After the Jiaqing Festival, each town moved to another town in compliance with the imperial edict. Fu Yanqing and other Fu family members also left Beijing and returned to Yanzhou to prepare for the move to Qingzhou.
Soon, Guo Wei's invitation to Weizhou's Tianxiong Army, which had been vacant after Gao Xingzhou moved to the town, came to fruition - during the April Wangri court meeting, the emperor formally issued an edict conferring Guo Wei to be the defender of Yedu and the military envoy of Tianxiong Army. , still served as the privy envoy, and set up the imperial army to camp in the north, supervising and leading the generals in Hebei to guard against the Khitan. Later, Guo Rong was appointed as the governor of Guizhou and the commander of Tianxiong Yamen, and followed Guo Wei out of Weizhou.
Although Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao and others in the current dynasty were all their own allies, the fact that they served as Jiedushi and Privy Envoys to the Inner Dynasty meant that no one in the Inner and Outer Dynasties could institutionally restrict Guo Wei's military actions in Hebei. However, when Guo Wei wanted to send troops to Qiangu, he could directly order the towns to supply them through documents from the Privy Council. There has been no precedent for such an appointment since the birth of the vassal system, and it seemed too generous to Guo Wei. But at least judging from the results, Guo Wei has become the most popular figure among the ministers.
The Guo family's residence immediately became a popular place for officials from Tokyo. Countless people came to visit every day under the pretense of seeing off Guo Wei when he went to town. However, Guo Xin did not want to be the focus of people's eyes. He still felt that it was more convenient to keep a low profile and avoid people's sight, so he went to the military camp early every day to patrol instead of staying at home, leaving Guo Wei and his brother Guo Tong to bear the brunt of the greetings. Limelight.
On this day, Guo Xin also took a carriage out of the back door when it was daylight, and the driver was Guo Pu. He did not ride a horse today, and asked Guo Pu to wear a wide-brimmed straw hat because he was going to the abandoned house that Monk Yuanren mentioned earlier. Guo Xin has asked Wang Shiliang to go see it first. Today is his first time to go. After all, people are more assured of things they have seen with their own eyes.
The master and the servant first arrived at Xiangguo Temple, stopped their carriage and horses in the courtyard in front of Xiangguo Temple, and walked around the temple again. After meeting Monk Yuanren, they exchanged greetings. According to the method discussed in advance, Yuanren took them Take the monk's side road and exit through the back gate of Xiangguo Temple. Outside the back mountain gate, another carriage had stopped, and the driver was Wang Shiliang, who had been waiting for a long time.
After saying goodbye to Yuanren, Guo Xin and the two got on Wang Shiliang's carriage. At this time, there were gradually more and more people on the street. The three of them took the carriage to avoid major roads such as Zhouqiao. The carriage traveled for a long time before reaching where Yuanren said it was. There is an abandoned house with three weeping willows outside the door.
Guo Xin did not get off the car outside the door, but directly ordered the carriage to drive into the abandoned house through the main entrance. In this way, the last time Guo Xin's face appeared in front of others was before entering Xiangguo Temple. In fact, they don't need to be so troublesome today. Guo Xin doesn't think anyone will monitor him too closely - otherwise, he would have discovered it long ago based on his caution in Tokyo. The reason why it was done so thoughtfully and meticulously was actually more like a rehearsal.
When Guo Xin walked into the courtyard, he found that there were weeds all over the courtyard, and the halls and corridors in front were obviously dilapidated. He could smell the special smell of rotting wood.
Wang Shiliang introduced him while leading the way: "The house here has three entrances in front and back, and there are side courtyards on both sides. The well and kitchen are behind it. There is still room for a family of more than ten people."
Guo Xin nodded: "Can we find out who lives around here?"
Wang Shiliang said: "The houses on the left and right are also abandoned and deserted. Yuanren's statement that they were purchased by the Fu family should be true. The residents of the other houses nearby are mostly merchant families in Qingxuan City who are busy with their daily lives. Most of them stay up and down at night... Only the house in the north of Fang is the former Zuo Feilong envoy, who originally camped in the west of Guanzhong as the military and horse supervisor, and is now the residence of Li Yan, the governor of Puzhou. Because it is in the county, there are only a few former residences. An old servant is keeping watch."
"Oh?" Guo Xin didn't expect to hear his familiar name here, and then he remembered how Li Yancong was seriously injured in the ambush of the Central Shu Army in Baoji Village. However, there were too many military affairs behind him, so he never I have paid attention to this person, but after hearing about the Puzhou governor from Wang Shiliang, I speculated that Li Yancong should have been promoted to the governor for his merits after recovering from his injuries.
The three of them walked in as they talked, pushed open the wooden door and entered the main hall. A cloud of dust suddenly rose inside the door.
Wang Shiliang coughed due to the dust, and then concluded: "This house is in a secluded location, and it can really avoid people's eyes and ears. The key is Bianshui when you go out, and Songzhou Gate is not far to the east. It is very suitable for self-cultivation or avoiding disasters." "
Guo Xin nodded and agreed with Wang Shiliang's statement. Monk Yuanren is now deeply trusted by his mother Zhang. As long as there is trouble in the court, it is not difficult to ask Yuanren to give Zhang a reason to come here to clean up. It will be easier to find an opportunity to persuade the remaining family members to settle here to avoid trouble. Much more.
Guo Xin took Wang Shiliang and Guo Pu to walk around the house carefully, and then determined that the houses did not need major repairs and only needed to be cleaned to be habitable.
The three of them found a relatively clean room with the door open to rest. Guo Xinsui mentioned casually: "Shiliang still lives next to Mingde Gate? How is your mother's health?"
Wang Shiliang clasped his fists and said, "I'd like to bother you with my public relations photo. My mother is still in good health. Because she is humble, she is planning to marry a wife recently and is looking for another spacious house by the Bian River."
Hearing this, Guo Xin shook his head: "Why bother? In these troubled times, it may not be the time to buy a house, marry a wife and settle down. However, the houses outside Mingde Gate are mixed. If there is a disaster, I am afraid that I will not take care of it. Shiliang, why not ask your court to take care of it here first? .”
Then Guo Xin took a deep look at Wang Shiliang. Wang Shiliang has now resigned from the military and relies on only Guo Xin. From any profit perspective, Wang Shiliang has no reason to betray him.
But Guo Xin still told him: "I have predicted that something will happen to my family, and there will be a military disaster. Otherwise, we would not be so prepared. This place will be a matter of life and death for us."
Wang Shiliang immediately knelt down and saluted: "I am humbled and willing to die for my lord."
"Other than that, I don't want anyone around me to suffer and die."
After leaving the abandoned house, Guo Xin changed into his own carriage outside Xiangguo Temple and prepared to go home. Since he is not on duty today, Guo Wei has hosted a dinner at his house as a family banquet before his departure. His eldest brother Guo Rong and his brother-in-law Zhang Yongde will also attend the banquet.
It was almost dusk when we returned to Lifang. Guo Xin quickly changed his clothes and then went to see Guo Wei.
Guo Wei in the study was wearing dark clothes, but with a very happy look on his face. He said to Guo Xin: "The Privy Council received the order in the afternoon, and the official ordered Erlang to be the commander of the infantry headquarters on the east road, and to accompany Guo Qiong to lead the Imperial Army to the sea. The state is guarding the state against intruders from the Tang Dynasty. This is a special favor from the officials. If there is an opportunity for war, Erlang will be on the battlefield to fight for the imperial court."
Guo Xin was surprised when he heard this. How could it be a good thing to have Guo Wei and himself leave Beijing at this time?
Guo Xin immediately couldn't help but remind him: "My son and his father are leading the troops outside, and Brother Rong will also leave the palace. I'm afraid it's still unclear whether the official family is a reward or a warning! It has always been heard that there are villains around the official family. Previously, When we were in the palace, the Queen Mother also mentioned that people in the palace often spoke ill of my family, so it would be better for me to take more precautions."
"Erlang has deep concerns, and I already know it." Guo Wei stroked his long beard without commenting, "But the main business at the moment is still the military affairs of the north and the south. In any case, I have been separated from the conflict in the court. Let's first see how my husband-in-law changes in the court..."
Guo Xin wanted to say something else, but then a servant came in to report that Guo Rong and others had arrived at the house. The father and son stopped talking and went to the front hall to have a banquet together.
The Guo family's banquet had no strings, music, singing, dancing or wine. Compared with the banquets Guo Xin attended at the homes of important ministers such as Shi Hongzhao and Song Xie, it was dull. However, the atmosphere when the family was together was by no means deserted. Especially today, Zhang Yongde also brought his wife, Guo Xin's sister Guo.
Mrs. Guo did not leave much impression on Guo Xin's memory because her previous life was too hard and her daughter got married too early. The Guo family in Guo Xin's eyes is already quite unfamiliar. Now that he looks carefully, Guo family, who is now a wife, does not look stunning. However, she has inherited the Guo family's figure genes. She has a tall figure and clear eyes, at least in Guo Xin's eyes. Still a very beautiful woman.
However, Ms. Guo has not been back to her parents' home for a long time. She is often embarrassed and shy when talking to everyone, and she has nothing to say to Guo Xin. Their eyes occasionally meet, and they just smile and change their eyes, which is completely different. Brother and sister.
Not long after, Guo Wei announced to everyone in advance during the banquet the order of General Guo Xin to lead the troops on the expedition, as well as the latest appointment of the imperial court to promote Guo Tong to the rank of Minister of the Ministry of Etiquette.
Everyone toasted one after another, and all the wine glasses were raised to Guo Wei. In the ripples of wine in the glasses, the shadow of glory and wealth seemed to emerge. People saw their own interests from the recent series of appointments.
Especially the eldest brother Guo Rong, who was extremely drunk today, his eyes radiated with radiant light, and he glanced at everyone: "My father is now an official of Jiedu, and he is also in charge of military affairs in Hebei. Looking at the world today, how can anyone else be able to match him?" !”
