Chapter 41: Should Giving Birth Be Like Leaving Behind a House of Love?

  Uncle Li seems to be in a good mood, chatting with me about everything under the sun, but what he talks about most is military affairs.

  The wine was poured, the dishes were served, and the flattery followed quickly: "Uncle's insight is indeed extraordinary... The Fubing system is truly a great creation of Your Majesty, who has worked tirelessly to create a precedent for our Han nation's history of hiding soldiers among soldiers and integrating military and agriculture. It's really worthy of admiration! My nephew's respect for Your Majesty is like the endless Yangtze River..." With eyes full of longing, the flattery continued, with saliva flying everywhere, as he gazed at the plate of venison in front of Uncle Li.

  "......" Uncle Li's expression was a bit strange, his face was red, and he looked embarrassed? Not quite, because his eyes were staring straight at me, as if he was blushing for me. Was it necessary? It was just a plate of venison. The Wang family shouldn't have never had it before, right?

  The sound of the zither stopped, and the girl playing the zither seemed to be startled by the advertising slogan that I had blown out of proportion. She raised her face, and only then did I see clearly that it was none other than the palace maid sister whom I had teased last time. The muscles on my face twitched involuntarily again, and I squinted my eyes. Damn this conditioned reflex, damn this imperial sister's madness! I really wanted to slap myself in the face - what was I doing? Did I want to tease the palace maid sister again?

  Uncle Li's back was not far from the mustachioed guard, who let out a snort and quickly stifled it, his face turning bright red as he gazed up at the rafters. What's going on? What's all this about?

  "Come, come, try some of this..." Uncle Li was indeed very considerate of his juniors, pushing the venison in front of me. After humming and hawing for a while, he finally said: "Actually... that fu bing zhi (military system)... wasn't created by our dynasty."

  "Huh?... Cough, cough, cough..." After being choked for half a day, he finally came back to his senses after downing a cup of wine. With an innocent and pure gaze, he looked at Uncle Li. I'm still underage, what's the point of talking nonsense, I haven't reached the age of being a corrupt official yet, if you have any complaints, go find my dad!

  "The Fubing system originated in the Western Wei, was perfected in the Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties, and our dynasty is based on the equal field system..." Li Shu explained patiently to me, who had a bit of a buzz from drinking.

  "Little nephew... little nephew was rude..." sighed, very resentful. He winked at Uncle Li and pointed to his own head: "Forget many past events..."

  "Hahaha..." The laughter of the mustachioed servant was too much, filling the entire room. Li uncle got angry and glared at this guy who didn't understand people's feelings: "Zhao Kun, go ask the shopkeeper to bring another jug of wine."

  The whiskered uncle, under the gaze of Uncle Li's righteousness, quickly realized his mistake and walked out of the room with shame. The palace maid sister looked relatively normal, but was rubbing her belly with her hand, her smooth face was pink, and her charming eyes were darting around, this expression was indeed beautiful, but it made me feel a bit contemptuous. No way, I have to change her mindset, who am I? A young hero of the future, a model for others to follow, a literary youth of the current era, a knowledgeable person, a great inventor and creator, how can she treat me like a little student, it's too humiliating.

  "Xianzhi... Xianzhi?..."

  "Ah... Young Master is here." Sneaking a glance at Uncle Li, his expression was somewhat awkward, and his face couldn't hold up. Every time he drank wine, why did his eyes always like to sneak glances at the beautiful sister? Hurriedly making an excuse: "Young Master is deeply thinking about what kind of role our Tang Dynasty's military system can play in its development..."

  "Huh?..." Uncle Li was half-believing and half-doubtful, the palace maid's gaze also shifted from the beam to me, her eyes changing from contempt to half-belief and half-doubt. Good, that's exactly the effect I wanted, too used to playing the role of a teacher showing off my knowledge.

  Forget it, anyway Uncle Li said that the Fubing system is a remnant of the previous dynasty. What's there to be afraid of? He cleared his throat twice and looked very serious, as if he was giving a political lecture: "At the beginning of our dynasty, the Fubing system was indeed good for the country. The Fubing troops farmed during peacetime and lived no differently from ordinary farmers. The state didn't have to bear the burden of military expenses, thus saving a large amount of money on maintaining an army. These Fubing troops were equivalent to reserve forces during peacetime."

  "Reserve?..." Uncle Li blinked his eyes, looking a bit bewildered, completely not understanding the new term I mentioned.

  "It is impossible for a country to maintain its military power at all times with the entire nation's strength, because the people's livelihood also requires considerable resources to support it. Therefore, a certain number of elite soldiers are kept as active troops, which is our Tang Dynasty's mobile combat force. The Fubing system is what my young friend mentioned as reserve forces, meaning another group of people who are always ready to defend their homes and the country. They consist of two types: one, those who have retired from military service in our Tang Dynasty or have been discharged due to injury; two, civilians who receive training during slack farming seasons and do not require a salary from the state. The reserve forces are actually a type of military service that is distinct from our Tang Dynasty's active troops, an important component of the Fubing system, a basic form of national reserve personnel, and an important measure for mobilizing soldiers in times of war..."

  I've memorized all the key points of being a reservist, haha, no choice, who let me be a small official in reserve service, and exercise several times a year.

  Uncle Li's expression was very vivid, as I explained the advantages and benefits of the Fubing system with emotion and eloquence, from initial confusion to surprise, joy, deep thought, and shock...

  It's perfect, just the effect I wanted. Uncle Li lowered his head and fell into a state of meditation like an old monk, even when Zhao Kun, the bearded guard, came in with a wine jug, he didn't notice at all. The servant girl who was specially assigned to pour wine looked confused by my long speech, kneeling on both sides of the soft couch, but her curious eyes were quietly looking around.

  The palace maid's sister's guqin has gone who-knows-where, on the desk are pen, ink, paper and inkstone, a eunuch dressed as a house servant is grinding ink, the palace maid's sister picks up her brush and writes quickly, what is she writing? I stick my head out to take a look for half a day, it's too far, can't see anything, but the palace maid's sister seems to have sensed something and lifts her head, looking at me, her eyes shining brightly. Seeing me looking at her, her face turns slightly red, but her gaze doesn't move away at all, looks like she's also a beautiful Tang Dynasty woman.

  She gave him a very dignified and elegant smile, but in return, she covered her mouth and giggled lightly, continuing to write diligently.

  Whoa, didn't expect this handsome guy to have a moment of weakness too. No one paying attention is even better. A mouthful of fragrant wine, a mouthful of delicious food - this life, not even gods would trade with me. Zhao Kun glared at me with a pitiful expression, clearly visible was his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed saliva, yet he didn't dare rush over to grab the food in front of Uncle Li, haha, serves him right!

  Half a moment, Uncle Li let out a sigh and said: "Xian nephew... Xian nephew's talent, I really can't see through it... The benefits of the Fubing system... Xian nephew not only explained what I understood, but even the layer that I didn't think of... Hehehe... A lifetime of war, unexpectedly not as good as Xian nephew..." Uncle Li stood up on the couch, raised his wine cup, and fixed me with a piercing gaze. His arm rose, and he let out a mighty sigh: "Having a son should be like having a leftover love!"

  Mr. Li stared with a black line on his face, full of emotion, what is this old guy trying to do? Trying to curse people like Cao Cao's thick and dark family?

  "Good nephew, you will be the pillar of the country in the future... I am here to congratulate you first... Come and drink this cup with me." Uncle Li's expression was indescribable, a mix of sadness, anger, and excitement, but overall it was strange.

  Before I could even react, the lacquer cup with Uncle Li's saliva on it was handed over to me... damn!

  Between the crisis of being infected with various contagious diseases and the danger of being beheaded by the eunuchs behind Li Shu, I held the lacquer cup, very hesitant...

  ----

  PS: Today is the first chapter, tomorrow is umm, tomorrow is Sunday, and the day after tomorrow is a holiday... During the holidays, if I don't go out to play, unless something unexpected happens, there will be updates every day. Everyone, please keep your votes and bookmarks, and also leave comments in the book reviews with any opinions, suggestions, or questions you have about this book, and I will answer them one by one.