Bright Spring

Liu Ming said with emotion, "I can't really say how much I feel about the tragedy of Chen Zhang. When a person grows up to a certain age, he is really a little numb to things that have no immediate interests. Chen Zhang has a great influence on my life. Younger, he is from the Chen family, and the old and young are taken care of by the Chen family, so he is not under my control. He is not from Shilin either, so he has no effect on my career."

Meng Ji nodded and agreed, "That's the case. But people usually don't talk about it, it's not good for relatives and friends to hear about it."

Liu Ming said, "I was usually busy with other things, and I didn't even think about him for a few days. It's just that in the dead of night, occasionally I no longer weigh the pros and cons, and no longer think about the real situation in front of me, so there is a kind of less intense, But a lingering mood."

Meng Ji didn't say anything, just listened silently.

Liu Ming was also silent for a while, and then said again, "I bullied Chen Zhang when I was a child, and I am two or three years older than him."

He said such a sentence without thinking, and then suddenly came back to his senses, shook his head and smiled, "But it was gone later, when he grew up, he was very strong, even if I, a literati, tried to bully him, I couldn't do it."

Meng Ji also showed an accompaniment smile, but he didn't speak.

When Liu Ming mentioned this topic, he couldn't help but say a few more words, "I remember one time, for some reason, I had a quarrel with Chen Zhang. That day, my mother gave us two hard-boiled eggs one by one, and then asked us to I went to a private school to study; after we went out, I snatched his eggs. Afterwards, my anger subsided, and I returned the eggs to Chen Zhang when I returned home from the private school, but I didn’t eat them.”

When he said this, he hurriedly said, "It seems that I shouldn't say these insignificant things, and I made Eunuch Meng laugh."

"No." Meng Ji smiled along with him.

But Liu Ming knew that Meng Ji understood what he said.Because Meng Ji quickly said a word, "It is inconvenient for our family to say more about your affairs. But our family thinks that it is just human nature."

The water on the stone stove was already making noise, and the two of them sat on the stool and suddenly became cold.They seemed to be in their hearts, still thinking about their own affairs.

end of this chapter)

Chapter 9 and One

Meng Ji found a chopstick to block the tea leaves in the iron cup, and then poured the tea soup into two Jingdezhen blue and white porcelain cups, originally intended for export.The cup of tea was quite dull, Liu Ming didn't speak, and Meng Ji became depressed.

At a certain moment, Liu Ming seemed to hesitate to speak, and glanced at Meng Ji.However, after a while, Liu Ming suddenly got up and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Meng, for the tea."

Hearing this sentence, Meng Ji was stunned for a moment, and finally couldn't help but said, "There are still two more soaks, Liu Shijun, don't worry, just sit down for a while."

Liu Ming had no choice but to sit back on the wooden stool.

Meng Ji had no choice but to take the initiative to ask, "Siamese and Chenla people have been here for a few days, and the matter is not easy to drag on. Does Mr. Liu care about it?"

Liu Ming's expression became serious, he pondered for a moment, and said, "The actions of the people of Chenla are quite bad, and I hate those people very much. But how can the lower officials judge them based on their likes and dislikes when the Holy Majesty entrusts them with great responsibility? The ministers talked about strategy, and the New Deal was to maintain the sea routes to the West and establish rules among the countries in the South China Sea. Every time I thought about this, the subordinate officials reminded themselves to be cautious and share the worries of the king.

The destruction of Chenla will not benefit Ming Dynasty.It is impossible for us to migrate a large number of soldiers and civilians to come to this humid | hot miasma to establish a government and directly govern the local area.In the end, the Chenla Congress was annexed by the surrounding countries such as Siam, Champa, and Annan. Among them, the Siamese country has dispatched a large army and will occupy most of Chenla's land.

In recent years, Siam's national strength has grown day by day, and countries such as Mantrika have paid tribute to it.Moreover, Siam may not necessarily follow the advice of the imperial court. If they still expand their power on a large scale, it may not be a good thing. "

Meng Ji nodded and said, "Yes, at the beginning of the war, Siam was on the sidelines. The difference between them and the Chenla people is that they are not so reckless, and they are not necessarily loyal to the court."

Now that Liu Ming had expressed his opinion, Meng Ji said again, "Liu Shijun is the minister who advocates the new policy, and the situation in the South China Sea will improve, which will also benefit the major affairs of the princes."

Liu Ming did not deny it.

Meng Ji observed Liu Ming's upright expression, but he couldn't tell whether Liu Ming had selfishness or selfishness.It is hard for people in the world not to think about themselves, at least Meng Ji is not dedicated to serving the public, he also has his own considerations.

"How to arrange after the abolition of Chenla?" Meng Ji asked again.

Liu Ming said, "According to the rules, the identity should be confirmed first, and then the Chinese army will discuss the matter."

The so-called deliberations, the people who have weight in their words are nothing more than Liu Ming and Meng Ji.Lin Zixuan, who is guarding this place, is a guard commander, so he should take care of military affairs; but when it comes to diplomatic relations with the imperial court, a guard commander and military officer can't talk about meddling.

Meng Ji said calmly, "Let Empress Dowager take a look at the head of her younger brother An En. An En is the chief culprit who killed our envoys, not some rebel thieves, and he deserved what he deserved."

Liu Ming said, "If it is indeed An En's head, then the sinner will be punished, and Chen Zhang's vendetta will be considered settled. But the murderer is not an abolished empress, we should still proceed with business."

Meng Ji secretly heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this.On the surface, he was still very indifferent. "It is said that when the Siamese killed An En, they captured his territory and killed his whole family. Is this considered karma?"

Liu Ming said, "I don't really believe in Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism and the Buddha here seem to be very different."

Only then did Meng Ji say, "Our family has an idea, but it is up to Mr. Liu to decide. To confirm the identity of the abolished empress, let her see An En's head first, and then find a seriously injured person to vote for her."

The surrendered Chenla generals will meet you.Envoys from Chenla, don't want them to see the abolished empress.How do you see it? "

Liu Ming thought for a while, then asked, "Eunuch Meng, is he afraid that the envoys from Chenla will ask for the deposed queen?"

Meng Ji said, "Since Shijun Liu is ready to accept the Chenla people's peace proposal and the two countries want to repair, it is reasonable to return their abolished empress. The abolished empress was also the king's queen."

Liu Ming was thoughtful, "Will the news leak out?"

Meng Ji smiled and said, "So what? We won't admit it, unless the people of Chenla come up with real evidence, but where is the evidence?"

Liu Ming said, "It's according to Eunuch Meng's will."

Meng Ji thought Liu Ming would continue to ask why, but Liu Ming didn't ask anything.Meng Ji couldn't help giving him another high look. This young Jinshi, who only became an official during the Wude years, didn't seem to be as immature as his age.

Liu Ming got up and said goodbye. Meng Ji didn't keep him this time and sent him outside the tent.

The next day Liu Ming met with Commander Lin Zixuan and informed Lin Zixuan to dispatch a troop of soldiers as a guard of honor and wear military uniforms to the Chinese Army's tent the next day.Ming officials will formally receive envoys from various countries and discuss diplomatic matters.

But on the same day, Liu Ming had a private meeting with one of the Chenla people. Of course, he was accompanied by the eunuch Meng Ji, the general officer, and the on-duty school lieutenant of Jinyiwei.

After the Chenla envoy saw the Ming officials, he immediately began to defend himself.He claimed that it was not the will of the Chenla royal family to kill An En of the Ming Dynasty Mission, and make arbitrarily assertive claims; the Chenla monarchs and ministers were also very angry when they knew about this.However, the enemy of the Ming Dynasty was due to the instigation of the envoys of the Manchujia Kingdom and the confusion of the descendants. The aristocrats, civil and military in the country today tried to oppose it.

However, Liu Ming seemed not to be interested in the past. He asked, "Does the Chenla Kingdom openly admit that the Ming court set up 'envoys' in Saigon Bay, and is it willing to assign the land east of Saigon to the Champa Kingdom?" The envoys were sent to pay tribute, and the king accepted the official position of the Ming Dynasty and took up the post of the governor of the "Chenla Governor's Mansion."

The envoy hardly hesitated, and asked directly, "Can Daming make the Siamese army retreat from Angkor Thom and stop threatening Phnom Penh?"

Liu Ming, through Tong Shi's translation, said, "If the imperial court can't do it and let the Chenla kingdom perish, what is the use of the request to you?"

So the two sides hit it off almost immediately, and immediately reached a peace agreement.

After one night, the large tent of the Chinese army was set up, and the simple ceremony of receiving the envoys from foreign domains began in the morning.First, Liu Ming, Meng Ji and the generals of the army went to the gate to meet the envoys of the Three Kingdoms, and walked all the way to the open space outside the big tent of the Chinese army.

At this time, the soldiers in blue and neat military uniforms lined up in a clean line and began to play ceremonies and music to raise the flag.In the rhythm of the magnificent horizontal blowing music and copper cymbals, a dragon, sun and moon flag was raised on a high flagpole.

All the officials bowed their hands to the flag, and the envoys had to follow suit.Then Liu Ming and others turned to the north, praised the emperor, and wished long live from a distance, and then welcomed everyone into the account.

The guards and generals outside the tent shouted and saluted, and the guards on both sides of the stand raised their light guns together, and clasped their fists to salute the person in the middle.

The foreign envoys couldn't help but look sideways, watching the guards with complicated eyes.In this era, it is estimated that they have never seen a more rigorous military appearance than this army.The cyan military uniforms purchased by the Shen-Xu Merchant Gang are of the same style and color, and they are usually marching and camping

Everyone doesn't wear this suit, so it's neat and clean.The queue also continued the training of the Crusade Army. It was quite neat and looked really neat.

According to the rules, Liu Ming first asked the envoys and kings from various countries that they were well, and then took their seats.Because Liu Ming was only an official, he and Meng Ji invited the envoys and deputy envoys to sit after the superiors took their seats.

But I saw that the Chenla people and the Siamese are somewhat similar in dress, and the hats they wear are all pointed, just like their Buddhist temple pagodas; however, these two groups are enemies.On the contrary, the Manzacans, who had been allied with the Chenla, wore very different costumes, and wrapped their heads with cloth, just like the Persians.

After talking with Tong Shi's translator, today's discussion was not as smooth as yesterday.

Soon the Chenla people quarreled with their allies, the Mancicans.The point of contention lies in the initial war and who started it.After several wars, it seems that now it has become a confused account.

Liu Ming stepped forward to stop their quarrel.The envoys of Mancijia made a request to withdraw the Ming army's navy from Malacca and stop attacking Mancijia. They will send envoys to pay tribute to them and restore the old relationship with the Ming emperor.