In the early spring of the Southern Kingdom, the wind of recovery warms the earth. As the most prosperous city in the Jiangdong region, Jinling has recovered from the cold winter ahead of schedule.
The water in the canal connecting the inside and outside of the city surges slowly, and a group of white ducks flap their webs, playing and foraging for food in the pond of the owner's house. Across the water fence, there is an endless stream of various southern boats, carrying heavy loads.
One, shuttle through the market.
Standing on the attic of the hotel, leaning on the railing and looking out, Tao Gu stroked his beard in style, secretly comparing Tokyo and Jinling. In Tao Gu's view, in terms of the prosperity of the city and the richness of products, Tokyo is still worse than Tokyo at the moment.
It is not as good as Jinling, and the living standards of the people are even worse.
Tao Gu secretly envied the prosperity of Jinling, the beauty of the scenery, and the beauty of Pingting. Of course, it was a kind of envy that contained the desire to conquer and destroy. As a close minister of the Han Emperor, Tao Gu still kept his thoughts in mind.
Identity, buttocks are not crooked yet.
Sitting alone at the table, he ordered the officials to bring tea sets, prepared charcoal fire, and took out the good tea given by Li Jing, the Lord of the Tang Dynasty... He summoned his entourage and started to do it himself. The two of them sat across from each other and tasted it, two or three.
A pot of strong tea turns into fresh water, and time passes by.
"Winter is turning to spring, living in a solitary house, drinking light tea, I don't know how long it will last..." Tao Gu couldn't help but sigh, his face showing boredom.
The envoy heard the words and couldn't help but ask for advice: "Mr. Tao, we have been coming south to Jinling for more than a month. Since the envoy's order has been fulfilled, why are we still here?"
Tao Gu's secret destiny was not known to any of the attendants. When he asked about it, Tao Gu shook his head and said, "I must have some unspeakable difficulties!"
"Could it be that the imperial court has another opportunity to teach secretly?" the envoy asked.
Follow the public account: Book Friends Base Camp, follow and you will receive cash and coins!
Tao Gu raised his finger, nodded at him a few times, and said in a warning tone: "Since you have made a guess and need to know something, you shouldn't ask too many questions!"
"Yes! I'm talking too much! It's just..." Seeing this, he hesitated.
"Just what?" Tao Gu was a little confused.
"It's just that I heard from lower officials that people in Jinling have been discussing recently that our court wants to unite with the Southern Tang Dynasty to share the affairs of Ma Chu..."
"What!" Tao Gu was shocked and a little unbelievable: "The secrets of the imperial court have been leaked to the public?"
"Only focusing on the relationship between the pseudo-Tang emperor and his ministers, but not taking into account the market!" After thinking for a while, Tao Gu came to his senses, first shook his head, and then laughed: "The pseudo-Tang emperor and his ministers are so secretive, and military and state affairs are discussed among the people, how can it be?
Am I facing my opponent?"
It has been a month since I went to Jinling as an envoy last winter, and there are of course no problems with normal etiquette exchanges. Of course, as the key point of the "discussion on dividing Chu," there has been no result since Tao Gu proposed it...
..
Tao Gu originally thought that the monarchs and ministers of the Southern Tang Dynasty might be tempted, refuse, or hesitate, but he did not expect that they would be entangled for so long without reaching a conclusion to reply to the Northern Han Dynasty.
This made Tao Gu miserable. He stayed in the hotel all day long, drinking and sipping tea. Qinhuai's brothel still attracted him, but because of the emperor's "small talk" before leaving, his mind was always tense.
Stick to the thread and don't dare to be willful.
After this, life became more and more difficult. Without the fragrance of red sleeves, writing poems and lyrics felt very boring. Only when the Lord of the Tang Dynasty summoned him to the palace for banquets several times could he take the opportunity to experience the extravagant enjoyment of the Southern Tang court.
.
"Hey...waiting all the time is not an option! We have to ask to see Lord Tang again!" Tao Gu said.
After saying that, he fell silent, with a doubtful look on his face, as if he was thinking about his next plan.
At this time, the attendant asked with a flattering smile: "Mr. Tao, this guest post is very boring. Do you want to lower your official position and make some arrangements for entertainment?"
I have heard about some of Tao Gu's habits.
"Huh?" Tao Gu perked up after hearing this. He noticed the man's flattering smile and was moved. However, he gritted his teeth and waved his hands again and again: "No! No! No!"
Resisting the impulse, he sighed heavily and asked his entourage to retreat. He ordered the postman to serve wine, poured it himself and drank it. When he was slightly drunk, he fetched pen and ink, wandered to the side, and put the pen on the wall of the room.
Write down: Xichuan Dog, Common People’s Eyes, Ma Baoer, Imperial Kitchen Rice...
When Tao Gu was suffering from hunger and thirst in Guanyi and could not sit still, a palace banquet was coming to an end in the Imperial Palace of Jinling Palace. There were singing and dancing, sheng and Xiao, cups and cups were exchanged, it was so joyful.
As soon as the interest arose, someone would bring up old matters again. After eating and drinking, it was time to discuss state affairs.
The monarchs and ministers gathered together for a banquet, drinking and composing poems. Li Jing was always very interested. When he mentioned something that had made him hesitate recently, he couldn't help but sigh. He coughed heavily, attracting the somewhat distracted attention of several ministers, and asked: "Everyone."
Sir, the discussion of the Northern Han Dynasty has been delayed for a long time, and I must give you a reply. What decision will Datang make?"
The puppet emperors and ministers of the Tang Dynasty also held several discussions on this matter. As usual, they were divided into two groups, the Beilai scholar group and the Jianghuai bureaucracy group. Only this time, the Beilai group supported the "enterprising" group.
He refused, but the Southerners insisted on agreeing and took the opportunity to capture Hunan.
At this time, as soon as Li Jing opened his mouth, Han Xizai stood up. He had not drunk much wine, his eyes were clear, and he said loudly: "Your Majesty, the country of tigers and wolves in the Northern Han Dynasty, if you highlight this issue, you must have impure motives, harbor evil intentions, and conspire with it.
It’s like seeking the skin of a tiger, so please be careful, Your Majesty!”
Han Xizai, the northern scholar leader who had always advocated aggressiveness, tried his best to dissuade the Southern Tang Dynasty from mobilizing troops, which was quite unexpected. When Tao Gu first came to propose this proposal, he was the first to oppose it, with a firm attitude, and he fought with the courtiers according to his will.
There have been several heated arguments.
And sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Feng Yansi, who had returned to the Central Committee of the Southern Tang Dynasty to pay homage to the prime minister, stood up, glanced at Han Xizai, and said calmly: "Shilang Han has said this repeatedly, so please explain how impure the Northern Han Dynasty's motives are.
What evil intentions?"
Although Han Xizai was conscious and had a sense of crisis, it would be difficult to guess what the Northern Han Dynasty's intentions were if he was asked to speak out.
Just as he was about to turn around and try to persuade him, he heard Feng Yansi continue, his words already laced with sarcasm: "A few years ago, Minister Han strongly advocated foreign expansion and opened up new territories. He spent his whole day aiming to conquer the Central Plains in the north and return to Chang'an?
What is happening now? Is it because I am short of breath? There is chaos in Ma Chu. A huge piece of land is right at the mouth of the Tang Dynasty. You can eat it with your mouth open, but you are so timid. It is really disgusting!"
Being ridiculed in this way, Han Xizai's arrogance suddenly made him angry. However, he held it back and refused to argue with Feng Yansi. He turned to Li Jing and said sincerely: "Your Majesty, my ambition is small.
The safety and danger is great. Soldiers are a major matter for the country, and it is a matter of life and death. The territory of Fujian is still undecided, and Wu Yue is harassing people from behind. How can we rashly intervene in Hunan again? Since the Northern Han Dynasty raised this proposal, it must pay great attention to it. Under its tiger eye,
How can Datang eat it so easily?"
"Haha..." Feng Yansi laughed: "In my opinion, Minister Han is trying to increase the ambition of the Northern Han Dynasty and destroy the majesty of the Tang Dynasty! Since his last mission, he seems to be always afraid of the Northern Han Dynasty!
"
"Your Majesty!" Feng Yansi saluted Li Jing solemnly: "After the civil strife between the Ma brothers, the national strength was greatly reduced, the people were weak and the army was exhausted. However, since Ma Xi'e seized the throne, he has been extravagant and licentious, has political chaos, and is ungrateful to his subordinates, which has aroused resentment among the people.
, and lost the morale of the army, it is already a country that is about to perish. The Tang Dynasty has an army of one hundred thousand, and it is close at hand. Even if there is no initiative from the Northern Han Dynasty, I would like to suggest that your majesty attack and seize the Chu land in one fell swoop!"
"What Han Shilang is worried about is that the Northern Han Dynasty has a conspiracy!" Feng Yansi glanced at Han Xizai and continued: "However, I think that no matter how much the Northern Han Dynasty plots against Hunan, they are far away in the Central Plains.
In the three states south of Jingzhou, they mobilized troops for an expedition. Our army is in the south and can be easily controlled. The Northern Han Dynasty only stationed two thousand troops and horses in Lizhou, which shows that it has a guilty conscience. Based on the information from the officials, the Northern Han Dynasty came out of this place.
I am afraid that I want to use my power from the Tang Dynasty to destroy Chu, and then take the opportunity to get a piece of the pie!"
"I think that if I can accept his invitation and take all the Chu territory, even if I give him some states and counties, it will ultimately be food in my mouth. Why should I be afraid of it?"
"Please do not miss this opportunity, Your Majesty!"
After listening to what Han and Feng said, Li Jing fell into entanglement again. She looked at Feng Yansi and Han Xizai.
"Your Majesty, please be careful!"
"Your Majesty, this opportunity cannot be missed!"
After a long time, Li Jing suddenly asked: "Where is Tao Gu, the Han envoy?"
Mentioning this, Feng Yansi smiled and responded: "It is said that Taogu, a guest staying in a hotel, is having a hard time!"
Li Jing said to Feng Yansi: "Feng Yanqing, please host a banquet in private, and ask Tao Gu to talk about it, and then explore this person's tone!"
"Yes!" Feng Yansi responded quickly.
Seeing Li Jing entrusting Feng Yansi to the side, Han Xizai suddenly felt something bad in his heart.