125 Chapter 125
◎Go to war.◎
Wei Zifu was accustomed to the fact that the emperor was about to have a new favorite. If this person really won the emperor's favor in the future, Wei Zifu would not have to worry about any affairs, and the emperor would naturally give orders to people.
Wei Zifu was more concerned about the attitudes of her daughter, grandson and Princess Pingyang, and these three happened to be good news. After hearing Liu Ju's words, the queen relaxed, smiled, and said three good words in a row.
After staying with his mother for a while, Liu Ju went to Xuanshi Hall. Liu Che was naturally happy because his reward had already been sent to the princess's mansion.
It was the end of the year, and His Majesty the Emperor only handled a few government affairs every day, spending most of his time relaxing and entertaining.
In Liu Ju's view, there was nothing special about the New Year. On the contrary, because he had to deal with various sacrifices and the pilgrimage of princes, he did not look forward to the New Year.
Taking advantage of the recent lack of things to do, Liu Ju went to check the cotton seeds that had been delivered earlier. The climate in the north should be suitable for planting cotton in April. In order to collect more cotton seeds, the person in charge of the Southwestern Yi delayed for several months and only sent more than a dozen carts of cotton seeds to Chang'an City in May, which had already missed the cotton planting season.
Liu Ju carefully preserved the seeds, preparing to plant them again next year. He also took the opportunity to secretly teach his mother how to plant and weave cotton.
Dealing with the empress is easier than dealing with the emperor. At least you don’t have to bring the so-called ancient books to the empress.
According to the current storage conditions, cotton seeds can only be stored for one year at most. Liu Ju carefully checked the storage measures and told the people here to be careful.
Before planting, the seeds had to be dried again. Liu Ju silently memorized these things because he had to teach them to his mother. He had memorized them very well.
Cotton will be promoted on a small scale in the future, so pamphlets teaching planting techniques are also necessary. Liu Ju then realized the benefits of printing technology. It’s just right to get this thing out before April!
The task of copying the planting booklet was naturally handed over by Liu Ju to Li Ying.
Li Ying touched his wrist and said, "Why do I have to do this job wherever I go..."
Liu Ju said: "You can only do this job."
Li Ying complained, "Your Highness, you are not as considerate as the eldest son."
Liu Ju smiled and said, "That can't be helped. I also want to change a colleague, but it's obvious that neither of us can do that."
Li Ying: “…”
…
The first good news in Weiyang Palace after the New Year was that His Majesty the Emperor had a new favorite concubine. This lady, surnamed Li, was not of high birth, but was very beautiful. According to the palace servants who had seen her, Lady Li was even better than Lady Wang!
Regardless of whether it is a matter of different aesthetic tastes, this shows that Mrs. Li is indeed a peerless beauty.
However, His Majesty the Emperor did not forget his old love immediately because he had a new love. Although the favor he received from Lady Wang was inevitably reduced, His Majesty still had her in his eyes.
Liu Ju certainly didn't want to find out about his father's harem affairs. He just heard some gossip occasionally and didn't take it to heart.
Again, Liu Ju's enemies have never been these people. Even if Lady Li has a brother named Li Guangli, and even if Li Guangli has a lot of tricks in his mind, who of them can outsmart His Majesty the Emperor?
Who of those who tried to plot against His Majesty the Emperor ended up well?
What's more, it was still too early for Li Guangli to show up, so Liu Ju was not in a hurry even if he wanted to deal with him.
Furthermore, after Liu Ju presented the printing technology to His Majesty the Emperor, the shock it brought was much greater than that of paper, and His Majesty the Emperor had even more things to think about, so he had no time to summon his new and old loves in the harem.
Lady Li's great favor was short-lived. Although His Majesty the Emperor would surely remember her and show her great favor in the future, no one in the palace could predict the future at that moment. Liu Ju was afraid that Lady Li would be neglected by snobbish people, and his father would blame the Queen when he remembered her, so he specially reminded his mother to take care of Lady Li.
——Even if it’s just to give face to Princess Pingyang, His Majesty the Emperor might even praise the Queen for her good management of the harem in the future, so they can kill two birds with one stone.
Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Qin Shi Huang had a common idea: printing technology is a good skill, so it must be kept top secret. This craft can only be handed over to craftsmen who are under strict supervision, and those who supervise them must be the emperor's most trusted confidants, and they must be given repeated orders.
Liu Ju fully understood the feudal emperors' fear about this. The more talented people there were, the better, but there was no need for too many scholars, and the common people at the bottom did not need to be literate.
Feudal dynasties needed a group of people who farmed the land, paid taxes, and performed labor service. They must not ask why, so that the feudal emperors could rule them smoothly.
After finishing the printing work, two armies were about to set out to conquer the Huns. General Wei Qing, Marquis of Changping, and General Huo Qubing, Marquis of Guanjun, each led an army, with their swords pointing directly at the Huns' heartland, Mobei.
His Majesty the Emperor personally escorted the army out of the city with the Crown Prince. Only after the army had left did he reach out and hold the Crown Prince's hand, saying, "Return to the palace."
Liu Ju looked up at his father's tense face and said softly, "Aunt, my uncle and cousin will definitely return victorious."
Liu Che lowered his eyes, a solemn expression in his eyes: "My general, the general of cavalry, has always been invincible."
Liu Ju nodded heavily.
This time, just like in his previous life, His Majesty the Emperor changed the original plan of Huo Qubing leaving Dingxiang to Wei Qing, because he heard that the Chanyu was heading east, and this time Huo Qubing was going to the Chanyu.
This might be a conspiracy of the Huns. Did Yizhixie think that the general was easier to deal with than the cavalry general?
Liu Ju did not think so, considering that the losses the Huns suffered at the hands of the general were no less than those suffered at the hands of the cavalry general.
But no matter what the reason was, the Emperor had received the news, and Liu Ju had no way to prove it was false, so he had no reason to persuade his father to change his mind.
In fact, Liu Ju also felt that there was no need to change his mind. If Huo Qubing still went to Fenglangjuxu, he might achieve more results. As for Wei Qing... he might not necessarily change the outcome of letting Yizhixie escape last time.
When the sky is full of wind and sand, a telescope may not be of much use, but a compass is very important. Even if Li Guang and Zhao Shiqi had a compass, they would still get lost. But with such a powerful auxiliary tool, Wei Qing had a great chance of catching up with Yizhixie.
It doesn't make sense that if Yizhixie was allowed to escape in the previous life, the Han army, which is better equipped, can let Yizhixie escape again in this life.
Even if we take a step back and let Yizhixie escape this time, even if Yizhixie is just so lucky, this is not the only chance the Han Dynasty has.
Because one thing is certain, Liu Ju would definitely prevent Huo Qubing's death two years later. As long as the young Marquis of Guanjun is still alive, what does the Xiongnu Chanyu count for?
Li Ying endured it again and again, and didn't say anything discouraging. He just said, "Then, Your Highness, go and look for penicillin. Even if you can make some, it could save the life of the Champion Marquis."
Liu Ju rarely agreed with Li Ying, and immediately went to urge the group of alchemists who were making allicin.
After the army set out, the atmosphere in the Weiyang Palace became much quieter. Everyone knew that the Emperor's heart was now in the grasslands and deserts thousands of miles away. No one dared to speak loudly or make big movements, for fear of displeasing the Emperor and losing their lives.
In addition to fighting the Huns, there were of course many other things to do in the Weiyang Palace, such as the cotton planting that was delayed for a year.
It wasn't even April yet, but they had to start working on the cotton issue, which required the emperor, the empress, and the crown prince to take action. For a while, it attracted the attention of many people inside and outside the palace.
After all, not long after the prince was born, the emperor lost interest in the empress. Except on necessary occasions, the emperor and the empress were never seen side by side, let alone them both taking care of the prince together. This was truly a strange sight.
Unfortunately, the wonder soon disappeared, and the queen soon went to attend to her own affairs, while the emperor continued to attend court with the prince as usual.
Liu Ju no longer said any useless words of comfort to his father. He would wait until the good news came back, which would be more effective than his dry mouth.
However, the Xuanshi Hall was sometimes too dull, so Liu Ju still had to cheer his father up. After all, he couldn't wait for the good news to come before the emperor became depressed.
Liu Ju found some jade and had a set of mahjong made for him. After teaching his father, he asked the prime minister and a randomly selected court official to play mahjong with the emperor and the prince.
There was a gambling game in the Western Han Dynasty, Liubo, which is said to be the predecessor of mahjong. However, Liubo is not as fun as mahjong. The emperor's interest in mahjong soon surpassed Liubo, and he would always call Prime Minister Li Cai to play with him.
Ever since becoming the prime minister, Li Cai realized that this position as the head of all officials was not so easy to hold. Not only did he not win the emperor's favor, but he was also scrutinized by the emperor with critical eyes from time to time. Sometimes he really wanted to resign and go home to be an idle marquis.
Now, His Majesty the Emperor has a new way of playing things, and Prime Minister Li Cai is the most unlucky one. He wants to resign and go home even more.
But obviously no one could understand the prime minister's pain, at least not Liu Ju, who brought mahjong to the Western Han Dynasty. After seeing that everyone had become proficient in it, he quit first and wanted to leave the palace to play with Huo Shan.
——Children who are three years old can have a formal name. Before going to the battle, Guanjun Hou gave little Peng Zu this name.
——As for His Majesty the Emperor, who had already obtained the right to name the place, with the war imminent, would he have the nerve to compete with the Marquis of Guanjun?
——The Champion Marquis is indeed invincible.
Huo Xian, who is actually only two years old, can already walk very steadily. He now likes to communicate with others. Although he cannot pronounce every word clearly, the child's determination cannot be shaken.
Therefore, apart from occasionally talking at cross purposes with him, Liu Ju would praise the child for being great, amazing, and remarkable.
The three brothers of the Wei family would come over from time to time, and when they saw the prince coaxing the child like this, they all showed an indescribable expression.
Wei Buyi and Wei Deng were fine, but Wei Kang...
Liu Ju thought that this child had failed to become a marquis twice in his previous life. He did inherit his father's boldness, but it was obviously not used in the right place.
Wei Kang, you need to be taught a lesson.
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