PS: Sorry, there was a small bug at the end of the last chapter. In addition to Li Zuoche, Li Chang and his son, those going to Dunhuang should also include Zhang Cang, Ji Bochang and a new scholar named Yun Wu. It has been modified and will be visible after refreshing.
Chen Ping said nothing and handed Zhao Ying's letter to Zhang Han who was standing aside.
After reading this, Zhang Han couldn't help but be stunned. For a moment, he didn't know how to speak to Li Zuoche. What's this? Li Zuoche was entrusted by the emperor's eldest grandson to come all the way to Dunhuang, hoping to help the imperial court conquer the Western Regions and make great contributions, but before he arrived, the peaches were picked!
Looking at the expressions of Chen Ping and Zhang Han, Li Zuoche suddenly felt an ominous premonition in his heart.
"I dare to ask the two envoys, but what is the difficulty..."
"Ahem, this -"
Chen Ping coughed lightly, and Zhang Han couldn't help but look at each other, then picked up the good news document that had just been thrown on the table and had not yet been put away, and handed it over with some embarrassment.
"General Li, cough - look at this..."
Li Zuoche just glanced at the document in Chen Ping's hand and saw something was wrong with it!
Good news!
He asked about the Western Region, and they pushed him a good news. Although he had some speculations in his heart, after reading the good news sent by Liu Bang, Li Zuoche couldn't help but be stunned.
"Who is this Liu Ji?"
This is not to belittle oneself, but Liu Bang was really shocked. He thought to himself that even if he went into battle in person, under the same conditions, he would never be able to do this.
"A good friend of mine in the army previously served as acting county captain in Dunhuang..."
Such a talent is just a acting county captain...
When Li Zuoche looked at Zhang Han and Chen Ping, he felt a little suspicious.
Zhang Han and Chen Ping were also helpless.
We are also very unjust——
When he was here with us, except for the emperor's grandson who would pay attention to him from time to time, he didn't show anything special. Instead, he was eating, drinking, having fun, bragging, and having fun.
"This man is as wise as he is foolish, but he hides his secrets..."
Zhang Han felt that his evaluation was a bit contrary to his wishes, but the problem now was that his contribution was real. Just like Loulan last time, the Cheshi Kingdom even sent credentials and envoys.
Besides this evaluation, what else can I say?
"That's very good. There is a great talent in the Western Regions in charge. The overall situation has been decided. I don't need to show my shame..."
Li Zuoche was also very perceptive. Besides, besides being caught by his sworn brother's words, avoiding Handan, a place of right and wrong, was one of the reasons why he took on this job this time.
Therefore, when I learned that someone had done something for me, not only did I not feel annoyed, I actually smiled and praised him very freely.
The situation in the Western Regions was a bit strange. No one knew what methods Liu Ji used. Therefore, Chen Ping and Zhang Han combined their efforts to simply use the slope to get off the donkey and did not mention Li Zuoche leading troops into the Western Regions. thing.
If it were to backfire and ruin Liu Ji's important event, I would really regret it!
Li Zuoche and his son finally stayed away from the whirlpool of right and wrong in Handan and hid in Dunhuang. Naturally, they had no intention of leaving in a hurry. Chen Ping and Zhang Han were not willing to miss such a great talent, so they repeatedly tried to stay.
As a result, the two sides hit it off immediately.
Although Li Zuoche and his son declined the invitation to serve as acting county magistrates in Hexi, they stayed in Hexi and joined the county governor's office as staff to assist Chen Ping in managing the affairs of Hexi County.
Zhang Cang, Ji Bochang, Yun Wu and others also directly took out the appointment certificates from the imperial court.
Along the way, their curiosity about Hexi has reached an extreme level, especially the two brothers Zhang Cang and Ji Bochang. They traveled thousands of miles from Yuyang to Hexi, and they have never seen such a scene in any place.
A border place where Han and Hu people live together, in just a few months of management, it gives people a feeling of vitality and renewal. This situation is unheard of.
They are willing to stay and see what this land can become!
Zhang Han was overjoyed and immediately appointed Zhang Cang as acting county magistrate to preside over county affairs. Ji Bochang served as acting county lieutenant to assist him in handling military chores, while Yun Wu became a scribe, responsible for assisting Zhang Cang in handling daily affairs.
Later, he and Chen Ping personally submitted letters requesting formal appointments for Zhang Cang and Ji Bochang.
Since then, Dunhuang County has had a complete and sound structure. What needs to be added is that before Ji Bochang, Liu Ji was acting county captain.
The original plan was to find an opportunity to straighten him up. After all, Liu Ji had almost had enough accumulated merit, but now it seems that it is not necessary. When he comes back from the Western Regions, his official position will probably be higher than his own.
Of course, apart from this matter, the most important thing is to report the victory to the court and escort the envoys of the Cheshi Kingdom and the local specialties they presented to the First Emperor and His Highness the Emperor Changsun into Xianyang.
Whether these things are valuable or not is not important. What is important is the symbolic meaning.
…
"Father, you're inserting it wrong. When you see these two buds, you have to put them head up - yes, use force and insert them deeper - like this..."
In the royal garden.
Zhao Ying and the First Emperor, rolling up their sleeves and arms, were happily cutting grapes on the edge of the cultivated vegetable patch.
With the increasingly frequent exchanges with the Western Regions, and under Zhao Ying's deliberate promotion, many species native to the Western Regions began to be gradually introduced to Daqin, including the grapes in front of them and the spinach that was already growing green next to them. Cucumber with small yellow flowers.
"These grapes are as big as pigeon eggs, as colored as agate, juicy and delicious, sour and sweet. If you shake them with ice cubes, they will be the most delicious food in the world..."
"It's as if you've eaten it..."
The First Emperor straightened up and glanced at him with disdain.
Zhao Ying:......
To be honest, I am just not talented, but I once tasted it until I felt sick.
"Anyway, it's delicious..."
Zhao Ying said cheerfully while sticking his buttocks out and continuing to insert.
"There are a lot of good things out there. When the time comes, we will open up this area and plant some good things as long as they can be planted. When the time comes, you can sit at the door of this courtyard and see all kinds of good things in the world. Fruits and vegetables are gathered in front of your eyes..."
After hearing Zhao Ying's words, the guards and maids on the side did not dare to breathe.
Are you planning to change His Majesty's royal garden into a vegetable garden or something?
The First Emperor didn't think there was anything inappropriate. He put his hands on his hips and looked at his imperial garden, imagining the scene that Zhao Ying had just painted, and he was actually quite moved.
The First Emperor was old after all.
He was powerless, so even though he was very interested in playing with his little patch of vegetables, after struggling for a while, he still had to sit in the shade of a tree and enjoy the coolness while watching Zhao Ying himself playing with it.
“Forget it, come over and take a rest, drink some iced bayberry to quench your thirst——”
The First Emperor stayed in the shade of the tree for a while, feeling that most of the heat from his body had dissipated. Then he reached out and took down a cup of iced bayberry soup that had been prepared on the tray held by the palace maid. greeted.
"Okay, here we go -"
After Zhao Ying finished cutting the last grapevine, he patted the dirt on his hands, walked to the bucket nearby, washed his hands, and wiped the sweat on his face with a wet towel.
He approached the First Emperor, took a glass of iced sour plum soup, and drank it heartily.
I just felt an indescribable coolness that penetrated my body from the inside out.
There was an indescribable joy in my heart.
Zhao Ying casually pulled up a small stool and sat down diagonally across from the First Emperor. Zhao Ying considered it.
"Uncle, what are your plans for the Western Regions? I mean, if Liu Ji can really help the imperial court win the Western Regions..."
"What if we follow the old example of Anbei County and establish Anxi County in the Western Regions, move people from all over the world to fill it, and then transfer troops from Longxi to Anxi to guard it..."
Seeing Zhao Ying talking about business, the First Emperor couldn't help but look serious.
That is direct rule!
After all, it was the domineering First Emperor whose simple military presence could not satisfy his old man's wishes. Zhao Ying quickly weighed the pros and cons of this way of ruling in his mind.
He said after considering it.
"The situation in the Western Region is complicated. There are many small countries. If it is directly ruled, there will be some troubles..."
Although Zhao Ying didn't say it clearly, who was the First Emperor? He naturally understood his concerns and thought about it seriously for a while before saying.
"In your opinion——"
Zhao Ying thought about it for a while.
"The most important thing for us is to open up the Western Region and maintain communication with the outside world. I think we can follow the Great Father's idea of setting up counties in the Western Region first, but we can also set up more small counties - for example, one country and one county, with the leader of the country being The county magistrate manages the local residents on his own, and then slowly takes care of it..."
Zhao Ying's formulation is actually very similar to the Duhufu established by the Tang Dynasty.
The advantage of this kind of governance is that it is conducive to stability. As long as the power of the Central Plains regime can be ensured, these small countries in the Western Regions will remain contented. However, the disadvantages are also obvious. The governance is loose. Once the Central Plains regime enters a period of decline, it may fall back into turmoil. .
In fact, this was the original history.
The First Emperor obviously heard this and nodded slightly, rarely seriously, and then suddenly interjected as if he remembered something.
"I asked someone to investigate Liu Ji. Although he has some rogue habits, he is quite capable and can be used well. He is actually a general. If you are optimistic about him, you can cultivate him well..."
Zhao Ying nodded obediently.
"His family members are still in Pei County. If you have time, you can send someone to pick them up - including the widow named Cao..."
Speaking of this, the First Emperor looked a little strange.
"This Liu Ji is not picky about food..."
Zhao Ying couldn't help laughing.
I complained in my heart, is he not picky about food?
He is clearly hungry and refuses to eat!
However, the eldest father is right. Someone must bring Liu Ji's family back as soon as possible. After all, his family member is not a simple person. He is ruthless and ruthless. In terms of ability, he is not much worse than Liu Ji.
Even if placed in history, she can be regarded as a first-class strong woman.
It’s rare to have a free day today.
The grandfather and grandson arranged their own small vegetable patch in the imperial garden for a while, and then one person carried a fishing rod and went fishing. In their own yard, the two rivers melted and flowed into the palace wall. This statement may be an exaggeration. Quite a bit.
But there is really no shortage of good places for fishing in the palace of the First Emperor.
Of course, the main thing is to accompany the First Emperor to fish. Zhao Ying's own pure soy sauce. Regarding fishing, he only knows two techniques. One, hang bait on the fishhook, and two, throw the fishhook into the water...
If you really want to catch a fish, throwing it into the water or catching it directly is more reliable than fishing.
Fortunately, the First Emperor did not dislike him as a fake fisherman. He was fishing for his own small fish with great interest, and he would catch one from time to time, which made him feel much better.
"Today at noon, we will have fish ball soup——"
He didn't know how to fish, so he didn't hinder Zhao Ying from chatting. He even started to think about the small fish caught by the First Emperor.
Although he knew that his grandson was teasing him, the First Emperor was still in a happy mood.
Your grandson goes out of his way to make you happy, but you are not happy!
"Your Majesty, Shaofu Shilu, Immortal Master Xu Fu would like to see you——"
Upon hearing that Shi Lu and Xu Fu had arrived at the same time, the First Emperor immediately became energetic and threw the fishing rod in Zhao Ying's hand.
"Let them in—"
Zhao Ying took the fishing rod, looked around, waved to a pretty palace maid on the side, and then stuffed the two fishing rods directly into her arms.
"Hold it well-"
Little palace maid:......
Holding the fishing rod in his arms, he didn't know whether to put it away or help him take another shot. He could see clearly that after a long while, his Royal Highness, the eldest grandson of the emperor, had not caught a single fry as long as two fingers long.
Fortunately, Zhao Ying did not continue to embarrass him and waved his hand casually.
"Go down-"
The little palace maid hugged the fishing rod and retreated as if she had been granted amnesty.
"I, Shi Lu and Xu Fu, pay homage to Your Majesty and have met His Royal Highness the Emperor's eldest grandson——"
Shi Lu and Xu Fu, one behind the other, walked in with joyful faces, walked up to them, and bowed to salute.
"Excuse me. The two Qing family members are full of joy, but what happy event has happened——"
The First Emperor was in a good mood today, and the smile on his face was much more sincere.
"Back to Your Majesty, the big ship that the emperor's eldest grandson asked us to build is finished!"
When the First Emperor heard this, he couldn't help but be overjoyed.
It actually happened!
"Let's go, take me to see -"
The big ship built this time is related to Xu Fu's success in going to sea again to seek the elixir of immortality for him, so he is naturally very concerned about it.
"Your Majesty, are you preparing to leave the palace? The general will ask for protection—"
Seeing that the First Emperor was preparing to leave the palace with Zhao Ying, Hu Hai was curious and greeted him enthusiastically, and took the initiative to invite him. The First Emperor was in a good mood and waved his hand without hesitation.
"Follow me——"
The shipbuilding workshop in Xianyang is on the edge of the Wei River, not far from Zhangtai Palace. The group arrived at the place in a short while.
"You little man, I have met your Majesty and His Highness the Emperor's Grandson——"
Wow——
The craftsmen in the shipbuilding workshop knelt down in a large area.
The First Emperor's eyes did not stay on them, but went straight past them and looked at the huge ship moored at the pier, with a look of shock in his eyes.
(End of chapter)
