I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 479 Uncle, Please Hang Me Naked Again

After these words were spoken, Liu Ju had roughly guessed the main content of the edict.

However, he still took the imperial edict and verified his guess personally.

The edict was quite long. The first half of it was Liu Che criticizing him, scolding him for getting involved and taking risks personally. If something went wrong, it would not be his own problem, but would directly affect the reputation of the Han Dynasty and Liu Che.

Towards the middle of the edict, he was relatively restrained and slightly praised his performance.

This can be considered as giving a jelly bean after a slap in the face.

Then Liu Che changed the subject and began to teach him how to do things.

What Liu Che meant was that after Liu Ju had crippled and subdued the Huns this time, he could stop. The ultimate goal was to force the Huns to formally submit to the Han Dynasty, and then treat them like other vassal states, by stationing officials, setting up embassies, issuing seals, and so on, all in a one-stop manner to strengthen control over the Huns.

At the same time, he warned Liu Ju not to kill the surrendered people without authorization as he had done before in Loulan, especially not to kill the Xiongnu Chanyu, otherwise it might affect the long-term stability of the Han Dynasty against the Xiongnu.

In short, Liu Che had his own plans for the Huns.

Liu Ju was not allowed to act recklessly and ruin his plans.

He even made a veiled promise at the end of the edict that if Liu Ju obeyed his orders this time, he would most likely be reinstated as the crown prince when he returned to the capital to report...

This is just empty talk, right?

After reading the edict, Liu Ju looked up at Zhao Qian, who was a little embarrassed, and grinned:

"My father said it was too late, and it was difficult for you. There is really no need to issue an edict again."

When the Xiongnu Chanyu sent envoys to express his willingness to submit to the Han Dynasty, Liu Ju not only did not agree, but also cheated the Xiongnu out of 100,000 sheep. He then continued to send troops to besiege the city, forcing the Xiongnu to surrender but failed. Now the Xiongnu have abandoned Longcheng and fled westward with their entire clan.

Even so, Liu Ju still sent more than 20,000 elite cavalry to chase and kill them...

This did not give the Huns any chance to surrender at all.

Moreover, in the process of pursuit, the Huns would only have a deeper grudge against the Han Dynasty. Even if they were finally hunted to the point of having no way to escape and had to beg for surrender again, it would be difficult for them to maintain long-term stability in the future.

"I wonder what your highness is planning now?"

Zhao Qian bowed and asked.

Since he came to convey the imperial edict, he would naturally have to go back and report. If the final result was like this, even if he was not responsible, he could not guarantee that he would not be blamed.

What's more, Liu Ju had given him "local specialties" as a gift, which could be considered a favor to him.

He also didn't want Liu Ju to be punished by the emperor for this.

However, he did not know that Liu Ju's so-called "it's too late" was just an excuse. Even if Liu Che's edict had arrived earlier, it would not have changed the outcome of this matter.

"Now the Xiongnu hate me to the core. If I send an envoy to persuade them to surrender, I am afraid that the Xiongnu will not only not believe me, but also put the envoy in danger..."

Liu Ju frowned and expressed his embarrassment.

"The only thing to blame for this is that this place is too far away from Chang'an, and communication is inconvenient. Now that this situation has occurred, I'm afraid I can only make the best of it. If I give up halfway, the result may be even worse than my father expected."

"Your Highness is right. I know how to report to Your Majesty when I return."

Zhao Qian had no choice but to respond.

After all, Liu Ju had already found a reasonable reason. Even if Liu Che was dissatisfied with this, he would not be able to start a war because of such force majeure.

Liu Ju nodded and then asked:

"By the way, is this the only imperial edict my father ordered you to deliver this time?"

"There is another one for the general."

Zhao Qian bowed and answered honestly.

"In that case, if it is not a secret decree, I will go with you to see the general and see what my father has ordered."

Liu Ju smiled.

So the two of them went to Wei Qing's residence together.

Now that they had entered the Xiongnu's Xinlong City, the Han army naturally moved into the royal court of Uwei Chanyu. The living environment was much better than the previous camp.

However, Wei Qing's physical condition was getting worse and worse.

When Liu Ju and Zhao Qian entered Wei Qing's residence one after another, Wei Qing was leaning on a Hu bed to rest.

His face became thinner and more sallow, and his mental state became worse. Not only could he not eat, but sometimes his abdomen would ache all night long, and he couldn't even get a good night's sleep.

Liu Ju has checked his condition. His abdomen is swollen now. He should have ascites...

Liu Ju was truly helpless in this situation and could only watch life slip away from Wei Qing's body.

"According to you, Envoy Zhao..."

Seeing Liu Ju and Zhao Qian arriving, Wei Qing was trying hard to cheer himself up and stand up to receive the order.

Just now, the personal soldiers had come in to inform Liu Ju and Zhao Qian of their purpose, and they knew exactly what they were here for.

"Uncle, you should just lie down. Envoy Zhao is not an outsider, and you are also excusable."

Liu Ju hurried forward to support Wei Qing.

Zhao Qian looked confused and terrified, and asked quickly:

"General, what's going on?"

The last time he saw Wei Qing was in Loulan.

Although Wei Qing had already shown symptoms of jaundice at that time, his complexion and spirit were much stronger than they are now, and he was definitely not as thin as he is now.

After asking, Zhao Qian felt that he shouldn't ask too many questions given his status, so he continued:

"General, you don't have to worry about those red tapes. Besides, the edict from His Majesty to you is not an order. I will just read it out."

"That's right, just tell me directly, what is my father's will?"

Liu Ju also said the same thing.

"To make it short, His Majesty requires the general to offer sacrifices to the heavens at Mount Langjuxu and to the earth at Mount Guyan. He also requires the general to go to the North Sea in person and pee in the North Sea."

Zhao Qian decisively refined the imperial edict and spoke it out.
"In addition, your majesty ordered Sima Qian to accompany the general throughout the journey and record all of his feats so that they can be recorded in history books in the future. There is no need to worry about the language being suspected of usurping power."

"That's all the information in the imperial edict. There's nothing else important."

"This……"

After hearing this, Liu Ju also had a new opinion of Liu Che.

Is this the tacit understanding between father and son?
Not long ago, he expressed his feelings to Wei Qing, saying that he would take him to Fenglangjuxu and drink water from the Beihai without his knowledge.

Now, in the edict sent by Liu Che, Wei Qing was asked to do the same thing, as if it had been discussed beforehand.

In particular, the wording of his edict lacked a lot of formality, and was more of the crude and colloquial language used between friends, which made it sound more genuine... It can be seen that Liu Che definitely did not treat Wei Qing as a house slave.

At this point, even Liu Ju had to admit that he did have some misunderstandings about Liu Che before.

He always felt that Liu Che was a pure political machine, and sometimes what he wanted was not capable ministers at all, but obedient servants. But this time, Liu Che's performance was undoubtedly more sincere than Liu Ju thought.

at the same time.

"..."

Wei Qing had fallen into silence. After a long silence, his bloodshot eyes had become moist. He tightly grasped Liu Ju's hand and said,
"Ju'er, did you see that... this is your father, the emperor, and this is your uncle's loyal Majesty."

"It's not that he doesn't have feelings in his heart, he just hides this side of him."

"As the Son of Heaven, there are things he must do. He must hide himself. When you succeed to the throne one day, you will naturally understand."

"So, you must never bear any grudge against your father at any time."

"The harmony between you and your son is a blessing for the Han Dynasty."

At this moment, Wei Qing was still persuading Liu Ju.

Although Liu Chu had said that he would never become an enemy of Liu Che, let alone engage in a rebellion by raising his own troops, this did not dispel Wei Qing's worries.

After all, even if Liu Ju insisted on not being an enemy of Liu Che, what about Liu Che?

When his imperial power is threatened, he will become the ruthless emperor.

What he was worried about was that as Liu Ju's actions in the Western Regions became increasingly beyond Liu Che's control, even if Liu Ju always acknowledged his identity as a prince and a Han minister, there was no guarantee that Liu Che would not force him step by step, forcing him into a desperate situation and forcing him to become an enemy of Liu Che in order to protect himself.

He knew Liu Che too well.

If he had not become what he is now, if his life span had not ended, Liu Che would always be the emperor who could not accept that his "achievements surpassed those of the emperor."

In other words, Liu Ju could not hear Wei Qing's inner voice.

Otherwise, he would definitely be impressed by Wei Qing's insight and judgment. He is simply a great prophet.

His inner voice had predicted the witchcraft disaster in history. Liu Ju was really forced by Liu Che to have no way out and had to raise an army to fight...

But even if Wei Qing didn't say it, Liu Ju already knew this truth, and he understood it even more clearly after becoming a full-level human.

So Liu Ju nodded:

"Don't worry, uncle. I can eliminate the hidden dangers of the Xiongnu in one fell swoop, and I can also handle the relationship with my father. I will never let the situation develop in the direction you are worried about."

"You have indeed...grown up."

Wei Qing took a breath and said in a hoarse voice.

"Uncle, since my father and I have such a tacit understanding, and Zhao Po Nu is now in charge of the pursuit of the Xiongnu, then there is no time to lose, shall we act immediately according to your orders?"

Liu Ju continued, and seeing that Wei Qing wanted to say something, he bent down and helped Wei Qing onto his back.

"Don't worry about anything, don't say anything. There is nothing more important than getting your uncle to obey your orders. I'll take care of everything."

After saying this, he turned around and glanced at Guo Zhen beside him:
"Guo Zhen, what are you still standing there for? Go call Sima Qian and tell him that he has a job. My father has specifically asked him to write history. Whether he is worthy of the status of a historian family depends on his performance this time."

But when I took a glance, I found that Guo Zhen, the good-for-nothing, was secretly wiping away tears.

After hearing Liu Ju's words, he replied in a muffled voice, "Yes", then quickly turned his face away and went to greet Sima Qian as if he was running away.

"..."

At this moment, no matter how stupid Zhao Qian was, he could still see some clues.

Although Liu Ju looked calm and was still talking and laughing, and although Wei Qing did not show much sadness, his nose just felt sour.

Damn, what is going on?

Why did Heaven only pick out the pillars of the Han Dynasty to take? Huo Qubing died at such a young age... and now Wei Qing is not even fifty years old. It is really hard to accept.

……

Even if others did not understand the process of offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, Sima Qian, the historian, had to understand it.

Even in history, Sima Qian's father Sima Tan was the chief official in charge of Emperor Liu Che's Fengshan Ceremony. Unfortunately, Sima Tan missed the ceremony due to illness and died in depression.

Sima Qian naturally had some accomplishments in this area.

Therefore, all matters concerning offering sacrifices to heaven at Langjuxu Mountain and offering sacrifices to earth at Guyan Mountain were handed over to Sima Qian for coordination.

Liu Ju no longer paid attention to the war these days. In fact, Zhao Po Nu was now leading 20,000 cavalrymen to hunt down the Huns, and there were many "hunting detachments" to support them. It was like kicking a drowning dog. The frightened Huns were exhausted and could not organize a powerful counterattack at all. They really did not need his excessive attention and micro-management.

His only task now was to see Wei Qing off to his final journey.

He silently fulfilled his promise, personally carried Wei Qing on his back to the top of Mount Langjuxu, and then to Mount Guyan, and supported Wei Qing in performing ceremonies to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth.

During this process, he recalled more than once the scene when Wei Qing pounced on him and choked him naked not long after he traveled through time.

After becoming a full-level human.

The murderous aura on Wei Qing's body, which seemed to be tangible, could hardly bring him a targeted deterrent.

Even when Wei Qing was in the strongest physical condition, it would be impossible to choke him easily, and it might even put Wei Qing himself in a passive position.

But Liu Ju wanted to say something to Wei Qing from the bottom of his heart:
"Uncle, please strangle me again."

So half a month later.

Liu Ju supported Wei Qing and stood by the Beihai Sea.

The wind here is stronger than that in Langjuxu Mountain, and it is also colder.

Wei Qing was wrapped in a sheepskin cloak, and underneath he insisted on wearing his black iron armor with a tiger mask decorated with gold and silver. Looking at the rough waves of the North Sea in the strong wind, it seemed that something that had been pent up in his chest was slowly dispersing.

"According to my..."

His voice became weaker, but a hint of sonority could still be heard in his hoarse voice.
"Let uncle pee himself."

"This……"

Liu Ju really wanted to agree to Wei Qing, but he didn't know whether he should let go of Wei Qing's hand. Now he really couldn't stand anymore.

Even though he was one of the greatest generals in the history of the Celestial Empire, he was ultimately succumbed to the disease.

"Bring me the general's gun!"

Wei Qing turned back with difficulty to look at his personal soldier who was almost in tears. His stern gaze made him hold back his tears and not dare to let them fall easily.

"promise……"

The personal soldier's voice couldn't help but contain a hint of tears, and he handed over Wei Qing's iron spear with a trembling body.

Wei Qing grabbed it and somehow burst out with strength that he shouldn't have at the moment. With a "thump" sound, he inserted the iron spear deep into the ground. Then he gently pushed Liu Ju's hand away and stood up straight, leaning on the iron spear that was stuck on the ground.

"Hehe...hehe..."

Wei Qing laughed happily, slowly took off his leg armor, and slowly untied his waist rope.

"I have been holding my urine for decades, so why shouldn't I pee myself? Come on, son, let's pee side by side, against the wind. You can't pee on your boots at your age."

(End of this chapter)