Jiuxi

Chapter 976 974 [True and False]

In the second year of Yongning in the Great Qi Dynasty, it was late May.

The northernmost part of Dingzhou, within the territory of Dongting Prefecture.

"Prime Minister Xu, the road ahead is the straight road leading to Gu County."

The current governor of Dingzhou, Ding Hui, looked at the right prime minister Xu Zuo who got off the carriage with a humble smile on his face.

Local officials standing nearby, such as Dongting prefect Zou Wen, were not as fawning as Ding Hui. Although they respected Xu Zuo, they kept their distance from him.

This scene made Jiang Hui feel unhappy.

Ding Hui's attitude cannot be taken seriously. This old official who has changed jobs several times but is still as successful as a duck in water may appear respectful on the surface, but he may not think so in his heart.

Now Ding Hui and the Ningtan Ding family are on board the sinking ship. Plus, he has performed very well in the past year or so. His further promotion is almost foreseeable, and it won't be difficult for him to enter the core. So how could he feel genuine awe for Xu Zuo?

On the contrary, the attitude of officials such as Zou Wen is worth pondering.

According to common sense, given Xu Zuo's reputation and status in the eyes of the literati, and the fact that the Right Prime Minister could directly decide the future and fate of officials below the third rank, even if Zou Wen and others did not have Ding Hui's shamelessness, they would not adopt such a distant attitude.

There is only one explanation. In the eyes of these local officials in Dingzhou, compared with the distant central government, they respect and are closer to the actual ruler of Jiangbei land today - naturally not Ding Hui, but the Prince of Huai'an who rebuilt the Great Qi Dynasty.

This is also Jiang Hui's most real feeling along the way.

From Huaizhou to Dingzhou, officials along the way would often talk about Lu Chen, and their words were full of respect.

The people's admiration for Lu Chen reached a level that surprised Jiang Hui.

Xu Zuo seemed to be used to this. Just like now, he looked at the straight road in the distance with a smile on his face and said calmly: "Master Ding suddenly stopped here. I guess there is another reason?"

"See you, Xu Xiangming."

Ding Hui smiled and explained, "It's not that I'm being disrespectful, but since last winter, the area around Gu County has become a forbidden area, and the soldiers of the Seven Star Army are guarding all the entrances. Without Lord Lu's handwritten order, even I cannot enter without permission."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jiang Hui's expression changed slightly.

A governor of a state is not even allowed to set foot in his own jurisdiction. Is this still under the rule of the Great Qi?

He had done his homework before leaving the capital, and knew that this ancient county of Dongting Prefecture had been allocated to the Seven Stars Gang as its new home when Xu Zuo was still the governor of Dingzhou, and that these ruffians who had migrated from the north were allowed to exercise self-government. But this did not mean that they could be independent from the system of Da Qi. Wasn't this now a country within a country?

Xu Zuo's expression remained calm, and he said calmly, "I guess this is an order from the Prince of Huai'an himself?"

"Yes."

Ding Hui responded respectfully and said, "Please wait for a moment, Prime Minister Xu. I have sent someone to report this."

Xu Zuo nodded and said, "It's okay."

At this moment, dozens of knights galloped over from a distance, dismounted their horses with great agility, and the leading general stepped forward and saluted meticulously, saying, "Ye Jitang, the deputy commander of the Seven Star Army, greets Prime Minister Xu and Governor Ding!"

Xu Zuo looked at this brave and valiant general and said gently, "General Ye, there is no need to be polite."

Ding Hui nodded in greeting.

Ye Jitang stood up and said calmly, "Prime Minister Xu, I am here to greet you on the orders of the prince."

"Okay, General Ye will lead the way."

"Prime Minister Xu, I have something else to report."

Ye Jitang looked at the dozens of elite guards who were responsible for protecting Xu Zuo not far away, and said tactfully: "Please rest assured, Prime Minister Xu, there are absolutely no bad people in Gu County. I will definitely fulfill the responsibility of protecting Prime Minister Xu on behalf of these brothers."

Xu Zuo narrowed his eyes slightly.

Officials around him, such as Ding Hui and Zou Wen, wisely lowered their heads.

"Isn't that reasonable?"

Jiang Hui, who had been suppressing some emotions since entering Huaizhou, took a step forward and said sternly: "My teacher is the Right Prime Minister of the Great Qi, and these guards are the palace guards given by the saint. What does General Ye mean by this? Do you think that Gu County is not the territory of the Great Qi? Or do you suspect that we have ill intentions?"

Ye Jitang glanced at him and said calmly, "Don't misunderstand, Jiang Xiuzhuan. This is the order of the prince. I am just following it."

"Shaoyang."

Xu Zuo stopped Jiang Hui from saying anything and said calmly, "The prince must have a purpose for this. Just be patient."

Jiang Hui bowed his head and said, "Yes."

Only then did Xu Zuo look at Ye Jitang calmly.

"Prime Minister Xu, please!"

Ye Jitong did not lose his manners. After Xu Zuo and Jiang Hui got on the carriage again, he apologized to Ding Hui and others, left the dozens of guards brought by Xu Zuo there, and then led dozens of cavalry under his command to escort the carriage and entered the territory of Gu County at a leisurely pace.

"Everyone, why don't you follow me back to the city, and let me and Prefect Zou do our part as hosts. Don't worry, Prime Minister Xu and Jiang Xiuzhuan will not be in any danger in Gu County. Prince Lu is also in the county, which is the safest place in the world after the imperial palace."

Ding Hui, along with a group of officials, greeted the guards with a smile, and without waiting for them to refuse, a group of officials gathered them together and set off for the provincial capital in the south.

In the stable carriage on the other side, Xu Zuo looked at the disciple he valued most in his life and smiled, "Are you feeling resentful?"

"Teacher, no." Jiang Hui answered calmly, but there was indeed a hint of melancholy between his eyebrows. He then said, "I just feel that what I have seen and heard along the way has gradually outlined the image of the Prince of Huai'an, which is quite different from my previous understanding. To be honest with you, when I was in the Imperial College, I had a close personal relationship with Qian Shaoqing's second son, and occasionally we would discuss important events of the country."

"Qian Degao? Although his article is not as profound as you think, it is rare among young people. He deserves the second place."

Xu Zuo passed it over briefly, then asked with interest: "What are you talking about?"

Jiang Hui replied, "I know that I am not well-informed and generally do not dare to comment on state affairs. However, due to different views on the Prince of Huai'an, I and Brother Degao have had several arguments and finally parted ways. I have always believed that it is better to observe what one does than to listen to what one says. The Prince of Huai'an's loyalty to the Great Qi is obvious to all. If he had not saved the situation several times, the Jing bandits would have already marched their troops to the south of the Yangtze River."

"But since you set foot on the land of Jiangbei, you found that he did not fit the image of a pure minister in your mind."

Xu Zuo took over the conversation and said leisurely: "Especially when one of his deputy commanders just now dared to directly refuse to let the imperial guards in. As for my status as the right prime minister of the dynasty, it seems not worth mentioning in his eyes. Based on this, in your opinion, Lu Chen can only be described in four words, that is, arrogant, right?"

Jiang Hui was silent for a moment, then said frankly, "Yes."

Xu Zuo couldn't help but chuckle.

Jiang Hui looked at him in confusion.

"If the Prince of Huai'an is really such a person, why should Master and Prime Minister Xue worry about it?"

Xu Zuo sighed, and then said: "You are still young, there is no need to rush to express your opinions. This time, just watch more, think more, and speak less. That's all."

"Disciple noted it down."

Jiang Hui suppressed the doubts in his heart.

When he followed Xu Zuo to a not-so-luxurious house in the county town and saw the world-famous young prince, he felt more and more confused - the tense scene he had imagined did not appear. Lu Chen personally came to the gate to greet him, holding a two or three-year-old child in his arms, who must be his eldest son Lu Jiusi.

The prince was wearing simple casual clothes, and his appearance and demeanor were very outstanding, but there was no arrogance on his face. Instead, he took a few steps forward and said with a smile: "It's been two years since we last met. Prime Minister Xu is even more graceful. He is worthy of being the leader of all officials in Da Qi."

Xu Zuo cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise."

"But you can't let Prime Minister Xue hear this, otherwise he will definitely think I'm trying to sow discord between the two prime ministers."

Lu Chen smiled heartily, then looked at the young official behind Xu Zuo and jokingly said, "Jiang Zhuangyuan, you won't tell on me, will you?"

Xu Zuo shook his head and laughed.

Jiang Hui stepped forward and saluted, saying neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Your Highness, I don't know how to do that."

Lu Chen nodded slightly. This young official was quite interesting.

He put Lu Jiusi down and said, "Come, pay your respects to this Grandpa Xu."

"Hello grandpa."

Lu Jiusi was a little boy with a lot of smartness, and he bowed in a very formal manner.

Xu Zuo bent over and helped him up, smiling and said, "Hello Jiusi, how old are you?"

Lu Jiusi replied crisply: "Almost three years old."

"very nice."

Xu Zuo stood up and said to Lu Chen, "I didn't know the prince would meet here. I didn't prepare any gifts. Please don't blame me for being rude."

"Prime Minister Xu, what you said is too polite. Everyone in the court knows that you are honest and incorruptible. How can I let you spend money?"

Lu Chen laughed, holding Lu Jiusi's hand and said with a smile: "Please."

"please."

The two men entered the mansion side by side, Qin Zilong and Jiang Hui followed behind, while Ye Jitong bowed and took his leave. He was now in charge of the defense of the entire county and did not dare to be careless at all.

After arriving at the main hall and having tea, everyone took their seats one after another.

Lu Chen had Lu Jiusi sent to the back house, and then said to Xu Zuo: "I knew the court would send people north, so I specially arranged for someone to wait in Huaizhou, because I will stay in Dingzhou during this period, so as to avoid the people from traveling hundreds of miles to Heluo. But I didn't expect that His Majesty would let Prime Minister Xu go. It seems that the court is not stable during this period of time?"

Xu Zuo said: "Don't worry, Prince, the court is relatively stable."

"Prime Minister Xu, there is no need for you and me to test each other."

Lu Chen shook his head and said, "In fact, I am very clear about the situation in the capital. Many people are discussing it privately. Lu Chen now controls the military power of the Great Qi. His rebellious intentions are obvious. Sooner or later, he will seek the supreme position and commit acts of rebellion."

After these words were spoken, Xu Zuo had no reaction, and Jiang Hui's brows gradually frowned.

He could not quite see Lu Chen's true face, as if it was hidden in a thick fog.

It was he who won the hearts of the people in Jiangbei, and it was he who brought his son out to meet the enemy in an upright manner.

Now it is he who has exposed the current situation with a single word and seems to be unwilling to cover it up.

Which one is the real him?
While Jiang Hui's mind was racing, Lu Chen's next short sentence seemed to carry an endless murderous intent that instantly penetrated the thick fog.

"Xu Xiang, do you think so too?"

(End of this chapter)