flstandardbreds Chapter 136 The Beginning of Chaos
Chapter 136 The Beginning of Chaos
Chapter 136 The beginning of chaos
After leaving Hongdu Gate Academy, Liu Bian went to Taixue, then to the Armory, then to Zhaoxian Hall, and finally returned to the palace.
"This arsenal shall be assigned to the Criminal Department."
Liu Bian was walking on the way to the Jiade Hall, and he said to Pan Yin: "We need to increase our efforts in the research and development of war horses, swords, armor, bows and crossbows, and arrows. Both the quality and quantity must be greatly improved..."
Pan Yin followed Liu Bian in small steps, taking notes carefully. He wanted to remind Liu Bian about the money and grain matters several times, but swallowed the words back when they came to his lips.
Liu Bian came to the Jiade Hall, put away his umbrella, and walked straight to the Shangshu Terrace in the west.
Before I got close, I heard bursts of noise coming from the conference room, most likely from Yang Biao.
"Regarding the vacancy in the imperial court, it must be filled today!"
"You don't need to worry about money and grain. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Revenue. You should just focus on your duties!"
"Your Majesty has already approved the policy outline, there is no need to discuss it further."
"Master Zi, I know what you are going to say. This is something I need to consider!"
"The reform of the Censorate still needs to be discussed. Liu Zhongcheng, no matter how many times you ask, this is what I mean."
"The position of the Governor of Grain is the same as that of the Vice Minister, and he is under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat. He is regarded as an imperial envoy, and he supervises the taxation. He is half a level higher than the officials in the prefectures and counties. Okay, I know what you mean. I will temporarily take over the post of the Governor of Liberation. This is the decision of the Secretariat, and no one can violate it."
"Impeach? The governor of Yanzhou? Don't impeach me. Report to the Censorate. I have no right to investigate or punish the governor or provincial governor of a state."
"The Minister of Rites is wasting money and food? What does Minister of Rites Cai have to say?"
"I don't want to hear this. I want to ask you, is the money and grain for building Hongdu Gate School illegal? If it's not, then so be it. If you have any objections, you can raise the money on your own."
Liu Bian was listening not far away, and stopped the clerk who was about to report, and whispered to Pan Yin: "What has the Prime Minister done recently?"
Pan Yin bowed and said, "Yes."
Liu Bian couldn't help laughing and laughing. He listened for a while and then turned and left.
Along the way, there were eunuchs and palace maids performing formal duties, going back and forth, very busy.
Liu Bian went straight to Deyang Palace.
Deyang Palace is the largest palace in the imperial palace except for Yongle Palace. It has an altar made of inscribed stone, a painted house with red beams, jade steps and golden pillars. It is over twenty feet high and can accommodate more than ten thousand people!
This is where all officials hold court meetings.
Speaking of which, Liu Bian had never held a court meeting here.
When I walked in and took a quick glance, I saw that the hall was already filled with cushions, small tables, and tableware, and it was decorated in a very festive manner.
Liu Bian nodded, sat on the main seat, and looked down at the hall.
At this moment, Liu Bian suddenly had an extremely different feeling, and his heart couldn't help but surge with excitement, as if he was not looking at the main hall, but overlooking the entire Han Dynasty!
Liu Bian couldn't help but sit up straight, his eyes burning, and said in a deep voice: "Yonghan!"
Yonghan was Liu Bian’s first reign title, and there were still two days left before the change of reign title!
Pan Yin stood aside, looking at the confident expression on Liu Bian's face and the determined light in his eyes, and subconsciously bowed.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Suddenly, a minor official ran in, panting and shouting: "Great joy! Great joy! Envoy Zhu of Qingzhou has defeated the Yellow Turban Army, captured 200,000 surrenders, and has recovered Donglai!"
Liu Bian stood up suddenly, without caring about anything else, he went down the stairs and headed straight for the Grand Marshal's Mansion. He walked too fast and almost fell after a stumble.
Pan Yin followed closely behind and said, "Your Majesty, slow down..."
Liu Bian ignored him and soon arrived at the Sima Mansion to the east of Jiade Hall.
"No need to be polite." Liu Bian did not give Huangfu Song a chance to greet him. He went straight to the sand table, stared at the flag of Donglai County, and said, "Tell me quickly."
Huangfu Song withdrew his hand and stood behind Liu Bian. He looked cold and calm, and said, "Your Majesty, Donglai County is one of the largest dens of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Once Donglai County is conquered, the blow to the rebellion will be very heavy. The most important thing is that if Donglai County is conquered, the east and the west will be connected. Envoy Zhu will take the initiative and quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion from north to south in no time!"
Liu Bian looked at the situation in Qingzhou, nodded continuously, and said in an excited tone: "Good, very good! The Grand Marshal's Mansion will commend Zhu Qing's family and reward his meritorious generals generously!"
Huangfu Song looked at Liu Bian's excited expression and remained silent.
Liu Bian didn't wait for his voice, his heart skipped a beat, he turned around and looked at him and said, "Qingjia, is there any more bad news?"
Huangfu Song saw this and immediately said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. There is no bad news."
Liu Bian smiled and said, "Your family's expression is not like that."
Huangfu Song's expression remained unchanged. He looked at Liu Bian, paused for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty, Qingzhou has been plagued by banditry for years. Even if we recover the counties, the most important thing is to pacify the people. If we cannot appease the victims, the banditry will never be quelled."
Liu Bian smiled, feeling relaxed. He looked back at the sand table and said, "You don't have to worry about this. Next year, I will take back the salt administration from the imperial court and transfer taxes from the northern states. The Shangshutai estimates that we can get 1.5 billion in money and grain next year, which is enough."
Fifteen hundred million, but last year it was less than five hundred and fifty thousand!
Huangfu Song's expression relaxed slightly, and he asked, "Your Majesty, should we send the imperial guards to support Envoy Zhu?"
When Liu Bian heard this, he looked thoughtful.
What Huangfu Song called the "Imperial Guards" were the soldiers from the Imperial Guards camp outside the city. Not long ago, Zhang Liao led 5,000 people to Youzhou to support Liu Yu.
"hold on."
Liu Bian thought about it again and again, but still did not agree.
In fact, the soldiers in the Imperial Guards Camp had not received much training and most of them were refugees. Those who had combat experience were basically taken away by Zhang Liao.
It is difficult to say the pros and cons of letting a group of refugees go to Qingzhou.
Huangfu Song also understood, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Your Majesty, can you transfer General Fenwu Gongsun Zan to Qingzhou?"
Liu Bian shook his head and said, "I plan to transfer him to Yuzhou. I always feel that something bad is going to happen in Yuzhou."
Huangfu Song said nothing more.
The Han Dynasty had countless governors, provincial governors, prefects, and generals, but only a handful of them could be called upon to fight tough battles.
"However, overall, the situation is positive." Liu Bian looked for a while and said with a happy smile.
Huangfu Song nodded. The Yellow Turban Army was most powerful in Qingzhou. With Zhu Jun's great victory and the recovery of Donglai, the pacification of Qingzhou would be just around the corner!
Seeing Liu Bian happy, he hesitated for the first time and said, "Your Majesty, regarding my son Huangfu Jianchang, I..."
Liu Bian saw that Huangfu Song was rarely speaking, so he turned to look at him and said with a smile, "Why, normally you would beat him to death, but now you don't want your son to suffer?"
Huangfu Song's face turned serious, he raised his hand and said, "It's not that I don't want him to suffer, but I'm worried that he is young and frivolous, ignorant and fearless, and will ruin your majesty's plan."
Liu Bian stood up straight and said, "My lord, don't underestimate him. He volunteered to go to Yuzhou this time. Be careful. There is no danger."
Huangfu Song raised his hand and said, "Your Majesty, Huangfu Jianshou is qualified for the job."
Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "Qingjia, I gave him a chance, and you should give him a chance too. You don't want him to be a playboy in Luoyang City forever, living a muddle-headed life and bringing shame to the Huangfu family, right?"
Huangfu Song heard this and there was some struggle in his eyes. After a long while, he said, "I accept your order."
Liu Bian saw it clearly, and said with a smile: "How pitiful are the parents in the world."
Huangfu Song's expression changed slightly, he put down his hand, and said, "Your Majesty, someone recommended Cao Cao to the Grand Marshal's Mansion."
"How do you think we should arrange him?" Liu Bian asked. Liu Bian had never made up his mind about Cao Cao's arrangement. Cao Cao was determined to lead the army to establish his career, so it would be a waste to keep him in the court. However, Liu Bian had never decided where to send him.
"I am considering sending him to Sanfu." Huangfu Song said. He still admired Cao Cao very much. This man had been under his command for quite a while. He was brave and resourceful. What was rare was that he had a firm mind and was neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat.
"I'll think about it again." Liu Bian said. There would be no war in the Sanfu area in the foreseeable future. It would be a waste to let a hero like Cao Cao waste time there.
"Yes." Huangfu Song did not say much. Everyone in the court knew one thing, that is, the current emperor was very kind to Cao Cao, and no one could compare to him, and he repeatedly protected him.
Huangfu Song could also sense that the emperor before him was prepared to make great use of Cao Cao.
After chatting with Huangfu Song for a while, Liu Bian left the Grand Marshal's Mansion and discussed with a group of court officials in the Secretariat until dark before returning to his bedroom in Jingfu Palace.
On the second day, at daybreak, Liu Bian got up and went to his study, where he ate breakfast while reviewing occasional memorials.
Today is the end of the year and the court is about to close. There are too many things to be finished, and they require Liu Bian's stamp.
The busy time is no longer called time, and before I know it it is noon.
Pan Yinduan brought lunch and said, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has selected a few good girls to enter the palace."
Liu Bian picked up the spoon, put a mouthful of soup and rice into his mouth, and said, "Has Liu Biao's memorial not arrived yet?"
Pan Yin bowed quickly and said, "I just asked, and the Shangshutai has some opinions on the reform of the Yushitai, and they are still discussing it."
The Censorate already had great power and authority, on par with the Secretariat. Now Liu Bian wanted to give the Secretariat many privileges, especially the dispatch of imperial envoys to inspect the thirteen states. Yang Biao, Wang Yun, including Xun You and others, were all worried that this would cause a fierce backlash at the local levels, which would be detrimental to the overall stability of the Han Dynasty.
Therefore, the Secretariat and the Censorate have been arguing fiercely about the reform.
Liu Bian said without even looking up, "Send a message to Yang Biao, it must be decided today."
"Yes." Pan Yin responded.
"correct,"
Without waiting for Pan Yin to turn around, Liu Bian said, "Recently, many people have entered the government. Send a message to Xun You. Some people need to be checked, and some people need to be trained. Don't give them high positions."
Pan Yin's heart tensed a little, not knowing who Liu Bian was referring to, and he said cautiously, "I'll go right away."
Liu Bian said nothing more and continued to review the papers.
Before I knew it, another two hours had passed.
Pan Yin came in from outside, stepped forward quietly, and waited for a long time. He couldn't wait any longer, so he said, "Your Majesty, the banquet is about to begin."
Liu Bian's mind was a little stiff. He hummed and quickly reviewed a few words. He slowly raised his head and said, "Is everyone here?"
Pan Yin said, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, the Grand Empress Dowager, the King of Bohai, and the court officials outside the palace have all arrived."
Liu Bian took a deep breath, calmed down for a while, stood up and said, "I'll change my clothes."
Pan Yin responded and called the eunuchs and palace maids.
At the same time, the Deyang Hall was packed with people, the sounds of talking and laughing filled the entire hall, and the atmosphere was unprecedentedly harmonious.
Yang Biao sat in the first seat on the left, opposite him was Huangfu Song, followed by Wang Yun, opposite him was Liu Biao, and next were the Grand Marshal Dong Zhuo, the Six Ministers, the Nine Ministers, the Six Vice Ministers, and so on.
Because Liu Bian was allowed to bring his family members, Yang Biao brought his son Yang Xiu, Wang Yun brought Jingzhao Yin Gai Xun, Huangfu Song brought his son Huangfu Jianshou, Dong Zhuo brought Hua Xiong, Zhong Yao brought Chen Qun, Cai Yong brought Cai Wenji, and so on.
At this moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten about fame, wealth and power, and were chatting happily with their neighbors.
At that time, outside the palace, many people were looking at the imperial palace. They all knew that only important court officials could enter the palace to attend the emperor's grand banquet, and they were all envious and eager to do so.
In a tavern, Guo Jia was drinking by himself, shaking his head, looking intoxicated.