pdf-ebookys Chapter 313: Luoyang City in Danger
Chapter 313: Luoyang City in Danger
Chapter 313: Luoyang City in Danger
When Liu Yu returned to the Grand Marshal's Mansion and Liu Bian was settling accounts, something happened in the Imperial Guards camp.
Zhao Yun rode his horse and chased for dozens of miles, but had to stop.
A few years later, Zhao Yun had shed his childishness and had become a mature general. He looked towards the south, his facial features clearly defined under the silver helmet, his eyes like stars.
Behind him followed a dozen fast horses, one of whom was Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu held the reins and said to Zhao Yun, "General Zhao, Bofu is concerned about his father, so I understand why he did this."
Zhao Yun looked back at him and said calmly, "If he escapes, you and his uncle Wu Jing may both be sentenced to death. Is it him who doesn't know, or you who doesn't know?"
Zhou Yu's face changed slightly and he remained silent.
Sun Ce wanted to take Zhou Yu with him, but Zhou Yu gave up in the end.
Sun Ce could abandon Wu Jing, but Zhou Yu could not put their parents and clansmen at risk.
Although Liu Biao had ulterior motives, he would most likely carry out the order from Luoyang City to exterminate the entire Zhou clan.
Zhao Yun looked at the direction Sun Ce escaped again, feeling a little confused.
The management of the Imperial Guards camp has always been strict. Not to mention someone of a certain status like Sun Ce, even ordinary soldiers could not easily escape from the camp.
Not only did Sun Ce escape, he also took more than a dozen people with him.
Zhao Yun had been in the Imperial Guard camp for many years and knew the rules very well, so this matter seemed strange and inexplicable.
Dong dong dong
The sound of horse hooves was heard behind him, and Zhang Xiu came riding fast.
Zhao Yun stood over his head, raised his spear, and asked, "Is there something wrong with the camp again?"
Zhang Xiu raised his hand and said, "No, the palace sent a message that the General of the Central Army should return to the capital immediately."
Zhao Yun glanced in the direction of Luoyang City and said, "Okay. From now on, the Imperial Army camp is under martial law. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my order!"
Sun Ce’s escape was a serious matter and such a thing must not happen a second time.
"Yes, sir!" Zhang Xiu replied.
Zhao Yun rode his horse straight back to Luoyang.
At this time in Luoyang City, the government and the public were still arguing about various issues related to "defeating Dong Zhuo".
Cao Cao, who had led to Dong Zhuo's rise to power because of his military defeat, was naturally the center of the storm. The voices of impeachment against him became increasingly louder, and some people even openly attempted to assassinate Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was fearless about this. He walked from street to street, not only visiting famous scholars from all over the place, but also bringing valuable gifts to the ministers of the Secretariat and the Six Ministries one by one. He even did not spare the former troublemaker Liu Xie.
When Zhao Yun returned to Luoyang City, Cao Cao had just come out of the Household Department.
As soon as he left, Xun Yu and Xun You met, stood on the steps, and watched Cao Cao leave.
Xun You folded his hands, looked at Cao Cao's back with cold eyes, and asked calmly: "What did he say?"
Xun Yu said: "He told me the details of the defeat and asked me for weapons, horses, and food."
Xun You snorted coldly and said, "He really is fearless."
That could only be Cao Cao. If it were anyone else, there would have been grass over his grave long ago.
Xun Yu glanced at him and said, "Why don't you stop?"
Xun You said expressionlessly, "Cao Cao is a great scourge after all. Even if I cannot eliminate him now, I will ruin his reputation."
At this time, "reputation" is the ladder to everything. If Cao Cao's reputation is ruined, he will not be able to reach a certain position or accomplish certain things in the future.
Xun Yu shook his head and said, "Don't treat His Majesty as the late emperor. I can see that, and the palace will know it clearly."
Xun You's eyes were cold and distant, and he said, "I have done nothing wrong. Your Majesty is the one who is at fault. If Your Majesty asks me to face you, I will plead guilty."
Xun Yu's eyebrows twitched, showing a rare look of annoyance.
Xun Yu felt somewhat helpless towards this uncle. Ever since he concealed the palace's true intentions, he and this uncle had drifted further and further apart. Their differences became increasingly clear, and they wrestled secretly, fighting but unable to break.
Xun You saw Cao Cao's carriage disappear, turned to look at Xun Yu, and said: "I will not agree to any of the appointments Cao Cao wants. In addition, the money and grain in Taicang are limited. If you want to allocate it to Cao Cao, I will not agree."
Xun Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "You deliberately delayed the appointments Cao Cao wanted. If something goes wrong in the future, you will be held responsible. As for the money and food, they will be provided from the Imperial Army Camp."
Xun You's expression gradually relaxed and became extremely indifferent.
Xun Yu saw this and said, "Let me tell you something that may change your approach to Cao Cao."
Xun You hated that Xun Yu was hiding things from him. In his opinion, this cousin had been able to get to where he was today because of him from the very beginning!
But now, this cousin has surpassed him at a young age and sat on the prime minister's throne, but he has not shown the proper "reward" to him.
At the very least, one should be frank and tell everything one knows!
Therefore, when Xun You heard Xun Yu's words, he raised his eyelids slightly, his eyes were indifferent and unfamiliar.
Xun Yu saw this and said, "Many years ago, His Majesty gave Cao Cao two options, one is the Shangshutai and the other is the Da Sima Mansion. Cao Cao chose the Da Sima Mansion."
Xun You was stunned. Is there such a thing?
After thinking for a while, Xun You asked doubtfully, "Are you saying that Cao Cao has given up the Shangshutai and can only stay in the Grand Marshal's Mansion in the future? And control the military power?"
Xun Yu said: "Not only the Shangshutai, since that day, Cao Cao can only be a military general strictly speaking. He cannot serve as a county magistrate, a county governor, or a state governor. And the Grand Marshal's Office does not hold military power."
Under Liu Bian's "New Deal", there were many contents of "separation of military and politics", among which the division and balance of military power in the court was that the Grand Marshal's Office had the power to deploy troops, while the power to command troops was in the hands of the Military Department.
Xun You was well-informed about the "New Deal" and the current political situation. He was shocked when he heard this and said, "In other words, no matter how great Cao Cao's achievements are in the future, he will only be confined to the Grand Marshal's Mansion? No soldiers and no power?"
Xun Yu hummed and said, "That's right."
Xun You's eyes became strange, and he thought of many things at once.
He naturally didn't know that Liu Bian had given Cao Cao a choice. This also explains why Cao Cao was so favored, but had never been promoted for many years, and only had some flashy titles.
Xun You hesitated for a while, looked at Xun Yu and said, "I can agree to part of Cao Cao's recommendation, but I want to transfer some of Cao Cao's generals and some people in the shogunate."
Xun Yu shook his head and said, "A war is imminent. If you do this, it will shake the morale of the army. I have discussed with the Grand Marshal that when Liu Bei arrives in Beijing, we will host a banquet for them at the Shangshutai."
Seeing that his cousin did not give in at all, Xun You's eyes became deep and indifferent. After making sure that Xun Yu would not respond to his refusal, he turned around and returned to the Household Department.
Xun Yu did not try to persuade him to stay and could only sigh.
Cao Cao was almost done with his work, so he returned to his house and ordered his men to pack their luggage and prepare to leave Beijing for Yingchuan County.
Guo Jia drank his wine, looked up at the sun, and said, "General, we need more soldiers from the south."
Cao Cao could barely walk. He wiped his sweat and ordered the servants to move the furniture. It took him a while to get to Guo Jia's side. He said in an unbearable heat: "The Secretariat, the Six Departments, the Censorate, the Court of Justice, and the Nine Temples are all avoiding me. Those who see me are cold and polite, without any real intention. I can't count on the court at all except those appointed to me by His Majesty himself."
Guo Jia shook his head and said, "It's not without reason that people say 'the Han Dynasty is about to end.'"
Only Guo Jia dared to say such words in front of Cao Cao. Anyone else would be dragged out and beheaded.
Cao Cao was unaware of this and said with emotion: "I am burdened by my reputation."
Guo Jia smiled and said, "Have you met the Prince of Chenliu?"
Cao Cao leaned against the door frame, looking at Cao Ang practicing sword not far away, and said: "I have met him, and he promised to ask the Secretariat for me. But he also said that the relationship between His Majesty and the Secretariat seems to be a little tense, so his words may not be useful."
"Cough cough cough,"
Guo Jia choked on his wine, tilted his head and looked at Cao Cao, saying: "The relationship between the Shangshutai and Your Majesty is... 'tense'? Is the rumor true? Your Majesty is suspicious of the 'Yingchuan Party'?"
Cao Cao looked calm and said, "No. I have carefully inquired about it. It is the 'New Deal'. Your Majesty is very dissatisfied with the progress of the Shangshutai in implementing the 'New Deal' and has exerted unprecedented pressure."
Guo Jia stopped drinking and looked thoughtful.
Guo Jia also came from Yingchuan, but his family was small, very different from the Xun family. Guo Jia was not a person who sought fame and fortune, so he never approached them.
But it’s not that I don’t know him.
On the contrary, Guo Jia also had a certain reputation and was appreciated and funded by the Xun family.
What he cares about is naturally not these, but once the 'Yingchuan Party' really falls out of favor, it will be the next 'Yuan Family', and the impact may be more extensive than the Yuan Family!
It was an extremely terrifying scene, and Guo Jia's scalp went numb at the slightest thought of it.
Guo Jia didn't like the imperial court, and he didn't like this kind of intrigue. He nodded silently and said, "General, will you attack tomorrow?"
Just as Cao Cao was about to speak, he saw Mrs. Bian, who was pregnant, walking towards him with Cao Pi.
"What's the matter?" Cao Cao stood up quickly with a serious look on his face.
In front of his sons and juniors, Cao Cao has always been a strict elder.
Mrs. Bian glanced at Guo Jia, somewhat hesitant.
Guo Jia smiled slightly, turned and walked inside.
Mrs. Bian then came forward and whispered in Cao Cao's ear: "Someone has arranged a woman for the general. Please take her as a concubine."
Cao Cao's expression suddenly changed. He looked at Cao Pi and said in a deep voice, "Did you hear that?"
Cao Pi was afraid of Cao Cao and said timidly, "I heard it."
"You are not allowed to tell this to anyone, understand?" Cao Cao said with an increasingly stern expression.
Cao Pi didn't understand why, and didn't dare to think about it, so he said directly: "I know."
Cao Cao examined him for a while, and then he scolded Madam Bian: "The country is in danger, how can I, Cao Cao, covet these things? Tell those people, if they dare to mess around again, don't have any contact with them!"
Mrs. Bian was stunned. Cao Cao hadn't taken a concubine for several years, and it seemed that he didn't have any women outside.
Why did you suddenly change your gender?
In Madam Bian's eyes, her husband was lustful by nature. He couldn't walk when he saw a beautiful woman. It was really unbelievable that he had taken a concubine in several years!
Cao Cao snorted coldly and continued, "Also, those people from the past should try not to move around."
Before Liu Bian ascended the throne, Cao Cao was in his thirties and still behaved like a playboy. He was greedy for money and lustful, had a strong chivalrous spirit, and made countless bad friends.
Mrs. Bian was frightened by Cao Cao, and she nodded repeatedly, then hurried away with Cao Pi, holding her big belly.
Cao Cao looked a little ugly, and his eyes kept flickering.
He also wanted to take a concubine. He had traveled all over the country for so many years and met countless lovely young wives and widows. But Liu Bian had ordered that his consent must be obtained before taking a concubine!
This was due to He Xian's wife Yin, and Cao Cao did not succeed.
But if he went to the palace to ask for mercy because of a mere concubine, there was only one possibility - Cao Cao had lost his mind!
Guo Jia came out, drinking some wine, and asked, "General, what did the Minister Huangfu say?"
Cao Cao calmed down, recalled for a moment, and said: "He is very easy to talk to, and promised me many things."
Guo Jia stood beside Cao Cao, looking leisurely at Cao Ang in the yard.
Cao Cao was stunned when he could not wait for Guo Jia to finish his words. He pondered carefully and found nothing missing. He asked in confusion, "What does Feng Xiao mean by that?"
Guo Jia smiled slightly and said, "General, you should find an opportunity to visit Captain Huangfu."
Cao Cao didn't have much impression of Huangfu Jianshou, but given his status and position, he knew clearly what Huangfu Jianshou did, and he had also seen some secret intelligence in the Grand Marshal's Mansion!
"No one can be found,"
Cao Cao wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "This man's whereabouts are erratic. No one knows except the palace. It will be difficult to use the information he has."
Guo Jia drank with a smile.
Having said this, I believe Cao Cao has a way to do it.
Cao Cao was sweating profusely. He wiped the sweat off his beard and said, "There is another bad news. The Li Cao seems to be preparing to purge some people, including the Black Mountain Army and the Yellow Turban Army that I surrendered."
"Cleaning?"
Guo Jia was a little surprised and said, "Doesn't the imperial court want stability? Aren't you worried that doing this will provoke these people to rebel again, or make the rebellions in various places more intense?"
Cao Cao's narrow eyes were unusually calm as he said, "Your Majesty is dissatisfied with the Secretariat, so the Secretariat will naturally respond."
Guo Jia thought of how Wang Yun used the excuse of "cutting redundant officials" to carry out his own agenda against the "Yingchuan Party".
Guo Jia took a sip of wine, shook his head and laughed, "From ancient times to the present, the court has changed people one after another, but there is not much new."
“It’s not new at all.”
Cao Cao was also a person who witnessed Wang Yun's time. When he saw Cao Ang put away his sword, his expression changed slightly and he said, "I have some friendship with Shi A, the guard of Captain Huangfu. I will try to contact Captain Huangfu through him. If that doesn't work, I can ask His Majesty directly for it."
Guo Jia didn't care. Cao Cao had enough ability and wisdom, but he just needed to overcome his character flaws.
"Owner,"
A servant passed through the boxes and other servants and ran to Cao Cao, saying, "The news from Chenliu Palace is that the Empress Dowager is seriously ill."
Cao Cao waved his hand and looked at Guo Jia, but he was not too shocked.
Guo Jia looked towards the direction of Chenliu Prince's Palace and said meaningfully: "Your Majesty has allowed Chenliu Prince to live until now. This tolerance and courage are unmatched by ordinary people."
Cao Cao witnessed with his own eyes the dangerous struggle for the throne in front of Emperor Ling’s coffin. The current emperor almost failed to sit on it.
Afterwards, Empress Dowager Dong and the Twelve Eunuchs did not give up and caused a lot of trouble. Yuan Shu even forged the Emperor Ling's will and started a rebellion. Chao also asked Liu Bian to execute Liu Xie.
However, the palace has always emphasized "fathers are kind and sons are filial, brothers are friendly and younger brothers are respectful", and has protected Liu Xie all the way to now.
Cao Cao nodded slightly, his narrow eyes flashing with concentration and deep fear.
The emperor in the palace's tolerance and methods are indeed extraordinary. At least, if it were him, Liu Xie would definitely not survive the second day in power!
Guo Jia silently picked up the wine jug and drank, glancing at Cao Cao out of the corner of his eye.
The word "Xu County" was always on his mind.
Guo Jia had already understood Liu Bian's question about "Xu County", which was directed at Cao Cao, and profoundly foreshadowed the emperor in the palace's warning to Cao Cao that went straight to the bone.
But Cao Cao didn't notice.
Guo Jia also didn't plan to tell Cao Cao.
He was Cao Cao's aide and needed to plan a safe way for Cao Cao to survive.