"Slaying the White Snake has been on our lips since the beginning of the army. It's been almost ten years and I'm tired of talking about it. It's time to change the cliché."
Liu Ji chuckled and gently stroked his knees.
"Actually, I drank too much that day and was very courageous. I saw a snake along the way, which was only about the thickness of three fingers.
On a whim, I drew my sword and cut it into two pieces, and also chopped down several miscellaneous trees along the road.
Hey hey hey, for some reason, Xiao He and the others passed it on to ten, one hundred, and the snake got bigger and bigger, and became more and more magical. "
There was a cunning and proud light in his eyes. This was his first and most successful piece of political propaganda. He used the boasting method of wandering all over the world to make an ordinary pavilion chief who was born in a peasant family look like a god. Transformed into the chosen one who bears the fate of all people in the world.
Fortunately, we met a white snake on the road. If we met a white tiger, you might not be able to defeat it. Lu Pheasant suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
In ancient times, there were especially many snakes, which led to a very tense relationship between humans and snakes. "Han Feizi·Five Cicadas (dù)" contains, "In the ancient world, there were few people and many beasts, and the people were invincible to beasts, insects, and snakes."
People regard snakes as a scourge and even ask each other "are there any snakes" as a way of greeting each other when meeting.
Therefore, people who can kill and control snakes are regarded by the public as people with supernatural abilities. Emperor Gaozu was able to kill the big white snake, which in itself was a very human performance.
"What are the remaining two things you mentioned?"
Liu Ji pulled his thoughts away from the smoky mountains and grass that night, and racked his brains to think about it again. He really couldn't remember that he had killed any other powerful animals.
"The two matters of 'King Qi' and 'Noble Prime Minister' have something to do with me. Your Majesty doesn't remember it at all?"
"What kind of fortune teller? Has anyone ever given you or me a fortune-telling?
And the king's qi, are you talking about the time when the first emperor traveled eastward to suppress the emperor's qi? "
Liu Ji's confused look didn't seem like he was pretending, but he really didn't know anything. Seeing this, Lu Pheasant felt a huge shock in his heart. In the blink of an eye, it became clear -
Several major prophecies about the destiny of Han Emperor Gaozu that were conclusive in the history books turned out to be made up by the former Empress Lu on his behalf.
It can be seen from this that Empress Lu's good intentions in the early years can be learned from the sun and the moon. He and his wife worked together to start a business, and they were of the same party on many matters.
The trigger for the subsequent parting of ways was, as expected, related to the life and death of the prince.
She actually felt a little sorry for that famous woman in history. Such an ambitious strategy could obviously have been implemented better, or even earlier.
She calmed down and realized that these two stories were too long to be told in just a few words, so she opened her mouth and called the palace servants to bring some food.
Liu Ji frowned,
"Don't let them in, there are so many people talking."
She smiled openly,
"It's just a small Beigong. I can't speak in the palace where I live, right?
If I can’t even control the people who serve me on my left and right, then in the future——”
Then how can we conquer the world in the future?
The queen's personal servant was very smart. In addition to tea, he also brought two steaming bowls of cheese and several plates of dried fruits, and stuffed a bulging thick brocade cushion into the back of the seat.
"Your Majesty, eat some cheese to drive away the humidity."
She said to the emperor, leaned back comfortably on the cushion, picked up the bowl and started eating by herself.
"Times have changed, and in the early years, King Chen Sheng once said, 'Princes, generals, and prime ministers would rather have their own kind.' From now on, we can no longer mention it."
***
"Um?"
Liu Jijuan didn't expect that she would start with such a rambling old story, and he couldn't help but be stunned.
"That sentence was used when conquering the world. Now that you have conquered the world, you are no longer 'I would rather have the seed', but the destiny is mine and I receive the destiny.
Your Majesty was born a commoner. When everyone in Dingtao City elected you to be emperor, it was all based on merit and virtue. It was based on the principle that 'the one who conquers the world will dominate the world'.
In other words, in the minds of the officials at that time, it was still debatable who should be the emperor.
Is this a situation your Majesty wants to see? "
The significance of these words was far-reaching, and they were so straightforward that even close ministers such as Chen Ping, Zhang Liang, and Xiao He were absolutely unable to say them.
This is the dilemma that lingers in the minds of every founding emperor, especially those emperors like Liu Ji who made their fortune from scratch.
Although they are separated by nearly a thousand years, Lu Fei firmly believes that the emperor's thoughts are consistent, and there will not be much difference in the thoughts and plans of anyone who has worked hard to get into that position.
Liu Ji's face was almost gloomy, and the howling wind made the atmosphere even more serious and depressing.
He still lowered his voice unconsciously,
"you mean--"
"What I mean is very simple. This is the best time for you to go on a personal expedition and defy heaven. You have to prove to the world that 'only the chosen ones can rule the world'."
"If I can defeat Zang Tu, won't I be able to prove my destiny?"
"If you tell more prophecies and stories, the army can fight faster, save more energy, and save some military funds."
"Just use the royal aura and noble appearance you mentioned?"
"Yes, three things: killing the white snake, the colorful clouds, and the noble appearance.
Your Majesty still remembers what the people in the countryside said when the First Emperor traveled eastward four times?
Everyone said that the First Emperor was superstitious about the magicians of the Yin and Yang family, and the magicians told him many times,
'There is an emperor's spirit in the southeast'. "
"Yes, it is said that he visited the southeast many times just to suppress this kingly aura.
But in fact, we all know that it is because the southeast area has always refused to obey his rule, so he has to patrol frequently and show off his power.
He still cared a lot about the phrase "the death of Qin must lead to Chu". "
Although it only happened more than ten years ago, when the two of them were talking about it on this bleak and rainy day, they both felt as if they were worlds apart.
"Yes, exactly that.
It might be said that the colorful royal aura hovering in the southeast that the First Emperor was afraid of refers to His Majesty. "
Lu Pheasant put down the lacquer bowl and said seriously.
"The king's qi is quite right. There is another one, who is the noble prime minister?"
“That year, a strange old man with an immortal spirit passed by our house in Pei County and came to ask for a bowl of water.
After the old man saw me, he was shocked and said, "Madam, you are a noble person in the world." When he saw Ying'er, he also said, "You are beyond words."
Later, the old man disappeared without a trace in an instant, which was very mysterious. "
"Is such a thing really possible?" Liu Ji laughed dumbly.
Lu Pheasant also laughed, "When the fake becomes the real, the real is also fake. If I say yes, then there is."
"So, the reason why you two are so noble is because I am the destined noble one, right?"
"Well, that's right, let's do it this way."
Liu Ji understood. What he had to do now was to take advantage of the conquest of King Yan to completely reverse the concept of "the one who conquers the world will take over the world"——
Although the princes all contributed to the conquest of the world, this throne could only be occupied by him.
At first glance, he was attracted by Shusun Tong's etiquette system of "separation of monarchs and ministers", which emphasized the distinction between superiors and subordinates, which actually coincided with the same principle.
"That's good, but it's just that I can't say these words from my own mouth, right?"
He took a mouthful of cheese and considered it.
Lu Pheasant said seriously,
"Of course it can't be up to you, it has to be up to me.
Only if I say it, will anyone believe it. "
Besides, I don’t know if that royal aura that made the First Emperor look intimidated in Xianyang City was referring to me.
