Since the emperor returned to Luoyang, Nangong has become lively again.

At the court meeting that day, Liu Ji rarely sat upright for a long time, and accepted the court's congratulations from the ministers complacently.

After all, he is more than half a hundred years old, and although he went out on a expedition, although he won a great victory and was refreshed, the toil of his clothes and heavy clothes, the fatigue of the boat and car, and the discomfort caused by the cold and dry air of the northern wind were all on his face.

The courtiers who stayed behind secretly looked at the emperor's obviously emaciated figure, and then looked at the gray hair on his sideburns, and sighed secretly, it is really unforgiving.

After scolding the dead Zang Di again, Liu Ji said that if he is completely stable today, he will take the opportunity of this crusade against Zang and the reward of meritorious deeds, and he will seal those heroes who have not yet had time to be rewarded.

In fact, everyone understands in their hearts that the promise of Ofen Feng, since the day he ascended the throne, the emperor has said it more than once, but it has been nearly a year since the founding of the dynasty, and in addition to more than a dozen well-known heroes, there are also thirty or forty second-class heroes, and they have not waited for the reward they deserve.

This group of second-class heroes are gearing up and looking forward to each other every day, and they are not convinced by each other, and grievances gradually arise.

And the reason why Liu Ji delayed them was that he had no money and no land, and second, he had no chance.

No money and no land, this is easy to understand.

In order to stabilize the hearts of the people and the foundation of the Han Dynasty, at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Liu Ji promulgated the five-year edict of Emperor Gao, which gave the greatest degree of fulfillment to the livelihood and fame of the 600,000 grassroots soldiers of the Han army.

The soldiers all returned home, and the land house was rewarded with merit.

The soldiers were knighted according to their military merits, and even those who had no military merits were given fifth-class knights, and they were also awarded five hectares of land.

This was a complete reshuffle of the old order and the beginning of a new empire.

Those soldiers and soldiers who had social status and family wealth built the first solid foundation for the Han Dynasty and consolidated the first soil and stone of Jinou Yonggu.

However, in order to win the support of these 600,000 soldiers and the three million families behind them, the Han government paid the price of distributing a full 30% of the land free of charge as a reward.

Coupled with the policy of exempting people from taxes and forced labor, in order to stabilize the people's minds, the current treasury is really about to be stretched.

Therefore, Liu Ji's personal expedition this time, even Yan Guo did not dare to fight thoroughly and deeply, only a quick battle with a dragonfly, and applied Huairou, one is to buy people's hearts, and the other is also to save internal money.

And in addition to the worry of an empty treasury, the Emperor was waiting for an opportunity to carry out the ulterior desire that he had been deeply secret, and that was -

Pro-virtuous and pro-virtuous, pro-virtuous.

***

Most of the heroes have an illusion that Liu Ji, who was born recklessly, will repeat the model of Zhou Tianzi, rule the world with virtuous ministers, rule the world with meritorious heroes, and have the world together and 800 princes below.

It's a pity that Liu Ji never thinks that imperial power can also be shared, he doesn't want to be on an equal footing with the heroes, nor does he want to share the wealth and power of the world with them.

This trip to discuss Zang Tu, with such fanfare, and announced to the world, is a warning to him to the heroes and kings with different surnames-

Time has changed, the sea and the fields, the time when you bargained with me is gone.

Your power comes from me, and I alone live and die.

The old Yan King Zang Tu has been exterminated, and the selection of the new Yan King will be arranged by the emperor, and no one else will be allowed to put his beak in his beak.

"In this rebellion, the soldiers fought bloodily, and they all wanted to be rewarded. But the greatest credit, in my opinion, has to belong to Xiangguo Xiao He.

I am going to give him another 5,000 households, what do you think? ”

Although this was a question, the majesty in the emperor's tone seemed to carry unquestionable authority.

Hearing this, the ministers looked at each other, silently chewing and digesting this thunder, no matter what, the generals who are strong and stubborn should also be the first to be praised.

Why is it Xiao He's turn first?

Several of the grumpy generals present thought so, and some of them couldn't hold back, and their eyes were split, and they all tried to fight with each other, but they were afraid.

And Xiao He, who became the target of everyone in an instant, only felt a headache.

The cry of the people blocking the road and shouting grievances is still vivid, this happened on the way back to Luan by the emperor's royal car, although the officials did not know the inside story, but Liu Ji obviously accepted those books, but he still turned a deaf ear and praised him lavishly-

The emperor used this unspeakable trick, which shows that he is so suspicious and guarded against him, and he is really not at ease.

The original wishful thinking was completely disrupted, he panicked, and his legs and feet were weak, but at this critical moment, he knew that the emperor above was observing his attitude intently, so he had to grit his teeth, staggered a few steps, and knelt on the ground with a plop, and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, the old minister is just a scribe, and he has not tasted the merits of sweating and horses, and he is talking about it in vain.

If you are above all the heroes now, there is no reason for this, and I hope Your Majesty will think twice. ”

Seeing that Xiao He didn't dare to be himself, all the ministers whispered,

Xiao Xiangguo's words are extremely true.

Even if it is to be sealed, when it comes to Xiao Xiangguo's merits, it is really not as high as the generals who conquered the city-"

"-That's right, although the prime minister has meritorious, but the soldiers really carry their heads to the battle!"

Liu Ji listened with great interest, but he didn't make a sound, and when the discussion of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military affairs gradually subsided, he glanced at Xiao He, who had always been on the ground, and then said to the ministers earnestly,

"I ask you, do you know how to hunt?"

***

"Yes." Everyone replied in unison.

"And do you know the hounds?"

"Yes."

"Well, hunting is nothing more than throwing out hounds to chase wild boars and hares.

And who does the hound command? Listen to the hunters.

You have hunted many beasts today, all of them are meritorious hunting dogs, but Xiao He is the hunter who can find wild beasts and direct you to hunt them down.

Therefore, what you have set up is a temporary achievement, and Xiao He has established a permanent achievement. ”

The hall was silent, but Xiao He lowered his body.

Liu Ji stroked his beard and continued,

"Besides, when you all followed me, you were almost all alone, and at most you brought a brother with you.

But Xiao He, who sent all the men of the clan to my command, I dare not live up to the loyalty of the clan.

That's it, don't be verbose. ”

Xiao He lay on the ground, not daring to move, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

Town the country, care for the people, give pay, endless food, this is before the throne, the emperor gave him earnest words, words are still in the ear, things are not people.

He unconsciously picked at the cold floor tiles with his hands, and actually wandered out of the world, recalling a day when he was guarding Guanzhong.

***

It was probably the midsummer of that year, Liu Ji, the king of Han, took Han Xin out of the customs to fight the world, and he was responsible for guarding the rear, collecting troops, transporting grain and grass, and being busy every day.

At that time, his only pleasure was to drive to the vicinity of Qin Dongling outside Xianyang City to visit his old friend Zhaoping.

Zhaoping was the Marquis of Tanglin named by Qin Shi Huang, and as the name suggests, he shouldered the heavy responsibility of guarding the mausoleum of the first emperor's parents.

Later, Qin Po and Zhaoping's family were defeated and demoted to cloth clothes, but with his talent, he opened up a hundred acres of melon fields and made a living by planting melons.

It is also strange to say, there are so many melon farmers in the world, but the melons that grow in the fields are thin and juicy, and they are exceptionally sweet, and the world is called Donglin melon, also called Zhaoping melon.

On that day, seeing him coming, Zhaoping deliberately picked the largest and roundest melon, poured it in the cool well water for a long time, and cut it with a knife, and the fruity fragrance was fragrant.

Under the thatched hut in the field, the two of them sat facing each other and nibbled on melons, and Zhao Ping remembered a past event-

"A few years ago, Prime Minister Li Si was falsely accused and sentenced to five sentences by Qin II Hu Hai and sentenced to be beheaded in the Xianyang Market.

Do you know what Lees said before he died? ”

"Hmm, what did you say?"

When Qin was still alive, Xiao He was only a local sword and pen official in Pei County, and he belonged to the most basic officials in the huge and complicated bureaucracy, and he had no way of knowing the secrets of the government and the opposition involving important ministers of the state, so he was very curious.

"At that time, he and his second son were bound and escorted to the place of execution, and suddenly he said to his son,

'I want to lead the yellow dog with Ruofu, and go out to Cai Dongmen to chase the cunning rabbit, how can I get it? ’”

I want to take the yellow dog with you again and go out to Cai Dongmen to hunt together, I'm afraid I can't do it anymore.