In the evening, Lianhua walked out of the tent. The two Mongolian soldiers at the door did not stop her, but followed her closely.
As the sun sets in the west, an orange-red sun sets on the corner of the horizon. The orange clouds in the sky and the changing colors of the lake are as real as an illusion. Water birds flew low across the lake, stirring up a few splashes of water from time to time. In the distance, cattle and sheep mooed and walked back.
"As the sun sets, the cattle and sheep come down." The scenery is picturesque, and the lotus flowers are fascinating to see.
With a "crash" sound, a fishing line suddenly flew up from the water, and a big fish was thrown on the shore. Lianhua looked over and saw the tall and thin man fishing. Lotus hesitated for a moment and then walked over.
The tall and thin man held the fishing rod in his right hand, took off the hooked fish with his left hand, threw it into the wooden barrel next to him, sat down and continued fishing. Lotus stepped forward and looked around. There were already many fish in the bucket, squeezing around in a panic and splashing with water from time to time.
Lianhua frowned, looked at the tall and thin man, and then back at the barrel. The fish in the bucket seemed to know that someone was watching, and they crowded around in even more panic, looking at the lotus with pleading eyes.
Lianhua hesitated for a moment, then walked to the lanky man, squatted down, and opened her mouth, but she didn't know how to speak. The tall and thin man was motionless, his profile like a statue.
Lianhua bit her lower lip and said softly: "I ask you, uh, to give me those fishes?" The man turned his head and glanced at Lianhua, with an unexplainable trace of something in his slender phoenix eyes. ,sad
The lotus flower does not know its meaning. But I saw the man put down the fishing rod in his hand, strode to the wooden bucket, grabbed it, and returned to the lake holding the bucket with both hands. He raised his arms and sent them away. The fish in the bucket drew a high arc, and in the arc. The ends of the lines fell into the lake one after another, twisting and swimming away happily.
Lian Hua stood up and looked at the tall and thin man blankly. Without saying a word, the man took the fishing rod and turned to leave.
Lianhua looked at his back and called softly: "Zong Cheng?" She spoke in Korean.
The man stood still, motionless. Lianhua still said softly: "Zong Cheng, it's really you. You are here, you are still alive..." Her voice was choked with sobs.
The last king of the Goryeo Dynasty, King Gongrang Wangyao, was established by Li Chenggui in the 22nd year of Hongwu. He was originally a puppet, but he was fully assisted by Zheng Mongzhou, the minister of the court, who was later known as the ancestor of Korean Neo-Confucianism. In the 25th year of Hongwu, Li Chenggui sent people to assassinate Zheng Mengzhou at Shanzhu Bridge in Kaicheng in order to seize the throne, and the leader was in the city. The Zheng family was confiscated, and Zheng Mengzhou's three sons, Zheng Zongcheng, Zheng Zongben, Zheng Zong, and their entire family were killed, and their condition was extremely miserable.
The Li family, the Cao family and the Zheng family were originally ministers of the same dynasty, and the children often played together since they were young. Lianhua and the third son of the Zheng family were familiar with each other, and in the past few days, they had guessed from various details that it must have been done by an acquaintance. Therefore, even after five years, they still recognized Zheng Zongcheng from his gestures.
Zheng Zongcheng turned around and slowly raised his hand to take off his mask, revealing a dark and rough face. His face is haggard, his forehead has deep wrinkles like knife carvings, and his temples are turning gray.
"Yes, it's me. Zheng Zongcheng is still alive."
Lotus jumped up happily: "Great! You're still alive!" Seeing Zheng Zongcheng's haggard face, he swallowed the words on his lips: "How are you?" His mouth was open, not knowing what to say. Zheng Zongcheng understood what Lianhua meant, and the two of them were silent for a while.
After a while, Zheng Zongcheng said softly: "The prince is also here."
"He didn't...?" Lianhua asked.
The eldest son Zheng Zongcheng mentioned was Wang Shi, the eldest son of King Gongrang Wangyao. In the 27th year of Hongwu, Li Chenggui, who was already the king of Korea at that time, sent the deputy envoy of the Central Council Zheng Nanjin to strangle him. Unexpectedly, he was still alive.
"Yes, he is not dead. We have been hiding in Tibet for the past five years, and we arrived at Solin Timur's place the year before last." Zheng Zongcheng looked at the sky and said calmly: "The prince's name is Jin Shi now."
In order to avoid Li Chenggui's pursuit, the royal family of Goryeo changed their surnames to Quan, Jin, Yu, Tian, Shen and other surnames and went into hiding. Therefore, "King" is still a rare surname on the Korean Peninsula.
The lotus is silent.
"It is the Crown Prince's intention to capture you this time. He has already sent a fast horse to negotiate terms with Thief Li."
"What conditions?"
"First the lion opens his mouth and asks Thief Li to replace you."
Lianhua was secretly surprised. Wang Shi's move was extremely vicious. Her identity was now the lady of the East Palace, the emperor's granddaughter-in-law, and the future imperial concubine. Although he was robbed in the Celestial Empire, His Majesty the Emperor's power is unpredictable, so it is not certain that North Korea's escort was improper. Wang Shi specifically decided to rob people in Tieling. Tieling was the place where the Ming Dynasty had just pacified, and there had been disputes with Goryeo. The court had always been sensitive and suspicious of this area. And if Li Chenggui knew where he was at this time but did not save him, he would easily be labeled as disloyal to the imperial court, and the relationship between China and the DPRK that was finally restored might be ruined.
I wonder what the king will say about this condition
Thinking this in his heart, he couldn't help but show a worried look on his face.
"Li Thief feels sorry for his own life, so that's the best. The prince can publicize this matter widely, find someone to sing a chapter in the capital court, and there's no telling whether the imperial court will send troops to North Korea."
Zheng Zongcheng was a little excited when he said this. Perhaps he has been planning revenge and restoration of the country for a long time, and finally has some hope: "When the time comes, we will borrow troops from Suolin Timur, and we will be able to kill the thief Li and restore our country."
Lianhua was quiet for a while and said softly: "Zong Cheng! My father, A Min and A Xiu are all dead."
"I heard about it." Zheng Zongcheng looked sympathetic.
"He was killed by Japanese pirates."
Zheng Zongcheng remained silent.
"The power of the Japanese pirates has now extended to North Jeolla Province." Lianhua glanced at the setting sun in the distance: "The reason why I went to the Celestial Dynasty was to ask the imperial court to send reinforcements and naval forces."
At this point, Lianhua stared at Zheng Zongcheng and said slowly: "Zongcheng, if the imperial court sends troops to attack North Korea, the Japanese pirates will definitely attack in the south. The one who will die in North Korea will not be the Li family, but the entire North Korean family."
Zheng Zongcheng listened blankly, his haggard face was distorted, his long and thin eyes were wide open, and he suddenly shouted: "I don't care! Dad died so miserably! He can't even leave his body intact after death! And Zongben Zonghe, My whole family, what have they done wrong! Thief Li! Thief Li! I can't wait to drink your blood and eat your flesh!" Tears rushed out, flowing on the dark face, and finally turned around and ran away.
Lianhua looked at Zheng Zongcheng's back with mixed feelings in her heart. The setting sun in the distance has disappeared, leaving only the orange-red sunset glowing across the sky. Is it really impossible for me, the Korean people, to escape this disaster
That night, Suolin Timur, the political minister of Pingzhang of the Great Yuan Dynasty, held a banquet to "welcome" Princess Yining of North Korea. The whole camp was filled with laughter and candlelight.
In a large open space by the lake, Sorin Timur ordered people to light a large bonfire, and set up tables on three sides facing the lake around the bonfire. The tables were filled with seasonal dishes, fruits, and bowls of fine wine. . Several whole sheep were roasted on the fire, and the fat dripped into the fire from time to time, making a sizzling sound.
At this time, the new moon is in the sky, and the moonlight pours on the lake. The lake water is rippling, and the silver light jumps and hides with the waves. Occasionally, fish jump out and splash a little bit of water. The branches of the curved weeping willows on the shore are swaying in layers, and the green willow leaves are particularly bright under the silver moonlight.
The crown prince, Wang Shi, said he had gone out and had not returned yet. Zheng Zongcheng accompanied Lianhua and walked slowly from his residence and sat down at the guest seat on the left table. The two looked at the familiar scenery in the lake and suddenly looked at each other, recalling the past at the same time.
Lianhua smiled and said: "It's really like Changxing Lake in Kaicheng." She regretted it as soon as she said it. When she was young, a group of friends often played by Changxing Lake. They didn't want to go home when it got dark. When the moon rose, it was This is the scenery in front of me. However, the Shanzhu Bridge where Zheng Mengzhou was killed was also on Changxing Lake.
Zheng Zongcheng murmured: "Yes, Changxing Lake." His eyes were empty, as if he was trapped in long-lasting memories.
Lianhua was a little worried and quickly changed the topic and asked: "Zong Cheng, who is that?" while quietly pointing to a senior Mongolian official next to Solin Tiemur, the chairman of the board.
Zheng Zongcheng calmed down, tilted his head slightly and whispered to Lianhua: "That's the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, Bo'erzhi. He just came yesterday." Lianhua was shocked when he heard this, and looked carefully at the two principals, Sorin Tiemur and Bo'er just kept talking in a low voice, but it was a pity that he was too far away to hear anything.
In the official system of the Yuan Dynasty, the Privy Council was in charge of the secret affairs of the world's military. All military affairs such as military affairs such as military affairs such as expeditions and garrison, briefings and dispatches, and control and dispatch were all in charge of the Privy Council. The deputy envoy to the Privy Council is one of the most important officials in the army, but today they are having a banquet together. Is he here for himself? Various speculations ran through Lotus's mind.
At this time, Thorin Timur saw that everyone was seated, the table was full of wine, and the meat by the fire was fragrant, so he stopped talking to Borzhi, looked around the three seats, cleared his throat and raised the wine in front of him. Bowl, loudly said: "Come! Let's do it! Accept the wind and wash away the dust for Princess Yining!".
Everyone picked up their wine bowls and drank in unison, including Zheng Zongcheng.
When Thorin Timur saw that the lotus was not moving, he asked, "Why doesn't the princess drink? Do you think that my bad wine from Mongolia is not as good as the clear dew from Goryeo?"
Lian Hua smiled slightly: "Lian Hua has taken refuge since she was a child and keeps the five precepts."
(The five precepts are Buddhist terms that mean not to kill, not to steal, not to lie, not to engage in sexual misconduct, and not to drink alcohol)
Thorin Timur laughed loudly: "That's because I was negligent. Princess, don't blame me."
Lotus smiled and didn't answer.
"Which sect does the princess convert to?"
"In our Korean Caoxi Zen sect, the founder Daoyi Guoshi is the fifth-generation disciple of Huineng, the sixth patriarch of the Celestial Dynasty. Lianhua has been studying with Master Wang since he was a child, Zen Master Zichao."
"Amazing! No wonder the princess is so graceful and graceful! I, the Great Yuan Dynasty, also adopt Buddhism as the national religion. Since the founder of the Great Patriarch, Pasiba, has been the emperor's teacher, Buddhism has prospered and good relationships have been established. Today's majesty also received ordination from the emperor's teacher before ascending the throne. .”
The lotus flower clasped its hands together and saluted, saying, "Excellent. I, the Buddha, am merciful and will protect the great Yuan Dynasty for everlasting peace."
Thorin Timur then asked some questions about North Korea's customs, landforms and scenery, very carefully. Lotus answered one by one, secretly on guard in her heart.
At this time, Bor only said: "I have been to Goryeo more than ten years ago. The land is fertile and the water is beautiful. It is very different from the yellow sand desert of Yuan Dynasty."
Lian Hua answered carefully: "There is water and soil, and there are people. We, the Korean people, have been accustomed to white water and black soil for hundreds of years, and we work diligently and diligently. The Yuan Dynasty is vast and high, and it is the vast world where Mongolian eagles soar and horses gallop."
Sorin Tiemur and Bor only looked at each other. Sorin Temür's voice turned cold: "Ergoli was originally a vassal state of my Dayuan, but now Li Chenggui refuses my Dayuan's good intentions and only focuses on Ming things." Da, where does this put my Da Yuan?"
Lianhua had no choice but to pretend to be confused: "Such national events are beyond the knowledge of a little girl. Lianhua will definitely tell his father about your thoughts."
"Hmph!" Thorin Timur's voice became even colder: "Although our Yuan Dynasty has temporarily retreated to Mobei, we still have millions of powerful soldiers and cavalry. If we are to conquer the Central Plains again, the Han people are weak, but we don't know who will win! Princess, please don't think that I am too powerful. Yuan can be bullied!" As he said this, he clapped his hands, and suddenly a bright light appeared behind him, and it turned out that there were rows of horse archers standing in the open space in the distance. I don't know when they stood there. He held a torch in his hand, and under the light of the fire, his clothes and armor were bright and murderous.
Lianhua was startled, and said with undisguised disgust on her face: "Sir, have you ever thought about why Dayuan retreated to Mobei?"
Thorin Timur was stunned.
"Sir, you know how to use force to suppress people, but do you know that the benevolent will win the world? Even if the people are forced to submit for a moment, they will eventually rise up to resist. The heroic soldiers and cavalry can only be displayed for a moment, how can they be majestic for a hundred generations? Since the Great Yuan Dynasty regards Buddhism as the national religion, you should know I, the Buddha, have a compassionate heart and treat people kindly like a son."
Thorin Timur's face turned blue and he said fiercely: "You don't know how to appreciate me!" He was about to attack.
Bo'er just held him down and said coldly to Lianhua: "Princess, you are very sharp-tongued. I won't argue with you. If Li Chenggui continues to behave in a perverse way, the princess should know that the Crown Prince of Korea is here with me. The people of Korea are still nostalgic for the past. I am very worried." Yuan Zi should help the prince restore the country, relieve the people from hanging upside down, and restore respect for my great Yuan."
Lian Hua's anger surged: "We, North Korea, have forever formed a close friendship with the Ming Dynasty. His Majesty the Emperor promised that our country, North Korea, would use the Yalu River as the boundary and never invade each other. In the past few years, the border has been peaceful, and we, North Korea, have been able to recuperate, and the people can live and work in peace and contentment."
When Lianhua said this, her voice was already a little high, and she looked sideways at Zheng Zongcheng: "Back then, your father, Lord Zheng Mengzhou, went on four missions to the Ming Dynasty. After going through many hardships and hardships, he met His Majesty the Emperor for the last time before reaching this agreement. I, the people of Korea, have great respect for your father. , I still feel fondly.”
Zheng Zongcheng had a dull face and no expression.
Lianhua turned his head and continued to face Solin Tiemur and Bor. He only said: "Soldiers are also deadly weapons. Saints have no choice but to use them. Yining sincerely urges the two adults to work for the benefit of the people of Yuan Dynasty and delay the work of herding sheep and horses." Xi, promote trilateral friendly trade, nourish the people and secure the country, and do not cause rash wars. Otherwise, if we are pursued by the Celestial Empire again, we will inevitably be defeated and the country will be destroyed, which will bring disaster to the Mongolian people."
Thorin Timur was so angry that he finally clapped down the wood with his raised hand. The wood broke into two sections, and the fruits and dishes rolled all over the floor.
"Come here! Take her down here!"