Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 454 The Fifth Year of the Initial Yuan
Meanwhile, in the distant East, the Great Han Dynasty...

They were completely unaware of this.

When the nobles in the court heard that the Northern Xiongnu, who had split off a few years earlier, were afraid of the coming winter and dared not invade the wealthy and powerful Han Dynasty from the south, they chose to head west,

He stroked his beard, feeling proud and happy for the country's prosperity.

right now,

The Southern Xiongnu have already submitted to the Han Dynasty.
Their Chanyu, Huhanye, was immersed in the gentle embrace of the incomparably beautiful queen whom the emperor had bestowed upon him, and no longer had the strength to trouble the Han Dynasty.

The Northern Xiongnu, who prided themselves on being eagles in the blue sky and wolves on the grasslands, and were always arrogant, finally left the northern border of the Han Dynasty to put pressure on the barbarians and the Qin state beyond the borders.

What does this mean?
The Xiongnu, the great enemy of the Han Dynasty, fled far away.

This proves that the long-standing conflict between the Han and the Xiongnu has finally come to an end!
This is an outcome that neither Emperor Wu nor Emperor Xuan had ever achieved!
This signifies that the Han Dynasty is ushering in a new era of glory!

"Our great Han Dynasty is invincible under heaven!"

At the banquet, countless nobles raised their cups in celebration of the Huns' surrender.

Beautiful singers swayed before them.

Precious treasures were constantly being brought to them.

The powerful and wealthy thus depend on the prosperity of the nation, enjoying the prosperity that belongs to themselves and their families.

Kong Guang, however, said with some unease:
Is it normal to indulge in wine, women, song, and dance, and to pursue treasures and rare items?

Upon hearing this, his friend poured him a glass of fine wine and told him:
"That's perfectly normal!"

Facing Kong Guang's clear gaze, the man smiled and said:
"Our family exists alongside the nation."

"How we live reflects the state of the nation!"

"When the founding emperor established his dynasty, he couldn't even find four horses of the same color, and his generals and ministers had to ride in oxcarts."

"Now that the problem of the Xiongnu has been solved, everyone can ride in carriages and gallop on wide roads. Isn't this enough to prove the connection between the two?"

Kong Guang suddenly realized and showed an expression that said, "I understand."

The man continued, "By extension, the common people are living quite well!"

"If their lives aren't prosperous enough, where would they get so much to support the country and us?"

Kong Guang slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "You're right!"

"I often stay at home reading, unlike you guys who go out and explore every day. No wonder your horizons are so narrow that you can't understand such a simple truth!"

He raised his glass to the man and thanked him, saying, "You've cleared up my doubts, please allow me to toast you!"

The other person patted him on the shoulder and burst into laughter.

He drank the wine and then said to Kong Guang, "If you are truly grateful to me, why don't you come with me to the Marquis of Yangping's house to attend the first birthday celebration of his son?"

Marquis of Yangping
It is the title of Wang Feng, the elder brother of the current Empress Wang Zhengjun.

After becoming relatives of the emperor, the Wang family quickly rose to prominence. Wang Feng, due to his skillful methods and ability to win over others, gained the emperor's favor and was given important responsibilities.

However, Kong Guang was somewhat averse to the other party.

Because his father, Kong Ba, disliked the powerful eunuch Shi Xian, while Wang Feng, in order to please the emperor and seize power, became very close to him.

"My father will blame me..."

He lowered his head, looking hesitant in response to his friend's invitation.

The other person said, "You are a man who has reached adulthood, and you are also a person who knows proper etiquette!"

"I specifically invited you, how can you refuse me?"

"Moreover, the Marquis of Yangping is a relative of the Emperor, the Crown Prince's maternal uncle, and a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty!"

"If you become close to him, you can use him to advise the emperor in the future!"

Hearing this, Kong Guang nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go over there then!"

So the next day,
He and his friend rode in the same carriage to Wang Feng's residence.

The first birthday celebration he held for his youngest son was a grand affair, with many powerful and high-ranking officials coming to celebrate the prosperity of his bloodline and the flourishing of his family.

The little child, held in Wang Feng's arms, grinned broadly, his face beaming with joy.

Kong Guang glanced at the father and son, then noticed a maidservant in the corner, holding a child of the same age, secretly looking in their direction.

He tugged at his friend's sleeve and asked, "Is that child also a descendant of the Marquis of Yangping?"

Why don't we bring them out together and enjoy this happiness?

His friend, who had close ties with the Wang family, told him, "He is the nephew of the Marquis of Yangping."

"Because my father passed away not long after I was born, I can only rely on the household of the Marquis of Yangping and ask my uncle for his care and support." Kong Guang felt a pang of pity upon hearing this.

"What a poor child!"

They're about the same age,
The brother can be held by his father to celebrate his birthday.

He could only huddle in a corner, feeling the atmosphere of being a dependent.

therefore,

Kong Guang walked over, took out some pastries, and teased the child in front of him whose teeth hadn't even fully grown in yet.

He also asked the servant:
What is this child's name?

The servant woman said, "His name is Wang Mang, and he's a year old this year."

Kong Guang then said, “The wilderness is a place where vegetation is abundant.”

"That's a good name."

"This child will surely grow up strong and healthy and take on the responsibility of his family."

The maidservant who was responsible for taking care of Wang Mang and feeding him smiled and agreed, saying to Wang Mang, "Young master, please thank this benefactor."

Wang Mang, in his childish voice, obeyed her and thanked Kong Guang.

Kong Guangxian patted his hair happily, thinking that if he were to marry and have children, he would also want such a cute and clever offspring.

Subsequently,

He then left the corner and began chatting with Wang Feng, the main character of the banquet.

……

at the same time,

In the distant western lands, in that country called Rome,
A special banquet is also being held there.

The elders celebrated the nation's strength and cheered the name of the leader who had led the country to a new stage.

"Caesar!"

"Caesar!"

The great general, who had achieved remarkable feats, conquered vast regions such as Gaul and Iberia, and fought all the way to the island of Britain, was wearing a toga, a robe often worn by Roman nobles, and raised his hands to the cheering crowd.

His trusted aides kept muttering, "You have to wear armor to the banquet!"

"How can you come to a meeting without wearing armor?"

Upon hearing his words, Caesar couldn't help but laugh and said, "Don't develop such strange perceptions just because you witnessed the Xia people murdering their general during your mission to the new Xia!"

"I want to be the commander-in-chief of Rome, the monarch of Rome!"

"If I cannot show my trust in my subjects, how can I rule this country in the future?"

After a long struggle,

Caesar finally defeated Pompey, Crassus, and others, becoming the most glorious figure in Rome.

immediately!

He will soon be able to realize his dream.
To usher this country into a whole new era!

He will wear a new crown.

Continuing the previous innovations,
The fragmented, internally strife-ridden republic,
Transform it into a centralized, unified empire!

Rome will become as powerful as the Qin Dynasty.

And it dealt a heavy blow to this country that had always been at odds with it!

Caesar thought to himself:
I said!
I will change this country!

With this in mind, he entered the Senate.

He planned to follow the procedure that the elders had privately agreed upon with him, accept their allegiance and submission, and then be crowned king under the watchful eyes of the gods!
But things didn't go as planned.

A murder plot against the confident Caesar.

His Toga robe was stained with blood.
His trusted confidant, who had once served as an envoy to the Xia Kingdom as its deputy and stayed there for many years after the chief envoy left, and who was well-versed in the traditions of the Xia Kingdom, also fell.

Before he had bled completely, he clutched his wound and laboriously moved to Caesar's side, angrily recounting his experience:
"I already said that!"

"You have to wear armor to meetings!"

(End of this chapter)