It didn't take long for the eunuch Cao Tai to leave the palace to do errands, and went straight south to see Guo Shao.

At this time, Li Jing, the emperor of the southern capital of the Southern Tang Kingdom (Nanchang), died of a serious illness, and the civil and military officials of the southern capital surrendered, and the large areas of land in the west and south of the Southern Tang Kingdom that had not yet been captured were included in the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In the government of Jiangning City, Guo Shao made a special trip to set up a mourning hall, hung white flags on the doors and windows, paid tribute to the Taishang of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and invited officials at all levels of Jiangning Mansion to participate. There were a lot of people who came, this was an invitation signed by Guo Shao, the commander of the Zhou army, and it was to pay tribute to Li Jing.

Guo Shao, Wang Pu and the generals stood under the eaves next to the lobby, greeting the officials of the Southern Tang Kingdom who came one after another, and more and more people came.

At the turn of February and March, the white flowers of several plum trees planted in the courtyard of the government are in full bloom, and the white flags and paper money are in full bloom, and the white petals that bloom to the extreme are scattered from the trees. There were also a few soldiers digging pits in the courtyard with their heads, and the officials who came all quietly looked sideways, curious to see what those people were doing in the courtyard of the government.

Because it is a mourning hall, Guo Shao and the others naturally can't laugh casually, everyone has a straight face between the etiquette, and the atmosphere is solemn and low.

At this moment, I saw a bearded man wearing linen and filial piety coming from the gate, who was not Han Xizai? When Li Gu saw his dress, his expression suddenly changed, and Guo Shao watched quietly.

Han Xizai walked to the door of the lobby, ignoring Guo Shao and other Zhou Jun who were standing under the eaves, and knelt on the ground with a "plop", crying "wow", crying and chattering sadly, more sad than the death of his father and mother.

The people on Zhou Jun's side were in an uproar, and Dong Zunzhi looked annoyed. Guo Shao hurriedly turned his head and glared at Dong Zunzhi, and everyone didn't make any moves, and they all looked at Han Xizai, who was wearing linen and filial piety, crying there.

Guo Shao really doesn't understand how people can be so sad, the old master has given him a favor, if you think rationally, everyone should be grateful, the so-called loyalty and filial piety advocated by people. But the master is not a father and mother after all, and they don't get along day and night, where did they get such deep feelings? Anyway, if Guo Shao were to change it, this situation would not be sad at all...... Perhaps the emotional components of the ancients are not the same as Guo Shao.

The Southern Tang Kingdom has become the Great Zhou, and Han Xizai is still crying the old master there, which really makes the civil and military of the Great Zhou quite embarrassing.

However, Guo Shao did not stop Han Xizai at this time, and felt that it was not a bad thing: the ministers of the Southern Tang Kingdom, everyone was a face-saving person, even if many of them wanted to face the reality and continue to be officials in the name of the Great Zhou court, but on the surface, they still had to talk about the loyalty to the old master; If Han Xizai doesn't show nostalgia for the old and is not afraid of power, how can he maintain his reputation in Shilin? Since Guo Shao is determined to win over Han Xizai, he just thinks he is useful; If Han Xizai is notorious and can't call on the dukes, what's the use of wooing him?

At this time, Guo Shao walked up kindly, supported Han Xizai with his own hands, and sighed: "The deceased is gone, Han Gongjie mourns." ”

Han Hee-jae was helped up, still wiping his tears and sobbing...... He|mother|, if Guo Shao hadn't held back desperately, he would have to laugh out loud! Because the appearance in front of him is so funny, a bearded man in his fifties is crying his nose aggrievedly and sadly, which really makes people a little unbearable in this scene.

Seeing this scene, the countless officials below not only did not smile, but they were all sad, and some were sighing.

Outside the door, a sapling was carried into the yard. Guo Shao then walked out from under the eaves and walked to the dirt pit in the courtyard, and the sapling was also carried to the side. As everyone watched, someone muttered quietly...... The pit was planted with trees, and I finally understood its usefulness. But everyone may also think it is strange, what trees are planted at the funeral?

Wang Pu and the others looked at Guo Shao calmly, and no one asked.

"Everyone......" Guo Shao raised his voice, looked back and spoke left and right. Everyone was attracted to him and paid attention to him, after all, everyone was curious and wanted to find out what Guo Shao wanted to do.

"The ancestor of the Southern Tang Kingdom has governed Jiangnan for more than ten years, and now that he is dead, he will also feel deeply sorry when he hears the news, and he can better understand your sorrow." Guo Shaodao, "In the past, the world was in turmoil, the heroes divided the territory and divided the rivers and mountains, and the Li family of the Southern Tang Kingdom guarded one side, so that the people in the south of the Yangtze River were free from the suffering of war, and they should be able to teach the world feelings." ”

When everyone heard Guo Shao say this, most of them were puzzled. The conqueror still says good things about the deceased?

Guo Shao said calmly: "However, Huaxia is originally a family, and the division of the territory is only temporary, and the civil war should not continue indefinitely. Today, the people have been fighting hard for a long time, the general trend of unification is mighty, and the unity of all countries is the will of heaven and the hearts of the people. Ladies and gentlemen, do not forget what is right because of your faithfulness. Jiangnan people have indeed perished the country, but they have not perished the world; The Great Zhou Dynasty was not a country established by foreign tribes, and the recovery of the land of the Southern Tang Dynasty was not a conquest. Which is more important, the state or the world? ”

Guo Shao slapped a few times after saying that, and some came over with shovels, stepped forward to distribute them to everyone, and Guo Shao also took a handful. He also personally stepped forward to deliver shovels, and some officials did not dare to refuse, so they accepted. There must be a gap between the Southern Tang Dynasty warriors and the generals of the Zhou army, but after all, the two sides have been in contact for a long time, and they are still polite on the surface.

"Shovel the soil, let's plant this tree in the yard of Jiangning Mansion."

Guo Shao shoveled a small shovel of soil into the pit first, and everyone didn't want to be too embarrassed about his face, so they helped plant trees and planted a tree together, which was a bit new.

Everyone planted the saplings into the pit, and Guo Shao scooped water from the bucket in public and watered it in public. When everyone felt that it was quite boring, Guo Shao took the scoop and said: "I thought that the empire was like a tree, it was originally a living thing, and living things would take root, grow, and get sick. Now the Shu Kingdom and the Southern Tang Dynasty are classified into the Great Zhou Dynasty one by one, and I have the seedlings of the empire, and the people of the world govern them together, and if you water the seedlings, it will grow and grow, and the Han and Tang dynasties will appear prosperous and restore the glory of the empire! This is the common effort of all the people, and no one has the right to destroy it without permission; If the rulers do not exercise benevolence and water, the living creatures will become sick and wither. The princes and I have planted the same tree of this empire, and we should also work together to govern the place. ”

When Guo Shao spoke, his expression was sincere and emotional. When the soldiers of the Zhou army heard this, they all applauded. Only then did the officials of the Southern Tang Kingdom understand the meaning of planting trees together, and they looked at each other in front of them.

Guo Shao finished speaking, said a few words, and immediately left the courtyard of the lobby with his entourage.

When it came to the Chinese army, Wang Puzan said: "A good empire is like a tree, General Guo's metaphor is very appropriate, throughout the ages, how many dynasties were strong at first, and then declined without benevolent government; There are also many kings who have worked hard to prosper in prosperous times. Living creatures don't stay the same, well! ”

Guo Shao sat down on the chair and said with a smile: "Han Xizai was originally a scholar from the north, and the Southern Tang Kingdom was destroyed, I guess he was still willing to submit after weighing the pros and cons and figuring it out, but everyone in the world was constrained by a reputation and public opinion, so he had to be like that." ”

Several people nodded in agreement.

Guo Shao said seriously: "However, since we are sincere, we have to think more about others, even if Han Xizai is tempted, he is not willing to be infamy." I thought of a way to help him. ”

He looked at Li Gu as he spoke: "There is a picture of Han Xizai's Night Banquet in the palace of the Southern Tang Kingdom, which is exquisitely painted; However, the value of such things is not only determined by the level of skill, but also the reputation of the person in the painting is very important. I know a big merchant who can sell the picture to the merchant and remind her to find a way to make a name for Han Zheng, so that the merchant can also get the benefits of famous paintings.

Let's just put it this way: Han Gong was loyal to the Southern Tang Kingdom, but because his wise political views and ideas were not reused, he often lamented that his ambitions could not be realized, but he was suspicious, so he was depressed in his chest, and he was drunk all day long. In fact, he is a famous minister with a heart and a loyal liver......"

Li Gu was full of interest when he heard this, and said: "General Guo is really a person who is a confidant of Han Gong, and Han Gong is originally that kind of person!" ”

"Yes, it's not a fabrication, it's a fact." Guo Shaozheng said, "But in order to let more people know, this is the best way to make this decision, let the businessmen with more doors help me, and start from the painting." ”

Li Gu nodded yes.

Guo Shao immediately said: "The southern capital has surrendered, the entire territory of the Southern Tang Kingdom belongs to the Great Zhou, there is no need to use a large army here, and the forbidden army will return to the dynasty in the near future; I think it is more appropriate for Li Gong to stay and preside over the situation. ”

Li Gu clenched his fists and said, "You should do your best." ”

Guo Shao said again: "Cao Bin controlled the garrison, and Gao Yanyan's Jiannan Army also stayed for the time being. Let Cao Bin work hard, and after he returns to the court, he will ask for credit for him, and he will not be treated badly. ”

Wang Pu and Li Gu nodded. Wang Pu seemed to have something to say, so Guo Shao didn't speak for the time being, and looked at him sideways. Wang Pu said: "This time to attack the Tang Dynasty, Wu Yueguo tried his best, and I withdrew the army first, but I can also show benevolence." ”

Guo Shao understood what Wang Pu meant, it happened that the army was in the south of the Yangtze River, which was also a threat to Wu Yueguo, and he could seek more territory with both grace and power...... However, Guo Shao was preparing to go back to claim the emperor, and he couldn't take a hand to pay attention to Wu Yueguo for the time being. The remaining places in the south have weak military strength, and I am afraid that they will not dare to make any reckless moves under the strength of the Great Zhou, and the threat is already very small.

Li Gu said: "If there are officials from Wu Yueguo who come to Jiangning Mansion to make friends, I will not say anything about the threat of force, but only say that the court will recite merit and treat people kindly, and persuade them to accept the land and return to obedience, and come to the Great Zhou court to pay homage to the marquis." ”

Guo Shao said: "Very good, the imperial court will also issue an edict to reward the lord of Wu Yue." ”

As he spoke, he picked up a ruler, turned around and pointed to the big picture on the wall behind him: "The route back to Beijing must also be determined by the Chinese army first." This time, the army has to transport a lot of things and a lot of baggage, so it is best to go back along the waterway, so that the warships can carry the material ......"

The civil officials and military generals who were still talking just now suddenly fell silent, silently looking at the picture pointed out by Guo Shao.

Guo Shao took a ruler and struck twice at a position above: "The forbidden army and land soldiers take boats from here and here, quarrying pontoon bridges and Jingkou, and cross the river first; Then gather and assemble in Yangzhou first. The warship of the Guards Division went north through the Jingkou and entered the Cao Canal, where the water and land converged and returned north along the waterway. and to the Huai River ......"

Everyone immediately listened attentively to the important route, to follow the waterway, and the south side of the road had no choice; Crossing the Huai River and taking that waterway is the key.

Guo Shao glanced around the left and right, "The march is in the territory of the Great Zhou, so there is no need to take a detour and toss, just go to Bianshui." ”

Guo Shao said, and observed Wang Pu's gaze, but there were too many place names on the map, and I couldn't see what Wang Pu was paying attention to...... But you can guess that it is Song Zhou. Walking in Bianshui, Songzhou is the closest place to Tokyo.

"Do you want to prepare military grain for the states and counties along the way?" Wang Pu asked.

Guo Shao said: "Tens of thousands of troops march by land and water, their whereabouts cannot be concealed, and we don't have to hide it. ”

After saying that, he picked up the teacup on the official case, but pretended to look at the file in front of him and didn't drink it for a long time.

Li Gu took the lead in getting up and said, "If there is nothing else, I will retire." ”