Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 187 But Wants to Live in Pengying (3)

The new year comes unexpectedly, except for a few battalions guarding the border, all the sergeants in service have a seven-day holiday to go home for reunion.People from the Guandong region of Dunhuang also visited each other to congratulate each other on the new year.Because Li Rui had no relatives in Dunhuang, Zhao Xingde invited him to his home for a banquet.Li Rui agreed immediately, and said that he would bring Chen Yuyi, a fellow from Luoyang and a bachelor of the Academy of Literature and Ci, to visit with him.

Zhao Xingde came back and told Li Ruoxue to discuss with her and invite the aunt who usually delivers vegetables to help with the cooking.Speaking of Chen Yuyi again, Li Ruoxue said with a smile: "It's the Chen Jianzhai who wrote 'Begonia not sparing rouge', independent in the drizzle'. I have heard his name for a long time when I was in Luoyang." Obviously, the nausea and dizziness have decreased recently.Whenever guests come, they will treat them with Xingde, behave calmly, and talk elegantly, not at all as if they are pregnant.Both Li Rui and Chen Yuyi were unmarried, so they didn't realize it.

As soon as Li Rui saw Zhao Xingde, he said: "Xingzhi, I see that your Yintang is red and dark, and you must be careful of troubles recently."

Zhao Xingde 'touched' his forehead, smiled wryly and said, "This must be smoked by gunpowder."

Li Rui shook his head, and sighed: "I think it's good fortune that lies in misfortune, and misfortune that rests on blessing." Zhao Xingde couldn't help being dumb, and ignored him.Since Li Rui entered the Tianji Academy, he has calculated the trajectory of celestial bodies, and he has not completely given up the original method of astrology and divination, but he is no longer as obsessed as before, and sometimes he uses it as a joke.I really don't know which of his words are true and which are false.

After the four sat down in the hall, Li Rui introduced Zhao Xingde and Chen Yuyi to each other. In order to avoid trouble, he still used Zhao De's identity.

Chen Yuyi originally planned to travel and study in Xiaguo for a few months, but he stayed in Chang'an for three years, and lived in Dunhuang for another three years.Hearing that practicing virtue was to abandon literature and follow martial arts, he sighed: "The way of literature and martial arts is originally one, but in modern times, there are two paths. Scholars specialize in writing and writing, while martial arts masters use swords, halberds, bows and crossbows. Isn't it sad? The Kanto is hard to come back, civil officials have lost the strength to defend the country, and military commanders have lost the intelligence of the enemy. This is the reason for the decline of the Central Plains.” In the past few years, he has pondered the military and political key points of the Xia Kingdom, and thought hard about many strategies to revitalize the Kanto. It is also a matter of penetrating the way of civil and military affairs and restoring the system of going out and entering the prime minister in the Han and Tang Dynasties.

However, Li Rui laughed and said: "Brother Chen is serious. The way of civil and military affairs has its own reliance, and there are different ways, but it is too late." He said to Zhao Xingde, "Brother Qufei has been selected by the Relief Department as a member of Yuan Xingzong's staff. After the Lantern Festival, I will go to Chang'an. This relief agency is specially set up to solve the problems of the workers and apprentices, and the wishes of the two gentlemen of Dongrenshe are about to be fulfilled."

Zhao Xingde picked up his wine glass and said: "The court's move is very kind, I wish Brother Chen every success!"

Chen Yuyi picked up the wine glass and had sex with him, explaining: "Yuan Shu ordered me to go to Chang'an with me, because I was born in the Kanto region, so it is easy to win people's trust. To tell you the truth, Brother Zhao, I am in Xiaguo, and I just seek Taoism to solve the 'confusion', and I just wait After finishing his studies, he returned to Kanto. But he never dared to shirk this matter." He paused, and said, "The Guanzhong workshop has used refugees as apprentices for two or thirty years, and it is deeply rooted. The local military officials are not ignorant, but most of the people imprisoned and exploited in the workshop are the Kanto people who are helpless in Guanzhong, so they turn a deaf ear to it and turn a blind eye, which can be called inhumane. Coveting temporary benefits will not only lose people's hearts, but also plant future disasters' The seeds of chaos can be called unwise. Alas—” He sighed deeply.

Li Rui said in a low voice: "Yesterday, I made a calculation. Brother Chen's trip will be full of hardships and twists and turns, so you must take care of yourself."

Chen Yuyi's face was calm, and he said slowly: "Brother Dongyan, you don't know the details of the darkness in that workshop. Mencius' so-called "leading beasts and cannibals" is similar to it. I have been studying in Chang'an for three years, often Hate is powerless to solve this crisis. Now the two loyal and good men have risked their lives, and finally the court is determined to rectify the workshop, so what if I am smashed to pieces?" He held the wine glass tightly in his right hand, There were slight ripples in the middle.

Zhao Xingde said in a deep voice: "Well said, Gou Li country lives and dies, how can we avoid it with misfortunes and blessings. Come, brother Chen, I also offer you a toast!"

When Chen Yuyi heard him say the word "country", a complex look flashed in his eyes, but he still raised his glass and said with a smile, "That's great!" After drinking the glass.In this way, after drinking for three rounds, the three of them were all drunk, Chen Yuyi was full of heart, while patting the table, he knocked on the edge of the porcelain bowl with chopsticks, and sang loudly, "Qing Shang follows the wind, and the middle tune is wandering. Playing and sighing again and again, generosity is more than sorrow. I don’t care about the pain of the singer, but hurt the friends.”

Infected by him, Zhao Xingde and Li Rui were emotionally excited, and said in unison: "I wish to be a pair of swans, and fly high." The three looked at each other and laughed.Li Ruoxue sat quietly by the side, her eyes slightly moist.

The sound of crackling firecrackers has already sounded in Dunhuang City, but the Linquan Palace outside the city is very quiet.Prince Chen Zhong served in the hussars and returned to Beijing on leave this year.The military environment in Mobei is the worst, but the soldiers and civilians are all hardworking, and the cavalry is known as the elite.The royal family attaches great importance to the Anbei Army Division.It is almost a rule for the crown prince to serve in the hussars in order to experience the hardships of the soldiers in the border court.It's just that due to different personal qualifications, the length of service may vary.Chen Zhong is steady and serious, generous and wise. He is not only the eldest son, but also the favorite of Chen Xuan and his wife.He spent last New Year's Eve in Xiaohai.Therefore, the family had to wait for the return of the prince before starting the New Year's Eve dinner. The empress also specifically told the courtiers not to set off firecrackers and fireworks.

The emperor Chen Xuan, the empress Kang, the second prince Chen Kang, the third princess Chen Wan, the fourth princess Chen Wei, the fifth prince Chen Zhao, the crown princess Zhang, and the grandson Chen Si, eight people sat around the big round table. There's still one spot vacant.Snacks such as crisp cheese and candied fruit are placed on the table.Seeing the queen looking back at the palace gate frequently, Chen Xuan smiled and comforted him and said, "Don't be anxious. Although it's a long way from Mobei to return to Beijing, the second half of the journey will be a fast one, so you won't miss the return date."

Empress Kang gave him a blank look, and complained: "What's wrong with Chong'er joining the army? Why do you want him to go to Mobei?" Turning around, she seemed angry and stopped looking in the direction of the window.She grabbed the hand of the Crown Princess Zhang, and sighed: "Poor our mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, they also suffer the same fate." Zhang is the daughter of the Duke of Chu, and she has always been knowledgeable and courteous. Said: "I have thanked my mother for your love." Empress Kang sighed, patted her on the back of her hand, remembering the years when she had stayed in Dunhuang and waited hard, she thought to herself: It was because of this that the first emperor was aware of the soldiers. Husbands and wives are suffering from the separation, let's issue an edict that soldiers should be reunited with their families three years after they leave the garrison.

The empress is straightforward, and Chen Xuan knew that she was thinking about her eldest son, whom she had not seen for a long time, and it was unreasonable, so she gave Chen Kang a wink.

Chen Kang understood, and said with a bitter face: "The mother misses the eldest brother, and she can't even see me." After speaking, he boldly raised his left hand and waved it in front of Queen Kang's eyes, and joked "Mother, look here, look here!" The two younger sisters couldn't stop laughing coquettishly at him, and 12-year-old Chen Zhao followed suit with a half-understanding, shouting with a small throat: "Look here, look here! "The little grandson, Chen Si, was young, and he looked at his two uncles and then at his grandmother for no apparent reason.

If the Five Houses hadn't objected, Xia would inherit the throne in the order of seniority, and would be restricted by the Five Houses after ascending the throne, unlike the Song and Liao emperors.This instead prevented the brothers from turning against each other for the throne.Chen Kang heard and saw his father working hard for state affairs every day, and in his heart he felt lucky to have an elder brother on top of him.So he made a few jokes, but unexpectedly he was misunderstood that he wanted to compete for favor and reserve.

Empress Kang was amused by his exhausted look, she glared and scolded: "It's really heartless. If I had known, I would let you go to Mobei to blow the sand on behalf of my elder brother."

As soon as the words fell, the door of the palace was pushed open, and a loud voice laughed and said: "That's impossible!" Chen Zhong stood at the door, dusty, and before he had time to change his military uniform, he first told Mrs. Chen Xuan Bowing in courtesy, he said, "I have seen my father and mother." At this time, several younger brothers and sisters had stood up and surrounded him.Chen Zhong showed his good looks, and Mrs. Zhang lowered her head in shame.Chen Zhong smiled, touched the heads of Chen Zhao and Chen Si, patted Chen Kang on the shoulder, and took out the gifts for the two younger sisters. After finishing the work, he sat down and explained with a smile: " It’s too late to go to the Huguo Mansion to hand in the waist card certificate, and I have my father and queen waiting for you.”

Empress Kang doubted: "Why do you have to go to the Huguo Mansion to hand over? Didn't you go home after Dao Cao reported? The Huguo Mansion's handover document is above the leader's captain..." She suddenly woke up and said in a voice, "Repeat Son, have you been promoted as a captain?" There were many surprises in the voice.It was extremely difficult for Chen Chong to be elected as a Hussar school lieutenant in his 30s.Except for General An Beishang who knew his identity, everyone else only knew that he was a child of the Chen family in Lingzhou. The Chen family was a branch of the royal family. Every generation had many children who served in the army in Mobei, and they were considered small generals.

Empress Kang turned to look at Chen Xuan, saw Chen Xuan also nodded with a smile, and then realized: "Okay, you all work together to hide it from me."

Chen Kang shouted at the side: "Mother, I was also kept in the dark by them." Chen Xuan said with a smile: "Xiang Shi entered Zhu Guofu, Hussar General Zhu Yanheng was promoted to General of Anbei, and Wu Xiaowei was promoted to General The general’s mansion was promoted to General Hussars, and the school lieutenant was re-elected in the battalion, which happened not long ago. I told him to hide it and leave you a surprise.” He was not worried at all about his wife’s questioning, because Empress Kang’s The eyes are already full of mother's joy and pride.Outside, without waiting for the queen's order, the servants who knew the prince returned to the palace blew firecrackers and fireworks one after another.

On the night of New Year's Eve, most of the servants of Linquan Palace took leave to reunite with their families. This night should have been the most deserted time of the year in the palace, but it was also the most joyous time for the royal family. Chen Xuan's wife and seven children and grandchildren Sitting around the fire together, waiting for the arrival of the new year with great interest like ordinary people.

After the new year, just after the first lunar month, Chun Yuzhen, who returned from Chang'an, brought Zhao Xingde a newly forged horizontal knife.This saber is considered a good saber, but it is not considered a treasured saber in this world without being hammered and beaten a thousand times.Zhao Xingde felt the gleaming blade with his fingertips, and looked at Chun Yuzhen with some puzzlement.

"According to Mr. Zhao's instructions, this is a horizontal knife made of coking coal from Jinhua Mountain, high-grade iron ore, and iron tempered in a small furnace." He carefully grasped the two ends of the blade and pulled it with strength. The blade actually bent slightly, showing good toughness. Chunyu Zhen praised: "I really didn't expect that with charcoal The quality of the smelted iron is almost the same as that of charcoal.” The price of Guanzhong coal is only one-fifth of charcoal, and the price difference between good and bad iron is also huge. Now they have this shortcut, and touch stone to gold It's almost there.

"If we want to expand the production, we need to do some experiments, but this is the same as casting cannons. As long as we do it, we will succeed sooner or later." Zhao Xingde gently stroked the cold blade, and he held back Excited in his heart, he said in a deep voice, "This is just the beginning."