You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 13 True Nature Cannot Be Hidden
Iron hooves thundered, raising dust, and steeds neighed and howled in the wind.

Thirty-six fine horses, and the riders on horseback were all tall and strong, wearing iron helmets, dressed in long reddish-brown scale armor, carrying bows and swords, with long knives hanging at their waists, and solemn faces.

These were all elite troops of the Shengjie Army, carefully selected by Tong Guan, to escort the two to Bianliang and persuade Zhao Ji to ally with the Jin to attack the Liao.

That's what they said; in reality, it was a debate with the opposing ministers, because Zhao Ji had already agreed.

"Commander Chen, we are now within the territory of the Northwest Jing Road. It is getting late. Shall we set up camp here?"

Chen Shao didn't even look at Li Liangsi and immediately rejected the idea, saying, "It's cold, how can we stay in the middle of nowhere? I see that the roads here are wide, there must be a big city ahead, brothers, let's go into the city and rest!"

Li Liangsi, mounted on his horse, looked at Chen Shao with a slight frown between his brows.

Once this person left the Qin and Long regions of Northwest China, he was like a completely different person.

When he was in the Northwest, he was gentle, respectful, frugal and courteous. Although he came from a military family, he was very measured in his actions, spoke softly and kindly, and always gave way to others.

Especially in front of Tong Guan.

But as he moved away from the Northwest, he seemed to change completely, suddenly becoming arrogant and domineering.

Along the way, using Tong Xuanshuai's name, he amassed wealth on a large scale, demanding bribes and even ordering his Victory Army to forcibly seize what was not given.

Those gentry and officials dared not speak out, fearing Tong Guan's power and thus remaining silent.

Li Liangsi was very disgusted by this, because Chen Shao's behavior gave him a sense of familiarity.

Aren't all the officials of the Liao Dynasty like this?

Unfortunately, all thirty of these elite soldiers of the victorious army were bribed by Chen Shao. He spent every penny he obtained through bribery like dirt, rewarding his subordinates with tens or even hundreds of strings of cash at a time.

Even though he is the one in charge of this trip to the east, everyone only listens to Chen Shao.

Li Liangsi was determined that once he arrived in the capital, he would write a letter to Commander Tong Xuan and reveal all of this.

Chen Shao looked back and let out a long sigh of relief!

He finally got his chance!
Before Laozi sought refuge with Tong Guan, he lived a miserable life. If he were to continue living that kind of life after seeking refuge with Tong Guan, wouldn't his refuge have been in vain?

As for the fact that his arrogant behavior had reached Tong Guan's ears, Chen Shao was not worried. At most, the old scoundrel Tong would just laugh and say that this was the last time. He was afraid that Chen Shao would really stop being greedy.

For these "six thieves," do they care whether you are greedy or ruthless?

As long as it's useful, that's fine. And if you're greedy, you're one of us. You won't side with the virtuous; you can only rely on them.

They themselves are the biggest corrupt officials.

When Cai Jing celebrated his birthday, he would often receive a gift of 100,000 strings of cash. This was not just a fabrication; it was the truth, and the amount was no less.

What does 100,000 strings of cash mean?
A warhorse costs five strings of cash!

One hundred thousand strings of cash could buy twenty thousand warhorses, enough to form a cavalry unit.

Tong Guan was even more remarkable.

This old eunuch directly monopolized the tea, salt, and iron trade. Because he had once been in charge of the three ministries (Ministry of Revenue, Salt and Iron, and Ministry of Finance), he abused his power to commit fraud in financial management, embezzled public funds, and falsely reported expenditures to seek personal gain.

Each of these represents the most egregious form of corruption throughout history; everything else pales in comparison.

Chen Shao really needed money; everything he did afterward required it.

Where do you expect him to get the money now?
Cai Jing, Liang Shicheng, and Tong Guan were all like "Master Huang"—he couldn't touch them.

The only option left is to take money from the two major families in the south of the city.

Although it was only late afternoon, the sky was already overcast, the west wind was blowing hard, and there were very few people on the post road.

An old courier warmed a pot of liquor and ate it with two small dishes, content in his own little world.

The old postman downed another cup of wine with a "slurp," muttering curses at the awful weather. It looked like it was going to rain; the post station was old and dilapidated, and rainy nights were unbearable. Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar. The old postman stood up and looked into the distance.

The group of people rode very fast and arrived in no time.

The leader was quite polite, asking with a smile, "Old man, are there any wealthy families around here?"

The old courier was startled, thinking that bandits had come to scout the place, but after looking closely, it didn't seem to be the case.

"I'm asking you something!"

The man next to the young man, dressed in a battle coat, was not so easy to talk to. Seeing him lost in thought, he raised his whip to strike him.

The old courier quickly stepped back and said, "Yes, yes, the Dule Garden is not far ahead."

He pointed eastward and said in a trembling voice.

"Brothers, let's spend the night in this solitary paradise!"

The soldiers of the victorious army cheered loudly.

Only Li Liangsi kept sneering.

He sensed the old courier's ill intentions, but he didn't warn him, wanting to see what Chen Shao and his companions would do.

As a Liao person, Li Liangsi understood the Song Dynasty better than Chen Shao, a military household.

What kind of place is Duleyuan?
That was the garden that Sima Guang built for himself.

After his death, Sima Wengong was posthumously awarded the titles of Grand Tutor and Duke of Wen, and the posthumous name "Wenzheng". He was later enshrined in the Temple of Emperor Zhezong, and his portrait was displayed in the Zhaoxun Pavilion. He was also enshrined in the Temple of Confucius and was known as "Master Sima, the Former Confucian Scholar".

The Song Dynasty valued civil officials over military ones, and Li Liangsi dared not imagine what kind of reputation these common soldiers would cause if they went to Sima Guang's residence and caused a scene.

Those intellectuals would have thrown the place into chaos.

After they left, the old courier spat, a sly glint in his eyes.

Luoyang held extraordinary significance for the Song Dynasty.

The city of Luoyang holds half the history of the rise and fall of the Song Dynasty.

"The rise and fall of gardens and parks is a reflection of the prosperity and decline of Luoyang; the prosperity and decline of Luoyang is a sign of the order and chaos of the world."

Luoyang, the western capital of the Song Dynasty, was not only a sacred place for scholars to gather, but also a gathering place for aristocratic families and retired officials.

These powerful families formed a unique "Luoyang gentry circle" through the intertwining of imperial examinations, marriage alliances, academic inheritance, and political influence, making it a place where scholars gathered.

Chen Shao was truly unaware that he was leading his brothers, galloping away on horseback.

These thirty-odd soldiers of the Victory Army had all endured the harsh conditions of the Northwest. Although they were prestigious when they followed Tong Guan, they were surrounded by the Victory Army and their generals, so they had no chance to be arrogant.

This trip with Chen Shao has been incredibly rewarding, and it has broadened my horizons considerably.

In less than half a month, these people gathered around Chen Shao and followed his lead.

Chen Shao knew this all too well. Back then, he had led a supply train of fifty soldiers, and it had taken them half a month to reach him. Those people completely ignored him.

But now it's the exact opposite.

Ultimately, interests are what move people, determine relationships, and are the foundation of everything.

They were Tong Guan's people in the Northwest, but everyone around them was Tong Guan's people.

Then the title "Tong Xuanshuai's confidant" becomes worthless; no matter where you go, it's always something that's valued for its rarity.

Now that it's outside the Northwest, this stuff has become valuable, so we must make good use of it.

To achieve anything in this chaotic world, you must have your own foundation!
(End of this chapter)