To the west of Kaifeng, on both sides of the flat straight road, the rows of willows have been dyed with a layer of green. The spring breeze is blowing gently. Between the open roads and the intensive traveling, a rather special team is walking.
Two carriages, with more than a dozen attendants, driving hundreds of horses, all of whom were dressed in coarse linen clothes, like merchants from poor areas who came to Kaifeng to sell horses. However, there were several people in public uniforms in front.
The guards cleared the way...
This group of people has obviously attracted the attention of many people. They can organize such a large team of horses at one time. They are all tall horses. Although they have lost some weight, their physiques are all strong. This is also rare in today's Central Plains.
Generally speaking, the only people I saw were the owners of horse ranches and foreign business travelers.
Therefore, there is still a long way to go from Kaifeng City, but many people have already inquired about the situation along the way and paid attention. However, when they learned where these horses were going, they behaved very wisely, because these horses were
Presented to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.
This team, from Jingyuan, is Yang Bin and Su Fengji, the former prime ministers who were once powerful and extremely humane. They have been staying in the Western Frontier for more than ten years. After so many years of hard work, they have finally made it through.
.
"We're almost at Xiangfu Station!" A guard leading the way shouted, "Speed up, we can rest when we get to the station!"
Behind, on one of the simple carriages, Yang Bin, who heard the sound, couldn't help but poke his head out, looking at the strange environment around him, feeling the aura of prosperity, and a hint of reminiscence appeared on his rough and aging face.
Colorful, he sighed with emotion: "I have been in Beijing for more than ten years, but I never thought that I would come back one day in my lifetime..."
"Husband!" Mrs. Yang, who was leaning against him, felt his excitement and shook his hand to express comfort.
Feeling the madam's thin and rough hands, noticing her gray hair and vicissitudes of face, she was a very ordinary old woman. She no longer had the magnanimity of the prime minister's wife back then. Thinking of these years of mutual friendship, Yang Fan felt a surge in his heart.
Waves of guilt arose: "I have wronged my wife for so many years!"
Mrs. Yang smiled calmly and said: "As a married woman, since I have enjoyed the glory and wealth brought by my husband, how can I complain about going through hardships with my husband?"
Hearing what she said, Yang Bin was even more moved and said, "If I get a wife like this, even if I don't have all the hardships and joys, this life is enough!"
"Wenzhong!" In another carriage, Su Fengji, who was a little dazed, also regained his energy, stuck his head out, and called out.
Soon, a young man with a strong figure and heroic eyebrows came on horseback and called out: "Big Father!"
Seeing his eldest grandson, Su Fengji showed a loving smile and asked, "What were you shouting just now? Where are you?"
Su Wenzhong immediately reported: "We are about to arrive at Xiangfu Station!"
"Xiangfu Station?" Su Fengji muttered to himself.
Su Wenzhong explained: "I heard from the messenger that it is the largest official post in the western suburbs of Kaifeng. After passing Xiangfu, it is not far from the capital!"
"I'm finally back!" Su Fengji's old eyes flashed slightly, as if there were tears, and then he took a breath and ordered: "You lead the servants, watch the horses, don't run away and rush, Tokyo is no better than
other places!"
"yes!"
Today, Su Fengji is nearly seventy years old, and his beard and hair have turned completely gray, but he is obviously in good spirits. Compared to Yang Bin, his situation is even more miserable. Starting from the first year of Qianyou, for fourteen years,
The family still moved away, and even now they still carry a restriction called "no further use within three generations."
In fact, if Su Fengji hadn't been somewhat capable, never gave up in the face of adversity, endured hardships, and led his family to run the horse farm and improve their livelihood, I'm afraid the Su family would have completely sunk.
However, for Su Fengji, all the hardships have finally come to an end. Although he is old, his mind is not slow. From the moment he received the order from Tokyo, he knew that the shackles on the Su family were about to be removed, and his years of perseverance were finally restored.
Return. Over the years, the Su family's horse farm has provided the court with more than 2,100 war horses, which is still far from the number of 3,000. However, it is not a big problem now.
That day, the old Su Fengji led his family to bow to the east, then sang, danced, and drank as much as they wanted. That night, Su Fengji cried loudly in response to the emperor's order until he ran out of voice.
During the more than ten years in Yuanzhou, all of Su Fengji's sons died, either from illness, from serving in the army, or from local conflicts between Han and barbarians. Now, there are basically only a handful of old, weak, women and children left in his Su family.
Fortunately, several grandchildren have gradually grown up. After his training, his eldest grandson Su Wenzhong, who is most valued by him, is also married and can support the family.
On this trip to Beijing, no other members of the Su family were brought with them, and only the eldest grandson was allowed to accompany him. Su Fengji also had high hopes for him.
The team did not stop until they reached Xiangfu Post. With the size of Xiangfu Post, it was more than enough to accommodate hundreds of horses. However, it was impossible to give them all the space, so under the guidance of Su Fengji and Su Wenzhong,
The horses were driven to a field northeast of the post station and camped on the spot, under the supervision of Su Wenzhong.
Su Fengji came to the post, and in front of Xiangfu Post, a touching family meeting was taking place. Yang Tingkan, Yang Tingkan's eldest son, took his wife and children, and knelt down to greet him in the road. His face was full of excitement, sadness, and separation of flesh and blood.
For more than ten years, I have not met each other, and I can only understand the situation of my parents through letters. Now that we see each other again, abundant feelings naturally flourish.
Compared to Su Fengji, Yang Bin was luckier in that the disaster did not reach his descendants. Although he was exiled to Jingzhou and suffered, his three sons were not greatly affected and could still serve as officials in the court, especially the last one.
The eldest son Yang Tingkan, who was highly valued, is now the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and holds the official position of fifth rank.
"Unfilial son Tingkan, bow down to the two elders!" At this time, Yang Tingkan was kneeling on the ground. He didn't care about his demeanor or appearance at all. His tone was excited and his emotions were exposed.
In his early years, Yang Tingkan tried to persuade Yang Bin several times not to go against the King of Zhou, the Crown Prince, and Emperor Liu, but Yang Bin stubbornly refused to listen, and later he brought disaster upon himself. After being demoted to Jingzhou, Yang Tingkan once thought of Jingzhou.
Zhou Zhou served his parents, but was severely rejected by Yang Fan.
But for more than ten years, Yang Tingkan had always been angry and even uneasy. He felt that his parents were suffering in a remote and cold place while he was enjoying the comfort in Kaifeng, which was an unfilial act. He also went to the emperor several times to plead for his father's life.
, but they were all rejected. Over the years, he has been under great psychological pressure. It is almost impossible to imagine that Yang Tingkan, who is not yet forty years old, has half of his hair gray. For this reason, his feelings for his parents are all.
No fakes allowed.
"Get up quickly!" Yang Bing leaned his old body and helped his eldest son up.
With tears in his eyes, Yang Tingkan looked at his gray-haired old mother and his old father who could no longer straighten his waist, and said emotionally: "Father, mother, you are unfilial, and you have suffered!"
As for Yang Bin, he noticed Yang Tingkan's gorgeous hair and the appearance of premature aging, and he also let out a deep sigh: "How can a little physical hardship be compared to the pain in your heart!"
As soon as he said this, Yang Tingkan burst into tears again, and finally managed to calm him down. He turned his attention to the three grandchildren who were following Yang Tingkan. When he left the capital and headed west, the eldest grandson was still an ignorant boy, and now he has grown into a mature child.
As a young man, Yang Bin finally showed a smile when facing the strange and curious eyes of his grandchildren.
Su Fengji saw this scene of reunion of flesh and blood from a distance, and his heart was full of emotions. After they recognized it, he slowly walked forward and said in an old voice: "Congratulations to Brother Yang, father and son are reunited, flesh and blood."
I'm so happy to recognize each other!"
Looking at Su Fengji, Yang Bin immediately told Yang Tingkan: "Quick, I've seen Su Gong!"
Yang Tingkan finally showed a little surprise. You should know that in the early years, these two people were political enemies in the court and fought to the death. However, he still obeyed the order and saluted Su Fengji respectfully.
The two of them, Yang Su, have some sympathy for each other. In the past many years, they have experienced ups and downs in life and suffered a lot. At this age, there is no grudge that can be ignored.
Although one was in Jingzhou and the other was in Yuanzhou, they were also neighbors. In the past, Su Fengji would visit Yang Bin and his wife from time to time, bringing wine and meat, and drink and talk with them. Yang Bin did not have Su Fengji's means of running a household, and his days
He had always been poor, and whenever he could no longer survive, Su Fengji would always provide food and money to support him.
It can be said that the bitter enemies back then are now true confidants.