Three Kingdoms: Ancestors of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 273
Winter, the first day of the first month.

At dawn, a thin layer of snow covers the treetops, corridors, green bricks and eaves in the new palace, covered in white, and outlines a unique snow scene.

The palace maids and eunuchs got up early with smiles on their faces as the bell rang, and began to be busy with the preparations for the court congratulations (①).

Except for Zhuge Liang and others who were preparing for war in Qinzhou, other high-ranking officials with more than [-] shi in the Han Dynasty were waiting for the auspicious time in front of the palace gate with different gifts (②).

Empress Zhang, Mrs. Xiahou, Mrs. Wang and other concubines in the palace also began to put on new clothes and dress up to welcome the first day of the new year.

The three brothers Liu Sui, Liu Kun, and Liu Yao who were finally freed from Zhang Wen’s torment and several orphans adopted by Queen Zhang woke up before dawn and went outside to have a snowball fight.

Throughout the Dahan New Palace, there was a scene of joy, joy and peace.

Liu Chan put on his mianfu under the service of everyone, and went to the meeting hall to accept the court congratulations from the officials with great interest.

In the past two years, due to the war, Liu Chan basically spent the first day of the first lunar month in Hanzhong.It is rare to stay in Chengdu this year to receive congratulations from all officials.

However, on the third day of the first month of the next day, Liu Chan will set off for Hanzhong again to learn about the Northern Expedition to Liangzhou.

"The auspicious time has come, all officials enter the court!"

……

Seeing that the time had come, the attendant shouted loudly.

Habayashi Lang Li Gui and Zhao Ming each lead a team of Habayashi guards, holding halberds and wearing armor, standing majestically on both sides of the long steps.

Dozens of big Han officials with more than [-] shi walked slowly along the hallway and entered the meeting hall.

All the ministers knelt down and cheered in unison: "The ministers are waiting to pay their respects to Your Majesty, wishing His Majesty ten thousand years of happiness!"

Liu Chan looked at the people under the steps through the crown, raised his hand and said, "Masters, please don't be polite. Today is the first year of Yuanzuo. It is a good feast, and there is no need to be more polite."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone responded.

Huang Hao took a step forward and shouted: "All the ministers sit down in a row, waiting for the banquet."

"Feast!"

The maids of the palace were in full bloom, carrying precious meals and pepper and cypress wine, and poured into the hall.

After a while, everyone's table was full of glutinous rice, and the rare food was mixed.

Immediately afterwards, there was a symphony of musical instruments on both sides of the palace.

Everyone drank happily for a long time, holding pepper and cypress wine in order of respect, and toasted Liu Chan one after another.

After everyone finished the toast, Liu Chan held up the wine bottle, looked at the people under the steps, and said with a smile: "The Prime Minister has been fighting abroad for many years, and Zhang Qing has been responsible for the food, grass and political affairs of the inner government. It can be said that Zhang Qing should not be respected today. , but I should respect Zhang Qing for a bottle."

Zhang Yi held up the wine bottle and said fearfully: "This is all the work of your Majesty and the Prime Minister. Your Majesty is diligent, thrifty and loving for the people, and manages the family well. The ladies in the palace are virtuous and virtuous to weave the brocade to benefit the country. The clan princes do not admire glory and glory and go to the frontier. The prime minister rewards are not divided. Relatives and estrangements, no matter how far or near you are punished, you cannot get a title without meritorious service, and you cannot escape punishment if you are rich.”

"That's why the superiors do something, and the inferiors imitate it. We, the sages and fools, only follow the actions of the superiors, and are not worthy of morality. Your majesty is ashamed of being a courtier today."

Liu Chan laughed loudly and said, "Your words are very interesting."

After a pause, Liu Chan blinked at Zhang Yi, and said with a smile: "But what you said is wrong, this wine is not to respect Zhang Junsi (Zhang Yi's character), but to respect the governor of the inner house, and to respect his tired director. .”

Zhang Yi was stunned for a while, and said with a wry smile: "In this case, it seems that I should accept this wine!"

When everyone heard it, they raised their sleeves to cover their mouths and laughed lightly.

This summer, Zhuge Liang stayed in Hanzhong. Zhang Yi went north to Hanzhong to see Zhuge Liang and consult about military and state affairs. There were hundreds of people seeing him off, and the roads were blocked by cars and horses.

Zhang Yi was worried that his family would rely on his power to take bribes, so he said to his relatives: "I went on the road, received visitors day and night, and was very tired. It can be seen that people respect the title of Inner Governor Shi. Today's son Zhang Junsi attaches In this position, so tired to death."

Then his mother publicized the letter in order to boast that her son was sensible, which made him dumbfounded.

Seeing that Zhang Yi had finished drinking, Liu Chan leaned closer and said, "Zhang Qing also knows that the prime minister wants to attack Liangzhou in the north, so in a few days, I will go north to Hanzhong to supervise the battle. I hope Zhang Qing can continue to raise food and grass for the army. The rise and fall of the great Han are all in the cold." above."

Holding the wine bottle, Zhang Yi nodded, and replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured that you are in charge of the affairs of the country with Jiang Canjun."

After hesitating for a while, Zhang Yi said: "I would like to report to your majesty, although I have said this, I hope that your majesty will know that Longyou is poor, there are not many households, and there are few corvees. Yizhou has transported grain for thousands of miles, and I am afraid that there will be insufficient grain. The old minister thought that he could save food and grass until next year before cutting Liang, and the Prime Minister may be rushing the Northern Expedition at this time."

Liu Chan pondered for a while, and said: "Your words, I also thought about it a few days ago, but I think that the prime minister is also a person who manages troops and good government. If I am not sure, I shouldn't do it. This time I went north to Hanzhong. Supervise the war, and the second is the Liangzhou strategy."

After a pause, Liu Chan said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, Zhang Qing, General Che Qi and the Prime Minister are all people who know the strategy of the army. There must be a reason for sending troops this year."

Although Liu Chan also had objections to Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition at this time, in front of outsiders, Liu Chan absolutely supported Zhuge Liang's decision-making unconditionally.

Hearing this, Zhang Yi could only respond and said: "Your Majesty's words are reasonable, so I will transfer food and grass for the Northern Expedition army in Chengdu, and supervise the delivery of military equipment."

Liu Chan nodded slightly, and said: "Today is the beginning of the new year, and you are a long history. In the afternoon, there will be celebrations in the inner palace. In the morning, you can drink less in the morning."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I will remember!" Zhang Yi replied.

After Zhang Yi left, Liao Li approached Liu Chan and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have made arrangements for the trip. Yulin Zhao Qijian is performing filial piety. I can't go north with Your Majesty to Hanzhong for the time being."

Liu Chan lowered his head and listened attentively. After a while, he said, "You can take care of these matters. Zhao Qijian asked him to observe his filial piety. To those who will accompany Hanzhong in the future, give some gifts to comfort them for their hard work."

"No! Your Majesty is benevolent, and I can arrange people to do it!" Liao Li clapped his hands in response.

When Liao Li was about to retreat, Liu Chan remembered something, stopped Liao Li and asked, "How are the family members of the thirty or so generals who surrendered?"

Liao Li stopped and replied: "Your Majesty, all of them have returned to the country, most of them have been reunited with the generals in Chengdu, and a small number are still in Hanzhong and are coming to Chengdu."

After Liu Chan returned to Shu, he arranged for Liao Li to exchange the surrendered soldiers of the Han and Wei dynasties.

After Liao Li also got the order, he first asked Xiahouhui for several letters and sent them to Cao Zhen, the owner of Deyang, and Xiahouxuan.

Then Liao Li wrote another letter, and Xiaozhi moved his feelings with reason. Now that the world is in war, the generals and schools have voted for the Ming Lord, but their family members are innocent.

When Cao Zhen saw the letter from his niece, he felt a lot of emotion, so he agreed to Liao Li's proposal.

Liu Chan thought for a while, and said: "The surrendered general is far away from his homeland. Today is New Year's Day. Now I must have some remembrances. Gong Yuan, after you give gifts to the people accompanying you, give some gifts to the surrendered general at the same time to comfort them." home sick."

"No!" Liao Li responded.
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① "Jingchu Sui Shi Ji" said: "The first day of the first month is the day of the three yuan"

"Song History Li Zhi": "Yuanzheng is the first year of the first year, and the winter solstice is the recovery of the sun, and the saints pay attention to it. It is made as a ceremony for the court celebration."

② "Guanzi Lightness and Heavyness B": "He Xian is not heavy, and the body is not close to the king."

(End of this chapter)