Kingdom of Heaven and Han

Chapter 130 Envoys
Until the next day, the materials in the Jiazhang warehouse were not fully counted.Wang Xiaolie sent the former public officials in the city to help count them.

At noon, Shao Ling suddenly sent someone to say that he had something urgent to report.

Calling people in, Wang Xiao said: "What's the matter? Could it be that he caught up with Yang Jin?"

The soldier said: "Report to Zhizhou, we chased all the way, but did not catch up with Yang Jin. Yang Jin passed the Guanghua Army, did not attack the city, and went straight to Gucheng County in Xiangyang Prefecture. Looking at him, both Shao Tongzhi and Niu Tongzhi It is estimated that he is going to attack Xiangyang Mansion."

"Oh, what is it that Shao Ling sent you back?"

The soldier said: "We were passing through the Guanghua Army, and we ran into an envoy from the imperial court by accident, saying that we were going to the Henan Mansion to welcome the gods. In order to avoid Yang Jin's soldiers, we hid in a farmer's house outside the city of Guanghua Army. Shao Tongzhi wanted to chase Yang We had no choice but to send dozens of soldiers to guard them to Dengzhou."

"Envoy?" Wang Xiaolie couldn't help but feel strange when he heard this.This year the Jin army did not go south in a big way, why did the imperial court send people to welcome the emperor's mausoleum to the south?Doesn't this make people suspicious that they have no intention of the Northern Expedition?
After pondering for a while, Wang Xiaolie asked, "I don't know who came? Where are you now?"

The soldiers said: "The ones who came were Ji Ling from Zhongshushe, and Wang Ruohai from the Jiandeng Wenjian Institute. Guarded by soldiers, they came to Dengzhou."

Wang Xiaolie asked in detail the number of people who came and the size of the guard of honor, and then asked the soldiers to go back and answer.Tell Shao Ling that he must follow Yang Jin closely, and for the rest of the unimportant things, just send someone to tell him, don't be distracted.

After thinking for a while, Wang Xiaolie decided to meet the court envoy in person.I have always played the role of a loyal court official. When an envoy comes, and the official position is far higher than myself, it is better to be more respectful.

Wang Ruohai, who supervised the hearing and procuratorate, is not a high-ranking official, and he is still young, so he can ignore it.Zhongshu Sheren was a courtier of Qing nobles, and his status in the court of the Song Dynasty had always been very high.Ci ministers and censors have always been dignified and noble. Even if the official ranks are the same, the courtesy is much higher.It is much more useful to make a good impression on such a person and say a few good words for yourself in the court.

Looking at the sky, Wang Xiaolie took Yu Huan and a hundred soldiers out of Dengzhou and marched towards the Guanghua Army in the south.After Chaoshui, it was already dark, so we stayed overnight at the abandoned post station, and continued southward the next day.

After traveling for more than twenty miles, it was almost noon, Wang Xiaolie ordered to find a place to have some tea.When the soldiers were looking for a suitable position, they saw a fast horse galloping, and got off the horse when they got there.

It turned out to be someone sent by Shao Ling to protect the envoy.They were resting at a farmhouse a few miles away from the road, and when they saw Wang Xiaolie coming, they hurried to meet up.On this official road, the Jin army passed by last year, burning, killing and looting, and it is hard to find people.But the people farther away from the road survived because the Jin army didn't have time to search around.

With his subordinates, Wang Xiaolie came a few miles away.I saw a family by the river, three thatched houses, and a bamboo fence courtyard, which was very quiet.A yellow dog lay lazily on the boulder outside the courtyard gate.Seeing everyone coming, he got up and barked non-stop.

Once outside the door, someone came out from inside.Seeing that it was Wang Xiaolie, he hurried forward to salute.

After entering the yard, I saw a pot of charcoal fire lit under the shed in the yard, surrounded by several people.Standing in the courtyard outside were the soldiers sent by Shao Ling to protect them.Seeing Wang Xiaolie come in, they crossed their hands and sang promises together.

Approaching the shed, Wang Xiaolie saw that sitting in the middle was a 50 to [-]-year-old official in purple, and beside him was an official in Tsing Yi.

At this time, there were regulations on the attire of officials, such as the color of the official uniform and what fish bag to use, which could be seen at a glance.Wang Xiaolie recognized that the one sitting in the middle should be Ji Ling, and stepped forward to salute.He cupped his hands and said, "Wang Xiaolie, the magistrate of Ruzhou, has seen two envoys."

Ji Ling looked Wang Xiaolie up and down, and said, "Are you the magistrate of Ruzhou? You look young. We were ordered by the court to go to Henan to welcome the gods of previous dynasties. Unexpectedly, the Guanghua Army, not only did not know to welcome them, We also encountered thieves. Fortunately, we hid in time, otherwise we would not be killed by thieves? Since we met you, you can escort us to Henan Mansion."

Wang Xiaolie was taken aback.Said: "Sheren, in front of Yang Jin, he has caused disasters to several states. It is extremely difficult to deal with. Even Zhai Taiwei, the governor of Northwest Beijing Road, died in his hands. If he is not caught, let him escape. I don't know what big troubles will be caused. Come--"

Ji Ling said displeasedly: "There are so many troubles in the world at this time, there are not many thieves anywhere! You local guards are not careful, so you let them run away. You send generals to chase them, and the brigade escorts us is serious! If something happens to us , how can you, a Zhizhou, afford it?"

Seeing what he meant, Wang Xiaolie understood that Ji Ling looked down on him a bit.The governor of my own state was only granted temporarily by Lu Chengcheng, so he couldn't compare to courtiers like Ji Ling.If it wasn't for being frightened by the thieves and asking Wang Xiaolie to escort him, Ji Ling wouldn't even bother to say so much.

Seeing that Wang Xiaolie was silent, Wang Ruohai on the side said: "When this troubled world is in turmoil, the magistrate should maintain the locality. Wang Zhizhou, you send two or three hundred soldiers to escort us all the way. This thief Yang Jin was originally Wang Yuan's subordinates are familiar with military affairs, so they should not be underestimated."

Wang Xiaolie hastily cupped his hands: "What the prison said is true. Yang Jin is extremely brave and popular, and if he is given a chance, he will gather a large number of people. If he cannot be eliminated in time, he will become a serious disaster in the future! From here on, go to the Henan Mansion , is the way I followed Yang Jin, and the journey is peaceful. I will send someone to escort you two, and the road will be fine!"

Ji Ling was a little displeased.But seeing that Wang Xiaolie was unwilling to escort him, there was nothing he could do.What courtiers, what noble poets, are all useless now.In troubled times, speak with swords and guns.The current Wang Xiaolie is a man with soldiers, and these courtiers can listen to what they want, and they don't listen if they don't want to.

Please sit down Wang Xiaolie.Wang Ruohai said: "Passing through Xiangyang Mansion, there is no one at the post station on the road, and the Guanghua Army has no officials, and we encountered thieves. The road was really hard. When we came here, we happened to meet this family, and the Sheren came over to drink a cup of tea. "

This family was several miles away, Wang Xiaolie couldn't figure out how they happened to find it.Presumably Ji Ling was tired from walking, so he specially sent someone to find this place.With the protection of Shao Ling faction, why bother walking so tiringly.

After sitting for a long time, an old man came out of the house and saluted: "Men and gentlemen, some chickens in my family have been slaughtered, and you can fill your stomachs. It is almost the twelfth lunar month, and the family has brewed some wine. It is supposed to be drunk during the Chinese New Year." , Don’t dislike the taste.”

Ji Ling waved his hand and said, "Come up quickly! I haven't been able to sleep well for the past few days, and I don't have the smell of meat in my mouth. It's really hard!"

The old man promised.Turning around and going back to the house, together with two children under ten years old, they brought a large pot of chicken and two jars of wine.

The wine was poured into a bowl, and Ji Ling took a sip before spitting it out.Cursed: "This is also called wine? Sell it in the city, who will drink it!"

The old man turned pale with fright, and apologized repeatedly.

Wang Xiaolie said: "The village wine is like this, don't be offended by others. Just drink it as water, let's go on the road after eating."

Ji Ling muttered bitterly, ordered someone to pour the wine again, and picked up chopsticks to eat.

In the Song Dynasty, wine was discussed, and the city could not make wine unless it was licensed, but it was not allowed in the countryside.Therefore, even a little well-to-do farmer will make wine.Especially in winter, when the wine is brewed, it is called wax wine.Lu You's poem "Mo Xiao Nongjia Lajiuhun" has this meaning.However, the conditions of the farm are limited, not only the taste of the wine is weak, but also muddy.A fastidious official like Ji Ling couldn't drink it.

Seeing everyone eating, Wang Xiaolie got up, called a soldier, and asked him to bring a piece of silver to the master.A farmer ate a few chickens and drank a lot of wine, eating up all his property in one meal.These officials, unless they are paid by the government, they themselves are unwilling to pay for it.

Seeing Wang Xiaolie ordering to send money to the master, Wang Ruohai sighed inwardly.In this era, there are really not many officials with this kind of heart, especially a general.Knowing the hardships of the people, Wang Xiaolie is pretty good.

Seeing Ji Ling devouring his food there, Wang Xiaolie stopped eating and got up to stand outside the shed.At this time, the north wind was blowing, and the dark clouds in the sky were getting thicker and thicker. It seemed that it was going to snow.

(End of this chapter)