The Rebirth of Lu Bu in the Legend of the Heroes of the Later Han Dynasty

In the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an, Emperor Liu Xie and Shadow Zhuge Liang were having a secret conversation.

Liu Xie said: "Kong Ming, you have worked hard as my shadow these years. Your relatives in Nanyang are all well. I have ordered Wang Yue to escort them to Chang'an. You can be reunited then."

Zhuge Liang kowtowed three times to the emperor, "Thank you for your majesty's grace. The common people can become your majesty's shadow. This is the blessing accumulated by our ancestors. The three brothers of the common people are willing to go through fire and water for your majesty."

Liu Xie said: "In these years I have been in Nanyang, and I have met many talents with your identity. There are indeed many talented people in Jingxiang. Now that Cao Cao is in control of the government, my imperial edict cannot go out of Chang'an. When Zhuge Xuan died, he told you three things." He can read at the age of 10, and he is a talented person with knowledge of the world. Do you have any plans to help me regain the power of the government?"

Zhuge Liang said: "Most of the officials in the court today are Cao Cao's party members. Your Majesty was raised by the Empress Dowager Dong when he was a child, and was named Dong Hou. Your Majesty's throne was also established by Dong Zhuo, the prime minister at that time. Now the only ones your Majesty can use are those. The old generals of Xiliang still remember Dong Zhuo's kindness."

Liu Xie asked: "Are there any Xiliang generals now? I remember that there was internal strife in the Xiliang army and Luoyang was burned down. Didn't Li Jue, Guo Si and others all die?"

Zhuge Liang said: "There are two people who can help your majesty. One is Zhang Xiu, the governor of Wancheng, who has 30,000 Xiliang elite cavalry, and the other is Jia Xu, the commander of Chang'an, who is good at strategizing. These two people were defeated by the emperor. Cao Cao surrendered only after his elite soldiers and generals were strong. Your Majesty can make good use of these two men and promise them high positions and generous salaries."

Liu Xie said: "I heard that Jia Xu and Cao Cao often exchanged letters. Wang Yue once intercepted a letter written by Cao Cao to Jia Xu. He asked Jia Xu to monitor my every move. How could he help me?"

Zhuge Liang said: "People in the world are only pursuing wealth, fame and fortune. The common people heard that Jia Xu came from a declining family in Wuwei County. He is nearly sixty years old and has not yet gained status for his family. Your Majesty only needs to allow his family to become the first noble family in Liangzhou." , then you can gain their allegiance.”

Liu Xie said: "This is a good plan, but how should we recruit Zhang Xiu from Wancheng?"

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "That Zhang Xiu's aunt Zou was one of the most beautiful women in the world. In the past, Niu Fu was killed because this woman offended Zhang Xiu. The common people heard that Cao Cao built the Bronze Sparrow Tower in Luoyang to attract the most beautiful women in the world. , as long as he is allowed to see the Zou family, there is no need to worry that Zhang Xiu will not turn against him like he did back then."

Liu Xie said: "I will leave this matter to you. After it is completed, I will grant you the post of Nanyang Governor."

Zhuge Liang knelt down to thank the emperor and then walked out of the palace.

Liu Xie then met with his confidants, such as Yue Cavalry Captain Wang Fu, Changshui Colonel Zhong Ji, Ying Liang Wu Shuo, Tun Cavalry Colonel Fu Wan, and Chariot and Cavalry General Dong Cheng. Although they all had military ranks, they had There is not a single soldier. This was also Cao Cao's plan, to make the emperor and his ministers have positions but not power, so as to firmly control the power of the government in his hands. This was also the approach of powerful officials in the past dynasties.

Dong Cheng agreed with the method of recruiting old Xiliang generals. After all, he was also a member of the Dong family. Once the Xiliang army replaced Cao Cao, his daughter Concubine Dong would have the opportunity to inherit the throne once she gave birth to a prince. It was his turn, Dong Cheng, to take control of the government.

Fu Wan had a different attitude. He believed that now Cao Ren and Cao Hong's 50,000 troops were stationed in Guanzhong. Once they launched an attack, the emperor would be in trouble. Moreover, there were still 200,000 elite troops in Yanzhou and Luoyang. Before they had the upper hand, they would It is not appropriate to take action against Cao Cao.

Liu Xie took out an oath and circulated it to everyone. It was jointly signed by Liu Zhang, the governor of Yizhou, Shi Xie, the governor of Jiaozhou, Cai Mao, the governor of Jingzhou, and Sun Quan, the governor of Yangzhou. The content of the oath was to jointly protect the Han Dynasty. The emperor Liu Xie overthrew Cao Cao and returned the power of the Han Dynasty to the emperor's hands.

Liu Xie said: "I personally went to Yizhou and Jiaozhou to persuade Liu Zhang and Shi Xie to submit to the imperial court. This was only a temporary measure, waiting for the world to change and the four major princes to unite to attack Yanzhou, Yuzhou and Xuzhou. Land, I also asked Ma Teng to go to the Qiang King to borrow troops, and when the time is right, use Qiang soldiers to deal with the fifty thousand people in this pass. By then, Cao Cao will be surrounded by enemies on all sides, like a turtle in an urn."

Wang Fu, Zhong Ji, and Wu Shuo all praised the emperor as an unparalleled emperor with the demeanor of his ancestor, Emperor Guangwu, who would definitely be able to revive the Han Dynasty and restore the emperor's power.

Fu Wan still raised his concerns: "Lü Bu in Hebei has hundreds of thousands of troops and has close contacts with Cao Cao. Once he leads his troops across the Yellow River, it will inevitably cause chaos in the Central Plains. By then, the people's finally peaceful life will no longer be possible." Gone."

Dong Cheng said: "This is wrong. If Cao Cao is not removed, I'm afraid there will be another Wang Mang. The world belongs to the emperor, not the untouchable people. As long as the emperor can get back the real power, what's the problem with hundreds of thousands of people dying?" "

Everyone was shocked by Dong Cheng's words. In his eyes, the lives of the people were like straw, and such a person was more terrifying than Cao Cao.

Liu Xie saw that the two men were holding their own opinions and said, "You two beloved ministers, there is no need to argue. I have made up my mind to get rid of Cao Cao when he patrols the world. As for Lu Bu in Hebei, I will let King Qiang deal with him." , you all go back, secretly recruit dead soldiers, and win over the courtiers in the court who are willing to be loyal to me. When the things are done, you all will be the heroes who will rebuild the world, and I will definitely give you a heavy reward."

"I'm waiting to retire."

After everyone left, Liu Xie looked at himself in the bronze mirror and said: "I have been the emperor for sixteen years. Only today do I truly look like a great emperor of the Han Dynasty. My ancestors are above me. Please protect me and kill Cao Cao." Thief, revitalize the Han Dynasty."