It's easy to be a villain, but hard to be a princess

In the court hall, Chu Muqing stood at the head of the civil servants, arched his hands and said: "Zhan is a small country, but its ambition is not small. The war in the northwest has lasted for ten years. Presumably, Zhan has already exhausted its food, grass and military strength. If our court chooses this time Negotiating peace will only fuel Zhan Guo's arrogance and allow him to make progress, so I implore the emperor to send troops to fight against the enemy immediately!"

At this time, Qi Xiao, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, came out and said: "Although what the prince said is correct, the previous Huaiyuan General Zhu Minggang was unfavorable in leading troops and buried a hundred thousand troops. Now the imperial court has insufficient troops. If this group is also sent out... "Qi Xiao bit the bullet and said: "Excuse me, if you lose again, the court will be in danger!"

Liu Chengqing, the imperial historian, said: "Could Lord Qi not understand what the prince said just now?"

Qi Xiao was confused, "..."

"Just now, the prince made it very clear. At this time, when we are negotiating a peace, our dynasty must be humble to Zhan Guo and offer silver compensation. Zhan Guo is ambitious and will not be satisfied. When he grows stronger in the future, he will definitely covet him." I’m the big one.” Liu Chengqing looked at Qi Xiao and asked, “Master Qi, do you think it’s better to kill Zhan Guohao now while he’s exhausted, or wait until it grows stronger?”

Hearing this, Qi Xiao's ears turned red, and he said in a low voice, "Of course it's best to get rid of it when it's weak, but..."

Chu Muqing knew that he was worried that if the battle was defeated, the troops in the capital would not be strong enough to resist, which would lead to the subjugation of the country. "The king has [-] soldiers and horses, and they have already rushed to the northwest border. At that time, the king will lead [-] troops from the capital, and the rest will stay behind." Even if there is an accident in the capital, it will not allow Zhan Guo to take advantage of it."

Chu Ruihong looked at Chu Muqing, and then asked: "What do you love dears think?"

"Zhan Guo is domineering and domineering, and our court will never give in!" Lin Hexu came out and said loudly.

Then, all the officials said in unison: "I implore the emperor to send troops to punish Zhan!"

After leaving court, several officials rushed forward to greet Chu Muqing, and the eunuch holding a whisk came from the side and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty's invitation."

Chu Muqing bowed his hands to the adults, said sorry, and followed the eunuch to see the emperor.This time Chu Ruihong did not meet him in the imperial study, but chose to meet him in the imperial garden.

It was early summer at this time, and thousands of pale red flower bones emerged from the lotus pond in the imperial garden. Chu Ruihong stood under the willow tree beside the lotus pond, with his bright dragon robe still on, looking a bit dazzling from a distance.

The eunuch leading the way reported, "Your Majesty, the prince has brought you here."

Chu Ruihong turned around, Chu Muqing bowed his hands and saluted, "I see the emperor."

Chu Ruihong raised his sleeves and said, "You don't need to be too polite, uncle."

Chu Muqing raised his head, and Chu Ruihong said: "The emperor hasn't been back to the palace for two years, so he must be unfamiliar with many places in the palace, why not walk with me and look around."

Chu Muqing said, "Okay."

Chu Ruihong turned around and walked along the marble path by the lake, with weeping willows planted on both sides, it was very shady, and Chu Muqing walked behind Chu Ruihong's obliquely, without saying a word.

Chu Ruihong turned his head slightly to look at him, "How is the emperor's life in Bashu?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern, I'm fine."

"In this way, maybe I'm the only one who is having a bad time." Chu Ruihong smiled wryly to himself, "Every day when I open and close my eyes, I focus on the important affairs of the court, even in my dreams, I'm in the court hall."

"If the emperor feels tired, it's okay to rest at the right time. You don't have to do everything yourself. There are civil and military officials below, and they will solve the emperor's worries and problems."

"It's all my fault. I forced away the loyal minister who was the most able to solve my problems. In exchange for today's hard work, I will reap the fruits of myself." ..."

Chu Muqing picked up his words and said, "Your Majesty is young and has little experience, so there are some things that I won't take to heart."

Chu Ruihong pursed his lips, and was very touched by Chu Muqing's words, "Thank you, Uncle Emperor."

Chu Ruihong continued to walk forward and walked into a pavilion where refreshments were placed. He went over to sit down and ordered Chu Muqing to sit down together.

Holding the teapot, I poured myself a cup of tea, and poured another cup for Chu Muqing, "At the beginning, if I hadn't insisted on appointing Huaiyuan General Zhu Minggang as the commander of the Northwest War, maybe I wouldn't have ended up in today's disastrous defeat."

Chu Muqing didn't take it seriously, "Victory or defeat is a common matter in military strategists. It doesn't mean that when you send someone else to go, you will definitely not lose."

Chu Ruihong pursed his lips and smiled, "Uncle Huang has really changed." In the past, Chu Muqing was reticent and never said such comforting words.

Chu Muqing looked at the brown tea in the cup, "People change."

"Han Zixiao also said this sentence."

Hearing Han Zixiao, Chu Muqing paused.

"I haven't seen him for two years, so I don't know how he is doing?" After Chu Ruihong sighed, he asked again: "Uncle Huang has seen him in the past two years?"

Chu Muqing pondered for a while, and said, "Meet me by chance."

Chu Ruihong forced a smile on his face, "He must be the same as me, regretting his past."

Chu Muqing remained silent.Chu Ruihong asked directly: "Actually, does the emperor like him?"

Chu Muqing said, "Why do you ask this?"

"Just curious, Han Zixiao likes the emperor's uncle, if the emperor's uncle also likes him, why didn't he let you go to Bashu with you?"

Chu Muqing said lightly: "Everything is up to fate."

Walking around the imperial garden, Chu Ruihong talked about many things, including the major events that happened in the court and the things in the palace in the past two years.

In the end, Chu Ruihong said to Chu Muqing behind his back, "One day, I will become a wise king recognized by my uncle."

The next day, Chu Muqing put on armor and a red cloak, and led [-] troops to the northwest. Chu Ruihong and all the civil and military officials practiced on the city gate tower.

The [-] bolts of Shu brocade that Han Zixiao transported from Bashu were sold out within a month, and after that, people came to ask questions one after another.

For the thirty pieces of Shu brocade, Han Zixiao had a thousand taels in his account, making a net profit of 400 taels.

Three months later, Han Zixiao took a few thousand taels of silver and set foot on the road to Rongcheng again.This time, he didn't want to buy goods, but transported hundreds of Jiangnan Yunjin. He planned to use the money he earned these days to open a branch of Yujingfang in Rongcheng, and buy a house in Rongcheng along the way. .

If you do business in Rongcheng, you can stay longer, and occasionally see Chu Muqing.If the next year's brocade is approved, they will transport the brocade to the silk shop in Yunzhou, and then bring some brocade from Yunzhou to Bashu along the way.

This back and forth can earn two price differences.

After arriving in Rongcheng, Han Zixiao took the tea brought from Jiangnan to the Shu Palace.

Song Bo said: "The princess doesn't know something. The prince was ordered to lead troops to the northwest border to fight against the enemy three months ago, and he doesn't know when he will come back."

Han Zixiao was stunned, it turned out that Chu Muqing was no longer in Shu.Three months ago, it was clearly the last time he left Rongcheng.

Once away from him, nothing is known about him.

Song Bo said: "Princess, don't just stand outside, come in and have a cup of tea."

"No." Han Zixiao handed the brocade box in his hand to Uncle Song, "I brought this tea from Jiangnan, and I was going to give it to the prince face to face. Since the prince is not at the house, I will trouble Uncle Song to accept it for me."

Uncle Song took the box of tea, "If the prince comes back, this old slave will definitely convey it."

"I still have something to do, so I will stay soon."

"Princess, go slowly."

Han Zixiao returned to the inn, sat down and poured himself a cup of tea to moisten his throat, Ye Qing woke up from a nap, yawned and said, "Master, why did you come back so soon, haven't you seen the prince? "

Han Zixiao said: "He is in the northwest."

Ye Qing was excited, and hurriedly said: "Could it be that he was sent to the Northwest to be a vassal again?"

"No, he went to the northwest to fight against the enemy."

"Go to war?"

Han Zixiao nodded, "Yes."

"Why so suddenly?"

"Perhaps it was because the war in the northwest was urgent, so he had no choice but to go to battle in person." Han Zixiao took a sip of tea, with a faint smile on his lips, "He values ​​Da Qi's country more than anything else, but Never looking for anything in return.”

"Since the prince is no longer in Sichuan, what about opening a branch..." Ye Qing asked tentatively.

Han Zixiao glanced at him, "The branch shop must be opened, and he is just not here for the time being, and will come back one day."

"However, it may take several years." Ye Qing whispered, in the past, he always heard that some people joined the army to fight, ranging from a few years to more than ten years, and most of them died in battle.

Han Zixiao was silent for a while, and said: "Take a good rest today, and go out tomorrow to see where there is a suitable shop."

"Yeah." Ye Qing nodded.

Han Zixiao took Ye Qing for a stroll around Rongcheng, saw a few shops for sale, and stopped at a restaurant at noon.The people at the next table talked about the war in the northwest.

"A few months ago, Huaiyuan general Zhu Minggang was ambushed by the enemy, and his [-] troops were wiped out. I was worried that Zhan Guoguo would take advantage of the situation to attack. Fortunately, the king of Shu came out, and he led the troops to the northwest to fight against the enemy. The enemy, the enemy's arrogance immediately weakened, I heard that there were three battles, and three times were great victories for our army, if this trend continues, Zhan's destruction of the country is just around the corner."

"The king of Shu was already a well-known figure when he was the regent in the court. All the Chinese, military and military officials in the court were respected and loved, and his prestige was even higher than that of the emperor. With him, Da Qi will naturally not let Zhan Guo bully him."

"Hush. You dare to say that. Aren't you afraid of beheading? The emperor is the emperor, and the prestige of the ninety-five supreme is unmatched. How can you compare the king of Shu with the emperor?"

"The two seem to be familiar with the situation in the northwest." Han Zixiao suddenly appeared behind the two men.

The two men looked back at him, and the younger one asked, "Are you..."