Daiyu reads novels every day

Zhang Laoshi

In the Mengxia season in 56 in Taihe, the cicadas were singing loudly and the outdoors were hot.

Zhang Laoshi, Minister of the Ministry of War, sat in the house, in the coolness brought by the four-corner ice basin, teased the parrot in the cage with grass stalks, and wanted to make it say auspicious words.

Before the parrot could speak, the manager outside spoke, "Master, Zhang Cuimu is here again, did you see him or not?"

Zhang Cuimu and Zhang Laoshi belong to the same family, but they are the nephews of a distant relative who can't be farther away.It's just that ten years ago when Mulan was hunting, Emperor Yunzheng was shocked by the bears in the field. This Cuimu was just a soldier defending at that time.At that time, Emperor Yunzheng asked his name, and tested his art of war. Seeing that the answers were fluent, he couldn't help but praise him a lot.

Everyone said that Zhang Cuimu was going to be promoted, and Zhang Laoshi continued this relationship with him at that time, but there was no news since then.However, Zhang Cuimu waited wholeheartedly for the emperor to reuse him. In the past two years, he frequently ran to his door, disturbing Zhang Laoshi very much.

At this moment, I saw that the management reported that Zhang Cuimu had come again.

Zhang Laoshi was one head and two big, and it was a rare holiday. He didn't want to spoil his mood, so he waved his hands impatiently and said, "Go, go, just say that I took a nap during lunch break, and send him away."

Before the words finished, Zhang Cuimu sneered and said through the window: "Uncle is so honorable, don't send him away, nephew is leaving now."

Zhang Laoshi let him go because he was not good. He pulled his shoes and swayed out, and said with a smile: "The sky is dry and things are dry, and people have a bad temper. I wanted to take a rest, but I didn't intend to see you..."

Zhang Cuimu wanted to ask for something, so he naturally went down the donkey, entered the cool room, took off his hat, took a breath, and said with a smile: "Uncle, this room is comfortable. I heard that two days ago, the emperor left you again." Have you eaten? Is it because of the absence of the nine admirals?" He was not yet 30 years old, his tiger-like eyes stared, and he looked extremely energetic.

Zhang Laoshi is very old, so he just smiled perfunctorily and said, "Even if I have a meal, the matter of the admiral of the nine doors is not in my hands." I have been working for 20 years, and I have done fine work with water, and I have slowly become the Minister of the Ministry of War.

Zhang Cuimu said with a smile: "It's not that my nephew is staring at the position of the admiral of the nine schools - I know I'm not in that position. It's just that uncle is always in front of the emperor. The emperor has a lot of things. I'm afraid I've forgotten about my nephew. My nephew doesn't ask for anything else, but my uncle can mention my nephew's name in front of the emperor, so that I can have a serious job and contribute to our Zhang family."

"Why haven't I mentioned it? I have mentioned you many times, but the emperor has other plans."

"What's the plan?" Although Zhang Cuimu asked, he didn't believe Zhang Laoshi's words.

Zhang Laoshi breathed out, and only taught him old sayings, saying: "Is it so easy for you to think about things in the court? The emperor is the emperor, which is different from the officials below. He sees the world and the overall situation." ——Overall, do you understand?”

Zhang Cuimu answered absent-mindedly, thinking that this trip was for nothing, and he was taught a lesson, feeling extremely annoyed.After leaving the Minister's Mansion of the Ministry of War for a while, he couldn't hold back and kicked the stone lion twice.

Looking at the back of Zhang Cuimu leaving angrily, Zhang Laoshi recalled a winter night in the past on this hot summer day.

It was the winter night in the seventh year of Taihe.

He was still young at that time, just like Zhang Cuimu today, with inexhaustible strength and spirit.When the servant called in the middle of the night, he got up immediately, shouldering the important task of the admiral of the nine gates, but he never dared to neglect it.

Unexpectedly, it wasn't that something happened in Beijing, but Emperor Jingyuan Yongzhan was summoned.

It was a snowy night, he hurried to the Forbidden Palace, dismounted and rushed to the Palace of Qinzheng.Unexpectedly, Eunuch Su said that the emperor was in Yuqing Palace.So he turned again and went to Yuqing Palace.

Along the way, he kept guessing why the emperor called urgently in the middle of the night.A heart is up and down, and it can't be realized.

When he arrived in Yuqing Palace, he bowed down to pay his respects. Out of his corner of the eye, he saw the emperor leaning on the couch behind the case, playing with something in his hands.

"It's snowing late at night, thank you Huchen for making this trip." The emperor said in a gentle voice, speaking at a slow pace, as if there was no urgent matter.

He was slightly relieved.

"Warm up a cup of ginger soup to warm Hu Chen's body." The emperor said again.

He swallowed the ginger soup in two big gulps, and bowed down to thank him.

The emperor was silent.

He waited for a long time, didn't hear the call, and boldly raised his eyes to take a look quietly.

The emperor's face was thin, his brows were slightly frowned, and he was staring at a red lantern in his hand in a daze.Candlelight from the corner of the desk fell on the hand through the lantern, making the back of the hand blurred and red.

Zhang Laoshi was startled, she didn't dare to look any more, and lowered her head.

After a long time, the emperor said softly: "I remember, you first made contributions in the northwest with King Yongjun." The voice was faint, as if recalling.

Zhang Laoshi said loudly: "Back to the emperor, I followed the king of Yongjun to the northwest in the 32nd year of the Taichu, joined Roulan, and drove away the Qiang people. It has been 15 years ago."

"15 years." The emperor sighed, "So it's been so long." He said again: "You are called the youngest admiral of the nine schools in the Southern Dynasty. Wearing this flower feather every day, don't have a moment Forget who gave them to you."

"Yes, the honor and disgrace of the minister are all gifts from the emperor..."

The emperor chuckled and interrupted him, "That's not right. You remember clearly that all your grace and glory are entrusted to the blessing of King Yongjun. I will only say this to you once, look up Follow me—remember it carefully.”

Zhang Laoshi was startled, raised his head hesitantly, and only dared to look under the eyes of the emperor with lowered eyes.

"When I am here, you are my subject. When I am not here, you are the subject of King Yongjun——in all things, King Yongjun should follow the lead."

What a thrilling snowy night that was.

Decades have passed, and many memories have been blurred, but even if Zhang Laoshi closes his eyes, even if he is in a dream, he will not forget the voice of the late emperor.The first emperor had a gentle temperament, and he was even more generous when he stayed, so the life of the courtiers was easy.However, that night, Zhang Laoshi clearly felt the majesty of the emperor, which was frightening.

Nearly 50 years ago, the first emperor's extraordinary reuse of him; the same as the current emperor's suppression of Zhang Cuimu, it is the emperor's heart for the latecomer.Now the emperor is suppressing these young talents, waiting for the emperor's grandson to succeed to the throne, and the new emperor will bestow favors on them.Many "Zhang Cuimu" hidden in the court were left by the emperor to the grandson of the emperor.

Yes, he is old, and the emperor is also old, it's time to think about what will happen after his death.

"Master, what's the matter with you?" The book boy asked in panic and abruptly, interrupting his train of thought.

Zhang Laoshi opened his eyes, wiped away the muddy old tears from the corners of his eyes, and said with a smile: "I had a beautiful dream."

The holidays passed so quickly, Zhang Laoshi only felt that his eyes were closed and opened, and it was time to go up again.

After putting on his top-wearing flower feathers and his official boots and court gown, the young officials walking towards him bowed their hands and saluted him, all respectful and observant.

"Master Shangshu, hello." "Greetings to Lord Shangshu." "Did Shangshu lord sleep well yesterday?"

Zhang Laoshi cupped his hands in return one by one, and stroked his gray beard with a smile. Under the warm and bright sun, he thought to himself: It's great to be born in a prosperous age.

It is because self-smiling has no merits and virtues, and the special kindness is given to this life.