Han Shizu

Chapter 403 Shi Hongzhao goes to the border

On the Henan Plain, a team of over a hundred officers and troops, with several carriages in between, traveled westward slowly along the valley waterway.This is the newly appointed Shuofang Jiedu envoy of the Great Han Dynasty, Zheng Guogong Shi Hongzhao and his party set off from Luoyang to the northwest frontier.

Apart from Shi Hongzhao's servants, the entourage consisted of some subordinates who had been with him for many years. In addition, Liu Chengyou also specially offered his kindness, and selected a few of Shi Hongzhao's old troops from the Tokyo Imperial Army for his errands.As a result, Zheng Guogong's imprint in the imperial guards of the Han Dynasty faded again.

Ever since he received the orders from Yizhen Shuofang, Shi Hongzhao has been in a bad mood, mainly because of the great gap in his heart.

At the beginning of the founding of the country, he was the commander-in-chief in charge of the forbidden army, the leader of the army, how powerful and flamboyant he was at that time.In the first year of Qianyou, he was sent down to stay in Luoyang. At that time, Shi Hongzhao was not angry, but he could still comfort himself. After all, he controlled the military and government of Xijing, sealed off the big officials in Xinjiang, and had a lot of power. Minister, at least I can feel more at ease.

Therefore, in Luoyang, Shi Hongzhao also had a happy three years.But now, what kind of place is Shuofang, remote and barren in the northwest, just because of the buzzing of flies and bugs in Xijing, Shi Gong sent him to Shuofang!

exile!In Shi Hongzhao's view, Shuofang's appointment, even though it was a provincial town, was in fact tantamount to exile.

Because of his bad mood, Shi Hongzhao had a cold face all the way, giving people a feeling of suffocation.Finally, during a break at noon, it broke out, cursing non-stop:
"The people in Xijing, I'm afraid they are proud of themselves this time. The old man was finally driven away by them! If I knew this, I should have been more ruthless!"

"Could the Son of Heaven just let those civil servants and writers fiddle with him? What is there to be afraid of in Luoyang, who have no soldiers and no power? That Fan Zhi is just a former minister. When I was in charge of the military, what kind of person was he?" ? In Luoyang, I took his family’s land and took over his family’s tenants?”

"In the past few years in Xijing, how many fields have I paid for the court, how many people have been registered, and how much food has been delivered, can't the court see it?"

"That Jing Fan is nothing more than a group of field officials. He can't rule the nobles, and can't suppress the powerful. I have almost brought Luoyang into order. He comes to enjoy his success. There are such good things in the world. As soon as he takes office, he will do some favors to those old fellows. Give some benefits, I'm afraid those people will have to support him."

In the past three years in Luoyang, Shi Hongzhao has improved somewhat. Although his temper has not improved much, his political mind has opened up a bit.

Shi Hongzhao was drooling, and the followers around him were all busy with their own business, taking care of the horses and livestock, eating and drinking, and dared not talk to them.

After venting, Shi Hongzhao shook his head, his rough face softened, and he said to himself, "Where did Shi come from so many lasses? The matter has come to an end. If this woman complains and spreads it, it will only cause trouble. People laugh!"

"Remember, what I just said, don't let it out!" Almost at the top of his voice, Shi Hongzhao ordered to the left and right.

"Yes!" A few people nearby agreed quickly.

After his emotions calmed down, Shi Hongzhao put his helmet in his arm, ate dry food, and said with emotion: "Shi Mou was originally a general, but now he is going to the border again to guard the city against the bandits, which is a good place. Forget it, let's guard the country for the late emperor and report his acquaintance." Grace."

Shi Hongzhao seemed to be looking away.However, putting on the heavy armor again, putting on the robe, and stepping on the horse, the nerves of the whole person seemed to relax a little.

Sitting on a piece of bluestone, watching the pedestrians walking in the road with heavy loads, and looking into the distance, the two mountains are opposite each other, and there is a market at the mouth of the gap. Even if they are far apart, they can still hear some noises. The sound of peace.

During his tenure, Shi Hongzhao made a lot of inspections around Luoyang, especially the vast areas in the east and north. Basically, he went to the lands, manors, and Dingkou of the rich and nobles in Xijing.For the west of Luoyang, I haven't been there much.

"Zuo Li, what's ahead?" Shi Hongzhao asked.

A humble clerk who felt that his future was bleak, rushed up and said: "The two mountains in front, East Qinglong, West Phoenix, below the entrance is Quekou City, which is a new market in the past two years. Villagers from tens of miles come and go to barter at regular intervals!"

"Haha!" Hearing this, Shi Hongzhao was delighted: "I, Shi Hongzhao, are said to be a nuisance and harm to the people. Aren't the ordinary people in this village happy to work and live in peace?"

The little official was silent, it was not his turn to comment on such matters.

The spring sun is warm and warm, and it is very comfortable to shine on the body. Shi Hongzhao sighed again: "It will be the Lantern Festival soon, but the old man still has to go west."

Just when Zheng Guogong complained from time to time, a small group of knights came rushing from the east, led by a green-robed official, handsome and energetic.

"The Forbidden Army from Tokyo!" With Shi Hongzhao's eyesight, he immediately saw the origin of the knight.

The visitor saw Shi Hongzhao, a big pedestrian, and turned straight towards him, obviously aiming at him: "May I ask if it is Shuofang Jiedu envoy Zheng Gong?"

"This commander is here, who are you?" Shi Hongzhao asked contemptuously, turning his face to the young green-robed official, without moving a muscle.

The leading official got off his horse, noticed Shi Hongzhao's arrogance, his brows showed little displeasure, and he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is the King of Relics in the Palace. I am here to see Duke Zheng off!"

"Zheng Guogong is worthy of being a man of resolute action. His actions are so fast. His subordinates have been chasing him for hundreds of miles. Only in Xin'an territory did he catch up!" Wang Zhu said neither humble nor overbearing.

Since it was the emperor's envoy, Shi Hongzhao sat upright, that's all, and said, "I have to give way to someone else! Unexpectedly, the emperor still remembers the old minister. Tell me, what did your majesty send you here for?"

Wang Zhu took out an edict from the sleeve of his robe, handed it to Shi Hongzhao with both hands, and said, "This is a secret edict from Your Majesty to Duke Zheng!"

Seeing this, Shi Hongzhao stood up and took it with one hand.

But seeing his attitude, it is clearly an act of contempt for the emperor, which is completely different from the respect he saw for the emperor in Tokyo.He was angry in his heart, but he didn't dare to take it out on Shi Hongzhao.

When Shi Hongzhao opened the edict to read, thinking about Liu Chengyou's instructions, Wang Zhu stepped forward and said slowly: "Before I leave, Your Majesty has ordered you to inform Zheng Gong."

Shi Hongzhao put away the secret edict, with some thought on his face, listened to his words, stared at the king with tiger eyes, and asked: "What else does the emperor have to say, just say it!"

"Your Majesty said that he knows that Duke Zheng has been wronged this time. You have made great contributions to the imperial court. What you did in Xijing was for the sake of the country and beneficial to the imperial court's rule. It is understandable that the means may be excessive and improper."

"Moving the town to Lingzhou is actually a swarm of nobles from Xijing, wanting to hold you accountable. The country is vast and the affairs are complicated. Governing the country requires guidance and compromise. The so-called destruction of bones, letting you go to Lingzhou is also a kind of protection. .”

"Your Majesty knows that Zheng Gong is very good at running the army, and his function should be used for frontier fortresses. There are chaos in the northwest, and it is time to use force. Please Zheng Gong endure the hardship first, and then look for opportunities in the future before being transferred back to the court."

"Duke Zheng has nothing to worry about at home. His Majesty has already put on his official uniform, and he is good at caring for you. You Zi Dexun is a talented person with integrity and integrity. He knows Yunzhou and has already gone to Xucheng to take up his post!"

Hearing Wang Zhu's words, Shi Hongzhao's attitude became more correct, he looked down at the imperial edict in his hand, and bowed deeply to the east with his hands folded.

Straightening up, he turned to the king and said, "Go back and tell the Son of Heaven that the commander-in-chief knows what he wants, please rest assured, the commander-in-chief will definitely help him suppress those bastards in Shuofang!"

"In addition, it will be the Shangyuan Festival in a few days. Your Majesty ordered the officials to bring some gifts to Zheng Gong!" As he said, Wang Zhu waved his hand and asked the accompanying soldiers to offer them: "Come here, bring the gifts from Your Majesty." !"

"Thank you!"

After seeing off Shi Hongzhao, Wang Zhu just returned east with his guards.Riding on the horse, he shook his head lightly, and muttered: "I heard that Zheng Gong is arrogant and difficult to control. I saw him today, and it is true. I am a low-level official, but I am also an angel. I am so contemptuous. Accepting the edict is so rude. If things go on like this, where is the majesty of the king, where is the prestige of the country?"

"When I return to the court, I will report this situation according to the facts!" Wang Zhu secretly determined.

"Wang Shiyi, what's our next step, shall we go back to Tokyo?" asked the commander of the imperial army accompanying him.

"No, go to Xijing!" Wang looked to the east and said, "Your Majesty still has an order to tell Jingfan to stay behind."

Compared with Shi Hongzhao, Jing Fan is easier to deal with.Regardless of his fatigue, he rode his horse and galloped, and this idea came to Wang Zhu's mind.

Just now Shi Hongzhao's performance touched the young emperor's close ministers a lot. His Majesty seems to be in control now, but there are still many local people who don't know the etiquette of emperors and ministers and despise the authority of the emperor.Since the end of the Tang Dynasty and the Three Dynasties, the status quo of the weak imperial power still needs to be improved.

(End of this chapter)