On December 29 of the seventeenth year of Hongde, Zhao Hongrun almost stepped on the point of the end of the year before returning to the royal capital.

After returning to Daliang, Zhao Hongrun called Mi Jiang, Una, and Su Wangwei to return to Su Wangfu first, and only took a few Zongwei such as Shen Yu and Mu Qing to the palace on horseback.

"Congratulations to His Royal Highness King Su on his triumphant return from the expedition to Sanchuan!"

Jin Ju, the commander of the Praetorian Guard guarding the palace gate, and the nearby guards bowed down to congratulate His Royal Highness the King of Su.

It is no wonder that after all, many people in the government and the opposition have calculated that it is impossible for Zhao Hongrun to return to Daliang early before this year, so they did not hold a ceremony to welcome the army and triumph, waiting for the next spring to make up for it.

It is precisely for this reason that the Ministry of War did not issue a document urging the Dangshan Army and the Shangshui Army to return to Daliang to resume their lives.

I have to say that there are still a lot of smart people in this world.

"Hehe, thank you. …… Reward. ”

Zhao Hongrun accepted the congratulations of the guards, after all, when he was still a prince in the palace, the guards had a very good relationship with him.

And Zhao Hongrun's character is that if you are polite to me, I will be more polite to you. And vice versa.

After sending the guards, Zhao Hongrun took the lead in coming to Ningxiang Palace and greeted his mother, Concubine Shen Shu.

At this time, Concubine Shen Shufei learned from Wei Tianzi that his son Zhao Hongrun had successfully pacified Sanchuan a month or two ago, so she was not worried day and night on weekdays, her complexion was quite good, and she couldn't help but tease her son, why didn't she bring the new prospective daughter-in-law named Una to her to take a look.

was actually ridiculed and teased by his mother, which made Zhao Hongrun secretly hate his mouthy father.

After chatting with Concubine Shen Shufei for half an hour, and making various promises of "coming to Ningxiang Palace for dinner tomorrow and the day after tomorrow" and "bringing Mi Jiang, Una, Miss Su, Little Girl with Sheep Tongue and others to Ningxiang Palace as guests", Zhao Hongrun was able to get out and go to the Vertical Arch Palace.

When Zhao Hongrun came to the Vertical Arch Palace, it was about two moments, when Wei Tianzi and the three Chinese scholars were reviewing the chapters in the Vertical Arch Palace.

But after Zhao Hongrun entered, Lin Yuyang, Yu Ziqi, and Feng Yu, the three ministers of the Chinese book, actually asked the Son of Heaven to allow them sick leave under various excuses.

Lin Yuyang said that he had a headache, Yu Ziqi said that he had a stomachache, and the even more outrageous Feng Yu actually said that his daughter-in-law was about to give birth and wanted to rush back to celebrate.

Watching the three Chinese book ministers leave the Vertical Arch Hall as if they were fleeing, Zhao Hongrun shook his head.

"As far as Erchen knows, the son of Lord Feng Yu, the right man of Zhongshu, is only nine years old this year, right? It's capable! Recalling that outrageous excuse, Zhao Hongrun couldn't help but say.

"Huh." Wei Tianzi laughed twice and said, "Tong Xian, remember to remind me when you look back, prepare a gift for Feng Aiqing, and congratulate him on his love for his grandson." ”

The great eunuch Tong Xian was such a sleek person, and when he heard this, he took the opportunity to say: "The old slave will go and prepare immediately." ”

After speaking, he also left the Vertical Arch Palace, leaving Wei Tianzi and Zhao Hongrun father and son staring at each other with big eyes.

After a long time, Zhao Hongrun licked his lips and said with a smile: "The fire at the city gate has affected the fish in the pond...... The fish in this pond have learned to behave. ”

"yes." Wei Tianzi was deeply touched and said: "This city gate has not burned yet, and the fish in this pond have all run out." ”

As soon as he said this, he suddenly heard Zhao Hongrun say lightly: "The grass and trees outside the Ningxiang Palace have seen it, it's very good." ”

"......" Wei Tianzi stared at his son for a moment, nodded and said, "It seems that the city gate has been burned, and it is the right time to run to the ground." ”

Zhao Hongrun couldn't help but be happy when he heard it, and said with some surprise: "I haven't seen you for a few months, my father is a lot more funny." ”

Wei Tianzi stood up, beckoned his son to walk to the apse of the vertical arch hall together, and said with a wry smile: "These days, you have taken that Chu girl and that woman of the Qi clan to travel outside the mountains and rivers, how do you know my troubles?" ”

After that, he randomly summoned a little eunuch who was cleaning in the apse and instructed, "Tell the imperial dining room to prepare some more exquisite wine and food." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." The little eunuch hurried away.

At this time, Wei Tianzi led the day to sit opposite the seat in the apse, picked up the tea handed by another little eunuch, and said, "Let's talk about the situation over there first." With that, he waved his hand and dismissed the little eunuchs in the apse.

After these little eunuchs withdrew from the palace, Zhao Hongrun said: "Generally speaking, Erchen has conquered most of the tribes in the land of Sanchuan this time, but the Wuxu Royal Court is a little resistant to this, probably thinking that the alliance of the water will affect his status. …… However, it is also possible that the internal power struggle in the court of King Wusu was fierce, and the sons of King Wusu quarreled with each other and did not have time to pay attention to the affairs of Sanchuan. ”

"Among the sons of King Wuxu, are there any who are friendly to Great Wei?" Wei Tianzi asked.

Zhao Hongrun picked up the teacup, shrugged his shoulders and said, "It is said that there is, but I have never been in contact with them, so I can't say for sure." …… Anyway, now that the Sanchuan tribe has tasted the sweetness, it is almost impossible to turn their backs on my Great Wei, and whether there is support or not has it will have little impact on my Great Wei. ”

Wei Tianzi nodded, and asked again: "What about the Antelope, Ling, and Qian?" ”

Zhao Hongrun put down the teacup and said, "The Yi tribe and the Wubian tribe have joined forces and are ready to resist Qin, who has signs of invading Sanchuan. …… On the Gazelle side, according to the will of the father, the sons promised them that I, the Great Wei, would secretly support the Antelope in attacking the Ba country, but the Badi minerals that they didn't need had to be sold to my Great Wei...... Believe this, the household department is already preparing? ”

"Hmm." Wei Tianzi nodded, and then asked again: "About Qin ...... What do you think? ”

"Gotta fight!" Zhao Hongrun Zhengse said: "If Qin's hand reaches into Sanchuan, it is not in the interests of my Great Wei. ”

"It makes sense." Wei Tianzi echoed, and then he was about to speak again, but he saw Zhao Hongrun raise his hand to stop him Lao Tzu, and then said teasingly: "Father, is it enough?" ”

"What?" Wei Tianzi's eyes seemed to have a trace of ripples, and he asked with a puzzled expression.

"It's useless for my father to pretend to be garlic." Zhao Hongrun snorted lightly and said lightly: "Erchen promised his mother that he would go to Ningxiang Palace for dinner later, and he didn't have time to talk nonsense with his father, so let's get to the point and talk about business." ”

"This stinky boy......

Wei Tianzi's face was pale, in fact, he had already guessed that Zhao Hongrun would inevitably have dinner in Ningxiang Palace today, so as long as he dragged it out until the time of eating, today would be over, but he didn't expect that his son would be recognized so soon.

"What do you want to ask me?" Wei Tianzi asked.

I saw Zhao Hongrun staring at Wei Tianzi for a while, and suddenly asked, "Father, you sold your son, right?" ”

Hearing this, Wei Tianzi's eyelids jumped, and he smiled unnaturally: "Why do you say this? ”

However, Zhao Hongrun didn't talk, and asked again: "How much did you sell it for?" ”

may have been stared at intently by his son, Wei Tianzi's face became more and more unnatural, and he said with a smile: "Hongrun, are you a profit-seeker?" ”

However, Zhao Hongrun still ignored him, and asked again: "What benefits did you take?" It's minerals, right? Where are the minerals? ”

Glancing at Zhao Hongrun, whose face was getting worse and worse, Wei Tianzi unnaturally changed his sitting posture, and muttered: "It seems that it won't just be the city gate ...... burned."

Zhao Hongrun was happy, and said with a chuckle when he heard the words: "At this moment, the ministers are amused by the humor of the father, and the father is better to give it all out." ”

Wei Tianzi was stunned, and after glancing at Zhao Hongrun, he hurriedly said: "Xiangling, Chengqiu, Anling, Yangzhai, eleven minerals, those people are willing to give to the imperial court...... In addition, I heard that Hongrun needs a lot of clay, and I will help you get three earth mines in Taoqiu. These mines, including the miners, were left untouched and all handed over to the imperial court. ”

"That's it?" Zhao Hongrun frowned.

"And." Wei Tianzi crossed his fingers with his hands and said in a low voice: "Those people agreed, raised the commercial tax to two and a half percent, and immediately made up the arrears owed to the imperial court over the years, and paid an additional three percent of the interest. ”

Speaking of this, Wei Tianzi glanced at his son and said softly: "Hongrun, my father knows that you have made outstanding achievements, but you must know that in order to support you, the household department mobilized grain and grass from all over the country, and the granaries were emptied, and the cost of collecting grain from the market was quite huge......

Zhao Hongrun was silent.

In fact, when he led the Dangshan Army and the Shangshui Army to fight against the Qiangjiao tribe, the consumption of grain and grass was not serious, and the real huge cost was the ration consumption used to feed these people after he defeated the Qiangjiao tribe and subdued hundreds of thousands of slaves.

This does not even include the fact that Zhao Hongrun used to support tribes like the Lun tribe who lost their flocks in the war, and provided them with enough food to survive the winter in order to further win them over.

Thanks to this, the market price of rice and grain in Wei increased by 30% compared with previous years, which was the result of the efforts of the household department to curb it.

It is no exaggeration to say that Zhao Hongrun's battle wiped out Wei's tax revenue for two years.

Even Zhao Hongrun himself owed millions of taels of arrears to the household department for this.

For example, the household department could not understand the meaning of Zhao Hongrun's "commemorative coins", but Zhao Hongrun forced it to do it, which had to be paid out of his own pocket.

"Treasury...... Short of money? Zhao Hongrun asked.

"I can't make ends meet, and I'm almost empty." Seeing that his son's face was a little pale, Wei Tianzi naturally knew how to say it badly.

After a long time, Zhao Hongrun nodded and said, "That's it...... Well, for the sake of the emperor's sale of his son's land, it's not cheap, so let's forget it this time. ”

"Forget it?" Wei Tianzi was taken aback and looked at his son in disbelief.

may have guessed his Lao Tzu's thoughts, Zhao Hongrun pouted and said, "Isn't it strange, Erchen is not angry?" …… Because the ministers knew very well that in this case, the father would definitely sell his son...... was sold by his father two or three times, and his sons have become accustomed to it. If one day the father and the emperor no longer sell their son, the son will feel puzzled. ”

When he said this, Wei Tianzi, who said it properly, was full of embarrassment.

"Erchen went to Ningxiang Palace first, and the mother said that she would cook some dishes by herself today, and her father might as well come early. Oh, by the way, those people, the sons will deal with it themselves, I hope my father will not interfere. …… The father has already taken advantage, and next, it is the turn of the sons and daughters to negotiate with them. ”

"Well, I don't interfere......"

Wei Tianzi, who had already gained a lot of money in this matter, nodded suspiciously, and watched his bad-tempered son walk out of the apse.

Is this inferior son who went to Sanchuan to become more stable, or is it really like he said, he is used to being sold by his own Lao Tzu?

If it's really the latter......

Wei Tianzi's heart faintly filled with a trace of sadness, for himself as a father.

Suddenly, his complexion changed suddenly, and he exclaimed in surprise, and hurriedly summoned Tong Xian, the great eunuch who was actually hiding in the corner of the apse, and asked eagerly: "Tong Xian, my fish, my bamboo......"

Because he didn't dare to eavesdrop on the conversation between the Son of Heaven and King Su, Tong Xian didn't know what was going on, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, rest assured, the golden scale fish, the purple bamboo, and the spotted bamboo have all been moved to King Su's mansion...... Your Majesty? Your Majesty? Come, come, pass on the imperial doctor! (To be continued.) )