When brothers Tsou Ning and Liu Xu were introduced to the main hall of the palace, Emperor Liu was meeting with generals there. The atmosphere was very lively. The people who were ordered to meet were all middle and upper-level generals who had retired from the front line, as well as those who had given gifts to the Northern Expedition. Excellent local bureaucrats.
Discussing the merits and celebrating the achievements and awarding them still need to be approved by the generals of each army and the Ministry of War. They will be rewarded after returning to Beijing, but this time in Youzhou can be regarded as a foreshadowing.
For the civil and military personnel who were called, it was obviously a rare opportunity and a positive signal. It would be beneficial both in terms of rewards for the Northern Expedition and in terms of promotion of official positions in the future.
For ordinary civil and military officers, if they want to climb up quickly, they have to seize the opportunity, be promising, do things, and achieve results. If it were a peaceful and prosperous time, with no soldiers, no enemies, no waves, it would naturally be difficult to climb to the top of the official career.
As time goes by, as the enemies of the Han Dynasty fall one by one, the surrounding threats are gradually eliminated, the country's politics becomes more and more stable, and the magnificent era in the past gradually goes away. For those with ambitions, In other words, great undertakings like the Northern Expedition are becoming more and more elusive.
What is also something that can be met but cannot be sought is to be summoned by the emperor to see the beauty of the sky. Although Emperor Liu often went on tours, for 90% of the officials and soldiers of the Han Dynasty, it might be difficult for them to have this opportunity in their lifetime.
This point becomes more prominent the further away from the Qianyu era and the longer Emperor Liu has been emperor. After all, the distance between Emperor Liu and the middle and lower classes is getting farther and farther. The emperor is high in the mountains, and the officials and the people are prostrate below. There is a chasm-like gap between them.
"I am very pleased with your past performance and deeds! One more word from you, keep up your efforts, forge ahead, work hard to do errands for the court, and seek benefits for the people. You must be worthy of your position and me. Conform to what the imperial court expects from you!" Knowing that Liu Xu and King Xi had already entered the palace, Emperor Liu ended the interview in a timely manner and said to the civil and military officials in a gentle manner.
Faced with the emperor's instructions and encouragement, all the ministers were naturally very positive, saying yes and promising to remember His Majesty the Emperor's teachings.
"Please retire first, each go back to the hotel and take a rest. I will hold a banquet in the palace tonight and go to the palace for the banquet in the evening. I will reward you then!" Emperor Liu waved his hand and ordered.
"Yes! Your Majesty, please retire!" Under the leadership of Chu Zhaofu, the highest-ranking envoy of Yanshan, a group of civil and military officials bowed and saluted and responded.
Therefore, before entering the temple to pay homage, what Chou Ning saw was a group of Han civil and military officials in court uniforms and military uniforms with cheerful expressions. They filed out of the temple respectfully.
"Your Majesty has issued an order to summon King Xi, Chou Ning, Duke Xu of Qin, and Duke Xi of Jin to come to the palace!" The person who followed him to the front of the palace to greet him was Zhang Yong, a bachelor of the cabinet.
Hearing this, the three waiting people immediately cheered up. Seeing Brother Liu Xu adjusting his clothes, Chou Ning also imitated the jade crown on his head that he was not used to wearing.
At this time, King Lao Xi was wearing a gorgeous python robe, crown, and jade belt, which was specially gifted by Emperor Liu. After being led into the palace, Chou Ning's psychological activities were very rich. Although he was not used to wearing the gorgeous clothes and jade crown, he felt an inexplicable feeling of comfort and satisfaction in his heart.
"I, Caining, come to see His Majesty the Emperor!" After entering the palace, he nervously took two steps forward, Caining saluted and knelt on the ground.
Old Xi Wang is older, but he still bends and kneels very neatly. If he was cautious and complimentary towards the prince Liu Xu, then when facing the emperor of Han Dynasty, his attitude could only be described as humble. When he was changing clothes just now, the chamberlain briefly explained to him some Han Palace etiquette, but at this time, he had long forgotten it. However, he knew how to show the most respectful gesture and express his surrender.
"King Xi, please rise and give me a seat!" Emperor Liu's voice sounded a little ethereal in the hall.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Liu raised his hand to the two brothers Liu Xu and asked them to sit with them. He turned his eyes to Tsou Ning, observing the elderly king of the Xi clan. I have to say that his humble gesture made Emperor Liu feel comfortable and satisfied.
"Old King Xi is a heroic man with a high reputation. Although I have lived in the center for a long time, I have also been famous. Today I finally see my true face!" Emperor Liu said to Chang Ning with a smile.
After sitting down, although Chou Ning tried his best to control his eyebrows, he couldn't help but look at Emperor Liu carefully. The forty-year-old Emperor Liu no longer gives the impression of being in the prime of life, and his face is a bit old-fashioned, but his aura of being in charge of the world and swallowing heaven and earth is very shocking.
Emperor Liu sat high on the dragon bed. He was dressed very simply. Except for the bright yellow robe, there was nothing particularly eye-catching. Behind the throne was a huge wall with exquisite carvings of mountains, rivers and grain patterns, and a fire below. It was burning brightly, dispersing the coldness in the palace, and illuminating Emperor Liu's back, making Emperor Liu appear even more mysterious.
Like the Han civil and military officials who met Emperor Liu for the first time before, Chou Ning was also frightened by it. Hearing his words, he was a little surprised and responded: "Your Majesty has ever heard of such a humble name as a minister? Your Majesty is a god descending to earth. , the heroic lord of the world, who controls the world's talents and heroes, establishes immortal achievements, is famous in the world, and is famous all over the world. I am far away in the north of the Great Wall, and I have been admired for a long time. Today, I can look at your majesty's face and listen to the emperor's instructions. I am the supreme minister. pleasure!"
Emperor Liu was a little surprised. He had never thought that this old King Xi could talk so well. Of course, maybe he wasn't able to speak, but just showed his most humble and submissive attitude.
However, Emperor Liu was still very happy, laughed a few times, and said: "King Xi, there is no need to be polite. You are not a small person. You command the six tribes of Xi and manage hundreds of thousands of Xi people. You are also a hero in the world!"
"Your Majesty, you have oversold me! I and my subordinates have been under the pressure of the Khitans for a long time. In the past, they did not know the heights of the sky and the vastness of the earth. They even raised a large number of people. They followed the Khitans to invade the south and became enemies of the Han. Now that I think about it, it is true that I have committed a crime. Big! If it weren't for the eldest prince's advice, it would be difficult for me to wake up. Your Majesty is the king of the world and the master of all races." Facing the gentle Emperor Liu, Chou Ning licked hard.
Seeing this, Emperor Liu raised his hand with a magnanimous look and said in a brisk tone: "I have already issued an edict. Let bygones be bygones, let him pass by. This time King Xi can lead his people back and return to the embrace of the Han Dynasty. Welcoming Master Wang into the city is also a great service to the imperial court. From now on, the people of the Xi tribe are also my subjects. As long as they sincerely submit, I will treat them equally!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!" After hearing this, Chou Ning immediately stood up excitedly and bowed in the hall.
Looking down at Cho Ning who seemed very moved, Emperor Liu showed no emotion on his face, still maintaining a reserved smile, and said loudly: "Prince Xi, no courtesy! I'm calling you to Youzhou this time, firstly because I want to meet you. Let me have a chat with you. I heard that the Xi tribe was oppressed in the Liao Kingdom and the people's livelihood was very difficult. Now that I have entered the Han Dynasty, I should also think about the future of the tribe.
On the other hand, it is to formally canonize you. I have ordered people to start preparing books and regulations. After returning to the court, I will be in the main hall and reward you to make it known to the world..."
Emperor Liu's words were not long, but there was a lot of information worth digging out. Old King Xi was also somewhat shrewd and realized some different meanings.
He stood up, looked up at Emperor Liu, and said tentatively: "Your Majesty is able to accept Xi Ren, and cares so much about his people. I will definitely assist the court and manage his subordinates to win their hearts."
Seeing his cautious appearance, Emperor Liu seemed to have a smile in his eyes: "I heard that King Xi has been in charge of the Xi tribe for thirty years?"
"Your Majesty, it's been thirty-one years!" Chou Ning replied.
Emperor Liu immediately said: "King Xi is the head of the Xi tribe. In this way, you are assisting the government in governing the court! In the past thirty years, you have been under the power of the Khitan. From now on, you should be King Xi of my great Han Dynasty!"
"I will be loyal to the best of my ability!" Tsou Ning also expressed his stance.
"I have many questions about the affairs of the Xi Ministry, and I need King Xi to clarify them. However, I have already planned to return to the capital, and Luan Jia is about to leave. In this way, King Xi can take a short rest in Youzhou, and then go south with me, or along the way. Ask for advice!" Emperor Liu's tone became calmer, but very strong and unquestionable.
Tsai Ning was obviously hesitant about this. He wanted to object but did not dare to show it. He could only bow his head and said: "I will obey your Majesty's order! But if you ask any questions, I will answer everything!"
"I heard that there are some Xi tribe nobles who followed King Xi southward?" Emperor Liu turned his attention to Liu Xu.
"Exactly! There is no edict, so we will arrange it in the hotel for now!" Liu Xu replied.
Emperor Liu said: "There is an imperial banquet in the palace tonight. Call them together. Let the monarch and his ministers have fun together! When you return to the capital, take them with you!"
"yes!"
After listening to Emperor Liu's instructions, Tsai Ning's mood became inexplicably low. He suddenly realized that after entering the Southern Dynasty, it might be difficult for him to have the opportunity to return to his ancestral homeland...
