Two years ago, Lao Zhu received the news that Han Du had led a lone naval force deep into the vast sea in order to pursue the rebels, and had not been heard from since. He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and even avoided the sun for a day.

This was an unprecedented move since the founding of the country by Lao Zhu. Even when Xu Da, the leader of the founding heroes, passed away, Lao Zhu did not avoid it. Although Lao Zhu personally buried Xu Da when he died to express his sadness, he listed Xu Da as one of the

As the first contributor to the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xu Da was posthumously named King of Zhongshan, with the posthumous title "Wuning", and was given the title of king for three generations. He was buried in the shadow of Zhongshan, and had Shinto inscriptions made. All the mourning and honors were enough to demonstrate Lao Zhu's love for Xu Da.

of grief.

However, after Lao Zhu learned that Han Du went to the vast sea to chase the rebels and was never heard from again, he said nothing and just avoided the court for a day without seeing anyone. Then on the third day, he went to court as usual to listen to the government.

In the eyes of ordinary people, they may not think there is anything wrong with this. But in the eyes of people who know Lao Zhu, this favor is really too heavy.

Sure enough, after Lao Zhu returned to the court, he issued several edicts. One of them was to expel Zhang Chao. Although everyone knew that Zhang Chao was wronged, who told him not to stop Han Du at that time? Of course.

, he is an earl, and he cannot stop him even if he wants to. It is his fault that he did not stop Han Du and allowed Han Du to risk going deep into the sea. Now that the emperor wants to investigate his crimes, no one dares to intercede for him.

Fortunately, Lao Zhu still had a sliver of reason, and in view of his past achievements, he was only expelled from the rank, but not executed.

No one in the civil and military circles of the dynasty stood up to speak for Zhang Chao. This was the embarrassment of having no one in the dynasty.

The second was to order those distinguished gentlemen from the academy to be summoned to serve as officials in the court. Lao Zhu knew that the academy had entrusted Han Du's hard work, and perhaps he did not want Han Du's hard work to go to waste.

After receiving the order, Xue Xiang immediately summoned those who had the title of Jinshi in the academy. Originally, they did not disdain to become officials in the court, but Xue Xiang told them that in the past, they could disdain to be officials, but not now. Because Han Du was there in the past.

The front shelters the academy from wind and rain, so that the academy and people like them can have a peaceful life and study whatever they like.

But now it's no longer possible. Han Du's life or death is uncertain. If no one in the court speaks for the academy, sooner or later the academy will be ostracized, or even disappear.

Therefore, in order for the academy to survive, Xue Xiang stood up and proactively begged the gentlemen to obey the emperor's will and become officials in the court. In the past, Han Du was protecting them, and these gentlemen could teach according to their own preferences and did not like to be officials. But now

No way, without Han Du's protection, they have to think about themselves, the academy, and the future students of the academy.

If they don't go to court, no one will say a word for the academy if it encounters trouble. Although the academy has never thought of confusing right and wrong, at least it can't be bullied.

So, half of the gentlemen put down their rulers, put on their official uniforms and walked into the court hall.

One day, Lao Zhu was reviewing the memorial with his eyebrows. He didn't know what the content of the memorial was, but Lao Zhu's eyes widened and he frowned angrily.

Just when Lao Zhu was about to bully Zhu Pi, the old eunuch stumbled in from outside the palace gate. While running, he shouted: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty"

Lao Zhu threw Zhu Pi down angrily, and shot the old eunuch with his gaze like a sword. Just as he was about to scold him, he suddenly saw that the old eunuch's feet were unsteady, and he fell to the ground and rolled twice.

Lao Zhu suddenly turned his anger into a smile and couldn't help but scolded: "You are an old man, but you are still as frizzy as a young man. Walk slower, be careful that your old bones will fall apart."

After saying that, Lao Zhu leaned back lazily, stretched out his hand to pick up the tea and took a sip, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"Your Majesty, it's a great joy, Your Majesty, the Marquis of Zhenhai is back."

Lao Zhu suddenly stood up, and the teacup in his hand fell down immediately as he couldn't hold it. The full cup of tea spilled all over the dragon robe. Completely ignoring the wet dragon robe, Lao Zhu walked down in three steps and stood up in two steps.

The old eunuch asked sharply: "Are you telling the truth? Where is Han Du?"

The old eunuch was so happy that tears flowed from the corners of his eyes, and he quickly replied: "The news that was sent urgently from Babaili in Shanghai County said that yesterday morning, someone discovered that the flag of the Marquis of Zhenhai had entered the Yangtze River with several giant ships.

I'm afraid we've reached the dock outside Beicheng now."

The look on Lao Zhu's face swept away the gloom of the past, and he laughed happily. Even the anger just now was completely forgotten in an instant.

"Okay, this bastard has been gone for two years, and he finally came back."

Lao Zhu sighed deeply. Thinking of losing the news about Han Du, he was very sad. The key was that he had to face An Qing's lonely eyes. Every time An Qing entered the palace, Lao Zhu couldn't help but feel deeply.

I blame myself.

"Quick, pass the order immediately and ask Han Du to come to see you immediately."

"Yes, slave, go right away." The old eunuch replied, and quickly turned around to go out and make arrangements.

But Lao Zhu stood there and thought for a moment, then raised his hand to stop the old eunuch and said: "Forget it, just drive away.

I’m going to Beicheng Pier.”

The old eunuch glanced at the emperor in surprise. The emperor personally went out of the city to greet him. This was the kind of treatment a general would receive when he returned home in triumph. Han Du didn't go to fight, he just came back alive. Is this kind of courtesy too much?

When Lao Zhu saw the old eunuch frozen in place without moving, he glared at him suddenly and said, "Why don't you hurry up and get ready for the ride?"

"Yes, I'll go right away." Seeing the emperor's insistence, the old eunuch didn't say anything and quickly agreed.

Naturally, Lao Zhu couldn't be the only one out of the city. Hearing that the emperor was about to leave the city, although he didn't know what was going on, all the six ministers of the imperial court and various big shots came.

The guards and imperial troops were dispatched immediately, and the streets that Lao Zhu was going to pass were tightly guarded in an instant. The people on the streets immediately retreated to both sides of the streets. Some people who wanted to witness the grand occasion of the emperor's trip stayed on both sides of the streets and waited for the emperor to come.

When they arrived, they just knelt down and kowtowed. People who were in urgent need left the alleys on both sides of the street to avoid the emperor's path.

With Lao Zhu's royal chariot in front and the official's sedan chair behind, the group headed out of the North City in a mighty manner.

Since Lao Zhu did not inform the officials about his trip, when they saw the emperor's chariot leaving the Shence Gate, all of them had surprise in their eyes. They didn't understand why the emperor suddenly wanted to come outside Beicheng.

.

However, before the officials could be confused for too long, they saw the emperor's chariot stopped at the pier.

The Imperial Guards had already cleared out the entire dock and drove the boats floating on the river to a point below.

Lao Zhu sat on the imperial chariot, looking at the empty dock, waiting quietly.

"Master Qin, is the Emperor waiting for someone?"

"Master Yang is asking me, who am I asking? If Master Yang is brave, why not go forward and ask the emperor."

There is no one who can become a minister but is not a cunning fox. How could he actually go up and question the emperor after hearing someone else's words?

Everyone knows that if the emperor wanted to tell them, he must have told them long ago. Now that the emperor has not said it, it means that the emperor has not thought about letting them know, at least he does not have the patience to explain to them.

Several big guys whispered a few words, but no one came forward to ask Lao Zhu. After a while, they even lost interest in whispering, and just stood motionless behind Lao Zhu's chariot, waiting quietly.

Lao Zhu, who was sitting behind General Yu Chu, heard the movement clearly in his ears. During this time, he couldn't help but put a smile on his face. He didn't know what Lao Zhu was thinking.

About half an hour later, just when all the officials felt that the sun above their heads was too strong for them to bear, a sharp-eyed man suddenly pointed at the river and said: "Look, there is a boat, it's the navy."

warship."

Navy warships. Could it be that the emperor came here with such great force just to wait for a few navy warships?

Some people didn't know why, but some people suddenly thought of something and couldn't help showing a surprised expression on their faces.

Could it be that that person is really back?

Lao Zhu naturally also saw the naval warships on the river, and his eyes were more careful than others.

What can I say about the three warships in front of me? Just letting Lao Zhu take a look, Lao Zhu felt that these three warships seemed to have experienced many things, and every plank seemed to be telling people what it had experienced.

s story.

Lao Zhu opened the curtain, stepped off the chariot, stood on the ground and looked up at the approaching warship, with a smile on his face.

Standing on the bow of the ship, Han Du saw Lao Zhu's bright yellow imperial weapon from a distance through the telescope. He was surprised and said to Fang Xiaoru beside him: "The emperor is here?"

Fang Xiaoru also saw the imperial chariot, and turned back to look at Han Du. The two looked at each other, not knowing what was going on.

Lao Zhu actually went out of the city to greet him. He couldn't bear such a great gift.

Well, that's not necessarily the case. Han Du suddenly took a deep breath twice. He had suffered so much along the way, so what's wrong with being treated so politely by Lao Zhu?

Han Du's flagship sailed into the dock first. Han Du took Fang Xiaoru and Jiang Ming away and quickly got off the ship. He went directly to Lao Zhu and knelt down: "Your Majesty Han Du."

"The minister is a filial piety"

"Chen Jiang Ming"

"Meet the Emperor!"

"Pingshen." Lao Zhu smiled with a smile on his face and raised his hand to gesture to the three of them.

"Thank you, Your Majesty~" The three of them said all the courtesy before standing up from the ground.

Lao Zhu looked at Han Du standing in front of him and saw that his face was dark. He couldn't help but sigh: "You have suffered a lot in the past two years, but it would be nice to come back."

, just come back."

When Lao Zhu was sighing, he suddenly sniffed his nose subconsciously and felt that he was enveloped by a strange smell. He frowned and asked, "What is this smell?"

When Lao Zhu realized that the source of the strange smell was Han Du and others, he asked in confusion: "What's wrong with you?"

Other officials had already smelled the peculiar smell on Han Du's body, but because it was difficult to show it in front of the emperor, they just held their breath and endured it, which made them extremely uncomfortable.

Now when the emperor mentioned it, everyone had secretly relieved expressions on their faces, and they quietly took two steps back and stayed away from Han Du.

Of course the flavor comes from the pickling. It’s impossible to stay with those potatoes all day without being pickled.

Han Du raised his arm and smelled it carefully, but he couldn't smell anything. ??

Sure enough, after living in an abalone shop for a long time, I didn't smell the smell. I couldn't even smell the smell at all. If I hadn't been reminded by Lao Zhu, I wouldn't have noticed anything was wrong.

Lao Zhu was born as a farmer, so he naturally knew what this smell was like. Since he had been exposed to it as a child, he could barely tolerate it, but the expression on his face gradually became unhappy.

Han Du deliberately played a trick and said to Lao Zhu: "Your Majesty, I encountered three kinds of auspiciousness when I went to sea this time, and I brought them back."

"Auspicious? Or three types? Are you kidding me? Or, you put gold pieces on something and want to offer it to me as a unicorn?" Lao Zhu's tone was full of ridicule, because

This is what the officials who used to offer auspicious omen to Lao Zhu did in the past.

After hearing this, all the officials laughed heartily. They had seen such jokes too many times and did not believe that there really was any unicorn in the world.

Han Du didn't explain too much. He bowed to Lao Zhu and said, "The emperor will know it as soon as he sees it."
To be continued...