"Fortunately, we are connected with the nobility of Qi Wan, and we are bound to inherit the world. How can we suppress the rewards of creation, stingy one thing and enrich another?" [History of the Song Dynasty·Biography No. 16]
As soon as Dong Cheng and others entered the city, they received a warm welcome, arranged fine houses, and entertained them with singers.
The waiters in charge of the reception, Yang Qi and others, did not care about their family status and personally persuaded Zhang Ji to drink to please him. Zhang Ji was worried these days for fear of being retaliated by the imperial court. He couldn't care less about enjoying himself in the army, so he soon became addicted to it and couldn't extricate himself.
.
Only Dong Chengcheng was deep-tempered and deliberately retained a trace of sobriety. He was not afraid of poison in the wine. After all, he and Zhang Ji were just minor figures among the rebels, and there was no need for the court to go into such a big fight.
When something went wrong, there must be a monster. Seeing that Yang Qi had not mentioned going to see Wang Yun's body, Dong Cheng became more and more suspicious. He was also calm and knew how to wait and see what tricks the court wanted to play next.
Soon, while Zhang Ji was still indulging in wine, sex and flattery, a boy quietly invited Dong Cheng to a remote house.
An old man Dong Cheng had never seen before, wearing a beam crown and gauze robe, sat at the head of the table. Even the upright Yilang Zhongshao sat meekly at the bottom.
"What the general doesn't know is that this man is the brother of the emperor's biological mother and the lieutenant of the Northern Army of the imperial court." Zhong Shao introduced at the side.
Seeing that Zhong Shao's temper was not as violent as that among the rebels, Dong Cheng was even more confused. Through the introduction, he had already recognized the identity of the man in front of him.
The emperor's uncle, Wang Bin, was just a captain of Fengche after he came to Beijing. Unexpectedly, as soon as Dong Zhuo died, he immediately became a lieutenant in the Northern Army. He seemed very trustworthy? But aren't all ministers in the court?
Do you resent having a relative in power? Why did Ma Rixi specifically assign Wang Bin to such an important position as the Lieutenant Colonel of the Northern Army?
Before Dong Zhuo could think too much, Wang Bin had already greeted Dong Cheng gently. He was a kind-hearted person and never acted like a relative, so he was very fond of the ministers in the court.
At this time, he was also very measured when talking to Dong Cheng. He did not talk about the current war and gently avoided the identity of the two parties. He just talked about some common gossip with Dong Cheng. Dong Cheng knew that the other party had a purpose and was not in a hurry. He was happy to talk to him.
The other party said some things but nothing.
After all, Wang Bin couldn't hold his breath. He coughed a few times and suddenly sighed: "Your Majesty lost his mother as an infant and his parents at a young age. Since he ascended the throne, he has encountered great chaos. It is really a lot of hardships."
Dong Cheng didn't understand what Wang Bin meant, so he had to follow his words: "Yes, in ancient times, wise kings often encountered dangers. The Duke of Jin had the misfortune of being exiled from other countries, and the king of Yue had to suffer the hardship of lying on his salary. But they all achieved hegemony in the end. Although the country
Having endured many hardships can also be said to be a great mission from heaven."
"That's right." Wang Bin obviously liked Dong Cheng's metaphor and rhetoric, and agreed: "As court officials and deeply trusted by the country, how can we not do our best to serve him? When you were the king,
Without the Empress Dowager Dong
I raised you with all my heart, how did you end up today? Although I am from your mother's family, I am really ashamed that I could not take more care of you when you were young. You are the orphan of your sister, and General Dong is also the nephew of the Empress Dowager.
Li, please accept my respects from my family, Wang."
Empress Dowager Dong was the biological mother of Emperor Xiaoling. When Jin Shang was born, her mother Wang Meiren was killed by the then Empress He. In order to protect her newborn son, Emperor Xiaoling specially asked the then Empress Dowager Dong to raise her.
Empress Dowager Dong not only took good care of the emperor and raised him up, but also intended to fight for him to become the crown prince. Putting aside personal interests, it can be said that Dong was extremely kind to the current emperor. When the emperor grew up, he also regarded Dong as
He is regarded as his maternal family, equivalent to the Wang family of his mother's family.
When Dong Zhuo was in power, the Empress Dowager Dong had already died in a fight with the He family. In order to gain the legitimacy of the authoritarian court, Dong Zhuo pretended that he was a member of the Dong clan and generously rewarded the relatives of the Empress Dowager Dong, including Dong Zhuo.
Cheng was able to take charge of the army and sit in command with Niu Fu.
But all these things disappeared with the death of Dong Zhuo. Who in the court would recognize Dong Cheng as the emperor's maternal wife? Even Wang Yun was beaten to death with a stick, intending to include Dong Zhuo in the Daoliangzhou General School.
, this foreign relative is not allowed to show his face.
Who would have thought that Wang Bin would bring it up again at this moment. Although he said it was to repay Dong's kindness in raising him, and he was ashamed that Wang could not help the emperor at that time, in fact it was not to win over him? But at the moment, there is no horse in the court.
Are Rihui and Zhao Qian in power? What does Wang Bin mean by intentionally mentioning his identity as a relative?
Because he didn't know the situation, Dong Cheng thought that the relationship between the DPRK and China was complicated. He was so surprised that he forgot to avoid it and accepted Wang Bin's worship. When he came to his senses, Dong Cheng quickly waved his hand and said: "I have no virtue and no ability.
, how dare you accept such a great gift!"
"The Empress Dowager has done great service to the country by raising His Majesty." Zhong Shao on the side interjected: "Now that the Dong family has only one general left in the court, the country will definitely do its best to repay the favor. Now this is just the prince's personal property.
Thank you, general, what can't you do?"
"This... the country doesn't have many things to do now, and I'm still young, this is a matter of repayment." Dong Cheng pretended to be hesitant, glanced at Zhong Shao, and asked, "Don't Taiwei Ma Gong and Situ Zhao Gong have any objections?
?”
"The general doesn't know something. Now the emperor is personally in charge, and all the power is in the hands of the emperor. Rewarding descendants is a rule passed down from generation to generation. How can the Taiwei and others have any objections?" Wang Bin said with a smile:
"Not to mention this matter, even the original proposal to pardon everyone outside the city was the decision made by the king. Otherwise, general, why do you think Wang Situ fell so quickly? How can the government be as stable as a mountain after so many ups and downs?"
Dong Cheng thought of the young people who stood at the top of the city to watch the battle fearlessly in the face of danger. He thought that Ma Rixi, the heir of Confucian classics, would not coerce the emperor to climb the city wall to boost morale. Otherwise, there is only one explanation. The emperor climbed the city wall voluntarily.
of.
To have such courage and courage to climb the extremely dangerous city wall, such an emperor really fits the image of Wang Bin with far-reaching strategies and a beautiful mind. Thinking that it is not Ma Rixi and others who are in power in the DPRK today, but the emperor behind them.
Dong Cheng's heart suddenly became hot.
Let’s look at Wang Bin’s talent, which is only above average. He can’t lead an army, and he has never been in the military formation. He climbed to the position of middle lieutenant in the Northern Army just because he is the mother of the emperor. And he has been fighting for many years, and his talent is by no means inferior to Wang Bin.
, and the descendants of the Dong family who were very kind to the emperor, why can't they sit in a higher position?
Dong Cheng's thoughts suddenly changed. He had originally thought of returning to the imperial court with Fan Chou, but now he was even more determined to this idea.
If you follow Li Jue wholeheartedly, even if you conquer Chang'an and take control of the government afterwards, you will still be ranked based on the strength of the troops under your command. But if you have only a few thousand men, you will not get as many benefits as Li Jue. On the contrary, you will have to show up in front of others.
Suck it up and keep your head down.
Once he surrenders, he will follow the path of his relative's general, and the power he will gain will be greater than what he would get if he continued to rebel by following Li Jue and others. Not only will he participate in the government, but he will also be able to control the 100,000 troops outside the city.
Income under his command.
Which is more important, which way to choose? Dong Cheng obviously doesn't need to think about it anymore.