Zhang Shu, the shepherd of Kaifeng Prefecture, was very doubtful after hearing Tiha Wang Jiang's report at night, so he took a sedan chair, surrounded by soldiers led by Tiha Wang Jiang and Kaifeng Prefecture officials, and walked among the chaotic pedestrians. , hurried all the way to Xinghua Building on Xiaoyu Street to check the situation.
Zhang Shuye came to Xinghua Tower in a sedan chair. The bearers put down the sedan chair. Zhang Shuye got off the sedan and looked up at Xinghua Tower. Three thin gold characters of "Xinghua Tower" came into Zhang Shuye's eyes. , Zhang Shuye felt particularly cordial. In normal times, the Supreme Emperor often gave Zhang Shuye words. Zhang Shuye was very familiar with the thin gold body and felt very cordial.
A yamen servant climbed up the steps and announced: "Master Zhang, the shepherd of Kaifeng Prefecture, has come to visit Concubine Ming."
In the Xinghua Building, Master Li heard that Kaifeng Prefecture Shepherd Zhang Shuye had come to visit him. He hurriedly asked Yan Qing to hide behind the barrier, and then came out of the building surrounded by Li's mother and several maids.
When Zhang Shuye saw Mr. Li coming out, he hurriedly saluted and said, "Zhang Shuye, the governor of Kaifeng, pays homage to Concubine Ming." Master Li also returned the salute to Zhang Shuye and said, "I don't know that the master of the governor is coming, so I am not far away from greeting you." .”
Zhang Shuye bowed to Master Li again and said, "I'm a lowly official taking the liberty of visiting."
Master Li said: "Master Fu Mu, please come in."
Zhang Shuye said: "Ming Fei, please come."
Li Shishigong allowed Zhang Shuye to enter the building. Zhang Shuye gave way while looking back and said to Wang Jiang: "Wang Tiha followed me into the building. The other sergeants and servants are on standby and must not disturb Concubine Ming."
Immediately, Zhang Shuye entered the Xinghua Tower with Master Li's respectful concession.
After entering the building, Master Li asked Zhang Shuye to sit on the Taishi chair. Zhang Shuye Qian gave way and said: "How can a subordinate dare to sit high in front of Concubine Ming? Concubine Ming, please sit down."
Master Li then sat on the Taishi chair. Zhang Shuye sat on a chair in the hall, and beside him stood Wang Jiang.
After sitting down, Zhang Shuye clasped his hands in his fists, looked at Master Li and bowed, and said: "Your Majesty, Concubine Ming is here. The Supreme Emperor is offering incense in Bozhou, and Concubine Ming did not go with him. When the lower official learned about this situation, he felt very anxious. Now, The Jin soldiers invaded the country and forced into the capital. There was chaos in the city. The lower officials were afraid that Concubine Ming would be disturbed, so they sent soldiers to protect them. Concubine Ming was on top, and the lower officials, as the governor of Kaifeng, if they failed to protect Concubine Ming, I have many sins, and I hope that my concubine Ming will forgive me."
Master Li smiled faintly, lightly opened his red lips, and said: "Zhang Fumu is too humble. The Royal Forest Army has been deployed around the area, and I have not been disturbed."
"That's good." Zhang Shuye said: "According to Wang Tiha's report, Concubine Ming's palace has a bodyguard appointed by the Supreme Emperor, who is responsible for protecting Concubine Ming's safety. It is true that Concubine Ming is very high to her ministers. I often summon ministers to the palace to discuss political affairs. I have a close relationship with the Supreme Emperor. I have never heard of the Supreme Emperor’s appointment of a bodyguard to protect the Ming Concubine. The Ming Concubine, the Supreme Emperor treats me very well and treats me very well. It is said that Concubine Ming's safety is more important than heaven and there must be no mistakes. Therefore, I take the liberty of asking and hope that Concubine Ming will forgive me."
When Zhang Shuye asked this question, Master Li could no longer hide it, so he turned back to the barrier and said, "Xiao Yi, come out and pay homage to Mr. Zhang of Kaifeng Mansion quickly."
When the yamen official informed Kaifeng Prefectural Shepherd Zhang Shuye that he had come to visit him, Master Li did not know that Zhang Shuye came specifically to check on the guards, so he asked Yan Qing to hide behind the barrier and wait for Zhang Shuye to leave before coming out. Unexpectedly, Zhang Shuye directly asked about the guard officer, and Master Li could no longer hide it, so he asked Yan Qing who was hiding behind the barrier to come out.
In fact, when Zhang Shuye entered Xinghua Tower, Yan Qing recognized him. This Kaifeng governor was Zhang Shuye, the former prefect of Jeju. At the beginning, the heroes of Liangshan wanted to be recruited by the imperial court. They thought of many ways and took many paths, including the path of Li Shishi and the path of Zhang Shuye, the prefect of Jezhou. The recruitment of Liangshan heroes by the imperial court was facilitated by the joint efforts of Jeju prefect Zhang Shuye, the prefect Su Yuanjing and Li Shishi. On the eve of the recruitment, Zhang Shuye, the prefect of Jeju, held a banquet to entertain the heroes of Liangshan. After the recruitment, Song Jiang led the Liangshan heroes to conquer Fangla in the south. Zhang Shuye was the recruitment envoy, responsible for taking over the city and appeasing the soldiers and civilians. Because Yan Qing was a well-behaved person, Song Jiang sent Yan Qing to meet Zhang Shuye several times. Therefore, the relationship between Yan Qing and Zhang Shuye was familiar.
Now, when he heard Master Li asking him to go out and pay a visit to Kaifeng Prefect Zhang Shuye, Yan Qing hurriedly came out from behind the barrier, plopped down, knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Zhang Shuye.
Suddenly a man came out from behind the barrier, knelt down and kowtowed. Zhang Shuye was startled and he stood up in shock.
After Yan Qing kowtowed, he raised his head, looked at Zhang Shuye and said, "Sir! I am Liangshan Yan Qing."
In addition to being surprised, Zhang Shuye also recognized that the man kneeling on the ground and kowtowing to him was Yan Qing, the thirty-sixth ranked hero on Liangshan Mountain and the prodigal son of Tianqiaoxing.
At this time, Zhang Shuye was first greatly surprised, and then extremely happy.
Yan Qing had a dignified appearance, was alert, well-behaved, and knew how to get things done, which left a deep impression on Zhang Shuye. Song Jiang conquered Fangla and returned in triumph. Yan Qing left without saying goodbye on the way to victory and missed the title granted by the court. Zhang Shuye once regretted this; now, Yan Qing, who had left without saying goodbye and had not been heard from for a long time, suddenly appeared in front of him. How to keep Zhang Shuye from being surprised? !
"Ah!" Zhang Shuye shouted in surprise: "You are Yan Qing and Yan Xiaoyi, the heroes of Liangshan!"
Yan Qing clasped his hands in fists, bowed to Zhang Shuye and said, "Sir, the younger one is Yan Qing Yan Xiao Yi!"
Zhang Shuye's face was full of joy, and he hurried over, took Yan Qing's hand, and said respectfully: "General Yan, please sit down quickly!"
Yan Qing hurriedly declined: "How dare you sit down in front of adults? You are discounting the villain's fodder!"
Zhang Shuye laughed and said: "General Yan is not like others, he is a person who has contributed to the court. Don't be polite. Please sit down quickly." Zhang Shuye put Yan Qing on a chair next to him and continued. : "The bodyguards appointed by the Supreme Emperor are only above the ministers, not below them. General Yan must not be humble. Just sit down and we can talk easily."
Yan Qing then sat down on the chair next to him.
Zhang Shuye also sat on the chair, turned to look at Yan Qing and asked: "General Yan followed the Song Dynasty's vanguard to conquer Fangla in the south, personally entered Bangyuan Cave, and destroyed Fangla's palace. He had made outstanding achievements. Why did he leave without saying goodbye on the way to victory?" ? General Yan may not know that at that time, the Supreme Emperor had already granted you the title of Zhongwu Lang."
Yan Qing also looked at Zhang Shuye and said, "To tell you the truth, my lord, I am a lazy person. I usually have to live alone. I don't like to be an official, so I left without saying goodbye on the way to victory."
Zhang Shuye said: "In my opinion, this is definitely not the case, right? To be honest, in the court, there are cases where traitors are in power and loyal ministers do not end well. However, the Supreme Emperor is smart and wise, and will not treat meritorious ministers ill."
When Yan Qing heard this, he thought to himself that the Supreme Emperor would not treat his meritorious ministers badly, but the few people around the Supreme Emperor were not good people. They were greedy, perverting the law, and envious of talents. How could there be room for good people? If not, how did my brother Song Gongming and director of our family Lu Yuanwai die?
Zhang Shuye didn't know what Yan Qing was thinking, but he still asked excitedly: "Why is General Yan here with Concubine Ming? When was General Yan granted the title of bodyguard by the Supreme Emperor?"
Yan Qing clenched his fists and bowed to Zhang Shuye and said, "I'll tell you the truth, Mr. Zhang. Before Liangshan was recruited, my brother Song Gongming and I got to know Concubine Ming. We wanted to follow Concubine Ming's path and went to Tiancong to request the imperial court to recruit her." From then on, I got to know Concubine Ming and became sister-in-law with Concubine Ming. This allowed me to meet the Supreme Emperor. The Supreme Emperor recognized that I was Concubine Ming’s step-brother and granted me the title of bodyguard. He also wrote an imperial edict. Grant me the privilege of forgiveness of all sins.”
Seeing this, Zhang Shuye hurriedly stood up and bowed to Yan Qing: "General Yan is a relative of the emperor, so it's polite to be a low-ranking official." Yan Qing also stood up in a hurry and returned the courtesy to Zhang Shuye. Wang Jiang, who was standing next to Zhang Shuye, knelt on the ground with a plop, looking at Yan Qing with his head bowed, and said repeatedly: "Damn you, damn you! Damn you, you! You don't know General Yan's identity, how offensive you are. Damn it." Seeing this, Yan Qing hurriedly leaned over to help Wang Jiang. Zhang Shuye introduced from the side: "This is the Royal Forest Army stationed in Kaifeng Prefecture to govern Wang Jiang." Yan Qing supported Wang Jiang and said: "Wang Tiha, please get up. I don't think it's strange if you have the right to do so."
Wang Jiang then stood up.
Zhang Shuye and Yan Qing returned to their seats. Zhang Shuye said to Yan Qing: "General Yan is famous all over the world and is extremely brave. He is a talented person in the world. Now, the Jin people have invaded and Bianjing is in danger. It is the time for the court to hire people. Can you please ask General Yan to come out to protect Bianjing?" The capital is not lost?"
Hearing this, Yan Qing said: "Master Zhang is exalting the younger one. The younger one is just a martial artist. With his own body, he may not be able to save the current crisis." Zhang Shuye said: "General Yan's words are wrong. Look. Today there are more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in Bianjing. Taichang Shaoqing Li Gang and Lord Li were ordered to stay in Bianjing in the critical moment and were fully responsible for the defense of Bianjing. Runzhou Jiedushi and general Liu Yanqing assisted Bianjing's defense. As long as the army and the people are united, we can defeat Bianjing. If you have money, you can make money, if you have the strength, you can use it, and Bianjing can be defended!"
Yan Qing said, turning to look at Li Shishi. Yan Qing's intention is that if he joins the defense of Bianjing, who will protect Master Li? Yan Qing didn't believe Zhang Shuye's soldiers. He saw Wang Yuming and Li Shishi with his own eyes. How could he rest assured?
Li Shishi understood what Yan Qing meant and said: "A man should travel all over the world and be loyal to his country. I feel that Master Zhang's proposal is very good." Zhang Shuye also said quickly: "I understand what General Yan means, it is I don’t worry about Concubine Ming’s safety. I guarantee this. Concubine Ming’s safety lies entirely with me in Kaifeng Mansion. If Concubine Ming is willing, I will ask Concubine Ming to move to Kaifeng Mansion. As long as Concubine Ming is alive, Concubine Ming will be safe. Yes. I wonder what Concubine Ming wants?"
