xymnovel Chapter 118 Zhao Dezhao's House and Du
Chapter 118 Zhao Dezhao's House and Du
Chapter 118 Zhao Dezhao's House and Du (Part 3)
"The Prince of Wugong?"
Lu Duan was slightly taken aback, his brows furrowed with doubt: "I have been serving in local positions for many years and this is my first time returning to the capital this year. I was unaware of such a person. Please explain, Brother Zhou."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei's eyes immediately filled with admiration and respect. He put down his teacup and slowly said, "Brother Lü, you may not know this, but this Prince of Wugong is none other than His Highness Zhao Dezhao, the eldest son of the current Emperor!"
"Now, His Highness's deeds have spread throughout the streets and alleys of Kaifeng Prefecture."
"When the royal army pacified Yangzhou, Your Highness volunteered to fight. He captured Yangzhou in one night, crossed the Yangtze River three times, and led the troops at the forefront. He forced the Crown Prince of Southern Tang to sign the Treaty on the River, making him submit to the Tang.
"Even the new imperial examination policy that has shaken the capital was only announced to the world after His Highness strongly advocated for it to the Emperor!"
Zhou Wei grew increasingly impressed as he spoke: "Your Highness knew that this action would offend all the powerful officials in the court, yet you still chose to go to that dangerous place. Such courage is truly beyond the reach of ordinary people!"
At this point, Zhou Wei paused slightly, his eyes filled with expectation, and sincerely exclaimed, "The world has been in chaos for a long time, the people are displaced, and their hearts yearn for stability. Everyone hopes for someone with the courage and resolve of Your Highness..."
Only when a hero with a heart for the world emerges can the lost territories be restored, the world unified, and a peaceful and prosperous era restored to all people!
Lü Duan listened quietly, his expression growing increasingly solemn, his astonishment deepening.
Although he spent most of his time in the provinces, he knew the age of the eldest prince, Zhao Dezhao, and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhou, if I remember correctly, this Prince of Wugong is only eleven years old this year? At such a young age, even if he has some courage, do you really think he has the ability to pacify the world?"
In his view, an eleven-year-old child, no matter how gifted, is still too immature.
In chaotic times, unifying the world is extremely difficult and cannot be accomplished by courage alone. It is inevitable that there will be the suspicion that "a child prodigy may not be a great adult".
Zhou Wei shook his head, his tone firm and his eyes clear: "Brother Lü, you are mistaken. A true dragon is not defined by age. Even a young dragon has its own scales to resist, and will eventually emerge from the abyss with the wind, soaring through the clouds and dominating the world!"
"Looking at all the states under heaven, the Liu family of Taiyuan willingly served as lackeys of Liaodong, Meng Chang of Shu indulged in wine and women and neglected state affairs, and the Li family of Southern Tang was weak and could only passively defend. How could they possibly conquer the world?"
"Only Qian Chu of Wuyue had some qualities of a wise ruler. He was diligent in governing and loved his people, but he was content with his corner of the country and had no ambition to conquer the world. In the end, he could not achieve great things."
"In this light, only the Song Dynasty of the Central Plains is capable of pacifying the world!"
"Although Your Highness is young, you have the world in your heart. You are capable of both conquering on horseback and governing the country on foot. How many people in the world can match such talent in both literature and martial arts!"
Seeing Zhou Wei's high regard for Zhao Dezhao, Lü Duan's heart stirred, and he slowly asked, "Could it be that Brother Zhou is interested in becoming the Prince of Wugong?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei did not hide anything and nodded frankly: "Brother Lü has a discerning eye; I do indeed have this intention."
He paused, then continued, "In these times of constant strife and chaos, wise birds choose their trees to perch on, and virtuous ministers choose their lords to serve. If I were to encounter an enlightened ruler who would allow me to realize my ambitions, why wouldn't I serve him?"
Seeing the determination in his eyes, Lü Duan felt a surge of emotion and asked, "May I ask, Brother Zhou, what are your aspirations?"
Zhou Wei remained silent for a moment, then looked out the window at the bustling city of Kaifeng, at the distant mountains and rivers. Remembering the clansmen he had personally buried during his wanderings, he uttered four words slowly and firmly: "A peaceful year begins!"
These four words carry immense weight!
These four words represent his lifelong aspirations and his longing for a peaceful and prosperous world!
Lu Duan was shocked and remained silent for a long time.
Looking at the ragged yet dignified man before him, his admiration for him grew even stronger.
"Where is Brother Lü?" Zhou Wei suddenly asked.
Lü Duan shook his head absently: "I dare not express my ambitions, but I do my duty in this position and have a clear conscience."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Wei glanced at Lü Duan with surprise, but his eyes showed undisguised admiration.
The phrase "having a clear conscience" is easy to say but incredibly difficult to do.
The two exchanged a glance, needing no further words, yet a sense of mutual appreciation quietly spread between them, warming their hearts.
Zhou Wei pondered for a moment, then picked up his teacup and earnestly advised, "Brother Lü and I hit it off immediately. Why don't we both serve His Highness and work together to assist him, thus creating a beautiful story?"
Upon hearing this, Lü Duan's expression gradually became complicated. He remained silent for a long time, then slowly shook his head without explaining why.
He was rather calm and composed; it wasn't that he had no intention of serving a wise ruler, but he still had reservations.
Zhao Dezhao was, after all, too young.
Even with his extraordinary talent and courage, who can predict what the future holds?
Compared to that, he prefers to focus on the present, be down-to-earth, and eventually meet a wise leader.
Zhou Wei was exceptionally intelligent. Seeing Lü Duan shake his head without answering, he knew that Lü had concerns. He did not press the matter further, but simply smiled faintly and said in a calm tone, "Brother Lü, there is no need to be troubled. Everyone has their own ambitions, and you cannot force things. It is a great honor to have received a cup of tea from you today and to have had a pleasant conversation with you. I hope that we will have the opportunity to continue this connection in the future."
After saying this, Zhou Wei stood up, bowed slightly to Lü Duan, and took his leave.
Lu Duan quickly stood up and tried to persuade him to stay: "Brother Zhou, it's still early and the streets are cold. You have nowhere to stay, so why don't you rest here for a few days and get enough rest to prepare for next year's imperial examination?"
Zhou Wei waved his hand and said frankly, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Lü, but I cannot accept such a gift without having done anything in return. I am already grateful for the cup of hot tea you offered me, so how could I trouble you further and waste your money?"
Before Lü Duan could offer any further advice, Zhou Wei turned and strode towards the inn's door.
That ragged figure, in the cold wind, carried a hint of the proud and upright spirit of a snow plum blossom.
Lu Duan stood by the window, watching Zhou Wei's receding figure, his expression complex, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
He admired Zhou Wei's integrity and ambition, and was moved by his high regard for Zhao Dezhao, but his concerns remained.
After a moment's hesitation, Lü Duan withdrew his gaze, instructed the tea server to prepare hot water, and turned to return to his guest room.
He always loved cleanliness, and after a long journey, his clothes were covered in dust, which he found unbearable.
After washing up, he changed into a clean long robe, tidied his clothes, and made sure that he had observed all the proper etiquette before getting up and leaving the inn, heading towards his elder brother Lü Yuqing's residence.
As an important minister of the court, Lü Yuqing enjoyed the deep trust of Zhao Kuangyin. His mansion was not luxurious, but it was very neat and elegant.
When Lü Duan arrived, after announcing his arrival, he was quickly led inside by a servant.
The two brothers hadn't seen each other for a long time, so they exchanged pleasantries and talked about their experiences since they parted ways, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
After chatting for a while, Lü Duan suddenly changed the subject and asked in a calm tone, "Brother, as a close advisor to the Emperor, serving by his side every day, do you know anything about Prince Zhao Dezhao of Wugong?"
The words had barely left his mouth when Lü Yuqing's expression suddenly changed drastically: "Why are you asking about the Prince of Martial Arts?"
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