Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 731 He arrived before you

The wind of late autumn was refreshing but a little chilly, but this did not hinder the complacent Yuan Zai from walking down the street without caring about his relatives.

Arriving at the gate of Kaifeng Prefecture, he straightened his clothes and walked into the gate with his head held high. Unexpectedly, the person who came towards him was Xiao Yingshi, who looked a little downcast.

Thinking about the fact that the Ministry of Personnel of the imperial court had recently been selecting officials on a large scale from among the Jinshi scholars, it was actually obvious and not difficult to guess why Xiao Yingshi came here.

Yuan Zai reached out his hand to stop the hurried Xiao Yingshi, and asked with a fake smile: "Where are you going in such a hurry, Mr. Xiao? My carriage is still at the door. How about you wait for me at the door for a while, and I will come out to give you a ride after I finish my business?"

Yuan Zai is now a big shot around Fang Qing, involved in confidential affairs. Although he does not have the power to make direct decisions, his influence cannot be underestimated.

So now when he looked at Xiao Yingshi, he felt more sympathy and showing off, but he would not step on him.

Of course, if Xiao Yingshi could lower himself and beg, Yuan Zai would not mind promoting Xiao Yingshi. When people are in a high position, they will always be more generous to those below them to show their grace.

Especially those who don’t have much grace in their daily lives.

"No need, Xiao is busy with official business, so I won't bother you anymore."

Xiao Yingshi said indifferently, then left in a hurry.

That’s right, the result of this official selection was not very good. Being a minor official without real power in the Ministry of Rites was not what he wanted.

Why do you say that?
Because the Ministry of Rites serves the emperor. But the current emperor is a puppet emperor, and the Ministry of Rites can be regarded as a "puppet government office", with only the part about the imperial examination being a real power department.

However, Xiao Yingshi happened to be assigned to manage the "Emperor's Etiquette". If it were during the Zhenguan period, this would definitely be a first-class job, with less work, close to the emperor, and not easily affected by the political vortex.

But now, all I can say is that those who understand will understand. Anyone with eyes can see clearly how Li Wei was treated in Bianzhou.

"Bah! You are so shameless!"

After Xiao Yingshi left, Yuan Zai spat on the ground at his back, feeling extremely angry.

He calmed himself down and walked in cautiously. After being led to the study by Da Congming, Yuan Zai saw Fang Chongyong writing a letter, so he didn't say anything and just waited quietly by the side.

After a long time, Fang Chongyong finally finished writing the letter. After the ink on the paper dried, he put the letter into an envelope, sealed it with wax, and handed it to Yuan Zai, saying, "Go to Yuzhang, Hongzhou, and give it to Lu Jing, the commander of the Jingxiang Army. If possible, persuade him to surrender to us. If he surrenders, I will allow him to form an independent army without disbanding the organization, and I will also grant him the title of Jiedushi of Huainan."

It’s the Huainan Jiedushi again!
Yuan Zai didn't know how to comment on this. Whenever Fang Qing lobbied others, he would offer them the title of "Huainan Jiedushi".

However, this position seemed to be cursed. Any soldier who was lured by this position and agreed to switch over seemed to fail to get what he wanted due to various accidents.

Now Fang Qing has used his magic weapon again and promised him the post of Jiedushi of Huainan. Yuan Zai really doesn't know whether Lu Jing's fortune is really strong enough.

Maybe he would be "killed".

"Your Majesty, the position of Huainan Jiedushi was promised to me several times before but it didn't come true. Is this time..."

Yuan Zai asked with some confusion.

"Hahahahahaha, those things before were all accidents. Those people had problems themselves. It's not that I don't want to arrange for them to go to Huainan."

Fang Zhongyong laughed out loud, not feeling embarrassed at all.

If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight. The position of Huainan Jiedushi is so attractive that the competition is extremely fierce. Those who can sit on it safely are either loyal confidants or have great skills.

In short, you have to have one or even both.

Fang Chongyong only promised to give the position of Huainan Jiedushi to Lu Jing, but whether he could take up the post smoothly and whether he would "retreat when faced with difficulties" later was his own business.

"Please rest assured, I will do my best."

Yuan Zai put the letter into his arms and kept it close to his body. The other party saluted with his hands crossed, without feeling nervous at all.

These were all familiar and important tasks, and it wasn't his first time doing them. Yuan Zai thought about it and realized that he had persuaded many soldiers before.

However, Yuan Zai was like a crow. Anyone who was lobbied by him usually ended up badly.

For example, An Shouzhong, Li Guiren, Shi Siming, Li Huaiguang, etc., were all persuaded by him, and all ended up in a miserable way. Even Han Yougui, who had met him once, was almost killed at Shangyuanyi.

Thinking of this, Yuan Zai couldn't help but feel a gust of cold wind blowing on his back, as if some ghosts were looking at his back with resentment on their faces, cursing him silently.

Yuan Zai could not help but look back, but found that behind him was just the familiar folding screen with a tiger painting on it. On the branch above the tiger, a sparrow was chirping.

Whenever these close associates of theirs came here for a meeting, they would see this screen, but they would never even glance at it on weekdays. When he looked at it again today, Yuan Zai always felt that there was someone hiding behind the screen eavesdropping, and it felt awkward no matter how he looked at it.

"Hmm? Is there something wrong with this screen?"

Fang Chongyong saw Yuan Zai's strange behavior and asked with a puzzled look on his face.

He noticed that Yuan Zai's eyes were fixed on the screen behind him, so he walked over, folded the screen and put it in the corner. He looked left and right but didn't think there was anything strange.

"There is nothing wrong with returning to the emperor's house. I will leave for Hongzhou Yuzhang today."

Yuan Zai did not refuse, nor did he express his thoughts.

"Well, this trip to Hongzhou..."

Fang Zhongyong paused, as if he had something to hide, but in the end he still warned: "If things don't go well, just return to Bianzhou directly. I won't punish you. Lu Jiong and Yan Zhenqing are old friends, and they have a close personal relationship. They may not listen to your lobbying."

"Please rest assured, sir! Yuan will definitely fulfill his mission!"

Yuan Zai asked for a fight with great excitement on his face, and did not listen to Fang Chongyong's words at all. He thought it was just a traditional way of provoking someone.

After Yuan Zai left the government office, he did not go home at all. He directly called his entourage, went out of the city to the ferry, and boarded an official ship heading south.

……

Hongzhou Yuzhang, the provincial government office.

Lu Jiong, dressed in military uniform, hurried back from the Poyang Lake Water Fort. Looking at Yu Qi in the scarlet official robe in front of him, and a military general he didn't recognize at all, he felt very nervous for a moment.

"General Lu, the imperial decree is here. Please return to Xiangyang immediately and station in Fancheng to serve as the governor of Shannan East Road. As for the governor of Jiangnan West Road, I will take over."

Yu Qi handed the imperial edict in his hand to Lu Jing with a calm expression.

Shannan East Road was the "basic base" of the Jingxiang court. Logically speaking, serving as the governor of this place was a high-ranking and powerful position, and it should be a promotion rather than a demotion.

But many things need to be analyzed based on specific circumstances and cannot be generalized.

The Jiedushi of Shannan East Road was stationed in Xiangyang and Fancheng (these two places can be considered as one city in military terms). Li Lu sent the imperial edict in the morning and Lu Jing would receive it at noon.

In other words, although he was still a military governor, his every move was under the surveillance of the emperor and the court, and he had no freedom to do anything. It was far less comfortable than staying in Yuzhang now.

However, this was not an order to demote him, nor was it an order to dismiss him on the spot. Lu Jing found that he could not refuse such a transfer order!

"I thank the Lord for His Grace, but the war is imminent, and changing the generals before the battle may not be beneficial to the country."

Lu Jiong said with an embarrassed look.

Yu Qi had been an official for more than ten years and was very familiar with government affairs, so he naturally would not force his way.

He smiled and said:
"I actually don't want to come to Hongzhou, and I don't want to replace General Lu. But you and I are both subjects, and these matters are not something I can decide.

Now General Lu has returned to Xiangyang and still holds his official position. If the general has any ideas about the military situation on the front line, he can report it to the emperor in person.

Even if you and I debate here for three days and three nights, we may not be able to come to any conclusion.

So there is no need to waste time. Since the military situation is urgent, we must race against time to hand over military affairs."

Liang Chongyi, who was wearing armor, was not as good-tempered as Yu Qi. He held the scabbard of his sword and said impatiently, "General Lu, the army has strict discipline. There is an imperial decree here. You can also take your confidants back to Xiangyang. If there is anything, just tell His Majesty in person. Why bother us? We are here because of the imperial decree."

Looking at the two people in front of him singing the same tune, Lu Jiong fell silent.

To be honest, he didn't think that Yu Qi's arrival could solve the problems in Hongzhou, and he didn't think that the two of them could defeat Li Guangbi!
Yu Qi's ability lies not in fighting wars, but in cracking down on lawlessness. If this man goes to the Dali Temple, he will definitely be a good official.

But sending him to the front line to fight is a bit of a mess.

As for Liang Chongyi who was beside Yu Qi, Lu Jiong was just familiar with his face. They had never spoken to each other before, and he had no idea how good the other party was at fighting.

But one thing is certain, since the chaos in the world, the frequency of wars has begun to increase, and those who are capable of coming to the fore have already made it!

This person was previously unknown, and I'm afraid his ability to lead troops is quite limited.

Who is Li Guangbi? He was a general who had already become famous in the northwest during the Kaiyuan period, and was trained personally by Wang Zhongsi.

"Forget it, I don't need to prepare anything. Let's set off for Xiangyang today."

Lu Jiong shook his head and sighed.

Yu Qi knew what the other party was thinking, but he did not say anything to comfort him. The news that Lu Jiong privately minted copper coins in Hongzhou and attempted to establish himself was rampant. Seeing him today, it was obvious that Lu Jiong was framed.

But this had nothing to do with Yu Qi. He would send someone to deliver a secret letter to Xiangyang to say a good word for Lu Jing, and that was all.

In this era, chaos and peace are intertwined. It would be great if everyone can take good care of themselves. Worrying about others will often cause unnecessary trouble.

Lu Jing did not break his promise. After simply handing over the military affairs, he left Yuzhang with a small group of people and headed north. The Bianzhou army had not yet blocked the mouth of the Ganjiang River, probably because of the insufficient size of the troops, but this road was a huge hidden danger for the Jingxiang army, but it was absolutely true.

Sitting on a small boat, Lu Jing looked back at Yuzhang City and had a bad feeling in his heart.

He was worried about the situation in Hongzhou, and even more worried about the reckoning he would face after returning to Xiangyang.

Since Lu Qi, this villain, has already taken action, he will not stop, and will definitely continue to do so. Lu Qi cannot be unaware that Lu Jing will come to settle accounts with him after returning to Xiangyang.

So this person must have prepared a "welcoming banquet" and was waiting for Lu Jing.

Even if Lu Jiong was not killed, he would definitely be demoted! Without the protection of his official position, Lu Jiong did not dare to think about what he would face next.

The emperor's removal of Lu from his post as governor of Jiangnan West Road was a clear sign of his distrust of him. So, the governor of Shannan East Road was probably just a temporary measure.

Then, will I be imprisoned or even... doomed to failure once I return to Xiangyang?
Sitting on the boat, Lu Jing became more and more frightened the more he thought about it! He was so suspicious that his body couldn't help but tremble.

"Don't enter the Yangtze River, dock directly in Xunyang and we will enter Xunyang City."

At this moment, seeing that the boat had arrived at the mouth of Ganjiang River, Lu Jiong hurriedly stopped the soldier rowing the boat and asked him to go directly to the shore of Xunyang (Jiujiang City) at the mouth of Ganjiang River.

"General Lu, Xunyang is the territory of the Bianzhou Army. Let's go there..."

The guard asked with a puzzled look.

Is General Lu rebelling? He didn't even say hello before!
If you want to rebel, why don't you rebel in the main camp? Why do you have to abandon the army before rebelling?

Everyone present looked at each other.

As Lu Jiong's personal soldiers, they also knew some inside information and knew that the conflict between Lu Jiong and the Jingxiang court was rapidly intensifying!
"If we go back to Xiangyang, we'll both die! If you want to die, go ahead. If you want to live, follow me!"

Lu Jiong looked around at the soldiers around him and shouted loudly with a ferocious look on his face!

……

A few days later, Yuan Zai arrived in Hongzhou.

Only after entering the Yangtze River did no one take care of the road. Before that, food, clothing, housing and transportation were extremely convenient. The court had rebuilt the "water post", a water post is a market town on the riverside, and business is prosperous.

As long as you have money, you can have everything you want.

Of course, Yuan Zai was an official, so he naturally didn't have to worry about these trivial matters.

That night, the boat quietly sent Yuan Zai to the Jingxiang Army Water Fort on the shore of Poyang Lake. When he was discovered by the sentry, Yuan Zai immediately revealed his identity, saying that he was an "old friend" of Lu Jing and had something important to tell him.

Soon, he was led to a secluded bamboo building in the water fort to wait.

However, when "Lu Jiong" walked into the bamboo building, Yuan Zai was shocked.

He didn't know Lu Jing, but Yuan Zai was very familiar with the man who walked in! It can even be said that in the past few years, the two of them would see each other every day!
"Yu Xiuming! It's you?"

Yuan Zai asked in disbelief. This was his former colleague in Chang'an, and one of the few acquaintances he could talk to. He couldn't be considered a friend, but just a colleague who was relatively friendly to him.

Yuan Zai was extremely smart and immediately figured out why Yu Qi appeared here.

Something must have happened to Lu Jiong, otherwise, Lu Jiong would have come to see me in person. There would be no need to send someone to test me.

"The court has transferred Lu Jing back to Jingxiang to serve as the governor of Shannan East Road. Now someone is taking over the defense of Hongzhou."

Yu Qi sighed and said that as for what happened to Lu Jing, he naturally couldn't tell Yuan Zai in detail.

"I didn't expect that you would come to persuade Lu Jiong. It seems that Lu Jiong really has rebellious intentions."

Yu Qi stretched out his hand as he spoke. Yuan Zai sighed softly, took out a letter from his arms and handed it to the other party.

Yu Qi didn't bother to be polite with him. He opened the letter and read it quickly, then his expression became serious.

"You and I each serve our own masters. There is nothing much to say. I will take my leave now. You should leave the water stronghold and go to Xunyang immediately. Don't hang around in Hongzhou. I cannot guarantee your safety."

Yu Qi handed a bag of dry food to Yuan Zai.

"Ugh!"

Things went wrong, Yuan Zai sighed, without any pretense, took the bag from Yu Qi, and followed a personal soldier out of the water fort.

After he left, Yu Qi immediately went to the study and wrote furiously. He wanted to record everything that happened here and then send it to Xiangyang as a secret letter for Li Lu to make the final decision.

As for how Li Lu would deal with Lu Jing and what would happen to Yan Zhenqing, that had nothing to do with him.

Yu Qi did things in a methodical manner only because he had a clear conscience. He had no control over the struggles in the court, nor did he have the ability to do so.

He was neither Lu Qi's dog nor would he block a knife for Yan Zhenqing.

(End of this chapter)