Don't look at Deng Yu was demoted from Da Situ to the right general by Liu Xiu, but the emotion between Deng Yu and Liu Xiu is far beyond the comparison of other ministers, there are not many Wanhu Marquis under Liu Xiu, Deng Yu is the first.

Liu Xiu pondered for a moment, picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and asked, "Zhonghua, who do you think can succeed Fu Gong?" ”

Jia Fu hooked the corners of his mouth, and sure enough, His Majesty had the heart to replace Da Situ.

Deng Yu thought about it seriously, and said: "Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that Hou Shangshu can take over as the Great Situ. ”

Hou Shangshu is Hou Ba.

Hou Ba currently holds the position of Shang Shuling and is the head of Shang Shutai.

Liu Xiu's three most trusted institutions, Shangshutai, Yuntai and Sili Xiaowei, Shangshutai is actually equivalent to the cabinet.

Don't look at Shang Shuling and the officials under his command are not high, but they are the core institutions that deal with the affairs of the imperial court, and many affairs of the imperial court no longer need to be taken to the court for discussion, and they can be dealt with directly in Shangshutai.

Hou Ba, as the leader of Shangshutai, is naturally a minister that Liu Xiu appreciates and trusts, Deng Yu recommended Hou Ba to take over the position of Da Situ, firstly, he also agrees with Hou Ba's ability, and secondly, he is also doing what he likes.

When Liu Xiu heard Deng Yu's recommendation, his eyes lit up, and he said with a smile: "Junfang (Hou Bazi Junfang) is very outstanding in terms of talent and virtue, and he has a good image and good bearing, but he is a little more serious, but it is suitable to be a big Situ." ”

When Wang Mang was still alive, Hou Ba was recommended as the county commander because of his outstanding virtues, and later became too guarded, and in the midst of the chaos, he kept the peace of the county, and his talent can also be seen from it.

In addition, Liu Xiu has always attached great importance to appearance, and he would reuse the sacrifice at the beginning, which was also very important to a large extent.

Counting the ministers under Liu Xiu's command, like Deng Yu, Wu Han, Jia Fu, Geng Yi, Cen Peng, etc., their appearances are all more outstanding than the other, and Hou Ba is also one of them.

After three days, Mrs. Sacrifice received a letter from Yin Lihua, brought the sacrifice manwan, and came to Luoyang.

Liu Xiu personally met her mother and daughter in the palace, and arranged for the two mothers and daughters to temporarily live in the West Palace.

Yin Lihua, as the lord of the West Palace, received the priest lady and the priest Manwan very warmly.

For Yin Lihua's warm hospitality, Mrs. Sacrifice and Sacrifice Manwan were flattered, and they were also very grateful to Yin Lihua in their hearts.

Yin Lihua has a good impression of the sacrifice manwan, the women she came into contact with in Luoyang are all wives or young ladies of powerful families in Luoyang, and most of them are more or less arrogant.

Even if they behaved respectfully in front of Yin Lihua, they would still show arrogance to the palace maids and chamberlains below.

Sacrifice Manwan is not, first, the sacrifice is indeed a good way to teach the girl, and second, Henan is not Luoyang after all, there are not so many magnates, and there is no such heavy miasma as the Luoyang elite class, the little girl seems to be very mature and sensible.

Coupled with Deng Yu's reminder to Yin Lihua, she had more contact with the priest Manwan and got along very well.

On this day, Song Song, the Taishou of Henan, was ordered to go to Luoyang to face the saint and tell the Son of Heaven about the military and political affairs of Henan County.

Listening to Song Song's love for the big and small affairs of Henan County, Liu Xiu was very satisfied, and when the conversation between the two was about to end, Liu Xiu said meaningfully: "Henan County is where the capital is located, it is very important, Henan County is stable, the capital will be stable, if Henan County is in turmoil, Luoyang will be in chaos, and it will be very harmful to the imperial court." ”

Song Song's face was straight, and he said: "Your Majesty, rest assured, Weichen will fulfill his duties and ensure that Henan is peaceful." ”

Liu Xiu laughed and said, "Song Taishou has the demeanor of a brother, and I am very relieved. ”

Liu Xiu also likes Song Song very much.

First of all, he is very suitable for Liu Xiu's eyes, Song Hong's image is excellent, otherwise Liu Huang would not fall in love with Song Hong at first sight, as Song Hong's younger brother, Song Song's image will naturally not be bad.

Secondly, Song Song did govern Henan County very well, and his own luck was good, during his tenure as Henan Taishou, the wind and rain were smooth, and the people lived a prosperous life, which also greatly stabilized the prices in Luoyang to a large extent.

Liu Xiule said hehehe: "Tonight, I will hold a banquet in the palace, and when the time comes, Song Taishou will also come to participate!" ”

When Song Song heard this, he was surprised and delighted, and hurriedly bowed to Liu Xiu to thank him.

Although the identity of Henan Taishou is unusual, it is still Taishou after all, and it is a great favor to be able to participate in the banquet of the Son of Heaven in the palace.

Farewell to Liu Xiu, Song Song left the palace with a smile, and as soon as he walked out of the palace gate, he saw his brother Song Hong waiting for him outside.

He stepped forward quickly with a smile on his face, and arched his hand and said, "Big brother! ”

"Hmm!"

Song Hong only nodded, answered, and then pulled Song Song's sleeve and said, "Follow me in the car and talk!" ”

Song Song's face was inexplicable, and he didn't know what the eldest brother was nervous about.

Sitting in the car, Song Song asked curiously, "Big brother, is something wrong?" ”

Song Hong asked, "What did Your Majesty tell you when he summoned you?"

Tell me everything! ”

Song Song smiled and said, "Your Majesty has praised me and said that I have done a good job in Henan. ”

"That's all?"

Song Hongyang raised his eyebrows and asked.

Song Song hurriedly said: "By the way, Your Majesty also said that there will be a banquet in the palace tonight and invite me to participate." ”

Speaking of this, Song Song smiled and said, "It's the first time for me to be invited by Your Majesty to participate in Your Majesty's banquet!" ”

"Don't go!"

Song Song was on the rise, and his mouth was so happy that he couldn't close it, and Song Hong suddenly splashed a basin of cold water.

"Huh?"

Song Song wondered if he had heard it wrong, and looked at his eldest brother in disbelief.

The Son of Heaven personally invited him to attend the palace banquet by himself, but the eldest brother didn't let him go?

Song Hong's face softened a little, and asked, "Do you know why His Majesty invited you to the palace for a banquet?" ”

Song Song shook his head dumbly and asked, "Why?" ”

Song Hong said: "Your Majesty is planning to propose to you!" ”

"Mention ...... Titi pro? ”

"Do you know that Your Majesty is proposing marriage?"

"Who?"

"The third lady of the sacrificial family, the sacrificial manwan."

"Huh?"

Song Song was even more surprised.

Although there are some nobles in Henan City, there are not many of them, and the priests among them can be regarded as the top magnates.

Song Song has also heard of the third lady of the priest family, who has not yet married, but he has never met him, and he doesn't dare to think about it.

Sacrificial Zun is a close minister of the Son of Heaven, not something that he Song Song can afford.

Now that I heard the eldest brother say that the Son of Heaven was going to propose marriage to him on behalf of the priest, Song Song's face suddenly turned red, and he stammered: "Big brother...... Big brother, don't laugh with me, Miss Sai ...... again How can you look down on me? ”

Seeing him like this, Song Hong was so angry that he almost rolled his eyes, and he said with a straight face: "If the sacrificial general is still alive, this family business is not bad, but now that the sacrificial general has passed away, and the sacrificial lady is just an orphan girl, how can she help you in your career?" ”

Song Song looked at the eldest brother in disbelief, when the Song family got married, when did it depend on the other party's family, the other party's family background, and whether the other party could provide help?

He muttered: "Big brother, big brother once said to His Majesty that the wife of the chaff will not go to court!" ”

At that time, Song Hongyi's rhetorical rejection of the Son of Heaven's proposal has long been rumored to be a good story among the people.

Song Hong Zhengse said: "It is precisely because the wife of the chaff does not go to the court, so you need to be more cautious in choosing a wife, Ah Song, you have to remember that the wife you choose is not only related to yourself, but also to the entire Song family."

Now, the priest is an orphan girl, and you and her are not suitable. ”

"Big brother......" "Okay, don't say it again."

Your Majesty's banquet, you can't refuse, you can go, but this family business, you don't agree to it anyway, if Your Majesty really mentions it at the banquet, you say that you have a favorite woman. ”

"But big brother, I didn't ......" "Now I have!" The fourth lady of the Hou Mansion has passed the age of the Hou, I heard that the fourth miss of the Hou Mansion is also very fond of you, if this family business is successful, it will be of great help to my Song family. ”

The Hou Mansion that Song Hong said refers to the mansion of Hou Ba.

Hou Ba is Shang Shuling, in charge of Shang Shutai, Shang Shutai is a small court outside the court, in the court, Hou Ba looks inconspicuous, but he is definitely a person with real power, even more real power than him, the big Sikong.

If the Song family and the Hou family can successfully marry, then the Song family's status in the court will definitely be greatly improved, and they even have the confidence to fight against His Majesty's henchmen such as Deng Yu, Jia Fu, Wu Han, Geng Yi, Cen Peng, Feng Yi, and Gai Yan.

When Song Song heard this, he lowered his head and didn't say a word.

In the past, Song Song respected Song Hong very much, but this time, he felt that his eldest brother had changed, became utilitarian, and he almost didn't know him.

Song Hong looked at Song Song, who bowed his head and was silent, and said meaningfully: "Ah Song, accompanying the king is like accompanying the tiger, and being a minister is like walking on the edge of a cliff, if you are not careful, you may fall to pieces."

You may not be able to understand what you are doing now, but in the future, you will understand the hard work of being a brother sooner or later. ”

Song Song lowered his head and whispered, "Big brother, I know." ”

That night, Liu Xiu held a banquet in the palace, and the people invited were basically the ministers of the court, such as Fu Zhan, Song Hong, Deng Yu, Jia Fu, Kou Sui, Zhu Fu and so on.

Now, Kou Sui is no longer the Taishou of Yingchuan, but was transferred back to Luoyang by Liu Xiu to serve as the executive Jinwu, as for the predecessor of the Zhijinwu Zhu Fu, the current position of the imperial servant.

The servant, like Zhi Jinwu, is one of the Nine Qings.

The servant was an official in charge of the Son of Heaven's vehicles and horses, and also had another duty, that is, he was in charge of the government's horse breeding and animal husbandry affairs.

It seems that the official position of the servant is not very important, but it is not.

In ancient times, horses were the weapon of the nation.

In terms of the seven counties of Wuwei, Longxi, Hanyang, Anding, Beidi, Shangjun and Xihe, there were as many as 300,000 horses in the heyday of horse breeding, which was also the main source of horses for Xiliang Tie.

In addition, the cattle and sheep used for sacrifice are also under the responsibility of the servants.

Therefore, the servant is not an idle or petty official, but is directly related to the country's cavalry and the strength of the country's army.

The Han cavalry is an important part of the Han army, and the reason why the Han Empire can shock the Quartet and come to the court from all directions is that the Han cavalry has made great contributions.

The cavalry of the Han Dynasty was also one of the few armies in Chinese history that could combine the fierceness of the nomads with the formation of the Han people.

The ministers who came to the banquet this time did not come alone, but all brought their families.

It's just that the number of people is small, and there are no two banquets in the front palace and the back palace, but they all sit in the same hall to eat.

Although they are in the same hall, men and women sit separately, with the man sitting on Liu Xiu's right hand and the woman sitting on Liu Xiu's left.

There is a cloud in the Analects, men and women are seven years old at different tables, and they do not eat together.

When boys and girls reach the age of seven, they cannot sleep on the same mat and have to sit separately when eating.

These ministers present are all in important positions, and Song Song can only sit at the end.

Because Song Hong had reminded him in advance, he secretly observed the female relatives opposite, and wanted to find out the sacrifice manwan from it.

However, he had never seen the priest before, and the ladies on the opposite side were dressed up in colorful and flowery displays, and Song Song couldn't tell who was who for a while.