"Yes, it came soon enough."
Lu Pheasant nodded, but there was no trace of joy.
Although the old Zhao King Zhang Erxin passed away not long ago, the funeral rites for children to mourn their parents for three years and not eat for three days were not only not included in the Han law at this time, but only a few Confucian scholars strictly practiced it.
In the pre-Qin period, short funerals of "burial and removal of clothes" were commonly practiced in society. This was not the "life and death" approach advocated by Confucianism, but the "life, business and death" approach that had some Huanglao meaning, with the burial of the deceased as the end point. Let the living continue to live well.
Therefore, the law of "mourning without mourning" in the early Han Dynasty also complied with public opinion and kept everything simple. Children mourned for their parents and wives mourned for their husbands. They only had to serve thirty-six days before they could remove their mourning clothes and resume their daily lives.
For this reason, Shusun Tong had approached Lu Fei several times with excuses, saying hesitantly that he planned to offer advice to the emperor, and wanted to incorporate into law the behavioral norms on attending funerals and staying in mourning advocated in the Confucian classic "Book of Rites". At the very least, in Highly praised in terms of ethics.
And the Queen always firmly advised him to give up this idea.
"Feng Chang, the imperial court has absolutely no reason to promote strict mourning laws, and it will never establish them as a ritual. I advise you not to waste your time.
I know all the Confucian funeral rituals, which are very solemn, but if you ask everyone not to eat or drink for three or two days, and not to marry for three years, aren't you trying to prevent people in the world from living a comfortable life?
The fight finally stopped, let's not worry about it for now, okay? "
To be honest, the war has lasted for nearly ten years and everything is devastated. Which family in the country has not been killed or injured?
At this time when everything is in ruins, if every household strictly adheres to the complicated moral etiquette, and often goes without food or drink for several days or marries whenever there is a funeral, then the imperial court, which is looking forward to the increase of social population, will simply It's like a daydream.
Shusun Tong was a great scholar who was good at adapting. After he figured this out, he no longer struggled with it.
"After all, the king of Xianjing, Zhang Er, has long been buried, but his body is still in mourning and has not yet been buried.
According to the emperor's wishes, he wanted to choose an auspicious day for the funeral. In fact, he was waiting for the personnel in the court to be properly arranged before holding a large funeral. "
"Yes, Zhang Cang is back, and he has a clue about the Huns' strategy. In addition, King Yan's side... is coming soon, and it's time to make his move."
Lu Pheasant sighed and said that the marriage between Lu Yuan and Zhang Ao would be used as a means for Liu Ji to win over Zhao Di, and it would be completed together with the canonization of the new King of Zhao.
Moreover, for the suspicious Liu Ji, just installing a prime minister Zhang Cang in Zhao State was not enough.
***
A few days later, Zhang Ao followed the imperial edict and went to the palace to see him.
When he entered the palace, he realized that apart from him, the emperor and the empress, there was only Chen Ping sitting next to him.
Zhang Ao guessed that this was about to discuss the marriage of his Princess Shang, so he took the lead and kowtowed to the ground.
"A few days ago, His Majesty asked about the marriage with the Xiongnu. I felt hesitant in my heart, but I was speechless in my haste.
When I returned home, I was thinking about surrender and was uneasy. I only regretted that I didn't fight with Liu Jing for Lu Yuan.
The hatred for taking away your wife is irreconcilable, and I am willing to send troops on behalf of Your Majesty to defeat the Xiongnu. "
"The marriage was just Liu Jing's suggestion, and we didn't agree, so how could we take revenge on our wife?
You child, get up and take your seat. "
Liu Ji seemed startled by Zhang Ao's sudden gift and couldn't help but smile,
"I came to see you today, one for private matters and the other for state affairs."
Zhang Ao only answered yes, leaning forward slightly with an extremely respectful posture.
“Let’s talk about personal matters first.
The marriage between you and Lu Yuan was decided by Brother Zhang Er and I. The Emperor's promise is true to his word.
But at that time, we only had a verbal agreement, and there were no steps in the six rites to accept the offer, ask for the name, or accept the invitation, haha. "
Liu Jigan laughed, seeming to be very proud of his informal behavior during the initial stage.
"While you are in Luoyang now, you might as well prepare the invitation and the wedding together, and take the bride back to Handan."
"I know everything I can do, but... if it is too simple, I'm afraid I might wrong the princess." Zhang Ao answered hurriedly.
"It's good that you have this heart to care for the princess.
You go ask Shusun Tong for advice. Even though the time is tight, I believe it will be appropriate if he handles the matter. "
Lu Pheasant said to him warmly.
"Yes, yes, go ask Shusun Tong, go ask Shusun Tong.
Next, let’s talk about state affairs. "
Liu Ji waved his hands, as if he was too lazy to worry about the trivial matters of his family.
He cleared his throat, glanced at Chen Ping quickly, and then stared at Zhang Ao gloomily.
"It is said that only by knowing oneself and the enemy can one be victorious in every battle, but we know very little about the Xiongnu, which is extremely disadvantageous."
We need to insert some spies around the Xiongnu and Modun Shanyu. "
***
The war never tires of deceit. Whether it is a huge and unfamiliar empire that is close by, or an old enemy that will inevitably face a decisive battle in the end, the Han court can never have too much understanding and understanding of the Xiongnu:
It ranges from their bureaucratic structure, power level, and military deployment, to the population composition of each account and the annual output of livestock;
In addition, the direction of their royal court's movement and the patterns of their grazing routes must be well understood in order to formulate targeted battles and strategies.
Therefore, the spies sent cannot be just casual business travelers, but need to take root in the desert, eat, live and herd with the Huns, like wedges produced in the Han Dynasty, firmly nailed into the desert. Die on the grassland.
In a more ideal situation, one or a few of them can successfully penetrate into the highest decision-making level of the Xiongnu, that is, the Xiongnu royal court, and gain insight into what they think and do, so as to continuously deliver intelligence to the Central Plains.
Obviously, this will be an extremely dangerous mission, and there are only three ways out for the spy:
Either they were tortured to death by the Huns for being exposed, or they died of old age on the grasslands without waiting for the day when they could be used.
Or, play their latent role before the decisive battle and escape at the last moment.
Liu Ji is no stranger to the use of spies. I remember that back then, his meticulous and dark figure was never missing from Peng Yue's side, Han Xin's side, and even Xiang Yu's tent.
At this moment, he was already on the throne, with an expressionless face, and against the backdrop of his gray hair, he looked like a falcon that was already strong but still sharp.
Liu Jiyu did not hesitate;
"Chen Ping, you will be responsible for this matter.
You go and select a group of experienced people who are smart and eloquent. Some have better martial arts skills. Send them quietly to Zhao State and let Zhang Ao arrange it. "
He thought for a while and then said,
"This group of people does not need to be too large, at most three or forty. After training, they will be released from the Zhao border to the grassland as soon as possible."
"For what reason?" Zhang Ao accepted the order and asked respectfully.
"It's very simple. You give them some random charges, such as stealing, escaping from prison, etc., and then neglect the supervision and let them wait for an opportunity to escape.
The border between your Zhao land and the Xiongnu is long, so it is only natural for the prisoners to take advantage of the opportunity and flee north to the grassland. "
Liu Ji was extremely patient and spoke earnestly, as if he was teaching his own son.
Lu Zhi, who was sitting next to him, listened with deep affection and solemnity. However, the way she stared at the lotus flowers in the caisson on the roof revealed her absent-mindedness.
Liu Jicai would not send out spies with such fanfare. It seemed that the highlight was yet to come.
