The heavens set sail from the courtyard

Chapter 380
Wang Gang stayed in the room with Hai Chaoyun for a while, and then reluctantly came to the main hall of Sheng Mansion to meet Gu Tingye.

When he arrived at the main hall, Sheng Hong and Sheng Changbai were greeting Gu Tingye.

Now Gu Tingye is not only the young master of the Ningyuan Houfu, but also a celebrity around the prince. He performed well in the palace examination and won the Jinshi. Although he did not enter the first class, he was also in the top [-] of the second class. He officially entered the prince's east palace to work.

In terms of official rank, Sheng Hong had to call Gu Tingye, a junior, "Master Gu".

Fortunately, Gu Tingye has no airs, and he has a good relationship with Sheng Changbai, and he is polite to Sheng Hong, so when the three of them sat down to chat, the atmosphere was very good.

As soon as Wang arrived, Sheng Hong and Sheng Changbai found an excuse to leave.

"Changfeng, you are newly married, you don't blame me for coming to disturb you!" Gu Tingye teased Wang Gang with a mean smile.

"If I say I'm sorry, will you leave?" Wang Gang said angrily.

Gu Tingye smiled even more happily, and said: "Actually, I am not looking for you today, I am also entrusted by others."

Wang Gang didn't even think about it: "The prince asked you to come to me?"

Gu Tingye asked in surprise: "How do you know?"

Wang Gang said with a smile: "Except for His Royal Highness, who else has such a big face to ask you, Mr. Gu, to come and invite someone."

"Chang Feng is really smart, no wonder his abilities overwhelm all the students in the world, and he won three yuan in a row." Gu Tingye flattered him.

"Where does the prince ask me to meet?" Wang Gang asked.

Gu Tingye put away his smile and said, "Come with me!"

Wang Gang made a gesture of invitation, and the two left Sheng Mansion directly and walked towards the palace.

Crown Prince Zhao Shu did not meet Wang Gang in the Crown Prince's East Palace. Gu Tingye led Wang Gang around the palace and went directly to a courtyard in the west of the city.

When Wang Gang walked into the other courtyard, he found that there were many guards hidden in the seemingly empty house. The closer to the garden pavilion in the other courtyard, the stricter the guards were.

Inside the gazebo, Prince Zhao Shu was cooking tea. After Gu Tingye brought Wang Gang, he asked him to stand aside and not disturb Zhao Shu.

Drinking tea in the Northern Song Dynasty was not as convenient as later generations. The process of cooking tea was cumbersome, and the boiled tea was similar to tea soup, which was only popular among the upper class of the aristocracy.

Zhao Shu should be a master of the tea ceremony, skilled in cooking tea, and was so attentive when cooking tea that he didn't even notice that someone was coming.

Wang Gang and Gu Tingye stood by the gazebo, waiting patiently for Zhao Shu to finish cooking tea.

"Tingye and Zhuangyuangong are here! Sit down and try my tea." Zhao Shu saw Wang Gang and Gu Tingye and warmly invited them to drink tea.

After Gu Tingye brought Wang Gang together for a ceremony, he sat across from Zhao Shu.

Zhao Shu personally handed the tea bowl to Wang Gang, who took it with respectful hands and thanked him.

Gu Tingye just picked up a bowl of tea and drank it casually without Zhao Shu calling.

"How many times have I told you that this tea should be tasted slowly, what can you taste after drinking it like a cow like you?" Zhao Shu said to Gu Tingye.

"His Royal Highness, I'm a rough person, and I really don't know how to taste tea. For me, tea is good tea if it can quench your thirst." Gu Tingye said carelessly.

Zhao Shu shook his head helplessly, then looked at Wang Gang again.

Wang Gang took a sip, then put down the tea bowl, and said, "His Royal Highness, I don't know much about tea, and I rarely drink tea."

Zhao Shu took a sip of tea regretfully, as if he regretted not meeting a bosom friend.

In fact, Wang Gang not only understands tea, but also drinks better tea, but he is really not good at tea, he prefers to drink.

Gu Tingye is the same as him in this point, so the two can become drinking friends.

"I invite you to come here today to comfort you. The emperor sent you to Hongzhou Mansion to train you. Don't hold any resentment." Zhao Shu got down to business after drinking tea.

"Thunder, rain and dew are all the blessings of heaven, and I have never felt resentment in my heart." Wang Gang said.

Zhao Shu shook his head and said, "Actually, no one knows about you and King Yong."

Wang Gang was slightly startled, not understanding why Zhao Shu mentioned this at this time.

Although King Yong died, and he didn't bite Wang Gang out until his death, Wang Gang didn't naively think that no one knew his relationship with King Yong.

Although Wang Gang could threaten King Yong and make him shut up, he couldn't restrain King Yong's subordinates.

"You don't have to worry, King Yong was very powerful back then, there were many people who wanted to cling to him, the court couldn't kill them all." Zhao Shu smiled.

As soon as Wang Gang heard this, he knew that Zhao Shu probably didn't know what he was doing behind the scenes. Zhao Shu just thought that he wanted to cling to King Yong.

"His Royal Highness forgives the crime. I was confused at the beginning, but when I knew King Yong was rebelling, I immediately drew a line with him and vowed to defend the orthodoxy of the imperial power to the death." Wang Gang knelt down in time to show his loyalty.

Zhao Shu stepped forward to help Wang Gang up, and said, "Speaking of which Gu's life was saved by Mr. Sheng, how could Gu not know your loyalty."

Wang Gang said: "The crown prince is as blessed as the heavens, even if there are no humble ministers, he will be able to save the day."

Zhao Shu helped Wang Gang up, and said sincerely: "The kindness of saving life should have been reciprocated by the spring, but I am ashamed that Gu didn't help in the matter of Mr. Sheng's release."

Gu Tingye was drowsy after watching a trick between Wang Gang and Zhao Shu, who played a trick of being virtuous and loyal.

"This time Mr. Sheng went to Hongzhou Mansion to take office, and he also shouldered a major responsibility." Zhao Shu finally got to the point.

Wang Gang said: "Just as the prince orders, the minister will not hesitate to go through fire and water."

Zhao Shu said: "Hongzhou Mansion is infested with bandits, and they have been suppressed repeatedly. I only hope that Master Sheng can relieve the court's worries after he takes office."

Wang Gang was surprised: "His Royal Highness wants me to suppress the bandits?"

Zhao Shu smiled and said, "I heard from Gu Tingye a long time ago that Shanda is both civilized and military. He not only writes beautiful articles, but also is a master of martial arts and proficient in the art of war."

Wang Gang glanced at Gu Tingye, who dared not look at Wang Gang.

"The minister is ashamed and dare not take it, but he has only read military books for a few days."

Zhao Shu laughed loudly and said, "I have seen your martial arts with my own eyes, and those dead men of King Yong are in your hands, and there is no single enemy."

Wang Gang stopped talking.

Zhao Shu continued: "I have asked my father for an order to allow you to take charge of the military and political power in Jiujiang, and the commander of Jiangnan West Road will also cooperate with you. This time, the imperial court vows to eliminate the banditry in Jiangxi."

Wang Gang frowned and said: "Your Highness, how can the officials rest assured that the matter of suppressing bandits is left to the boy. The imperial court has many generals who are good at fighting?"

Zhao Shu sighed and said, "There are indeed many good generals in the imperial court, but most of them need to guard the border. The banditry in Jiangxi is a bit special, and you will understand it after you take office.

This time Gu made a military order with his father, if you fail to suppress the bandits, Gu will also be implicated! "

Wang Gang said sternly: "My minister will definitely not disappoint His Highness."

Zhao Shu smiled and said: "Don't be too burdened, just do things with peace of mind. When you go to Hongzhou, the most important thing is to train the county soldiers and keep the place safe. As for the real main force to suppress the bandits, there are others."

Wang Gang suddenly realized, no wonder Zhao Shu wanted to meet him in another courtyard, because he wanted to use him to train a private army!

Suppressing bandits is all an excuse, what Zhao Shu really wants is military power.

Just now he mentioned the matter of King Yong, he probably just wanted to use this matter to manipulate Wang Gang.

Who can sit on the position of prince, which one is easy.

"When the bandits in Jiangxi are wiped out, I will ask for credit for you and transfer you back to the capital." Zhao Shu began to paint big cakes.

What else can Wang Gang say, of course it is Xie En.

"By the way." Zhao Shu seemed to think of something, and asked, "The business and tax reform that you wrote in the palace exam before, there are some parts that I don't understand."

Zhao Shu took out the test paper that he had prepared long ago and asked Wang Gang to explain it to him.

Wang Gang didn't hide his secrets either, and gave Zhao Shu advice on business tax reform.

Different from other dynasties, the Northern Song Dynasty attached great importance to commerce and incorporated commercial taxes into the imperial taxation.

However, due to the limitations of the times, the commercial taxation at this time was not perfect, and there were a lot of tax evasion and tax evasion.

Wang Gang pointed out the road to commercial taxation for Zhao Shu, which opened Zhao Shu's eyes, and Wang Gang's eyes were a little different.

"Sheng Da is so talented, no wonder King Yong looks at you differently." Zhao Shu boasted and clicked, and Wang Gang rolled his eyes when he heard it.

He had noticed that the crown prince and King Yong were basically the same, but Zhao Shu was more low-key.

It was already evening when he came out of the prince's courtyard, and Wang Gang's back was soaked.

Gu Tingye personally sent Wang Gang home, and no one said a word along the way.

"This prince is not simple, you have to be careful when you stay with him in the future." Wang Gang couldn't hold back at last, and reminded Gu Tingye.

Gu Tingye stopped, put away his usual cynicism, and said to Wang Gang: "Chang Feng, you have entered the officialdom, you must adapt to it as soon as possible!"

Wang Gang was slightly taken aback, as if he had known Gu Tingye for the first time, but he was right on second thought, Gu Tingye was born in the Marquis Mansion, even if he couldn't see the real face of those in power, Gu Yankai would mention him.

On the contrary, Wang Gang made everything simple.

(End of this chapter)