Liu Qing stayed in Xingyang for several days. During this period, he sent many troops to various counties to inspect people's livelihood. As expected, the situation in most counties was similar to what Liu Qing saw along the way.

What was most difficult for Liu Qing to accept was that Dong Zhuo's army stationed at Hulao Pass began to rob people on a large scale.

This shows that Dong Zhuo's army is in urgent need of food and grass, and the food and grass to the west of Hulao Pass is controlled by Sun Jian. The food and grass to the east of Jingzhao River cannot be transported to Hulao. The nearby Luoyang is now also lost, and the food and grass brought out by Niu Fu,

I lost everything in the war, and when I returned to Hulao Pass, I had thousands more mouths for almost no reason.

When Niu Fu fled back to Hulao Pass, there were only 5,000 troops left.

In less than two months, fifty thousand became five thousand. Niu Fu was still better than Yuan Shao in defeating the battle.

Yin Zhong, the magistrate of Xingyang County, came to give Liu Qing his orders.

"Your Majesty, the porridge shop on the main road in the north of the city has been completed, and the shanties in the east of the city are also being completed one after another. Xingyang is ready to accept refugees, but..." Yin Zhong seemed to have something to say.

"It's just that there is no food left in the county government's warehouse, right?"

"Your Majesty, Ming Jian, it is not that the lower officials have taken bribes. All the food and grass in the treasury have been confiscated by the general."

Apparently Dong Zhuo had also anticipated the grain problem earlier, and when he went to Hulao, he emptied all the grain depots in the towns and counties along the way.

"I know this matter. I am responsible for the food. But my food... you know."

"Yes, yes, lower officials must be strict with themselves and warn their subordinates." Yin Zhong said quickly.

Guo Jia walked to Liu Qing's side and seemed worried, "My lord, Dong Zhuo's army has begun to plunder the people. It can be seen that the food and grass are about to run out. If the food is really exhausted, the consequences will be disastrous."

Liu Qing thought for a while and said, "Maybe not. Gathering food and grass from various counties should be able to last for a while. The Xiliang army has always had the habit of looting. This is just a normal thing for them."

After all, Dong Zhuo was in charge of Luoyang, and the city of Luoyang was inevitably plundered by the Xiliang army from time to time.

This is what Liu Qing criticized Dong Zhuo the most. The army was free-range and brave, but it was too barbaric.

"My lord's words are reasonable. Therefore, if my lord wants to take over Luoyang, the Xiliang army will definitely not be able to stay." Guo Jia said bluntly.

"But Dong Zhuo has no different intentions for me." Liu Qing agreed with Guo Jia's opinion, but it was a bit hasty to decide the life or death of a hundred thousand Xiliang troops with just one word.

"The Xiliang army is disobedient and looting, which is contrary to the lord's basic policy of treating the people well. It's fine before the lord comes to Sili. If he comes to Sili, he doesn't follow the same policy of treating the people well. Wouldn't it be true to the truth?

, a small loss leads to a big loss.”

Seeing Liu Qing's silence, Guo Jia added: "My lord, just take advantage of this good opportunity. I predict that Dong Jun will be short of food and grass. If Dong Zhuo asks my lord to borrow food and grass, my lord must not agree."

Faced with Guo Jia's advice, Liu Qing had no worries because I had no food to borrow.

Maybe you can save some money by cooking some porridge to help the refugees. Dong Zhuo has an army of 100,000, plus the army and horses. The amount of food and grass he needs to consume every day is an astronomical figure. Even if Liu Qing wants to borrow it, he really can't get it.

come out.

After all, last winter, almost all the grain reserves were donated to the millions of Qingzhou Yellow Turbans. I have been living a tight life. I have to wait until this autumn for them to be self-sufficient.

"I worry too much about being a filial piety. I have no food to borrow. The food and grass for the Liang Kingdom war are thanks to Mi's help!"

"My lord said so, it's a blessing!" Guo Jia smiled and retreated.

…

Hulao Pass, Dong Jun Dazhai.

After hearing the reports from the generals, Dong Zhuo couldn't help but look down.

"It's been a few days, and we haven't collected enough food and grass yet. If there is not enough food and grass, how can we regain Luoyang!"

Several generals didn't speak, just lowered their heads.

Li Ru took two steps forward and said to Dong Zhuo: "My lord, after the winter, ordinary people have no more food in their homes, so the soldiers naturally cannot collect enough. Why don't we change the target, for example, the powerful and noble people in various places all have good family backgrounds? Why don't we start from

That’s when they started.”

Dong Zhuo frowned, "But they all support us, and we have already taken a lot from them."

"What my lord said is different. Since they support my lord, they should do their best and give everything they have. One day, my lord returns to Luoyang and they can pay it back!" Li Ru changed the subject, "If this battle is lost because of insufficient food and grass,

If Luoyang is not protected, how can we support it?"

"Yes, we can return it to them when the time comes!" Dong Zhuo seemed to have opened the door to a new world and immediately ordered: "Did you all hear it? Prepare all the food and grass quickly, and then fight to the death with Sun Jianjian!"

"Here!" the generals responded and led their troops away.

Three days later, people began to return to the camp one after another, all dragging cartloads of grain and grass back with full loads.

Not long after, Liu Qing also received the news. He didn't expect that Dong Zhuo would take this step and attack the powerful nobles. This was cutting off his own foundation. After all, Dong Zhuo did not follow the people's line like Liu Qing.

However, Dong Zhuo's connivance caused all the powerful noble families in Henan east of Hulao Pass to walk on thin ice, fearing that a catastrophe would come.

Sili became panicked again, especially those with some wealth, who became the focus of the Xiliang Army. Some Xiliang Army who didn't know the reason even started to make plans for Xingyang. It can only be said that they were really crazy. If Dong Zhuo was

I know that he has subordinates who want to rip off King Bohai, and I am afraid he will skin them alive.

Soon, Liu Qing received the news that Dong Zhuo was sending troops. It was probably to exploit the powerful nobles and make them fat, and he planned to send troops to recapture Luoyang immediately.

Another big news is that Yuan Shu personally led his troops to Luoyang.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao was suppressed and hunkered down in Runan, while his younger brother Yuan Shu moved to Luoyang. It must be said that this was a very bold move.

It's also a very stupid move.

The little Jiujiu in Yuan Shu's heart may have stopped pretending when Yuan Shao established himself as King Chen.

His "domestic slaves" can establish an emperor, why can't he?

Liu Qing went to the porridge shop in person today to deliver porridge. From time to time, he greeted the homeless people passing by and told them generously that if they had any difficulties, they should come to King Bohai!

Then, looking at the confused eyes of the refugees, he told them: I am the king!

It can be said that it was a big hit, and the name of King Bohai soon spread among the refugees, so some people brought out Liu Qing's various old legends and began to spread them by word of mouth.

"The King of Bohai defeated the Zhang Jiao brothers by himself and killed 300,000 Yellow Turbans in one battle!"

"The King of Bohai swept away the Xiongnu and Xianbei. The children of the Huns and Xianbei did not dare to cry at night when they heard King Bohai's name!"

"When the King of Bohai came to Qingzhou, millions of Yellow Turbans bowed their heads and asked to surrender. The King of Bohai immediately provided military rations to help them!"

Wait and so on...

"Wherever there is war, King Bohai will be there. Wherever there is hunger, King Bohai will always be there with food!"

Liu Qing himself felt a little ashamed when he heard this.

Guo Jia sighed: "Some people's reputations are getting worse, and some people's reputations are gradually becoming household names."

What Guo Jia was talking about was, of course, Dong Zhuo and Liu Qing.

…

Above the Luoyang court, the morning pilgrimage, which had been suspended for several days, suddenly started. Wang Yun, who had been ill for many days, unexpectedly came, and his face was radiant and red.

Obviously, the "disease" has been cured.

Another person standing side by side with Wang Yun was Yuan Shu, who was dressed in military uniform.

Some of the officials in the court are Dong Zhuo's party members, and some have been won over by Wang Yun, but the most numerous are the fence-sitters. They always understand the form best and understand the form least. Who has the final say in Luoyang?

, they will depend on whom.

Wang Yun was originally Dong Zhuo's most favored minister, and now he is introducing Yuan Shu to everyone. His purpose is self-evident.

Wang Yun is about to change his stance.

Seeing Wang Yun's boastful talk, Yang Biao remained silent, and Cao Song was also silent and allowed him to do whatever he wanted.

All officials, big and small, also kept silent.

Cai Yong and Xun Shuang looked at each other, shook their heads, and sighed.

In his view, Dong Zhuo was cruel by nature and might have been disgraceful, but as an official, he did not violate the rules. He was by no means comparable to Yuan Shao, who acted rebelliously and fought against the Luoyang branch. He was just a traitor who wasted his time on Gu Zongmiao.

That's all.

When Wang Yun heard this, his eyes paused on Cai Yong, and then said: "Dong Zhuo has not changed his nature. He burned, killed and looted in Henan. Now he has mobilized a large army to attack Luoyang. General Sun, is there any whereabouts of your majesty?"

All the officials looked at Sun Jian one after another.

"Niu Fu's soldiers left Luoyang in two groups. When they finally intercepted his men at Niu Fu, a fierce battle broke out between the two sides, but they did not see the emperor. Perhaps Niu Fu's thieves used other means to quietly send His Majesty away." Sun Jian

road.

Zhu Jun also said: "On the right path, we defeated several Niu auxiliary armies, but none of them saw His Majesty's carriage. Could it be that Your Majesty is still hiding in Luoyang?"

"Absolutely impossible!" Wang Yun denied, "My people saw Niu Fu picking up His Majesty from the palace with his own eyes."

"Then why did His Majesty disappear suddenly?" Yuan Shu asked, "A country cannot live without a king for a day. What does Wang Situ think it should do?"

When Wang Yun was asked this question, he felt a little worried. What did Yuan Shu mean by asking this? Did he also intend to support the new emperor?

"Let's send more people first to look for it!" Wang Yun said.

Yuan Shu glanced at Wang Yun expressionlessly and asked: "Dong Zhuo's army is approaching the city. Does Wang Situ have any strategy to retreat from the enemy?"

Wang Yun immediately felt a palpitation in his heart. You Yuan Gongli, for your first time in court, gave me a warning.

When Yuan Shu asked this, he just wanted to say: Who can stop Dong Zhuo? Who can stop Dong Zhuo has the final say.

"For the plan to retreat, we should rely on General Yuan." After saying this, Wang Yun stepped forward and said loudly: "Ministers, for the present plan, I boldly recommend Yuan Shu and Yuan Gongluo to General Hussar, and Sun Jian and Sun Wentai to be General of the Left.
To be continued...