252. I am a good emperor (12) (1/2)

252. I am a good emperor (12) (1/2)

It has been more than six years since the Liu Kingdom took the initiative to start a war with the Xiongnu. During these six years, the monarch sitting on the dragon throne has truly lived up to his promise to "take back all the other six cities" when he took back Rong City. In accordance with the oath, the imperial court continued to transport supplies to the army to support them in conquering the city belonging to the Liu Kingdom.

One after another, cities occupied by the Huns were captured, and the Liu people who had been enslaved as animals for more than ten years were rescued and returned to their hometowns.

It took six years to go from Rong City, which was the easiest to conquer, to Xiao City, the last one now.

In the past six years, Liu ** has changed a lot. They wear the warmest cotton clothes and even have excellent weapons. Since His Majesty sent a special envoy to follow the army, they walk around holding papers every day. After jotting down a few strokes on it from time to time, the impetuousness that still existed in the army disappeared unconsciously, and every man seemed to have a righteous face that was loyal to the emperor and patriotic.

It has to be like this.

Since the arrival of this person called the Special Envoy, he has been observing military affairs every day. Whether it is a general or a small soldier, as long as the Special Envoy finds something special, he will write down the name and then write it down. For places that the envoy considers special, when one month is up, the papers will be put into the box, and someone will send them to Kyoto on horseback, and then present them to the emperor to show them to the Nine-Five Emperor who is sitting on the Dragon Throne.

In the first month after the envoy came, the whole army thought that he was just here to write down their names and report them. Everyone was a little wary, fearing that the envoy would catch them and report them.

As a result, the box was quickly delivered to the capital. When it came back, it brought His Majesty's imperial edict, which stated which soldiers were to be commended.

That's all for the high-ranking generals. The little soldiers who had never seen a saint before were almost knocked unconscious by this huge pie when they were called.

It wasn't until the person reading the edict read his place of origin 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 favor not for anything else, but because when he conquered a city in the army, he did not touch a single stitch in the city from beginning to end, and even helped the frightened children of the Liu Kingdom find their parents. .

Breaking a city without smashing or looting is a new rule in the army, but these soldiers have long been accustomed to snatching trophies, so their execution is average.

After knowing why this little soldier was rewarded, the surrounding soldiers were envious and suddenly realized. They asked, why did such a white-faced, helpless and incompetent scholar insist on following him on the day of the siege? Later, feelings are waiting for them here.

Watching the little soldier take the silver on the tray with trembling hands, the envious eyes fell on him a little more.

The Huns never enjoyed it. Even if these cities were once prosperous, they were all robbed in the disaster more than ten years ago. They all happily went to rob things that day, but there was nothing there. This soldier received many rewards.

If they had known that not grabbing things would lead to such good things, they would not have grabbed them.

But before these people could secretly make up their minds that they must behave peacefully in front of the envoy next time, after reading the list of rewards above, they began to read the list of those who needed punishment.

These people were usually unmotivated and just lazy, but when they broke into the city, they were very majestic. Some people even went to rob the clothes specially sent by the imperial court to these suffering people.

Those who were lazy and pretending to be corpses on the battlefield were all directly pulled to the stage and beaten thirty times in front of everyone.

The remaining more serious cases were not punished so lightly. They were immediately kicked out of the army and were not allowed to join the army for the rest of their lives.

If this sentence was written two years ago, it might still be a good thing for the people who were expelled, and it might not be so joyful.

But now, who doesn’t know that they are paid well as soldiers, are given clothes all year round, and are provided with ample food in the army. They can even make half-grown men who are poor at home come to the army, It's as happy as falling into a lucky nest. Although daily training is more difficult, with the good skills learned in the army, even if he retires from the army in the future, he will still be much better than ordinary men. Come.

When fighting the Huns, there were still new recruits who were afraid at first, but they were holding sharp long knives distributed by the court, while the Huns only had scimitars holding discarded fabrics in their hands. When it was blunted, if it were placed in their Liu country, even if the blade was just missing a small hole, it would be replaced with a new one. But if it was placed in the Xiongnu, they could only fight with the pitted scimitar.

During the winter battle, they ate well and sometimes drank mutton soup. Although each person could only get a piece of meat, compared with the hungry Huns, who were sallow and skinny, the feeling in their hearts was naturally beautiful.

They wore cotton-padded clothes, and at most their hands and feet were cold, but the Huns were exposed to the cold wind from head to toe.

One side is well fed and clothed, while the other side is suffering from hunger and cold. In a duel, it is natural for Liu Guoren to 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 injured soldiers like them can always be assigned to the lightest province when they return. He worked hard, and the money he received was enough to support a family.

If someone unfortunately dies on the battlefield, the imperial court will also send a pension. The pension is layer upon layer. His Majesty has already stated the amount of the pension. If the family members of the deceased receive an incorrect amount, the imperial court will definitely investigate thoroughly.

Even if you are greedy for a tael of silver, the person who is greedy will be killed.

Such good treatment was not available even to the Xiongnu during the late emperor's time.

In the past, everyone was afraid of joining the army or being forcibly recruited. They were afraid that they would die on the battlefield and have no one to take care of their families. Some men even pretended to be women in order to avoid being arrested.

Looking at now, the annual military recruitment does not require the imperial court to send people to every household to urge them. Long queues form early. Some people are dismissed due to physical reasons, and they will feel uncomfortable for a few days.

At this moment, in the Liu Kingdom, it is enough to say that everyone practices martial arts. After all, since the news of His Majesty's love for martial arts spread, first the wealthy families urged their children to practice martial arts, and then because they wanted to join the army and because there were no other people with strong martial arts skills. They practiced secretly, just to squeeze into the army and give the Huns a good fight.

In six years, the people of Liu State's view of the Huns changed rapidly.

The fear they once had has become the eagerness to try now. The hatred did not make them as timid as mice, but made them work hard to fight against the Huns.

Because of this fresh blood, and the fact that the army always follows envoys, everyone is working hard to enrich themselves, and Liu Ming is no longer what he used to be.

When they shouted slogans, broke through the city gate, rushed into Xiao City, and announced that the last city had been captured.

The Liu Kingdom is finally complete.

***

There are many Liu people who survived in Xiaocheng, but the ones that caused the most headache for the court were the orphans who had no fathers or mothers and didn't even know where their elders were from.

Compared with Rongcheng, which was once prosperous for a while, Xiaocheng's terrain is unstable. It was originally close to the border. It was also the first city occupied by the Xiongnu. There are not many orthodox Liu people who survive, and most of them are related to the Xiongnu. People here who are descended from intermarriage among slaves.

It's okay for the elders to be alive. If the parents who gave birth to them have passed away, for them, they really don't know where they are from the Liu Kingdom.

Theoretically speaking, they are no longer considered Liu people.

But Wei Mingyan still issued an order to bring back these children who had no father, no mother, and no place of origin when the army returned to the court.

Now the imperial court is about to build a carrier pigeon station, and it is the time when manpower is needed. Although these children have half the blood of the Huns, they have been treated as slaves by the Huns since they were young, doing the hardest work, and are despised by the Huns. Isn't it clear at a glance how Liu Guo, who treats them as his own people by giving them food, drink, and clothing, should choose?

If there really are those who insist that they are 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 the Liu Kingdom is busy with construction. It is estimated that in the short term, there will be no relationship between the two countries. There will be no more fighting.

When Liu ** entered the capital, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was greeted with a warm welcome. Liu Guo now advocates martial arts, and for these soldiers who actually went to the battlefield and defeated the Huns, they just wanted to rush forward and express their feelings. Their admiration.

The people who had been rescued from Xiaocheng walked together quietly, looking around with eyes full of novelty.

Having been treated as slaves since childhood, they grew up fine and just thought that their home country was originally like this. However, there were also old people who had been to Kyoto and looked around with confusion.

What is this paving on the ground and why can it make the road so smooth?

And why are there young ladies on the streets without veils? How can they shout men's names on the streets without fear of being scolded by their families?

As they walked, people with official positions such as Lang Su and Fan Yuancai were riding on horses. Six years passed in a hurry, and Lang Su was no longer the fair and tender young man he used to be. His facial features had completely transformed into the handsomeness of an adult man. , the complexion is the color of sunburned wheat, and even the shoulders are much wider than before. At the moment, he is wearing a suit of armor, looking at the young ladies upstairs who are shouting their names and scattering flower petals, and laughing with his friends in high spirits. , “This is the way we will go back to Kyoto this time, and we don’t know when we will be able to do something new.”

Fan Yuancai, who was riding alongside him, still had the same fair complexion as six years ago, and his facial features had not changed much. However, he looked calm and quiet, completely different from the playboy he once was.

"I'm afraid there will be no next time. Now that Xiao Cheng has been taken back, Your Majesty will definitely not cause trouble to the Huns again."

The two horses took the lead and walked in front. When they walked downstairs, the young ladies upstairs became even more excited. Among them were some ladies in luxurious clothes. They sprinkled flower petals down excitedly and screamed their names.

As two young generals who were personally promoted by His Majesty and have lived up to expectations with several meritorious services, they have always had a good reputation in the capital.

A petal fell, and it happened to fall on the top of Lang Su's head. He reached out helplessly to take it, sighed, and said happily, "Fortunately, it's a petal. If it were the sachet, I wouldn't have to feel pain."

Fan Yuancai chuckled and said, "Your Majesty has already decreed that you are not allowed to throw away anything other than flower petals, so as not to hit passers-by. Don't worry."

"It's not good to throw away the petals. They must have sprayed fragrance on the petals. By the time I finish walking this street, I'm afraid my whole body will be filled with fragrance, and I'll have to explain it to Jiu Niang again."

After Lang Su complained, he suddenly looked at Fan Yuancai, "Yuancai, you have to help me later. After all, I am also your uncle."

Fan Yuancai just couldn't stand the proud smile on Lang Su's face every time he mentioned that he was his uncle.

This man had been a junior for more than ten years. Once he turned around, he would chase him every day and ask him to call him uncle. If Lang Su didn't smile so proudly, maybe he would be willing to call him uncle, but this time he was so proud. Fan Yuancai was unwilling to fulfill his wish.

He glanced at his friend and said, "I should have become sworn brothers with you to see how you would marry my aunt."

"You kid is taking bad risks!"

Lang Su stretched out his hand to hit, but Fan Yuan quickly dodged by turning sideways. He suddenly turned around, stretched out his hand to wave to the ladies looking down from upstairs, and with an elegant smile, the ladies immediately became excited. The petals are falling down desperately.

Lang Su, who was covered with flower petals, looked at his friend who was also covered in the scent of flowers, "...Does this count as hurting the enemy by a thousand and hurting yourself by eight hundred?"

Fan Yuancai didn't care at all and gloated: "Even if I jump into the sea of ​​fragrance, my aunt will not care about me."

"Uncle, take care."

The two long-time friends were chatting leisurely there, but the Xiaocheng man who was walking timidly and cautiously behind almost stared out of his eyes.

It's okay not to wear a gauze hat, but he still shows his love to men so boldly, and the men around him all look like they are used to it.

More than twenty years have passed, and the male and female defenses of the Liu Kingdom have almost disappeared?

People from Xiaocheng were first placed in the Huang'en Courtyard. Those who still remembered their place of origin, parents, and brothers would be taken there by messengers. If their relatives were still there, someone would tell him so that he could return home. .

This was also done to avoid the situation where the people of Liu State who suffered in Rongcheng six years ago returned to their hometowns with joy as soon as they were rescued, only to be faced with the absence of their relatives and no land or housing.

This group of people were settled down in a panic. They lived in a large house with many beds. Ten people lived in a room. It was not crowded at all and was very spacious.

Xiao Huhua was assigned to one of the rooms. He was only thirteen years old this year, and his parents were both from the Liu Kingdom. But when he was four years old, a Huns man drank too much and wanted to drag his mother out. His father came forward and begged, Instead, the Huns were furious and killed his parents with two swords.

He grew up under the care of other Liu people. Because he had not had 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, and with no one familiar with him around, Xiao Huhua sat stiffly on his bed. When he noticed the soft cushion sitting under his butt, 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 Kingdom, but no one had told him what the Liu Kingdom was like. This time Xiao Cheng was defeated, the original Liu Kingdom people were very excited, and Xiao Huhua's heart But there is only a lot of timidity.

In his mind, the Liu Kingdom was similar to the Xiongnu. People with high status drank wine and ate meat, while people with low status were treated casually. Even if they were beaten to death, no one would care.

Xiao Huhua was afraid that he would still live like this in Liu Kingdom, but the elders around him, except for the locals of Xiaocheng, all said they wanted to follow him to Kyoto, where they had their homes and their relatives.

Xiao Huhua also wants to stay in Xiao City. Although he has been living in this city as a slave, at least he is familiar with everything here. But according to the regulations, it seems that someone like him who has no parents or relatives and is under the age of fifteen must be He was brought to Kyoto and settled by the imperial court.

It turned out that although he was scared, there were elders around him, and Xiao Huhua was in a pretty good mood. Now that he was placed in a strange environment, facing these strange teenagers who were about the same age as himself, he couldn't help but tremble.

They all looked to be in their teens, wearing unpatched clothes. Some were making beds, some were fetching water and washing their feet, and some were holding books and reading under 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. He suddenly thought that the manager who seemed to be in charge told them to go to bed early and arranged for his husband to teach them calligraphy tomorrow. He quickly and carefully learned the calligraphy. Looking at the young man who had fallen asleep, his whole body got into the quilt.

There was a bit of coldness in the quilt at first, but after a while, the warmth filled the entire quilt.

This was the most sound sleep Xiao Huhua had ever had since he could remember. There was no cold wind, no scolding, and no whips hitting him.

Later he found out that the quilt he slept on last night was called a cotton quilt. It was grown all over the Liu Kingdom, but it was only the one from Huang'enyuan. His Majesty planted it in the palace and gave it to them.

The next day, he sat at the table and was given a set of paper, pen and ink.

The white paper seemed to be shining with golden light in the sunlight, alluringly.

Xiao Huhua cherished these papers. Even if his husband said that he would still give them to them after writing, he still cherished them. In the Xiongnu, paper was very precious. 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 I could never get no matter how much I asked for were now placed in front of me.

He worked hard to learn the knowledge passed down by his teacher. Even if he couldn't learn it in class, he would recite it silently in his mind over and over again after class while working with others.

During the exam, Xiao Huhua ranked third.

He was told that His Majesty had established carrier pigeon stations everywhere to store or transport goods from various places, and they, the orphans who had learned how to read, were to 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, nor what role it would play, but as long as it was His Majesty's words, he would work hard to implement it.

And before standing with the others, carrying the package and preparing to set off, Xiao Huhua met Zhao Shuqing, the Minister of Household Affairs.

It is said that many decisions were made after discussions between him and His Majesty. Even if there were many things that were absolute fantasy in the eyes of others, His Majesty would press the objections of the DPRK and the Central Government and go ahead with it.

And the facts have proved that His Majesty's decision was not wrong.

When the handsome Master Shangshu, who was wearing a green shirt, finished speaking, Xiao Huhua couldn't help but raised his eyes and glanced at him. With just one glance, he knew why it was said that Zhao Shangshu was the most popular among young ladies in Beijing.

It was just like the legend, he was graceful and graceful, just like a painting when he stood there.

Of course, Xiao Huhua always felt that the reason why Zhao Shangshu welcomed such a young woman was not only because of his appearance, but also because he had petitioned His Majesty to open a women's school.

While he was working, the cook once told him that six years ago, women in the capital would never leave the house or even take a step outside. Not to mention going out for fun like today, even if they met their husbands at home. They are all to be avoided quickly.

Married commoner ladies could still go out with their husbands, but unmarried ladies were not even allowed to read books.

Xiao Huhua has never seen what Liu Guo was like in the past, so he can easily accept the current Liu Guo, especially since he will get married in a few years. If he gives birth to a daughter by then and sends her to a girls' school, what will happen? How nice.

He was thinking divergently while listening to the speech of Lord Shangshu on the stage. It was really clear, so he hurriedly wrote it down.

But for some reason, Xiao Huhua never saw a smile on Lord Shangshu's face from beginning to end.

He thought, maybe, this is the seriousness of an official.

***

After Zhao Shuqing saw off the first batch of people going to the carrier pigeon station, he turned around and got on the carriage, "Go back home."

The coachman had long been accustomed to his husband's concise and to the point speech, so he 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 filled with anger now, and he wished he could catch the emperor who was sitting on the dragon throne but just having fun all day long and roared at him.

When he came out to make cement, this guy shamelessly gave him the task of laying cement on the road. After finally paving it, he was pestered to find ways to make the sword sharper. How did Zhao Shuqing know how to use the sword? Sharp, he rummaged through his memory and said a few words casually. This ancient emperor who was so lazy actually actually made it out. When the sword was made out, and he disliked the slow delivery of the letter, Zhao Shuqing After saying that, just that, this guy had to work hard to get the express delivery, and even named it a carrier pigeon station.

Six years, six years!

Since entering the court, Zhao Shuqing felt like an old scalper, working conscientiously on construction for this ancient emperor.

Resign! ! !

He is resigning now! !

If you don't want to do it anymore, whoever wants to be an old scalper can do it!

Okay, now that the express delivery has been done, the next step is to get the steam engine out!

"Steam engine?"

Wei Mingyan, who was eating snacks while walking this way, swallowed the sweet and soft pastries in his mouth and asked enthusiastically, "Shu Qing, what is this steam engine?"

Zhao Shuqing looked at his stylish clothes and comfortable expression, and then thought about how he had not returned home all day for this pigeon station, and he couldn't help but grit his teeth.

"Your Majesty heard something wrong, I never said that."

"Oh... I thought so. Where can I find such a strange chicken? It doesn't sound delicious."

Wei Mingyan nodded, "Shuqing, now that the carrier pigeon station has been set up, should we set up that department store you mentioned?"

"I have already told the people below that it is up to you to do this. Do it well!"

Zhao Shuqing looked at the emperor in front of him indifferently, "The department store is just my temporary whim..."

If he returns to the department store, he will resign now. Goodbye!

"Your Majesty, since I took over the position of Minister of Household Affairs, I feel that I have no intention but no ability. I came here specially today..."

"Nothing is wrong, I don't mind it." Wei Mingyan interrupted him directly.

"Looking at the look on your face, haven't you eaten yet? Here, I'll give you this to fill your stomach. I won't eat any more."

With a plate of snacks stuffed in his hand, Zhao Shuqing's expression remained indifferent and he insisted on continuing what he just said, "I came here this time to say goodbye..."

"Hey, Shuqing, is there a little black spot on your flower? Could it be an insect?"

Zhao Shuqing's attention immediately turned to the flower held by the emperor in front of him, and he frowned and looked at the black patch on the petals seriously.

"How could this be? It wasn't there yet early in the morning."

"Let me see, you still didn't put them in the greenhouse, but there is not enough glass? I still have a lot of them in the treasury. When I return to the palace and deliver them, these flowers will not be like this."

Zhao Shuqing put down the snack, took the flowerpot handed over by Wei Mingyan, carefully touched the flowers and leaves, completely forgetting what he was thinking just now, and nodded lightly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"There's no need to say thank you. If you really want to thank me, why don't you just take out the department store. Then, I'll build a special greenhouse inside. You can plant whatever flowers you want. I will never interfere!"

The temptation to plant whatever flowers you want is too great.

Zhao Shuqing thought for a few seconds and weighed it in his mind before hesitating and said, "But the cost of building the greenhouse..."

"Coming out of the treasury, Shuqing, you are my capable subordinate and 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 showed no guilt that most of the money in the treasury was earned by the people in front of him.

As soon as he said these words, Zhao Shuqing's eyebrows relaxed a little.

"In that case, thank you Your Majesty. I will start preparing the department store tomorrow."

He can get a greenhouse for free, so why does such a good thing always happen to him?

Why not plant another pot of flowers today to celebrate.

The author has something to say: The first ten little angels give out red envelopes, good night everyone

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