Chapter 11 The Sunset of the Long River Section 20 Li Wei opened the car door and looked around, and ordered the convoy to move on.

"The question of the eldest princess will be looked at in six years." Li Wei motioned for Xiao Lan to sit across from him, and the excitement on his face was gone, replaced by a face full of melancholy and uneasiness.

"Before the Son of Heaven was not in charge, the eldest princess was in charge, which was the unanimous decision of the imperial court after the death of Emperor Xiaoxian, and it would not be changed, the reason for which was to prevent the general from monopolizing power and repeating the disaster of Dong Zhuo's rebellion, and the general also strongly agreed. The Great General is the same as we do, and no one can guarantee that they will be consistent for decades as the situation changes, the passage of time and the growth of power, so maintaining the balance of power in the court has always been our common goal. The Jinyang crisis of that year and the Chang'an crisis today were all caused by the loss of balance of power in the court. Whenever the crisis is resolved and the balance of power in the court is balanced, the court can maintain stability for a period of time. In this way, although there are more disputes and more bloodshed, so far, there has been no disaster of harem, relatives and ministers in the imperial court, which is also an important reason why Zhongxing has been able to steadily come to this day. ”

"Therefore, whether it is the eldest princess, the general, or the ministers of the foreign courts, they all regard creating a crisis in the court as the only tool to maintain the balance of power."

"Why is this happening? Is it necessary to maintain the balance of power in the court and create one crisis after another at the risk of overthrowing the society? No, using the method of creating a crisis to maintain the balance of power is only an extraordinary measure, a last resort, and the correct way should be to use the "Great Han Law" to maintain it. The Son of Heaven of the Han Dynasty, the courtiers of the Han Dynasty, the harem of the Han Dynasty, the relatives of the Han Dynasty, and even the eunuchs in the harem of the Han Dynasty, as long as they obey the "Law of the Han Dynasty", the country will be peaceful and the people will be rich and strong. However, throughout the ages, no one has been able to do this, and no one has regarded the Law as the supreme authority. From emperors to slaves, at the slightest opportunity, they trampled on the law. As a result, kingdoms rise and fall, dynasties change, and everything else changes from moment to moment, except for the constant country. ”

"Today's "Great Han Law" has lost its proper majesty for many reasons, but one of the very important reasons is the decline of imperial power. If you want to revitalize the Han Dynasty, the first task is to restore the imperial power, and the imperial authority will be all over the world, so that the "Great Han Law" can restore its supreme status. However, judging from the current situation in the world, it is very difficult to revive the imperial power. ”

"How can the imperial power be restored? The controversy in the court was very large. Some ministers believed that the first priority to restore imperial power was the choice of the imperial commander. If there is a problem with the imperial system, even if the Han Dynasty is prosperous, the national strength is strong, and the power of Zhenyu is inside, it will only be a flash in the pan. Some ministers believed that the first task of restoring imperial power was to restore the supremacy of the law. Some ministers believed that the most important task for the restoration of imperial power was the stability of the society and the rebuilding of national strength, and that the foundation of this was strong and invincible force. ”

"Today's imperial court does not have a strong imperial system, and there is no strong core, so the differences between the parties in the DPRK and China on the strategy of the great cause of Zhongxing are becoming more and more serious. With the continuous advancement of ZTE's great cause, this kind of difference will become bigger and bigger, and the contradiction will become more and more intense. ”

"This is the root cause of the Chang'an crisis. Although the frequent crises in the court have maintained the balance of power, they have also seriously affected and hindered the advancement of the great cause of Zhongxing, and if this situation cannot be quickly improved, the society will eventually collapse in the increasingly fierce crisis one day. ”

"Luckily, we are getting closer to the day when we will address the root causes of this crisis."

"According to the weekly system, men perform 20 crown salutes, but in order to take charge of state affairs as soon as possible, the Son of Heaven generally performs crown salutes in advance. King Wen of Zhou was crowned at the age of twelve, and King Cheng was crowned at the age of fifteen. Since the Emperor Xiaohe, except for those who died before the crown year, the crown ceremony was held at the age of thirteen or sixteen. Emperor Xiaoling is a sixteen-year-old Canadian Yuan dress (Yuan Fu is the crown ceremony), and the Emperor Xiaoxian is a thirteen-year-old crown ceremony, and if today's son is also a thirteen-year-old crown ceremony, then there are still six years left. ”

"What is the most important thing for all parties in the court in these six years? Ensure that the little emperor is in charge, and completely eradicate all possible obstacles that threaten the rule of the little emperor. ”

"In the eyes of the Prime Minister and some ministers of the court, the biggest obstacle to the rule of the little emperor in the future is the eldest princess, the general and the warriors of northern Xinjiang, so they must try to reduce and limit the authority of the eldest princess, seize the military power in the hands of the general as soon as possible, and do their best to prevent the warriors from entering the court to interfere in politics."

"In the opinion of the eldest princess, the biggest obstacle to the rule of the little emperor in the future is the restriction of the imperial power by the foreign dynasty, and the threat to the security of the society by the generals and the warriors of northern Xinjiang, so she must try to consolidate the imperial power, seize the power of the prime minister to the greatest extent, and reduce the general's military power at all costs."

"In the general's view, the eldest princess has a long hold of power, and the foreign ministers are contrary to the goals of the northern Xinjiang people in the Zhongxing strategy, etc., these are all obstacles to the rule of the little emperor, so he must restrain the authority in the hands of the eldest princess as soon as possible, and drive out all the foreign forces that endanger the Zhongxing strategy from the court, so as to pave the way for the little emperor to govern."

"I'm a native of Northern Xinjiang...... Li Wei pointed at himself and Xiao Lan,

"You too, we have followed the general for more than ten years, and the earliest Zhongxing strategy was formulated and implemented by us, so we are consistent with the general and the Northern Xinjiang warriors in Zhongxing strategy. The general has always hoped that we, the people of northern Xinjiang, would control the government and control the internal and external dynasties, but due to the annual wars, the general did not complete this idea. ”

"Now, it has only been six years since Xiao Tianzi took charge, and if the people of Northern Xinjiang are not allowed to fully control the government, the crisis will become bigger and bigger. It just so happened that the eldest princess, the prime minister, and a group of ministers in the court also had the same idea. The general was enraged and couldn't bear it anymore, so he planned and launched the Chang'an crisis. ”

"Judging from the current situation, our goals are being achieved step by step, but the question is, can we achieve all the goals in six years?"

"In the next six years, ZTE's strategy will continue to adjust and ensure its correctness. At the same time, the "Great Han Law" should be rebuilt in majesty, the national strength should be quickly restored, and the new policy should be promoted in greater depth. In addition, the general will also forge a strong emperor, he will take the little emperor to fight everywhere, and firmly forge the solid concept of establishing the country with force and governing the country with force in the heart of the little emperor. ”

"However, all these problems are nothing, for the entire imperial court, for the great cause of Zhongxing, and for the entire society, the biggest problem is still unable to lift the two most insurmountable obstacles that may endanger the rule of the little emperor, that is, the eldest princess and the general."

"After the crisis is resolved, although the government is controlled by the people of northern Xinjiang, the people of northern Xinjiang have been divided, and new struggles will form in the court, and there will be more forces to fight, and the means of fighting will be more tragic." Li Wei sighed,

"The general should have expected something, but he has no choice, in order to ensure that the Zhongxing strategy is in line with the interests of the people in northern Xinjiang, he can only seek common ground while reserving differences, keep the big and abandon the small, and take one step at a time."

"Among the scholars in Northern Xinjiang, I am considered a line, the Jizhou Gate Valve family headed by Cui Yan is considered a line, the Northern Xinjiang Gate Valve family headed by the Jinyang Wang family is considered a line, Tian Chou and Fu Gan are considered a line, if you add Guan Luoshi and Ying Rushi people, the power struggle in the court in the future will be far more fierce than now."

"The warriors of Northern Xinjiang have also been divided, the Yellow Turban system headed by Zhang Yan and Yang Feng, the Western Xinjiang system headed by Xu Rong, Liyi, and Jia Xu, the Northern Xinjiang system headed by Xian Yufu and Yushi, and the Jizhou system headed by Yan Liang and Zhao Yun. It is not known whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or the disadvantages outweigh the advantages or the disadvantages outweigh the advantages when so many forces are pouring into the court at the same time and occupying important positions to participate in national politics. ”

"The warriors of Northern Xinjiang have gradually entered the court as early as after Emperor Xiaoxian arrived in Jinyang to rebuild the court, but since then they have had great resistance to entering the court. This time, the general took advantage of the opportunity of the Chang'an Mutiny to cause all the contradictions between the warriors in northern Xinjiang to explode, and the warriors inevitably went to split. The division of the warriors in Northern Xinjiang allowed the imperial court to reduce its resistance and fear of them to a certain extent. The general successfully opened the door for the warriors to enter the court. ”

"The division of the warriors had a great impact on the army, but the general pushed them all into the court and eliminated the huge impact on the army due to the division of the warriors as quickly as possible. As the generals entered the court, the struggle between the various forces in the army immediately decreased, more lieutenants and lieutenants in the army were given the opportunity to make meritorious contributions and be promoted, the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the army would be rapidly enhanced, and the generals would take the opportunity to firmly control the army. As long as the army is in hand, is he still afraid that the imperial court will take away his military power? ”

"In recent years, with the increase of the army and the number of generals, the open and secret battles between the forces in the army have become more and more intense, and the control of the generals over the army has become weaker and weaker. This is also the most important reason why the general was reluctant to return to the DPRK for three years after the Jizhou War. He must firmly control the army, and when the army is in chaos, everything is over. It's not that he doesn't want to return to the court, he doesn't dare to return to the court. ”

"Now that you look back and think about it, can you understand why the general planned and launched the Chang'an crisis?" Li Wei smiled at Xiao Lan,

"I said that this crisis was instigated by the general behind his back, you may have been a little suspicious just now, but now you still doubt it?"

"In this Chang'an crisis, the general opened the door for the warriors to enter the dynasty and paved the way for their future. With the entry of the samurai, the threat of the generals to the society was reduced, and the internal struggles within the army were reduced, and the generals were able to control the army more firmly. The army is united and stable, the combat effectiveness will be improved, the more battles will be won, and a new generation of warriors will emerge in large numbers, and they will also enter the court in the near future. In this way, the general's control over the army will become more and more firm, his control over the government will become more and more firm, his power will become greater and greater, and his deterrent power over the society will become stronger and stronger, and he will become more and more overthrown. ”

"In this case, will the eldest princess and the imperial court still dare to seize the general's military power? Even if the eldest princess and the court take back the general's military power, what is the point? As long as the general does not die, he is the right of the army. If the general is assassinated like Dong Zhuo, Sheji will be finished. At that time, the warriors in the court would fight back for their own interests, and the new generation of warriors in the army who were trained by the generals themselves would tear the shrine to pieces. ”

"Over the years, the general has retreated again and again against the eldest princess and the imperial court, but do you see any loss in his power and strength? No, on the contrary, all those who tried to deal with him had a feeling of powerlessness. Because the general is like a god of war, no one can defeat him. ”

"The general treats the court as a battlefield, and every time he fights, he must achieve several goals, and he will never start a war for one purpose. It's the same this time. You see, the prime minister fell, the Qingyanshi fell, the authority of the eldest princess was weakened, the warriors of Northern Xinjiang entered the dynasty after splitting, and the appeasement of Xiangyang failed. The people of Northern Xinjiang control the government and the army is firmly in control, and the Zhongxing strategy will also be promoted according to the wishes of the people of Northern Xinjiang. When this crisis calms down, it is estimated that no one will want to confront him head-on. ”

"The Great General has achieved his goal, and he has become stronger. But the question is, six years later, when the Son of Heaven was in charge, when he forced the eldest princess to return to the government of the little Son of Heaven, what should he do? ”

"The general obviously knows his situation, so he took Xiao Tianzi to fight in the world, and spared no effort to cultivate the strength of Xiao Tianzi. But six years later, the general had been in the army for twenty-five years. Twenty-five years of fighting horses, twenty-five years of battlefield battles, and twenty-five years of meritorious service, the general exists like a god in people's hearts. Its prestige is so great, can it be replaced by the little emperor? Imagine how many soldiers in the army are willing to go to the trouble for him? Imagine how many warriors in the desert are willing to break their bones for him? ”

"If the general continues to stay in the court, then he is a minister, and it is not good for Sheji, Xiao Tianzi, or himself. This is not just a matter of high merit, but because the entire society feels threatened by him, and no one wants to let him continue to stay in the court. But the more serious question is, will he be able to walk away? Who would dare to let him leave the court? Who is relieved that he will leave the court? ”

"If he doesn't leave, the eldest princess will not return to the Son of Heaven. Although the Son of Heaven is thirteen years old and is in charge, according to the tradition of this dynasty, the Son of Heaven has not completed his studies (the "Internal Rules of the Book of Rites" stipulates that different age groups have different learning content, and there is a higher level of learning after **, even the Son of Heaven must follow this ceremony), that is, before the age of twenty, the eldest princess can continue to govern and assist the Son of Heaven. In this way, the conflict broke out. ”

"Six years later, this crisis is very terrible, no one can stay out of it, and the slightest carelessness is the disaster of the jade." Xiao Lan leaned weakly on the saddle, disheartened, and wanted to leave for a while.

Although she and Li Wei are both important ministers of the dynasty, the couple rarely discuss the government at home. According to the law, the minister of Beijing was not allowed to gather privately without a valid reason.

Xiao Lan has a special identity, and Li Wei is not restricted by this law, but for the sake of their lives, the two are still tight-lipped about their respective official duties.

Xiao Lan has her own understanding of the government, but when she heard Li Wei's words today, she suddenly found that she was the same as the eldest princess, blinded by her worship of Li Hong, and it was the first time she knew Li Hong so clearly.

"The general trusts you, and is so anxious to push you to the position of prime minister, does he want you to help him find a way out?"

"This is not to help him find a way to live, but to help Sheji, help Xiao Tianzi, and help us find a way to live by ourselves. This is self-help. If I can't save the crisis six years from now, we'll all be wiped out at that moment. ”

"Do you have a way?" Shinoran asked in surprise.

"Nope." Li Wei shook his head in frustration,

"I'm in a mess right now, but I feel like there's definitely a chance to survive."

"Tell me, maybe I can help you think about it?" Xiao Lan said eagerly.

"There are only two things that can be expected at the moment. First, after the little emperor made the crown salute at the age of thirteen, he could marry a queen for himself, this queen could not be someone else, only the daughter of the general, Wen'er and Xiu'er, and even both could enter the palace. In this way, the general became a relative. According to the law of the Han Dynasty, a relative could not hold a prominent position in the court. But the question is, will the general be willing? The general gave up his military power, and several conditions were required, first of all, the eldest princess must completely surrender her authority; secondly, he must have a suitable reason to give up his authority, so that the eldest princess, the Son of Heaven, and the ministers of the court and China can all be reassured; Third, he must be able to ensure his own safety. The fact that the general became a relative and his daughter became the queen does not mean that he and his daughter and his subordinates are safe, and no one believes that this kind of marriage can guarantee their safety. ”

However, the general's becoming a relative was the basis for him to surrender his military power and withdraw from the court, and it was a prerequisite for resolving the crisis six years later. Therefore, whether he wants it or not, we must force him to marry his daughter to the Son of Heaven. Xiao Lan nodded sympathetically,

"What's the second thing to expect?"

"The eldest princess's home." Li Wei said in a low voice. Xiao Lan was startled. This matter is a taboo for the eldest princess, and the Jinyang crisis was because Emperor Xiaoxian wanted to marry the eldest princess, and as a result, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty were almost wiped out, which was far more terrible than the Chang'an crisis.

"If the eldest princess gets her wish, then many problems can be solved. And we can also find a way to resolve the crisis, maybe ......" Xiao Lan shook her hand again and again,

"You're thinking too simply, do you know how hard it is to do this? One is willing to marry, and the other is willing to marry? What does the Son of Heaven think? What do the ministers think? What about the world six years from now? What about the situation in the court? Wait, wait, it's too complicated, it's too complicated, it's too much to think about, don't mention it anymore, it's impossible. Far from helping to resolve the crisis six years later, this incident threatens to make it even bloodier, or even destroy the community outright. Li Wei wanted to say more, but Xiao Lan's face sank, and he said angrily: "Don't say it again, even if we die and the clan is wiped out, we can't provoke this terrible disaster." ”

"Then how do you ask me to solve the problem now?" Li Wei glared at him and said sharply,

"I just said so much, don't you understand? This crisis is closely linked to the one six years later. If the eldest princess can't trust the general with all her heart as she did in the past, if the two of them can't work together to deter the foreign court with strong strength, how can I guarantee that the warriors can enter the court smoothly and ensure that they have a firm foothold in the court? If the warriors stand on their feet, the struggle in the court will suddenly become fierce, so how can I guarantee that the court can be stable for six consecutive years? If the court can't stabilize for six consecutive years, and the national strength can't be continuously restored, after six years, what will I do to support the series of disasters caused by that crisis? ”

"It's not my personal business, it's not our family's business, it's about the community, it's about thousands of innocent people." Li Wei grabbed Xiao Lan's arm, dragged him into his arms, and whispered in her ear,

"Tell the eldest princess that as long as she trusts the general completely, just as she trusted the general when she went to the northern frontier, she will definitely be able to get her own happiness. I swear with my life that if I can't help her fulfill her wish, I will die with ten thousand arrows through my heart. Xiao Lan cried, she hugged Li Wei, and said sadly: "Why do you have to take this responsibility? After two years, you can get out with a random reason, why do you have to run to death? ”

"Without the Great General, I would have died in Yicheng a long time ago. There are no great generals, and there are no great men today. For private reasons, I should die for the general; Yu Gong, I should die for Sheji. Li Wei sighed softly,

"The teacher's spirit in heaven is watching us, and if he is still alive, he will definitely encourage me to move forward and fight to the death." On the seventh day of August, in the early morning, Chang'an.

Da Sima Xu Rong convened the ministers to discuss the meeting. Taifu Yang Biao came with illness. Guangluxun Zhang Yan and Zhijinwu Zhao Yun were ordered to arrive.

Li Wei, the great Si Nong, read out a series of holy decrees. The old minister Zhou Zhong led the affairs of the prime minister on his behalf. The old minister Sima Fang led the imperial history platform on his behalf.

agreed to detain the ministers involved in the case, including the servant Kong Rong. It was agreed to exchange 14 county governors and state ministers from all over the country.

Da Sima Xu Rong ordered the Tingwei Mansion to conclude the case of the assassination of the Son of Heaven as quickly as possible, and then kill those who should be killed, and let them go, without delaying time, and strive to control the impact to the minimum.

Guangluxun Zhang Yan proposed that the ministers jointly play a joint petition to impeach the ministers Cai Yong, the imperial historian Liu He and other ministers, believing that they had made a series of mistakes in the Zhongxing strategy, and were suspected of fornication and rebellion, and had unshirkable responsibility for the assassination of the Son of Heaven in Weiqiao, and suggested that the eldest princess remove Cai Yong, Liu He and other ministers from their posts.

Li Wei, the chief priest, suggested that the official system be revised, the power of the middle secretary was reduced, and the system of taking care of life was implemented, and the ministers above assisted the emperor in handling state affairs, so as to limit the authority of the eldest princess.

The ministers unanimously agreed, and a cantata was written. On the morning of the seventh day of August, the old minister Zhou Zhong and the great Si Nong Li Wei rushed to Liyang.

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