I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 263 Exchange Messages
Zhan Feiyu's letter was not on the way yet, but the news about Shitou Village had already been sent back to the capital, and His Majesty knew about it immediately.

"This scapegoat minister will not recite it. If it wasn't for the Holy Majesty's request, the old minister would not be willing to let that little girl travel long distances to Weizhou." Gu Xueshi said slowly, and looked at the Holy Majesty on the dragon chair with contempt.

Qiu Zongxi and Old General Yang guessed that Gu Xueshi had thought about it, wanted to use the dragon's merits, and wanted to support a certain prince, so they sent Zhan Feiyu to Weizhou, both as a show of goodwill and as a test.

But they didn't know that the instigator of this incident was the current emperor. First, he really planned to revive the Yang family, and second, he was trying to test the princes and see who would be happy.

The holy majesty who was wronged could only change the subject, "It is better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books. When that girl returns to Beijing in the future, I will make her the princess of the Daqing Dynasty. Aiqing, can you rest assured?"

"Thank you, my lord." Gu Xueshi stood up and thanked him.

Although there are achievements in movable type printing, the title of the princess of the little girl is also worthy of the name, but if it was granted at the beginning, it was just a false name.

But now it is different, the Holy Majesty not only loves the little girl but also feels a little more indebted, the title of princess is well deserved, in the future in the capital, even the prince and princess will have to weigh it.

"Your Majesty, don't forget that if Qiu Zongxi sends a letter, it will be a trouble caused by His Majesty." Before leaving the hall, Gu Qingzhou did not forget to mention.

Gu Qingzhou remembers the life-saving grace back then, and the Holy Majesty also remembers it, but Qiu Zongxi is used to idle clouds and wild cranes, but this kindness has always been there, Gu Xueshi does not intend to sell his only little disciple to the Holy Majesty to repay the life-saving grace of the year.

After being silent for a long while, the Holy One pointed at Gu Qingzhou who was leaving, dumbfounded, "The older this man is, the thicker his skin is, and he will push the troubles to me, as if Qiu Zongxi didn't save him back then."

Eunuch Liu, who was waiting on the sidelines, took the words, "Master Gu is just such a young disciple. I heard that the warehouse in the scholar's mansion is almost emptied. Mr. Qiu is robbing his apprentice, so Mr. Gu is naturally not happy."

If you want Eunuch Liu to say, Zhan Feiyu is the real lucky star. Both Scholar Gu and His Majesty love her very much, and even Commander Yin treats the little girl differently. Now there is another Mr. Qiu.

Outsiders only think that Mr. Qiu is good at calligraphy and painting, and has extensive knowledge, but they don't know that Mr. Qiu is a member of the Qiu family in central Guizhou. Master Xiaoqiu is Mr. Qiu's nephew.

Of course, if you want to talk about a teacher, it must be Mr. Gu who is more powerful, but Mr. Qiu is not bad, not to mention the scholars of the Daqing Dynasty, even the children of those aristocratic families in the capital, I am afraid that they also want to learn from Mr. Qiu, and get Thanks to the great help of the Qiu family in Qianzhong.

"That girl's handwriting is just average." The Holy One has seen Zhan Feiyu's handwriting, which may be considered above average among her peers, but she really doesn't have any talent or spirituality.

The little girl is transparent and intelligent, and she is better at timely and strategic questions. As for the poetry, it's just a matter of fluency.

As for painting, to paraphrase Gu Xueshi's words: too much craftsmanship.In order not to be mad at myself, it is better not to teach at the beginning, so that if someone asks in the future, there will be a high-sounding excuse.

Can't draw?That's because I didn't learn.

Eunuch Liu looked at His Majesty who was all smiles when he mentioned Zhan Feiyu, and joked, "Miss Zhan is late in enlightenment, and besides, she is all focused on studying for the imperial examination. It's normal to be weak in other areas."

Why is Master Gu respected by scholars all over the world?In addition to being born in the Gu family of Nanling, it is also because he is the number one scholar, and also because he is proficient in all of them, and is good at all of them, and he has become a model scholar.

As for people like Gu Xueshi, there was only one such person in the Daqing Dynasty since the founding of the country.

Although Zhan Feiyu has the reputation of a small three-yuan, he is still far behind Gu Xueshi. One can be said to be a star of Wenqu, while the other can only be said to be hardworking.

"Huiji will hurt, the little girl is so good." The sage laughed, the six arts of a gentleman that scholars are good at, the little girl doesn't count on it, but the little girl is a capable minister and official, and can do practical things in the future.

Poems and songs, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting?It's just cultivating sentiment, can it govern the country and make the country safe?

Putting down the memorial, the majesty stopped talking, and thought for a while, "That's why I was surprised why Qiu Zongxi wanted to accept disciples?"

Master Gu's acceptance of apprentices can be understood by the Holy Majesty. Qiu Zongxi wants to rob his apprentices, but the Holy Majesty really can't figure it out.

The Qiu family couldn't get Qiu Zongxi to become an official in the imperial examination back then, so they could only give him money and let him travel around the world. With this weird and withdrawn personality, he actually wanted to rob his apprentice. The sage wanted to meet Zhan Feiyu. Let's see how this girl is. What a peculiarity.

……

At night, the scholar's mansion.

Unsurprisingly, there will be uninvited guests visiting. After putting down his pen, Gu Qingzhou, dressed in casual clothes, stood up, "Sit down, how is the situation in Weizhou?"

"It's just a test." Yin Wuyan still had that cold and indifferent face, even though he was young, but the evil and hostility made people forget his age.

Gu Qingzhou poured a cup and pushed it over, took a sip of the teacup himself, and said with a leisurely smile: "Back then, the Holy Majesty wanted to gather military power and let Old General Yang be slandered. Now that the salt tax reform is imminent, the Holy Majesty is worried about the ministers and The prince in the palace thinks of returning to the Yang family."

Most of the tax money in the Daqing Dynasty was used for the army. The Holy Majesty was not a militaristic type, but he still wanted to win over barbarians and foreigners, so the more money the better.

Salt tax accounted for one-fifth of the commercial tax of the Daqing Dynasty, as high as 5000 million guan each year, and the salt tax of Lianghuai accounted for [-]% of the total salt tax. Three of the four major salt merchants were located in Jiangnan Road, and the last one was rich in salt. Long right road of salt.

As soon as the prince in the palace was mentioned, Yin Wuyan thought of Zhan Feiyu's distress in Huai'an Mansion, and the originally cold phoenix eyes became even more chilling, "The sage does not have a prince, so they are naturally anxious. If they want to win over the ministers, the most indispensable thing is silver."

But where does the money come from?
Although every prince is not short of silver envoys, in addition to the rewards from the emperor, the prince's family and the courtiers he gathers will offer filial piety every year, and the princes also have properties in the capital and other places.

But compared with the silver from the salt tax, this money is not even a drop in the bucket, and of course it is not enough for the princes to form cliques.

Moreover, Shengshang is wise, in addition to the Inspectorate which supervises all officials, there is also the Forbidden Dragon Guard in secret. No prince dares to instruct his officials to embezzle, so naturally they all focus on the salt tax.

Gu Qingzhou looked at Yin Wuyan, who had murderous eyes, and couldn't help laughing, "They were also forced by the Holy Spirit, and the salt field was handed over to Prince Yu by the Holy Lord, and they couldn't find a place to do it no matter how anxious they were."

Prince Yu is the holy uncle, and he has led the army to fight at the border for many years. These princes can only return with a feather to Prince Shangyu, so their minds have shifted to the army of Longyou Dao.

Thinking of what the salt merchant Jin's family did in Huai'an that day, Gu Qingzhou continued: "In the past, salt merchants sold salt in Jiangnan, but once the salt tax is changed, the salt farm will replace the former Jiangnan Road and become the largest salt industry. The place of trade, the focus of salt tax has also shifted from Jiangnan to Longyou Road."

Even if there is a salt transport department in the court, but as the saying goes, a strong dragon can't overwhelm a local snake, and the people of the whole Longyou Dao are tough. The real overlord here is the Northwest Seven Guards, so if you want to get money from the salt tax, you must control the Northwest Seven Guards. guard.

After Old General Yang was slandered for collaborating with the enemy and treason, the Holy Majesty personally appointed generals to control the Seven Guards of the Northwest. But after a few years, these generals have already been inextricably linked with the court and the harem, but the salt tax is about to change , can not tolerate the slightest negligence.

"Your Excellency intends to completely muddy the water by impeaching Zhen Bianhou from Yushitai?" Yin Wuyan raised his head, and his cold phoenix eyes fixedly looked at Gu Xueshi in front of him.

Under the bright light of the candle, Xueshi Gu was wearing a jade crown and a crane cloak. He was smiling gracefully, and he was a real scholar. Yin Wuyan couldn't resist probing.

But he knew that Gu Xueshi's every chess move was ten moves, and there was a hidden meaning behind it, which might not be revealed until several years later.

Even his kindness to Zhan Feiyu, Yin Wuyan can't really judge whether it is true or not. Although the two of them have secretly reached some cooperation, but until the last day, Yin Wuyan will not fully trust Gu Qingzhou, and he believes that the other party is also the same .

"It's easy to fish in muddy water." Regarding Yin Wuyan's scrutiny, Gu Qingzhou knew and was not angry at all. If the commander of the forbidden dragon guards trusts a person like this, it will be suspicious.

Thinking of the little disciple who was far away in Xiangwu County, Gu Qingzhou put down his teacup, "Although the Holy Majesty has always said that he is not suspicious of employing people, he is not suspicious of others, but when it comes to salt tax, silver, and the Northwest Seven Guards, the Holy Majesty has to be careful." , I have to be cautious, instead of guessing this and doubting that, it is better to get old General Yang back and take a drastic drudgery."

Otherwise, how could Gu Qingzhou send Zhan Feiyu to Xiangwu County? When the Yang family recovered in the future, outsiders only thought it was because of Gu Xueshi. Even if the princes resented them, the object of their hatred was Gu Xueshi and Zhan Feiyu, both master and apprentice. .

The Holy Majesty was on guard against the princes from the very beginning, but he couldn't bear to hurt the relationship between the father and son, that's why he made such a move.

Hearing this, Yin Wuyan's face was unsurprisingly covered with a layer of frost, and his voice was suddenly cold, revealing anger and indifference, "My lord, don't worry about Xiao Yu being in danger? That day in Huai'an Mansion, Xiao Yu's life was hanging by a thread! "

Even though Yin Wuyan hung 48 corpses on the city wall in the case of Huai’an Mansion that day, it involved salt tax, silver, and even Li Chu. This deterrent was useless at all, and the princes in the palace dared to plot rebellion , dare to kill father and brother.

The water in the Northwest Seven Guards is too deep, and the army is under the control of the emperor, so the princes dare not take action easily. Once the emperor finds out that they want to get their hands on the military power, no prince can afford the result.

Similarly, whether it is Gu Xueshi or Yin Wuyan, although they have buried spies in the Seventh Guards of the Northwest, their effect is minimal. Facing the Northwest Seven Guards who were fighting hard, Yin Wuyan had no intention of winning.

"You underestimated the prestige of the little girl in the army, not to mention that there is Prince Yu here. Although the Holy Majesty has only mentioned the matter of the Huai'an Mansion, and didn't go into it, those in the palace will definitely not dare to come again." Since Gu Qingzhou dared to let Zhan Feiyu go to Xiangwu County, he naturally made sure that she would not be in danger.

"If the Yang family is going to recover, the town's Marquis Mansion should be destroyed. This kind of favor, Old General Yang, will not be placed on the saint, nor will it be placed on me. In the end, the little girl will benefit from it. Wealth and wealth are in danger." Gu Qingzhou laughed warmly. From the moment he accepted his apprentice, it was impossible for the little girl to stay out of it.

What's more, Longyou Dao and his party are the meaning of the Holy One. Gu Qingzhou can't refuse, and Zhan Feiyu is even more impossible. In this case, it's better to take this trip, and Zhan Feiyu can get more benefits.

What about the name of the princess?Mrs. Zhenbianhou was also the princess back then, and her surname was Yin, and she died in the end. Zhenbianhou was half buried in the earth, and there was Zhang Yiyi by her side.

Zhan Feiyu, the princess, has a good reputation, and real power is the most important thing.

Gu Qingzhou glanced at Yin Wuyan, who had a handsome face and a cold breath. He had already known his destiny, and Xiaoyu was still so young. Only Yin Wuyan could protect Xiaoyu in the future.

But as the commander of the Forbidden Dragon Guard, he is a knife in the hands of the Holy Master. Now he looks at the scenery, but who knows what will happen in the future?

Especially once the Holy Majesty becomes a crown prince and the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, Yin Wuyan is afraid that he will become the first person to be sacrificed to heaven.

Therefore, Gu Qingzhou had to think about Zhan Feiyu's future. The Northwest Seven Guards were only the first step. With the kindness of the Yang family, even if Yin Wuyan died in the end, the new emperor would have to weigh it if he wanted to deal with Xiaoyu.

At this moment, Gu Qingzhou was extremely thankful that Zhan Feiyu was a girl, otherwise the current emperor would not be able to accommodate Xiaoyu if he was the first one.

Precisely because she is a woman, she is safe in the country, so the Holy Majesty will not have the slightest fear or precaution when she donates silver to the army. Even a princess would not dare to have such a good name.

After exchanging some news and finishing the business, Gu Xueshi suddenly said: "The grandson of Old General Yang is one year younger than Xiaoyu, and the Yang family intends to let him marry Xiaoyu. I don't know why you..."

Gu Xueshi wanted to ask Yin Wuyan that he had met Yang Xu in Shitou Village back then. This child was already eight years old, what kind of temperament was he?

But as soon as he asked this question, Gu Qingzhou looked at Yin Wuyan's suddenly cold phoenix eyes, and shook his head with a smile, "Forget it, Xiaoyu is still young, but Xiaoyu has such a temper. When she gets married in the future, I plan to choose from the general's family. Parents and children can do it."

As for scholars from a scholarly family, Gu Qingzhou didn't think about it.

Scholars respect rules, and Xiaoyu's temper, Gu Qingzhou understands to a certain extent, don't look at the little girl studying hard, it's because she is forced to have no choice but to live a leisurely life, the little girl will definitely not choose to endure hardship.

There are few rules in the general's family, and the little girl can live a little more casually. The royal relatives are not too bad, and the royal children have been pampered since childhood.

Yin Wuyan stood up abruptly, unable to tell from Xueshi Gu's face whether he said these words as a test or as an advance notice, "Xiaoyu is still young, it is too early for adults to think about these things, please leave."

(End of this chapter)