Hengzhou, Pingcheng.

Hundreds of officials are listed at the north gate.

Soldiers in different attires holding various ceremonial guards, some holding axes and axes, and some holding yellow flags, were distributed at various positions outside the North City Gate.

There are requirements for their standing position, and they are not standing randomly. There are many details on everything from their clothing, to the objects in their hands, to their stance.

Wei Shou walked among these people, followed by more than ten officials, walking back and forth through the 'formation' of these people.

Wei Shou calculated the positions of these people in his mind, and kept giving orders to the officials on the left and right, "When I see the Lord later, the first two ceremonial guards should move faster to ensure that the scepter faces His Majesty. Over there

Always face north."

Various flags were fluttering in the wind, and there were many musicians standing in different positions, some even standing on high platforms.

Not to mention anything else, just saying that this battle of strength really has some unfathomable and wonderful feeling.

The officials stood in front of the formations, and they also stood in arranged positions.

Yang Xiuzhi stood at the front, watching Wei Shou busy in the distance, with a flash of disdain in his eyes, and said to Cui Jishu next to him: "Don't think Wei Gong doesn't do things, but he has the ability to pretend that he can do things.

It’s really not bad.”

Cui Jishu chuckled and said: "It's not that Wei Gong has no talents. The current political system relies heavily on him. You can't say that."

"When the lord is not in Pingcheng, I can't see him all year round. Now that he is coming back, he is jumping up and down, wishing he could hang himself on that flag for the lord to see."

Yang Xiuzhi said disdainfully: "I must tell this matter in front of the lord."

Cui Jishu closed her eyes and shook her head helplessly, unwilling to answer any more questions.

Gao Jun, who was standing at the front, suddenly turned his head and asked seriously: "It is enough if you can complete your duties without making any mistakes. I want to show my talents in front of the lord. What's wrong with this?"

Yang Xiu was stunned, then smiled and said: "What your Majesty said is absolutely true."

Several old ministers stopped talking.

On the other side, the voice never stopped.

"Cui Jun, let me tell you, these flags are all special. The one with the pointed one represents the victory, the one with the long feathers represents the return of the princes from the expedition, and their positions, have you noticed?

They used a three-division formation, which means that the three armies of the left, center, and right jointly welcome the king, and those...

Lu Qubing was happily explaining these contents to Cui Gang who was standing by.

Cui Gang wanted to explain several times that he knew this.

But Lu Qubing didn't give him a chance to speak or interrupt.

"Did you see that?"

"All the ministers came out to welcome Taozi with the etiquette of welcoming a king. What does this mean?"

"This shows that Taozi is already popular and can be crowned king. Everyone recognizes him!"

"I heard someone say that Tao Zi came back this time to be crowned king."

Cui Gang finally found a chance to interrupt, "Mr. Lu, you shouldn't call the lord by his name in front of outsiders."

Lu Qubing smiled and stroked his chin, "If even I start using honorific names for him, wouldn't he really become a loner?"

"You are an old man who has followed him for a long time. Don't imitate these people. He still prefers you to call him brother instead of lord."

"Otherwise, why would he need to take the title of king? Wouldn't it be better to get it right in one step and declare himself emperor directly? I just find it troublesome. That's definitely the case."

"Are you hungry?"

"Look, I carry two lord pills with me. Do you want to try one?"

Cui Gang can neither leave nor stay. Lu Gong has been talking for nearly half an hour. He has never thought about his lord so much. He only hopes that his lord will come soon so that he does not have to suffer such torture!!

Perhaps Cui Gang's prayer had some effect, a knight appeared on the road in the distance, rushing towards him, shouting that the lord had arrived.

Lu Qubing finally stopped talking.

All the ministers are well prepared.

When Liu Taozi led the army slowly appeared in the distance, the musicians hurriedly started playing music.

The music played is of course also very particular.

The music played was to welcome the king, which directly gave Liu Taozi a grade. In fact, this was the ministers' own way of expressing their loyalty.

Liu Taozi looked at the posture in front of her, and then looked at Zu Jue beside her.

"It seems that it's not easy to be simple."

Zu Jue laughed.

Along the way, the Lord has always told him to be king in a simple way and not to engage in too many rituals and etiquette. He doesn't care about these, but when he just came here, the ministers greeted him with this attitude. It seems that it is really not easy to be simple.

.

Liu Taozi got off his horse and everyone bowed to him again and again.

Immediately, several ministers walked out of the crowd, walked quickly to Liu Taozi in a walking manner, and reported the reception situation.

Etiquette can be described as one set after another.

The ones who took the initiative were Gao Jun, Lu Qubing, Cui Jishu and a few others.

Zu Jue stood aside, staring directly at Gao Jun.

In the entire temple, the only person he was worried about was Gao Jun.

Don't look at the fact that most of the people in the temple are veterans of the Qi State.

These Han veterans had already given up on Qi Guo, probably when Yang Dadu was brutally murdered in the palace.

Since then, Han officials have never made any remonstrances to the emperor. The imperial palace is full of clan disputes, whether they are clan members or the emperor's male favorites or relatives. There is no real Han minister who can stand up and speak out.

.

When someone like Zhao Yanshen became the leader of Han officials, you can imagine the mentality of these ministers.

When Da Qi fell, it would be great if they didn’t applaud, but they still miss their homeland? That’s nonsense!

However, Gao Wei is different.

This is the real clan member, Gao Huan's son.

He is highly respected and has the strongest reputation in the current clan.

Zu Jue wanted to know his attitude, whether he could stay or send him away.

Whenever this guy shows even a little bit of grief and indignation, Zu Jue will send him on his way even if he doesn't give up his official title. He has plenty of ways to kill him.

It seems that Gao Jun himself has not changed much, he is still the same as in the past.

When he saw Liu Taozi, a smile appeared on his face and he said his first sentence.

"My lord, since the beginning of winter in Hengzhou this year, no one has been killed by the cold."

Liu Taozi nodded slightly, "Very good."

"Where are the other states and counties?"

"Although the other states cannot do what Hengzhou has done, they have reduced it a lot compared to the past. The Youzhou government reported 965 people who were killed by freezing. Last year, the local government reported more than seven times that number.

Not considered dead yet.”

It grows in spring and dies in winter.

This is not only reflected on the grass and trees, but also on the people of this era.

Even for high-ranking officials, winter is a fatal threshold, but for those who are older, it is difficult to get through it, let alone for ordinary people, when winter comes, people die in droves.

, a vast expanse of white.

"Gao Lingjun has made great contributions to the country."

Liu Taozi praised.

Gao Jun shook his head hastily, "The achievements of all these people were made by Wei Shou and others, supervised by Cui Jishu and others, and carried out by the governors and governors. I just watched them do it."

"Everyone has their merits, let me be the first to do so."

Liu Taozi said, and then went to meet the ministers.

Everyone paid homage to Liu Taozi one after another, complimenting Liu Taozi on his great victory and praising his great achievements. Liu Taozi listened to these calmly, hastily ended the grand welcome, and led everyone into the city.

Gao Jun rode a horse and followed Liu Taozi.

"Gao Lingjun, what do you think about the appeal?"

"I would like to thank my lord for giving honor to Shenwu, Wenxiang and other emperors and retaining their sacrifices and titles."

"I'm going to let you inherit Shenwu and make you the King of Qi. What do you think?"

Gao Wei immediately shook his head, "That's inappropriate."

"Oh? Why is it inappropriate?"

"If the lord has ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, then he can make me the King of Qi and allow me to retain the sacrifices and names of my father, eldest brother and others. This is my lord's kindness. But now my lord has not ascended the throne and is only proclaimed king."

"If you rush to make me the King of Qi right now, your previous efforts will fall short."

"The purpose of the appeal is to let the world know that Duan Shao is illegal, but once I am appointed King of Qi, the effect of the appeal will be greatly weakened."

"In addition, the title of the King of Qi belongs to the title of prince. If the lord wants to take the title of king, he will also be the title of prince. A country cannot have two masters, even in name only."

"My lord, there is no need to be anxious. Let's wait until Duan Shao is equalized and conquer the world. If you still feel that my achievements are adequate at that time, then let me inherit my father's name. I will not refuse again."
To be continued...