Chapter 59 3. Atonement

In the Western Han Dynasty, when Liu's illness was over, a very interesting thing happened.Once, Prime Minister Bingji was traveling, and encountered a gang fight on the road, resulting in many deaths and injuries.But Bingji turned a blind eye and passed by.Bingji's strange behavior made the left and right very puzzled, but no one dared to talk too much. Going forward, Prime Minister Bingji saw someone driving cattle, and the cattle were panting with exhaustion.Bingji couldn't help stopping and asked the cattle driver how many miles he had driven.Finally, some people couldn't help asking, just now they saw someone fighting and ignored them, why did they care so much when they saw that the cow was tired?

Bingji said clearly: "When people fight in groups, the local government will naturally manage them. The duty of the Sangong is to reconcile yin and yang, so that the world will be in good order. I asked about Niu panting because it falls within the scope of my duties." Such a small matter profoundly affected the political system of the Han Dynasty.Since Bingji, it has become a practice for the Sangongs of the Han Dynasty not to intervene in the power of local governments.This is also one of the reasons why Dou Xian is proud.He believes that if the Sangongs of the Han Dynasty did not intervene, the conviction of Liu Gang is a certainty and there is no suspense.

However, Dou Xian did not expect that the person who wanted to disturb his good affairs came from Taiwei's Mansion, one of the three lords. This guy's name is He Chang, and he was the thief Cao (security officer) of Taiwei's Mansion at that time, in charge of security work.The Taiwei Mansion is in charge of military affairs, Situ is in charge of political economy, and Sikong is in charge of supervision.Therefore, as far as the trial of Liu Gang is concerned, from the perspective of the scope of functions, if the three princes of the Han Dynasty want to come forward, it should be Sikong who is more appropriate, and there is nothing wrong with the Taiwei Mansion.

This is exactly what makes Dou Xian depressed, why is it someone from Taiwei's mansion.In fact, if Dou Xian knew He Chang, he would know that his affairs were not wronged at all. He Chang, with high calligraphy, was born in Pingling, Fufeng.This person has both ability and political integrity, but is out of date with the times.Previously, the central government issued edicts many times to invite him to be an official, but he declined all of them.Later, he was finally invited to work in Taiwei's Mansion, and he was highly regarded by the leaders, even Master Situ respected him somewhat.

The reason why He Chang is respected is mainly because he dares to speak and act.After he entered Taiwei's mansion, it was the era when Empress Dowager Dou was in court and the Dou family was full of bullying.However, he still ignored him and wrote to warn Dou not to be too arrogant. Of course, He Chang knew the rules of the world.In Luoyang City, you can talk, but you can't talk nonsense, you can manage things, but you can't.However, He Chang played an untimely good style and decided to take care of Liu Gang's conviction.Because, he has already found an excuse to come forward.

First of all, He Chang wrote a letter to Taiwei Song You, saying that Liu Chang was killed in the garrison, which was a serious matter, and the department in charge of public security arrested people randomly, which had a very bad influence.But I know Sangong's practice of not interfering with local government power.Therefore, I am now requesting that I plan to participate in the trial of Liu Gang's case in my own name, and I ask the leader for approval. Song Taiwei looked at it, approved it. After He Chang set off, Situ Mansion and Sikong Mansion were taken aback when they heard about it. The Taiwei Mansion had sent people, and they couldn't be left behind.Ever since, the two governments also quickly sent officials in charge to Qi to participate in the joint court.

Now it's really over, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Dou Xian has no choice but to cheat.First trial, second questioning and third reasoning, finally the truth came out: the person who assassinated Liu Chang was not Liu Gang, but Dou Xian.Bad luck happens every year, and this time it was especially bad.When Queen Dowager Dou heard the result of the trial, her eyes lit up, and she immediately locked Dou Xian in the inner courtyard of the palace. Please note that this is not punishment, but protection.Empress Dowager Dou was angry, but she was very clear-headed.She knows that a lover is very important, but her brother is even more important.Lovers can be found again, but elder brothers cannot be reborn.Therefore, anger is anger, and brotherhood cannot be abandoned.

Of course, Dou Xian made such a big mistake, just shutting down and introspecting, it can't stop the mouths of the Sangong of the Han Dynasty and the people of the world.The most urgent task is to find a way to save life.Soon, Dou Xian told his younger sister, Queen Mother Dou, that I had a way to leave the palace. Dou Xian's solution was to ask for the conquest of the Northern Huns in an attempt to make meritorious deeds and redeem the death penalty. Facts have proved that Liu Gang is not Dou Xian's dish, but the Northern Huns are.There are various indications that it is very difficult for the Northern Huns not to be Dou Xian's scapegoat.

The ancients said that it is difficult to rejuvenate a country, but it is difficult for the Northern Xiongnu to disrupt the country.After hundreds of years of tossing and tossing, they are like smashing a pot, getting worse and worse.Today's northern Huns have endless civil wars, gang fights, brothers are fighting, either you stab me, or I stab you.Those who can't beat others, in order to make a living, thousands of people defect to the Southern Huns every year. The Southern Xiongnu Shanyu saw it, well, I thought that I was the only one living without dignity, but I didn't expect that there was someone more miserable than myself.So he wrote a letter and flew into Luoyang City, asking the Han government to sponsor him to send troops to wipe out the Northern Huns in one fell swoop and completely liberate the Beimo brothers.

The Southern Xiongnu Shanyu's memorandum fell into the hands of Queen Dowager Dou.Empress Dowager Dou is a veteran in harem politics, but fighting can only be left to men.The Southern Xiongnu Shanyu listed in the memorial the list of those who wished to lead the army to send troops, and Geng Bing was at the top.Ever since, Empress Dowager Dou could only summon Geng Bing to inquire. We all know Geng Bing. He was a famous hardliner in the Han Dynasty. He was the one who kept encouraging Liu Zhuang at the beginning, so he and Dou Gu had the opportunity to appear on the stage.After several years of not fighting, he was already itching in his heart. When Empress Dowager Dou handed him the memorabilia of the Southern Huns Chanyu, his heart was already full of joy.

Geng Bing confidently said to Empress Dowager Dou: "Back then, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty devoted all his efforts to destroying the Xiongnu in one fell swoop, but he failed. Today's opportunity has come. It is a once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity. You can't miss it." Geng Bing swallowed his saliva, and continued: "What's more, the Shanyu of the Southern Xiongnu has already said that they cannot settle the northern Xiongnu with their strength alone. We send troops to sponsor and use the barbarians to rule the barbarians. The cost is reduced and the benefits are great. I am eating the food of the country, and I am willing to accept this order and lead the army to go out." Empress Dowager Dou nodded, yes, there is a play.Find a few more people to ask and see what everyone thinks.However, there are some people, Empress Dowager Dou doesn't need to ask, they have already rushed to the palace with full power. These people are the main peace faction of the Han Dynasty.The outstanding representative of these people is Mr. Fifth Lun.It's a pity that Sikong Fifth Lun has retired honorably because of his old age. Now, the three princes of the Han Dynasty are Situ Yuan'an, Sikong Renkai, and Taiwei Songyou.It also needs to be explained that in terms of relations with the Xiongnu, not to mention the Sangongs of the Han Dynasty, almost the entire civil official group of the Han Dynasty was out-and-out non-war faction. Now the problem is big.Soon, someone fired the first shot and wrote a letter to Queen Mother Dou, unequivocally opposing the expedition to the Northern Huns. The first person in this war of words is the palace secretary (Shang Shu) Song Yi.The reasons for objection are as follows: Since the founding of the country by Gaozu Liu Bang, the Han Dynasty has gone to war against the Huns many times, but each time it is always not worth the loss.It has been 40 years since Emperor Guangwu adopted the policy of cessation of war and support of the people. The border counties are peaceful and life is peaceful, but once the troops are sent out, it will inevitably destroy the happy life that has been hard-won for decades.This is one of them. Now the Xianbei tribe has surrendered to the Han Dynasty, and they fought with the Northern Huns. We didn't send a single soldier, but they gave us a share of the spoils.But if troops are sent to wipe out the Northern Huns, the Xianbei people who have always made a living by robbing will definitely not be able to rob the Northern Huns again. They are short of money and food and have to ask us for it.But if we are satisfied today, can we be satisfied tomorrow?One day, they are too busy to panic, and they will definitely come to the border to make trouble again, so aren't we shooting ourselves in the foot?Therefore, leaving the hard bone of the Northern Huns to the Xianbei people, we sit and watch, there is a lot of benefit but no harm, why not do it?This is the second. In short, unifying the Northern Huns for the Southern Huns is tantamount to using their own money to burn. The benefits are given to others, and all the harms have to be borne by themselves.No matter from which point of view it is not cost-effective, so the southern Xiongnu Shanyu must not agree to this suggestion. Shang Shu Song Yi's abacus was clattering, but Empress Dowager Dou saw that she was not interested at all.Silence represents my heart, objection is invalid. Winter, October 17th.On this day, it was less than half a year since the death of the first emperor Liu Da.However, on this day, Empress Dowager Dou agreed to Dou Xian's request for atonement, named him General Chariot and Cavalry, appointed Geng Bing as Deputy Commander, recruited the Northern Army and the militia of the twelve counties on the border, and prepared to conquer the Northern Huns. Empress Dowager Dou moved, as did the civil servants of the Han Dynasty.All the Sangongs and Jiuqing of the Han Dynasty showed up and went to the palace to petition.They all believed that although we had a distant enmity with the Northern Huns, we had no close enmity.People have promised not to come to the border to rob, how can we go to beat people for no reason like this.And it's not worth it to work on an expedition for a false name. The ministers tried their best to dissuade you, but Empress Dowager Dou is like a huge rock, no matter how many ways you come, she just goes all the way and remains unmoved.Seeing that petitioning was not enough, all the ministers went to play collectively.The memorial book flew into the palace like snowflakes, but it was like falling into an abyss, without a sound, without any echo. Empress Dowager Dou still uses the same trick, let you make trouble, she just ignores you. As mentioned earlier, almost all the civil officials of the Han Dynasty opposed the conquest of the Northern Huns.The reason why I said almost, not everything, is that some people are also messing with each other. When the Queen Mother of the Western Han Dynasty sent Wang Mang to preside over the overall situation, Wang Mang found a bureaucrat who was very obedient and good at making peace.Some people may recall that that person is Kong Guang, a descendant of Confucius.When Dou Xian came to power, he also found a character similar to Kong Guang.His name is Deng Biao. Deng Biao was originally a Taiwei. Dou Xian saw that he was a talented person, so he was promoted to Taifu, and he was sealed as a Marquis of the Guannei, and he was in charge of court secrets.Dou Xiangong was exhausted running inside and outside the palace. To put it bluntly, Deng Biao was the senior errand worker he recruited. Deng Biao is very dedicated, he goes to meetings when there is any meeting, and makes peace when there is mud. No matter how loud the noise behind him is, he has no complaints or regrets.The current Taiwei Song You is also one of the ones behind Deng Biao's back, but this guy is a bit regretful now. That's what he thought, and he went all the way up and down for so long, but he didn't object to any results.As the leader in charge of the military, will Queen Mother Dou come to settle accounts in the future?It's better to accept it as soon as you see it, even if you can't make peace like Deng Biao, but at least you can protect yourself wisely. When Song You thought about it, his heart tightened, and he really withdrew.This quarrel also requires passion. When the ministers saw that the Taiwei had stopped playing, they also felt bored and went home one after another, imitating themselves.