On July 23, Qin Xiao set off from Hangzhou and headed north to Kyoto.
Yuwen Chengchao had divided the Zhongyong Army into two before this. One group was led by Zhao Shengtai to garrison in Suzhou, and the remaining 3,000 troops were responsible for escorting the convoy to Beijing.
Qin Xiaocao was half distracted by the convoy's affairs, but Lin Hong arranged everything properly from beginning to end, and also followed him to Beijing for the trip.
More than 200 carriages not only mobilized most of the horses from the Hangzhou aristocratic families, but also mobilized some from the government. Externally, they only said that they were transporting silk tea to Kyoto. After all, transporting a large amount of gold and silver treasures to Beijing and spreading it would naturally cause trouble.
A lot of criticism came.
All the boxes were covered with a layer of linen, and together with the food and water needed on the way, the convoy wound like a long queue.
This time, three million taels of silver were collected from the south of the Yangtze River and sent to Kyoto to be handed over to the palace. Qin Xiao was naturally disdainful that a majestic emperor could be so attached to property, but he also knew in his heart that nothing could go wrong with this money.
For the Jiangnan family, this was life money. For the palace, this money was indispensable to maintain a luxurious life.
For Qin Xiao himself, this money is of course a bargaining chip for him to gain the recognition of the saint. As long as the money is successfully delivered to Kyoto and handed over to the palace, the lives of the Jiangnan family will be saved. The saint will benefit, and he will also benefit, and everyone will be happy.
.
Qin Xiao is not in a hurry, and there are official roads along the way from Jiangnan to Kyoto, so Qin Xiao tries to avoid traveling in broad daylight, except for some special terrain to avoid encountering bandits. At other times, he travels at night
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In this way, it won't be too ostentatious.
Although the team was guarded by three thousand soldiers and horses, and there would not be a large number of bandits blocking the road to Kyoto, the Wannian Ship must be sailed carefully and still be cautious along the way.
It has been more than two months since I arrived in Jiangnan. I was really looking forward to seeing Qiuniang who was alone in the empty house as soon as possible, but I often thought of Sheyue in my mind.
Before She Yue returned to Beijing, the two revealed their true feelings and had a night of fun, but they were separated in the blink of an eye. And when he went to Beijing this time, he might not even be able to see She Yue. He wondered if there was any way he could do so.
But as She Yue reminds, to gain the trust of the saint at this time, the farther away from She Yue, the better. If you show too much concern or even closeness to She Yue, you will inevitably arouse the suspicion of the saint, and even bring extreme consequences.
Big trouble.
Lin Hong was in charge of the convoy, and the escorting troops and horses were commanded by Yu Wenchengchao. Qin Xiao could be considered happy on the road.
When they set off, Chen Xi's injuries were still not healed, but Xiao Jianzhi was still in Hangzhou, so Qin Xiaodao didn't have to worry about Chen Xi. However, Qin Xiao was a little confused. The real murderer of Xia Houning had been determined to be someone from Jiangu.
Xiao Jianzhi should have returned to Beijing to report to the saint in person, but he still stayed in Hangzhou, not knowing what his intention was.
He didn't know if his cheap master had left Jiangnan, but even if Xiao Jianzhi found the traces of Shen Yaoshi in Hangzhou, with Shen Yaoshi's current strength in the Great Heaven Realm, Xiao Jianzhi might not be able to do anything to him.
He suddenly thought that Xiao Jianzhi's trip might not be just for Xia Houning's case.
Over the years, Jiangnan has always been within the scope of She Yue's influence. Ziyi Jian did not deploy a large number of manpower in Jiangnan because of his scruples. It is also because Ziyi Jian's supervision of Jiangnan is weak that the Queen Mother has been lurking in Jiangnan for many years but has not been able to do so.
Known to the court.
The court will naturally increase its efforts to monitor Jiangnan.
From then on, She Yue's influence in Jiangnan would inevitably disappear quickly. The sage obviously did not want the Prime Minister to control Jiangnan, so he sent Xiao Jianzhi over, obviously to rebuild a force in Jiangnan.
There is no doubt that Xiao Jianzhi's most important task in Jiangnan is to redeploy his forces naturally.
Qin Xiao frowned. Since Zi Yi Jian took advantage of the situation and came to Jiangnan, if he makes any moves in Jiang Nan in the future, Zi Yi Jian will obviously be a restraining force.
There were stops and starts along the way. Before arriving at the Yangtze River, Lin Hong sent people to hire a ferry in advance. When the team arrived at the riverside, there were many boats waiting for them, and people and convoys passed quickly.
Qin Xiao observed carefully along the way and had to admit that Lin Hong was indeed a shrewd and capable person. Everything was planned in advance and he would not wait until the problem came to be solved. Moreover, Lin Hong also spent money on food and drink on the way.
Very organized.
Qin Xiao suddenly understood why the Lin family let Lin Hong be in charge of Baofenglong. I am afraid that only such a person can handle such a huge business. Before She Yue left Jiangnan, she specially left this person to herself. If Lin Hong was really loyal to him
, but it is also a great help.
However, he also knew in his heart that the reason why Lin Hong was working so hard now was to preserve the Lin family lineage. It would not be easy to really make such people willing to do what he wanted.
Less than two days away from Kyoto, the road became wider. At dusk that day, the sound of horse hooves was heard from the front. Not long after, a team came from the front, with a dark crowd of people.
Qin Xiao immediately ordered the team to stop. When the team approached, Qin Xiao realized that they were all dressed in Shence Army uniforms.
He had a bad relationship with the Shence Army, and when he saw the Shence Army appear, he looked a little unhappy.
"Lord Qin, are you okay?" The first cavalryman shouted loudly: "The sage has decreed that the soldiers and horses escorting the convoy from Jiangnan will go to Liuhe County to camp. They will provide food and accommodation there, and they are not allowed to go any further." He urged his horse.
He took a few steps, but without getting off his horse, he handed over the imperial edict in his hand.
The immediate general was none other than Qiao Ruixin, the lieutenant general of the Shence Army who had led the troops to escort Xiahou Ning's coffin back to the capital.
Qin Xiao frowned, took the edict, opened it, read it, closed the edict, and said with a smile: "Since the saint has an edict, it is natural to act according to the edict." He asked: "General Qiao, are you bringing someone to escort the convoy?"
"That's right!" Qiao Ruixin said: "The decree is clear. I will lead the troops to escort the convoy to Beijing." She said in a deep voice: "Li Long!"
A general came up from behind, and Qiao Ruixin ordered: "Take a team of people and lead these people to station in Liuhe County. Without the sage's will, no one is allowed to step out of Liuhe County. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed without mercy."
!”
Qin Xiao frowned even more.
He knew in his heart that he was escorting the convoy to Beijing with several thousand men and horses, passing through various counties on the way. If such a group of men and horses were heading towards Kyoto, it was natural that there had been a spy report to Kyoto, and of course the saint also knew the fate of this team.
What to do.
However, the land of Gyeonggi is unusual. There is a military guard camp inside the capital and a Shence Army outside the capital. In addition to the soldiers and horses guarding Kyoto, of course, other soldiers and horses are not allowed to approach Kyoto. It is natural to send the Shence Army to take over the escort.
matter.
However, what Qiao Ruixin said was very harsh. Some people behind Qin Xiao heard it and their expressions were a little ugly.
This team worked tirelessly along the way to escort the convoy to the capital, and they certainly deserved a lot of credit. However, Qiao Ruixin's words not only showed disdain for the Zhongyong Army, but even meant to put the Zhongyong Army under house arrest in Liuhe County.
If it were the failure of other teams, most of the Zhongyong Army had the heart to atone for their sins and hoped to be pardoned and praised by the court. In fact, deep down they had been feeling uneasy. These words were heard by the officers and soldiers of the Zhongyong Army.
, indeed very sensitive.
"General Qiao, this sentence is not in the imperial edict." Qin Xiao said coldly: "Anyone who steps out of Liuhe County will be killed without mercy. Is this the sage's command?"
"Of course not." Qiao Ruixin said: "This is my order. The Shence Army is responsible for guarding the capital. Any troops entering the capital will be subject to the control of the Shence Army. Let these people be stationed in Liuhe County.
It’s General Zuo’s military order. To ensure the safety of the capital, of course these people cannot step out of Liuhe County.”
"That's easy to say." Qin Xiao sneered: "You should know that these brothers are here to escort the convoy, and the things in the car are all sent to the palace. In other words, these brothers are here to escort the convoy."
The palace is on errands. It is a good thing that you asked everyone to go to Liuhe County to rest. However, since your next words are not the will of the saint, please take them back. Brothers like me know the rules. When we arrive in Liuhe County, there will naturally be someone to restrain us.
But everyone doesn’t like to hear about your killing without mercy.” He raised his hand, pointed at the people behind him, and said loudly: “General Qiao, please tell everyone that you said the wrong thing and apologize to everyone.
Forget it."
Qiao Ruixin opened her eyes wide and asked, "You want me to apologize?"
"Yes." Qin Xiao smiled and said, "I'll apologize now."
Qiao Ruixin seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world, and turned around and said, "Brothers, did he ask the general to apologize to them?" As soon as he said this, everyone in the Shence Army burst into laughter.
Qin Xiao stared at Qiao Ruixin without saying a word. Qiao Ruixin felt uncomfortable as he stared at him. Finally, she laughed twice and said, "What if I don't apologize?"
Qin Xiao said coldly: "Are you serious about not apologizing?"
"Don't even think about it!" Qiao Ruixin clenched her fist and said, "Qin Xiao, this is Gyeonggi, not Hangzhou, so don't show off your authority in front of me!"
Qin Xiao smiled slightly, then his face suddenly darkened, and he turned around and said: "The rear team will become the front team and go back to Hangzhou!"
After he gave the order, the officers and soldiers of the Zhongyong Army immediately began to turn around without saying a word. Many people shouted: "The rear team has become the front team, let's go back to Hangzhou."
“Go back to Hangzhou, go back to Hangzhou!”
Qiao Ruixin's eyes widened, she never expected Qin Xiaolai to come out like this, and said angrily: "Qin Xiao, what are you doing? Aren't these things going to be transported to Kyoto? I will take over it now, don't you?
Qualified to take the team back."
"The decree has arrived, but there is no word "kill without mercy", so you are pretending to pass on the imperial decree." Qin Xiao said: "And the convoy has not been handed over, so you are not qualified to give orders to the convoy. In addition, even if the handover is made, your mission
It is an escort, and the convoy is not your turn. Since you are pretending to convey the imperial edict, I have reason to believe that your team may not be here under the order. In order to ensure the safety of the convoy, I can only take the convoy back to Hangzhou. Of course,
Afterwards, the sage will investigate, and I will report the real situation. You, General Qiao, came to take over the convoy. You didn't say a kind word, and when you opened your mouth, you killed without mercy. I and the brothers were not comfortable, so they did not enter the capital."
"You are so bold." Qiao Ruixin was furious: "Does this mean you come and leave whenever you say?"
Qin Xiao laughed and said: "So what? I have the guts to go back to Hangzhou, but you, General Qiao, have the guts to watch us turn around?" His expression darkened and he said sternly: "Qiao Ruixin, how many brains do you have, how dare you delay the palace?"