The Conquest of the Three Kingdoms

Yuan Mai deliberately mentioned Han Qiong's age, which made Nie Zefeng think of Huang Zhong's age. Huang Zhong is exactly 56 this year, but his gray hair and beard make everyone think he is 60 years old.

Nie Zefeng originally wanted to give the general a chance to make contributions, but due to the complexity of history, the original history has changed.

He has always doubted Huang Zhong's strength and luck.

However, after being instructed by Yuan Mai, he sent an order to the accompanying guards on the chariot: "General Huang Zhong will be exempted from all crimes. After taking Jizhou, Huang Zhong is allowed to recruit [-] elite troops on the spot to fight alone."

After Nie Zefeng couldn't finish issuing his orders, he praised Yuan Mai: "You have learned a lot from driving me these days, but I don't want to talk about these things today, just from what you saw, to me you What do you think?"

Yuan Mai hurriedly turned his head to look at Nie Zefeng, and said humbly: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace of not killing..."

Nie Zefeng waved his hand and told Yuan Mai, who was still feeling guilty, "Don't talk about this...Yuan Shao always thought I was a demon king who killed people without blinking an eye?"

Yuan Mai suddenly uttered words that Nie Zefeng did not expect, "You are the sun in the hearts of the Han people, and the giant in the hearts of the slaves. The slaves grew up on the Jizhou Plain, and never imagined that there is such a powerful country... such a glorious palace, such A great giant. The most puzzling thing is your heart and extraordinary courage..."

After listening, Nie Zefeng ordered: "Go back to the mansion, now is not the time to be sad, turn around and return to Chu Palace immediately.

After Yuan Mai finished listening, he went straight back to Chu Palace.

Nie Zefeng, who returned to the mansion, went straight to his battle hall.

From this day on, Nie Zefeng devoted himself to the battle ahead, staying inside for a whole day.

In the battle hall of the Chu Palace.

Nie Zefeng stood in front of the large map, listening to the messenger's constant report of the battle ahead.

At this time, the guards came in, followed by a few servants carrying food plates.

The guard approached Nie Zefeng and reminded, "Your Majesty has not eaten for two meals, is it..."

Nie Zefeng turned around, and hurriedly said impatiently: "Take it out, take it out for me..."

Seeing the resolute attitude of King Nie Zefeng of Chu, the guards were helpless. The guards turned around and waved, and the servants hurriedly retreated.Nie Zefeng pointed at Ma Liang and ordered, "Continue talking..."

Ma Liang's Army News continued to report on the battle ahead, and continued: "...the decisive battle between Lu Bu's army and Yuan Shao's main force in Jizhou, Hebei is in progress. In another report, Huang Zhong's troops and Han Qiong's troops in the front are engaged in fierce battles in Yehe, Fujian, and the casualties on both sides are roughly equal. However, Huang Zhong's [-] troops and horses were almost wiped out, and Huang Zhong's troops have withdrawn from the battle."

Quietly, Nie Zefeng remained silent for a long time.

Nie Zefeng said calmly: "Before leaving, I gave a secret message to General Lu Bu that Huang Zhong is old and his star luck is not good. It is really unfortunate."

Ma Liang comforted him: "Now it seems that these old generals in the Chu army really can't keep up."

Nie Zefeng waved his hand, picked up a glass of water and drank it, and then replied: "What I care about now is not Huang Zhong, but General Lu Bu..."

After two days and nights of debate, Nie Zefeng was really suppressed by these depressing breaths, so he proposed to go out and have a look.

And at this time, Taishi ordered Wang Lang to report that the sky will be different tonight. Although Nie Zefeng doesn't believe in this so-called sky phenomenon, as an ancient king, Nie Zefeng knows that this way of heaven can call these people, so today he and Wang Lang boarded the observation deck.

Wang Lang and Nie Zefeng looked up at the night sky on the mountain altar, and the tables in front of them were decorated with pottery pots and cups, tea sets and fruits.A star map painted on brocade.

Nie Zefeng sighed and said: "The bright moon is like frost, the wind is like water, and the scenery is infinite. Looking up at the vastness of the universe, I lament the shortness of life! It's a pity that human life has a limit, but knowledge has no limit. Tai Shiling, please tell me about the astrology." !"

Wang Lang pointed to the sky and told Nie Zefeng, "Your Majesty, please watch the palace in the sky."

Nie Zefeng followed Wang Lang's hand, pointed in the direction, and asked, "Where is Zhonggong?"

Wang Lang pointed forward again, and explained: "This group of spoon-shaped star officials is the middle palace, and its main star is a 'spoon-shaped star.'"

Nie Zefeng asked again: "Do these seven stars have names?"

Wang Lang: "Yes. These four square stars are Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, and Tianquan, which form Doukui. They are also called 'Xuanji'. And the three stars here are Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Yaoguang. Also collectively called Yuheng. These seven stars rotate around the North Pole star every year along the northern sky. The bucket handle points to the east, and the world is spring; the bucket handle points to the south, and the world is summer; the bucket handle points to the west, and the world is autumn. Pointing to the south, the world is winter. The star pointed by the rotating machine is the Polaris. Confucius said: A politician must have righteousness, as if the Polaris is in a constant position, allowing the entire starry sky to revolve around. It is "Xuanji Unbalanced, based on the principles of Qi Qizheng'."

Nie Zefeng asked in puzzlement, "Why isn't Zhonggong in Tianzhong, but in Tianbei?"

Wang Lang thought about it for a while, and then replied uncertainly: "I think that because the sky's cover is tilted to the north, while the earth's landmass is tilted to the southeast. Therefore, the stars of the sky revolve around the Polaris, and the rivers on the earth are all tilted towards the north. Eastward flow. Both the sky and the earth have a polar axis. Therefore, Lao Tzu said: "When the sky is one, it is clear, and the earth is peaceful when it is one." Since the king ascended the throne, in the past few decades, although there are Sirius in the northwest, there are several comets Combat, but the palace is clear, Ziwei shines. The heaven and the earth are prosperous, and all phenomena are renewed, creating the most grand prosperity since the Xia, Shang, Zhou and Qin Dynasties. The foolish official is a historian, and he has the ambition to rewrite the "Historical Records" to record this prosperity. Strong history!"

Brilliant starry sky, the stars are shining.

Nie Zefeng took a sip of tea and said, "Historians want to rule the way of heaven and describe human affairs. Observe astronomy to observe changes in time, and understand the changes of the past and the present in response to the occasion of heaven and man. Wang Lang, you come from a family of heavenly officials. So I will revise the calendar. I have entrusted you with overall responsibility for major events. I am determined to abolish the old calendar since Emperor Qin, Han and Wu, and re-establish a new calendar that can understand the way of heaven and earth, the emotions of yin and yang, and unify the three of heaven, earth and man. How are you preparing?"

Wang Lang hurriedly bowed and replied: "Since I was ordered, I have worked together with Yang He, and I have been ignorant for a long time, and I dare not slack off when I test Zan (zan save). On the occasion of the New Year, it should be played."

Nie Zefeng asked again: "After I stepped into Xuchang, do you know why the first official I summoned was you?"

Hearing this, Wang Lang was even more surprised, and replied in amazement: "I am a fool, I dare not speak nonsense."

"Because I want to communicate directly with the will of the heavens and take orders directly from the heavens. However, I don't know much about celestial phenomena. It depends on you. But I want to name those seven stars the Big Dipper. What do you think?"

Wang Lang praised: "Good name, good name, why didn't Weichen think of this name before?"

However, Nie Zefeng also told Wang Lang to seek truth from facts and not blindly flatter him.

Wang Lang then reported again: "I have been watching the sky recently, and I have to tell the king some good news. Please come with me, my lord."

Nie Zefeng looked up and saw the shining stars in the sky.

Wang Lang surveys the sky and refers to gold, wood, water, fire, four stars and the moon.

Wang Lang said: "Four stars in conjunction with pearls, light assists the sun and the moon, and God blesses China. This is a Furui celestial phenomenon that only appears once in 970 years! But after 30 years, that is, in 230 AD, we will see five stars in conjunction. scene"

Nie Zefeng laughed and said: "This event is worth commemorating. I want the painter to record this Fu Rui on the wall of the main hall, 'Four stars come out of the east to benefit China!' And then weave ten thousand pieces of satin, and I will use it to reward the return from the expedition. heroes!"

The night was spent under a starry sky.

The next morning.

Nie Zefeng closed his eyes and sat in front of the desk, surrounded by incense sticks.

The hourglass for timekeeping was running silently, Nie Zefeng thought back to Wang Lang, what he said yesterday.

Thinking, thinking, Nie Zefeng suddenly heard the summons from outside approaching.

Nie Zefeng immediately stood in front of the map. He originally thought it was the morning bell, but after standing up, Nie Zefeng felt that something was wrong. He stopped and looked out nervously, and asked loudly, "What's the sound?"

This is a sound that has never been seen before. It is the shouting of countless people gathered together, so that it is impossible to hear what they are shouting!The voice came from far to near, and suddenly stopped not far from the front of the hall... The sound of a person's footsteps came.

The door of the hall opened with a whimper, and the guard Gao Qing rushed in and knelt down: "My lord, good news ahead..."

Nie Zefeng didn't move.

Ma Liang next to him took it, and after reading it quickly, he reported excitedly, excitedly, and loudly: "My lord, Lu Bu's army smashed Yuan Shao's main force in Jizhou, captured 20 prisoners, and Yuan Shao's army retreated. Entering Yecheng, we seized a large amount of grain and military supplies, and left all of them to the guarding general Huang Zhong except for supplementary military food! And General Lu Bu is now starting to fight for the entire Jizhou area.”

Nie Zefeng asked directly, "Have you caught Yuan Shao himself?"

Ma Liang continued to read: "Yuan Shao Shanyu disappeared during the battle, and now Yuan Shang has also claimed to be the Great General of the Han Dynasty in Baoding Mansion!"

Nie Zefeng said suspiciously: "Missing? Yuan Shao is a Jizhou Mu and a general of the Han Dynasty. How can a 'disappearance' be settled? If you want to see someone alive, you need to see a corpse when you die. Tell General Lu Bu that missing is not something that can be explained! Ma Liang instructed a clerk present to order: "Immediately draw up an imperial edict and send it to General Lu Bu immediately."

Nie Zefeng walked to the map and eagerly found Yecheng.

Just when Nie Zefeng had just marked the city with a pen.

There was another sound of good news outside.

Another guard, Gao Qing rushed in with an urgent message, and knelt down: "Your Majesty, general Chen arrives with good news..."

Ma Liang took it, and after dismantling the reading, he smiled. This kind of laughter was obviously excited. Ma Liang read aloud: "Chen went to the army for more than two thousand miles from the Yellow River, and went to Youzhou to meet General Zhao Yun who was going north secretly. Arrived at Yuan Xi's main force and defeated them, captured Youzhou Mu, Youzhou Army Sima, and General, and 83 accompanying generals, school lieutenants, and local officials, and beheaded 440 prisoners of Yuan Jun. The main force of the army has been completely lost. Now Chen Dao's army is still chasing death and chasing north, approaching the capital of Youzhou, and is about to conquer Youzhou..."

A rare smile appeared on the corner of Nie Zefeng's mouth.

At this moment, Nie Zefeng's heart fell to the ground.