The Warriors of the Three Kingdoms

Nangong existed before the Eastern Han Dynasty. At the beginning, it was Xincheng Zhoucheng. After Qin Shihuang destroyed Zhou and unified China, he sealed the city to Lu Buwei. Lu Buwei managed it carefully, making the city magnificent and magnificent.

Luoyang, the capital of Liu Bang in the Western Han Dynasty, continued to use this city and continued to repair it to keep it a prosperous scene.In the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was fully renovated and officially became the imperial palace.

There are four gates with the same name in the same direction and the same name in the south and north palace cities. On both sides of the gate is the Zhuque gate, the east is the Canglong gate, the north is the Xuanwu gate, and the west is the Baihu gate.

The Xuanwu Gate of the South Palace is connected with the Suzaku Gate of the North Palace through multiple passages, and the Suzaku Gate of the Nangong Palace is connected with the Pingcheng Gate as the south main gate of the imperial palace, leading directly to the outside of the city.Because the emperor passed through the Zhuque Gate more often than not, this gate is the most honorable, and the building is also particularly majestic and magnificent. Looking at the Zhuque Gate from Yanshi, which is 45 miles away, it seems to be connected to the sky, which can be called the wonder of Luoyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Nangong is the place where the emperor and his officials congratulate and discuss politics.The architectural layout is neat and orderly, with palaces and pavilions row upon row.The main palace is located on the north-south axis.

The North Palace is mainly the palace city where the emperor and his concubines live, and its status is more important than the South Palace, so the buildings are extremely luxurious.

However, Liu Zheng didn't need to go to the North Palace at this time. The emperor summoned He Jin at night and had already gone to the Deyang Palace in the South Palace. This is what He Jin told him. See the emperor.

The location of Deyang Hall is directly in front of the Nangong Palace. Not far from the palace gate, you can see a spacious avenue with two pools next to it.

A few rows of patrol soldiers occasionally patrol here, and seeing more than 2000 people rushing in aggressively, these patrol soldiers immediately approached Liu Zheng and the others, and came to ask Liu Zheng who they were and why they came to Deyang Hall at this time.

Liu Zheng didn't have time to explain to these patrolling soldiers, and directly ordered his troops to enter the Deyang Hall of the imperial palace.

Although there were dozens of patrol soldiers in a team, they were completely powerless to fight against Liu Zheng's 2000 men. They were scattered by Liu Zheng's men in an instant, and the shouts of killing erupted in the square outside Deyang Hall , Immediately alarmed the entire palace.

The noisy shouts of killing, coupled with the sound of weapons being handed over, caused a commotion in the square of Nangong.

Emperor Han Ling, who was resting in Deyang Palace at this time, frowned immediately after hearing the sound, and turned around to ask the eunuch Zhang Rang beside him.

"Zhang Aiqing, what happened outside? Why is it so noisy?"

In fact, Emperor Han Ling should have slept and rested at this point, but because the Yellow Turban Army outside the city attacked the city, the momentum caused by the attack on Luoyang was too great. The bright light of the fire still caught the attention of Emperor Ling of Han in the palace.

That's why Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty summoned General He Jin at this time to ask what happened outside the city, but General He Jin didn't wait, but Liu Zheng's two thousand soldiers and horses waited.

The Yellow Turban Army rushed over, without any hindrance, and went straight to the outside of Deyang Hall.

Zhang Rang accompanied Emperor Han Ling, waiting in the Deyang Hall, and heard the sound coming from outside the hall, and was also very curious, but Emperor Han Ling didn't ask him to go out to observe, and he couldn't take the initiative to go there. At that time, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty spoke up, so he resigned and wanted to go outside to find out what happened.

But when Zhang Rang came out of the Deyang Hall, he saw many people rushing towards the square with steel knives and spears, approaching the outside of the Deyang Hall. At this time, Zhang Rang turned pale with shock. , Realizing that something serious had happened, he hurriedly turned his head and ran towards Deyang Hall.

"Your Majesty is not well, something big has happened!"

Zhang Rang hurried back to Deyang Hall, and was about to tell Emperor Han Ling what happened outside the hall.

He saw Emperor Han Ling walking out of the hall by himself.

Emperor Han Ling's bloated body walked very slowly, but his pace was very steady. The shouts of killing outside the main hall made Emperor Han Ling unable to sit still at this time.

"What's the matter? What happened? Why are there so many soldiers and horses here suddenly? Where are my palace guards? Where are the imperial guards dead?"

When Han Lingdi was still confused and panicked, Liu Zheng, who had already come to the square outside Deyang Hall, had already seen Han Lingdi walking out of Deyang Hall at a glance.

Immediately shouted at the Yellow Turban Army left and right.

"The dog emperor is here, everyone catch him, don't let him escape!"

Liu Zheng's words immediately made the left and right Yellow Turbans excited.

The two thousand Yellow Turbans here immediately swarmed towards the Deyang Palace, stared at Han Lingdi, and rushed over quickly, trying to capture Han Lingdi alive.

Liu Zheng didn't take the initiative to run over, and he didn't ask Zhou Cang to lead people over at this time. Instead, he turned to Zhou Cang and gave another order.

"Come here, Zhou Cang, I have something important to tell you!"

Zhou Cang was planning to rush out and follow the left and right soldiers to capture Han Lingdi alive, but after hearing Liu Zheng's order, he immediately turned around and approached Liu Zheng.

"Qu Shuai, if you have anything to do, just ask!"

At this time, Zhou Cang worshiped Liu Zheng and had no objection to Liu Zheng. Liu Zheng told him to go south, but he would never go north. Relying on 2000 people, He Jin was deceived, and he reached the palace, and he was about to capture the emperor.

His Zhou Cang's name will last forever, oh no, the great cause that has been infamous for thousands of years is about to succeed, Zhou Cang is naturally right, and Liu Zheng will not have any objections.

"Take some people to the North Palace immediately. Remember to catch a prince named Liu Bian. He is about seven or eight years old. He should live with Empress He. Where are you? You can grab one or two eunuchs at random. If you ask, you should be able to find out the whereabouts, and come here and join me as soon as you catch that person!"

Chapter 122 Capture the Spirit Emperor Alive

With a tense face, Liu Zheng gave Zhou Cang an order.

Although Zhou Cang didn't understand the meaning of Liu Zheng asking him to lead hundreds of people to the North Palace to arrest the emperor's son at this time, he didn't hesitate at all and immediately took the order to go.

"Yes, Shuai Qu, I will follow your orders and arrest that man immediately!"

Zhou Cang immediately took hundreds of people around him, turned around and ran out of Deyang Hall. There is still a full seven miles from here to the North Palace where the concubines and the emperor's heirs live. time.

But this is nothing to Liu Zheng, he can wait here for a mere incense stick, anyway, Emperor Han Ling hasn't caught it yet.

Two rows of guards ran out from both sides of the Deyang Hall, and these guards were all from the Habayashi Army in the palace, numbering no more than two hundred.

After a simple resistance with Liu Zheng and the Yellow Turban Army, they were killed by the Yellow Turban Army.

Han Lingdi was forced by the Yellow Turban Army to hide in the Deyang Hall, and firmly held the gate of the hall, wanting to make a final resistance.

But this kind of simple resistance is nothing to Liu Zheng and his more than 1000 soldiers, and soon they used the stone pillars outside the people to forcibly smash the gate of the hall.

In less than a cup of tea, Liu Zheng rushed into the Deyang Hall and captured Emperor Han Ling who was sitting on the dragon chair.

At this time, Emperor Han Ling was so frightened that his legs became weak and panicked. He looked at Liu Zheng who walked in from outside the hall, his face was full of horror, his fat body was shaking, and the flesh on his face was trembling. of.

The greasy body looks like a fat pig.This body alone looks like it must weigh at least 200 jin.

In ancient times, only the rich and powerful could have such a figure. The emperor was the pinnacle of deep wealth. He not only lacked exercise, but also liked to eat, drink and have fun.

The natural body is fat again and again, making him look like a pig.

It was precisely because he was too fat that Han Lingdi never thought of escaping by himself. With his body, if no one was carrying him, he would not be able to run at all.

"Who are you? Why did you come to the palace? What about my army? Where did General He Jin die?"

Emperor Han Ling, who was paralyzed on the dragon chair, had lost his soul from fright, but he still forcibly calmed himself down, and in a slightly trembling voice, asked Liu Zheng, who came in from outside the hall, tentatively. One sentence.

Liu Zheng looked at Han Lingdi, but did not speak.

In fact, Liu Zheng doesn't have the slightest dislike for the Han Dynasty, on the contrary, he loves the Han Dynasty extremely.why?Because his own surname is Liu.

Although he is not from this era, he is from 2000 onwards.But he is Han.That is to say, a Han, as a Han with the surname Liu at the same time, he has a great sense of identity with the Han Dynasty.

But he didn't have the slightest affection for Han Lingdi.

Why do you say that?Because Emperor Han Ling made little contribution to the Han Dynasty. On the contrary, the reason why the Han Dynasty came to an end was also caused by the actions of Emperor Han Ling.

Although the fall of the Han Dynasty was caused by natural disasters, a large part of the reason was, and the main source was, Emperor Han Ling.

The system of selling officials and nobles during his reign was notoriously bad. There had been sales of officials and nobles before in this dynasty, but the purpose was to solve huge financial difficulties, and the scale was limited and the official positions were very low.

During the reign of Hanling Emperor Liu Hong, although the country was in decline, foreign troubles were not serious, and the country's consumption was not very large. To be honest, it would not be possible to use such extraordinary measures to increase the country's income.Liu Hong made no secret of his desire to find money in order to satisfy the greed of himself and the eunuch.

As long as you can afford the money, you can sell various official positions in the court.Even later, all the officials in the court, including the Sangong and Jiuqing, had to use money to buy them, even some people.The high positions that have been sealed up cannot be normal without paying enough money.

Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty Liu Hong clearly stipulated that the previous system of promoting filial piety and honesty is still valid, and half or one third of the candidates should be selected based on virtue.For people with good character and reputation to buy an official, in addition to enjoying discounts, if they can't afford so much money at once, they can also pay a part of it first, or even pay the fee after taking office, but the price has to be doubled.

For the "fat shortage", a special market was opened up in a place called Xiyuan in Miyagi.The imperial court publicly announced that they could spend money to buy positions in departments from Guanneihou down to Guangluxun's subordinate Huben and Yulin; Promotion must also be paid at a price.

Those who seek an official position can evaluate their bids, and the person with the highest bid can win the bid.In addition to the fixed price, it also increases or decreases at any time according to the status and property of the applicant.

Generally speaking, the price of an official position is calculated based on the official's annual salary. For example, the price of an official position with an annual salary of two thousand shi is 2000 million yuan, and the price of an official position with an annual salary of 400 shi is [-] million yuan. That is to say, the price of an official position is the official's annual income. ten thousand times.

Although Duan Jiong, Zhang Wen and others made great contributions and had high prestige, they all paid enough money before ascending to the throne.Later, it became more serious, and in the future, officials must pay one-third or one-fourth of the official position price when they are transferred, promoted or appointed as new officials.

That is to say, when an official takes office, he must first pay his legal income equivalent to more than 25 years.Many officials were so frightened that they could not pay such a high "official fee" that they abandoned their official positions and left.

Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty made such a mess, the entire cadre team was messed up, and the foundation of the country's rule was shaken.

Even the emperor himself was greedy for money, let alone the various officials under him.

Many times those rich people spend money to buy a county magistrate, sheriff and other official positions. In order to earn back the money he spent, they will definitely search for the people's fat and anointment.

It will inevitably lead to complaints, and the people's lives will become more and more difficult.

The source of all this is naturally the Emperor Han Ling. Why did Zhang Jiao revolt in a short period of time and responded to millions of people? It is precisely because the Emperor Han Ling bought officials and sold nobles. .

If these are not enough to destroy the Han Dynasty, then the other decision made by Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty is even more stupid.

Restoration of the state pastoral system.A few years later, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty accepted the suggestion of Liu Yan, the patriarch of the Han Dynasty, to reset the prefecture and abolish the governor system, known in history as the abolition of history and establishment of pastoral care.Liu Yan was appointed as the herd of Yizhou and Huang Wan as the herd of Yuzhou; in the same year, Zongzheng Liu Yu was appointed as the herd of Youzhou.

The result was the formation of separatist warlords in various places, and the prefects, including Liu Yan, were basically no longer under the control of the imperial court after taking office.

Chapter 123 Retreat

In the original system of local officials, the biggest one was the governor, who controlled the territory of a state and was directly appointed by the central government. However, once the state pastoral system came out, the officials of each state and county had the ability to recruit soldiers and horses by themselves.

As soon as this decision is made, it will lead to a struggle for hegemony among the princes in the future.The chief culprit of the crowd.

The original local vassals only had administrative management power, and did not have the power to recruit soldiers and horses by themselves, and the soldiers and horses were controlled by the imperial court.

However, as soon as the state pastoral system came out, prefects and state pastors in various places had the power to recruit soldiers and horses by themselves. The strength of local troops once soared, enough to compete with the imperial court. The centralization of power was greatly reduced, and the imperial court naturally lost its dominant position and became It has become the same as in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the emperor is just a show, and the lowly heroes and princes are the overlords.

Then why do the local princes still obey the orders of the imperial court?

It is precisely because of these extremely stupid decisions that led to the terrible consequences of the vying for the throne and the hegemony of the Three Kingdoms, which led to the end of the Han Dynasty, which has been inherited for more than 400 years.

So Liu Zheng didn't have any good feelings for the fat man in front of him.

"Come on, tie up this fat man!"

Liu Zheng didn't bother to answer Han Lingdi's question at all, but directly ordered him to be tied up, intending to take him away from here together.

After capturing Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, Liu Zheng is holding the gold medal for avoiding death.

His initial intention was not to kill Emperor Ling of Han and let He Jin have the final fruits of victory.

If he really killed Han Lingdi, he would not be able to get out of the palace.

After all, Liu Zheng is not stupid. That guy He Jin wanted to use his hands to kill the Han Ling Emperor. In the end, if he turned his face and refused to recognize him, he would lead someone to wipe out Liu Zheng. It can be offset, but it is really according to what Liu Zheng said, to welcome Liu Bian to the throne.

Not only did he get the post of Regent, but he also took care of the unfavorable factor of Liu Zheng. It was the best of both worlds.

However, Liu Zheng fetched water from a bamboo basket in vain and got nothing.

That's why Liu Zheng won't be so stupid. He wants to use Emperor Han Ling as a shield. Only with Emperor Han Ling guarding him can he escape safely from Luoyang City with his troops. The soldiers and horses no longer dared to fight head-on with him.

He also wants to do what Cao Cao once did, taking the emperor to order the princes.

It's just that the emperor he is carrying is not the princes, but the ministers.

Let these ministers dare not act rashly.

Emperor Han Ling was captured, and the old eunuch Zhang Rang next to him was also captured by Liu Zheng's men.

The whole palace exploded and became a mess, but with Emperor Han Ling in hand, Liu Zheng didn't worry anymore, and he also sat down on the dragon chair.

I touched the golden dragon-shaped sculpture on the chair with my hand, and felt the luxury of some emperors on weekdays.

"Qu Shuai, ours has captured the emperor now, what should we do next?"

Liu Zheng's personal soldier came up, and now he didn't know what to do next, and wanted to ask Liu Zheng's next plan.

"How's the situation outside? Where's that guy He Jin?"

Liu Zheng was not in a hurry. Firstly, Zhou Cang hadn't come back yet, so he was not in a hurry to leave the imperial city. At the same time, he finally came to the imperial city, so it was not good to leave empty-handed.

"He Jin's men didn't follow us in, they were guarding the palace gate all the time, probably waiting for us to go out."

"I understand. You immediately lead people to plunder around the palace, and try to snatch something that is small and easy to take away. After a stick of incense, come here to gather. When Zhou Cangqu Shuai comes back, we will prepare together." Break out from the imperial city."

Liu Zheng was not in a hurry to leave, He Jin's men were waiting for him to leave the palace, and Liu Zheng was also waiting for Zhou Cang to come back.

Although he captured the Han Lingdi and got the gold medal for avoiding death, a Han Lingdi may not really be able to restrain He Jin.

If this guy He Jin is determined to rebel and kills Liu Zheng and Han Lingdi in a fit of anger, then he can still help Liu Bian to the throne.

Therefore, one Han Lingdi is not enough, Liu Zheng still has to hold Liu Bian in his hands.

Not long after, more than 1000 Yellow Turban soldiers from the Deyang Palace took action, looting the surrounding palaces, and some people even set a big fire, which caused a lot of flames in Nangong, and many people Frightened and fled in all directions.

It was also Liu Zheng's intention to create a fire hazard. Only in this way could their troops leave calmly in a panic.

Soon Zhou Cang brought his people back.

When he came back, he was accompanied by a child who looked like seven or eight years old. The child was wearing a yellow robe and was carried by Zhou Cang.

The child seemed extremely flustered, yet he was vicious.

"Let me go, let me go, you thieves!"

This child was Liu Bian, the eldest son of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, and also the original Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. Unfortunately, he was deposed by Dong Zhuo and was poisoned to death at a young age.

Liu Zheng took the child to the side of Emperor Ling of Han. When Emperor Ling of Han saw this child, his expression changed drastically.