Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 299: Just Waiting for the General's Order

Shuozhou, Ertai official road.

Zu Ting stood with a smile on his face at the same place where he had greeted Gao Yin before, gazing into the distance with anticipation on his face.

General Wei, ah, no, the general is finally coming back!
Zu Ting was so anxious that he could not stay still. He had to mount his horse and look forward from time to time to see if his lord had arrived.

The soldiers around were still on guard, but they also looked particularly excited.

There were a lot of people standing behind Zu Ting.

Except for the local officials and a few important officials in charge of this year's spring planting, almost all the others were present.

What Zu Ting couldn't understand the most was that Gao Yu was standing in the crowd with a stern face, looking into the distance.

After Gao Yun arrived at the frontier, he basically worked without leaving his house every day. Even the emperor could not ask him to put down what he was doing and come to the roadside to greet people!

Zu Ting came to Gao Yu with a smile on his face. The ministers who had originally gathered around Gao Yu immediately dispersed and kept their distance from Zu Ting.

"Spring planting is important for agriculture and mulberry. Your Majesty doesn't need to come to greet us. The Lord will certainly not blame you."

Gao Yu shook his head, "If there were no great general, how could there be farming and mulberry business?"

"I have to meet with the general."

Zu Ting laughed and nodded in agreement.

Tian, ​​Cui, Chu and Kou were also standing among the waiting crowd, but Lu Qubing did not come because he was busy with farming.

Tian Zili grew a beard, which made him look more mature, and with the clothes he was wearing, he really looked like a high-ranking official.

Cui Gang has gained some weight and has a protruding belly, Lao Chu has not changed much, and Kou Liu has become darker.

Tian Zili said proudly at this moment: "Brother has killed two enemy generals in a row and defeated Yuwen Hu. Who in the whole temple can compare with him?"

"After returning this time, brother will be the legitimate king of the North!"

"I heard that the Executive Secretariat has been preparing to use troops?"

Kou Liu asked in a low voice.

Cui Gang quickly put on a stern face and reminded him: "Don't talk nonsense. The Executive Secretariat has not made any preparations. The idea of ​​mobilizing troops is all made up by me!"

Kou Liu nodded, "Yes, yes, it is made up. I won't tell anyone else about it, so you guys just make up a few sentences for me. Do you want to go out and do something?"

Chu Jiande cleared his throat and said, "Move more and warm up your body."

Cui Gang quickly glared at him, "Mr. Chu!"

"Why are you always like this? Things in Taichung cannot be leaked before they are officially announced. Otherwise, it will be a serious crime. You can't tell others just because they are close to you!"

Chu Jiande looked innocent and bewildered. "I never told anyone. I just wanted him to move around and warm up his body."

Tian Zili laughed and said, "Mr. Cui, it won't be too late to punish them after we welcome the lord."

Kou Liu just laughed, and waited until Cui Gang turned his head before he secretly said thank you to Lao Chu.

The important officials around Gao Yun were all exiled by Hu Changren. They had never formally met Liu Taozi, so they were inevitably feeling a little panic and uneasy at this moment.

After all, the person who is about to come will be the one who decides their future lives.

Zu Ting once again couldn't suppress his anxiety and rode off on horseback to investigate.

Hard work pays off. Zu Ting rode his horse for less than five miles before he finally met Liu Taozi's scouts.

Zu Ting was overjoyed and quickly asked the scouts to take him to meet his lord.

Liu Taozi looked seriously into the distance and chatted with Gao Changgong. The next moment, several knights suddenly appeared in the distance. Zu Ting rode a fast horse and charged over. He stopped a hundred steps away from Liu Taozi, dismounted, and came to pay his respects on foot.

"Lord!!!"

Zu Ting bowed deeply.

"Grandpa, stand up."

Liu Taozi just spoke, and Zu Ting quickly stood up and walked forward to hold the horse for Liu Taozi.

"No need, just get on the horse and go with me."

"only!!"

Zu Ting followed Liu Taozi, his face filled with indescribable excitement, "My lord, the affairs of the Xingtai are going exceptionally smoothly. King Pengcheng governs well, and he has also made up for many of the original affairs. Even if there are some conflicts between the new and old officials in the Tai, they can get along harmoniously, and no major incidents have occurred."

"Prince Pengcheng is waiting for you outside the Ertai official road post in the distance."

Zu Ting spoke very fast, and his words became unclear. Even Gao Changgong had trouble hearing him clearly, but Liu Taozi could.

Zu Ting briefly recounted the situation in various places. He arrived early, apparently wanting to give his lord a reminder first.

At last, Zu Ting said, "My Lord, I have already prepared what you asked me to prepare. However, many people do not know the details and are unhappy with me, thinking that I am accepting bribes."

"Did you take it then?"

Liu Taozi suddenly looked at him.

Zu Ting was stunned, "No."

"Ah."

Liu Taozi nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

When Zu Ting led Liu Taozi to the outside of the post station, all the ministers were ready. They lined up in order, neatly arranged, and bowed to greet them.

The leader was King Gao Yin of Pengcheng.

Liu Taozi and Gao Changgong looked at each other, and then they both dismounted.

Liu Taozi walked quickly to Gao Yu and helped him up, "Your Majesty, why do you have to bow down?"

Gao Yu lowered his head and said seriously: "The country was able to survive this war because of the great general's contribution. If it weren't for the great general, how could we be qualified to be kings and dukes?"

"I greeted the general with great respect, as is proper."

Gao Yun slowly looked at the ministers behind him. The ministers who were a little frightened at first were not so worried anymore after Gao Yun stepped forward, and they all bowed and said yes.

Liu Taozi looked at these ministers.

This was his first meeting with these people and they were not familiar with each other.

"Everyone, please get up."

"Thank you, General!!"

Everyone bowed and then stood up. Their attitude towards Liu Taozi was no different from that towards their lord.

Gao Changgong also smiled and walked forward to greet Gao Yu, "Uncle."

Gao Yu looked at Gao Changgong in surprise, then laughed, "You and Yanzong are both virtuous people in the royal family."

Tian, ​​Cui, Chu and others then led the elders to pay their respects. Their attitude was much more casual than those newcomers. Tian Zilie, for example, dared to walk to within a step's distance from Liu Taozi before paying his respects. The other few people also had smiles on their faces, without any of the solemnity of paying their respects to the lord, well, except Cui Gang.

Liu Taozi's eyes became easygoing, and she asked a few people who were close to her to stand up. She even joked, "Mr. Cui seems to be eating well. Are you planning to give up literature and pursue martial arts?"

Cui Gang, who had originally had a serious expression on his face, stroked the round belly and couldn't help laughing.

The ministers around him immediately relaxed a lot.

Their understanding of Liu Taozi all came from rumors, and in most of the rumors, Liu Taozi was like a demon.

The people called him mandrill and compared him to an evil ghost.

Among these ministers, many families had frictions with Liu Taozi, and there were heavy casualties. Many people felt that Liu Taozi was an extremely cold-blooded, cruel and murderous person.

Seeing that he would also joke with his subordinates, everyone broke some of their preconceived impressions of Liu Taozi.

Liu Taozi met with the officials one by one, and then led them into the city.

Gao Yin and Liu Taozi walked side by side, and the others followed behind them.

Liu Taozi said, "It is a great blessing that the king can come to the frontier."

"I heard from Zu Ting that the king is particularly concerned about the agricultural and sericulture affairs of the border states. After coming to Wuchuan, he has done a lot of things."

Gao Yu calmly replied, "These are what I should do. I just hate myself every day that I haven't done enough."

"Your Majesty is still young, don't be too exhausted. In the future, you will have to govern the entire world, and you cannot ignore important matters."

Hearing Liu Taozi's words, Gao Yu just looked into the distance with a complicated look in his eyes, and said nothing. "If I don't do anything, I will always feel uneasy. Only by constantly doing things can I feel at ease and fulfilled. The general doesn't have to worry. I will not fall down until I have accomplished great things with the general."

Liu Taozi suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, did you come here this time to appease the ministers a little and ask me not to scare them?"

"Maybe. They have never seen the general and only think he is scary. Also, I want to reassure the general. I am afraid he is afraid of me. I really don't want to waste my energy fighting for power. I just want to do something."

"Your Majesty, there is no need to look down on me."

"Your Majesty, if you want to do something that benefits the world, I will fully support you."

Gao Yu was stunned and looked at Liu Taozi beside him, "Why?"

"General, aren't you afraid that I will take away your power? Or does the general look down on me and think that I don't have the ability?"

"maybe."

"Your Majesty, you can't do it well, and my power doesn't come from an empty official position."

"I have always been an open-minded person, and I hope that Your Majesty will not be restrained in the future. Just tell me what you think and don't hold back. I will never resent others for their words, unless they insult my mother."

"I am very happy that Your Majesty can come to the frontier. All my subordinates lack experience. Your Majesty is honest, cares about the people's livelihood, and is very capable. He is exactly the wise man I lack."

"I am also willing to join hands with the king to govern the world together. As long as what the king says makes sense, I will listen to it."

"What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Gao Yu was stunned for a long time before he said, "I think it's very good."

In fact, Gao Yu had another question in his mind that he wanted to ask Liu Taozi, but at this moment, Gao Yu found that he couldn't ask it.

Everyone returned to the city, and the soldiers inside and outside the city shouted loudly to celebrate Liu Taozi's return.

Zu Ting did not arrange any false ceremony for an old man to come and greet him, because he knew that his master would not like this.

He prepared more than sixty young students for Liu Taozi, all of whom were young people studying in the law school in the city.

Sure enough, when Liu Taozi saw them, he stopped and asked them about the situation in the study.

He also rewarded the young students with excellent academic performance, and then they went to the government office.

When they arrived at the government office, Liu Taozi did not give in and sat directly in the upper seat. Gao Yun sat beside him, and the other ministers sat down in groups. It was not the first time they gathered together, so they all had some idea of ​​where they should sit.

Zu Ting was still sitting far away.

Liu Taozi looked at him deeply, and then looked at the ministers.

"It is truly an honor for me to have you all come to greet me."

"But I don't like pomp and ceremony, nor do I like too much formality. I like practical things."

"You were all driven out of Yecheng because of your practical work."

"It won't be like that with me. I will definitely reward those who have made contributions, and I will never be stingy. Those who have made mistakes will definitely be punished, no matter how close they are."

"In the future, we will all rule the world together. I hope that you will work diligently and make more achievements. I hope that you will all achieve success and leave your names in history."

The ministers were all a little stunned. From Yecheng to Wuchuan, this was the first time they heard their superiors speak like this.

Liu Taozi then looked at Gao Yun who was standing aside and said, "During the time I was away, please list the achievements and mistakes of local officials inside and outside the province as soon as possible so that I can review them."

"Those who can govern diligently and stay true to their original intentions after I leave will be rewarded."

"Anyone who acts recklessly while I'm away and commits mistakes will be dealt with together."

Gao Yu saluted fiercely, "Wei!!"

Liu Taozi then ordered: "Then let's start the banquet."

Zu Ting stood up and began to ask the clerks to bring the food. The banquet officially began. The food was not too luxurious, and there were no musicians or dancers. It all depended on everyone's own performance. They could sing or dance if they wanted to.

Kou Liu sat next to Liu Taozi with a smile and poured him some tea.

Alcohol is prohibited in Liu Taozi's territory, and the same applies to banquets, where only tea can be consumed.

"Brother, Zhang Heizu is with General Bao and General Pi in the border area fighting against the Turks. Yao Xiong and Potuo Luo are making great contributions in the west. I am the only one staying here and can do nothing. If brother plans to send troops, I am willing to be the vanguard!"

"Did Tian Zili tell you?"

"It was Cui Gang who said that!"

Cui Gang, who was drinking tea, almost spit out the tea. He couldn't scold him in front of outsiders, so he lowered his voice and cursed: "You, you actually became a flatterer in Shuozhou. It was clearly Lord Chu who told you! Why do you blame me?"

Chu Jiande's eyes widened, "What?"

Kou Liu was very serious, "Mr. Chu just told me to take care of myself. Didn't you say it was a secret or something?"

Tian Zili laughed, "My lord, these people should be punished!"

Liu Taozi frowned and looked at Kou Liu, "Prying into the secrets of the imperial court, I said that you are not allowed to violate the law."

Kou Liu paused, the smile on his face disappeared, and he lowered his head quickly, "Brother, I won't dare to do it again."

The other people didn't dare to laugh anymore. Chu Jiande said helplessly: "My lord, these are all jokes. Even someone like Yao Xiong can guess the news of the dispatch of troops. What kind of secret is this?"

Liu Taozi continued, "Even if the evil is small, don't do it."

Kou Liu suddenly came to his senses, "Brother, I know my crime and I am willing to be punished!"

"Take the ten military sticks and wait in the parade ground. The troops will be dispatched next. You will be the commander-in-chief and you will be punished for your crimes."

"only!!"

"Many big mistakes started from small things. Don't make them again."

"only!!"

"Okay, don't be so sullen. Wait until you get beaten before you look sad."

Yang Xiuzhi, who was standing far away, was looking at Liu Taozi, and suddenly said to Hu Changcan, "Look at the general's words and deeds, they are completely different from the pigs and dogs in Yecheng."

Hu Changcan paused and reminded: "Mr. Yang, you have suffered a lot because of this mouth, so be careful with your words."

"It's the truth. What does Yecheng have? The eight pigs of the Hu family, the two donkeys of the Zhao family, and a puppy that has grown teeth without drinking milk."

Hu Changcan sat a little further away.

Yang Xiuzhi then pulled Feng Shu aside and said to him, "I heard that Hu Changcan was a loyal minister, but I have never seen Hu Changcan be a loyal minister."

Feng Shu's lips trembled and he didn't dare to respond.

The banquet was quite successful. These new ministers got to know Liu Taozi, and many of them left an impression on Liu Taozi.

For example, Feng Shu, who apologized for his family members who had offended Liu Taozi in the past, Hu Changcan, who advised him not to recruit too many laborers as soon as they met, and Yang Xiuzhi, whose words were full of thorns.

The banquet was over and everyone went back to rest. Without wine, the banquet seemed like something was missing, but Liu Taozi was unwilling to take the lead in destroying the formulated policy.

At that time in the Great Qi Dynasty, no, the whole world's love of wine had reached a terrifying level. It could be said that no one could live without wine. From the emperor to the ministers, to the local tyrants, everyone was a wine lover.

A large amount of grain is used in brewing wine, and the consumption of grain becomes increasingly higher in order to brew the best wine.

What those nobles savored was not fine wine, but the blood shed by millions of people.

Even though he was regarded by outsiders as an example of Liu Taozi's tyranny, Liu Taozi had no intention of compromising. In the face of extreme food shortage, how could he let you guys come and take away our food?

At night, Zu Ting sat alone in the house with Liu Taozi.

Zu Ting's face was solemn. "My Lord, the people of Lower Zhou cannot go east easily. It is time to take action. I plan to send people to deal with the governor of Yingzhou first, and then Dingzhou and Jizhou. To the west, we will take Fenzhou and Jinzhou, surround Taiyuan and Yecheng, and take everything north of the Yellow River."

"I have listed three lists of officials from these states and counties. My lord, you can compare them in detail and then make your choice."

"In addition, I think we can make a complete overall plan for our current states. After taking over these areas, we will have too many states and counties under our jurisdiction. However, many states only have one county, or even one city-state. There are too many divisions, which is too complicated and chaotic."

"I think we can integrate the states under our command, reduce the fictitious states and counties, and re-establish them into ten states: Shuo, Heng, Yan, Ying, You, Ji, Bing, Zhao, Qing, and Ling."

"In addition, the Great Qi has always used military officers as provincial governors. I think we should change the past habit and let military officers serve as generals in the military offices of various places, and let scholars take on the positions of provincial governors and prefects. Although there are many bad scholars, if we can promote the good ones, it will be of great benefit to governance. This is also the reason why the Pseudo-Zhou Dynasty was able to prosper so quickly."

"After the integration, we can set up a military headquarters in each state. We don't need two or three states to raise an army like we do now."

"I already have evidence of the crimes of officials, powerful people, temples, and great families in various parts of the north."

"We will immediately mobilize the army to deal with the traitors, promote the wise, recover the northern land, and restore peace to Yan!"

(End of this chapter)