The king behind the empress

Chapter 51
Hearing the complaints from the flesh-faced people, the complexions of all the people present changed, and Patriarch Feng said coldly: "Shut up, Cao Yin, you can't find death!"

Hearing Patriarch Feng's scolding, Cao Yin realized that he was not in his own home, but in Zhang Yuan's mansion. After muttering softly, he didn't say anything else.

Seeing that Cao Yin was not talking indiscriminately, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. After all, what Cao Yin said just now was really disrespectful. If Zhang Yuan heard it, it would be no problem to take him down on the spot.

Just when everyone was silent, there was the sound of soldiers' armor making a noise outside the room, and then Zhang Yuan walked in.

"Sorry, everyone, I wasted time when I patrolled the city, and kept you waiting for a long time."

"Where is the Hou Ye, it's just that we came early."

Patriarch Feng, who had a stern face just now, immediately put on a smiling face after seeing Zhang Yuan, "Besides, Lord Hou has worked so hard for the country's defense of the city, so what if I wait for you for a while?"

"Patriarch Feng is being polite."

Looking at Feng Youcai's smiling face, Zhang Yuan also squeezed out a smile. As a commander who leads troops to fight, what he hates the most is dealing with these old foxes. .

"Please wait a moment, I will take off my armor and come to have a drink with you."

Zhang Yuan apologized to everyone, and went directly to the back hall to remove his armor and change his clothes. When he came back, the hall was already full of food, but looking at these slightly shabby dishes, everyone's eyes were faintly revealing. A hint of disgust.

"Master Hou worked hard for the war, how dare you bother Master Hou to entertain us."

Feng Youcai obviously had no interest in these seemingly vegetarian foods, and when Zhang Yuan sat down, before he opened his mouth to let everyone eat, he immediately asked straight to the point: "If there is anything I need to do later, might as well, Lord Hou?" Straight up."

"Feng Gong speaks quickly, then I won't go around in circles with everyone."

Zhang Yuan also understood what they were thinking, so he didn't force it immediately, and said directly: "I was ordered to guard the eastern border, and lost four cities in a row. I have failed the emperor's order. If it weren't for your majesty's magnanimity, I would have been dismissed and questioned."

"Now, Xunyang City is the last line of defense in Xunzhou. If this city falls again, I will really be ashamed to show my kindness to Your Majesty."

"Master Hou, don't say anything depressing."

President Zhu, who had been filled with righteous indignation before Zhang Yuan came, also answered with a smile at this time: "Who in my big week doesn't know that Lord Hou is good at using troops. With you here, Xunyang City will definitely be safe."

"This Marquis is not talking about frustration anymore, the fact is that there is a shortage of food and pay in the army, even if this Marquis has great ability, if there is no supply of food and grass, this city will not be able to defend."

Although they already knew that Zhang Yuan came to ask for money, but at this moment when Zhang Yuan said it himself, there was still a hint of unpredictability on the faces of everyone. After a moment of silence, Feng You said slowly: "What Hou Ye said That's right, if there is no food and grass, this battle cannot be won."

Hearing Feng Youcai's words, everyone couldn't help being taken aback, but before they could say anything, they heard Feng Youcai continue to say: "If the Marquis does not give up, we are willing to jointly sign up and ask for funding from the imperial court!"

Hearing what Feng Youcai said earlier, Zhang Yuan thought he was going to pay, but when he heard the latter, his anger suddenly rose. He took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said calmly: "Mr. The national treasury is empty, if there is food and grass, it would have been allocated long ago, why wait until today."

"To be honest, I invite you here today to raise some money and food, and I hope that you can see Da Zhou's favor and lend a helping hand."

Seeing Zhang Yuan reaching out to them for money regardless of face, Feng Youcai showed a look of embarrassment on his face, "Master Hou, although we all have a little income, but there are many people in the family, and the expenses are also high."

"But since Master Hou has spoken, I have to say something anyway."

Speaking of which, Feng Youcai took out a bank note that he had prepared a long time ago from his bosom, "This is 500 taels, I hope Lord Hou will not think too little."

When the others saw that Feng You had paid the money, although they were a little unhappy on the face, they still took out some pieces, but the sum of the money was less than 1000 taels.

Looking at the silver that is less than 1000 taels, even with Zhang Yuan's self-cultivation, he couldn't suppress the anger in his heart, "You are so stingy, you know that if this Xunyang City falls, your land, money, and even The wives, concubines and family members will all fall into the enemy's hands."

"I don't know when that day will come, will you regret that you didn't pluck out your hair today?"

"What's the meaning of this, Lord Hou?"

Feng Youcai's complexion also became a little gloomy. He looked at Zhang Yuan and said, "It's the Marquis's job to keep the invaders outside. If there is a shortage of food and grass, we should ask the imperial court for help."

"I'm just a commoner, what does war have to do with us, why does the prince want to force us so hard?"

"Bitterness is forcing each other, what a bitterness is forcing each other!"

Zhang Yuan stood up, looked at Feng Youcai and said: "You have embezzled land, concealed land, bullied the market, and made a lot of money. Now you are asked to pay a little money, but you are so reluctant."

"Aren't you afraid that this queen will clear up your property?"

"Master Hou, is this threatening me?"

Hearing what Zhang Yuan said, Feng Youcai couldn't sit still anymore, and said sharply: "Military officers are in charge of the battle, and civilian officials are in charge of politics. This is the rule set by the great grandfather."

"Even if it is to clear up the property we are waiting for, it is still a matter of the household department. When will it be the turn of Lord Hou to do it?"

"It seems that Lord Hou not only invited me to a sincere banquet today, but I will take my leave first."

Feng Youcai, who was backed by Qian Min, was not afraid of Zhang Yuan, turned around and left with a wave of his sleeve.

After the people left, Zhang Yuan threw out the banknote in his hand, "A bunch of selfish, greedy, short-sighted people."

"Don't you know the truth that if the skin is not there, the hair will not grow back!"

"Master Hou, don't get angry with them, it's not worth it."

Looking at Zhang Yuan, who was furious and bearded, Zhao Chuan hurried up to persuade him, "These people only want us to defend Xunyang City, but they don't want to pay for it. It's unreasonable to talk to them."

"I also want the horse to run, but also want the horse not to eat grass. How can there be such a beautiful thing in the world."

After venting, Zhang Yuan calmed down a little, and said in a deep voice: "Zhao Chuan, later you release the news, saying that I will evacuate Xunyang and go to Fanyang City to garrison."

"This... If there is no movement in the army, I'm afraid they won't believe it?"

Zhao Chuan hesitated for a moment, and said, "Besides, the morale of the army is low now. If this news is really spread, I'm afraid something will happen."

Hearing what Zhao Chuan said, Zhang Yuan also realized that he was a little emotional, shook his head and said, "Forget it, let it go now."

"Uncle, uncle, an urgent report from the capital."

Holding a finger-sized bamboo tube in his hand, Zhang Hu rushed in eagerly.

The letter eagle is usually used to deliver urgent reports in Dazhou. It is large in size and fast in flight. From the capital to here, it can take half a day at most.

After Zhang Yuan took the urgent report and translated the encrypted content, he was completely dumbfounded.

"Wang Zizai started to kill, beheaded more than [-] ministers in the court, and Hu Xiaosheng, the servant of the household department, was ransacked."

(End of this chapter)