Chapter 191 The future is long
As the New Year approaches, Luoyang city becomes bustling again.

Every New Year, local officials from all over the country would send their trusted aides to Luoyang, the eastern capital, or Chang'an, the western capital, to present New Year gifts to the powerful people of the time.

Among them, the doors of several prime ministers, generals, and six ministers of the six ministries were the most lively, with queues everywhere like in a vegetable market.

Such as Shangshu Ling Gao Shize, Zuo Pushe Xue Chu, Zhongshu Ling Liu He, and General Duan Yihong.

The doors of others, such as General Li Shenfu, Lou Jushi, Gao Huang, and Minister Murong Hui, were much quieter.

These people are either unemployed, in poor health, or have lost their power.

Murong Hui, the Shizhong and Prince of Rencheng, is a typical example of someone who has fallen from power.

As a prime minister of royal family origin, he was promoted by the previous emperor and was in charge of the court. He usually gave advice and made up for the shortcomings.

However, because he was born into a royal family, Murong Hui did not dare to make friends with many ministers, nor did he recommend too many people. Now that the royal family was in decline, there were very few royal family members among the provincial governors, governors-general, prefects and generals in various places. This meant that he was almost alone, with no cliques to help him either in the court or in the local areas.

Another point is that although Dayan was the Murong Xianbei, there were almost no Xianbei people in the civil officials in the court. They were all from Han families. Therefore, Murong Hui had no foundation of his own except for the trust of the previous emperor.

Shangshu Ling Gao Shize, from the Bohai Gao family, had close ties with the Boling Cui, Qinghe Cui, Zhaojun Li, Fanyang Lu and other aristocratic families.

Xue Chu and Liu He are both famous surnames from Hedong. The two surnames are known as the Pei family of Wenxi and the Wei family of Jingzhao.

The two sides are almost divided according to geography. The former is the so-called Shandong gentry, and the mountain here refers to Mount Xiao.

The latter were called the Guanxi gentry, which was west of Hangu Pass.

Among these two, there are also many other county names, such as Zheng of Xingyang, Li of Longxi, King of Taiyuan, Xiao of Lanling, and King of Langya.
Of course, the two sides are not so clearly divided, they are closely connected with each other and although there are disputes, they fight but do not break.

But after the fall of Guanzhong and Hedong, the situation became delicate.

Xue Chu and Liu He were inclined to recapture Bingzhou first, on the grounds that it was easier to enter Guanzhong from the Hedong region and that it posed a greater threat to Luoyang.

Gao Shi advocated a direct attack on Guanzhong to put the final nail in the coffin.

As to whether the Shandong gentry fanned the flames, no one knows.

However, to attack Bingzhou, it is necessary to send troops from Youzhou and Jizhou in Hebei, this is beyond doubt.

For some things, there is no need to say it explicitly. Just look at who benefits from what happens. Those who benefit are probably the supporters.

At Gao's residence, a young man in brocade robe and a fu hat, smilingly handed the visiting card to the Gao family's steward.

The Gao family's steward was a little arrogant before he saw the name card, but after seeing the name on the visiting card and the gift list, he immediately smiled and said, "So you are the brother of Jizhou Governor Zhao, Mr. Zhao Erlang? Come in quickly, come in, the head of the family has ordered that if anyone from Governor Zhao's family is coming, go directly to see him."

"Thank you very much."

The people queuing outside couldn't help but feel envious when watching this scene.

Whispering:
"Who is this? The young man from that family came in and went straight in? Isn't it difficult to invite Lord Gao Ling to see him?"

"Who did you say just entered? That was the second son of the Duke of Tianshui County, the brother of Zhao Yi, the governor of Jizhou. He must have come to report military intelligence."

"I see."

Zhao Jiong followed the Gao family's steward into the mansion with a smile on his face, and led him into the residence of Gao Shizhe in the main courtyard.

"Young man Zhao Jiong, I pay my respects to Lord Gao Ling."

After Zhao Jiong entered the hall, he immediately bowed down.

"No need to be polite, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Lord Ling."

The scholar put down the book in his hand and asked, "The New Year is coming soon. Why did Jiuchong send you to Luoyang?"

Jiuchong is Zhao Da's nickname. He and Gao Shize have maintained a good relationship since the Yang Xun Rebellion.

First of all, the noble scholar was from Bohai Gao family. Bohai County was not far from Zhao Da's hometown Zhuo County, and they were both from Yan and Zhao, and were half fellow villagers. Secondly, the two sides had worked together during the Yang Xun Rebellion.

When the late Emperor Murong Ying was still alive, they had to avoid suspicion and it was very inconvenient for them to interact with each other.

But now, Murong Chao could not suppress these restless officials. This was why there were long queues in front of the gates of various dignitaries.

In the past, no one could be so arrogant.

If so, it proves that he is not far from death.

Zhao Er said with a little restraint: "It is precisely because the New Year is approaching, my brother is busy with military affairs, and he cannot leave the prefecture without the imperial order, so he ordered me to bring a New Year gift to you, Lord Ling, to express my gratitude."

Gao Shize was annoyed when he heard this. "I thought your brother was a good general and had strict discipline, so I was willing to help him. How come you brothers think that I am greedy for money?"

Gao Shize might have some selfish motives, but he was absolutely upright as an official, so anyone who sent him gifts at the door was turned away without exception.

When Zhao Er saw Gao Shize was furious, he immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Gong Linggong, please listen to me first. My brother knows that you are a man of high moral character, so he dare not bring anything valuable to defile your gate. The annual gift is just a fox fur coat made from the prey that my brother hunted himself. Considering your age, I want to use it to keep you warm. Please forgive me, I will get it for you right away."

After saying this, he went outside the door, took a fox fur blanket from his attendant, and carried it into the hall.

When Gao Shize saw the fox fur that Zhao Er had touched, he regained his composure and said, "You brothers are so thoughtful. Jiuchong is busy with military affairs, but you still care about an old guy like me."

Zhao Er heard this and said, "Brother, you always say that you have received a lot of teachings from Lord Gao, so I hope Lord Gao will not refuse this gift."

Gao Shize nodded this time, "Okay, but don't be so troublesome next time."

It was almost noon when Zhao Er left Gao's house.

Originally, Gao Shizhe wanted to invite him to have lunch, but Zhao Er thought the meal might not be very tasty, and he had already made appointments with several friends, so he politely declined.

After leaving Gao's residence, Zhao Er took a few followers and walked through the streets and alleys. It was already noon when he arrived at Nanshi. He came to a hot pot restaurant and after entering the private room, he found that several friends were already waiting there.

"You're such a jerk, Zhao Er. If you hadn't come, we would have started eating first." Pei Xinggong complained when he saw Zhao Er.

Zhao Er took the cloak and clasped his fists, saying, "It's all my fault. I went to Gao Linggong's residence to deliver a letter for my brother, and Gao Linggong asked me to stay for a few words. I was delayed. Please forgive me."

Wei Guangxia hurriedly tried to smooth things over, "Alright, come and take a seat. It's been two years since we last met, right?"

Zhao Er came to his seat and sat down. "It has been more than two years since my brother and I stayed in Yuzhou. I haven't seen you guys. Oh, by the way, I met Li Si in Qingzhou two years ago, but we were in a hurry at that time and didn't say much."

Pei Xinggong laughed and said, "You're still Li Si? He is now the dignified General Zhennan and the commander-in-chief of Yangzhou's military affairs. You have to respectfully address him as Li Yangzhou."

Zhao Er also laughed when he heard this and said, "It's a slip of the tongue. Please don't accuse me of disrespecting my superiors."

Pei Xinggong said: "This is easy, you just need to treat me to another hot pot meal."

"Ha ha ha ha"

"Hahaha"

After several childhood friends got together to reminisce about the past and drank a lot of wine, Zhao Er also learned a lot of information from them.

After saying goodbye, Zhao Er, who was half drunk and half awake, got into his own carriage with a smell of alcohol, and leaned against the wall as if he was dozing off, as if he was asleep.

But I was constantly calculating in my mind.

"My brother asked me to come and give you a gift. His purpose is to ask you to marry the daughter of the Gao family to elevate the status of our Zhao family and to make the Gao family a supporter in the court."

"Zhang Chengjin and Gao Shikai of Jizhou have already been subdued by my brother. The most important ones are the Cui family of Qinghe and the Li family of Zhaojun. If we can get their help, Jizhou will be truly stable."

"Li Si. Haha, Li Si can hardly compare to him now."

".There is ample time."

(End of this chapter)