I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

Nine times out of ten, the problems in officialdom are psychological, or a way to save face for people they don't want to see.

Everyone knows the unspoken agreement; if no one breaks the silence, then it's considered proper etiquette.

But if a clueless little girl were to poke a hole in him in public, the leading man on the stage would lose face.

However, Yang Ting's face only turned red for a moment.

After all, he was a soldier who had grown up among piles of corpses, and his thick skin grew along with his military rank.

"Fourth Sister, this is a matter of national importance; how can you, a young lady confined to your chambers, speak such nonsense? Commander Shen's safety is tied to the fate of this region; would he lie?"

Li Chongxun didn't look at Yang Ting's embarrassed face, but frowned slightly and turned to give him a light rebuke.

Although the tone was stern, there was no hint of punishment.

In his view, Fu Qingyan had already said it, so it was already said.

Since Shen Lie dared to feign illness, it meant he didn't take the Li family seriously.

Since the other party is not giving us face, it would be a good way for the women on our side to be a little impolite in return.

As for Yang Ting?

He's just a servant who delivers messages. Does he deserve to be humbled and apologized to by the eldest son of the military governor?

After cursing his own people, Li Chongxun turned his head and glanced at Yang Ting.

"Since Defense Commander Shen is still ill, it is inconvenient for Chongxun to bother him."

"But Yaozhou is the key to Guanzhong, and its scenery is exceptionally beautiful."

Chongxun's purpose in coming here was not only to visit Defense Minister Shen, but also to travel around the six counties of Yaozhou and experience the local customs and culture of Qin Chuan.

Surely, Magistrate Shen wouldn't be stingy with the space he can spend these few days here?

These words sound polite, but they actually contain a hidden barb.

This is a case of refusing to leave.

The implication is clear: if you don't come out to see me, I'll stay here and not leave.

I'd like to see how long you can keep up this act.

Although Yang Ting felt aggrieved, he dared not offend this powerful figure on behalf of his master, so he could only grit his teeth and bow, saying, "In that case, this subordinate will go back to report immediately."

Li Chongxun snorted and, too lazy to even see them off, led the Fu sisters away.

Yang Tingru, having been granted a general amnesty, dared not linger. He hastily bowed and fled as if escaping.

······

Back at the government office, Yang Ting was filled with resentment. He recounted the events that had unfolded in the hall in detail, and at the end, he cursed angrily:

"Damn it! That Li kid has such a big attitude!"

"It's only because of the magistrate's sake, otherwise I would have..."

"It has to be this way?"

Shen Lie was sitting behind his desk looking at the military report that had just been delivered. Hearing this, he just smiled and didn't even look up.

"Do we really have to beat him up? So that your lord will be caught in a pincer attack by Li Shouzhen and Zhao Kuangzan?"

Yang Ting was speechless, sitting angrily to the side: "I'm just so angry! The way that guy looks at people is no different from how he looks at animals."

"He's the son of a military governor. It would be a miracle if he treated a common soldier like you with such courtesy."

"If he wants to stay, let him stay. Although Yaozhou is poor, we can still afford to provide for his needs for the next few days."

"My lord, is he trying to cling to us?" Zhao Kuangyin said thoughtfully from the side. "Instead of returning to Hezhong to report, Li Chongxun is going to travel around in this remote and impoverished place. I'm afraid he has other plans."

"nature."

As his foothold in Yaozhou gradually became more secure, he also managed to establish communication channels with people from all directions.

Unlike before when we were completely in the dark on our marches, we can now see the general situation of the world, though we can't say we have complete control over it.

Shen Lie handed the military report to Zhao Kuangyin and explained, "Since the day I learned that Your Majesty had raised an army in Taiyuan, it has been no more than half a month."

"Now the army has reached the territory of Shanzhou. Yuanlang, think about it, the distance from Shanzhou to Taiyuan is actually not much different from the distance from Daliang to Taiyuan."

Zhao Kuangyin took the military report, frowning as he read it: "If speed is of the essence, Your Majesty should have marched straight for Daliang. But instead, he chose the route through Shanzhou and Jinzhou..."

"This is the wisdom of a seasoned strategist."

Shen Lie chuckled. "Although Yelü Deguang is dead, there are still many remnants of the Khitan in the Central Plains, as well as surrendered generals like Du Chongwei who command large armies. Emperor Liu is seeking stability by first capturing the two towns of Shaanxi and Shanxi, guarding the natural barrier of the Yellow River, stabilizing the flanks, and then planning an advance."

This move was extremely steady, yet extremely slow.

This very slowness is the fundamental reason why Li Chongxun lingered in Yaozhou and refused to leave.

"Li Chongxun is waiting."

"He is waiting for the emperor to enter Daliang."

"Only when the Emperor sits on the dragon throne will the political landscape of the land truly be settled. At that time, Commander Shi, as the number one meritorious official, will surely wield immense power."

"At this moment, an order from our Commander Shi Du became the touchstone for my worth, Shen Lie."

Zhao Kuangyin, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately understood: "What you mean, Your Excellency, is... to see if Commander Shi will summon you to the capital?"

"Exactly."

Shen Lie nodded. "If Commander Shi summons me to the capital, it means I am his trusted confidant and a member of his inner circle. Yaozhou is just a stepping stone, and my future is limitless."

Then Li Chongxun, and even Li Shouzhen behind him, would naturally treat me with utmost respect, even going so far as to spend a fortune to win me over.

"But what if Commander Shi didn't summon me, and instead made me stay in this poor, remote place..."

Shen Lie's gaze narrowed slightly, and he sighed, "Then it means that I am nothing more than a useless pawn used to keep Guanzhong in check."

"If that's the case, Li Chongxun will probably have to change his tune."

Yelü Deguang died at the perfect time, and the Khitan retreated north too quickly, leaving behind a power vacuum that was shorter than anyone had anticipated.

With Liu Zhiyuan's army moving, the situation in the world changed three times a day.

"Does Your Excellency think that Commander Shi will summon us?" Yang Ting asked with some concern.

He knew his family's resources well enough that without Shi Hongzhao's protection, they would probably have to sleep with one eye open in this den of wolves in Guanzhong.

"meeting."

Shen Lie actually had a pretty good idea of ​​whether Shi Hongzhao would recall him.

If it were before, he would have been a mere military commander with only three hundred remaining soldiers, and Shi Hongzhao might have forgotten about him.

But who is Shi Hongzhao?

Greedy, murderous, and protective of his own.

Shen Lie's force started with 300 men in Daizhou and marched south. Not only were they not wiped out, but they grew like a snowball to more than 500 men. They even took Yaozhou without bloodshed and sent a large sum of gold and silver to Shi Hongzhao.

Such a subordinate, who is sensible, capable, and even brings his own provisions, is simply a rare find in chaotic times.

Although Shi Hongzhao has now become the Commander of the Imperial Guards, the country is still unsettled, and there is a shortage of manpower and trusted confidants.

Why leave such a fine, sharpened knife like Shen Lie unused and let it rust in Guanzhong?

Shi Hongzhao isn't that stupid.

Zhao Kuangyin also understood this point, and he clapped his hands and laughed.

"Your Excellency's explanation is very insightful!"