Three thousand miles in exile

"Cough cough cough..."

"Father, shall I let the court judge come and take a look?" Zhao Jizhang comforted him while sitting in front of the collapse.

Zhao Hengfu leaned against the head of the bed, coughing uncontrollably with a handkerchief covering his mouth, and shook his head and refused when he heard his son's words.

"How can this be done? It's been a while." Zhao Jizhang persuaded again.

"I just watched it yesterday, why bother to watch it again." Zhao Hengfu panted. "What's the matter this morning?"

"There is good news and bad news." Zhao Jizhang sighed.

"Say." Zhao Hengfu coughed again in a low voice. Last year, he caught wind and cold in winter and it didn't get better. After summer, it became a chronic disease. Now he has been ill for a year. Under the torment of the disease, Zhao Hengfu's hair is old and thin with silver hair. .

"The good news is that there is good news from northern Xinjiang. Qi Yunjun recaptured Fanyang Pass, Zhan'er killed King Yan, and the state of Yan fell into civil strife."

Zhao Hengfu's eyes were bright. "Okay, okay, such a big thing must be rewarded based on merit."

"Father..." Zhao Jizhang shook his head. "What Fang Situ means is that General Qi Yun has already occupied one side and is so powerful that there is no need to give him another title."

Because Zhao Hengfu was seriously ill and unable to deal with the affairs of the DPRK and China in time, the officials elected Fang Yuliang as the new chief situ last month, and Fang Yuliang's cousin took over as Wei Wei.

"Nonsense, such a great achievement, if the imperial court does not award rewards, how will the people of the world view the Son of Heaven?" Zhao Hengfu scolded in a low voice.

But now Fang's party has risen and its power is huge. The ministers headed by Pei Gongli follow Fang Yuliang's lead and confront the Emperor's party in court every day.

"Father, this matter of Zhan'er will not get over. No matter it is the attitude of the officials or the Fang family, they are very firm." Zhao Jizhang was helpless.

At that time, Liu Zhan reminded the Zhao family that they could take the opportunity to replace Zhou's party members with their own people, but Zhao Hengfu did not want to become a powerful minister and did not do so.

If the Zhao family is not in the top position, other families will take the opportunity to take the position. No one expected that the biggest beneficiary of the Zhou family's downfall would be the Fang family. Now that the Fang family controls the court, it is more and more like the Zhou family back then.

However, Zhao Hengfu was seriously ill again, and the imperial division party was powerless to contend with him.

Zhao Hengfu frowned, covered his lips and coughed again. "And what's the bad news?"

Zhao Jizhang didn't want his old father to worry, but he had to say it. "Xi Rong attacked Yumen Pass, and the battle was fierce. The Qing army reported that the casualties had exceeded [-], and the imperial court was required to increase troops as soon as possible."

"Why...cough cough cough..." Zhao Hengfu choked when he got excited, and coughed heart-piercingly for a while.

"Go ask the Lin Court for a sentence!" Zhao Jizhang's complexion changed drastically, and the maids and servants were busy bringing medicines and water, and the house was in a hurry.

The Lin Court's verdict arrived soon, and the immediate application of acupuncture and medication finally put Zhao Hengfu in order.

"Prime Minister, you can't work any longer, if this goes on..." Lin Yuan shook his head and sighed.

Zhao Hengfu sent his son away and left him alone in Lin Court for sentencing. "Please tell the court to be frank, how many days does this old man have?"

"This..." Courtyard Lin panicked.

Zhao Hengfu said calmly: "But it's okay to say, the old man understands my body, I just want to know the day to arrange the funeral."

The judge of Lin Yuan handed over his hand, his face was sad. "That's right, it's winter..."

Although he was mentally prepared, Zhao Hengfu was stunned for a long time knowing that he only had so many days. He closed his eyes, feeling sad.

"Don't let this matter out, not even the old man's family."

It wasn't until Lin Yuan judge left the room that Zhao Hengfu let go of the handkerchief tightly clutched in his hand, only to see a bright red patch in the middle of the handkerchief.

Zhao Hengfu didn't say a word about coughing up blood, and he didn't even tell the Lin court judge.

It has only been a long time since the Zhou family took power, and the Fang family has controlled the inside and outside of the court. Now, no decision can be surpassed by the Fang family. Now because he is still alive, the Fang family has restrained himself, if he is not around.

This Fang family not only controls the [-] forbidden troops but also the court, and Emperor Xiao is young. Isn't this situation exactly the same as that of the founding emperor of Great Chu!

Suddenly, Zhao Hengfu wanted to see Liu Zhan very much, and wanted to tell him that he regretted it, and that he should not give up the power of the court for the sake of fame.

"Zhan'er, the old man was wrong." Zhao Hengfu was so regretful that he became short of breath and coughed more violently.

Now that he's gone, what will the little emperor, who is less than eight years old, do?What kind of situation should Da Chu, who has finally become a bit like ZTE, be reduced to?

That night, Zhao Hengfu fainted, and the emperor's mansion was in a panic.

The news reached Fangfu as quickly as possible.

"What did the imperial physician say?" Fang Yuliang did not hide his joy at all.

The spies reported back. "The little servant heard it with his own ears, and he won't survive the winter."

"Okay!" Fang Yuliang clapped his hands and laughed.

The surrounding staff congratulated one after another, and the study room was filled with joy.

Pei Gongli's face was full of joy, and he went out to bow to Fang Yuliang with his heart beating like a drum. "Big Situ, this is God's blessing to send you a big responsibility. You can take advantage of this good opportunity to let go of the layout. When the big prime minister is gone, great things can be accomplished!"

These words really touched Fang Yuliang's heart, every night he dreamed about when he would be able to sit in the position of the Ninth Five Supreme.

If you talk about being anxious, Fang Yuliang is more anxious than anyone else. At this moment, he decided not to hide anymore.

"Gongli, you draw up a list, some people don't need to stay." Fang Yuliang smiled happily.

"Don't worry, Da Situ, the next official will definitely not keep his hand." Pei Gongli bowed deeply again.

Back then, the Zhou family's party and dissent were about to be staged again, and the court of Great Chu seemed to be reincarnated again and again.

The Zhao family is well-known all over the world and cannot be moved, and there are still some neutral nobles who cannot be moved. As for those old officials of the Zhou family who Zhao Hengfu let go of, as well as the aristocratic families who have old grievances with the Fang family, they have all become the targets of this party's unanimous attack.

Zhao Hengfu wanted to stop him, but he was paralyzed in bed after this convulsion, as if even the heavens helped Fang.

Northern Xinjiang in late autumn in September.

At that time, Liu Zhan was overseeing the army outside Liyang Pass. After a month of siege, the Yan army's defense became weaker and weaker. It was at this time that Song Fenglin personally brought Zhao Hengfu's letter to the front line.

Seeing that Song Fenglin's complexion was not right, Liu Zhan hurriedly opened the envelope, his mood was visible to the naked eye, and finally he pressed the letter on the table and remained silent for a long time.

This is a last letter from Zhao Hengfu.

"Teacher..." Song Fenglin sat aside, feeling very depressed, and didn't know what to say for a while.

"It's not easy to be the prime minister of Da Chu. Grandpa is getting old." Liu Zhan pressed Song Fenglin's shoulder, knowing that Song Fenglin had nowhere to vent his sadness.

"How can the teacher alone resist Dachu's country full of holes, he is too tired." Song Fenglin sighed.

The Zhou family took power and completely defeated the foundation laid by Emperor Ren. When Zhao Hengfu took over, all six departments were in the red, and the account of the household department was even worse.

Biansheng also encountered years of severe drought in the Central Plains, almost no crops in the fields, the people were displaced, and the imperial court was busy with disaster relief. However, Hanzhong was in the south of Xirong, and the tax revenue was less visible.

Dachu, a huge monster, looks prosperous on the surface, but is actually decayed and ailing inside. In the north, there are vassals such as Liu Zhan, who ruled one side, the drought in the central plains is severe, and there are aristocratic families in the south who are unable to understand government orders.

I don't know how difficult it is to govern such a country.

Liu Zhan frowned. "The Fang family is about to make a move, and the Xu family is united with the army and power. With grandpa gone, the little emperor may not be able to sit on the throne."

Did the Zhao family miss it? Liu Zhan didn't say it out loud.

"In this chaotic world where powerful ministers rule the country and the vassal army, it is enough for the teacher to rectify the country and support the society by himself, so that he will not be named a great Confucian of his generation in this life." After all, Song Fenglin understands Zhao Hengfu.

Zhao Hengfu set an example for future generations by setting an example of a loyal and good minister, and he has already done it.

When he was in charge of the court, he swept away the chaos during the Zhou family's reign. There were no factional disputes and unjust prisons, which brought a short period of clarity to the Great Chu court.

Unfortunately, only less than two years.

"Isn't the powerful minister and fan army you're talking about just your husband?" Liu Zhan pinched his earballs, his eyes teasing.

"..." Song Fenglin was speechless.

"Grand Chu has made my grandpa immortal and wise, and he has also made me." Liu Zhan played with his fleshy earballs fondly, with a smile in his eyes.

"Da Chu is like a wrecked ship that has been corroded by termites. It is exhausted."

The change of regime is like the reincarnation of heaven. The fall of each dynasty will be accompanied by a history of disputes in the world. Liu Zhan's eyes are calm and hazy as if he has insight into the long river of history. Song Fenglin was stunned for a moment.

"Will you board this new ship?" Song Fenglin asked after a long time.

"Emperor Wen still has a little kindness for me, what does this new emperor have to do with me." Liu Zhan's eyes were teasing.

Song Fenglin was not surprised at all.

Ever since Zhao Hengfu was seriously ill, the court of Great Chu was strangely peaceful, and every day he went to court and retreated without any reason. Fang Yuliang looked down on all the officials.

Zhao Jizhang saw all this and sighed in his heart.

Liu Tongxin, who had been promoted to the Minister of Rites when he was in the next dynasty, came out side by side with Zhao Jizhang.

"Fang's climate has already been established, so we can't touch it." Liu Tongxin whispered, perhaps seeing Zhao Jizhang hesitant to speak when he was in court in the early morning, but he stopped to chase after him to remind him.

Now that the Liu family is completely dormant, Liu Tongxin also chose to stand in line with the Fang family.

It's not that the Liu family has neglected righteousness for profit, but that the three generations of the Liu family have married the Fang family. Liu Tongxin's second grandson married the Fang family's daughter, the second daughter married the Fang family's son, and Liu Xueli also married the Fang family's daughter.

The Liu family and the Fang family are good friends, and they are family friends from several generations ago.

"Thank you Master Liu, I understand." Zhao Jizhang understood that the situation was over, even if he regretted it, he would never have a chance to do it again.

The two went out together.

"Master! The Prime Minister is not good!" Just after stepping out of the palace gate, the retainers of the Zhao family who came to report the letter burst into tears at Zhao Jizhang.

All the officials who went out sparsely for a while stopped, and all the officials were solemn.

The day has finally come.

Twilight is gloomy, and the sky is getting dark.

The old man on the bed was panting shortly with messy silver hair. His eyes were wide open and he refused to close.

"My son is incompetent and unable to inherit your will..." Zhao Jizhang knelt before the collapse and choked with sobs.

"For your sake, Mrs. Fang will treat Mrs. Zhao kindly, and my son will guard the family business and family tradition... and will not let you be ashamed..."

Zhao Hengfu's eyes were wide open, his mouth opened and closed as if he wanted to say something but he couldn't make a sound.

"Lord Zhao, please persuade the prime minister to go." Lin Yuanjuan couldn't bear to confess to Zhao Jizhang in a low voice. "The Prime Minister has only this breath left, and it is painful for him to suffer like this."

Hearing the sentence of Lin Yuan's sentence, the kneeling relatives in the room all suppressed and cried.

"Father, let's go... Don't forget..." Zhao Jizhang couldn't continue speaking as soon as he opened his mouth, and wept bitterly while covering his face.

Zhao Jizhang understands what his father can't let go of. He can't let go of the little emperor who is only eight years old, and he is also blaming himself.

If he chose to be a powerful minister and let the Zhao family rule the court and support the little emperor to grow up, Da Chu would not have come to this point, and now the ruler is weak and his ministers are strong.

Da Chu is about to die...

"Master, Beijiang has replied to the letter. The prime minister has told that the letter from Beijiang must be delivered in time. This..." The porter hesitated in the corridor.

Zhao Hengfu's eyeballs moved, Zhao Jizhang hurriedly said. "Bring it!"

One of Beijiang's replies was written by Song Fenglin himself, and the other was written by Liu Zhan himself.

Seeing the old father's eyeballs trembling, Zhao Jizhang read aloud to him.

The two letters were not long, and Song Fenglin expressed his condolences, and affirmed his life by saying that he would not be named a great Confucianist. Only Liu Zhan opened his letter by bluntly saying that the great Chu is over, and the end of a dynasty is just like the tide, which just ebbs and flows.

Liu Zhan advised him not to mind.

It's just an ebb and flow.

Zhao Jizhang looked up from the letter, Zhao Hengfu had already closed his eyes, and he was gone.

The death of Zhao Hengfu, a famous official of a generation of Qingliu, a teacher of emperors of two dynasties, and a great Confucian in the world, made the emperor's capital sad, and at the same time took away the last bit of the great Chu's national fortune.

The Zhao family had a great funeral, and Fang Yuliang led the Fang family's descendants to offer their condolences, and kowtowed three times in front of Zhao Hengfu's spirit.

Fang Yuliang, who is in his prime, lives up to his name, with a long body and a perfect face, and his gestures are dignified.

He is different from Zhou Chan's eyesight. He is a corporal who buries his pride and stubbornness deep down. Even now that he knows that his own time is coming, Fang Yuliang has not shown the slightest complacency.

"I have asked His Majesty to confer the posthumous title of Grand Chancellor Ming Shenggong, and the title will be hereditary for three generations." Fang Yuliang patted Zhao Jizhang on the shoulder. "You and I are in the same period, and we should watch and help each other in the future."

"Thank you, Da Situ." Zhao Jizhang bowed his head.

"Why thank you." Fang Yuliang supported Zhao Jizhang, and Zhao's lowering his head made his heart almost overflow with excitement.

On the fifth day of October in the second year of Xuanhe, Zhao Hengfu, a great Confucian of the generation, went to the funeral.

Hundreds of officials spontaneously set up mourning halls in the streets along the way to send them off. Snow-white paper money was floating in the gray sky. Amidst the sound of weeping, the funeral procession walked out of the imperial capital step by step surrounded by coffins.

The era of the Zhao family is over.

"Get out of the way, I'm going to see the emperor for a ride!" Emperor Xiao was stopped by the guards as soon as he left the imperial garden.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty, you can't go out without authorization." The imperial guard carried Emperor Xiao back to his bedroom without any reason.

"I'm the emperor! I can go wherever I say! Someone prepare the sedan chair, and I'm going to send the emperor teacher off!"

Emperor Xiao couldn't stop beating the guards, and started crying after beating them. "As soon as the emperor left, you started to bully me, you are all bad guys!"

No matter what the little emperor said, he was still sent back to the bedroom by the imperial guards, and he was strictly guarded. From this day on, Emperor Xiao was confined in the bedroom, and he didn't even have to participate in the morning court.

Hundreds of officials elected Fang Yuliang as the prime minister, and the Chuanguo Yuxi was directly brought back to the prime minister's mansion by the newly appointed prime minister. All state affairs were adjudicated in the prime minister's mansion, and the early court was only a passing scene.

Fang's disobedience is clearly revealed.

"The first emperor, open your eyes and see! This world is full of chaotic ministers and thieves, there is no way for us mother and son to survive!" Concubine Cao mourned in her house every day.

Emperor Xiao was grounded, and Concubine Cao was also grounded. The mother and son could not see each other.

"My son, your life is too bitter. You might as well be born in a farmhouse and be carefree all your life. You thieves who kill thousands of knives will surely turn into ghosts for revenge after I die."

Concubine Cao scolded non-stop every day, and half of the harem was filled with her shrill voice.

Suddenly one day the harem was quiet, the maids and eunuchs were busy with their work with their heads down, no one dared to ask Concubine Cao why she didn't scold her, no one dared to visit, just like this the first snowfall of the year was ushered in the palace in dead silence.

"Auspicious snow heralds a good year, the Central Plains, which has been drought for three years, is snowing heavily!" Fang Yuliang looked up to the sky and laughed, the surrounding officials all congratulated, and the Fang residence was full of noise.

"The great prime minister has the luck of heaven and earth, this auspicious snow can prove it, why not take it to a higher level in this auspicious auspiciousness."

"Prime Minister, this is a god-sent opportunity!"

In the winter of the second year of Xuanhe, the land of the Central Plains, which has been dry for three years, finally ushered in the first heavy snow. This is a heavy snow, and the thick snow indicates a good year next year.

The people survived a desperate situation, and the entire land of the Central Plains was filled with joy.

In the midst of the festivities, Zichen Palace caught fire, and Emperor Xiao was buried in the sea of ​​flames with no bones left. On the same day, the second emperor's uncle who had been named King Jing died suddenly in the mansion.

Baiguan elected Fang Yuliang as the new emperor on the grounds that the son of Chu would die, but Fang Yuliang refused three times, and finally agreed when another heavy snow fell.

The auspicious snow fell from the sky, and the Fang family was ordered by the sky to succeed the emperor.

After five dynasties and 53 years, Dachu came to an end in the second year of Emperor Xiaoxuanhe, and Daliang replaced it. It is said in history that the master of Liang stole the country.

The author has something to say: the Jianguo copy has been opened