After reading and hanging the plaque on the city wall, Administrator Li Gongde led Hsu Fengnian to the general's mansion near the south gate. The main imperial road ran through the north and south, and the civil and military offices in the city were located on both sides of the mansion. Along the way, Li Gongde, one of the two city governors, talked endlessly. He talked about the height of the main city wall, the length of the double roads, the number of crossbows on the city wall, the inventory of arrows and armor, and so on. He was so familiar with it that it was like he was reporting how much silver was in a box or how many copper coins were in a cabinet.
The Administrator was even able to blurt out details such as how many Northern Mang catapults a single wall could withstand, how many Northern Mang soldiers would surround the city, and how many other details such as how many Northern Mang soldiers would attack the city. He also knew the mobilization of troops on this central axis, how to build a second line of defense once the main city gate was breached, and how the small scale cavalry would assist in the defense at the crucial moment. Not to mention Hsu Fengnian, Chu Lushan and Yuan Zuozong looked at each other. Jin Partridge Zhou Kang, Infantry Deputy Commander Gu Dazzu, and other generals all widened their eyes. In the past, in Lingzhou in the south of the Great Wall, it was recognized that "the power was in the Zhong Family and the money was in the Li Family". Everyone in the officialdom of Beiliang knew that this stingy official was good at making money. They had never heard that Li Gongde could do things so flawlessly.
Approaching the general's mansion that had not yet been completed, Li Gongde suddenly smiled and said, "The Beijue City used up all the giant trees collected from the deep mountains and forests of Nanzhao in Xishu and then stored in Beiliang for many years. The giant stones needed to build the city almost turned the cave of Lanyu upside down. Let's not talk about these distant places. I believe that when you look to the south, you can't see the two hills at the head of the dragon and the tail of the tiger. From the first garrison in the Pass to the north to build the city outside the Pass, and then most of the border army took turns to work here, and the people in the Pass were countless … "
Speaking of this, the old man stopped talking and smiled.
Li Gongde, a civil official who had an extremely bad reputation among the generals in Beiliang, was in high spirits at this moment. He was not the slightest shadow of the sycophantic official of the Xu family in the conference hall of Mount Qingliang in the early years.
At that time, except for Chu Lushan, who "came from the same sect" and did not have a high rank at that time, no one was willing to pay attention to Li Gongde, the chief official of a province. Yan Jiexi, a famous scholar, naturally disdained to be associated with him. Even Tian Peifang, the former provincial governor of Liangzhou, who had now resigned, could not bring himself to call this person his brother. At that time, when Beiliang was determined to build Beiliang City, everyone mistakenly thought that the young vassal king did not really intend to let Li Gongde preside over the overall situation. Instead, he wanted to send the Administrator, who had turned the officialdom of Lingzhou into a mess, out of the Pass and hide him from then on. First, it was a legitimate reason to demote him, and second, it was to pave the way for Xu Beizhi, Chen Xiliang, or Chang Sui, and other trusted subordinates. Little did they know that Li Gongde really had a firm foothold in Beiliang City. Song Zhangsui, Tian Peifang, and Wang Linquan, the deputy governors in charge of the three specific directions, followed the Administrator's lead. They did not have any intention of overthrowing Li Gongde, and Li Gongde lived up to everyone's expectations and quickly got into his role. It had to be said that for a person who could become a civil official in Beiliang, when he was really practical, he was not careless and did everything himself. In the words of Li Gongde's private chat with Song Zhangsui, he was "putting an end to the official career, living with the generals and craftsmen. He had experience in prospecting, tamping earth, materials, military manuals, stockpiling grain, and so on. Although he could not be called omniscient, he could not be considered an outsider. In the end, he could bow his head and command.
Suddenly, Li Gongde continued craftily, "Your Highness, Mount Qing Liang cannot skimp on all expenses for tonight's celebration banquet!"
The old infantry commander, Yan Wenluan, who had probably never chatted with Li Gongde in his entire life, spoke up for the first time. "Official Li is not at all overboard in taking advantage of the situation this time."
Hsu Fengnian pointed at Beiliang, who was beside him. "The transport envoy is here," he said with a laugh. "Our head shopkeeper in charge of money is here. His words carry more weight than mine."
Xu Beizhi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said with a smile, "That's good. Originally, I had intercepted a chest that contained roughly two paintings by Sui Ying, the painting saint of the Great Feng Dynasty. One was a green Buddha's hand ink-stone made by the emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and the other was a jade seal of the Emperor of the Great Qin Dynasty. There were fifteen or sixteen pieces scattered about. It wouldn't be difficult to sell them for five or six thousand taels of silver. After the celebration banquet, you can go to Mount Qing Liang and Mount Qing Liang to move some out. After I sell this chest of items, I should be able to quickly fill this hole. Moreover, I will have some spare money. When the time comes, I will hand it over to Official Li. "
As soon as Xu Beizhi's words came out, everyone tacitly turned to look at the young king.
Hsu Fengnian rolled his eyes.
The audience burst into laughter.
Perhaps Xu Beizhi was the only one who dared to openly stab the new King Liang.
After the celebration banquet, there were three parties. The generals were divided into two groups. Yan Wenluan, Chen Yunchui, He Zhonghu, Liu Yuanji and Lin Doufang were the veterans who had experienced the Spring and Autumn War. The youngest one, Yuan Zuozong, also participated. For the Xu family of Mount Qing Liang and the Beiliang Frontier Army, this Yuan Baixiong was indispensable. After all, in terms of military affairs, Yuan Zuozong was the only one who could be compared with the White Clothed War Saint Chen Zhibao. Although there were many famous generals in Beiliang, the one who could really make Chen Zhibao sincerely admire was probably only Yuan Zuozong. Chen Zhibao had said many times that Yuan Zuozong was the most underrated general in the Spring and Autumn War.
The Governor of Beiliang, Chu Lushan, personally led the other group, which included Wang Zhi, Cao Xiaojiao, Hong Xinjia and Hong Yuu. The Deputy Provincial Governor of Beiliang, Yang Shenxing, also attended the banquet.
The third party was a scholar banquet hosted by Li Gongde, Huang Shang and Tian Peifang. Most of the guests were scholars, and many Lu family disciples were also mixed in.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
