This winter in Tokyo is colder than in previous years. Guo Xin stood under the eaves in front of his bedroom. His bedroom faced the south, and the north wind could not blow on his face. Only the sound of the phoenix whistled in his ears, and the coldness enveloped him. He looked up and saw snowflakes flying down all over the sky, and his vision was completely submerged in the snow.
However, except for some pagodas on the south and east sides of the outer city, not much can be seen in the deep house. It is surrounded by rooms and walls.
Guo Xin then remembered that this was his second winter in Tokyo.
Fortunately, his war was over. If he were still in Guanzhong, the wind and snow there would only get colder. Moreover, when marching and fighting, the army would often camp in open high places, unable to escape the cold wind. In the northern winter, freezing to death is no joke.
Guo Xin's thoughts were uncertain and he was having endless daydreams until he felt a slight weight on his shoulders.
Looking back, it was Yu Niang who was putting a fur cloak on his shoulders.
"It's so cold! It's snowing so heavily, so please take good care of yourself."
"It's colder than the warm bed." Guo Xin smiled and tightened his cloak, and then thought of something, "My father is leading troops to station in Yecheng. Although they will probably be in the city, I should probably remind him when I reply. Be careful to keep out the cold.”
Yu Niang just asked: "Did Mr. Lang get up early today just to enjoy the snow?"
"I am a warrior, so I shouldn't have such elegant interests. However, I heard that the plum blossoms are blooming very well in some palaces in the city. They should be beautiful. If Yu Niang has the opportunity, she can suggest that she and her mother go to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms together."
Yu Niang nodded in agreement, but her expression didn't look lively: "I don't like snowy days. It's too cold and it's not convenient to go out and walk around."
Guo Xin nodded. At this time, people's methods of keeping warm were still very limited, and most of their clothes were made of silk, wool and linen. As for the maturity of cotton textile technology, according to normal history, it would take two to three hundred years, far longer than a dynasty. lifespan, so the best way to keep out the cold is to stay indoors, the so-called "cat winter."
However, in the eyes of most people at this time, snowfall is actually a good thing. The snow can make the crops grow better in the coming year. If there is no snow in some years, the court headed by the emperor will hold a formal snow praying ceremony.
Then Guo Xin immediately wanted to understand why Yu Niang didn't like the snow. Her father died of cold exhaustion while taking her to escape in winter.
Thinking of this, Guo Xin sighed slightly in his heart. Yu Niang's face was fair and white against the snowy sky outside. Maybe it was because she had just woken up, so she couldn't see too many emotions, but Guo Xin still felt that he had captured the flash of loneliness on Yuniang's face.
Guo Xin suddenly felt ashamed. Yu Niang's body was attached to him, and he often fought abroad. Although there were other female relatives in the house, including his mother Zhang, sister-in-law Wang, and his eldest brother Guo Rong's wife Liu, who often came to visit, but with Yu Mother is neither a slave nor a wife, so she is probably a little lonely.
Guo Xin pondered slightly, then mentioned casually, "I wonder if Yuniang has any close relatives in Hebei?"
Yu Niang glanced at Guo Xin in confusion, shook her head and nodded: "My relatives should be nowhere to be found, but there should still be relatives in the clan, but they have not been contacted in the past few years, and my father is no longer alive. , I have no reason to go looking for a bride."
According to Yuniang, she was from a famous family, a branch of a certain family of the Cui family in Zhongqinghe, the fifth surname and the seventh surname. It’s just that the glorious era of the aristocratic family has long been in the past. Since Zhu Wen killed a large number of courtiers of the aristocratic family in the Baimayi Incident, the Central Plains regime has changed several times in a short period of time. The people in power have become warriors from the bottom and those who grew up in the shogunate. For literati, although the imperial examination system is still running reluctantly, it is completely different from the situation in the past when political resources were concentrated in aristocratic families.
Guo Xin nodded and said: "The imperial court is now employing people. Many official positions are waiting for vacancies, and it is necessary to recruit talented people to the capital... When the court situation becomes stable, Yuniang will find an opportunity to communicate with the tribesmen in Hebei. With my help I would like to invite outstanding young people among them to come to Tokyo City to become officials. If my father recommends me, it will not be difficult to do this. Fortunately, Yu Niang has relatives in Tokyo City who can take care of each other and move around."
Yu Niang's eyes suddenly lit up, and she was about to thank her, but Guo Xin grabbed her hands, stared at her and said seriously: "Why thank you, I do things for Yu Niang, just like Yu Niang did those things for me, not It’s for profit purposes, but it comes from true feelings.”
Yu Niang quickly figured out what those things were. Her fair face was stained with some blush, and she pulled away Guo Xin's hand: "Is Mr. Lang going to visit his mother today? I'm going to pick out a robe for Mr. Xue." It’s better to wear plain colors in the sky, and it also makes the mistress feel thoughtful.”
Guo Xin trusted Yu Niang to go and pick things up, and felt that her mood changed instantly, and her hands and feet became much more agile. Guo Xin himself also felt that he was in a good mood, and it was a very satisfying thing to be able to meet the needs of his relatives.
After cleaning up the snow, Guo Xin went to the backyard to greet his mother Zhang. In addition to greetings today, I also have to meet with my brother Guo Tong to discuss how to help Guo Wei win support from North Korea and China for the use of troops in Hebei in Tokyo.
Guo Xin held an umbrella and arrived at Zhang's backyard. He saw three younger brothers running out of the back hall. They stopped to salute one by one when they saw Guo Xin.
"I've met Brother Ercong."
"Are mother and brother Qing included?"
After receiving an affirmative answer, Guo Xing wiped the snow flakes from the heads of the three of them with his hands. He noticed that the three disciples were much taller than when they left the capital last year. At the age of twelve or thirteen, the boy grew taller. At that time, I'm afraid it won't be appropriate to touch my head again in two years.
In the back hall, Guo Xin met his mother Zhang, his brother Guo Tong, and his sister-in-law Wang.
After exchanging greetings, Mrs. Zhang asked Guo Xin whether her father, Guo Wei, who was most concerned about him, was in any danger when leading troops in Hebei.
Seeing Guo Tong and Wang looking at him curiously, Guo Xin immediately thought that he had made great contributions during several expeditions. His family obviously took it for granted that he had military knowledge.
Guo Xin thought for a moment and then said in a relaxed tone: "My father is going north this time. He is leading several main forces of the Forbidden Army's infantry and cavalry. They just came down from the battle formation in Guanzhong last year. No training is needed, and they can fight directly." Hebei is the hometown of the Central Plains, and the local officials are willing to obey the orders of my father. On the other hand, the Khitan people are in civil strife, and most of the time they went south to the grassland. We led the troops across the river and ran north. It was obvious that we had eaten and drank enough at home, prepared sticks to fight the hungry thieves who came in, and we were already in an invincible position. Mother didn't have to Worry."
He tried to explain things simply and clearly, so that Mrs. Zhang could understand and know that he was not just talking casually, so as not to worry too much. Only he and Guo Tong knew that Guo Wei's thoughts were far more than just defending his homeland, but that he wanted to go one step further and regain more of his homeland from the Khitan people.
