Compared with previous enthronement ceremonies, this court ceremony on the first day of the first lunar month of the first year of Zhenguan was more like a serious enthronement ceremony for Liu Bei.
The scene was very grand. There were more people attending the ceremony than before, orders of magnitude greater, and greater weight. Many of the leading generals and border officials who had been arranged by Liu Bei came back to wish Liu Bei a happy New Year and all the best.
For Liu Bei, all these are secondary. Compared with the process of this congratulatory ceremony, Liu Bei is more concerned about the changes in certain contents of this ceremony.
He still remembers the life-threatening New Year celebration on the first day of the first lunar month of the fourth year of his life. He still remembers the bowl of [New Year's Special Summer Ice Drink] that made him stiff from soul to limb.
of magic damage.
Of course, he still clearly remembers the physical blow those cold snacks gave him.
So he naturally remembered that he had sworn that one day when he could take charge of everything, he would definitely change this ungrateful rule and provide everyone, even a humble official, with hot winter drinks.
So he did indeed do it.
After all, he is not the kind of evil person who will tear up other people's umbrellas if he gets caught in the rain...at least not completely.
During the banquet ceremony, of course only senior officials and generals could enjoy the meal with him in Chongde Hall.
Although most of the officials were still shivering in the cold wind in the large square outside Chongde Hall, the serving of a bowl of warm old hen soup indeed moved many junior officials to the point of tears.
They drank the fragrant and delicious hot chicken soup one mouthful at a time, feeling their cold hearts being warmed bit by bit.
The subsequent banquets were basically hot food, and the waiters who brought the dishes "kindly" told them to eat them as soon as possible and eat them while they were hot, as they would not taste good if they were cold.
This situation made many officials who were transitioning from the Second Reich to the Third Reich feel very emotional.
At this time during the Second Empire, they could only take a sip of the summer ice drink, praying that the ceremony would be over soon so they could go back and drink something hot to save their wailing stomachs.
But now, they can eat hot food. Even the humble officials can eat hot food.
It tastes really good.
Many people lamented this and talked privately, saying that the new dynasty and new atmosphere were true. A lot of things could be seen from the warmth of the banquet.
The so-called subtle knowledge makes a difference!
After the New Year celebration ceremony, there is a five-day holiday as usual. For some officials with low status or low power, the five-day holiday can be enjoyed, but for high-ranking officials and generals, three days of rest is considered a holiday.
Not bad.
This year Liu Bei also rested for three days. He accompanied his family and went out to enjoy the snow and eat hot pot. He also added the family of his old friends to this routine, and a large group of people left Luoyang City in a mighty manner.
We had a hot pot and barbecue party and had a lot of fun.
Of course, in these sessions, there is indispensable bragging and competition between their respective children, as well as a decisive battle over the final exam results. The winning parents are elated, while the losing parents are gnashing their teeth and displeased with how their naughty children look.
Ji Jian came back in a hurry on the New Year's Day. He didn't catch the big ceremony, but he caught up with the hot pot and barbecue party.
He took his proud son Ji Xiao to participate in this happy team-building activity. At the activity, he made subtle mockery of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, saying how his son was so good and how he was better than his father.
of.
How could Guan Yu and Zhang Fei not hear the subtext of Ji Jian?
They were so angry with Ji Jian that when they were drinking, they pulled Ji Jian and poured him wine without any hint of abuse, so Ji Jian was severely punished. In the middle of the party,
He was already unconscious.
But Ji Xiao really tried his best and competed with Guan Ning and Zhang Chi to eat barbecue. Both of them rolled their eyes after eating, but they still couldn't get enough of Ji Xiao, who was like a slut.
Seeing this scene, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei couldn't help but sigh.
It's true that a person has his destiny. Ji Jian has no ability to march and fight, but he has some skills in raising horses. He is now fully responsible for raising horses, but his son is a good hand at first glance.
They looked at Ji Jian who had fallen asleep and fell unconscious, feeling a little envious in their hearts.
Overall, this hot pot and barbecue party was relatively harmonious. There were no disputes among everyone. Even people who were not familiar with each other greeted each other with smiles and greeted each other.
However, under this harmony, Liu Bei also observed some interesting phenomena.
In the past, because there were powerful enemies such as the Modern Classics School, the Ancient Classics School, foreign relatives, and the eunuch group, the people under Liu Bei's command would stick together and form a group to resist various challenges and threats.
There is no distinction between everyone, there is only one highest status - a member of Liu Bei's faction.
After all the major hostile forces were completely eliminated by Liu Bei, his subordinates gradually occupied many power niches that were not occupied before. From this, many small factions under Liu Bei's faction were naturally divided.
If divided according to the number of people, then Liu Bei's subordinates are mainly divided into three factions: Liangzhou faction, disciples and disciples faction, and Guli faction.
The Liangzhou system is a relatively large concept. It can not only include Gai Xun, Yan Zhong, Yan Wen and other senior subordinates who have followed Liu Bei for a long time, but also graduates from Liangzhou who have just graduated from Liangzhou University.
Incorporate it.
It can be said that from the time Liu Bei served as the shepherd of Liangzhou to the current stage, all Liangzhou people who have served Liu Bei can be considered a member of the Liangzhou Gang.
And Liangzhou is indeed one of the places that contributed the most to Liu Bei and sent out the most people after Liu Bei gained power. Therefore, in terms of number of people and political influence, the Liangzhou Clique is second to none within the Third Reich. There is no one better than Liangzhou.
The state system has become a larger faction.
The system of disciples and disciples is not divided according to the concept of region. It includes people from many places in the south and north, including people from Liangzhou, Sili, Yuzhou and Yanzhou.
They often became Liu Bei's disciples when Liu Bei still had the inheritance of Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals, studied with Liu Bei in Liangzhou Academy, and gained the title of Liu Bei's disciples.
Disciples are the elites among the disciples, or elites from related households. The number is relatively small, but any one of them is considered to be very promising, such as Cao Ang, the eldest son of Cao Cao, who is serving as the county magistrate, etc.
They are generally younger and more educated. They are Liu Bei's main force to replace the old bureaucracy. Most of them come from poor families and are common people. They do not have strong political influence, but they have strong potential for future development.
Therefore, the official system was mainly built by Liu Bei by recruiting heroes from all over the world and winning over the hearts of the people.
Strictly speaking, this faction also overlaps with the previous two factions. For example, after his disciples graduate and work in his mansion because of their excellence, they will have both the status of disciple and official.
However, because the political concept of official officials is relatively broad, everyone from Guan Yu to Zhang Fei to the last young graduate who entered the general's palace can be regarded as Liu Bei's official officials, not to mention Zhao Yun and Shi Huan.
Recruit outstanding talents into the general's palace.
They also come from all over the world and do not belong to the geographical divisions. Their age is of no reference, because even people like Jia Xu and Cheng Yu can be classified into this faction.
Therefore, these three broad concepts are actually not very marketable within the Third Reich. If the concepts are too big, people's sense of belonging will be weakened. Without a strong political leader, it will be difficult to convert so many
People gather together.
Therefore, compared to these three large-scale concepts, people are generally willing to accept smaller-scale concepts.
For example, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, Ji Jian and others formed the Yuan Cong faction who first followed Liu Bei.
They were the first to follow Liu Bei, and the first to get along and become brothers. They have deep feelings for each other, and they mainly lead troops outside. They have high status, great power, and strong military exploits. They are not something ordinary people can get involved in. In a sense, they have strong exclusivity.
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Then there is the foreign relatives faction composed of Han Rong, Cao Cao, Gai Xun, Xiahou Dun and others.
They followed Liu Bei not too early, but not too late. Basically, they all had some family influence, and all of them had family women in Liu Bei's inner palace, related to him, and were Liu Bei's important early partners.
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Although they no longer have the status of partners, and their relatives lack a reasonable ecological niche in the political structure of the Third Reich, they still hold important positions of power and are the faction with the strongest political power at this stage by mainstream default.
The next interesting faction is Liu Bei's "Dream-Ying Xianchen" faction, which are mainly subordinate officials recruited by Liu Bei through dreams when he was the general's palace.
Strictly speaking, they can also be regarded as members of the Guli family, but when truly classified, this Ying Meng Xianchen faction can be regarded as the elite of the Guli family, belonging to the most promising and dynamic Mesozoic group at present.
Some of them are administrative officials and some lead soldiers in wars. Their status is not the highest, but they can be regarded as a group of middle and high-level people. Compared with other ordinary officials, their situation is different and they have a bright future.
Then there is the gentry family.
They are a group of first-rate or second-rate or third-rate scholar families who chose to join Liu Bei during his development. They followed Liu Bei for different periods of time, but they also occupied their own ecological niche under Liu Bei.
And because of their excellent knowledge and abilities, they can often hold more important backbone positions in local and central governments.
For example, Xun You and Xun Yu, as well as Zhong Yao, Yang Xiu, Guo Jia, Chen Qun, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong and others.
Then there is the veteran official system.
Led by Zheng Xuan, Lu Zhi, Ma Rixi, Cai Yong, Fu Qian and others, they were both important high-ranking officials in the Second Empire and had a close relationship with Liu Bei. They were considered the last remnants of the Ancient Literature School.
These people generally have higher qualifications and older ages. The relationship with Liu Bei used to be a serious relationship between elders and juniors. Although most of them dare not say this now, the relationship still exists.
of.
Such a series of divisions can basically cover the current situation of small groups under Liu Bei.
When he looked around, it was basically the same scene.
Of course Guan Yu plays better with Zhang Fei and the others, and is closer.
Cao Cao and Yan Wen drank and sang together, showing the attitude of the geometry of life.
Zheng Xuan, Lu Zhi, and Ma Rixi, who were invited by Liu Bei, sat around the fire, drank wine, and talked. They seemed to be very happy.
Everyone has their own small group and circle, and there is no competitive relationship between them yet. However, Liu Bei also knows very well that this is temporary and this situation will change as time goes by.
However, he must at least maintain it for the moment. The longer he maintains it, the more he can concentrate on what he wants to do.
It is imperative to save the land, and it is imperative to carry out comprehensive reforms. If he does not do some things, he will never succeed.
So Liu Bei had a sense of urgency.
And this sense of urgency was also well transmitted to his subordinates.
After the New Year, more and more people in the inner circle have become aware of Liu Bei's previous intentions and what Liu Bei meant when he told them this, so more and more people have expressed that they will follow Liu Bei's actions as a family.
Whatever task Liu Bei asked them to complete, they would complete it without any hesitation.
Therefore, Liu Bei did not need to doubt their loyalty.
And Xun Yu saw more and more people coming forward to tell Liu Bei that they could solve family affairs without him having to worry about it. How could he not know where the political risks were this time?
But at first he felt that he still had some time, because the two difficult problems of the Cao family and the Xiahou family had not yet been resolved, and he, the Xun family, should still have time.
As a result, just when Xun Yu felt that he could slowly discuss the matter with his family, a shocking news suddenly came.
The Cao family has been dealt with.
Cao Cao sent a letter to Liu Bei, saying that internal negotiations within the family had been completed, and the entire Cao family was willing to accept the imperial court's land transfer and to pay land taxes to the imperial court in accordance with the provisions of Han law.
Of course, because the Cao family has too much land and property and the taxes are too heavy, the Cao family hopes to sell part of the land to the government, hoping that the government can purchase it at market price.
In general, Cao will fully implement the requirements of Liu Bei's land transfer bill, resolutely follow Liu Bei's correct line, eliminate all interference from current voices, and serve as a Han minister wholeheartedly.
This news did not spread on a large scale. It was only spread on a small scale within the core group at first. However, after learning the news, everyone in the core circle was shocked.
In their view, even if the results are announced, it should be the Xiahou family who should be the first to produce the results, or the Zhen family should be the first to produce the results.
The amount of property of the Xiahou family is relatively small among the super powerful, while the Zhen family has always been quite obedient to Liu Bei due to the existence of Zhen Yan, and has never done any disobedient actions.
Therefore, they believe that these two families will react faster than other families and make decisions.
In the end, they all guessed wrong. The first family to make a decision was actually the Cao family, the most powerful family in the world.
From the time Liu Bei stated his request to Cao's affirmative reply, it took a total of seventeen days, which was just over half a month.