Dahan: A 100-year-old veteran, I will build the strongest family

After Li Hong returned to Luoyang, he was calm for a while.

Apart from attending court every day and participating in state affairs, he was busy with the follow-up relief affairs of the Beiwei Army soldiers who died in battle.

After consulting Liu Hong, Li Hong selected a Feng Shui site in the mountains south of Luoyang City and built a large mausoleum, naming it "Tomb of Heroes".

After the two major battles of conquering Mo Nan and suppressing the Yellow Turbans, many soldiers of the Beiwei Army were killed in battle, more than 7,000 people.

In the era of cold weapons, medical conditions were poor, and the wars they experienced were all large-scale, so only more than 7,000 people died in the battles. Li Hong was already very satisfied.

However, setting up a tomb for heroes and providing relief to the families of the fallen soldiers were things that Li Hong promised to all the soldiers of the Beiwei Army.

The Yellow Turban Army plundered countless wealth and food from local aristocratic families and government offices, almost all of which went to Li Hong. It can be said that these wealth and food were enough to support Li Hong in completing the recovery of Bingzhou and even conquering the northern grasslands. Therefore, Li Hong was not stingy at all towards the Beiwei Army soldiers who died in the battle.

As the souls of the soldiers of the Beiwei Army who died on the battlefield returned to the heroic tomb, their families received huge compensation.

Li Hong's reputation for treating his soldiers well caused a stir in Luoyang City.

While Li Hong was busy with the resettlement and compensation of the Beiwei Army soldiers who died in battle,

Rewards were also given to Jian Shuo, Huang Zhong, Yan Liang, Zhang Fei, Zang Min, Huangfu Song, Tian Yan, Lu Bu, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, Lu Zhi, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and others.

As the commander-in-chief, Li Hong was not stingy with all the credit. He reported all the credits to the court.

However, this feudal society still values ​​relationships, connections, and power.

All the generals under Li Hong's command, such as Huang Zhong, Yan Liang, Hua Xiong, Xu Huang and others, were granted the title of marquis and appointed as generals, although they were only marquises of a pavilion or a county, and the generals were not senior generals but only mid-level generals, but they had already brought honor to the family and glory to the ancestors.

For example, generals like Zhang Fei, Gao Lan, Yue Lu, etc., because they were Liu Hong's men, Liu Hong was generous in rewarding them and also made them marquises and generals.

And Cao Cao, because Cao Song was willing to bribe him, was suddenly appointed as the governor of Chenliu County.

Compared with Cao Cao, Sun Jian and Liu Bei had no background and were unwilling to spend money, so they were hastily dismissed by Liu Hong and Zhang Rang.

For example, Liu Bei was sent to serve as the county magistrate of Xinye County under Nanyang Prefecture, and Sun Jian was sent to serve as the county magistrate of Xiling County under Jiangxia Prefecture.

These have nothing to do with each other and are all just dismissed.

The other three, Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun and Lu Zhi, suffered a disadvantage in the first battle, but they eventually followed Li Hong to defeat the Yellow Turbans and made contributions, so their merits and demerits offset each other.

However, Jian Shuo was granted the title of Chang Shi and Marquis by Liu Hong, with a fief of 8,000 households. He continued to serve as the military supervisor of the Beiwei Army and was quite favored by Liu Hong.

Li Hong watched coldly as these people were rewarded, and did not intervene.

Every day when he returned home, Li Hong had in-depth exchanges with Zhen Jiang and Zhen Tuo, which gave Li Hong a different experience.

More than a month passed, and Zhen Jiang and Zhen Tuo became pregnant one after another.

Li Hong was delighted to hear this and Zhen Yi was extremely happy.

However, Mi Zhu and Wei Shu were extremely envious when they heard the news.

However, beauty is hard to find, and even though the two of them are eager, there is nothing they can do.

……

This day.

In the court, Liu Hong sat on the dragon throne.

On the side of the civil officials, Sikong Yuan Feng stood in the first place.

On the side of the generals, Li Hong stood in the first place.

Yuan Feng stood up and bowed to Liu Hong:

"Your Majesty, I have something to report. The main force of the Yellow Turbans has been pacified, and the governors of various states have been suppressing the remnants of the Yellow Turbans, and there have been frequent reports of success. However, the thief Zhang Xi previously broke through Xuzhou and looted the government. Although he eventually withdrew from Xuzhou, the government offices in various parts of Xuzhou have been in a state of disrepair. Various bandits and gangsters are rampant, and the people of Xuzhou are suffering. The court urgently needs to send a benevolent and brave governor to take charge!"

As soon as Yuan Feng opened his mouth, all the civil and military officials in the hall became agitated.

As the system of provincial governors was relaxed and replaced the system of inspectors, and especially when the Yellow Turban Rebellion was almost suppressed, provincial governors of each state became popular. Every force and every minister wanted to get involved. After all, if one became a provincial governor, he would be a high-ranking official in a certain area.

"Xuzhou? Ahem, Xuzhou did experience the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Given the situation, a governor is needed to take charge of the province. I wonder if Sikong and the ministers can recommend anyone?" Liu Hong, who was sitting on the dragon throne, had a pale face and asked the civil and military officials with a cough.

Listening to Liu Hong's question, Yuan Feng bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, I recommend Ding Yuan, the former governor of Youzhou, as the governor of Xuzhou. Ding Yuan first served as the governor of Bingzhou and then as the former governor of Youzhou. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Ding Yuan quickly wiped out the Yellow Turbans in Youzhou and sent his adopted son Lu Bu to lead troops to Julu to help. He has enough experience and is brave enough to be the governor of Xuzhou!"

When Yuan Feng mentioned the recommended candidates, all the officials below looked at each other in bewilderment.

They really didn't expect that Yuan Feng would actually recommend Ding Yuan as the governor of Xuzhou.

Ding Yuan was a rough man, but he was brave, good at riding and shooting. He initially worked as an official in Nan County, and later made some achievements on the frontier.

Bravery is enough.

However, Ding Yuan definitely could not afford to give himself so much face as to ask Yuan Feng for recommendation.

Li Hong glanced at Yuan Feng with calm eyes.

The Yuan family will certainly not do anything that does not benefit them. Now that they are recommending Ding Yuan as the governor of Xuzhou, I am afraid that Ding Yuan has approached the Yuan family to exchange interests.

Of course, Ding Yuan must have been unwilling to be lonely. The Li family was so powerful, and Li Li was the governor of Youzhou. I'm afraid Ding Yuan made this choice because he was unwilling to submit to the Li family.

Liu Hong, who was sitting on the dragon chair, also took another look at Yuan Feng. He knew that Yuan Feng's recommendation of Ding Yuan was probably the result of Ding Yuan's manipulation. This made Liu Hong hesitate slightly, and he asked others: "Besides Ding Yuan? Do you have anyone else to recommend?"

As soon as Liu Hong finished speaking, several people rushed out.

I saw that although He Jin was eating fat, his movements were not slow, and he recommended:
"Your Majesty, we do have a candidate, Tao Qian, who was selected as a talented person and served as the magistrate of Shu and Lu counties, the governor of Youzhou, and the councilor. Tao Qian is a man of upright character and great ambition. If he becomes the governor of Xuzhou, he will definitely be able to bring peace and order to the area!"

He Jin did his best to speak well of Tao Qian.

Tao Qian, who was among the civil servants, saw He Jin working so hard and immediately looked at He Jin with excitement and gratitude. His efforts to befriend He Jin were not in vain!

"Tao Yilan?" Liu Hong listened to He Jin recommending Tao Qian, glanced at Tao Qian, and couldn't help but glance at He Jin. He Jin's recommendation was so enthusiastic, undoubtedly for personal reasons.

However, Liu Hong thought about it for a moment and shook his head, saying, "Sikong also said that Xuzhou is full of bandits and local thieves. Although Tao Yilang is honest, he is not suitable."

Surprisingly, Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou in history, was actually rejected by Liu Hong at this moment.

Seeing this scene, Li Hongduo looked at Tao Qian with pity, but he was not too surprised. The provincial governor system had been introduced a long time ago. Tao Qian was no ordinary person in history. Before he became the governor of Xuzhou, he had also been on the battlefield, but that was after the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Obviously, Tao Qian was accidentally injured by the early appearance of the provincial governor system.

Sure enough, when Tao Qian heard Liu Hong's words, his face darkened, but he did not force it.

Next, several other officials recommended several candidates, including Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong.

However, Liu Hong eventually chose the brave and resourceful Ding Yuan as the governor of Xuzhou.

Thus, Ding Yuan, who was ambitious and also an ambitious man, became the governor of Xuzhou under the watchful eye of Li Hong.

"Your Majesty, I also have something to report!" After Liu Hong appointed Ding Yuan as the governor of Xuzhou, Li Hong stood up and bowed to Liu Hong.

"Oh, General, if you have something to say, just tell me!" Liu Hong perked up when he heard Li Hong's report, and a trace of caution appeared on his pale face. Li Hong looked at the paleness on Liu Hong's face and sighed slightly. The Han Dynasty was really coming to an end. Liu Hong was dying and would not live for many more years.

Yes, Li Hong’s medical skills allowed him to clearly see that there was already death in Liu Hong’s body.

The disease was a terminal illness in later generations and there was nothing he could do to cure it.

Perhaps the only way is to practice the health-preserving boxing that he has raised to gold quality, diligently, which can allow Liu Hong to live a few more years.

However, before he died, before he faced death, Liu Hong would never practice the rather tedious and boring health-preserving boxing techniques every day which had no apparent effect.

Li Hong collected his thoughts and bowed to Liu Hong, saying:
"Your Majesty, I have completed my work in Luoyang. It is time to return to Bingzhou. On the one hand, I will suppress the hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turban captives, and on the other hand, I will start to recover the six counties of Bingzhou occupied by the Hu people. It is also time to lead the Beiwei Army to the grasslands to help Li Li and conquer the grasslands south of the desert to expand the territory of the Han Dynasty!"

Li Hong's voice was solemn and powerful. As soon as he finished speaking, it was like a thunderbolt, causing everyone in the hall to be in an uproar.

Liu Hong, who was sitting on the dragon chair, was even more shocked. He looked at Li Hong with a look of surprise and joy on his face. He said with a reluctant tone:
"General Li, are you going back to Bingzhou so soon? You've only been in Luoyang for a little over a month!"

Li Hong looked at Liu Hong's hypocritical appearance and shook his head secretly.

Liu Hong must be eager to go to Bingzhou as soon as possible to recover the six counties of Bingzhou occupied by the Hu people. He may even be eager for him to lead the Beiwei Army into the Mobei grassland and incorporate the vast Mobei grassland into the territory of the Han Dynasty in one fell swoop.

Just like when college students go home for vacation in later generations, their family members are usually very happy to see them for one or two days, but if they stay for more than five days, they will start to dislike them.

"Your Majesty, I am already old and my time is not long. While I have a limited time, I hope that one day the Li family can lead the army to expand the territory of the Han Dynasty. Please help me, Your Majesty!"

Li Hong glanced at Liu Hong and everyone else in the hall, and directly pointed out to Liu Hong and the officials that he was old and did not have much time left.

"This..." After hearing Li Hong's words, Liu Hong and a group of civil and military officials sitting on the dragon throne all changed their expressions slightly, and then they looked at Li Hong seriously.

It has to be said that as Li Hong became more and more powerful, and won battle after battle, Liu Hong and a group of civil and military officials subconsciously felt that Li Hong did not seem to be that old. Instead, they gave them the impression that Li Hong was more like a middle-aged general.

However, after Li Hong pointed it out, they suddenly remembered that Li Hong was already over a hundred years old, which was old enough for burial according to normal people.

Liu Hong's expression changed continuously. He looked at Li Hong with a look of cherishment and sighed, "I forgot how old General Li is. General Li is the pillar of the Han Dynasty. General Li must take care of his health and live two more years."

"Since General Li wants to expand the territory of the Han Dynasty during his lifetime, I will naturally support him with all my strength. I will follow General Li's decision and personally see him off when he sets out!"

At this moment, realizing Li Hong's age, Liu Hong let go of all his wariness and precautions towards Li Hong.

He was also a little anxious.

He needed to expand the vast grasslands south and north of the desert into the territory of the Han Dynasty before Li Hong died of old age.

Just say that the grasslands south of the desert are swallowed up into the territory of the Han Dynasty.

"Yes, General Li, you must take care of yourself. In a war, you don't need to charge into battle in person. You just need to sit in the center and command."

"General Li, take care of yourself."

As Liu Hong finished his sigh, a group of civil and military officials in the hall also gave Li Hong instructions.

Li Hong bowed to express his gratitude to Liu Hong and a group of civil and military officials.

However, when Li Hong looked at Liu Hong and a group of civil and military officials, his eyes were filled with strange sighs.

These people also asked Li Hong to take care of his health?

We don’t even know who will die first!

Li Hong looked at everyone in the court and the country, and understood that this might be the last time he would see Liu Hong and a group of civil and military officials.

Next time, he will definitely not come back unless Liu Hong dies and Luoyang is in chaos.

……

Three days later.

In front of the Luoyang city gate, Liu Hong personally led civil and military officials to see off Li Hong, who was wearing armor and riding a war horse.

"set off!"

Li Hong waved his hand, and a large number of Beiwei cavalry immediately headed north.

Seeing Li Hong leading his troops away, the people watching in front of the city gate were suddenly in an uproar and a crowd of people surged.

"General Li, please take care of yourself. We are waiting for your victory report in Luoyang!"

"General Li, you must live another hundred years. The Han Dynasty needs you."

The voices of the people's shouts resounded, and many of the onlookers had a feeling that this time when Li Hong left Luoyang City, it was unknown whether he would be able to come back.

This time, Li Hong returned to Bingzhou to garrison and govern an area, not to fight against the rebels. Therefore, considering Li Hong's age, many people in Luoyang were moved.

……

Rumble~
The earth shook. Thousands of Beiwei cavalrymen, led by Li Hong, galloped northward and soon approached the Yellow River.

A wedding convoy of hundreds of people blocked the Beiwei Army's advance.

The wedding procession was at a loss and unable to dodge.

“Whoa~”

Suddenly, the galloping Beiwei army stopped.

Li Hong in the central army frowned and asked:

"What happened? Why did it stop moving forward?"

"I will go and check it out!" Huang Zhong on the side bowed to Li Hong.

Soon, Huang Zhong rode back with a smile on his face. He said, "My lord, there is a wedding procession of several hundred people blocking the road ahead. This is a happy occasion."

Li Hong smiled when he heard that. Indeed, it was a joy to encounter such a happy event while traveling.

Dian Wei, Jian Shuo, Zhang Fei, Pan Feng and others standing by also smiled.

"Oh, a wedding procession of hundreds of people, it's quite a big deal. It should be from a big family, right?" Li Hong asked Huang Zhong with a smile.

Huang Zhong heard this and replied to Li Hong: "My lord, it is the Hedong Wei family who is preparing to marry the daughter of Cai Yilang in the imperial court!"

"Hmm? The Hedong Wei family is preparing to marry? Are they marrying the daughter of the Cai Yilang family in the imperial court?"

Li Hong, who was originally a little careless, was suddenly startled when he heard Huang Zhong's words, and then looked at Huang Zhong strangely.

(End of this chapter)