The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 338
When Zhu Xiu returned to Shenghe's residence, Ma Qing had already set up the stove in the main room and cooked fragrant tea.

He took the cloak from Zhu Xiu, patted off the stained snow powder, folded it neatly and baked it by the stove to remove the moisture and keep it dry. He would wear it warmly when he went out later.

Zhu Xiu nestled comfortably on the sofa, holding a tea cup and sipping.

"I still live comfortably at home. I have been living in the provincial government office in Xingguofang for the past few days, eating big pots of rice and sleeping in a dormitory. It makes me miserable! The most unlucky thing is that Li Chong and I live in the same room as that stupid guy. My snoring was like thunder at night, causing me to wake up several times every night."

Zhu Xiuda vomited his bitterness.

Ma Qing said with a smile: "One hundred thousand Ye troops have entered the city, and there are a lot of officials and generals. The court can't spare so many houses for accommodation, so they can only make do with it. The petty officials are really wronged. The villain has already left his residence behind. The house has been refurbished, and it has been designated as a separate courtyard for the petty officials to live in. The cook transferred from the Taihe Building is also in place, and he will cook a delicious meal for the petty officials later.”

Zhu Xiu cast an approving look at him, and Ma Qing smiled coyly.

"By the way, did your trip to Shaanzhou go smoothly?" Zhu Xiu asked.

"Thanks to Hong Fu, the little official, I successfully caught Li Ye outside the city of Shaanzhou and took care of him. Please rest assured, little official." Ma Qing showed a simple and honest smile on his big face.

"Well, it's good that I didn't let that guy run away."

Zhu Xiu glanced at him and realized that Li Ye would not be happy if he fell into Ma Qing's hands. As for how Ma Qing entertained him, Zhu Xiu didn't ask. All he wanted was Li Ye's life.

"Thanks to the help of the Fu family for this matter, in a few days, a batch of strong horses from the Pingliang Racecourse will be delivered to the market this year. You can pick two and send them to Fu Zhaoxin.

There is also Fu Yantu. You go and prepare some gifts. Tomorrow I will go to Fu's house in person to express my gratitude. "

"Don't worry, little official, I will make sure everything is properly arranged." Ma Qing clasped his fists and accepted the order.

Zhu Xiu thought for a while and asked: "How much cash is there in Dishe's accounts now?"

Ma Qing said: "After excluding the more than [-] guan from the opening of Taihe Building not long ago, there are still more than [-] guan in Dishe's account."

Zhu Xiu frowned and said: "It's only three thousand guan, which is too little! In this way, you can find a way to transfer [-] guan from Luoyang, and then go to Guanghe shops to raise more, and gather up [-] guan to go near the palace city, especially Look around Tianshui Lane, Taimiao Street, Donghuamen Street, and Xihuamen Street to find some houses in good locations.

It doesn’t matter if the house is a little dilapidated. The most important thing is that it is conveniently located, has a large area, has a good environment, and has smooth roads around it. "

Ma Qing was shocked. Fifty thousand guan was not a small sum of money. Moreover, the Shenghe Residence and Taihe Building in Kaifeng City had just been rebuilt, and money was needed everywhere. To spend such a large amount of money to buy land and a house, Ma Qing felt the risk was too great.

"Small official, should you think about it again? The various offices in Luoyang have just started to get on the right track, and it is not easy to transfer [-] yuan. Besides, when you go to buy land and buy a house now, the title deed is for Liu Han. The imperial seal.
Didn’t the little official say that Marshal Guo will be the emperor soon?Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, how can the new court recognize the old court's accounts? "

Ma Qing hesitated to express his worries.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "Others naturally have to worry about this when buying land and houses, but I don't have to. The new court will not deny the accounts of us old officials in Yedu, so don't worry. Besides, Kaifeng has a population of hundreds of thousands. In order to stabilize the people's hearts, , even if a new dynasty is established, generally speaking, it will not overturn the old accounts of the previous dynasty, and there will be no changes in whose property belongs to whom."

Ma Qing thought about it again and said hurriedly: "The little official is right, it's the villain who is confused. After a while, the villain will start to deal with it."

"The villain must find a satisfactory big house for the junior official near the palace city. It will be more convenient for the junior official to enter the palace in the future." Ma Qing said with a smile.
Zhu Xiu stretched his waist and said: "Find a good place and buy the house first. I won't need it for a while. I will talk about other things after I come back from Jiangnan."

Ma Qing hurriedly said: "The little man also wants to go south with the little official."

Zhu Xiu shook his head: "We can't live without you here in Kaifeng, so don't go. Stay in Kaifeng with peace of mind and take charge of the affairs of Zangfeng Camp. The residence, restaurant, and shops all need your attention."

Ma Qing whispered resentfully: "I would rather not be the commander-in-chief. I would rather follow the petty officials, serving tea and pouring water."

Zhu Xiu rolled his eyes: "How can you, the dignified commander of the Zangfeng Camp, say such unambitious words? Old Ma, you must not underestimate yourself. Your abilities are far more than this. If you take charge of the Zangfeng Camp well, you are the greatest to me." s help."

Ma Qing knelt down and kowtowed: "The villain will definitely live up to the trust of the junior officials!"

Zhu Xiu pulled him and asked him to stand up, thinking about it: "The division of powers in the Zangfeng Camp is still too confusing. It relies entirely on Shenghe Dishe to spread the stall. This is not a solution after a long time, and it is easy to attract attention.

Discuss carefully with Chen An and Hu Guangyue to separate Zangfengying from these businesses, and make Zangfengying a shadow barracks with only a name, but no one can find the real location.

It is our dagger hidden in the dark, capable of killing people invisible! "

Ma Qing nodded and said: "What the little official said is that since the last time Li Ye sent the imperial army to break into the Dishe, the villain has been thinking that it is not appropriate to build the Zangfeng Camp inside the Dishe. The business of the Dishe The better, the more conspicuous the Zangfeng Camp will be. When aliases are opened in various places, the Zangfeng Camp will eventually be unable to hide, and the existence of the Zangfeng Camp must be made more hidden."

Zhu Xiu said in surprise: "Okay, Lao Ma, I don't see that you are getting more and more ideas of your own. Not bad!"

Ma Qing smiled shyly: "I have been following Xiaoguanren for almost four years. To serve by Xiaoguanren's side, no matter how clumsy my head is, it will open up my mind."

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "Just let go and transform Zangfeng Camp according to your own ideas. I will check your results when I come back from Jiangnan."

"Thank you for your trust, the little official. I will try my best to not let the little official down."

"I wonder when the little official will leave for Jiangning?"

Zhu Xiu yawned and said lazily: "I don't know, let's wait until Marshal Guo proclaims himself emperor."

Just as he was saying this, Chen An poked his head around the door of the main room: "Jiaojun, there is someone outside who wants to see you~"

Zhu Xiu glanced at him: "Who is it?"

Chen An grinned and showed a slightly ambiguous flattering smile: "She is a beautiful little lady! The subordinate invited her to sit in the room, but she refused, just saying that she wanted to see you~~"

"Huh?" Zhu Xiu looked confused, what kind of pretty little lady?He had only been in Kaifeng for half a month, and besides Empress Dowager Li, he had no memory of seeing any other woman.

"She is really a beautiful little lady, how dare I deceive a small official!" Seeing that Zhu Xiu didn't believe her, Chen An hurriedly assured her.

Zhu Xiu glared at him, stood up, put on her shoes and socks, and put on her cloak: "Take me to have a look."

At the gate of the residence, Zhu Xiu walked around the screen wall and saw an exquisite carriage parked beside the stone steps. Seen from the back, a man had long black hair like a waterfall, hanging down around his waist. He was wearing a goose-yellow soft velvet fur robe and his hair was combed. Wearing a high bun that is common among aristocratic girls, a jade and pearl hairpin is inserted sideways.

She is not tall, but her body proportions are almost perfect. She looks slim and graceful.

Zhu Xiu glanced at Chen An in surprise. This guy really didn't lie to him.

Just by looking at her back, you know she must be a beautiful woman.

Chen An chuckled, obscenely and ambiguously.

"Ahem~" Zhu Xiu crossed the threshold and coughed a few times.

The woman turned around, and a fair and elegant oval face appeared in front of Zhu Xiu's eyes. Her eyebrows were curved like moon hooks, her almond-shaped eyes were like stars, her nose was full of lips, and she was extremely beautiful.

Zhu Xiu was stunned. There was a trace of ridicule on the corner of the woman's mouth, and her eyes were a little strange, looking at him quietly. "Ahem~ This is Zhu Xiu. May I ask what you want from me?" Zhu Xiu saluted.

This girl is young, fifteen or sixteen years old, and her appearance reveals a bit of childishness.

"Zhu Xiu, do you still recognize me?" The girl spoke playfully, her voice soft and soft, revealing a bit of playfulness.

Zhu Xiu was stunned. The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

"You, you, you are that little beggar? Feng Qingchan!" Zhu Xiu remembered, dumbfounded.

"Hmph~ I guess you still have some eyesight!" Feng Qingchan wrinkled her nose and raised her head slightly, revealing her slender pink and white neck line.

Zhu Xiu swallowed and looked at her again in disbelief.

It was hard to imagine that the unkempt little beggar had transformed into a graceful and graceful girl with well-made makeup.

When Feng Dao brought her to visit Dishe that day, Zhu Xiu knew that she was a girl.

But he never expected that after dressing up, she would turn out to be such a beautiful girl.

Old Zhu Xiu blushed, cupped his hands and said politely: "I was blind that day and didn't recognize the girl's true face. Please forgive me. Miss Feng, please come in!"

Zhu Xiu turned sideways and invited her to sit in the mansion.

"No, I'll just say a few words and leave." Feng Qingchan waved her hand.

Zhu Xiu didn't force himself and acted like he was all ears.

"Let me ask you, why did you frame me, Aweng?" Feng Qingchan raised her head, her pink face looking angry.

"When did I frame you, Aweng?" Monk Zhu Xiuzhang was confused.

Feng Qingchan clenched her little fists and said angrily: "If you hadn't spoken in front of the Queen Mother and Guo Situ, how could they have sent Aweng to Xuzhou? Aweng said that he would escape death in Xuzhou, and you deliberately framed Aweng! I, the Feng family, and you No injustice, no enmity, why did you kill me, Aunt?"

Zhu Xiu stared, dumbfounded.

Could it be that old man Feng Dao ran home to complain to his granddaughter?

Zhu Xiu explained with a smile: "Miss Feng misunderstood, things are not what you think. Feng Gong went to Xuzhou as an envoy, representing the imperial court and the Queen Mother, how could he escape from death? It's too exaggerated!
The worst-case scenario is that Xuzhou Jiedushi Liu Yun refused to follow Feng Gong to Kaifeng, and the two of them just had a few words. "

Feng Qingchan frowned, her face full of doubt: "Seriously?"

Zhu Xiu spread her hands and said: "Guo Situ proposed to welcome Liu Yun as emperor, and the Queen Mother and the court officials unanimously agreed. Feng Gong is going to invite Liu Yun to Kaifeng to ascend the throne as emperor. Regardless of whether Liu Yun is willing to come or not, he must treat Feng Gong respectfully. .

Moreover, being the emperor was such a good thing, unless Liu Yun was kicked in the head by a donkey, how could he refuse? "

Feng Qingchan wrinkled her nose and said hesitantly: "But...but I, Aweng, said that Liu Yun is not destined to be emperor. What does this mean?"

Zhu Xiu was startled, looked around hastily, and said in a low voice: "Miss Feng, keep quiet, you can't talk like that!"

Feng Qingchan vaguely guessed something and kept silent.

Zhu Xiu secretly smiled bitterly. It seemed that Feng Dao really doted on his granddaughter and dared to say anything to her.

Zhu Xiu said patiently: "Miss Feng, there is no need to worry. Feng Gong is highly respected, and he and Liu Yun still have a mentor-disciple relationship. Besides, Feng Gong is here to represent the Queen Mother and the court. How dare Liu Yun disrespect him?"

"But... Xuzhou is a long way away, and my husband is old. I'm worried that he won't be able to bear the bumps along the way."

Feng Qingchan was worried and begged, "How about you go talk to the Queen Mother and Guo Situ and ask them to send someone else to Xuzhou so that I, Aweng, can come back?"

Zhu Xiu couldn't laugh or cry: "Feng Gong has already set out for a few days. I'm afraid he has passed Songzhou now. How can we catch him back? Feng Gong has a heavy responsibility for this trip. No one in the court except Feng Gong can take on this important task. Don't worry, Miss Feng." Yes, I promise you that Mr. Feng will come back safe and sound."

Feng Qingchan sighed in disappointment, her bright eyes full of resentment: "It's all your fault. It's not good to recommend others. You have to recommend me, Aweng. If Aweng goes wrong during this trip, I, I will never be done with you!"

Feng Qingchan's eyes flushed with grievance, and her eyes were filled with tears.

Zhu Xiu scratched his head and felt a little at a loss. Old man Feng came to him to complain and complain, but he dared to retaliate, leaving Feng Dao speechless.

But when Feng Qingchan came to complain about Mr. Weng, Zhu Xiu didn't know how to deal with it.

You can't scold other girls too.

It's all the fault of Feng Dao, an old fox, for being so obedient even though he got an advantage.

Going to Xuzhou to meet Liu Yun is a high risk and high return.

As long as Liu Yun can be stabilized, the military power in Xuzhou can be gathered, and Guo Wei can clear the last obstacle before becoming emperor, then when Guo Wei establishes a new dynasty in the future, Feng Dao will be considered to have made a great contribution.

Of course, there are certain risks in this matter. Liu Yun is not a fool. How could he not understand that Guo Wei has already controlled Kaifeng, so why would he be willing to support him as emperor?

Isn’t the emperor’s throne fragrant?Why doesn't Guo Wei sit by himself?
Would he still be so kind as to send someone to invite him to become emperor in Kaifeng?

There must be ghosts in here.

How to deal with Liu Yun, how to get rid of him without any bloodshed, and how to ensure that Xuzhou remains in chaos is a great test of Feng Dao's skills and experience.

Except for Feng Dao, this matter might not have been successful if it had been anyone else.

Guo Wei sent Guo Chong to lead troops to accompany him, and secretly ordered Songzhou's returned troops to dispatch troops and horses to prevent Liu Yun from seeing through the plan and causing chaos in advance. With Guo Chong's protection, Feng Dao's safety could be guaranteed in the worst case.

Therefore, in Zhu Xiu's view, Feng Dao's trip was a complete bargain, taking [-]% of the risk and earning [-]% of the credit.

But this hypocritical old man even complained in front of his granddaughter, which made Feng Qingchan worried and came to Zhu Xiu to question him.

Zhu Xiu bowed helplessly and said: "Miss Feng, go back for now. If there is any news about the old master, I will send someone to the grand master's residence as soon as possible."

Feng Qingchan gave Zhu Xiu a final resentful look, trotted down the steps, boarded the carriage, and the coachman drove slowly towards the east entrance of Laoya Lane.

Zhu Xiu stood at the door of the residence and watched, shook his head and smiled bitterly.

(End of this chapter)