Man Tanghong

Chapter 628

On the second day after Tang Jian's matter was resolved, Li Jing and An Xinggui arrived in Chang'an City one after the other.

Li Jing only brought four or five followers. After returning to Chang'an City, he did not go back to the residence, but went directly to the Tai Chi Palace to return his orders.

In comparison, An Xinggui's team was spectacular, with more than 500 cavalry accompanying them, they looked quite majestic, and Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong frowned.

"What is he doing? Playing with us?"

After An Xinggui led his cavalry to gallop around the open space in front of Zhaode Hall, Li Shentong frowned and said.

Li Xiaogong snorted coldly and said: "There are more than a hundred riders, not as many as our house's dogs, and they dare to show their prestige in front of us!"

The reason why Li Xiaogong can say this is not because Li Xiaogong is arrogant, but because Li Xiaogong has the confidence.

Because the Li family indeed has more than a hundred dogs. When Li Xiaogong was in Jingzhou, he even built an elephant house with more than a dozen elephants in it. He didn't even bother to raise dogs. Facing An Xinggui leading five hundred riders to show off at the gate of Zhaode Hall, not only did he not feel threatened, but he despised An Xinggui's behavior from the bottom of his heart.

This is the confidence given to him by a powerful dynasty, and this is the confidence he should have as a royal family of a powerful dynasty.

If this kind of thing was put in the Song Dynasty, especially the Song Dynasty after Song Taizong, it is estimated that the royal family would have been paralyzed by fright, and the officials would have jumped out and scolded them.

But in Datang, no one from the royal family was frightened, and no officials jumped out to scold An Xinggui for being rude.

All the people watched An Xinggui wandering around the gate of Zhaode Palace with five hundred horsemen like watching a monkey show, and even felt that it was not enjoyable to watch.

"You think they are trying to show their prestige, why do I feel that they are telling me that Liangzhou soldiers can still fight?"

Depending on the position you are in, the strength you have is different, and the angle you look at the problem is different.

When Li Shentong, Li Xiaogong and others regarded An Xinggui's behavior as a prestige and provocation, Li Yuanji felt that An Xinggui was more like asking for a fight, more like telling the court that he An Xinggui could If he wants to fight, his Liangzhou Erlang under An Xinggui can also fight.

An Xinggui, as a person who survived the chaotic times at the end of the Sui Dynasty intact, and as a feudal official who firmly occupied a corner of the Tang Dynasty, how could he be a fool.

He is very clear about how sharp Datang's current soldiers are, and he also knows that Datang's current civil and military forces have all seen big battles.

Bai Yuqi still can't scare anyone, and they won't even be taken seriously by the important ministers of Datang.

So how could he lead more than a hundred riders to provoke a group of important officials in Datang?

"So he is... asking for a fight?"

Li Shentong couldn't believe his ears.

Li Xiaogong still snorted coldly: "Is there such a call for a fight? Using iron cavalry in front of us and showing off their power to enclose the land, I only saw provocation."

Qin Qiong said with a serious face, "Hearing what your Highness said, it does sound like a challenge, but running horses in the palace, and using iron cavalry, is indeed a bit provocative."

Cai Yungong laughed happily and said: "It's right and wrong, don't you know when Liang Guogong comes over and asks? Speaking of which, when I was in Qin Palace, I also had some friendship with Liang Guogong's son An Yuanshou.

I heard that the mutton in Liangzhou is the most delicious. When cooking the meat, you don’t need to add too many seasonings. You only need to set up a cauldron, add a handful of firewood, and sprinkle some salt.

The boiled mutton is not only smooth and tender, but also the soup is very delicious.

After a while, the minister went to meet the Duke of Liang, and asked the Duke of Liang to beat the autumn wind. "

Cai Yungong scratched and dug his mouth as soon as he opened his mouth, but no one laughed at him, because he didn't really want to eat mutton, but was trying to smooth things over.

Whether An Xinggui's behavior was asking for a fight or playing prestige, it aroused the displeasure of Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong.

But now Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong are the leading figures in the Li clan, and angering these two is no different from annoying other Li clans.

Therefore, An Xinggui's behavior naturally didn't mean to be prestige, and he would be treated as a prestige afterwards.

People from the Li clan might not embarrass him too much, but it is inevitable to make things difficult one or two times.

Now is the time for Datang to use An Xinggui, so it is not appropriate to conflict with An Xinggui, even if it is to make things difficult for An Xinggui, it is not now to clean up An Xinggui.

"Mr. Liang! The journey is exhausting. Get off your horse and have a drink!"

As Cai Yungong spoke, he took the initiative to meet An Xinggui and his party who had already rushed to the front of Zhaode Hall.

An Xinggui sat on the horseback, wrapped in a black leather armor, with a dust-proof black cloth on his face, clasped his fists and said in a low voice: "I came to Beijing this time at the invitation of His Highness. Only after the order is handed over, can you walk freely, and I hope that Brother Cai will not blame you."

An Xinggui did not address Cai Yungong's official position, but called Cai Yungong his brother.

It's not that he intentionally got close to Cai Yungong, but that he had developed this habit after dealing with the soldiers in the army for a long time.

Most of the officers and men in his army are old and mighty, not only relatives of the same generation, but also relatives behind them, and there is no one to control their heads, so both public and private are commensurate with their relationship.

So over time, the soldiers also got used to addressing him as brothers, or as uncles and nephews.

His status determined that he could not nod and bow to Cai Yungong, nor could he bow down to Cai Yungong, so he subconsciously referred to him as a brother.

It was rude to do so, but he didn't care.

He came to Chang'an with sincerity, and he believed that the people in Chang'an would treat him with sincerity.

"Mr. Liang is being polite, come forward quickly, and let me introduce His Highness for you."

Cai Yungong greeted with a bright smile.

An Xinggui nodded, and under Cai Yungong's guidance, he brought five hundred riders to Li Yuanji.

An Xinggui got off his horse immediately, and the five hundred riders behind him also got off their horses in unison.

"Chen An Xinggui, governor of Liangzhou, see Your Highness!"

An Xinggui clasped his fists and knelt on the ground with one knee, and the five hundred riders behind him also knelt on the ground in unison, Shan Hu saw His Highness.

Seeing this, Li Shentong and Li Xiaogong knew that they treated the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain.

With An Xinggui's identity and status, there is no need to kneel down and salute Li Yuanji in informal occasions.

Since An Xinggui did this, it meant that he was submitting to Li Yuanji and was willing to obey Li Yuanji's orders.

The fact that he led the army to linger around the gate of Zhaode Hall naturally became an act of showing Li Yuanji that the soldiers under his command were still capable of fighting.

This kind of behavior is worthy of respect in the martial arts Tang Dynasty.

"Hahaha, Mr. Liang doesn't need to be too polite, please hurry up!"

Li Yuanji laughed and walked down the stone steps, walked quickly to An Xinggui, and dragged An Xinggui up with both hands.

He originally thought that with An Xinggui's background, qualifications, and status, it would take a lot of work to appease him, and it would cost a lot to drive him to do things.

Unexpectedly, An Xinggui knelt down so quickly, without any stumbling, let alone hesitation.

He likes such people.

Just like liking Yuwenbao.

This kind of person who can fight wars, govern the country, and guard the frontiers, who doesn't like to negotiate conditions with the court, and even less likes to play tricks, not only he likes it, but any person in power will like it.

Of course, this is also conditional.

That is, the soldiers and horses owned by him cannot endanger the imperial power, nor can it endanger the stability of the country.

"Come here! Take Mr. Liang down to wash up!"

After Li Yuanji helped An Xinggui up, he immediately greeted the eunuch behind him.

Take the wind and wash the dust, take the wind and wash the dust, that is really to take the wind and wash the dust, not just treat guests to dinner.

There is a whole set of etiquette to follow in this kind of thing.

An Xinggui's generations of eunuchs knew this set of etiquette, so after thanking him, he followed the eunuch.

Five hundred rides he left behind.

It's not that he can't take it away, but that he has already expressed his attitude to Li Yuanji, so there is no need to make any provocative actions.

"Come here! Take these warriors down for a treat!"

An Xinggui had already expressed his attitude, so naturally Li Yuanji would not treat his subordinates harshly.

After all, entertaining An Xinggui and entertaining his soldiers are completely different things.

These people were able to follow An Xinggui to Beijing, which proved that their status in the Liangzhou army was not low.

Let them blow the cold wind for several hours in front of Zhaode Hall. If they feel resentful, complaining a few words in front of An Xinggui will also reduce An Xinggui's impression of the court.

At that time, no matter how well the imperial court entertains An Xinggui, An Xinggui will still have lumps in his heart.

There are only a few records about An Xinggui in history, and it is only recorded that he was one of the sixteen heroes of martial arts, defeated the Turks, and was the great-grandfather of Li Baoyu, a famous general in the Middle Tang Dynasty.

Others are rarely mentioned.

But his descendants lived to the middle of the Tang Dynasty, and also followed Li Guangbi to quell the Anshi Rebellion.

Presumably, the four generations of their grandparents and grandchildren were loyal to the Tang Dynasty, otherwise, with the temperament of Li Shimin, Li Zhi, and Wu Zetian, I am afraid they would not have survived the middle Tang Dynasty.

Since the four generations of his grandparents are loyal to Datang, even if it is unknown in the history, he should be treated with courtesy, and his subordinates should be treated with courtesy.

After all, he risked his life to fight for Datang on the border of Datang. As the ruler of Datang, if he couldn't even be courteous, it would be chilling.

Many good generals of the Tang Dynasty, even though they lived outside the territory, still did not fall into the prestige of the Tang Dynasty, and even separated from the Tang Dynasty for decades, they still regarded themselves as Tang people, and still helped the Tang Dynasty to guard a place outside the territory. their reasons.

The king treats him as a scholar of the country, and he will repay him as a scholar of the country.

It is a portrayal of many Tang emperors and good generals.

In this regard, Li Yuanji was most impressed by Guo Xin, the king of Wuwei County in Datang.

That is a person who propped up the backbone of the Tang Dynasty with 50 years of blood and fire after the mid-Tang Dynasty.

A lonely city thousands of miles away is full of white-haired soldiers.

They were talking about Guo Xin and Guo Xin's subordinates.

They guarded the Western Regions for Datang for 50 years when the Tang Dynasty was declining to the west, and cut contact with Datang for 30 to [-] years. Even when they shed the last drop of blood for Datang, Datang did not know.

(End of this chapter)