What caught Captain Su's attention was that although Zhao Gonglian and Jiao Ting were farming, they still rode war horses when they traveled, and they were immediately carrying swords and weapons, and they also carried a horse bag. Needless to say, the bag is definitely not filled with something to eat and drink in the field, it should be combat equipment with armor or something.

Obviously, Zhao Gonglian is not ignorant of his dangerous situation, let alone unprepared.

Even Zhao Gonglian went to work in the field like this, it is conceivable that Zhao Zhuang must be loose on the outside and tight on the inside, and he is ready to meet the big battle that dares to attack at any time.

It may be that the pirates wandering in the nearby sea may be on guard against the raid on Zhao Zhuang again, but it is obviously more on guard against the imperial court and the officers and soldiers.

Zhao Gonglian really will not be foolish to the imperial court, will not let the fate of his family and Manzhuang's followers be at the mercy of the imperial court, and will not wait to be killed.

is ready to fight with the officers and soldiers, undoubtedly preparing to be provoked by the officers and soldiers to tear the skin and go to the opposite side of the court, if it is not a rebellion, it will inevitably be reversed.

Look at the dazzling bald head, look at the war horse sword, Su Taiwei is more and more dismissive of this foolish holy decree issued by the emperor, but there is no way, the matter has to be tried.

He didn't wait for Zhao Gonglian to come close to say hello, he first pointed to his bald head and exclaimed with surprise and regret: "Brother Gonglian, you, why are you?" ”

As he spoke, he flicked the sleeves of his robe, and with a heavy hey, his expression turned to sadness, anger, frustration and helplessness.

Zhao Gonglian has neither a good impression nor a bad feeling for Su Taiwei.

This person is a cultured being who can earn a living from officialdom, and he is one of the countless bureaucrats who live by power, but his level is extraordinary and high-level.

Younger brother Zhao Yue once said: In this officialdom throughout the ages, there is a type of person, you say he is good, not necessarily what he can do for the country and the people's good governance, but you say that he is bad, he has a conscience, does things with a human bottom line, stresses ethics, has principles, he has knowledge, and may also have practical talents, but he has not done any outstanding achievements in his life, no outstanding contributions, no sensational and touching deeds, I have not seen him have any extraordinary courage and courage, and even he has never done pragmatic things in his life, but he will be an official, Before he knew it, he was in a high position, and he could even become one of the leaders and ministers of a country. If you say that he has extraordinary political wisdom, it is an exaggeration, and he is begging for a living as an official.

This kind of official is to enjoy power, mixed with decent and convenient life, this is the fundamental principle of his official, for the sake of being an official and being an official, the ability and energy to be an official, to be a better and more decent bigger official, when the country and the nation are in danger, he has neither the ability to save, nor the courage and blood and sacrifice spirit for the country and the people to go to the soup and fire, is still Mingzhe to protect himself and follow the situation, the country has not fallen, the regime may still be saved, he will insist on loyalty, may raise his arms and shout a few words, nothing can be done, Or the mainstream insists on surrendering, and he is the one who surrenders meekly with the public, costing the country, not benefiting the country's development plan, and helpless to improve the people's livelihood, but he always exists in the officialdom and mixes comfortably.

A single word says it all clearly.

Officials, especially senior officials, are not allowed to mix, and they must shoulder the sacred responsibility of overcoming all difficulties and leading the people to prosperity, strength and happiness.

People like Su Yuanjing are worthy of the people in Zhao Gonglian's eyes, after all, the vast majority of the people are like this, but as an official, he is not qualified, and he is not worthy of being an official of the new empire.

This is also the reason why he has known and formed a good relationship for a long time, but Zhao Gonglian has never been really enthusiastic about helping Su Taiwei become a big official and seek important positions and powers, let alone pulling him into the great cause of the new empire.

Of course, Zhao Gonglian also knows that Taiwei Su's words and expressions are not all acting, his conscience is there, he is indeed worried about the country and helpless and sad for him, and there is at least some true feelings for him.

Therefore, when he got close to the station, he smiled heartily and said, "Why should Lord Taiwei be like this? Gong Lian has been very easy lately. ”

He didn't get off the horse, only solemnly hugged his fists on the horse, and said with a smile: "The righteous act of the Taiwei in the Golden Palace back then is still fresh in the memory of Gonglian, and this kindness is unforgettable. Knowing the rapid stream and bravely retiring to farm at home, he has no more involvement with officialdom, and he doesn't want the captain to suddenly come to visit the cold house, no wonder the magpie can't stop calling today. ”

When Taiwei Su heard this, he sighed in his heart: Sure enough, people are willing to come forward to see it. It's just in the past.

And the love of helping each other in the past, when people were in the capital, they repaid it in various ways and ways, and they didn't owe themselves anything for a long time, and today's matter of coming to the door to deliver the decree is another matter. There is no emotion to talk about, one is one, two is two, it depends on what people are thinking, and whether they are willing to compromise. This also belongs to the public is public, private is private, public and private are clearly distinguished, and things cannot be said and determined by private feelings. The overall situation of the country and the crisis of the imperial court, no one may care. If you force love and righteousness, people won't listen.

In any case, being able to talk to Zhao Gonglian face-to-face is already an opportunity, even a victory.

After the warm invitation, Su Taiwei consciously ordered his subordinate guards to wait for him on the west side of the bridge, not to cause trouble, and not to force himself across the bridge to find him without his order, he only took his personal servant and the eunuch who could not be left behind to follow Zhao Gonglian's master and servant into Zhaozhuang.

For the well-known Zhao Zhuang, Su Taiwei is inevitably a little curious, after entering the Zhuang Fort, he looked at it, did not meet a few people along the way, and saw a few people who were all dressed in ordinary clothes or even poor, but saw a row of rows of houses in front of the clothes and quilts or something, there were signs of life, it seemed that the village was still full of people, not the rumored to be killed.

Zhao Gonglian noticed it and explained lightly: "Most of today's Zhuangshang people are Cangbei people who avoid Liaokou and go south in summer. This is empty, they saw that there was a place to live, the house was better than their home in Cangbei, and they lived here far away from the Liaokou soldiers and the bitter cold of Cangbei, and there was no shortage of land to make a living, so they simply stayed out of trust in my family. ”

"Adults can't see a few people, it's everyone who has gone out to work. Now, I am not an official, I have to farm the land, pay for grain, and serve labor, and I am in debt, not only can I not let the farmers live a rich and easy life, but I will work them extraordinarily, but it will affect these people who do not dislike my family and still follow them. ”

When Taiwei Su heard this, he sighed again.

He is more sober, the Cangzhao family has fallen into this field, their livelihood is already difficult, and they are forced to be pressed by huge debts, I am afraid that there is a monstrous anger brewing in their hearts and they can't vent their grief and indignation.

He saw that Zhao Gonglian had no interest in state affairs, and he didn't care at all about the defection of the soldiers and civilians on the East Hebei Road that he couldn't have heard of, and he was afraid that he hated the court very much, at least he was disheartened, and stood by indifferently with a detached attitude.

If you want to persuade Zhao Gonglian, the only way to impress the old lady of Cangzhao is to do it.

He was a very wise old man, with hard bones and good ideas, and he was afraid that he would not be easy to convince.

Su Yuanjing felt a big headache, and secretly hated in his heart: Who did I provoke who did me? Why did the court and those rotten officials and villains do evil, but they wanted their own officials to be lobbyists and suffer from this. The officer was innocently affected. Those who should be uncomfortable and painful can still be his rulers and play with his authority and conspiracy...... It's really unfair. What a damn thing!

Zhao Gonglian couldn't refuse the kindness of Su Taiwei to visit the old man in the family, so he had to apologize and go in to greet his grandmother first.

What made Taiwei Su breathe a sigh of relief was that the old lady also gave face.

He sat there drinking fragrant tea, and was not surprised that Zhao Zhuang had been robbed but could still bring out high-quality tea leaves to entertain him.

After a while, when he saw the equally famous old lady come out, Su Taiwei was stunned when he looked at the old grandmother.

The old grandmother, who had suffered a great calamity and a major blow, was not as shabby and haggard and aging as she imagined, and was still dressed in a luxurious brocade dress, but only a wooden hairpin was inserted on her head, and there was no decoration in addition to this, but her complexion was ruddy and full, and her spirit was excellent, and her face was facing the sky, but the wrinkles on her face were almost invisible, her hair was bare, and her eyes were even more spiritual.

She walked out very steadily under the careful support of her eldest grandson, and there was no sadness, despair or any sadness and anger on her face, and there was even a faint smile on the corner of her mouth.

"Su Yuanjing has seen the old lady, may the old lady be blessed with longevity and health."

"Lord Lieutenant is too polite. Please be seated. ”

The old grandmother didn't say anything, it wasn't Mrs. Order, the woman of the grass people couldn't stop the Taiwei official from seeing her like this, and her words were enthusiastic, revealing a sense of gratitude.

Obviously, the old grandmother is also grateful to Mrs. Su for helping her two grandsons at the beginning, so she will have today's extra enthusiasm.

What an old man with extraordinary spirit!

Su Yuanjing had to admire and admire in his heart.

From the old grandmother, he clearly saw the noble qualities praised by Mencius, such as unyielding power and unyieldingness, poverty and unswervingness, that is, he had this open-mindedness and self-confidence.

Seeing that the ceremony was finished, Su Taiwei glanced at Zhao Gonglian did not sit but stood beside the old lady with a respectful and quiet smile, and the old grandmother politely invited him to drink tea to quench his thirst, but looked at the eldest grandson around him from time to time, with a satisfied smile on his face, and his eyes full of love and spoiling, he thought about the legendary old lady arrogantly indulged in the little grandson Zhao Lao Er's nonsense, but the most favored was the eldest grandson Zhao Gonglian, and he couldn't help but suddenly realize: The old lady is in good spirits, not that she doesn't care about the disaster blow, but purely because the beloved eldest grandson An Shengsheng is filial piety in front of her.

Su Yuanjing couldn't help but cry bitterly.

The old lady loves her eldest grandson so much, and she can see things clearly, and she is very assertive, how could she agree to let her eldest grandson become an official and then step into the dangerous officialdom and be calculated by countless conspiracies and tricks to take this risk. Zhao Gonglian can shave his head bald and decide to cut off the officialdom, I am afraid that it is the attitude of this old lady.

Enduring the toothache, Su Taiwei said with a haha: "It can be seen that the relationship between the ancestors and grandchildren of the old lady and the honest and virtuous brother is not ordinarily deep. ”

"Oh, seeing this scene, the official can't help but think of my grandmother. Back then, her old man also doted on me, but unfortunately my grandmother's body was not so tough, not long enough, and she passed away. ”

The old grandmother obviously liked to hear this, and said with a smile: "Let the adults laugh." The old arrogant and naughty little grandson loves the little grandson who loves to mess around, and wants him to live an ordinary but peaceful life, at ease, and happy, who wants to bully him and frame him, I won't agree. But when it comes to the most favored, I don't hide it from my lord, and it has to be my eldest grandson. ”

"Gonglian is brought up by the old man, and this feeling is naturally not comparable to the naughty little grandson. He is so promisingly and filial, everything satisfies me, and he is the eldest grandson, and he is the pillar of my Cangzhao family to be the head of the family, and the old body naturally attaches great importance to it. ”

"That's, that's. It's human nature. The old lady is so wise and stylish, she is really a strange woman in the world, no one admires and admires her, and she will be able to go down in history for eternity. ”

Su Taiwei praised fiercely, trying to attract the old lady to the country's righteousness and Qing history.

The old lady smiled indifferently: "What a strange woman is not a strange woman, it's just the survival instinct that comes out of suffering." ”

"Lord Taiwei, I know your deignation to visit you today. You also know that I cherish the heart of my eldest grandson. Frankly speaking, I will not let the public be an official again. The people in our family are really not suitable to be officials, and they are not stupid to be honest, but they can't fiddle with the complicated and unpredictable hearts and things of officialdom, so they just work at home and farm. Therefore, please don't talk about state affairs. My family is a grass farmer, and I can't afford that. National affairs have nothing to do with the grass people. ”

"The old man came out to thank the captain in person for his kindness. The adults are high and powerful, and they must be busy with affairs, and time is precious. In this way, the old body will not be accompanied much. The adults also went back early to do the big things that should be busy. Don't dare to delay the time of adults in this humble countryside. ”

The old grandmother politely but very resolutely blocked the mouth of Mrs. Su, and after finishing speaking, she solemnly instructed her eldest grandson: "Gonglian, our family is not as good as before, and I can't come up with anything to thank Master Su." You think you can do something to entertain adults, huh? ”

"My grandson knows."

Zhao Gonglian responded respectfully to his grandmother, smiled apologetically at Taiwei Su, helped his grandmother back to the inner room, and rubbed his hands after coming out after a while, obviously not knowing what to say.

Su Taiwei sighed, shook his head and said, "Don't be embarrassed, brother Xian. I did not come to covet food, drink, hospitality, or gold or silver or anything like that. There's nothing vulgar between you and me. Alas! You know what I'm here for. Your resignation can cause a catastrophe in the Great Song Dynasty. But looking at your grandmother's attitude, I know it's useless for me to say anything. But I'm still going to say it. ”

He took out the holy decree and patted it: "The Holy One knows that you are wronged, and he will make you the Duke of Yasukuni and take charge of the military of the four military states in the north of Cangzhou." In addition, a reward of 100,000 yuan will be rewarded, which can be regarded as an indirect relief of your family's debt pressure. You see, the Holy One didn't ask you about your sins at all from beginning to end, and he didn't even blame you, but the Holy One has never been so considerate and tolerant of you......"