The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 415 Kaifeng Express

Kaifeng, Miyagi.

In the Chengxiang Pavilion in the back garden, Guo Wei was leaning softly, holding two memorials that had just been sent to him and reading them carefully.

After reading a few lines of words, Guo Wei felt his eyes were sore and dry, and his temples on both sides were swollen and painful. He hurriedly put down the memorial and kneaded his forehead, closing his eyes tightly with pain on his face.

Concubine Dong brought a bowl of ginseng soup with her maid. Seeing that Guo Wei had a headache, she quickly stepped forward and stood behind him, gently pressing her cool hands on Guo Wei's forehead.

Guo Wei opened his eyes and looked at each other. Dong smiled softly.

The pavilion was quiet, Guo Wei closed his eyes and rested, his face was content, and his headache gradually disappeared under the gentle soothing of De Fei.

Dong is a native of Changshan, Zhenzhou. She was separated from her family due to war since she was a child. She fled to Luzhou with the refugees and was adopted by a tooth general in Luzhou. It was not until she was 13 years old that her brother Dong Yu searched for her in many places. whereabouts and reunited with his family.

The Dong family first married Liu Jinchao, a fellow countryman. Later, Liu Jinchao died in the battle with the Khitans, and the Dong family lived as a widow in Luoyang.

Dong and Yang, Guo Wei's step-wife, were from the same hometown. Yang often heard about Dong's reputation as a virtuous person and often visited her when she returned to her hometown. The two became good friends over time.

In the 13th year of Tianfu, Yang was recuperating in Taiyuan. Before his death, he mentioned Dong to Guo Wei, saying that Dong was virtuous, managed the household well, and could be hired as his wife.

Yang died of illness in Taiyuan soon after.

Guo Wei followed Liu Zhiyuan from Taiyuan and went south to Luoyang. He remembered Yang's last instructions and went to see Dong with his betrothal gift. At first sight, he found that this woman was beautiful, dignified, gentle and virtuous. She really had the demeanor of a big woman, and she was very popular. favorite.

During the chaos in Kaifeng last year, Dong was able to escape the disaster because she went out to the city with her brother Dong Yu's family.

Guo Wei established his foundation and successively named his Yuan wife Chai as Queen Shengmu, his step wives Yang and Zhang as Shufei and noble concubine, and named Dong as Defei to take charge of the harem.

A few years ago, Ms. Dong had a miscarriage. The doctor diagnosed that she had injured her body and would be unable to have children in the future. Guo Wei didn't care and still doted on Ms. Dong.

"Is the official family better?" Dong said softly.

Guo Wei sat up, slapped his forehead and said with a smile, "Okay, it doesn't hurt at all. Your skillful hands are more effective than Yuan Jingrun's silver needles."

Mrs. Dong said with concern: "The officials still call the old imperial doctor into the palace to diagnose the pulse, and then perform acupuncture and treatment for the officials."

"Haha, let's talk about it. Yuan Jingrun is old, and I can't bear to torment him."

Guo Wei didn't take it seriously and picked up the two memorials and read them again.

"The less I get pissed off by Zhu Xiu, a bastard, twice, it will be more effective than Yuan Jingrun giving me ten silver needles."

After reading it, Guo Wei felt angry and funny. He threw the memorial aside, took the warm ginseng soup and drank it in one gulp.

Mrs. Dong wiped the corners of his mouth with a silk handkerchief, pursed her lips and said with a smile: "Officials scold Zhu Xiu the most, but among all civil and military officials, he is also the most favored."

Guo Wei laughed and scolded: "That bastard, Dalang, Zhongjin are as close as brothers, and he is the youngest, so naturally I treat him as my nephew.

But this little bastard is really restless and brings me trouble. "

Guo Wei pointed to the two memorials: "This was sent by Xue Juzheng and Wang Lingwen. Guess what? Li Jing'er actually wanted to recruit Zhu Xiu and wanted to keep Zhu Xiu in Jiangning to serve the Tang Dynasty!
Hehe~ For this reason, Li Jing also issued a decree to marry Zhu Xiu, the legitimate daughter of Zhou Zong, the Taifu of Tang Dynasty!

This bastard is quite rare. At first I was worried that he would suffer hardship in Jiangning, but now it seems that the bastard is having an easier time!I have nothing to worry about for him! "

Dong was so surprised that he glanced at the two memorials, but did not reach out to take them.

She thought for a while and said with a smile: "I see that Zhu Xiu's child is a person who values ​​love and justice and will not do anything ungrateful or ungrateful.

The officials valued him and granted him a title of marquis at a young age. He also had close friendships with Dalang and Chongjin, and would never be tempted by Li Jing to join the Tang Dynasty. "

Guo Wei rubbed his short beard under his chin, his tiger eyes narrowed slightly: "Zhu Xiu's family is in Jiangning right now, if he switches to Tang now, he won't have any worries."

Mrs. Dong was stunned, but shook her head and said with a smile: "I still don't believe that Zhu Xiu will defect to the Tang Dynasty."

Guo Wei smiled and said to a palace attendant: "Xuan Wei Renpu!"

The palace officials rushed down to deliver the order.

Mrs. Dong stood up and said, "I, my concubine, will go back to the palace to prepare dinner first. The officials will remember to go back to the palace to have dinner."

Guo Wei agreed with a smile.

Just after taking a few steps, Mrs. Dong turned around and said: "The official family, the women selected to enter the palace this time include 32 officials' daughters from Jingzhao, Henan and Kaifeng, and 54 daughters from good families. I plan to 27 people were selected from among them and officially canonized as Cainv.
After the candidates are decided upon, I will send the list to the officials for their decision. "

Guo Wei picked up two more memorials and said with a careless smile: "You can make your own decisions on some small matters. There is no need to ask me."

Mrs. Dong knelt down and bowed, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered: "Da Lang has been away from home for half a year. I don't know if he is living well in Chanzhou. I am thinking about whether the official family can summon Da Lang back to Beijing before the Mid-Autumn Festival." , it would be nice for the family to be reunited." Guo Wei glanced at her and said calmly: "Chanzhou has heavy military affairs, and we can't live without him for a moment. Let's talk about it some time later."

Mrs. Dong didn't dare to persuade her any more, with a little disappointment in her eyes, she whispered: "It's my concubine who didn't think well. Don't blame the officials."

After the blessing ceremony again, Mrs. Dong took the palace maid and left the pavilion.

Guo Wei put down the memorial and watched Dong's figure walking away, his expression indifferent, not knowing what he was thinking.

After a while, Wei Renpu hurried over.

After talking about the etiquette of the monarch and his ministers, Guo Wei handed him the memorial written by Xue Juzheng and said with a smile: "Li Jing is also cunning. He is worried that I will take advantage of the Tang Dynasty to send troops to Southern Chu and use troops against Huainan to cause some trouble." Can we form a joint alliance with the National Congress?"

Wei Renpu quickly read the memorial and said with a smile: "At this time, the two countries have reached an agreement to form an alliance. It will not only be beneficial to the Tang State, but also beneficial to me, the Zhou Dynasty. I think it is feasible."

Guo Wei sneered and said: "There is no need to form an alliance, it is too false. The two countries reached a temporary agreement in the name of trade, opened the Huaihe River trade route, and each side withdrew its troops hundreds of miles along the Huaihe River.

Didn't Li Jing send someone to the DPRK last year and ask for the purchase of a batch of military horses?I can grant it to him, but it will have to be exchanged for Taihu rice and Suzhou silk embroidery, and the price will increase by [-]% compared to last year! "

Wei Renpu smiled and said: "The Tang army is in a stalemate in the Southern Chu war and is in urgent need of additional war horses. Although Li Jing is not angry, he can only grit his teeth and accept it."

"Haha~ I just want to take advantage of the situation! Didn't he ask me for the Heshuo horse? Hehe~ I'll give it to him, but I have to mix one-third of the Longyou horse into it. Li Jing, do you want it? Anyway, these horses Physically they are similar." Guo Wei laughed slyly.

"This deal is a good deal for the officials!" Wei Renpu also twisted his beard and smiled.

Wei Renpu added: "Speaking of horses, An Shenqi, the king of Nanyang and the governor of the Zhangyi Army, reported in the past two days that more than [-] new war horses were produced at the Yuanzhou Racecourse this year. They are of excellent breed and are comparable to the top-grade Heshuo horses."

Guo Wei said happily: "Yuanzhou Racecourse is affiliated to Longyou Horse Racing Supervision. It was originally abandoned. I didn't expect that this kid Zhu Xiu, after several years of hard work, actually revived the racecourse."

Wei Renpu laughed and said: "Zhu Xiu is not only good at planning, but also has unique insights into internal affairs. He has been in Jingzhou for three or four years, and the entire Zhangyi Army has undergone earth-shaking changes.

The Yuanzhou Racecourse, Qingshiling Quarry, Pingliang Firearms Workshop, Ranch, and Jingzhou Yangjinchuan Salt Factory were all established by Zhu Xiu. Now they are the most important government-run workshops in Hexi.

The various salt fields under the jurisdiction of the Jingzhao Salt Supervision now use the rock salt refining method developed by Zhu Xiuxian. The annual white salt production can increase by more than [-] stones, and there will be more in the future!
Third Secretary Li Hub is ready to fully promote the rock salt refining method. He believes that next year our salt output will reach a higher level.

It won't be long before there will be no more salt shortages under the Zhou Dynasty. "

Guo Wei said meaningfully: "Zhu Xiuzhi has great benefits for the country. Once he switches to the Tang Dynasty, it will be an immeasurable loss for me and the Great Zhou Dynasty."

Wei Renpu took the memorial and said: "The officials are saying that Li Jing intends to recruit Zhu Xiu? Haha, in my opinion, this matter is not a matter of concern.

Zhu Xiu was in prison and must find ways to save himself. With his agility and cunning, he could naturally think of pretending to surrender in order to gain Li Jing's trust, and then take the opportunity to escape.

Officials should not forget that with Zhu Xiu's temperament, he would not try to act tough in times of crisis. It was his consistent style to be submissive and beg for mercy in a timely manner. "

Guo Wei stroked his beard and laughed: "The one who knows Zhu Wencai is Wei Daoji!"

Wei Renpu smiled and said: "The officials don't need to worry. These are just Zhu Xiu's tactics. I believe he has a way to escape."

Guo Wei nodded, noncommittal.

After discussing matters related to Hebei and Yanzhou for a while, Wei Renpu stood up and prepared to resign.

"I heard Zhang Gui, the eunuch of the Taiping Palace, came to report that the Queen Mother Zhaosheng was ill. She went to visit her on my behalf. If the Queen Mother's condition is serious, please report to me as soon as possible." Guo Wei warned.

"I obey the decree." Wei Renpu saluted.

Although Empress Dowager Li apparently reconciled with the official family, the relationship between the two people cannot return to the past.

It was really awkward for Guo Wei to meet the former Queen Mother as the current emperor, so he has never set foot in the Taiping Palace again.

Wei Renpu hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said: "The Mid-Autumn Festival will be in two months. Will the officials summon a group of generals from the festival to report their duties to the court?"

Guo Wei smiled faintly, and Wei Renpu's implication was to ask him if he could summon Chai Rong from Chanzhou to the capital.

"No need, just issue an edict to appease the various towns and villages." Guo Wei said calmly.

Wei Renpu bowed his head and saluted: "I understand."

After watching Wei Renpu walk out of the cabinet, Guo Wei stood up and walked to the imperial desk, dipped his pen in ink, pondered for a while, and wrote quickly on a piece of Yunlong gold paper.

After writing, after quickly reading it and making sure it was correct, Guo Wei rolled up the gold paper and stuffed it into the bamboo tube, sealed it with fire paint and stamped it.

"Send the order to Wu Desi, Pegasus to deliver to Jiang Ning!"

(End of this chapter)