"I heard that the officials were talking about expelling the guests, and I thought it was wrong. Xi Mu Gong asked for scholars, and he took Yu Yurong from the west, Xi Yuwan from the east for a hundred miles, welcomed Uncle Jian from the Song Dynasty, and came to Pibao and Gongsun to support the Jin Dynasty."
The crisp recitation echoed in the Chongzheng Hall, with ups and downs and full of emotion. Emperor Liu sat aside, closing his eyes slightly, listening silently, shaking his head with a smile on his lips, and seemed to be enjoying it very much.
In recent years, probably because of his dim eyesight, Emperor Liu rarely picked up scrolls to read. Instead, he let the Hanlin bachelors and learned scholars in the three halls and palaces take turns reading and telling history to him.
For those knowledgeable people, it was a big favor. After all, Emperor Liu always paid attention to practical work and despised empty talk when employing people. Therefore, although the court maintained many civil servants, most of them were put aside and let them do some chronicling. , the work of repairing books.
Of course, this is already a favorable treatment for most literati, but the sense of gap in political status is inevitable after all. After learning literary and martial arts and serving the emperor's family, most people are still more interested in being an official and yearning for power to realize their political ambitions.
However, in this regard, the literati of the Han Dynasty have always been severely suppressed. Those in power in the court have few moral scholars, and most of the important positions are occupied by those who have meritorious service and those who are "ignorant and have no skills". occupy.
This is what makes many contemporary literati feel angry and aggrieved. They feel that they have talents in the world but have no place to put them to use. They can only do academic work in those magnificent palaces. No matter how gorgeous the palace is, they are just a bunch of people. Circled canary.
Of course, this is also because the country has been at peace for a long time, and other signs of thinking have begun to appear. Various remarks have emerged one after another, and there have been more messy things. Twenty years ago, not many literati would dare to speak loudly to the court officials.
Emperor Liu naturally turned a deaf ear to these new voices, and even directly expressed his attitude that if an official focused most of his energy on learning and could still use some of it for practical purposes, what would be the benefit to the country? What’s the benefit to the people?
Therefore, when Emperor Liu began to select people from the three halls to give him lectures and history readings, many people were happy and even cried with joy.
They seem to have seen hope that they can finally live up to their name and truly express their opinions and export their ideas as emperors. This is much less meaningful than seeking several important positions in the court.
Even though Emperor Liu only listened to what he was interested in, he even dismissed several bachelors who were good at collecting personal information because they were not satisfied with what they heard.
Of course, unlike the seriousness when listening to history lectures, the sound of reciting in the palace at this time made Emperor Liu feel comfortable and happy. After all, it was his grandson who was reciting the words.
"Wenhuan, can you recite the entire text of "Book of Remonstrance and Expulsion of Guests"?" After reciting one paragraph, Emperor Liu looked at his grandson Liu Wenhuan with a kind face and a smile.
"Replying to my grandfather, my grandson already knows this article by heart!" Liu Wenhuan, with a bright red face, responded with a slight restraint when asked.
No matter how many overt and secret fights there were in the East Palace, Emperor Liu still treated the two emperors equally and loved them very much. From time to time, the two grandchildren were summoned to the palace to accompany them, and there was also the purpose of nurturing them. Not surprisingly, the Han Dynasty's next generation king would most likely choose one of these two grandchildren. How could Emperor Liu not pay attention to this? .
As for the two grandchildren, Liu Wenhuan is eleven years old. He is very smart, studious and inquiring. What is more valuable, he is not impetuous and is quite popular with Emperor Liu.
As for Liu Wenji, he is under eight years old and is still young and cannot see much yet. However, judging from his past performance, he is also a quiet and well-behaved child. What's more, there is a mother who is even smarter and wiser.
Now, if the two grandsons of the emperor were to be regarded as legitimate concubines, Liu Wenji was his legitimate son. Crown Princess Murong adopted him under considerable pressure and huge criticism. However, precisely because of the Xiao family, the Khitan bloodline always gives people a feeling of instability.
Although Emperor Liu didn't take these seriously, he couldn't care about people's support. On the other hand, although he followed the law of eldest son inheritance, from his own heart, he didn't particularly value it. At least in his opinion, a mediocre person was not worthy of being an emperor.
The system of direct descendants only occupies a legal principle and is balanced and compromising, but it does not mean the final result.
"Very good!" Emperor Liu did not hesitate to praise, but soon taught him habitually: "However, just memorizing it is not enough. In addition to reading the text, you also need to understand its principles and understand its meaning."
Most of the children of the royal family are precocious, and so is Liu Wenhuan. In the past, they might have been ignorant of Emperor Liu's similar teachings, but now they can learn more or less.
Therefore, he responded very obediently: "Yes! My grandson dare not forget his grandfather's teachings!"
Seeing this, Emperor Liu smiled again.
"Guan family, His Royal Highness King Yong has returned to Beijing. He is waiting for the edict outside the palace!" When Emperor Liu was educating his grandson, Yantuo came to report.
After hearing the report, Emperor Liu looked slightly happy and immediately ordered: "What kind of edict are you waiting for? Let him come into the palace quickly!"
King Yong Liu Chengxun has been staying in Jiangnan for the past two years, with the intention of caring for the southeastern states on behalf of the royal family. With the development of the economy, the status of the southeastern region in the Han Dynasty is getting higher and higher, and the attention of the imperial court is also increasing. Liu Chengxun Sitting in the southeast reflects this.
"I see your Majesty!" Soon, Liu Chengxun entered and bowed respectfully.
Liu Chengxun, who is nearly fifty years old, is no longer as graceful as before, but he seems to be in good spirits. As the direct brother of Emperor Liu, he held a detached status in the court, and in the past few decades, he often visited places on behalf of the court.
In the process, he cared about the sufferings of the people, petitioned for the people, and dealt with a large number of corrupt officials, winning high praise. He had high prestige among the government and the public, and he was a well-known virtuous king in the Han Dynasty.
It is obviously impossible for Emperor Liu to say that he has no suspicion at all about this younger brother. After all, in his early years, he was regarded as the heir to the throne.
However, as the sons grew older and the succession of the throne became more orderly, the prince's position had already been stabilized and his guard was slightly lowered. Of course, more importantly, Liu Chengxun was very self-aware, never violated the rules and taboos, and was always obedient and flattering to Emperor Liu. Emperor Liu gradually let down his guard, and the relationship between the two brothers was maintained very well.
What's more, although Emperor Liu was an only husband, he was getting older after all. He began to miss the past and began to hope for family and friendship. Also, under the influence of Empress Dowager Li, he naturally looked at his biological brother in a different light.
At this time, seeing Liu Chengxun returning to Beijing, he was naturally overjoyed. He kindly let him sit down without courtesy, looked at him carefully, pointed at Liu Chengxun's fat old face, and said with a smile: "The land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River, the land of abundant resources and natural treasures, really nourishes people. Third brother, you have gained a lot of weight!"
Liu Chengxun also chuckled, stroked his obviously bulging belly, and responded: "Second brother is laughing at me. I have been pampered all these years and rarely exercised. It is inevitable that I will have fat belly and a big belly!"
Emperor Liu smiled heartily, ignoring the obvious fat on his waist, and said without conscious thought: "This lack of exercise is not enough. As you get older, you should pay attention to your health!"
"Second brother is right!" Liu Chengxun twitched the corner of his mouth and complimented: "I still need to learn from you!"
"Wen Huan, why don't you meet your uncle soon!" Emperor Liu waved his hand proudly and said to Liu Wenhuan, who was standing aside and looking at Liu Chengxun curiously.
"My grandson meets the imperial uncle!" Liu Wenhuan did not dare to be negligent. He quickly stepped forward and knelt down, kowtowing politely.
Seeing this, Liu Chengxun was also cheerful. He reached out his hand to signal him to get up, and said gently: "Get up quickly! You have grown a lot taller!"
As he said that, Liu Chengxun subconsciously dug into his pocket, found nothing, and smiled awkwardly at Emperor Liu: "I knew Wen Huan was here, so I should have prepared a gift! Let's just pay for it now and make up for it another day!"
"Wenhuan, remember to ask your uncle for it!" Emperor Liu seemed to be in a really good mood and joked to Liu Wenhuan: "Go and play!"
"Yes!" Liu Wenhuan heard this and bowed: "Grandson, please retire!"
(End of chapter)
