Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

Chen Jiali was silent for a while, her beautiful face showed a slight embarrassment, and she said: "Although I was born in the Southern Tang Dynasty, the Chen family has lived in Yangzhou for generations. Now Huainan belongs to the Zhou Dynasty, and we are Zhou Dynasty people... Now it is not a betrayal of the Southern Tang Dynasty? Besides, no matter what country it is, it was originally the same family and ancestors, but only after the Tang Dynasty.

After hearing this, Guo Shao nodded solemnly, and said seriously: "Mrs. Chen's words are reasonable, and she understands righteousness."

Chen Jiali breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it would be fine if she didn't explain just now. With so many excuses, it seems that he is a person who cares too much about his face and vanity, and he is a bit hypocritical.

However, seeing Guo Shao's deep opinion, Chen Jiali got along with him very easily. She paid attention to Guo Shao's expression, and said softly: "General Guo doesn't think I'm hypocritical?"

She asked this because she would occasionally hear people say bad things about her behind her back, and people from the Shen family said things even worse behind her back. She was very sad about being a whore and setting up a memorial archway.

When Guo Shao's voice was low, there was a pleasant magnetism: "It's really a bit hypocritical."

Chen Jiali was slightly taken aback. Although more than one person said bad things about her, it still felt a little uncomfortable to be said to her face, and it was Guo Shao who said her.

At this time, Guo Shaoruo thought: "But there is nothing wrong with being hypocritical. People who are too sensible, too old-fashioned and too practical feel boring to get along with, as if they are just waiting to die for decades, and there is no fun; It seems that the surrounding plants and trees, and people's every move are interesting, full of emotional appeal and poetic charm."

Chen Jiali was overjoyed when she heard it, and her voice became more gentle: "What kind of style, even people like General Guo are not serious... Is it really as good as you said?"

Guo Shao pointed at the decorations in the hall with a flick of his sleeve, then glanced at Chen Jiali's clothes, and said, "I'm just telling the truth, because you are a very good person, and I just noticed Mrs. Chen's goodness. The things and people here all show the owner's meticulous and interesting intentions."

Chen Jiali's cheeks were hot, and she was in a very good mood. She boldly looked at Guo Shao's appearance, and found him more and more pleasing to the eye. The back of his hand is particularly exciting, with big palms, long but not thin fingers, and protruding tendons on the back of his hands, giving people a strong and powerful feeling. Some kind of thick|long image made Chen Jiali feel itchy|sick when imagining it.

"Those Confucian scholars make people feel soft. I also think that General Guo looks good with such a masculine and majestic appearance." Chen Jiali said in a very low voice, "General Guo is sometimes bad, always implying|seducing women, but he is not a bad person. As you said, it is just right."

At this moment, a figure appeared at the door, Chen Jiali blushed, she stopped her gentle smile, and sat calmly.

Aunt Sun walked over silently, handed over a red post, and said, "According to Madam, I have taken it."

Chen Jiali picked up the gift list, waved her sleeves lightly, and handed it to Guo Shao with both hands.

Guo Shao also looked at it solemnly: "Is the amount not more than the previous betrothal gift?"

Chen Jiali said: "It's not as good as it is, but it's not that bad. Didn't General Guo prepare it for the wife of the Li family? I think that the ceremony should be more generous."

She looked at Guo Shao with great interest, sometimes he still looked a little dull, and he didn't give people the impression of being frivolous, but she couldn't explain why he always felt that his dull and serious look was very cute. Also, his bronze-colored skin is a bit rough, but it is always clean and tidy. He doesn't look like a dandy at all, but somehow makes people feel close.

Chen Jiali said softly again: "Li Chuyun is now a high-ranking member of the Imperial Army, General Guo will take his daughter as his concubine, will there be any trouble?"

Guo Shao said with a smile: "I will be in trouble if I don't accept it... But what you said is also reasonable, the world will gossip about it, right?"

"Of course." Chen Jiali looked at his face with a smile, "But usually she wouldn't say it publicly, after all, Mrs. Li is the daughter of their family. Others will say bad things behind their backs."

Guo Shao murmured: "Madam Chen thinks, what will the world say?"

Chen Jiali said: "It will be said that Li Chuyun used all means to curry favor with the rich and powerful for the sake of a high salary. He even gave away his daughter. Probably it will be said that he relied on nepotism to get to the top."

Guo Shaodao: "Our brothers know the ins and outs of this matter, and those who know the inside won't say so... But Mrs. Chen's reminder is reasonable." He received the gift list, and immediately got up and said: "Thank you Mrs. Chen for this matter. I don't want to bother you too much, so I have to say goodbye."

Chen Jiali also stood up, with a little bit of reluctance in her heart. She usually has no shortage of food and clothing, and she also has her own affairs to worry about. She is not too busy, but she always feels that there is something missing. But she didn't want to keep Guo Shao, so she finally couldn't help but said in a casual tone: "General Guo, if you have free time, you can sit in the humble house. I want people to appreciate the new song I composed."

"It's a great honor." Guo Shao's eyes were bright and sincere. He thought for a while and said, "Mrs. Chen should have quite a few shops and outlets in Shu and Southern Tang. I would like to send someone to help you."

Chen Jiali agreed easily.

...

Guo Shao is not idle these days. The center of the imperial court negotiated major events, and the Privy Council wrote twice to revise it, and decided on the deployment plan for attacking Shu. In a short period of time, it seems a bit powerless and insufficiently prepared to use troops against Shu in an all-round way. The Zhou Dynasty decided to take Hanzhong first.

Prime Minister Wang Pu continued to recommend Xiang Gong (Xiang Xun) to attack Shu. Three years ago, Xiang Gong performed very well in taking the land of Qinfeng. The Empress Dowager, the two privy envoys, and Guo Shao all agreed with the candidates recommended by Wang Pu, and agreed to use Xiang Gong as the recruiting envoy of Shannan West Road, and the deployment of the former battalion, restraining tens of thousands of soldiers from the three cities of Heyang, Northwest Wang Jing and his eldest son Wang Tingyi, and Northwest Zhejia Town, from the land of Qin and Feng to attack Hanzhong. He also took Prime Minister Li Gu as the former battalion supervisor and sentenced Xingyuan Mansion (Hanzhong).

However, the signs of using force are still not obvious, and the news is still limited to a few ministers in the center. Wait for another half a month, when the large-scale deployment of troops in the northwest and other places cannot be concealed, the court will openly criticize the Shu Kingdom and find some famous excuses... Even then, the Shu Kingdom may not necessarily pay attention to it, because the Zhou Dynasty threatened the Shu Kingdom with force and said that they would beat them at every turn. It is possible that the Shu Kingdom would still think it was a threat.

The courtiers agreed to do so in order to reduce the preparation time of the Shu army.

Guo Shao went home and found a map drawn during the attack on Shu from the cabinet, including the detailed route and terrain of Qingniling and other places; he wrote a letter to Xiang Gong, telling him that there was a small road next to Qingniling called Baishui Road, and he could detour behind Qingniling.

Guo Shao walked through it once back then. The Shu army had suffered a lot and might be on guard against that path, but would the Shu generals stationed three years later know about it? In short, there is no harm in telling Xiang Gong, Guo Shao can only help him in this way.

The goal of this battle is only Hanzhong. The Zhou army has Qin Fengcheng as its base camp, not far from Hanzhong; in addition, the Shu army may not be well prepared. Guo Shao pondered that Xiang Gong was still very talented in military affairs, so he should be able to accomplish this.

When he walked to the front yard, Lu Chengyong, the deputy general of the personal army, told him to send two people to Heyang to deliver the letter.

At this moment, Zuo You also came in. He was wearing a red round-neck official uniform. He didn't even need to inform the gate of the Guo Mansion, just like entering his own home. Looking at his attire, Guo Shao was still a little unaccustomed to it, and then remembered that he had just filled a good position: Shaoqing of Taichang Temple. Now he is a fourth-rank official who eats the emperor's rations. I asked about it before, Zuo You's official position is mainly in charge of the court's sacrifices... something that only happens during festivals, it is a good position with status and leisure.

"Greetings, my lord." Zuo You, wearing black gauze on his head, stretched out his sleeves under the steps and bowed in a serious manner.

Guo Shao only said: "Come in and talk."

The two entered the hall one after another, Guo Shao looked at Zuo You with a smile on his face. Surprised on Zuo You's face, he stretched out his hand to support his black hat, glanced at Guo Shao, and then looked down at himself.

"How does it feel to be an official?" Guo Shao said with a casual smile.

Zuo You said solemnly: "Hmph, wearing this robe, the neighbors look at it with admiration, and it feels like returning home. Relatives and friends are also very flattering, and the world is simply too vulgar."

Guo Shao laughed out loud, while Zuo You sighed indifferently.

After laughing, Guo Shao took out a gift list from his pocket and handed it over: "You help me be a matchmaker, and present a gift to Li Chuyun's family."

Zuo You took it over and looked at it, and said, "It's easy. My lord is taking a concubine. You can't be too polite and show off too much. Just send the things over and pick a good day to bring Li Niangzi back."

After Guo Shao heard this, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and he pondered for a moment and said: "This is how you do it. You go to see Li Chuyun first, and don't mention the matter of courtesy for now. Ask him carefully if he is willing. Then do things."

Zuo You nodded thoughtfully, and said, "Don't worry, my lord, I understand what to do."

The two chatted for a while, and Zuo You casually mentioned: "Zhou Duan from Xuzhou... seems to send people to Tokyo often, does he often contact the lord?"

Guo Shao said: "No, I haven't seen a single word from him for a long time."

"No wonder..." Zuo You frowned, "I heard that Zhou Duan had a close relationship with the sixth son of the Southern Tang Dynasty (Li Yu), and it seems that this is indeed the case."

Guo Shao calmly glanced at Zuo You: "That Zhou Duan is originally a member of the Zhou family, and it is human nature to have a relationship with Zhou Ehuang of the Zhou family, so there is no need to worry about it. You can't ask Zhou Duan to vote for me, and let his six relatives disown him. We can't treat our subordinates too tightly, so that people feel insecure and restrained."

"My lord is right." Zuo You bowed.