The wooden box is completely black and has four corners covered with gold. The animal-shaped copper lock is placed on the box, with a ferocious tiger head and rough lines. It is clearly a craft from the early days of the founding of the country.
What is contained in the box can be inferred from the shape of the copper lock.
Lin Heng lowered his gaze and stared at the patterns on his sleeves. The jade ornaments worn on the waist are shimmering, moist and white, but there is a little red in the center, just like embedded blood stains.
"how?"
Mrs. Guotai knocked on the copper lock and tapped her fingertips on the tiger's head, one after another, very regularly.
Lin Heng did not speak in a hurry.
He can guess what's in the box. But you have to think about whether you should want it, and whether you can want it.
The night wind was getting colder, and it blew through the corridor with a whimpering sound.
The tail of the wind flows into the room, and the copper lamp against the wall bursts into flames. The wick gathers heat and burns a faint blue, and the flames flicker and project on the wall, extending out twisted black shadows. The ends of the black shadow continued to grow, intertwining into a black net that climbed up and covered the entire wall.
Lin Heng finally made a decision.
He looked up at Mrs. Guotai, and the first words he spoke had nothing to do with the Jin Dynasty, but revealed the emperor's true intention of letting the princes and princes return to the country.
"The vassal states are getting stronger day by day, and the Shangjing is weakening. One is declining and the other is increasing, and the emperor is restless and unwilling to eat. A few years ago, the protons were taken forcibly, which caused a lot of discussion in the world. The protons entering the capital failed to restrain the princes, but weakened the majesty of the Shangjing."
Lin Heng weighed the words and sentences and spoke happily.
Mrs. Guotai's eyes flashed slightly, her smile stopped, and her expression gradually became serious.
"The ruler proposed to the emperor that since the princes are older and the brothers in the country have grown up, it is better to release the hostage and grant him a title or official position, otherwise the brothers will become enemies and the father and son will turn against each other."
Thinking of the deceit of going to the court in Beijing, a sarcastic smile appeared on Lin Heng's lips, but it quickly disappeared without a trace.
The purpose of governing is to disrupt the vassal states and cause chaos within the vassal states.
"Before leaving the capital, the emperor summoned us and told us that we would be in dire straits after returning to the country and that we would definitely lend a helping hand when we came to the capital."
Proton has been away from the country for many years, and his foundation in the country is unstable. If he wants to compete with his brothers, he must seek external help.
Whether the proton gains or loses power, there will be turmoil in the princes' country, father, son and brothers will be separated, and they will go to Beijing to maintain an invincible position, and the emperor will be able to reap the benefits of the fishermen.
"What are you going to do?" Mrs. Guotai was sitting in danger, looking at Lin Heng with eyes that changed several times, from scrutiny to evaluation to affection. Just a few words made waves in her heart. She never imagined that her frail grandson would grow up to this point.
"If you want to give an account to the capital, and hide the emperor from spying, the Jin Kingdom will be in chaos. However, there are rules for chaos. I intend to use my strength to suppress the new clans, and then defeat the old clans one by one."
"The borrowing is not in vain."
Mrs. Guota leaned forward slightly, and the wisdom accumulated over the years was deeply imprinted in her mind.
Having lived in the Jin Kingdom for decades, experienced two generations of princes, and witnessed the styles of many clans, she knew better than anyone how greedy these behemoths were.
If you want to satisfy their appetite and let them control you, you must provide sufficient benefits. Otherwise, we must imitate the ancestors and convince everyone with their military exploits and bloodshed, so that they will not dare to make mistakes.
Thinking of the late monarch's illustrious military exploits, Mrs. Guotai sighed silently.
She rubbed the box guarded by the copper lock and traced the pattern on the box with her fingertips. She was quite moved by what Lin Heng said, but she thought it was unlikely to be realized.
On paper.
After all, he is too young.
Her expression gradually became colder. Lin Heng saw it in his eyes and did not feel discouraged at all.
"Auntie, I have been weak since I was a child, and I encountered changes when I went to Beijing. I may not be able to go into battle to kill the enemy." Lin Heng did not mince words about his disadvantages, and then changed the subject, "But I can provide enough benefits for the clan to fight for." What I use.”
Mrs. Guotai felt unhappy and frowned on the spot.
"The clan is greedy and is afraid of feeding the gluttons."
"It doesn't matter if they are gluttonous, as long as they can swallow it."
"What did you say?"
Lin Heng's words were shocking, and Mrs. Guotai was dumbfounded.
"Auntie, what I am referring to is not in the Kingdom of Jin, nor in the land controlled by the Emperor."
Lin Heng reached for his waist with one hand, untied a brocade bag that never left his body, and took out a piece of animal skin folded into a square.
After being processed and peeled off by special means, the animal skin is as thin as a cicada's wings and is almost transparent to light when unfolded.
When the animal skin is fully unfolded, it occupies a small half of the table. On it are drawn mountains, rivers, deserts and grasslands, and nearly a hundred cities and towns are scattered all over the map.
Each city is marked, and Shangjing is the most eye-catching.
"Is this a map?"
Mrs. Guotai moved closer to the lamp and took a closer look at the city depicted on the picture. What surprised her most was not the delicate lines, but the fact that many cities were gathered in a small area, and the surrounding area was several times wider.
"Exactly, I drew it myself."
Lin Heng pointed at the map. First he went to Shangjing, then to the big countries such as Jin, Yue, and Chu, then to the medium-sized vassal states, and finally to the small countries with limited territory. The fingertips stopped on the Shu Kingdom and drew an irregular ring centered on Shangjing.
"The princes know that the world is only limited by its size. Beyond the barriers, the sky is vast, why not forge ahead with determination and repeat the great ancestor's ambition to open up borders and expand the territory."
Lin Heng's tone was low and not impassioned, but it made Mrs. Guotai's eyes brighten and her breathing quicken.
She stared at the picture and couldn't look away for a long time. The desire for land and territory is imprinted in his bones. From being excited to being determined, it only takes a fraction of a second.
"Is this picture true?"
"Absolutely true."
"Where did it come from, and how many people know about it?"
Madam Guota suppressed her excitement and looked at Lin Heng with burning eyes.
"Besides me, only the eldest mother has seen this picture."
"oh?"
"Auntie, in the past, there was a goddess named Yuehou Menghui, who was able to attack the city with nine weapons. When I went to Beijing, I had the opportunity to get a strong crossbow and fire oil, and I know how vast the world is." Lin Heng said with certainty, just to dispel the worries of the imperial concubine. , "The strong crossbow was cast by the Zhi family and will be available soon. The kerosene was used in the border town and went down to the city in one day. Four private soldiers were defeated outside Suzhou City. It is said that the fire will not be extinguished when exposed to water, which is why the kerosene was poured on it. .”
"That's it." Mrs. Guotai looked surprised.
Huoyou had only heard about it, she had never seen it with her own eyes. The same goes for the crossbow. But she was born in a clan of the Yue Kingdom and was familiar with the legend of her ancestors dreaming of the goddess.
The incident was recorded in the history of the country, written by three historians. The details are accurate and difficult to falsify.
It is an indisputable fact that the nine siege weapons are the most precious treasures, making Yue invincible and becoming one of the most powerful countries.
If he were the Marquis of Jin, he might not believe Lin Heng's words.
Not so with Mrs. Guotai.
She had witnessed the miracles of her ancestors with her own eyes, and had seen the momentum of the Yue Kingdom in attacking cities and demolishing villages.
She believed that Lin Heng meant what he said and what he said was true.
"Auntie, the clan is warlike and greedy. It is dangerous internally, but it is a good thing externally." Lin Heng pointed at the map and outlined a vast land along the Jin Kingdom to the north.
Grassland, forest.
Mountains, rivers.
Land means resources, more food, and a growing population.
"A country with a vast land will be strong, a country with a strong population will have a prosperous population, and a large population will lead to a prosperous army." Lin Heng looked at Mrs. Guotai and expressed his ambitions that he had never shown to others, "Whatever I plan will be determined by all the soldiers. It means that wherever the horse steps, everything is in the bag!"
As he spoke, Lin Heng spread his fingers and covered the map with his palm, covering the words "Shangjing".
"The emperor is incompetent, the princes are not courting, the rituals and music are broken, and the capable ones dominate the world!"
In its heyday, the Jin State invited princes to form an alliance on the banks of the Luan River.
The momentum was so great that it swallowed up the lake and the sea.
If Lin Heng wants to revive the style of his ancestors, he must further stand on the top of the mountains.
"If we want to achieve great things, we need peace in the country." Lin Heng changed the topic, and his words were soaked in blood.
Honor the old and lure them for profit, and use the new clans if they can, but not eradicate them all.
There is an exception for the Fox family.
This family must be annihilated and completely disappear from the territory of Jin.
After hearing what Lin Heng said, Mrs. Guotai breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the wooden box on the table, she smiled with relief, took out the key from her sleeve and opened the copper lock. There was a tiger charm inside.
The tiger talisman is in the shape of a crouching tiger, made of copper, and its entire body is golden.
Crouching Tiger was divided into two, one half was in the hands of Mrs. Guotai, and the other half remained in the army. Only when the two pieces fit together perfectly can the army left by the late emperor be mobilized.
Mrs. Guotai picked up the tiger talisman, held Lin Heng's right hand, and put the tiger talisman into his palm.
"Aheng, you resemble the late king. I leave this tiger talisman to you, and the Kingdom of Jin also gives it to you. I can finally give an account to the late king."
The Tiger Talisman fell into the palm of my hand, its heavy weight just like the responsibility entrusted to me.
Lin Heng placed the tiger talisman in front of him, straightened his clothes, then folded his hands and bowed down, solemnly saying: "I will live up to my mother's expectations!"
After bowing again, Lin Heng straightened up, suddenly his face turned pale and he coughed continuously.
Mrs. Guotai quickly patted him on the back and handed him the cup with her own hand. Realizing that the tea soup in the cup was cold, he frowned and called the maid: "Come here!"
The maids and waiters in the corridor listened to the announcement and quickly opened the door and walked into the hall.
"Go and call the doctor quickly and get some hot soup."
"promise."
The maid went to prepare the hot soup, and the waiter ran out of the palace to find a good doctor who diagnosed Mrs. Guotai's pulse.
Mu Liang walked into the room upon hearing the sound and frowned when he saw Lin Heng's appearance.
Fu Ling took off the brocade bag from her body, took two quick steps to the case, and said respectfully: "My maid, Mrs. Guotai, this is the medicine that the young master often takes."
"Come closer."
"promise."
Fu Ling stepped forward on her knees, untied the brocade bag and poured out the pills, explaining that she needed warm water to take them.
"Bring warm water." Miao Liang ordered the waiter.
Lin Heng was coughing so much that he couldn't speak. He picked up the pill and put it in his mouth. Some of it spilled when he drank water, soaking the corners of his lips and chin.
The doctor followed the attendant into the palace and was about to bend down to salute when Mrs. Guotai waved her hand impatiently, signaling him to come forward immediately.
"No need to be polite, Mr. Di."
"promise."
The doctor put down the medicine box and clasped Lin Heng's wrist with three fingers. After a moment, he changed his hand and frowned more and more tightly.
"How?" Mrs. Guotai asked.
"In the past, the wife had a premature birth, which made the young master weak. He has been neglected for many years and may have encountered a severe cold again. The cold air in the body has not dissipated and has not improved." The doctor said as he took the pills Lin Heng had taken and scraped them with a silver hairpin. He poured a small amount into his mouth and then nodded, "This medicine is symptomatic but not a cure. For further treatment, several herbs from the southwest are needed, and the medicinal soup can be brewed for both internal and external use."
Lin Heng's cough eased slightly, but his face was still pale and his lips had lost their color.
Mrs. Guotai saw him falling ill for the first time, and thinking of what happened to him in Shangjing, she became even more angry at the Marquis of Jin.
"Write down all the medicine you need. If it's not available in the country, I'll order someone to go to Vietnam to get it."
The doctor retreated to the steps, spread out bamboo slips in the hall, and wrote down seven or eight kinds of medicinal materials in one breath. Half of them were unique to the Yue Kingdom and were so rare that only the country's wife could get them.
"Excuse me, mother." Lin Heng's voice was slightly hoarse, but it became clear again.
Mrs. Guotai frowned at him, raised her hand to cover his forehead, and said in a deep voice: "You have endured hardship for nine years in Beijing. I wrote to the Marquis of Yue, asking Chu Yu to try to take care of you, but unfortunately it still cannot withstand the man-made disaster."
After hearing these words, Lin Heng paused slightly.
"Have you ever written to the Marquis of Yue?"
"Exactly." Mrs. Guotai nodded.
The marriage alliance between Jin and Yue was signed.
Mrs. Guotai was born in the Yue clan, and in terms of seniority, the Marquis of Yue wanted to call her aunt. As long as she lives, the alliance between the two countries will always exist.
Lin Heng fell silent, picked up the cup and took two sips.
The question that had troubled him for a long time was answered. Why Chu Yu helped him in the palace now finally has an explanation.
