When Cao Bin met with Zhang, he couldn't see clearly through a curtain, and Zhang's voice was a little choked up in the warm questions of the questions and answers.

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 was his mother's own sister, she had rarely met before, so she really couldn't talk about deep family affection; She has no loving care from her elders, because the Zhang family is younger than Cao Bin!

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

Cao Bin sympathized with him, but it didn't help. So he saved time to think about his own affairs, and persuaded: "The previous dynasty has gone, when today's son has a great favor to our family, the queen treats her aunt well, and the aunt must not live up to the queen's kindness." ”

When they met in the Jin Xiang Palace, there were eyes and ears everywhere, and Cao Bin was very suspicious that there was any secrecy in the meeting and conversation. So his words are also relatively vague, and I hope Zhang can understand...... Since the Zhang family can now have a place in the royal family and see the emperor and empress, then don't think about the previous dynasty, look more at the present, and seize the opportunity now.

Cao Bin hopes that Zhang can find an opportunity to say a few good words for his nephew, especially in the matter of the election of the national public. This is a relationship of mutual assistance, if Cao Bin has a status in the outer court, the Zhang family will also have more weight in the palace; On the contrary, Zhang's friendship with Empress Fu in the palace will also promote the relationship between Cao Bin and the royal family.

At this time, Zhang's voice was no longer choked, and his tone became very calm: "I am a person who knows how to repay kindness." I heard that the virtuous nephew is going to go to the south, and you must also do your best for the official family. I have nothing to say, my sister's son, just like my son. I hope you will make new achievements, glorify the lintel, and I can be proud of my virtuous nephew in the palace. ”

When Cao Bin heard this, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and understood that Zhang would understand when he woke up lightly.

He was very filial and persuaded his aunt to rest her body, and the two told each other, and Cao Bin withdrew.

Out of Daqing Gate, Cao Bin met the privy envoy Wang Pu at an intersection, and hurriedly went up politely to greet him. Wang Pu casually waved and said, "The qualified generals in the forbidden army have all been crowned princes. Now the position of the protector of the country belongs to General Cao, just return to Beijing from Jiaozhi, and everything will fall into place. ”

Cao Bin didn't expect Wang Pu to be so direct, he was a little caught off guard, and hurriedly said modestly: "The Zhen'an Army is handsome to the general, loyal and brave, and his qualifications are older than me." ”

Wang Pu sneered: "Wang Pu has a good relationship with Xiang Gong, but he wants to help Xiang Gong; General Cao also seems to have risen to prominence because of Xiang Gong's recommendation, and it seems that you are quite grateful when you say that......"

Cao Bin said: "During the battle of Shu, I followed Xiang Jie Shuai to attack the North Road, and when I broke the Sword Gate, I had to appreciate Xiang Jie Shuai, so I recommended it in front of the officials. ”

Wang Pu said indifferently: "However, both the official family and the imperial court have always attached importance to real military achievements and achievements, and Xiang Gong really does not have many great achievements, and if the official family only relies on old friendships, it is difficult to convince the public." ”

Cao Bin listened and said: "General Yang, the commander of the Hedong Army, is brave and strategic. He has guarded the frontier for the country for many years, and not long ago lured the Liao army into Yanmen, and won a complete victory, which greatly weakened the national strength of the Liao State and made miraculous achievements. ”

Wang Pu said without embellishment: "Yang Ye is a general, and he should be the first to take credit for the siege of Yanmen, but the credit cannot be all attributed to him alone." Moreover, Yang Ye's military exploits are slightly worse than Cao Shuai's great achievements in presiding over the guard military system and destroying the Southern Han Dynasty and Jiaozhi. ”

The military exploits of the siege of Yanmen, in addition to Yang Ye, there is also Dong Zunzhi; Dong Zunzhi also had miraculous feats during the Northern Expedition to Youyun. However, Cao Bin still didn't mention Dong Zunzhi after thinking about it, after all, he was too young, and his uncle Gao Huaide was the Duke of the Kingdom, if he became the Duke of the Kingdom again, it seemed that he would be too prominent.

Cao Bin immediately changed his words and said: "Thank you for your beautiful words." ”

Wang Pu waved his hand and said, "The old decay is just a truthful account. General Cao will win the battle, as long as he does the matter of Jiaozhi well. ”

He said and said: "The old decay has to return to the Yamen, General Cao, and 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 touched the black beard on his chin and wondered: "What happened to Deputy Commander Yu Hexi?" ”

Yu Liang dragged Zhang Jiankui to the wall a little eagerly and mysteriously, and whispered: "Commander Zhang Du is the person named by Cao Gong (Cao Bin), and the meaning of appreciation is very obvious. Duke Cao will be crowned the Duke of the Kingdom this time, how can he treat General Zhang badly at that time? ”

Zhang Jiankui said with a smile: "You are just a deputy commander, and you even know who the imperial court wants to crown the prince?" ”

Yu Liang said: "The position of the protector of the country, besides Cao Gong, who else can there be?" ”

Zhang Jiankui pondered for a moment, and then said, "Let's go to the house and have a few drinks." ”

Yu Liang hurriedly clenched his fists and said: "General Zhang invited, the last general is better to be respectful than to obey his fate." ”

The two entered the hall, made a few stacks of dishes, and talked while drinking. Yu Liang raised his head and drank a glass of wine, then bowed his head and said: "I heard my brother who served in the Guangnan Guard Army say that the Jiaozhou Nanban is just a bunch of uncivilized savages. In the past, the Han army walked by land, with high mountains and deep forests, which was not easy; But this time, Cao Gong attacked from the sea, and the Red River Valley, the land of Jiaozhou, was flat, what did the Jiaozhou soldiers do to resist the Daxu army? ”

Zhang Jiankui nodded and said: "It makes sense, among our group of generals, Deputy Commander Yu is considered a knowledgeable person, and it is not useless to have a lot of ink in his stomach." ”

Yu Liang smiled: "I have won awards." Judging from the last general, this time Cao Gong was sent by Jiaozhou, and he was supposed to sit and collect military merits, and when he was named the Duke of the State, he would be more convinced. ”

Yu Liang picked up the wine jug and poured wine for Zhang Jiankui with a flattering look: "General Zhang is going south this time, can you bring the last general with you?" ”

Zhang Jiankui said: "I am a general of the forbidden army, and General Yu belongs to the guards, so I'm afraid it's not easy to get it this time." ”

Yu Liang hurriedly said: "Cao Gongqi revisited General Zhang, just to want General Zhang to go over to repair the fort." Anyway, if you are staying in the fort, the guards will still be useful. He thought for a while and said, "General Zhang is now in this position, and there is no one around him to check and fill in the gaps, so it is not okay to remind him." ”

When Zhang Jiankui heard this, he said: "Ben will try his best to arrange it." ”

Yu Liang had a very harmonious conversation at Zhang Jiankui's house, and did not leave until the evening.

He left Zhang's house, and when he led the horse past the front of Hongying's mansion, he suddenly heard someone speaking in a Hedong accent next to the carriage outside the door. I couldn't help but look at the carriage closely, although the color was not very bright, but the wood was of the highest quality. Yu Liang almost concluded that Yang Ye had entered Beijing and lived in Hongying Mansion!

Although Yu Liang and Hongying no longer have much contact, they once had a relationship, and when they saw this scene, their hearts were also mixed.

He had to leave the place in silence.

……

Night is falling, and the day is coming to an end. But for some court ladies, this was the beginning.

In the Long Live Palace, Guo Shao sat on a yellow rosewood floor, and his feelings were very complicated. In front of him stood nearly a hundred women, all dressed in very transparent clothes, and they were also waiting for the emperor's presence with complicated expressions.

A while ago, two officials played one after another, talking about the affairs of the harem in the name of worrying about the country's society, believing that the Son of Heaven should not be favored alone, and the royal family should be allowed to have more princes to stabilize the country. He also suggested that the court should follow the system of the Tang Dynasty and enrich the number of concubines.

Guo Shao did only have two princes, and he was born in a small family, and there was almost no clan; In the face of the risks of the state's social welfare, the emperor's personal feelings and preferences obviously did not matter. The two empresses could not argue with such a recital, so they had to ask the emperor to choose the "eighty-one royal wives". So there is the situation in front of us.

Guo Shao is now going to temporarily pick out nine of so many people to sleep tonight, and these nine people will be sealed in the "Eighty-one Royal Wives".

He was a little dazzled. After the Five Dynasties and the Great Xu Dynasty, the folk customs and service gradually tended to be reserved and restrained than the Tang Dynasty, and the folk had few such Luo skirts, but the court and the folk were completely different, especially on the current occasion, the palace people tried their best to expose themselves more and be more seductive. Most of them wore a can-collar liner, no one wore stand-up collars and cross-collared clothes, and the outer dresses were mostly made of silk yarn.

Guo Shao looked at it, the women in the row in front of him had crimson faces, and they were embarrassed to dress like this in public, but they peeked at Guo Shao from time to time, and their eyebrows were full of expectation.

According to what was said before, Guo Shao can only choose nine people tonight, looking at the way they are all looking forward to it, Guo Shao is a little difficult, he habitually doesn't want to see others disappointed.

Guo Shaogang sat here, and he was a little embarrassed like women. But he quickly calmed down, how could the Son of Heaven behave in front of people as if he had never seen the world?

He stood up, and as soon as he walked down, a woman in front of him immediately curted his knees and exclaimed, "Your Majesty......"

Soon everyone followed suit and took advantage of the situation to salute, hoping to get Guo Shao's attention. When everyone was half-squatting, only one woman stood upright, looking at Guo Shao with a red face...... If you want to stand out, you have to be different, and this person will find a different way on the spot and do the opposite.

People who know how to fight for it have at least an independent personality, not a boring plaything, and they are quite smart and well-behaved.

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

The two of them blushed and said, "Your Majesty." ”

For a while, some people quietly looked sideways and cast disdainful glances at them. They all held their breath, waiting for their remaining chance.

However, Guo Shao took a few steps and had already roughly looked at everyone. Most of them didn't react yet, and Guo Shao pointed at some people without stopping. Soon there were nine.

At this time, the eunuch Wang Zhong walked in and said, "Everyone else, just come with the miscellaneous family." ”

With loss and regret, the women went out silently.

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

"Whoa......," the nine women replied, and walked cautiously, some of them blushing like pig's liver, and some of them were so nervous that they couldn't walk steadily. These women are all untrained little ladies, and most of them can't be calm when they come to Zhenge.