In early April, Tokyo received two memorials in succession, one from Lingzhou and the other from Pingxia Province, stating that a batch of war horses sent from Hexi had been looted. The perpetrators were the Dangxiang Yeci clan.
In the Council Hall, Wang Pu bowed and said: After the Battle of Pingxia, the Tangut tribes no longer dared to openly rob the imperial court's war horses. Now they are so blatant, their rebellious intentions are obvious.
All the ministers seconded the motion.
Ye Ci did this more than once. Guo Shao spoke, and everyone gradually stopped talking. The hall was a little quieter. Guo Shao spoke as he did in the past, speaking quickly and clearly. He had killed our imperial envoys before. In order to stabilize the situation in the northwest border, I had no choice but to compromise and only symbolically sentenced him to death. Now it seems that peace can only be built with enough blood.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Yanchao could not wait to stand up and clasp his fists and said: "I will be the vanguard of the Western Expedition. If I fail Your Majesty, I will bring my head to you."
After hearing this, Guo Shao did not look at Shi Yanchao, but glanced at Li Chuyun. Because he knew very well that if he wanted to use Shi Yanchao, he could only let Li Chuyun take action, just like if he wanted to use Lin Renzhao of the former Southern Tang Kingdom, he could only let Liu Renzhan take action, otherwise there would be disputes.
But he was not in a hurry, he raised his robe sleeve and waved to signal Shi Yanchao. Shi Yanchao stamped his feet, showing his dissatisfaction in public, but still sat down as ordered.
At this time, the Deputy Privy Councilor Wei Renpu stood up, and two eunuchs lifted the map hanging on the wooden frame to the top. After Wei Renpu finished the ceremony, he turned to face more than 20 civil and military officials and said: The situation is before you, and the national policy of expanding the border cannot be stopped. Now it seems that it is easier to advance than to retreat.
Everyone looked sideways. Guo Shao also leaned forward and moved a little to look at Wei Renpu below.
Wei Renpu pointed at the map and said that dealing with the chaos in the northwest was related to the overall situation of the court. According to the national policy approved by the emperor, there were three directions for advancement in recent years, with the northwest being the first.
The imperial court's military strength was first focused on the northwest; at the same time, fortresses were built in the Liaoxi Corridor; in the south, the Arab merchant ships were about to return, and under the pretext of being escorted by the Jiaolong Army, the warships and the Arab merchant ships gradually explored the sea route to Malacca.
Wei Renpu reviewed the left and right roads and found that the northwest was vast, sparsely populated, and had bad weather. The various tribes and forces were intertwined, making it very difficult to deal with. The court was preparing to form two corps to resolve the issue. The main Hexi Army was composed of the Imperial Guards and formed an army of 50,000 infantry and cavalry. The other was to be established by Pingxia Province with Lingzhou as its base, and the Pingxia Army would be established to assist the main central corps in combat.
The strategy was to break up the hostile alliances in the northwest and control the Hexi Corridor. First, control the Yellow River from Lanzhou to Lingzhou and drive the hostile tribes out of the east of the Yellow River. Second, occupy Wuwei City in Liangzhou and open the gate to Hexi. Third, join forces with the Guasha Guiyi Army to control the entire Hexi Corridor.
I have been to Ludoson Road in the northwest. I am afraid that this matter cannot be accomplished overnight. The imperial army must use the military force while being able to move in all directions to achieve success. Although the various tribes united to resist the westward expansion of Daxu's power, they could not trust each other.
After a long discussion in the Council Hall, Guo Shao turned around and saw that the sun had risen. He said, "We will discuss the specific strategy later. You can all submit your strategies for consideration."
After saying this, Guo Shao stood up from his seat. Seeing this, all the ministers stood up and bowed, saying: "Farewell, Your Majesty."
Guo Shao waved his sleeves vigorously and ended the matter.
He was reading memorials in the study, and left the front hall at noon. When he arrived at the back hall with its winding corridors and complicated weeds, the eunuch Cao Tai stepped forward and bowed, saying: "I met Fengguogong Gao Huaide outside Jinxiang Hall."
Oh Guo Shao turned around.
Cao Tai stepped forward and whispered: According to the Duke of Fengguo, there is a guest next to the founding Duke Li Chuyun, who is the old tenant of the traitor Li Yun.
I know about this matter. What’s his name? Guo Shaodao.
Zhongli. Cao Taidao, it is said that he was once Li Yun's confidant. After Li Yun's death, he was imprisoned. After being interrogated, it was found that he had dissuaded Li Yun from rebellion. As he was old, he was released.
Guo Shao said: Li Yun is dead, this is nothing special. If Zhong Li still had other intentions, he should have died in prison.
Yes, yes.
Guo Shao ignored him and walked north along Langwu, thinking along the way that Gao Huaide seemed to be unable to sit still. Gao Huaide had no grudge against Li Chuyun, and he was looking for reasons to attack Li Chuyun just because he wanted to be the commander-in-chief of the Hexi Army.
By the way, Gao Huaide also has a nephew named Dong Zunhui, who is also admired by Guo Shao. Dong Zunhui does not have enough prestige and status in the army, but his uncle Gao Huaide has been a general for many years.
Guo Shao quickly put the matter out of his mind because he had other things to do.
After exiting the north gate of Jinxiang Palace, the imperial carriage was ready, so Guo Shao rode on it to Xuanyou Gate. He entered the harem and went straight to Zhou Xian's palace.
A group of people are already welcoming you at the palace gate. I, your concubine, welcome your majesty. May your majesty live a long and healthy life.
In addition to Zhou Xian and her attendants, there was another woman who was not from the palace, Chen Jiali. Guo Shao lowered his head and looked at her. She lowered her eyebrows and eyes and knelt to perform the ceremony, but her neck and shoulders were very straight. Her temperament was humble and noble. Chen Jiali was not a court lady, not even a royal lady, but her temperament was not inferior to that of a real lady.
Somehow, seeing her slightly pretentious dignity, Guo Shao inadvertently developed an urge to tear off her dignified, tightly covered stand-up collar dress to see the scenery underneath. This woman had the ability to do that. Obviously, her clothes were tightly covered and not revealing anything, but the tailoring made her curves look very curvy and aroused people's imagination.
Chen Jiali is not as pretty as Zhou Xian, but the difference between her and Zhou Xian is that Guo Shao has never tasted her. Guo Shao has to admit that men have bad natures. Any woman he has not gotten will feel curious and want to see the new scenery under the skirt and touch the fresh skin that has never been touched. No wonder people often criticize that they like the new and dislike the old.
However, Guo Shao did not feel ashamed at this time. Instead, he was pleased with his desires. After all, the concubines in the palace were too easy to satisfy, and it was not easy to have strong expectations. If people had no desires, I am afraid that life would be really boring.
Stand up. Guo Shao said calmly.
Thank you, Your Majesty. Chen Jiali and Zhou Xian stood up together. This woman is good at singing and dancing, and her waist is flexible. She doesn't look like she has ever given birth to a son. This is why Guo Shao didn't directly summon her into the palace.
When the group sat down in Zhou Xian's hall, Chen Jiali took out a stack of books from the maid and handed them to him, saying with a smile, "Your Majesty is very strict. I heard that not only are the people in each bank appointed by the government, but there are also secret undercover agents."
The bank is a very important institution, I dare not give up power easily. Guo Shao said with a smile.
Chen Jiali said: Your Majesty, do you still not trust me
Guo Shao did not answer immediately. He flipped through it casually, raised his head and smiled, "Of course I believe Mrs. Shen. But some things are not about belief or disbelief. Everything will be different if your position and situation are different."
Chen Jiali smiled and seemed to be thinking about something.
After a long time, Guo Shao threw the booklet aside.
Chen Jiali said: There are rumors that Xiazhou Dangxiang leader Li Yiyin fled to Longyou, and Your Majesty is going to send troops to the west again, but is it true
Guo Shaodao: The rumors are true. Li Yiyin not only persuaded the tribes to rebel against me, but I just received news today that the Dangxiang people openly looted war horses and blocked trade routes.
Chen Jiali said kindly: Your Majesty is a martial arts master and will definitely defeat Li Yiyin again.
Guo Shao did not comment, and said casually: When I came here just now, I was in a car, sitting alone in it, and when I was bored, some trivial memories often came to my mind. Has Mrs. Shen ever had such a time
Zhou Xian was making tea himself, and Guo Shao resumed his casual chat tone. Chen Jiali also relaxed, tilted her head slightly, looked at Guo Shao and said softly: Often.
Guo Shao pondered and said: "Guess what I'm thinking of. It was a little thing when I was young. I was bored at that time, so I often did one thing, which was to find a dead spider or a dead cricket and let the ants find it. The ants wandering outside were like scouts. After finding food, they would return to the anthill to report. Soon, groups of ants came out of the anthill to carry the food. At this time, I would use fire to burn the ants, burn all the ants outside, and then pour water into the cave."
As Chen Jiali listened, her face changed and she looked at Guo Shao speechless.
Guo Shao paused and said calmly: I have done this countless times, it is a pastime I often do. My family was not rich when I was young, but I didn't feel anything as I was loved by my parents and sister, so I never encountered any bad things. I found it very interesting when I was burning ants.
His Majesty
Guo Shao looked at her face and asked: Madam Shen, do you think I was a bad person before and a cruel ruler now
Chen Jiali shook her head quickly.
Guo Shaodao: That's because I understand right and wrong after I grow up, and I understand that I have to bear the consequences of everything I do. But I think that people are not inherently good at the beginning.
At this time, Zhou Xian came over with a teapot and looked at the two people sitting next to the coffee table with a smile. What was His Majesty saying to his cousin
Guo Shao smiled and said: We are talking about ants, mole ants.
Chen Jiali also forced a smile and said: Your Majesty is busy with state affairs and it is rare for you to have the leisure time to do this.
She was already a little frightened, and spoke much more slowly in front of Guo Shao, as if she was considering her words.
Guo Shao felt that the atmosphere suddenly became a little dull. He didn't know how he started talking about that little thing, but he really recalled that little thing in the car just now. It might be the chaos in the northwest that made him feel a little more angry.
Zhou Xian sat down, her white fingers lifted the teapot, and filled the two small cups on the plate. Her posture and movements naturally had a gentle atmosphere, and the clear tea seemed to make the beauty more beautiful. Zhou Xian first held the teacup in front of Guo Shao with both hands, and then handed a cup to Chen Jiali.
Chen Jiali said politely: Thank you for your hospitality, sister.
Zhou Xian chuckled and said: My cousin is being polite.
Chen Jiali took a sip, leaving a light red lipstick mark on the white porcelain cup with golden patterns.