After chatting with Lotus Crown Taoist, Gui Liu entered the mansion and returned to his room. He was surprised to find that the girl was teaching the little girl to read and read. The teacher was very serious, and the learner was more serious than the teacher.
Guiliu slowed down and quietly came to the two of them. When he took a closer look, he was even more surprised. The content the girl was taught was not the Dafeng dialect, but the new Mandarin dialect implemented by the Dajing Dynasty in recent decades.
Seeing the little girl nodding her head frequently, Guiliu couldn't help but interjected: "Do you understand?"
This sentence was said in Dajing Mandarin. The little girl immediately raised her head and replied in Dajing Mandarin, "Xiaoliu, you are so rude, don't disturb my study."
The girl also cast an unpleasant look.
Guiliu quickly shut his mouth and left quietly.
Sitting back on his desk and staring down at the detailed map of the surrounding small countries, he fell into deep thought.
The four small countries of Wen, Han, Baijiao and Puruo are relatively large in size and have relatively strong military strength.
But compared to Nanzhao back then, these four small countries combined were not half as big as Nanzhao.
So in fact, a few relatively large countries were selected from the small countries, but overall, these dozen small countries are really pitifully small.
For example, the Qiuyu Kingdom on this map has a population of less than 30,000, and its military strength is roughly estimated to be only eight or nine thousand at most, which is not as many as a military town in Xu Wen.
To put it bluntly, these small countries are not even qualified to be Dafeng's vassals. It's no wonder that the emperor of Qiu Yu Kingdom had intended to join Dafeng several times, but he was always rejected by the old emperor.
Guiliu counted carefully and found that there were thirteen small countries in total, including Wen, Han, Baijiao, Puruo, Gujing, Xunse, Tangji, Jiangjing, Tianshou, Liuwu, and Yin. Wu Kingdom, Shangzhu Kingdom, and the single word "Chao".
It is indeed not easy to unite these thirteen small countries to fight against the "Wen Dynasty". At least it is absolutely impossible to wait until the thirteen countries are united before launching an army to attack the "Wen Dynasty". The best way is to first unite several small countries, supplement them with large forces, and continue to unite them while fighting.
But combining the weak to attack a strong one also depends on how weak one's own side is and how strong the other side is. According to the current situation, Dafeng retreated to a corner of the country, with 24 cities in eight states, and a force of 100,000. Even if the combined forces of 13 small countries were added, the force would not exceed 200,000. How could he compete with Sitting? Confrontation against the "Wen Dynasty" with an army of 700,000?
Therefore, in this counterinsurgency war to regain the country, Dajing was still the main force, and Dafeng only played a supporting role.
But don’t forget the purpose of Geiliu coming here. Who in the world is willing to do something thankless? Therefore, Dajing will not lose its national power and financial resources in vain.
Zhang Gu, a scholar who has seen through the world, is the most qualified to sit on that dragon chair and bring peace to all generations.
As for you, you are not good at pampering, disgracing, worrying about pleasure, or being like a fly or a dog.
Suddenly, the sound of teaching and reading in front of the screen stopped.
The girl stood up and said, "Mom, why are you here?"
Guiliu walked out from behind the screen, holding a rolled-up map in his hand, and looked at the Zhang woman.
"Sir, I have been here for a few days, but I haven't seen all the scenery. If you have free time, I would like to accompany you for a walk."
Gui Liu smiled and said, "That's fine, I just happen to have some things I want to ask Madam."
The two of them went for a walk on the Chaoshou Veranda. The green plants on both sides are lush and full of vitality, and the leaves are crystal clear in the sun, like jasper and jade. Gui Liu picked a piece casually and said with a smile: "It's late summer, but it still looks full of spring."
Mrs. Zhang smiled and said: "The grass and trees have a heart, so why ask for beauty?"
Gui Liu put the leaves into his sleeves, shook his head and said: "I don't dare to be a beauty. I am not as noble as Madam thinks. Once late summer is over, frost will kill all the grass. In this troubled autumn, I am afraid it will be difficult to see these emerald green leaves. So pick one as a souvenir.”
"By the way, Madam, does she know about the thirteen small countries surrounding Dafeng?"
"I still know something. What's wrong?"
"Wait a moment, ma'am."
Guiliu squatted down. He flattened out the rolled map, pointed to a small country and said: "Madam, please look, this is the small country in Preface 13. The single word is an imperial edict, but if you look carefully, you will find that there should be another word in front of the imperial edict. , but it was wiped off, so I am very curious, what is the purpose of this intentional cover-up?"
Zhang stared at the word "Edict" for a long time and said softly: "The first word is Nan. I witnessed the late emperor erasing it ten years ago."
Guiliu said in shock: "Nanzhao? This small country is also called Nanzhao?"
Zhang said calmly: "This is a secret. But after so many years, it doesn't matter whether it is hidden or not. When Dajing conquered Nanzhao, the late emperor secretly took in a group of royal family members and tens of thousands of refugees, and gave them fertile land. Let him cultivate his health and rest. After so many years, it has become the current imperial state."
"Sir, you should have heard of Xu Wen. He was once the general of the Zhao Kingdom. Later, he led eight thousand soldiers to surrender to the enemy, and he became the captain of the city gate who controls three military towns today."
Giliu stared at the map and asked: "It must be more than just kindness to take in the royal family and tens of thousands of refugees. What did the late emperor mean by this move?"
Zhang shook her head: "I don't know about this concubine. Maybe the late emperor wanted the famous general Xu Wen. Maybe the late emperor wanted to wait until a hundred years later, when the Zhao Kingdom became a huge Pan vassal state to protect Dafeng. Maybe there are other reasons, who knows. Woolen cloth?"
Guiliu rolled up the map, stuffed it back into his sleeve, thought about it, and asked: "Madam, I think that if we join forces and the imperial court remembers the old friendship with the late emperor and generously sends troops, the enemies will still be extremely jealous when they meet, and will not provide any mediation at all." room?"
Mrs. Zhang smiled a little and said, "You should talk to His Majesty about these words. Why should you talk to me, a woman? If I were young, I might still like to hear more. But now that I am old, I can't listen anymore. I just want to listen. The love between children is long."
When the two of them reached the end of the corridor, Zhang stopped and turned slightly to look at the man who was much taller than herself.
"Is she okay?"
Too many people have asked this question, and the man's answer every time is the same, "She is fine, please don't worry."
Zhang said softly: "I thought she would never see the late Emperor for the last time. After so many years of abandonment, where did the family love come from? Maybe it was just to let the deceased rest in peace and let the late Emperor die in peace, so she was willing to come. ?”
Guiliu shook his head, looked up at the sky, and imitated her tone, "Who knows? Maybe."
Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "I know that Sir must have doubts as to why I look so young. Logically speaking, I am a person of the same era as the late Emperor. Even if I am not dead yet, I should have become old."
Guiliu nodded and said, "I am indeed confused."
"The answer to this question will be discussed with my husband next. Whether or not he wants to tell her is his own business."
Mrs. Zhang sat down on the bench at the end of the corridor and said softly: "The story is a bit long, sir, you might as well sit down and listen."
Geiliu sat down next to her, waiting quietly for a secret that was about to be revealed and had been sealed for many years.
"Sir, you should know that Queen Yi'an, who is not allowed to grow old in the world, is actually my sister. When Dazong followed the true orthodoxy and counterattacked the mutiny for the last time, the late emperor took my sister to escape from the chaos, sleeping rough and sleeping all the way to avoid pursuit. Killing was unbearable, and the two infant babies became a burden. My sister would rather die with the baby, but the late emperor did not want to. So he abandoned his flesh and blood behind my sister's back."
"My sister was not what the late emperor thought all his life. She was depressed and unhappy all day long because of the loss of her flesh and blood, and finally died of a heart attack. Her real death was her own decision. She once said to me, the moon is cold and the sun is warm. Jian Renshou. She really can’t live anymore, so she asks the Imperial Master to take away her life and give it to me, and she will be completely freed.”
Zhang always had a faint smile on her face, "A life span of thirty years, a life span of only a hundred years, only thirty years? So of course I will not grow old easily. But now I have gray hair, and I can no longer talk about it." You’re getting younger.”
"Well, people will grow old eventually. Compared with my sister, I am already very lucky. I married the man who loves me most, and I have my most beloved daughter. For decades, no matter how turbulent the outside world is, this family has always been the best. The years are always peaceful."
Guiliu said softly: "Don't you feel heartbroken when you think of this?"
Mrs. Zhang turned her head and glanced at the young man sitting next to her, and said with a smile: "Sir, after all, he is a young man in his early twenties. When he reaches my age, he will understand a truth. When he was young, he felt that he would never be able to do anything in his life. The people or things you may let go of will really be diluted by the years. At the beginning, I felt that I had to live or die, and the sky was falling. Looking back decades later, it may be just a trivial matter. In fact, all our pain, if we can bear it, , in the end they will be forced to reconcile, be eliminated, and disappear.”
Guiliu stood up and bowed solemnly to this woman who was really very old: "Young generation has learned a lesson."
Mrs. Zhang stood up, looked around, hesitated, and whispered: "There is one more thing, Your Highness, can you make sure not to be heard by others?"
"Can."
Guiliu patted his waist, and the Chunguan jade plaque that appeared exuded a faint luster, temporarily cutting off a small world of several feet in radius.
"Ma'am, please speak."
Zhang stared at him calmly and said: "Sir, whether it is the rebel Wen Dynasty or our Dafeng royal family, they are not the real orthodox Dafeng. The real Dafeng has long been submerged in It’s in the middle of history, but sir, you want to scoop it up.”
Gui Liu smiled and said, "Madam, you really dare to think and speak."
"It's just my humble opinion as a woman, sir, please don't take it to heart."
"But if you ask me, sir, to promise me something, I will treat it as a reward for helping you answer your questions."
Guiliu said seriously: "Madam, please speak."
"From now on, my Ruirui will be handed over to you, sir. I believe that someone who can take good care of my sister's granddaughter will definitely be able to take good care of my Ruirui as well."
Geiliu asked uneasily: "Are these your last words? What happened?"
Mrs. Zhang shook her head and said sincerely: "My husband and I will grow old slowly, and this family will eventually disappear. What I said in the future is that time. This is not what the husband thought he was doing."
Guiliu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly apologized: "I'm sorry."
Zhang's eyes were gentle, "My sister believes in you, I believe in my sister, and I see that the little girl brought by my husband is very happy, so I believe in you."
Guiliu bowed deeply again, "How dare you disobey."
