Chapter 5 Promise (Part 1) His Majesty the Emperor likes jewelry and treasures, an obsession. When he learned that Xuzi was looking for vacancies everywhere, he said personally: Instead of bribing others, why not bribe me? Xuzi hopes that this is just
It's a joke, but one of the reasons why Yu Wenshu was still favored despite repeated defeats was that he always sent the best and most valuable things he collected to the palace.
Although the truth is not pleasant, Xuzi is no longer surprised by it. In recent days, he suddenly understood many things. In the past, he was superstitious about the words in the book. He firmly believed in eternal friendship, the preciousness of family affection, and the emperor was sage.
, the reason why there is so much suffering among the people is because the ministers with bad conduct deceived the Holy Spirit.
But now, many personal experiences have overturned those unrealistic fantasies. Now Xuzi believes more in what he has seen and heard with his own eyes. Although Master Yang once taught, sometimes what people see with their own eyes may not be the truth.
When between clarity and haziness, Xuzi is always the most confused. She doesn't know whether what she is doing is right or wrong. According to the requirements of life in the book, they are basically all wrong. But if she doesn't do this, she will be even more wrong.
"In the past two years, the treasury has been tight. I have also heard that if you are not a member of the family, you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are. It embarrasses the emperor. We ministers really feel guilty!" The same thing was said by Mr. Pei.
He always looks so grand when he comes out
"When we wiped out the bandits in Beihai last time, there was a pearl, emerald and glazed lamp among the thieves. No one has been able to afford it for several months. Why don't we present it to His Majesty, one to let the court know about the loyalty and bravery of my county's children?
, Just as General Li said, it is not a small expense for Your Majesty to reward the victorious soldiers!" After listening to Pei Caozhi's words, Zhang Xutuo took the initiative to propose
"I'm afraid that just a pearl-glazed lamp is too thin. There are millions of troops accompanying your majesty in triumph. We local officials cannot serve in front of the army, so we should collect some military pay. Beihai County was robbed by bandits this year. I heard that the new county official
Shou also collected 100,000 guan of military pay. Our Qijun has always been known as rich..." Pei Caozhi smiled and shook his head.
Before Li Xu arrived, he was still a little undecided. Since even His Majesty the Emperor's most trusted general, General Li, had proven that His Majesty's hobby is gold, silver and jewelry, the old prefect knew how to make it beautiful.
"We just collected a levy donation at the beginning of spring!" Xuzi did not dare to interfere openly with local political affairs. He muttered in a low voice to remind him that he remembered that in the spring, several colleagues in the prefecture were still scratching their heads about the people's livelihood this year. Why did they just pass the summer?
Mr. Pei suddenly became generous.
"I will send people to tell those big families that this is the last time that Goguryeo is at peace, and His Majesty will never conquer Liao again." Pei Caozhi thought about it and found a very reasonable excuse for his behavior.
"Your Majesty will not conquer Liao again?" Xuzi was not sure that if His Majesty raised troops again next year, wouldn't the old prefect have to break his promise to the people? He looked at Zhang Xutuo again, but saw Lord Tongshou shaking his head slightly.
, eyes full of hints
Xuzi knew that Zhang Xutuo was an honest official, and he also knew that Pei Caozhi was not a corrupt official without conscience. Judging from the actions of the two superiors who would rather risk being blamed by the court for the expedition to Liao at the beginning of the year than protect the local people, Xuzi knew that Zhang Xutuo was an honest official.
Their character can be called upright, but this does not prevent them from sitting together to discuss how to bribe the emperor.
From Zhang Xutuo's eyes, Xuzi knew that he should not say anything disappointing. The old prefect was willing to call him over to discuss the matter, making it clear that he did not regard him as an outsider. If he was too ignorant of praise, I am afraid that many people would be upset in the future.
Embarrassed
If you want to make a difference, you must first adapt to the environment around you
Xuzi took a deep breath and decided to compromise with the old prefect. Suddenly, he remembered Xie Yingdeng's words: In this world, the so-called officials and thieves are just that one uses a big seal when robbing, and the other uses a sword and gun when robbing.
That’s it!
"Then what does the emperor mean? Does he sit on the ground and divide the spoils?" Xuzi was startled by the sudden thought in his mind. He looked around and tried hard to make his expression less weird.
"Well, the local government will provide 100,000 yuan, and the government will transfer another 50,000 yuan to the treasury to get 150,000 yuan, a pearl emerald glass lamp, and the summer grain will be put into the warehouse soon. I will move another batch of grain that the county left in the warehouse in the spring.
, ship it to Dongdu!" Seeing that Zhang Xutuo and Li Xu had no objections, Pei Caozhi waved his hands grandly and decided
"Your Excellency, you have thought carefully!" Li Xu smiled and nodded, flattering
"Will it be safe on the road this time?" At the same time, another strange idea came to his mind. He remembered that in the spring, Qijun once defaulted on the taxes that should be sent to the court on the grounds that the road was not safe. This time, it was also sent to the court.
Heading to Luoyang, the eastern capital, we passed through so many areas where bandits were rampant. "The governor will not dispatch county soldiers to escort the congratulatory gifts to the emperor!" Xu Zi secretly smiled bitterly. If that were the case, I'm afraid he would have to meet Xu Maogong again.
He suddenly realized that he was somewhat looking forward to this
When Xu Zi and Zhang Xutuo said goodbye to the two prefects' office, the sun had already set below the mountain. The streets were very lively in the evening. People who had been busy for a day seized this rare opportunity to relax before darkness came.
Most people keep the good habit of going to bed after dark, or in other words, most of them don't have money to buy lamp oil, so the period from sunset to before dark has become the most cherished time of the day.
In good times, there are people holding wine bowls and singing on the roadside. This is one of the ways for Qijun people to express their happiness. Their happiness is always very simple. It’s good to earn an extra piece of meat, or their son’s intelligence is praised a few times.
I am very satisfied that someone is loudly telling some long-standing heroic stories. To the ears of generals like Xu Zi and Zhang Xutuo who have actually led armies, every sentence is absurd, but they always win the praise of many listeners.
Xuzi knew that he had been so satisfied before, but now he felt very empty. Compared with these people who didn't know whether the rice would be enough for next month, he had already gained a lot, but people's desires seemed to be endless, and they got more and more.
The more, the greater the expectations
Especially recently, he seems to have everything, including titles, mansions, restaurants, and women, but he feels like he can't catch anything. Sometimes he really wants to get drunk, but Qijun's wine is far worse than his uncle's private brew.
If you drink a whole jar, your eyes will still be bright.
"Zhong Jian is not happy lately?" Zhang Xutuo, who was walking slowly alongside Li Xu, saw that his beloved general was not in a good mood and asked with a smile.
"Maybe it's because of the weather. It's much hotter and more humid here than in my hometown!" Li Xu thought for a while and replied that no matter who was in my position, he wouldn't be too happy. The elder he respects the most is the thief.
, The best friend is the enemy. His Majesty, who he once relied on as a supporter, is a guy who does not keep his word, does things casually and is greedy. He thought so in his heart, but his eyes were as calm as water.
"Boy, you are very good!" Zhang Xutuo patted Xuzi with his thick palm. Both his man and horse were shorter than Li Xu, so it was very difficult to do this encouraging gesture. "Why don't you go to the roadside for a drink? Watch here
It looks a little dirty, but the food is very authentic!" After retracting his arm, he suggested loudly, and then he couldn't let the other party refuse, and directly drove the horse to the roadside.
The boy at the roadside hotel did not expect that two uninvited guests would suddenly fall from the sky. He was so shocked that even his welcome speech changed his tone, "Two gentlemen, two gentlemen, please invite me upstairs. Please take a seat upstairs."
Please come in! Xiao Qi, quickly find someone to clear a seat by the window and come out, Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhang has come to our restaurant to have a drink!"
"No, no, just go downstairs to the lobby. I love the bustle downstairs!" Zhang Xutuo was very easy-going and gave instructions without hesitation. Then he threw the horse's reins to the waiter and pulled up a bench himself.
He sat down without looking. Several guards who followed the two people into the store tried to come forward to help clear the tables, but Zhang Xutuo pulled them away with a big hand and rushed them to the other side of the street.
"You guys go find a place to eat. Don't follow me wherever you go. This is the city, not a battlefield between the two armies!" the old general pointed to another tavern opposite and ordered carelessly.
Li Xu was a little surprised. Although he often helped his uncle's shop before joining the army, since he became an officer, he rarely invited people to drink in the lobby on the ground floor. First, it was too noisy here, and he had to shout loudly to speak clearly. Second, the waiter
The waiter also doesn't respect the people at the bottom. He always has to ask for more dishes. Another point is Xuzi's own vanity. After getting money, he instinctively hopes that he can live more comfortably and be more respected by others.
Son
But now that Zhang Xutuo sat down, he had to follow suit. The two soldiers next to Xuzi saw this and took the initiative to sit down with Zhang Xutuo's soldiers without waiting for instructions from their superiors. They chose to be as close to the entrance as possible.
There are two taverns with seven or eight tables each, facing each other across a street. If there is any danger here, Zhang Xutuo and Li Xu can rush over at any time.
"Bring a jar of freshly baked beans, a plate of bad beans, and other dishes to go with the wine. Choose some of the freshest ones." Zhang Xutuo was obviously very familiar with the food at the roadside shop. He didn't read the water sign handed to him by the waiter and just said it casually.
command
"A jar of freshly baked beans, a plate of bad beans, and the others are available for you to choose from!" Due to excitement, the young waiter's voice was long and loud, causing the surrounding drinkers to turn around and look at the two men with interest.
The nobles who were wearing the uniforms of military officers but were drinking among them soon recognized the names of these two people and boldly raised their wine bowls to this side: "Master Zhang, come and drink from my newly opened bottle."
, it hasn’t been touched yet!”
Zhang Xutuo smiled and clasped his fists in return, "Everyone, please be patient, my wine will be here in a minute!"
"Master Zhang, drink mine first!" The drinkers who received the response became even more excited. They picked up the wine jars in front of them and greeted Zhang Xutuo.
"Everyone, take care of yourself. I'm treating you today, so I can't borrow other people's wine!" Zhang Xutuo pointed at Li Xu and used the other person as the reason for his refusal.
"Then please take your time, sir. We won't force you! If there is a chance in the future, I will definitely serve you a bowl." The drinkers turned their heads and returned to the previous bustle.
A long-lost warmth emerged in Xuzi's heart. He found that he actually liked the comfortable life lived by the drinkers. In other words, he still missed the life at the bottom. The years after joining the army made him live a wonderful life.
, but will never have the chance to live in peace and harmony. However, Mr. Zhang Xutuo has easily combined the two lives in one place. Seeing him sitting lazily on a greasy stool, it is difficult for anyone to understand.
He was connected with the all-around old general in the officialdom.
"I'm a little disappointed that I missed the last opportunity to conquer Liao, aren't you?" After the food and wine were served, Zhang Xutuo sifted a bowl for himself and asked while drinking.
"A bit!" Li Xu followed Zhang Xutuo's example and poured himself a bowl of wine, took a swig, and responded.
"To be honest, I heard from you last year that His Majesty wanted to transfer the two of us to Liaodong. I was also looking forward to the result. Later, the Emperor had other arrangements." Zhang Xutuo dug a pod with his hands and threw the emerald green beans into his mouth.
The words became a little slurred, but the meaning was very clear, "I'm not willing to accept it, but I don't care, forget it, don't say it. This is my routine. I have encountered many similar things in my life, so I have become numb!"
"It was the last general who accidentally passed on the message!" Li Xu put down his wine bowl and apologized. The arrangement that the two of them would be transferred to Liaodong at the same time was revealed to Zhang Xutuo personally. He didn't expect that His Majesty the Emperor had such a poor memory.
"It's none of your business." Zhang Xutuo quickly peeled the pods with his thick fingers and ate them with gusto. "I know the tricks in the court much better than you." He sipped another bowl of wine, savoring the sweet and spicy flavor as if in memory.
taste
The old general seemed to be very disappointed with the court. Li Xu held the wine bowl and keenly guessed Zhang Xutuo's thoughts. The people in the tavern were very mixed. This was really not a place suitable for exchanging feelings. If someone accidentally overheard it, he would stab him later.
Asahi knew that she was a little too cautious, but no matter who has suffered so much, I am afraid that there are enemies hidden everywhere.
"When you are an official in this dynasty, you must first look at your family background. Some people are born as princes, and some people will never get a title in their lifetime!" Zhang Xutuo spit out the breath of alcohol and continued to criticize unscrupulously "You are so lucky.
Guy, let alone anyone else, I feel jealous just looking at you!"
"I know that I am able to get to where I am today, all thanks to His Majesty's appreciation, and several adults have mentioned it!"
"You have the ability and others can talk nonsense about it. Shu Bao and I have witnessed your ability with our own eyes. You can't close your eyes and tell lies!"
"Shu Bao, Shi Xin and several of my colleagues are ten times more talented than me, and my lord's ability is beyond compare!"
"You don't have to be modest. Shu Bao, Shi Xin and Chong Mu are all on par with you in terms of ability. As for me, I could compete with you when I was young, but now I don't dare to boast!" Zhang Xutuo smiled and said,
Speaking of Xinbao Jinchong, he drank a little too quickly, so his face started to turn red.
But Li Xu knew that what came out of Mr. Zhang's mouth at this moment was by no means drunken words, "Chongmu was born with a title, so he cannot be considered an uncle. Shixin, like you, wants to gain fame with his skills."
When I was young, I had the same thoughts as you. Now that I am old, my ambition for fame has faded a little, but I still can’t fully see through it.” The old general said intermittently, as if he was chatting with an old friend he hadn’t seen for many years.
Worrying about something
"Like you, I don't want to stay in a place and deal with bandits and bandits all my life!" He tapped the table with his fingers, making a "dong dong" sound. At this time, Xuzi admired Zhang Xutuo for choosing a place to drink, no matter what.
The person's voice was high and low just now. The guests at the surrounding tables were chatting and laughing among themselves, and their attention was never attracted by the topics here.
"The kindness you have maintained over the years will definitely be engraved in the hearts of the people!" Li Xu saw that General Zhang was a little drunk, so he put aside his own worries and comforted him with a smile.
"Ende?" Zhang Xutuo's eyes lit up again, and his smile was very interesting. "General Li, are you really the queen of Air Force General Li Guang?" This time he did not peel the pods, but crossed his fingers and held them. question on chin
"According to the genealogy, I should be the twenty-fifth generation descendant of Flying General!" Li Xulu was stunned for a moment and replied that Xu Maogong once taught him that the descendants of Flying General Li Guang are a golden sign. Since it is true, he must not hide it. Not letting anyone know
"Are you sure?" Zhang Xutuo smiled, his eyes watery
"This is how the family tree is compiled!" Li Xu replied with a smile, raising his wine to cover his sight. Whether the family tree is accurate is actually open to question. Just like Tang Gong Li Yuan could become Li Hao, King of Liang Wuzhao, and Fei Fei at the same time. The descendants of General Li Guang, the Shanggu Li family, also listed Li Hao as one of their outstanding figures. However, in fact, Li Hao may have more Huns blood, but there may not necessarily be a connection with Li Guang.
"The family tree says that I am a descendant of Zhang Zhao. There are a lot of famous ancestors, but when I was a child, I had to beg my family for days if I wanted to eat a bowl!" Zhang Xutuo pointed to a pile of pods in front of him and smiled. explain
"I'm about the same! I have to wait until the Chinese New Year to wear new clothes!" He picked up the wine jar and filled the wine bowls in front of each other. Zhang Xutuo's words just now brought the relationship between the two closer to those of their youth. Although life is a bit bitter, recalling it is full of warmth
