The Red Mansions

Chapter 266
in the inn
Baochai and Aunt Xue looked at each other after hearing Xue Pan's words outside.

"My dear girl, what's going on?" Aunt Xue frowned and asked.

Baochai shook her head lightly, doubts flashed in her almond eyes, indicating that she didn't know.

At this time, Xue Pan stepped into the hall, turned around anxiously, and said: "Mom, sister, my cousin said that the people of Huayin saw the army off and blocked the gate of the city."

Xue Pan also felt a little upset, why do these Huayin people have nothing to do to join in the fun?
Aunt Xue also lost her mind for a moment, she looked at Baochai,

Baochai said softly: "Mom, why don't you send someone over to watch it first, and wait for the crowd to disperse before we start, otherwise the crowd will be crowded and you won't be in a hurry."

The gates of the city were blocked, and if large and small vehicles followed closely behind, chaos would easily occur.

Aunt Xue was in a certain mood, she nodded and said with a smile, "That's the reason."

As he spoke, he looked at Xue Pan and ordered, "Pan'er, send someone to keep an eye on it. After the crowd has cleared up, let's start again. There is no rush."

Xue Pan responded and was about to leave.

Suddenly at this moment, a woman from the outside came to the corridor and said: "Madam, that Uncle Heng sent his own soldiers over and told Madam to wait half an hour before leaving."

In fact, Jia Heng didn't expect that the people of Huayin would come to see him off, so he had to immediately call on the army to maintain order to prevent stampede and chaos.

In addition, I also thought of the three members of Xue's family. If they drove out of the city, something might happen, so they ordered their own soldiers to come over and tell Xue's family not to leave in a hurry.

Aunt Xue's face showed joy again, she looked at Baochai and Xue Pan, and said, "Then let's just wait a little longer."

Xue Pan smiled and said: "Mom, I said that my cousin is a caring person, but I don't know how to say that so many people went to send my cousin to me?"

As soon as these words came out, Aunt Xue looked at Baochai with her inquiring eyes, and said with a smile: "My dear girl, you have read a lot of books, do you know the way here?"

Baochai was silent for a while, and said softly: "I heard that when officials leave office, some people send umbrellas and boots to the people, but it is rare to hear that the people are empty, and go to send the leading generals. I think it should be my cousin who wiped out the bandits. One side is peaceful, and the people are grateful, so they all go to see it off?"

In fact, she had a faint suspicion in her heart that it was a trick concocted by the officials of Huayin County.

"But judging from yesterday, that Cousin Heng is cold-tempered, and this kind of flattery may not be to his liking."

Rao is Baochai's knowledge of the world, but he didn't figure out the reason for a while.

Because it is contrary to "common sense", as for the fact that after the car curtain was lowered yesterday, there was no scene of military and civilian mutual assistance, and I have no way of guessing the reason.

Aunt Xue smiled and said: "This is really strange. My mother has also heard of officials leaving their posts. It seems that there is such a thing as sending Wanmin umbrellas, but they are all parents and officials. I have never heard of giving it to the leading general."

Xue Pan smiled and said, "Mom, don't make random guesses, I'll go and have a look."

Obviously wanting to join in the fun.

Aunt Xue's complexion suddenly changed, and she said anxiously: "Pan'er, it's a mess outside, how can I get out? Don't let... people bump into it."

He wanted to be careful not to let Hanako take pictures of him, but when he saw his son's big head and thick physique, he swallowed the second half of the sentence back and quickly changed his words.

Xue Pan laughed and said, "I'll take my servant there, it doesn't matter."

Said, without saying much, just left.

Aunt Xue hurriedly called out, but seeing Xue Pan running away without a trace, she felt a little helpless.

"Mom, just sit here and rest for a while."

Sitting in the living room, the mother and daughter waited quietly for a while, talking.

About half an hour later, Xue Pan had gone and returned, and said with a happy face, "Mom, sister, guess what?"

Aunt Xue frowned, and said angrily, "You child, don't be a fool."

Xue Pan laughed loudly and said: "Those common people are all going to see off my cousin. There are huge crowds of people, and they just dispersed at this moment. I heard that it is the soldiers under my cousin who wiped out the bandits. Do you think it's strange to work with ordinary people?"

Aunt Xue was stunned when she heard the words, and said in surprise: "Is there such a thing?"

"When we entered the city yesterday, I saw it. At that time, I wondered why some soldiers in livery were helping people repair houses." Xue Pan laughed.

Aunt Xue said: "It's nothing unusual, right? When we were in Jinling, if the ditches in the street were blocked, the officials from the government would lead a group of people to unblock them. My dear girl, what do you mean by that?"

When Baochai heard this, her apricot eyes flashed, and she said softly, "That's a corvee conscripted by the messenger. Mom can see which house collapsed, and the government asked the gentleman to repair it himself? Not to mention These are the ones with knives and guns."

I was also a little surprised.

She had guessed just now that the officials of Huayin County were deliberately putting on makeup to please Cousin Heng, but she never thought...

"This is the prime minister of ancient virtuous ministers and famous generals," Baochai thought.

Such cases are generally only seen in history books.

Aunt Xue showed a smile on her face, and said: "That's right, those soldiers who eat the imperial rations are willing to bend down to do this. It can be seen that your cousin is very capable."

Baochai nodded, and didn't say much, but he couldn't help but think of that calm and dignified young man in his heart.

Xue Pan said with a smile: "It's useless to say what you can do? You haven't seen it, but the soldiers and horses under him are lined up like a long queue, and you can't see the leader at a glance."

Having said that, Xue Pan rolled his eyes, patted his head suddenly and said, "It's broken."

Immediately, Aunt Xue was startled and said, "What's broken?"

"Let's leave quickly, don't fall too far behind cousin." Xue Pan said urgently.

Aunt Xue was also annoyed and amused by Xue Pan's surprise, she just took it for something and said: "Then you are still stuck here, don't hurry up and prepare the carriages and horses to go!"

Xue Pan laughed and went away.

The three members of the Xue family boarded the carriage again, followed the Guoyong battalion army led by Jia Heng, and headed towards Shenjing.

But it is said that Jia Heng, under the watchful eyes of the people of Huayin County, led the Guoyong battalion army and marched towards Shenjing along the official road.

On top of the steed, Song Yuan was half a head behind, looking at Jia Heng worriedly, hesitating to speak.

Jia Heng felt the gaze, smiled and said, "Mr. Song, do you have something to say to me?"

Song Yuan thought about his words, and said slowly: "My lord, the common people lined the road to see off, and people are expected to see it. Once it is spread, I'm afraid it will attract some small criticism..."

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice: "The governor who has made great achievements in the local area left his post, and all the people sent him off, saying goodbye. I didn't see how these big officials in the frontier, let alone me, a third-rank military officer? Speaking of which, I didn't expect Huayin The elders of the county are so kind."

He has not yet reached the position where he has the power to dominate the world, is an extremely human minister, and needs to defile himself and avoid disaster.

Not to mention him, even those prime ministers with the posthumous title of Wenzheng, who are extremely human ministers, don't have to follow Xiao He's self-defilement completely.

Not every emperor is an old hooligan Liu Bang.

Besides, the Xiangguo at the beginning of the founding of the country and the ministers in the middle of the dynasty are not the same. Blindly following the rules and following the Cao is just a mere imitation, which only makes people laugh.

Moreover, in the eyes of the princes in the temple, the prestige of these mud-legged people is naturally far inferior to that of Shilin.

Because most of these silent people are "foolish people" and "mud-legged people" who are not looked down upon by the bureaucracy, and have no right to speak.

That is to say, "Weng is the son of the rope hub, the man of the gangster, and the migratory person. His talent is not as good as that of the middleman. There must be Zhongni, Mo Di's sage, Tao Zhu, and Yidun's wealth."

When Song Yuan heard this, he saw that Jia Heng was confident and his heart was a little wider, so he didn't say anything else.

The mighty army of the Guoyong Camp meandered towards Shenjing City.

And on the official road outside the Lixu land behind Jia Heng's army, the Xue family's convoy also crashed behind.

Xue Pan was riding a tall horse, with his big head raised, looking at the forest flags in the distance ahead, his heart was full of joy, his big face was full of smiles, he approached the carriage beside him, and said to Aunt Xue through the window : "Mom, look at the tens of thousands of troops ahead, they seem to be opening the way for us."

Aunt Xue: "..."

Jia Heng didn't expect that Xue's family could be interpreted in this way without his own soldiers escorting them. It can only be said that Xue's brain circuit is very different from others.

Time flies, and before you know it, it will be two days.

The Guoyong battalion set out from Huayin County, took a rest outside Weinan County on the way, and finally marched to Baqiao outside Chang'an at noon on the third day.

The news of Jia Heng's squadron was also known to the city of Shenjing along with the soldiers sent to Beijing to report their itinerary to the Yamen of the Ministry of War day by day, as well as the urgent deliveries of the postmen in the past.

Daming Palace, in the side hall
After the trial, Emperor Chongping was at his desk reviewing the memorandum. Suddenly, an inner prisoner came in from outside the hall. It was Dai Quan. out of town."

Hearing this, Emperor Chongping raised his eyes, with a gleam of joy on his face, put down the brush in his hand, and said, "I was thinking about it just now, and it's almost here. Dai Quan, you go out of the city and pass on the order to Jia Ziyu, and immediately call him into the palace to face the saint." .”

After all, it is not a battle to destroy the country, and there is absolutely no reason for the emperor to go out of the city to meet him if he takes the head of the enemy's chief and returns.

However, Emperor Chongping followed Dai Quan to go, partly to convey the decree, and partly to greet each other, which was quite a gesture of favor.

Hearing this, Dai Quan was taken aback for a moment, then said with a smile, "Your servant will go now."

He thought to himself, the grandeur of this holy family is really enviable.

Watching Dai Quan leave, Emperor Chongping picked up the memorial in his hand, which was written by Jia Heng, and lowered his eyes to think.

In the memorandum, Jia Heng not only stated the recruiting of refugees for the army, but also explained his intentions, "Taking the young and strong in Shandong and Henan to support them with state funds, so as to prevent them from being coerced by bandits and causing chaos and disturbing the local area."

"Guoyong camp has already replenished its troops, and it seems that the troops in the Beijing camp can also recruit soldiers from Shandong and Henan. However, there are many escaped households in the two places. If they all choose to enter the Beijing camp, it will be disadvantageous for local farming. What's more, in the Song Dynasty The army is also a burden to the country's financial resources, that's all, let's discuss it later."

Emperor Chongping thought of this, so he concealed the memorandum and picked up a bulletin instead. The words on it impressively recorded the grand occasion of the people who bid farewell to the officers and soldiers camped by Guoyong outside Huayin County the day before yesterday.

"The love between the army and the people, fish and water, maybe this is the reason why Yasheng said, eat pots of pulp to welcome the king's teacher." Emperor Chongping murmured, with a thoughtful look on his cold face.

Shenjing City, Yongyefang, Wangzhai backyard
In the afternoon, in the study, Wang Ziteng sat behind the rosewood plank, with a gloomy face, holding a book in his hand.

There are several people sitting on the chair made of huanghuali. The leader is a middle-aged literati named Fang Ji, wearing a blue square scarf and a moon-white cotton shirt. He was hired by Wang Ziteng to deal with Jiyi's writing master.

At the bottom are four generals, Li Xun, governor of Yaowu camp, Pang Shili, general of Yangwei camp, Yue Qing, general of Liwei camp, and Yao Guang, general of Fenwu camp. The confidant who wins over the camp.

Yue Qing was in his early thirties, with a broad mouth and a burly figure. He said in a deep voice, "Jieshuai, the Guoyong camp should return to Beijing today. I heard that the new army of the Guoyong camp has already raised vacancies. In terms of strength, it should be The best of the twelve regiments."

Li Xun, the governor of the Yaowu camp, sneered: "If you recruit a group of refugees who can't eat enough and don't have the strength to carry weapons, how much combat power will they have? I'm afraid they can't even beat the battalion of soldiers and horses under my command." .”

Wang Ziteng's face was pale, he put down the book in his hand, his eyes were cold, his heart was somewhat irritable or a sense of crisis surged.

Not only the favoritism of the holy family from the palace, but also some generals from the Beijing camp. These generals were originally from the Ningguo lineage. The day before yesterday, he convened to discuss the matter of reorganizing the army, and many people made excuses. .

"If you say you are waiting for Jia Heng? Jia Heng is not welcomed by the Beijing King's group."

In his opinion, if that Jia Ziyu hadn't been "aggressive" below, he would not have started to rectify the Beijing camp in a hurry, but he could deal with the five armies' governor's mansion calmly.

But now, the arrow is on the string, but it has to be fired.

Yao Guang frowned, and also echoed: "Jie Shuai is about to reorganize the army, this Jia Heng, I don't know where to recruit some refugees to mix into the army's salary, how can it be useful, isn't this adding to the chaos?"

Wang Ziteng's expression was cold, and he said: "Most of the refugees are not the children of good families and clean, and they are embarrassing. I will report this matter to the emperor and weed it out."

Then he looked at the middle-aged scholar beside him and asked, "What does Mr. Fang think?"

Fang Ji pondered for a while, and said slowly: "Jie Shuai, the students think that if Jie Shuai wants to be successful in rectifying the Beijing camp, I'm afraid he really can't do without the support of Jia Yunhui. After discussing with Yun Hui, the students thought that the Sacred Heart is there and cannot be disobeyed."

But he could see some unhappiness and awkwardness in Wang Ziteng's heart.

Wang Ziteng listened to Fang Ji's words, his complexion changed, he pondered for a moment, and said: "Mr. Fang, please explain carefully."

Fang Jidao: "Jie Shuai was born in the Wang family, and he was married to Jia Yunhui's Jia family, and Jia Yunhui was already a first-class Yunhui general at a young age. Hearing what Jie Shuai said yesterday, the Holy Majesty returned There is the intention of making him alone in charge of an army, it can be said that the simplicity is in the emperor's heart, and the trust is added..."

As he said that, his face paused, but seeing Wang Ziteng's face becoming more and more ugly, he quickly changed his tone, and said in a deep voice: "However, Jieshuai, although he is young and promising, his qualifications are shallow and his achievements are not outstanding, so he is hard to convince." People, now that Jieshuai is in charge of the military affairs of the Beijing camp, he can use his strength to skyrocket, if he doesn't care about the overall situation, then he will worry about it."

When Wang Ziteng heard this, his eyes flashed, and his brows gradually relaxed.

Yes, even if this Jia Heng wins the Holy Family again, age and seniority will not be able to threaten him for the time being, and he can even use this Jia Ziyu.

In the past...he was no stranger to these means.

Thinking of this, although there is still some awkwardness in my heart, I have to admit that Fang Ji's words are feasible.

"When he returns to Beijing, Jie Shuai can go out of the city to greet him to show his kindness and courtesy. After all, the Holy Majesty also ordered Jie Shuai to discuss with him when things happen. That's all, if you don't know the current affairs, how can you make a fuss about Jie Shuai taking refugees into the army?" Fang Ji said with a smile.

Hearing this, Wang Ziteng showed joy on his face, nodded and said: "What you said is very true, not to mention anything else, it is not feasible for him to recruit refugees as soldiers. I am now in charge of the rectification of the Beijing camp, and I am bound to train for the Holy One." Send out an army that dares to fight, how can you be indifferent when you see it making its own claims?"

Thinking of this, I made up my mind and said with a smile: "Then wait a minute, I will go to meet him, first salute and then serve."

If you don't eat fine wine for a toast, then in the eyes of the holy majesty in the palace, you are ignorant, young and frivolous.

He didn't mention how Wang Ziteng planned it, but he said that Jia Heng led the Guoyong battalion, which was close to Chang'an City.

Sitting on the horse, looking at the majestic and towering Chang'an City not far away, Jia Heng couldn't help showing a look of joy on his face.

"The generals listened to the order, and each led his troops to station in the southern camp."

But he ordered the forward to step and ride the second army, and Rao went to Nancheng to return to the camp.

Jia Heng planned to lead a group of personal soldiers and guards of Jinyi Mansion, about a hundred people, to enter through the city gate and go to the Ministry of War to deliver orders.

Because it is not some handsome teacher who conquers the country and returns with a big victory, there will never be an emperor who leads civil and military officials out of the city to greet him.

Of course, it is said that someone from the Ministry of War should come to hand over, but I don't know why I haven't seen it.

But after Jia Heng watched the generals of the Guoyong Camp head towards the South Camp, he was about to order his followers to enter the city together, when he saw a horse galloping from the direction of the city gate.

Taking a closer look, it was a Jin Yiwei in a flying fish suit, who was so close, pulled the reins, and stopped the horse.

The female knight with a handsome figure and a heroic temperament sat upright on the saddle, cupped her hands and said, "Jia Yunhui."

Jia Heng saw who was coming, bowed his hands and saluted, smiled and said: "So it's Xiahou's command."

It was none other than Xia Houying.

On Xia Houying's handsome and cold jade face, there was no expression on her face, but there was a complex look in the depths of her eyes, and she said in a clear voice: "His Royal Highness Jinyang's carriage is waiting for Yunhui in front, please come to the front for a ride." Syria."

When Jia Heng heard this, she was taken aback for a moment, feeling both surprised and delighted, and asked, "She... why is Your Royal Highness here?"

Princess Jinyang was able to go out of the city to meet him, but he never thought of it anyway.

Jia Heng was silent for a while, then turned to Qu Lang who was beside him, and said: "Qu Qianhu, you lead people into the city first, and then you come to the Yamen of the Ministry of War to give orders, and then send people to the Ning Mansion on Ningrong Street to inform you. Let me know, I'll be there later."

After that, he might go to the Ministry of War to sit for a while, and then pass the sign into the palace to face the saint. As for going home, he will be after the face saint.

Qu Lang didn't say much, he cupped his hands and said, "Yes, my lord."

He waved his hand and ordered his followers to leave first.

However, just as he was about to pull his horse away, he saw several riders coming with their whips in front of him.

(End of this chapter)