And his expression and attitude naturally made the three of them relax their vigilance, and he made it clear that in recent years, the noble sons had borrowed troops from local governors and governors from time to time.
Finally, Li Shangjin seemed to summarize: "In the past few years, the main reason is that with the improvement of the status of military generals and soldiers in the Tang Dynasty, although literati and scholars are still very popular with nobles and wealthy families, soldiers are also becoming more and more popular. They welcomed him. On weekdays, if any noble family held a big banquet, they would invite soldiers to maintain order. In name, they wanted to maintain order. In fact, they wanted to let all the guests see how influential he was. How capable.”
"Are you paying for it? Is it free?" Li Hong asked again.
"Haha... Lao Wu, you are really obsessed with money. Which of the noble and wealthy families in the Tang Dynasty is not a person with great hands and eyes? Do you expect them to give you money? If they don't unite with the money of the corrupt soldiers in the government, even if they burn high incense You still expect them to give money to those soldiers? Of course, this will be blamed on you..." Li Sujie shook his head, but at the end of his speech, his breath and voice became weaker and weaker.
"So, the corruption of soldiers' pay has already happened in Zhechong Mansion in various places?" Li Hong remained calm, his tone and tone were the same as before, but for some reason, the whole hall was filled with confusion. But there was an added chill that made others shudder.
The expressions of Li Sujie, Li Shangjin, and Li Chongyi suddenly became tense and solemn. They all lowered their heads and remained silent. At this time, their hearts were full of anxiety and nervousness!
Facing the questions from His Highness the Crown Prince, the two princes without authority, Li Shangjin and Li Sujie, were better off, but they looked solemn and looked heavy.
But Li Chongyi was already sitting upright, and his body was trembling uncontrollably.
"Li Chongyi, can it happen in your Zhechong Mansion that soldiers are greedy for money and money?" Li Hong asked directly.
"Go back to your highness, I have nothing to do with Zhechong Mansion here, and... and..." Li Chongyi suddenly knelt on the ground and said to Li Hong: "I know very well that you should not lend soldiers of the Tang Dynasty to others. This matter, your Majesty There are indeed responsibilities and crimes that cannot be shied away from, but since my father led the army in the war, I know that it was not easy for the soldiers to be soldiers. Now after the restructuring of the Ministry of War, although there is an extra item of pay, how can soldiers, the sharp weapons of our Tang Dynasty, be allowed to do so? Although I can't say that I love soldiers as much as I love my son, I feel that I empathize with soldiers and do not dare to deduct money from them at all."
Looking at Li Chongyi who was kneeling on the ground, Li Hong did not let him get up immediately. Instead, he looked up at Li Shangjin and Li Sujie and asked: "Since I heard this from you two, then you two must know that there is something wrong." What kind of despicable things happened in Zhe Chong Mansion, right? It just so happens that I’ll leave it to you two to investigate. I hope you two are not involved, otherwise I won’t be able to save you.”
"Your Highness, I don't dare. I just heard it from hearsay. I also know that there is no smoke without fire. I will try my best to give an explanation to Your Highness." Li Shangjin and Li Sujie stood up solemnly and bowed back.
"Let's investigate with Bai Chun. Just the two of you, I'm afraid not many people will buy it." Li Hong sighed and said.
"Yes, Your Highness. It's just... where is Bai Chun now?" Li Shangjin asked with relief when he saw that Li Hong's face was no longer gloomy.
"In Gushan." Li Hong looked at Li Chongyi who was kneeling on the ground and said calmly.
"Gushan?" Li Chongyi suddenly raised his head and looked at Li Hong, his eyes full of surprise, and he vaguely felt in his heart that Yang Jikang borrowed troops to go to Gushan today, maybe it was related to the prince!
Gushan is not that far away. In fact, it is just an island in the West Lake. It is only a few dozen meters high, so it is called Gushan.
Although it only became famous in the Song Dynasty, at this time, there was already the Gushan Temple on the mountain, and the beautiful and elegant scenery. Walking among the mountain trails, it feels like walking among the mountains and forests, which makes people feel... Feeling at ease and at ease.
Zhang Yi and Shen Junliang have been waiting at the gate of Gushan Temple for a long time. Today, the gate of Gushan Temple has been guarded by ten Tang soldiers wearing helmets. It is obviously impossible for ordinary people to enter Gushan Temple today.
Zhang Yi and Shen Junliang were afraid that Li Hong and Bai Chun would not be able to get in, so they stood at the gate of the mountain and chatted about Yang Jikang today. He had put up such a big battle and invited the government. Soldier, a man of letters and a lady, what is the purpose of coming here
Bai Chun's carriage, escorted by ten guards in civilian clothes and Wei Tuqi, stopped at the gate of the mountain. Following the driver, Mang Zhong and Cheetah jumped out of the carriage. After opening the door, they saw that they were still wearing white shirts and skirts, and their hair was With her head tied naturally, Bai Chun, like a fairy who had just descended from the mortal world, slowly walked out of the carriage.
Counting the past few days, this was the second time Zhang Yi and Shen Junliang had met Bai Chun. However, looking at Bai Chunyun's breezy and elegant appearance from a distance, their expressions still looked a little demented.
The other literati, ladies and other people who were entering the mountain gate couldn't help but be stunned when they looked back inadvertently and saw Bai Chun slowly walking up the steps, surrounded by Mang Zhong, Cheetah, and Wei Tuqi. Liang, as if he saw a white-clothed fairy who had truly descended into the mortal world, seeming to be slowly floating towards this side.
Zhang Yi and Shen Junliang were stunned for a while. When they recovered, Bai Chun was almost in front of them, so the two hurriedly took two steps forward. After seeing the ceremony, they asked with some surprise: "I don't know why Mr. Li didn't Come with the lady?"
Bai Chun smiled slightly, making the two of them feel like a spring breeze blowing on their faces. Their minds swayed slightly, and Bai Chun's pleasant voice came to their ears: "Young Master has something important to do today, and he can't come away, so I will leave it to you." Come alone."
Looking at the woman who looks like a fairy, no one has the heart to mention her identity. She is still a slave, not even a lover.
Therefore, when they saw such a beautiful woman and heard her calling herself a slave, they couldn't help but feel pity, and wished they could put their most respected status on her.
The two of them were complaining at the same time, and they didn't know what Master Li had to say about this fairy, and why he was not even willing to become a good man for him. He really didn't know how to show mercy to the fairies, which was really abominable!
"Excuse me for being rude, but you haven't asked me your name yet? I don't know how to address you?" Zhang Yi saluted again and asked cautiously. His tone and demeanor were extremely cautious, as if he was afraid of accidentally upsetting the fairy.
"Don't dare, slave Bai Chun." Bai Chun said lightly. The smile that appeared on her face had long since disappeared, and she had returned to her usual indifferent and airy temperament.
"Then... Miss Bai, please." Zhang Yi reached out for guidance, and he and Shen Junliang took the lead in climbing up the stairs, leading the way for Bai Chun and the three people behind him.
As for the ten guardsmen who originally escorted Bai Chun over, at this time, under Bai Chun's order, they did not follow, but stayed outside the mountain gate, waiting for orders.
On one side of the mountain gate were ten Tang soldiers with pierced helmets and holding horizontal swords. Bai Chun, who was passing by, was slightly startled. He couldn't help but look at these soldiers in surprise, thinking in his mind: "Who is this Yang Jikang? Why? Can even soldiers from the Tang Dynasty be mobilized? "
Mang Zhong, Cheetah, and Wei Tuqi followed Bai Chun with deep eyes, scanning back and forth on the twenty soldiers on both sides of the mountain gate.
"Miss Bai, what is the background of this Yang Jikang that he can mobilize the government troops? Do you want to call them up?" Yu Tuqi took two steps and walked to Bai Chun's side and whispered.
"No need, let's take a look after we go in." Bai Chun said lightly.
Although I was also surprised that this Yang Jikang was so capable that he could even dispatch soldiers for his use. This shows that this person really has many secrets hidden behind him as His Highness thought.
Zhang Yi and Shen Junliang led Bai Chun and others into the mountain gate, bypassed the first temple in front, and came to the second mountain temple. They saw a large square in front of the first and second mountain temples. , there were already many people standing or sitting, and the noise suddenly hit us.
The men and women either played the harp and sang softly, or they put one hand behind their backs, looking at the scenery outside Gushan Temple, pointing out the country, reciting poems and composing poems.
At the outermost periphery, there were many soldiers wearing helmets and holding horizontal swords, patrolling back and forth with serious faces.
"What a big battle." Shen Junliang was surprised. He originally thought that the twenty soldiers at the mountain gate were Yang Jikang's limit, but he didn't expect that even this banquet place was filled with many soldiers from the Tang Dynasty.
Zhang Yi was also slightly worried. He secretly looked back at Bai Chun behind him. He saw that Miss Bai looked indifferent and calm. She only glanced at the soldiers, and then focused on the young men and women in the square. .
"Yang Jikang put up such a grand formation today, obviously not leaving any escape route for Mr. Li. Unfortunately, the real master did not come, and just sent Miss Bai over." Zhang Yi whispered to Shen Junliang.
"It may be that Mr. Li retreated after knowing the formation here. After all, someone who can show such strength at will like Yang Jikang is a person who is afraid of being a master among the younger generation in Hangzhou. "Shen Junliang shook his head in regret.
It's a pity because Yang Jikang will never recommend Zhang Yi again today. Zhang Yi actually risked his future for a stranger. I don't know if this is a good deal.
Yang Jikang's eyes kept looking around, even though he was always accompanied by an extremely beautiful young woman with a calm temperament.
But when the general reported to him that the fairy had arrived a few days ago, Yang Jikang immediately apologized to the beautiful woman next to him, and then led the general in the direction of Bai Chun, Zhang Yi, and Shen Junliang.
(End of chapter)