Liu Heng stood in front of the mansion early and waited, and a few magpies flew from the eaves in front of the palace, which seemed to reveal a kind of good news. However, Liu Heng was still uneasy in his heart. After all, the situation is unknown, the good and the bad are unpredictable, and the good and bad are unpredictable.

At this time, I saw two fast horses galloping towards me from afar. As the dust rolled in from the fast horse, Liu Heng saw that the person who came was not the envoy he was familiar with before, let alone the scout he sent to the capital, and his heart suddenly became suspicious.

He came down and asked, "Excuse me, is your Excellency the acting king?" ”

Liu Heng stepped forward and saluted: "Widow Liu Heng, welcome your envoy." ”

"How polite the acting king is, this envoy is ordered by the prime minister to ask the acting king to enter Beijing quickly, this is the letter of the prime minister, please take a look at the king!" to take out a tin envelope and hand it to Liu Heng.

Liu Heng took the letter and did not open it immediately, but arched his hand and said: "Come to the far away to work, please go to the hall to drink a cup of weak tea and rest for a while." ”

In addition to welcoming guests, the hall of the palace is also the place where the king deals with state affairs on weekdays. ”

The envoy returned the salute and said, "Troublesome!" ”

The head of the palace retreated alone.

Liu Heng came to the study, retreated left and right, opened the tin envelope mailbox, took out the long strip of cloth in it, opened it and took a look, it read: "Zhulu has been removed, the overall situation has been decided, Hong is not filial piety, it is not suitable to be based on the position of the Son of Heaven, and the king is filial piety in the world, and the ministers and others are really admired, and the king should be promoted to the throne, and the king should enter Beijing quickly, ascend to the throne, seek social work, revitalize the dynasty, and calm the hearts of the people." The great Han Dynasty is glorious, and the ministers kowtow! ”

Liu Heng was surprised for a moment after reading it, and then turned to excitement, and while he was excited, he suspected that he had read it wrong, so he carefully read it word by word a few times before he was sure that he was not dazzled.

Of course, Liu Heng is not an impulsive person after all, he thinks about it, just based on this letter, it is impossible to completely conclude, the situation in the court is delicate, maybe this is the conspiracy of Lu Chan and others, and now the secret report from the capital has not arrived, if you make a mistake, you will die without a place to be buried.

Liu Heng took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. At this time, Fang remembered that he was still waiting in the hall, so he made up his mind to ask about the situation in Chang'an.

Liu Heng hid the letter in a lock that only he could open, went out of the study, and when he arrived at the lobby, he did not mention the things in the letter to the envoy, but only asked about the situation in Chang'an, and the envoy answered them one by one.

After hearing this, Liu Heng said that he didn't dare to believe it all, but he also showed joy, and immediately ordered some rewards to be given to the envoys and sent them away.

Liu Heng sent the envoy away, and after thinking about it repeatedly, he felt that the matter was very important, and decided to convene the highest meeting of the country.

When Liu Heng released that amazing news, many officials were stunned for a while, they felt an unprecedented excitement, if what the acting king said was true, then they would also be upgraded with the promotion of the acting king, and at that time, they would be central officials, not officials from small countries in the distant area. What could be more enjoyable than such an upgrade in life?

Lang Zhong made Zhang Wu not look very excited, and in the excited congratulations of the ministers, he first expressed his opinion: "The important ministers of the court are practicing military affairs and plotting a lot, they are afraid of Emperor Gao, Empress Dowager Lu's prestige. Now that Zhulu Gangping has changed the situation greatly, they appease the Jingshi in the name of welcoming the king. The minister thought that the king would still wait and see what happened! ”

As soon as Zhang Wu's words came out, he immediately won the approval of many people, indeed, it would be too hasty to ask someone to go to Chang'an to succeed the Son of Heaven with a letter for no reason? If it has really been agreed that the acting king will be the successor of the Son of Heaven, then at least the abdication edict of the young emperor must be sent at the same time. Besides, such a big event, why didn't you see the prime minister, and the captain came to announce it in person?

The discussion came and went, and the ministers felt more and more strange, and there were too many doubts at present.

After hearing this, everyone present calmed down a little from the hot head just now, and Liu Heng listened to it again and again. Zhang Wu's words are not unreasonable, he also has the same feeling, things came too suddenly, the situation between the DPRK and China is elusive, the ministers of the DPRK and China are scheming, what happened in Chang'an, thousands of miles away, these all need to be further confirmed, if there is no accurate information, just set off rashly, if you fall into the trap of the courtiers, wouldn't it be embarrassing? Therefore, Liu Heng decided that if his subordinates did not object, he clearly expressed his agreement with Zhang Wu's suggestion.

As soon as Liu Heng finished thinking about it, he saw one of them Huo Ran coming out of the ranks, walked to the center of the hall, and saluted Liu Heng.

Liu Heng saw that it was Lieutenant Song Chang, and it was expected that he had a different opinion. This Song Chang, serving as a lieutenant in the military rank, is resolute and upright, but also elegant and respectful, especially the flowing long beard, which shows the demeanor of an elder, although his ability is not outstanding, but he is also respectful and obedient, neither humble nor arrogant.

Liu Heng smiled: "Presumably the lieutenant has something to say?" ”

Song Chang coughed lightly, cleared his throat and said, "I, Wang Mingjian, this official thinks that what the ministers said is true!" As soon as these words came out, the hall suddenly quieted down, although Song Chang denied everyone as soon as he opened his mouth, but everyone was still willing to listen to his high opinions, if it was reasonable, then Zhang Wu was wrong, Zhang Wu was wrong, the acting king was the future son of heaven, and the acting ministers of the country naturally inevitably added officials to the knighthood.

Song Chang paused deliberately, and the high-level officials of Daiguo were already shining brightly, waiting for Song Chang's high talk. Song Chang said unhurriedly: "At the end of the Qin Dynasty, there was a great chaos, and the heroes rose together, but the one who won the world was the Liu family, what is it?" Providence! Emperor Gao died, the dictatorship of Empress Lu, supported Zhu Lu, suppressed Liu, and then the Queen Mother collapsed, Zhu Lu was in chaos, Tai Wei entered the Northern Army, raised his arms and shouted, and the soldiers were all left side, which is the people's heart of Liu's family, and it is also the ear of heaven. Liu's feudal country, dogs and teeth are staggered, if the ministers form a party for personal gain, it must be against the will of heaven and the people, against the original intention of the princes, at this time, my Wang Xian Shengren filial piety is heard in the world, and in the son of Emperor Gao, he is naturally the best choice for the Son of Heaven. Therefore, the minister thought that the king should not be suspicious, but should prepare as soon as possible and enter Beijing to inherit the unification. ”

After Song Chang's tirade was finished, many of his subordinates couldn't hold it back and immediately echoed it.

Although Liu Heng said that he was happy in his heart, his expression was blank, after all, it was the words of Song Chang's family, and before the situation was clear, he still couldn't rush to express his position, he waved his hand and said, "This is the end!" With that, he drifted away.

Liu Heng left the chamber, quickened his pace, and came to the Queen Mother's bedroom.

Liu Heng has developed a habit over the years, and whenever there is a major event, he will report it to his mother. In the eyes of outsiders, Liu Heng still has a dependence on his mother, but Liu Heng doesn't think so, he thinks this is a kind of filial piety and respect for his mother. From the day she became sensible, Liu Heng understood that her mother had suffered a lot in her life, she pinned all her expectations on herself, she raised herself with hard work, tried her best to protect herself, and paid her life's hard work and energy for her early success. When Liu Heng understood all this, he secretly vowed to honor his mother in this life, and he was also indignant about his mother's cold reception, but his mother's peace made him understand a truth: everything is calm, and he treats it calmly, but he has gained something. Among Emperor Gao's favorite concubines, except for his mother, there was no good ending. Every time she thinks of this, Liu Heng respects her mother very much, for the safety of her son, she would rather suffer a long time of neglect silently, and still deal with it calmly, without fighting or grabbing.

Such an open-minded attitude towards life is reflected in a concubine who has been left out in the cold, and in this regard, Liu Heng also admires his mother.

Liu Heng had a lot of thoughts all the way, and he couldn't hide his excitement, he wanted to tell his mother the news as soon as possible, and also make her happy.

When Liu Heng arrived at the Queen Mother's bedroom, he saw his mother reclining on the couch, her eyes slightly closed, and the maid was gently rubbing her heels. The maids saw the acting king come in, and were about to salute, Liu Heng waved his hand, signaling not to disturb the queen mother, although he was anxious, but in his opinion, the big thing was not more important than his mother's health, and he took a light step to leave the queen mother's bed.

At this moment, I only heard the voice of the Queen Mother: "It's Heng'er here!" ”

Empress Dowager Bo's voice was gentle and full of love.

Liu Heng hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "I don't want to disturb my mother's rest, so I'd better wait for my mother to rest and ask for instructions again!" ”

Empress Dowager Bo got up, Liu Heng hurriedly went up to support her, Empress Dowager Bo beat her thigh, waved her hand, and the maids floated away, she smiled: "Don't worry, people are old, easy to be sleepy, plus the late autumn weather, sometimes cold and sometimes cold, mother is even more sleepy." ”

"What did my mother say, my mother was still young, how could she be old? Why don't you send a medical officer to your mother and show it! Liu Heng said anxiously.

Liu Heng actually didn't compliment his mother, although the Empress Dowager Bo is the queen mother, she is only just over forty, plus she is well-maintained, she does not look old, but she has seen too much life and death over the years, and her heart has become old.

Empress Dowager Bo smiled: "Mother knows that Heng'er is filial, but Mother just feels sleepy and not sick, just rest a little!" "Liu Heng's filial piety is famous, the Empress Dowager Bo was sick for three years, and in the three years, no matter how busy she was, Liu Heng must first taste the decoction every day, and she must go to the sickbed to serve, under Liu Heng's careful care, the Empress Dowager Bo gradually got better. Liu Heng's behavior touched everyone, and his reputation for virtue and filial piety began to spread all over the world from that time.

Liu Heng breathed a sigh of relief, nodded and said, "Another day, I will ask the head of the palace to buy good ginseng for my mother to replenish my body." ”

Empress Dowager Bo still smiled kindly: "Heng'er is in a hurry, what's the matter?" ”

Liu Heng patted his forehead and said with a smile: "Mother, the child has a great joy here!" He took out the cloth letter sent by Chen Ping and Zhou Bo and handed it to the Empress Dowager Bo. After reading it, Empress Dowager Bo was also stunned.

I only heard her mutter, "Could it be really providence? ”

Liu Heng was a little confused, "Mother, what is providence?" ”

"Heng'er doesn't know, more than 20 years ago, there was a scholar Xu Cheng, saying that he should be the son of heaven for his mother's son, and now I don't know if this silk book is true or false, if it is true, it is the will of heaven, if it is false", the Empress Dowager Bo pondered for a while and continued, "If it is false, Heng'er should be careful to deal with it!" ”

"Mother, is this really the case? Could it be that Xu Ying, the first goddess in the world, is rumored to be the first goddess in the world? ”

Liu Heng's Xu Cheng, born in the twenty-sixth year of the First Emperor (221 BC), his father was the commander of Wencheng County, Hanoi County, it is rumored that she was born with a jade block printed with gossip, Qin Shi Huang thought she was Ji Rui, and gave her family a lot of rewards. If you cry at the sight of a living person, that person will have bad luck, and if you laugh, you will have good luck. Therefore, some people believe that Xu Cheng has a natural ability to look at faces. Xu Cheng is talented and intelligent, and he understands Zhou Yi gossip when he was a child. When she grew up, there was an endless stream of people looking for her. Later, the world was in turmoil, Liu Bang, Lu Hou, Zhou Bo and others all looked for her, and they all came true one by one.

"Exactly! It's just that time has passed, and my mother has forgotten about it. Empress Dowager Bo vaguely remembered the past, and couldn't help but shed some tears, when she was in her youth, she had a dream to enter the palace to serve as a driver, but she didn't want to be left out in the cold, after giving birth to Liu Heng, she just wanted to be able to enjoy the joy of family with her son in peace, and the dream that once inspired her gradually faded away.

Empress Dowager Bo came to her senses, sighed lightly, and then said: "Heng'er, this matter is very important, and I can't choose it for my mother, since this is the will of heaven, how about we go to divination?" ”

Liu Heng also agreed very much when he heard it.

Divination, at that time was a very sacred thing, only when encountering major events, or sending troops to fight will go to divination, like Chen Sheng Wu Guang raised troops is also divination, Liu Bang raised troops also through divination, the ancients are always very in awe of the will of heaven, if the small things are divined, it is a great blasphemy against the gods of heaven.

Empress Dowager Bo and Liu Heng found the sorcerer of divination and took a hexagram, and the hexagram was "Daheng Genggeng, Yu is the king of heaven, and Xia Qi is light". The hexagram was explained by the sorcerer, and it also confirmed that what the silk book said was true.

In fact, there is no need to be curious about such a coincidental hexagram, the coincidence can be explained by Liu Heng's luck, but it can also be explained by Liu Heng's cleverness.

It can be seen from this that Liu Heng's team is already creating public opinion for Liu Heng's ascension.

However, even with Chen Erren's silk book, Song Chang's rational analysis, and a good fortune hexagram, Liu Heng still didn't dare to take it lightly, he was very smart and sent his uncle Bo Zhao to Chang'an first.

Bo Zhao rushed to Chang'an, and then ran non-stop among the elders and important ministers at all levels to confirm the truth of the matter, and when he heard that the ministers were all in unison, Bo Zhao returned to the palace to report non-stop.

Bo Zhao's conclusion was very exciting to the whole country, and his conclusion was that everything was true.

Liu Heng smiled at Lieutenant Song Chang and said, "As the public says!" ”

The Acting Wangfu immediately got busy, Liu Heng, Song Chang, and Zhang Wu waited for the high-ranking officials to march to Chang'an.

Liu Heng couldn't hide his excitement along the way, the long-lost Chang'an was still only in his childhood memory, and now he was about to step into the capital again to take over the scepter in the hands of Emperor Gao, Liu Heng's chest was suddenly full of pride.

When Liu Heng and his entourage came to Gaoling, which was far away from Chang'an City, for the sake of prudence, Liu Heng sent Song Chang to enter the city first, one to report his itinerary to the important ministers of the court, and the other to inquire about the situation in the capital.

To Song Chang's surprise, he did not enter Chang'an, but found that a team of people had been lined up on the Wei Bridge in front of the city. Song Chang understood in an instant that the hundred officials in the court had already known the behavior of the acting king, and had already lined up to go out of the city early to greet him. He immediately galloped back to Gaoling and explained the situation to Liu Heng.

Liu Heng naturally didn't dare to slack off, he boarded the car and went straight to Chang'an.

Chen Ping, Zhou Bo and others saw that the honor guard of the king was simple and majestic, and their hearts were happy, and when the king came, the ministers all bowed down, Liu Heng saw that the important ministers in the court were so postureous, and they couldn't help but be a little secretly nervous, but fortunately, when Song Chang came, he had already taught him the etiquette of the Son of Heaven to receive the ministers, so he was able to calmly help the ministers up one by one.

Zhou Bo's face was full of joy, and he took a step forward and approached Liu Heng and said, "Acting king, the minister wants to take a step to speak!" ”

Unexpectedly, Song Chang heard this, and he said with a straight face: "Official business, talk about it yourself; Private matters, the king is selfless! ”

Although Zhou Bo was a little embarrassed, after all, he was experienced, so he immediately laughed and saluted: "What the lieutenant said is true!" So, he committed himself to worship again and gave the jade seal of the Son of Heaven to Liu Heng.

Liu Heng had the intention of resigning for a while, and Song Chang accepted it on his behalf.

Liu Heng did not officially ascend the throne, and lived in the residence according to the etiquette. In the Chang'an Guest House, in order to accept the princes and kings or envoys of the princes and kings who come to the court regularly, a special area of 'Jiadi' is set aside for the princes as a place to stay, which is usually used as a Beijing office and a mansion when the princes and kings come.

The ministers followed the acting king into the acting residence, and Chen Ping repeated the matters agreed upon by the ministers. Liu Heng kept in mind the fine style of modesty and courtesy, and constantly excused himself, while the ministers continued to persuade him.

Everyone understands that this is a routine performance, albeit fake, but it has to be performed.

Liu Heng became the Son of Heaven under the persuasion of the ministers.

At this time, there was a strange situation in the imperial court, there was still a nominal son of heaven in the palace, and there was also a son of heaven outside the palace.

The simultaneous existence of two sons of heaven is indeed a spectacle.

Liu Xingju, the Marquis of Dongmu, keenly noticed this problem, so he reported to Liu Hengyu: "I have no merit in exterminating Zhulu, let me go and remove the obstacles in the palace for Your Majesty now!" ”

Liu Xingju said it very tactfully, but his eyes revealed murderous intentions. Liu Xingju's request was immediately affirmed by the ministers. In order to prevent incidents, Liu Heng also sent the old and dignified Xiahou Ying to go with him.

Liu Hong had already heard the rumor that he was about to be abolished in the palace, and when he was worried about thinking about countermeasures, there was a commotion outside the palace, and he knew that something was wrong.

Liu Hong was suddenly as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, only to see Liu Xingju and Xiahou Ying wrapped in armor, and walked in with a murderous face, Liu Xingju said loudly: "The foot is not Liu's, not the Son of Heaven!" After speaking, he was about to pick up Liu Hong, only to see that the guards in the palace immediately took out their weapons and surrounded them, Liu Xingju shouted violently, the guards took a few steps back, and under the persuasion of Xiahou Ying, the guards put down their weapons suspiciously, and let Liu Xingju carry Liu Hong to the carriage outside the palace.

Xiahou Ying then boarded the car, shouted, and drove away, Xiahou Ying took the young emperor Liu Hong to the Shaofu official office and detained him.

Xiahou Ying came out of Shaofu and went to the Daidi to report that the matter had been done. Liu Heng boarded the car and went to Weiyang Palace.

The guards of Weiyang Palace did not know that the acting king had ascended the throne as the Son of Heaven, so they insisted on not letting Liu Heng enter the palace. Liu Heng's subordinates were in dispute, and they almost picked up the guy directly and fought with the palace gate guards. Seeing this situation, Liu Heng hurriedly persuaded him and sent someone to find Zhou Bo, the chief lieutenant.

Zhou Bo rushed over, and the palace guards let Liu Heng and others enter the palace.

As soon as Liu Heng entered the Weiyang Palace, he issued the first order since his accession to the throne, and this order showed Liu Heng's cleverness. He ordered Song Chang to be the general of Wei and pacify the southern and northern armies. Ordered Zhang Wu to walk in the palace. At the same time, he issued an edict of amnesty to the world.

Late at night, Weiyang Palace was still brightly lit, and in this quiet late autumn night, Liu Heng started his own era.

And the young Liu Heng also completed the most important transformation in his life at this time. Like all emperors, a few years later, he also had his own temple name, Emperor Wen of Han.

The writer is the writer of the warp and the weft of heaven and earth; Moral erudition; Be diligent and ask questions; Benevolence and love for the people; The people are remarkable; Bestow the title of knighthood on the people.