"This boy is just following the stick!" Eunuch Wen, who was worried about Xu Zi's performance just now, was stunned. Two things have shocked him so far today. First, His Majesty heard someone mention the first battle of Liaodong.
There is no anger. Secondly, the overall performance of the young man who looks careless so far is not only not green, but also very good at getting close to His Majesty.
Immediately afterwards, something happened that shocked Wen Qiao for the third time. After listening to Xu Zi's confession, Yang Guang did not ignore this obvious flattery with a smile or laughter like before, but
He stood up, walked to Li Xu, and pressed his shoulders with both hands.
"I believe you!" Facing the frank Li Xu, His Majesty the Sui Emperor Yang Guang also had a frank face.
"Your Majesty!" Li Xu and Wen Ciao shouted at the same time. Li Xu's voice was full of gratitude, but Wen Ciao's voice was filled with dissatisfaction. As an emperor, he must remain aloof and maintain a sense of distance from his ministers. In this way,
It is in line with his status as a proud son of heaven and different from ordinary people. And Yang Guang's standing and pressing is equivalent to him descending from the clouds and falling into the mortal world. From then on, he is no different from the ordinary people in the world.
"One knife!" Yang Guang turned around and rolled his eyes at Wen Qiu. Eunuch Wen knew that he was being presumptuous, so he quickly lowered his head and lowered his hands to his knees. Yang Guang did not dwell on his rudeness and turned his head towards Li Xu,
Smiling and asking: "Do you know why I believe you?"
At this time, Xu Zi was moved to tears. Hearing His Majesty the Emperor's question, he couldn't help being stunned and replied smoothly: "I don't know, please give me some advice!"
"Because you are honest!" Yang Guang pressed Li Xu's shoulder down again, motioning him to sit down, then turned around and slowly walked towards his "dragon chair". He was wearing a knurled silk robe today.
, the material is a bit soft and sticks to the body, unabashedly exposing the slightly hunched back. Yang Guang ignored his imperial dignity and said with a smile as he walked: "I just like your sincerity.
You know clearly that Li Yuan is not favored by me, but you still insist on recognizing him as a clan uncle. You know clearly that Master Yang is a prisoner of the imperial court, and yet you dare to secretly let him go..."
Before Yang Guang could finish his words, Xu Zi was so frightened that he jumped up from his seat again. Yu Wenshu didn't mention Master Yang's matter explicitly, and the minions of the Yuwen family also made vague remarks when impeaching him, without giving any details. Promotion
After the results of the promotion came out, Xu Zi thought that the matter had just passed by in a blur. Unexpectedly, Yang Guang actually knew everything about it and was not confused by the rumors that were both true and false.
"The last general's crime deserves to be punished by your Majesty!" Thinking of this, the hairs all over Li Xu's body stood up. He stood in front of Yang Guang with his fists tightly clasped, motionless, and did not dare to take a breath for a moment.
"It's good if you admit your guilt. Am I the blind and deaf person?" Yang Guang's voice alternated between hot and cold, and instantly drifted from the mortal world to the clouds. Others walked around to the "Dragon Chair", but they didn't
He sat down hurriedly, supported his hands on the imperial desk, and looked at Li Xu carefully again. It wasn't until he saw obvious beads of sweat rolling down his forehead that he sighed and whispered: "I'm not deaf."
I'm not blind, I just don't want to be more serious with you ministers. If I wanted to punish you, you would already be in prison at this moment. You deliberately deceived me, and you could be promoted to a noble position. How can you be like this in the world?
Good thing? As for Yang Ji, you don’t have to worry. Yang Xuangan has already been defeated. What kind of trouble can Yang Ji, an old man in his sixties, stir up? I have already made an order. His guilt is not obvious, it is just a temporary
Those who have been deceived by the rebels will not be held accountable."
"Why don't you thank me quickly!" Eunuch Wenqiu shouted in support.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!" Li Xu raised his hands to his eyebrows, took a step forward, knelt down on his knees, and bent his head deeply. The change at this moment was too sudden, and he felt as if he was in the middle of life and death.
I walked away for a while. I was so confused that I had no time to think of any correct response.
But Yang Guang directly left the steps for him, not only letting him go, but also giving his mentor a way out. This profound kindness cannot but be engraved in Xu Zi's heart.
"Get up, sit down and talk!" Yang Guang waved his hand and ordered.
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty!" Li Xu still lowered his head for a moment, then straightened his upper body, still raised his hands to the level of his eyebrows, raised his knees, hung his hands by his side, and walked back to his seat respectfully.
This is a complete ceremony of bowing one's head, which is used between the monarch and his ministers. When Xuzi went to court several times, he did it perfunctorily. Only this time, his respect came from deep in his heart, heavy and pious.
Yang Guang saw all of Xu Zi's every move. Whether it was the previous panic or the later gratitude, none of the young man's reactions were unexpected. Yang Guang also used similar methods on other courtiers.
However, whether it is the intimate Yu Wenshu or the kind-hearted Yu Shiji, the panic and gratitude on their bodies are all fake, and it is obvious at a glance that they are fake. Only the young man in front of him has real respect for him.
Now, I sincerely expressed my gratitude to Jun En. This made Yang Guang feel much better, and he also felt that he still had strong control.
"Do I still need you to teach me how to control my subordinates?" Yang Guang turned around and glanced at Wen Cui proudly. Then he sat up straight and waved his hand gently. "You are my favorite general. If this
I can't tolerate even the smallest of things, so why should I be an emperor?" He paused and continued to order: "Keep your head up, don't imitate those civil servants. I like the way you hold your head high and your chest high, and you look so heroic!"
"General, I obey!" Li Xu agreed, slowly raising his head. His eyes met the king's, and he saw a deep smile in the other's eyes.
"Since you are unwilling to let down others for your high status and salary, you will not let me down in the future. So, I believe in you!" Yang Guang smiled and said to Li Xu.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"You don't have to thank me. Just remember to be loyal to the country. I heard that you are asking for help, hoping to be sent to fight abroad. Is this possible?"
"Your Majesty is wise, I, I have a hard life, and I am not used to enjoying the blessings behind the imperial chariot!" Li Xu secretly wiped the sweat from his palms on his official robe and replied in a low voice. This was what he said after meeting Dugu Xue
A deliberately prepared answer. Not entirely true, but at least it won't sound harsh to the other person.
"Well, you're used to being in the army, so it's really uncomfortable to be free for the first time. I was like this back then, but you can't have your cake and eat it too..." Yang Guang accepted Li Xu's excuse and thought about it.
Thinking, he said. He also recalled the past events of leading troops to attack the Turks in the north and pacify the Chen Dynasty in the south. How many years had passed, and the scene at that time seemed to still be vivid in his mind.
"For this kind of matter, you should come to me, not to the officials at the Ministry of War!" Yang Guang sighed softly and changed the topic back to the main business. "Since I have given you the immunity gold medal, it means that I have approved you.
For my sake. How can I ignore your request?!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, General!" Li Xu stood up, bowed again, clasped his fists, stood solemnly, and gave him the salute of a military general. Yang Guang smiled and waved his hand, and added, "When it comes to giving gifts, you don't need to give them to others, just send them directly to them.
Just come to my palace!"
"The last general, the last general..." Li Xu was shocked and didn't know how to answer this sentence. After groping with his hands in his sleeves for a long time, he realized that His Majesty the Emperor's words were a joke.
"Okay, okay, the world belongs to me. I still need some jewelry from you? Stop looking for it. Your loyalty is the best gift to me!" Yang Guang laughed loudly, and his eyebrows suddenly recovered.
A bit of youthful style.
"The general will repay Your Majesty with the blood of the enemy generals!" Li Xu searched his mind and finally came up with a suitable confession. Returning to the army was his long-awaited dream. Is it the Xiongwu Camp? He remembered again
The sincere faces of Murong Luo, Li Anyuan and others. Suddenly, the faces of Yuwen Shiji and Zhang Xiu also appeared in his memory, which stung his heart like needles.
"Xiongwuying, you can't go back. I have other plans for this army. In addition, the prince-in-law is also my favorite general. I can't favor one over the other!" Yang Guang believed that he had completely conquered the thousand-mile horse in front of him and said with a smile.
"I will obey your Majesty's orders!" Li Xu thought for a while and replied, feeling a little disappointed.
Yang Guang felt the young man's emotions very keenly. He was in a good mood today, and his intuition and clarity of thinking were much better than usual. "Old General Yuwen is too selfish. If you go to his service, you will be gone again in a few days."
He grabbed his pigtails. I know this problem with him, but people are not saints, and no one can make mistakes." Yang Guang thought about Yu Wenshu's contribution to the country, and continued, "When employing people, you must use their strengths and make up for their weaknesses.
Do you think what I said makes sense?"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty!" Li Xu replied following Yang Guang's wishes. I don't see what the strengths of General Yuwen are? He can slander, but he must not say it openly.
"You are all my subordinates, so I don't want to see you fighting each other. Especially you, you are still very young and have many opportunities to make achievements!" Yang Guang leaned back on the seat and tried to make himself comfortable. "
I am sending you to another place. The general will be Zhang Xutuo, my Youguanglu doctor. He has always been able to accommodate people, but he is currently lacking a strong arm. After you go, work together and the place will be able to restore peace."
"Thank you for your grace!" Li Xu once again handed over his hand to thank him. The name Zhang Xutuo was very familiar to him. He had been idle in the army recently, and most of the achievements he heard about were about this person. This person was in the army during the war.
In the 17th year of the emperor's reign, he accompanied General Shi Wansui for his meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion. He was awarded the title of Yu Yitong by the late emperor and was given 300 horses. In the 8th year of the Emperor's reign, he defeated the rebel Wang Bo in Dai County and beheaded tens of thousands of people. Wang Bo died in embarrassment after defeating him.
Escape. When he fled to Linyi, Zhang Xutuo caught up with him from behind. After a fierce battle, he beheaded more than ten thousand people and captured countless thieves' organs. (Note 5)
This summer, Wang Bo took advantage of the Sui Dynasty's officers and soldiers in Liaodong, and united with a group of thieves, gathering a hundred thousand people to try to attack Zhangqiu. After Zhang Xutuo learned about it, he defeated them with 20,000 infantry and cavalry. The one hundred thousand rebel thieves almost completely defeated the army.
After being destroyed, only Wang Bo, Shi Yao, Hao Xiaode and others escaped from Shengtian with hundreds of bodyguards.
As a brave general, although Zhang Xutuo was not violent in temper, he was extremely kind-hearted. Wherever his soldiers and horses passed, Qiu did not commit any crime. The people were grateful for his kindness and often took the initiative to donate rice, grain and supplies to the army. In addition, Zhang
General Xutuo was known as a magnanimous man. Whenever his lieutenants and deputy governors had military exploits, they reported them to the court for rewards and never took the credit of their subordinates as their own.
Of course, Xuzi was very willing to work with such a brave and generous general. However, Zhang Xutuo's subordinates were local troops, and as a general of the government troops, they were not subordinate to each other, but they suddenly came together.
Here, the relationship is really difficult to arrange.
"You must not underestimate him. In terms of military exploits, he is second to none in our Sui Dynasty. I have always wanted to transfer him to the left and right guards to command the army, but the local security is in chaos and no one can replace him! At the moment, although he is only serving
The position of a county magistrate, but Henan is a very important place, and a county magistrate is also a fourth-grade official. No worse than you, a Wu Yalang general!" Yang Guang fell silent after seeing Li Xu thank him, thinking that he looked down on Zhang Xutuo, and smiled
Added.(Note 6)
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will do my best after I leave!" Li Xu realized that Yang Guang had a misunderstanding and quickly assured him.
"You seize the time and work with him to wipe out the bandits in the counties of Henan. Do more military exploits. I will conquer Liao next year. It will be very useful to transfer you back then!" Yang Guang said on the table.
He spread out a portrait, looked at the person on it, and whispered.
It was a portrait of Zhang Xutuo. Yang Guang had just ordered local officials to paint it and bring it to hand. The Sui Dynasty was not without famous generals. There were many talents in the Sui Dynasty, but it was just up to the ruler how to use them. After the place was settled, Zhang
General Xutuo, Lieutenant Qin, and General Li in front of me were all transferred to my side. When the time comes, I will re-assemble the elites of the internal and external government. Do you believe that you can't win the little Goguryeo? Do you believe that you can't wash away this great shame in your life?
Thinking of this, Yang Guang's heart surged again, and his face suddenly turned bright red again, as red as a peony that had been beaten by frost.
Note 1: Records about Yu Shiji's extraordinary memory and the ability to draft imperial edicts from memory can be found in history books. It was precisely because of his good memory that Yang Guangcai valued him very much.
Note 2: Beiping County in the Sui Dynasty is now Wan County in Hebei Province.
Note 3: In the Northern Wei Dynasty, there were six prime ministers of the Cui family. Therefore, people from the Cui family's branches came to propose marriage, which meant that the Li family was gradually recognized by the gentry.
Note 4: Chengwulang, also known as Yuanwailang, is an eighth-grade civilian official. He is the deputy of the Minister. He usually manages documents and handles miscellaneous tasks. He can fill the position when the Minister is vacant. After Yang Guang succeeded to the throne, he first abolished Yuanwai and then established Chengwulang. His responsibilities
constant.
Note 5: Yitong, an official position in the Sui Dynasty, was a leading general under the general and the predecessor of the chariot and cavalry general. At that time, it was a military position of the fourth rank, and was later reduced to the fifth rank.
Note 6: In the local official system of the Sui Dynasty, counties were divided into upper, middle and lower ranks. The county governors were of the third to fourth rank. In Jingzhao and Henan, Yin was both appointed, and the county Yin was the third rank. The county magistrate was under Yin, from the third or fourth rank. At that time
The counties in Henan include most of present-day Shandong and parts of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shaanxi, and their status is similar to the current municipalities. (To be continued)
