Chapter 167 Wang Anshi Enters the Capital, Grand Court Meeting

After Rong Fei left, Wei Yuan thought for a long time, but he still couldn't figure out what Zhao Zhen meant.

No clear order, that is, he didn't want others to know.

Rong Fei wanted to see him, was it her intention or the emperor's intention?

He couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking.

After saying hello to Minglan and Zhang Guifen, Wei Yuan left here and headed straight for the Imperial City Division.

Since Wei Yuan had left, Zhang Guifen naturally had no need to stay here.

Soon, Wei Yuan came to the Imperial City Division and met Yan Da.

The latter smiled and said, "General Wei? A rare guest."

The former said bluntly, "No one comes to the palace for no reason."

Yan Da nodded, "Tell me, what do you want to know?"

The only help the Imperial City Division can provide to Wei Yuan is intelligence.

"Today, I met Empress Rong."

Wei Yuan said something shocking,

"Empress Rong said that she has a business that involves His Majesty behind the scenes."

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Yan Da, saying, "It involves the emperor, so I can't tell you."

Wei Yuan said, "What I mean is, how many nobles are involved in this business?"

Empress Rong said that the business of military equipment is not something that can be taken care of by one family.

Meaning, not only is the number of military equipment extremely large, but the forces involved are also extremely wide.

Yan Da remained silent.

Wei Yuan asked again, "I just want a number, just a number."

Yanda thought for a moment, then slowly spoke,

"About a dozen, some of which involve famous families."

"Of course, I don't know what the specific business is, and I don't want to know, but I know who the father and son of the Rong family have met recently."

Wei Yuan was thoughtful, and solemnly clasped his fists, "Thank you."

Just as he was about to leave, he heard Yanda's instructions:

"Brother Wei, we are now grasshoppers on the same rope, and I will say some things directly."

"Anyone can get involved in this matter, but you can't."

Wei Yuan knew that this matter was serious, and he didn't say anything else, and quickly left the Imperial City Department.

I'm afraid that Yanda is not the only one who has the final say in this department.

If you stay too long, it will be easy to get into trouble.

After leaving the Imperial City Department, Wei Yuan suddenly became clear.

He suddenly understood what Zhao Zhen was thinking.

He didn't make a clear order about the military weapons, and asked his subordinates to talk to Japan.

In other words, no matter whether the business is successful or not.

Those nobles, such as the Fuchang Marquis' Mansion, the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion, and some famous families and even the royal family, have to pay out of their own pockets to digest the batch of military equipment.

And the Great Zhou has a clear regulation that nobles are not allowed to hoard weapons.

Once the business fails, the military equipment that each family has to share will become a time bomb.

Rong Fei wants to join the game herself, just because she values ​​her own power.

At that time, even if the business fails, she can digest the military equipment by her own new army and horse army.

If Zhao Zhen issues a clear decree, this matter will be recorded in history, and the meaning will be different. Han Zhang and other clean streams will definitely oppose it.

If the spearhead of this military equipment business is directly aimed at the nobles.

Then Wang Anshi went to Beijing to serve as the Minister of Personnel and fill the vacancies in the existing departments in the court, which is targeting those so-called clean streams.

If it is really as he thought, it means that the case of treason is not over yet!

Wei Yuan thought of this and his mind gradually became deep.

After all, he is still the emperor. Once he takes action, it is an open conspiracy, which is simply impeccable. He regards all living beings as chess pieces.

At this moment, in Xuanzheng Hall.

Zhao Zhen was half lying on the Luohan couch, covered with a blanket, and there was a stove in front of him.

After a while, he asked Zhu, the steward beside him,

"According to the time, Concubine Rong should return to the palace, right?"

The latter bowed his head and replied, "Returning to the emperor, she is probably on the way now."

Zhao Zhen nodded, "Did she meet Wei Yuan?"

Zhu, the steward, said truthfully, "The Imperial City Department just sent the information that Concubine Rong met General Wei at the polo field opened by the Earl of Yongchang."

Zhao Zhen frowned slightly, and after a long time, he uttered a sentence,

"Wait and see, I want to know what his attitude is."

Zhu, the steward, said, "I guess General Wei should know the pros and cons."

Zhao Zhen coughed twice, "I hope so."

"However, if Wei Qing is really greedy for money, it is not a bad thing."

"But there should be a way to be greedy for money."

——

If Wei Yuan did not go to the Imperial City Department, he might really listen to Concubine Rong's advice and go to find her brother Rong Xian.

But now, he thinks that it is the best choice to pretend that he has never met Concubine Rong.

The cooperation between Wei and Cao Gang is enough for Wei Yuan to make a lot of money.

Plus the concessions from Hai.

From now on, Wei Yuan will not lack money for anything.

There is no need to get involved in the arms business.

Not only can he not get involved, but he must also oppose it.

Mid-December.

Wang Anshi had signed a note at a post station a hundred miles away from the capital, and would probably arrive in the capital tomorrow.

Zhao Zhen sent someone to inform Wei Yuan and ordered him to go and meet him.

Wei Yuan did not make a big scene, but just left the city with a few guards.

But after waiting for a long time, Wang Anshi did not appear until the sun was high in the sky.

Several of his guards were guarding the city gate, holding Wang Anshi's portrait and watching passers-by, but they did not notice that there was a person who looked like him.

"General Wei, will Lord Wang come today? What time is it?"

A guard asked.

Wei Yuan said, "You two, ride your horses to the front and take a look."

Wang Anshi was a man who did not play by the rules. He was a few years older than Wei Yuan and was nearly thirty years old.

After hearing this, the guards got on their horses without saying anything and went along the official road to look for him.

About half an hour later, the guards returned.

Wei Yuan asked, "Where is he?"

The guard dismounted and clasped his fists, saying, "Reporting to General Wei, Lord Wang he he."

Wei Yuan frowned and said, "Just say it."

The guard said frankly, "We did see Lord Wang halfway. He was riding a donkey and was moving slowly."

"Originally, he was going straight here, but Lord Wang saw a stream not far away and went over there to take a bath."

Took a bath?

Wei Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He had been waiting here for a long time, waiting for him to go to the palace to meet the emperor, but this guy jumped into the river to take a bath?

The guard said again, "General Wei, we are not saying bad things about Lord Wang. We thought that we were already very unclean in the barracks."

"That Lord Wang felt like he was about to have lice on his body, and there was a strange smell."

"The conditions of our post station outside the capital are so good, he didn't know to take a bath, and had to do it today."

Wei Yuan shook his head and smiled.

Yes, it's December, the weather is cold, and it will probably snow in a few days.

Wang Anshi is just a scholar, can he stand the coldness of the lake?

This can also be considered winter swimming.

Wei Yuan jumped on his horse,

"Lead the way, I want to see this unkempt Shangshu Wang in person!"

Came to the stream.

Wei Yuan saw Wang Anshi swimming.

One of his guards was standing by, fearing that Wang Anshi might get into trouble or disappear if he wasn't careful.

Wei Yuan got off his horse, handed the horse to the guard, and then came to the stream. He felt the water temperature with his hand. It was not icy cold, but it was almost cold.

"Sir Wang, His Majesty will entrust you with an important task, be careful not to catch a cold."

Wei Yuan said.

Wang Anshi stopped swimming, glanced at Wei Yuan, looked at his clothes and the badge of the commander of the cavalry, and asked with a smile:

"Are you Wei Yuan?"

Wei Yuan nodded, "Sir Wang, come up, we still need to go to the palace to see the emperor."

Wang Anshi said, "Your Majesty is not in a hurry, why are you in a hurry?"

Wei Yuan said, "How do you know that Your Majesty is not in a hurry?"

Wang Anshi did not answer his question, but talked about other things,

"Do you know why His Majesty asked you to come and meet me alone?"

Wei Yuan was silent.

Wang Anshi continued, "That's because only you come to meet me, which is in accordance with etiquette and can make me famous in this Bianjing city quickly."

"As long as this person has fame, prestige, and power, it will naturally be much easier to do things."

If Han Zhang, Zhang Fu and others came to meet him, it would be flattery and not in accordance with etiquette.

Wei Yuan's current official rank is lower than Wang Anshi's.

Therefore, it is quite appropriate to let him come to greet you no matter how you look at it.

Wei Yuan said: "I am only responsible for welcoming you. As for what you said, I am not interested."

Wang Anshi suddenly came to the shore.

Wei Yuan turned around and stood with his hands behind his back.

Wang Anshi said while getting dressed:

"We are all men, why should we avoid each other? General Wei is just a warrior, why do you care about this?"

Wei Yuan said: "If you were a woman, I would just look at you."

Wang Anshi laughed twice,

"General Wei is quick-witted, not bad."

While talking, he had already put on his clothes.

Wei Yuan turned around and glanced at him.

He was not wearing official clothes, but a cloth dress. There were some stains and damages on his clothes, but it was not a big deal. Overall, he looked quite neat.

It should be related to the fact that he had just taken a bath.

After cleaning up, he still looked like a scholar.

However, he was young, but had a long beard, which was a bit out of place.

Wang Anshi was also looking at Wei Yuan. Hmm, not bad, like a general.

Other than that, he had no other thoughts.

Suddenly, he looked at the horse in the hands of a personal guard, and knew at a glance that it was definitely not an ordinary one.

"Whose horse is that?"

Wei Yuan said: "Mine."

Wang Anshi stepped forward and stroked the horse.

"This is our first meeting. Can General Wei give me this horse as a gift?"

Wei Yuan smiled, "What about your gift?"

Wang Anshi pointed to the donkey beside him.

Wei Yuan looked unhappy.

Wang Anshi didn't wait for him to agree, and directly jumped on the horse,

"It's really a good horse, thank you General Wei for the gift."

"Tang and Wu met by chance, and they were like wind, tiger, cloud and dragon."

"King Xing was only talking and laughing."

"Until now, thousands of years later, who can compete with me for merit!"

As he spoke, he galloped on his horse towards the capital.

Wei Yuan spitted, "If you have no shame, you will be invincible in the world."

——

After Wei Yuan sent Wang Anshi to Xuanzheng Hall, Zhao Zhen asked him to leave.

That day, Zhao Zhen talked with Wang Anshi for a long time.

The two had neither food nor drink.

It was not until dawn that Wang Anshi left the palace.

Afterwards, Zhao Zhen announced Wang Anshi's official appointment to the public.

And gave Wang Anshi a mansion.

No one knows what Zhao Zhen and Wang Anshi talked about that night.

But since that night, Wei Yuan felt that Wang Anshi might become his future rival.

He couldn't say for sure, and he didn't want to speculate.

In late December, the grand court meeting began.