Han Shizu

Duke Shou's Mansion, Jingyuan, by the green lake, under the green shade, Duke Li Shaoyou of Shou, with snow-white beard and hair without a trace of color, lay quietly on a wicker chair to enjoy the coolness, and fell asleep with the cicadas chirping around him. If you look carefully, you can still hear even snoring.

Li Zongkai, the current head of the palace, walked over quietly. It was not only the new emperor Liu Wenji who also survived, but also the seventh son of Shougong Li Zongkai. When he was nearly sixty years old, he finally managed to survive all six of his brothers. In the sixth year of Pingkang, Li Shaoyou came to the table and invited him to He was established as an heir and became the successor of the Li family (Li Hongxin-Li Shaoyou lineage).

Of course, that is to say, the old man is alive and has a long-lasting vitality. He is nearly ninety years old and is still alive and well. Even if he died ten years earlier, it would be difficult for Li Zongkai to be the first heir to Duke Shou.

They are both the top dignitaries in the empire, and some families have been passed down to the fourth or fifth generation, and have even begun to strictly implement the downgrade system. For example, the Li Shaoyou family is still in the first generation of glory. Even though the sunset has long since passed, the sprinkling of brilliance is still enough. Shine and shelter all future generations.

It turns out that at the end of the fight, it is still about who can survive the longest. Among the upper-class elite circles of the Han Empire, the Li family is obviously one of the best-run ones. Whether or not one has to live in solidarity with the country may have been decided from the first generation.

As for Li Zongkai, who is about to become or has already become the "talker" of the Li family, he is able to reach this stage today, of course, it is not purely due to Li Shaoyou's preference. The dignified Shou Guogong, with more than half a century of observation, does not value him. Can be a mediocre person.

In the past twenty years or so, Li Zongkai's greatest achievement has been the colonization and management of Nanyang fiefdoms (principality).

During the Yongxi era, on the basis of the enfeoffment of the ancestors, Emperor Taizong made another round of enfeoffment arrangements that lasted for several years. In addition to the kings of the clan, the biggest progress was the conferment of titles on some meritorious officials, which completely laid the foundation for This explains the current feudal structure of the Han Empire.

Although the temptation of transforming into a barbarian land was limited, under the wave of "Great Navigation" and "Great Development" forced by Shizu, Taizong's actions still gained the loyalty and gratitude of a large number of heroes.

By the first year of Duangong, if you unfold the complete imperial map, you will find that the entire Southeast Asia (the parts that have been identified) has been surrounded by the Han Empire (including Indochina Peninsula, Ceylon Island, part of Tianzhu, and the North and South Jinzhou That is Sumatra and Java, Bo Ni Island is Borneo, and South China Sea Island is the Philippine Islands).

In this vast land, the major feudal states are naturally the main body, and under the feudal states, there are various big nobles, small nobles, maritime merchant families, and the landlord class, including ordinary Han people and even those Han people who went to sea for their crimes. Under the country's system, one can obtain the status of a "shi".

Counting from the Kaibao Year, sixty years later, a situation has finally formed that cannot easily go back. As long as the authority of the Han Empire remains and the central court still has the ability to control the situation of the empire, this trend of external development will continue. From the current point of view, this state can last at least a hundred years.

Although some maps have limited territory, the Han Empire today has truly become a huge empire that borders the sea in the east, the Nanyang in the south, the desert in the north, and the river in the west. This is an unprecedented super empire. .

Under such an extraordinary and great imperial system, the Duke of Shouguo, located in Beijinzhou (Southern Qi Kingdom), seemed small and insignificant.

But this tiny place, after more than 20 years of development and development by Li Zongkai and the Li family, has undergone earth-shaking changes. It is a seaport city located at the front end of the import and export of Jinzhou Strait (Malacca) - Shouzhou ( Penang), came into being.

By the first year of Duangong, the Southern Qi State Shouzhou, dominated by Li Shaoyou's family, had more than 17,000 Han people under its rule. It was ranked among the best new cities in the entire Nanyang, and second only to the entire Beijinzhou. Yuncheng, the royal city of the Southern Qi Dynasty (probably located in Kuala Lumpur) and Liangping Island (Singapore).

Yes, in the current Nanyang region, comparing city size and development level depends on the number of Han people. As for the indigenous population, agricultural and fishery output, and other economic development, they are not the main weight. In an era when the Han people and Chinese culture are rapidly exporting to the outside world, the measurement of development is so simple and crude.

As for the family fiefdom, Li Zongkai personally went to Nanyang three times in the past twenty years. Now that he is too old to run away, he also arranged for his two sons, Li Deqin and Li Defang, to go to the fiefdom.

Judging from the development in the past twenty years, the colonization policy of the Han Empire has entered a virtuous development cycle. Development with clans, even powerful people, and landlords as the main body is a more efficient and vital model.

Of course, there is no fear that the overseas fiefdoms will grow and break away from the clan on the mainland, at least for now. Not to mention the binding force of the clan collective on each clan member, first of all, the top king will not allow it and can arbitrate, then there is the Nanyang garrison, and further north there is the deterrence of the old empire.

Even from a macro perspective, for a long period of time, if the Nanyang kingdoms, principalities, and princes want to develop, they will be inseparable from exchanges with the mainland. They may be able to have a certain "force" effect on the center, but other Dependence on the empire cannot be shaken off in a short time.

In such a general environment and trend, if anyone dares to go against the trend and undermine the common consciousness and rules, he will not only be spurned, but will also be trapped in a desperate situation.

In the final analysis, the authority of the central court and the population and resources of the old empire are the most fundamental and powerful support for the continued influence of the Han Dynasty.

As for what kind of development and changes there will be in the further future, it cannot be said clearly now. It is still unclear what the Han Empire will be like a hundred years from now.

Returning to the quiet garden, beside the pavilion, exposed to the summer sun, Li Zongkai looked at his old father's eyes, cupped his hands and said, "Father, Your Majesty is here to visit my father."

There was no response. Li Zongkai listened carefully, noticed the snoring, and reported it loudly again. Finally, Li Shaoyou reacted and made a sound similar to a pig's cry. Then he woke up, opened his hazy old eyes, looked dull, and said feebly: "Is it Zong Rui?"

"Father, this is my son Zongkai (Li Shaoyou's eldest son is named Li Zongrui)!" Li Zongkai responded loudly.

"What's the matter?" Li Shaoyou asked.

Li Zongkai repeated it again.

"Who's coming?"

Seeing this, Li Zongkai showed great patience, raised his lower body to Li Shaoyou's ear, raised his voice again, and reported the news of the emperor's arrival.

Hearing this, Li Shaoyou's body tensed up, his cloudy eyes glowed with a strange light, and he was refreshed, and then asked: "Which Your Majesty?"

"Today's emperor, the grandson of Shizu and the son of Taizong, is His Majesty the Emperor Duangong," Li Zongkai explained. "Isn't Taizong's son Emperor Pingkang?" Li Shaoyou seemed to understand and responded.

Hearing this, Li Zongkai said again: "Emperor Kangzong passed away last year. Now he has ascended the throne and changed his reign to Duangong. This time he came out of the palace to visit his father!"

"Oh! The emperor is here." Li Shaoyou looked like he suddenly realized it. He raised his hand and ordered: "Hurry up and change the court clothes for me. Open the door of the palace. I will welcome you in person!"

While Li and his son were pulling back and forth, Emperor Liu Wenji had already walked in, interrupting the "harmonious and smooth" communication between father and son.

Approaching, with majesty in his calm eyes, Liu Wenji carefully observed Li Shaoyou for a few times, and said he wanted to greet the emperor, but everyone had already arrived, and he was still lying there, with even a little saliva hanging from the corner of his mouth.

"Is Shougong already so weak that he has become a servant?" Liu Wenji turned his head and looked at Li Zongkai.

For some reason, when Li Zongkai met the emperor's gaze, he felt great pressure in his heart, and he immediately bowed: "My father is old and mentally ill. He is sometimes sober and sometimes confused. He thinks about the past more often."

After hearing what Li Zongkai said, Liu Wenji withdrew his gaze, knelt down in front of Li Shaoyou with his legs bent, took the initiative to hold his splotchy, horribly thin hand, and said in a gentle tone: "Young man Liu Wenji, I have free time today, so I came here. I'm visiting Mr. Shougong. I wonder if Mr. Shougong is well?"

"Okay! Okay! Okay" Perhaps it was due to the emperor's authority, Li Shaoyou seemed to understand, and responded in his mouth.

Noticing the dripping water at the corner of his mouth, Liu Wenji took out a handkerchief and wiped it clean for him. Li Zongkai, who had been paying attention to Liu Wenji, saw this and hurriedly wanted to help, but Liu Wenji refused.

After helping Li Shaoyou cook the food himself, he just sat on the stone bench on the side with an easy-going expression and looked at Li Shaoyou with a smile.

During this period, Liu Wenji went out of the palace quite frequently. Of course, he was not as playful as Kangzong. He only visited old ministers, especially those who had served for many dynasties, to comfort the old ministers, continue to support them, and earn money. He gained the reputation of "Emperor Duangong".

And the Duke of Shou, Li Shaoyou, who is nearly ninety years old and is still alive, is a figure that cannot be avoided. Liu Wenji's performance is enough to show his attention.

While thinking about it, I suddenly saw Li Shaoyou's eyes wide open, his energy high, and he was dancing happily, and he began to preach: "I think back then, when the great ancestor launched an army, the ancestor was not more than seventeen years old, and I was only in his prime."

The communication between Liu Wenji and Li Shaoyou is basically that each has his own talk. Li Shaoyou is immersed in his own world, while Liu Wenji talks about what he wants to express. Even if the right questions are wrong, under the filter formed by the emperor's aura , the picture looks particularly harmonious.

When Liu Wenji left the palace and Luan Jia set off, Liu Wenji couldn't help but sigh sadly. Although Li Shaoyou did not belong to that traditional heroic figure, he was after all a founding hero and founder of the country. He was also active in the political circles of the Han Dynasty and had great influence on the Han Dynasty. It has had an important impact on politics, economy and people's livelihood.

Now that I am old, it is really sad to find myself in such a dim and twilight state. At the same time, "veterans of the Five Dynasties" like Li Shaoyou are rare in the empire, and every achievement is precious. After returning to the palace, Liu Wenji issued an edict and bestowed upon the Duke of Longevity, Li Shaoyou, clothing, gold utensils, jade staff and other items.

In Duke Shou's palace, after seeing off the emperor, Li Zongkai subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. When he returned to the pavilion, Li Shaoyou had already fallen asleep again, snoring again, and his face was peaceful.

Li Zongkai also observed his old father carefully. At this time, his heart was full of wonder. He didn't know whether his old father was awake or confused just now.

The first year of Duangong was a year of decline. A large number of nobles from the "ancient times" passed away one after another, including several important figures.

First of all, Zhao Kuangyi, Marquis of Guangyang, passed away in the Marquis Mansion in early July of that year. He passed away without any illness. It was regarded as a good death. He was seventy-seven years old. Regarding Zhao Kuangyi, there is no need to go into details about his resume and titles. It is worth mentioning that after Liu Wenji ascended the throne, he laughed endlessly in the mansion, cried incessantly at the end of his laughter, and ended up with a hangover.

For Zhao Kuangyi, who has always been deep and reserved, there are obviously many complicated and unspeakable emotions behind such abnormal performance, and the source of depression must be related to the throne.

Liu Wenji can be the emperor, but what about Liu Wenhuan? This kind of thing always makes me more depressed the more I think about it. Perhaps Zhao Kuangyi was still silently cursing "women's views" in his heart until his death!

Following Zhao Kuangyi was the Duke of Shou, Li Shaoyou, who was killed by a sudden autumn cold at the age of eighty-nine.

Although he did not live past ninety, it was considered a happy funeral. After all, the funeral had been dealt with long ago, and the court would give him the honor he deserved. What he left behind was a noble family with profound heritage and powerful influence.

It can be mentioned that the "heir" Li Zongkai took the title. Li Zongkai's takeover also planted the seeds of conflict within the Li family. Not to mention the dozens of children of Li Shaoyou, including the eldest son Li Zongrui, it is impossible to be convinced. Orally, after all, in their eyes, their grandfather's inheritance should be theirs.

There is another important figure, the former Shangshu Ling Zhang Qixian. Before ascending the throne, Liu Wenji made an important move, which was to recall the ministers who had been demoted from the central government by Kang Zong to Beijing to participate in the enthronement ceremony to comfort the old ministers and loyal ministers. heart of.

Zhang Qixian is the most representative figure, and he played a huge role in Liu Wenji. If Li Hang and Lu Mengzheng had not passed away, and the "three political heroes" in the middle period of Kaibao gathered together again, it would be a good story. Of course, it would have played a great role in Liu Wenji's life. The support effect will also be stronger. Liu Wenji could only secretly feel sorry for this.

After coming to Beijing to attend the grand ceremony, he discussed with the new emperor some strategies for governing the country, and submitted to him a summary of his life's political experience. Then he passed away in the Concierge Hotel.

In addition to Li, Zhao, and Zhang, there was also a less important but noble enough figure who also went there that year, and that was King Wu Liu Hui. With his decadent and laissez-faire lifestyle, it was an accident that he survived for so long.

For the empire, Liu Hui was not important, and it was even difficult to talk about his influence. However, Liu Hui's death caused a wave of waves.

Rumor has it that King Wu did not die of illness, but for another reason. The real reason is related to the original struggle for the throne, and the specific details need to be avoided.

Such rumors and insinuations can be described as heartbreaking. Emperor Liu Wenji was horrified when he heard about it. He did not want to bear the charge of "killing his uncle", and such rumors for the purpose of slander made him even more angry.