In the dilapidated courtyard, a farmer in his thirties sat with his head down, looking at the dark sky. In the countless nights when he slept alone before, he had thought about the taste of this thing countless times, but when he really tasted it, it was a little different. Anyway, he was very excited, and his blood was boiling, but he didn't know why he was excited, and he didn't remember the process before it ended.
Meizi got up with a smile and boiled water for him to bathe. Zhang Da was soaking in the bucket, and through the crack of the door he saw her making rice balls. Only then did he remember that he was really hungry.
After Miko heated up the rice balls, she walked to the table, knelt down and placed the wooden plate on the table.
Zhang Da had never been served like this before and he was very happy. Unfortunately, he was tongue-tied and didn't know what to say. He just grabbed the rice ball and gobbled it up. He couldn't taste anything, it seemed that the seasoning was a bit sour and salty.
At this time, Meizi said: Dalang, is Meizi's hospitality considerate
Zhang Da nodded vigorously and hurriedly.
Meizi then said cautiously: Take me back to Tokyo, and I will serve you like this every day.
Zhang Da stretched his neck and swallowed a big mouthful of rice, saying: I'll go back and ask if I can bring someone with me.
You agreed, Miko said happily.
Zhang Da said with a frown: I have to ask first if it is accurate.
Meizi said: "Don't forget me, Dalang. I will wait for you. If you agree, Dalang will come to pick me up."
Zhang Da returned to the earthen fortress barracks after dark, with Meizi reluctantly seeing him off. He hurried to find Yu Liang's soldiers like he was looking for the ten generals, after all, it was not convenient to talk in front of the captain and the commander.
Zhang Damu was illiterate and spoke simply, saying what he meant in just a few words.
Yu Liang glared and said: What are you going to do with her when you take her back
Zhang Da nodded.
Yu Liang scolded: "You are such a loser! A woman like Na Meizi and a prostitute is now married. Why don't you marry such a woman as your principal wife?"
Zhang Da said: I am just a poor man in Daxu, and I am old. It is enough for me to marry a woman.
Yu Liang shook his head and said: You were a poor man before, but now you are a soldier in the Daxu Guard. Besides, the reward you will receive when you return to the court will not be small.
Zhang Da immediately asked: How much reward can I get
Yu Liang thought for a while and said: According to the rewards for the Imperial Army's previous wars to destroy countries, for people like us who have made meritorious services in key places, the reward for ordinary soldiers will be at least not less than a hundred strings of cash.
Bai Guan's eyes widened.
Yu Liang laughed and said: I am underestimating, I am afraid I might exaggerate. If there is not that much, you can ask me to make up for it.
Seeing that Zhang Da was still in a daze, he said calmly: I'm afraid you also know the market situation. It's just a penny to buy a virgin.
Zhang Dadao: I don’t dislike Meiko.
Yu Liang advised again: "As a brother, I have to tell you the truth. That Japanese girl is not attracted to you, she just admires the Great Xu Kingdom and wants to use your help to go to the Great Xu territory. She used to be a concubine of Gao Qi, a lower official. She is not a quiet person and certainly can't weave cloth to manage the household."
Zhang Da immediately began to hesitate, probably because of what Yu Liang said about not being able to manage the household, and blurted out: "Besides giving birth to children, what else is there?"
Yu Liang also said: I want to ask you about this. Besides, the journey back home is long, and there are military laws in the army. The superiors allow you, a soldier, to bring a woman with you privately.
The two looked at each other and remained silent.
Dongdao commanded Zhang Jiankui's troops to stay in Dasen for another two months. Only when the main force of Han Tong's navy was about to return home did they allow them to be replaced and transported back to Daxu by ship for rest and recuperation.
Two months was a long time, and Yu Liang and the others never mentioned the Japanese girl again.
It was winter when Commander Higashima boarded the ship, and heavy snow was falling. In a small courtyard in Omori Castle, Meiko held her hands in front of her mouth, looking at the snow on the street and blowing a puff of white steam into her palms.
She guessed that the sergeant would not come again, but the days of waiting had become a habit, and she would come to check on that road every day. The weather was very cold, and there was almost no one on the street, only the flying snowflakes, which only added to her sadness.
Han Tong's troops returned to Tokyo at the end of the first month of the third year of Shixing in the following year after traveling by land and sea.
When the troops reached Anyuan Gate, a drum suddenly sounded, and the bells and drums on the city wall of Daxu rang together, followed by a grand battle music. The soldiers were quite surprised, and then they saw a group of civil and military officials, led by the Privy Councilor Wang Pu, coming out of the city to welcome them with a grand ceremony.
A civil servant stepped forward and read the imperial edict aloud, praising Han Tong and his generals as great heroes who defeated the bandits hostile to the emperor. They established the capital on the East Island for the emperor, promoted the country's prestige overseas, spread the kingly way to foreign countries, and established the righteousness of the monarch and his subjects, and the rules of the universe, which benefited the country and the people.
In front of hundreds of civil and military officials and countless common people, great honor was bestowed on Han Tong. His face turned red, and even several dukes showed extremely envious looks.
The snow in the first month of the lunar year had not yet melted, and the weather was still cold, but from Wangchun Gate to Maxing Street, there were crowds of people, who came out to watch the triumphant soldiers and the grand ceremony regardless of the cold. Officials shouted loudly along the way about the great victory in Dongdao, and Tokyo was bustling with activity.
When they reached the Xuande Gate, someone suddenly shouted: "The government is on the city wall!"
For a time, the military and civilians were in an uproar. The country's successive prosperity and increasing peace and prosperity made the prestige of Emperor Guo Shao of Daxu unprecedented, as can be seen from the enthusiastic shouts of "Long live the emperor" on the Imperial Street.
Guo Shao, standing on the city wall, was wearing a fur coat, an old coat bought by the eunuchs when he was in Youzhou. It was mainly made of cheap sheepskin, but Guo Shao obviously no longer needed expensive decorations. It was difficult to find anything valuable on his body when he was wearing casual clothes.
At this time, the eunuch said loudly: "The emperor said that I look forward to Dongdao's command and the soldiers returning to the court day and night. I have such a loyal and brave man. The country is lucky and the people are lucky."
In front of countless government troops and civilians, Guo Shao personally mentioned the command of Dongdao, which implicitly gave this group the highest honor.
Guo Shao showed up, and the eunuch shouted again: "Imperial decree, summon Han Tong, Duke of Jingguo, to the audience!"
When Guo Shaoyi left the parapet, the eunuch hurriedly held a yellow umbrella to cover his head, even though it was not snowing. He clenched his right fist, pressed it to his mouth, and coughed softly. The eunuch Wang Zhong hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, please go to the tower quickly. It is windy outside. Don't catch a cold."
I have seen all kinds of storms, I am not so weak. Guo Shao said with a smile.
Wang Zhongdao: I have to ask someone from the Imperial Medical Bureau to take a look at it for the emperor.
Guo Shao said calmly: Let Madam Lu come and take a look.
At this time, Han Tong had entered Xuande Gate. He took the initiative to unsheathe his sword at the foot of the tower and walked up the stone steps with his head held high. On the tower were Wei Renpu and other civil and military officials. Everyone's eyes were on Han Tong. Wei Renpu shouted: The hero of Daxu is back!
The civil servants also bowed in admiration.
Han Tong was so pleased to hear this that his movements were powerful and stiff, and he could not hide his excitement at all. He went up to the tower and bowed and shouted: "I, Han Tong, have been ordered to march east. Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission. Long live the emperor."
Stand up. Guo Shaodao,
Han Tong got up from the ground, took out a piece of white metal from his arms impatiently, and held it above his head with both hands: "I have this to present to Your Majesty."
The officials looked sideways and guessed at once that it was silver.
This is the key point. Han Tong received such an honor when he returned from Dongdao. It was not only because of the national prestige and face of conquering Dongdao, but the most important thing was the silver. The important officials present had a direct share of this silver. The long-term generous salary of the generals also had a lot to do with it.
Wang Zhong quickly picked up the heavy piece of metal and handed it to Guo Shao. Guo Shao also took it in his hands and tried it with interest, and looked at it carefully for a moment: it has been refined to purity.
Han Tongdao: Your Majesty, we can build a temporary furnace in Iwami Castle to purify it. It is very easy for a great craftsman to smelt silver. The most common inferior substance mixed in silver is lead, which can be refined by the soot blowing method.
Very good, very good. Guo Shao responded. But he was thinking, if the silver ore is dug out from the mountain, it will be refined in the distant East Island, and then transported in a roundabout way. How much will it lose
The idea of establishing some rules and supervision had a shadow in Guo Shao's mind. He even felt that there was an opportunity to make another layout for the internal supervision of the intelligence organization.
In later times, the reputation of the factory guards was very bad, but after Guo Shao had been emperor for several years, he felt more and more that internal supervision was beneficial to the consolidation of rule; it was just that it was difficult to supervise his own people at the moment, and neither the civil nor the military would be happy. This was different from the Privy Council Military Department, which was also a spy organization, but it was only open to the outside and was controlled by the bureaucrats, so no one opposed it.
Now, it seems that there is an opportunity to quietly change the functions of the Imperial City Department. The starting point is the silver transportation link and the operation of the bank. These interests are related to many ministers. If Guo Shao sets up a spy to supervise at this time, I think there will be less resistance.
Guo Shao immediately said calmly: "Pass the order to prohibit the smelting of gold and silver in Dongdao in the future. This is not good for the court."
Han Tong felt a little nervous after hearing this, but his excitement for taking credit suddenly calmed down a lot.
Guo Shao said in a friendly way: The decree is for the future. Before the silver is minted into coins, it must be carefully controlled and cannot flow out at will. Dongdao Mine is only responsible for mining ore and then transporting it to Haizhou. Other government offices are responsible for refining, and the storage and minting of coins must be handled by officials in accordance with laws and regulations.
Han Tong hurriedly said: Your Majesty is wise.
Guo Shao added: "Duke Jingguo has been tired from the journey, so go home and rest first. The palace will choose a good day and hold a three-day banquet to celebrate Duke Jingguo's success."
After hearing this, Han Tong gradually became happy again and bowed and said: "I thank Your Majesty for your grace."
Duke Jingguo fought for the country and won a great victory. I am very pleased. Guo Shao smiled.
Han Tong politely said goodbye after hearing this. Guo Shao also walked down the tower and returned to the palace. The soldiers outside the imperial city had their own affairs arranged by the Privy Council, so he didn't need to ask about it.
The roofs of the magnificent buildings in the palace were still covered with white snow, which reminded people of the silver Han Tong had presented. The snow had not melted, but the cold wind was already filled with the warmth of spring.