In the emperor's palace, working state affairs, working on the bed, colleagues who have not rested until night, outside the imperial city, between the big families of Zhumen and the mansions of the nobles, it is inevitable to have some exchanges.

Huainan's victory and the return of the Son of Heaven to the dynasty affect the situation of the whole world, and for the high-ranking officials and ministers in Tokyo, the changes in the situation of the Northern Han Dynasty have attracted more attention, after all, they are personally worried. But the tide is rolling, and in the middle of it, those who can keep a clear mind and have long-term insight are only a minority after all.

After returning to Beijing with the car and handing over the official duties, Guo Rong, Li Chongjin, and Zhang Yongde came to the door one after another to meet Guo Fuzhong. Not to mention the old ministry and the old officials, these three people, a son, a son-in-law and a nephew, are the most outstanding in the Guo clan, especially Guo Rong.

At this time, in the hall, Mrs. Zhang, as the eldest lady of Guofu, personally entertained the three of them and ordered someone to prepare wine and food for them to enjoy to relieve their fatigue.

"It's still comfortable in Tokyo, and after a few months of fighting, I'm physically and mentally exhausted!" Li Chongjin grabbed the leg of mutton, gnawed it hard, and said with a greasy mouth: "The taste of barbecue in the house is just not ordinary!" ”

"Then eat more! It's not enough, I'll make people prepare! On the main seat of the Zhang family, he responded with a smile and said to the three people: "You are fighting in Huainan, and the prime minister is worried and worried all night, and now you are back intact, you can rest assured!" ”

Hearing this, Guo Rong stood up and saluted to express his gratitude, and Li Chongjin and Zhang Yongde also saluted.

"Hug one, this time you are in Lu and Erzhou, capture five cities, attack seven villages, break tens of thousands of Tang troops, and make a lot of meritorious contributions!" After drinking some wine, Li Chongjin swept towards Zhang Yongde and said with a smile.

"How can you compare to Brother Chongjin!" Seeing Li Chongjin's posture on his face, Zhang Yongde smiled slightly and said humbly: "In the army of the Southern Expedition, in terms of fierce battles, hard battles, and vicious battles, there is no one more outstanding than the Holy Protector Army. The hard battles have all been re-entered brother, you have finished fighting, and the remaining Tang army is just a rabble, and the city can be passed down, how dare you take credit! ”

Hearing Zhang Yongde so humble, Li Chongjin was comfortable, laughed twice, and couldn't help glancing at Guo Rong on the right, slightly proud.

Noticing Li Chongjin's eyes, Guo Rong nodded and said: "In this battle, the Holy Protector Army is indeed fighting well, I have heard about it in Hao and Si, and the Holy Protector Army is the leader of all armies!" ”

Zhang Yongde looked at Guo Rong with admiration on his face, and said: "It's still the eldest brother Wen Taowu, who stands alone, fights the enemy with a widowed army, fights in a battle, breaks 30,000 enemy troops, and shocks the world." Huaidong has passed through the armies, and the results achieved are comparable to the Shouchun camp......"

"There are small results, but not enough to be proud of their achievements! Hug one, there are some words, don't say anything! Guo Rong looked at Zhang Yongde and said in an admonishing tone.

Zhang Yongde has a good personality and is cautious, and when he heard what he said, he hurriedly said: "It's the little brother who has forgotten his feelings and is taught!" ”

The smile on Li Chongjin's face narrowed slightly, Fang Cai's self-satisfaction, because of Zhang Yongde's words, was smashed, he led the Holy Army, no matter how brave he fought on the Western Front, he was only a camp to drive people, those military exploits, compared with Guo Rong, are nothing.

Seeing Guo Rong holding the shelf, Li Chongjin couldn't help but say: "Hug one is also a good word, why not be close to people?" ”

Guo Rong looked at Li Chongjin and didn't argue with him, just sighed lightly. This reaction made Li Chongjin feel embarrassed.

Seeing this, it was Zhang who came out of the voice control field and said: "Look at you, after returning from a hundred battles, it is rare to go to the house once, return home once, between wine and food, and do not forget to talk about military affairs......

With Zhang's round, you have to give face, and the atmosphere is naturally better. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhang said to Guo Rong: "You have been serving abroad in the past few years, and you were sent to Xuzhou after a setback last year, and you didn't stay for long. This time, I intend to hold a family banquet on a certain day, and you and your wife will bring Yige and them all, they are all a family, and they will gather together! ”

Hearing this, Guo Rong hesitated for a moment, but in the face of Zhang's expectant eyes, he still responded: "Yes!" ”

When Guo Wei came back, it was already very late, and he was seeing the scene in the hall, the servants were still serving, and everyone got up to greet him, only Li Chongjin, who drank too much wine, couldn't persuade him, and trembled.

Guo Wei glanced at the three of them, frowned, and said, "When you return to Beijing for the first time, the three of you come together, I'm afraid ...... That's it! ”

His eyes fell on Li Chongjin, and he saw that his drunken state had recovered a little, but he was still a little difficult to control himself, and he couldn't help but be slightly angry, and ordered the servant: "Send him back to the house first!" ”

"You two, come with me to the study!" Leaving another sentence, Guo Weidang left the house one after another, Guo Rong and Zhang Yongde did not dare to slack off, and left in a hurry.

In the neat study, the three of them sat down, the servants served tea, Guo Wei said directly: "In the matter of the southern expedition, I expected that the Han would win, but I didn't expect that after half a year, Huainan had been taken and Jinling surrendered." ”

"Your Majesty is painstakingly lonely, the imperial court has been planning for three years, and Jianghuai is unprepared, once it erupts, it is naturally difficult for the pseudo-Tang Dynasty to resist!" Guo Rong experienced the war himself, but he was not much surprised.

"After this battle, Your Majesty has become a powerful force all over the world, and the momentum of unification has been achieved, and the time and place are all right, and it is unstoppable. At this time, our Guo family can't help but think about it early! Guo Wei's words were explicit.

Zhang Yongde seemed to be mistaken, startled, and hurriedly said: "What does the woman mean? What are you going to do? ”

"I started from a humble beginning, followed Taizu, and succeeded. In the past, in Hedong, the reputation was not raised, and when the country was founded, it was trusted by the sons of heaven of the two dynasties, entrusted with privy council, paid with heavy power, and was a very popular minister! Guo Wei said with a flat face: "In the past few years, the Guo clan, the old ones, in the court, in the army, and in the locality, there are hundreds of generals, and their reputation is loud.

This time, the three of you and the old Guo family have made great contributions from the expedition to Huainan, and the imperial court has another reward. At this point, among the foreign ministers, if it comes to the position of power, it may be difficult to defeat my family! ”

Saying that, Guo Wei couldn't help but sigh a little: "However, there are words of prosperity and decline, and there are also blessings and misfortunes.

Since the arrival of His Majesty, the old ministers of Hedong, Shi Yang Wang Ersu, in the past, were satisfied with high friends and full of guests, but now the evening scene is bleak, which is embarrassing, but the Guo family can not help but take it as a warning.

As the Son of Heaven grows older, the more powerful he becomes, and the more solid his position becomes, the more difficult it is to guess his mind. If you can't grasp the advance and retreat, sooner or later you will take the disaster......"

Guo Wei said it, he did his best to understand his intentions, Guo Rong and Zhang Yongde are both smart people, and they can understand Guo Wei's intentions.

Guo Rong said: "My son has long had this concern, but in my opinion, although the Son of Heaven acts, although it is cold and thin, but the instrument is magnificent, ambitious, ambitious, and ambitious, as long as he assists wholeheartedly, focuses on the king's affairs, and then restricts his behavior, it will not lead to disaster." At the moment, it is far from being a master! ”

And Zhang Yongde, on the contrary, breathed a sigh of relief and followed: "What the eldest brother said is that we have no second intentions, serve wholeheartedly, have a frank heart, and have nothing to fear!" ”

Seeing this, Guo Wei shook his head, and in his old eyes, he pondered: "Within three or five years, you should be safe, but what about five years later, ten years later?" Although there is no immediate worry, there is a need for long-term consideration! It's not a good thing that my family is too powerful! ”

Hearing Guo Wei say this, Guo Rong thought for a while and asked, "What are my father's plans!" ”

Guo Wei stared directly at Guo Rong and said: "A few days ago, there were rumors in the court, saying that my Guo family has two envoys, and the lord supports the prince. Although the credit is worthy of his name, it is inevitable that he will be jealous of the villain. And I have been in charge of the Privy Council for many years, and I am deeply rooted, but I am also more and more afraid of uprooting.

These days, I think about it and realize that you and my father and son should not be in the court at the same time! ”

After a pause, Guo Wei said: "You have been away for many years, performing your duties in Fangzhen, taking care of both military and political affairs, and you have made meritorious achievements, depending on Your Majesty's intentions, you should be left in the center." I intend to ask myself to go to work, release myself as an official, and go to the local area for a few years! In this way, you can work in Tokyo with peace of mind, and seek peace as well as your own peace! ”

Guo Wei said, Guo Rong shook his head again and again, and said: "My father is old, how can I bear it when he is a son of man? Let's leave Beijing! ”

Hearing his words, Guo Wei smiled and said: "Although I am old, I can still do something for the court and build some meritorious deeds, but there is no ministry suitable for me in the court, you don't have to be like this!" ”

Looking at Guo Wei's appearance, Guo Rong bowed his head, thought about it, and probably guessed Guo Wei's thoughts. In fact, if he wanted to retreat and avoid suspicion, Guo Wei could have gone to the book to beg for bones, but with his age and body, he had not reached that point.

And Guo Wei himself has not yet abandoned the heart of his career, he has wealth and glory, but he still has what he wants in the Qing Shi Dan book. It is courage and wisdom to retreat bravely from the rapids, but it is a pity after all.

It is better to go to the localities and do some practical things, so as not to attract the attention of people in Beijing.