First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 265 The Imperial Edict of Jiangling

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There were only two brothers in the front hall. Hearing what Ran Zhaoxing said, Ran Zhao got up and paced, and sighed with his hands behind his back: "My clan is too small, and it will be difficult to accomplish anything in the end. Therefore, I have never thought about Zhuolu Central Plains. I just want to let the clan To live a better life, people need to have both ways, no matter which side dominates the world, we cannot offend them."

"What elder brother said is very true", Ran Zhaoxing agreed with this very much, and immediately asked with a frown, "Then why did elder brother agree to Xiao Liang's envoy to raise troops against Tang and capture Tongzhou?"

Ran Zhao shook his head when he heard this, and said, "Even if there is no envoy from Xiao Liang to persuade me, I will still capture Tongzhou. In this world, it takes a little bit of skill to be successful among the big forces. Only when you are strong can you be valued, because we We can't let go of any opportunity to grow, and this time is the same."

Hearing this, Ran Zhaoxing was shocked, "Brother still wants to capture Kuizhou?"

Seeing Ran Zhaoze nodded, Ran Zhaoxing hurriedly persuaded him: "My people are invincible in the mountains and forests, but once we get out of the mountains, it may not be so? This may be a plot by General Tang to lure Big Brother to send troops." .

"Even if there is fraud, I have to go," Ran Zhao said firmly.

"Brother is confused." Ran Zhaoxing was anxious and angry, "Even if Kuizhou is captured, what if Xiao Liang falls and the Tang army frees up, then it will be the day of our defeat."

"At that time, I occupied the land of the three states in eastern Sichuan and guarded the gates of Sichuan and Shu. If Xiao Liang wins, I will surrender Liang. If Li Tang wins, I will surrender Tang. I will be invincible. As long as I have soldiers and land, Not afraid of the Han people crossing the river and tearing down the bridge", Ran Zhao is very confident in his own strength, and also very confident in his resourcefulness.

However, Ran Zhaoxing was frightened, shaking his head with ashen face and said: "Brother's move is tantamount to picking chestnuts out of the fire. It is mixed between two big forces. If you are not careful, it will be a disaster."

"It's good for the second brother to take care of the foundation here with peace of mind." Ran Zhaoze didn't reprimand, "Other things are up to me."

As soon as the voice fell, a barbarian rushed in to report, "My lord, there is a man outside the city who claims to be ordered by Emperor Liang to announce the decree."

Ran Zhaoze frowned, looked at Ran Zhaoxing, Ran Zhaoxing thought for a while and said, "It's very likely that I want to increase the rank of the elder brother, and urge the elder brother to send troops to Kuizhou by the way."

"Don't be negligent first," Ran Zhao hurriedly led his soldiers to the city gate to greet him.

"Ran Zhaoze from a certain family met the envoys of Daliang." He saw a person in front of his head sitting high on the back of a horse, with a white face and no beard, followed by more than ten people, and Ran Zhaoze hurriedly went forward to pay respects.

"You are the barbarian king Ran Zhaoze?" the envoy asked condescendingly.

"Exactly," Ran Zhao frowned slightly.

"My official is Zhao Fu, the Young Superintendent of Daliang Neiwei Province, and I am here to read out the will of the saint." Zhao Fu raised his head and said, "Let's lead the way."

After entering the city, Zhao Fu looked left and right, with a look of contempt on his face, "It is said that the land of Bashu is very rich, and it is a land of abundance, but now it seems that it is nothing more than that."

Ran Zhaoxing frowned and said nothing, but Ran Zhao showed a smile on his face, "I made Liang Shaojian laugh, the barren land of Kaizhou is not comparable to the land of fish and rice in Jingchu."

Zhao Fu raised his brows, but he was a little surprised, and asked bluntly in surprise: "Looking at your conversation, you don't look like a barbarian. Could it be that the barbarians here have also read the sage's book?"

Ran Zhaoxing snorted coldly, "I'm not talented, but I have read the four books and five classics."

Zhao Fu was immediately unhappy when he heard the words, his face was gloomy, "Who is this?"

"Young Supervisor Zhao, calm down, this is his younger brother Ran Zhaoxing, who was once a disciple of the great Confucian Liu Zhuo," Ran Zhao introduced.

"Liu Zhuo?" Zhao Fu had obviously heard of this person's reputation, and he sneered, "No wonder you are so arrogant, since ancient times, it is difficult to survive, so you can do it yourself." After finishing speaking, he rode forward proudly.

"It's just an eunuch, second brother don't care about it," Ran Zhao came close, patted Ran Zhaoxing's shoulder, and said in a low voice.

Liu Zhuo was a famous scholar in the former Sui Dynasty. He was born as a scholar and worshiped as the editor of national history. However, Liu Zhuo was greedy for money and proud of his talent, so he was dismissed from office. Later, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty appointed him to work in the mansion of Shu King Yang Xiu. He was exiled in Sichuan and Shu, so Ran Zhaoxing was able to learn from his teacher.

When he came to the general manager's mansion, Ran Zhao sat down on the main seat in the middle, stretched out his hand and said, "Young Supervisor Zhao please".

"I will complete the entrustment of the saint first," said Zhao Fu, then took out the imperial decree from the box of the attendant behind him, and looked at Ran Zhaoze.

Ran Zhao stepped down from his seat and came to the front, bowed and listened respectfully.

Seeing this, Zhao Fu frowned and scolded: "How can you be so rude? Where is the incense table?"

This time Ran Zhaoze was also a little annoyed, he straightened up slowly, staring at Zhao Fu with sharp eyes, "Young Supervisor Zhao came here suddenly, without any preparation in advance, it's rude."

Although Ran Zhaoze had tolerated Zhao Fu time and again out of the idea that a little intolerance would lead to chaos and big schemes, but after all, he was a small prince who was in charge of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Kaizhou and Tongzhou, so how could he be reprimanded by an eunuch.

Seeing that Ran Zhaoze's eyes were not friendly, and his straight eyes exuded power, Zhao Fu didn't dare to be presumptuous, so he could only nod his head and read out the imperial edict hastily.

After hearing Xiao Xian's will, Ran Zhao was a little surprised. The king of Liang Shu, the official obeisance to the general of chariots, and the addition of Taiwei, this series of titles is quite scary, but Ran Zhao is not Deng Shiluo. Now that it's over, Ran Zhao is concerned about the latter part.

"Soldiers entered Kuizhou, and were attacked from east and west...".

As Ran Zhaoxing expected, Xiao Xian really urged him to attack Kuizhou.

"Congratulations to the King of Shu." Zhao Fu bowed and said, "I don't know when the King of Shu will send troops? I can also repay the sage."

After the words fell, Ran Zhaoze hadn't spoken yet, and Ran Zhaoxing said: "Kaizhou is poor, and the treasury is already insufficient. It may be difficult to send troops in a short time."
Ran Zhaoze's heart skipped a beat and he didn't say a word. Ran Zhaoxing immediately understood what Ran Zhaoxing meant.

As an eunuch, Zhao Fu was intriguing in the court, so he understood the meaning of Ran Zhaoxing's words, but he was just asking for benefits, so he immediately looked at Ran Zhaoze, "Shu King, this is the will of the sage, do you dare to resist it?"

Ran Zhao looked embarrassed, "I am dissatisfied with the young prison, Kaizhou has many mountains and little land, and there is a shortage of food and grass. It is really difficult to support the expedition."

"Okay," Zhao Fu said angrily, "very good, how dare you go against the will of the sage, turn around and impeach the sage, and kill all the savages like you."

With a bang, Ran Zhao slapped his palm on the desk, "How could Emperor Daliang send you, a pig-like fool, to pass the decree? If a certain family belongs to Li Tang, what do you think Emperor Daliang should do with you?"

"You... how dare you..." Zhao Fu was shocked.

"Get off, idiot", Ran Zhao didn't bother to talk to this person anymore, and ordered someone to drag him down.

(End of this chapter)