Now is not the time of great chaos in the world, the emperor visits, no one can stay at home and wait, even in the city is rude, must go to the edge of the county under his jurisdiction a few days in advance, build a colorful shed, and then burn incense and bathe, waiting for the Son of Heaven.

Tan Wuxuan, as the king of Yecheng, occupied almost the entire Jizhou, and he led his ministers to a place close to Mengjin, and built dozens of color sheds along the way to facilitate the emperor to stop and rest.

Tan Wuxian was bent on satisfying the emperor, the colorful shed was built tall and gorgeous, and the wine and food prepared were all exquisite, in his words: "The Son of Heaven is not a tour every year, and it is not easy to come out for a trip, even if he has everything in the treasury, he must be entertained well." ”

Xu Ji is the person the emperor named to see, so naturally he has to follow, he didn't make Tan needless embarrassed, without saying a word, he packed his luggage and left, he didn't agree with Tan's senseless extravagance, but he kept his mouth shut and didn't say a word, Tan Wuwu asked, he just praised it in general.

The era of strategists has passed, and Xu Ji understands this truth.

The precursors sent by the imperial court came one after another, guiding the affairs here, pointing fingers everywhere, and after receiving rich gifts, they immediately became amiable and helped the king of Yecheng to arrange everything properly.

At noon on this day, the emperor finally arrived, the traffic was busy, the flag was fluttering, most of the people knelt down in advance to greet them, and they waited for half an hour and did not see the dragon chariot that the emperor was riding.

Tan Wuxian was a prince and king, so he didn't have to kneel in advance, he took Xu Ji with him, and whispered: "When the Emperor of All Things traveled, was there such a big pomp and so many rules?" ”

Xu Ji thought for a while, "I haven't traveled with the Emperor of All Things, I have only participated in a few ceremonies, well, the pomp is very large, there are many rules, and the etiquette officer supervises, talking in a low voice like ours will never be allowed." Once, when we stood from morning to evening, without rest, without eating or drinking, several of the elders fainted on the spot. ”

"Haha, no wonder everyone is vying to be the emperor."

Xu Ji looked at it in surprise, and Tan Wuxian hurriedly said: "In the past, I said in the past, but now it's different, Mingjun is alive, the world is unified, and no one dares to have such a thing." ”

A group of knights galloped in front, and when they were not far away, the leader turned over and dismounted, took a few steps forward, bowed to Tan Wusense, and then got up and said, "Your Majesty, King Xuanye City, go to pay a visit." ”

The envoy of the Son of Heaven was respectful and polite, Tan Wuxuan was very satisfied, nodded his head, and said to Xu Ji: "The fourth brother will go with me to pay a visit." ”

"It's rude to leave without a declaration, I'll wait here."

"It's still the fourth brother who understands it better." Tan Wuwu did not force it, and went with the envoy to meet the emperor's car, and soon returned, walking in front of the guide, followed by a carriage.

The car was slightly larger than the average car, but there was nothing unusual about it.

The ceremonial officer shouted the salute, and everyone did it, and the mountain shouted long live, and the sound shook the sky.

The carriage stopped for a while, drove to the color shed, the ministers got up, that is, a glass of wine, the emperor boarded the car and set off, to the next color shed.

The emperor's attendants, at least 2,000 men, on horseback or on foot, marched through the avenue, and the courtiers watched and marveled, and then mounted their horses and accompanied them.

Twenty or thirty miles behind, there were 5,000 cavalry, and Yecheng left people to receive them.

Xu Ji wondered in his heart, the emperor didn't seem to want to summon him, and he suspected that Tan Wuxuan had misunderstood the emperor's request.

The team was moving very slowly, and it would not be possible to reach Yecheng that day anyway, and it was necessary to take a break halfway, Tan Wuxu had already prepared and set up a temporary camp in a suitable place, so that the emperor and the others could live comfortably.

Tan senselessly held a banquet for the emperor to receive the wind and dust, important subordinates were allowed to participate, and soon after, some military generals who were of low rank but knew the emperor were also invited.

Xu Ji and the two groups were not people, so they stayed in the tent and ate and drank alone.

The guards suddenly came in, "Mr. Xu, there is a Yan Xiu outside who asks to see you." ”

"Please come in." Xu Ji got up, not remembering that he had known such an "editor".

The guest entered the account and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for many years, is Mr. Xu okay?" ”

"The people of the mountains and wilderness are just prolonging the years. Your Excellency is ......"

"Mr. Xu doesn't remember me? Speaking of which, we are still fellow disciples. ”

Xu Ji finally had an impression, "Yan Wei? ”

The person who came was Yan Wei, one of the disciples accepted by Fan Shu in his later years, known for his intelligence and eloquence, who once followed Kou Daogu, but did not know when he switched to Song Zhuzhu and got the official of "editing".

Yan smiled and said, "It's exactly below." ”

"Please be seated."

The two sat down and chatted for a while, Xu Ji was not particularly familiar with him, and he didn't know what his intentions were here, so they chatted a little awkwardly.

After chatting for a long time, Yan Wei said the right thing: "When today's son is wise and martial, especially attaches great importance to literature and education, and soon sets up a history museum, we must engrave the loss of nature and the great Chu forever, and teach future generations to know the difficulty of starting a business and the respect for keeping the business, and cherish it more." ”

"It should be like this, but Yan Bian is presiding over the revision of history?"

"Hehe, there are many elites in the imperial court, where is my turn to preside? Changsha Hou Guo Xiang presided, and I was one of the seventeen editors, doing some miscellaneous work to pick up the missing and fill in the gaps. ”

"The historian has written for thousands of years, and it is not a miscellaneous job to be edited and revised."

"Haha, I am grateful to Mr. Xu for my understanding, so Mr. Xu is willing to help?"

"I'm willing to do a small job, but I don't know what to help?"

"It's hard to say right now, I'm only here to say hello in advance." Yan Wei didn't mention the matter of repairing history anymore, just chatting, talking about learning, and talking about Yu Zhan's defection to Siguogu, he was quite envious, and he didn't retire until the second watch.

The banquet on the emperor's side was still going on, and Xu Ji had already gone to bed.

After several days of travel, we arrived at Yecheng, and the ceremony was even grander, and the soldiers and civilians lined up from ten miles outside the city to the city, and the sound of "long live" continued.

Xu Ji has never been summoned, Tan is uselessly busy, and occasionally meets, so he can only say a few words in a hurry.

But the emperor didn't say that he couldn't see anyone, Xu Ji had to stay in the city, thinking back to Yan Wei's visit and what he had said, he was not willing to participate in it, but he couldn't think of a way to dodge.

On the first night of entering the city, another "editor" came to visit, and he was also a person Xu Ji knew.

Lan Ruofu was originally Bao Dun's confidant, Bao Dun was defeated and killed, he switched to the king of Chu, quite respected, and now serves as a confidential official in Zhongshu Province, part-time editor, much higher than Yan Wei's status.

After seeing Xu Ji, Lan Ruofu only expressed his admiration, not mentioning Bao Dun, let alone who ordered the burning of Siguo Valley in the first place.

It was also after chatting for a long time that Lan Ruofu brought up the matter: "Mr. Xu has seen Yan Xiu?" ”

"Yes."

Lan Ruofu sighed lightly, "Today, I know that it is difficult to repair history, and it takes ten years of work. Especially in the troubled times, there is not one in a hundred, there are few survivors, and each has selfish intentions, many things seem to be clear, but when you really want to make a conclusion, it is obscure. It's hard, it's hard. ”

"It's difficult, but it's good for all eternity."

"Actually, I visited Mr. Xu with Yan Editor, and we all did the same thing."

"Oh? Yan edited and refused to disclose the details. ”

"Hehe, strict editing and prudent. As I just said, there are not many people who survived in the troubled times, and it is even rarer to know someone or something, Mr. Xu has traveled all over the world, seen a lot of people, and has a lot of history. ”

Xu Ji had already guessed that this would be the case, and said with a smile: "Thank you for looking up, but I traveled the world many years ago, and I have forgotten seven or eight out of ten experiences, and the remaining two or three points are also more wrong and chaotic, and when Your Majesty set the crown, I didn't follow, and I almost didn't know anything, how dare I make a presumptuous statement and comment on the heroes of the world?" ”

Lan Ruofu persuaded for a long time, but Xu Ji insisted on not allowing it.

Lan Ruofu finally said: "Although Mr. Xu doesn't remember everything, there are always people or things that he doesn't forget, right?" ”

"I don't know what Eddie Lan is referring to."

Lan Ruofu was silent for a moment, "For example, Guo Junhou." ”

Guo Shifeng was awarded the title of Marquis of Changsha, and he was the first prime minister of the Chu Dynasty, with a high and powerful position, and the emperor patrolled, and he assisted the prince to stay in Kyoto and did not follow.

Xu Ji nodded and said, "Of course I don't forget, but I don't know the experience of Emperor Longxing of Guo Junhou Fudi." ”

"Further on? It is said that Guo Junhou and His Majesty met for the first time in Xiangyang. ”

"Outside the city of Xiangyang."

"How much does Mr. Xu remember what happened at that time?"

Xu Ji thought hard for a while, "I only remember that we met in a military camp outside Xiangyang City, and Guo Junhou seemed to be a subordinate of King Ning at that time." ”

Lan Ruofu nodded, "That's right, at that time, Your Majesty was in the mountains, and Guo Junhou was a minister under King Ning. Anything else? ”

Xu Ji shook his head, "No." ”

"Whose barracks is it? Who else was there at that time? What did Guo Junhou talk about with Mr. Xu? ”

Lan Ruofu asked a series of questions, and Xu Ji shook his head, saying that he didn't remember.

Lan Ruofu sighed again about the difficulty of repairing history, and finally said goodbye.

In the afternoon of the next day, Yan Wei came to visit again, and without chatting a few words, he said, "Has Lan Bianxiu been here?" Mr. Xu should be careful, he is Guo Xiang's confidant, and he wants to use Mr. Xu's mouth to exonerate Guo Xiang. ”

"I don't even know whether Guo Xiang is guilty or not, how can I exonerate him? Lan did ask about some things, but I didn't remember it, so I didn't dare to talk nonsense. ”

Yan Wei knocked on the side to confirm that Xu Ji really didn't say anything, and left a thin book with satisfaction, "This is the draft of Guo Xiangzhi's biography, please correct Mr. Xu, the history book has not yet been completed, this manuscript is confidential, Mr. Xu pay attention, don't spread it, I'll take it away tomorrow." ”

Xu Ji refused to leave this book, but Yan Wei insisted on asking him for advice, Xu Ji had no choice, reluctantly accepted, put it on the table, did not turn it over once, and when he returned it the next morning, he said: "The past is dark, I really have nothing to say." ”

After staying in the city for five days, Xu Ji had the intention of returning to the valley, and was finally summoned by the emperor.

Song Zhuzhu met Xu Ji in the study of the palace, and as soon as he met, he said: "Mr. Xu is an outsider, there is no need to be formal. ”

Xu Ji still bowed down at the suggestion of the ceremonial officer, got up and sat down, facing the emperor.

Song Zhuzhu is much older, but his pride has not diminished, and he still looks like an emperor immediately, and he has not been greatly affected by the deep palace.

The two recalled the past, Song Zhuzhu said a lot, and Xu Ji listened a lot.

"I always thought that Mr. Xu would come back to me, and I knew that Mr. Xu was going to retire, so I wouldn't let you go." Song is not used to being called "I", especially when talking in private.

"It's like a horse, running and running, and suddenly it's so exhausted that it can't hold on even for half a mile, but it's not intentional."

The two chatted for a while, and Song Zhuzhu said, "Mr. Xu, do you remember the queen's father?" ”

Xu Ji shook his head, "I have no impression." ”

"Ma Lao machete, a bandit leader, is good to me."

"I have a memory of the name."

"He died young, and he didn't even see me king. Alas, the queen was obsessed with this, and now that she was free, she wanted to avenge her father. ”

Xu Ji's heart was bright, the two editors and the emperor said the same thing: who killed the queen's father? Is it Guo Shifeng? Is it Xu Ji? Or is it someone else?

The past is vivid, and Xu Ji knows who the real main messenger is.