On February 15th, the winter was fading and spring was just in time. People who had been bored for a while in Qingzhou city finally got to go out for an outing to soothe their muscles and bones that had been tired all winter.
Under the careful management of Sun Tu and Huang Wenbing, Qingzhou has become prosperous. The people can not only have enough food and clothing, but also have enough money to do things they like. For example, taking advantage of the spring breeze, many children play outside the west gate. The kites were flying, the laughter and the noise of fighting could be heard in and outside the city, causing those who heard it to smile happily without realizing it.
And when a team of soldiers and horses escorted the carts, which were carefully covered with cloth and it was unknown what was contained in them, and slowly came to the city gate along the official road, the people wandering around here did not need anyone to give orders. They all got up and moved away, and they looked at the soldiers with deep awe.
This is a courtesy that almost all armies in the Song Dynasty cannot enjoy. In this era of civility and military inferiority, officers and soldiers are the least valued group of people, and people can easily associate them with vulgarity and lowliness. Words stick together. But in Qingzhou, it is completely different. In the eyes of the people, they are the patron saints of this city and tens of thousands of people.
Feeling this, the soldiers and horses escorting the goods into the city also straightened their chests and even stepped extra hard. Even during this daily march, they actually got rid of the chilling feeling during military drills. Come.
Just when this team was about to pass through the city gate, there was another sound of horse hoofbeats from behind, and another team was seen coming from the official road. This was also an army, with bright armor and high flags. But if you look closely, If you look at it, you will find that the formation of this team is very loose, incomparable to the officers and soldiers who just passed by.
However, the two military attachés walking at the front of the team had no such idea. They looked like they were showing off their power. When they saw the city gate in sight, they shouted loudly: "The imperial envoy is coming, all the people waiting to get out of the way, dare you?" Anyone who blocks the way will be punished!" As he said this, he jerked the reins and rushed the horse to the city gate. He waved his whip in his hand and shouted sharply at the officers and soldiers who stopped for a moment because of the shouting: "Not yet. Exit the door quickly, how dare you block the imperial envoy's road, what are your intentions!"
His arrogant and wanton behavior immediately made the people around him look down on it. It was only because the other party revealed his identity early that everyone did not dare to say anything. They could only step aside and look at this unknown person with strange eyes. The imperial envoy team arrived.
The common people were like this, and the soldiers who were directly pointed at their noses and scolded were even more angry. However, the rules in the army are strict now, and they don't dare to cause trouble. They can only hold back their anger first, and then use their eyes to consult. The meaning of one's own general.
The general who led the team back today was Yang Zhi. They had just returned to the city from Chenjiazhuang with the food and money Chai Jin mentioned. He thought that nothing would go wrong since he had already arrived in Qingzhou City, but he unexpectedly encountered such a barbaric thing that couldn't wait to open his eyes, which made him furious. He immediately picked up the reins, turned around and faced the guy who was still shouting at the soldiers to exit the city gate, and said in a deep voice: "Who are you, how dare you act so recklessly in my Qingzhou!"
"Who are you? No one.
Do you listen to what I just said? The imperial envoy is here. Why don't you get out of the way quickly? Can you afford to delay the imperial envoy's schedule? Not to mention you, a little Qiu Bajun officer, even Sun Tu had to kowtow when he saw the imperial envoy! "This man still looked arrogant, holding his head high and glancing at Yang Zhi from the corner of his eye.
"Imperial envoy? How come I haven't heard anyone mention that the imperial envoy will be sent to my Qingzhou before..." Yang Zhi was quite calm and did not get angry after hearing this. He just asked with a little doubt.
"Of course you and other lowly servants can't know the court's decision. Get out of the way quickly. If you dare to mess with me again, I will order someone to arrest you!" This man saw that Yang Zhi did not dare to cause trouble, and felt more confident, so he shouted repeatedly. , the whip in his hand was swung wildly, as if it might hit Yang Zhi at any time.
In the imperial envoy team that was still a few miles away from the city gate, two officials were watching the farce inside the city gate with smiles on their faces. One of them was Lu Qian, and the official next to him was wearing a red official uniform. With his robe and silver fish bag hanging from his waist, he is completely dressed like an important minister in the court.
This group of people is indeed an imperial envoy. This Zhupao official is the official envoy of the imperial envoy. Zeng Kaigan, the Minister of War of the Song Dynasty, and Lu Qian was appointed as his deputy, guarding and assisting all the way. .
The reason why this imperial envoy team came was of course because of Cai Jing and Gao Qiu's efforts behind the scenes. Just forcing Sun Tu to send troops to attack Liangshan Po as soon as possible would not satisfy them. After all, Sun Tu had won too many battles over the years and defeated many bandits. Even they could not guarantee that Sun Tu would really be under the hands of the Liangshan bandits this time. Suffer.
If he is really allowed to put an end to this banditry, it would be like shooting himself in the foot for Cai Jing and the others. Not only will they not be able to punish him, but they will allow him to gain more credit, so they must do something more. To hold back Sun Tu and the Shandong army, Imperial Envoy Zeng was the person who wanted to play such a role.
He came to Qingzhou not only to issue decrees and look around, but also to stay here for a long time to check and balance Sun Tu. Because he has another identity, the military supervisor of Jingdong Road appointed by the imperial court!
The position of military supervisor is really a great weapon to check and constrain local generals. Although he is mostly a civilian official, he has the right to interfere in military affairs, and because he has a status similar to that of an imperial envoy, many times the power in the army is still behind that of the chief general. , so as long as he is here and makes trouble at the critical moment, it is enough to put Sun Tu into a dilemma in the battle with Liang Shanbo, and even lose the entire battle because of it.
What's even better is that even if the battle was lost due to his wrong decision-making, when the court finally held him accountable, it was Sun Tu, the commander-in-chief, who took the blame. As for the supervisor, he could retire with success. He returned to the capital unscathed and continued to serve as a high-ranking official in his court.
Since ancient times, many military generals have fallen into the hands of supervisors who have no military skills but can only point fingers and give blind orders. But this time, their target fell on Sun Tu, a newly emerged young general. On the body. This was Cai Jing and Gao Qiu's counterattack against Sun Tu, and it also coincided with the aspirations of many civil servants in the DPRK, because they did not want to see a military general suddenly rise and threaten their own power, especially this one who had not been Playing cards according to rules and routines has become impossible.
The young officials suffered greatly under him.
When he saw the chaos at the city gate, Zeng Kaigan even smiled disdainfully: "It is said that the Qingzhou army led by Sun Tu is so powerful and the military discipline is so strict, but now it seems that it is nothing more than this. Even this You don’t know any rules, it’s so unreasonable!”
"What Shilang Zeng said is true, but it is nothing more than rumors. It is the ignorant people in these places who boast that an army is like a god. In fact, they are nothing compared to my forbidden army in Bianjing." Lu Qian hurriedly smiled and agreed. This was the only chance for him to make a fortune again. Naturally, he had to work hard to please his boss.
It can be said that Gao Qiu treated Lu Qian quite well. He did not abandon him just because his role had passed. Instead, he found a job for him that was not too bad in this matter. As long as he can stay with Zeng Kaigan and get things done conscientiously, once Sun Tu is eliminated, his contribution will naturally be considerable, and he may be able to be promoted and find a more honorable job in the Forbidden Army. .
But just when the two of them thought they had everything under control, standing there talking sarcastically and waiting for the people inside to retreat and get out of the way, the situation suddenly changed -
A loud shout suddenly sounded from inside the city gate: "You are so brave, how dare you ride into our Qingzhou City! Come on, capture him!" Following this shout, several tall and round men The soldiers rushed out from the city, and the thick and long sticks in their hands roared towards him. With a few bangs, they knocked the men off their horses, and then they pushed them to the ground.
This man was completely stunned by a few sticks. After a while, he struggled hard and said: "What are you doing? You are so brave, you dare to attack the imperial guards..."
"The Sa family doesn't know anything about imperial envoys or not! The Sa family only knows that the governor has issued a strict order. Except for those in our army, no one else is allowed to enter the city on horseback, otherwise they will be responsible for thirty boards! Come on, give me a heavy duty Beat me!" As he spoke, a tall and rough figure appeared at the city gate, it was Lu Da who had arrived.
Yang Zhi really didn't expect that Luda would do something like this. Seeing that the guy had been pushed to the ground and was being beaten with a stick, he screamed. He was stunned for a moment before he stepped forward and said: "Brother Lu, you are too messy. Well, are there still imperial envoys outside? How can the governor deal with these guys?"
"What are you afraid of? Since they broke the rules first, it is not wrong for the Sa family to act according to the rules. And look at the behavior of these guys, it is not a good idea. They want to give us a blow when they come. How can it be so easy? Something!" Ruda said and glanced at the imperial envoy team over there from a distance. He was not really reckless, he actually saw some clues and knew that he must not weaken his momentum at this time, so he made such a move.
Sure enough, in this way, Zeng Kaigan and the others were beaten stupidly. They thought about many possibilities, but they did not expect that the people in Qingzhou City would be so tough, and they would dare to attack the imperial envoys just for any reason. .
Zeng Kaigan's face suddenly turned gloomy: "Marquis Lu Yu, what do you think we should do?" This means he didn't eat meat, but he broke his teeth.
Lu Qian could only smile bitterly, knowing that he had to step forward to stop it, otherwise the imperial envoy would be embarrassed.