Chapter 505 Returning to Beijing to report
The "military head" of the Qingzhou rebels actually belonged to the camp of Yuan Li, the old Yinbi.
This answer surprised Zhao Duan, but after thinking about it carefully, it was not surprising.
The Yu State has not had a major war for many years, so the promotion of local military generals has become much more difficult.
More often, what is competing is not "war achievements" or "ability", but background.
Although Emperor Taizu of Yu was a military man, he advocated the strategy of civil servants to govern the country. Therefore, the military officer group represented by the Privy Council in the court has a much lower status than that of the cabinet.
Inevitably, the military generals and officials in local military offices have also been intervened by the court parties to a certain extent.
The "Qingliu Party" led by Yuan Li is the second largest group after the "Li Party", and it is not surprising that it will join forces to recommend and arrange a commander. "When I was in the capital, I never heard anyone mention this matter." Zhao Duan recalled that the court officials gathered to discuss the Qingzhou rebels' affairs that day, and hesitated.
Yuan Feng smiled bitterly and said, "Although Wei Xianzong belonged to the Qingliu Party and joined King Heng, Yuan Gong was loyal to the court, and the two could not be confused."
Haha, are you sure the real situation is not the turmoil in the court, Li Danggang rebelled, the ministers tacitly did not target Yuan Li in this link?
In order to avoid the "Qingliu Party" from collapsing and causing the court to be paralyzed?
Zhao Duan snorted lightly. With his understanding of the court's harsh learning, if it were not for the situation, the memorials of impeachment of Yuan Li would have been piled up in small hills.
No matter whether Wei Xianzong represents Yuan Li's will, in short, if there is such a big problem with the recommended person, Yuan Li, as the leader of the party, cannot take off his hat of "unknown employment".
Well, I bet that as long as the Li Yanfu coup is settled, the next one will be unlucky is Yuan Li... After all, the most important thing in the court is balance. Now that the Li Party is destroyed, even if it is out of balance, the Qingliu Party must be beaten...
Zhao Duan's thoughts flashed and suddenly asked: "Do you know why this Wei Xianzong rebelled?" Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads, saying that the incident happened suddenly and that as generals, they had no channel to investigate. "What are you doing when you ask me about this? It's a serious crime of treason. No matter what the reason is, you can't escape death." Chen Gui stroked the goat's beard and complained.
Zhao Duan smiled but said nothing, leaned against the carved chair, gently tapping his knee with his fingers, thinking, and suddenly said:
"I'll beg you to interrogate the prisoners later. I need to know what happened within the Hengwang rebel group during this period, especially those involved in the Wei Xianzong. I ordered the clerks in the army to sort them out into information. I want to present them to Your Majesty."
The people looked stern and did not dare to ask more, so they responded quickly.
Then, military officers began to come to the camp to report the results of the battle from time to time. Zhao Duan did not interfere in these aftermath matters and threw them all to the rest.
After a moment, a soldier came outside:
"Report to the young security guard, the female head of the Xiao family in Donghu has woken up and wants to see you."
Xiao Dong'er woke up? Zhao Du'an pondered for a moment and stood up and said, "Lead the way forward."
...
Xiao Dong'er was placed in a separate tent in the camp, with guards guarding at the door.
When Zhao Duan arrived, a military doctor stood respectfully:
"Sir, I am not in trouble. I am just suffering from heatstroke. In addition, I have been nervous recently and have weak sleep and anxiety, which leads to physical weakness. I have been fed the medicine."
"Very good." Zhao Duan nodded with satisfaction, lifted the curtain of the big tent and walked into it. The tent was empty, and a simple wooden bed was placed.
Wearing a dark horse-faced skirt, with cloudy hair, listless and haggard Madam Xiao was sitting on the bed, her legs were placed on the edge of the bed, her socks were exposed to the air, and a pair of embroidered shoes were neatly placed under the bed.
She was drinking all the soup and putting the pottery bowl on the simple wooden table beside her hands. Seeing Zhao Duan walk in, Xiao Dong'er's eyes suddenly brightened, and excitement appeared on her face, which was still red due to the heat, and she supported her body with her hands and was about to get out of bed.
As a result, it seemed that due to the bondage for many days, the body was weak and weak, and he couldn't stand steadily, and his knees fell and knelt on the ground:
"Envoy..."
"Be careful of the head of the Xiao family!" Zhao Duan was stunned, withdrew his hand, letting the thick curtains of the camp behind him hang down, blocking the doctor and the guards outside, and quickly stepped forward, just about to support him.
But Xiao Dong'er was so full that she was prostrating her body, with her delicate hands on the mud, her elbows bent, her head was creeping forward, her forehead was almost touching the ground, her plump and peach-shaped buttocks were tense, raised high, and Mrs. Xiao, who escaped from the tiger's mouth, burst into tears: "I am so kind to save my life, I can't repay you!"
Ah, when Zhao Duan, who was shocked, caught a glimpse of the dazzling white mosaic, stopped when he was electrocuted, and was embarrassed to be bowed by the female head of the family, with a strange expression:
"Mrs. Xiao doesn't have to perform this great gift. I am just doing it casually. Besides, since you are an imperial merchant in the court, I should naturally protect it. It is because your Xiao family is implicated in this rebellion. If you don't blame the court, it's good to blame me."
Xiao Dong'er's thin shoulders seemed to have trembled due to sobs. She hurriedly raised her haggard face, her eyes were red, and she sobbed:
"How could I be resentful? I don't even feel grateful enough, I just dare to ask King Heng..."
"I was beaten by me, captured alive, and now I am being tried in the camp." Zhao Duanyi said sternly, bent down, raised his arms, helped Mrs. Xiao up, and sat back on the bed:
"I will take him back to the capital for trial later."
After a pause, he added: "The Qingzhou rebels have been defeated, and Your Majesty has returned safely a few days ago."
Your Majesty has also been facing... The Qingzhou army has been defeated... Xiao Dong'er was stunned and tried her best to digest the explosive news. Then, a string that had been tensed for many days finally completely relaxed.
She smiled and showed the joy of surviving the disaster:
"Good...good...Your Majesty returns, and my Xiao family should be spared from the disaster of destruction..."
While speaking, tears flowed down like broken lines.
At this moment, this "First Imperial Shang" who was calling for the wind and rain outside, and was famous far and wide, and was in charge of the great clan completely peeled off the shell and revealed its soft side.
The fear and pain that have been over the past few days have been released at this moment.
Zhao Duan didn't say anything, quietly pulled a chair over, sat down, and gave Xiao Dong'er time to deal with his emotions.
After a moment, Mrs. Xiao came back from the joy, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, turned her head embarrassedly, and whispered:
"I am very sad and happy, and I will inevitably lose my composure, which makes me laugh."
This widow, who is only in her thirties and well-maintained, had a clear arc of the collarbone and neck.
She was deliberately seducing me... Zhao Duan's expression was strange, and he keenly noticed her trick, but he did not point it out, and said in a joking tone: "It's okay, the lady was suddenly frightened, it's common sense. But next time, when the lady returns to the capital with her official, don't do this again."
Face the saint?
Xiao Dong'er was stunned, looked at the man in front of her in surprise, and stuttered: "The envoy is..." Zhao Duan smiled and said: "The court never treats its own people badly. Although the Qingzhou rebels were destroyed, the aftermath has not yet settled. The Xiao family in Donghu has been rooted in Qingzhou for a hundred years and has a profound foundation. If the Xiao family is handed over to assist the court officials in stabilizing the situation in Qingzhou, what do you think?" "The envoy... do you think this is true?" Mrs. Xiao was shocked. Of course she could hear the implicit meaning of this sentence.
The current situation is turbulent, and the court is not very crowded now. I want to stabilize Qingzhou Road as soon as possible and completely remove the remnants of the Hengwang Mansion base camp. If the Xiao family cooperates, it will be safest.
Once the Xiao family participates in it, they will undoubtedly gain great benefits, and even replace the Heng Palace and become the largest force in Qingzhou Road outside the court.
Zhao Duan smiled gently: "I will recommend it to Your Majesty. The specific details depend on Your Majesty's decision."
Ms. Xiao's eyes turned red again, but this time, a light appeared in the eyes of this ambitious woman, and her eyes were different when she looked at Zhao Duan.
It seems that there is something else.
"I am so kind to you, I..." "Cough, Mrs. Xiao, please rest for a long time. I will say goodbye now. If you want to repay me, remember to clarify to Your Majesty after entering the palace. King Heng's nonsense." Zhao Duan stood up and said goodbye. The last sentence refers to the fact that King Heng slandered and spread rumors about his acquaintance with Xiao Dong'er.
Xu Heng was too treacherous. He announced loudly in front of so many soldiers in the Shenji Camp that Zhao Duan felt that unless he killed all the soldiers, it would be difficult to hide this matter... What's more, even if the soldiers of the Shenji Camp did not say it.
But is there such rumors within the Qingzhou rebels? There is a high probability that there is.
He felt that, on the safe side, he would rather clarify with Zhenbao in person and explain it proactively to avoid being passive. "Don't worry, I dare not mess up my reputation as a willow." Xiao Dong'er's eyes dim.
You said this as if my reputation was very good... Zhao Duan smacked his lips and said goodbye and left.
…
Released the curtain and walked out of the big tent. Zhao Duan couldn't help but be stunned, and his face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot:
"What are you doing here sneakily?"
Outside the big tent, the guards guarding the gate were driven away at some point, and replaced by Chen Gui and Tang Ping who were sneakily listening to the wall.
Chen Huoshen and the young master stammered, their brains were running wildly, and they turned around and moved away in unison, pointing to a figure hidden behind the pillars outside the tent: "The commander is back, let's report!"
No mistakes, one poem, one content, one in 6, one book, one bar, one read!
At the fingers of the two, Shi Meng, who was big and thick, walked out of the hiding pillar with his teeth, faced Zhao Duan's quiet gaze, tried his best to squeeze out a smile, revealing a white teeth: "Gui, what... Don't worry, I have ordered the ban on those little boys below. The nonsense slander of King Heng on the official road will be rotten in our Shenji Camp, and will never be spread, especially to Your Majesty's ears!"
"..." Zhao Duan's face became darker, and said hard: "You...How do you know..."
Shi Meng was nervous, obviously a man as strong as a hill, dodging with a twisted look:
"Go out with you to catch the little boys of King Heng, and report to me in private... They are kind-hearted and worried that people will talk too much, so... But don't worry, Lao Shi, I am the one in our Shenji Camp, and we will naturally help you."
Aside from, Chen Gui and Tang Ping, the old and young man, a military technical supervisor, and a middle-level military officer nodded vigorously at the same time, frowned, and slapped at Mrs. Xiao in the tent, and patted her chest and promised:
"We must also keep our mouths tight!"
"..." Zhao Duan was almost carried over in one breath, and his lips were stuttering:
"I am innocent and the head of the Xiao family, never..."
The three men nodded tacitly: "Ah, yes, yes."
"..." Zhao Duan took a deep breath and asked seriously: "How loyal is this official to Your Majesty? Don't you know? Besides, she is still a widow! Which general understands the wives and concubines of others... Uh, I don't have the surname Cao!"
The three men were stunned and exchanged glances with each other: General Cao's surname? What is this allusion?
Chen Gui stroked his beard and looked at Shi Meng like a curious baby:
"Are there any comrades surnamed Cao in our army who like this?"
Tang Ping also raised his ears and looked curiously at exploring:
"It seems that there is a comrade in the Sanqian and Wu military camps. I wonder which one is talking about?"
"..." Zhao Duan waved his hand weakly: "Get out, I will report this to Your Majesty personally. As the saying goes, a gentleman is open and honest..."
The three showed disappointment: it was obvious that the governor did not trust them.
"Wait a minute," Zhao Duan saw the three of them turning around and leaving, and then realized it. He looked at Shi Meng as if he remembered it:
"I almost forgot, when did you come back? Didn't you go to pursue Wei Xianzong's subordinates?"
Shi Meng turned around, "Oh" and showed a simple and harmless smile:
"Wei Xianzong was caught back."
...
Some time.
In a camp, Zhao Duan saw Wei Xianzong who was escorted in by Shi Meng and others.
"Kneel down!"
Shi Meng hit his knees and pushed and knocked down Wei Xianzong, who was tied up in front of Zhao Duan.
Wei Xianzong, who was in the commander's seat at the age of thirty, was still wearing armor, his hair was scattered, his face was blue, and his body was stained with blood, but he was not seriously injured.
At this moment, he was tied up, kneeling on the ground, his head lowered, his eyes fell on the ground, and he remained silent.
"Raise your head and speak." Zhao Duan sat lazily on an arhat bed, his posture casually.
This Arhat bed was set up in King Heng's camp. Even if the prince was marching and fighting, he would not forget to carry comfortable seats.
Wei Xianzong lowered his head and said nothing.
"The Supervisor teaches you to raise your head, are you deaf?"
Tang Ping sneered, pulled the knife clangly, and used the blade to lift the former's chin.
Since the time when Duke Zhenguo returned to Beijing and put on the rouge horse and Tang Zhao went to fight to find Zhao Duan to defeat him, Tang Ping was convinced by Zhao Duan and evolved from the little wolf dog who was dissatisfied at the time to become a loyal dog and horse-boy.
Wei Xianzong was lifted up with his chin at the tip of the knife, and his blue and black stubble was reflected on the snow-white sword. His calm and capable face had no expression, and his eyes looked at Zhao Duan, who was lying on his side lazy. "I also know a local official, who is the governor of the canal transport of Jianchengdao. He looks very different from you, but his eyes look very similar, and he is a capable minister."
Zhao Duan was condescendingly, looking at the young general recommended by Yuan Li, and smiled: "However, what he is better than you is that even if King Jing repeatedly threatened and tempted him several times, or even threatened his wife and daughter, he did not betray the court and was disloyal to Your Majesty." Wei Xianzong remained silent.
Zhao Duan stared at him deeply and said calmly: "Aren't you going to say something?"
Wei Xianzong was silent and suddenly asked, "Did you do the firearms of Shenji Camp?"
"Please the key point, do you believe it or not, I will suck your mouth?" The young master swung his scabbard and acted to beat him.
Zhao Duan raised his hand, stopped him, smiled, and looked down at Wei Xianzong who was kneeling on the ground: "I did it, how about it?"
Wei Xianzong thought about it seriously and said:
"It's very strong. But if you are prepared, the Qingzhou army will not be defeated. Although I am defeated by you in this battle, it is not a crime of war."
Not a crime of war... Zhao Duan's eyelids twitched, and his smile curved deeper:
"I am a man with a temper, good, better than Xu Heng and his son. I am curious. Will I still be so tough when I take you back to Beijing and throw you into the imperial prison?"
He waved his hand:
"Take it down. Pass the order, leave the large army here to clean the battlefield and detain the prisoners. I will bring an elite force to escort a group of high-ranking officials of the Qingzhou rebels..."
Zhao Duan patted his butt and stood up, crossed the expressionless Wei Xianzong and walked out: "Go back to Beijing and report!"
(The end of this chapter)