The sky is dim and bright.
The entire Wuchuan City was full of laughter.
Smoke rose from the kitchens above every house, and hearty laughter could be heard coming from inside.
The appearance of the official office has changed, it is clean, there are no longer the sparse weeds on the ground, and there are no unknown stains on the walls. The knights stand at the many entrances, patrolling back and forth, and it really feels like an official office.
.
In the inner room, a man stood next to Liu Taozi, smiling and talking.
This person is the knight who just received the reward and military stick.
He was called Wang Chuanzhi, but judging from his appearance, he did not look like a Han or even a Xianbei.
In this martial frontier, few people can tell who they are.
Regarding the situation here, no matter how complete Cui Gang's explanation was, no matter how much information the Zhou people provided, it was still not as good as a description from the local people.
This knight came here to tell Liu Taozi to be careful.
"General, you don't know something. We have been uneasy for a long time because we have blocked the territory here. We established prefectures, but felt that it was inappropriate. We established counties, but then eliminated them. We established counties, but felt that it was inappropriate. We first divided Shuozhou, and then
North Hengzhou, and then changed to Hengzhou."
"It's just that, no matter what happens, these people are still the same people. It's always us who rely on the city wall to confront the border fortress and the Western bandits."
"The many garrisons, passes, cities, and villages in the fortress here are all old acquaintances. Many of the garrison leaders almost all come from the same family."
"Let's talk about He Laiqian, this He Lai, He Lanben's family. He has many relatives. His father used to be a soldier under He Ba Taibao. He once tried to protect the general from death during the battle. You killed him like this, but
I offended the Taibao to death."
"The Taibao are far away in Yecheng and may not care about the situation here. However, those garrison leaders are not easy to provoke. Many of their relatives and friends are scattered around, many of them have officials and titles."
"When they learn about the situation here, they must come to question the general."
"This place is too far away from Yecheng. If there is a dispute and the consequences are negative, no one will be able to tell clearly."
"Therefore, the general will go out less frequently. If he does go out, he must bring his own soldiers with him."
"However, general, don't worry too much. We are still here and no one dares to embarrass the general."
The man secretly said many things, thanked Liu Taozi again for his kindness, and turned to leave.
Tian Zili stood aside and looked at this person coldly. It was not until the person left that he spoke: "It seems that he has good intentions, but in fact he has received benefits and wants to use threats as a basis to ask for more."
.”
He looked at Liu Taozi again, "Brother, do you really want to go out to fight?"
"The Xi people took the initiative to appear in the territory and sent troops to defeat them. It doesn't matter. But outside the Great Wall, if you send troops privately without military orders, you will be violating military law and you may be held accountable."
"We need to send troops."
Tian Zili was stunned and asked: "What if the temple comes to ask for guilt?"
"Let's wait until they ask questions."
A group of people suddenly appeared on the road to Wuchuan. The leader brandished his whip and ran wildly. Behind him were nearly a hundred knights, rolling up dust and running wildly in the direction of Wuchuan.
The leader was quite young and looked to be less than thirty years old.
He was dressed in extremely luxurious clothes and wore a military crown with long feathers and an extremely rare color.
The war horse under his crotch was covered in blood red and was almost a size bigger than Liu Taozi's blue lion. As he galloped, dirt was splashed everywhere. The knights behind him were also extremely imposing, even at such a speed.
Even though he was running wildly, he could still maintain his formation.
They approached Wuchuan all the way.
The alarm on the sentry tower sounded again.
Many ballistas were suddenly aimed at this place, and the man quickly reined in his horse and raised his head angrily.
A knight led a group of people and rushed over quickly, blocking in front of them, "Who is coming?!"
The young man was furious and held a riding whip. His riding whip was unique and the handle was shining with golden light. He pointed at the knight blocking the road in front of him and said, "Even Nai Gong dares to stop him?!"
He was furious, "Come here, catch this guy!"
"Hit fifty army sticks!!"
The knight's expression changed greatly, and he quickly dismounted his horse and saluted the young man, "I hope you will forgive me for not recognizing your nobleness."
The young man raised his head and waved his hand casually, "Tell He Laiqian to come over here and see me!!"
The knight was stunned, and just as he was about to speak, another group of knights flew in from a distance, led by Yao Xiong. Seeing Yao Xiong, the knight quickly saluted, "Master Yao Shu!"
"What happened?!"
"A noble man came here, and I didn't recognize him either. He said he came to see He Laiqian."
Yao Xiong looked sharply at the young man in front of him, and then at the many knights behind him, his eyes flashing, "I wonder why you are looking for the deputy chief of the garrison?"
The young man looked at him and asked, "Who are you?"
"This subordinate is the new garrison commander."
Then he laughed angrily, with a painful look on his face, "Why the hell am I so unhappy, so unhappy."
He raised his head again, and his whole body was on the verge of explosion. He widened his eyes and said word by word: "I said, let, He, Lai, Qian, come and find me!!"
Yao Xiong nodded, "Make way!!"
Yao Xiong hurriedly let people open the way, and sent people to the city. He stepped forward on horseback, "My lord, the deputy garrison leader is injured. It will take some time to come. If you are in a hurry, why not talk to me first?"
Enter the city."
The noble man sneered, waved his hand, and led the knights towards the city. Yao Xiong hurriedly followed behind them.
With Yao Xiong leading them, they successfully passed each checkpoint and arrived in the city.
Yao Xiong said again: "My lord, these warriors under your command all look a little tired. Why don't you let them go to the living room to rest and recuperate first and I will slaughter the cattle and sheep for them myself."
The young man suddenly stopped and looked at Yao Xiong in shock. He then looked at the government office in the distance.
"Who are you?"
"Why don't you go to He Laiqian's house instead of coming to the official office?"
Many knights behind him were on guard at this moment.
Yao Xiong's expression remained the same, "I am the new garrison commander, and I took office following the great garrison commander."
"The chief of the garrison and Duke He Laigong are at the official office right now."
The young man snorted coldly, and without asking any further questions, he led the knights towards the official office.
When he arrived at the door of the official office, the young man did not dismount his horse or go in. He shouted loudly: "He Lai Gan!! He Lai Gan!!"
After a while, Liu Taozi led the people out slowly. Knights walked slowly from all directions, blocking the group at the entrance of the official office. The knights who followed the nobleman looked around and took out their weapons.
The young man didn't care at all. He raised his head and looked at Liu Taozi in front of him with disdain.
"Are you the new chief of the garrison?"
"I am the new chief of the garrison."
The young man took off his waist badge and threw it to the other party, "Since you are the commander of the great garrison, come quickly and kneel down!!"
Liu Taozi caught the official sign and read it repeatedly, "General of the garrison, He Bacheng."
He raised his head, bowed his hands casually and said, "Meet the general."
He Bacheng was stunned for a moment, and then laughed, "Look at my luck. I have been annoyed at every turn for the past few days. Anyone can bully me. I take it seriously."
He smiled, slowly pulled out his sword, jumped off the horse, and wandered to Liu Taozi's side.
"You know what I do?"
"In charge of the military affairs of the garrison towns in Beihengshuo."
"Then do you know that here, I have the right to kill you directly?"
He Bacheng shook the sword in his hand. Liu Taozi said nothing. He Bacheng looked into the official office and said, "Go and bring He Laiqian to me."
"Can't bring it here."
"Why?"
"I killed him."
He Bacheng's expression changed, "Do you dare to murder your colleagues?"
"He colluded with foreign enemies and tried to start an army to cause chaos. There are all the witnesses and physical evidence."
He Bacheng frowned, "No, it was you who framed me. He Laigan is devoted to the country and has been here all year round. Why did you come up with something to collude with foreign enemies?"
"He colluded with the Xi people to invade. I have defeated the invading Xi people and their heads have been sent to Yecheng."
He Bacheng froze on the spot, his face suddenly turned a little ugly.
He glanced at Liu Taozi, hesitated to speak, and turned around to get on the horse, but Liu Taozi grabbed his hand. Liu Taozi exerted force, and the sword in He Bacheng's hand fell off. He grimaced in pain and grinned.
shouted, "Stop!! Stop!! What are you going to do?!"
The knights who followed Heba Cheng drew their swords one after another, but the knights around them had already raised their bows and pointed them at them.
He Bacheng looked at Liu Taozi angrily, "What do you want to do?"
Liu Taozi said: "I just want to know why the general came to He Laiqian in such a hurry?"
He Bacheng looked shocked, "What does this have to do with you? Are you crazy? Let me go quickly! Do you know what the crime of attacking Shangguan is?! Your clan will be killed!!"
Liu Taozi asked calmly: "General, please tell me why you came to Wuchuan in such a hurry to find He Laigan."
"Fuck you, just wait, I won't kill your clan! I won't kill your clan!"
He Bacheng cursed loudly, and Liu Taozi used force again, but he screamed in pain.
"My subordinates discovered that He Laigan took advantage of foreign thieves several times and resold heavy weapons and other items. However, the Xi people brought a lot of things. The captured Xi people said that they were the same as before, and the things they brought were the same as before. He Laiqian's account books don't even match the savings in his house, and a large part is missing."
"My subordinates believe that He Laiqian has hidden it secretly, and we should search everywhere."
"But I think that most of the missing parts may have been given to the general?"
"Bloody words!! Just wait and see what I do!!!"
Liu Taozi grabbed this guy and looked coldly at the many knights in front of him, "Put down your weapons and get off your horse."
The knights looked at each other for a few times, and then someone rode out and asked, "Is General Liu going to rebel?"
"Assaulting the general and holding the general hostage are all serious crimes and will result in beheading!"
He looked around again, "You all want to follow Liu Taozi to your death?! You are all veterans! Don't you know what kind of crime this is?!"
he asked loudly.
The knights around him all looked at Liu Taozi and lowered their weapons slightly.
Liu Taozi said calmly: "I don't know what crime it is to kidnap a general. I only know that it is a capital crime to liaise with foreign enemies. In addition, it is also a capital crime to withhold the grain and grass supplies distributed and use them to sell and trade with foreign enemies."
Hearing these words, the knights raised their weapons again.
The lieutenant general was very angry, "What evidence do you have that you dare to appoint the general to commit a crime? Even if he really committed a crime, is that something you can control?!"
"Put down your weapons and get off your horse."
Liu Taozi spoke again. This time, he put one hand on He Bacheng's neck and began to exert force slowly. He Bacheng immediately choked and began to tremble crazily. His eyes almost popped out when he saw this. At this scene, the deputy general also panicked and quickly dropped his weapon, "Don't do it! Don't do it!!"
When the knights saw the deputy general dropping his weapons, they also dropped their weapons one after another and followed the deputy general off their horses. Yao Xiong hurriedly stepped forward and led his men to tie them up one after another.
For a moment, the entrance to the government office was extremely lively.
Only then did Liu Taozi let go of his hand, and He Bacheng gasped for air. He didn't even have the strength to curse at this moment, and his whole body was limp and powerless.
Liu Taozi pushed him to the ground, and Yao Xiong immediately tied him up.
The knights of Wuchuan looked at Liu Taozi with something wrong at the moment. No matter how vicious they were on weekdays, they would bully officials without military power. Who dared to provoke such a full-time general?
Yao Xiong led the prisoners to Nancheng, while Liu Taozi took He Bacheng into the inner room.
He Bacheng, who was tied up with five flowers, was lying on the ground, looking at Liu Taozi and others sitting beside him, with unspeakable anger in his eyes.
He lay there, gritting his teeth and saying nothing.
"General, please don't look at me like this."
"This place is too far from Yecheng. It is common for generals to accidentally fall off their horses and fall to death. Even if they do not fall to death, it is normal for them to encounter foreign enemies when they go out and be attacked."
He Bacheng then said: "Kill me if you can! Don't talk nonsense!!"
"No, killing the general is against the law. I have learned the law."
He Bacheng was stunned for a moment, and then his face was full of despair. He had fallen into the hands of a madman!!
If I had known earlier, I would have brought more people with me and not been so close to him.
Why would the temple send a lunatic to be the garrison leader here?!
Liu Taozi spoke again, "General, I want you to answer truthfully, did you really ask for He Laiqian's bribe?"
He Bacheng couldn't bear it any longer, "I want it, I want it, I'll take it, come on, chop me to death!!"
"I said, killing the general is an act of rebellion."
"Why would the general take his bribe?"
"What on earth do you want?!"
"I want to bribe the general."
"What did you say?"
Liu Taozi said seriously: "Several garrison towns around are all under the jurisdiction of the general, and so am I. If the general takes care of me, no matter what I do, it will be much easier."
He Bacheng was stunned.
"I wonder how much the general wants?"
"Are you crazy? You."
"Zili, go get the things."
Liu Taozi spoke, and soon Tian Zili led a few people and walked to He Bacheng holding a thick package and put it aside. Tian Zili and others took off the covering tarpaulin, revealing
That gleaming gold.
"Is that enough?"
He Bacheng's eyes were almost blinded by these things. He looked at these, then looked up at Liu Taozi, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
"What on earth do you want to do?"
Tian Zili stepped forward with a smile, untied his reins, and helped him up, "Don't be angry, General He Ba. My general just doesn't know how to interact with people. In fact, he is still very willing to form friendship with the general."
He Bacheng was asked to the side in confusion, and sat next to Liu Taozi, looking at the fierce and different faces around him.
He really couldn't figure out the current situation, "Are these all honoring me?"
Tian Zili nodded, "They are all dedicated to the general."
"It's not just these, there will be more in the future. My general is not as stingy as He Laigan. He has quite a lot of money. Besides, He Laigan's matter is really dangerous. The general wants the benefits now. If someone
If the truth is revealed, won't the general have to be punished together? When the time comes, how can the general's elders protect the general?"
"My general would not do such a thing. What my general wants is to attack thieves outside and govern the people at home. With military and political achievements, you will have a bright face. When the time comes, you will be promoted even if you don't care!"
"Look at the sword in my general's hand. What is the purpose of the Prime Minister sending my general here this time? He heard that there are many lawless people in the border fortress, so he asked my general to come here to investigate."
He Bacheng looked at the sword on Liu Taozi's waist, his pupils suddenly dilated, and his whole body trembled.
Only then did he notice the opponent's sword.
Tian Zili said gently: "The reason why my general dares to attack you is because of the Prime Minister's order. However, judging from the general's surname, he also built a family with great achievements. Unlike that He Laiqian, if he makes trouble
Yecheng is really not good."
"It would be better for the general to help us with all his strength, let us thoroughly investigate the internal thieves, attack the external bandits, and pacify many garrison towns. When we present our case to the Prime Minister later, you can also show your face!"
He Bacheng's eyes were blank. He thought for a long time, then looked at the sword, and then looked at Liu Taozi.
"Are you really here to investigate?"
Liu Taozi looked calm and said indifferently: "The Prime Minister needs military merit."
At this moment, He Bacheng's pupils trembled again, and he suddenly realized that taking the next step from a powerful minister requires military merit, and if a war is to start, the prime minister must come here, and the generals of Zhuzhen Town
He will definitely send troops along with him.
Suddenly, he figured everything out.
He stood up in a hurry and said, "That's it! I made the mistake of blaming the general. General Liu, don't talk about filial piety. The prime minister is coming. How can we not be prepared?"
"General Liu, tell me, how can I help you?! To be honest, my uncle is the current Taibao of Heba, and he is close to the Prime Minister!!"
"You and I are probably still related!"
"My uncle sent someone to tell me before, asking me to restrain myself and train the army well. I still don't understand the reason, but now I understand. General Liu, thank you for your advice!"
“Thanks for the tip!!!”
ps: In that month, the emperor personally marched to the north to attack Ku Moxi. He left the Great Wall and escaped with the prisoners. He divided his troops to attack and captured a large number of cattle and horses. General Kuo entered the Jinyang Palace. - "Book of Northern Qi·The Benji of Xiaozhao"
Chapter completed!