In late July of the fifth year of Kentoku (958), autumn had already begun, and the temperature was still very high on sunny days in Tokyo. Rao is so, the early morning wind has brought the coolness of autumn, and the broad-leaved trees drift to the fallen leaves in the air early, swirling in the wind, adding a bit of bleak atmosphere.

The Tori-tei Pavilion on the post road south of Tokyo is home to many people staying at this time.

The world always bears traces of the activities of ancient people, such as this long pavilion. At first, it was a remnant of the Qin and Han dynasties' system of "ten miles and one pavilion", and later this system ceased to exist, but the long pavilion was given a new meaning. The willows and the long pavilion have been retained as the meaning of farewell. Guo Shao turned his head to look outside the pavilion, and sure enough, there were willow trees.

"The horse corps has stopped marching." A small general will hold his fists outside.

Li Chuyun turned his head and said, "Get off the horse and rest." The young general said, "Order." ”

Guo Shao saw Li Zhiyun's arrogant behavior after getting the opportunity to take military power, and his heart was more relieved. Guo Shao feels that the more a person wants something, the easier it is for him to get it...... There's no reason, it's just an intuition. Li Chuyun is eager to establish his military exploits and want victory, which is a good sign.

Guo Shao picked up a glass of wine from the wooden plate held by the slave, and several people around him, Wang Pu, Li Gu, and Li Yuan'er, the daughter of Li Chuyun, all took a wine glass, and Li Chuyun finally picked it up.

"This glass of wine is practiced for Li Dashuai, and I am waiting for your good news in Tokyo." Guo Shao raised his glass and said.

Several other people said: "I wish General Li a victory, and Wuping will be determined as soon as possible." ”

"By Guo Du's inspection and your auspicious words, I will go here, and I will not return it if I don't break Wuping! Dry! Li Chuyun said loudly with full of anger.

"!" Everyone raised their heads and drank it all. Even Li Yuan'er covered her lips with wide sleeves, drank a glass of wine, she put the wine glass down, and said, "Father must be cautious when he goes abroad to fight. ”

Li Chuyun said: "Don't worry, the old man will be fine." ”

Guo Shao looked sideways at the horsemen on the post road, about two hundred cavalry soldiers were waiting in the dust that had not yet dispersed, and Li Chuyun's guards who went here did not even need to bring the army. To go to Gangneung Mansion to transfer troops, the land and water are all together.

"I just got the news that the lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty has obeyed the will of the imperial court and transferred Lin Renzhao from Wuchang Festival Town back to Jinling." Guo Shao said, thinking that I can only help you get here, and how to fight depends on Li Chuyun's decision.

Wang Pu said: "General Li will not be threatened by the south ** on the water, and it is easy to cross the river." ”

Li Chuyun laughed when he heard this: "In this way, the new monarch of the Southern Tang Kingdom is a soft persimmon, and he can't help it!" The imperial court set Dingjiang Jiangnan is just around the corner, and now I will check the precursor for Guo Du, first take Zhou Xingfeng to do it, this victory ticket is in hand, and the princes are waiting for my news, and the good news will be sent back within two months. ”

Li Chuyun laughed, his long sideburns and a big beard shook to himself, and the sound was like a bell as if he was about to shake the pavilion. He is also tall and burly, Guo Shao once again had the illusion that if he dyes his face red with red paint, he can pretend to be Guan Gong, because Guan Gong in the temple also has long sideburns and a big beard, and he is tall and strong.

Li Yuan'er, who was standing next to Guo Shao, was born round and white, and naturally did not have a thick beard like Li Chuyun. However, only Guo Shao knows that in fact, Li Yuan'er is still very similar to Li Chuyun, but outsiders can't see it.

"There is no time limit for attacking Zhou Xingfeng, but I still hope that Li Gong can return to Tokyo before becoming a grandfather." Guo Shao said with a smile. Li Chuyun glanced at Li Yuan'er, her pregnancy was still completely invisible, so he smiled: "That's too easy." ”

Everyone talked about it again, and Li Chuyun hugged his fists and said: "Guo Du checked, colleagues, please stay, the old man is about to leave." ”

In the long pavilion, Guo Shao and the others hugged their fists again, Li Chuyun returned the salute and strode out of the pavilion, turned over and got on the horse, waved his hand to Li Yuan'er, and shouted: "Go!" ”

The rumbling sound of horses' hooves on the post road gradually sounded, and Li Chuyun's figure quickly disappeared into the dust on the dirt road. When the horse team was gone, the group left the pavilion and walked towards the carriage and horses parked on the post road.

Guo Shao personally opened the curtain behind a carriage and helped Li Yuan'er up. Seeing this, everyone looked sideways, of course, the habits and high-ranking people at this time would not be so graceful to women, so Guo Shao's behavior seemed a little out of place, but when everyone thought that this woman was the daughter of Li Chuyun, who had just left, they might probably figure it out. In front of everyone's eyes, Li Yuan'er's cheeks were also slightly red.

"Slow down." Guo Shao didn't forget to ask, "Are you dizzy in the car?" ”

"Ah Lang, I'm not dizzy." Li Yuan'er looked at him and shook his head slightly, and then lowered the curtain to cover the entrance of the carriage. Guo Shao subconsciously remembered one thing, the wheels of the ancient carriage were wooden, and the bottom plate of the vehicle was also a simple wooden plank, and there was no shock absorption at all.

The woman rode in a car, and the others rode all the way back to the city of Tokyo.

The front and back are all horse guards, the three riders walk side by side in front of the carriage, Guo Shao is in the middle, Wang Pu on the left and Li Gu on the right, both are civil officials. The crowd rode more slowly, because the carriage was faster and more bumpy. Guo Shao turned his head to the left and said casually: "Zhou Xingfeng is on the south bank of the Great River, let's do something to him, the plot is obviously the Southern Tang Kingdom." The monarchs and ministers of the Southern Tang Kingdom would not have guessed it, but they obeyed our meaning and transferred Lin Renzhao so quickly, I really didn't expect it. At the beginning, it was suggested that the Queen Mother would send envoys to go, but she didn't have much hope. ”

Wang Pu touched the sparse beard on his chin and said indifferently: "This move of the Southern Tang Dynasty Lord is really not clever. However, it is indeed not easy for them to make up their minds to start a war with the Great Zhou, and the people of Jiangnan may still be lucky to wait and see, after all, we are not yet in the bright light to attack the Southern Tang. ”

He paused, then turned his head and said, "It's in our interest to delay for a while. Since the Southern Tang Kingdom responded in this way, the old man thought that sending an envoy to Wu Yue Kingdom to contact them to jointly attack Jinling could be postponed in order to paralyze the Southern Tang Kingdom as much as possible. ”

Guo Shao nodded yes.

Wang Pu saw that his words were agreed, and immediately continued: "On the side of Shu State, the military generals and officials sent must be cautious. This year, our country will go to Shu, and we can immediately deploy troops against the Southern Tang Kingdom, because the Shu Kingdom has changed hands and has nothing to do, otherwise it will drag down our rear. ”

"I have read the letter that the king wrote to me at the beginning of the year, and I deeply agree with it." Guo Shaodao.

Wang Pu's eyes increased some brilliance after hearing this: "Guo Du can have this insight, and it is not in vain for you and my friends." ”

Guo Shao said with a smile: "I am really happy to have Wang Yuanjun as a friend...... Please ask the king to teach us, and we will govern the concept of Shu. ”

"Ideas?" Wang Pu frowned slightly.

Guo Shao hurriedly said: "It is a kind of strategy, the general direction, and the true attitude." ”

Wang Pu nodded and said, "Just a few words, keep the status quo." He paused and explained, "How did the Shu Kingdom Shishu live before, and now it is like that." The majority of the population has not been plundered, and the poorest people will not starve to death, and they will not take risks...... Don't knock the bones and suck the marrow of Shu for the sake of a little benefit in front of you. For example, if the salt administration is based on the practice of the Central Plains, a pound of official salt is 50 to 200 wen, and it is suddenly implemented in Shu, the Shu people feel too different, and the people will inevitably be dissatisfied. ”

"The price of salt is so expensive, this alone can really be called a bone and marrow." Guo Shao whispered.

Guo Shao was not the poorest person in this era when he was most depressed, after all, he was a strong young man, but he had lived in the market and knew the lives of the people better. The purchasing power of a penny is about equivalent to a modern dollar, but at this time, the income of ordinary people is very low, and a pound of salt is a burden of at least a few dozen yuan, which is very heavy; And not only this, but also a variety of common harsh taxes in ancient and modern times, just like the sigh of the Tang Dynasty's harsh government like a tiger.

He said: "The burden on the Central Plains is too heavy, and the only way to do it without discrimination is to cut taxes in the Central Plains in the future. Instead of copying the methods of the Central Plains to the newly conquered land. ”

Wang Pu said: "What Guo Du said is very true, which is also the reason why I couldn't help but write you a letter when I was seriously ill at the beginning of the year. There are indeed some scholars and doctors from high families in the court, who do not get mud with their fingers, and why not eat minced meat, we must not let the Queen Mother listen to the nonsense of these people. ”

Guo Shao hugged his fists and said: "Wang Yuanjun has a piece of advice, and I will echo Wang Yuanjun's remarks in front of the Queen Mother." However, the national policy and strategy should be considered in the long run, and the words of the prince to 'maintain the status quo' are quite insightful, and they should indeed be adjusted slowly according to the conditions of the time, and expedient measures should not be taken lightly. ”

Wang Pu quietly glanced at Li Gu, who was riding a horse and only listened to it, and said: "The old man is a privy envoy, regardless of government affairs, he casually points fingers at the government and politics, and others will say that the old man takes a mouse." Li Xianggong is a person from the political affairs hall, and he has such a good relationship with Guo Du, why not find a time, let's sit down and see if we can talk together? ”

Wang Pu is always a little harsh when he speaks, I really don't know why, probably because the way he speaks is too direct. For example, "Li Xianggong and Guo Du have a good relationship", which is really not very popular.

Guo Shao was silent, and looked at Li Gu slightly.

Li Gu finally spoke: "What is the letter that Wang Zhijun wrote to Guo Du at the beginning of the year? I don't know what the two of you have talked about, but I was confused, so I didn't dare to say anything lightly. ”

Wang Pu said: "The letter is in the hands of Guo Du's inspector, and you can dispose of it." ”

"What about tomorrow afternoon? Come to my house and drink coarse tea. Guo Shao said simply, he is a relatively cheerful person, and he will do whatever he thinks of. Both of them said that there was nothing important to do tomorrow afternoon. Guo Shao thought about it again, Wang Pu was still in Shu, otherwise he still wanted to pull Wang Pu into the gang and participate in the discussion of this political meeting. He said, "There are two more people, one is Zuo You, the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, and the other is Huang Binglian, the official of the Zuo Hall of Kaifeng Mansion. ”

Wang Pu immediately said: "Zuo You is General Guo's staff, and the old man can figure it out......"

Guo Shao's forehead was slightly dark, the staff or something, he felt that it was better not to say it explicitly...... But Wang Pu has that temperament, so he really has no choice but to endure it. The most important thing is that Guo Shao is fearless now, and he is not afraid of anyone saying that he will form a party, and if he forms a party, he will form a party, what can he do?

I heard Wang Pu say again: "I also know Huang Binglian, a criminal officer who has decided a case, what do you have to talk about with him?" ”

Guo Shaodao: "I think this person is quite knowledgeable and reliable, and it doesn't hurt for everyone to make friends with each other." ”