In November of the third year of Guanghe, the north of the Luohe River, the north of Luoyang, and the altar of worship are solemn.

In the morning, Liu Hong, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, led the hundreds of officials and ministers in the city of Luoyang, Yu Linlang, Hu Benlang and other Lang officials in the palace, and the remaining soldiers and horses of the Northern Army in Beijing, all gathered in Beixiao, waiting for the Han soldiers who had already passed the news and would enter Beijing today to offer prisoners.

The soldiers of the Han army in black armor and red robes, out of sight, stood solemnly with solemn faces, waiting for the victorious soldiers. The reason why most of the soldiers and horses of the Beijing division were assembled, in addition to sacrificing prisoners to the sky in the north, the most important reason was to guard against foreign soldiers, after all, although the prisoners were all victorious divisions of the Han Dynasty, but even so, for foreign soldiers entering Beijing, even if the emperor trusted the other party's generals and soldiers, he had to do a good job, no matter how many people the other party had.

This battle, since the first emperor, Xianbei rose to ravage the border fortress, unprecedented victory, even if these Han troops did not go out of the fortress, but it does not mean that the soldiers of Luoyang have no ideas. Of course, now that the Han is victorious, they can only be transferred to Beixiao on duty at most, obviously there is no other opportunity to make meritorious contributions, but they are fortunate enough to witness today's grand occasion, at least they can boast to their children and grandchildren in the future, right?

It was about to be noon, and suddenly smoke and dust flew in the sky above the northwest direction, and before everyone could see what was happening in the distance, they saw a black-armored iron horseman, who was definitely riding on.

After the black-armored knight arrived, he stopped at Lerma, and then dismounted and saluted the long-awaited emperor Liu Hong: "Your Majesty, the victorious army has reached the north. ”

As soon as the words fell, I heard the emperor Liu Hong, who had been waiting impatiently, say: "Good! Zhu Qing and I welcome my great Han king! ”

"No!"

Hundreds of officials and ministers bowed together, and then followed Liu Hong down from the altar and went straight to the northwest to welcome the return of the Han army.

Not long after, in the far northwest, nearly 7,000 Han troops who came to sacrifice prisoners finally felt the northern effect. There was a look of exhaustion on everyone's faces, but when they thought that they were going to be rewarded by the most powerful emperor of the Great Han Kingdom in the future, there was a look of excitement in their eyes, but they couldn't see that tiredness in their spirits.

"Chen Quan has seen Your Majesty!"

"Chen Chang has seen Your Majesty!"

……

Since Fu Quan and Zhang Chang dismounted and saluted, the rest of the Han army also saluted, and for a while they saw the black iron armor torrent one after another, and the shouts of the Han soldiers even shook the sky.

"All the soldiers are exempt!" Emperor Liu Hong shouted to everyone, and after all the soldiers got up, he said: "This battle is the work of the monarchs to kill the enemy, and the prosperity of the Han Dynasty depends on the monarchs!" Come on, play music! ”

The musicians of Shaofu also played the famous poetry song "Xiao Ya Out of the Car", which was a stirring and upward music, with a trace of tragedy and sorrow, such as crying.

Then, I heard the ups and downs of the music, and some people who had been prepared by Shaofu for a long time began to chant softly along with the music.

"I'll get out of my car, and I'll be in the pasture. Since the Son of Heaven, it is said that I have come. Summoning his servant is called a load. The king's affairs are difficult, and the maintenance is thorny. I got out of my car and was in the suburbs. Set this and build the other. Bi Yinsi, Hu Buyi? The worries are quiet, and the servant is in a bad condition. The king ordered Nanzhong to go to the city in the square. Get out of the car Peng Peng, and get out of the Yangyang. The Son of Heaven ordered me to be the other side of the city. He Nanzhong, Xuan Yu Xiang. In the past, I went back, and I was in the past. Now I think about it, rain and snow. The king's affairs are difficult, let alone start living. Won't you be nostalgic? I'm afraid of this short book. Grass insects, insects. I didn't see a gentleman, and I was worried. When I see a gentleman, my heart falls. Hehe Nanzhong, Bovar Xijon. Spring is late, and the trees are blooming. Cang Geng, picking Su Qiqi. The execution was ugly, and Bo Yan returned. He Nanzhong, Xuanqi Yuyi. ”

This passage is from "Xiao Ya Out of the Car", which is a poem written by King Xuan of Zhou on the order of King Xuan of Zhou after the triumphant return of King Xuan of Zhou after the triumphant return of the Southern Zhong expedition to pacify the enemy country during the "Zhongxing of King Xuan" of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The meaning of the poem is to praise the merits and wisdom of the Son of Heaven, but also to reflect the hardships of the war and the bravery and loyalty of the commander Namjong, to express the thoughts of the expedition, and to describe the joy of victory.

Now it is used here, naturally, as a repertoire to commemorate the victory after the Han army's victory over Xianbei. In fact, halfway through the singing of the poem, not only the people of Shaofu were singing, but also many Han soldiers who had just returned from victory also involuntarily sang along with it.

After the music ended, Liu Hong glanced at the soldiers of the Han army and said: "This time the army is out of the fortress, the soldiers are working hard, and tens of thousands of Han men are sunk outside the corpses, all of them are loyal to the Han Dynasty!" ”

After speaking, Liu Hong looked at his side, and soon, several Taichang officials holding spirit flags walked out, and in the musician's sad music, they sang in a low voice: "The soul returns!" Go to Jun Zhiheng, what is the Quartet? The pleasure of giving up the king, and away from the other ominous! The Soul Returns! The East is not allowed to be trusted. There are thousands of elders, but the soul is a few. Ten days out, flowing gold and stones. They are all accustomed to it, and the soul will be released. Return! No, you can't make excuses. The Soul Returns! The South can't stop ......"

This is the famous poem "Conjuring Spirits" written by Qu Ziqu Yuan, a poet of Chu during the Warring States Period, to the effect that it is a poem that guides the soul of the Ying to return to his hometown Sangzi.

After these ceremonies were completed, the ceremony of sacrificing prisoners began, and Liu Hong took the edict that had been drafted long ago, and went up to the altar to pray to the sky, only to hear him say: "Weiguang and the third year of winter and November, the Han Dynasty Xianbei ......"

Later, when Liu Hong dropped the paper containing the prayer into the raging fire, the ceremony officially began.

First of all, the Han army symbolically drove the carefully selected cattle, sheep and horses outside the altar one by one, showing the spoils of the Han army's military conquest.

When the soldiers of the Han army were driving the livestock, Fu Quan also shouted: "Your Majesty, this time the Han attacked Xianbei and captured more than 200,000 Xianbei livestock......

After speaking, Liu Hong nodded again and again after hearing this, and he was relieved in his heart, this time he dispatched most of the elite of the Han Dynasty to go out on an expedition, spending countless amounts of money and food, and it can be said that almost all of the West Mansion that directly used him as a private treasury was wiped out. Sometimes, he finally understood why Emperor Huan didn't make a home and preferred to save money to fight for the Qiang people for Duan Cheng, it was too expensive to fight.

Although the Han army defeated Xianbei this time, it completely reversed the Han dilemma against Xianbei since Emperor Huan, but the price paid was also heavy. Even though the livestock captured in this war was large and valuable, it was obviously impossible to cover all the expenses needed after the war.

After all, the Sanbian and Jingshi Han armies lost a total of more than 10,000 people, mainly the soldiers and horses under Fuquan and Zhang Huan, and the other foreign servant troops such as Qianghu who were recruited by the Han Dynasty also lost a lot of casualties, not to mention those injured and disabled soldiers. Although the Han army really completely shattered the hope of Xianbei's rise in this battle, and even completely expelled most of the remaining Xianbei soldiers who did not dare to surrender to the Han army from the grassland, but the Han army spent countless money and food in this battle, I am afraid that the three sides will have to recuperate within a few years, even if there are those cattle, horses and livestock captured by the Han army, it is estimated that it is difficult to make up for the loss.

Later, after visiting the spoils of war, the Xianbei specially selected prisoners of war were escorted by the Han army and walked to the altar, they were all the leaders of the Xianbei nobles selected by the Han army. Of course, Fuquan has been carrying out a slaughtering policy all the way, and these captives were naturally sent by He Jin's Bingzhou Army and Song Yu's Youzhou Army after cleaning up the remnants of Xianbei in the grassland, otherwise, I am afraid that there will be no Xianbei prisoners at all in this sacrifice ceremony.

I saw that inside the altar, in the eyes of everyone, those Xianbei captives who were invincible in the past and didn't care about the Han army at all, were trembling and were tied up by the Han army at the moment, forced to press to the ground, looking at the emperor of the Han State with a frightened face, begging for mercy in Hu or their simple Chinese, because of this kind of ritual, they, the Xianbei people of the grassland, have often done it, and naturally know what the Han Dynasty people want to do with them.

On the altar, Liu Hong glanced at these aliens coldly, in fact, he grew up in the deep palace when he was young, and he did not have any hatred for these Xianbei people, after all, the so-called national hatred and family hatred could not be deeply experienced by him, a child who had lived under the control of eunuchs and palace maids since he was a child.

However, because Liu Hong inherited Emperor Huan's social authority, firstly, for the unfinished business of Emperor Huan back then, and on the other hand, it was to prove his ability to those officials who had been provoking him since he was in power, so that he would launch this war.

Now, the war is over, Liu Hong naturally has no reason to leave the lives of these Xianbei people, only to see him shouting at the Xianbei captives in front of him who were tied up: "Salute!" ”

One sentence came out, announcing the fate of these Xianbei captives, and suddenly, those Xianbei captives who could understand Chinese immediately showed a touch of horror, and constantly resisted with their bound bodies, but unfortunately everything was in vain.

"Execution!" After a loud shout, the executioners who had been ready for a long time. picked up the butcher knife in his hand and slashed at the Xianbei man who knelt on the ground.

In an instant, blood stained the place of worship, and dozens of human heads jumped into the air, but at the same time, countless civil and military officials, as well as the soldiers of the Han army, saluted and shouted in unison: "Long live Your Majesty, the Han Dynasty will be prosperous!" Those who commit strong men will be punished even if they are far away! ”

Seeing that his subordinates were like this, Liu Hong laughed, and then said to the officials who often carried out the sacrifice of prisoners: "Go to Taimiao with the head of the barbarian!" ”

"No!"

I saw several Taichang officials saluting in response, and then the heads of the Xianbei nobles on the ground, along with the heads of the Xianbei lords and companies they had prepared, were sent to the Ming Hall not far from the altar.

The so-called Ming Hall is the ancestral temple of the dynasty, which was called "Shimu" in the Xia Dynasty, "Chongwu" in the Yin Shang Dynasty, "Mingtang" in Zhou, and so far, it is called "Taimiao".

Looking at the Xianbei nobles who were sacrificed by the Han army to the Taimiao Temple to worship their ancestors, Fu Quan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart, fortunately, the commander of the Han army's battle was himself, and he was also the one who chose to sacrifice prisoners. Otherwise, if Murong Ba is chosen by others, and Murong Ba becomes the head of a prisoner under the Han saber, I am afraid that Murong Shuisu, who he has just accepted as a concubine, will become a time bomb in his annex.

At this time, the prisoner sacrifice ceremony came to an end, and the next thing to be carried out was naturally the reward for the Han army that participated in the war.

I saw that as Liu Hong nodded, Zhang Rang, the regular attendant beside him, picked up the edict that had been drafted long ago in his hand and said: "Guanghe for three years...... The Han army went out of the fortress...... The battle has been fought for a long time...... The Han army won Xianbei, and the special edict: Fengba County Taishouquan was the Marquis of Yangdu, and the food was added to the Yi 10,000 households, and Liangzhou Thorn Shihuan ...... Posthumously named the Marquis of Xinfeng County and the captain of the Yue Cavalry as the Taifu ......"

The lengthy edict was read by Zhang Rang one by one, from the surviving to the dead Han soldiers, all of them were rewarded, after he finished reading, all the Han soldiers and soldiers also saluted together: "Thank you, Your Majesty Longen!" ”

However, some people are grateful, but some people have to make trouble, but when they saw Fuquan, who was the first to be canonized and obviously had the greatest merit, he suddenly saluted Liu Hong and said: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Wanhu, the minister dare not accept it!" I hope that Your Majesty will take back your ......"

After saying this, he was immediately surprised by the Han Dynasty civil and military forces present, that is, on Liu Hong's side, with his relatives Liu Hua and others attending, when he heard that his nephew was going to do something he couldn't understand, he was also stunned at first, and then he was furious, and he couldn't wait to take this nephew who didn't know the height of the sky and the earth to teach him well.

I saw that as Liu Hong nodded, Zhang Rang, the regular attendant beside him, picked up the edict that had been drafted long ago in his hand and said: "Guanghe for three years...... The Han army went out of the fortress...... The battle has been fought for a long time...... The Han army won Xianbei, and the special edict: Fengba County Taishouquan was the Marquis of Yangdu, and the food was added to the Yi 10,000 households, and Liangzhou Thorn Shihuan ...... Posthumously named the Marquis of Xinfeng County and the captain of the Yue Cavalry as the Taifu ......"

The lengthy edict was read by Zhang Rang one by one, from the surviving to the dead Han soldiers, all of them were rewarded, after he finished reading, all the Han soldiers and soldiers also saluted together: "Thank you, Your Majesty Longen!" ”

However, some people are grateful, but some people have to make trouble, but when they saw Fuquan, who was the first to be canonized and obviously had the greatest merit, he suddenly saluted Liu Hong and said: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Wanhu, the minister dare not accept it!" I hope that Your Majesty will take back your ......"

After saying this, he was immediately surprised by the Han Dynasty civil and military forces present, that is, on Liu Hong's side, with his relatives Liu Hua and others attending, when he heard that his nephew was going to do something he couldn't understand, he was also stunned at first, and then he was furious, and he couldn't wait to take this nephew who didn't know the height of the sky and the earth to teach him well.

After saying this, he was immediately surprised by the Han Dynasty civil and military forces present, that is, on Liu Hong's side, with his relatives Liu Hua and others attending, when he heard that his nephew was going to do something he couldn't understand, he was also stunned at first, and then he was furious, and he couldn't wait to take this nephew who didn't know the height of the sky and the earth to teach him well.