After the rewards were given and the New Year was approaching, some noises began to appear in Xuchang City.
"Hunjun, Chu Lingjun made the greatest contribution to this battle. Why is it that everyone has been awarded the title, but Lingjun has not been awarded the title? He is the one who has made the greatest contribution!" The streets and alleys of Xuchang were quite unhappy about this reward.
Everyone else's merits were explained in detail, and they were basically well-deserved. However, Chu Nan was the only one who did not receive any reward, which made many people start to complain about Chu Nan.
Nowadays, Chu Nan has a very high reputation among the people. In addition to its outstanding military exploits, almost every government decree in Chu Nan is based on the people. It is obviously an era of war between princes, but the people of the Central Plains have lived a life that has never been seen in the prosperous times.
Life, and precisely because of this, the streets and alleys in Xuchang were filled with dissatisfaction with Liu Xie.
Because according to this reward, many of Chu Nan's former generals have the same status as Chu Nan. The common people in Shengdou will not understand. Let alone Chu Nan still holds the household department now, even if he is white now, all the people in the Central Plains are him.
It’s up to you.
"Why else? Isn't it the same thing as the previous sin against Ji Zhao? Chu Lingjun offended that faint prince? Although Chu Lingjun holds great power, he is also extremely benevolent and righteous to the emperor, always thinking about him. What happened this time, originally
It's just that the emperor was wrong first. If he succeeds, hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the front line may be wiped out. The Central Plains will be tortured again. It is appropriate to issue an imperial edict to sin against oneself, but it is really hateful to hold a grudge against your Majesty at this time."
In the simple minds of the people, this was clearly the emperor's suppression of Chu Nan because of his previous sins.
"Stop talking about it. I'll wait for the common people to talk about this matter, and be careful to make people hate you."
"What are you afraid of? Your Majesty has already said that the world belongs to all people, not to his Liu family. If he can make decisions for all people, we should support him. But if he thinks about harming Zhongliang all day long, then it's okay.
No, without Chu Lingjun, I would still be a tenant farmer now. Not to mention marrying a mother-in-law, I am afraid that my old father would not be able to support me. These people in high positions would do nothing except scheming against their own people day by day.
Why don't you let me be the emperor instead?"
"Be careful!"
In the restaurant, Kong Rong listened to the discussions in the streets. He threw down a few five-baht coins with an ugly face, and hurriedly left with the person next to him. After returning home, Kong Rong just snorted angrily: "Look at this."
What have become of the common people under Chu Nan's governance? They are all lawless and have no regard for the emperor. In a few years, I see that in the eyes of the common people, they will only see Chu Ziyan and not His Majesty!"
Of course he was angry, but what could he do? He could only complain at home. Outside, Kong Rong did not dare to refute. Nowadays, Chu Nan's requirements for scholars are quite harsh, and they are not like before.
It has a very high deterrent effect on the common people, and even conflicts with common people in his eyes. There may be ways to gain an advantage in remote areas, but in Xuchang City, if things get serious, the scholars will definitely be beaten first.
Let’s discuss right and wrong again.
This is also the reason why people on the streets dare to comment on government affairs so wantonly.
"Mr. Wen Ju, please calm down. I think there is something fishy about this matter." The accompanying scribe shook his head and said.
"That's natural. It would be great if Your Majesty could really suppress Chu Nan." Kong Rong snorted coldly. On the matter of awarding rewards, Liu Xie was more like a eunuch who announced the announcement and had no decision-making power. Besides, Lu Bu was a general.
Given the position, if Chu Nan wants something, does Liu Xie have the ability to stop it?
After venting his anger, Kong Rong looked at the scribe and said, "Gongyou came to Xuchang this time, but Xuande has something to do?"
"My lord is looking for good talents in Jingzhou to pursue a great cause, waiting for an opportunity to attack the Chu bandits. Unfortunately, there are no good talents and I don't know where to start. So I asked you to come to Xuchang to ask for advice from Duke Wen Ju." Sun Qian sighed.
Since the defeat of Wancheng, Liu Bei has been looking for wise men to help him. Unfortunately, although Jingzhou has outstanding people, Liu Bei only has a small county of Xinye, with no more than 5,000 soldiers. He relies on Liu Biao for food and grass. Under such circumstances, how can anyone be willing to work together? .
"It's a good thing that Xuande has high aspirations, but he is currently weak and weak, and I won't help him. But now the Central Plains nobles have been almost wiped out by Chu Nan. Even if they have talents, they have already left their hometowns or succumbed to Chu Nan. "Kong Rong sighed. He really wanted to help, but in this situation, Chu Nan has gained momentum and is completely in control. Naturally, there are many people who are dissatisfied with Chu Nan, but they are simply unable to fight against them.
Especially in Yingchuan County, even big families like the Xun family were wiped out. The hermit Hu Zhao and others fled to Sichuan and Sichuan to live in seclusion. Most of those who did not leave also chose to compromise with Chunan and pursue the Chunan New Deal. After handing over the land and population in exchange for opportunities for redevelopment, the descendants of the clan either joined the Qiren Hall or participated in the official examination. The power of the gentry clan has declined.
When Chu Nan defeated Yuan Shao, he not only won the territory, but people's hearts also changed subtly with the victory of this battle.
In the past, scholars in the world rebelled against Chu because they believed that Yuan Shao could suppress or even destroy Chunan. However, with Yuan Shao's defeat, Chunan now dominates the land of Jiuzhou, and all the princes in the world, whether it is Liu Zhang in Shu or Liu Biao in Jingzhou, Or Sun Quan from Jiangdong, even if their combined population is less than half that of Chu Nan. In this case, many people feel that the overall situation of the world has been decided, but Chu Nan's attitude towards the nobles has never changed. In this case, there will be It is expected that the scholars would compromise with Chu Nan and give up their own interests.
Liu Bei wants to continue to compete with Chu Nan and continue to support the Han Dynasty in this environment...difficult!
As for talents from poor families, there were a few who could be recommended to Liu Bei in the past, but now, as Chu Nan's main target, Chu Nan is the first choice for the poor families rather than other princes. Jingzhou's officialdom is controlled by the Cai family and the Kuai family, and his own people are divided It’s not enough, let alone poor people from other places coming here to get a piece of the pie.
Liu Bei lacked talents, but he also had few resources. Under such circumstances, naturally no one was willing to invest in him.
Sun Qian sighed, nodded helplessly and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave first."
"Don't be anxious, Gongyou." Kong Rong thought for a while, stopped Sun Qian, looked at Sun Qian and said: "Jingzhou has outstanding people. If Xuande wants to find talented people, why bother looking far away."
"But my lord visited the famous people in Jingzhou. Although he was not treated harshly, it was not easy to ask someone to help." Sun Qian shook his head. If Jingzhou could find talents, why would he risk coming to Xuchang?
"With Xuande's current situation, it's not easy for famous people to get along with each other." Kong Rong shook his head. They are all famous people. If you want people but no one, money but no money, and land but no land, why should you vote for me?
"If Xuande wants to find good talents, his search for famous people will probably be fruitless."
"Wen Jugong's intention is..." Sun Qian's eyes lit up and he looked at Kong Rong and said.
"Before Chu Nan became an official, he was just a merchant. I heard that Chu Nan also wanted to defect to Xuande, but he was unable to get in. From this point of view, besides this scholar, he is not without talent, but just unknown." Kong In the past few years, Rong was also used to seeing the unknown people but talented people frequently appearing under Chu Nan's rule. He realized this truth. There are many talented people in poor families, but they have not met the wise master and cannot discover them.
Sun Qian was silent when he heard this. This was probably Liu Bei's regret. Although Liu Bei never said it, if Chu Nan had come to visit Liu Bei and took the time to meet him when he was in Xuzhou, perhaps the current situation in the world would not be what it is now.
It's just that things in this world cannot be repeated, and there is no medicine for regret. Liu Bei and Chu Nan are now mortal enemies, so there is no point in talking about it.
"Does Gongyou know Sima Hui?" Kong Rong asked.
"But Mr. Shui Jing?" Sun Qian heard this, his heart moved, and he looked at Kong Rong and said.
"Exactly." Kong Rong nodded.
"My Lord has already paid a visit to Mr. Shui Jing, but..." Sun Qian smiled bitterly and shook his head. It is difficult to invite ordinary celebrities, let alone a hermit of Mr. Shui Jing's level.
"De Cao will naturally not become an official, but there are many talented people under De Cao's sect who have not yet become famous. If we can get one or two of them, they may help Xuande become famous." Kong Rong said with a smile.
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Sun Qian nodded silently: "That's fine."
Just as he was talking, he suddenly saw a family hurriedly coming to the door. It seemed that there was something important. When Sun Qian saw this, he immediately shut up and stopped talking.
"What's the matter?" Kong Rong looked at the servant and asked.
"Go home, Master, someone from Duke Yang's house has sent a letter." The servant came in and handed a scroll of bamboo slips to Kong Rong with both hands.
"Mr. Yang?" Kong Rong frowned: "But what about Yang Wenxian?"
"Exactly." The servant bowed and said, in Xuchang City, except for Yang Biao and Yang Wenxian, no one is worthy of being called Yang Gong.
"Hmph!" Kong Rong snorted coldly when he heard this, waved his hand and said: "Send it back to me, I don't even bother to associate with such treacherous people."
As the hope of the gentry, Yang Biao has only catered to Chu Nan in recent years, regardless of his own reputation. The Yang family has now become a family that is despised by everyone in the gentry. It has never regained its former glory, but Yang Biao never knows how to repent. , it is really despicable to still do that thing of fawning over Chu Nan.
How could someone like Kong Rong give him such a good look?
"This..." The servant hesitated for a moment and said: "Master, he is gone. After all, he is also a famous person in the world. Why not read this letter to the master?"
This servant was obviously a close confidant of Kong Rong. Ordinary servants would not have the guts to talk to Kong Rong like this.
Kong Rong frowned and took the bamboo slip and opened it. After a moment, Kong Rong suddenly threw the bamboo slip to the ground angrily and yelled: "Shameless old thief, how dare you deceive the emperor!"
"Mr. Wenju, what happened?" Sun Qian stood up quickly and supported Kong Rong.
Kong Rong snorted coldly: "Then Yang Biao is willing to humble himself and wants to ask your majesty to worship Chu Nan as prime minister."
This worship and sealing are two different things. It is equivalent to asking Liu Xie to beg Chu Nan to take the position of prime minister. Kong Rong also realized at this time, why Chu Nan granted ministers to all the ministers, but did not give him an official position. It turned out that Wait here.
However, no matter how hard he thought about it, he could not imagine that the person responsible for raising this matter was not Chu Nan's minions, but Yang Biao, a famous scholar who was highly regarded as a scholar!
If Chu Nan wants to be the prime minister, he can go for it, and the emperor can't stop him. But if the emperor wants to worship Chu Nan as the prime minister, where will the emperor's face go?
Prime Minister?
When Sun Qian heard this, he looked at Kong Rong in astonishment. He quickly wanted to understand the various relationships. For a moment, he didn't know what to say...