Volume 3: The Land of Jingchu Chapter 280: There are such loyal people in the world
During the Han Dynasty, there were so many wild tigers that it could even be considered a serious "tiger disaster". It was common to see more than a dozen tigers sailing on the shore when sailing along the river.
Therefore, the fact that the convoy that originally delivered the imperial seal encountered a tiger on the Huainan official road was forcibly said to be a warning from God. Most people with some knowledge would not believe it in their hearts. As for whether they believe it with their mouths, it depends on their "butts".
But the subsequent "thunder god destroyed the bridge" and the "god of heaven cleared the path" after arriving in Yuzhou really made people feel uneasy.
We watched with our own eyes as the ice and snow melted where the convoy passed. It was truly a wonderful sight, and it was not like the "thunder god destroying the bridge" which only lasted for a moment, but it was something that could be seen clearly.
In the end, Hua Xin even ordered that "those who look back should be beaten with thirty sticks" to calm people's hearts...
Except for the ceremonial guards and escorts, there were also many common people following. People's hearts had already been thrown into confusion by this scene of "God clearing the way"!
At this point, it doesn’t matter whether that small group of “cultured people” believe it or not. No matter how eloquent they are, they are limited by “common sense” and cannot explain the principles to the people.
In the Eastern Han Dynasty when the theory of correspondence between heaven and man was popular, the meaning behind this scene was no longer intriguing, but rather it blatantly indicated that Bai Tu had "received the destiny".
Because they had already entered Yuzhou, the attitude of the people originally from the Central Plains towards Bai Tu could not be said to be resistance - after all, there was the saying "killing one man is like killing my father" and his reputation for benevolence over the years.
But under Cao Cao's long-term propaganda, Baitu would definitely not be as sacred in the hearts of the people in Yuzhou as it was in Yangzhou...
However, at this moment, countless people in Runan area began to doubt - was God really urging Bai Tu not to send the jade seal back?
Of course, Bai Tu didn’t actually do anything, he just sprinkled some special “snow removal agent”.
Due to cost reasons, later generations of snow removal agents mostly use industrial chlorine salts, which are corrosive to roads and tires, and cause great damage to the soil.
Bai Tu is such a moral person. Since it is such a grand occasion as presenting the imperial seal, he will naturally spare no expense... directly sprinkle potassium fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer!
They are all "salts" that can be used directly as fertilizers.
I believe that in the spring of next year, the weeds on this road will be even more lush, and it will be another "beautiful story"...
Of course, this was purely for the purpose of offering a gift. Bai Tu is such a pure person. He did not tell others just for the purpose of "not taking credit". If someone must make other associations, Bai Tu will not be responsible for it.
Similarly... Bai Tu originally just wanted to set off some firecrackers for fun, but who knew the bridge was so fragile!
Fortunately, Bai Tu discovered and blew up this fragile bridge in advance, otherwise what would happen if the people fell into the water in the future?
As a great general, Marquis of Chu, the reincarnation of Shennong, a saint of education... Bai Tu did good deeds without leaving his name.
In fact, this is indeed the case. If it weren't for the far-fetched "tigers blocking the road" at the beginning, and the subsequent "thunder god destroying the bridge", people might not immediately associate it with the direction of "blocking the road".
Who made some people spread rumors among the people at the beginning, saying that Bai Tu deliberately released the tiger to make people laugh, which left a clue in the minds of the people?
Without the previous preparation, if the snow had simply melted, couldn't it be said that it was God's reward to Bai Tu for returning the jade seal?
However, due to a series of coincidences, the journey to return the imperial seal became "thought-provoking".
The people of the Central Plains finally understood what a loyal minister was - was he a loyal minister if he rebuked the rebels? No, far from it!
When God was advising him not to be a loyal minister, Bai Gong pushed God's hand away with all his might, and insisted on being a loyal minister even if it meant he was seeking death!
Because they had specially invited common people to watch, the strange visions along the way had already spread throughout the world, and countless people were willing to testify to it.
Not to mention ordinary people, even Liu Xie himself, when he heard the news in the imperial palace in Xudu, after complaining about himself for a while, was moved to tears by Bai Tu and Hua Xin.
Originally, when Cao Cao asked for the Nine Gifts for Bai Tu, Liu Xie was angry but dared not speak out.
Cao Cao would not specifically let Bai Tu take the blame, so he made it clear that if he wanted Bai Tu not to rebel now, he had to meet his unreasonable demands...
This greatly disappointed Liu Xie, who mistakenly believed that Bai Tu's previous reputation as a virtuous man was all a false image, and that he was actually as ambitious as Cao Cao!
But now, Liu Xie knows he was wrong...
What Baitu coerced the Prime Minister's Office to promote the granting of the Nine Gifts? It must have been Cao Cao's own idea!
How shameless was Cao Aman who wanted to frame a loyal and virtuous minister like Bai Tu?
"Your Majesty is moved again?" Liu Ai, who had a amiable face in the inner hall, said to Liu Xie, whose eyes were a little swollen.
"I'm sorry to bother you, uncle. We will go to welcome the Huaqing family tomorrow. I'll leave the ceremonial arrangements to you, uncle." Liu Xie said tiredly.
Liu Ai is considered to be one of Liu Xie's trusted ministers. He is also from a clan and is the "Zongzheng" of the current Liu family.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will make all the arrangements tomorrow." Liu Ai said maturely.
Although he is only in his thirties, but... Liu Xie is already childish, and Liu Ai feels that he needs to mature.
Liu Ai also understood why Liu Xie was listless. No matter how miserable Liu Xie was before, he could still fool himself and tell himself: No matter how hard life is, I am the true dragon emperor and the Han Dynasty is destined by heaven...
But now... God slapped him in the face and told him sincerely: You are fostered, and your whole family is fostered!
Liu Xie felt bitter...
In the past year, the relationship between Liu Xie and Cao Cao has taken a sharp turn for the worse, cooling rapidly from the initial honeymoon period.
After all, Liu Xie was supported by Dong Zhuo since he ascended the throne. At that time, although the Han Dynasty was already in decline, it still had its prestige. In the beginning, Dong Zhuo still used the traditional drama of powerful ministers... deposing and enthroning!
To depose and enthrone the previous emperor - that is, to depose the previous emperor and enthrone a new one from among the candidates.
As long as it is played well, it is not considered rebellion. After all, the new emperor is also a member of the Liu family. At the same time, it also ties the legitimacy of the emperor to himself, making it impossible for the new emperor to touch him easily. This can be said to be the inherent routine of the old-school powerful officials.
From Dong Zhuo to the two thieves Li and Guo, Liu Xie was always being held hostage and coerced. He should be considered one of the last emperors who made the least mistakes...
After being "welcomed" by Cao Cao at first, Liu Xie also had expectations for Cao Cao and believed that he was a minister of the Han Dynasty.
However, when Liu Xie began to want to have his own power, he began to feel suppression from Cao Cao's group in all aspects!
Since Yang Biao was imprisoned, the relationship between the two sides has begun to cool.
Especially last year, Liu Xie did something that made Liu Ai smile bitterly...
After Cao Cao first welcomed the emperor back to Xu Du, he cared most about "etiquette". After all, only when he and his men took the lead in respecting the emperor, other princes would follow suit and the emperor would be valuable. Otherwise, the dignity of the Han Dynasty would be seriously lacking.
Therefore, Cao Cao took the lead in reviving the ancient etiquette. When he met Liu Xie, he imitated the ancient generals and was escorted by the emperor with swords placed on his neck to show his unreservedness.
Of course, Liu Xie didn't dare to really kill Cao Cao, otherwise his personal guards wouldn't be enough for the Xudu defenders to kill...
However, Liu Xie had more and more conflicts with Cao Cao. Once, when they met in private and Cao Cao refused to reorganize the Imperial Guards, Liu Xie said directly to Cao Cao: "If you can assist me , I will assist you. If you don't want to assist me, let me go!"
Liu Xie's angry look at that time really made Cao Cao a little scared - after all, the knife was still on his neck.
At the same time, it also made Cao Cao understand one thing... This guy is just a little kid. Sometimes when he gets emotional, he might forget to analyze the pros and cons.
From then on, Cao Cao no longer met the emperor alone, and as if he had made up his mind, he gradually deprived Liu Xie of his last "power".
The palace guards began to be replaced, and people like Yang Feng and Dong Cheng, who were close to Liu Xie and had military power, also began to be forced away or suppressed.
The atmosphere in the court became increasingly cold!
Liu Xie was so angry that he cried all night long...
Unfortunately, Liu Bang cried for Emperor Yi of Chu in front of the people and won the hearts of the people, while Liu Xie hid in his bed and cried with the concubines in the harem, but the cry was only known to a few external relatives who were more likely to cause trouble than to help.
Liu Xie's closest wives were Empress Fu and Concubine Dong. Empress Fu's father was Fu Wan, who was not good enough to accomplish anything, and Concubine Dong's father was Dong Cheng, who was always bad at doing things...
The former was a coward to the end, always accepting everything that happened, so cowardly that Cao Cao couldn't bear to suppress him. The latter...even fantasized that he could rely on his status as the king's uncle to gain more power. He even slandered Liu Bei and Bai Tu in front of Liu Xie.
Liu Ai felt a headache when he thought of this man, but Liu Xie actually trusted Dong Cheng more before!
But this time... Liu Xie said to Liu Ai frankly: "It seems that Uncle Dong was wrong before, or it is you, the emperor, who has a keen eye for loyalty. Lord Bai... is indeed a loyal and righteous man rarely seen in the world!"
Liu Ai's face froze when he heard this, and he wanted to correct Liu Xie. Before, he only said that Liu Bei was a loyal minister. As for Bai Tu... what he meant was "regardless of his loyalty or not, he must now be treated as loyal, only then will there be hope for the Han Dynasty."
But thinking that Liu Xie had finally put himself in the right position, it was really not the time to correct him, so he had to take the opportunity to say one more sentence: "Your Majesty, don't worry. Not only do we have Bai Gong, but we also have loyal ministers like Liu Xuzhou. The Han Dynasty can be revived."
After all, looking at Liu Xie's experience, he became a puppet emperor under the coercion of Dong Zhuo at the age of eight. A few days after Dong Zhuo died, he was held hostage by Li Jue and Guo Si... It was not easy for him to grow up healthily.
Therefore, Liu Xie was not good at trusting other people, and he would not understand what loyalty to the "overall situation" meant. In his heart, he was only impressed by Dong Cheng's undisguised loyalty.
Instead of correcting the difference between "loyalty" and "loyalty", it is better to tell Liu Xie first that Bai Tu is a loyal minister, and so is Liu Bei. Don't listen to Dong Cheng's nonsense!
