After a few words of greeting, Cao Yi invited Zhao Yang and his party into the Yamen.
Similar to the main office of the Ministry of Industry and Finance, the Si Yamen in front of the palace also has a Hui character structure. There is a circle of prison cells built within the outer wall. At this moment, some government officials who heard the noise stood outside the prison room and looked curiously.
Go straight in and pass through the second gate, which is also guarded by soldiers. There is a small courtyard in front of you. There is a government office on the north, east and west sides of the courtyard, connected to each other. Cao Yi led Zhao Yang straight towards it. Go to the government office in the west.
Zhao Yang asked curiously: "Uncle Guo, those two houses are..."
Cao Ji smiled and explained: "That is where the commander of the capital and the deputy commander of the capital sit..."
"Oh." Zhao Yang nodded seemingly suddenly. When Cao Yi turned around to lead the way, he asked Wang Zhongzheng in a low voice. Only then did he find out that he was the chief and deputy of the front department of the palace, and Cao Yi's Du Yuhou ranked third.
"Master Zhao, please take a seat."
Entering the main hall of the government office on the west side, Cao Yi asked Zhao Yang to take a seat, and then ordered the servants to serve tea with all the courtesy.
In fact, the uncle actually took the initiative to sit down at the lower post, showing his humility, which made Zhao Yang a little uncomfortable. He hesitated several times, but couldn't help but said with a strange expression: "This is not the bad reputation of the lower official. Bar?"
"Huh?" Cao Yan didn't seem to understand, with some confusion on his face.
So Zhao Yang pointed to the seats of the two of them and explained: "Xiaoguan is just a minister, and he is expected to be the uncle of the state, and he also holds an important position in front of the palace. Treating him so favorably makes him feel at a loss..."
Cao Yan suddenly realized it and said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about trivial matters."
As he spoke, he noticed Wang Zhongzheng and others standing on one side, and invited with a smile: "All of you nobles, please don't stand around. Please sit down."
"Thank you uncle, I'd better... stop for a moment." Wang Zhongzheng and others thanked them one after another, but they did not dare to be presumptuous.
"In this way..." Cao Yan did not try to persuade him anymore, but looked at Zhao Yang intentionally or unintentionally, as if he was watching the latter's reaction.
Realizing this, Zhao Yang said to Wang Zhongzheng and others: "Zhongzheng, when uncle Guo speaks, please don't be polite and just be casual."
Wang Zhongzheng was still hesitating when he saw Wei Tao and Bao Rong cupping their hands and saying "Thank you, Uncle Guo, Thank you Yuanwailang" and sat down on the other side with a smile, while Chen Li and Sun Chang were left. It was obvious that he still couldn't let go. He cupped his hands and said, "I don't dare to disturb my uncle's discussion with Yuan Wai Lang on important matters. We'll just go around as we please."
After that, they went outside the house.
Cao Yi looked at all this with slight surprise, while Zhao Yang secretly observed Uncle Cao Guo.
He felt that Cao Yi's attitude was not out of fear of his "notoriety", but more like a habit of keeping a low profile for a long time.
This is a bit strange. Does the great uncle of the state, the brother of Empress Cao, need to be so cautious?
Not long after, several soldiers served tea one after another. Two bowls were given to Zhao Yang and Cao Yan first, and the rest were given to Wang Zhongzheng and others who stayed in the house.
"Please have tea." Cao Yi said to Zhao Yang, but he did not move.
It wasn't until Zhao Yang took a sip that the uncle also picked up the tea bowl.
Zhao Yang couldn't help but said: "Uncle Guo, you are making me a little restless..."
Cao Yi smiled and waved his hands, still saying that this was all a side matter.
Seeing what he said, Zhao Yang didn't know what to say. He showed his intention with a serious look: "I must have guessed that the official is coming today. A few days ago, I asked the official to give me a chance to command an army. The official... …”
"Well, I have already arranged this matter." Cao Yi nodded and said, "According to the official's instructions, I transferred 500 elite men from the Tianwu Army to the Fifth Army led by Yuan Wailang. The first commander... Yuan Wailang can rest assured that I have personally reviewed every soldier and will definitely satisfy Yuan Wailang. However, it takes some time to change the tattoos, so the delivery has been delayed..."
"Tattoo?" Zhao Yang was slightly startled.
"That's it." Cao Yi raised his finger and pointed at his forehead.
Zhao Yang suddenly realized: When I said it would take so long, it turned out that I had to change the tattoo. No wonder...
Thinking of this, he felt a little uneasy and asked: "Will it hurt to change this tattoo?"
"..."
No matter how gentle Cao Yi was, he couldn't help but look at Zhao Yang with a strange look after hearing this, and said in an incomprehensible tone: "This modification of tattooing is to use a special concoction to pierce the skin. It only takes a few seconds." Then, the original tattooed piece will fall off, and then the words will be tattooed again..."
Zhao Yang, who understood the implication, smiled awkwardly and couldn't help but ask: "Do I have to have tattoos? Is it possible not to have tattoos? Because of me alone, those five hundred people have to suffer physical pain again. I It’s a bit heartbreaking.”
Cao Yan was a little surprised, thought for a while and said: "As a rule, tattoos are required... Mainly to prevent deserters from appearing on the battlefield, but Yuan Wai Lang's Fifth Army... Yuan Wai Lang can make his own decision. This is an official order. The power granted to Yuan Wai Lang will not be interfered with by our former secretary unless necessary."
The official family is still very generous.
Zhao Yang was very happy to hear this, and couldn't help but ask: "What is 'necessary'?"
Cao Ji once again showed a strange expression and said cryptically: "The officials are just worried that the soldiers are vulgar, gather to make trouble, and hurt Yuanwailang..."
Zhao Yang thought about it for a moment and finally realized: the so-called "necessity" of feelings is that the officials are afraid that he will make his soldiers complain and cause a mutiny.
This is too disrespectful!
Zhao Yang gritted his teeth bitterly.
Seeing Zhao Yang's embarrassed face and sometimes gritting his teeth, Cao Yi couldn't help laughing. He coughed and changed the topic: "This is also the official's good intention... I have a question, I don't know whether to ask it or not."
"Uncle, please speak."
Cao Yi hesitated for a moment and asked, "Excuse me, Yuan Wai Lang... I see that Yuan Wai Lang has been deeply favored by the emperor at a young age. His future will be limitless, so why do you want to get a military position?"
Zhao Yang was very surprised when he heard this and joked: "Is it not good to have a military position? I can understand when others ask this, but my uncle is the queen of the generals, and I respect my ancestor Cao... that is my famous general in the Song Dynasty..."
"So what?" Cao Yi sighed with a bitter look on his face. Then he realized that he had lost his temper and hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Don't be offended by Yuanwailang when he loses his temper for a moment."
Thinking of the uncle's cautious words and deeds, Zhao Yang vaguely guessed something. However, the two of them met for the first time and had little friendship. He didn't feel comfortable asking some questions. After thinking about it, he said: "I also know that nowadays in the country, The style of writing prevails, but I always believe that national defense is the cornerstone of our Song Dynasty's foreign defense. And now our Song Dynasty's army... I am not afraid that my uncle will think I am arrogant. I am not very satisfied with the combat power of most of the domestic armies. , I hope I can do my best to make changes, but the officials don’t believe me and only allow me 500 people... But even if there are only 500 people, I am still determined to build a strong army, and I hope to use this 500 people in the future This artificial foundation will gradually enhance the combat power of our Song Dynasty army so that we can conquer Xixia and Liao Kingdoms in the future and revive the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties."
"..."
Cao Yi's face was shocked and unbelievable, and he hesitated to speak several times.
