Twenty-one years of Jian'an, summer.

Cao Cao went in and out like the Son of Heaven, and used Yang Xiu's case to question Hanchen, and the people of Xuchang panicked.

Liu Xi, the king of Langya, feared Cao Cao's behavior, led dozens of his family and absconded to Huaibei, wanting to flee to Wu Chu and take refuge with Liu Bei, the king of Hanchang. (Note (1))

Liu Xi, the king of Langya, after Liu Jing, the eleventh son of Emperor Guangwu, the king of Langya, belonged to the Han clan of pure blood.

Knowing that Xiahoudun led the soldiers to chase and kill Liu Xi, Lu Su, the deputy governor of Jianghuai, heard the news and led the army to meet him with the general Huo Duqin. Xiahou was jealous of the prestige of the army, and he was afraid and did not dare to chase deeply.

Liu Xi, the king of Langya, and dozens of his family members were saved, and Lu Su reported to Wuhan to consult Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was overjoyed and ordered Zhao Yun to lead a thousand soldiers to welcome Liu Xi, the king of Langya, with a princely courtesy, and take his clansmen to Wuhan.

Liu Bei set up a family banquet with his wife and sons to wash the dust for Liu Xi's family.

In the Hanchang Palace, Liu Bei and Mi sat on the couch together, and the husband and wife were deeply affectionate and enviable.

Compared with Liu Bei's simple royal clothes, Mi's head wears a phoenix crown, the phoenix hairpin on the crown holds a pearl, and the phoenix bird sways on the cloud bun, with dignified and graceful makeup, quite the style of the mother of a country.

Mi is not Liu Bei's first wife, but the wife who remarried after falling into the East China Sea.

Gai or Liu Bei continued to marry the little girl as his wife, and the two brothers did their best to help each other, coupled with the perennial displacement, resulting in the emptying of the Mi family's property, so Liu Bei would rather use it simply, and was reluctant to let the Mi family suffer, and treated him very lucky.

This is also one of the reasons why Liu Bei treats Mi Fang so leniently, Mi Shi, as a little princess who has been favored since childhood, has a temper, and Liu Bei also has a headache.

After Gan's young illness and death, Liu Bei thought that the Mi family had no children and daughters, and handed over his eldest son Liu Chan to the Mi family to raise. Mi is also quite fond of the young Liu Chan, as if he were his own, he raised him personally, and did not pretend to others.

Mi sat on the side of the couch, smiling at the corners of his mouth, holding chopsticks to pick up vegetables for Liu Bei and his son. And that kid Liu Chan sat among Liu and Mi, very well-behaved.

Liu Xi, the king of Langya, who was sitting in the second seat, was wearing regular clothes and did not dare to wear royal clothes to see Liu Bei. Although he is similar in age to Liu Bei and is also Liu Xiu's orthodox heir, he does not dare to be proud, but respectfully calls Liu Bei as the royal brother.

After all, Liu Xifei is a fool, he dares to go south to join Liu Bei, how dare he slack off his identity? Being a mascot is his own positioning.

Liu Bei looked at the respectful Liu Xi and asked, "My brother is from the north, I don't know what the situation in the Central Plains is?" ”

Liu Xi looked sad and said: "Cao Cao's harm is even worse than Dong Zhuo's, he imitates Wang Mang's deeds, calls Gongjin the king, mutilates the queen, and poisons the prince." Now he ordered the rebel Cao Pi to use Yang Xiu's case to slaughter Han Chen, and his tyrannical behavior made people and gods angry. ”

Saying that, Liu Xi's eyes were red, and he cried: "The Han family is in decline, and the four seas are in turmoil, if it weren't for Brother Wang's army to raise troops against Wu Chu, today's generals would not belong to my surname Liu." ”

Wiping his tears, Liu Xi said regretfully: "It's a pity that my uncle doesn't know Cao Cao's heart, so he actually made a statement to the Son of Heaven in Chang'an and praised Cao Cao as a loyal minister. The situation in the world has been chaotic so far, mostly because of Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao. ”

When Emperor Han Xian was in Chang'an, Liu Xi's uncle Liu Miao once entered Chang'an to pay tribute, and Liu Miao passed by Yanzhou on the way and received Cao Cao's courtesy. After entering Chang'an, Liu Miao praised Cao Cao for his loyalty to the Han family and left a deep impact on Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty.

Therefore, when Emperor Xian of Han fled to Luoyang, Zhao Cao Cao came to greet him. Cao Cao was quite grateful to Liu Miao, and then in the eleventh year of Jian'an, Cao Cao made Liu Xi the evil king of Lang.

Liu Bei sighed deeply and said regretfully: "Since the two emperors of An and Shun, they have killed and humiliated virtuous ministers and appointed traitors, causing chaos in the court. The two emperors and young lords of Chong and Zhen were in power, relatives and eunuchs were in power, the Han family was in decline, and the people were struggling to make a living. and the two emperors of Huan and Ling ascended the throne, and they were close to the villain, far from the virtuous ministers, and the chaos in the world began from here. ”

"The Son of Heaven is not virtuous, there are traitors to make trouble, there is no Cao to operate chaotically, and there is also Yuan Shao plotting rebellion. The world is in turmoil, and I lost the hearts of the people in my Han family, what does it have to do with my brother and uncle! ”

Speaking of the back, Liu Bei seemed to remember the twenty years he had been circling in the Central Plains, with famines, plagues, wars, and massacres enveloping this disaster-ridden land, and his expression couldn't help but be gloomy.

Seeing that her husband was in a bad mood, Mi changed the topic and asked: "Since Brother Wang was born in the family of princes, I don't know if he has ever been to Luoyang, and he is richer than Xiapi and Linzi, what should he do?" ”

Liu Xi showed a look of reminiscence, and said: "When Emperor Ling succeeded to the throne, Xi once followed his father to Luoyang to worship, and when Luoyang was rich, it was not Xiapi and Linzi to be discussed, and there were millions of mouths, and all the treasures in the world were all gathered in Luoyang. ”

"At that time, the envoys of the Western Regions, the barbarians of Jiaoling, and the princes of Saibei were all ordered to enter Beijing to pay homage. However, more than ten years later, Dong Zhuo rebelled in Beijing, slaughtered his subjects, sent the emperor's tombs, and indulged in lewd pleasures. Xi followed his uncle and the Son of Heaven in Chang'an, passed through Luoyang, and entered Chang'an, and everything he saw was withered, and there was no prosperity of the Beijing Division in the past. ”

When it came to the emperor's tombs, Liu Xi shed tears again, but this time he was not the only one who cried, even Liu Bei couldn't help shedding tears.

On the humiliation of the Han family, there is nothing more than the tombs of the emperors being dug up. And Liu Bei and Liu Xi were born in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and they saw the prosperity of Luoyang and knew the authority of the Han Emperor at that time. Compared with the humiliating situation now, there is a difference between heaven and man.

Seeing his father crying sadly, Liu Chan asked, "Why is my father so sad?" ”

Liu Bei stroked Liu Chan's head and said, "When my father was young, he didn't have the respect of the present. When the Son of Heaven ruled the world, but the Son of Heaven was not virtuous, causing the people to suffer and the Yellow Turban thieves to make trouble. The father is the world of the Anhan family, and he raised troops to fight against thieves. The Son of Heaven died, and the thieves made a rebellion, leading Dong Zhuo into Beijing. ”

"Dong Zhuo is a tiger and wolf in the northwest, and the soldiers entered the Beijing Division, abolished the Son of Heaven, and brutalized Zhongliang. When my father and Cao Cao raised troops to fight Dong Zhuo, they didn't expect that the princes had their own evil intentions, and it was difficult to succeed. He traveled to the Central Plains for decades for his father, led the defeated troops to Wuchu, and got the help of the princes, and wanted to serve the glory of the martial arts......"

Liu Chan handed the towel to Liu Bei and said, "Guangwu can rejuvenate the Han Dynasty, why can't my father rejuvenate the Han Dynasty!" ”

Liu Bei wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and asked: "Since the slave knows the matter, Chang'an and Wuhan are thousands of miles away, and my father is in Chang'an, and it is difficult to get acquainted with Xinghan?" ”

Liu Chan thought for a little and said: "Since ancient times, only Emperor Guangwu of the Xinghan Dynasty has been able to reach Chang'an, so it is difficult to prosper the Han Dynasty!" ”

"Haha!"

Liu Bei pinched Liu Chan's face and said with a smile: "If my father goes to Chang'an, he will be able to prosper the Han Dynasty!" ”

"Although the prince is young, he is very intelligent. After Brother Wang, there will be a son to succeed the unification. Liu Xi exclaimed.

Mrs. Mi glanced at Liu Bei, and said dissatisfiedly: "Brother Wang is wrong, Adou is not the prince, only the eldest son of the eldest prince." ”

Seeing this, Liu Bei only stroked Adou's head and smiled without saying a word.

Mrs. Mi served Liu Bei for nearly 20 years and only gave birth to one daughter. After entering Jiangdong, although it was too peaceful, Mi's family had been running for many years, resulting in poor health, often minor diseases, and the age was too old, and production was dangerous.

Between Mi's hesitation, Liu Chan lost his mother at an early age and was raised by Mi's. Mi regarded it as his own, and gradually broke off the idea of having children. Under this, Mi instead hoped that Liu Chan could become the crown prince.

Knowing the reason, Liu Xi apologized and said: "Brother Wang, my brother doesn't know the details, I hope you will forgive me." ”

"Nothing!"

Liu Bei held Liu Chan's little hand and said, "Today is a family banquet, and tomorrow I will introduce my brother to Wu Junjie." ”

"Thank you Brother Wang for your kindness!"

After chatting for a long time, seeing that it was getting late, Liu Bei ended today's banquet.

——

The next day, Liu Bei invited Zhuge Liang, Huo Jun, Pang Tong and other cronies to enter the palace and introduce Liu Xi to everyone.

In the hall, Liu Bei sat on the couch, and everyone sat on the left and right according to their ranks. Compared with the changes in the past, Liu Bei has a kid Liu Chan on his side, and Liu Xi, the king of Langya.

Liu Bei pointed at Liu Xi and said to everyone: "Cao Cao has no way, and he has the intention of usurping the throne. King Langya suffered and fled south to Wuhan, and now all the Qing should respect him with courtesy and not slack off! ”

"Meet King Langya!" And they stood up and saluted.

"Don't dare!"

Liu Xi hurriedly saluted everyone and said: "All the Qings have important ministers of the Xinghan Dynasty, and when they first arrived in Wuhan, they should talk a lot." ”

"Brother Wang is polite!"

Seeing that Liu Xi was so cautious, Liu Bei said with a smile: "Kong Ming used to be a Langya person, and he and Brother Wang should be fellow villagers. ”

"No!"

"Liang has seen King Langya!"

"Hee has seen the military division."

Liu Xi said: "The reputation of the military advisor is well known at home. Xi has heard a lot in the Central Plains, and today I can see the demeanor of the military division, and the result is extraordinary. ”

"King Xie Langya praises!"

Under Liu Bei's introduction, the two sides got to know each other. After that, Liu Bei asked the waiter to serve the food, and under the effect of the wine, both sides gradually let go.

At the end of his words, Liu Bei's eyes fell on Liu Chan, and he asked again: "Ji slave, for his father to Chang'an, is it difficult to get acquainted with Xinghan?" ”

Liu Chan blinked his eyes and said childishly: "It should be difficult to go to Chang'an!" ”

"Huh?"

Liu Bei was slightly surprised and asked: "Yesterday it was difficult to say that it was prosperous, why is it difficult to say that it is Chang'an today!" ”

Liu Chan got up from the seat neatly, bowed to Liu Bei with his small short hand, and said: "Father, the Han family has flourished, but my father has not yet arrived in Chang'an!" ”

"Huh!"

Liu Bei looked surprised and said, "Why did the slave say this? ”

Liu Chan raised his voice and said: "My father is based in Wuhan, and now the prince is here to vote, which shows that the Han family has prospered in my father!" ”

"The Han family has risen?"

Everyone looked at each other a few times and was quite amazed by Liu Chan's intelligence.

Huo Jun raised the wine bottle and said with a smile: "The king's grace spreads all over the world and leads the king of the sect to work, which shows that the tyranny of Cao Thief has lost the hearts of the people. ”

Liu Xi was very upright and congratulated: "Brother Wang's name of benevolence is flourishing in the Central Plains. Now the Han family is declining, the Son of Heaven is a puppet, and the Han family is not in the north but in the south! ”

Liu Bei pretended to reprimand and said: "Brother Wang can't say anything, the son is still alive today!" ”

"No!"

"Huh!"

Then, Liu Bei looked at Liu Chan, laughed a few times, and said with satisfaction: "The lonely Han family is in Wu Chu, and the responsibility of rejuvenating the world should be on this son!" ”

"The son is wise and benevolent, and now he should congratulate the king." Zhuge Liang said.

Compared with the attitude of the ministers towards Liu Chan, Zhuge Liang has more preference for Liu Chan because he has raised Liu Chan for a period of time. Therefore, in the selection of the crown prince, Zhuge Liang mostly supported Liu Chan.

Liu Bei stroked his beard and said: "The Han Dynasty has a difficult fortune, the thieves and ministers usurp, and the lonely prince is the king, but there is no prince." Today's son Zen is intelligent, and he wants to be crowned the crown prince, and he will inherit the temple and succeed to the throne of the unification. I don't know what you think? ”

Zhuge Liang stepped out of the ranks and said: "The son is long and wise, and he can succeed to the throne of the king." ”

"No objection!" Huo Jun said.

"No objection!" The people should be in peace.

Everyone in the hall complied, but one person looked lonely. This person is none other than Liu Feng, the adopted son of Liu Bei in his early years.

Gai or had expected it, Liu Feng lowered his head and sighed slightly. Wu has no achievements, and he is not Liu Bei's own son, he is too embarrassed.

"Good!"

Liu Bei bowed his head slightly and said, "Kong Ming chose a good day and played the slave as the crown prince. ”

"No!"

With the establishment of Liu Chan as the crown prince, this small banquet also came to an end.

The ministers said goodbye and left, but Zhuge Liang and Huo Jun were left behind by Liu Bei to talk about important matters.

In the side hall, the three of them sat down at the table, and there was sandalwood burning on the desk, and tea was tasted.

Zhuge Liang poured tea for Liu and Huo, and said: "King Langya has taken refuge in the king, I don't know why the king will treat him now?" ”

Liu Bei stroked his scarce beard and said: "After Liu Xi became Emperor Guangwu, his veins were in Langya for a long time, and because of Cao Cao's cruelty, he had to go south. Lonely wanted to treat him with courtesy, so that he stayed in Wuhan. ”

Zhuge Liang pondered for a while and said, "Treat him with courtesy, maybe it will work." However, in the light of the light, the food can not be granted by the marquis. Although the south is wide, but the people are not abundant, if the old Han clan relatives are treated leniently, I am afraid that there will be many dissatisfaction, and the government treasury has limited money. ”

"What Kong Ming said, this lonely is also worried!"

Liu Bei took a sip of tea and said, "Since this is the case, it can be understood by Kong Ming." Lone issued an edict tomorrow, ordering Wenwu to be courteous and leave him to live in Wuhan, and there was no shortage of food and clothing. and specific matters are grasped by Kong Ming. ”

"The king is wise!" Zhuge Liang praised.

Zhuge Liang was not worried that he couldn't support Liu Xi, but that he couldn't afford to support those Eastern Han clan relatives. If everyone follows Liu Xi's example, Liu Bei will accept it normally and treat him with great courtesy. At that time, don't raise soldiers, just raising the food of the Han clan can drag down the south.

At present, Liu Bei's demand for mascots is not as great as before, with Liu Pu, Liu Zhang, Sun Shao, and Zhang Lu, ordinary marquis are not even qualified to eat at the table. And Liu Bei treats Liu Xi preferentially, mostly because he values his identity as the orthodox King of Langya. And this King of Langya is still sealed by Cao Cao, and the slap in the face means even heavier.

Huo Jun put down the celadon tea cup in his hand and said with a smile: "The king Zhaojun and Kong Ming have met, but do you want to talk about the Northern Expedition?" ”

"Oh?"

Liu Bei raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked curiously, "How does Zhong Miao know?" ”

Huo Jun touched his mustache and said: "It is difficult for the king to leave the center, and now Gongzi Chan is the crown prince, and it should be prepared for the Northern Expedition." And Kong Ming Nanping Wuxi, Shanyue Erman, barbarian annexation, no internal worries, when the northern expedition. ”

"Haha!"

Seeing that Huo Jun had calculated his thoughts, Liu Bei did not hide it, and said: "Now the six states in the south have been decided, and the government decree is smooth. Rice and wheat rotation for two years, the beginning of the effect. The grain and grass are in abundance, the sergeants think about the war, and they think that they will be looking for an opportunity to go on the Northern Expedition next year! ”

Zhuge Liang stroked the feather fan and said: "The south is not as rich as the north, if it is not cut down for a long time, and the enemy will rest and recuperate, it will be greatly detrimental to our army." Now the southern army has flourished, the generals are brave, and it is imperative to raise troops for the Northern Expedition. ”

"Good!"

Liu Bei raised his eyebrows and said: "The Northern Expedition is not trivial. As Kong Ming said, the soldiers are divided into three ways, and now they want to collect the views of Boyan, Yun Chang, and Zijing, and unite the wisdom of the wise men to control the Northern Expedition strategy, and hope that the two gentlemen will help each other. ”

"Jundang will do his best to help the king's Northern Expedition!" Huo Jun said.

"Liang is willing to serve the work of dogs and horses!" Zhuge Liang said.

(1) "The Book of the Later Han Dynasty: The Biography of the Ten Kings of Guangwu": Reigned for eleven years, sat and wanted to cross the river, was executed, and the country was exterminated.

ps: I'm going to take a leave of absence tonight, and I'll change it for the time being.

(End of chapter)