When Chunyu Bu left the prefecture, his mood was quite complicated.
He knew that his few answers just now should make Qin Xiao point the finger at Huo Mianzhi.
Among the three giants in western Liaoning, only one county magistrate is left. Qin Xiao will definitely find it an eyesore, and naturally hopes to take this opportunity to directly overthrow Huo Mianzhi.
If he wasn't worried that Qin Xiao would take the opportunity to point the finger at him, Chunyu Bu would definitely not have drugged Huo Mian behind his back.
But at this point, it can only be the best choice to die as a Taoist friend rather than to die as a poor Taoist.
Of course he knew that if he was really dragged in, Yuguan might not be protected. If Yuguan was really lost from his hands, he would definitely have no place in the Liaodong Army in the future. After all, those people would be like this
He was entrusted with guarding an important pass, but he was pulled off because of an ordnance case, resulting in the loss of Yu Pass. This would definitely make those people angry at him.
The control of Yuguan is too important to the Liaodong Army. No matter what the price is paid, no problems can arise.
Although he knew that Huo Mianzhi was highly appreciated by General Wang Xingchao, in critical moments, he still had to sacrifice when it was time to sacrifice. For the collective benefit of the Liaodong Army, any individual could sacrifice, and in Huo Mianzhi's heart, Huo Mianzhi
He is not a direct descendant of the Liaodong Army at all.
He was not in the mood to think too much about how to investigate the ordnance case now. The top priority was to quickly transport the military supplies there.
If there is a mutiny in Yuguan because of military rations, the one who will be most disadvantaged will be himself.
When he arrived at the Jun Cheng Mansion, before he could open his mouth, the gatekeeper told him that he was not in the mansion and did not know where he was going.
Although Chunyu Bu was anxious, he could only turn to Huo Mianzhi to allocate military rations. After all, Qin Xiao had already agreed that as long as Huo Mianzhi sent people to distribute rations, Long Ruijun could open the official warehouse at any time.
.
Although he was a little tired, he still waited at the Juncheng Mansion.
None of the officials in the county magistrate's office knew Huo Mianzhi's whereabouts, and no one dared to say anything. They asked Chunyu Bu to wait in an elegant hall, serving tea one cup after another until noon. Someone brought food, and then waited until mid-afternoon.
But Huo Mianzhi never appeared.
Although Chun Yubu tried his best to appear patient, after waiting in the county magistrate's mansion for almost a day, no one gave him a clear answer, and no one even knew when Huo Mianzhi would come back.
He found several officials under Huo Mianzhi and asked them to deal with the problem of grain and grass in Yuguan, but everyone gave the same answer: to transport military grain, no one would dare to arrange such a move unless they got the order from the county magistrate.
event.
Chunyu Bu was angry. If he had come to Guangning City in person in the past, the county governor Gongsun Shang would have received him personally. As for the transportation of grain and grass, it was just a matter of his words. The officials here in Guangning
It will be resolved quickly and properly.
It's good now, after waiting all day, I can't even see Huo Mianzhi's face.
In the evening, Chunyu Bu couldn't wait any longer, so he left two of his subordinates in the Juncheng Mansion to continue waiting for Huo Mianzhi's return. As soon as there was news, he left to report it, and he went to the Junwei Mansion again.
When he entered the city, he could not lead his troops into the city. After negotiation, he only brought four followers with him, except for ten cavalry who entered the city to help guard the grain carts.
When they arrived at the Commandery's Mansion, the sky was already dark, but they were told that General Qin had gone out to handle matters, but where he went, his subordinates had no idea.
Chunyu Bu was so angry.
He waited at the Junwei Mansion for most of the night, but Qin Xiao never returned, and there was no news from the Juncheng Mansion.
There was really no choice but to find a place to rest in the middle of the night. The next day, he went to the Juncheng Mansion, but there was still no news about Huo Mianzhi. When he arrived at Qin Xiao, he heard that Qin Xiao had left the city for business, but he stayed behind.
By the way, if Huo Mianzhi wants to adjust the grain, the official warehouse must let him go.
A whole day passed, Chunyu Bu was as anxious as an ant in a hot nest, but he was helpless.
Without Huo Mianzhi's order from Guangning's official warehouse, it was impossible to transfer a grain. At this time, they asked the Duhufu for help. Even if the Duhufu immediately arranged to allocate grain, they would not be able to make it in time.
At dusk, in an elegant room at the back of a teahouse in Guangning City, Qin Xiaozhi and Huo Mianzhi were drinking tea opposite each other.
The tea here is very good, and Huo Mianzhi is also a master of tea ceremony and makes tea himself.
"What will he do next?" Huo Mianzhi's face was a little solemn, and he poured a cup of tea for Qin Xiao, his tone still a little worried.
Qin Xiao smiled and said: "What do you think Mr. Huo will do?"
"I can't think of it." Huo Mianzhi shook his head and said, "But it is almost certain that the food and grass over there at Yuguan have been exhausted. Even if we arrange to send food there now, they will be hungry for two days." Staring at Qin
Xiao frowned and said, "With all due respect, is the general just waiting for a mutiny to happen over at Yuguan?"
Qin Xiao said with a smile: "Anything can happen, so I will take all changes into consideration in advance."
"The general's wisdom is both admirable and scary." Huo Mianzhi smiled bitterly and said, "It seems that Yuguan can't be defended anymore." After a pause, he asked, "May I ask the general about the food supply?"
The team hid the ordnance, was it arranged by the general?"
"Why did Mr. Huo say that?" Qin Xiao smiled calmly: "From the beginning to the end, the food and grass have been handled by your subordinate Tian Shichao, and the convoys are also his people. How does hiding the ordnance have anything to do with me?"
Huo Mianzhi sighed: "Why should the general hide it from me now? I have been hiding here for two days. No matter how stupid Chunyu Bu is, he knows that I did it intentionally. I did not come forward to adjust the food supply, so I must not offend Chun Yubu.
, have also turned against the Liaodong Army, and they will never let me go."
"Chun Yubu had already prepared for me to point the finger at you yesterday." Qin Xiao said: "In order to protect Yuguan, he betrayed you without hesitation. Master Huo, you should understand that although your son was recruited by the Liaodong Army,
From beginning to end, they never regarded you as one of their own."
Huo Mianzhi said: "I understand. The Liaodong Army has been entrenched in the Northeast for a hundred years, and the Wang Xing Dynasty's party is deeply rooted here. These people are all descendants of the generals who earlier conquered the Bohai Sea. Their interests are closely tied together. I was there
I am an official in the imperial court, and I have no connection with the Liaodong Army before, so of course they cannot really regard me as one of their own."
"But I can guarantee that the imperial court will still treat you as one of its own." Qin Xiao said seriously: "Master Huo is a shrewd man. From the day I left the customs, you should know that I came to check and balance Liaodong on behalf of the imperial court.
Army. If Your Excellency helps us control Western Liaoning, it will be a great service to the imperial court. The saint is wise and will not be ashamed of Master Huo."
Huo Mianzhi was thoughtful.
"Yesterday Chunyu Bu told me that Mr. Huo was working hard in the Northeast just to gain fame." Qin Xiao smiled slightly and said: "I also think it is true. But it is not the pursuit of fame and reputation as Chun Yubu said. Mr. Huo did this.
Just clearing my name."
Huo Mianzhi's body trembled and he looked up at Qin Xiao.
"Back when I was working in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Mr. Huo often had disputes with his colleagues, so he was ostracized by many people. The reason is of course not that Mr. Huo really had any problems." Qin Xiao sighed: "I stayed in Kyoto for a while.
, is quite clear about the conduct of officials in various ministries. Most of those people are just doing nothing. They don’t think about the empire, they only think about their own future, so they neglect their errands and think about how to make camp. In that kind of environment, if
It's okay to join in their misdeeds, but if you really do your job sincerely, you will become an outlier and be ostracized as a matter of course."
Huo Mianzhi smiled bitterly and said: "It seems that General Qin really knows the situation of each department very well."
"Master Huo was young and energetic at that time. Naturally, he was full of ambitions and devoted himself to his errands." Qin Xiao stared at Huo Mianzhi and said: "I can completely understand Master Huo's state of mind at that time. You were only in your early twenties at that time.
You are a few years older than me, so I know very well what you are thinking. You are passionate and dedicated to serving the country, but because of this you are incompatible with your colleagues, and were eventually excluded by them and transferred to the Northeast. The moment you left Kyoto, Mr. Huo must have been very worried.
Sad and full of grievances."
Huo Mianzhi picked up the tea cup, raised his head and took a big sip, looking emotional.
"You didn't change your mind when you went to the Northeast, and you still worked hard on your errands. Even now, you never slack off. This is not because Mr. Huo really wants to be loyal to the Liaodong Army. In the final analysis, he just wants to clear his name and vent his frustration.
Angry." Qin Xiao showed respect in his eyes: "If you really colluded with the Liaodong Army, why didn't you seize any fertile land when they wanted to occupy it? With your status, as long as you are colluding with Gongsun Shang and the others,
, it is really easy to own hundreds of fertile fields.”
The corners of Huo Mianzhi's eyes twitched, but he didn't speak.
"What you did is just to let the officials who excluded you see that you are far more capable than them." Qin Xiao stared at Huo Minzhi and said calmly: "You even want the saint to see that you were excluded back then.
The reason why you left the civil service department is not because you are not worthy of your responsibilities, but because those guys who have nothing to do but are jealous of their talents."
Huo Mianzhi sighed and said: "I didn't expect that more than twenty years later, the first person who understood me so well was General Qin. The general is right. I have studied hard since I was a child and read history books. I know that the Tang Dynasty was once powerful and prosperous.
Pi, the hearts of the Tang people at that time were full of glory. I only hope to do my part for the Tang Dynasty and make the Tang Dynasty powerful again. It's a pity that I have ambitions but no means to display them. Instead, I came to the Northeast and the Liaodong Army
Those people did not suppress me, but allowed me to do my best. I know they only regard me as a tool to govern the place, but compared to a lifetime of unrecognized talents, if I can show my talents, even if I die, it will not be too serious.
Pity."
"That's why I have respect for Mr. Huo." Qin Xiao said seriously: "I also believe that the pearl will not always be covered in dust. Since Mr. Huo is determined to add strength to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, he must give full play to it.
Opportunity for talent." After a pause, he said: "Master Huo wholeheartedly wants to restore the Tang Dynasty to its original strength, but if the Liaodong Army continues to occupy the four northeastern counties, and even causes the court to lose control of the Northeast, the glory of the Tang Dynasty will be lost.