Chapter 338 Dealing with
In the first month of the fifth year of Yongjia (311), there was not much joy and laughter for the soldiers and people of Luoyang.
Many people have left, and now there are probably only more than 100,000 people living in Luoyang City and its suburbs, Ji County.
Even counting the common people, households, and refugees in several counties in the outer suburbs, the total number is only over 300,000.
This is the devastation caused by war.
Thinking back to the heyday of Taikang, the number of registered households in the entire Henan County exceeded 750,000. The actual number was probably more than one million. Including the floating population, there was no telling how many there were.
It has only been thirty years since Luoyang, as the center of the world, has seen its household registrations drop by more than half, its agriculture has declined, and its commerce has been intermittent. In four years, the capital has been besieged three times, and the signs of national subjugation have become increasingly obvious.
In terms of politics, since Wang Jun became the governor of Jizhou, the prestige of the court has become lower and lower, and many people have begun not to take the court seriously.
In terms of wealth, the huge Luoyang completely relied on the states of Jing, Yang, Xiang, Jiang, Xu, and Qing that were less damaged by the war to provide tax money and food. Now that Jingzhou is in chaos and Qingzhou has also started a war, coupled with the decline in the court's prestige, I don't know how many grains of grain will be shipped this year.
The court is really too difficult.
Due to such a predicament, this year's Zhengdan Dynasty was held in a very crude and shabby manner, which made Emperor Sima Chi very angry, and he did not recover until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
On this day, bean curd is cooked in the palace and relatives are invited to gather together.
Princess Xiangcheng Sima Xiuyou, as the emperor’s sister, of course also received the invitation.
Queen Liang Lanbi held her hand and wandered in the courtyard.
Sima Maoyao looked at his sister-in-law with a little envy.
At the age of twenty-four, she is at the most beautiful age in a woman's life. She has a hint of mature charm in her youth. After being a queen for several years, she has developed a bit of magnanimity, which makes Sima Maomao proud. Reminds me of myself when I was younger.
As her father's favorite daughter, her dowry was many times that of others, and she was so pretty that she eventually married into the Wang family.
Alas, it’s hard to look back on the past.
Perhaps I was also at fault. I was too domineering and did not take my husband seriously. Today, it is too late to say anything.
She can't forgive Wang Dun, and Wang Dun can't forgive her, that's it.
The relationship between the queen and the emperor seems to be good.
However, according to Sima Maoyuan's observation, between the two of them, the queen may prefer the emperor, while the emperor doesn't care much about the queen.
"The Queen and Your Majesty have been married for several years, and there are still no children?" As they walked, the two of them came to a garden, and Sima Maoyao asked casually.
Liang Lanbi's face turned red first, then turned pale, and finally glanced at Simiao Bao in a panic.
Sima Mao didn’t know why. What’s there to be alarmed about?
The emperor had no heirs not only with the queen, but also with all his concubines.
It has been five years since Yongjia, and during the reign of King Yuzhang, the emperor, who has been married for seven years, not only has no sons, but also no daughters. This is obviously not the queen's problem.
Are you so panicked?
Liang Lanbi's hands clenched subconsciously. She thought the princess knew something, so she said: "Princess, don't mention this matter again. Your Majesty is just worried about state affairs. You have worked too hard. Just rest."< br>
Sima Xiu was dumbfounded.
Liang Lanbi walked a few steps quickly, pointed to the plum blossoms in front of her, and said: "In the winter, only the wintersweet has a faint fragrance, which makes people feel happy."
Sima Xiuyi hummed slightly, still thinking about what happened just now What the Queen said.
After a long time, I sighed secretly.
Perhaps, the previous melee between the kings was too cruel, and the King of Donghai was too rude to the emperor, which led to this.
Liang Lanbi saw that the princess was absent-minded and stopped talking.
After pausing for a while, he said softly: "I heard that the princess has contact with Chen Houduo..."
"Who said this?" Sima Maoyao narrowed his eyes and asked.
Others are afraid of the queen, but she is not. Liang Lanbi actually mentioned this matter in front of her, so don't blame her for not giving him face.
Liang Lanbi did not seem to see Sima Xiu's expression, and said to herself: "If the princess still cares about the relationship between flesh and blood, she might as well share your majesty's worries."
"This is your majesty's request. What do you mean?" asked Simiao Yong.
The meaning is very clear. The emperor heard the rumors from nowhere and thought that she had some ulterior relationship with Chen Hou. He actually wanted the queen to persuade her to be cautious and find out the information.
Haha, it is indeed the emperor’s style.
“This is what I mean.” Liang Lanbi said.
Sima Mao sighed and asked, "Does the Queen know that, as you said, if something happens in the future, you will inevitably have to visit Jinyong City?"
Liang Lanbi's face turned pale, and then Thinking of the emperor's increasingly frowning brows and sad face, he shook his lips and said firmly: "I will share your worries for your majesty. If it doesn't work, forget it. Don't let Chen Hou know."
Sima Xiu Yi was speechless.
Although Chen Hou was domineering, he could not openly be disadvantageous to the emperor.
The king of Zong could do this kind of thing, even Xun Fan and Wang Yan could do it reluctantly, but Chen Hou could not do it.
Is it so necessary to target him?
Don't get it to the end. The only person willing to defend Luoyang is disheartened and unwilling to contribute any more.
Sima Maoyao didn't understand. What good would this do to the emperor? Why do you love tossing so much?
"The queen's mother-in-law honors the world and benefits the common people. If the emperor has done something wrong, he should remonstrate with it and don't indulge it blindly." Sima Mao said in a stern tone: "Marquis Chen has no objection. The prophecy of the rumor, It must be a plan of the Huns, and it cannot be true. Besides, Chen Hou is twenty-four years old. At such a young age, even the governor, let alone the governor of a state, can resist. "
Liang Lanbi lowered his head and said nothing.
Seeing her look like that, Simimao Yao felt angry and said, "If it's inconvenient for you, I'll advise the emperor." Liang Lanbi subconsciously wanted to stop her, but finally sighed secretly and gave up.
Perhaps, she didn’t quite agree with the emperor doing this.
In this world, the more you mess around, the more likely you are to make mistakes and the worse the result will be.
But what can she do?
******
On the twenty-first day of the first lunar month, Sima Chi summoned brothers Xun Fan and Xun Zui to the palace to discuss matters.
"Gou Dao will defeat Cao Yi in Linzi." Seeing the two ministers, Sima Chi smiled and couldn't wait to announce the report he had just received.
This is the second war between Gou Xi and Cao Yi.
Both times were under Linzi City, and Gou Xi won both times.
Especially this time, Gou Xi did not encounter the strong wind of fate. He fought with Gou Chun in Linzi City from both inside and outside, and defeated the enemy in one fell swoop. According to history, the battle between the two sides took place on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month. Suddenly a strong wind blew up and dust filled the sky. Even though it was morning, the sky was dark and the ground was dark, and the wind direction was not favorable for Gou Xi's army, so they retreated. Cao Yi took advantage of the situation to pursue him. Xi's army was defeated and many surrendered.
But the time of the battle between the two sides in this time and space has changed. Gou Xi did not encounter the wind and sand that prevented his soldiers from shooting arrows, unable to breathe through his mouth and nose, and unable to stand firmly on his feet. He defeated Cao Yi in one fell swoop. Won the second victory.
This is fate, good or bad, I can’t tell.
But Gou Xi also failed to drive Cao Yi out of Qingzhou. This was due to his political failure.
Cao Yi led 5,000 men eastward. When he arrived at Qingzhou, he gathered a large number of soldiers from Jizhou and Yanzhou, numbering in the tens of thousands.
Subsequently, followers of Tianshi Tao came to vote one after another and provided guides, intelligence, money, food, and weapons.
The most shocking thing is that some Qingzhou nobles would rather fund the rebel Cao Yi, but also resolutely kill the governor (Gou Chun) and the governor (Gou Xi) appointed by the imperial court, especially the "Butcher" Gou Xi is called.
It can be said that Cao Yi's mass base in Qingzhou is very good, but Gou Xi's situation is very bad. Except for his soldiers, everyone is happy to see him die.
But Cao Yi's army had too many new recruits and its combat effectiveness was weak. Although its number was several times that of Gou Xi, it suffered two defeats in a row.
In contrast, although Gou Xi only had an army of 10,000 or 20,000, he was powerful, experienced, and well-trained. In a head-on battle, he defeated Cao Yi in two.
The fight between these two people will probably continue.
As for who will win? If Shao Xun was asked to evaluate, he only had one sentence: "Military is the continuation of politics."
But the emperor Sima Chi was very excited. He felt that Gou Daojiang's sword was not old and he was still a member of the imperial court, and he could be of great use. .
When Xun Fan and Xun Zu heard the news, they were not too happy.
In their opinion, they had never heard of an uncle who could still maintain his position after losing the support of the nobles.
Gou Xi's methods in Qingzhou were cruel and oppressive, and he was known as the "Butcher".
He is also arrogant and extravagant, and neglects government affairs, which makes people disappointed.
His reputation was so bad that not many people supported him.
In troubled times, a strong army alone is not enough.
You must also get the support of aristocratic families, otherwise there is no other way but defeat.
To put it bluntly, even Shi Le knew how to build a "gentleman's camp" to win over the powerful nobles in Hebei. At this point, Gou Xi was not even as good as Shi Le, let alone that "Tai Bai".
He is obviously doing things that harm the interests of the nobles, but he is very skillful in pulling one faction against another. It really makes people wonder if he is only twenty-four years old - and fortunately he is only twenty-four years old. If As you get older, there won't be so many objections to being appointed Fang Bo.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty." Xun Zu, the book supervisor, also said: "The Gou brothers have repeatedly defeated stubborn enemies, and your majesty won people."
Sima Chi laughed heartily twice and said: "What reward should I give to General Gou?"< br>
Xun Zu didn't say anything. Xun Fan thought about it and said, "Your Majesty may be generous with his title."
"Try your words," Sima Chi said.
"Increase his food supply to ten thousand households."
Hearing this, Sima Chi nodded happily and said, "Your words are in line with my wishes. I can increase Gou Xi's food supply to ten thousand households."
"Your Majesty." Xun Zu said: "Gou Xi has the merit of defeating Cao Yi, so it is natural for him to be rewarded. Nan Zhonglang General Shao Xun also has the ability to protect the water transportation and defeat Hou Tuo and Wang Sang, which may increase his food."
When Sima Chi heard this, his expression flickered.
Why do so many people around me speak for Shao Xun?
First, the imperial sister and Princess Xiangcheng said that Shao Xun was a minister of the imperial court and should be rewarded generously. Now, the Zhongshu Supervisor Xun Group is also asking for credit for Shao Xun.
Seeing that Xun Fan, who had a grudge against Shao Xun for killing his son, did not object, this made Sima Chi even more puzzled.
Is it so difficult for me to deal with a minister?
He looked at the two ministers.
Er Xun lowered his head and remained silent.
After a long time, Sima Chi snorted and said: "Then make Shao Xun the Duke of Chen County, with a settlement of 6,000 households."
"Your Majesty is wise." The two said.
Sima Chi felt uncomfortable and secretly had to contact Gou Xi secretly.
So he decided not to talk about this issue, and instead said: "Let's discuss Zhou Fu's matter..."
(End of this chapter)