The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

It had rained heavily all night, and the ground was full of mud. One step would sink half a foot in. The French soldiers shouted slogans and launched a charge, but the Fuso vassal army that besieged them was as stubborn as a nail and refused to retreat.

The Fuso vassal soldiers skillfully pulled down the trigger guard, loaded bullets, pulled up the trigger guard, and pulled the trigger. Fire spurted out from the muzzles of the guns, and the French soldiers who rushed over fell down with screams!

As they got closer, the Fuso vassal soldiers took out grenades from their waists, pulled the fuse, and silently chanted "one, two, three" before throwing the grenades out. There was a loud bang when they fell into the crowd, and the French soldiers were blown to pieces. Screams and wails rang out one after another.

However, the French soldiers still went forward, trying to tear a hole in the encirclement of the Fuso vassal army and break out!

The 180,000 elite troops came out, but now there are less than 20,000, which is simply a complete annihilation. The little man stood on the hillside, with a scruffy beard and messy hair, looking like a homeless person.

The Tang army swept through the European coalition forces like a gust of wind. The scene was extremely one-sided. The coalition soldiers fled everywhere like headless flies. They were defeated miserably!

The little man sighed deeply and said to himself, "This battle was fought in a very cowardly way!"

At this moment, he suddenly remembered the Holy Roman Emperor, and then greeted the entire family of the Holy Roman Emperor with the most vicious words he could think of.

If the Holy Roman Emperor had not led the escape, the coalition forces would not have suffered such a devastating defeat. What made the little man most angry was that he not only escaped, but also stole the train, leaving the kings of other countries with no choice but to flee with the soldiers.

The Holy Roman Emperor had been holding everyone back since the war began, and he gave them a hard time before leaving.

He spat and thought to himself: You damn bastard, just wait, when I return to France, I will send you to the gallows and let you go down to accompany your dead brother-in-law!
Thinking of this, he greeted the Japanese again in his heart.

He was fleeing all the way, and the Fuso vassal army was chasing him all the way, biting them like mad dogs and chasing and beating them.

Because it rained so heavily last night, they panicked and had no choice but to go somewhere else, and were blocked here by the Fuso vassal army.

"Your Majesty!" The French Marshal's voice trembled, "Look!" He hurriedly handed the telescope to the little man.

The little man took the telescope and looked into the distance. His whole body trembled violently immediately. The Fuso reinforcements had arrived!

At this time, the Fuso vassal army, which had been defending, also began to counterattack. Grenades were thrown at the French soldiers like locusts. The French soldiers fell down in large numbers with screams, and the survivors fled backwards frantically.

Looking at the French soldiers falling down in droves, the little man felt a chill in his heart and sighed, "It's over, it's all over!"

Li Hu never dreamed that he could defeat the Western Yi coalition forces with just one charge!

Li Hu has not had a good night's sleep since the day he arrived at the battlefield. He has been busy setting up defenses and analyzing intelligence all day long and is very tired.

When the first prisoner, the King of Prussia, was brought in, Li Hu finally felt completely relieved and handed over the command to Zhang Cheng and others. He returned to the rear tent, lay down on the bed and fell asleep. He slept very soundly. When he woke up, it was already past ten o'clock the next morning, and then he took a comfortable hot bath.

At this time, Li Hu was having lunch. There were only four home-cooked dishes, two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, a bowl of rice and a bowl of clear soup with vegetable leaves floating in it on the table.

At this moment, Wang Yaozu came in excitedly, greeted Li Hu, and reported: "Your Majesty, our army has captured the King of France alive!"

Li Hu's eyes lit up: "Where are the people?"

Wang Yaozu: "They have been brought here and are waiting outside the tent."

Li Hu put down his chopsticks and said, "Bring it in."

“Yes.” Wang Yaozu strode to the door and shouted, “Bring him in!”

The curtain was lifted, and the disheveled little man was brought in by the imperial guards. He stood in the middle of the tent and stared closely at Li Hu who was sitting there.

Wang Yaozu shouted angrily: "Kneel down!"

The translator who followed in immediately translated it.

The little guy snorted and then raised his head high.

Wang Yaozu laughed: "Do you still think you are the King of France? Hit him and make him kneel down!"

The two guards who were escorting the little man had long disliked him. At this moment, they kicked the little man's ankles at the same time. The little man was kicked to his knees, but he straightened up with his hands and held his head high.

Wang Yaozu laughed angrily: "Pretending to be stupid? Slap him in the face, let's see if he can still pretend!"

Two imperial guards stood on each side, one raised his left palm and the other raised his right palm, and they slapped the little man's face hard!

Seeing blood flowing from the corner of the little man's mouth, Li Hu spoke: "It's done."

The two guards stopped immediately, then loosened their grip and the little man fell down.

The little guy was lying on the ground, his eyes still fixed on Li Hu.

Li Hu smiled and said to the translator: "Tell him the rules and let him put his status in perspective. If he wants to die, I can help him do so."

Without waiting for the translation, the little man stood up by himself, knelt down and said in stiff Chinese: "The King of England greets His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Hu looked at him and asked, "Can you speak Chinese?"

The little guy: "Ever since Shui Rong started stirring up trouble in West Asia, I have started learning Chinese characters and Chinese language, studying your Chinese military books, and using your military tactics to defeat the anti-French alliance. In the battle four days ago, I used the Thirty-Six Stratagems of Stratagems: Concealing the Heavens and Crossing the Seas and Making a Feint to the East and Attacking in the West. Which strategy did you use?"

Li Hu smiled and said, "We'll use their own trick against you."

"Just follow the plan?"

The little guy was stunned for a moment. "Which strategy among the Thirty-Six Stratagems is this? Why haven't I seen it before?"

Li Hu and Wang Yaozu smiled at each other.

Little guy: "What's wrong?"

Li Hu: "Chinese culture is broad and profound, you will understand it later."

The little guy's eyes flashed: "Not killing me?"

"Why should I kill you?" Li Hu asked back.

The little man was silent for a moment, then asked, "How does His Majesty the Emperor intend to deal with France?"

Li Hu: "You haven't eaten yet. If you have anything to say, please talk slowly while eating." As he said this, he looked at the eunuch in charge who was standing beside him.

The eunuch in charge understood and asked the young eunuch to move a stool to the side of the table, added a set of bowls and chopsticks, and served a bowl of red rice.

After escaping for a day and a night, the little guy was indeed hungry. After sitting down, he picked up the bowl, picked up the spoon, scooped a spoonful of rice directly into his mouth, and his eyes suddenly lit up: "What kind of food is this? It's so delicious!" He ate slowly at first, and then started to eat with big mouthfuls.

Looking at the little guy wolfing down the food, Li Hu smiled and then signaled the eunuch to pick up some food for him.

The little guy put down his bowl only after he ate four bowls of red rice in one breath. Perhaps he ate too hastily, or maybe he ate too much, because he burped several times in a row.

The little man laughed and said, "I was so busy running for my life that I didn't eat anything for a day and a night."

Li Hu smiled and nodded.

The little guy was silent for a moment and then asked the same question again.

Li Hu looked at him and said, "You are the ones who started this war. The reason why the Tang Dynasty declared war on England is because they oppressed the people and destroyed democracy and freedom. It was the oppressed people of England who asked the Tang Dynasty to intervene and help them build a truly 'democratic and free' country.
As a responsible major country, the Tang Dynasty has the responsibility to support the grassroots people in their struggle for democracy and freedom, and has the obligation to protect their human rights and spread the "light of democracy and freedom" to every corner of the world.

The veins on the little guy's forehead twitched imperceptibly, and he thought to himself: How shameless!

Li Hu: "Don't worry, the Tang Dynasty is here to spread democracy and freedom, and will not invade the homes of European people."

The little man asked anxiously: "Won't the Tang Dynasty occupy Europe?"

Li Hu nodded: "However, the current situation needs to be changed."

The little guy: "How to change it?"

Li Hu said seriously: "Democracy and freedom must be returned to the people of Europe. You should not and cannot force the people of Europe to change their beliefs, force them to give up their own language and writing, this is inhumane!

Let them form new kingdoms according to their own race and bloodline, let them speak their own language, write their own language, and let them freely choose their beliefs! "

The little man was startled. It was too cruel. This was going to make Europe return to the medieval structure, with micro-countries everywhere, speaking different languages, writing different characters, and having different beliefs.

If this continues, within two generations, Europe will be completely in disarray. A hundred years later, if a great man who can create a turning point does not appear, Europe will be completely finished!
Li Hu continued, "In order to protect the people of Europe and safeguard democracy and freedom, the Tang Dynasty will establish concessions in major European cities."

The little guy: "Concession?"

Li Hu: "It means designating a specific area within the city, where the Tang Dynasty will exercise administrative autonomy and extraterritoriality. The Tang Dynasty will station troops in the concession. The Tang Dynasty will not interfere in matters outside the concession, as they are your own internal affairs. Similarly, you cannot interfere in matters within the concession." The little man's eyes flashed. Isn't this a country within a country!
Li Hu went on to say: "The Tang Dynasty will establish a global organization and institution aimed at 'promoting international cooperation and achieving world peace and security', resolving crises and preventing wars in a peaceful manner, and maintaining world peace and security."

After a pause, he said, "All peace-loving countries, big or small, must join this organization."

The little man: "What about the countries that are not peace-loving?"

Li Hu smiled and said, "As long as the Tang Dynasty exists, there will be no country that does not love peace."

The little guy understood that anyone who did not love peace would be destroyed by the Tang Dynasty.

At this time, Wang Yaozu came over and reported: "Your Majesty, the King of England has been caught, but..."

Li Hu: "What's wrong?"

Wang Yaozu suppressed his laughter and said, "The King of England was hit by a stray bullet, hitting the fifth limb."

Li Hu was stunned at first, then he started laughing.

Wang Yaozu also laughed.

After laughing, Li Hu asked: "How are the people?"

Wang Yaozu: "It shouldn't be a big problem. There was a soldier who was a butcher before joining the army. He helped the King of England cut off his broken fifth limb." At this point, he couldn't help laughing again.

The eunuch in charge said: "Your Majesty, we need to put a goose feather tube at the cutting point."

Li Hu remembered: "You go and have a look." He then said to the little man: "Except for the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, everyone else has been 'invited to come back'. You go and tell them that I will not kill them, but will send them to the capital of the Tang Dynasty to spend their old age in peace."

Wang Yaozu smiled secretly, it was indeed a “peaceful old age”.

Li Hu: "In addition, I will send their families to the capital to reunite with them."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The short man stood up, bowed to Li Hu, and walked out with the eunuch in charge.

Li Hu also stood up and said to Wang Yaozu: "Send all the generals above the second rank to the imperial tent to discuss how to attack the European mainland."

Wang Yaozu: “Yes.” He turned around and walked out.

Li Hu walked to the door with his hands behind his back, looking in the direction of the capital, and thought to himself: The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire almost ran back naked, and it can be said that Europe has lost its ability to resist. It won’t take much effort to take it down. Once the situation in Europe stabilizes, I can go home!

Big red lanterns were hung both inside and outside the capital, with words like "Congratulations on the Emperor's Birthday" and "Celebrations Throughout the World" written on them.

Being free from doubts at forty is an important node in life after being established at thirty. It marks the transition from youth to middle age and is very important, so a birthday party should be held.

However, "four" is homophonic with "death", which is unlucky, so the birthday party should be held one year in advance.

This day was Li Hu's 39th birthday, and also the 15th anniversary of his accession to the throne. Everyone in the government and the country was looking forward to the arrival of this day, hoping that the rain and dew would fall and the grace would be shared by everyone.

In Kunning Palace, Zijuan was helping Li Hu wear the emperor's formal attire.

Li Hu looked at Zijuan in the mirror and said, "Did the brat make any noise?"

Zijuan tied the jade belt for Li Hu and replied with a smile: "I went to the Imperial Garden with Shouchang and the others."

Li Hu nodded. Zijuan gave him a son, and Xueyan and Qingwen were both daughters.

At this moment, Lin Daiyu walked in from outside the hall, held up the hat with both hands, and put it on Li Hu herself.

Li Hu: "Leave?"

Lin Daiyu nodded.

Zijuan: "These years, Miss Shi has suffered a lot. She has to manage the household, take care of the son, and raise someone else's daughter."

Li Hu shook his head slightly. He had issued a general amnesty and released Jia Baoyu that year, but he didn't expect that this kid stayed in the tower for a few years, became disillusioned with the world, and became a monk!

This time Jia Zheng did not survive and died in less than half a year.

After Jia Lan passed the imperial examination, Li Wan was even less willing to get involved in the second wife's affairs, and all the burden fell on Shi Xiangyun.

Just as he was thinking, Li Ye's voice came from outside the palace: "Father."

Li Hu: "Come in."

Li Ye, who had grown into a handsome man, walked in quickly, bowed to Li Hu and Lin Daiyu, and returned a half-bow to Zijuan, then said, "Father, everything is ready in Fengtian Hall."

Li Hu smiled and nodded: "Let's go."

Drums and music sounded in the Fengtian Hall.

Surrounded by Li Ye, the little fat man and others, Li Hu climbed onto the dragon throne on the imperial platform and took his seat.

Everyone in the hall knelt down in a sea of ​​black, shouting in unison: "The subjects of this prosperous era congratulate the emperor on his holy birthday!"

Li Hu smiled and nodded: "Everyone get up."

Everyone: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Seeing that the European leaders were still kneeling there, Li Hu asked, "What's wrong?"

The King of East Francia kowtowed three times respectfully, and then said in fluent Chinese: "The Great Tang unified the world, and the world was shaken, shocking the ancient and modern times. We, the East Francia, West Francia, Andorra, Athens and other 114 countries, have agreed to respect the great emperor of saintly wisdom, benevolence and martial arts as the 'Father Emperor'. From now on, we voluntarily follow the 'father-son relationship', that is, the Great Tang is the father and we are the sons.

In addition to sending envoys to pay tribute every year, the successor king must come to the capital to accept the canonization of His Majesty the Great Emperor, in order to be orthodox! "

After a pause, he said, "Your Majesty the Great Emperor is not only the father and ruler of the people of the Tang Dynasty, but also the father and ruler of the people of Europe!"

Li Hu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "I govern the Tang Dynasty, and you still want me to govern your country. I think it is unnecessary."

Before Li Hu could finish, the King of East Frank burst into tears: "The people of Europe beg the emperor for protection and mercy!"

The rulers of the states: "Please have mercy, Father Emperor!"

Li Hu smiled bitterly: "Alright, everyone, get up. You are all old, and you are still crying. Don't you think it's shameful? I still have some dignity."

The rulers of the nations: "Thank you, Emperor, for your grace!"

Li Hu glanced at Jia Yucun and was sure that it was this old guy who was instigating this behind the scenes.

All European countries practice constitutional monarchy, even those with only a few thousand people.

Now that constitutional monarchy is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, anyone who has objections is a heretic and a deviator from humanity.

As long as that kind of son of the plane does not appear, the world's pattern will not change, and the Tang Dynasty's country and people will continue to be passed down.

Li Hu coughed and said loudly: "While everyone is here, I have something to announce. In the past few years, I have been touring all parts of the country, and the Crown Prince has been handling all the government affairs in the capital. Whether it is military and national affairs or trivial matters among the people, he has done a good job, which makes me very happy.

Therefore, I have decided to formally appoint him as the regent to handle the daily affairs of the court on my behalf!"

When these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was shocked. Doesn't this mean publicly announcing that power will be handed over to the crown prince?
Thinking of this, everyone turned their eyes to Li Ye.

Li Ye was stunned for a moment, then he knelt down and said, "How dare I accept such an important task, Father?"

Li Hu: "I have made up my mind. You don't have to refuse. Stand up and accept the congratulations of the ministers."

Li Ye had no choice but to say, "I, your son, thank you for your grace, father." He kowtowed again and then stood up.

The chief minister of the cabinet, Lin Ruhai, led the congratulations, saying: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is honored as the regent!" He then took the lead in bowing his head.

Everyone bowed their heads together.

Li Hu smiled and waved his hand: "Play music..." (End of this chapter)