Chapter 188 May and June...
In this situation——
Yuan Shao went north to fight Gongsun Zan, while Liu Yu went east, intending to retake Youzhou by relying on Shanggu and Daijun.
Cao Cao and Tao Qian each obtained the position of governor and were stabilizing their territory.
Liu Bei had just earned the title of General Suppressing Bandits and went on an expedition against Yuan Shu.
Sun Ce used the two counties of Yangzhou to attack Wujun.
After Liu Biao defeated Sun Jian, he began to expand southward, intending to take back Changsha County which was still under the control of Zhu Jun.
Liu Yan of Yizhou and Zhang Jin of Jiaozhou were both in a state that no one else could control, especially the latter, whose support for Taoism had reached the point of ignoring sages and discarding laws. 1
Of course, there are some differences between Zhang Jin and Zhang Jue. He wears a red turban, so perhaps his troops should be called the Red Turban Army.
But no matter what, those imminent wars are all on the east side of the entire Central Plains.
But if Dong Zhuo, who occupied the Guanzhong Plain in the west, and Qiao Yan, who controlled Liang and Bing states, fought each other, it would be like a huge rock hitting the waters of Chang'an City, and its impact should not be ignored.
The first areas affected by the ripples that spread out were Yizhou, Jingzhou, Yuzhou and Yanzhou.
However, in the current month of May, after returning from Huoshizhai military camp, Qiao Yan was still working on her military farming plan in Liangzhou, as well as the important task of gradually incorporating the Qiang people into the regular army.
As the Chinese proficiency of the Qiang people in the Foreign Languages Office improved, Qiao Yan ordered another expansion in mid-May.
Also unfolding was the plan she had previously agreed upon with Cheng Yu, which was to send Qiang children here to study.
Budugen on the grassland also asked Qiao Yan whether the Xianbei could also send people over.
Budugen didn't know that Qiao Yan actually had some connections with Qian Man, who fled to the east and never returned, and Kebi Neng, a member of the Xianbei branch.
He made this choice simply because at the beginning of this year's spring, he came to Liangzhou again, still taking the road from Wuwei County along the Lu River.
What really surprised him was that Qiao Yan's progress in Liangzhou had reached a quite astonishing level.
When Zhao Yun appeared in front of Budugen riding his Dayuan horse and leading the cavalry, Budugen finally realized that the sound made by the Bingzhou cavalry's horses was not right, as if there was something else going on under the feet of these war horses.
This was most likely a "surprise" prepared by Bingzhou for these grassland nomads.
But he realized that this was not of much use.
Bingzhou was still under the control of Qiao Yan, and did not become a gathering place for the Xianbei people to graze their horses and plunder as had happened in history. This meant that Bingzhou's iron mines and iron officials were all under Qiao Yan's strict supervision.
The Xianbei people who came to Bingzhou to engage in winter iron mining were only engaged in physical work and had never been involved in the core technology related to horseshoes.
Budugen naturally did not have the capital to install horseshoes on his own horses.
The more he saw the power of Qiao Yan's men expanding, and the more he saw her always showing an invincible and strong attitude, the more Budugen dared not show any disrespect in front of Qiao Yan.
"Yu Fuluo of the Southern Xiongnu went with Liu Youzhou to fight against Gongsun Zan. Now Budugen of the Xianbei has requested to send some of his people here to learn Chinese. What do you think, Mr. Zhongde?"
Qiao Yan paced along the ridges of the fields in Jincheng County, where the grass and trees were already green.
In the plateau environment of Liangzhou, the sky above is a clear blue, which makes this river valley basin different from the chaos seen when I came here last year, and shows a kind of tranquility that is pleasing to the eye.
But when you stop here, you will find that this is not a pure tranquility.
In this still wild land, energy that has not been used for many years has accumulated, allowing plants to grow and their vigorous posture changes day by day.
The wind from the west of Huangzhong blows through the Riyue Mountain Pass and onto this land. The scent of glacier snow water is diluted by the slight heat of early summer, and crashes into the sounds of military training in the distance, creating a completely different scene from Bingzhou.
Cheng Yu replied: "Your Excellency actually already has the answer in your mind. The competition between the Qiang, Xiongnu, and Xianbei will only benefit us if we have the upper hand."
The civil and military officials under Qiao Yan needed to show their talents to ensure that they could get enough status under her, and these Hu people naturally had to compete for the positions.
However, one must be extremely cautious when using such power.
Once she showed any slackness or weakness, she might be stabbed in the back by these barbarians who had not been fully civilized.
She replied: "If a person has no worries, he would be too happy, wouldn't he?"
She needed these dangers to remind herself that she was doing well at the moment and had accumulated more capital than her competitors in the early days, but it was far from time to slack off.
Qiao Yan said, "Let Bu Dugen send the person over. I'll just have to trouble Mr. Zhongde to take care of him."
If a conflict broke out between the Xianbei and Qiang people here, it would be difficult to mediate the fight since neither side had fully learned Chinese. I don't know what kind of situation it will be.
It wouldn't be necessary for her to set up another mediation office.
How outrageous!
Liu Xie, who was in Chang'an City at this time, probably would not have guessed that the current situation in Liangzhou was like this.
When he looked toward the northern sky through the window, he just hoped that the Marquis of Leping, who was carrying the late emperor's will, would be able to attack Chang'an as soon as possible and successfully rescue the emperor.
Dong Zhuo's signs of heroism in his twilight years were particularly noticeable to people like Li Jue who had followed him since his early years, and to a keen observer like Jia Xu. However, it was not so obvious to Liu Xie, who did not have much experience in judging people.
In his impression, Dong Zhuo seemed to be still the Prime Minister Dong who, after taking control of the situation in the capital, wiped out the remaining forces of He Jin in one fell swoop and had the power of life and death in the court.
It was a huge mountain pressing down on his head.
The only person who could cause trouble to Dong Zhuo was Qiao Yan.
So when will the Bingzhou Mu come?
Liu Xie was young and intelligent, and he knew that there was no point in complaining about the world in his current situation.
He also realized that he was a very lucky man.
If his father had not loved him so much that he gave him to Empress Dowager Dong to raise, he might not have lived to this age and would have been poisoned to death by Empress Dowager He like his mother.
And if he had not been chosen as the emperor, he might have become a victim under the authority of General He Jin.
Now at least he can temporarily possess the throne of the Son of Heaven as a talisman. With these old ministers who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the Han Dynasty and who travel thousands of miles from Luoyang to Chang'an regardless of danger, he feels completely safe.
Not all the princes in the world sided with Liu Bian. There was also Marquis of Leping leading troops outside, intending to denounce the traitor.
In this contrasting feeling of happiness, he did not feel that the furniture and utensils Qiao Yan gave him, nor the annual gift of medicine snatched away by Dong Zhuo this year, were products of deception, but rather were care and concern for him.
He sometimes thought that he was much younger than Dong Zhuo and that he would survive until the old villain passed away sooner or later.
Although Liu Xie did not know it at this time, the honor of the Han Dynasty had already experienced a sharp decline when there were two emperors in the world.
Many of these heroes at the end of the Han Dynasty were not thinking about restoring the Han Dynasty, but about replacing it.
Including Marquis Leping, who he had high hopes for.
He just looked out the window and happened to see a bird flying across the sky, with a hint of envy in his eyes.
It's a pity that he is still in the cage...
He slowly withdrew his gaze and saw in the distance, Li Jue, a general under Dong Zhuo, walking towards the main hall of the Weiyang Palace.
Seeing this, Liu Xie quickly closed the window and sat back at his desk.
These Xiliang ruffians often treated the little emperor as some novelty, especially after meeting Dong Zhuo in the main hall, they would come to the side hall to take a look at him.
It seemed as if he wanted to see how he, as an emperor, could be so cowardly.
They no longer have any respect for the imperial power!
Liu Xie's mentality is indeed good, but it does not mean that he wants to face the situation of being treated like a monkey.
But even though he closed the window, he still heard the sound of someone breaking into the hall a quarter of an hour later.
Li Jue walked in with a sword in hand, looking no less arrogant than Dong Zhuo who entered the palace with a sword in his hands.
Liu Xie thought that he was just showing off his humble attitude as a powerful warrior. Even if he was allowed to look at him a few more times, he would not let a piece of flesh fall off his body. Just let him look!
However, what he didn't expect was that when Li Jue came to his side, he didn't greet His Majesty in a sarcastic tone like he had done several times before, but asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, don't you want to get rid of this situation?"
Liu Xie looked at Li Jue suspiciously.
These words don't sound like something Li Jue would say at all.
"What do you mean?"
Li Jue pointed in the direction of the main hall of Weiyang Palace and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to follow Prime Minister Dong's arrangements forever? Your Majesty may not know that Prime Minister Dong is considering marrying his granddaughter to you as the queen, so that you can become a legitimate relative. If you have an heir in a few years, Your Majesty can pass on the throne smoothly after your death."
When Liu Xie heard this, his expression did not change at all.
Of course he could guess at this possibility.
But he had heard about the battle situation in Liang Province, and felt that with Qiao Yan's advancing speed, as long as she could stabilize the rear of Liang Province, she would be able to capture Chang'an and rescue him before Dong Zhuo could carry out this plan.
Under the influence of this idea, he didn't need to be afraid of Li Jue's words.
What's more - why would Li Jue tell him this?
Rather than Li Jue suddenly feeling sympathy for the little emperor who had no autonomy, Liu Xie believed that he was actually receiving instructions from Dong Zhuo, who wanted to take advantage of his desire for freedom and make him do something wrong.
For example, dragging court officials into the water would give Dong Zhuo another excuse to kill people.
When in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo had already killed Wu Qiong, Zhou Bi and others. Who knows if he would want to attack Lu Gong and Xun Gong again.
These old ministers who came to Chang'an never made any move to contact forces outside Chang'an, so they were able to maintain superficial peace with Dong Zhuo. If Liu Xie was killed by Dong Zhuo because of his inappropriate behavior, he would never forgive himself.
When he thought of this, he looked at Li Jue with more vigilance.
He replied, "I understand. Thank you for letting me know. If there is nothing else, you can leave."
Liu Xie's reaction left Li Jue stunned.
He had to admit that what Jia Xu said to him was right.
Liu Xie would not believe the sweet words and give him what he wanted.
This Han emperor, who came to power due to the current situation, was far more mature and rational than ordinary people.
This kind of rationality had already shown signs when he and Liu Bian were taken to Mangshan by the eunuch Zhang Rang and were intercepted by Dong Zhuo and others, and it is even more so now.
Li Jue carefully looked around and confirmed that because of his previous habit, his conversation with Liu Xie at this time did not attract the attention of the people guarding outside the palace. Then he continued, "Forget it, Your Majesty will know in a few days."
If he told Liu Xie at this time that he could help Liu Xie get rid of Dong Zhuo as long as Liu Xie was willing to hand over the military power to him and let him replace Dong Zhuo, Liu Xie would probably not believe it.
On the contrary, it would make people feel that he was trying to lure people into taking advantage of Liu Xie.
In this case, it would be better to first contact other officials in the capital, such as Wang Yun and Huang Wan, who have no friendship with Qiao Yan and may even have conflicts of interest, and let them convey the message.
According to Jia Xu, if he wanted to get the opportunity to advance independently, the first step was to obtain the emperor's edict, so as to legitimately restrict Dong Zhuo's actions and replace him in dispatching the military defense lines of Liangzhou and Bingzhou.
However, Jia Xu said that after they defeated Qiao Yan, they would explain the matter of beheading first and reporting later to the prime minister.
But in Li Jue's opinion, if things really came to this, why bother with Dong Zhuo!
When the other party's ambition was lacking, Li Jue's admiration for Dong Zhuo had already been reduced by more than half, and what remained was the idea of replacing him.
He even felt that he was obviously more suitable for Liu Xie than Dong Zhuo.
After all, he had neither the intention nor the ability to take charge of political affairs; he just wanted military power and wealth.
At that time, he could also return the main hall of Weiyang Palace to Liu Xie.
Isn't this much more comfortable than when Dong Zhuo was around?
After leaving Liu Xie, Li Jue went to find Wang Yun, who was appointed as the prime minister by Dong Zhuo.
Wang Yun looked at Li Jue in front of him. It was not difficult to tell from his performance how true and credible his words were.
When Li Jue talked about the fight between the Wang family of Jinyang and the Wang family of Qi County, and instigated him not to pin his hopes on Qiao Yan, he thought in his heart -
While it is temporarily impossible to advance into Liang Province, perhaps it would be a good idea to disintegrate Dong Zhuo from within. 2
This is really great news from heaven!
Qiao Yan, who was in Liangzhou, also received good news in early June.
Yang Xiu rushed from Bingzhou to Liangzhou to report various matters to her, and mentioned the thing that Qiao Yan was most concerned about at the moment.
"The direction of the device to separate cotton from cotton seeds has been roughly determined. Junhou asked students from Leping Academy to assist in this work, and it has indeed worked. Huang Yueying and Zhuge Liang, who just joined the academy this year, proposed a crank-connecting rod cotton gin model. Deheng thinks it is quite feasible and is already testing the situation after enlargement."
Qiao Yan quickly raised his hand to stop Yang Xiu from speaking, "Wait! What did you just say?"
Yang Xiu: "I said Deheng is already testing it."
"No, I meant the last sentence."
Yang Xiu replied, not understanding what was going on: "I said, Huang Yueying and Zhuge Liang made a model of a cotton gin?"
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