Chapter nine hundred and eighty-ninth climb on the dragon bed
Hanyang County is also Tianshui County. When it was called Tianshui County, the county seat was in Pingxiang. When it was called Hanyang, the county seat was in Hebei County. Hanyang County and Sanfu are adjacent, and the critical line between the two places is Longdi.
Longdi is named after Longshan, and place names such as Longdi and Longxi are all derived from Longshan.
To attack Hanyang from Chang'an, we need to pass through Longdi, capture the two strategic locations of Longguan and Qinting, and then capture the three cities of Jiequan, Longcheng and Qingshui. Only then can we open the door to Hanyang County.
The problem now is that Wei Xiao has deployed a large number of additional troops and horses in Longguan, Qinting and even Jiequan, Longcheng and Qingshui areas. As for the specific number of troops stationed in each place, we have not found out yet.
However, according to the estimates of the spies, the total number of enemy troops in Hanyang County is no less than one hundred thousand.
What Liu Xiu imagined was that his troops would be divided into five groups and attack Longguan, Qinting, Jiequan, Longcheng, and Qingshui at the same time, making it difficult for the enemy to look at the beginning and the end. No matter where the enemy's defense focus was, there would always be
There are weak spots.
As long as we can capture any one of the five areas, it will open the door to Hanyang County. From then on, we can use this as a foundation to move closer to the hinterland of Hanyang County, and then conquer the entire Hanyang County in one fell swoop.
He paced back and forth in the hall, constantly thinking about his attack plan. At this time, a palace maid came in, holding a tray in her hand, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty!"
Liu Xiu glanced at the palace maid, then looked at the tray in her hand, and asked, "What's in it?"
"Your Majesty, this is bird's nest porridge." The palace maid came forward and handed the tray to Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu opened the lid, and the steam was steaming, and the aroma was fragrant. He smiled lightly and said, "I remember, I didn't ask the dining room to prepare bird's nests.
Porridge?"
The palace maid bowed and said, "Zhang Ye asked the kitchen to make it."
Liu Xiu nodded, picked up the bird's nest porridge, took a spoonful, and found it tasted pretty good.
He looked at the palace maid. She looked about seventeen or eighteen years old. Judging from her clothes and headdress, she should be a grand palace lady. He asked casually: "What's your name?"
The palace maid quickly said: "My name is Caizhen."
"Is she the maid from Weiyang Palace?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Chang'an is no longer the capital, and the emperor does not live in the Chang'an Palace. However, the Chang'an Palace is not idle. There are still a large number of chamberlains and maids in it.
On weekdays, they don't have to serve a master, and they don't have a master. Their main job is to clean.
Liu Xiu nodded and asked, "How many years have you been in Weiyang Palace?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I entered the palace at the age of thirteen, and it has been five years now."
"So, you are eighteen this year, and you will be able to leave the palace in a few years."
Generally speaking, a palace maid can apply to leave the palace when she is twenty-two years old. At the age of twenty-five, if she is still a mediocre little palace lady, she will be forced to leave the palace.
Eighteen years old is a pretty young age now, but in the palace, such an age is no longer considered young. Girls with some brains have already become great palace maids at this age.
Liu Xiu changed the topic and asked: "What do you do in the palace on weekdays?"
Caizhen said: "My maid is mainly responsible for cleaning the propaganda room."
The main hall of Weiyang Palace is called the front hall. The front hall is not one palace, but consists of three palaces. The palace in the center is called the Xuanshi, and the other two are side halls.
Liu Xiu nodded after hearing this. He didn't know much about the situation in Weiyang Palace, but through Caizhen, he did understand some of the situation in the palace.
After eating the bird's nest porridge, Liu Xiu was also a little tired and said, "I will stay at Chengming Hall tonight."
"This..." Caizhen looked hesitant.
The Chengming Hall was not for the emperor to live, but for the ministers to rest. It was obviously inappropriate for the emperor to live in the Chengming Hall.
The reason why Liu Xiu chose to stay at Chengming Hall was mainly because Chengming Hall was connected to Guangnei Hall, and Guangnei Hall was the library of Weiyang Palace. There were many books in it, which Liu Xiu was more interested in.
Seeing Caizhen's expression of embarrassment, Liu Xiu waved her hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter."
"My maid obeys your orders. My maid will go and prepare now!"
"Um!"
In fact, Caizhen was only in charge of the Proclamation Room and not the Chengming Palace. Now she took advantage of the convenience of being near the water tower and temporarily acted as a maid beside Liu Xiu.
Caizhen took Liu Xiu to Chengming Hall, and then directed the chamberlains and maids of Chengming Hall to clean the inner rooms.
While they were cleaning up the room, Liu Xiu went to the Guangnei Hall next to it. This is indeed the library of Weiyang Palace. There are many books in it, and there are many types of books, including everything, especially prophecy books. There are several bookshelves.
At that time, prophecy was very popular, and Wang Mang was a fan of prophecy. Naturally, Weiyang Palace had more prophecy secretaries than other types of books. Liu Xiu was not very interested in prophecy. He was more interested in
Historical books.
Liu Xiu was holding a scroll of bamboo slips and was looking at it in awe. Caizhen walked in and whispered softly: "Your Majesty, Chengming Hall has been packed up."
"Yes!" Liu Xiu nodded, still holding the slip in his hand, motionless. Caizhen stepped forward and looked around. There were only a few lampstands lit around. The light in the hall was very dim, and she couldn't even see.
The bamboo slips on the bookshelf are so clear that your majesty can still see the tiny characters on the bamboo slips?
Caizhen was very curious, and she got closer and closer. Liu Xiu finally came to her senses, looked at Caizhen who was slowly approaching, smiled calmly, and asked: "Caizhen, can you read?"
"My maid... My maid has only attended a private school for two years."
"Oh?" At that time, families that allowed girls to attend private schools were very good. He handed the letter in his hand to Caizhen and asked with a smile: "Do you know all the words in it?"
Caizhen hurriedly took it, looked at it briefly, nodded slowly, and whispered: "My servant... I know some of them."
"Read it and listen." Liu Xiu said with a smile.
"Servant..."
"It doesn't matter, just feel free to read!"
Caizhen took a deep breath and read in a slow voice: "Everyone in the Twelve Periods, discipline governs the chaos of survival, and therefore knows the good and bad luck of life and death. Up... up..."
After reading only two sentences, Caizhen got stuck. Liu Xiu said: "Kui."
"Oh!" Caizhen swallowed her saliva and continued to read: "The sky is above, the ground is below, and the people are in the middle. If this is right and wrong, there is no escape."
Listening to Caizhen's reading, Liu Xiu slowly closed his eyes, fell back, lay on the couch, turned over, and lay on his side. At the same time, he said without opening his eyes: "Continue reading!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Caizhen held the bamboo slip and continued reading.
She didn't know how long it had passed, but Caizhen heard long and even breathing coming from Liu Xiu's side.
She stopped reading and turned to look at Liu Xiu, who had fallen asleep on the couch. Caizhen slowly put down the slip in her hand and looked at Liu Xiu carefully.
Liu Xiu had an outstanding appearance, with dragon eyebrows and tiger eyes, and a high nose. At that time, he was considered a handsome man. As far as the founding emperor was concerned, Liu Xiu was definitely the most handsome founding emperor in Chinese history.
And unlike other founding emperors, he was a well-educated founding emperor with a diploma from a higher education institution. He was easy-going, approachable, polite to others, and did not put on airs. These were Liu Xiu's advantages.
I don't know how long it took, Caizhen came back to her senses, and her jade face suddenly turned red. It was very rude for a girl like her to stare at a man so intently, not to mention that this man was the emperor.
She whispered softly: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty?"
Liu Xiu, who was sleeping, just responded incomprehensibly.
Caizhen said in a soft voice: "Your Majesty, it is better to go back to Chengming Hall to rest. You will catch a cold if you sleep here."
Liu Xiu hummed, and then nothing more happened. Caizhen plucked up the courage, hugged Liu Xiu's arm, and said, "My maid, help your majesty to rest."
Liu Xiu, who was in his sleep, was too lazy to move. He felt someone pulling on his arm, and he impatiently pulled his hand back. Caizhen felt the force and involuntarily threw herself on Liu Xiu.
Liu Xiu's eyelashes fluttered, and then he slowly opened his eyes. Caizhen, who was lying on top of him, was stunned.
The two looked at each other for a moment before she realized what she was doing. She hurriedly got up from Liu Xiu and stammered: "My maid... My maid..."
Liu Xiu withdrew her gaze, said nothing, and closed her eyes again. Seeing this, Caizhen could not help but feel her heart beat faster.
As a palace maid, how big a sin was it to fall on the emperor? But the emperor did not blame her. This naturally gave rise to the illusion in Caizhen's heart that the emperor acquiesced to her actions.
Looking at Liu Xiu who fell asleep again, Caizhen's breathing became rapid.
She had been a palace maid in Weiyang Palace for five years. She had just met the Emperor for the first time today. If she missed this opportunity today, she would have to wait for the next four years until she was born at the age of twenty-two.
Palace, I'm afraid I won't have the chance to see the emperor again.
Thinking of this, Caizhen's heart beat faster, she knelt down on the couch, raised her hands, and untied her clothes.
After a short time, she took off all her clothes, and then slowly lay down next to Liu Xiu. After waiting for a while, seeing that Liu Xiu still didn't react at all, she took the initiative to kiss Liu Xiu's lips.
At this time, Liu Xiuke woke up, opened his eyes and found Caizhen lying naked next to him. He was stunned for a moment, then became furious, turned over and sat up on the couch, scolding in a deep voice.
Said: "Put on your clothes and get out!"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Caizhen stammered in fright when she saw Liu Xiu's unkind expression. Liu Xiu's face was as dark as water and she said in a deep voice: "You are so brave! Get out immediately!"
Caizhen was so frightened that she crawled around, grabbed the clothes she had just taken off, and shivered into a ball. Liu Xiu raised her head and shouted: "Zhang Kun!"
Zhang Kun and Luo You had gone to rest long ago. He did not call Zhang Kun in with this voice, but called Long Yuan and Xu Ying in.
The two entered the main hall, looked up, and found Liu Xiu sitting on the couch, with a naked palace maid next to her, huddled up with her clothes in her arms.
Long Yuan and Xuying bowed and saluted, saying: "Your Majesty!"
"Drag her out!" Liu Xiu frowned and glanced at Caizhen. Long Yuan and Xuying strode forward without saying a word, and each of them grabbed one of Caizhen's arms and pulled her out of the hall.
.
Liu Xiu sat on the couch and rubbed his forehead.
The palace maid climbed onto the dragon's bed and the emperor came to the throne. This situation was nothing new in the palace and happened from time to time.
Speaking of which, Liu Xiu's great-grandmother Tang'er was in this kind of situation. At that time, Emperor Jing planned to visit Cheng Ji, but Cheng Ji had menstruation, so he asked his maid Tang'er to take his place and serve the emperor.
As a result, after one night, Tang Er became pregnant, and Liu Xiu's ancestor Liu Fa was born. Emperor Jing did not like Liu Fa, and this was the reason. Liu Fa's background was too low, and he was born to a palace maid.
After Liu Fa came of age, Emperor Jing couldn't wait to send him to Changsha, out of sight and out of mind.
At that time, Changsha was a frontier land, a place where prisoners were distributed. Fortunately, Liu Fa later won the favor of Emperor Jing with his intelligence, and he became the largest king in the territory at that time.
