Liu Chang quickly stood in front of Liu Ying and pulled him.
"The child is still young. If anything happens, we can wait until the officials are sent away!"
Liu Ying angrily glared at her useless son and cursed: "Go to Ganquan Palace and wait for me! You will suffer it!"
Liu Xiang hid behind Empress Cao, feeling very aggrieved and shouting: "This is a gift from Father Zhong, why did Father want to beat me?"
Liu Chang said with a dark face, "When did I give it to you?"
"Didn't Father Zhong tell An that I should get it myself?"
Liu Chang turned his head and slowly looked at An next to Empress Lu.
An looked at him obediently and shook her head, "There is no such thing as this."
How could Liu Chang believe it? He suddenly became furious and stepped forward to beat him. This time, Liu Ying stopped him hastily, "Eldest brother! Forget it! Forget it! The child is still young!"
"You two, get out of here and go to Houde Hall!"
The Queen Mother glanced at Liu Chang and said, "It's just a play between children, why should it be like this?"
"Mom! How can you be so doting on me! They all dare to gang up and steal my sword!"
Empress Lu didn't even raise her head, and said coldly: "It's just a borrowing for a few days, it's better than someone robbing the palace."
Fortunately, all the ministers were there, and Empress Lu had no choice but to show dignity to her son. She waved her hand and asked her attendants to take her two grandsons to the Hall of Houde.
Seeing this scene, the officials couldn't help but laugh.
"Your Majesty, these two sons are quite king-like...one dares to say it, and the other really dares to do it!"
Zhang Liang said with a smile.
"My child, before I studied with you, he was like a common man, he was an honest and honest person!"
"Oh, so it was the veteran who taught him bad things!"
The Queen Mother glared at Liu Chang again and said to Zhang Liang: "You don't have to worry about this Zhu Zi... You have taught me very well these days, especially the part you told An about the difference between Fa and Confucianism, which is the best.
I’ve learned a lot.”
The smile on Zhang Liang's face suddenly disappeared, "Thank you, Queen Mother."
Liu Chang was thoughtful and said: "You are a great talent, I have to explain it to you someday!"
"Oh, Your Majesty, I am old...I can do things to educate my children. Your Majesty is so smart, and there is Prime Minister Zhang by your side. Why should a wise man like Taiwei Han need to ask me for advice?"
"Hou Hou... You are an important minister left behind by my father. I respect you very much. You are old now, but you have raised two sons, who are undoubtedly among the three nobles. Your second son, I am called into the
When the young master works, they will definitely live up to your reputation and become the great ministers of the great Han Dynasty! They are all talented, you have to set an example and don't let them go astray."
"I obey!"
Liu Ying looked at the three of them chatting with some confusion. It was just a normal chat. Why did she always feel that they all had something to say?
The banquet officially started, and Liu Ying put the conversation behind him. He said happily: "This time the King of Tang defeated the Xiongnu and defeated the Dragon City. Such feats are unprecedented! Such a thing can make the world
Everyone knows that by pardoning misdemeanors, the whole world will celebrate together! It is also necessary to offer sacrifices to the ancestral temple to appease the ancestors!"
The officials were convinced that such a major event was indeed worthy of universal celebration.
Liu Ying was the first to raise the lamp, and the ministers congratulated one after another. The ministers had not been so happy for a long time. They seemed to have returned to the era of Emperor Gao for a while. The ministers ate meat, chatted freely, and were no longer restrained.
, a few curse words would come out from time to time, the historian had been kicked out by Liu Chang long ago, and even Liu Ying, under the influence of these reckless people, would say a few curse words from time to time!
The Queen Mother looked at this scene blankly, the scene became more and more familiar.
Liu Chang leaned forward with his whole body, stuck his head out, still holding the meat in his hand, waving his hands, and told various anecdotes under the watchful eyes of the officials.
"They even set up a sacrifice for me, insisting that I was Hercules... Do you know their kind of sacrifice? They just carved on big rocks and made all kinds of strange patterns, and I couldn't even sprinkle some on them.
You know what it is, and there is a sacrifice in front of it!"
"This made me so angry. I told them that I was not Hercules, but they didn't believe me. I was so angry that I picked up the big sacrificial stone and threw it out!"
"Hahaha~~"
The ministers laughed loudly, all staring at Liu Chang's mouth. They also knew that what the king said may not be the truth, but they couldn't bear it. What the king said was interesting, affectionate, and his gestures were almost exactly the same as those of Emperor Gao.
Even the way he sits, the pauses in his tone, and the habit of touching his nose from time to time are all that of Emperor Gao.
"I didn't catch Ji Zhou, and Mao Dun also died of illness, but all of Mao Dun's wives and concubines fell into my hands. I didn't take them back to Chang'an specifically, mainly because I was worried about Prime Minister Zhang!"
"Hahaha~~"
Not only Empress Lu, but also in the eyes of the ministers, the figure in the past and the figure in front of them were gradually overlapping, especially the old ministers, who looked at Liu Chang with something wrong. Zhang Liang sighed and picked up the wine.
Yes, he had not drank alcohol for many years.
Only Shusun Tong was still reminding the ministers to remember the etiquette of the temple!
However, Liu Chang staggered to Shusun Tong's side, hugged him, and toasted him with a smile. Seeing Shusun Tong's expression of being angry but afraid to speak, the officials all burst into laughter.
Even Zhou Chang didn't say much at the moment, he just stroked his beard with a smile on his face.
When the banquet was over, Liu Chang slowly walked back to the Houde Hall with the support of two attendants.
When he returned to Houde Hall, the two little guys were still quarreling.
"You have learned bad things from Liuhou! I am so kind to you on weekdays and protect you all the time, but you want to harm me!"
Liu Xiang said sadly.
"You are my brother, so of course you have to take care of the beating!"
"Fart! Why should I carry it?"
"You are strong, taller than me, and brave..."
"That's true!"
Liu Chang walked into the hall with a dark face, asked the two attendants to go out, and sat down in front of these two guys.
The two of them immediately stopped talking and just lowered their heads.
"You two bastards!"
"It's really outrageous!"
"If you want to steal something, steal from His Majesty. Is it okay to steal from me?!"
"Xiang! I usually love you so much, but you actually stole it from me?"
Liu Xiang said aggrievedly: "It was An who harmed me!"
"Yes, and you are such a bastard. When I was your age, I already knew how to respect my elders and love my younger brothers. But what about you? After reading so many books, you just use it to bully your brothers, right?!
Not like my father at all!"
"I'm drunk today...I won't deal with you anymore. Leave the sword behind and get out!"
Cao Shu prepared the sobering soup. She saw Liu Chang lecturing the two children but did not say anything. After they left, Cao Shu helped Liu Chang change his clothes. Liu Chang was slightly drunk and complained: "I see that at the banquet just now, the officials all had their own ideas."
, but because of the Queen Mother, I dare not speak... When I come back this time, I am afraid that I will be involved in chores again. "
Cao Shu changed his clothes for him, and he cooperated very well, "I would rather continue to hunt down Jizhu than scheming with these people... It's boring..."
Just as he was talking, the attendant suddenly reported: "Your Majesty, Marquis Chen has come to pay his respects."
"ah??"
"I'm missing you this late at night!"
Cao Shu pulled Liu Chang and said, "Your Majesty, you must see me!"
"Oh...let him come in."
Liu Chang washed his face, sobered himself up, and looked at Chen Ping in front of him, "Chen Hou came to disturb me at night. If I can't give a reason, I will leave you here!"
Chen Ping looked very serious, "Your Majesty... Although you have returned victorious, Lu Jia and nearly ten envoys are still with the Huns."
Liu Chang woke up instantly, "Didn't you give the order to let them come back?"
"Never."
"No, isn't this costing their lives?"
"Previously, Lu Jia sent someone to deliver a letter. The content of the letter was to discuss the return of Hexi. However, the oral message brought by the envoy said: Lu Jia and others are determined to die and will do their best to delay the time and let Hu Tu miss the opportunity.
The time to send out troops..."
Liu Chang kept a straight face and remained silent for a long time, "We have to rescue them and come back."
"Father Zhong, think of a way."
"minister...."
Chen Ping looked embarrassed. In this situation, it would be too difficult to rescue Lu Jia and others. The reason why the Han army was able to achieve such a great victory this time was entirely because Hu Tu and Ji Zhou did not rescue them in time.
, the main reason was that Lu Jia deceived Hu Tu and caused a civil war between Hu Tu and Ji Zhou, which led to Da Gu being directly killed.
Although the protector is not very smart, how can he tolerate such deception?
Soon, Zhang Liang was also brought to the Houde Hall.
Zhang Liang and Chen Ping were on the left and right. Zhang Liang was still a little confused. He was just about to go to bed when he was caught by the soldiers who suddenly rushed in and took him to the Houde Hall. Those who didn't know better thought that Liu Hou was caught for treason.
.
Liu Chang looked at them very seriously, and there was no trace of drunkenness on his face.
"Marquis Liu... Earlier we sent Lu Jia as an envoy to defeat the Maodun disciples... Now, although we have won, they are in danger and we don't know how to save them."
"You are the two smartest people in my big man. Please help me rescue these ten people..."
Zhang Liang had never seen Liu Chang look so cautious. Soon, he understood the cause and effect. He frowned and asked: "When Chen Hou sent them to the Xiongnu, what escape route did he leave?"
"Never."
Chen Ping spoke very simply. He said calmly: "Lu Jia and others also know that I told them in advance: this move will never come back."
Zhang Liang nodded and couldn't help but sigh: "He is a true warrior."
"What if we agree to their request to discuss matters in Hexi, and let Hutu send people, headed by Lu Jia, to discuss matters in Hexi with us, and take the opportunity to bring him back?"
Zhang Liang asked.
Chen Ping shook his head, "Gu Tu is an outspoken person, not smart, but decisive and sensible. He has been bullied many times. I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince him to send people. If we propose returning Hexi, he will definitely ask us to
Send someone to discuss with him..."
"He is such a person... Now that the Xiongnu are gone, there is no Henan or Hexi. The tribes that were defeated by them before are even more ready to move. What if we force him to surrender?"
"No, his tribe is not as good as Tagu Jizhou. Even if there is no Hexi, there will not be too much food and grass... Except for Jizhou, no one around him can threaten him. I don't think Jizhou will be in a hurry to follow him.
Brother did it... The big man is running out of food and grass at the moment and has no ability to go on an expedition. Even if he goes on an expedition, if he wants to run away, he may not be able to catch up..."
Liu Chang did not interrupt them in a hurry and listened to their conversation patiently.
.......
On the grassland, a tribe was slowly advancing towards the north. Women and children were sitting on carriages, many people were walking on foot, and there were herds of cattle and sheep. Knights were galloping back and forth around, carrying news from various places.
At the end, more than ten people were tied up with ropes. They were tied together and weakly followed the tribe forward.
They looked very weak, their eyes were full of hunger, many of them had torn shoes, and their clothes were in rags, and Lu Jia was among these people.
Ge was tied behind Lu Jia, and he was really frightened.
"Mr. Lu...don't you want a way to escape?"
"Mr. Lu! What is the plan?"
Ge kept asking. During these days, he asked many times, but Lu Jia always asked him to wait. Ge really couldn't wait any longer.
Lu Jia looked forward proudly, with scars all over his body, but there was no trace of pain or despair on his face.
On the contrary, compared with the desperate, numb, and lost Huns around them, these envoys even acted very happy. The smile on Lu Jia's face never disappeared, as if they were not the ones who were tied up.
Those who escorted them were just like prisoners.
When the tribe stopped to rest, everyone could finally sit down and rest.
Ge stroked his belly and asked again: "Mr. Lu, what's your plan to escape?"
Lu Jia glanced at Ge, "Ge, don't ask anymore... I don't have any escape plan."
"How is this possible..."
Ge looked at him blankly and asked hurriedly: "No, no, you are laughing all the way. Mr. Lu, I know you have a way! For the sake of my merit, please don't abandon me.
!”
Lu Jia laughed and said, "The Han took the land west of Hexi and laid waste to the Dragon City. In the future, the Huns will no longer be able to cause trouble to the Han. Even if they are resurrected, they can only surrender and surrender. Why can't we laugh?"
"You lunatics! You evildoers!"
Ge suddenly cursed in a mixture of Xiongnu and Chinese. The more he spoke, the more excited he became. In the end, he couldn't help but hold his head and cry, while the envoys around him were laughing. Lu Jia shook his head, "Why are you crying?"
Ah, even if we die, our names will remain in history, so why should we be afraid?"
"I don't want to leave my name in history...I just want to live."
"I have never done any evil in my life, and I have never even killed a sheep...I just want to do divination with peace of mind...I don't want to do any big business or achieve any big achievements...Why does everyone want to harm me?"
"I don't have any talents...I don't know how to fight...I don't even have a family..."
Listening to Ge's cry, Lu Jia disagreed, "A true man, if you don't want to achieve great things and serve the king, and do nothing, what's the difference between that and death?!"
"I only want to be a witch and predict people's good and bad luck. I don't want to be a real man..."
Just as Ge was crying, Hu Tu came here with several soldiers and looked at the people in front of him coldly.
Lu Jia smiled and said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for not being able to pray before you."
"Oh, don't try to fool me again! I will never believe your words again!"
Hu Tu stared at Lu Jia with murderous intent on his face.
"Hahaha, I don't have to fool the king anymore. The king is now defeated. He can only run around. Apart from killing us envoys, he can't do anything... When is the king going to kill us?
What about me?"
"I will give you as a gift to my brother! Let him take care of you!"
Lu Jia narrowed his eyes. Sure enough, Hu Tu was different from Dagu. After discovering that something was wrong, he decided to join forces with his brother. This was not good news for the big man. Lu Jia made a show
He looked frightened and said: "Your Majesty, it's better to kill me now. If I fall into the hands of Jizhu, I don't know how you will torture me!"
Hu Tu looked at Lu Jia hesitantly. After such long contact, he knew that Lu Jia was not afraid of death, let alone torture. What was he doing?
Hutu frowned and reprimanded loudly: "You are not allowed to speak anymore! I will not listen to anything you say!"
After saying that, Hutu turned around and left.
Lu Jia watched him leave, and then looked at the envoys around him. He did not speak. There were people watching over them. These people all understood Chinese, and whatever they said would be understood by the guards. But Lu Jia looked at these people.
When he was in person, the envoy nodded silently.
Lu Jia had told them before he was arrested.
This time you are bound to die, but please don't commit suicide easily. If the Huns are defeated, Jizhou may not send people to win over Hu Tu. He must try to destroy their alliance. It would be best if he can succeed. If he can't, it doesn't matter.
There's nothing to lose anyway.
Lu Jia had already prepared many countermeasures according to Chen Ping's instructions.
This includes how to drive a wedge between the two brothers.
...
At this moment, Liu Chang was in Houde Hall, discussing important matters with Zhang Cang.
"Your Majesty...what exactly are you sending Zhou Yafu to do? Why can't even we know?"
"It's okay, I just asked him to do something that is not very moral. You don't need to know."
"Did the king send him to exchange Maodun's body and family for Han envoys?"
Liu Chang was stunned, "Who told you?!"
Zhang Cang said very calmly: "Although I am the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, Prime Minister Wang will still write to me from time to time to inform me about the affairs of the Tang Dynasty... I heard that Zhou Yafu had not even arrived in Chang'an, so he took Maodun's family with him.
They left again...I guessed that the king wanted to exchange them for Lu Jia and others. The king also said it was immoral, so he must have used Maodun's body as a threat to force the Huns to hand over the envoys..."
"Bugui is the master... I can't hide this matter about the widow from you."
"Then what does Master think of this idea?"
"When Mo Dun was alive, his sons refused to see him... let alone a corpse?"
"It's hard to say. I heard that Ji Zhou preached benevolence and righteousness in various tribes, wanted brotherly harmony, and practiced filial piety. If he abandoned Maodun's body and ignored it, how could he implement it?"
"The Huns engaged in benevolent governance?? Filial piety??"
Zhang Cang felt outrageous when he heard this.
"Don't underestimate this Ji Zhou. He is deliberately trying to unite the people outside the Great Wall... What he plans is not even comparable to Mao Dun..."
"No matter if it works or not, you have to try it... I can't just give up on them... They are the first contributors to this battle!"
Zhang Cang nodded, "That's true."
Liu Chang suddenly asked out of curiosity: "By the way, Master, what's going on with Gongsun Chen?"
ps: I went out to do errands in the morning, so the update is a bit late. The second update is still being written, so please wait for a while.