The dream of a lonely hero

Chu Zhaopu had been in the officialdom for half a lifetime, and he knew what he said very well. He said, "Don't worry, Nan Ya! In the future, we will be yours and mine, and I will be your servant at Nan Ya's disposal at any time. I am afraid that my visit today will alarm outsiders, so I also entered through your back door."

Zhao Guangyi suppressed his joy and said, "It's just a trivial matter! If Prime Minister Ji talks about gratitude or not, it will be too distant." He ordered his servants to bring a scroll of painting, took it and unfolded it on the table, and said, "I have heard that Prime Minister Ji has elegant tastes and sharp eyes. Look at this. Is the copy of "Huanchuan Tu" authentic?"

Chu Zhaopu came closer to examine it carefully, and after a moment, he said: "Congratulations to Nan Ya! This is the original work of Wang Wei, the former Wang Youcheng, and it is priceless!"

Zhao Guangyi said: "As the saying goes: Rouge is given to beauties and swords are given to heroes. Please accept this "Huanchuan Tu" with a smile."

Chu Zhaopu looked at the painting and said: "How can I take away someone's love? Today's feast for the eyes is enough for my whole life!"

Zhao Guangyi said: "Prime Minister Ji, you and I are friends regardless of age, so don't be polite." He rolled it up and handed it to him. Chu Zhaopu was extremely excited. He took it with both hands and said, "It is better to obey than to be respectful. Thank you, Nan Ya!"

After the two chatted for a while, Zhao Guangyi personally sent him out of the back door of the mansion. Looking at his gradually receding back, he could no longer contain his ecstasy. He punched the doorpost unconsciously, and the doorpost was immediately stained with blood. He did not feel any pain. He thought: Feng Zan is really smart. It is better to win over than to place. If you place your own confidants, it is inevitable that the court officials will talk about it. In serious cases, it will make the government suspicious; but winning over can turn those who are not confidants into your own confidants without anyone noticing. Joy turns to sorrow. On this day, Zhao Guangyi's confidant, Jia Yan, the governor of Xijing, sent someone to report: Nine of the ten young marshals in Xijing, Wang Chengze, Ma Yanhui, Feng Zhengsheng, Zhang Ruiguo, Liu Jinyu, Zhang Yuqing, Zhao Yanming, Zhou Jianguo, and Yang Jianhai, were killed by the Xijing Infantry Command. Their fathers were Wang Zhongqi, the governor of Zhongzheng Army and the Marquis of Yitian; Ma Renyu, the governor of Yingzhou, the Marquis of Yingting; Feng Jiye, the governor of Jingnan Army and the Marquis of Lingting; Zhang Tinghan, the governor of Jizhou; Liu Shouzhong, the governor of Chengde and the general of the left guard; Zhang Duo, the governor of Huguo Army and the governor of Hezhong; Zhao Zhuo, the governor of Heyang and the general of the right guard; Zhou Jing, the governor of Dingyuan; and Yang Tingzhang, the governor of Baoda Army. They were all princes who held heavy troops and were the forces that Zhao Guangyi had supported for many years. A few days later, the emperor received a memorial from Xijing and angrily rebuked Wang Zhongqi, Ma Renyu, Feng Jiye, Zhang Tinghan, Liu Shouzhong, Zhang Duo, Zhao Zhuo, Zhou Jing, and Yang Tingzhang for not disciplining their children. He dismissed Wang Zhongqi, Feng Jiye, Zhang Tinghan, Liu Shouzhong, Zhang Duo, Zhao Zhuo, Zhou Jing, and Yang Tingzhang from their posts as military commanders. Ma Renyu, the governor of Yingzhou, was demoted to the commander of the left wing of the Palace Front Department. Zhao Guangyi was so angry that he almost fainted. The power of the vassal state that he had worked hard to build for ten years was destroyed. Good fortune never comes alone. The confidant of Xijing prefect Jia Yan was impeached and dismissed from his post.

Li Fu, the attendant, was not of high rank and was from the sixth rank, but he was a close minister of the emperor and was roughly equivalent to the emperor's secretary. Li Fu's beloved daughter Li Shuxue went to Xijing to visit her relatives and disappeared for half a year with her maids. Li Fu asked Xijing's highest official, Xijing prefect Jia Yan, to investigate the case.Half a year passed without any progress. Jia Yan was originally the governor of Dingzhou. When Zhao Guangyi was conquering Tianlang Mountain, he joined his army. Later, he was recommended by Zhao Guangyi and promoted to the fifth-rank Taichang Shaoqing. Zhao Guangyi rose again after being demoted to Dingzhou Beijia and returned to Jingdong Mountain. He was promoted to the prefect of Xijing. But the good times did not last long. Before he could sit down, the case of the disappearance of the daughter of the attendant occurred. Li Fu was originally a student of Prime Minister Zhao Pu. Zhao Pu recommended him to be the attendant. Zhao Pu heard that the prefect of Xijing Jia Yan had investigated for half a year without any results, so he planned to dismiss him as the prefect of Xijing. Xijing Luoyang was the secondary capital of the Northern Song Dynasty. Its political, economic and cultural status was second only to the capital Bianliang. The chief official of Xijing was also not an ordinary person. Kaifeng Yin Zhao Guangyi heard that he wanted to dismiss his party member Jia Yan, and hurried to the prime minister's residence to ask Zhao Pu for mercy.

Zhao Pu received Zhao Guangyi in the Yin'an Hall of the prime minister's residence. Zhao Guangyi said: "As the chief official of Xijing, Jia Yan failed to find any results in the case of Li Shuxue's whereabouts. He has indeed failed the emperor's grace. However, considering that he has worked diligently for the court for many years, could the master show some mercy and give him a chance to redeem himself and make meritorious contributions? If so, he will definitely take the blame and investigate Li Shuxue thoroughly."

Zhao Pu said: "Nan Ya! I really don't want to dismiss him. Jia Yan is knowledgeable, talented, smart and capable. He has worked hard for the court. It is obvious to all. Otherwise, Nan Ya will not dismiss him. The government would not recommend him to be the chief official of Xijing. I was very reluctant to dismiss him. Li Shuxue was not a lady from an ordinary family. Her father Li Fu was a close official of the government. She disappeared under Jia Yan's nose. Jia Yan did not find out the truth for half a year. This matter had alarmed the government. The government was furious and threatened to sentence Jia Yan to exile to Shamen Island. I pleaded for him and he was demoted to the fifth rank of Taichang Shaoqing. " Zhao Guangyi knew that he was powerless to save the situation, so he bowed and said, "Thank you very much. The master is thorough. Sanlang thanks the Prime Minister on behalf of Jia Yan! Someone has to investigate the case of Li Fu's daughter's disappearance. Do you have a candidate for the master?"

Zhao Pu said: "I am also worried about this. Who can be qualified in the Southern Court?"

Zhao Guangyi thought that his party member Jia Yan was demoted, and there was no candidate for the prefect of Xijing. The position of the prefect of Xijing could not be lost. He must earn back his face and decided to go out in person. After the case was solved, he would recommend his own people to take the position. He said: "Foolish I think that Jia Yan has been investigating for half a year but has not found any results. I am afraid that there will be no competent officials in the court. Sanlang is not talented. If the master trusts Sanlang, Sanlang is willing to go to Xijing. "

Zhao Pu thought for a while and said, "Sanlang will be successful. Tomorrow, I will recommend Nan Ya to be the temporary governor of Xijing Prefecture, and Kaifeng Prefecture will be temporarily handed over to the judge."

Zhao Guangyi talked with him about the court affairs and then said goodbye and returned to the mansion.

It is said that Yan Feng, the deputy envoy of the 42nd grade supply warehouse of Yan Ting Hou Mansion, followed Fan Yong of Fu Wang Mansion to Dingzhou to assassinate Zhao Guangyi but failed. He returned to Yin'an Hall of Yan Ting Hou Mansion to meet Yan Ting Hou Zhao Dezhao, counselor and lecturer Xun Yi, seventh-rank Si Zhi Fang Xun, and Yishan Gong Mo to talk in detail. Xun Yi was worried and said to himself, "Prince Fu was exiled to Xiangzhou as the governor of Shannan East Road. Who else in the court can check and balance Zhao Guangyi? Zhao Guangyi's power will spread rapidly in the capital. If this continues -"No more talk.

Yan Feng said: "What's the difficulty? I am willing to find an opportunity to take down Zhao Guangyi's head."

Yanting Hou Zhao Dezhao looked panicked, and adjusted his expression slightly after a moment, and rebuked: "Kill! This is the capital, you are the commander of my mansion, not a thief in the underworld!" His subordinates had never seen him so angry.

Yan Feng felt wronged. He was the vanguard in the assassination of Zhao Guangyi with Fan Yong. Although he failed, he had no merits but also worked hard. When he came back, he not only did not get any rewards, but also did not get a word of comfort. Although he felt wronged in his heart, he could immediately adjust himself to follow the power and said: "Your Majesty taught me a lesson! You taught me a lesson! My underworld habits have humiliated the Lord's Mansion. I will definitely change my past in the future, I will definitely change my past! ”

After the meeting, Yan Feng left the Marquis of Yan’s mansion and went to the largest entertainment venue in the capital, Fanlou, to relax. Just as he was about to step into the gate, he suddenly felt someone pulling him from behind. He thought that he was already upset and someone was making him uncomfortable, so he punched the man behind him, and the man hurriedly dodged. Yan Feng looked closely: the man was in his thirties, with a fair complexion, three teeth covering his mouth and a beard, thin and tall with broad shoulders, a handsome appearance, a short collar, and a simple dress; he recognized the official behind the prime minister’s mansion, the general of the cavalry, the "white-faced little tyrant" Hu Zan; he was panicking and wanted to bow and apologize. Hu Zan hurriedly gestured. Yan Feng understood that he was not wearing an official uniform and was visiting privately. Hu Zan led him slowly away from Fanlou Street, where there were crowds of people. He turned a few streets and found a secluded tavern and chose a pavilion to sit down. Hu Zan ordered wine and food, and soon the waiter came up and told the waiter not to come in without being summoned. Yan Feng hurriedly stood up and knelt down and bowed, saying: "My lord! I am blind, please forgive me!" Then he took out a thirty-liang gold ingot from his pocket and presented it to Hu Zan. Hu Zan did not take it. He put it on the table and said carefully: "I didn't know that you summoned me, so I had to present this small gift. I hope you will accept it!"

Hu Zan said: "Get up! We are old friends, and we don't need these yellow and white things. How are you, Commander Yan!"

Yan Feng sat down cautiously and said: "Thanks to you, my Lord! I'm fine."

Hu Zan said: "I saw you looked depressed since you left the gate of the Yanhou Mansion. Tell me what's bothering you."

Yan Feng learned that he had been following him, and said: "Thank you for your concern! The seventh-rank commander is just a hanger-on who plays football with the Yanhou. Who in the Yanhou Mansion would take me seriously? I have done so much for the Yanhou, but the Yanhou has never looked at me straight in the eye. ”

Hu Zan said: "Do not be discouraged, the capable ones have always worked hard while the incompetent ones have been idle. Although the Marquis of Yan is young, he knows what is going on." Seeing him not taking it seriously, "If you want the Marquis of Yan to look up to you again, you have to do some decent things."

Yan Feng said: "Sir! I am just a casual Marquis of Yan's mansion, what can I do?"

Hu Zan said: "Heroes have no place to use their skills?"

Yan Feng said: "I dare not. I followed the Secretary of State, Zuo Tianjun Wang, Tianping Army Jiedushi Shi Yanzhao Yiding to suppress the rebellion and went deep into the tiger's den to kill the bandit leader Lu Hu. How happy it was! Alas! There is no such opportunity anymore."

Hu Zan said: "It's easy to make achievements, but now...The rogues and desperate soldiers in Luoyang, Xijing, are thieves and bandits, making Xijing a mess. I want to recommend you as the commander of the Xijing Prefecture. I believe you will make great achievements. "

Yan Feng was excited when he heard this. Although the commander of the Xijing Prefecture is a real job of the ninth rank, it is much more practical than the deputy envoy of the seventh rank 42nd level supply warehouse who only takes salary and does nothing. The commander of the secondary capital is more important than other commanders. After being excited, he felt that it was difficult. He said: "I have heard of the "Ten Evils" in Xijing. They are all the sons of the governors who guard the four directions. They are lawless and do evil on weekdays. Even the governor of Xijing, Jia Yan, dare not offend them. What can I do?" Hu Zan said: "What are you afraid of! Nowadays, the military commanders of various towns are no longer the same as before. After several rounds of layoffs by the Privy Council, there are only a few soldiers left. Although the military governors are of the second and third ranks, they are equivalent to the governors and prefects of a state, almost like generals without troops. What's the point of dealing with a few evil-doers? Besides, your uncle Li Weidong is the second-in-command of the Privy Council of the Western Palace. Who dares not to give him ten points? Although I am only of the fifth rank, I work in the Prime Minister's Office, and those military commanders dare not disrespect me. You are recommended by me, and they dare not look down on you. Stand up straight. "

Yan Feng thought for a moment, stood up and saluted, saying: "Thank you for your cultivation! I will do my best and never let you down!"

Hu Zan said: "Don't be polite! Don't forget Hu when you rise to the top. ”

Yan Feng knelt down and said, "Your Excellency's kindness to me is like a rebirth. I can't repay your kindness even if I die. How dare I forget it!"

The two chatted while eating, and went home after dinner.

Yan Feng picked a day to prepare a generous gift to visit his uncle Li Weidong. Yan Feng was very good at dealing with people and was more filial to Li Weidong than to his own father, and was deeply loved by him. Li Weidong wanted to promote him, but he had just entered the Western Palace Privy Council and his foundation was not stable. He was afraid of being accused of nepotism, so he had to think about it. A few days later, Yan Feng received an official document from the Ministry of Personnel to transfer him to the post of Xijing Prefecture's Buzhi Commander. He said goodbye to Yan Hou and rushed to Xijing Luoyang to take up the post.

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