Groups of sheep walked slowly from both sides of the official road, looking like pieces of clouds. [Read the novel with the correct chapter,] The shepherds rode behind, lowering their heads lazily, avoiding
Direct sunlight.
The sheep are very fat, which means there will be a bumper harvest this year.
Shepherds don't like farming. They think farming is stupid and ties people to the fields.
Looking up into the distance, the shepherd suddenly changed his expression and drove the sheep out of the way.
Hundreds of horsemen galloped from the front. The shepherd lowered his head and trembled when he heard the sound of a bowstring.
One of the cavalrymen drew back their bows, and the other rode up to the fat sheep that had been hit by an arrow. He leaned down and easily lifted the heavy fat sheep up.
"Good riding skills!"
The cavalry cheered loudly.
He Zun glanced at the cavalryman and shook his head slightly.
These foreigners are ambitious, tough and disrespectful, and have poor military discipline.
He was ordered to patrol the area this time and found many problems, but now he had no idea in his mind.
Northern Xinjiang, what's going on?
In the afternoon of that day, he rushed to the Jiedushi Mansion.
"Mr. He."
"Mr. He is back?"
The officials smiled and held their hands in greeting.
The foreign tribes in Southern Zhou and Southern Xinjiang do not dare to show up at all now, but even so, Shi Zhongtang still sends troops to harass and attack, and to temper his subordinates.
The Southern Zhou Dynasty sent envoys many times. From the initial indignation to demand the murderer to the later pleading, He Zun understood a truth.
There is no logic between countries. Only using fists can make the other party understand what you mean.
If the truth makes sense, it is definitely not the victory of the truth, but the reason why the other party has no choice but to compromise.
Truth can only restrain those who care. Why do foreigners care about you?
He Zun entered the lobby with a smile.
Shi Zhongtang, wearing official uniform, was sitting at the top. When he heard laughter, he raised his head, with a look of joy on his fat face, "Lao He."
"My lord." He Zun saluted.
"How about going down this time?" Shi Zhongtang asked.
"Now there are no foreign invaders, and the Southern Zhou Dynasty is afraid of us. The people are quite happy, but they are a little bit dissatisfied."
"Taxation?" Shi Zhongtang asked.
"Yes." He Zun said: "People say that the harvest has been harsher in the past two years."
"Is there anyone who resists tax?" Shi Zhongtang's eyes flashed with a sharp look.
"Yes, not many." He Zun said, "They have all been suppressed."
"Many times, one has to speak with a knife." Shi Zhongtang pointed to the side, He Zun bowed and thanked him, and then sat down.
After seeing each other for a few months, Shi Zhongtang looked more majestic. He turned his eyes and showed his majesty, "Now if you charge more money and food, it will be treated as a loan between me and them. After the matter is completed, the money and food will be free for a few years."
That’s it.”
"That's right." He Zun asked, "I wonder what it's like in Northern Xinjiang."
Shi Zhongtang glanced at him and said, "Yang Xuan has sent troops."
"This battle is of great importance." He Zun said: "If Beiliao is successfully destroyed, Yang Xuan will become a behemoth in just a few years."
"I won't give him a few years of opportunity." Shi Zhongtang said.
A petty official came in and said, "My lord, a messenger has come from Chang'an."
Shi Zhongtang was silent for a moment, "Lao He went to pick me up on my behalf, but he said I was unwell."
He Zun said: "I am afraid that those who come to urge us to send out troops will inevitably be suspected if it is because the Duke is sick."
"There was still some time before Shi Zhongtang suddenly punched himself in the chest."
"Cough cough cough!" He coughed a few times and turned pale.
He Zun handed over his hand,
The envoy has entered the Jiedu envoy's mansion.
He saw that the surrounding decoration was not exquisite enough, shook his head and said, "Vulgar!"
The attendant next to him smiled and said: "This remote place in southern Xinjiang was a wild and wild land hundreds of years ago. It's pretty good to have such an appearance."
"Be careful of Shi Zhongtang's prevarication." The messenger lowered his voice.
The attendant said: "He dares?!"
The envoy shook his head, "Before leaving, Prime Minister Liang told me privately that Shi Zhongtang bullies the weak and fears the strong. I have thought about this for a long time and feel that your Majesty should not have killed Zhang Chumao in the first place."
Although Shi Zhongtang said to the outside world that Zhang Chumao was killed by an assassin, in the eyes of many people, it was Shi Zhongtang who did it.
Shi Zhongtang's courage to take action was probably due to the emperor's tacit approval.
"Containment?" the attendant asked.
"Yes, without Zhang Chumao's restraint, Shi Zhongtang is the dominant family in Southern Xinjiang. There have been a lot of changes in the civil and military officials in Southern Xinjiang these days, which shows how arrogant this person is."
The envoy pondered Liang Jing's words along the way, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was right.
"Don't forget, Yang Xuan turned against Chang'an because there was no one to check and balance him in northern Xinjiang."
The attendant whispered: "Someone is coming."
He Zun came out with a smile, and after some pleasantries, he took the envoy to the lobby.
Shi Zhongtang greeted him outside the hall. It was a hot day, but his face was pale, and he looked like he had tuberculosis.
"The Duke is surprised by the envoy."
"After many years of fighting, I have been injured all over my body. I had an attack a while ago and I am recuperating, so I cannot go out to welcome you. I'm sorry."
Shi Zhongtang has always been very polite to envoys from Chang'an, and this time is no exception.
The envoy asked a few questions about his physical condition, and then stated his purpose of coming, "Your Majesty ordered all the troops from southern Xinjiang to march northward."
"This Shi Zhongtang looks troubled."
Sure enough, the envoy sneered in his heart, "The Chang'an army has been dispatched. Does the Duke want to just sit back and watch?"
Shi Zhongtang smiled bitterly, "I don't dare."
He Zun said: "The soldiers are unwilling to leave southern Xinjiang."
The messenger said coldly: "It's just an excuse."
He Zun sighed, "Those arrogant and powerful generals are difficult to tame, and the Duke was so angry that his old wounds recurred."
Shi Zhongtang shook his head, "No problem, I'll go back to the army to deal with a few leaders."
He Zun said: "I'm afraid of angering the soldiers!"
Shi Zhongtang said: "It was my idea to recruit foreigners, but now it's my own fault."
The messenger suddenly shouted: "What a lie!"
What did the emperor discover? Shi Zhongtang's heart tightened and he said: "I am loyal to your majesty."
When you go to southern Xinjiang, Shi Zhongtang will definitely be prevaricating, or he will be injured or injured, or the morale of the army is not good, and the soldiers will make a fuss... In a word, there is no way to send troops. If this is the case, Shi Zhongtang must be ambitious...
…
Liang Xiang had an insight into Shi Zhongtang's thoughts from a long distance away. It can be seen that he was not ignorant and incompetent as the outside world said... The envoy shouted: "Liang Xiang has already seen through the evils of southern Xinjiang. Today I am here to say
Say, send troops!"
Liang Jing!
Shi Zhongtang felt cold in his heart.
After Liang Jing took over as the right minister, the first fire was not in the court, but in southern Xinjiang.
Somehow, Shi Zhongtang felt that Liang Jing looked at him horizontally and vertically because he didn't like him.
But when he was in Chang'an, he was the one who recommended Shi Zhongtang to become a noble concubine.
This time, that time!
send troops!
Shi Zhongtang glanced at He Zun.
He Zun shook his head slightly.
At this moment, when troops are sent out, the officers and soldiers of the Southern Xinjiang Army can't help but have an idea in their hearts: We are His Majesty's soldiers.
Shi Zhongtang finally managed to turn the Southern Xinjiang Army into his own private army. Once he opened this hole, the idea of Qing Jun being sidelined would become a joke.
Shi Zhongtang gritted his teeth, "Yes!"
Sure enough, it’s impossible not to force it!
The messenger sneered in his heart.
He Zun lowered his head to hide the disappointment in his eyes.
No more chance.
Shi Zhongtang changed his smile and said, "The envoy can go and rest first. I will prepare a banquet later to welcome the envoy and wash away the dust."
Seeing that he lowered his head, the envoy softened his tone and said, "Your Majesty said that time waits for no one. The southern Xinjiang side needs to be faster."
"There are a lot of them."
After the messenger left, He Zun felt uncomfortable and sat there in a daze.
The sun was shining brightly, and he couldn't help crying when he thought about the difficulty of this matter.
"Are you worried?"
Shi Zhongtang laughed.
He Zun raised his head and said, "No! Duke!"
"I know." Shi Zhongtang said: "Once this opening is opened, the southern Xinjiang army will become Chang'an's army."
He Zun gritted his teeth and said, "Let's raise troops!"
"It's a little early." Shi Zhongtang said: "The crops haven't been harvested yet, and the cattle, sheep, and horses haven't gained fat yet. How can we go on an expedition? Furthermore, the last batch of money and grain given by the Ministry of Revenue this year is still halfway there. Could it be just left there?
Already?"
He Zun was startled, "But if the envoy comes back and says this, public opinion will be in trouble."
"I will test it out later at the dinner party..."
Shi Zhongtang said calmly.
Shi Zhongtang held a banquet to welcome the envoy, and he was accompanied by his confidants.
During the banquet, Shi Zhongtang humbly asked an envoy to greet the emperor and the imperial concubine on his behalf, saying that Yunshan Nu had been in southern Xinjiang for a long time and missed Ye Niang. He asked Aye En to allow him to go to Chang'an at the end of this year.
When talking about the emotional part, Shi Zhongtang burst into tears.
The envoy felt contempt in his heart. He got very drunk later and pointed at Shi Zhongtang and said: "You are just a slave, how dare you take the big one? If you dare to disobey the order this time, next time it will be a big army, hahahaha!"
Shi Zhongtang was smiling, but his confidants were about to explode.
"Yunshan slave!"
The envoy pointed at Shi Zhongtang and burped, "After destroying Northern Xinjiang, you can go to Chang'an to accompany His Majesty! It's enviable!"
This means killing the donkey!
"Dog thief!"
Wei Ming was furious and stood up suddenly.
"sit down!"
Shi Zhongtang pressed his hands and said with a smile: "I have always wanted to go to Chang'an to stay with Ye Niang. If this can be done, it would be great."
The envoy looked at Wei Ming, "Why are you dissatisfied?"
Wei Ming gritted his teeth.
"Sit down!" Shi Zhongtang shouted sharply. After Wei Ming sat down, he smiled at the envoy and said, "You are a joke to the arrogant and powerful general."
The envoy bid farewell the next day, and Shi Zhongtang sent many gifts, mostly to the emperor and his concubines, but also to the envoy.
The messenger did not reject anyone who came and left with a smile.
"My lord, this beast deserves to be punished!"
General Wei Ming was furious.
"Let someone follow the messenger and watch his words and deeds along the way!" Shi Zhongtang said coldly: "Remember, don't let the news leak out."
As soon as the messenger left the city, he said to his followers: "Go quickly!"
When they arrived at a remote place, the envoy ordered all the carts accompanying them to be abandoned.
"Those are all gifts!" someone said reluctantly.
"Do you want wealth or life?" The messenger sneered, "Throw them all away and leave quickly."
The attendant followed up, "But it's inappropriate?"
"Last night I pretended to drink too much to test, and my words were quite humiliating. Even if Shi Zhongtang scolded me on the spot, no one would say anything. But he smiled flatteringly. Who can do this on his own? How brave is he?
Extremely small, or extremely courageous."
Naturally, Shi Zhongtang cannot be timid, otherwise how would he be able to control those arrogant and powerful generals?
"Then Wei Ming is the general of Southern Xinjiang, and I am an angel. Logically speaking, even if I humiliated Shi Zhongtang, he would not dare to get angry. But look at Wei Ming last night, with his hand on the handle of the knife, murderous intent in his eyes. He was going to kill someone.
!”
The messenger said: "They dare to murder angels. What do you think they are thinking? What do they talk about on weekdays? And it's in front of Shi Zhongtang, what does this mean?"
"They usually talk about His Majesty and Chang'an, which is quite disrespectful!" said the entourage.
"It's disrespectful, but it's pretending to be respectful." The envoy said: "What do Shi Zhongtang and the Southern Xinjiang Army want to do? Liang Xiang said that Shi Zhongtang was ambitious and had rebellious intentions. Chang'an thought that he was jealous of Shi Zhongtang. Come.
When I went to southern Xinjiang, I realized that Prime Minister Liang’s vision was unmatched by anyone in the civil and military dynasties!”
The attendant said: "He doesn't dare to take action, does he?"
"Idiot!" the messenger pointed at his entourage, "I deliberately annoyed Shi Zhongtang last night. Did you see what those civil and military officials looked like?"
The attendant shook his head, "I didn't pay attention."
"The civil servants had sullen faces, and the generals were holding their swords to the hilts, ready to move." The envoy said: "Yang Xuan still has powerful and dissatisfied officials in northern Xinjiang, but in southern Xinjiang, what I see is the same model...
Therefore, Shi Zhongtang is respected."
The attendant shuddered, "So, is Southern Xinjiang still the Southern Xinjiang of the Tang Dynasty?"
The envoy said: "I dare to say that Shi Zhongtang will definitely not send troops. If he is keen and realizes that I pretended to be drunk last night, then... maybe we will die in southern Xinjiang."
Everyone felt cold, and the envoy ordered: "Let people spread the word everywhere, saying that your Majesty has ordered the southern Xinjiang army to gather and go north. At least, let Shi Zhongtang surrender."
"Let's go!"
"drive!"
Jiedushi Mansion, in the hall where the banquet was held last night.
He Zun squatted next to the desk where the envoy last night was, picked up the mat and smelled it, "It smells of alcohol."
Shi Zhongtang stood with his hands behind his hands, "He pretended to be drunk last night. Sure enough, Chang'an has become suspicious of me."
He Zun said: "It's not too late!"
Shi Zhongtang nodded and said, "Inform officials everywhere that this year's autumn harvest is a top priority. Anyone who dares to slack off should come to see us."
"yes!"
Shi Zhongtang walked out of the Tang Dynasty and "ordered Wei Ming to come."
Wei Ming is here.
"Go and find a place where no one is around."
The messenger and his followers galloped all the way.
When they arrived at the inn, they did not stop, but asked for dry food and water, changed their horses, and set off immediately.
That night, they still camped in the wild.
At night, the messenger was writing a memorial.
When a minister met civil and military officials in southern Xinjiang, they all looked at him with Shi Zhong and Tang Ma. He only knew about Duke Shang, but he didn't know about Chang'an or His Majesty.
One minister thought that Shi Zhongtang's loyalty was fake and his ambition was real. I asked your Majesty to transfer the guards of Chang'an back to station troops in the south to frighten the southern Xinjiang army, and then seized Shi Zhongtang's military power.
The envoy raised his head, thought for a while, showed determination, lowered his head and wrote: If there are any mistakes, they are all my fault. I will apologize to Duke Shang with my death!
He collected the memorial and said, "Here comes someone!"
There was no movement outside.
"Someone is coming!"
The messenger stood up, opened the curtain and walked out.
The smell of blood assaulted my nostrils.
More than ten people stood outside, looking at him coldly.
The leader turned out to be Wei Ming, the general of Southern Xinjiang.
The messenger was stunned, and then said desperately: "Are you planning to rebel?"
Wei Ming walked over, the horizontal knife in his hand still dripping blood.
puff!
The horizontal knife stabbed into the envoy's lower abdomen. Wei Ming leaned against him and said with a ferocious smile: "No, it's Qing Jun's side!"
