Time is always limited, it is easy to say goodbye easily and one is easily ecstatic, and wine feasts and singing are infrequent.
The mountains and rivers in our eyes are far away, and the falling flowers and wind and rain are more damaging to the spring. It is better to take pity on the people in front of us.
Wu Yanrou sat upright on his beloved Red Rabbit horse, and his slender and sharp eyes under the golden Chaofeng battle helmet were narrowed and looking into the distance. Under the slope where I am now, the winding mountains and the misty misty rain make the mountains in front of me and in the distance picturesque. Wu Yanrou knew that after descending this long hillside and climbing over the steamed bun-shaped mountain on the opposite side, it would be the last station leading to Prince Xing's Mansion.
Instinctively, he stretched out his hand and gently touched the snake spear that was holding the saddle in front of him. Wu Yanrou's resolute and handsome face showed no expression. Although he was a little excited in his heart, after years of training, he would not express his emotions easily, and he didn't care at all even if the rain fell. The gold chainmail on his body looked particularly bright and eye-catching under the rain. Although it was very close to the inn and not far from Prince Xing's Mansion, Wu Yanrou did not relax at all. Regarding the King Wei whom he was protecting in the car behind him, Wu Yanrou felt mixed feelings and all kinds of thoughts in his heart.
About half a year ago, Wu Yanrou was just a valet beside the emperor, the captain of the horse army guard. By chance, he accompanied the emperor and took several princes with him to hunt with King Wei. King Wei was too fat to ride fast for a long time, so he ordered a few guards to hunt on foot with him.
Although starting from Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, all the princes in the royal family were both civil and military. The King Wei in front of him was also good at both martial arts and martial arts when he was a child, but since he gained weight, he didn't like to move, and all those martial arts skills were wasted for a long time. King Wei was naturally unsatisfactory in hunting and archery, but he was obviously very face-conscious and did not want to lose face in front of the royal family members and several of the emperor's trusted ministers. He asked the accompanying guards to hunt for him, because King Wei was the most beloved by Emperor Liu Sheng, which was also the unspoken rule in the royal family.
It happened that Wu Yanrou was with the King of Wei to protect him that day. He was already superb in martial arts, and his fists, feet, weapons and archery skills were all top-notch. Hunting was a piece of cake for him. There were so many prey in the royal hunting grounds that there was no need to show off. Wu Yanrou could easily accompany the guards. The king hunted a wild deer and a wild boar. This wild deer runs extremely fast and the wild boar is very ferocious. Even ordinary hunters who hunt every day may not be able to succeed.
King Wei was naturally very happy at that time and became very interested in him. During the chat, he casually asked himself some thoughts and wishes. Wu Yanrou inevitably said that she wanted to expand the territory for the emperor and conquer the world. Although this King Wei was usually playful and moody, he had been taught by all the royal teachers for a long time, and the emperor had always regarded him as the prince's education. Although he knew how to win over talents and win people's hearts at a young age, he really comforted and praised Wu Yanrou. A few words.
King Wei was so happy that he completed the hunt himself. When the emperor was discussing rewards for his merits, he told the emperor that Wu Yanrou was both civil and military, and suggested that the emperor appoint Wu Yanrou as the general, and even wanted Wu Yanrou to come to his residence. Just because of King Wei's whim, Wu Yanrou transformed from a small guard captain.
Emperor Liu Sheng had already doted on King Wei, and because Wu Yanrou had another subtle identity, he personally tested Wu Yanrou's martial arts. Naturally, Wu Yanrou did not disappoint at that time. The emperor was overjoyed and repeatedly praised King Wei for his knowledge of people. Wu Yanrou became a full-fledged bodyguard from horse to command, which was already a relatively high military rank in the armies of the Five Dynasties countries. For Wu Yanrou, who had always wanted to make achievements, this was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In the Five Dynasties period, when wars were raging and dynasties were constantly changing, there were many people who made their names in history with their literary and martial arts, and Wu Yanrou was naturally ambitious. But for the Southern Han Dynasty, which was located in the south of Lingnan, there had always been a strange phenomenon. This phenomenon is caused by the founding emperor Liu Yan, in order to prevent military generals from separatist rule like local warlords in the late Tang Dynasty, so the governors and military envoys sent to various states in the country were all literati. This caused the Southern Han Dynasty to be free of separatism and turmoil for decades. It also eliminated the arrogance and meddling in politics of military commanders at all levels. It also made the historical national destiny of the Han Dynasty second only to the Qian family of Wuyue. Dynasty.
Later, Zhao Kuangyin, the emperor of the Song Dynasty who was established in Zhou Dynasty, unified the Central Plains and also adopted this measure implemented by Liu Yan, the emperor of the Southern Han Dynasty, which completely put an end to the rebellion of warriors since the Tang Dynasty. Of course, everything and anything seems to have a good side and a bad side. This measure also made the court of the Southern Han Dynasty and the subsequent Song Dynasty weak and incompetent. After the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms changed over several decades, only the Southern Han Dynasty could implement this strategy. Because the Southern Han Dynasty was economically active in Lingnan, it was almost untouched by the frequent wars like the Central Plains. This also left the Southern Han Dynasty with no place for talented and ambitious generals at all levels to display their talents.
But Wu Yanrou knew that the current emperor Liu Hongxi (Sheng) was quite ambitious. Since he ascended the throne, he had successively seized eighteen states from the neighboring country of Ma's Chu State. This deliberate and aggressive move also made military commanders at all levels eager to show off their skills with the emperor. Wu Yanrou, who had been both civil and military since childhood, naturally hoped that he could show off his skills, so he was not only grateful to King Wei, but also always wanted to repay him.
However, King Wei soon had an accident while riding a horse. Although Wu Yanrou knew about it, she was helpless because of her status. Just when Qia Qia could only sigh in her heart, she learned that King Wei was sent to Luofu Mountain for medical treatment, and after much trouble, he was cured by Tao Zun. Wu Yanrou was naturally overjoyed, and later heard that the emperor had ordered someone to take King Wei back to Prince Xing's Mansion, so he advised the emperor through his master, who was highly regarded by the emperor, and volunteered to come to Luofu Mountain to pick up King Wei, and was responsible for protecting King Wei and his party. Safety.
Because she was grateful to King Wei and wanted to repay King Wei, Wu Yanrou knew that making such a choice would undoubtedly make people feel that she and King Wei were on the same team. In terms of political power, King Wei has not reached a certain level, and in terms of human resources, King Wei does not have a certain breadth in the court, so it is not a good thing for Wu Yanrou to choose a position, but Wu Yanrou had no regrets when she went to beg her master. , although the master said nothing or stopped himself.
This King Wei had been unruly and unruly when he was in the palace, and his character was extremely eccentric and extreme, so his reputation was not good both in the court and among the people. Moreover, there were many civil and military officials in the court who opposed King Wei, but because of the emperor's consistent strength, those different voices and actions were suppressed.
Wu Yanrou's own master is Yang Jiong, the sick tiger who is known as the second servant of the emperor, and he is always inseparable from the emperor. It is said that Emperor Liu Sheng was determined to establish King Wei as the crown prince. His right servant attacked a group of interest groups headed by Zhao Zhangzhou, but they wanted to support the emperor's second son, King Liu Xuanxing of Qi (later changed to King of Gui, and historically he was the queen in the third year of Dabao). Killed by the Lord). The King of Qi was just a little over ten years old. On the grounds that the Emperor was in his prime, Zhao Zhangzhou and others first put pressure on the Emperor not to establish a prince. Then, everyone always praised the King of Qi as the wisest among the princes and supported him. King Qi's intention was very obvious.
Of course, there are reasons for supporting King Liu Xuanxing of Qi, because although King Yize of Qi is still young, his maternal family is Pan Chongche, the first military general of the Southern Han Dynasty. This Pan Chongche was unparalleled in the prestige of the Southern Han Dynasty and the military. He was indispensable for the Southern Han Dynasty to regain the eighteen states of Ma Chu, and he was also famous in the famous celebrity list in the Central Plains. The seventh-ranked Tyrant Sword is famous for a while.
Regarding the royal battle for power, Wu Yanrou did not want to participate in it. Because of his master Yang Jiong, he did not care what others thought of him. However, Wu Yanrou felt that it was his duty to repay the favor to King Wei. Although it is said that since King Wei went crazy after being injured, the emperor has never mentioned the matter of King Wei's appointment. However, for Yang Jiong, who has followed the emperor for more than ten years, it is not surprising to know the emperor's preferences and thoughts.
In particular, Dao Zunshi Zhenren's favor for King Wei made the emperor's thoughts firm. Yang Jiong would not tell others when he saw it, but he would not keep what he thought to Wu Yanrou, who had always treated him like his own son. . So this time he personally hinted to Wu Yanrou to protect the King of Guards all the way back to Prince Xing's Mansion, and even asked him to bring the eight guards of the Wu family who had been instructed by him, and Wu Yanrou understood the meaning.
In the midst of his thoughts, Wu Yanrou's sharp senses were running continuously, her eyes were shining dimly as she turned her head to look into the distance. From a distance, I saw a man dressed in black, jumping among the tall trees and bamboos, and in a blink of an eye, he was flying towards this side.
Several guards around Wu Yanrou immediately stood in front of the horse. This time they came to Luofu Mountain to greet King Wei. The emperor promised to promote Wu Yanrou's official position again. When he returns, he can become the commander of the Forbidden Army Palace. This can be done externally. position, and truly entered the ranks of generals, he can arrange guards and tooth generals to accompany him. These people are the personal servants he usually trained himself, and the brothers he promoted from his former friends in the army. Wu Yanrou waved for them to step aside, allowing the man to approach and salute.
"General, the people who set up an ambush were detected in Huhujian ten miles away. They have been wiped out by my subordinates. We even captured one of them alive!" The man in black only had a pair of eyes outside. Not only was he strong and strong, but he also exuded an awe-inspiring aura. Feeling the aura of danger, like a hungry panther, can make people feel dangerous at any time.
Wu Yanrou's eyes widened and she said in a deep voice: "You're still alive? Wu Er, is this Wu Da's idea?" After many years of following the guards, spying on intelligence and traveling around the world, and now, Due to the brutal competition among the military, although Wu Yanrou is only in her twenties now, she has already developed a tough character and a cold-blooded attitude towards the opposing forces. Especially the news that came back from Luofu Mountain this time, knowing that King Wei's recovery has made many people uneasy, Wu Yanrou did not dare to be negligent at all because of the master's hint.
He deeply knew that if he gave the enemy a chance, he would create trouble for himself. Moreover, as King Wei was a candidate for the crown prince, there were people who dared to make moves overtly or covertly, which showed that the opponent's power was not small. No matter what the motives and purposes were, Wu Yanrou could not leave any trouble behind, so facing Wu Er, Wu Yanrou's eyes became cold. He did not dare to underestimate the enemy at all, because the opponent dared to act under the eyes of Dao Zun and dared to confront him in the name of his master. He was definitely not an ordinary person.
Master Shi is recognized as one of the three great earthly immortal cultivators in the world today, and is a first-class figure among immortals. Who dares to offend the ordinary people in this world, it is too late to be flattering and respectful. Not to mention his cultivation and immortal demeanor, it is just said that two of the top ten figures in the list of celebrities and extraordinary arts are his disciples. Wu Yanrou didn't think anyone dared to cause trouble. As expected, she waited until she came out of Luofu Mountain to see any movement on the way up. It wasn't until they got closer to Prince Xing's Mansion that the other party arranged an ambush.
Not to mention Shi Zhenren's powerful momentum, Wu Yanrou also knew that being cautious could sail a ten thousand year ship, so she had arranged for people to explore the path in advance. Even with Wu Yanrou's caution, ordinary people could not get close. Besides, his master Yang Jiong, as the sick tiger and crazy lion ranked ninth on the celebrity list, is also a top figure who is famous in the world. If the other party dares to do this, he must either have the support of a stronger person, or he must be desperate.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Wu Er with even sharper eyes. Wu Er didn't mean to avoid it and whispered: "General, this matter was decided by elder brother, a certain family, and Wu San together!" Seeing his clear eyes, Wu Yanrou knew there was a reason, but it was not convenient to ask at this time, so she said, "Be careful and escort them back to Prince Xing's Mansion. Someone wants to see who is so bold." Wu Er responded, He turned around and stepped back, then disappeared into the distance again.
Wu Yanrou looked at King Wei's chariot and horses not far away. King Wei never came out or signaled anything. Wu Yanrou signaled everyone to continue moving forward and speed up, but she also held the snake spear made of fine steel with one hand. He rode his horse and slowly approached King Wei's carriage.
Li Yi stood with a steady hand beside the long bluestone official road outside the inn, quietly looking at the long team slowly arriving in the distance. The large tung oil umbrella held by the servants beside him made Wang Yu He Quyu can also stand behind Li Yi and not get wet by the drizzle.
The officials accompanying the Ministry of Rites and several other functional officials could only stand further away from the bluestone pavement. They had just received the news that King Wei was approaching the inn. The officials of the Ministry of Rites had been waiting for nearly an hour. Knowing that the team was approaching, Li Yi and the three of them came out together. It's not that the three of them deliberately pretended to be one thing, but because they knew it was raining lightly outside, and the officials from the Ministry of Rites knew that the three of them were teachers of King Wei, they collectively asked the three of them to wait inside the inn.
These people are waiting outside, and the official thing is that everyone carries a sedan chair. Besides, everyone came together to pick up King Wei this time. Everyone was very smart and knew very well that if nothing happened, King Wei would be the crown prince when he returned to Prince Xing's Mansion. Everyone wanted to be familiar with each other, not to mention the teachers who could see and teach King Wei every day, so everyone naturally wanted to fawn over them.
Li Yi understood the thoughts of these people very well, but as the eldest son of Li Yinheng, the famous founder of the country, and growing up in a noble family, he still had this tolerant mentality. He also acquiesced to everyone's compliments, but there had been many years in the officialdom of Yinqin, and Li Yi was still somewhat self-aware and would not allow himself to be too public, not to mention that he was also accompanied by two masters, Wang Yu and Qu Ju.
Just now, Xue Yongpi, the Minister of Rites, sent someone back to report urgently that King Wei and his team were about to arrive at the post house. As the chief official of the court welcoming King Wei this time, although Li Yi did not go to Luofu Mountain, he still had to take the initiative to wait at the last post here.
Before coming to pick up King Wei yesterday, the emperor sent someone to summon Li Yi into the palace. Li Yi, who claimed to have the royal blood of Li Tang, received noble education since he was a child. Although he was only a descendant of a clan family in the early Tang Dynasty, the most famous person in the Li family recently was his great-grandfather, Li Yinheng's grandfather Li Deyu.
This representative figure in history's partisan struggle between Niu and Li has always regarded himself as a noble of the Celestial Dynasty. Even though Li Deyu died in Hainan, during the Xi Zong Dynasty, Li Yi's grandfather offended the officials and was sent to Lingnan. However, in the hands of Li Yi's father Li Yinheng, the Li family's branch has become famous in Lingnan. .
Since Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty founded his country, he has treated Li Yinheng with great courtesy. Now the Li family has been famous in Lingnan for decades. Li Yi himself was famous as a child prodigy since he was a child, and became even more talented when he grew up. At the beginning of Emperor Gaozu's reign, he entered the court with his outstanding literary talent. Li Yinheng died of illness not long after the current emperor ascended the throne, but Li Yi received considerable attention from the current emperor, and even worshiped him as the governor of Nanhai and the counselor of the kings at the beginning of Qianhe.
Emperor Liu Sheng's intention was very simple. He was to tell Li Yi to establish King Wei as the crown prince and crown prince, and to confer Li Yi the title of young master of the prince. He would be given the title of Minister of the Ministry of Rites. His task was to lead people to greet King Wei before he returned to the court. Li Yi had mixed feelings but was also worried. He knew everything about the Han court too well.
Since the current emperor came to the throne, he has tried every means to kill all his brothers and the male relatives of the royal family. Nowadays, except for Liu Gong, the grandson of Yong Wang Liu Yaoshu, the only other direct lineage of the royal family is the emperor's lineage and there are five men.
The reason why King Yongshao was able to save his life was because his mother, Mrs. Ya, had a reputation as a virtuous person and was admitted into the palace by the emperor. He was only two years old when he was spared. However, he suffered a serious illness when he was five years old and accidentally became mute. As for the reason, no one dared to say anything. When he was ten years old, he was sent to work in the fiefdom of Shaozhou. But he also had to be under the care of the emperor's trusted generals and the Shaozhou Jiedu Envoy. Everyone understood that it was actually house arrest in disguise.
Among the emperor's five sons, King Wei is the eldest, and he is not yet fifteen years old this year. King Liu Baoxing of Nazhen (first King Xiang) is only more than ten years old this year, and his performance has been mediocre since he was a child. He has not been favored; the other princes of Qi, Liu Xuanxing, are only a little more than half a year older than King Zhen; King Jing Liu Qingxing is only seven or eight years old; the youngest Plum King Liu Chongxing is only over three years old this year.
Li Yi knew that the reason why the emperor was eager to establish a prince was that the life span of the Liu family's royal descendants had been extremely low in recent decades. Secondly, the emperor had been in poor health a few years ago. The always shrewd emperor chose guards for the continuation of the imperial lineage and power. Wang is also the most correct choice. However, Li Yi firmly believed that the emperor was so determined to establish King Wei because he had doted on this son since he was a child. The most important thing was that he was probably closely related to Dao Zun Shi Zhenren.
It is said that the emperor was able to kill Emperor Shang and ascend to the throne with the acquiescence of the Supreme Ao Dao Sect. At that time, Li Yi was still serving as the county magistrate in Xianning, South China Sea, and had no chance or ability to participate. However, his father Li Yinheng was still there at the time, and he was vaguely aware of it. I know the reasons for some things, but I don’t fully understand them and won’t ask others. But he understood one thing. If you want to sit on that throne, you can't do it without the respect of the Taoist sect. Therefore, Li Yi completely believed that Taoist Supreme Master Shi Zhenren's attack on King Wei was a hint.
