Chapter 478 Conspiracy


Chapter 478 Conspiracy

While Yang Biao was looking brightly at the front hall, the courtiers in the hall were also thinking about the ministers outside.

Somewhat unwillingly, Liu Hong still refused to take his last breath at this time.

Gradually, he became tired, his breathing became lower and lower, and finally fell into a deep sleep.

Over there, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and Jian Shuo were also writing next to the bed.

A group of strong and regular attendants, such as Duan Gui, knelt and sat outside to isolate themselves from the prying eyes of outsiders.

The reason why they were talking in writing but also in isolation was because the things Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and Jian Shuo talked about in writing were really horrifying.

This time they want to completely eradicate the Kansai ministers outside.

Are Zhang Rang and these people crazy?

Among the people outside, such as Ma Ri, Zhao Qian, Zhao Wen, Yang Biao, Zhao Qi, Pei Ye, etc., none of them are from the wealthy families in Guanxi. The Guanxi court can only support these local aristocratic families.

If Zhang Rang and others kill these people, all counties in Guanxi will immediately rebel.

But don’t these Zhang Rang know? Of course he knew, which was why they had been holding back.

But unfortunately, they can no longer care about the future, because they have to survive first before they can have a future. If they are all dead, what does the future have to do with them?

Zhang Rang and others have received clear news that tonight, as soon as the country collapses, the officials of Guanxi will purge all of them eunuchs.

The dog jumped over the wall when he was anxious, not to mention that Zhang had allowed them to be a master of human beings for so long.

So, they prepared to fight back.

On the surface, the strength of Zhang Rang and others is very advantageous.

The most important among them is Jian Shuo, who is now the lieutenant of the 54th Xiyuan Department of the Emperor's New Army. He holds the largest armed force in Chang'an City today.

The Fifty-Fourth Division of Xiyuan was the emperor's new army that Liu Hong started to form when he was in Kyoto.

However, because He Jin allowed the rebels to enter Hulao Pass at that time, Liu Hong was in a hurry and could only take Huangtou Army carriages with no more than 5,000 troops to the west.

As soon as he established a foothold in Chang'an, Liu Hong began to expand the Xiyuan Army.

First, we seized 3,000 soldiers from Gai Xun, and then transferred 3,000 guards from each tomb, and then we had a slight framework.

After that, the Kansai court received great cooperation from the powerful people in Kansai, especially the grain and fodder support from Yizhou that was continuously sent to Chang'an, and the Xiyuan Army's troop strength began to expand explosively.

And Liu Hong is known for his power and knows that the most important thing now is to strengthen the branches and strengthen the branches.

So he consciously transferred elite soldiers from Bingzhou, Liangzhou, Liujun, and Yizhou to Beijing to serve as the Xiyuan Army.

For example, Ding Yuan, the fierce military commander in Bingzhou, had Zhang Liao, Zhang Yang, and Lu Bu under his command as tiger generals. After his troops were transferred south, they were transferred from Bingzhou Frontier Army to the 54th Division of Xiyuan.

In addition, there were Yizhou generals Zhang Ren, Yan Yan, Gan Ning, Shen Mi, Lou Fa, Deng Xian, Leng Bao, etc., all of whom were Yizhou heroes and warriors, and were also transferred to the 54th Department of Xiyuan by bus.

These were not only the ones who were transferred the most, but the ones who were most severely punished by Liu Hong were the children of Liangzhou and six counties. For example, Pang Yan in Fufeng, Yang Fu in Tianshui, Hu Zun in Anding, Pang Cao in Jiuquan, Zhang Gong in Dunhuang, and Zhou Lie all have the reputation of bravery.

These people were all warriors who emerged from the battles with the Qiang people in the previous two years. Originally, their rosters were sent to Chang'an for awards, but Liu Hong directly let these meritorious people enter Chang'an, and he wanted to award them in person.

Where can I go again? They were all incorporated into the 54th Department of Xiyuan by Liu Hong.

Some of the above were rebellious, such as Gan Ning, Shen Mi, Lou Fa and others, who were known as thorns in Yizhou. Liu Yan squeezed these people out of Sichuan and gave them to the court.

But people like Zhang Liao, Lu Bu, Yang Fu and others are the mainstays of various places, and various places are quite dissatisfied.

For this reason, Liu Hong also specially opened a group of candidates for various families in Guanxi, such as Jiang Xu, Zhao Ang, Liang Kuan, Zhao Qu and other Liangzhou scholars, Pang Xi, Wen Hui, Wang Ji, Wang Gai, Wang Jing, etc. , Wang Ding, Wang Chen, Wang Ling and other Bingzhou scholars were all established in Lang's office.

As a result, Kansai scholars were spread all over the bureaus and government offices, and their relationship with the Kansai court was deeply bound.

Of course Liu Hong knew that this situation still required checks and balances.

So he recruited the foreigners who were stranded in Chang'an.

Since the Han Dynasty cleared the Western Regions, the Han Dynasty's prestige has spread as far as Central Asia. Every year, countless Hu people come to Chang'an to do business with valuable spices, Hu women, and gold ornaments. Some of these people returned to their hometowns, while others missed the prosperity of Chang'an and settled down.

In the past four hundred years, these people have also taken root in Chang'an and become the natives of Chang'an.

Liu Hong saw that these Hu people had grown taller and thought they looked like good soldiers, so he recruited them into the army and got more than 4,000 soldiers. Moreover, these people were generally from local nobles, had abundant wealth, and were skilled in bow and horse, which greatly improved the combat effectiveness of the Xiyuan Army.

But what Liu Hongwan would not have expected is that the reason why those barbarians from the Western Regions enthusiastically entered Xiyuan was not to work for Liu Hong, but to do business with the help of the Xiyuan Army.

Since these barbarians joined the Xiyuan Army, the Xiyuan Army's loss of food, fodder and weapons has greatly accelerated.

The composition of the officials in the 54th Department of Xiyuan is very complex.

In addition to the sergeants from Bing and Liangbian, there are also many prisoners from the market who are the third assistant of Jingzhao. These people were originally traders and butchers, and they happened to mix with the barbarians from the Western Regions and started doing military business.

If it weren't for the fact that the Xiyuan Army was newly formed and had the backbone of brave men from the border army, it could still remain simple. Thanks to the business methods of the foreigners from the Western Regions and the market captors, this combat effectiveness has long since collapsed.

But I have to say this at both ends.

Scholars from Bing, Liang and Yizhou were generally in the establishment of the Five Armies outside Xiyuan and were stationed in Xiyuan and Dongpingguan. These battalions are far away from the city and train in the camp all day long. Their combat effectiveness is definitely guaranteed.

But the situation is different for the Internal Army. Already in the hustle and bustle of the city, they have recruited a large number of these evil young men from Chang'an. With internal and external collusion, they may not be able to do much business.

As an emperor for twenty years, Liu Hong's abilities and intelligence are naturally of a high standard.

He also knew that the officials in the fifty-four divisions of Xiyuan were mixed, good and bad. After these people with different backgrounds joined the Xiyuan Army, how to control this army became a top priority.

Of course he remembered how he was forced to go to Chang'an.

So, this time he handed over his troops to the eunuchs who never failed him.

Liu Hong could not forget that when he was away from Chang'an and struggling to survive, it was Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Jian Shuo and other regular attendants who were busy providing food and clothing.

So of course Liu Hong had to learn his lesson and decided to make Jian Shuo a lieutenant, and to control the Xiyuan Army inside and outside.

After Jian Shuo took office, knowing Liu Hong's intentions, he naturally started to solve the hidden dangers of the Xiyuan Army.

The Xiyuan Army is already the last field army in Kansai, and it is a life-protecting force that Liu Hong spent the last of his wealth to build. If these generals in charge of the army unite with the noble officials of Kansai families, will Liu Hong have any place to run?

Therefore, Jian Shuo adhered to Liu Hong's spirit and began to carry out drastic transformation of the Xiyuan Army.

All in all, the purpose of this transformation is to allow the eunuchs in the inner dynasty to fully grasp this elite army and truly use it for Liu Hong.

Jian Shuo, assisted by a group of staff, made three moves.

The first move was to change the Xiyuan Army's organization to fifty-six units to weaken the larger organization. These fifty-six units will be placed at various transportation nodes inside and outside Chang'an.

And if there is a large-scale recruitment, the position of general will be established, and it will be controlled by the eunuchs who supervise the army.

The second move is to fill the fifty-six departments with eunuchs in every aspect. From the decision-making general level to the logistics officials, eunuchs must be in key positions.

The third tip is to nourish them well. The supplies and military supplies of his fifty-six soldiers were the best among all the armies. Jian Shuo even suggested giving money to these people, but he only did so because Liu Hong was distressed.

But even so, the treatment of Xiyuan Army is the best.

All of these were personally sent by the eunuchs of the Inner Dynasty to the military officers and soldiers in the West Garden.

Jian Shuo felt that if this was done, the Xiyuan Army would be managed like an iron barrel and would not be interfered with by foreign ministers.

But unfortunately, Jian Shuo thought he was wrong.

……

At this time, Jian Shuo looked at the sentence written by Zhang Rang and felt sad. This sentence is:

"Is the Xiyuan Army available?"

Seeing that Zhang Rang still had unrealistic intentions of using the Xiyuan Army to eradicate the ministers outside, Jian Shuo shook his head ruthlessly.

The three of them were silent again.

It's not that Jian Shuo has poor ability, it's that time has not waited for him.

No matter how good his system was, it only lasted a year or two. None of the original Xiyuan military officials had returned to their original mission, and they were still greatly influenced by the ministers.

People are identity animals. They can only replace the old identity with a new identity. There is no such thing as a person without social relationships.

If Liu Hong persisted for a few more years, Jian Shuo thought that he could still replace the officials of the 54th Department with new identities, but unfortunately, it was too late.

At present, the army in Xiyuan insists on not helping each other and is only waiting for the new emperor to ascend the throne. As for the Xiyuan Foreign Army, all the sons of the powerful Kansai clan serve as military officials, so there is no doubt that they will fall in favor of the ministers of Nangong.

This is also the reason why people like Yang Biao had the courage to kill Liu Honggang when they died.

But Zhang Rang and the others were not helpless. The first one is that Zhang Rang and other internal court officials have soldiers.

That is the armed forces of the two day and night patrols of the Inner Dynasty, Jinwu Guards and Weiwei. These people are firmly in Zhang Rang's hands.

In addition, the great eunuchs went out of Xiu Mu Palace every year, and there were also troops armed inside the mansion. In order to protect themselves in the past two years, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and Duan Gui also recruited hundreds of Chang'an knight-errant heroes.

But compared with the Xiyuan Foreign Army outside the city, this number of people was simply unbearable.

Therefore, Zhang Rang had already sent people to Hedong to contact Dong Zhuo, asking Dong Zhuo to lead troops into the city. By now, Dong Zhuo should have crossed the river.

There is a reason why eunuchs like Zhang Rang never lost in countless power struggles.

Because they are ruthless and decisive enough.

Yang Biao and others conspired to eradicate them, but the matter was not kept secret, allowing Zhang Rang to get the news. Since then, Zhang Rang issued an edict to Dong Zhuo in the name of Liu Hong, apparently reshaping him as the governor of Liangzhou and taking charge of Liangzhou's counterinsurgency affairs. In fact, Zhang Rang sent a secret message to Dong Zhuo, asking him to lead troops into the capital.

The condition Zhang Rang gave to Dong Zhuo was to make him a Taiwei of the foreign dynasty.

When the time comes, Zhang Rang will rule the inner dynasty and Dong Zhuo will lead the outer dynasty. China and foreign countries will help each other and jointly assist the government.

So, you know why Zhang asked them not to ask the auxiliary minister before Liu Hong died. Because they have already determined it.

National affairs depend on the secret room. This is the current Kansai court.

The reason why Zhang Rang chose Dong Zhuo was not complicated, because he was the most marginalized by the officials in Guanxi. For example, Yang Biao and others bluntly stated that Dong Zhuo would rebel and kill him quickly. Therefore, Dong Zhuo was the enemy of people like Yang Biao.

Another reason is that when Dong Zhuo's envoy Li Ru was in Chang'an, he secretly warned Zhang Rang, saying:

"When the public calls, my lord will send his troops to help."

Later, after Dong Zhuo officially joined the Kansai side, it can be said that he would send several carts of pearls and jade to Zhang Rang and other eunuchs every year, so that his intention to marry Zhang Rang and others should not be too obvious.

Therefore, Dong Zhuo and Zhang Rang have essentially become allies of internal and external mutual aid.

Now that Zhang Rang and others want to get rid of Yang Biao and the others, then you, Dong Zhuo, will naturally come to help.

With the help of foreign soldiers, Zhang Rang and others made two plans.

One set is to kill Yang Biao and others tonight successfully. After a while, when the country collapsed, they would call Yang Biao and others outside to come in.

When the time comes, he will order the Jinwu guards on duty to kill these ministers, and then go to the East Palace to welcome the prince Xie to the throne.

At that time, the new emperor's edict was used to announce that Sikong Yang Biao, who recorded the minister's affairs, was planning a rebellion, and then the edict was used to collect Xiyuan soldiers and control the chaos in the court.

Of course, this is the most ideal situation.

Because the Xiyuan Foreign Army is greatly influenced by the Kansai families, it is very likely that they will not be captured without mercy. So Zhang Rang and others have another plan.

That is, after killing Yang Biao and others, collect the troops in Xiyuan to guard Chang'an. Then when Dong Zhuo's foreign troops arrived, they responded internally and externally, suppressing the rebellion of the foreign troops in Xiyuan in one fell swoop.

Of course, there is another worst-case scenario, that is, the foreign troops from Xiyuan attack and Miyagi cannot defend it. Then they took the little emperor and rushed west to Shu.

When you get there, you can either call on King Qin, the prefect of each county, or hide in Shu.

In short, Zhang Rang and others felt that they had thought everything through.

He believed that they would win this time. After all, you, Yang Biao, are better than Dou Wu?

So everything is ready, and now we are waiting for Liu Hong to die.

……

Time passed little by little, and Liu Hong was still sleeping.

Just when Zhang Rang and others thought Liu Hong would survive the night, Liu Hong suddenly gasped and sat up from the couch.

He immediately saw Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and Jian Shuo guarding the bed.

Liu Hong was stunned for a moment, looked around again, and laughed miserably:

"Am I going to die?"

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Zhang to let them speak, Liu Hong asked:

"Is Xie'er here?"

Liu Honghuanghuanghuang at this moment is not sick at all.

Zhang Rang quickly ordered Han Kui to call Liu Xie over.

Because he wanted to pray for Liu Hong, Liu Xie did not live in the East Palace, but in the announcement room behind the front hall.

The Xuanshi is the main palace where Liu Hong lives. Liu Xie is still the prince, so logically he cannot live there. But everyone knows that Liu Xie is the inevitable emperor, and no one will say anything if he prays for his father.

Because the announcement room was very close to the front hall, Han Kui and two Jiansi quickly carried Liu Xie on his back.

This may be the real reason why Zhang Rang arranged for Liu Xie to live in the propaganda room.

Liu Xie entered and looked at his blushing father looking at him with dazzling eyes.

Being precocious, he knew what was going to happen next, so he could only endure his grief:

"Father."

Liu Hong nodded and continued to say to Zhang Rang and others:

"In mourning, he was placed in Zi Palace. When he returned to Kyoto, Wen Leng was buried."

Then he gave serious instructions to his son Liu Xie:

"If you don't want your father to be buried in the house, you can call me back to Kyoto. Do you understand?"

Liu Xie nodded sadly, as if he wanted to remember his father's words in his soul.

After Liu Hong explained his posthumous affairs, while his mind was still clear, he hurriedly issued an order:

"Jia Zongzheng and Liu Song were appointed as generals. Taiwei Ma Ri, Sikong Yang Biao and Situ Zhao Qian were in charge of the outer dynasty. Zhang Rang of Great Changqiu was in charge of the inner dynasty and jointly assisted the government."

After listening to Liu Hong's words, Shangshu Lang Yinxiu immediately issued an edict.

This is Liu Hong's suicide note, and it is of great significance.

Just as Yin Xiu finished writing, Liu Hong tilted his head and looked east for a while. With no strength left, he leaned on the couch, pointed to the east, and shouted:

"To the east, to the east."

After the sound, Liu Hong's hand slipped down and fell into darkness.

Just when Liu Xie was about to cry, Zhang Rang covered his mouth. Then he heard Zhang Rang giving a vicious order:

"Do it."

Then before Yin Xiu could react, the two Kensi behind him strangled him to death with white silk.

In the palace, those internal court officials who did not belong to Zhang Rang's camp also followed in Yin Xiu's footsteps.

Even Wang Li, the Taishi Ling who recorded his daily life in the border school, did not escape the murderous hand. He was strangled to death on the bamboo slips just after he carved the word "usurp" on the bamboo slips.

At this time, Wu Xiu, the master general, was already trembling with fear. He covered his mouth to keep himself silent.

The two Jiansi had already wrapped Bai Ling around Wu Xiu's neck, but finally Zhang Rang's voice came:

"I want to keep him as a great craftsman. Later I will ask him to take charge of the country's Zi Palace."

After listening to Zhang Rang's instructions, Bai Ling fell on Wu Xiu's neck, and he escaped the disaster.

At this time, the young Liu Xie watched all this in horror. He wanted to cry, but his mouth was tightly covered by Zhang Rang.

He saw Zhao Wengweng pick up the edict that had just been prepared by the minister, and then threw it into the Changxin lamp and burned it.

Then Zhao Wengweng took out an edict from his sleeve and placed it in his father's hand.

Liu Xie also saw Huang Men, Duan Gui, walking toward the propaganda room with a corpse in one hand. There were several other Huangmen behind him, all carrying a corpse.

Soon, the corpses in the front hall were cleared away and restored to their original state under the help of the Huangmen.

After doing all this, these yellow doors retreated into darkness again, as if they had never appeared.

Liu Xie understood that all this had been prepared a long time ago.

What does Zhang Wengweng want to do?

At this moment, he heard Zhang Rang's cold and wet words:

"Your Majesty, you will be Your Majesty from now on. The country has gone and can no longer protect us. And now those tigers and wolves in the outer court are going to kill our grandson. This night, our grandson will fight for his life. Your Majesty, you Are you ready? Let's go with Lao Nu to face what's coming next. Don't be afraid. It's useless to be afraid. This is what the Emperor of the Han Dynasty has to shoulder. But Your Majesty, Lao Nu is here. Don't worry. After tonight, all the people of this big country will welcome their new country."

After hearing this, Liu Xie felt cold and then became hot all over.

(End of chapter)

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