The Three Kingdoms Voyage

Chapter 320
Sun Deng held up a porcelain cup, facing the candlelight, squinted his eyes and looked at it carefully. The bright candlelight seemed to have penetrated the thin cup wall, and the phoenix pattern on the cup wall was faintly visible.He smiled comfortably, put down his teacup gently, picked up a pen, carefully dipped some pine ink on the inkstone, and wrote "light-transmitting cup" three strokes on the bamboo paper spread out in front of him. He straightened his waist and admired himself for a while, then pushed the pen and paper aside, put the porcelain cup into a brocade box, fastened the jade bezel on it, and called out: "Come here!"

Xie Jing walked in quickly, Sun Deng didn't look at him, pushed the brocade box forward, and said calmly: "Send this thin phoenix cup and fast horse to the king, and say it's a gift from me. My brother's birthday present."

Xie Jing glanced at the brocade box on the case, hesitated for a moment: "Prince, isn't it good to do this?"

"There's nothing wrong with it." Sun Deng raised his eyelids to look at him, and frowned slightly: "Next month will be my brother's tenth birthday, so what's wrong with me giving him a newly made phoenix cup?"

Xie Jing gave a helpless wry smile: "Prince, the last time the general of the town army died of an inexplicable illness, someone wanted to talk to the prince. The king was furious and almost abolished the position of the prince. Thanks to Zhuge Ke's ability to prove the prince's innocence, he was able to escape One catastrophe. This time just in case..."

Sun Deng's eyelids trembled, and his body softened weakly as if his spine had been removed.Last year, Sun Li, the general of the town army, celebrated his 20th birthday. He sent someone to congratulate him with some local products from Yuzhang. Later, Sun Li became seriously ill for no reason and died soon.Sun Quan was furious, and someone reported to Sun Quan that Sun Deng had given Sun Li something, and Sun Li fell ill and died after eating these things.Sun Quan was furious and was about to order Sun Deng to be arrested for questioning. The general Bu Zhi and the prime minister Zhuge Jin were too frightened to say anything. Fortunately, Zhuge Ke stood up and advised Sun Quan to be cautious and not to leave any excuses for others.Only then did Sun Quan restrain his temper, but he still asked the school official Lu Yi to thoroughly investigate all the people who had been in contact with Sun Li within a few days.Fortunately, the souvenirs Sun Deng sent were left unopened in the warehouse, and Sun Lu hadn't touched them at all, and didn't even tear off the cover, so Sun Deng escaped the suspicion.

But this time, it also made people see the danger of Sun Deng. Although he has not been deprived of the position of prince, Sun Quan has no intention of letting him succeed, but he has not yet found a suitable excuse to act.This is what Xie Jing and Zhuge Ke meant, not to give Sun Quan any excuses, and stay until Sun Quan died.Now that Sun Deng wanted to give Sun He a gift again, Xie Jing felt that this was as stupid as asking for his own death, so he resolutely dissuaded him.

Sun Deng sat under the lamp expressionlessly, with his back arched, and the few white hairs on his temples were dazzling under the light.Xie Jing saw that his nose was sore. Sun Deng is only 25 years old this year, but he has already shown his old appearance. Compared with his demeanor when he commanded the army to fight in Nichinan, Xie Jing couldn't believe that they were the same person. There was only a ten-year gap between them.

"Uncle Fa, write a form for me, saying that I am not in good health, please resign from the position of prince." Sun Deng suddenly raised his head, showing a miserable smile, and quietly looked at Xie Jing: "Resign from the position of prince." I don't have to be so cautious anymore."

"Prince!" Xie Jing exclaimed, shaking his hands again and again.

"Shufa, go deliver the letter yourself, and then don't come back. You can ask Yuan Xun again, and tell him not to wait any longer. You all go to Yue, the King of Yue is planning Tianzhu, and you have a chance to make meritorious deeds there. "Sun Deng said slowly: "You are all gone, my father... is relieved, and I am safe."

"Prince!" Xie Jing couldn't help but knelt down on the ground, crying bitterly.

"Go, if you don't want to go to Yue, you can go to Shu or Wei. With your ability, you will definitely live better than Wu." Sun Deng persuaded: "However, Yue has the largest territory. , the most opportunities, when it comes to employing people, none of the four kings in the world is better than my eldest brother, I think he will not treat you badly."

Xie Jing burst into tears. He knew that Sun Deng had collapsed, and he couldn't hold on any longer. He had already passed five years of being a prisoner named Prince, and he couldn't hold on anymore.He sent him and Zhuge Ke away, firstly to let Sun Quan relieve his vigilance, if Sun Quan can still have a little bit of father-son affection, let him be a prince safely, that would be great, if Sun Quan is determined not to Let him go, he has no choice but to die. In a word, he will not be the crown prince in name only, and he doesn't expect to have a comeback day.

Xie Jing tried hard to persuade Sun Deng, but this time there was no doubt about it, and finally he wrote a letter of resignation to Prince Shu and asked Xie Jing to send him away.Xie Jing had no choice but to rush to Jianye with a letter and a porcelain cup. He first went to see Zhuge Ke and explained the prince's intentions.Zhuge Ke was silent for a while, then nodded at last, and only said two words: "Ye Hao." Then he remained silent. As for what his "Ye Hao" meant, he didn't explain, and Xie Jing didn't ask.

Xie Jing entered the palace to see you, and presented Sun Deng's invitation to resign from the crown prince, and then presented the porcelain cup, explaining that this was Sun Deng's congratulatory gift to Sun He, and it was just made by him after spending countless efforts. The bird pattern was painted by himself.After Sun Quan finished reading the letter, he put it gently on the case, opened the brocade box again, picked up the porcelain cup, looked at it carefully for a moment, and nodded slightly.

"Your highness is too much to worry about. If you are not in good health, you should take a good rest. Why resign from the crown prince? Is he older than me and in poorer health?" Sun Quan sighed, and put the porcelain cup back into the brocade box, Give it to Gu Li: "Go and give it to Madam, just say it's a birthday present from the prince to Ah He, let him keep it well, don't disappoint the prince's hard work."

Gu Li responded, took the brocade box, turned and left.

"The crown prince said that everything is going well at Yuzhang Porcelain Factory, and you don't need to help there anymore. What are your plans?"

Xie Jing thought for a moment, then said with a knock: "I heard that the porcelain produced by Yuzhang Porcelain Factory is exported to the far west. As a member of Yuzhang Porcelain Factory, although I don't make much contribution, I feel honored to be with you. Yan. I really want to take a look along the journey of these porcelains and see how popular the porcelains we fired are.”

Sun Quan's eyes flashed, and then he regained his composure. He stroked his purple beard, pondered for a moment, and then smiled and said, "That's fine. You worked hard with the crown prince in Yuzhang, but you don't know the value of your hard work. How many gold coins have my country of Wu earned? Why haven’t I let the crown prince come back to Jianye? There are a lot of gossips from outsiders, but they don’t know. This is because the Yuzhang Porcelain Factory is too important. Zhang Shipyard, one is Yuzhang Porcelain Factory, the two together can account for more than [-]% of the taxation of Wu State, and the Porcelain Factory can account for [-]-[-]%, so I put the prince in the Porcelain Factory , put the general of the town army in the shipyard, it is a pity that the general of the town army will not live forever, and the crown prince is overworked and sick from overwork."

Sun Quan sighed for a long time, looking very apologetic, with a sad expression on his face.Xie Jing couldn't see his face, but when he heard his sigh, he felt his nose was a little sore. Fortunately, he had been an official for many years, and he had a general understanding of Sun Quan's temper, so he wouldn't be fooled by these two words live.The two monarchs and ministers spoke a few words, true and false, and Sun Quan rewarded Xie Jing with some money for his traveling expenses. Xie Jing cleaned up a little, and within a few days, he took a boat full of Yuzhang porcelain. The merchant ship of Wu State left Jianye.

After leaving the border of Wu State, the north wind on the sea became stronger, and he saw the endless sea again. Xie Jing, who had been holding back in Yuzhang for several years, felt relieved, and the sullenness accumulated for several years was swept away. The crown prince in Yuzhang, Xie Jing couldn't bear it.

The merchants on the ship learned that Xie Jing was a close minister of the crown prince Sun Deng and also an employee of the porcelain factory, and all of them were very polite to him.Xie Jing asked them about the sales of porcelain, and they immediately beamed with joy, and happily introduced to Sun Deng the popularity of porcelain in Sasan, Rome, Guishuang and other places.They said that because it was produced by Prince Sun Deng, these porcelains are also known as Prince porcelains. In foreign countries, they are the first-class products only used by princes and nobles. Ordinary people can only use products produced by other porcelain factories.

Of course, there is also the credit of Sun Shao, king of Yue, who spared no effort to promote these porcelains.In the first period of time, the envoys he sent out used porcelain as gifts. First, let those royal families use porcelain, establish a noble reputation for porcelain, and whet the appetite of those nobles, and then start supplying.Now, as soon as all the porcelain landed on the shore, it didn't take much effort to sell it, and it would be sold out soon, and some ships had even been ordered before they landed.

Xie Jing's eyes were wide open when he heard that, he deals with porcelain every day, but he doesn't know that porcelain is so popular.Porcelain is also sold in Dahan, and many nobles in Wu will come to Yuzhang Porcelain Factory to order, and many people have followed Xie Jing's path.Perhaps it is because of the large number of people who use it in the state of Wu, porcelain can be seen in almost every noble person's home, Xie Jing thinks it is not unusual, never thought that these porcelains are the same as silk in foreign countries, only the upper class people use them rise.

At this time, he somewhat believed in the importance of the porcelain factory that Sun Quan said. Of course, this did not mean that he believed Sun Quan's excuse. No matter how important the porcelain factory is, does it need a prince to sit in charge?Sun Li was in charge of the shipyard and the college at the beginning, but his main task was to lead the army and defend the Shu Kingdom. Unlike Sun Deng, who has no military power, he is purely a supervisor.

I am in a good mood, and the speed seems to be getting faster. The fleet sailing down the wind only took more than 20 days to reach Temu City. Here, the merchant ship berthed at Dunxun Port, reloaded, and changed to a large ship suitable for long-distance voyages. Westbound.I saw the tall brackets in Dunson Port and the long poles that kept lifting and unloading goods like giant hands one after another, and watched the steam engines with white smoke dragging long pallets on two parallel roads. Gliding briskly on the track, Xie Jing was so curious as a countryman who just entered the city, he kept looking around and bumped into several loading and unloading workers one after another.

"Are you new here?" A shirtless, sweaty worker smiled politely while wiping his sweat with a towel.He saw that Xie Jing was wearing dark clothes, and his walking posture was quite imposing, so his tone was naturally somewhat humble.

Xie Jing sized up this dark worker, with a look of surprise on his face: "Where are you from barbarians, you can speak a good man's dialect."

"I'm an Egyptian." The worker showed his white teeth and smiled humbly, "If you speak a good man's language, you can get more wages. I have been here for five years, so I can speak it very well."

"Can you get more money if you can speak Chinese?" Xie Jing was even more surprised, "Don't you all work in the same way? Why do you say that we can get more money?"

"If you can speak Chinese, you don't need an interpreter." The worker took it for granted: "If we can write Chinese characters, we can still apply to be Han Chinese."

"Aren't you a Han Chinese now?"

"Not yet." The worker narrowed his eyes longingly: "I am looking for a husband to learn how to write. As long as I can write a hundred characters, I can apply for permanent residency, and then I can enjoy the king's life like you Han people." Enze." He took a look at Xie Jing, then smiled and said, "You traveled to Yue country? Do you plan to teach people how to write Chinese characters?"

"Write Chinese characters?" Xie Jing was annoyed and funny, wondering if I'm really down and out, to be reduced to the point of teaching these barbarians how to read?

"Hahaha...I'm really sorry, I misread it, you are a noble person, and you are not short of those little money." The worker saw Xie Jing's expression was wrong, and quickly apologized: "Actually, many people who come to travel rely on education. People speak Chinese and write Chinese to earn fees. I first learned Chinese from a Han in Axum.”

Xie Jing thought it was quite interesting, and chatted with the worker for a while. At this time, a man on the truck who was pulling the goods asked him loudly if he wanted to go to the city, and said that he could take him for a ride. It was very cheap, as long as ten dollars That's it.Xie Jing saw that the car running on the track was very novel, so he readily agreed, said goodbye to that worker from Egypt, entered the car, and the front car let out a long beep and sprayed out a thick white, The convoy loaded with five carriages started slowly.

Leaving the pier, the car went faster and faster, almost as fast as riding a horse. Xie Jing was very curious, he asked this and that from time to time, there were several other people in the car, seeing Xie Jing like this, they all smiled in unison , showing that condescending arrogance on his face.A scholar dressed in a Confucian uniform similar to Xie Jing came over to explain. He said a lot, but Xie Jing only understood one sentence. With these two tracks, the steam engine that could only pull one or two carriages can now pull five. From one to ten carriages, it varies depending on the load of goods.

Xie Jing was very surprised. After seven or eight years of promotion, the steam engine is no longer a rare thing. The Yuzhang Porcelain Factory used the steam engine to dig soil and transport goods, but no one had ever thought of using it to lay tracks, and of course no one would know the two Orbits can do just that.

"It was all thought up by those talented people from the Academy of Arts." The scholar laughed: "I heard that those people thought about erecting the track in the air, and hanging the steam engine and the carriages on it. Failed, didn't make it."

"It's just wild thinking, can such a heavy thing be erected?" Xie Jing was a little disdainful: "There is such a person in the world-famous Funan College?"

"You're wrong." The scholar shook his head: "What's wrong with thinking wildly? If you don't think wildly, can you think of these tracks? It's not terrible to think wrongly, but it's terrible not to dare to think about it. When you're in the city, you must not That is to say, otherwise you will know that you are a foreigner as soon as you hear it."

After the scholar finished speaking, he turned his head to the side and stopped talking to Xie Jing, acting as if I didn't know this person.Xie Jing was very angry and funny, he knew that the Yue people were arrogant, but he didn't expect that the scholars who came to visit were also so arrogant.

About half an hour later, the steam engine drove all the way into Temu City, and stopped at a spacious and prosperous unloading area. Xie Jing got out of the carriage, asked someone for the direction of Zhou Xunfu, and came straight to Zhoufu.I went to the door and asked, luckily, Zhou Xun and the princess Sun Luban happened to be returning to Temu City to report on their duties, and when they heard that Xie Jing had arrived, Zhou Xun was very surprised, and quickly greeted him personally.

"Shufa, why...you came here like this?" Seeing that Xie Jing was alone, with only one entourage carrying luggage behind him, Zhou Xun couldn't help asking in surprise.

"I can't get along in Wu country anymore, so I come to Yue country to join the general and the princess." Xie Jing said half-truthfully.

When Zhou Xun heard this, he immediately understood that there was something wrong, he hurriedly let Xie Jing into the inner hall, sat down in the hall, served tea, and placed a bunch of fresh fruits, Xie Jing tasted a few mouthfuls and was full of praise.After a while, Sun Luban strode in, raised his eyebrows as soon as he saw Xie Jing, and said angrily, "Xie Jing, what's going on, is something wrong with Zigao?"

Xie Jing quickly bowed to the ground and saluted: "I respectfully greet the Eldest Princess."

"That's all. You are not a courtier of the Yue Kingdom. It doesn't matter if the eldest princess is not the eldest princess." Sun Luban sat next to Zhou Xun with a face, and urged impatiently: "Quickly tell me, how is Zigao?" , you are his close minister, why did you suddenly come to the country of Yue?"

"The prince is fine." Xie Jing shook his head, and then told what happened.Before Sun Luban finished listening, his brows stood upright with a "teng", stomped his feet and shouted: "Father is so confused, what kind of person is Zigao, how could he have the heart to harm his brother? Father There are traitors around the king, I will go back and kill these traitors."

Zhou Xun gave a wry smile, tugged at the hem of Sun Luban's clothes, and signaled her to stay calm and wait until Xie Jing finished speaking.Although Sun Luban was angry, seeing that Zhou Xun was not in a hurry, she restrained herself.Zhou Xun has done many meritorious service in Ceylon in the past few years, and he was promoted very quickly. This time Sun Shao called him back, and he may be entrusted with important tasks. Sun Luban admired Zhou Xun's calmness and wisdom, no matter how angry he was. , as long as Zhou Xun winks, she can calm down.

Xie Jing finally said: "Zhu, Zhang, and Gu Lu in Wu County have all left, and the few families who were originally from Kuaiji have basically left. Now there are only a few families with average strength left in Wu County, and they can't stand alone. If the ministers from Huaisi want to gain a firm foothold in Jiangdong, they can only rely on the king, so whether they are from Jiangdong or Huaisi, they are now tightly held by the king. Although Zhuge Ke is in love Prince Yu, but was controlled by Prime Minister Zhuge (Zhuge Jin), so he can only bow his head and accept his fate, not daring to act rashly. The last time he was released for the prince, I heard that he took a great risk. Your Majesty is in front of many people , severely reprimanded him."

"What's his plan now?" Zhou Xun recalled that when he was preparing for the Battle of South Japan, Sun Deng had put Zhuge Ke on the sidelines because he had an opinion on him. It is God's will that the country of Wu is left idle.When he thought of Zhuge Ke's talent and character, he felt it was a pity.

"I don't know." Xie Jing shook his head and said, "He has always been scheming, I can't see it."

"Is Buzishan a great general now?" Zhou Xun asked again after taking a sip of tea.

"Well, after General Lu's resignation was delivered to Jianye, the king was very angry. Thanks to Zhuge Jin's persuasion, he calmed down. Then he worshiped Buzishan as the general and made Zhuge Jin the prime minister."

"Hehehe..." Zhou Xun smiled wickedly: "Does Your Majesty know that Zhuge Jin's granddaughter Zhang Yu is the Crown Princess of Yue?"

Xie Jing was stunned: "Is there such a thing?" Zhang Cheng's wife Zhuge was Zhuge Jin's daughter, he knew this, but Zhang Cheng's daughter was the Crown Princess of Yue, but he had never heard of it.If this is true, then the relationship between Zhuge Jin's family and the King of Yue will be very close. When Sun Feng succeeds in the future, Zhuge Ke will be the uncle of the Queen of Yue.

"It's absolutely true." Sun Luban said bitterly: "I'll pass the news back immediately to see if Zhuge Jin and his son can live in peace in the future."

Xie Jing smiled wryly, in that case, Zhuge Ke might also follow in his footsteps, and could only live in Yue country.However, Zhuge Ke is talented, and coupled with this marriage, it is not difficult for him to rise again.

"How about my mother and the others?" Sun Luban asked again.

"It's okay." Xie Jingqiang said with a smile: "Queen Xu and Mrs. Bu are both content with their duties, and the king treats them well. The third princess married Zhu Ju a few years ago, and Zhu Ju paid homage to General Zuo and Marquis Yangxian. Career is going well."

"Zhu Ju is over 40 years old, isn't it too short for Xiaohu to marry him?" Sun Luban shook his head again and again, "They are at least 20 years younger, so what's the point?"

Xie Jing smiled wryly, thinking to himself that you think you can be a good couple like you and Zhou Xun.You also have a younger sister who is married to Liu Ji, and the age difference is even bigger. You just don't know the blessings in the blessings.Speaking of it, it is fate. Among Sun Quan's three daughters, Sun Luban is the most pungent one, but her fate is the best. Not only did she marry a good husband, but she was also a general. All personal luck was concentrated on her alone.

"You came to Yue, so you won't leave?" Seeing that Sun Luban was sulking, Zhou Xun was afraid that she would say something unrestrained, so he quickly changed the subject and said, "If Shufa wants to go to the army, you might as well stay in the army." Take a position in our army first, and when I have the opportunity, I will recommend you to the king."

Xie Jing was overjoyed. He came to see Zhou Xun as soon as he arrived in Temucheng. On the one hand, he wanted to report Sun Deng's situation to Sun Luban, hoping that she could help Sun Deng. On the other hand, he also wanted to climb up on Zhou Xun's old friend. Zhou Xun is Sun Shao's cousin, and now Zhou Yu is Sun Shao's wife. He has a unique position in Yue, and his future is boundless.

"Jing is really grateful to have Boying's help."

Zhou Xun smiled, at the beginning Xie Jing and Zhuge Ke were Sun Deng's cronies, he was excluded, Xie Jing looked down on him a bit.Now that Sun Deng has become a useless person, Xie Jing asked him in turn.However, he is magnanimous, although he is a little proud in his heart, but there is no clue on his face, he quickly helped Xie Jing up and said: "What is Shu Fa talking about? It is my duty to be a courtier. I only hope that Shufa can get acquainted with the officialdom habits of our Yue Kingdom as soon as possible, and recommend more talented people in the future."

Although Zhou Xun spoke sincerely, Xie Jing felt guilty in his heart, and couldn't help but blush when he heard it.

(End of this chapter)