Fu Shanhe

Chapter 80 A Completely Different Expedition

Once the farce begins, it will not end easily.

The inexperienced Commander Rong seemed particularly excited when facing so many soldiers.

Perhaps I was too nervous and forgot what to say for a moment.

Or maybe it was because I was a poor student and didn't memorize the script I prepared in advance.

After taking the stage, he confused the process and used idioms and allusions indiscriminately.

It just so happened that the loud-voiced soldiers who were responsible for delivering messages were all servants following him. They were equally foolish and believed whatever the master said.

For a while, the camp was filled with laughter and joy, and there was no seriousness that should be in the army at all.

As a spectator, Li Mu kept his mouth shut the entire time.

Unfortunately, Commander Rong himself is not well-known, and the enemies he faces are also second-rate characters.

Otherwise, his performance today could have left behind a historical allusion to serve as a warning to future generations.

Such a joyous marching ceremony is extremely rare throughout human history.

As the commander-in-chief, Marquis Wuyang had a dark face throughout the whole process.

Not only did his subordinates lose face, but he, as the head coach, also lost face.

From his murderous eyes, Li Mu read the future of Commander Rong.

Even if he managed to survive the battlefield, he would never be able to return to the capital alive.

The frequent farces directly affected the progress of the ceremony.

The brief departure ceremony dragged on until noon before the entire process was completed with some difficulty.

At the last moment, a playboy whom Li Mu did not recognize foolishly shouted that he would have lunch before leaving, which made Marquis Wuyang so angry that he drew his sword on the spot.

If he had not admitted his defeat quickly enough, and if Marquis Wuyang had not been in the mood to argue with a dead man, he would probably have been chopped off on the spot as a sacrifice.

When things developed to this point, anyone with a little common sense realized that this expedition had no bright future.

It's too late to regret, the departure ceremony has been completed.

As for withdrawal, military law is not to be underestimated.

No matter how strong the background is, there is no room for maneuver at this point.

After watching the army leave, colleagues around them all showed expressions of relief.

It can be seen that everyone really hates this group of stupid teammates.

After witnessing the internal strife among the military generals, Xu Wenyue suddenly realized that the civil service group was better.

Although internal politics were brutal, they mostly ended with retirement and rarely with massacres.

If a general starts to betray his teammates, it can be really fatal.

It is unknown whether half of this army can come back alive.

Deep down in her heart, after despising the warrior's vulgarity, she shut her mouth obediently and stopped provoking Marquis Wuyang with words.

His intuition told him that if this person got angry, he would really draw his sword and kill someone.

……

Xixi Man.

This most famous flower boat in Yangzhou City has lost its former poetic and picturesque atmosphere since it was booked today.

"Lord Xu came all the way from the capital, and the Yangzhou gentry showed such indifference that he was very angry.

I had to use a lot of force to get this opportunity.

If you have anything to say, just say it now.

If there is no reasonable explanation, then we will part ways and have no further contact! "

Hou Huaichang asked sternly.

Those who came here today were either people who had met Lord Xu before, or old acquaintances of his.

Even if we can't say we are close friends, we can still establish a relationship.

When Xu Wenyue, the imperial commissioner, arrived in Yangzhou, these people did not even make arrangements to welcome him. This was unforgivable in Hou Huaichang's view.

If there is no punishment, everyone will follow suit and Lord Xu's influence in the court will inevitably decline.

The status of his benefactor has been impacted, and his status as a mentor will only decline further.

"Master Hou, it's not that we don't want to give you face, but we really have no choice.

The current Yangzhou City is no longer the Yangzhou City of the past.

Anyone who has gone against the Five Cities Army is in jail, charged with conspiracy and rebellion!"

Wang Wenju said with an embarrassed look on his face.

He absolutely didn't want to go to today's appointment.

However, he and Hou Huaichang were classmates, and the invitation had already been delivered to his door. If he refused, he would be slapping Lord Xu in the face.

"Marquis Wuyang, you can't afford to offend him. Do you think Lord Xu is easy to bully? The Five Cities Army was frightened by you. Where is the integrity of a scholar?"

At Hou Huaichang's ridicule, everyone lowered their heads.

The situations of each family are similar, and they all have some connection with the seven major families to a greater or lesser extent.

They are all members of the Qingliu Party. As a leader of the Qingliu Party, Xu Wenyue needs to consider the interests of the group and cannot do things too drastically.

If he offended Lord Xu, the only consequence would be that his children's careers would be affected.

But Marquis Wuyang is different. When he targets someone, he opens his mouth and talks about treason.

Regardless of whether they admit it or not, we will first confiscate their property and kill their entire family, and then slowly look for evidence.

The Five City Military Commanders in Yangzhou had the biggest power, and any Yangzhou officials who had different opinions were put under house arrest.

If it can withstand scrutiny, some people might take the risk to confront it just for the sake of fame.

However, the gentry in Lianghuai have been intermarrying for many years, so they are always related, whether distant or close.

Even without any evidence, they are still members of the nine clans of traitors.

Once you're in prison, don't expect to get out.

It took a huge price to find the way forward and buy back the lives of the entire family.

The pardon document was issued by Marquis Wuyang. If he could issue it, he could certainly take it back. No one dared to take the risk.

"Humph!"

"A bunch of cowards!"

"What is there to be afraid of? Tomorrow, Marquis Wuyang will lead his troops to the battle. By then, Yangzhou City..."

Hou Huaichang's performance was destined to be in vain.

When it comes to the lives of the entire family, no one dares to gamble.

The Wucheng Bingmasi can evacuate Yangzhou City and can also come back.

It is true that Lord Xu holds a high position and has great power, but he has no soldiers under his command.

Marquis Wuyang ordered the arrest of people, but he couldn't go out in person to stop it. Their friendship was not that deep.

"Master Hou, please don't embarrass us.

So many officials in Yangzhou Prefecture were imprisoned.

Or you can think of a way to get Lord Xu to release the person?"

The head of the Lei family on the side spoke up.

The arrested Yangzhou Tongpan was a member of his Lei family.

If Lord Xu can really get the person out, he will make a fortune.

Unfortunately, all this is destined to be in vain. When it comes to major cases of treason, it is always easier to arrest people than to release them.

To privately order the release of a suspect without trial by the Sansi Yamen is like handing a sword to political enemies.

Knowing clearly that there were hidden dangers, Hou Huaichang naturally did not dare to agree on behalf of Lord Xu.

A party ended in a bad mood.

……

The next morning.

The same parade ground, the same departure ceremony, but the scene before us was completely different.

Compared with the mob yesterday, Xu Wenyue could feel the evil spirit from afar as soon as he entered the camp today.

"It seems that the Wucheng Bingmasi was able to repel the rebels not just because of sheer luck!"

After sighing, Xu Wenyue's gaze shifted to Marquis Wuyang.

I didn't hear any long speeches, only two words: "go to war". Then I saw the army marching out of the camp in an orderly manner.

"Lord, this Marquis Wuyang is too perfunctory!"

Realizing that his elder had something to say, Hou Huaichang took the initiative to bring up the topic.

“It only proves that Marquis Wuyang is a smart man.

The manifesto before the expedition was never read to the soldiers, as they could not understand it.

There are no audiences worthy of performing for here, so naturally everything can be kept simple.

What's more, his fame is empty in itself, how much knowledge can he have?

Instead of following the example of Commander Rong who showed off his literary talent and made a fool of himself, it is better to keep it simple.

If we start early, we can cover a few more miles.”

……

(End of this chapter)