Chapter 188 Rushing to the scene
The army retreated at a very fast speed.
Gou Xi was among the first to evacuate. He still returned to Yanzhou and sent his brother Gou Chun to send more than 10,000 troops eastward to Qingzhou in an attempt to suppress Wang Mi.
Liu Yu withdrew on the fifth day of September. The soldiers from all counties returned to their respective counties, and Ding Zhuang from Sizhou returned home one after another.
Shao Xun was the last to leave.
Big cars and small cars, big and small bags, it’s like moving.
Some people saw it and ridiculed him for being greedy for money, because he wanted everything - the pottery pots and porcelain for eating and drinking were all shipped away.
While passing by Jijun, I had a chat with the prefect Yu Chen.
Yu Chen's attitude improved a lot. He looked at Shao Xun's appearance many times during the conversation, but he didn't know why.
At the end of September, Luoyang is already in sight.
The Silver Spear Army and the Yamen Army were stationed outside the Daxia Gate in the north of the city. Shao Xun personally led more than a hundred soldiers inside.
After a long time, I felt a lot of emotion when I saw Jin Yong City and Daxia Gate again.
On September 30th, the emperor summoned Shao Xun into the palace in a hurry.
This time the occasion of the audience was more casual. The emperor held a banquet on the Hualin Garden boat to entertain the ministers.
When he heard the sound of silk and bamboo, Shao Xun suddenly remembered that the emperor had rewarded his female singer again.
Except Lan Ji, there are seven others.
He had seen the first few, and one of them was prettier than Lan Ji, but he couldn't arouse much interest and thought about marrying them to meritorious soldiers in a few days. It's good for them, and it's good for the soldiers.
"General Shao, this way." Wang Yan, the emperor's uncle and regular servant of Sanqi, waved from a distance and got off the boat to greet him personally.
"Wang Sanqi is polite."
"The general does not need to be polite."
After greeting each other, the two got on the cruise ship one after another.
The sound of silk and bamboo in the cabin is even more pleasant, and there is also the graceful figure of the dancer, occasionally mixed with the laughter of men.
"Your Majesty, Shao Xun." This time, without the armor, Shao Xun had no choice but to prostrate himself to the ground.
Well, the scene seemed familiar, and from the corner of Shao Xun's eyes, he caught a glimpse of the gorgeous skirt in front of him.
These gorgeous, noble, majestic and beautiful long dresses have a fatal attraction for him.
"You stand up quickly and tell me about the battle of Feixiang." Emperor Sima Chi had already drank a lot, and when he saw Shao Xun, he laughed heartily.
A palace official led Shao Xun to several cases.
After Shao Xun sat down, he said: "Your Majesty, the victory of Feixiang was due to the emperor's great kindness. The soldiers served their lives well, and I really dare not take the credit."
Sima Chi took the white jade wine glass and talked with him. Wang Yan looked at each other and smiled.
"Why should a prince be humble in front of the emperor? Are he worried that he will not be rewarded?" Wang Yan pretended to laugh boldly.
To be honest, Shao Xun didn't find anything funny.
However, the emperor obviously wanted to know the inside story, and Empress Liang also looked at him curiously. Shao Xun's old habit of high-quality men broke out, and he couldn't help but show off, so he told the inside story in detail.
After a long time, everyone's attention was attracted. Even the female musician who was playing glanced at him from time to time, and the dancer was also a little distracted.
“Riding alone into the battle, seizing the medal and returning, commanding again, and defeating the bandit army, even though he was a famous general in ancient times, he was nothing more than that.” The emperor sighed, picked up the wine glass, and said: “For fat "Drink from this cup, you thief."
"Drink from this cup." Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.
Shao Xun then had time to look at everyone in the cabin.
I have seen most of them, and I can even call out their names and official positions one by one. After all, I am not a general in the palace for nothing.
Some people raised their glasses to him, such as Shangshu Zuopu shot Liu Tun.
There are also people who turn a blind eye to him, such as Shangshu's right servant shooting Xunfan.
Generally speaking, these royalists had a friendly attitude towards him, and their intention to win over him was very obvious.
"Shao Qing is so talented, it is really a blessing for the country." The emperor put down his wine glass and said with a smile: "Tell me, what reward do you want?" I dare to invite you." Shao Xun said.
It’s not that you can’t take the emperor’s reward. You can give it secretly, but this is a public occasion. If you take it, you will obviously stand in line. He will not do this.
After hearing this, Sima Chi's expression did not change. He smiled at Wang Yan and others and said, "How can it be that Shao Qing has achieved this without a reason? He has kept the path firmly and behaved correctly. I can see it now."
Wang Yan, Gao Guang, Liu Tun and others repeatedly said yes, talking and laughing.
The normal banquet lasted until dusk, and Shao Xunfang had the opportunity to retire.
The person who opened the door for him was Miao Yuan, the general in the palace.
"The prince is now a popular person." Miao Yuan felt a little sour, but also a little happy. After all, they were in trouble together.
Shao Xun chatted with him for a while outside the palace city.
"In a few days, gather together the old brothers who killed Zhang Fang and went to Guanzhong together and have a drink." Shao Xun took Miao Yuan's hand and said.
Miao Yuan's eyes lit up and he immediately smiled and said: "This is easy to hear. Everyone has already said that we would get together."
Shao Xun nodded and asked again: "What are the various departments of the Forbidden Army like now? ?”
“The Taifu has hired a lot of people, but they are fighting for power and greed for money and food, so no one cares about it,” Miao Yuan said with a sigh.
The situation is similar to what I have grasped.
Shao Xun frowned. Sure enough, any troops would be in trouble if they were left in Sima Yue's hands.
When the Forbidden Army only had 20,000 people, he was in charge of a quarter of it, conducting strict training and regular drills.
When it expanded to more than 30,000 people, the training was considered normal. After absorbing a large number of veterans of the defeated Chinese army, it was even possible to pull out a few high-quality troops to fight tough battles.
The Forbidden Army currently has more than 50,000 and close to 60,000, but they have been beaten beyond recognition.
Logically speaking, as the Forbidden Army has been established for a longer period of time, with strict management and normal training, its combat effectiveness will gradually increase. But the reality is that it is internally divided and its military is disorganized.
Shao Xun had heard complaints from Yang Bao and others before, and Mi Huang, who served as the Sili Colonel in Beijing, also mentioned it. After meeting Miao Yuan today and having a conversation, it was basically confirmed.
If we continue like this, what will we use to defend Luoyang in the future?
Luoyang is not safe, and the family business he has been struggling with in Liang County and Guangchengze is also in danger - to put it harshly, Luoyang is Shao's shield, and he does not want this shield to be broken soon.
******
Stayed in Shao Mansion for one night and was about to go out to buy gifts and visit Cao Fu, Mi Huang and others respectively, when Tang Jian came to report: Sikong Wang Yan invited a banquet .
Shao Xun hesitated and agreed.
There are so many famous people, so he sighed in a pretentious manner while rushing to the venue.
Before, he would not have anything to do with these people at all. His life was monotonous training and fighting.
Whenever I open my eyes every day, I see the smelly feet of the sergeants. As soon as I closed my eyes, there was the sound of the sergeants grinding their teeth.
It was as if his world was missing a big chunk from others.
It's different now.
The banquet was held at a farmyard outside the city, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with pleasant scenery.
When he arrived, the palace servants led him into the courtyard, where he saw a group of old and young chatting.
Wang Yan waved his hand to signal everyone not to talk mysteriously, and then introduced them one by one.
Wang Han and Wang Chuhong were the sons of Wang Ji, the censor and censor.
Wang Dun and Wang Chuzhong needless to say, I have met Shao Xun several times. He is easy-going on the surface, but not on the inside.
Wang Han and Wang Dun were both sons of Wang Ji, and their mother was from the Taiyang clan.
There are also Wang Shu, Wang Chuming and Wang Sui, Wang Chuzhong, the sons of Wang Hui, the imperial censor.
Shao Xun greeted these young masters one by one and observed silently.
He didn't understand Wang Han, but judging from his appearance and temperament, and listening to a few words, he initially felt that he was similar in temperament to his younger brother Wang Dun.
Well, Wang Dun was already looking at him with a bad look.
Shao Xun was stunned and subconsciously fiddled with the dried dates in his hand. Wang Dun's eyes became even more unkind.
What happened to dried dates? What's bothering you?
Shao Xun picked up one, stuffed it into his mouth and chewed it.
Wang Yan patted Wang Dun's hand gently, and then said: "The prince is twenty years old, do you have a cousin?"
"No." Shao Xun said.
Biaozi is usually given by elders and masters, but Shao Xun has not had this opportunity yet.
He thought about it yesterday and planned to ask Cao Fu to choose a name for him to further deepen the relationship between the two parties.
Shao Xun was a little surprised when Wang Yan mentioned it now, how dare you take advantage of me?
Fortunately, Wang Yan did not mention this matter again. He changed the topic and said: "The prince defeated the bandit army in Hebei. He is obviously familiar with military affairs, but he doesn't know how to treat Wang Mi?"
"Wang Mi was defeated twice, rose up twice, and quickly raised more than ten thousand troops. If nothing else, there must be hundreds or even thousands of old thieves around him. If these people are not eliminated, Wang Mi cannot be eliminated. "Having said this, Shao Xun glanced at Wang Dun and said: "I heard that Wang Shijun will go to Qingzhou as an official, and he may meet Wang Mi. If he is not good, he will suffer a loss. "
Wang Dun's face. His smile has returned, but his mood is unknown.
Wang Han was not as good at showing off as Wang Dun. When he saw Shao Xun, a soldier who was a soldier, calm and talkative, and seemed not to take Wang Dun seriously, he suddenly felt a little stupid and even more angry.
Where a person puts himself, it is not just about showing off. It comes from the inner confidence and is a natural self-confidence - to put it bluntly, if I make you unhappy, what can you do to me?
Shao Xun was not pretending, Wang Han could still see this, but this made him particularly angry.
Wang Shu and Wang Sui remained calm and watched quietly.
To put it bluntly, today's gathering is just preliminary contact, and neither party will talk about anything substantive.
You have to go back and forth a few times to test things out, and only after both parties have a clear idea, will the clan brother look for an opportunity to make things clear.
Shao Xun is indeed as domineering as the rumors say.
The servants brought wine and food, and everyone sat on the ground in the courtyard and talked as if they were on a trip.
In a side hall at the back of the courtyard, Wang Jingfeng moved a low table, stood on tiptoes, and looked quietly into the courtyard from the top of the screen.
Her eyes swept around and finally locked on one person.
The look is resolute - a bit ugly!
The skin color is the same as that of Tian Shefu who works in the fields all year round - too dark!
While sitting there, he occasionally raised his right hand and waved it once or twice, but his left hand was always lowered, very close to the handle of the knife - Shacai!
What kind of person is this!
"Wang Mi, the bandit, was defeated twice. Now Goudao General is in charge of all the military forces in Qingyan. Would you rather not destroy him?" Wang Dun asked.
"You will find out when you leave." Shao Xun said with a smile.
Wang Jingfeng didn't want to read it because she was a little worried that her uncle Wang Dun would get angry.
"Ayu, what are you doing?" A surprised voice sounded next to him.
Wang Jingfeng was frightened and became unstable. He fell down on the spot and landed on his face in humiliation.
"Uncle..." Wang Jingfeng was so painful that tears flowed out.
The person who came was her aunt, Princess Xiangcheng, Sima Xiuyao, who was looking at her helplessly.
The maids stepped forward and pulled Wang Jingfeng up.
Wang Jingfeng limped a few times, and then was pulled into the inner room by Sima Mao.
“Were you eavesdropping just now?” Sima Maoyao looked at Wang Jingfeng who was rubbing his face and asked.
Wang Jingfeng woke up from a dream and said hurriedly: "Auntie, be careful, there is Wang Mi's rebellion in Qingzhou, I heard it is very fierce. There are a thousand thieves around, and everyone is eight feet tall..."
Sima Mao laughed and said, "Are you going to say that they can control the wind and rain?"
Wang Jingfeng was stunned and couldn't continue.
The maids also snickered.
Princess Xiangcheng was Emperor Wu's favorite daughter. When she came to surrender to Wang Dun, her dowry was ten times that of other princesses.
Because of Sima Xiu's status, the maids were a little proud of their favor, and they once laughed at the consort Wang Dun.
As for whether Wang Dun holds a grudge in his heart, it's hard to say. At least so far, he has not taken action due to the princess' favor.
"Who did you listen to?" Sima Maoyao asked amusedly.
“Shaoxun, Marquis of Luyang, is that Ah Hei.” Wang Jingfeng said.
“Stop talking nonsense!” Sima Mao scolded.
Ah Hei is the nickname of Prince Consort Wang Dun. How can he be so proud of him?
"Don't worry, uncle You was a left-back general and has a good military strategy. Everything will be fine." Looking at Wang Jingfeng's worried eyes, Sima Maoyao smiled and said, "He will protect you. Mine.”
Of course, it’s just talk.
She had no idea what her consort would do when she was in real danger. They had been quarreling over the years, and her husband even wanted to take the opportunity to execute his dowry maid.
Being so petty and unyielding, if that Lu Yanghou offended her husband, he would probably always be hated.
Today's gathering should be a special invitation to Marquis Lu Yang, with the intention of testing and winning over.
But Lu Yanghou showed his talents, but he didn’t know the effect.
Sima Mao shook his head and pulled Wang Jingfeng away. These things are not something that women should worry about. They just need to marry and obey their husbands, and have a man take care of them.
A Yu does have some good looks. After being a widow for many years, will she be forced to get married in the future?
Maybe, it’s not a bad thing. Sima Mao sighed secretly. He was troubled and found it difficult to tell others.
(End of this chapter)