Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 197: I Don’t Dare To Zhang Shi (2)

As the night was dark, Prime Minister Liu Yi took a deep breath, stood up and stretched, then closed the file in front of him, and prepared to return home.Just as he walked to the door, there was the sound of fast-moving footsteps in the distance from the corridor, and the clerk panted heavily and brought up an urgent dossier.

"It's so late, what happened?" Liu Yi opened the file and saw a piece of pigeon book.

"My lord, Guanzhong, the workers in Guanzhong have rebelled!" Yu Shoudao, a young scribe, said with a deep breath.

Liu Yi ignored him, looked at the pigeon book ten lines at a glance, and frowned deeply.The pigeon book was sent by Cui Qianqing, the order of Chang'an. More than 7000 apprentices in Qiu's workshop, the largest workshop in Guanzhong, suddenly rioted. The workers detained the shopkeeper and a hundred foremen in the workshop, and asked the owner, Qiu Dari, to come out. Settle the wages with them, and ask the government to let them go to Shishan to receive the land grant.The chamber of commerce has mobilized thousands of city guards to suppress it forcefully, and the two sides are confronting each other outside Qiu's workshop.The cause of the "chaos" was described vaguely in Pigeon Book, and only asked for general instructions on how to deal with it.

"Prime Minister, what should we do?" Yu Shoudao's eyes showed a trace of panic. His hometown happened to be near Chang'an, so he couldn't have suffered from a military disaster.He tentatively asked, "Should we transfer troops to calm 'chaos'?"

Liu Yi's eyes froze, he glanced at Yu Shoudao, walked out quickly without saying a word.Yu Shoudao followed Liu Yi closely, not daring to speak any more, and sent Liu Yi to the door. The Tiger Wing Army guard Wang Zhaoqian had already prepared the carriage, and Liu Yi said in a deep voice, "Go to the General's Mansion!" Then he got into the carriage, Twenty guards of the Tiger Wing Army turned their saddles onto their horses, followed the horse's body with a sound of hoofbeats, and quickly disappeared into the distance of the street.Wang Shoudao still stood blankly at the gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion, thinking to himself: "I don't know if the Prime Minister is going to the General's Mansion to mobilize troops to calm the 'chaos'?"

Arriving at the gate of the General's Mansion, after the guards passed, the guard of the Tiger Wing Army said that General Zhang Shang had already returned to the mansion.Liu Yi immediately ordered to turn to Zhang Shanfu's house.Zhang Shanfu didn't have time to change into his robes, so he met Liu Yi in his bedtime short robes and trousers.

Liu Yi showed Zhang Shanfu the book of pigeons, and said in a deep voice: "This matter is no small matter. The old government officials in Guanzhong had a deep entanglement with the chamber of commerce workshop, and they were prone to favoritism in dealing with things. The Relief Office should order Yuan Xingzong to take charge of the overall situation. If you want to calm the chaos ', the Guanzhong army should obey his orders, so as not to kill innocent people indiscriminately."

Zhang Shanfu frowned and said: "You can ask Guanzhong Prefecture to obey Yuan Xingzong's orders, but you want all the troops in Guanzhong to be under his control, not in accordance with the rules, and the dispatch of all troops must be ordered by the Huguo Mansion, it's not up to me to decide. "He is well aware of the attitude of the emperor and the prime minister on the matter of the Guanzhong workers, so he also tried his best to cooperate. However, the civil servants ordered the troops. A person like Liu Yi who has been promoted to the prime minister naturally has this prestige, and he can even act in a hurry. , but a pure scribe like Yuan Xingzong, without the order of the Huguofu, the army would never listen to his orders.

This was expected by Liu Yi, his eyes moved slightly, he pondered for a moment, and said: "Then I will send a letter to Guanzhong Prefecture and County first, and Yuan Xingzong will take full power to handle this matter. Can the Army Commander give orders at the same time? Guard the camp, without the government order of the Huguofu, you must not intervene in the disputes between the chamber of commerce and the workers."

He stared at Zhang Shanfu closely, this was the most important purpose of Liu Yi's trip.Although the armies are not allowed to leave the garrison without the order of the Huguofu Mansion, there is a vague overlap between the autonomous area of ​​the Chamber of Commerce and the garrison of the Military Mansion. Maybe one or two school lieutenants or even generals who have a close relationship with the Chamber of Commerce intervene. Complicated.

Zhang Shanfu nodded, glanced at Liu Yi meaningfully, and said in a deep voice, "Prime Minister, don't worry, this is what should be done."

"Thank you General Zhang Shang for your help," Liu Yi said in a deep voice.

"The prime minister is serious. It's all for the country." Zhang Shanfu said while wrapping up a bearskin cloak. Before he could change his clothes, he took the Tiger Wing Army guards and went out to the General's Mansion to issue a military order from the commander of the marching army. All armies are not allowed to intervene in the disputes between the Chamber of Commerce and the workers before the order of the Protecting the Country is issued.Liu Yi also returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion and sent letters to the prefectures and counties in Guanzhong. Yuan Xingzong, the order of the Relief Department, is fully responsible for all mediation and mediation. Just in case, the prefectures and counties can mobilize regiments to guard their own borders, but they are not allowed to intervene in chambers of commerce and labor. Christian disputes.

It was already half an hour after the pigeon book that carried the lives of thousands of people was sent out. Liu Yi only felt a little weak. Enter the palace and report the matter to His Majesty Chen Xuan.

At dawn, after eating two pancakes stuffed with beans and meat for breakfast, and camellia mixed with goat's milk, Zhao Xingde felt energetic all over his body, hung up his waist knife, and was about to say goodbye to Li Ruoxue and go to the training ground of Chengying Camp , Suddenly there was a knock on the door outside the yard.Zhao Xingde opened the door and saw that he was a sergeant of the Tiger Wing Army who had never met him before. He cupped his hands and said, "Is this Captain Zhao from Chengying Eighth Battalion?"

"It's me." Zhao Xingde looked him up and down.

"Gao Baixiu, the Huguo Mansion has important discussions today, so I specially invited Captain Zhao." The Tiger Wing Army smiled and cupped his hands.Zhao Xingde saw the officer's badge on his chest clearly, nodded, and said in a low voice: "My battalion is in urgent need of training, so I can't delay it, so I have to go too?" For some time, he often went to the Huguo Mansion for training, but for some reason, Zhao Xingde respected the Huguo Mansion faintly.Now the training of Chengying Eighth Battalion has begun to take shape, and the eight hundred-man teams have started training together. Zhao Xingde leaves early and returns late every day.

Gao Baixiu clasped his hands again and said: "Today we have to discuss important state affairs. Your Majesty will come to the meeting hall in person. All the lieutenants in Xidu must attend the meeting." .” Zhao Xingde nodded and said: “Then can you let me go to the camp first and inform my subordinates as well.”

Gao Baixiu said with a smile: "Captain Zhao, you don't need to worry, the Huguo Mansion has already sent someone to inform you." He was leading a horse, and stood far outside waiting for him, with a calm expression on his face. Obviously, this is not the first time he has done something like this The school lieutenant who stayed in Beijing went to Huguo Mansion.

For this matter, Zhao Xingde couldn't shirk anything anymore, he just turned around and greeted Li Ruoxue, and told Aunt Liu who came to help, then hurriedly prepared his horse, and followed Gao Baixiu to the Huguo Mansion.Looking up at the tall circular dome with triple eaves, a sense of coercion rushed towards his face, Zhao Xingde was shocked, straightened his military robes, and walked in.

The meeting hall was originally silent, but it was obvious that Zhao De was late.The sound of the door opening startled the dissatisfied gazes of more than 200 captains. Even Chen Xuan, who was sitting on the honored seat facing the gate of the meeting hall, looked at the bewildered captain at the door.Chen Xuan looked at this disturbed face, and Zhang Shanfu, who was sitting next to him, said in a low voice, "This is Zhao De, the captain of Chengying Eighth Battalion." Chen Xuan nodded slightly.

Zhao Xingde felt extremely embarrassed, he looked around, there were more than a dozen of these captains with gray hair, but most of them were in their prime, at least 35 or [-] years old.Yu Zangyun and Kang Deming, who had seen each other in the Zheng Xiangtang of the academician's mansion, each occupied a prominent position, and I don't know whether it was a rule or acquiescence, so it was naturally impossible for Zhao Xingde to approach them to get close.When he was not sure where he was sitting, suddenly, in an inconspicuous place near the door, a captain nodded to him.Zhao Xingde felt that his face was familiar, seeing him showing his friendliness, he sat down on the empty seat next to him, and said in a low voice: "I'm Zhao De, where did I meet Xiongtai?"

The school lieutenant smiled slightly and said: "I also feel that my brother is kind-hearted, probably it's just like old friends at first sight." After a pause, he said in a deep voice: "I'm Chen Zhong, with a thousand words, Anbei Hussars school captain." His face was solemn. , with a calm demeanor, but a gentle tone, which makes people feel close.In fact, Zhao Xingde did meet this person once, but at that time both of them had other interests, so they didn't leave any impression.

Zhao Xingde hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "Zhao De, Captain Chengying." Chen Chongli was slightly moved, but only said "Oh", it was strange that Zhao De was not only General Chengying Captain at such a young age, but he had never heard of it The name of the prince is taboo.Although he was able to hide his identity as the prince in the name of Lingzhou Chen Qianli in Mobei, he knew too many court dignitaries in Dunhuang. As a school lieutenant, he must have at least heard the name of the prince Chen Chong. "This Zhao De is really weird."

Yu Zangyun, the lieutenant of the Tiger Wing Army, was about to speak just now, but was interrupted by Zhao Xingde, a reckless latecomer. Seeing that all the lieutenants turned their eyes to him again, he bowed his hands and saluted to His Majesty, then coughed lightly, and said in a deep voice "Everyone, everyone knows that it is a bad government in the Kanto region to lead the army with civil servants. Once this example is opened, it will definitely cause endless harm." As soon as he said this, several school captains nodded slightly, and more of them said in their hearts. yes.The Kwantung civil servants suppressed the generals, which made the Huguo Mansion extremely vigilant about this. This remark expressed the worries of many people.

Yu Zangyun paused for a moment, and then said: "What's more, Xin Shuling never knew about soldiers, and I'm afraid it's not appropriate to take charge of the army rashly. Besides, Guanzhong is the heart of the country. It's just the rebellious Qiu's workshop. There are 80 workers, and there are no fewer than [-] million workers near Chang'an. This is like a fire on dry wood. If it is not extinguished in time, it may cause a big mistake. Cut the 'chaotic' hemp, raise troops to quell the 'chaos'."

As soon as he finished speaking, another voice said in a stern voice: "I don't know which kind of 'mess' hemp was cut off by the sharp knife that Captain Yu said. Is it the unscrupulous 'traitor' for the sake of wealth? Or was it forced? "I have no choice but to start a mess and become a 'chaotic' apprentice? You know that this knife will be hundreds of thousands of heads!" This person is Baiyu Military Academy Lieutenant Yang Ren, who looks fair and handsome like a woman, with a thin body Tall, but with an extremely full forehead, and a pair of eyes with a hint of brilliance, people will never forget it once they have seen it.His voice is also very high-pitched, with a very strong northern Shaanxi accent.

"Things are ever-changing, and when it is stopped, it will be decided by the officers and men in front," Yu Zangyun said lightly, "Could it be that Lieutenant Yang is going to be like the Bianliang officials, who are thousands of miles away with a map?" He asked He and Yang Ren are both from Guanzhong, but they often confront each other.

Emperor Chen Xuan sat high on the throne, listening attentively to the arguments of the school captains in the council hall.As an emperor, even out of the intention of maintaining the dignity of the royal family, he could not be directly involved in the disputes in the Palace of Protecting the Country.If the Huguofu finally decides to go against the emperor's original intention, Chen Xuan can only refuse to use the imperial seal to express his dissatisfaction, so he has to risk being impeached by the two governments and forced to abdicate.