At the end of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 556

Daye 12 years On May [-]th, the sun was scorching hot, and a fast horse galloped into the county seat of Shanggu County, pounding the hot stone streets with four hooves, and went straight to the prefect's mansion.

The horse galloped to the gate of the prefect's mansion, the knight got off the saddle, rushed into the hall, and reported loudly: "Gao Changqing, the governor of Youzhou, is about to leave the city."

The complexion of Cui Hongsheng, the prefect of Shanggu County, was changing, and his younger brother Cui Hongtu shivered subconsciously. Gao Changqing really came. What should we do now?
It is said that yesterday Li Jing sent a quick horse to report back, saying that the evil monk Gao Tansheng had been killed by Youzhou Chief Gao Bufan, and that Laishui County was also "temporarily taken over" by Chief Gao, and that Chief Gao intends to come to Shanggu County tomorrow to visit the prefect .

When Cui Hongsheng and Cui Hongtu brothers heard this, they only thought that Li Jing had defected to Gao Bufan, and the so-called "visit" was a slang term, which meant that he would lead an army to attack Shanggu County tomorrow, and take the head of the prefect of Shanggu County by the way, so The two brothers were so scared that they didn't sleep all night. They mobilized people overnight to strengthen the city defense, and at the same time asked the surrounding counties for support.

"How many troops did Gao Changqing bring?" Cui Hongsheng asked in a deep voice.

The spy said with a strange expression: "Only three people were brought along, and Li Juncheng and Miss Daoyun were also with me."

Cui Hongsheng and Cui Hongtu looked at each other in astonishment, only three people with them?Gao Changqing is so trusting, or is he really just here to visit?

"Then how many troops did Li Jing bring?" Cui Hongtu was a little worried and hurriedly asked.

The spy replied: "Li Juncheng also brought back all the troops he took, but he stopped and stationed twenty miles away."

Cui Hongsheng's eyes flashed, he stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then waved his hand and told the butler, "Order people to prepare the banquet, and I will go out of the city to meet Manager Gao myself."

Cui Hongtu's heart was moved when he heard the words, and he said in a low voice: "Brother, do you think Gao Changqing has no malicious intentions?"

Cui Hongsheng nodded and said: "Gao Changqing didn't bring a single soldier, and Li Jing also set up camp twenty miles away. Naturally, the purpose was to express his sincerity in visiting us, and the other party brought Dao Yun back, so there should be no malicious."

Cui Hongtu's eyes flashed and he said, "This Gao Changqing is quite courageous. He even dared to come here without troops. Aren't you afraid that we will harm him?"

But Cui Hongtu thought about it again, it seems that Gao Changqing is really not afraid. With Youzhou's current strength, he has moved a hair on him. Flattened, you must know that Xu Shiji, Yuchi Jingde, Lu Sheng and others under Gao Changqing's command are not vegetarians, and there is also a group of very good advisers.

Cui Hongsheng said calmly: "No matter what the purpose of Gao Changqing's visit is, I will not change and adapt to all changes. As long as he does not tear his face, let's treat him with good wine and meat, and then send him away."

"Well, big brother is right." Cui Hongtu nodded.

From Cui Hongsheng's point of view, Gao Bufan's coming this time is nothing more than one purpose and two methods. The first method is to seize Shanggu County by force, and the second method is to persuade himself to donate Shanggu County voluntarily through lobbying.

Now that the Sui Dynasty is precarious, it may collapse at any time, and Youzhou has strong soldiers and horses, and it is close at hand. If Gao Bufan leads an army to attack, Shanggu County will definitely not be able to resist, and in the end he has to surrender.

Fortunately, Gao Bufan didn't lead an army to come this time, so in all likelihood, he will be harassed by lobbying. In this way, his life will be safe, and there will be more room for maneuvering. It's a big deal. This "dragging formula", in the end, neither offends Youzhou, which is close at hand, but also has an explanation to the court, and waits for the situation to become clearer before expressing an attitude. This is undoubtedly the best policy.

Hey, I have to say that this Cui Hongsheng is indeed an old fritter who has been in the officialdom for many years. He is obviously not a stupid person to be able to get into the position of county guard.

Soon, another detective came back to report that Gao Changqing, the governor of Youzhou, was five miles away from the city, so Cui Hongsheng and Cui Hongtu brothers immediately led the local officials to open the city gate to meet them. To be on the safe side, they also brought hundreds of officers and soldiers to line up Protection on both sides.

Let's say that Cui Hongsheng led all the officials out of the city and waited for a few minutes. Sure enough, he saw Liuqi appearing on the official road, and trotted towards the city gate.

At this time, a group of riders rode out, speeding up and running towards this side. Cui Hongtu recognized at a glance that it was his daughter Cui Daoyun, and he couldn't help being surprised and delighted.

"Father, Uncle!" Cui Daoyun happily ran to the crowd, with a white falcon standing on his shoulder, very airy.

Cui Daoyun got off his horse, gave a happy greeting and said, "Daoyun greets Uncle, Dad, and all the adults."

A group of local officials in Shanggu County had different expressions, and they all returned the salute, thinking to themselves, this aunt looks like she was kidnapped, but more like she just came back from a trip.

Cui Hongtu frowned and said, "Yun'er, where did you get this falcon?"

Cui Daoyun said with a smile: "The pure white spear falcon is a gift from Gao Changqing, the governor of Youzhou, which is very precious."

Cui Hongsheng and Cui Hongtu looked at each other, their hearts skipped a beat, and they vaguely guessed a possibility.

At this time, Gao Bufan, Li Jing and others also came to the front, this time Gao Bufan also came with Pei Xingyan, Changsun Wuji and Du Ruhui.

Although Cui Hongsheng had never met Gao Bufan, he recognized him from his demeanor at a glance, cupped his fists, and said respectfully: "Cui Hongsheng, the prefect of Shanggu County, has met Director Gao."

Although the position of the governor of Youzhou is self-claimed by Gao Bufan and has no rank, he is the boss of Youzhou and a tyrant who dominates one side. Cui Hongsheng, a prefect of the third rank, is also very tactful in carrying out the ceremony of dismissing officials. As for other local officials Then it is even more necessary to perform the ceremony of dismissing the official.

Gao Bufan smiled and said: "Cui Taishou doesn't need to be too polite, let me introduce you, this is General Huben Zhonglang, Pei Xingyan, the eldest son of Dr. Pei Renji, Mr. Pei Renji, the Guanglu doctor, and this is the eldest grandson Wuji, the third son of General Sun Sheng. Mr. Du Ruhui, was a Fuyang county lieutenant."

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" Everyone chatted for a while, and then went to the city.

When Cui Hongsheng saw that Gao Bufan followed him into the city calmly, he couldn't help secretly admiring his courage.

Let's say that everyone entered the prefect's mansion and took their seats, Li Jing then said: "I would like to report to the prefect, I was ordered by you to go to quell the anti-monk Gao Tancheng, but when I arrived, Gao Tancheng had already been wiped out by the chief executive, Gao Tancheng Tan Shengben was also shot."

"Understood!" Cui Hongsheng just nodded his head and said it. He didn't say a word about the fact that Laishui County was occupied by Gao Bufan. Obviously, he also tacitly agreed that Laishui County was under the rule of Youzhou. He couldn't fight again, and it was obviously impossible for Gao Bufan to spit out the fat he ate in his stomach.

Everyone chatted for a while, Gao Bufan smiled and said: "A few days ago, Xingyan and Miss Daoyun had a misunderstanding. Fortunately, everyone was not hurt. Please forgive Cui Taishou and Cui Yuanwai. Xingyan, don't tell Cui Yuanwai and Miss Daoyun apologize?"

Cui Hongtu has no official position, so Gao Bufan called Cui Yuanwai.

Pei Xingyan stood up and cupped his fists and said, "Cui Yuanwai, Miss Daoyun, I'm sorry."

Cui Daoyun snorted softly, turned his face to one side, but a smug smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, the heartless guy finally apologized to this girl!

Cui Hongtu hurriedly said: "It's okay, in fact, the little girl provoked first, and she was also at fault, Daoyun, please apologize to Mr. Pei!"

Cui Daoyun was dumbfounded immediately, and said in a stuttering manner: "I... apologize to him? Dad, have you seen if you made a mistake?"

Cui Hongtu's face suddenly pulled down, Cui Daoyun had no choice but to say reluctantly: "I'm sorry Pei-Da-Lang!"

Pei Xingyan felt comfortable immediately, and grinned, Cui Daoyun gave him a slightly annoyed look.

Gao Bufan laughed and said: "Youdao doesn't know each other without a fight, so it can be seen that Xingyan and Miss Daoyun are actually very close, I don't know if Miss Yun was married?"

As soon as this remark came out, Cui Hongsheng and Cui Hongtu thumped in their hearts at the same time and secretly said: "Here we are, as expected."

Cui Daoyun was stunned, two red clouds flew up on his face, he was so nervous that his heart thumped, it was bad, Gao Changqing, a playboy, wouldn't really like this girl, so he proposed marriage to his father, right?
Cui Hongtu coughed cautiously and said, "The little girl is not yet married."

Gao Bufan slapped his thigh happily and made a crisp sound. Cui Daoyun trembled subconsciously, stared straight at Gao Bufan, and blurted out: "Don't, I don't want to marry you. You have a wife, rather If she is the head of a chicken and not the queen of a cow, this girl will not be a concubine!"

As soon as this remark came out, the presence was so quiet that a needle could be heard, Gao Bufan and Changsun Wuji were stunned, and Pei Xingyan's face turned red.

Gao Bufan couldn't help laughing, coughed lightly in embarrassment: "Miss Daoyun, you misunderstood!"

Cui Daoyun's face suddenly burned like fire, and he said in a stuttering manner: "I... did I misunderstand, haha, so I misunderstood, haha, it's okay, I'm sorry!"

Looking at this silly elder sister with an awkward and smirking face, Pei Xingyan couldn't help but have black lines all over his head.

Gao Bufan coughed lightly again and said: "That's how it is. It's just like the so-called fair lady, a gentleman is good-natured. Brother Xingyan happened to be unmarried yet, but he fell in love with Miss Daoyun at first sight, so the manager had the audacity to ask Brother Xingyan to marry her." Miss Yun, I don't know what happened to Cui Yuan's accident?"

"What? It's love at first sight, you...me?" Cui Daoyun lost his voice, pointed at Pei Xingyan, and then at himself, with an expression of disbelief.

Even though Pei Xingyan is not thin-skinned, he can't help but want to find a way to get in at this moment, Changqing, your words are too exaggerated, brother, don't I want to lose face?

"Cough, I'm really... Well, I don't know if Miss Yun is willing to marry me." Pei Xingyan said bravely.

Cui Daoyun lowered his head shyly and happily, and murmured: "Even if I want to, it's up to my father to decide, why don't you ask my father yourself?"

(End of this chapter)