Chapter 59 Section 1

In the spring of the second year of Jianwu (AD 26), Liu Xiu looked around the world in Luoyang, the capital city. Shu Emperor Gongsun Shu, who is located in Chengdu, and Kui Xiao and Dou Rong in the northwest border are all out of reach for the time being, so you don't have to think about it.In the west, the Red Eyebrow Army is still raging in Guanzhong; in the north, Peng Chong is about to rebel in Youzhou.However, there is no need to worry too much. Guanzhong has Deng Yu to support it, and Youzhou has Zhu Fu to support it. Even if neither of them can bear it, the problem will not be too big.As long as Hangu Pass is sealed, the Red Eyebrow Army can be blocked in the pass; and even if Peng Chong can capture Hebei, Peng Chong will not be able to invade Luoyang because of the natural danger of the Yellow River.

Liu Xiu's worries lie in the east and the south.Only these two directions can bring the most direct and realistic threat to the capital Luoyang. The enemy of the East is another emperor named Liu——Liu Yong, whose power spans Yanzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou, and controls the entire eastern part of the empire. The trouble in the south is the remnants of Emperor Gengshi Liu Xuan.The governor of the prefecture, which Liu Xuan worshiped, and the four kings whom Liu Xuan enshrined—Yin Zun, King Yan, Li Tong, King Xiping, Wang Chang, King Deng, and Liu Ci, King Wan, were entrenched in Yuzhou and Jingzhou in the south.Although Liu Xuan is dead, these remnants are not in a hurry to find their next home, they are all waiting and watching, ready to opportunistically, surrender the victor, and push down the wall.

Liu Xiu's decision is: abandon Deng Yu and Zhu Fu, concentrate all the forces at hand, and start a war to the east and south at the same time. Liu Xiu worshiped Huya General Gai Yan as the coach of the Eastern Expedition.Gai Yan, whose courtesy name is Juqing, was born in Yaoyang, Yuyang, and belonged to Peng Chong's former clan along with Wu Han.Liu Xiu then dispatched Ma Wu, captain-in-law, Liu Long, captain of cavalry, Ma Cheng, captain of the guard army, and Wang Ba, the partial general, to assist Gai Yan to challenge Liu Yong.This is the Battle of the East, let's not say it first.

Just talking about the battle in the south, Liu Xiu summoned all the generals to discuss, knocking on the ground and saying: "Yan is the strongest, and Wan is second, who should attack him?" Jia Fu responded, "Please attack Yan." Liu Xiu laughed. : "I hold the gold and strike the scorpion, so why worry about my recovery! The great Sima Wu Han should strike the Wan." Jia Fu led the troops to attack Yan and broke them.After more than a month, Yin Zun, the king of Yan, surrendered and settled his land.Jia Fu attacked Gengshi Huaiyang prefect again and again, and he was defeated and surrendered, which belonged to the county.

Wu Han led troops to attack Wan and was about to go. Liu Xiu specially called for an envoy.Wu Han's official residence as Da Sima not only depends on his military exploits, but also has his own merits.In front of Liu Xiu, Wu Han was a courtier. Even during the battle, as long as Liu Xiu hadn't sat down, Wu Han would always stand by him and always stand sideways, not daring to face Liu Xiu.Whenever he went out to fight, Wu Han took his orders in the morning and set off on the road that night, without any delay.When the battle is not going well, other generals are often tense and fearful, and lose their normal speed, but Wu Han can be calm, do what he should do, sharpen his equipment, and motivate his soldiers.Liu Xiu sent people to observe secretly, and sighed: "Mr. Wu's mission is so good that it looks like an enemy country!"

Logically speaking, with such a good subordinate, why is Liu Xiu worried?However, Liu Xiu was still worried. After summoning Wu Han, the first thing she said was: "Do you know where you are fighting?" Wu Han said: "I know, first go to Wancheng, and then to Nanyang." Liu Xiu nodded and said, "It's good if you know. Nanyang is my hometown, and it's also your hometown. You can see the elders of your hometown everywhere, so you have to be extra careful." Wu Han was puzzled and asked, "How careful?" Liu Xiu sighed: "Although you are good at fighting, you are also good at killing. If you have hostility in your body, you must guard against it. This time when you go to Nanyang, you must specially restrain your subordinates. You will not commit any crimes. Victory and defeat are second, and military discipline is the most important!"

Wu Han nodded: "Yes, yes." Liu Xiu saw that Wu Han was just dealing with it and didn't really take it to heart. He said in a more emphatic tone: "The "Shang Shu" talks about Shang Tang's crusade. The Eastern Expedition will bring resentment to the Western barbarians, and the Southern Expedition will cause resentment from the Northern Di. Why? Master, to punish the people and punish crimes, naturally the people support them, and they all hope that Shang Tang will come to save themselves first. Now that I have become emperor, I hope that my army can also become such a king's teacher."

Wu Han still nodded: "Yes, yes." Liu Xiu's tone was more severe, and said: "You should read more books in your spare time. Why did the Red Eyebrow Army and Liu Xuan fail? In the final analysis, military discipline was corrupt, plundering and looting, killing innocent people indiscriminately, wherever they went , the people are like hiding from the plague, and they can’t avoid it. "Unkind people are the capital of good people". This is what Lao Tzu said. What do you mean? It is because of the existence of unkind people that good people are more likely to succeed. Chimeijun, Liu Xuan is not good, I am good, and I am successful. If our army is like the Red Eyebrow Army and Liu Xuan, I am afraid that it will be replaced by others soon. You are the chief minister of the dynasty and the head of generals. You should be a Han Let the army set an example. Mencius said: "Eat a pot of pulp to welcome the king's teacher." I hope you can see such a scene when you go to Nanyang this time."

Wu Han said solemnly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your suggestion." Wu Han resigned, but Liu Xiu called him back, and especially warned: "Especially in Xinye, Da Sima must not be alarmed." Wu Han said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, Xinye is the hometown of the nobleman Yin, how dare I do it rashly." Liu Xiu shook her head and sighed, "I told you not to disturb Xin Ye, not because of the nobleman, but because of Deng Feng. You must be careful, and you must not provoke Deng Feng." Wu Han sent troops to Nanyang and attacked Wan City first, and Liu Ci, the king of Wan, surrendered the city.Previously, Liu Xiu's uncle Liu Liang, clan father Liu She, clan brother Liu Zhi and other Liu clans came to Liu Xiu from Chang'an. Liu Zhi is the king of Chengyang.Liu Ci used to be the prime minister in the Gengshi Dynasty. He had both supportive love and life-saving grace for Liu Xiu, so he should be crowned king as well. The reason for surrender.In the same way, although Liu Jia, the former king of Hanzhong, was raised by Liu Xiu's father Liu Qin since he was a child, he was almost Liu Xiu's brother.

After Liu Ci descended, Deng Wangchang, the first king, also led his wife to Luoyang, and returned home naked.Wang Chang is the oldest and only surviving hero in the Green Forest Army. He had a close friendship with Liu Xiu's brother at the beginning, and he can be called Liu Xiu's old comrade-in-arms who first raised the army.The Han army suffered a disastrous defeat in Xiaochang'an. Fortunately, Wang Chang led the Green Forest Army into the group, and finally won a great victory in Bishui, bringing the dead back to life.Seeing Wang Chang coming down, Liu Xiu was in a happy mood. She smiled and teased: "At the beginning when you and I met, we swore to share weal and woe and share wealth and wealth. But since you worshiped as King Deng, you have cut off contact with me, and you are not willing to come to see me until now. , isn’t it true that you broke your promise?”

Wang Chang had no excuse, and thanked him with a sigh of relief: "I first met Yiqiu with your majesty, and then I will meet you in Kunyang. How dare I forget it! I heard that your majesty ascended the throne in Hebei, so I opened my eyes and opened my eyes. It's too late to return now, but your majesty will commit crimes." , I will die with no regrets." Seeing that Wang Chang was afraid and uneasy, Liu Xiu laughed and said, "I'm just joking with you. You don't have to be cautious between old friends." He rewarded Wang Chang specially, and worshiped him as Zuo Cao and Fengshan Sanghou. Liu Xiu also sent envoys to call Li Tong, the king of Xiping, who was reformed.Li Tong married Liu Xiu's third sister, Liu Boji, and his uncle became the emperor. How could Li Tong not come to be honored?Li Tong moved his family to Luoyang, and Liu Xiu made him the Marquis of Gushi and paid homage to Da Si Nong. The four kings of Nanyang were reformed, and they have all been abolished since then.