Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 192 Choosing a Concubine for the King
"..."

In the Didao government office, when Liu Jilong also spoke of killing Zhang Zhifang, Gao Jinda, Cui Shu and others shut their mouths.

Facing their silence, Liu Jilong continued:
"We still have so many people in Ganliang, why didn't they come with us?"

Although Liu Jilian took more than a thousand people from Ganliang, the troops he trained in Shandan were several times more than that.

The situation in Hexi is such that if this group of people continue to stay in Hexi, they will only be sacrificed in the subsequent struggle between the Hu and Han peoples.

The population of the Uighurs and the Umu was greater than the population of the entire Hexi region, not to mention that among the more than 200,000 people in Hexi, nearly 30% were foreigners.

“Most people don’t want to bother…”

Cui Shu spoke carefully, and Liu Jilong shook his head when he heard it: "Seeking comfort again."

"I know no one wants to cause trouble, but the situation in Helong is far from being able to enjoy peace."

"If we continue to be complacent, we will only destroy the situation we have worked so hard to build."

He seemed to be talking about the brothers who stayed in Ganliang, but also seemed to be talking about something else.

Just like the current situation in the Tang Dynasty, everyone is seeking stability and comfort, but these people don’t care at all about what is behind the stability and comfort.

Perhaps they all knew that if they continued like this, the Tang Dynasty would eventually perish, but they were all gambling that the Tang Dynasty would not perish in their hands.

The game of passing the flower has been played for who knows how many years.

"Alright, eat more, the food is getting cold."

Zhang Chang smiled as he picked up some food for Gao Jinda and Cui Shu, and Liu Jilong did not continue to mention the matters in Hexi.

In his opinion, if Zhang Yichao and Zhang Huaishen continued to seek stability in this way, they would eventually have to retreat to Guasha as history had shown.

Even though their arrival changed many things in Hexi, they were destined to not be able to defend Liangzhou and Yizhou.

The fate of 100,000 people in Liangzhou could only be enslavement by the Uighurs or the Umu, and what they had to do was to recapture Liangzhou and protect the territory and the people at the critical moment.

After recovering Longxi and Liangzhou, he had a population of no less than 300,000 under his command.

If we keep a low profile at that time, the world may not be impossible to conquer!
As he was thinking, the banquet gradually became lively, but when Liu Jilong thought about the future loss of Hexi, he lost all interest.

He asked Zhang Chang to entertain Gao Jinda and others, and then returned to the inner hall.

"General Jie, why did you come back so soon when you were not in the main hall to chat about the past?"

It was not yet dark. Cao Mao, who had just returned from school, saw Liu Jilong. After being stunned for a moment, he immediately poured him tea.

Liu Jilong sat in the main seat, looking at Cao Mao who was pouring tea for him, and couldn't help looking him up and down.

When I first met him, I was eighteen and he was twelve.

Now I am twenty-two years old and he is sixteen years old.

Cao Mao is currently five feet six inches tall. He may grow taller in two or three years, but probably won't exceed six feet.

He has a handsome face and bronze skin, which is the result of years of practicing horse riding outside.

During the past few days since Liu Jilian came back, Cao Mao had been studying in the school, and he only got a chance to take a break today.

Seeing him like this, Liu Jilong had the idea of testing him.

"Come, let's see if you have lost any of your martial arts skills in these days."

Liu Jilong walked to the middle of the yard and took out a wooden sword from the weapon rack.

Cao Mao was delighted when he heard this and quickly took out a seven-foot-long spear.

Liu Jilong remained motionless. After Cao Mao took a few tentative steps, he stabbed at his face.

But Liu Jilong swung his sword to block the gunshot, took two steps forward, and put his sword to Cao Mao's neck.

"Jie Shuai, I lost again..."

Cao Mao's tone was a little annoyed, but Liu Jilong chuckled and said:
"It's much better than before. You just don't have enough strength now. You will be fine when you grow up."

After that, Liu Jilong took him into the main house and asked him about other knowledge in the textbook.

Cao Mao has been studying for four years, but he has already mastered the textbooks written by Liu Jilong.

Not only that, he had read many classics and historical books of Didao, and under Liu Jilian's examination, he could talk about them clearly.

"Okay, you don't need to go to the academy in your situation. Start learning government from Mr. Gao tomorrow."

Liu Jilong spoke happily, but Cao Mao quickly explained: "General Jie, I want to join the army!"

"Governing is the preparation before joining the army!" Liu Jilong interrupted:
"You will govern the country with Mr. Gao for two years, and after two years I will allow you to join the army."

"Yes!" Upon hearing that he would be able to join the army in two years, Cao Mao happily stepped forward to pour tea for Liu Jilong.

Then, Liu Jilong opened a small class for Cao Mao as usual and taught him other knowledge that he could not learn from textbooks.

At the same time, the main hall a few dozen steps away from them was extremely lively.

After three rounds of drinking, Gao Jinda asked Zhang Chang beside him in a low voice: "Zhang, Governor, has the commander taken a concubine in the past few years since he came to Longxi?"

Gao Jinda had never heard of Liu Jilong marrying a wife, so he naturally knew that Liu Jilong was planning to keep his wife in exchange for greater support.

But marrying a wife is one thing, and taking a concubine is another.

Although many famous families have already made marriage arrangements, because the girls are still young, some of them will take concubines first.

Gao Jinda wanted to find out whether Liu Jilong had a concubine.

Zhang Chang was still using chopsticks to beat the rhythm for his brothers' dance. When he heard Gao Jinda say this, he immediately laughed in a low voice:

"No, but there will be one soon..."

"What does this mean?" Gao Jinda was puzzled, while Zhang Chang whispered:
"Marshal Jie had previously sent a young general to Guannei Road to do business. I specifically asked him to find some pretty and voluptuous women for me."

"If you find it, just spend some money to buy it, and I will use my salary to make up for it later."

"Once the girl is brought back, I will naturally find a way to make the commander take a concubine."

After Zhang Chang finished speaking, Gao Jinda nodded and said, "That's very good."

"With the status of a military commander, I will definitely make alliances with famous families in the future. After I settle down in Longxi, I will go to Jiannan Road, Guannei Road, Shannan Road and Chang'an to visit famous people."

"In addition, we should purchase a court in Chang'an. With the authority of the commander-in-chief, I'm afraid many noble families will be willing to give up their concubines..."

"A concubine's daughter?!" Zhang Chang's eyes widened as he asked, "How can a concubine's daughter marry a general? At least she has to be the eldest daughter of a famous family, or a princess or a daughter of a royal family!"

"You..." Gao Jinda was so confused by Zhang Chang that he couldn't say a word for a long time.

Although the famous family has fallen into decline, it is still a famous family.

Although Liu Jilian held power in Longxi, he was, after all, a herdsman.

Besides, Longxi only needs someone in the government to speak for it, and this effect will be achieved regardless of whether it is a concubine's daughter or a legitimate daughter. There is no need to worry about whether it is a legitimate daughter or a concubine's daughter.

As for the princess and the duke mentioned by Zhang Chang, Gao Jinda simply ignored them.

"Forget it, let's drink first."

Gao Jinda raised his glass and clinked it with Zhang Chang, and then the two of them joined the dancing group.

That night, there was constant singing inside and outside the main hall, which gradually subsided at midnight.

The next day, Liu Jilong went to the National Cemetery in the east early, and ordered Gao Jinda and Cui Shu to get up and go to the National Cemetery to find him.

In the afternoon, the two woke up slowly, washed up, and went to the National Cemetery to look for Liu Jilong.

When they found Liu Jilian, he was wiping the tombstones of the newly deceased soldiers with rice wine.

"coming?"

Liu Jilong squatted in front of the tombstone and wiped it, then asked the two of them without turning his head.

"General Jie, we are late."

Gao Jinda and Cui Shu bowed quickly, but Liu Jilong turned his back to them and smiled, "I was too anxious."

As soon as he finished speaking, the tombstone was covered with rice wine, and he slowly stood up and went to wipe the next tombstone.

Gao Jinda and Cui Shu were deeply moved by Liu Jilian's move. After all, no one had ever built a cemetery for his soldiers, let alone pay tribute to each of their tombstones one by one.

"Gao Jinda, I am planning to promote you to be the Chief Clerk of the Protectorate and Cui Shu to be the Recorder and Military Assistant. What do you think?"

Liu Jilong spoke casually and ended up giving Gao Jinda the third position in Longxi.

"General, I have just arrived in Longxi and am not familiar with government affairs. I am afraid that if you hastily appoint me as the Chief of the Protectorate..."

"No problem!" Liu Jilong interrupted Gao Jinda's refusal and directly appointed:
"From now on, you will be the Chief of the Protectorate, and Cui Shu will be the Recorder and Military Assistant."

"Chen Jingchong cannot be left in Weizhou, and Zhang Chang's ability is temporarily insufficient. The governance of Longxi's 160,000 soldiers and civilians still depends on you."

Liu Jilong entrusted the two with important tasks. Upon hearing this, the two bowed and said, "We are trusted by the commander-in-chief. We will definitely fulfill your mission!"

"Okay." Liu Jilong stood up and helped the two of them up, then ordered:
"You two should return to the government office now and draft a list of civil officials for the Protectorate for me."

"I only have one request, and that is to match my talent and position."

"I obey your command..." The two men responded, and then at Liu Jilong's signal, they left the National Cemetery one after another.

Before nightfall that day, the two men drafted the documents of the Protectorate and submitted them to Liu Jilong.

Liu Jilong took a quick look and after confirming that there were no problems, he asked them to build a new Longyou Protectorate in Didao.

His attitude was clear. After recovering the entire Longxi territory, the next step would be Longyou Road, which is Longxi and Hexi.

Of course, he would not recover the entire Hexi region, but he must control the important places with a large population, such as Liangzhou. Perhaps if he recovered Liangzhou and cut off the connection between the Hexi Guiyi Army and the imperial court, he could save the Hexi Guiyi Army.

Gao Jinda and Cui Shu were not clear about his thoughts, but from the newly established Longyou Protectorate, they could guess that Liu Jilian wanted to recover Longyou Road.

Thinking of this, the two of them and the officials from Hexi were full of enthusiasm.

For the next half month, Gao Jinda and Cui Shu handled the affairs of the eight states in an orderly manner.

Liu Jilong was relieved of many burdens, and Zhang Chang was directly liberated and could concentrate on managing the military and political affairs of Linzhou.

Compared to them, Chen Ying's journey to Lingzhou went through many twists and turns.

At the beginning of April, when they arrived in Lingzhou, more than ten of the four hundred elite cavalrymen were missing, the armor of the remaining ones was stained with blood, and more than a hundred civilians were also missing.

Their appearance made the Shuofang army stationed in Lingwu alert.

Fortunately, they had been to Lingwu before, and after an identity check, they were able to enter Lingwu City.

"Oh!"

"Damn it, I shouldn't have listened to those pigs!"

Walking into the post house, the captain Yang Xin who was traveling with Chen Ying threw the package on the table and said angrily:
"The court said they were trying to appease the Tanguts, but in the end they still encountered the Tanguts!"

"The journey was smooth, but in the end we lost twelve brothers in Yanzhou!"

He was angry and cursing, and Chen Ying was also very angry, but now he was more tired.

"Fortunately, the bones are left behind, and we can take them back to Linzhou for a proper burial."

"After this business is done, we can go home."

Chen Ying felt a sense of relief amidst her fatigue, and Yang Xin beside her nodded when he heard it.

Not long after, the two of them washed and changed into brocade clothes, then they walked out of the post station carrying the small box and boarded a carriage.

"I'm afraid the envoy has never worn this brocade dress. We need to get dozens of them and send them to the envoy and his men."

Yang Xin touched the soft and smooth brocade clothes on his body and couldn't help but sigh twice.

Facing his proposal, Chen Ying shook her head and said, "Our brocade clothes are still of inferior quality. If it weren't for business needs, I wouldn't buy them."

"As for the envoy and his men, after we return to Longxi to rest for a month, we can take the money and goods south to Jiannan Road to buy Shu brocade for the envoy and his men."

"Okay, I'll go check on the livestock first. You go to the East and West Markets to see if there are any pretty and plump slaves. Buy a few and bring them back to the envoy."

Chen Ying explained, and Yang Xin laughed when he heard it: "How many more do you want to buy?"

"Anyway, as long as they are pretty and have a plump figure, and as long as you have enough money, you can buy as many as you want."

Chen Ying rolled her eyes at Yang Xin, then opened the small box beside her. Inside were more than a dozen gold bars, each weighing one pound.

Twenty years later, prices in the Tang Dynasty did not stabilize, but instead gradually rose, causing gold to become more valuable.

A pound of gold is worth more than 120 strings of cash in this Shuofang area, and Chen Ying took out three of them and handed them to Yang Xin, leaving hundreds of gold sticks worth tens of thousands of strings of cash.

However, these are basically the money used to buy draft horses and cattle, and they must not be touched.

"Three bars of gold, wow... what a beautiful woman this would buy."

Yang Xin clicked his tongue twice, then put the gold bar in his arms.

"Don't drop it." Chen Ying reminded, and then took out a small box from the carriage.

"Put it in here."

"it is good!"

Yang Xin was also straightforward. After packing the gold bars, the two of them took a car to the East and West Markets of Lingwu.

After arriving at the East Market, Chen Ying left the carriage to Yang Xin and rented a horse to go into the city.

Most of the merchants in the East and West Markets of the city were horse dealers selling fine horses, which did not meet his requirements.

He needed too many herds and his requirements were not high, so the cattle and horse dealers outside the city were the most suitable for him.

Before leaving, Chen Ying reminded him, "Remember to choose someone with a pretty face and a plump figure."

"I know, I know!" Yang Xin waved his hand, and then walked into the East Market with several brothers in military uniforms.

A large number of Shuofang Army dignitaries and wealthy businessmen gathered in the East Market. The shops mainly sold luxury goods, including spices, lacquerware, porcelain, jade, silk, gold and silver wares, and fine horses.

Yang Xin walked into a jade shop and thought of his wife who was far away in Didao.

"How much is this jade bracelet?"

He picked up the jade bracelet and asked, and the manager smiled and said, "It costs three thousand coins."

"Three thousand coins?" Yang Xin counted, then took out three strings of coins from his pocket and put them on the table.

The manager took it, put the money on the scale to weigh it, and then wrote out the receipt with a smile.

While taking the document, Yang Xin asked, "Where in Lingwu City can I find pretty and plump slaves?"

"My dear, do you want to buy a maid?" The manager walked out of the counter with a smile and pointed the way for him at the door, saying, "If you want to buy a maid, you should come to the East Market."

"Most of the slaves in the West Market are ordinary, but the slaves in the East Market are Hu Ji and dancers brought from the Western Regions and Jiangnan at a high price."

"My dear, walk fifty steps along this road from here and you will see a horse-drawn carriage. That is where slaves and dancers are bought and sold."

"Okay! Thank you very much." After Yang Xin said that, he picked up the wrapped jade bracelet and left. Soon he brought his brothers to a horse trading shop.

Koumahang is a prosperous place, made entirely of solid wood. Even though it is daytime, it is still decorated with lights and colors. It does not look like a Koumahang, but more like a brothel.

"My dear, are you going to buy a slave?"

Seeing that Yang Xin and his companions were of burly build, the servant immediately came forward to greet them.

In this world, you can offend anyone, but you can't offend these guards.

Even if the powerful and wealthy businessmen are offended, they will respect their status and will not punish them too severely, but this is not the case with the guards.

The soldier who broke into the door was not joking when he said that he could really do it.

"Find me some pretty, plump women."

"Okay, my dear, please follow me to the private room and wait."

After Yang Xin gave the instructions, the servant immediately led them into the private room on the first floor.

The private room is spacious, and there are free drinks and fruits on the table.

Yang Xin and his friends were eating and waiting. Soon they heard a knock on the door, and then a servant led a group of women in.

These women were all dressed in gauze and silk, with graceful and plump figures and beautiful faces.

Among them are dancers with slim waists and exotic girls.

Yang Xin and others were stunned when they looked at these women, and for a moment they didn't know who to look at.

"Sir, you can leave the brand here and we can discuss the price later."

The waiter brought a wooden tray with many signs inside.

Yang Xin couldn't help but swallow his saliva and said, "How much does it cost to take all these away?"

The servant felt contemptuous when he heard this, but he still smiled and said, "I'll leave the card first, and then ask the price."

Having said that, the servant was still a little worried that these soldiers would cause trouble for him, so he whispered: "This is the rule of the industry, and there is nothing I can do about it."

"Okay..." Yang Xin nodded, and then kept looking at these women.

It took him a lot of effort to pick out three brands.

Seeing this, the servant asked him to wait for a moment, then led the women out of the private room. While they were waiting outside, he walked in, bowed and said:

"These women have different prices depending on their backgrounds, ranging from tens of thousands of coins to hundreds of thousands of coins."

"If she were a commoner, no matter how pretty she was, she would only be worth tens of thousands of dollars."

"But if it is a woman of an official who has fallen on hard times, even if she is plain-looking, she is worth tens of thousands of dollars, and if she is pretty, she is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars."

"Hundreds of thousands of coins?" Yang Xin calculated in his mind for a moment, it was only a few hundred strings of cash, and he couldn't help but feel a little painful.

"How much are my three brands worth?" Yang Xin took a breath and couldn't help asking, then added:

"If we talk about money in terms of strings of coins, you're talking about hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands, which really scares me."

Hearing this, the servant's eyes lit up. After all, those who could use a string as a unit must not be ordinary soldiers, so he quickly flattered

"These three women are worth 160 strings of cash. One of them is a dancer from Jiangnan who sings very well and is worth 100 strings of cash. The remaining two women are worth 30 strings of cash each."

After hearing this person say this, Yang Xin suddenly felt that the money was well spent.

He originally wanted to decide on these three, but fortunately the brother next to him stopped him and whispered:

"Captain, I think we should just keep the dancer from Jiangnan, and look for other women, such as Hu Ji and dancers."

"A person like the Envoy must have higher standards than us, so we have to choose carefully."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Yang Xin reacted and realized that this was to select a concubine for the envoy, not for himself.

If it were me, then the three women just now would be about the same, but the envoy would definitely not look down on them.

Thinking of Liu Jilong, Yang Xin quickly looked at the servant and waved his hand:
"next batch!"

(End of this chapter)