Kou Ji chatted with Zhu Neng and the others for a while, and when the dusk drum sounded, everyone tidied up their clothes and rushed to the main hall of Xingqing Palace.

The main hall of Xingqing Palace, when Kou Ji and the others went down to rest, was rearranged.

There is a little less heavy breath and more festive atmosphere.

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty and the relatives of the emperor entered the main hall one by one with a smiling face, and sat on the seats in the main hall of Xingqing Palace under the guidance of eunuchs and palace e.

After the Manchu Dynasty civil and military and the emperor's relatives sat down, Zhao Zhen joined hands with Empress Cao and entered the main hall.

Zhao Zhen and Empress Cao were both dressed in gorgeous clothes, and they looked very dazzling.

After they entered the palace hand in hand, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty and the relatives of the emperor all stood up and bowed down to greet them.

After the two of them sat down, the Manchu civil and military and the emperor's relatives gave salutes one after another.

"Ministers greet the official family, welcome the queen's mother......"

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "The Qing family doesn't have to be polite...... Bestow ......"

After the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty and the relatives of the emperor took their seats, they sat down one after another.

Zhao Zhen instructed the eunuchs and Gong'e to prepare some simple dry goods and wine, and sent them to the Manchu Dynasty civil and military and imperial relatives, so that they could eat first.

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty and the relatives of the emperor were naturally not polite.

One by one, they picked up the dry goods and drinks on the table and started eating.

It was accompanied by a burst of singing and dancing.

After an hour, the singing and dancing stopped.

Zhao Zhen ordered people to remove the things on the table of the emperor's relatives and the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military affairs.

The night feast only officially began at this time.

After Zhao Zhen preached a passage that he did not understand, he began to give money to the emperor's relatives and the civil and military personnel of the Manchu Dynasty.

The most important thing in the Chinese New Year's Eve banquet is that the king rewards the Manchu Dynasty with civil and military weapons.

Jewels and jade, gold, silver, money, houses, palace maids, officials, vegetables, and palace flowers.

It's a bit similar to the meaning of the year-end bonus in later generations.

The only difference in this year's Chinese New Year's Eve banquet is that Zhao Zhen did not give the official knighthood.

The Manchu civil and military had no complaints about this.

However, the emperor's relatives have a lot of complaints.

But after being glanced around by Zhao Zhen with a cold gaze, the imperial relatives obediently shut their mouths.

The bad things that the emperor's relatives did in Bianjing City, Zhao Zhen knew clearly.

Zhao Zhen didn't clean them up now, he had already saved enough face for them.

One by one, the soldiers of the Great Song Dynasty did not help when they were fighting outside, but they pulled their hind legs vigorously in the back, and Zhao Zhen did not demote them to commoners, which was already considered merciful.

also dare to talk nonsense because Zhao Zhen did not promote some of their officials.

One by one, they have no credit to the court, and they still want to be added to the rank and knight, and they want to be beautiful.

After Zhao Zhen shocked the emperor's relatives and relatives, he continued to give the Manchu Dynasty civil and military strength.

After a round of generous gifts, it has come to the middle of the moon.

Zhao Zhen instructed the eunuchs and palace ladies to present the official meals and accompany the Manchu civil and military to eat, drink and have fun.

It was tossed until the second half of the night.

The Manchu Dynasty civil and military and the emperor's relatives took their families out of the palace gate, returned to the mansion respectively, arranged for the family members to sleep, and then changed into sacrificial clothes one by one, and rushed to the eastern suburbs outside Xingqing Mansion.

Today is the first day of the new year, which is the first day of the new year.

The Great Song Dynasty first conquered the Liao State and then the Western Xia, and established great feats on both battlefields.

As an emperor, Zhao Zhen naturally wants to be on the surface of the sky and the ancestors.

Because it is not in Bianjing City, it can only be set up in the eastern suburbs in accordance with the ancient rites to worship the ancestors and sacrifice to the heavens.

The Manchu Dynasty civil and military and imperial relatives arrived in the eastern suburbs one by one in solemn clothes.

An eighty-one-foot-high altar has been erected in the eastern suburbs, and a large ding is placed on the altar, and there are braziers burning at the four corners of the altar.

The Imperial Guard, dressed in black armor, stood guard around the altar.

Zhao Zhen appeared in the eastern suburbs in a chapter uniform, and led the Manchu Dynasty civil and military into the position where the altar was located in the singing and praising of the Ministry of Rites.

At the bottom of the altar, Zhao Zhen stopped, and after the Manchu Dynasty civil and military forces stood still, he ordered Wang Yunsheng and Kou Ji to accompany them and went to the altar.

Kou Ji is now the head of the warriors.

In the absence of Lu Yijian, Zhang Zhibai, and Wang Zeng, when Kou Ji was transferred to Wuchen, Wang Yunsheng became the head of Wenchen.

Zhao Zhen led Kou Ji and Wang Yunsheng to the altar, and under the cold wind, they visited heaven and earth, worshiped their ancestors, and burned the sacrificial texts.

When the altar of the altar, with a flame and a whirl, ascended into the sky.

Zhao Zhen stared at the sky and muttered, "Fourth brother, tell me, is there really a god in the sky?" After the ancestors died, did I go to the Nine Heavenly Gates? ”

Kou Jiba clicked his mouth and sighed, "I don't know ......."

Wang Yunsheng listened to the words spoken by the two of them, his heart beat wildly, he didn't dare to say a word, he stood there like a clay sculpture, and he didn't dare to say a word.

He was afraid that when Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji were struck by lightning for a while, he would be implicated.

Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji didn't know what Wang Yunsheng was thinking, and the two of them looked at the sky together.

Zhao Zhen continued: "When my father was alive, he always said that there were immortals in the world, and he was convinced of this. But I don't believe it, if there are really immortals, why do you turn a blind eye to all kinds of sufferings in the world? And why not create a world of great harmony and let everyone in the world live a happy life? ”

Kou Ji hesitated: "Why does the official family have such feelings? ”

Zhao Zhen said faintly: "My father has begged for a lifetime of immortals, and he has respected immortals for a lifetime, but he has not seen the gods give him immortality, let alone make the Great Song Dynasty bigger and stronger."

From my ascension to the present, I have not respected the gods in just a few years.

But my Great Song has become more powerful than ever.

If god-worshipping can't make the Great Song Dynasty stronger, why should I respect him?

If there are really immortals on the Nine Heavenly Que, it is also a group of blind immortals.

When we honored them, they did not bring blessings.

When we disrespect them, with our efforts, we can also bring blessings to the world. ”

Kou Ji did not rush to echo Zhao Zhen's words, but said with a suspicious expression: "Why is the official family so emotional? ”

Zhao Zhen put his hands behind his back and said lightly: "Because when I left the palace this morning, I bumped into a slanderer, and he told me that if I can build one hundred and eight Taoist temples and temples in the world for worshipping God, all my ideas can be realized." ”

Kou Ji narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice, "How did the official family deal with him?" ”

Zhao Zhen said nonchalantly: "I sent him to guard the soul of his father." ”

Kou Ji groaned: "A fool's stupid words, the official family doesn't have to take it seriously. ”

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Naturally, I won't take it seriously, and if I do, I won't send him to guard the spirit of my father." I just thought it was a bit too coincidental that he suddenly appeared in front of my dragon. ”

Kou Ji was stunned for a moment, and muttered: "Does the official family think that someone wants to fool the official family with the trick of fooling the first emperor?" ”

Zhao Zhen nodded again.

Kou Ji asked, "Who is it?" ”

Zhao Zhen glanced at Kou Ji and said lightly: "My two imperial aunts ......"

Kou Ji slowly frowned.

"The two eldest princesses, this is ......"

"Have an opinion about me......"

"The gift of the Chinese New Year's Eve feast?"

Kou Ji asked.

Zhao Zhen nodded slowly.

Kou Ji hesitated: "What does the official family plan to do with the two of them?" ”

Zhao Zhen pouted and said, "I don't bother to deal with them, I have already transferred all their father-in-law and sons to serve in the army." You just clean them up. ”

Kou Ji raised his brow in astonishment.

You yourself don't want to do it to your own people, so you blame me for the trouble?

Zhao Zhen seemed to see Kou Ji's thoughts, and said with a smile: "I have checked, and the people who instigated the people of the Xiang family to threaten my sister-in-law are my two imperial aunts. I remember that the fourth brother and his sister-in-law are sincere, and it is impossible to watch his sister-in-law being wronged. ”

Kou Ji was slightly stunned, rolled his eyes and said, "I took this errand." ”

Zhao Zhen nodded with satisfaction.

The two chatted for a while before they got off the altar.

From beginning to end, Wang Yunsheng was like a foil, and he didn't say a word.

The two did not deal with Wang Yunsheng, nor did they give Wang Yunsheng a gag order.

But Wang Yunsheng himself is self-aware and has decided to seal himself.

Zhao Zhen got off the altar and returned to Xingqing Palace with the Manchu Dynasty civil and military and imperial relatives, and after a simple meal, he dispersed.

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty officially entered the annual leave.

Kou Ji returned to the house and worked for three or five days, receiving many visitors.

Until the sixth day of the new year, an unexpected person, with a heavy gift, stepped into the Kou Mansion.

Koji received him in an exotic vestibule.

Inside the vestibule.

Kou Jigao sat at the top, and Chong Shiheng sat at the bottom of Kou Ji.

After entering the front hall, Chong Shiheng ordered the servants who came with him to put down the generous gifts and retreat.

Seeing this, Kou Ji also ordered the servants of Kou Mansion to retreat.

The two of them were left in the antechamber.

Chong Shiheng said with a sad face: "Please also ask Shangguan to save me......"

Kou Ji stared at Chong Shiheng and said with a smile: "Why did Brother Chong say this, Brother Chong is now a first-class duke, and he is sitting on Xiping Road, holding tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and he is in a high position, who dares to be unfavorable to Brother Chong, why would he suddenly call for help?" ”

Chong Shiheng smiled bitterly and said: "Although the friendship between you and me is shallow, it can be regarded as a little friendship, what is my situation, can't you see it?" ”

Kou Ji smiled but didn't say anything.

Seeing this, Chong Shiheng could only take the initiative to pick up the conversation and said: "The official family intended to summon me to Beijing to report on my work, but I refused the official's kindness because of some selfishness. The officials have now set me on fire.

Among the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, there were many people waiting for them to impeach me.

After the 15th restoration of the dynasty, I am afraid that the twists and turns of my impeachment will flow into the palace like snowflakes.

At that point, I was the target of public criticism.

It is difficult to say whether his life will be saved or not. ”

Kou Ji pretended to be surprised and said, "Today, the majesty of the official family has reached an unprecedented heyday. Even if it is my grandfather, he has to obey orders in front of the officials. Brother Seed dared to refuse the kindness of the official family, Brother Seed is upright, I am ashamed of myself. ”

When Chong Shiheng heard this, his face became even more bitter, "Can't you not be sarcastic about me?" For the sake of the battle in Xiliang City, I will travel thousands of miles to help you, you can help me, how about it? ”

Kou Ji stared at Chong Shiheng and said nonchalantly: "You rushed to help Hexi, that is a holy order, not on whose face." You're doing things for the court, not for me.

The official family has given you a generous gift afterwards and has already repaid you for your credit.

Therefore, the battle of Xiliangcheng is just a business matter, and it is not mixed with any personal affairs. ”

When Chong Shiheng heard Kou Ji's words, he knew that Kou Ji would not help him without some blood, so he could only grit his teeth and say, "You say, how can you help me?" ”

Kou Ji stared at Chong Shiheng and said, "The Great Song Dynasty can have a kind of family general, but there should not be a kind of family army. The soldiers and horses of the Great Song Dynasty can only be crowned with one surname, and that is Zhao. ”

Chong Shiheng stared at Kou Ji in astonishment, and shouted, "You want me to hand over the Seed Army?" ”

Kou Ji said without being salty: "It's up to you whether to hand it over or not...... But I must warn you that the Folded Army is gone. The family army is a thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh of the imperial court.

Everyone will be staring at the planters, staring at the planters.

It is inevitable that you will become the target of public criticism.

At that time, the fate of your family will probably be worse than that of your family. ”

Chong Shiheng's face changed again and again, staring at Kou Ji and said: "The soldiers of the Chongjia Army are all hand-selected by me one by one, they are all first-class good sons, if they are handed over to the imperial court, it will be a waste." ”

Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "The imperial court will not spoil the family army!" ”

Chong Shiheng exclaimed, "How is it possible? ”

Kou Ji stared at Chong Shiheng and said, "Because I Kou Ji is now a privy envoy, I will definitely not see the soldiers and horses of the Great Song Dynasty deserted." ”

Chong Shiheng stared straight at Kou Ji, gritted his teeth and said, "How can I believe you?" ”

Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "You can only believe me!" ”

Chong Shiheng gritted his teeth and said, "I need to think about this matter for a few more days." ”

Kou Ji nodded, not forcing Chong Shiheng to make a decision.

Chong Shiheng left the Kou Mansion.

Three days later.

Chong Shiheng arrived at Kou Mansion again.

Some lost souls stared at Kou Ji and said, "I can hand over the ...... of the Seed Army."

Kou Ji stared at Chong Shiheng and said, "I thought it would take you more than ten days to make up your mind, but I didn't expect that in just three days, you made up your mind." ”

Chong Shiheng sighed and did not speak.

The Planter Army was created by him, and he was not willing to hand it over at all, but what happened in the past few days made him have to hand over the Planter Army.

It's the New Year's Day.

The civil and military officials in Xingqing Mansion visited each other, so it was not lively.

But in his mansion, there were many doors, and there was not a single visitor.

Every day, looking at the guests at the banquet in Zhu's mansion, and then looking at the deserted scene in his own mansion, Chong Shiheng didn't mention how uncomfortable it was.

In previous years, it was the New Year's Festival.

On the plantation house, it is like a cloud, so lively.

Among them, there are civil ministers and military ministers.

In the Great Song Dynasty, which was clearly divided into civil and military affairs, it could be regarded as a beautiful scenery.

This year, civil and military officials did not visit his house, why?

Is it because he doesn't have a high status and an inconspicuous identity?

No.

It was because everyone felt that he was going to be cold, so they sought advantages and avoided disadvantages in advance, so as not to be implicated by him.

The Manchu Dynasty civil and military think you want to be cold, you really want to be cold.

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty felt that the Chong family was going to be cold, and if Chong Shiheng did not make a decision while the official family and Kou Ji were still in the northwest, it would be too late for him to make a decision after the two returned to Beijing.

If you really have to wait until the official family and Kou Ji return to the court, the voice of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military impeachment of him may form a wave.

When the time comes, if he relieves himself, I'm afraid it will be more than just handing over the seed army.

He is not Kou Ji, and there is no one behind him to protect him.

The Manchu civil and military impeached him together, and one impeachment was accurate.

"Hey......"

Chong Shiheng sighed and said, "I don't pay, can I do it?" ”

Kou Ji glanced at Chong Shiheng and said, "If you hand over the Seed Family Army earlier, maybe the position of this privy envoy will be yours." ”

Chong Shiheng laughed bitterly at himself.

Kou Ji stared at Chong Shiheng and said, "I will tell your words to the official family when I turn around, and the official family will then send someone to reorganize the army of the Zhuang family." I will do my best to maintain the integrity of the Seed Army.

But you also know the situation of the Northwest Roads.

The land to which the soldiers were assigned was on different roads, so the officials would accommodate the soldiers and place them in the places to which they were assigned.

Therefore, some of the soldiers in the family army will still leave. ”

Chong Shiheng sighed and said, "As long as you don't transfer the soldiers of the Seed Family Army to other places, it's fine." Zhu Neng, Liu Heng, Wang Kai, Guo Yi and others are not people who treat soldiers harshly.

The soldiers of the Plantation Army followed them, and I was relieved. ”

Zhu Neng and Liu Heng have a large amount of foreign income every year, and they don't look down on the little food and salary of the soldiers and horses, so they never drink the blood of the soldiers, and the food and salary of the soldiers and horses under their hands have always been sufficient, and occasionally they take the soldiers to make a small fortune, so the soldiers and horses under the two of them are the most nourishing in the Great Song Dynasty.

Although Wang Kai has not led the troops for a long time, he has not drunk the blood of the soldiers during the period when he led the troops, so his reputation is not bad.

Although Guo Yi's status is not prominent, he is a well-known and honest person in the northwest.

Every soldier he has brought with him will give him a thumbs up.

Therefore, the soldiers of the seed family army followed Guo Yi, and the seed Shiheng was also relieved.

Kou Ji saw that he was very satisfied with the arrangement between himself and the official family, and did not mention any conditions, so he nodded with satisfaction.

After Kou Ji nodded, Chong Shiheng asked, "The official family is probably going to transfer me away from Xiping Road, right?" Who is in charge of the rest of the soldiers of the Seed Army? ”

Kou Ji was slightly stunned and said with a smile: "You actually guessed that the official family would transfer you away from Xiping Road?" ”

Chong Shiheng rolled his eyes and said lightly: "Since I handed over the Seed Army, the official family will naturally try to erase my traces in the Seed Army and transfer me, isn't that what it should be?" ”

Kou Ji laughed silently, and asked after a long time, "What do you think of Di Qing?" ”

Chong Shiheng frowned slightly, and said, "Di Qing, the main general of the Tiger Character Army? Di Qing made some contributions on the battlefield of Yanyun, and the official family gave him a throne.

But a marquis, sitting all the way, can the town hold? ”

Kou Ji looked at Chong Shiheng and said with a smile: "Do you think that Di Qing is young, has little merit, and has a small status, so he is not qualified to be the head of the Ma Bu Army on Xiping Road, right?" ”

Chong Shiheng didn't hide it, and nodded slowly.

Kou Ji said frankly: "Di Qing is indeed the head of the Mabu Army on Xiping Road, which is indeed a little inappropriate. But as a commander of an army, he can still do it. The head of the Ma Bujun on Xiping Road is still concurrently held by you, but you have to go back to Beijing to report on your work. ”

It means that the company has a false name and doesn't care about anything.

When Chong Shiheng heard this, he was a little surprised, but he didn't object, but asked: "Now that there is no vacancy in the Privy Council, and there is no vacancy in the Ministry of War, what position can I hold after I return to Beijing?" ”

Kou Ji smiled: "You can sit in the Sanya......"

Chong Shiheng was slightly stunned, and said in a deep voice: "Is the palace handsome?" ”

Chong Shiheng looked at Kou Ji and said unexpectedly: "The official family wants to move those idlers in the three yas?" ”

Kou Ji nodded slowly and said, "They are in the Sanya, and the corpses have been vegetarian for a long time. All the soldiers and horses of our Great Song Dynasty are negligent in training and weak in combat strength, and they have a great responsibility.

In the past, I had few soldiers in the Great Song Dynasty, so I could let them toss around in the Sanya.

Now that my Great Song Dynasty has mobilized more troops, naturally I can't let them come nonsense anymore. ”

Hearing this, Chong Shiheng nodded slowly.

The position of the palace marshal of the three yas, although not as good as the privy envoy.

But it is higher than the military department.

He served as the palace marshal of Sanya, but he was worthy of his identity and merits.

Chong Shiheng was quite satisfied with the arrangement of the imperial court, he stared at Kou Ji and said, "Then what should I do?" ”

Zhao Zhengang was promoted to a first-class duke in front of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military affairs.

Without any reason, it is naturally impossible to take it back.

Therefore, Chong Shiheng needs to help Zhao Zhen make an excuse, so that Zhao Zhen will naturally demote his knighthood and be his official.

Kou Ji thought about it for a moment and said with a smile: "I heard that the two imperial aunts have been very arrogant recently, you go and bump into them." ”

Chong Shiheng subconsciously frowned.

"Two eldest princesses? Those are two very powerful characters. If you get into trouble, I'm afraid there will be endless trouble. ”

Kou Ji smiled indifferently: "What are you afraid of, when the first emperor was in power, they were favored by the first emperor, and they were naturally arrogant." But now that the emperor has returned to heaven, the official family does not pretend to be a color to them.

They have long lost the capital of arrogance and domineering.

They are arrogant now, but they are just consuming the only bit of friendship left in the hearts of the official family.

Once the little friendship left in the hearts of the official family is exhausted, it will be time for them to be unlucky. ”

Chong Shiheng did not believe Kou Ji's demagogy, and still frowned.

Kou Ji knew that Chong Shiheng had concerns in his heart, so he spoke again: "The official family sent their husbands and heirs to serve in the army. I'll send one or two to Sanya and I'll leave it to you to take care of. ”

When Chong Shiheng heard this, he raised his eyebrows.

He understood the meaning of Kou Ji's words.

It wasn't Kou Ji who instigated him to go to the trouble of the two eldest princesses.

It's that Zhao Zhen wants to find trouble with the two eldest princesses.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for Zhao Zhen to send the husbands of the two eldest princesses to Kou Ji.

With Kou Ji's temperament, if the husbands and heirs of the two eldest princesses play prestige and arrogance under him, Kou Ji will probably hang them up and beat them.

If Zhao Zhen didn't want to trouble the two eldest princesses, why did he send the husbands and heirs of the two eldest princesses to Kou Ji to be abused.

Kou Ji probably knew Zhao Zhen's thoughts, so he asked him to find trouble with the two eldest princesses and add fuel to the fire.

As the saying goes, if Heaven wants to destroy it, it must first make it mad.

He was a first-class duke and provoked the two eldest princesses, so Zhao Zhen demoted his title.

The majesty of the two eldest princesses will rise sharply at once.