149 Chapter 149
◎Good news.◎
After the general agreed, Princess Pingyang also nodded. Liu Ju didn't know what she had considered before making this decision, but there was one thing Liu Ju knew, his aunt Pingyang was never someone who would let him suffer any loss.
Liu Che naturally knew his sister better, but he didn't care about this little detail.
Ultimately, in the eyes of His Majesty the Emperor, this was a great joyous event, but he thought it would be best to wait until the one-year mourning period for Wei Qing's previous wife was over before announcing the good news, so that everyone could celebrate together.
But the joyous event of the first year of Yuanding was not over yet. At the end of the year, the Huns came to Chang'an to pay their compensation, and the envoys also brought a piece of news that was definitely not good news for the Huns.
Yizhixie died.
According to the original agreement between the Han and the Xiongnu, after Yizhixie's death, the Han Dynasty had to appoint a new Chanyu, and there would be more than one new Chanyu.
After being captured by the Han people, Yizhixie's influence in the Xiongnu declined greatly. After returning to the grassland, many high-ranking officials, except for his confidants, had complaints against him.
But the situation of the Xiongnu was critical now. If Yizhixie were alive, at least the Xiongnu still had a nominal Great Khan, and they could at least be somewhat united. But if he died, the Xiongnu would probably fall apart even without the Han people's intervention.
The Han Dynasty had many spies on the Xiongnu side, and soon someone brought the latest news. Yizhixie's brothers, children and grandchildren all wanted to lead the Xiongnu in his place, restore the Xiongnu's glory, and lead the Xiongnu people to take revenge on the Han Dynasty.
"Very good." His Majesty the Emperor smiled warmly, without any sign of anger.
Liu Ju said, "Ah, the Xiongnu have already submitted to the Han. Now they are leaderless and scattered. I'm afraid there will be unrest. As the suzerain state, the Han cannot sit idly by."
Liu Che nodded and said, "Your Highness, what you say makes sense. What do you think?"
Wei Qing and Huo Qubing spoke first: "I agree with what the Crown Prince said."
The Emperor nodded again and said, "Qubing, you go and convey my decree. The next Khan of the Xiongnu must be officially appointed by me and granted the seal of authority. This is the agreement I made with Chanyu Yizhixie. Anyone else who dares to covet the position of Khan of the Xiongnu will be guilty of rebellion."
"Anyone who resists will be killed on the spot."
Huo Qubing stood up and saluted: "I obey your order!"
The Han Dynasty emperor sent the Champion Marquis to the grassland again. For the Huns, it was like the nightmare within the nightmare came back again.
When Marquis Guanjun led the Han army onto the grassland, no one dared to say a word. Without exception, they all obeyed the will of the Han emperor.
Yizhixie couldn't be blamed for submitting to the Han emperor. This was the thought of the Xiongnu people who once resented Yizhixie.
When the news reached Chang'an, the Emperor was slightly disappointed. "Marquis Guanjun's ring-handled sword wasn't even stained with blood. How could the Xiongnu be so cruel now? They have no courage at all!"
Liu Ju advised: "Ah Weng, think about it differently. If we don't fight a battle, our soldiers will also suffer fewer casualties. This is a good thing."
Liu Che said, "I thought I could take this opportunity to dissipate the Xiongnu's power once again. If I miss it this time, I don't know when the next opportunity will come."
Liu Ju said, "The barbarians fear power, not virtue. It would be better for them to fear the Champion Marquis, Aweng, than to slaughter another group of people."
Liu Che thought for a moment, raised his eyebrows and smiled, saying, "We can't kill all the Xiongnu, but as long as they are deeply afraid of the Han Dynasty and dare not covet and disrupt the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu threat can be completely resolved, and there will be no worries for generations to come."
Liu Ju added: "Such deterrence cannot rely solely on the general or the cavalry general, but must rely on the powerful Han army."
"Don't worry about that. The Han army must always maintain a deterrent effect, because the Han..." His Majesty the Emperor gazed into the distance through the towering rooftops, "has never had only the Xiongnu as an adversary."
This time Zhang Qian traveled very far. On behalf of the Emperor, he not only saw many small countries, but also powerful countries. Although they were not neighbors of the Han Dynasty, they still made the Emperor more vigilant.
"Born in adversity, die in comfort." Liu Ju said.
Liu Che turned around, rubbed the prince's head, and said with a gratified smile: "That's right, Ju'er, you must always remember this sentence."
Liu Ju said solemnly: "Don't worry, old man."
On this point, Liu Ju's sense of crisis was no less than that of the Emperor.
…
After resolving the issue on the grassland, Guanjun Hou returned to Chang'an City again. This time, in addition to intimidating the Huns, he also escorted the Emperor's envoys to read the imperial edict, and on behalf of the Emperor, he bestowed golden seals on three new Huns' Chanyu.
There were not many things to worry about. After Huo Qubing came back, he was just a little darker but not thinner. It can be seen that he really ate and drank well and did not suffer much.
After meeting the emperor and reporting back, Liu Ju asked with a smile, "Cousin, there has never been a more relaxing trip to the grassland than this one, right? Are you a little disappointed?"
Huo Qubing thought for a moment and replied, "In the past few years, I was really only thinking about making great achievements and wishing that the Xiongnu could not be wiped out. Now, I think it is better not to use force this time."
After hearing this, Liu Che came over and patted him on the shoulder, saying with a smile, "Qubing has made considerable progress. However, we didn't resort to violence this time because we suppressed them first. If there is a need for violence again in the future, the soldiers of the Han Dynasty will still need to have the same bravery as before."
Huo Qubing saluted solemnly: "I understand!"
Liu Che smiled and said, "Okay. Qubing, go home first. Shan'er told me yesterday that he missed his grandfather."
Huo Qubing said, "Yes."
Liu Ju hurriedly said, "Ah Weng, I'll see my cousin off."
"Go ahead." Liu Che waved his hand and added, "But you are not allowed to follow your cousin home."
"I know, I know." Liu Ju agreed and quickly pulled Huo Qubing out of the Xuanshi Hall. After they were out, he complained, "Grandfather, you think I'm still a child. Cousin, are all of you grandfathers like this?"
Huo Qubing said, "Your Majesty and I are different. Shan'er is still a child."
Liu Ju touched his chin and said, "Then I have to ask my uncle. Ah, speaking of my uncle, cousin, there is going to be a happy event in my uncle's family. Did you know?"
Huo Qubing nodded and said, "I have a question. When the eldest princess comes to marry your uncle, should you call her aunt or uncle?"
"Of course she's still my aunt," Liu Ju said. "My cousin, the one who should be addressed is Marquis Pingyang. Will he still follow my sister and call her uncle?"
Huo Qubing said, "Your Highness, please go and ask him. I will be leaving now."
After saying that, he bowed, turned around and left.
Liu Ju stood there and thought for a while, then turned back and threw the question to his father. Then he was dragged into handling government affairs and no longer had the heart to think about such boring questions.
In February of that year, His Majesty the Emperor issued an edict to grant the marriage, and Princess Pingyang soon married Wei Qing, Marquis of Changping.
As for the issue of address, Cao Xiang certainly didn't have to worry about it. He still called him uncle.
In the Han Dynasty, addressing people has always been a small problem.
——I can marry my granddaughter to the emperor, or I can marry my daughter to his grandchildren who succeeded the previous emperor. Generation and title have always been minor issues.
It was already the second year of Yuanding. Zhang Tang, who had died in December in his previous life, was still alive and well. He and the Prime Minister's Mansion were now at peace and it didn't seem like there would be any disputes.
Zhang Qian, who was supposed to return to Chang'an this year, was still on a diplomatic mission. According to the memorial he submitted, it was impossible for him to embark on the return journey this year.
Some things have not changed, but some things are indeed changing quietly.
Liu Ju specifically wrote a letter to Zhang Qian asking him to take care of his health, and he waited for Zhang Qian to bring him more local specialties.
After the letter passed through the Emperor's eyes, Liu Che smiled and said, "In recent years, Ziwen has sent people to deliver tribute, and there have also been envoys from various countries paying tribute. It's quite a lot. You even wrote a letter specifically for Ziwen. Do you think I have treated you unfairly?"
"Aunt, I'm just trying to be the Marquis of Bowang." Liu Ju said, "I can't just say I don't want anything and I won't care whether he goes out or comes back."
"Okay, you always make sense." Liu Che rubbed his head.
After his father finished massaging his hair, Liu Ju fumbled to comb his hair. Liu Che looked the prince up and down and said with a smile: "Ju'er is no longer a child."
Liu Ju was surprised and asked, "Aunt, I'm always by your side. Don't you realize that I'm already as tall as your shoulders?"
"Really?" Liu Che asked in surprise, "Stand up and let me see."
As he spoke, His Majesty the Emperor pulled Liu Ju up. The father and son stood together, and indeed, it was seen that Liu Ju's head was almost higher than his father's shoulders.
Liu Che sighed, "I didn't realize that Juer has grown so tall. He is really not a child anymore."
Liu Ju smiled and said, "Aunt, I've grown up. Aren't you happy?"
"Happy, happy!" Liu Che patted his shoulder with a smile, "Now that you've grown up, my son, it's time for you to have someone by your side. I can't just be a grandfather, I want to be a grandfather too!"
Liu Ju: “…”
"Aunt, didn't we agree to wait until I'm fifteen to talk about this?" Liu Ju said helplessly.
His father is really obsessed with being a grandfather.
Liu Che nodded and said, "Yes, I will start planning this from the time you are fourteen. When you are fifteen, you will be the grandfather and I will be the great-grandfather."
"No...Aung, that's not what I meant at the time..." Liu Ju explained hurriedly.
Liu Che smiled and said, "This is exactly what we agreed upon as father and son. My word is as good as gold. Prince, are you going to go back on your word?"
Liu Ju: “…”
Liu Ju opened his mouth, stumbling for a long time before finally saying, "But...but, Aung, whether this child can be born or not is not something I can decide alone."
The Emperor smiled with satisfaction. "As long as you have someone by your side, my son, why should you be anxious about having a child?"
Liu Ju finally understood his father's purpose. He wanted to be a grandfather, but it was obvious that he wanted to find a group of beautiful women for himself because he saw that the prince's wife was living a peaceful life.
"Okay, Aung." Liu Ju said with a smile, "But I have to choose the person myself, it can't be Aung. Do you agree?"
Liu Che nodded immediately and said, "Of course, the person I give you must be one that suits your taste."
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