The Eight Winds of Rebirth

Gu Xiangtan looked at Zhao Su, and said solemnly for a while, "Even if it's not for me, even for the people of Daye, General Shenwu must live."

Zhao Su's eyes flashed, obviously quite disappointed with Gu Xiangtan's decision.

Gu Xiangtan said: "However, if it is really for me, General Shenwu should live even more."

Zhao Su asked, "Why?"

"It's too early..." Gu Xiangtan said, "Think about it, if Hou Bingchen died, the emperor couldn't be more angry. He has no one in his hands, and the only thing he can use is Cao Qin, but the frontier is inseparable from General Yuguo." Even if Cao Qin returns to Beijing for the funeral, he won't be able to stay for long. At that time, Beijing will become a situation where the three kings and one family dominate. The military power of the Shenwu Army may also fall into his hands. At that time, who can do nothing Zhao Dian? Even if the emperor manages to survive this hurdle and the military power is not lost, then he will take this opportunity to cultivate his own generals, and then it will be even more difficult to deal with."

"Why don't we help General Shanghou at this time. I think the general is open-minded and loyal, and he will never forget this help. Who wouldn't make the icing on the cake? If you want to give charcoal in the snow, instead of offending a dying person, why not leave him behind?" In the future, life may be rewarded for it. More importantly, we have already learned about this matter first, so we can plan and catch the three kings by surprise. Even if Hou Bingchen is going to die in the end, the three kings will never be unscathed !"

Gu Xiangtan's words made Zhao Su's complexion change several times. To be honest, he also thought about getting involved, but he just wanted to return. They were just two people, except Gu Xiangtan who could say in front of the emperor. Apart from the last few words, I am nothing more than an ant in front of these big men, and I can't use many tricks. Even if I rely on Gu Xiangtan, I believe there are many things he may not be willing to do, so Zhao Su would rather take it step by step, first After the foundation under your feet is firmly established, you can think about other things. You would rather miss some opportunities than take risks easily.

But Gu Xiangtan was more daring than Zhao Su expected, he thought of everything Zhao Su thought of, and he thought deeper and farther than him, so that Zhao Su had no room to refute.

Zhao Su stared at Gu Xiangtan's back, and slowly narrowed his eyes. There was surprise and a little bit of interest hidden in his eyes, which tangled into balls and danced secretly in his pupils, but he still found something nice to say: "Lingfo has a kind heart in the end, and he is reluctant to part with such a good general who is devoted to serving the country like a general, which can be regarded as the blessing of Daye."

He said with a sigh: "Forget it, let's do it like this. Since Lingfo has made up his mind, Zhao Su should obey his orders. As long as it can be used for me, Lingfo can just order it."

Hearing these words, Gu Xiangtan finally suppressed the serious look on his face, put on his usual light smile, and looked at Zhao Su leisurely.

"Then Xiangtan thanked you here."

The winter night is bleak and frosty, but the bright moon in the sky is exceptionally clear, the stars are all around, and Gu Xiangtan's face is reflected in the bright white of the moonlight, and the smile on the corner of his mouth is like a spring plum blooming Snow is average.

Seeing this, Zhao Su couldn't help being taken aback...

-

In Daye in November, Lao Muhan was thinner, and the cloudy and sunny days were low, but no matter how wet and cold the weather was, it was better than some places.

As soon as he went to court today, the governor of Meizhou hurriedly reported that seven days ago, the three counties in the east, Zigu, Xiaoliu, and Kanxiang were suddenly flooded, thousands of acres of fields were flooded, houses collapsed, cattle and sheep were engulfed, and countless casualties were I implore the emperor to order the opening of warehouses to allocate funds to relieve the people.

Emperor Zongzheng was surprised: "Will there be floods this winter? Or the east? It's really strange."

Jing Guogong came out and said: "The three counties in the east are very close to Dong County. In previous years, there was very little rain, let alone disasters. I still remember that the emperor personally prayed for the harmony of the world during the Yulan Basin Festival in July. Changping, I don’t know if the abnormal weather is also a reason for this?”

Emperor Zongzheng frowned, and looked at Qu Guang: "Master Qu, is there anything wrong with the sacrificial ceremony?"

Qu Guang straightened his back, gritted his teeth and said: "The emperor sees all the arrangements of the Ministry of Rites. How dare I treat you lightly, and this is not the first time that I have done sacrifices to heaven. I always remember the emperor's teachings and respect them." The Buddha's kindness is meticulous in everything, and there will never be any mistakes."

While talking, he scolded Duke Jing in his heart. In recent days, not only him, but also the right minister Zhong Xuliang and Guan Yonghou's Mei family. The only way to find his sore feet was because his nephew had belittled Miss Mei's family before. Everyone was dead, but all the grudges were written down. It was not so easy to expose it, and the emperor also Unhappy, I secretly blamed him for not defending the prince at the critical moment, but instead told Gu Xiangtan about the matter when the prince was impulsive, and demolished the prince face to face. Emperor Zongzheng was very dissatisfied with Qu Guang because of this, so he Follow these people to take advantage of him, and he will be punished every once in a while.

Qu Guang couldn't say anything, so he had to be cautious and not leave any lies.

Duke Jing didn't take it seriously: "Then Master Qu said that the emperor is so sincere and has the protection of the Buddha. If the rituals of offering sacrifices to heaven were not taboo, how could the Buddha bring disasters so easily?"

Qu Guang opened his mouth, unable to argue. Seeing that he was deflated, the emperor didn't say any more, and just said: "Okay, let's send someone over to appease him first, and then the household department will allocate a thousand taels of silver and a hundred taels of gold. Yu disaster relief, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, you go with someone to check the flood situation and help with repairs."

Such a small amount of money sounds really pitiful, but the Minister of the Household Department is still crying.

"Q, Qi report to the emperor, this year's tribute and taxation are less than [-]% of the previous year, except for the army's salary left during the war in the Northwest, the sacrifice ceremony, the allocation of funds for disaster relief, the construction of temples, and banquets and ceremonies are all the same as last year. In the near future, more, more money will be needed, all the officials listed in the list have submitted details in the memorial a few days ago, and now I am afraid it will be..."

"There is no money." The Minister of the Ministry of Accounting really couldn't say these three words, but he had just shown the account book to the emperor, and then came back to ask himself for money. Why don't you think about it when you have to fill in this side and make up the other side on weekdays? Now, now that the end is coming, tell them where to find money?

Emperor Zongzheng's complexion was very bad, the treasury was empty, and he knew clearly the situation that he was unable to make ends meet, but could it just be like this?What to do in case of disaster?What is the face of his emperor?

He couldn't help looking at Zhong Xuliang, thinking that he might have some good ideas, but he saw Zhong Xuliang's face was pale and his lips were trembling with shock, as if he was out of his body.

Emperor Zongzheng didn't know where he fell ill again, so he could only ask: "What advice does Mr. Xiangguo have?"

Zhong Xuliang snapped back to his senses, and said, "I, I don't know..."

Emperor Zongzheng snorted coldly.

At this time, it was Qu Guang who gave an idea: "The emptiness of the treasury is nothing more than insufficient tax collection. Since the east cannot pay, then let the north pay more, so as to make up for the shortcomings by making up for each other's strengths, which can also solve the urgent need."

Emperor Zongzheng felt that this was the only way to do it right now, and after thinking about the important towns in the north, only the north direction was considered prosperous, so he asked the servant of the household department to increase the tax by [-]%. Liang glanced, and then retreated unhappily.

As soon as the emperor left here, Zhong Xuliang jumped up immediately, regardless of the fact that he did not give good advice just now, which made the emperor angry. Under the suspicious eyes of Jing Guogong and others, he quickly got on the sedan chair, Returning to the mansion, he said: "Hurry up, hurry up, give the master who was waiting outside the door that day to the master. I will find it again and please enter the mansion. I want to ask for advice, and don't neglect it!"

It turned out that as said that day, my hometown Xiaoliu County really suffered from floods! ?So is it true that the monk said that there will be doom in the mansion in the near future?

Thinking of this, Zhong Xuliang couldn't help but shiver.

-

Zhao Jie waved his folding fan lightly, and as soon as he entered the Guozi Temple, he saw Zhao Mian sitting in the middle. Zhao Mian looked exhausted, and his whole person looked sluggish. He really didn't look like the master of the Eastern Palace. .

Zhao Jie chuckled, and slowly walked in front of him: "The prince is slightly ill, he doesn't seem to be getting better, why don't you take a rest for two more days and come back to class, although the Zen master and we miss His Highness very much, His Highness still needs to take care of himself It's important."

Zhao Mian glanced at him sideways, turned his lips back, but didn't reply, just lethargic and lack of energy.

Zhao Jie didn't give up, and continued to poke his sore feet: "However, I heard that His Highness has done a major event a few days ago, and he took care of a servant who didn't have long eyes, and he gave a bad breath for the eldest lady of the Mei family. , I was thinking at the time, if I was there, I must not have such courage, and I would not be able to make such a move. No matter what, it would be a life..."

After finishing speaking, he looked at Gu Xiangtan who was at the side, and hurriedly pretended to be enlightened: "Look at me, don't take offense at how you say such things, alas, the crown prince is also very angry, and he must have been chanting scriptures in the palace these few days. Buddha, for the sake of Tian Liang, after all, that man has been with the prince for several years as a close servant, so there must be some affection for him."

The more he talked, the darker the prince's face became. After taking a deep breath, he slammed the paperweight on the table hard.

"Stop being hypocritical here, one life? Heh, I don't know how many lives are in your hands. I'm afraid it won't be enough to bury them from the inside of the hall to the gate of your government office!"

Although the crown prince hates Zhao Jie on weekdays, and the two often exchange swords and swords, they have never tore their faces so blatantly. Now Zhao Mian really can't hold back, and the patience in his heart has long been accompanied by the recent incidents. He flew away, but Zhao Jie wanted to provoke him, even if he knew that the other party was trying to make a joke of him, but Zhao Mian had to be self-restraining, and he wouldn't do the same stupid things again and again.

Zhao Jie was not annoyed at all, instead he sighed helplessly, bowed his head and said: "Yes, my brother is talking too much, His Royal Highness, don't get angry again, I have written down the teachings of the prince, and I should do more good deeds in the future Yes, at the Fa Conference in a few days' time, there will be a lot of good deeds for His Royal Highness."

Speaking of this, the sons of the Three Kings faction all bluffed.

"By the way, this time the Laba Festival was organized by the son of the third generation, and he is also the biggest benefactor, which really makes people feel grateful."

The national treasury is empty, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is just around the corner, and there will be no shortage of Buddhist temples at that time. According to Emperor Zongzheng's intentions, this must be for the crown prince to come to Yang Wei to accept merit, but look at his state in the past few days And performance, even if the emperor has the heart, the prince probably doesn't have the power, and the Ministry of Households is really out of money.

So at this time, Zhao Jie suddenly jumped out, not only to take care of the mess, but the Three Princes' Palace was also willing to pay the money for the ceremony. Naturally, Zhao Dian's party in the court responded strongly, and Emperor Zongzheng couldn't help it. , can only swallow this bitter fruit, and give them this great opportunity, who will let his son not live up to it.