It has been more than six years since the Kingdom of Liu took the initiative to start a war with the Xiongnu. During these six years, the monarch sitting on the Dragon Throne really lived up to the fact that he "will take back all the other six cities" when he took back Rongcheng. The oath, the imperial court has always transported supplies to the army in an endless stream, supporting them to take down the city belonging to the Liu Kingdom.
One after another the cities occupied by the Huns were brought down, and one by one the Liu people who had been enslaved as animals for more than ten years were rescued and released back to their hometowns.
From the simplest Rongcheng to the last Xiaocheng, it took six years.
In the past six years, Liu Guojun has not been what it used to be. They wear the warmest cotton-padded clothes, and even their weapons are well-equipped. After writing down a few strokes above, the impetuousness in the army disappeared unknowingly, and every man seemed to have a righteous face of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism.
It has to be like this.
Since the arrival of this special envoy, he has observed the affairs of the army every day. Whether it is a general or a small soldier, as long as the special envoy finds something special, he will write down his name and then write it down. For special places that the envoy considers, these papers will be put into a box after one month expires, and someone will send them to Kyoto at high speed, and present them to the emperor to show to the Ninth Five-Year Lord sitting on the dragon chair.
During the first month when the special envoy came, the whole army thought that he was here to write down their names to make a small report. Everyone was a little bit alert in their hearts, for fear of being caught by the special envoy to make a report.
As a result, the box was quickly sent to Beijing, and when he came back, he brought His Majesty's imperial decree, which stated which soldiers to reward.
It's nothing more than a high-ranking general, and the little soldiers who have never met the saint are almost not stunned by this huge pie when they are called.
It wasn't until the person who read the imperial decree read his hometown, and the people around him urged him to go up, that he went up to receive the award in a daze.
He received His Majesty's Grace Award not for anything else, but because when he laid down a city in the army, he did not touch a single thread in the city from the beginning to the end, and even helped the frightened children of the Liu Kingdom find their parents .
It is a new rule in the army not to smash and loot when breaking into a city, but these soldiers have long been accustomed to snatching spoils, and the implementation is mediocre.
Knowing why this little soldier was rewarded, the soldiers around were envious and at the same time suddenly realized. They said, why did such a white-faced, needless and powerless scholar follow the city on the day of the siege? Later, feelings are here waiting for them.
Watching the little soldier take over the silver taels on the tray with trembling hands, the envious eyes fell on him a little more.
The Huns never enjoy it. Even if these cities were once prosperous, they were robbed of them in disasters more than ten years ago. This pawn gets a lot of rewards.
If they had known that there would be such good things if they didn't rob things, they wouldn't have robbed them.
And before these people secretly made up their minds that they must behave peacefully in front of the special envoy next time, after reading the list of rewards above, they began to read the list of punishments.
These people are usually not motivated, only know how to hide, but when they broke into the city, they were very majestic, and some people even went to snatch the clothes specially sent by the imperial court for these suffering people.
Those who were lazy in front and pretended to be corpses on the battlefield were all directly pulled onto the stage, and they were beaten 30 times in front of everyone.
The rest of the more serious ones did not have such a light punishment, and they were directly kicked out of the army, and they were not allowed to join the army for the rest of their lives.
If this sentence was placed two years ago, it might still be a good thing for those who were expelled, and it might not be so happy.
But now, who doesn't know that they are paid a lot of soldiers, and they are given clothes all year round, and the food in the army is even more abundant. They can bring half-children who are poor at home to the army. He was as happy as falling into a lucky nest. Although the daily practice was more difficult, but with the good skills cultivated in the army, even if he retired from the army in the future, he would still be much better than ordinary men Come.
At the beginning of the battle with the Huns, there were still new recruits who were afraid, but they were holding sharp long knives distributed by the court, while the Huns only had scimitars with discarded cloth in their hands, and some even used them for a long time. And bluntly, if it was in their Liu Kingdom, even if the blade was only missing a small hole, it would be replaced with a new knife, but if it was in the Huns, they could only fight against them with a scimitar that was full of holes.
During the battle in winter, they ate well and sometimes had mutton soup to drink. Although each person could only get a piece of meat, compared with the hungry Huns with yellow and emaciated faces, the feeling in their hearts was naturally beautiful.
They wear cotton clothes, at most their hands and feet are cold, but the Huns are exposed to the cold wind from head to toe.
One side is full and clothed, while the other side is suffering from hunger and cold. When it comes to fighting, it is only natural that the Liu people will win.
If you are injured on the battlefield and can no longer live as a civilian, as long as you report it, you will be arranged by the court to return to your hometown to work. Often wounded soldiers like them will go back and can always be assigned to the lightest province. The work, and the silver taels handed out are enough to support the whole family.
If unfortunately died on the battlefield, the imperial court will send a pension, and the pension will be layered up. His Majesty has already stated the amount of the pension. If the amount received by the family members of the deceased is wrong, the imperial court will definitely investigate to the end.
Even if it is greedy for one tael of silver, the head of the greedy person will fall.
Such good treatment, not to mention the Huns, even the late emperor did not have it.
In the past, everyone was afraid of joining the army, or being forcibly conscripted, for fear of going to the battlefield and losing their lives with no one to take care of them. Some men even pretended to be women in order not to be arrested.
Looking at the present, the annual conscription does not require the imperial court to send people to every household to urge them to line up long queues early, and some of them are dismissed due to physical reasons, and they still feel uncomfortable for a few days.
In the Liu Kingdom at this moment, it is almost enough for everyone to practice martial arts. After all, since the news of His Majesty's love for martial arts spread, first the rich families urged their children to practice martial arts, and then because they wanted to join the army and because there were no other people who were capable of martial arts. They practiced secretly, just to be able to squeeze into the army and beat the Huns well.
In the past six years, the opinions of the people of Liu State towards the Huns have changed rapidly.
The fear in the past has become the eagerness to try at this moment. The hatred did not make them cowardly, but made them try hard to fight the Huns.
Because of these fresh blood, plus the fact that the army always followed the envoys, and everyone worked hard to enrich themselves, Liu Guojun was no longer what it used to be.
When they chanted slogans, broke through the city gate, rushed into Xiaocheng, and announced that the last city had also been taken back.
Liu Guo is finally complete.
***
There are many Liu people who survived in Xiaocheng, but the most troublesome ones for the imperial court are the orphans who have no father or mother and don't even know where their elders are from.
Compared with Rongcheng, which was also prosperous for a while, Xiaocheng's terrain is unstable. It was originally next to the border, and it was also the first city occupied by the Huns. There are not many bloodlines of the orthodox Liu Kingdom that survived, and most of them are related to the Huns. People who are slaves here.
It's good for the elders to be alive, but if the parents who gave birth to them have passed away, for them, they really don't know where they are from the Liu country.
Theoretically speaking, they are no longer from the Liu Kingdom.
But Wei Mingyan still issued an order to let the army bring back these children who have no father, no mother, and no place of origin when they return to the court.
Now that the imperial court is about to establish a carrier pigeon station, it is the time when manpower is needed. Although these children have half of the blood of the Huns, they have been regarded as slaves by the Huns since childhood, doing the hardest work, and despised by the Huns. Isn't it clear at a glance how to choose Liu Guo, who treats them as his own from food, drink and clothes
If there are those who insist that they are the Huns and refuse to go with the army, they will not force them to stay. Anyway, the Huns are also afraid of being beaten, and Liu Guo is busy with construction. It is estimated that there will be no tension between the two countries in the short term There will be no more battles.
When the Liu Guojun entered Beijing, it was not an exaggeration to say that they greeted each other along the road. Liu Guo now advocates martial arts, and for these soldiers who actually went to the battlefield to beat the Huns to death, they couldn't wait to rush forward and tell them something admire.
The people who were rescued from Xiaocheng walked together, looking around with novelty in their eyes.
It was okay to be treated as slaves since they were young, and they only thought that their own country was like this, but there were also those old people who had been to Kyoto, and their vision was very confused.
What is paved on this ground, and why can it make the road so smooth.
Also, how can there be little ladies who come out without a veil on the street, and how can they call the man's name on the street so that they are not afraid of being reprimanded by their families
They walked, such as Lang Su and Fan Yuancai, who had an official position, were riding on horses. Six years passed in a hurry. , the complexion is a sun-tanned wheat color, and even the shoulders are much wider than before. At this moment, wearing a suit of armor, looking at the little ladies upstairs who are shouting their names and throwing petals down, they laughed with their friends in high spirits. , "We are going back to Beijing this time with this posture, and we don't know when we will be able to change into new tricks."
Fan Yuancai, who was riding alongside him, still had the same fair complexion as six years ago, his facial features hadn't changed much, but he looked calm and quiet, completely different from the playboy he used to be.
"I'm afraid there will be no next time. Since Xiao Cheng has been taken back, His Majesty will definitely not trouble the Xiongnu again."
The two horses took the lead and walked in front. When they got downstairs, the little ladies upstairs became even more excited. Among them, there were many little ladies dressed in luxurious clothes, sprinkled flower petals down excitedly, and screamed their names.
As the two young generals who were personally promoted by His Majesty and lived up to the expectations of the public and made several contributions, the two of them have always had a good reputation in Beijing.
A petal fell, and it happened to land on top of Lang Su's head. He reached out and took it off helplessly, sighed, and said with joy, "Fortunately, it's a petal. If it was the sachet, I wouldn't hurt it."
Fan Yuan chuckled, "Your Majesty has long decreed that you are not allowed to throw anything other than flower petals, so as not to hit passers-by. You can rest assured."
"It's not good to lose the petals. They must have sprayed incense on the petals. When the street is over, I'm afraid my whole body will be full of fragrance. I have to explain it to Jiuniang again."
After Lang Su complained, she suddenly looked at Fan Yuancai, "Yuancai, you have to help me later, after all, I am also your uncle."
Fan Yuan just couldn't understand the smug smile on Lang Su's face every time he said that he was his uncle.
This man has been a junior for more than ten years, and once he turned over, he chased him every day and asked him to call him uncle. If Lang Su didn't smile so proudly, maybe he would still be willing to call him, but this time he was so proud, Fan Yuan was unwilling to fulfill his wish.
He glanced at his friend, "I should have become sworn brothers with you back then, let's see how you marry my aunt."
"You brat is breaking the water, you!"
Lang Su stretched out his hand to hit him, but Fan Yuan quickly dodged it sideways, turned around suddenly, and stretched out his hand to beckon to the little ladies upstairs looking down. With a refined smile, the little ladies immediately became excited, The petals are sprinkled down desperately.
Lang Su, who was sprinkled with petals, looked at his friend who was also covered in the fragrance of flowers, "...does this count as hurting the enemy by one thousand and yourself by eight hundred?"
Fan Yuan didn't care at all, and gloated, "Even if I jumped into the sea of fragrance, my aunt won't care about me."
"Uncle, take care."
The two friends who had been friends for many years were chatting leisurely, but the person from Xiao Cheng, who was timidly walking behind, almost popped his eyes out.
It's fine without wearing a gauze hat, but she still shows love to the man so boldly, and the gentlemen around her look like they're used to it.
After more than 20 years, Liu Guo's male and female defenses have almost disappeared
The people of Xiaocheng were first placed in the Emperor's Courtyard. They still remember their hometown, parents, and brothers, and they will be taken there by messengers. If their relatives are still there, someone will tell him so that he can return to his hometown. .
This was also done to avoid the situation where the people of the Liu Kingdom who suffered in Rongcheng six years ago returned to their hometown full of joy as soon as they were rescued, but faced with the absence of their relatives and no land to live in.
This group of people was accommodated and settled in such a panic. They lived in a big room with many beds in it. Ten people shared a room. It was not crowded at all, and it was very spacious.
Xiao Huhua was assigned to one of them. He was only thirteen years old this year, and his parents were both from the Liu Kingdom. However, when he was four years old, a Hun drank too much and wanted to make his mother vent his desire. His father came forward and begged, On the contrary, the Huns were furious, and his parents were killed by two swords.
He stumbled and grew up under the care of other Liu people. Because he couldn't eat enough to eat and had to work hard since he was a child, he looked several years younger than his actual age.
Being assigned to this room, with no one familiar with him around, Xiao Huhua sat stiffly on his bed, and when he noticed the soft cushion under his buttocks, his expression became even more restrained.
In fact, he didn't remember his parents for a long time, but he knew that he was from the Liu country, but no one told him what the Liu country was like. But only full of timidity.
In his mind, the Liu Kingdom was similar to the Xiongnu. People with high status drank and ate meat, while those with low status were treated lightly. Even if they were beaten to death, no one would care.
Xiao Huhua was very afraid that he would still live like this when he arrived in Liuguo, but the elders around him, except for the locals of Xiaocheng, said that they would follow them to the capital, where they had their homes and relatives.
Xiao Huhua also wants to stay in Xiaocheng. Although he has been living in this city as a slave, at least he is familiar with everything here. Take it to Kyoto to be placed by the imperial court.
It turned out that although he was afraid, there were elders by his side, and Xiao Huhua's mood was not bad. Now that he was placed in an unfamiliar environment, facing these strange teenagers who were his own age, he couldn't help but tremble.
They all looked to be in their teens, wearing unpatched clothes, some were making their beds, some were washing their feet with water, and some were holding books and reading by candles.
Xiao Huhua wanted to talk to them, but he didn't dare to open his mouth. He just sat there for an unknown amount of time, and suddenly remembered that the person who seemed to be in charge said that he wanted them to go to bed early. Looking at the boy who had already fallen asleep, he got into the quilt with his whole body.
The quilt was still a little cold at first, but after a while, the warmth filled the entire quilt.
This was the most peaceful night Xiao Huhua slept since he could remember. There was no cold wind, no scolding, and no whips hitting him.
Only later did he know that what he slept on last night was called a cotton quilt, and it was planted in various parts of the Liu Kingdom, but only the Emperor's Grace Court planted it. His Majesty planted it in the palace and gave it to them.
On the second day, he sat at the table and was given a set of paper, pen and ink.
Under the sunlight, the white paper looked as attractive as if it was shining with golden light.
Xiao Huhua cherished these papers very much. Even if the husband said that he would send them to them after finishing writing, he still cherished it. In the Xiongnu, paper was very precious. For example, the lives of slaves like them may not be as important as a piece of paper.
And these papers were all given by His Majesty.
Things that were once unattainable no matter how extravagantly they wanted, were placed in front of them like this.
He worked hard to learn the knowledge from his teacher, even if he couldn't learn it in class, he had to recite it silently in his heart repeatedly after class when he was working with other people.
During the exam, Xiao Huhua took the third place.
He was told that His Majesty has established carrier pigeon stations in various places to store or transport goods from various places, and they, orphans who have learned to read, will be sent to the carrier pigeon stations.
You can agree or not.
Without hesitation, Xiao Huhua agreed.
He didn't know why His Majesty wanted to build a pigeon station, and he didn't know what the function of the pigeon station would be, but as long as it was His Majesty, he would work hard to implement it.
But before he stood with the others, carried the package on his back, and was about to set off, Xiao Huhua met Zhao Shuqing, Minister of the Household Department.
It is said that he and His Majesty jointly discussed and released many decisions. Even if many things are absolutely fantasy in the eyes of others, His Majesty will press the opposition of the court and go ahead with his will.
And the facts have proved that His Majesty's decision is not wrong.
When the handsome Lord Shang Shu in a green shirt finished speaking, Xiao Huhua couldn't help but looked up at him, and with just one glance, he knew why it was said that Zhao Shangshu was the most popular among young ladies in Beijing.
If it is really as in the legend, it is graceful and graceful, standing there, it is like a painting.
Of course, Xiao Huhua always felt that the reason why Zhao Shangshu was so popular with such a young lady was not only his appearance, but also the reason for the girls' school opened by His Majesty when he wrote the letter.
When he was working, the mother-in-law of the cook once told him that six years ago, all the women in the capital would not go out of the gate, not to mention that they came out to play together like today, even if they met a foreigner at home, They are all to be avoided in a hurry.
Married commoner ladies can come out with their husbands, but unmarried girls are not even allowed to read books.
Xiao Huhua has never seen what the Liu State was like before, so he can easily accept the current Liu State, especially since he will start a family in a few years, if he has a daughter and sends him to a women's school, then he should how nice.
While thinking about it, he listened to Master Shangshu's speech on the stage. It was really clear, so he hurriedly wrote it down.
It's just that for some reason, from the beginning to the end, Xiao Huhua didn't see a smile on Shang Shu's face.
He thought, maybe, this is the seriousness of an official.
***
After Zhao Shuqing sent the first batch of people to the carrier pigeon station, he turned around and got on the carriage, "Go home."
The coachman had long been accustomed to his lord's succinct speech, and drove the carriage all the way back to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
"Second Young Master, you are back."
"Um."
Zhao Shuqing responded, and strode towards his yard.
He was so full of anger now that he wanted to catch the emperor who sat on the dragon chair but knew how to play all day long without doing his job, and howled a few times.
When the cement came out, this guy shamelessly entrusted him with the task of paving the cement on the road. After finally paving it, he was pestered to find a way to make the sword sharper. How could Zhao Shuqing know how to use a sword? Sharp, he flipped through his memory, and said a few words casually, this ancient emperor who was so lazy was actually tossed out. After saying that one sentence, just that one sentence, this guy insisted on trying to get the express delivery out, and named it the Pigeon Station.
Six years, six years!
Since entering the court, Zhao Shuqing felt like an old scalper, conscientiously building for the ancient emperor.
Resign! ! !
He is resigning now! !
Quit it, whoever loves to be an old scalper should do it!
Okay, the express delivery has been tossed out, the next step is to get the steam engine out!
"Steam engine?"
Wei Mingyan, who was walking this way while holding a snack, swallowed the sweet and soft pastry in his mouth, and asked enthusiastically, "Shuqing, what is this steam engine?"
Zhao Shuqing looked at his elegantly dressed appearance with a comfortable expression, and then thought about how he hadn't returned home all day because of this carrier pigeon station, so he gritted his teeth involuntarily.
"Your Majesty overheard, I didn't say anything."
"Oh... I thought so too, where is such a strange chicken, it doesn't sound delicious."
Wei Mingyan nodded, "Shuqing, since the carrier pigeon station has been completed, shouldn't it be time for us to open the department store you mentioned?"
"I have already told the people below, this matter is up to you, do it well!"
Zhao Shuqing looked indifferently at the emperor in front of him, "Department stores are just my whim..."
Returning the department store, he will resign now, goodbye!
"Your Majesty, I have taken over the post of Minister of the Household Department. I think I have the will but not enough energy. I came here specially today..."
"It's nothing, I don't dislike it." Wei Mingyan interrupted him directly.
"Seeing your expression, haven't you eaten yet? Here, this is for you to fill your stomach. I won't eat it."
With a plate of snacks stuffed in his hand, Zhao Shuqing's expression remained indifferent, and he insisted on continuing what he said just now, "I'm here this time to say goodbye..."
"Hey, Shuqing, is there a small black spot on your flower? Could it be that there are insects?"
Zhao Shuqing's attention immediately turned to the flower held up by the emperor in front of him, and he frowned seriously at the black spot on the petal.
"How could this be? It wasn't there in the morning."
"I see, you still didn't put them in the greenhouse, but the glass is not enough? I still have a lot in the treasury. When I return to the palace, these flowers will not be like this."
Zhao Shuqing put down his snacks, took the flowerpot that Wei Mingyan handed over, touched the flowers and leaves carefully, completely forgot what he was thinking just now, and nodded lightly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Why don't you say thank you? If you really want to thank me, why don't you just get the department store out? When the time comes, I'll build a greenhouse in it. You can plant whatever flowers you want. I won't interfere!"
Plant whatever flowers you want, this temptation is too great.
Zhao Shuqing pondered for a few seconds, weighed in his heart for a while, and then hesitated, "But the cost of building the greenhouse..."
"From the national treasury, Shuqing, you are my capable subordinate, and you can be regarded as my half brother. I just spent some money to build a greenhouse for you, which is nothing."
Wei Mingyan's righteous words and handsome face are completely lacking. Most of the money in the treasury is earned by the people in front of him.
As soon as he said this, Zhao Shuqing's eyebrows relaxed a little.
"So, thank you, Your Majesty, I will start preparing the department store tomorrow."
How can such a good thing always happen to him when he can get a greenhouse without spending money.
How about planting another pot of flowers today to celebrate.