When Guo Shao woke up, he felt a little sore in his waist and was still very tired. He was sitting on a large chair in the inner garden study. He opened his eyes and saw a pile of papers on the table in front of him. He thought it was not good to sleep in the daytime, and he had to stay up to check these things. He fell asleep while sitting. There was a soft fur blanket on his body, and he had no idea when it was covered.
The chirping sparrows outside were jumping up and down. The afternoon sun shone in through the carved windows, casting mottled shadows on the floor tiles. The wind had died down, and the weather that had just changed last night had not brought rain. There was no one around him, and Guo Shao was still a little dazed. It seemed as if the wanton night last night had just happened. He was stunned and had a lot of random thoughts.
People are growing up. In his previous life, when he was very young, he met a beautiful woman in public. She was very pure, her eyes seemed to be able to speak, and her voice was very gentle. It was not only because she was beautiful, he did not have any feelings for some star-like women, but the beautiful woman he met by chance was very attractive to him in some unspeakable subtle aspects. His fantasy at that time was that one day when he became successful, he could get close to such a person; but for the time being, he did not have the confidence to approach her, and could only watch her disappear in the crowd with disappointment.
As he got older and experienced more, his ideas gradually changed. Beauties were not as innocent as he imagined. He no longer had the ideas he had when he was young. But for the types of beauties he liked, he still kept the mentality he had when he was young. He hoped that they could live in the sunshine instead of being hurt; just like the red plum blossoms blooming in the snow, it was inevitable to cherish them.
Until now, Guo Shao's initial desire has not changed, but his concept has changed again. Now he thinks that flowers worth cherishing can still be tried. He has built up greater confidence and is no longer as cautious as before and dare not even touch them.
Zhou Xian was the kind of woman who made Guo Shao fall in love with her at first sight. While Guo Shao was amazed, he never intended to force her to hurt him.
Even if Fu Jinzhan was not as tolerant as the ancient noble families, Guo Shao might be able to restrain his desires; a person in this world wants too many things, but as a person who has experienced helplessness and powerlessness, Guo Shao does not want everything he wants. Obviously, Zhou Xian is completely incomparable to Fu Jinzhan in Guo Shao's heart. Even if Zhou Xian is really a fairy, a woman he just met cannot shake the belief that Fu Jinzhan has built in Guo Shao's heart over the years.
But when Zhou Xian proposed a mutually agreeable exchange, Guo Shao could not help it. Fu Jinzhan even mentioned building a Bronze Sparrow Tower for him to hide her beauty. With her so encouraging, how could Guo Shao resist the temptation? Temptation is sometimes harder to resist than torture and pain.
As for the price, it was still within Guo Shao's tolerance. One million guan was not a small amount for the national finances, but it was not so large that it would affect the overall situation. Moreover, although Guo Shao recognized and even admired Li Yu's talent in writing lyrics, and the title of Emperor of Lyrics was not undeserved, he looked down on him in military and national affairs. He intuitively thought that if Li Yu became the ruler of Southern Tang, it would be more beneficial than Li Hongji who dared to launch a mutiny.
Even if the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, Guo Shao has no pressure. If it is just a transaction with Zhou Xian and only considers gains and losses, Guo Shao does not have to pay any price at all; this transaction is also mixed with love and indulgence for Zhou Xian.
In Guo Shao's heart, national affairs are not necessarily more important than women. For example, if he had to choose between the importance of the Great Zhou Dynasty and Fu Jinzhan, he would choose a woman. He is willing to take responsibility for the country, but he does not think that his shoulders can bear such a heavy responsibility alone. Even if you are a savior, someone may call you a dog. Why bother to make yourself feel stressed and bitter all day long
A long time ago, when he was still young, a fellow villager in his hometown bought his wife from another place. The woman tried to escape many times but failed, and even tried to escape again after giving birth. The man used violence and threats of violence for a long time to prevent the woman from escaping again.
Guo Shao didn't think that man was that powerful and violent, but that he was extremely incompetent. He couldn't even support his own wife, and he had to rely on this method to keep her. When he was hurting people, how could he live well
If the man can satisfy the woman in every aspect with his own abilities, she will not always want to run away; but on the contrary, the days when he cannot satisfy the woman in any aspect are too bad, which will lead to this situation.
Guo Shao could not imagine that he could get any pleasure from getting a woman in this way. What he wanted was a woman who was willing, and satisfying her in all aspects would in turn stimulate his sense of accomplishment and self-esteem, and thus get happiness; what he wanted was the woman he loved to worship him and be unable to help herself
He was willing to indulge her, but she would always take his feelings into consideration because she did not want to lose everything Guo Shao had given her. It was like eating the most delicious food in the world and then worrying about not being able to eat it in the future. It was the kind of constraint of worrying about gains and losses.
Guo Shao smiled as he sat on the chair. He was not well prepared and was confused yesterday. But looking back, he did nothing wrong.
But his smile soon disappeared, and he felt a little ashamed. He had clearly promised Fu Jinzhan, but it was broken so quickly. It was really rare in the world, and Guo Shao couldn't help but want to taste it carefully.
This incident made Guo Shao feel a little uncomfortable.
Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, Guo Shao misses Fu Ermei very much, so he can only write to her. It will take some time before he can go to pick her up, because Guo Shao personally sent her back to her parents' home, so naturally he has to go to pick her up in person, but Tokyo is not stable yet, so he dare not leave for too long.
Guo Shao sorted out the drafts of his ideas from the past few days and prepared to go to the court to discuss with someone. He weighed the pros and cons in the carriage, and after entering Donghua Gate, he went straight to the Privy Council and asked Wang Pu and Wei Renpu to go and request an audience.
Today he had no thoughts about any beauty. After all, even if he had eaten all the delicacies from land and sea, he would not have an appetite.
Moreover, Wang Pu also said that if there was another major event, he would like to participate. Considering Wang Pu's defense plan before the mutiny, as well as Wang Pu's power and ability in the Privy Council, Guo Shao wanted to pull him into the power circle under the new pattern to strengthen the power of the heart.
Wang Pu and Wei Renpu went there happily. After going through the necessary procedures, the three of them were taken by the eunuchs to the side hall of Jinxiang Hall, the study where the superiors handled daily state affairs.
This was the first time Guo Shao came to this place to meet Fu Jinzhan. As soon as he entered the door, he saw a very spacious palace room with many officials sitting and working inside. There was a curtain on the north side, and he could vaguely see people walking behind the curtain.
Guo Shao and others knelt down and kowtowed, saying: We pay our respects to the Queen Mother.
But no one answered. After a while, the eunuch Cao Tai came out and bowed beside him and said, "The Queen Mother heard that the Deputy Envoy and General Guo were here to meet her, so she changed the place to meet them. Please follow me, the three of you."
The three knelt in vain before getting up and following Cao Tai into the curtain, then went out through another door, went upstairs to another room. When they entered, they saw Fu Jinzhan sitting behind the curtain, and they kowtowed again.
Guo Shao took out a few pieces of neatly written paper and raised them with both hands, and Cao Tai came down to take over.
While Guo Shao was presenting his things, he said: "Many generals of the Iron Cavalry Army have committed treason, and the military orders and dispatches of the entire Iron Cavalry Army are not effective. I have considered for a long time and would like to request that the Imperial Guard be reorganized."
Wei Renpu echoed: "With so many people missing, it is time to select some military generals to fill the military positions. When the new monarch ascends the throne, the civil and military officials who have made great contributions to the establishment of the monarch should also be praised and promoted without delay."
Wang Pu did not say anything, but just stood aside quietly.
In my opinion, simply filling military posts is not the best strategy. The Palace Front Division a few years ago is different from what it is now. The Iron Cavalry Army was previously called the Small Army. The Imperial Guards do not have to stick to the past. Guo Shao clasped his fists and said, "My suggestion is to reorganize the Imperial Guards."
Soon, Fu Jinzhan finished reading what Guo Shao presented, and then passed it down for Wang Pu and others to look at.
Fu Jinzhan said: General Guo, please feel free to speak.
Guo Shao continued: Since the Iron Cavalry Army is already in a semi-paralyzed state, its number can be cancelled and it can be divided and incorporated into the two elite divisions of the Imperial Guard. The left wing of the Tiger and the Swift Army has the merit of supporting the new emperor, and is loyal and reliable to the Queen Mother and the new emperor, so it should be incorporated into the Palace Front Division as the inner guard of the imperial army.
Simply put, the 20,000-man army of the left wing accepted some of the cavalry soldiers of the Iron Cavalry Army without military commanders, and expanded the army to 30,000; divided into the left and right wings, and established the new army, the Tiger Guard Army. In this way, the Iron Cavalry Army was left with 20,000 men.
The left and right wings of the Longjie Army were all transferred back to Tokyo for reorganization, and 10,000 men were transferred to the right wing of the Hujie Army, Gao Huaide; the Iron Cavalry Army transferred 10,000 men to expand Gao Huaide's army again. Gao Huaide's army was expanded to 40,000 men, divided into the left and right wings. The remaining 10,000 men of the Iron Cavalry Army were incorporated into the Longjie Army, and the Longjie Army's strength was restored to 40,000. The Imperial Guards Mabu Division still retained its organizational number and strength.
Guo Shaodao: The files I submitted are the compilation and explanation of my own personnel. If there are any inappropriate parts, please correct them and revise them, Empress Dowager and the Minister of the Privy Council.
Wang Pu finally spoke up and said: “General Guo’s plan is brilliant. The main force of the internal guards will be turned into confidants, and all the slightly unreliable people will be transferred away from the center.”
Guo Shao was speechless. What Wang Pu said was absolutely right, but it seemed a little shameful to speak out such a sinister motive.
Wang Pu said again: The two main forces of the Palace Front Division, the Iron Cavalry Army no longer exists, and the left wing of the Hujie Army is completely General Guo's direct confidant. The Control Crane Army has always been the least performant since the Liang, Tang, Han and Jin Dynasties. Most of them are wealthy children from aristocratic families. When have they ever participated in internal strife? General Guo's plan is very good. If you control and replace all the guards, no one in the Palace Front Division will oppose you.
Guo Shao's face was already quite ugly. Wang Pu had revealed his thoughts clearly in just a few words, leaving no trace of shame.
His view on the Konghe Army was the same as Wang Pu's. For decades, this army had basically been watching the fire from the other side of the river, loyal to whoever was in power; they had no performance, but no stains. They were always supported and wooed by emperors with generous salaries, and they lived a very comfortable life. Except for the replacement of a few generals, the middle and lower levels were simply obedient and well-behaved. It seemed that the upper and lower levels had reached a consensus that everyone should keep their wealth and live a carefree life together.
After dismantling the Iron Cavalry Army and replacing it with one or two generals of the Control Crane Army, the Dianqian Division would basically be Guo Shao's people.
Wang Pu's eyes seemed to be saying: What exactly does General Guo want to do by doing this