The sun had already set in the west, and Guo Shao did not stay in the Jinxiang Palace for too long.
Fu Jinzhan thought for a long time, sighed, and heard Cao Tai giving a few instructions. Cao Tai then left Jinxiang Hall.
A dozen riders escorted a carriage out of the imperial city from Donghua Gate, onto Maxing Street, and soon arrived at the Dianqiansi Yamen. A thin eunuch with gray hair got off the carriage. It was Cao Tai. He showed his badge to the guard at the Yamen gate.
The guard barely even glanced at the sign and immediately said: "Mr. Cao, please come in person."
Cao Tai said: I am just passing by the Palace Front Office. I want to see Inspector Zhang Du for some private business, so I will not go to the lobby.
Soon Cao Tai arrived at Zhang Yongde's study. In the past, military commanders of Zhang Yongde's status would act condescending when meeting eunuchs, and would not pay any attention to them. But now Zhang Yongde looked very humble and spoke very politely.
Zhang Yongde's current position really feels like being on fire. As the highest-ranking general in the Imperial Guards, he is watched by countless eyes inside and outside the palace. He has to be cautious every day, as if treading on thin ice.
Especially not long ago, from the senior military commander of the Ma Junsi to the head of the army, more than 70 people were killed in one day. Zhang Yongde really smelled the breath of danger. At that time, he wanted to resign from the military post of the Palace Front Inspector, but he still felt a little unwilling in his heart.
Emperor Taizu of Zhou appreciated him, so he was promoted at that time. Although he was only 30 years old, he was now almost the oldest general of the imperial guards since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, and he was indeed a little reluctant to give up everything he had now.
He was only one step away from reaching the sky, and although he was afraid, he wanted to stay in this position without doing anything.
At this time Cao Tai whispered: The Queen Mother remembered something and wanted to ask Zhang Du Dianjian in private.
When Zhang Yongde heard that it was the Queen Mother's words, he hurriedly asked: What does the Queen Mother want to ask
Cao Tai said: Zhao Kuangyin made that dragon robe for Zhang Du Dianjian.
Zhang Yongde's face turned pale, and the ceramic cover of the teacup in his hand suddenly made a sound. He quickly put the teacup down and said seriously: I had no idea about Zhao Kuangyin's conspiracy. If I had known it earlier, I would have told the late emperor.
Oh, of course, of course. Cao Tai said calmly, the Queen Mother certainly believed that Zhang Du Dianjian knew nothing about it.
Zhang Yongde said in a deep voice: Zhao Kuangyin's rebels even killed the top generals. If I were an accomplice, would I still be alive today
Cao Tai said: What Inspector Zhang Du said makes sense. The conspiracy to treason has nothing to do with you. However, the Queen Mother is just guessing. At that time, Zhao Kuangyin must have wanted to get Inspector Zhang Du to participate, but Inspector Zhang Du went to control the Crane Army in advance and he didn't find anyone.
Zhang Yongde was stunned. It was indeed like that. If he hadn't guessed Zhao Kuangyin's intention at that time, why would he leave the Palace Front Office in a hurry
At that time, Zhang Yongde thought about it and felt that if Zhao Kuangyin wanted to start a rebellion, it would be the safest way to force himself to join him. In this case, Zhao Kuangyin could not do it alone.
I really don't know about this. Zhang Yongde said carefully, maybe he has such a plan, but I will never collude with him.
Cao Tai clasped his fists and said, "The Queen Mother thinks so too. I am just asking in private, please forgive me, Zhang Du Dianjian. I will not delay you any longer. I had other things to do and was just passing by the Dianqiansi Yamen."
Zhang Yongde sent Cao Tai away, hurriedly closed the door of the study, sat on the chair and took a few deep breaths, exaggeratedly wiping his chest with his hand. After a moment, he stood up again and paced back and forth in the room. Could it be that the Queen Mother's party felt that the cleansing of the door a while ago was not enough, and they wanted to attack me
Every morning when he came to work, he would say goodbye to his wife and children, fearing that he would never come back. After more than a month of nothing happening, he gradually relaxed a little. This morning, he didn't have time to look at his family for a few more times.
Zhang Yongde plucked up his courage and thought about it for a long time. He felt that it was unlikely that he was the brother-in-law of the previous emperor and the uncle of the new emperor. He did not make any moves to threaten them at the moment of the mutiny. There was no need to do anything too extreme.
Zhang Yongde took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He suddenly realized that power might not be the most important thing in the world, and the precious days of enjoying family happiness with his wife and children were gradually becoming more open-minded.
After much thought, Zhang Yongde felt that this position was too dangerous and he could no longer sit there. He immediately picked up a pen to write his resignation letter, but after thinking about it, he felt that lying at home and claiming to be sick would be the most sincere way to show his sincerity. How could he be a military commander if he couldn't even get out of bed
After Guo Shao came out of the imperial city, he went to the left wing of the Hujie Army.
The military discipline in the camp was very lax in the afternoon. Except for those who were on duty at the city gates and walls, the garrison troops in the camp gathered together in groups. Sometimes, the soldiers would find a place on the training ground to play Cuju.
The largest group of people was not far from the camp gate. They were still shouting when they suddenly saw cavalrymen escorting a carriage coming in. They knew it was the general, so they all stood up and stopped shouting. At this time, Guo Shao got out of the carriage, and the soldiers clasped their fists and said: Greetings, my lord.
Guo Shao touched his shoulder and asked casually: What are you guys talking about? No one said anything, so he smiled easily: I used to be the same as the soldiers.
A big man with a round face said: We are all talking about Youzhou, we are all from Hebei.
Your name is Zhang Ying, Guo Shao pointed at the man.
The man named Zhang Ying said happily: I didn't expect that the lord still remembered me.
Guo Shao said: You were originally a rancher in Youzhou, raising horses for the Khitans, and you led your people to surrender during the Northern Expedition. I was right.
That's right, Zhang Ying said hurriedly.
Guo Shao walked up to him, patted his shoulder and stroked his back, pondered for a moment and said: Remember, Han'er will never be a slave.
After hearing this, Zhang Ying's expression froze. The simpler the words, the easier it would be for the generals to understand. Sure enough, he immediately turned around, raised his arms and shouted: Han people will never be slaves. The soldiers were immediately outraged and shouted together, their voices shaking the military camp.
Guo Shao thought of this sentence at the last minute, and the effect was unexpectedly good. He realized at this time that this sentence was indeed appropriate. In this era, there was no distinction between ethnic groups, only the distinction between Chinese and barbarians. The word "Han'er" has a strong frontier characteristic. Only in areas that have contact with foreign ethnic groups, the Han people are called "Han'er" for the purpose of distinction. The inland areas basically do not use this word; it was a derogatory term used by foreign ethnic groups at the beginning, but now it is just a neutral word. So when people say "Han'er", they naturally think of those who were enslaved by the Liao Kingdom in Hebei.
More than a hundred strong men in Youzhou shouted together, and the sound was quite spectacular, attracting many soldiers in the military camp to look at them.
The shouting outside called many generals out, and when they saw Guo Shao, they naturally came forward to greet him. At this time, the people in Youzhou were still shouting and the mood had not yet calmed down.
Guo Shao looked back at the generals on the left wing of the Hujie Army, and everyone was looking at him. He said: Is China going to continue to enter turmoil and repeat the mistakes of the Later Jin Dynasty, which ceded land and became a vassal, or is it going to maintain long-term stability and avenge the previous humiliation
All the generals clasped their fists, bowed, and spoke in a chaotic manner.
Guo Shao was thinking about Li Jixun, and then he said: Shi Chonggui of the Jin Dynasty also wanted to get rid of the oppression of the Liao Kingdom, but he was not strong enough in the internal strife and ended up dying and destroying his country. Now the country is divided and the internal friction can only make the relatives sad and the enemies happy.
All the generals echoed.
Although Guo Shao said so, he believed that Li Jixun would not take the initiative to reconcile because of any great principles. The fact was that Huaizhou on the north bank of the Yellow River was desperately preparing for war. Any general in Li Jixun's position would fight for an opportunity and would not be moved by a few righteous words. Only the soldiers in front of him, who were originally his own people, believed what Guo Shao said.