Chapter 199 Being regarded as the Zhongliang of Cai Dang
The next day, Xiao Tang got up early and led his deployment to Dengzhou again. Although he originally wanted to visit Niu Gao, official business was more important after all. After finishing the trip to the southwest of Beijing, he could still pass by Ruzhou Lushan.
County, it will not be too late to find ways to recruit this outstanding general who has not been discovered yet.
But an hour after Xiao Tang and his men set off, Niu Gao took some pheasants and hares and went to the county government office to find Xiao Tang. However, he was informed by the government officials that Xiao Tang had led his army to Dengzhou and said that he was waiting for official business.
When I returned to Beijing and passed through Lushan County, I met Niu Gao again.
"Unfortunately, I wanted to catch some game to drink with the wine, and then have a drink with the high official. But now I have to wait for him to come back." Niu Gao couldn't drink enough, and couldn't help but feel extremely disappointed. He was in Lushan County.
After selling firewood and game, I left the county town in low spirits and returned to my home in the mountains and wild forests.
But before Niu Gao stepped into the door, he smelled a pungent smell of paste. Niu Gao was startled, and rushed into the room, only to see his old lady, whose face was as golden as paper, moaning softly on the bed.
She was covered with quilt and motionless. However, my wife was sitting on the ground leaning against the wall. The firewood in the stove had been burned dry, and there was only black residue left in the pot that smelled bad to the mouth and nose.
Niu Gao was so frightened that his liver and gallbladder burst. He first called out to his wife in a hurry, then turned around and ran to his wife, grabbing her thin shoulders and shaking her. Niu Gao's wife suddenly woke up at this time, and she was as angry as a thread.
: "The head of the household...my mother-in-law and I seem to be sick."
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A few days later, Xiao Tang and his party had entered Bowang Slope, the site of the ancient battlefield where Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao's general Xiahou Dun in the late Han Dynasty. During the march, Wen Huanzhang mentioned, intentionally or unintentionally, that Yu Guangting, the prefect of Dengzhou in Xiao Tang, was
Fang Zhuo invited the cousin of Yu Shen, the minister of Zhongshu who had recently retired, and Yu Shen was considered the most respected by Cai Jing among Cai Jing's gang members (later he even worshiped Shaobao and was granted the title of Duke Feng, and then Duke Wei and Taifu).
).
In other words, Wen Huanzhang was reminding Xiao Tang that Yu Guangting was probably a member of Cai's party.
So what? Although Xiao Tang knew that Wen Huanzhang gave him advice that night on how to safely eliminate the military supervisory generals on South Jingxi Road who were corrupt, perverted the law, and corrupted military discipline based on the situation at hand, he also deliberately
Awaken Xiaotang to the other party’s origins.
Xiao Tang knew that Yu Guangting was a man of great talent and uprightness. Later, when the Jin soldiers attacked Dengzhou during the Jianyan period, Yu Guangting lived and died with the city and died unyielding. The whole family except for a wet nurse who escaped with her young son, all
Heroic sacrifice. (It is very likely that through the artistic processing of later generations, Yu Guangting transformed into Lu Deng, who died in Luzhou in the novel, and his young son who was saved by the wet nurse was the double-gun Lu Wenlong who is familiar in storytelling novels.
prototype.)
As for his cousin Yu Shen, who was favored by the treacherous minister Cai Jing, he was often criticized and criticized. In fact, he was good at dealing with people and protecting himself, and his political achievements were not very bad. Since ancient times, the factional disputes in the imperial court have always liked to overturn a boat with one pole.
It is not uncommon for people to go too far when purging traitorous officials and gang members. Life, especially in the officialdom, is definitely not black and white, not to mention what is Xiao Tang's status now? Strictly speaking, he can also be regarded as a "Cai Party member"
"One of the members.
At this time, the officials of Dengzhou, large and small, who were welcoming the appeasement envoy, had been waiting on the official road for a long time. The sun had not yet set. Yu Guangting, the prefect of Dengzhou, Yang Tai, the military commander of South Jingxi Road, and Xue Kewen, who had some criminal and prison affairs, were standing at the forefront.
Earlier, Xiao Tang, as the pacification envoy of South Jingjing Road, inspected the military department's preparations and arrested the Green Forest strongman. Originally, the prefect and the Tidian Prison Department were not under his control, but they were both officials in charge of the road and heard that
Xiao Tang is now a popular figure in the eyes of the officials, so it is appropriate to go out to greet him and accompany him as a courtesy.
Compared to Yu Guangting, Xue Kewen and the other two had calm expressions, but among them, only Yang Tai, the general manager of troops and horses, had a pair of flashing eyes, as if he was secretly thinking about something.
As soon as the banner of the Peace Envoy on South Jingnan Road came into everyone's sight from the horizon, Yang Tai gave an order, and the arranged gongs and drums team immediately beat the gongs and drums, and there were dense firecrackers all around. It was extremely festive for a while.
Xiao Tang took the lead, and together with Guan Sheng, Yang Zhi and other brave generals of the Forbidden Army, they led the chariot to Yu Guangting and others. Xue Kewen took the lead and slowly walked out of the guard of honor.
I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Xiao Tang glanced at Xue Kewen and saw that Xue Kewen was about forty years old, handsome and elegant, and quite a bit like a celebrity. According to his rank, this was a point of criminal and prison official affairs.
He overturned the law based on the facts, supervising and punishing traitors, redressing injustices, prosecuting officials and impeaching people for violating the law. In today's terms, he was the chief prosecutor of a provincial procuratorate.
According to the Song Dynasty's official rule of emphasizing civility over military affairs, his status was only higher than that of Xiao Tang, so when he greeted Xiao Tang, he was only polite, but not at all respectful.
In comparison, Yu Guangting and Yang Tai's attitude towards Xiao Tang was much more submissive. Although Yu Guangting, the prefect of Dengzhou, had thin skin and tender flesh, his eyes were bright and his expression was full of energy. When he greeted Xiao Tang, he was neither humble nor overbearing, and was polite and courteous;
Yang Tai, the commander-in-chief of the troops and horses at South Jingjing Road, was a martial artist at first glance. He had a strong body and a strong body. He was just a little more careful when greeting Xiao Tang, but he did not look like an upright and calm man.
In addition to the transfer office in charge of the transfer of wealth and transfer, which is located in Xiangzhou, several officials in charge of Jingxi South Road are also gathered together today, waiting for everyone to exchange greetings. Yang Tai clasped his fists and smiled respectfully at Xiao Tang
He said: "I would like to welcome you, Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao has been working hard all the way. I have already set up a banquet in the Rang Tower to entertain Mr. Xiao."
Xiao Tang looked at Yang Tai and hurriedly clasped his fists and said: "I am only doing inspections according to the official orders. I am no better responsible for the military and political affairs of South Beijing Road than you are. I have been working hard for a long time, but now I still have to trouble you with your busy schedule."
I am really ashamed that Zhongte came to welcome me."
After hearing this, Xue Kewen chuckled and said: "Master Xiao, I always have to eat this meal. Now I am waiting for a banquet in Ranglou. I just want to clean up the dust for Master Xiao. Since Master Xiao is considerate of his colleagues, he can't let me down."
That’s a good intention, isn’t it?”
Xiao Tang heard what Xue Kewen said, and it was really hard to refuse. It seemed that Xue Kewen and Yang Tai intended to give Xiao Tang face. This kind of official entertainment was a common practice, and Xiao Tang also wanted to take advantage of them who had been entrenched in the west of Beijing for a long time.
The official who had been there for a long time tried to speak more and said: "In that case, I will trouble you all."
At this time, the unpleasant look in Yu Guangting's eyes flashed away. Although he stood quietly on one side, his expression was noticed by Yan Qing, who was beside Xiao Tang. He originally had a beautiful heart, but he was extremely
Yan Qing, who was good at observing people's emotions, thought that when his eldest brother went on an envoy to appease the southern part of the capital, he would have to quarrel openly and covertly with the local officials, so he secretly paid attention to the relationship between these officials and their attitude towards Xiao Tang.
It seems from the words just now and their reactions... that Xue Kewen seems to have a closer relationship with Yang Tai, but this Yu Guangting seems to be incompatible with them. Since the eldest brother intends to eliminate the traitors in the Western Beijing Army,
Senior, I must find out the details of Yang Tai, the commander-in-chief of the soldiers and horses of Southwest Jing Road. This prefect Yu Guangting Yu... will definitely be of great use to the elder brother.