Chapter 2, Listening to Affairs
Haha, "In times of chaos, the bold speak; in times of peace, the virtuous remain silent." It turns out you have been speaking for several years, yet the world has not descended into chaos. There is some minor disorder, but it is not to be feared; there is no great chaos. Heaven has established a dynasty for thousands of years, and at least we need not worry. One of these days, I will bring Liu Xiangshi over and settle this account with him.
"Where are the three of them?" Lou Wen asked sternly
The bandit forces in Bingzhou are currently strong, and even Governor Shen is unable to suppress them. The court has dispatched 20,000 troops, but it seems... it seems they may be underestimating the situation.
Louchu also did not understand the reason; he had always believed that he would never have the opportunity to enter this place
Ma Wei's great-grandfather was the emperor of the Liang dynasty. Before he was even born, the country fell, and his entire family was forced to migrate to the eastern capital, Luoyang. When he was just one year old and still unaware of the world, his father participated in a rebellion and lost his life as a result. The young Ma Wei narrowly escaped disaster, yet he was imprisoned.
You are a prisoner... It's alright, the court will eventually show mercy. Even if the court does not allow you to hold an official position, following your father will still enable you to enjoy wealth and honor. The general's mood seemed to improve a bit, "In the future, you should come and listen more, interact and learn more from your brothers and nephews. Although they are a bunch of fools, they have more experience than you. By the way, when did you start speaking?" Lou Wen recalled this son's past peculiarities.
You are eighteen years old, and the Grand General has permitted you to come here to listen to matters. Be careful yourself, and do not waste the opportunities that come your way
The general nodded at the pavilion, making two affirmative sounds, clearly somewhat tempted, yet did not make an immediate decision
Louchu shook his head, saying, "Otherwise, regardless of the situation in the Qin and Bing provinces, it will not affect the overall situation of the world; the battle in Jizhou is the key."
After finishing his meal, Lou Chu felt no drowsiness. He took down the knife from the wall, drew it from its sheath, and carefully wiped it. Then, he went to the small courtyard, waving the knife at the moon, sweating profusely before finally stopping. After washing up, he went to bed, tossing and turning in the darkness, thinking that this birthday had turned out quite well: his best friend had invited him to the court, and his father, whom he had not seen for a long time, allowed him to enter the hall to listen to the proceedings.
"If you don't understand, just come and listen for a few more days. Do I have to explain everything again for every new person who arrives?" The general interrupted rudely, his gaze continuing to shift, suddenly returning to Seventeen, "You are not a child anymore, why did you only come to listen today?"
Luo Wen had scolded enough, yet some anger remained with no outlet for release. Thus, he said to his children and grandchildren in the hall with great severity: "Are you all pretending to be mute? I did not bring you here to be mere spectators. The Luo family has many descendants, yet not a single one can say something? When I am gone, who will you rely on?"
"Farting, do you dare to lie in front of me? The third one must have gone to meet his group of friends again. I work myself to the bone, yet my son gets to enjoy himself." Lou Wen was furious, uttering a string of curses, while his son responded meekly, not daring to say another word.
"Today, the Son of Heaven..." Ma Wei murmured, glancing around involuntarily. Seeing that there were no outsiders, he dared to continue, "If the world were to fall into chaos, it would inevitably stem from the emperor. In the more than ten years since ascending the throne, he only pretended for the first two years, after which his true nature was revealed—has my foolish brother ever considered my suggestion?"
Have you been drinking wine
Despite your long time of listening to matters, you have made no progress at all. Is the situation in Bingzhou that simple? Who else is there?
Some things may appear difficult, but in reality, they are easy. The act of wielding a sword to stab is foolish when used by the Zhou Black Dog to take revenge on ordinary citizens, yet applying it against the emperor could be considered a clever strategy.
Lifting his head, Lou Wen carefully scrutinized, commanding the servant to hold a candle to illuminate the face of the seventeen-year-old. After observing for a while, he finally stood up and laughed heartily, "It is my son, without a doubt. His appearance is just as handsome as I was in my youth, though he is too frail, resembling your mother more. Do you usually study literature or martial arts?"
"Hey, the Grand Tutor has the audacity to plead for me." Lou Wen said dismissively, "Who else is there?"
Louchu put down the wine glass, "Are you not joking?"
The third son of the Lou family, known by the peculiar name Lou Ying, is the legitimate eldest son of the Grand General. He is stout in stature, comparable to his father, and has a great fondness for pleasure and merriment, always seeking ways to evade discussions of state affairs
"Shut up!" Lou Wen scolded, feeling in a bad mood today and not wanting to hear such flattery. He pointed to another son, "You speak."
In the western region of Qinzhou, bandits have risen up, and the situation has remained unsettled for years. The court has been slow to send reinforcements. The bandits in the northern region of Bingzhou have also begun to rebel, and it is only right that the provincial governor should first quell them. If this effort fails, the court may then dispatch troops...
Haha, I knew that Chu Di was no ordinary person. The court has imprisoned the scholars of the five nations, and the killings are unceasing. Who knows when it will be our turn? Who among the thoughtful does not feel indignant? Moreover, the heavens have just begun to take shape, and the foundation is still unstable, yet we happen to be under the rule of a foolish monarch. The signs from the heavens have already indicated this; it is precisely the time for you and me to soar to great heights.
The situation is as such: the rebels in Guanzhong and Qinzhou are on the verge of being eradicated, yet unexpectedly, a group of bandits has emerged in the Bingzhou region of Shanxi. The counties are in urgent need of assistance, and the court has decided to dispatch 20,000 troops to suppress the bandits, but there is a lack of a general to lead the troops. Do any of you have recommendations? The Grand General Lou Wen was not inquiring of his sons and grandsons, but rather of the seven or eight advisors seated on either side.
Is such a joke appropriate to make
Louchu replied with a cupped fist gesture: "I just returned from the academy..."
Third brother occasionally catches a cold
Ma Wei chuckled and said: "As the younger brother is raised in the Grand General's residence, the news may not be very well-informed. The General of the Western Expedition led his troops into Qinzhou last March, and it has been over a year now, with frequent reports of victories. Several individuals have been granted titles as a result, yet the bandits remain unvanquished. Either the General of the Western Expedition has exaggerated his military achievements, or the situation with the bandits in Qinzhou is more severe than anticipated. As for Bingzhou, ha, Governor Shen Mu is an old friend of your family, but he has long been suspected by the Emperor. This time, he suddenly sent word that there are rebels, which likely indicates some hidden circumstances."
Lou Chu approached his father and once again bowed in greeting
The foundation of the building still shakes, "The court intends to cease hostilities, but the emperor may not necessarily share this intention. In my humble opinion, the current sovereign will not easily speak of giving up.
The descendants of the Grand General are numerous; some hold official positions outside, while others are still young. Today, more than thirty of them have been summoned, and they have long been arranged in two rows, listening to the Grand General and his staff discuss matters.
On his way back to his residence, he encountered many people who greeted him, thus becoming acquainted with several of his own brothers and nephews
Liang Shengzhi, although not a legitimate grandson, is said to be very favored
Hey, just the two of us?
Other staff members continue to offer suggestions
Which grandson? Lou Wen needs to clarify.
Ma Wei did not disclose the overall plan, and Lou Chu did not press for details. He had not yet made up his mind, considering it merely an exaggerated joke made at the dinner table
The children and grandchildren took turns to push and yield, and the foundation of the building emerged from the end of the line, first offering a greeting before speaking: "I have one matter that is unclear and would like to seek guidance from the General."
Oh, you go ahead and speak. It is evident that Lou Wen has still not remembered this son
Standing at the end of the line, Lou Chuxin felt a sense of emotion. The great general, in charge of the military power of the world, when selecting commanders, surprisingly only inquired about their family background and personal connections, without uttering a word regarding the individual's abilities
"The war with the Northern Herong tribe? Hasn't Su Di heard? The court has already decided to withdraw troops and cease hostilities. If we wish to fight again, we must at least wait for two to three years."
Lou Wen slightly retracted his belly and looked at his son in the distance, "Which one are you? You look a bit unfamiliar."
The descendants of the Lou family are eligible to participate in the selection of officials at the age of twelve or thirteen, while Lou Chu is evidently older in age
The seventh son of the King of Nanyang recently lost his marquis title due to a minor offense and has been brooding over it. Why not grant him this military achievement
After a few glasses of wine, the two began discussing current events as usual
In my childhood ignorance, after several years of study, I finally came to understand at the age of thirteen. With the foolishness of a child, I do not know how long I must learn from my brothers and nephews before I can gain insight.
As expected, in the following days, Ma Wei did not seek him out again. When they encountered each other at the academy, it was merely a nod of acknowledgment. The General was preoccupied with state affairs, coming and going at all hours, and his children and grandchildren had no opportunity to be involved in matters.
My foolish brother has a brilliant plan, but it only lacks your assistance
Several years ago, Lou Chu moved out of the General's Mansion and took up residence in a small house in the back alley, surrounded by relatives of the Lou family, with little interaction among them
After thinking for a while, the building's foundation silently sighed. Upon careful consideration, these two matters cannot be regarded as true changes; the imperial edict is no different from a joke. Today, the father may remember him, but tomorrow he will just as easily forget him. Moreover, the great general is advanced in age, and once he passes away, he will still be unable to escape the barrier of "confinement".
Yes, elder brother is right, I am ashamed of myself
The horse residence is not small, but it is somewhat desolate, with few servants and not abundant food and drink. The building's foundation is familiar, and it feels much better than my own home
Looking at the leftover food on the table and reflecting on his situation with Ma Wei, he asked, "What can we do?"
Upon returning home, it was already evening. Before I had the chance to sit down, I was summoned to the selection hall.
The Grand General and others have already selected the generals, and after discussing some trivial matters, the meeting concluded. The staff members took their leave, and accompanied by the two sons of the Lou family, they went to the front hall to enjoy some entertainment. The Grand General sometimes participated and sometimes did not; regardless, he always stayed behind to say a few words to his own children and grandchildren
In front of friends, the building's foundation reveals its arrogant side, raising a cup in the right hand to drink heartily, while the left hand gestures towards the landscape, "far from enough, the west and north are merely minor disturbances"
With friends
The child is currently studying at the Institute of Induction.
The Selection Hall is the place where General Wen conducts discussions at home, and entry is strictly prohibited for unauthorized individuals
Someone leaned over and whispered, "Why did you just arrive?"
Lou Wen rose to attend the banquet in the front hall, accompanied only by a few of his grandchildren, while the others dispersed
The last one to arrive at the building's foundation quietly stood at the end of the line under the servant's instructions
The other son of the general stepped forward and whispered, "The foundation of the building belongs to the princess of Wu..."
The selection hall is quite large, with walls adorned with an array of swords, spears, bows, arrows, and shining helmets and armor, while several notable paintings and calligraphies cower among them, rarely attracting attention
Louchu is an idle person, and having grown up this way, this is his first time being granted permission to enter the Selection Hall. He must be guided by a servant in order to understand the way.
Who wields the sword? Who carries out the assassination?
The person in charge, the "elder brother," appeared somewhat satisfied and quietly walked away
Lou Wen let out a long sigh, finally recalling the origins of this son, "Yes, it was I who called you here. Step forward, let me take a closer look at you"
The family rarely cooks, and a servant goes to the General's residence every day to collect meals, which is indeed convenient and effortless, though there is not much choice
The descendants of the Lou family can only listen here and are not allowed to interrupt. The aides have long been accustomed to this and do not show any modesty; someone immediately spoke up: "The Grand Tutor Liang had previously sent someone to make an introduction, hoping to have one of his grandsons achieve merit. It would be better to take this opportunity to do him a favor."
Seventeen Er Lou Chu, today is the first time I have come to listen to the proceedings
Louchu truly cannot think of any abilities he possesses that could be of assistance
Tomorrow marks the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Ma Wei has once again invited Lou Chu to his home for drinks
The major military and national affairs of this dynasty are entirely decided by the Grand General, and we, being foolish, can only listen more, observe more, and think more
The disturbances in the west at Qinzhou have not yet settled, and in the north at Bingzhou, bandits have arisen again. One fears that the world is truly on the brink of great chaos. What does Brother think about this?" Ma Wei is seven years older than Lou Chu, and the two refer to each other as brothers