Han Shizu

Chapter 404
In the southern country in the early spring, the wind of recovery warms the earth. As the most prosperous city in the Jiangdong area, Jinling has recovered from the cold winter ahead of schedule.

The canal water inside and outside the Goulian City Pond is slowly surging, and a group of white ducks flap their webs, playing and looking for food in the pond of the owner's house, rattling.Across the water fence, there is an endless stream of all kinds of southern boats, with different loads, shuttling through the market.

Standing on the attic of the hotel, leaning on the railing, Tao Gu stroked his beard in style, secretly contrasting Tokyo and Jinling.In Tao Gu's view, in terms of the prosperity of the market and the richness of products, the current Tokyo is not as good as Jinling, and the living standards of the people are even worse.

Tao Gu felt envious of the prosperity of Jinling, the beauty of the scenery, and the elegance of the beauties.Of course, it was a kind of envy with a desire to conquer and destroy. As a close minister of the emperor of Han, Tao Gu still kept his identity firmly in mind, and his butt would not be crooked.

Sitting alone at the table, order the officials in the hall to serve tea sets, prepare charcoal fire, take out the good tea given by Li Jing, the Tang Lord, and summon the envoys, do it yourself, sit opposite each other and taste, two or three pots of strong tea, become Fresh water, this time will pass.

"Winter goes to spring, living in a solitary house, drinking light tea, I don't know how long it will take like this." Tao Gu couldn't help but sigh with emotion, his face was full of boredom.

Hearing the words, the envoy couldn't help but cupped his hands and asked for advice: "Mr. Tao, it has been more than a month since we came to Jinling in the south. The envoy's edict has been fulfilled, why are you still staying here?"

Tao Gu secretly received the fate, not a single official who followed him knew about it, Tao Gu shook his head when he asked about it, and said: "Of course I have unspeakable difficulties!"

"Could it be that the imperial court has another opportunity to give a secret instruction?" the envoy asked.

Tao Gu raised his finger, nodded at him a few times, and said in a warning tone: "Since you have guessed something, you need to know something, so don't ask too much!"

"Yes! I'm talking too much! It's just..." Seeing this, the envoy showed hesitation.

"Just what?" Tao Gu was a little puzzled.

"It's just rumors among the lower officials that people in Jinling have been discussing recently that I intend to join forces with Southern Tang to share the matter of Ma and Chu."

"What!" Tao Gu was shocked, a little unbelievable: "The secrets of the court have been leaked to the people?"

"Only staring at the puppet Tang monarchs and ministers, but ignoring the market!" After thinking for a while, Tao Gu was stunned, first shook his head, and then laughed: "The puppet Tang monarchs and ministers are so secretive, military and state affairs are discussed to the people, how can it be I face the opponent?"

It has been a month since I went to Jinling as an envoy in the winter of last year, and there is of course no problem with normal etiquette exchanges.Of course, since Tao Gu put forward the key point of "discussion on dividing Chu", there has been no result.
Tao Gu originally thought that the emperors and ministers of the Southern Tang Dynasty might be tempted, or they might refuse, or they might hesitate, but they didn't expect to struggle for so long, and they still haven't come up with a result to reply to the Northern Han Dynasty.

In this way, on the contrary, Tao Gu suffered a lot, and stayed in the hotel all day long, drinking wine and tea.Qinhuai's Qinglou Chuguan still attracted him, but because of the emperor's "chat" before his departure, he was always tense in his mind and dared not do whatever he wanted.

After going on like this, the days become more and more difficult. Without red sleeves to add fragrance, writing poems and lyrics is very boring.It was only when the Lord of Tang summoned him to the palace several times for banquets that he could take the opportunity to experience the extravagant enjoyment of the Southern Tang court.

"Hey, waiting is not an option! I have to ask Lord Tang again!" Tao Gu said.

After saying that, he became silent, with a suspicious expression on his face, as if he was thinking about his next plan.

At this time, the envoy asked with a flattering smile, "Mr. Tao, the guest house here is very boring, do you want to make arrangements for entertainment?"

The envoy had heard of some of Tao Gu's habits.

"Huh?" Tao Gu lifted his spirits when he heard the words, noticed the flattering smile on his face, and was moved, but he gritted his teeth and waved his hands again and again: "No! No! No!"

Resisting the impulse, he sighed heavily and let the envoy retreat.Order the station officials to serve wine, drink it by themselves, until they are slightly drunk, take a pen and ink, walk to the side, and write on the wall of the room: Xichuan dog, common people's eyes, horse bag, imperial chef rice .
When Tao Gu was so hungry and thirsty at the post office that he couldn't sit or stand still, a royal banquet in Jinling Palace City and the Imperial Palace had come to an end.Singing and dancing, singing and dancing, pushing cups and changing cups, so happy.

As soon as the interest came, someone brought up the old things again.After eating and drinking enough, it's time to discuss state affairs.

Li Jing was always interested in gathering banquets, drinking and composing poems. When he mentioned the things that made him hesitate recently, he couldn't help sighing.Coughing heavily, he attracted the distracted attention of several courtiers, and asked, "Zhu Qing, the discussion in the Northern Han Dynasty has been delayed for a long time, and it is necessary to give a reply. What decision does the Tang Dynasty make?"

As for the puppet Tang monarchs and ministers, this matter has been discussed several times. As usual, they are divided into two factions, the Northern Scholars Group and the Jianghuai Bureaucratic Group.Only this time, the Beiren Group, which has always advocated "aggressiveness", supported and refused, but the Southerners advocated agreeing and took the opportunity to take Hunan.

At this time, as soon as Li Jing opened his mouth, Han Xizai stood up. He didn't drink much wine, his eyes were clear, and he said loudly: "Your Majesty, the kingdom of tigers and wolves in the Northern Han Dynasty, who made this discussion prominent, must have impure motives, harbor evil intentions, and conspire with him. It is tantamount to seeking skin from a tiger, His Majesty Wanwang be careful!"

Han Xizai, the leader of northern scholars who always advocated aggressiveness, tried his best to dissuade the Southern Tang from mobilizing troops this time, which is quite unexpected.When Tao Gu first came to raise this proposal, he was the first to oppose it, with a firm attitude, upholding his will, and arguing with the courtiers, and there were several fierce disputes.

But sure enough, after his words fell, Feng Yansi, who had returned to the Southern Tang Dynasty to worship the Prime Minister, stood up, glanced at Han Xizai, and said indifferently: "Han Shilang said this repeatedly, so please explain how impure the motives of the Northern Han Dynasty are. What kind of misfortune?"

Although Han Xizai is conscious and has a sense of crisis, it's not easy to guess what the intentions of the Northern Han Dynasty are.

Just as he was about to turn a corner to persuade him, he heard Feng Yansi continue, his words already tinged with sarcasm: "A few years ago, Han Shilang also strongly advocated external expansion, opening up territories and conquering the Central Plains all day long, and returning the capital to Chang'an as his ambition? What’s going on now, could it be that you’re short of breath? There’s chaos in Machu, there’s such a huge piece of land right next to Datang’s mouth, and he’s so cowardly, it’s really embarrassing!”

Being ridiculed like this, with Han Xizai's arrogance, he suddenly became angry.But he was restrained by him, and instead of arguing with Feng Yansi, he turned to Li Jing and said earnestly: "Your Majesty, the ambition of a minister is small, but the safety of the Tang Dynasty is great. Soldiers are important to the country. It is a matter of life and death. Min The land has not yet been determined, and Wu Yue is always harassing from behind, so how can he rashly intervene in Hunan. Since the Northern Han Dynasty raised this proposal, they must pay close attention to it. Under its scrutiny, how can the Great Tang easily swallow it?"

"Hehe." Feng Yansi smiled: "In my opinion, Han Shilang is trying to build up the ambition of the Northern Han Dynasty and destroy my prestige in the Tang Dynasty! Since the last mission, it seems that I have always been afraid of the Northern Han Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty!" Feng Yansi bowed solemnly to Li Jing: "After the civil strife between the Ma brothers, the national power was greatly reduced, the people were weak and the army was exhausted, but since Ma Xie took the throne, he has been extravagant and dissipated, the government has been in chaos, and he has no kindness, which has aroused public resentment. , and lost the will of the army, it is already a country that is about to perish. The Great Tang has a hundred thousand soldiers, so close at hand, even if there is no proposal from the Northern Han Dynasty, the ministers and others would like to suggest that His Majesty attack and seize the land of Chu in one fell swoop!"

"Han Shilang's concern is that there is a conspiracy hidden in the Northern Han Dynasty!" Feng Yansi glanced at Han Xizai and continued: "However, I think that no matter how much the Northern Han Dynasty plots against Hunan, it is far away in the Central Plains, separated In the three prefectures of Jingnan. Its mobilization was an expedition for labor divisions. Our army is in the south, so it can be easily controlled. The Northern Han Dynasty only stationed [-] soldiers in Lizhou, which shows that it has a guilty conscience. According to the data of the ministers, the Northern Han Dynasty came out of this I'm afraid I want to use my Tang power to destroy Chu, and then take the opportunity to get a piece of the pie!"

"I think that if I can accept his invitation and take all of the Chu land, even if I divide him into a few states and counties, it will be the food in my mouth in the end. Why should I be afraid?"

"Your Majesty, please don't miss this opportunity!"

After listening to Han and Feng's words, Li Jing once again fell into entanglement, looked at Feng Yansi, and looked at Han Xizai.

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

"Your Majesty, don't miss this opportunity!"

After a long time, Li Jing suddenly asked, "Where is Tao Gu, the envoy of the Han Dynasty?"

Mentioning this, Feng Yansi smiled, and replied: "It is said that Tao Gu, living in a guest house, is having a hard time!"

Li Jing said to Feng Yansi: "Feng Yanqing, please hold a private banquet, please talk to Tao Gu, and then find out what this person has to say!"

"Obey!" Feng Yansi hurriedly responded.

On the side, seeing Feng Yansi appointed by Li Jing, Han Xizai suddenly felt bad.

(End of this chapter)