Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

That night until he fell asleep, Guo Shao didn't hear a single word from Zhou Xian, so he let go of the matter.

Early the next morning, the winter days were short, and it was still dark when we left home. When Guo Shao led people to the Maxing Street, he saw a long string of lanterns on the street, and the scene was very spectacular. The shops on the street also opened early, and many officials waited in front of the steaming shops, waiting for their attendants to buy pancakes. It seemed that many people rushed out without even eating breakfast. The cold weather can't stop the lively atmosphere in the early morning.

The envoys of the Shu Kingdom Tingyi (Embassy) were also summoned to participate in the great court, but it seemed that it was not a good thing.

Above the main hall, Wei Renpu, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, reprimanded the envoy of the Shu Kingdom face to face: "I heard that the Shu Kingdom had contacted the Southern Tang and Northern Han Dynasties to seek our country during our funeral. Is there such a thing?"

After hearing this, the envoy of the Kingdom of Shu became angry: "The Great Zhou attacked our country at the end of Xiande's first year, and seized the land of the four prefectures of Qinfengcheng rank. It was always the Great Zhou who actually attacked our country; has our country ever provoked the Great Zhou? It can be seen that there is absolutely no such thing!"

Wei Renpu said: "There is Jingnan King's memorial as a basis, so you can't help but admit it."

The envoy frowned and said, "Jingnan is a small state, and it often sows discord."

At this moment, a quiet voice said slowly in a majestic tone: "The Ai family has never heard that there are two days in the sky, nor that there can be two emperors in the world. Today, the Lord of Shu calls himself the Emperor of Dashu, and everyone knows his disobedience to the Great Zhou. It is because the Lord of Shu is arrogant that he provokes wars. Why doesn't the Lord of Shu cancel his title and regard the Emperor of Great Zhou as the suzerain?"

The envoy said: "Queen Mother, when the first emperor of Shu established his country and ascended the throne, the Zhou Dynasty did not exist. The emperor of Shu proclaimed himself emperor first, and the Zhou Dynasty was established later. How can there be a saying that our country's monarch is not a minister?"

Fu Jinzhan's voice was already full of anger: "Since ancient times, small things are big, and it is justified. The country of Shu is a peaceful corner, and it should be the main thing for the big Zhou."

Wang Pu went out to worship: "Queen Mother, since the king and ministers of the Shu Kingdom have no respect for the court and are disrespectful, please use troops against the Kingdom of Shu to take away the dignity of the kingdom!"

At this time, the envoy of the Shu State sneered and said, "The Great Zhou always resorted to military warfare. There is nothing wrong with wanting to inflict crimes. Why bother to accuse my emperor of honor?"

"Bold!" shouted an eunuch above, "You dare to disobey the Queen Mother and don't want to live anymore?"

Fu Jinzhan's voice said: "You don't have to argue with him as a small envoy. I will issue an edict to the Lord of Shu. If he doesn't give up his title, he can only compete in battle."

After a while, the eunuch sang: "If you have something to play, you will leave the court if you have nothing to do."

Guo Shao kowtowed to thank En with all his ministers, thinking about sending troops to Xun and others, exactly half a month had passed. Anyway, the fight was about to start, so it didn't matter what Shu's attitude was... He didn't say anything just now, but now he couldn't keep a low profile if he wanted to. When everyone heard that the army was going to be mobilized, they got up from the ground and all looked at Guo Shao.

After every court, Fu Jinzhan almost always summoned him. This time was no exception. When he was searching outside the gate of Jinxiang Palace in the morning, an eunuch asked him to go back to see the Queen Mother in advance.

So Guo Shao withdrew from the main hall of Jinxiang Palace, and sat in the open hall next to him waiting to be summoned. Not long after, the eunuch Cao Tai came in and said: "The Queen Mother is summoning General Guo, General Guo, please come with the miscellaneous family."

Guo Shao entered the apse from the corridor and saw Fu Jinzhan in a study. As usual, there are a group of attendants standing in the outer hall, and Fu Jinzhan will deliberately avoid being alone with Guo Shao in the palace.

Fu Jinzhan seemed a little angry at this moment. Guo Shao can completely understand, usually everyone is respectful to her, and dare not disobey her; today, a small envoy from the Kingdom of Shu doesn't even kneel, and pretends to be an envoy of the "Emperor of Shu", and the tone of his words is really unpleasant to Fu Jinzhan's ears.

When she saw Guo Shao, she straightened her neck and said, "You were right when you said you chose the Kingdom of Shu. The Southern Tang Kingdom is so obedient, how can we take them first? The 'Emperor of Great Shu' is simply unreasonable!"

Guo Shao said softly: "If the Shu Kingdom doesn't respond in this way, the Queen Mother will have to think about the name of inspiring teachers and mobilizing the masses. Don't you worry now?"

After hearing this, Fu Jinzhan was slightly startled, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "You really know how to think."

Guo Shaodao: "As long as real swords and guns can't beat it, all face and dignity are just paper. The Queen Mother doesn't have to be as knowledgeable as the 'Emperor of Great Shu'. After a while, she will vent her anger after destroying her country."

Fu Jinzhan flicked the wide sleeves of the gown, and pondered: "Do you think Xiang Gong can take Hanzhong?"

"The troops are completely sufficient. The key is that the Qingniling road is not easy to pass. It often rains and the roads are muddy on the mountains. The Shu soldiers are unbearable. If Xiang Gong can pass through Qingniling, I believe he can capture Hanzhong." Guo Shao said.

Fu Jinzhan looked at him again and said softly: "Li Jing, the lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty, sent an envoy to write a letter to take Li Yu and his wife back to the country. Are you willing to let Zhou Xian go just like this?"

"If she wants to leave, let her go." Guo Shaodao, "Zhou Xian is not my family. She has her own family and identity. I don't need to guard her like a father and brother. She should be given the right to choose."

Fu Jinzhan was thoughtful, and said softly: "Just now you said that you have no strength, and your face and dignity are all paper. If that is the case, she has no right to choose. Why is it different for Zhou Xian?"

Guo Shaodao: "Women are different. At this time, men are superior to women, and women and children are weak. Violence is used on the weak, and there is no sense of accomplishment and no practical benefit; I would rather give them enough respect... So I suggest amending the 'crime of adultery' in the laws of the Zhou Dynasty. Women who commit this crime should not be punished humiliatingly. This is persecution|persecution of women and children and abuse of power." , preside over the revision of some laws."

When Fu Jinzhan heard the ugly word adultery, his face blushed slightly, and he immediately lost his mood. His eyes flickered and he said, "It's up to you... that's all for today."

Guo Shao got up and said: "I will leave you."

...

Not long after, Zhou Xian and his wife received an imperial edict allowing them to return to China.

It turned out that it was so light and light, none of the preparations that Zhou Xian had thought in advance, such as forcing him to death, were useless. After the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it has always been a big country recognized by all the countries in the world, even the hostile Northern Han and Liao countries also recognized this point, and their official edicts are still relatively authoritative. Zhou Xian breathed a sigh of relief, but was also a little surprised... because she thought that men who had the power to possess her would find ways to do so.

But Guo Shao let the court release it with an edict, and Zhou Xian felt a little bit lost for some reason.

"Let's go tomorrow." Li Yu next to him said happily.

Zhou Xian showed a smile: "My husband is finally going to pay off his hardships."

She thought: that's all.

A gloomy flash of gloom flashed in Li Yu's double pupils, and he said in a low voice: "Only Ehuang knows about my...things. Others just think that I only spoil you. Don't let anyone else know, otherwise my father will not make me the prince."

Zhou Xiandao: "Am I the kind of woman who can tell such secrets?"

Li Yu regained his composure, and said casually: "I heard from Zan Jurun that in the main hall of the Zhou Dynasty this morning, the envoys of the Shu Kingdom annoyed the Queen Mother of the Zhou Dynasty with their rude remarks, and they may have to use troops against the Kingdom of Shu. This is all right. Looking back at the Kingdom of the Southern Tang Dynasty, the father was restored and the Zhou Dynasty had good relations.

Zhou Xian recalled the content of Guo Shao's secret letter, and couldn't help but said: "The Kingdom of Shu is in the upper reaches of the Southern Tang Dynasty. We can't take pleasure in other people's misfortune."

Li Yudao: "The (later) Shu Kingdom has not been conquered for decades. Because of the thick mountains on all sides, it cannot be broken overnight."

He said a few words casually, and said: "While it is still early, I will go to see Wang Pu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, so as to bid farewell to the Zhou Dynasty. It just happens that the exchange of rites is a long-term good for the two countries."

After hearing this, Zhou Xian found out the clothes for him to go out, dressed him up, and sent Li Yu out.

She stayed in the hall all day without going out, so as not to cause trouble, and spent a while distracted. At this time, an entourage came back to report that Wang Pu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites of the Zhou Dynasty, hosted a banquet for Li Yu to practice, and did not come back at noon.

After hearing this, Zhou Xian said in his heart: Li Yu wanted to make friends with Wang Pu in the past, but now Wang Pu is so enthusiastic; maybe Da Zhou is really determined to use troops against the Shu Kingdom, so he took the initiative to show his favor to the Southern Tang Kingdom and avoid deploying troops on the two fronts.

She didn't care too much about these things, and the thought flashed by. Now she suddenly had an idea: the banquet that her husband attended will last for a long time, that is to say, from now to noon, or even afternoon, she has the opportunity and time... to have the opportunity to meet Guo Shao. At this moment, Zhou Xian's heart was pounding, and his heartbeat couldn't calm down no matter what.

But... She looked at the charcoal fire in the middle of the room and was stunned for a while, why did she see him?

She wanted to know what Guo Shao thought of the three consecutive skin-to-skin kisses, maybe it was just because of lust and the intention of playing with him, otherwise how could he ignore it afterwards? If so, I would give up my mind. But Zhou Xian felt that something was wrong, what if he denied it? Could it be that he still has to worry about him after returning to Southern Tang Kingdom... Then it's better to give up. It is only right to treat your husband with all your heart and abide by the old vows.

Time passed by like this bit by bit, and Zhou Xian suffered from loss and shame. Wait for Li Yu to come back and lose the opportunity; or seize the only opportunity before parting.

Just say goodbye, nothing to say, nothing to do. Otherwise, with such regrets, she felt that she would still be entangled in her mind for a long time.

At this moment, a servant suddenly came to the door of the bedroom and said: "Madam, a messenger has arrived, claiming to be someone sent by Zhou Duan. He said he would deliver the letter to Madam himself."

Zhou Xian couldn't help being pleasantly surprised, the last time Guo Shao sent someone to deliver a letter, it was under the guise of Zhou Duan. Immediately, he took a cloak and put it on his body, put on the valance, and walked quickly out of the bedroom.