The Child Emperor

The ministers finally agreed with the emperor to go hunting again, but they made demands on the destination: the south is in the height of summer, the place is humid and the miasma is strong, the emperor should not go; the north is close to the Xiongnu, the garrison is not enough to resist, the emperor cannot go; there is still war in the east , and the emperor had already walked once on his last patrol, so he didn't have to go.

Only the West remains.

The capital is located in Guanzhong, and the west is full of mountains and mountains. If you go around the northwest, you can reach Yuguan Gate. Further west is the boundless desert, and the opposite is the Western Regions.

There is no major event in the frontier, and the emperor of Yumenguan should not go there.

The Ministry of Rites finally solved this problem. Less than 200 miles from the capital, there is an altar of sacrifice to heaven among the mountains. According to historical records, this altar was built by ancestors in ancient times. Abandoned, this dynasty set things right, just right for rebuilding the altar.

The emperor must sacrifice to the heaven when he goes hunting, and the distance is not very far. The ministers all support the proposal of the Ministry of Rites.

Han Ruzi agreed, and he wanted to use this to test his entourage. He announced that he would only bring three thousand people, one thousand Guards, one thousand Northern or Southern troops, and one thousand followers, the latter including honorable servants, Palace servants, accompanying officials and others.

This scale is too small, and it damages the majesty of the emperor. The ministers once again raised a wave of opposition. Han Ruzi refuted one by one, and changed his mind. He will not go to the west to worship the sky. Go to the East, wait for the cold weather to go south, and return to Beijing next spring.

The ministers were so overwhelmed that they had to agree to reduce the size of the entourage in exchange for the emperor to give up the expedition plan.

In mid-August, on a clear day, Han Ruzi finally started his second hunting tour.

Han Ruzi asked everyone to ride horses, even the concubines and palace maids accompanying him.

Concubine Shu Deng Yun has always claimed that she has excellent riding skills. Facts have proved that she is exaggerating. Although she was born in a family of military commanders, she is also the daughter of Houmen, and her life is not much different from that of ordinary noble daughters. Superb, on the most tame horse, with both hands on the reins, still nearly falling several times.

At the end of the first day of the trip, Deng Yun was so tired that she fell down and fell asleep. She didn't even eat, and the accompanying maid changed her clothes and washed her feet.

Han Ruzi watched coldly, but wanted to see how long Deng Yun could stay with him.

Deng Yun was even more haggard when they set up camp the next day, but insisted on coming to accompany the emperor for dinner.

It turns out that marching is so hard.

This team is still too bloated, there are too many useless people, and the marching speed is already very slow. Han Ruzi said, of course, there are not so many delicious food during the march, but there are plenty of wine and meat, and there are many dishes.

Deng Yun toasted and said with a smile, Then I can rest assured. 'There are too many useless people'. I don't care if I have one. It seems that I am not holding back. Please drink this cup full.

It was impossible for Concubine Shu to retreat, so Han Ruzi had no choice but to take a sip of wine with a smile.

On the third day, the patrolling team arrived at the first county town.

Han Ruzi had already issued a decree, requesting that all the officials along the route should be kept simple, and not to make a big deal when receiving the emperor. According to his experience, it is very likely that some officials will violate the decree. He is ready to take the first ignorant official. open the knife.

Unexpectedly, the county magistrate did exactly what the emperor asked: the camp was arranged outside the city, and only the most basic leveling was done, without any tricks to please the emperor.

Such a real official is relatively rare. Han Ruzi wanted to summon this official alone, but he learned from the people who accompanied him that it was not the county magistrate who arranged all this, but an attendant in the emperor's team.

The route and itinerary of the hunting tour have already been arranged. A group of officials ran in front of the team to ensure that all arrangements were in order. One of them had no official position, but his words were very important because he was a relative of the emperor.

Wang Pingyang is a distant relative of the Empress Dowager Cining, a cousin of the emperor.

Empress Dowager Cining appointed Wang Pingyang to follow the emperor. Han Ruzi was surrounded by many servants, but he never noticed this distant relative. It was heard that he arranged the reception and summoned him that night.

Wang Pingyang is handsome, and he salutes well.

Han Ruzi took a few glances and said, Did you come to Beijing with my uncle's family? Why don't I have an impression of you?

Han Ruzi had a strong memory of human faces, and the scenes of several family banquets were in front of him, and there must be no such person among them.

Wang Pingyang replied: Weichen's father moved away from his hometown and moved to Linzi City in the early years, and he had less contact with the family. When the Queen Mother was looking for her relatives, we did not accompany you to Beijing. Later, the uncle mentioned our family to the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother was kind, The order for the Weichen family to enter Beijing is a matter of this spring, and His Majesty is busy with his affairs, so he may have overlooked this matter.

Well, I remembered, that's what happened. Han Ruzi was a little impressed.

The Wang family are all rural farmers, and there will be no one available for a while. Empress Dowager Cining still feels that her power is weak, so she recruits some distant relatives and gives them heavy rewards.

You're doing a great job. Your name is 'Wang Pingyang', isn't that your real name? Han Ruzi felt that the word Pingyang was quite meaningful, and seemed to be dedicated to pacifying the East China Sea.

Wang Pingyang replied, Your Majesty is right. This is the name that my father changed for Wei Chen before he entered Beijing. If Your Majesty doesn't like it, Wei Chen will change it back immediately.

No need. Han Ruzi chatted a few words, encouraged him, and sent someone to send Wang Pingyang away.

Zhang Youcai sent it off, but he hesitated after returning.

Han Ruzi was looking down at a memorial when he saw Zhang Youcai from the corner of his eye, Speak if you have something to say.

Zhang Youcai smiled and said, Your Majesty doesn't like this relative very much, right?

Han Ruzi raised his head, slightly surprised, Why do you say that?

Zhang Youcai scratched his head, I can't tell. I've been following Your Majesty for a long time, and even thinks the same as His Majesty. You don't need to think about who your Majesty likes and who you don't like.

Han Ruzi was dumbfounded. He always thought that he was covering up well, but he did not expect to be seen clearly by a eunuch.

Zhang Youcai patted his forehead lightly, I understand, His Majesty will talk about details to those who appreciate it, but to those who don't like it, it's just small talk. Although there are compliments, they are not very specific.

Han Ruzi laughed, You have to keep your mouth shut.

Of course, as long as it concerns His Majesty, I won't say a word, and I won't say it if I kill you. Zhang Youcai closed his mouth tightly.

Han Ruzi thought for a while, Wang Pingyang said that he is a scholar, but I think he is more like a businessman, a little... slick.

Wang Pingyang's performance was actually very stable. Han Ruzi only made such a judgment based on his feeling. If Zhang Youcai hadn't mentioned it first, he would not have told anyone.

Your Majesty is right! Zhang Youcai said in surprise.

Do you recognize Wang Pingyang?

Zhang Youcai shook his head, I heard that when I went to the Cining Palace to pick up the eldest prince, Wang Pingyang did read a book, passed the examination as a scholar, and then went into business with his father. Later, for some reason, I got in touch with my uncle and became a foreign relative.

Han Ruzi nodded and suddenly understood that Wang Pingyang's daring to do things was not because of his own excellence, but because of the advice of the Empress Dowager Cining.

Her mother was always worried about herself and always wanted to strengthen the Wang family. Han Ruzi was helpless.

The journey of less than two hundred miles took a full seven days.

A small road was built in front, leading directly to the top of the mountain. Firewood was used for worshiping the sky. Han Ruzi ordered that the accompanying officials and attendants each picked up a piece of firewood and sent it to the mountain to show their sincerity.

Early the next morning, Han Ruzi only took a small number of followers to climb the mountain, stopped and walked, and reached the top of the mountain at dusk. The firewood for worshiping the sky was already piled up, and there was a lot of grease in the middle to help burn.

The emperor wrote down the secret wishes in his own hand, put it in the pyre, and prayed for God's protection.

Then the emperor retreated a hundred paces away and rested in the temporary military tent. At midnight, after a series of ceremonies, he fired a rocket, ignited the pyre, and the flames shot into the sky, sending a message to the sky.

The emperor retreated to a platform in the middle of the mountain, watched the fire from a distance, and performed the next series of ceremonies, which did not end until the fourth watch.

There were only thirty or so people who followed the emperor to climb the mountain, and the others either stayed at the foot of the mountain or guarded all sides to prevent the idlers from colliding. After the ceremony, the entourage retreated down the mountain, leaving the emperor alone to pray silently on the platform.

The emperor could not go down the mountain until dawn.

Han Ruzi prayed to heaven for many things, and asked many things, but he did not get an answer, there was no information in the flame, and he did not suddenly enter a dream and see all kinds of miracles.

For a period of time before dawn, Han Ruzi looked east. He was far away from the capital and the imperial court. He was a little freer, but he had less to do. Apart from the prime minister and officials, the emperor was only a team of 3,000 people. The leader of the team has little influence on the world.

In the early morning, Han Ruzi beckoned to the entourage in the distance. Only Zhang Youcai understood what the emperor meant, stopped everyone, and said to Zhao Ruosu, Your Majesty, please come over.

Zhao Ruosu was surprised, but still led the order up the mountain.

When the sun was rising, Han Ruzi praised: It really is picturesque.

Yeah. Zhao Ruosu didn't know much about flattery, so he replied casually, and looked into the distance, except for the beautiful morning sun, he couldn't see anything special.

Han Ruzi turned to Zhao Ruosu. Here, the emperor cannot influence the world, but he can influence the people around him, and there is no need to worry about the news leaking, at least it won't leak so quickly.

Where should we start?

Wei Chen doesn't understand... Zhao Ruosu became more and more puzzled.

Have you always kept in touch with Zhongshu Province, or have you changed your mind later?

Zhao Ruosu's face changed suddenly, and he was about to kneel when he opened his robe.

Han Ruzi waved his hand to stop it, This is the place to sacrifice to the heaven. I am not the emperor, you are not a minister, you can speak freely, and you don't have to worry, the court is running well, and I have no intention of revenge.

Zhao Ruosu is a very calm person, but his face changed color at this time, and after a long time, he said: When Wei Chen left Zhongshu Province, he really wanted to serve His Majesty, this heart has not changed so far, it's just... just... Your Majesty's Some practices are overdone, Wei Chen hopes...

I hope to correct these practices, but I can't say it outright, so I have to use the power of Zhongshu Province and the entire imperial court, right?

Zhao Ruosu nodded.

Tell me, what does the emperor in your mind look like?