White Horse Ferry, a huge official ship, forcefully "crowded" other ships away and berthed on the shore. The people on the boat landed one after another, and the leader was an old man, who was clearly a member of the official family. He was dressed gorgeously. After days of sailing, the journey was hard, and his face was a bit haggard.
After stopping the ship and landing, the entourage was resting and making supplies at the port, while the old man went straight to Baima Post to rest. He was considered a high-ranking official in the imperial court and could speak well in front of the emperor. He returned from a mission and received extremely respectful care from the local people.
This old man was no one else, but Wang Zhaoyuan, a bachelor of Chongzheng Palace and a doctor in Taizhong. He was ordered to go to Liao Kingdom last year and returned the following year. This Wang Zhaoyuan is naturally the one who surrendered to the Shu Kingdom and tricked the Shu army.
Even now, many people still can't understand how such an over-the-top embroidered pillow could gain the emperor's trust.
However, no amount of criticism can affect the facts. It has been almost ten years since he entered the court. Although he is not as powerful as he was during the Meng Shu period, the treatment he enjoys is still good.
When I just think of him as a counselor, I think he is pretty good. In Emperor Liu's view, Wang Zhaoyuan was indeed smart, well-informed, and very eloquent. Such a person could play a good role as long as he was placed in the right place.
For example, Wang Zhaoyuan was very insightful in matters concerning the northern ethnic groups and grew year by year. For this reason, he also specially learned the Khitan language and writing. After so many years, there are few people in the court who can surpass Wang Zhaoyuan in dealing with the Khitans. You know, this is the fourth time he has sent an envoy to the north on behalf of the court.
In the Baima Post, the post officials specially arranged a quiet place, where he could drink and taste the food and wine alone. To him, the noise and bustle in the post seemed not to exist.
Compared to being an official in Meng Shu and the Han Dynasty, Wang Zhaoyuan was obviously much calmer and much lower-key. There was no way, as a surrendered minister, he was always bound by a set of invisible shackles.
And when this surrendered minister gained the favor of the emperor that ordinary people could not get, the pressure from all aspects became even greater. In addition, it is not easy to be an official in the Han Dynasty at present. There are many people who are punished for various reasons every year. Especially after entering the Kaibao Year, many problems that were not worth mentioning in the Qianyu era have been dealt with. Got attention.
Especially now, Dou Yi is in charge of the official department and Li Ye is in charge of the criminal department, and neither of them is easy to mess with. Dou Yi's toughness is well-known in the country, but Li Guojiu has already shown his skills from Daozhou and provincial departments. The previous "Zhang Long'er case" in Jingzhong was in his hands, and he carried out a tough and severe punishment. .
At this moment, for example, Wang Zhaoyuan's calm eyes showed a little worry from time to time. The reason for worry is that this mission comes from the DPRK.
This time as an envoy to the north, he left in August last year. He stayed in Liao for more than half a year and has only returned now. As a result, someone in the court took this matter to task. There was no direct attack, but they just raised a suspicion that Wang Zhaoyuan had been in Khitan for a long time and might have the intention of betraying the Han and surrendering to the Liao. In addition, he was a surrender minister... ..
Many times, such specious rumors are extremely effective in slandering someone. After returning to Han Dynasty and coming south, I learned some of the previous situation after some twists and turns.
For Wang Zhaoyuan, he naturally felt aggrieved. He had already done his duty in the Han Dynasty, but there was always no shortage of people to target. Among them, in addition to the excessive favor he received for surrendering, which aroused jealousy, it was also due to his position as a bachelor of Chongzheng Palace.
Up to now, the official positions in Chongzheng Palace have been customized. There is one Chengzhi under the bachelor, supplemented by two bachelors, and the twelfth official. As for the Bachelor of Chongzheng Palace, it was a position of the fifth rank. Putting aside the status and power, the advantage of being close to the emperor was something that many positions did not have.
In the eyes of many people, just Wang Zhaoyuan can do it, and so can they.
"Alas!" After drinking a glass of wine, Wang Zhaoyuan couldn't help but sigh heavily, with anger looming on his old face. Today's Wang Zhaoyuan has passed the age of knowing his destiny. Compared with the high-spirited and high-spirited person back then, he has two different images. Time often brings huge contrast.
"Your Majesty, Lu Duan, the magistrate of Huazhou, would like to see you!" While Wang Zhaoyuan was slowly drinking wine, the accompanying servant came to report.
"Huh?" Wang Zhaoyuan became interested, sneered, and said, "This is Lu Yuqing's brother, right? He has a brother who has won the Holy Heart, and he wants to welcome me?"
"After all, you are the emperor's envoy, and you are on a mission on behalf of the Han Dynasty. How can these local officials serve you carelessly!" the entourage complimented.
In the court, Wang Zhaoyuan may not be in a satisfactory situation, but at the local level, no one dares to neglect him. This is probably the advantage of Beijing officials, especially Wang Zhaoyuan, a Beijing official, who is also a bachelor of Chongzheng Palace and an envoy to Liao Dynasty.
"Bring him in!" Wang Zhaoyuan smiled: "I want to see what gifts Lu Yuqing's brother has prepared..."
Wang Zhaoyuan sat at the table with a high posture, waiting for Lu Duan to enter, chewing the dishes slowly in his mouth. Soon, Lu Duan's face that was neither happy nor angry was revealed, but he came empty-handed.
Seeing Wang Zhaoyuan who hadn't put down his wine glass, Lu Duan looked normal and bowed his hands: "I know about Lu Duan in Huazhou and I have met Wang Shijun!"
"Lü Zhizhou is exempt from courtesy!" Wang Zhaoyuan also had a smile on his face. He looked him up and down and said: "Sure enough, he is a talented man and a rising star. He is in his early thirties and has been in office for six years. He has become the governor of a state. This is Today’s big men are rare!”
Hearing this, Lu Duan smiled slightly and said in a humble manner: "I feel that my moral character is shallow and I am not worthy of my position. I am also trembling with responsibility."
Wang Zhaoyuan smiled and shook his head: "I also met your brother in Chongzheng Hall, and he mentioned you. You are serious on the outside, but showy on the inside. Why should you be so humble?"
"I don't dare take it!" Lu Duan still had an inconvenient demeanor.
After waving his hands, Wang Zhaoyuan asked directly: "I'm returning from Liaonan just for a rest. I don't want to stay for a long time. What do you mean by coming here?"
Lu Duan reported: "I will send you a letter about moving the camp and convey the order to the envoy!"
With that said, Lu Duan waved, and an official came in carrying a tray with an edict on it. Seeing this, Wang Zhaoyuan's face suddenly became serious. He immediately put down his wine glass and stood up. He moved too hastily and spilled half of the glass of wine.
After straightening his robe and clothes, Wang Zhaoyuan respectfully responded: "Your Majesty, Wang Zhaoyuan, accepts the imperial edict!"
After receiving the edict, Wang Zhaoyuan opened it respectfully and read it word by word. His nervous expression turned into a touch of relief. Fortunately, it was not a bad thing, but he was overly worried.
After putting away the edict, Wang Zhaoyuan raised his eyes and looked at Lu Duan and said, "I have received the edict. If something happens, I need to trouble Lu Zhizhou!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Duan immediately said: "Please give me your orders!"
Wang Zhaoyuan said: "The mission abandoned the boat and changed its route. Please ask the state to mobilize manpower to unload the equipment it carried as soon as possible. In addition, we will recruit several vehicles. The cost will be borne by the mission's public funds!"
"I'll go and make arrangements now!" It wasn't a difficult task, Lu Duan agreed calmly.
Soon, the Liao team, led by Wang Zhaoyuan, abandoned the boat and landed ashore, turned to the southeast, and chased for four days before catching up with the camp. The edict came from Xingying. He just learned that Wang Zhaoyuan was about to return, so he specially ordered someone to pass the edict and summon him to Xingying to see him and resume his life.
By the time Wang Zhaoyuan arrived, the imperial chariot had already arrived in Yuncheng County, Jezhou, and was boating on Liangshan with his lovely wife and concubine.
