Shuhan

It took nearly two months from defeating the main force of Wei State head-on in northern Ji to completely controlling northern Ji and destroying the scattered people.

It was mid-December of the eighth year of Tianming. Heavy snow was falling and the wind was bitingly cold, as if even the heaven and earth were immersed in a solemn atmosphere.

However, in the study of this temporary palace in Beixincheng, the scene was quite different.

In the study, an exquisite incense burner emitted wisps of green smoke, forming a sharp contrast with the severe cold outside.

Next to the incense burner, a brazier was burning, and the wine cooked on the charcoal fire was boiling, emitting waves of warmth.

The Han emperor Liu Chan sat on the dragon throne, wearing a dragon robe, his face majestic yet gentle.

His eyes are deep, as if he can see through everything in the world.

At the bottom, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, Zhao Yun and other civil officials and military generals sat on his left and right.

Fei Yi was wearing military uniform and had a calm expression; Dong Yun was wearing official uniform and had a serious expression.

Although Zhao Yun is over 40 years old, he is still vigorous and powerful as ever.

Liu Chan took a sip of the hot wine and immediately felt warm. A warm current surged from the bottom of his heart, dispelling the coldness around his body.

He put down his wine glass, glanced at everyone present, and then slowly asked, "What is the situation in the four counties of northern Ji?"

Upon hearing this, Fei Yi immediately stepped forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the four counties in northern Ji are generally peaceful. However, those aristocratic families have suffered losses and are inevitably complaining. However, I have ordered people to keep a close eye on their movements to ensure that there will be no chaos."

Liu Chan nodded slightly and asked solemnly, "Are there any noble families that have connections with the Wei Kingdom?"

Fei Yi looked troubled, nodded and said, "There are quite a few. In northern Hebei, there are many noble families from southern Hebei who have come north. They have inextricable ties with the Wei State. It may not be easy to completely cut off their ties."

Liu Chan frowned upon hearing this, and after a moment of silence, he said, "After the spring ploughing, I will go south to recover southern Hebei. If these noble families cannot be used by me, they will only become stumbling blocks for me."

Fei Yi said on the side: "It is not a bad thing for them to contact Wei. After all, they can use the children of the noble families in northern Hebei to persuade the noble families in southern Hebei to surrender. It may achieve unexpected results."

Liu Chan nodded, agreeing with Fei Yi's words.

At this moment, he suddenly thought of something and asked, "Where is Sima Yi?"

At this time, the Shaofu Dong Yun stepped forward, clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Sima Yi has returned to Luoyang, and is now imprisoned by Cao Rui. Fortunately, Chen Qun, Wu Zhi and others have guaranteed his life, so he has been able to save his life for the time being."

Liu Chan's eyes flickered, revealing a barely perceptible smile, and asked, "In other words, Cao Zhen is now guarding Ji'nan?"

Dong Yun nodded and said, "That's right. Cao Zhen guarding Yecheng is indeed much easier to deal with than Sima Yi. Of course, the national strength of our Han Dynasty is far superior to that of Wei. No matter who guards southern Hebei, it cannot stop your majesty from unifying the world!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan burst into laughter, stood up, walked to the window, looked at the heavy snow outside, and felt very proud.

He turned to the crowd and said, "My dear ministers, since I ascended the throne, I have worked hard to govern the country, so that one day I can unify the world and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. Now, the time has come, and I swear to fulfill the last wish of the late emperor and create a prosperous Han Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up, bowed their hands and shouted, "Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty! Long, long live His Majesty!"

The atmosphere in the study reached its climax. Liu Chan looked at these loyal ministers in front of him and felt a warm feeling in his heart.

He knew that it was with the support of these people that he was able to get to where he is today.

However, at this moment, a guard hurried into the study, knelt on the ground, and said in a panic: "Your Majesty, it's not good! Urgent news came from the border of northern Ji. The Wei army suddenly gathered and seemed to be planning to invade!"

When Liu Chan heard this, his face changed suddenly. He did not expect that the Wei army would launch an attack at this time.

He quickly calmed down and said to the guards, "Submit the urgent report immediately!"

The guard hurriedly handed the urgent report to Liu Chan. Liu Chan took it, glanced through it quickly, and frowned.

He turned to Fei Yi and said, "Wenwei, you must immediately pass down the order and ask the counties in northern Ji to strengthen their vigilance and prevent the Wei army from invading."

Fei Yi took the order and left, and the atmosphere in the study became tense again.

Liu Chan looked at the heavy snow outside the window and thought to himself: There must be something fishy about the Wei army's invasion at this time.

Could it be that Sima Yi is doing something behind the scenes?
Pretend to go to jail to paralyze him?
He must find out the truth as soon as possible to ensure the safety of northern Hebei.

At this time, Zhao Yun suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops to the border to investigate the strength of the Wei army."

When Liu Chan heard this, he was moved.

Zhao Yun is extremely brave. With him going forward, the situation will be stabilized.

So he nodded and said, "General Zilong, you should prepare quickly and make sure to find out the movements of the Wei army and report to me in time."

Zhao Yun took the order and left, and the study fell silent again.

As Zhao Yun left, everyone in the study began to get busy. Fei Yi was busy deploying troops to strengthen the defense of northern Ji, while Dong Yun was busy preparing food and grass to ensure the logistical supply of the army.

Liu Chan sat on the dragon throne, quietly thinking about countermeasures.

The snow outside is still falling and the cold wind is still biting.

But in the study of this temporary palace in Beixin City, there was a burning fighting spirit and determination.

As intelligence from the battlefield poured in like snowflakes, the Wei State deployed its troops on the border, seemingly in an aggressive manner, but in fact it was just a strategy of retreating to advance.

Liu Chan had already seen through the mystery. He smiled slightly, with wisdom flashing in his eyes.

In order to guard against the sneak attack of the Wei army, Liu Chan quickly made arrangements, ordering Zhao Yun to be stationed in Hejian County, Zhen Xiang to be stationed in Zhongshan County, and Guan Ping to be stationed in Boling County. The three fierce generals were like three indestructible lines of defense, guarding the territory of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Chan himself retreated behind the scenes and prepared for the spring plowing in the temporary palace in Beixincheng.

On a winter night, the crescent moon hangs high in the sky, and its silver light shines all over the earth. Outside the palace, the wind howls wildly, blowing the dead branches and leaves, making bursts of shrill sounds, like the howling of ghosts and wolves, which makes people feel cold.

Inside the palace, however, the scene was quite different.

The red candles were shining brightly, and the air was warm as Liu Chan and the beautiful woman Zhen Mi were making love on the bed.

Zhen Mi had a beautiful face and skin whiter than snow, with a hint of sadness between her eyebrows, like the brightest star in the night sky, both dazzling and lonely.

Her hair, soaked with sweat, stuck tightly to her cheeks, adding a touch of charm and fragility to her.

The intercourse between Liu Chan and Zhen Mi was like a fire in winter, warm and intense.

Finally, everything returned to calm. Liu Chan lay on the bed, gasping for breath, his face filled with satisfaction and happiness.

Zhen Mi hugged Liu Chan tightly, like an octopus, as if she wanted to rely completely on his body.

"Your Majesty values ​​Zhongshan Zhen so much that I feel a little uneasy." Zhen Mi's voice was soft and trembling. She raised her head, her eyes full of worry.

Liu Chan smiled slightly when he heard this, and reached out to touch Zhen Mi's cheek, saying softly: "Why are you so scared? The Zhen family is a famous and prestigious family, so I will naturally rely on them more."

Zhen Mi shook her head slightly, with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes: "Too much power is not good for the Zhen family. I only hope that the Zhen family can be safe and prosperous for generations."

Liu Chan laughed, his voice revealing an unquestionable firmness: "Don't worry, the Zhen family will definitely have a place in Jizhou. I know what's going on and will weigh the pros and cons."

Looking at Zhen Mi's worried look, Liu Chan couldn't help but feel tender in his heart.

He was well aware of Zhen Mi's intelligence and sharpness, and also understood her inner worries and anxieties.

Although the Zhen family was a relative of the emperor, they offended the gentry in northern Jizhou, which undoubtedly laid hidden dangers for the Zhen family's future.

In order to show favor to the Jizhou gentry and win their hearts, Liu Chan had to take some measures.

This is the art of imperial power, which requires both kindness and severity, as well as balancing the forces of all parties to ensure overall stability.

Liu Chan's eyes became deep and complicated, and he spoke slowly: "Although the Zhen family is a relative of the emperor, I hope that the Zhen family can become my right-hand man and left-hand man to jointly resist foreign enemies and protect the country and people of the Han Dynasty. However, in Jizhou, there is no need for a family with too much power, even if it is a relative of the emperor. I must ensure the balance of forces among all parties in order to stabilize the overall situation." Upon hearing this, Zhen Mi immediately understood Liu Chan's intention.

She held Liu Chan's hand tightly, with a determined light in her eyes: "I understand your majesty's painstaking efforts. Zhen will do her best to help your majesty solve his problems."

Liu Chan nodded with satisfaction and hugged Zhen Mi tightly in his arms.

The two of them leaned against each other, as if at this moment, all their worries and anxieties had disappeared.

The strong wind was still howling outside the window, but inside the palace there was warmth and tranquility.

As time went on, Liu Chan began to gradually implement his plan.

On the one hand, he valued the Zhen family and promoted Zhen Xiang and other Zhen family members to important positions. On the other hand, he secretly weakened the power of the Zhen family to prevent them from becoming the only powerful family.

At the same time, Liu Chan also actively won over the gentry in northern Ji, and gradually eased the relationship with them through marriage, rewards and other means.

The aristocratic families needed to be won over, but Liu Chan did not forget his base. His base was not the aristocratic families, but the common people!

Late December of the eighth year of Tianming.

There are only a few days left until the ninth year of Tianming.

Liu Chan stood on the terrace of the temporary palace in Beixincheng, gazing deep into the distance.

Although the winter sun is not warm, it is enough to illuminate the firmness and determination in his heart.

After a series of wars, although Wei State deployed troops on the border, it was just bluffing. Liu Chan had already seen through their plan and began to make arrangements to prevent any accidents.

However, compared to the smoke of gunpowder on the battlefield, he was more concerned about the resettlement of the people after the war.

"After pacifying the noble families, the most important thing is how to resettle the people after the destruction of the village." Liu Chan thought to himself, with a hint of worry between his brows.

The people are the foundation of the country. If they are not properly placed, it will easily cause social unrest and even threaten the stability of the regime.

For this purpose, Liu Chan had already begun preparations.

He ordered people to collect food from all over the place to ensure that the people could spend the winter safely, and to prepare enough supplies to last until the autumn harvest next year.

At the same time, he also ordered the distribution of land and the construction of houses to provide shelter for the displaced people.

He personally oversees every decision and strives to achieve perfection.

However, behind this seemingly calm situation, there are hidden undercurrents that are unknown to the public.

In Gecheng, Boling County, some officials were instigated by the Wei State's School Affairs Office to secretly do something fishy. They concealed the true situation of some people, turned them into private tenants, openly took advantage of Liu Chan's policies, and ate empty salaries.

This behavior not only seriously damaged the interests of the people, but also posed a challenge to Liu Chan's prestige.

When Liu Chan learned about this, he was furious and immediately ordered the execution of all the officials involved in the case as a warning to others.

At the same time, he also sent people from the Jianjunsi to patrol everywhere and closely monitor the behavior of officials in various places to ensure that the policies can truly benefit the people.

Under Liu Chan's iron-fisted approach, the chaos in northern Hebei was finally quelled.

The people were very impressed with Liu Chan's handling of the matter and shouted that Your Majesty was wise. They all praised Liu Chan's wisdom and decisiveness.

Under the care of the Han emperor, they not only had a place to live, but also had hope in life.

They were moved to tears and felt extremely grateful to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. For a time, Liu Chan's reputation among the people of northern Ji reached an unprecedented height.

In order to consolidate this hard-earned public support, and also to provide materials for publicity for the people in the Public Opinion Department of the Military Affairs Department.

Liu Chan decided to go further into the people's lives to understand their real needs and sufferings.

of course
Just like in later generations, the so-called going deep into the people and understanding the situation were mostly pretended. Even if they were not pretended, they knew the surrounding situation clearly before allowing the emperor to contact the candidates selected in advance by the secret military department.

After all, the emperor is worth a ton of money and cannot take any risks.

soon.

Liu Chan changed into casual clothes and went on a secret visit.

He walked from street to street, had cordial conversations with the people, and listened to their voices and demands.

In an old farmer's home, Liu Chan witnessed the hardships and difficulties of people's lives.

The old farmer's residence is located in a corner of the village. The fence eroded by time surrounds a small courtyard crookedly, like a candle swaying in the wind and rain, revealing a bit of fragility and indomitable spirit.

The fence was covered with dry vines and a few pieces of tattered cloth. They swayed gently in the cold wind, making rustling sounds, as if whispering about the hardships of the past.

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a smell mixed with soil and wood smoke hits you in the face; this is the smell of poverty and life.

The room was dimly lit. The only small window was covered with thick oil paper, and a few faint rays of sunlight barely filtered in, barely illuminating this simple room.

The mottled soil on the wall peeled off, revealing mottled bricks. Spider webs were hanging in some places, and the webs swayed gently in the breeze, as if telling the story of the years.

In the center is a tattered wooden table, the tabletop is covered with knife marks and traces of time. A few chipped pottery bowls are placed casually on it, with some rice grains remaining at the bottom of the bowls, making them look particularly precious.

Next to it was a bed made of rough wood, with a sheet wrapped in straw as a quilt. It was patched up but still clean and tidy.

There was a worn cotton-padded jacket at the head of the bed, which was obviously the owner's winter coat. Although it was worn out, it was enough to resist the biting cold wind in northern Hebei.

There are some farm tools piled up in the corner, such as hoes, sickles, etc. Although they are rusty, they are still the family's livelihood.

Next to him was a small stove, the fire was weak, the light flickered, reflecting the old farmer's wrinkled and weathered face. His eyes showed both helplessness towards life and a glimmer of hope for the future.

On the roof, there are several broken tiles with gaps, and whenever it rains and blows, this place becomes a "water curtain cave" that is completely watertight.

But even so, the old farmer was still full of gratitude towards Liu Chan.

He held Liu Chan's hand, tears welling in his eyes as he said, "Thanks to your majesty's policies, our family was able to survive this winter. Your majesty is truly our second parent!"

The tiny little gift from the superior may be the key to their survival.

Liu Chan felt mixed emotions as he listened to the old farmer's heartfelt words.

He was fully aware of his responsibilities and mission as the Son of Heaven, and he understood even more the importance of the people to the country.

He secretly vowed to continue working hard to create a better life for the people.

Now that we have traveled here, we should do some good things, right?
He immediately sent someone to give the old farmer ten hu of grain, two sets of cotton-padded clothes, two quilts, and a working ox.

With these things, his life will probably get better and better.

Of course, incognito visits have both good and bad sides.

During his incognito visits, Liu Chan also discovered corruption and inaction among many officials.

He wrote them down one by one, and immediately ordered an investigation after returning to the palace.

At the same time, he also strengthened the assessment and supervision mechanism for officials to ensure that every official could perform his duties conscientiously.

Liu Chan must firmly grasp the people's hearts and minds.

The purpose is to unify the world and rebuild the Han Dynasty! (End of this chapter)