"My minister, Gao Baorong, pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor!" In the Chongzheng Hall, Nanping King Gao Baorong, who had arrived belatedly, finally lowered his head and saluted the Han Emperor in person.
Liu Chengyou was sitting at the imperial desk, examining Gao Baorong, who was in his thirties, bearded, handsome, and very good-looking. However, his body and temperament did not look good, probably because he was too indulged in wine and sex.
"King Nanping, you have worked hard all the way, please stop kneeling, stand down without courtesy, and give me a seat!" Liu Chengyou's tone was not very polite.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Glancing at Liu Chengyou carefully, Gao Baorong stood up quickly and sat down under the guidance of the chamberlain.
"King Nanping made me wait! I've been looking forward to meeting him since April!" Looking at him, Gao Baorong felt uneasy as soon as he opened his mouth. Liu Chengyou said with emotion: "However, good things come in a long way. We finally met today. Although this is our first meeting, I have been friends with King Nanping for a long time, and I feel a sense of intimacy when we meet today. King Nanping, do you feel the same way?"
"Yes! Yes! Your Majesty is right!" When he really faced the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, Gao Baorong found that he had no confidence at all. Perhaps it was because of Qiu Huhu, plus the emperor's words of holding a gun and a stick, and he could not help but sweat. The ground seeped out from his forehead.
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou finally had a smile on his lips, but it was a little cold: "What a pity, you missed my wedding wine when I accepted my concubine the day before yesterday!"
"I didn't find out until I got to the capital. I'm extremely sorry and regretful. Please punish me!" Gao Baorong couldn't sit still, stood up and prostrated, explaining.
"King Nanping is not guilty! I didn't send you an invitation. Secondly, how can I accuse others of missing my wedding wine?" The smile on Liu Chengyou's face gradually widened.
"Your Majesty is so generous, I'm ashamed of you! I heard that Your Majesty is very happy, so I prepared a small gift. I hope Your Majesty will accept it!" Gao Baorong said hurriedly, as if he wanted to make up for it.
"I am the king of a country and rich in the world. Do I still care about your gifts?" Liu Chengyou looked more kindly and looked at Gao Baorong: "However, I am very happy that you have this intention. Now that I have prepared it, I want to come. It’s not convenient for you to take it back, I’ll show you how to use it!”
Hearing this, Gao Baorong was in a daze, and subconsciously raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, please give me a lesson!"
"Although I am in Tokyo, my eyes and ears are still clear. I heard that Li Jingwei, the original deputy commander of the army and horses in Jiangling, suggested that you ambush in a dangerous narrow place before my army went south. After the king's army entered the city, he cut himself with a horizontal sword. I will die for my country to show my loyalty..." Liu Chengyou said leisurely.
When the emperor mentioned this matter, Gao Baorong immediately panicked and said, "Your Majesty, that Li Jingwei is just a stubborn native of Xiazhou, stubborn, stupid, and ignorant of the heavens. At that time, I severely criticized him! I have never had the intention to resist your Majesty and the court. ah!"
"King Nanping, don't be excited! Don't I understand how respectful you have been to the court for so many years?" Liu Chengyou said with a hint of playfulness in his tone, and continued: "I just heard that after Li Jingwei died, he was buried hastily. A handful of loess means that the old mother, wife and children have no one to care for them, they are bullied by their children, and they are miserable and helpless."
Staring at Gao Baorong, Liu Chengyou's expression became colder: "Although this Li Jingwei is despicable, his loyalty to you Gao is still pitiful! Since the three generations of the Tang Dynasty, many people in the world have betrayed loyalty. People like Li Jingwei, It's rare. Now that the person is dead, I have no intention of pursuing his high-ranking wife again.
Others may look down upon you, but King Nanping, you should show some expression. Send your congratulatory gift to the Jiangling government, and the local government will build a tomb for Li Jingwei, and use the rest to support his family. It will be considered a part of my heart! "
"Your Majesty is so benevolent that he is so tolerant and kind to a foolish man. I am extremely humbled and willing to give you gifts and leave it to your Majesty's disposal!" After hearing this, Gao Baorong breathed a sigh of relief and sang a song of praise.
The story about Li Jingwei has been widely circulated in Jingnan. There are rumors among the people that there are millions of households in Jingnan and 30,000 generals. There is only one loyal minister, Li Jingwei...
After talking about Li Jingwei, Liu Chengyou asked Gao Baorong to sit down again, thought for a while, and said seriously: "Since the Zhu Liang Dynasty, the Gao family has been in charge of Jingnan, eliminating violence and maintaining security, educating and nourishing the people, and making the key places safe and peaceful. , The merits are great. Before the founding of the Han Dynasty, I also made representations to persuade people to advance. After I came to the throne, I also obeyed respectfully, paid tribute year after year, and never acted disobediently.
This time, I was able to take the initiative to offer my land back to the court, avoid a sword fight, and assist the Han Dynasty in conquering Zhou Ni. I will keep these achievements in my heart and I will never forget them in this life! "
After listening to the emperor's words, Gao Baorong's hanging heart finally fell to the ground, and the bottom of his butt didn't feel like pins and needles, so he could sit still.
"Have you ever visited the royal palace that I gave you by the Bian River?" Liu Chengyou asked somewhat suddenly.
Gao Baorong shook his head and responded: "As soon as I entered the capital, I came to the palace to ask for an audience. I have never been there!"
"Take your family to move in. I hope you will be satisfied. I will make you the Prince of Anyang County and the Grand Master. You will live in Tokyo from now on. I will not treat meritorious ministers harshly and promise you a lifetime of wealth!" Liu Chengyou said! He said calmly.
Hearing this, Gao Baorong stood up again and prostrated with excitement: "I thank your Majesty for your grace!"
After Gao Baorong withdrew, Liu Chengyou said: "This Gao Baorong is not too stupid! Why is he so hesitant!"
Zhao Pu, who had been silent until now and was waiting at the side, responded: "This mediocre person's behavior in the past is not surprising. Now that he has come to Beijing, after your majesty's shock and grace, I think he will behave himself in the future!" "
"I hope so! For this first prince to surrender his land, I really want to have an end with him, and I don't want anything disharmonious to happen!" Liu Chengyou said.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Wei wants to see you!"
"Xuan!"
Soon, Wei Renpu entered the palace and saluted politely: "Your Majesty!"
"Wei Qing, sit down quickly!" Liu Chengyou's attitude towards his minister of Zhuguo was not the least bit kind.
Handing a thick stack of memorials to Zhang Dejun in his hand, Wei Renpu said, "This is the reward proposed for the troops and generals in this southern expedition. Your Majesty, please take a look at it!"
"Wei Qing, sit down first, let me take a look!"
Liu Chengyou immediately opened it and looked at it carefully. He saw the rise of another group of generals. Of course, middle and lower-level officers and soldiers are no longer as concerned by Liu Chengyou as they were in the past. It's not that they don't pay attention to them, but it's just not necessary. After so many years of rectification and development, the Han army has become its own system, and military merit and promotion have their own rules.
Of course, Wei Renpu only submitted military promotions and monetary rewards to Liu Chengyou. The review was on the one hand, and the titles and honors needed to be supplemented by Liu Chengyou.
In this regard, Liu Chengyou had already prepared a draft. He quickly picked up his pen, wrote against the merit book, signed and approved, and a series of actions were very straightforward. As a result, the Han Dynasty gained several more marquis and uncles.
"I have no objection to the Ministry of War's assessment and approval. Let's award the reward accordingly!" Liu Chengyou raised his eyes and said to Wei Renpu.
"yes!"
"This list is only for generals who are going on expeditions!" Looking at Wei Renpu, Liu Chengyou said: "Do you have any suggestions from Wei Qing on how to increase rewards for meritorious officials in the Privy Council and various ministries?"
Wei Renpu responded: "Each ministry official will have his or her own official office to raise rewards and report them to the Ministry of Personnel and Your Majesty for approval. However, the chief officials and important ministers cannot be evaluated by the Ministry of War and require His Majesty's Holy Judgment!"
Nodding, Liu Chengyou looked troubled and asked him: "I have considered all the others, but Duke Xing is the only one. He is responsible for the transfer of the army this time. His contribution is no less than that of attacking the city and setting up the stronghold. He also has good governance in front of him." Thanks to Xiangyang. Wei Qing, what position do you think I should use to reward him?"
Hearing this question, Wei Renpu frowned immediately. In the blink of an eye, his thoughts seemed to be changing all over the place. Facing the emperor's gaze, he still responded cautiously: "Your Majesty should discuss it with Prime Minister Li. It is not a matter of ministerial duty!"
After hearing his answer, Liu Chengyou immediately said: "Wei Qing is also a prime minister and a pillar minister who helps me govern the world. Although he is in charge of the military department, how can he be limited by his duties? I want to hear your opinion!"
But he obviously didn't want to express his opinion on this matter, so he pondered for a moment, raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty is sage and fair, and you will reward according to your merits without deviation!"
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou thought about it, waved his hand gently, sighed, and said, "That's all, if you don't want to say it, I won't force you!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wei Renpu was obviously relieved.
