Chapter 0627: Martial Power Endows Loyalty and Courage
The next day after Tang Jian's matter was settled, Li Jing and An Xinggui arrived at Chang'an City one after another.
Li Jing only brought four or five followers with him. After returning to Chang'an City, he did not return home, but went directly to Taiji Palace to resume his life.
In comparison, An Xinggui's team was spectacular. There were more than 500 cavalry accompanying them. They looked quite majestic and made Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong frown.
"What is he doing? Is he trying to show off to us?"
After An Xinggui led his cavalry in a circle in the open space at the entrance of Zhaode Hall, Li Shentong frowned and said.
Li Xiaogong snorted coldly and said: "It's just more than a hundred horses, not as many as the dogs in our house, and they dare to show off in front of us!"
The reason why Li Xiaogong was able to say this was not because Li Xiaogong was arrogant, but because Li Xiaogong had the confidence.
Because the Li family has indeed raised more than a hundred dogs. When Li Xiaogong was in Jingzhou, he even built an elephant courtyard with more than a dozen elephants in it. He didn't even bother to keep dogs, so he faced
When An Xinggui led five hundred horses to show off their power at the gate of Zhaode Hall, he not only did not feel threatened, but he despised An Xinggui's behavior from the bottom of his heart.
This is the confidence that a dynasty with strong soldiers and horses gives him, and this is also the confidence that he should have as the royal family of a dynasty with strong soldiers and horses.
If this kind of thing had happened in the Song Dynasty, especially in the Song Dynasty after Song Taizong, the royal family would have been paralyzed with fear, and the officials would have jumped out and scolded it.
But in the Tang Dynasty, no one from the royal family was frightened, and no official jumped out to scold An Xinggui for being rude.
Everyone looked at An Xinggui and his five hundred horses wandering around the entrance of Zhaode Hall as if they were watching a monkey show, and even felt that it was not enough to watch.
"You think they are showing off their power, but why do I think they are telling me that Liangzhou soldiers are still capable of fighting?"
Different positions and different strengths lead to different perspectives on problems.
When Li Shentong, Li Xiaogong and others regarded An Xinggui's behavior as a show of authority and provocation, Li Yuanji felt that An Xinggui was more like asking for a fight or telling the court that he, An Xinggui, was capable.
Even Liangzhou Erlang under An Xinggui can fight.
As a person who survived the chaos of the late Sui Dynasty intact, and as a feudal official who firmly occupied a corner of the Tang Dynasty, how could An Xinggui be a fool?
He knew very well how sharp the current military front of the Tang Dynasty was, and he also knew very well that the current civil and military forces of the Tang Dynasty had seen large-scale battles.
More than a hundred riders can't scare anyone, and they won't even be taken seriously by the important officials of the Tang Dynasty.
So how could he lead more than a hundred cavalry to provoke a group of important officials of the Tang Dynasty?
"So he is... asking for a fight?"
Li Shentong couldn't believe his ears.
Li Xiaogong still snorted coldly: "Is there such a thing as asking for a fight? Using iron cavalry in front of us and arrogantly racing to enclose the territory, I only see provocation."
Qin Qiong said with a straight face and a serious smile: "Listening to what His Highness said, it does sound a bit like asking for a fight, but running a horse in the palace, and using iron cavalry, does also sound a bit provocative."
Cai Yungong said with a cheerful smile: "Wouldn't you know the right and wrong after you ask Duke Liang when he comes? Speaking of which, when we were in Prince Qin's palace, I also had some friendship with An Yuanshou, the eldest son of Duke Liang.
I heard that the mutton in Liangzhou is the most delicious. When cooking the meat, you don’t need to add too many ingredients. You only need to set up a cauldron, add a handful of firewood, and sprinkle some salt.
The cooked mutton is not only smooth and tender, but the soup is also very delicious.
After a while, I will go to meet the Duke of Liang and fight against the autumn wind."
Cai Yungong scratched his mouth as soon as he opened his mouth, but no one laughed at him because he didn't really want to eat mutton, but was trying to smooth things over.
An Xinggui's behavior, whether it was asking for a fight or showing off his power, made Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong unhappy.
Nowadays, Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong are the leading figures in the Li clan. If they annoy these two, they will be no different than if they annoy other Li clan members.
Therefore, An Xinggui's behavior was naturally not meant to show off one's prestige, and would be treated as such afterwards.
People from Li's clan might not make things too difficult for him, but making things difficult for him is inevitable.
Now is the time for the Tang Dynasty to use An Xinggui, so it is not appropriate to have a conflict with An Xinggui. Even if you want to make things difficult for An Xinggui and clean up An Xinggui, it is not now.
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"Mr. Liang! You're tired from the journey, please get off your horse and have a drink before we talk!"
As Cai Yungong spoke, he took the initiative to meet An Xinggui and his party who had already rushed to Zhaode Hall.
An Xinggui sat on the horse, wrapped in black leather armor and a dust-proof black cloth on his face. He clasped his fists angrily and said, "I came to Beijing this time in response to your highness's summons.
Only after paying the order can you walk freely, I hope Brother Cai won't be surprised."
An Xinggui did not call Cai Yungong his official title, but instead called Cai Yungong brother.
It's not that he deliberately got close to Cai Yungong, but that he had developed this habit after dealing with soldiers in the army for a long time.
The officers and men in his army are often old and powerful, and they have not only peers but also backs. There is no one to supervise them, so they are known by their relationships both publicly and privately.
So over time, soldiers became accustomed to addressing each other as brothers, or uncles and nephews.
His status also determined that he could not nod or bow down to Cai Yungong, nor could he kowtow to Cai Yungong, so he subconsciously regarded him as a brother.
It was a bit rude to do so, but he didn't care.
He came to Chang'an with sincerity, and he believed that the people in Chang'an would also treat him with sincerity.
"You're welcome, Mr. Liang. Come forward quickly and let me introduce you to His Highness."
Cai Yungong greeted with a bright smile.
An Xinggui nodded, and under the guidance of Cai Yungong, he led five hundred horses to Li Yuanji.
An Xinggui got off his horse immediately, and the five hundred riders behind him also got off their horses.
"I, the Governor of Liangzhou, An Xinggui, come to see Your Highness!"
An Xinggui clasped his hands in his fists and knelt on the ground on one knee. The five hundred cavalrymen behind him also knelt on the ground in unison, shouting to see His Highness.
When Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong saw this, they knew that they were judging the heart of a gentleman with a villain's heart.
With An Xinggui's identity and status, there was no need to kneel down to salute Li Yuanji in informal situations.
Since An Xinggui did this, it meant that he was surrendering to Li Yuanji and willing to obey Li Yuanji's orders.
The fact that he led his troops to circle around the gate of Zhaode Palace was naturally an act to show Li Yuanji that his soldiers were still capable of fighting.
This kind of behavior is worthy of respect in the martial Tang Dynasty.
"Hahaha, Mr. Liang, there is no need to be polite, please get up quickly!"
Li Yuanji laughed and walked down the stone steps, walked quickly to An Xinggui, and dragged An Xinggui up with both hands.
He originally thought that with An Xinggui's background, qualifications, and status, it would take a lot of effort to recruit him, and it would cost a lot to force him to do things.
Unexpectedly, An Xinggui knelt down so happily, without stumbling or hesitating.
He likes people like this.
Just like I like Yu Wenbao.
Not only does he like this kind of person, but anyone in power would like this kind of person who can fight, manage local areas, and guard borders, but doesn't like to negotiate terms with the court, let alone play tricks.
Of course, there are preconditions for this.
That is, the soldiers and horses under his command cannot threaten the imperial power, nor the stability of the country and the country.
"Here comes someone! Take Mr. Liang down to wash up quickly!"
After Li Yuanji helped An Xinggui up, he immediately greeted the eunuch behind him.
Receive the wind and wash away the dust. Accept the wind and wash away the dust. It is really about catching the wind and washing the dust, not directly inviting guests to dinner.
There is a whole set of etiquette to be followed in this kind of thing.
An Xinggui has been an official for generations and knows this set of etiquette, so after thanking him, he followed the eunuch.
He left five hundred horses.
It's not that he can't take him away, but that he has already expressed his attitude to Li Yuanji, so there is no need to make any more provocative moves.
"Come here! Take these men down and treat them well!"
An Xinggui has made his attitude clear, and Li Yuanji will naturally not treat his subordinates harshly.
After all, entertaining An Xinggui and entertaining his soldiers are completely different things.
The fact that these people followed An Xinggui to the capital proves that their status in the Liangzhou army is not low. They may be An Xinggui's personal followers, or they may be An Xinggui's subordinates.
Let them blow the cold wind in front of Zhaode Hall for several hours. If they become resentful and complain in front of An Xinggui, it will also lower An Xinggui's impression of the court.
When the time comes, no matter how well the court treats An Xinggui, An Xinggui will still feel uncomfortable in his heart.
There are only a few records about An Xinggui in history. It is only recorded that he was one of the Sixteen Heroes of Wude, who defeated the Turks, and was the great-grandfather of Li Baoyu, a famous general in the Middle Tang Dynasty.
Others are rarely mentioned.
But his descendants lived to the mid-Tang Dynasty and followed Li Guangbi to put down the Anshi Rebellion.
It seems that the four generations of their ancestors and grandchildren were loyal to the Tang Dynasty. Otherwise, with the temperaments of Li Shimin, Li Zhi, and Wu Zetian, I am afraid they would not have survived the middle Tang Dynasty.
Since four generations of his ancestors and grandchildren were loyal to the Tang Dynasty, they should be treated with courtesy, even if it is unknown in the historical records, and his subordinates should be treated with courtesy.
After all, he risked his life to help the Tang Dynasty fight on the border of the Tang Dynasty. As the ruler of the Tang Dynasty, it would be chilling if he couldn't even treat him with courtesy.
Even though many good generals of the Tang Dynasty were living outside the territory, they still maintained the reputation of the Tang Dynasty. Even if they were isolated from the Tang Dynasty for decades, they still regarded themselves as Tang people and still helped the Tang Dynasty to guard the territory outside the territory. They may not have been sincerely treated by the emperors of the Tang Dynasty.
their reasons.
If you treat him as a scholar of the country, you will repay him as a scholar of the country.
It is a portrayal of many emperors and good generals of the Tang Dynasty.
In this regard, Li Yuanji was most impressed by Guo Xin, the Prince of Wuwei County in the Tang Dynasty.
That was a man who spent fifty years of blood and fire to prop up the great Tang Dynasty after the mid-Tang Dynasty.
A lonely city thousands of miles away is filled with white-haired soldiers.
He is talking about Guo Xin and Guo Xin’s subordinates.
When the Tang Dynasty was declining, they guarded the Western Regions for the Tang Dynasty for fifty years, and lost contact with the Tang Dynasty for twenty or thirty years. Even when they shed their last drop of blood for the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty did not know.
