After repeated consideration, Ma Teng accepted Yang Xiu's suggestion and planned to go east along the river to meet the emperor.
It is closer to the south and farther to the east, but this distance has little impact.
But he would rather believe in the emperor who was farther away than believe in the closer Han Sui.
There is another benefit to going east.
Although the court had given up its control over this area, the good soil and water conditions along the river attracted a large number of household registrations, including Han and Hu people. They could collect enough supplies along the way, but they did not have to owe anyone favors.
In contrast, Han Sui has regarded Lingzhou as his personal spoil. Even if it is a sheep, this favor will be paid back in the future.
After the decision, Ma Teng sent Ma Chao and Pang De as envoys to Meiji to meet the emperor, and at the same time explored the way for the army and collected food and grass.
Ma Teng left Yang Xiu and asked him to give advice for himself.
Yang Xiu happily agreed.
Although Ma Chao was reluctant, he could not resist Ma Teng and had to accept the order.
Before leaving, he received the latest news.
As Yang Xiu expected, Fu Luohan's troops increased again. Not only did the white horse bronze arrive at Tu Shenze, but tens of thousands of people were also arrived, and Fu Luohan also arrived. The total number was nearly 200,000, which was able to fight.
There were at least 30,000 to 40,000 cavalrymen, several times that of Ma Teng.
If he had fought rashly, Ma Teng would have been defeated and might even be wiped out.
Faced with such a severe situation, Ma Chao did not dare to neglect and set off immediately.
——
Meiji, Yeting.
Liu Xie bowed his hand and stood in front of Guo Ji's monument, silently reading the words on the monument.
Xun You stood aside and read the words on the underworld.
Cai Yan and Pei Jun took out the paper and pen and copied the inscription.
The paper was just received. After several months of hard work, Tang Ji finally created the first batch of paper. Although it was still rough, it could barely be used.
Compared with bamboo and wood slips, paper is very light, and compared with silk, paper is very cheap.
Therefore, Cai Yan and others quickly accepted this writing material and actively tried it.
After reading the inscription, Liu Xie walked to the side of the water, squatted down, knocked through the thin ice on the river bank, and scooped a little water.
It was already early March, and the ice on the river surface began to melt, and the snow was stained with wind and sand.
Liu Xie squatted by the river, looking at the vague fish shadows under the ice, and was in a daze.
Xun You followed and stood three steps away.
"Gongda, how do you think of Wang Mang usurping the Han Dynasty?"
During the reign of Wang Mang, Guo Ji served as the Grand Minister of Shanggu and the Governor of Bingzhou.
He is a capable minister, but not a loyal minister in the Confucian sense.
Xun You frowned and looked puzzled.
"I think it's still good." Liu Xie stood up and wiped his hands. "At least now no one will think about things like the Ice Field System, nor will anyone think that knowledgeable and noble morals can be called
emperor."
Xun You twitched his cheeks and turned his face away.
Perhaps it was because the Huns were reluctant to come to see each other and the situation was not as expected, and the emperor always said some strange things these two days.
"Let's go and see the political achievements of Taishou Pei." Liu Xie said, returning to the official road, and turning his horse on his back.
Xun You followed, stepped on the horse, held the reins tightly, and walked with Liu Xie. "Your Majesty, do you really want to restore the old Xihe system?"
"What's wrong?"
"It's all right. Just to restore the old Xihe system, you need enough household registration. If the Huns don't arrive, they can only find a way from the inner counties. I think that I can pass on the imperial edicts to Taiyuan, Shangdang or Jizhou counties to recruit pacification.
Some Black Mountain troops came to farm."
Liu Xie said: "No hurry. As spring comes, the grass grows and horses will have food. People work harder, but fortunately there are only 3,000 people, and you can pass by even if you persist."
"Your Majesty said very much. It is just that everything is planned and if it is not planned, it will be abolished. We should follow the long-term plan. Issuing an edict early, so that the prefectures and counties can prepare calmly."
Liu Xie agreed to turn around and discuss with Pei Mao.
Pei Maogang was transferred to Xihe Prefect, and these matters should be led by Pei Mao and could not be replaced by others.
Moreover, the supply along Taiyuan, Shangdang and the counties of Jizhou are hundreds of miles away and thousands of miles away, and the supply along the way is also a huge burden, and cannot be solved by just a single edict.
The court was very poor, and if there was no money, there was no right to speak. I would also bring shame to myself if I issued an edict.
——
There are many newly resettled prisoners living on both sides of the river.
Mainly the Huns, there were also Han people.
?They were strong and dominant, not only many Huns depended on him, but also many Han people depended on him.
Now, the heads of the Huns have disappeared as a tribe, and these people have been placed on both sides of the river, either farming or pastoral, and their lives are still the same, but they have changed their tax objects.
When I have nothing to do, I often visit these people randomly along the water.
His ceremonial guard is very simple, often with only three or five followers and no gorgeous clothes. He looks like he is a small official at most, and he is definitely not related to the supreme emperor in the world. Many people don’t know who he is, they only think he is approachable and in words.
He had no scruples, but instead learned a lot of real ideas.
As he estimated, these Han and Hu people were very satisfied.
Being able to settle near Meiji is a good choice for them. If the market is opened in the future, they can trade freely with merchants from the inner county. Their life will be better, and it will be worth it even if they pay some tax.
As long as the officials of the court do not knock on the bones and suck marrow, they will be insatiable.
When you meet a good emperor and official, being a Han subject is definitely more comfortable than being a Hun tribe.
Although I don’t know that the young man in front of me is the emperor, the people of Han and Hu were grateful to the Han emperor’s virtues and politics. When they mentioned the emperor, they always looked respectful and praised him.
The smiling faces of the people have magical healing effects, which made Liu Xie feel that all his efforts are worth it. Although there are many difficulties, he is on the right path. As long as he persists, he will definitely succeed.
After coming out of a dilapidated tent, Liu Xie looked at the exposed and still had yellow eyes, and could not see a little green valley, but seemed to see hope and full of passion.
So what if the nobles of the Huns refused to come? As long as the people were willing to come.
Without the people, no powerful people are there. They are just lambs to be slaughtered and piles of rotten meat.
When the horse is fat after autumn, I will see if I don’t kill you.
Several riders galloped from a distance, and the horse's hooves kicked the shallow river water, and the white waves splashed.
Wang Yue immediately followed, Guo Wu in the distance also jumped onto the horse, made a warning posture, and a knight rode his horse to meet him.
Two hundred steps apart, the rushing knight strangled his mount and slowed down. He talked with the knight who was coming up for several words, showed his waist card, and took out another document. The knight took it and turned around to come to Liu Xie.
"Your Majesty, General Liao's emergency military letter."
Xun You took it, checked the authenticity of the document, then knocked off the sealing mud on it, opened the knot, took a look, and then his face changed slightly.
"Your Majesty, don't slaughter the white horses and the Xianbei support Luohan's troops, and are pursuing the Western General Ma Teng. Ma Chao, the son of Ma Teng, was ordered to ask for help, and it has arrived in Chengyi."
Liu Xie was very confused and took the military book from Xun You and read it carefully, making him even more puzzled.
Ma Teng encountered an enemy near Jiming Pass, so why didn't he retreat south to the north, but went to Meiji to ask for help?