The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 50: Gai Jiayun

Gai Jiayun's main purpose of this trip was to find out what Li Heng was trying to do, but seeing that Li Heng was so polite, he couldn't help but have doubts in his heart.

Because it stands to reason that he did not obey Li Heng's orders at first, and did not come to greet Li Heng later. With Li Heng's youthful mentality, he should have given him the cold shoulder, or at least claimed to be sick and refused to see him.

But Li Heng was surprisingly so polite.

Based on his many years of experience, Gai Jiayun believed that there were three possible reasons why Li Heng acted this way.

The first is that Li Heng is tolerant and generous and does not bother with him.

The second possibility is that Li Heng wanted to win him over.

The third possibility is that Li Heng is more scheming and sophisticated than he should be at his age, and his emotions are completely invisible on his face.

Of these three situations, Gai Jiayun most hopes for the second one, and fears the third one the most.

Gai Jiayun thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, Qiuci is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It is December now, and it is freezing cold. I thought Your Highness was not feeling well and would come in the spring or autumn."

"The Tang Dynasty is vast. If we rush everything into the Spring and Autumn period, I'm afraid we won't be able to accomplish much."

Li Ying signaled his attendants to bring tea to Gai Jia, and then continued, "General Gai is stationed in Anxi, guarding the border, regardless of the weather. That's how he is able to intimidate the Western Regions. I only come here once in a while, so it's nothing."

"Your Highness, you are too kind." Gai Jiayun responded, but in his heart he was thinking: "He is praising me so much, is he trying to win me over?"

Gai Jiayun thought about it and took the initiative to explain: "Your Highness ordered me to go and ask the Arabs to withdraw their troops. I did not go, not because I was unwilling to obey your order, but because I did not have the order from the Ministry of War, so I dared not leave my post without permission."

"I understand, I understand. This is General Gai's duty." Li Heng smiled. "I went to Anxi and posted that notice because I was the deposed envoy and was fulfilling the duties of the deposed envoy. I'm sure General Gai can understand this, right?"

From a legal perspective, neither Gai Jiayun nor Li Ying did anything wrong.

It is just a feudal society, not a society ruled by law, and many things have their own set of rules.

Take the case of Li Heng posting the notice for example. As long as it was not directed at the Jiedushi, he should have informed the Jiedushi and then issued the notice together with the local government.

But if they were targeting the Jiedushi, they should have investigated secretly and not made such a big fuss and alerted the enemy.

Gai Jiayun originally wanted to ask about the notice indirectly, but Li Heng used his previous experience to block him, and he realized that Li Heng had no intention of winning him over.

But at this point, Gai Jiayun couldn't say anything else, so he could only say: "Your Highness is on a tour of inspection on behalf of the emperor, and the announcement is also to understand the governance and people's livelihood in Anxi. I agree with it."

"That's good." Li Heng took a sip of tea and said calmly, "I was worried that General Gai would blame me for not discussing it with you in advance. Since General Gai agrees, why don't you make another notice to carry forward the meaning of my notice?"

“Uh…” Gai Jiayun hesitated.

If Gai Jiayun has no problem with it and really doesn't care that Li Heng didn't inform him in advance, then he can make up this notice.

But he is neither.

Seeing Gai Jiayun hesitate, Li Ying asked, "Why, General Gai is having trouble?"

"No." Gai Jiayun was held hostage and could only deny it, then said, "I will make up for it later."

"Thank you, General Gai." Li Ying put down his teacup, looked at Gai Jiayun, and said with a smile, "I believe that under General Gai's governance, Anxi will be governed in a clean and honest manner, and the people will live and work in peace and contentment. Posting a notice is just a formality. Once the time is up and nothing happens, I will definitely report to my father and commend General Gai for his contribution."

"In that case, I would like to thank Your Highness first." Gai Jiayun bowed.

Li Ying said, "General Gai, you are too polite."

Gai Jiayun smiled, but his smile seemed a little uncomfortable.

Li Heng's answer was watertight. Not only did he not find out anything today, he also got himself into trouble. If he hadn't come, at least he wouldn't have to post any notices.

……

……

……

Gai Jiayun’s residence.

At this time, Anxi Army Sima Zhao Cheng and Gai Jiayun's trusted aides gathered together, drinking wine, listening to Kucha music, appreciating Kucha dance, and waiting for Gai Jiayun.

Gai Jiayun came out of Li Yingguan Inn and returned to his mansion with a heavy heart. Seeing that everyone was still so happy, he picked up the cup on the table and smashed it to the ground.

Everyone was shocked when they saw Gai Jiayun's appearance.

Zhao Cheng, the military commander, quickly said to the dancers and singers, "You go down first."

"What are you going to do?" Gai Jiayun interrupted, walked to the main seat in the hall and sat down, saying: "I have guarded the border for many years for the Tang Dynasty and made many contributions. What's wrong with just eating, drinking and having fun? Shou Wang, what a Shou Wang!"

After saying that, he picked up the wine in the jade cup on the table and took a sip.

"Fine grape wine in a luminous cup, hehe..."

Gai Jiayun laughed a few times, stood up and walked towards the nearest dancer, touched the dancer's butt through her clothes, and said: "Keep dancing. Once you're done, I'll send you to Chang'an, which is the best place in the world."

"Yes." The dancer bowed to Gai Jiarun, then started dancing, and the music followed.

Gai Jiayun stood there and looked for a while before returning to the main seat and sitting down.

After Gai Jiayun sat down, the military commander Zhao Cheng came over, poured wine for Gai Jiayun, and asked in a low voice: "General, does the King of Shou want to make things difficult for us?"

Gai Jiayun said, "I don't know what he is thinking. If he wants to make an offering, he should hint at me, but he didn't hint at anything today. If he feels that I have neglected him before, he shouldn't be so polite to me. Is he really here to check on me? He doesn't want to stay in Chang'an, a place of gentleness and wealth, but has to come to this remote place to make trouble for me? Is he a normal person?"

Zhao Cheng said: "General, you are the governor of Anxi, the pillar of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty. With your importance, no one dares to touch you unless the saint orders you to do so. Besides, this is still Anxi, your territory."

Gai Jiayun nodded, then shook his head and said, "No, Gao Xianzhi was appointed as the military commander and won over a group of soldiers who were not valued before. Now he is determined to follow Prince Shou..."

Zhao Cheng asked, "Gao Xianzhi has just been appointed as the new military commander. How many people can he win over?"

Upon hearing this, Gai Jiayun glared at Zhao Cheng.

Others may not know, but Gai Jiayun himself knows it.

As a foreign commander, he seldom shared the joys and sorrows with the lower-level soldiers. When it came to promoting generals, he looked at who was closer to him and who gave him more gifts.

Moreover, when he was marching and fighting, he was not only cruel to the enemy, but also to his own people. In his eyes, ordinary soldiers were just numbers.

With these two situations combined, many soldiers were dissatisfied with him.

Before, these dissatisfactions had no impact on him because he had outstanding military capabilities, was able to win battles, and was able to control his subordinates.

But this is the case when there is no powerful person leading the group to oppose him. If there is a powerful person leading the group, there is a high probability that something will go wrong.

Now, Gao Xianzhi and Li Heng are leading the way.

(End of this chapter)