Chapter 96: Regaining military power

After Zhang Hezhong, Mumendao was killed in a battle, the Shu army completely retreated to Hanzhong, and Zhou Yang ended the battle by lifting the siege of Qishan.

Sima Yi believed that when Zhuge Liang went out to Qishan again next time, he would attack Chen Cang, and he would rebel.

Even if you go out later, you will never force the siege, but choose to fight in the field as much as possible. The greatest possibility should be in Longdong, not in the west.

Because every time Zhuge Liang made an expedition in the north, he hated him for the lack of food.

This time, the troops will be withdrawn and the grain will be accumulated, and there will be no movement within three years.

Therefore, the focus of the defense measures of the Shu army was on Chencang, and the Xiyu area set up multiple strongholds and reconnaissance teams to grasp the movements of the Shu army at any time.

Finally, Zhou Yang and others led the army and returned to Luoyang under the banner of returning triumphantly.

I saw Cao Rui, Chen Qun, Wang Chang and other civil and military officials coming to greet each other.

Before this, Sima Yi had said in advance that if Cao Rui learned that Cao Zhen and Zhang Hequan were removed when Zhou Yang returned to Luoyang, he showed a hatred attitude, then it means that Cao Rui's strength was already short of money and there was nothing to worry about.

On the contrary, it proves that the young emperor still intends to continue to fight openly and secretly with Zhou Yang.

Now, Cao Rui not only has no hatred, but even respects Zhou Yang more than before.

I was only very polite about Zhang He's death, so I ordered him to be buried with a grand ceremony and posthumously named Zhuanghou, but I ignored the military power led by Zhang He and Cao Zhen.

Zhou Yang knew that Cao Rui had clearly realized that the actual ruling power of Yong and Liang states could no longer be recaptured through the previous means.

"In other words, the emperor will inevitably use other means to deal with his brother." Sima Yi said at the time, "so in the future, the brother should be more careful about his own safety. As for various powers such as Handing Money House, Yong and Liang states, it is almost a foregone conclusion unless the brother dies."

"Prime Minister Zhou was exhausted all the way." Cao Rui pulled him back from his thoughts and smiled faintly, "But the contribution of being able to lift the siege of Qishan this time is absolutely not tolerated, so I decided to give Prime Minister Zhou the title of King of Qin and add the ceremony of nine tins."

"I thank you, the emperor." Zhou Yang did not refuse much.

Of course, whether Cao Rui named him King of Qin, Yong and Liang provinces were his territory.

However, he also knew that this extraordinary gift of gifts also meant that from then on, he and Cao Rui would start another way of open and secret struggle.

Cao Rui has not given up yet, but he just dared not blatantly cut off Zhou Yang's power like before, and the centralized policy will stop there.

After returning to the Prime Minister's Mansion, Zhou Yang first thought of someone, and asked: "I heard that this time the Huanglong army went north to assassinate the Xianbei leader, Ke Bi Neng and Bu Dugen had both died in the Huangquan. Why was only Wang Chang appearing but Chen Tai not seen?"

The leader of the intelligence regiment, Ye Xuan, reported: "After the Xianbei Rebellion was pacified, only Qin Lang's army came back from the northern border, and there was no movement of the Huanglong Army."

Zhou Yang said: "Then we have to be more careful. By the way, is there any news about King Yan Cao Yuqi and other vassal kings?"

Ye Xuan paused and said, "Since Prime Minister Zhou led his troops to fight Shu, the emperor has been staying in Luoyang's large-scale palace and constantly using the money warehouse. The Marquis of Weixiang was caught as an excuse for political persecution because he persuaded him to enter and exit. Apart from this, there was no news of the emperor's contact with other vassal kings. Until Prime Minister Zhou's victory reached Luoyang, even Cao Yu returned to Yan land and lived a peaceful life without political affairs again."

Zhou Yang naturally would not believe it, because Huang Longjun and Cao Yu were Cao Rui's last bargaining chips and his only chance to turn the tables.

However, when I returned to Luoyang and saw that Zhou Kang had no problems, I felt relieved of a big rock in my heart.

However, Zhou Kang was extremely angry at Wei Ji's death. He was always smart and calm and constantly asked to follow his father Zhou Yang and do some military career from now on.

Zhou Yang did not argue with this. Facing his son who seemed to be only a few years younger than him, in addition to thinking about the sinister political arena, he also thought about the results of Zuo Ci's research.

There is also the promise that he had promised to Dongfang Shuo before. Now his regime has stabilized and can also achieve the agreement to support him as the head of the Danding Sect.

Sima Yi also agreed: "Dongfang Shuo is also a person who has worked with us. If he supports him as the head of the Danding Sect, he will not only be able to control the entire host priest, but also be equivalent to mastering the power of the Shouyang Mountain Imperial Mausoleum."

Zhou Yang said: "Most of the royal families of Wei Dynasty were buried in Shouyang Mountain. If they had mastered the power of the Shouyang Mountain Royal Tomb, that is, in the future, there would be every detail of the royal family's burial in the harem. The question is, what is the meaning of our mastery of this power?"

Sima Yi smiled slightly and said, "On the surface, it doesn't seem to have any substantial significance. At most, we just let our participants in the funeral held by the alchemists. However, we can know the causes of death of every royal family, such as the emperor, queen, concubine, etc. For example, if it weren't for Dongfang Shuo, we wouldn't know that she died so miserably."

Zhou Yang said: "No matter what, we have to take a trip to Shouyang Mountain. If Dongfang Shuo becomes the head of the Danding Sect, it will undoubtedly increase our political bargaining chips and strength. Secondly, I also want to inquire about Mr. Zuo Ci."

Sima Yi nodded and said, "It's time to go to Shouyang Mountain. Now we not only have the military power of Yong and Liang prefectures, but we should also take the opportunity to take the initiative to pull other ministers of the court to expand our strength in Luoyang and our brother's status in this country."

Zhou Yang agreed: "The first step is naturally to start from the most influential host, and to use support to support Dongfang Shuo to become the head of the Danding Sect, so as to educate the people."

Sima Yi said: "But we have just returned to Luoyang now, and many things still need to be handled by my brother in person. For example, the newly-organized army needs to be rectified, and the Handing Money House also needs to place more people. Now, Cao Zhen and Zhang He, the two most powerful figures of the emperor, have been eliminated. We will be more relaxed in everything we do, which is equivalent to having half of the power of the Wei Kingdom. After my brother's regime is more stable, we can start to use some more domineering behaviors such as helping the emperor draft edicts to establish our prestige in the court."

Zhou Yang sighed, not knowing whether he was right or wrong in doing so.

However, since things have come to this point, it is impossible to save them again.

In the past six months after leaving Luoyang, the Handing Money House has changed a lot. If Wang Su had not compiled books such as "Confucius's Family Words" to promote morality, which would have made Zhou Yang and himself more famous in Luoyang, he would have probably been eliminated by Cao Rui.

If the Handing Money House is lost, even if Zhou Yang possesses the military power of Yong and Liang states, at most, he can only be regarded as the main force of the Wei Dynasty's defense of Shu army in the western border, and it is impossible to control the economic lifeline of the entire country as he is now.

Therefore, Wang Su is extremely important to Zhou Yang. Before going to Shouyang Mountain, Zhou Yang left Su Chen at the Handing Money House, mainly responsible for protecting Wang Su's safety.

Cao Lin took Tianxiang Falcon and a group of light cavalry to patrol around the city, but this time, Zhou Yang assigned Zhang He's old subordinates to her, allowing her and Wang Chang to shoulder the important task of public security in Luoyang.

Cao Rui naturally did not dare to say anything about this, but Wang Chang argued with Zhou Yang very angrily.

It is believed that Luoyang is the capital of Wei State today. The important task of patrolling the city is not only to maintain public order and prevent the enemy's country from doing it in detail, but more importantly, to protect the emperor's safety so as not to infiltrate the enemy's assassins into the city.

Besides, Cao Lin is just a mere female person, how could she bear this great task?

Cao Rui kept silent, just sat aside and waited for the result.

Zhou Yang knew that he could not be too blatant now, and thought that Wang Chang was also a straightforward person. If he had the chance, he would definitely recruit such talents as he had used them.

So he didn't have too fierce conflicts with him, so he turned around and bowed to his advice and asked: "The emperor only ruled on everything. If the emperor thinks it is inappropriate, then I will only give up this idea. However, I also hope to make Luoyang's safety more foolproof, so I have some suggestions."

Cao Rui is so smart that he would not understand that the other party was throwing the burden back.

If you show weakness to him, you will immediately make Wang Chang and other military generals who are truly loyal to the court disheartened.

Besides, Zhou Yang and him have already officially shown up. The reason why the two are still vain is just for others to see, so they do not intend to compromise with him. They immediately expressed their agreement with General Yang Lie Wang Chang.

Zhou Yang had expected such a result, and he didn't think there was any surprise. It seemed that it would take some time to put Cao Lin into Luoyang's public security.

Wang Chang didn't expect Zhou Yang to give up so easily, and he felt a little surprised.

When Zhou Yang asked Chen Tai's whereabouts, he did not find any news from Cao Rui and Wang Chang.

It seems that Cao Rui must have arranged this powerful chess piece in an important place. He must ask Ye Xuan to send someone to investigate this person carefully.

"If nothing happens, I will take my leave first." Zhou Yang bowed.

"Wait a minute." Cao Rui paused for a while before saying, "Before the Marquis of Weixiang died, he recommended the son to take over his position. I wonder what Prime Minister Zhou thought?"

"Xiaokang?" Zhou Yang was stunned. He didn't know why he suddenly mentioned Zhou Kang, but he still didn't want his son to embark on this political path, so he pushed and said, "The son is stupid and embarrassed. He hopes that the emperor will choose another person. For example, Xiahou Wei, who was previously responsible for the prefect of Chang'an, has been idle at home since he was transferred back to Luoyang by the emperor.

"When this person was working in Guanzhong, he had many concubines." Cao Rui said dissatisfiedly, "If he were asked to amend the law, I could hardly imagine what the country would look like. Prime Minister Zhou has always had a brilliant vision, so you should help me find talents."

"I understand." Zhou Yang praised in his heart, and at the same time he became more sure of what Sima Yi said. Cao Rui indeed gave up fighting with him in the court and chose to secretly conspire to plot against him...
Chapter completed!