The amount of reparations Gu Yuanbai demanded from Western Xia was a real lion's share.
Western Xia's trade with Daheng was based on the source of horses, but as soon as the border's trade routes were built, their advantage over the Daheng dynasty disappeared without a trace, and the bottom line was gone, was it precisely because of this that they were so dry?
But Western Xia does not know about the border market, Gu Yuanbai thought more and more odd, on the Western Xia that little place, can not get out of these things is normal.
Five days later, came to the ransom of the Western Xia emissaries into the capital, this group of people humble and courteous, the rear of the reparations long stretched to the outskirts of the capital, a number of tall steeds and cattle and sheep into the herd, the people of the capital to see a hilarious, crowded around on both sides of the hand, reaching out and counting these cows and sheep.
Gu Yuanbai was right in the middle of the crowd looking down at the long line, listening to the exclamations and whispers of the common people to the left and right.
A glance can not see the head, steeds, cattle and sheep a rough look to know the number of absolutely ten million count, Gu Yuanbai frowned, along with his birthday of those congratulatory gifts and the seventh prince in the Daheng squandered silver, Western Xia where so many things?
It's not right.
Kong Yilin pointed at the leader and said, "Master, that one is the second prince of Western Xia."
Gu Yuanbai nodded, "I saw it."
The face of the Second Prince of Western Xia was not very clear to see, and his clothes were ordinary. He was slightly hunched over on the back of his horse, with an appearance of being so cowed by the people of Daheng that he didn't dare to raise his head.
He and the seventh prince of Western Xia, Li Angshun, so at a glance, really are two extremes.
"The prince is weak, then these ministers who followed him are formidable," Kong Yilin gazed slightly, "Master, can we do anything to prepare?"
"What's done is done, let's see what they're going to do," Gu Yuanbai frowned, backing away from the people, "Go up and see what they've brought besides what I want."
After Gu Yuanbai led the people to see how many things Western Xia had brought, he and Kong Yilin glanced at each other, but there was no semblance of joy on each other's expressions.
On the carriage back to the palace, Kong Yilin said in a low voice: "I and all the adults originally wanted to let the Western Xia will be the number of reparations divided into three batches, within three years to pay it off in installments. I didn't expect them to take it in one breath now, and on top of that, they added many more reparations."
Gu Yuanbai nodded in silence.
I can not say whether it is good or bad, to get the reparations is naturally a good thing, but Gu Yuanbai originally wanted to use these reparations to let the Western Xia suffered some internal injuries, the result of the incident was abnormal, some beyond his expectations.
All the way to the palace, in front of the palace gate, the driving slave suddenly stopped, and from outside came Tian Fusheng's puzzled voice, "Huh, Lord Chu, what are you doing kneeling here?"
Gu Yuanbai raised his eyelids and opened the car window.
Chu Wei kneeling outside the Imperial City, in the cold wind is already hair slightly messy, the tip of the nose slightly red, he looked up at the carriage, eyes bright, such as seeing a life-saving straw general anxious: "Please Your Majesty to save the minister's fourth uncle's life!"
*
Chu Wei's fourth uncle is the Chu discussion, that small age will be called Chu Wei nephew of the child. Originally, this child suffered a wind chill, the wind chill intensified, and finally had a faint vomiting of blood, Chu House invited many doctors, but did not see the disease well. Chu Wei heart a cross, thought of the Imperial Doctor of the Imperial Hospital, then kneeling in front of the Palace, want to ask to see the Emperor.
The carriage that came out of the palace had one more, turned its head, and headed for Chu House.
Chu House is also surrounded by the residence of the ministers of the court is located, the carriage in the palace as soon as the arrival of these houses got the news. The lord of the house changed his clothes, holding his official hat and hurriedly went to pay his respects to the emperor.
"No need to be polite, all go back," Gu Yuanbai got off the carriage and turned around, "Tian Fusheng, first bring the imperial physician into the mansion to treat Zhi Liang'er, human life is at stake."
Chu Wei's eyes instantly reddened, and he hung his head to hide it, "I thank Your Majesty."
Gu Yuanbai looked at his appearance and couldn't help but sigh.
Chu House of people want to come to the face of the Holy Spirit, was also politely refused by the Holy Spirit. The saint's body is weak, for fear of contracting the disease, and did not personally go to see the child, just let someone pass the word: "Concentrate on taking good care of the discussion brother."
Mrs. Chu heard, said "yes", also followed the sobbing.
Chu Wei did not leave and insisted on staying with the saint. The saint then led a walk around the courtyard, waiting for the imperial physician to come and report the news.
Kong Yilin saw Chu Wei out of focus, whispered comfortably: "Chu brother do not worry, the Imperial Hospital in the Imperial Doctor's medical skill is excellent, will certainly be medicine to the disease, turn danger into peace."
Chu Wei collected the sorrow between his brows and reluctantly nodded.
Gu Yuanbai happened to see this look on Chu Wei's face. The saint smiled helplessly and said to Kong Yilin, "Loved ones are in danger, doing it is not as simple as saying it."
Chu Wei was looked at by the saint, but returned to his senses for a few moments, he once again bowed and said, "I thank the saint for saving the life of my fourth uncle."
Gu Yuanbai helped him up, held Chu Wei's hands and patted them, smiling, "Chu Qing, you are the only son of the family, this time more to take responsibility, do not panic. The imperial physician in the palace has always been quite okay, and be relieved for a moment or two."
Chu Wei's hand curls up a bit.
His lips because of these days of anxiety has been some fine dry skin, such as bright stars of jade face colored with a haggard look, but still does not detract from his handsome, but only melted some of the sharp ice that pushes people out of the outside.
"Your holiness, minister ......" Chu Wei lips open and close, a long time, only to say with difficulty, "minister ......"
He didn't know where he got the courage to suddenly pull his hand out, and then in the next moment, he backhanded His Holiness's hand.
"I've had trouble sleeping and eating for the past few days, looking for many highly respected doctors, but always nothing," Chu Wei heart stirring, forced to whisper, "I don't know why, I've long thought of Your Holiness, and always think that Your Holiness can save the fourth uncle's life. But my father is not willing to labor your holiness, I also do not want to take this small matter to let your holiness bother."
Chu Wei's eyes were lowered as he watched the two men interlock their hands.
It was as if it were a king and a minister, and as if some unseen mind had probed the beginning.
He took a deep breath and continued, "But then I was really anxious, so I went on my own to find His Majesty, and I hope that His Majesty will forgive me for my rude behavior under panic."
Gu Yuanbai naturally withdrew his hand and said with a smile, "Chu Qing, rest assured."
In the evening at noon, the imperial physician walked out of the room from the Chu discussion, Chu House in the elders followed, look relaxed and tired, Chu Wei look know, this is the little four uncle is saved.
Since it was fine, Gu Yuanbai left from the Chu residence. The head of the guards helped the saint on the carriage, and Kong Yilin was about to follow, when he suddenly turned his head and smiled, and said to Chu Wei, "Brother Chu, be careful with your words, your actions, and your thoughts."
Chu Wei's eyebrows jumped, and he exchanged glances with Kong Yilin, then suddenly calmed down, "There is no law that prohibits this."
Kong Yilin was surprised, as if he had reacquainted himself with Chu Wei, he looked Chu Wei over from head to tail, then smiled and got into the carriage.
The two carriages left leisurely, Chu Wei stood in place for a long time, before he followed his parents' footsteps and turned around to go back to the mansion.
*
This small matter was quickly forgotten by Gu Yuanbai in the back of his mind, but the Chu House of the right and left neighbors did not forget, but not forget, but also consciously will be the saint's benevolence and virtue of the action to the colleagues to listen to, sighing the saint loves the people like a son, and can not wait to use his life's talent will be praised by the saint to the sky to go.
Gu Yuanbai took the two wolves for a walk as usual after the evening meal this day. But these two wolves were somewhat inexplicably excited today, tugging at Gu Yuanbai's shirt and bringing him towards the city wall, the guards at the city wall gave way when they saw the wolves, and Gu Yuanbai said helplessly, "What do you want to do again?"
The two wolves naturally couldn't answer his words, but the whistles from outside the city walls answered Gu Yuanbai's words instead.
Gu Yuanbai's brows pressed together, "Xue Yuan."
The whistling outside the wall stopped, and Xue Yuan coughed up his throat and said squarely, "Your Holiness."
Although Gu Yuanbai hadn't seen him for several days, he was still upset when he heard his voice, and at that moment he didn't even bother to reply and turned around to leave.
The two wolves whimpered and tugged at Gu Yuanbai's shirt.
Xue Yuan, who was outside the city walls, also heard the two wolves' petting sounds, he coughed again, looked around to see that no one was around, and lowered his voice, "Your Holiness, in a few days it will be the Shang Yuan Festival."
Shangyuan Festival is exactly the Lantern Festival, that night there is no curfew, the lanterns are splendid, the long street is crowded, the people are hot and lively to see the lanterns walk the night market. This day is also a day for young men and women of Daheng to meet each other, the ancient Valentine's Day.
Xue Yuan said, "The first time I saw you was precisely on the day of the Lantern Festival Palace Banquet."
He paused, then said in a calm voice, and as if he were a little tight, "Your Holiness, there will be no palace banquet this year, so why don't you go out for a walk with the minister?"
Gu Yuanbai thought to himself, Here it comes, here it comes again, Xue Jiujiuyao, who are you pretending to be this nervous now?
He rubbed the corner of his forehead, reached out and kicked the two wolves lightly, saying viciously, "Let go or not?"
The two wolves hung their tails and drooped their ears, but they wouldn't let go.
Gu Yuanbai couldn't tug on them with enough force, and the guards behind him hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Holiness, why don't the ministers take these two wolves away?"
"Take it away." After Gu Yuanbai nodded his head, these two wolves were bound with sharp teeth and brought away from his side, he hadn't left yet, but Xue Yuan outside was in a hurry and called out again, "Your Holiness!"
Gu Yuanbai lazily returned, "What?"
Xue Yuan: "What makes you willing to come out with the minister on the day of the Shang Yuan Festival?"
Gu Yuanbai laughed silently and coldly, "Xue Jiuyao, I'm asking you, what kind of thing are you here with me."
"What the saint says," Xue Jiuyao immediately picked up, "is what the saint says, and what the saint doesn't let me do I won't do. Your Holiness, if you don't want to go out on the Shang Yuan Festival, then can I ask for an order to enter the palace to accompany me?"
Xue Yuan since the position of general, he is not the former temple before the Yu Hou, and Chu Wei general, the same is not called to enter the palace.
The forbidden soldiers guarding the city walls had never seen anyone with such brazenness, and while their faces did not dare to show the slightest expression, their eyes could not help but widen for a moment.
How is, how is this famous general of the capital such a person!