Chen Jiali was silent for a while, with a slightly embarrassed look on her beautiful face, and then she said: Although I was born in the Southern Tang, my Chen family has lived in Yangzhou for generations. Now Huainan belongs to the Zhou Dynasty, so we are Zhou people. It is not considered betrayal of the Southern Tang. Besides, no matter which country it is, we are originally of the same clan and ancestors. It was only after the Tang Dynasty that the country was divided. The Chen family is just a merchant, not a royal family or official of the Southern Tang, so there is no question of loyalty to the Southern Tang royal family.
After hearing this, Guo Shao nodded seriously and said in a serious tone: Madam Chen's words make sense and she understands the righteousness.
Chen Jiali breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it would have been better if she hadn't explained it just now. After so many words of defense, she seemed to be a person who cared too much about face and vanity, and was a little hypocritical.
However, seeing Guo Shao's deep approval, Chen Jiali felt very relaxed with him. She observed Guo Shao's expression and said softly: "General Guo doesn't think I'm being hypocritical."
She asked this because she would occasionally hear people saying bad things about her behind her back, and people from the Shen family would say even worse things about her, saying things like she was a whore and pretended to be a virgin, which made her very sad.
When Guo Shao spoke in a low voice, there was a pleasant magnetism in his voice: He was indeed a little pretentious.
Chen Jiali was slightly startled. Although more than one person said bad things about her, she still felt a little uncomfortable when someone said it to her face, especially Guo Shao.
At this time, Guo Shao said thoughtfully: But there is nothing wrong with being a little pretentious. People who are too rational, too old-fashioned, and too practical are boring to get along with, as if they are just waiting to die for decades, and there is no fun; if they care too much about appearance, they will be distracted by things and become so outrageous that people feel that they are unreliable. Mrs. Chen gives me just the right feeling. One point more would be too much, and one point less would be lacking in style. With the basic sincerity of being a human being, she is full of the fun of life and the love of life that is aroused by you, as if every blade of grass and every move of people around her are interesting, full of sentiment and poetic feeling.
Chen Jiali was delighted when she heard this, and her voice became gentler: What kind of romance is this? Even a man like General Guo is not serious. Is it really as good as you say
Guo Shao waved his sleeves and pointed at the furnishings in the hall, then glanced at Chen Jiali's clothes and said: "I am just telling the truth, because you are a very good person, I just noticed the goodness of Mrs. Chen. The objects and people here all show the owner's meticulous and interesting intentions."
Chen Jiali's cheeks were hot and she was in a very good mood. She looked at Guo Shao boldly and found him more and more pleasing to the eye. The back of his hand was particularly attractive. His big palm had long fingers but they were not thin. The veins on the back of his hand were bulging, giving people a feeling of being thick and full of strength. The image of a certain thickness and length made Chen Jiali feel itchy and very comfortable when she imagined it.
Those Confucian scholars make people feel that they are all soft. I also think that General Guo looks good in such a masculine and majestic way. Chen Jiali said in a very low voice, General Guo is sometimes bad, always hinting at seducing women, but he is not a bad person. Just as you said, just right.
Just then, a figure appeared at the door. Chen Jiali's face was flushed. She stopped smiling gently and sat there calmly.
Aunt Sun walked over silently, handed over a red card and said: I have brought it as you wish, madam.
Chen Jiali picked up the gift list, waved her sleeves gently, and handed it to Guo Shao with both hands.
Guo Shao also looked at it seriously: The amount is not more than the previous betrothal gift.
Chen Jiali said: "It's slightly inferior, but not much. Didn't General Guo prepare it for the lady of the Li family? I think the gift should be a little more generous."
She looked at Guo Shao with interest. Sometimes he looked a little dull, not giving people the impression of being frivolous, but she couldn't explain why she always felt that his dull and serious look was still very lovable. Also, his bronze skin was a little rough, but always clean and tidy. He didn't look like a dandy at all, but he somehow made people feel close to him.
Chen Jiali said softly: Li Chuyun is now a high-ranking official in the imperial army. It won't be a problem if General Guo takes his daughter as a concubine.
Guo Shao smiled and said: If I don't accept it, there will be trouble. But you have a point. People will gossip about this matter.
Of course. Chen Jiali smiled at his face, but she usually wouldn't say it openly, after all, Li Niangzi was their daughter-in-law. Others would say bad things behind her back.
Guo Shao pondered and said: Madam Chen, what do you think people will say
Chen Jiali said: "They will say that Li Chuyun did whatever it took to curry favor with the powerful in order to obtain a high position and a generous salary, even giving away his daughter. They will probably discuss that he relied on nepotism to rise to power."
Guo Shao said: Our brothers know the whole story, and those who know the truth will not say so, but Mrs. Chen's reminder makes sense. He received the gift list and immediately stood up and said: Thank you, Mrs. Chen, for this matter, I am sorry to bother you too much, I will leave now.
Chen Jiali also stood up, feeling a little reluctant. She usually had enough food and clothing, and she had her own things to worry about, so she was not too idle, but she always felt that something was missing. But she couldn't keep Guo Shao, so she finally couldn't help but casually said: "General Guo, if you are free, you can come to my humble abode and sit down. I want people to appreciate the new song I composed."
It's my honor. Guo Shao's eyes were bright and sincere. He thought for a moment and said, Madam Chen should have many shops and sales channels in Shu and Nan Tang. I would like to send some people to ask you to help.
Chen Jiali agreed easily.
Guo Shao was not idle these days. The central government of the imperial court decided on a major event, and the Privy Council made two revisions to the plan to attack Shu. It seemed a bit inadequate to use troops against Shu in a short period of time, and the preparations were insufficient. Zhou Chao decided to take Hanzhong first.
Prime Minister Wang Pu continued to recommend Xiang Gong and Xiang Xun to attack Shu. Three years ago, Xiang Gong performed very well in taking Qinfeng. The Queen Mother's two envoys Guo Shao both agreed with Wang Pu's recommendation and decided to appoint Xiang Gong as the commander of the front camp of Shannan West Road Recruiting Envoy, commanding tens of thousands of troops from the three cities of Heyang, the northwest Wang Jing and his eldest son Wang Tingyi's troops in the northwest Zhejia Town, and attack Hanzhong from Qinfeng to the south. Prime Minister Li Gu was also appointed as the military supervisor of the front camp to judge the affairs of Xingyuan Prefecture in Hanzhong.
However, there are no obvious signs of military action now, and the news is still limited to a few ministers in the central government. Wait for another half a month, when the large-scale troop deployment in the northwest and other places can no longer be concealed, the court will publicly accuse Shu of finding some excuses to launch a war. Even then, Shu may not necessarily take it seriously, because the Zhou Dynasty threatened Shu with military force and threatened to attack them more than once or twice; it is possible that Shu will still think it is a threat in the early stage.
The court officials agreed to do this in order to reduce the preparation time of the Shu army.
Guo Shao went home and took out a map from the cabinet that was drawn when he attacked Shu. The map included the detailed routes and terrain of Qingniling and other places. He also wrote a letter to Xiang Gong, telling him that there was a small road called Baishui Road next to Qingniling, which could take a detour around Qingniling.
Guo Shao had walked along this path once before, and the Shu army might be on guard against that path after suffering losses. But whether the Shu general stationed there three years later knew about it or not, there was no harm in telling Xiang Gong. Guo Shao could only help him in this way.
The target of this battle was only Hanzhong. The Zhou army had Qin Fengchengjie as its base camp, which was not far from Hanzhong; plus the Shu army might not be well prepared. Guo Shao thought that Xiang Gong was still very talented in military affairs and should be able to accomplish this task.
He walked to the front yard and heard the message from his personal deputy general Lu Chengyong, who ordered him to send two people to Heyang to deliver the letter.
At this time, Zuo You also walked in. He was wearing a red round-collared official uniform. He didn't even need to report to the gate of Guo's house, just like entering his own home. Guo Shao looked at his dress and was a little uncomfortable. Then he remembered that he had just filled a good position: the Shaoqing of the Taichang Temple. Now he is a fourth-rank official who eats the emperor's salary. I asked before, Zuo You's official position is mainly responsible for the court's sacrifices and things that only happen during festivals. It is a good position with status and leisure.
"Greetings, my lord." Zuo You, wearing a black veil on his head, stood at the bottom of the steps and saluted with his sleeves spread out in a serious manner.
Guo Shao only said: Come in and tell me.
The two entered the hall one after the other, Guo Shao looked at Zuo You with a smile on his face. Zuo You looked surprised, and reached out to adjust his black hat, then looked at Guo Shao and then looked down at himself.
Guo Shao asked with a smile, "What does it feel like to be an official?"
Zuo You said seriously: Humph, wearing this gown, the neighbors look at me with new eyes, and I feel like I am returning home in glory. Friends and relatives also flatter me in many ways. People in this world are simply too vulgar.
Guo Shao laughed loudly, while Zuo You sighed with an indifferent look on his face.
After laughing, Guo Shao took out a gift list from his arms and handed it over: Please help me act as a matchmaker and give gifts to Li Chuyun's family.
Zuo You took it and looked at it, then said: This is an easy matter. When the lord takes a concubine, there cannot be too many formalities and ostentation. Just send the things over and pick a good day to bring Madam Li back.
After hearing this, Guo Shao's smile gradually disappeared. He pondered for a moment and said, "Let's do this. Go see Li Chuyun first and don't mention the gift for now. Ask him carefully if he is willing. Then do it."
Zuo You nodded thoughtfully and said: My lord, don't worry, I know what to do.
The two chatted for a while, and Zuo You mentioned casually that Zhou Duan of Xuzhou seemed to send people to Tokyo frequently, and he often contacted the lord.
Guo Shaodao: No, I haven’t heard a word from him for a long time.
No wonder Zuo You frowned and said, I heard that Zhou Duan had close contacts with Li Yu, the sixth prince of Southern Tang. It seems that this is true.
Guo Shao looked at Zuo You calmly: Zhou Duan is originally a member of the Zhou family. It is human nature for him to have contact with Zhou Ehuang of the Zhou family. There is no need to worry about it. We can't ask Zhou Duan to join my account and then turn his back on his relatives. We can't treat our subordinates too strictly, making them feel insecure and tied up.
"My lord, what you said makes sense." Zuo You bowed.