Wei and Jin cooks

The emperor was pregnant, and the whole country celebrated. The news reached the Xiliang Kingdom. Zhang Gui, who had been seriously ill and semi-conscious, cheered up and miraculously improved and breathed again.

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

Zhang Mao shook his head and reassured: "Don't worry, father, I have sent someone else to look for him, and he will be found. Before the mission is returned, His Majesty also sent two teams to the west. He will be found."

Neither the envoys sent by the imperial court nor the caravans sent by private groups such as Zhao Hu returned to Luoyang in August last year.

The time has exceeded the time limit set by the emperor, and neither the official nor the private sector has received any information from them. I am afraid it is a disaster.

Zhang Gui was already mentally prepared and had thought about all the bad consequences during this period. He was no longer worried, "How about the newly planted cotton?"

Xiliang divided the cotton seeds they got into two parts, and gave one part to the emperor as a gift for her ascension to the throne; the other part was kept for themselves, and no one knew how many seeds they had.

The emperor reciprocated the favor and asked people to bring back the precautions for growing cotton. Last year, when the temperature began to rise, they quietly planted cotton, using the methods given by the emperor.

In August of that year, they harvested the cotton that the emperor had mentioned. According to the recipe she gave them, they picked out the cotton seeds, removed impurities, washed and dried them, and then harvested fluffy and warm cotton.

They didn't know how to use it for a while, but 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 covers.

Although it is uneven and a little ugly, it is really warm. When applied to clothes, cotton is used instead of rags and reeds and other stuffing clothes, and it is also very warm.

Zhang Gui then knew why Zhao Hanzhang valued this cotton so much.

If cotton could be grown on a large scale, there would be no winter in the world. At that time, he asked people to keep the harvested seeds carefully and continue to plant them this year.

At the same time, he called his second son and his confidants and told them to be loyal to the court and guard the northern gate. They should send gifts to the court every year during the festival and the emperor's birthday, and they should not neglect it.

Just half a month ago, Zhang Gui, who felt that his physical condition was declining sharply, told his second son, "After I leave, you will take over the affairs of Xiliang until your eldest brother comes back."

At this time, when he learned that the emperor was pregnant, Zhang Gui suddenly came to life. After a moment of silence, he asked: "How is the cotton growing this year?"

Zhang Mao said: "Very good."

Zhang Gui nodded, "Very good, send someone to take care of her carefully. Your Majesty announced at this time that she is more than three months pregnant. The news has spread here... In five months at most, the emperor's eldest son or daughter will be born. By then our cotton harvest will be finished, and I will give you the newly harvested cotton seeds as a gift."

Zhang Mao said: "Is the etiquette too thin?"

Zhang Gui shook his head, "There is no news about cotton among the people this year. Obviously, the cotton seeds sent to His Majesty are not enough. They are also cultivating them, and the quantity is not enough to benefit the people."

This time he still only left his second son and his trusted generals behind, but he said: "I will write to the imperial court to make you the crown prince."

Zhang Mao's eyes widened and he immediately refused without waiting for the generals on the side to speak, "No, father, the elder brother is the eldest son, and the position of heir apparent should belong to the elder brother."

Zhang Gui: "Your brother doesn't know whether he will live or die. I can't wait for him."

Zhang Mao said: "My son is willing to protect Xiliang for his brother and wait for his return."

Zhang Gui: "It would have been possible in the past, but it is not possible now. I have made up my mind on this matter. Wang Rong, please help me draft the documents. I will personally ask your Majesty to make him the crown prince."

Chief Shi Wang Rong agreed and went to get paper and pen. General Meng Chang on the side brought a small table and placed it on the bed, and then went to help Zhang Gui sit up.

Zhang Mao's eyes widened, he picked up his robe and knelt down, banging his head and kowtowing, tears streaming down his face, "Father, you are going to put your son at the mercy of injustice, how can I see my brother in the future?"

Zhang Gui: "I will write to your brother to explain everything. He will definitely understand me and you. Cheng Xun, do you only care about your brother and not your father?"

Chengxun is Zhang Mao's surname, and Zhang Shi's surname is Anxun. This shows Zhang Gui's expectations for them and the world.

Zhang Gui's breathing became rapid, and he regained his breath after a while. He said in a weak voice: "I have spent half my life in the military in Xiliang. The people of Xiliang are my people, my family, and the soldiers and officials of Xiliang." He is my brother and your uncle, can you bear to see them get involved in war and strife again?"

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

"Yes, but what if there is civil strife in Xiliang and the war starts first?" Zhang Guite said: "Have you forgotten the disaster of Zhang Zhenjia'an, the disaster of Zhang Yue, and the disaster of Qu Chao and Qu Ru? Now in Xiliang, How many people are there with such evil intentions?”

Zhang Gui took a breath and continued: "I have been hesitant about whether to make Anxun the crown prince. He advocates Buddhism and is willful. This time he traveled to the Western Regions. I have repeatedly warned 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. At this time, it was not popular in the Central Plains, but was most active in minority areas such as the north.

At this time, Buddhism was mainly based on Hinayana Buddhism, that is, practicing self-transcendence and focusing on "self-interest". Zhang Shi was greatly influenced by Hinayana Buddhism.

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

So he eagerly wanted to know more truth and answer the doubts in his heart.

Zhang Gui respected his son's pursuit, but he did not agree with it. In his view, Buddhism was too niche and could not help others, let alone oneself, and was far inferior to Taoism and Confucianism.

So he had wanted to change his heir for a long time, but he was deeply influenced by Taoism and Confucianism. Although he knew that the eldest son was not suitable, he still subconsciously chose him and relied on him.

If one does not resolutely choose the eldest son, the chaos caused by the brothers' feud will be even more devastating.

Xiliang has not always been stable.

There have been wars in the Central Plains in the past few years, and Xiliang has not been very stable. Let's not mention the disaster in Zhangzhen Jiaqian. Zhang Yue is not an official of his court, he is just a small nobleman, not even a powerful family.

Because he heard the rumors and believed that he was the son of destiny, he rebelled, but when he raised his voice, many people followed him.

And Qu Chao was Zhang Gui's Liangzhou companion. They fought together, drank wine, and even slept in the same bed. Such a good friendship, because Zhang Gui suffered a stroke, he immediately thought that he could take his place, so he rebelled.

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

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