Fu Jinzhan was indulging in a daydream, a thing that had never come true, but she still considered it seriously: First, we must conquer Shu. Shu had been prosperous for decades with abundant crops and good weather. Moreover, the king and his ministers were weak and unwilling to fight after entering Shu from outside the mountains. If you conquer the country, you will gain great prestige and seize more military funds. I will take out a part of it to build a tall building for you.
Guo Shao, like all those who were loyal to Fu Jinzhan, hoped that she would cheer up and be happy. He didn't want to see Fu Jinzhan tangled and sad, so he naturally didn't interfere with her fantasy, and asked very cooperatively: What is the purpose of building this building? What is it called
Tongque Tower. Fu Jinzhan said with a calm smile.
Guo Shao:
Fu Jinzhan's eyes were very bright, with a half-smile on her face: I said I would not treat you unfairly. The sisters of Lady Huarui of Shu and Zhou Xian of Nan Tang are both beautiful women with world-renowned reputations. You can capture them and I will build a building for you to hide your beauties. I will also write a sentence in my own handwriting: Tongque locks up the two Zhous in the deep spring.
Guo Shaodao: This is too arrogant, will it be criticized by people all over the world
Fu Jinzhan said calmly: The Zhou Dynasty fought so many battles in the south and the north, are you afraid of being criticized for being aggressive and inhumane
Guo Shao thought: Zhao Kuangyin might have fled to Northern Han. He could take this opportunity to threaten Northern Han with force and ask them to hand over Zhao Kuangyin, or else he would use military force. Liao Kingdom could not use large-scale military force again to protect Northern Han.
But the Queen Mother was not discussing state policy with him, but was dreaming, and he had no intention of disobeying her.
The place where the Queen Mother summoned Guo Shao was in the rear hall of Jinxiang Palace, which was not in the harem. But Guo Shao did not dare to stay any longer and hurried away.
There was still a drizzle outside, but to Guo Shao the weather was not that gloomy. Instead, he felt that the stone slabs and brick floors seemed to have just been washed after being wetted, and there was a bit more freshness and coolness. In the moist air of the drizzle, the palaces and pavilions were less domineering and more graceful.
Before coming here, Guo Shao was with Li's daughter, but now she should have been escorted home by Luo Mengzi and his men. Guo Shao thought about it and felt embarrassed to go to her again. He had to find a time to meet her again, and then go to the Li family to propose marriage. In order to avoid being embarrassed under Li Chuyun's nose, there was a problem. Guo Shao had no money now. In order to provide relief to the families of soldiers, he was so impulsive that he even gave away Fu Ermei's dowry. He had to find a way to collect some money from somewhere.
There is another aspect to consider. I had agreed to take a concubine with Fu Ermei before, so I had to bring Fu Ermei back first and then coax her. If the young lady from the Li family wants to enter the Guo Mansion, she will have to live there for a long time, so I can't just think about the beginning and not the end.
Guo Shao then went out of Donghua Gate and went to a military camp where the Hujie Army was stationed on the left wing.
Several military generals came up on horseback. Guo Shao got out of the carriage and exchanged a few words of greeting. Seeing Luo Mengzi was also there, he asked: "Third brother, have you sent the person to the destination? Luo Mengzi said: Commander Li Du's wife was sent back a long time ago."
Guo Shao was slightly unhappy after hearing this. Lao Luo was stupid. What was the point of yelling in front of the generals
He ignored Luo Mengzi, went into a house, and asked someone to call Jingniang over.
Seeing Jingniang in a military uniform and armor, she was tall and had a heroic temperament. With her pretty face, she looked more attractive than those real warriors. Guo Shao also suspected that she might have been born in the wrong family.
Guo Shao asked, "Did Zhao Pu confess?"
She handed over a sheaf of papers: This was his confession.
Guo Shao flipped through it casually and couldn't help scratching the back of his head a few times. He found that he was still semi-illiterate. The handwritten traditional Chinese characters without punctuation were a bit sloppy and very difficult to read.
He simply slapped the paper and said: Tell me, what did Zhao Pu confess
Jingniang then found a chair and sat down, telling her a bunch of trivial things in detail. Guo Shao yawned as he listened, and couldn't help complaining: Can't you just talk about the important things
Jingniang frowned and said: There are so many things like this, I don’t know which one is more important.
Guo Shao said angrily: That guy won't cry until he sees the coffin. Go and threaten him. Tomorrow I will take his wife and daughter to the Hujie Army camp and make them prostitutes. Jingniang said: This is not good. Guo Shao said casually: What's wrong with me? If I fall into his hands, I won't be much better. Threaten him like this and see if he dares to fool you.
Jingniang frowned: I will ask someone to bring him here and the master will interrogate him personally.
Soon, Zhao Pu came in with a cane, limping and leaning on it. When he saw Guo Shao, his face turned pale. He seemed to feel guilty when he saw Guo Shao, and he knelt on the ground and said: I know I was wrong, but I hope General Guo will be magnanimous. I have no choice but to kneel here and beg for forgiveness and spare my life.
Luo Mengzi, who was standing next to him, laughed and said: There are still people in the world who say they are dogs, hahahaha
Zhao Pu was humiliated and fell to his knees in shame.
Guo Shao stepped forward with a smile on his face and wanted to help Zhao Pu up. Zhao Pu hurriedly said: "General Guo will not forgive me, I dare not get up."
I was just discussing with someone whether to capture your wife and daughter to serve as camp prostitutes. You see, the soldiers in the left wing have not been able to rest for a while, and it is very boring to stay in the barracks all day. Guo Shao reached out and stroked his back twice.
Zhao Pu's face changed drastically.
Guo Shao said in a friendly way: But I think Mr. Zhao is also very knowledgeable and is willing to fight for it.
Is it true? Zhao Pu shook his head in confusion.
Guo Shao said: "But you always protect Zhao Kuangyin. How do I know if you still miss your old master? If I let you go, what if you seek revenge on me? Since you are still determined to be loyal to Zhao Kuangyin and be my enemy, how can I be easy on you?"
Zhao Pu hurriedly said: It has come to this, why am I still protecting my master Zhao Kuangyin? Now I want to be a commoner but cannot.
Guo Shaodao: You can know a person's face but not his heart. How should I treat you? Think about it. If one day I fall into your hands, how will you torture me
I dare not, I dare not. Zhao Pu bowed his head.
Guo Shao said generously: It doesn’t matter, just think about it, I don’t know what you are thinking.
Zhao Pu's face turned pale and blue, and he was trembling with fear. Guo Shao waited for a long time before saying: I want to try all the methods you have thought of to deal with me on you.
Zhao Pu remained silent. Guo Shao said: Why don't we start trying them one by one now
Zhao Pu suddenly said: I remembered something very important.
Come on, take a seat. Guo Shao also pulled up a chair and patiently prepared to listen attentively.
Jingniang looked at him in astonishment, with a look of worship and disbelief. Guo Shao glanced at her and thought: You have never experienced the pressure and fear of being threatened with calamity several times, so naturally you can't make Zhao Pu behave.
Zhao Pu hesitated for a while and said: Zhao Sanlang is the one who attempted to assassinate General Guo and raped and killed his sister-in-law He.
Even Guo Shao was surprised when he heard it, and hurriedly asked: "Do you have any evidence?" The attention of everyone present was immediately attracted, and they all cast their eyes on Zhao Pu.
Zhao Pu said helplessly: "There is no evidence for this. I guessed it from some clues. Maybe Zhao's mother knew the truth, and she protected Sanlang and suppressed the matter."
He paused and continued: "When Madam He died, my lord Zhao Kuangyin and I were both in Huainan, so we didn't see it with our own eyes. But later I happened to hear two servants talking in Zhao's mansion, saying that Madam He's body was secretly fished out of the dry well, and her clothes were in disarray; and then she was hastily buried."
Which two servants? Do you still remember what they look like? Guo Shao asked hurriedly.
Zhao Pu shook his head: I didn’t see it clearly, and I’ve forgotten it because it’s been so long.
"Male or female?" Guo Shao asked.
Zhao Pudao: A female.
Guo Shao immediately asked Jingniang: I gave the order to surround the Zhao Mansion a few days ago, but the people didn't escape, right? Jingniang said: The home of such a person would of course have been surrounded and guarded long ago.
Very good. Guo Shao nodded, lowered his head, and tapped his fingers on the table unconsciously. After a long time, he raised his head and said bluntly: Jingniang, you take people to Zhao Mansion immediately, separate all the people, and find out the number, identity and whereabouts of the women who disappeared or were dismissed from Zhao Mansion from the year before last to this year.
Jingniang clasped her fists and said: Yes.
Guo Shao said again: "Third brother, take a few people to Madam He's grave and take turns to watch it to make sure everything is safe. I will go find the officials of Kaifeng Prefecture to open the coffin and examine the body."
Luo Mengzi touched his round head and asked Zhao Pu: Where is Mrs. He's tomb
Guo Shao walked out of the door, and Jingniang followed him out and asked: Could it be that Zhao Pu was forced into a corner and made up this story
Guo Shao paced back and forth for a few steps, thinking of the suspicion that Zhao San murdered his brother in history, and that Zhao Kuangyin's wives did not seem to live long. He said: There are good and bad people in this world, all kinds of people, and you can't use your own mind to guess everyone.
Jingniang asked: "Does the master think Zhao Pu's words are credible?"
"I don't know whether it's credible or not," Guo Shao pondered, "but I know that once this scandal is exposed, the Zhao family will definitely be in trouble. We want to clean up Zhao Kuangyin's rebels in the imperial army. If we don't first make them out to be evil villains, do we want us to claim that we murdered loyal officials?"
Jingniang whispered: Wouldn't that be too much to do and slander the human ethics of other people's families
Who knows if it is slander or not, even I don't know. Guo Shao said seriously, if it is true, then of course it is better.
If those wise men had been defeated, what would have been the final conclusion, whether they were kings or bandits, Guo Shao felt it was really hard to figure out. But he was sure that if he had been defeated a few days ago, Zhao Kuangyin would definitely not say that he was a loyal minister; perhaps for the legitimacy of the regime, he would have fabricated a story about himself and the queen mother early on.