Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 426 Investigation and Request for Assistance
In order to allow Jingjing to see more clearly, Chen Qingsi carried him on his back on his neck.

Polo is undoubtedly the hottest sport of this era.

As the players from both teams entered the field one after another, the fans watching the excitement around began to cheer loudly, and the atmosphere was no less than that of later football.

Of course, the number of people attending the event cannot be compared to that of later generations...

But given the current traffic conditions and the total population of Luoyang, having nearly 10,000 spectators gathered in a stadium is an extremely rare occasion.

As the competition officially began, riders from both sides collided with each other in a fight for a small polo ball.

It was the first time Jingjing had seen such a scene and she was so shocked that she was speechless.

However, Chen Qingsi had seen the world. Once upon a time, he had seen a group of plump and beautiful women riding Shu ponies and playing ball on Xu Jingzong's high-rise building. The scene was much more exciting than what he saw before him.

It was really a game of ball hitting ball, and you didn't even know where the ball was.

The highest level of winning without the ball.

Compared with that scene, the excitement in front of us can only be said to be a little bit lacking.

But obviously, all the fans present didn't think so.

The Cheng family polo team is the oldest polo team in Chang'an. This time they sent out their strongest lineup in order to avenge their shame.

Just by looking at the players, you can tell that every polo player, including Cheng Boxian, is a big, strong, and brave man.

The Wu family's polo team is no less impressive...

Wu Minzhi is like the financial tycoons of later generations, who are not very good at playing but have a lot of fun.

He selected polo players from the elite guards in the Prince's Palace, and spent a lot of money to lure the main players of other teams, giving them higher salaries and better prospects.

Use the Wu family's prestige and money to build a strong all-star team.

It is thanks to this all-star team that the Wu family polo team can show off its power in Chang'an.

As soon as the ball was kicked off, players from both teams displayed their superb riding skills as if they were going to war.

Amid the heart-wrenching shouts from the people around him, Han Sizhong of the Wu family polo team was leading the way.

His riding skills were indeed amazing. He hid himself in the horse's neck, and the polo stick in his hand was as nimbly as his arm to pursue the small ball.

Han Sizhong's riding and ball skills are as outstanding as they were in the Eastern Palace training ground, and he stands out from the crowd.

Chen Qingsi watched Han Sizhong fiddling with the polo ball. He pulled the polo ball backwards with the stick, and the ball went up along the stick. Then he gently picked it up, and the ball drew a rainbow in the air and jumped over the players from the Cheng family who were surrounding him.

After the men and horses separated, with the polo ball still in the air, Han Sizhong shot the ball effortlessly into the Cheng family's goal.

The polo field was silent for a moment.

Chen Qingsi was a little stunned, and eight words flashed through his mind: "Rainbow over people, fairy from the sky."

There is no shortage of star players in Luoyang's polo team, but there are very few people like Han Sizhong who combine both riding and polo skills.

Currently, Han Sizhong is the only one who can show off his basketball skills in front of a top team like the Cheng family.

There was only a brief silence, and soon the surrounding fans burst into enthusiastic cheers.

Rationally, they didn't want the Cheng family to lose, but Han Sizhong of the Wu family displayed such skills that these fans were so excited that their emotions overcame their rationality and they cheered loudly.

Many of the fans who were not Cheng fans originally switched sides at the last minute, all of them were conquered by Han Sizhong's goal.

Jingjing's hands turned red from clapping. It was the first time he saw such a wonderful moment while watching a game. The little guy's eyes were filled with inexplicable spirit and light.

Just thinking about Cheng Boxian, Jingjing hugged her father's head and said, "The Wu family team is too strong. If this continues, Brother Boxian will lose."

Although they were both students of his father, he was obviously more familiar with Cheng Boxian.

Chen Qingsi said, "Don't worry, your brother Boxian will not lose this game."

After Chen Qingsi's experience on the Baekje battlefield, he gained a new understanding of many things.

All the players of the Wu family are star players who were recruited with huge sums of money. They are all very proud and arrogant. Whenever they have an outstanding performance or score a goal, they will receive a large amount of money as a reward.

For some reason, once the players got the ball, they did not think about how to cooperate with their teammates and hit the ball into the opponent's goal, but about showing off their skills and using fancy techniques to win applause from the audience.

Their individual strength is extremely outstanding and they can win against most teams.

But it may not be effective when facing a top team like the Cheng family.

Sure enough, the Cheng family polo team soon responded with tacit cooperation.

Although not as brilliant as Han Sizhong's, it also showed the steadiness and stability of a veteran powerhouse.

The two sides fought back and forth, which made the spectators very excited and the scores rose alternately.

Whenever the Wu family riders made amazing moves, the Cheng family would score goals step by step.

Even if the Cheng family is leading, they may lose the ball inadvertently due to the amazing performance of some players from the Wu family.

Chen Qingsi was enjoying the game, but he shook his head secretly: After all, it has not become a formal model, there are no reasonable rules, there is no system between offense and defense, and there are few tactics. It is still different from the group sports of later generations.

Because of this, Chen Qingsi is certain that the Cheng family will have the last laugh in this game.

Wu Minzhi was obviously dissatisfied with the players' performance and saw why they lost, so he shouted angrily on the scene.

The financial sponsor was angry, so Han Sizhong and others stopped showing off their skills and started cooperating with their teammates.

The balance of victory also began to tilt towards the Wu family team.

The cheers became louder and louder, and the competition became more and more intense.

Jingjing was so nervous that she pulled her father's ears.

Chen Qingsi smiled and said, "The real excitement is about to come."

Soon after he finished saying this, the outcome became clear.

The Cheng family polo team won the final victory cleanly and neatly.

There is no reason to doubt the Cheng team's performance.

Except for Han Sizhong, no one on the Wu family polo team had ever been to the battlefield, while the elites on the Cheng family polo team were all warriors on the battlefield, with tendon meat piled up on their bodies in the form of fat people in later generations.

If warriors like them butt you with their shoulders and elbows while riding horses, it's no different from being hit by a bull.

Once the offensiveness comes up, all the fancy techniques lose their effect.

The fans cheered even louder, this was a real game.

Gorgeous skills are certainly beautiful, but how can there be such a powerful confrontation that can make people's blood boil?
Wu Minzhi did not forget to greet Chen Qingsi, but as he was too proud to stay for long, he left gracefully.

In comparison, Cheng Boxian was very proud and complacent.

"Mr. Chen!"

Seeing that it was Han Sizhong, Chen Qingsi greeted him politely: "Han Sige, it's been many years since we last met, and you're still as charming as ever."

His words were a bit polite. Han Sizhong's skills were beyond doubt. But he had never seen blood in his body. Facing the Cheng family's later strength, Han Sizhong, as the ace of the team, seemed timid and afraid of getting hurt.

Han Sizhong bowed and said, "Sizhong has something to ask you, sir. Do you have time?"

Chen Qingsi paused and said, "When will you return to Beijing?"

Han Sizhong said: "There is no specific itinerary."

"The day after tomorrow! Come to my house around 5 p.m...."

Han Sizhong bowed to express his gratitude.

"Lord..."

"Sir..." Zhou Kui led his son Zhou Yi closer.

When Chen Qingsi was in charge of Baekje, Zhou Yi was recommended by Muzhou and became a student of the Luoyang Imperial College.

Zhou Kui followed Chen Qingsi back to Luoyang and took the time to secretly look at his son a few times, but in order to avoid causing trouble for his child and Chen Qingsi, he did not dare to recognize him.

This time, Chen Qingsi used the polo match to create an opportunity for the father and son to be alone.

Chen Qingsi looked at Zhou Yi, who had grown into an elegant young man with a scholarly air, and patted him on the shoulder gently, saying, "Study hard and don't bring shame to our Qingxi County."

The phrase "the face of Qingxi County" made the child from Qingxi County shed tears in his eyes, and he bowed and said: "I will live up to the high expectations of the teachers and fellow villagers."

Chen Qingsi glanced at Zhou Kui with a smile, giving him a look that said you have a good son.

The latter looked proud.

Chen Qingsi returned home with Jingjing who was still unsatisfied, and immediately called Zhou Kui to the study.

After spending an hour alone with his son today, Zhou Kui was full of energy and even more grateful to Chen Qingsi.

"Go investigate Wu Yian. I want to know his life trajectory in recent years. Especially whether he has relatives or close friends in Nanzhong."

The information revealed by Wu Minzhi made Chen Qingsi feel suspicious.

This is ancient times, not the 21st century; Nanzhong is not Yizhou or Chengdu, nor is it a windy place.

Now Nanzhong has not been developed in the true sense. Except for some places occupied by the Tang Dynasty to exile criminals and fill the Han population, most of them are barren lands occupied by various dynasties.

Nanzhong was only formally developed after the rise of Nanzhao.

Would most people go to Nanzhong?

My brain is crazy!

If it were someone else, Chen Qingsi would not bother with this matter, but it was different for Wu Yian and the Wu family.

Chen Qingsi had some understanding of the power that Empress Wu could wield.

Although Empress Wu is now in charge of court affairs, she does not have many people at her disposal.

Li Zhi did not grant Empress Wu any power to recommend and appoint. Although Empress Wu is now in high spirits, the actual power she holds is not as much as that of Chen Qingsi, the Minister of War.

Empress Wu's power was granted through the favor of a third party.

For example, if he wanted to promote someone, he would use his status as queen to arrange for someone who could contribute in this regard.

If the other party gives face, this matter can be accomplished, but if they really don't, Empress Wu will have no way to deal with it.

In the current court, Empress Wu's reputation is not as good as that of Chen Qingsi, the leader of the Qingliu Party, the leader of the literati in the court, and the Minister of War.

Empress Wu had limited people at her disposal, and her most capable arms at the time were Wu Weiliang and Wu Huaiyun.

These two people originally held local posts because of their relationship with Wu Shigui, one of them serving as the Chief Clerk of Yingzhou and the other as the Sima of Bianzhou.

When Empress Wu was crowned, according to custom, all members of the Wu family had to be promoted to some extent as a sign of favor.

Wu Weiliang was promoted to Junior Minister of the Imperial Guards, while Wu Huaiyun was promoted to Governor of Zibo Prefecture and later to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. Although they were not important positions, they were among the few people that Empress Wu could truly trust.

Wu Yian is Wu Weiliang's son...

This is very telling. Chen Qingsi had seen Wu Weiliang before. He was only fifty years old, and his son was at most in his early thirties.

A man in his thirties, leaving the beautiful world of Chang'an behind and running to Nanzhong?

No matter how Chen Qingsi thought about it, it felt strange.

The fragmentary information about Wu Yian soon reached Chen Qingsi.

But on the next day, Chen Qingsi got the initial information about Wu Yian's movements.

Wu Yian is also a somewhat influential figure in Chang'an. In recent years, Empress Wu has begun to assist in the administration of the country, and the reputation of the Wu family has risen rapidly.

Wu Yian is also a young and arrogant man, and has a great reputation in Chang'an.

Wu Yian, a man who loves to show off, suddenly disappeared for more than three months, which would naturally attract attention.

"Three months?"

"Nanzhong!"

Chen Qingsi pondered secretly.

It is difficult to travel through Shu, and even more so through Nanzhong. Three months is only enough for a round trip.

If Wu Yian was going to visit friends or have fun, he would never disappear for just three months.

"Go check! See where Wu Yian went in Nanzhong."

Chen Qingsi made new arrangements.

This is not difficult to investigate, as people in this era need a pass to go in and out.

Without a guide, you can't move forward.

In any place, if you encounter a foreigner with a wrong accent, he will be investigated and interrogated by local officials. If the pass is incorrect, he will be regarded as a fugitive.

It is not difficult to find out the whereabouts of a living person as long as you know the method.

The day agreed with Han Sizhong arrived.

Chen Qingsi saw Han Sizhong who had a confused look on his face.

This good guy who was invincible on the polo field seemed a little decadent.

"Mr. Chen..."

When he saw Chen Qingsi, Han Sizhong lowered his head in shame.

When Chen Qingsi was still serving as the Imperial Edict in the Eastern Palace, he valued and cared for Han Sizhong very much, and reminded Li Hong many times that he could make use of him.

Han Sizhong was grateful to Chen Qingsi.

Just thinking about my current situation, I feel ashamed...

Han Sizhong learned martial arts since he was young, and thought that if he became a guard of the Crown Prince, he could realize his ambitions.

It turned out that Donggong was not on the path to promotion. After several years of fruitless efforts, it was the appearance of Helan Minzhi who, with his outstanding football skills, won his respect and gained a certain weight in front of Li Hong, which enabled him to be promoted.

When Chen Qingsi met Han Sizhong again, it was actually wrong to call him Han Sige.

Han Sizhong has been promoted to the rank of Si rank in the Right Guard Headquarters, which is three levels higher than Si Ge. He is also considered a mid-level officer in the Prince's Right Guard Headquarters.

However, Han Sizhong's life was not very happy. Although Crown Prince Li Hong and Wu Minzhi, who had changed his surname to Wu, both respected him very much.

But he was not happy in the East Palace.

A mid-level official who rose through the ranks by playing polo with the "Jester".

A mid-level military officer who was paid a few hundred or even thousands of Tongbao coins for his appearance and had no military merits at all...

How can it not arouse envy, contempt and jealousy?
Han Sizhong said, "Mr. Chen, I am not happy in the East Palace. The Crown Prince and Lord Wu treat me well, but... I don't get along well with my colleagues."

Chen Qingsi was no exception. He lost contact with Han Sizhong after leaving the Eastern Palace, but when he was in the Eastern Palace, he discovered some clues.

The people in the Eastern Palace's Ten Rates Mansion did not like Han Sizhong. As for the reason, it was not difficult to guess, but it was not obvious at the beginning.

Obviously, as Han Sizhong's status continued to rise, this dislike became more serious.

　I brought my seven-month-old baby back to my hometown in Jiangxi to visit my 102-year-old grandfather, my ancestor. I drove for 14 hours yesterday. There is no internet at home, so I will not be updating for the next post. Sorry.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)