The emperor was pregnant, the whole country celebrated, the news reached Xiliang Kingdom, Zhang Liang, who was already seriously ill and semi-comatose, was in high spirits, and miraculously improved, and continued to breathe a sigh of relief.

He asked his second son, Zhang Mao, "Is there any news from your brother?" ”

Zhang Mao shook his head and said comfortingly: "Father, don't worry, my son has sent someone else to look for him, and he will definitely find his brother back." Before the mission was returned, His Majesty also sent two teams to the west, and they would definitely find people. ”

Neither the envoys sent by the imperial court nor the caravans sent by Zhao Hu and other civil organizations returned to Luoyang in August last year.

The time has exceeded the time limit set by the emperor, and this time, neither the official nor the people have received any information from them, I am afraid that it is more than lucky.

Zhang Liang was already mentally prepared, and he had thought about all kinds of bad results during this time, and he had no waves, "How about the newly planted cotton?" ”

Xiliang divided the cotton seeds she received into two, and paid tribute to the emperor as a congratulatory gift for her accession to the throne; One was kept for themselves, and no one knew how many seeds they had.

The emperor reciprocated the favor, and at that time he asked people to bring back the precautions for planting cotton, and after the temperature began to rise last year, they quietly planted cotton, which was the method given by the emperor.

In August of that year, they harvested the cotton that the emperor said, and according to the recipe she gave, they picked the cotton seeds, removed the impurities, washed and dried, and then harvested fluffy and warm cotton.

They didn't know how to use it for a while, and when they heard that the emperor had made two quilts for the Queen Mother out of cotton, they immediately stuffed the dried cotton into the quilt cover.

Although the bumps are a little ugly, they are really warm, and when applied to clothes, they are filled with cotton instead of rags and reeds, which is also very warm.

Zhang Liang knew at this time why Zhao Hanzhang valued this cotton so much.

If cotton can be planted on a large scale, then there will be no winter in the world, and at that time, he asked people to carefully store the harvested seeds and continue to plant them this year.

At the same time, he called the second son and his henchmen, and told them to be loyal to the court, to guard the gate of the northern country, and to give gifts to the court every year for the festival and the emperor's birthday, and not to be lazy.

Just half a month ago, Zhang Liang, who felt a sharp decline in his physical condition, also told his second son, "After I leave, you will temporarily take over the affairs of Xiliang, and wait for your eldest brother to come back." ”

At this time, when he learned that the emperor was pregnant, Zhang Liangmeng came back to life, and after a moment of silence, he asked: "How is the cotton growing this year?" ”

Zhang Mao said: "Very good. ”

Zhang Liang nodded, "Very good, send someone to take care of it, Your Majesty announced it at this time, indicating that she has been pregnant for more than three months, and the news has reached here...... In May at most, the eldest son or eldest daughter of the emperor will be born, and by then we have finished harvesting cotton, and I will give a gift of newly harvested cotton seeds. ”

Zhang Mao said: "Will the ceremony be too thin?" ”

Zhang Liang shook his head, "There is no news of cotton among the people this year, obviously, the cotton seeds given to His Majesty are not enough, they are also cultivating, and the amount is not enough to benefit the people." ”

This time, he still only left his second son and his confidant generals, but said: "I want to write to the court to make you the son." ”

Zhang Mao's eyes widened, and the generals on the side immediately refused, "No, father, my brother is the eldest son, and the position of the son should be the elder brother." ”

Zhang Liang: "Your brother doesn't know life and death, I can't wait for him." ”

Zhang Mao said: "My son is willing to guard Xiliang for his brother and wait for his brother to come back." ”

Zhang Rail: "If it was possible before, but now it can't, I have made up my mind on this matter, Wang Rong, you come to help me draft the document, and I will personally ask Your Majesty to be the son of the world." ”

Changshi Wang Rong went down to get a pen and paper, and the general Meng Chang on the side moved a small table and put it on the bed, and then went to help Zhang Liang sit up.

Zhang Mao's eyes widened, he picked up his robe and knelt down, kowtowed, and burst into tears, "Father, are you going to put your son in the face of injustice, I, how will I see my brother in the future?" ”

Zhang Liang: "I will write to your brother to explain everything, he will definitely understand me and you." Cheng Xun, don't you only care about your brother, not your father? ”

Cheng Xun is Zhang Mao's character, and Zhang Huan's character is Anxun, which shows Zhang Liang's expectations for them and the world.

Zhang Liang was a little short of breath, and only after slowing down did he catch his breath, and said in a weak voice: "I have been fighting horses for half my life, and I am all in Xiliang." The people of Xiliang are my people, my family, the soldiers and officials of Xiliang are my brothers, your uncle, can you bear to see them fall into war and strife again? ”

Zhang Mao cried: "Didn't my father say that Your Majesty is benevolent and will not talk about war lightly? ”

"Yes, but what if there is civil strife in Xiliang and the war starts first?" Zhang Rail: "Have you forgotten the disaster of Zhang Zhenjia Shrine, the disaster of Zhang Yue, and the disaster of Lu Chao and Lu Ru?" How many such ill-intentioned people are there in Xiliang now? ”

Zhang Liang breathed a sigh of relief and continued: "I have been hesitant whether to establish Ansun as the son, he advocates Buddhism and acts willfully, this time he traveled to the Western Regions, I have repeatedly advised him not to go, but he did not listen. ”

Buddhism was introduced to China at the end of the Western Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it was not prevalent in the Central Plains at this time, but was most active in ethnic minority areas such as the north.

At this time, Buddhism was mainly based on Hinayana Buddhism, that is, cultivating oneself and focusing on "self-benefit", and Zhang Yu was very influenced by Hinayana Buddhism.

At this time, Buddhism did not have as many rules and precepts as later generations, Zhang Yu was very free, and he vaguely felt that the current Buddhism was not quite right, at least it could not solve the doubts in his heart, and it was not suitable for him to promote in China.

Therefore, he desperately wanted to know more truths and answer the doubts in his heart.

Zhang Liang respects his son's pursuit, but he disagrees, in his opinion, Buddhism is too niche, does not cross others, let alone himself, far inferior to Taoism and Confucianism.

So he has long wanted to change the heir, but he is deeply influenced by Taoist thoughts, although he knows that the eldest son is not very suitable, but he still subconsciously chooses him and relies on him.

If you don't firmly choose the eldest son, the chaos caused by the brotherly wall will be even more devastating.

Xiliang has not been stable all the time.

In the past few years, the Central Plains has been fighting, and Xiliang has not settled down much, so let's not mention the disaster of Zhang Zhenjia's shrine, Zhang Yue is not an official of his court, just a small scholar, not even a gate valve.

Because he heard rumors in the market, he thought that he was the son of destiny, so he rebelled, but he raised his arms and shouted, and many people followed.

And Lu Chao is Zhang Rail's Liangzhou don't drive, they have fought together, drank, and even slept in the same bed, such a good friendship, because Zhang Rail had a stroke, he immediately thought that he could replace him, so he rebelled.

Xiliang is so big, how many people with bad intentions like them are there?

Zhang Liang almost didn't dare to think about it.