ATPnovel Chapter 23 Year-End Events
Chapter 23 Year-End Events
A few days later, the craftsmen finished the repairs, and the house looked brand new.
The vermilion gate has been repainted and looks brand new.
All the weeds in the courtyard were cleared away, and the blue brick floor was swept clean.
The walls were painted clean and smooth, the beams and pillars were reinforced, and new window frames were installed.
The old furniture was placed in the hall, and a few more tables and chairs were added for entertaining guests and handling business.
The main building of the Second Courtyard was set up as an office area, with books, writing brushes and inkstones placed there. The side rooms were cleaned up and used as residences for Xu Rong and his guards.
The main house in the backyard was kept clean and elegant, with a bed and a table. The side rooms were used for storage, and a few drought-resistant plants were planted in the small courtyard, adding a touch of vitality.
"My lord, the meal is ready. Please move to the front courtyard to dine," Tian Yu reported softly, his expression respectful.
Liu Bei nodded and strode towards the front yard.
Xu Rong and his guards were already waiting in the corridor. When they saw him approaching, they all bowed and greeted him in unison, "My lord!"
Liu Bei smiled and raised his hand, his tone gentle: "Get up, everyone. From now on, this will be our home."
The lights flickered under the eaves, illuminating resolute faces, and laughter gradually rose from the air.
For three consecutive days, Yangle City and its surroundings were covered in a blanket of white snow.
The end of the first year of the Xiping era arrived quietly amidst wind and snow.
The border regions are different from the Central Plains; there are fewer customs for festivals, but the burden of guarding the border is heavier.
As the year draws to a close, the official duties of the prefectural government have slowed down somewhat, but the patrols of beacon towers and the defense of border forts cannot be relaxed in the slightest.
People like Yan Gang, Zou Dan, and Shan Jing were all from out of town, but they couldn't leave their hometowns and had to stay in Yangle City for the New Year.
Liu Bei was not idle either.
He acquired his own residence, and Tian Yu managed everything in the mansion in an orderly manner.
He had more time, and taking advantage of the year-end, he visited each of his superiors and relatives one by one.
The first stop was naturally the prefect's residence. When Hou Chong saw him arrive, he didn't stand on ceremony with Hou Chong and led him directly to the inner hall, treating him like a son-in-law.
She smiled and told him that if he had nothing to do during the holidays, he should come to her house for meals often. She also asked about the reply from her family in Zhuojun, her words full of affection.
After bidding farewell to Hou Chong, he went to the residences of Yan Gang, Zou Dan, and Shan Jing in turn.
When Liu Bei arrived, the group was very enthusiastic, and Yan Gang immediately pulled him to drink half a jar of wine.
Zou Dan then talked to him for half the night about the border fort repair plan, saying that after the spring, all the beacon towers in Linyu County would be renovated.
Shan Jing treated him entirely as a colleague and confidant whom he could entrust with his life.
Subsequently, Liu Bei did not forget the Yang clan.
When Yang Kui heard that Liu Bei was coming, he led his clansmen to personally welcome him at the gate of the mansion. During the banquet, he thanked Liu Bei repeatedly. If it weren't for Liu Bei's introduction, Yang Kui would never have been able to get the recommendation for the civil service examination.
Liu Bei readily agreed, promising that if the Yang family ever encountered any difficulties with their trading post in the border fortress, the prefectural government would do its utmost to help.
The visit not only maintained the relationship but also solidified his connections in western Liaoning.
On New Year's Eve, firecrackers occasionally sounded in Yangle City. The lives of the people in the border region had just begun to improve, and they only dared to buy some simple New Year's goods and new clothes. However, it was still much more lively than the desolate New Year in previous years.
Liu Bei's new residence also had a festive atmosphere.
Tian Yu and his servants prepared the New Year's Eve dinner early on. Although it was not extravagant, it included several kinds of meat, millet cakes, and a jar of warm millet wine, all of which were rare in the border region.
The charcoal fire burned brightly inside the hall. Liu Bei sat in the main seat, with Xu Rong and Tian Yu on either side. Ten personal guards also took their seats in order. There was no strict hierarchy, but rather a sense of closeness as if they were sharing life and death.
"It is my good fortune, Liu Bei, to be able to gather with you all here in Xi'an, Liaoxi, on the eve of the new year."
Liu Bei raised his wine cup, looked at everyone before him, and said sincerely, "This cup of wine is a toast to you all. May we achieve great things together next year."
Everyone stood up, raised their glasses, and drank them down in one gulp.
Xu Rong, a man of few words, bowed deeply to Liu Bei and said in a deep voice, "This humble general will follow you, my lord, for the rest of my life, even unto death."
Tian Yu echoed, "I will do my utmost to assist my lord and live up to his kindness."
The guards echoed in unison, their voices filled with respect and loyalty.
This New Year's Eve dinner was a lively and joyous affair.
There are no red tape, only the frankness and sincerity of the men on the frontier.
Just after the New Year, Liu Bei did something: he personally wrote two letters, one to Han Dang in Lingzhi County, Liaoxi, and the other to Cheng Pu in Tuyin County, Youbeiping Commandery.
In his letter, Liu Bei did not make empty promises; he frankly stated what he had done in Liaoxi and emphasized that the border regions needed talented people who could defend the land and protect the people.
We are willing to treat them with sincerity, give them a stage to realize their ambitions, and protect the people in the border areas.
The letter was written with sincerity and composure. After it was finished, he sent two of his most trusted guards on horseback to deliver it to Reiji and Toeon respectively.
Not long after the letter was sent, two major events occurred in quick succession.
The first thing was that the imperial court's document arrived.
As agreed beforehand, Hou Chong submitted a memorial recommending Yang Kui's son, Yang Zhong, as a candidate for the civil service examination. The official document approved by the court was sent to the Liaoxi Prefecture after the New Year.
For prominent families in border regions, the quota for the title of "filial piety and incorruptibility" was more precious than gold.
With the recognition of their filial piety and integrity, the Yang family's descendants had a legitimate path to enter the imperial court as officials and bring glory to their family, no longer just wealthy border households who only knew how to do business.
Upon receiving the news, Yang Kui immediately brought generous gifts to Liu Bei's door to express his gratitude, repeatedly bowing and saying, "Brother Xuande, I am deeply grateful!"
"Our Yang family's current prosperity is entirely due to your virtuous brother's help!"
"In the future, if my worthy brother ever needs anything, the entire Yang family will never refuse!"
Liu Bei smiled and helped him up, saying that this was a mutual arrangement; if the Yang family was safe, then Liaoxi would be safe, and it was simply their duty.
This incident further strengthened the relationship between Yang and Liu Bei.
Liu Bei further hinted to Yang Kui that Yang Qiu's future was limitless and that he should cultivate a better relationship with him.
Yang Kui understood, and soon after, Yang Zhongguo, who had just been selected as a candidate for the civil service examination, was appointed as the Chief Administrator of Liaodong.
The second thing is that there has been a reply to the letter that Liu Bei sent back to his home in Zhuojun.
The one who sent the reply was Liu Yuanqi, Liu Bei's cousin and uncle.
In the letter, his mother agreed to his marriage to the daughter of Prefect Hou. Her words were full of joy, and she urged him to do his job well and not to let down the prefect's kindness or the people's expectations.
Uncle Liu Yuanqi even prepared the betrothal gifts and personally went to the prefect's residence to complete the betrothal ceremony.
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, among the six rites of marriage, the betrothal ceremony was the presentation of betrothal gifts. Once the betrothal gifts were agreed upon, the marriage was considered a done deal.
Hou Chong was very pleased to see Liu Yuanqi come in person and treated him with the courtesy due to in-laws. The two sides had already finalized the wedding arrangements and were just waiting to choose an auspicious day to get married.
Liu Bei held the letter from home, his fingertips trembling slightly.
In his dream, he had spent half his life wandering and owed his family too much.
During his youth, he indulged in sensual pleasures and caused his mother a lot of worry. Now that he can put his mother at ease, he has fulfilled his filial duty.
Now that the relationship was settled, he immediately changed his address, bowed respectfully to Hou Chong, and addressed him as "Sir".
Hou Chong laughed heartily, quickly helped him up, his eyes full of satisfaction.
From then on, Liu Bei officially became the son-in-law of the governor, and his status in Liaoxi was completely different.
He used to be a capable military clerk, highly regarded by the prefect.
Now he is one of our own, a confidant, and sometimes even someone who can represent Prefect Hou Chong.
When the officials of the prefecture and county saw him, they became even more respectful. Yan Gang, Zou Dan and others congratulated him with smiles and became even closer to him.
With the marriage arranged and people's hearts at ease, Liu Bei's steps became more steady.
During the spring season, he kept an eye on the repair of beacon towers and the reclamation of farmland in various counties.
While Xu Rong was training his personal guards and local militia, Tian Yu was sorting out the household registration and grain accounts of each county. Life was fulfilling and orderly.
They were just waiting for Han Dang and Cheng Pu's reply, and for the wedding date to be set so they could settle down peacefully.
But no one expected that a catastrophe that would sweep across the world was spreading silently.