Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

Chapter 443 6.14 Queen Mother: Zhou Yang is available, but he must not be left defenseless
Volume VI

6.14 The Queen Mother: Zhou Yang can be used, but he must not be defenseless
After all, Xue Xun was not as down-to-earth as he said. He hurried out just after breakfast, surely to settle old relationships; he also did not forget the most important "joint points", leaving enough for Zhou Yang. Two large boxes of corals, tortoise shells, pearls and other things asked him to rush to the palace to clear things up. He even rushed someone out before he left the Zhou Mansion.

Forbidden City, Imperial Study Room of Daming Palace.

"Brother Zhou, is that really the case?" After listening to Zhou Yang's narration, the eldest prince Guo Kai asked impatiently, "You have to know that since Da Zhou and Qianxiang Kingdom fell into anxiety, the Nanyang feudal kingdom has not paid tribute for many years. "Although there have been vassal states that have entered Beijing over the years, it was only Goryeo or "

"King of Ryukyu." The queen interrupted her son with a smile and waved her hand to signal him to stop talking. Then she looked at someone and said, "If I remember correctly, although Ryukyu in the East China Sea is not big, it has paid tribute to the capital more than once. The royal family seems to have a surname Shang? But after listening to your explanation for a long time, it seems that you have never mentioned it?"

"That's what the empress said." Zhou Yang didn't expect to hide it. Anyway, it was a conspiracy. Xue Xun needed the position of the king of Fanbang, and the royal family needed the face of "Fanbang tribute". It didn't matter even if it was revealed, "It's like Just like the change of dynasties in the Central Plains, it is not surprising that there are any changes in the royal family in Ryukyu.

The people who came to pay tribute this time were very impressive. Not to mention all kinds of rare tributes, they were also willing to publicize it to His Highness and the Empress along the way. If this matter is spread all over the world after it is completed, it will be good for Your Highness and the Great Zhou Dynasty. Okay, they are all extremely beneficial; the sacrifice required by the empress is just a canonization imperial edict and a few rewards, which can be said to be a huge profit. "

"That's it?" The eldest prince Guo Kai also regained his composure, pointing to the two opened boxes and said, "It is true that they are treasures from the sea, and it is true to say they are valuable, but according to Brother Zhou, this King of Ryukyu is Isn’t that too generous? Even if the Ryukyu Kingdom is on the sea, it is a small country after all. It is not easy to collect such a valuable tribute, right? "

"Your Highness is right." Zhou Yang understood now that it was not that simple to persuade the two of them. "As the last general said, the Ryukyu Kingdom has just experienced a dynasty change. The new royal family needs the canonization and rectification of the name of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and even the name of the country. I also want to change it, these things are not easy to do with soldiers and horses alone, but with the endorsement of the imperial edict."

"That's right!" The queen nodded, then looked at someone with a half-smile and said, "But I seem to have heard that there is something else going on here, and it has something to do with Zhou Aiqing? I have heard for a long time that the business of the Xue brand is booming. The Zhou family is not short of this kind of money, so they will not work so hard for just a few boxes of treasures, does Zhou Aiqing have any explanation?"

"Your Majesty, Holy Ming!" Zhou Yang bowed obsequiously and briefly described the affairs of the second wife of the Xue family. Finally, with the strange expressions of the queen and her son, he said, "Second Uncle Xue is a citizen of the Zhou Dynasty after all, and the Ryukyu Islands are the imperial court. At the gateway to the East China Sea, now that he has actually taken control of the situation, it is okay for the court to give him some name."

"Brother Zhou is really..." Guo Kai thought for a long time but couldn't think of how to describe it. "If Gu remembers it well, the girl in the second room of the Xue family has lived in your yard for some time, right? Now there is a rumor in the whole capital. , Said that Zhou Ziyang's love for flowers is so beautiful, it seems that it is not wronged now, but if you dare to be sorry to Aunt Yongjing, let's see if Gu will break your leg!"

"As my sister-in-law, I will just break your arms." The queen continued the conversation with a half-smile, but the content of her words was a bit chilling.

"You don't have to be so cruel, right?" Zhou Yang continued to flatter, reaching out and taking out a big red gift sheet from his arms and handing it over, "This is something prepared by Uncle Xue, please check it out."

"Oh?" The queen looked interested, but after just browsing for a while, she already had a serious expression, "I have heard for a long time that the Xue family has a good reputation for good harvests and heavy snowfall. I thought it was an outsider who was deliberately flattering me, but today I saw this The gift list, I guess the saying 'pearls are like earth, gold is like iron', even if there is some moisture, I'm afraid it won't be too different."

"My Majesty, I have misunderstood. I have seen all the things here. Although they are indeed relatively valuable, most of them are actually produced in the East China Sea." Zhou Yang quickly explained that he did not want to leave the impression of being "taken advantage of" to the two people in front of him, "Just For example, there are actually many corals in the sea, but if you want to completely capture this seven-foot coral tree, you need a lot of luck.

This is even more true for others, just like sea pearls. In fact, there are many shellfish in the sea, and the total number is tens of millions. If just a few of them produce pearls, the total number is very large. However, humans are not as good as fish and shrimp in the sea. Wandering around at will and fishing for pearls is not an easy job. It is only because Uncle Xue is at sea that it is more convenient. "

"General Zhou is afraid that I will raid you?" The Queen snorted and glared at him, but did not continue to ask about the Xue family's property, "That's all, since the Xue family has filial piety, I will accept this matter; It’s just that, after all, Mr.

"To tell you the truth, Uncle Xue has entered Beijing now and is wandering around in various houses." Zhou Yang said with a smile, "The sages have said, 'Every bustle in the world is for profit, and all the hustle and bustle in the world is for profit.' As long as they understand, silence You can get greater benefits, and it’s not difficult to do things if you think about it.”

"Okay, I understand what you mean." Having said that, there was nothing more that needed to be discussed. Guo Kai looked at the queen first, and when she nodded, he turned to Zhou Yang and said, "Now that he has entered the capital, things have settled. It's easy to handle. Let's send him an extra invitation and let him go to the palace to watch the lanterns together on the [-]th." "This." Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that Guo Kai would be so anxious after the matter was settled. "Isn't it a little too hasty? There should be a ceremony for a foreign country to pay tribute to the capital. According to the regulations of the Ministry of Rites."

"Have you figured it out?" The Queen looked at him teasingly and said, "Yu Chong, the Minister of Rites, is eager to catch you. If this matter is really revealed, even if you deceive the emperor, it will be an act of mercy outside the law. Naturally, the sooner , the simpler the better; when the time comes, let him lay out the tributes one by one, and Kai'er canonize him on the spot. Even if someone has other thoughts, is it possible that he still has the courage to make a fuss?"

"So, the empress already knows?" Zhou Yang still didn't understand at this time. He was tested by the two people in front of him just now.

"Aunt Yongchang is very devoted to Brother Zhou. She discussed it with the queen mother two days ago." Guo Kai glared at him angrily and said, "Aunt Yongchang didn't expect that this Xue Xun would be so sensible; besides, this vassal king's The canonization is indeed not a small matter, but if it is a big one, it is not a big deal.

No matter which vassal country it is, visiting the capital twice a year is considered too much. Although the title is often a duke or a prince, it actually has no actual impact on the court. The civil and military officials in the court will not care too much. If there are some benefits, There will be no one who is too meddlesome; Brother Zhou, on the other hand, does not have a title yet, and he will definitely not be stingy when he makes meritorious deeds in the future. "

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhou Yang naturally thanked him quickly.

"Okay, if there is nothing else, General Zhou can just go back." Seeing that the matter was done, the queen simply issued an order to expel the guest.

"Wei Chen resigned." Zhou Yang was very sorry. He thought he could save another meal for his family and take a "royal sleep" at the same time.

No matter what he was thinking, he had no choice but to go home, but he didn't notice that the Queen and her son watched him out of the outer gate of Daming Palace before they all breathed a sigh of relief, with a look of relief on their faces, otherwise they would definitely have realized that, This so-called "Pilgrimage to Fanbang" was far more important to the royal family than he expected.

"Mother, you are really lucky to have been loyal to Brother Zhou before." Guo Kai's calm expression could not hide his excitement, "With this tribute as a foundation, it will add a lot of color to the enthronement ceremony on the 22nd of this month, and it will also completely break the Some people's delusions, what's more, the Xue family has been an imperial merchant since Emperor Taizong, and for decades now, three generations have been loyal to them, so it doesn't hurt to give them some grace."

"Kaier, you must remember that Zhou Yang can be used, but he must not be defenseless." The queen nodded, but said seriously, "It can be seen from his actions over the years that he was born overseas after all. He is quite disdainful of scholars, let alone those who speak trivial matters.

But one thing he is more reliable than the civil and military officials of the DPRK and China is that he is really greedy for flowers, beauty and values ​​his family. This is tantamount to leaving a huge clue. With your two aunts here, you don’t have to worry about it for ten years; plus In this ten-year buffer, no matter what, we should gather enough people and strength, and it will not be difficult to make him loyal for life. "

"That's what the Queen Mother said." Guo Kai stood up respectfully and replied.

"Okay, now I'm going to recruit your loyal and obedient uncle to the palace. It's really inconvenient for Yu Chong of the Ministry of Rites to know about this matter, but someone still needs to be responsible. Anyway, it's not a big deal to confer a title to a foreign country, so it's understandable to let the Ministry of Internal Affairs take over. "The queen nodded with satisfaction, "There is no need to be too extravagant. Prepare some appropriate rewards. The ceremony can be used as an opportunity to enjoy the Lantern Festival with the people."

"I obey." Guo Kai naturally had no objection.

"Also, from now on, you can be more relaxed about the Zhou family's family members and the matters in General Zhou's backyard. Don't be stingy with rewards and titles. Anyway, it is just a mere name and not worth anything. I heard that Lin Ruhai's daughter came to Beijing. Just go with the Snow Fleet, don't have any worries because of that girl Yongjing." The Queen added.

"Don't worry, mother!"

(End of this chapter)