After the dispersion of the dynasty, Yang Guozhong did not go to the Yamen of the Ministry of War again. He had already been on duty yesterday, and today it was the turn of the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War to take charge of Zhang Rang's duty.
After leaving the palace gate, Yang Guozhong and several ministers said goodbye and got into the carriage. The carriage headed east along the avenue. There were many pedestrians along the way and the carriage moved very slowly.
In front of a mansion in Jingdefang in the east of the city, two stone lions stand on both sides of the gate. The two characters "Ding Mansion" are written on the door plaque. This is the residence of the old General Ding Hu.
The carriage stopped next to the stone lion on one side of the gate. The accompanying attendants took two steps forward and knocked on the copper door knocker.
Soon the door was opened, and a servant in his forties appeared inside. The servant looked the visitor up and down, and then asked: "Who are you looking for?"
The attendant replied: "Please inform your young master that Mr. Yang, the right minister of the Ministry of War, Yang Guozhong, is here to visit."
When the servant heard that it was Yang Guozhong, the right minister of the Ministry of War, he immediately showed some respect and said: "Master Yang, please wait a moment, I will go and report to my eldest son." After the servant said that, he ran into the courtyard.
The entourage returned to stand beside Yang Guozhong's carriage. After a while, the two doors of Ding's mansion were opened from the middle. A young man of about twenty-four or five years old hurried out of the door with several servants, and hurriedly came to the carriage. .
The young man bowed and saluted and said: "I don't know that General Yang is here, but I am not welcomed from afar. Please forgive me, General."
Yang Guozhong heard the voice and walked out of the car. Looking at the heroic young man in front of him, he couldn't help but smile: "Oh? It's Ding Yuan. I haven't seen him for a while, and he is getting stronger and stronger."
Ding Yuan is the grandson of the Ding family and the nephew of Concubine Ding. Ever since Ding Hu and his son died in the battle on the grassland, the eldest grandson Ding Yuan has been in charge of the Ding family.
Ding Yuan saw Yang Guozhong step down from the carriage and hurriedly stepped forward to help him.
Yang Guozhong immediately waved his hand and said: No, no, I'm not that old yet.
Ding Yuan smiled and said: "The old general's majesty is still the same as before."
"Hahaha, you kid."
As he spoke, Ding Yuan led Yang Guozhong into the Ding Mansion. After entering the courtyard, Ding Yuan's title changed. He no longer called him the old general, but changed his name to Grandpa Yang.
"Grandpa Yang, have you just come down from court?"
"Yes, I just came out of the Council Hall."
Yang Guozhong did not go home after going to court, but came to Ding's house, which surprised Ding Yuan.
In the past, when Ding Hu was still here, Yang Guozhong often brought his grandson to Ding's house. Sometimes it was for official business, sometimes for personal reasons. The two families were relatively close.
Because after Ding Hu died in the battle, Yang Guozhong came less and less, but his grandson often came to Ding Mansion to play with Ding Yuan's younger brother Ding Zheng. The two were about the same age and both liked boxing, so they often played together. Son.
Yang Guozhong suddenly visited today after the court dismissed. Ding Yuan guessed that there must be something going on, so he asked:
"Grandpa Yang came to the house today, but what's the matter?"
Yang Guozhong is also a veteran who has been in the court for many years. Naturally, he will not go straight to the subject as soon as he comes up, so he said with a smile: "If there is nothing to do, I can't come and see you two little bastards."
Ding Yuan said with a sneer on his face: "Thank you, Grandpa Yang. I miss you."
The two entered the hall, and a maid brought tea and placed it on the table in front of them.
"Ding Yuan, how old are you this year?" Yang Guozhong asked, taking a sip of tea.
"Back to Grandpa Yang, I am twenty-five years old this year."
"Well, you're not young anymore, so you should still do a certain job well."
Ding Yuan showed hesitation, because after Ding Hu died in the battle, Concubine Ding once said that she did not want his two brothers to serve as officials or generals in the court.
The main reason is that the DPRK has no support, and they are worried that the two of them will be plotted by the DPRK. Yang Guozhong naturally knew about this matter, but he mentioned it again now, but he didn't know what it meant.
"Grandpa Yang, since my grandfather and father died in the grassland, my aunt does not want my brother to serve in the government."
"At this moment, the two of you were still young when Old Dog Ding left. They definitely lacked experience and ability, so they were inconvenient to serve in the court. Now you are twenty-five years old, and I see that you are acting very steadily. , unlike my silly grandson who knows how to ride and kill all day long."
"Grandpa Yang is overrated. Brother Yang Xiao has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. He is deeply familiar with the true legacy of Grandpa Yang and will definitely become a general in the future."
"Hahaha, you kid, how did you learn to flatter me?"
Yang Guozhong couldn't help but feel happy when he heard Ding Yuan's praise.
"Let's do this. I still have a vacancy for the head of the Ministry of War. One day I will ask the emperor to ask you to come to the Ministry of War and work with me."
Ding Yuan was overjoyed. He didn't want to stay at home all his life. He had no way to express his passion. However, thinking about Concubine Ding's instructions back then, he felt something was wrong, so he said
"Grandpa Yang, wouldn't it be better to ask the imperial concubine for advice on this matter?"
Yang Guozhong stroked the beard on his chin and said, "Well, that's fine. It would be safer to tell Concubine Ding about this matter."
Seeing that Yang Guozhong had finished reminiscing about the past, he turned the topic to the court and to King Zhao Bin of Yan.
"Ding Yuan, do you know what happened in the court recently?"
No one from the Ding family was serving in the court at this time, so he didn't know about the affairs of the court.
"I don't know about this, but what big thing happened?" Ding Yuan asked curiously.
"It is indeed a big event and a happy event. King Zhao Bin of Yan recently wiped out a thousand invading Jie tribe cavalry in Yancheng.
Although the number of people was small, it was indeed a rare victory. Emperor Long Yan was very happy about this and had already issued a decree to reward King Yan. "
Ding Yuan was surprised. The third prince, Zhao Bin, had always been a well-behaved person. Last year, he was demoted to Yancheng by the emperor for being framed.
I never thought that after arriving in Yancheng, I not only invented the method of making salt from sea water, but also annihilated the invading enemies. It is really amazing.
"Yancheng is close to the Jie tribe grassland. It is in a dangerous location and may face threats from the Jie tribe at any time. Now that I can protect myself, my aunt will be greatly relieved to know this." Ding Yuan sighed and said.
Yang Guozhong looked at Ding Yuan's expression and continued, "Don't you ask what your Majesty rewarded King Yan?"
Ding Yuan couldn't help being shocked when he heard Yang Guozhong's mysterious tone, "What? Has His Majesty, King Yan, returned to Beijing?"
"Hey, how can the vassal king return to the capital so easily?"
When Ding Yuan heard this, he immediately became discouraged: "The third prince now has the title of prince, so naturally he will not be rewarded with the official position. Since he is not allowed to return to the capital, he is just rewarded with some gold, silver, jade and so on."
Yang Guozhong showed a mysterious smile, leaned closer and said, "I know you kid can't guess it. To tell you the truth, what your Majesty has given King Yan is military power, the military power of Yancheng's five thousand city defense troops."
"What?" Ding Yuan suddenly stood up from the chair and exclaimed. "How is this possible? How can a foreign lord hire mercenaries?"
"His Majesty has delivered the decree to His Majesty the Government this morning, and now the decree is on its way to Yancheng."
"However, my Daxia law prohibits mercenaries of the feudal princes. Mercenaries of the feudal princes are regarded as treason. How could the prince's party agree?" Ding Yuan sat back on his chair and said.
"The prince will naturally not agree, and the Xue family and Zhang family will naturally not agree, but some people oppose it and some support it."
"Is there support? Who?"
"Fang family" Yang Guozhong said leisurely.
"Fang family?" Ding Yuan couldn't help but wonder.
"That's right, the Fang family."
"But why did the Fang family support King Yan's mercenaries? Back then, they were..."
"It's the same sentence, this moment, that moment, do you understand?"
Ding Yuan's eyes flashed with light: "The Fang family has always maintained a neutral attitude between the prince and the eldest prince. Does the Fang family want to...?"
"Yes, but there is one thing that needs to be resolved before that."
"Grandpa Yang, please speak."
"This matter is related to King Yan's marriage. The Fang family and His Highness King Yan had an engagement earlier. Although the engagement was later cancelled, Fang Qingxue has not yet been married.
If the old relationship can be restored, the Fang family will stand behind King Yan in the future, and, as far as I know, the Liu family in Jiangnan also has this intention. "
Ding Yuan never expected that no one cared about King Yan when he was in Beijing half a year ago, but now that he had only been in Yancheng for more than half a year, the Fang and Liu families actually wanted to support him.
After pondering for a moment, Ding Yuan asked, "What does Grandpa Yang need from me?"
"As for the matter regarding His Highness Prince Yan and the eldest lady of the Fang family, I have to ask your mother to go to the palace. It would be best to invite Concubine Ding back to the Ding Mansion to discuss it. Your grandfather's death anniversary will be in a few days. Concubine Ding." It is also convenient for leaving the palace, I will come again when the time comes."
"Junior knows, I will definitely discuss this matter with my mother. Thank you Grandpa Yang!"
"Your grandpa and I were brothers from Paoze back then. If it hadn't been for your grandpa on the battlefield, my old life would have been left in Hebei Road, and I wouldn't be where I am today.
Okay, it's getting late and I'm going back home. Remember, this matter needs to be kept confidential. "
"Junior knows."
Ding Yuan personally sent Yang Guozhong out of the house.
A few days later will be the anniversary of Ding Hu's death, but this time not only Yang Guozhong is here, but also Fang Shutong, Minister of War.
After paying homage to Ding Hu's heroic spirit, Concubine Ding, Fang Shutong, and Yang Guozhong talked for an hour in the Ding family's study. . . . . .
