Volume 4 Chapter 24 Roasted Chestnuts
After an inspection, Zhao Jiu had an idea in his mind.
Although Wu Jie had good intentions, most of the young men he sent were sons of Western Army officers and officials. The future of these people lay in the army, and sending them to meet him as an official was better than anything else. People like Wang Zhongfu were still a minority.
Of course, this is also expected and reasonable.
To put it bluntly, a young man with excellent moral character, intelligence and sharpness, even if he is from a good family, would naturally go to school if he can, so why would he choose to learn martial arts? Just like in later generations, high school students with similar grades would naturally go to the college entrance examination if they can, so who would drop out of school to write online novels or play e-sports?
Unless one is really not good at studying, or is really gifted like Wang Zhongfu.
This is a concept that has existed for hundreds of years. Even though the Jingkang Rebellion objectively improved the status of military men, it was not enough to shake this deep-rooted concept. In history, Yue Fei was at the top of the military ranks. When his son was given a patronage by the emperor, he was too embarrassed to accept the civil official position offered to him by his superiors. He openly said that civil officials are more valuable than military officials, and in exchange for a military official position, he specifically asked for a civil official position for the son of his benefactor Zhang Suo... In other words, even the military men themselves looked down on themselves.
As an aside, although Zhao Jiu worked hard for four or five years to lead a group of civil and military officials to keep the war between the Yellow River and the Huai River, as if it was a great achievement, in fact, this achievement may have made the status of military officials lower than in history... because many places were just experiencing turmoil, and the abuse of force during the turmoil would only make them hate military men more, rather than fully realizing the necessity of force.
Of course, even though he knew some things, Emperor Zhao still had to pretend not to know.
Not only that, the official also spent a long time saying things like the Northern Expedition has not yet succeeded and you all still need to work hard. He also personally wrote a couplet for the military academy hall, which is said to be a paraphrase of the words of Yue Fei, a famous general of this dynasty, which is "If you want to get promoted and make money, please go elsewhere. If you are afraid of death, don't enter this door."
Then?
And then nothing happened.
It's funny to say that Zhao Jiu clearly wrote down these words and said these words, but he knew in his heart that not only other martial arts students, but even people like Wang Zhongfu came here for promotion and wealth... and if you want to change this situation, you must let these people get promoted and get rich first. Because only when martial artists can get promoted and get rich, and no longer be the lower class in society, can they truly establish a strong sense of honor in the army.
In fact, this was also the reason why he established martial arts behind the palace, just to make it convenient for him to move in and out. In the era of imperial power, being close to the emperor was the best way to get promoted and make money.
It's a bit like the dissolute Emperor Zhengde.
But if you think about it this way, compared with them, Yue Fei, Zhang Yongzhen, and Hou Dan, whose name he could never remember but only one ear impressed him, that is, those who inspired the concept of home and country and the honor and disgrace mentality of soldiers, are even more precious. But behind this preciousness is the background of the collapse of the Jingkang Incident, when the northern scholars and civilians were broken up and displaced, which was exchanged for countless deaths and humiliations, which seems heavy.
However, two days later, that is, when Emperor Zhao changed the daily shooting location to the third day of martial arts training and changed it to the morning, he was about to go shooting with those officers in training when he suddenly received a request for an audience from the provincial governor Zhao Ding. He naturally agreed, but changed the venue of the interview to the martial arts shooting range.
However, after a while, when the two sides met, Zhao Ding was very polite, but he only came to deliver a note. Not only that, Yang Yi Zhong stepped forward to take it, but was politely rejected by this gentleman, who publicly proposed that according to the system, he should ask Lan Gui, the chief escort of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to present it on his behalf.
Just these two words made the atmosphere at the martial arts shooting range become serious.
"Since you are so serious, could it be that you are resigning from your post?"
When Zhao Jiu saw Zhao Ding's attitude, instead of being alert, he made a joke... He did not specifically call Lan Gui, but put down his bow and arrow himself and went forward to receive it.
But as the official said this, many military officers who had just demonstrated their archery skills became a little timid.
"The official is joking." Zhao Ding's face tightened, but he still lowered his head and handed over the note.
However, Zhao Jiu took the note but did not open it. Instead, he held the note beside the shooting range and thought: "Prime Minister Zhao, do you know why I appointed you as the Prime Minister of the capital province?"
Zhao Ding was so smart that he realized after a slight shock that his actions had caused dissatisfaction from the emperor in front of him... This kind of large-scale joint could not be concealed from everyone even if the Imperial City Bureau did not specifically investigate... Not only that, he had originally invited Minister Lu Haowen, Prime Minister Zhang Jun and others to come together, but the two of them just declined. It seemed that they might have received instructions from the emperor, or they might have guessed the emperor's intention.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yuanzhen couldn't help but feel heavy-hearted, but he suppressed his uneasiness and stood there with a serious face: "I am ashamed. Sometimes I do have doubts. With my ordinary qualifications, how could I be blessed by Your Majesty so deeply that I could rise from a ceremonial officer of Kaifeng Prefecture to the prime minister of the capital province in just four or five years?"
"If Mr. Zhao was just an average person, there would be few capable people in this world." Zhao Jiu sighed while holding the note with his hands behind his back and looking up. "When you moved the people of Shunchang Prefecture across the Huai River, you performed outstandingly. Although I didn't say anything, I knew you were a capable person. Then in the Battle of Xiacai, you defended the city with Zhang Jun as an envoy of the court, appeased the army, and also made great contributions. Later, you were appointed to Huainan, the transportation of military supplies between Huaizuo and Huaixi, and the livelihood of Huainan, and you did a first-class job. After taking office as the governor of the capital, you did not engage in private interests or form cliques, and your style was simple and your actions were measured... I have to say bluntly that among the important officials I have experienced, in terms of ability, only the previous Minister Xu Jingheng can be compared with you, and in terms of virtue, you are just like Yue Pengju among the military officials among the civil officials, both of you stand out! Even if Minister Lu and Minister Zhang were in person, I would not hide these words. As for the leap up in four or five years, the Jingkang Change was like the destruction of a country. Is Zhao Qing the only one who leaped up in four or five years?"
"I am...ashamed." This was all Zhao Ding could say.
"However, I didn't know your character when I appointed you." Zhao Jiu continued to laugh. "I appointed you because you had the rank and achievements you deserved, and you were someone I always kept in mind, without having to write down in my notebook. Secondly, there were two things in your resume that I valued very much..."
At this point, Zhao Jiu paused for a moment, and then he resumed his serious expression before continuing, "First, you were born in Hedong, and you are a displaced person; second, you are a dignified Jinshi, but you have been working in the two positions of Luoyang Magistrate and Kaifeng Prefecture Yicao for nearly twenty years... The former makes me not worry about your position, and I feel that I can stand by you; the latter really makes me trust your ability to handle affairs, and I can trust you to entrust the affairs of the world."
Zhao Ding finally sighed...the problem lies in the issue of advancing and retreating together.
"Prime Minister Zhao, you are good in every way, but you shouldn't be so selfless." Zhao Jiu really became more serious. "Such selflessness only makes it difficult for me... Because I use you to suppress the responsibility of advocating peace by using your northern identity, not to let you unite the hundreds of officials and do some paperhanger here! You bring such a thing to see me, I can't refuse it, but if I accept it, will the people below think that I tacitly agree that I should give in in other places? When you were in Huainan, Prime Minister Li Gang wrote to me, saying that you are knowledgeable, talented, virtuous and kind, and handle things well, but you are not very clear about the righteousness... It seems that you have foresight."
"I would like to resign!"
"That's not the case." Zhao Jiu became more serious. "It has been a national policy since the beginning of Jianyan that a prime minister cannot resign for empty words. For a prime minister, resigning at will is just a move to seek fame... It's easy for you to resign as prime minister, but who will be responsible if the country's political situation becomes turbulent? If you resign, will the Minister of Personnel Liu Dazhong and the Minister of War Hu Shijiang also resign? Moreover, this time, I was wrong first. I didn't face you frankly and tell you exactly what I wanted. Why did you do this?"
Hearing this, Zhao Ding was silent for a moment, but he saluted and said: "Your Majesty, if that's what you say, I have something to say today."
"That's right!" Zhao Jiu nodded. "We, the king and his subjects, should be honest with each other."
Upon hearing this, Yang Yizhong immediately turned around and signaled the military officers present to step aside.
"No need to do that. The emperor and the prime minister said nothing that could not be told to others." Zhao Jiu turned around and stopped Yang Yizhong, then turned back to Zhao Ding. "Go ahead, sir."
"Your Majesty, the root of my doubts is not only that the officials and people in the South are not happy about the Northern Expedition, but I am also worried that if we rush to the Northern Expedition, there may be some setbacks, which will arouse even greater rebellion. It would be better..."
"Why not reorganize a bit, recuperate for a few years, and then join the army to march north?" Zhao Jiu almost blurted out.
"yes!"
"Believe it or not, as long as I put aside the words 'temporary peace', or stop the agenda of suppressing the rebellion and advancing, the court will become lazy, and by then, if we want to march north again, it will be difficult for the whole country to even move?!"
“…”
"As for the slight setbacks... it's just doing our best and leaving the rest to fate!" Zhao Jiu sneered again. "I know that I am just an average person, and I am a hastily appointed emperor. I don't know the mind of an emperor. I also know that this court has been in tatters after this great change, and I know that the problems of the Song Dynasty for hundreds of years are difficult to clean up. But I don't believe it. I will cut the expenses of the palace to the minimum, treat you important ministers as sincerely as possible, give the generals and officers as much preferential treatment as possible, and assemble the most complete equipment for the soldiers. I will talk about the national justice in the court reports and in the mouths of those Jinshi who follow the army. I will suppress the peace-loving attitude in the court for a day, and do it one by one. Even if it is taken out individually, it may not be worth the loss, and it may backfire. But if I keep doing it like this, can it be worse than not doing it?!"
"His Majesty……"
"Mr. Zhao." Zhao Jiu looked at him solemnly. "I am going to say something that will hurt your heart... If you want me to stop thinking about destroying the Jin Dynasty, there is only one way, that is to drive me out and replace me with someone else to be the emperor!"
"Don't be angry, sir!" Zhao Ding quickly stopped the officers before they could completely panic. "With your power and virtue, no one can shake your majesty now, and no one has the intention to do so!"
"It won't work with power or virtue, but it will work with courtesy and law." Zhao Jiu still stood with his hands behind his back. "If we welcome back the two saints, won't there be someone who can shake me? Or just two... When the time comes, those who advocate peace will help them take the position again, wouldn't everyone be happy? Even those who keep saying that they want to welcome back the two saints, maybe they see that my determination is unshakable and have some intention of playing some tricks on me!"
Emperor Zhao's words were so brutal and unbridled that the shooting range had already fallen silent. Everyone around him had a pale face, except Yang Yizhong, whose expression remained unchanged. He just lowered his head slightly.
As for Zhao Ding, he remained calm and just sighed: "Why did the emperor do this?"
Zhao Jiu did not speak directly, but formally opened the note behind his back, and then carefully read it in front of him: "I have received the intentions of the ministers. Prime Minister Zhao may as well go back and tell everyone that I will definitely follow their wishes and be determined to march north. I will never waver."
This time, Zhao Ding was silent for a long while, and finally could only bow and say goodbye.
"So this is what the young emperor of Song said?"
In Yanjing, at the Marshal's Office, the powerful minister of the Jin Dynasty, Nianhan, sat on the imperial chair and listened to Wulinda Zanmo's report, but he just frowned. "Do you really think that you will be invincible if you win a battle?"
This was not a serious inquiry, so Wulindazanmo did not answer, but just stood solemnly and lowered his head.
"Forget it, it's tiring to travel back and forth, let's go and have a rest!" Nianhan waved his hand.
Upon hearing this, Wulindazanmo simply took his leave immediately... This scene made Qin Hui, who was observing coldly in the corner of the hall, couldn't help but twitch his eyes slightly.
Besides, the Wulinda clan was now an important political force in the Jin Dynasty. Wulinda Zanmo was good at literature, and Wulinda Tai was good at military affairs. They were both first-class ministers second only to the Wanyan clan. However, even so, Wulinda Zanmo was as docile as a house slave in front of Nianhan.
In fact, the Wulinda clan was really a family slave of Nianhan, because their tribe surrendered after being defeated by the Wanyan clan, and it was Nianhan who led the army at that time. According to the rules of the Jurchens, the Wulinda clan was a servant family of Nianhan, right? Or, it is precisely because the Wulinda clan was a servant family of Nianhan that they have the status they have today.
But on the other hand, the Jin Dynasty was already a vast country that had been established for a long time, so why did it still behave like this?
"What does the Fourth Prince think?"
Just as Qin Huizhi was lost in thought, Nianhan finally asked Wanyan Wushu who was standing beside him.
Wanyan Wushu, who had been seriously ill after swimming across the Yellow River, looked pale and seemed to have not recovered yet. He frowned when he heard this and said, "I only listen to the words of the commander-in-chief."
After asking Wuzhu, Nianhan nodded, and directly skipped over the eldest prince Wuben, the third prince Erliduo, Wanyan Talan, Wanyan Yinshuke, Wanyan Xiyin and others who were in the hall, and made a conclusion: "In my opinion, the Song people are so tough, so let's forget about the peace talks. Anyway, the Song people still have to quell the rebellion in the south and advance to northern Shaanxi and eastern Beijing. They can't reach Hebei in a year or two. We should take the opportunity to recuperate for a while, take care of the national affairs and the army. If we are quick, we can also deal with the Mongols. Then we can teach the reckless Song people a big lesson on the Hebei Plain, and avenge Wuliyan (Wanyan Loushi)!"
Many people in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment, but Yin Shuke frowned and said, "Marshal, if this is the case, what should we do with the living woman? He is leading more than 10,000 soldiers in Yan'an and will not listen to Balisu's orders."
Nianhan's face darkened, and he sighed, "Let's see how Oliyan saves his face and let him have a good time for a few days. When Yanjing is cleaned up, one of us can go there in person and talk about it. Can't we just rebel?"
Yin Shuke wanted to say something but stopped himself, and finally did not dare to say anything more, and the people around him were also completely speechless.
Nian Hanren didn't care: "That's it, we'll go away today. According to the rules, you can come back to me in two days to deal with the matter."
Everyone, from the three princes down, stood up, bowed and said goodbye, then left the hall in a depressed mood. Then they left in groups of three or five, each with their followers.
By the way, spring in Yanjing is different from that in other places. It is said that spring is short. First there is a late spring cold weather, then it is windy, with strong winds carrying sand and dust. When the wind stops, it suddenly becomes hot, and summer has arrived.
At this moment, the situation in Yanjing was in turmoil.
Not to mention the rest of the people, just say that Wanyan Wushu, Qin Hui, and his third brother Erlido were walking together. When they reached a street corner, they suddenly smelt a sweet fragrance in the wind, and they were all startled. Following the smell, they saw a stall selling roasted chestnuts at the street corner. The stall owner was a young man, only about twenty years old.
"Are there roasted chestnuts at this time?" Wushu was stunned for a moment. "These chestnuts must have been stored for half a year, right?"
"Half a year is nothing." Qin Hui laughed behind him. "Let the Fourth Prince know that there was a man named Li He in Bianjing who was the best at roasting chestnuts. His family had a secret method for storing and roasting chestnuts. Chestnuts can be stored for half a year, but they are not available in the second half of summer and early autumn. The roasted chestnuts are also recognized as the best, and no one else can learn... I think Yanjing is much further north than Bianjing, and the winter is long, so it is common to have chestnuts at this time."
Wuzhu nodded, and Erlido became even more interested and pointed casually.
Immediately, two Jurchen cavalrymen dismounted and went directly to the chestnut stall to take all the roasted chestnuts tied into bundles with hemp. They then cut the bundles of hemp with knives and turned back to present them to the two princes, guests like Qin Hui who were being treated with courtesy, and the accompanying officers one by one.
However, one of them came forward to Wuzhu, but Wuzhu refused to take it. Instead, he picked up the horsewhip and whipped the man in the face.
The Jurchen cavalryman was stunned and at a loss. He dared not hide and did not know what mistake he had made. He could only stand there in a daze, holding half a bunch of roasted chestnuts... In fact, not to mention the Jurchen cavalryman, even Erlido and the other Jurchen Xihan followers were all confused.
Qin Hui understood what he meant and dismounted from his horse. He first took the roasted chestnuts from the cavalryman, then walked up to the vendor, took out a gold melon seed from his sleeve pocket, and gave it to the pale-faced vendor. Everyone looked at Wuzhu at this time, and he finally came to his senses.
"Old Four is right." Erlido was embarrassed for a moment. "They are all our own people. We shouldn't take them by force."
Wuzhu just shook his head and sighed, then left without eating the chestnuts. Most of the people behind him felt bored and dispersed at the street corners. Only Qin Huizhi followed on horseback, holding half a bunch of roasted chestnuts, and went back to the mansion with Wuzhu... You know, before Qin Hui set out to Huguan to meet Wanyan Wushu and persuaded the other party to go to Damingfu to bring back Nianhan, Wuzhu regarded him as his strategist and felt that they had met too late.
As for Qin Hui, he had already intended to use the Fourth Prince to accomplish his goals, so he naturally tried his best to please him. In addition, he no longer dared to go south, so he simply stopped hiding it and formally took up the position in the Marshal's Office offered by Wanyan Wushu, becoming the other party's trusted adviser.
Back to the present, Wanyan Wushu and Qin Hui returned to the mansion together. Wanyan Wushu was still worried, so he simply ordered some wine, and then started chatting with Qin Hui over roasted chestnuts.
"I really didn't expect that once the king had a stroke, everything would be over!" Wanyan Wushu was the first to sigh.
Qin Hui also smiled bitterly.
That’s right, it must be emphasized here that Wanyan Wuqimai was not under house arrest by Nianhan, but he really had a stroke!
Historically, this guy had a weak health, and he had a stroke about two years later… In fact, what Lou Shi said was absolutely right. People of their generation were malnourished when they were young, and fought all day when they grew up, so they had a lot of health problems. It was just in these few years, and it was only a matter of time before something bad happened… This kind of health condition, plus Lou Shi’s defeat at Yaoshan and his death in Guanxi, Nianhan’s refuge in the south and his seizure of military power in Damingfu, the continuous military and internal affairs caused great psychological pressure on Wuqimai.
So, when Nianhan was persuaded to come back by Wuzhu, it was the beginning of spring and the weather was getting warmer, so the group headed north according to the rules, heading for Wuguo City. However, the strong wind in Yanjing in the beginning of spring blew Wuqimai's mouth crooked in full view of everyone, and then he lay down with half of his body unresponsive.
With no other choice, they could only stop the practice of returning north and settle Wuqimai back in Yanjing.
To be fair, it was normal for an old man whose health had been gradually deteriorating to have a stroke at this age. However, the problem was that, although he had a stroke, this old man was the ruler of a country, at least the core figure of one of the three major factions of the Jin Dynasty, and the only candidate who could compete with Nianhan as long as he was alive.
But this only candidate suddenly became paralyzed, and all balance was lost.
Therefore, rumors soon spread in Yanjing that Nianhan had poisoned... mutinied... plotted assassination. Otherwise, why did he collapse when Nianhan was in the worst situation instead of earlier? And why did he collapse when he was about to leave Yanjing, Nianhan's sphere of influence?
As for Nianhan, he was a little flustered when he first encountered this situation and heard these messages... because he really didn't do it. But then he realized that this was a great thing, because once Wu Qimai lost his political ability and could no longer fulfill his political promises, he, as the commander-in-chief, would win without doing anything!
It's really an easy win!
Nianhan sat at home, and the garrisons, military commanders, local officials, generals of garrison troops, and hereditary Meng'an and Mouke in various places all pledged their allegiance to him, either openly or privately.
There was no way. Although the three princes were from the same lineage, their personal prestige and strength were not enough to be compared with Nianhan, who was the first in terms of founding merit. Moreover, the eldest prince and the third prince had fallen out with each other, and there were huge problems within the country. Moreover, there was a history of the three princes forcing the emperor to abdicate by using the image of Nianhan's subordinates!
As for the king, his several sons combined were no match for Wuzhu. Several of his cousins, whom he used to trust, just came to Nianhan's house early and sat there doing nothing, like Talai.
In short, within just a few days, Nianhan gained control of the situation, and then he simply overturned the table and put Wuqimai's sons under house arrest, making them serve the king's "medicine", without caring at all about the fact that Wuqimai could still speak three words after resting for three days.
"Now the Grand Marshal is pushing the Fourth Prince, and he discusses everything with you, the Fourth Prince, which makes the other two princes a little embarrassed." Qin Hui smiled bitterly, twisting his beard, and further analyzed the current situation. "It also makes you, the Fourth Prince, the target of public criticism."
"The Grand Marshal had the power to challenge Taizu back then, let alone now?" Wuzhu twisted a chestnut and shook his head. "He is a man of means. As for me, I am not afraid of becoming the target of public criticism, but I am afraid of delaying national affairs."
Qin Hui also picked up a chestnut, peeled it and tasted it. He found it unusually sweet, but after hearing Wuzhu's words, he smiled bitterly: "Fourth Prince, are you still thinking about what I said before?"
"I always felt something was wrong, but I couldn't figure it out. Fortunately, Mr. Qin explained it to me thoroughly in Huguan that day... Dajin is a vast country, but it can't combine the tax output of Dajin with the cavalry. Instead, the two are at odds with each other." Wuzhu finished eating a chestnut and felt more and more emotional. "If you want to make both sides benefit, you should let Meng'an and Mouke cavalry be separated from the Han people, and then use the central government as a link to take the manpower and material resources of the Han people to supply Meng'an cavalry, and use Meng'an cavalry to protect the Han people. But now Meng'an is enfeoffed in Hebei, and the result is that the cavalry is becoming more and more corrupt, and the Han people are also harassed by the cavalry. Not only can they not produce and supply well, but they also regard each other as enemies... No wonder the south is getting stronger day by day, and the north is getting weaker day by day."
"In fact, since the Marshal is a capable man, why not tell him about it?" Qin Huizhi suddenly interrupted.
"Mr. Qin, why do you have to say these idle words?" Wuzhu spread his hands and sighed. "If you want to separate the Meng'an Iron Cavalry from the locals, you have to make great efforts to rectify them. Not only must the central government establish authority and a unified system, but you also have to gather military power in the locals... However, to make such a big move, you have to make the official in the south stop first, that is, you have to negotiate peace... You said that! But now, the official in the south does not want to negotiate peace, and the commander-in-chief in the north is also unwilling to negotiate peace. Aren't we just sitting there waiting to die?!"
"It's not impossible for the South to negotiate peace." Qin Hui suddenly spoke again. "I am willing to pledge my family's lives. People, scholars, and officials from Jiangnan, Huainan, and even the Central Plains all want to negotiate peace... In other words, at least half of the people in the Southern court are willing to negotiate peace, but they have no choice but to do so because of the pressure from the official above."
"It's just that official who's in charge?" Wushu ate another chestnut and couldn't help but sneered. "That official himself is the South's backbone. If he doesn't want to, what can the people below do?"
"Why not give him an offer he can't refuse..." Qin Hui said casually. "As for defense, northern Shaanxi and Jingdong are both on the other side of the river. If we want to negotiate peace, we can't refuse them, and we can't defend them."
"Everyone knows about this." Wushu shook his head and said. "Even Nianhan, you can see from his words today that he is obviously treating the two corners as abandoned pawns, just to delay time... Only Wanyan Huonu, I don't know if he is afraid that the court will deprive him of his military power or really wants to "avenge his father", he has to hold on to more than 10,000 elite troops and guard Yan'an, which is isolated on the other side of the river."
"It's just a pretense to ask for more positions in the Western Route Army." Qin Hui said with a smile. "This is not worth mentioning. Once the central government is cleaned up, we can naturally take care of it."
"Too."
"And if we can return the two places and the Five Kingdoms City, the official in the south will not be able to control it." Qin Hui continued casually. "The Han people have always ruled the world with filial piety. It is difficult for him to refuse this condition openly..."
"What are those people in Wuguo City?" Wushu just laughed when he heard this. "At this point, the south has been stabilized, and those people are useless. They are just a few hundred people, and they can be handed back... But it's okay for others, but if we send those two back, where will they get a place? Will the official be offended? In my opinion, if we put forward this condition, it will only make Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou in the south even more unwilling to negotiate peace."
"Then how about using this as a condition and not sending them back?" Qin Hui didn't care and just continued to peel chestnuts. "The two saints stay and the rest are all sent back. Or we can send all of them back, and even the Taihang Mountain Volunteer Army and other Bianliang children who are willing to return to the south can be sent to Henan as a courtesy... Anyway, we can talk."
Wuzhu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed, and then slowly nodded.
But soon, the Fourth Prince shook his head again: "Even if there is talk in the south, the Marshal is pretending to be tough here, how can he be willing to make peace? No one can persuade him."
"Although the Grand Marshal is smart, decisive, prestigious and knowledgeable, he has always had a fierce temperament. I heard that when he was young, he was polite to his subordinates, friends, and even surrendered people. But I don't know if it's because of his age. When I first met him during the Jingkang period, I felt that he was a little serious. In the past four or five years, I feel that he has gradually become ruthless to his subordinates and colleagues." Qin Hui continued to lower his head and answered casually. "Now that he has monopolized power, he has become more and more unscrupulous. It seems that no one can stop him, but in fact, it is possible that he has already attracted resentment from all sides, but no one dares to express it in person... Moreover, although the king's stroke was an accident, would people who were not there at the time believe it? What about the imprisonment of the king who was still conscious and several of his children? In this case, in my humble opinion, the Grand Marshal seems dangerous."
Wuzhu was just eating chestnuts at first, but when he heard the end, he couldn't help but look up in surprise. However, the fair-faced scholar opposite him just kept eating chestnuts, so he also lowered his head and continued eating chestnuts.
It was as if I hadn't heard anything just now.
Just like that, perhaps because the chestnuts were so sweet, the two of them actually finished half a bunch, then had some wine and vegetables, and then felt bloated, so they went their separate ways.
At this time, Qin Hui already held the position of the Marshal's Office and had the large house that Talan had given him, so of course he made it his own residence.
However, in the evening, when Qin Huizhi rode to his house on horseback, he unexpectedly saw a man waiting in front of his door... It was the young man selling chestnuts, and beside him was a whole bunch of freshly roasted chestnuts.
"Mr. Qin." When this person saw Qin Hui, he called out timidly from afar.
Qin Hui knew that he was afraid of the Jurchen cavalry escorting him, so he asked the Jurchen soldiers to go back, and then he dismounted to meet him and said awkwardly: "How dare you, a man who has lost his country and lives in disgrace, call me your Excellency?"
"I heard that Qin Xianggong was the Chief Censor a long time ago, so he is half a Xianggong. Today he saved me... How can he not be called Xianggong?" The man said, bowing his head, and then picked up the bunch of chestnuts from his side and presented them respectfully. "This is the last basket of chestnuts this year, and I fried them and made snacks for Xianggong... I knocked on the door, and the doorman said that they didn't want outsiders, so I waited for Xianggong at the door."
Qin Hui wanted to refuse, but he found it funny, so he just took it: "The chestnuts you fry are so good that they are almost as good as those of Li He's family in Bianjing. I'll take them..."
Halfway through his words, the vendor opposite suddenly burst into tears, shocking Qin Hui so much that he didn't know what to do.
The vendor, however, saw that he had frightened the other party, and he quickly choked up and said, "To be honest, sir, Li He is my father. During the Jingkang period, my family was abducted and my father died on the way. I then stayed in Yanjing and resumed my old business!"
Qin Hui also lost his voice.
The vendor cried for a while and couldn't help asking, "Husband, do you think we can go back to Henan in this life? You know, people are humbled when they leave their hometown. It would be great if we could go back to Henan and be a peaceful vendor. Why do we have to be bullied here every day?"
Qin Hui remained silent.
The vendor said nothing more, but covered his face and walked away wailing.
It was already late, and the wind was blowing again, even whistling. Qin Hui was touched by the chestnuts, and his heart was touched. He stood in front of his house for a long time with his head raised, but he didn't knock on the door. Instead, he took the chestnuts and got on the horse, gritted his teeth, grasped the reins, and walked back the way he came.
Qin Hui had had enough of this cautious life where he didn't even dare to speak loudly. No matter who it was, not even Nianhan, no one could stand in his way!
