After listening to Zhang Rang's words, Liu Bei thought for a while.
"Are you talking about rebellion and usurping the throne?"
Zhang Rang nodded.
"At that time, Luoyang Chuan was very popular. Many people had some opinions, but you didn't have any opinions?"
Liu Bei did not shy away and shook his head and said: "Old Zhang, I am a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty. How can you treat me like this? Have I taken any measures to show that I want to usurp the throne?"
"That's not true, but..."
Zhang Rang shook his head and said: "Anyway, take care of yourself. A big tree attracts wind. Sometimes the credit is too high and the power is too big. If you don't want to, someone will force you to think. Even if you are in a high position, many things are not what you want.
of."
Liu Bei stopped and looked at Zhang Rang.
"Lao Zhang, why do I feel like you mean something behind your words? What do you mean?"
Zhang Rang took a few steps forward, stopped again, and looked back at Liu Bei.
"It's not interesting. It's just that I am the same as you. I am also a loyal minister of the late emperor."
Liu Bei squinted at Zhang Rang and suddenly smiled.
"That's it, I understand, but Lao Zhang, I really didn't do anything. You have to believe me. Everything I do now is what a minister can do. I didn't do anything extraordinary, so,
Do not suspect me."
"That's natural. You, Liu, are a man of your word. I never doubt what you say to me."
Zhang Rang nodded and said nothing more.
After Liu Bei and others left the Empress Dowager's chamber, Dong Chong, who had already left, returned and asked to see Empress Dowager Dong.
Regarding Dong Chong's return, Empress Dowager Dong, who had already changed her nightgown, was very helpless.
"Zhong, I know what you are going to say, but you better stop saying it. I have already decided on this matter."
"But aunt, if this happens, the power of Youzhou and Jizhou will also be controlled by Liu. He already controls the west of Luoyang, and now if you add Youzhou and Jizhou, wouldn't half of the Han Dynasty be under his control?"
Among them?"
Dong Chong said worriedly: "Don't worry, I will worry about you! Is it really okay to let your ministers have such great power? It is not a good thing for such things to happen in the past dynasties. There was Huo Guang in the past, and there was Huo Guang in the future.
Aren't you worried about what's going on with Yuan Wei?"
Empress Dowager Dong shook her head.
"Zhong, don't you understand what I mean? He was not the one who caused chaos in Jizhou and Youzhou, but he was the one who restored stability to the two states. The Han Dynasty needs stability, and he is the one who can stabilize the world. I don't
Let him be appointed, should he be appointed by you?
I'm still saying the same thing, I'm old and don't want to bother anymore. I just want to live a comfortable life. My life now is very comfortable and it can calm everything down for me. That's enough. I also want to use you, but can you? You
Can I live comfortably?"
Dong Chong could not answer this.
"Aunt, I..."
"Okay, stop talking. I'm going to bed. You should go back to bed early. There are still a lot of things to do starting tomorrow."
"I……"
"That's enough! If you keep talking about these things, don't come to see me again!"
Empress Dowager Dong flicked her sleeves, returned to her dormitory, and ignored Dong Chong again.
Dong Zhong had no choice but to leave the palace dejectedly.
This night, Luoyang City was not peaceful. Few people could sleep peacefully. Most people slept very uneasily, but that was useless, because the pace of history was constantly moving forward.
At the court meeting the next day, Zhang Rang announced the awards and rewards to Liu Bei on behalf of the royal family.
Because of Liu Bei's success in the Northern Expedition and his contribution to getting rid of the traitors, he was able to add 8,000 households to the original Marquis of Fanyang County and grant 30,000 households, making him the highest-ranking official since the founding of the Han Dynasty.
Before this, only Zhang Liang was promised the food of 30,000 households, but Zhang Liang knew the rule of shooting the first bird and did not ask for the food of 30,000 households.
But Liu Bei got this food through his accumulation of merit.
At the same time, Liu Bei's mother and his wife, Han, were all granted titles because of Liu Bei's contribution. The original titles remained unchanged, but the food and fiefdoms of the titles were doubled.
Liu Bei's mother's title of Liangxiang Jun increased the number of households to 4,000 households, and Liu Bei's wife Han's title of Yangxiang Jun increased the number of households to 3,200 households.
Thanks to Liu Bei's contribution, the status of these two women seems to be higher than that of millions of women of the Han Dynasty.
Then there are some simple rewards of property and land, etc., which are not a big deal.
However, the rewards for those who have made meritorious deeds set out in the military merit policy presented by Liu Bei are more eye-catching.
For example, General Zhang Fei, who was riding a tiger, made great achievements this time and captured a lot of goods. Therefore, the number of households in Anxian County increased to 8,000 households, and he was one step away from the 10,000 households.
There was also Pang De, a knight-errant general who had made great contributions before and after, so he was given the title of General Yangwu, and was promoted to the title of Marquis of Goudao County, and his residence was increased to 6,000 households.
In addition, General Huben Zhonglang and Yangwei General Xu Huang were rewarded with promotions to the title of nobility for their military exploits. The title was also promoted to Marquis of Yangxian County, and the number of households increased to 6,000.
Then Cheng Pu, the general of Xuanjia Zhonglang, was promoted to the title of Marquis of Tuyin County because of his military exploits, and the number of households increased to 6,000.
Then Cao Ren, the general of Yingyang Zhonglang, was promoted to the title of Marquis of Daze Township due to his successive military exploits, and his residence was increased to 3,000 households.
Later, because of their military exploits and their role in capturing Yuan Shao, Zhao Yun, Zhang He and Shi Huan were promoted to the rank of captain. Then the original title of Duxiang Marquis was able to increase the number of households to 1,500 households.
Gan Ning and Zhang Ren, officers from General Liu Bei's palace, were promoted to captains for their military exploits, were granted the title of Marquis of Duting, and were granted food to 700 households.
Then came a series of officials from the general's palace who worked very hard for this battle. Because of their joint military exploits, they were awarded the title of Marquis of Guannei and were granted food to 300 households in the city.
Led by Man Chong, Mao Jie, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, Zhong Yao, Chen Qun and others all succeeded in being rewarded with the title of Marquis of Guannei as clerks due to their sweatshop-like work and abundant results.
After that, a series of awards for thousands of middle-level and junior officers were awarded in accordance with Liu Bei's wishes, and the court did not make any changes.
Bingzhou Mu, former general Dong Zhuo was rewarded with an increase of 1,000 households in the city due to his military exploits.
The later general Lu Bu was rewarded with an increase of 1,500 households in the city for his military exploits.
These two people did not receive any promotions in their positions, and the reasons are well known to everyone.
Lu Bu's three subordinates, Li Su, Zhang Liao and Zhang Yang, were promoted to nobility one after another. They all became Tinghou, and their food and fiefdoms all increased to varying degrees.
Qiao Mao and Liu Yu's subordinates who helped Liu Bei fight also received corresponding rewards. Bao Xin, Yu Jin, Tai Shici and others all received titles, and Qiao Mao and Liu Yu also received more titles.
Then, based on previous internal deliberations, the imperial court began to appoint a series of officials to positions in Youzhou and Jizhou based on Liu Bei's recommendation.
For example, according to Liu Bei's opinion, Xiahou Dun, the former governor of Anding County, was appointed as the governor of Youzhou, leading Wusheng Zhonglang General.
According to Liu Bei's recommendation, he was transferred to Qiao Mao, the governor of Yanzhou, and the governor of Jizhou.
He also appointed the missing 14 county governors and 78 county magistrates in Youzhou and Jizhou.
People who know the inside story have noticed that most of the people recommended as county magistrates are former officials or disciples of Liu Bei's sect, or have a deep relationship with Liu Bei. In short, they are all Liu Bei's people.
However, there are some who come from various factions in the court, such as the ancient literature school, eunuchs, and even people close to Liu Yu and Qiao Mao.
Among them, in Youzhou, most of Liu Bei's disciples and former officials serve as county governors and county magistrates. This is obviously because Liu Bei wants to control the administration of Youzhou. However, in Jizhou, Liu Bei only appoints three officials who are his disciples and former officials to serve as state ministers.
, the others were not involved much and were handed over to other forces.
For example, he appointed Cai Yong, a leader of the Ancient Literature School, as the governor of Bohai County, Fu Qian, a leader of the Ancient Literature School, as the Prime Minister of Zhao, and Shi Yiguan, an official who was close to the eunuch group, as the Prime Minister of Qinghe.
At the same time, Liu Bei recommended Lu Kang, the former governor of Lujiang County, to be the governor of Yanzhou.
This reason is relatively popular.
Because Lu Kang arrested the family members of Sun Jian, an important member of Yuan Shu's rebel group, and some of Yuan Shu's remnants who fled to Lujiang County in Lujiang County, and sent them all to Luoyang, where they were all executed by the imperial court's order.
Liu Bei looked at the list of arrested people and saw Sun Quan's name in it.