"Invite Queen Dowager Ningde (Queen Dowager Zheng) to Nanyang?" Zhao Jiu seemed to be thinking about something.
"yes."
"I don't think it's necessary." Zhao Jiu shook his head, but pointed at the apricot trees beside him and sighed. "Do you see these apricot trees?"
"This is……"
"This is because the Emperor Taishang Daojun felt that the palace was too small, so he enclosed the area between the north of the palace and the inner city to build the Yanfu Palace. Later, he still felt that it was too small, so he occupied the area further north of the inner city to build the Jing Garden. Later, he still felt that it was too small, so he enclosed the area further east to build the Genyue Garden and the Jinghua Garden, and built the Xiaoqujiang River to surround these four areas and incorporate them all into the inner city..."
Zhang and Zhao both sighed... If not for this, there would be no Song Jiang and Fang La, and no Jingkang Rebellion.
Zhao Jiu continued to speak slowly: "Later, Genyue was smashed by Yuansheng. After Jingkang, Jinghua Garden and Jingyuan were abandoned, and Yanfu Palace was also vacant for a time. However, the buildings in Yanfu Palace were properly preserved because they were next to the palace city. The trees and forests in Jinghua Garden and Jingyuan were also preserved... Have you been to Qingfeng Tower and drank their apricot wine?"
The official changed the topic suddenly, but the two looked at each other and admitted honestly:
"Yes."
"Twice."
"His family sells their apricots here." Zhao Jiu said with a smile. "If I hadn't seen the apricot blossoms all over the mountain in spring, I would have never thought that there was such a thing in the palace..."
"Officials."
"His Majesty."
The two of them felt like sitting on pins and needles.
"I'm not complaining." Zhao Jiu waved his hand. "I want to say that although 30% of the two main halls, seven side halls, and dozens of attics in Yanfu Palace are occupied by martial arts, the remaining space is enough to accommodate two queen mothers and three noble concubines. As for the two places in the north of the city, Jingyuan and Jinghuayuan, Jingyuan is next to the palace. If we develop it a little and build some elegant real estate, we can give it to you as a reward and sell it, which is enough to make a fortune. Jinghuayuan is located in the center of the city. If we flatten it and turn it into a storehouse, restaurant, and warehouse, the rent alone is enough to support several queen mothers and noble concubines, and can also support the princesses and the loyal ministers whose fathers and brothers died during the northern hunting. Why should we be so harsh... What I said before, after all, is that they can come and go freely. I didn't drive them away or ignore their intentions."
Zhang Jun and Zhao Ding looked at each other, their minds were like a paste, and they didn't know what to say... The emperor had that attitude before, and now he has this attitude again, which is inconsistent and makes people uneasy.
But no matter what, the officials themselves are prepared to fulfill their filial piety and brotherly love. They only have good reasons to say good things and no reasons to say bad things.
"Is there anything else?" Zhao Jiu took the initiative to urge when he saw this.
"No."
Zhao Ding glanced at Zhang Jun, but nodded to the emperor.
After all, these two people came here originally for the matter of the Empress Dowager's relocation. Who would have thought that the Emperor would take the initiative to come up with an idea? After thinking about it, they really couldn't think of anything else, so they could only be honest with each other.
"You two have nothing to do. I have something to tell you." Zhao Jiu said as he gestured with his hand.
Yang Yizhong also quickly stepped forward and handed over a document.
"The Jin dynasty's Wanhu Erlubu led 3,000 light cavalry across the river and entered the Jinan palace. Without a fight, they captured Liu Yu, who was originally preparing to make a move. The civil and military officials of the Pseudo-Qi dynasty were all incorporated into the Jin dynasty." Zhao Jiu handed over the document. "The intelligence from the secret agent of Jinan Lingjiu Temple... was supposed to be sent to the Privy Council this afternoon. You can take it now."
The two were shocked, but felt that it was reasonable, so they remained calm and let Zhang Jun take the document.
Just like that, the king and his ministers chatted for a while again. Not only did they not talk about the fierce words they had used before, but they seemed relaxed and casual... It was not until they left the Yeongbokgung Martial Arts School, returned to the palace, and were about to go to Chongwenyuan to prepare for today's secret cabinet meeting that they gradually came to their senses on the way.
"The emperor wants to treat the queen mothers, concubines, princesses, and meritorious officials well, so as to fill the world's population, and then target the two saints!" Zhang Jun, who had the information about Jinan, blurted out in a hurry. "We finally got to meet the emperor for a while, and he was perfunctorily dismissed again!"
Zhao Ding was also in a trance, yet felt powerless all over.
At the secret meeting in the afternoon, Zhai Ruwen, the Minister of Honglu Temple, took the initiative to tell everyone that the Jin envoy said that after receiving the news in Yanjing that day, they would set out to welcome the two emperors. Therefore, about half a month later, in late June, the two emperors will be able to return south. If they are slower, they will definitely not be later than the beginning of autumn. If they are faster, they will probably arrive in ten days.
Everyone in the secret office was in a panic and hurriedly discussed the arrangements for welcoming the emperor.
Three days later, Emperor Zhao accepted the joint petition from the secret cabinet and went to the riverside to welcome the emperor in person.
Seven days later, there was still no news about the arrival of the two emperors and the princes, but Han Shizhong and Wu Jie led 3,000 cavalry from Guanzhong to the Yuetai camp to meet with the imperial cavalry and the central army.
On the same day, the Secret Council once again jointly submitted a memorial, requesting the emperor to bring as few troops as possible during the peace talks, on the grounds that it was not appropriate to mobilize a large number of troops.
Emperor Zhao readily accepted the suggestion and officially issued an edict, requiring all civil and military officials in the capital to accompany him to welcome the enemy. Prince of Yan'an Han Shizhong and other generals were limited to leading 200 cavalry each as guards, and the commanding officers were limited to leading 50 cavalry... In total, no more than 2,000 cavalry could be allowed.
Three days later, the two emperors arrived at Daming Prefecture. The Secret Council made three joint petitions and Zhao Jiu formally led the people north to welcome them.
Three days later, on June 25, both sides arrived at the north and south banks of Baimazin and sent envoys across the river to communicate continuously.
On the morning of the 26th, Zhang Rong, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Navy, led a newly launched 30-wheel ship that could carry 800 people northward. Under the guidance of Wulin Dazanmo, he formally took over the two emperors and the princes from the army of Gao Jingshan, the commander-in-chief of the Jin Dynasty's Damingfu Military Division. At noon, the Supreme Dao Emperor Zhao Ji, the Yuansheng Emperor Zhao Huan, and a dozen princes, who had changed into red robes on the ship beforehand, boarded Baimajin with trepidation and returned to Henan, where they had been away for five years.
Before she could cry, Zhao Jiu, who was also wearing a red robe and sitting under the dragon flag for a long time, suddenly turned his head and asked the Minister of Rites Zhu Shengfei beside him seriously:
"Mr. Zhu, should I kneel down?"
This is an extremely simple question. However, Zhu Shengfei, who had no choice but to follow the large army to welcome the emperor four days ago, was sweating profusely under the gaze of thousands of cavalrymen behind the emperor. He was speechless and did not know what to say.
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