Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

When Cao Bin met Zhang Shi, he couldn't see clearly through a curtain, and Zhang Shi's voice was a little choked up amidst the questioning and answering.

At first, Cao Bin thought it was the joy and emotion of the reunion of relatives after a long absence. But after thinking about it, although Concubine Zhang Taigui is his mother's biological sister, she has rarely seen each other before, so it can't be said that she has a deep family relationship; she doesn't have the love and care of her elders, because Zhang's age is younger than Cao Bin!

Then her sadness may stem from the sentimentality of court life. In the deep palace, even if it is rich in clothes and fine food, how can it be so easy and happy?

Cao Bin felt sympathetic, but it didn't help. So he saved time to think about his own affairs, and persuaded: "The previous dynasty is gone, today's emperor has been kind to our family, the queen treats my aunt well, and my aunt must not disappoint the queen's kindness."

When meeting in Jinxiang Hall, there are eyes and ears everywhere, and Cao Bin doubts that there is any secrecy in the meeting and conversation. So what he said was rather cryptic, I hope Mrs. Zhang can understand...Since Mrs. Zhang can now have a place in the royal family and see the emperor and empress, then don't think about the affairs of the previous dynasty, just look at the present and seize the opportunity now.

Cao Bin hopes that Mrs. Zhang can find an opportunity to say something nice for her nephew, especially on the matter of the candidate for the Duke. This is a relationship of mutual support. If Cao Bin has status in the outer court, Zhang will also have more weight in the palace; on the contrary, Zhang's friendship with Fuhou in the palace will also promote the relationship between Cao Bin and the royal family.

At this time, Mrs. Zhang's voice was no longer choked up, and her tone became very calm: "I am a person who knows how to repay you. I heard that my nephew is going to go to the south, so you have to do your best to serve the government. I have nothing to do. My sister's son is just like my son. I hope you will make new achievements and shine on the family. I can also be proud of my nephew in the palace."

When Cao Bin heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Mrs. Zhang would understand just by waking up.

He also filially persuaded his aunt to take a rest, and the two exhorted each other, and Cao Bin resigned.

After going out of Daqing Gate, Cao Bin met Wang Pu, the Privy Councilor at an intersection, and hurried up to greet him politely. Wang Pu bowed casually, and said, "All the qualified generals in the imperial army have been made dukes of the state. Now the position of the duke protector is none other than General Cao. As long as he returns to Beijing from Jiaozhi, everything will come naturally."

Cao Bin didn't expect Wang Pu to be so straightforward, so he was a little caught off guard, and hurriedly said modestly: "General Xiang, commander of the Zhen'an Army, has both loyalty and bravery, and his qualifications are older than me."

Wang Pu sneered and said, "Wang Pu has a good relationship with Xiang Gong, but he wants to help Xiang Gong; General Cao also seems to have made his mark because of Xiang Gong's recommendation. You seem to be grateful for saying that..."

Cao Bin said: "During the battle of Shu, I followed Xiang Jieshuai to attack the North Road. During the battle of breaking the sword gate, I had to appreciate Xiang Jieshuai, so I recommended it in front of the officials."

Wang Pu said indifferently: "However, both the government and the court have always valued real military achievements and achievements. Xiang Gong really doesn't have many great achievements to show. If the government only relies on old friendship, it will be difficult to convince the public."

After hearing this, Cao Bin said: "General Yang, the commander of the Hedong Army, is brave and resourceful. He has guarded the frontiers for the country for many years. Not long ago, he lured the Liao army into Yanmen. He won a complete victory, which greatly weakened the national strength of the Liao Kingdom and made great achievements."

Wang Pu said without embellishment: "Yang Ye is just a general, he is the first to be responsible for the siege of Yanmen, but the credit can't be credited to him alone. Moreover, Yang Ye's military achievements are slightly inferior to Cao Shuai's great achievements in presiding over the guards and destroying the Southern Han Dynasty and Jiaozhi."

In addition to Yang Ye, Dong Zunhui also made great achievements in the Siege of Yanmen; Dong Zunhui also made great achievements in the Northern Expedition to Youyun. But Cao Bin didn't mention Dong Zunhui after thinking about it. After all, he was too young, and his uncle Gao Huaide was the Duke of the State. If he became the Duke of the State again, it seemed too powerful.

Cao Bin immediately changed his words: "Thank you Wang Shijun for your kind words."

Wang Pu waved his hand and said, "I'm just telling the truth. General Cao is sure to win, as long as he handles the intercourse properly."

After he finished speaking, he continued: "The old man has to go back to the yamen to take up duty, General Cao, there will be a period later."

"Farewell." Cao Bin bowed.

...At Zhang Jiankui's house in Tokyo, Yu Liang came to the door and said, "Congratulations!"

Zhang Jiankui stroked the black beard on his chin, wondering: "What's the matter with Vice Commander Yu He Xi?"

Yu Liang eagerly and mysteriously dragged Zhang Jiankui to the wall, and said in a low voice, "Commander Zhang Du is the one appointed by Cao Gong (Cao Bin), and it is very obvious that he appreciates it very much. Cao Gong will be named Duke this time, how can he treat General Zhang badly?"

Zhang Jiankui smiled and said: "You are only a deputy commander, and you even know who the court wants to make a Duke?"

Yu Liangdao: "The position of Lord Protector, besides Duke Cao, who else can there be?"

Zhang Jiankui pondered for a moment, then said, "Let's go inside and have a drink."

Yu Liang hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "General Zhang invites you, but it's better to be respectful than obey orders."

The two entered the hall, made a few stacks of vegetables, and talked while drinking. After drinking a glass of wine, Yu Liang bowed his head and said, "I heard from my brother who served in the Guangnan Guards that Jiaozhou Nanman is just a bunch of uncivilized savages. In the past, the Han army traveled by land, with high mountains and deep forests, which was not easy; but this time Mr. Cao attacked from the sea, and the red river basin in the rich land of Jiaozhou is flat. How can the Jiaozhou soldiers resist the big Xu army?"

Zhang Jiankui nodded and said, "That makes sense. Among our group of generals, Deputy Commander Yu is considered a man of insight, and it's not useless to have a lot of ink in his stomach."

Yu Liang smiled and said, "It's too much of a reward. From the point of view of the general, this time Duke Cao was sent by Jiaozhou to collect military merits, and he will be more convinced when he is made the Duke of the State."

After finishing speaking, Yu Liang picked up the jug and poured wine for Zhang Jiankui with a flattering expression: "General Zhang is going south this time, can you take the last general with you?"

Zhang Jiankui said: "I am a general of the Imperial Army, and General Yu belongs to the Guard Army. I am afraid it will not be easy to handle this time."

Yu Liang said anxiously: "Mr. Cao has a lot of respect for General Zhang. He just wants General Zhang to go and build the fort. Anyway, if he is guarding the fort, the guards are still useful." He thought for a while and said, "Now that General Zhang is in this position, there is no one around him to check for omissions and make up for vacancies. It is impossible to remind and advise."

Hearing this, Zhang Jiankui said, "I will try my best to arrange it."

Yu Liang talked very harmoniously at Zhang Jiankui's house, and he didn't leave until the next evening.

He left Zhang's house, and when he was leading the road past Hongying's mansion, he suddenly heard someone speaking with an accent from the east of the river beside the carriage. Immediately, I couldn't help but take a closer look at the carriage. Although the color was not too bright, the wood was of the highest quality. Yu Liang almost concluded that Yang Ye had entered Beijing and lived in Hongying's mansion!

Although Yu Liang and Hongying have not had much contact with each other, but there was a relationship once, seeing this scene, I also have mixed feelings in my heart.

He had no choice but to leave here silently.

...

Night is falling and the day is coming to an end. But for some court ladies, that's just the beginning.

In the Long Live Hall, Guo Shao sat on a huanghuali wooden table, feeling very complicated. There were nearly a hundred women standing in front of him, all of them wearing see-through clothes, waiting for the emperor's blessing with complicated expressions.

A while ago, two officials came up one after another, talking about the harem in the name of worrying about the country and society, thinking that the emperor should not be partial to favors, and the royal family should have more princes to stabilize the country. He also suggested that the court follow the system of the Tang Dynasty and increase the number of concubines.

Guo Shao did have only two princes, and he came from a small family with almost no clan; in the face of the risk of the country, the emperor's personal feelings and preferences are obviously irrelevant. The two queens couldn't refute such a memorial, so they had to ask the emperor to choose "eighty-one imperial wives". So there is the situation in front of us.

Guo Shao is now going to temporarily pick out nine of these people to serve him tonight, and these nine people will be sealed among the "Eighty-One Royal Wives".

He was a little dazzled. From the Five Dynasties to the Daxu Dynasty, folk customs and service gradually tended to be more reserved than in the Tang Dynasty. The folks seldom had such dresses, but the court was completely different from the folks. Especially in the current occasion, the palace people tried to show themselves as much as possible to be more seductive. Most of them wear open-collar linings, and no one wears stand-up and cross-collar clothes. The outer dresses are mostly made of silk yarn.

Guo Shao saw that the women in the front row were blushing, dressed in such an embarrassing appearance in public, but peeking at Guo Shao from time to time, their eyebrows were full of anticipation.

According to what was said before, Guo Shao can only choose nine people tonight. Seeing them all looking forward to it, Guo Shao felt a little embarrassed. He habitually didn't want to see others disappointed.

Guo Shao just sat here, just like the girls, a little embarrassed. But he quickly calmed down, how could the emperor act as if he had never seen the world in front of people?

He stood up, and as soon as he walked down, a woman in front of him immediately knelt down and shouted: "Your Majesty..."

Soon everyone followed suit and took advantage of the situation to salute, hoping to get Guo Shao's attention. When everyone was squatting, there was only one woman standing upright, looking at Guo Shao with a blushing face... If you want to stand out, you must be different. This person found a new way on the spot and did the opposite.

Those who know how to fight for at least have an independent personality, are not boring playthings, and are quite smart and well-behaved.

Guo Shao pointed at the two people: "You all come here."

The two blushed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

For a while, some people quietly looked sideways, casting contemptuous and disgusting glances at them. They all held their breath, waiting for the remaining opportunity.

However, Guo Shao took a few steps and had roughly looked at everyone. Most of them have not reacted yet, Guo Shao pointed at some people without stopping. Soon there were nine of them.

At this time, the eunuch Wang Zhong came in and said, "Everyone else, follow the miscellaneous family."

With loss and regret, the women went out silently with their heads bowed.

Guo Shao returned to Yuta, took a deep breath secretly, and calmly said: "You all come here."

"Here..." The nine women responded and walked over cautiously. Some of them blushed like a pig's liver, and some were so nervous and ashamed that they couldn't even walk steadily. These women are all innocent girls, and most of them can't calm down when they come to the real world.