Chapter 18: Old Things at the City Gate Not Old People

In the newspaper, it is clearly stated that the position of the commander of the forbidden army in Kyoto is no longer held by the Grand Prince, but has been handed over to Gong Dian. Gong Deng in Kyoto, after the rebellion, has regained the old post of the chief of the inner guards, and now also the commander of the forbidden army, it is not a surprising thing. The Ye family’s loyalty to His Majesty is well known throughout the world, and the palace is no longer in the hands of the Grand Prince for security, so of course it can only be handed over to Gong Dian.

But the problem now was, after the eldest prince was no longer the commander of the forbidden army, what position would His Majesty put him in, the residence report did not say, and there was no clearer rumor in Kyoto. Fan Xian looked at the paper in his hands and couldn’t help but shake his head.

There had been several very important personnel appointments issued in Kyoto one after another, all of which were focused on the military, so it was clear that His Majesty had something in mind, and was also beginning to move positions out for the Grand Chamberlain. The most important thing that Fan Xian noticed was that Xiao Jinhua, the commander of the Kyoto garrison, was removed from his post and transferred to the Nanzhao border army as the deputy governor, while Shi Fei, the governor of the northern expedition battalion, was recalled by His Majesty’s decree to take over the very important post of the commander of the Kyoto garrison, and Wang Zhikun, the governor of the Yanjing battalion, who was on top of Shi Fei, stayed put.

Three military generals mobilized, absolutely unusual. Fan Xian was very clear about the roles these military generals played, and also deeply understood His Majesty’s different attitudes toward each of these people. For example, Xiao Jinhua, the commander of the Kyoto garrison, was only the commander of the East China Gate of the Thirteen Cities Division during the Kyoto rebellion, but because of his solid position, he blocked the remnants of the Qin family, which belonged to the Crown Prince, within Kyoto, and made a great achievement, His Majesty allowed him to be promoted to three levels and became the commander of the Kyoto garrison, which is also considered to be His Majesty’s statement to the loyal ministers.

But Fan Xian had already guessed that His Majesty would not allow this Xiao Jinhua to serve as the commander of the Kyoto garrison for too long. For one thing, this person’s foundation was too shallow to convince the public, and it was difficult for him to take on such an important duty as the Kyoto garrison; and for another, Xiao Jinhua had come from the Thirteen City Gates Department, and His Majesty was most disheartened by the Thirteen City Gates Department’s behavior during the Kyoto revolt.

The emperor trusts Zhang Deqing, Zhang Deqing favor to the Princess, although the emperor after the incident will Zhang Deqing lynched to death, his three clans, but still did not vent out the anger, Xiao Jinhua is also considered to be affected by the disaster of the fish, but this person must be clear about their own symbols of the role of this to go to Nanzhao as a deputy governor, should also be able to accept.

And the situation of the Northern Expeditionary Army was more complicated. Yan Xiaoyi was killed by Fan Xian on the top of the mountain, Cangzhou next to the Qing State expedition north battalion involved in the rebellion, I do not know how many times in the past two years to meet the cleansing. The court has not let general Shi Fei formally take over the post of the northern conquest of the great governor, but only let him right to know, subject to the jurisdiction of Yanjing camp Wang Zhikun.

General Shi Fei has been Wang Zhikun’s deputy general for more than a decade, and there should be no problem with this arrangement. But now that His Majesty has allowed Shi Fei to return to the capital to take over as the commander of the Kyoto Guard Division, the position of the Grand Governor of the Northern Conquest Battalion has been left vacant, and who is this reserved for?

Fan Xian shook his head, thinking to himself that probably everyone could see clearly that the position of the Great Governor of the Northern Conquest Battalion, which bordered on Northern Qi and was at the tip of the world’s stormy waters, was of course reserved for the Great Palace.

It seems that after two years of rest and recuperation, His Majesty the Emperor has finally begun to lay down his chess pieces step by step, especially since within the past two months, the Supervisory Court and the Dingzhou Army have forcibly stabilized the situation in Xiliang and the grasslands, and His Majesty the Emperor has finally had the spare heart to prepare for everything in the northeastern direction.

It’s just that if the Great Hall Master wants to become the vanguard commander of the Qing Army, take charge of the 100,000 troops at the forefront, and become the powerful Northern Conquest Grand Governor, then he will have to accept His Majesty’s arrangement on the other hand – to take a side consort, and the day when he leaves for the army will be the time when the Great High Consort will be laid down.

“The Boss is not such a person.” Fan Xian frowned as he thought that His Majesty had already paved all the paths for the Grand Prince to lead the Qing Army and fight on the sands, waiting for the Grand Prince to understand his pain and embark on this path, but the problem was that even though the Grand Prince was good at fighting on the sands, he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to do this kind of thing.

When he thought of returning to the capital, he would be forced to do this kind of thing under the pressure of His Majesty the Emperor, Fan Xian felt annoyed and couldn’t help but grunt. Although this grunt was extremely low, it startled Deng Ziyue and Mu Feng’er beside him, not knowing what had happened.

“It’s nothing, hurry up and rest, we still have to catch up tomorrow.” Fan Xian rubbed his brow and waved his hand at the two of them, and after thinking about it, he left Deng Ziyue behind.

He looked at Deng Ziyue and said after a moment of silence, “You’ve been stationed in the Upper Capital for a long time, do you know how the people of Northern Qi view Shi Fei as a person?”

Shi Fei has been stationed in Cangzhou for the past two years, leading the northern battalion to fight against a generation of famous general Uesugi Tiger, although he has suffered some small losses, but the victory is that he is not in a hurry, stabilizing the situation extremely well. Deng Ziyue thought for a moment and then said: “General Shi Fei has been in the Yanjing camp in previous years as Wang Da Dudu’s deputy, his reputation is not how prominent, but also two years ago to go to the northern camp, only gradually known by the Qi people. Although Cangzhou North and South have not had any major battles in the past two years, but under the threat of Uesugi Tiger, still able to not panic, based on this alone, at least proves that Shi Fei this person’s temperament is on the side of feminine can hold.”

“Feminine?” Fan Xian asked back somewhat disapprovingly, “If it was merely a Yin kneading ability to hold, how could His Majesty have allowed him to take on such a heavy burden two years ago.”

Deng Ziyue knew what Lord Tiji was talking about. In the late fall of the seventh year of the Qingli calendar, with the incident at Dadong Mountain and the rebellion in Kyoto, everyone seemed to have overlooked the northern camp that had been abandoned by Yan Xiaoyi near Cangzhou, failing to think of the importance of the place. However, Fan Xian had never forgotten that when His Majesty the Emperor was still trapped on top of the Great Eastern Mountain, he had secretly sent a secret decree to Yanjing, telling the Yanjing camp to be ready to take over the northern camp in Cangzhou at any time, in case the Northern Qi took advantage of the chaos to enter.

This was an incredibly important task, once Yan Xiaoyi died and thousands of his personal brigade were captured, if there was no competent general to sit in on the situation, it was feared that the northern battalion would really mutiny. At that time, the general responsible for this extremely important decree of His Majesty was the great general Shi Fei.

Not many people knew the exact process of how to subdue the army of the northern camp, but Fan Xian, who was the supervisor of the Supervisory Yuan, knew that the process of Shi Fei’s decree to clear the army was really more like a legend in his opinion.

General Shi Fei only took a dozen soldiers, then entered the northern camp of Cangzhou, holding the imperial decree, and easily took control of the northern camp. Facing an army of 100,000, where did this general get the guts, and what kind of ability did he have to make Yan Xiaoyi’s northern camp, which had been in operation for several years, as docile as a warhorse.

A character capable of such great deeds was definitely more than just feminine. Fan Xian’s brow ached more and more, and he always felt some shadow looming over his mind. His Majesty the Emperor’s intention was to have the Great Chamberlain lead the Northern Expedition, which was to be expected, but who exactly was Shi Fei targeting when he was transferred back to Kyoto to be the commander of the Kyoto Guard instead of staying on the front lines?

As early as when the former crown prince was on a mission to Nanzhao, Fan Xian had deduced that once the power of the Princess’s side melted away like ice and snow, he would be greeted by His Majesty’s relentless power-cutting and the palace’s relentless attack on the older generation of court figures. In the past two years, the Supervisory Yuan has been cut down a lot of power, but fortunately, his majesty’s favor towards himself is increasing day by day, no one in the court dares to do something to himself, and the elders who worried Fan Xian the most, also from the Kyoto rebel incident, has gained the most valuable experience, not waiting for his majesty’s action, then automatically disappeared from the stage.

His father had long ago resigned from his position as Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and had honestly returned to Tanyu State to retire. Although Chen Pingping was still the head of the Supervisory Academy, she had long since stopped seeing things, leaving all the affairs of the academy in the hands of Fan Xian and Yan Bingyun, and had long since asked His Majesty for his resignation, only that His Majesty really had some pity for the affection he had with him, and insisted on not allowing it.

Of course, in the old generation of characters, the most tragic is also the father-in-law of Wuzhou, in the Kyoto counter-insurgency, the former minister Lin Ruofu a calculation of poor, buried in the imperial court of all the people are entrusted to their good son-in-law in the hands of their own, thought that can be a comeback, but who would have expected, His Majesty the emperor returned to the capital peacefully, all of this has become a dream like a bubble. More than a mirage, His Majesty the Emperor was deeply afraid of the dishonesty of the former Chancellor, and in the past two years, the Chancellor’s disciples of that year were made to suffer badly enough, and although he didn’t use any underhanded tactics, he was also able to pull out the last of Lin Ruofu’s strength left in Kyoto cleanly.

Regarding this matter, Fan Xian did not even have room to speak, he can only look at all this with a bitter smile, looking at his father-in-law in Wuzhou in fear, one after another secretly wrote to his majesty, pleading guilty.

Luckily, His Majesty did not pursue Lin Ruofu for Fan Xian’s and Lin Wan’er’s double face.

Thinking about it this way, the three old guys that His Majesty intended to sweep away had all consciously retreated towards the back of the stage, the Qing court was already like an iron bucket, and Shi Fei’s reassignment back to Kyoto, why on earth was that? Such a powerful figure, not staying in the middle of the war to unify the world, but transferred back to His Majesty the Emperor’s side, against whom?

Was it himself? Fan Xian’s heart was a bit gloomy, no longer thinking about these questions, raised his head and said softly to Deng Ziyue, “Don’t pay any attention to the matters in Kyoto.”

After a pause, he said, “No matter what you hear or know, don’t care …… You have to remember that you are an official of the Supervisory Yuan, His Majesty’s subject, and I’m releasing you in Xiliang now for the sake of the lives of hundreds of millions of people in Qing, so if you get this thing done, everything will be fine. ”

Deng Ziyue was the second person to enter Qinian’s group, he was personally captured by Wang Qinian, outside of the old Wang leader, he is Fan Xian’s number one close friend, these years has been in the Beijing of Northern Qi to take on the role of chief head of all four in Northern Qi, he also knows that the Lord of the Tishek is promoting himself, and his heart is not thankful for it. At this time, listening to the words of the Lord of the Division of ominous meaning, can not help but be speechless, eyes full of worry.

The three consecutive chiefs of the four Northern Qi spy networks in the Supervisory Yuan are Yan Bingyun, Wang Qinian, and Deng Ziyue, all of whom are Fan Xian’s most capable assistants, and if they don’t get into accidents like Wang Qinian, they will all be the most cutting-edge officials in the Supervisory Yuan in the future.

Fan Xian quietly looked at Deng Ziyue: “The matter of Xiliang is very important, you have to deal with it properly, after you return to the capital, the position of organizer of the four departments you will first double up, so that it will be easier to ask for support from the other seven departments, but the rest of the precincts you will not be in charge of them for the time being, you will still let Yan Bingyun lead them, understand what I mean?”

“Understood.” Deng Ziyue nodded, “Thank you for your honor’s grace.”

“Don’t let the Hu people step one step into my borders.” Fan Xian stared into his eyes, “I have given up so many people, and placed you, the one I trust the most, in this desert Western Liang Road for at least two years, for what, and you know it well, do not let me down.”

Deng Ziyue’s heart was in awe, kneeling down on one knee, he solemnly said, “I will live up to your lordship’s expectations.”

Fan Xian nodded and said nothing more. Deng Ziyue’s heart is still full of emotions, he has followed the Lord Titus for five years, but has never seen the other side so seriously to explain a thing, what makes him feel awe-inspiring is that obviously little Lord Fan is only a young man in his early twenties, but explaining things, to do things, but is so calm and peaceful, muddy like an old man who has been floating in the court for several decades.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, “About the Songzhi Immortal Order ……”

The news that the Songzhi Immortal Order was a begonia would always slowly spread, but at least for the moment, apart from Fan Xian, only Deng Ziyue knew this secret. Hearing this request, Fan Xian fell silent and did not respond for a long time.

Ten or so days later, the convoy of the imperial official Fan Xian arrived outside of Kyoto, only three days earlier, Fan Xian had given the order that all ceremonies as well as the blinding things be removed. This trip was ordered to visit the western Liang just go through the motions, the secret plan is the most important, coupled with the Kyoto inside some small trouble, Fan Xian does not want to be too flashy, so the Qinzhi ceremonial vehicle changed, it became the Supervisory Yuan around the fleet.

Naturally, there was no problem with the documents of the Procuratorate, and the officers and soldiers of the City Gate Department didn’t dare to mess with these grandmasters, so the convoy didn’t have to wait for long outside the West City Gate before heading inside. Fan Xian lifted a corner of the window curtains, subconsciously looked out, and could not help but think of when the first time into the capital, had a glimpse of Ye Ling’er galloped into the appearance.

Ye Ling’er should have arrived in Dingzhou by now, and Wang XIII Lang will definitely come to report to Fan House before the New Year’s Festival, but I don’t know if she will follow her. Fan Xian’s face couldn’t help but float up a trace of a relieved smile, remembering the time when spring was heavy, the woman was dressed in a light-colored jacket, with a white buckskin hat on her head, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and her eyes were clear and bright ……

Suddenly a gray shadow rushed past the side of the convoy, narrowly brushing against the carriage Fan Xian was riding in, the shadow was so fast that it nearly startled the horses of the Supervisory Yuan’s convoy, a very alarming situation.

The swordsmen of the six divisions of the Procuratorate subconsciously gripped their hands on the handles of their braziers, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

However, Fan Xian had already gotten a good look at the gray shadow and shook his head, it was just a little girl on horseback, why be so nervous. It was just that the little girl on horseback rushed so fast, completely unconcerned about the safety of these people and vegetable farmers waiting at the city gates, making Fan Xian unable to help but frown.

That horse should be the young lady of some powerful family, or else she wouldn’t be so arrogant, Fan Xian stuck his head out of the window and squinted at the woman rushing into the city gates, looking at the ranks that were disorganized by her horse, as well as an old farmer who was so frightened that he stumbled to the ground, and his mood became bad.

The reasons that make him in a bad mood are many, but one of the important ones is because that powerful lady riding a horse actually wears a skirt, the same as Ye Ling’er, and her head actually also wears a hat of white buckskin, or …… the same as Ye Ling’er.

“Whose lady is this, acting so badly.” Fan Xian asked Mu Feng’er beside the car, Mu Feng’er’s family were all working in one place in Kyoto, and were very clear about the personnel of the powerful and noble families in Kyoto, but today, Mu Feng’er looked at the horse that had disappeared far away, and just shook her head, indicating that she didn’t know.

Instead, there was a member of the Qi Nian group next to her who had gone out of the city to greet her and said in a low voice, “It should be the Wang family’s young lady.”

“Wang family?” Fan Xian raised his eyebrows slightly, thinking that aside from the daughter of Yanjing’s Grand Capital Governor Wang Zhikun’s family, which other Wang family in the entire Kyoto would dare to be so arrogant. Two years had passed since the Kyoto Rebellion, the Yanjing Battalion had performed exceptionally well in the matter of quelling the rebellion, not only had it cleared the entire Dongshan Road for His Majesty, but it had also taken control of Yan Xiaoyi’s Conquest of the North Battalion, and now that Wang Zhikun was far away from Yanjing, while Shi Fei had already been transferred back to Kyoto, this was the so-called Yanjing Faction of the military, and it was the time when the Holy Family was in a grand position to do so.

“It is none other than the young lady of Grand Governor Wang’s family. It is said that the great capital governor remembers the holy favor, the heart of the old house in Kyoto, so he let this young lady back to Kyoto …… Nowadays, Shi Fei, the commander of the Kyoto guard, is a subordinate of the great capital governor Wang in the past years, and this Miss Wang is called by her uncle. This Miss Wang is said to be most fond of the elegance of Miss Ye in Kyoto in those years, so ……” The members of the Kai Nian team explained something in a low voice, a good subordinate will always analyze the situation for the superior, so as to avoid unnecessary problems.

“Want to learn Ye Ling’er?” The smile at the corner of Fan Xian’s lips was a bit strange, “When I first saw Ye Ling’er outside the city gates, the people of Kyoto would automatically make way for her, and I’ve never seen that disciple of mine waving his whip around haphazardly to drive people away ……”

Watching this scene, he had gradually understood in his heart who exactly the side consort of the grand prince formulated in the palace was, his face gradually turned gloomy and said, “First, don’t enter the palace, go around to the Prince of Harmony’s mansion.”