Liu Chang followed Gai Gong's instructions. He usually read history books and practiced swordsmanship. Occasionally, when he had free time, he went to play with his friends. His days were quite fulfilling. Shang Fang's people were following him with a charming smile.
, I no longer dare to reject Mr. Liu as before. They often come to ask about some strange things.
"Your Highness, when refining gunpowder, will it blow people away if you add too much rock powder? What's going on?"
"You are improving gunpowder in private??"
"No, no, we are just curious."
"The formula is very particular, so don't mess around with it!"
"Don't worry, sir, we are just curious... By the way, can the charcoal be replaced with something else?"
"Burning honey with fire seems to have the same effect?"
"How many tests have you done??!"
"No, no, I heard about it occasionally..."
Gunpowder has been classified as a high-level secret by Liu Bang and others. When asked by outsiders, no one knows anything about it. Even when Liu Chang asked, Shang Fang's people did not tell the story. The only ones who could learn the truth from them were the emperor and the empress.
Unknowingly, Chang'an became cold again, and Liu Bang was in a very bad mood. He went to worship his parents for three days in a row, crying loudly.
Chang'an seemed to have calmed down again, and the wars in various places had also calmed down.
But Liu Chang, who was in the palace, knew that this was not the case at all. His father and his mother started to quarrel again. Outside the Xuanshi Palace, his father's violent roar could often be heard, but his mother was always angry.
Without saying a word, more and more people came to Jiaofang Palace. Every time they talked, Empress Lu would ask Liu Chang to leave, which made Liu Chang very unhappy.
You don’t trust me that much? Am I the kind of person with a big mouth??
According to rumors in Tianlu Pavilion, the reason for the quarrel between his parents was because of his uncle's affairs. However, what surprised Liu Chang was that his father seemed to intend to let Lu Shizhi serve as Taiwei, but his mother was determined not to allow it.
This started a quarrel.
They didn't think it was anything. Anyway, father and mother quarreled not every day or two, and they were used to it.
However, Liu Ying was at a loss these days. She could always hear him murmuring, "Obviously she is no longer here... Why, why?"
In the Xuanshi Palace, Zhao Yao looked at Liu Bang seriously.
"The King of Yan wants to rebel!"
Liu Bang smiled and shook his head, "How could he rebel?"
"Your Majesty, this is a major matter and should be treated with caution... King Yan previously said that Zhang Sheng colluded with the Huns, and later sent a letter saying that it was a misunderstanding. The captives can prove that Zhang Sheng also colluded with the Chen thieves. If King Yan really killed Zhang Sheng,
Why not send his head? If there was a misunderstanding, why not give him a proper burial?"
"Your Majesty previously suspected that King Yan was being threatened by someone, but the envoy has already met with King Yan. There is nothing wrong with King Yan. He just used illness as an excuse and did not want to see him more... It does not seem like there is unrest in the country of Yan.
It looks like...it must be that King Yan was bewitched by Zhang Sheng and wanted to rebel!"
Zhao Yao explained seriously, but Liu Bang didn't take it seriously.
"There must be some misunderstanding... He was born on the same day as me, and now I am sick. Maybe he is really sick too, and he is planning to leave with me!"
Liu Bang made an inappropriate joke, but Zhao Yao didn't answer it at all.
He looked at Liu Bang seriously and said, "Your Majesty, please be careful!"
Liu Bang said helplessly: "Since you are so sure that King Yan is rebellious, then you should go to Yan State in person, see Lu Wan, and tell him that it is your eldest brother who wants you to go back!"
Zhao Yao sighed, stood up and left.
After Zhao Yao left, Fan Kuai walked in. He waited outside the palace for a long time. His face turned red, he rubbed his hands and complained: "It's so cold..."
Fan Kuai brought a gust of cold wind, and Liu Bang started coughing again. Fan Kuai looked at him worriedly, but hesitated to speak.
Liu Bang waved his hand and asked him to sit aside.
"I called you here this time... because I have something very important to ask you."
"Your Majesty, please tell me, what is it?"
"Tingwei captured several escaped slaves from Lu Shizhi's family...According to the escaped slaves, Lu Shizhi hid many powerful crossbows in various places..."
Fan Kuai was stunned and grinned, "Your Majesty, what is this? I have a lot of them at home! Generals love these things, so how can they not collect them?"
"What's more, Lu Shizhi is a close relative of your Majesty. Your Majesty does not need to worry. I have one thing in my heart. Please don't blame your Majesty. We are already old. If one day we are no longer here, who can assist the prince and stabilize the world?
There are kings of Chu, Jing, Qi, etc., so naturally the queen and Shizhi are among them. Your Majesty wants him to be the Taiwei, so I think it is very suitable! I don’t know why the queen objects!"
After listening to Fan Kuai's words, Liu Bang laughed and nodded, "Yes, you are right."
"Don't tell anyone about this..."
"only!"
Liu Bang did not summon Fan Kuai again after that, but his mood seemed not to be as low as before. Mrs. Cao and Mrs. Shi often came to the palace to accompany Liu Bang.
After Zhao Yao left Chang'an, he rushed to the State of Yan in a hurry. He felt that this matter was very important. Before leaving, he sent someone to write a letter to Zhou Bo, asking you to attack the State of Yan as soon as possible if I failed to come out.
!
When Zhao Yao arrived at Yan State, it was already snowing heavily.
When Lu Wan heard that Zhao Yao was coming, he became even more frightened and thanked the guests behind closed doors. Zhao Yao didn't even get to see him for a few times. However, Zhao Yao was not as easy to fool and dismiss as the previous envoys. He was in Yan State and began to investigate.
The ministers of the State of Yan, as well as the retainers and staff of the King of Yan.
Lu Wan hurriedly called Zhang Sheng secretly, "When the envoy came earlier, I said I was sick and couldn't go away. Now the imperial censor has come in person. What should I do?"
"Your Majesty, I heard that Your Majesty is seriously ill. The person in charge of affairs in the court now is Her Majesty the Queen. Your Majesty may be able to spare your life, but the Queen will definitely not show mercy... It is better to make plans to raise troops."
"Rise... to raise troops?"
Lu Wan, who lacked both courage and talent, said these two words tremblingly, her face pale and her eyes filled with despair.
Soon, Liu Bang received a letter from Zhao Yao, the imperial censor.
In his letter, Zhao Yao swore that King Lu Wan of Yan was rebellious! He did not kill Zhang Sheng, and was contacting the Xiongnu and Chen Zei to raise an army!
"impossible!!"
Liu Bang dropped the letter and roared angrily.
"Cherish the food! Go to the Yan Kingdom! Call Naigong Lu Wan over!!"
Liu Bang sent another minister to the State of Yan to review the food. He was also Liu Bang's hometown and a native of Peixian County. His relationship may not be as close as that of Lu Wan and Fan Kuai, but Liu Bang still trusted him very much. Similarly, Empress Lu also trusted him very much.
, he followed Liu Bang for many years. Although he did not have much merit, he was calm and reliable in his work and was quite popular.
Historically, Empress Lu appointed Liu Bang as prime minister after his death. Later, she wanted to kill all the generals, so she interceded for everyone and threatened Empress Lu, saying that if she did this, the world would have a different master.
Only then did Empress Lu give up her thoughts. Later, the officials executed Lu, and he was able to save his life.
When Emperor Wen was in power, just when Shen Shiqi thought that all these things were over, one day, an irritable and arrogant prince who did not want to be named found him, smashed him to death with a spine, and promised to avenge his biological mother!
Emperor Wen was furious, your biological mother committed suicide and they failed to save her. Can this be blamed on others? Although he was angry, he pardoned the bastard brother in the end.
At this moment, Shen Shiqi is still the minister trusted by Liu Bang.
Under Liu Bang's order, Shen Shiqi also set out for the State of Yan.
Shen Shiqi was different from Zhao Yao in that he came to see Lu Wan on the pretext of passing through Yan State. After staying in Yan State for a few days, Shen Shiqi turned around and returned to Chang'an.
This time, it is already the first month of the coming year.
Shen Shiqi not only came back, he also brought back two prisoners.
One of them is a general of Chen Xi, and the other is a defeated general of the Xiongnu.
You know, the Huns were involved in this counter-insurgency war. They even wanted to protect Chen Xi, but Zhou Bo didn't give him this chance.
Shen Shiqi first reported the results in person, but King Yan colluded with the Xiongnu and Chen Xi! Several generals under his command were hoarding grain and grass! There were signs of rebellion!
The Hun prisoners he brought back personally admitted the fact that Zhang Sheng came to contact him.
At that moment, Liu Bang slumped in his seat, his eyes dull and his expression blank.