Standing in front of Deyang Palace, Liu Hong looked at the snowflakes in his hand that had not melted for a long time and fell into deep thought. Before long, he was covered with a layer of white.
Zhang Rang, Jian Shuo, Song Dian, and Zhao Zhong, who were serving nearby, looked worried but dared not go forward to disturb them.
Zhang Rang turned to Zhao Zhong beside him and whispered, "Quickly go and invite the Empress!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhong glanced at the emperor, who was standing blankly in front of the palace, and then turned and left.
Soon, Song Yue followed behind Zhao Zhong and walked over.
Looking at Liu Hong, who was standing in front of the hall covered in snow, Song Yue felt a pang of tenderness in her eyes.
Although she didn't know what had happened again, she knew that her husband must be worrying about the people of this country once more.
Then Song Yue gently stepped forward, looked at Liu Hong with deep affection, and said softly, "Your Majesty, the weather is so cold, you should return to the palace!"
Song Yue's caring voice pulled Liu Hong back to reality.
Turning to look at his gentle and virtuous wife, Liu Hong finally showed a smile on his solemn face.
"good!"
Zhang Rang and the others quickly stepped forward to brush the snow off Liu Hong.
Back inside the hall, Liu Hong pulled Song Yue to sit by the stove to warm up.
After he warmed up, Liu Hong looked at Song Yue and said softly, "Your Majesty, is there anything I can help you with?"
Song Yue shook her head: "I just missed Your Majesty and came to see you!"
Liu Hong smiled and asked, "What has the Empress been doing lately?"
Song Yue blinked: "My sisters and I accompany the Empress Dowager and the Holy Mother to watch plays at the Music Bureau every day!"
"Oh? What are you looking at?"
Liu Hong raised an eyebrow and asked with a curious expression.
Song Yue smiled sweetly: "It was adapted by Mr. Cai Yong from the poem 'Han Guang' in the Book of Songs. It's so beautiful!"
Since the Royal Opera House was completed, Cai Yong, who was in charge of the opera house, resigned from his official position and devoted most of his energy to music and opera, except for teaching Lü Zhen and Cai Yan.
In the past two years, thanks to the adaptations by Cai Yong and many scholars, many historical anecdotes and folk tales have been presented to the public in the form of opera performances.
From high-ranking officials to ordinary people, everyone was attracted by this new form of performance, which greatly enriched people's spiritual lives.
Liu Hong smiled and nodded: "Yes, that's good. With you all here, the Empress Dowager and the Holy Mother finally have someone to talk to!"
Knowing that everything was peaceful in the harem, Liu Hong was very satisfied.
After the couple talked for a while, Song Yue took her leave.
After Song Yue left, Liu Hong sat back down at his desk and began reviewing the memorials sent by officials from various regions.
"Zhang Rang, summon Jia Xu to an audience!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhang Rang accepted the order, bowed, and withdrew.
Before long, Jia Xu braved the wind and snow to arrive at Deyang Palace.
After the emperor and his subject exchanged greetings, Liu Hong asked, "Wenhe, what's the situation on the grasslands lately?"
Jia Xu straightened his posture and said, "Your Majesty, according to reports, after Murong Tu fled back, he gathered his followers and moved southwest, not far from the Yuwen tribe in the central region. It seems that the two tribes intend to form an alliance."
The Wuhuan people occupied the grasslands near Hulun Lake, intending to continue westward.
Tanshihuai's tribe clashed several times with the Xiongnu Left Wise King because the Han Dynasty had plundered the rewards he had received from the Han. All the conflicts ended in victory for Tanshihuai.
The nobles of Qiangqu, Yufuluo, and the Southern Xiongnu also frequently organized troops to plunder the tribes of the Left Wise King, capturing many slaves and selling them to the Han Dynasty…
Jia Xu then explained the situation on the grassland to Liu Hong in detail.
"Heh~, this Left Wise King is caught between Tan Shihuai and Qiang Qu, it seems his days aren't going to be easy!"
Upon learning that Qiangqu and Tanshihuai had actually bullied the Left Wise King together, Liu Hong couldn't help but chuckle.
Jia Xu smiled and said, "The Xiongnu are no longer as strong as they used to be. They will probably disappear from the grasslands completely in a few years. It's just that Tan Shihuai seems to be a bit restless lately!"
When Tan Shihuai was mentioned, Jia Xu's face became more solemn.
Liu Hong couldn't help but ask, "Oh? What did Tan Shihuai do?"
Jia Xu said, "According to my knowledge, Tan Shihuai has sent people to the Yuwen and Murong tribes, seemingly intending to form an alliance, and most of their tribes have begun to migrate south of the Gobi Desert!"
Liu Hong's expression was grave: "Wenhe, do you know why they formed an alliance and migrated south?"
Jia Xu pondered for a moment, then said, "I do not yet know the specific reason, but in my opinion, they are doing this to concentrate their forces and start a war against our Han Dynasty!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong stood up and looked up at the swirling snow outside the hall.
"Wenhe, did you sense anything when you came here today?"
"Feel?"
Jia Xu was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding the meaning behind Liu Hong's words.
Liu Hong asked in a deep voice, "Wenhe, don't you think the weather is colder this year than in previous years?"
Jia Xu's expression shifted: "Does Your Majesty mean that the Xianbei people migrated south because of the weather?"
"Yes, if Luoyang can be this cold, then the northern grasslands must be even colder. In the future, it will only get colder year by year!"
Liu Hong sighed softly, his gaze drifting towards the outside of the hall.
Others might not realize it, but Liu Hong knew perfectly well that the reason the climate was getting colder year by year was because... the Little Ice Age had begun.
Global temperatures are starting to drop, especially in northern border regions and the northern grasslands, where the effects of the cold climate are particularly noticeable.
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