." Li Wei said confidently, "The ultimate purpose of this debate is to crack down on the "New Classics" and prepare for their next step in revising the official school. However, the contradictions between modern and ancient texts and scriptures are deep-rooted, and opportunities for counterattack abound. Now for us, the key is how to control the situation and how to achieve the maximum goal at the minimum cost. ”

"They want to revise the official school, want to control the decision-making power, and want to gradually drive us people from the north out of the court, we have to fight back, this is also something that cannot be helped, this battle will break out sooner or later." "But now is the time is not good, and if this matter is not handled well, it will cause a catastrophe, so the general must stabilize the army, stabilize the prefectures and counties, and ensure the safety of Kyoto." ”

"What do you mean ......"

"The expedition to the western frontier must be postponed indefinitely until the court is completely stabilized." Li Wei said categorically, "The general should leave Chang'an at the right time, he can go to Luoyang, he can also go to Handan, Jizhou, or even inspect the desert." ”

"You are in Chang'an, the deterrent power is too great." Xiao Lan saw Li Hong's worried face, and hurriedly explained, "If the deterrent effect is too great, it means that the lives of all parties are not guaranteed." Some people, in order to achieve their goals, may take risks and assassinate the general. If the general is assassinated in Chang'an, the matter will immediately involve the warriors and the army in northern Xinjiang, and the situation will be out of control, and no one can control it, including the general himself. ”

Li Hong shuddered when he thought of the Luoyang Mutiny after He Jin's death, the Chang'an Mutiny after Dong Zhuo's death, and the Jinyang rebellion after Emperor Xiaoxian's serious illness.

"As long as the general is out and maintains a deterrent to Kyoto, there will be no major events in Chang'an. Even if something happens to Chang'an, there is still room for salvation. Li Wei continued Xiao Lan's words and said, "This dispute over scripture and learning is caused by the Mingtang system, it should be a literary fight, if it is handled well, after a lot of turbulence, the court will calm down." ”

"Wen Dou?" Li Hong asked suspiciously, "What is Wendou?" And martial arts? ”

"Wendou is a debate and a clear discussion, and whoever wins, the crisis will be lifted, and the struggle between the various factions of the scholastic school will continue. Just like when Master Xu Shao ran to Luoyang and roared a few times, Hongdumen disappeared overnight, but how to fight between the various factions of the scriptures. As for the ...... of martial arts," Li Wei hesitated, "Martial arts is like the disaster of the party in those years, people will die, and both sides of the fight will die." ”

"There's no better way?" The more Li Hong thought about it, the more cold he became, and he asked unwillingly.

"There's only a worse way." Li Wei smiled bitterly, "If you use force, Dong Zhuo is a living example." If we rely on external forces, the two disasters of the party in this dynasty are a living example. ”

"This is a matter between Confucian scholars, a duel between scholars." Xiao Lan waved her hand vigorously and said with a resolute expression, "Whether it is the Son of Heaven, the eldest princess, or the general, there is no need to intervene. The outcome of this showdown is directly related to the success or failure of ZTE's great cause, and it can only win, not lose. ”

Persuaded by the general, the ministers put aside the controversy for the time being and concentrated on government affairs.

In October, Yan Rou, the general of Zhenbei, sent back good news from Hexi.

After the beginning of spring this year, Lei Zi, Arc Ding, Qi Shen and others were attacked by the Qiang people in the front and back of Guzang, Xiu Tu, and Luanniao in Wuwei County, and the situation was very critical for a while.

In April, Kirby Xiong and Budu returned to the Hexi battlefield from the pastures in the western desert with their troops and a large number of livestock, helping Lei Zi to defend Guzang. However, due to the stubborn attack of the Qiang cavalry armies of Zhangye and Jiuquan from the weak water line, forcing Lei Zi and Kirby Xiong and others to fight on two fronts, the battle situation immediately appeared in a stalemate.

In July, after the end of the desert rainy season, Yan Rou, the general of Zhenbei, and Liu Ming, the king of Youxian, joined the Hexi battlefield with 10,000 iron cavalry, and went west along the Great Wall, connecting the two cities of Fanhe and Rile in Zhangye County, and killing 2,000 Qiang cavalry in the area of weak water, and successfully captured the two cities of Delete Dan and Yalan, which were close to the county governance of Zhangye County.

At this time, because the battle line was too long and the supply of livestock and ordnance could not be supplied, Yan Rou had to order the large army to retreat to the small city of Yalan to hold on.

In August, Jiang Wu, Mustafa, and Storm Sha led 12,000 horsemen into Wuwei, and along the Great Wall in the southern part of the Tianqiong Desert, they quietly rushed to the front line of Cangsong and Luanniao, and launched a swift blow to the Qiang cavalry of Hongri. The Qiang cavalry was caught off guard, losing more than 1,800 cavalry, and retreated to the front line of Lingju in Jincheng County in a panic.

Soon, Hongri, Tietou, and Storm regrouped their armies and launched an attack on Wuwei again.

In September, Yan Rou rushed to Guzang, gathered about 40,000 iron cavalry, and ordered Lei Zi to take them to secretly ambush them near the Great Wall, thirty miles east of Guzang City, and take 5,000 iron cavalry to lure the enemy, intending to ambush the Qiang people. However, Hongri was extremely afraid, and retreated every time he chased to the foot of the Great Wall.

At the end of September, Yan Rou decided to abandon Guzang and withdrew his troops under the pretense that there was not enough food and grass. Lei Zi led the army to retreat first, crossed the Yibu Mountain, and after Hutu Ze replenished food and water, he quickly entered the Tianqiong Desert and lurked at the foot of the Great Wall near Guzang City again.

The Qiang people were very excited to recapture Guzang, and then pursued, and rushed to Yibu Mountain before the Han army, cutting off the retreat of the Han army. Yan Rou panicked and led his army to retreat towards the Heavenly Dome Desert. The Qiang people were surrounded by the Han army and desperately broke through. The two sides fought to the death until sunset. Hongri led his army to break through the siege and fled back to Jincheng County. The Han army beheaded 4,300 ranks and occupied Wuwei County.

Yan Rou said in the letter that although the army recovered the four cities of Wuwei County and Zhangye County, and inflicted heavy losses on the Qiang people in Hexi, it had to temporarily stop fighting due to the lack of food, grass and ordnance. In order to let the troops left behind in Hexi survive the winter, Kirby Xiong, Bu Du Geng, Liu Ming and others left livestock and ordnance, and each returned to the desert with the army. In the spring of next year, Budu will lead his people to move to Hexi, and continue westward with us to recover Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang.

Yan Rou praised Kirby Xiong in the letter, believing that Kirby Xiong and his subordinates fought in the Hexi battlefield for two consecutive years and made great contributions to the imperial court's recovery of Hexi. It's just that in the end, he returned empty-handed, and he was really sorry, and I hope the court can give him a rich reward.

After receiving the good news, the imperial court issued an order to reward the soldiers on the Hexi battlefield and reward the Hu tribes that participated in the war.

The great Sima general Li Hong played the imperial court.

Next year, after the Xianbei leaders such as Budugen, Arc Ding, Qishen, Mutao, and Muli successively led the tribes to move into Hexi, Tuoba Tao and Tuoba Raccoon Dog in the northern Xianbei may take the opportunity to annex the grasslands of Xianbei in the west, so it is necessary to issue an order to the Mobei Prefecture to protect Yan Wudaunt and the Hanbei County Taishou Zhao Heng, asking them to properly protect the territories of the Xianbei tribes in the west. Before the Budu tribes stabilized in Hexi, no tribe in the desert could occupy these pastures, and supervised Tuoba Tao and Tuoba Raccoon Dog, two Xianbei leaders, to send troops to the Hexi battlefield as much as possible to help, and send a certain number of livestock to the Hexi battlefield.

In addition, after Kirby Bear returns to the central Xianbei, because of the loss of strength, the eastern Xianbei may take the opportunity to break away from the control of the Kirby Bear and build another royal court, and the balance of power in the desert may be broken. Therefore, it is necessary to supervise the general Xian Yuyin, the commander of Liaodong, Li Su, the assassin of Youzhou, and the Taishou Gongsun Du of Liaodong, pay close attention to the situation in the desert and Liaodong, and take corresponding measures to continue to maintain the deterrence of the Hu tribes and ensure the stability of the desert and northern Xinjiang.

The eldest princess made an order in the name of the Son of Heaven to supervise Yan Wuxing, Zhao Heng, Xian Yuyin, Li Su, Zhao Zhao, Ying Qin, Gongsun Xu, Gongsun Du and other civil and military ministers to try their best to appease the Hu tribes, and vigorously train the army, repair the passes, and always maintain the deterrence of the Hu tribes.

In October, Emperor Fu Li, the assassin of Liangzhou, went to the imperial court to report on the latest situation in Western Xinjiang.

After Huangfu Li was ordered to withdraw his troops and retreat to Chencang, he did not return to the imperial court, but continued to stay in the camp of the Western Army with the Peng subordinates of Liangzhou Mansion, ready to enter the Western Xinjiang again at any time. He had been in constant contact with the rebel generals of Xiliang, and Han Yi and Ling Ru often wrote to him to update him on the situation, and sometimes asked for a little food and ordnance.

In the imperial court's western Xinjiang strategy, it still has the meaning of maintaining the Xiliang rebels. Since the tiger is driven to devour the wolf first, the tiger must be fattened, and the tiger must not be allowed to swallow the wolf, but be eaten by the wolf. Once the "wolf swallowing" is successful, the two tigers will have to fight, and it is even more necessary to fatten the tiger of the Xiliang rebels, otherwise Xiliang will be occupied by Liu Bei, and it will be a big trouble.

However, the situation in western Xinjiang has not been as smooth as expected. drove the tiger to devour the wolf, the tiger was released, but the wolf did not eat it. On the contrary, the two tigers are also in danger of being eaten by wolves.

When the army rushed to Longxi to meet Guan Yu, the army of Guan Yu and Pang Yi had already conquered Yan County and was attacking Lintao. Lintao is the only way to Minshan, and it is the main road for Wolf Qiang and Baima Qiang to go home. Therefore, Lei Biao and Yu Feng have heavy troops stationed here. Guan Yu's attack on this city meant to cut off the Qiang people's retreat and force the Qiang people to retreat along Taoshui Cang, so as to create an opportunity for himself to ambush the enemy.

The Qiang people are all cavalry, good at cavalry and archery, and have fought with the Northern Xinjiang Army for so many years, Guan Yu knows that he will definitely not be able to fight hard, and he can only win by chance. The Qiang people have no experience in defending cities, but Guan Yu also has no siege equipment, so they can only make them from local materials. But it takes time to create, and the Qiang people obviously won't give him time, so his attack on Lintao is fake, luring the enemy to retreat, and ambushing halfway is true.

Lei Biao and Yu Feng really hit the plan, and after hearing the news, they led their troops to retreat. Guan Yu and Pang Ji led the main force to set up an ambush in Longsang City in the middle of the Lintao River. The vanguard army of the Qiang people was wiped out by 1,000 people, and the remaining Qiang people turned their horses and ran away.

Liu Bei and Guan Yu joined forces and attacked Lintao. The Qiang people in Lintao guarded for more than ten days, but they did not see reinforcements and panicked. At this time, Guan Yu ordered his subordinates to raise the heads of a thousand Qiang people with spears and cheer along the horses around the city. The Qiang people were frightened and abandoned the city and fled.

Lintao was taken, and the army continued to march westward, conquering the ancient city of An, and then marching under the city of Zhididao in Longxi County.

Zhuge Liang offered advice and pretended to build an embankment on the Lintao River to make the appearance of pouring into the city. Then he sent people to plant flags all over the mountains outside the city, and lit more bonfires to make the illusion of an army of 100,000.

The Qiang people were horrified and abandoned the city and fled.

Lei Biao, Yu Feng and Li Cai, and the difference will all merge in Great Xia City. The Han people entered Longxi so quickly, which surprised the Qiang people, but the Qiang people were not afraid. As long as they retreated to the Hehuang region, it would be difficult for the Han Chinese to defeat them with the advantage of terrain and the speed of the iron cavalry.

Liu Bei took advantage of the victory to march, but he soon found that there were a large number of Qiang cavalry in Daxia and Caohan, and then Guan Yu's vanguard army fought with the Qiang. Guan Yu was defeated, losing more than a thousand people, and retreated in embarrassment. Liu Bei was not well prepared, the food and grass were insufficient, and the ordnance was also insufficient, and the soldiers were exhausted because of the continuous march and battle, coupled with the lack of adaptation to the water and soil, and the re-battle would definitely fail. Liu Bei immediately retreated to Di Dao, and urged Wei Kang and Jian Yong of Wudu County to ask for grain and grass.

The county of Wudu County is under the rule of the county, and it is more than 1,500 miles away from the county of Longxi County, and there are mostly plank roads and mountain roads along the way, and it is inconvenient for cars and horses to walk. The transportation of grain, grass and ordnance was extremely difficult. Grain, grass and ordnance could not be delivered in time, and even if they did, it would be difficult to meet the continuous combat of the 30,000 army, so Liu Bei's army stopped at Didao, and it was difficult to do anything.

The Han army stopped, the Qiang people lived, and the iron cavalry haunted the mountains, forests and ravines, frequently attacking the Han army's grain road, and Liu Bei had a headache. Liu Beishu told Zhang Fei, who had already rushed to Wudu County, to stay in Wudu, and not to meet in Longxi, this place is too poor, there are too many people, and everyone will starve to death.

In August, Wei Duan, the Taishou of Wudu County, sent grain and grass to Han Yi. Han Yi deployed a small number of troops on the front line of Yicheng and Shangqi, and then, together with Zhang Ren and Yang Ren, marched west to attack Jincheng. In September, Han Yi conquered Yuzhong and Jincheng successively, and made contact with Liu Bei of Longxi Didao. Hearing that Liu Bei had occupied Longxi, Han Yi was a little anxious, and hurriedly ordered Yang Qiu to lead the forward army to approach Jincheng County Zhiyunwu.

At this time, it was the end of September, the weather was getting cooler, and Han Yi considered that this place was already more than a thousand miles away from Yicheng, and it was difficult to transport grain and grass, and the grain route could be cut off by the Qiang people at any time, so the overseers attacked Yunwu.

Originally, everyone thought that Hongri's Hexi Qiang was pinned down by the Northern Xinjiang Army in the Tianqiong Desert and could not come back for the time being, but who knew that Hongri was defeated in the Tianqiong Desert and came back with the army. Hexi is lost, he always has to find a place to live, and the Hehuang area is of course the first choice.

Han Yi was attacked by the Qiang people in front and back, was defeated, and hastily withdrew to Pingxiang City in Hanyang County. Because of the lack of grain and grass, Zhang Ren and Yang Ren led the army to withdraw to Wudu County, and planned to return to Hanzhong and Bashu.

After Li Hong got the report of Huangfu Li, his mood was very heavy.

Driving the tiger and devouring the wolf was unsuccessful, the tiger was too weak, and there were too many wolves. In addition, Hanzhong and Bashu, who provided food for the tigers, also seemed to have the meaning of retreating in the face of difficulties. If Liu Bei and Han Yi lose the support of food and grass, it is estimated that the situation in Western Xinjiang will immediately be one-sided, and it will not be a tiger swallowing a wolf at that time, but a wolf.

It can be seen from the current situation in western Xinjiang that the large army does not have the conditions to go on an expedition to western Xinjiang, and this is not a question of whether there are many troops, but whether there is enough food and grass. Prime Minister Cai Yong is right, even if I have conquered the Western Xinjiang now? The problem of the Qiang invasion cannot be cured, and the livelihood problems of the people in western Xinjiang cannot be solved. And what is more serious is, what method does Western Xinjiang use to defend the border? How many people are still willing to go to the remote, desolate and dangerous Hexi and Hehuang areas to garrison the frontiers?

Li Hong discussed with Xian Yufu, Xu Rong, Liyi, Zhang Yan and others for a long time, and felt that the only way to completely conquer the Qiang people was to completely conquer the Qiang people with the help of the garrison method in northern Xinjiang, move the Qiang people to the western Xinjiang, and turn the Qiang people around the western Xinjiang into Qiang people, and then slowly turn them into Han people through various policies. Although this process is very long, full of hardships and dangers, the war in Western Xinjiang for more than 100 years can not continue, and we must find a way to completely solve it, otherwise the heavy burden of Western Xinjiang will not be able to be shaken off at all. The nightmare of Western Xinjiang cannot be cured, and the Zhongxing of the Han Dynasty will always be an unrealistic dream.

At the request of Li Hong, the generals of the Great Sima Mansion and their subordinates began to plan an expedition to the western frontier.

In October, the envoys of Cao Cao of Xuzhou and Sun Quan of Jiangdong arrived in Liyang.

After Mao Jue and Cheng Pu were driven out of Luoyang by Xiao Tianzi, they hurriedly returned to Xuzhou and Jiangdong to report. Although Cao Cao and Sun Quan were angry, they had to bow their heads in the face of the hundreds of thousands of northern Xinjiang troops stationed in the Central Plains.

The two of them wrote to the court and presented a table of guilt. The court was still the same, with good words to appease and did not make further requests. Cao Cao and Sun Quan were overjoyed, knowing that Hebei had suffered a great injury in the Battle of Luoyang, and they were unable to go south in the short term, and their courage was strong again.

This time, Cao Cao's envoy was Xun Yu, and Jiangdong's envoy was Zhang Zhao, both of whom were quite influential officials in the two places. After the two met with the Son of Heaven and the eldest princess, they were immediately arranged to go to the pavilion to discuss with the general Li Hong about the appeasement.

This arrangement of the imperial court showed sufficient sincerity, and Cao Cao and Sun Quan also made careful preparations. During the first meeting between the two sides, Xun Yu and Zhang Zhao invariably mentioned the restoration of the fifth-class title system and mentioned the "merits of Huan and Wen", the meaning of which was obvious, that is, to carry out the fact of secession under the banner of respecting the Son of Heaven and the imperial court.

Li Hong laughed. This kind of trick of yours has already been done by Yuan Shao a few years ago. Your demand for the restoration of the five-chip title system is actually forcing the Son of Heaven and the ministers of the court to kill me. But have you ever thought that in the current situation, even if I die, the army of the Han Dynasty will not be chaotic, and the court of the Han Dynasty will not be chaotic. Our Han has dozens of world-famous civil servants such as Yang Biao, Cai Yong, Xun You, Xu Shao, Jia Xu, Li Wei, Tian Chou, Tian Yu, Fu Gan, etc., and dozens of powerful generals such as Xian Yufu, Xu Rong, Liyi, Zhang Yan, Lu Bu, Yushi, Yan Liang, Yang Feng, Zhao Yun, Yan Rou, etc., and an elite infantry army of 400,000. With their assistance, can't the Son of Heaven calm the world, Zhongxing Sheji?