The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 507 The Black King is not confused

In Suzhou in June, the sun is blazing and the climate is hot and humid.

Located in the middle of the Huaibei Plain, with many rivers intersecting from north to south, and the Bianhe River passing through the city, it has unique development advantages in terms of agriculture, animal husbandry, commerce, and handicrafts.

Later Su Shi called Suzhou the first state in Huainan. Today, Suzhou is at the forefront of the Huaibei states, and the taxes sent to the court every year account for more than [-]% of the entire Huaibei region.

When the imperial court was newly established, Zhu Xiu and Li Chongjin came to Suzhou and were ordered to form an army to suppress the Huaihe River. They selected Jianghuai children to join the army, rectified the civil affairs, cracked down on bandits, and improved public security in Suzhou.

Zhu Xiu also asked for a tax exemption for Suzhou for one year, and used the money to expand the Caohe Wharf, build water conservancy, dredge rivers, stabilize prices, and restore people's livelihood in Suzhou in a short time.

Nowadays, Suzhou relies on its geographical advantages and has experienced high yields year after year. Taking advantage of the Bianhe River's water transportation advantages, Suzhou has become an important distribution center for bulk goods in the Huaihe River area.

Later, Li Gu took over the duties of Zhu Xiu and Li Chongjin. On the one hand, he continued to strengthen the training of the Huai army, on the other hand, he rewarded farming and fertility, and vigorously developed business exchanges. Suzhou became more and more prosperous.

Li Chongjin came to Suzhou and contacted his old troops. No one knew that he was fleeing south under the imperial edict, and they thought he was really returning to Suzhou on the emperor's order. All the generals and generals of the Huai Army welcomed him.

Li Gu originally had doubts, so while comforting Li Chongjin, he sent people back to Kaifeng to inquire about the news.

Unexpectedly, Li Chongjin was so bold that he instigated his confidants Liu Qingyi, Liu Shouzhong, and Liu Tingrang to take advantage of Li Gu's banquet at Jiedu Mansion to imprison Li Gu with his own soldiers. It was said that Li Gu had been ordered to return to Kaifeng and that the court had another appointment. .

Li Chong came in to occupy the magpie's nest, changed the staff inside and outside the government office, and settled down with peace of mind.

This guy also knows how to keep a low profile and live in seclusion. All civil affairs are handled by Zhai Shouxun, while military affairs are left to San Liu. He watches over his wife and children all day long, rarely leaving the house.

On this day, Li Chongjin practiced martial arts in the back garden of the mansion as usual.

Huhuhu~
He danced with a black iron gun that roared in the wind, and his naked upper body was as bronze as metal. There were more than a dozen straw men pierced around it. Every time the gun was pierced, one of the straw men was stabbed in the vital part.

Dong Waner, a first-time mother, sat aside with Li Yanfu in her arms. With a soft smile on her face, she hummed nursery rhymes to lull her child to sleep. She looked at Li Chongjin from time to time, with deep affection hidden in her eyes.

She is originally from the south of the Yangtze River. Compared with Kaifeng, she is more adapted to and likes the climate of Suzhou.

When she came to Suzhou, there were fewer welcomes and greetings, and she felt more at ease.

I just don't know how long such peaceful days can last.

Dong Wan'er sighed lightly, her husband fled south with his family, the crime is not light, and I don't know how the officials will deal with it.

She hugged the swaddle tightly, lowered her head and gently touched the child's forehead with her own.

Regardless of life or death, she just hopes that their family will never be separated.

Zhai Shouxun, who was dressed in light green official uniform, walked into the garden gate and bowed to Dong Waner.

Dong Waner immediately turned cold and turned aside to accept his courtesy.

In her opinion, her husband's current situation was all caused by this ambitious monster.

Zhai Shouxun didn't take it seriously and walked straight towards Li Chongjin.

"Whoops!~" Li Chongjin thrust the black iron gun into the floor tiles with all his strength. The sharp tip of the spear pierced the bricks and shattered them into pieces, and most of them were buried in the soil.

"Bring me a towel!" Li Chongjin breathed heavily, his whole body was steaming, and sweat was dripping down his strong muscle lines.

Zhai Shouxun took the tray from the maid's hand and walked to Li Chongjin.

"You scholar, I haven't seen you for three days. I thought you took the money from the treasury and fled south to join the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Zhongjin laughed loudly.

Zhai Shouxun said calmly: "The government of the Tang Dynasty was in chaos. Even Hunan could not be conquered for a long time. It has become so decayed. What is the future? It is expected that the Tang Dynasty will be destroyed by the Northern Army sooner or later!"

Li Chongjin wiped the sweat from his body: "Tell me, why do you come to see me? Don't say anything about sending troops to the north or raising troops to start an uprising. I have already thought clearly about whether the emperor is not an emperor. I don't care, as long as I can live a peaceful life!" "

Zhai Shouxun sneered: "The general has committed an unforgivable crime, but he still clings to a meaningless sense of loyalty when he is about to die? Do we have to wait until the butcher's knife of the official and the King of Jin is held between his necks to wake up? ?”

Li Chongjin had heard similar words countless times, and he said carelessly: "Before, you said that before I could escape to Suzhou, the officials would send troops to pursue me.

When I arrived in Suzhou, I was told that the officials would dispatch Murong Yanzhao from Xuzhou and Li Wanchao from Bozhou to attack the enemy.

Now that the officials have decreed that I should be assigned the position of defense envoy of Sizhou, and concurrently serve as the deputy envoy of the Huai Army, everything is calm and my life is peaceful. What else can I say? "

Zhai Shouxun's face turned slightly red, he felt ashamed and angry, and said sophistry: "The officials are just delaying the war. Sooner or later, when they take action, you will be held accountable!"

Li Chongjin said nonchalantly: "Let's talk about it when the day comes!"

Li Chongjin was too lazy to pay attention to him and took his son from Dong Waner's hand. Just as he picked him up, the little boy burst into tears and twisted restlessly.

"Hey~ This brat doesn't look like me, but his voice is quite similar! Haha~"

Li Chongjin held his son and teased him for a while.

Dong Waner grabbed the child angrily and glared at him fiercely.

Zhai Shouxun said sadly: "The general has lost his ambition. If so, it is better to go back to Kaifeng for trial!"

Li Chongjin watched his wife leave with her son in her arms, and said with a smile: "I'm not busy, just wait a moment!"

"Time has not waited for me, how can we wait?" Zhai Shouxun gritted his teeth and said, "When the King of Jin succeeds to the throne and the world returns to its center, the general will be unable to save himself even if he has the power to reach heaven and earth! In the end, there will only be death!"

Li Chongjin glanced at him and said calmly: "You don't understand the temperament of our family, nor can you understand the friendship between us. The official family is my uncle, and the King of Jin is my cousin. I can't bear to be enemies with them, and they can't He won't kill me.

I'm waiting to see what they're going to do with me. "

Zhai Shouxun sneered: "Friendship? How can there be any friendship in a power struggle? People who care about friendship have long since passed away!"

Li Chongjin was silent for a while and sighed: "Zhu Xiu also told me about this issue. He said that a person must have bottom lines and principles in his actions. If he is too unscrupulous, he can win for a while, but not for a lifetime. If he goes against the way of heaven, he will eventually be defeated. Forsaken by all eternity!”

Zhai Shouxun said angrily: "The way of heaven is to succeed as a king and lose as a bandit! If the general does not seize this last opportunity, he will regret it for the rest of his life!"

Li Chongjin looked at Zhai Shouxun, and suddenly sighed helplessly, cupped his hands and begged for mercy: "Mr. Zhai, please don't force me anymore! I, Li Chongjin, have no ambitions, and I am not the kind of majestic hero who can help the world!"
I know you are full of ambitions, but unfortunately you can't realize them here.

How about I intercede with King Jin on your behalf?Ask him to give you a court official's dang?
Or should I recommend you to work for Zhu Xiu?That guy is smarter and more capable than me, and he will definitely have a better future than me in the future!
Or Zhang Yongde?That's the prince-in-law of the country!

How about Zhao Kuangyin?That’s also a personal essence.”

Zhai Shouxun was so angry that he was shaking all over. He was talking seriously to Li Chongjin about important matters, but this guy was joking with him?

Zhai Shouxun's chest rose and fell violently, then gradually subsided. He looked deeply at Li Chongjin with hatred, cupped his hands and turned to leave. "Wait a minute!" Li Chongjin stopped him.

"At Li Gu's place, I have changed the manpower and asked Liu Qingyi to personally take care of it, so don't think about taking action again!"

Zhai Shouxun stared slightly, his expression ugly.

Li Chongjin said calmly, "You want to kill Li Gu and force me to rebel? Li Gu is a good official and a great talent. If you kill him, you will step on my bottom line!"

Li Chongjin stared at Zhai Shouxun with tiger-like eyes: "Do you know why I don't kill you? And I still trust and use you in every possible way?"

Zhai Shouxun felt a chill as if he was being watched by tigers and wolves, so he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Li Chongjin smiled lightly and said: "Because in Suzhou, after Zhu Xiu left, no scholar was willing to serve me, and you were the only one who took the initiative to do so!"

Li Chongjin was a little helpless and a little angry: "The Jianghuai nobles secretly look down on me, and even look down on the officials and the King of Jin, thinking that we are just a bunch of vulgar people!
Damn it, I want to show them that my Guo family can not only fight, but also manage civil affairs!

King Jin will be the emperor, I accept it!
I just want to know, if he becomes emperor, will he still care about the brotherhood between us?Will you take my cousin seriously? "

Li Chongjin said in a cold tone: "So Mr. Zhai, your plan can be stopped here! I don't care what your intentions are. For the sake of your loyalty back then, I will no longer pursue the past.

If you stay, you will still be my staff. As long as Li Chongjin does not die, I will ensure your wealth for the rest of your life!
If you leave, I will offer you a large sum of money, and you will not be in vain as a master and servant! "

Zhai Shouxun shivered, and let out a sigh of relief as if he had been defeated. His whole body revealed a sense of decadence and powerlessness after madness.

He arched his hands, said nothing, and walked with a slightly heavy footstep.

Li Chongjin shook his head, Zhai Shouxun was a talented man, but it was a pity that he went astray.

After arriving in Suzhou, Li Chongjin's feverish mind finally sobered up, and his desire for the emperor's throne suddenly disappeared.

His ambition was aroused by Zhai Shouxun, and he finally figured it out after repeated setbacks.

But Zhai Shouxun's mind seemed to never wake up.

His confidant Liu Shouzhong hurried over, and after saluting, he whispered: "General, there is a person coming from Kaifeng with a camel. His humble position has been found out. The person who came is none other than Zhu Xiu, the Marquis of Dingyuan, and the giant man from the Iron Tower of the historian!"

Li Chongjin's eyebrows were filled with joy, and he clenched his fists suddenly. It seemed that he had not waited in vain, Zhu Xiu was indeed here!

Zhu Xiuneng must have been entrusted by the officials and the King of Jin to come.

"Where are they?"

"We have entered the city and settled in a guesthouse!"

"Prepare your horses and I'll go meet them myself!"

~~~
Zhu Xiu and Shi Xiangwen entered Suzhou City, went straight to the bustling market in Xicheng, and settled in a large guest house covering an area of ​​dozens of acres.

Except for a few heads of the Zangfeng Camp and the Police Department, almost no one knew that this guest house was owned by Changxing Trading Co., Ltd.

Changxing Cargo Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Jiangning, and its owner is Zha Hui. In recent years, with the strong support of Taifu Zhou Zong, it has developed rapidly and accounts for [-]% of the bulk cargo water transportation business in Jiangning City.

This time going south, only Zhu Xiu and Shi Xiangwen were on hand on the surface, and Hu Guangyue, the outer guard, and Sichazi Wude, who were more covert, were secretly there.

Here in the guest house, Hu Guangyue has already made careful arrangements, and there are guards inside and outside.

In extreme cases, Zhu Xiu can be protected and evacuated calmly.

Although Zhu Xiu didn't think that Li Chongjin would be so confused that he would support troops and make trouble, but he still had to be prepared.

He was a cautious person who would not gamble with his life. After the last assassination incident, he became more aware of how fragile his life was.

With Shi Xiangwen following him, it was impossible to conceal his whereabouts. As soon as they entered Suzhou City, Zhu Xiu knew that he was being watched.

But it doesn't matter, he had no intention of hiding his traces.

However, Zhu Xiu was impressed by the defense inside and outside Suzhou City. At first glance, the city was still prosperous, but Zhu Xiu could see that Li Chongjin had put a lot of thought into setting up many sentries, and the rotation of patrol soldiers was also quite careful. If any unexpected situation occurs, Suzhou City will enter a state of martial law as quickly as possible.

After going through so many things, the reckless Black King finally matured.

After arriving in the guest room to rest for a while, Zhu Xiu took Shi Xiangwen to the lobby on the first floor for dinner.

This season is the breeding season for mandarin fish in the Huaihe River. When the first year's mandarin fish grows to its fullest size, it is ready to be eaten.

Suzhou's popular traditional cooking methods include stewing, steaming, frying, and pouring it with prepared sauce. When Zhu Xiu and Li Chongjin came to Suzhou City for the first time, they found it extremely delicious after eating it, but the cooking method was a bit monotonous.

Zhu Xiu taught the cooks in the government offices at that time how to braise, grill, and pickle the fish. It didn't take long for the dish to spread to the streets, and now it has become the mainstream way to eat mandarin fish in Suzhou City. Even people from Huainan, Tang Dynasty and other places came here to learn the skill.

"Delicious!" There were plates in front of Shi Xiangwen, and the table was filled with mandarin fish prepared in various ways, which made his index finger move. The fish bones and fish bones he spat out were piled up at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His stature was already eye-catching, and he had such a wide intestine, which even attracted exclamations from all the diners in the hall.

Zhu Xiu ate two braised mandarin fish and felt full after finishing a small bowl of Taihu fragrant rice.

After a while, Hu Guangyue, dressed as an ordinary businessman, sat next to Zhu Xiu and handed him a stack of paper.

"Master Hou, this is the current deployment plan of the Huai Army, as well as some situations in Jiedu Mansion. Time is in a hurry, so I cannot be detailed. Please forgive me, Master Hou!" Hu Guangyue said in a low voice, alert to the surroundings.

Zhu Xiu looked through it and said, "It's not like we're going to fight. These are enough. Just be aware of them."

After flipping through a few more pages, Zhu Xiu asked in surprise: "Li Chongjin took Li Gu into custody?"

Li Gu was an old friend and confidant of Guo Wei, and he was also the legitimate envoy of the Huai Army. If Li Chongjin or his subordinates were confused and killed Li Gu, the blame would be huge.

The death of Li Gu will definitely offend Guo Wei and Chai Rong, and make the officials in Kaifeng angry. Even if Chai Rong cares about brotherhood, he can't suppress the court's anger. A conviction is certain. If troops and horses are deployed, a civil war in Huaibei is about to break out!
"Maybe we can find out about Li Gu?" Zhu Xiu said solemnly.

Hu Guangyue said: "The government office is heavily guarded and it will be difficult to do it for a while."

Zhu Xiu thought for a while, Wu Desi might have a way to spy on the internal situation of Jiedu Mansion.

Just as Hu Guangyue was about to contact Wu Desi's staff, a waiter with a towel on his shoulder passed by and said in a low voice, "Li Chongjin is leading his men to this place!"

Zhu Xiu raised his eyebrows. The black guy came quickly.

Hu Guangyue hurriedly got up and left in a hurry, hiding himself among the passers-by.

(End of this chapter)