The troop deployment orders from the Privy Council and the Guards Department arrived at the military camp the next day, and Guo Xin's camp appointment and departure date were announced at the same time. Guo Xin took Xiang Xun and his subordinate commanders to receive military orders in the army, and sent Xiang Xun and others to prepare for the departure. Then he went to his capital, Yuhou Wang Jin, to meet with his army commander Xie Hui to say goodbye in advance, and asked Shangfeng coordinates the arsenal to allocate soldiers and armor.
Guo Xin went to the military headquarters and learned that Xie Hui had recently been ill and reported to be ill at home, so he had to say goodbye to Wang Jin first.
Wang Jin is already an old acquaintance with Guo Xin, because Wang Jin and Wang Zhang are relatives of the same clan. Since his brother Guo Tong married Wang Zhang's daughter, Wang Jin and the Guo family are now relatives. In terms of seniority, they are both related. Individuals or peers. In addition, when Guo Xin met with Fu Yanqing earlier, he learned that Wang Jin had an old relationship with the Fu family, and he couldn't help but sigh that there was quite a lot of fate between the two.
After the meeting, Wang Jin was envious of Guo Xin's appointment for the expedition, and said bluntly: "The Tang army is not as weak as the Shu army, and it is better to go to Huainan than Hebei! It's a pity that I can't take over as the general, otherwise Guo Lang and I would use Du Yu as the commander-in-chief this time." When Hou Hedu takes command, he can be promoted to another level when he comes back as a class teacher!"
It seems that ordinary people regard Guo Xin's transfer as a favor from the officials and the court to the Guo family. Guo Xin had no choice but to say with a fake smile: "Then I'll leave it to Yuhou Jiyan."
"But I still have a chance to participate in the battle when I stay in Tokyo. After Guo Gong goes to control Hebei, the imperial court will successively select the imperial army to go north to garrison. Well, these Guo Lang certainly know, but if Guo Gong's strategy is to attack the city from the north, I should be chosen to accompany the national army, Guo Lang’s tiger-shooting cannon is a weapon our army is good at attacking cities... It’s just a pity that General Jie doesn’t seem to have any intention of our army going north to fight the Khitan, alas!”
Reminiscent of the previous discussion of military aircraft, Xie Hui did not support Guo Wei going north to use troops, and the meaning of Wang Jin's words was already obvious.
Guo Xin pondered deeply and then said: "My father's military strategy in Hebei is still being discussed and decided with various officials. However, in my opinion, the most important thing to fight against the Khitan is not military equipment, but morale! Our soldiers have always been If you hear about the battle, you will be happy, and you should be among the northern garrison...but you can't choose someone who is timid to the Khitan as a general?"
"Haha!" Wang Jin laughed, "I know what Guo Lang said and what I mean! When Guo Lang comes back victorious, I will celebrate for Guo Lang!"
The two then handed over the procedures for mobilizing soldiers, armor, and staffs. Guo Xin then said goodbye to Wang Jin. The only thing left to do before setting off for the expedition was to pay a visit to the camp leader Guo Qiong.
Because Guo Xin's troops were temporarily marching to Rudong Road to camp, the day of departure was very near, but Guo Xin had many other things to do besides military affairs.
Back home, his brother Guo Tong was hiding in the shade at the entrance, instructing the servants to move books, fabrics and other belongings from the backyard. He had also packed up many boxes of items and placed them under the eaves of the courtyard.
Guo Xin went over and asked casually: "I heard that Weizhou is not a rich state? You can just buy clothes and utensils in Weizhou. Why do you need to move so many things there?"
Guo Tong wiped his sweat and said with a smile: "My father is so frugal, don't you know it?"
Guo Xin also chuckled and was about to go back when he was stopped by the concierge Guo Shou and sent a message about the banquet that the prince-in-law, Captain Song Xie, would leave Beijing for the town tomorrow.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to move the town, the vacancies in the vassal towns were not only for the Weizhou Tianxiong Army where Guo Wei was going. As early as when the Liu family first entered Tokyo, Guo Xin remembered that Song Xie had wanted to be appointed as a vassal town, but at that time the court still wanted to appease the towns. Lord, there is no chance to teach Song Xie the town. Now Song Jiecai finally got what he wanted - he was awarded the title of Duke of Kaiguo, and Huazhou became the military governor.
Guo Xin thought for a while and decided not to attend the banquet in person, because Li Ye and Song Xie were closer relatives, so Li Ye would be at the banquet, and he didn't want to create any further complications at this juncture.
It happened that Guo Xin himself was about to leave Beijing for the war, so he returned to his study and apologized to Song Xie for writing a letter to Song Xie because he was about to go to the army and could not attend the banquet in person. Then he called Guo Pu to bring a letter, and took some golden bamboo shoots from Yu Niang, and bought some gifts and sent them to the prince consort's mansion.
After finishing these things, Guo Xin called Yuniang again and asked her to close the courtyard door and watch outside. Then he found a shovel from the utility room and dug up soil along the roots of the pear tree in the courtyard. .
It had not rained in Tokyo for a long time, and the land was dry and hard. It took Guo Xin a moment to dig out the soil several inches deep on the roots, and he saw an inconspicuous wooden box safely hidden among the soil and roots. It looks like the wooden box is growing from the roots.
Guo Xin took out the wooden box, brushed the dust on it with his hands, and opened the copper button. The contents inside the wooden box were wrapped in red silk. He picked up a corner of the red silk, and then a jade-carved chilong was revealed. That legendary jade seal.
Guo Xin put the treasure back into the wooden box and packed it, filled the soil with a shovel and leveled it, and covered the excavation traces with nearby dust. As Wang Shiliang said, this jade seal is by no means a treasure that can be kept privately. After Guo Wei left Beijing, this house is no longer safe. It is best to keep it with you, especially when the situation is determined in the future, this statue The jade seal may play a big role!
Guo Xin temporarily hid the wooden box in the study, then took down the "work" hanging in the study full of names, took a brazier, and lit it with fire.
The flames danced irregularly in the air. Guo Xin stared at the fire, still feeling a lot of uneasiness in his heart. The day of leading the troops to the expedition was too hasty, and many things were not arranged properly. When there were only ashes left in the brazier, he thought for a moment and called Yu Niang into the study again.
Yu Niang asked: "Did Guo Lang take out the treasure? What else was burned outside?"
Guo Xin didn't know whether Yuniang was guessing or observing something under the pear tree, but after all, Yuniang lived in the courtyard every day, and no matter how well she concealed her traces, she would inevitably see the clues. So Guo Xin nodded and immediately replied: "Burn some things that cannot be discovered."
After Guo Xin finished speaking, he looked at Yu Niang. They had known each other for three years, which was quite a long time. However, Yu Niang's appearance did not seem to have changed much from when he first met her in Chunle Square. She still spoke the same way. A soft-spoken girl with fair skin and a pure heart.
Guo Xin felt his throat was a little itchy, coughed twice, and said quietly: "Yu Niang is actually the person I trust the most. I trust Yu Niang more than my brother, father, and even Guo Pu. Yu Niang Xin My words?”
Yuniang took down the copper pot from the desk beside her, poured a glass of water for Guo Xin, and replied at the same time: "I am Guo Lang's man, and Guo Lang is the only person I rely on in the world."
Guo Xin took the water and drank it in one gulp, then said: "That precious seal seems to be a national jade seal. It is said that only those with destiny can get it. If the jade seal is true, maybe destiny will be granted to my family. My father is now With great power and support from the army and the people, he will have the opportunity to become emperor in the future."
"Ah!" Yu Niang barely held the kettle steady and lowered her voice and said, "Why would Guo Lang say this to a woman like me?"
"How can Yu Niang be an ordinary woman? If my father becomes an emperor in the future, I can also be crowned king again. At that time, I will let Yu Niang have the status of a concubine, and then..."
Yu Niang's eyes flickered, and she quickly stopped Guo Xin from continuing: "Guo Lang, don't say any more, and you will be punished for your nonsense. I am living a good life now, why do I need those titles?"
Guo Xin secretly thought that what he said was not a lie, but he still stood up, put his hands on Yu Niang's shoulders, and looked into her eyes seriously: "I am by no means crazy, there are traces of everything. Father accepts the instruction Appointed in the town, it seems that I have received great favor, but my family is actually in danger. In the future, the officials will definitely deal with my family. At that time, my family will be very dangerous. I have prepared a hiding place and will arrange for my mother in advance. I went with my brother and the others to avoid trouble."
Yuniang is not completely unaware of what Guo Xin did, but it may still be difficult for her to suddenly accept this fact. But Guo Xin has no better way. As long as he is not in Tokyo, many things will inevitably escape his control and grasp.
Guo Xin pondered slightly: "But Yuniang is special to me. I can't just give Yuniang away. There are too many people staring at my family! If something goes wrong, the consequences will be unbearable, so I feel sorry for Yuniang." There are other arrangements elsewhere.”
"I believe everything Guo Lang said... In fact, Guo Lang is thinking of me in his heart, which is more reassuring than anything else. Where are you going?"
"Gong Hou Yi of the State of Lu," Guo Xin muttered slightly, "I am kind to the Duke of Lu. Yu Niang has little to do with the men's affairs, and the Duke of Lu is very good at speculation. By then, there will be an opportunity to bet on both sides of the coin in Tokyo. Not much, at least Yuniang will not be in danger of her life in the Duke of Lu's mansion."
Yuniang paused for a moment and asked, "Then why don't you let Dalang and the others go to the Duke of Lu's mansion to avoid trouble?"
"No, the risk is too great for Hou Yi. Moreover, when there are many people, things can easily change, especially the elder brother, three disciples, and Brother Rong's two sons. There is really no way for so many men to hide in other people's houses without To attract attention, the only chance in Tokyo City is to go to that hidden place.”
Guo Xin raised his head and glanced at the sky outside the room. The sky was still dark and unclear, but the clouds had gradually become shallower. The halo of the sun appeared behind the clouds. The look of the halo reminded Guo Xin of the flames in the brazier just now. The sun itself is a huge fireball, and the corona is like a fire coming from a distant place, just waiting to pierce the dark clouds and throw the rapid flames into the world.
