Great Han Empire

Chapter 376

"The Journey to the West"

Author: Scarlet Coral
Chapter 11 Good News Entering the Beijing Normal University
In the third year of the Jianwu period of the Han Dynasty, awns were planted in June, and the western regions outside the Great Wall were still full of wind and sand, but in Chang'an, the capital of the Han Dynasty, it was already a scene of early summer.The farmers outside the city were busy harvesting wheat and planting rice, and the dignitaries in the city, scholars, and merchants all put on summer clothes, ushering in the busiest and most beautiful season in the imperial capital Chang'an.

Chang'an Weiyang Palace, Xuande Palace

The emperor Liu Shuo is in a really good mood at this time.

Liu Shuo is less than 20 years old this year and has just grown a short beard above his lips.Unlike his cowardly and hard-working grandfather and father, Liu Shuo, who was born and raised in troubled times, is a young monarch full of vigor: he practiced martial arts hard since he was a child, making him strong, tall and strong. He was taught by a famous teacher, so that he had a very high attainment in Confucian classics, government affairs, art of war, history, music, etc. at a young age; he was sitting on the front line in his teens, taking sand and graves personally, which made his character more ZTE. Fortitude and decisiveness unique to the Lord.In the past three years, the imperial court has given the people rest, lightened taxes, and restored national power; The achievements of a large number of able ministers and generals in the court, but with the continuous efforts of the young Han emperor, he gradually gained the recognition of everyone and became the real core of the empire.

"Qi Zou the emperor, it's time to apply, please the emperor to have some snacks."

Liu Shuo didn't seem to hear, and continued to read the watch.After a while, the maid kneeling on the ground said it again.He still didn't look up, and while holding the imperial pen to approve the decree on a memorial, he said loudly: "Yes." His comment on the memorial was also the same word, as if he was not answering the maid, but inadvertently. Read out his commentary.The maid stopped disturbing him, saluted, stood up from the ground, and quietly retreated.After a while, the eunuch from the imperial dining room brought a bowl of bird's nest soup and several plates of exquisite pastries, which were held in front of him by the maid.Liu Shuo just put down the memorial, yawned and stretched, picked up the bowl, ate several plates of dim sum with bird's nest soup like a storm, and then left the imperial case, striding straight out of the Xuande Hall.The Zhongchang servant Huang Qiu who was waiting at the door hurriedly came out and said, "Your Majesty, there are several adults from Yushitai who are still waiting outside the Chengming Palace, do you want to summon them?"

"What's so good about those crows? It's not always the same thing. It's something like 'Hebei's earthquake, this day wants to stop fighting. The river is flowing, and this government order loses its virtue', hey, Yao has Nine years of waterlogging and seven years of drought in Tang Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu, the world also experienced earthquakes. I have never heard of any wrongdoing between Yaotang and Emperor Xiaowu. No see! Tell them, and write memorials if you have something to do. Thank you, come up here for impeachment, for expressing feelings, for disagreement.) After Liu Shuo finished speaking, he ignored Huang Qiu and looked at the scenery to himself.The Xuande Hall of Weiyang Palace is built on the highest point of a small hill. In front of the hall, you can overlook the appearance of Chang'an, with an excellent view.After a while, Liu Shuo pointed to the southwest side and said: "From here, the scenery of Shanglin Garden (a group of royal gardens in the western suburbs of Chang'an in the Western Han Dynasty, most of the buildings were destroyed by the war at the end of the new era and abandoned in the Eastern Han Dynasty) is still so beautiful! In early summer, the clear water competes with the blue sky, and the sparrows and orioles come together, I really want to go there right away to see it!"

Huang Qiu smiled and said: "What the emperor said is that Sima Xiangru Shanglin Fu said, 'You have never seen your husband Juli, but you have never heard of the emperor's Linhu'. Shanglin Garden used to be across the road from Weiyang Palace. The Fei Pavilion is connected. The former dynasty is magnificent, and the old slave is also yearning for it. A few days ago, didn’t Master Yin, the master craftsman, declare that he wanted to rebuild Shanglin Garden? The emperor thought..."

Liu Shuo slapped the barrier and said seriously, "You stupid thing! Giving the people a rest is a national policy, and it costs a lot of money to rebuild it. How can I be happy for me alone and ignore the common people? Besides, I can indulge myself in the mountains and rivers. Why bother?" Do you want to make a big construction project? Yin Qing's move is just too much to be idle, so there is no need to mention this matter again!"

Huang Qiu hurriedly knelt down to apologize, Liu Shuo waved his hand to signal him to get up, and asked, "Where is the empress now? I want to go horseback riding in Shanglinyuan later, why don't I ask her to go with me."

In July last year, the Son of Heaven finally got what he wanted and married Li Xiu. After the marriage, the relationship between the couple was "very good"--Li Xiu, apart from pretending to be a mother in the world on formal occasions, was still very temperamental in private. The emperor messed around together.Every time the emperor thinks of where to go with something new, he always brings his wife with him.

Huang Qiu was shocked when he heard this, knelt down and said like pounding garlic: "Your Majesty, please think twice! Your Majesty is pregnant with Liujia now, so it is not appropriate to move lightly. Your Majesty, please think twice."

"Haha, why are you panicking? Would I be inappropriate for such a big event? I just said to let the queen go with me, but I didn't say to let her ride a horse." Liu Shuo thought about it and smiled, "Well, with the queen's temperament, it is estimated that when the time comes I can't help it either. Get up, where is the queen now?"

Huang Qiu took a deep breath, collected himself and replied: "Returning to the emperor, Mrs. Maoxianghou and all the people in the house entered the palace to ask for an audience. Her Majesty the Empress should be in the Gui Palace (the imperial concubine's bedroom, in the north of Weiyang Palace) ) Chaoyang Palace summoned."

Liu Shuo raised his eyebrows, "The people from the Ma family are here? That's just right! Come here, let's drive Chaoyang Palace."

Gui Palace, Chaoyang Palace.

Li Xiu wore a white brocade skirt, a black rusty golden phoenix robe, and a phoenix crown on her head. She lay on her side casually on the couch, talking with Mrs. Dong, the Marquis of Maoxiang.

Dong's single name is Fu, and she is the concubine wife of General Zhenxi, General Qiang Zhonglang, Jiajie, and Maoxiang Hou Machao.Since the Ma family returned to the imperial court, they have made outstanding contributions in many battles such as guarding Xiliang, marching into Yizhou, and pacifying the Qiangs.After the resurgence, in order to commend Ma Chao’s achievements, the emperor not only ordered him to guard the western frontier, but also sealed him in Mao Township, Youfufeng County, so that the descendants of General Fubo could return to their hometown to live (Ma’s ancestral home was in Mao Township, Youfufeng County, Sili ).The Ma family deeply felt the emperor's favor, and everyone used their lives to build a Ma family army that frightened the Qiang Rong and Di Hu Wenfeng. They have guarded the Xiliang land like an iron bucket these years.Dong and Ma Chao have two sons and one daughter: the eldest son Ma Qiu is 16 years old and has already served in his father's army; the eldest daughter Ma Piaoxu is about to turn [-], and this time she is entering the palace to meet the queen Li Xiu for her and Ji's sake.

"It's all from my own family. Don't be restrained here in this palace. Piaoxu, come here and let my sister. Bengong take a good look at it." Li Xiu smiled and called Ma Piaoxu to approach, held hands and looked carefully for a moment, then shook her head and said, " Sure enough, it's the Eighteenth Change of the Women's University, and a few years ago, she was playing mud and fighting like a tomboy, it's just a lot of effort, and she's come out so slim."

Mrs. Dong looked at the somewhat awkward daughter, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty said that this child has never been upright since he was a child, and he is always flying eagles and running dogs on weekdays, ostentatious in fresh clothes and angry horses. I came to see Luan Jia today, just now Be honest. Sigh, I don’t know which family’s young master would dare to propose marriage in the future.”

Ma Piaoxu finally couldn't help it, and said in disbelief: "Mother, what nonsense are you talking about! I hate it! How can I have no one? Hmph, is it so rare? Next year, I will go to my father's account like my brother and go to battle. Kill the enemy and become a female general!"

Before Mrs. Dong could answer, Li Xiu clapped her hands and praised; "Well, you are worthy of being a tiger girl in the general gate. Piaoxu's arrogance is indeed not inferior to this palace. With this ambition, none of the sons of Chang'an City is really worthy of you! As the saying goes A man's ambition is in all directions, but is it true that a woman's ambition is to be a husband and a child? Alas, I am now a bird in a cage, and I can't do it at all. I think back then."

When Li Xiu was about to tell everyone about his "great achievements" back then, a clear and hearty male voice took up the conversation: "I think Li Xiu'er, the fire phoenix in northern Xinjiang, was so majestic and powerful that she traveled across the desert north and south, and no one dared to ignore her." Qifeng. What is a hundred thousand horsemen? You scared them back alone. Now you are locked in this forbidden palace, and the phoenix is ​​falling on the branches. I really wronged you."

"It's good that you know it in your heart! It's nothing but self-destruction." Li Xiu raised her body slightly, "The concubine welcomes the emperor."

"Don't be polite, don't be polite, you'd better lie down, don't get angry." Liu Shuo hurriedly stepped forward to support Li Xiu, turned around and saw that everyone was prostrating on the ground, shouted long live, and said with a smile, "My dears No courtesy, everyone in this Gui Palace is a guest, only the queen is the master, and all the nobles don't need to care about me."

Everyone sat down and chatted casually about a few interesting things in Beijing. Li Xiu saw a handsome young man in Tsing Yi sitting next to Ma Chao's second son, Ma Cheng, who was about twelve or thirteen years old. Ma'am, why haven't I seen the young man next to Cheng'er before, is he also a child of the Ma family?"

Mrs. Dong hurriedly greeted the young man to kneel down, and introduced: "This is the son of my concubine, Mr. Xiri's subordinates. His father died two years ago in the Qiang-Rong Rebellion, so he was considered a adopted son by the husband, and he was taken into the family to be raised. Wei'er , Hurry up and pay homage to the Second Sage before going forward."

"My minister Tianshui Jiang Wei, I pay my respects to the emperor, long live my emperor. The empress is a thousand years old."

"It turns out that after Zhongliang, I have heard about your father Jiang Jiong's loyalty and bravery. I have indeed experienced this." Liu Shuo solemnly picked up Jiang Wei, and then raised his hand towards him regardless of everyone's astonished eyes. With a salute, he said, "The world has been in war for many years, and there are countless children like Jiang Qing. After the resurgence, I only thought about Weijia at home, and the war continued, so that there are still such orphans and widows. I feel deeply guilty. I hope The only way is to clarify the universe as soon as possible, so that the subjects can live and work in peace and contentment, and will no longer suffer from the hardships of war."

Even though Jiang Wei was usually young and mature, hearing these words, he couldn't help but burst into tears. He bowed down and said loudly: "Your Majesty's kindness, I'm deeply grateful, even if you die, it's hard to repay it. However, to protect the Quartet for His Majesty, even if your body is broken, you are still a human being." The responsibility of the minister! If the big man does not calm down the barbarians today, but only seeks to appease them, he will cause even greater disasters in the future. Those who plan state affairs must not only plan for a while!"

Liu Shuo's eyes flashed, and he said appreciatively, "Oh? It's rare for Jiang Qing to have such insight at such a young age. I'm so relieved. What kind of books does Jiang Qing usually read? Did you go to the Imperial Academy?"

Before Jiang Wei could answer, Ma Piaoxu proudly said, "Your Majesty Qizuo, Weidi has not only been in the Imperial Academy for more than a year, but has already mastered two classics, and is praised by all the students of the Imperial Academy as a child prodigy!"

Liu Shuo waved his hand to signal Jiang Wei to sit down and talk: "That's really rare, which teacher does Jiang Qing worship now?"

Jiang Wei sat upright, straightened his clothes and said, "Your Majesty Qizuo, I am studying Gongyang and Zuozhuan under the tutor of Zhao Song, a doctor of Taixue."

"En." Liu Shuo responded noncommittally, and Li Xiu interjected: "Your Majesty, this Zhao Song has been praised by everyone in the court and field recently, saying that he has the talent and knowledge on a par with Ma and Zheng (Ma Rong, Zheng Xuan) It must be excellent, but the Confucian classics taught are difficult and old-fashioned, lifeless, what is the use for young people to learn? The concubine thinks that since Jiang Qing is a general, she should learn more martial arts and military art, and serve the country as soon as possible. Your majesty might as well allow him to enter Baihutang (Baihutang, a juvenile military school established after the resurgence, supplemented by the martial arts hall, directly subordinate to the emperor)."

Liu Suo laughed and said, "Haha, is Xiu'er asking Zhao Qing and Zhao Qing to compete for students? I can't decide this matter. I have to ask Jiang Qing about her own ambitions."

Jiang Wei was full of excitement, and was about to answer when he heard Huang Jitong's report at the gate of the hall; "Your Majesty Qi Zuo, Prime Minister Li has something to see outside the palace."

Mrs. Dong paid homage and said: "Your Majesty, since Prime Minister Li came to discuss matters, the ministers and concubines have retired."

"It's okay." Liu Shuo waved his hand and ordered Prime Minister Huang Jixuan to enter the palace, "Since Li Qing came to see me in Gui Palace, it's not a secret, everyone may wish to listen to it together."

It has been more than ten years since Li Wei succeeded Cai Yong as Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty after the Chang'an Rebellion.When a person enters middle age, he has long since lost the appearance of the young people who pointed out the country, and the corners of the eyes are also slightly old.During this period, after going through vicissitudes, he was impeached several times by the government and the public, denouncing him as a traitor, and he himself resigned several times, but was firmly protected by Jinyanghou and the emperor.After the emperor changed the yuan to be in charge, Li Wei began to consciously retreat behind the scenes, and handed over the family that had been in charge for more than ten years to the emperor one after another.Usually, any important national policy is left to the emperor to decide. He deliberately restored some of the old celebrity styles, talked and lectured, cooked tea and read history, and his reputation gradually improved.

Entering the Chaoyang Palace, Li Wei glanced around and bowed to the Emperor and Empress. Liu Shuo asked him to excuse him and asked, "On the way here, Prime Minister, did you see the people from Yushitai?"

"Of course I saw it, but those adults didn't seem to see me." Li Wei smiled self-deprecatingly, took out a seal from his sleeve, and said loudly: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Gaochang City in the Western Regions Master Zhao, the captain of the Shuji School, has received good news. The Western Expeditionary Army has recently wiped out the countries of Kucha, Khotan, Cheshi, Shanshan, and Yanqi one after another.

(End of this chapter)