Chapter 826: Forced War
Chapter 826: Forced War
When Lu Zhi passed away, there couldn’t be a small ceremony.
When he was alive, Shao Xun even asked him whether he wanted the court to posthumously award him anything. As a result, Old Lu did not want to preserve his reputation as a minister of the Jin Dynasty and explicitly refused.
In this case, it seems that we can only wait for the new dynasty to posthumously confer the title after the abdication.
Cui Yu, the former Imperial Censor and current Minister of Rites (third rank), led a large team to Yecheng to preside over the funeral.
Shao Xun's second son, Huanlang, followed him.
After arranging these things, Shao Xun came to the palace where his parents lived.
Many years ago, he wrote a manifesto mocking Shi Le for abandoning his mother and traveling thousands of miles away from home, not seeing her day or night. In fact, he couldn't do that, and even when he was not on a campaign, he couldn't see her every day.
Today, I heard about Lu Zhi's story and was moved, so I came here.
In fact, my grandparents were very old, both in their seventies, which was considered a long life among the ancients - of course, it was still incomparable to Liu Yuan’s former teacher Cui You, who was invited by Liu Yuan to be an official when he was ninety-three years old, but died at home shortly after he refused (probably a natural death).
During the pandemic last year, Shao Xun asked his parents to live alone in a small hall, and they had almost no contact with outsiders except for his frequent visits. After the pandemic was over, Shao Xun asked them to stop growing vegetables and take a rest.
This year, they indeed stopped growing vegetables, but they still picked some fruits and vegetables and took care of them every time, which was a kind of sustenance.
My father is becoming more and more taciturn now, while my mother talks a lot more.
"Xiao Chong, why did you invite Hou Lao San into the palace?" Mother Liu grumbled, "That man is no good. He owed money to others and didn't pay it back. He was looked down upon by others."
"They are all from the countryside, and they can read and write. They work as clerks in the outer court. If mother doesn't like them, I will dismiss them." Shao Xun was really not familiar with these people. He had some impression of many of them when he heard their names, but he had never had much contact with them.
"Just dismiss him..." The mother was kindhearted after all. She sighed and said, "Forget about coming to the outer court. Just don't come to the harem."
"Hou Laosan's son has entered the palace as a eunuch." The taciturn father Shao suddenly said.
Shao Xun was a little surprised.
In fact, in the past two years, quite a few people have voluntarily entered the palace to become eunuchs, and they could not be stopped.
Some entered the palace after giving birth to sons, while others could not wait and adopted one directly. Most of them were from Donghai.
Shao Xun once thought, would these people become a eunuch family like in the Tang Dynasty?
A family of eunuchs is called a family of eunuchs.
There are regulations on how many adopted sons eunuchs of different ranks can have, and the system is quite standardized.
The father was a eunuch in the palace. After his son got married and had offspring, he entered the palace to take his place, with the main goal of keeping the wealth within the family.
Perhaps, in the eyes of many people, after getting married and having children, a knife in the crotch is not unacceptable, it is better than starving at home. In addition, you can make money, which seems not bad either. It depends on your choice.
"The palace said that many people from Donghai came, but we don't know any of them." Liu said again.
"Mother, if you want to see your neighbors, you can write a letter to the Kingdom of Donghai and ask them to send officials to investigate and bring you to Pingyang," Shao Xun said.
"Don't do evil." Father Shao waved his hand and said, "He's living a good life. He's old, and moving things thousands of miles away, how many people can stand the torment?"
"Grandpa is right." Shao Xun smiled and said, "I haven't thought it through."
"You are not inconsiderate, you have been a warrior for too long, and human life is not a big deal in your eyes." Shao's father sighed, "In fact, when I was fighting on the battlefield, I was also like this after a long time."
"Still fighting?" Liu curled her lips and said, "They lost their armor and are running back in panic."
"We can't get over this, right?" Shao's father said dissatisfiedly.
Shao Xun laughed secretly.
"Xiao Chong, have you eaten?" Liu suddenly asked.
"Let's go to Wenming Palace for dinner later." Shao Xun said.
"It's a pity that we didn't plant spring chives this year. You loved eating them when you were young." Liu felt a little disappointed when she heard that her son was not having dinner here.
"Just enjoy yourself, mother, why bother yourself?" Shao Xun said, "When I have some free time, I will plant some spring chives for you to eat."
"You have important things to do..." Liu sighed, "Mother can only sigh, I may not be able to accompany you for a few more years."
After saying this, he looked a little sad.
Birth, aging, sickness and death are inevitable for everyone.
"Mother is in good health, why do you say that?" Shao Xun was silent for a while, then said, "After defeating the Xianbei and the Xiongnu, I will stay in the palace and not run away."
"Do you have to fight in person?" Liu couldn't help asking, "Your father went to war when he was young, sleeping in the open air, and became sick when he was old. You are in your prime now, so you can't feel it—"
"It's not that mysterious." Father Shao interjected, "Sleeping in the open air is what young generals are talking about. When I was young, the generals and governors went to war on sedan chairs. The soldiers fought in the front, and the governors lived in the city at the back, and had the leisure to enjoy singing and dancing."
Shao Xun nodded with a smile. His father was indeed a veteran soldier who had successfully escaped after abandoning his weapons and armor. He knew his business.
When I first started, leading an army was indeed very hard. Many times, I had to brave the arrows and stones myself, which was extremely dangerous.
Now the generals are leading the troops in the front, and he is actually on the march most of the time. There is no one who stipulates that he must arrive at a certain place on a certain day or at a certain time, and those who disobey the order will be executed.
He has a lot of freedom and his life is actually quite regular, which is different from before.
Besides, he could now withstand failure, and it was not as tormenting as before when he had to get up in the middle of the night and plan a strategy to defeat the enemy.
Of course, it’s definitely not comparable to lying at home.
"Which general is so outrageous?" Liu didn't believe it. "General Yanglie, Wang Hun, was conscripted more than 50 years ago. I was conscripted for the first time at that time." Shao's father said.
"What is General Wang doing now? Is his family a noble one?" asked Liu.
"Dead." Father Shao said, then looked at his son and said, "Their family was ruined by the little bug."
Liu was speechless.
Shao Xun laughed so hard that he couldn't stop, and his mood inexplicably improved a lot.
Although my father is a man of few words, he is actually a very kind person. He knows everything, sees things clearly, and can comfort people in a funny way.
"So don't worry about it." Father Shao added, "Xiao Chong has fought for so many years. In comparison, the generals I followed back then are nothing. He knows how to win."
"My son is better than you." Liu was speechless. In the end, she could only mutter something and went back to the inner room.
Father Shao looked up at the sky and said slowly, "You have ruined so many wealthy families that I didn't even deserve to see back then. Be careful."
"I understand." Shao Xun nodded and said.
******
"Are you really going to fight?" Outside the Huiguang Palace, Wang Jingfeng said pitifully, "Hu Tou is only ten years old. Isn't it good for him to study at home?"
Shao Xun suddenly wanted to laugh again.
Old Wang jumped up and down, arguing fiercely with others, but Wang Jingfeng didn't want his grandson to follow the army.
"You are not young at ten years old. Come with me to feel the atmosphere of the battlefield." Shao Xun said, "Don't worry. I will stay in the rear most of the time. What are you worried about?"
"You have so many women now, so you are not good to me." Wang Jingfeng said anxiously: "Not only are you not good to me, you are not good to Hu Tou either."
Shao Xun ignored him and just looked at his son, saying, "Hutou, are you willing to go to war with Grandpa?"
Hu Tou (Shao Yu) glanced at his mother first, then avoided her gaze guiltily, and then said firmly: "Grandpa, I want to go."
Wang Jingfeng almost fainted.
"A loving mother often spoils her son." Shao Xun looked at his son and said in an encouraging tone, "Go with grandpa to see the desert and the long river. When you gallop across the grassland, bend your bow and kill the enemy. That's what a man should do."
Tiger Head's eyes lit up and he said, "Grandpa, I like archery the most."
After saying that, he patted the bow tip at his waist.
To be honest, although he was wary of the gentry, Shao Xun really liked the fourth brother, Tiger Head.
The reason is simple. He has a big frame and will definitely be a strong man when he grows up, very much like Mr. Shao.
Wang Jingfeng, this silly girl, accidentally gave birth to a talented general for the Shao family.
"My Lord." Seeing his son being "stupid" too, Wang Jingfeng changed his tone and said pitifully, "Hu Tou still needs to study."
Shao Xun laughed and said, "Ayu, why don't you send someone to ask the general for his opinion?"
Wang Jingfeng wasn't really stupid after all, so why bother asking this? His father was just worried about how to brag about his abilities, and now that he had the chance to go to war, why not brag about his ability to "pacify the government with civility" and "quell rebellions with military force"?
Such a talented person with both civil and military talents is worthy of being my, Wang Yan's grandson!
Wang Huifeng watched quietly from the side.
Shao Xun walked over, grabbed her hand, and said, "You are still so calm. Our children should be like this when they grow up."
"Just go with the flow." Wang Huifeng said.
"That's our child," Shao Xun emphasized.
"Are you very proud?" Wang Huifeng straightened Shao Xun's robe, his tone unchanged: "I am such a calm woman, but you succeeded and even gave birth to a child for you."
Shao Xun felt a little embarrassed when his thoughts were exposed.
"Don't forget what you promised me." Wang Huifeng said softly, "The people are suffering too much."
"Okay." Shao Xun let go of her hand.
Wang Huifeng grabbed Shao Xun's hand, chuckled, and whispered: "Actually, it's good to have a child. It won't make you lonely."
Shao Xun was really proud of himself now.
"The Tuoba tribes are divided into three groups, attacking each other. As long as you play steadily, you will not be defeated." Wang Huifeng said seriously, "The wife of Daiguo, Wang, is very useful. Don't just think about showing off your power over others. After defeating Tuoba Heli, let her pacify Wang San, which may be effective."
"If you were a man, Zhang Mengsun would also have to give way to others." Shao Xun said with a smile.
"Zhang Mengsun is the Secretary of the Central Secretariat and the king's adviser. Don't treat him with disrespect." Wang Huifeng looked at him helplessly and said.
Shao Xun nodded slightly, then turned around, looked at his son, and said, "Tiger Head, take your bow and follow your father to the battle."
On the fifth day of the third month in the eighth year of Shengui (324), the area outside Pingyang City turned into a sea of soldiers.
The 3,000-man "Xia Ba" group of Dong Wu's army from Hedong, who served as the vanguard, had already headed north, and tens of thousands of troops were gathering from all over the place.
As he wandered in front of the camps, Shao Xun felt that something in his body had come alive again.
Let us drive our elite troops to save our country, right now.
The national officials who came to see him off had different expressions.
After all, he was unable to persuade King Liang. Based on his great prestige, he forced forward this war that many people were reluctant to launch.
(End of this chapter)