Chapter 554: Layout thousands of miles away
Chapter 554: Layout thousands of miles away
Humans are social animals.
Therefore, it is always difficult to escape the fate of being compared. The higher you stand, the clearer and more obvious the comments of others will be.
Zhao Duan understood this principle very early, so he just smiled:
"Xue Shence is indeed stronger than me in the field of combat. He is not a child, so why should he strive to be the first in everything?
Winning the battle is a great thing for the court. As for those rumors and the sour words from scholars, just ignore them."
Well, what he didn’t say was that he also won a game in Yongjia City some time ago, but the news had not yet been passed back.
Of course, even if he assassinated Wang Qi and sent the "achievements" of rescuing a group of officials back to the capital, it would only make those who harbored ill will towards him work harder to compare him with Xue Shence, thereby indirectly suppressing his reputation.
As for Zhao Duan's real plan, the plan to alienate Zhao Shixiong and Xu Jingtang, once successful, it is very likely to directly affect the entire war situation of the Yu State...
These things must be kept strictly confidential for the time being and cannot be told to outsiders.
Only a very few people who know what Zhao Duan is doing now understand that once the alienation plan succeeds.
That would be something that Xue Shence could not achieve even if he won several more battles, unless he could destroy Prince Jing Xuwen in one fell swoop, but that was too difficult for the imperial army to accomplish at the moment.
"Let's go to Zuixianlou."
Zhao Duan resisted the urge to pinch the secretary's round face and said gently, "Cheer up, everyone. I'll treat you all to a good meal."
Qian Kerou asked doubtfully, "Sir, are we not going to the palace?"
Zhao Duan shook his head:
"A great victory on the Eastern Front. Your Majesty must summon all the ministers for at least the next few hours to digest this news.
There will inevitably be some arrangements to be made later. I am only going to report on the follow-up, there is no rush."
……
When the group arrived at Zuixianlou, Zhao Duan waved his hand, opened a private room, and ordered a lot of good wine and food. It was just to celebrate the successful elimination of the Qingliu Party and the great victory on the eastern front.
As time approached noon, more and more customers came into the restaurant. Through the door, one could hear people outside discussing the battle reports of the great victory.
Xue Shence's name appears frequently.
Not surprisingly.
The hottest topic under the emperor's feet today is the war. Who can not talk about it?
As expected, whenever Xue Shence was mentioned in those discussions, "General Zhao" would be mentioned as well.
Perhaps it was because Zhao Duan had surpassed Xue Shence in the two battles of suppressing the rebellion in Qingzhou and extinguishing the fire in Linfeng some time ago, and many people were holding back their energy.
Now that Xue Shence has won a great victory, rumors are spreading that Zhao Duan's victory was all due to luck and that Xue Shumishi is the best in Dayu.
Hearing this, the detectives at Lihua Hall frowned and couldn't enjoy their food anymore.
On the contrary, Zhao Duan, the person involved, seemed to be indifferent and listened with great interest.
Just when the meal was coming to an end, there was a knock on the door of the private room. It turned out that a group of people had learned that the new detective from Lihuatang was also having a meal in the building, so they came to take a look.
"I've heard that a new white-faced police officer has taken office in the imperial court. His behavior is quite similar to that of Zhao Shaobao. He has caused chaos in the court in the past two days. But I saw him today."
The first person to enter had a round face and narrow eyes. He was extremely drunk, holding a wine jug in his hand and wearing a green robe of a military officer. He looked at Zhao Duan with a hint of hostility.
Zhao Duan looked at the secretary in confusion: "Who is he?"
The latter explained in a low voice:
"A fifth-rank official from the Privy Council."
The Privy Council...the faction of court military officers. They were very angry because they were suppressed by Zhao Duan alone in the battle of Qingzhou.
In the past one or two months, the scholars in the city have been praising Zhao Duan and criticizing him, frequently using the trick of praising one and stepping down the other. Every time they praise Zhao Duan, they would belittle the military officers headed by the Privy Council.
Zhao Duan understood in his heart that this minor fifth-rank official must have been dissatisfied with "Governor Zhao" for a long time.
After today's great victory on the Eastern Front, he finally straightened his head and took advantage of his drunkenness to show off to people from his "General Zhao" faction and vent his anger.
In response to this, Zhao Duan, who was usually vindictive, was unusually magnanimous.
Since it was the scholars who instigated the flattery, it was reasonable for the people in the Privy Council to take their anger out on me.
However, Zhao Duan was not angry, but the official was a little annoyed.
With a gloomy face, he threw the wine jug onto the table unhappily:
"This officer is so unreasonable. I came here to pay a visit, but you asked me who I am. Do you think I am not worthy of the Privy Council?!"
Behind him, there were people gathered outside, watching the show.
Zhao Duan frowned slightly. He really didn't know this person. Although he had drank with officials of the Privy Council several times before, he had to be at least fourth rank or above to be seated at the last seat.
This fifth-rank official is not even qualified to meet Zhao Duan.
"You want to pick a fight?!" Hou Ren was furious. He stood up suddenly, grabbing his sword.
Shen Juan and Qian Kerou also looked at him unfriendly.
"We are at the foot of the emperor, and we have won a great victory on the eastern front. It is a festive day. If we use swords and guns, won't people laugh at us if the news gets out?"
A tall and thin middle-aged man in a long gown walked out of the crowd. He had a dignified demeanor and a disdainful look. He seemed to be speaking fairly, but in fact he was secretly mocking Lihuatang for being ignorant.
Zhao Duan frowned, and the secretary beside him whispered:
"This is the Dean of the Imperial College, a fifth-rank official, and the deputy of the Chief Priest. He is a member of the Qingliu Party."
Zhao Duan sighed softly, laughed at himself, and thought that what the old supervisor said was so true.
As a new police chief, he was indeed being watched by many people. His move to clean up the court had, as expected, offended some people.
However, he touched the mask on his face and thought that if it weren't for this mask, how could these fifth-grade trash have the courage to act so weird?
"Old Hou, sit down and eat." Zhao Duan said calmly.
Hou Renmeng sat down reluctantly.
Seeing that this white-faced police officer who had recently gained fame chose to endure and retreat, the two fifth-rank officials from the Privy Council and the Imperial College became more arrogant and complacent.
He turned around and walked away with a swagger.
The crowd retreated in disappointment.
"Chen Siye, I just heard you talking at the table, repeatedly claiming that Governor Zhao was overrated, but I remember that you were the one who praised Governor Zhao before, and now you are looking for trouble with Lihua Hall, which is against the way of a gentleman."
Suddenly, a scholar with ordinary appearance and slightly dull temperament walked out of the crowd and said seriously.
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment. It turned out to be an old acquaintance, Dong Shusheng, the eldest grandson of Grand Tutor Dong.
Chen Siye frowned:
“I know that Master Dong has some personal relationship with Governor Zhao. If you are not used to hearing us speak the truth, I will not tell you for the sake of the Grand Tutor.
I heard that Master Dong submitted his resignation to the Lord Jijiu, and will postpone his studies to join the army in Xiping Road. He will leave after attending this year's Golden Autumn Literary Gathering?
Mr. Dong should pay more attention to his future. "
Zhao Duan looked surprised. Dong Da was going to join the army?
Go to Xipingdao to participate in the suppression of the rebellion?
This was a choice that surprised him a little.
Dong Da bowed calmly without responding.
Watching the group of people disperse, Zhao Duan thought that once he went out to fight, he would not know whether he would live or die. Dong Da should be considered the first serious "friend" he made after traveling through time.
When we have the golden autumn gathering, it’s time to see him off.
After this little incident, everyone lost their appetite for food. Zhao Duan stood up, paid the bill, left Zuixianlou and went to the palace.
Hou Renmeng and Shen Juan suddenly stayed behind on the pretext of "going to the toilet", and only let Qian Kerou drive the car to take the adults into the palace.
The two waited in the alley outside Zuixianju for half an hour, and finally saw Chen Siye and the drunk Du Chengzhi come out and leave separately, surrounded by their friends.
"One for each person?" Hou Ren hugged his arms and showed a mouthful of white teeth.
"I'm not as good as you in fighting, so leave the one who studies to me. Also, be careful with your hands and feet." Shen Juan took out two face coverings and handed one to Hou Renmeng, "Don't cause trouble for the adults."
"Just wait and see. Humph, your Excellency is magnanimous and doesn't bother with the little scoundrels, but when have we in Lihua Hall ever not fought back when someone picked on us?"
"...Don't cripple him."
"I know what I'm doing." The two men, wearing masks and holding knives, followed separately.
……
……
royal palace.
Zhao Duan entered the palace and asked Qian Kerou to drive back first, while he went to find Sun Lianying to ask.
I learned that the empress was indeed holding an impromptu court meeting.
"With the help of the firearms you researched in the Shenji Camp, Xue Shence caught Prince Jing off guard and recaptured nearly two counties of territory and a section of the canal. However, it will not be so easy to expand the results of the battle next."
The old supervisor held a whisk in his hand and told him the battle report on the eastern front.
Finally, he said, "Your Majesty cannot be away for a while. If you have something important to say, I will go and ask His Majesty to come out."
Zhao Duan waved his hand:
"No need. Let her do her work first. I'm just going to the palace to talk about the follow-up of the purge case. Write it down in a memorial and pass it to His Majesty on my behalf. It's nothing important. The matter at Lihua Hall has come to an end. I'm going to stay at Wugong Hall for the next few days."
After explaining this matter, he turned around and headed straight for the Martial Arts Hall.
After greeting Eunuch Hai, Zhao Duan left the body to Eunuch Hai to help look after it, and his soul left his body, passed through the palace wall and entered the stone wall.
……
Linfeng, in Taicang Prefecture Yamen.
Zhao Duan, lying in an antique room, opened his eyes.
Feeling the Qi filling up his body and the "Bigu Pill" that had been mostly digested, he rubbed his face and muttered to himself:
"It's still true physical dexterity."
Fortunately, he entered the worldly realm, and in the state of breathing meditation, his body could survive only by relying on the fasting pills.
Otherwise, just coming back to eat and poop every day would be a hassle.
I pushed the door open and walked out, seeing three figures sparring in the courtyard.
The Jade Sleeve Priest was wearing an elegant green dress and a veil on her face. She sat in the pavilion, while a flying sword was flying back and forth in the courtyard like a stunning wild goose.
Lang Shiba, holding a scimitar, with disheveled hair, wet white pupils and red clothes, fights against the flying sword.
Although Xue Shence took away the Shenjiying and some of the offerings headed by Tang Jinzhong.
But the remaining few masters of cultivation stayed in Taicang to assist Zhao Duan in guarding the western front.
But for practitioners, it is too boring, so practicing together becomes a daily routine.
"Where is the golden tablet?" Zhao Duan asked while stretching his body.
Yuxiu opened her eyes: "I'm catching up on some sleep, are you looking for her?"
No... Let the child sleep. It's hard to cope with this time difference... Maybe modern society on Earth is more suitable for people like her who are good at staying up late... Zhao Duan shook his head:
"Just asking. Can Song Jinxi send a message back?"
Lang Shiba put away his scimitar and took out a letter from his bosom:
"My Lord, it was just delivered this morning."
After returning from Yongjia, Song Jinxi took a short rest and then left again with his shadow guards and headed for the Huai River.
Zhao Duan tore open the envelope and took a look, then nodded, with a smile on his face:
"Very good, it seems that everything is going well over there, and we just need to wait."
At this time, the prefect Sun Xiaozhun ran in excitedly from the front of the government office. Seeing him, he said in surprise:
"Commander-in-chief, have you come out? That's great. I just got the news that there was a great victory on the Eastern Front..."
Old Sun, you can't do that. The news is not as fast as that in Beijing... Zhao Duan nodded calmly:
"Let me guess. Xue Shence caught Prince Jing off guard with firearms and probably took over two counties and a section of the canal."
Sun Xiaozhun was shocked. He was stunned for a while before he said sincerely:
"Your Excellency is very smart!"
Zhao Duan said calmly:
"Prince Jing has suffered a loss, so he will definitely ask for help from Prince Mu Xu Jingtang. Next, keep an eye on Zhao Shixiong and see if he makes any moves. Put some pressure on him."
"Okay." Sun Xiaozhun nodded, and then said worriedly:
"Sir, Zhao Shixiong can hold his territory with only half of his troops thanks to the natural barrier of the Yongjia River. Once he moves, I'm afraid it will be difficult to stop him."
Zhao Duan glanced at Old Sun and smiled:
"First, he needs to be able to move. Let's wait and see. It will take some time, maybe a month or twenty days. The situation may change."
Sun Xiaozhun blinked and suddenly asked tentatively: "Your Excellency sent Song Gongsheng out. Did you make any arrangements?"
Zhao Duan smiled without saying anything, with his hands behind his back, looking towards the south.
What he didn't say was that Song Jinxi was not the only force he sent out to complete the crucial step.
Nie Yurong and her gang were not the only ones involved.
There is also a third force that has been walking around in the martial arts world, obeying his orders, but has gradually been ignored.
"Yunxi and the others... should be ready to act."
……
……
In the area where the Huai'an Palace is located, many large families have connected gardens over the past hundreds of years, making it a prosperous area that is almost as prosperous as a city.
After Xu Jingtang occupied the western line of the Huai River, he seized this fertile land before Prince Jing.
Just to the east of the "Bai Shi Garden" where Xu Jingtang lived, not far away, there is another independent house where a "mysterious" girl also moved in not long ago.
In the afternoon, the side door of the house opened, and a fair-faced young girl walked out, surrounded by maids and guards.
She was wearing a gorgeous long skirt that reached down to her heels, and her light yellow embroidered shoes were faintly visible as she walked.
At the age of 18, she has bright eyes, lively brows, and a good aura, which attracts people's attention.
At first glance, he is the son of a wealthy and famous family who is extremely favored.
Just as Zhao Ke'er walked out of the small door and tried to get into the sedan chair, she saw a group of armored soldiers coming over and following the sedan chair.
Zhao Keer's smiling face lost its expression, and she stared coldly at the leading military officer:
"I told you not to follow me!"
The military officer had a stern expression and a respectful tone:
"We are following the Second Young Master's orders to protect the young lady."
Zhao Ke'er frowned and asked sarcastically, "Is it a guard or a surveillance?"
The military officer remained silent.
Zhao Ke'er snorted in annoyance, knowing that it was useless to say more, she still raised her legs and got into the sedan chair. The sedan bearers carried the sedan chair and walked steadily towards the Confucius Temple.
The Yunfu rebels followed the sedan in silence, and the people along the way retreated in fear.
Zhao Ke'er's identity is very unique. She is the only daughter of Zhao Shixiong, the commander of the border army.
Zhao Shixiong married late, and something went wrong in his early martial arts training, which made it extremely difficult for him to conceive a child. Therefore, he had only one daughter, who was spoiled to the extreme.
After the uprising in Yunfu, Zhao Shixiong and the Gongsun couple led their troops to the front line to expand the territory for King Mu.
As a "hostage", Zhao Ke'er is always in Xu Jingtang's sight.
However, in order to avoid creating a rift with Zhao Shixiong, Zhao Ke'er, although a "hostage", lived a privileged life and was not subject to many restrictions.
Until recently, the second son of Prince Mu's Mansion suddenly sent troops, ostensibly for protection, but in fact to intensify surveillance of her.
This made Zhao Keer extremely dissatisfied.
After walking two blocks, the girl who was sulking in the sedan suddenly heard a commotion outside.
(End of this chapter)