"The old official may shed tears and say: 'I don't want to see the dignity of the Han officials again today.'" [Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu's Chronicles]
July 20th of the third year of Chuping.
Henan, suburbs of Luoyang.
In a flat field, the golden waves rolled and undulated, submerging the figures bending down and working in it. The wheat, yellow millet and millet were ripe, and it was the time of autumn. The weather was urging the officials, and the harvest years were rare.
Women were eating pots of pulp and bringing the day's food next to the field ridges. A few young children, unaware that the fields were scorching hot under the sun, walked around barefoot, following their father and grandfather in a very sensible manner.
Picking up the ears of wheat that fell to the ground behind me.
As the sun sets in the west, the afterglow falls on the plains and fields, and on the peace and tranquility that is rare in this world.
Zhao Qi, a great scholar in the country and the teacher of the emperor, who envoys Zhijie to comfort Guandong; Pei Mao, the minister of imperial censorship; Yin Luoye, the new appointee from Henan Province; and other chariots and horses set off on the road to Luoyang.
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Seeing the old capital in sight, Zhao Qi felt a lot of emotions in his heart. When he went to Chang'an with the emperor, he thought that he would never come back at his age. Unexpectedly, his fate was so bad. When he left, the rice and wheat were green, and when he came, he was wheat.
The millet has been ripe for a year and a half, but who knows how bitter it is?
Regardless of the fatigue of the boat and carriage, Zhao Qi insisted on getting off the horse and going back to Luoyang solemnly with the sword given by the emperor. This was not only upholding the duty of an envoy, but also wanting all the people in Guandong.
People once again showed the dignity of the imperial court.
Pei Mao and others accompanying him understood the old man's thoughts and did not insist. They only asked Tian Chou, the captain of the cavalry, to lead more than ten riders to open the way.
In the fields beside the road, an old farmer was tired from cutting wheat. He straightened up and was about to give his sore waist a slap. When he stood up, he immediately saw people and horses on the road and was stunned.
"Aweng, what are you looking at?" The son noticed something was wrong and followed his father's gaze towards the avenue.
"This is the imperial chariot!" the old farmer suddenly shouted, startling the son next to him.
"The Imperial Court?" The son looked at it carefully for a while, and felt that the first few knights on the horse were very powerful. These should be some generals, or the soldiers and horses of the nearby powerful men. How could they be the chariots of the Imperial Court? Wasn't the imperial court already a long time ago?
Haven't heard any news about the move of the capital to Chang'an for two or three years?
The old farmer ignored his ignorant son. He had already recognized the knot in Zhao Qi's hand, and he became more convinced of his conjecture. He threw away the farm tools in his hands, ran to the side of the road, knelt down and kowtowed:
"I didn't expect that after so many years, I would actually see the angel of the imperial court again today!"
The Liu family has been guarding the country for four hundred years, and has long become the illusory spiritual sustenance of the country in the hearts of the people. When Dong Zhuo led the imperial court to abandon Guandong, for two or three years, the imperial envoys were no longer seen in the Central Plains. There were wars in various places, and the people were in pain.
, I miss the Han Dynasty even more.
At this time, the old farmer's eyes were filled with tears and he lay on the ground crying bitterly. His son, grandson and other family members came over after hearing the sound. They didn't understand why the old farmer was crying so miserably, and they stood there looking at each other.
"Quick, kneel down!" Seeing his family members in a daze, the old farmer couldn't help but call out, "This is the envoy sent by the emperor!"
"This is an envoy from the imperial court!"
Except for him, all the farmers working in the fields on both sides of the road ran over and knelt down in excitement and shed tears.
When Zhao Qi saw this scene, his eyes suddenly became sore and he almost shed tears. He did not stop here, but straightened his body even more on the horse. He walked eastward with only one sentence echoing in his mind.
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The Han Dynasty is still alive, and people's hearts are hopeful.
Luoyang, Yongmen.
The sun was half setting in the west, and the setting clouds were so low that they seemed to be burning on the big trees in the west. After a while, the sky began to turn dark purple, and a few stars appeared vaguely on the zenith. The sky had become dark.
It was very late, and the people waiting at the city gate were a little anxious, but no one dared to speak first. They could only look at the general Shi Zhangchao, hoping that he would come up with an idea.
Zhang Chao was also very anxious, but at this moment he looked at a burly shadow standing in front of him.
This man is General Zhu, also known as Gongwei. He was one of the three famous generals who were as famous as Huangfu Song when the imperial court destroyed the Yellow Turbans.
At first, because he was a veteran general in the army, Dong Zhuo did not dare to plot against him, so he had to be extremely afraid in his heart. Later, when the imperial court moved the capital, Zhu took the opportunity to escape, summoned the army of King Qin, and conquered Henan. Later, he was defeated by Li and stationed in Zhongmu.
At this time, he learned that the Chang'an court would send an envoy, so he led his troops to Luoyang long ago to wait for the angel's carriage.
The last time Wang Yun sent envoy Zhang Zhong to announce to the world the news of Dong Zhuo's death, Zhang Zhong was captured and killed by Li Zhong who returned to his army before he could complete the mission of consoling Guandong assigned to him by Wang Yun.
Only a few months have passed, and the situation in the Chang'an court has been turned upside down. The envoys sent by the court this time are led by the great scholar Zhao Qi, which can be said to be of a very high standard, which shows that the court attaches great importance to this mission. But I don't know,
What is the imperial court’s intention on this mission?
Is it really just for the purpose of posthumously naming King Hongnong Huai as Emperor Xiaohuai, giving the emperor’s biological mother Wang Meiren the posthumous title of Queen Linghuai, and repairing the mausoleum?
Zhu closed his eyes and remained silent in the dusk. The crimson military uniform he wore seemed to blend in with his surroundings.
"coming."
"Wha, what?" Zhang Chao was about to speak, but was frightened by Zhu's sudden words.
"The angel's chariot is coming, tell them to prepare to receive it." Zhu opened his eyes and looked straight at the tall trees in the west.
The sound of the bells and accessories hanging on the car colliding with each other, as well as the sound of horse hooves, gradually came. Zhang Chao paid attention for a long time and vaguely recognized the driver coming from the west. He said to his fellow officers behind him, and also seemed to say to himself:
"Here it comes, the envoy from the imperial court is here!"
Tian Chou, who came first, led 20 knights to stand on both sides of the road. The angel Zhao Qi sat on his horse holding the festival, and Pei Mao and Luo Ye served on both sides. After Zhu led everyone to kneel down and worship the festival awarded by the emperor,
Zhao Qicai dismounted and pulled everyone up one by one.
Zhao Qi and Zhu Shi were officials in the same court during the reign of Emperor Xiaoling, and they knew each other and were old acquaintances.
At that moment, Zhu was not polite, he took Zhao Qi's hand generously and walked towards the city, very lively and enthusiastic.
"Mr. Zhao came from Chang'an. I wonder how your majesty is doing?" Zhu asked seemingly concerned about the emperor's current situation.
Zhao Qi glanced at him lightly, keeping a gentle smile on his face, and immediately recalled the emperor's appearance and intelligence in his mind: "Your Majesty is wise and intelligent, and his body is in peace. The general cares about the country. I will definitely tell the country when I get back."
The general is sincere."
"Your Majesty is well, I, as a minister, can rest assured." Zhu Jun nodded and said that the other party was just complimenting him politely, and did not take it seriously. After walking a few steps, he suddenly asked: