Meng Chang looked at the children of the Wang family quietly. They were all playing polo with their stamens in the open space of the imperial garden. These gorgeous young people are all dressed in brocade and pink. Although their smiling faces are youthful, they don't have the feeling of standing out from the crowd. All of them are young boys, but they all seem to be missing something.
Thinking about his favor to the Wang family and the submissiveness of the Wang family to him, Meng Chang felt that the people around him had become more and more understanding of him in the past two years. Meng Chang rarely left the palace, but he still received a lot of reports. The lives of people around the capital were getting better and better, and it was said that they had reached the level of the heyday of the Tang Dynasty. In addition, the surrounding state capitals are also open at night. The land of abundance is worthy of its name!
As the emperor of Shu, what he always hopes for is to leave his name in history. Meng Chang is still a little proud of his achievements today. Since Huang Kao founded the country in Shu, Shu has been coexisting with the Central Plains. This is a rare anomaly among the regimes of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. As for the Tang Kingdom, the Chu Land, the languishing Northern Han Kingdom, and even Dali behind him, they were far from being able to compare with him.
The small imperial court in the Central Plains also changed from the Li family to the Shi family, and even from the Shi family to the Liu family, and now to the Guo family. No one can last long. Although my family was related to the Li family and the Shi family, in terms of politics, Most of them turn into interests and mutual use. Having been the emperor for more than 20 years, Meng Chang felt somewhat relieved and more naturally proud after seeing the ups and downs of neighboring countries.
I have worked hard over the years to make the country strong and prosperous, and there are many talents in Shu. The country is even more proud of itself. It was the first country in the country that had been divided since the end of the Tang Dynasty to restore its old capital, Chang'an. This is something that everyone in the various separatist forces was thinking about all the time in the fifty years since the late Tang Dynasty. Although this place was later captured by the Zhou Kingdom, at least Meng Chang felt that his life was worthwhile.
As a young man who ascended the throne and had great ambitions, Meng Chang also wanted to unify the Central Plains. Unfortunately, the Shu Kingdom was located in a dangerous place. There have been many large and small battles with the Central Plains, and going south is a natural danger. In these wars, I did not take any advantage, and the Central Plains did not do anything to Shu.
In recent years, he has gathered a group of relatively loyal ministers around him. They know what he is thinking and what his needs are, and they even solve his problems. Meng Chang felt very satisfied, so now he only thought about sitting on the emperor's throne in Shu, and leaving the rest to those loyal ministers!
Especially in the past two years, despite the constant war in the Central Plains, it is said that strange phenomena continue to occur in the Kingdom of Shu. White deer appear in various places, yellow dragons appear in the waters, and black turtles emerge from the Yangtze River carrying monuments. This is only seen in the peaceful and prosperous times. What a vision! Such a good omen made Meng Chang more determined about his destiny. The environment he created in Shu seems to be much better than other places. He is worthy of the emperor who created the world, and even more worthy of his ancestors and the people of Shu.
Looking at the people around him who serve him, he can tell that they are all loyal. You don’t have to worry too much about your own country’s affairs, there are people who take care of small things, so what else do you want!
Sitting here quietly, watching these teenagers playing happily, Meng Chang felt in a trance without realizing it. Everything in front of me seems to be gradually blurring, but my thoughts have drifted into the distance, and people are gradually lost.
Everything was still very beautiful at that time. I was still a young boy, full of energy and power. With the help of Li Hao, Yi Shenzheng, Zhao Tingyin, Li Tinggui and others who were veterans of the two dynasties, I didn't have to worry about government affairs, and I also learned a lot of ways to govern. Under his rule, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and people in Shu are praising his virtues.
Later, I gradually changed from an ignorant boy to a young man with greater ambitions. I believed that I had created the glory of Shu, and I would definitely be another pioneer of Shu. Facts have proved that the people in Sichuan live and work in peace and contentment, which is not comparable to other places in the Central Plains. Now that I have entered middle age, it can be said that I am in the right age and still have a lot of future.
Zhang Daozi even asserted that he could inherit the Shu Kingdom's sixty-year national destiny and become the emperor who reigned the longest in history known since ancient times. Meng Chang naturally believed in the words of this Taoist god, because he was the disciple of Mr. Guangcheng, a famous god in Sichuan. He was also a Taoist disciple of the Shuzhong Taoist sect of this generation. Meng Chang was naturally in awe of the miracles he showed, and he naturally believed in Zhang Daozi's words.
Meng Chang firmly believes that he can be the emperor for at least twenty or thirty years. This is such an exciting thing! Every time he thinks about it, Meng Chang himself laughs happily. Therefore, although the eldest son, King Xuanzhe of Qin, has reached the crown, Meng Chang has no intention of naming him a prince. I still have so many years to be the emperor, why are I in such a hurry! Let him study hard with the ministers!
Although the original ideal seems to have not been realized now, Meng Chang still feels that marching eastward to the Central Plains will be very difficult for Shuzhong, and there is really no big hope. But Meng Chang has always dreamed that one day he can at least divide the world into three parts like he did in the days of Cao Wei! But the reality seems to be cruel. Can the young man achieve what he wants by relying on these flowers? No matter how much Meng Chang boasts about himself, it is impossible to know.
But now the people in Shu are living a good life, and people in other countries will be envious of it. Maybe many people will think of joining Shu! Meng Chang even thought a little narcissistically.
Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou successively gave up their hopes, but I was not discouraged at all. But when I look back and think about it, what am I doing in this life? When I was young, I was working hard to cheer myself up and did not enjoy life at all. Although he is not too old now, at least he does not have the passion he had when he was a teenager.
Of course, God will still take care of me and finally send the stamen to me. This may be the best gift God has given me! Meng Chang really loves Hua Rui, and he will not be stingy even if he gives her his best. Therefore, he wanted to place his hope of revitalizing the Shu Kingdom on his children. Meng Chang just wanted to rest and enjoy himself for decades in the future.
The eldest son, King Xuanzhe of Qin, and the second son, King Xuanyu, have both grown up and are able to take on responsibilities and experience. I will train them more in the future, and I guess I won’t have to spend so much time dealing with complicated political affairs in the future.
Over the years, in order to stabilize the power and development of the Shu Kingdom, and to make it easier for himself, Meng Chang married several of his daughters to his subordinates or their children.
Princess Qingcheng married Yi Chongdu, the son of Yi Shenzheng; Princess Jincheng married Zhao Wenliang, the grandson of Zhao Tingyin; Princess Fengyi married Li Hao's son Li Xiaolian; Princess Chang'an married Han Chongsui, the son of Han Baozheng; Princess Luan was married to Wu Zhaoyi's son Wu Kegong, and there were several other young princesses, so she would naturally look for a good match in the future.
What makes Meng Chang a little regretful is that his other Princess Meishan originally wanted to marry the Southern Han Kingdom. It's a pity that the emperor of the Southern Han Dynasty, Liu Sheng, died suddenly, and his son who succeeded him was still young, so he actually rejected his request. What makes Meng Chang a little depressed is that the young emperor did not take a fancy to his beautiful Meishan, but instead took a fancy to his not-so-pretty, older niece Princess Leshan.
For Meng Chang, to survive in this era, he also adopted the strategy of making friends at a distance and attacking closely, so he entered into a marriage alliance with the Southern Han Dynasty. Of course, it was because I was worried that Dali would stab him in the back. Fortunately, the young emperor didn't go too far and left his Meishan in Prince Xing's Mansion, and at least gave Leshan a title of Mrs. Rou. He also left Meishan in Prince Xing's Mansion and said that he would arrange a ceremony for two people when she was older. Meng Chang must be extremely angry about Lingnan's decision, but he is so far away that he has no choice now.
I don’t know who came up with the bad idea that day, saying that marrying Meishan to the Southern Han Kingdom would stabilize the Dali Kingdom in the rear. Meng Chang knew that he would never see Meishan again in this life. Not to mention that Lingnan is high in mountains and far away in water, and is divided and fought everywhere. The two countries are also separated by barbaric lands. Meng Chang has no hope that he can see Meishan again. Thinking of this, Meng Chang felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.
But Meng Chang still hopes that one day he can see his Meishan again, who was smart and well-behaved since childhood, always sitting on his lap and smiling obediently. There are things about state affairs and family affairs that make you happy, but there are also things that make you afraid of being too comfortable.
It seems that others have never made him feel comfortable. The Jin, Later Han, and Zhou countries around him have been harassing him one after another. Meng Chang was a little worried at first, but after it was confirmed that he was sitting on a natural hazard, he no longer worried. The strategy of distant friendship and close attack has been fully developed, and now Meng Chang thinks that he is actually happier than the gods.
Meng Chang was still intoxicated in his imagination, and his eyes seemed even more blurred. The flower stamens in her ears were heartless, and a group of palace ladies and Wang family children were playing and laughing with her. She didn't seem to be looking here, but Meng Chang knew that she only had herself in her heart.
Hua Rui has dismounted and came over here to rest on the soft slope between the flower beds. Those young men were still galloping on their horses, looking back from time to time, hoping to make the emperor and his wife smile. The flower stamens looked at the field with their eyes, but they were still laughing in the peony. The happy voice spread far away, echoing in Meng Chang's mind from time to time.
However, Meng Chang seemed to be stunned suddenly. He could not remember the appearance of the flower stamens. What echoed in his mind was always a vague cluster of flowers. Inexplicably, what makes Wang Zhaoyuan more clear is Wang Zhaoyuan's face with a gentle smile. Could it be that Wang Zhaoyuan is more important than Hua Rui in his heart now.
Everyone on the side looked at Meng Chang who seemed to be deep in thought, and they didn't dare to disturb his thoughts, but they all speculated anxiously in their hearts. Everyone knew that there was a commotion outside, but there was no atmosphere at all inside the palace, so they knew that no one would dare to tell the emperor about such a thing. The Kingdom of Shu is still the same Kingdom full of flowers, and everyone is still playing and enjoying it happily.
Waiting beside him were Zhongshu and several trusted ministers. They had originally planned to come in together and talk to the emperor about the changes in Shu during this period. Then they saw the children of the Wang family playing polo with the emperor and Mrs. Huarui. At this time, they all looked at each other with big eyes and small eyes, but did not dare to make a sound.
Including Wang Zhaoyuan, who had vowed to do so at the beginning, everyone looked at his nose and his heart with his eyes and nose, as if the old god was there. For a moment, apart from the dazed and meditative Emperor Meng Chang, and a group of ministers who were silent on the side, there was the happy Mrs. Hua Rui, and the scene here seemed to be particularly weird.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" I don't know how long it took. Under Hua Rui's gentle call, Emperor Meng Chang came back to his senses and saw that Hua Rui had sat beside him at some point, and the young men and Gong'e also stopped. After the game, the horses were restrained and rested below to wait.
"Your Majesty must be tired! Why don't you go back to the inner palace to rest first?" Hua Rui said with concern and gentleness. After serving the emperor for these years, no one cares about the emperor more than Hua Rui, and is better able to figure out the emperor's thoughts and thoughts.
"It's okay!" Meng Chang breathed a sigh of relief, feeling inexplicably melancholy. But looking at Hua Rui's face, Wang Zhaoyuan's appearance disappeared. He couldn't help but gently hold the tender and slender jade-like catkin with stamens. He looked at the young men at the foot of the steps in front of him and finally showed a smile. He also said softly to the flower pistil: "My beloved concubine is in a particularly high mood today, and it's all thanks to them! I want to reward these Wang family members well!"
Huarui's face actually turned red, and her eyes slanted down the steps, where a seven-foot-old boy stood before everyone. Even though it was just a faint glance, the boy seemed to be able to see it, and he lowered his eyes slightly with a look of surprise on his face. Huarui then smiled at Meng Chang and said, "Wang Jiajiulang really put a lot of thought into it. Look at it, Your Majesty, he scored the most goals today!" Her coquettish words and eyes made her whole body tingle.
"There is a reward!" Meng Chang laughed loudly, looking at those young men but not knowing who they were. Jiulang from the Wang family, a handsome young man, immediately stepped forward, stood aside and bowed gracefully to thank him. Meng Chang turned his head and looked at the ministers around him. Some of them had gloomy expressions. When he saw the emperor's gaze, he immediately squeezed out a smile on his face.
Wang Zhaoyuan on the side had no idea how important he was in the emperor's mind just now. When he saw the emperor looking over, he had served the emperor for so many years and he was more able to figure out his thoughts. He immediately walked over calmly and calmly. Although he didn't look sideways, he couldn't hide the joy in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, Jiulang is the concubine of the fourth brother of Weichen. He has been smart since he was a child. However, because he is a commoner in the family, he does not dare to taint His Majesty's ears and eyes at will. He usually does not dare to recommend him to His Majesty. Fortunately, although Jiulang is clumsy, he can also I have been studying and practicing martial arts in the mansion, in order to find opportunities to serve His Majesty and the country!" Although his words were somewhat modest and self-deprecating, everyone could hear that Wang Zhaoyuan was showing his loyalty and showing off his family.
Everyone seems to be used to it, and they directly filter out this kind of flattery and metaphorical boasting, but their hearts are crazy with jealousy, and they all want to kick Wang Zhaoyuan in the feet.
Meng Chang calmly asked about Jiulang's studies, and it was rare to learn that he was both civil and military. He was generously rewarded for being a viscount, and several other children of the Wang family were also generously rewarded.
None of the ministers dared to say anything. No one would be so stupid. At this time, the emperor was very happy. Because destroying other people's jobs means destroying one's own retreat in disguise. This simple political principle is still tacitly understood by everyone. Even if their political views usually conflict with Wang Zhaoyuan's, no one stood up at this time.
To everyone's surprise, Emperor Meng Chang had no other instructions and did not allow everyone to say anything. He just asked everyone to step aside and went into the inner hall with Hua Rui. Seeing that Meng Chang seemed to be somewhat interested, these ministers did not dare to offend the emperor. They looked at each other and shook their heads.
However, it was said that the children of the Wang family came out of the palace happily along with Wang Zhaoyuan. Wang Zhaoyuan looked calm and led everyone in silence all the way. Just when he was about to leave the palace gate, he saw a chambermaid in yellow clothes coming over in a hurry. Wang Zhaoyuan did not dare to make any mistakes and led others to wait aside.
The chamberlain was holding a small jade plate with something covered with yellow brocade. He walked up to him and nodded kindly to Wang Zhaoyuan, but said nothing. He carefully handed the jade plate to Jiulang's hand, and then said with concern that it was a gift from the empress.
Wang Zhaoyuan knew the rules and had nothing to say, so he quickly led the people to thank him, gave some gifts to the servants, and ordered Jiulang to collect the rewards. However, he did not even look at them here, and took everyone out of the palace to return home.
After entering the house, Wang Zhaoyuan asked everyone to go to the study. In fact, Wang Zhaoyuan did not have much academic knowledge, but he had been with the emperor since he was a child. He understood Meng Chang's thoughts quite well. He always studied some military strategies and often acted as the emperor's conqueror by the emperor's side.
I have Zhao Kuo's talent and eloquence in my heart, but Meng Chang is happy to trust him very much. After he rose to prominence at the side of Emperor Meng Chang, he served as the envoy of the Rolling Curtain, the envoy of the Tea and Wine Storehouse, the envoy of Tongzou, the Privy Councilor, the governor of Meizhou, the military commander of Yongping Army, the military commander of Ningjiang Army in Xiezhou, and the governor of Shannan West Road. Jiedushi, all the way to Tongping Zhangshi. He can be said to be the least troubled person in Sichuan, but fortunately, some of his disciples know that the tree wants to be quiet but the wind does not stop, so they took the initiative to retire from the position of Tongzhi.
Although he was not good at literature, he worked hard to learn martial arts. He did attract many literati and disciples living in Shu. Anyway, with his current status and reputation, he could intimidate many people with different ideas. Therefore, he also entrusted people to decorate the facade and collected many unique books from the previous dynasty. The antique study room also looked quite impressive.
Over the years, he has naturally allowed all the children in his family to learn. Looking at these young people in front of him, Wang Zhaoyuan felt a little hopeful and a little proud. He quietly sat down on his red sandalwood Arhat couch. Wang Zhaoyuan narrowed his eyes and thought for a while. .
"I have nothing else to do today, I just want to remind you!" Upon hearing Wang Zhaoyuan's words, several teenagers stood up straight and bowed their heads slightly. Wang Zhaoyuan gently opened his eyes and saw the condition of the young people. He felt much more comfortable. He just said calmly: "Favour comes from the emperor. As long as everything is for the emperor, you will never make mistakes. When the favor is exhausted, you must Remember not to be pampered, the Wang family will have to rely on you from now on, so work hard!"
Seeing that Wang Zhaoyuan waved his hand and did not mention the reward Wang Jiulang received, everyone knew that most of what he said just now was to warn Jiulang, and also meant to warn everyone. Everyone lost the joy they felt when they left the palace. Seeing that Wang Zhaoyuan was fine, everyone left.
Wang Jiulang separated from his brothers and went to his yard. Because he is the concubine of the Wang family, he is naturally treated differently from others. But fortunately, the Wang family was already well-off when he was born, and his father was Wang Zhaoyuan's cousin, so the expenses around him were much better than those of other wealthy families.
Entering his yard, he asked a few servants to move away, then he opened the door of his room and saw two people in the room.
Wang Jiulang was not surprised at all. Instead, he looked happy, turned around, closed the door, and carefully placed the jade plate in his hand on the table.
"Congratulations! Brother Wang!" The seven-foot-tall, lean and lean young man in the room congratulated Wang Jiulang with a smile on his face.
"Thank you Brother Wei and Brother Qu for this!" Wang Jiulang actually bowed to the two people.
There were several green bamboo poles and a rockery outside the window, but the three people in the room were polite and had a secret conversation.
"Ah!" Seeing the whole tiger that Yang Shan and Yang Shui had brought in, Chen Quan couldn't help but stand up with a look on his face, his face full of joy.
Just now Wu Dun came in and said that the Dong wanted to give him a piece of good tiger skin. Wu Dun thought that Wu Dun wanted to come and take another opportunity. However, at the beginning, I had been boasting to others that I wanted to give them a good tiger skin, but I had never been able to fulfill my wish. Now that I heard about this opportunity, whether it was true or not, I asked Wu Dun to ferry a few people over.
Now that he saw the tiger, Chen Quan had no doubts anymore and couldn't help but ordered the two men to put it down. The two men and the other three all stood aside. Chen Quan simply forgot about a few people, let alone two women, so he didn't take it to heart. He couldn't wait to squat down and move around to examine the lifeless tiger.
As expected, it was a good adult tiger. What was rare was that there were no visible wounds on its body. What surprised Chen Quan was that the bones inside the tiger's head had been broken into pieces.
Although Chen Quan is not a master in the world, he is still a capable officer in the army. He was sent here from Qianzhou because he offended someone. Seeing the tiger's appearance, he was as shocked as his own being demoted. He knew how much strength it took, not to mention that the tiger's skin was not damaged at all. He couldn't help but slowly raised his head and looked at the two Yang Shan people.
The weapons of several people were left at Xixiudu. Wu Dun still knew what they were doing when they entered the military camp. After all, this was the military camp of the Shu Kingdom in Xixiudu. Seeing Chen Quan staring at the two people, he couldn't help but smile apologetically: "Colonel Chen, how do you feel?"
"Very good! Not bad!" Chen Quan stood up slowly, but couldn't help but hold the hilt of the sword with his right hand, staring at the two people and saying: "I don't know which of you killed this tiger!" "He already had doubts in his heart. The beast died in such a way that ordinary people could no longer do it.
Yang Shan glanced at Yang Shuiqi, who looked calm and smiled. He glanced at Yang Shan and then at Chen Quan. Wu Duncai was surprised to find that something was wrong in the scene. Looking at the girl Hua Yin, she was standing next to Chen Quan at some point. Wu Dun felt cold all over and his hair stood on end.
One of her left hands was already pressed on Chen Quan's right shoulder. Chen Quan was motionless and broke out in cold sweat. He felt that his entire right body was numb, and he couldn't help but look at Hua Yin in surprise. Several soldiers on the side were about to come forward, and Chen Quan quickly said: "Everyone, don't move, a certain family is fine!" He knew that the other party wanted to deal with him, and he could do anything.
Chen Quan put on a smile and immediately understood his situation. He endured the severe pain in his body and said, "Aren't these Dong barbarians?"
Wu Dun was confused, Yang Shan and Wu Li were silent, but Yang Shuiqi smiled slightly and said lightly: "Colonel Chen is smart! A certain family is Han! He has nothing to do with this Wu brother. But don't worry, A certain family is here to discuss a business deal with Colonel Chen!" His innocent smile looked like a devil in Chen Quan's eyes.
Those soldiers were very embarrassed, neither advancing nor retreating. But they saw the gorgeous silver glance at them, and then snorted softly. The stone floor under his feet rustled and cracked like a spider web, which made several people feel cold all over. When she saw her right foot, she paused for a moment, and a piece of gravel two fingers wide bounced up into the air. She flicked the fingers and thumb of her right hand.
With a bang, a long pole on the weapons rack was hit by a stone and shattered like a fallen tree. The heavy pole fell to the stone floor with a clanking sound.
Several soldiers were so frightened that their faces turned green. They didn't dare to have any ideas. Everyone knew that their heads were not as strong as the poplar pole. Even Chen Quan was even more afraid to move. In fact, he couldn't move either. Not to mention her hands on his shoulders, just by him flicking them like this, he couldn't stop thinking!
Wu Dun looked confused, vaguely knowing that it was not good. Yang Shan's face seemed to darken. After taking a look at Yang Shuiqi, he saw that Yang Shuiqi didn't say anything, so he walked to him and hugged his shoulders, whispering: "Don't be afraid, Brother Wu, nothing is wrong!" Wu Dun instinctively said He nodded, still talking.
"A certain family was ordered by the King of Western Hunan to repair the relationship between the various ethnic groups in Qianjiang. Xixiudu is the place where the various ethnic groups are entangled the most, so the forces of Shu in Qianzhou must withdraw. Xiaowei is a member of the Qianzhou army Although there are not many people in the military camps at the front of Baojing and Qianzhou, it is crucial to control natural dangers, so a certain family would like to take the liberty to talk to the captain to see if we can cooperate!"
Everyone sat down strangely, and Yang Shan and Wu Li stood at the door, naturally to prevent anyone from outside. Huali Yinze still stood beside Chen Quan, and Yang Shuiqi and Chen Quan sat down side by side. The soldiers stood aside obediently. They were still a little nervous when they saw Hua Yin's method. Especially when they saw the two shallow footprints in the middle of the room and the cracked stone slabs, they couldn't look back for a while. Come to your senses.
"As for these various ethnic groups, Wuling Dong was the first one that a certain family was ordered to contact. Later, under the mediation of the King of Xiangxi, the eight cave masters around Youyang put aside their hatred for each other and established rule. If Chen Xiaowei If this Xixiu Ferry is handed over to a certain family, it will benefit all people!" Yang Shuiqi said calmly.
Chen Quan gently closed his eyes, exhaled deeply, and opened them again after a long time: "A certain family's entire family is in Qianzhou, does a certain family have a choice?" He looked helplessly. People in the eye room: "Youyang has always been the largest cave master of the Dong family, the Ran family. Even in the wars with the Miao people in Chu, they have not damaged their roots at all. Do you have the ability to...?"
"Captain Chen, you can rest assured. Everyone of the hundred or so people in Xixiudu will be protected, but for the time being, you all need to go to a place to stay for a few months!" Yang Shui smiled confidently: "Brother Yang Shan, soon He is about to become the son-in-law of the current cave master of the Ran family, and Colonel Chen must have one more drink then! Hahaha!"
Chen Quan looked calm and could only smile along with him.
