The carriage stopped slowly, Xu Fengnian let go of Huyan Guanyin, who was like being fished out of a water tank in just a short time, bent down and lifted the curtain, and saw three riders parked beside the post road, never wearing armor, short-skinned attire, very Clean and neat, but different from martial arts people, they all wear a Beiliang knife around their waists. One of the young knights is particularly brilliant, with a face like a crown jade, and a small sturdy leather bag hanging from the horse's back, with five or six sticks in it. Short halberd. Seeing these familiar faces, Xu Fengnian jumped out of the carriage with a smile and stomped his feet. It was freezing cold and the ground of the post road was hard. Seeing His Royal Highness getting off the carriage, the three riders hurriedly got off the horse. Xu Fengnian waved his hand to signal them not to Toss those red tape. The three riders were all born in Baima Yicong of Fengziying, and they vaguely became the group of people with the most upright roots in Beiliang. What's more, Hong Shuwen among the three was impressive in the battle of Tiemenguan, holding two knives, After slaughtering six imperial guards and a guard with a golden sword, the young knight nicknamed Hong Ruozi has now become Lieutenant General Wang Zhi, with the title of Chief Captain of Changshui in name, and he also showed his face in the Yulong Gang of Longqing County last time. , This time he was transferred to the General's Mansion in Lingzhou. Xu Fengnian remembered that when he was with Wang Zhi's important person, Wang Zhi was trembling with pain. A real lack of official position as a captain as compensation. Xu Fengnian asked Hong Shuwen for his horse, and the captain of Changshui rode a horse with Pao Ze. Four of them rode three times, plus a carriage, and headed to Huangnan County together. Xu Fengnian asked with a smile: "Hong Shuwen, did Ning Emei teach you the short halberd?"
Hong Shuwen, who always gives off a vicious temperament of a lonely wolf in the desert, obediently suppressed a lot of sternness born of his heart by the side of His Royal Highness, and was a little bit shy. He nodded and said: "General Ning said that I have some halberds Talent, when you get used to short halberds, teach me big halberds."
Xu Fengnian didn't bother to use words to win people's hearts. After chatting a few words, he rushed forward wholeheartedly.
Near noon, I arrived at the small town on the border of Huangnan County and led a horse. There are many New Year's fairs in the town, and the people in the nearby villages come to buy New Year's goods. Some county government officials took this opportunity to set up a table to light candles and preach good books, and to teach the people on behalf of their parents. It's an act of being close to the people, but the people of Beiliang are tough, and they can only treat such things as a lively joke. The behavior of embellishing the official career of officials in other states and counties in Liyang is also quite solemn, and those who say good books must be well-dressed Sujie, in Beiliang, is suspected of being neither a donkey nor a horse. Many of them are servants who have a little knowledge of literature and ink. The slurring little official on the stage even repeated the same old tune, but still read the wrong paragraph, and some children with good memories and already familiarized themselves with it made a fuss. Face, staring and stretching fingers, yelling angrily when he catches a man, the man is not afraid of such a small official authority, so he scolds each other loudly, and then the man's mother-in-law also has charming eyes and teases a few words. Really annoyed, talking outrageously, taking the opportunity to tease that plump-chested woman, but how can Beiliang girls be thin-skinned fuel-efficient lamps, a few bold words make the little officials blush, just like this is inappropriate In the hustle and bustle of the society, the rigid and pedantic talk about good books has become a festive event that everyone enjoys.
Xu Fengnian looked around and asked Hong Shuwen to find a restaurant, as long as it was clean. After lunch, the group continued to leave for Huangnan County City. Xu Fengnian temporarily bought a large sable hat for Huyan Guanyin to cover her forehead and eyebrows, so that her appearance would not be too shocking. After the three left Fengziying, they turned to The retinues who had infiltrated the local officialdom in Beiliang never looked sideways, especially Hong Shuwen. From the beginning to the end, Huyan Guanyin didn't seem to exist. On the horse again, it turned from the market into a post road branch road. In addition to the three-level division of prefectures, counties and counties on the surface, there are also several hidden post roads that are more profitable among the many passes. The cumbersome postmen are all supported with a lot of money. If it weren't for Beiliang's lack of financial resources, Xu Xiao still has a lot of money to implement. However, under Zhang Julu's insistence, the Liyang court "flowed" taxes into the belly of the glutton on the northern frontier. In the south of the south of the Yangtze River, most post roads were abolished and reduced to varying degrees. For this, Zhang Julu severely reprimanded him in that Zhanglu Several local officials who went to Beijing, after a slight change in their attitudes, immediately returned to normal. In addition, Zhang Julu wanted to personally handle the matter of Ma Zheng, and the chief assistant was not supercilious, so he really couldn't devote much energy to it. The rectification of post roads must be done personally, and Gu Dang has controlled the Ministry of War for eighteen years. Zhang Julu not only mixed with Ma Zheng, but also directly took away the fat meat of Ma Zheng, which is astonishingly lucrative. Sun Tanglu, the eunuch with popular palm prints, went to Beiliang last time, and when he returned to the capital, he talked about the events in Beiliang that he had seen with his own eyes all night. After mentioning the post road, His Majesty fell into a state of contemplation and speechless for a long time. Xu Fengnian did not whip horses to gallop fast. The post roads under the iron hooves of Beiliang war horses are well developed. They are double-edged. Crossing the border in one go, there is no doubt that the road to the south is unimpeded. The reason why the Zhao family tolerated Xu Xiao so much was that they turned a blind eye to the matter of salt and iron. Over the years, it was not too embarrassing to transport water into Liang. It may be that there is no fear that Beiliang's door will open up and the Central Plains will be harmed. Let Chen Zhibao When the king entered Shu, he was not optimistic about Xu Fengnian being in charge of Beiliang soldiers. The court made the worst plan. In case the Xu family in Beiliang couldn't support the northwestern beam of the Zhao family, at least there was Chen Zhibao's Shu land as the second line of defense. At the level of Xu Xiao and Zhang Julu, conspiracies and tricks actually become meaningless. In the end, those who gain power win the world.
Xu Fengnian waved to Hong Shuwen and said, "Captain Hong, there are so many honored and scattered officials in Beiliang nowadays, not to mention captains and captains, even generals are everywhere. If I remember correctly, Beiliang is the same as Liyang. The civil and military official ranks and scattered official ranks add up to seventy-four ranks, plus those scattered gifts, there are simply too many to count. If I take back all of them someday, or get rid of most of them, you can tell me Tell me, what will happen to the officialdom in Beiliang?"
Hong Shuwen hesitated for a moment.
Xu Fengnian smiled and said, "It's okay to be straightforward."
Hong Shuwen said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, then we in Beiliang will really be in chaos. If the hearts of the people in the rear are not stable, and those who work for the general on the border, now whoever is not a family member will not live in peace. Let's say humble job In Hong Shuwen's family, his father was awarded a sixth-rank Yunqiwei because of his military achievements, and his second uncle was a little educated, so he was awarded a sixth-rank Confucian Lang, which is not very common in Beiliang. In the local area, it is also the face of the parents and old brothers when they get together. If you really want to use this thing to make a profit and grab the land, you can’t do it if you want to. If it is taken away all at once, the old guys will also My heart is cold, and it's worse than losing thousands of taels of silver. Your Highness, I dare to say something from my heart. This time, I heard from the elders at home that thousands of scholars from other places have come to compete with the old Beiliang. Well, this time I went from Longqing County to Lingzhou General's Mansion, and heard a lot of gossip, which is not good for His Highness."
Xu Fengnian nodded and smiled and said, "Many people worked together to fan the ghostly wind and light the will-o'-the-wisp fire, making the official stove in Lingzhou very warm. I'm afraid there are still many people working hard to add firewood to the stove. , It’s quite different from previous years, it’s really not cold at all.”
Hong Shuwen was a little puzzled, His Royal Highness Shizi can still laugh? Because Hong Shuwen was His Royal Highness's "close minister", the Hong family, who had a little prestige in the local area, did not join the crowd this time, thanked guests behind closed doors, ignored disputes, and had been isolated and alienated by many families who had a good relationship before. It is absolutely unambiguous to ask Hong Shuwen to go into battle to kill the enemy. Hong Shuwen always thought that men should throw their heads and blood on the battlefield. But asking him to criticize the current situation would really kill him. Since His Highness asked about this messy bastard, Hong Ruanzi, who once dared to slap his aunt half to death in the family, could only say something.
Xu Fengnian said slowly: "Prescribing the right medicine, there is a difference between urgency and urgency. Then first finalize the level of the generals who hold real power, and don't touch the frontier troops. Hong Shuwen, let me explain to you first. I plan to set up fourteen There is a five-rank captain, named after a dangerous pass in the territory, and there are only three in Lingzhou. Wang Zhi will go to Wushou Lazikou on Micangling Road, which borders Xishu, and the other two will be handed over to the temporary post. Han Laoshan, the deputy general of Lingzhou, let the whole Lingzhou fight for the remaining one, I don’t believe it, no smart people will take the bait for such a big piece of fat, as long as he becomes this captain, it means that he can get away from a large number of trivial matters all day long Among the school captains and captains who dealt with him, he stood out, and it is not an exaggeration to call him a party of princes. As long as someone is willing to take the lead in infighting, the next thing will be much easier. Originally, I planned to give you the position of Han Laoshan, but your current military achievements It’s not obvious, after all, there is Xu Xiao’s banner behind Han Lushan, where he can convince the public, you can’t, so I will put you in the Lingzhou General’s Mansion to accumulate qualifications, although I can’t deal with it with a quick knife Lingzhou officialdom, but there is no blood at all, it is destined to be unreasonable, and you will be needed at that time, the school captain and captain in Beiliang, there are not many opportunities to kill people, don't take it seriously. Wait for me to leave in the future Lingzhou, you probably want to help Xu Beizhi, the new governor of Lingzhou, I believe you know the relationship between me and Governor Xu, the ugly thing is, if he makes a mistake, your head on Hong Shuwen's shoulder can't afford it at all."
Hong Shuwen wiped his neck subconsciously, and said with a chuckle: "Anyway, you can do whatever your highness says about your lowly position. It's fine, but can you ask your highness for a favor?"
Xu Fengnian scolded with a smile: "How can you be as virtuous as Wang Zhi? If you fart, let it go!"
Hong Shuwen said in a low voice: "Your Highness, there will be wars on the border in the future, so Hong Shuwen must not be forgotten."
Xu Fengnian asked: "Twenty years ago, the reason why so many people joined the army was because they didn't have a peaceful life anywhere, and they all went for the glory and wealth. If you take a gamble, you might win an official position." But now it’s different, why do you, Hong Shuwen, refuse to be a security officer, and insist on going to the border to fight for your life? Isn’t it awe-inspiring to tie your head on your trouser belt? Or do you think you can’t be a high-ranking official on the ground?”
As long as Hong Shuwen grinned, he would be a bit innately speculative, "Hong Shuwen is different from others, he is just not used to living a leisurely and happy life, especially after hanging out with His Highness, he will feel uncomfortable if he doesn't kill people for a day, go to the brothel to find Xipi The girls with tender flesh are happy, and after they are happy, they feel tired and crooked, and they can't help but break their necks. It is estimated that this disease cannot be cured, so we can only go to the border to kill people."
Xu Fengnian smiled, noncommittal.
In times of peace and prosperity, the common people sleep. When one wakes up, the family is still there, people live and work every day, if there are still one or two good thoughts, this is a good way of life.
Hong Shuwen is definitely not a good bird in the eyes of ordinary people, but without people like Hong Shuwen and Li Hanlin, Beiliang's good times will not last long.