As soon as Guo Song returned to the official office, he saw Pan Liao standing in front of the official room waiting for him. "Is there something urgent about Prime Minister Pan?" Guo Song asked with a smile.
Pan Liao took two steps quickly and said with a solemn face: "I just got two news. King Zhao Li Si died of illness in Yuhang County, and Liu Qia, the governor of Jiangnan East Road, also died of illness in Xunyang County, Jiangzhou."
Although it was information from the Jin Wei Mansion, Guo Song also clearly stipulated that if it did not involve military affairs, the right minister Pan Liao could be reported simultaneously, so it was not surprising that Pan Liao got the news from the Jin Wei Mansion as soon as possible.
Guo Song nodded, turned around and said to his entourage: "Go quickly and ask Du Xiangguo to come to my official room."
The entourage turned and ran away. Guo Song said to Pan Liao again: "Let's go in and talk!"
The two came to Guo Song's official room, and Du You hurried over at this time. Seeing that King Jin was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his hands, he quietly sat down next to Pan Liao.
Guo Song looked out the window and sighed softly: "With Li Si's death, Lingnan will inevitably fall into a state of internal struggle among all parties to seize power. This is a good opportunity to seize Lingnan. If I don't seize it, I will definitely regret it in the future."
Du You also whispered: "Your Highness, I also think this is an opportunity."
Guo Song looked back at Du You, "What did Du Xiangguo say?"
Du You said: "The climate in Lingnan is hot and humid, which is especially unsuitable for Guanlong soldiers and northern soldiers like us. If we wait until Lingnan stabilizes before attacking, we will inevitably pay a huge price. It is better to take advantage of their internal strife to divide and annihilate them, which will be enough."
Get twice the result with half the effort. Li Si passed away and Lingnan lost its leader. This is indeed a good opportunity."
Pan Liao also said: "Your Highness, Guangzhou and Quanzhou are the foundations of Nanyang maritime trade. Capturing Guangzhou and Quanzhou will play a great role in promoting the development of the imperial court's maritime trade. Weichen heard that Li Si was not alone.
One person came, and his eldest son Li Yang came with him. If we win over Li Yang and make him the governor of Guangzhou in the future, and then the army will be under our control, this will be the minimum price."
Guo Song nodded, "Then inform the intelligence chief of Kuaiji County. We agree to call the king's soul back to his hometown and let his eldest son escort the coffin back to Chang'an. He can take the Yangtze River to Xiangyang and enter Chang'an from Shangzhou."
After finalizing Li Si's arrangement, their topic turned to Liu Qia's affairs.
When Liu Qia died of illness, his son Liu Shining must have taken over the military power. There is no doubt about this. However, Liu Shining was far from as gentle and self-disciplined as his father. On the contrary, Liu Shining was ambitious and persuaded his father more than once to seize the two Zhejiang roads, but he was always rejected.
His father refused, and now that Liu Qia has passed away, no one can stop Liu Shining's ambition.
"Where is Han Huang?" Guo Song asked.
Han Huang's visit to Beijing this time is closely related to Liu Shining's threat. On the surface, he came to see the Queen Mother, but in fact he came to seek assistance from the imperial court. Guo Song was particularly concerned about Han Huang's arrival. It can be said that this time Han Huang came to Beijing
Beijing is related to whether the imperial court can peacefully take over the two Zhejiang provinces.
Pan Liao leaned forward and said: "Your Highness, the Han ambassador has now passed Shangzhou and will arrive in Chang'an in three days at most."
Guo Song thought for a while and then smiled and said: "The Zhengshitang had better show sincerity and discuss how to welcome Han Huang."
.........
After an absence of nearly ten years, Han Huang finally returned to Jingzhao Mansion, which is also his hometown. Returning to his hometown in his twilight years, Han Huang actually felt like a young man who left home and returned home. He knew that he did not have long to live.
, if he could spend his last days in his hometown, he would not want to return to Jiangnan again.
At noon that day, Han Huang's team arrived at the official road south of Lantian County, still ten miles away from the county seat.
"Sir, Lantian County is ahead!"
A white-haired follower pointed to a county road in the distance.
This old attendant was Han Huang's book boy. He had followed him for fifty years and had grown from a boy to an old man. When he saw Lantian County, the old book boy was also very excited.
"We're getting home!"
"Yes! We are going home." Han Huang sighed softly.
At this time, there was a sound of horse hoofbeats in front, and a group of soldiers were seen running towards them, all wearing bright clothes and angry horses, with an official in front.
Han Huang's more than two dozen guards suddenly became nervous, and they protected Han Huang. Han Huang looked at it for a moment and laughed, "Don't be nervous, the person coming is my old friend!"
He urged his horse to greet him and said with a big smile: "Brother Du Xian, are you okay?"
The visitor was none other than Du You. They were both from Jingzhao. Han Huang was more than ten years older than him and had been Du You's immediate boss. They had known each other for decades and had a very deep relationship.
Du You urged his horse forward, and the two laughed and hugged each other. Du You looked him up and down, and sighed: "I've seen him farewell in Chengdu. My brother has aged a lot."
Han Huang was open-minded. He laughed and said: "The main reason is that I am getting older. Unlike my brother who is in his prime, he has already reached the rank of Prime Minister. I am very happy and congratulated."
"His Royal Highness Prince Jin is looking forward to his brother coming to Chang'an!"
Han Huang smiled heartily and said: "I believe this. That boy was my disciple twenty years ago. I never thought that he could reach this stage today."
"But it's also a blessing to the people of the world, isn't it?"
"You flatter me so well, but it's a pity that it's useless to tell me. Go to the county seat quickly. I'm hungry and want to eat something."
All joking aside, Han Huang was actually very touched that Du You actually came to Lantian County to greet him. This was of course the arrangement of King Jin.
Everyone gathered together and headed towards Lantian County a few miles away...
After staying one night in Lantian County, Han Huang finally arrived in Chang'an the next afternoon. Guo Song personally led several ministers to greet him outside Nancheng.
Han Huang saw Guo Song at a glance. He had not changed much from before he went to Ganzhou to take office, but his demeanor was more majestic. Among the stars of the prime ministers, he had a somewhat domineering demeanor.
Han Huang secretly sighed in his heart. Of course he understood the overall direction of the future. Although he missed the Tang Dynasty, he also knew that the general trend had been set and it would be difficult to change it.
Han Huang stepped forward and saluted first: "Old minister Han Huang, please see His Royal Highness the Regent of the Supervisory Country!"
Guo Song smiled and said: "I haven't seen you for many years, but Han Gong's style is still the same!"
"Your Highness has commended you. I am already in my twilight years and will go to see the late Emperor in a few years."
Guo Song said calmly: "Although it is rare to live in your seventies since ancient times, it is not uncommon to be eighty or ninety. Prime Minister Pei Zunqing is eighty-five years old. As long as Han Gong cultivates his character, is optimistic and cheerful, I believe he will live a long life."
"Then with your highness's good advice, I will try to live a long life and surpass Pei Zunqing."
Guo Song laughed, "That's right!"
Guo Song introduced other prime ministers to Han Huang, and Han Huang secretly praised them. Since the middle Tang Dynasty, traitorous ministers have been in power, and it is extremely difficult for the court to get a good prime minister.
The seven prime ministers of Guo and Song Dynasties are all talented in governing the world. Even Duqiu is an old man with rich experience and seniority, which just makes up for the shortcomings of other prime ministers' lack of qualifications. This shows the king of Jin's way of employing people.
The balance is extremely good.
Guo Song laughed again and said: "Han Gong has traveled hard all the way, so he will go to the guest post to rest for a day, and then we can discuss official matters the day after tomorrow."
Han Huang smiled slightly and said: "My ancestral home is still there, why don't I just go back home!"
Han Huang's nephew Han Zhi lived in the Han family's ancestral house in Chang'an, so of course Han Huang had to live in his own house.
Guo Song said happily: "Mr. Han can live wherever he likes according to his own wishes? Mr. Han please!"
"Your Highness, please! Prime ministers, please!"
Han Huang entered Chang'an City surrounded by everyone and headed for his old house in Anyefang.
.........
After dinner, Han Huang took an ox cart to Xi'anmenwai Street. He had heard of its name for a long time, so he came to take a look in person today.
Today happens to be the fifth day of March. Since last year, the flower boats on Xi'anmenwai Street have been changed from daily performances to performances every fifth and tenth day. This arrangement is mainly because the audience will lose the freshness after watching too much.
As a result, people usually eat and drink, but on the day of the performance, many families rushed to Xi'anmenwai Street with their wives and children to watch the grand flower boat show.
The current performance starts from Wuyang Palace and travels for more than ten miles, and the program is more colorful.
Colored lanterns are still hanging in the sky above Xi'anmenwai Street. They are left over from the Shangyuan Lantern Festival and have never been removed. The lanterns are bright and colorful, especially attracting the people of Chang'an City.
Four guards were guarding Han Huang from the front and left. Han Huang was also very interested and walked slowly with his hands behind his hands. He liked to observe the market. He could see Guo Song's governance from the people in the market. He knew that the polarization of Luoyang City was very serious.
Rich people wear silk and satin, ordinary people wear old coarse cloth, and poor people even wear rags that barely cover their bodies.
But Chang'an was completely different. Men and women basically wore fine linen fabrics. No silk or satin was seen, and no rags were seen. Everyone's face was red and full, and they were filled with joy from the bottom of their hearts.
Han Huang secretly nodded. The legend is true. Guo Song promoted simplicity and discouraged wearing silk and satin. However, there was not much differentiation between the rich and the poor in Chang'an, so everyone wore long gowns and skirts made of fine linen. You could tell by their complexion.
The people have enough to eat.
What Han Huang admired the most was the minimum guarantee system implemented by Guo Song. The prices of coarse cloth, coarse flour, and coarse salt were all set by the government. The prices were less than half of the market price. It was not enough to buy more. This ensured that the poorest families could not afford to buy more.
Can have a full meal.
At this time, there was a commotion in front, and someone shouted, "The flower fleet is coming!"
Suddenly, both sides of the river were crowded with pedestrians, and everyone craned their necks to look into the river.
Han Huang was also crowded in the crowd, and he looked to the north. There was loud drumming on the river, and a fleet of boats with red and green colors were slowly sailing towards this side.