Chapter 9: A Sea of ​​Thorns

After resting for a few days, Liu Kun thought long and hard and finally ordered his family to be sent back to Ye City. Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, Liu Jun grabbed his sleeve and begged to go on the expedition with him.

Liu Kun refused on the spot, but Liu Jun kept pestering him. He first said that he was born in the eighth year of Yuan Kang, and would be nine years old by the end of the year, which would be considered a half-grown boy. He then cited the examples of Emperor Wen of Wei and the last emperor of Shu, saying that they had grown up in the army since childhood, and therefore were both literate and martial, which was better than being raised by women in the deep palace.

Although he felt that his son's example was not very appropriate, he really liked this son with extraordinary courage and wanted to take him under his wing and raise him personally. After thinking about it, he took his eldest son Liu Zun with him.

Guo was so angry at the father and son that she almost fainted, but then she heard Liu Kun laugh loudly, "Brother, you still have four little nephews to keep Mother company. My son has lofty ambitions, how can he be a caged bird?"

Liu Jun was quite speechless. He had recently discovered that Liu Kun was a man of unrestrained and unconventional character, making him both lovable and infuriating. In times of peace and prosperity, such a person might be a charming and elegant gentleman, but in these chaotic times, how could he attract talent and maintain social stability?

Although he had won over many guards in his previous life, he mostly relied on the emperor's name and had little experience in recruiting talented people.

Looking at Liu Kun, who was in high spirits, he couldn't help but feel a little worried. If he wanted to achieve great things, he didn't need to be like his great-grandfather, who was so popular that he could win the hearts of the people. At the very least, he should be like his grandfather, who led the literary world of Jian'an.

In this world, becoming a high-ranking official is secondary; self-preservation is the most important thing.

Liu Zun, now fifteen, has grown into a cheerful young man. He follows Liu Kun around every day, much like a personal guard. Liu Jun, who doesn't see Liu Kun every day, often seeks him out for information.

"I heard that Qi Hong defeated Diao Mo and that the capture of Chang'an is just a matter of days." Cui was kind and gentle, so her wives and concubines got along well. Liu Zun also took good care of his younger brother. At this moment, he was peeling sugarcane for Liu Jun with a short knife.

Sugarcane was a rare commodity in the army. Liu Jun only ate a small piece before refusing any more. Seeing Liu Zun pretending not to care when he clearly wanted some, he couldn't help but find it amusing and pushed it back to Liu Zun, saying, "Brother, have more. I can't eat that much."

Fearing that Liu Zun would insist on pressing the issue, he changed the subject, asking, "Is His Majesty still in Chang'an?"

Liu Zun nodded as he ate sugarcane, “That’s right, apart from His Majesty, most of the imperial clan are also in Chang’an.”

During the War of the Eight Princes, the Sima family members rose and fell in turn, vying for power and killing each other among the imperial clans. Liu Jun had long been numb to this, and upon hearing this, he merely curled his lip and asked, "Which princes are involved this time?"

The Sima clan plunged the country into chaos, leaving the people in dire straits. From high-ranking officials to commoners, although loyalty to the emperor was often lip service, in reality, little respect was shown to him in private.

Liu Zun also chuckled sarcastically, "This time it's Sima Yue, the Prince of Donghai, attacking Sima Yong, the Prince of Hejian, and Sima Ying, the Prince of Chengdu."

When Liu Jun recalled how Sima Yi had imprisoned all the members of the Cao clan after the Gaopingling Incident, and then saw the miserable state of the Sima clan, he felt a sense of relief. He also remembered that he had never been to Chang'an, and couldn't help but think, "After we take Chang'an, I hope my father can take me into the city to see it."

Liu Zun also rested his chin on his hand and daydreamed, "I want to go to Maoling. I've heard that many famous officials were buried there. If possible, I want to pay my respects to Wei Qing and Huo Qubing."

"Then I will pay my respects to Huo Guang," Liu Jun joked.

Liu Zun laughed loudly, "He's Huo Qubing's younger brother, so we brothers can pay our respects to each other."

After laughing for a while, Liu Jun said wistfully, "I wonder what Chang'an is like now. That was the Chang'an of the Han Dynasty..."

But once they entered Chang'an, it felt like they were in the deepest hell.

After the fall of Chang'an, Sima Yong and Sima Ying fled to the Zhongnan Mountains, while Qi Hong led the Xianbei cavalry to burn, kill, and loot in Chang'an, leaving the entire city awash in blood.

The streets and alleys were filled with the stench of blood and rotting corpses. Liu Jun, who was always clean, felt his stomach churning and wanted to vomit. He almost couldn't even sit on his horse.

Liu Zun, standing to the side, was not much better off. He too held his breath, his face pale, looking at the swaggering Xianbei people with some fear.

A Xianbei soldier took a liking to a beautiful woman and, with a sinister grin, dragged her into an alley with the others. The woman screamed incessantly. Just as Liu Zun was about to spur his horse forward, the woman bit the Xianbei soldier. Enraged, the soldier swung his sword and cleaved the woman in two.

"Outrageous! You audacious barbarians..." Liu Zun gritted his teeth, about to continue cursing, when he suddenly remembered that Liu Kun had always been on good terms with the Xianbei people. The victory he achieved this time, defeating Liu Qiao, beheading Shi Chao, and subduing Lü Lang, was mainly due to the Xianbei and Wuhuan cavalry he had borrowed from Wang Jun. How could he afford to offend these Xianbei people? Thinking of this, he had no choice but to shut up, listlessly looking at this hell on earth, remaining silent.

Liu Jun gritted his teeth, thinking back to the days when Emperor Wu and Emperor Ming "drove deep into the Xiongnu and looked down on the Xianbei," sweeping away the Wuhuan, intimidating the Xianbei, crushing the Qiang and Di, and even bringing tribute from the Japanese. When did he ever take these barbarians seriously?

The Sima clan was truly immoral and incompetent, utterly lacking the qualities of a ruler.

Cao Fang, Cao Shuang, Cao Huan, and myself—who handed over this beautiful land step by step—aren't we also sinners against the world?

Still feeling heartbroken, Liu Hu came to deliver the message, "Gentlemen, the master requests your presence."

Liu Kun, who had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle and was in the prime of his life, laughed as soon as he saw them and said, "Flathead and Hairyhead, come here quickly!"

Liu Jun was fine with his nickname because of his name from his previous life, but Liu Zun blushed and looked at the family servants around him, saying in a low voice, "Father, when we're out in the world, at least give us some face."

"What's the big deal? Even Duke Cheng of Jin was called Black Buttocks," Liu Kun said dismissively. "He hasn't accomplished anything yet, but he's already putting on airs."

"Then why don't you come up with a nicer name, like Tan Nu..." Liu Zun muttered.

Liu Kun's smile froze instantly, clearly recalling Pan Yue, with whom he had once shared joyful revelry but whose entire clan had been wiped out. Still grieving, he heard his young son say softly, "Even if he was the most handsome man in the court, what good was his good looks? In the end, all that handsomeness turned into piles of bones."

With his two sons disappointed, Liu Kun's original intention to boast about his martial prowess in front of them was also halved. He simply said, "This time we quelled the rebellion of the Prince of Hejian and Zhang Fang, and recaptured Chang'an. In a few days, we will prepare to reward the troops and then escort His Majesty back to Luoyang. His Majesty is currently summoning the Prince of Donghai, and will summon me at the latest tomorrow. You can go with him then and see the world."

Liu Zun, being a young boy, immediately put aside his earlier melancholy and excitedly said, "Father has performed such a great service, I wonder what reward he will receive."

Liu Kun stroked his beard and said smugly, "Your Majesty is wise and has your own plans."

Even a child like Liu Jun, who knew the story of "Why not eat meat porridge?", couldn't help but curl his lips upon hearing this.