The first month of winter is not a good time to go out. Even if you go out, you should be more comfortable by riding a carriage. After all, there is a carriage that is protected from the wind and rain, so you will not be destroyed by the cold wind like riding a horse.
However, due to the urgent military situation, there were many things in Xuzhou that needed Shen Yi to deal with, so he didn't waste much time along the way. He traveled 600 miles by horseback and boat, and it took only six days to get there.
This speed is not slow at all. Not to mention Shen Yi, even some of his entourage can't bear it. Jiang Sheng was even sickened by the cold wind and started to have a fever after crossing the Huaihe River.
However, because the distance was not far away, Shen Yi still took him to Xuzhou.
On the afternoon of the 21st of the first lunar month, Mr. Shen arrived in Xuzhou Prefecture.
The Huai'an Army in the city had known about his itinerary. Not long after Shen Yi entered Xuzhou Mansion, the cavalry of the Huai'an Army rushed out and lined up on both sides of the official road to welcome him.
The three generals of the Huai'an Army rode out of the city to meet each other. After seeing Shen Yi, whose face was blue from the cold, the three of them looked at each other, dismounted, half-knelt on the ground, and bowed their heads in salute: "I've seen Mr. Shen! "
Mr. Shen rubbed his hands, exhaled a breath of mist, and said: "It's cold outside, so I won't be polite to you. Get on your horse first, and we'll talk about it after we enter the city."
Having said this, Shen Yi looked behind him at Jiang Sheng, who was already a little pale, and said, "Jiang Sheng is sick. Find a carriage to make it warmer and slowly take him into the city."
Ling Su nodded immediately, turned back to look at Liu Mingyuan who was following him, and shouted: "Go find the carriage quickly."
Liu Mingyuan bowed his head respectfully and said yes.
Xue Wei glanced at Shen Yi who was riding on the horse and was a little worried: "Mr. Shen, your face doesn't look too good either. Let's go into the city in a carriage. Although there are many things in the city, there is nothing particularly urgent. Don't be in a hurry. It’s half a day and a day.”
Shen Yi shook his head slightly and said in a deep voice: "We have been through a lot of wind and frost all the way. It won't be long before we all get on our horses."
"If you go to the city earlier, you can warm up for a while."
After saying that, Master Shen reached out and patted the neck of his horse, and then gently shook the reins.
The horse came all the way, sweating all over and steaming with heat. After being urged by Shen Yi, it took the lead and ran towards Xuzhou City.
In the evening, the group finally arrived at the gate of Xuzhou City.
At this time, the city gates of Xuzhou were wide open, because it gets dark early in winter. Although it was only the beginning of the Youshi period, the sky was already a little dark. Many Huaian soldiers spontaneously lit torches to welcome Shen Yi's return.
After seeing Shen Yi, many people also learned to call him Mr. Shen.
As soon as Shen Yi's horse arrived at the city gate, he saw a familiar figure waiting for him at the city gate with flickering lights. He quickly dismounted, held his hands from a distance and said, "Why are you here, senior brother, on such a cold night?"
Zhang Jian slightly raised his hand in return and said with a smile: "If I don't welcome Shangguan, won't I be unable to continue my job as the prefect of Xuzhou?"
Shen Yi smiled hoarsely: "Senior brother, don't make fun of me."
Zhang Jian looked at Mr. Shen's still unattractive face, shook his head slightly, and sighed: "Most of the other court officials go out in sedan chairs, or at worst, in cars or boats. But you, Shen Ziheng, came on horseback. of."
"It's really hard in winter."
Although the trip lasted only a few days, Mr. Shen did suffer a lot, not to mention the cold and frostbite on his ears.
"Military sentiment is as strong as fire and we dare not neglect it."
Mr. Shen was very optimistic. He pulled Zhang Jian's sleeve and said, "If I come here slowly, I'm afraid spring will have already begun by the time I get to Xuzhou."
Zhang Jian also smiled and said, "Who told you to love home? You are sent back home every year. Other generals who return to Jiankang once every three years are already considered diligent in their return."
Shen Yi shook his head: "Senior brother, what you said is wrong."
He said sternly: "I'm going back to Jiankang not just to visit my family, but also to do many things. If I don't go back, how will I be able to do it?"
Zhang Jian heard this and glanced at him.
"Then, has Zi Heng accomplished my matter?"
"about there."
Shen Yi said with a smile: "Your Majesty personally promised that after the New Year, he would personally select Jinshi to serve as officials in Huaibei. Counting the days, the selection has almost started now, but those scholars cannot come all the way on horseback like me. , I estimate that senior brother will have to wait for them for a month or two."
"In addition to filling the vacancy of officials, Huaibei's education, the promotion of copper coins, and the salt, iron, grain, and copper official camps, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites have all nodded, and it is only a matter of time before they are implemented."
To put it bluntly, these things are about transforming the land that has been occupied.
From all aspects of education, currency, and people's livelihood, we must turn this land into the land of Dachen and the rear of Dachen.
Zhang Jian was overjoyed when he heard this and said with a smile: "In this way, I, the magistrate of Xuzhou, will be useful."
The two junior brothers were talking and walking towards the city. After walking for a while, Shen Yi looked back at the three people Ling Xuesu and Su behind him, waved and said: "Follow me, I'm going to the prefect's Yamen for a drink today. Just take advantage of the yamen’s food.”
The three generals looked at each other, nodded in agreement, and followed the two brothers all the way to the prefect's Yamen.
The Huai'an Army now has almost complete control over Xuzhou, so having a meal and a meal is not a problem. Not long after the five people arrived at the magistrate's Yamen, a table of hot meals was already placed in a side hall of the magistrate's Yamen. .
Four stoves were lit in the room, making it as warm as spring.
Shen Yi sat on the main seat, Zhang Jian sat on his left, Ling Su sat on his right, and Su Ding and Xue Wei sat opposite Shen Yi.
Before you know it, the small dining table has taken shape.
The five people here represent the highest power of the Huai'an Army.
Of course, Shen Yi accounts for the largest proportion among them. He alone accounts for more than 50%, and can basically achieve absolute control over the Huai'an Army.
After sitting down, the five people raised their glasses together. After taking a sip of wine, Mr. Shen sat down first and said with a smile: "We haven't seen each other for almost a month. There are many things that I can't explain clearly in the letter. Is there anything that I need to deal with urgently? Let’s say it face to face now.”
"Let's talk while eating."
The three generals put down their wine glasses at the same time and looked at Zhang Jian who was sitting next to him. Zhang Fuzun touched his nose, yawned and said, "Ziheng, I'm a little tired, you guys eat first."
Shen Yi grabbed his sleeve and said with a smile: "Senior brother is one of our own, there is no need to be taboo, just say whatever you want."
Zhang Jian then sat down again and didn't speak, just minding his own food.
After Ling Su thought for a while, he said: "Mr. Shen, before you left at the end of last year, the reorganization of the Huai'an Army was initially completed, but..."
"There are too many people from the Forbidden Army and the Huaihe Navy."
He looked at Shen Yi and whispered: "The total number has even exceeded the number of the Huai'an Army. Moreover, the people in the Huaihe Navy are somewhat at odds with our Huai'an Army, and those who came from the Forbidden Army are somewhat arrogant."
"Until now, we haven't gotten along very well..."
Shen Yi frowned and asked, "Fight?"
Ling Su nodded awkwardly and said, "Yes..."
"In this month of the New Year, there have been many fights and fights, and several people have been seriously injured..."
"Anyone who fights will be kicked out."
He put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice: "No matter what position they hold now or what official position they held in the Huaihe Navy or the Forbidden Army in the past, they will all be fired and driven back to Jiankang and handed over to the court for processing."
"We in the Huai'an Army are also expelled if they cause trouble."
As a general, Ling Su can naturally handle trivial matters such as fights among his subordinates. However, since he has reported to Shen Yi, it shows that things are not as simple as they appear.
Most of them were the generals of the Forbidden Army and the Huaihe Navy, who had conflicts with the generals of the Huai'an Army, so they put him in trouble.
Now, with Shen Yi's authorization, he felt a lot more confident.
General Ling lowered his head slightly and said yes.
Shen Yi looked at Su Ding and Xue Wei again and asked: "Is this the same in your army?"
Su Ding nodded slightly.
Xue Wei said: "Among my subordinates, there are fewer of them."
Xue Wei often hangs out with his subordinates, drinking and boxing. In comparison, his subordinates get along with each other in the most harmonious way.
In this way, everyone talked to each other and talked about all the difficult problems. Shen Yi could basically give suggestions on how to deal with them on the spot. If there were any problems that were not easy to handle, he would write them down and deal with them slowly.
A welcoming banquet turned into a work meeting.
It wasn't until late at night that the five of them had almost eaten. Mr. Shen picked up the wine glass and said, "Here, let's drink."
By this time, he was already flushed from drinking and was half or six points drunk.
The three generals looked at each other and then at Zhang Jian. After Su Ding coughed, he said: "Mr. Shen, you have been traveling hard these days. It is not suitable to drink so much wine at this time. We will give it to you." Let’s go back and rest?”
Zhang Jian also stood up and said with a smile: "General Su is right. Ziheng drank a little too much today. Go back and have a good sleep. If anything happens, we will continue talking tomorrow."
Ling Su also stood up and gave Shen Yi a few words of advice.
Mr. Shen was not a good drinker at all. He drank with them just to liven up the atmosphere. Seeing that everyone was trying to persuade him, he lost interest in drinking. After putting down his glass, he raised his hand to Zhang Jian and said, "In that case, I Don’t bother senior brother.”
"Go back first."
"We brothers..."
Mr. Shen burped and said, "Let's meet again tomorrow."
Zhang Jian nodded with a smile, and then sent Shen Yi away from the prefect's Yamen, watching the three generals send him back to the "office".
That is Master Shen's residence in Xuzhou.
The three people walked Shen Yi to the door of the bedroom, helped Shen Yi open the door, and after sending Shen Yi in, they turned around and walked away in a hurry.
Mr. Shen supported the wall with his hands, his steps were a little unsteady, and he stumbled to the table in the room and sat down.
A faint fragrance came from the tent.
After Master Shen smelled the aroma, he looked around with some doubts.
But it was too dark in the room to see clearly.
He took out the fire stick and lit the candle on the table.
After the fire slowly lit up, a soft voice with a hint of grievance sounded from behind Shen Yi and floated into Master Shen's ears.
"Son..."
After saying these two words, the voice seemed a little sad, with a hint of resentment in the voice.
"You can be considered as coming back from Jiankang..."
Shen Yi turned around abruptly, with 40% to 50% of his alcoholism gone.
Under candlelight.
A tall woman dressed in white was sitting on his bed, looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"Why are you here..."
After Master Shen said these three words, he suddenly remembered what the emperor had said to him, so he stopped abruptly.