At that time, it was said that the summer rains were all turbulent, sometimes pouring down, sometimes as thin as blue silk, and usually coming and going like the wind, disappearing without a trace. When it first stopped, the sky was clear and clear as before.
The same is true for the rain in the sun. It is like large and small pearls and jade, connected to form a line in the air, and like a green screen curtain. Every drop falls into the boundless jade plate, playing a unique style of misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River.
In the governor's office of Jiangzhou in Xunyang, in the pavilion outside the Sanchong courtyard, there was a scholar with an elegant appearance, a tall and straight posture, and a handsome face. This scholar stood alone under the eaves with his hands folded on his chest, waiting for others.
The raindrops hit the front of his heavy gray-green shoes, which were already a little wet, but the scholar turned a blind eye and stretched his neck expectantly to look into the courtyard from time to time.
This person's name is Xiao Yuanzhi, whose courtesy name is Junliu. He currently lives in Xunyang, Jiangzhou, and serves as the chief registrar.
Xiao Yuanzhi came from the Xiao family of Lanling. His father Xiao Zhuo was Xiao Zhuo, a doctor of Jin Ziguanglu, and his eldest sister Xiao Wenshou was the step-brother of Liu Qiao, the former Jinling meritorious cao.
Yes, Xiao Yuanzhi's eldest sister is the stepmother of Jianwu General Liu Yu! In terms of seniority, Xiao Yuanzhi, the chief secretary of Xunyang, is still Liu Yu's uncle.
Despite this, Xiao Yuanzhi was only in his early twenties at this time, about the same age as Liu Yu.
"Oh, I've kept Master Xiao waiting for so long. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" The sound of clogs stepping on the bluestone came from the courtyard, and soon the messengers from the governor's office held Xiao Yuanzhi in with oil-paper umbrellas. .
"Jun Liu is here?" Huan Yi, the general of the Right Army and the governor of Jiangzhou, stood at the door of the study with square-toed clogs and greeted Xiao Yuanzhi with a smile.
Xiao Yuanzhi quickly stepped forward and saluted Huan Yi: "I have met the envoy."
"The rain has finally stopped. Come in and have a cup of tea made by me." Huan Yi led Xiao Yuanzhi into the room, and the latter entered in response.
Jiangzhou is where the armored soldiers gather. It is the southern vassal of the country. It is a key place and is the key to one's appointment.
After the Su Jun Rebellion, Liu Yin once said: "The imperial court is empty, and all officials have no salary, but they only fund Jiangzhou to transport canals."
There were many refugees in Jingyang, Jiangzhou was rich in grain, and it was located at the military hub between Jing and Yang, so its position was very important.
After Emperor Yuan, the candidates for the governorship of Jiangzhou were generally as follows: Wang Dun, Wen Qiao, Liu Yin, Tao Kan, Yu Liang, Wang Yunzhi, Yu Yi, Chu Pei, Yu Bing, Yu Yi, Xie Shang, Wang Xizhi, Huan Yun, Huan Chong.
Among the successive governors of Jiangzhou, the three major gentry families were the Wang family of Langya, the Yu family of Yingchuan, and the Huan family of Qiaoguo. Liu Yin and Wen Qiao were ministers of Conglong, Tao Kan was a native of the south, and Chu Pei was a maternal relative. Xie Shang of the Xie family in Chenjun was just a soy saucer when he served as the governor of Jiangzhou.
At the turn of Cheng and Kang, during the years of Xiankang and Jianyuan, the Wang family of Langya and the Yu family of Yingchuan fought for Jiangzhou several times. General Yu Yi, the brother of Yu Liang, the eunuch of Zhongshu, even conspired to poison Wang Yunzhi, the nephew of Prime Minister Wang Dao. Later, Yu Yi committed suicide by taking poison because he was afraid of the crime. In order to make amends to the Yu family, he promoted Wang Xianzhi to the position of governor of Jiangzhou. This shows how fierce the fight between the Wang and Yu families was!
As the political whirlpool in Jiangzhou spread, even the Jiangzhou government office was wavering in Wuhu, Wuchang, Banzhou, and Xunyang.
After Huan Chong's death, Grand Tutor Xie An overcame everyone's objections and allowed San Huan to live in the three states. As a result, Huan Yi was given the lucrative position of governor of Jiangzhou.
"What important business does Junliu have to come here today?" Huan Yi ordered the tea cups to be handed over to him, and he sat in the study to deal with government affairs.
Xiao Yuanzhi was the chief secretary of Xunyang County. Logically speaking, there was no need to come to the higher level to see Huan Yi, the governor of Jiangzhou. However, the matter was so important that he had to submit his name to the governor to see him.
Xiao Yuanzhi was not in the mood to sip tea. He said bluntly: "The granaries outside Xunyang City have been mobilized too much in the past few days. One hundred thousand stones of military rations have been transported away. I wonder if your Majesty knows about this?"
It turns out it’s because of the food!
Huan Yi nodded. This order was given by him. The imperial court secretly prepared for the Northern Expedition. Secret edicts were received from various places to stock up on grain and grass, renovate soldiers and armor, and be ready to support the border at any time. Therefore, Huan Yi ordered the recruitment of 100,000 stones of grain and grass to be sent to Luoyang. , to support the Northern Expedition of the Xiaoqi Army.
"Is there an imperial edict or an express order from Taiwan Province for the emperor to levy one hundred thousand stones of grain and grass?" Xiao Yuanzhi was relieved when he learned that Huan Yi had instructed him to do this. But what if Huan Yi's move was not approved by the imperial court? Suspected of abuse of power?
Huan Yi looked like he was taking it indifferently, and he said word by word: "The Northern Expedition is a foregone conclusion. The general who conquered the North has already gone north to Luoyang. By then, the Xifu soldiers from Jingzhou, the Xiangyang soldiers from Linqiu, and the Beifu soldiers from Xingyang will They will all send troops. When the army moves, food and grass are the most important thing. We, Jiangzhou, are in the rear, what's wrong with supporting some food and grass?"
Who knew there was anything wrong with this sentence, which immediately aroused Xiao Yuanzhi's retort: "What you said is wrong!"
"Oh? How do you say this?" Huan Yi looked confused.
"Your Majesty! It's natural that you support the Northern Expedition. Although the imperial court did not approve the levy of 100,000 stones of grain and grass, it does not have any major impact on the overall situation of the Northern Expedition."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Your Majesty made the mistake of not sending the one hundred thousand stones of grain and grass to Jingzhou, nor to Linqiu or Xingyang, but directly to Luoyang, where the Xiaoqi Army is stationed. If anyone knew about this move, I'm afraid it wouldn't be a close relationship. This is a trivial matter of friendship, but I want to accuse you and the general of forming a clique for personal gain!"
Xiao Yuan's words are very reasonable, and he can't find any thorns in them.
Huan Yi and Xiao Yuanzhi were discussing the one hundred thousand stones of military rations, when a scribe on horseback came outside the governor's mansion.
The scribe was seven feet five inches tall and about 20 years old. He wore a hakama pleated hakama, with no crown on his head. He was only wrapped in a scarf and had a bamboo slip hanging around his waist.
"Please tell me, old man, that General Zhengbei's military advisor will offer wine to Guo Shang and ask for an audience with the envoy." The scribe who went south not far away was Guo Sang who had passed through the Jingzhou defense area and came to Xunyang to pay homage to Huan Yi.
Huan Shi, the governor of Jingzhou, was very kind and courteous to others, which won Guo Chang's heart. After Guo Chang and Huan Shimin exchanged information about Shangyong's military, Huan Shimin knew that the day of sending troops was not far away, and they also learned that Xu Zongwen had sent Guo Chang to help. He planned to seize Yizhou. The people of Huanshi were overjoyed and immediately organized their troops to prepare for war. They could send troops to Fuling at any time to attack Chengdu.
Taking advantage of the opportunity for the Xifu soldiers to gather in Jingzhou, Guo Chang asked Huan Shimin to come to Xunyang. Huan Shimin knew that Xu Zongwen and Huan Yi were the sons-in-law of their father-in-law, so there was no reason to stop Guo Chang.
When the old man at the door heard that he was a subordinate of General Zhengbei, he did not dare to neglect him. He took his famous assassin and immediately went into the house to see Huan Yi.
"Your Majesty! Someone wants to see your Majesty!"
"Who wants to see me?"
Huan Yi was very unhappy when his thoughts were interrupted, and there was a hint of sullenness in his tone.
The old man at the door did not dare to continue to lie, and hurriedly replied: "Back to the envoy, it is General Zhengbei's military advisor offering wine. This is a famous assassin." With that, Guo Shang's famous assassin was handed into Huan Yi's hands.
"It's Guo Zijin here!"
Huan Yi was a little depressed at first, because he was really embarrassed about the one hundred thousand stones of food and grass, but with the arrival of the resourceful Guo Zijin, the haze on his head was cleared away and it was no longer a problem!
"Quickly, welcome Guo Jijiu into the house!"
Huan Yi didn't have time to change, so he immediately put on his headgear and walked out of the study. Xiao Yuanzhi followed him. Only the old man at the door stood sideways to let the two of them pass before catching up and leaving the study.
