Chapter 84 He Really Rebelled
Liu Chang followed Gai Gong's instructions and spent his days reading history books, practicing swordsmanship, and occasionally going out to play with his friends when he had free time. His days were quite fulfilling. The people from Shang Fang now followed him with a charming smile, no longer daring to refuse Liu Chang as they did before, and they often came to ask him some strange questions.
"Your Highness, when refining gunpowder, if you add too much stone yellow, will it blow people away? What's going on?"
"Are you improving gunpowder in private?"
"No, no, we're just curious."
"The recipe is very particular, don't mess around with it!"
"Don't worry, sir. We are just curious... By the way, can charcoal be replaced with something else?"
"Burning honey with fire seems to achieve the same effect?"
"How many times have you done this experiment??!"
"No, no, I just heard about it by chance..."
Gunpowder had been kept as a top secret by Liu Bang and others. When outsiders asked about it, they knew nothing about it. Even when Liu Chang asked, the people from Shangfang refused to tell them. The only people who could learn the truth from them were the emperor and the empress.
Before he knew it, Chang'an became cold again. Liu Bang was in a very bad mood. He went to worship his parents for three consecutive days and cried loudly.
Chang'an seemed to have calmed down again, and the wars in various places were settled.
But Liu Chang in the palace knew that this was not the case at all. His father and mother started quarreling again. Outside the Xuanshi Hall, his father's angry roars could often be heard, while his mother always remained silent. However, more and more people came to the Jiaofang Hall, and every time they talked, Empress Lu would ask Liu Chang to leave, which made Liu Chang very unhappy.
You don't trust me? Am I a big mouth?
According to gossip from Tianlu Pavilion, the quarrel between his parents was because of his uncle's affairs. However, what surprised Liu Chang was that it seemed that his father intended to let Lu Shizhi serve as the Grand Marshal, but his mother was determined not to allow it, and the two sides began quarreling.
They didn't think there was anything wrong. After all, their father and mother had been quarreling for a long time and they were used to it.
However, Liu Ying felt very confused these days. He could always be heard mumbling, "She is obviously gone... Why, why?"
Inside the Xuanshi Hall, Zhao Yao looked at Liu Bang seriously.
"The King of Yan wants to rebel!"
Liu Bang smiled and shook his head, "How could he rebel?"
"Your Majesty, this is a serious matter and should be treated with caution... Previously, the King of Yan said that Zhang Sheng colluded with the Xiongnu, and later sent a letter saying that it was a misunderstanding. The captives can prove that Zhang Sheng also colluded with the Chen thieves. If the King of Yan really killed Zhang Sheng, why didn't he send his head? If it was a misunderstanding, why didn't he bury him with honor?"
"Your Majesty previously suspected that the King of Yan was being threatened , but the envoy has already met with the King of Yan. There is nothing wrong with the King of Yan. He just used illness as an excuse and did not want to see more... There does not seem to be any unrest in Yan... The King of Yan must have been bewitched by Zhang Sheng and wanted to rebel!"
Zhao Yao explained it seriously, but Liu Bang didn't agree.
"There must be some misunderstanding... He was born on the same day as me, and now I am sick. Maybe he is really sick too, and is preparing to go with me!"
Liu Bang made an inappropriate joke and Zhao Yao didn't respond at all.
He looked at Liu Bang seriously, "Your Majesty, please be careful!"
Liu Bang said helplessly: "Since you are so sure that the Prince of Yan is plotting a rebellion, then you should go to Yan State in person, visit Lu Wan, and tell him that it is your elder brother who wants you to go back!"
Zhao Yao sighed, stood up and left.
After Zhao Yao left, Fan Kuai came in. He had been waiting outside the hall for a long time. His face was red, and he rubbed his hands and complained, "It's so cold..."
Fan Kuai brought a gust of cold wind, and Liu Bang started coughing again. Fan Kuai looked at him worriedly, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
Liu Bang waved his hand and asked him to sit aside.
"I called you here this time... because I have something very important to ask you."
"Your Majesty, what is it?"
"The court official has captured several escaped slaves from Lü Shizhi's family... According to the escaped slaves, Lü Shizhi has hidden many powerful crossbows in various places..."
Fan Kuai was stunned, then grinned, "Your Majesty, what's this? I have quite a few hidden at home! Generals all love these things, so how can I not collect them?"
"Besides, Lü Shizhi is your Majesty's close relative, so your Majesty doesn't have to worry. I have something to say in my heart, so please don't blame me. We are all old. If one day we are gone, the ones who can assist the prince and stabilize the world are the kings of Chu, Jing, Qi, etc., and the queen and Shizhi. Your Majesty wants him to be the Grand Commandant, and I think he is very suitable! I don't know why the queen objects!"
Listening to Fan Kuai's words, Liu Bang laughed and nodded, "Yes, you are right."
"Don't tell anyone about this..."
"only!"
Liu Bang never summoned Fan Kuai again after that, but his mood did not seem as low as before. Madam Cao and Madam Shi often came to the palace to accompany Liu Bang.
After Zhao Yao left Chang'an, he rushed to the State of Yan. He felt that this matter was very important. Before leaving, he sent someone to write a letter to Zhou Bo, saying, "If I can't come out, please attack the State of Yan as soon as possible!"
When Zhao Yao arrived in Yan State, it was already snowing heavily.
When Lu Wan heard that Zhao Yao was coming, he became even more frightened and closed the door to visitors. Zhao Yao didn't even get to see him a few times. However, Zhao Yao was not as easy to fool and send away as the previous envoys. In Yan State, he began to investigate the ministers of Yan State and the retainers and staff of the King of Yan.
Lu Wan hurriedly called Zhang Sheng over secretly and said, "When the envoy came before, I claimed to be ill and refused to leave. Now the Imperial Censor has come in person. What should I do?"
"Your Majesty, I heard that His Majesty is seriously ill. The person in charge of the court now is Her Majesty the Queen. His Majesty may be able to spare your life, but the Queen will definitely not show mercy... It is better to prepare for the uprising."
"Raise...raise an army?"
Lu Wan, who lacked courage and talent, uttered these two words with a trembling face, his face pale and his eyes full of despair.
Soon, Liu Bang received a letter from the Imperial Censor Zhao Yao.
In his letter, Zhao Yao vowed that Yan Wang Lu Wan was plotting a rebellion! He did not kill Zhang Sheng, and was contacting the Xiongnu and Chen thieves, intending to start an army!
"impossible!!"
Liu Bang dropped the letter and roared angrily.
"Shen Yiji! Go to Yan State! Call Lu Wan over to Nai Gong!!"
Liu Bang sent another minister to the State of Yan, Shen Yiji. He was also a fellow townsman of Liu Bang, from Pei County. Their relationship might not be as close as those with Lu Wan and Fan Kuai, but Liu Bang still trusted him very much. Similarly, Empress Lu also trusted him very much. He had followed Liu Bang for many years, and although he did not have much contribution, he was calm and reliable in his work and was quite loved.
In history, after Liu Bang's death, Empress Lü appointed him as prime minister. Later, she wanted to kill all the generals. It was Shen Yiji who interceded for them and threatened Empress Lü, saying that if she did so, the world would be ruled by a different ruler. This dissuaded Empress Lü from this idea. Later, the ministers killed Lü, and he was able to save his life.
During the reign of Emperor Wen, just when Shen Yiji thought that all these things were over, one day, a violent and arrogant prince who did not want to reveal his name found him and smashed him to death with a stick, claiming that he was avenging his biological mother!
Emperor Wen was furious. Your biological mother committed suicide, and I just couldn't save her. Can you blame me for this? Although he was angry, he still pardoned the bastard brother in the end.
At this moment, Shen Yiji was still the minister trusted by Liu Bang.
Under Liu Bang's order, Shen Yiji also set out for the State of Yan.
Shen Yiji was different from Zhao Yao. He came to see Lu Wan under the pretext of passing through Yan State. After staying in Yan State for a few days, Shen Yiji turned around and returned to Chang'an.
After this trip, it was already the first month of the next year.
Shen Yiji not only returned himself, he also brought back two captives.
One of them was a general of Chen Xi, and the other was a defeated general of the Xiongnu.
You know, the Huns intervened in this rebellion war, and they even wanted to save Chen Xi, but Zhou Bo did not give them this opportunity.
Shen Yiji first reported the result in person, but the King of Yan colluded with the Xiongnu and Chen Xi! Several generals under his command were hoarding food and grass! There were signs of rebellion !
The Hun captives he brought back personally admitted that it was Zhang Sheng who came to contact them.
At that moment, Liu Bang slumped in his seat, his eyes dull and his expression dazed.
"He really rebelled..."
