The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 453 The atmosphere of the new dynasty
Hundreds of officials lined up in columns and entered the palace in an orderly manner from the door openings on both sides of Daqing Gate.

The officials who supervise the etiquette walked on the outermost side and scanned the procession of officials attending the meeting.

If someone is disheveled, whispering, or does anything that is not in line with the etiquette, the celebrant will remind him politely.

If he commits the crime again, his name, position, and government office will be recorded directly in a small book, and he will be punished later depending on the severity of the case.

Zhu Xiu was walking in the ranks of fifth-rank officials. No one spoke around him, and he could only hear the footsteps of boots on the ground.

The majestic Daqing Palace stands at the end of the broad avenue. The black and green glazed tiles reflect the dazzling glare in the morning sun, highlighting the majesty and grandeur of the palace.

When passing through the gate of the city tower, Zhu Xiu glanced suddenly and saw a familiar figure. He was wearing armor and had a short-handled sword hanging from his waist. He was majestic and led a team of forbidden soldiers to guard the Daqing Gate.

After taking a closer look, it turned out to be Zhao Kuangyin.

Zhao Kuangyin also spotted him in the crowd at a glance, with a slight smile on his cold and solemn face and a slight nod.

Zhu Xiu grinned, secretly held up his hands, and followed the team of officials through the city gate.

Zhao Kuangyin served as the governor of the inner palace, and guarding important gate towers of the palace was also within his scope of responsibilities.

However, Zhu Xiu always felt that Zhao Kuangyin had a slightly sad look on his brows, his expression was slightly haggard, and his bloodshot eyes hinted at pain.

"What's wrong with Zhao Da'er? He doesn't seem to be a sad person."

Zhu Xiu murmured suspiciously.

A scholar in red robes who was walking in front of him turned his head and whispered: "Mr. Zhu Hou is not aware that there is a funeral in Zhao Yuhou's family. He took leave for several days and only came back today."

Zhu Xiu looked at him and said in surprise: "Your Excellency, is Fan Zhi? Fan Shilang?"

The scribe Qinghui smiled and turned sideways to salute: "It's Fan. I thought Lord Zhu had forgotten about me after not seeing you for a long time."

"Haha~ I forgot that no one can forget Mr. Wen Su! I'm sorry, I didn't recognize him for a moment." Zhu Xiu said with a low smile.

Fan Zhi smiled: "Master Zhu Hou is still so funny."

Zhu Xiu said hurriedly: "I wonder what Shilang Fan meant just now? Zhao Da'er, uh, what happened to Zhao Yuhou's family? Could it be that General Zhao has passed away?"

It shouldn't be. Zhu Xiu remembered that the old man Zhao Hongyin should have a few years left to live.

Fan Zhi sighed and said in a low voice: "No, it was Zhao Yuhou's child who died not long after he was born. He was a boy and the grandson of Zhao's parents. It's a pity."

Zhu Xiu was startled, and after thinking about it, there was indeed such a thing.

Zhao Kuangyin's eldest son died shortly after birth. If I remember correctly, the child should be named Zhao Dexiu.

This incident was a big blow to Zhao Kuangyin, after all, it was his first child.

During these days when he returned to Kaifeng, Zhu Xiu stayed at home most of the time and paid little attention to news from the outside world. He did not know about the death of the Zhao family's son.

I will visit Zhao Mansion in two days to comfort Old Zhao's injured soul.

"Ahem~ Palace rules and etiquette prohibit private discussions during court. Please be aware of this!"

The celebrant walking on the far left side of the procession raised his voice and stared at Zhu Xiu and Fan Zhi with warning eyes.

Fan Zhi bowed in shame, lowered his head and did not dare to speak any more.

Zhu Xiu smiled like a normal person, which made the celebrant roll his eyes. This Lord Zhu was so thick-skinned.

Zhu Xiu turned around and looked around. Shi Kuangwei didn't know when he came, walking among the twelve generals without saying a word.

Zhu Xiu smacked his lips at him, and the guy glanced sideways, snorted disdainfully and ignored him.

"Hey, that's strange, why don't you see Wang Jun?" Zhu Xiu looked around boredly and muttered to himself.

Wang Jun and Zhang Yongde led the army to Jinzhou to defend against the invasion of the Northern Han soldiers. Zhang Yongde has returned, so why don't you see Wang Jun as the coach?

Didn't I say that there will be a celebration banquet for that guy today?

A slightly older voice came from behind:
"Haha, Lord Zhu doesn't know something. Privy Wang came to the palace overnight and must have been kept in the palace by the officials, waiting for the court this morning.

Privy Wang’s kindness and honor are so profound that we are really envious~”

Zhu Xiu looked back, and saw an old face like an orange peel huddled together, smiling obscenely at him.

"Who is the old general?" Zhu Xiu was startled, thinking that the old man looked unfamiliar. There was no fish bag tied around his waist, and his belt was made of animal rings. He guessed that he must be a military attaché.

The wretched old man cupped his hands and said: "The old commander of the left wing of the Longjie Army and the defense envoy of Yuezhou, Zhao Hongyin! My son Zhao Kuangyin is acquainted with Lord Zhu, and I often hear him mention it at home."

"Uh, it turns out it's Old General Zhao, disrespectful! Junior Zhu Xiu is being polite!"

Zhu Xiu was stunned and quickly returned the gift.

After working for a long time, it turned out that this old man was Zhao Dal'er's father. He was actually a wretched and skinny old man.

Didn’t you say that this old man is brave and good at fighting and has extraordinary martial arts?
With such a wretched face, Zhu Xiu even felt that he might not be able to beat him!
Zhao Hongyin laughed strangely, and Zhu Xiu's face turned red. He was afraid that he had overheard the conversation with Fan Zhi just now.

I said someone was dead behind my back, but it turned out to be embarrassing~
Zhu Xiuzhang opened his mouth and murmured for a long time before holding back one sentence: "Old General Zhao, my condolences!"

Zhao Hongyin sighed sadly: "My son's life is miserable!~ After a few years of marriage, my daughter-in-law He finally became pregnant. I didn't expect that my first child would be so bad~"

Zhu Xiu could only comfort him: "Brother Zhao is young and strong, and has plenty of opportunities to have children. Old general, there is no need to rush, just take your time!"

Zhao Hongyin thanked him and looked at him with an earnest look after thinking for a while: "I heard that Mr. Zhu Hou's mentor, Mr. Siyou, a hermit from Tanzhou, is well versed in hundreds of schools of thought. I wonder if he is involved in obstetrics and gynecology?"

"Well, this mentor really doesn't understand!" Zhu Xiu spread her hands, "I don't understand even more!"

"That's it." Zhao Hong shook his head sadly.

Zhu Xiudao: "Old General Zhao, why not ask the elder doctor for advice? I think you will gain something in the future."

Zhao Hongyin wondered: "The elder doctor is old and no longer consults. The lintel of my Zhao family is low, so I'm afraid I won't be able to invite him."

Before Zhu Xiu could speak, Zhao Hongyin changed the topic: "The elder imperial physician is on good terms with Grand Master Feng. I heard that the old imperial physician is very fond of Lord Zhu. Can you please ask Lord Zhu to help and ask Grand Master Feng to come forward to invite the elder imperial physician?"

Zhu Xiu glanced at him, this must be the purpose of Zhao Hongyin taking the initiative to talk!
But this matter is simple, just say hello to Feng Dao, Zhu Xiu readily agreed.

Zhao Hongyin was overjoyed and held up his hands repeatedly: "I would like to thank you in advance! If the Zhao family has an heir, it will be all thanks to Lord Zhu, and the Zhao family will be richly rewarded!"

Zhu Xiu laughed dryly and couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Listen to what this means, if your daughter-in-law He, the Zhao family, gives birth to a son, will it all be due to this prince?

If word gets out, people will think that I am having an affair with your daughter-in-law!

This old man Zhao really can’t speak!

"Ahem! Please, Dingyuan Hou, please stop whispering to each other! And Old General Zhao behind you, please strictly abide by the etiquette!"

Beside the road, the ceremonial officer was so angry that he shouted harshly.

Zhu Xiu pretended not to hear, and Zhao Hongyin looked calm. The celebrant gritted his teeth and cursed this shameless old and young duo in his heart.

Under the steps of the Daqing Palace, there were already dozens of people standing, all of whom were generals who had returned from Jinzhou.

Those who didn't know, thought he led his army to break through Taiyuan Prefecture, capture Liu Chong alive, and regain the lost land east of Hedong.Most of the generals Wang Jun brought to Jinzhou this time were talents he selected from various vassal towns. They looked strange. Zhu Xiu glanced at them and didn't recognize any of them.

There was only one Shi Yanchao who was considered an old acquaintance.

In Yedu before, Wang Jun and Shi Yanchao had a good relationship. This time when they went to Jinzhou, Wang Jun took the initiative to invite him, and Shi Yanchao readily agreed. The two of them cooperated quite well.

Zhu Xiu couldn't figure it out. Wang Jun was a singer by profession, and it was rumored that he was the concubine of Zhang Jun, the governor of Later Liang Zhenzhou.

Shi Yanchao was a fierce general in the world who Guo Wei personally praised as "the best in horse fighting and unparalleled in battle".

How could a male concubine who sings songs and a powerful man come together to have a romantic relationship?

Is it possible that Shi Yanchao likes this tone?
Zhu Xiu looked at the two of them and imagined a picture in his mind. A strong man with lumps all over his body pushed the delicate sissy to the ground and turned her upside down.
"Yuck~"

A discordant sound of vomiting came out from the ranks of the fifth-rank officials, shocking all the courtiers to follow the sound.

"Marquis Zhu Xiu of Dingyuan!" the ceremonial officer was furious.

"Sorry, sorry, I ate a few more buns this morning." Zhu Xiu smiled dryly, but she didn't feel any shame at all.

"Quiet!~~~"

An old eunuch sang loudly: "Today is the great dynasty. Officials of the sixth rank and above in Beijing will enter the palace, and the rest will attend the dynasty outside the palace!"

Immediately, more than [-] officials, led by Wang Jun, Chai Rong, Fu Yanqing, Feng Dao, Gao Xingzhou and other purple-clad officials entered the palace in an orderly manner.

When all the officials stood up according to their positions, Emperor Guo Wei of the Great Zhou Dynasty, wearing a sky crown and a crimson gauze robe, ascended to the imperial throne.

After the mountain shouted long live, the great meeting officially began.

"My lords, the leader of the meeting today should express his merits for the victorious soldiers of Jinzhou!"

Guo Wei continued his vigorous and resolute style, waving his hands to signal the decree.

The old eunuch recited a large article of meritorious service in a clear and eloquent tone, and at the end was the reward for the meritorious soldiers.

"Wang Jun, the founding father and privy envoy of Anyang County, has been added to Tong Ping Zhangshi, and is still the privy envoy, adding [-] households to the city!"

"Shi Yanchao, the commander-in-chief of the first army on the right wing of Longjie Army, and the commander-in-chief of the right wing of Shenglongjie Army, lead the governor of Shenzhou!"

"Chen Sirang, the commander of the formation, is awarded the title of General Zuoweiwei!"

"The formation envoy Kang Yanzhao is awarded the title of General Youweiwei!"

"."

After the reward was awarded, Wang Jun and Shi Yanchao led more than a dozen generals to kneel down and thank them.

The joy on Wang Jun's face was beyond words. From then on, he officially entered the prime minister's class, and also served as the privy envoy. He shouldered military and political duties, and was a very popular minister. He could be called the No. 1 in the dynasty!
As for the likes of Chen Sirang and Kang Yanzhao, their names are unfamiliar to them and they have never been seen before. Although they have become generals of the Twelve Guards, today is different from the past. The generals of the Twelve Guards have only names but no real power. They are just promoted as military generals. Official, used as a transitional meaning.

However, the fact that these two little-known people could become third-grade generals in one fell swoop was inseparable from Wang Jun's strong recommendation.

"I will host a banquet at Yanfu Palace tonight to welcome Wang Qing and all the officers and men. All officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital can sit down and celebrate that our officers and men of the Great Zhou Dynasty defeated the bandits from the east of the river!"

Guo Wei waved his hand and shouted.

There was another deafening mountain call.

Guo Wei's eyes signaled the old eunuch to continue announcing the decree:
"Dismiss Dou Zhengu and Su Yugui from Tongping Zhangshi, allow them to serve as officials and return to their hometowns, and order the government of this state to support them with their previous official positions and provide them with rice every year.

He added a model of uniformity and was awarded the title of Minister of the Ministry of War, but he still judged the affairs of the Ministry of War! "

Behind Zhu Xiu, Fan Zhi stood up calmly, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed his head: "My lord, Fan Zhi, thanks my emperor!"

Zhu Xiu's eyes widened. Has this guy been promoted again?And he was promoted to prime minister!
Looking at Fan Zhi's calm face, I'm afraid Uncle Guo has already had a pre-appointment talk with him!
At that time, Fan Zhi was in poor condition and was living a miserable life copying articles in the Hanlin Academy. It was Zhu Xiu who recommended him to Guo Wei.

Zhu Xiu knew that this guy had real abilities, and it was normal for him to be promoted when meeting Mingjun.

But this promotion speed is too fast!
In less than two years, he rose from a small Hanlin bachelor to the prime minister and in charge of the Ministry of War, ranking only below Wang Jun.

It seems that Uncle Guo really likes this guy!

Zhu Xiu also felt a little jealous.

Both the government and the public said that he achieved his ambition at a young age and ascended to a high position at a young age.

But compared with the likes of Fan Zhi and Li Chongjin, they are really unsightly.

Wang Jun's smile was stiff. He originally thought that he had entered the prime minister's train. Su Yugui and Dou Zhengu were just two wooden decorations. From then on, he was the only real prime minister of the country.

Unexpectedly, the emperor changed hands and dismissed the two old men from the previous dynasty, and appointed Fan Zhi, a new upstart in the court, as prime minister to compete with him.

Wang Jun was secretly annoyed and secretly glanced at Guo Wei, who was sitting on the throne, somewhat unable to guess the emperor's thoughts.

There were some exclamations in the hall. It seemed that today's meeting was an extremely important personnel adjustment.

Su Yugui and Dou Zhengu were both veterans from the Liu Han era. Guo Wei came to power to appease the old ministers and appointed them as prime ministers.

It is now the second year of Guangshun in the Great Zhou Dynasty. The imperial court has defended the Northern Han and Khitan externally, and suppressed the rebellion of Murong Yanchao internally. The country has been stabilized, the imperial power has been consolidated, and the country is now thriving.

It is also time to clear away the traces of the past and completely open a new chapter.

Sending Su Yugui and Dou Zhengu back to their hometowns for retirement represents the complete end of Liu Han's previous dynasty.

As veterans of the former dynasty, Su and Dou immediately fell to the ground in tears, kowtowed to the ground, and shouted loudly about the emperor's grace with tears streaming down their cheeks.

The scene is both sad and exciting.

Today is destined to be recorded in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

From now on, the Zhou Dynasty will enter a new era.

The old eunuch changed a copy of the imperial edict, unfolded it, cleared his throat and continued to read.

This is a marriage decree, and the protagonists are Chai Rong, Duke of Taiyuan County, and the eldest daughter of the Huaiyang Prince.

The imperial edict with gorgeous rhetoric praised Chai Rong and Fu Jinzhan to no end, creating an unparalleled marriage.

The hall added a bit of joy. Chai Rong stood in the hall with his head held high and thanked him loudly. Fu Yanqing also came out to express his gratitude.

Guo Wei jokingly called him his father-in-law, and the officials in the hall burst into laughter, pushing the festive atmosphere to a climax.

Zhu Xiu and Li Chongjin took the lead in applauding, and Zhang Yongde, a man with facial paralysis, couldn't help but smile.

Chai Rong's face glowed brightly and he held his hands in all directions.

"Where is Zhu Xiu?"

Suddenly, Guo Wei spoke lightly, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Xiu felt uneasy. For some reason, she just felt that Uncle Guo's tone when he called his name was not in line with the festive atmosphere at all.

The reaction of the ministers was also very strange. It seemed that the word "Zhu Xiu" aroused their interest more. They opened their eyes, stepped on their feet and stretched their necks, as if they were ready to watch a good show.

(End of this chapter)