Li Hong invited Yu Peng and Sima Yi and asked them to immediately write a book.

Yu Peng hesitated for a long time, but still put down the pen and questioned Li Hong's approach. The imperial court sent two ministers, Zhong Xuan and Jia Xu, with obvious intentions. With the character of the eldest princess, she would never re-use the old ministers of Chang'an in such a short period of time, which may be the idea of the new Taifu Cai Yong, Da Situ Cui Lie and Da Sikong Liu He, who want to take advantage of the crisis in Hebei to compete for power with the northern Xinjiang forces again.

"The general's reuse of Zhong Xuan and Jia Xu is equivalent to giving the eldest princess and the court a powerful hint." Yu Peng said worriedly, "The imperial court has your acquiescence and support, and taking this as an opportunity to quickly use a group of former ministers in Chang'an, which may exacerbate the contradictions between the various forces in the imperial court and directly affect the victory or defeat of the Hebei War." In addition, the general's reuse of the former ministers of Chang'an will also weaken and hurt the interests of our northern Xinjiang, and many officials in northern Xinjiang may complain about the general because of this. ”

Li Hong shook his head and sighed, and took out the letters from Taifu Cai Yong, Da Situ Cui Lie, and a personal letter that Zhao Qi wrote to himself earlier, "Take a look." ”

As early as when Li Hong attacked Youzhou and left Zhang Yan to supervise the military and political affairs of Hebei, Li Hong had already instructed Zhang Yan to vigorously use and promote the warriors of Northern Xinjiang to serve as county officials, such as Zuo Yan as the Taishou of Hedong, Song Wen as the Taishou of Bohai, Wei Zheng as the Minister of Hejian State, Xian Yuyin and the Taishou of Zhuo County, Gan Xiang as the Taishou of Yunzhong, Lei Zi as the Taishou of Shuofang, and Zhang Ying as the Taishou of Beidi. After the rebuilding of the imperial court, the civil and military officials of northern Xinjiang occupied many key positions in the court, such as Xian Yufu, Xu Rong, Zhang Yan, Li Wei, Xie Ming, Tang Fang, Tang Yun and others were even more powerful. Especially after the outbreak of the rebellion case in Jinyang, the scholars in Northern Xinjiang were even more densely populated in the court.

Although Li Hong has always deliberately balanced the forces of all parties in the court and strived to constrain power, the power in northern Xinjiang is too great. The civil and military officials of northern Xinjiang not only successfully controlled the three states of Hebei, but also occupied more than half of the power in the court. If a certain proposal is vetoed by the northern Xinjiang forces, it is equivalent to being completely vetoed by the imperial court. The loss of control of the Jinyang rebellion case last year can completely prove the absolute control of the northern Xinjiang forces over Hebei and their absolute strength in the court.

In the past few years, Li Hong and the officials of Northern Xinjiang have worked hard for their own survival, and finally cultivated and consolidated the forces in Northern Xinjiang. However, while resolutely upholding Li Hong's authority and unswervingly supporting the reform of the imperial court, this force has also gradually revealed its great harmfulness.

The Northern Xinjiang forces were composed of warriors and scholars from Northern Xinjiang. Although there are all kinds of contradictions within it, after so many years of ups and downs, it has formed an impregnable fortress, and its power is too great for anyone to control. Even its creator sometimes had to bend to its will. It is now like a bloodthirsty beast without fetters, fighting bravely in the bloody rain. If it is played well, it can benefit the country; If it is not fought well, it can also bring disaster to the country and destroy the community.

"The northern Xinjiang forces have grown into a big tree with deep roots and thick leaves, and I can only see the thick trunk and lush leaves at the top of this big tree, but I can't see the roots of this big tree at all. And now it's these roots, buried deep in the ground, that are beginning to rot. Li Hong smiled bitterly, "Any power that loses its restraint will be like a wild bull running wildly, first losing control, then losing direction, then losing reason, and finally falling to the ground and dying." The eunuchs are like this, the relatives are like this, and the same is true for Dong Zhuo, Li Dao and others. ”

"Any force that brings calamity to the country and the people, at the beginning of its rise and growth, is to survive. After surviving without worry, it will be entangled by endless **, power, wealth, etc.** will gradually corrode and poison this force, and finally push it to the abyss of defeat. Li Hong closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, "After ten years of suffering and hard fighting in Northern Xinjiang, the problem of survival has finally been solved, but the bane of defeat has also been planted. ”

"The lessons of the defeat of the past dynasties are vivid, this dynasty has come to this day, and if you really want to investigate the reasons, it is actually very simple, and the people in the world know it." Li Hong pointed to his eyes, "Who doesn't have a pair of eyes?" Whose eyes aren't bright? We also have a pair of eyes, and we know the root cause of the failure of the society, but why should we wait to repeat the same mistakes? ”

"Lord Zhao Qi said that he wanted to take precautions, Lord Cui Lie said that he wanted to rein in the precipice, and Lord Cai Yong said that he wanted to learn from the past and the present, and I think it is necessary to vigorously rectify the rule of Hebei officials." Li Hong snorted with a heavy heart, "We haven't fought any major battles in the past few years, and many problems in northern Xinjiang have been covered up. Today, Hebei is only under a rebellious siege, and it is still far from pacifying the world, but what is the result? As a result, we were immediately exposed to countless problems. ”

"If this crisis is allowed to continue slowly, I think Hebei will collapse in a few years. In the future, we will not be defeated by the rebels, but by our northern frontier itself. Thousands of miles of embankment, collapse in the anthill, small incurable chaos and big schemes, it is better to prevent the slightest and prevent it from happening. ”

"What is the General going to do? Advise the eldest princess to reactivate the former ministers of Chang'an and other forces to curb the unrestricted expansion of power in northern Xinjiang? Yu Peng said very cautiously, "General, this is Hebei, it is Northern Xinjiang, there are only three states, not the thirteen states of the Han Dynasty, if the Northern Xinjiang forces ......"

"Bohan ......" Li Hong looked at him very dissatisfied, and stopped talking. Yu Peng realized that there was something wrong with his words, and his face immediately showed a trace of embarrassment.

"That's the problem in northern Xinjiang." Li Hong pointed at him and shook his head helplessly, "Bohan, this is the reason why the forces in Northern Xinjiang began to be arrogant and began to **." You are the governor of the two provinces, and you can be regarded as an important minister of the Han Dynasty, why do you think like this? I have said again and again that Hebei is the Hebei of the Han Dynasty, and Northern Xinjiang is the Northern Xinjiang of the Han Dynasty. Why do you only have Northern Xinjiang and Hebei in your hearts, and there is no Han for whom we are fighting? Without the Great Han, what are we fighting for? ”

"Fighting for Hebei? Fighting for the North? Is this what you really think? Is it also what Yuntian and Zishan really think in their hearts? ”

Li Hong's tone was a little angry.

"Before the death of the Son of Heaven, the imperial court had already made a strategy to prepare for war. When I was in the first month, I also repeatedly told the officials of the Hebei Prefecture and the generals of the Northern Xinjiang Army in Jinyang that after I returned, I would raise grain and grass and make all preparations for battle, but what was the result? As a result, when I arrived in Handan, the grain and grass in various places had not yet been raised, and the generals of the Northern Xinjiang Army in Jizhou were skeptical about the strategy of crossing the river and attacking. Why is this a problem? It is because of yourselves, because you only have the northern frontier in your heart, only your own interests, that you are trying to give up the Han Dynasty and give up the more bloody and tragic conquest. ”

"General, it's not a matter of whose idea it is, it's a fact, it's a fact now", Yu Peng couldn't accept Li Hong's accusation, and suddenly became emotional. "The general's idea is to immediately pacify the world, so you didn't wait for Jinyang to stabilize last year, and immediately led the army to the desert, but the result was that the speed was not reached, causing the death of the Son of Heaven and the almost collapse of the imperial court. If you had been staying in Jinyang last year, how could you be in such a difficult situation today? ”

"After you returned to Jinyang, you still ignored the facts, still blindly sought speed, and even repeatedly insisted on crossing the Yellow River south to fight on the outer front. Why do you insist on fighting on the outside? It's your fast-seeking mentality. You have a kind of luck, you want to defeat the rebellion and occupy the Central Plains, you want to gain a foothold in the Central Plains, and then let Lord Xu Rong send troops to capture Guanzhong, so as to form a situation of north and south attack, and recover Luoyang as soon as possible. ”

"You have the Han in your heart, and you fight for the Han, but you are at the expense of Northern Xinjiang and Hebei. This is too risky. Once the external battle fails, Hebei will collapse because it is overwhelmed, have you thought about this consequence? With the current situation in Hebei, it is actually impossible to pacify the world in two to three years, but the general is unwilling to admit this. ”

"The general put all his energy on military affairs, and the strategy of seeking speed in military affairs seriously affected the decision-making of the imperial court, and the imperial court and Hebei had to do their best to let go of the pace under the pressure of the general's sword. As a result, whether it was the reform of the imperial court or the implementation of the new policies of the local counties, they were chased by the generals and lost their reason and direction. ”

"In order to pacify the world, Zhongxing Han, the general put a bloody knife on the neck of the court and Hebei, forcing the court and Hebei to go crazy with you. Fast, everything is for fast. The imperial court and Hebei are like a carriage, and the general is like the coachman who drives the carriage, and the horses pulling the carriage are continuously whipped by the general, and the carriage is unbearable and is about to fall apart. But the general was still yelling, whipping, and driving away. ”

"The forces in Northern Xinjiang are not as good as you think, and the forces in Northern Xinjiang are not just blindly defending their own interests. The civil and military officials in Northern Xinjiang are like generals, and they not only have Northern Xinjiang and Hebei in their hearts, but also our Han Dynasty. The general could not vent his anger and resentment on the northern frontier because he could not achieve his goal and pacify the world within the time he predetermined. The great general needs the northern frontier, and the northern frontier also needs the great general, we are one, and there can be no doubt and suspicion. ”

Yu Peng believes that the general Li Hong's psychology of seeking speed led to his continuous mistakes in decision-making, which in turn put Hebei into today's crisis. Li Hong believes that the forces in northern Xinjiang are now more and more inclined to secession and peace, and this psychology has led to more and more official governance, which seriously restricts and affects the implementation of the imperial court's decisions.

The two argued fiercely.

Sima Yi stood timidly to the side, at a loss, not knowing what to do. Sima Fu Gan, Chen Qun, and Yuan Lian, who came to hear the voice, saw that the two of them were angry, and they didn't dare to say anything to dissuade them.

Li Hong usually looks very easy-going, but once his temper starts, it is very terrifying. And Yu Peng has always been gentle and humble, but this time he was unusual, arguing with Li Hong and not giving in a single step.

The accidental death of the Son of Heaven led to a sudden change in the situation in the world, and Hebei fell into a crisis, which was a matter that Li Hong blamed himself very much. Although no one from the eldest princess to the minister in this matter has ever complained about Li Hong, Li Hong has never been able to forgive himself. He felt that he had failed the trust of the first emperor and the expectations of Hebei, and he had been haunted by it.

Today, the pain in his heart gave Yu Peng a merciless punch, which made him unbearable, and he couldn't help but be annoyed and ashamed.

The two of them lost their minds after arguing, and there was nothing else to do but blame each other.

Fu Gan and Sima Yi saw that the momentum was not right, so they hurriedly pulled Li Hong, who was thundering, from left to right. Chen Qun and Yuan Jian took the opportunity to drag Yu Peng out of the big tent.

Li Hong then rushed out of the big tent, flew on his horse, and galloped along the gallop.

In the evening, Yu Peng, who calmed down, pleaded guilty to Li Hong and submitted his resignation.

"We have been together for twelve years, and our friendship for twelve years ......" Li Hong held up Yu Peng's resignation, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Where are you going?" ”

Yu Peng thought for a long time, "The general's idea is right. Now the general wants to control the northern Xinjiang forces, rather than let the northern Xinjiang forces control the generals, which is related to the success or failure of the great cause of Zhongxing. If the general wishes, I will go to the desert. ”

Li Hong suddenly understood Yu Peng's intentions, and he happily stretched out his hand to pat Yu Peng. "Thank you, Boham. I have thought carefully about your words, you are right, I should sit in the court, and I should not personally lead the army around to conquer as in the past. ”

Yu Peng smiled slightly, "What you say." I don't believe it. ”

The two looked at each other and smiled.

In early May, the imperial court issued an order.

Bai Gongsun Zan was the general of the expedition to the north, and led 5,000 iron cavalry to enter Liaodong.

Bai Yu Peng was the general of Pingyu Zhonglang, the person who led the case, and patrolled the outer counties and the Hu tribes. He also ordered him to lead a thousand iron horsemen and send an envoy to the Buyeo State to negotiate the establishment of the Liaodong Protectorate in the territory of the Buyeo State.

Worship Zhu Mu as the Taishou of Hanbei County, and order him to appease Budugen and help Budugen rebuild the Xianbei Department in the west.

Zhao Jian, the son of Taifu Zhao Qi, shot for the left servant of Shangshu. Worship Tian Yu as the Taiyuan County Taishou. Worship Cui Yan as the chief supervisor of the court.

Yuan Peng, Chen Ji, Ding Gong, Yang Qi, former ministers of Chang'an, Yang Biao, Chun Yujia, Zhang Xi, Zhao Wen, Zhao Qian, Han Rong, Zhong Xuan, Jia Xu and others re-entered the court.

In early May, locust plagues began to erupt violently in several counties in the Central Plains.

In mid-May, the locust plague spread to the north bank of the Yellow River. More than a dozen counties in Yanzhou East County on the north bank of the Yellow River, Wei County, Ganlingguo and other places have been affected one after another.

In order to prevent the locust plague from continuing to spread to the central part of Jizhou, Zhong Xuan, Guo Ce, Tian Chou and others, who presided over the evacuation of one million people, resolutely ordered to burn all the wheat fields south of the Qinghe River that had not yet had time to be harvested. In a short period of time, from the north bank of the Yellow River to the Qinghe River for about 300 miles, not only is there no human population, but even the plants are almost gone, and the red land is 300 miles.

In mid-May, Yanzhou, Cangting.

The sun is shining.

The drums in the camp of the Yanzhou army were noisy and roaring, and the soldiers were rehearsing the battle formation.

The fast horses swept into the camp like a whirlwind.

Xiahoudun squinted at the fast horse that was getting closer and closer, licked his chapped lips, and stretched out his hand to the guards behind him. The guards hurriedly handed over a skin bag filled with water. Xiahoudun drank a few sips of water, turned his head and said to Li Dian: "What the hell is this, it's not raining, it's still so hot." ”

"My lord, it's good that it doesn't rain." Li Dian took the water bladder from Xiahoudun's hand and said with a smile, "If it doesn't rain for another month, we can wade across the river, and even the boat raft can be exempted." ”

"What a fart." Xiahoudun scolded unceremoniously, "It doesn't rain for half a year, let's drink the northwest wind?" ”

Li Dian smiled and raised his head to drink cold water.

Xiahoudun unfolded the document handed over by the fast horse and read it carefully. Seeing that his face was expressionless, Li Dian asked strangely, "Where did the urgent book come from?" Prime Minister's? ”

Xiahoudun nodded, "Mancheng, will Zhang Yang defect on the verge of battle?" ”

"Zhang Yang?" Li Dian shook his head, "Lu Bu and Zhang Liao are opposite, they are all from Northern Xinjiang, and their personal relationship is extraordinary, it's hard to say." Why do you ask this? ”

"Where's Tian Kai?"

"Tian Kai?" Li Dian thought for a moment and shook his head again, "He won't defect, on the contrary, it is really possible for Gongsun Zhan on the other side to defect." ”

"You go dreaming." Xiahou sneered, and casually threw the documents in his hand to Li Dian, "The Prime Minister said that the people of Hebei have been in close contact with Zhang Yang and Tian Kai recently, and in order to prevent accidents, he has given up the strategy of attacking first on both wings and told us to fight first." ”

"Shall we fight first?" Li Dian asked in surprise, "When?" ”

"Tonight."

"Tonight?" Li Dian hurriedly opened the paperwork, "Didn't you say that you have to wait until mid-June?" Why did it change again? ”

"The locust plague over there is serious, and the people of Hebei are too busy to take care of themselves, so it is the best time to attack."

Xiahoudun took the water bladder from Li Dian's hand, and as he walked, he waved his hand and shouted: "Order, end training, eat and sleep." ”

The sun is setting.

Lei Zhong sat on the embankment, looking at the blood-red clouds, as if drunk.

"What are you looking at?" Gao Ran carried a horsewhip and walked over leisurely, "Do you miss your wife?" ”

Ray smiled shyly, rolled over and got up to salute.

"The scouts haven't come back yet?"

Lei Zhong shook his head, "It hasn't rained for several months, and the water level is getting lower and lower, so if it goes on like this, the Yanzhou army can come over with a swagger." ”

"Come over here." Gao Ran smiled, "I'm looking forward to them coming." ”

"Iron Rider arrived?" Lei Zhong asked in surprise.

"When I arrived, I waited for Cao Cao to cross the river."

Lei Chong looked back at the other side and shook his head in disappointment, "That butcher doesn't know how long it will take." ”

At this time, the guards standing behind them suddenly pointed to the river and shouted happily, "Come back, they are back." ”