In the first month of the fifth year of Yongjia (311), there was not much joy and laughter for the soldiers and people of Luoyang.
Many people have left, and now there are probably only more than 100,000 people living in Luoyang City and its suburbs, Ji County.
Even counting the common people, households, and refugees in several counties in the outer suburbs, the total number is only over 300,000.
This is the devastation caused by war.
Back in the heyday of Taikang, the number of registered households in Henan County exceeded 750,000. The actual number was probably over one million. Adding in the floating population, there was no telling how many there were.
Only thirty years have passed. Luoyang, as the center of the world, has seen a sharp reduction in household registration by half, agriculture has declined, and commerce has been intermittent. In four years, the capital has been besieged three times, and the signs of national subjugation have become increasingly obvious.
In terms of politics, since Wang Jun became the governor of Jizhou, the prestige of the imperial court has been getting lower and lower, and many people have begun not to take the imperial court seriously.
In terms of wealth, the huge Luoyang completely relies on the states of Jingzhou, Yang, Xiang, Jiang, Xu, and Qing that were less damaged by the war to provide taxes, money and food. Now that Jingzhou is in chaos, Qingzhou has also started a war. Coupled with the decline in the prestige of the imperial court,
I don’t know how many grains of grain will be delivered this year.
The court is really too difficult.
Due to such a predicament, this year's Zhengdan Dynasty was held in a very crude and shabby manner, which made Emperor Sima Chi very angry, and he could not relax until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
On this day, bean curd is cooked in the palace and relatives are invited to gather together.
As the emperor's sister, Xiangcheng Princess Sima Xiuyou naturally also received the invitation.
Queen Liang Lanbi held her hand and wandered in the courtyard.
Simiao Mao looked at his sister-in-law with a little envy.
At the age of twenty-four, she is at the most beautiful age in a woman's life. She has a hint of mature charm in her youth. After being a queen for several years, she has developed a bit of magnanimity, which reminds Sima Xiuyou of herself when she was young.
.
As her father's favorite daughter, her dowry was many times that of others, and she was pretty, so she eventually married into the royal family.
Alas, it’s hard to look back on the past.
Maybe I was at fault too, being too domineering and not taking my husband seriously. Until now, it's too late to say anything.
It's impossible for her to forgive Wang Dun, and it's impossible for Wang Dun to forgive her, that's all.
The relationship between the queen and the emperor seems to be good.
However, according to Sima Mao's observation, between the two of them, the Queen may prefer the Emperor, while the Emperor doesn't care much about the Queen.
"The Queen and Your Majesty have been married for several years, and there are still no children?" As they walked, the two of them came to a garden, and Sima Maoyao asked casually.
Liang Lanbi's face turned red at first, then turned pale, and finally glanced at Simiao Bao in a panic.
Sima Mao didn't know why. What was there to be alarmed about?
Not only did the emperor have no heirs with the queen, but he also had no heirs with all his concubines.
It has been five years since Yongjia, and during the reign of King Yuzhang, the emperor, who has been married for seven years, not only has no sons, but also no daughters. This is obviously not the queen's problem.
As for being so panicked?
Liang Lanbi's hands clenched subconsciously. She thought the princess knew something, so she said: "Princess, don't mention this matter again. Your Majesty is just worried about state affairs. You have worked too hard. Just rest."
Sima Mao was dumbfounded.
Liang Lanbi walked a few steps quickly, pointed to the plum blossoms in front of her, and said: "In the winter, only the wintersweet has a faint fragrance, which makes people feel happy."
Sima Maobao snorted lightly, still thinking about what the Queen said just now.
After a long time, I sighed secretly.
Perhaps, the previous melee between the kings was too cruel, and the King of Donghai was too rude to the emperor, which led to this.
Liang Lanbi saw that the princess was absent-minded and stopped talking.
After a pause, he said softly: "I heard that the princess has some contacts with Chen Hou..."
"Who said that?" Sima Maoyao narrowed his eyes and asked.
Others are afraid of the queen, but she is not. Liang Lanbi actually mentioned this matter in front of her, so don't blame her for not giving him face.
Liang Lanbi didn't seem to see Sima Xiu's expression, and said to herself: "If the princess still cares about the relationship between flesh and blood, she might as well share your worries for Your Majesty."
"Is this your Majesty's intention?" Sima Maoyuan asked.
The meaning is very clear. The emperor heard the rumor from nowhere and thought that she had some ulterior relationship with Chen Hou. He actually wanted the queen to persuade her to be cautious and find out the information.
Haha, it is indeed the style of the emperor.
"This is what I mean." Liang Lanbi said.
Sima Maoyao sighed and asked: "Queen, do you know that, as you said, if something happens in the future, you will inevitably have to visit Jinyong City?"
Liang Lanbi's face turned pale, and then she thought of the emperor's increasingly frowning brows and sad face, shook her lips, and said firmly: "I am sharing your majesty's worries. If it doesn't work, forget it. Don't let Chen Hou know."
Sima Mao was speechless.
Although Chen Hou was domineering, he could not openly be detrimental to the emperor.
The king of Zong could do this kind of thing, even Xun Fan and Wang Yan could do it reluctantly, but Chen Hou could not do it.
Is it so necessary to target him?
Don't let it get to the end when the only person willing to defend Luoyang is disheartened and unwilling to contribute any more.
Sima Maoyao didn't understand. What good would this do to the emperor? Why do you like to toss so much?
"The queen's mother-in-law honors the world and benefits the common people. If the emperor has done something wrong, he should remonstrate with it and don't indulge it blindly." Sima Maoyuan said in a stern tone: "Marquis Chen has no objection. The prophecy will definitely be a plan of the Xiongnu. It can’t be true. Besides, Chen Hou is twenty-four years old. At such a young age, he can barely even be a prefect, let alone a governor of a state or a governor. How can he resist?"
Liang Lanbi lowered his head and said nothing.
Seeing her look like that, Sima Maoyao felt angry and said, "If it's inconvenient for you, I'll come to remonstrate with the emperor."
Liang Lanbi subconsciously wanted to stop it, but finally sighed secretly and gave up.
Perhaps, she didn't quite agree with the emperor doing this.
In this world, the more you mess around, the more likely you are to make mistakes and the worse the results will be.
But what can she do?
****
On the twenty-first day of the first lunar month, Sima Chi summoned Xun Fan and his brothers to enter the palace to discuss matters.
"Gou Dao will defeat Cao Yi in Linzi." Seeing the two powerful ministers, Sima Chi smiled and eagerly announced the report he had just received.
This is the second war between Gou Xi and Cao Yi.
Both times they were under Linzi City, and Gou Xi won both times.
Especially this time, Gou Xi did not encounter the strong wind of fate. He fought with Gou Chun in Linzi City from both inside and outside, and defeated the enemy in one fell swoop. According to historical records, the battle between the two sides took place on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month. During the battle, a strong wind suddenly blew up and dust filled the sky.
, even though it was morning, the sky was dark, and the wind was not in favor of Gou Xi's army, so they retreated. Cao Yi took advantage of the situation to pursue him. Xi's army was defeated and many surrendered.
But the time of the battle between the two sides in this time and space has changed. Gou Xi did not encounter the wind and sand that made it impossible for his soldiers to shoot arrows, unable to breathe through his mouth and nose, and unable to stand firmly on his feet. He defeated Cao Yi in one fell swoop and won the second battle.
.
This is fate, good or bad, you can't tell.
But Gou Xi failed to drive Cao Yi out of Qingzhou, which was due to his political failure.
Cao Yi led 5,000 men to the east. When he arrived at Qingzhou, he gathered a large number of soldiers from Jizhou and Yanzhou, numbering in the tens of thousands.
Subsequently, followers of Tianshi Dao came to surrender one after another and provided guides, information, money, food, and weapons.
The most terrible thing is that some Qingzhou nobles would rather fund the rebel Cao Yi than resolutely kill the governor (Gou Chun) and governor (Gou Xi) appointed by the court, especially Gou Xi, who was known as the "Butcher".
It can be said that Cao Yi's mass base in Qingzhou is very good, but Gou Xi's situation is very bad. Except for his soldiers, everyone is happy to see him die.
However, Cao Yi's army had too many new recruits and its combat effectiveness was weak. Although its number was several times that of Gou Xi, it suffered two defeats in a row.
In comparison, although Gou Xi only had an army of 10,000 or 20,000, he was powerful, experienced, and well-trained. In a head-on battle, he defeated Cao Yi in two.
The fight between these two people will probably continue.
As for who will win? If Shao Xun is asked to evaluate, he has only one sentence: "Military is the continuation of politics."
But the emperor Sima Chi was very excited. He felt that Gou Daojiang's sword was not old yet and he was still a weapon of the imperial court and could be of great use.
When Xun Fan and Xun Zu heard the news, they were not very happy.
In their opinion, they had never heard of a Fang Bo who could still maintain his position after losing the support of the nobles.
Gou Xi used cruel methods in Qingzhou and oppressed the nobles, so he was known as the "Butcher".
He is also arrogant, extravagant and neglectful of government affairs, which greatly disappoints people.
His reputation has become extremely bad, and not many people support him.
In troubled times, a strong army alone is not enough.
You must also get the support of aristocratic families, otherwise there is no other way but failure.
To put it bluntly, even Shi Le knew how to build a "gentlemen's camp" to win over the powerful nobles in Hebei. In this regard, Gou Xi was not even as good as Shi Le, let alone that "Tai Bai".
He is obviously doing things that harm the interests of the nobles, but he is very skillful in trying to win over one faction. It really makes people wonder if he is only twenty-four years old. Fortunately, he is only twenty-four years old. If he were older, he would be able to take up any position.
There aren't that many people who oppose it.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty." Xun Fan bowed and congratulated: "If General Gou continues his efforts and captures Cao Yi, Qingzhou will be in danger."
"I would like to congratulate Your Majesty." Zhongshu Supervisor Xun Zu also said: "The Gou brothers have repeatedly defeated stubborn enemies, and Your Majesty has won many people."
Sima Chi laughed heartily twice and said, "What reward should I give General Gou?"
Xun Zu didn't say anything. Xun Fan thought about it and said, "Your Majesty may be generous with his title."
"Please tell me." Sima Chi said.
"Increase the number of food towns to ten thousand households."
Hearing this, Sima Chi nodded happily and said, "Your words are very much in line with my wishes. I can increase Gou Xi's food supply to ten thousand households."
"Your Majesty," Xun Zuo said, "Gou Xi has the merit of defeating Cao Yi, so it is natural that he should be rewarded. Shao Xun, the general of Nan Zhonglang, also had the ability to protect the canal transport and defeat Hou Tuo. Wang Sang's contribution may increase his food supply."
When Sima Chi heard this, his expression flickered.
Why do so many people around me speak for Shao Xun?
First, the imperial sister, Princess Xiangcheng, said that Shao Xun was a court official and should be rewarded generously. Now, the Zhongshu Supervisor Xun Group also asked for merit for Shao Xun.
Seeing that Xun Fan, who had a grudge against Shao Xun for killing his son, did not object, this made Sima Chi even more puzzled.
Is it so difficult for me to deal with a minister?
He looked at the two ministers.
Er Xun lowered his head and remained silent.
After a long time, Sima Chi snorted softly and said: "Then make Shao Xun the Duke of Chen County and grant him a settlement of 6,000 households."
"Your Majesty is wise," the two said.
Sima Chi felt uncomfortable and secretly thought that he had to contact Gou Xi privately.
So he decisively stopped talking about this issue and said instead: "Let's discuss Zhou Fu's matter..."
Chapter completed!