I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 371 I will never return until I kill the Huns!
With Liu Che's expectation and ambition to cultivate the second Huo Qubing.

Wearing Wei Qing's black iron armor with a tiger face and gold and silver decorations, which actually had no trace of rust.

Carrying Wei Zifu's earnest advice and admonitions.

With Yishuo's unspoken worries and prayers.

With everyone's attention, whether good or bad, with sympathy, pity, or gloating.

Liu Ju finally led 800 Jianzhang cavalry out of Chang'an City, out of the place that he regarded as a cage.

At this time, the sky was gloomy and drizzling.

Liu Ju only felt that his breathing was much smoother. Suddenly, he felt the urge to urinate and recited a Tang Dynasty poem:
"The clouds over Qinghai darken the snowy mountains,

Gucheng looks at Yumen Pass in the distance.

Huangsha wears golden armor in battles,
I will not return until I have killed the Xiongnu."

"Hun?"

Sima Qian, who was appointed as the military supervisor, was puzzled and asked,
"Your Highness, although these lines of poetry are not suitable for fu, they are both sad and heroic. They are easy to recite and are indeed rare and good. My blood is boiling. However... it seems that we are going to attack Loulan and Gushi this time. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to replace the Xiongnu with Loulan or Gushi?"

"Don't worry about these details. I just think the word Xiongnu is more pronounceable."

Liu Ju smiled and said,
"When writing poetry, one always has to use some exaggerated rhetoric. Sometimes, it is reasonable to slightly change some words for the sake of rhyme and rhythm."

"Your Highness is right, but I still think that Loulan and Gushi are not difficult to pronounce, and they have a more realistic beauty, which will be more accurate when recorded in history books in the future."

Sima Qian had the stubbornness typical of historians of that era, and he continued to make his own comments.

Liu Ju just glanced sideways and said:
"I have the final say over the poems I recite. I don't care what you think, I only care what I think."

"It's natural, natural."

Sima Qian did not continue to argue with Liu Ju, but silently kept the poem in his heart.

He secretly decided that if everything went well, when he recorded this expedition in history books, he would replace the word "Xiongnu" with "Loulan" or "Gushi".

He has the final say over his history books.

He didn't want Liu Ju's opinion, he wanted his own opinion.

While talking.

A man in his thirties took the initiative to come before Liu Ju, bowed and kowtowed:
"I, Su Wu, have come to express my gratitude. If it were not for your recommendation, I would not have had the opportunity to bring honor to our family."

Before this, Su Wu was just a palace attendant in charge of the chariots and cavalry in the stables. He had never imagined that he would be suddenly summoned by the emperor, and be appointed as the General of the Central Army and entrusted with the important task of marrying the princess. This was simply a step to heaven for him.

He thought about this matter privately for a long time, and in the end he could only attribute it to Liu Ju.

Because in recent days, only Liu Ju had asked his name and even told Liu Che in person that he would recommend him to serve the country in a more useful place.

"No need to be polite. You are valued by my father because you are truly talented and knowledgeable. It has nothing to do with me."

Liu Ju knew that he had done nothing, so he naturally did not accept the thanks. He just smiled and returned the greeting, saying,

"Besides, I have always been opposed to this marriage. If you succeed, I will feel a little uncomfortable. But if you fail, my father will probably punish you again."

"So from the perspective of personal interests, our interests are contradictory. If there is anything that makes you embarrassed during this trip, please bear with me, General Su."

"Eh?"

These words left Su Wu confused and he didn't know how to respond.

Sima Qian also looked at Liu Ju in confusion, wondering what Liu Ju meant by this. Liu Ju also knew that Su Wu and Sima Qian were both upright people, so he said the ugly words in advance, at least to let Su Wu be mentally prepared.

But the conversation was limited to this point. He did not explain further and immediately skipped the topic and asked:
"By the way, how is Liu Xijun doing in this marriage?"

"In reply to your Highness, before leaving, His Majesty abolished Liu Xijun's slavery and specially named her a princess, named Princess Jiangdu, and sent servants to accompany her and serve her."

Speaking of Liu Xijun, Su Wu couldn't help but look embarrassed again, and said helplessly,

"However, Liu Xijun seems reluctant to marry Wusun. Although she is not crying all day, she is often depressed. She has not wanted to eat or drink these days and has not spoken a word to me."

Liu Xijun's father, Liu Jian, was the King of Jiangdu during his lifetime.

Not only was this man extremely licentious, he also committed adultery with his stepmother and sister, and took pleasure in killing people. He forced palace maids to have sex with animals, and finally even privately forged imperial seals and general seals, and forged weapons with the intention of rebelling.

If such a person rebelled during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, he would be seeking his own death.

After he was forced to commit suicide, all his wives were executed. Only Liu Xijun survived because she was young. However, because she was the daughter of a guilty minister, she was turned into a slave.

Now that Liu Che has re-conferred the title of princess on her and sent her to marry the Emperor, it can be considered as giving her a chance to start a new life.

Therefore, it was not up to her to decide whether she was willing or not regarding this marriage.
"Then please trouble General Su to take me to meet this niece."

Liu Ju smiled without comment.

……

After a while.

Liu Xijun's carriage stopped at the side. The sixteen-year-old Liu Xijun got off the carriage and came to Liu Ju. She lowered her eyes and saluted respectfully, but her voice was a little hoarse:
"Niece Liu Xijun greets His Highness."

Her grandfather was Liu Che's brother, and her father was Liu Ju's cousin, so she was naturally Liu Ju's niece.

Speaking of which, this niece is not bad looking. Even compared with Han Ling and Yi Shuo, she is definitely pretty. However, there is always a hint of sadness between her brows.

"You don't want to marry Wusun?"

Liu Ju asked directly.

Naturally, he would not have any improper thoughts about Liu Xijun.

Although the marriage between cousins ​​was not taboo in this era, as Liu Che and Chen Ajiao were a close relative, and even the fact that they could not have children might be related to this, Liu Ju, who was well aware of the disadvantages of this matter, would never cross the line.

"…My niece doesn't dare."

How could Liu Xijun have expected Liu Ju to be so direct? She was stunned for a moment before she was forced to answer.

"Take a step to speak."

Liu Ju called Liu Xijun aside, away from Su Wu, and then said,
"Uncle knows you don't want to, but you just don't dare."

"I……"

These words immediately frightened Liu Xijun again. Her pretty face changed color and she quickly tried to explain herself.

Liu Ju made a gesture to silence her and continued:
"Uncle understands you. You don't have to worry. As far as I know, Wusun King Lie Jiaomi is over 70 years old and no longer has the ability to have sex. He may not live for many more years. He can't do anything to you."

"But... did you know that the Wusun people have always had a custom that a younger brother inherits his elder brother's wife, a son inherits his father's wife, and a grandson inherits his grandfather's wife?"

"I'm afraid it will be even harder for you to accept such an immoral thing, right?"

(End of this chapter)