In early December, there was light snowfall in the sky. In the Zhangtai Palace, an eunuch quickly ran into the palace and came to Yang Jin, the head of the inner court. After whispering, Yang Jin's face changed slightly and he hurried into the palace to report to the emperor.
Yang Jin stepped forward and said in a solemn tone: "Your Majesty, former general Wuchenghou Lu Sheng died of illness last night."
When Mu Sheng heard this, he was shocked and said, "What did you say? What happened to General Lu?"
Yang Jin said: "Your Majesty, General Lu, Marquis of Wucheng, died of illness last night."
"I understand. General Lu has made outstanding contributions in his life. I will definitely come to express my condolences at the general's funeral."
Yang Jin said: "I will make arrangements now."
Mu Sheng recalled that Lu Sheng was also his old superior when he led the army to fight south for the first time. Later, they went together in the south expedition to Taisha. The old general was indeed a great military figure. He had never lost a battle in his life. According to history books, They were all great characters who could have their own biographies, but I didn't expect that he would just disappear like this.
During the emperor's previous tour to the east, Lu Sheng did not go with him because he was in poor health and was ill at home. Huo Zheng was still in power at that time. After Mu Sheng, as the emperor, knew the news, in order to avoid suspicion, he could not visit him in person, so he could only send a message. An imperial edict was issued, and the imperial physician was sent to visit him. Unexpectedly, not long after his eastward tour, Wuchenghou Lu Sheng died of illness?
Wuchenghou Lu Sheng was the only remaining general who had participated in the Unification War during the Third Emperor Zhaowu era. His death could be said to represent the complete end of the old era. As the new king, he naturally had to pay his respects in person.
The next day, white silk was wrapped around the beams in the Wucheng Hou Mansion, and it was a solemn look. Almost all civil and military officials from the government and the public came to the Hou Mansion to express their condolences. Even the emperor came in person. Regardless of whether they had interacted with Lu Sheng in the past, the civil and military officials naturally became more Gotta be proactive.
At this time, Lu Feng, the eldest son of Wuchenghou Lu Sheng, the supreme commander of the Great Wall Corps and the Wuwei Army guarding the border, and Zhenbei General Lu Feng, were at the door to welcome the civil and military ministers to express their condolences.
Lu Feng was in his forties, had a big beard, and looked like a fierce general. Now that the old man of the Lu family was gone, he had a sad look on his face.
At this moment, a loud voice sang: "Your Majesty has arrived." The emperor's guard of honor stopped at the gate of Wuchenghou Mansion.
Lu Feng was shocked when he heard this, and he quickly led everyone from the Hou family forward to greet him: "I pay my respects to my emperor, long live him, long live him."
Mu Sheng got off the chariot and personally stepped forward to help Lu Feng up and said: "My beloved, please get up quickly."
Lu Feng was moved when he saw the emperor coming to offer condolences in person. Under normal circumstances, the emperor would just issue an edict, but coming to express condolences in person was a huge honor for the Lu family.
Lu Feng said: "Your Majesty has come to express condolences for my father, but I really don't dare to do so."
Seeing the sad look on Lu Feng's face, Mu Sheng stepped forward and comforted him: "Lu Qing's family, please send me your condolences. I heard that General Lu passed away, and I was very sad in my heart. General Lu made great contributions to the country and was the pillar of our dynasty. I passed by Lu Feng." When the old general was in charge of Lingnan, he was also my old superior. Due to circumstances and reasons, I must come to see Old General Lu off."
Lu Feng was moved and said: "Your Majesty's kindness will be remembered in my heart. I would like to ask your Majesty to accompany me to the palace."
Mu Sheng nodded and said: "Okay!"
When the ministers who were paying their condolences in Wuchenghou's mansion saw the emperor's arrival, they all came forward to pay their respects.
Mu Sheng said: "All the ministers are exempt from courtesy."
Mu Sheng entered the mourning hall and looked at Lu Sheng's memorial tablet in the hall. He couldn't help but think of the way the old man commanded hundreds of thousands of troops in the southern expedition to Taisha. He calmly commanded hundreds of thousands of troops and defeated Taisha's million-strong army overnight. When a person dies, he only sighs.
As an emperor, Mu Sheng could not kneel down and pay homage to his minister. He could only step forward and bow slightly to pay homage. However, the whole Lu family had to pay homage to the emperor in return.
After the ceremony, Lu Feng specially sent a junior from the Lu family to welcome the emperor into the back hall to rest.
This junior member of the Lu family is indeed just a young girl, she looks about fifteen years old, but she has skin as smooth as gel and is as beautiful as a flower.
Mu Sheng couldn't help but feel soft in his heart when he saw her in mourning and mourning, and asked, "What's your name?"
Facing the emperor, the girl was still a little afraid. She stepped forward and kowtowed slightly and said softly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Lu Min, a civilian daughter, is the third in the family. My father is General Lu Fenglu, and Wu Chenghou is the grandfather of the civilian daughter. Your Majesty, just call the civilian girl Min'er."
Mu Sheng said: "So it turns out that Min'er is a descendant of General Lu Feng. Now that your grandfather has passed away, please forgive me and accept the change. Don't hurt your body with excessive sadness."
Lu Min kowtowed and said gratefully: "Daughter of the people, thank you for your concern. Your Majesty's kindness will be remembered by Lu Min."
Not long after, Lu Feng came to accompany him. The emperor was here, and as the head of the Lu family, he naturally had to accompany the emperor first.
After Lu Feng came forward to pay homage to the emperor, he instructed Lu Min: "Min'er, please go down first."
Lu Min nodded slightly and bowed to the emperor before exiting the inner hall.
Lu Feng said sadly: "Your Majesty, I have just neglected Your Majesty when I was taking care of the family affairs. My little girl is ignorant of etiquette and has been negligent. I hope Your Majesty will forgive you."
Mu Sheng took a look at Lu Feng's appearance and did not expect that such a rough man could give birth to such a beautiful daughter.
Mu Sheng waved his hand and said: "It doesn't matter. Old General Lu was her grandfather. Now that he is gone, he looks sad. I can understand it, but Min'er is also a good and filial child."
Lu Feng sighed: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty."
In the back hall, Mu Sheng had a conversation with Lu Feng. He couldn't help but feel filled with emotion when they talked about the old events of his and Lu Sheng's southern expedition in the past years.
Mu Sheng said: "Now that General Lu has passed away, I plan to bury Marquis Wu Cheng with national rites. Lu Qing must inherit his father's legacy and be loyal to the country."
Lu Feng said: "Thank you for your majesty's grace. It is the duty of a humble minister to be loyal to the country. A humble minister is loyal to your majesty and to the court."
Mu Sheng said with satisfaction: "Okay, very good. The five generations of the Lu family have served as generals for our dynasty and have made great military exploits for our dynasty. Now the Qing family is guarding the border fortress for our dynasty. They have also worked hard and made great achievements. In my opinion, the Qing family should attack General Lu." With the title of Marquis of Wucheng, I can still live in the city with ten thousand households and avoid being demoted. I hope General Lu will understand what I mean?"
Generally, these ten thousand households will be downgraded by one level, and 2,500 households will be cut off from the food estate. Once the emperor opened his mouth, the Wuchenghou was regarded as hereditary, and his intention to win over was obvious. .
Lu Feng hurriedly saluted and said: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I am very grateful."
Lu Feng also knew that this was the emperor's initiative to win over the Lu family. After the death of his old man, former general Lu Sheng, there were no more members of the Lu family in the court. Whether he, the supreme commander of the Great Wall Corps and the Guards, could be retained was a matter of the emperor's words. , after all, he holds nearly 300,000 elite border troops in his hands, and even a sensible person would not be particularly reassured. He must arrange for his own people. Lu Feng also wanted to take the initiative to get closer to the emperor, so naturally he showed his loyalty in various ways.
While Mu Sheng was chatting with Lu Feng, Lu Feng's daughter Lu Min was busy from time to time, serving tea and water to the two leaders, just like a maid.
Half an hour later, Mu Sheng saw that he and Lu Feng had almost finished chatting. Lu Feng was the person in charge of Old General Lu's funeral, so he didn't want to disturb him too much, so he stood up and said goodbye: "Lu Qing's family, I won't disturb the Lu family for now." Lost."
"Put the driver back to the palace."
When Lu Sheng saw this, he immediately stood up and saluted: "I respectfully send your Majesty back to the palace."
All the civil and military officials and the entire Lu family went out to see the emperor back to the palace. Seeing that the emperor's honor guard had left, all the ministers breathed a sigh of relief and went back to Wuchenghou's mansion to continue the funeral.
On the way back to the palace, Mu Sheng thought of the beautiful figure next to Lu Feng. Lu Min, as the third young lady of the Lu family, had always been like a maid. She personally came forward to serve him and Lu Feng, serving tea and water. Her hands and feet were very diligent. During the chat with Lu Feng, Lu Feng always mentioned this third lady intentionally or unintentionally. If he realized something, although Lu Feng did not say it explicitly, it was obvious that Lu Feng wanted to marry the royal family and become his father-in-law, otherwise it would be impossible to let him His daughters were wandering around in front of him.
Mu Sheng thought about it in his mind and concluded that the Lu family was worthy of his attention. He couldn't help but think of Lu Min's charming face, but his heart was moved. Now that he was in a high position, political marriage was also one of the means to control and win over his subordinates. one.
He immediately told the general manager of the inner court beside him: "Yang Jin, do you still have any impression of Lu Min, the third young lady of the Lu family?"
Yang Jin understood. He was naturally impressed by the fact that he had always been with the emperor. He said: "Your Majesty, I have an impression. Your Majesty, you want to..."
Mu Sheng said: "After the old general is buried and the Lu family has passed the mourning period, let's bring the third young lady of the Lu family into the palace."
Yang Jin said: "Your Majesty, with what etiquette should we welcome the third young lady of the Lu family into the palace?"
What Yang Jin meant was to ask about treatment.
Mu Sheng thought for a while, since he wanted to win over the Lu family, it was not easy to give the imperial concubine's wife a title. Considering the Lu family's family background, she had to be given at least a concubine-level title.
Mu Sheng said: "Welcome into the palace with the courtesy of a beautiful woman."
"promise."
