February 187 A.D.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

The Son of Heaven is preparing to return to Jizhou Hejian in the middle of this month to worship his ancestors, and as the departure time approaches, the officials of the Inner Palace, the Inner Court and the Outer Court are getting busier and busier. The Son of Heaven has made it clear that the queen and the eldest prince will stay in Luoyang, and he will only take the queen mother, the little prince and a group of royal relatives to Jizhou.

In recent times, the generals and the clan of the gate lords have been in frequent contact, and they gather every day, or recite poems, or comment on current affairs, or drink and sing, and the relationship between them has become more and more harmonious, on the contrary, the lieutenants have followed the rules, and they have stayed in the palace, and have done their best to prepare for the return of His Majesty to his hometown.

The relationship between the Luoyang Gate Valve family suddenly became complicated. Xu Valve with Sikong Xu Xiang as the head of the family because the bride was snatched away in broad daylight, the face was greatly damaged, they learned from the pain, decided to form a separate family with Fan Ling, Cao Song and a group of official eunuchs, they neither got too close to the officials, nor did they have any intimate relationship with the generals, and at the same time, because of the difference in academics, regions and political views, the relationship between them and other major lords was also more tense. In the past, there were many factions in the Gate Valve clan, and after Xu Shao made an astonishing remark in Taixue in the New Year, it is even more chaotic now.

The general He Jin has been having trouble sleeping lately. After the Chinese New Year, the situation at the border suddenly became tense, and the urgent documents were sent to the capital one after another like snowflakes. The staff of the General's Mansion stayed in the hall all day to analyze the situation and discuss the issue of foreign invasion.

King Xianbei and Lian gathered four troops of more than 100,000 troops to the border this time, and their determination to invade was very resolute.

Where is the main direction of attack of the Xianbei people? The staff of the General's Palace have been arguing about this issue for several days.

Shi Zhaoqi, the head of the general's mansion, believes that when Murong Feng, the Xianbei Lord in the central part and Mijia the Xianbei Lord in the east, invaded Youzhou the year before last, they had been hit hard, and the personnel losses were serious, and it was difficult to recover in the short term.

"Helian's dispatch of troops this time is nothing more than to make meritorious contributions and revive the prestige of the Danhan Mountain Royal Court, but you see, the four adults, except for the northern Xianbei lord Tuoba Feng, no one listens to Helian." Zhao Qi pointed to Youzhou on the map and said, "Who is Murong Feng?" Will he rush out his troops when he is still alive? Now the Karasuma people in western and eastern Liaoxi are ready to move, and they have the intention of rebelling, in this case, Murong Feng will definitely not risk the danger of making a rebellion with the Karasuma people and enter Youzhou without authorization, so the intention of the Xianbei people is obvious, they want to attract our attention to Youzhou, and then concentrate the main force to attack and merge with the state by surprise. ”

Sima He Hao disagreed with Zhao Qi's statement.

"The Xianbei people and the Karasuma people living in Bingzhou, the relationship between the Hutu tribes of the Xiongnu has always been good, if the Xianbei people set the main direction of attack in Bingzhou, they must form an alliance with the Hun Xiutu tribe and the Karasuma people in advance, otherwise the Xianbei people invade, and they will first have to fight, but we have not received any news from this." He Hao said, "That Xiutu tribe is extremely hostile to our Han people, and it is also against Qiangqu Shan Yu, and has rebelled several times, so we have been paying attention to them, especially Qiangqu Shan Yu, and keeping a closer eye on them, but we really haven't gotten any news about this." ”

He looked up at the Fuzhong Peng Shi who was sitting around, and solemnly pointed at Xiliang and said, "I think Helian and Tuoba Feng will attack Xiliang." ”

The general He Jin and everyone in the mansion were stunned, and everyone looked at Xiliang on the map suspiciously, feeling that He Hao's words were a bit incredible.

"Brother Boqiu, Li Hong's 70,000 army is now stationed near Chang'an, and unless Helian is a madman, he will never attack Xiliang." Wang Yun smiled, "Brother Boqiu, you are wrong. ”

"In my eyes, Li Hong's 70,000-strong army is a plate of scattered sand, and there is no threat at all." He Hao smiled proudly.

"Birg, can you explain?" He Jin asked cautiously, "If Li Hong's 70,000-strong army is a plate of scattered sand, we must reconsider the distribution of troops, and if it doesn't work, the northern army will go west again." ”

He Hao glanced at Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao immediately bowed down and replied: "Of Li Hong's 70,000 troops, 30,000 are Huangzhong Qiang, Xian Lingqiang and other Qiang soldiers, who can control these 30,000 people except Li Hong?" Li Hong's Fengyun Iron Cavalry and Black Panther Yicong are all Xianbei and Karasuma people, who can control these more than 10,000 people except Li Hong? There were 30,000 infantry left, some of them were the local border troops of Xiliang, and some of them were the Yellow Turban troops brought to Xiliang by Li Hong from Jizhou. In addition to the fact that the Xiliang Border Army can be completely controlled, who dares to use those Yellow Turban troops with confidence? ”

Everyone was stunned.

"After the Battle of Lulongsai, Li Hong's unit suffered heavy casualties, and the war in Youzhou was very frequent at that time, and he had no time to recruit and train soldiers, so he had to requisition horse bandits, Hu people and even Hu prisoners in northern Xinjiang to replenish the troops, so his subordinates have always been dominated by Hu people, and this situation has not changed until now." Yuan Shao continued, "The Hu people only serve ruthless people like Li Hong, if Li Hong dies, the current army of 70,000 will collapse in an instant. Even if we let the world-famous Huangfu Song lead this army, its fate will not change, and those Yellow Turban soldiers will rebel first. ”

"We think so, and Helian will think so, so Li Hong's safety in Jizhou now is very worrying." He Hao smiled, "But we won't discuss this issue now, we are talking about the invasion of the Xianbei people." Regardless of whether the Xianbei people's attack direction is Bingzhou or Xiliang, our current defensive strength is more than enough, as long as Li Hong does not die. ”

"A safer way is to requisition Dong Zhuo's troops from Hedong to Taiyuan to prevent the Xianbei people from attacking from the direction of Bingzhou, and at the same time order Li Hong to immediately return to Chang'an to lead the army, in case the Xianbei people attack Xiliang."

The general He Jin pondered for a long time and nodded slowly.

"Recently, His Majesty and the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Committee have been busy with the matter of His Majesty returning to his hometown to worship his ancestors, and I am afraid that no one will pay attention to this matter when I play it alone." He Jin looked at Zhao Qi, Wang Yun, and Xun You, and said with a wry smile, "Boss, Zishi, and Gongda, please make a trip to Taiwei Mansion, Situ Mansion and Sikong Mansion respectively, you try your best to persuade the three adults, hoping that the four mansions can play together, so as to attract Your Majesty's enough attention." ”

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

Xu You's secret letter surprised the general He Jin, and he sent someone to hurriedly call He Hao and Yuan Shao.

"Who is this Song Wen? Why is Ziyuan so careless? Li Hong has mastered Wang Fen's corruption and perversion of the law, so it is possible to arrest him. If Li Hong sent people to make a big deal in Jizhou, everything would be exposed. He Hao said angrily, "We secretly sent them hundreds of millions of money, why don't we have any money?" What about money? ”

"They're all taken home." Yuan Shao sighed, "Our people replied that Wang Fen took 100 million yuan himself, and Xu You also took 60 million yuan, where is the money?" ”

"Is money that good?" He Hao angrily pointed to his clothes and said, "My robe has a few patches inside and out, but isn't it the same as it?" I don't have a single servant in my house, and my wife cooks for me to eat, and I don't eat the same? As long as it's warm, as long as it's full, why do you have to wear brocade clothes? Must eat delicacies from the mountains and seas? These greedy villains should have been killed by Li Hong a long time ago. The reason why my Great Han Kingdom has declined to this point is because these selfish and greedy officials drink the blood of the Great Han Kingdom every day, eat the meat of the Great Han Kingdom, and drink up my Great Han Kingdom alive, and eat it up, and now the Great Han Kingdom is left with a pair of white bones, and they are still lying on it and gnawing on it. ”

He Jin's face was very ugly.

Yuan Shao patted He Hao excitedly, and whispered comfortingly: "Brother Boqiu, the general is in front of you, pay attention to what you say." Don't get too excited. ”

"How can I not be excited? Has the temple in His Majesty's hometown been repaired? Has His Majesty's temporary palace ever been completed? Probably they haven't even erected the girders yet, right? Could it be that for the sake of money, they don't even want their own lives, their ancestors, and even their own Han Kingdom? They are talking about serving the Great Han Kingdom, but in fact, they are thinking about swallowing the Great Han Kingdom all the time, a group of despicable villains. He Hao scolded loudly, "They should be dragged out to kill." ”

Yuan Shao smiled helplessly and said, "Boqiu, now, we have no choice but to kill Li Hong immediately. ”

He Jin thought for a moment and said: "Once Li Hong makes a move against Wang Fen, the plan will be exposed, and everything will fall short, and this matter will also alarm His Majesty and make him vigilant, and we will never find such an opportunity again." ”

"Why is it so difficult to eradicate the eunuchs?" He Hao sighed, "I've worked hard for decades, and my hair is almost gray, but the traitorous eunuch is still showing off his might in the court, and he is abusing his power to harm the country. ”

"How is that possible?" Yuan Shao said with a smile, "Brother Boqiu is alarmist. With the general here, everything is still under our control. ”

"Boqiu, no more faith?" He Jin said with a smile.

He Hao shook his head and said with a wry smile: "It's up to people to make things happen, and it's up to heaven to make things happen, what if you don't do it?" I immediately replied to Xu You. ”

"What about Luoyang?" Yuan Shao asked, "The aftermath must be dealt with first." ”

"There are too many people who want Li Hong to die, just find a few reasons, don't worry about no one applauding." He Hao said, "But Li Hong is dead, we just need to give up Xiliang." ”

He Jin's heart trembled, and a pain suddenly penetrated into his heart and lungs. If I do this, will I revive the Great Han Kingdom or harm the Great Han Kingdom? Without Xiliang, what face do I have to meet the ancestors? He involuntarily reached out to his forehead and sighed gloomily.

"At present, the invasion of the Xianbei people is already on the bow and is bound to strike. The time of their attack should be in March, and no later than April. Yuan Shao said helplessly: "We originally planned to force Your Majesty to transfer Li Hong back to Xiliang through the joint performance of the four prefectures, in order to resist the invasion of the Xianbei people, so that even if our affairs cause a period of civil strife in the Central Plains, it will not damage the foundation of the Great Han Kingdom, but now it ......"

"Is there no way to save it?" He Jin looked up at the two subordinates and asked pleadingly, "Give up Xiliang, I can't do it." ”

"We will definitely not be able to recruit Dong Zhuo's troops, and the rest is the Northern Army in Luoyang." Yuan Shao hesitated and said, "But ......"

He Hao thought for a long time and said: "If the general is not willing to give up Xiliang, he must give up ......" He didn't continue, and he couldn't continue.

"Would the Great General be willing?" Yuan Shao asked in a low voice.

He Jin stared blankly at the desk and was speechless for a long time.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

Li Hong has been stationed in the camp of Xiangyu Mountain for five days, but Li Hong still has no intention of leaving Yecheng, and Wang Fen is very anxious.

Xu You went to the barracks every day for the past two days to find Li Hong to ask for military funds, Li Hong dealt with it at first, but then he got annoyed and asked Xie Ming to receive him. Xu You was good at playing chess, he couldn't resist Xie Ming's temptation, and plunged headlong into the chessboard, completely forgetting about urging money. He lost two games in a row, and he was so angry that he didn't even go back to the city, and he had to play with Xie Ming all night long.

Just when Wang Fen was scorched, he received a secret letter from the bitter chief.

"Boyan, good news." After reading the secret letter, Wang Fen said with a smile, "Li Hong is a well-deserved death now." ”

Chen Yi looked at him strangely and asked, "What good news?" ”

"The captain Yan Liang under Li Hong, his two wives are Yang Feng's sisters." Wang Fen said excitedly, "Li Hong fornicated with the Yellow Turban Ant Thief, intending to kidnap the Son of Heaven, the evidence is conclusive, after he was caught by us, he committed suicide in fear of crime." ”

"He has three thousand black panther followers." Chen Yi reminded, "We don't have the power to defeat the Black Panther Yicong, so we don't have a chance to kill Li Hong." He squinted at Wang Fen and said listlessly, "This news is good, but for us, it's the same as nothing." ”

Wang Fen laughed.

"Li Hong won't stay in Xiangyu Mountain all the time, he has to go to Hejian Country, so I guess he will definitely leave in the next two days. As soon as Li Hong left, the Xiangyu Mountain camp was going to be led by someone else. You see Li Hong's subordinates, there is only Yan Liang as a captain, and only he is qualified to lead the army, who else can Li Hong keep except for him? He won't leave the Yuan Shu of the Northern Army, right? Can he trust Yuan Shu? ”

"As for the Black Panther's righteous ......," Wang Fen laughed and said, "Yan Liang stays in Xiangyu Mountain, he must bring two thousand people, otherwise, what will he do to deter people." The black panther was divided into two, and its strength was greatly reduced, so it could only be slaughtered. ”

Chen Yi nodded again and again, and then he remembered something, and asked worriedly: "Brother Yuanshan, of course, it is much easier to kill Yan Liang than to kill Li Hong, but Li Hong ......"

"I want to discuss the way to kill Li Hong with Xu Ziyuan." Wang Fen smiled, "Why hasn't Ziyuan come back yet?" ”

He was thinking about it, and Xu Yu ran back in a hurry.

"My lord, we will go to the camp tomorrow to get military supplies."

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

Li Hong invited Yuan Shu, the captain of Changshui, to discuss who should stay and sit in the Xiangyu Mountain camp.

"Adults can call the shots in this matter, why do you want to discuss it with me?" Yuan Shu smiled, "I only care about the affairs of Changshui Camp, and I don't care about other things." ”

"According to the military law of the Han Dynasty, Sima of other departments can command the army, so I plan to let Sima Jiang Wu of other departments sit in the camp of Xiangyu Mountain." Li Hong said with a smile, "Considering the safety of the Xiangyu Mountain camp, I plan to ask He Feng, the military commander of the Changshui Battalion, to stay and ask him to be Jiang Wu's deputy." ”

Yuan Shu was stunned for a moment, and said, "I thought it was Lord Yan Liangyan who was in charge of the camp of Xiangyu Mountain?" Then he arched his hand and said, "My lord, this person is very inappropriate. ”

"Lord Yuan, tell me, why is it inappropriate? Master Jiang Wu Jiang has commanded an army of thousands of people in Xiliang, and he has a lot of experience in commanding the army. Li Hong asked suspiciously.

"He is from Xiliang, and the soldiers of Jizhou are not familiar with him, and they can't understand his Xijiang dialect, so everyone may not be able to accept it. Lord Yan is different, he is a captain, and he is from Changshan, Jizhou, and he temporarily took them for several days, the soldiers are familiar with him, of course, he should stay in Xiangyu Mountain. Yuan Shu smiled, "Does your lord have any other purpose?" ”

"I mainly want to leave He Feng of your Northern Army. I think He Feng and Jiang Wu can talk very well, so I arranged it like this. Li Hong smiled, "Are you willing to leave He Feng behind?" ”

Yuan Shu shook his head and said helplessly: "My lord, before I left Luoyang, the general repeatedly explained that the Changshui camp was only under your command and not under your control, so ......"

"But the number of my troops is too small, if they all stay in Xiangyu Mountain......"

"Do you believe me, or do you not believe in the five thousand soldiers of the Changshui Battalion?" Yuan Shu immediately lowered his face and said unhappily, "Isn't it true that the five thousand soldiers of my Changshui Battalion can't guarantee the safety of adults?" ”

"Adults misunderstood, misunderstood." Li Hong hurriedly smiled and said, "Since this is the case, let's rely on Lord Yuan." ”

Seeing Yuan Shu away, Li Hong sat in the big tent and hesitated.

"My lord, is there anything wrong with Lord Yan staying in Xiangyu Mountain?" Li Wei asked, "I see you're hesitant." ”

Li Hong smiled bitterly and said, "Yang Feng of the Yellow Turban Army is his brother-in-law. ”

Li Wei and Xie Ming were shocked when they heard this.

"My lord, what are you hesitating about? Of course, Zilong or Jiang Wu are in charge of Xiangyu Mountain, and Lord Yan must not stay. Xie Ming said, "If Wang Fen uses this to make a fuss, won't we be cocooning ourselves and asking for trouble." ”

"I'm not worried that Wang Fen will use this matter to make a fuss, I'm worried about Yan Liang's safety." Li Hong said worriedly, "We were originally going to force Wang Fengou to jump off the wall in a hurry, so whether he is calculating us or we are calculating him, it doesn't matter, the important thing is that we have the strength to defeat him." ”

Li Wei groaned a little and said, "Since the adults have found out Yuan Shu's tone, of course they can also guess Yuan Shu's thoughts. Now we can't count on the Changshui Camp, we only have three thousand black panthers, and we have indeed checked a little bit in terms of strength, unless we ......"

Li Hong shook his hand and said with a smile: "Don't do it unless you do it, otherwise we will die." ”

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝