Zheng Xiong and Xiao Ding walked side by side.

This morning, the two of them had just seen off the newly appointed Hebei Road pacifier Cui Ang.

Now, Xiao Ding will also continue his journey.

Zheng Xiong insisted on seeing him off, which surprised Xiao Ding.

The two of them were not familiar with each other, let alone interacted with each other. Zheng Xiong's behavior seemed a bit abrupt.

However, Xiao Ding could not refuse the kindness of others.

"Did Changqing make Privy Cui unhappy yesterday?" Zheng Xiong asked with a smile while riding on his horse.

Xiao Ding hesitated for a moment, then said: "The Privy Council asked about the matter in Northern Xinjiang, I just told the truth."

"Privacy Cui is now eager to go to Hebei Road to do something big and make great achievements. Chang Qing, you must be drinking a basin of cold water. No wonder Privy Cui is so cold to you today!" Zheng Xiong looked at it with a smile.

He said to Xiao Ding: "You will have to serve under Privy Cui in the future, I'm afraid you will suffer a lot."

Xiao Ding sighed: "I'm afraid Privy Cui is too eager. It's hard for Northern Xinjiang to have the stability it has now. If you're not careful, it's very easy to fall short."

Hearing what Xiao Ding said, Zheng Xiong was a little surprised: "I always thought that a general like Chang Qing, and a military general with meritorious deeds, must be looking forward to a big fight between the two sides so that he can gain merit from it?

"

"Who doesn't hope to make meritorious deeds? It's not easy for generals like us to rise in the Taiping Festival." Xiao Ding said: "But going to war with the Liao Kingdom is by no means something that can be ignored. A bad thing,

It will harm the country and the people. No matter how enthusiastic I am about meritorious service, I dare not risk the safety of my officers and soldiers and the people on the border."

"Changqing thinks we have no chance of winning now?" Zheng Xiong asked.

Xiao Ding nodded: "Yes, His Highness King Jing has laid a solid foundation in the past few years. If this term of comfort envoy can calm down and build on the foundation of His Highness King Jing, he will continue to do seven, eight, ten, and more in a down-to-earth manner."

year, then there is great hope.”

"Ten years of life, hehe, I'm afraid that Privy Cui can't wait any longer. He's almost sixty." Zheng Xiong said sarcastically. "He can't wait to have a battle with the Liao Kingdom right away, take back Youyan, and leave his name in Qing history.

.The person who revives Youyan left behind by Taizu can be crowned king. This is an absolutely tempting piece of pie."

"The Liao Kingdom has millions of troops, and its territory is vaster than our Song Dynasty. If you want to attack Liao, you need to plan carefully from the national level. How can Hebei be able to do it all the way!" Xiao Ding said: "Either don't attack, or

It’s a nationwide war, otherwise, you’ll be humiliating yourself!”

"Isn't it said that there is constant civil strife in Liao? Either there is a rebellion here, or there is a riot there?" Zheng Xiong asked curiously.

"This is true, but the Liao Kingdom is like this, and they themselves have become accustomed to it. The area is too wide, and it is naturally difficult to reconcile interests. However, no matter where the rebellion is, it will not become a climate, and it will rise and fall."

When Xiao Ding said this, he lowered his voice slightly and said: "This is the same as our emperor and Song Dynasty. Such civil strife cannot shake the foundation of the imperial court at all."

Zheng Xiong laughed dumbly, "After Changqing returns to Beijing, you should find a way to reconcile the relationship with Privy Cui. Letting Xiao Jixiang come forward is a good choice. After all, you will have to work under Privy Cui in the future, so let him

I don’t like you anymore, and although I don’t dare to do anything to you, it’s hard to live in a tight life. Also, you will have to face the emperor after you go back this time. If the officials ask about certain things, you don’t have to tell them.

You have to be so detailed, and you must not be like when you faced Privy Xiao. Sometimes, it might be a better choice for you to be braver and more reckless."

Xiao Ding looked at Zheng Xiong for a while, feeling a little confused and a little surprised. This was a typical example of Zheng Xiong's exaggerated communication.

Especially when it comes to meeting the emperor, this is a subtle way of telling yourself not to tell the truth in front of officials.

I haven’t heard that Zheng Xiong has any friendship with my family!

But there is no doubt that Zheng Xiong is doing this for his own good.

Xiao Ding felt this clearly.

"Thank you, Zhizhou, for your advice!" Xiao Ding earnestly clasped his fists in salute.

"Changqing is so young, he still has a long time to live in the future. The career path of an official is extremely dangerous, so the best thing to do is to be careful every step of the way." Zheng Xiong clasped his fists in return and said, "Have a good journey. Zheng was sent here."

Seeing Xiao Ding and his entourage whipping their horses and whips and disappearing from sight, Zheng Xiong turned his horse's head and walked back slowly.

"Zhizhou?" A staff member accompanying him couldn't help it and asked directly.

"Chang Ming thinks that I talk too much in a shallow and profound way?" Zheng Xiong saw through what the other party was thinking and asked directly.

"Exactly!" The staff was a little confused: "Isn't this like Zhizhou's way of doing things?"

"In the past, I received a favor from Privy Xiao. Afterwards, Privy Xiao never told anyone about it." Zheng Xiong said, "And this matter has a lot to do with me. Privy Xiao is a noble person who forgets things a lot, but I don't.

It cannot be forgotten.”

The staff suddenly realized: "So there is still a connection between Zhizhou and the Xiao family?"

"At the time, Zheng was just a minor official. Privy Xiao may have forgotten it a long time ago. It seems that Xiao Changqing didn't know either." Zheng Xiong said with a smile. "I am a little worried that Xiao Changqing is young and does not understand Privy Cui's thoughts.

, so I want to remind him that I didn’t expect this person but he knew it.”

"Since it is clear, why do you have to disobey Privy Cui's thoughts?" The staff shook his head and said, "This is not what a wise man would do."

"This Xiao Changqing's temperament is somewhat similar to that of Privy Privy Xiao back then." Zheng Xiong said thoughtfully.

"But the current situation is not the same as it used to be. Xiao Changqing is so temperamental, I'm afraid he will suffer a loss." The staff said disapprovingly. "Xiao Jixiang also seems to be rushing forward."

Zheng Xiong deeply agreed, "We can only do our best and obey fate. If you have the opportunity, please help me if you can. I feel sorry for myself. This Xiao Changqing, I am afraid, is not easy to listen to others' advice. But after listening to his words

, I don’t have any hope at all regarding Privy Cui’s trip.”

"It's true as Xiao Changqing said, Privy Cui's trip may be bad!" the staff said worriedly. "If something bad happens on Hebei Road, the whole world will be shaken."

"This is not something that I, a small governor of Huazhou, can worry about." Zheng Xiong said, "Just do your own thing well. Let the big guys in the imperial court worry about such big things!"

Xiao Ding went all the way to Kaifeng, and Zheng Xiong returned to his hometown to live a peaceful life. At the same time, Cui Ang, who was crossing the river to the north, frowned and leaned against the window to watch the river water splashing against the side of the boat.

The waves are thoughtful.

"This Xiao Ding can't be kept!" Suddenly, Cui Ang said.

These words startled Cui Jin on the side.

"Sir, this Xiao Changqing is in charge, and he is the eldest son of Prime Minister Xiao, the son-in-law of the Gao family, and the grandson of the Han family in Xinyang. How can he be easily touched!"

Cui Ang rolled his eyes and glanced at Cui Jin: "Where do you want to go? I said I couldn't keep him. Do you think I want to kill him?"

After appeasing the envoys along the way, it is not difficult to kill a general at the command level. There were many such things before! It's just that Xiao Ding's background is deeper.

Cui Jin breathed a sigh of relief.

Yesterday, after his father had a long talk with Xiao Changqing, his mood felt a little wrong. It was obvious that Xiao Changqing's response was not to his liking, but he did not want his father to have murderous intentions towards Xiao Changqing because of this. After all, he was also his childhood playmate.

"What does father mean?"

"Of course Xiao Ding cannot be killed, but Hebei Road cannot keep him. After I officially take office, I will find a way to get him away!" Cui Ang said.

"Xiao Ding is the number one general in Northern Xinjiang. Isn't it a pity that my father can't keep such a brave general for his own use?" Cui Jin said.

Cui Ang sneered: "How many brave generals are there in the world? I don't know how many people are better than Zhu Xiao, but they have no chance and no recognition, so they can only suffer for years below. Do you really think that something Is it impossible to get things done without a certain person? There are tens of millions of people in the Song Dynasty, and there are countless brave and resourceful people. Although Xiao Ding is brave, but since he is not of the same mind as a father, the greater his ability, the greater the harm. The bigger it gets.”

"If this person wasn't really difficult to kill, I would really want to use him to establish my authority."

Cui Jin wiped the cold sweat from his head and found out that his father had really had such thoughts.

It is not unusual for a new official to kill someone to establish his authority.

"But sir, where can you find a general as powerful as Mei Xiao Ding in such a hurry?"

Cui Ang snorted: "Your father is a member of the Privy Council and is in charge of the world's military affairs. How can there be no one in his pocket? The talents of these people are not inferior to Xiao Changqing. He wants to win over Xiao Changqing just because he is Xiao Yu's son is nothing more than the grandson of the Han family in Xinyang. Since he doesn't know the truth, he moved far away and replaced him with someone I trust, and he can only follow my people wholeheartedly to do things."

"The Guangrui Army led by Xiao Changqing is a powerful force."

"You can't keep them either." Cui Ang said: "At yesterday's banquet, the people from the Golden Gun class sat at the same table as those from Xiao Ding. Did you see any difference?"

Cui Jin thought for a moment and said, "It seems that Chang Qing's subordinates are more polite."

"Some of them have lived in Bianliang for a long time, and some are just bumpkin from the frontier. But in the face of good food and wine, the people who have lived in Bianliang for a long time have lost their appearance. Speaking of which, I feel embarrassed for the officials." Cui Ang snorted. "These soldiers from the North are so polite. I invited them to drink a glass of wine, and they even looked at Xiao Ding. Xiao Ding nodded before drinking. Do you think I can keep such soldiers? Do I dare to keep them?"

"The people he brings with him are naturally his confidants!"

"Wrong, those generals who stayed in Tianmen Village are the ones Xiao Ding can really trust! Otherwise, why would they dare to entrust us with such big things!" Cui Ang said. "Other than this, today, I will give gold to those sergeants. Look at them. But did you accept it happily?"

Cui Jin thought for a moment, "It seems that those people only thanked you after Xiao Changqing spoke."
Chapter completed!