By November of the first year of Long'an, the situation of the war in Hebei was completely clear. The new emperor went on a personal expedition, and successively captured and killed the puppet generals Xia Houyuan and Zhang He, and beheaded the rebel general Gao Lan in public, and punished the puppet government.
The imperial court was frightened, and Cao Zhen, the captive general, led his army to retreat hastily. He actually retreated from Yanshan to Liaodong. Along the way, he was transporting heavy goods and food was cut off. If there had not been a treasury to humiliate the officials and Murong Xianbei to help him, people would have starved to death. But after the king's division recovered all the lost territory,
, and this is when the class returned to the DPRK.
However, after the news came back to Luoyang, it aroused a lot of criticism. Many officials publicly discussed that the country had mobilized 200,000 warriors and soldiers to attack the thieves in Liaodong.
It's like destroying the dead, turning the stone and breaking the bamboo. Who expected that the bandits could not be annihilated, and the only gain was to protect the country. The gains were considerable, which was really disappointing.
After hearing the rumors, Zhuge Liang, the captain of the Sili School, knew that the matter was sensitive and immediately called a court meeting. He agreed with all the officials and said that now that the new emperor has conquered the Czech Republic and driven out the bandits, it is a great joy for the country. How can he spread such wavering words?
With Han Bai's ability, he still can't win every battle. Are you trying to imitate the old wisdom of Di Shan when you talk about entering the Liao Dynasty?
Di Shannai was a doctor at the time of Emperor Shizong. Because he was not happy with Emperor Shizong's war with the Xiongnu, he advocated peace in the court. Because of his outstanding eloquence, the ministers did not resist for a while, and Emperor Shizong personally asked: "I asked you to govern one county.
Is it possible for you to prevent the Xiongnu from attacking?" Dishan replied, "No." Shizong asked again, "How about governing a county?" Dishan replied, "No." Shizong asked again, "How about governing a village?" Dishan replied.
Said: "Yes." A month later, Dishan beheaded and died for the Huns. From then on, Shizong's officials did not dare to show off.
Nowadays, there is quite a trend of Emperor Shizong. When all the officials heard about it, they were all shocked and silent. For a time, the government and the public were purged, and there was no objection. However, privately, they could not stop it. There were rumors that if Prime Minister Chen Chong led the army to conquer, I am afraid that there would be no more
In January, Liaodong will be able to become a vassal. This statement is widely spread, but who exactly comes from it is not known to everyone.
However, at this time, Chen Chong was not in Beijing, but went to his hometown in Yingchuan with his wife and daughter to worship their ancestors. After the Lu Bu Rebellion, although most of his clan members were buried in Chang'an, he still sent the bones of his father Chen Kui and uncle Chen Chen to
He returned to his hometown in Yingchuan for burial. So many years have passed. In the past few years, due to conquests, serious illness and other matters, he was never allowed to return to his hometown to visit. Now that he has returned to Guandong, he plans to worship his ancestors in his hometown and stay until
Return to Luoyang next year.
It's been a long time since he returned to his old house, and Chen Chong's memory is a little blurry. When the carriage and horses first set foot on the streets of his hometown, many children gathered curiously to have a look. The guards looked at them with stern eyes, and then they dispersed in a hurry.
Only some local elders were left to greet them at the door. Chen Chong looked over and saw that there was no memorable old man, which made him feel a little sad. However, when he thought about it, he himself was fifty-four years old.
, this is really unusual.
Due to his high position and authority, although most clan members live in Xijing, the old house has always been taken care of. When Chen rushed in, the courtyard of the ancestral hall was still clean, except for a few weeds in the corners, and the plum blossoms in front of the house were still alive.
It looked like it was in bud, and there was already a bit of fragrance flowing out. Chen Chong and Dong Bai cleaned up the ancestral hall again, placing the memorial tablets of their grandfather Chen Shi, uncle Chen Ji, biological father Chen Kui, uncle Chen Chen and others one by one.
After worshiping, praying and offering incense, I took the whole family to visit the graves of these people.
It hasn't snowed yet in Yingchuan at this time, but the air is already dry and cold, and the ground is almost a decadent and flat gray-yellow color. About two miles back from the old house, there is a raised hill and a lush bamboo forest.
, it still showed a blue color amidst the chilling. When you get closer, you can see a stream gurgling through it, which has not yet frozen, which makes people feel refreshed. Chen's cemetery is deep in the bamboo forest. p>
Because people often clean it, the cemetery is still very tidy. Although it is not the Qingming Festival, Chen Chong still brought a lot of sacrifices. After placing them, he respectfully kowtowed to his father three times. This was the first time in his life that he kowtowed like this.
He was willing to do so. Then he stood up and asked Dong Bai to come forward with his eldest daughter A Suo and second daughter A Yun to salute. Finally, he asked Chen Xiu to step forward.
Chen Xiu was three years old at this time. He was very smart and talked a lot. He jumped a few times in front of the tomb, curiously touched the words on the tombstone, and struggled to identify them, but he was not very literate.
He couldn't recognize it, so he turned around, stared at a pair of dark eyes, and asked Chen Chong: "Father, why do I kowtow to the stone?"
"It's not about giving stones, it's about kowtowing to the grandfather and great-grandfather buried under the stone."
"Then why don't they come up to see me?"
"Because they are dead and no longer in this world."
"Where are they? Can I go?"
Chen Chong was stunned. He knew that the topic of death was too profound for children. He then touched Chen Xiu's head, shook his head and said, "I don't know either, but I know that if you go there, you can't come back."<
/p>
"Why can't you come back?"
"Just like today can't go back to yesterday, fallen leaves can't go back to the trees."
Chen Xiu seemed to understand, but he still followed Chen Chong's example and saluted several elders, then stood up, showing a troubled and innocent expression, and said: "Father, I can often go back to yesterday in my dreams, yes
Aren’t they grandpa and they came into my dream?”
When Chen Chong heard these words, he was in a daze for a moment, but a smile gradually appeared on his face. He said slowly: "Yes, they went to your dream, but you don't know them. I don't know them either."
I often see them in my dreams, and I often see you..." At this point, he caught a glimpse of Dong Bai from the corner of his eye, and then he stopped as if he was waking up from a dream.
After this episode, Chen Chong stood in front of the tomb for a while. He crossed his arms and tried to recall the appearance of his father, grandfather and two wives, but what lingered was their pale faces before they died.
He also recalled the various confessions that his relatives had made to him during his lifetime. His grandfather wanted to learn to be wise and protect himself, his father wanted to wait for the weather, and his wife said that no one would fall in love with a saint. These words popped up like bubbles in the deep sea.
Chen Chong was deeply saddened by his death. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Have all the people living around him foreseen the ending of his life?
He couldn't help but think about his son Chen Zhang. He had been away from him for so long. Would he resent himself for not looking for him? He had been in the army for several years, and he didn't know if he had grown up. If the father under the grave had a spirit, he would also
Blame yourself for not taking good care of your children. At this time, Chen Chong turned to look at his two daughters. A Suo, dressed in white, was taking care of the withered grass in front of the tomb with Dong Bai. A Yun was picking up a branch and playing with the grass on the ground.
Ant. Both of them are not tall and look very much like their mother.
Chen Chong looked around with his hands behind his back. The bamboo forest was pure and clear, and there was no other sound except the wind shaking the leaves. He felt for a moment that despite a lifetime of hard work, he would eventually have to sleep in the earth. When the time comes, he would listen to the wind, rain, and birds chirping, and there would be no more disputes with the world.
. Just as I was thinking about it, I suddenly heard Dong Bai calling me.
Dong Bai said: "Asuo is already sixteen."
Chen Chong smiled and said: "Not yet, she is only fifteen!" In fact, it only took a month or two, and it passed quickly. He understood what Dong Bai meant, now is the age to get married, he originally wanted to
Ah Su will talk about this matter again after she is eighteen years old, but if you think about it carefully, the world probably won’t understand that it’s better to get married early, but in the end you still have to ask your daughter for her own advice.
So he took Ah Suo's hand and asked: "You are almost sixteen, which is the age to get married, but you won't be free after getting married. I'm afraid you won't get used to it. If you don't have any plans, just stay by my side."
In two years, if you find a man you like, my father will be your matchmaker."
Ah Suo has always been quiet, but her father asked so straightforwardly. For a moment, Xiafei raised her cheeks and lowered her head and said, "Last time Mr. He came to visit my father, I thought he was quite charming!"
Chen Chong was stunned again. He realized that his daughter was talking about He Yan. But in his opinion, He Yan was just a facade and had no ability to do anything. Not to mention he was a idiot. Chen Chong was already very well-educated, so why did he fall in love with his daughter?
Eyes? His expression immediately darkened. Seeing that his father didn't reply, A'suo raised his eyes to take a peek. She was startled by Chen Chong's frowning expression, and quickly withdrew her hand and said cautiously: "But it's up to the adults to handle it."
."
When Chen Chong saw his daughter's appearance, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. He rubbed his brow scar and thought to himself. Although He Yan has no talent, he is indeed a good person and can speak. If his daughter marries him, at least he won't be able to speak.
I feel offended. I don’t need a son-in-law to increase my power, so why do I need talents? I can’t even live up to my son’s expectations. If my daughter gets married, I’ll just get married!
He turned to Dong Bai and asked, "Do you have any opinions?"
Dong Bai said: "As long as my son-in-law does not go to the battlefield and lives a peaceful life without making others afraid, I have nothing to ask for."
Chen Chong knew that his wife was complaining about him, so he smiled and consoled him: "The country is already in a state of chaos and there are not many wars left. In a few years, no one will have to go to the battlefield again."
The matter was finalized. Seeing that her eldest sister got what she wanted, the second daughter, Ayun, congratulated her. Chen Chong smiled and teased her: "Which good son have you fallen in love with?"
Ah Yun was only thirteen years old. She raised her head and said softly: "I don't want to marry a scribe! I want to find a good husband who can bend a bow and shoot vultures!"
"Okay! Okay!" Chen Chong just stroked his beard and smiled, but Dong Bai glared back. He put down his hand sarcastically, put Chen Xiu on his neck, and slowly walked back to the old house. When leaving, he looked back
Looking over his shoulder, he cast a last glance at the grave, thinking to himself that if this life was going to last like this until the end, he actually had nothing to regret. Life is just a moment in the rotation of heaven and earth, and it will eventually disappear in the years.<