The spacious and magnificent imperial city has at least tens of thousands of people inside, but the outside of the Jinxiang Hall is very empty, and even a little silent; People don't dare to move around this place at will. The drumbeat of "dong dong dong ......" came from Xuande Gate, echoing in the city, making it even more empty.

The sun in the west is in the afternoon, and there is a relatively big thing to beat the drum at this hour: the emperor's western tour palace.

Fu Jinzhan of the west hall stood behind the curtain, looking out from time to time, but she only paced in place, and did not plan to go out. From behind, she was raising her hand to stroke her sideburns, and the bright window turned her figure into a dark shadow; The light robe is a little transparent, and the completely opaque body lines become a very clear outline. Several maids looked from behind the side, and they could also see the obvious full and rounded outline of her upper body, and the two maids glanced at each other in unison, as if they wanted to say: What a beautiful figure.

Fu Jinzhan will not be too close to Guo Shao, especially in the Jinxiang Palace. I haven't seen each other for a few months, and there is no personal word, but she still wants to see Guo Shao. Now Guo Shao has returned to the palace, and it is close at hand...... But you can't see it, and you can wait for days. He should think about the big picture first and decide who to prioritize.

Thinking that Guo Shao was going to kiss me and me with other women under his nose, and brought back a party beauty...... And Fu Jinzhan himself couldn't even see him. Suddenly, she burst into breath.

She was sullen in her heart, but she didn't show it in her temperament.

Oh and she sighed helplessly, and said in her heart: It's all because of her own weakness and unease, even if she walks over openly, what is wrong with an excuse to hand over state affairs?

But Fu Jinzhan will not do this, because her heart is more delicate and intelligent than that of ordinary women: she never takes the initiative to win over men, nor does she take the initiative to ask for anything, at least not to show it.

She paced a few more steps, her eyes fell on a fish tank quietly placed on the table, her eyes were a little distracted, the breeze blew from the window, the water surface of the fish tank rippled turbulently, the peace had been broken.

At this moment, a voice suddenly startled her: "Your Majesty has arrived!" ”

Fu Jinzhan looked surprised, and then laughed softly again, and hurriedly pressed the jade hand to his lips, as if those subtle emotions were spit out of his mouth in one breath. A blush suddenly appeared on her cheeks, and she suppressed her smile and pretended to be nothing.

After a while, Guo Shao walked in, and he saluted: "Recently, there has been a great war in the south, and there are many government affairs, so I hurried to ask Empress Duanci about state affairs. ”

Fu Jinzhan saw him behind the curtain with a serious and serious look, as if what he said was true. I don't know where it's funny, she can't help but almost don't laugh.

Fu Jinzhan said dignifiedly: "Please come to the study to discuss matters." ”

Let's go over first.

The two of them sat down next to a few cases in the upper part of the study, at first they let the palace maid stay by their side, and the two of them slowly talked about some polite and well-known booing questions. They are looking at each other, consciously or unconsciously.

Guo Shao's facial lines are not too angular, very ordinary, and his skin is relatively rough, but he is still very pleasing to the eye when he gets used to it, and he is very tall and strong...... A feeling of affection and dependability. He is the kind of person who is not outstanding at first glance, but the more he looks at it, the more comfortable he becomes, because he is not particularly bad in any aspect to attract disgust.

The key is that although this person is strong and a martial artist, he has a very understanding heart...... For example, how could he have come to see him right away today?

Fu Jinzhan's expression was very calm, but the eyes that looked at him were very happy and obsessed.

The two talked about something that was slightly related to the national policy, and Fu Jinzhan took the opportunity to retreat. A group of attendants exited the study and walked to a place where they could not be heard, but the door was still wide open.

As soon as the people left, the two fell silent.

Fu Jinzhan finally asked, "Why did Your Majesty come here to see me first?" Her tone was casual, as if she were saying something inconsequential.

Guo Shao replied to the question: "That party county lord is purely a marriage, and it was not easy for me to stabilize her." ”

Fu Jinzhan smiled: "The second sister doesn't care, I don't care who you want to canonize." ”

Guo Shao observed her face and said, "I still have to explain." ”

Fu Jinzhan was noncommittal, but she really still wanted Guo Shao to belong to herself, and her heart was here...... Although the emperor can have many, many concubines according to the etiquette system.

Guo Shao said again: "The days when we talk in such a secret will not be too long, everything is ready, and I will go on another northern expedition early next year." ”

Fu Jinzhan hurriedly persuaded: "Brother Shao'er, don't be too anxious. What's more, even if we win Youzhou, will we be able to comply with the etiquette system? ”

Guo Shao said in a deep voice: "Of course." ”

Fu Jinzhan looked him in the eye with a smile and said nothing.

Guo Shao glanced up, and said quietly: "The sixteen states of Youyun can be recovered, why do we still use the country name of Da Zhou?" ”

Fu Jinzhan was stunned for a moment......

She didn't think of this, and after thinking about it temporarily, Guo Shao didn't seem to be wrong...... A few years after he ascended the throne, his prestige position was secured, who would oppose it too fiercely? The Fu family and some nobles have consolidated their vested position in this dynasty, and the name of the country has nothing to do with their roots; The civil and military who gradually had real power in the current dynasty will resist even less fiercely after several years of buying and adapting. Coupled with the prestige of the meritorious service, there are very few people who are really willing to stand up against this matter.

If the Great Zhou perished, the emperor of the new dynasty married the empress of the previous dynasty, at least it has nothing to do with ethics. Taizu didn't recognize it and started anew, which is equivalent to two families.

Guo Shao said softly: "In this world, as long as the strength is big enough, there are few things that cannot be done. It's just a matter of whether you want to think about it. ”

Fu Jinzhan said in a trembling voice: "Brother Shao, I'm all this age, but a woman, is such a big thing for me?" Actually, you don't have to marry me. ”

Guo Shao did not answer.

Fu Jinzhan's heart rose and fell, and she heard her own heartbeat, like the ripples on the calm surface of the lake. Her voice was soothing, and she said softly: "There are so many people in the world, if you want to find someone younger and more beautiful than me, it is not difficult. ”

Guo Shao sighed, his voice was like a confession, and he muttered: "I don't know if it's because I've gone through too many things, I feel like I'm getting old recently; What I used to want so much, now I don't have interest. ”

Fu Jinzhan smiled, and there was a slight coquettish tone in his words: "I don't believe it, the First Emperor was much older than you when he unified the world, and he didn't repair the Afang Palace to accept so many beauties." ”

Guo Shao said: "Even if they look like immortals, they are very good...... Why should I share everything I have with them? ”

Fu Jinzhan said quietly: "You are pampered, aren't you willing?" ”

Guo Shao stretched out his hand and made a meaningless movement, and muttered: "The problem is, it is not easy for us to get to this point, and it is no one else who can help me...... Alas, I can't tell, that's what it means anyway. ”

He then added: "Anyway, life and death are fate, and if one day I have to leave everything I have to leave to someone else, that person will definitely be Marigold." ”

Fu Jinzhan immediately lowered his face and frowned: "Say this well!" You have a son, what is the use of me as a woman? ”

Guo Shao said again: "If you wait a little longer, I don't believe that I can't take Youzhou." ”

Fu Jinzhan didn't say anything, she was a little distracted. She felt that she and Guo Shao had completely separated from the relationship between men and women, even if they were husband and wife; It's a bit like a relative, but relatives like a father and brother are not so close.

Perhaps, you have gone too far? She has always hinted to Guo Shao anyway that she is the only one in the world who is the best and most sincere to him, and Guo Shao has already reached the level of superstition in the long run.

Fu Jinzhan glanced at him when he thought of this, and said: "Don't let the minister listen to these words, otherwise the world will think that you are unreliable and too easy to mislead the public for personal reasons." ”

Guo Shao said with a smile: "So the most reliable power can't be decided by one person, and many people have the final say so that it won't be extreme." ”

Fu Jinzhan listened thoughtfully, sometimes she also felt that Guo Shao was very strange, and some of the things she said were very strange, but it seemed to make sense when she thought about it.

She said again: "I still want to advise you, after all, national affairs are not child's play, don't be too swayed by personal feelings." Find the best time this year to surprise and go all out to defeat Youzhou, it's only been a year, will there be too much difference? ”

When Guo Shao heard this, his face was also faintly sad.

…… Anyway, the risk is getting bigger and bigger. Today's expenditures have far exceeded fiscal revenues, and countries such as the Southern Han Dynasty can still plunder some resources to compensate for military expenses; But another Northern Expedition would be economically unprofitable.

In the Northern Expedition again, the number of mobilized people on both sides may increase to more than 500,000 people (real number) on the scale of the war, and the time should be extended, which is an astronomical amount!

If this has not been brought down, no one can predict what the consequences will be if the state treasury is emptied and taxes are raised.

In addition to resource consumption, there is also the problem of the combat effectiveness of soldiers. Cao Bin's township army battalion must be fair in rewarding meritorious deeds this time, so that he can at least gain the trust of the soldiers, so that he must be careful and cautious in examining his merits and deeds...... Guo Shao has never studied modern management, but he understands that organizational management is a very important part, and he can only rely on the oldest method: clear rewards and punishments.

At this time, the rear had settled down, and the conditions for the Northern Expedition were ripe. But Guo Shao felt more and more pressure, he thought about all kinds of things, and his face couldn't help but show fatigue.

"Brother Shao." A gentle voice brought him back to his senses.

"Huh?" He looked up at Fu Jinzhan, her gaze was like a warm little hand caressing his face, which was very comfortable and very close, and she whispered: "Seeing you like this, my heart hurts." ”

Guo Shao didn't say a word, and said in his heart: It is still Fu Jinzhan who is the best and most sincere to himself.