The year is approaching.
Although it has experienced a war, the festive atmosphere in Chengdu has not diminished too much. The main street under the palace was already bustling with people. The shouting jugglers, those selling couplets and spring cakes, and even the flower girls in the Qing Dynasty all wore the most eye-catching clothes, applied two layers of rouge, waved bright red handkerchiefs, and tried their best to attract patrons.
"Sanniang, she pushed the husband, her voice was trembling, her face was shy——"
Xu Mu raised his hand and swallowed it with a burst of chestnuts. Han Jiu, who was singing to please Sanniang, yelled "Ah" and hurriedly stopped his voice.
"You go back to your house and sing by yourself. When others come to pay homage to me, the King of Shu, you sing pornographic songs next to them. What's going on?"
"My lord, I can't help it...I still ask my lord to punish you."
Xu Mu sighed. He knew in his heart that Han Jiu's "condemnation" was not about Huang Qu'er, but about the fall of Chengdu.
In fact, this reckless man didn't know that he and Sun Xun were both part of Jia Zhou's plan. Of course, Xu Mu was ecstatic that Han Jiu was still alive.
"Okay, Han Jiu, tomorrow you go to the house on the left side of the backyard and dress nicer. There are three old men eating and drinking inside. Just stay there and sing "Mei Sanniang" for the whole day. I think these three old men will be very happy. of."
"I'm afraid I can't remember the words."
"Sing as much as you remember. Once you've finished singing, forget about it and don't mention it again in the future."
"My lord, I can also sing the song Little Flower Lady, the widowed sister-in-law in Shu——"
"What a mess." Xu Mu rubbed his head, "When you have time, go to the general hall and learn more skills. No matter how old you are, the officials are not young anymore. You can't even get a lady from the world."
Han Jiu stood there with a hurt expression.
"Han Jiu, you fucking keep up!"
In the past two days, Si Hu took Mrs. Luan Yu to Fuyang County to visit her. It is said that when they left the city, they vacated all the steamed bun shops in the city.
There was no other way, Xu Mu could only let Han Jiu accompany him.
As for Nanlin County, Han Jiu's injury will take some time to recover, and Sun Xun will be allowed to pass first.
Following the avenue under the palace, there were many people coming to pay their respects. Xu Mu originally thought that if there was a military disaster in Chengdu, his popular support might decline, but unexpectedly, the popular support was still there.
Of course, in the past, in order to avoid disaster for the Wei family and to appease the people, seven or eight scapegoats were killed at Caishikou.
"The king of Shu is young and strong. There are only two concubines in Shu state. This is not possible. I have a daughter at my knees who is well-educated and can be a good wife."
"If the King of Shu goes to the Qing Palace, Aunt Qin will give me ten good ladies to enter the hibiscus tent."
"King of Shu, my lord! It's time for our Shuzhou to revive after a hundred years!"
…
Xu Mu returned the greetings one by one, and finally walked through the crowded crowd and exited the city gate. He did not go to Nanlin County, but stopped his horse at Seventy Miles Tomb Mountain.
The guards of three hundred people also dismounted.
"Chief Commander, all the ashes of the soldiers that can be collected have been sent back." Yin Hu, who was handling the matter, had a faint cry in his throat.
Following the expedition this time, he saw with his own eyes how tragic the fighting was.
Xu Mu closed his eyes. No matter at any time, paying homage to the fallen soldiers is a top priority. So, when the ashes were returned, he rode out of the city.
In the future, if Shuzhou is conquered, then this morale of daring to be the first in the world will continue.
"Raise a glass and give me the son of Shuzhou!"
Not only the soldiers, but also many common people, and even the passing vendors, silently clasped their fists and bowed towards the seventy-mile graveyard.
One general succeeds and ten thousand bones wither.
In this troubled world, so many heroes have turned into pots of ashes and handfuls of loess.
"Drink together!"
After half a bowl was gone, Xu Mu picked up the wine cup again, raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.
Beside him, the old Confucian Wang Yong began to raise his hands to the sky and read a tearful eulogy into the cold wind.
…
Different from the cold wind in Shuzhou, the cold wind in Laizhou is even more freezing.
"The eggs have been frozen and shrunk!" In the temporary palace in Laizhou, a middle-aged man wearing a rough dragon robe sat on the dragon chair and cursed.
Below him, the so-called civil and military officials only paused and laughed wildly.
"Don't laugh." Fang Ru took a breath and slumped on the dragon chair in a daze. When he first became emperor, he was still somewhat interested in teasing the palace maid next to him. But now, there was only a solemn expression on his face.
"Zuo Shiren, this traitor, dares to gather an allied force to attack me! I have obviously made him the Grand Lieutenant of Jingchao."
This is nothing more than an excuse. Fang Ru also understood that most of his subordinates were from mud-legged backgrounds and did not have much ability.
His army of hundreds of thousands, which did not even have standard weapons and armor, was defeated by Zuo Shiren's 20,000 vanguard battalion.
"If this continues, my situation will be in danger."
"Your Majesty, do you remember what I said earlier?" At this time, a thin old man suddenly came out.
Fang Ru thought about it, but couldn't remember it, so he had to cough.
"Prime Minister Zhou, please tell me again."
The old prime minister hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, my previous intention was to let your Majesty use generals who are good at fighting."
"Where is the good general?"
"Your Majesty, your noble man is too forgetful. I have... recommended him. If your Majesty is interested, he will still stay in Laizhou. I will order someone to summon him."
"Go quickly!"
…
Since Fang Ru became emperor in the four counties of Laizhou, they have imposed heavy taxes and levies, and the people's livelihood has gradually declined. Countless people fled at one time.
At this time, in a small house in a partial county, there was an old man with flying silver hair in the yard, holding a long bow and shooting forward with a "shoo" sound.
Hitting the copper target, a "dang" sound resounded throughout the yard.
"My father's archery skills are unparalleled, and he is getting stronger with age!"
The old man didn't reply, but sat on the ground with his upper body naked in the cold wind. After a long time, after a gust of wind and snow blew, he spoke in a deep voice, his voice like thunder.
"Yan Chong, are there any officials coming these days?"
"Father, no." The middle-aged man beside him shook his head, and suddenly remembered something, "With father's ability, why would he surrender to Fang Ru, a fake emperor?"
The old man smiled and said, "Yan Chong, you almost forgot your last name."
"Father, how dare I forget that my surname is Yuan from the Ji Dynasty."
"That's right." The old man looked up to the sky, his voice full of loneliness, "It's Yuan, not Yan. Yuan Chong, I think of your uncle again."
"If things had been more stable that year, maybe big things would have happened. Emperor Ji Xiao was also lucky and deceived all the Qin Wang troops."
Beside, Yuan Chong listened quietly.
"I am already old, nearly eighty years old. If you are too old to die, you are a thief, but people in the world have called me Yuan Song a thief for decades."
"I was once a false emperor, so I can naturally understand Fang Ru's fears."
"Father, do you really want to surrender to the false emperor?"
The old man smiled faintly in the wind.
"It's my surrender, but I want to occupy the magpie's nest even more. I'm not old yet, so there's no harm in being the emperor again."
"In the past hundred years of our Yuan family, apart from a man who is unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness, how have you ever seen a second person like me!"
"If you don't obey the old age, you will be called a hero! It's time for my son Yuan Chong."
