Joy of Life: Starting from Teacher Fan Xian

Chapter 75 Cangzhou City

The day before his diplomatic mission to the border, Lin Ruo made a special trip to the Supervisory Council.

Everyone in the court knew what President Chen said in the court that day, so there was no need to keep a distance from the Supervisory Council.

"It will take at least two months to go on a border mission and return. The journey is long, so we must be careful." Chen Pingping smoothed the hair at his temples, revealing a hint of white hair.

Lin Ruo thought to herself, it's all your fault, and smiled, "I'm fine."

Chen Pingping glanced at him, still unable to stop being surprised, and shook his head: "You are fine, but those officials in the Honglu Temple are bound to cause trouble along the way."

"I have asked His Majesty for permission to send officials from the Supervisory Council to accompany us. The personnel will mainly come from the six departments responsible for assassination missions. The Black Cavalry will be outside the city and will also take action if there is an accident." Chen Pingping's defenses are always complete.

"By the way, Wang Qinian will go too. He traveled all over the country when he was young, and his martial arts skills are among the best in the hospital. If there is an unpredictable accident, he can help you escape." Chen Pingping added.

Lin Ruo couldn't help but tease: "When the time comes, just don't let him run too fast and forget to take me with him."

Chen Pingping said nothing, his lips curled up, then sank, and he changed the subject: "You don't need to worry about the negotiations. What you need to pay attention to is whether Northern Qi has any hidden moves. This negotiation may not only be open."

"It's not like we're entering Northern Qi, so why would we make so many moves?" Lin Ruo thought for a moment. Xiao En was still in the prison of the Supervisory Council, so Shang Shanhu wouldn't come. Haitang Duoduo was only a few years old, and the eldest princess in the palace shouldn't have joined forces with Northern Qi at this time. There wouldn't be any conspiracy or intrigue on the way, it was purely a political game.

Chen Pingping suddenly said in a deep voice: "Northern Qi is one thing, and our own people are another."

Lin Ruo pricked up his ears and listened carefully.

Chen Pingping asked him, "Qin Ye supported the border negotiations in the court. You don't think it was arranged by me or His Majesty, do you?"

Lin Ruo paused and said, "Is this the old general's own idea?"

Chen Pingping nodded and said seriously, "That's right. Once the border negotiations begin, the military can intervene. They may try to steal the credit or have other plans. We must always be careful."

Lin Ruo became alert and nodded: "I remember it."

……

After leaving the Censorate, Lin Ruo had to go to the Honglu Temple again. He had to be present to make preparations and instruct the delegation before their departure.

Except for the Minister of the Honglu Temple who will stay in Kyoto, nearly half of the important officials of the Honglu Temple will accompany him north. I don't know whether it is His Majesty's request or the people inside and outside the Honglu Temple attach too much importance to this negotiation.

That night, a group of guys from the Honglu Temple actually held a farewell banquet. There have always been celebration banquets, but I have never heard of any departure banquets, especially since they had to leave early the next morning.

Lin Ruo couldn't guess, but these officials just talked and didn't drink too much. It seems that after more than ten years of victories, the people of Qing now have a unanimous confidence when they mention Northern Qi, just like they used to call Qing the Southern Barbarians.

At the banquet, Lin Ruo revealed the news that the Supervisory Council would serve as his escort. All the officials from the Honglu Temple, who used to be afraid of the Supervisory Council, laughed out loud and put aside their worries about the journey.

They also more or less realized that having such a general was not all bad, at least the help from the Supervisory Council was something they had not expected. This credit must be attributed to the young man who was on good terms with Dean Chen.

"Come on, General Lin, let me toast you."

……

When we returned to the Fan Mansion, it was already very late at night.

Lord Fan will attend the morning court tomorrow, so he should rest early, but the light in the study is still dim or bright. Could it be that he has something to say to him?

Lin Ruo stayed outside the study for a while, and when he saw no movement, he slowly went back to his room. Lord Fan had been resentful from the beginning to the end of his trip to the border.

After a while, the light in the study went out.

At dawn the next day, the Fan Mansion became busy, carrying a lot of objects and piling them onto the carriage outside the mansion. Liu personally took charge of the work and directed everyone.

She wanted to ask Lin Ruo to bring some maids and servants from the mansion with her, but Lin Ruo flatly refused. She even had no intention of bringing Teng Zijing, who had been accompanying them on the trip.

"Sir, please get in the carriage." Wang Qinian greeted him, and the two carriages went along Tianhe Street.

"You seem quite happy to be going on a long journey." Lin Ruo asked puzzledly as he got into the car.

Wang Qinian boasted: "Wang is like a brick in the yard. He will be moved wherever there is a need without any complaints."

"Do you think I would believe that?"

Wang Qinian smiled dishonestly and said, "Well, to be honest with you, sir, the dean actually gave me a small salary increase."

The carriage arrived at the gate of the Supervisory Council on Tianhe Street and mixed in with more than a dozen carriages. Lin Ruo lifted the curtain and saw many officials from the Supervisory Council and a group of acquaintances from the Honglu Temple.

They each got on a horse-drawn carriage, under the banner of a diplomatic mission to the border, which gave off a sense of grandeur.

The news of the border negotiations had already spread throughout Kyoto, and the people were looking forward to his triumphant return, bringing back good news that would strike a blow to the prestige of Northern Qi.

The new number one scholar, as the chief negotiator, was subject to endless criticism in the court, but when the news spread to the people, it caused very little discussion. Only the students praised and respected him.

In the literary world of Nanqing, Lin Ruo's status has unknowingly become very high.

With the envoys welcoming them all the way, the delegation left the city through the north gate without any hindrance. The people lined the road to let them go in and out.

The patrol officers escorted the envoys out of the capital as usual until they reached a place eighteen miles away, and then withdrew their troops back to the capital. The envoys marched north along the long road. "Sir, wait a minute."

Xin Qiwu got off the carriage at the back, trotted to the carriage in front, and stumbled into the carriage.

"What does Lord Xin mean?"

"There are only four or five people in Xin's carriage, so it's too crowded. So I came here to let you sit here and help you relieve your boredom." Xin Qiwu said with a smile.

As the Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple, on the premise that Lin Ruo does not intervene in the affairs, he is naturally the one with absolute say in the delegation.

When going north for negotiations, Xin Qiwu had the most things to do and the most responsibilities to bear.

Before I could even sit down, the carriage suddenly started shaking and the vibrations lasted for a long time.

"Wang Qinian?" Lin Ruo shouted outside the car.

Wang Qinian immediately responded: "Sir, the mountain road is rugged."

“We don’t even get out of Kyoto, so it shouldn’t be that difficult to get through.” Lin Ruo asked doubtfully.

Xin Qiwu explained, "Qingqi has been at war for many years, and the people will not go north. As fewer people travel on the road, it is natural that it is worn out. It is normal for it to be a little rugged. It will be fine once we pass the mountain pass and enter the plain."

As if to bring up a new topic, Xin Qiwu added, "The troops heading north never took this official road, but always went around the prairie in the northeast."

"I see." Lin Ruo nodded slightly.

"Since you know his name, the driver must be from the Fan family." Xin Qiwu asked casually while looking at the figure outside the carriage.

Lin Ruo shook his head and smiled faintly: "Outside the car is the official from the First Division of the Supervisory Council, Mr. Wang Qinian."

"Mr. Wang, nice to meet Mr. Xin." Wang Qinian greeted him outside the car.

Xin Qiwu was slightly surprised and even forgot to greet him. An official from the First Division of the Supervisory Council was actually only qualified to drive the horse for Lord Lin. The relationship between Lord Lin and President Chen must be too close.

"What's wrong, Lord Xin? Are you worried about the negotiations?" Lin Ruo asked.

When it comes to negotiations, Xin Qiwu smiled confidently: "Don't worry about the negotiations, Lord Lin. This kind of thing is always about fists. My Qing country has a strong fist, and Northern Qi can only be beaten. Even if we are at the table."

"In my opinion, the best method of Northern Qi is probably to bark and howl by claiming to be orthodox."

"I'm afraid we can't call it orthodox anymore." Wang Qinian laughed outside the car, "Northern Wei was destroyed, and Northern Qi took advantage of the situation to rise. It's not shameful to call it that."

Xin Qiwu's eyes lit up, and he communicated with the outsiders: "This lord from the Supervisory Council has a point. Before the Northern Qi Zhan family ascended the throne, they were only generals. It's okay to accuse them of plotting to usurp the throne."

"I wonder if the guy in the prison of the Supervisory Council will curse the new royal family when he returns next year and sees the fall of the Northern Wei royal family to which he was loyal." Xin Qiwu said, suddenly feeling very refreshed.

Wang Qinian responded: "Lord Xin, you are talking about Xiao En. I am afraid Xiao En will spend the rest of his life in Qing Kingdom."

Xin Qiwu nodded and said with admiration: "Sean was the pillar of the Northern Wei Dynasty back then. I can't believe how much effort Dean Chen had to make to capture him. With just one move, the Northern Wei Dynasty was torn apart."

When people talk about this incident, they seem to only know about the thousand-mile raid and the heroic deeds of President Chen that cost him both legs, but few know the details.

Wang Qinian said proudly: "The dean showed his skills in those days, and I know a thing or two about it."

Xin Qiwu immediately moved his butt out of the car and listened to Wang Qinian's story.

Lin Ruo ignored it and closed his eyes, thinking that Lord Xin wanted to do something for him, but it turned out that he came to brag to someone.

……

After walking north for half a day, the sun set in the mountains. The delegation made some adjustments and then walked for nearly half an hour before finally finding a post station to rest.

The journey north was just ordinary. Along the way, when they arrived at some prefectures and counties, the government offices provided assistance and helped the delegation to replenish their food.

More than half a month later, the delegation finally saw clues for the way forward and rushed to Cangzhou, a large border city in the northern territory of Qing Kingdom.

Outside Cangzhou City is a vast wasteland, white as a vast expanse with no end in sight.

Looking at the city from afar, they realized that they would not be able to arrive before sunset even if they hurried. After discussion, the delegation decided to rest in the woods near a water source and enter the city the next day.

"How many days will it take for Cangzhou City to reach the border?" Lin Ruo found a high position, looked towards the north and observed the situation.

Wang Qinian sat on a rock nearby and said, "We should be able to arrive in about ten days."

Lin Ruo suddenly said with some worry: "There won't be a war going on now, right?"

"The conflict between Qing Kingdom and Northern Qi has ceased, but there are many vassal states along the border between the two countries, so there are still minor frictions," Wang Qinian explained slowly.

Lin Ruo sighed slightly: "I understand, the eldest brother doesn't fight anymore, but he is still directing the children to fight."

"Your Excellency's description is quite appropriate."

(End of this chapter)