First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 354
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Early the next morning, after Gao Xiong finished washing, Gao Xiong stepped forward to report: "Mr. Lang, Ran Sheng came half an hour ago, and has been waiting outside the courtyard with a very respectful attitude."

"It's so early", Gao Chong was a little surprised when he heard it, and said with a light smile, "It's sincere enough, let him come in."

"Ran Sheng has met the ambassador, heard the ambassador's call, and came here to meet him, and let the ambassador send him." Ran Sheng greeted him respectfully.

"Ran Sheng...you have a heart", Gao Chong nodded and smiled, quite satisfied, "What's your name?"

Ran Sheng was delighted when he heard the words, bowed his head and said with a smile: "It's good if the ambassador calls me Ziteng."

With Gao Chong's status, even calling him by his first name is a bit rude, but it is also normal. After all, the gap between the two is so big, but now that Gao Chong took the initiative to ask for the name of the table, it is undoubtedly a change of attitude. Gotta get a lot closer.

"Ran Sheng, Zi Teng, Sheng Teng, good name, good character", Gao Chong nodded in praise.

Ran Sheng laughed at the side, and said directly: "If you don't give up, Zi Teng is willing to do the work of dogs and horses."

This time Ran Sheng didn't address the official position, but directly called the young master. Gao Chong was a little surprised, this statement was already extremely obvious.

Gao Chong seemed to underestimate the influence of his identity, and asked curiously, "Is this what you mean, or the Ran family's meaning?"

"Zi Teng has not yet become an official, but he originally wanted to follow the son to make contributions. Of course, this is also the meaning of his ancestors and father." Ran Sheng seemed to have become mature and stable overnight, and said solemnly.

"Lead the way", Gao Chong stood up and said, "Go to your house".

Ran Sheng was startled, then thought of something, and hurriedly responded.

Along the way, they led a hundred guards straight to Ran's house, which caught Ran Guanzhi and the others by surprise and hurriedly greeted them.

This was the first time Gao Chong saw Ran Guanzhi, when he entered the city yesterday, Ran Guanzhi did not go out of the city to greet him, after all he was old.

"The lower official Qianzhou Sima Ran Guanzhi has met the ambassador," Ran Guanzhi tremblingly went out to worship with the support of Ran Sheng.

"Ran Sima is polite." Gao Chong got off his horse and returned the salute, and then said with a smile: "Ran Sima is over [-] years old, he is full of energy, and his glory is still strong."

"Ambassador Gao has won the award." Ran Guanzhi said with a smile, "I'm over sixty years old, and I'm getting old. Seeing Ambassador Gao's elegant demeanor, I really admire him."

Everyone from the Ran family greeted Gao and rushed into the front hall. Looking along the way, the family style of the Ran family is relatively strict. For example, even if Ran Sheng is a grandson, he has to bow his head to support Ran Guanzhi, and he is not allowed to speak freely.

It seems that Ran Guanzhi, the head of the Ran family, has a very stable position and a high prestige.

After they were seated, without waiting for Ran Guanzhi to open his mouth, Gao Chong said directly: "Please also ask Ran Sima to back away from the left and right, regardless of people, all back down."

Ran Guanzhi felt thoughtful when he heard the words, he waved his hand, and all the servants left, only Ran Sheng, Ran Tai, Ran Bin and an old man with a white beard.

"This is my younger brother Ran Guandao," Ran Guanzhi stretched out his hand and said.

"Meet the ambassador", Ran Guandao bowed his hands rashly.

"I have heard the name of old general Ran for a long time, and he followed Tian Jiedu to perform meritorious service, and his reputation is illustrious." Gao Chong nodded slightly and smiled.

Seeing that Gao Chong took the initiative to mention Tian Zongxian, all the people present here were members of the direct descendants of the Ran family, even the warriors Ran Guandao and Ran Tai had some clever schemes, and he immediately understood it in his heart.

Sure enough, Gao Chong stared at Ran Guandao and continued to ask: "Old General Ran must be loyal to Tian Jiedu."

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the Ran family members changed suddenly. Ran Guanzhi's eyes narrowed and he looked at his second brother. Ran Guandao was not stupid either, he clenched his fists and remained silent, as if he was struggling.

After a long time, under the eyes of everyone, Ran Guandao lowered his head and said in a buzzing voice: "If someone eats the imperial salary, he should be loyal to the superior and the imperial court."

Hearing this, the rest of the Ran family breathed a sigh of relief.

Gao Chong laughed, the Ran family really knew the current affairs, looked at Ran Guandao, and asked in an unastonishing tone: "Then if Tian Jiedu ordered Old General Ran to draw his sword against this envoy, how would you respond?"

Everyone's expressions changed again, and Ran Guanzhi couldn't hold back when he heard the words. How could this young comforter speak so recklessly? How could he say such nonsense, even if he was helping his second brother: "The ambassador is joking, Tian Jiedu How dare you have such an idea."

"Don't dare...that's what it is," Gao Chong replied, stunned Ran Guanzhi.

"The matter has come to this point, the envoy will speak directly, Baoyi, bring the evidence," Gao Chong stretched out his hand, and Jiang Baoyi handed over a stack of texts.

"Ran Sima, you are a smart man, now that the He family in Hongshe has pleaded guilty, I will let the past go.

This is the criminal evidence of the Ran family's crimes over the years, I believe you know it in your heart," Gao Chong raised the text in his hand and said in a cold voice.

"The imperial court attaches great importance to the situation in Qianzhou. Tens of thousands of troops are ready. If the Ran family wants to survive this catastrophe, they will immediately return the occupied shops and fields, and immediately make up for the unjust, false and wrong cases caused. Otherwise, no one will be left behind." , the voice fell, and he smashed the evidence in his hand to the ground heavily.

Hearing this, Ran's family's expression changed immediately, and Ran Guandao even held his saber in his hand, glaring at him.

"Why, Old General Ran wants to try?" Gao Chong stared at Ran Guandao and said with a disdainful smile.

"With the order from the ambassador, the Ran family will be turned into ashes immediately," Jiang Baoyi yelled, drew out his waist knife and shouted sharply.

Hundreds of elites filed in and surrounded the hall in the blink of an eye.

"This, how could it be like this?" Ran Sheng looked anxious, and hurriedly kowtowed, "The ambassador is calm, the Ran family has decided to serve as the ambassador, there is no second heart, please don't use troops."

Ran Guanzhi's face was heavy, and after a long time, he said with difficulty: "I never thought that Ambassador Gao would strike so decisively and viciously."

"Joke", Gao Chong grinned, "This envoy holds tens of thousands of elites, enough to sweep Qianzhou, so why not be afraid, within ten breaths, make a choice."

If it was yesterday, Gao Chong might be a little apprehensive. After all, the Ran family is the local snake in Qianjiang, but after Jiang Baoyi's inadvertent words, and the humble attitude of the Ran family, Gao Chong felt that he should stand up and drop ten times with all his strength. .

The attitude of the Ran family showed that they were cautious and did not dare to openly confront the imperial court, so there was no need to hide it.

As soon as the words fell, Ran Guanzhi smiled wryly and said: "It doesn't take ten breaths of time, the ambassador can rest assured that although the Ran family is a bit unscrupulous, they are only limited to Qianjiang territory, and they definitely don't have the guts to disrespect the court. All will be returned.

In addition, if the ambassador has other assignments, the Ran family will try their best to cooperate."

"Very good, very good", Gao Chong got up and laughed loudly, walked to Ran Guandao, pulled out the long and narrow knife from his waist, and looked at it carefully.

Seeing the sharp edge of the knife and the shining cold light, he couldn't help but sigh in admiration: "A good knife, I have heard for a long time that Guizhou is good at making knives, and its reputation is well-deserved."

(End of this chapter)