Volume 1 The Wind Rises Chapter 21: King Wei Enters the Capital
Luo Youdu never mentioned the matter of recruiting people during the whole process. He just urged people to drink, ate big chunks of meat, and talked about all sorts of events from the past and present. This made Zhang Jin and Zhang Qiong feel uncomfortable and they lost their appetite.
Zhang Qiong was impatient and couldn't help asking first, "Brother Luo is so hospitable, but what do you want me to do?"
Luo Youdu laughed loudly, "I thought you were hiding something. I see. You two really misunderstood. I simply admire the bravery of Brother Zhang Qiong. I just make friends and build good relationships. I have no special intentions. In today's world, one more friend means one more way. Brother Zhang Qiong is very powerful. Who knows when he will make a big splash and rise to the top. When that happens, I will have to rely on Brother Zhang Qiong! Of course, if you encounter any trouble, you can also come to me. I am a small official of the seventh rank and don't have much ability. I will do everything within my ability."
What's the use of a small pawn like Zhang Qiong? Can he be used as Zhang Long and Zhao Hu?
This is too luxurious.
A warrior like Zhang Qiong should seek value and make achievements on the battlefield.
Zhang Qiong said with a beaming face: "Brother, you just like to daydream. I think Brother Luo is a very righteous man, not one of those scholars who only know how to brag."
Zhang Jin, who was sold out, was quite embarrassed, but he was also relieved in his heart. He felt more and more that Luo Youdu was a man who could do great things.
It is really rare to be so generous just for a good cause.
As they drank to their heart's content, Luo Youdu became interested and asked about the situation in Daming Prefecture.
Luo Youdu's knowledge of this era is limited to Bian Jing Kaifeng. Although he was born in Jiangnan, he was only seven or eight years old when he followed his mother to Kaifeng. He had no memories in his mind, and the only thing that remained was his indignation towards Emperor Zhou.
While drinking and bragging, I also want to learn about the outside world at the same time, so as not to be narrow-minded.
Ever since the puppet emperor Shi Jingtang ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the Khitan, the existence of Daming Prefecture has become particularly important.
Without its natural barrier, the vast plains of Hebei became a battlefield where the Khitan cavalry could roam freely.
The survival of Daming Prefecture
If Damingfu was lost, it would mean that they would divide the Yellow River with the Khitan.
Zhang Jin drank a cup of wine and said, "When talking about Daming Prefecture, we can't avoid talking about the Fu family. This Fu family is incredible. In Daming, there is a saying that the Fu family is invincible. The Fu family rose to prominence in the late Tang Dynasty. It has been three generations since then. The King of Wei is the most capable. It is not an exaggeration to call the Tianxiong Army under his command the most powerful force in our Great Zhou. Before the King of Wei, others guarded Daming and were passively beaten. The Khitan cavalry appeared and disappeared like ghosts. From time to time, they invaded Hebei, robbing people, money and food. It was hateful."
He said this with a look of indignation on his face.
Zhang Qiong also smashed the table with his fists and chewed the mutton in his mouth hard, as if he was biting a Khitan.
Luo Youdu could only sigh slightly. The loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun led to this situation.
What Luo Youdu was more concerned about was that the Khitan Emperor Yelu Deguang entered the Central Plains ten years ago and served as the emperor for a period of time. When he retreated to the northeast, he took away many scholars and historical allusions.
Today's Khitan has begun to transform, and once the transformation is successful, its strength will increase dramatically.
"We have to take advantage of the Khitan's transformation to launch a northern expedition. This way, the difficulty of conquering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun should be minimized. It seems that Wang Pu's "Plan for Pacificating the Border" still has some problems."
Luo Youdu pondered in his heart.
Zhang Jin continued, "After the King of Wei, things were different. He spent a lot of money to buy horses from the Tanguts and formed a cavalry unit. He used cavalry to fight cavalry, and beat the invading Khitans so hard that they cried for their parents terrified of the King of Wei. If their horses refused to eat grass, they would curse, "Is there a King Fu in the grass?"
Luo Youdu was also delighted when he heard this. How was this different from Grandpa Yue?
Being able to defeat and scare an opponent is not something that ordinary people can do.
It’s a pity that neither Zhao Kuangyin nor Zhao Kuangyi dared to use a general as prestigious as Fu Yanqing.
Based on Fu Yanqing's years of experience in fighting the Khitan, let alone letting him command the three armies, even if he was kept as a mascot by his side, it would increase the chances of recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.
"In the past few years, my brother and I have moved our family to Bianjing, so we don't know much about what is happening in Daming Prefecture. But I feel that as long as the King of Wei is in Daming, the Khitan bastards can't do anything to us."
"That's right!" Zhang Jin suddenly said, "The King of Wei has come to the capital. Today, he got off the boat at the Bianhe Pier. He was accompanied by Madam Fu Er and a noble lady whom I have never seen before. She should be the wife of the King of Wei, Madam Guoguo."
Luo Youdu frowned and said, "No way, why didn't I get any news? The King of Wei's visit to the capital is no small matter. Given the King of Wei's status, if he comes to the capital, he must be coming by imperial decree. The Ministry of Rites must prepare the highest etiquette for his reception. I, Kaifeng Prefecture, am in charge of the people's livelihood in the capital, and I should also get the news to clean up the streets and restrain the people."
Zhang Jin shook his head and said, "I don't know. I saw the King of Wei enter the capital with my own eyes, so I can't be wrong."
Luo Youdu looked at Zhang Jin doubtfully.
Zhang Jin said, "My father left a will before his death that only one of me and my second brother can join the army, and the other one will continue the Zhang family's bloodline. My second brother is much braver than me, so he will join the army. I relied on my little strength to get a job as a porter at the Kaifeng dock. When I was in Daming Prefecture, I saw the King of Wei from afar several times. How could I forget his heroic spirit? And I saw Madam Fu even more. The only two people who can make Madam Fu follow behind obediently are the King of Wei and Madam Guoguo."
Luo Youdu was even more surprised and asked, "Could it be that Brother Zhang knows Madam Fu Er?"
Zhang Jin shook his head and waved his hands. "Madam Fu Er is a fairy from heaven. How can I, a common mortal, know her? Madam Fu Er was born in a military family and is deeply loved by the King of Wei. She is different from other ladies from noble families. She is good at archery and riding horses. She often goes to Daming Prefecture to hunt and ride horses in the countryside. In order to protect her, the King of Wei specially recruited 36 female knights to guard her. There are few people in Daming Prefecture who don't know Madam Fu Er... But today she is not dressed as a warrior, but as a lady from a noble family. I almost didn't recognize her."
Luo Youdu looked at Zhang Jin twice more. He had always felt that Zhang Jin was well-spoken, calm, and capable. Now it seemed that he was a real character.
The dock cook can't just go in as he pleases, the water inside is very deep.
It's not easy for Zhang Jin, an outsider, to sneak in and seem to be doing well.
And Fu Yanqing is coming to Beijing!
If foreign officials do not obey the summons to come to the capital, it is tantamount to treason.
As the father-in-law of the emperor, Fu Yanqing should not commit treason.
Could it be that he was secretly summoned to the capital?
