Chapter 318: Ask Duke Cao to dismiss his attendants
Chapter 318: Ask Duke Cao to dismiss his attendants
The next afternoon, after General Lu Yunyi left,
The front scout camp was always shrouded in a layer of melancholy.
Especially after learning this morning that the commander had left Kunming City, I became even more worried.
The sky was no longer the clear blue sky of the previous few days, but became gloomy and gray.
Dark clouds hang low in the sky,
Occasionally, a few rays of light try to penetrate the clouds, but in the end they can only cast mottled and faint shadows.
Inside the camp, the soldiers' figures looked heavy under the light.
They were sitting or standing, their faces calm but they could not hide the worry in their eyes.
The occasional whispers and the sound of iron colliding added a sense of oppression to the dull air.
The cold wind was like an invisible swordsman, moving silently through the camp.
Blowing across the tent canvas, it created waves of subtle but piercing waves.
With a slight chill, it brushed across the soldiers' cheeks.
As they walked along, even Li Jinglong's face became gloomy.
Although many soldiers were respectful, he could still sense the alienation and unfamiliarity among them.
You can even feel a little bit uneasy.
He understood that the soldiers were worried that following him would mean they would have no future and even lose their lives.
Li Jinglong pursed his lips, his eyes flashing with determination.
He had encountered this kind of situation countless times in Beijing.
Not only officials in the court, but even some promising officials in the Five Military Commandery would not join him.
As a result, even though he held the title of Duke, he was often looked down upon.
Li Jinglong's mind was in turmoil, and he made up his mind to figure out how the front army's scout unit operated.
He cannot learn the secret of winning every battle, but he must learn how to build a strong army as his own foundation.
Thinking of this, Li Jinglong slowed down his pace a little bit, and a look of relief flashed in his eyes.
Fortunately, there are still elite soldiers like the front army scout unit, who can let him study without hesitation.
He felt that deciding to come to Yunnan while in Beijing was the right decision.
It gave him a chance to face himself and take the first step.
After all, family learning is a general term.
Put it in the army
Even if you work yourself to death, you still may not get any results.
It is just a sentence of "be lenient in predicting the enemy and be strict in controlling the subordinates".
Li Jinglong felt dizzy and confused.
As my thoughts tumble and become complicated,
Li Jinglong arrived at the entrance of the camp.
The camp where the front army scouts were stationed was located in the southwest corner of Kunming City.
It is also the largest and most well-equipped military camp.
The troops stationed here are elite troops that can be deployed to the battlefield at any time.
Several elite guards under the Marquis of Xiping are here.
On the one hand, it was to protect Kunming, and on the other hand, it was to be ready to fight outside Kunming at any time.
Even Liu Yangwen from the Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office could not rashly enter such an important military location.
Chen Shuhan, as a deputy chief of the Dusi, could do it.
However, the leader of this trip, Liu Yangwen, insisted on waiting, so he waited here too.
After waiting for so long, not only the two of them, but even the officials accompanying them were a little impatient.
It was not until nearly a quarter of an hour later that Duke Cao, dressed in casual clothes, came over with a frown on his face.
There was a thoughtful look in his expression, as if he had something on his mind.
Seeing him coming, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and bowed immediately:
"Greetings to Duke Cao."
The sudden voice brought Li Jinglong's thoughts back to reality.
I shuddered and looked around.
He looked at the many adults who were bowing and saluting in front of him, and couldn't help but frowning, and suddenly felt annoyed.
"You are so arrogant. Who are you waiting here for? Do you really have to come and greet you in person?"
Li Jinglong spoke very quickly, and he scolded everyone.
Not only were the adults present stunned,
Even the guards beside him looked dazed.
I kept muttering in my heart that since the master joined the army, his abilities have increased, but his temper has also become worse and worse.
If such things happened in the capital, they would surely be as warm and gentle as a spring breeze.
Seeing their expressions, Li Jinglong smiled gently.
He now understands that trying to please everyone will not bring respect, but contempt.
In this case, it is better to be more domineering.
"Are you all mute?"
Seeing that they didn't say anything, Li Jinglong turned around and left quickly.
Until this moment, Chen Shuhan immediately reacted, and hurriedly chased after him, shouting at Li Jinglong's back:
"Duke Cao, wait a minute!"
Liu Yangwen and many officials also caught up.
Li Jinglong had no intention of stopping, but walked faster and faster.
There was a slight smile on the corner of my mouth, and I felt secretly happy!
Even the sorrow of being overwhelmed by paperwork has dissipated a lot.
"Duke Cao, Lord Liu from the Provincial Administration Office wants to see the differences between the Beijing Army and the Yunnan Army so that he can coordinate the military equipment and war horses."
"Duke Cao, I'm sure you've seen the Yunnan horses.
But compared to the war horses on the grassland, they are still far inferior, and this time I came here to see them for myself."
"Now many workshops in Kunming are working day and night.
But they still couldn't produce enough weapons.
I heard that some minor repairs in the Beijing army can be done by myself, so I took a moment out of my busy schedule to come and learn a thing or two."
Chen Shuhan walked and chattered non-stop.
Liu Yangwen followed behind, listening with a smile on his face.
But the more he listened, the more he felt something was not right. He couldn't help but curse Chen Shuhan in his heart for being stupid.
After just a few words, all his secrets were revealed.
But fortunately, Duke Cao is young now and doesn’t seem to be that smart.
After many twists and turns, Li Jinglong led the way.
A group of people followed behind and came to the central army tent.
It is called a military tent, but in fact it is a house built in the military camp.
It not only shelters from wind and rain, but also maintains a certain degree of privacy and status.
Only when he got here did Li Jinglong stop.
He glanced sideways at everyone present, especially at Chen Shuhan.
Then he walked straight into the big tent, leaving a sentence,
"come in."
As a result, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Yangwen took the lead, followed closely by Chen Shuhan.
Just as the officer behind him wanted to enter, the guard at the door of the military tent stopped him with his arm.
"Secret places in the army, no outsiders are allowed to enter."
A cold voice was heard, and the group of people looked at each other, smiled helplessly, and had to follow the soldiers to the military tent to rest.
Inside the military tent, the combination of thick canvas and solid wooden frame makes the air inside the tent a little stuffy.
There are several small windows that can be opened and closed.
The wind occasionally blows through the gaps, bringing a hint of coolness.
Li Jinglong was already sitting at the top, with a huge map of Yunnan Province behind him.
The mountains and rivers are outlined with ink lines, making them lifelike.
In front of me, a long table is spread out.
On it were placed the four treasures of the study and several open military newspapers.
Below, there were two rows of simple military tents, surrounded by guards.
Li Jinglong quietly watched the order in which the two of them came in, narrowed his eyes slightly, and snorted:
"Master Liu is so arrogant. If I remember correctly, Master Liu is a third-rank right councilor."
Liu Yangwen had a little doubt on his face and bowed slightly:
"Reporting to Lord Cao, I was appointed as the Right Counselor of the Yunnan Provincial Government three years ago."
"That's right, Mr. Chen should be a third-rank Dusi assistant."
Li Jinglong's eyes looked playful as he scanned the two of them, finally stopping at Liu Yangwen:
"I don't know. Does Lord Liu know the etiquette?"
After the words fell, Chen Shuhan was slightly surprised and lowered his head slightly to hide the expression on his face.
Liu Yangwen's face changed slightly, and he thought to himself that something was wrong.
On weekdays, Chen Shuhan holds an official position but has no real power.
He repeatedly ran into obstacles in various government offices and no one took him seriously.
He is now in charge of all matters related to the deployment of military equipment.
He had smooth travel wherever he went, and even the chief officers of the three divisions treated him with courtesy.
This made him forget that when it comes to official position, he has to call himself "lower official" in front of Chen Shuhan.
His mind was dazed for a moment, but Liu Yangwen quickly smiled and saluted: "Please forgive me, Lord Cao. It's all my fault for my negligence.
Normally, I am a close friend of Mr. Chen, and since I am a little older than him, we often call each other brothers.
I was negligent in my manners for a moment, and I hope Lord Cao will forgive me. I had no intention of being disrespectful."
As he spoke, Liu Yangwen looked at Chen Shuhan who was standing beside him and bowed slightly as well:
"Sir Chen, I was negligent. Please don't blame me."
Seeing his lowered head, Chen Shuhan felt secretly happy for no reason and quickly stepped forward to support him:
"As for Lord Liu, I am young and have nothing to do on weekdays.
I am here today thanks to the care you have given me, so you and I don’t have to be polite.”
He then looked at Li Jinglong, Duke of Cao, with a respectful expression:
"Duke Cao, this is my negligence.
I am still young and have no real job in the Dusi.
I have been studying with you all these years.
I usually address you as my elder brother, and I have forgotten the etiquette. I hope Duke Cao will forgive me."
Li Jinglong sat at the top, his eyes were deep,
Looking back and forth at Chen Shuhan, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"There is no need to be polite. The rules of respect and courtesy are the foundation of the Ming Dynasty and cannot be neglected."
"Yes"
"What are you two doing? If it's nothing important, I will go and handle the military affairs."
At this time, Liu Yangwen stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice:
"Duke Cao, today I came to the front army scout camp,
It was to learn how to make weapons from the military craftsmen, and there was no other purpose."
"The tactical backpack that the front-line scouts sent to the city workshop for repair a few days ago,
I thought it was very clever, and my colleagues in Dali City built some carts.
Whether it is transporting military supplies or food, it is extremely convenient.
I inquired from many sources and heard that it was from the army.
Today I have a rare free time, so I want to come here to have a look. I hope Duke Cao will allow me to do so."
A cart? Li Jinglong frowned.
Soon he thought of Geng Junchang, the prefect of Dali Prefecture, who was in the camp that day.
He had a great admiration for the wheelbarrows used in the army.
Putting away his thoughts, Li Jinglong nodded, without any nonsense, and looked towards the entrance of the military tent:
"Duan Chen."
The personal guard Duan Chen hurried in, the armor on his body made him look more murderous.
"grown ups."
"Take the two adults to the military workshop to have a look, and inform Vice Admiral Liu about this matter and have him accompany you."
"Yes!"
After he finished speaking, Liu Yangwen's eyes widened slightly, and he glanced at Chen Shuhan silently, with a smile still on his face.
Chen Shuhan received the look, nodded imperceptibly, and looked up at Li Jinglong:
"Duke Cao, I have something else to report. Sir Liu, please go ahead."
Without waiting for Li Jinglong to speak, Liu Yangwen, who was standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief:
"Sir Chen is a soldier, if there is any confidential matter, I don't need to listen in.
Duke Cao, I will go first, then?"
Li Jinglong looked at the two of them and waved his hand casually:
"Go ahead, go ahead. Sir Liu, please be careful with your words and actions. Some military secrets cannot be disclosed to the outside world."
"Please rest assured, Lord Cao. I will leave first."
The footsteps gradually faded away, and the entire military tent fell silent.
Li Jinglong sat at the top and pointed to a seat on the side:
"We are all military personnel, please sit down."
Chen Shuhan was somewhat flattered.
I realized that Duke Cao was not as simple as the rumors said.
It is very clear who is close to the military and who is distant from the government.
Chen Shuhan bowed and walked to the first seat on the left.
There is a kind of satisfaction in my heart, which is a kind of importance I have never experienced before.
Then, the guards in the military tent brought a cup of hot tea.
The solemn expression on Chen Shuhan's face also eased a little.
"Thank you, Lord Cao. I am flattered."
Li Jinglong's expression was no longer as serious as before.
Instead, he brought on some warmth and approachability like a spring breeze:
"Master Chen, you don't have to be polite. Your Majesty has often mentioned that General Chen and his descendants were the rear guard of the army.
The Governor's Office also compiled a booklet of General Chen's deeds for us, the younger generations, to admire.
You have suffered a lot in Yunnan these years. "
When these words were spoken, it was like the sound of a huge bell.
The words that Chen Shuhan had racked his brains to come up with were stuck in place.
His lips trembled, his pupils shook violently, and the world in front of him became blurry in an instant.
Hearing this, the grievances in my heart over the years seemed to be soothed by a warm current.
In the grievances and injustices of the Dusi,
The forced smile in front of family members,
And the relief that pretended to be nonchalant,
At this moment, it seemed as if the words penetrated me and disappeared without a trace.
The court still remembers it, and Your Majesty also remembers it.
Tears welled up in his eyes, but he forced himself to hold them back.
Chen Shuhan took a deep breath, trying to calm his surging emotions, and said with a slightly choked but firm voice:
“How could I have deserved such attention from Your Majesty and the Governor’s Office?
My grandfather and his entire family have devoted themselves to the country and the people. This is the duty of military personnel!
It’s just that I’m not talented enough to inherit even a little bit of my grandfather’s bravery, and I feel guilty about that.”
A ray of sunlight came in through the gap in the curtain.
This made the military tent a little brighter, and not as solemn and tense as before.
Duke Cao Li Jinglong sat at the head of the group and waved his hand gently:
"Someone once said to me that there are so many talented people in the world, but most of them are not visible. Do you know why?"
"I don't know, my subordinate."
"I'm busy making a living, so I don't have any opportunities."
Li Jinglong looked relieved and said calmly:
"People all over the world are constantly working to make a living.
Being able to keep my wife and children from hunger and ensure they have three meals a day is already an extraordinary achievement.
Farmers till the fields, regardless of cold or heat, sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn. Their hard work nourishes millions of people, ensures a good harvest, and enriches the national treasury.
The craftsmen make the utensils with meticulous care and meticulous carving. The porcelain is exquisite and the iron is solid, all of which are the result of the craftsmen's painstaking efforts.
Merchants travel around the market, based on honesty and hard work, and the flow of money and goods is prosperous.
Doctors practice medicine, save the dying and heal the wounded, are kind-hearted and use their medical skills to relieve illness and treat suffering, and protect the peace of the people.
Literati and poets used their pens as swords to write history books, which have been passed down for thousands of years.
Military men and women defend their country, guard the borders, and use their flesh and blood to block the enemy's borders so that their country and their families can live in peace.
These are all remarkable people.
As for you and me, we only achieved high positions by chance."
"To put it bluntly, I was just born into a good family. If you ask me to do those things, I will never do them.
Sir Chen, do not be discouraged. If you don't know how to do it, just learn slowly. For loyal people like you, His Majesty can wait, and the court can wait too."
As he spoke, Li Jinglong's body became tall again.
It was as if he had returned to the capital, where people would always refer to His Majesty and Duke Cao of the court.
The sound slowly echoed in the military tent.
The blows hit Chen Shuhan's heart again and again, causing his pupils to shake violently.
At this moment, he no longer dared to underestimate Duke Cao.
These words show that one can recognize one's own shortcomings, which is extremely smart.
Thinking of this, Chen Shuhan's hesitant mood finally settled down.
The slightest struggle in his eyes disappeared completely, replaced by determination.
He stood up suddenly, walked quickly to the center of the military tent, and bowed respectfully to Li Jinglong:
"Thank you, Duke Cao, for your advice. I am very grateful."
"I have something to report. Duke Cao, please ask your attendants to leave."
Hearing this, Li Jinglong exhaled suddenly, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he said lightly:
"You've hinted at it in every possible way, but is there anyone who is targeting the Beijing Army?"
Boom——
These words sounded like thunder in my heart.
Chen Shuhan suddenly raised his head, his face full of astonishment.
Soon, he lowered his head and spoke in a deep voice:
"This is a matter of great importance. Duke Cao, please ask your attendants to leave."
Li Jinglong waved his hand gently.
More than ten soldiers who were originally standing around the military tent slowly retreated.
Their departure seemed to have taken away the heat in the military tent, making the temperature a little colder.
"Go ahead."
Chen Shuhan's face was firm, and he pursed his lips tightly.
He did not speak, but bent his knees, and in front of Li Jinglong's stunned face,
Like two mountains about to collapse, they slowly but powerfully kneeled down to the ground.
Then, his head hit hard on the hard bluestone slab.
There was a dull and powerful sound.
It slowly echoed in the quiet military tent, full of determination.
A low voice followed:
"Yunnan Commander Chen Shuhan begs Duke Cao to take him in! I am willing to lead the horse and be loyal to Duke Cao."
(End of this chapter)