Chapter 522 This Governor Comes to Support You Today
Chapter 522 This Governor Comes to Support You Today (5k)
"Sir...this..." The old man of the Lu family was stunned, as if he still couldn't believe his ears.
It was not until he met Zhao Duan's eyes, which seemed calm but actually contained murderous intent, that he suddenly woke up.
"Is there a problem?" Zhao Duan had a blank expression.
"No problem! I will immediately send someone to notify everyone and prepare the banquet." The white-haired old man agreed immediately, then slowly stood up and sent his servants to prepare.
Zhao Duan then raised his buttocks with satisfaction and said:
"Clean up a quiet courtyard. I don't have a place to stay in the city, and the government office is crowded with people, so I'm worried about not having a place to stay. I plan to stay in Lu's house for a few days."
A great commander-in-chief is going to stay in his own home?
In the past, the Lu family would have been overjoyed and unwilling to miss the opportunity to curry favor with the empress's favorite.
But now, I can only complain in my heart, feeling extremely unwilling.
But I could only accept it and pretend to be happy.
Immediately, the old man ordered his servants to clean up, and at the same time, smilingly invited Zhao Duan to go to the inner hall to have some tea and sit for a while.
Zhao Duan nodded happily, turned around, raised his hand and patted the shoulder of "Grain Supervisor" Zhao Shande, and smiled gently:
"The matter is settled. Let's go with the Lu family to get food. Since your last name is Zhao, you should stand up straighter in the future and don't bring disgrace to the Zhao family name."
After saying this, he walked towards the inner hall in a leisurely manner.
Only the old official Zhao Shande was left standing there, flattered. He hadn't come to his senses yet and was just staring blankly at the Lu family members around him.
The other party changed his usual arrogance and coldness, and flattered and apologized to him almost eagerly.
Zhao Shande felt uncomfortable all over. At this moment, he suddenly remembered and asked the eldest son who was left behind to work with him:
"May I ask... who exactly is this lord?"
Young Master Lu looked at him in surprise, and said with a strange look:
"Brother Shan De, don't you know this guy? He and you both have the surname Zhao. Is there anyone else with the surname Zhao in the city now?"
In my mind, a name flashed across my mind...
A close minister of the empress, the commander-in-chief who suppressed the rebellion, the prince's guardian... Zhao Duan.
Zhao Shande breathed rapidly and opened his mouth, unable to believe it.
This gentle young man who talked and laughed with me along the way was actually the famous King Yan of Zhao?
On the other side, Zhao Duan swaggered and talked with the old man of the Lu family in the inner hall. The servants who were sent out to convey the "dinner invitation" returned one after another, bringing an unexpected news.
The core block of the city is very small, and the wealthy families in the city have moved into the city center because of the war, so it is very convenient to send a letter.
"Are all the gentry in the city unable to come?"
Zhao Duan smiled, "Can't come, or don't want to come?"
The servant said timidly:
"Mr. Qian from Datong Bank said he is ill and bedridden and cannot come. Mr. Li from Kangzhuang Rice Shop said he is not in the city and is now outside Taicang... and... "
He called out the names one by one and gave reasons for his refusal.
Zhao Duan listened calmly, then suddenly smiled and looked at Old Man Lu:
"Do you think these people are really in trouble, or are they pretending to be in trouble?"
Master Lu hesitated and said, "Please calm down, my lord. I will go and ask him again myself."
"No need," Zhao Duan said to the servant calmly:
"Go again and tell them about the banquet tonight. Then you don't need to wait for any response from them, and you don't need to say anything else."
Just notify, no need to wait for response?
Old Master Lu was stunned at first, then cold sweat broke out on his temples, and he seemed to understand something:
"Sir, if there are still people who are unwilling to come..."
"They will come." Zhao Duan stood up and walked towards the courtyard prepared for him by the Lu Mansion, leaving only one sentence:
"If you really don't come, you don't have to come forever."
……
……
After the armies of Shenjiying and Wujunying entered the city, they were arranged to set up camp in specific areas.
Because the existing military camps were insufficient, they simply emptied out some of the government's warehouse buildings and used them for camping.
"Wei Xianzong, there's no water in the jar. Didn't you hear me fill it up? Are you deaf?"
In a camp, a soldier cursed coldly at a person not far away.
Wei Xianzong was now wearing a gray, dirty piece of clothing with the word "Soldier" on his chest.
With disheveled hair and haggard face, he was sitting tiredly beside a pile of wood, breathing silently.
The hot sweat soaked his clothes and pants, and there were some scars on his body.
He raised his head, his eyes were restrained under his black hair, and he said calmly:
"There are ten large vats in the camp, and I filled them all by myself."
"Full?" The soldier suddenly pushed hard, and a whole tank of water covered the ground. He taunted:
"How can it be full? Isn't it still empty? Is it?"
Around them, the other idle soldiers also laughed and echoed: "Yes. It's empty."
Others also pushed the water tank over to let the water flow out, and loudly urged Wei Xianzong to continue fetching water.
The dignified commander has now fallen to the level of a menial soldier.
Ever since the surrounding soldiers learned that this new soldier was once a big shot, they now had someone to amuse themselves with.
During this period, Wei Xianzong worked hard in the camp and anyone could order him around or even insult him in person.
There aren't many opportunities to bully a commander who was once unattainable.
"What are you looking at? I asked you to work, did you hear me? Do you want to hit me?"
The soldier was frightened by Wei Xianzong's look and became fierce again.
Wei Xianzong had a blank expression on his face. He clenched his hands gradually, then finally loosened them. He silently got up, picked up the bucket, and walked towards the well.
The laughter and scolding behind me gradually faded away.
Suddenly, a figure stopped in front of him. The figure was wearing the uniform of the "Protectorate of the Royal Guards" and looked at him with a frown:
"Wei Xianzong, the former commander of Qingzhou? Come with me. Envoy Xue wants to see you."
……
……
Wei Xianzong was taken to the government office and met Xue Shence in a room not far from the "command center".
"Look up and speak."
Xue Shence was sitting behind the desk. When he saw Wei Xianzong coming in, he kept his head down, his eyes fixed on the floor, and spoke calmly.
When the latter raised his head, revealing a haggard and thinner face, Xue Shence said with a complicated look:
"I don't want you and I to meet again, in this situation."
Wei Xianzong, who had been particularly taciturn since being captured, laughed at himself:
"The Privy Councilor would not have asked me to come here just to make a few remarks."
The two had previously been in a superior-subordinate relationship, so naturally they knew each other.
However, Wei Xianzong, as a general supported by Yuan Li, was not from the same faction as Xue Shence.
"The city is busy with military affairs right now, so I really don't have the time, nor the interest to ridicule you. I've read the detailed battle report of your battle with the Five Army Battalions at the border of Qingzhou. Yuan Feng also recognized your combat ability. He said that it was a waste of your talent to put you in Qingzhou."
Xue Shence asked seriously: "Do you want to redeem yourself from your crime and get out of your current situation?"
Wei Xianzong's eyes suddenly lit up under his messy black hair: "What do you want me to do?"
Xue Shence folded his hands on his abdomen and sat upright:
"I plan to select a group of elite soldiers from the army to form a 'suicide squad' to carry out a very dangerous, risky and low success rate mission. After much deliberation, we think you are the most suitable person to lead this suicide squad."
Wei Xianzong's eyes moved, and he looked suspicious:
"You dare to let me lead the troops?"
He didn't ask what the mission was, how difficult or dangerous it was, or whether he could complete it. Instead, he asked this.
Xue Shence smiled slightly:
"Since Commander Zhao dared to take the risk of being impeached in the Golden Palace, rescued you from the death row, and placed you in the Divine Machine Camp and brought you to the front line, how can I not dare to use you?"
Wei Xianzong stared at him seriously for several seconds and said:
"When will the Death Squad be formed and put into action?"
Xue Shence said: "I have ordered people to select personnel. The team will be formed tomorrow and will go to the battlefield the day after tomorrow at the latest."
Wei Xianzong nodded and said, "I do."
Xue Shence nodded with satisfaction, and immediately ordered his personal guards to send Wei Xianzong back to the camp, pack up his things, and then serve as an officer in the temporarily formed "Death Battalion".
After watching the other person leave, another person walked in from the outside of the door. It was Shi Meng, the commander of the Shenji Camp.
"Sir, this Wei Xianzong is certainly capable enough, but... can he really be trusted?" Shi Meng hesitated. Xue Shence stood up and said calmly, "I don't know."
Shi Meng was stunned.
Then Xue Shence explained:
"But I believe in Zhao Duan. He dared to throw someone into the Shenji Camp, which means he thought he could use this person. The war situation is critical, and we should recruit talents regardless of their background. Besides, Wei Xianzong is not a mediocre person."
After a pause, he added with a wry smile:
"Besides, we have to use all the methods we can now. Wei Xianzong's move is just one of our several plans, and it is still a very late plan. I didn't have much hope for him.
Even if he fails, the loss can be borne. Let's go back and continue. "
Inside the "command center", a group of generals were still making plans, and Xue Shence only took time out to come out for a short while.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly remembered something and said:
"Send out more scouts to investigate the enemy's movements. Also be alert to any suspicious individuals near the Jingying camp in the city."
Shi Meng suddenly realized:
"Your Excellency is worried that the Yunfu rebels will send spies to investigate military intelligence in the city?"
Xue Shence nodded and said worriedly:
"The Prince Mu's Mansion has secretly cultivated an assassin intelligence team called Xiu Yi Zhi Zhi. We must be on guard."
……
The backyard of the government office.
Nie Yurong pushed open the door and just walked into the courtyard, she saw the smiling but somewhat feminine eunuch walking towards her.
Nie Yurong bowed respectfully:
"Eunuch Song. My injuries have improved somewhat. May I ask what are your plans for the future?"
The "Embroidered Clothes Envoy" in the Embroidered Clothes Directly points out that he is faithfully playing the role of his current fake identity.
The Shadow Guards are nominally affiliated with the royal family and are therefore called subordinates.
Song Jinxi smiled and said:
"Commander Zhao said that you risked your life to pass on the information and saved the Taicang Silver Mine, which is a great achievement. You should stay here to recover for the next few days. I will recommend you for merit later. How can I make a meritorious official shed blood and tears?"
"..." Nie Yurong forced a smile and clenched her fists silently.
Damn it! How did I, a spy in Prince Mu's palace, become a meritorious official of the imperial court?
After careful questioning and learning that Zhao Duan had successfully saved the silver mine and wiped out the rebel army, Nie Yurong fell silent.
This was slightly different from her plan.
In order to enhance the authenticity of her impersonation, she deliberately allowed herself to be chased by the Yunfu soldiers, and also deliberately revealed the news of a sneak attack by light cavalry.
But she did not say where exactly the light cavalry attacked.
The purpose is to gain Zhao Duan's trust without really sacrificing anything.
She had originally expected that after encountering Zhao Duan on the road, this treacherous minister beside the empress would immediately lead his troops to the provincial capital to provide assistance.
Later, I learned that there was indeed a surprise attack by light cavalry, which just proved what I said.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Duan guessed the direction of the sneak attack based on such vague information.
Nie Yurong, by some strange coincidence, actually helped the imperial court a lot...
However, it's all worth it.
"Haha, this is what my subordinates should do." Nie Yurong asked curiously:
"Where's the governor? And Mo Zhaorong isn't here?"
Song Jinxi smiled and said:
"Mo Zhaorong is resting in the room. As for Lord Zhao, he just went out. Do you want to talk to him about something?"
"It's okay, it's okay." Nie Yurong waved her hand, turned around and went back to the room. When she turned around, her eyes suddenly became deep.
Judging from Song Jinxi's reaction and the lenient treatment he received, he knew that he was not suspected and had successfully sneaked into the government office.
But Nie Yurong was not planning to spy on military intelligence - her goal was to find an opportunity to assassinate Zhao Duan. If that didn't work, she would settle for the next best thing and assassinate Mo Zhaorong.
Only by killing people of this level can the impact on the balance of war be great enough.
However, according to intelligence, Zhao Duan's cultivation was quite good, so Nie Yurong did not dare to act rashly and could only slowly look for opportunities.
"Humph, so what if you are in this world? As long as you are still human, you will be careless at some point and be killed. Throughout history, there have been countless strong men who have been killed by others because of carelessness."
Nie Yurong's eyes were cold. As one of the top assassins in the Embroidered Uniform Sect, she had a lot of patience.
Just wait.
However, what she didn't notice was that after she turned around, the smile on Song Jinxi's face slowly faded and his eyes became cold.
Youyou stared at her back. This eunuch who was the most skilled in assassination among the eunuchs in the imperial palace stood like a ghost.
Next door, Jin Jian, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, suddenly stretched, muttered something in his sleep, and fell asleep again.
Yuxiu, who was sitting cross-legged beside her, sighed softly and closed her eyes.
……
Lu family residence.
Zhao Duan was arranged to live alone in a courtyard with a rather luxurious architectural style. The courtyard was elegantly decorated and filled with the scent of books.
In particular, the banana trees in the yard grew extremely plump, and there was a group of fat white geese in the pond.
Zhao Duan praised the environment highly and was quite satisfied. As he had not eaten lunch yet, he ordered the servants of the Lu family to catch a fat goose, pluck its feathers and roast it in the yard.
She also disliked the clumsiness of her maid, so she deliberately called the women from the Lu family over to chat with her to relieve her boredom and learn about the local customs and practices in the city.
Among the three young masters of the Lu family, the youngest master is not married yet, while the wives and concubines of the eldest and second sons are all very pretty and gentle. Before being called over by Zhao Duan to accompany them, they were all like chaste and heroic women.
But when he saw Zhao Duan's demeanor and appearance, he immediately began to "compromise".
"Sir, please drink this ice mist fruit wine in the mansion. It is the best way to quench your thirst." The eldest lady held the wine pot in her bare hands and shyly poured wine for King Zhao.
Zhao Duan looked at the iced, misty vessel and the crystal clear wine in the fruit plate and sighed softly:
“The prices in the city are soaring and the people are short of food, but it’s a different scene in the Lu Mansion.”
The eldest lady was stunned for a moment, her expression slightly stiff, and she vaguely felt that the atmosphere was not right.
The second lady next to him was young and introverted. She didn't talk much, but her eyes frequently glanced at Zhao Duan's face, her heart pounding. When Zhao Duan occasionally looked over at her, she hurriedly turned her head away, pretending to be scared.
Heh… How many of the sons of big families have feelings for each other when they marry or take concubines? It’s nothing more than a show.
However, Zhao Duan could imagine how depressed the men of the Lu family felt while they were waiting outside the yard to avoid the wind.
The cuckoo took over the magpie's nest, snatched the wife and concubine to accompany the drinking... Are you not angry about this? This Lu family is really tolerant.
But... you are so tolerant, how can I find fault with you and deal with you?
Zhao Duan sighed softly, picked up the iced fruit wine soaked with the eldest lady's love, and started drinking.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard outside the yard. Zhao Duan looked up and smiled.
He waved his hand, drove away the two young ladies of the Lu family who were accompanying him for drinks, and patted the low wooden chair beside him that had been warmed by the eldest lady's buttocks:
"Governor Sun, you've arrived just in time. The roast goose has just been roasted. Please sit down and have something to eat."
Sun Xiaozhun came over with a wry smile, sat down, looked at the scenery of the banana pond, the roast goose and fruit wine, and said with a wry smile:
"The governor is so quiet, it's frightening. I wasn't paying attention, and the governor made such a big thing. Now the gentry in the city are as anxious as ants and are rushing over here."
Zhao Duan glanced at the sky which was gradually setting in the west and said with a smile:
"Is this a letter sent to you by the Lu family?"
Sun Xiaozhun was stunned for a moment, nodded, and said:
"I was busy setting up the military camp when I heard the news, so I came to take a look. The Lu family didn't say anything."
Zhao Duan took a sip of wine and sneered:
“They don’t need to say anything. They are not sure whether you knew about my banquet today. But having you, the parent official, come here will make them feel more at ease than leaving me here alone.
Oh, people, if there are more acquaintances on the field, they will always feel more at ease. Just like this military ration, didn't Governor Sun have any way to deal with them before? "
Sun Xiaozhun's heart skipped a beat and he broke out in a cold sweat:
"Commander-in-chief, I have never sided with the Lu family. The reason why I used gentle means before was because we were facing a powerful enemy and needed the help of these gentry... That's why..."
He was worried that he would be held accountable. After all, he failed to collect military rations. It was hard to say whether it was because the Lu family was unwilling to pay, or because he, as the prefect, secretly accepted bribes and was unwilling to contribute...
Zhao Duan said in a gentle voice:
"Governor Sun, don't be nervous. I still trust you. I also know that as a senior official in Taicang Prefecture, you can't do many things without considering the face of these local bosses. So, I will do the things that offend people."
He smiled slightly:
"Today, just think of me as someone who is here to support you."
Sun Xiaozhun was stunned for a moment, swallowed his saliva, and couldn't help but say:
"Today, my Lord, you are going to..."
"Just watch me do what I'm going to do later." Zhao Duan looked at the last ray of afterglow in the sky and stood up with a smile:
"Let's go, the banquet is about to begin."
(End of this chapter)