Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 221 Wuchuan vs.

March, the first year of Heqing.

Shuozhou.

A group of people were driving slowly on the official road. The horses were so tired that they lowered their heads, as if they couldn't even move their hooves.

The knights were wrapped very tightly.

The leader even wrapped his entire face with silk cloth, leaving only his eyes exposed.

They were so exhausted that they didn't even have the strength to speak.

A few farmers were walking in the distance, carrying farm tools, talking and laughing. When they suddenly saw these masked knights, they stopped, turned around and ran away.

The leader didn't even have time to say anything before the other party ran away.

He sighed deeply and had to take off the cloth covering his face.

"The people of Shuozhou are really alert"

After the cloth was removed, his true appearance was revealed.

This person is Zu Ting.

He was no longer in a hurry at this moment, and slowly walked towards the city. Sure enough, not long after he walked out, a line of cavalry blocked their way.

There were more than ten people in total, without armor and holding weapons, and they looked like local troops from Shuozhou.

An official led them and looked at Zu Ting warily, "Who are you?"

"I came from Cheng'an to pay my respects to Lord Tian. I heard that he is in this city?"

The official didn't waste any words and directly stretched out his hand, "Pass by."

"No, I just ran here."

The official looked at him again for a long time, and then he whispered something to his attendants. The next moment, he turned around and asked in fluent Cheng'an dialect: "Where is your home in Cheng'an?"

Zu Ting answered in fluent Cheng'an dialect: "It's in Ningxiang, west of the city."

The official then ordered the knights to escort them into the city.

Zu Ting followed the official with a smile, looking at the farmland in the distance, "There are a lot of farmlands in Shuozhou. I heard that you have settled a lot of people there?"

The official just smiled and didn't answer.

Zu Ting asked again: "Where are you from in Cheng'an?"

“From the county.”

"When are you coming?"

"It's been a while."

Zu Ting shook his head and stopped asking questions. So when they arrived at the city gate, the clerk at the gate recorded the names, appearances, characteristics, etc. of Zu Ting and others in detail, and then let the knights take them to the government office.

The city is extremely clean, with flat roads leading to government offices. The buildings on both sides are mostly tall, with very few wooden ones. Most of them are huge buildings made of bricks and stones. The courtyard walls are much higher than those in other areas, and the houses are even higher. Of course, there are also some newly built houses, which are much more normal.

Occasionally you can see a woman going out and cleaning the doorway of her house.

Through the wide open gate, you can see the big dog tied up inside.

Zu Ting was observing his surroundings all the way. He was sent to the gate of the government office, which was the busiest place in the entire city. There were so many officials coming in and out, some of whom even came on horseback and left again.

Zu Ting looked around. The official said something to the gatekeeper, and then led him around the main gate and into a small courtyard through the south door.

Zu Ting was a little surprised. After a moment, a soldier came out and took him into the inner room.

This room was also very small and didn't look like the office of a high-ranking official at all.

There was a man sitting in the upper seat. He was wearing ordinary clothes, had an unremarkable appearance, and had a short beard and a long mustache. At this moment, he was gently stroking his beard and looking Zu Ting in front of him up and down.

Zu Ting walked forward with a smile and bowed.

"Greetings to Mr. Tian."

Tian Zili was stunned, "How do you know me?"

"I know a little bit about the art of looking at qi."

"I don't believe this."

Tian Zili spoke softly, "Zu Ting, I have heard of you, His Majesty's favorite minister. I heard that the court appointed you as a governor, but you refused the position on the grounds that your mother was ill."

"Why are you here when you're not at home taking care of your old mother?"

Zu Ting said seriously, "I have come here specially to seek refuge with General Anxi on the recommendation of Duke Zheng."

"What Lord Zheng? I don't know him."

"Why did Lord Tian do this? Zheng Daoqian didn't write me a letter to prove himself. He still doesn't believe me. However, I know his identity, and the emperor didn't take action against him. This proves that I came to surrender sincerely."

"Please ask Lord Tian to send someone to escort me to meet General Liu."

Tian Zili narrowed his eyes and looked at him with disdain, "What use are you? My general doesn't like painting, music, or having fun, and he doesn't like thieves. You want to surrender to my master, but I don't know what you can do?"

Zu Ting was not angry at all. Hearing the question, he laughed and said, "I am an incompetent and mediocre person. I dare not say that I can be of any use, but I know some secrets of Yecheng. I want to tell you so that you can be on guard early."

Tian Zili ignored him and called two soldiers to escort Zu Ting to Wuchuan.

Zu Ting stood up and was about to leave when he suddenly said, "Mr. Tian, ​​there is something I want to tell you. Should I tell you?"

"explain."

"In another month, the temple will send someone to replace Gao Anagong. Goodbye!"

Zu Ting turned and left. Tian Zili quickly stood up and said, "Wait a minute!"

"what do you mean?"

Zu Ting hurriedly said, "This is what I heard from the wise ministers around Your Majesty when I was in Yecheng."

"They said that Shuozhou was extremely important and it was inappropriate to hand it over to someone like Gao Anagong. They should send a capable official who was both knowledgeable in cultural relics to take over the position of governor."

"such a pity."

Zu Ting sighed, bowed again, and turned to leave.

Tian Zili could not help himself this time, and hurried down, holding Zu Ting, and a smile appeared on his face, "I just looked down on you, which is really wrong. Please don't leave in a hurry, and let's talk about this matter again."

Zu Ting said he dared not, and the two sat down. Tian Zili asked someone to prepare tea and meat, and asked again: "Why did you say it was a pity just now?"

Zu Ting immediately said: "General, if you want to accomplish great things, Shuozhou is the foundation!"

"Hengzhou City is strong, but most of it is pastureland. It has iron and charcoal, but little arable land and little manpower. It is not enough to serve as a foundation."

"And Shuozhou has many people and arable land. The combination of Hengzhou and Shuozhou is the foundation of the kingly way."

"General Liu can let Tian Gong work in Shuozhou only because of the stupidity of the government, but there are also wise men in the government."

"Like Gao Rui, he once submitted a memorial saying that Gao Anagong should be dismissed and replaced by a wise man. The court would definitely do so and would never hand over Shuozhou to the general."

"If the people who come here are wise, cherish the people's strength, and train the army, then does General Liu have any reason to keep them here?"

“Are you still qualified to sit here and rule the earth?”

"If we continue to hold him hostage, those in the court who support General Anxi will think that the general has rebellious intentions. If we don't hold him hostage, then we will give up Shuozhou to the court."

Tian Zili frowned, his face gloomy.

"My master has no intention of rebellion, nor has he thought of doing anything great. If the governor is wise, we will return to the frontier!"

Zu Ting sighed, "I think this is a pity!"

He held Tian Zili's hand and said, "Our lord is too kind. He has never thought of rebellion!!"

"But in this situation, can Gao Zhan let us go?"

"How can Shuozhou be handed over to the government for nothing? If we want to accomplish great things, Hengshuo is indispensable!"

"The previous dynasty established its capital in Hengzhou and started out in Shuozhou, thus owning half of the country!"

"We might as well!"

Tian Zili was stunned and quickly pulled his hand out.

For a moment, Tian Zili's thoughts were a little confused, and he didn't know what to say. Zu Ting continued, "Mr. Tian! You should know what kind of person Gao Zhan is. Don't give him hope. This is not treason, this is raising an army to suppress rebellion! Gao Zhan is vicious and moody. He may be favored today, but he may be killed tomorrow. We must prepare early!"

"The general is kind and righteous. He doesn't consider these things. As his subjects, how can we not consider them?!"

You are a worthless official, my brother has never even seen you. Tian Zili thought to himself, but he did not deny that what the other party said made sense.

"So what do you think we should do?"

"We must find a way to keep Shuozhou. The general has people, horses, iron, and food. The only thing he lacks is a strategy."

"A strategy to seize the world!!"

"so."

"I am coming."

Tian Zili was stunned.

No one spoke for a long time.

He just felt numb all over and a little uncomfortable. He squeezed his hands to calm himself down a little.

"I have persuaded my brother to do great things before, and I have also proposed a strategy for him to attack Jinyang."

Zu Ting nodded, "What a good plan! As expected of Lord Tian! Then why didn't the general use it?"

"There is another person who objects."

"such a pity."

Zu Ting said with emotion, Tian Zili glanced at him, "Grandfather, there is no need to do this. To be honest, my countermeasures are really simple. I just forcefully attack Jinyang. You don't have to do this. I am not a person who likes to be flattered."

"I'll send someone to escort you to Wuchuan right away."

"But I have something to tell you. My brother is a kind and righteous man. He hates villains and flatterers the most. If you speak like this in front of my brother, I'm afraid he won't tolerate it."

Zu Ting bowed again, "Thank you, Mr. Tian. I will remember it."

Tian Zili immediately called the soldiers and asked them to select a cavalry to protect Zu Ting on his way to Wuchuan.

Tian Zili escorted Zu Ting all the way out the door, and the two of them bowed again before leaving.

Tian Zili returned to the house and couldn't help but sigh.

This guy has some talent. No wonder Zheng Daoqian wrote to us several times asking us to get rid of him.

Tian Zili shook his head and was about to write a letter to his brother.

Ok?
Where's my fucking pen??
Zu Ting sat in the car, playing with a pen, but thinking about what to do next.

Tian Zili sent more than 40 light cavalry to escort Zu Ting. Together with the people Zu Ting had brought with him, no one dared to question him along the way.

The road from Shuozhou to Beishuo had apparently been repaired and was surprisingly easy to travel on. One could pass through it in a horse-drawn carriage without having to get off.

After walking for several more days, Zu Ting finally managed to reach Wuchuan.

This was not Zu Ting’s first time at the frontier. He had even been outside the frontier and visited places that Liu Taozi had never been to.

The carriage stopped at the city gate, where knights were already waiting for him. They led Zu Ting to the government office in Wuchuan to meet Liu Taozi.

This military fortress was exceptionally quiet at this moment. There was no sound around and the training ground was exceptionally silent.

Zu Ting observed his surroundings carefully, and the smile on his face became more and more obvious.

The procedure for paying a visit to General Anxi was not complicated, and he did not seem to be afraid of being assassinated by others. He only needed to register at the door, and someone led Zu Ting into the inner room, without even taking away his sword.

This is much easier than meeting the county magistrate!
"Your subject Zu Ting pays homage to General Anxi!!"

Zu Ting took a step back, then bowed solemnly towards Liu Taozi.

Liu Taozi glanced at the letter sent by Zheng Daoqian and Tian Zili, then stared at the man in front of him for a moment, "Get up."

"Thank you, General!!"

"I haven't seen you for a long time. The general is still as heroic as ever!"

"You ever met me?"

"In the second year of Huangjian, I met the general in Yecheng!"

"The general rode a blue horse into the city accompanied by your majesty, and his momentum was unparalleled!"

"In the second year of Huangjian, you were serving as a writer, so you should have been by the side of the late emperor. How come you have seen me in Yecheng?"

"General, you don't know that at that time, His Majesty had not yet ascended the throne. He summoned wizards in Yecheng and wanted to rebel. I was good at this, so I went to Yecheng."

Liu Taozi didn't say anything, just stared at him.

Zu Ting remained calm and said solemnly, "General, I have two gifts for you."

"Oh?"

Zu Ting said, "This first gift is in Yecheng."

"When I was in Yecheng, there was a children's song in the city saying that the general was planning a rebellion."

"I have modified it a little to make the nursery rhyme come true on Gao Guiyan. The emperor is moody, and Gao Guiyan is too powerful in the court, which makes many people wary of him."

"At present, the emperor's attention should be focused on Gao Guiyan. There is even a high possibility of war. Then the court will not be able to take care of Shuozhou. The general can continue to recuperate at the border without worrying about the affairs of the court."

Liu Taozi frowned and hummed.

Zu Ting continued, "This second great gift is the four great strategies that I want to present to the general."

"Four major strategies?"

"I know that the general has great ambitions to stabilize the country and save the people of the world. Although I am not a talented minister, I also want to assist the wise monarch and support the country!"

"When the general was in charge of Cheng'an, Cheng'an was peaceful. When the general went to Liyang, Liyang was well governed. When the general went to Dingzhou, Dingzhou was prosperous. When the general went to the border, the border changed so much!"

"Therefore, if we want to govern the world well and let the people live a good life, we can only do so by letting the general lead the world."

"And I have four countermeasures here that can help the general do this."

"If the general is willing to listen, I will tell you."

Zu Ting slowly raised his head and secretly looked at the man sitting in the upper seat.

Liu Taozi nodded, "You go ahead."

Zu Ting was overjoyed. He suddenly raised his head and straightened his body. "General, this first strategy is to defeat the enemy and protect ourselves!"

"The reason why the general can gain such power in the border is because the Pseudo-Zhou in the west and the Turks in the north are powerful, and the court is very wary of them."

"If you want to expand your power, you must keep attacking and take the initiative to defeat these bandits. Most of the Pseudo-Zhou's forces are distributed in the south, and only garrison troops are left outside the Great Wall. They don't pay too much attention to important towns such as Woye. There are no more than four or five thousand soldiers stationed there, and many generals are Yuwen Hu's confidants and don't understand war. It won't be difficult for you to defeat them."

"First, we took these lands for our own use. The surrounding towns are fertile lands that can be cultivated. When Hulugu led his troops to capture Jinhe, Baima, Yicheng and other places, the Zhou people did not attach much importance to them and did not want to send troops to take them back."

"Secondly, if there are frequent battles, the court will not be in a hurry to deal with the general. If the general makes military achievements at the border, expands the territory, and devotes himself to fighting foreign invaders, then the emperor can free up his hands to deal with the people around him, and he won't be thinking about how to get rid of you all day like he is now."

"This is the strategy of defeating the enemy and protecting oneself, strengthening oneself and escaping from the chaotic government in the court."

"The second strategy is to hold the young master hostage and control the government."

"Gao Zhan is a heavy drinker and has a very poor health. He needs medicine to maintain his health. He may not live past 30, and his children are very young."

"He is a cruel and suspicious person. Once he finds out that the general is not a threat, he will deal with those who followed him one by one. Even the late emperor's crown prince Gao Bainian may not be able to escape."

"At present, all the officials in the court think that Gao Zhan can accomplish great things and are willing to follow him. However, I think Gao Zhan is a rotten person who can't accomplish anything. It will only take two or three years for all the officials to understand this and know what kind of person he is. Naturally, they will not follow him wholeheartedly."

"By that time, the general had fought against foreign invaders for many years, and had many cities and food under his command. His soldiers were all elite warriors who had fought in many battles, but no one knew how many generals were left in the temple. With one decline and one rise, the situation changed drastically!"

"By that time, we can contact the wise men in the court, support the former crown prince as emperor, and get rid of Gao Zhan and his cronies!"

"All government affairs in the court are in the hands of the general. As long as the general does not follow Gao Zhan's example, practices more benevolent policies, appeases the ministers and generals, governs the country as a general, and temporarily leaves the government affairs to Gao Yun, then the people will be at peace!!"

"The third strategy is to defeat Zhou and become emperor."

"Zhou's Yuwen Hu is not crazy, but he is too selfish and lacks the corresponding ability. He is suspicious and kills kings. There are many people in Zhou who oppose him. When the general takes power, we can take advantage of their internal chaos to send troops to attack them. We will send troops from the border and bypass the opponent's strongest defense. We don't need to destroy the pseudo-Zhou, we just need to drive them away and occupy the area within Tongguan, so that they can no longer send troops to attack us."

"At this time, the general can legitimately be crowned emperor, rule the country, appoint wise men as prime ministers, and brave warriors as generals, and work hard to govern the country."

"The fourth strategy is to destroy Zhou and Chen."

"We gather our troops and attack the Pseudo-Zhou first. It would be best if we could recruit their generals and counselors to serve us. Then, we will follow the Jingshui River to destroy the Pseudo-Chen, unify the world, and usher in a prosperous era!!"

"General!!"

"I am willing to be the pioneer for the king!!"

(End of this chapter)