I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 575 The joys of life
On the same day, when Liu Bian was leaving with satisfaction after inspecting the Hongdumen School, Zhuge Liang, who had made an appointment with someone yesterday, appeared on time next to a restaurant in the south market of Luoyang.

Those around him were naturally Xu Shu, Pang Tong, Zhou Yu and others.

Zhuge Liang had been in Luoyang for a long time, and he was preparing to lift the curfew, so he knew Luoyang very well. He introduced to the people behind him: "When it comes to food, this family's dishes are unique. The cooking method is different from cooking or roasting, but mainly stir-frying, supplemented with seasonings, and the color, aroma and taste are all good. The dishes fried here are more flavorful than those elsewhere."

After listening to Zhuge Liang's introduction, the people present were all interested.

Then, led by Zhuge Liang, they entered the restaurant. What they saw were not the common mats, but low stools.

Zhuge Liang introduced: "In recent years, these low beds have gradually spread in Luoyang. Although sitting on them is inconsistent with ancient etiquette, they are very comfortable for the legs and much more convenient to use than heel supports."

After Zhuge Liang arrived, he was quickly led into a separate compartment.

The people present were all young people who were willing to accept new things. Even Zhou Yu and Lu Yi, who didn't know about the existence of low beds, quickly tried to sit on them. Lu Yi even said, "If this can be popularized, I won't want to use the heel support anymore!"

Also sitting on the low bed mentioned by Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu thought more: "Luoyang today is really changing with each passing day. Many of these things are things I have never seen in Yangzhou."

Zhuge Liang said: "In fact, these items have been appearing for several years, but for various reasons they have not been fully popularized. For example, the honeycomb coal in the stove in front of you is cheap and easy to use, but most people who use it live in the city. People in the countryside still prefer to collect firewood in the mountains and forests."

"However, whether or not to accept new items is one thing. Although honeycomb coal is cheap, it is still a bit of a luxury for those who are inadequately clothed and fed. This is another matter. This is also what we will do in the future."

As soon as Zhuge Liang said this, he immediately attracted everyone's approval.

Xu Shu even said directly: "Kong Ming is right!"

Lu Yi said without any modesty: "We are all gathered here today. Everyone in this room is qualified to be the king's assistant! In the future, we will have the ambition to protect the country and the people!"

Hearing Lu Yi's self-praising words, even Zhou Yu almost couldn't maintain the smile on his face.

In the past, young scholars would seek out comments from famous people and rely on the praise of others for fame. Now that Lu Yi is bragging about himself, it would be a laughing stock if it got out.

But what Zhou Yu did not expect was that after hearing Lu Yi's words, Zhuge Liang, who seemed very steady to him, actually laughed. He could see clearly that this laugh was not a mockery.

"When I was Bo Yan's age, I often compared myself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. Now that I think about it, I still don't think I was wrong!"

After listening to Zhuge Liang's words, Lu Yi felt as if he had found a confidant in life. He immediately bowed to Zhuge Liang and said, "Brother Kongming, I regret that we have never met before! In my opinion, Brother Kongming has the talent of Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, and he is worthy of the name!"

Zhuge Liang also said: "Bo Yan will definitely become a pillar of the country in the future!"

As the two began to flatter each other, the atmosphere in the room became lively again.

Deep down, who would deny that he or she has the talent to assist the king?

The younger Lu Ji was even more confused. He didn't know what everyone was laughing at. He just saw a bunch of grapes in front of his dining table, which shouldn't be there in this season. He tasted it and found it cold and delicious, so he carefully put it in his arms.

However, the careful Zhou Yu noticed this scene, and he quietly asked Lu Ji: "Why don't you eat the grapes and put them in your arms?"

Lu Ji replied: "I think it tastes sweeter than oranges. My mother likes oranges, so I think she will like grapes too."

After hearing this, Zhou Yu took half of the grapes from his plate and put them on Lu Ji's plate.

Such an action could not be hidden from others, so when asked, Lu Ji answered truthfully.

Zhuge Liang said: "In winter, some people collect ice and store it in cellars. As long as the cellar is deep enough, the ice can last for a long time... There is also a method of making ice with saltpeter, which is used as an ice cellar. These grapes were picked in the summer when they were ripe, and were placed in the ice cellar before they were ripe. They have been preserved until now, which is indeed rare."

"A gentleman's filial piety is truly commendable!"

Pang Tong said: "I have heard of this. Cold drinks in summer are a great pleasure."

Xu Shu added: "If we can make everyone drinkable like honeycomb coal, that would be the joy of life!"

"..."

The youthful spirit, the desire to make plans and to express one's opinions freely, are exactly what they would do at this age.

After the fragrant dishes were served one after another, Zhou Yu took a sip and commented, "I have never tasted this flavor before. Could it be spices from the Western Regions?"

Zhuge Liang replied: "Gongjin is right. Many of the spices and seasonings here come from the Western Regions. It is said that many of them are produced in the west of the Western Regions. It is not easy to transport them here for collection."

"I heard that some merchants have tried to buy the seeds of these spices and want to plant them in our Han territory, just like cucumbers and white radish, but I don't know what the result will be. Those Hu merchants are not stupid. Just like our Han Dynasty prohibits merchants from selling silkworm seeds and textiles to the Western Regions, Hu merchants in the West are also unwilling to sell these seeds. But whether Han or Hu, there are always people who want to take advantage of the situation. I heard that last year someone was tempted by the profit and tried to sell silkworm seeds to Hu merchants, but fortunately he was discovered in time."

Zhou Yu was moved and said, "I have always boasted of my ability. Today, I met Kong Ming and learned many things from him that I have never seen before. Now I know that there are always people better than you."

Zhuge Liang heard this and immediately said, "I have heard of Gongjin's name in Luoyang a long time ago. I just took advantage of the fact that I have been in Luoyang for a long time. If Gongjin had stayed in Luoyang for a long time, his understanding of this foreign land would definitely not be less than mine."

Pang Tong said: "After hearing Kong Ming talk about many things in the Western Regions, I became curious about the Western Regions. If there is a chance in the future, it would not be a bad idea to go to the Western Regions."

After Pang Tong finished speaking, the others also expressed their longing to a greater or lesser extent.

But they are just talking after all, they don’t really want to go on a spontaneous trip.

But on the other hand, someone was really moved.

"No, I don't agree with you going to the Western Regions! Why go to the Western Regions when you can't be a good minister?" Cao Song blew his beard angrily. "Do you know that even if he is the Chief of the Western Regions, he has to obey the orders of the Governor of Dunhuang and the Governor of Liangzhou. Compared with the Nine Ministers, his position is so low!"

Cao Cao heard this and said confidently, "That's because I'm not the one who makes the decisions in the Western Regions! When I get to the Western Regions, it's still unclear whose orders the governor of Dunhuang and the governor of Liangzhou will obey."

Cao Cao had been disobedient since he was young, and Cao Song was used to this. In the past, he had often let him do what he wanted.

But now, Cao Song felt that he could not let it go: "That won't do! I know that you had the ambition to be a general in the Western Expedition when you were young, and now you have achieved it, although in fact it is the Eastern Expedition instead of the Western Expedition."

"Moreover, when you wanted to become the General of the Western Expedition in the past, wasn't it Liangzhou that you wanted to pacify? Now that Liangzhou has been pacified, how far away is the Western Regions? Do you want to go to pacify the Kingdom of Xixi after the Western Regions are pacified? There is indeed chaos there." "Isn't that perfect?" Cao Cao said with great interest.

Seeing that such words could not convince Cao Cao, Cao Cao also anticipated the hardships of the Western Regions.

Cao Song paused and then started to get angry: "My father will die in two years. Even if you go to the Western Regions, you must come back in two years to mourn for my father! I will reply to you at that time. If you are not around to take care of my filial piety, I will die. Then don't come to see me in the future."

Cao Cao felt helpless after hearing this.

Cao Song saw that Cao Cao looked a little disappointed, so he urged him again, "It's not that I want you to stay, but it's hard to get a position as a minister. There are only twelve people who can be three dukes and nine ministers. There are so many people who want to be a minister but can't. Now you have such a good opportunity, but you don't know how to cherish it. When you lose it, you will regret it!"

"After becoming the Minister of the Imperial Guards, you can expect to be one of the Three Dukes in the future. In this way, my Cao family will have three dukes in the second generation. What a great honor this is. Even if you can command the governor of Dunhuang and the governor of Liangzhou after you go to the Western Regions, and even if you can add the small countries in the Western Regions, what will happen in the end?"

At this point, Cao Song seemed to be tired of talking, and finally emphasized: "I have said enough, you should think about it carefully! Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about Zixiu and the others - having a father who is one of the Nine Ministers and Three Dukes can provide them with more help, and it is still in that remote corner of the Western Regions, with high mountains and long roads. Even if something happens, you can't reach it. You have been running around for many years, and it is only in the past two years that you have settled down in Bingzhou. But Bingzhou is bitter and cold. Your wife and children have accompanied you all the way, now you are going to the Western Regions, will you take them with you?"

As he listened, Cao Cao finally fell silent.

Yes, he is no longer the young man riding a horse and waving the whip. He is now a husband and a father. In two years, when Cao Ang gets married and has children, he will become a grandfather.

Finally, Cao Cao bowed to Cao Song and said, "I will remember what you said, father."

It was only then that he suddenly noticed that his father, who had always been busy, already had gray hair at the temples.

Staying and becoming the Weiwei is indeed the best choice.

That night, Cao Cao instinctively came to Ding's room.

As a married couple for many years, Mrs. Ding could tell that Cao Cao was worried. She asked immediately, "Are you worried about your future?"

"No matter where you go, I will follow you."

As a wife, Ding knew about the choice the emperor gave to Cao Cao earlier than Cao Song, but Cao Cao had never made up his mind.

Cao Cao held his wife's hand. The soil and water in the frontier were not good for people. After only a few years in Bingzhou, Ding's skin was much rougher than before. Cao Cao knew that as a woman, she loved beauty. But Ding never complained about these.

As for the local conditions and customs in the Western Regions, I’m afraid they are not as good as those in Xihe County.

Thinking of this, Cao Cao finally made up his mind and said to Ding: "I have made up my mind. I have been running around for the past ten years without stopping. Now that the emperor has shown great favor and granted me the title of Nine Ministers, I will stay in Luoyang and share your worries."

Ding was a little confused. From her understanding of Cao Cao, although staying in Luoyang was the best option, it was probably the last option in Cao Cao's mind. Why did he change his mind?
Considering that Cao Song didn't even have dinner with her today, Ding vaguely guessed the truth.

She didn't say much, but emphasized: "No matter what decision you make, don't regret it... But Luoyang has many powerful people, it's not like the border areas. Your husband is here, so you must be more cautious and careful with your words and actions!"

"Don't worry, ma'am!" Cao Cao replied.

……

Mi Fang looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar Luoyang City, feeling mixed emotions.

When he first encountered the Xianbei people and the Cheshi Kingdom jointly attacking the Western Regions Chief Secretary's Mansion, he was worried every day, fearing that one day someone from the Western Regions would carry his head to present to the Xianbei people.

"What's wrong? Are you homesick?" Mi Fang felt a heavy hand on her shoulder and knew who it was without hesitation.

While he was saying, "General Yide, doesn't he have any feelings at all?" he was twisting his body, trying to break free from Zhang Fei's control.

Who would have thought that Zhang Fei would listen to his words, stretch out his arm, pull him back, and say: "I don't know many people in the city, if I have to count, you have to be one of them."

Listening to the deafening sound in her ears, Mi Fang would rather not count it.

But the habit formed over the years still made Mi Fang invite him instinctively: "If General Yide is free, you can go home with me. I can also introduce my brother to General Yide."

Zhang Fei thought that he had nothing to do after returning to the capital, and Liu Bei and Guan Yu were not in Luoyang. He was about to agree when he suddenly found a familiar figure appearing in front of him.

"Second brother?" Zhang Fei lowered his voice, which was rare.

Ever since he was sent to the front line in Liang Province for whipping soldiers, he had never met Liu Bei and Guan Yu again, except for the time when he returned to Luoyang with the army to present prisoners.

Now, Zhang Fei even felt that what he saw before him was just an illusion caused by his longing.

But Mi Fang knew that this was not an illusion. He had seen Guan Yu before. Before Zhang Fei could react, he shouted, "Lord Yunchang, I haven't seen you for many years. How are you?"

Only then did Zhang Fei realize that he was seeing a real person.

Immediately, he ignored Mi Fang and took two steps at a time, rushing towards Guan Yu, whom he had not seen for many years.

"Second brother!"

"Third brother!"

Xu Huang, who had originally returned to Beijing with Zhang Fei, wanted to reminisce with his fellow countryman Guan Yu, but upon seeing this, he just bowed to Guan Yu from a distance and left with Mi Fang and others.

"Yide has changed a lot in the past few years!"

"Same goes for the second brother."

After that, the two smiled at each other, and after a few words, the strangeness between them after not seeing each other for several years disappeared.

That day, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei drank until they were drunk, and shared many things that could not be written down in their correspondence. Although Liu Bei was missing, the two still slept together that night. The next day, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei went to pay homage to the emperor.

(End of this chapter)