Chapter 17 two

Since the establishment of the Lost Martial Gate, Lan Rong's always clean residence has become a little messy, but it is also much warmer.Batu and Lanrong still talked about everything as before. They talked about the relatives and friends who missed each other, and talked about the days and nights of the Qincha grassland.Later, when they talked about Weixuan's marriage, Lan Rong suddenly felt a sharp throbbing pain in her neck. She subconsciously stroked her neck with her hand, and a wry smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. Kuo Chu has never talked much, only occasionally interjecting a few words, mostly drinking tea and listening.Whenever he and Badu are together, Kuochu always feels a little bit of a sense of loss.This is not jealousy in the usual sense, but a kind of self-ashamed psychology at work.The three of them were talking, Kuo Duan took time to visit his third brother and sister-in-law, Meng Ge and Wu Liang also came to visit Lan Rong after finishing their military affairs together.Several young people reunited in one place, recalling the small gathering in Lan Rong's tent a few years ago, they couldn't help feeling a lot of emotion.

This time, Meng Ge brought his younger brother Kublai Khan.This fourteen-year-old boy has a broad face, big ears, clear eyebrows, graceful demeanor, smart and decent conversation, and looks exactly like his grandfather Genghis Khan in his gestures and gestures.Seeing him, Batu not only remembered the scene when he and his younger brother Xu Liewu went to the original Xiliao territory to welcome Zu Khan five years ago. At that time, Batu was amazed by the foresight and intelligence shown by this child. Now, seeing that his cousin, who has grown into a teenager, has such a description like his grandfather, Batu feels a lot of closeness to him in his heart.

Everyone knows that in recent years, under the strong support of his fourth aunt Mrs. Su Ru and Princess Qiguo, fourth uncle Tuo Lei has successively recruited and recruited a group of great scholars from the Central Plains with both ability and political integrity and outstanding knowledge to enter the fourth prince's mansion to teach Brother Meng Learn all kinds of social and natural knowledge.Most of these people are the masters of the Song and Jin Dynasties.Under the deliberate influence and subtle influence of these people, the two brothers Meng Ge and Kublai Khan gradually got rid of the Mongol legacy of emphasizing martial arts and despising literature. The two of them, one of them, loved studying mathematics and laws all his life, and they worked tirelessly and achieved profound attainments.A man who likes to discuss with others the successes and failures of the emperors of the past dynasties, often in the middle of his words, is called by his beloved grandfather as "young but ambitious, he is my family's thousand-mile horse".Even so, the two brothers who are equally elegant and studious have obvious differences in their inner temperament.Meng Geshi is more of a Mongolian trait, advocating both science and force, and even for every war, like his favorite mathematics, he strives for perfection.On the other hand, Kublai Khan behaved leisurely and lazy, neither happy with things nor sad with himself. This kind of deep personality endowed him with a unique charm at a young age.

Lan Rong liked Kublai Khan very much, and while she was pouring tea for Kublai Khan, she asked softly, "I heard from your elder brother that you are currently studying Yuan Haowen's poems, aren't you?" "Not only the poems, but also the last words and deeds of the king and ministers of the Jin Kingdom that he is compiling. It has gained a lot. Yuan Haowen is worthy of being the leader of the Jin Kingdom's literary circle. It is really amazing!" "I also heard rumors that he was called a child prodigy at the age of seven, and he has a high attainment in ancient prose and poetry."

"Yes, his prose has a strict structure and learns from all genres; his poems and words are desolate and gloomy, with a vigorous style, against softness and refinement, and advocating nature and innocence, which are quite characteristic of northern poets. Not only that, he also has a good command of nine He is a master of both literature and theory." "Does he have a good command of both literature and reason? In this way, he is somewhat similar to Meng Ge?" Meng Ge hurriedly waved his hands: "How can I compare with Yuan Haowen! There is no comparison, there is no comparison."

"The aspirations are different, and the environment is also different. If you were not born in an emperor's family or in Mongolia, you must also be a scholar." Lan Rong insisted. Meng Ge felt a little ashamed.Kublai Khan sighed like an adult: "It's a pity that such a talent is not willing to be used by Mongolia." "Everyone has his own aspirations, how can we force them!" "Sister Lan Rong, do you understand Yuan Haowen?" "Not really. Well, I know a friend of his." "Really? Who?" "Guess what." Lan Rong played tricks.

"How did you know Yuan Haowen's friend? Was it a dream?" Batu joked. "Is it his servant?" Kuo Duan asked. "A relative. It must be a relative." Wu Liang said with certainty. Lan Rong just smiled and said nothing. "Sister Lan Rong, please tell me who it is? Have you met Yuan Hao and asked me?" Kublai urged, shaking Lan Rong's hand in a hurry. Lan Rong lightly scratched Kublai Khan's nose: "Look at your urgency! Well, let me tell you, I have never seen Yuan Haowen in person, but I still have Yuan Haowen in my hand." s things."

"Really? What is it?" "His autograph fan." "How come you have his autograph fan? Did you buy it?" "What a fool, is there anyone who has obtained Yuan Haowen's authentic work and is willing to sell it easily? It is a treasure that is hard to find." "Tell me quickly, how did you get it? Why haven't you heard it? Are you bringing it with you now?" Kuo Chu was a little surprised and asked repeatedly. "Yes, Sister Lan Rong, first let us see what kind of fan it is." Brother Meng was also eager to see it. Lan Rong smiled, and took out an exquisite fan box carved with patterns from behind Kublai Khan as if by magic.Open it, and inside is a folding fan with silk surface.

"Is this the one?" Kublai Khan took the folding fan in his hand reverently, and opened it carefully.On the dignified, dark green silk surface was inscribed a seven-character quatrain.After the poem, there is Yuan Haowen's seal. "What's the question?" Ba asked curiously, not knowing the words on it.Wu Liang Hetai only glanced at the fan with his eyes, not interested at all. "Let me read it: wooden Buddhas with cheap dry firewood, great music and chime bells all over the market. Don't ask how much the plunder is, the big ship is full of Bianjing." Kublai read slowly, and he could not recognize some words. A little hard.

"What do you mean?" Kuo asked. Kublai Khan narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment: "I think, this poem should be about Song Huizong, Song Qinzong and the ministers of civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty in the second year of Song Jingkang, the singers in the harem, the Zhao clan, and a lot of gold and silver treasures. , classics, documents, ceremonial objects, the scene of being escorted by the golden army in triumph. Reading this poem, it seems that you can hear the king of the subjugated country crying with the north wind on the journey of humiliation, and occasionally The yelling of the Jin army and the clinking sound of the clashing halberds are shocking. As far as the eye can see, the future is boundless, there is no star and no moon, only desolation. Few strokes are so expressive, it is worthy of everyone's handwriting."

Everyone listened and didn't know much about it, only Meng Ge and Lan Rong showed approving smiles on their faces. "That's right, that's what the person who gave me the fan said. She has two fans from Yuan Haowen, one with a dark green silk surface, and gave it to me. The other one with a powder blue paper surface, She stayed by herself." "Do you remember what verse is inscribed on it?" "I only remember one sentence: Geese and geese send each other across the river. I still remember it." "I see. This is the fifth song in Yuan Haowen's "Continued Girl Song". The whole poem is like this: Geese and geese send each other across the river, and people sing and people sing geese in mourning. When geese come in autumn, they go south Go, when will the southerners cross the north and return. It still describes the sorrow of the southers crossing the north." "That's right. Kublai Khan, you are really hardworking and thoughtful, kid." "Sister Lan Rong, I'm not a child anymore." "Really? Yes, I forgot, our Kublai Khan has indeed grown up." Lan Rong said with a smile, put away the folding fan, put it in the fan box, and handed it to Kublai Khan, "I will give it to you." "But……" "I don't know much about these literati's things. I think it should be given to Xiangyi. Since you like Yuan Haowen so much, just accept it, maybe it will be useful in the future." Kublai Khan blushed with excitement: "Really?" "Of course. The person who gave me the fan back then gave me the fan because there was nothing better around me to keep as a souvenir. In fact, even if I don't have a fan, I will never forget her." "Then I... thank you sister." Kublai Khan took the fan box with both hands cherishingly, played with it carefully for a long time, and then hid the fan box in his bosom.This may be a hidden chance. Later, Kublai Khan and Yuan Haowen really met and cherished each other. Among them was Zhang Dehui, the adviser of his close friend Kublai Khan. "Lan Rong, you haven't told us yet, who is your friend? Do we know him?" Kuochu finally asked his most concerned question.Thinking of his wife having a good friend whom he didn't even know, he really still had some inexplicable jealousy in his heart. "She's a doctor." "Oh, you're talking about the goddess doctor who saved you at Yanmen Pass, right?" "It's her. She also treated Yuan Haowen's wife and daughter, so Yuan Haowen specially gave her two fans in order to thank her." "The origin of the fan is like this. What's the name of this goddess doctor? Why is it always a bit mysterious every time you mention her?" "She was originally a very mysterious figure. Her face was always covered with a gray-black veil, and her face could not be seen clearly. Her figure was beautiful, and her steps were light like a fairy when she walked. Her body There is also a particularly pleasant smell, which smells like flowers and grass, but it doesn't resemble anything at all. In short, anyone who has seen her will never forget her special beauty." Unconsciously, he dropped the lid of the cup on the ground and broke it. "What's the matter with you, Brother Batu?" Lan Rong looked at Batu with a sudden expression in surprise. Batu was obviously in disarray, and he just stared at Lan Rong blankly, his eyes full of confusion and sadness. "Brother Batu, what's the matter with you?" Lan Rong was frightened and asked anxiously. Batu closed his eyes and forced himself to regain his senses. "What's the name of the goddess doctor you mentioned...?" "I don't know either. I only know her surname is Shen." "Surname Shen? Surname Shen... Does she still have children with her?" "I haven't seen it. The day before Kuochu came back from the main camp in Mongolia, she came to say goodbye to me, saying that she was leaving Yanmenguan. Before leaving, I gave a jade bracelet as a gift, but she refused to accept it. She only asked for an ivory thimble that I often used. But she left me the fan, saying that I would give it to someone who likes Yuan Haowen around me in the future. She also said that the person who deserves my fan must not be an ordinary person. people." "Did she say where she was going?" "Hangzhou and Suzhou, and then Fuzhou. Brother Batu, you know Dr. Shen, don't you?" "I..." Batu was in a state of confusion, he hesitated to speak. All eyes fell on Batu's dazed face. Qingya, Qingya, why are you always like a gust of wind, blowing past my face and disappearing into the distance that I can't pursue?Don't you really never see me again in this life? In the spring of 1229, the kings, nobles and meritorious officials of the Mongolian Empire gathered from various places in the Khanate to gather at Genghis Khan's Great Ordu (Ordu means the palace) on the banks of the Kerulun River.The sons of Shuchi, Orduo and Beerge, came from the north of the Caspian Sea, Chahetai led his sons and grandsons from the Yili River valley, and Wokuotai led his sons from the Yemili River.Khan's position has been suspended for a year and a half, and Tuo Lei has been supervising the country.Now, the election of a new Great Khan is imminent. Before the meeting, Batu was ordered to meet his second uncle, Chagatai, who had just returned from the fiefdom.In a blink of an eye, Baba hadn't met his second uncle for more than a year.After participating in the funeral of Jisi Khan, Chagatai returned to his fiefdom and did not participate in the ensuing gold levy war. Seeing the long-lost second uncle, Batu's respect spontaneously made the old estrangement insignificant.The same is true for Chagatai. Among the sons of Genghis Khan, Chagatai is known for his bravery and skill in fighting, and his strict law enforcement. Moreover, he still maintains his bold and straightforward disposition in the past.Batu chatted with his second uncle about some anecdotes about the Western Expedition, and he was in a very happy mood. Chagatai suddenly remembered something, and asked with a smile: "That time you were injured in Yulong Jiechi, who saved you? How do you treat Zuhan?" I didn't mention it, I guess it's a girl?" Barbara laughed, noncommittal. "Why don't you tell me? It seems that the second uncle guessed right. Or, why did you refuse to get married for so many years? Is it because you can't forget her? However, not getting married is not a solution. How about it, boy , Someday Second Uncle invites you to my place as a guest, it’s not that Second Uncle is bragging, the girls in our place compete with each other, you can pick one at random, and Second Uncle will officiate for you.” Batu still smiled and agreed: "Okay, everything is subject to the arrangement of the second uncle. By the way, second uncle, I heard that you have formulated a set of well-organized laws and regulations in your fief, and strictly enforced them after promulgation. The subjects under your rule The order is in order, and in just one year, the order has been restored and the cities have been ruled. Moreover, all businessmen and tourists traveling between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, as long as they approach your army, there is no need for bodyguards and guards on any part of the road, so people There is a saying: "A woman with a golden vessel on her head can walk alone without fear." Your management of the fief will also provide me with a model worthy of reference. My nephew really needs to visit you , learn more." "Do you really think so? Well, boy, you say that Second Uncle believes you, and you like to hear it. To be honest, although Second Uncle was not convinced by your father since he was a child, there is one thing that Second Uncle has always been inferior to him. That means he has a son like you. I think even if my Nan Tugan is alive, he can't compare to your scheming and courage." "Don't say that, Second Uncle. Nantu Gan and I grew up together. He is not only my brother, but also my best friend. It's a pity...for so many years, I have always missed him in my heart." "Really? With your words, Nantu Gan Jiuquan should also rest in peace." Ba didn't want the second uncle to continue to immerse himself in the memories of the past, so he diverted to talk about other topics.However, they carefully avoided one of the most sensitive topics, which was the choice of Khan's position, which was related to the future and destiny of Mongolia.The uncle and nephew actually had the same doubts and uneasiness in their hearts. They couldn't imagine what kind of uncontrollable and complicated situation would appear in the upcoming Kuliltai Conference? Orduo and Beerge were the last two princes of the Jochi family to attend the meeting, and the Khan election meeting was scheduled to be held in three days.