The servants of the Li Mansion all knew that a distinguished guest was coming, but they didn't know who the person who was coming, but they only saw Aunt Lan preparing the room, bedding, mirror, and suitcase for the guests every day, with a smile on her face. But some people secretly said that they had seen Aunt Lan crying alone in the house.

"Aunt Lan, she probably doesn't want her master to go on the expedition!" Laifu, who claims to understand the master's mind best, revealed it in private. For Shi Lan, who has jumped from a guest to a host, they don't have too much bad feeling as servants. It's no surprise that something like this happens in any big mansion. Besides, Aunt Lan is very good at being a person, and like the master of the family, she is very polite to the people.

"It's the same, every time my lord goes out on an expedition, he has to come back with an injury! Captain Zhou, they are too useless, if I make a personal soldier for the master......." Laishou is indignant. Zhou Xing and several other pro-soldier commanders of the Li Mansion lived in the cross-courtyard of this family, and all their expenses were borne by the Li Mansion. In the eyes of the housekeepers and servants, Zhou Xing and the others enjoyed such good treatment, but they couldn't let their master go unharmed, which was too undutiful.

"Just your little arms and legs, it's not enough to lead the horse for the master, forget it, don't go out and embarrass our Li family!" The servants heard that Laishou was talking too loudly, and joked in unison.

"I, I can lift sixty pounds. Last time, the master practiced martial arts in the backyard, and he also instructed me a few tricks! Laishou was not convinced, jumped up, and retorted by comparison.

"Yes, you can lift a bag of sixty pounds of rice, but the next day you will have to lie in the nest all day! Go to work, you can't clean up the back garden after dark, be careful of your skins! The housekeeper happened to walk by, slapped the back of the head with his hand, and scolded with a smile.

The servants stuck out their tongues and ran away laughing. The owner of this house is good to everyone, especially when he is at home, he will always give many people unexpected care. Therefore, as long as the owner of this house is there, there will be a lot more laughter in the yard. But everyone knows that the master is going on an expedition again. At home, Aunt Lan had already wiped his weapons and wiped them, and outside, county soldiers with knives, horses and mules could be seen everywhere. "This time I am going to fight the Wagang Army, and after defeating the Wagang Army, the whole of Henan will settle down!" The teahouse of the wine shop, many people are talking about it. With the exception of the families of those who took part, few people worried about the outcome of the war. "With Lord Zhang here, have our brothers in Qi County ever lost a battle?" The drinkers said loudly, their faces flushed with drink, and there was pride in every pore.

Before the distinguished guests arrived, the Li Mansion first welcomed the good news that his lord had been added to the rank of knight. In June of the 11th year of the Great Cause, His Majesty the Emperor decreed that in view of the outstanding military exploits of Li Xu, the county of Chou County, he was crowned as the Marquis of Weicheng Township, and the number of food towns increased to 1,000. (Note 1). His official position is not promoted because he was only promoted a few months ago.

In another holy decree that came at the same time, His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Sui promoted Zhang Xutuo to the position of Xingyang Tongshou, and the Henan counties announced the ambassador and added the title of Zuo Guanglu Doctor (Note 2), and the holy family was extremely prosperous for a while.

In comparison, the rewards given to Qin Shubao and Luo Shixin were a little shabby. Qin Shubao was given the feudal lieutenant and Luo Shixin was given the title of cloud cavalry, both of which were honorary titles awarded to military generals, and they had no real power except for their good reputation. Perhaps it was because he consciously rewarded the merits, and as compensation for the two, the holy decree announced that Qin and Luo would each be rewarded with a thousand satin, and the local officials would award them from the treasury.

As soon as the holy decree was issued, the old lady Shou Pei Caozhi immediately made a bitter face. In this turbulent era, Zhang Xutuo, Li Xu, Qin Shubao, Luo Shixin and others are no different from the protectors of Qi County in his eyes. His Majesty the Emperor moved Li Xu's fief from Chou County to Weicheng near Wagang Mountain, and transferred Zhang Xutuo's position of general guard from Licheng, which was far away from the eastern capital, to Xingyang, which was close to the eastern capital, which was clearly urging everyone to send troops to quell the chaos as soon as possible, and not to delay time under the pretext of local injustice.

"Fortunately, Your Majesty left the heavy wood to me!" After Pei Caozhi lamented, he secretly rejoiced in his heart. His Majesty's holy decree involved almost everyone who had meritorious service, including Wu Yulin, the Cheng of Beihai County, who had followed Qi County several times, and all of them had the title of court doctor, but they did not mention Dugu Lin, who was related to the royal family. With the power of the Dugu family, it is impossible for the courtiers to dare to swallow Dugulin's reward, so the only explanation is that the imperial court is ready to leave the position of Qijun Tongshou to Dugu Lin after Zhang Xutuo was transferred to Xingyang Tongshou.

Thinking of this, Pei Cao's heart was a little calmer. took a few steps forward, hugged his fists and saluted the father-in-law of Qinchawen, who came to deliver the message, and said politely: "My lord has worked hard all the way, it is really hard. Please sit in the side hall for a while, and wait for the official to order someone to serve tea! ”

Gonggong Wen is a well-known virtuous eunuch around His Majesty the Emperor, and he is never greedy for bribes, so everyone does not take yellow and white things to defile his eyes. After carefully putting away the holy decree, he gathered around him and greeted him with a lot of words.

"How long did my father-in-law come from the water or the dry road?"

"Is it safe on the road? Have you ever had any trouble? ”

"When asked by your lords, our family took a boat from Luoshui ten days ago, and walked slowly along the Yellow River and Jishui along the way. Presumably the thief's sharp eyes saw that my boat had a shallow draft, so he felt that it was not worth it once. So, the road is quite peaceful! Speaking of the journey, Wen Yidao arched his hand and replied with a smile, with a smug look between his eyebrows.

In this era of war and chaos, only a dozen entourages dared to walk from Luoyang to Licheng, not to mention the hard journey, this courage alone is enough to make everyone admire. "Father-in-law is so daring!" Zhang Xutuo hugged his fists and saluted. "But Zhang has something unclear, and he wants to ask his father-in-law to give him advice!"

"Lord Zhang wants to ask our family about why the imperial court didn't reward Dugu Governor, right?" Without waiting for Zhang Xutuo to mention it, Gonggong Wen had clearly guessed what he was thinking, "Before coming, the Holy Lord also sent two oracles, one to Li Hou and one to Dugu Governor, and our family has not had time to say it." Since you have mentioned it, please borrow a room and let me wait to go in and talk! ”

Since the founding of the first emperor, His Majesty the Emperor has been looking for courtiers in a very formal way. Except for those who are extremely close to them, few dictations are issued. Especially in a place like Licheng, which is relatively far away from the eastern capital, if it weren't for the meritorious work of the county soldiers in suppressing bandits in the past two years, the holy decree would be rare, let alone a verbal edict.

Who would have thought that the oracle would not come easily, and one would come in two. Taishou Pei Caozhi listened, and hurriedly ordered someone to vacate the second hall of the mansion, serve tea, and then send Lord Qincha and the two "favored ministers" who need to be asked to enter. Qi County's first cadre of civil and military affairs was far away on the periphery of the second hall, and it was strictly prevented from anyone else approaching and eavesdropping.

"Two generals, sit down, since Your Majesty doesn't write down what you want to say to you on paper, you just don't want the two of you to be restrained. All told, this is the seventh time I've delivered an oracle on behalf of Your Majesty. It's two dishes at a time, which is a rare luck in life! Seeing that the doors and windows had been closed, Wen Yidao smiled and said.

"The last general is gratifying the Holy Grace!" Li Xu and Dugu Lin clenched their fists at the same time, reaching the ground for a long time.

"Thank you should be thanked, Your Majesty cares about you two very much." Wen Yidao also stood up straight, representing Yang Guang to receive the thanks of the two courtiers, and then admired with a somewhat envious tone.

"How can the last general, how can he make His Majesty worry about it, and he is terrified!" Li Xu and Dugu Lin bowed again and thanked them.

"There's no need to be afraid, before I came, Your Majesty asked General Li, I heard that you privately accepted the daughter of the bandit leader Shizihe, is there such a thing?" Wen Yidao nodded with a smile, then turned his face and asked.

"The last general?" Li Xu was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect that someone in the court would also inquire about his private affairs. There must have been some people in the court who used this matter as a handle, so His Majesty sent someone to ask me. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a wave of resentment in his heart. After a little muttering, he replied loudly, "Indeed!" The last general thought that the rule of the saint was not as guilty as his wife, Shizihe had been defeated and died, and his daughter was no different from the daughter of ordinary people! Therefore, it was accepted without telling it. ”

Xu Zi didn't think there was anything wrong with what he had done, the law of the Great Sui, and the status of concubines was only higher than that of slaves. He has already paid the atonement money for Shi Erya, and no matter how he arranges her in the future, no one else has the right to chew his tongue at all.

"Your Majesty expected you to say that!" Wen Yidao was amused by Li Xu's puffed up appearance, stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, and comforted: "Li Hou doesn't have to be so anxious, Your Majesty just asked in passing, and I didn't think you did anything wrong." His Majesty told several ministers in the court that you are young and unmarried, and when you see that the daughter of the Shi family is born beautifully, you will marry and go home, and if you change him when he is young, he will also do this affair, so your behavior is not a fault. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty, forgive me!" Hearing this, Li Xu's heart calmed down a little, smiled, and arched his hand to the west. There are many rumors about Yang Guang's affair in the market, but as far as Li Xu knows, the relationship between His Majesty and the queen is very affectionate, and the total number of concubines in the palace is no more than twenty. This kindness can't help but make him unappreciated.

"But Your Majesty instructed that if you marry a wife in the future, you must play the Ming court. It's not for you, starting from the first emperor, the intermarriage of prominent families in this dynasty must be made clear to the court. You are already a Hou Ye, you can't be as sloppy as before! Wen Yidao smiled and added.

"Your Honor!" Li Xu hurriedly hugged his fists to the west and received his order. After being reminded by Wu Shitong, he already knew that he could not be the master of his own marriage, so Wen Yidao's words were not surprising. As for whose daughter to marry, Xuzi hasn't thought about it yet, and he doesn't want to have a headache for the Holy Lord's message.

"Don't be busy with it first, these words are common words that the emperor told you, not an oracle. I haven't said the real word yet, so be ready to take it! Wen Yidao smiled again and continued.

"Minister, Li Xugong, listen to the hadith!" Li Xu secretly screamed bitterly in his heart, took half a step back, and bent down half of his body respectfully.

After Li Xu took a good posture, Wen cleared his throat with a knife, changed his voice and said: "The Holy Lord's oracle, I specially give Li Xu a flat body, sit and listen to me." ”

This is a rare grace, Li Xu hurriedly thanked him, found a stool to lean on, and finally didn't dare to sit down, owing half of his ass to listen to the latest instructions from His Majesty the Emperor to him.

"You don't have to be nervous, Your Majesty is very casual with the people around him!" Seeing that Li Xu was at a loss, Wen Yidao first comforted him, and then continued: "Holy Lord's message, I promised to take you to Liaodong, and the promise of the past is still in my ears today. But because some villains have deceived the Holy Hearing, I have not believed what I said last year......."

"It must be the old general who brought my words to the emperor!" Hearing this, Li Xu secretly sighed in his heart. After several years of observation and perception, Yang Guang is no longer the image of a saint in his heart. But Yang Guang's friendship with his courtiers really made Xuzi unbearable to turn his back.

With emotion, Wen Yidao continued to relay: "I have already sent the villain who hinders you from making contributions to Lingnan, so that he will not be allowed to return to the Central Plains for half a step for the rest of his life. A bad breath has come out for you, so don't have any complaints in your heart! ”

"Don't dare!" Li Xu jumped down from the stool and replied loudly.

"Actually, you can't go to Liaodong, and there's nothing to regret. I was deceived by Gao Yuan's thief again, and I returned in vain. In the past few years, inside and outside, there have always been thieves who deliberately deceive me, and my heart hurts. You are the only one who really kills the thief for me, so I will live up to your credit! ”

These sentences explain the reason why the imperial court gave him a knighthood for overstepping his rank. Presumably, His Majesty the Emperor saw that there were many lords and generals around him who wielded power, and there were few capable and practical people, so he felt quite remorseful in his heart. "If Your Majesty repents at this moment, the Great Sui may still be saved!" Li Xu stood up straight, his heart suddenly filled with longing.

"I have heard that your hometown has been threatened by thieves, and I have ordered the local officials to prepare a new mansion for you in Yi County. Your family has also moved in, and you don't have to worry about your family's safety, even if you are brave enough to kill the thief! After the Wagang army is leveled, I will definitely recruit you back to Beijing, and our monarchs and ministers will go down to Liaodong again, and we will definitely wash away the shame we suffered before in one fell swoop! ”

"Minister, thank you for Your Majesty's grace!" Li Xu bowed deeply, not knowing what to say except thanks. With selfishness, His Majesty the Great Sui Emperor was extremely gracious to him, and even the safety of his family was considered for him. But as far as the country is concerned, His Majesty the Emperor obviously has no understanding, and he is still dreaming of going to Liaodong to regain face, regardless of the fact that the people are already raging.

"Gonggong Wen, doesn't Your Majesty know that the bandits and robbers in various places have already made a lot of trouble?" After listening to His Majesty the Emperor's dictation to Li Xu, Dugu Lin also felt a little disappointed, stepped forward, and asked in a low voice.

"That's why Your Majesty gave you an order!" Wen Yidao sighed and replied. "Our family is a minister, so it stands to reason that we can't interfere in the affairs of the outer court. But along the way, what I have seen and heard is really shocking. In the past, I heard Brother Ling say that there was chaos in the place, and when he said that the emperor, our family didn't believe it. Because the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, led by Lord Yu, Lord Yuwen and Lord Pei, said that there were fewer and fewer thieves, and only Brother Ling and Suna said that the thieves were getting bigger and bigger. Hey, this man, who doesn't want to listen to good words. But who would have thought that good words may not contain good intentions! ”

The old eunuch chattered, and his words were full of regret and remorse. His expression was really anxious, Dugu Lin knew that there was probably nothing good at home, so he was so anxious to interrupt his words, and asked loudly: "Father-in-law, can you make it clearer, brother, what's wrong with brother, is there something wrong with brother?" ”

"Brother Ling suffered some cold on the way from Liaodong last year, and this spring, he vomited a little with the secretary of the province, so he fell ill. Your Majesty sent me to pass on the message, so that you can hurry back to the Eastern Capital, and meet with Lord Dugu to make him happy. Second, he wants to leave the task of guarding the palace to his own people, and you are the most suitable choice! ”

"The Last General's Order!" Duguxue took a half step back and replied. State and family affairs followed, which made his mind a little dazed for a while. After agreeing to return to the west, he immediately asked regardless of etiquette: "Can my father-in-law explain in detail, why did my brother vomit with the people from the secretary province, and who deliberately angered him?" ”

"It's not that someone is deliberately angry with him, our Great Sui Dynasty is like this, noisy and shouting all day long!" Wen Yidao shook his head and explained, "Your Majesty has added one hundred and twenty new secretaries to the provincial ministry at the beginning of the spring, and we will discuss with him how to achieve a prosperous era for a thousand years. In fact, His Majesty also understands in his heart that these Confucian scholars who study are all mothers who have milk, and they may not understand any great principles of governing the country and quelling chaos. I just want to give them some benefits, so that they don't go around inciting rebellion. ”

Today, His Majesty has always had the name of respecting the virtuous, and when he was still the governor of Yangzhou, he raised a group of Confucian scholars who were familiar with the classics of the sages. Recently, the world has been in turmoil, in order to prevent the Confucian scholars from being used by the party, the imperial court specially increased the number of secretaries in the province and supported a group of more famous literati. And these people took the court's money, and naturally knew how to repay it, so every time they went to the book, they either eulogized the prosperity of the times, or played where the auspicious rui appeared. They disturbed one after another, and drowned out many loyal and upright words exhorting His Majesty to cherish the people's strength and make every effort to make the country prosperous.

At the beginning of spring this year, Yang Guang routinely asked hundreds of officials and people about their sufferings at the court meeting, and Yu Shiji and others took the lead in answering that the world was peaceful. Nayan Su Wei and Dugu Lin bowed their heads and were silent, Yang Guang called the two to his side to question, Su Wei replied, "In the past, only Wang Bo was a rebel, but now there are rebels in all counties, I don't know if such a world can be considered peaceful!" ”。

Dugu Lin's answer is simpler, he believes that in the past few years, the imperial court did not need to raise taxes, and there was a surplus every year. And now the taxes are added and increased, and there is still not much money to be collected. Doesn't this just mean that the world is unstable, and many people who should pay taxes have run away to become thieves?

As soon as the words of the two fell, several officials from the secretary province immediately jumped out and impeached them for their disrespectful remarks, and they said depressing words as soon as the spring began, cursing the fortunes of the Great Sui. Dugu Lin refuted on the spot, and after arguing a few words, he didn't breathe evenly, and spurted blood on the court on the spot.

"These killers, they are also embarrassed to claim to have read the books of sages!" After listening to the words of his father-in-law, Dugu Lin was so angry that he slammed his fist on the wall, shaking the tulled window and buzzing.

"From the books of the sages, they only learned to close their eyes and speak nonsense! In order to get ahead, what else are these people unwilling to do! Wen Yidao shrugged his shoulders and said disdainfully. Although he was a eunuch, he was more like a man than some people in the secretary province.

Li Xu was also extremely angry, but he didn't think there was anything strange about the behavior of those guys in the secretary province. A few days ago, the brothers of Qi County jumped out to persuade them to obey the destiny of heaven and take refuge in Li Mi, aren't they also the same kind of people in this group? Some people's goal in life is to be officials, and as for being good officials or bad officials, they can't sell their conscience if they can't sell them, and they are not considered at all.

"You're going back to the Eastern Capital. At least you can go back and let Your Majesty know what's going on outside!" Thinking of this, Li Xu patted Dugu Lin's shoulder and whispered advice.

"I'm sure I'm going to do it!" Dugu Lin nodded and responded. Back then, he ignored his good future and ran from the court to the local government to be a small official, but he didn't want to get involved in disputes in the court. But now, his brother has fallen, whether it is for the Dugu family or for the sake of Dasui, he has to take his own responsibility.

Some responsibilities are innate, and no matter how far you run, you will inevitably have to carry them on your shoulders one day in the end.

Three days later, Dugu Lin and Gonggong Wen got on the boat and went west against the current. Zhang Xutuo led a group of brothers and sent them to Jishui. The moment they waved, everyone's mood was very heavy, and no one knew how many years it would take for everyone to meet again. No one can predict whether the gloomy Sui in front of him will still be able to support everyone when they meet again.

"Go back, don't forget to ask Your Majesty to allocate food and equipment for us!" Luo Shixin jumped on the shore and shouted. His long-time friend is about to leave, and he feels very uncomfortable, but the smile on his face is brighter than anyone else's.

"I can't forget. Take care, the Wagang Army is not so easy to deal with! Dugu Lin smiled and waved to the shore.

"Ha, you better be careful yourself, we are here with a clear knife that is easy to dodge, and you have a hidden arrow where it is difficult to defend!" Luo Shixin laughed disdainfully and shouted at the boat that was far away from the shore.

"Shixin, don't talk nonsense!" Qin Shubao, who was old and stable, drank low. Afterwards, he himself waved his hand and said goodbye to his old friend who had been fighting side by side for many years, "Chongmu, don't forget to come back when the family affairs are settled!" ”

"I always remember that if you pacify Wagang, you will also come to me in the Eastern Capital! Let's not get drunk and don't go home! Dugu Lin laughed, arched his hand, and watched the figure on the shore gradually blurred......

"If you don't get drunk, you won't go home!" The people on the shore smiled and waved. The wind was strong in the middle of the river, and the sails of the boat gradually puffed up, gradually blending into the clouds and smoke on the horizon.

Those clouds of smoke rolled up Shu Shu, and made up countless pavilions and pavilions, like a bustling city, the former Great Sui. But as soon as the wind came, it dispersed like a dream.

(The third volume of Yangzhou slow volume)

Note 1: In the Sui system, during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, there were nine kings, county kings, state dukes, county dukes, county dukes, marquis, uncles, sons, and male nine. After Yang Guang succeeded to the throne, it was abolished, leaving only three categories: duke, marquis, and uncle, and each category was divided into three categories: county, county, and township.

Note 2: Doctor Guanglu originated in the Han Dynasty and was a concurrent title after the Jin Dynasty. Among them, it is divided into several levels, such as special progress, left and right, gold purple, silver and blue. The left and right are from the second grade, extremely high.

Note 3: Canvassing, please stay tuned for the fifth volume of the Water Dragon.

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