"What Liu Aiqing means is that Weihu County is really in chaos. This is the border. Only here can Xiao Wang truly understand the sufferings of the people's livelihood and see with his own eyes the true appearance of my Dafeng world. What do the old enemies, the steppe barbarians, look like?
Xiao Wang knows Liu Aiqing's good intentions best. Alas, it is not easy to meet a good minister like Liu Aiqing along the way. Xiao Wang would like to give Liu Aiqing a drink. "
After speaking, the Sixth Prince picked up the wine glass and clinked it with Liu Hu.
When Liu Hu saw this, he was a little confused. He didn't know whether the sixth prince really didn't understand his hint, or whether newborn calves were not afraid of tigers.
In fact, how could he know the sixth prince's difficulties?
Every prince travels and it takes him at least a year before he can return to the imperial capital. But wherever the sixth prince goes, the county guards everywhere have the same idea as Liu Hu, and they rush to send him away as if they are chasing away the god of plague. He, the sixth prince, can't stay in the wild all the time. After all, the world is not safe.
He had no choice but to rush to the next place and keep going.
As a result, when he arrived at Weihu County, the last stop in the north, only half a year of his one-year trip had passed.
He had made up his mind. He told God that he wouldn't leave this time. Even if he was lying on the ground rolling around, he would have to stay for half a year before leaving. Otherwise, he would be punished if he went back before the one-year deadline.
What's more, there are so many rules in the capital, and the officials are all staring at this pitiful and weak prince like jackals and leopards, and won't let go of him if they catch him committing any crime.
After all, now the imperial court can only govern one county in Gyeonggi Province, and those ministers have nothing to do. What else can they do without fighting among themselves.
It's better to be free and happy outside. You can have fun as you want. Whoever wants a woman can find a woman. How cool it is that you would be willing to go back to the capital.
Just when Liu Hu was in trouble, a soldier from outside the governor's mansion hurriedly ran in, but when he saw the sixth prince wearing a python robe, he looked embarrassed and turned around to retreat.
"Oh, come back."
Liu Hu called the soldier back and said displeasedly,
"How unbecoming you are in such a hurry. If you disturb the distinguished guest, you will beheaded. If you have anything to say, please tell me immediately."
When the soldier saw this, he glanced at the Sixth Prince and hesitated to speak.
"If you have any questions, tell me directly. The Sixth Prince is not an outsider."
After hearing this, the soldier said,
"Your Excellency, General Ye Xing led the eight thousand Hukou Pass garrison to attack Qingfeng Village. They were defeated miserably. Only more than a thousand people escaped. Most of the rest died in battle, and a few were captured. Even General Ye Xing was captured alive. .
The bandits also asked General Ye Xing to write a blackmail letter, asking you to use money to redeem people. "
When Liu Hu saw this, his heart sank. He took the letter from the soldier's hand. After reading it, he slammed the letter onto the table and cursed,
"Old thief Weng Huan! You bullied me too much! The officers and soldiers who defeated me actually dared to capture General Ye, and they dared to extort money from me. You really think that my officers and soldiers, Dafeng, are just made of clay!"
After a scolding, Liu Hu saw the sixth prince next to him staring at the letter on the table. He felt that this was a good opportunity to drive away the sixth prince, so he angrily handed the letter to the sixth prince.
“Your Highness, Sixth Prince, look at how rampant the bandits in Weihu County are now!
Eight thousand officers and soldiers go to suppress the bandits, eight thousand! He was defeated in half a day. That was eight thousand steamed buns. If Weng Huan were to eat them, he would have to eat them for half a month!
But this bandit was so rampant that he defeated an army of 8,000 people, and he even dared to extort money from me!
Look, look, what kind of chaos this Weihu County is in. "
Speaking of this, Liu Hu said with shame,
“It’s all because of my poor governance that these bandits have become so big and so rampant.
General Ye belongs to a family of generals and is a capable general under Prince Anton. They dare to capture him. Is there anything else they dare not do?
Today they dare to kidnap General Ye for blackmail. Then tomorrow, will they dare to kidnap me and your Highness?
They dared to ask for 200,000 taels of silver for General Ye, but if they kidnapped the prince, wouldn't they have to ask for 2 million taels, or 20 million taels? "
Liu Hu felt that what he said was so clear. Should the sixth prince give up and retreat? After all, the bandits are so powerful that they can defeat an army of 8,000 people. They dare to kidnap and extort a general from the imperial court. How can you not be afraid?
However, the Sixth Prince seemed to not understand what others were saying. He looked at the letter, frowned and said,
"I remember that the Ye family seems to be quite big. Not only do they hold high positions under King Anton, there are also people in the court.
General Ye Xing was actually captured alive. If the Ye family knew about this, they would be furious, and it would be difficult for the father to appease him.
Liu Aiqing, Xiao Wang feels that it is better to find a way to rescue General Ye Xing first. It would be a great shame and humiliation if the bandits really killed our general Dafeng.
First, rescue General Ye, calm down the anger of the Ye family, and restore the reputation of the court, and then use the thunder army to annihilate the bandits, what do you think? "
Liu Hu blinked awkwardly and said,
"But in this case, isn't it just playing into the hands of the bandits? How can our dignified court bow to the bandits?"
"Hey, Liu Aiqing, you have to be flexible when doing things. If you don't tell me about this matter, I won't tell you. If you rescue General Ye first, who will know? I'm afraid even the Ye family won't know about it, and then we will put that village into something. Once it is destroyed, and there is no evidence to prove it, it will be over."
The Sixth Prince said with a smile and a nonchalant expression.
Anyway, no matter what, I won’t leave today!
Liu Hu said with a bitter face,
"Your Highness, Sixth Highness, as you know, I came from a military background, and I am different from those corrupt civil servants. I have always had nothing to offer, and my family has no food left. How can I have two hundred thousand taels of silver to redeem people?"
Otherwise, Sixth Prince, you..."
The Sixth Prince looked even more bitter and said,
"Liu Aiqing, Xiao Wang left Beijing without even a penny. The food and accommodation were provided by the yamen from various places. It is impossible for Xiao Wang to ask for money from the yamen, so he is really penniless now and wants to help Liu Aiqing. , but also out of motivation."
One wanted to take the opportunity to borrow some money, and the other wanted to get some money back, but the two of them couldn't talk together.
Liu Hu also saw that the sixth prince had no intention of leaving. He stopped talking about the bandits and just wanted to end the dinner as soon as possible.
After finishing the meal, Liu Hu said to the Sixth Prince,
"Your Highness, Sixth Highness, a clean empty room has been prepared for you in the Sheriff's Mansion. Please stay here and rest."
"Isn't this bad? When traveling, you should stay in a posthouse. Isn't it against the rules to stay in your house?
What's more, it's inappropriate for me, an outsider, to live in your home and disturb the female family members. "
The sixth prince shook his head repeatedly and kept evading.
