Not long after, Marquis Yu came to report that a banquet had been held and he respectfully invited the appeasement envoy to the banquet.
Lu Junyi was overjoyed, so he took Yan Qing's hand and came to the hall. The guests and hosts sat down and started eating and drinking.
During the dinner, Yan Qing asked Lu Junyi, "Does the master know the situation of Mr. Chai?"
Hearing this, Lu Junyi said: "That Chai official is also a man with a low life. He can't hold butter in his dog's belly and can't enjoy the glory and wealth. At that time, my Liangshan army and horses destroyed Fang La. The survivors were all canonized by the imperial court. Chai Jin was awarded the title of General Wu Jie and Commander-in-Chief of Cangzhou Capital of the Henghai Navy. Unexpectedly, before arriving in the capital, Chai Jin fell ill with wind disease, so he accepted the imperial title and returned to Cangzhou to serve the people."
When Yan Qing heard this, he thought to himself that Chai Daguan really knew how to judge the situation and could see the situation clearly. Others don’t know him, but I still don’t know him? ! Where did he get the wind disease? He is very healthy! In Bangyuandong, we are together all day long. I don’t know if he will suffer from rheumatism? ! It must be that the official of Chai was worried about being Fang La's son-in-law and was afraid of being investigated by the court, so he returned the official title and returned to Cangzhou to serve the people. This was a good choice.
Yan Qing originally wanted to use Chai Jin as an example to persuade Lu Junyi to resign and return home to become a rich man. However, considering that Lu Junyi had wandered into a trap and it was difficult to wake up, talking more would make him unhappy, so he never said anything about resigning. He just said to Lu Junyi: "Master, I have a close personal relationship with Chai Daguan. When Fangla was defeated, we went deep into Gangyuan Cave and each plundered some gold and silver. They were all entrusted by Chai Daguan. When he transferred to his hometown of Cangzhou, he must have been greedy for money, so he returned his official title and returned to his hometown to become a rich man. If so, I have to go to the officials of Chai to get back the gold and silver that belong to me. .”
"This is business!" Lu Junyi said: "Xiao Yi, we are masters and servants, and we have a deep fate. I also want to advise you. In life, time is short, and there is no better way to enjoy yourself than to possess wealth. However, wealth It is inseparable from Guiyuan. Being rich is not necessarily expensive, but being expensive will definitely lead to wealth. Nowadays, if you ignore the officials granted by the imperial court, you have abandoned the word "gui"; if you can be like Chai Daguan, he can become rich. Having a huge amount of wealth can be regarded as occupying the word "wealth". Therefore, I think you should find Chai Daguan to share your wealth, marry a wife, and live your small life in peace. "
After finishing speaking, Lu Junyi raised his head and laughed with a rather proud expression.
After Lu Junyi finished laughing, Yan Qing said: "What the master said is absolutely true. I am going to go to Chai Daguan and ask for my share of gold and silver. Master, I am currently hiding in Dayu Mountain outside Daming Mansion in Beijing. , if the master is in danger, he can quickly go to Dayu Mountain to find Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi has prepared a hut for the master and is waiting for the master's arrival."
Hearing this, Lu Junyi said with a smile: "Xiao Yi didn't drink too much, and he talked a lot of nonsense. Look at your master, isn't he doing well now? Why is he always cursing your master and wishing your master bad luck!"
Hearing this, Yan Qing said anxiously: "Master, that's not what Xiao Yi meant. It's actually for the sake of the master."
Lu Junyi said: "Don't say anything like this anymore. After we finish eating and drinking later, I won't keep you here anymore. You can immediately go to Mr. Chai to ask for your share of the money."
Yan Qing said: "Xiao Yi obeys the order."
Lu Junyi sighed and said: "Xiao Yi, if your life is not going well in the future, you can come to Luzhou to find your master as soon as possible. Don't lose your face. Speaking of which, things are different now. It's not like in the past. In the village, it depends on the expressions of Song Jiang and Wu Yong, ordinary old people; now, if your master is such a big official and holds such great power, how can he be without you as an official?! What I said, You must remember, just come to me if you need anything."
Yan Qing replied: "What the master said is absolutely true, Xiao Yi has remembered it."
Lu Junyi said: "Drink! Drink!"
In the hall, several singers were singing songs. Lu Junyi and Yan Qing were holding wine glasses, touching each other, and drinking Gujing tribute wine that was produced in the local area and was specially produced as tribute to the imperial court.
While drinking, Yan Qing asked about Song Jiang's situation again.
Lu Junyi said: "Brother Song Jiang was specially approved by the emperor to return home in fine clothes, and then went to Chuzhou to take office. Because brother Song Jiang and I both belong to the Liangshan clan, we cannot keep in touch frequently for fear of arousing suspicion from the court."
Yan Qing nodded and said: "Political matters are not big or small, it is better to be careful. However, Xiao Yi, I am just a commoner. This time I went to Cangzhou to find my brother Chai Daguanren. I happened to pass by Chuzhou and took a look at my brother Song Jiang. "
Lu Junyi said: "That's great! When you see Brother Song Jiang, say hello to me."
Yan Qing said: "That's right. I told brother Song Jiang that my family misses him very much and asked me to send a message to say hello to him."
Lu Junyi smiled and said, "Xiao Yi is still so well-behaved."
After dinner, Yan Qing said goodbye to Lu Junyi and found an inn to rest for the night. Early the next morning, Yan Qing got up, washed up, and then looked northeast to Chuzhou to see Song Jiang.
In about three or four days, Yan Qing came to the palace of Song Jiang's military and horse capital in Chuzhou and asked the sergeant to inform him that he had an old friend to visit him.
The sergeant in the Songjiangdu Governor's Mansion, whose quality was higher than that of the sergeant in front of Lu Junyi's mansion, said to Yan Qing: "You stay outside the mansion for a while, I will go into the mansion to report."
The sergeant entered the hall of the mansion and announced to Song Jiang: "My lord, there is a man who is asking for an audience in front of the mansion. He says he is an old friend of the lord."
Song Jiang heard this and said, "Since we are old friends, please come to the lobby to meet us."
The sergeant went out after hearing the order and invited Yan Qing in.
Yan Qing entered the hall, pushed the gold mountain, toppled the jade pillar, bowed down and kowtowed three times, and shouted: "Brother Gongming is here, Xiao Yi is polite."
Song Jiang looked down and saw that it was Yan Qing. He was surprised and happy in his heart, and shouted hurriedly: "Ah, the wind is so strong that Xiao Yi is here?! Please get up quickly."
After saying that, he stood up and left his seat, hurried to Yan Qing, helped Yan Qing up, and said, "Xiao Yi, I haven't seen you for a few months. I miss you so much that I miss you."
After saying that, Song Jiang's face was filled with tears.
When Yan Qing saw this, he was deeply moved and shed tears. He said with tears, "Xiao Yi also misses his brother very much. A few days ago, Xiao Yi went to Mr. Lu to have something to do, so he made a special detour to visit his brother. My brother is here. Is one good?"
Song Jiang pulled Yan Qing to sit on a chair. After observing her carefully, he said, "Brother, I am very good. I see that Xiao Yi is also majestic and energetic, and I am very happy. Okay, today We can meet each other once, so that my brother won't have to worry about it anymore. How is your family, Mr. Lu?"
Yan Qing said: "Young Master Lu is also very kind. Thank you for your concern, brother."
The sergeant came in and offered tea, then withdrew.
Song Jiang and Yan Qing were drinking tea and talking about the past.
Song Jiangdao: "Xiao Yi, you really don't understand the truth. We personally risk arrows, charge into battle, go through fire and water, risk our lives and work hard to do our best for the court. We are about to take up important positions so that we can play a greater role. What can you do? Halfway through, leaving without saying goodbye?"
Hearing this, Yan Qing said: "Brother, I don't know something. In today's imperial court, Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Wang Fu, Yang Jian, Gao Qiu and others are in power. How can they see the good guys like us? When we destroyed Bangyuan Cave, I Brother Ruan Xiaoqi, because he wore a square-la dragon robe to play, was scolded by Wang Zhen for being a thief. In the eyes of those treacherous officials and thieves, we were once thieves and lifelong thieves. I am worried about those treacherous officials and traitors. The thief didn't let us go, but he manipulated us secretly and ruined our lives."
Song Jiang said: "Xiao Yi is overly worried. Your brother Ruan Xiaoqi doesn't know the dignity or avoidance of taboos, so he committed a big taboo. He was originally named the commander of the Gaitian Army, and he was also considered a high-ranking official. Because he was wearing a dragon Because of playing in the robe, he was later deprived of his official position and demoted to a commoner. This matter is actually Xiao Qi's fault, and he cannot blame the court."
Yan Qing was shocked when he heard this, and thought to himself, it turns out that my brother Ruan Xiaoqi was also demoted. It seems that this court is really trying to burn down bridges and kill donkeys! If so, when I come out this time, I have to go back to Shuibo Liangshan to see my brother Ruan Xiaoqi.
Song Jiang saw the displeasure on Yan Qing's face and hurriedly explained: "I explained the matter about Ruan Xiaoqi to His Majesty the Emperor. The Emperor said that Ruan Xiaoqi was a rude man who didn't understand dignity and was not suitable for an official position, so he was demoted. "
After talking about Ruan Xiaoqi, Song Jiang continued: "Not long ago, Fang La's daughter built an arena in the capital to compete in martial arts to recruit relatives. She was reported. Kaifeng Prefect Xu Bingzhe sent a Yamen officer to arrest her, but you heroically saved the beauty and killed the Yamen officer. Rescued Fang La’s daughter?”
Yan Qing was shocked when he heard this, and thought to himself: How did Brother Song Jiang know about this situation?
Yan Qing looked at Song Jiang doubtfully.
Song Jiang said: "That day, I was preparing to return to my hometown to visit relatives. Suddenly, I received the emperor's imperial decree and asked me to enter the palace immediately, saying that I had something important to ask. At that time, I was so frightened that I thought something had happened. When I arrived, the emperor Inquire about the situation of Wei Yunbi in front of Fang La Palace."
Yan Qing's eyes widened in surprise.
Song Jiang continued: "Because I was afraid of ruining the future of you and Chai Daguan, I only listed the merits after destroying Bangyuan Cave, and did not explain in detail that you and Chai Daguan had infiltrated into Fang La. Fang La was recruited." Prince Consort, you are serving as the Prince Consort. Because Xu Bingzhe reported that it was the Prince Consort Yunbi in front of Fangla Palace who rescued the remnants of Fangla, so he called me into the palace to ask about the matter. I had to report the truth. The Prince said: 'The two armies are facing each other. , This is a strategy, it has merits but no faults, and it should be praised.' Thinking about it, this is not a big deal. Who would have thought that you left without saying goodbye on the way to victory, and the Chai official also suffered from wind disease and resigned from office and returned home. It is a pity."
Yan Qing finally understood the whole story.
Song Jiang said: "The matter is over, there is no need to talk about it anymore, but where is Xiao Yi now? How does he make a living?"
Yan Qing replied: "Brother, do you remember that when I was passing by Daming Mansion after the victory in the battle that year, a good friend invited me to meet at home to talk about our parting feelings?"
Song Jiang patted his forehead and said happily: "Why don't you remember! It's Master Xu Guanzhong who has known you since childhood. Please allow me to allow you to go home with him and talk about our friendship."
Yan Qing said: "That's right! Xu Guanzhong now lives in Dayu Mountain, thirty miles away from Daming Prefecture. I saw the beautiful mountains and clear waters, and the colorful grass and flowers. I liked it very much, so I left the army and returned to Daming Prefecture. He went to live in seclusion in the mountains."
Song Jiang laughed when he heard this and said: "Xiao Yi is young and has no enterprising spirit."
Yan Qing said: "It's not that Xiao Yi has no enterprising spirit, but he is worried about Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Gao Qiu and others, and is causing trouble in secret. Brother, it's better to be careful."
Song Jiang listened, pondered for a while, and continued: "Xiao Yi, the current Holy Emperor is talented, intelligent, humble, benevolent and filial, humbly accepts advice, and is kind to me in Liangshan. We are loyal and filial, and the emperor should protect us. This It’s no problem.”
Yan Qing said: "The Holy One naturally has nothing to say. The key is the traitors and sycophants in the court."
Song Jiang disapproved and enlightened Yan Qing: "Xiao Yi is more than shrewd, but not open-minded. We respect them very much and are respectful in everything. Why should they have trouble with us? Besides, we are all local officials and have no interests with them. Conflict, how could they frame us? Besides, we have always abided by the law and did not give them any excuse, so what can they do to me?"
Yan Qing smiled and said, "Brother Xie has good intentions, but I'm afraid people's hearts are not as good as yours."
Song Jiang also laughed and said: "Xiao Yi and I haven't seen each other for a month. Today we will find a place and just drink. We will stop talking about this unpleasant thing until we are drunk."
At that time, Song Jiang took Yan Qing to a hotel on the street, ordered a table of wine and food, and started eating and drinking.
The two of them drank until the red sun went down, then supported each other and returned to the Governor's Mansion.
That night, Yan Qing stayed at the Governor's Mansion in Songjiang.
On the second day, Yan Qing said goodbye and Song Jiang was sent to the dock in person.
Before leaving, Song Jiang took out a bag of silver and gave it to Yan Qing.
Yan Qing refused to say goodbye.
When Song Jiang saw this, he said, "If brother Xiao Yi doesn't want my money, he is looking down on my brother."
Yan Qingjian said that he had no choice but to accept Song Jiang's money.
Yan Qing boarded the boat, clasped his hands and said, "Brother, take care!"
Song Jiang also clasped his hands and said, "Goodbye, brother Xiao Yi, take care along the way."
The boat sailed and swayed along the river.
Song Jiang stood on the shore until the boat was out of sight, then he turned back to the Governor's Mansion.
