In the Chongyuan Hall, colorful ribbons were flying and lanterns filled the palace, making it even brighter in the dark night. The musicians are here, the palace music, the melodious accompaniment, is charming and seductive, the singers brighten their throats, and the dancers show off their postures, which is even more eye-catching.
Generous rewards, sumptuous food and wine, and wonderful songs and dances all comforted the heroes of the Han Dynasty. The extravagant palace banquet also announced that the Han Dynasty seemed to have officially entered a new stage, and the hardship and simplicity of the past seemed to be no longer visible.
Just like the previous imperial banquets, Liu Chengyou allowed the generals and ministers to enjoy themselves and enjoy themselves without any restraint. Of course, in the twelfth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, no one really dared to act recklessly. Even those who feel sad will at most drink the imperial brew, using alcohol to numb themselves and express their depression.
Therefore, the atmosphere in the entire hall is always warm, comfortable and relaxing, and everyone seems to be unburdened. The prosperity of the dynasty is probably like this.
The ones who caused the biggest commotion were Zhang Qiong and Dang Jin. These two people were well-known "heroes" in the military. Zhang Qiong is magnanimous and forthright, brave in battle, fearless of death, and willing to give in when the party advances. Of course, underneath his rough appearance, there is a vigilant heart.
It wasn't that the two of them had any conflicts, but they were drinking together there. You had a bowl and I had a bowl, which attracted cheers and cheers from the surrounding generals. Zhao Kuangyin was standing by, taking the initiative to be the referee, his resolute face full of interest.
Liu Chengyou, on the other hand, maintained relationships with several vassal forces, especially Qian Hongchu, the King of Wuyue, Li Yiyin of the Dingnan Army, Ping Haijun Liu Congxiao, and Gao Shaoji of Yanzhou. They were also invited to participate in the celebration banquet and once again feel the prosperity and strength of the Han Dynasty. At the same time, the "subjugated" kings like Gao Baorong, Meng Chang, and Zhou Baoquan were also there.
Zhou Baoquan is only a seven-year-old baby now. Because of his father Zhou Xingfeng's militant resistance, he was not treated as generously as Gao Baorong after arriving in Tokyo. He was placed in the imperial garden to herd horses and mulberry trees for the emperor for ten years. He had a good mother, Mrs. Yan, who taught him by words and deeds, trained him to study, and had a loyal servant who never left him, so that he had been raised at a young age. Become a magnanimous person. Waiting quietly at the table, Liu Chengyou paid some attention.
When he saw Zhang Qiong and Dang Jin having a drink together, Liu Chengyou also smiled. Dang Jin's long-cherished wish was fulfilled. Through his performance in the Northern Expedition, he was finally promoted from earl to famous marquis, satisfying his desire to become a marquis.
As for Zhang Qiong, seeing him drinking so much, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but frown. This man has always been a fighter and has never changed. Every time he went through a war, he suffered many scars and was even seriously injured twice and was on the verge of death. He relied on his strong personal martial arts to achieve his current reputation and status, but his body was already overloaded. Be more careful and restrained. If things go on like this, it will be easy to break.
Another thing that caught people's attention was that among the musicians, there was a man, Gao Huaide, Duke of Pu. I saw him sitting cross-legged on the ground, holding a jade flute in his hand, playing it with great enthusiasm, his expression was very intoxicated, and the beautiful notes came out from the flute, echoing the elegant music of the court.
Although Gao Huaide was a military general and didn't like reading, he was talented in music and could compose his own music. Beside, the two brothers Liu Xi and Liu Fang were dancing, humming and dancing. Liu Xi's face was red and he was holding a wine flask in his hand. From time to time, wine was spilled... .
The painter Huang Quan was also able to attend the banquet. He was not qualified, but he was tasked with observing the scene in the palace in detail and preparing to depict the royal banquet scene. When he was in the Shu Kingdom, he was a court painter. His painting style was flashy and noble, and he was good at many things, including figure painting.
Scene after scene came into view, and Liu Chengyou's mood became inexplicably heavy. Such a scene is certainly intoxicating and lingering, and the prosperity and prosperity of the country seem to be reflected in it.
But at the same time, he can also clearly feel a change, and that is glitz and pleasure. This trend existed at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, but it was suppressed by Liu Chengyou's personal actions and example. But with the country's security and all kinds of products gathered in Tokyo, this trend has shown signs of recurrence, which Liu Chengyou doesn't like.
Wealth does not mean luxury, and he has no intention of suppressing the generals' pursuit of a better and more luxurious life. Otherwise, why would everyone have been working hard for so many years? Even he himself is not exempt from vulgarity, so how can he restrain his subordinates?
However, the world has not yet been unified, the historical mission has not been completed, and there is far from time to enjoy it. Furthermore, even if we unite the world, can we relax? Liu Chengyou still knew what kind of life ordinary people in the Han Dynasty lived.
The improvement of order and security has only made Guizhou head no longer in a state of dire straits and precariousness, but its difficult living conditions have not been fundamentally improved. Taxes have been reduced several times, but they are still not low, and military service and labor have never been discontinued.
In fact, during the more than ten years of Liu Chengyou's rule, why did he continue to fight foreign wars, flatten various countries, and gradually become a unified force? Ultimately, it still relies on squeezing ordinary people.
It's just that under the rule of this wise and promising monarch, the Han Dynasty always had a bottom line and gradually reduced its burden and relieved its pressure. Even so, during the unification war, the burden on the Han people was very serious. Take this Northern Expedition as an example. The damage suffered cannot be fully recovered in three or two years.
On the other hand, in order to support so many nobles, officials, and troops in the imperial court, where did the money and food come from? The final destination was the common people. If it weren't for previous foreign wars and plundering and replenishment, the expansion process of the Han Dynasty would probably have another setback.
With so much land occupied, only Huainan, Jingnan, and Sichuan and Shu are "profitable", while other areas are still operating at a "loss".
The more he thought about it and looked at the grand scene of the palace, Liu Chengyou suddenly became less interested. His worries were not groundless. On the way back to Beijing, he carefully observed the public sentiment. What was different from previous inspections was that this time, he felt the earnest desire of the people at the bottom for peace and security, just like when wars broke out frequently.
The people began to hate war, and the subjects longed for recuperation, but the pace of unification could not be stopped. The balance between this also required Liu Chengyou to grasp it well.
"Your Majesty!" A call brought Liu Chengyou back to his senses.
However, Ping Haijun's military governor Liu Congxiao stood up, held the cup in both hands, went to the imperial court, and toasted to Liu Chengyou. Liu Chengyou took a sip of wine, looked at him, and asked with a smile: "Quan and Zhang are famous affluent areas in the south. How do they compare with Tokyo?"
Liu Congxiao was not too young. Hearing this, he immediately shook his head and said, "It is like the light of the cold star to the bright moon, it is incomparable!"
Liu Congxiao said this frankly and seriously, and Liu Chengyou was also happy. He asked a question. Seeing that Liu Chengyou was in a good mood, Liu Congxiao continued: "Your Majesty, when I come to court this time, I have been thinking about something for a long time, but I haven't had time to say anything. Now I take advantage of the opportunity to ask for your forgiveness!"
There was a solemn look on the old face. Liu Chengyou was slightly surprised. After thinking for a moment, he held the wine glass and chuckled: "Is it related to the wine? If it has nothing to do with it, then I don't plan to listen today!"
The emperor's words made Liu Congxiao stunned. What was his reaction? However, after noticing the emperor's serious expression, he could only accept it and just let the wine do the talking.
Paying attention to the situation in the palace, Liu Chengyou waved to the prince Liu Yang again and told him: "You are the prince, you should respect the heroes of the Han Dynasty!"
"Yes!" Liu Yang bowed respectfully and stepped down the jade steps. The previous time at the Chongyuan Hall banquet with all the ministers, Liu Xu was with him, but now, he was the only one.
At the royal banquet that night, the guests and hosts returned home happily, but the emperor's worries and displeasure were not known to everyone. On the second day, Liu Chengyou ordered Sun Yanxi, the chief chamberlain in charge of this luxurious royal banquet, to supervise the construction of Zhaolie Temple.
