"His Majesty has conferred you the title of Marquis Wei Wu. You are indeed worthy of this title. Driving the Tartars to the north, causing such fierce generals as Boyan and Huo Che to flee at the mere sight of you. Quelling the Wokou pirates in Dongjing with both kindness and might. A hundred years of trouble has been quelled in one day. Surrendering to Xifan to the south and recovering Manchuria.
A smile appeared on the King of Shu's face, as if he was very appreciative of Yang Ling's martial arts. As he spoke, he nodded repeatedly. Seeing this, the civil and military officials at the side could not help but flatter him. The quiet main hall was suddenly filled with a buzzing sound, as if a swarm of flies were lingering around.
Yang Ling did not mind and said with a faint smile, "Many thanks for your praise, Your Highness. This is all due to the soldiers putting their lives on the line, the court and the people being united, and the Emperor being wise. When I borrowed troops, the Sichuan army was brave and skillful, and had made great contributions in eliminating the Wokou pirates. Your Highness is the ruler of Ba and Shu, I still have to thank Your Highness. "
As Yang Ling bowed to express his thanks, he secretly cursed, "Today I came to see how the King of Shu would react to the news I deliberately revealed. This is great, he acted as if nothing had happened. He did not mention a single word about Ba and Shu, and started to talk about the world with me. Today, it can be said that everything has been settled here.
Empty words, you flatter me, I flatter you. What is there to talk about with a sickly person like him? Although Yun 'er and Adeni are not here, it is better to watch Xiao Wu and Xiao' ai chat than to sit here! I still can't hold it in. If I shut myself in after coming to Chengdu, I'm afraid that he will not be able to figure out my background and will instead be anxious. Could it be that I came to visit him as soon as I arrived in Chengdu and appeared too anxious, letting him see that I do not have any trump cards in my heart? "
While Yang Ling was secretly pondering, the King of Shu changed his tone and said, "Marquis Wei Wu is not only an outstanding general talent of my Ming Destiny, but also seems to have a special understanding of civil affairs. I heard that along the way, you have been promoting the introduction of Western crops to the administrative department of the border provinces? "
Yang Ling noticed that his complexion was pale and gloomy, he appeared listless, but he seemed to be very concerned about this matter. "Yes," he busily said, "These crops have been planted in Shaanxi, Hunan and the Capital, and they have been a great success. These crops are drought-resistant and pest-resistant, moreover, they can be planted anywhere, they do not take up fertile land. By extension, they are greatly beneficial to farming."
King Shu smiled and said, "I have already heard of this. Shaanxi is suffering from a severe drought this year, but these crops have had excellent harvests. The land of Shu is mountainous and some places are not suitable for farming. The common people are living in poverty. I have already sent the steward of the mansion to Shaanxi to purchase grain seeds and hire a master who knows how to cultivate. Next year, Bashu will also be widely planted on the barren land and sand ridges. "
As soon as Yang Ling heard this, he happily said, "Wangye has great foresight, Ben Hou admires it. On this trip to Sichuan, this Marquis also brought chili peppers, tomatoes and other condiments as well as vegetable seeds. Yesterday, I handed them over to Lord An. I believe that once these things are harvested, they will definitely be welcomed by the people of Sichuan. "
He was very certain of this. There is a common saying: The people of Sichuan are not afraid of spicy food, the people of Hunan are not afraid of spicy food, and the people of Guizhou are not afraid of spicy food. It seems that chili peppers are either suitable for growing in these places or suitable for the taste of the people in these areas. Therefore, when it was introduced to China, it was able to flourish in these areas.
An Wentao also happily said, "His Royal Highness the King of Shu attaches great importance to farming. The Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing is unable to allocate money, so Wangye took out a large sum of money from his mansion's income to build irrigation works and encourage farming. As for building bridges and roads, he spared no effort in building schools. Today, Bashu has a hundred thousand hectares of cultivated land and its salt wells produce thirty million catties of salt annually, which is three times more than when the country was founded. Now that the people of Shu are self-sufficient and live a comfortable life, there is no longer a need to buy salt at a high price. The King of Shu has contributed greatly. "
Yang Ling more or less understood the situation in Sichuan. He knew that Sichuan has an abundance of silver, iron, tea leaves and porcelain. The reputation of Shu brocade is no less than that of Su embroidery. Naturally, this is not all the work of the King of Shu, nor is it all the work of the current King of Shu. However, the successive Kings of Shu, as the supreme rulers of Bashu, have always enjoyed extraordinary power. Without their support, it is indeed impossible for the country to develop so quickly. He could not help but nod his head in agreement.
"Ai, this is not my credit. I am only carrying on the legacy of the previous Kings, attaching importance to farming and treating the people well. The specific matters are still handled by the Shu officials and the people. Hehehe, I am not a perfect person, nor am I talented in all aspects. How can I do so many things? I cannot take credit carelessly. "
An Wentao nodded his head, but his face was full of smiles. Obviously, he took this as a courtesy from the King of Shu and did not take it to heart. The King of Shu took a deep look at Yang Ling and said, "The Marquis is proficient in military affairs, civil affairs and was once a study attendant of the Crown Prince. Such a talent can be considered to be well-versed in both literature and martial arts."
Yang Ling hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I do not deserve it, I really do not deserve it."
The King of Shu stopped smiling and said, "The Marquis's contributions to the country are obvious to all. There is no need to be modest. However … there is something that has been stuck in my heart and I really cannot say it. It is rare to see the Marquis today. As an elder, I would like to advise you kindly. Is the Marquis willing to listen? "
Yang Ling was startled and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please speak. Yang Ling is all ears."
The King of Shu frowned slightly and said, "The Marquis has driven out the barbarians by force and is concerned about the development of farming. His military service is outstanding and his political achievements are outstanding. I am very impressed. However … the Marquis is still too young and likes to be eager for quick success. Some things can affect the whole situation and should be handled with extreme caution. As for the Marquis … it is a little thoughtless. "
The moment these words were said, the hall immediately fell silent and the atmosphere began to tense up. The King of Shu was the uncle of the current Emperor and the supreme leader of Bashu. Moreover, he had great prestige and was the most virtuous king in the world. It was not rude for him to casually reprimand a first-rank official and no one would dare to contradict him.
But what kind of person was Yang Ling? Although he did not come to visit the King of Shu under the banner of an imperial envoy, he was a true imperial envoy. The Study Attendant of the Crown Prince and had the merit of being supported by the Emperor. He was a close official of the Emperor and had fought with the Emperor against strong enemies in Datong. He was the Deputy Marshal of the four armies outside the capital. And the commander in chief who did not fish for three days and dry the net for two days was Emperor Zhengde himself.
Looking at the world today, other than the Prime Minister of the internal court, Liu Jin, which official in the court would not bow down to him? Although such a person who was second only to the Emperor could not compare to the King of Shu, he was much closer to the Emperor than an uncle who had not directly interacted with the Emperor for more than a hundred years.
An Wentao had even prepared a script to present the memorial and publicize it to the public: It was a sunny day with no clouds in the sky. The King of Shu, Zhu Binhan, met with the imperial envoy, the Wei-Wu Marquis, and the Dragon-Tiger General, Lord Yang Ling at the Qingyang Palace.
The meeting was carried out in a peaceful, warm, and friendly atmosphere. With the goal of mutual understanding and seeking common ground while putting aside differences, the two sides exchanged views on the military situation, agricultural development, and other issues. That night, Zhu Binhan hosted a banquet to entertain the imperial envoy and his entourage at the Douma Palace. The banquet was filled with …
Originally, the two of them were flattering each other and chatting happily with each other. What was wrong with the King of Shu? The officials looked at each other and did not dare to say anything. Li Sen's shrewd eyes flashed, but he immediately resumed his rude and crude expression and sat there foolishly.
The administrative envoy, An Wentao, panicked and hurriedly looked at Zhu Rangjin. Zhu Rangjin was also at a loss. Wasn't Father afraid that Yang Ling would cause trouble in Sichuan? Today's meeting was originally a courtesy visit. Wouldn't it be over if he gave him enough face and sent him away? What was Father doing?
In fact, the King of Shu really had no intention of making things difficult for Yang Ling. Yang Ling's vigorous promotion of agriculture was deeply appreciated by the King of Shu, who had always adhered to the concept that food was the most important thing to the people and agriculture was the foundation of the world. At the same time, he also admired Yang Ling's display of Ming Destiny's might and his military success in subduing the four barbarians.
However, because of Yang Ling, Liu Jian, Xie Qian, and other loyal old officials highly respected by the King of Shu were expelled from the court one by one, causing Zhu Binhan's good impression of Yang Ling to be greatly reduced. In addition, some of the policies advocated by Yang Ling were too radical. Therefore, the King of Shu thought that although Yang Ling was talented, he was frivolous and fond of grandiose achievements. There were many such talents since ancient times, but most of them were like the flashes of a comet and were eventually eliminated from the political stage.
Today, seeing that Yang Ling was humble and courteous, the King of Shu's impression of him changed. For a moment, he felt that he liked talent. As the saying goes, the deeper the love, the more bitter the hatred. Therefore, he changed his original intention and wanted to give some advice to Yang Ling.
Yang Ling was also a little surprised. This was the King of Shu accusing him of making mistakes in his policies. The King of Shu had a reputation for being virtuous and he had indeed made great achievements in governing Shu. Could it be that he had made a mistake in his political views? Yang Ling hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, please enlighten me. What are you referring to …?"
The King of Shu took the tea from Zhu Rangjin and took a sip before handing it back. He gently waved his hand and said, "For example, you proposed to open the tea-horse trade in the north to ease the conflict with the three Duoyan Guards and Lady Zhenren. You held the Tartar tribes hostage and killed two birds with one stone. I admire you very much.
However, I feel that it is not appropriate to open the sea and open the trade to all countries. I heard that you also proposed to change the system of stationing troops and farming established by the Hongwu Dynasty to a system of recruiting soldiers. This … this is simply playing to the gallery. It is purely child's play. "
The hall was silent for a moment. Everyone quietly watched Yang Ling's reaction. This young and powerful official of the Zhengde court had used thunderous means to bring down the internal court and Dongchang. He had used both carrot and stick to force Liu Jian and Xie Qian to leave. Faced with the accusation of the King of Shu, such a tough and soft person, would he fly into a rage or temporarily endure it?
Unexpectedly, Yang Ling actually smiled. It was a very helpless smile. He sighed softly and asked helplessly, "Then what does Your Highness think about the low combat power of Ming Destiny's army and the increasing financial distress?"
* * *
In the forest in the backyard of the Qingyang Palace, a vigorous figure flashed in. Using the cover of the shrubs and flowers, he quietly sneaked into the residence of the King of Shu. The city of Chengdu under the rule of the King of Shu had always been peaceful. The guards in charge of guarding the Prince's mansion inevitably slacked after a long time. Today, the imperial envoy visited and the guards doubled. This made the vigilance even worse.
There was no need for the figure to inquire about the residence of the King of Shu. The main hall was surrounded by guards with spears and swords. Obviously, the King of Shu lived in this Taoist temple. The guards in the Qingyang Palace had ordinary skills. It was difficult for them to discover that the person was sneaking around and approaching quietly. However, there were no trees around the main hall for cover, so the person could not get close.
The person covered his face with a green scarf, revealing only a pair of bright eyes. He looked around cautiously. This person was the Second Young Master of the Maitreya Sect, Li Dayi. He sneaked in today to observe and see if there was an opportunity. At the same time, he wanted to know more about Yang Ling so that he could be prepared.
With so many soldiers, even without the first-class martial arts master he met in the bamboo forest that day, he would not be able to break in no matter how good his martial arts skills were. Therefore, when he saw the situation, Li Dayi gave up the idea of assassination. He shrank his body to the smallest and hid in a bush with small white flowers. As long as he squatted there and did not move, even if the guards passed by the flowers, it would be difficult for them to find the figure under the cover of the lush leaves.
In the hall, the King of Shu, who was talking excitedly, had a sickly red flush on his pale cheeks. He let out a long sigh and said, "Therefore, I think that our country is vast and rich in resources. As long as we focus on agriculture and suppress commerce, we can be self-sufficient. Why do we need to associate with the barbarians? The barbarians do not seek the right path and do not abide by the King's Way. They are only curious about obscene tricks. The frivolous and extravagant atmosphere in Jiangnan is already flourishing. With this, it will definitely become worse. The people will have evil thoughts and chaos will arise. "
Zhu Binhan sighed and said leisurely, "If the people have their own houses to live in, their own fields to plow, and the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard, what a clean and bright world it will be. You advocate for commerce, but do you not know that all merchants are unscrupulous? The large number of merchants will inevitably corrupt the people's hearts. Greed will cause the people to deceive. The prosperity of merchants will bring disaster to the country and chaos the government. What benefits can there be? "
An Wentao, Lu Zheng and the other officials nodded in agreement. Li Sen rolled his eyes. He came from Shandong. Although it was much poorer than Bashu, it was connected to Liaodong in the north, the capital in the west, the sea in the east, and Jiangsu in the south. Relatively speaking, information was developed and the people's knowledge was different. He disapproved of the officials of Bashu who were stuck in one corner and stuck in the old ways.
The King of Shu was puzzled again. He said, "You said that to communicate with all countries, gold and silver as capital. But gold and iron cannot be used for clothing or food. Even if they are piled up like a mountain, how can they be compared to a full granary? When the granary is full, the people yearn for peace. When the people yearn for peace, they understand etiquette and know honor and disgrace. Bashu has 15 chieftains. There is no currency in their tribes. They barter. Seeing is believing. The people are simple and honest. Is this not good? "
Yang Ling was silent. This prince's thinking is still stuck at the level of the tribal chiefs of the ancient times. How am I going to explain things to him?
The King of Shu saw that Yang Ling was silent and thought that he had been left speechless by his rebuttal. So he continued, "The Hongwu Emperor's Wei Suo has cultivated a million soldiers without spending a single cent from the court. How wise is he? Every family bears the burden of taxes in kind. It is just like collecting firewood. If there is a need, it can be done in an instant. Look at the construction of Nanjing in the past. With one order from Taizu, the whole country burned bricks and made tiles to be transported to the capital. What can't be done? You recruited soldiers, started trading, changed taxes in kind to silver, cough cough … cough cough … "
Seeing this, Zhu Rangjin hurriedly patted his father's back and softly said, "Father, please don't be angry. Father, please don't be angry. Your health is more important." As he said this, he looked helplessly at Yang Ling, a helpless smile hanging on his lips.
The King of Shu's thinking is similar to Zhu Yuanzhang in the past. He insisted on returning to the old ways, hoping to restrict the people to the land, have enough food and clothing, be content with the status quo, and not have any interaction with the barbarians. This is simply unrealistic. Zhu Rangjin did not dare to agree. However, a son does not speak of his father's mistakes. Although Zhu Rangjin did not agree, he did not dare to express it and go against his father.
Yang Ling returned a bitter smile. Today, he wanted to observe the King of Shu's reaction to his visit. Unexpectedly, he was rebuked by the King of Shu on his policies in front of the civil and military officials of Shu.
The stumbling blocks in the imperial court have been kicked away by him one by one. However, from the King of Shu's reaction and understanding, it can be seen that the local officials who are conservative and complacent are actually innumerable. Moreover, many of them have the title of a virtuous king or an upright official.
It seems that his policy of changing Jiangnan and gradually infiltrating into the interior is correct. It must be carried out gently and gradually without anyone noticing. Let the open and rich areas change first. If he hesitates and wants to cut it all off, there is a high chance that he will be counterattacked by the forces of the whole country and have his head cut off.
There is a long way to go! The King of Shu is just a big landlord who stubbornly clings to the old ways. He is the biggest landlord in Shu, the representative of the conservative landlord class.
Yang Ling shook his head and sighed. "Your Highness, farming and raising troops, farming and feeding themselves? What is there to raise a million troops? After a hundred years, the millions of soldiers of the past have become millions of farmers. The military strength of the Wei Suo army is getting lower and lower.
This time in Jiangnan, if we didn't use elite troops to lead mediocre troops, and if we didn't use a harsh military system, and if we didn't deploy valiant and war-like soldiers to Jiangnan, and if the Wokou pirates didn't have the support of the common people in our Great Ming Dynasty, and their retreat route was cut off by Japan, I don't know how many years it would take for us to be finished.
What I am worried about is that the soldiers of the Wei Suo are not willing to be soldiers. There are often deserters. After so many years of farming, more than half of it has been taken over by the officers and the rich. The farming system only exists in name. If we do not follow the example of the border army and quickly implement the recruitment law, the morale of the army will not be able to withstand a single blow in the future. "
Seeing that the King of Shu was about to speak, he hurriedly said, "Also, using money to pay taxes and corvee labor, completely abandoning taxes in kind and the corvee labor that every family has to bear. This can liberate the artisans and the farmers from the land, making it convenient for commerce and large scale production. Your Highness likes to talk about the grand occasions in the past when every move was made. Thinking of it, it was indeed a lively scene, making one's blood boil. "
"But …" Yang Ling laughed bitterly. "Every household dug a kiln, built a furnace, baked bricks and tiles, and sent them to Nanjing. How much would the repeated costs be? How much manpower would be needed to transport it? Even if only one-tenth of the costs were used, wouldn't it be faster and cheaper to build a few large brick factories near Nanjing? "
Hearing this, the King of Shu could not help but be speechless. He paused and said angrily, "You are eager for quick success, seeking temporary gains but destroying the foundation of the court, causing the people to seek benefits and the hearts of the people to be divided. Sooner or later there will be a big mess! Forget it, I see that you are a talent that can be molded, so I tried to persuade you, but you refused to come to your senses. This Prince cannot interfere in the affairs of the Imperial Court, but as long as this Prince is alive, you will not be able to do as you please in this land of Bashu. I will not let you destroy this paradise, a pure land! "
* * *
Just as the King of Shu said 'pure land', someone outside shouted, "There are assassins, there are assassins! Be careful, protect the King! "
Soon after, the sound of armor clanking could be heard as more than ten armored warriors rushed in. Seeing that the hall was as quiet as usual, they were relieved. The leader of the warriors shouted, "Guard the hall's doors and windows. Anyone who dares to barge in will be killed without mercy!"
Finishing, he walked to the King of Shu and knelt down on one knee, saying respectfully, "Your Highness, there is a sudden commotion in the Doulao Palace and Huangji Hall. The reason is unknown, I have surrounded the Pure Heart Pavilion and will send people to investigate."
Chengdu had always been peaceful, and the King of Shu was deeply loved by the people. In the past, when he was healthy, he would occasionally wear a green robe and walk the streets, enjoying himself with the people. No one had ever tried to assassinate this local feudal lord. Unexpectedly today, in front of the capital envoy, there was an assassination, inevitably giving people the feeling that the Shu territory was not peaceful.
The King of Shu could not keep his face, and said unhesitatingly, "What a fuss, there is no reason to call it an assassin. Quickly investigate and report it to me. "
As he said this, the sound of the guards talking came from the door, and someone shouted, "Don't be alarmed, it is purely a misunderstanding. The person who jumped on the roof is not an assassin, I heard that he is the commander of the imperial envoy's guards, and is even a Valiant Cavalry Captain. "
The King of Shu had just described Sichuan as a paradise, praising it like a beautiful flower, but now he made a big mistake. Yang Ling was watching the show with a smile, but when he heard this, he could not sit still. Valiant Cavalry Captain? Isn't that Wu Hanchao?
He hurriedly stood up, his expression awkward, saying, "Your Highness, this person … this person seems to be my subordinate. I will go take a look now. Please forgive me for disturbing Your Highness!"
When the King of Shu heard this, he let out a long sigh, snorted loudly, and did not say a word. Yang Ling awkwardly cupped his hands, and hurriedly ran out. Administrative Envoy An Wentao also hurriedly cupped his hands, saying, "Your Highness, please rest for a while. I will go take a look as well."
Li Dayi hid under the bushes, and suddenly saw Yang Ling appear between the leaves. His fingers unconsciously reached for the flying dagger at his waist. Yang Ling's bodyguards and a few low ranking officials were all left outside the restricted area of the Douma Palace. Once the imperial envoy entered the rear garden, the King of Shu's bodyguards took over the defense.
At this time, Yang Ling walked forward, and immediately, over ten armoured warriors followed closely behind. The crowd moved, sandwiching him in the middle. Moreover, Li Dayi's hiding place was about twenty feet away from Yang Ling. If he really wanted to assassinate him, he would have to dash out and get within seven or eight feet of him. Only then would his flying dagger be effective. While he was hesitating, Yang Ling had already gone far away. Li Dayi sighed softly, and once again hid himself.
Leading his men, Yang Ling rushed to the back of the Huangji Palace, only to see a group of bodyguards with unsheathed swords and nocked arrows. The archers all had their bows nocked, pointing at the roof of the palace. Although they already knew that the person who suddenly appeared on the roof was the imperial envoy's bodyguard, and not an assassin, they still did not dare to be careless. If Wu Hanchao jumped into the rear garden without the king's orders, they would not hesitate to shoot him dead.
Yang Ling hurriedly asked: "Where is he? Where is the Valiant Cavalry Commandant? "
An officer hurriedly came forward and saluted: "Reporting to the Imperial Envoy, he went in the direction of the Douma Palace and the Drifting Cloud Hall."
Yang Ling did not know the way, and hurriedly asked someone to lead the way, and hurriedly rushed over. When he walked to the front of the Drifting Cloud Hall, he saw two imperial guards standing on tiptoe, looking forward. One of the older ones laughed and said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. That girl looks so obedient. If she were to be a guest in the hall, it would be very comfortable. Besides, she is a commander in chief, but she insisted on having a child. What kind of anger is this?"
"That's right … aiyo, Imperial Envoy, I pay my respects to Imperial Envoy!" The other one was just replying when he suddenly saw Yang Ling walking over. His official robe and jade belt were very eye-catching under the sunlight. He had been stationed here all this time and had never seen Yang Ling. But today, other than the King of Shu, there was only one person in the Qingyang Palace who dared to wear an official robe. Naturally, he knew that the Imperial Envoy of the imperial court had arrived. He hurriedly pulled his brother aside and greeted him with a bow.
Yang Ling waved his hand and hurriedly rushed over. When he reached the Drifting Cloud Hall, he saw that there were many people surrounding the place. Most of them were officials who were not qualified to accompany the King of Shu. There were also some Daoist priests and bodyguards from the Qingyang Palace.
With one glance, Yang Ling saw Wu Hanchao standing on the roof, bowing to the people below. His expression was extremely funny. There were too many people crowding around below, but he could not see who he was bowing to. Yang Ling could not help but shout like a spring thunder, "What happened? This official has an audience with His Royal Highness the King of Shu. Why are you all causing trouble here? "
The crowd watching the commotion turned around and saw that it was the Imperial Envoy with an ashen face. They could not help but jump in fright. With a whoosh, the crowd moved to the left and right. In the middle stood a civil official dressed in a green official robe. His long beard was as long as his abdomen, like that of a Beijing opera actor. He held a saber in his hand and pointed at the roof in a rage, cursing, "Beast, little beast, you are really making me angry. Get down here now."
Wu Hanchao stood on the green tiles of the roof and said with a bitter face, "Father, you are in the heat of anger. I dare not go down. If you cut me down with your saber, our Wu family will have no descendants."
The more the bearded man heard, the angrier he became. He pointed at his son and scolded, "If we have no descendants, father will have another one. It is better than you acting so recklessly and bringing shame to the Wu family."
Yang Ling was like a twelve-foot Vajra; he was still scratching his head in confusion. He saw Song Ai walk over with tears in her eyes and said, "Daren, I want to go back to Guangxi. I don't want to come to Sichuan anymore."
Yang Ling rolled his eyes and thought, "Do you think this is a child's play? If you go back to Guangxi and the Wolf Soldiers leave, I will become a commander without an army. "
He helplessly said, "What happened? You have to let me know."
From the roof, Wu Hanchao also saw Yang Ling. As soon as he saw that his backbone had arrived, he was overjoyed. Standing on the roof, he jumped and cheered, "Lowly officer greets Daren. Daren, save me."
Wu Wending had a fiery temper. When he was angry, he was not afraid of heaven or earth and had no scruples. Otherwise, when he was a small sixth-grade official, he would not have dared to talk back to someone like Xu Guogong.
By this time, his anger had subsided quite a bit. Seeing that even the imperial envoy had been alerted, he was startled and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects. With an unsightly expression, he said, "Lowly officer Chengdu Tongzhi Wu Wending pays his respects to Imperial Envoy Daren. Lowly officer deserves ten thousand deaths for disturbing Daren!"
Only now did Yang Ling realize that this tall and sturdy official with the demeanor of a military general was Wu Hanchao's father. He quickly smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.
Looking at the situation, he could roughly guess what was going on. Yang Ling clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Wu Wending, who was suppressing his anger, Song Ai, who looked like a bullied wife, and Wu Hanchao, who was scratching his ears and cheeks on the roof. With a wry smile, he shook his head and said, "Let's talk in the room. Don't stand here and make a fool of yourself."
Yang Ling walked into Yunshui Hall first. Song Ai cried and stomped her feet toward the roof, shouting, "You! You good-for-nothing, why don't you get down here? "
Wu Wending stroked his long beard and glared at Song Ai. "You are indeed a barbarian who lacks proper upbringing. As a father, I haven't even said that I'm not satisfied with my son. Do I need you to talk so much? How dare you tell my son to get out... "
"Eh? He really did 'get out'. I told him to get out, but he didn't. When I told him to get out, he obediently obeyed. This little bastard, he married a wife and forgot his father. How infuriating! That's not right. When did I agree to let him marry this girl? Bah, bah, I'm so angry that I'm muddle-headed! "
Yang Ling sat in Yunshui Hall while Wu Wending and the other two ate excitedly and stuttered. After a great deal of effort, Yang Ling finally managed to piece together the meaning of their words. Most likely, he went to visit the King of Shu while the officials and guards waited outside the restricted area. Wu Hanchao and his father chatted intimately for a while before sneaking off to chat intimately with Song Ai.
No one knows a son better than a father. Wu Wending must have seen some clues. In any case, he was the one who chased after Wu Hanchao and saw what he shouldn't have seen. Every parent in the world who saw such a scene would be worried that their son would learn to be bad. Moreover, at that time, without the orders of parents or the words of a matchmaker, it was a disgraceful act for a man and a woman to have a private relationship. Naturally, Old Wu had to step forward to rectify the family's conduct and clean up the household.
At first, due to Song Ai's status, Wu Wending still gave her some face and only reprimanded his son in a righteous manner. However, in Song Ai's ears, it inevitably sounded like he was scolding the locust tree while pointing at the mulberry. She suppressed her anger and explained a few words, but to the angry Wu Wending, it was tantamount to adding fuel to the fire.
He felt that Song Ai was using her official position to oppress him. The two of them had a heated exchange of words. Song Ai then cast aside her official position and sought Wu Wending's forgiveness as an ordinary woman. Wu Hanchao, who did not expect this, looked at his sweetheart pitifully and spoke up for her.
How could a son speak up for someone else and go against his father? If he really went over the line, wouldn't he go against the heavens? In a fit of anger, Wu Wending began to chase after his son. Although Wu Hanchao's martial arts were higher than his, how could he dare to fight with his father? Therefore, he used his skills to 'miss' his son. As a result, the guards in the back garden who did not know what was going on misunderstood and thought that an assassin had sneaked in.
Yang Ling could not help but laugh when he heard this. Since ancient times, it was difficult for an honest and upright official to resolve family disputes. Standing in different positions, it was impossible to say who was right and who was wrong. Other than the Emperor, who had the supreme authority, who had the right to randomly matchmake a couple?
Yang Ling looked at Wu Wending and thought, "According to the current atmosphere, seeing this kind of thing, it is no wonder that Big Beard is angry. However, Song Ai has the talent and the figure she wants. Her status and position are a good match for Wu Hanchao. What is the root cause of Old Wu's opposition to them? Once the root cause is found, it will be easy to solve.
Now that he is angry, I am afraid that no matter what I say, he will not listen. There is no harm in suppressing this matter first. When his anger has subsided, I will have a good talk with him. No matter what, we have to make this match a match made in heaven. "
Thinking of this, Yang Ling saw Official An standing at the door looking in. He stood up and smiled, "Master Wu need not be angry. It is a family matter, let's put it aside for now. I will have a good talk with you later."
Seeing that Wu Wending was about to speak, he lowered his voice and said, "Just now, your son was chased and jumped into the room. The guards in the back garden mistook him for an assassin. This has already alarmed the King of Shu. The King of Shu is seriously ill and is very angry after being frightened. Although Hanchao is my guard, if the King of Shu wants to punish him, I will not stop him. At this time, do not cause any more trouble. I will go and apologize to the King of Shu. "
Wu Wending was shocked when he heard this. His Wu family only had one son. Don't look at how he waved his knife and shouted fiercely. If his son really didn't dodge, he wouldn't even be willing to cut the back of the knife, let alone the blade. If he angered the King of Shu, a light punishment would be dismissal, a heavy punishment would be imprisonment. Was this a joke?
After placating Wu Wending, Yang Ling gave them a look and walked out of the hall. He said to Official An, "Hehe, so it was just a false alarm. The Prefect of Chengdu, Master Wu, was just teaching his son a lesson. Let's go, let's quickly go and report to His Highness so that he will not worry."
When An Wentao heard that it was his subordinate who caused trouble, he could not help but glare fiercely at Wu Wending. If not for Yang Ling standing under the eaves, as if waiting for him to come along, he would have rushed in and reprimanded him.
Seeing that everyone had left, Wu Wending glared at Song Ai and then at his son. With an angry snort, he flicked his sleeves and left. Wu Hanchao let out a sigh and sheepishly withdrew his hand. He smiled awkwardly at Song Ai and said, "Ai, my father's temper is like this. Wind is wind, rain is rain, but the past is the past. He never holds a grudge. I will go back and persuade him again. My father listens to my mother the most. When we get home, I will ask my mother... "
Song Ai rolled her eyes at him and said crisply, "I know, your father listens to your mother the most, and you listen to your father the most. Humph!"
Song Ai was only angry today because of Wu Hanchao. In the past, she had never been bullied by others. After saying that, she turned around and walked away angrily. Wu Hanchao was stunned for a long time. He took two steps back and sat on the chair that Yang Ling had just sat on. After thinking for a while, he slapped his thigh and let out another long sigh, "Being a man... is difficult!"
* * *
After listening to Yang Ling and An Wentao's replies, the King of Shu frowned and said, "I heard that this Wu Wending is an honest and incorruptible official and does not fear power. However, he has a violent personality and is a strong point. In the past, he quarreled with High Duke Xu in court. It seems that it is true. However, this person is too impatient. If he wants to teach his son a lesson, he will not go home and make such a big joke in front of the civil and military officials of Chengdu. "
Yang Ling smiled apologetically and said, "Speaking of which, it is my subordinate's fault. If a father wants to beat his son, he should just let him slap him. Relying on his excellent Lightness Skill, he jumped around on the roof and caused the guards to misunderstand. It is my fault for disturbing Your Highness. Please forgive me. "
The King of Shu waved his hand and said, "It is not your fault. Haha, don't worry, I will not make a big fuss over such a matter. It is just that I have already caused a lot of inconvenience to the monastery by staying in the Qingyang Palace. If someone makes trouble again, I will feel bad. Jin'er, prepare a gift to apologize to the monastery master. "
Zhu Rangjin hurriedly responded respectfully. A strange light flashed in Yang Ling's eyes and he said, "I wonder if the King of Shu really has the intention to rebel. If my guess is wrong, then although the King of Shu is limited by the times and has old-fashioned ideas, he is still a good vassal king who loves his people and abides by the law."
After this round of stirring up, the conflict between the two of them had been resolved.
Yang Ling bowed and said with a smile, "What Your Highness worried about just now is actually the view of some prudent officials in the court. However, I think that times have changed. Now that the old system and old laws are not feasible, it should be changed according to the time, the situation, the place and the people. Everything depends on the time, the person and the situation.
Therefore, I have suggested to the Emperor that these policies are just fixed and directional. We should try it out first to see the effect. Everything should be allowed to be tried. Just like the crops that I introduced from the West. Before the seeds were sown, there were people who questioned and opposed it. Whether it is effective or not, we will know after autumn when the harvest is harvested. Before I was sure, I only found a few places to try it out. How would I dare to take the risk to plant the crops in the whole country and take the lives of trillions of people as a joke?
Now, it does not matter if Your Highness doubts this policy. Your Highness and I have different paths but have the same goal. Whether it is suitable or not, let the facts speak for themselves. If one year does not work, then we will look at three years. If three years does not work, then we will look at ten years. If we carry out reforms on taxes, officials, military, civil affairs and trade in some areas, not only does it not cause extravagance, separation of people and corruption of morals, but it also makes the officials clean, the people happy and the country rich and powerful, then... "
"Good! Today, I swear to you in front of the civil and military officials of Bashu: If your political strategy is not beneficial to the country and the people, then please stop as soon as possible and make up for your mistakes. If I am short-sighted and ignorant, and your political strategy is indeed beneficial to the country, then I will be the first among the vassal kings to support you, just like how I sent my steward to Shaanxi to purchase new grain seeds today! "
Yang Ling said cheerfully: "Good! A gentleman keeps his word. It is a promise between Your Highness and I. "
The King of Shu nodded and lay back on the bed, saying: "Today's meeting with the Wei-Wu Marquis is the most I have talked in a day. Hehe, I am a little tired now. The Wei-Wu Marquis has come to visit me, but I am sick and cannot get up to welcome him. It is really impolite. Let my son let Jin receive you on behalf of his father and accompany the Marquis to drink a few cups of wine and water to express my gratitude. How about that? "
Yang Ling smiled: "It is my wish, but I dare not ask. I have long heard that Your Highness has taught your son well. Your Highness is knowledgeable, elegant and generous. You are a talent in Sichuan. It is a blessing to meet you today. "As he said this, he and Zhu Rangjin looked at each other and smiled.
Yang Ling had just stood up and was about to bid farewell to the King of Shu when there was another commotion outside. Someone shouted 'capture the assassin' and the group of soldiers rushed in. This time, the King of Shu was really angry. He did not need anyone to help him and sat up with a whoosh. He hit the bed and shouted: "Bastard! Even if he is the reincarnation of the Qiang Xiang Order, I will still chop off his head today. Time and time again, he does not see the big picture. He has read the books of the sages in vain. How dare he! How dare he! "
Zhu Rangjin hurriedly supported him and said: "Father, please calm down. Father, please calm down. Your health is more important!"
The King of Shu pushed him away and pointed to the door, shouting: "Go, capture that bastard Wu Wending. I will punish him severely, I must punish him severely!"
Yang Ling was also a little annoyed. He furrowed his brows and looked towards the door. He saw the leader of the group of soldiers rushing in and kneeling on one knee. He cupped his fists and said: "Your Highness, just now there was a disturbance in the front hall. I was worried and strengthened the patrols. Unexpectedly, when the soldiers were probing the bushes with their spears, a masked man in green jumped out. This man is highly skilled in martial arts. He stabbed three guards to death with a dagger and escaped. I am sending people to chase after him. "
The King of Shu was stunned: "There really was an assassin?"
The originally lazy Li Sen suddenly tensed up and said: "Who is the assassin coming for? The King of Shu has been recuperating here for several months and has never seen an assassin attack. Today, the security is tightened but the assassin has come. Could it be …? "
Yang Ling exchanged a look with him and the two quickly understood each other's doubts: "If the assassin came from outside and came for the imperial envoy, could it be that the King of Shu is innocent and someone else wants to harm the court? But … who knows if this is the King of Shu's plan to confuse the enemy? "
The Qingyang Palace was heavily guarded inside and outside. There were soldiers searching and patrolling everywhere. The administrative envoy, Lord An, also rushed out in a hurry. The patrolling yamen was conducting an inspection of all the brothels, taverns, teahouses and restaurants in the city. The King of Shu was still angry. He said hatefully: "This peaceful place is too peaceful. Who is so audacious as to despise the law?"
A guard rushed in from outside, his face full of sweat. He hurriedly reported: "Reporting to Your Highness …"
The King of Shu was startled and interrupted: "The assassin has been caught?"
Yang Ling looked on coldly. Seeing that the King of Shu's surprised and anxious expression did not seem to be fake, he was even more puzzled. He heard the guard stutter: "Your Highness, what … what assassin? I rushed here from Xuzhou in the starry night. The Crown Prince entered Lingxiao City alone to appease the barbarians. Unexpectedly, they went back on their word and detained the Crown Prince. They want the court to move all the Han people out of their territory. Your Highness, please quickly send troops to rescue the Crown Prince. "
"What?" The King of Shu was shocked. He jumped down from the bed and felt the world spinning around him. His throat tasted sweet and his face turned green and red. He opened his mouth but before he could say a word, he fell back onto the bed and fainted.
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