The Internal Guard implements a duty system during the New Year. Three commander-level senior officials take turns to be on duty. There are also a thousand soldiers on duty every day. If there is an emergency, they can be dispatched immediately.
It was also a coincidence that the chief officer on duty on New Year's Eve was Zhou Min. He listened to the soldiers' report that Doulu Guangyuan had reported an emergency, and he immediately ordered the soldiers to take the people to the inner hall.
"Commander Zhou, the matter is rather urgent, sorry to bother you!" Doulu Guangyuan said apologetically, cupping his fists.
"You're welcome, Mr. Doulu, this is..."
"This is my younger brother Doulu Liang. He is responsible for managing the Doulu family's estate in Fangzhou."
Doululiang saluted quickly, Zhou Min waved his hands and said with a smile: "It's cold, let's sit down and talk by the fire!"
The three of them sat down in front of the brazier. Doulu Guangyuan sighed and said, "My brother told me that Doulu Baowu recently made a big deal with a man named Zhang Li. The Doulu family sold five thousand shi of grain to Zhang Li.
Who is this Zhang Li? Where is the food transported? Is it legal? My brothers don’t even know. He is only responsible for managing the manor and delivering food."
"Is this the first time selling grain?" Zhou Min asked.
Doululiang shook his head, "This is the third time in two years. The first two times sold a total of eight thousand shi of grain."
"Sold to this Zhang Li too?"
"no!"
Doululiang thought for a while and said, "I remember he was an old Sogdian man. Baowu called him Kang Da in charge. I don't know his specific name."
The old Sogdian man named Kang stirred up Zhou Min's heart and asked urgently: "Is he called Kang Hongxin?"
"I really don't know. His subordinates all call him Chief Steward, but no one calls him by his full name."
Zhou Min nodded, "What else?"
Doulu Liang hesitated a little, Doulu Guangyuan was a little impatient and kicked him lightly, "Speak up quickly!"
"This... I really don't know where to start."
When the critical moment came, Doululiang flinched again.
Doulu Guangyuan was anxious and asked Zhou Min: "If we take the initiative to speak out, will the punishment on the family be reduced as appropriate in the future?"
"That's for sure. Even if it's a serious crime, if someone from the family takes the initiative to speak out, the punishment will at least not be against the family, but only against the individual. This is what His Highness Prince Jin told us personally."
Doululiang sighed, "Okay! Let me tell you, what I want to say is related to the Yuan family!"
Zhou Min immediately paid attention, and he said quietly: "Please continue talking!"
"After the Jingyuan mutiny, the manors of the Guanlong family in Guanzhong were all occupied one after another, causing heavy losses. However, the main manors of the Doulu family and the Changsun family were located in Fangzhou and were not occupied for the time being. A few months later, Zhu Si abolished the land seizure
After the conscription, the two manor houses were spared.
At that time, many Guanlong families quietly transferred their gold and silver properties to Fangzhou and hid them in two manors. Doulu Manor hid a large amount of property from the Homo Chen family, the He Ruo family, the Yuan family, and the Yu family.
.
Later, His Highness the King of Jin regained Guanzhong, and the Guanlong family also returned from Chengdu. All the wealth was returned to their respective families, but only the property of the Yuan family was still in the manor. There were a total of 120 large boxes. What was inside?
No one knows about the things, and they are locked in a secret warehouse. Every three months, the head of the family will come to take stock in person. This time, 5,000 shi of grain are being sold, and 120 large boxes will also be transported away with the grain."
Zhou Min immediately asked: "Since you are responsible for managing the manor, you must know when the food and boxes will be transported?"
"I don't know the specific time, but the head of the family asked me to rush back to the manor overnight after attending the clan festival tonight. I guess it will be within the next few days."
.........
Zhou Min saw off the Doulu brothers, and then hurried to the Jin Palace and urgently asked to see the King of Jin.
Although he is only the deputy commander, he and Wang Yue are each responsible for one. If the situation is urgent, he can report directly to the King of Jin without going through Wang Yue.
Not long after, he was led to the Qilin Hall to wait.
Tonight is a day for every family to worship their ancestors. Every family is preparing sacrifices and the whole family gathers together to have a reunion dinner.
The Jin Palace is no exception. Although it is relatively simple for Guo and Song to worship their ancestors, there are still necessary rituals, including large, medium and small animals.
The afternoon of New Year's Eve is usually a busy day for women, preparing sumptuous dinners and sacrifices, while men are more leisurely.
Guo Song dressed casually, wearing a small hat and a loose Zen suit, and sat in front of the fire pot, drinking tea and tasting jade.
At this time, a maid said at the door: "Your Highness, there is news from the front. Commander Zhou of the Internal Guard has something urgent to ask for. He is waiting at the Qilin Hall."
Guo Song nodded, "Get ready for the carriage!"
He stood up, and two maids hurriedly came over and put on a thick cotton robe, a leather hat and leather boots.
It's very cold outside, at least 15 or 16 degrees below zero by the standards of later generations. It's freezing cold, and there aren't many people around. The palace ladies are all staying in the room. They just received their annual rewards this morning, and they're all happily hiding in their rooms.
How much money is there!
Guo Song got on the carriage and arrived at the Qilin Hall, where Zhou Min was sitting in the outer hall warming himself by the fire and waiting.
"Is there anything urgent on New Year's Eve?" Guo Song walked into the outer hall and asked with a smile.
Zhou Min quickly stood up and saluted, "I'm really sorry to disturb His Highness on New Year's Eve. I'm so humble!"
"Let's go into the inner hall and talk!"
Guo Song walked into the inner hall and sat down. Zhou Min quickly told Guo Song what happened at noon today.
Guo Song pondered for a moment and said, "Does this matter have anything to do with Doulubo?"
Zhou Min nodded, "It must be related. Doululiang told me that without the owner's order, no one could transport the one hundred and twenty large boxes."
"Then what do you think about this?"
"Beizong has thought about it carefully. He feels that this batch of grain should be transported to Liaodong. It may be transported by waterway. But now that the north is frozen and cannot be transported, then it must be transferred to a safe area first and shipped out after spring.
, As for the one hundred and twenty big boxes, they should be the wealth that Yuan Wei wants to get, and have nothing to do with Liaodong."
Guo Song smiled lightly and asked, "Do you think you can use this opportunity to catch Yuan Wei? For example, he wants to come and inspect this property in person. Maybe he also wants to see with his own eyes how much wealth there is?"
Zhou Min's eyes lit up, "I have never considered this issue!"
"You and Wang Yue should discuss how to seize this opportunity. I can also help you."
Guo Song took out half a jade pendant from the table and threw it to him, "Take this jade pendant and go to Xuandu Temple to find the real person Lei Zhenzi. He is my senior brother. Wang Yue knows his ability. Give him the jade pendant and he will listen to your arrangements."
, In addition, I will also send a female master on the outside. With the two of them here, once the Yuan Wei comes, there is no chance of escaping."
"I humbly obey orders!"
Zhou Min bowed and left in a hurry.
........
When Guo Song returned to his study, he had no intention of continuing to enjoy tea and jade, so he immediately sent for his eldest son Guo Jincheng.
Not long after, Guo Jincheng quickly came to the door of his father's study and asked, "Father, are you looking for your child?"
"come in!"
Guo Jincheng walked into the study and stood in front of his father with his hands down.
Guo Song smiled and said, "When does the Guo family arrange for you to come there?"
"They said, as long as we arrive before Yinshi, it will be fine."
Guo Song nodded, "There is indeed no need to go too early. After dinner, you have a good sleep. We will set off at three o'clock. You can even take a shower and change clothes there in time."
"Father, does the child need to say something?"
Guo Song shook his head, "You don't need to say anything. Your participation in the sacrifice itself is an attitude. In addition, you are the prince of the Jin Dynasty. You must always remember your identity and don't regard yourself as a junior. This is very important."
important."
"My child remembers it."
Guo Song pondered for a moment and then said slowly: "My father has always only recognized Guo Ziyi as my elder, and has not recognized that the Guo family is of the same clan as me, so your participation in the Guo clan festival this time is just the beginning. You really want us to integrate into the Guo clan."
The family will still need a long time, and this integration will be completed by you. This is why my father asked you to participate in the Guo clan festival, and it will be the same in the future."
Guo Jincheng was stunned for a while before he came to his senses, "What do you mean, father, that he will never admit that we belong to the Guo family?"
Guo Song smiled and said: "You understand wrong. I just don't admit that I belong to the Guo family, but I admit that my son belongs to the Guo family. If I am poor, there will be no changes in my life, but the change starts with you.
do you understand?"
Although Guo Jincheng didn't know why his father didn't accept the Guo family, his father agreed to let him accept it, which made Guo Jincheng quite excited. After all, he was fifteen years old and had passed the Jinshi examination. He knew the importance of a big family very well.
sex.
"My child understands!"
Guo Song added: "The epidemic in the Central Plains will not end soon. After the new year, I will appoint Cao Wannian as the observation envoy of Henan Province, and his position will be taken over by Guo Shu. You can tell Guo Shu the news. You can interact with him more in the future and treat him as such."
As elders, there are some outstanding Guo children, such as Guo Ziyi’s eldest grandson Guo Feng, Guo Zhu, Guo Zhao, etc. If you want to win over these outstanding Guo children, if you need to appoint them to official positions, tell them.
father.
In short, in one sentence, you are a member of the Guo family. You really need to consider the family a lot, but you cannot rely on them. You must learn to balance them and your relatives, and you must be good at exploiting their conflicts. Do you understand the meaning of being a father? "
Guo Jincheng nodded silently, this time he fully understood his father's intention.