The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 343: Go to Suzhou and take office

"Weak minister Zhu Xiu, long live my emperor! Long live, long live."

"Okay, okay, you're the only one who has many tricks up his sleeve. Come and talk to me."

In the West Nuan Pavilion of Zichen Hall, Guo Wei raised his head and glanced at Zhu Xiu, who was lying in front of the imperial desk with his butt sticking out, and put down the ink pen in his hand and shouted angrily.

Zhu Xiu dusted off her new crimson official robe with a round collar and straightened her gauze hat with long wings and stiff legs. She stood up smoothly and said with a flattering smile: "The status of the official is different now. When I wait for an audience, I should abide by the etiquette." system."

Guo Wei leaned back in his chair, pointed at him and cursed with a smile: "You are the only one with a lot of evil intentions."

Guo Wei was dressed in bright yellow silk and a twelve-beam crown, and his gestures were majestic.

Zhu Xiu took two steps closer, cupped his hands and said with a smile, "I wonder what the official's orders are for summoning ministers here?"

Guo Wei patted a pile of memorials stacked in the corner of the imperial case, and smiled strangely: "After others receive awards, they will express their gratitude immediately. Why don't you see your kid's memorial delivered?"

Zhu Xiu sighed and said plaintively: "The official issued an order to let me leave the capital within three days. I was busy packing my bags and couldn't take care of it for a while."

"Haha!~ I know you must be full of complaints, but you don't dare to show up! I just like to see your helpless look!"

Guo Wei was in a good mood and pointed at Zhu Xiu and laughed loudly.

Zhu Xiu curled her lips and secretly complained, Uncle Guo, you are so naive~
Zhu Xiu sighed and said: "I don't know why the officials are in a hurry to drive me away. Suzhou is a long way away, so of course I have to make some preparations before I can go on the road."

Guo Wei sipped his tea and said with a smile: "If you still have any dissatisfaction, just say it and I will forgive you."

Zhu Xiu was heartbroken and said aggrievedly: "The officials named me the Founding Marquis of Dingyuan County, but Dingyuan County is in Haozhou, and Haozhou is now under the jurisdiction of the Tang State. Isn't my title of Founding Marquis just in name only?"

Guo Wei smiled and said: "Because of this, you kid has a complaint in your heart? Humph~ The title is fictitious, and the land is real. No matter where your title is, as long as the court says you are a real title, you can receive the corresponding title. A food town. A food town with a thousand households will produce more than a thousand shi of grain every year. Even if you give birth to ten or eight sons in the future, it will be enough to feed a large family."

Zhu Xiu flattered and said with a smile: "I don't want food, can I ask the government to give it a discount? I am willing to sell it to the court at [-]% off the market price!"

Guo Wei glared and couldn't help but angrily yelled: "Fart! It's your turn to bargain with the court? In the year of good harvest, the treasury has food, and the food distributed to nobles is food!"

In a bad harvest year, when the treasury has money but no food, it will naturally distribute money and silk of corresponding value.

The money, food, silk, and silk distributed in this city vary. The treasury will give out whatever it has. Are you allowed to mess around with me here? "

Zhu Xiu shrank his neck and said angrily: "The official status is different now, so you can't use foul language anymore, or you will be recorded in the annals of history."

Guo Wei opened his mouth and was speechless. He wanted to curse a few words, but he caught a glimpse of the eunuch serving at the side with his head buried and laughing.

"Everyone, get out of here!" Guo Wei shouted angrily, and several eunuchs serving in the palace hurriedly bowed their heads and left.

Zhu Xiu moved back cautiously. Uncle Guo wouldn't want to beat him up while no one was around, would he?

"Come to me!"

Seeing him like this, Guo Wei became even more angry and cursed.

Zhu Xiu had no choice but to cry and move to the imperial case in small steps.

"I ask you, are you dissatisfied with the title of Founding Marquis?" Guo Weihu stared at him.

Zhu Xiu hurriedly shook his head and said: "How dare I! I have made a small contribution, and thanks to the great love of the officials, I have been granted the title of Marquis of the Kingdom. I am already the youngest Marquis in our Zhou Dynasty. What else can I be dissatisfied with? Li Guang has been fighting for his entire life, and he has been awarded the title of Marquis of Kaiguo. He didn’t even become a Marquis of Guan Nei, the minister is already much stronger than him~"

Guo Wei laughed and said: "The Han Dynasty has inherited the Qin Dynasty's twenty-level title system. The title of Marquis is already the pinnacle of human ministers. How can it be compared with the current position of Marquis? According to what you kid said, I should make you a Duke."

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "The officials are joking. Chai Shuai is just a county prince. How can a humble minister be made a prince? Besides, I am young and will have to make contributions to the government in the future. There are many opportunities to become a prince." , no need to rush.”

"Hmph!~ As long as you, my boy, fulfill your duties faithfully and serve me and the court well, how can I be stingy with a mere title of Duke?"

Guo Wei gave him a proud look, which meant that as long as you work hard, I will never treat you badly.

"I thank you Lord for your kindness!" Zhu Xiuxi smiled widely and bowed at ninety degrees.

"But I still don't understand something, please give me some advice."

"Say!"

Zhu Xiu said cautiously: "Why did the officials ask me to go to Suzhou? If I remember correctly, there is no military establishment to suppress Huai in Suzhou?"

Guo Wei said lightly: "It's true that there isn't one now. Will there be one when you go?"

Zhu Xiu blinked and said in surprise: "The official's envoys and Hanoi County Duke Li Chong are going to Suzhou to prepare for the formation of the Huai Army? The official is planning to send troops south?"

"I will take the land of Huainan sooner or later. You go and put up the frame to suppress the Huainan Army first, and then use troops to the south. The Huainan Army will be the leading force."

Guo Wei's eyes are meaningful, as if to say, I have already placed the opportunity in front of you to make contributions in the future. Whether you can seize it or not depends on your ability.

Zhu Xiu hesitated for a moment and said with a wry smile: "It is a good thing for an official to have the ambition to conquer the world. However, I am afraid that there is something wrong with the minister and Li Chongjin who are planning to build a military empire to control Huaihe River."

Guo Wei smiled half-heartedly: "Why, do you think Li Chongjin can't handle this important task?"

Zhu Xiu considered his words and said sincerely: "Li Chongjin is a tiger general. There is no problem in using him to overcome difficulties and destroy cities and villages. But let him command a feudal town and an army, and he is also a town guarding the dangerous places in the Jianghuai River." Huaijun, I am worried that his irresponsible temper will delay important events."

Guo Wei said calmly: "Zhongjin is indeed not stable enough, so I need your help. Zhongjin is on good terms with you, and he will listen carefully to what you say. With you two as partners, I believe that the Suppressing Huai Army will be able to become the leader of our court." A new and powerful army.”

"If the officials insist on letting Li Zhong enter Suzhou, I can only do my best to live up to the officials' high expectations." Zhu Xiu smiled bitterly and saluted.

Guo Wei looked at him with a serious and majestic expression: "The preparation of the Huai Army in Suzhou is crucial to our future southward strategy. Trying our best is not enough. You must go all out to get this thing done. If anything goes wrong, I’m the only one asking!”

Zhu Xiu shivered, and hurriedly bowed and said: "I will definitely give the officials a satisfactory army to suppress Huai!"

Guo Wei softened his tone and said with a smile: "In addition, don't underestimate Chongjin. His talents are far from being stimulated. When you are in Suzhou, you not only have to train troops for me, but you also have to teach Chongjin well so that he can become a soldier as soon as possible." A qualified commander."

Guo Wei's eyes were as deep as the sea, and Zhu Xiu looked at each other and felt as if he was sinking into a deep ocean abyss and unable to extricate himself.

"I will obey the official's order!" Zhu Xiu hurriedly lowered his head and did not dare to look again.

Faintly, he noticed another intention in Guo Wei's words.

"Besides, don't you want to go south to find your relatives? I will give you three months. You can take care of your housework as soon as possible and rush back to Suzhou to take office." Guo Wei said with a smile. "Thank you so much!" Zhu Xiu secretly rejoiced, finally getting a three-month vacation.

"Be more careful when you go south. If there is danger at a critical moment, someone will come out to save you." Guo Wei warned.

Zhu Xiu glanced at him in surprise. The meaning behind his words was to tell him that there were people of his own in the south and told him not to worry.

Is it possible that Wangyundu's power has developed into the territory of Tang Dynasty?
Guo Wei didn't talk about these secret things, and he didn't dare to ask any more questions.

Guo Wei put down the tea cup and suddenly smiled and said: "But with your shrewdness, you don't need anyone else to rescue you. The Zangfeng Battalion under your command has developed quite well in recent years."

"Excuse me from the official." Zhu Xiu fell to his knees with a cry, and his back was instantly soaked.

"Get up!" Guo Wei said in a cold tone, "Before, your Zhangyi Army was not welcomed by the court, so it was understandable that you secretly formed a regiment to protect yourself. But now in the New Zhou Dynasty, the Zhangyi Army is under the jurisdiction of the court, and there are so many ulterior secrets under your Zhangyi Army. The barracks are out of order.

The soldiers and horses of the feudal towns are also the soldiers and horses of the imperial court. In the future, I will set up rules that no feudal town is allowed to form private soldiers without permission. All soldiers and horses outside the establishment system will be regarded as private soldiers. Complicit in rebellion! "

Zhu Xiu begged for mercy with a mournful face: "The officials are aware that the Zhangyi Army is loyal to the officials and has no selfish motives at all! The several battalions established by the previous ministers were just a cover-up, doing some salt selling work in private, or Let me find out some information for you. I will go back and disband them."

Guo Wei stretched out his arm, pressed Zhu Xiu's shoulders, lifted him up, and said with a smile: "I don't care about your business and making money, but it is definitely not possible to cultivate troops and cultivate dead soldiers! You know this truth if a feudal town causes great trouble to the center. From now on, the troops and horses in the vassal town must obey the imperial court's command."

"The officials are wise, and I firmly support the officials in taking back the military power of the feudal town!" Zhu Xiu raised his hands in the air to express his stance.

Guo Wei was very satisfied with his attitude and said with a smile: "I know your boy's loyalty, but if you do something, it will destroy the trust between the monarch and his ministers. If you serve my great Zhou, I will naturally protect you." It’s safe and sound, no need to be as vigilant as before.”

"The official's lesson is right, I understand." Zhu Xiu thanked him gratefully.

"In addition, I have issued an order to summon Shi Kuangwei and his family to the capital. I have appointed him as the Taibao of the Crown Prince and the General of Zuowei. Let him enjoy a few days of happiness in Kaifeng, and then find a place closer to me. I will let him lead it for me. Soldiers go."

Guo Wei said in a deep voice.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Emperor for his kindness, Commander Shi Jie!"

Zhu Xiu bowed and said hesitantly: "Well, what about the Zhangyi Army? How will the officials deal with it?"

Guo Wei joked: "You want to ask, what should I do with the salt factory?"

Zhu Xiu grinned and bowed repeatedly.

Guo Wei said: "The Yangjinchuan Salt Factory will naturally be taken back by the imperial court. I will order to rectify the salt supervision and send a capable person to take charge of Chang'an to take care of the Jingzhao Salt Supervision and smooth the salt and iron transportation trade routes. Salt and iron transportation Income is an important tax for the country and must not be embezzled by private individuals. You kid, don’t even think about making a fortune from selling salt in the future.”

Zhu Xiu said hurriedly: "Both the minister and Shi Jieshuai are willing to hand over the salt factory unconditionally. They just hope that the government will rectify the salt and iron laws and ensure that the people have affordable government salt. People like Wang Shouen make a fortune by stealing and selling government salt, but they This evil thing must never happen again, causing people to sell their children and daughters to lose their wealth just for a bite of salt."

Guo Wei squinted his eyes and pretended to be sullen: "Why, you are not satisfied with me conferring the title of Wang Shou'en?"

Zhu Xiugong cupped his hands and said with an apologetic smile: "Wang Shou'en was also an old minister of the previous dynasty, and he was an old acquaintance with the Guan family. At the beginning of the founding of the Guan family, to win over people's hearts, it was natural for the Guan family to treat old ministers favorably. It can be said that Wang Shou'en had a good fate, and he was born in the Guan family when the country was founded. occasion."

Guo Wei hummed and said, "Don't I know that Wang Shou'en has bad character, is cruel and cruel, and has committed many crimes. I made him a prince and transferred him to Kaifeng for retirement just to prevent him from coming into contact with real power. Wang Shou'en is already 51 years old, and he will not be better for a few years. Live, when he dies, I will find another reason to avoid his posthumous title. In a few years, the Wang family will naturally decline, and I can let him atone for the sins of the people of Jingyuan."

"The officials are so wise! I would like to thank the officials on behalf of the people in the Jingyuan area whose families have been ruined by the high price of official salt!"

Zhu Xiu immediately knelt down and kowtowed without saying a word.

Zhu Xiu knows the harm of high-priced salt better than anyone. In the two or three years in Jingzhou, there have been many battles over salt profits. As one of the most valuable bulk commodities in this era, salt must be in the hands of the state.

"I wonder who the officials plan to send to replace the military envoy of Changyi Army?"

After Shi Kuangwei was transferred, someone must take over. Zhu Xiu was very concerned about the fate of Zhang Yijun.

Guo Wei pondered for a moment: "The Zhangyi Army guards the northwest gate of Guanzhong. In the future, the Zhangyi Army will be one of the main forces to fight against Meng, Shu and Tubo. It is necessary to send a capable general to take charge. I plan to let Nanyang Wang An Shenqi serve as the Zhangyi Army Festival Envoy."

Zhu Xiu was a little surprised. An Shenqi was one of the three kings with different surnames in the new dynasty. An Shenqi, the king of Nanyang, Fu Yanqing, the king of Huaiyang, and Gao Xingzhou, the king of Qi, were also three major military aristocratic families. Whether in the Forbidden Army or in the vassal town, all three families were present. Great influence.

An Shenqi was previously in Xiangzhou and served as the governor of Shannan East Road. He guarded Xiangzhou for more than ten years and was deeply rooted. Now that the new dynasty was established, Guo Wei was granted the title of county prince and transferred to Jingzhou. It seems that he is going to control the vassal towns all over the world. A big rotation.

Based on this view, Gao Xingzhou and Fu Yanqing may also transfer their military positions and serve as commanders elsewhere.

An Shenqi has a high reputation and holds the title of a county prince. Asking him to guard Jingzhou shows that Guo Wei attaches great importance to the strategic position of northwest Guanzhong. Maybe in the near future, he will use troops against Tubo and Meng Shu to regain Hexi and Hanzhong. .

It's a pity that Zhu Xiu didn't know if he had a chance to catch up with this war. The Changyi Army that he had trained so hard ended up becoming a sharp knife in the hands of others.

Guo Wei suddenly stretched out his foot and kicked Zhu Xiu, but Zhu Xiu jumped away.

"Look at that stinky face of yours, who are you showing it to?"

Guo Wei cursed, "Are you not convinced that I took the Zhang Yi Army from your hands? I heard Dalang said that the Zhang Yi Army is well-trained. Why, do you feel that you are at a disadvantage? Do you want to take it to Suzhou?"

"I didn't say that." Zhu Xiu protested softly.

"You don't say it, but that's what you think in your heart!" Guo Wei raised his voice and shouted angrily.

"The Zhangyi Army is an army of the imperial court, not your private soldiers of Zhu Xiu and Shi Kuangwei. Remember this!"

Zhu Xiu raised his butt and bowed: "I remember it. It's just that I have been in Jingzhou for more than three years and developed feelings for the soldiers and people there, and I felt a little reluctant to leave them for a while."

"Hmph! Let me go to Suzhou in peace and quiet. If I don't achieve some results, I won't even think about returning to Kaifeng!"

Guo Wei cursed and waved his hand to indicate that Zhu Xiu could leave.

"I'm resigning! I don't know how long it will take before I can see the official family again. I hope the official family will take care of the dragon's body!"

With a hint of crying, Zhu Xiu took the opportunity to wipe the corners of her eyes and pressed her eyelids. When she looked up again, her eyes were red, as if she was crying sadly about to leave.

"Get out of here! Out of sight and out of mind, I will be clean from now on!" Guo Wei closed his eyes and cursed with a tigerish face.

When Zhu Xiu slowly stepped out of Nuan Pavilion, Guo Wei opened his eyes and couldn't help but smile when he remembered Zhu Xiu's behavior just now.

"What a brat~~"

(End of this chapter)