Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 282: The country's important officials are like pillars

Almost at the same time that Liu Huai became angry.

Thousands of miles away, in Huining Prefecture, Shangjing, Liaodong, the scene was bleak in autumn.

On the bank of the Hunhe River, Hesheli Liangbi walked slowly with his hands behind his back, as if he was admiring the autumn scenery of Huining Prefecture. Only a few people who looked like officials followed him closely, and his personal guards were leading horses and were far away.

They walked in silence for a moment, and then one of them said, "We were able to escape this great disaster thanks to you, my husband. We are so grateful to you."

Hesheli Liangbi stopped walking, looked at the reeds that had turned somewhat withered and yellow, smiled and shook his head: "Shi Gong, you think too highly of me. His Majesty's actions cannot be persuaded back with words. The reason you are alive is because His Majesty allowed you to live. If you want to thank His Majesty, thank His Majesty."

The one who spoke was Pushan Shigong, and the people beside him were Xiao Huaizhong, Xiao Ze, Xiao Tula and other unlucky guys.

These people were all Wanyan Liang's confidants, but they were unsuccessful in the first phase of the Khitan uprising and were even defeated by the rebel leader Saba.

In real history, these people were involved in a conspiracy between Pushan Shigong and Empress Dowager Tushan, and were subsequently killed. In addition, they suffered a defeat, and almost all of them were executed by their clans.

However, now that Hesheli Liangbi was appointed as the governor of Shangjing, Wanyan Liang could not let such an important official of the country come to take up the post unarmed, so he dismissed these criminal generals and sent them to Hesheli Liangbi's army as criminals to serve in the court and make meritorious contributions.

Poor Pushan Shigong started from a humble background, personally participated in Wanyan Liang's regicide, and helped Wanyan Liang to the throne of emperor at the first opportunity. From then on, he rose all the way to the highest position in the country, and finally became the Grand Marshal and Privy Councilor. Now he has become a commoner, and his life for decades has really been like a dream.

The situation was similar for Xiao Huaizhong, Xiao Ze, Xiao Tula and others around him. They were once big figures such as the Governor of Xijing, the Governor of Shangjing, and the General of the Right Guard, but now they were also criminals.

But then again, being able to save one's life from a man like Wanyan Liang is already a blessing from heaven, what else is there to say?

Although Pushan Shigong did not refute Hesheli Liangbi's words, he still felt a chill in his heart when he thought of the deceased queen mother: "A few years ago, when I was in my prime, the clan leader pointed at my nose and scolded me, and I felt a little unconvinced. Now I think that the clan leader is really a wise man in the world.

His words, "Those who entertain others with their beauty, their love fades as their beauty fades," perfectly embody my current situation. It's a shame that I was so complacent back then that I mistook such wise advice for the patriarch's jealousy. How ridiculous!

The patriarch that Pushan Shigong mentioned was naturally Pushan Zhongyi, the theoretical head of the Pushan tribe.

Hesheli Liangbi smiled and said, "I later heard about that banquet. To anyone with a discerning eye, when you approached His Majesty to seek justice for you and banish Wuzhe, your fate was doomed to be bad. You still can't figure it out. Did you already offend His Majesty back then?"

Seeing the astonishment in Pushan Shigong's eyes, Hesheli Liangbi shook his head again: "It seems that you really haven't figured it out."

"I hope you can give me some advice, sir." Master Pushan bowed respectfully to the ground.

"I don't deserve your advice, but although we serve in the same palace, you, Master Gong, as well as Li Tong, Tang Kuobian, Wudai, Tushanzhen, Li Laoseng, Daxingguo, and others, are different from me, Wuzhe, Liu E, Bai Yanjing, and others." Hesheli Liangbi first pointed out the people who followed Wanyan Liang to kill the king and ascended to high positions, then pointed at himself: "You are His Majesty's servants, while we are ministers of the state. And the meaning of Wuzhe's words to you is simple: you should quickly abandon your status as a servant and become a senior official of the state."

Although Pushan Shigong and others felt that Hesheli Liangbi's words were a bit too harsh, but since things had come to this point and they had just escaped death with the help of this man, they had nothing to say and could only listen quietly.

“If we compare the Great Jin to a wealthy family, Your Majesty is the head of the family, and you are the servants. I am the chief treasurer who can control the local business and bring income to the family, and Wu Zhe is the household general who leads the evil young men in the family to intimidate the outside world.

"Master Gong, think about this: if you were the master of a household and a servant you loved very much slandered you and asked you to punish the household guard, what would you do? Even if you felt you should win over the servant and punish the household guard, would you not think that the servant was ignorant and gradually resent him?"

At this point, Xiao Huaizhong finally spoke helplessly: "What you said, sir, makes some sense, but does someone like me, with my background, also count as a servant in His Majesty's eyes?"

Pu San Shi Gong didn't turn around, but he still knew that Xiao Huaizhong was secretly mocking him. However, he was surprised to find that he could now remain calm and composed when faced with something that would normally make him angry.

The meaning of Xiao Huaizhong's words was very simple. Pushan Shigong was an orphan raised by Wanyan Zonggan, Wanyan Liang's biological father. If he were in the common people, he would really be a servant who was closer to his father and was called a son of a family.

But Xiao Huaizhong thought he was not. He rose to power because his sponsor Xiao Yu wanted to raise an army to recover Liao. He directly betrayed Xiao Yu and used the sponsor's head as a stepping stone to advance himself, and caught the attention of Wanyan Liang.

Although he also worked for Wanyan Liang, that was a minister's loyalty to the emperor. How could he be called a house slave?

Before Hesheli Liangbi could even speak, Xiao Tula was already impatient: "With your minor achievements, are you still flaunting them in front of me, sir? How did you even start your career? Although Xiao Yu was a rebel, he treated you well. He wanted to recover Liao, and you could have stood by and watched, but how could you have been a villain? Having done this, what good reputation do you still want?" Without waiting for the other party to get angry, Xiao Tula continued, "Even I, after all, was still fawning over Your Majesty. This is the fault of the emperor, the behavior of a slave, not the behavior of a minister of state. If I lose power one day, even if I am killed, there is nothing to say."

After hearing this, Xiao Huaizhong also sighed and said nothing more.

Pu San Shi Gong was silent for a long moment before he said, "But how can I become an important official of the state? Am I not diligent in my daily work? Am I not enthusiastic in serving Your Majesty? What else do you want me to do?"

Hesheli Liangbi clasped his hands and said, "Naturally, I can do things that ordinary people cannot do, solve problems that ordinary people cannot solve, and achieve achievements that ordinary people cannot achieve.

For example, Wuzhe, after going out to fight, was invincible in every battle and was the first-class sword of the country, so it was natural that His Majesty would show favor to him.
For example, as long as I am in charge of one place, I can manage the rear of the Great Jin as stable as Mount Tai and as strong as an iron barrel.

With this ability, you will naturally be like me, even if you speak frankly to His Majesty and anger Him, His Majesty will still entrust you with the affairs of state."

As he spoke, Hesheli Liangbi pointed west of the Hunhe River. "For example, this campaign against the Khitan rebels was a chance for His Majesty to rise from slaves to important officials. If you could easily defeat them, even with heavy losses, His Majesty would have entrusted you with important tasks. But unfortunately, you were defeated, and His Majesty will naturally slaughter you like chickens and dogs."

After hearing this, Pushan Shigong finally sighed deeply.

He wanted to achieve great things, but where was his ability?
If he had the abilities of Hesheli Liangbi and Pushan Zhongyi, why would he become a jester?

This is simply a dead end.

"As my Lord said, how many important ministers are there in the court now?" Xiao Ze, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. His voice was indescribably hoarse. It seemed that being imprisoned for the past few days had caused him great psychological harm, making him look a little gloomy.

Hesheli Liangbi smiled and said, "Who can say for sure? The world is in turmoil. The Song and Jin have resumed their war. The great waves will wash away the sand, and the true gold will emerge.

Perhaps the famous ministers and generals who seem mighty and inviolable today will become as soft as mud tomorrow.
Maybe it looks like a piece of rotten wood now, but it may grow into a towering tree in the future.

Even I and Wuzhe might do something absurd. The world is like a tide, with undercurrents surging. Everyone is trapped here, without freedom!

After saying this, Hesheli Liangbi didn't know what he was thinking about, and sighed again.

Several criminals were silent for a moment.

At this moment, the sound of horse hooves came from afar, and more than a dozen riders came quickly with a large flag with the words "Hesheli" inscribed on it.

Hesheli Liangbi's personal guards hurried forward to stop them, and the cavalry did not force their way in. The leader negotiated with the head of the personal guards, then left the group and rode alone.

Hesheli Liangbi watched from afar and laughed out loud, "Xiao Ze, didn't you just ask who is an important official of the country? I dare not say who the others are, but the person coming here is definitely one of them. Even if he is not well-known now, he may be recorded in history in the future and become more famous than me."

Several people hurriedly looked back, and after seeing the person clearly, they all felt that what Hesheli Liangbi said was correct.

The reason was simple. The visitor was none other than Wanyan Wuzhu's most beloved son-in-law, now the Deputy Governor-General of the North, Deputy Privy Councilor, and famous general of the dynasty, Hesheli Zhining.

The five people present were all very clear about this person's abilities, especially Pushan Shigong and others.

Because in the previous defeat they faced against the Khitan uprising army, if Hesheli Zhining had not been ordered to take charge of the situation and lead his troops to fight and defeat the Khitan army head-on, it is possible that the Huining Prefecture of the Jin Dynasty would have been lost.

Hesheli Zhining came to see Hesheli Liangbi in a hurry, naturally not to reminisce about the past or to establish a relationship and recognize him as the patriarch, but his first words were earth-shattering.

"My lord, Wanyan Yong is going to rebel!"

(End of this chapter)