"Dong Weng, this Li Xiao is not simple. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo”

Standing outside Chifeng Fort, while Li Maofang and his entourage were waiting for the sergeant to enter the fort, Chen Zilong said to Li Maofang in a low voice with a look of emotion.

"Oh, now that this Li Xiao hasn't seen it, Wozi has such a high opinion of this person."

Li Maofang replied with a smile while carefully looking at the towering city tower and the artillery who were practicing firearms on the city wall.

"Dong Weng, there is a way, the peach and plum do not speak, and the next is its own. What did Li Xiao do, rather than listening to his empty words, it is better for us to see it with our eyes to believe. Now that he has come here, Zilong has seen a lot of things with his own eyes, and it should be true. ”

"Yes, listening to what Wozi said, Benxian is interested. Tell me, what did Li Xiao do, but let Wozi look up to him so highly. Li Maofang stroked his beard with one hand, and a look of curiosity appeared on his face.

"Dong Weng, you look at the Chifeng Fort in front of you, the circumference is two miles, the city wall is high and wide, the masonry is excellent, the scale is grand, it really makes people admire and delight. It can be said that this Chifeng Fort is definitely far better than the Qianhu Fort in various parts of Shandong, and it is about the same size as an ordinary county town. It can be seen that Li Xiao's construction of this Chifeng Fort really cost a lot of money and a lot of energy. That Li Xiao was just a martial artist, and he was able to build such a magnificent castle with all his own strength, which made the students admire. ”

"Well, Wozi's words, Benxian also looks at it." Li Maofang nodded in agreement.

Li Maofang was even thinking, if he was in Li Xiao's position, would he be able to build this fort? I'm afraid I can't.

"Dong Weng, let's take a look at the personnel arrangements of this Chifeng Castle. Nearby, these craftsmen and laborers were busy building the fort, carrying materials, digging trenches and filling stones, laying bricks and beams, although there were many people, men, women and children, but they were all in good order, cooperating with each other, busy but not chaotic. And those soldiers in the distance are training, the pace is the same, the slogan is the same, extremely strict and measured, it is not a daily drill, it is difficult to be so familiar. If you want to come to my Ming official army, every five days to practice, it is a rare diligence, compared with it, is not ashamed. From this point of view, the battle between Li Xiao and Zheng Shengfang, although it is a plan, but it is not all luck that he can win more with less, and defeat Liu Zeqing's 3,000 elites with more than 1,000 soldiers and horses. From a student's point of view, it should be their strength. ”

"Wozi, your analysis is really good, it seems that this Li Xiao is really a talent with both civil and military skills." After Li Maofang listened, she sighed again.

Chen Zilong was about to say more, but suddenly saw a young general dressed in the regular uniform of a military attache of a thousand households with a large number of entourage, walking quickly from the castle in his own direction.

Li Xiao could see clearly that the official outside the fort gate wearing a black veil, wearing a second-grade civil official uniform, and embroidering a brocade chicken complement on his chest should be Li Maofang, the governor of Shandong. He led the crowd to walk quickly, stood ten steps away from Li Maofang, and knelt down to pay respects.

"Xiaguan Li Xiao, see Lord Governor."

Li Qianhu quickly got up. Li Maofang squeezed out a smile on her face and stretched out her hand to help.

Li Xiao got up, still respectfully bowed his hand to Li Maofang: "The lower official doesn't know that the governor is coming today, and he has missed the welcome, so please forgive your sins." ”

Li Maofang smiled and waved his hand, signaling that Li Xiao did not need to be polite, and Li Xiao invited everyone to go to his own meeting hall to discuss.

Li Xiao then confessed to Wu Liang and asked him to settle Li Maofang's entourage to rest in the outer hall, and he invited Li Maofang and Chen Zilong to enter the inner hall, and let Li Maofang sit on the top.

"The grass house is simple, and it is really difficult to succumb to the governor's golden body, and the heart of the subordinate officials." Li Xiao apologized to Li Maofang.

"Li Xiao, you are still a grass pioneer in Chifeng Castle, and the hospitality is sloppy, and this constitution understands itself. Sitting here today, it has a rural atmosphere, which has aroused the feelings of returning to the hometown to cultivate and study. Li Maofang smiled.

"My lord's words, Li Xiao is really ashamed." Li Xiao smiled, and then he lowered his voice and said, "Dare to ask the governor, but for Liu Zeqing's group of captives?" ”

"Li Qianhu, you are indeed a smart person, the governor came to Guibao today, and he did come for this matter." Without waiting for Li Maofang to answer, Chen Zilong interjected with a smile on the side.

"This is 。。。。。。"

"This is Chen Zilong, a friend of this constitution, and he came to Guibao with this constitution today." Li Maofang hurriedly introduced to Li Xiao.

"Oh, Your Excellency is Chen Zilong, the famous scholar of the Fushe Society of Nan Zhili?"

"It's a student, who is under a microname, but I didn't expect Li Qianhu to know, which really makes Chen ashamed." Chen Zilong smiled at Li Xiao.

Li Xiao is very happy in his heart, he has traveled so far, and now he can meet such a well-known person in the late Ming Dynasty, which is also a blessing for himself.

Li Xiao smiled and said: "It turned out to be Mr. Wozi, Li has heard about it, Mr. is talented in his articles, and he is a leader, and it is a blessing to see him today." ”

"Master Li has an overreputation, Chen is a little talented, how can he afford the praise of thousands of households. The adults repeatedly defeated the Tartars in Liaodong that day, and they were quite prestigious. Today, with all their own strength, this huge Chifeng Fort was built, and the students really admired it. The students once thought that they were afraid that under the fame of adults, it would be difficult to deputy, and they were afraid that there would be many falsehoods, so they came with the governor to take a real look. Now it seems that Master Li's Chifeng Fort has been built so prosperously, in a strict and orderly manner, which is unprecedented for students, and the adults are so energetic and excellent in governance, which is really far better than those ordinary generals who only know how to fight and fight. ”

After Chen Zilong finished speaking, his face was full of appreciative smiles.

"I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed, this official has some famous deeds, how dare you be praised by Mr. Wozi." Li Xiao looked humble and waved his hand again and again.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Li Maofang interjected from the upper seat.

"Li Xiao, this Xian came here today, as you said in your letter, to learn more about the specific conflict between you and Liu Zeqing's subordinates. You and others are all my Shandong officials and soldiers, and this constitution really doesn't want you to contradict each other and fight endlessly. As a result, our Shandong officials and soldiers let others see the jokes. ”

After Li Maofang said this, he let out a long sigh.

"The governor personally covered the fort, how fortunate the subordinate is, dare not say everything to the governor."

Li Xiao saluted Li Maofang with a sincere face, and then he could explain the reasons and process of the battle with Zheng Longfang's troops again.

Li Xiao's words were clear, to the point, and reasonable, but Li Maofang and Chen Zilong nodded again and again.

"What happened, that's it, in front of the adults, Li Xiao didn't dare to say a lie, and I hope the adults will take a closer look." Li Xiao finally said solemnly to Li Maofang.

Li Maofang fell into a deep groan.

He could feel from his heart that what Li Xiao said should be closer to the truth. If it weren't for Liu Qing's greed, wanting to annex Li Xiao's castle and his subordinates, and secretly giving an order, then how could Zheng Longfang come to attack the fort for no reason. Compared with Liu Zeqing's flawed words, Li Xiao's statement is more reasonable and convincing.

It's just that he can really stand up for this Li Xiao and punish that Liu Zeqing?

If Liu Zeqing, a rough martial artist, is arrogant and unconvinced, then can he really punish this guy who has the backing of Wen Tiren, the first assistant in the court?

If he really tears his face with that Liu Zeqing, and this guy will no longer even maintain his superficial respect for himself in the future, his original weak prestige will be even more depressed. The generals in Shandong will learn from each other, and they will not take themselves as governors in their eyes anymore. Then my own situation in Shandong will become more and more difficult.

Moreover, his original intention was to reconcile in the middle, in order to let this matter pass as soon as possible, so that the Shandong officers and troops under his command would at least maintain peace on the surface. Harmonious state, but it is really unnecessary, there must be a right and wrong here.

"Li Qianhu, the student thinks that what you said is indeed reasonable. It's just that for the sake of the present, it is not very helpful to re-examine the right and wrong. It is still important to think about reconciliation. At this time, Chen Zilong was on the side and said to Li Xiao sincerely.

Seeing that Chen Zilong was on the side to relieve the siege for himself, Li Maofang also hurriedly said: "Li Xiao, Benxian also thinks that it is indeed Liu Zeqing who bullied others, and after Benxian returns to Jinan, he will definitely reprimand him severely." It's just that Benxian is thinking that Li Qianhu still needs to focus on the overall situation, release the prisoners as soon as possible, and reconcile between the upper and lower levels, which is a good thing. ”

After listening to the words of the two, Li Xiao was also thinking urgently in his heart.

The current governor has expressed his stance like this, and there is no need for him to be unforgiving, it is more appropriate to give this Li Maofang a face and steps. After all, Li Xiao wants to stay in Shandong for a long time in the future, and if the relationship with these superiors is too stiff, it is really unnecessary.

Moreover, Li Xiao wanted to digest and absorb these more than 2,000 captives into his own army, but then he thought that the families of these captives were not in the local area, and even if he himself was afraid of the situation and was naturalized and absorbed by himself, he was also afraid that his people in Cao Ying's heart were in Han and would go to the battlefield in the future, which would become an unpredictable factor. And now he eats, drinks, and cares for them every day, and he also spends a lot of his own food and money, and it is useless to keep them like this.

It's just that Li Xiao won't be stupid, just a few kind words from the governor, just hand over these hard-won captives.

In this world, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

"Lord Governor, you have made a special trip to my Chifeng Fort to settle the matter of this captive, how dare Li Xiao disobey this great affection. In this way, these captives in our army, eating and drinking for many days, and spending a lot of money, food, and rice, let Liu Zeqing redeem them at the price of 30 taels per person. Li Xiao said with a smile.

Li Xiao originally wanted to quote the price of redemption for these captives according to their rank and military rank, but considering that it was very troublesome to divide the statistics in this way, it was more convenient to convert them and calculate the average.

Li Maofang and Chen Zilong were stunned after listening to Li Xiao's words.

This Li Xiao was so difficult to speak, but he turned this matter of returning the captives into a market transaction.

How unreasonable!

Li Maofang's face sank unconsciously, and he was about to spit out his dissatisfaction, but he saw Chen Zilong shaking his head slightly at him.

Li Maofang suddenly thought that the key to solving the problem now is Li Xiao's attitude. If he blindly coercioned, then Li Xiao was anxious, but he refused to let go, this land of Shandong, I am afraid that there will be another bloody storm.

None of these Shandong generals are fuel-efficient lamps.

Li Maofang sighed in his heart, let's see if Chen Zilong negotiates with Li Xiao.

"Li Qianhu, your price is quite high. If General Liu learned that the adult offered such a high price, he was afraid that it would be difficult to obey his fate. Chen Zilong tried his best to say to Li Xiao in a gentle tone.

"Hmph, how can that really be true? He, Liu Zeqing, regarded my Chifeng Fort as a place, and if he wanted to send troops, he would send troops to fight, and if he wanted to return the prisoners, he would ask me to return them obediently. His face and prestige are so great, but the official is not what he thinks, and he can knead it at will. Li Xiao sneered and continued: "Li Mou gave Liu Zeqing the opportunity to redeem the prisoners because of the governor's face, if he was reluctant to give up even this bit of silver, he wanted the official to send the prisoners back for nothing, this abacus was inevitably too cheap!" If this is the case, then Liu Zeqing will not think that I will release the prisoner, if I am not satisfied and beaten again, I, Li Xiao, will be waiting for Gao Ming at any time. ”

Listening to Li Xiao's tough words, Chen Zilong had a sneer on his face, but he couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart: This Li Xiao is shrewd! He did this, not only to give Li Maofang face, but also to let himself get benefits. Knowing that Liu Zeqing would not have the ability to attack Chifeng Fort without the support of the governor, he is now making a lot of nonsense here to force us to submit, and we are helpless. Alas, this Liu Zeqing is also a lame person, and it is quite unwise to think of beating this Li Xiao's idea.

Chen Zilong admitted it in his heart, and then had another dispute with Li Xiao on the price. In the end, Li Xiao generously said that since Mr. Wozi said so, Li sold his favor, and each captive was calculated at 25 taels, a total of 1,835 captives, so the total price was 45,875 taels.

"Mr. Wozi, in order to make your friend, Li Mou lowered the price by himself, and calculated a total of 40,000 taels. Li sincerely saw that Mr. Wozi no longer had to embarrass the official. Li Xiao's eyes were blazing, and he said to Chen Zilong with a smile.

Chen Zilong said with a smile: "Okay, Chen also has the heart to make Li Qianhu's friend, so let's calculate it at a price, Chen will not bargain again." ”

Li Maofang, who had been sitting at the top and didn't speak, had a look of obvious relief on his face, he put down the teacup, squeezed out a smile and said to Li Xiao: "Since the matter has been agreed, let's do it." After Benxian went back, he asked Liu Zeqing to bring the silver to ransom people, and hoped that Li Xiao and Liu Zeqing would get along well in the future, and they would not have to fight on their own, so that my Shandong officials and troops would have civil strife again. ”

"The subordinate is only the order of the governor." Li Xiao got up and respectfully bowed to Li Maofang.

Li Xiao then set up a banquet to entertain Li Maofang and his party, at this time, the matter has been resolved, everyone is relaxed, they are the guests and hosts, staggered, full of laughter.

The next day, Li Maofang and Chen Zilong returned to Jinan with a group of entourage.

Before parting, Li Xiao gave Li Maofang a pair of large East Pearls, a mink skin, and a century-old wild ginseng as a gift. Chen Zilong gave a mink and a dongzhu, and the other entourages also gave corresponding gifts.

After receiving such a heavy gift from Li Xiao, Li Maofang smiled, and the entourage was also full of joy, everyone felt that Li Xiao, the young thousand-household official of Chifeng Castle, was bold and too good at being a man.

However, Chen Zilong accepted the gift, his face was still down-and-out and generous, and after smiling and thanking Li Xiao, he got on the horse and went with Li Maofang.

The morning breeze in early spring is gentle and soothing, the fields are green, the distant mountains are like daisies, and the group of people who return to Jinan are all in a good mood.

"Dong Weng, this Li Xiao should be extraordinary. The students believed that Dong Weng had a shallow foundation in Shandong, but he needed to grasp this Li Xiao well, and even vigorously cultivated him, so that he could sincerely accept him, thinking that he could rely on my force to fight against Liu Zeqing and other military leaders. Chen Zilong and Li Maofang walked side by side and said in a low voice.

"The words of the lying son are deeply understood by this constitution. This Li Xiao is a good talent in governing the army and government, and he is shrewd in the world, and he is really a rare talent in my Ming Dynasty. He has been succumbing to this Chifeng Fort since Liaodong, but this constitution buried him. Li Maofang let out a long sigh, he looked into the distance with deep eyes, and continued: "Benxian is thinking, **************, then Li Xiao, one day, will rise to prominence." I am afraid that his achievements and deeds are still above this constitution. ”