Chapter 197 The height of the temple (25)

After three years of bloody battle, the Southern Tang finally bowed down and handed over the 14 prefectures and 64 counties in the north of Jiangbei. Faced with the powerful Dazhou navy, the Southern Tang, which had always had the advantage in the water, was blocked by the Yangtze River. At the same time, the Southern Tang was also restrained by separatist forces such as Wu Yue and Jingnan, and could no longer pose a fatal threat to the Great Zhou.

The Great Zhou Dynasty achieved the strategic goal of temporarily digging the river and stabilizing the south. At the end of April of the fifth year of Xiande, the Great Zhou army moved its troops back to the court with great force, and pointed directly at the Northern Han that took advantage of the situation. The Northern Han army did not dare to compete with the Great Zhou army, and hurriedly retreated to Taiyuan.

Under the great power of the Great Zhou army, the border that has always been troubled has become calm and stable. Even the Goryeo, Champa, and Jurchen countries that had not come to court for a long time also sent envoys to Daliang.

After Chai Rong returned to Daliang, officials from various departments naturally couldn't sleep late. Every day before dawn, they had to dress neatly to come to Chongyuan Palace for a morning court.

Hou Dayong was wearing a long purple gown of a civil servant and a goldfish bag. Like an ant-like court official, he rode the old war horse "Feng", and took two followers, Luo Qingsong and Tiger in the Forest, and rushed to Chongyuan Palace.

Although Hou Dayong is famous among the officials in the court, he has seen only two or three of them, and even fewer of them have friendship. However, everyone knows the purple python robe. Moreover, Hou Dayong has been fighting for many years, so he has an unconcealed murderous aura on his face. In addition, he has been practicing for a long time. He has no bulging belly that civil officials often have and is as tall as a flagpole. The officials don’t have to think about it to know that this must be Hou Dayong, the new prime minister who replaced Li Gu. Therefore, he was responsive along the way, and the court officials who thought they had some identities took the initiative to salute and reported their names and official names.

Chai Rong wore an imperial robe and came to the hall majestic. When Chai Rong sat on the dragon throne, the court meeting officially began with the eunuch's screaming clamor.

The first of all officials is naturally the prime minister Fan Zhi. The second is Wang Bo, and the third is Wei Renpu. Hou Dayong is ranked fourth. It is the first time that Hou Dayong discusses affairs in Chongyuan Hall as the prime minister. He is quite novel. In addition, there is no urgent need to report. Following everyone's salute, he wanders around and looks at the words and deeds of the officials. The important officials in the court are all listed, and they are also old friends. Today, they have confirmed each other with real people, so they are naturally very impressed.

Fan Zhi is the oldest, and the most relevant things are the most. Let me first talk: "Li Jing, the prime minister of Jiangnan, sent Feng Yansi to pay 100,000 taels of silver, 100,000 pieces of silk, 100,000 jin of tea, 200,000 stones of rice and wheat. According to the etiquette of treating vassal states, the Great Zhou gave Li Jing a total of 100,000 pieces of imperial robes, jade belts, brocade silk, silk, 100,000 pieces of gold, 10,000 taels of silver, five imperial horses, all gold and jade saddles and 100,000 liang of bridle horses, and three hundred sheep."

It is also said: "The name of the inner city gate of Daliang is good. The east gate is called Yinbin and Yanchun. The south gate is called Zhuming, Jingfeng, Weijing, the west gate is called Yingqiu, Suzheng, and the north gate is called Yuande, Changjing, and Love Scene."

Let’s talk about it again: “The Khitan army invaded the border, and the inspector of the Palace Front Office Zhang Yongde led his army north to defend the northern border, etc.”

Fan Zhi talked about local affairs and matters are major issues of the country. However, he spoke quite long-windedly, and every matter always has its own details. Chai Rong also asked in great detail, including the reasons for naming each sect. The two of them asked questions and answered each other, and they took a lot of time.

Hou Dayong laughed in his heart: Fan Zhi looks and speaks like Tang Monk. Of course, this Tang Monk is a Tang Monk who is famous for his long-windedness.

Your Majesty has been in personal expedition for nearly four months. Except for Hou Dayong, every important minister has something to report to. These important ministers are impatient in their hearts, but when they see that Your Majesty is firmly sitting as before, they dare not move.

After seven things were reported, it was already Si, and Fan Zhi returned to the queue with unfulfilled feelings. Hou Dayong did not expect that the morning court would be so long. He drank two large bowls of millet porridge in the morning. At this time, he was a little anxious, but the ministers were as steady as stones. He had to endure it, but he thought to himself: Next morning court, it must be convenient and clean, so he avoided the incoming rush.

Fan Zhi finished the important matter. Wang Bo and Wei Renpu each talked about it and then stepped back into the ranks. Zhang Zhao, the Minister of War, quickly left the list. The report was completed with thirty volumes of "Taizu Records", and then Dou Yan, a senator of the Secretariat, came out and reported that the "Da Zhou Zhengtong" was completed.

When the Privy Councilor Wang Pu saw that Dou Yan had finished his report, the ministers behind him were eager to leave and quickly stepped out of the line and reported to the Tokyo residency. Among them, there was the sudden death of the monk. This incident involved Hou Dayong. Hou Dayong was already sore in his back and back, but immediately became energetic and raised his ears.

After hearing this, Chai Rong pondered for a while and said, "Encourt Wang Shumi is now serving as the prefect of Kaifeng. Both positions are extremely complicated. Let's do this. Wu Yanzuo, the envoy of Xuanhui Southern Court, came to serve as the prefect of Kaifeng. In addition, the murder of the abbot of Tianjing Temple in Daliang City is also a major case. Zheng Qi, the second prime minister of Kaifeng Prefecture, can't hesitate to blame. Zheng Qi will go to the Censorate to serve as the Censorate."

Zheng Qi served as the second magistrate of the fourth rank, and held real power, while the censor was only a sixth rank official. This arrangement was also considered a punishment for Zheng Qi. However, although the censor was not of high rank, because of the responsibility of correcting all officials, the censor was promoted faster in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Generally, officials had to take four or five exams (one exam every year) to be promoted, but the censor was generally only available for promotion in thirteen months or two exams. Zheng Qi had a lot of political achievements during his tenure and his official reputation was also good. This arrangement was considered a skill of controlling ministers who slapped a piece of candy.

After this, Hanlin scholar Li Fang said in a full of books and said in a gentle manner: "I have followed the order to conduct a re-examination of the new Jinshi Liu Tan and 15 others. Liu Tan, Zhan Yiqing, Liu Jiangqing, Li Song, Xu Wei, Wang Fen and other six others have excellent poems and essays, and it is advisable to pass the exam; in addition, Wu Ruogu comes from Lingzhou and Chen Baoheng comes from Fangzhou. People who have not passed the exam for decades are really rare. I suggest to pass the exam; Guo Jun, Zhao Baoyong, Yang Dan, An Yuandu, Zhang Fang, Dong Xianze, Du Sidao and other seven others have not been well-educated in writing. It is recommended to take the exam after studying hard."

After Li Fang finished the report, all the people in the palace looked at the tribute judge Liu Tao, the right counselor, all of whom were admitted by him, and seven of them were denied by Hanlin scholar Li Fang, which was considered to be home. The reports from the important officials just now were all about matters. At this time, the ministers were in the spirit of the ministers, and they were immediately attracted, and they were different in their minds to watch the show.

Liu Tao's expression remained unchanged. He looked at his nose, his nose looked at his heart, and his head was lowered and he was as stable as Mount Tai in the hall. All the officials admired his good skills in self-cultivation and character cultivation, and had reached the state of Mount Tai collapsed before it without breaking down.

At this time, the left counselor Zhou Guanghai walked out of the ranks and said, "I heard that Guo Jun, Du Sidao and others have sent property to Liu Tao."

Chai Rong also turned his eyes to Liu Tao and stared at him for a while. After Chai Rong became emperor, most of the old people in Chanzhou became important officials on the court that day. Liu Tao was even more in troubled times when he followed him to do business. When Chai Rong heard the memorials of Li Fang and Zhou Guanghai, he knew that Liu Tao must have had some tricks. If it were someone else, he would have ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate and review them carefully. However, Chai Rong was always a little ruthless about these old people in Chanzhou. He thought for a while, and then said: "As long as Li Hanlin reported, there will be eight Jinshi and younger brothers in the current department, Zhan Yiqing, Liu Jiangqing, Li Song, Xu Wei, Wang Fen, Wu Ruogu, Chen Baoheng, etc., and the other seven will come again next year."

Chai Rong suddenly pointed at Liu Tao and said in a more stressful tone: "Liu Tao, as a magistrate, you have seven people who are not good at speaking and are actually responsible for being inadvertent. You are immediately relieved of the position of magistrate and the right counselor, and go to the East Palace to be the right-sanshan doctor."

The Youzanshan Duke belonged to the official position of the Eastern Palace. Since the Tang Dynasty, people such as Xuanzong and Suzong have all taken the throne from the crown prince, so they attach great importance to the Eastern Palace. The local officials of the Eastern Palace are quite large, and the Youzanshan Duke belonged to the Eastern Palace and was a fifth-rank official. They mainly took charge of "sarcastic remarks and remarks and remarks and queries". This was originally an important difference, but the eldest son of the emperor, Hou Zongxun, was still young. When Hou Zongxun grew up, Liu Tao was already old. Chai Rong's move actually demoted Liu Tao to an idle official, which was incomparable to the real power position of the magistrate.

Hou Dayong secretly admired the talented man given by the Richie tribe, and thousands of candidates from all over the country. In the end, Liu Jiangqing and Wu Ruogu, two Richie students, Jinshi and younger brothers. This was really an amazing thing. Hou Dayong was also a little lucky. If the Feiying Hall had not learned that Liu Jiangqing and Liu Tao had a conspiracy on that day, he scolded Liu Jiangqing and secretly prevented the transaction from being completed. At this time, Liu Jiangqing and Wu Ruogu would have backfired and would be implicated by Liu Tao.

The officials of each department talked about some miscellaneous matters in detail. Chai Rong always asked every matter clearly. If he could make a decision, he would decide on the spot. If he could not make a decision, he would discuss it clearly after the court was dispersed, or he would directly distribute it to the relevant officials for handling.

When the ministers in the palace stood with weak feet and back pain, the first morning court after His Majesty's personal expedition was finally over.

Then, two imperial edicts were issued.

The first imperial edict was to arrange for the post-repair of the war in the Southern Tang Dynasty.

The second imperial edict was to appoint a group of ministers who made contributions to the war in the Southern Tang Dynasty: Zhao Zan, the Right Dragon Wu General Army, was appointed as the Jiedushi of Luzhou; Murong Yanzhao, the Duanming Palace, was appointed Dou Yi, the scholar of Duanming Palace, and the governor of Xijing; An Shenqi, the governor of Xiangzhou, was appointed as the Jiedushi of Qingzhou; Han Tong, the governor of Xuzhou, was appointed as the Jiedushi of Songzhou, and the guards of the Mabudushi of Yuhou; Xiang Xun, the governor of Songzhou, was appointed as the Jiedushi of Xiangzhou and the commander of the southwest; Zhao Kuangyin, was appointed as the Jiedushi of Zhongwu Army, and the commander of the front-end government. Wu Xingde, the general of the left-handed military guard, was appointed as the Jiedushi of Fuzhou, and Bai Shuangwen, the governor of Huazhou.

The generals of the Imperial Army participated in the southern expedition and became the biggest beneficiaries of the southern expedition. Several generals led the establishment of the festival and became heroes on the side.

After hearing this order, Hou Dayong felt nervous: the generals of the imperial guards had gradually grasped the power of the country, and most of these generals were closely related to Zhao Kuangyin, and they were supporters or allies of Zhao Kuangyin's claim to be emperor.

After the scattered court, the four prime ministers and Privy Councilors were left in the palace to accompany Chai Rong for dinner. During the banquet, Chai Rong announced Hou Dayong's main responsibilities to Fan Zhi, Wang Bo, Wei Renpu and Wang Pu: He was responsible for dispatching all the Northern Expeditions.

This is a position that cannot be publicly announced. It can only be claimed that Hou Dayong is sentenced to the Ministry of War with the position of prime minister. Hou Dayong has thus escaped the embarrassing situation of doing nothing.

In July of the fifth year of Xiande, Feng Jichao, the governor of Fengzhou, received a secret order to prepare for the attack on Shu.

In August of the fifth year of Xiande, the court appointed Gao Fang, the Minister of Revenue, as the commander of the southwest, and Li Yu, the doctor of the Right Zanshan, as the judge, and increased preparations for the battle against Western Shu.

Since September, there have been constant small-scale conflicts on the border of Western Shu, and the number of spies sent by the Great Zhou to Western Shu has also increased. Western Shu was already very wary of the Great Zhou and hurriedly sent Shu general Yi Shenzheng to Hanzhong, gathering nearly 100,000 troops to be ready to resist the invasion of the Zhou army at any time.

The war on the Western Front of the Great Zhou Dynasty was at any time.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, except for the four prime ministers, the Privy Councilor Wang Pu, Li Chongjin, Zhang Yongde, Zhao Kuangyin and other eight people, most of the Great Zhou officials thought that the Great Zhou Dynasty was about to start the battle to attack Western Shu.

Khitan and the Northern Han sent Xizuo to the Great Zhou naturally brought this information back.

At the same time, Dazhou began water conservancy projects centered on Daliang:

First, we recruit tens of thousands of Dingfu from Xuzhou, Suzhou, Songzhou, Shanzhou and other prefectures to clear the Bian River, enter the Wuzhang River to the north, and then to the Dayeze. The purpose of this is to connect the Bian River through the Dayeze and Ji River. That is, to open up the waterways between Daliang and Shandong. After completing this water conservancy project, the materials and troops in Daliang City can directly reach the Bohai Sea through waterways, and then directly cut off the Liao army's rear routes in the Youyun Sixteen Prefectures by seaways. Second, we dig the embankments of the Bian River, guide the Yellow River water to connect the water of the Huai River, and restore the Tang Dynasty's fortune road. In this way, river and Huai River can also directly reach Daliang.

Both waterways were restored to the Tang Dynasty water conservancy projects. After completion, they were both the lifeblood of the economy and the golden waterway to support the Northern Expedition. The Liao people had been established for a long time. They were incomparable to Dangxiang and Uighurs. Without strong logistical support, it was difficult to gain an advantage on the battlefield.

Huo Zhixing was an expert in the water conservancy engineering, so Hou Dayong transferred him to the Ministry of Works as a doctor in the Yu Department. He was specializing in the construction of these two water conservancy projects. When Huo Zhixing was working in Zhongmu County, he visited the Bian River many times. When he saw that the water conservancy projects that benefited Wanjiadi in the Tang Dynasty were abandoned, he couldn't help but sigh on the bank of the river. This time he was appointed as a doctor in the Yu Department, specifically responsible for restoring the water conservancy projects in the Tang Dynasty. After receiving the transfer order, Huo Zhixing was overjoyed and immediately brought a few followers with light clothes and simple travel. In less than a month, he returned to Daliang from Lingzhou and officially took office.

Hou Dayong inspected water conservancy projects many times in August, headed north along the unfinished Yongji Canal, arrived at the Khitan border, and stayed at Duliukou for a day before returning to Daliang. Along the way, Hou Dayong removed several lazy local officials from the position of local officials and killed a minor official of the Ministry of Works who occupied water conservancy funds. For this reason, Hou Dayong enforced orders on the river, and was powerful and was known as the Iron-faced prime minister.

In September, Hou Dayong also inspected the four prefectures of Feng, Qin, Cheng and Jie. Hou Dayong was famous in Western Shu. When the monarchs and ministers of Western Shu heard that Hou Dayong came to Feng, Qin, Cheng and Jie supervised the battle, they believed in the intention of Dazhou's offensive. On the one hand, they sent envoys to pay tribute, but on the other hand, they were forced to dispatch troops to strengthen defense.

In early October, Hou Dayong returned to Daliang from Fengzhou and walked all the way. On the evening of the 26th, Hou Dayong arrived outside Daliang City. In the past six months, Hou Dayong has been on tour everywhere and is not in Daliang City most of the time. Therefore, when he arrived outside the city gate, he was eager to return home. He took a hot bath in the big wooden barrel, then brewed a pot of Qingcheng new tea, hugged his daughter Xiaolu and his son Zonglin, and hugged Fu Ying or Qiuju. This should be the best reward for men to work hard outside.

The group came to the east city gate. The city gate had been closed. Luo Qingsong jumped to the city gate and shouted, "Open the door quickly, the Hou Xiang is going to enter the city."

Through the moat, the flags on the city tower made a sound of "huh, huh" in the wind. The soldiers on duty on the city tower did not hear the calls from the people. However, the soldiers on duty had been in Daliang for a long time and were knowledgeable and knew that those who dared to shout outside the city gate must have some identity, so they politely replied: "I'm sorry, the city gate has been closed today, so I will enter the city tomorrow."

Luo Qingsong has been with Hou Dayong for a long time and has never encountered such a situation before. He loudly said: "Stop talking, open the door quickly, otherwise you will be punished."

The soldiers on the city wall were soldiers who participated in the Southern Expedition. When they heard that they were not good at speaking downstairs, they simply pretended to be deaf and dumb, shrank and hid in the corner of the city wall, and no longer paid attention to the shouting under the city.

Seeing this, Feng Sha walked up and shouted, "Mr. Under the rank of the army, Hou Dayong, the assistant minister of the army of Pingzhang, is outside the city gate. Which officer is on duty on the city tower? Let's sign up." Feng Sha shouted several times, and the soldiers on the city wall had heard it, so he stopped and waited.

The soldiers on the city wall heard clearly who the visitor was, so they quickly went to report to Guo Cang, the commander of the Hall Front Office who was sleeping in the corner tower. The commander of the Hall Front Office, Guo Cang, met the lieutenant Guo Cang on the Qingzhou city wall that day. Guo Cang's father had been a general of the Zuo Xiaogu under Guo Wei and had close contact with Wang Jun, the prime minister at that time. After Chai Rong became emperor, Wang Jun was mismatched, and Guo Cang's father was also implicated, so Guo Cang was kicked from the imperial guards to the Qingzhou army. In the fourth year of Xiande, a friend of Guo Cang's father's life and death had seen that Wang Jun had been in a long time. He quietly transferred Guo Cang back to the imperial guards and served as the commander.

Today, Guo Cang was on duty at the East City Gate. When Guo Cang heard Hou Dayong outside the city gate, he felt ridiculous and said, "No wonder he was twitching his eyelids when he went out today. As expected, he encountered an offense to the powerful again." At the Qingzhou City Gate that day, Guo Cang had offended Hou Dayong, but he didn't expect that the exact same thing happened again today.

Guo Cang did not dare to be negligent, so he quickly came to the city wall and said respectfully: "The last general is Guo Cang, the commander of the imperial guards. At night, the east city gate must be approved by Zhao Kuangyin, the commander of the front office of the palace, otherwise he will be killed without forgiveness. The military law is ruthless. The last general dare not take the initiative without authorization. Please wait. The last general will report it."

Guo Cang went down the city tower and headed straight to Zhao Kuangyin's mansion. As usual, he sent a half-dozen Zhou Yuantongbao. The guards of the Zhao Mansion went in to report, as the saying goes, "According to the letter, I was called to the palace by Chai Rong." Guo Cang was an officer on duty and could not leave the city wall for too long. After waiting for a stick of incense, Zhao Kuangyin had not yet returned. He had to return to the city wall.

Although Guo Cang was unwilling to offend the prime minister of the current dynasty, he would be promoted slowly at most. If he offended Zhao Kuangyin, he might lose his head that day. Guo Cang had no choice but to be sorry to Hou Dayong.

Hou Dayong also knew that the city gate could not be opened lightly, so he did not make things difficult for Guo Cang. He turned his horse's head and went west. There was a larger post station called Wangcheng Post Station, which was specially designed for officials who arrived in Daliang City at night.

Luo Qingsong, Feng Sha and others were all indignant and cursed the imperial guards on the city wall loudly. Hou Dayong said with a calm face: "Stop quarrel, those soldiers are also responsible."

Hou Dayong was refused entry and felt heavy in his heart. He kept changing his mind: "The late Tang vassal states were separatist. The warriors were arrogant and civil officials had no status. The Five Dynasties were even more serious than the late Tang Dynasty. After a long time of practice, these imperial guards only had their local commanders. This is also the deep-seated reason why the Chenqiao mutiny was able to proceed smoothly."

"Now the Palace Front Office is strong and strong, and he is guarding the Daliang City with the Guards. Although he is the prime minister, he cannot transfer one of the imperial guards and one of the soldiers and soldiers of the Feiying Hall. In Daliang City, he can only restrain the Palace Front Office. In other words, the Palace Front Office is the Palace Front Office."

"Chai Rong was born as a military general and participated in the entire process of Guo Wei ascending the base back then. Theoretically, he must be very worried about the military generals. Therefore, when the Black Eagle Army won consecutive victories and the Hus, Chai Rong asked me to abandon the military and follow the civil service. In addition, the imperial guards were divided into two parts: the Palace Front Office and the Guard Office. Zhang Yongde, the head coach of the Palace Front Office, and Li Chongjin, the head coach of the Guard Office, made things worse. Chai Rong turned a blind eye to this matter, as if he was intentional."

"Checking and balance are an important means for the emperor to control his subordinates." Hou Dayong seemed to have figured out what Chai Rong's deep thoughts: "Although the imperial guards were divided into two divisions, the Guards' Office had 80,000 people and the Palace Front Office had 50,000 people. The two commanders still held heavy troops. Now if they draw some of the troops from the Guards' Office and the Palace Front Office to form a Bian River naval army, they can meet the requirements of the Navy during the Northern Expedition, and weaken the power of the Guards' Office and the Palace Front Office. This policy is certainly in line with Chai Rong's most secretive thoughts. As for the candidates for the navy, according to Chai Rong's employment characteristics, it is best to choose members of the royal family."

"Son of Feng" has been following Hou Dayong for nearly two years, and he also knows how to figure out his master's thoughts and walks very smoothly, no longer as impatient as before.

When he was about to arrive at Wangcheng Station, Hou Dayong suddenly had an inspiration: "Guo Jiong, Guo Jiong is a tribe member of the Taizu Guo Wei. Guo Jiong's father Guo Xingjian and Chai Rong have a good relationship. Now Guo Jiong is the deputy envoy of the Shuofang Army. If he is the commander of the Bianhe River Army, Chai Rong might be able to agree to this matter."

When he entered Wangcheng Post Station, the postmaster heard that it was Hou Xiang who arrived, and he led the post guards to roll and crawl out. The officials who had already settled in the post station soon heard that Hou Xiang had moved into the post station. At this time, local officials rarely saw the central officials, so they naturally would not miss this god-given opportunity. They put on official uniforms, handed over the famous sects, and waited for Hou Xiang to receive him.
Chapter completed!