Song Yi

Chapter 439

Gao Taotao snuggled into his arms and asked: "Yesterday you said that you want to build a special force and a national security agency. I have already ordered the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Industry to allocate money and land for you. We can start site selection and construction immediately, and start to set up. Let me know what’s missing.”

Du Wenhao said happily: "Great, I will start this work right away when I get back. However, there is a more important thing to do now. If it is done successfully, we can completely subdue Xixia without bloodshed!"

"Really?" Gao Tao said happily, "What's the matter?"

Du Wenhao told Gao Taotao what Cai Jing said just now, and finally said: "If this matter is true, we will unite with Emperor Xia Huizong to kill Queen Mother Liang, and the Xixia problem will be completely solved!"

Gao Taotao was full of surprises, but he couldn't believe it, he hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Do you think it's true?"

Du Wenhao said: "I've been thinking about it just now. I thought, what are the Xixia people doing? If they want fake peace talks, they can just send envoys to make fake talks. What good will it do them to contact us secretly? After thinking about it for a long time, I still can't figure out what kind of ghosts the Xixia people will do in it. In addition, a few years ago, Emperor Huizong sent a general to contact us. At that time, he was preparing to deal with the Queen Mother Liang. The emperor has been imprisoned for several years because of this. Now that he has returned, he has no real power. He must be unwilling. He still wants to continue to unite with us to deal with the Queen Mother Liang. His purpose is obviously to use our strength to help him regain power. Therefore, I don't think it should be fake."

"Then will he use us up and deal with us in turn?"

"Hey, we're not three-year-olds either. If we want to help him, we have to ask for conditions. You have to make up your mind whether you want to form an alliance with Emperor Xia Huizong, and if so, what conditions should you ask?"

Gao Taotao lived in the palace for decades and never asked about political affairs. Now that he is suddenly at the peak of power, he was a little at a loss. Now that he encounters such a big thing, he really doesn't know what to do. After thinking about it , looked at Du Wenhao and said, "What do you think?"

"Me? Taotao, you have to make up your mind, at least you have to make up your mind on the first question, that is, should you form an alliance with Emperor Huizong of Xixia to deal with Queen Mother Liang?"

Gao Taotao forced a smile: "I don't know either, you said you could help me, now you can give me an idea!"

Du Wenhao said: "I think this can be said to be a huge profit for us. If it is done well, we can earn Xixia and win without fighting! What could be better than this? Even if we mess up There is no big loss for us, and there is no need to take any big risks. This matter can be done!"

"Well, what you said makes sense, so let's do what you said. I agree!"

"That's good! The second thing you need to make up your mind about is what are the conditions?"

Gao Taotao still said: "What do you think?"

"I think the best thing is for him to give up the title of emperor, or even give up the title of king, and incorporate the Xixia army into our army, and incorporate Xixia into our Great Song territory! Of course, this condition is a bit high, and Emperor Xia Huizong may not agree."

"What should I do?"

Gao Taotao wondered, "Are these two places important?"

"It's very important. The Shandan Horse Farm in Xuanhua Prefecture is one of the best horse farms in the world. Moreover, it is located on the Hexi Corridor, which is the throat connecting the Western Regions. The geographical location is very important. It is also an important oasis in Xixia. The animal husbandry is very important. Well-developed. It’s a big piece of fat. For us, there is no shortage of his oasis, but the Shandan Racecourse is an indispensable and precious place for us to build a strong army! It would be great if you can come here.”

"Such a good place, he may not be willing to give up."

"He asked us for something. We helped him destroy the Empress Dowager Liang and regain power. This interest is quite large for him. To some extent, it may exceed the price of the land in the Hexi Corridor of Shandan Racecourse. After all, Xixia It is very large. The land we let him cede only takes up less than [-]% of the entire Xixia. Moreover, there are many places in Xixia where horses can be raised. Of course, Shandan is the best place. Therefore, Shandan is not good for him. It is a place that absolutely cannot be given up. If we talk about it, it is quite possible for him to cede this piece of land to us. Therefore, we must use this opportunity to obtain the maximum benefit."

"Well, who to send to talk?"

"This matter cannot be expanded. The last time Xixia sent envoys to join us in an alliance, it was our people who leaked the news to the Empress Dowager Liang and ended up messing things up. If it is revealed again this time, I am afraid that the Empress Dowager Liang will become murderous." , that would be a pity."

"Then..., why don't you go talk to the envoy. You know how to talk."

"Okay! With your authorization, I will have the bottom line."

The two made out for a while, and then Du Wenhao left Gao Taotao's bedroom.

As soon as he left Funing Palace, the little eunuch from Yugeer Palace stopped him at the door: "Xiao Dezi kowtowed to Du Zaizhi." After finishing speaking, the little Huangmen kowtowed to Du Wenhao .

Du Wenhao said: "Get up and talk."

Xiao Dezi stood up, bowed and said, "My mother is ill, let me wait here for Du Zaizhi."

Du Wenhao thought to himself, he was fine yesterday, could it be that he was lying on the ground drunk and caught a cold?Although I don't want to see this Yu Ge'er, after all, she is still the empress of the first emperor, and I am waiting for it. I can't let people think that the emperor is gone, so I can belittle these empresses.Then he said, "What's wrong with Madam Yu? Does it matter?"

Xiao Dezi: "Your Majesty said that she had a sore throat. She was hoarse at first, but then she found it difficult to speak. Last night, she called the imperial doctor from the imperial hospital to see her. After taking the medicine, not only did she not get better this morning, but it even got worse. Huizi can't even speak, she is no different from a dumb person, and the empress also knows that Mr. Du is busy with things, so she didn't want to disturb her, but she is sick and in pain, so..."

Du Wenhao said: "Forget it, I'm very busy, but your mother's body is important, I'll go and have a look with you."

After entering the palace gate and passing through the courtyard, the little yellow gate led Du Wenhao directly to the back garden.

I saw a woman standing in front of a green potted plant and lowering her head slightly to sniff the dots of small flowers in the potted plant.It was Yu Ge'er.

Du Wenhao thought to himself, although Yu Ge'er's appearance is not the most beautiful in the palace, but it must be the most charming, just like the gentle breeze in spring, the misty soft waves, it is a never-tiring scenery.

"My minister sees Mrs. Yu." Du Wenhao went up to the woman and saluted.

Yu Ge'er stood up, with a smile in his eyes, two dimples were slightly curved at the corners of his mouth, he beckoned to Du Wenhao, motioning him to sit down.

Du Wenhao found that she really didn't say a word from the beginning to the end, so he looked Yu Ge'er up and down, and his face looked fine, but he was a little tired.Asked: "What's wrong with your mother's throat? I heard that I went to the imperial doctor, but it didn't improve at all, did it?"

Yu Ge'er smiled helplessly, shook her head, went to the front of the desk, wrote a few words on a piece of paper and showed it to Du Wenhao, and saw that it said: "It happened like this last night, it's all your fault!"

Du Wenhao smiled bitterly: "How can you blame me? What do you want to eat after eating?"

Yu Ge'er took out a prescription from her pocket and handed it to Du Wenhao.

After Du Wenhao looked at it, he said, "I'll diagnose your pulse."

Yu Ge'er put his hand on the pulse pillow, Du Wenhao lifted his wrist to check the pulse, and found that the pulse was stringy and thin, and then he saw the red tongue coating, and the sides of the cheeks were redder, and asked, "How is your majesty's diet these days?"

Xiao Dezi said from the side: "Not good, not only the diet is bad, sleep is also very bad, no more than two times a night is the best."

Du Wenhao asked again: "How is your temper?"

Yu Ge'er was sad, Du Wenhao understood half of it, and said: "Okay, I probably understand it too, you don't have to worry, you don't have to worry, take a few medicines first, you will feel better, you don't have to think too much, and you can take care of yourself with peace of mind." A stubborn illness that cannot be cured." After speaking, he got up, walked to the desk, sat down and wrote a prescription and handed it to Xiao Dezi.

Du Wenhao: "Furthermore, we still need acupuncture and moxibustion for your empress, but considering it's cheap, let's forget about it today. Tomorrow, we will bring Grandma Sun from the Imperial Hospital together, and it will be cheaper to give you acupuncture."

Yu Ge'er couldn't speak, but looked grateful. He got up and wrote a few words on the paper. Du Wenhao read it, and saw that it said: "I know you are busy, I will keep you soon, thank you!"

Du Wenhao thought, this Yu Ge'er should be more mature now, the carefree Yu Ge'er in the past has only spent less than two years in this palace, and he can't see the slightest shadow of the past.

Du Wenhao walked out of Yu Ge'er's palace gate, Xiao Dezi sent him outside, and asked in a low voice: "Lord Zaizhi, Madam..., will you never be able to speak again?"

Du Wenhao shook his head: "Of course not, it's just that she has been sick for a long time, and I'm afraid it won't work just by taking the medicine, and the prescription prescribed by the imperial physician used inappropriate medicinal materials, which not only made her illness not cured, On the contrary, it got worse. Acupuncture and moxibustion are just relieving her symptoms and making her better quickly."

"Master Zai Zhi, you are really amazing. If our family has [-]% of your medical skills in this lifetime, we should be respected."

Du Wenhao smiled, patted Xiao Dezi on the shoulder, and said: "Everyone has their own strengths, and you are the same. You are loyal to the Lord, and that's very good!"

While speaking, Du Wenhao came outside the palace gate.Get on the horse, shake the reins and walk slowly forward.After walking for a while, he reined in the reins, turned around and asked Xu Huaqiang, "Tonight is Ke Yao's birthday, what do you think I should buy her?"

Xu Huaqiang thought for a while, and said: "I heard from Da Furen that she wants to buy an inkstone for Miss Ke Yao, and she has already seen it in the study room. Miss Ke Yao likes to read and write, and she probably likes this gift as well."

Du Wenhao said in frustration: "Oh! They are all ahead of me. Forget it, let's go to the street to have a look first."

Xu Huaqiang said, "Okay."

The two then walked to the empress dowager's palace while talking.

……

Two hours later, Du Wenhao and Xu Huaqiang left the palace gate and headed straight for Dongshi.

This east market is mostly antique calligraphy, painting and jewelry stores, Du Wenhao rarely buys things for women, most of them buy what they like, so it really feels a little awkward at this time.

Xu Huaqiang followed Du Wenhao aimlessly on the street with his cheap guards. At first, he walked behind him and looked at him without saying a word. It was the end of the day, so I couldn't help but stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Master, haven't you found a good one for Miss Ke Yao yet?"

Du Wenhao spread his hands and put on a helpless look: "Do you still need to ask? What do you think?"

"Why don't you give me a precious jade?"

"Okay!" Du Wenhao said, and the two of them entered a jade shop while talking. The shopkeeper saw that the person was well dressed, and he must be a rich owner. Do you know what to buy?"

Du Wenhao went to the cabinet and looked it over carefully, but he didn't know what to choose. Xu Huaqiang said aside, "Our master wants to choose a birthday gift for his sister, and the shopkeeper will give it to the staff?"

The shopkeeper understood after hearing this, and said: "That's how it is. I don't know what hobbies the guest officer's Lingmei had in the past?"

Before Du Wenhao could speak, a person came in from outside the door, and the shopkeeper quickly stepped forward and bowed to salute. Xu Huaqiang looked back and saw that it was the housekeeper of the governor of Kaifeng, and that person also recognized Du Wenhao at a glance. He walked up to Du Wenhao and wanted to kneel respectfully, but Du Wenhao hurriedly stopped him. The shopkeeper saw it, and thought that this person must be some kind of official. Seeing the butler's expression, this official is at least above the fourth rank. I have opened a shop in the capital for decades, and I have never seen any official, but at this age, I don't know what official position it should be, so I dare not neglect it when I think about it.Never thought that this handsome young man is actually the second-rank prime minister of the imperial court!

The shopkeeper went into the inner room, took out a brocade box and invited Du Wenhao to sit aside, let the guys serve the tea, and then carefully placed the box in front of Du Wenhao.

"Lord Du might as well take a look at this kind of thing. Although it's not a rare item, it's worth collecting and giving as a gift. As a relative, I think it's appropriate to give it to this grassroots."

Xu Huaqiang opened the brocade box, and there was a jade bracelet inside. The color was excellent, and the suet white was shining softly in the bright place. Take a look, the shopkeeper didn't bother, and only let Du Wenhao watch carefully.

"Shopkeeper, I'm an ignorant person. I saw that you deliberately took it out from the inner room. It must not be a cheap thing." Du Wenhao looked at it, carefully put it back into the brocade box, and said to the shopkeeper with a smile. .

The shopkeeper bowed and said with a smile: "Lord Du naturally knows that the small one is Hetian jade bought from the Western Regions the day before yesterday. Not to mention, Master Du can see clearly, if she likes to take it back and send it to Lingmei, she will be happy to see it."

Du Wenhao really didn't have much research on jade, and was annoyed that he didn't bring Pang Yuqin out to have a look. When hesitating, Xu Huaqiang whispered in his ear: "Master, it's getting late."

Du Wenhao then asked: "Forget it, since you said it was good, I will buy it back. How much is it?"

The shopkeeper: "It's a small honor for Mr. Du to visit the shop, you just look at it."

(End of this chapter)