Chapter 413 Official Appointment
Chapter 413 Official Appointment
The next morning, the team packed up, everyone had breakfast and hot soup, took some high-altitude medicine, and continued on their journey. In the strong cold wave last night, no one, whether palace maids, eunuchs, or ordinary soldiers, was frozen to death, and they didn't even catch a cold.
The cold-proof supplies that Xiao Xia prepared in advance played a huge role.
Yang Guang saw this and was deeply moved. If it weren't for his son's careful and thoughtful preparation, countless people would have frozen to death last night. He summoned his son into his carriage, with Queen Xiao sitting next to him.
Xiao Xia kowtowed in the carriage and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Father!"
"My prince, please stand up!"
Xiao Xia was kneeling in the carriage. Yang Guang and Empress Xiao were covered with thick blankets. There was charcoal burning next to them, so the ventilation was good and there would be no poisoning.
The Han people have been burning charcoal for thousands of years and have accumulated rich experience in charcoal burning. It is common knowledge that they will not burn charcoal in a closed room. However, many people nowadays do not understand it.
"How did Huang'er know that there would be an extreme cold wave last night?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is a common occurrence in Dadouba Valley, especially at the turn of spring and summer and summer and autumn. Extreme weather is particularly prone to occur. When I learned that Your Majesty was leaving for Dadouba Valley, I began preparations at the beginning of the year and stored a large amount of cold-resistant supplies in the valley. It doesn't matter if we don't use them. We are just worried that they will not be available when we need them."
Yang Guang stroked his beard and smiled approvingly, "This is what they call a person who does not think ahead will have immediate worries. You have done a good job of preventing problems before they happen. Moreover, your high altitude medicine is also good. Your mother had a headache these two days, and after taking the medicine, the pain soon went away. From these details, I can see your personal ability. You have not let me down!"
"Thank you for your approval, Father!"
Empress Xiao beside him asked with a smile: "I heard that you are going to be a father too?"
Xiao Xia scratched his head and smiled a little embarrassedly: "Princess Jin is already four months pregnant and is doing very well now!"
"Have you chosen a name?" Yang Guang asked with a smile.
Xiao Xia shook her head, "Still waiting for my father to give me a name!"
Yang Guang said happily: "When the children are born, no matter whether they are boys or girls, I will give them names!"
"I, your son, would like to thank you first."
Yang Guang smiled again and said, "You have expanded the territory for the country in Hexi, and you have taken good care of your family and more than 100,000 people in times of crisis. I am very touched. I have decided to reward you and let you choose a new destination. Even if you want to be the prime minister in the court, I will approve it. Except that you cannot replace your elder brother, you can choose anything else. I will not restrict you."
Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and said, "Grandfather told me about several major crises in the Sui Dynasty, including the trust crisis between the north and the south. Father also managed the south for a long time. I am willing to inherit my father's unfinished business and continue to manage the Jiangnan Road to achieve the integration of the north and the south and fulfill my grandfather's last wish!"
Yang Guang nodded slowly and said, "It should be discussed by the court, but this time I will act arbitrarily. I will appoint you as the governor of Jiangnan Road, commanding the military and political affairs of Jiangnan Road."
"Thank you for your trust, Father. I want to take a boat from Bashu to Jiangnan and bring the princess to see my mother. I beg you to allow me!"
Yang Guang glanced at Empress Xiao, who nodded. Yang Guang immediately said, "I approve!"
At dusk, after two days and one night of marching, the team finally walked out of the Dadouba Valley and entered the vast grassland. Everyone cheered, as if they had walked out of the hell of death and returned to the world again.
The further north the team went, the lower the altitude, the more comfortable they felt, and the warmer the climate became. By the time they reached Zhangye City, the altitude was only over 1,000 meters, and the temperature at night was over ten degrees. The entire army had finally escaped the test of the plateau and harsh climate.
At this time, thousands of kings of small countries and tribal chiefs from all over the Western Regions came to pay homage to the emperor of the Sui Dynasty and gathered in Zhangye. Under the auspices of Yang Su, the prime minister, a grand ceremony of thousands of states paying homage was held in Zhangye.
After Wang Long escaped from Heyuan County, with the help of the Yuan family, he fled to Luoyang with 300 personal soldiers and several sons in Chang'an, and took refuge with his son-in-law, King of Qi Yang Liang.
Yang Ling was short of people at that time. How could Yang Ling not welcome a high-end talent like Wang Long who could not only lead troops in battle, but also rule a region and give advice? What's more, he was his father-in-law. Yang Ling immediately appointed Wang Long as the Chief of the Guards of King Qi, and put him in charge of his 30,000 private troops.
Wang Long was originally a Qiang with the surname Zhi. He was half Han Chinese, so he changed his Han surname to Wang.
Wang Long's daughter was originally the favorite concubine of Qin Wang Yang Jun. After Qin Wang fell, in order to please Yang Jun, Qin Wang Yang Jun gave Wang Long's daughter to Qi Wang Yang Jun. Although they were uncle and nephew, it did not affect their sharing of a woman. Wang Long's daughter was not only beautiful, but also very good at charm. She soon bewitched Yang Jun and he took her as his concubine and doted on her.
Yang Ling's wife, Princess Qi, was the daughter of Wei Chong. She was relatively orthodox but a little dull. Yang Ling did not like the wife very much. On the contrary, Wang Long's daughter was of Hu descent and looked seductive, especially wild and wanton in bed, which was very much in line with Yang Ling's taste. In addition, she was good at guessing people's minds, so she soon became Yang Ling's favorite woman.
Wang Long was favored by Yang Li because of his daughter and was deeply trusted by Yang Li. Not only did he squeeze into Yang Li's decision-making circle and control Yang Li's financial power, but his six sons were also valued by Yang Li and each of them held military power. The fifth son, Wang Shichong, was particularly talented, had beautiful handwriting, was eloquent, and had great vision. He was highly valued by Yang Li and became his secretary and military officer.
Wang Long’s new mansion is located in Si Shun Fang, south of Luoyang. It is a large house covering an area of 30 acres.
That evening, a carriage slowly stopped in front of Wang Long's mansion. An official who was about thirty years old got out, and Wang Long personally greeted him at the door.
"Welcome to my humble abode, Mr. Yuan."
This official was Yuan Wendu, the chief secretary of Henan Prefecture.
It was three years ago that Wang Long's youngest daughter became the favorite concubine of the King of Qin. Before the King of Qin, Wang Long was actually promoted by the Yuan family and he was a member of the Yuan family.
This time when he fled from Jiaohe County to Luoyang, he also received help from the Yuan family, otherwise how could the 300 personal soldiers he led pass Tongguan and Hanguguan.
Wang Long was a cunning man. He would not just cling to Yang Ling. He also continued to rely on the Yuan family. He became a bridge between the Guanlong nobles and King of Qi Yang Ling.
Of course, Yang Ling did not know the relationship between Wang Long and the Yuan family. He always thought that Wang Long was promoted by the King of Qin.
Wang Long invited Yuan Wendu to the VIP Hall and took a seat. Yuan Wendu took out a box and handed it to Wang Long, saying with a smile, "This is a gift from my second uncle to Sima Wang. Congratulations to Sima Wang for taking up this important position."
Yuan Wendu’s second uncle is Yuan Xiaoju, the head of the Yuan family. Wang Long quickly said, “Thank you for your kindness, head of the Yuan family!”
Yuan Wendu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Has the King of Qi ever thought about taking another step up?"
Wang Long chuckled, "How could he not want to? He dreams of becoming the crown prince. He directly called the crown prince a fat pig in front of us, humiliating us to the extreme without any disguise."
Yuan Wendu nodded and said, "Tell the King of Qi that the Guanlong nobles are willing to support him as the crown prince, with only one condition: he will move the capital back to Chang'an after he ascends the throne."
"This condition shouldn't be a problem. I'll go tell him."
Yuan Wendu handed another note to Wang Long, "The person above is the key to the King of Qi becoming the crown prince."
(End of this chapter)