Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 345: Is this a fraud?

Jinyang, Zhao Mansion.

Zhao Yanshen sat in the study and sipped his tea.

His several sons were sitting in front of him. Zhao Yanshen held a book in his hand and earnestly explained the meaning of classics to his sons.

In recent years, the classics have developed rapidly. From the dispute between ancient and modern texts in the Han Dynasty, to the rise of metaphysics later, and to the impact of Buddhism today, the classics have once again returned to an era of controversy. Different interpretations have reached the point where they are almost not the same book.

Zhao Yanshen also had some achievements in academics, and he often warned his children at home to focus on classics and academic studies.

Just as Zhao Yanshen was explaining seriously, someone suddenly pushed open the door.

Two soldiers rushed in and stood inside the door.

They were wearing armor and carrying weapons. The sons and younger generations in front of Zhao Yanshen were frightened by them and stood up and stepped back.

Zhao Yanshen looked at them calmly, "Sit down, I haven't finished yet."

These people sat down slowly, their foreheads covered with sweat, and looked at the soldiers in fear. They could not listen to a word of what Zhao Yanshen was saying.

Zhao Yanshen ignored the soldiers and just explained the classic in his hand seriously.

After the two soldiers, many more people rushed in. They began to search around unscrupulously, passing between Zhao Yanshen and the young man in front of him. Everyone was trembling with fear, but Zhao Yanshen was the same as usual.

They searched everywhere for a long time, and then left one by one.

An officer appeared at the door, looking up slightly.

When Zhao Yanshen finished speaking and was about to have tea, the officer came forward and said, "Mr. Zhao, stop talking and come with us."

Zhao Zhongjiang quickly stood in front of his father and looked at them angrily, "What do you want to do?!"

"Step aside."

It was Zhao Yanshen who spoke. He stood up at some point and scolded his son who was standing in front of him.

Zhao Zhongjiang's eyes were red, and he couldn't help wiping away his tears as he looked at his elderly father.

Zhao Yanshen looked at his sons calmly and whispered, "I can no longer predict what the future will be like. After I die, keep everything simple and don't waste anything. I'll leave you many books. You can throw away other things, but you must keep these books and study them carefully."

"When I was born, like you, my family was well-off and my father was the magistrate of Luoyang. I had no worries about food and drink."

"Later, my father passed away and our family fell into poverty. We had no one to support us and nothing could be kept. My mother raised me and our family was left with nothing but my father's collection of books. Every day, apart from working, I studied hard and waited for opportunities. Later, I was able to become a guest of Sima Gong, write articles for him, and get his recommendation. Only then was I valued by Emperor Shenwu and achieved what I have today."

"I leave these books to you. You must study hard and don't neglect your studies."

As Zhao Yanshen was speaking, everyone couldn't help crying.

Zhao Yanshen said nothing more and followed the officer out of the study.

When they walked all the way to the front yard, they saw a burly general standing there from a distance, looking around in amazement.

Zhao Yanshen walked up quickly and bowed to the other party.

This person is Duan Shao.

Duan Shao looked around and asked, "How can a dignified Situ be so frugal?"

"This mansion is too simple, what is the point of seeking fame?"

Zhao Yanshen also looked around. If he picked any official in Jinyang, his mansion would be more luxurious than this one. Zhao Yanshen sighed, "Good fortune and disaster can happen overnight, which is hard to predict. It's better if the mansion is a little shabby. After I die, no villains will come to rob. My father didn't understand this, which led to us being tormented, threatened and robbed by a group of villains."

Duan Shao nodded gently, "That makes sense."

He turned to look at Zhao Yanshen, his eyes were extremely complicated, "I can't find any evidence."

“I sent a lot of people.”

"You have indeed been at home all the time. You seldom go out. When you go out, it is to go to work. I have checked your servants and descendants. They are clean and innocent. I can't find any illegal activities."

"No strangers have ever entered or left the mansion. We even raise our own vegetables and meat for our own consumption."

"I even checked the place where you dump ashes and the wooden barrels where you dump manure, but I couldn't find any problems."

"There are no pigeons, only four old horses in the mansion, and there are no secret passages in the mansion."

"I want to know, how did you pass the message to Liu Taozi?"

Zhao Yanshen said seriously: "General, you don't know that I am best at sorcery. At night, I will tell Liu Taozi the information through dreams."

"Hahaha~~"

Duan Shao burst into laughter, and he turned towards Zhao Yanshen and bowed his head.

"It seems that I was too arbitrary. That's right. There are so many traitors in the country. They all want to save their lives. It's normal for them to sell information in exchange for survival. I shouldn't have doubted you."

"Please forgive me, Lord Zhao."

Zhao Yanshen was a little surprised, "Won't the Grand Marshal kill me?"

Duan Shao shook his head, "I am not a person who kills indiscriminately."

He looked around, then took Zhao Yanshen's arm and led him to an empty room. After entering the house, Duan Shao asked the soldiers to wait outside the door, and then pulled him to sit down.

"Mr. Zhao, I have an important matter and I need your help."

Zhao Yanshen was a little confused. He looked at Duan Shao's serious face and said, "Just give the order, Grand Marshal."

"Mr. Zhao, are you afraid of death?"

"Is there anyone in the world who is not afraid of death? I am only afraid of dying an unworthy death. Does the Grand Marshal want my head? Why?"

Duan Shao immediately shook his head, "That's not the case."

He groaned for a moment, "Wei Xiaokuan sent someone to look for me."

"He wanted to help us leave, go south, and establish a country again."

"what?!"

Zhao Yanshen nearly jumped up, his eyes widened, "Grand Marshal!! You know best what kind of person Wei Xiaokuan is. Joining forces with him is like courting death. Don't believe a single word he says!!"

Duan Shao was still so solemn, "There is no other way. The food and grass have been exhausted. We can't hold on any longer. We must leave."

"He has sent troops into Fenzhou and they are gathering. I will take my men to join him. He will help us cross the river and then go all the way down to escort us to Heluo."

"impossible!!"

Zhao Yanshen said loudly: "Let's not talk about anything else. Just say that we want to take His Majesty away. How many people are there in the palace? How many troops are there? How can we take them away like this? That thief general Yao Xiong has fought with Liu Taozi for many years. He used to be his number one general. We can't underestimate him!"

"He leads the Shuozhou soldiers and is eyeing us covetously. If we are attacked while crossing the river, we will die in his hands!"

"Besides, most of the Jinyang soldiers are unwilling to leave due to insufficient food and fodder. Do we have to take their families with us?"

"How can this be?"

Zhao Yanshen just shook his head.

Duan Shao asked in a low voice: "What if I take nothing with me, only a thousand elite soldiers and the emperor, and leave secretly?"

Zhao Yanshen looked at Duan Shao in doubt and surprise at this moment. He felt that the Lou family blood in this great Sima's body had erupted!

Duan Shao's father was a Han Chinese, but his mother was the younger sister of Empress Dowager Lou.

"Is the Grand Marshal going to surrender to the Zhou people? Take His Majesty with you to surrender to Wei Xiaokuan?"

"Is this the important matter that Da Sima wants me to help with?"

"Da Sima, just execute me now!!"

Duan Shao was not angry either. "Unless Lord Zhao really knows some magic and can conjure up food out of thin air, there is no other way."

"Jinyang has become an isolated city. Next month, some soldiers will start to starve. After another month, the entire army will start to starve. After that, we will be tied up and sent to Liu Taozi."

"I don't want to see Jinyang become a cannibalistic hell."

"Could it be that Lord Zhao has a better idea?"

Zhao Yanshen was speechless for a moment, his face dazed.

Duan Shao said seriously: "To Wei Xiaokuan, we are nothing. Liu Taozi is the biggest enemy. What's the point of capturing me and Your Majesty? Exchange us for rewards? That would be beneficial to Liu Taozi. He won't do that. As long as I can reach the south, I can reorganize the armies in various places. With soldiers, food, and officials, I can send troops to attack Liu Taozi and take back Hebei."

Zhao Yanshen still looked dazed.

Duan Shao said gently: "I don't trust anyone. Lord Zhao is the only person I can't find any problems with, and he is also the most suitable person to do this."

"I hope Lord Zhao can help me get out of here."

"I have already promised Wei Xiaokuan that his army will arrive nearby soon to greet us as we leave."

"I hope Lord Zhao can come forward and make everyone feel that the emperor is in the palace and I am in my own residence."

"After I get away, you can lead everyone to submit to Liu Taozi."

"What?!" "I don't understand."

Zhao Yanshen shook his head and looked at Duan Shao, "The Grand Marshal may be too tired. I would rather die than work with Wei Xiaokuan."

"So what do you think we should do, Lord Zhao?"

"I don't know, but Wei Xiaokuan has a deep hatred for us. Could it be that the Grand Marshal has forgotten those comrades who died at his hands?"

"That was in the past, it's different from today."

Duan Shao stood up and saluted towards Zhao Yanshen, "Please consider this matter seriously, Lord Zhao. I have made up my mind about this matter and will not change it easily. I will not watch the State of Qi perish in front of my eyes."

Duan Shao said a few words, "I have withdrawn all the soldiers, and Lord Zhao can go back to normal now."

After he finished speaking, he stood up and left the house.

The soldiers followed him and disappeared in the distance. Zhao Yanshen looked at them in astonishment. Until the door closed and he could no longer see these people, Zhao Yanshen turned around. The astonishment on his face quickly disappeared and he began to ponder.

Could it be a fraud?
Duan Shao mounted his warhorse and walked on the road, staggering. The solemnity on his face gradually disappeared. He half-closed his eyes, glanced back at the Zhao Mansion in the distance, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

All the soldiers in the Zhao Mansion have left.

Everyone in the Zhao Mansion finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Yanshen took the initiative to dismiss some slaves and only left a few people.

It seemed as if nothing had happened in the city.

There were young nobles leading people to bully people in the streets, and starving people gathered together, looking around the tall mansions with ill intentions. With the shouts of the cavalry and the cries of the people, everything seemed so normal and joyful.

Zhao Yanshen finally drove to Duan Shao's house.

The soldiers and gatekeepers in front of the mansion stopped them, and after accepting the bribe as usual, they went in to report.

The two of them quickly sat in the study and began to discuss this important event.

Zhao Yanshen still had a worried look on his face. "Grand Sima, I never thought that one day we would actually join forces with Wei Xiaokuan."

"Didn't you hate him the most in the past?"

"I hate it, but what can I do? Should I surrender?"

"Tens of thousands of troops are in Jinyang, but there is no food or fodder, and Wei Xiaokuan cannot send food or fodder over."

Zhao Yanshen sighed helplessly.

"Well, since Da Sima wants to do this, I won't object."

"Da Sima, how can I help you?"

Duan Shao took out a map from his arms and put it aside. He had obviously looked at this map countless times, and there were some clear traces left on it, especially in several corners of the Fen River and the river.

Duan Shao said calmly: "Liu Taozi's military headquarters was established not long ago. I am not worried about them. I am worried about two people. One is Yao Xiong from Shuozhou, and the other is Tu Xiyue from Zhaozhou."

"Among them, Yao Xiong has the strongest force, with more than 10,000 Shuozhou soldiers. Tu Xiyue's troops, which are the former Qingdu troops, Cheng'an soldiers, some Dingzhou soldiers, and the old soldiers of the bandits, have about the same number as Yao Xiong, and their combat effectiveness is relatively weak."

"I am going to give the order to attack the enemy and put fear into them."

"Let She Diluo lead the army to approach Yangqu, so that Yao Xiong will not dare not return to defend."

"Let Gao Fuhu lead the troops to Leping to contain Tu Xiyue."

"Let Qi Lianmeng lead his troops to Rongzhou to influence the enemy's judgment."

"When these three armies are ready to go, I will lead the elite cavalry to escort the emperor to the battlefield. In short, I will leave here."

Zhao Yanshen was somewhat stunned. "Can we still organize a large army to set off?"

"Of course. They don't really have to go, so just let them start organizing and make the enemy believe it."

Zhao Yanshen suddenly realized that he was going to fight with words.

Duan Shao then gave a very clear expedition plan. This plan was quite comprehensive. If one did not consider the food and fodder for the troops, one could really use this strategy to attack Liu Taozi. Even though Duan Shao was good at faking it, he was still very good at it.

After briefly explaining his thoughts, Duan Shao hurriedly hid the map in his arms.

"Tomorrow I will announce the expedition."

"Five days later, I will lead the hundred guards and bring the emperor away from here."

"By then, three armies will leave at the same time, also to influence the enemy's judgment."

Zhao Yanshen was confused and just nodded, "What do you need me to do?"

"Sit in the rear, coordinate the overall situation, make preparations for the expedition, and make everyone believe that we want to attack Liu Taozi. After I leave for 20 days, you can do whatever you want and join Liu Taozi."

"Take it."

Duan Shao handed him a document.

"These are all things you can do after I leave. You must write them down and burn them."

Zhao Yanshen lowered his head dejectedly, "Yes."

Zhao Yanshen left here.

The next day, Duan Shao announced to everyone that he was going to go on an expedition to attack Liu Taozi.

For a time, Jinyang was in turmoil.

Liu Taozi's reputation in Jinyang is not low. After winning consecutive victories and defeating powerful enemies many times, the old Xianbei finally recognized this powerful general. Liu Taozi is now qualified to compete for the position of leader.

Many generals in the court had private dealings with Liu Taozi's subordinates.

After all, we were all one family in the past, and even many generals’ children and brothers lived across the street.

Under such circumstances, Duan Shao's decision to attack Liu Taozi immediately aroused opposition from many people.

Duan Shao forcibly suppressed these opponents and began to actively prepare for the attack on Liu Taozi. At this moment in Jinyang, no one could stand out to oppose Duan Shao. The little emperor was probably not very clear about all this and could only nod blankly.

Duan Shao ordered the scholars under his command to read out the evidence of Liu Taozi's crimes.

Liu Taozi was charged with as many as forty-seven crimes.

When the scholar stood in the palace and read out Liu Taozi's crimes and was about to announce them to the world, Liu Taozi no longer belonged to the State of Qi.

He was no longer the great general of Qi.

The emperor dismissed him from his official position, took back his title, and at the same time asked everyone in the world to follow him to attack Liu Taozi and kill this traitor.

Also dismissed at the same time was the Northern Province Grand Administrator.

Jinyang unilaterally announced the dismissal of the Northern Province Grand Administrator, and at the same time dismissed many officials of the Administrator, including Gao Yun.

Generals from various places, such as Yao Xiong, Kou Liu, Zhang Heizu, Potuo Luo and others, were also dismissed.

The only ones who survived were Gao Changgong, Bao Xian and others.

All the officials in the court stood where they were, listening to the official read out these things, their expressions were extremely complicated.

Some are happy, some are sad, and some are grief-stricken.

From now on, Qi and Liu Taozi are open enemies.

There will no longer be any General Liu Taozi of Qi.

Duan Shao even sent messengers to deliver these imperial edicts to Liu Taozi's jurisdiction to let these people know.

The officials of Yangqu were the first to receive the imperial edict.

Faced with such an imperial decree, the entire Yangqu was calm.

"This must be a false decree issued by Duan Shao!"

"Duan Shao committed a heinous crime. He murdered the emperor and then established a new emperor. He controlled the government and issued a false edict to depose loyal ministers! He is a traitor! He is a traitor!"

The Chief Secretary of Shuozhou held the imperial edict and spoke to everyone with hatred on his face.

Tian Zili sat in the upper seat, listened to his words, and couldn't help shaking his head.

"There is no need to forge an imperial edict or a decree. It has nothing to do with us. We are following Cheng'an Mountain Mandrill, not some great general of the Great Qi."

The other officials nodded.

The Chief Secretary hurriedly said, "Mr. Tian, ​​that's what I said, but I'm afraid it will cause unnecessary trouble, especially in the newly acquired territories. It would be better to treat it as a forged edict to appease the people."

Tian Zili pursed his lips and said, "In fact, you are not wrong. Duan Shao colluded with the Zhou people and even wanted to send the emperor to them. He is really a traitor."

"I have received extremely reliable news. Duan Shao is really planning to take the little emperor to the Zhou people and take a detour back to Heluo."

"We have to keep him!!"

(End of this chapter)