Chinese New Year

Epilogue to Chapter 1514
News of the emperor's death was quickly spread by messengers dispatched by the court to various places.

According to regulations, all prefectures, counties, protectorates, military garrisons, guard prefectures, and the Ministry of Revenue and Finance of the empire were required to send representatives to the capital to attend the state funeral. Those of high rank could enter the palace to pay their respects, while those of low rank could only watch from the outside.

In mid-September, dozens of riders arrived in Bianliang. The leader looked mournful and dejected. After dismounting, he went straight to the Elephant Gate of the Bianliang Palace.

"General Pugu, you are not allowed to enter." After verifying the seal, the soldier on duty outside the gate pointed to a neighborhood not far away and said, "There is an empty house in Jingshan Ward. There will be someone to guide you outside the ward gate. You will have to squeeze in with others. Please understand."

Pugu Zhongchen seemed not to hear, staring straight into the Xiangmen Gate. Just as everyone was starting to worry, Pugu Zhongchen suddenly knelt down and burst into tears.

"Your Majesty..." The burly, strong man wept uncontrollably, almost fainting.

Hearing the commotion, Xie An, the Imperial Censor who was talking with someone inside the Elephant Gate, immediately went out to investigate. Only after being introduced by others did he learn that Pugu Zhongchen was the commander of the Hengchong Camp under the Protectorate of the Xiongnu.

This battalion consists of a thousand cavalrymen, all of whom are well-armored and wield large spears. When they charge into battle, they are imposing and incredibly brave. They have participated in more than ten battles, large and small, including the conquest of Jin, the conquest of Liao, the western expedition, and the suppression of the Tuoba Xianbei rebellion. Their military achievements are outstanding, and their prestige is known throughout the southern desert.

The camp commander, Pugu Zhongchen, originally didn't even have a name. He was a gatekeeper in Xinping, and the locals called him "Kebozhen." Almost everyone in his family had died, leaving only his younger sister, who was given away by her master to a friend as a slave.

Because of his strong physique and bravery, he was appreciated by the emperor during the northern tour. The emperor not only promoted him to the position of commander of the Hengchong Camp, but also found his sister and married her to a widowed county magistrate in Yunzhong County.

Pugu Zhongchen acquired land and houses in both Dongmugen Mountain and Pingcheng. Those who visited said that the house in Pingcheng was the most beautiful and attractive, with lush fruit trees, neat wheat fields, and herds of cattle and sheep. Pugu's family had indeed prospered.

This is a living example of defying fate and changing one's destiny. He went from a penniless gatekeeper to a high-ranking official with modest wealth, and even helped his relatives. It would be impossible for him not to be grateful to the emperor.

After learning the details, Xie An immediately ordered that Pugu Zhongchen be allowed to enter and that temporary accommodations be arranged for him.

Pugu Zhongchen wiped away his tears, bowed to Xie An, and slowly disappeared into the depths of Guanfeng Hall.

Those outside the door who saw this all sighed in dismay.

The emperor's prestige, which had lasted for decades, unexpectedly spread to foreign lands. After his death, chieftains of the Hu people came to mourn him, their emotions so sincere that those who heard it wept and those who listened were heartbroken.

Of course, some with darker intentions secretly thought that this Hu chieftain named Pugu Zhongchen was not as rough and bold as he appeared; he was quite shrewd. Such a public performance, once spread, would likely garner universal praise and bring immense benefits to him and his family.

Xie An watched Pugu Zhongchen's retreating figure from afar.

This person was not the first. Nearby, there was a military commander named Feng Bazhi, who was quite old, but had gray hair. He was crying and saying that he wanted to see His Majesty one last time.

Those who know the truth are speechless. The emperor has already been laid to rest; how could they let you see him one last time? Don't be ridiculous.

However, Feng Bazhi was eventually allowed in to offer a distant prayer.

This was one of the emperor's requests before his death: if any envoys from foreign vassal states or tribes came, they should be allowed to enter and offer sacrifices without being stopped.

For this reason, the Court of State Ceremonial even set up a special place for worship at Lichun Terrace. It must be said that a great many people came, to the extent that it shocked those proud scholars.

Xie An slowly withdrew his gaze and sighed almost imperceptibly.

******
Feng Bazhi had already left Bianliang Palace and was lazily leaning against an oxcart.

He couldn't quite describe his feelings; he only felt as if all his strength was draining away, leaving him listless and unable to muster any energy. It was only when he saw the Hu general named Pugu Zhongchen weeping at the memorial service that he regained a little strength.

What a ruthless man! After the guards ordered him to remove his weapon, he took out a dagger and slashed his face several times, leaving it covered in blood, which was quite horrifying.

When the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial saw him disheveled and covered in blood, they all turned pale. Subsequently, Pugu Zhongchen requested to resign from his military post and offered to guard the tomb of the late emperor for the rest of his life.

Upon hearing the news, the new emperor rushed over and was deeply moved. He granted the request to guard the imperial tomb and appointed one of Pugu Zhongchen's sons as an official in the Imperial Guard, another son as a seventh-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, and another son to study at the Imperial Academy.

Although some say that Pugu Zhongchen was quite old and that guarding the tomb was fine, they felt it was worth it to secure the future of his three sons. The implication is that Pugu Zhongchen might be faking it.

But Feng Bachi didn't think so. He could understand Pugu Zhongchen very well, because he was also promoted by the emperor to where he was today.

His life was bleak and colorless before he met His Majesty, until that desperate, all-out struggle at the gates of Ji County.

From then on, his life became glorious. He donned the official robes that ordinary people envied, lived in a mansion that many people could only dream of for several lifetimes, had a beautiful wife and children and grandchildren around him, and lacked nothing. His family rose to prominence, which can be described as defying the heavens and changing his fate.

Moreover, there are so many people like him; outsiders really can't understand their emotions. They don't understand, they really don't understand...

The oxcart swayed and rocked along the country road.

Withered yellow weeds were everywhere, mirroring his mood. Perhaps, their generation would gradually retire, going to the underworld to follow His Majesty. The sky of the Great Liang Dynasty would be held up by new people, and it would no longer concern them. They no longer had the will to fight on the battlefield; they would pass on their life's battlefield experience to the next generation, hoping to help them suffer less, and that would be the end of their lives.

The oxcart continued its journey and soon arrived at the territory of Pingqiu Prefecture.

Under the frost and snow, the wheat seedlings in the fields are lush and green.

Smoke curls up from the chimneys of the houses.

With their faces red from the cold, the children, dressed in cotton-padded clothes or sweaters, looked like fluffy balls as they frolicked and chased each other in the fields.

"How wonderful!" Feng Bazhi grinned, thinking to himself, "How wonderful it would be if His Majesty could see this scene before he dies."

No, he must have left watching this scene, feeling incredibly satisfied, yet also a little reluctant to leave.

Thinking of this, a surge of strength slowly grew in Feng Bazhi's heart. He gently jumped off the oxcart, waved to his farmhand to let him go, and then, with his knife slung over his shoulder, walked on the familiar dirt road.

At this moment, he had no distracting thoughts and surveyed the territory under his jurisdiction like a great general.

He felt it was his responsibility to safeguard this small territory for His Majesty. His Majesty's achievements could not be undermined by anyone; anyone who dared to defy the world would be killed.

that is it.

******
The newly appointed Junior Supervisor of Works, Bian Tao, has been somewhat absent-minded these past few days.

The late emperor passed away, and a new emperor ascended the throne before his coffin. The courtiers shouted "Long live the emperor!" It was a time when a new generation replaced the old.

However, the new emperor Chunxiao did not change the reign title of the eighth year of Longhua, but instead designated the first day of the following year as the first year of Hongdao (350).

Upon hearing this reign title, some people felt a wave of despair, instinctively believing there was no hope.

Bian Tao also received a letter from Jiangnan, sent at an extremely fast pace.

In his letter, my third brother lamented repeatedly that he was not used to living in Jiangnan, had developed many health problems, and was not as agile as before. He also said that he did not get along with the local people, and that it was very difficult for his children to find spouses. He could only choose from the families of scholars who were also from the north, but the range of choices was far less than when he lived in the north.

After much lamentation, the third brother secretly inquired whether they could move back to their ancestral home in Jiyin. He suggested that the properties already acquired in Jiangnan could be treated as a separate estate, with a few nephews and nieces left to look after them.

Bian Tao replied to his third brother yesterday, telling him to give up such thoughts.

Even if the new emperor wanted to change course, he wouldn't do it now. Moreover, he would likely continue the policies of the previous emperor, at least not on this matter.

If you rush out now and get punished by the new ruler, you'll have nowhere to turn for help.

In addition, Bian Tao was actually somewhat dissatisfied with his third brother.

After so many years of ups and downs, he has come to understand some things.

Many events since the end of the Jin Dynasty can perhaps be traced back to the decline of the nation's power caused by factionalism and selfishness.

Powerful families monopolized money, grain, household registration, and official positions, leaving the imperial court weak and constrained in its actions. It could only govern by doing nothing or blend in with the crowd, resulting in a large but weak country that was unable to withstand upheavals.

The late emperor was actually quite generous, only allowing the land to be cultivated north of the Yangtze River and in Shu, leaving most of Eastern Wu for the scholars of the world. Wasn't that enough?

Now the Bian family of Jiyin has some land and houses in the north and large tracts of land in the south. Apart from the hot and humid climate, the area is rich in produce and has no other problems. If they manage it well, they can ensure the prosperity of the clan. What more could they ask for?

He was truly content and stopped thinking about it. There are actually many people like him who, over the years, have gradually accepted reality and no longer want to struggle.

People like my third brother are truly too greedy. If their greed reaches its extreme, it might just lead to another chaos like the end of the Jin Dynasty.

As his thoughts drifted, Bian Tao slowly returned home.

His wife came forward, and the children bowed respectfully. Food and drink were ready to wash away the day's fatigue.

That's enough! That's enough! He smiled brightly. Let the world be as it is, it's perfect.

(End of this chapter)