At a reception banquet, Liu Chengyou ate well, drank well, and his mouth was full of oil. It seemed that the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves, but the atmosphere was vaguely awkward. Liu Xin and Murong Yanchao were very happy, but Liu Chengyou and these two As an uncle, we really can't talk to each other.
After such a long period of experience, Liu Chengyou is no longer as autistic as before, but his character is still the same in his bones. Although he has learned to speak some stage words, he is really the kind of person who is good at dancing. In name, he is an uncle and nephew, but are they really close to each other? ?At the wine table, the feeling of alienation was somewhat obvious.
That is to say, Liu Xin and Liu Xin are not so sensitive, or they are numbed by alcohol, or Kaipo doesn't say it, at least on the surface, they are still enjoying themselves. Liu Chengyou has no scruples about eating and drinking with them, and feels at home.
At noon, they took a short rest in the post house. After a short rest, Liu Xin sent someone to wake them up. These two people were obviously not awake yet, so they shouted to Liu Chengyou to take them to the Longqi Army. He said that he wanted to see the Han soldiers who had defeated the Khitan and returned from hundreds of battles, and wanted to express their condolences.
Then, Liu Chengyou was knocked off a hundred war horses by the two men. The two uncles were old and disrespectful, and their shameless appearance refreshed Liu Chengyou's understanding. After a feast, he lost a hundred horses. What do you think? The business was all at a loss. Liu Chengyou even wondered whether Liu Xin and Murong Yanchao were pretending to be drunk...
Of course, it is not true that they are really reluctant to part with them. After all, these war horses are also dedicated to Liu Zhiyuan and will eventually be used by the imperial army. Liu Xin is currently the commander of the guards and horse army. At least in name, they will fall under his command sooner or later.
After another night's rest in Baima, Liu Chengyou said goodbye to Liu Xin and Murong Yanchao on the second day, and set off for Kaifeng. Before leaving, he still couldn't hold back, and vaguely reminded Murong Yanchao to go back to Puyang. However, it is not up to him to decide what the effect will be.
Walking through Xincheng and down to Fengqiu, a hundred miles away, Liu Chengyou didn't walk very fast and didn't deliberately slow down. He just had a good feel for the situation in the Gyeonggi area.
Compared with the area in Hebei, it is still slightly better. At least you will not be able to walk dozens or hundreds of miles without encountering an inhabited village or town. Although the Hu people caused serious damage to Henan, it was not like the mass killings after the northern crossing. , coupled with self-repair, it has regained some vitality.
However, life was obviously difficult. Production was far from being restored, and the ruling order belonging to the Han Dynasty had not been re-established. There were also banditry activities. This was the Kinki region, and one can imagine what the situation was like in other places.
This is what Liu Chengyou sees as the inaction of the government. Of course, it is actually the inaction of the new Han court.
"It's the beginning of autumn, right?" Liu Chengyou said with emotion as he walked out of the military tent in the early morning, feeling the cool breeze on his face and looking at the white mist shrouding the sky and the earth.
In the past few days, the weather has changed very obviously. It has been a bit cold in the morning and evening, and before I knew it, the chirping of cicadas could be heard all around.
The camp is located twenty miles southeast of Fengqiu County, not far from Fengcheng, only about forty miles away. There is a village nearby called Chenqiao.
Liu Chengyou obviously has a "special" feeling for this small village in Kinki.
"Your Highness, is there anything special about this village?" Guo Rong asked curiously, following Liu Chengyou and standing on a hill behind the village, pointing at the village in the mist.
Chenqiao Village is an ordinary village. There are not many people in the village. Many people have fled and have not returned. It is said that a wealthy family named Chen in the village funded the repair of an old wooden bridge in the village, so the village name was changed to "Chenqiao" .
He looked back at Guo Rong and blinked. The look in his eyes made Guo Rong a little confused.
"It's nothing, I just think the name of this village is good." Liu Chengyou said a little perfunctorily.
Guo Rong was even more puzzled. He felt that Liu Chengyou's eyes revealed something profound. Shaking his head in confusion, Guo Rong changed the topic and said: "The general has checked and found that this village is the thoroughfare to the north of Tokyo. The distance is also moderate, and a post station can be set up here in the future to convey government orders, military information, and welcome guests to their accommodation."
Hearing what Guo Rong said, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but frown. Could it be that this is something hidden?
Putting aside his thoughts, Liu Chengyou answered somewhat calmly: "It's indeed appropriate."
A sergeant from the camp quickly stepped up the hill and whispered something to Li Chongju. When Liu Chengyou saw it, he couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter?"
"Your Highness, someone from Tokyo is here to greet you." Li Chongju approached and reported.
"Who is he?" Liu Chengyou asked as he walked towards the foot of the hill upon hearing this.
"General Zuowei Liu Chengyun and Minister of Rites Li Shaoyou." Li Chongju replied.
At this time, in front of the military tent, two young nobles in purple uniforms were wandering around, looking around and whispering. Next to them were the soldiers in the tent who were not looking sideways, and their entourage and guards were waiting quietly aside.
"Brother Yun, cousin." Liu Chengyou greeted him in advance before approaching.
"Erlang." The two men immediately smiled and came forward.
These two aristocratic young men, Li Shaoyou introduced before, are Liu Chengyou's cousin and the son of his uncle Li Hongxin. The other Liu Chengyun, the eldest son of his uncle Liu Chong, should be Liu Chengyun's cousin, but he was adopted as an adopted son by Liu Zhiyuan and has the right to inherit. Zhong. As for Liu Chengyou, the relationship cannot be said to be estranged, but it is still close to a normal brotherly relationship. Liu Chengyun usually has a better relationship with his eldest brother Liu Chengxun.
"It's you guys who are here?" Liu Chengyou seemed a little surprised.
Li Shaoyou was the first to speak and said: "I have been too busy in Tokyo recently. When I heard that you were coming back, I specially asked the official family for this errand to come and greet our second prince."
His tone was very relaxed. As he spoke, he looked at Liu Chengyou and said jokingly: "Sure enough, things are different. He has returned from a hundred battles with the demeanor of a king."
"Promoted?" Liu Chengyou looked at Li Shaoyou.
Li Shaoyou looked unconcerned and waved his hand and said: "You don't know what kind of official the Minister of Rites is. It's just a false position. He has a great reputation and no real work under his command. These days, I am very idle... ..."
When it comes to the separation of officials, positions, and dispatches, it matured to its peak in the Song Dynasty. In fact, there were already signs of this during the change of dynasties in the Five Dynasties. With the changes in power structures and the transfer of powers, the original official titles have gradually been lost. Its original effectiveness has become divorced from its actual duties. The so-called name does not match its reality, but it is not as exaggerated as in the Song Dynasty.
"If you are serious, are you afraid that you won't find anything to do?" Liu Chengyou replied casually and looked at Liu Chengyun.
Liu Chengyun was introverted and didn't talk much. In front of Liu Chengyou, he actually looked a little nervous and echoed in a decent manner: "Erlang, we have been ordered to come. The officials and the queen are all waiting for you in the palace."
Glancing at Liu Chengyun, Liu Chengyou nodded, and then asked: "Have you eaten?"
The two of them were stunned and nodded.
"We haven't eaten yet, soldiers, and my stomach is empty. Please accompany me to have breakfast before we set out on the road." He said in a light commanding tone.
"Yes." Subconsciously, the two people agreed.
The morning meal was already prepared, and he ate with his soldiers. After casually filling his stomach, he broke camp and headed south, heading towards Kaifeng. On the way, Liu Chengyou called Li Shaoyou to the car to question him alone. There were some things that were not easy to do in front of Liu Chengyun. Said before.