"Thousands of riders try out spring outings, and the light rain stops like a crisp. It can make old guests return to Jiangdong and stay late. The white wine slips silently and releases oil."
"Flying fire chaos the planet, and the light green waves are flowing across the waves. It is not as cold and gentle as the Baiyun Township. This is the first state in Huainan."
This is "Nanxiangzi" written by Su Dongpo at that time. The first state in Huainan mentioned in the poem is Suzhou.
At this time, we are still a hundred miles away from Suzhou City, but it is almost March, and the spring breeze is beginning to spread wantonly through the greener leaves and more and more colorful flowers. Since Jianyan After crossing south, this was the first time Xin Ciying came back in more than ten years.
Return to the north of the Huaihe River.
The old man has absolutely no fear of being close to home. Ever since he changed his official position with Lu Zai and continued to be his daily servant, for more than half a month, he has been happy and excited every day, just like It was like this just now. He didn't care about the fatigue of traveling for days and recited the first poem happily.
And this is also the hundredth poem he has memorized on his journey of a hundred miles.
When Liu Bang saw this rejuvenated old man, he said that he didn't know how many times he was old, but he didn't know how to be mature and steady. He followed him around, and he didn't even learn half of his own composure. He was making a lot of noise. .
Although no one agreed with Xin Ciying, his interest remained undiminished and he continued to talk to himself:
"When the Qin Dynasty swept Liuhe, Suzhou was under the jurisdiction of Sishui County, and Sishui County was also under the jurisdiction of Fengyi, which was the place where Emperor Qianlong of the Han Dynasty was located... In the past, the Chinese people attached great importance to the Ming Dynasty and raised the seedlings of Gaoyang; Fengyi pounded mausoleums and compiled the emperor In Yao's mood, if there is a dragon rising here, it means there is a spiritual platform."
Although Guo Yaoshi was a military general, he was a poor man in Liaodong in his early years and did not study many books. However, after the Chang Sheng Army was encircled and killed, he lived in seclusion in the south. In his spare time, he also heard a lot of truths and did not understand them. He has few words, but what I admire most in my life is not Guan Yu and Yue Fei, but these men of letters, especially those who have a lot of things in their stomachs.
Although he knew that Xin Ciying didn't like him, he still couldn't help but flatter him and said:
"Mr. Xin is well-informed and talented. Everywhere he goes, he is able to quote scriptures and present local allusions. He really has a great knowledge. The little old man is in awe of him."
They say you should never hit someone with a smiling face, but this man was a traitor after all. Xin Ciying snorted coldly and finally fell silent, ignoring him.
When Liu Bang saw this scene, he couldn't help but feel a little funny. The two of them had been like this all the way. No matter how Xin Ciying tried to show off, he couldn't stop Guo Yaoshi from touching his cold ass with his warm face.
However, he couldn't get used to the old man's impressive appearance and deliberately made him look bad, so he asked:
"Since you know Suzhou well, I will ask you a question. Can you answer it?"
Apart from anything else, Xin Ciying had been squeezed out by Qin Hui all year round and could only find some leisurely positions. Apart from reading, there was very little he could do on weekdays.
The knowledge of these states, counties, and counties is what he loves most. He has copied the county annals of many places at home... Even a native of Suzhou may not know this place better than he does.
When the emperor asked a question, he replied directly without even thinking about it:
"If you ask an official question, I will tell you everything I know."
Liu Bang looked at this strange yet familiar place... What was strange was that the surrounding buildings, rivers, and roads were all different from those of the past; what was familiar were the ravines, canals, and stubborn rocks, which had not really changed at all.
This feeling is a bit strange. This is his hometown. To be precise, within a radius of several hundred miles, from Xuzhou and Xiao County in the north to Suzhou and Si County in the south, this is the place where he has spent most of his life.
Now that I have come back again, things have changed. It would be false to say that I am not emotional at all. But after coming from Si County, the initial melancholy has long since disappeared, and it is true that I am no longer emotional.
He pointed to a huge rock not far ahead and asked Xin Ciying:
"You are very powerful, but do you know what is hidden under that boulder?"
Xin Ciying only regarded himself as the emperor because he was embarrassing himself. The stone was as tall as two people and had been standing there for who knows how many years. The outside was polished extremely smooth and there was nothing else except moss.
What could be below? What else can there be besides mud and soil?
Naturally, such words cannot be said to the emperor, but he also felt that Zhao Guan's family would not arrange him at will, so he recalled it carefully, but he could not recall any book that had written about this Suzhou story. boulders.
I had no choice but to answer honestly: "I really don't know."
"snort!"
Liu Bang glanced at him with great pride: "I usually tell you to study more and study more, but you just don't listen!"
"You don't even have this kind of knowledge. If you dare to show off in the future, I will reward you with a killing stick!"
Xin Ciying was obviously a little dissatisfied: "Then, please tell me what's under that boulder."
Liu Bang said with a smile: "You are still not convinced. If I really say it, what will you do?"
Seeing that the emperor was so confident, the people in the living room thought about it carefully for a while, and they were sure and sure that there was no description of this stone in Suzhou Chronicles... Books don't lie, but officials do.
He straightened his back and said, "But it depends on the official's orders!"
"Okay!" Liu Bang clapped his hands, "This is what you said."
After that, he did not mention his request first, but directly said what was under the stone:
"Six words are engraved below."
The conversation between the two attracted more and more listeners. Take Lieutenant Zhang as an example. He was extremely curious about this and asked before Xin Ciying could:
"I don't know which six characters it is?"
"Great Chu is rising, King Chen Sheng."
…
Everyone was a little speechless. Then Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's uprising happened in the Year of the Monkey and the Horse. Even if these six words really existed, the official family had never been here when they traveled south. How did he know about it?
Furthermore, judging from the current appearance of the huge stone, it has not been touched for at least several decades. Since it has not been touched, it should not be known to the emperor.
It seemed that His Majesty was really looking for Xin Ciying's entertainment.
The matter has something to do with me, but others don't think as much as others do. Daze Township belongs to Pei County, and is indeed located in Suzhou.
It's not entirely pointless for an official to say this, but is there really any writing underneath?
Xin Ciying wavered for a moment or two, but still had eighty-nine points of confidence, so he said:
"The official is so knowledgeable, he can turn the stone upside down and open his eyes to others."
Liu Bang has always been a man of integrity, especially when it comes to betting. He waved to the whole army to stop and rest for a while, and then asked Huang Yanjie to find dozens of tall Imperial Guards and ask them to move towards them. Take action on that stone.
Although everyone didn't know what game these nobles were playing, it wasn't something they should care about. Although the boulder was big, there were so many people. These people worked hard together and used their own weapons to tilt and push it. , just a cup of tea away, the stone that had been standing for who knows how long suddenly fell down.
Xin Ciying immediately turned over and got off the horse. Although his legs were much better than before, they were still a little lame, and his walking was also a little obvious. He took Guo Pharmacist Zhang Jun and others and ran over.
After staring at the bottom of the stone for a long time, Xin Ciying immediately took up his hands and dug out the mud on it.
Six characters, yes, six big characters carved in small seals. Although many people can no longer recognize their appearance, the erudite Xin Ciying did recognize them.
Da Chuxing, King Chen Sheng.
More than 1,300 years ago, it was here that Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up and created the first large-scale popular uprising in Chinese history.
King Chu Yin has died many years ago, and only the words "Princes, generals, ministers, would rather have their own kind" resound throughout the world; since then, there has been no eternal nobleman in the past and present. When the people of this land are desperate, Then there will be countless Chen Shengs and countless Wu Guanglai,
They may not be able to become Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, but only under the conditions they create can Liu Bang and Xiang Yu appear.
Xin Ciying didn't expect that he was actually told by the official, but he didn't feel lonely at all because the bet failed. On the contrary, he discovered this thing that had never been recorded in any books, and he was very excited.
"Officials, is this the authentic relic left by King Yin of Chu? You should see it with everyone in the world!"
Liu Bang waved to call them back, and then ordered Huang Yanjie:
"Restore the stone to its original state."
Everything else is easy to say. If he is still rebelling against Qin, the stone should be exposed to heaven and man.
But now he is the emperor... His butt determines his head. Not erasing these six words is his greatest respect for Chen and Wu.
"When Liu Jizheng was campaigning against Wang Yingbu in Huainan, he passed by here and fought in a battle. Thanks to this stone, he blocked many arrows."
"Since everyone knows about Chen She, you should keep it in mind. Be it Qin or Han, including the later Li and Tang Dynasties, the disaster of chaos and destruction did not originate from the four barbarians, but from the Small people.”
"I have been the emperor for so many years, and I dare to do anything, but there is only one thing I dare not do, and that is to treat others favorably... I favor outsiders but favor others, favor the ancients but favor the modern ones, favor sinners but favor those who have made contributions, The Yi people are inferior to the Han people."
"So, I don't ask you to treat the people with any preferential treatment. As long as you keep your true intentions and remember who you are behind, that's all."
It is rare for an emperor to preach, and everyone agrees, and it is still much harder to change.
Especially Confucian scholars like Xin Ciying, who always pay attention to face, be strict with themselves and treat others with kindness, which is good to say, but only the people around them know what it feels like.
"Okay, let's continue our journey. We must reach Suzhou before dark."
The emperor gave an order, and the team of two thousand people began to move again.
He only brought out half of the people from the Imperial City Division this time... Although the Lin'an incident was within his plan, people are not tools. As long as they are people, there are too many uncertainties and uncontrollables. Old Wangtou also Well, Ji Wu, including Daoji... the first few people he came into contact with in this life suffered disasters one after another. This was not something he wanted to see.
Although he tried his best to deny it, the affairs of these people were always related to his arrogance. He could obviously have arranged it more completely and more securely, but he didn't.
But he couldn't change it. If he changed his extreme self-confidence, he would no longer be who he was.
A fast horse followed, and Huang Yanjie stopped the visitor. It was a message from Lin'an.
The emperor was in a hurry that day... He gave the order, and the entire court immediately started moving. Firstly, it was the accompanying personnel, secondly, there was a lot of mess left behind, and thirdly, it was the planning of the route and the investigation of Zhao Ding and others. human interpretation.
So many things were not solved immediately.
For example, for example, Zhang Jun, although he did not order punishment, he was still holding an official position in the court after all, and Zhao Ding did not know how to deal with it; for example, the empress dowager's funeral... Although officials do not have to observe filial piety for three years, But we should wait until she is buried before leaving; for another example, the imperial concubine who is about to give birth to a dragon seed should tie the emperor to Lin'an.
But he still left, leaving no room for negotiation with these ministers... He knew very well that the war between the two countries was urgent and should not be slowed down, because Xixia and Goryeo had got involved and completely turned to the Jin Kingdom in these two countries. Before, he wanted people from these two countries to see clearly,
Let’s see clearly between Song and Jin, who is more likely to win.
So he just took down Ji Wu who had been hanging in front of the Yue Mansion for a long time, and personally used a shovel to dig a hole for him on the edge of the West Lake and buried him in it.
The person who came to deliver the news today was the one who said that the Empress Dowager's affairs were over.
Huang Yanjie immediately caught up with the emperor and told all the news:
"The Empress Dowager was deeply loved by the people of Lin'an and was buried under Feilai Peak. The people cried day and night and spontaneously mourned her for three days."
"The people who were reciting sutras and being saved under the shelf of Jinying that day were also found. They were none other than Master Fohai and Master Daoji... After they were saved, they wandered away again. Lingyin Temple is now run by several people. Senior masters are in charge of affairs, but the title of master Fohai is still retained."
Liu Bang didn't say anything else, he just asked:
"How are things going at the ancestral temple?"
"Zongzheng Temple is unwilling to accept the spiritual thrones of Uncle Wang and Ji Yingxiong. It only says that it is a place to worship ancestors and cannot let other people in..."
"What did Zhao Ding say?"
"Xiang Zhao means that if the officials are serious about it, they can find a Taoist temple or temple to worship them. It does not necessarily mean that they should be placed in the Ancestral Temple."
"Well," Liu Bang nodded, "Let's evacuate all the people in Zongzheng Temple, and then ask Zhao Shi, the great Zongzheng, if that's okay."
Zongzheng Temple is mostly filled with people from the Zhao family, or people who are related to the Zhao family by marriage. The purpose of its existence, apart from the affairs within the clan, is to find jobs for these royal relatives and settle them down so that they will not cause chaos. .
Now the officials will get rid of those people with just one word... If nothing else, among the more than a hundred nobles, none of them are easy to get along with.
Obviously it was the official who acted out of compliance... Huang Yanjie didn't dare to go beyond the rules, so he agreed honestly.
"One more thing... People from the Imperial City Department said that Yue Shaobao's reply to Mrs. Yao Tai has arrived. They said it only has one sentence."
"oh?"
Liu Bang immediately became interested. After all, the journey was long and there were many battles along the way. After all, the news about Yue Fei was delayed a lot, but he did not mess up and captured Zhengzhou. This was a surprise to Liu Bang.
Now that he had replied to the letter, his desire to pry was immediately born, and he quickly asked:
"Which sentence is it?"
Huang Yanjie didn't hesitate at all: "It's 'It's hard to have both loyalty and filial piety, and the mother forgives the child for being unfilial.'"
"This man is really stubborn."
He made such a comment, but after all, he was so happy in his heart. Look at him, I don't blame him for being able to win the battle!
Thinking about the three losers hiding in Suzhou City, Liu Bang immediately lost his temper and wished he could give them both a slap in the face.
After being angry for a while, he asked Huang Yanjie again:
"What's wrong with Yu Yunwen?"
Speaking of this person, it is really a coincidence that he followed me this time.
What a coincidence.
The news of the siege of Lin'an City had just spread, and this man immediately set off, still bringing the monks, Taoists, and nuns with him to serve the king. However, only halfway through, he received the news that the Jin people had already retreated.
In this way, this boy came to Lin'an alone, and heard many things that happened at that time along the way. Once combined, this man quickly guessed the emperor's thoughts.
Pretending to be a golden man, killing one's brother and mother, these are things that ordinary people would not regret even if they die, let alone what happens to the current emperor!
It is said that "the emperor is the guide for his ministers". If the emperor, a person who sets an example, does such a thing, isn't he afraid of causing the world to turn upside down and order to collapse? !
With confusion and anger, thinking that he was serving such an immoral tyrant, Yu Yunwen may have felt that something was starting to collapse, and his whole person became a little bad.
Therefore, he dared to block the emperor's way before he left Lin'an.
This person should have been beaten to death with random sticks, or captured and thrown to Dali Temple, but this person performed well when Zhao Shicheng rebelled, so Liu Bang gave him a chance.
An opportunity to ask yourself, after all, being able to think of bringing someone to King Qin is loyalty, and being able to guess what he is doing is considered clever.
A clever and loyal man deserves a chance to live.
So no matter how Yu Yunwen offended him or how he tried to expose him, Liu Bang ignored him and arranged for Lu Zai's son to be the magistrate of Mingzhou, bringing the upright Yu Yunwen with him.
There is no need to explain to him, some people only listen to what you say, and some people care more about what you do.
Just let him look at what is right and what is wrong, what is white and what is black, and this person will understand.
Huang Yanjie nodded and said: "It's still the same as before. People have to drink water to eat and drink. It seems that the soul has not returned yet."
"Have you sent anyone to Suzhou today?"
"I'm going. I followed the official's instructions. I've been getting one every day for the past few days. I've never been short of it."
Liu Bang nodded. He had no other questions, slapped the horse's butt with his scabbard, and galloped towards Suzhou City.
At the other end, Suzhou City.
This city is not big at all. It was abandoned in the third year of Emperor Taihe of the Tang Dynasty. Although it was restored later, it has never been famous. Although Su Shi said that this is the "first state in Huainan", it is the "first state in Huainan". After all, Yi's name has been exaggerated.
However, although it is small, this place does have its own unique heritage. There is the Huangzang Valley where Liu Bang stayed to escape the pursuit of the Qin soldiers, and the Tianmen Temple built here by Liu Yilong, the son of Liu Yu. It is said that the seventy-two sages of Confucius are here. , Minzi, one of the Ten Philosophers of Confucius and the Twenty-Four Filial Piety, is buried here, together with Liu Ling, Ji Kang and other famous bamboo forest figures...
The smallness of Suzhou lies in the smallness of its city; the greatness of Suzhou lies in its temperament.
Although they have suffered from wars for years, the people here are much calmer. When the Jin people came, they were not like lost dogs like other places, nor did they show too much excitement and joy when the Song people came.
Suzhou is more like a bystander. Although it is also on the chessboard, it looks at the players of the two sides with cold eyes. No matter who takes control of the Central Plains, it seems that it cannot make them feel sad and happy easily.
Zhao Mi led his troops from the Infantry Division to station at the south gate, while Yang Yizhong led the imperial troops from the Dianqian Division to stay at the north gate. Wang De did not bring any troops, so it was good for him. Originally, among the three of them, he was His official position was the lowest, but he occupied a position in the government office in the city.
At this time, he estimated the time and knew that it was the most uncomfortable time of the day. The eunuch who entered the city first saw the envoy Zhao. Before he could say hello, Zhao Mi took a look at the man's dress and turned his back on him. Go:
"Your Majesty, please speak frankly. After you finish speaking, leave as soon as possible. Don't stay here any longer."
The eunuch probably understood Du Shi Zhao's mood, so he skipped the pleasantries and said directly:
"Zhao Mi, this is the thirtieth time I advise you, you should go back to Lin'an. Anyway, you are wasting rice by staying here. Since it is all a waste, why not waste it in Lin'an?"
"Food and grass in this army are hard to come by. Looking at your appearance, I know that you have a big appetite. I asked Huang Yanjie to come. After all, he is thin and has two ounces less fat than you. No matter how bad he is, he still eats better than you." Aren’t you young?”
"Now I will be arriving soon. If you change your mind, just tell me, leave the soldiers here, pack your things and go back directly. There is no need to say hello to me again."
Already the thirtieth person... Zhao Dushi's back could not help but tremble. He still couldn't get used to it, couldn't get used to being ridiculed by officials like this.
After taking a deep breath, Zhao Mi turned around and said:
"It's a secret. I'm waiting for your majesty here."
Although he said this, he always felt that the person who came to deliver the message today seemed to be missing something.
For a moment, Zhao Dushi couldn't remember anything.
The eunuch nodded slightly. He had to tell the other two generals the news and did not dare to stay longer.
Just as he took one foot out the door, he turned around again with an apologetic look on his face:
"Don't blame Zhao Du, he said one less thing..."
Zhao Mi looked sad and turned around quickly. He had stopped crying since the eighth time, but he was afraid that the officials would add some new words and he couldn't bear it. , her underwear leaked in front of outsiders.
Seeing this, the eunuch didn't hesitate and added the emperor's last words.
"Zhao Mi, to be honest, you three are trash."
Finally, Commander Zhao couldn't bear it anymore and started to cry loudly.
(End of chapter)
