Fu Jinzhan was afraid of both heat and cold. When she appeared in Zide Hall, she was wrapped tightly in mink fur. The white fur collar set off her scarlet face with white teeth, making her look even more beautiful.
All the concubines and important female officials gathered here, including the virtuous concubine Li Yueji. Eunuch Cao Taidao said: The emperor has ordered that during the expedition to Pingxia, Queen Dafu will lead the military and political affairs of the court.
A group of women cupped their hands under the ribbon, bent their knees softly, and said in unison: Congratulations, Queen.
Li Yueji also followed suit and saluted, opening her mouth to blend into the crowd, but she didn't say anything. She couldn't stop the war, and as a Dangxiang person, she was congratulating the Daxu court, which was really embarrassing. There were a lot of people, but she felt isolated. She really didn't want to stay here at this moment, she wanted to find a place to hide
Fu Jinzhan stood straight at this time, looking down at everyone with dignity, confident and calm, and said slowly: "I am a woman, and I don't want to get involved in government affairs, but your majesty trusts me and entrusts me with important matters, so I can't refuse. I have to do it reluctantly and take charge of the state affairs. This kind of worrying and heavy responsibility, I don't think it is a good thing, there is nothing to congratulate."
There is truth and falsehood in this sentence. Fu Jinzhan did refuse, thinking that she had too much power, but Guo Shao actually said that he had nothing to give her and always felt that he was not good enough for her.
When Fu Jinzhan thought of this, a blush appeared on her beautiful face.
The noble ladies below all said that if the queen ruled the country, the country would be peaceful and the people would be safe.
Fu Jinzhan turned around and looked at her second sister standing next to her, and said in public: While I am in the outer court, all matters in the harem will be decided by Queen Dong.
The second sister said obediently: I will follow the arrangements of my eldest sister.
Guo Shao conferred titles on the two queens, without distinguishing who was higher or lower. However, the second sister had never been keen on power and almost always listened to her elder sister, so there was nothing for the two to fight about. In addition, some people in the palace casually called the first and second queens, and according to the size of their natal families, they were already distinguished in everyone's mind.
The two of them did not fight for power, but that did not mean they did not fight for other things. Last night, Guo Shao went to the Zide Hall to say goodbye, wearing a purple casual dress, and the second sister casually said: "Eldest sister's needlework is getting better and better."
Jinzhan heard it with her ears, but she understood it clearly in her heart.
But my second sister is really not good at handling things, because she has never been allowed to worry about anything. Fu Jinzhan immediately said: Let Zhang and Du be the Shang Gong, stay with my sister, and assist with all matters in the harem.
Zhang and Du knelt down hurriedly and said: Thank you, Queen Dafu, for your trust.
When Fu Jinzhan was stripped of her honorific title and left the palace, the two of them were not very respectful. But after Jinzhan came back, they let bygones be bygones and reconciled as before. In Jinzhan's opinion, they did not take advantage of her misfortune at a special time, which was enough and completely worthy of forgiveness. You can't give up the relationship you had built up before just because of a little unhappiness.
If you insist on asking others to be loyal to you at all times and be sincere to you, then there will be very few people who can be used.
Jinzhan said nothing more and immediately stood up and said: It’s getting late, I’ll go to Jinxiang Palace now.
Cao Tai hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the carriage is waiting outside the palace."
A large group of women surrounded Fu Jinzhan and walked out of Zide Hall. When Jinzhan was helped by a maid into the luxurious carriage, everyone bowed and said loudly: Farewell, Queen Fu.
The wide and straight long street, looking at the palace in the distance through the translucent yellow curtain, the color is yellowish, hazy, and very different. The carriage slowly drove through the center, as if walking on the road to heaven. If she could ride and walk freely here, then there would be no place in the world that she could not go.
Jinzhan sat upright, with a calm smile on her face and gentle movements. Despite her gentle appearance, no one dared to disrespect her. Everyone she met along the way bowed and stood by the road, waiting for her carriage to pass by.
Guo Shao was also in Jinxiang Hall. He met Wei Renpu and Zuo You in the East Hall and told them some things. The minister in charge of the Qianying Military Office this time was Wang Pu, Wei Renpu was the governor of Tokyo, and Zuo You was the teacher of the princes and also stayed in Tokyo.
The warm and elegant study is luxuriously furnished, elegantly furnished and spotlessly clean.
Guo Shao said with some regret: Someone once asked me why I attacked and killed people.
Wei Renpu seemed not to have guessed that it was Concubine Li Xianfei who said this, and immediately said: Your Majesty, you don't have to listen to the words of those corrupt scholars. Since ancient times, no one has been able to consolidate the country without attacking.
Guo Shao said calmly: "I am not a warmongerer, nor do I like war. But after thinking about it, there seems to be no more straightforward way except to use force. If we want to use etiquette to educate the border troubles, and play the game of diplomatic courtesy, the mountains are high and the road is long, and we have to bargain. It will take a long time to make any progress. By that time, I and you will be old."
It is still the simplest to use troops. As long as we win, whatever we say is right.
Wei Renpu echoed, "The Great Xu established the country with military force, and has always done so. Moreover, the barbarians do not understand reason and etiquette, and they only recognize military force. Your Majesty, with a heart of benevolence and righteousness, has to raise troops to attack, but it is a last resort."
Zuo You nodded and said: Yes, those barbarians are no different from beasts. They actually married their stepmother and step-sister-in-law with full legitimacy, and took it as an honor. The imperial court believes that this is the law of nature, and we should teach them ethics and etiquette so that the barbarians can submit to the king.
When Guo Shao heard his sister-in-law, he looked at Zuo You and said seriously: Our ancestors shed so much blood to occupy Hexi. Let's not talk about expanding the territory, but first take back the lost places. Taking back Xiazhou and Dangxiang is of great importance. It will not only remove the obstacles to recovering the Hexi Corridor, but also cut off a huge border hidden danger.
After hearing this, Wei Renpu and Zuo You hurriedly bowed and said: "Your Majesty is wise and powerful.
Guo Shao had long lost interest in such compliments. He sat on the chair, his complexion gradually recovered, and he seemed to be thinking about something. After a long time, he exhaled and said: There are too few rules in this world. In the final analysis, it is bigger than a fist. Devoting oneself to armaments is the right direction, and it will reap huge rewards. Check the almanac and choose an auspicious day to start the apprenticeship.
Outside the tall palace of Xiazhou, there were low houses. The cold of winter had withered all the vegetation, and the whole city was desolate, but there were many people, and the earth walls were very lively. Tribal leaders from far and near had all arrived with their men and horses.
The elite infantry and cavalry of the Liao army were on the way; in addition, the Dangxiang tribe in the west, which had formed an alliance with the Li family through marriage, was also rushing with troops. They had to pass through the Lingzhou Yinchuan Plain and other territories controlled by the Han army, but these border troops were small in number and mainly operated near military towns. They were good at defense, but could not stop large numbers of troops from passing through.
The front of the palace was crowded with people, most of them were Tanguts wearing felt hats, and some were wearing animal skin hats. People were looking at the man with white hair and beard on the earthen wall.
The man standing above was none other than Li Yiyin, the leader of the Tangut tribes. He was wearing armor, with an iron sword hanging from his waist and a string of Buddhist beads hanging from his neck. Li Yiyin shouted: "The treachery and filthiness of the Han people is witnessed by the whole world. The oath of blood oath yesterday is still echoing between the grasslands and the mountains. In order to save the tribes from being slaughtered, I will not hesitate to marry the pure and innocent Princess Yueji to the Guo family."
The crowd was in an uproar, filled with indignation.
Seeing this, Li Yiyin said again: But, only one year later, Haner broke his promise, regarded the blood oath as fart, fabricated charges and launched an attack. They are narrow-minded and suspicious of all tribes. They only want to rob all our cattle and sheep, kill all our people, and occupy all our land.
People were shouting and shouting, and they were furious. It was easy for ordinary people to believe the words of the nobles, not to mention that Li Yiyin was the leader of all the tribes. We are not slaves, we must resist to the end. Dabai Master cannot let the Han people bully us.
Li Yiyin accepted the baptism of expectant eyes and said excitedly: The Han people's perverse behavior has aroused the anger of the gods. The Tanguts, Khitans, Xis, Uighurs, and Tubos are all angry at such behavior. We will put aside our past grudges, form an alliance, and teach the Han army a lesson together.
The Uighurs below shouted in their own language: The Uighurs are not in alliance with you.
The Tibetans said: Those evil followers are all sinners in front of the Buddha. He then quietly chanted: Buddha saves all living beings and drives away evil thoughts.
But few people can understand it.
The Uighurs and Tibetans did not want to get involved in this war, mainly because they were afraid of the power of the Central Plains and were unwilling to openly declare themselves enemies. The influence of the Han and Tang dynasties in the northwest for many years had not completely disappeared in the border areas, and they all knew that the Central Plains had a large population and strong forces.
However, the Uighurs and Tibetans hoped to see the victory of the Dangxiang. The Dangxiang were one of the most powerful forces in the northwest. If even they were defeated, the Uighurs who occupied Ganzhou and Suzhou in Hexi would feel very dangerous. The Tibetans occupied Liangzhou in Xiliang Prefecture and also felt that the Daxu court would interfere in Hexi because that place was originally snatched by the Han people from the Xiongnu.
As soon as the Daxu Army arrives in the northwest, it will cause panic among too many forces.
The various tribes had sworn not to take advantage of others' misfortunes, and they also sent some iron tools, cattle, sheep, and food. They hoped that the Tangut-Khitan coalition would be able to defeat the Xu people.
Li Yiyin looked at the houses and countless people, smoke was curling in the distance, and the sound of iron hammering could be faintly heard. The Dangxiang people lived and worked here. He wanted to see the Dangxiang people grow up here, expand in all directions, and get more fertile land.
He didn't dare to move before, and felt that he was getting old. But now, Li Yiyin was not only worried, but he was not so scared after the breakup. He was full of expectations and excited.
He said in a not-so-loud voice: "Master Dabai wants a victory to gain recognition from all ethnic groups. As long as we defeat the Xu people, we will be like wild horses running free, or like soaring eagles, and no one can restrain us anymore."
However, the trusted clan leader Fei Ting who was standing beside him seemed to be the most afraid. His words poured a bucket of cold water on Li Yiyin's head: "It is said that the Han people rely on numbers to fight. It took 500,000 troops to conquer Youzhou. If 500,000 people come this time, we are still far behind the Liao reinforcements combined."