Xiao Chen has always had a very good impression of Zhang Xing, the commander of Gong Changwei.
Especially as a military attaché of a defense post, it is commendable that he can see the suffering of the people in his eyes and use his own military rations to provide disaster relief regardless of the opposition of Gongchang Prefecture.
However, Zhang Xing seemed to have deliberately concealed his relationship with Dingxi Hou.
Especially when he had a showdown with Dingxihou in the prison of the government, he and Wei Li, the governor of the government, were specially arranged to observe the showdown. He behaved extremely calmly and steadily.
If I hadn't learned about his relationship with Dingxihou through other means step by step, I would never have imagined that he would be Dingxihou's guest during the holidays.
Asking a person who surrounded Dingxihou as a big tree to guard Dingxihou, Xiao Chen couldn't help but feel incredible about his arrangement.
On the other hand, Zhang Xing himself, standing next to the table, still pretended to be a victim, with his right hand covering his butt and a painful expression on his face.
It was as if he had been greatly wronged by the fifty military sticks given to him by Xiao Chen.
The disappointment in his heart, coupled with the feeling of being fooled, made Xiao Chen feel very uncomfortable.
He looked at Zhang Xing and went straight to the point: "I'm calling Commander Zhang here today. I don't have anything else to do. I just want to ask. Commander Zhang always goes to Dingxihou to give gifts during holidays. This rumor is true."
No?"
Zhang Xing's body suddenly stiffened.
The right hand covering his butt trembled involuntarily.
Aren’t the imperial envoys responsible for disaster relief supposed to be in charge of disaster relief? Why did you hear about these interactions between officials?
Is it possible that the emperor sent people from Dongchang here not only to provide disaster relief, but also to reorganize the entire Gongchang Mansion?
The imperial court, what smell do you smell?
In an instant, Zhang Xing's mind filtered the whole thing again.
He tried hard to calm down the panic in his heart, secretly mobilized his inner strength, and stopped the trembling of his right hand.
He raised his head and made a grimace of being forced to do so: "Your Excellency, you are right. Your Majesty will send gifts to Ding Xihou every year."
Xiao Chen was startled, and a smile appeared on his face.
He didn't expect that Zhang Xing's reaction was really slow. He calmed down his emotions in an instant and boldly admitted his behavior.
"Haha, Commander Zhang is the commander of the imperial guard station stationed in Gongchang, and is not subject to Dingxihou. This visit with gifts during the holidays is a personal interaction?" Xiao Chen said with a smile.
"When Wang Kuan just took office as the magistrate of Gongchang, the Marquis of Dingxi came to Gongchang. At that time, he summoned Xiaguan by the way. Logically speaking, there was no need for Xiaguan to go to the Marquis of Dingxi to give gifts, but since they knew each other, the second
Not going to visit for a year is a bit unjustifiable. After the first time, it won’t look good if you don’t go the second time. In this way, the official has no choice but to visit every year." Zhang Xing explained calmly.
"Oh." Xiao Chen nodded, "What Commander Zhang said makes sense. There are two reasons for everything, and it's not your fault. However, I want to know what Dingxi Hou said when he first met you.
What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything. I just said that Wang Kuan has been appointed as the prefect of Gongchang. He is new here and asked me to take good care of him."
"The Marquis of Dingxi takes a very long-term view. Only by uniting the military and the government can we govern the place well." Xiao Chen smiled.
There is nothing wrong with this sentence.
But in Zhang Xing's ears, it was a bit harsh.
The reason why the imperial court required the separation of military and political affairs was to concentrate local control in the hands of the imperial court.
Mutual coordination and mutual restraint are the real purpose of the separation of military and political affairs in the imperial court.
But now Xiao Chen says that he is uniting the military and the government. What message is he sending?
But no matter what he thought in his heart, as long as he didn't tell the truth, he would still be the same as before, pretending not to know anything.
He bowed slightly towards Xiao Chen and Zhang Xing said: "Although Gong Changwei's duty is to protect the peace of the country, we are so powerful in the Ming Dynasty that there have been no wars and disputes for more than ten years. With so many troops, we can help Gongchang Mansion advance some benefits.
Making policies clear and making profits for the people is what Gong Changwei should do."
What he said was so grand and irrefutable.
Xiao Chen couldn't help but look at Zhang Xing again.
Not amazing in appearance, average in appearance.
If I hadn't seen him in armor, I wouldn't have known that he was Gong Changwei's commander.
His words alone will definitely make people think that he is either a civil servant of Gongchang Mansion or a great Confucian hidden among the people.
He is condescending, has a far-sighted vision, and thinks of the people wholeheartedly.
Wei Li, the magistrate of Gongchang Mansion next to him, was also surprised.
On weekdays, Gong Changwei and Gong Changfu never interacted with each other. The prefect Wang Kuan even regarded Gong Changwei as an enemy.
What Zhang Xing said today was so grand. Could it be that he didn't know that Wang Kuan had great opinions on him, almost to the point of incompatibility?
"Commander Zhang is really broad-minded, even I admire him very much." After saying that, Xiao Chen stood up and walked slowly to Zhang Xing's side.
Holding his shoulders with both hands, he slowly pushed towards the chair.
"It's inappropriate for you to stand while we all sit." There was a smile on his face, but the strength of his hands was getting stronger little by little.
As a martial arts practitioner, Zhang Xing is extremely sensitive to the changes in force in Xiao Chen's hands.
He understood that although his buttocks had been beaten to pieces with fifty army sticks, he had to sit whether he wanted to sit or not.
He simply didn't refuse anymore, gritted his teeth, endured the severe pain in his butt, and sat on the chair.
The burning, tearing pain still made Zhang Xing frown a few times.
Pulling up a chair, Xiao Chen sat next to Zhang Xing and looked at him with a smile on his face, which made Zhang Xing's body covered in goosebumps.
"When I sat down, it hurt a little at the time, but it gradually stopped hurting after a while." Xiao Chenpi said with a smile.
"Yes, yes." Zhang Ji nodded hurriedly.
Now, I am the fish on the opponent's pallet and cannot resist at all.
Xiao Chen pointed at the wild boar pot on the table: "Does Commander Zhang know what kind of meat we are eating today?"
"I don't know." Zhang Xing shook his head.
Even if you don’t give me meat, you still have to ask me what kind of meat I’m eating. What do you want to say? You can’t just say it directly. Going around like this makes me feel very stressed, you know?
Zhang Xing wanted to scold his mother in his heart.
"Wild boar, what a big wild boar." Xiao Chen said with a smile.
"Is that so?" Zhang Xing said with a smile, "The woods in Nanshan are dense, and wild animals often appear. The imperial envoy must be hunting near Nanshan, right?"
"Yes, Commander Zhang also often goes hunting?"
"There is no hunting, but as Gong Changwei's defensive area, Nanshan will often patrol." Zhang Xing said slowly.
"How often does Gong Changwei conduct this kind of patrol?"
"There is no war. According to the requirements of the imperial court, patrols will be conducted every three days."
"Oh." Xiao Chen nodded, "According to this, Gong Changwei should be well aware of everything within the defense zone?"
Hearing Xiao Chen ask about matters within his responsibilities, Zhang Xing nodded confidently: "I dare not say that he knows everything well. Whenever something detrimental to the court happens, even if there is a turmoil, Gong Changwei will be there immediately.
Will know."
"That's very good, that's very good." Xiao Chen stood up slowly with a smile on his face and walked towards his room.
When he came out, he held an arrow in his hand: "Commander Zhang is here today because I have discovered some unusual things recently and want to find the answer from you."
Seeing Xiao Chen take out an arrow, Zhang Xing felt secretly wary.
Hearing him say that he wanted to find the answer here, he turned his head quickly, thinking about all the changes in the Hongmen Banquet that would not even make a soup.
Throwing the arrow in his hand on the table, Xiao Chen sat down and looked at Zhang Xing with a smile: "Commander Zhang, look at this arrow, what's the difference?"
After hearing Xiao Chen ask him about the difference between the arrows, Zhang Xing reached out, took the arrow in his hand, and looked at it carefully.
However, after looking at it for a long time, there was nothing strange about the arrow, the arrow body, or the tail feathers.
"Commander Zhang, can you see any difference?" Xiao Chen asked with a smile.
Shaking his head, Zhang Xing frowned: "No. I took a closer look and found that this is an ordinary guard standard arrow. There is nothing different about it."
"Commander Zhang, are you sure this is a standard ordinary arrow?"
"Yes." Zhang Xing nodded affirmatively, "There is nothing else in the Gongchang Guard, but these arrows are basically equipped by every archer. I will not admit my mistake."
"Someone picked up a lot of arrows like this in the village at the foot of Nanshan Mountain. Since Commander Zhang knows everything about the area under his jurisdiction, can you explain this matter a little bit?"
