Overlord's Road to Ancient Emperors

When Cen Huan returned to his house, a beautiful woman ran to greet him cheerfully, took off his shoes and changed his clothes, talked and laughed softly, which made Cen Huan happy physically and mentally.

Cen Huan was about to hug someone tenderly when he saw the curtain lifted, and a woman in her 20s came out with a basin. Seeing the scene in the main room, she was stunned for a moment, and then walked out without turning her eyes.

The Qingli woman flinched into Cen Huan's arms, and asked aggrievedly: "Mr. Lang, my sister doesn't seem to like being a concubine, why don't you let the concubine go back?"

"It's nothing, Xi Niang is just not very talkative." Cen Huan caressed his concubine's tender cheeks, and leaned forward to kiss her again. He had never seen such a gentle and graceful woman. Birds are generally cheerful, and when they are unhappy, they will cry and make noise, very lively.

Cen Huan also came here through hardships when he was a child. He took Xi Niang when he was a teenager. The two worked hard together and raised a five-year-old son. He thought this would be like this in this life, but his grandfather was reused by King Shun , he came to seek refuge with his grandfather, and successfully got a job. For more than a year, he worked diligently and achieved the position of steward. He had enough money and food, and his life was rich. He even saved Yuniang when he went out occasionally. The other party agreed with his body, even if he was a concubine, he didn't mind, he felt that life like this was enough.

After playing with my concubine for a while, Yu Niang leaned against him and asked, "I heard that a newcomer came today, what does he do?"

"He's a teacher, he's quite well-mannered."

"Then where is he from? It feels like he just popped up out of nowhere. Is there any problem with his identity?"

Cen Huan replied nonchalantly: "Director Xiao Wu personally brought it, so there must be no problem. It is said that he came from another place, but I don't know the details."

Yu Niang rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "That must not be as good as yours, sir. Your grandfather is in charge of Cen, a figure even King Shun respects."

Speaking of Cen Jin, Cen Huan must be proud. He heard that King Shun wanted to give his cousin an official position at that time, but the adults of the county guard's mansion did not agree, otherwise he would be the son of an official at this time.

"By the way, when are we going to see grandfather again? He is old and lives alone outside. We still need to take care of him."

"You're right, Xi Niang will visit his old man today."

"It's better to let the concubine go together. The concubine is a slave and is used to rough work, and my sister... doesn't mean that my sister is bad. My sister is too sincere. I will say something nice to you when I go. Is there a vacancy for a second-level manager, the kind with real power, if grandfather comes forward to speak for you, he will definitely be able to take this position."

Cen Huan was very excited about the position. He heard that it was the manager of the factory purchase, and many people fought for it. If his grandfather could come forward, he would definitely be able to win this position for him.

"But..." Cen Huan was worried. The first time he took Yuniang to see his grandfather, he was very displeased with her and made it clear that he didn't want to see her in the future. Because of her status as a concubine, she didn't like her. If she was the main wife, she would definitely not be embarrassed.

After Xi Niang came in after drying her clothes, seeing the two of them still talking together, she felt unspeakably bitter. Ever since this little concubine came in, the love in her husband's eyes had burned her heart. It's a good life, but she would rather go back to the past, where the husband and wife are kind and friendly, and there is no one in the family of three.

"Sir, I'm going to visit my grandfather." Xi Niang took her things and went out, but she didn't see her husband's complicated eyes behind her.

Cen Jin is old and lives alone in a large courtyard. Li Xu sent someone to take care of him, but the servants are different from his family. Cen Jin is not used to having strangers living at home, so Qian Niang will come to him every few days once.

Xi Niang comes here often and is very familiar with this place. She speaks little and is diligent. Every time, she brings some homemade food to the old man, cleans his room, waits for him to write and write, and sometimes leaves without saying a few words.

Cen Jin was basking in the sun in the yard, feeding the pigeons with millet in his hand, and listening to their cheerful calls seemed to add some popularity to the house.

"Nephew and daughter-in-law..."

"Yes."

"Is Yun'er five years old?"

"Yes."

"It's time to enlighten."

"Msanggong said, send it to school when you are old."

"It's too late, and you won't learn much. You send him another day, and I'll teach him how to write."

Only then did Xi Niang show a little smile, thanking her gratefully.

"How is your home recently?"

Xi Niang's smile faded, she lowered her head and replied, "It's okay."

She seemed to hear a sigh, and when she looked up, she saw the old man closed his eyes again, swaying on the rocking chair, carefree, but she knew that he had suffered so much in his life that he only met King Shun in his later years, otherwise he would only A bad old man wandering in the countryside.

When she finished tidying up the yard, she was about to leave. Before she left, she heard Cen Jin say, "Nephew and daughter-in-law, it's different now. It's not like a woman can't live without a man. King Shun is a very enlightened master."

Xi Niang paused, then turned her head and bowed to him, then retreated silently.

On the way back, she saw Yuniang standing in front of a sesame seed stall to buy sesame cakes. When she handed the money to the stall owner, she seemed to have something in her palm, but she couldn't see clearly from a distance.

Yu Niang winked at the stall owner, and then smiled coquettishly, "Your sesame seed cakes taste the best, just like when I was a child."

"Thank you for your patronage, lady, I will come here often in the future."

When Yu Niang turned around, she saw Xi Niang standing not far away, she was startled, she didn't know how long she had been standing there, and what she saw again, she lowered her head and a look of sternness flashed in her eyes, and then walked slowly towards her .

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The poorness of Nanyue was the first impression every courtier had of Nanyue. Therefore, when the court received successive reports from King Shun asking for food, money and people, no one felt that there was anything wrong.

Nanyue had just fought a battle with the pirates and said it was a victory. Who knows how much manpower, material and financial resources were spent? Human pirates do not hesitate to expand the army. It is said that the people of South Vietnam put down everything in order to produce military supplies for the Kou family army. They worked non-stop for a whole month before supplying tens of thousands of Kou family troops to fight a battle for more than a month.

The reason why this battle was won was all because the leader of the pirates made a mistake in decision-making. Kou Xiao found his lair first, took advantage of the emptiness behind the pirates and occupied their lair, and then waited for the rabbit.

Such a simple battle can be won by anyone, this is what the courtiers thought in their hearts, but the war would burn money, and it was not easy for a small place in South Vietnam to resist this battle.

It hasn't been safe for a few months, and Lingnan is in chaos again. No one is willing to go all the way to suppress the rebellion. Naturally, the nearest King Shun can only bear this responsibility, but when it comes to food and military pay, all ministers They began to blame each other again.

The emperor's body was getting weaker day by day, his hair was gray, his eyes were lax, and he was far less energetic than two years ago. He sat on the dragon chair and looked at Li Xu's memorial, and asked in a hoarse voice: "The grain, grass and military salary have not been sent to King Shun yet. go?"

As soon as this remark came out, the relevant officials tensed up. They dared not say that you never ordered us to send it. They could only explain: "Returning to Your Majesty, it is still in preparation. Because the journey to South Vietnam is too far, I suggest you send it from Yangzhou Prefecture or other places." Neighboring counties adjust grain, as for grain and salary, I don’t know how much should be paid?”

The emperor glanced at the numbers on the memorial and frowned. Li Xu dared to ask the court for 30 taels of military silver and [-] dans of grain and grass, which was enough to feed [-] Kou's troops for a whole year.

He knew that Nanyue was poor, and he couldn't bear to make his son suffer too much, so he agreed to part of the amount, "Allow 10 taels to Nanyue. As for the food and grass, let King Shun prepare it himself. If there is any shortage, you can ask Linjun Borrow food, but not more than [-]."

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, 10 taels is not too much as a military salary, and the military expenditure allocated by the Northwest every year is dozens of times of this.

Especially now that King Qi is gone, King Shun may not have the opportunity to return to the capital, and at this time a good relationship will be formed so that we can meet again in the future.

Therefore, the money was transferred to Li Xu's hands very quickly, and it was a full 10 taels, not a cent was deducted, which was beyond Li Xu's expectation.

Li Xu looked at the white money and said to Kou Xiao: "In the past, I heard that it would be good to leave half of the army's salary after being stripped layer by layer. This time, I underestimated them. They actually gave me face like this."

Kou Xiao loves money more. He has been worrying about money since he came to power, and now that King Shun is in his hands, he is relieved. He said happily: "They are selling your face, and the money is directly transferred from the treasury. Yes, the number of people passing by is small, and this general has always been fair and honest, and has never done anything to exploit military pay, if it is replaced by other generals, it may not be so neat."

"Then this money should be allocated to Kou's army as a reward. Winter is coming soon, and this year's winter clothes will be distributed at the end of the year. Let them buy some meat with this money."

"Really?" Kou Xiao hugged a box, almost drooling, "Then how to deal with this is up to the general?"

"That's natural, everything is up to the general." Li Xu never intervened in military affairs, even if Kou Xiao wanted to embezzle the money for himself, he would have nothing to say.

"The money from the imperial court has also been sent. Should we send troops to Lingnan in the next step? Just for show?"

Li Xu happened to have this plan, "Well, in name, we will pull 2 people over there, and then send another group of people to the sea to catch some seafood for the people in Lingnan for the winter. After such a toss this year, the people's life will not be easy. .”

Kou Xiao winked at him with a smirk, "You are planning to buy people's hearts first, so that it will be easier to exploit them in the future."

Li Xu said righteously: "What about exploitation? It's obviously mutual benefit. My king provides them with job opportunities, and they use their own labor to earn money. What's wrong with that?"

"That's right, just look at the changes in Nanyue. When the winter is free, let's go around and have a look. We will go there every year in the future and see for ourselves how Nanyue is getting better and better."

Li Xu looked at him with squinted eyes and smiled, Kou Xiao's expression at this time was very much like a naughty and active boy in his teens, planning to go out for an outing with his friends, his eyes were full of light, very energetic.

Li Xu reached out and touched the corner of his eyes, and said in a doting tone that he didn't realize: "This is a good idea, let's take a look every year, and when I can get out of South Vietnam, I will take you all over the world. Look at the magnificent rivers and mountains, experience the suffering of the people, and taste all the delicacies in the world."

Kou Xiao rushed over and hugged him tightly, and asked excitedly, "Are you going to live forever?"

"of course."

"Just the two of us?"

"That can't be done." Li Xu took advantage of the other party's anger and explained: "You have to bring a few entourages and guards, Xiao Liu must follow, and He Zun must also be together, otherwise no one will be lost if we both get lost. Know."

"Yes, yes, everything is up to you." Kou Xiao happily turned somersaults, and then rushed out to call for someone to carry the boxes. Box after box of silver was carried out from the Shun Palace, and he went around the city in a big circle, telling All the common people, this is the military salary sent by the imperial court, in order for the Kou family army to suppress the riots in Lingnan.

Therefore, within a day, all the people in the city knew that Kou’s army was going to march again. This time, they were going to Lingnan, which was requested by the imperial court. For this reason, the imperial court returned the money. It's still shocking to look at.

"The autumn harvest will be coming soon, why choose this time to go out? We don't have time to cook something for them." An old lady said regretfully.

"I heard that the prince told them to leave after the autumn harvest. The Lingnan side also has to rush to harvest. At this time, a year's labor will be wasted in a war. You can't do that."

"Then hurry up, go home and bring the farm tools to harvest. The sun is good these few days. Maybe there is still time to make some new rice cakes for them to taste before they go out. This year, the rice has been harvested for two seasons, and the food at home is enough. of."

As long as the family has a field, the harvest this year is good. The two seasons of rice have been put into the warehouse, which is several times more than in previous years. Although the grain tax is also high, everyone is happy.

During the half month of the autumn harvest, Kou’s army’s drill location also changed. The 5 people were divided into several teams and spread out in all directions. They would help anyone who was working, especially those who lacked labor at home. In the past, strong soldiers could complete their workload for several days in a day, which relieved a lot of burden on the people, and they were applauded.

Therefore, when the Kou family’s army returned to the barracks, there were people everywhere who came to give gifts. Many people came to collect donations with freshly sun-dried rice, and those who had sons at home who joined the army gave generously. They only hoped that their children would be full in the barracks. eat well.

You must know that a few years ago, when the Kou family's army was the poorest, all of them had to hunt in the mountains and go fishing in the sea to barely eat half full. Scratch some loot, or you might be hungry enough to eat dirt.