The prosperity of the empire cannot be embodied in the vast territory of the empire.

On the nine sides of the Ming Dynasty, hundreds of thousands of border soldiers under the Great Wall could not bathe in the glory before the empire, nor could they feel the warmth of the great material abundance in the Jingshi Yingtian City.

In Ningxia Mansion, Shaanxi Province, which is 3,000 miles away from Beijing, it is also covered with snow at this moment, and it is vast for the eyes.

As one of the nine important towns of the Ming Dynasty, it controls the west side of the Yellow River, sits on the Helan Mountain, and Ningxia Mansion has countless fort barracks on the northwest bank of the Yellow River.

This royal capital of Western Xia in ancient times is known as the land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River. The Yellow River, which has been diverted because of its continuous flooding, has given Ningxia Prefecture a rare rich water system in this northern place.

It's just that at this time, the rivers are frozen, the mountains are covered with snow, and there are few people outside the castle.

In the northernmost part of Ningxia Prefecture, and also the northernmost part of Helan Mountain where it meets the Yellow River, Zhenyuan Pass guards the gate of the northern part of Shanxi Road.

Zhenyuan Pass is located at the nearest position between the mountain range and the Yellow River, and the Great Wall built of local quarried mountain stones resists the invasion of enemies from the north.

It's just that now, the Ming Dynasty can be said to be in full swing, and the border between the Tatars and the Warat Department in the north of the Hetao is the border between the Tatar Department and the Warat Department, and there have been few major wars here in recent years.

But even so, it didn't make the court relax and dare not relax for half a minute.

The Zhenyuan army, which has a number of up to 3,000, is stationed in Zhenyuan Pass all year round.

In previous years, Zhenyuanguan can be said to be a bitter cold place among the bitter cold of the nine sides.

It's just that this year is a little different.

There is no other reason, but the imperial court sent the Yiren official who discussed the mutual market with the Wara Ministry in the early stage, and as a Qincha, he not only brought officials from the Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites, but also brought pro-army soldiers and horses and a large number of materials.

Heavy snow crushed the mountains.

Behind the side wall of Zhenyuan Pass, there is smoke curling.

The aroma of food can be heard everywhere at this pass.

Opposite to the yamen of the town guard general, it is the yamen of the Zhenyuan Pass.

The town guard general Yamen is responsible for commanding the 3,000 border troops and horses in Zhenyuanguan, and it is a Tongzhi sent by Ningxia Wei to command the three products.

The chief official of the Yamen of the Guansho is only a prefect of the eighth grade. But he is in charge of Zhenyuan Pass, except for the affairs of the army, all things that should be big and small.

And now, because of the arrival of the Qin Cha, the yamen of the customs office has been vacated.

Hu Yongning, the governor of Zhenyuan Guanguan in a green robe, was carrying a bamboo basket, which was covered with blue indigo floral cloth, but could not cover the exposed fish tail.

Hu Yongning, holding a bamboo basket in one hand and an official robe in the other, cautiously walked into the customs office from the south, all the way to the front of the yamen of the customs office.

The officers and soldiers accompanying the Qin mission who were guarding the gate of the yamen only glanced at the governor lightly and let him pass freely.

entered the yamen.

Hu Yongning continued to walk inside.

After a short time, I passed through the main hall in front of me, and arrived at the courtyard where there was not much decoration in the back office, and only a few precious cedar trees were planted.

In the corner of the courtyard, a conservatory was built, with a charcoal stove and a window on the wall, which was also a good place to enjoy the scenery.

Hu Yongning went all the way to the conservatory, and his face was already naturally smiling.

"Fan Shaoqing, the big carp of the Yellow River that Xiaguan just ordered someone to dig open the river and catch it is a good ingredient for cooking pot and wine, and it was specially sent for Fan Shaoqing."

Hu Yongning introduced with a smile that the person had already walked into the greenhouse with a bamboo basket.

I saw it in the conservatory.

The first Fan worm of the Ming Dynasty who won the official position of the empire was wearing a green robe, rolling up his sleeve robe, holding bamboo chopsticks, sitting at the table, and scooping the boiled mutton soup tofu into the pot on the table.

Right.

Fan Worm has now been promoted.

In order to cater to the negotiation with the Warat Ministry, he was promoted to the official position of the Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple, which was counted as coming to Zhenyuanguan in advance this time to consult with the envoy of the Warat Ministry, Ma Hamu.

As the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple from the fifth grade, Fan Worm put on that green robe, and now he looks good.

He looked at Hu Yongning, who walked in with the basket, and gently put down the chopsticks in his hand, with a faint smile on his face.

"There is Governor Lao Hu, this official has been here for a long time, and Governor Hu has been taking care of it, which makes the official embarrassed."

People are in the Ming Dynasty, and they are in the officialdom, and Fan Worm has consciously learned the Ming people's practice in the officialdom.

Hu Yongning had a smile on his face, carefully placed the bamboo basket on the edge of the table, and he was busy taking out the big fish that had already been cleaned up, cutting it into small pieces in front of Fan Worm and putting it into the mutton soup and tofu pot.

On his lips, he said earnestly: "What is Fan Shaoqing's name?" Shaoqing is ordered to send Qin, and the people who come to our town to do it are all imperial errands, and they can't do anything next to the officials, so they can only take care of Shaoqing well, and they don't dare to make Shaoqing's body go wrong in Zhenyuanguan. ”

Fan Worm saw that Hu Yongning had already put half of the fish in the pot, and sprinkled a handful of his favorite coriander into it, so he picked up the chopsticks and nodded at the stool that had been left beside him: "Brother Hu, please sit down, speaking of which, if it weren't for you, the official would be drinking here, but it would be boring." ”

Obviously, it is not the first time that the two of them have drunk and eaten like this.

Fan Worm looked at Hu Yongning's face and poured him a glass of wine.

Hu Yongning also sat on the stool as usual, holding the wine glass in both hands.

"Xiaguan respects Shaoqing."

Fan Worm shook his hand: "Drink together." ”

After a glass of wine, Fan Worm carried a spoon and scooped a bowl of mutton and tofu soup for Hu Yongning into the bowl.

"Eat some warm soup first, so as to warm your stomach."

Hu Yongning did so, and a bowl of mutton and tofu soup went down to his stomach, accompanied by that glass of wine, and he immediately felt comfortable.

Wait until this time.

Only then did Hu Yongning straighten his back, approached Fan Worm, and whispered, "Shaoqing, there is news from Shanxi Road." ”

Fan Worm's eyes flashed: "But I have news from His Royal Highness the Imperial Grandson?" ”

The corners of Hu Yongning's eyes twitched.

Fan Shaoqing, a foreign official, is almost the same as the Ming people in everything, but when he mentions the grandson, the flattery and greasy are not concealed at all, and there is no subtlety of the Ming people.

But Hu Yongning still nodded and introduced: "Your Highness, it is a thunderous means to sweep away the anti-thieves in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, and investigate the officials of the three divisions of Shanxi Province. ”

When Hu Yongning spoke, his eyes revealed a look of yearning.

However, he also knew that people like himself who were officials at the border gates would probably never see His Royal Highness the Emperor Sun in this life.

Fan Worm had a gloomy face, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness has solved the matter of Shanxi Dao, and it will be our turn to do things here at the pass." ”

Hu Yongning thought about the majesty of these Beijing officials, but his mouth kept talking: "It should be, but it is just before the end of the year, and it is covered with heavy snow in winter." It is likely that His Highness will spend this winter in Taiyuan City before going to the border outside the gate to finalize the rules for the final exchange of markets. ”

"Then we have to sort out everything before His Highness arrives!"

Fan Worm was vigorous, and deliberately fished out the fish tail in the pot and put it into Hu Yongning's bowl.

On the wine table, the fishtail is sent, which is the meaning of entrusting the important task.

Hu Yongning glanced at Fan Worm, but he wasn't sure if this Fan Shaoqing knew such a statement at the Central Plains dinner table.

But he still put a piece of fishtail meat into his mouth, and then sneered: "With Fan Shaoqing presiding over the mutual market, then Mahamu is now like an ant on a frying pot, at most, it will only take a long time, and he will agree to it after all." ”

Fan Worm also showed a smile: "Then dry him again, don't squeeze the last drop of blood out of the Warat Department, and never put him back." ”

"With Fan Shaoqing sitting here like a mainstay, that Mahamu is only qualified to bow down to me."

Hu Yongning immediately presented a small pony.

He changed his words and said: "As long as this mutual market is over, I'm afraid the green robe on Fan Shaoqing's body will have to be changed." ”

Throughout the ages, most of the officials who presided over the peace and exchange of affairs with foreign nations were promoted after the matter was over.

It's conventional.

Fan Worm obviously didn't know much about this aspect, and couldn't help but show doubts: "Huh? ”

Holding that he wanted to have a good relationship with this Beijing official, and looked forward to whether he would have the opportunity to be an official in Ying Tiancheng in the future, Hu Yongning immediately explained in a low voice: "Shaoqing may still know something, now that our Daming is on the border pass, it has always been a practice of co-opting one faction to suppress one faction. ”

Fan Worm nodded and said, "The imperial court is now going to clear the Tatar Department in the east. ”

Hu Yongning's eyes showed a little surprise, but he continued: "It is true that as Shaoqing said, the imperial court has been mainly attacking the eastern Tatar department all these years. Therefore, this time, if Shaoqing can win over the western Wara Department for the imperial court, or even surrender it to my Ming Dynasty......"

Hu Yongning deliberately paused.

See that the face of the fan insect does not change color.

He smiled faintly: "At that time, Xia Guan doesn't dare to guarantee that Shaoqing will be able to enter the main department, but this can definitely be exchanged for a big red robe!" ”

Fan Worm had a little thought on his face, and slowly digested what Hu Yongning said.

Not much.

He finally understood.

I had to pull out all the bones of the Varat to complete this errand.

So, Fan Worm smiled coldly.

"This official will definitely get all the horse manure from the pasture of Warabe back to the imperial court!"

……

Ahh

Also in Yuanguan, Ningxia Fu Town, Shaanxi Province, a loud sneeze sounded in a single-family house not far from the yamen of the customs office.

Born under the immortal heaven, Mahamu, the envoy of the Warat tribe who has to experience a cold winter every year, sneezed with a puzzled face.

From the time he could run, he grew up on horseback.

Even when it was coldest on the grassland, he could fight in the snow with the warriors of his tribe naked.

The grassland is the most tempering place.

However, he was unexpectedly cold in the far pass of this Ming people's town.

It has been several months since the border pass from the north of Yingtian City.

In the past few months, he and the Ming court have made countless negotiations on the mutual market between the two sides, but the slow progress has made Mahamu feel deeply tired.

Originally, it was just a few thin sheets of paper for the inter-market rules, but now it can be bound into a book, or a whole set of several copies!

As large as the tribe and the Ming court, when necessary, jointly sent troops to conquer the Tatar tribes.

As small as the number of herdsmen and the cattle and sheep raised by each tribe on the grassland, there are increasingly clear regulations.

Mahamu couldn't figure it out.

Obviously, it is just a very simple matter of mutual market, why can the Ming court unknowingly participate in the regulation of grassland tribes.

However, the conditions offered by the Ming court were so tempting.

Helan Mountain descends to this fertile and abundant grassland on the bank of the Yellow River!

Uga River to the meadows on the north bank of the Yellow River!

This is one of the reasons why the Western Xia Kingdom was able to grow back then.

As long as these two pastures on the west bank of the Yellow River Loop can be obtained, the Warat Department can become the most powerful force on the grassland in the shortest possible time.

This is a condition that Mahamu cannot refuse no matter what.

Under such conditions as the Ming Dynasty, no matter what the Warat Ministry needs to pay, Mahamu feels that it is possible to continue the talks.

It's just that.

Now that it has been more than half a month, the damn and cunning Shaoqing of Honglu Temple has never looked for himself again.

The accompanying guards brought a bowl of ginger soup to Mahamu.

Mahamu held the bowl and raised his head, but his palm suddenly slapped heavily on the table.

The bowl containing the ginger soup was also put down by him.

Mahamu stood up under the guard's quizzing gaze.

"Where is that Fan worm now?"

The guard lowered his head and hummed: "I still live the life of a Ming official in the yamen of the customs office." ”

Mahamu had a calm face: "Follow me to him!" ”

After speaking, Mahamu rolled up the big puff hanging on the side, and walked out quickly.

Less and.

Zhenyuan Guanguan Yamen.

Ma Hamu stood at the foot of the main hall, holding the big crush in front of his abdomen with both hands, and staring at the empty main hall calmly.

Not even a single person serving tea.

Akito is so arrogant.

made Ma Hamu accumulate a cloud of anger in his heart, but when he thought of the conditions offered by the other party, he could only suppress this anger alive.

I don't know how long it has been.

Before he could see him, he had already heard the voice that always made him feel harsh.

"The horse envoy is coming, and if he misses the distance, he is slacking off."

As soon as he heard the awkward name, the corners of Mahamu's eyes couldn't help twitching twice.

Then I saw Fan Worm open his arms and walk through the side door from the back office.

Fan Worm smiled all over his face, and when he arrived in front of Ma Hamu, he slapped his hands heavily on his arms.

"Horse envoy, please take a seat."

Fan Worm spoke, glanced around, and finally rushed to Hu Yongning, who followed him, and scolded: "These errands are really bastards, the horse envoy is here, and they don't know how to serve tea!" ”

Hu Yongning immediately echoed and scolded: "A bunch of dogs with eyes and no beads! The lower official ordered someone to bring tea over. ”

As he spoke, Hu Yongxing walked to the front of the hall by Ma Hamu's side.

"Where are all the dogs dead, and people can't see when they come?"

Mahamu sat down with a calm face.

Fan Worm glanced at Mahamu lightly.

Before Maham could speak.

Fan Worm spoke first.

"I also let the envoy know that this official has been waiting for the decree of His Royal Highness Taisun these days."

"It's just a coincidence, today's decree from His Royal Highness Taisun has just arrived."

………………

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