Chapter 506 Death!
Protectorate of the Western Regions.
Wushuang Marquisate.
Strips of gauze hung in the room. The light was dim. On the bed lay a pale, skinny woman. She was Luo Shi's wife.
"Thump, thump, thump."
A hurried sound of footsteps came from outside, and Luo Shi's two children walked in after lifting the gauze. They said with joy on their faces, "Mother, father won a great victory on the grassland, killed the Xiongnu Chanyu in battle, and will be returning to the Central Plains soon."
Hearing the news, the woman lying on the sickbed slowly breathed a sigh of relief, as if relieved from a heavy burden, and then smiled weakly: "I'm glad you're back safely, I'm relieved."
After saying this, it seemed as if all her energy was taken away in an instant. She slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep, very quietly.
Luo Lan felt a little uneasy and called softly, "Mother, do you want to write back to father? Father may have to go to Chang'an first. You can send a messenger to take the letter directly to Chang'an."
"Mother?"
Seeing that the woman didn't speak, the brother and sister called her softly again. The shadow of uneasiness in their hearts had completely invaded their entire hearts.
She reached out her trembling hand to feel the woman's breath, but all she felt was coldness!
"Mother!"
A sob was heard.
…
Under the azure blue sky, after a short rest and replenishing a large amount of food and grass, Luo Shi led the Han army back to the Central Plains.
After marching all the way and just crossing the Yinshan Mountains, he suddenly felt a pain in his heart, a huge sense of panic came over him, and an ominous premonition arose in his mind.
Ahead were the northern counties of the Han Dynasty. Luo Shiqiang suppressed his uneasiness and led his army into the territory of the Han Dynasty. The county governor came with fine wine and delicious food to welcome the returning army.
Then Luo Shi learned that his son had come here from the Western Regions.
"Father."
Luo Lan knelt directly in front of Luo Shi, his face full of grief. Luo Shi's heart skipped a beat and he asked anxiously, "What's going on in the mansion?"
"Father, mother passed away due to illness."
"boom!"
Like a bolt from the blue, Luo Shi froze in his place for a moment, his head dizzy, and he asked in a dry voice: "Your mother has always been in good health, how could she suddenly die of illness?"
Luo Lan said sadly: "The doctor said that my mother's health had been very poor for a long time. Not long after you left, my mother became seriously ill and was bedridden. She didn't let us tell you until she died."
Luo Shi collapsed somewhat helplessly, and then asked, "Did your mother say anything before she died?"
Luo Lan said: "Mother just said that you are safe, and then she passed away."
Luo Shi thought back to everything that had happened over the years, and suddenly understood something and gave a bitter smile.
"Madam, madam, I am sorry for you."
Then he fell with his head tilted back. Luo Lan rushed forward in horror and supported Luo Shi.
Luo Shi felt like he had entered a void and white space, where all the scenes of his life flashed by one by one.
He was raised high by his father when he was young.
When he showed his military talent, he was chosen by his father as the heir to Wushuang Marquis. He later stayed in the Western Regions, guarding the border of the Han Dynasty for decades.
He followed the path of his grandfather Luo Zhongkan and his father Luo Wuzhi, and continued to move forward, not only maintaining the strategic advantages of the Han Dynasty, but also constantly migrating people and changing the population structure of the Western Regions.
To spread faith and culture, we use both force and culture.
Of the two most fertile lands in the Western Regions, the Yishui River Valley has basically been completely transformed into the various Xia countries. The old Wusun nobles migrated far away, and a nail was also driven into the Dayuan Basin.
He can be said to have made a great contribution to the stability of the Western Regions in the past few decades. Among all the sons of the Luo family, he has made the greatest contribution.
Then an unexpected person appeared in his memory, Liu Dan.
The appearance of this man changed many things. He supported Luo Shi's war in the Western Regions. The conquests of Dayuan and Wusun were both completed with the strong support of Liu Dan.
Liu Dan was really good to Luo Shi, "In the next life, if you don't become a dictator, I will be loyal to you again."
Then there was his wife, a beautiful and virtuous woman. It was a pity that who could know the arrangements of the world?
I didn't expect it would come to this, separation between life and death, without even being able to see each other for the last time.
Finally, Luo Shi saw a towering palace with countless statues. He wanted to see, but a beam of white light knocked him out.
"Heaven!"
When he woke up slowly, he felt extremely weak. There were people standing around the bed, staring at him.
The things that I just saw vaguely in my dream are still so clear.
"The Grand Protector has woken up!"
Seeing Luo Shi awake, someone shouted in surprise.
Luo Shi only felt waves of weakness coming from all parts of his body, and a feeling of drowsiness. Thinking of the scene in heaven he had just seen, he understood that his time had come and his ancestors were calling him to leave.
His body was already riddled with holes after years of war, and this time he led the charge in the attack on the Huns, using all his strength. It was a completely life-consuming style of fighting that almost drained the last bit of his energy.
He looked normal before, and was even able to ride a horse and march, but this was because he was hanging on to his last breath and wanted to get home.
As a result, the home was gone.
The breath dissipated.
People live with a breath. Once the breath is gone, the person will also end.
“I’m going to die!”
Luo Shi's face was very calm.
Luo Lan knelt beside the bed and cried, "Father, why did it happen? You left one after another."
Luo Shi felt a little regretful. Before he died, he didn't get to see his wife or his daughter. Only his son was here. "I have some final words to say. Please record them down."
As soon as he said this, everyone in the room was filled with panic. No one knew what would become of the Western Region after Luo Shi's death.
Luo Shi thought for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, I have been guarding the Western Regions for decades. Because I have gained the trust of the previous emperors and you, I was able to take over the business from my grandfather and father. After five generations of emperors, I have achieved some results now.
If the Western Regions are unstable, Hexi will be difficult to stabilize; if Hexi is unstable, Guanzhong will not be stable.
The people and noble officials of the Western Regions and Hexi have made great contributions to the country. They shed blood this time and should be rewarded. I cannot return to Chang'an. I am here to see Your Majesty. Please show mercy to the troops."
"Grand Protector!"
Everyone bowed their heads and cried.
…
The Protector General of the Western Regions, Wushuang Hou Shi, died of illness on his way back to the Central Plains!
This shocking news caused the entire city of Chang'an to buzz with excitement. Countless people were eagerly awaiting Luo Shi's triumphant return, but they did not expect to receive this news.
In Changle Palace, Huo Guang and Luo Qing both looked sad. This was news like a bolt from the blue for both of them.
Sitting on the throne, Liu Xun was thinking about the news with a complicated expression. His impression of Luo Shi was really too complicated.
I have always been troubled by how to deal with Luo Shi, including the reward after this great victory. It is also difficult to decide. Unexpectedly, Luo Shi died directly.
Liu Xun's mind was in turmoil, but he finally calmed down. Death was the end of everything. No matter what happened in the past, there was only one thing to do now. He stood up and said loudly: "Gather all the ministers to discuss the posthumous title of Wushuang Marquis. I will decide on the posthumous title."
In terms of title, Luo Shi's title has reached the top, but his merits are not enough to be crowned king. After all, in the Han Dynasty, Han Wumu was the military commander with the most military merits, and he was not crowned king after his death, so Luo Shi is naturally even less qualified.
However, Liu Xun still gave Luo Shi the greatest posthumous honors, "posthumously conferring the title of Grand Marshal and General, adding a thousand households to the unparalleled marquisate, and granting him two of the Nine Gifts for burial as a token of grace."
The posthumous official title was the highest that no living person had, the Grand Marshal or General. The addition of one thousand households represented the title of Wushuang Marquis, which allowed him to legally own more private soldiers. The two Nine Gifts were an extremely heavy grace. This posthumous title was the greatest sincerity given by Liu Xun.
As for the posthumous title, actually only one word needed to be discussed, because Luo Shi was one of the leaders of the heroes who helped to quell the rebellion. For this group of heroes who helped to quell the rebellion, the first word in the posthumous title had already been determined, which was "除奸靖难曰武", which was simply tailor-made for them.
The court officials finally chose "Xiang" as the posthumous title for Luo Shi. "Xiang is for the virtue of opening up the land", which commends Luo Shi for his contribution in opening up the eastern country of Dayuan and completely conquering the great country of Wusun. "Xiang is for the hard work of wearing armor", which commends Luo Shi for his achievement of never stopping fighting for decades in his life. "Xiang is for his meritorious service in affairs of state", and "Xiang is for his prestige and virtue in conquering distant lands". This commends Luo Shi for his thousands of miles raid, conquering the Xiongnu and spreading the prestige of the Han Dynasty to the four barbarians. The rest of "Xiang is for his perseverance and perseverance" and "Xiang is for his assistance and success" also match Luo Shi very well. A long list of commendations appeared in the evaluation document of the posthumous title.
After Liu Xun looked at it, he stamped the seal of the Son of Heaven and the Emperor on it.
This posthumous title will be presented to the Su Wang Shang Huang Tian.
The great Sima and general of the Han Dynasty, the unrivaled Marquis of Wuxiang!
————
Duke Zhaowuwei was given two titles. One was Duke Zhao of Luo, which was handed down from generation to generation in the Luo family, and the other was Marquis Wushuang, which was a reward for his outstanding merits. Therefore, Duke Zhao was given to his eldest son Sheng, and the title of Marquis was given to his second son Shi. Thus, the Marquis Wuxiang rose to power.
Wu Xiang was a brave and chivalrous man. When he was young, he lived in the area between Zhuluo and had great ambitions. He often said, "A real man is born between heaven and earth. He should hold a three-foot sword and perform unparalleled feats. How can he be depressed by writing?"
Duke Zhaowuwei was amazed by his bravery, so he gave him a military book and said, "This is the method of fighting against ten thousand enemies."
Wu Xiang inherited the title and was stationed in the Western Regions. He united various countries, swallowed up Wusun, defeated Dayuan, put down rebellions, and launched the Jingnan Rebellion. He fought 53 battles and won every one of them, and was praised by people of his time.
When the Xiongnu rose up again and invaded China, Wu Xiang fought bravely and overcame all difficulties. He said to the world: "A great general should die on the battlefield and be buried wrapped in horsehide. How can he lie down on his bed?"
So he used the temple as his flag and the Han army as his banner, carried eighty years of blood and tears, traveled four thousand miles through wind and frost, attacked the royal court, and the fate of the Huns depended on a single sword.
Alas!
The Xiongnu's destiny was gone, Wuxiang was annihilated, and his body was wrapped in horsehide. This prophecy came true, how sad! - "Records of the Grand Historian: The Biography of Wushuanghou"
(End of this chapter)
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