Chapter 594 Information Cocoon Room
Chapter 594 Information Cocoon Room
What kind of people are living in an information cocoon? Wang Jun is one of them.
Early in the morning, dozens of beautiful maids walked in like butterflies flying through flowers.
Someone was holding the Jinxian crown in his hand.
This crown is seven inches high in the front, three inches high in the back, eight inches long, and has three beams on top.
According to regulations, the Wuliang Jinxian Crown was exclusively used by the emperor, and its function was similar to that of the Yuanyou Crown - this crown was used by the emperor, the crown prince, and the princes.
Those who were granted titles of Three Dukes and above, such as Marquis of Xiang and Marquis of Ting, could wear the Three-Beam Jinxian Crown.
All the ministers, officials, chancellors, provincial governors, governors of counties and kingdoms, doctors, Marquis of Guanzhong and Marquis of Guannei wore the Erliang Jinxian crown.
Low-ranking civil officials wore a Yiliang Jinxian crown.
In fact, Wang Jun even asked someone to make a five-beam Jinxian crown, which he wore from time to time. There is no doubt that this is a clear violation of the rules, but his subordinates praised it every day and sang praises to Governor Wang's great achievements, so it doesn't seem so unacceptable to wear it, right?
Someone else was holding a set of white official uniform.
It was already August, and the official uniform should be white, made of fine materials and exquisite workmanship.
At this time in Luoyang, due to financial difficulties, the emperor had issued an edict ordering officials to provide their own official uniforms.
High-level officials could also provide their own five sets of official uniforms - blue for spring, vermilion for summer, yellow for midsummer (June), white for autumn, and soap for winter.
The lower-level officials were not so lucky. They had lost all their farms, their salaries were incomplete, and they had to support a large family, which was really difficult. Therefore, the emperor no longer required them to prepare official uniforms of various colors, and just one set was enough.
Therefore, the clothes worn by officials attending court nowadays are a bit messy, which is completely different from those ten or twenty years ago, just like this country which is in decline.
In addition to the Jinxian crown and official uniform, there are also shoes and socks.
The shoes are woven with eight-colored silk threads, embellished with dozens of pearls, and embroidered with the inscription: "Wealthy and prosperous, worthy of being a marquis, and having a long life."
The socks are also made of silk thread, and the straps are decorated with several pearls - the straps are used to tie the socks tightly.
After the maids entered the room, they lined up in a row, smiling at the old man who had just gotten up.
Wang Jun is already sixty-four years old. In the past ten years, his life has become increasingly extravagant and his body has become increasingly deteriorating. Isn't that old?
It is a pity that we can only admire so many beauties but not eat them.
His wife, Cui, had already put on her clothes.
Wang Jun's third wife Hua Fang died of illness in the first year of Yongjia (307). The following year, Governor Wang, whose reputation in Hebei was growing, could not wait to marry Cui, the great-granddaughter of the famous minister Cui Yan, as his fourth wife. Wang Jun was from the Wang family of Taiyuan, and his four wives, Wen, Wei, Hua, and Cui, were all from famous families.
Now seven years have passed, and Cui is only twenty-one years old.
With a polite and dignified smile on her face, she helped Wang Jun put on his clothes and shoes.
Honestly speaking, with her background, she didn't need to do these things at all and could just leave them to the maids, but she still did them herself, and outsiders all praised her when they found out.
However, Cui seemed to be overly polite.
It would be fine if the smile was dignified, but being polite is not appropriate, after all, they are husband and wife.
Wang Jun looked at his little wife with regret.
Seven years ago, he was already 57 years old, and he married Cui to gain control of Jizhou. However, he was dissolute when he was young, and he was a little powerless when he was old, so he never really entered the heart of this woman.
During the seven years, he was "busy with official duties" and came home less often. He also often slept in the study, and overall he felt quite guilty.
"Are there any guests visiting today?" After putting on his clothes, Wang Jun went to wash and asked casually.
The maid immediately brought a golden basin and other utensils.
Cui supported Wang Jun and felt his arm sink. It turned out that Wang Jun had just gotten out of bed and his legs were a little unsteady. After supporting him with a little force, she said softly, "My husband, Shi Le's envoy has been staying in the inn for several months and has been asking for an audience."
"Haven't we met once? Why haven't you left yet?" Wang Jun frowned.
"The envoy begged to see you again, so he stayed in the inn." Cui said.
Wang Jun sneered and said, "Shi Le also knows how to ask me for something?"
"My husband holds the highest rank of Yuantai, and is accorded the title of Shanggong. He commands a large army and is feared throughout the north. Shi Le is like a lost dog and can only rely on my husband for protection." Cui said.
Wang Jun laughed loudly and went to wash himself.
Cui waved her hand and the maids came forward to serve.
She stood quietly by the side with a calm expression.
In the counties and kingdoms of Youzhou, everyone, unless they were blind, knew that the problem was serious.
Once Shao Xun occupied the best areas of Henan and Hebei, the situation would be set. What would be his next target? Either Qingzhou or Youzhou.
Can Youzhou resist? Even a fool knows that it cannot be resisted.
But the generals and officers in the shogunate were a bunch of flatterers who only knew how to say nice words to coax and deceive their husbands, making them spin around and happy, so that in the past few years there were a lot of over-the-counter items in the palace.
It was only in the past few years that the situation changed suddenly and Shao Xun rose to power. Otherwise, my husband might have been appointed as regent or even emperor - he actually appointed many officials from Jizhou, which was tantamount to treason when the court in Luoyang was still in place.
Cui tried to persuade him several times, but to no avail, so she gave up. She just followed his words, which made him happy and her life better.
Of course, there were loyal and upright people in the shogunate who gave great advice, but it was useless. So they either changed their ways and began to flatter, or went to Liaoxi and Liaodong to seek refuge with Cui Bi and Murong Xianbei.
What is the highest level of lying? Telling lies that you love to hear.
Why did the shogunate's lies, which were full of loopholes, work? My husband loves to hear them, but what can I do? After rustling for a long time, Wang Jun finally finished washing.
Cui came forward, took his hand, and walked towards the dining hall. On the way, she said, "Taichan also came to see me yesterday, but my husband was drunk at the time, so I let him go."
"Oh? What's he here for?" Wang Jun asked.
"Please transfer the food and fodder."
Wang Jun thought about it carefully and then he remembered that some generals had requested to deploy troops at Yishui to guard against foreign enemies.
As for who the foreign enemy was, it could be the Huns or Shao Xun.
Of course, there were also people who requested to take advantage of Shi Le's defeat to go south to seize Changshan, Zhongshan, Gaoyang, Hejian, Zhangwu and Wang Jun's fiefdom Boling, and compete with Shao Xun for Jizhou.
You know what, this second suggestion is quite to the old king's liking, and many people agree with it, only his son-in-law Zao Song Zao Taichan opposes it. He believes that Youzhou should stick to Yishui and not get involved in the fight between the Xiongnu and Shao Xun, and it is OK to stay out of the game.
"What Taichan said in the past was very much to my liking. But after going to Yecheng, his words became even more unpleasant to hear." Wang Jun was a little unhappy and said, "Shao Xun is also arrogant and domineering. After taking Yecheng, he no longer takes me seriously. Back then, I was the first to take Yecheng and drive Sima Ying away. Without me, Sima Yue would not have won, and Shao Xun would not have been able to make a name for himself. He really repays kindness with enmity."
Cui covered her mouth and chuckled, shaking Wang Jun's arm and saying, "Isn't this a good opportunity to take Jizhou?"
Wang Jun smiled proudly at first, then frowned.
To take Jizhou, you need soldiers. Wuhuan son-in-law Su Shuyan surrendered to Xiongnu, and Xianbei son-in-law Duan Wuwuchen's tribe fell out with him. Now he can only recruit some miscellaneous Hu people, who are not strong in fighting and have a lot of troubles. It is very troublesome.
"No soldiers." Wang Jun sighed.
The two of them had arrived at the dining room, and the servants brought them breakfast.
"My husband is in control of the brave country of Youdu and the land of the entire Yan Tuqi. How can you say you have no soldiers?" Cui said.
Wang Jun was very happy when he heard this.
My wife is still young, but she is kind-hearted and different from those stupid women.
I have married four wives in my life, but this one is the most satisfactory to me. It’s because she is so smart!
"Why do we need to mobilize the soldiers of Youdu?" Wang Jun smiled complacently and said, "Those Xianbei people whose lives are worth less than weeds can also be used by me."
Cui handed over two plates, both filled with steamed buns.
Wang Jun took it, took a bite, and was filled with sweet fragrance. He immediately praised: My virtuous wife really understands me!
He likes to eat fermented sweet steamed cakes.
For this reason, his wife sent someone back to her hometown to invite a chef who was an expert in this field to make flower cross steamed buns specifically for him.
Knowing that he liked sweet biscuits, they stuffed the biscuits with his favorite walnut pulp and dried dates.
This woman is really good at serving people. With her taking care of the family business, there is nothing to worry about.
After eating a steamed bun stuffed with walnuts, Wang Jun picked up the tea, rinsed his mouth, and said, "If I send people to Dai County to lure them with money, Tuoba Xianbei will dare not refuse to come."
"The Hu chieftains are all being played around by your husband." Cui said, looking at Wang Jun with admiration.
"Haha." Wang Jun was overjoyed and said, "I used to dislike Tuoba Xianbei, but now it seems that he is much better than Duan Wuwuchen and his gang."
Last time, he summoned his son-in-law to lead the army, but he refused. So he hired Tuoba Xianbei, his former enemy who still occupied Dai County, to attack Duanbu Xianbei, but they were defeated. But even so, Wang Jun still thought Tuoba Xianbei were good, so he awarded Dai County to them and could still use them in the future.
If we invite Tuoba Xianbei again this time and promise them wealth and women, they will certainly send troops, and this will be a usable force.
With such soldiers around, Shao Xun would probably flee at the sight of them.
Anyway, Wang Jun had never seen anyone, whether infantry or cavalry, who could survive the collapse in front of the Xianbei light or heavy cavalry.
"If my husband is interested in Jizhou, this is a good opportunity." Cui handed over another marrow cake and said.
This cake is made of high-quality yellow cattle bone marrow from Peking, honey from Baishan Mountain, and the best flour from Fanyang. It is 4-5 fen thick and 7-8 inches wide, and is baked in a Hu pancake oven. The cake is plump and delicious, can last for a long time, and is crispy and fragrant when eaten. It has always been a delicacy that only the upper class can enjoy.
Wang Jun hummed and looked at his wife again.
Cui was making sour jujube noodles for him.
This is made by her own hands. She collected red and soft sour dates, exposed them to the sun and dried them, boiled them in a large pot, with water just enough to cover the water. Once it boiled, she filtered it out, ground it in a basin, and then squeezed out the concentrated juice with a raw cloth. The rest was evenly spread on a plate, exposed to the hot sun in midsummer, collected it after it dried, and then pulverized it into powder.
It can also be made into cubes. When using it, cut off a corner, put it into water, shake and stir, and you will have a bowl of sour jujube juice. You can take some with you when traveling far away. It is refreshing and sweet and sour, and it is a rare travel drink.
Cui was very focused and attentive.
Wang Jun nodded secretly. How could my virtuous wife harm me?
What good would she be without me?
Or in other words, what's the harm in following me?
Alas, worrying about nothing is just a waste of time. Recently, people have been saying that people from the Qinghe Cui family came to visit Youzhou and stayed for a long time. It's your own relatives visiting, so why are you making so much noise!
However, the people of Fanyang Lu's family are moving around everywhere and training their troops non-stop, which is a bit suspicious.
If we go south to attack Jizhou, perhaps we can let them be the vanguard to show their intentions. If they don't follow, they have ulterior motives and should be eliminated.
As for whether Shao Xun would be dissatisfied? Haha, once the Youyan cavalry charged, Sima Ying couldn't stop it, Liu Borgen couldn't stop it, Ji Sang couldn't stop it, Shi Le couldn't stop it, and Shao Xun couldn't stop it either.
Well, it's time to send someone to remind the Bo Ling Cui family. Did they lose their minds and surrender to Shao Xun?
We must teach them a lesson!
After happily finishing his breakfast, Wang Jun patted his belly with contentment.
This belly must be several dozen kilograms heavier now, not as big as it used to be.
At this moment, a servant came to report: Chief Secretary Zao Song wants to see you.
(End of this chapter)