Mi Fengjie, Fan Xiaochai, and now Xu Beizhi.
This was probably how important Chen Shaobao was to the young vassal king. If not for the fact that the second battle of Liang Mang had already begun, perhaps he would have added the Youzhou general Huangfu Xi.
However, it was clear that this Left Scattered Cavalry Officer didn't appreciate it very much.
Along the way to the north, Chen Wang and Xu Beizhi did not have much interaction. So much so that even Xu Beizhi, a wonderful official who could joke around with anyone, had no choice but to borrow a post horse from a courier station. He might as well ride side by side with the two great spies of the Fu Shui Room. Out of sight, out of mind.
Before Xu Beizhi left, Hsu Fengnian did not ask him to accompany Chen Wang to his hometown in Youzhou. He did not even reveal any intention of roping him in. He only gave Xu Beizhi one sentence: no matter what this person does in Youzhou, ignore him. Xu Beizhi was naturally aware of the hidden relationship between Chen Wang and Beiliang. He had no objection to this. In fact, if it were someone else acting as a foil, they might have done something bad with good intentions. Beiliang's officialdom might never understand Hsu Fengnian's subtle attitude toward Chen Wang, a Beiliang scholar. They would also not know how much Chen Wang had contributed to Beiliang in the past ten years. They would also not know how much Chen Wang was disappointed in Beiliang. Most importantly, this disappointment was not right or wrong. This was the most fatal.
In the twilight, they passed by a small posthouse called Ru Yi. After Chen Wang got off the carriage, he walked into the posthouse with the taciturn young eunuch. Xu Beizhi and the other two also handed over their mounts to the courier to be sent to the stable to be fed. If nothing unexpected happened tonight, they would be staying here. Because Mi Fengjie had shown the Fu Shui Fang token, the Ruyi Posthouse was especially attentive. The food and accommodation were arranged according to the standard of a military officer. To the small and large posthouse in Beiliang, the spies of the Fu Shui Fang and the Fu Ying Branch were rare guests. But as long as they revealed their identity, they were usually important military personnel and could not be neglected. According to the laws of Northern Liang, in a state of emergency, there were only two people who could mobilize the courier riders to pass on military intelligence or take over the military force of the courier station. Other than the general who commanded the entire army, there were only two people who could be spies.
They were still about two days away from Chen Wang's hometown. Because Xu Beizhi didn't need to follow this Chen Shaobao back to his hometown, this former Lingzhou Provincial Governor who was jokingly called 'Beiliang Chen Shaobao' once again brought a pot of Green Ant Wine to find Chen Wang.
It was very strange. Every time Chen Wang stayed in the courier station, he would choose to rest in the building. Although he could see far away, it was definitely not a good place to sleep.
When Xu Beizhi found Chen Wang, he was standing by the window, looking into the distance. Only when Xu Beizhi found a simple and crude stool to sit down did Chen Wang come to his senses. He smiled apologetically and sat on the edge of the wooden bed that had been temporarily set up in the courier station. The bedding and other things that had been hastily prepared were brand new and clean. It was hard to imagine that a renowned Huang Zi official, who was already in the center of power, would be living in such a narrow and dark place. At this time, Chen Wang was not some criminal who had been banished to the cold border by the court.
Xu Beizhi shook the wine pot and asked with a smile, "You're not drinking? If you're not drinking, then I'll be drinking alone again. "
Chen Wang hesitated and then shook his head. "There are many banquets in the capital, but I rarely drink. With your wisdom, you should be able to understand the reason."
Xu Beizhi smiled. "Haven't you really returned to your hometown?"
Chen Wang still shook his head. "People like me are most afraid of the word 'what if'. As time passes, it becomes a habit. Sir, please forgive me."
Xu Beizhi said helplessly, "No wonder there's only one Chen Shaobao in Li Yang."
Chen Wang made a rare joke. "Who is' Beiliang's Chen Shaobao '?"
Xu Beizhi took a sip of the Green Ant Wine and wiped his mouth. "Even Sir Chen has heard of my name, Xu Beizhi?"
Chen Wang nodded. "I hope you don't think it's an insult."
Xu Beizhi said with a smile, "Although I don't feel honored, I don't think it's an insult to me, Xu Beizhi. I've only taken a sip of the wine, so it's not drunken talk. It's from the bottom of my heart."
Chen Wang looked at this young Beiliang outsider who had experienced many hardships and laughed softly. "Sir, you have a lot of secret records in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue. I've read them many times … Since you say this is your 'hometown,' then I'll make an exception and say some drunken words while you're drunk. Ever since Xiangfu, there's a new custom in the official circles of the capital. It's to arrange seats for the civil officials of Beiliang according to knowledge, ability, reputation, and family background. It's a 'local evaluation' that the Ministry of Personnel can never interfere with. Sir is at the top of the list, followed by Deputy Administrator Song Dongming, Administrator Li Gongde, Chen Xiliang of Liuzhou, Governor Song Yan of Youzhou, Mountain Master Huang Shang of Green Deer Cave Academy, Wang Xihua who was praised by Yao Baifeng as one of the three talented governors. Of course, there's an additional Sir White Lotus in the top ranks, but he's still behind you."
Chen Wang paused for a moment and stared at the grandson of the king of Beimang's North Courtyard who was slowly drinking the Green Ant Wine. He slowly said, "So Sir's name in Great Peace City is far more well-known than you imagine. I once calculated that in the court meeting of the Cultivation Temple, the Emperor personally mentioned Beiliang civil officials more than anyone else. You once joked with the Minister of Personnel, Yin Maochun, that if you could be recruited into the capital in the third year of Xiangfu, then Yin Maochun wouldn't have to be on duty in the Ministry of Personnel for half a year in the fourth year of Xiangfu. "
Xu Beizhi used a finger to wipe the wine at the corner of his mouth and said, "Hsu Fengnian is not honest. The Fu Shui Room must have records of this, but he never mentioned it to me."
Chen Wang smiled and asked, "Are you not going to ask why I am telling you this?"
Xu Beizhi heroically said, "There's no need to ask. I know that Lord Chen isn't the type to persuade others. Presumably, Lord Chen also knows that I, Xu Beizhi, can't be a servant of three surnames. Working for that fellow surnamed Xu from Mount Qingliang, it would be best if I could become the Northern Liang Dao Administrator while I'm still alive. That would already be the last bit of hope I have left."
Chen Wang shook his head and said, "Sir is wrong. I, Chen Wang, hope that you can go to Great Peace City."
Xu Beizhi had just raised the wine pot and put it down. His eyes immediately became cold and sharp. He stared at Chen Shaobao, who was said to be more useful than the Head of the Secretariat in the Liyang officialdom. He smiled coldly and said, "Official Chen is so dedicated to the country. It is indeed unexpected."
Chen Wang said indifferently, "In my view, without you, Beiliang can still defeat Beimang. However, with the addition of Xu Beizhi, who is seen as the right arm of the King of Beiliang, in the Liyang imperial court, the Central Plains will be greatly reassured."
Xu Beizhi was shocked. "Great Peace City is already so chaotic?"
Chen Wang did not speak. His expression was heavy.
Xu Beizhi stood up and placed the wine pot, which still had half a pot of green ant left, on the chair. He turned around and said, "Thank you, Official Chen, for your words."
Some words, like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water, could cause ripples and reveal the whole picture of the sea.
Chen Wang's words seemed to be directed at Xu Beizhi alone, but he was actually revealing the general situation in the capital, or rather, the entire Central Plains.
How Beiliang would make a choice would be based on these words that clearly stated the bottom line of the Liyang imperial court.
Chen Wang did not rise to see him off, nor did he look at Xu Beizhi's back. He said something off-topic, "Help me pass on a message to the King of Beiliang. He should not have looked on coldly back then."
Xu Beizhi stopped walking. "If Fu Shui Room had acted on behalf of that woman back then, Official Chen would not have the chance to sit here today. Perhaps Official Chen does not know, but Liyang's Zhao Gou has been watching that woman for twelve whole years. It is even very likely that those Youzhou nobles were secretly instigated and bewitched by Zhao Gou. If Fu Shui Room had rashly interfered, Official Chen's identity would have been exposed. Beiliang's difficulties … "
After saying this, Xu Beizhi did not continue speaking. Saying more would be unnecessary.
Chen Wang stood up and stood by the window, silent.
Even after Xu Beizhi had left for a long time, Chen Wang continued to stare into the distance.
He looked at this village with one eye, two eyes, three eyes, a hundred eyes, a thousand eyes, ten thousand eyes.
He could not see her anymore.
He could not see that when she was reading, when he raised his head, she was looking at him.
Scholars were all heartless people, the most heartless of all.
His eyes were hazy with tears, and his lips moved slightly.
I, Chen Wang, only wished that I had not been nominated on the imperial roll back then, only wished that I had returned home in dejection.
— —
There was a well at the corner of the street outside the Ruyi Posthouse. There was an enormous wheel on the well platform. It took two strong men to move a bucket of water.
The young eunuch who had been Chen Wang's driver walked out of the posthouse alone. When he saw this well that was not commonly seen in the Central Plains, he did not move. He stared curiously at the large wheel. It was as though this crude object was more attractive than the majestic halls of the Great Peace Imperial Palace, the flowery imperial gardens, and the towering trees that were older than Liyang.
Not long after, a young man with a blade at his waist came to the well.
The two were within five feet of each other.
The person who came was on the verge of death.
Even if he was Hsu Fengnian.
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