I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 469: Xixia Prime Minister catches adultery in the harem; Di Qing and Su Liang hold funerals in Qinzhou

March 12, near noon.

A cavalry team of about 200 people galloped on the official road.

The leaders were Di Qing and Su Liang.

This time, when going to the northwest, we must first go to Qinzhou to attend the funeral of Fan Zhongyan.

After that, he went to Xihe Town to investigate the rebellion of Qiang bandits, and finally planned to "expand the border in Xihe and cut off the right arm of Western Xia".

Di Qing and Su Liang chose to travel light, traveling during the day and setting up camp or staying in post stations at night.

Behind them were 10,000 Kaifeng Prefecture imperial guards, 500 Longyu soldiers, and the wing troops who provided food and supplies.

The reason why Zhao Zhen sent 10,000 Kaifeng Imperial Guards to accompany him was not because he felt that the Western Army was not strong enough, but because he wanted to train the Kaifeng Imperial Guards.

A hundred days of drill are not as good as one day of actual combat.

This arrangement is a preparation for the future war.

As for the five hundred Dragon Feather Army, they were specifically designed to restrain the Western Xia heavy cavalry, and were also responsible for protecting Su Liang.

Bian Jing is more than 1,600 miles away from Qinzhou. According to the current speed of Su Liang and others, it will take at least ten days to reach Qinzhou.

As for the large force behind, they have a lot of food and supplies, so it may take about 20 days.

……

Another day, night falls.

In an inn in Henan Prefecture.

Di Qing and Su Liang had just finished dinner when they received a letter from Liu Cun, the prefect of Qinzhou.

He said that after Xihe Town was looted, the retired veterans took the initiative to suppress the bandits, and had many conflicts with the Tibetans and Qiangs on the border, making trade almost impossible.

He has sent additional troops to garrison in Xihe Town.

He wanted to seek the opinions of Di Qing and Su Liang, whether to allow the old soldiers to suppress the bandits or to stop their behavior in order to ensure the flow of commerce.

"Jingming, Xihe Town was built based on your plan. What do you think?" Di Qing asked.

Su Liang thought about it seriously and said, "If we consider the overall situation, protecting trade should be the first priority. The purpose of building Xihe Town is to promote trade, but the old soldiers must be upset because of the looting and the death of Mr. Fan. It may be difficult to stop them. Why not let them make a fuss!"

The people of the Song Dynasty were bullied by foreign races sometimes because they were too well-behaved.

Di Qing nodded in approval.

"I think so too, but the premise is that we must not let them suffer any loss. I'll ask Liu Cun to send someone to help them. No matter how big the trouble is, we'll cover it!"

"Yes, it's better to fight with fists than to reason with the Xixia people!" Su Liang said excitedly.

This is what Su Liang likes most about Di Qing.

The latter always has an indomitable momentum.

However, men like Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi, who had cooperated with Su Liang in wars, sometimes considered the overall gains and losses too much and were too reasonable, which made the war less enjoyable.

……

March 15th, late at night.

Inside the imperial palace in Xingqingfu, the capital of Western Xia.

The Western Xia Prime Minister, Mo Zang Epang, rushed into the bedroom of the Western Xia Queen Mother, Mo Zang, with a long sword in hand and a group of personal soldiers.

Before the palace maid in front of the door could be notified, she was stabbed to death by Mo Zang Epang.

"boom!"

Mo Zang Epang kicked the door open and rushed in with a group of personal soldiers.

And this time.

Two white bodies suddenly sat up on the soft couch in the room. One of the men didn't even bother to put on his clothes and ran away.

Unfortunately, it's too late.

The moment he ran off the bed, two armored Xixia soldiers grabbed him and pressed him heavily to the ground.

On the soft couch.

The frightened Queen Mother Mo Zang quickly covered herself with a quilt. After seeing who was coming, she could not help but shout, "Mo Zang Epang, how dare you!"

Mo Zang Epang pointed his knife at Queen Mother Mo Zang.

"How could a whore like you be born in my Meizang family? The people of Song and Liao all know that the queen mother of my Western Xia had an affair with a man. You can afford to lose face, but I, Meizang Epang, can't! The king can't afford to lose face either!"

When Queen Mother Mo Zang saw that Mo Zang Epang had murderous intentions towards her, her face couldn't help but turn gloomy.

"Brother, if you kill me now, Xixia will be in chaos. Without me, you won't be able to mobilize those Tangut nobles!"

Mo Zang Epang glared and walked towards her lover, Li Shougui, a subordinate of Mo Zang's ex-husband Yeli Yuqi, with a knife in hand.

The two have been having an affair for a long time.

From initially going to temples, the wilderness, and the palace on the Helan Mountains to hide from others, to now openly doing shameful things in the harem.

Li Shougui looked terrified and said, "Prime Minister, please don't... don't kill me. I... I was confused for a moment. I... I was confused for a moment!"

Just when Mo Zang Epang raised his knife.

Mei Zang said again: "Don't touch him! Back then, Wu Zetian, the founding emperor of the Wu Zhou Dynasty, could keep a male lover, so why can't I? Only you men are allowed to have three wives and four concubines. Is it considered promiscuous for me to keep a man? In the deep palace, in the long night, who can understand my loneliness?"

"If you have the ability of Wu Zetian, I won't care if you can support hundreds or thousands of people! Unfortunately, you don't have it. Don't worry, I won't kill him. I will let him continue to accompany you!"

Hearing this, Mo Zang let out a long sigh of relief.

Mo Zang Epang winked at the two personal soldiers who were controlling Li Shougui.

The latter immediately understood and turned Li Shougui's body over.

Then, Mo Zang Epang, holding a long knife, stabbed Li Shougui's crotch fiercely.

"what!"

Li Shougui roared in pain, then fainted, and the ground was covered with blood.

Mei Zang clutched the corner of the quilt tightly, and her fair and charming face was covered with sweat.

She is afraid!

"Send him to medical treatment, and then let him continue to serve the Queen Mother as a eunuch. As for his family, all of them will be wiped out!" Mo Zang Epang said loudly.

Immediately, Li Shougui was carried out.

Mo Zang Epang waved his hand, and only the two siblings were left in the room.

"Sister, if you have an affair with someone again in the future, the person you have an affair with will definitely suffer the same fate. If you really can't bear it, you can find my personal soldiers. They have plenty of strength and can satisfy you. I can also keep it a secret for you!"

"you you you!"

Although Mo Zang never took women's virtues seriously.

But she felt extremely angry when her own brother insulted her like that!
She believed that she had feelings for Li Shougui, but Mo Zang Epang treated her as a beast who loved to be in heat.

Mo Zang Epang continued, "From tomorrow on, you don't have to rule the country from behind the curtain. Just be a good queen mother and I will handle the affairs of the court. Now Di Qing and Su Liang of Song have come to the northwest. They seem to be here to mourn, but they actually intend to provoke a war."

"If a fight really breaks out, we barefoot are not afraid of those wearing shoes. Even if we lose, I will make them lose a layer of skin! Tell those families who want to reconcile with Song that it is best to give up this unrealistic idea, otherwise, they will also die miserably!"

"You'd better not think of any bad ideas, otherwise not only will you die, but my seven-year-old nephew will also die!"

After saying this, Mo Zang Epang turned and left.

Mo Zang's eyes were filled with tears, and she only hated herself for not being a man.

Mo Zang Epang knew that Mo Zang had a man, so he chose to depose Mo Zang tonight.

The main reason was that he received news that Di Qing and Su Liang were leading their troops to the northwest.

He knew that this strategy was different from Fan Zhongyan's strategy of building a fort for defense.

Both Di Qing and Su Liang advocated war and had grudges against Western Xia.

There could be no more internal strife in Western Xia at this time.

However, the Mo Zang clan and some of his tribesmen advocated peace. If he did not take back the power of the Mo Zang clan, he would be the one to suffer.

these years.

Mo Zang Epang believed that he had made great contributions to Western Xia, and he apologized to the Song Dynasty and begged for peace with the Liao Dynasty many times.

He did all the things that were humiliating for a grandson, while the Tangut nobles of Western Xia continued to enjoy wealth and luxury.

At that time, the treasury of Western Xia was seriously depleted, the people were living in poverty, countless people were rebelling, and the relations with the Song Dynasty and the Tibetan tribes were not harmonious.

Even if the Song Dynasty had not attacked, the national treasury would not have lasted long.

Therefore, he chose not to fight the Song Dynasty head-on, but to consume the Song Dynasty's financial and material resources as much as possible in order to find a glimmer of hope.

Once a war breaks out between Liao and Song.

Western Xia would be able to survive and might even find an opportunity to plunder the Song Dynasty again.

……

March 21st, afternoon.

Di Qing, Su Liang and his party finally arrived at Qinzhou City.

Qinzhou magistrate Liu Cun and assistant judge Wang Huxiong came to greet him personally. Since they were all old acquaintances, there was no need for too much formality and they went straight into the provincial government office.

at this time.

Fan Zhongyan's four sons, Fan Chunyou, Fan Chunren, Fan Chunli and Fan Chuncui all came to Qinzhou.

Half a month ago, in accordance with Fan Zhongyan's last wish.

The fourth son had buried him in a mountain range fifteen miles south of Qinzhou City.

It just happens to overlook the northwest direction, and it was the burial site chosen by Fan Zhongyan during his lifetime.

In the Fan Mansion in the city.

There is also a coffin with Fan Zhongyan's clothes and hat for people to pay their respects.

After Di Qing and Su Liang complete the funeral ceremony on behalf of the court, the Fan family will carry the coffin back to their hometown and bury it next to the ancestral tomb arranged by the Fan family charity cemetery.

Su Liang took out the four characters "碑 of Praise for the Virtuous" written by Zhao Zhen for Fan Zhongyan and gave them to Liu Cun, the governor of Qinzhou, and ordered him to make a rubbing of the stone tablet.

Three days later.

They will follow the imperial edict, erect a monument, recite eulogies, and complete the funeral arrangements.

immediately.

Di Qing and Su Liang went to Fan's house, which was not far from the prefectural government.

It has been more than a month since Fan Zhongyan passed away, but people still come to pay their respects to him.

Di Qing and Su Liang came to pay their respects, which attracted many people from the surrounding areas to gather around.

There were even people outside Fan's house, shouting for the two to destroy Xixia and avenge Lord Fan.

A big reason why Fan Zhongyan contracted a cold was because he was busy with official duties and building a castle. He did these things to defend against the invasion of Western Xia.

In front of the mourning hall.

As soon as Di Qing and Su Liang entered the door, they burst into tears.

"Greetings to Prime Minister Di Shu and Prime Minister Su Zhongcheng!" The members of the Fan family in the mourning hall bowed to the two of them.

Di Qing strode to the coffin, supported it and cried bitterly.

"Mr. Fan, you taught me to read Zuo Zhuan and The Art of War. We played chess together and discussed strategies against Xia and Liao... Without you, I would not be where I am today. I thought we could get together at the end of this year and drink and chat happily, but I never thought that you..."

"Don't worry, Mr. Fan. We will help you fulfill your unfulfilled wish. When the prosperous day comes, I will definitely go to your grave and tell you in person."

……

Di Qing burst into tears, very sad.

Fan Zhongyan was grateful to him for his help. The two of them once talked about military affairs all night long in the northwest. The time they spent together was even longer than the time Fan Zhongyan spent with his son.

Su Liang also had tears streaming down his face. After bowing, burning incense, and thanking the family, he looked at Fan Zhongyan's coffin and spirit tablet, and recalled the past times when they had talked about each other.

The reforms throughout the Song Dynasty can be said to have been made possible by standing on the shoulders of Fan Zhongyan.

Without Fan Zhongyan, the Reform Movement of the Song Dynasty would never have achieved what it has today.

All the people of Song Dynasty should thank Fan Zhongyan.

Di Qing and Su Liang cried for half an hour, and only after Fan Chunren's persuasion did they gradually calm down.

after that.

The two also comforted the family of Fan and told them that three days later, they would represent the court to erect a monument and deliver a eulogy in front of Mr. Fan’s tomb, expressing condolences on behalf of the government and all the scholars and officials.

This kind of mourning is the highest standard for the scholars and officials in the court.

……

Three days later, the sky was gloomy, fifteen miles outside Qinzhou City.

Hundreds of soldiers dressed in mourning gathered in front of a grave.

The Fan family members were dressed in mourning and kneeling on both sides. Di Qing and Su Liang were also dressed in mourning clothes with solemn expressions.

A large group of people gathered in the rear. When they heard that Privy Councilor Di Qing and Chief Censor Su Liang were coming on behalf of the court to handle the funeral, they all came forward to express their condolences.

Everyone had red eyes and looked very sad.

soon.

The "Monument to Praise the Virtuous" written by Zhao Zhen himself was erected in front of the tomb.

On behalf of the emperor, Di Qing recited the elegy and the imperial edict conferring the posthumous title "Wenzheng" on Fan Zhongyan.

After he finished reading.

The members of Fan's family all cried bitterly, and many ordinary people also shed tears.

This man, who is both civil and military, and has both moral integrity and talent, is the best scholar-official of the time and deserves such an honor.

then.

Su Liang took out the eulogy and epitaph written for Fan Zhongyan by Ouyang Xiu on behalf of all the literati in the court and began to read them.

"The Duke was a man of great integrity. He was not moved by wealth, poverty, praise, or sorrow. He had great ambitions for the world and often said to himself: 'A scholar should be the first to worry about the world and the last to be happy about the world'."

"The inscription reads: Fan was a vassal of Wu and Yue. He accepted the mountains and rivers, as well as the people. When Fan first came to the north, how long had it been since then? You worked hard and met the times. There were merits and demerits in deeds, and there were disobediences in words. It is not certain that you can do it, but the emperor uses you. It was hard and laborious, but you have to see it through to the end. The Xia children jumped on the border, taking advantage of the officials' laziness. The emperor ordered you to go and ask them about their arrogance..."

For a while.

The soldiers and civilians all cried loudly, and their cries could be heard for miles.

Near noon, when the ceremony was about to end, Su Liang said loudly: "Fan Gong was the first to worry about the world and the last to enjoy the world. He will live forever!"

The soldiers and civilians followed suit and shouted.

"Worry about the world before you worry about yourself, and be happy after the world is happy. Fan Gong will live forever!"

"Worry about the world before you worry about yourself, and be happy after the world is happy. Fan Gong will live forever!"

"Worry about the world before you worry about yourself, and be happy after the world is happy. Fan Gong will live forever!"

……

After the ceremony, many people were reluctant to leave and still sat beside the tombstone.

Or cry bitterly.

Or recite Fan Zhongyan's poems and articles.

Or they talked about what Fan Zhongyan had done for them.

Di Qing and Su Liang could not stop crying, and finally returned to Qinzhou City with the help of Qinzhou magistrate Liu Cun and Tongpan Wang Huxiong.

Not long after everyone returned to the city, it started to rain heavily.

Only in the south of the city, the sky was bright and there were no dark clouds.

The people all said: This is the spirit of Fan Gong in heaven, he will surely protect the prosperity of the Song Dynasty and the health and happiness of the people in the northwest.

When Fan Zhongyan passed away, the Northwest was like losing a pillar that supported the sky.

Next.

It depends on Di Qing and Su Liang to protect the fertile land of the northwest and all the simple people.

(End of this chapter)