Fu Song

Chapter 300 Coercion
Zhang Chao walked to the corridor and looked at Zhang Cheng who was wielding a knife in the snowflakes.

More than ten days had passed since the bloody battle in front of the inner city. From that day on, Zhang Cheng who came back was a little abnormal, very anxious, restless, and even angry.

"Your name was also named in the edict. This time, your performance is remarkable. It can be said that without you, the inner city would have been breached by King Jing long ago, and the whole thing would have changed completely. The officials want to reward you in person!" Zhang Chao said.

Zhang Cheng stabbed the knife on the ground, turned around, and blood was dripping down his naked upper body, it was hard to tell whether it was sweat or snow.

"I don't want to go, I'm very upset."

Zhang Chao frowned slightly, walked into the snow, stared at Zhang Cheng and said, "Because of King Jing's death?"

"Yes, and not only. The last battle that day really made me feel uncomfortable. Father, maybe I did something wrong." Zhang Cheng said with his head drooping.

"Nonsense!" Zhang Chao's face darkened: "How can it be wrong to be loyal to the government? No matter when, even if it is recorded in the history books many years later, it will only be a compliment to you."

"The history books are written by the victors!" Zhang Cheng looked up to the sky and sighed. "The so-called spring and autumn pen. Don't expect history to be fair, because the history that can be passed down is passed down by the victors. How can the losers be qualified to write history? So justice is not that important, right? "

"Who told you this?" Zhang Chao looked at his son in surprise, "In the past, apart from practicing martial arts, you just ate, drank, prostituted, and gambled. You never thought about these things."

"A friend." Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "A very knowledgeable friend."

Zhang Chao swept his eyes, snorted and said, "Is it Xiao Cheng and Xiao Chongwen?"

Zhang Cheng was amazed: "How did father guess so accurately?"

"When you said you were a friend just now, you glanced at the knife involuntarily!" Zhang Chao pointed to the knife stuck in the snow: "And I just know that this knife was given to you by Xiao Cheng." of."

"It's no wonder that father can become a captain and lead the army. This level of observation is really amazing." Zhang Cheng shook his head and said, he really didn't expect that his eyes would reveal his secret.

"Son, the victor is naturally the right one, and history only records the right one." Zhang Chao patted his son on the shoulder and said with a smile. "It is meaningless to find out who is right and who is wrong in such a matter. However, King Jing rose up as a prince and raised troops to seek rebellion. This is a big mistake, and it must be tolerated by the world. So in this matter , you don't have to feel guilty."

"But father, do you feel comfortable seeing people like Cui Ang triumphantly in the court, and a famous frontier general like you Qin Kuan not being wronged?" Zhang Cheng became a little annoyed. "He even dares to bite King Jing and frame him, so he might attack you at any time?"

Zhang Chao smiled lightly, "People like Cui Ang, that's all. He is just a knife in the hands of officials. He has lost the capital that a civil servant relies on to survive, and he doesn't have the ability to protect his family like us. Weiguo's ability, what remains is to be ruthlessly used by the officials, and one day when his use value is gone, it will be time to end sadly, this kind of person is not worth worrying about."

"Does this mean that good people don't live long, and that disasters last for thousands of years?" Zhang Cheng said indignantly.

Zhang Chao laughed: "When the water is clear, there will be no fish, and when people are observant, there will be no disciples. Son, with your current mentality, you can only be a general, not a handsome man! Okay, if you don't go, don't go, you still have to go!" I didn’t learn how to hide my thoughts, and if I went to the officials, it’s not beautiful if I don’t deal with it properly. But this time, you have made a great contribution, and you must be rewarded heavily. You are already a commander, and you will be promoted again. Now that you can go out and sit in the town, tell me what you think? In this way, I will be prepared in front of the officials."

"Son wants to go to Hebei!" Zhang Cheng let out a foul breath, and said, "The strong smell of blood in Bianliang makes me feel very uncomfortable. I want to go to Hebei. There, I will kill Liao people."

Zhang Chao nodded: "Well, it's not bad. Although Ma Xing is a bit harsher, he has never been jealous of talents, and he can also know people and do them well. Zheng Xiong, the new marching chief on Hebei Road, is also your father's old comrade-in-arms. , I won’t embarrass you. The other lieutenant, Wang Jun, is also capable, but he is cautious, and he is cautious in his behavior and actions. When you go there, Wang Jun will not fight with you. Zheng Xiong looks like a father In terms of face, it will also give you a chance, and if you go there, it will be a chance to improve to a higher level."

"In a short time, my son won't be able to get promoted!" Zhang Cheng spread his hands and said.

"Why not? Xiao Changqing is twenty-four years old this year, and he is already the marching chief of the Western Army!" Zhang Chao said with a smile: "You are twenty-four, and you might be able to become the chief marching all the way when you are twenty-four!"

"Father, you are the commander of the Fourth Army. No matter how much your son makes contributions, he will not be able to lead an army alone!" Zhang Cheng said.

"If you really have such a day, father will make way for you!" Zhang Chao laughed.

Zhang Cheng shook his head: "My son doesn't have that much ability, I still have this self-knowledge. Father, speaking of Xiao Changqing, what is the court thinking about Xiao Yu this time? It's been three days, why are you still shutting down Xiao Jixiang?" ? What kind of charter is this?"

"Xiao Jixiang has always been a supporter of King Jing. This is no secret in Bianliang. More importantly, this time King Jing rebelled, Xiao Jixiang stood on King Jing's side grandly!" Zhang Chao said.

"Isn't Mr. Luo also standing on King Jing's side?" Zhang Cheng snorted.He was on the city wall at that time, but he could see clearly. "Father, I guess the court is still locking up Xiao Jixiang. Is it because of Brother Xiao? This matter is no small matter. If there is any misunderstanding, it will cause serious trouble."

"Didn't you say that Xiao Changqing was a loyal minister of the country before? Why don't you have any confidence now?" Zhang Chao raised his eyebrows and asked.

Zhang Cheng sighed: "Even King Jing jumped out to rebel against my father. No matter how much I trust Brother Xiao, I dare not make such a guarantee. But father, Xiao Changqing is not King Jing! King Jing rebelled in Bianliang , is in the center of the Great Song Dynasty, anyway, there are hundreds of thousands of troops stationed around Bianliang, which can be mobilized at any time. If something happens to Xiao Changqing, it will be in the northwest, and it is said that Xiao Changqing can control [-] strings!"

"There are still some things you don't know!" Zhang Chao said indifferently: "None of the two sons of the Xiao family is worry-free."

"What's the matter with Xiao Chongwen? He's just a civil servant, and he's still in a place like Qianzhou!" Zhang Cheng was amazed.

"Ha!" Zhang Chao laughed: "At the beginning when the government sent Xiao Cheng to Qianzhou, it was indeed to punish this person, but the development of the matter was far beyond everyone's expectations. This Xiao Cheng is really A good hand in dealing with the Yi people, he has only been in Qianzhou for a year, and Qianzhou has [-] Jimi prefectures under its jurisdiction, and they have already bowed to him."

Zhang Cheng's eyes widened, and he almost couldn't believe his ears. If his father hadn't said such a thing, he would never have believed such a thing.

"Why haven't you heard of such a thing before?"

"Isn't something wrong with Xiao Yu? Li Fang was afraid that he would be involved in this incident, so he reported what Xiao Cheng did in Qianzhou. Before that, he was bored. Make a lot of money!" Zhang Chao snorted, "Xiao Cheng is clever, and Li Fang is becoming more and more stupid as he gets older. He wants fame, power, and money, but Xiao Cheng can get it. Are you dead?"

"In this way, Xiao Jixiang will be fine, right?" Zhang Cheng thought of another possibility, and he was a little happy.

Zhang Chao looked at his son, and said meaningfully: "That's not necessarily true. Extremes will always be reversed, and one body has two sides. It depends on this matter and from which angle you look at it!"

The court meeting in the Daqing Palace is over.

All the high-sounding words or things have already been said there and arranged properly.

When some people who could determine the ultimate direction of the empire left the Daqing Palace and went to the Imperial Study Room, more things that could affect the country were put on the table.

Although Luo Song and Li Guang were released, they can only stay at home now.

And another great person, Xiao Yu, is still locked in the prison and has not been released!
Today's discussion in the Imperial Study Room is about Xiao Yu's affairs.

"It's time to let Xiao Jixiang out." Xia Jie said: "The third envoy has lost its chief officer and is in a mess. Now that Bianliang is unstable, the stability of the third envoy is the most important thing."

"Not bad, not bad!" Chen Gui echoed: "Officials, the Fourth Army suffered a lot of casualties this time, and the compensation alone is a huge sum. Unfortunately, it's the end of the year, and Xiao Jixiang can't come out. The money cannot be raised, and this matter cannot be delayed, and accidents will easily happen if it is delayed."

Zhang Chao sat on the side with his head lowered, silent.This is his usual style. Although he will always be present at this level of discussion, he has always brought only one ear, and his mouth is usually sewn shut. Even when asked by officials, he would hum Haha, don't say anything.

This is his way of life.For so many years, the civil servants in power have been able to tolerate such a military general among them.

Because Zhang Chao never fights.

Cui Ang looked at the appearance of one nostril in the east and west, and then at the expressions of the officials, he knew it was time to act.

Whether it is the Xia Commandments or the old rules, it is strange if the officials are happy if they do not ask the officials for instructions first, but instead act as if they are instructing the officials to do things.

"Officials, I don't think it's right! Xiao Yu is different from Luo Xianggong and Li Xianggong. If you don't check it clearly, how can the tens of thousands of civilians who died in this incident be convinced?" Cui Ang stood up, impassioned typical.

"Cui Zhongcheng, what do you mean?" Xia Jie's face changed suddenly.

"Shoufu, Xiao Yu is the loyal confidant of King Ni. If you go to the street and ask anyone, I'm afraid that person will be able to tell the story. King Ni rebelled, Xiao Yu participated or not, don't check. How does Cha know?" Cui Ang said.

"Nonsense!" Chen Gui said angrily, "Cui Zhongcheng, don't you know what kind of person Xiao Yu is? Don't you know how much he is involved in? The Ni Wang is dead, Tao Dayong and other people who are attached to the Ni have already given their heads, Qin Min Waiting for a group of people is impossible to escape, and this matter is over. What the officials, I and Shoufu mean is that we should focus on appeasement now, and we must not magnify this matter any longer."

"Because of Xiao Ding?" Cui Ang sneered: "Shoufu, Privy Councilor, if it is because of this reason, then what is the face of my Song court? Is this setting a benchmark for future generations? If Xiao Yu has Xiao Ding If such a son does not dare to investigate, cannot investigate, and does not want to investigate, isn’t he sending an extremely bad signal to the world? Is there a man with a strong army and a strong horse?”

Cui Ang's voice suddenly rose.

Xia Jie and Chen Gui looked at each other, their faces full of annoyance.

There are strong soldiers and strong horses!
That's the way things are!
But such a thing cannot be said.

Trion is a trouble maker, but not a trouble solver.

"What does the king of Chu mean?" Zhao Suo's eyes turned to the king of Chu, Zhao Jing, who was lowering his eyebrows.Or the second son rebelled and died in a battle in the inner city, which had a great impact on Zhao Suo's state of mind. From then on, the King of Chu could attend such a level of discussion.

"Father, my son, I would like to ask Xiao Jixiang to stay in the prison for a longer period of time, but serve him with good wine and good food. Maybe his wife and children can come in and visit at any time." Zhao Jing raised his head and said with a smile: " My servant can trust Xiao Jixiang's character, but outsiders don't know about it, so it is necessary to check it out, and if it is clear, Xiao Jixiang can be cleared!"

"That's it?" Zhao Suo frowned slightly.

"Anyway, Xiao Jixiang got involved in this important matter, so he always needs to inform Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao is the eldest son of the family. When encountering such a thing, he should come back to do his filial piety and take care of the housework. Besides, Director Xiao has made great achievements many times since he left for Saint West last time, but he has never returned to his job to praise his achievements and report his work, so he just took advantage of this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone!" Zhao Jing said with a smile.

Hearing this, both Xia Jie and Chen Gui's eyes flickered, and they looked at Zhao Jing with a kind of admiration for three days away.

Zhao Jing was threatening Xiao Yu and Xiao's family to threaten Xiao Ding, and asked Xiao Ding to return to Beijing to report on his duties.

There is no doubt that once Xiao Ding returns to Bianliang, he will never dare to leave again.

If Xiao Ding came back, Xiao Yu would be fine, and the Xiao family would still be rich.

No matter what the court thinks, it still needs to use this attitude to appease the Western Army.

Of course, after the imperial court has completely taken over the Western Army, how to deal with the Xiao family will be another story.

It's just that Zhao Jing really came up with such a plan?

Seeing everyone's expressions, Zhao Jing was quite proud.

Of course, he couldn't think of such a plan, but he had a good staff member. Before he came, Zhao Yuan had planned everything for him.

(End of this chapter)