Not long after nightfall, Sun Yan and Tang Ai arrived at Xin'er's home.

Although Linghu Feng is not the emperor, he is just a king, but according to the country's dynasty regulations, when the king dies, the ministers in the country must mourn for three years just like the important ministers of the court treat the deceased emperor. To mourn, you don't need to wear hemp. , but you are not allowed to drink, have fun, play, etc.

Speaking of the mourning period for courtiers after the emperor's death.

In the middle of the Qin Dynasty, out of convenience for the administration of the court and out of consideration for the ministers, the previous three years of state mourning were changed to three days of mourning after the emperor was buried, and thirty-six days for those with a rank of more than 2,000 shi. That’s it.

The first two emperors of the Cheng Dynasty, Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen, father and son, were both free and easy people. They not only inherited the Qin system, but also further simplified the funeral, requiring ministers to remove their clothes after the emperor was buried, and both left edicts, which changed the Qin system. It was the custom of the time to bury people richly, but it was strictly forbidden to bury them lightly.

Emperor Wen was even better than his father in demanding a sparse burial. Although Emperor Wu was buried sparingly, because of his sentimental nature and the success of his hegemony, he felt regretful. When he passed away, he was still attached to the world, so he made four boxes of clothes for himself. Compared with Emperor Wen, his burial was thinner. He bluntly stated in his edict that "the bones are painless and the tomb is not the house of the gods." His attitude towards life and death was extremely detached.

After the establishment of Dingge, this dynasty was the first to inherit the system of Qin and Cheng. However, when the second emperor, Emperor Wu, in order to stabilize his rule, he began to vigorously promote "filial piety". Both Cheng and Wei dynasties were not righteous in their success. It is "usurpation", and "loyalty" is shameless to mention, so we can only start with "filial piety". After all, the proverb goes, "A filial son produces a loyal minister." Therefore, although Emperor Wu of the Tang Dynasty still "served for three days", he He set an example and mourned for his father for three years. From then on, it became customary for ministers with more than two thousand dan to mourn for the deceased emperor for three years.

After Linghu passed away, Yang Fu, Yang Mao, Zhang Gui and Xin You chatted privately. They talked about the changes in the national funeral between the previous generations and the current dynasty. Emperor Wu and his son, indeed, did not hesitate to praise them, saying that they "made contributions in troubled times, the father was affectionate and the son was free and unrestrained, they are heroes in ancient and modern times." People also admire him very much. As for Emperor Wu of the Tang Dynasty, he resumed his three-year mourning in order to stabilize the political foundation. Compared with the deeds of the Cheng Dynasty father and son, it is impossible to say which one is better, but in Xin You's view, it is inevitable Seems overly scheming.

But he said that because during the national mourning period, no entertainment or drinking was allowed, Xin You would serve tea and buttermilk instead of wine at tonight's banquet.

He met Sun Yan and Tang Ai at the door, let them into the room, and took their seats. Kong. It was not until today that I got my wish. Please drink this water."

Although it was the first time for him to have dinner with Sun Yan, they were both ministers of Guan Ming, so they met quite often. And because they both had a close relationship with Yang Mao, they saw each other many times every day, so they were no strangers to each other. , we are already familiar with each other, and we can talk quite casually.

Yangfu, brother Yangmao, Zhang Gui, and Ba Ruoneng and Bald Boye, two barbarian nobles, were also at the table.

Everyone raised their bowls together, drank tea or buttermilk, and drank it all in one go.

Xin'er put down the wooden bowl and said, "Last time I received a letter from Duke Sun, but I didn't thank you in person. I'll drink a bowl myself to express my gratitude."

A maidservant kneeling beside Xin'er's desk filled him with buttermilk.

Xin You drank it all again.

"The last letter sent" refers to the time Song Fang proposed to Linghu to send Xin You across the quicksand to attack Shuo Fang. Although Sun Yan objected, it had no effect, so he immediately sent someone to go after leaving the palace. Find Xin You and inform him of this news.

Sun Yan touched his beard and said, "It's a small effort, but it's worth mentioning." Looking at the maid serving Xin You, he asked, "I heard earlier that the late king gave a maid from the Western Regions to the general. Is this the maid? "

This maid's eyes are slightly blue, her nose is high, her face is chiseled, and her skin is very fair. You can tell at a glance that she must be from the Western Regions.

Xin You smiled and said, "That's right." She told her maid, "Go and pour tea for Mr. Sun." She said to Sun Yan, "This girl has no other talents. She is only good at singing and dancing in the Western Regions. She is not like Hu Feng. When the day comes, I will Ask her to perform her skills in front of the public, and invite him to watch."

Even though Sun Yan is tall and tall, he is one of the few vocal masters in Kyoto. He is proficient in music. He is a first-class performer of the Tang Dynasty harp, the Western Pipa, and the Hu people's Jiegu. He has a group of musicians and dancers in his family, who he personally trains. He graduated from a famous junior high school; when Linghu Feng was still alive, he used to be envious of his group of dancing girls and went to his home to enjoy the performances.

The maid from the Western Regions could understand Tang dialect, so she meekly came to Sun Yan's case and brought tea and water.

The dishes served at the banquet include famous dishes of the Tang Dynasty and famous delicacies of the Hu people.

Various delicacies were served one after another by the maids.

There is a dish called "Sheep Intestine Soup", which is Sun Yan's favorite. This dish came from Hu Fa and was later improved by the Tang Dynasty. Noodles were added to the soup. The soup is hot and the noodles are chewy. In this early winter season, eat it in one bowl , the whole body feels hot, it is a good food to keep out the cold and a filling food.

Xin'er likes to eat roasted meat.

Nowadays, the popular method is to share the food. There is a meat-burning servant next to each person, who slices the meat, grills it, and then serves it. Can't make it in time.

Baldy Boye saw this and gave his own meat to Xin You with a look.

Xin'er was not a shy person and accepted it calmly. She was enjoying the meal when she caught sight of a scene from the corner of her eyes. She picked up a few slices of roasted meat and pointed at the roasting servant next to Zhang Gui. She ordered the maidservant and said: "Bring it to He ate it."

Sun Yan was very surprised and asked: "The meat cooked by one servant is not enough for the general to eat. This shows that the general is fond of this food, but why is he not satisfied and sharing the meat with the slaves?"

Xin You smiled and said: "Just now I saw this slave looking at the roasted meat many times, swallowing and salivating. Mr. Sun, we are already enjoying it, how can anyone who works hard not appreciate the taste?"

Sun Yan was surprised when he heard this and said to Tang Ai, the Yang family brothers, Zhang Gui, Ba Ruoneng, Bald Bo Ye and others on his left and right: "The general is really a kind and kind gentleman!"

Tang Ai smiled and said: "When it comes to Chang Shi's kindness, there is more than just this."

"Oh? Is there anything else? I'd like to hear the details."

Tang Ai put down his knife and dagger, picked up his feather fan, shook it twice, and said: "On the first day of October, the general specially asked Yang to join the army, and released all the guilty military officers in the governor's prison, and gave him a day's probation. They go home to reunite with their parents and wives."

October is the first day of October. October was originally the beginning of the year, and this day is still called "the first day of the Qin Dynasty" by the people. According to today's custom, on this day, every family in the south eats millet, and in the north. Newly cooked sesame seeds and beans are often used as soup and rice for family reunions and entertaining guests and friends.

Xin'er released the county officials in the governor's prison to go home and reunite with their families. It was indeed a kind act.

Sun Yan asked: "How many prisoners have returned home? Are there any who have escaped?"

Those prisoners are all military officials, and those with low status are also ninth-grade generals. All of them have families and relatives, and many of their children are serving in the army. Those who serve in the army cannot escape even if they want to; Those who do not have capital crimes among them can be released after spending some time in prison. Those who have committed minor crimes may be able to return to their posts immediately. Those who have committed major crimes have no chance of recovery, so they will not escape.

Therefore, when the number of people returned to prison was counted the next day, there was no shortage of them.

Tang Ai replied: "No one escaped, they all returned to prison the next day."

Sun Yan praised: "A long history has love, and a prisoner knows justice, which is a good story!"

Xin Er said a few words of humility.

While talking and eating, when everyone was full, they took off the tableware and asked the slaves to serve tea again.

The people present here are all important military and political officials of Dingxi Kingdom, and the topic unconsciously turned to the current political situation at home and abroad.

Sun Yan said: "There was civil strife before the Qin Dynasty was captured, and Pu Mao usurped the throne. After he led his troops back to the capital, he joined forces with his brothers and minions in the capital to break through the city gates, broke into the palace, and counted the ten major crimes of Pu Changsheng, the false leader. Kill them together with Pu Guang.

"Afterwards, he pretended to give up the false position to his concubine brother. His concubine brother was a concubine, so how dare he accept it? After pushing and pushing, Pu Mao finally took the false position.

"At first, when he counted Pu Changsheng's ten sins, he seemed to be 'righteous and awe-inspiring.' But after he came to the throne, I heard that he had used all the fake queens and concubines in Pu Changsheng's harem for his own use. After all, Mu was still a beast in the wild. The monkey is crowned!”

Tang Ai shook his head repeatedly, disagreeing with Sun Yan's last sentence, and said: "Pu Mao has always had a reputation for elegance. Although he is a Hu'er, he looks like a scholar of the Tang Dynasty. Sun Gong, uses all the fake queens and fake concubines for his own use." ’, based on Ai’s prediction, it’s probably just a rumor and not worthy of belief.”

The Hu people have the custom of a brother taking care of his brother's sister-in-law, and a brother taking his brother's wife. Pu Mao is Pu Changsheng's elder brother. Firstly, the Tang people were hostile to Pu Qin, and secondly, because of the Hu people's custom, they took it for granted that he would do such a thing. , due to widespread spread, there are also some.

Pu Qin was a strong enemy of Dingxi. Xin You paid a lot of attention to the situation of Pu Qin's royal family, famous ministers, and powerful generals. She knew something about Pu Mao and agreed with Tang Ai's judgment.

However, he did not want to embarrass Sun Yan, so he changed the subject and said with a smile: "Whether Pu Mao has wives or concubines who have taken over Pu Changsheng, we don't know if we are not in the Qin Dynasty. Whether it is rumors or facts, they are all incompatible. We have nothing to do. However, after Pu Mao ascended the false throne, he lowered his title and no longer pretended to be emperor, but changed his title to the King of Qin. However, he was wise enough to know that our dynasty is the right one in the world, and he has some self-knowledge."

Sun Yan knew Tang Ai's temper, he was unconventional and relied on his talent. When Linghu Feng first came to the throne, he had to control his temper because of his dark history of joining the army to attack Zhuye Ze. However, Linghu Feng died and he died. As the third-in-command of the governor's office, Xin You, because of Yang Mao's recommendation and his talent, deliberately made himself a corporal and befriended him, and his bad habits tended to show up again.

Sun Yan, a dignified minister of the country, took it upon himself to promote talents, and he had always been as humble as a grain of salt. Now that he knew his nature, he would not care about his face-to-face opposition. He just smiled and said to Xin You: "What the general said Quite true. Although Pu Mao is a little bearded, he knows that he has a certain degree of clarity. He knows that there has never been a barbarian emperor since ancient times, and my fortune is still strong, so I dare not be arrogant."

Tang Ai sighed and said: "Since this dynasty moved to the left of Dingjiang River, the national destiny has not been lost, but the Central Plains and the north are full of smelly smell. We, the people of Xia, are eagerly waiting for the king's master to relieve the hanging. This is the time for heroes to use their lives!"

Now that the Qin Dynasty is in civil strife, and the Wei Dynasty is attacking Rouran in the north, it is a good opportunity for our country to regain control of the Pass and the Central Plains. If the imperial court can give Ai Bu 30,000 cavalry, in ten months, how can we secure the Pass and the Central Plains!"

He sighed with regret, "It's a pity that our late king Bintian has no strength to send troops."

Xin You raised the bowl, drank it all in one gulp for the third time, and said: "Thousands of miles of ambition will be revealed!"

Everyone talked and talked until midnight before they dispersed.

Xin'er has bought a yard for Ba Ruoneng in the city, and Ba Ruoneng has also gone home.

The bald boy had no place to live in the city, so Xin You stayed in his family's guesthouse.

The snow keeps falling and the wind is biting.

Xin You, Sun Yan and others spent half the night happily together in Song Hong's house. Song Hong and Song Fang, the uncle and nephew, had been talking to each other until this moment.

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Chapter completed!