A white-haired old man who was tied up with a hemp rope, with a desolate expression and dull eyes, was riding a lone boat, traveling against the current from south to north along Yingshui, the largest tributary of the Huai River.
He was none other than the Taiwei Wang Ling and Wang Yanyun who gave up the crime and committed suicide.
Although Qiutou is a small place, its location is extremely important. It is located in the middle and lower reaches of Yingshui River. From here, you can go directly to Shouchun, the capital of Yangzhou, in one day. Sima Yi took his eldest son, General Wei Sima Shi, and his five-year-old grandson Sima You, and marched secretly, as fast as thunder and lightning. Without anyone noticing, he easily occupied this strategic location.
Not only that, Sima Yi knew that Wang Ling was good at using troops, so he kept a backup plan and specially arranged for his son Sima Zhao to be the general of Andong, commanding the troops in Huaibei, and stationed them in Xiangcheng in case of emergencies.
With such a careful arrangement, even if Wang Ling wanted to fight back with his troops, he didn't even have time to gather his troops. It's no wonder that he gave up resistance directly.
When Wang Ling arrived about ten feet south of Qiutou Camp, he was quickly discovered by the soldiers stationed here. Wang Ling, who was taken into the tent, lost the last trace of his calm demeanor as a famous general. At this moment, he , just like an ordinary old man who wants to enjoy his old age:
"Please inform Taifu Sima that Wang Ling has come to plead guilty to him!"
What Wang Ling didn't expect was that after a while, Sima Yi only ordered his soldiers to untie him, but he did not receive him who came to apologize.
In the center of the Qiutou navy ship array, on top of the flagship.
At this moment, Sima Yi was holding his beloved five-year-old grandson Sima You, listening to his soldiers read the surrender letter written by Wang Ling in an emotional voice:
"The king of sinners Ling Baibai: I heard that the divine army was densely deployed and was already at a hundred feet. My servants were shocked when they heard about their fate. They lost the defense within five days and didn't know where to go. They knew that their lives were exhausted. But if they could see their old friends, they would be dead even though they were dead. Separation, do not feel hatred! I sent envoys before and after, looking westward, hoping for a reply. Yesterday, the Duke sent a letter to summon me, and I have come on a boat to greet you. I have been gracious to the court for a long time, but all the tests have been ineffective. I commanded the army, Dong Qi and Dong Xia , the matter is ruined, the thought of violating righteousness, the crime is three hundred, my wife is hanging with me, and there is nothing to pray for. If I don’t expect the holy grace to cover the sky and the earth, I can’t see the sun and the moon again. My deceased nephew Linghu is carrying me foolishly. If he confuses the young people with his words, I immediately suppress them, so that I can't say what I said. Since people know it and the gods have learned it, I know this sin of being a barbarian. I hope you will have mercy on me. My parents are the ones who gave birth to me, and they are the ones who live me. Son!"
[Note 1: In order to enable readers to understand the meaning of this letter, the author has made some modifications, additions and deletions based on historical data. 】
The five-year-old Sima You blinked his big eyes thoughtfully after hearing the soldier finish reading the letter. He turned to Sima Yi and said in a sweet voice:
"Weng Weng, since Wang Yanyun is convinced, Taofu thought, there is no need to stop the Yi tribe... Otherwise, outsiders will say that we are cruel, and will they not be convinced by us... .”
Seeing that his five-year-old grandson also had his own opinions, Sima Yi nodded happily and burst into laughter. He scraped the bridge of his nose and said:
"You'er is right. If Weng Weng is still old, we can certainly spare them. But Weng Weng is already so old, and Wang Yanyun's sons are so powerful. What should You'er do?"
After listening to the conversation between this "naive" grandfather and grandson, the soldier couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
On the warship more than ten feet away, Wang Ling, who had been loosened, saw that Sima Yi was still unwilling to see him. He seemed to have predicted his end in his heart, but he was unwilling to give up and wanted to struggle one last time. He ran to the deck. On the top of the mountain, he shouted loudly toward the flagship with a large banner of "Wei Taifu Wuyanghou Sima" on the tree in the distance:
"If Taifu wants to see me, just summon me with a slip of paper. How dare I not come? Why would Taifu lead the army here himself?"
After the soldiers outside the flagship heard Wang Ling's words clearly, they immediately entered the cabin and relayed the original words to Sima Yi.
After a while, several soldiers came out of the warehouse again, shouted in the direction of Wang Ling and replied:
"I'm sorry to hear you from someone who is not willing to meet you in person!"
"I'm sorry to hear you from someone who is not willing to meet you in person!"
...
After hearing this reply, Wang Ling in the distance knew that he was going to die, so he used his last strength to shout:
"Don't you miss my friendship with your old brother Sima Lang?! You betray me!!"
"You betray me!!!"
...
Not long after, a ruthless word came from a soldier of the Sima family from ten feet away:
"The Grand Tutor has a saying: I would rather betray you than betray the country!"
"I would rather betray you than the country!"
...
After hearing Sima Yi's words, Wang Ling felt as if his backbone had been ripped out, and his whole body collapsed on the deck. He murmured to himself:
"What kind of world is this? He has the confidence to say that he does not let down the country..."
"What kind of face does he have? How can he say that he is not living up to the country?"
That night, Wang Ling, whose joints were aching from the bone-chilling river wind, held on to his last glimmer of hope and begged the soldiers on the ship to help him go to Sima Yi to get two coffin nails.
This is the tacit understanding between the two octogenarians.
In the middle of the night, Wang Ling, who had not yet fallen asleep, fell into complete silence as he looked at the two coffin nails that the soldier brought to him that reflected the starlight. After a long time, he sighed with emotion:
"I am eighty years old. Unexpectedly, my reputation and reputation were wiped out overnight!"
In this way, this veteran of four dynasties was escorted by 600 elite Imperial Guards in a prison car, and meandered towards the imperial capital Luoyang.
———————————
Xiangcheng.
Wang Ling, who was escorted by 600 cavalry imperial troops, arrived here in less than a day.
In the prison car, the old man with white hair and beard closed his eyes tightly at the moment, seeming to be thinking about something.
The god enshrined in the temple next to Xiangcheng Road was his former close friend, late colleague, and loyal minister of the Wei Dynasty - Jia Kui and Jia Liangdao.
For no reason, he remembered what his former friend had shouted before his death, which was the most loyal oath to Wei:
After being favored by the country, I wish I could kill Sun Quan and meet the late Emperor's ears!
The people of Yuzhou here were grateful for his achievements in resisting Sun Quan and benefiting the people for many years, so they built this temple for him.
When the Ming Emperor was on his southern expedition, he passed by this place and saw its stone monument, which made him cry with sadness.
Wang Ling, who was originally feeling guilty and remorseful, inexplicably no longer had any fear in his heart at this moment, only feeling relieved.
He was born as a loyal minister of the Wei Dynasty, and died as a heroic hero of the Wei Dynasty. If he can leave such a reputation for future generations, there is nothing to fear about death!
Wang Ling opened his eyes and looked at the tall stone monument beside the road. The loyal minister of Wei is immortal even after death!
At this time, Wang Ling suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed, shouting:
"Jia Liangdao! Wang Ling is also a loyal minister of the Wei Dynasty, but you have God to know it!"
After a while, the accompanying soldiers discovered that the old man in the prison car had taken out the poison he had prepared long ago and drank it to death.
And on his face, not only was there no fear at all, but there was also a proud and peaceful smile.
As for his merits, demerits, honors and disgrace, good and evil, right and wrong, it will be difficult for future generations to describe clearly.
——————————
When Sima Yi came down the river to Shouchun City, the capital of Yangzhou, and saw the abundant population, abundant granaries, and fierce soldiers, he felt a sense of fright and fear.
If he failed to get the news in advance and prepare calmly first, allowing Wang Ling to take the lead, the consequences would be really unimaginable!
"Yangzhou has become so prosperous over the years. No wonder Wang Ling dares to have other ideas! ... This Zhuge Dan is indeed a great talent in governing the state!"
Sima Yi was currently sitting on the Shu brocade seat on the Yangzhou city tower that his subordinates had laid out for him. On the sandalwood table in front of him were some local fresh fruits from Yangzhou and Yangzhou's unique, clear and sweet Chuhuai wine.
Sima Yi is holding his grandson Sima You, and is leisurely tasting fruits and enjoying wine. The sinister expression on the sinister face of the Sima Master standing behind him could not be seen except for a hint of ridicule towards the thousands of political opponents in the city who were eager to kill him.
Standing behind Master Sima was Zhuge Dan, who had recently married into the Sima family. At this moment, he looked at his son-in-law Wang Guang, Wang Gongyuan and his poor daughter kneeling on the execution ground below the city tower, and his heart was bleeding. But he understands that the living still need his protection. Facing this girl who has become a victim of marriage, he is helpless and powerless at the moment.
On the execution ground below the city tower, Linghuyu's most trusted confidant during his lifetime, Zhizhong Biejia Shan Gushan Gongxia, was covered in blood and in a miserable state. Originally, he had withstood twelve tortures of the Sima family in one breath. He didn't reveal a word of Linghuyu's plan, but what he didn't expect was that another confidant whom Linghuyu trusted, Yang Kang, who was in charge of Zhizhong, took the initiative to hand over all the evidence to Sima Yi.
Shan Gu, whose face was covered with blood, spat fiercely in Yang Kang's face:
"Bah! Old dog, you betrayed Linghu Shijun and me, and you still dreamed of becoming a lord and a general. Why don't you die with me under the Sima family's butcher knife this time! Old guy, and you I find it dirty to die on an execution ground!"
Yang Kang, who did not expect Sima Yi to kill the donkey, knelt down on the execution ground and shed tears of regret.
Sima Yi got tired of eating the fruit, so he raised his head and looked at the sun with his old eyes, as if to tell the supervisor below the city: It's time!
As soon as the executioner raised the butcher's knife, Xiao Taofu was so frightened that she buried her face in her grandfather's arms.
The butcher's knife was swung, and the heads of Wang Ling, Linghu Yu, and all the relatives of the three clans who had trusted the old general during their lifetimes, a total of 2,943 people, fell to the execution ground in an instant!
Among them are Wang Guang, a famous scholar from Luoyang who is aspiring to learn, Wang Jinhu and Wang Feixiao who have repeatedly made meritorious deeds on the battlefield, and of course Wang Mingshan, who is the best calligrapher in the world, and Zhuge Dan's beloved daughter.
Sima Yi and Master Sima seemed to appreciate the 'bright' red color in front of them very much. They raised the jade cups in their hands and drank a full sip of Chuhuai wine as if to celebrate.
Zhuge Dan felt nauseous as he looked like he was tasting human blood. Looking at the body of his daughter whose head was beheaded and her life was taken away from the city in an instant, Zhuge Dan felt his world spin and his mouth felt fishy and sweet, but he had always been mentally strong. He didn't show all this externally.
His body was still as stable as a mountain, and sadness seemed to be just a passing guest in his expression. In an instant, he returned to normal. After swallowing the hot blood that had not spurted out from his throat, he raised his glass to Sima Yi. , Master Sima said with a smile:
"Congratulations to Taifu and General Wei for achieving this unparalleled achievement! I would like to give a toast to Taifu and General Wei!"
Sima Yi and Sima Shi were like two bloodthirsty greedy wolves. They turned to Zhuge Dan and nodded with satisfaction. Zhuge Dan swallowed the strong wine mixed with blood. The wine was like a gut scraper. Like a fleshy steel knife, it cut through his throat, esophagus, and intestines, but Zhuge Dan did not shed a single tear.
"Zhuge Shijun, you are a talented man who understands current affairs. Once Wang Ling dies, there will be a vacancy in Yangzhou. This Yangzhou army of hundreds of thousands will be put in your charge. From now on, you will be the new governor of Yangzhou! In addition, I I will give you the title of Marquis of Shanyangting!"
After Zhuge Dan heard this, he immediately knelt on the ground and expressed his loyalty:
"Thank you very much, Taifu! I am willing to serve the Taifu and General Wei, even if I go through fire and water, I will not hesitate to do so!"
Sima Yi looked at the junior in front of him who seemed to have been tamed by him, nodded with satisfaction, and murmured:
"In the Spring and Autumn Period, both Cui Zhu and Zheng Guisheng of Qi were hunted down and their corpses dissected into coffins. This can be seen in the policies. I think that Wang Ling and Linghu Yu are so sinful that they should be like Cui "Zhu, according to the old tradition of Zheng Guisheng, his coffin should be dissected and his body slaughtered. I don't know the official rest. What do you think?"
Zhuge Dan understood that this was also a test for him by Sima Yi. Fearing that Sima Yi would see that he was enduring pain, Zhuge Dan hurriedly knelt on the ground and hid his expression between the bricks and stones:
"The great master is wise, and according to my wishes, Wang Ling and Linghuyu's seals, ribbons, and court uniforms should be burned in public. Only in this way can it be said to be a real pleasure!"
Sima Yi nodded with satisfaction again, handed the peach charm to Master Sima who was standing by, stood up, patted Zhuge Dan on the shoulder, supported Zhuge Dan for a while, then straightened his court clothes, and walked slowly down the tower. .
After this battle, Huang Hua, the governor of Yanzhou, and general Yang Hong, who had exposed Wang Ling and Linghu Yu, were both granted the title of rural marquis. Sima Shi and Sima Zhao also each gained many more feudal households, even as young as five years old. The 3-year-old Sima You was also awarded the title of Marquis of Changleting!
The elderly and talented King of Chu, Cao Biao, was directly ordered to die in the feudal country by the imperial court!
Not only that, Sima Yi also issued an edict in the name of the emperor:
All the princes of the clan were recorded and placed in Ye, and ordered to be supervised by a supervisor and not allowed to pass through customs.
Sima Yi took this opportunity to place all the Cao clan under house arrest in Yecheng, Hebei Province, and sent his third son Sima Yi, who had just married Zhuge Dan's daughter, as General Ningshuo to monitor and protect the Cao clan kings.
Yecheng.
It was the fiefdom capital of Emperor Taizu Wu when Cao Cao founded his country, and it was also the former capital of Wei State.
But now, it has become a 'prison' specially used to imprison and guard the descendants of the Cao family.
Cao Mao, the 12-year-old Duke of Gaogui, who was also moved to guard the city, is standing at the top of Yecheng, looking at the city where Cao's family flourished.
He swore in his heart:
"My ancestors, Cao Mao made a secret oath here today. If there is a chance in the future, he will fight hard to regain the power. If he fails, he will also swear to live and die with the Wei Dynasty!"
————————————
Cao Fang, who was in Luoyang, had become a real puppet at this time. The Sanqi Changshi around him had even completely followed the wishes of Sima Yi's party members and began to randomly assign Lantai cabinet to issue edicts representing the interests of the Sima family. .
Attendant Wei Dan took the "Edict of the Emperor" and gifts such as cattle, sheep, wine and meat to reward Sima Yi for capturing and killing the Chinese army led by Wang Ling.
The imperial servant Yu Yi then held the "Emperor Talisman" and ordered Sima Yi to be the prime minister. He was granted the title of Duke of Anping County and the title of the Sima family's descendants. There were as many as 19 descendants of the Sima family in Hanoi, regardless of meritorious service or not, who were granted the title of marquis, and the total number of households even exceeded 50,000!
Sima Yi was still as scheming as ever. He still resolutely refused the titles of Prime Minister and Duke, and only accepted the titles granted by the court to his descendants.
On this day, two young men, He Shao and Yang Xiu, heard that their friend Sima Yan had also been awarded the title of Tinghou of Beiping. They excitedly held a banquet in Qingqing Garden to celebrate Sima Yan.
When Sima Yi went south to conquer Wang Ling, he only brought his uncle Sima Shi and his five-year-old brother Sima You with him. This not obvious but unusual move made Sima Yan feel a little unhappy. I just wanted to sit with my friends and stretch my mind, so I didn't refuse the kind invitation of two friends who were the same age.
The three of them had passed the age of childhood and were considered young adults, so they came to Qingqingyuan, the most famous place in Luoyang.
As soon as they entered the door, the three of them saw several young people sitting on the same couch, drunk and mingling with each other. Yang Xiu always liked a clean, solitary couch, and he immediately felt disgusted with a few people:
"Look at these drunkards, they are really vulgar! Junhou, I have asked my brother Yang Jin to book a private room on the third floor. Let's go up to the attic!"
He Shao and Sima Yan couldn't help laughing when they saw that Yang Xiu, an old classmate, still retained the old habit of being clean as a child.
After the three of them went up to the attic, before they reached the private room booked by Yang Jin, they saw two handsome young men in their twenties and thirties. Yang Xiu took a closer look and realized that it was Pei Xiu. , Yang Hu and two others.
As soon as Yang Xiu saw his cousin Yang Hu, who he had always admired and was more than ten years older than him, and the legendary geographical genius Pei Xiu, he felt happy and hurriedly stepped forward to say hello:
"Mr. Pei, Sixth Brother, what a coincidence, you are also eating here?!"
When Yang Hu saw his cousin Yang Xiu, he also smiled and said hello:
"It's Brother Seventeen! Come and sit with us!"
Yanghu is the sixth oldest in the clan, and Yangxiu is the seventeenth oldest, so they call each other by the line.
Although Yang Hu warmly called, Sima Yan did not invite these two distinguished guests in advance today. It was not etiquette to rush to join the table, so he declined with a smile:
"Thank you both for your hospitality. Yan has already made an appointment with friends at the special table. I will invite my two brothers another day!"
Hearing this, Yang Hu and Pei Xiu smiled and nodded.
He Shao, Yang Xiu, and Sima Yan came to the private room. After meeting Yang Jin, they ate, drank, talked and laughed happily.
"He Shao, why are you so picky about such delicious fish? It's such a luxury! What kind of delicacies do you eat on a daily basis?"
"No, I just feel that there are so many mediocre cooks in the world. This dynasty is still frugal, so you can't call me extravagant!"
"Brother Yan, I, Yang Xiu, offer this glass of wine to you. Congratulations on being granted the title of Tinghou of Beiping when you were only a young boy. If you become prosperous in the future, don't forget me, brother!"
"Hahaha, okay! Come, let's have a drink together!"
"'Hydrangea,' if Brother Yan becomes prosperous in the future, what wish do you most want him to realize?"
Several of them were still teenagers, and their drinking capacity was not very high. After three cups or two, they were slightly tipsy. Yang Xiu listened to He Shao's question, tilted his head and thought about it carefully, and then said with a smile:
"If Brother Yan becomes prosperous in the future, just remember to let me be a high official for twenty years!"
Sima Yan asked with a smile:
"What kind of official do you want to be?"
"Without him, just ten years each for the Central Leading Army and the Central Protecting Army will be enough, hahahahaha!"
A few teenagers drank freely for a long time. Sima Yan's heart suddenly moved and he thought of his other friend Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang's sister was implicated in Wang Ling's incident and was killed by Weng Weng and her uncle at a young age in Shouchun, Yangzhou. Zhuge Liang has not seen her for more than ten days in a row.
Sima Yan let out a long sigh, raised the wine bottle and drank a large gulp of wine for himself.
Speaking of the friends with the best drinking capacity, Xiahou Mingyue actually ranks first in Luoyang City. It's just that Xiahou and Sima have been at odds over the years, and Sima Yan hasn't had much interaction with Mingyue.
Thinking of Mingyue, Sima Yan suddenly woke up from his drunken state.
Sima Yan suddenly thought with horror that he had not seen him in Taiyuan College for more than three months!
————————————
"You mean, it's possible that Xiahou Mingyue is no longer in Luoyang City?!"
"Yes, I have concluded that Xiahou Mingyue must have left Luoyang City!"
Sima Zhao looked at his son Sima Yan's blazing eyes and was filled with doubts. Although his eldest son Sima Yan was only fifteen years old, he had become famous in the past two years and was shrewd and capable in doing things. Therefore, he believed that what Sima Yan said was not a lie. .
Sima Zhao hesitated for a moment, and he understood that if he told his eldest brother and father about the matter, Xia Houxuan's situation would be even more dangerous. But then he thought about it, the Sima family now stepped on a pile of bones of the Wei clan, celebrities, and veterans, and finally climbed to its current position. He didn't know how many enemies were staring at the Sima family eagerly, trying to kill them. Eaten alive, his temporary soft-heartedness may very well bring disaster to the family!
Thinking of this, Sima Zhao no longer hesitated and immediately rushed to his eldest brother's apartment.
Half an hour later, a group of school officials wearing light armor and sabers on their waists ran out of the school office and went straight to the Xiahou Mansion of Changling Marquis in Jiuzifang.
Boom boom! Boom boom!
Just when the school officer knocked on the door fiercely, Su Mu, who was entrusted by Xia Houxuan to pay attention to the situation and was leading troops to patrol Jiuzifang Street, noticed the abnormal situation here and immediately rode over:
"What's going on with these brothers?"
The school officer wanted to scold this person for asking questions, but when he turned around, he found that the person asking the question was General Wei Su Mu, who was most trusted by General Wei and Sima Division. His expression immediately improved:
"It turns out it's Su Canjun. The young men are running a secret errand. It's inconvenient for me to inform you. Please forgive me for Su Canjun!"
Su Mu nodded without showing any strange expression, but he felt a little anxious in his heart. Seeing that the perpetrators of these school affairs were evil, Su Mu knew that something must have happened to the Xiahou Mansion.
He was deeply grateful for Xia Houxuan's survival, and now he was ready to fight to the death.
At this critical moment, the concierge of Xiahou Mansion opened the door, and out from behind the thick vermilion door panel came out an extraordinary-looking young man in white with a long beard, about forty years old.
When Su Mu saw his old friend, a big stone hanging in his heart finally fell to the ground.
It turned out that Xiahou Xuan had arrived in Luoyang City last night. After he fostered Guanqiu Jian's white jade tiger in the suburbs of Beijing, he entered the city quietly at night. He did not return to Xiahou Mansion immediately, but found a home. He rested for half a night at the humble inn. After dawn, he went to the market to find out some gossip about his recent visit to Luoyang City, and then returned to his mansion.
"Everyone, I don't know what the hell is the point of visiting a humble house?"
When the vicious school officials saw this gentle and elegant gentleman, they unexpectedly felt an inexplicable respect from the bottom of their hearts.
Several people couldn't help but think: Pei Kai, a young celebrity of this dynasty, once praised Xia Houxuan as "as solemn as entering a corridor temple. He does not practice respect but respects himself." It's like entering the ancestral temple and seeing ritual instruments. 'When I saw it today, it turned out to be well-deserved!
"Taichang Xiahou, we have been ordered by Sima Gong to ask you something..."
Xia Houxuan smiled slightly, having already thought of the words to respond to various situations in his mind. He smiled and greeted everyone into the Hou Mansion. The thick red door was closed again, leaving only a worried Su Mu on the street.
————————————
After some investigation, Xia Houxuan responded appropriately and his words were flawless. Afterwards, several school officials did not find anything unusual, so they could only return to Sima Mansion to report back to Master Sima.
"Sent to recuperate?"
After Master Sima thought about it carefully, he felt that this matter was not an urgent matter, so he gave instructions to several school officials:
"You continue to pay attention to this matter, and always pay attention to the movements of Xiahou Mansion. If there is any trouble, please report to me at any time!"
————————————
Changlinghou Mansion.
In the past month, the Sima party members who were monitoring Xia Houxuan outside the mansion discovered that the old man named Gu in the mansion always left the mansion frequently and went to various booksellers to buy books, especially booksellers from Hu people from the Western Regions.
The monitors were a little suspicious at first, but later they dispelled their doubts when they heard that Lord Taichang in the mansion was actually writing books and compiling books.
In the study room of the mansion, Xiahou Xuanzheng was writing and copying the books that Gu Ting had purchased from various Hu merchants.
In fact, he didn't ask Gu Ting to buy these books for the purpose of writing "Xiahouzi".
Only he knows that all this is for revenge against the Sima family!
In order not to make those monitors suspicious, he deliberately asked Su Mu to disguise himself as a Hu merchant from the Western Regions. Only in this way could he successfully communicate with Su Mu without concealing it from those people.
And the top secrets of the exchanges are actually hidden in these so-called weird books.
The Jin Market in the western suburbs of Luoyang City was a place where Hu merchants and Han travelers intensively traded.
Because this place is very lively and merchants gather, in order not to disturb the merchants from the Hu region, the court generally does not inspect the merchants in the gold market too harshly, so pretending to be a merchant from the Hu region can cleverly avoid the eyes and ears of the Sima family.
However, although Xia Houxuan bought books from the Western Regions to conceal them from others, he was pleasantly surprised to find several volumes of strange texts in these books that he had never paid much attention to before.
These strange texts are Buddhist scriptures passed down by monks from the Western Regions.
The introduction of Buddhism has a long history.
It is said that in the seventh year of Yongping of the former Han Dynasty, Emperor Liu Zhuang of the Han Ming Dynasty once stayed at Nangong overnight and dreamed that a six-foot-tall golden man with a shining head came from the west and flew around the palace.
The next day, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty told this dream to his minister, Dr. Fu Yiqi, who said, "There is a god in the west, called Buddha."
After hearing this, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was overjoyed and sent more than ten people including his ministers Cai Yin and Qin Jing to the Western Regions to pray for Buddhist scriptures and Dharma.
In the tenth year of Yongping, two eminent Indian monks were invited to return to the capital Luoyang together with the envoys of the Eastern Han Dynasty, carrying Buddhist scriptures and statues on white horses.
Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was very happy to see Buddhist scriptures and statues. He treated the two eminent monks with great courtesy and received them personally. He also arranged for them to stay temporarily in "Honglu Temple", the official office in charge of foreign affairs at that time.
In the eleventh year of Yongping, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty ordered the construction of a monastery in the north of the imperial road three miles outside Xiyongmen in Luoyang. In commemoration of the white horse carrying sutras, it was named "White Horse Temple".
The word "Temple" comes from the "Temple" of "Honglu Temple", and later this title became a general term for temples all over the world.
The White Horse Temple was destroyed in a fire in the late Han Dynasty, but it was rebuilt on its ruins during the early years of Huangchu, Emperor Wen's reign.
Nowadays, the White Horse Temple stands beside the Tongtuo Mosque, which also contains the "Forty-Two Chapter Sutra" translated by Shemo Teng and Zhu Falan.
After the two eminent monks She Moteng and Zhu Falan, many other eminent Western monks came to White Horse Temple to translate Buddhist scriptures.
One year ago, in the second year of Jiaping, a Zhongtianzhu [Indian] Vinaya monk named Tanke Jialuo traveled to the White Horse Temple in Luoyang.
After arriving in Luoyang, this eminent monk who was smart, fond of learning, read poetry and books widely, and became a monk at the age of 25, was surprised to find that in addition to shaving his hair, monks in China should eat meat and drink wine. , when it’s time to start a family, they are no different from the rest of the ordinary people in every aspect.
He advocated that all behaviors should be in accordance with the Buddha, so the monks in Luoyang asked Tanke Jialuo to translate the specific precepts of the Buddha to save all living beings.
Jialuo was afraid that the text of the Vinaya would not be accepted by the public because of its complexity, so he translated it into a concise and clear "Sangha Vigilance Mind", which is the text of the precepts of the Maha Sangha Dharma.
This was the original code of discipline for monks in Middle-earth.
"The Land of Ultimate Bliss, where the seven treasures are combined into one, is vast and limitless, bright, pure and majestic, surpassing all the worlds in the ten directions. There is neither Mount Sumeru nor all the mountains surrounded by diamond iron, nor are there any big or small seas, streams, wells or valleys. There are no hells, hungry ghosts, animals and other evil realms. There are also no four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, neither cold nor hot, always in harmony..."
"It is said that among all sentient beings, the strong subjugate the weak, turn around to defeat thieves, maim and kill, and devour each other one after another..."
Xia Houxuan copied this and closed his eyes to think quietly.
A land without hell and evil spirits is the land of bliss. There are also four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter, neither cold nor hot, always in harmony...
The strong subjugate the weak, turn around to defeat thieves, maim and kill, and devour each other one after another. This is a sin...
If we want Wei to be a land of bliss, we need to get rid of these evil ghosts and powerful thieves!
"Su Mu, you have finally gained Master Sima's trust. I want you to promise me something!"
"Just as the Lord ordered, Su Mu will not hesitate even if he goes through fire and water!"
Xia Houxuan held Su Mu's arm and said seriously and firmly:
"If one day, like Xi Di and others, I am no longer alive, and the Sima family really engages in treason, can you work hard to get rid of the traitors for Wei and me?"
Su Mu looked at Xia Houxuan's burning eyes and nodded solemnly:
"Don't worry, Lord. Su Mu has taken note of it. If one day, the Sima family really intends to completely rebel, Su Mu will not let them go!"
————————————
June, in Taifu's Mansion.
In the morning, the sun has not yet risen.
The old man, who had not yet fallen asleep, was lying on the couch in his dormitory, with cold sweat on his forehead.
The corners of his mouth twitched unconsciously, as if he had seen something terrible.
"Help……"
The old man whispered in his dream:
"Don't come here...don't come here..."
"Help!"
Suddenly, the old man was awakened by a nightmare. He suddenly turned over and his clothes were soaked with sweat.
"Master, what's wrong with you?"
The maid standing beside him took a piece of silk and gently wiped the cold sweat from the old man's forehead.
Sima Yi was still frightened and frightened.
If he remembered correctly, he seemed to have seen the ghosts of Wang Ling, Jia Kui and others in his dream just now!
There was still deathly silence in Taifu's mansion.
General Wei Sima Shi looked at the green buds on the branches in the courtyard, seeming to be lost in thought.
He thought of his late wife Yuanrong's instructions to him when she was dying, but now, can he still be worthy of her?
Master Sima's eyes were red and he rubbed the slightly painful scar on his left eye.
"General, you have an eye problem again? You should pay more attention to rest."
Before I knew it, Su Mu had arrived in the back courtyard.
Master Sima shook his head and said with a wry smile:
"I'm afraid I won't be able to recover from my illness."
Master Sima turned around, his eyes were full of loneliness and emptiness.
He looked at this poor fellow in the army, who had been with him for many years and who had begged him for a panacea for pain relief when he was in pain after an eye disease attack. His eyes were full of trust as if he were looking at brothers.
"Su Mu, my status and power have become higher and higher over the years, but why can't I feel the happiness I imagined?"
Master Sima's eyes were full of pain, he shook his head and said:
"Do you understand this kind of pain, Su Mu..."
Su Mu still lowered his head and said nothing.
Of course he, a lowly soldier, would not understand.
"Su Mu, sometimes I wonder if I made the wrong choice from the beginning..."
"General."
At this moment, Su Mu raised his head and looked into Master Sima's eyes:
"Some things are done just as they are done. No matter whether they are right or wrong, they may be irreversible!"
After the two chatted for a while, Master Sima left the courtyard and went to deal with urgent matters in the court.
In the study, Su Mu walked in softly, making almost no sound.
Over the years, his Qinggong skills have become so great that he has unknowingly reached the point where he can step on the ground without making a sound.
He turned around and slowly closed the door.
At this moment, the owner of the study was attending a court meeting in the Tai Chi Hall, so he had a special status and was able to enter the study quietly.
The bookshelf was slowly pushed by him, and a shabby scroll of letters and an exquisite jade bottle came into his sight.
This must be what Taichu was talking about.
Su Mu looked at the exquisite jade bottle, with two seal characters "Gan Bing" printed on it.
Su Mu quietly searched for more than a month, and it was only today that he finally found the bottle of poison.
He did not intend to follow Xia Houxuan's words and wait for the future.
Others may not know it, but Su Mu can't help but understand how lonely and painful Xia Houxuan has been in his heart all these years.
More than once, he saw Xia Houxuan secretly burning cold clothes for his old friend late at night and crying secretly late at night.
He decided to do something earth-shattering without telling Xia Houxuan!
————————————
Luoyang Palace, Tai Chi Palace.
In the main hall that had been retreating for a long time, there was only silence and a lonely figure left.
The weak-crowned emperor sat blankly on the high throne, staring blankly at the splendor in front of him.
He clearly remembered that three years ago, he was still undergoing drastic reforms with his late general Cao Zhaobo, hoping to become an eternal monarch like Duke Xiao of Qin and Shang Yang, in an attempt to rejuvenate his empire.
But I didn't expect that in just three years, everything had changed...
Twenty-year-old Cao Fang seemed to be reminded of that winter day more than ten years ago.
The deep look his father gave him before he passed away.
That is clearly telling myself, Lan Qing, your father is no longer here, you must protect this country well.
But now...
The only thing left for me is this pitiful loneliness.
He looked at the picturesque mountains and rivers outside the palace and burst into tears.
I don’t know what color the great rivers and mountains in front of me will eventually turn into...
——————————————
Jiuzifang, Changlinghou Mansion.
Taichang Xia Houxuan was still sitting alone in his study, copying Buddhist scriptures.
If the sky had eyes, I would definitely be able to defeat the national traitors in the temple with my own hands.
If there really is a Buddha in this world, then the Buddha should also let the demons perish.
Everything must have a cycle of cause and effect, and retribution will be unpleasant.
"Your Majesty."
The elderly Gu Ting tremblingly opened the door and looked at his master who was under house arrest:
"Junhou, it's time to eat..."
Xia Houxuan smiled slightly and nodded.
"Uncle Gu, go and help me make arrangements. On Wuyin Day in August, Sima Zhongda's seventy-second birthday, I want to go out of the house and personally go to Sima Taifu to congratulate him on his birthday!"
——————————————
August, mid-autumn.
To the west of the arsenal, to the north of Ximing Gate, to the south of Jinshi, in front of Taifu's Mansion.
On this day, the mansion was extremely lively. Almost all the prominent people in the capital came to the mansion to celebrate Taifu Sima Yi's seventy-second birthday.
Taifu's third brother, Sikong Sima Fu, and the Taifu's disciples all personally greeted the bustling guests carrying gifts at the gate and main hall of the mansion. This lively scene made the people of Luoyang sigh:
"I heard that today is the seventy-second birthday of the Imperial Master Sima!"
"Is it the Taifu's birthday celebration? Looking at the ostentation, those who didn't know better would have thought it was the emperor's birthday celebration!"
"Hey, the current splendor and wealth of Taifu Sima's family, even if it is not as good as the Tian family, in my opinion, is not far behind!"
What the people said is not an exaggeration. Today's court is indeed firmly in the hands of this ancient master.
To be precise, the entire world is already firmly in the hands of the Sima clan!
In the main hall, above the main seat, the wrinkled old face of the old birthday star was full of joyful smiles at this moment.
This world is finally in the hands of our Sima family.
Sima Yi looked at the groveling and obedient ministers at the banquet, and seemed to have seen the scene of officials supporting their descendants and paying homage to Shanhu.
"Taifu, Taichang Changlinghou and Xiahou Taichu are waiting in the garden. They said they want to see you alone."
"Xia Houxuan..."
The old man squinted his eyes and twitched his beard and said quietly:
"I haven't had a good conversation with this kid for several years. I really want to see what he looks like now..."
In the back garden of the mansion, Su Mu, who was assisting General Sima Shi in sorting out the gift list for the mansion, quietly floated here.
He waited for a while, and finally saw the maid of the girl who often accompanied a few girls on the house. He immediately came to the back garden slowly.
"Zi Yan, I have found this thing, and next, look at you!"
After Su Mu handed the green jade bottle to Ziyu's hand, she immediately drifted away and wondered.
Zi Yan held the jade bottle in his hand, his eyes were full of firm colors.
During this time, Su Mu has informed her all the truths of the year.
Nowadays, the ladies of the lady, except for the thoughts of death, and the two children of Lingyun and Lingjun, are still in the house, and the rest have already made them, and they basically have no concern.
In the past years, the Sima family has killed people like cutting grass, and she has also seen a lot. Now she has killed them to avenge her lady. Naturally, she has no scruples.
This poison is colorless and tasteless.
For so many years of humiliation, I can finally get revenge for Miss Yuan Rong to hate Xue!
Thinking of this, Zi Yan's original dark eyes suddenly scattered a fierce murderous intention.
——————————
Fuzhiyuan Garden.
When Sima Yi came to the garden, Xia Houxuan did not get up and welcomed him, but still drank himself.
"Sima, it looks good!"
Xia Houxuan not only did not get up to salute, but was full of casualness and arrogance in his tone.
"Xia Hou's nephew is really extraordinary."
Although the voice of the old man is low, it is still full of anger, making people even more unable to distinguish his mood at this moment.
"Uncle Sima."
Xia Houxuan put down the wine bottle in his hand, and he glanced at the old man coldly:
"You and the dead father were the same as the friends who made friends. Xuan finally called your uncle."
He looked at the eyes of the old man, and said:
"Can you still sleep steadily these years?"
Sima Yi heard that Xia Houxuan mentioned that Xia Hou Shang, the old friend who was designed by himself, could not help but shock slightly, but almost a moment later, he immediately recovered his normal state.
Although his tone was still not surprised, he no longer dared to look directly at the eyes that seemed to be able to observe everything.
The eyes came from the younger generation who was nearly forty years younger than himself.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
The old man laughed, and the smile was a little gloomy:
"The old man's body is healthy, and he sleeps naturally!"
Xia Houxuan just smiled coldly. He did not take Sima Yi's cavity, but said a few words of shocking words:
"More than forty years ago, Emperor Taizuwu saw you as a big talent, so he ordered you to fully assist the young man Cao Chong Cao Cangshu.
However, you find that this child is too intelligent. Once you become a monarch in the future, you will not depend on you too much. On the contrary, the facial features, Zhonglang, will rely on you to rely on you.
So you move the evil thoughts and kill the thirteen -year -old young man Cang Shu!
This is the first time you have used the Western Region Qi Bingbing. What I said, right? ! "
Xia Houxuan's voice was like the ice, stabbing the luxurious big gossip on the old man. Got it!
"Child, you are smart."
"besides!"
Xia Houxuan did not stop. He's eyes burned and continued to say one by one:
"Cao Chunda was doubtful about the death of the boy, so he began to investigate. After he found all the secrets, his discovery threatened you again!
So, if you do n’t do it, you will kill the beams of only thirty -six years old with the same mean means!
In addition, when Guan Yunchang was in Xiangyang in the north, you also imitated the handwriting of Taizu and forged a military order, so that Yu Wen, who supported Cang Shuzi to surrender the enemy's general, did not guarantee the evening festival, and lost his name! General Pound was also defeated by the army and died for the country! "
"The old man didn't expect that even these old things, you are a younger boy, you know!"
Sima Yi's eyes are all cold murderous:
"It seems that Uncle Sima sees you!"
He looked up at Xia Houxuan's eyes, and said in a gloomy tone:
"There are some things, the old man may wish to tell you.
The murals I saw in Gaoling, Yingjun, were not the original intention of the Emperor Wen, but the old man suggested that Emperor Wen prepared!
Cao Zhenqi couldn't afford the dispersion and cursing stationery he had seen before. It was not written by Zhuge Kongming, but also made by the old man!
Also, when I went to your house that year, the fate of the Empress Dowager Feng Wu Xuanxuan gave the chills of the cold, and it was also the arrangement of the old man!
Of course, there is your sister who is not afraid of death. Of course, this also blame her to find the secret of the old man ... "
"Sima Yi!"
When Xia Houxuan heard that even when Aunt Han, father, Yuan Rong, and uncle were killed by the devil in front of him, he could no longer control his inner anger. He suddenly got up, and Sima Yi trembled.
Sima Yi looked at the dead men who arranged in the corner in advance. As long as Xia Houxuan was not good for himself, he called the dead at any time to chop them into meat!
"Are you afraid of being condemned!"
Xia Houxuan's eyes were red.
"God's punishment?"
The old man laughed:
"When you stand at a high place, you are qualified to say condemnation. Now your Xia Hou family is just a humble straw, a poor ant!
Emperor can go, heaven, what are the fear?
The world is from my Sima family. What can he go? "
As the old man said, he retreated outside the garden. At the same time, he made a secret order towards those dead men and controlled Xia Houxuan. If necessary, he could kill him!
Although Xia Houxuan was angry at this moment, after all, he would not be stupid enough to send him to death. He did not wait for those dead men to appear, and he stepped out of the "clouds and rain steps" and intended to go through the wall.
However, he still underestimated the strength of the Sima family. The dozen dead men waved the hidden weapon and sealed Xia Houxuan's foothold. Xia Houxuan had to fall back to the hospital again.
"You are here to accompany Xia Houmong here, the old man has to continue to participate in the birthday banquet!"
After Sima Yi left, Xia Houxuan struggled with the ten dead men for a while, and found that he could not take advantage of him, so he no longer fought with those dead men, but continued to sit on the stone bench freely. Drink.
————————————
"Xiaguan and others congratulated Tai Fu, Zhu Tai Fu Fuzawa is long!"
"Thank you for drinking with you!"
Zi Yan stared at the huge white jade bottle in the hands of Sima Yi at this moment, and he was extremely nervous.
She couldn't help praying secretly in her heart:
"Miss, you are in the spirit of heaven, please Bao Youzi today to successfully revenge for you! God bless!"
At this moment, Sima Yi, who drank the life wine, suddenly felt a slight discomfort in the throat. After a while, this sense of discomfort became more and more obvious.
Sima Yi was panicked in his heart, hurried to the side of his two sons, grabbed the hands of the two sons, and hurried to the back hall.
"Father, what's wrong with you?"
Sima Shifang has noticed Sima Yi's wrong. At this moment, he understands that his father must have something to say.
At this moment, Sima Yi trembled his hands, his eyes were full of fear. He trembled and wanted to say something, but his throat was hysterical, and he had a strange thirst that made him unpredictable at all!
In this way, Sima Yi, who had no time to say a word, suddenly fell to the ground like this.
"Wang ... Wang ........., Jia, Jia ..."
"Father, what's wrong with you!"
The Sima Shi Sima Zhao brothers were panicked at this moment and planned to help his father from the cold ground, but Sima Yi seemed to see the most terrible scenes in the world at this moment, climbing towards the corner of the house!
Qiu August Wuyin, Tai Fu Wu Yang Hou Sima died in an emergency, seventy -two years old.
It is said that he was terrible before his death, but he did not show any signs of poisoning.
Others said that he saw countless ghosts before he died.
In September, the spirit of Sima Yi was buried in Heyin.
——————————————
After this extremely weird way, the birthday party ended after the midfielder, and Sima Shi immediately ordered the martial law to have Sima Mansion.
"Brother, you mean, father, he was poisoned?!"
Sima Zhao with tears was incredible at this moment. The Sima Shi, who has the poison in the government, is full of killing intentions at this moment:
"My father used that white jade wine bottle after drinking a long time after drinking wine! Check it, and immediately find out who the wine bottle is handed to the banquet, who passed through!"
After Sima Zhao's torture, Wang Kunzi, who was clear -headed, soon said all the persons who might have been in contact with the life wine:
"Xiaohong, Xiao Cui, and ...... Uncle Yu, and ..., yes, and Aunt Zi! It's her!" That's it! "
Sima Shi and Sima Zhao carefully analyzed Wang's kitchen words, and unanimously felt that only one of these people was the most suspicious:
"Is it Ziyi?"
The two brothers looked at each other, and there was a chill in her heart.
"I remember that when her father drank a long -lasting wine, she stood on the side, and her face looked extremely unusual!"
"Is it for the dying big sister ..."
"enough!!"
The eyes of Sima Shi were full of fierce colors at this moment, and his low roar:
"There are still many things in the DPRK, my father has not had time to do later, and now my father has died in a hurry, and your situation is very dangerous now!"
Sima Zhao also felt a great fear at this moment, and did not continue to speak.
The fierce color in Sima's eyes became more and more obvious, and the heyday of anger caused a severe and unbearable pain in the tumor under his left eye.
That night, all related subordinates such as Xiaohong, Xiao Cui, Wang Kitchen, and Yucheng all lost their lives.
In the early morning of the next day, as soon as Sima Shi opened the door, he saw the two daughters with stubborn and anger -Lingyun and Lingjun.
"Aunt Zi, did you kill!"
Ling Junzi is smart and straight, and she has always been violently violent to take care of their sisters. She thought of the killing father's head for the first time.
After hearing his daughter's question, Sima Shi looked somber:
"Lingjun, what's not nonsense! I don't get back soon!"
"It's my nonsense, or your father, you murder!"
Lingjun stared at her father with anger at this moment:
"Do you know the third tribe of your family? Several of our sisters go to the streets and the market to buy something, and they must see the people's face! Killing others, even now I have served your elderly people who have been for so many years. You have to kill too, your heart is still not meaty! "
Before Ling Jun's words were finished, Sima Shi raised his palm and slammed, and Lingjun's face swelled on a tall piece!
"Dad, you can't fight Lingjun!"
When Lingyun saw his father, he hurriedly helped Ling Jun who was shaking by this slap. Lingyun looked at his father aggrieved at the moment, saying word by word:
"Do you know, the mother died early. It was a few aunts who took care of us like a mother, and waited for your clothing and food to live! You ...... ... how can you ..."
Ling Yun said here, the sadness in his heart couldn't restrain, and his eyes rushed out of his eyes.
When Sima Shi saw the time of the Shang Dynasty, he was almost mistaken, and he didn't say a word. He stepped out of the door of the courtyard, and did not look back at the two daughters who were still crying.
At this moment, the stable Sima Shi seemed to be confused at this moment. His father's warehouse died, his daughter's rebellion, and the changes in the house, and this pile of piles made him feel unprecedented irritability and pressure.
In today's early dynasty, he didn't know if he would encounter difficult resistance and pressure. In these years, no matter how much changes and storms, he has always dared to go into hard, but today, he feels a little fatigue. and boredom.
If he can, he really only wants to be an ordinary person who does not need to be idle, does not need to be filled with killing blood, and does not need to be enemy all over the world.
But all this has long been unable to stop.
The breeze in the morning passed his eyes without tears. Because of his tears, it has long dried up.
