July Flowing Fire. The western part of the Zhou Empire, in the middle of the river.

The scorching heat is gradually receding from the land that once gave birth to a glorious civilization. The land that spans thousands of miles is gradually ushering in early autumn. At the same time, the flames of war that had been burning since March were slowly extinguished.

At the beginning of March, the 100,000 troops of the Persian Empire sent troops to the river, in order to report that Mulu had been razed to the ground, and the 50,000 troops of Khorasan were defeated. Also, Abbas, the emperor of the Safavid dynasty of Persia, responded to Jahuan sending an envoy to Baghdad to "reprimand" him!

Do not be angry with the Lord. As the emperor who had been in charge of the Persian Empire for many years, Abbas the Great learned that Jia Huan and Qi Chi, who were in charge of the Western Regions, had returned to the capital of the Eastern Empire, and carefully prepared for nearly half a year and brazenly sent troops.

All the way from the four towns of Khorasan to Shapur, Yuemulu, the soldiers crossed the Amu Darya River. All the way from the Turkmen region, across the Karakum Desert, into the Aral Sea delta in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya. Successive battles. The towns of Buraha and Khiva are important towns in Link.

However, after Jia Huan stabilized the situation, he supported the new emperor to ascend the throne. On March 25, Bo Zeng Jigao, the head of the garrison department of the Western Regions, was appointed as the imperial historian and governor of Hezhong, controlling the generals and taking full responsibility for the war against Persia.

This decree was sent to Broken Leaf in an expedited manner of eight hundred miles. Ten days will come. After Zeng Jigao took over the military command, he mobilized his army and fought with the Persian army in various parts of the river for more than a month, but did not achieve victory, so he led the main force of 30,000 Zhou troops to evacuate Samarkand, an important town in the middle of the river that had been held for many days.

This could almost be considered a defeat for the Zhou dynasty: the loss of control over the Hezhong region. Sure enough, then the cities of Tiemen Pass, Tashkent, and Hengros were lost. The Sogdians and Uzbeks defected.

However, the supply lines of the Zhou army were thus shortened by thousands of miles. When Zeng Jigao retreated to the battle, the troops supported by Broken Leaf, Shule, and Tocharo, and military supplies had already gathered here. Wang Luan, the political envoy of the Left Cloth of the Western Regions, and Pang Ze, the governor of Tocharo, strongly supported it.

At the beginning of June, Zeng Jigao, who had been replenished with supplies and troops, with a total of 60,000 troops, fought a decisive battle with the pursuing Persian main force of 50,000 at Juzhati, won a battle, and defeated his 100,000 servant army, capturing countless people.

Zeng Ji Gao ordered the generals under his command to plunder the lands in the river, and in a month's time, the big battles continued to break the Persian army, and then recovered Hengrus, Tashkent and other places.

Its military guiding ideology is: Harden the village, fight a dumb war! Give full play to the firepower advantage of the Zhou army. Again: Slow Advance Rush Attack! march to avoid being attacked and outflanked; The battle was to kill as much of the living force of the Persians as possible.

At the beginning of July, Zeng Jigao led the main force of the Zhou army of 50,000 men and arrived outside Samarkand.

"Woo--" The vast horn echoed outside the thousand-year-old city. The Persian troops stationed in Samarkand had long since withdrawn. This central city in the middle of the river is like a beautiful woman without a strand of beauty. The gates were wide open.

The long red tide appeared on the edge of the skyline. Like a brilliant fire! Groups of soldiers of the Zhou army, in a marching queue, appeared in the picture scroll of the Huangsha Ancient Road and the Beacon Fire Border City. The military is majestic and majestic!

The army slowly stopped. Messengers come and go in front of the battle. Zeng Jigao was dressed in a scarlet robe, riding a white horse, and was in the forefront of the army. The crowd was crowded.

Chief soldier Le Bai felt unspeakable in his heart! Following the retreat of the Zhou army, King Kang and others who had reached Broken Leaf could not come back. The flames are in the sky. It's coming back today. But that's not the end of the war.

After a while, the surrender of the city was communicated. Zeng Ji Gao pulled the reins of the horse, the horse neighed, the horsewhip pointed forward, and ordered in high spirits, "Enter the city!" ”

The styles of the three commanders before and after the Western Regions are different. The Governor of Qi will not appear in front of the battle array. He considered himself a ruler. Jia Huan has always been a scholar, and he believes in the chairman's suit. If you don't take a shot, you can fight all over the world.

Zeng Jigao is wearing a scarlet official robe, paying attention to official authority. His character is like this: proficient in Fang Yu, Xiaochang military strategy, arrogant and arrogant, and self-defeating.

Under Zeng Jigao's order, Zhou Jun slowly moved forward, and the momentum was compelling! This is the invincible male lion.

At this moment, Zeng Jigao, who commanded the army, was thinking about Jia Huan's letter in his heart. The Battle of Kuzhanti defeated the main Persian forces, and the reward for the great victory was soon handed out by the imperial court. At the same time, the decree was followed by two letters. One is Qi Xiang's, and the other is Jia Huan's.

The military command of the dynasty was in the hands of Jia Huan.

In his letter, Jia Huan made it clear that the Persians should be taught a hard lesson: all the nobles who supported the Persian war in the Hezhong and Khorasan regions should be executed. Occupy their land, gain their people, and take their wealth. Incorporate all the four towns of Khorasan into the territory of the dynasty, and wait for an opportunity to attack the Persian capital of Kufa.

This is his task for the next decade.

…

…

In August, after the continuous good news from the Western Regions, there was also good news from Lingnan. Zhang Sishui led his army into Guangzhou. Kill the king of Chu. After nearly half a year, the local rebellion of the Yongxing Dynasty was put down. The thirteen merchants of Guangzhou joined the Central Bank of the Great Zhou and issued banknotes.

The localities and borders were quiet, and the government began to slowly move on the right track. Qi Chi, a scholar of Dongge University, ruled the world as a sole ruler and began to implement reforms to eliminate the shortcomings of the Yongzhi Dynasty and display his political ambitions.

Just after the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, the fragrance of osmanthus seems to be wafting in the capital. The sycamore tree in Sanssouci Hall has yellowing leaves.

In the afternoon, Jia Huan entertained his visiting friend from the same year in the study in the front yard. In the study, the furnishings are exquisite and elegant. On the wall hangs Dong Qichang's eight scenes of autumn xing. The two sat at the table and chair under the painting and chatted. The fragrance of tea is lingering.

Fan Xijue is thirty-four years old, and his appearance is not good. The cheeks are thin, the jaw is prominent, and the mouth appears to be somewhat pointed. Wearing civilian clothes, the court rested today. Drinking tea, he said, "Ziyu, Tang Yuanzheng's temperament is similar to Weng Zhaozhen." When do you plan to summon Brother Weng back to the court? ”

In the same year of Jia Huan, Nanzhili Huating Tang Daobin, the character Yuan Zheng. Speak up for others. Strongly dissatisfied with Jia Huan's murder of the king. I am studying in the study class of the National Prison. The study class is run by the villain Zhou Shenxing. It really made the officials "talk about the tiger and change color".

Corporal punishment is never practised in the workshop. However, it is not allowed to be late, leave early, resign, attend classes every day, and write ideological reports. There are a lot of rules. The penalty for breaking the rules is increased time in the class. It's miserable.

Fan Xijue specially came to intercede for Tang Daobin. The length of the study class is already one year of study, and the penalty is ten years. He deliberately made a detour and asked Jia Huan if he wanted to recall the representative of Qingliu: Weng Zhuangyuan.

Sitting in the chair, Jia Huan smiled, shook his head, and said, "Brother Yuanyu, I summoned Weng Zhuangyuan back to scold me?" "A righteous gentleman, he really didn't think about such a thing as window dressing. He's going a different way. Jump out of the 5,000-year cycle of dynastic rise and fall.

Fan Xijue fell silent. Jia Huan refused. He and Jia Huan have been friends for many years! Power does change a person.

Jia Huan looked at Fan Xijue and knew what he was thinking, and then said: "Brother Yuanyu came to Guan and said, I can't be unkind." Brother Tang also spoke up for me back then. I turned around and said hello to Zhou Yusheng. How about the prefectures and counties in the south of the Yangtze River? ”

Fan Xijue was immediately overjoyed, got up and bowed, and said, "Xie Ziyu." I felt ashamed in my heart: Jia Huan was still the same Huiyuan back then! The first immortal among the three thousand people, the flowers are like Luo Qiliu like smoke, the people of the time should not be surprised to go to the department early, and Chang'e loves the young man in the month.

Jia Huan smiled, "Don't be busy thanking me." I also want to ask Brother Yuan Yu to bring a word. Brother Tang said a lot of excessive things in the study class. Before finishing the study, go through the form and publish an article in the organ newspaper of the study class. Can't you keep demolishing my platform! ”

Fan Xijue nodded and said, "It should be so." ”

…

…

After talking about Tang Daobin, Jia Huan and Fan Xijue chatted casually. It was a pleasure to talk about. Fan Xijue is in charge of the matter and has the qualifications of the court. In his position, it is more pleasant to talk to Jia Huan, and many things are self-explanatory.

Later, Qian Huai came to report, and Wei Yang came. Jia Huan said goodbye to Fan Xijue and went to see Wei Yang in a small hall in the front yard.

Wei Yang was twenty-five years old at the time, and he was the head of the Ministry of Rites. He was drinking tea in a quiet little hall. Dressed in a white shirt, he has a slender posture and is unusually handsome. is still the same as the young prodigy with red lips and white teeth. He married the granddaughter of Scholar Liu.

Seeing Jia Huan come in, Wei Yang stood up with a smile and arched his hand: "Ziyu..." A few months ago, when he heard the inauguration ceremony of Dao Academy, he also came to help. Due to his grandfather's relationship, he couldn't openly express his support for Jia Huan. But in the affairs of the academy, he is duty-bound.

Jia Huan smiled and made a gesture, motioned for Wei Yang to sit down, walked to the main seat in the hall, sat down, and said, "Is Wei Xiang okay?" After thirteen "begging bones", the imperial court agreed that the scholars of the Wei University had been sent to the office. Wei Hong is preparing to return south to live in Huating's hometown.

Wei Yang smiled: "It's okay." ”

After a few words of gossip, Wei Yang said: "Ziyu, now that the rebellion in Liaodong and Lingnan has been pacified, the western border has also been peaceful. There are some things that need to be done! The reputation of killing kings is not good after all. ”

The current guidance of public opinion is only limited to: breaking the black material of Emperor Yongzhi. The edict is simply Qi Chi and his ministers venting their dissatisfaction with Emperor Yongzhi's messing around in his last years. It is similar to the edict written by Xu Jie to Emperor Jiajing.

However, this is not enough for Jia Huan. It is necessary to wash away the reputation of the rebels and thieves. It's counterproductive to wash too much now, but what about in the future? Song Taizong even washed the "candle shadow axe" white! It's okay to take your time, but things have to start doing.

Jia Huan thought for a moment and said, "Yuan Hao, you have a heart." With his current political status, these heart-wrenching words can only be told to him by the classmates who were with him in the college that day. There are some things that he knows in his heart. Goebbels once said: a lie becomes truth when it is repeated a hundred times.

Wei Yang smiled. chatted with Jia Huan about Ji Cheng and Shi Xiangyun's wedding not long ago. There was a slight melancholy in my heart. What year was that?

…

…

The first year of Yongxing, winter. It was overcast, and it looked like it was going to snow.

In the afternoon, Jia Huan was in the main courtyard of the mansion, laughing with his wife Baochai and Daiyu. The nurses just went out with a few brothers and sisters under the age of one. Weiwei, Shishi, Yun'er, and Yuhua are all there. The big girls are all there.

A room of beauties, the pearls are shaking, and the flowers are blooming just right, like spring.

The charcoal basin is filled with fine mahogany smokeless charcoal, and a fine copper kettle is placed on it. Boil black tea in a copper kettle. The fragrance of tea is overflowing. Qingwen, Xiangling, Ruyi, and Ying'er added water and poured tea from time to time, fiddling with coals.

"Husband, what is the reason for this afternoon tea?" Baochai took a sip of tea, his eyes fell on Jia Huan, and asked with a chuckle.

Sister Bao, who is four months after giving birth, is even more graceful, round and jade, and her skin is like snow. At the age of twenty-five, he wore a padded jacket trimmed with lake green, and a flying phoenix hairpin made of pure gold and rubies on his head, which was slightly plump and unprovoked.

Several pairs of beautiful eyes looked over, and Jia Huan was comfortably leaning on the soft couch to show Daiyu palmistry. Sister Lin was lightly angry and angry, and her witty words were like beads. She was a little weak after giving birth, and wore a thick embroidered dark cotton jacket. In addition to the bright demeanor, add a sense of luxury.

As for whether Jia Huan really looks at palmistry or something else, this is naturally another story. Listening to Sister Bao's question, he smiled and told his wives and concubines about the allusion of British afternoon tea.

While chatting, the mandarin duck lifted the door curtain, bent down slightly, and the white goose egg face contained a happy smile, and said: "Third master, grandma, the second master is going to become a monk, and he is in the cui hermitage." Mrs. sent Yu Chu'er to ask the third master and grandmother to come over and persuade her. ”

Jia Huan frowned slightly, and glanced at Baochai.

…

…

Coming out of the main room of Jia Huan Sanssouci Hall, and walking east, it is Daiyu's courtyard. It is connected to the Grand View Garden.

Jia Huan, Baochai, and Daiyu are all ready to take a look. Everyone got up, and the maids helped to add clothes and cloak them.

Lin Qianwei is not interested in this kind of trivial matter. Lin Zhiyun didn't pay much attention. Didn't Bao Er Ye make a fuss that year? I heard that when Sister Lin was diagnosed as pregnant by the imperial doctor last year, Bao Er Ye cried a lot in Yihong Hospital.

Su Shishi and Shi Yuhua stayed at home to take care of a few children. Shi Yuhua helped Jia Huan tie his cloak, and his dreamy water-cutting eyes fell on Jia Huan's face, and he teased: "Xianggong, have you figured out what to do?" ”

A faint fragrance came, looking at the pure and charming beauty, Jia Huan naturally supported her thin waist, lowered his head and kissed Yuhua's soft and smooth face, and said with a smile: "It's going to rain, my mother wants to marry, let him go." ”

A room full of beauties, maids all laughed.

…

…

Jia Huan, Baochai, and Daiyu took the maids all the way into the Grand View Garden, along the artificial river, to the Lucui Nunnery. The cold wind blows through the woods in the Grand View Garden.

In the Nunnery, Mrs. Wang, Baoqin, Li Kun, Wang Xifeng, and Aunt Xue took the maids to constantly persuade Jia Baoyu, who was kneeling in the nunnery with her hands folded. A room full of people. Mrs. Wang supported Caiyun and couldn't cry.

Jia Huan and the three of them came in and exchanged a few words with everyone. Baoyu turned around and saw the more beautiful Lin Daiyu, thinking about her getting married and being a mother, tears flowed down, and she said softly: "Sister Lin, have you come to see me?" ”

Daiyu was helpless for a while. How did she not know this affection. But she won't take it. The mantis nodded lightly and persuaded in a soft voice: "Second Brother Bao, why are you doing this?" You have to think about Sister Jean. "She has a very good relationship with Bao Qin.

"Sister Lin..."Xue Baoqin was crying bitterly in Baochai's arms, and cried again when she heard the words. She only found out she was pregnant last month. Baoyu is about to become a monk.

Seeing this situation, Jia Huan shook his head. The big face treasure is this urine sex. Take Qingwen and Ruyi to sit in the side room next to her. Miaoyu was waiting here, and there were too many people in the main hall. She was admiring the budding red plums outside the window.

"I've seen the third master!" More than a dozen little nuns whispered hello to Jia Huan. What status Jia Huan is now: Emperor Shi.

"Third Master Jia..., are you here to persuade Second Master Bao?" Miaoyu turned around, folded her hands, and bowed slightly. She was dressed in a white robe, with long hair like clouds, and a slender and graceful figure. He was twenty-seven years old. Bright eyes, pink lips, snow skin, thin waist, long legs, bright as spring. It is worthy of the twelve golden hairpins.

She is all women here, how can she accept Baoyu to practice here? Miaoyu has an arrogant temperament, but she has a good personal relationship with Jia Huan's two wives: Baochai and Daiyu.

Jia Huan waved his hand to show his attitude: "Whether the mage accepts apprentices or not, just follow your own heart." "He has a clear idea of the big face treasure. After leaving the second room, he escaped into the empty door. Big Face Bao is a rich idler, or a monk, he doesn't want to interfere. Just like he said to Yuhua just now: let him go.

Miaoyu was slightly stunned and ordered the little nun to serve good tea. Waiting for the tea to come up, he personally brought the tea to the table next to Jia Huan, and said, "Please!" In this gesture, there is a slight respect. It's not because of Baochai and Daiyu.

The little nuns only said that Jia Huan was the emperor. With her knowledge, she knew that this was the emperor without the crown. Ten years ago, her master passed away, leaving her last words: it is not advisable to return to her hometown, wait here, and have their own results.

And as a result, come out early. On the same day, Jia Huan was entrusted to bring her a message: You can go back to your hometown. She has not yet returned to the temple.

Qingwen and Ruyi glanced at each other, hiding a smile in their hearts. How proud Miaoyu is, they know it.

Jia Huan nodded, "Thank you!" ”

Suddenly, I remembered Miaoyu's judgment: the temperament is as beautiful as an orchid, and the talent is more than immortal. Born with autism, it is rare for people to be identious. You are a meat-eater, and you are disgusted with it; But I don't know that people who are too high are more jealous, and they are the same as those who live in the clean world.

It's a pity that the people of the Green Lantern Ancient Palace will be old; disappointed, the pink Zhu Lou is in spring. In the end, it is still dirty and unwilling. It's like, the flawless white jade is trapped in the mud; Why do you have to sigh that the prince and grandson have no chance?

Her fate should have been rewritten.

…

…

The first year of Yongxing, the seventh day of November. Winter solstice. Snow.

In the West Garden, the residence of Chaoxia on the east side of the Taiye Pond, a six-story wooden and stone building was built. This is the effect of the cement developed by Qiao Rusong in the Ministry of Industry Langzhong in the collection of skilled craftsmen from all over the country, which lasted a year and a half.

After the end of the winter solstice dynasty today, Ning Xi, the son of Yongxing, invited the teacher Jia Huan to drink and enjoy the snow here. Yue Guogong Ning Cheng as an accompaniment.

The heavy snow is silent, covering the capital, a glass world. In the main hall on the sixth floor, it is as warm as spring. Food and wine are displayed on a small table. Jia Huan, Ning Xi, and Ning Cheng were in front of the window, overlooking the capital and the world.

Ning Cheng said with great interest: "Climb high and look far away." Your Majesty, you can enjoy the scenery here, which can be the first in Beijing. With such a beautiful view, can Mr. Jia have a masterpiece? If he wanted to put it on hold, he might not dare to ask Jia Huan like this. However, his sister and Jia Huan both have a son. He was much more presumptuous. This is his brother-in-law.

Ning Xi was dressed in a black dragon robe. has been the emperor for almost two years, and his temperament has slowly developed and is more steady. smiled and said: "Brother Cheng, the biggest role of cement is for military use." He said a little sentimentally: "Sir, do you really want to leave?" I..."

Jia Huan was dressed in an aqua blue cotton jacket, stood with his hands in his hands, turned his head, and said with a gentle smile: "Ziwen, there is no banquet in the world that will not be dispersed!" Besides, I have to live in Dongzhuang Town for a few years. He smiled again: "There is indeed a song that is more appropriate for the occasion at the moment." Give it to Ziwen! ”

Chanted softly: "The scenery of the northern country, thousands of miles of ice, thousands of miles of snow." Looking inside and outside the Great Wall, only reckless; Up and down the river, suddenly lost and surging. Mountain dance silver snake, the original Chi wax elephant, want to be higher than the heavenly public test. It must be a sunny day, and look at the red dress, which is extraordinarily enchanting.

There are so many delicate rivers and mountains, leading countless heroes to bend their waists. Regret the Qin Emperor and Han Wu, slightly lose the literary style; Tang Zong and Song Zu are slightly less coquettish. A generation of Tianjiao, Genghis Khan, only knows how to bend the bow and shoot the eagle. The past, the number of romantic figures, but also look at the present. ”

(End of Volume VII)