At three o'clock in the morning, Zongzheng Shaoqing Tan Ziwen woke up from his dream on time. He jumped out of bed wearing underwear and underwear, looked at the bronze mirror for a long time, and reached out to dig out a particle of eye droppings from the corner of his eyes. His wife, Tan Baishi, was already waiting beside him with a basin filled with warm water.
Tan Ziwen hurriedly washed his face and used a toothbrush dipped in green salt to clean his mouth. His wife had already helped him put on the crimson robe, waist belt, and square heart-shaped collar.
He grabbed two snacks from the fruit bowl and stuffed them into his mouth with one hand, and hurriedly put the white silk stockings and black leather shoes on his feet with the other hand. The lady gave him an angry tap on the shoulder, put the straight-legged futou on his head, and stuffed the wat board into his hand. Then Tan Ziwen went out holding a lantern against the stars in the sky.
The carriage has already been harnessed at the door. Tan Ziwen lives in the south of Luoyang City and has to cross Dingding Bridge every morning. The driver drove the carriage on the bridge, and the sound of the horse's hooves made a clattering sound, which was particularly clear in the deserted early morning.
The sky was slightly brighter. Tan Ziwen was sitting in the carriage, swaying left and right with the bumps of the carriage. He closed his eyes and calmed down for about a while while touching a stick of incense. The carriage had passed through the Dingding Gate and was walking on Zhuque Street.
Tan Ziwen lifted up the car curtain and looked out. Except for a few soldiers checking their waistbands at the gate tower, there were only a few people on the foggy street. Some of them were petty officials like him who got up early to go to court. Most officials of the third rank and above in the Chen Empire owned real estate in the center of the capital.
In fact, the real estate in Luoyang City, the imperial capital, is not expensive. With Tan Ziwen's salary as a fifth-rank Zongzheng Shaoqing, he can buy houses and land in Chongwenfang, Guidefang, Jinguyuan and other areas.
But Tan Ziwen believes that only by walking through half of Luoyang City to go to court every day can he demonstrate his diligence. Living in the shady alleys in the south of the city can further prove that you are honest and upright. In the future, when the imperial court evaluates people, it would be nice to have them test themselves and strive to be the best, and then go out to serve as an official and then get a good job. Wouldn't it be nice?
Tan Ziwen was thinking leisurely when he suddenly realized that the carriage had reached the end of Zhuque Street. Going straight north and passing Tanggong Road, he could see the imperial palace. Tan Ziwen kicked the carriage pedal with his foot, waited for the driver to stop the carriage, walked out of the carriage, and looked towards a nearby courtyard.
The courtyard occupies a very large area, and the walls are made of gray and white bricks. Although it is late autumn, there are green bamboos inside the walls. There are also huge banana fan leaves sticking out of the wall, and a two-story wooden building can be vaguely seen among the lush greenery. At this time, it was just dawn, and there were several clear and melodious chirpings of birds coming from the courtyard. Coupled with the mist, it really felt like a fairyland's other courtyard.
Tan Ziwen stood on tiptoe and looked into the courtyard. There was a plaque hanging in the middle of the wooden two-story attic, with the four characters "Unity of Knowledge and Action" clearly inscribed on it.
Tan Ziwen was shocked, then he straightened his body armor solemnly, bowed his hands to the attic three times, turned around, climbed into the carriage and drove away quickly...
This courtyard is the Zhixing Courtyard in Luoyang City. Its dean is Li Xingzhi, who is famous all over the world and is also a legend of the Chen Empire.
Regarding the legend of Li Xingzhi, Zongzheng Shaoqing Tan Ziwen heard too much. As for Li Xingzhi himself, Tan Ziwen, a junior official from the fifth rank, only saw him from a distance once during the emperor's coronation ceremony, so far away that he was just a silhouette.
It is said that although Li Xingzhi was a national master, he paid little attention to the political affairs of the court after Emperor Chen Zhao Chang ascended the throne. He lives in seclusion, except teaching disciples at Zhixingyuan, and often travels around the world. The dragon never sees its end.
When the late emperor Zhao Zhen was still alive, he held Li Xingzhi in high esteem. It is said that in Pujiang County, Chengdu County, central Sichuan, Zhao Zhen, who was still the captain of the Salt School, met Li Xingzhi in the Guanwen Hall. As soon as the two talked, Zhao Zhen found that Li Xingzhi was knowledgeable and distinguished. During the conversation, Li Xingzhi learned about astronomy and geography. He actually knew everything about running the army, farming, water conservancy and mulberry cultivation, and he even had his own unique insights into martial arts. Zhao Zhen was astonished for a moment.
The two held candles and talked all night. At midnight, they discussed the importance of Dao and art. They couldn't argue. Li Xingzhi sat cross-legged on the couch, his Dantian was like thunder, and a long roar could be heard for hundreds of miles. Zhao Zhen was shocked, and then he realized that Li Xingzhi was still An unprecedented martial arts master...
Later, Zhao Zhen revolted against the former Liang Dynasty, and often said to the generals around him: "I have Li Xingzhi, and I can defeat a hundred thousand soldiers." Even though he later became emperor and established the Chen Empire, the late Emperor Zhao Zhen often joked that "the heroes of the world will fight against each other in ten battles." , Li Xingzhi exclusively occupies five of them."
It is said that during the war with the former Daliang Kingdom, the late emperor and the two princes were besieged in "Panlong Ridge" for three days and three nights. With no reinforcements from outside and no food and grass inside, at the critical moment, Li Xingzhi rode alone with a sword and fought against the eight masters of Daliang Kingdom alone in "Yingchou Stream". In the end, five of them were killed and three of them were injured. He fought hundreds of moves with Han Zongwang, the Grand Marshal of the Daliang Kingdom at that time, and escaped unscathed. The late emperor took the opportunity to escape from the trap, surrounded and counterattacked with the reinforcements, and wiped out more than 200,000 enemies. After this battle, the vitality of the Liang Kingdom was severely damaged. Afterwards, the late emperor praised Li Xingzhi for "having the universe in his chest, encompassing everything, and having endless wonderful methods"...
Tan Ziwen also heard that when the late emperor first ascended to the throne, he rewarded the founding heroes who had always followed him, but Li Xingzhi only accepted the title of national master and fifty jars of fine wine from the emperor. Others, such as the gold, silver and beauties in the official residence and fields, were all returned and refused, and the late emperor was greatly praised...
I have never seen such a god-like figure. Even if he is his direct disciple, he is still a famous person all over the world. Li Guoshi's disciples and former officials are all over the world. Many students from Zhixingyuan have become officials in the court, and some are already second-rank officials. If you are lucky enough to make friends with them, it will be of great benefit to your career. I behaved respectfully today, standing outside the courtyard and bowing to the attic plaque, which will definitely be noticed by interested people. People in Zhixing Academy will definitely have a good impression of me when they know about it. When the time comes... Tan Ziwen is sitting in the car, thinking about it. , the car stopped.
Tan Ziwen lifted the car curtain and took a look. The thick bright yellow palace walls were vaguely visible in the fog. The palace had arrived. Not far away were Huang Jiulang, the admonishing doctor, Cao Huachun, the prince of the country, Kang Xiaolian, Taichang's young minister, Pan Changzai, the official in charge of the affairs, and Liang Daoming, the secretary of the Zhongshu. These five people were pacing with their necks hunched and their hands folded in their sleeves. Walking slowly, he was so cold that he shivered like five quails at the base of the city wall.
Tan Ziwen glanced at it and almost couldn't help laughing. He was wearing thick clothes in the morning, and his wife specially added a thin fox fur coat to him outside the close-fitting clothes. The weather in late autumn can change at any time. He secretly praised his wife's wisdom in adjusting her clothes, and greeted her seriously: "Good morning, my lords!"...
The sky gradually became brighter, and more and more people gathered in front of the palace gate. With the appearance of Taiwei Tong Huan, Tongzhi Privy Council Envoy Jiang Chendong, Six Ministers Wang Daolun and other important officials of the imperial court, the palace door suddenly opened and everyone filed in...
Halfway through the court meeting, Tan Ziwen stood at the end of the queue. From this position, he couldn't see the emperor's face clearly. Moreover, since the court meeting started, the emperor had been noisy after he finished speaking, and many things could not be heard clearly. Probably the emperor wanted to send troops to Xiliang to raise food and fodder. The first few important officials were quarreling over whether to send troops, how to send troops, who would lead the troops, and even whether to attack Xiliang first or Dongyang first.
The civil servant representatives in the team began to talk at length, starting from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Yao, Shun, and Yu, to the robbery of several farmers in Guidefang yesterday, whether the top military commander had neglected his duty, and also talked about loyalty, filial piety, and loyalty, recalling how the late emperor governed the country with benevolence and cherished the common people. By the common people, he repeatedly emphasized that the master of the army was unknown, and the saints had no choice but to use it. Your Majesty must think twice and think again... This civil servant was very eloquent, and he spoke eloquently, quoting scriptures and frothing at the mouth. The generals were so stunned that they stared or fell asleep.
The civil servants next to him were shaking their heads and exclaiming in joy and glory, or their faces were glowing and radiant as if they had been injected with chicken blood. The emperor sat behind the dragon case, closed his eyes and rubbed his brows.
After a while, the civil servants finished speaking, and it was the generals' turn, and the whole hall was filled with excitement. The military attaches used concise and concise vocabulary and rich body language to vent their feelings, and swear words began to be used frequently in the hall——
"Fuck you!"
"Fuck his ancestors!"
"Xiliang, my ancestor!"
"Fucking bastard, Dongyang Country"! …
The civil servants looked at each other in confusion, or were not surprised and cast a look of disdain.
With a crisp sound of "pop", His Majesty the Emperor knocked on the Zhenshan River, the officials stopped making noise, and the main hall was instantly quiet...
Taking advantage of this time, Tan Ziwen saw through two groups of civil and military ministers dressed in noble attire, the emperor of the Chen Empire, Zhao Chang, who was behind the Shang Shou Long case. He wears a sky-high crown on his head and a yellow embroidered dragon robe. He has thick eyebrows on his temples and a slight mustache under his chin. He sits with his hands on the case, his breathing is whistling, and he has an aura that is not angry and intimidating.
Emperor Chen looked around at the ministers below. There were many familiar faces, some of whom were veterans who had served with the late emperor on the battlefield.
Emperor Chen took a deep breath and spoke in a deep voice: "Since I took the throne, I have been working hard and sleeping day and night. I have never dared to forget the late emperor's instructions on his deathbed, as well as my brother's bloody feud. I am bound to win the Xiliang Kingdom. ! Qinzhou County, I must take it back, even Dongyang Kingdom will be mine sooner or later!" He said through gritted teeth, while stretching out a big hand, with his fingers spread out, and slowly clenched into a fist , hit the dragon case hard.
As soon as he finished speaking, there was an uproar in the hall. This sentence was sonorous and powerful, just like throwing a barrel of explosives into the military attaché team, directly pushing the atmosphere of this court meeting to a climax. The generals were excited and noisy, voluntarily volunteering to fight. These Qiu Ba people couldn't read a basket of Chinese characters, but their voices were louder than the last. Emperor Chen couldn't help but rub his eyebrows again.
The generals were pushing and shoving each other and shouting in a lively manner.
Liu Daxia, Zuojinwu Guard, was over eighty years old. When he saw the formation, he immediately became anxious. The old general was really fierce. He took off his official hat and threw it on the ground. He took off his court uniform in three strokes and took off his clothes in an instant. In the cold weather, only a pair of calf-nosed trousers was left, revealing his strong upper body.
He strode to the front of the Dragon Case, pointed to a large arrow scar on his chest, and spoke in a loud voice about how he fought hard to protect the late emperor in the Battle of Bianliang. After that, he pointed to the scar in his sexy belly button and told her its origin with tears. Then he raised his right arm high and pointed to the gunshot wound in his bicep, deeply remembering the glorious years of fighting side by side with the late emperor.
Finally, he turned around, pulled open his calf-nosed trousers to reveal half of his buttocks, pointed at the numerous scars on his ass as big as a millstone, and told how he risked his own life to protect the late emperor from his injuries when he was trapped in "Panlong Ridge". Finally, the old general strongly demanded that Emperor Chen send out troops and he must be the vanguard of the crusade, otherwise he would be killed under the imperial steps...
Qin Lie, the censor doctor, stood at the head of the civil service team for a long time. His back and legs ached and he was hungry. Seeing Liu Daxia's endless chatter, he couldn't help but get angry for no reason. He stretched his neck and shouted: "Imperial doctor, please come quickly..."!
When Emperor Chen heard this, he inquired from the Long case with concern: "Qin Aiqing, who is unwell?"
Qin Lie flicked his long beard and said in a strange tone: "I think Liu Daxia is acting crazy and insane. Please ask the imperial doctor to take a look at him."
Liu Daxia couldn't hear the sarcasm he was saying, so he became furious, rushed over with a roar, punched Qin Lie in the chest, and cursed: "You're the one who's crazy."
Qin Lie hurriedly dodged, but was hit on the shoulder and staggered. He also had a hot temper. He rolled up his sleeves and took off the belt from his waist, and then hit Liu Daxia savagely. He also cursed: "You are an old man who is not ashamed. You have lost your manners in front of the king. How can you sweep the floor politely? How can you do it?" Why don't you take off your pants too? You shameless old man, I've been putting up with you for a long time."
The two old ministers, whose beards and hair were all white, actually grabbed their arms and hugged their thighs and struggled with each other. Liu Daxia was a military general, but Qin Lie was younger and stronger than him. The two scratched their faces and pulled their beards, and they were evenly matched. Everyone in the palace was stunned.
Emperor Chen sat in front of the Dragon Case and watched the scene in front of him. He never expected that two second-grade officials, an old minister, would fight each other in the court over a disagreement. It has been more than ten years since the founding of the Chen Kingdom, but the toughness in the bones has never changed.
Emperor Chen coughed, and everyone in the hall woke up as if from a dream. They just pulled the two people away!
"Bah bang bang", Emperor Chen knocked on the mountains and rivers several times, and shouted with a livid face: "Retreat from the court, everyone is gone... Taiwei Tong will stay and talk to me in the side hall!"
The military attachés supported Liu Daxia, the Zuojinwu guard who was still shirtless after the fight, and the civil servants gathered around Qin Lie, the imperial censor with bruises at the corners of his eyes, and filed out noisily.
Tan Ziwen left the palace gate, and after the ministers left, he called the coachman and got on the carriage. Sit down and recall the scene of the court meeting just now, and can't help but smile. He took out a box of candied fruits from the secret box of the compartment wall, happily picked up one and threw it into his mouth. After having a meeting for a long time, his stomach was already growling with hunger. Tan Ziwen put his head around and told the driver to drive slowly, and Shi Shiran went home...
It was bright and the sun had not yet come out. In the imperial palace of Luoyang City in Kyoto, the great eunuch Zhao Qin walked quickly through the mist and walked into the Xuanshi Palace. Emperor Chen Zhao Chang had just seen off Tong Taiwei and was reviewing the memorial. Zhao Qin knelt down and worshiped. He bowed his head and waited before the case.
After a stick of incense had passed, Emperor Chen closed a book of memorials, put down the brush in his right hand, closed his eyes, rubbed his brows, and said, "What did the Imperial Master say?"
Zhao Qin leaned down a little lower, Xiaoyi said: "The Imperial Master only said four words...the time has not come yet..."
Emperor Chen suddenly opened his eyes, revealing his eyes. After pondering for a moment, he stood up and walked to the window, looking through the misty white fog towards the direction of Zhixingyuan in the south of the city...
It has been ten years since the founding of the Dachen Empire. The size of the capital city of Luoyang is no less than that of Wuwei City of Xiliang Kingdom and Yangzhou City of Dongyang Kingdom. The imperial palace was built in the north of Luoyang City, while in the south was the Zhixing Courtyard founded by Li Xingzhi, the imperial master.
In the Zhixing Courtyard, on the two-story wooden attic with the plaque "Unity of Knowledge and Action", the breeze blew through the mist, revealing a figure in a blue shirt. Dean Li Xingzhi, with white hair and white eyebrows, stood with his hands behind his back, looking in the direction of the palace, and murmured to himself: "Did you really do it? Alas..." A sigh drifted away in the breeze and mist...
The strong wind blew, and a few ginkgo leaves fell slowly...
