This time, Zhao Fang's summoning of Gao Huaiyuan can be said to be a completely private meeting, so he did not formally meet Gao Huaiyuan in the official office, but invited Gao Huaiyuan to his mansion.

And Gao Huaiyuan is also grateful to Zhao Fang, when he killed Zhou County Lieutenant before the battle, he didn't understand Zhao Fang very well, but now after being an official, he really knows the reason why Zhao Fang expelled him from the army, knowing that Zhao Fang is really thinking about him, and is secretly protecting him, plus because Zhao Fang led the army to resist Jin, and repeatedly made military exploits, compared with ordinary civilian officials, he has the style of a general, and he has quite farsightedness in preparation, so Gao Huaiyuan can be said to be very respectful to Zhao Fang.

This time, Gao Huaiyuan did not hesitate to take out a lot of good things as gifts to Zhao Fang, rushed to Zhao Fang's mansion in Ezhou to sign up, and presented the gift list to the official family of Zhao Fang's mansion.

As a member of the Zhao Fang Mansion on Jingxi Road, it is also one of the few mansions in Ezhou City, covering a considerable area, and it is also relatively luxurious, which is inseparable from the atmosphere of the officials of the Song Dynasty.

After all, as a member of the imperial court, it is indeed a bit unreasonable to get a small courtyard to live, not to mention that in terms of Zhao Fang's contribution to the Southern Song Dynasty court, no matter how much honor and enjoyment he is given, it is not too much, after all, in this battle of Song and Jin, Zhao Fang led the army to firmly guard the Jingxiang portal for the Southern Song Dynasty, which made the Jin army hit a head in this line, and also ensured that the Southern Song Dynasty could continue to be peaceful, so Zhao Fang lived luxuriously, but it did not cause Gao Huaiyuan's bad feelings.

The news of Gao Huaiyuan's arrival soon reached Zhao Fang's ears, and he sent someone to invite Gao Huaiyuan to see the garden of the inner mansion, so Gao Huaiyuan arranged for the entourage to wait in the gatehouse, and followed the servants of the Zhao Mansion into the Zhao Mansion alone, and came to the back garden through the hall and alleys.

From a distance, I saw an old man in civilian clothes with gray hair pruning flower branches in the garden with a pair of scissors, Gao Huaiyuan had good eyesight, and at a glance he could see that this person was Zhao Fang, who was currently the ambassador of Jingxi Road, so he hurriedly followed Hu Cong into the garden.

"Lord Qiyu, Daye County Lieutenant Gao Huaiyuan has brought it!" After Hu Cong stood still, he reported to Zhao Fangyu, who was concentrating on pruning a bonsai.

"Little Gao Huaiyuan see Lord Zhao!" Gao Huaiyuan also immediately bowed down and signed up.

When Zhao Fang heard the sound, he held his knees, stood up from the front of the old pile firethorn bonsai with difficulty, put down the scissors in his hand, patted the soil on his hand, and turned to look at Gao Huaiyuan.

When he saw Zhao Fang's face, Gao Huaiyuan couldn't help but be secretly worried in his heart, because when he saw Zhao Fang this time, compared with when he saw Zhao Fang two years ago, he looked a lot older, and there were more wrinkles on his face, even the original gray hair had all turned silver-white, and his face looked a little unhealthy, as if he had aged a lot again.

But after thinking about it carefully, Gao Huaiyuan is not surprised, because at this time, Zhao Fang is almost ninety years old, and he personally commands the soldiers and horses to resist Jin in front of the army, and it is not easy to hold on to this point, so Gao Huaiyuan's admiration for Zhao Fang has increased a few points, and seeing that Zhao Fang is walking unsteadily, he hurriedly took two steps forward, and together with the servant, he hugged Zhao Fang.

"Slow down, let's sit down and rest first!" Hu Cong couldn't help but persuade on the side.

"Huh! Old! It seems that it is not good for people to be dissatisfied! Zhao Fang slowly walked to the stone bench on the side, and at the same time raised his eyes and looked hard at Gao Huaiyuan, who was supporting him, with an approving look in his eyes.

After Zhao Fang sat down, Hu Cong put on a thick fur coat for him to keep him warm, Zhao Fang gasped slightly, coughed a few more times, and then smiled at Gao Huaiyuan who was standing: "Huaiyuan, are you still complaining about the old man expelling you from the army back then?" ”

Gao Huaiyuan looked at Zhao Fang, who was old and long-looking, and couldn't help but feel a worry in his heart, and hurriedly bowed down and replied: "How dare the little one!" Although Huaiyuan is a reckless man, but he also knows that the adult's love for the next year, there is no intention to complain about the adult, in the past two years, the little one has been grateful to the adult all the time, and today to be able to see the adult again, it is Huaiyuan's blessing, how dare you complain a little! ”

"Huh! It seems that you have matured a lot in the past two years! Zhao Fang raised his hand and took a sip of hot tea, waved his hand to let Hu Cong retreat, and beckoned to Gao Huaiyuan: "Since Huaiyuan, you don't hate the old man, then the old man is rarely idle for half a day today, so you can accompany the old man to walk around in this garden!" ”

Gao Huaiyuan was flattered and stepped forward to grab one of Zhao Fang's arms and helped him stand up, for Zhao Fang, an old man, he was as respectful as his father, and Zhao Fang seemed to be very relieved of him, and he was treated so approachable, which made Gao Huaiyuan a little surprised.

Gao Huaiyuan walked in the garden with Zhao Fang in his arms, and Zhao Fang said to Gao Huaiyuan: "If it weren't for the fact that someone in the court wanted to put you to death, the old man would never let you leave the army easily, so Meng Zongzheng didn't give the old man a book, and tried to show that what you did was not wrong, and the old man has always been quite worried about this matter, but this time when he came back to Ezhou, after hearing about you, the old man can also rest assured!" ”

"It was Huaiyuan's recklessness back then, and he didn't know how to advance or retreat, so he was impeached, no wonder Lord Zhao or something, my lord did this for the sake of the next, Huaiyuan has always been grateful!" Gao Huaiyuan heard Zhao Fang mention this matter again, so he quickly replied politely.

Zhao Fang nodded approvingly and said: "You can see this, the old man is relieved, the old man also knows that you are young, not to mention the high martial arts, and you do have the ability to control the army, you are a general, the old man has always been a pity that he has not been able to keep you in the army, so that you have a person like a general who can not temper more in front of the army and feel deeply sorry!"

Although the old man is a civil official, but over the years in the area of Jingxi Road, led the army to resist Jin, and also knows that thousands of troops are easy to get a general is difficult to find, although the civil and military are different, but the old man also knows that I am a young general like you in the Song Dynasty is rare, after coming back this time, I heard that you were promoted to the county lieutenant of Daye by the imperial court, the old man is also quite pleased!

Although the county lieutenant is not a person who leads soldiers in the army, it is also a local military position, and it has not buried a talent like you, and the old man also heard that since you took office at the beginning of the year, you have vigorously rectified the local security in Daye County, organized a bow and arrow club, and done a lot of good things for the people of Daye County to suppress bandits and robbers, which shows that you are not an ordinary man, and the old man is quite optimistic about you!

What you are doing now is also what the old man wanted to do before, our Song civilians are too weak and not good at swordsmen, you can follow the law of the northern frontier states in the early years, and set up a bow and arrow club to train the people in the countryside, it is a rare good thing for us to strengthen the local garrison of the Great Song Dynasty, this time from the fact that you led the township to exterminate the lake thieves, it is a good proof!

In time, if your practice can be promoted in the surrounding states and counties of the Great Song Dynasty, it will have a great effect on my Great Song Dynasty to enhance the power of the enemy, which is the most gratifying thing for the old man!

It's just that the old man is not very satisfied with you, you are young, how long have you been an official, and you have learned from those officials in general, and sent so many gifts to the old man, fortunately it is you, otherwise, the old man really won't let you enter my house today!

The old man wants to warn you a little, although we are officials, but we can't fish the people, money is something outside the body, you can't use power for personal gain, for the disaster in the township, the gentleman loves money and takes it in a good way, if you are not an official and oppresses the people to expropriate and extort tyranny, once the old man knows, he will never condone you for personal gain! When the time comes, I will cure you of the sin of greedy ink and take your head! ”

When he said the next few words, Zhao Fang suddenly stopped, stood up straight, turned around and stared at Gao Huaiyuan's eyes and said sharply.

Gao Huaiyuan, this sweat! It's all about everything! This time, he had good intentions and wanted to express his gratitude to Zhao Fang, so he took out a lot of good things and gave them to Zhao Fang without hesitation, but he didn't expect to be misunderstood by him for using his power to make money and bribing him! Isn't this tantamount to lifting a stone to shoot yourself in the foot? Sweat!

"My lord seems to have misunderstood Huaiyuan! Although Huaiyuan is not talented and has not read many books, he also knows how to behave, and Huaiyuan also knows the truth that officials should do things for the people, and they will never fish the people!

Although the little one gave some small gifts to the adults today, please rest assured that Huaiyuan will never bribe the adults at all, in order to get the purpose of getting promoted and making a fortune from the adults! This is just Huaiyuan's gratitude for the adult's maintenance of the next year, and it is just a little bit of heart in the next! Moreover, it can be guaranteed by the head of the item, and among these gifts brought today, no half of the copper coins were obtained from the people of Daye County! I hope that the adults will be aware of this, and if they find that there is a little trouble in the township, the matter of the fish and meat people, the adults can immediately take this head below! ”

Zhao Fang stared at Gao Huaiyuan's eyes, Gao Huaiyuan stood still and looked back at Zhao Fang without dodging, neither humble nor arrogant, the two of them did not speak again for a long time, after a long time, Zhao Fang suddenly laughed, and then coughed again, Gao Huaiyuan hurriedly stepped forward to support Zhao Fang and gently brushed his back.

Zhao Fang pressed a hand on Gao Huaiyuan's arm, gasped for a while and calmed down, and said, "Very good boy!" Your eyes tell me that you are not lying, the old man believes what you say, and the old man accepted these things! The old man has been an official for decades, and an official like you can show such clear eyes, and it is the first time for the old man to see it, which is very good! is worthy of being the person that Meng Zongzheng values! ”

Gao Huaiyuan also smiled: "Lord Zhao just rest assured to accept it, Huaiyuan doesn't dare to deceive Lord Zhao!" It's just that adults still have to focus on their bodies, and it's best to rest for a while as much as possible, especially to drink less wine, it seems that the small one is wrong to send wine to adults! Can you please return the sake that the little one sent this time to the next and take it home? ”

"Don't think about it, you still want to take it back when you enter my door, don't even think about it! I've heard of the wine you sent in Xiangyang, isn't the fairy drunk? The old man has long wanted to have a few drinks! You want to go back now, no way! Zhao Fang immediately laughed and scolded.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

The two of them walked for a while, Zhao Fang felt a little tired, so he found a pavilion in the garden to sit down and rest, Gao Huaiyuan asked Zhao Fang: "This time Lord Zhao came back to Ezhou, the little one was quite surprised, but I don't know how the battle situation is now?" Gao Huaiyuan pretended not to know and asked Zhao Fang.

Zhao Fang shook his head and said: "This time I came back to receive the order, in the past two years, the generals and soldiers in the army dared to use their lives, and they have achieved great victories one after another, and the old man has been promoted to the post of Taizhong doctor, the post of secretary of the Ministry of Power and Punishment, the war has calmed down in the past few months, Meng Zongzheng's army has taken Tangzhou, and the Jin army has no power to attack Xiangyang and other places, so the old man finally has time to come back and relax!"

During this period of time, the Mongolian army went south again, the Jin State was busy dealing with the invasion of the Mongolian army, so it was temporarily unable to invade the south, in June, the Mongolian army attacked the Jin State Daimyo's mansion, and then captured Kaizhou, Dongming, Changyuan and other places, the Mongolian army's Mu Huali defeated the Jin soldiers in Shandong Huanglinggang, the Jin country was very nervous, but the Mongolian army has always only plundered, and will retreat, thinking that the Jin army will continue to invade the south after the coming year, I am afraid that the old man will not rest for long! "General Zhao Fang told Gao Huaiyuan about the general situation in front of him.

Gao Huaiyuan sighed slightly and said: "Jin Guo has long been a knife on his neck but he doesn't know how to die, it seems that Jin Guo is probably going to run out of energy, my lord still focuses on his body, there are Lord Meng, General Hu, General Liu and others in front of the army, there must be no problem!" The lord said that this time you are the secretary of the Ministry of Power and Punishment, is it difficult to transfer the adult to Beijing as an official? ”

Gao Huaiyuan was very puzzled by the promotion of Zhao Fang to the post of secretary of the Criminal Department at this time, and felt that at this time, it was really unwise to transfer a town official like Zhao Fang, and if someone else came, it would not be easy to control the situation in the area of Jingxi Road, so he was very worried about this matter.

"You don't have to worry too much about this, although the imperial court promoted the old man to the secretary of the criminal department, but that is just a false position, the old man is still the envoy of Jingxi Road, and he will not go to Beijing to be an official in the short term! It's just that the old man's body may not last long! The old man is not too worried about the rest of the Jin country, but he is a little uneasy about the current deputy marshal of the Jin army, Fusan Anzhen, you must know that Fusan Anzhen is a famous general of the Dajin country, and the flower hat army under his command is the elite of the Jin army. This is what the old man is worried about! Zhao Fang shook his head and said to Gao Huaiyuan.

Gao Huaiyuan suddenly had a thought in his mind, he really wanted to return to the army and face this famous general in the last years of the Jin Kingdom for a while, but he immediately dispelled this thought, he remembered a record about the servant San'an Zhen, and comforted Zhao Fangdao: "Lord Zhao doesn't have to worry about this, the Jin Kingdom is no longer what it used to be, the reason why they invaded the south is not because of their military strength, but because they want to get some benefits in my Great Song Dynasty, capture the territory of the Great Song Dynasty, and increase their strategic depth!"

And now the lord of the Jin country is mediocre and incompetent, but he didn't think at all that this will only accelerate the demise of the Jin country, if he could be in the Kaixi Northern Expedition after the defeat of our Kaixi Northern Expedition, show favor to our Great Song Dynasty, tie up our country, and go all out to deal with the Mongolian army, the Jin country still has a glimmer of life, but unfortunately he not only did not see this, but sent troops to attack our country, so looking for death, it is really a day to do evil can still live, self-done evil can not live!

And he also appoints traitors, famous generals like Fusan Anzhen, if he wants to make a difference, I'm afraid it will be very difficult! I don't know if one day, people like Susan Anzhen will be killed by the gold master! Lord Zhao doesn't have to worry too much about the Jin army's southward movement, as long as our army strictly guards the Jianghuai moat, it is expected that the Jin army will not have any way to take us! ”

Zhao Fang looked at Gao Huaiyuan with some surprise, and looked at him for a while before saying: "I didn't expect you to see current affairs so clearly at such a young age, and even see such things, the old man really despises you!" The old man regrets it even more now, he shouldn't have let you leave the army and go back to the place in the first place! If you train in the army again, one day, you will become a general in the army! I'll ask you! Do you want to go back to the army now? If you want, the old man can ask the court for an order to transfer you to the Ezhou Metropolitan Department as a general, I don't know what you want? ”

Gao Huaiyuan heard a sigh in his heart, his heart was broken, and he still talked too much! Although he is now only a county lieutenant, the official position is not big, but he is very free, if he enters the capital as a general, it sounds like a little majestic, but in essence, it is equivalent to losing his freedom, and there is no such leisure now, and the status of the military general in the Southern Song Dynasty is not higher than that of the Northern Song Dynasty, and it is not high, you can be used when you fight, and when you are not fighting, you are simply inferior among the officials, so he is not willing to be a general in the army!

It's not that he is greedy for life and afraid of death, but that he is inevitably subject to many restrictions in the army, and it is inconvenient to do many things, not to mention that it is not much point to start a war with the Jin army now, he has learned it two years earlier before the army, although he dare not say that he is very proficient, but for the current military system of the Southern Song Dynasty, he does not think that he can make a difference in the army.

"This ...... Thank you for your love! I don't hide anything from my lord, although I am only a county lieutenant now, but I don't have the idea of becoming a lieutenant general in the army at the moment, many things have just started to be done in Daye County, and I have not yet been able to achieve results, and I want to continue to push forward the Bow and Arrow Society and the joint defense of the township bravery, so Huaiyuan wants to stay in Daye County for the time being! Gao Huaiyuan immediately euphemistically rejected Zhao Fang's proposal.

After Zhao Fang heard this, a look of disappointment appeared on his face.