"Oh, Shiyuan, you came just in time. I didn't expect that you didn't come in, so you know how upset I am." Liu Biao said.
Pang Tong laughed and said, "Do you have any good wine?"
"Yes, yes, there is not only good wine, but also good meat!" Liu Biao said, "I wonder how to solve the worries in my heart now?"
"Today, Ming Gong is the same as the Ling Emperor in the past, all because of his relatives..." Pang Tong's words stopped abruptly, and the meaning in it had already made Liu Biao admire him.
Thinking about the decline of the Eastern Han Dynasty, it started with the interference of foreign relatives in politics. Under the dual threat of internal and external troubles, the Eastern Han Dynasty was already seriously ill. However, Emperor Ling's corruption did not restrain himself, and he even intensified his efforts to plunder the people for pleasure. In order to build palaces and cast bronze figures, Emperor Ling ordered an increase in land tax and ordered the counties of Taiyuan, Hedong, and Longxi to transport wood, aragonite, etc. to the capital. When the lumber transported by the local government arrived in the capital, the eunuchs, in order to make money, made things difficult during the inspection and acceptance, and even deliberately failed to adjust the lumber. As a result, the lumber stranded and rotted, and the palace could not be built for years. At the same time, local governors, prefects and other officials also took advantage of the situation and made the people miserable.
Emperor Ling favored the eunuchs very much, and was especially close to Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong. Emperor Ling promoted these two people to the rank of regular servants and granted them the title of marquis. These two people, together with Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang and others, were collectively known as the "Ten Changshi", they dominated the court and had power over the world. Emperor Ling obeyed their words and even often said: "Zhang Changshi Zhang Rang is my father, Zhao Changshi Zhao Zhong is my mother."
Relying on the emperor's favor, the eunuchs acted even more recklessly, and the politics of the Eastern Han Dynasty were extremely corrupt.
Isn't Liu Biao like this now? Now he doesn't have much real power, he is just an empty frame. If he were not an authentic member of the Han Dynasty, I am afraid that the Lord of Jingzhou would have changed hands long ago.
Thinking of this, Liu Biao sighed: "Yes, I have been cautious and cautious all my life, walking on thin ice. I never thought that I would make a big mistake and let my relatives make it again. Sir... Now I am also desperate. Maybe it is better to be kept in the dark. At least I I can spend this life safely, but now, I don’t have a few years left to live, and I am already over sixty years old! I... I am really not willing to accept it, seeing that my great career has been usurped by that person named Cai. !”
"Ming Gong, I do have a solution here, but I have to say it out for fear of being blamed by Ming Gong!" Pang Tong said.
"But it doesn't matter."
"Okay! That's the thing. General Li Huguo is the general worshiped by the imperial court. He should be the marshal of the world's troops. Duke Ming can hold a banquet and announce in public that Li Huguo will become the commander-in-chief of Jingzhou's troops. In this way, Come, Li Yuguo has the seal of general in name, so it is natural for him to accept this favor, and let Li Huguo and Cai Mao fight. When the time comes, Duke Ming can take the opportunity to draw fire from the bottom of the cauldron and help Young Master Liu Qi ascend to the throne. In this way, the power of Jingzhou will be It is still in the heirs of Ming Gong." Pang Tong said.
Liu Biao clapped his hands: "Yes, I just happened to be planning a sixtieth birthday party recently!"
At this time, the two hit it off and were able to survive in danger.
As everyone knows, Li Yuguo has already met Liu Qi. Liu Qi said: "General, now the general has come up with a clever plan to let me retreat to Jiangxia. But if my father holds this feast this time, I'm afraid... I'm afraid the Cai family will be detrimental to me."
"Young master, you are too worried. When the time comes, you will lead 30,000 troops in Jiangxia, and I will lead 20,000 troops in Xinye. We will go to the banquet together and station the troops and horses outside Jingzhou City. There will be no problem in self-protection by then, and this birthday banquet It’s also extraordinary, I’m afraid it was Ming Gong who established the position of heir apparent!” Li Huguo said.
Liu Qi was scared when he heard this. He said: "No, no, no, then I won't go. The position of the Crown Prince is a tricky position. There are swords and swords everywhere in this position. I sat on it and my body was completely destroyed. Instead of doing this, I might as well retreat to Jiangxia, so that I can at least have peace for a while!"
"Master, your idea is too selfish. Let me tell you the truth...this Liu Cong is not your biological brother." Li Yuguo told the story of Cai's stealing, which made Liu Qi furious. , I almost lost control and rushed out to fight with people!
"Damn it, it's... it's such a deception. I didn't expect Mrs. Cai to do something so unbecoming of a woman. Does my father know?"
"Know."
"Then why did my father swallow his anger?"
"Your father is a wise man. If he directly accuses your stepmother, wouldn't it be dangerous for your uncle Cai Mao to monopolize the military power?" Li Huguo said.
As soon as these words came out, Liu Qi was so excited that he was covered in sweat. He sat down on the chair and said with a serious expression: "Then what should I do?"
Li Yuguo thought that although Liu Qi was kind-hearted, but without strategy, he might not be able to survive in this world. Even if he inherited his father's position, he might not be able to hold on for long. When he thought of this, Li Yuguo couldn't help but sigh.
In the past six months, Xinye City has been transformed. The city wall, which was originally tattered and looked like a slope, has been reinforced and raised. The inside is made of hardwood as the skeleton, the middle is rammed with earth, and the outside is burned with fierce fire. Made of blue bricks, so the three are integrated into one, and the city wall is already indestructible.
All the city gates were demolished by Xun Yu and replaced with a new one. The inside was made of hard wood and the outside was wrapped with iron sheets. Generally, it would not be able to be opened without a battering ram hitting it for a long time.
In the center of Xinye City, there is a huge granary, which is heavily guarded. It must be known that in future wars, oil will be the blood of war, but in this era, food is the blood.
Whether it is rice and noodles for humans or fodder for horses, they are all fully prepared.
After Xun Yu's clever plan wiped out the bandits everywhere, he also gathered those bandits who were willing to surrender. For the bandits, this was not very good. I think this was what the mountain dragon was like in the past. He went up to the mountains to become a thief out of desperation, but after he knew he could become an officer, he agreed without hesitation.
Being a thief is a helpless choice, but being a soldier allows you to eat military rations, get military pay, and if you are not careful, you can make meritorious deeds and be remembered in history. This is an irresistible bait for anyone.
Of course, Li Huguo treated them very kindly. As long as they were willing to surrender, they would not be blamed for what they had done before. But if they refused to surrender, they would be dismissed from farming and the land arranged.
So at first some people were unwilling to surrender, thinking that they would be dead. Unexpectedly, Li Huguo showed so much sincerity, so the bandits were all willing to come.