More on Chapter 44

Geng Kui was named the Marquis of Suyi because of his military exploits, he knew that this was the benefit that Dou Xian gave him, he was an official who climbed up by kinship, even if he had great military merits, he could not be crowned Wang Hou Cheng within two years. However, he liked the position of this marquis very much, the fief and the estate, all at once, he did not like women, but he liked the land, he often rode alone in his fiefdom, the feeling of having everything, he couldn't put it down.

So he was very grateful to Dou Xian, and when Dou Xian married a concubine, he gave a generous gift. As far as his position is concerned, it is necessary to do it. But his brother Geng Bing repeatedly told him that it was best not to approach Dou Xian, because Geng Bing firmly believed in the most direct truth, those who were too swaggering would definitely not end well.

The emperor issued an imperial decree and passed Geng Kui into the palace, but he didn't say why. Geng Kui was summoned by the emperor alone for the first time, and he felt very uneasy in his heart. It wasn't until he bumped into Ren Shang who entered the palace together that he breathed a sigh of relief.

In February of the first year of Yong, Dou Xian had sent Geng Kui, the then commander of the left school, and Ren Shangju, who had been appointed as Sima, to surround the Northern Xiongnu Shan Yu in Jinwei Mountain, and won a complete victory.

After returning to Beijing, Ren Shang was named Zhonglang General, although he did not have his own scenery, but he also benefited from Dou Xian's recommendation. At this time, the two were summoned at the same time, and the uneasiness in their hearts faded a lot.

Geng Kui was wearing the court clothes of the waiting master, wearing a red ribbon and four colors, he was a good age, he looked radiant, the crown belt floated on his chest, and he was hunting and flying in the wind, so that his back couldn't help but straighten up. Compared with the official uniform of a Zhonglang general, Ren Shang, who bowed his head and was silent, was more comfortable.

Listening to the roll call of the Huangmen officials and let them enter the Chongde Hall to see the driver, the two of them hurriedly picked up their clothes, trotted and followed the Huangmen officials around a few corners, only to see Cai Lun standing at the door of the hall, stopped them and said: "Two adults, pay attention to etiquette!" ”

The two nodded, although Geng Kui had the intention of stammering Dou Xian in his heart, he was still afraid of this young man. Ren Shang was expressionless, not knowing what he was thinking. Entering the hall, I saw that the main hall of the Chongde Hall was not big, and there were countless bamboo slips on the desk of a black lacquer inlaid with gold multicolored beasts.

On both sides of the case, there is a hollow incense tripod painted with gold and copper wire, emitting a faint fragrance. There is a bronze mirror on one side, reflecting the figures of the two on the mirror. On the other side, there is an eight-fold screen, which is embroidered with the geography of mountains and rivers.

Behind Liu Zhao is a carved dragon wooden screen, two palace maids, one on the left and one on the right, gently shaking the barrier fan for the young emperor, and the breeze is blowing. There is a basin of ice in each of the four corners of the hall, which comes in from under the sun, and it looks very cool.

The two knelt on the ground and shouted: "Ministers see the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor." ”

Liu Zhao raised his head from the book, looked at the two people kneeling below, and said with a smile: "The two Aiqing are flat." ”

When the two stood up, he also walked from behind the case to the two. At this time, Liu Zhao's figure was already very tall, and his face had become square, handsome and noble.

He paced slowly with his hands behind his back for a long time before he said, "I summoned you here to ask about the situation on the battlefield in front of you. I have stayed in the palace since I was a child, and even if I go out, I just walk around the capital, like a frog at the bottom of a well, and everything I say is empty words. Uncle Dou Xian made such a meritorious feat on the battlefield, for me, it is only a meritorious feat, I also imagined the situation on the battlefield, but I couldn't think of it anyway! This year, I have just been in charge of the government, and I have to do a lot of government affairs myself, so I don't want to know nothing about the national economy and people's livelihood, do you understand? ”

Of course, Geng Kui understood what the little emperor meant, and he saluted again: "Your Majesty, the ministers understand. Your Majesty wants to hear the story of the battlefield ahead, and the ministers will never hide it, and will definitely tell the truth. ”

Liu Zhao smiled and nodded, his thick eyebrows raised slightly, and a pair of eyes as clear as morning dew, which made people can't help but have a little trust.

He looked at Ren Shang again, and felt that this person's city government was much deeper than Geng Kui's, so he asked: "Ren Aiqing, I heard that you used to deal with the affairs of the Qiang people, I know that Deng Xun handled it very well over there, but there is also a story to tell me?" ”

Ren Shang also gave a salute and said: "The minister has not had much contact with Deng Xun, but he also knows a thing or two. ”

"Okay, Geng Aiqing, you say it first, come on, give each of the two adults a bowl of lotus almond ice, it's hot this day, it's cool!"

Geng Kui told Liu Zhao about the situation on the battlefield ahead, from the military layout of the first Northern Expedition to the victory of Yanran Mountain, and Dou Xian erected a monument. Talking about the contest between the Second Northern Expedition and the Huns, especially his own feelings, as well as his appreciation of Dou Xian's troop layout, it is helpful to speak. Ren Shang only picked out some interesting things to tell, Liu Zhao listened very carefully and seriously, and asked questions from time to time.

This was said until noon, Liu Zhao left the two to eat, and during the banquet, Liu Zhao said: "Uncle is really a capable man who uses soldiers, which is really unexpected by me." I was very in awe of my uncle when I was young, but I didn't expect that my uncle would judge accurately, arrange properly, and use troops reasonably, and only he could accomplish this great feat. came to drink this knight for General Dou. "Let's take a drink.

The two had to follow, and Liu Zhao said again: "Although the war ahead is fixed, it is not stable, I sit on this seat, I have to think about the surname of the small people, but also for the war, it is not easy to be the monarch of all countries to come to the dynasty!" ”

Geng Kui hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is at a young age, and it is not easy to be able to handle national affairs. We, who are ministers, also know Your Majesty's difficulties, so we will definitely do our best to share the emperor's worries with our duties. ”

Liu Zhao's eyes flashed, and he said with a smile: "Yes, yesterday someone went to Chen, saying that after Yu Jie of the Northern Xiongnu was established as Shan Yu, my uncle wanted to escort him back to the Northern Xiongnu royal court, so that my Han Dynasty and the Northern Xiongnu still need to compete for the Tianshan area." Listening to the two of them talk about the battlefield situation, I think that the Northern Xiongnu often use the vast western regions to maneuver with the Han army, so if there is a truce, our achievements in the two wars will be lost, so I thought, after a period of recuperation, let the two of you go to Yiwu, what do you think? ”

Geng Kui glanced at Ren Shang, and faintly felt in his heart that the little emperor's meeting today was purposeful, but he didn't figure out the key to it, so he had to reply: "Your Majesty, this is the duty of the ministers, and they will never dare to excuse themselves." ”

Ren Shang also said: "Your Majesty's holy teachings, that's exactly the case, we will obey Your Majesty's arrangement." ”

Liu Zhao laughed loudly, "Okay, good, well-said, the two Aiqing have no opinion, which means that my arrangement is appropriate, come on, come on, and drink again." ”

After eating, it was too late, and the two left together. Seeing the flowers in the garden in full bloom, Cai Lun was directing several supervisors to tidy up the flower beds. Since Liu Zhao came to power, his role as an assistant to the young emperor has been much lighter, and he has gradually turned his attention to other aspects. Seeing the two of them coming out, they ignored it and were busy with their own business.

Geng Kui frowned and thought for a long time, but he didn't figure it out, and after looking around at no one, he asked Ren Shangdao in a low voice: "Lord Ren, do you think that's what Your Majesty is looking for us?" ”

Ren Shang glanced at him with slanted eyes, but did not answer, looked at the sky at the corner of the hall, raised his eyes and left.

"Hey, you man, what do I ask you?" Geng Kui chased after him for two steps, followed closely behind him, and asked again.

Ren Shang was expressionless, and replied without being soft or hard: "Let's go, where is this palace, do you want to go out and talk about it." Do you feel like you're going to have a long life? ”

Geng Kui was choked by him, and he was angry, and there was nowhere to vent, so he had to quickly follow him around the alleyway and out of the palace gate. It was only at this time that Ren Shang replied coldly: "Let's go, go to Dou Mansion, I have to talk to the general about this!" ”

Dou Xian was a little surprised to see the two of them coming together, and when he heard them describe the situation of entering the palace in detail, there was no smile on his face.

After the little emperor took office, he did deal with some of his people, most of whom were officials who came to him to buy, and he didn't take those people seriously, so he did it. For his actions, the little emperor didn't punish or care, regardless of his own nature, he felt that Liu Zhao was still afraid of him. However, seeing his sister being cautious in the palace and accompanying her smiling face every day, for fear of offending the emperor, he was also very disapproving.

Since he returned to Beijing, he has only been to the court once, and the rest of the time he is sick, and the affairs of the court, Song You, and Deng Biao will do what he wants, and although the courtiers are all holding their breath for him, they also dare to be angry and dare to speak. Since his return to Beijing, six officials have been killed or deposed because of him. For a moment, all the court officials were afraid. They will all come to meet him, and no one will dare to disobey him. His brother Dou Du has been named a guard lieutenant, and Dou Jing and Dou Gui are both appointed as lieutenants in the service, Fengche, and attached to the horse. Their brothers have overhauled their mansions, competing for luxury and poor workmanship.

He Dou Xian wants the wind to be windy, and he wants the rain to be rainy, even if he gives an emperor, he is not so free. But at this time, the little emperor's behavior also made him a little confused, so he asked his family to call Deng Die, Guo Huang, Ban Gu, and Fu Yi to come to the mansion to discuss matters.

Deng Di is nineteen years old this year and serves as an infantry captain, and the reason why Dou Xian did not give him a promotion is that he is useful for keeping this position. But Deng Die didn't think so, seeing Geng Kui and them all sealed up, he felt very uncomfortable. It's just that because of Dou Xian's power, he swallowed his anger.

Guo Huang is different, he is the concubine of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and he himself is the nephew of Guo Shengtong, the first empress of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty. During the Jianwu period of Emperor Guangwu, he married Liu Xiu's daughter Liu Li, the princess of Huayang, as a candidate for Yang'an. At the beginning of the emperor's establishment, Guo Huang served as the Shaofu of Changle, and his Guo Ju was a servant and a captain of the school. Among these people, his status is the most outstanding.

Both of them are Dou Xian's henchmen, and they are involved in any confidential matter.

Ban Gu is Ban Chao's elder brother, he has been smart since he was a child, he can recite poetry at the age of nine, and he was appreciated by Wang Chong at the time of ten. After the death of his father Ban Biao, he continued to supplement the Book of Han. When the emperor, he served as the Lantai Lingshi, and was later promoted to Lang, when Emperor Zhang, he was promoted to Xuanwu Sima, and often entered the palace to study, and Emperor Zhang went out on patrol, and often accompanied the servants. He also often expressed his opinions on major affairs of the imperial court.

He has always followed Dou Xian, obeyed Dou Xian's words, and never disobeyed.

Fu Yi is a great talent, he was born in the 20th year of Emperor Guangwu's construction. When he was young, he was very knowledgeable. His "Dance Fu" and "Luoyang Fu are all rumored to be masterpieces, and when Emperor Zhang, he was named Lantai Lingshi, worshiped Langzhong, and Ban Gu and Jia Kui proofread the forbidden Chinese books. After Dou Xian took power, he was asked to be the chief secretary.

Both of them were Dou Xian's shogunate, and they used the rules and regulations to control the government and the war.

But Ban Gu looked down on Fu Yi, and he once said to Ban Chao: "Fu Yi became the Lantai Order because of his words." The two of them were originally the same, and their experiences were similar, but they were not convinced by each other in their creations, although they served the same master, they were lifelong rivals.

Dou Xian looked at the six people in front of him, he didn't know what everyone was thinking, but although they were all his cronies, they rarely had the same opinion, and it was a last resort to come to them at this time.

The little emperor's sudden actions seemed careless, but it seemed to have some deep meaning. Bangu said: "In my opinion, the emperor just wants to hear the story and has a whim." The frontier has always been under the control of the general, even if Sheng Kui and Ren Shang go, it doesn't matter. ”

Guo Huang shook his head: "Otherwise, if Your Majesty wants to hear the story, you can find the general to tell it yourself, but he found the two of them, and after listening to it, he has a will, I think His Majesty wants to transfer the people around the general to disperse us!" ”

Dou Xian turned around in the court and interjected: "Liu Zhao'er, because of the relationship between the latter, he has always respected me, although he has dealt with a lot of the officials I recommended, but he has never touched a single hair of me, I think, or is it a child's whim?" The matter of the Xiongnu, I am also about to play at the court meeting, the Northern Xiongnu do not know where to go, the north is empty, and the rest of the Xiongnu do not know who is in charge. Yu Zuo, the king of Li, wanted to call himself Shan Yu, and led thousands of troops to be stationed in the Pu Shihai area, and they have sent a messenger to me to ask for annexation, and I have agreed. ”

Ren Shangdao: "This is not very good, we are the general's people, the border is with troops, the general is still in charge of the army, or the king of Zuogu Li also obeys the command of the general, in this way, the outside of the plug is already our world, and Your Majesty can't intervene even if he wants to." ”

Fu Yi also said: "Although Your Majesty's move was unintentional, it gave us an excuse to enrich the side plug, and it was an unintentional move to help us succeed." ”

Geng Kui said: "If this is the case, you don't need to care about the little emperor's intentions, just follow our cloth arrangement." ”

Ren Shang bowed slightly, and said lightly: "At this time, the army is being repaired, even if you go, you have to earn it next year, at this time, as long as the matter of the king of Zuogu Li is arranged, everything will go smoothly." ”

Dou Xian grabbed a few handful of beards, calmly, looked at everyone calmly, and actually looked up to the sky and laughed: "I also said that the little emperor has some eyes, but it turns out that it is still a piece of wood that cannot be grasped." I really can't look at ordinary people! ”

Ban Gu also smiled: "Exactly, Your Majesty is still young, and he doesn't think about things well, and he still needs to be experienced!" ”

Geng Kui was still frowning, and there was always a trace of coolness in his heart. Among the six of them, he and Ren Shang are capable people who lead troops to fight, although Guo Huang and Deng Di are in power in the court, at the critical moment, they must not go on horses to fight, not to mention Ban Gu and Fu Yi, two people who only know how to dance with the moon, what has happened, isn't Dou Xian left alone?

I was about to say what I was thinking, but I saw Deng Di stand up and say, "General, it's better for you to keep some thoughts, the little emperor is wary of generals." A few days after the general married the concubine, I saw Yuan An's son sitting at the door, remembering something, he was the emperor's attendant, and it was still a little weird. Also, Geng Kui and Ren Shang are not a few generals available in the court, Your Majesty raised this matter at this time, has the general thought about it? ”

Ren Shang stood up and said: "Don't be alarmist here, it's a big deal, it's against him, the general responded, when the time comes, the court will be ours, and I'm afraid that his little emperor will make some weird eyes?" ”

Dou Xian waved his hand, "I'll be careful, but the matter of rebellion must not be mentioned." I am already under one person, above ten thousand, and the court is already under my control, so why bother to make such a move, end up with a bad reputation, and it will be difficult to be a person in the palace in the future! That's it, you all go back, tomorrow's court meeting, think about those old people, who won't let us achieve our goal easily, let's be on time! ”