northwest.
The Duke of Lu rode his horse across the prairie.
Travel hundreds of miles back and forth with ease.
"The Marquis is still going strong despite his old age. Congratulations!"
Mr. Dou rode his horse beside the Marquis of Lu.
The Duke of Lu dismounted, drew the dagger from his waist, squatted down and started digging in the ground.
Soon, he dug out a sweet potato.
The sweet potato weighs half a pound and feels very heavy in the hand.
The Duke of Lu took the dagger, wiped it twice on his clothes, and began to peel the skin.
After peeling it, Duke Lu took a bite.
Raw sweet potatoes are crispy and have a nice chewiness in the mouth.
I ate too much and my mouth is a little dry.
The personal guards brought a kettle.
The Duke of Lu took two quick gulps, wiped his mouth, and said, "Sweet potatoes are really a good thing. This dry land can't grow anything like corn, but it can grow sweet potatoes. The yield is quite high. With this thing, next year's military food won't be a problem."
Mr. Dou said, "A businessman from Jiangnan bought several thousand hectares of sandy land in the northwest, specifically for growing sweet potatoes and making sweet potato wine. I heard the returns were quite good, and he made a fortune."
The Duke of Lu snorted coldly, "The court has issued a ban on alcohol, but the ban is as useless as it gets. The ministers in the court are taking the lead in drinking. This ban is a joke."
"People love alcohol, so it's difficult to completely ban it. Brewing sweet potato wine is more economical than brewing wine from wheat and rice, and it also saves food."
The Duke of Lu dug out another sweet potato, peeled it, and ate it directly.
He said, "Sweet potatoes are a good thing. They can fill you up. Give orders to make as many dried sweet potatoes as possible this year. This will ensure there is enough dry food for next year."
Mr. Dou agreed.
He then asked, "Do you want more beef jerky?"
Marquis Lu nodded and continued, "Speaking of which, whether it's beef jerky or sweet potato jerky, they're both closely related to Madam Zhao. This woman is no ordinary woman. Back then, she spent a fortune researching and developing beef jerky. Do you think she had anticipated this? All her efforts back then were preparations for the war next year?"
Mr. Dou was silent for a moment. "As much as I hate to admit it, I have to say that Madam Zhao is a far-sighted person and truly a wise person."
Marquis Lu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "It's a pity that my son is useless. He didn't marry Madam Zhao back then, and instead let Liu Zhao take the initiative. In his life, Liu Zhao only had a unique vision when it came to choosing a wife. The rest of the time, he was just so-so."
Mr. Dou warned, "My Lord, please be careful of the Crown Prince. I suspect the Crown Prince is eyeing the military power in your hands."
The Marquis of Lu laughed heartily. "There are countless people who covet the military power in my hands. When have I ever been afraid? I want to see if he has the ability to take the military power from me."
Mr. Dou was less optimistic. "The Northwest Military Governor's Office was established, with Li Bingming appointed as the Grand Governor, accompanied by Chen Zhuangshi. Chen Zhuangshi, a member of the Shanhe Academy, was considered Madam Zhao's entourage. Clearly, Li Bingming's successful reinstatement after resigning from office was largely due to the assistance of Madam Zhao and the Crown Prince."
I even suspect that Li Bingming has already defected to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Even if he hasn't, the two sides are still in a cooperative relationship. The Crown Prince is promoting the establishment of the Northwest Grand Commandery with obvious ulterior motives. My Lord, you must be on guard."
The Marquis of Lu said, "Li Bingming is truly a rather unpleasant person. Your Majesty has sent him to the northwest. Anyone with a brain knows that Your Majesty is deliberately targeting me. Mr. Dou, what do you think I should do?"
Mr. Dou suggested, "Your Majesty, why not host a banquet for Lord Li and test his true strength?"
The Marquis of Lu shook his head. "There's no need for a banquet. I don't have the time to waste time on empty promises. Mr. Dou, please go to the Grand Commandery on my behalf and assess Li Bingming's worth. We can interact more with Chen Zhuangshi. This young man has ambitions in his heart. I will help him realize them."
"Tomorrow I will go to the Grand Commandery on behalf of the Marquis. Will the General come with me?"
"He's going too!"
The great general Mr. Dou mentioned was Pei Meng, the eldest son of the Marquis of Lu.
…
After preparing the gifts, Mr. Dou and Pei Meng went to the Grand Marshal's Mansion together.
Gu Ting was also among the entourage.
He was a little excited.
Chen Zhuangshi graduated from Shanhe Academy. When he met the people from Shanhe Academy, it was like meeting his own family and he was very excited.
After several hours of galloping, the group finally arrived at the Grand Marshal's Mansion.
Li Bingming welcomed him.
I specially prepared a banquet to entertain everyone.
Chen Zhuangshi was present at the table.
Lord Li and Mr. Dou were both scholars. During the meal, they chatted about romantic nights and famous prostitutes in brothels, but they did not talk about business.
Pei Meng didn't care. He drank alone and observed the people in the Grand Marshal's Mansion.
Gu Ting felt uneasy.
He was really drowsy when he read poetry and prose on a romantic night.
He winked at Chen Zhuangshi.
If it weren't for the wrong time and place, he really wanted to drag Chen Zhuangshi to a roadside stall outside to drink and chat about gossip.
It was already late at night when the banquet ended.
The group settled down at the guesthouse of the Grand Marshal's Mansion.
Pei Meng casually asked Mr. Dou, "How is it?"
Mr. Dou shook his head. "What an old fox."
An evening of drinking and chatting didn't yield much.
Pei Meng thought for a moment and said, "Let's try again tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I don't mind visiting the Grand Commander's Mansion at night."
"General, please don't act rashly. Li Bingming must be protected by expert guards."
"This general knows his limits."
…
The next morning.
Chen Zhuangshi took the initiative to visit the guesthouse.
"Meet Mr. Dou."
"You're welcome, Mr. Chen."
"I still remember traveling to Xiliang with Mr. Dou. The scenery along the way is still unforgettable."
Mr. Dou laughed heartily. "Who could have imagined that we would meet again in the Northwest Governor's Mansion? I am still the same, but Mr. Chen is a completely different person now."
"Mr. Dou, you are too kind. I am just a small-time errand boy in the Governor's Office."
"You are being overly modest. The fact that Mr. Chen was able to attend last night's banquet shows that Lord Li relies heavily on you."
Chen Zhuangshi shook his head and waved his hands repeatedly, "I'm just taking advantage of the academy. Mr. Dou may not know this, but Master Li once taught at the Shanhe Academy for a period of time."
"I've heard about this once or twice."
Chen Zhuangshi looked embarrassed. "It is precisely because of this teacher-student relationship that Master Li treats students differently. To say that he values me that much is not the case. Serious matters are beyond my reach. The most I do is pour tea, run errands, and pass on messages."
Mr. Dou didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Do you feel wronged, Mr. Chen?"
Chen Zhuangshi smiled and said, "You may feel wronged at first, but after a while, you won't feel wronged anymore."
"Why is that?"
"I lack experience. Before this, I had never served in the government. Lord Li did not rashly assign me an assignment because it was for my own good."
"oh!"
Mr. Dou looked meaningful.
"Young friend Chen, you can think this way. It is worthwhile for Master Li to cultivate you."
"I am very grateful to Master Li from the bottom of my heart."
Mr. Dou laughed, and his laugh was full of meaning.
"Does Chen Xiaoyou know anything about Master Wuwang?"
"I don't know! Does Mr. Dou know? Could you tell me? I'm very worried about Master Wuwang."
"I do know a little about Master Wuwang's situation. However, I have to rush to see the Grand Commander, so why don't we arrange another time to discuss it in detail?"
"Okay!" Chen Zhuangshi agreed happily.
…
Mr. Dou and his party stayed at the Grand Marshal's Mansion for three days.
They were busy trying to find out the true situation of the Governor's Office, while the people in the Governor's Office were also trying to find out the details of the Northwest Army.
The two sides appeared to be in harmony on the surface, but they were actually at loggerheads with each other in private and fought several times.
Even someone as slow-witted as Gu Ting could sense the strong tension between the two sides.
He was caught in the middle and was in a very difficult situation.
When he returned to Jinzhou, he complained to Pei Man.
"I don't know what to do."
Pei Man advised him, "Just do your job well. Don't worry about how the people above you fight."
Gu Ting was curious, "Aren't you worried? That's the Marquis, your father."
"If you worry about everything, from my mother to my sister-in-law to me, life will be unbearable. Come on, don't look so sad. I'm not worried, so why should you worry?"
Gu Ting felt wronged, "Didn't you see how tense the situation was between the two sides. They would draw their swords at the slightest disagreement."
"Is the knife drawn?" Pei Man asked.
Teacher Gu Ting shook his head, "He almost drew his sword."
Pei Man was very disgusted. "Since you didn't draw your sword, what do you have to worry about? As a soldier, you should be used to it if you don't draw your sword three or five times a day. As long as no one dies, it's not a big deal."
Gu Ting admires Pei Man's optimism and strength very much.
Pei Man smiled and said, "If you were born in the Pei family, you would be like this too. The Pei family has lived this way since childhood. For us, as long as no one dies, it doesn't matter."
Gu Ting couldn't help but say, "I'm afraid the two sides will fight one day."
"Even if a war breaks out one day, it's not your turn to worry about it. That's something the higher-ups should worry about."
"I heard from Mr. Dou that His Majesty established the Northwest Military Governor's Office in order to control the Northwest Army and take away the military power from the Marquis."
"Many people have tried to seize military power, but no one has succeeded in all these years. As long as my father lives, no one can take away the military power of the Northwest Army."
Pei Man's tone was very firm, full of pride and pride.
Anyone who has a father as strong and reliable as the Duke of Lu would feel proud and proud.
Gu Ting said cautiously, "Mr. Dou also said that Lord Li's successful comeback and appointment as the Northwest Grand Commander was inseparable from Sister Xiaojiu's help."
Pei Man was stunned, seeming very surprised.
Gu Ting asked softly, "Are you still not worried now? Are you really not worried that my sister will fight with the Duke of Lu?"
Pei Man glared at Gu Ting fiercely, "Why didn't you tell me such an important thing earlier?"
Gu Ting felt guilty.
Pei Man frowned and sat on the chair, "Did Lord Li really have the support of Madam Zhao?"
"It is said so."
Trouble!
Pei Man frowned and thought deeply for a moment before finally making a decision. "This matter is too complicated. We can't handle it all. Forget it. Just fight if you want. As long as you don't die, that's fine."
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