Xiao Ruxun and the others arrived in the capital in the evening. After a welcoming banquet, night fell, and the only program left was rest.
They had a good night's rest tonight, and they could rest for another day tomorrow.
The officers and soldiers who needed to participate in the ceremony would be taught by special officials from the Ministry of Rites of the imperial court. Naturally, Xiao Ruxun also had to attend classes. He listened to the officials from the Ministry of Rites explain some of the necessary etiquette in the ceremony, and then did some rehearsals.
After all, this was a national event, representing the face of the country and the emperor. No one was unwilling to do this beautifully, so of course, they had to rehearse in advance. Therefore, this night was only a simple welcoming banquet, and everyone went to rest.
Xiao Daheng smiled and said goodbye to Xiao Ruxun with cupped hands. He agreed to invite Xiao Ruxun to his home after the ceremony. He still had many things to ask Xiao Ruxun for advice. Xiao Ruxun nodded with a smile.
After seeing off Xiao Daheng, Xiao Ruxun returned to his marshal's tent. At this moment, Dong Yiyuan, Chai Guozhu, the three Li Rusong brothers, and other key generals were waiting for Xiao Ruxun in the tent.
Xiao Ruxun shook his head silently.
"The imperial court just wants to muddle through and has no interest in taking advantage of this good opportunity to regain the strategic initiative. They want to enjoy ten years of peace and stability. As for ten years later … many of them should have retired.
As for this ceremony, it is just a formality. After that, what should be done will be the same. There will be no change. The nine sides are still the nine sides, and the imperial court is still the imperial court. "
The generals' faces became gloomy.
"Alas! Such a good opportunity! "
Li Rusong punched his leg fiercely. "Can't the imperial court see that if they take the opportunity to attack those transportation routes, they can immediately turn passivity into initiative? Why do the nine sides need to be beaten year after year?"
"In my opinion, the imperial court doesn't want to give us so much money, food, and soldiers at all!"
Li Rumei curled her lips.
"Yes! Those civil officials only want to eat meat for themselves. They don't even want to give us soup, for fear that we will rise and take their positions! It has been like this for so many years! Wasn't my father arranged like this back then? "
Li Rubai said discontentedly.
Dong Yiyuan looked at Xiao Ruxun with a little worry.
"Governor-General, Fang Futai has said before that this risky attack is dangerous. Since ancient times, the imperial court has always been wary of generals who lead troops outside. Even the civil officials, the Inspector-General, and the Governor-General have been restricted, much less us martial artists. I'm afraid that after this ceremony, we will all be severely suppressed."
Chai Guozhu was a little more direct.
"It would be better to say that the first to bear the brunt is the governor, and then we. Aren't those pedantic literati the same? Back then, Zeng Xian was even beheaded because of this, and Wang Shouren was imprisoned in the capital for the rest of his life. Even scholars are like this, let alone us martial artists. "
Wang Hui looked at Xiao Ruxun.
"Silang, I wonder what Shi Butang and Song Butang think about this?"
Everyone turned to look at Xiao Ruxun, and suddenly remembered that Xiao Ruxun had a backer in the imperial court. The Minister of War, Shi Xing, appreciated Xiao Ruxun, and had given him a helping hand. The Minister of Justice, Song Yingchang, was the Commander-in-Chief of the Korean War, and had also given Xiao Ruxun a helping hand.
Xiao Ruxun's complexion was not good.
"I will go to Shi Butang and Song Butang to ask, but I do not dare to say that it will definitely work. Right now, Shen Yicheng is in power. According to Fang Gong, Shen Yicheng likes power and handles matters forcefully, very different from Grand Secretary Zhao. Such a cabinet will definitely usurp the authority of the Six Ministries. Whether Shi Butang and Song Butang will be able to speak is still a problem."
The generals remained silent.
As the sky gradually darkened, Xiao Ruxun had the generals return to rest. If there was anything else, they would discuss it the next day. After the generals left, Xiao Ruxun called Wang Hui back and took out his two handwritten letters.
"Tomorrow morning, send someone to deliver these two letters to Song Butang and Shi Butang. Have them reply as soon as possible."
Wang Hui took the two letters and nodded, indicating that he understood.
After Li Rusong and his two brothers left Xiao Ruxun's tent, they went to Li Rusong's tent. The three brothers had made a great contribution this time and had a chance to be conferred a noble title. This should have been something to be happy about, but after hearing Xiao Ruxun's words, they instantly felt that their future was dim.
"Brother, the Imperial Court doesn't want us to fight freely and only wants to muddle through. In my view, if not for Governor Xiao's insistence, we wouldn't even have been able to conquer Guihua City!"
Li Rumei grumbled to her brother in dissatisfaction.
Li Rubai was also dissatisfied.
"Governor Xiao is right. What's the use of a small scale attack? It doesn't solve the root of the problem. After fighting one, there will be another, and there will never be a time to rest. Father has fought more than ten battles in his life, but they were all small victories. In the end, he was only a Count.
Governor Xiao has only reported victories a few times, but he has beheaded tens of thousands of people. He has long been a Marquis. This time, he might even be promoted to a Duke. How can you not see the problem? I think it's that group of pedantic scholars who are afraid of us generals! "
"That's right, that's right!"
Li Rumei agreed with Li Rubai. Then, the two brothers looked at their brother, Li Rusong.
"Brother?"
Li Rusong sat on the main seat with a gloomy expression. He looked at the ground and didn't seem to be listening to them.
"Brother?"
Li Rumei called out again.
Li Rusong looked up at his two brothers.
"Just now, I suddenly remembered that when we were at Zijing Pass, Father once said something to me."
The two brothers looked at Li Rusong in confusion.
"Father said to me that he has a premonition that something big is about to happen. He wants me to return to Liaodong as soon as possible after this battle, leave the capital, and not get entangled in the capital. Otherwise, I will bring disaster to myself."
Li Rumei and Li Rubai looked at each other in surprise.
"Elder Brother, you mean …"
"What I mean is, haven't you noticed that something is wrong?"
Li Rusong softly said, "Isn't the treatment the court is giving us this time a little too generous? It's so generous that even I feel flattered. This makes me very uneasy. And when I think of Father's warning before returning to Liaodong, I feel that something big is about to happen in the capital."
Li Rubai hurriedly asked, "Brother, is something going to happen to Governor Xiao?"
Li Rusong shook his head.
"I don't know, I really don't know. But I believe in Father. Father has spent half his life on the battlefield and half his life in the officialdom. He has served three generations of emperors. He naturally sees problems more accurately than we do. I have to believe in Father's words."
"Then what does Brother think?"
Li Rumei asked.
"After the ceremony and reward ceremony, we must immediately return. We can't delay. We must leave this troublesome place as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will definitely not be a good thing for us and the Li family."
Li Rumei and Li Rubai looked at each other and then asked, "Then, what does Brother plan to say to Governor Xiao?"
Li Rusong was silent for a while.
His feelings towards Xiao Ruxun were quite complicated. From the initial anger and resentment, to the current admiration and even a little bit of reverence. Not to mention the experience of opening his heart and talking through the night, it caused all sorts of feelings to surround him, giving him an inexplicable feeling.
"Before leaving, I will say hello to Governor Xiao. It can be considered as fulfilling the friendship of fighting together. My Li family will not be ungrateful."
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