Chapter 1326 Journey to the West, Separation

Zhou Chen had never asked Shi Yi about her birth date. In this ancient time with strict etiquette, a woman's birth date could not be easily disclosed to others, especially a woman.

Although he did not know Shi Yi's exact birthday, he had watched the TV show and knew that it was after she became a disciple, so he had already started preparing in advance.

Today, he just took advantage of the fact that everyone else came to give birthday gifts and brought it up.

"Come with me to the library. The gifts I prepared for you are there. There are a lot of them."

Shi Yi followed Zhou Chen with doubts and went to the library in the backyard. She often went to the library and did not find any gifts.

Because she is now the only daughter of the water room of the Yishiwu, many people would give her birthday gifts every year, and she had long been accustomed to it.

She did not care about the gifts given by others, but she was really looking forward to the gifts given by Zhou Chen.

In the library, Zhou Chen took Shi Yi directly to the second floor and then pointed to the two large wooden boxes on the ground.

"Eleven, I know you like reading. Nanchen Wangjun can't stay in the palace all the time. If we all leave for something, you will definitely be lonely staying in the palace alone. I have thought of many gifts to give you, but in the end I decided to give you a book."

'Book? '

Xing Shiyi was surprised. She really likes reading. Although she is not very old, she has read countless precious books.

Zhou Chen smiled and said, "The book I want to give you is different from the saints' books you have read before. If I want to describe it, it is more precisely a novel, a special long novel about gods and demons. I don't know if you like it, but if you don't, I will consider giving you something else."

Although she hasn't read it yet, Xing Shiyi replied without hesitation: "I like it. I like whatever the master gives me."

That is, she can't speak, otherwise, her emotional tone will definitely be more excited.

"You say you like it before you even read it."

Zhou Chen walked over and opened two large boxes. There were bamboo slips placed inside. At a glance, there were hundreds or thousands of them.

The novel he wanted to give was Journey to the West. He didn't care what era it was, or whether such a novel would be considered an outlier. This was his gift to Shi Yi. He could give whatever he wanted.

Because he was worried that the paper would not be well preserved, he spent a long time carving the entire novel of more than 800,000 words on bamboo slips, and arranged them neatly and marked them so that Shi Yi could read them easily.

Of course, it was impossible to restore it completely, but his literary literacy was not bad at all, and he had lived for hundreds of years and was familiar with the narrative methods of this era, so it was not a big problem to restore the novel according to the plot.

More than 800,000 words, this is a big project, but with his physical fitness and wood carving skills, he was dozens of times faster than ordinary people.

"This novel is called Journey to the West. It may be a little unorthodox for you, but it should still be very interesting."

Shi Yi's face was full of joy. She didn't care whether it was unorthodox or not. She only knew that this was given to her by her master and specially prepared for her.

'Thank you, Master. ’

Zhou Chen first picked up the two scrolls and handed them to Xi Shiyi: "You read them once. If you find them interesting, continue reading. If you find them boring, leave them here and I will prepare them for you again."

Xi Shiyi took the bamboo slips handed by Zhou Chen, walked aside, opened them and started reading.

When she saw the handwriting on the bamboo slips, she was very surprised and asked Zhou Chen.

'Master, did you carve these yourself? '

"Well, since I want to give them to you, I naturally cannot use the hands of others."

Xi Shiyi's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her heart was very uneasy, moved, and happy...

If Zhou Chen had carved all these scrolls by himself, how much time and energy would it take.

Just to prepare a birthday gift for her?

"You read first, and I will go to see other books."

The two found a place to sit down. Xi Shiyi calmed down her mood and began to read Journey to the West given to her seriously.

After reading for a while, she was attracted by the content of Journey to the West.

In fact, there are myths and legends in every era, but there is no systematic integration. The gods worshipped in each dynasty and each place are different, and scholars always say "Zi does not talk about strange things", so it is generally believed that gods are fictional.

When she saw that the protagonist of this Journey to the West was actually a monkey, her expression was very shocked and she read it more seriously.

Shiyi read it very seriously, almost word by word, and sometimes she would look back and think about it, so she read it very slowly, especially when she saw some poems, she would think about them more carefully.

In an afternoon, she didn't finish a round.

Rubbing her eyes, Shiyi raised her head and looked at Zhou Chen, and expressed with sign language very happily: "Master, why did you write about a monkey? '

Zhou Chen smiled and said, "You can read it slowly by yourself. It's meaningless to spoil it in advance."

Although the master often speaks in a strange style and uses some strange words, Shiyi can still understand it roughly.

'Thank you, Master. ’

Time passed quickly. Ever since receiving Zhou Chen’s gift, Shiyi would take time out every day to come to the library to read a little Journey to the West.

Originally, she had no interest in those weird things, but after reading Journey to the West, she was deeply attracted. She felt that Master's writing was really good and the story was told very well, especially That monkey is really interesting.

As for the birthday gifts given to her by the palace and family, she asked Cheng Xi to keep them and didn't take them to heart at all.

On this day, Zhou Chen received intelligence from the frontline. Nan Xiao suddenly stationed troops at the border and had the intention of marching to Beichen. The two sides were about to break out, so the border guard immediately sent a message to Nanchen Prince's Mansion, requesting support.

After reading the letter asking for help, he handed it to military advisor Xie Chong, while he remained silent.

After reading it, Xie Chong looked serious: "Thanks to His Highness, the border between Nanxiao and Beichen has been stable for several years. Why is Nanxiao suddenly starting to attack again?"

Nanxiao and Beichen are the two most powerful countries in China today. Both sides have the idea of ​​​​devouring the other. Unfortunately, the strength of the two countries is not much different. There have been many wars, but each has its own victory. Negative, no one can do anything to anyone.

In recent years, because the Northern Emperor of Chen ascended the throne and had insufficient control over the government and the country, the country was weak and unable to become strong in the face of Southern Xiao.

But because of the Nanchen King's army on the border, Nanxiao had no way to defeat Beichen. The two sides had fought several times, and it was only in the past two or three years that no large-scale war broke out.

Now Nan Xiao is the first to make a move, and no one knows what their purpose is, but no matter what, the Nanchen King's army is definitely going to the border.

Zhou Chen said calmly: "No matter what the reason is, it is necessary to send troops. Xiaoyu, Tianxing, and food are left to you to prepare, and the defense of Xizhou City must also be done well."

"Yes, Master."

Xie Chong reminded: "Your Highness, there is another person to consider."

Zhou Chen nodded: "I know, Eleven, Xiaoyu, how is the person I asked you to find?"

Hong Xiaoyu immediately replied: "According to Master's request, I have found a dozen women with innocent family backgrounds. As long as the junior sisters agree, they are willing to sell themselves to the palace. However, Master, will the recruitment of maids in the palace have any impact on your reputation? Influence?"

In the past, there were no maids in Prince Nanchen's palace. There were only two women in the palace, her and the fourth junior sister. The reason for this was because the little Prince Nanchen was afraid.

But now Zhou Chen is recruiting maids for the sake of Shiyi. If word spreads about it by someone who is interested, who knows what the arrangement will be like.

But Zhou Chen said indifferently: "I am looking for a maid for my apprentice, not for myself. Outsiders can just say what they want. I can't stop everyone from talking."

Xie Chong sighed with emotion: "Your Highness, you have really changed. Before, you would never have said such a thing."

Hong Xiaoyu and Zhou Tianxing nodded in agreement. In the past, Zhou Shengchen was not afraid, but he didn't want to get into trouble. He knew very well how afraid Zhongzhou was of him.

But Zhou Chen doesn't have so many scruples, as long as everything is fine with him there, if he really wants to force him, he will definitely teach them how to behave.

According to Zhou Chen's instructions, Hong Xiaoyu selected four maids the next day and arranged them to go to Miao Shiyi's courtyard.

And Zhou Chen also looked for an opportunity to say goodbye to Miao Shiyi.

"Eleven, I'm leaving."

When Nao Shiyi heard this, he immediately panicked and asked hurriedly.

‘Master, where are you going? ’

"I don't usually live in the palace. I lead troops out for eight or nine months of the year. It's always been like this. It's very rare that I can't leave for nearly half a year this time, so you have to get used to it in the future."

Jian Shiyi was very reluctant to give up, but also knew that she couldn't change this, so she could only nod calmly.

Zhou Chen said softly: "When I leave, the palace will only have guards. I have found four more maids for you and have sent them to your courtyard."

Jian Shiyi hurriedly said that he didn't need it, but Zhou Chen said with a smile: "People are already here, so we can't send them back. It's been prepared for you, so don't feel embarrassed."

"After I leave, you must take care of yourself. I hope you can call me Master next time I come back."

"Okay, I'm going back first, we will set off early tomorrow morning."

Jian Shiyi pulled Zhou Chen, grabbed Zhou Chen's hand, and wrote the words "Victory News" on his palm.

Zhou Chen looked at her and responded softly: "Okay, you will wait for my news at the palace."

What she wants is not good news, but safety. As long as his good news is sent back, it means that others are safe. Once his safety is confirmed, she can rest assured.

Thinking of Zhou Shengchen's promise in the plot, Zhou Chen felt that it would make Yao Shiyi feel at ease, so he said it.

"From now on, the king's army will only have good news."

Jian Shiyi nodded happily.

Early the next morning, Nao Shiyi stood upstairs, watching Zhou Chen lead a group of disciples and Wang Jun away, his face full of reluctance.

During the short half-year in the palace, she spent the longest time with Zhou Chen and had the deepest feelings for Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen taught her, pampered her, took her out to play, and gave her gifts. His figure had already entered her heart deeply.

"Master, senior brother, senior sister, you must all be well and come back soon..."

Zhou Chen led 100,000 Nanchen King's troops to the front line. Nan Xiao's army indeed pressed in. Not long after he led his troops to the border, the two sides started fighting.

Before the Tang Dynasty, the north was generally wealthier than the south, and the same is true in this world.

Northern Chen is actually richer and more developed than Southern Xiao. However, in recent years, due to the ascension of the young emperor of Northern Chen, the political situation of Chen State has been chaotic and the national strength has declined. Under the rule of Emperor Xiao, the national strength of Southern Xiao has gradually increased and can compete with Northern Chen. The strength of the two countries is not much different.

The purpose of Southern Xiao's war is not necessarily for unification, but also for development. When domestic development enters a bottleneck period, foreign war is a good choice.

Therefore, the war between the two countries is often not for life and death, unification of the world, but more likely for resources.

Zhou Chen has lived for so many years and naturally sees these very clearly, so after he came to this world, he did not have any idea of ​​unifying the world.

Who said that after unifying the world, the people of the world will have a better life?

The reality is that whether the world is unified or divided, the people's life is not easy, and only a very small number of people will benefit from unifying the world.

Zhou Chen has been an emperor and has done countless major things for the country and the people. It is easy to manage a place, but it is really too difficult to manage the world.

The emperor is in Kyoto, how much do you know about the outside world?

He is not the kind of saint who thinks about the world. Such a person would be so tired to live, and he does not want to be such a person.

But if only by becoming an emperor can he live well and make the people he cares about live well, he will definitely not hesitate.

With the addition of the Nanchen King's Army, the war between Beichen and Nanxiao has never been defeated. Within a few months, the two sides fought several times on the border, but there was no bloody life-and-death battle.

Zhou Chen repeatedly defeated the Nanxiao army, but did not pursue the victory. He agreed with Zhou Shengchen's idea of ​​defending the country and protecting the people, and did not let the Nanxiao army invade Beichen and plunder the people.

But he did not think about conquering cities and conquering the world for the little emperor and queen mother in Zhongzhou.

He was already deeply feared, and if he was more powerful, there might be something fishy.

Before completing the main task, he did not want to cause trouble.

Seeing that winter was coming, the Nanxiao army, which had made little progress, soon returned to the court, and the border returned to peace.

Zhou Chen stayed at the border for a while with his army, and was about to lead his troops back to Xizhou, when he suddenly received a call from the court, saying that a vassal king in the west had established his own army and asked him to lead the Nanchen King's army to quell the rebellion.

There was no way, he could only lead the exhausted Nanchen King's army to quell the rebellion again.

Zhou Chen finally understood the hardship of his predecessor, why he was away from home for most of the year, this damn border guard needed him, foreign invasions also needed him, and vassal kings also needed him to rebel, but if there was any trouble, they would look for him.

But it happened that all the things were done, but there was no benefit at all.

No wonder many people in the plot were unwilling to join the young Nanchen King, and they also understood why the Nanchen King's army was getting smaller and smaller.

Doing the most tiring work, getting the least money, and having no future, anyone with a little ambition was indeed reluctant to follow the young Nanchen King.

For a few people, a good reputation and ideals are important, but for the vast majority, fame, wealth and honor are more important.

After going around in circles, back and forth, it was not until more than a year later that he led the army back to Xizhou.

Xizhou, Nanchen Palace, in the library.

Shiyi put down the scroll in her hand. It had been more than a year since her master left, and she had finished reading the Journey to the West that Zhou Chen gave her.

A lot of good news was sent back, but the master and his men still hadn't come back, which made her very worried and missed.

"Master, father."