It was another early morning, the sky in the east had not yet turned white, and there were already many officials in front of the palace gate. Xu Xian arrived early, and when he saw a lantern with the word "Feng" written on it, he went to greet it.

The carriage stopped slowly. The old servant helped Feng Dao to the carriage shaft. Xu Xian quickly stretched out his hand to help Feng Dao get out of the carriage.

"The Grand Master came very early today!"

"I am really getting old. When I was young, I was always the first one to go to court. I don't know if I will be able to get up this winter."

Xu Xian supported Feng Dao and walked forward and asked: "Last time, I asked the Grand Master to name the child. I wonder if the Grand Master has thought of it?"

"Well, I've already thought about it. What do you think of the word 'Anping'?"

"Xu Anping?" Xu Xian couldn't help but frowned, "The grand master picked a name like this after looking through the classics for a few days? I can easily pick ten or eight names like this, and it's easy to call him Anping.

Some."

"Hmph!" Feng Dao snorted heavily inside his nose, "You asked me to give you the name. Sure enough, you are as picky as before. Do you have to find a few rare and gorgeous words in every chapter and sentence?

It’s what you want.”

Seeing that Feng Dao was angry, Xu Xian quickly said: "It's because the lower official is ignorant and doesn't understand the profound meaning of Taishi. I guess these two ordinary words must have some unspeakable profound meaning."

Unexpectedly, Feng Dao shook his head and said: "There is no deep meaning. I just place my wish for peace and stability in the world on the younger generations."

"Haha... The Grand Master really has the heart of the world. This generation of Xiaguan has not yet aged, and he can unify the world without the juniors growing up."

"I hope so. If your Majesty can successfully capture the land of Youzhou and withstand the counterattack of the Khitan people, your reputation will be at its peak, and several other small countries will be able to spread the word. In the future, you can capture the Puppet Han and Yunzhou, and the world will be conquered."

Unification is just around the corner.”

"Oh, I didn't expect that this expedition to Liao was of such great significance. No wonder His Majesty prepared so carefully."

"It is much more important than the conquest of Huainan. If this function becomes your majesty's name, it will be famous throughout the ages, comparable to Taizong and Hanwu."

Xu Xian nodded heavily and said, "I deeply agree, but it's really inappropriate for such a wise emperor to not even have a queen now."

Feng Dao stared at Xu Xian's expression in surprise, "You have a lot of business to do, and the post is indeed vacant, but His Majesty does not lack women, and he does not lack people to take care of him. To be honest with me, you can fight

What a bad idea."

"Xiaguan is also entrusted by others to be loyal. You know that not long ago, Xianguan went to Wuyue. King Qian Chu of Wuyue has a sister who has not yet left the court. This woman is in her prime. She has a beautiful appearance and a naive and optimistic personality.

Your Majesty's life will be much easier and happier with this girl by his side."

Feng Dao pointed his finger at Xu Xian's heart and said, "Tell me the truth with your conscience. How much benefit did you receive from King Wu Yue?"

"In the conscience of heaven and earth, I really think about His Majesty's physical and mental health. The Grand Master knows that I have few friends in the court, so when I went back to the palace to give advice, I asked the Grand Master to give me a few words of advice."

Feng Dao stroked his beard and muttered: "I understand what you are planning. If the princess of Wuyue Kingdom successfully enters the middle palace, the young lady of the Fu family will come out of the harem sooner or later, and you will have

Opportunity."

Just as Wu Yue's envoy said, the person in the entire Zhou Dynasty who is most looking forward to this matter is Xu Xian. It is not only the benefits promised by Qian Chu, but also related to Xu Xian's emotional destiny. What he does not get is always the last thing.

OK.

Being exposed by Feng Dao to his face, Xu Xian couldn't help but be speechless. Feng Dao sighed and said: "Zhixian, you already have a wife and a young son, so why are you so persistent in your old love? It's not that I won't help you, but it's useless to help you. That one

The seventh lady of the Fu family is very noble, and sooner or later she will become the ruler of the middle palace."

Xu Xian's heart twitched, "If this is the case, the Grand Master will help the lower official even more."

"Why? Do you want her not to be the queen, but to be your concubine or mistress?"

Xu Xian can't say that Chai Rong's life is not long. Even if Fu Liying becomes the queen, she will become a widow soon. Any widow can remarry, but the empress dowager cannot remarry, and no one dares to remarry.

Although I don’t know what the final fate of Fu Liying in history was, it is definitely not as stable and happy as being Xu Xian’s concubine.

"So what? Does the Grand Master really refuse to help?"

"I've already had my forehead buried in dirt, but you have to show your face to care about which woman the emperor sleeps with. You can't leave me any dignity. When the coffin is finalized, others can stop scolding me."

Xu Xian snorted heavily, "Since the Grand Master refuses to help, don't even think about drinking the tea I gave you in the future."

Feng Dao stamped his foot, "I have the money to buy it myself, hum!"

The conversation between the two broke up unhappily. The ministers from the previous court had already lined up, so Xu Xian chose an opening and stood in.

Now Xu Xian does have a lot of wealth and a few nice titles, but he can't compare with those who have been together for half their lives in troubled times. Every time the dynasty changes, the new king will lavishly reward anyone who doesn't have a prestigious title.

Especially those generals.

Xu Xian could only line up in the middle of the queue, and slowly entered the palace gate with a group of courtiers and headed for Chongyuan Hall. Not long after entering the hall, all the officials stood there when they heard a sharp voice shouting: "Your Majesty is here!"

When they saw Chai Rong, who was wearing a soaring turban and a red robe, he got on the dragon chair on the Danqi throne in high spirits. All the officials immediately prostrated themselves and shouted long live the mountain.

Only Chai Rong's loud voice was heard saying: "Everyone is safe!"

The ministers immediately sat upright, holding the wat tablet, looking at their noses and hearts, as if waiting for the teacher to examine the students. In the past two years, Chai Ronglong's power has become more and more powerful, and the ministers have no longer been as relaxed as before when they went to court. There are all written on the wat tablet.

With dense small prints, I waited for Chai Rong to call his name and report on his work.

"Does Xianggong Li have any military connections?"

Li Gu immediately stood up and went out to announce: "Your Majesty, Chengde Jiedu Commander Guo Chong has captured Shucheng."

In order to attack the Liao Dynasty, Chai Rong continued to expand the front division of the palace, preparing weapons, armor, boats and ships, and food and fodder. In fact, on the front line, he had already begun to seize advantageous terrain passes.

"Is there any action by the Liao army?"

"Back to Your Majesty, Xiao Siwen, who was left behind in Nanjing of the Liao Kingdom, still stationed his troops on the north bank of the Hutuo River as before, and made no move south. I thought he wanted to wait until Guo Chong was exhausted and depleted his troops before taking the opportunity to send troops. The Chengde army has limited troops, so your Majesty should send another troops

The horse has entered the German army and can support Guo Chong at any time."

Chai Rong nodded and said: "Let Tianxiong... Zhang Yongde, the governor of the Zhenning Army, lead an army of five thousand to go north immediately to support Guo Chong." He looked at Fan Zhi again, "How is Fan Xianggong's "Plan of Equalizing Fields" formulated?

"

Fan Zhi came out of the class and said: "Back to Your Majesty, the "Picture of Land Equalization" has been prepared. I have already seen it and am about to show it to Your Majesty." As he said this, he held out a scroll.

Li Tingfang quickly took it and handed it to Chai Rong. Chai Rong opened it on the spot and looked at it for about half a stick of incense. "There is no problem. Send it to the governors of each state immediately. The governor will execute it."

If the people want to recuperate, they must not only equalize land but also equalize taxes. In order to stabilize the place, emperors in the past dynasties have exempted many wealthy gentry from taxes. However, they are ungrateful. Instead, they take the opportunity to collude with others to avoid taxes and treat the people who pay taxes.

It’s really unfair and they should be exempted from their privileges.”

If Chai Rong had said this when he first came to the throne, he would have been scolded by his ministers, saying that this move would definitely cause chaos in the world. But now no one objects, and no matter how arrogant those giant gentry are, they can't defeat the sword in Chai Rong's hand.

"Ai Ying, the regular servant of Sanqi, please immediately count the number of people who are exempted from the tax."

An official immediately went out to take orders, but then asked: "The Kong family in Qufu has been generous and exempted from taxes in all dynasties, should this be counted?"

Chai Rong slapped his hand heavily on the armrest, "Forget it, no one person will have this privilege!"

…

Chai Rong asked around and finally it was Xu Xian's turn, "How is Xu Xian's red scarf expanding?"

Xu Xian hurriedly left the squad and said: "Your Majesty, all the new soldiers have been recruited, and training is being stepped up. The army will be ready in less than three months, but the weapons and armor are not yet available."

"It's not just the red scarves that can't get it together. All the ministries have been working hard to make it. I guarantee that they will be useful in three months." Chai Rong's face suddenly showed a playful smile, "Wu Yue's envoys can be with you.

Are you okay? The King of Wuyue has always been loyal and respectful to the Zhou Dynasty. Please don't neglect them, especially the princess who said she came to appreciate the scenery of the Central Plains. Be sure to have someone to wait on you and wait until I'm done with my work to receive them."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty! They have good food and accommodation at my place. I even sent someone to take the princess of Wuyue Kingdom on a tour in the capital. Now they have seen Tokyo and are preparing to take a boat to Luoyang."

Chai Rong waved his hand and said: "It's better not to go to Luoyang, so as not to encounter danger."

"Here!" Xu Xian bowed and promised, "Your Majesty, I have something else to advise you."

"explain!"

"It has been more than a year since the queen passed away. Now the harem has no owner. Your Majesty must choose a new queen." Xu Xian raised his head slightly and saw that Chai Rong's face showed no emotion or anger, and continued: "The princess of Wu Yue Kingdom.

I have seen her before, and she is as beautiful as a woman, and her character is gentle, virtuous, knowledgeable, and courteous. She is truly the perfect choice for the queen."

As soon as Xu Xian finished speaking, he heard someone say: "I second my opinion!"

Xu Xian didn't expect there would be help, so he couldn't help but turn around and saw a green-robed official coming out to report: "I agree, your Majesty is busy with government affairs, and the affairs of the harem need a wise queen to take care of it. If the princess of Wuyue Kingdom is really like this

Xu Linggong said that he is indeed the best choice.

Furthermore, Wu Yue was the most important vassal of the Zhou Dynasty. Wu Yue contributed a lot in attacking the Tang Dynasty this time. His Majesty should reward him generously to show his grace. Instead of rewarding him with gold, silver, cloth and silk, he might as well appoint the sister of the King of Wu Yue as his queen. With this in-law vassal relationship

The relationship will naturally become stronger. This move can be said to kill two birds with one stone, why would your Majesty not do it?"

This statement is reasonable and well-founded. If it were anyone else, Xu Xian would be very grateful, but if it were Li Dai, Xu Xian would be very angry. This man is a top troll, and he offends no one more than Xu Xian.

The most important thing about Mr. Xian is that he has no strength other than a bad mouth. His coming to second the proposal will simply cause trouble for Xu Xian.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Dai finished speaking, a group of people jumped out to express their objections. Among them were Xu Xian's enemies, Li Dai's opponents, many of them were Fu Yanqing's cronies, and some of them were all three.

A group of people criticized Xu Xian verbally, and some even accused him on the spot of being a liaison with the vassal state for plotting evil intentions. Even though Xu Xian thought he had some eloquence, he was unable to defeat the four-handed man with just two fists, and was sprayed all over his body.

In the past, he stood outside the palace and watched Chai Rong's quarrels with his ministers without taking it seriously. Now he felt that Chai Rong was really a true hero who could bend and stretch. If he had not been armed, Xu Xian would have wanted to draw his sword and kill someone.

"I think Xu Xian's proposal is not unreasonable, and what Li Dai said is also very reasonable. Your Majesty, by appointing the princess of Wuyue as your queen, you are indeed killing two birds with one stone."

An old and weak voice immediately silenced the hall, and everyone immediately looked at Feng Dao. As an important weather vane of the Five Dynasties, Feng Dao's words naturally had weight. The ministers all thought that this was Chai Rong's idea, and they all turned their attention to Chai Rong.

Honor.

Just listen to Chai Rong say in a deep voice: "I have a deep friendship with Queen Yide. Now that she has passed away only a year ago, I have no intention of establishing a queen. King Qian Chu of Wuyue has served me loyally, and I will not let him feel cold. However,

He had no titles or rewards, so he named his sister Princess Qinghe. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works immediately built a mansion for her, and rewarded her with five thousand pieces of silk, thousands of coins, fifty palace maids and eunuchs, and she retired from the court!"
To be continued...