Soon after the victory in the Battle of Liushakou, the emperor's envoys from Chang'an came to the forefront of the Han army camp in Dunhuang in this piece of military affairs.

Both land and water, coming in the starry night, the dusty imperial historian Sima Xiangru, with a mighty team of chariots and horses, has everything on it, filled with a large number of rewards.

In the calm interval before the outbreak of this great war, Yuan Zhao took a full battalion of generals to welcome their arrival. When he saw Sima Xiangru holding his arm with a sincere smile and congratulating him on the victory, Yuan Zhao actually still had some doubts in his heart. He was surprised that the emperor sent important ministers of the imperial court to the Western Regions at this time.

After all the proper etiquette, we entered the camp hand in hand. Yuan Zhao took a casual look and found that in the team from Chang'an, in addition to some important officials, there were also a few faces that were not very familiar. He recalled it in his mind, somewhat impressed. His brow twitched slightly, as if he had guessed what they meant.

Sima Xiangru did not mention anything else, and on formal occasions, he only faithfully fulfilled his status as the emperor's envoy. After all the rich rewards were delivered, he smiled and handed over a few letters to Yuan Zhao.

"Take a good look, everything they have to say is in there. Hehe! Oh, and this one, written by His Majesty, let me personally hand it over to you. ”

Yuan Zhao took the sealed letter that Sima Xiangru handed over at the end, and when he saw the familiar handwriting on it, he couldn't help but be a little stunned.

If the first few letters he held in the palm of his hand were just warm, then the emperor's private letters passed on in such an unusual way made him feel a little uneasy.

When did you start feeling this way? Although Yuan Zhao tried his best not to think about it, deep in his heart, there was no way to completely eliminate it. Ever since the Imperial Academy Honorary Priest Wine, who was said to have been able to deduce the mysteries of heaven and earth and gain insight into the relationship between yin and yang, had said those few words to him before he left Chang'an, Yuan Zhao's heart had such anxiety inexplicably.

The so-called "heaven and man induction", Yuan Zhao never believed it. But if such a meaning came out of Dong Zhongshu's mouth, he would have to be cautious.

The role of Dong Zhongshu and Confucianism, although because of his intervention, did not reach the position of supremacy above everything else in history. However, because of the huge influence of the Royal Academy, it has fulfilled the unparalleled reputation of this almost eighty-year-old man among all schools in the world. It can be said that the meaning contained in every sentence he says is likely to become the guide of public opinion in the world. Even in the overall situation of the imperial court, it will be greatly affected.

Yuan Zhao secretly smiled bitterly and shook his head. The conversation he had with Dong Zhongshu before he left Chang'an was not known to outsiders. If any content is leaked, I am afraid it will cause extremely shocking consequences.

"People are old demons" is not unfounded. Especially a character like Dong Zhongshu, over the years, he has been in the core of the Changle Yuan empire, closely observing all the changes, I am afraid that he knows better than anyone what kind of energy Yuan Zhao has.

“…… Before, now, and in the future, I have done everything without any selfishness. What he did was just to seek a true peace for the people of the world! ”

This is the last guarantee that Yuan Zhao made to Dong Zhongshu in person under the scorching gaze of those vicissitudes of life. And this sentence is also the principle he has always fulfilled.

"Yuan Zhao, you have reached the limit of a human minister. Throughout the ages, I am afraid that there has never been anyone with such unlimited power and absolute trust of the Son of Heaven as you...... It's cold in the heights! All the trade-offs are between your square inches, I hope you can always stay sober and not confused! ”

This was Dong Zhongshu's last reminder and admonition in the face of this peerless genius of the Han Empire. He had no doubt at all that the great plan of the western expedition personally deployed by Yuan Zhao would definitely succeed, and the achievements would definitely be unparalleled in the world. And at that time, he may no longer have the opportunity to have such a deep conversation with him, and this person must be in the sky, and there is no one in the world who can be restrained!

Yuan Zhao understands Dong Zhongshu's hard work very well. Naturally, he also understands that there are not a few people of insight in the world who are closely observing. It's just that what will happen in the future, he won't do it deliberately now. What he wants is not power, but to achieve the goal in his heart.

It is precisely because of this reason that in the Qin envoy team, several learned people who have a teacher-student relationship with Dong Zhongshu have followed, and Yuan Zhao does not feel strange.

Sima Xiangru led a large number of people to perform his duties and reward the three armies. In this free time, Yuan Zhao opened the family letters, and the beautiful handwriting revealed the endless concern for the recruit, as well as the joy of sharing with him.

Su Lingzhi's letter was a little short, just like her relationship with Yuan Zhao. There was never a need to deliberately express lingering between the two, after the autumn rain in Chang'an, she took his hand and took it home, and his wandering heart settled down at that moment. Over the years, this feeling has not changed.

Daughter Yuanyue is already a toddler. And the amazing thing is that although Yuan Zhao was not by her side, the first syllable that came out of her mouth turned out to be a vague "daddy". In Su Lingzhi's joyful text expression, deep in Yuan Zhao's heart supported by the iron-blooded sword bones, some inexplicable softness was quietly sprouting. He could certainly imagine how, during those long waits, Lingzhi took the trouble to teach their daughter this simple syllable ...... over and over again.

And Princess Suxi's letter was written meticulously and long. Feng'er's eyes are very bright, Feng'er's eyebrows are full of brilliance, Feng'er's cry is loud and powerful, and Feng'er's forehead is very similar to his father. Also, the emperor liked him very much and often came to tease him...... So trivial and trivial. Yuan Zhao read every word carefully. The sunlight of the Western Regions shines obliquely on his face through the sand and dust, and the outline is soft. All the attendants and generals had never seen their invincible commander have such a look.

Of course, such moments are short-lived. This is the battlefield of the two armies, and only a moment of tenderness is enough for children.

Bing'er actually wrote a letter to him very rarely this time. On a thin page, there is a deep resentment. She was complaining and regretting that if she had known that this war would be going on for so long, she should have put on her armor again and fought with him.

Yuan Zhao smiled and shook his head. He knew that the woman who had been scattered with green silk and a red face just wanted to follow him simply. The spring breeze is thousands of miles, don't disappoint the heart of Fangcao. He has promised her the mountains and rivers to return, how can he regret it!

Compared with such warmth and relaxation, the young emperor's handwritten letters, held in the palm of his hand, seem a little heavy. Yuan Zhao unfolded slowly, and as he watched, he remembered their old friendship and the days they had spent together. There was an inexplicable faint sadness in my heart.

“…… Brother Yuan, I may not be destined to have a royal heir. It's not the queen's and concubines' business, it's my own physical reasons. Those old guys in the hospital shouldn't dare to joke about this...... Actually, I don't want you to go on an expedition. There is not such a big imperial heart...... In the past few years, I have been an emperor, and I feel very tired. On the contrary, the time we spent together on Changle Plateau is the time I miss the most. Perhaps, my father was right not to be optimistic about me at the beginning....... ”

The air in the Western Regions was dry, and Yuan Zhao pursed his lips. Every sentence in the letter made him feel sad. Maybe everyone's fate is already doomed in the dark, even if he forcibly changes it for him, the consequences are not so satisfying.

“…… In fact, I was able to ascend to the throne of God, and your role in this is well understood by everyone in the world. For the sake of your dedication, and for the expectations of the queen mother and uncle, even if I don't like it, I have been working hard to ....... ”

Emperor Liu Ju's letter was long. As the emperor of the Han Empire, he had no one else to tell these words. Even if it's his own queen mother, he won't say it. Only in front of Yuan Zhao, his only friend in the world, can he confide without scruples.

Yuan Zhao read this letter for a long time. On this dull afternoon, some ominous premonitions have been secretly lurking unconsciously. Although he was very reluctant to see any turmoil in the succession to the throne of the Han Empire, even he felt powerless when something inevitably happened in the future.

"Yuanhou, I was entrusted by Master Dong to come to the army on purpose, because I wanted to ask Yuanhou what step he wanted to take with the elite division of the Han Dynasty?"

The person who interrupted Yuan Zhao's train of thought was named Xiao Wangzhi, and he, Xiahou Kuan, Lu Boyan, and Zou Huaiyuan were all promising people in the sea, and their influence was very huge. This time, they all went west out of Yumen Pass and came to the army, which was not only Dong Zhongshu's meaning, but also their own will.

"Actually, I've already said this on different occasions. The advanced civilizations in the world have the obligation to lead and change the barbaric and backward races and places. Looking at today, this task and responsibility is what our Han Empire should shoulder...... Heaven has a great responsibility, and you can't shirk it! ”

Yuan Zhao glanced at them lightly, put away the letter in his hand, and regained his majesty, his tone resolute and confident.

"But...... There are too many people killed! The sages have said that it is not a long-term strategy to calm the world with benevolence and virtue, and to conquer it with violence. Yuanhou must not be careless, ......! ”

Xiao Wangzhi and the others looked a little heavy. They hope that the Great Han Dynasty in their minds can become a model of benevolence and virtue for centuries, but they do not want to see another powerful rise that is a hundred times more violent than the Great Qin Dynasty.

"You don't understand. There are some races and places in the world that cannot be influenced and subjugated...... They only work in the simplest way! ”

Yuan Zhao stood up, put on armor and swords, and began to prepare for battle!