Liu Xiu was silent, looking at everyone's faces. Yuan Feng is a scholar, and Ma Yueyan is also a scholar, and they may not have fought with anyone before they became lieutenants, nor did they have contact with soldiers, so the reaction at this time was the strongest. Wang Yu is better, before becoming an infantry captain, he has been a Changshui Sima for many years, and although he is a little surprised now, he is still calm. Zhao Xuan was very surprised, opened his mouth wide, looked around in astonishment, and was at a loss. Only Chun Yuqiong doesn't care, on the contrary, he is a little proud, probably some martial arts, how much he has learned some art of war, and he has the dream of making meritorious contributions.

After a moment of surprise, Ma Yueyan was the first to stand up and object: "The matter of conquering Xianbei has been discussed many times by the imperial court, and most of the ministers have opposing opinions. When did the Son of Heaven make up his mind, and why did he even decide to go on the expedition? ”

"This matter is not within the jurisdiction of my Northern Army, and I have no intention of discussing this matter with you here." Liu Xiu couldn't help but interrupt him: "I give you three days, if you are not mentally prepared to go into battle, submit your resignation within three days." After three days, I will start training, and those who remain at that time will not regard themselves as any gentlemen, and please join you in the fight with the soldiers and eat chaff. ”

…… He Hao hurriedly walked into Yuan Shao's study, and his face made Yuan Shao and Zhang Miao, who were laughing, stunned.

"What's wrong, your face is so ugly?" Zhang Miao was still smiling as usual, but Yuan Shao was a little nervous, he knew that He Hao had experienced a lot of turmoil, and if there was nothing major, he would not have this expression. He looked at Chun Yuqiong who followed up, but Chun Yuqiong smiled: "That Liu Xiu is interesting, the first time he took office, he made such a big move." ”

"Zhong Jian, don't be joking, what the hell is going on?" Yuan Shao looked at him reproachfully.

Chun Yuqiong touched her straight nose with some embarrassment, and told Liu Xiu about reforming the Northern Army. After he finished speaking, he looked at Yuan Shao and them with interest, found a place to sit down, poured a glass of wine, and drank it tastefully.

Zhang Miao stopped smiling, "In this way, the Northern Army is not under our control." ”

He Hao let out a long sigh: "That's right. If we don't have the Northern Army in our hands, if something happens in the future, won't we be slaughtered like Chen Zhongju (Chen Fan) and Dou Youping (Dou Wu)? ”

Yuan Shao frowned and was silent.

Recently, he and He Hao analyzed the political affairs in recent years, especially after the two party incidents, and felt that the scholars seemed to be powerful, but they were defeated by the eunuchs every time, in the final analysis, because there was no force in their hands. Luoyang City has two parts of power, one is the Lang official in the palace, and the other is the Northern Army. Most of the Lang officials in the palace are now scribes, and their combat effectiveness is not strong, and they have been with eunuchs for a long time, and they are easier to be used by eunuchs.

And the Northern Army outside the city is the relationship that determines the outcome of the victory, when Dou Wu fled outside the city, it was with the soldiers of the fifth school of the Northern Army and Cao Jie and others who fought against Cao Jie and others for a day and a night, if it were not for Zhang Huan being deceived by Cao Jie, with his prestige to defeat the morale of the soldiers of the Northern Army, the final result is really difficult to say.

The result of their discussion was that if something similar happened again in the future, whether or not they had the military power of the five schools of the Northern Army in their hands might have an impact on the current situation. It was precisely because of this consideration that Yuan Shao and the others used all their strength to arrange He Hao, Ma Yueyan and Chun Yuqiong into the Northern Army and mastered most of the forces of the Northern Army.

But Liu Xiu is like this, their willingness is basically in vain, Yuan Feng and Ma Yueyan are both Confucian students, let them go and fight like ordinary soldiers, is it possible? What can really be done here is probably only Chun Yuqiong alone.

After thinking for a long time, Yuan Shao suddenly asked, "Can Wang Yu do it?" ”

Chun Yuqiong still smiled heartlessly: "Wang Yu can't do it, but don't forget, their Wang family was a lot of difficulties for Liu Xiu at the beginning, he probably won't treat Wang Yuzhen as an elder, maybe he will use him to open the knife and give us a dismount." ”

Yuan Shao was very unhappy with Chun Yuqiong's careless attitude, especially when he saw his habitual action of touching his nose, he was very unhappy, but in front of He Hao and Zhang Miao, he couldn't give Chun Yuqiong off the stage, so he could only say according to his surname: "Then you mean that Wang Yu will also be dismissed?" ”

Chun Yuqiong noticed the anger in Yuan Shao's eyes, coughed embarrassedly, and straightened his face: "I think it's very possible, this kid is not the kind of person who talks about rules, didn't you also say that he was angry with his teacher Lu Zhizhi at the beginning." ”

Yuan Shao's eyes showed a look of determination, and he lightly knocked on the table: "In this case, we can't help but plan for the worst." I went to the Changshui camp to be Sima, and asked Gongjie (Wang Kuang) to go to the shooting camp and ask the highway if he could arrange for a person to enter the Yue Riding Camp. In this way, even if we change three captains, we can't replace all of us. He sneered, "Even if the Son of Heaven ordered it, he couldn't have done it so obviously. ”

He Hao's eyes lit up, and then he said worriedly: "At the beginning, Liu Xiu may not really be able to let a few captains go to training, but a few Simas will definitely not be able to escape." You ......"

"Needless to say." Yuan Shao knew what he wanted to say, they were all people with status, and Liu Xiu asked them to train like ordinary soldiers, which was simply an insult to many people. Maybe Liu Xiu made this calculation, let them resign on their own initiative and give up the Northern Army. But he just didn't want Liu Xiu to be as he wished, isn't it training, if you can stand it, I can stand it. He said disapprerovingly: "I have always respected Li Yuanli the most, that is, I respect him for his ability to write and martial arts, get on the horse to fight the crazy Hu, and get off the horse to write the military script, now that I have such an opportunity to put it in front of me, how can I let it go?" ”

He Hao and the others looked at each other, and they were arrogant, and He Hao laughed loudly: "That's right, didn't he say that the Son of Heaven will read it in October, and when the time comes, let's let them see who is the real pillar of the Han Dynasty." ”

Yuan Shao smiled slightly: "Bo begged for this, it won my heart." ”

…… Liu Xiu went to the palace and reported the reaction of Yuan Feng and others to the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven was very happy: "In this way, these people can be driven out of the Northern Army logically, right?" ”

Liu Xiu couldn't help but want to laugh: "The minister thinks that the surname may be very big, not to mention anything else, can Ma Yueyan pull a bow and shoot arrows?" I doubt it very much. Yuan Feng is so old, even if he can pull his face, it is impossible to become a qualified martial artist. What else can be done other than self-immunity? ”

"That's good, let them leave my northern army, and don't hurt their faces." The Son of Heaven patted his thigh, in a very happy mood: "By the way, I have met Zhang Jiao and a few of them, Zhang Jiao still has some talents, and he knows a lot about folk affairs, and some of the questions he said, I think it makes sense." As for the Lu ...... of the Heavenly Master's Dao," the Son of Heaven paused for a moment, and seemed to be a little puzzled: "She has no opinion on the way of governing the country, but she is very accomplished in Taoism, she said that she is already twenty-seven or eighteen years old, and I don't look like it." ”

"It is not surprising that most of the cultivators are good at managing life." Liu Xiu didn't pay attention to the expression of the Son of Heaven, and then said: "Zhang Jiao has always attracted believers among the homeless, and his understanding of the homeless must be unique. Your Majesty, the minister thought that he should inform the ministers of his opinion and let them all come to discuss it. ”

"Is that good?"

"The minister thinks that if you listen to both, you will be clear, and if you listen partially, you will be dark, and it is always good to listen to the opinions of the ministers. At least...... You can let them know Zhang Jiao as a person. Liu Xiu said cautiously. He lured Zhang Jiao to Luoyang, on the one hand, he wanted him to join forces with Heavenly Master Dao to stimulate Confucianism, a fish that was about to die, and on the other hand, he also wanted to lead him from the dark to the light, if he could give him a chance to pursue a career, maybe he would not embark on the road of rebellion, even if he was ambitious, it was better to prevent it in advance, there were many smart people like Yang Ci among the ministers in the court, and it was not easy for him to blind everyone.

The Son of Heaven thought about it for a while and agreed. They discussed some more things, and Liu Xiu left the palace at this time. After returning to the Tai Chi Dao Hall, he was about to shake off the majesty of the adults returning to the house, but he saw Wang Yu sitting in the hall with a sad face, Wang Chu accompanied him and waited beside him, Mao Zongyi saw Liu Xiu walking in, and hurriedly gave him a look.

Liu Xiu understood at a glance, and he couldn't help but feel a little unhappy in his heart, but he still held it back and said to Wang Chu: "Why do you let your father sit here and don't invite him to sit in the private room upstairs?" ”

Wang Chu saw that his tone was calm, and he called Wang Yu his father in front of so many people, so he breathed a sigh of relief, helped Wang Yu up, and said, "Ah Weng, let's go upstairs and talk." ”

Wang Yu was also forced to have no choice, so he came to Wang Chu for help. It's not easy for him to come as an infantry captain, the Son of Heaven gave him this official, which robbed Wang Chu of compensation, and now Liu Xiu will force him to resign as soon as he takes office, how to explain to Lao Tzu Wang Bao this time? Could it be that I couldn't endure the hardship, so I threw away the 2,000-stone official?

When I sat down in the private room upstairs and Liu Xiu went to wash, Wang Yu explained the seriousness of the problem to Wang Chu again, and finally said: "I'm almost forty years old, and my health has not been very good. Achu, you have to help me this time anyway. ”

Wang Chu had no choice, so he had to persuade him softly: "Ah Weng, don't worry, your husband must have a solution, and he won't embarrass you for no reason." ”

"Achu, I am sad to say this. It stands to reason that he is your husband and my son-in-law, and I should support him vigorously, but you also know that this ...... I really can't help with this kind of thing. ”

Wang Chu nodded again and again to show his understanding, but he was full of sorrow in his heart, and he didn't know what Liu Xiu thought when he made this decision. If Liu Xiu hoped that Wang Yu could stay and help him save face, then Wang Yu's current actions would disappoint him. She didn't want Liu Xiu to affect her family's official affairs, but she couldn't bear to let go of her father like this, and she couldn't show a little unhappiness on her face, she was really in a dilemma.

Wang Yu was still nagging, Liu Xiu pushed open the door and walked in, sitting opposite Wang Yu, an orchid came over and poured him wine, he picked up the wine glass, and looked at Wang Yu while drinking: "For the sake of military training?" ”

Wang Yu nodded a little embarrassedly, and looked at Wang Chu for help, Wang Chu had no choice but to hold his scalp and say the meaning again. Liu Xiu said with some dissatisfaction: "There are many officials with 2,000 stones, why do you have to serve in the Northern Army?" The Northern Army is a forbidden army, which should have been the most elite force of the Han Dynasty, and the Northern Army, which can't fight, is it still called the Northern Army? ”

Wang Yu's face was red, and he said without giving up: "Then the fifth school of the Northern Army, which captain is not from a scribe?" ”

"That's why I'm going to get rid of all these people." Liu Xiu said undoubtedly: "Even if you can survive this time, what will you do in the future?" The Northern Army wants to conquer Xianbei, but it's not me joking with you, this is what the Son of Heaven means. You are an infantry captain, in the process of fighting the Hu people, the infantry battalion has the most obvious disadvantage, and the task is the heaviest, how long do you think you can support it? ”

Wang Yu's face suddenly became very ugly, and he could hear that Liu Xiu didn't mean to open up to him at all.

"Are you really going to replace all the five lieutenants in one go?"

"I didn't say that I had to change, but if I wasn't competent, I had to change if I didn't." Liu Xiu said calmly: "In the future, when the Northern Expedition comes, the Northern Army is the main force, if it can't fight, then what's the point?" ”

"Do you think that by replacing these people, you will be able to find a suitable fifth lieutenant?" Wang Yu was a little out of breath, his voice became louder, and despite Wang Chu's dissuasion, he said with a white face: "Think about it, how many people in the entire Luoyang can really fight with soldiers?" You suggested that the Son of Heaven should open a military academy and recruit thirty doctoral disciples, but how many have you recruited now? Five 2,000-stone captains, how many people can afford it, do you want to promote those martial artists who don't know the details at all to 2,000 stones at once? If something happens in the future, will the Son of Heaven take this responsibility, and it is not you who will be the scapegoat. ”

Liu Xiu was stunned for a while, Wang Chu thought he was angry, and hurriedly grabbed Wang Yu and didn't let him say any more. Wang Yu also realized his impulse, and hurriedly stopped his mouth, but his face refused to lose face, and he held his breath and glared at Liu Xiu unconvinced. Liu Xiu thought about it, but was a little touched: "Luoyang can't find five suitable lieutenants now?" ”

"As far as I know, no." Wang Yu saw that Liu Xiu showed no signs of anger, so he breathed a sigh of relief and explained in detail. According to the practice of the imperial court, there were two kinds of Lang officials in the past: one was civil officials, they were mainly Lang Lang, Shi Lang or something, and the attendants of the Son of Heaven asked right. This kind of person is generally served by the disciples of the doctor, filial piety, and virtuousness. One is the military attaché, mainly from the border counties, the most common is the six counties of the good family who is used as a feather forest horse, these people have good martial arts, most of them are riding and shooting, and then awarded the military position after serving as a Lang official by the side of the Son of Heaven for a period of time, many famous generals of the previous dynasty were born in this way, so the generals of the previous dynasty were born in large numbers.

After Emperor Guangwu Zhongxing, because he himself is good at literature and art, and he knows the danger of martial arts chaos, so he vigorously suppresses martial artists and advocates Confucianism. It's not that there are no children of border counties like Jia Xu, but there is basically no way out, and even if they are conferred officials, they will not be able to do it. Many of the border county taishou of this dynasty were Confucianists, such as Liu Xiu's husband Lu Zhi. There are very few geniuses like Li Ying, who are both civil and military, and although Liangzhou Sanming can be civil and martial, his ability to use soldiers is definitely not comparable to Lu Zhi, but their career will never be smoother than Lu Zhi.

Do you think Lu Zhi can train like an ordinary soldier? Try it and see if Lu Zhi will spit on you in the face.

Liu Xiu scratched his head a little, he didn't expect the matter to be so serious, and he began to think that there were so many famous generals in the Han Dynasty later, and it was not a matter of words to pick a few to be captains. Now that Wang Yu reminded him, he also remembered that the fifth lieutenant was not an ordinary low-level military attaché, it was a high-ranking official of two thousand stones, and not everyone could do it casually. In case the person picked is not suitable, and something happens to the Northern Army, he must be the chief scapegoat.

"Your Excellency, please be seated." Liu Xiu poured Wang Yu a glass of wine, and politely asked, "Then how do you think you can find a suitable candidate?" ”

Wang Yu finally saved some face, took a sip of wine, thought for a moment and said: "I can't think of a suitable candidate anywhere, if you want to make a ready-made one, unless you go to the border army." However, there are not many such talents in the border army, and the generals of each battalion may not be willing to give them to you, and even if they do, it will be difficult for you to turn them into your own cronies. The best thing to do is to cultivate it yourself. ”

Cultivate? Liu Xiu smiled silently, just kidding, I'm still a white guy myself, training five captains?

"Didn't you suggest that the Son of Heaven open a military academy?" Wang Chu's eyes suddenly lit up, "First ask Duan Gong to help train a few captains." ”

"It's impossible for a school captain, but it's entirely possible for Sima." Wang Yu further suggested: "Only those low-ranking officers who have been promoted by you will be grateful to you, how can any of the forces that can be attached to the captain can easily turn to you." ”

Liu Xiu nodded again and again, and felt that his initial consideration was too simple, the Son of Heaven was inferior to him, he only thought that this idea was good, but he didn't know that this idea sounded beautiful, but the feasible surname was not high, and it was a shame to have Wang Yu to make a mistake, otherwise he would be complacent.

Liu Xiu sent Wang Yu away, and immediately discussed with Duan Cheng, Duan Cheng also felt that Liu Xiu had done a little inconsiderate in this matter, Wang Yu said that the situation did make some sense, it was not easy to select five people who could meet Liu Xiu's requirements to serve as captains at once, if it could not be selected in the end, or the people who were reluctantly selected were not qualified, it would become a joke.

He also reminded: "It is not easier to teach martial artists to read than to teach literati to learn soldiers. Most of the junior officers were illiterate and couldn't even write their own names, so that they could familiarize themselves with the art of war in just a few months? It's simply impossible. On the contrary, many Confucian scholars are more or less proficient in martial arts, and have also read some military books, as long as they can endure hardships and work hard to practice for a few months, at least proofreading is not a problem. ”

"Most of the people you selected in the end are still people with Confucian identity." Duan Cheng was a little helpless, "This is the status quo, the scholars of the Han Dynasty do not study martial arts, if they want to enter the official career, it is impossible not to understand Confucianism." ”

Liu Xiu knows Duan Cheng's feelings, not to mention anything else, he himself once had the idea of entering the government with Confucianism, Duan Cheng himself has also read the Confucian classics, Liangzhou Sanming is no exception, and Lu Zhi is simply a Confucian student, a famous general who doesn't understand Confucianism at all is rarer than a Confucian who doesn't know any martial arts.

"It's a bit of a file this time." Liu Xiu said self-deprecatingly.

"If you don't know how difficult things are, there will be more problems in the future." Duan Cheng reminded earnestly, "It's easy to do something bad, but if you want to do something, you have to face countless difficulties. Don't worry, start with choosing the right Sima, the Sima of a thousand stones, not up or down, it won't attract too much attention. ”

Liu Xiu nodded again and again, Duan Cheng was still experienced, and he hit the nail on the head at once. Although Sima is also not a small official, he can be set up by the captains of each school, as long as it is reported and passed, unlike the five captains who have to be appointed by the imperial court, the procedures are relatively simple, and the freedom of choice is also greater.

However, this is not a good thing for Liu Xiu, because freedom belongs to the five captains, not him, the candidate of the Northern Army. Yuan Feng's Sima selected by them could be the person he would like to see? Liu Xiu had a hunch that the problem of the Northern Army's reorganization and training had just begun.

Liu Xiu pondered for a long time, and suddenly said to Duan Cheng, "What do you think of the wonderful talent?" ”

The corners of Duan Cheng's mouth twitched, and he nodded: "With a little bit of dialing, it's no problem to be a Sima." ”

Liu Xiu smiled, and asked Xiahou Yuan to come up and tell him what he thought. Xiahou Yuan's eyes lit up immediately, and he was too busy to thank him. Liu Xiu stopped him and asked if there were any other suitable candidates, Xiahou Yuan thought about it and said bluntly: "Needless to say, Meng De, you know him very well." In addition to him, Cao Ren is also good at using soldiers, and his martial arts skills are also good, and my brother Xiahoudun is also a reliable person. ”

Liu Xiu listened to these names, and thought to himself, all of them have become Cao Ying's people? That's not going to work. I have to ask Zhao Yun and Zhang He from Lu Min, at least one of them has to come over, I can't be busy for a long time, and I will make wedding dresses for others. It's a pity that Liu Bei and Zhang Fei are too young to be useful for a while. Fighting tiger brothers and going into battle as father and son soldiers, at this time, it depends on how much reliable power there is behind them. Dad is really, thinking about rebellion all day long, why didn't he think about having more sons, otherwise why would he be so nervous now.

"Duan Gong, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend to me?"

Duan Cheng smiled slightly: "I have a clan named Duan Xuan, who has good martial arts skills and can also read words. There was a young man named Zhang Ji in the same county, who made a good spear in one hand and outstanding in riding and archery. There is a Han Sui in Jincheng, and there is a side chapter, both of whom are all-round talents in civil and military affairs. ”

Liu Xiu was overjoyed, he knew these people, especially Zhang Ji, that kid had also learned spear techniques from the Zhao family, and he was half of the same family.

"Please ask Duan Gong to send someone to invite them, I will reuse them."

(To be continued)