Han Dynasty Achievements

Chapter 101: The Huns Enter the Fortress

Yang Biao finally sat back down, not even bothering to wipe the sweat off his face, and said to Liu Bian in a hurry: "Your Majesty, I am a person without virtue and ability..."

As he spoke, he suddenly fell down and landed on his face.

Liu Bian and others never imagined that they had no time to reach out.

Xun You, Zhong Yao and others saw this and rushed to help him, but Yang Biao seemed to have fainted, with his head hung, and no movement at all.

Liu Bian's face straightened and anger surged in his heart.

Has this kind of crude trick been used?

Xun You also knew this, but he had to do the work on the surface, so he asked, "Your Majesty, would you like to summon the doctor?"

Liu Bian slowly sat back, looked at Yang Biao, suppressed his anger, and said calmly: "Come here, send the prime minister out and call a doctor to treat him."

Several Zhonghuangmen came in from outside the door and carried Yang Biao out carefully.

Everyone watched as Yang Biao left. Everyone knew that he was pretending to be unconscious, but they could not expose him.

As soon as Yang Biao left, Wang Yun looked more serious than ever before, raised his hand and said to Liu Bian, "Your Majesty, reinstating the position of Prime Minister is a matter of great importance. I would like to discuss this further."

The position of prime minister is indeed extraordinary.

Since the Qin Dynasty, the prime minister has had too much power. To what extent? Simply put, the prime minister has his own prime minister's office, and all officials meet in the prime minister's office. If the emperor has something to do, he has to go to the prime minister's office to attend.

Since the Qin Dynasty, "ruling by doing nothing" has prevailed. Even a strong emperor would be "courteous" to the prime minister, and the imperial power was even subordinate to the prime minister's power!

Once Yang Biao became the prime minister, everything would require Yang Biao's approval. The appointment of officials in the court and the decision of all matters, big or small, would almost all come from the prime minister's office.

Xun You and Zhong Yao also looked hesitant. The prime minister had too much power. The key was that this person was Yang Biao, and no one could figure out his thoughts. If he hindered them on various matters, even if he delayed them deliberately, it would be greatly detrimental to the current court and national affairs!

Liu Bian looked at their expressions and said calmly, "This matter is settled. In addition, Wang Yun and Dong Zhuo will serve as the left and right ministers, assisting the prime minister and sorting out all affairs."

Re-establishing the position of prime minister was the last piece of the puzzle for Liu Bian’s reform of the imperial court!

Wang Yun was not at all happy about becoming the assistant prime minister. He said anxiously, "Your Majesty, the prime minister has a heavy responsibility..."

"No need to discuss further!"

Liu Bian waved his hand, interrupting him, sitting upright, and said majestically: "I have decided to reinstate the prime minister. The prime minister and the deputy prime minister will manage the Secretariat, and there will be no prime minister's office. From now on, the Secretariat must sort out the national affairs as soon as possible and come up with a policy outline to deal with the current situation!"

Wang Yun looked hesitant and looked at Zhong Yao and Xun You.

The two men did not speak. Although Liu Bian had not discussed this with him beforehand, it was obvious that the palace had already planned this and it was not an impulsive act.

The two looked at each other and nodded secretly.

In this way, even if the court did not want to unite, it would have to, but at least it would not continue the vicious fighting.

'Useless mediocre officials!'

Wang Yun glared at the two of them secretly, angrily thinking about how to argue with Liu Bian.

Liu Bian looked at the three people, pondered for a while, and said: "Regarding the matter of the Xiongnu invading the border, the Shangshutai will discuss it again."

After saying that, he stood up.

Wang Yun saw this and said quickly, "Your Majesty..."

Liu Bian didn't listen to him at all. He strode out of the door and said to Pan Yin, "Send Zhang Liao out of the palace."

Pan Yin followed in small steps and asked, "Your Majesty, where are you going and how many people are you taking with you?"

Liu Bian kept walking and said, "Take 500 people with you and don't let anyone know."

"Yes."

Pan Yin responded and hurriedly arranged for someone to pass on the message.

Not long after, Liu Bian put on his casual clothes, left the palace, walked out of the city, got on a carriage outside the city gate, and, escorted by Zhang Liao, headed east.

After walking for a full hour, Pan Yin, who was standing beside them, looked a little uneasy. He looked at Liu Bian in the carriage and wanted to ask several questions, but did not dare to speak.

Zhang Liao walked in front the whole time, without saying a word, and was alert to his surroundings.

Liu Bian in the carriage was dozing with his eyes closed.

After walking for nearly an hour, Zhang Liao finally stopped, turned his horse around and said, "Your Majesty, we have arrived."

Liu Bian opened his eyes, pulled aside the curtain and came out. Not far away he saw a simple mountain village with people moving things and building things.

Liu Bian smiled, got off the carriage, and said, "This is it."

He led his men and walked straight towards the gate.

Pan Yin didn't know where this was and was a little curious.

As soon as Liu Bian arrived at the door, a young man in white armor, with a heroic appearance and bright eyes, less than 20 years old, came out quickly. When he saw Liu Bian, he knelt on one knee and said, "Yamen General Zhao Yun, I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

"No gift!"

Liu Bian smiled as he looked at Zhao Yun carefully and nodded secretly. He was indeed heroic and a brave general, but he was still a little young.

After saying this, Liu Bian tilted his head and said to Zhang Liao, "This was recommended by Lu Qing's family. They were originally the White Horse Volunteers of General Gongsun Zan."

Gongsun Zan had made great military achievements in Youzhou, and his White Horse Volunteers were also well-known. Zhang Liao could not help but look at Zhao Yun carefully.

Zhao Yun looked calm and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. The barracks have not been completed yet. Please come and inspect them."

Liu Bian looked at Zhao Yun again and walked inside with a smile.

Construction and building are going on everywhere. From a general perspective, the military camp is very large, but there are not many people.

Zhao Yun followed Liu Bian and said, "Your Majesty, the military camp has recruited less than 3,000 people so far. The Grand Marshal's Mansion has sent a message that 2,000 people will be sent every month, and there will be 30,000 people by the end of the year."

Liu Bian nodded. He naturally knew all this. When he thought of the 30,000 people, a feeling of pride welled up in his heart.

This military camp was extremely simple, with only some mud houses and the site still being tidied up, and it was obvious that it had been built not long ago.

Soldiers came and went, and from time to time someone saluted Zhao Yun, curious about the identities of Liu Bian and others.

Liu Bian ignored him and walked slowly, saying to Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun: "I have decided to expand the Imperial Guards. The young and strong men recruited here will all be Imperial Guards in the future. After training for a year or two, they will be assigned to some generals to lead. They will lead in battle and return after the battle."

Zhang Liao was stunned. Imperial Guards? All of them?

Zhao Yun was a little surprised, but didn't say anything.

Liu Bian came to the stables, looked at the dozen or so horses standing alone, reached out and touched them, and said with a smile: "They are quite docile, right?"

Zhao Yun stood aside and said, "Your Majesty, don't be fooled by their tameness at the moment. These horses are all good horses from Youzhou. They are fast and have excellent endurance. They are no worse than the Xiongnu horses and can travel 800 miles a day."

Liu Bian looked slightly surprised. You know, the speed and endurance of a war horse are very important on the battlefield. Traveling eight hundred miles a day is a huge advantage whether it is a night attack, a detour, or a frontal charge!

Liu Bian turned around and looked at Zhao Yun, and asked, "Can I ride?"

Zhao Yun hesitated.

His Majesty in front of me is so fair and tender that he may not be able to withstand even the bumps and wear and tear, let alone a fall.

When Liu Bian saw this, he grabbed the reins, stepped on the stirrup, and jumped onto the horse.

There was no unusual movement of the warhorse, but Liu Bian found it very strange.

He had ridden a horse before, but this time he felt so uncomfortable that he was wobbling and about to fall off.

Liu Bian pulled the reins, looked around, and said, "Why are there no stirrups?"

It's not that there was no foot, but there was only one side, and the direction of that side was wrong, so his feet were basically hanging in the air.

Liu Bian's question stunned Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun.

But in a moment, Liu Bian also remembered, and he got off the horse again, smiling and said: "I forgot that the horses I used to ride in the palace had stirrups on both sides for stability, which allowed the rider to sit more steadily and move more flexibly. After I go back, I'll have someone make a few and send them to me, and I'll add them to all my war horses in the future."

Pan Yin thought about the palace carefully. He had never followed Liu Bian before, so he was not very clear.

Zhang Liao arrived even later, and there was no suspicion of anything else.

Zhao Yun glanced at the horse's back, perhaps thinking it was dispensable and not wanting to offend Liu Bian, so he said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Without stirrups, Liu Bian didn't dare to ride, as it would be embarrassing if he fell off.

He continued to walk around the military camp and asked, "What do you think of the Zhao family and the Gongsun family?"

Zhao Yun still admired Gongsun Zan very much, and said directly: "Your Majesty, General Gongsun is brave and fearless, a great general of the time."

Liu Bian smiled. Gongsun Zan may be brave, but his mind is hard to predict.

These generals with heavy troops at their command might bow their heads when the court could still hold on, but once the court showed its weakness, it would be better for them to disobey orders and take advantage of the opportunity to cause chaos, expand their sphere of influence, and become kings and dominate.

Considering that Gongsun Zan was under Lu Zhi at the time, and Lu Zhi had just taken over half of Dong Zhuo's troops, the total strength was about 20,000, plus Gongsun Zan's 10,000, nearly 30,000.

"Should be able to deal with the Huns, right?"

Liu Bian thought to himself that if Lu Zhi couldn't stop the Huns, the Huns would march straight into Luoyang!

'Why do I feel so strangely frightened when I think of this?'

Liu Bian looked a little strange, then shook his head. For now, he still had to strengthen himself.

This military camp will have 30,000 people by the end of the year. With a little training, they can be deployed. Although it is not an elite division, it has the troop strength.

The elite are made through fighting!

Liu Bian thought about it and said, "Yanzhou will be pacified soon. Huangfu Qingjia will return to the capital soon. He will personally arrange the situation here. Zhang Liao, when you are free, come here more often and ask Huangfu Qingjia for advice on how to train and lead troops."

"I obey your command." Zhang Liao said.

Liu Bian turned around and felt more confident. He walked out the door and said to Zhao Yun with a smile, "Your Majesty Zhao, you have been working hard these days. When I am free, I will invite you to the palace and we will talk about the affairs of Youzhou."

Zhao Yun was flattered and said quickly, "I dare not."

Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "That's all for today."

It was the first time Zhao Yun met Liu Bian. Seeing that Liu Bian had no airs at all and spoke in a friendly tone, he already valued him. He was very excited and said, "Your Majesty, I respectfully send you off!"

Liu Bian walked out of the door with a smile, got on the carriage, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Although time is tight, we are finally on the right track.

When Liu Bian returned to the capital, the court was making intensive preparations for the reinstatement of the prime minister position.

In the Secretariat, Li Ru, who had just taken office as the Minister of Justice, was in high spirits, and his elegant temperament was tempered with a hint of official authority.

He knelt opposite Wang Yun and listened to Wang Yun's concerns about the reinstatement of the prime minister.

Li Ru smiled widely and said, "My Lord, the re-appointment of the Prime Minister is not actually that relevant to you."

Wang Yun looked indifferent and said, "Why not? If the prime minister is re-appointed, all power will be in the hands of Yang Biao, and Xun You, Zhong Yao and others are incompetent. Wouldn't the national politics become increasingly corrupt?"

Li Ru's eyes flashed with brilliance, and he said, "Prince, what if the Prime Minister keeps taking leave, or doesn't take care of things?"

Wang Yun was stunned, and then began to think.

Yang Biao has been avoiding the court. Even when the position of prime minister was reinstated, he dared to pretend to be unconscious in front of Liu Bian. Even if he becomes prime minister in the future, he probably will not really monopolize power.

The other one is Dong Zhuo. This man has no foundation in the court and is hated by everyone in the court and the public, including the emperor in the palace. He will not last long!

Wang Yun slowly revealed a smile and said, "Wenyou is comparable to Zifang!"

Li Ru bowed slightly humbly, his eyes flashing with pride, and said: "I am sure that Yang will not last long!"