"Command a thousand troops around and surround Arong in one place. The remaining enemy will be defeated and no one will be able to escape."
——"Da Chu·Sheng Huan Biography"
"Wandering around the stars at night, I rushed to the riverside, stood on the shore, sang to the moon, danced with the shadows, and drank alone."
——"Records of Old Events of the Chu Dynasty"
"Two prosperous people come out together and one returns prosperous. Who will be rewarded with great military achievements? Don't ask where the commander's flag is now. At that time, singing and dancing were still lingering."
——An Suiyun's "Singing Sheng Gong"
…
In the summer of the second year of Yanping, the imperial army blocked the remnants of Hakanda at the Tuoyigu River. So far, there were no more Ajong in the Moshang Grassland.
Emperor Yanping was overjoyed when he heard the news. He allocated funds to the provinces where the army passed through before returning to Beijing, and asked them to arrange wine and delicacies along the road to welcome and reward the meritorious army.
However, before the army returned, the commander-in-chief, Sheng Guogong Sheng Xuan, exhausted his energy and died in the desert.
Everyone in the court was shocked when they heard about it, and Emperor Yanping even cried in mourning in the court hall.
Because Yan governed the country with filial piety and ordered his grandchildren to be the ancestors of Ding You, and Chu inherited the Yan system, Emperor Yanping ordered the left and right ministers of the Ministry of Rites to go to the border to pick up the old prince when he returned to the court. The minister took charge of the security affairs on behalf of Shengyuan.
Emperor Yanping played it accurately.
…
Anyu searched for a long time before he found Shengyuan on the long slope outside Shou'an City.
I saw her wearing a straight official uniform, standing on the slope with her chest straight, facing the north.
The breeze blew by, and the wide sleeves of her robe puffed up, making her look like she was about to rise in the wind.
"Sister Yuan." Anyu walked over quickly, but when he reached Sheng Yuan, he murmured.
"Otherwise, just cry."
Ever since Sheng Yuan burst into tears in shock when she received the news that the old Duke had suddenly left, she had never cried loudly.
But the calmer she became, the more uneasy Anyu felt.
Hearing this, Sheng Yuan looked over and stared at him blankly for a while before she began to think seriously. After a moment, she shook her head at Anyu seriously: "I just feel so panicked in my heart, so many emotions are nowhere to be found." Catharsis... But if I was asked to cry, I couldn't cry, as if my grandfather didn't want me to cry."
She said this calmly, but it brought tears to Anyu's eyes.
The two of them looked at each other face to face. One was pale and haggard and looked extremely calm; the other had red cheeks from crying and was out of breath with tears streaming down his face.
But this time he cried, it was as if he was crying for Sheng Yuan, which made Sheng Yuan's heart dissipate a little.
"This is the letter sent by my grandfather's soldiers that day. Take a look."
Anyu wiped his eyes from crying, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and then took it.
With tears in his eyes, he looked carefully and saw clearly the contents of the official letter of the old country:
"[From the beginning of life, I was half mediocre and half absurd; I always acted with high spirits, not caring about the world but only caring about my feelings.
My children and grandchildren often laugh at me, and I spend my time laughing at myself. Who wants to put on my armor again and return to the company camp to catch barbarians?
The war cavalry commanders drove to the royal court, flying arrows to attack the sweat tents; all the wandering tribesmen were captured, and no one was left to cross the river.
After all the thought, I regretted three dynasties, and I am worthy of my ancestors and court. My poor brother-in-law is not virtuous, and his future is unclear.
I foolishly know that it is difficult to return to the court because I am old, so I feel ashamed to write to the girl; thousands of words can be said in one sigh, hoping that Lin'er will be happy and happy for a long time.
Looking back on life, there is no difference. There may be ups and downs, but there may be peace. If you ask what you are proud of in this life, look at whose name is written in history. ]"
"..." An Yu paused, as if he understood, but seemed not to understand, "Is this the autobiographical poem of the old Duke?"
"However, after watching it, it seems that I really can't cry anymore." He sniffed and winked at Shengyuan.
"Historical books are so long, but those who can be honored in them are allotted so few words. My grandfather made such unparalleled military exploits at the age of Zang Dynasty, which will definitely shine through the history books. Speaking of which, it is also a blessing. What a happy event!"
Sheng Yuan looked at him, turned towards the direction where Old Duke Sheng was, and breathed out slowly: "I am not afraid of being happy about this, so why should I express sadness?"
"Sister Yuan?" Anyu heard the sadness in Sheng Yuan's words and didn't know how to persuade her, so she could only call out quietly.
"I think that if I can make great contributions to the future and leave my own story in this world when my hair is dyed with frost, I will be as carefree as my grandfather when I die, and I will definitely hope that future generations will Relatives and friends rejoiced rather than mourned.”
Through the tears in her eyes, Sheng Yuan looked at the front that was gradually blurring, and her face that had been dull for several days finally showed emotions.
…
"Girl, the city ahead is Shou'an City." Cen Youniang's maid stood on the carriage frame, looking forward, looking at the towering city wall in the distance, and couldn't help but exclaimed, "This city wall is so high!"
"I heard that the city wall here was destroyed by war a few months ago. I don't want it to be rebuilt so soon!"
Cen Youniang raised the car curtain and looked over. Looking at the city wall getting closer and closer, she couldn't help but be a little surprised: "The post-war reconstruction capabilities here are extraordinary!"
"Looks like I finally didn't leave you a mess!" The maid breathed a sigh of relief.
But just after she said this, she heard Cen Youniang scolding: "Don't be so slanderous!"
"That's right! You originally had the opportunity to be transferred to Shuntian Mansion to be in charge, but you were arranged to suffer in this border place. You also have to take over the position of Sheng Liuyuan's governor. There are so many difficult things there, and I can't help you. You worry."
"What you said not only underestimated her Sheng Wenzhen, but also underestimated me as the master!" Cen Youniang scolded her with a cold face, "Don't say that the border is a bitter and cold place... When Sheng Wenzhen came here to take office, wasn't it more difficult than me now? She was entrenched in Fucheng. Who is the good guy?
On the contrary, now, not to mention how well the inner city is being rebuilt, just saying that there is no strong enemy on the desert grassland that threatens the border all the time, it is a thousand times better than she was back then!
As long as there are no dangers internally or externally, even if the work of reconstruction is more difficult, why is it so difficult? "
Under such reprimand, the maid couldn't help but look ashamed.
Seeing this, Cen Youniang nodded slightly with satisfaction: "It's still teachable."
"Ever since the news came that I was transferred to Shuntian Prefecture, this girl has gradually become proud. This is undesirable. How old I am, there is still a long way to go in the court in the future. It is said that the officialdom will rise and fall... Do you think Just talking?
Who knows whether he will be promoted or demoted in his career in the future? As my trusted confidant, you should treat these people with a normal attitude. Only in this way can they last forever! "
While the master and servant were preaching, the carriage finally arrived at the city gate.
After entering the city, Cen Youniang was not in a hurry to go to the government office. Instead, she asked the coachman to continue moving forward: "The government office will have plenty of time to interact with her in the future. We are not in a hurry to see Sheng Wenzhen. Let me go to various places in the city and counties."
…
"Master Fu Yin, the person who took over has just entered the city, but she seems to have no intention of coming to the government office, and actually went to the prefecture and county below."
In the palace, Sheng Yuan was busy arranging the handover of government affairs and other matters. When she suddenly heard the official coming to report the matter, she couldn't help but chuckle: "It doesn't matter, let her go... Please contact the people from the city patrol team quickly and let them know." They sent people to follow them from a distance. There is no need to get close, as long as they ensure that no one disturbs them."
(End of chapter)
