Chapter 170: Generals and Ministers Reconcile, Peace Reigns over the Country, Meeting Crown Prince Zhao Xi

After the grand court meeting, Zhao Zhen left Wei Yuan and Wang Anshi alone.

The two followed Zhu Zongguan to Xuanzheng Hall.

At this time, the food made by the Shangshan Bureau was also brought over by the palace maids.

Wei Yuan and Wang Anshi were about to bow to Zhao Zhen, but Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said:

"Forget the customary etiquette, sit down and eat with me."

The two bowed and sat down one after another.

During the meal, Wei Yuan was a little restrained, but Wang Anshi seemed quite casual.

His temperament was like this, free and unrestrained, never sticking to small details.

The role models of the literati in the court may be the Confucian scholars in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

Wang Anshi was more like the literati and poets in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. He didn't like to take a bath and was often unkempt.

During the meal, Zhao Zhen looked at Wang Anshi and said:

"The examination is as you wished. As for the layoffs of officials in various departments, you must be cautious."

Wang Anshi nodded and said, "Please rest assured, I will give you a satisfactory result."

Zhao Zhen smiled, "I believe you have the ability to do things, but don't rush into anything."

After a pause, he looked at Wei Yuan again, "I heard that you met with Rong Fei not long ago. What did you talk about?"

Wei Yuan hurriedly said truthfully: "Returning to the emperor, Rong Fei said that there is a military business with Japan. His Majesty has instructed me to participate."

Zhao Zhen asked curiously, "Tell me what you think."

Wei Yuan continued, "I think this is absolutely not feasible."

"Although that batch of military equipment has been eliminated by our army and is no longer used, If we give it to Japan, they will inevitably study the iron forging techniques of our Great Zhou. "

"The Mo Dao of the previous dynasty has been lost in our dynasty, but I heard that there are Japanese who are good at using Mo Dao."

"Today, they have to regard our dynasty as a superior country due to the gap in military equipment, people's livelihood and other aspects. But if Japan has military equipment far superior to our Great Zhou in the future, it may harm future generations."

Hearing this, Zhao Zhen first said "hmm", and then smiled and said: "I didn't misjudge you."

Then, he put on an extremely solemn expression,

"I hope that when you lead your troops to the south, you can make the batch of military equipment sold to Japan sink into the sea forever."

"I don't care what method you use, the premise is that it does not affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries."

Once it affects, given the nature of Japan, it will definitely send more Japanese to be pirates.

Before the Great Zhou has established its own navy, this will undoubtedly affect the national policy of opening up sea transportation.

Wei Yuan thought to himself, it was just as he expected. He bowed solemnly and said:

"Please rest assured, your majesty, whether it is the Japanese pirates or the Japanese, I will make them never return and die without any evidence."

Zhao Zhen nodded with relief, "The Japanese are ambitious and want to learn the culture of our Celestial Empire and the techniques of our Celestial Empire to enrich the country and strengthen the army. How can I do as they wish!"

In his or all the people of the Great Zhou, Liao and Xixia are all the territories of the Great Zhou.

The people living in the two countries are also the people of the Celestial Empire.

In other words, Zhou, Xia, and Liao regard each other as enemies.

But if other countries are involved, the three countries will regard other countries as enemies.

The three countries are not the same, but they are not much different. For example, the three countries will not prohibit people from marrying each other.

It is even said that if a Zhou man marries a Xixia woman, the Xixia woman will obtain the household registration of the Great Zhou.

However, none of the three countries allowed their people to intermarry with Japan.

At most, they allowed their people to take Japanese women as concubines.

But if their own women married Japanese people, they would be reduced to slavery.

Of course, there are some exceptions, such as the children of the powerful in Japan, who can marry for the sake of peace between the two countries and involve diplomacy.

It depends on whether the monarch like Zhao Zhen will agree.

Generally speaking, if you don’t give some benefits, there is no way.

The marriage here refers to the men of the Great Zhou marrying the women of Japan.

Want to marry a woman of the Great Zhou? That’s OK, unless she is a merchant woman.

After Wei Yuan and Wang Anshi left the palace together, it was already dark.

The former said: "Brother Wang, I rarely admire people, but I have to admire you. You just arrived and you have to cut down the clerks of various departments. Aren't you afraid of choking when you eat?"

Wang Anshi heard the hidden meaning of his words, so he pretended to be facing a great enemy, looked around, and said in a low voice:

"From what General Wei said, is there anyone who wants to harm me?"

Wei Yuan rolled his eyes, "Brother Wang, take care of yourself."

Suddenly, Wang Anshi said seriously: "General Wei, the chaos of Japanese pirates has made the people along the coast miserable. I have been an official in the coastal areas and know the harm."

"I hope that in the early spring of next year, you will go to the south, not just for the sake of the people along the coast, kill more Japanese pirates."

Wei Yuan was stunned, "No need for Brother Wang to remind me, Wei also wants to do something practical for the people of the world."

"It's just that you and I have different paths. You see the livelihood of the people, and I see the vast rivers and mountains, the inside and outside of the Great Wall, and the unification of the world."

Wang Anshi suddenly bowed solemnly and said: "Different roads but the same path. It is my honor to meet General Wei."

"General Wei is not Di Gong, and I will not be Han Zhang."

"I always believe that only when the generals and ministers are in harmony can the world be at peace."

Wei Yuan replied: "The generals and ministers are in harmony, and the world is at peace."

Perhaps even these two young people did not expect it.

The mutual bows at this moment are the fulfillment of history, the sun and moon shining on the Han Dynasty, and the beginning of the honeymoon period for the two, which has epoch-making significance.

The two ultimate representatives in the temple seemed to have reached a consensus on certain things at this moment.

This scene is destined to be recorded in history and sung by future generations.

——

The day after the grand court meeting, the Japanese envoy came to the capital.

He was received personally by the father and son of Fuchang Bo.

Of course, this has little to do with Wei Yuan.

Now the biggest thing in the loyal and brave Bo's mansion is to prepare New Year's goods and celebrate the New Year.

At this moment, in the Bo's mansion.

Nanny Zhang wrote a list of the required New Year goods, ranging from Spring Festival couplets to food for the New Year, and so on. It cost about 1,000 taels of silver.

Wei Yuan felt that this was too frugal.

"Nanny Zhang, it's rare for me to celebrate the festival in Beijing for the first time. Isn't it too little to spend 1,000 taels of silver to prepare New Year goods?"

Nanny Zhang shook her head and said, "It's not a small amount. Although our Bo's family celebrates the New Year in Beijing for the first time, we must have a lively time, but we should save what we can."

"You are now highly valued by the government, and our family has no shortage of money, but if we waste money and are too ostentatious, I think it's not good."

"We don't have to spend money on the peach charms on this list. The Sheng family said that their master Sheng Hong will write them himself."

"There are also many meats, and your teacher's family has already prepared them."

"."

Peach charms are Spring Festival couplets.

After listening to Nanny Zhang's words, Wei Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

This Madam Zhang is indeed trained by her own mistress. She knows how to advance and retreat, and she is good at managing the household. Her only shortcoming is that she is too stingy.

For example, a servant wanted to take more charcoal, but Madam Zhang refused to do so, saying that the family rules and regulations are like this and cannot be easily changed.

With someone like Madam Zhang in the Bo Mansion, it is difficult for the Bo Mansion to be unrighteous. There will never be a thing like the eldest lady of the Sheng family lending money at high interest.

"Madam, let's take a step back."

"This year, take out three thousand taels of silver to buy New Year's goods, and as for the servants in the family, all will be rewarded with five silver coins."

Wei Yuan smiled and said.

Aunt Zhang sighed and said, "Master, please don't bother me. How dare I not listen to you?"

"But don't blame me for being too talkative. In our Bianjing City, the wealth of those famous families is earned, but also saved."

Wei Yuan waved his hand and said, "Let's do it this way."

Aunt Zhang nodded, "I will follow the master's wishes. Thanks to the master's blessing, everyone can have a prosperous year this year."

The maid Zhen'er standing next to Wei Yuan laughed happily.

Wei Yuan was relieved to leave the matter of New Year's goods to Aunt Zhang.

"Aunt Zhang, there is one more thing. If you are free in the next two days, go to the residence of the Minister of Personnel and ask if Minister Wang's family needs anything for the New Year. Let's prepare it for him."

Wei Yuan spoke slowly.

Aunt Zhang was quite curious. Minister Wang?

A civil servant?

Although she was a little confused, she did not dare to question Wei Yuan's words, nor did she dare to involve too much, so she responded:

"Please rest assured, master, I understand."

He sent someone to call Chen Daniu and told him:

"After returning to the camp, tell our brothers in Daizhou that they will spend the New Year in my house this year."

Chen Daniu said: "Okay, Brother Wei, on the night of the New Year, will we go to Guangyuntai after drinking?"

Wei Yuan shook his head and smiled, "It depends on my mood."

Chen Daniu touched the back of his head and smiled foolishly.

Suddenly, Wei Yuan remembered something,

"Danniu, you are twenty-two this year?"

Chen Daniu nodded and said, "Just one year younger than you, brother."

Twenty-two years old, it's time to get married.

And Lin Zhaoyuan and his brothers

Forget it, let Zhang Guifen, the eldest sister-in-law, worry about these things.

"Tell Zhao Yuan and the others that the day before the New Year, after you worship your ancestors at home, follow me to the Zhonglie Temple."

"I have set up a memorial tablet in that temple to commemorate the brothers who died in Daizhou in recent years, so that they can also have a good new year."

Chen Daniu was stunned and nodded, "Don't worry, big brother."

——

The next day, Wei Yuan and Wang Anshi went to the East Palace.

One of them is a junior tutor and the other is a junior teacher. They should meet the crown prince before the end of the year.

After arriving at the East Palace, they met the crown prince Zhao Xi through the prince's eunuch.

At this moment, Zhao Xi was playing sandbox with several children from noble families.

Wei Yuan and Wang Anshi stood behind Zhao Xi, not in a hurry to interrupt him, but watched with interest.

Zhao Xi commanded more than a dozen flags, all planted outside the Great Wall, and said to a child opposite:

"I have a million troops, gathered outside the Great Wall, surrounded Shuozhou, and cut off the connection between Shuozhou and Yingzhou. How do you solve it?"

Wei Yuan saw that the child seemed to be the youngest son of An Guogong, and heard him say:

"It is bitterly cold outside the pass, and beyond the natural barrier of Yanmen, there is a vast grassland."

"I only need to send a cavalry to wait for an opportunity to harass your army. If you can beat me, I will fight, and if you can't beat me, I will run away!"

"In Shuozhou, I will store 100,000 soldiers and a year's worth of food and grass. When it snows heavily and the infantry can't move and can't attack the city, I will take the opportunity to send troops and I will definitely defeat you!"

Prince Zhao Xi frowned and said, "I have a million troops, how can I be afraid of your surprise attack?"

"Besides, what do you mean by running away after you can win? How can I let you run away?"

"I have a million troops, Shuozhou is gone, it's mine!"

The child was also stubborn.

"Shuozhou is surrounded by mountains on three sides, which is a dangerous pass. The military book says that if you defend the city with 100,000 people, you can defeat a million enemies!"

The prince was angry and pulled up all the flags and threw them all in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

"I have Wei Yuan and Zhang Fu, both of whom are famous generals. What can you use to fight?"

The child responded, "But your million troops are all infantry, and I am all cavalry. How can you fight?"