December 22nd, the third year of Dalong’s reign.
About three o'clock in the morning, the roof outside the study room in the inner courtyard of the Liu Mansion was covered with white snow. The snow reflected the rays of the morning sun, giving people a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
Young Master Liu sat under the cold windy window sill to wake up from his sleepiness. He took advantage of the morning break when he was not rushing to the Gua stall outside Penglai Restaurant to deal with the backlog of paperwork in his hands.
And from time to time, I record a few government affairs ideas to be prepared for the coming year. Most of these ideas are sudden ideas that come out of me when I look through the documents in my hand.
"Master, the messenger from the Northland, is it convenient for me to come in now?"
When Liu Mingzhi heard Liu Song's questioning voice outside the door, he paused slightly with the pen in his hand, glanced up at the door, and placed the pen on the washer.
"come in."
"yes!"
The door opened in response, and Liu Song walked in quickly with a letter in his hand, stopped in front of the desk and handed the letter to Liu Mingzhi.
"Master, please take a look."
Liu Mingzhi raised his arms high and stretched, took the letter and opened it directly, took out the letter paper inside and nodded to read it.
After a moment, Young Master Liu had a weird, vague smile on his lips, and handed the letter to Liu Song again.
"After all, they are a legendary fighting nation. The roads in the north are blocked by heavy snow, and the cold wind is as cold as a knife. These Tsarist Russian generals actually braved such bad weather and crossed our Dalong border to return to Tsarist Russia.
Do you think they are so afraid of us going back on our word that they are so eager to leave? "
Listening to Liu Mingzhi's vaguely teasing words, Liu Song hurriedly picked up the letter and scanned the contents. After a moment, Liu Song put the letter on the table with a stunned expression.
"My dear, are these people from Tsarist Russia desperate for their lives?
The winter environment in the Northland can be fatal if you are not careful, not to mention the heavy snow outside the customs that blocks roads and mountains.
North of Yinshan Mountain, what is the winter environment in Lake Baikal? I don’t know even if I haven’t been there. I don’t think it will be much better than the conditions in the various ministries of Xinfu.
In order to return to the country, they just had to leave the country? "
Liu Mingzhi picked up the document on the side disapprovingly: "Isn't the letter very clear? The border officers asked them to wait until next spring, and they couldn't wait to return to their homeland after the weather warmed up.
We left the customs with some of our specialties and enough dry food and water.
Hopefully they won't freeze to death on the way.
Otherwise, if the imperial court wants to deal with the relationship with Tsarist Russia, without their mediation, the situation will become very unhappy. "
Liu Song walked to the stove, picked up the teapot, poured two cups of tea, and turned back. He placed the tea in front of Liu Mingzhi and let out a sigh of relief.
"Master, to be honest, although they are not of my race, their behavior this time made Xiaosong admire their courage to face death.
Even though they may be unlucky and freeze to death on the way, Xiaosong still admires them.
At least from this point, it can be seen that they are not timid people who are afraid of death. "
Liu Mingzhi suddenly stopped when he was about to open the document. He raised his eyes and stared at Liu Song, who was motionless with emotion.
Liu Song was about to raise his hand to drink tea when he noticed that the young master's eyes were stunned for a moment, and he looked at Young Master Liu with confusion: "Young Master... Young Master, did Xiao Song say something wrong?"
Liu Mingzhi shook his head silently, put the documents in his hands back to their original places, walked to the window, and stopped with his hands behind his back to look at the white snow on the roof reflecting the sunset.
"A neighbor whose soldiers are not afraid of death is not a blessing to our country. If I don't conquer it as soon as possible, young master, one day, such a country will become a powerful enemy of my country sooner or later.
If it becomes more prosperous, it will be a disaster rather than a blessing for my great dragon.
It seems that no matter whether Slavs and others can return to Tsarist Russia alive, we will bring our attitude to the Queen of Tsarist Russia. When our country's national strength is restored, the situation will stabilize.
Young Master, I have to find an unfounded name to test the strength of Tsarist Russia.
If they can get married, that would be the best. If they can't get married to Qin and Jin, the best way is to cut them off as soon as possible.
Once its wings are fully matured, it will definitely become a serious problem for our empire.
Forget it, it's too early to consider these things now, the internal situation is still unstable, and I think any more efforts will be in vain.
Let's discuss everything after the news of the Western Expedition comes back.
As for letting the child Chengfeng marry the Empress of Tsarist Russia, let's wait until Tao Ying's birthday is over in two days before asking Lian'er what she thinks.
Komatsu! "
"Master?"
"Yiyi, Feifei, Chengfeng, Chengzhi, Yaoyao, Yue'er, Chengqian and their seven brothers and sisters have been away from home for a while. Have you received any letters?"
"Back to the young master, there are no letters from the young masters and young ladies yet."
"Alas! When children travel thousands of miles, not only is the mother worried, but the father is also having a hard time.
Pay close attention to the movements of their seven brothers and sisters, and report to me immediately if there is any news. "
"Yes, Xiaosong understands."
"Is there anything else?"
"Gone."
"Go back and do your own business first."
"Yes, Xiaosong resigned first."
"etc."
"Master, do you have any other instructions?"
"Your eldest son Liu Qi has been with Chengzhi for almost two years. How is it? Is Chengzhi's character Liu Qi tolerable?
Although the two of them grew up together since childhood, because Chengfeng and his brothers had so many brothers and sisters, they didn't have much contact with each other.
Liu Qi is slightly two years younger than Chengzhi, so he shouldn't feel any pressure, right? "
Liu Song shook his head hurriedly: "Don't worry, young master, young master Chengzhi has never treated Xiaoqi badly. It's the same as when we were young, there is almost no incompatibility.
It is his blessing that Xiao Qi can serve young Master Chengzhi until he grows up just like you.
Sometimes I feel that Master Chengzhi is too doting on my Xiaoqi!
I'm worried that this child will one day become arrogant and arrogant because Young Master Chengzhi is too fond of him, and he will forget what the difference between superiority and inferiority is.
These days, I am still discussing with my wife about when to warn this brat and let him understand what the rules of a domestic slave are.
If he breaks the rules, he will be hung up and given a good beating. "
Liu Mingzhi opened his eyes and glared at Liu Song with slight dissatisfaction.
"If you dare, I will hang you up and give you a good beating! What can you teach me?
Children have their own way of getting along with each other. Don’t always use our ideas to view the behavior of their juniors.
Isn’t this how we came here when we were kids? When we were young, apart from women, did I not share anything with you?
At that time, didn’t you yourself forget about the bullshit so-called difference between superiority and inferiority? Haven't you ever been polite to the young master?
Until now, you and I are both in our thirties. We are master and servant in name, but we are brothers in private. Isn’t that nice?
Liu Song, don't be too tightly imprisoned by the shackles of the world. In that case, what's the fun in living? "
Liu Song looked at Liu Mingzhi gratefully and nodded silently: "Xiao Song...Xiao Song, thank you, Master. Don't worry, Master, the friendship between our generation will be passed on forever to the people behind you."
"Just understand. House slaves do not mean they are real slaves. They don't have to overstep the status of master and servant, but don't put yourself too low.
The young master doesn't like this. "
"Yes, Xiaosong understands. Thank you young master for your love."
"Your second son, Liu Gang, is 12 this year, right?"
"Exactly, after the new year, I will officially be twelve years old."
"Time is not forgiving, your second child has turned twelve years old in the blink of an eye, and is only less than a year and a half younger than Cheng Qian.
Now Liu Gang should have learned almost everything he should learn. When Chengqian returns to Beijing in the coming spring, Liu Gang will be arranged to stay with him. "
"Hey, I understand. When the young master comes back, I will arrange for the second son to come over."
