At two o'clock in the middle of the night, Tang Qian was sleeping deeply when a series of running footsteps woke him up. He was a scout and was extremely sensitive to footsteps. He turned over and sat up, holding a sword in his hand. Then there was an anxious knock on the door, "
General Tang! General Tang!”
The voice sounded familiar, so Tang Qian opened the door with his sword. Outside were a waiter and a short, fat middle-aged man. Tang Qian recognized them at a glance as shopkeeper An from Caiwan Restaurant.
"What's up?"
Shopkeeper An stuffed some money into the inn clerk's hand. When the boy left, Shopkeeper An came into the room and said hurriedly: "You should leave quickly! My father-in-law and son-in-law have been arrested."
Tang Qian was taken aback and asked anxiously: "What happened?"
"My young master went to Qiao Canjun to inquire about the news. He may have been reported by Qiao Canjun, and then soldiers came to take him away. Before leaving, the young master left a message. He may not be able to withstand the torture and will confess you to us.
You go quickly."
"I understand. Tell Mr. Qian that I won't blame him. You can leave first!"
Shopkeeper An left first. Tang Qian thought for a while and realized that the city gate was closed and they couldn't escape at all. He simply called his subordinates and asked them to throw all their crossbows and arrows into the pit with only a knife.
This was an agreement between Chen Qing and Yue Fei that a small number of Western troops could carry light troops across the border.
Not long after, the innkeeper hurried over and said in horror: "Mr. Tang, what's going on? There are many troops outside. They have surrounded the inn and asked you to go out by name."
"I know, don't worry!"
Tang Qian led nine of his men out, and the lights outside the inn were brightly lit. Hundreds of soldiers holding torches and swords, with bows and arrows on their backs, surrounded the inn.
The leading general, riding a white horse, was tall and burly, wearing armor and holding a broadsword. He looked at Tang Qian who came out with cold eyes.
The general pointed his broadsword and asked: "Are you Tang Qian, the leader of the Western Army's scouts?"
"Exactly!"
Tang Qian said proudly: "I am the commander of the army under King Yong. I am here to meet Yue Dutong on the order of King Yong!"
The general looked a little ugly and asked again: "What evidence do you have?"
Tang Qian took out a military order from his arms, "We received news from the court that the emperor ordered Yue Du to attack Jinghu South Road in the south. I don't know if this news is accurate. King Yong gave us an order and asked us to understand the situation of Xiangyang's army. I, as the south
Of course one of the leading generals must come to meet Yue Dutong to understand the real situation."
The general took a look at the military order and found that it was indeed Chen Qing's order from King Yong, asking Liu Qiong and Tang Qian to go and learn about the Xiangyang army's march south.
The key point is that the two sides are not enemies, they are both Song troops. Maybe Tang Qian was wrong to secretly inquire about the information. The Xiangyang Song troops may also be seriously dissatisfied with his behavior, but they just cannot regard him as an enemy spy, especially a high-ranking person like Tang Qian.
General, arresting him without authorization would lead to serious consequences, which gave Chen Qing an excuse to attack Xiangyang.
The general looked at King Yong's order and softened his tone, "My dear Wang Gui, the deputy commander of the Jingxiang Army. Yue Dutong has gone to Lin'an. I am in charge of the military affairs of Jingxiang. I can officially tell you that I have not received a request from the court.
Order to attack Jinghu South Road."
Wang Gui used a little trick. He didn't receive the order from the court, but Yue Fei did.
Tang Qian looked at the soldiers around him and said: "Yue Dutong made an agreement with King Yong the year before last. The Sichuan-Shaanxi army can cross the border harmlessly. I only have nine subordinates and I don't carry heavy weapons. I came to Xiangyang in full compliance with the agreement. General Wang
There is no need to treat me like this!"
Wang Gui secretly sighed in his heart. Yue Fei wanted to ruin it by reaching a border crossing agreement with Chen Qing without authorization, which caused 10,000 Sichuan and Shaanxi cavalry to use Xiangyang to attack Jinghu South Road. This border crossing agreement must be invalidated, otherwise Wang Gui will also be
The court held him accountable.
Wang Gui shook his head, "I don't know what the agreement is? Yue Dutong didn't tell me either. I only know that you didn't enter the country according to the rules. You didn't formally notify the Anhua Army, nor did you come to Xiangyang under the escort of the Anhua Army.
You disguised yourself as a businessman and entered the country without authorization, so I have the right not to accept you as an envoy. Please pack your things and leave Xiangyang immediately. I will give you a quarter of an hour to pack up, and do not let my army use force. Please do it!"
This is the best method Wang Gui can use. He can directly expel the opponent from the country without having to break his face, but he can also draw a clear line and give an explanation to the court. At the same time, Chen Qing can't find an excuse to attack Jing Xiang.
Tang Qian went back to explain to Xu Zhifu, leaving him the goods and donkeys, and asking him to hire a few more men to go back.
Tang Qian walked out of the inn with nine of his men, each wearing only a sword. A commander stepped forward and saluted: "Please! I will escort you back to Dengzhou."
Tang Qian and his party left Xiangyang City under the escort of the commander and two hundred cavalry, and took a boat to go north overnight. Wang Gui arranged ten horses, and Tang Qian and his men rode north. At noon the next day, two hundred cavalry sent them into
Dengzhou boundary.
………
Not long after Tang Qian and his entourage were expelled, in a house near the government office, Wang Gui's confidant Du Wen narrowed his eyes while looking at the two hundred taels of silver on the table.
He said to the butler who gave the gift: "Go back and tell your boss that although Cai Sicang is of a serious nature and is inquiring about military secrets, he will be beheaded according to military regulations. But! I will try my best to intercede for him. After all, the other party is not a golden soldier, but a soldier."
Song Army, and the confidential information has not been sent out, so there is still room for maneuver. You must understand that only I can persuade General Wang to release him."
The housekeeper quickly said: "My master knew that only my husband could do it, so I came to him for help."
Du Wen was very satisfied, stroking his beard and smiling: "Some things can't be done with money, and I don't care about this little money. I mainly want to establish a relationship with the Cai family. Don't worry! As soon as the day breaks, I will persuade General Wang
Let him go."
"Thank you so much!"
"Does your master want to give gifts to anyone else?"
"There is also Jiang Tuanlian from the prison camp, who has been sent away. I am afraid that the young master will be beaten in prison."
Du Wen nodded, "Your master is very smart and should give it away. The kid is difficult to deal with. Otherwise, if he comes out with a broken leg, you will have no place to reason."
………
Early the next morning, under the persuasion of his aide Du Wen, Wang Gui ordered the release of Cai Kejian, and at the same time dismissed Cai Kejian from the position of Secretary. This matter was indeed caused by Cai Kejian's carelessness. He was betrayed by his colleagues, imprisoned and lost his official position, and almost killed others.
Tang Qian and his party.
Cai Kejian's father is Cai Jin. He served as the Prime Minister of Xiangyang County during the Xuanhe period and has resigned from office for many years. His son was arrested last night. Cai Jin sent someone overnight to send two hundred taels of silver to Wang Gui's confidant Du Wen, and another
Sending 50 guan of money to Jiang Xin, a trainee in the prison camp, so that his son would suffer less in prison.
Cai Kejian came to his father's study. When Cai Jin saw that his son's eyes were still bruised, he sighed in his heart and asked, "Were you beaten last night?"
Cai Kejian stood in front of his father and said respectfully: "I was punched during the interrogation, so I can only confess truthfully. Father, did they escape?"
Cai Kejian was very worried about the fate of Yang Zaixing and others, after all, he confessed honestly.
"They were expelled from the country by Wang Gui. The news from Shopkeeper An was also sent to them. Tang Qian said that it is not your fault."
Cai Kejian breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm just worried that if they are arrested, I won't be able to explain."
Cai Jin asked his son to sit down and asked his maid to pour him a cup of hot tea. He then said to his son: "Wang Gui is not a fool. He captured the general of the Western Army and gave Chen Qing an excuse to attack Xiangyang. Not only did he not get
The imperial court's commendation will lead to him being held accountable by the imperial court and dismissed from office. Therefore, Wang Gui will definitely adopt a gentle approach. He will be expelled from the country to those below, and sent out of the country as a gift to the court. Anyway, the court can explain it, and the following will also
I can tell you that this Wang Gui is better at playing tricks than Yue Fei, and Yue Fei is too straight."
Cai Kejian took a sip of tea and sighed: "I'm really stupid. I actually believed in Qiao Buqing. He always told everyone that he would support the Western Army in fighting against the Jin soldiers. I actually believed it. I didn't expect that this time I turned around and turned around.
Sold me out."
Cai Jin smiled slightly and said: "This kind of person is a smart person who wants to take advantage of both sides. He treats others as fools. Although he will get some benefits by betraying you now, it will be proved in the end that he is the real fool. Once the Western Army
Occupying Xiangyang, we will not liquidate him, but we will never use him again."
"Father, what should I do with my child?"
Cai Jin thought for a while and said: "I guess the businessman who came with them is still there. You can go find him later. Forget it, you have a good rest. I will send someone to find him, and then you go back to Dengzhou with him.
Go find Tang Qian and explain the situation clearly to avoid misunderstanding."