As the end of the year is approaching, time always goes by a little faster. It is rare that there is no one waiting in front of the imperial study room to discuss the affairs. Sixi smiled and said, "Does the emperor want to go out for a walk? The streets have been very lively recently."
Chu Yuan said: "What's the happy event?"
"There are no big happy events, but small ones keep coming up every day." Sixi said, "It's almost New Year's Eve, businessmen are trying their best to attract guests, and there are many rare things from all over the world. There are also many people who have weddings, and it is said that they want to invite suonas. The team still has to rely on robbing, and even the price of knocking the gong to clear the way has risen more than five times."
"You can understand clearly." Chu Yuan laughed, "It's okay, it's better to go out and relax."
Sixi waited on him and put on his casual clothes. The master and servant walked out of the palace without sitting in the sedan chair. The street is really lively, and there are many people who are married. I even met a big family and sprinkled wedding candy while walking. Peanut cakes were sandwiched with crushed lotus seeds, and sweet maltose was mixed together, which was a good sign.
The people were laughing and receiving candy on both sides of the road, feeling happy, and the little doll was jumping in and out, but accidentally fell down. mark.
"Ah yo, look at you." Si Xi was anxious.
"It doesn't matter, the child is careless." Chu Yuan smiled and motioned him not to scare the little doll, "Let's go, Qianfan's mansion is in front, just to see if he is cured, and I haven't seen him for three days. Morning."
"Yes." Four Xi wiped the hem of his clothes for him, squeezed through the crowd and headed to the General's Mansion. Riyue Mountain Villa is the head of the Jianghu martial arts. The house built for the third master is naturally not small. The eaves and corners are painted with Zhu Zhu. The words on the plaque are inscribed by Chu Yuan himself, and it is very imposing when seen from a distance.
"Your Majesty," someone whispered from behind.
Chu Yuan turned around.
Liu Dajiong, carrying a few bags of supplements, trotted over and said, "Is the emperor going to visit General Shen's mansion?"
Chu Yuan nodded: "It's such a coincidence that I can meet Liu Aiqing here as well."
"To tell the truth, Wei Chen is also going to visit General Shen. He has been ill for two or three days, which is worrying." Liu Dajiong shook the red paper bag in his hand, "This is a good thing, Dabu."
Chu Yuan laughed and joked: "If I remember correctly, Liu Aiqing's niece got married last month."
"The fourth niece has been completed, but the fifth niece has not." Liu Dajiong was very sincere, "This General Shen is a sweet pastry, and he can't relax."
Si Xi straight toothache.
Chu Yuan also couldn't help laughing at his hobby, so Sixi stepped forward and knocked on the door.
It was not the old housekeeper who came to open the door, but an eight- or nine-year-old boy who looked like a foreigner, his eyes were a little gray, but there was light.
"Who are you looking for?" the boy asked.
"We are friends of General Shen." Si Xi said, "I heard that the general was ill, so I came to visit him."
"Is that so." The boy turned sideways, "General Shen is in the backyard."
"Thank you." Sixi asked, "Where's Uncle Zhong? He opens the door on weekdays."
"Uncle Zhong went to buy New Year's goods." The young man closed the door, "I want to see the door, but I can't leave, you can go in by yourself."
After Sixi thanked them, the three walked to the backyard together. Chu Yuan said: "The gray-eyed boy seems to be from the Moon Moon Kingdom."
Sixi and Liu Dajiong looked at each other and remained silent.
Where is this.
Have not heard.
do not know.
Chu Yuan said with a smile: "It's a small country in the Western Regions, and it has very little contact with the Great Chu, but Qian Fan was born in the rivers and lakes, so it's not strange to have these friends in the house, and I just mentioned it casually."
Although the mansion is not small, there are not many servants. Near the end of the year, most of them have returned to their hometowns, looking a little empty.
"Look, I said, General Shen should have gotten married a long time ago." Liu Dajiong said, "New Year's Eve is deserted, without a wife and no children, no matter how big the house is, it's still not good."
"Aiqing, don't play side drums." Chu Yuan said, "This is a big New Year, can't let my ears stop for a moment?"
"Cough, cough." Liu Dajiong shut up and shut up, he didn't say anything.
Chu Yuan reached out and pushed open the backyard door.
Liu Dajiong's smile froze on his face.
Shen Qianfan was chatting with someone under the tree. The other party was a pretty woman in red, with bright features and enchanting figure, with black hair falling like a waterfall from her waist, and wearing a multicolored pendant on her wrist, she was looking over here.
"Miss cinnabar?" Chu Yuan laughed.
"I will see the emperor at the end of the day." Shen Qianfan saluted, secretly complaining in his heart - no one communicated.
"Your Majesty." Zhu Sha was also a little surprised.
"You don't look like you're sick." Chu Yuan smiled, "Please excuse me."
Shen Qianfan coughed twice: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"The last time I saw the girl, I was in the desert in the northwest." Chu Yuan said, "Since I came to the royal city, why don't I come to the palace as a guest."
"Just arrived the day before yesterday." Zhu Sha said.
"That's why someone was sick for three days." Chu Yuan patted Shen Qianfan's shoulder with no deep meaning.
Shen Qianfan immediately blushed.
Liu Dajiong wanted to cry when he saw it. He had been busy for more than half a year. It turned out that he liked this category, and he didn't say it earlier.
Cinnabar said: "I came to Wangcheng to find medicine."
"Have you found it?" Chu Yuan asked.
"Yeah." Zhu Sha said, "I originally planned to go to the palace tomorrow to visit the emperor and send a map by the way."
"Map?" Chu Yuan said, "Where is the map?"
Cinnabar said: "Emerald and Burma."
Chu Yuan was slightly surprised.
"The last time I heard the emperor mention Tianchensha, I was a little more distracted." Cinnabar said, "My people make a living by witch doctors and have always traveled around without a fixed place. More than ten years ago, some people went to the South China Sea. Heal the wounds of the Empress and Burmese princess."
"Oh?" Chu Yuan asked, "Where are the girl's clan now?"
"Already deceased." Cinnabar said, "He didn't leave anything behind. Only this map of the sea area of Emerald Burma was discovered by Ah Jiu when he was sorting out his father's belongings."
"So." Chu Yuan understood, "Thank you girl."
"The emperor's words are serious, it's just a little effort." Zhu Sha said, "Then I'll go back to the room to get the map."
Chu Yuan nodded slightly, and after watching her leave, he looked at Shen Qianfan with meaningful eyes.
"Your Majesty." Shen Qianfan's scalp was numb, "Ms. Cinnabar is just borrowing the residence in the mansion at the end of the day."
"How many inns are there in this royal city, do you have to live in the General's Mansion?" Chu Yuan raised his eyebrows.
Shen Qianfan said: "There are so many guest rooms, they are empty as well."
"You." Chu Yuan patted him, "Death."
Liu Dajiong was crying beside him.
Shen Qianfan's head throbbed faintly.
Fortunately, Chu Yuan knew his character and didn't say much. After taking the map, he said goodbye with Sixi, and took Liu Dajiong away by the way.
This map is a little scribbled, and it can only be seen that Emerald Myanmar is a country composed of 23 islands, scattered in the Baiwu Sea, and the scope is extremely wide. Apart from this, only a few freshwater sources are marked, and there is no other useful information.
The East China Sea Rebellion has not yet been quelled, and it is too early to mention Myanmar. Chu Yuan put away the map, opened a booklet sent by Donghai on the table, and read it hastily.
"Is it from Lord Wen?" Sixi poured tea for him and asked with a smile.
Chu Yuan nodded. The content of this memorial is extremely detailed. Wen Liunian was very happy inside. First, he said that he had made contact with Duan Wang. Duan Wang also gave Ye Guzhu three red armored wolves. Later, he said that Chu Heng has been sending people to The three-foot wave pretended to be a ghost, and thanks to the help of Duan Wang, together with the Shen alliance leader, they blew up the warship in the middle of the night, and the fire lit up the sky, which shocked the Chu family and their children. .
Chu Yuan smiled, thoughtfully.
After that, it's New Year's Eve. In the palace, a banquet was held for civil and military officials. Shen Qianfeng and Ye Jin returned to the Sun Moon Villa to celebrate the New Year. In Da Kun City, Wen Liunian was eating a reunion dinner. As for Duan Baiyue, he also served a plate of dumplings and a pot of wine as the locals did, and drank it for the moon alone.
Duan Nian sighed in his heart while pouring wine for him. Years have passed, and Wang Ye is now 30 years old, and he is not married yet.
When I was eighteen years old, I pulled the red silk and satin, and I haven't used it yet. Aunt Jin is afraid of dying.
As the year turns, time flies faster. It seems that the waves are calm and peaceful in the royal city, but those who know the inside story are all worried, waiting for the day when the war will start in the future.
"Old Tao." This morning, Liu Dajiong stabbed him with his arms and winked, "How is it, our emperor?"
Tao Rende was inscrutable and glanced at him.
"Oh, tsk." Liu Dajiong sighed, "I'm afraid it won't take a few years before you and I will be able to return to my hometown to retire. The first emperor thought too much at the beginning. How can we, the emperor, need an old man like you and me to assist twenty people. Years, ten years are too many."
Tao Rende said: "It's too early to say such things now."
"Why is it early?" Liu Dajiong said, "What the emperor wants to do this time, others don't know, you old weasel don't know?"
Tao Rende said: "It's one thing to raise peace in the world, and it's another thing to set up a concubine. The emperor only made the first four words, and the latter thing, but there is no shadow."
"It's up to you." Liu Dajiong put his sleeves on his sleeve, "But I think it's difficult!"
Tao Rende glanced at him: "Don't eat fire today?"
Liu Dajiong smiled wide-eyed: "Eat!" You pay for it.
On the long street, a group of silver-armored soldiers were riding their horses. Liu Dajiong hurriedly covered the fire, for fear that it would fall into ashes.
Tao Rende said, "It's the Silver Armored Guards."
Liu Dajiong ate the fire attentively, and did not want to be disturbed by other things.
This Guards Army was established by Shen Qianfan. After quelling the rebels in the Northeast Snow Plains, it has been secretly raised in the Beihai Yuzui Reef. It is only said that it was sent to the Riyue Mountain Villa. Only a few people know the truth. .
Now in the northwest frontier, the rebels of the desert countries have been eliminated, and further north, the Rakshasa country is also severely damaged by the war. The Qijue Kingdom even formed an alliance with the State of Chu, jointly excavating the water dragon veins, and connecting the new river channel with the ancient Silk Road. In the northeastern snowfields, the remnants of the previous dynasty have been wiped out for their misdeeds. People who live on the border of snow and wind all year round have been planned to move south in batches, and their lives will no longer be disturbed by the weather, and their granaries and wardrobes are full.
In this way, the troops that were previously pressed on the stretch of the northern border can be withdrawn and redeployed, without having to worry about the future.
Chu Yuan left a flame lacquer mark on the letter, and sent 800 li to the East China Sea and Muyang City.
A few months later, a thunderbolt exploded in Da Chu.
The King of the Southwest turned back.
"This time is different, this time it's really the opposite!" On the streets of Wangcheng, the price of small story books has skyrocketed, but the supply is still in short supply. Even if people break their heads, they should buy a copy of "The Secret History of the King of Southwest China" to read it, so that they can understand, this is so good, how can it be reversed - don't try to fight all the way to the king's city.
The biggest advantage of Muyang City is that it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The Southwest Army flanked the prefect's yamen overnight, threw all the local officials into prison, closed the city gate, and the black muzzle of the gun pointed at the official road, which made people feel numb.
Such a place where the emperor was so far away, the imperial army naturally could not arrive in time. The only people who can count on it at this time are Chu Heng and the Black Dragon Army in Dakun City.
Chu Cheng said angrily, "If I remember correctly, your lord was sent by the emperor to negotiate with Duan Baiyue!"
Wen Liunian's tone was sad and angry, I talked about it, but I didn't talk about it, who is to blame, can you blame me, can you still make some sense!
Chu Heng's face was gloomy, and he signaled his son not to talk too much.
Chu Cheng threw his sleeves out angrily.
Having been entrenched in the East China Sea for so many years, no one would believe him if he said he had no strength. It's just that the Chu family didn't want to send troops to fight against Duan Baiyue. The one in the imperial court has made it clear that he wants the power of the general to be gradually withdrawn since he ascended the throne. The best thing to do at this moment is to preserve his strength to fight against him, not to fight for him - otherwise, if he really faces the Southwest Army, After fighting for a year and a half, when the two sides were exhausted, the army of the Great Chu arrived just in time to enjoy the benefits of the fisherman's harvest, and his years of hard work would not be destroyed.
"Father." Chu Cheng said, "Do you want me to meet the King of Southwest China for a while?"
Chu Heng was silent.
"He wants the south of the Baijiang River, and we want the north of the Baijiang River, which is not contradictory." Chu Chengdao, "It is better to rule the world in separate divisions than to be cut by the one in the court little by little. My biological brother is cruel and ruthless, you and my father and son are at most a foreign relative, can you expect him to be merciful?"
Chu Heng nodded slightly.
Chu Cheng understood: "My child understands."
Hundreds of miles away on the official road, the army of Chu State was advancing rapidly.
Wearing bright yellow soft armor, Chu Yuan marched in front of thousands of troops with swords.
"Why in the end do you want to go to the army and fight in person!" In Dakun City, Ye Jin still hated that iron would not become steel, beat the wall with his hands, and sent someone to come, what's so good about the surname Duan.
Alliance Lord Shen's head hurts a lot.
"Your Majesty." A few days later, Shen Qianfan turned his horse's head in front of him and came back to report, "There is a Jianghu sect ahead called Tianying Pavilion. The leader is the last general's childhood friend, so why don't we stay here tonight for the time being? rest?"
Chu Yuan nodded: "Okay."
"I'll make arrangements at the end of the day." Shen Qianfan led the order and left. The pavilion owner of Tianying Pavilion was named Li Ying. He lived in Sun Moon Villa for three or four years when he was young, and he had a good relationship with the Shen brothers. More than ten days ago, I heard the news that the army was going to pass by, and there was no need for instructions. I had already prepared spontaneously, and collected all the pig's head, bacon and lamb legs from Shili Baxiang, and waited for them to be given to the soldiers of the Chu army. cook and eat.
"After so many days to travel, it can be regarded as a decent house to sleep in." Father Sixi had a sore back.
Chu Yuan looked amused: "I already told you to stay in the palace and have to come out."
Sixi Gong said: "That can't be done, the old slave wants to serve the emperor."
"If you don't get thinner, it's time for Zhen to find someone to serve you." Chu Yuan patted his stomach, "Okay, rest, I will go and see Qianfan."
"Yes." Father Sixi pondered in his heart, seeing the little prince this time, he wondered if he could ask for some herbs to soak in water to lose weight.
In the front hall, Li Ying was chatting with Shen Qianfan when he heard the disciple say that the emperor was coming, and hurriedly went out to greet him.
"The pavilion owner doesn't need to be too polite." Chu Yuan said, "I just came to see it at will, didn't I disturb the two of you?"
"The emperor's words are serious, he is just talking about things from his childhood." Shen Qianfan said, "Also, brother Li is still glad that he did not marry his sister to the king of Southwest China."
Chu Yuan: "...?"
"The emperor doesn't know anything, my sister is a stubborn one." Li Ying said, "When I went to the southwest six or seven years ago, I somehow fell in love with the king of the southwest. When I came back, I insisted on asking me to propose a marriage."
"Oh, there's this matter." Chu Yuan's attitude was very kind.
"My father was still alive at the time, and I didn't agree with him anyway, saying that the King of Southwest did not look like a man who could live his life, and he was too ambitious to marry." Li Ying continued.
Chu Yuan nodded: "What Ling Zun said is very true."
"It was her father who made the decision and married her to the young leader of the Weihe Gang." Li Ying sighed, "It's just that she has a hard life, and her husband was castrated a few years after they got married."
Chu Yuan: "..."
Shen Qianfan was surprised: "Why didn't you hear Brother Li talk about it before, who did it?"
Li Yingwei: "It's hard to say."
Shen Qianfan asked again, "What about Miss Li? Are you still in the Weihe Gang?"
Li Ying shook his head: "When this happened, why did I keep her at my husband's house? Before I could send someone to pick it up, she came back with the divorce letter, crying and wanting to remarry."
…
Shen Qianfan could only say: "Alright."
"Don't talk about my bad family affairs." Li Ying said: "The emperor and Brother Shen are really leaving the day after tomorrow? Might as well stay a few more days."
"The war is imminent, and it can't be delayed for a day." Shen Qianfan said, "I have good intentions, let's talk about it when we return."
"Forget it." Li Ying said, "Then I will wait here for my Great Chu Iron Cavalry to return with a great victory."
Under the city of Muyang, the Chu army was still scolding constantly - since Chu Yuan had already led the army south, Chu Heng naturally couldn't do nothing, so he sent two thousand black dragon army to crusade. Or called a crusade, it is a quarrel. Every day, he just greeted the ancestors of the other party under the city wall, and then called Jin to withdraw his troops, and then gave Chu Yuan a note to show that he had done his duty.
Duan Nian watched the excitement on the city wall, and yawned back to his room, intending to rest.
The prince has been away for the past few days, and he doesn't even have the mood to open the city gate to scare this group of people.
On the mountain path, the Fire Cloud Lion flew into the air with four hooves, like a black lightning bolt. Towns and cities were left behind, and the clouds flew by in the sky, changing into magnificent shapes.
"Drive!" Duan Baiyue waved his hand and whipped his whip, his clothes flying.
"Come, come! Sell sugar cakes, the secret recipe of Tianying Pavilion's ancestral recipe!" At the bustling Yamashita market, hawkers were selling. There are also those who sell grilled fish, rice noodles, and embroidered shoes, all of which are ancestral industries of Tianying Pavilion—it is no wonder that Tianying Pavilion is the largest Jianghu martial art in these ten miles and eight townships. For these reasons, I have the confidence to shout, I am not afraid of hooligans, and I am good at doing business.
Duan Baiyue left the horse in the inn and climbed all the way from the back mountain to the top. Looking down, there is a continuous line of houses in the mountains, white walls and black tiles are very imposing, it is Tianying Pavilion.
After lunch time, Chu Yuan had no appetite, just drank a pot of fruit tea, and was resting in the courtyard at this time. Although he closed his eyes, he always felt that someone was staring at him secretly.
…
"Your Majesty." Seeing him getting up, Si Xi hurriedly said, "Would you like some snacks?"
Chu Yuan shook his head: "I want to go out for a walk alone, no one is allowed to follow."
Four Xi took the lead, but he was puzzled. According to the previously agreed time, General Shen estimated that he was coming. Where is the emperor going.
Along the path in the forest, Chu Yuan walked slowly forward alone, the fallen leaves rustled under his feet, making the surroundings even more quiet.
Duan Baiyue followed behind him, getting closer and closer, but did not speak.
Chu Yuan stopped and raised the corner of his mouth.
Quietly watching the back of her beloved, Duan Baiyue only felt a thousand emotions in her heart, and for a while, her eyes became a little hot.
Chu Yuan asked, "What are you doing here?"
Duan Baiyue strode forward and hugged him in his arms, his voice hoarse: "I miss you."
Chu Yuan closed his eyes slightly and let him kiss on his neck, leaving a tingling pain. After a long time, he said, "Is the poison detoxified?"
"Well." Duan Baiyue tightened her arms and was reluctant to let go.
Chu Yuan continued: "Do you still remember what I said that day?"
"Forgot." Duan Baiyue said, "You forgot too."
Chu Yuan leaned in his arms, with a smile in his voice, and said lazily, "I didn't intend to forgive you."
Duan Baiyue turned around and met his eyes: "Give me a chance."
Chu Yuan reached out and touched his cheek, looked at it for a while, and then said, "It's still the same."
Duan Baiyue said: "Huh?"
Chu Yuan said: "Ugly."
Duan Baiyue held his hand: "I was not because of being ugly, but because of poison."
"Because of the poison, you can leave?" Chu Yuan looked at him and drew back his hand, "It's too late to come back now, I don't want you anymore."
Duan Baiyue said: "If you don't want it, don't want it."
Chu Yuan raised his eyebrows and looked at him.
"How did you get it in the first place? This king will come again." Duan Baiyue held his wrist and pulled the person into his arms to lower his head and wanted to kiss, but footsteps and voices suddenly came from outside the woodland.
"You said that you are so good at home, why did you follow the emperor and General Shen to the East China Sea?" Li Ying's brain hurts.
Li Que leaned against the tree and said, "Of course it's for Duke Duan!"
Chu Yuan squatted on the tree, watching the excitement.
Duan Baiyue is inexplicable, what does it have to do with me
"Then the King of Southwest is now a rebel, what are you going to do?" Li Ying was stunned.
"I recognize the thief too." Li Que gritted his teeth, "When I was in the southwest, I already had a relationship with him. No matter what, you promise to let me go to the East China Sea this time!"
Li Ying's scalp was numb, and he felt that his sister must be crazy: "Do you say it again?"
"It's the same when I say it ten times." Li Que said, "Anyway, I have to find that Duan this time. Do you agree or not?"
Chu Yuan's eyes were unfathomable. He supported his cheek with one hand and turned his head to look at the person beside him.
The King of Southwest was at a loss, but for the first time he knew what it meant to be a calamity from the sky, a calamity that was unpredictable.