Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 151 Thank you!
The sky was bright.

The entire Wuchuan City was filled with laughter.

Smoke rose above every household, and hearty laughter could be heard coming from inside.

The office had changed its appearance. It was now clean and tidy. There were no more sparse weeds on the ground, and no unknown stains on the walls. Knights stood at many entrances, patrolling back and forth. It really had the flavor of an official office.

In the inner room, a man was standing beside Liu Taozi, smiling and saying something.

This person was the knight who had just received the reward and military stick.

His name was Wang Chuanzhi, but judging from his appearance, he did not look like a Han Chinese, or even a Xianbei.

In this warlike frontier, few people can tell who they are.

No matter how complete Cui Gang's description of the situation here is, or how much information the Zhou people provide, it is not as good as a single account from a local person.

The knight came here to tell Liu Taozi to be careful.

"General, you don't know that our border areas have been in turmoil for a long time. We set up a state, but it was not appropriate. We set up a county, but it was abolished. We set up a county, but it was not feasible. We first divided it into Shuozhou, then Beihengzhou, and then changed it to Hengzhou."

"However, despite all the changes, these people are still the same people. It is us who have always been the ones standing against the border and the western bandits, relying on the city walls."

"The many garrisons, passes, cities, and forts within this fortress are all old acquaintances of each other, and many of the garrison commanders are almost all from the same family."

"Let's talk about He Laigan. He Lai and Helan are from the same family. He has many relatives. His father used to be a soldier under the command of Heba Taibao. He once died in battle while trying to protect the commander. If you kill him, you will offend Taibao to death."

"The Grand Protector is far away in Ye City, and he may not care about the situation here. However, those garrison commanders are not easy to provoke. Many of their relatives and friends are scattered around, and many of them hold some official titles."

"Once they learn about the situation here, they will come to the general to question him."

"This place is too far from Yecheng. If there is a dispute and bad consequences, no one will be able to explain it clearly."

"So, General, go out less often in the future. If you do go out, be sure to bring your personal soldiers with you."

"However, General, don't worry too much. We are still here, and no one dares to embarrass you."

The man secretly said many things, thanked Liu Taozi for his kindness again, and turned and left.

Tian Zili stood aside, looking at the man coldly, and waited until the man left before he spoke: "It seems that he has good intentions, but in fact, he has received benefits and wants to use various things to intimidate and ask for more."

He looked at Liu Taozi again, "Brother, do you really want to go out and fight?"

"The Xi people took the initiative to appear in the territory, so it's no problem to send troops to defeat them. However, if we send troops outside the Great Wall without military orders, it will be a violation of military law and we will be held accountable."

"We need to send troops."

Tian Zili was stunned and asked, "What if the imperial court comes to question me?"

"Let's wait until they're charged."

A group of people suddenly appeared on the road to Wuchuan. The leader was waving a whip and running wildly. Behind him were nearly a hundred knights, raising a cloud of dust and running wildly towards Wuchuan.

The leader was quite young and looked to be less than thirty years old.

He was dressed extremely luxuriously, wearing a military crown on his head with long feathers of an extremely rare color.

The warhorse under his crotch was blood red all over and almost one size larger than Liu Taozi's blue lion. As it galloped, mud splashed everywhere. The knights behind him were also very imposing. Even at such a fast speed, they were still able to maintain their formation.

They approached Wuchuan in this way.

The alarm in the watchtower sounded again.

Many crossbow carts were suddenly aimed at this place. The man hurriedly reined in his horse and raised his head angrily.

A knight led a group of people and rushed over quickly, blocking them, "Who are you?!"

The young man was furious. He held a whip in his hand. His whip was unique, with a golden glow on the handle. He pointed at the knight who was blocking his way and said, "You dare to stop me, Lord?"

He was furious, "Someone, catch this guy for me!!"

"Beat me with fifty military sticks!"

The knight's face changed drastically, and he quickly dismounted and saluted the young man, "I failed to recognize you, please forgive me."

The young man raised his head and waved his hand casually, "Tell He Laigan to come over to see me!!"

The knight was stunned and was about to speak when another group of knights came flying from a distance. The leader was Yao Xiong. Seeing Yao Xiong, the knight hurriedly saluted, "Master Yao Shu!"

"What happened?!"

"A distinguished person came, I didn't recognize him, he said he was here to see He Laigan"

Yao Xiong suddenly looked at the young man in front of him, and then looked at the many knights behind him, his eyes gleaming, "I wonder what the noble man wants to see the deputy chief garrison commander for?"

The young man looked at him and asked, "Who are you?"

"I am the new commander of the garrison."

Then he laughed angrily, his face full of pain, "Why the hell am I so unlucky, so unlucky."

He raised his head again, his whole body on the verge of exploding. His eyes widened as he spoke word by word: "I say, let He Lai Gan come and find me!!"

Yao Xiong nodded, "Make way!!"

Yao Xiong quickly ordered people to clear the way and sent people to the city. He then rode forward and said, "Sir, the deputy commander is injured. It will take some time for him to come. If you are in a hurry, why don't you go into the city with me first?"

The nobleman sneered, waved his hand, and led the knights towards the city. Yao Xiong hurriedly followed behind them.

Led by Yao Xiong, they successfully passed each checkpoint and arrived in the city.

Yao Xiong said again: "Sir, these warriors under your command look a little tired. Why don't you let them go to the guest hall to rest and I will personally slaughter the cattle and sheep for them?"

The young man suddenly stopped and looked at Yao Xiong in astonishment, then he looked towards the government office in the distance.

"who are you?"

"Why don't you go to He Laigan's house, but come to the government office instead?"

The many knights behind him were now on alert.

Yao Xiong's expression remained the same. "I am the new garrison commander. I took office following the chief garrison commander."

"The Grand Guardian and Lord He Lai are in the government office right now."

The young man snorted coldly, without asking any more questions, he led the knights all the way to the government office.

When they arrived at the gate of the government office, the young man neither dismounted nor went in, but shouted loudly: "He Lai Gan! He Lai Gan!!"

After a while, Liu Taozi led his men out slowly. Knights came slowly from all directions and blocked the group at the door of the government office. The knights who followed the nobleman looked around and drew their weapons.

The young man didn't care at all. He raised his head and looked at Liu Taozi in front of him with disdain.

"Are you the new Grand Lord?"

"I am the new Grand Lord."

The young man took off his badge and threw it to the other party, "Since you are the great garrison commander, come and kneel down immediately!!"

Liu Taozi took the badge and read it over and over again, "General of the Garrison, Heba Cheng."

He raised his head, bowed casually and said, "Greetings, General."

Heba Cheng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Look at my luck, it's been a few days, I've been bullied everywhere. Anyone can bully me. I really..."

He smiled, slowly drew out his sword, jumped off his horse, and walked unsteadily to Liu Taozi's side.

"Do you know what I do?"

"In charge of the military affairs of the various garrisons in Beihengshuo."

"Then do you know that I have the right to kill you right here?"

Heba Cheng waved the sword in his hand. Liu Taozi did not speak. Heba Cheng looked inside the government office and said, "Go and bring He Laigan to me."

“I can’t bring it.”

"Why?"

"I killed him."

Heba Cheng's expression changed. "How dare you murder your colleagues?"

"He colluded with foreign enemies and attempted to start a rebellion. There is evidence of this."

Heba Cheng frowned, "No, it's you who framed him. He Laigan has been devoted to the country and has been here for many years. How come you brought up the idea of ​​colluding with foreign enemies as soon as you came?" "He colluded with the Xi people to invade. The invading Xi people have been defeated by us and their heads have been sent to Yecheng."

Heba Cheng stood there in a daze, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat ugly.

He glanced at Liu Taozi, about to say something, and turned around to mount his horse, but Liu Taozi grabbed his hand. Liu Taozi exerted force so hard that the sword in Heba Cheng's hand fell off. He grimaced in pain and shouted, "Stop! Stop! What are you going to do?!"

The knights who followed Heba Cheng drew their swords, but the knights around them had already raised their bows and aimed at them.

Heba Cheng looked at Liu Taozi angrily, "What do you want to do?"

Liu Taozi said, "I just want to know why the general came to see He Laigan in such a hurry?"

Heba Cheng was shocked. "What does this have to do with you? Are you crazy? Let me go! Do you know what crime it is to attack Shangguan? I will kill your clan!"

Liu Taozi asked calmly, "General, please tell me why you came to Wuchuan to see He Laigan in such a hurry?"

"Fuck you, just wait, I will kill your entire clan! I will kill your entire clan!"

Heba Cheng cursed loudly, and Liu Taozi tried again, but he screamed in pain.

"My subordinates discovered that He Laigan had accepted bribes from foreign bandits several times and resold weapons and other items. However, the Xi people brought a lot of things. The captured Xi people said that it was the same as before. The things they brought did not match He Laigan's account books and the savings in his mansion. A large part of them was missing."

"My subordinates believe that He Laigan hid it secretly, and we should search everywhere for it."

“But I think that most of this missing part may have been given to the general?”

"You are slandering me! Just wait and see what I will do to you!!!"

Liu Taozi grabbed the guy and looked coldly at the knights in front of him, "Put down your weapons and get off your horses."

The knights looked at each other for a few seconds, and one of them rode out, "General Liu, are you planning a rebellion?!"

"Attacking the commander, holding the commander hostage, these are both serious crimes, punishable by beheading!"

He looked around again, "Do you all want to follow Liu Taozi to die?! You are all veterans! Don't you know what this crime is?!"

He questioned loudly.

The knights around looked at Liu Taozi and put down their weapons slightly.

Liu Taozi said calmly: "I don't know what crime it is to hold the commander hostage. I only know that colluding with foreign enemies is a capital crime. In addition, withholding the food and fodder that was distributed and using it to sell to foreign enemies is also a capital crime."

Hearing these words, the knights raised their weapons again.

The deputy general was very angry. "What evidence do you have that you dare to accuse the commander of a crime? Even if he really did commit a crime, is that something you can do about it?!"

"Drop your weapons and get off your horses."

Liu Taozi spoke again. This time, he placed one hand on Heba Cheng's neck and began to slowly exert force. Heba Cheng immediately suffocated and began to tremble wildly. His eyes almost popped out. Seeing this, the deputy general also panicked and quickly dropped his weapon, "Don't commit violence! Don't commit violence!!"

When the knights saw the deputy general drop his weapons, they also dropped their weapons and dismounted along with the deputy general. Yao Xiong hurried forward and led his men to tie them up one by one.

For a moment, the entrance of the government office was extremely lively.

Liu Taozi then let go of her hand. Heba Cheng was gasping for breath. At this moment, he didn't even have the energy to curse. He was limp and powerless.

Liu Taozi pushed him to the ground, and Yao Xiong immediately tied him up.

The knights of Wuchuan looked at Liu Taozi with a strange look in their eyes. No matter how fierce they were, they would only bully officials without military power. Who would dare to provoke such a general with actual power?
Yao Xiong led the captives to the south city, while Liu Taozi took Heba Cheng into the inner room.

Heba Cheng, who was tied up, was lying on the ground, looking at Liu Taozi and others who were sitting beside him, with unspeakable anger in his eyes.

He lay there, gritting his teeth, saying nothing.

"General, please don't look at me like that."

"This place is too far from Yecheng. It's common for generals to accidentally fall off their horses and die. Even if they don't die, it's normal for them to be attacked by foreign enemies when they go out."

Heba Cheng then said, "Kill me if you have the ability!! Stop talking nonsense!!"

"No, killing the Lord is against the law. I have studied law."

Heba Cheng was stunned for a moment, and then his face was filled with despair. This had fallen into the hands of a madman! !
If I had known earlier, I should have brought more people with me and not been so close to him.

Why would the government send a madman here to be the chief garrison commander? !
Liu Taozi spoke again, "General, I want you to answer truthfully, did you really accept the bribe from He Laigan?"

Heba Cheng couldn't bear it any longer, "I want it, I want it, I got it, come and chop me to death!!"

"I said that killing the commander is an act of treason."

"Why would the general take his bribe?"

"What on earth do you want to do?!"

"I want to bribe the general."

"What did you say?"

Liu Taozi said seriously: "The surrounding garrisons are all under the general's jurisdiction, and so am I. If the general takes care of me, no matter what I do, it will be much more convenient."

Heba Cheng was stunned.

"I wonder how much the General wants?"

"You, are you crazy? You."

"Zili, go get the things."

Liu Taozi spoke, and soon Tian Zilie brought a few people, holding thick packages, and walked in front of Heba Cheng and put them aside. Tian Zilie and others took off the covering cloth, revealing the shining gold.

"enough?"

Heba Cheng's eyes were almost blinded by these things. He looked at them, then looked up at Liu Taozi, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

"What on earth do you want to do?"

Tian Zili smiled and walked forward, untied his reins, and helped him up. "General Heba, please don't be angry. My general just doesn't know how to get along with people. In fact, he is still willing to make friends with you."

Heba Cheng was asked to move aside in confusion and sat next to Liu Taozi, looking at the ferocious and different faces around him.

He really couldn't figure out the current situation, "Are these all given to me as a gift?"

Tian Zili nodded, "They are all presented to the general."

"Not only these, there will be more in the future. My general is not as stingy as He Laigan. He has quite a bit of wealth. Moreover, what He Laigan did was really dangerous. The general asked for benefits right away. If he was found out one day, wouldn't the general be punished as well? At that time, even if he was the general's elder, how could he protect the general?"

"My general would never do such a thing. What he wants is to defeat the enemy outside and govern the people inside. If you have military merits and political achievements, you will also be proud of it. You may even be promoted in the future!"

"Look at the sword in my general's hand. Why did the prime minister send my general here? He heard that there were many lawless people among the nobles on the border, so he asked my general to come and investigate."

Heba Cheng looked at the sword at Liu Taozi's waist, his pupils suddenly dilated, and his whole body trembled.

Only then did he notice the other person's sword.

Tian Zili said gently: "The reason why my general dared to attack you is because of the order of the prime minister. However, judging from the general's surname, he is also a family with great achievements, unlike He Laigan. If the trouble spreads to Yecheng, it will be bad."

"General, it would be better if you could help us with all your strength, so that we can thoroughly investigate the internal thieves, defeat the external bandits, and pacify the many garrisons. Then, when we submit a report to the Prime Minister in the future, you can also show up!"

Heba Cheng looked confused. He pondered for a long time, looked at his sword, and then looked at Liu Taozi.

"Are you really here to conduct a thorough investigation?"

Liu Taozi's face was calm and he said indifferently: "The Prime Minister needs military merit."

At this moment, Heba Cheng's pupils trembled again, and he suddenly realized that to take another step from a powerful official, he would need military merit. And if a war was to be started, the prime minister would definitely come here, and the generals of the garrisons would certainly accompany him.

Suddenly, he figured everything out.

He stood up hastily, "I see! I have wronged the general. General Liu, please stop talking about filial piety. The Prime Minister is coming, how can we not be prepared?"

"General Liu, please tell me how I can help you! To be honest, my uncle is the current Heba Taibao, who is close to the Prime Minister!!"

"You and I, maybe we are related!"

"My uncle sent someone to tell me to be more restrained and train the army well. I didn't understand the reason, but now I understand. General Liu, thank you for your advice!"

“Thanks for the advice!!!”

ps: In this month, the emperor personally led the army north to attack the Kumo Xi. He went out of the Great Wall, and the enemy fled. He divided his troops to attack them, and captured a large number of cattle and horses, which he brought into the Jinyang Palace. ——"Book of Northern Qi·Biography of Emperor Xiao Zhao"

(End of this chapter)