When Hunjun begins to make elixirs

For a time, the streets of the capital were deserted, civil and military officials, merchants and people poured out of the city to welcome the Holy Emperor back to his loyal capital. However, there is a secluded courtyard in the innermost part of Meihua Lane in the east of the city.

It had been abandoned for a long time, but in recent days a family moved in.

This family is very strange, there are two men and one woman, one old and two young. The old man looks very old, with a dwarf-like body shape, small and shriveled hands and feet, and his face squeezes the facial features and wrinkles together, giving people the feeling that loess has been buried in his neck.

When the neighbors saw him, they didn't dare to speak loudly, fearing that if they accidentally raised their voice louder, they would shock him to death.

He brought two children, one boy and one girl, who seemed to be just over ten years old. They were like porcelain dolls, carved in pink and jade, with big eyes. They looked like they had stepped out of a New Year painting. They didn't feel like they were... living person.

The neighbors were confused and frightened, so they reported it to the city patrol camp. The camp sent people to verify the information, but there was nothing wrong.

The three people were originally from the south. They came to the north to visit their relatives due to the war, and were later resettled here.

Their relative was a minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and with this strong relationship, the soldiers patrolling the city did not do any more interrogations.

Boss Zhang next door runs a pastry shop and needs to get up early every day. Recently, he discovered that the family next door got up earlier than him. Every time he passed by, he could hear the sound of children laughing and playing in the courtyard. There was a chill in the laughter that sent chills down the spine.

Children are the most sleepy. As the saying goes: "If you don't get enough sleep when you are young, you won't be able to sleep when you are old."

When he got up, his grandson was still fast asleep. Two days a day is fine, but doing this every day is too abnormal.

Since the beginning of the war, there have been many sorcerers in the city, and things like gods and ghosts that were originally far away from mortals have gradually become known.

The imperial court even established a Propaganda Department for this purpose to allow people to correctly understand such incidents.

Boss Zhang led his grandson outside the city, hoping to see the holy face and soak up the dragon's energy for peace. When he passed by that house, he saw that the door was closed. He couldn't help but take a few more glances. Just as he was about to leave, suddenly, the door opened wide and the old man came out with two children.

"Mr. Zhou, are you also planning to take your children to welcome the emperor back to Beijing?"

The old man who was called "Old Zhou" by Boss Zhang looked up at Boss Zhang and said with unclear expression: "The Emperor returned to the court in victory and allowed the people to welcome him. With such grace, how can we be at home and violate the Holy Spirit?" meaning."

Boss Zhang looked at the three people standing together, none of them reaching his chest, and suddenly felt funny. What could such a dwarf see in the crowd?
Boss Zhang didn't say much, just pretended to say a few words, and then left with his grandson. Because his grandson had already been hiding in his arms and did not dare to look at the two children.

Mr. Zhou held a child in his hand and looked coldly at Boss Zhang's leaving figure.

The boy didn't move, but turned his head mechanically and looked at Mr. Zhou and said, "Grandpa, this is the man who reported us a few days ago."

Mr. Zhou stroked the boy's head lovingly: "It's okay. When this happens, grandpa will let him be a toy for you."

The girl also laughed strangely, showing her white teeth: "I want to play too. I want that child."

Mr. Zhou agreed kindly: "Okay, we have everything. Now, let's go see the Holy Emperor who gave Taizu a headache."

Outside the city, hundreds of officials took the lead, and the people stood on both sides of the road.

The palace musicians played the emperor's special ritual music, and Li Shunlong slowly welcomed the envoys.

Ding Ao, as the representative of the emperor's personal instructions, stepped forward to greet him. It hasn't been long since he returned to Beijing, and he is now serving in the Privy Council. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that he is likely to be the next Chief Privy Councilor.

"Your Majesty, Ding Ao, pays homage to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor. Long live the Emperor."

Li Shun's voice came from the dragon: "Get back on your feet, Ding Aiqing, you are fine." Ding Ao stood up, lowered his head and said in fear: "Thanks to the emperor's great blessing, I can return to the capital smoothly."

Ding Ao understood the emperor's good intentions in transferring him back to the capital, so that he could get rid of the quagmire of the power struggle between the front parties.

Li Shun smiled lightly: "You can continue to host."

Ding Ao turned around, straightened his official uniform, and said loudly: "The emperor has made a triumphant return! All the officials will kneel down to greet you!"

All the officials took three steps forward and worshiped: "My emperor, the power of heaven, will sweep away evil spirits."

"Shanhu!"

"I respectfully invite my emperor to bow down to Jin'an! Long live! Long live! Long live!"

"Zaishanhu!"

"Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"

Ding Ao continued: "The white horse leads the way, and we are invincible!" Then, a group of golden-armored cavalry came from both sides to the emperor's dragon and marched forward.

The officials stood up and stood on both sides. When Long Zhu passed by, they followed closely and followed him into the city.

Along the way, the people bowed their heads and worshiped. The mountains shouted long live, the sound shook the sky, and the momentum was endless.

It wasn't until Li Shun entered the palace that the people dispersed. The emperor's majesty gave them a big shock.

Li Shun returned to the palace and immediately started the court meeting in the front hall.

He once again sat on the dragon throne openly and said in a deep voice: "The domestic war is almost over, but the crisis in our country has not been resolved. I have ordered your commander to inform you of the specific reasons. Ding Ao, please go first Let’s talk about the New Deal.”

Ding Ao stepped forward and said: "I traveled through seven provinces in Dayin, five in the north and two in the south. I implemented the new policy. The people were all happy and praised the emperor's benevolence. Now, the new policies in each province have been summarized. The northern part has basically completed the work of dividing people into acres, while the southern part is in chaos due to war. The impact was that the recovered state capital was the first to implement it, but in March, it encountered great resistance. "

Li Shundao: "What's the resistance?"

Ding Ao said: "The administration is corrupt and the officials and gentry collude to incite the people to resist the New Deal."

Li Shun said disdainfully: "It's still the same old thing."

Ding Ao said: "Most of the land is controlled by one family and one surname. There is a village and a town. The county government cannot control it. The powerful people are quite powerful. Some even collude with the rebels in an attempt to fight against the imperial court."

Li Shundao: "I have heard something. Since ancient times, the royal power has not been extended to counties, but I just ignore these fallacies. In the whole world, there is no royal land. No one can violate my will! I ordered the southern provinces to prepare military preparation areas and suppress the front lines. The bandit army is stationed on the spot to cooperate with the local government to implement the new policy."

"Your Majesty, you must not do this!"

An imperial envoy came out and said: "The primary purpose of the initial decision in the south is to appease people's hearts. Your Majesty's move is afraid of chilling the hearts of the scholars in the south. If the garrison stays, it is also afraid of repeating the tragedy of the Three Kings Rebellion, when the nobles became powerful. Minister. What is even more fearful is that the military’s involvement in local government affairs may harm the country and the people, and make the people uneasy.”

Li Shundao: "My dear, what is the meaning of this? Destroy and then build. If we don't take advantage of their foundation to be shaken to implement the New Deal, how can we wait for those powerful and evil gentry to regroup? How much energy will I expend in that way?"

"Furthermore, my new army has strict military discipline and is by no means comparable to the previous nobles. When I formed the new army, I set goals for them. Their mission is not just as simple as fighting and killing the enemy, but also our mission." A staunch supporter and executor of his will." (End of this chapter)