The carriage drove slowly on the road. The carriage looked a bit luxurious, and there were knights following behind it. To the outside world, this was the carriage and horse of Master Zhuge Zhan, the minister's order. No official could come forward to pay homage, and they were all rejected.
, As for whether these people would blame Zhuge Zhan for his rudeness in the future, the emperor didn't care much. He was carefully observing his own country along the way.
The strength of the Han Dynasty can be seen along the road, with acres of cultivated land and hard-working farmers. The emperor often listens to Zhuge Liang's words. The strength of the country can best be seen from the farmers' faces. The emperor
After carefully looking at those faces, they all had happy and happy faces, and their bodies were strong and strong. There seemed to be a lot more elderly people inside and outside.
Seeing the old people gathered at the head of the village, laughing and talking about their children, Liu Xi couldn't help but smile. Seeing such a situation already made him satisfied. The old people's
The increasing number can only mean that the life of the Han people is getting better and better. There are even merchants hawking on both sides of the road, but Liu Xi did not let anyone drive these lowly merchants away.
They brought a lot of materials needed by the people in Lizhong. To be precise, they said they paid a lot of business taxes. In the year of Yankang, it was relatively friendly to merchants. Liu Xi also secretly observed
After a long time, the increase in merchants did not destroy the Han Dynasty. Instead, it made the Han Dynasty richer and the lives of the people became much better.
These days, Zhong Changtong has been following the Holy Emperor. He has not been able to calm down and watch these folk scenes for a long time. Gradually, there is a smile on his face. Indeed, in Yan
In the year of Kangxi, the national power of the Han Dynasty reached its peak. In all aspects, it was unprecedented in ancient times, whether it was the number of people, their wealth, or their cultural prosperity.
All of these have broken through people's inherent imagination of a prosperous age. Today's Han people's eyes are flashing with fire. They know that they are born in the most powerful country, and they also have the pursuit of a more prosperous life in their minds.
Fifty years ago, if any farmer dared to say that he wanted to raise three cattle after the new year, he would be laughed at. But now, this is nothing.
Even when following the emperor to rest at the homes of these civilian husbands, Zhong Changtong was surprised to see that the common people had begun to dress their children in brocade clothes. Dogs could be heard barking in the kennels in front of every house, and
Dolphins can also be seen wallowing in the pen behind the house, and there are flocks of chickens and ducks in the courtyard. Old and young people sit together with smiles and talk about many ideas for next year.
Zhong Changtong felt in his heart that the so-called prosperous age of great harmony is probably what it is now.
Liu Xi smiled and sat with the farmers, eating farm grains and looking at the pieces of fat meat in the bowl, his face became even more happy. Zhong Changtong sat next to him, enjoying the hospitality of the country people.
, the emperor took a child and asked with a smile: "How old are you? Have you ever studied?" The little child was not afraid and said proudly: "I am eight years old and I studied in the official school last year.
!”
"What books did you read?"
"He Zi's Enlightenment!"
"Okay! Okay!", the emperor laughed, and left some money when he left this family. Zhong Changtong followed him, and they had already arrived at the border of Hebei. The people here had experienced a big corvee.
, however, it seems that Zhuge Liang did a good job, at least he did not make the place full of complaints. Most people still don't care much about corvee.
"Thanks to the Holy Emperor, I can get my current family fortune...a few corvees, what do they mean?", some people answered the Emperor. This is not the first time that the Emperor is called the Holy Emperor.
In the eyes of the people, he was already an emperor comparable to Emperor Xiaokang. Zhong Changtong could clearly see that this emperor, who was indifferent to emotions and anger, laughed heartily all day long and could not close the corners of his mouth.
.
"Justice...", the emperor suddenly shouted, Zhong Changtong hurriedly walked up and said: "Your Majesty, I am here."
"Just call me Master..."
"What is the master's order?"
"Which one do you think is better, the wheat from Hebei or the millet from Luoxian County?" the emperor asked with a smile. Zhong Chang was stunned and hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty... I still think that this millet is more delicious.
It tastes better." Liu Xi shook his head and said disdainfully: "You are just someone who can't bear hardships. I remember back in the day, when my father was still here, he would always arrange a meal of cereals for me every day. Do you know why?
"
"I think...the old master wants the master to understand the sufferings of the people, not to be extravagant and wasteful, but to have the common people in mind?"
Liu Xi grinned, shook his head and said, "He is afraid that I will eat too much and become as fat as him!"
"Hahaha!!" Zhong Changtong couldn't help but laugh. He realized something was wrong and stopped quickly. Liu Xi glanced at him and said, "Just laugh if you want. I won't laugh because of you."
I will throw you outside the wall!"
"Does the head of the family really mean what he said?"
"Of course, the most I can do is throw him to Ningzhou. What are you afraid of?"
Zhong Changtong suddenly discovered that the emperor who had left Luoxian County had become surprisingly approachable and gentle. He even talked and laughed with him, without any airs of a king at all. This made Zhong Changtong flattered, but he also enjoyed it very much.
Such an emperor, the two of them walked and watched, and talked about many things along the way, from the lives of the common people, to merchants, to the ministers in the temple.
"You, Zhou Yu, Pang Tong and others are colluding with each other. Do you really think I don't know about it..."
"Master, how can this be said to be collusion? We have the same ambition. The future of the Han Dynasty must be in business. Only by allowing merchants to continuously open up new worlds and conquer new areas through wealth can farmers compete with merchants.
, are the ones with the least sense of exploration. Only through constant exploration can a big man always stand at the top..."
"Maybe." Liu Xi nodded.
This was probably the first time Liu Xi expressed his approval of Zhong Changtong, which made Zhong Changtong particularly happy. He had always been unfavored by the emperor. Unexpectedly, it turned out that the emperor did not hate him in his heart, and Zhong Changtong was not brave enough.
He got really angry and finally couldn't help but ask: "Master of the family? Do you always hate me? Why do I make the master of the family hate me?"
Liu Xi sat on the carriage, looked at the scenery outside the window, and said seriously: "I really don't like you. You don't believe in destiny. This makes me very angry. Not only do you not believe in destiny, you don't know anything about it."
If you don’t believe me, you don’t have the same heartfelt fear of me as others do. You fear me just because I can kill you, not because I am the emperor..."
Zhong Changtong was silent for a long time, and then said with a smile: "The head of the family is right, it is true. I have had countless questions in my mind since I was born. At that time, I was always bothering my father.
Ask him, what is this time, where are we born, where will we go, whether there are gods... what is wind, what is rain..."
"Everyone hates me and thinks I'm stupid. I have no friends and no one wants to play with me. The kids in my hometown always bully me because they think I'm stupid and always sit still.
I look up at the sky and think about so many useless things, but I have a good father who will patiently listen to my questions and explain them to me..."
Zhong Changtong couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head, "Now that I think about it, many of the things he told me were wrong. But, I'm still very lucky. At least, he didn't beat me severely at that time.
I don’t want to think nonsense, he said, he doesn’t know many things, and when I grow up, I can find out for myself..."
"When I grew up, I began to learn knowledge. I studied Confucianism, no matter Gongyang Guliang, and I studied Dharma, no matter how big or small. I also visited the descendants of the Mohist family and studied with them, but they couldn't tell me what I wanted to do.
I can only explore the answer I want myself... Master, I don't believe in destiny, nor do I believe in ghosts and gods. Everything changes with changes. Only constant adaptation can make today a better place...
."
"As for the emperor..." Zhong Changtong hesitated for a moment, then frowned and continued: "For the world, he is undoubtedly the most dangerous person. If the emperor is Xiaowen Xiaokang, he can naturally make the world peaceful.
, the people are wealthy, but if...the emperor is unwise, it is very likely that the efforts of several generations will be wasted."
After Zhong Changtong finished speaking, he looked at Liu Xi and said seriously: "These days, the master of the family has been very good to me. To be honest, since the death of Duke Xing, few people have treated me like this. I just spoke from my heart.
, the most sincere words, if Your Majesty is to blame, you can put me to death... I have no complaints, I just..."
"Huh...huh...huh..."
Zhong Changtong could not continue speaking. He found that the emperor in front of him was sleeping soundly with his head tilted to one side. He seemed to have not heard what he just said. Zhong Changtong gave a bitter smile and then thought again:
What did he say? He looked cautious and said seriously: "Thank you, Master."
When the carriage stopped, Liu Xi opened his eyes and yawned lazily regardless of the emperor's dignity. Then he looked at Zhong Changtong and asked, "Where are we?"
"We have arrived at Raoyang County...Princess Raoyang's fiefdom. Not far ahead is Jiedu Pavilion..."
"What about Jiedu Pavilion?" Liu Xi was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
"Hahaha, okay, I'm just in time to pay homage to my ancestors!"
When the carriage arrived here, someone immediately stepped forward and blocked the way. This place is different from other places. There is an imperial mausoleum here. The father and ancestors of Emperor Xiaokang and even his former residence are here, so
This place is not accessible to ordinary people, even some dignitaries have to walk around after arriving here.
And the local people here are also extremely arrogant. Even if the three princes come, they are not afraid at all. They are all relatives of Emperor Xiaokang, or descendants of the disciples who followed Emperor Xiaokang in the past. Except for the current emperor, they are not afraid of anyone.