On the occasion of rebirth Zhou Sui

Chapter 360 The envoy comes to urge you

The third year of Renshou (AD 603), early winter.

If it were in the past, Jixian County would have already received its first snow at this time.

However, as the climate in East Asia has entered a warm period and temperatures are generally rising in various places, the first snow in Youzhou this year is destined to come later than before.

At least when Gao Xianya led Cheng Yaojin and Su Dingfang to the Youzhou Governor's Mansion, the weather didn't look like it was going to snow.

"Dingfang, Yi Zhen, you two are waiting here for the time being until I come to the house to report."

Gao Xianya made an explanation and took the lead in entering the general manager's office.

Cui Che was discussing matters with Wei Zheng at this time. Earlier today, the imperial court sent envoys to Jixian to urge Cui Che to conquer Goguryeo.

This is not the first time this year that Yang Jian has sent an envoy to urge us.

As early as summer and autumn, envoys often came to Youzhou to ask Cui Che to prepare for war.

It's just that Cui Che always has an excuse and has been putting it off until now.

But this time, it was obviously difficult to deal with it. Yang Jian had already issued a death order, asking Cui Chechun to send troops later, and at the same time, he was recruited into the court to present the battle plan.

"The saint is now transporting supplies to Jixian County. It seems that he wants to support Cui in his eastern expedition. However, he has repeatedly urged me to return to Beijing, which always makes Cui worried. Xuan Cheng thinks, is there something fishy about this matter?"

Cui Che asked Wei Zheng.

Perhaps because the deeds of outspoken admonishment were too deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, later generations thought that Wei Zheng was a remonstrator. In fact, this was not the case. In the original time and space, he was also the mastermind of Li Jiancheng.

Wei Zheng muttered:

"The lower official thinks that the dragon body of the saint is not hesitant, and it will not last long."

After capturing Liaodong last year, Cui Che also started his third consecutive term as governor of Youzhou this year.

During his second term of office, with the goal of capturing Liaodong, Yang Jian did not urge him in this way.

It is obviously more difficult to destroy Goguryeo now, but Yang Jian was so impatient in the first year of Cui Che's third term.

It also made Wei Zheng guess whether Yang Jian was in poor health.

After all, Yang Jian's holy body was not in good condition, and it was not a secret in the Sui Dynasty.

Cui Che was convinced that Wei Zheng could only guess, but he was certain that Yang Jian would die next year.

"Xuancheng thinks that when the saint ordered me to enter the court, he really wanted to discuss military matters with me, or was he trying to lure Cui back to the court?"

Wei Zheng considered:

"I dare not make any wild guesses. Now the saint is urging Duke Yan to return to the court to discuss the military situation, and at the same time he is hurriedly allocating supplies to Yan. Perhaps it can be said that the saint wants to see Duke Yan destroy Goguryeo with his own eyes before he dies.

"But the saint was suspicious by nature, and he was merciless towards those who threatened the imperial power.

"I dare to ask if Duke Yan is a saint, can he safely put the heroes of the world to use and bring disaster to his descendants?"

Wei Zheng didn't dare to guess what was going on, but behind the scenes, his attitude was clear. He was sure that Yang Jian wanted to trick Cui Che back to Guanzhong and execute him.

When Cui Che heard this, he had no doubts. He also felt that Yang Jian had no good intentions, so he asked:

"Now that there is an imperial order urging him to do so, how should Cui respond?"

Wei Zheng slowly spit out one word:

"drag."

Cui Che understood, and after detailed discussions with Wei Zheng, he immediately wrote a letter and ordered him to accompany him to Kumoxi.

At the same time, he sent someone to tell the envoys who were resting in the post house that he would return to Beijing at the beginning of next month and present his plans to Yang Jian.

When Wei Zheng left the wing, his trusted aide informed him that Gao Xianya was outside the wing asking to see him.

Of course Cui Che remembered that Gao Xianya was sent to Wuyi to recruit Su Dingfang, so he quickly ordered someone to summon him.

When he learned that not only Su Dingfang had come, but also Cheng Yaojin came to seek refuge with Qin Shubao's letter of recommendation, Cui Che was elated. This was truly a double happiness.

However, Cui Che did not follow suit and acted too eagerly.

Today is different from the past. Su Dingfang and Cheng Yaojin were just unknown young men, but he himself was the Great Sui Dynasty Duke of Yan and had a great reputation.

There was too great a disparity in status between the two. If he was too enthusiastic, it would certainly flatter Su Dingfang and Cheng Yaojin, but it would inevitably offend the old people, thinking that he liked the new and disliked the old.

However, Cui Che did not regard these two people as ordinary people. During the conversation, Cui Che's attitude was very friendly and did not have any official airs of a border official. This also made Su Dingfang and Cheng Yaojin feel good about him when they met for the first time.

Cui Che looked at the wooden stick behind Cheng Yaojin and said doubtfully:

"Is Yi Zhen good at wielding a long stick?"

Cheng Yaojin quickly explained to Cui Che. After hearing this, Cui Che sighed:

"Most of the state's finances and taxes depend on Guandong, but I don't know when we people in Guandong will be able to truly stand up in this Sui Dynasty and not be bullied by others."

After saying that, Cui Che seemed to realize that he had made a mistake, and said with a smile:

"This cannot be true."

However, Cheng Yaojin and Su Dingfang were already moved.

Cui Che also ordered someone to bring the horse pole he used when he was young. He stroked the shaft, raised his head and said:

"This horse stick was used by Cui when he was young. Now he no longer charges into battle, and it has been covered in dust for a long time.

"In a few days, Cui will perform martial arts among the guards and compete in horse fighting.

"Ding Fang, Yi Zhen, you two can also participate. When the time comes, I will use this medicine as a reward and give it to the winner."

Cheng Yaojin was overjoyed. Judging from the prize, this so-called guard competition was clearly designed by Cui Che just for him.

Su Dingfang didn't want to compete with Cheng Yaojin. Firstly, he was not his opponent yet, and secondly, Cheng Yaojin did lack a weapon.

But Cui Che encouraged again:

"You two will join my bodyguard for the time being. If you can perform outstandingly in martial arts, surpass all other heroes with your skills, and convince everyone, if Mr. Cui reuses you two again, no one will have any resentment."

For a time, Su Dingfang regained his fighting spirit:

"Please keep an eye on Mr. Yan, Su will definitely go all out!"

Cheng Yaojin said with confidence:

"Reporting to Mr. Yan, Cheng is bound to win this prize!"

Cui Che stroked his palms and smiled:

"Shubao's words in the letter were very exciting, and he told me that given time, with Yi Zhen's bravery, he will be famous in history and accomplish great things.

"In Dingfang, it was Cui who specially sent General Gao to Jizhou to invite him.

"You two must work hard, otherwise the world will ridicule Cui and Shubao for not knowing people well."

Cheng Yaojin and Su Dingfang were moved by Cui Che's words, but they did not dare to slack off, for fear that they would make a fool of themselves during the martial arts performance and damage the reputations of Cui Che and Qin Qiong.

At the same time, after the envoy learned that Cui Che relented and planned to return to the court next month and send troops later in the year, he had fulfilled Yang Jian's instructions and would not stay for a long time. He immediately went to the Governor's Mansion to bid farewell to Cui Che.

Cui Che invited him to have a banquet at the Yan State Mansion. During the banquet, Cui Che dismissed his servants and maids, and bribed the envoy heavily.

Seeing that the envoy accepted the bribe, Cui Che sighed and said:

"The two princesses were worried about the saint's health and dragged me to ask the envoy. Cui didn't want to pry into the privacy of the palace, but it is human nature for children to worry about their parents. Cui couldn't refuse."

Cui Che is also worried that his appearance will affect history and allow Yang Jian to survive for another year or two.

(End of chapter)