This night.
It was originally a farewell banquet organized by Qin Wangzheng for Wei Liao's departure, but in the end it became Zhao Tuo's wheat feast.
Overnight, wheat, which was originally eaten by slaves and prisoners, suddenly improved its status in grains because of Zhao Tuo, and became a weapon to enhance Qin's national power and military power.
Qin Wangzheng even issued an edict to Zhi Su Neishi on the spot, asking him to go to Zhao Tuo tomorrow to discuss the promotion of wheat food and stone grinding.
After doing these things, it was late at night.
Qin Wangzheng toasted to Wei Liao again, thanking him for his assistance over the past ten years.
Wei Liao smiled and raised his head in return.
"Zhao Tuo, this son, not only has the ability to fight in the army, but also knows how to strengthen the country. With him in Qin, the king's achievements will be worry-free. I can go with peace of mind!"
King Qin Zheng said with a smile: "I'm afraid Wei Gong has a high regard for this boy. No matter how powerful he is, how can he be compared with such important military officials as Wei Gong?"
Wei Liao smiled and said nothing.
He believed that his vision was correct. Just like he knew what kind of person Qin Wangzheng was when he first saw him fifteen years ago, he could see that Zhao Tuo's ability was much more than that.
After the banquet, Qin Wangzheng took the lead to leave, and all the ministers also said goodbye to Wei Liao one after another, just like the scene when Wang Jian left before.
Wei Liao deliberately lagged behind and went out of the palace with Zhao Tuo, chatting about old military affairs along the way.
"Just as Marquis Wucheng said, the world in the future will belong to you, the descendants. I am already old, and it is time to return."
Walking outside the palace gate, Wei Liao turned around and looked at the young general in front of him with emotion.
Zhao Tuo smiled and said: "Wei Gong is old. In the past, Master Shangfu came out of the mountain when he was more than seventy years old to help the king of Zhou rule the world. Compared with the sages of ancient times, Wei Gong is still young."
"Hahaha, you are a good talker. Are you comparing me to Lu Shang?"
Wei Liao smiled from ear to ear. Even though he was as transparent as he was, when he heard Zhao Tuo comparing him to Lu Shang, he still felt comfortable being flattered by the flattery.
After he finished laughing, he looked at Zhao Tuo with a solemn expression on his face.
"Zhao Tuo, your mouth is quite flattering. I hope you will always be like this."
"Times have changed, and the humble people in the past may become increasingly arrogant. Those who are outspoken will find it difficult to gain a foothold. Only those like you, Zhao Tuo, with a flattering face and an upright heart, can survive for a long time, hahaha..."
Wei Liao smiled, turned around and walked towards a carriage not far away.
His disciple Wang Ao is waiting there.
The two masters and disciples may escape far away and will no longer be bound by the court.
"Wei Gong, go slow."
Zhao Tuo bowed and saluted, but his eyes were full of solemnity.
Wei Liao's last words had something else in mind.
…
Early the next morning, Wang Wu, the governor of Suzhou, who had already received the imperial edict, came to visit Zhao Tuo's house.
He was the great agriculture minister of the Han Dynasty who was responsible for the management of millet internal history.
Specializing in grain and property matters, the promotion of wheat food proposed by Zhao Tuo falls under his jurisdiction.
"The thing about wheat that Young Master Zao mentioned is really a good strategy to strengthen the country and benefit the people."
Wang Wu is about forty years old, with a white face and long beard. He has only held this position for less than a year. When he saw Zhao Tuo, his attitude was very polite.
If wheat food can be promoted, it will also be a political achievement for him, which will be very beneficial.
"To serve the king, you should do your best. Promotion of this matter is difficult, and you have to rely on the prince."
Zhao Tuo also responded politely. Zhisu Neishi was one of the nine ministers. He had a high position and had great authority. It was natural for him to make friends and make many friends.
And if the wheat food and stone milling things are promoted, he, Zhao Tuo, can also share some of the credit. Although it is not much, the experience bar for promotion is also rising, which is better than sitting in the mansion.
The two chatted for a while, and Zhao Tuo talked about some precautions in promoting wheat food, and then asked the chef in the house who had learned most of the pasta recipes to leave.
There is no need for him to take care of the next thing, it will be handled by the government.
"Four can strengthen the country and the army, and it is also a delicious food. The king should be very happy this time, and let him know the importance of me, Zhao Tuo."
Zhao Tuo couldn't help but feel relieved when he thought of Qin Wangzheng's smile on him last night.
However, before he could be summoned by the king alone, he received an invitation from Prince Fusu to enter the palace.
"Has Fusu finally come out of his psychological shadow?"
Zhao Tuo sighed with emotion, then couldn't help scolding Xiong Qi.
This damn ghost betrayed Qin when he was alive, and even threatened Fusu when he was dead, and even caused trouble for Zhao Tuo. It really makes people feel angry just thinking about it.
Cursing in his heart, Zhao Tuo did not move slowly and asked the maid to change him into the palace attire, then left the house and got in the car to go to the Qin Palace.
…
In the Qin Palace, there is a towering balcony.
Qin Wangzheng leaned on the railing and looked at the palace gate in the distance, where a young man walked in.
"Zhao Gao, you said that Zhao Tuo took advantage of Qiang Yu's provocation last night to offer wheat to the people. Why did you mean this?"
Qin Wangzheng turned his head and stared at Zhao Gao, who was standing behind him.
Although Zhao Gao was often taken with Qin Wangzheng because he was proficient in laws and good at figuring out people's thoughts.
But in fact, the official rank of the CRRC was low and he was not qualified to participate in last night's farewell banquet. He only found out about Zhao Tuo's offering of wheat this morning.
Facing the king's inquiry, Zhao Gao originally wanted to say something like Zhao Tuo wholeheartedly serving Qin.
But when he saw the smile in Qin Wangzheng's eyes, he understood a little, and replied with a busy smile: "I guess it's because of the princess, right?"
"Hahaha……"
Qin Wangzheng laughed, turned his head and looked into the distance again, and saw that the young man was about to enter the harem under the guidance of the palace attendants.
"This boy is thinking about my daughter and wants me to make a promise to him. Zhao Gao, please go and wait outside Fusu Palace. When he comes out, you can summon him to my side."
"only."
Zhao Gao cupped his hands and retreated slowly, feeling a little happy in his heart.
If Zhao Tuo can become the king's princess, his status will surely rise in the future.
He, Zhao Gao, and Zhao Tuo have become brothers and can be called allies in the political arena.
The stronger the ally, the better it is for Zhao Gao.
The footsteps gradually faded away.
Qin Wangzheng watched Zhao Gao's back disappear into the distance, and the smile on his face gradually faded.
"Is it Wang Jian? Or Wei Liao? Or did this kid realize it on his own?"
"Do you want to use wheat food to please me? Haha, I am not a narrow-minded king. How can I destroy a good general because of Xiong Qi's incident?"
Qin Wangzheng shook his head, thinking of the scene where Zhao Tuo looked at him eagerly last night, and the smile couldn't help but emerge again.
"Big cannons, fertilization, plows, wheat... Zhao Tuo, Zhao Tuo, how many things do you have that you haven't given to me?"
…
Under the guidance of the palace maid, Zhao Tuo stopped outside a palace.
This is the residence of Prince Fusu. Before the crowning ceremony, all the princes lived in the palace. After the crowning ceremony, they would move out of the Qin Palace and open separate mansions.
Zhao Tuo heard from the gossip that Qin Wangzheng was already looking for a bride for Fusu. The candidate seemed to be hesitating between the granddaughter of Wang Jian, the Marquis of Wucheng, and the daughter of Li Si, the Tingwei, and had not yet been decided.
If nothing unexpected happens, the candidate will be selected in the second half of the year, and then Fusu will be crowned next year and they can get married.
"In ancient times, a man was crowned with a crown at twenty, and a husband was ranked first, and he was married at thirty. A woman was promised to marry at fifteen, and she was married at twenty."
Zhao Tuo thought of the Spring and Autumn Period, when aristocratic men might not get married until they were thirty, and women might not get married until they were twenty. The reason why they get married late is probably because nobles need to wait for a suitable marriage partner.
Among the people, there is no such emphasis. Women usually get married after they are fifteen years old, and some even get married when they are thirteen or fourteen years old. Men often get married before they are twenty years old.
But no matter what, even based on ancient etiquette, a woman is allowed to marry when she is fifteen.
This year Qin Wangzheng's eldest princess Ying Yinman is seventeen years old. She should have reached the age of Xu Ren, but Qin Wangzheng has not decided on her husband for a long time, which seems very unreasonable.
"If I hadn't appeared, she would have been married to Li You, right?"
"After the battle to destroy Chu, the king should have made a decision, but not giving a date always makes people feel uneasy."
While Zhao Tuo was thinking wildly, Fusu had already walked out of the house and saluted Zhao Tuo: "Fusu has met Mr. Zhao."
"Zhao Tuo has met the young master."
Zhao Tuo quickly returned the gift and saw Fusu wearing Qin clothes with red and black colors and a solemn look on his face.
Although he still looked like a handsome young man, Fusu's eyes made Zhao Tuo feel a little different. Compared with before, he seemed to have become much more mature.
The two greeted each other politely, and Fusu invited Zhao Tuo into the palace.
"Zhao Jun, please."
Zhao Tuo stepped forward with a smile. He remembered the last time he came here and was "smashed" to the ground by Ying Yinman before he even entered the door. This time he couldn't help but feel a little more wary.
But to Zhao Tuo's surprise, until he entered the house, he did not encounter the "raid" he imagined.
The scene in the room made his eyes light up.
It was a girl wearing aqua blue skirt and white fox fur.
He was sitting quietly in front of several cases.
Compared with the lively and smart princess in her memory, the girl in front of her has changed a lot.
She was taller, her facial features became more delicate and beautiful, and her skin was as delicate as mutton-fat jade, glowing with an alluring luster in the sunlight coming in from the window.
Zhao Tuo's eyes accidentally glanced at the girl's chest, and he was surprised.
"You've grown up."
Maybe it's because of women's natural sensitivity.
The girl's fair cheeks turned red, and she scolded: "I heard that a gentleman should not look at anything inappropriate. Is it true that you are not a gentleman?"
Zhao Tuo blinked innocently and said with a smile: "What do you mean by what the princess said? What did I just see? I didn't seem to see anything, so why do you say don't look at anything if it's inappropriate?"
Ying Yinman was stunned. She opened her mouth, but could not speak. The blush on her face even reached her ears.
What could she say?
A childish voice sounded from beside him.
"I know, you just looked at my sister with your eyes..."
Snapped!
As the slaps rang out, Young Master Gao's mouth dropped, he looked aggrieved and almost cried.
"He's talking nonsense. He's playing with Jianglu and Ronglu."
Ying Yinman scolded with a red face.
This slap was followed by a scolding.
Zhao Tuo knew that she was still her.
The Wen Jing talk just now was all fake.
But what surprised Zhao Tuo was that in addition to the young master Gao and young master Ronglu who had already met, there was another five or six-year-old child in the room.
Listening to what Ying Yinman said just now, this baby is also the son of Qin Wangzheng, and he is called Gongzi Jianglu?
"Are you asking me to take care of the king's baby?"
"Will you meet Hu Hai next time you come back?"
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