Chapter One Hundred and Eighth Chapter Xu Lang Titled En Mu Nan An
Xu Mansion.
“…In the past, there were violent acts, failure to abide by the principles and principles, and failure to follow the right path, thereby losing the right people, the right time, and the right people. As a result, the people were unable to make a living as the years passed.
I have taken this as a lesson and want to imitate the ancient sages. I will be close to the virtuous ministers and far away from the villains. If you show your integrity with gold chopsticks, I will reward you with spoons and medicine and stones.
Xu Zhiling in Guangyuan had the talent to help me achieve peace, but he has been idle at home for a long time, which I deeply regret.
There is no overnight gap between the monarch and his ministers. Today, Xu Zhiling is promoted to be the prefect of Nan'an County to guard Lingnan for me. He will take up the post in the autumn.
I’m going to give you a scarlet fish bag, a silver dragon fan, fermented fermented wine, and I’m going to give you Wentai Gong’s immortal crane and longevity staff. I admire this..."
The envoy from the capital read out the imperial edict loudly.
Under the steps of the hall, everyone in the Xu Mansion, headed by Xu Zhiling, knelt down and worshiped on the ground. Their faces were full of excitement, and they shouted "Long Live Long Live" to express their gratitude.
Xu Zhiling's body was trembling, his eyes were full of tears, and he could not control himself. After praying, he kept wiping his tears with his sleeves and almost fainted.
But deep in his eyes, there was clarity.
The corner of my eye fell on my nephew, Xu Kun and Xu Zhongcai, who was relatively calm in the crowd not far away, and I was filled with surprise.
"Congratulations, Prefect Xu."
The envoy from the capital smiled and looked at Xu Zhiling, who still had tears in his eyes. He held hands with each other, took the heavy Cheng Yi, covered it under his sleeve, and passed it to the attendant beside him without moving his expression.
Feeling the heavy weight, the envoy from the capital became more and more friendly.
"Why should Taishou Xu be so polite? Although I am in the capital, I have admired Brother Xu for a long time. To be honest, as soon as the Holy Master came out of seclusion this time, he asked about Duke Xu. Hearing that Duke Xu resigned, the Holy Master was furious. Scolding those eunuchs for harming the country...Brother Xu? What's wrong with you?"
Xu Zhiling suddenly came to his senses, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and cupped his hands in embarrassment.
"I can't help myself. I thought I would be scribbling for the rest of my life, but I didn't expect that the saint would still remember someone. It felt like I was in a dream, but it made the angel laugh. Thank you for the angel's advice. I have ordered my servants to prepare some thin wine and invite the angel. Appreciation."
Until now, he was still a little unbelievable.
He was not surprised to be re-appointed by His Majesty, nor was he as excited as he showed on the surface.
After all, he was a strong-willed governor who had repeatedly written letters to advise and even mock the king.
However, he had already learned the news in advance a month ago.
What shocked him the most was that the prophecy poem that his nephew Xu Kun dedicated to him more than a month ago was exactly the same as the angel had just described His Majesty's reaction after he came out of isolation.
It’s like seeing it with your own eyes——
"The king did not see his ministers when he left the country, and he angrily criticized his ministers for disturbing the affairs of the state. Xu Lang was given the title of benevolent pastor of Nan'an. Who knows whether it is a blessing or a curse."
…
Even though Xu Zhiling had too many surprises and doubts in his heart, it was inconvenient to ask at this time.
He was about to introduce the envoy from the capital to the banquet, but he heard the other party suddenly say "wait a minute".
Xu Zhiling smiled: "I wonder if the angel has any other instructions?"
The expression of the envoy from the capital gradually became solemn, he slightly cupped his hands and said sternly: "The imperial edict has been conveyed to me, but there is another message from me, but it is an inquiry from a noble person in the capital."
In the corner of the hall, nephew Xu Kun was startled, but he did not expect this to happen.
Fortunately, my uncle was, after all, a frontier official who had experienced great storms. He took his time calmly, smiled and said, "Angel, please speak."
The envoy from the capital stared at Xu Zhiling for a moment, and then slowly said: "The land south of Lingnan has been plagued by wars, the people have been displaced, and bandits have sprung up. Except for Nan'an County, all the other counties are dead in name only. Although Xu Jun leads Nan'an County as the governor, in reality Jiedao Lingnan. What the noble man wants to ask is, does Mr. Xu have any strategy for pacifying Lingnan?"
Except for Xu Kun, the expressions of everyone in the Xu Mansion changed.
They had already vaguely guessed who the "noble person" the angel was talking about was.
The news that His Majesty's condition has worsened is no longer a day or two.
In the past two years, the reputation of Dong Gong, who was known as a virtuous man, has been increasing day by day in both the government and the public.
Although Xu Zhiling was both civil and military, he was still one of the best among Xu Gong's disciples.
But after all, he had been away from officialdom for a long time, idle at home, and living in the county town. No matter the news or horizons, they were different from those when he was in office.
Sure enough, Xu Zhiling stood stunned on the spot, his face changing, as if he had fallen into some kind of incomprehensible confusion.
Everyone in the Xu family was secretly anxious, but there was nothing they could do.
There was a trace of regret in the eyes of the envoy from the capital, and he said with a relieved smile: "It doesn't matter. Brother Xu has been away from officialdom for a long time, and the nobles in the capital can understand. After he takes office, it will not be too late to consider the plan to Pingnan."
But Xu Zhiling's face turned red and blue. After a while, he seemed to have given up struggling, and sighed: "Angel, wait a moment..."
...Zhongcai, bring it."
Xu Kun and Xu Zhongcai, who had been impatient for a long time, stood up and said loudly with a slightly red face: "My nephew has an order!"
Under everyone's surprised gazes, Xu Kun ran straight into the study room in the back hall.
Not long after, Xu Kun, carrying a large wooden box on his shoulders, ran back to the hall out of breath, threw the wooden box in front of the envoy from the capital, and bent down to open it.
The envoy from the capital took half a step back, his eyebrows slightly wrinkled, "Young Master?"
The guard behind him was about to scold him.
The messenger from the capital suddenly whispered and stared at the wooden box: "This...are these all?"
Xu Kun didn't say a word, untied the bundles and spread them out on the ground in the hall.
It turned out to be a map of mountains and rivers, full of markings and seal characters, and various strategies written on the edges. They were scribbled and revised, densely packed, and some were even stained with lamp oil. It must be the work of someone who burned the midnight oil and worked hard.
At some point, the hall became quiet.
No matter who came from the Xu Mansion or the capital, they all looked silently at the scroll map that covered almost half of the ground.
The envoy from the capital had raised his head and looked at Xu Zhiling, who had a calm expression, with great complexity. Deep in his eyes, there was a trace of surprise and surprise.
After finishing all this while kneeling, Xu Kun turned around to Xu Zhiling's side and bowed to the capital envoy to the end.
"Reply to the angel, although my uncle is idle at home, he has never forgotten your kindness. The chaos in Lingnan has been going on for a long time. My uncle is worried about the country and the people, so he has repeatedly sent someone and Xu Liang, a servant in the mansion, to inquire about the disaster in Lingnan and collect the soldiers in Lingnan.
Map. It took a month to complete seven Pingnan policies, but I don’t know how to present them to the saint..."
Before Xu Kun could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the envoy from the capital laughing.
"Well, well, well, what a Xu Zhiling who is idle at home and never forgets the kindness of the emperor! If all the capable officials in the Tang Dynasty can be like Brother Xu, working hard for the country and the people, there will be no need to worry about the injustice in Lingnan and the uncertainty of the world? There are these seven articles
Ping Nance, Brother Xu has already surpassed us all."
The envoy from the capital excitedly stepped forward to hold Xu Zhiling's hands, his eyes slightly red.
Xu Zhiling's cheeks were burning and he said "I'm ashamed", but he felt a little relieved in his heart.
At least in the mind of this prince's childhood companion, he has passed the test.