Chapter 488: Chapter 242: The Great Wedding and Army Reform_2
Time flies, it’s like a dream, isn’t it?
In Lu Yuan’s mind, recounting the feats he has accomplished over the years, it feels like a lifetime ago.
In a mere seventeen years, he has managed to create such great accomplishments, is that really possible?
He asked himself, but in the end, there is no definitive answer.
Ultimately, he takes a deep breath, exposes a smile on his face and takes a stride forward, leisurely descending to greet his queen.
Regardless of whether this is real or fake, a dream or reality.
At least in this moment, let’s assume it is all real.
Seize the day, live in the present.
In front of the wedding carriage, Lu Yuan grips the hand of his queen, feeling her slight tremble, he holds her firmly, step by step they ascend the stairs, heading towards the ceremony.
“South has Jiu Mu. Joy only to the gentleman, the footstep suits it.”
“South has Jiu Mu. The joy to the gentleman, the footstep will remove it. …”
Officer of rituals is reciting the wedding vows, but Lu Yuan’s mind has already drifted elsewhere.
Following the proceedings of the wedding, completing each ritual step by step, while praying to Heaven, hoping for blessings for the newlyweds, the wedding ceremony finally comes to an end.
After toasting his ministers and foreign messengers at the banquet, Lu Yuan does not remain at the feast to avoid hindering the others from enjoying themselves.
Instead, he walks alone, through the deep palace, to his wedding chamber.
The red candlelight flickers, thin curtains sway, Lu Yuan enters the room, looking at his queen sitting quietly on the bed, her voice slightly frail, he smiles and walks over to her.
He softly says, “Cai’er, today we are officially husband and wife.”
With those words, he draws closer to her.
This is bound to be an unforgettable night.
The intimacy between husband and wife, truly unforgettable.
Ever since his grand wedding with Lan Cai’er, the couple has thoroughly tasted marital bliss. For the following ten days, they are entirely immersed in it.
Luckily, they are both Inborn Grandmasters, with boundless energy, fierce and dynamic. If they do not wish to, even one or two hours are nothing trivial.
Thus, they have completely abandoned themselves without restraint.
Dipped during the day, they rest not in the night, utterly outrageous, very fitting of the pair.
Still, it is good that Lu Yuan is the king of a nation, and has installed great achievements. Regardless of whether it’s internal affairs or martial arts, he has made spectacular accomplishments.
Only one point is lacking; having no descendants.
For a dynasty, this is practically fatal weakness and a threat.
Without descendants, how can the dynasty continue for long?
Without enough sons to safeguard the four corners, how can the foundation of the dynasty be consolidated?
Were it not for the many ministers knowing that their king is the Inborn Grandmaster, capable of living for a hundred and fifty years, and is just over thirty now, able to live for almost a hundred and twenty more years.
With such long life, it is sufficient to maintain the dynasty.
They would have been persuaded to have him sire descendants early on, long before establishing the nation.
Still, although Lu Yuan has no one beneath his knees, in this age of ” Many sons, many blessings”, it still leaves one feeling uneasy.
Hence, for his ministers, it’s all well if the king indulges in revelling, revelling is good!
If he doesn’t revel, how will he get heirs?
If he doesn’t revel, how can the nation’s roots be stable?
Without revelling, the Altars of Soil and Grain will lose their successors.
They are not afraid of Lu Yuan’s revelry; because in a world where personal martial arts are in the center, as long as the monarch has a strong martial force, a bit of self-indulgence is no matter. This is the privilege of the strong.
What they fear is a monarch like Lu Yuan, who is aloof and possesses self-control, shuns female company, and is only concerned with military and national matters. That is dangerous.
Therefore, as for Lu Yuan’s licentious actions, Grand General Cui Changqing, Minister Sun Siwen and other ministers just turn a blind eye, saying nothing.
Anyway, presently, national affairs have always been handled by their chief ministers, the Councillor of the Left, and the Councillor of the Right.
As for the other military affairs, the major battles have now subsided and only recovery remains. The militaries of each place have each of their own tasks to perform; it can operate independently.
Moreover, although Zhou Qing is stationed at the Northern Border in Xiangyang, he is still one of the Grand Generals of the nation. He also has to help in dealing with some military secret affairs.
All these collaborations mean that as long as matters affecting the nation’s luck do not transpire, Lu Yuan’s presence or absence is not significant.
Or in reality, the moment an effective and feasible system, capable of normal functioning is established, the role of the king is actually reduced to a symbol only.
However, for many kings, being reduced to a symbol means losing power, their power is being seized. Almost no one could accept that then.
So, in the end, a struggle over power between the king and ministers often leads to an inevitable fight, ultimately leading to national decline.
Fortunately, all these are matters to consider for the successor monarchs.
As the founding monarch, Lu Yuan’s words carry profound significance, his prestige at its height.
Doubtless about being emptied of power.
Instead, it should be Chief Ministers such as Cui Changqing, Sun Siwen who have to consider how their power as ministers can prevent being overly eroded.
Of course.
The relationship between the two and Lu Yuan, the trust and importance, naturally cannot be compared with the relationship between average kings and ministers.
A power struggle would basically not happen between them.
Even if there is no one to control Lu Yuan’s hedonism, or even they support him, Lu Yuan’s state of mind is not that of a constantly indulging pleasure-seeker.
After revelling with Lan Cai’er in happiness for a month, he finally managed to free himself from the swing of love and began to deal with political affairs.
And the first matter is to manage military affairs of his responsibility.
“Your Majesty, since your continuous victories in the North and sending captives to Jiangnan, I’ve been entrusted to re-organize all Miao soldiers, surrendered soldiers, and militia. We have worked day and night, not daring to rest.”