On this day, Wu Yong once again accompanied Liu Hong, the Son of Heaven, to have a barbecue in Fanglin Garden, and suddenly the messenger came to report that the imperial envoy from the Western Regions had something important to play.

Liu Hong couldn't care about anything else, and hurriedly ordered the attendants to drive back to the palace. In the past few months, Wu Yong has also summed up a rule, as long as there is a situation at the border, the Son of Heaven will hold a great court meeting.

No, when Wu Yong rushed to the Deyang Hall of the North Palace, the hall was already full of hundreds of officials and ministers. After greeting acquaintances, Wu Yong found an inconspicuous corner in front of him to stand, which was the best position he had obtained after many verifications, which could not only allow the Son of Heaven to see him at any time, but also show his special status as the Son of Heaven's attendant.

About half a stick of incense less than a time to hear, a loud chanting: "The auspicious time is coming, the Son of Heaven is coming, and the princes will see you." Subsequently, the bells and drums in the Deyang Hall rang out in unison, the ceremonial music played, and Liu Hong, the son of heaven, was dressed in a black gown, wearing twelve crowns, and slowly walked into the hall surrounded by several eunuchs.

"Greetings to Your Majesty!" The civil and military officials bowed down and bowed in unison to welcome the arrival of the Son of Heaven. In the worship of many ministers, Liu Hong also walked to the center of the hall, slowly sat down in front of the imperial case, and then, looking around at everyone, waved his sleeves and said: "The ministers are exempt from the courtesy, give the seat." ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The hundred officials and ministers bowed again, and then quickly found a couch on both sides of the hall according to their respective positions and sat down.

As soon as the secretary of state of the hundred officials and ministers sat down, one of them held the jade gui, came out of the crowd, and stepped forward to bow to the Son of Heaven and said: "Your Majesty, the Liangzhou Assassin Shi Meng Tuo envoy is engaged in the appointment of 500 Dunhuang soldiers, and Cao Kuan, the captain of Wusi, and Zhang Yan, the chief of the Western Regions, and more than 30,000 soldiers in the front and rear of the Western Regions Yanqi, Qiuzi, and Cheshi, enter Shule. King Shule and De led the army to hold the Zhenzhong region, the Han army attacked for more than 40 days, the city could not be down, and the army was withdrawn. The defeat in this battle has a great impact on the prestige of our Han, and I ask Your Majesty to remove this person from his post and investigate it! When Liu Hong, the Son of Heaven, heard this, he couldn't help frowning slightly, looked around at the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty, and asked, "Why do you think the emperor is like this?" As soon as Liu Hong's words fell, a person on the left side immediately stood up, held the jade gui, came to the Son of Heaven, and respectfully bowed: "The minister thinks that Captain Li's words are a big mistake!" Although Meng Thorn Shi was at fault, but he ran Liangzhou for several years, not only paid countless tributes to the imperial court every year, but also was deeply supported by the local people. ”

"Liu Yushi's words, how absurd!" As soon as this person spoke, Captain Li was furious, stepped forward and questioned him: "How important is the geographical location of Shule, if Shule is not connected, it is equivalent to cutting off the trade of the Silk Road, which will make my Han lose at least 10 million yuan of income every year!" Moreover, the countries of the Western Regions are the most aware of the wind and rudder, and seeing that my Han can't even take a small sparse skull, it will only make them feel more unscrupulous! Under this series of chain reactions, I am afraid that all ethnic groups at the border will think that our Han is weak and can be bullied, and I don't know how many wars will be provoked at that time. After listening to Wu Yong, he also thought of the historical records he had seen.

The Western Regions nowadays mostly refers to many countries and regions west of Yumen Pass and Yangguan at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. During the late Qin and early Han dynasties, more than 50 countries were active in the vast Western Regions.

These small countries, although they are small, have kings, cities, and armies. The largest country is Yanqi, with a population of 80,000, the average country has a population of 20,000 or 30,000, and the least populous country has only one or two thousand people.

Some of the aborigines are Han, some are Qiang, some are Serbs, and some are local natives.

With the continuous conquest and annexation of each other, when Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions, there were only 36 countries, known as the "36 countries of the Western Regions".

Before Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, the 36 countries of the Western Regions were controlled by the Xiongnu forces, and the Xiongnu had a servant commander in Yanqi to collect conscription and taxes from various countries.

During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, in order to unite the Dayue clan to fight against the Xiongnu, he sent Zhang Qian to the Western Regions twice. Since then, the Han Dynasty has had frequent diplomatic exchanges with the Western Regions.

The term "Western Regions" began when Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty appointed Zheng Ji as the "Protector of the Western Regions", and the area under the jurisdiction of the "Protector of the Western Regions" at that time was the so-called "Thirty-six Kingdoms of the Western Regions".

During the period of Wang Mang, the Western Regions was divided into 55 small states, among which the northern states were subject to the Xiongnu again, and the Han Dynasty dismissed the capital.

During the reign of Emperor Ming, the Eastern Han Dynasty began to wage war against the Xiongnu. He also sent a squad beyond the Western Regions, and the Western Regions were peaceful.

However, since the time of Emperor Huan, the national strength has weakened, and the countries of the Western Regions have begun to disobey the rule of the Han court and repeatedly provoke disputes.

Now that Liangzhou Assassin Shi Meng Tuo has been preparing for a long time, he has not been able to capture Shule, which will only cause the situation in the Western Regions to become more turbulent.

Wu Yong stood aside, thinking whimsically. Liu Yushi glanced at Captain Li without being salty, and replied slowly: "Captain Li's words are just speculation, and no one can predict what will happen in the future!" The imperial court cannot chill the hearts of the border soldiers, if they make a small mistake, they will ignore the accountability, and who will be willing to guard the border for the imperial court in the future. Yes, to be, this matter needs to be suspended! Liu Hong, who was behind the imperial case, couldn't help but feel a little big when he heard the two of them, so he turned to the side and asked, "What does the captain think about this matter?" Hearing the Son of Heaven's inquiry, he hurriedly leaned over and said, "Back to Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that the words of Captain Li and Liu Yushi have merit. Han Feiziyun: The way of the wise man makes the wise man do his best, and the king does not bow to the wisdom because he judges things; The sage is his material, so the king lets it, so the king does not bow to the ability; If you have merit, you will be virtuous, and if you have a fault, you will let your guilt, so you will not bow to your name. Therefore, according to the old minister's opinion, the Han attack on Shule this time, Meng Tingshi was indeed at fault, and he should be punished with a small punishment and a big commandment. "As the head of the three dukes, if you hear the attack, it is equivalent to closing the coffin, and many hundred officials and ministers in the palace have also rested their minds, even Captain Li and Liu Yushi have also retreated to their positions and sat down.

When the Son of Heaven heard this, he also nodded, and then looked around at the ministers and officials of the Manchu Dynasty and asked, "Why do you think the Qing is like this?" ”

"The ministers seconded it!" Hundreds of officials and ministers bowed. Seeing this, Liu Hong said: "The proposed decree is that it is not good for Liangzhou to assassinate Shi Meng Tuo, which will damage the majesty of our Han army, and he will be fined for three years to set an example." The Baiguan and the Minister bowed again: "Your Majesty Shengming! This matter was revealed, and Zhang Rang, the regular attendant standing beside Liu Hong, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Meng Tuo was recommended by him as the assassin of Liangzhou, and if the Son of Heaven was held accountable, he would not be able to escape responsibility.

Fortunately, there was no danger, and he passed it safely, and at the same time he muttered to himself: This time, I must take the credit on myself and ask Meng Tuo for more treasures.

Thinking of this, he looked at Taiwei again, and wondered a little in his heart: Didn't this old thing take the wrong medicine today, he always arrests people and doesn't let go of it, why did he let Meng Tuo go so easily this time?

Isn't it because I saw that I had recently become close to the Son of Heaven and knew that Meng Tuo was my person, so I wanted to use this to get close?

But apparently he thought too much, just when Zhang Rang was distracted, the servant Li Xian suddenly came out of the queue and bowed to the head of the Son of Heaven: "Your Majesty, recently, many people in Luoyang have sued Cao Jie, Hou Lan and other ten middle servants for being tyrannical and domineering, and in the name of building toilets, they have wantonly amassed wealth, causing public resentment to boil, please Your Majesty will remove them from their posts and investigate them, in order to thank the world!" Another Sikong Liu Huan, under the pretense of his position, opened the door for the ten permanent servants to open the door of convenience, and encroached on people's houses and fields, which is really for private expenses, please Your Majesty dismiss this person, and the people will be angry! Liu Hong: "......" Hearing the words of Li Xian, the good mood that Liu Hong had just risen suddenly disappeared, replaced by endless irritability and headaches, at this moment, looking at Li Xian who was standing straight with an expressionless face in the hall, Liu Hong could only ask sharply: "Zhang Changshi, what's going on?" Zhang Rangmeng, he didn't expect the biggest pit to be here, although he was very angry in his heart, but he also knew that this kind of thing about going to the toilet and collecting money really couldn't let the Son of Heaven Liu Hong know, because what they told the Son of Heaven at that time was to build a toilet to improve the living environment of the people in Luoyang, and to pay for doing good things for the people, and now as soon as the money is collected, the nature has changed.

Therefore, he could only plop down and fall to the ground, crying bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, the old slave and others are loyal, these are all slanders, when the toilet was built, the old slave and the others also reported to Your Majesty!" Liu Hongleng paused, and then thought of something, so he asked: "Is it a mistake for Tai Fuqing, Cao Jie and others mentioned the construction of the toilet to me, and I also agreed." Li Xian sneered and asked rhetorically: "Could it be that the people have to charge five yuan for the last toilet, and His Majesty agrees?" Liu Hong's eyes stared, before he had the son of heaven, his family was not wealthy, and he naturally knew that the last toilet for five yuan was a sky-high price for the people, which was to do good deeds, it was simply to harm the people.

Therefore, he looked at Zhang Rang again and asked with a gloomy face: "Zhang Rang, do you know about this?" At this time, Liu Hong was a little angry and a little heartbroken when the Ten Standing Servants dared to deceive him.

Zhang Rang dared to admit it at this time, so he could only keep kowtowing and said: "Your Majesty, the old slave and others have always served His Majesty and have never left the palace, how can they know about the outside world." In fact, although Liu Hong was very angry, he didn't want to punish the ten permanent servants.

Therefore, Liu Hong pondered for a long time before he spoke: "What do you think, how should this matter be handled?" Hearing the question of the Son of Heaven, the ministers were silent, no one dared to come out to answer, and no one was willing to come out to excuse the ten permanent servants.

What's more, he looked down directly at the couch or pillar in front of him... It's as if you're looking at the intricate moire patterns on the couch and the pillars... Seeing that the ministers were speechless, Liu Hong felt even more headache, and secretly said in his heart: "Is it true that you want to drive away Cao Jie and give an explanation to the people of the world?" Just when Liu Hong was hesitating, the Taiwei heard that someone was attacking and said: "Your Majesty, since Zhang Changshou doesn't know about this, then just punish him with a small punishment for the crime of negligence!" However, ......" said, he glanced at Sikong Liu Huan, and continued: "At present, the people's grievances are boiling, and Liu Sikong is in his position and does not seek his own politics, so he should not continue to take on this great responsibility. As soon as the words of the attack fell, Situ Xu Xun suddenly came out and played: "Liu Sikong let his subordinates go to help them abuse and kill the people. Your Majesty will not dismiss him, and you will not be able to thank the world! ”

"The minister seconded the proposal!" At this time, Liu He, the secretary of the Shaofu, also spoke in support: "Please Your Majesty dismiss Sikong Liu Huan and correct the law of the country!" Subsequently, the rest of the ministers in the palace also got up one after another, and bowed to the Son of Heaven in unison: "Please Your Majesty dismiss Sikong Liu Huan and correct the law of the country!" Thank you! ”…… For a time, the hundreds of courtiers present, except for a few who were still unmoved, most of the rest bowed down to the Son of Heaven and asked the Son of Heaven to order the dismissal of Sikong Liu Huan!

Wu Yong stood on the side, looking at the situation in front of him, and thinking in his heart. He is in charge of water and soil affairs. Where the city is set up, the ditch is dredged, and the grave is repaired, the benefits are discussed and the merit is built.

Where the Quartet water and soil work, at the end of the year, the most rewarding and punishing will be played in the palace. All the things in the suburbs, the palm sweeps, the musical instruments, and the big funeral is the palm of the school to restore the soil.

Where there is a big country and a big doubt, and the dispute is the same as the Taiwei. It seems that this time the ten permanent servants built the toilet, and Sikong Liu Huan made a lot of efforts!

And Zhang Rang, who was kneeling on the ground, didn't dare to say a word when he saw this scene, for fear that the eyes of the hundred officials and ministers would be on him again, and at the same time, he couldn't help but secretly say in his heart: "Liu Huan, I'm sorry, you can block the predicament in front of you for us, as long as we are still in power, there will be a day when you will make a comeback!" Liu Huan also knew that he was in a catastrophe today, so he got up, slowly came to the center of the hall, and bowed to the Son of Heaven: "Minister Liu Huan, please ask Your Majesty for your guilt, and I am willing to resign from the position of Sikong!" Liu Hong sighed slightly when he heard this, and said falsely: "Since you are guilty, then hand over the talismans!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" After that, Liu Huan took a long time, bowed down in front of the Son of Heaven, slowly took off his clothes and accessories, placed them neatly on the ground, and then exited Deyang Hall in white underwear.