Wang Pu left the imperial city through the corridor on the east side of Xuande Gate and got on a carriage.
He was a complete civil servant, but he didn't care much about his appearance. He only wore a purple silk robe, which was more gorgeous, and no valuable ornaments. His goatee was also unkempt. The carriage he rode in was even simpler, with unpainted boards and a bamboo curtain hanging on the window. It was not a grand show.
When they reached the entrance of the ceremonial hall and stopped for a while, they saw Li Xin coming out of the ceremonial hall. Li Xin had sharp eyes and recognized Wang Pu's carriage at a glance, so he walked over quickly, leading the horse.
Wang Pu lifted the bamboo curtain with his hand and looked at Li Xin who was approaching. Li Xin clasped his fists beside the carriage and bowed deeply: "I will never forget the grace of Lord Wang for giving me a new life."
Wang Pu, however, looked unsympathetic and said, "The Arabs are not generous. Every tribute they send is of practical use. You must do a good job of this matter. This is something that His Majesty has personally instructed you to do."
Li Xin nodded hurriedly, cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: "Lu Yongzhen, who can translate the Arab language, must have been dealing with the Arabs for a long time. He is also a Han Chinese, so it is easy to win him over. I want to start with Lu Yongzhen first."
Wang Pu nodded, without saying anything, and patted the wooden board in front of him, and asked the coachman to drive away. Li Xin stood on the street for a long time, bending over and maintaining a bow.
Wang Pu looked back, then looked at the tall Xuande Gate of the imperial city, lowered the bamboo curtain, sat in the car and closed his eyes.
He was very disappointed. Although he seemed to be very concerned about acquiring shipbuilding technology and other things, compared with the major event of the whole country's northern expedition against the Liao Kingdom, which was related to the rise and fall of the country, Wang Pu felt uncomfortable.
Why Wei Renpu? Although Wang Pu thinks Wei Renpu has talent, he is still inferior to himself in terms of wisdom.
Could it be that the strategy of the Northern Expedition at the beginning of the year was wrong, and the emperor deliberately ignored him? Wang Pu thought about it and realized that the strategy at the beginning of the year was clearly insisted by His Majesty, and Wang Pu's attitude was simply that he did not object.
Or maybe he was not respectful enough to Guo Shao. Wang Pu knew that he was the same to everyone, and he was not as good at flattering people in front of the emperor as others. Guo Shao did not seem to be a person who cared about small details, but it was hard to say. The person who sat on the throne attached great importance to prestige and was afraid that someone would provoke and affect his power. Wang Pu thought of people like Shi Yanchao, who was also very obedient to the emperor's words, and always felt that Shi Yanchao was not completely a reckless man.
Wang Pu sighed, but felt relieved when he thought about how the Northern Expedition was going relatively smoothly.
In the Jinxiang Palace, Fu Jinzhan took Guo Shao's handwritten letter and read it carefully several times before putting it away. Not a single word was said to her, because these letters were first sent to the Privy Council, but it was also written in Guo Shao's familiar handwriting. It was indeed not very beautiful, but it had one advantage: it was easy to recognize, and every stroke was correct and very rigorous.
At this time, Fu Jinzhan left the East Hall and ordered to go to the emperor's study in the West Hall to check the files.
She walked eastward along the long corridor on the backstage of the Jinxiang Palace. Because the corridor was not spacious, the palace servants who were approaching her knelt down beside the road, showing great respect.
Fu Jinzhan dragged her long skirt on the ground, her hands clasped in front of the ribbon, and walked slowly and gracefully. Everyone in the palace was in awe of her. She was the queen in the previous dynasty, and had a deep foundation in the palace and a respected position; she was not a powerful woman who was scary, but most people knew that a woman who could walk into the front palace and interfere in government affairs was not to be messed with.
Walking into the West Hall, Fu Jinzhan was immediately attracted by the large and small Youyun topographic maps hanging on the wall. Even though Guo Shao had been away from Beijing for a long time, as soon as he came in, he could still feel his extreme concern and hard work.
Fu Jinzhan gave a few casual instructions and Cao Tai hurried to find the files himself.
She stood beside the imperial desk waiting and found that there were signs of wear on the left edge, but not on the right side. This was because when using a brush with the right hand, the arm could not be placed on the desk according to the correct posture.
Fu Jinzhan calmly held the imperial table, and gently stroked the ground area with her fingertips. Thinking of the smooth progress of this Northern Expedition, she couldn't help but think of Guo Shao's previous promise. What will happen if this big thing is accomplished
Suddenly, Fu Jinzhan's mood suddenly got out of control. An indescribable desire for possession surged in her heart.
Yes, when she is calm and wise, she will first consider the overall situation and other principles, and she also considers herself a woman who has seen the world and knows the general situation. But once she gets caught up in her emotions, she will be swayed by something in her heart.
She thought that person belonged to her. Whenever she asked the emperor who he would favor tonight with a smile, she felt that the person she loved was sleeping with another woman and was in love with someone else.
Fu Jinzhan took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She told herself repeatedly: It is common for rich nobles to have many wives and concubines, not to mention that the founding emperor's having many children is a major event that concerns the country and the world.
Having seen the turbulent changes of power and the barbaric scenes of chaotic soldiers, I shouldn't have dreamed of things that only ignorant girls would believe.
Perhaps, the sign of success of the Northern Expedition and Guo Shao's sincere promise gave us hope. People are never satisfied.
In the third year of Xuanren (the twelfth year of Liao Yingli), March, he went to the capital.
Yelu Jing and the Khitan nobles truly realized the seriousness of the situation. Spring came late in Shangjing, and it seemed bleak and cold even in March.
First, the Zhou army marched north and drove Yelu Xiu'ge's cavalry out of the country. Although some ministers were worried about the Zhou army's counterattack, the general situation was that the Zhou army succeeded in the attack and then fled north.
Then the Zhou army crossed the Juma River, and Yelu Xiu'ge abandoned Zhuozhou and retreated to Youzhou, but there were still signs of pursuit.
But when the Zhou army dispatched as many as 200,000 to 300,000 infantry and cavalry to station in Youzhou, the situation began to escalate and become serious.
Now the Liao army has sent out all its elite troops and launched a nationwide war, but it still cannot resolve the threat from Youzhou; and the Zhou army continues to build cities and station troops, showing no signs of giving up, and has reached a point where it cannot end and step down.
After Yelu Jing summoned Xiao Siwen and other ministers, he was silent for a long time and finally said: This Khan believes that Xiao Siwen is more suitable than Yelu Xiu'ge to guard Youzhou, and he will restore Xiao Siwen's position as the King of the Southern Courtyard today.
Xiao Siwen stood up and said nothing, but just put his hands on his chest and bowed. The Khitan people had a silent etiquette, so Xiao Siwen did not break the rules.
However, Yelu Jing seemed to think that Xiao Siwen was reluctant, and it was indeed a bit unfair to restore Xiao Siwen's official position at this time. Yelu Jing couldn't help but add that Lord Xiao was more experienced in dealing with southerners.
Xiao Siwen immediately said seriously: Since this concerns the rise and fall of the Liao Dynasty, I dare not care about my personal gains and losses.
Yelu Jing's tone was unusually good, perhaps he felt that he had done something unfair to Xiao Siwen. Yelu Jing said: "I am very pleased that Lord Xiao is so loyal and devoted."
Xiao Siwen immediately bowed and said: "I would like to take my family with me to Youzhou and swear to live and die with Youzhou."
Yelu Jing immediately glared at him, and even the ministers and nobles present looked at him sideways. Xiao Siwen spoke calmly, but he was indeed expressing his determination. He took his family to Youzhou, which was more dangerous than keeping them as hostages in Shangjing, because as a Khitan noble, Xiao Siwen could not surrender to the Zhou Kingdom.
Xiao Siwen expressed his attitude and then bowed to the Khan to bid farewell.
When he left the palace, he ran into General Yelu Xizhen who was chasing him. Yelu Xizhen rode his horse and rode beside Xiao Siwen, whispering: The Khan is also anxious. If he really loses Youzhou, he won't be able to explain to the Liao Dynasty. The Khan might want to use Xiao Gong as a scapegoat, and then blame Xiao Gong for the loss of territory.
Xiao Siwen said: Maybe he really meant it. I can't worry about it now, Youzhou must not be lost. The Liao Dynasty is thousands of miles long, but if Youzhou is lost, the country's fate will be reversed.
Yelu Xizhen let out a long sigh.
Xiao Siwen then said goodbye to Yelu Xizhen, and when he got home, he told his family to prepare for the ceremony early. Because he was traveling with his family, there were many things to prepare, and it would take more than one day to prepare.
The next day, Xiao Siwen heard that Yelu Xian had come to his house secretly, and thought that the boy might have come to say goodbye to his daughter. At this time, there were many things to do, so Xiao Siwen didn't pay much attention.
Yelu Xian and Yan Yan were talking politely under a peach tree.
Yelu Xian said: "When Yanyan comes back from Youzhou, I will ask your father to marry you to me. This way we can stay together more often."
Yanyan didn't quite understand this kind of thing, and was quite willing to accept it after hearing this reason. They had been childhood sweethearts and had always gotten along well. Yanyan suddenly thought of something and burst into laughter: "Xian Ge'er is older than me, but I always bully you. If you marry me, aren't you afraid that I will bully you for the rest of your life?"
Yelu Xian shook his head.
Yanyan smiled again and said: But don’t be afraid, brother Xian. Although I bully you, I will always protect you if someone else bullies you.
Yelu Xian nodded vigorously in sudden realization: That's right, Yanyan is very eloquent and said everything I was thinking.
Just then, a middle-aged Khitan woman came over and called out to Yelu Xian: We can't stay in the Xiao Mansion for too long, let's go after this conversation.
Yelu Xian left reluctantly, but after taking two steps he turned back and said: I am willing to be bullied by Yanyan all my life.
Yanyan smiled and said: Brother Xian is so stupid
Yelu Xian said: I'm not stupid, I know who is good to me.
Yelu Xian was already fourteen years old, and a little weak because he was frightened when his parents were killed, and he had been ill ever since. However, his rough upbringing made him more sensible. He had liked the pretty and lively Yanyan since he was a child, and her father was a powerful and influential person in the Liao Dynasty. In Yelu Xian's eyes, she was the best partner.
His father was the Liao emperor, and his mother was the empress. His noble birth made him proud, but his current status forced him to endure it. Although he was young, he had a certain desire and unwillingness in his heart.
A young man left the Xiao Mansion. The Xiao Mansion was in a bit of a mess, and the young man did not attract much attention. The still cold wind blew through the houses of the Xiao Mansion, and everything seemed to be in turmoil.