Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 315 New Year’s Eve Banquet, the Fight between the Eight Factions in the Palace of Wu State

Warm sun in winter.

Chen hour has passed, and Li Yu still hasn't gotten up, and is fast asleep.

Grandma Rong passed by a few times outside the house pretending to be nonchalant, making sure she didn't hear any movement in the house.

Then he tiptoed out of the courtyard and whispered to the maid:

"Hot water, wooden buckets, towels, and breakfast are always ready."

"Yes, Mammy."

Shuzhen's maid secretly asked:
"Mommy, I understand all this. But you asked us to prepare this ointment to stop bleeding and remove blood stasis~"

Aunt Rong squinted her eyes:

"This old slave has eaten more salt than you have ever eaten rice. Listen to me, you can't be wrong!"

"Bah. Don't say such shameful things. It's not good for others to hear you."

In terms of enjoyment, the second daughter of the Zhao family is obviously better than Li Yu. Because they have been well clothed and well-fed since childhood.

Li Yu did not show affection for his son and daughter, but left the table after a few words of instruction. After being served by the maid, he put on his military uniform and sword and walked out of the house quickly.

Shuzhen opened the window and called in a low voice.

……

Everyone in Wu State and the Qing court had a way out, but he and Qianlong had no way out! Either sit on the throne or go to hell.

There was a hint of disappointment on Zhao Shujie's face, but it was fleeting.

Zhao Shujie, who has an obviously reserved and shy personality, was quite calm during this process. She turned a blind eye to the servants and women serving around her, treating them as nothing more than tables, chairs and benches.

Zhao Shuzhen bowed slightly and saluted:
"Your Majesty, please."

"Well, there is no need to be restrained in the house from now on."

All kinds of exquisite food are served on the table.

Therefore, Li Yu, who had always adapted to the environment quickly, naturally opened his arms and enjoyed the imperial treatment.

Zhao Shuzhen didn’t care:
"What are you afraid of? Is there anyone else in this room?"

As soon as he picked up the bowl, he saw Shuzhen opposite, staring at him slyly.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Actually,
Grandma Rong was still polite to them, mainly because of their different status. The girls in the female band were beaten and scolded at every turn, and their moves were ruthless.

Strategic direction, army expansion, recruit training, pay and logistics, industrial development, and making friends, countless things are waiting for you.

About half an hour passed,

The food on the table would be removed, and then the maids and women would eat it all in the kitchen, talking and laughing.

What's more, in terms of materials, the master is generous to his servants. Therefore, it is reasonable for the standard of daily service to be higher.

Striving for hegemony is the only way forward.

Feeling refreshed after washing, put on a clean cotton robe.

……

Li Yu woke up and saw a little fox looking at him with a smile.

……

We all came from the Zhao Mansion, and we all suffered from prosperity and loss. There was absolutely no reason to betray the master.

……

First, two rough ladies came in carrying huge wooden barrels. Then I went back and forth several times carrying hot water to fill it up, sprinkled in some fragrant dried flower petals, and confirmed that the water temperature was suitable.

Zhao Shujie quickly said softly:
"Your Majesty is busy with military affairs and does not need to accompany our sisters."

From this familiar set of procedures, it can be inferred that the two women lived such a life every day before they left the cabinet.

The maids and women outside the door became busy.

"I'm full, so I won't eat anymore. You guys can divide it up."

"You look good, it seems~"

Several maids complained behind his back that this old man must not have been a fuel-efficient lamp when he was young.

Zhao Shuzhen pushed the bowl:

Looking at the handsome back when he went out,

"Well, you guys eat slowly."

"Sister, what are you looking at me for?"

Li Yu was so upset after a meal that he drank two bowls of antler chicken soup. Afterwards I ate some snacks, put down my dishes and wiped my mouth with a towel.

All the maids and women smiled and agreed with this.

The slaves who were busy in the house were calm and there was nothing unusual about them.

It’s all good stuff!
Even the white porridge is made from the best new rice.

Stir-fried seasonal vegetables without even using chopsticks.

There are also those exquisite snacks, except that His Majesty ate 2 steamed buns and 1 bowl of tofu, the rest were left intact.

The half pot of chicken soup was even more delicious, and the maids chattered and stared at the divided bowls to be fair and impartial.

In this era of insufficient material resources,

When a master distributes his own food and clothing to his servants, it is an act of kindness and compassion for his servants. If there is anyone who despises unhygienic things and hurts their self-esteem, it must be a time traveler.

Zhao Shuzhen eats very little. This is a habit she has developed over the past ten years in order to stay in shape.

While she was walking, she suddenly heard an ouch and frowned slightly.

Then, she saw Shujie staring at her, looking down. The eyes are full of the meaning of "enlightened, and so are you".

……

"Swollen?"

"Ah."

The maid on the side quickly took the ointment like a treasure, opened the porcelain bottle, and a strong herbal smell hit her nostrils.

"This is?"

The maid smiled and whispered a few words.

However, Zhao Shuzhen grabbed her ears and said angrily:

"You damn girl, where did you learn these things?"

The maid quickly begged for mercy:

"How dare you, slave? It's Grandma Rong who said it."

"Humph."

The two took the porcelain bottle and accepted the kindness tacitly. Although I can't stand Grandma Rong, it doesn't affect the position of being in the same trench.

The sun is shining brightly today and the north wind is cool.

The two of them were walking in the courtyard wrapped in fox fur cloaks, followed by a large group of maids.

Shuzhen suddenly sighed quietly:

"From today on, our sisters are the real concubines of Wu Kingdom."

"Sister, I'm afraid there is something we have to do."

"what?"

"Go and see the queen and Concubine Yang. Don't lose etiquette~"

Li Yu listened to his subordinates' request for instructions on this matter during a break in the office. He naturally approved of it and immediately ordered the Guards Battalion to mobilize two clippers. This is the most convenient, comfortable and safe way from Fucheng to Xishan Island!
……

Hu Ling'er was wearing a dark red dress and a phoenix crown, sitting upright. Next to him is the maid holding her son Li Yuanzhen.

On the lower left side is Yang Yunjiao, wearing a little makeup, looking tired and slightly swollen!
Accepted tea and gifts from Zhao Shuzhen and Zhao Shujie.

Her mother's family is rich, so naturally she does extraordinary things. The jewelry is all of high quality, which is quite unexpected even though Hu and Yang grew up in wealthy families.

"Sisters, please get up."

Hu Ling'er was very satisfied with the obedience of the two concubines in front of her.

After a non-in-depth chat, the two of them stayed to eat together. Yang Yunjiao, on the other hand, left early to rest because she gave birth to a daughter soon.

……

Before leaving Xishan Island,

Hu Linger asked her maid Bai Mu to see her off on her behalf.

When people arrived at the dock, Zhao Shujie quietly took out an exquisite small box.

"Sister Bai, I'm not prepared for the first meeting. Don't dislike it." Bai Huanxi was very confused and hesitated for a while before accepting.

After the clipper left, she secretly opened the box and saw a shining cat's eye gem! I naturally have a good impression of the Zhao sisters in my heart.

What woman in the world can’t love these cold and bright gems!
She decided to use her own silver and a silver chain to make a necklace. She would wear it next time she went to bed and show it to His Majesty.

And after the 15th day of the first lunar month,

After Hu Ling'er nodded, she officially received the title - Madam Bai! Ranked after Yang Yunjiao, the Zhao sisters, and Concubine Wei.

She never received the title of concubine, but a slightly lower title of "Madam".

However, she was also satisfied.

From a slave to a serious master, he has a separate house, a maid and a mother-in-law. If she gives birth to another son and a half in the future, the mother will be able to enjoy the wealth of the Wu Kingdom based on the wealth of her son.

As for her rise to the top, the one who was most stimulated was Hu Zheng.

Watching sisters who once had similar identities succeed in rising to the top is even more uncomfortable than falling down! The sadness in Hu Zheng's heart could not be neutralized by a bottle of caustic soda.

……

A woman's battlefield is within the palace walls and above the bed.

A man's battlefield is thousands of miles away, but also at the wine table!
New Year's Eve,

More than half of the core members of the Wu Kingdom's imperial court gathered in Suzhou Fucheng.

Although they belong to the same country, there are many factions within it:
There is the Tangkou Gang, the Huaixi Gang, the Shaoxing Master Gang, the Yizi Gang, the Xishan Gang, the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Merchant Gang, the Demoted Gang, and the Cao Gang!
can only say,
Wu State was indeed a prototype empire that grew up in the land of Jiangsu. It perfectly absorbed the bad culture of the province that was keen on fighting among each other and dividing each other.

Simultaneously,

There is also overlap between factions and small groups!

For example, Huaixi Gang Zheng He'an has a good personal relationship with Li Ergou, the adopted son gang who recommended him to join the rebellion. .

For example, Tangkou Gang Du Ren has a good relationship with Hu Xueyu, the leader of the Shaoxing Master Gang. Back then, one was a lawyer and the other was a famous criminal master, and they often interacted with each other.

Tan Muguang, the leader of the Cao Gang, has a good relationship with the Shaoxing Master Gang because the staff headquarters is filled with a large number of Shaoxing literati.

……

In short, the relationship is very complex.

Except for the Tangkou Gang, which is full of big guys, there is no leader.

In addition, each faction has one or two people who are recognized as the leaders of the faction!

If you look at these factions with a microscope, you will find that there are also several micro-groups that can be distinguished among them.

For example, Xishan Gang:
They are all technical craftsmen who followed Li Yu earlier. It can be said that the Xishan Gang supported the military industry of Wu State.

But there is still intimacy and distance inside. The Chen family of the steel factory and the old Zhang family of the gun factory were not easy to deal with. In addition to competition, there is also geographical exclusion.

For example, the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Business Group:

Jiang is Jiang, and Zhejiang is Zhejiang. Although there is cooperation between them, they are more vigilant. Business cultures and ways of doing things vary greatly.

Generally speaking, the small group of Zhejiang merchants is more united! Su Shang is slightly loose!
……

The most united faction with the least internal differences is the Cao Gang and the Shaoxing Master Gang.

the reason is simple,
These two factions are all: the eldest brother sits in the hall, and the subordinates are all younger brothers!

As for other factions, some "little brothers with a big brother temperament" have gradually emerged within them. Every time a younger brother gets ahead, there will be more cracks.

Apart from the many factions,

There are also some lonely masters who have no mountaintop to belong to, such as Wei Jun, the deputy commander-in-chief of the 3rd Army! For example, Navy Commander Liu Wu! For example, the marginalized Wang Liu!
Miao Youlin gradually followed a similar trend!
Liu Qian has always been alone.

If I had to put a label on him, he should be the Tangkou Gang.

But none of Tangkou's assistants, Fan Jing and Du Ren, would get too close to this ruthless intelligence chief. It was not because they were afraid, but because they were afraid that His Majesty would misunderstand him.

The high-ranking ministers and the spy chiefs had close contacts and were seeking death~
……

All in all, this New Year’s Eve is very warm.

The social order in Jiangnan is stable, prices are stable, and there is little interference from the government, so the people live a comfortable life.

Everyone said that King Wu was a good man!

I hope that King Wu can change his dynasty and sit firmly on the throne.

People in Jiangnan generally have a strong desire to live a stable life. Peace, tranquility, and no fuss are the best!

To put it bluntly, it doesn't matter who becomes emperor. As long as he can protect the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the "Jiangnan area" in a broad sense, the taxes will be lighter.

that is it!

The Publicity Department keenly grasped this point. The concept of Jiangnan people governing Jiangnan was made a big fuss and publicized, and achieved very ideal results.

In response, Li Yu’s reply was:
At the current stage, we can do more to unite the people of Jiangnan. Once the territory expanded rapidly and the Qing court protested, the "Jiangnan color" must be gradually diluted.

Otherwise, it will be of no use to the great unification.

Jia Xiaozhen studied the comments repeatedly and was filled with admiration. He said directly, "Your Majesty is the hero who descended from heaven in 3000 years."

……

New Year's Eve,

Naturally, it is a day of reunion, and everyone is full of joy.

In the evening, Li Yu finally had his own family time, which was naturally warm and peaceful.

"My beloved concubines, I don't like those complicated court etiquette. You can feel more comfortable in the house. We are all members of our own family."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

There are not many dishes, but the styles are exquisite.

Compared with Qianlong's imperial cuisine in the Forbidden City, it was very shabby, with only about 20 dishes.

It is well known to all the ministers of the State of Wu that His Majesty drinks very cautiously on weekdays and rarely exceeds 3 drinks. Mainly to keep a clear head at all times.

Hu Ling'er drank a cup, tasted it briefly, and said with a smile:
"Concubine Zhen, Concubine Jie, and Madam Bai can accompany your Majesty to have a few more drinks. Today is unusual, so it's okay to get drunk."

"Yes."

As queen, she needs to establish her authority.

"How is sister Yang Fei's health?"

"Thank you for your concern, Queen. My recovery is a little slow."

Hu Ling'er came closer and whispered:

"I have some good medicinal materials here, which are very good for women's nourishment and recovery. I will send them to you later."

"Thank you Queen."

Yang Yunjiao should not drink alcohol during confinement. So instead of drinking wine, I toasted Hu Ling'er with tea, and then gave a symbolic toast to Li Yu.

……

Li Yu is in a good mood today and everything goes well.

There were new people trying to persuade me to drink, so I naturally stopped drinking a few more drinks. Based on the common alcohol content in this era, he was just tipsy.

Throughout two thousand years of history,
Brewing rice wine is a cup of wine for literati.

Liquor is relatively unrefined. It is a cheap grain wine produced by poor people in order to consume alcohol cheaply and quickly. Even with distillation technology, it cannot escape its essence.

"Your Majesty, try this wine."

Li Yu picked up a glass and saw that the wine was golden in color, with moderate sweetness and sourness in the mouth. The aroma was rich, smooth and refreshing, and the alcohol content was slightly low.

laughed:

"Concubine Jie, what kind of wine is this?"

"Snow in West Lake!"

"It is suitable for women to drink. Send a bottle of this wine to Taihu Winery so that they can increase their product line."

The Zhao sisters were secretly happy. They knew that Yujiu was His Majesty's private property, and they hoped to accept the management of this industry.

A woman who can dance must have a soft back!
Women who can make money have a strong back!
……

Aunt Rong slipped in and came up to Hu Ling'er, her smile blooming like a chrysanthemum:

"Queen, the female band is ready~"

"Then let's get started."

"The slaves obey."

Li Yu held the wine glass and enjoyed the singing and dancing.

Six female musicians were playing accompaniment in the next room, but their voices were heard but no one was seen. 6 dancing girls appeared gracefully, flying up and down, smiling cleverly, looking forward to their beautiful eyes, and their postures were wonderful.

A good dancer not only has a soft body, but also has strong instant explosive power.

The dance is both strong and soft, with a very high artistic content!
(End of this chapter)