(There is an event at 8 p.m. on the Xuzhong Tieba. You are welcome to ask questions. It is time to start spoilers …)
Qi Yanglong really did go to the Demawei Posthouse, personally urging the young king to leave the capital with his troops. However, as soon as the elder got off the carriage, the Posthouse Officer ran up to him with a small cloth bag in his hands. Because he didn't dare confirm the elder's identity, he carefully asked, "May I ask if elder is from the Secretariat …?"
The Posthouse Officer didn't directly ask if it was the Head of the Secretariat, instead bringing up the yamen instead of his official position. Even if he made a mistake, he could still make up for it.
The elder nodded and made an en sound. He asked, "Could it be that the King of Beiliang has already left the capital?"
The Posthouse Officer's knees went weak. Fortunately, the elder had already grabbed the cloth bag and weighed it in his hand. He said in confusion, "Seal?"
The Posthouse Officer who had almost knelt on the ground forcibly straightened his back. He didn't know what to do and his face flushed red. The Demawei Posthouse had always been a place of plague that ordinary officials avoided like the plague. Last year, he had also accidentally angered a manager of the Department for Purging Officials in the Ministry of War, which was why he was thrown here to fend for himself. How could he have thought that there would be a day when he would speak face to face with the Head of the Secretariat? When the Posthouse Officer heard the prince say that Qi Yanglong of the Secretariat would be coming to Demawei this morning, he didn't take it seriously. He felt that at most, a third or fourth-rank official would be enough for his ancestors to come. The Posthouse Officer gritted his teeth. He didn't have the time to worry about being rude. His mind was filled with the thought that every extra word he said to Grand Secretary Qi would add a bit more glory to his family. He asked in a trembling voice, "Head of the Secretariat, do you want to enter the posthouse to rest for a bit?"
Qi Yanglong smiled. Just as he was about to tactfully refuse, he suddenly thought of something and asked, "Does Demawei have Green Ant Wine this time?"
The Posthouse Officer said like a chicken pecking at rice, "Yes, yes, yes!"
When the Posthouse Officer led the Head of the Secretariat into the inner courtyard of the posthouse, he purposely made the many minor officials of the posthouse busy. Qi Yanglong didn't expose his shallow intentions, allowing the Posthouse Officer to lead the way into that secluded small courtyard.
The Posthouse Officer quickly brought out a rattan chair for the old man and explained that Wang Ye liked to rest on the rattan chair whenever he had nothing to do. He had heard from the previous Posthouse Officer that Wang Ye did the same when he came to the capital last time. He had a special liking for this rattan chair.
Qi Yanglong lay on the rattan chair and looked like he was resting with his eyes closed. The Posthouse Officer took two pots of wine from his subordinate and did not dare to disturb him. He stood under the eaves with his back bent and waited quietly.
Qi Yanglong rested for about half an hour. After opening his eyes, he asked softly, "What did the young prince say when he gave you the item?"
The Posthouse Officer slapped his head and quickly said, "I almost forgot. His Highness had indeed warned me that if the head of the Hall of Secretaries graced us with his presence, I should tell him that this little plaything was temporarily lent to him by a scholar surnamed Zhang. Now, it is returning it to the scholars of the world. If it weren't for the Head of the Secretariat
Since Milord has personally dismounted, then there is no need to say anything. "
Qi Yanglong was taken aback. "A scholar with the surname Zhang?"
Green eyes? Definitely not. Zhang Julu would definitely not have any personal relationship with Beiliang. Even if he did leave behind this relic, it should have been given to Huan Wen.
Oh, then it should be the Saint of the Zhang family, Yansheng Gong.
Qi Yanglong slowly stood up and put away the small cloth bag. He took the two pots of Green Ant Wine from the Posthouse Officer and asked with a smile, "Have you drunk this wine?"
The Posthouse Officer blushed with shame and said, "I only drank a few mouthfuls yesterday. It's a bit hard to swallow. It's too strong, like it's burning my throat."
The Posthouse Officer paused and flattered, "Head of the Hall of Secretaries, even if you want to drink, you should drink it slowly."
Qi Yanglong dismissed it with a smile and took the wine and left.
Give silver?
The old man did not have this thought.
If he really gave silver, how would this unknown official dare to brag to his colleagues about his title as head of the Hall of Secretaries? How would he be able to use this title to seek a future with a clear conscience?
Great Peace City, Great Peace City.
It was a very peaceful city, but there were not many people who were truly at ease here.
— —
In today's court assembly, the young King who came to the door but turned back finally did not appear again. This greatly disappointed the Rouge Army that was even more powerful than yesterday.
The Assistant Minister of Rites, Jin Lanting, had not attended the morning court assembly for two consecutive days. He had asked for leave from the old Minister of Rites, Sima Puhua. He did not even go to the court assembly for the next few days. He closed the door and refused to see any guests. It was said that he did not even receive people like Gao Tingshu and Wu Congxian.
After the Assistant Minister of Personnel, Wen Taiyi, and Andong General, Ma Zhongxian, became the Jingan County Administrator and Deputy Regional Governor respectively, the head of the Peng family quickly took over as the Left Assistant Minister of Personnel. The Imperial Army's high ranking general, Lee Chang 'an, replaced Ma Zhongxian as the new Andong General.
Just as the morning court assembly in the capital was bustling with activity, 800 light cavalry under the careful escort of the Jingji West Camp were already on their way to Ji Dong's border.
Everyone in the Jingji West Cavalry saw that there wasn't going to be any trouble and felt a sense of relief. It was said that it was easier to invite the devil than to send it away. This northwest vassal king and his eight hundred white horses were truly difficult to invite and send away. It was said that the Northern General, Ma Lulang, had been scared to death. One of his troops had also suffered a great calamity the day before yesterday. The blood stains on the street outside the Imperial Astronomer's Gate had not been wiped off yet. The private army that the Minister of War, Wu Zhongxuan, brought to the Jingji South Camp had also suffered a great loss for no reason. The cause seemed to be a conflict with the young King at the Ministry of War's Yamen. A valiant general from the Southern Border was beaten half to death on the spot.
The Anxi General, Zhao Gui, who was born in a noble family, seemed to be seriously ill. It was difficult for him to even get out of bed, let alone wear armor and ride a horse. Therefore, only Chi Changgong, the captain of the Western Cavalry, was left as the backbone of the Western Cavalry.
After about a hundred miles from the Jingji West Camp, several of the Beiliang Cavalry turned their horses around and stopped. When the Western Cavalry, who only dared to follow far behind the 800 Beiliang Cavalry, saw this, Yuchi Changgong personally rode out and took the lead to approach. When he saw the figure of the King of Beiliang, he was immediately on tenterhooks and slowly moved forward.
Hsu Fengnian, who was dressed in simple casual clothes with a white jade belt around his waist, lightly squeezed his horse's belly and came to Yuchi Changgong's side alone. After a moment of silence, he looked at the scene of the Li Yang Cavalry galloping forward and said, "Captain Yuchi, I apologize for troubling you when I went to the capital earlier."
Yuchi Changgong was stunned, and his heart tightened. What? Was he going to use peaceful means before resorting to force? For a moment, this Hu Cavalry Captain didn't dare to speak. He was afraid that if he angered this arrogant and despotic demon of the Xu family, he would implicate his two camps of cavalry.
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "If we go further west, I estimate that we will soon be greeted by the Ji Province soldiers. You can escort us here."
Yuchi Changgong braced himself and said, "Your Highness, it's not that this general is unwilling to accept your kindness, but there are orders from above that the Jingji West Camp must escort Your Highness to the border of Ji Province."
Hsu Fengnian smiled and asked, "Is it Wu Zhongxuan or Tang Tieshuang?"
Yuchi Changgong's expression was awkward.
At this moment, a lone rider galloped over from the northeast.
Hsu Fengnian sighed and slowly moved forward to meet this uninvited guest.
The two riders faced each other twenty-some paces apart. The man in front of Hsu Fengnian was slightly older than him. He did not have the playboy air of Anxi General Zhao Gui, nor did he have the martial aura of Yuchi Changgong. If he had not appeared here, he would be an ordinary scholar on the streets of Great Peace City.
The man raised his butt and rubbed it a few times. His voice was hoarse as he said, "I didn't dare to believe that it was really you. After I returned to the capital, I heard that a young swordsman had appeared in Great Peace City who had challenged Qi Jiajie. His name was Wen Hua, but I didn't believe it either. Then, was it really that fellow I saw back then? "
Hsu Fengnian nodded. "It was him. But … he no longer practices the sword. "
The man's expression was bitter. "Then back in Wu Zhou, did you already know my identity?"
Hsu Fengnian said helplessly, "After getting drunk several times, you told Wen Hua yourself that you were the grandson of the great general of this dynasty. I'm not deaf … Wen Hua naturally did not believe you. Just like how he thought I was boasting at the beginning … when I returned to Mount Qingliang, I knew who you, Ma Wenhou, were. The number of generals in the Li Yang Dynasty with the surname 'Zhengping Town' can be counted on one hand, and there is only one surnamed Ma. "
The man softly murmured, "At that time, I couldn't afford to buy good wine. When I drank bad wine, it was easy to get drunk. What could I do?"
Hsu Fengnian looked at this scholar that he had met by chance in Wu Zhou back then with a complicated expression. At that time, Wu Wenhou was a scholar who traveled tens of thousands of li alone. He liked to write travel books and happened to run into him and Wen Hua, who were playing chess and gambling in an alley. He lost all his money and then relied on them. After hanging out together for more than two months, Wen Hua and Wu Wenhou seemed to be particularly at odds. Both sides didn't see eye to eye and would always get angry and glare at each other over trivial matters. Wen Hua never believed that this stingy and poor scholar came from a famous family, while Wu Wenhou didn't believe that this ranger with a wooden sword could really make a name for himself in this life. However, at that time, Wu Wenhou, who was away from home, didn't want to use his family's connections in the local area. He had always been shy of money. In addition, he was resentful that his master was a national chess player in Li Yang. He couldn't win a single game of chess against the person surnamed Xu. He stubbornly tangled with these two scoundrels for almost three months. Later, he had to cross Jiangnan and travel to the southern border. Only then did they finally part ways.
Wu Wenhou looked at Hsu Fengnian and asked bluntly, "If you don't know me, Wu Wenhou, when you enter the capital this time, will you pay a visit to the manor of the great general of the north? Will you send punitive forces to denounce me? "
Hsu Fengnian nodded and said, "Of course."
Wu Wenhou's expression was pained.
Hsu Fengnian said indifferently, "In any case, the grudges of the older generation are right there. If you feel guilty toward your grandfather Ma Lulang and feel that the old debt hasn't been settled and that it is now my Xu family that owes your Ma family, you can always ask me, Hsu Fengnian, to pay it back. Since you are the eldest legitimate grandson of the Ma family, I won't find it strange."
Ma Wenhou suddenly roared, "Could it be that you, the King of Beiliang, think I will act as if nothing happened?!"
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