Zhurou

Chapter 251 Invitation

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After a busy day, it was already late in the evening when Deputy Privy Councilor Zhang Yi returned home from the government office.

Normally he didn't like eating out and was very picky about everything he drank and ate, but today he had a lot of things to do, so he had to have dinner in the yamen.

Without any advance arrangements, the dishes prepared by the yamen’s public kitchen were naturally random.

The soup was made from fish. There has been too much rain recently and the Bian River has overflowed. The water was yellow and all the fish smelled fishy and muddy. No amount of shredded ginger could suppress the smell.

The pancakes were probably steamed in the morning, left for a day, and reheated in the evening. When I chewed them in my mouth, I couldn't taste any fragrance at all, and there was no soft texture at all.

There were also a few side dishes that seemed to have been left for a long time, and the freshly made hot dishes also had a perfunctory feel.

He had been feeling unwell for some time, and he felt even worse after not eating well at night. He returned to his study, took a cup of tea to soothe his stomach, and recalled his words and actions during the day. He felt that something was very wrong, so he called several guests over and told them the news he had just learned.

It turned out that there were disturbances in Guangnan, western Shu and eastern Guizhou, and most of them were caused by rebellious soldiers. Rebellious soldiers became bandits when they became bandits. Now that the north is peaceful and there is no need to worry, Zhang Yi is determined to suppress them.

The people in the Privy Council shared similar opinions with him, and most of them also said that they should suppress the rebellion, but the princess insisted on having her own way and insisted on pacifying the rebellion.

Whenever there was a war, the Council of State and the Privy Council would often hold different opinions. At this moment, they really jumped out, and the Ministry of Revenue also became long-winded, saying that the treasury was empty, and nine out of ten houses in the region were empty, with no people and no labor, and it would be difficult to support another war.

In the end, both sides had no choice but to take a step back and try to appease the rebels first, and if that didn't work, then to suppress them.

However, he put forward the name and finally communicated with his colleagues in the Privy Council. But when the time came to reap the rewards, he was directly rejected by the princess.

The more Zhang Yi thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He pointed out the name of a retainer and ordered, "Write a letter to Tang Mian, tell him about the situation in the court, and ask him to calm down and be patient."

The retainer did not agree directly, but hesitated again and again, and asked: "Sir, I don't know if this matter can be accomplished?"

Zhang Yi was already feeling irritable, and when he heard his unnecessary questions, he just felt annoyed.

The retainer hurriedly said, "Tang Mian is a very impatient person. If you don't explain things clearly, he may think that you are deliberately deceiving me and harbor resentment towards me, which will be bad."

Seeing that Zhang Yi's face was very unhappy, he said carefully, "The old man sent a special letter last time, saying that Tang Mian had always taken good care of him and protected the fields and houses for the clan. Even the ancestral hall was preserved thanks to his care."

After this person finished speaking, someone else on the side helped to speak up: "That's right, the old man celebrated his birthday at the beginning of the month, and Tang Mian even sent someone to send a valuable gift over."

The retainer said, "After all, the letter is only a piece of paper, and I'm afraid it's vague. Given his temper, he'll have to write to ask, and the back and forth will delay things a lot. If it really can't be done, it's better to tell him early to avoid waiting in vain."

This man had good intentions, but Zhang Yi snorted coldly when he heard it, "Success or failure, do you want me to give him an explanation?"

After these words were spoken, no one in the hall dared to say anything more, and the man who spoke earlier quickly agreed, saying that he would be able to prepare a draft today.

At that moment, Zhang Yi mentioned the names of a few more people and asked them to write letters, some to be sent to Guangnan East Road, some to northern Sichuan, and some to Qiannan. Having learned from the previous experience, everyone naturally did not dare to talk too much and just obeyed the order and left.

One of them was about to stand up and walk out, but was stopped by Zhang Yi.

This person was the retainer from the day before. He had been in Zhang's residence the longest and was the one Zhang Yi valued the most.

After the retainers and others left, Fu asked, "Sir, I wonder how many people in the court did not use Tang Mian, and who was finally used?"

Zhang Yi said, "Then Zhao picked Song Jingren."

The retainer was stunned, and a helpless look appeared on his face. After a while, he said, "What kind of luck did this man have? He was also a scattered unit of Qian Weiwu, and he was also on the run, but he won the favor of the princess. Not only is he safe, but he is now recruiting the rebels... They used to be under the same command and held similar positions, but now one is a bandit and the other is here to suppress the bandits. I just don't know if those remnants are willing to listen."

He added: "Song Jingren has some reputation in the army, but he is a soft-hearted person. If we can't persuade him, he might let him go, which would be a waste of merit..."

Zhang Yi frowned and said, "He has some self-awareness and recommended Peng Jiang to join Shu."

"Wasn't it Pei Yong who persuaded Peng Jiang to surrender?" the retainer was stunned and blurted out.

Zhang Yi just kept silent.

This person was speechless. After thinking about it, he couldn't express anything. He could only ask, "Could it be that the credit this time was taken away by Pei Yong's lineage again?"

Zhang Yi placed the teacup heavily on the table and sneered, "Who else can I give it to?"

"We can't do anything so extreme!" the retainer couldn't help but say.

Zhang Yi just had a gloomy face, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"In the north, the Western Army has already made great contributions. Dozens of people have been promoted, and hundreds have been advanced. Others have worked hard to gain experience for five or eight years, but it is still not as good as them this time. Not only did they gain a great advantage, but they are not even willing to let go of this small credit for suppressing the rebellion?!" the retainer cursed.

"Things have come to this. Song Jingren, whom Zhao personally recruited, values ​​and trusts him. He also volunteered to recommend Peng Jiang, allowing him to reap the credit. What can others do?" As he spoke, Zhang Yi felt a tightness in his chest.

In the same performance assessment, civil servants had many areas where they could make use of their strength, such as comforting refugees, increasing farmland, or gaining population. As long as they were willing to work hard, they would always get a chance for promotion.

But it is different for military officers. Without wars, they cannot gain military merits. It is simply a pipe dream for them to want to be one step ahead of others by relying on those few local thieves.

In the past, it was always said that one should not over-respect military power, otherwise the soldiers and generals would see the achievements of others and the public opinion in the court and easily provoke war. This is what is called provoking border conflicts.

It's easy to imagine that it's not easy for everyone to stand out, and they just accumulate experience. Some of them who know how to behave and do things can go to good places, do some great things, and then rotate a few times. If they are lucky enough, they may encounter unrest in the vassal states, or rebellion by refugees or roaming around, and if they handle things properly, they may stand out, but they are a minority after all.

But if we encounter a big war and cannot be involved in it, it will be troublesome.

For example, this time, when Pei Yong led a group of soldiers north, he made arrangements early on, dividing the Western Army into several groups to set up ambushes, flanking attacks, or pursuits. Although they were mixed with the Imperial Guards and the city defense forces, the marshal's surname was Pei, and in the end, it was naturally the Western Army that made the greatest contributions.

Hundreds of people were promoted at one time.

  In this case, what should the other local generals do?

If we don't take some action, within a few years, even if we continue to carry on as usual, I'm afraid many important positions will be occupied by the Western Army. How can we not be jealous?

Zhang Yi naturally didn't want to see such a scene.

Not only was he unwilling, but the other ministers of the Privy Council were also unwilling.

  It is rare to know that there are several places where people have raised flags and rebelled. They are all scattered soldiers and have made a lot of noise. It is really a rare opportunity to make merit. If we can wipe them out, it will be a great achievement. Although it is not as good as driving out the Di and restoring the land, we can at least promote dozens of people. Zhang Yi has been in the Privy Council for many years, so he naturally has many students and old friends. If he can't take care of such a good thing, even if Tang Mian and others don't say anything and reluctantly suppress it, what will others think?

——Mr. Zhang won’t gain any benefit, so he won’t need to work for him in the future. On the contrary, the princess has the final say, and it is easiest for him to make a name for himself in the Western Army.

  If he thinks this way, what's the point of him being the Deputy Privy Councilor?

Even if Guangnan, Shuxi, and Qiandong cannot get all of them, if they are put together, they must have at least 10 to 20 places to be barely acceptable.

But the emperor is young and stubborn, and now that Zhao is in power, this woman always acts arbitrarily according to her own temper, without any regard for the overall situation, making it difficult for others to know where to start.

There is also Pei Yong, who has not yet been assigned an assignment, but is summoned by the emperor every day in the capital. It is said that in just over ten days, he has submitted seven or eight letters to the emperor. Although the emperor did not directly accept the proposals on personnel transfers and border defense strategies, he has no objection at all.

This man has caused quite a stir in his diplomatic tours in the past few days. Many people who were originally not given important positions have tried to join him. Although they may not be good talents, with more people, their influence will be great.

As for western Shu, they probably can no longer intervene. Guangnan and Qiandong are the only two places left. It is impossible for Pei to watch the military achievements in front of him and remain indifferent without getting involved.

Seeing that Sun Chong would arrive in Beijing soon, the two would fight each other. One would have great achievements and be at the peak of his career, while the other would have great power and experience. There would be no room for him to make any moves or gain a foothold.

——We must get rid of Pei Yong as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yi picked up the teacup, sipped the tea slowly, and thought about the matter from the beginning, and finally figured out some clues.

The family is anxious to ask that Pei guy to leave, but isn't that guy himself in a hurry to leave?

People are stuck in the capital, neither going up nor down. No matter how deep the Jingzhao Prefecture is, people can't let go when they are far away, right?

Now that the court is re-arranging officials, how can Jingzhao and Fengxiang stay out of it?

If a few outsiders were placed in important positions, Pei Yong would probably feel very uncomfortable.

At that time, it would not be me who chased him away, but he would run away on his own.

"I remember you said last time that a classmate of yours had traveled to the northwest. This time Pei Yong came to your house specifically to ask for a piece of writing. Is that true or not?" Zhang Yi suddenly asked.

The retainer said hurriedly, "There is such a person. I have been classmates with him for several years and have traveled together. Although we are not from the same school, we have some friendship. His surname is Fu, and his name is Fu Jiao."

Then he introduced the other party's background.

Zhang Yi then asked, "When did he travel to the northwest? Is he familiar with the situation of the Western Army?"

The retainer said, "He was away for quite a while, three or four years, and returned to the capital the year before last. He happened to meet the Di people heading south, and followed the emperor to Caizhou. He just returned recently. He used to talk more about Qinzhou and Fengxiang, but rarely mentioned Jingzhao Prefecture. Since he has good handwriting and is quite talented in literature, I think he must be well-known in the northwest - otherwise why would Pei Yong come to invite him personally."

Zhang Yi nodded and said, "If you have time, go out with this man and ask him about Jingzhao Prefecture. You don't have to find out everything. Even if he doesn't know, it would be good to hear more about Qinzhou and Fengxiang. I don't think Pei Yong is a pretentious person. He may not just want a penny. Let's see what he does."

The northwest has been isolated for too long, and the imperial court has had little ability to extend its influence over the years, and few people understand the situation.

However, if you can take advantage of this opportunity to make one or two moves, it will be beneficial without any cost, and may be able to provide strength at a critical moment in the future.

He sent the retainer away, called the manager in, asked about the situation, and then called in several people one after another to make arrangements.

Everyone obeyed the order and left.

Of course, Zhang Yi was not the only one who made secret arrangements.

Pei Yong has a wide range of friends recently, including people from all walks of life.

  Who doesn’t have friends, relatives and old acquaintances?

Suddenly, the capital was in turmoil.

After receiving Zhang Yi's instructions, the retainer did not delay, and did not even wait until the next day, but went to look for Fu Jiao that night.

He was not lying, he and Fu Jiao were indeed old friends, but over the years, one of them traveled around and the other served as a servant of an important official in the court, so they were far away from each other, and there were frequent wars, making communication inconvenient, so few people outside knew about it.

The two had known each other for many years, so there was no need to send a visiting card. The man just bought some fruits and cakes on the way, found an inkstone that he had just obtained, and then came to the door.

But this time, as soon as he arrived at the gate of the courtyard, he saw a few horses tied to a tree outside. There was a child squatting behind them watching, pulling grass from the ground and secretly touching the horses' tails.

The man was startled and shouted, "Tao'er, what are you doing!"

It turned out to be Fu Jiao's youngest son.

The child stood up with a smile and called him uncle, and then said, "I think this horse is very majestic. I want to pluck two hairs to play with."

"What are you doing? Be careful or he might kick you!"

As he said this, the servant half carried and half carried the child into the house.

He had just walked through the courtyard, which was a few steps wide, when he heard Fu Jiao's voice in the main hall. He could only decline, "After all, it's not like before. My children are young and my mother is old. I used to be upset and always thought I was talented. But now I know that my parents are still around, so I don't want to travel far away..."

However, the tone was hesitant, as if rejecting but also welcoming.

As soon as Fu Jiao finished speaking, someone answered loudly, "Just come! After all, the Northwest is a big place, and you have been there before. Do you still need a place for you and your family to live? I am not in a hurry for you to arrive, and I don't want you to go by yourself. I will find an escort agency for you to escort people. We are not going to other places, but Jingzhao Prefecture. There are no Di bandits causing trouble now, so just treat it as a trip, take a big carriage, and travel all the way. I see that your mother is in good health. If you want to talk to her, you might as well ask her first."

He then said, "If you are worried about the escort agency, we will have someone return after a while and give you a ride. How about that?"

The retainer held the child in his arms, trying to understand the meaning of these words. He stood still for a moment, holding his breath, and did not dare to move forward.

Fu Jiao said, "My eldest son is getting old now. I wanted to find a famous teacher for him so that he can achieve fame in the future."

"Why are you so long-winded? How old are you? Why don't you push the old one or the young one? With your age and knowledge, wouldn't it be easier for you to make a family of your own than to force your son? The son is fine, why force him? Can't you visit a famous teacher in Jingzhao Prefecture and get a good reputation? With your talent and style, are you afraid that you can't teach your son well?"

The speaker was obviously criticizing but actually praising, and his sincere invitation was so strong that even the guest standing outside the door holding his friend's young son could not help but feel moved. He guessed the identity of the person opposite him and almost wanted to agree on his behalf.

Having lived under someone else's wing for many years, no one understood the bitterness and embarrassment of it better than him. If he could really get a job, he would immediately accept the offer, not to mention going to Jingzhao Prefecture, even to Xingqing Prefecture.

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