Without money, what is the point of being a traitor?

Chapter 238 Lu Ting’s Reflection

When Lu Ting heard this, his heart skipped a beat.

He said to Pei Yuan tactfully, "These two people are not suitable. They were placed by Eunuch Xiao's side. If something goes wrong unexpectedly, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it to Eunuch Xiao."

Pei Yuan righteously said the apparent excuse, "Eunuch Lu was frank with Gu Dayong, so there must be a suitable witness."

Then, he changed the subject and reminded Lu Ting, "Besides, Eunuch Lu, am I the only one who can see your current situation?"

"Xiao Jing is also a strong contender for the position of Chief of the Imperial Household Department. He was nice to you before, but that was because he never expected that you would suddenly rise to prominence one day."

"But what about now? I can even assert that if someone wants to kill Gu Dayong and ruin your future, there is a 50% chance that they are Xiao Jing's people."

What Pei Yuan had just repeatedly emphasized finally took effect.

If it were before, Lu Ting might have turned a blind eye to such alienation, and might even have doubted Pei Yuan's intentions.

But now, when Pei Yuan stripped Lu Ting and Xiao Jing of their kindness, Lu Ting's attitude towards Xiao Jing was indeed no longer full trust.

And Pei Yuan is right.

If Zhang Yong falls, and Lu Ting wants to enter the Imperial Household Department, Xiao Jing, who has a lot of experience, will be a strong competitor.

Pei Yuan added, "So, if these two people are in the team, those who want to kill Gu Dayong will have to think twice."

"No matter which side they are on, as long as they take action, they may offend the eunuch Xiao who has a deep foundation, the eunuch Lu who is the commander of the army, and the eunuch Zhang who is now the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department."

Pei Yuan confidently gave his own judgment, "This is the only way to be foolproof!"

Lu Ting thought about it silently and agreed with Pei Yuan's statement.

But he said tactfully again, "But Eunuch Xiao..."

Pei Yuan knew Lu Ting's concerns, so he had to promise, "Don't worry, I am also doing this to prevent any setbacks along the way, not for anything else. I will let them see Eunuch Xiao alive."

Although Lu Ting was not very reassured about this promise, he felt relieved.

Just when Pei Yuan and Lu Ting were agreeing on the details of their future cooperation.

Outside the prefectural government, Xiao Yan had already learned the cause and effect of the incident from bystanders.

He looked at Xiao Tong, who had been unable to recover for a long time, and his face darkened.

Unlike those soldiers who had never seen the world, he had witnessed all kinds of unpredictable tactics when he went south with Lu Ting before.

There are Taoist priests who can summon strong winds, strange people who can change their faces, and giants who can transform into mud and stone on the battlefield.

Therefore, he did not find it too strange that Pei Yuan had a rare treasure that could summon mice.

Moreover, Xiao Yan had never experienced that kind of impact directly, so he did not have a very intuitive imagination of how terrifying "a group of rats" would be.

Looking at Xiao Tong who was still somewhat frightened, besides worry in his heart, there was also anger towards Pei Yuan.

Just as Xiao Yan, with a gloomy face, was considering how to use Xiao Jing's name to put pressure on Lu Ting, he suddenly saw several cavalry soldiers arriving.

The diligent guard hurried forward and asked the officers and soldiers why they had come.

After finding out the reason, the guard saw Xiao Yan nearby and came over to report.

Before the Xiao father and son left Beijing, Xiao Jing had already arranged official status for them.

Xiao Yan was a deputy captain, while Xiao Tong was just a clerk.

Everyone is familiar with the deputy captain, so I won’t mention him.

The official position of Sheren is very spiritual. Depending on the position one holds, the highest one is Zhongshu Sheren, who is of the seventh rank, and the lowest one is Tongshi Sheren, who is of the ninth rank.

The Guandai Sheren was a fast track specially prepared for the second generation of officials, and it was under the Jinyiwei.

Many uneducated descendants of civil officials, or other sons of military officials who are not destined to inherit the position, can stay here for a while.

These people are officials in theory, but not in theory they are not officials.

But if there is a relationship, it can be fulfilled very well.

For example, Liang Ciwu, who loved to kill his fellow villagers, paid money to buy the title of Guandai Sheren, and then he was promoted to Baihu because of his military merits in Huguang.

The suppression of the rebellion in Bazhou is undoubtedly the best fast track to fulfilling his official duties in the near future.

The father and son of the Xiao family were arranged by Xiao Jing to be beside Lu Ting, obviously to take advantage of this credit.

In order to show his favor to Xiao Jing, Lu Ting directly asked the father and son to serve as personal attendants.

So after asking about the situation, the guard saw Xiao Yan right in front of him and stepped forward cautiously to report.

Xiao Yan was looking at Xiao Tong with concern, listening incoherently.

The visitor was Xu Feng, the commander of the Hangzhou vanguard. His intention in seeking an audience with Eunuch Lu was to report that someone in the Nanjing Ministry of War was colluding with the enemy.

Xiao Yan's expression was indifferent, and he showed no intention of paying any attention to such matters.

When Xiao Yan unexpectedly heard the guard say, "Commander Xu said that a captain of the Jinyiwei was also involved", he immediately focused his eyes and shouted in a deep voice, "Say what you said just now again!"

Upon hearing this, the guard could only speak cautiously, "The Hangzhou Vanguard Commander Xu Feng said that a captain of the Jinyiwei may also be involved in colluding with the thieves."

Jinyiwei? Qianhu?

Xiao Yan almost immediately thought of someone. He stood up and waved to the commander, "Come here!"

Xu Feng hesitated for a moment, then strode over here.

Xiao Yan asked him directly, "Who is this Jinyiwei captain you are talking about?"

Seeing that the big fish he was about to report ignored him and was interested in the small shrimp, Xu Feng couldn't help but feel suspicious, "May I ask who this person is?"

Xiao Yan said impatiently, "I am Xiao Yan, the deputy captain who works with Eunuch Lu."

Xu Feng was stunned, with a look of embarrassment on his face for his previous humility.

After all, he is a third-rank commander.

Even if he is someone close to Eunuch Lu, isn't a fifth-rank deputy captain too arrogant?

At this time, the guard who brought him over said, "This is the nephew of Eunuch Xiao in the palace."

Eunuch Xiao?
After hearing this, Xu Feng immediately bent down with a bright smile on his face, "So it's Captain Xiao, I'm sorry for offending you just now."

Xiao Yan glanced at the guard. But he didn't think it was shameful. His official position was originally obtained by Xiao Jing, and he didn't feel dissatisfied when others looked at him more favorably for the sake of Eunuch Xiao.

Xiao Yan continued to ask Xu Feng, "What did you just say? What's going on?"

Xu Feng quickly said to Xiao Yan, "I came here this time to report a scandal in the Nanjing Military Department to Eunuch Lu."

Xiao Yan originally wanted to ask about Pei Yuan directly, but then he thought he had to find out what it was all about.

report?

It's good news to hear.

Xiao Yan did not interrupt and waited for Xu Feng to continue.

Of course Xu Feng knew what to say and what not to say at this time.

There was no mention of settling accounts, and the matter was just about defending against the enemy in Taoyuan County.

"Wang Chang left the city alone and conspired with the Bazhou bandits for a long time. The Bazhou bandits then withdrew from Taoyuan."

“And then something strange happened.”

"The next day, the Bazhou army attacked again. The camp we set up outside to act as a decoy was burned to the ground. Tens of thousands of Bazhou soldiers surrounded the city in the middle of the night, beating drums and shouting, but they didn't fire a single arrow at the top of the city, and they didn't even make a symbolic siege move."

"Although I have doubts in my heart, the matter involves the overall situation and the situation is too complicated. It is difficult to distinguish between the enemy and us, so I have to sacrifice my life for the country."

"Not long after this incident, Wang Chang suddenly gathered everyone together and said that they had repelled the Bazhou army and so on. He also promised some credits in an attempt to shut everyone up. Then he disbanded the team and everyone went back to their bases."

"I am completely baffled by the whole story. I believe that Wang Chang must have some connection with the Bazhou Army."

"So I came to report this to Eunuch Lu, hoping that Eunuch Lu would use the might of the army to wipe out those traitors in one fell swoop."

Xiao Yan was a little impatient and asked directly, "What about the captain of the Jinyiwei? What's his name?"

Xu Feng quickly replied, "The captain of the Jinyiwei is called Pei Yuan. He and Wang Chang have always been very close, and they often talk secretly. When we left Huai'an, Wang Chang heard that Pei Yuan was also going north, so he turned back halfway and personally led people back to greet him. I think there must be something strange going on."

Seeing that Pei Yuan was finally involved in the matter, Xiao Yan was overjoyed, "Okay, come with me, I'll take you to see Eunuch Lu. Eunuch Lu will be able to tell the right from the wrong."

After saying that, he looked at Xiao Tong who had recovered a little, and told the guards, "You guys keep an eye on him. If anything goes wrong, I'll come back and skin you alive."

After Xiao Yan finished speaking, he turned to Xu Feng and said, "Come on, I'll take you to see Eunuch Lu. When the time comes, you must tell Eunuch Lu about Pei Yuan and Wang Chang's conspiracy. Don't be afraid of making a big fuss. Maybe our future will depend on this."

Xu Feng was overjoyed to see that things were going so smoothly.

Unexpectedly, he found the right person for this matter that had made him hesitate for a long time.

Not to mention that this Deputy Captain Xiao is a close follower of Eunuch Lu, just his identity as Eunuch Xiao Jingxiao's nephew, isn't that another way to get to the top?
Xu Feng carefully followed Xiao Yan to the prefectural government. On the way, he couldn't help but flatter him with a few words.

Xiao Yan was worried about his son Xiao Tong's affairs, but thinking that Pei Yuan was about to get into trouble and that Commander Xu was the one who could make this happen, he could only suppress his emotions and say a few perfunctory words, while also asking for some details.

When Xiao Yan arrived in front of the prefectural government, naturally no one dared to stop him.

When he brought Xu Feng to the front of Lu Ting Hall, a guard came forward and said, "Eunuch Lu is meeting guests."

Xiao Yan said, "Yes, I know."

After saying this, he asked Xu Feng to stay where he was and went into the hall on his own.

Xiao Yan was originally Lu Ting's close follower, so naturally he did not need to inform other personal soldiers.

When I entered the hall, I saw Lu Ting and Pei Yuan sitting very close to each other, chatting in low voices.

Seeing Xiao Yan come in, they both looked at him at the same time with a slightly strange look on their faces.

Xiao Yan didn't even look at Pei Yuan, but bowed to Lu Ting and said, "Eunuch Lu, there is a Hangzhou vanguard commander named Xu Feng who wants to see you."

Lu Ting's expression was slightly unhappy. "What's going on? Can't you see I'm discussing something with someone?"

If it had happened before, Lu Ting would naturally not have given Xiao Yan a bad look for such a small matter.

But now, the positions and relations between the two sides are completely different.

Xiao Yan glanced at Pei Yuan and said directly, "I heard Xu Feng's brief account. He came to report the Nanjing Military Department's collusion with thieves. This matter happened to involve the Jinyiwei captain next to you."

"I am afraid that this person will deceive you and get involved in this case, so I have to report to you as soon as possible."

"Oh?" Lu Ting's expression changed after hearing Xiao Yan's words.

He had had some guesses before, but he didn't expect that someone would actually bring the evidence to him.

Lu Ting pondered for a moment and looked at Pei Yuan, not knowing how to deal with the current situation.

Some things are much easier to handle if they are kept tacitly than if they are brought out on the table.

Pei Yuan was very calm and asked Xiao Yan, "Are you sure he was reporting the Nanjing Military Department's collusion with bandits?"

Seeing Pei Yuan's expression, Xiao Yan sneered secretly and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "The Hangzhou Vanguard Commander Xu Feng said that the person involved in the incident was Wang Chang, the Nanjing Minister of War. The Taoyuan County battle that caused so much controversy actually had another story behind it."

"It is very likely that Wang Chang had some connection with the Bazhou bandits, and they had a tacit understanding. When they were in Taoyuan, the bandits surrounded them but did not attack. Afterwards, when the bandits withdrew, Wang Chang also closed the city gates and had no intention of pursuing them."

"And Xu Feng said that he could provide a list of the commanders who were present at the time."

"As long as the eunuch follows this list and interrogates the commanders one by one, he will definitely be able to find out the truth in such a hurry."

"You can compare the documents Wang Chang submitted to the court and make a judgment."

After hearing this, Lu Ting looked at Pei Yuan silently again.

Pei Yuan remained calm, and even said thoughtfully, "So that's how it is."

Then he asked curiously, "What does the Nanjing Military Department and Bazhou Army have to do with me? I am transporting the tax silver of the court, and I am only passing through Huai'an. I have only a hundred soldiers and horses under my command, and the weapons on the car are not as much as the silver. What can I use to get involved in this matter? Besides, my men are all under the surveillance of Huai'an Guards. I can't drag Huai'an Guards to collude with the enemy, right?"

After hearing this, Xiao Yan answered bluntly, "Xu Feng said that Wang Chang and Captain Pei had conspired. Even on the way out of Shanyang County, Captain Pei sent a fast horse to inform Wang Chang that you were also going north. Wang Chang, as a second-rank Southern Grand Marshal, actually condescended to bring people back to meet you. Is this kind of relationship between you two normal?"

When Lu Ting heard this, his face changed slightly, and he inexplicably felt a sense of crisis in his heart.

He was the second-rank Nanjing Minister of War, and he could actually do this for Brother Pei.

Am I not polite enough to Brother Pei?

Pei Yuan's expression remained unchanged, and he asked more seriously, "Is that all? Does Xu Feng have anything else to say? Do you have any substantial evidence?"

(End of this chapter)