Chinese New Year

Epilogue 2 of Chapter 1515

Despite being called a winter capital, Gaochang's winters aren't actually that warm. Especially in the twelfth lunar month, it's dry and cold, although it's warmer than many places in Henan.

Theoretically, this place is suitable for growing winter wheat, but the problem is that the farmland irrigation facilities are not perfect. When crops need water the most, it is often a relatively dry season, which is quite troublesome. Therefore, although Gaochang "prepares to plant nine kinds of grains", it generally focuses on spring plowing - according to the Central Plains solar terms, it can usually start after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Therefore, when the envoy arrived in Gaochang at the end of September to report the death of the king, King Shao Xu of Zhao, had just returned from Jinman City behind the mountain. He was conducting military drills in the barren wilderness and also discussing the feasibility of planting winter wheat with county and township officials.

Upon receiving news of the late emperor's passing, Shao Xu immediately lost interest in doing anything else. He handed over the martial arts training to Xue Tao and Murong Ke, and returned to the palace with a bewildered expression. He met with the envoy who had come to announce the death and inquired about the details. Murong Ke's status was rising higher and higher, for no other reason than his kind and honest nature and his rapid growth. He may have been somewhat naive at first, but after a few years and many battles, he seemed to have a natural battlefield intuition, and his battle record became increasingly impressive.

The envoy who announced the death was an old acquaintance, Liu Kai, the registrar of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Liu Kai was also the Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, and married Princess Jianping, Shao Tong, so they were practically family. When he saw Shao Xu, he looked sorrowful, sighed slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences."

Shao Xu was lost in thought, and after a moment of daze, he stared intently at Liu Kai and asked, "Did my father leave any last words?"

Liu Kaifu bowed and said, "The late emperor's dying words were that the princes who were enfeoffed should each guard their own borders and send their heirs to the capital. If the heirs were too young, then the three ministers of the kingdom should replace them."

Shao Xu nodded subconsciously.

Prince Shao You is eighteen years old this year. He is of legal age and has served as the Commander of the Upper Army in the kingdom's three armies for two years. He is eligible to go to the capital to attend the funeral.

However, deep down, he still hoped to go to the capital in person, but his father's dying words eliminated that possibility.

Perhaps he was worried about his sixth brother's suspicions. Sigh, Shao Xu let out a barely audible sigh.

After sighing, she recalled her past interactions with her father and felt a pang of heartache.

The companionship of my father during my childhood, the guidance of my father during my adolescence, the trials arranged by my father in my adulthood... all these events and scenes flashed before my eyes, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences," Liu Kai said, offering words of comfort.

Shao Xu snapped out of his daze, wiped away his tears, and had someone invite Liu Kai to the guesthouse to rest. He himself sat blankly in the main hall, staring at the desolate, gray-yellow scene in the courtyard, speechless for a long time.

He knew that his father was actually doing it for his own good. Preventing him from going to the capital was to avoid arousing his sixth brother's suspicion, and also to avoid giving ambitious people an opportunity—although the possibility was very small.

But he really wanted to go to Bianliang to see his father's belongings, to remember the place where his father last lived, and to feel the familiar atmosphere.

Unfortunately, it all came to naught. From now on, he could only remain alone in Gaochang, managing this fiefdom and serving as the northwestern bulwark of the country.

He couldn't even see his mother, and could only find solace in correspondence.

Being born into the imperial family comes at a price, and this is it.

Shao Xu sat for a long time until Princess Shen came to comfort him after hearing the news.

He let out a long sigh, pulled his wife into his arms, and gently stroked her hair.

He was thirty-eight years old, a father of six, and the backbone of eighty thousand soldiers and civilians in three prefectures and ten counties. He had no right to cry and lament.

His father had hoped that he could help stabilize the northern half of the Western Regions and ensure the stability of the Great Liang. If that's the case, then let him fulfill his father's wish; perhaps this was the meaning of his later life.

******
Almost simultaneously with Liu Kai's arrival in Gaochang, the envoy for mourning, Yin Hao, also arrived in Xiuyan. After learning that the Prince of Yan had already gone south for the winter, he rushed to Lushun without stopping, and finally met the Prince of Yan, Shao Yu, and his entire family in a villa on Mashou Mountain.

"So, Grandfather won't let us go to the capital?" Shao Yu asked Yin Hao calmly.

He was accompanied by hundreds of teenagers, mostly orphans born during the war, who practiced martial arts in a cleared area halfway up the mountain.

The boys practiced very hard, meticulously following each step, and looked at Shao Yu with reverence and admiration.

This scene made Yin Hao feel somewhat dazed, as if it were just like this when the late emperor was alive...

"Indeed, this is the late emperor's edict," Yin Hao replied, regaining his composure.

"I understand." Shao Yu waved his hand, ordering someone to take Yin Hao away to rest and treat him well.

The boys continued honing their martial arts skills, oblivious to everything around them.

Shao Yu walked to the edge of the cliff, touched the railing, and gazed at the distant sea.

It was early winter, and the Liaohai Sea was turbulent with high winds and rough waves. Fog would occasionally rise, making it difficult to see the road ahead, just like his mood at that moment.

As the earliest feudal state, Liaodong, though only one prefecture, had as many as eleven counties and a large population. Although a major epidemic broke out inexplicably a couple of years ago—mainly in the Xiangping, Xinchang, and Jujiu areas—the population was still more than twice that of the three prefectures of Gaochang.

He was quite diligent in governing the country, and his rewards and punishments were fair and measured, resulting in strong cohesion within Liaodong. Last year, in Xiping County, he fought with the Goguryeo people for a valley plain whose ownership was unclear. Various tribes enthusiastically sent troops, creating a great momentum. They drove away all the hundreds of Goguryeo soldiers who had come to cultivate the land, and frightened the brothers Gao Zhao and Gao Wu so much that they dared not take action and ultimately retreated.

This year, when he was building Phoenix City, which his father had mentioned before, there was no resistance when he recruited people, which shows that his control over Liaodong Kingdom has entered a new stage.

Perhaps for this reason, the people of Liaodong were very ambitious. On one hand, they were doing extensive trade with Qingzhou, Jizhou, Youzhou, Pingzhou, and even Baekje, while on the other hand, they were preparing for war and attempting to expand into the surrounding areas. Some even privately complained that the King of Yan was so virtuous, so why couldn't he ascend the throne? They could also become his loyal subjects and bring glory to their ancestors.

Of course, this was just private gossip among a few people. Anyone with a modicum of sense knew that Liaodong Kingdom had only about ten thousand soldiers. While their fighting strength was considerable and they had many excellent warhorses, they were still no match for the Great Liang Dynasty. To put it bluntly, the twenty thousand-plus hereditary soldiers of Pingzhou, trained by Grand Tutor Li Chong for many years, were a formidable obstacle. They had fought many battles, had ample horses, and were aided by various tribes from the grasslands; you might not even be able to overcome them. Even if you did, there were still thirty thousand battle-hardened hereditary soldiers from Youzhou…

Shao Yu was clear-headed. He was acutely aware of the vast disparity in strength between the two sides; there was no way they could fight. Moreover, he had no interest in it. Perhaps he felt a slight discomfort deep down about his sixth brother's succession, but overall he could accept it—what else could he do if he didn't accept it?

After years of development, at least some parts of Liaodong are quite good, such as Lushun.

He loved the city and would come here to stay every late autumn until he left the following spring.

The weather here is similar to that in many parts of Qingzhou, so there's not much difference in living conditions. Overall, his father is very caring and kind to him.

Perhaps, this is how my life will be.

His grandparents were gone, his mother was gone, and now his father was gone too. He felt his connection to Luoyang and Bianliang weakening day by day. After his familiar brothers and sisters were gone, even the last thread of attachment would be severed.

Shao Yu slowly raised his face and looked at the misty sky, seemingly unwilling to let his tears fall, but letting the sea breeze dry them.

I wonder how my elder brother is doing. He has just gained a foothold in Lelang, and only two or three months ago did he receive 600,000 bushels of grain, a large amount of supplies, and manpower.

He must be very busy.

But with their father gone, Shao Yu longed to confide in someone. These two brothers, both stranded in a foreign land, probably had a lot on their minds to talk about.

The promise made at Yalushui should be kept.

******
Compared to the princes who were stationed outside the capital, most of the princes and princesses who remained in Bianliang were observing mourning at home.

My father will not be buried until the middle of next year.

The royal mausoleum at Luhun Mountain is surrounded by lush pines and cypresses, a beautiful place for my father, who has worked hard all his life, to rest.

So good.

"If nothing unexpected happens, His Majesty will return to Luoyang by the middle of next year," said Huan Wen, the Left General of the Imperial Guard, as he draped a brocade robe over his wife.

Princess Jingfu nodded and continued checking her children's studies.

She had been married to Huan Wen for twenty years and they had two sons and two daughters, which was actually not many.

The eldest son, Huan Zhao, is eighteen years old and is already discussing marriage, while the youngest daughter is only five years old and still very young.

For twenty years, the couple were deeply in love, and Huan Wen remained honest and upright, never having any scandals.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, although he did not immediately relocate his troops, he still commanded nearly 10,000 soldiers of the Left Changzhi Guard. However, this was only temporary, or rather, he needed a pretext—such as leading the Left Changzhi Guard to conquer the Tuyuhun Xianbei and achieving merit.

Huan Wen was destined for a brilliant future; there was no doubt about that.

"Did His Majesty say anything when we entered the palace today?" After checking her husband's homework, Shao Fu stretched and asked.

Huan Wen knew what his wife was asking about and immediately said, "No. The provisions and manpower that the late emperor approved before his death have basically all been sent on their way. His Majesty has not recalled them. He even issued a special edict to send an additional 50,000 bolts of silk and 500,000 bushels of grain to Zangke after the summer harvest next year. He also allowed the officials of the King of Chu to recruit soldiers in Henan and Hebei and move their families."

"His Majesty still values ​​brotherhood," Shao Fu said, feeling somewhat relieved.

If her sixth brother really turns his back on her, as the eldest sister, she will have to go to the palace to advise him—whether he listens or not is another matter, but she will definitely have to advise him.

Now that the brothers are harmonious and respectful, nothing could be better. As for what the future holds, she can't worry about that anymore.

The bonds of affection always diminish day by day. We may cherish brotherhood now, but that may not be true in the future.

However, on the other hand, even if the government stops providing grain, manpower, equipment, and money in the future, Zangke and even Lelang will likely gradually gain a foothold and become self-sufficient. After all, they can't always rely on the imperial court, right? What's the point of feudalism then?
"Has the Grand Commandant made any unusual moves?" Shao Fu asked again.

"I heard that Lord Yu was overwhelmed with grief a while ago and fell ill. He has only recently recovered, but he has been keeping to himself and refusing visitors." Huan Wen said, "His Majesty visited the Grand Commandant's residence yesterday and instructed Lord Yu not to rush to court, but to rest at home to avoid developing a chronic illness."

Shao Fu understood and sighed softly.

Yu Yuangui was actually a loyal subject with a deep affection for his father, but he was impatient and had unrealistic ambitions. Moreover, compared to his past self, he had changed a lot and was no longer as bad as he used to be.

Perhaps next year, Liang Nu will gradually give him a chance. Ultimately, this world still needs someone like Yu Yuangui to step forward and serve as a figurehead.

In the present moment after my father's passing, we must all work together to support this world.

In terms of maintaining the status quo, Liang Nu may not be considered particularly outstanding, but he is at least competent.

That's great. It seems that my father's hard work can continue for the time being, and with the passage of time, it can gradually solidify its foundation and even be carried forward.

(End of this chapter)