Chengdu has a basin climate, so sunny days are not available every day. The sun peeks out from behind the clouds, adding a bit of gloom to the atmosphere.
The atmosphere of war had temporarily dissipated, and the noisy scene of the generals in the room had not been seen for two consecutive days. In the morning, Guo Shao met Cao Bin, Xiang Gong and others one after another, and now he was whispering something with Wang Pu in the tea room.
Jingniang had nothing to do in the morning, so she stood outside. She couldn't hear what was said inside, they spoke very quietly, she only saw Wang Pu nod, and then clasped his fists and made some gestures. Guo Shao talked to him, and looked at Jingniang from time to time. Even if he was doing something, such silent eyes and attention made Jingniang feel that Guo Shao seemed to have such a skill when he was with her, and his unintentional small gestures would not make people bored, even if he ignored Jingniang.
After a while, Wang Pu came out, clasped his fists and said to the room: I'm leaving.
Then Guo Shao also came out and said: Please make me a cup of tea, I will take a look at the money written on the paper.
Jingniang didn't mind being ordered around by him at all. She walked to the stove, poured boiling water, and said as if she was doing housework at home: I see you have turned into a flower now.
Guo Shao smiled and said: My appearance has something to do with flowers.
Jingniang said angrily: You are not a flower, how can those bees and butterflies flutter around you
I know what you are talking about. Didn't I ask you to send Madam Huarui off last night? She didn't tell you that I am a gentleman, and she said to Guo Shao in a polite voice.
Jingniang came over and put the teapot heavily on the table: "I'm not talking about Lady Huarui. That Wang, if I hadn't been here to ruin your good deeds, hum, before she even showed anything, you couldn't wait to say that you would definitely find a good job for your father and husband, and wait for a good opportunity for her to repay you. How to repay you?"
Guo Shao was smiling just now, but now his face suddenly became a little gloomy.
Seeing this, Jingniang stopped talking and silently poured a cup of tea from the teapot to cool it down.
Guo Shao was silent for a long time, then raised his head and said: "You are not a talkative person, so I will tell you. I hate Wang Zhaoyuan and Li Liangyou very much. Besides, I asked Wang Zhaoyuan to come to Chengdu to persuade him to surrender and make meritorious service for his crimes, but he did nothing.
He paused and said in a deep voice, "The ruler of Shu has been ruling with the bureaucrats for decades, and those nobles and bureaucrats have a lot of money. They used their money to extort the people; Shu was defeated as soon as it was fought, and those people took the money and did nothing for Shu. It is not an exaggeration to say that the money is ill-gotten gains. Now even the ruler is going bankrupt, why don't those nobles who are loyal to Meng Chang cut off their flesh? I am polite to them now because I just occupied Shu and don't want to provoke resistance; I said that I would treat the people of Shu equally, but I didn't say that I would indulge those rich people.
Guo Shao continued: We need someone to be the bad guy and help us get the private wealth of the rich and powerful. This person is Wang Zhaoyuan. I just discussed with Wang Pu that we want to create a new official position in Shu, the Transport Envoy, and let Wang Zhaoyuan do it.
Let him collect the military expenses, but he cannot handle the local taxes. In this way, he has no choice but to extort money from his political enemies and win over some Shu officials as accomplices. I know Wang Zhaoyuan will take the opportunity to profit from it, so let him be greedy, the more greedy, the fatter.
Guo Shao's expression turned cold: When the scholars and officials of Shu Kingdom hate Wang Zhaoyuan to the core, we will send people over to help everyone vent their anger.
Jingniang listened carefully and said with a grim expression: Alang's methods are very sinister.
The specific strategy was not my idea, but Wang Pu's. Guo Shaodao said that this trick was used during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and compared with the comprehensive extortion methods of the Zhou Dynasty, this method was just a minor trick.
Jingniang said softly: People used to say that the world is dangerous, but the most dangerous thing is the human heart.
Guo Shao was silent for a while, and then said: "Since Shu has had good weather for many years, there are charity granaries in various places; they store food locally and use it for disaster relief in years of disaster. I don't plan to touch these charity granaries, and only allow the court to send people to supervise them. The rich and powerful are very few, and the majority of people living in the world are ordinary people."
Jingniang said: If Wang Zhaoyuan and Li Liangyou were both killed, what do you think would happen to Wang
I can't control these personal matters. Guo Shaodao, I don't like that girl and don't want to be responsible for her.
Jingniang wondered: According to Alang, you touched someone else's woman out of kindness.
That's right. Guo Shaodao, didn't you realize that except for Fu Ermei, who was married to me in a formal ceremony, and Li Chuyun's daughter, none of our family members are unmarried young ladies? In this chaotic world, they may not live well with me, but at least they won't live too miserably.
Jing Niang said: What about me
Guo Shao's face suddenly turned ugly, he was stumped by the question.
The sun finally came out from behind the clouds, illuminating the Shu Kingdom's palace. Lady Huarui walked briskly through the flower hall and onto the corridor with a dignified demeanor. She was accompanied by several palace maids and a eunuch. She was going to see Meng Chang.
The corridor is like an open pavilion, but it is very long. The railings on both sides are made of white marble, and the wood is painted red. The red and white are very delicate. The grass and trees outside have grown and most of the flowers have withered. It is the season when green is lush and red is thin, but the lush green branches are still a vibrant scenery.
On a warm summer day, the cool breeze blowing from the corridor makes people feel very comfortable. Madam Huarui's steps are brisk and her pace is also quickened.
After entering the palace gate and passing through the palace room with low curtains, she called the attendants around her and walked into Meng Chang's bedroom. The scene in front of her immediately changed Madam Huarui's light and comfortable mood. She saw that the table and benches were overturned on the ground, and even the brocade quilt was under the bed. The floor was a mess, with overturned books, papers, golden wine glasses, and broken porcelain fragments. The mess made people feel that there was no place to step.
Meng Chang was lying on the dragon bed, snoring.
Madam Huarui carefully stepped over the debris on the ground and walked to the bed. Your Majesty, Your Majesty. She reached out and gently pushed Meng Chang's body. Although the Shu Kingdom was destroyed, Madam Huarui still called him like this out of habit, and there was no outsider in this bedroom.
"Hmm," Meng Chang uttered a sound and then did not move.
When Lady Huarui touched his body, it felt as soft as cotton. At a glance, she saw that Meng Chang's body was all soft flesh. He usually wore a wide robe and it was not noticeable, but now he was only wearing a set of underwear, which made the clothes bulge. There was too much flesh, and his body had no shape at all. Wherever the clothes were big, they were bulged out, like a big piece of meat piled on the bed.
Your Majesty, wake up. Madam Huarui pushed him with a little more force.
Meng Chang sprayed out the smell of wine that had remained in his mouth all night, which was rotten and just happened to spray it on Madam Huarui's face. She almost vomited when she was not paying attention. Meng Chang still didn't open his eyes, turned over, and lay on his back on the bed.
His belly was bulging like a pregnant woman, and even under his underwear there were two lumps of flesh on his chest, like the sagging flesh of an old woman. But his skin was so white and delicate that if you only looked at his body without looking at his head, you might mistake him for a fat woman.
In an instant, Lady Huarui suddenly felt a little disgusted. She had never felt this way before when she was with Meng Chang for so long. Perhaps it was because he was the supreme emperor in Shu, and she didn't even dare to think about hating such a noble person.
A noble family background has always been something that Lady Huarui has always respected. Even though Meng Chang has lost the throne, she still feels that it is very powerful and can be relied on. But now, she suddenly has some doubts but she is not sure what it is, which affects her mood.
Lady Huarui was bolder than usual, so she reached out and pinched Meng Chang's nose, and then covered his mouth with her hand.
Meng Chang quickly opened his eyes and asked angrily: What's the matter
Lady Huarui said: It's noon now, Your Majesty, please get up first. Lying like this is not a good idea.
Meng Chang rubbed his temples with his hands, frowning, and looked like he might have a headache. He said: What can I do if I get up
Madam Huarui said softly: "The central army of Guozhou Army has issued an order to give the concubines, palace maids and eunuchs travel expenses and dry food, and to dismiss them within two days and let them go home. Your Majesty and I will also leave the palace and settle in the Zhou army camp, and go with them to Tokyo to pay homage to the Queen Mother of Zhou Dynasty, and be granted titles by the court."
All these matters require your Majesty's order so that everyone can make arrangements.
This is what Guo the blacksmith said, Meng Chang said.
Madam Huarui gently pressed her red lips and sighed: Don't call me like that anymore.
Meng Chang said: "The country is ruined and the family is ruined, that's it. What a mess, I will issue an order now, you will arrange it."
Madam Huarui quickly advised: Your Majesty, there are still some people in the royal family, even the elders. How can a concubine like me be qualified to make arrangements? You'd better get up.
Seeing Meng Chang's depressed face, she hesitated for a moment and then advised him kindly: Your Majesty, although you have encountered a great setback, as long as you cheer up, there is still hope for the future. Marshal Guo is not a barbaric and unreasonable person.
Meng Chang lay down and thought for a while, then suddenly sat up. There are still many officials, generals and soldiers in Shu, and I treat them well. As long as I can find loyal ministers,
Her Majesty, Lady Huarui, was horrified and interrupted him hastily.
Meng Chang sat on the bed with his hands on his hips and his big white belly sticking out: Gou Jian also lost his country, and he slept on firewood and tasted gall. Three thousand Yue soldiers could conquer Wu.
Lady Huarui urged: Gou Jian is a ruthless man, Your Majesty is born a good man, and has never suffered since childhood. Let's stop dreaming and be obedient to the Zhou court and ask for a way to live.
I am not a ruthless person. Meng Chang said, things in this world can be solved as long as you make up your mind.