Shuozhou, Ertai Official Road.
Zu Jue smiled and stood at the same place where he had previously greeted Gao Jun, looking into the distance with expectation.
General Wei, ah, no, the general is finally coming back!
Zu Jue was so eager to wait that he couldn't stay any longer. From time to time he would mount his horse and go forward to see if the lord had arrived.
The sergeants around him were still on guard, but they also looked particularly excited and excited.
There were many people standing behind Zu Jue.
Except for the local officials and a few important ministers responsible for this year's spring planting, almost everyone else was present.
What Zu Jue couldn't figure out the most was that Gao Jun was standing among the crowd, looking into the distance with a straight face.
After Gao Jun came to the frontier fortress, he basically worked without leaving home every day. He could put down what he was doing and come to greet him at the roadside, which even the emperor might not be able to do!
Zu Jue came to Gao Jun's side with a smile. The ministers who had gathered around Gao Jun immediately dispersed and kept their distance from Zu Jue.
"Spring sowing and mulberry farming are so important. There is no need for your Majesty to come to greet you. My lord will certainly not blame you."
Gao Jun shook his head, "If there is no general, how can we do farming?"
"I have to meet with the general."
Zu Jue laughed and nodded in agreement.
Tian, ​​Cui, Chu and Kou were also standing among the waiting people. Only Lu Qubing did not come because of farming matters.
Tian Zili grew a beard, which made him look more mature. With the clothes, he really looked like a high official.
Cui Gang gained some weight and had a bulging belly, Lao Chu had no change, and Kou Liu became darker.
Tian Zili said proudly at this moment: "Brother killed two enemy generals in a row and defeated Yu Wenhu. Who in the entire temple can compare with him?"
"When I return this time, my brother is the legitimate King of the North!"
"I heard that the Chancellor's Office has been preparing for the use of troops?"
Kou Liu asked in a low voice.
Cui Gang quickly put a straight face on his face and reminded: "Don't talk nonsense. The Xingshang Shutai has not made any preparations. Any use of troops is just made up by villains!"
Kou Liu nodded, "Yes, yes, it's made up. I won't tell anyone about it, so just make up a few sentences for me. Do you want to go out to do something?"
Chu Jiande cleared his throat and said, "Move more and warm your body."
Cui Gang quickly glared at him, "Mr. Chu!"
"Why are you always like this? Things in Taichung cannot be leaked before they are officially issued, otherwise it will be a serious crime. You can't tell anyone just because you are close to you!"
Chu Jiande was at a loss and innocent, "I never told him, I just wanted him to move and warm his body."
Tian Zili laughed and said, "Cui Jun, after welcoming the lord, it will not be too late to punish them."
Kou Liu just laughed and waited until Cui Gang turned his head, then secretly said thank you to Lao Chu.
The important ministers around Gao Jun were all exiled by Hu Changren. They had never formally met Liu Taozi, so they would inevitably feel a little scared and uneasy at this moment.
After all, the person who is coming is the one who will decide their future lives.
Once again, Zu Jue could not control his anxiety and rode a horse to investigate.
The hard work paid off, Zu Jue rode his horse and traveled less than five miles, and finally met Liu Taozi's scouts.
Zu Jue was overjoyed and hurriedly asked the scouts to take him to meet his lord.
Liu Taozi looked into the distance seriously, chatting with Gao Changgong. The next moment, several knights suddenly appeared in the distance. Zu Jue rode a fast horse and charged. He was still a few meters away from Liu Taozi.
He stopped at a hundred paces, dismounted, and came on foot to pay his respects.
"Lord!!!"
Zu Jue bowed and bowed.
"Grandpa, get up."
Liu Taozi spoke, and Zu Jue quickly stood up and stepped forward to lead Liu Taozi's horse.
"No need, just get on the horse and go with us."
"only!!"
Zu Jue followed Liu Taozi, with indescribable excitement on his face, "My lord, things went very smoothly in the trip to Taiwan. King Pengcheng managed it well. He also made up for many things before, and the old and new things in the platform were improved."
Even if I have some conflicts, I can still get along harmoniously, and nothing major has ever happened."
"King Pengcheng is waiting for you outside the Ertai Guandao Station in the distance right now."
Zu Jue spoke very fast, and it was easy to become slurred when he spoke fast. Gao Changgong could not hear him clearly, but Liu Taozi could.
Zu Jue briefly talked about the situation in various places. He arrived early and seemed to want to give his lord a warning first.
At the end, Zu Jue said: "Lord, I have already prepared what you asked me to prepare. However, many people do not know the details, so they are a little unhappy with me and think that I am taking bribes."
"Then did you accept it?"
Liu Taozi suddenly looked at him.
Zu Jue was stunned, "No."
"Um."
Liu Taozi nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
When Zu Jue led Liu Taozi to the outside of the post, the ministers were well prepared, lined up in order, and bowed to see them.
The person taking the lead was Gao Jun, the king of Pengcheng.
Liu Taozi and Gao Changgong looked at each other, and then they both got off their horses.
Liu Taozi walked quickly to Gao Jun and helped him up, "Your Majesty, why do you need to bow down?"
Gao Jun lowered his head and said seriously: "The country's survival in this war is all because of the great general. Without the great general, how would we be qualified to be kings and ministers?"
"I bow to the general with prostrations. This is what I should do."
Gao Jun slowly looked at the ministers behind him. The ministers who were a little frightened at first were no longer so worried when Gao Jun stepped forward, and they all saluted and said yes.
Liu Taozi looked at these ministers.
This was his first meeting with these people, and they were not familiar with each other.
"Everyone, please get up."
"Thank you, General!!"
Everyone bowed and stood up. Their attitude towards Liu Taozi was no different from that towards their master.
Gao Changgong also smiled and stepped forward to meet Gao Jun, "Uncle."
Gao Jun looked at Gao Changgong in surprise, and then laughed, "You and Yanzong are both virtuous people in the clan."
Tian, ​​Cui, Chu and others then led the elders to pay homage. Their attitude was much more casual than these newcomers. Tian Zili dared to walk less than one step away from Liu Taozi and salute. The other few people
They were also all smiles, without the solemnity of paying homage to their lord at all, well, except for Cui Gang.
Liu Taozi's eyes became easy-going, causing several people to get close to him, and even joked, "Cui Jun seems to be eating well. Are you planning to give up literature and join the martial arts?"
Cui Gang, who had a solemn face before, couldn't help but laugh as he stroked his round belly.
The surrounding ministers immediately relaxed a lot.
All they knew about Liu Taozi came from rumors, and in most of the rumors, Liu Taozi was like a demon.
The people called him a mandrill and compared him to an evil ghost.
Among these ministers, many of their families had conflicts with Liu Taozi and suffered heavy casualties. Many people felt that Liu Taozi was an extremely cold, cruel and indiscriminate person.
Seeing that he would also joke with his subordinates, everyone just broke some of their inherent impressions of Liu Taozi.
Liu Taozi met the officials one by one, and then led them into the city.
Gao Jun and Liu Taozi walked side by side, and the others followed behind them.
Liu Taozi said: "It is really a great thing for the king to come to the frontier fortress."
"I heard from Zu Jue that the king is particularly concerned about farming and mulberry farming in several frontier states. After coming to Wuchuan, he did a lot of things."
Gao Jun replied calmly: "These are what I should do. Every day I just hate that I don't do enough."
"Your Majesty is still young, so don't be too tired. In the future, your Majesty will have to govern the entire world, so you can't abandon important matters and ignore them."
After hearing Liu Taozi's words, Gao Jun just looked into the distance with complicated eyes and said nothing.
"If I don't do things, I always feel uneasy. Only by constantly doing things can I feel at ease and fulfilled. General, you don't have to worry. I won't fall until I complete important things with him."
Liu Taozi suddenly asked: "Is your Majesty coming here to appease the ministers a little so that I don't scare them?"
"Perhaps, they have never seen the general, they only think that the general is scary. In addition, it is also to reassure the general. I am afraid that the general will be afraid of me. I really, really don't want to spend energy fighting for power.
I just want to do something."
"Your Majesty, there is no need to look down upon me so much."
"The king wants to do something, as long as it is beneficial to the world, I will give my full support."
Gao Jun was stunned and looked at Liu Taozi beside him, "Why?"
"Aren't you afraid that I will take away your power? Or is it that the general looks down on me and thinks I don't have the ability?"
"Maybe."
"Your Majesty, you can't do anything well and you can't do it well. My power does not come from empty official positions."
"I have always been an open-minded person, and I hope that the king will not be restrained in the future. If you have any ideas, just tell them truthfully and don't hold back. I will never resent others because of my words, unless it is to insult my mother."
"I am very happy that the king can come to the frontier. Everyone under my command lacks experience. The king is honest, caring about people's livelihood, and very capable. He is exactly the wise man I lack."
"I am also willing to join hands with the king to govern the world together. As long as what the king says makes sense, I will obey it."
"What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Gao Jun was stunned for a long time and then said: "I feel very good."
In fact, Gao Jun still had something in his mind that he wanted to ask Liu Taozi, but at this moment, Gao Jun found that he couldn't ask the question.
Everyone returned to the city, and the soldiers inside and outside the city shouted repeatedly to celebrate Liu Taozi's return.
Zu Jue did not arrange any false ceremony for the old man to come to greet him. He knew that his lord did not like this.
He prepared more than sixty young students for Liu Taozi, all of whom were studying in the law school in the city.
Sure enough, when Liu Taozi saw them, she stopped and asked them about the situation in the school.
He also rewarded the outstanding students among them, and then went to the official office.
When they arrived at the official office, Liu Taozi did not give in and sat directly on the upper seat. Gao Jun sat aside, and the other ministers sat down in batches. This was not the first time they had gathered together, and they knew where each other should sit.
Zu Jue was still sitting far away.
Liu Taozi took a deep look at him, and then looked at the ministers.
"It is really an honor for me to have you come to welcome me."
"However, I don't like ostentation or too many false etiquette. I like to be practical."
"When you were in Yecheng, you were driven out because of practical matters."
"It won't be like this here. I will definitely reward those who have merit, and I will never be stingy. I will definitely punish those who are at fault, no matter how close they are."
"In the future, we will rule the world together. I hope that you will work diligently and make more achievements. I hope that you will achieve success and leave your name in history."
The ministers were all a little stunned. From Yecheng to Wuchuan, this was the first time they heard a Shangguan speak like this.
Liu Taozi then looked at Gao Jun who was standing aside, "During the period of my absence, the political achievements and faults of local officials both inside and outside Taiwan should be listed as soon as possible for me to review."
"After I leave, I can still govern diligently and reward those who stick to my heart."
"While I am not acting recklessly, those who have made mistakes will be punished together."
Gao Wei suddenly saluted, "Wei!!"
Liu Taozi then ordered: "Then let's start the banquet."
Zu Jue stood up and began to greet the servants to bring the food. The banquet officially began. The food was not too luxurious, and there were no musicians or dancers arranged. It all depended on everyone's own performance. They could sing if they wanted to, and dance if they wanted to.
Kou Liu smiled and sat next to Liu Taozi and poured him some tea.
Alcohol is prohibited in Liu Taozi, and the same is true at banquets. Only tea can be eaten.
"Brother, Zhang Heizu followed Generals Bao and Pi to fight the Turks at the frontier. Yao Xiong and Podoluo made more achievements in the west. I am the only one who stays here and does nothing. If my brother has any plans to send troops,
I want to be a pioneer!"
"Did Tian Zili tell you?"
"It's Cui Gangyan!"
Cui Gang, who was having tea, almost spit out the tea. He couldn't reprimand him in front of outsiders, so he lowered his voice and cursed: "You, you have become a sycophant in Shuozhou. It was clearly Chu Gong who told you."
Yes! Why do you blame me?"
Chu Jiande's eyes widened, "What?"
Kou Liu was very serious, "Mr. Chu just told me to take care of myself. Didn't you say it was a secret or something?"
Tian Zili laughed and said, "Lord, these people should all be punished!"
Liu Taozi frowned and looked at Kou Liu, "Inquiring into temple secrets is why I said you are not allowed to violate the law."
Kou paused, the smile on his face disappeared, and he quickly lowered his head, "Brother, I don't dare to do it anymore."
The other people didn't dare to laugh anymore. Chu Jiande said helplessly: "Master, these are all jokes. Even people like Yao Xiong can guess the news of sending troops. How can it be considered a secret?"
Liu Taozi continued: "It's a small thing but don't do it."
Kou Liu suddenly woke up and said, "Brother, I know my crime and I am willing to be punished!"
"Get the ten army sticks, and then go to the school field to wait. The troops will be sent out next. You will be the main general, and you will make meritorious deeds."
"only!!"
"Many big mistakes start from small things, and we must not make them again in the future."
"only!!"
"Okay, don't be so sullen, just wait until you get beaten and then frown."
Yang Xiuzhi looked at Liu Taozi in the distance, and suddenly said to Hu Changcan who was standing aside: "Looking at the words and deeds of the general, he is completely different from the pigs and dogs in Yecheng."
Hu Changcan paused and reminded: "Mr. Yang, you have suffered a lot because of this mouth, so be careful what you say."
"It's the truth. What's there in Yecheng? Eight pigs from the Hu family, two donkeys from the Zhao family, and a puppy that has no milk but has teeth."
Hu Changcan sat a little further away.
Yang Xiuzhi took Feng Shu aside and said to him: "I heard that Hu Changcan was a direct minister, but I have never seen Hu Changcan be a direct minister."
Feng Shu's lips trembled, not daring to answer.
The banquet was quite successful. These new ministers and Liu Taozi met each other, and many people left an impression on Liu Taozi.
For example, the one who apologized for offending Liu Taozi in the past, Hu Changcan who advised him not to recruit too many civilians when they met, and Yang Xiuzhi who had a thorn in his words.
After the banquet was over, everyone went back to rest. Without drinks, the banquet always seemed to be missing something, but Liu Taozi was unwilling to take the lead in sabotaging the policies that had been formulated.
At present, the drinking habit in Daqi, no, the whole world has reached a terrifying level. It can be said that there is no joy without drinking. From the emperor to the ministers, to the local powerful, everyone is drunk and fond of wine.
A large amount of grain is invested in brewing wine, and the cost of grain in order to brew the best wine is becoming larger and larger.
What those nobles tasted carefully was not fine wine, but the blood shed by thousands of common people.
Even though Liu Taozi is regarded by outsiders as a typical example of Liu Taozi's tyranny, Liu Taozi has no idea of ​​compromise. How the hell can he let you come to Huohuo for food when there is an extreme shortage of food?
At night, Zu Jue and Liu Taozi sat alone in the house.
Zu Jue's face was solemn, "My lord, the people of the Zhou Dynasty can't go east easily now. It's time to take action. I'm going to send people to deal with the governor of Yingzhou first, then Dingzhou and Jizhou, and to the west we will collect Fenzhou and Jinzhou.
Taiyuan and Yecheng are surrounded, and everything north of the Yellow River must be captured."
"I have listed three lists of officials in these states and counties. Your lord can compare them in detail and then make your choice."
"In addition, I think our current states can be fully coordinated. After taking these areas, we will have too many states and counties under our command. However, many states only have one county, or even one city-state has too many divisions, which is too complicated.
, too messy.”
"I think we can integrate the prefectures under our command, reduce the fictitious prefectures and counties, and re-establish the ten prefectures of Shuo, Heng, Yan, Ying, You, Ji, Bing, Zhao, Qing, and Ling."
"In addition, Da Qi has always used military generals as governors. I think we need to change the past habit and let military generals serve as generals in various military offices, while the post of governors and governors should be given to scribes. Although there are many scribes
Bad things, but if the good ones can be promoted, it will be of great benefit to governance, which is why the Pseudo Zhou Dynasty can flourish rapidly."
"After integration, we can set up separate military headquarters in each state. There is no need for two or three states to raise an army like now."
"I already have the evidence of the crimes of officials, powerful men, temples, and wealthy families from all over the north."
Chapter completed!