A Complete Explanation of the Negative Textbooks of the Imperial Examination - Chapter 92

    “My minister Xiao Jingduo, please fight.”

    As soon as Xiao Jingduo’s words fell, many people’s eyes converged immediately.

    Rong Ke sat behind the beaded curtain, staring at Xiao Jingduo with clear eyes across the colorful glass beads. Bai Jiayi stood at the end of the line and also looked up at Xiao Jingduo.

    Xiao Jingduo did not pause, but continued calmly and firmly: “My minister Xiao Jingduo once served as the county magistrate of Jinjiang County, Jiannan Road, and fought several battles with Nanzhao, and he knows the frontier war in detail. This minister is willing to ask the Turks to fight. , share the worries for the eldest princess and your majesty.”

      He publicly supported Rong Ke, and he didn’t plan to hide it any longer.

    This is the first and only foreign surname outside of the Xia family who has openly stood up to support Rong Ke since Rong Ke was in power for a few months.

      Ke, for fear of being misunderstood. And at such a time, someone actually stood up and said openly, “I am willing to share the worries for the eldest princess and your majesty.”

    He even put Rong Ke in front of the emperor.

    Now everyone stopped arguing, and all looked back at Xiao Jingduo.

    Xiao Jingduo even heard someone whisper: “He became a military officer in his early twenties, and he can foresee a bright future. Why do such things and destroy his future?”

      “

    Xiao Jingduo did not speak, but bowed deeply: “Please make a decision.”

    That rainy night, Rong Ke joked about Xiao Yumang’s marriage. Although she promoted Xiao Jingduo, she didn’t want to reveal that Xiao Jingduo had a personal relationship with her. Her promotion is more like a kind of cherishing talent, challenging you and giving you a future, but she doesn’t want you to participate in her affairs.

    Rong Kexu thinks that Xiao Jingduo is a talent that can be made, and such a talent should go into the official career in a safe and stable manner, there is no need to let the other party have a relationship with him, and the future of others is wasted.

    If this kind of thing is put on ordinary people’s dreams, they can wake up with a smile. Rong Ke is willing to promote and cultivate, and he doesn’t have to express his position and stand in line. Whether Rong Ke succeeds or fails, he will not be implicated on himself. , where to find such a good thing?

    But Xiao Jingduo was unwilling.

    Rong Ke was reluctant to expose their relationship, and to put it bluntly, she was still not trustworthy enough. She wanted to hide from the courtier and let him climb steadily in his career. Xiao Jingduo thanked Rong Ke for this thought, but was unwilling to accept it.

    He wanted to say that on that rainy day, he was willing to accompany Rong Ke to advance and retreat together. But he didn’t say anything that day, but chose to publicly express his attitude in front of civil and military officials on such an early morning.

    What Xiao Jingduo asked Rong Ke to decide, only the two of them knew. But in the eyes of other people, this is Xiao Jingduo’s good way of not taking the right path and insisting on taking shortcuts. These words are obviously in his favor, wanting to please the princess to compete for fame and fortune.

    Who can endure this kind of thing, Xiao Jingduo almost immediately became the target of the public.

    Many people glared at Xiao Jingduo, and the people standing beside Xiao Jingduo even moved out, resolutely showing their different positions.

    Bai Jiayi stood up from behind the queue and said, “I have served as a county magistrate in the northwest for four years. I am familiar with the northwest and are willing to fight together.”

    The old friends of the Bai family were watching the fun, and they suddenly heard Bai Jiayi say this sentence like a twitch. They were startled and hurriedly winked and pressed Bai Jiayi back.

    Only the first person to stand up in everything can work. Bai Jiayi does not have the same military exploits as Xiao Jingduo, and he is the second one to stand up. He was quickly suppressed by everyone. Bai Jiayi wanted to say more, but he was pressed back by the courtiers who had an old relationship with the Bai family.

    “Okay.” Rong Ke said, “It’s noon, let’s leave the court. General Geng and the ministers will go to the Liangyi Hall to discuss matters.”

    Rong Ke and Rong Lang got up one after another, all the ministers bowed down and sent them away respectfully. Immediately, several prime ministers and General Geng left the queue and quickly walked out of the hall behind the servant.

    The rest of the people can be dispersed. After the morning, they have to eat public meals in the corridor. In the past, this was a very serious time, but today, people in various official uniforms lined up and walked out. Then they dispersed into groups of three or five, quietly talking about today’s affairs.

    “No need.” Xiao Jingduo raised his head and glanced north, folded his sleeves and said, “I will wait here for His Highness’s summons.”

    “You…” Xiao Ying was extremely angry. Hearing the quarrel between the father and son, many people secretly turned to them and exchanged news of the Xiao family’s father and son with the people around them. In front of so many people, it was hard to say a lot of words, Xiao Ying could only slap her sleeves angrily, and left the sentence “Look for me later” before turning her head away.

    Xiao Jingduo stood there indifferently, Bai Jiayi wanted to come and ask, but was stopped by others. Sure enough, after a while, a line of courtiers who were dressed in uniform came from the back of the hall. The father-in-law at the head bowed to Xiao Jingduo and said with a smile: “Xiao Langguan, Your Highness and the ministers are looking for him.”

    In the Hall of Liangyi, several prime ministers have already quarreled over this matter.

    Xiao Jingduo walked into the Liangyi Hall with the servant, and the father-in-law who led the way took him to the door of the east hall and said: “Xiao Langguan, the eldest princess and the prime ministers are inside, please wait for a while. waited.”

    “This is natural, thank you father-in-law.”

    The father-in-law smiled gently, looked at Xiao Jingduo blankly, and took small steps back. Xiao Jingduo didn’t wait long when he saw a female official lift the curtain and came out, and gave him a palace salute lightly: “Xiao Langguan, come with me.”

    Xiao Jingduo entered the East Hall and was inevitably scrutinized by everyone.

    “You are the officer who was transferred to the Ministry of War a few days ago?”

    “Exactly.”

    A prime minister still had some impressions and asked, “I remember that you served as a county magistrate in the area of ​​Rongzhou before, and it seems that you still have some political achievements?”

    “Hui Zhuxiang, the lower official served as county magistrate for one year and county magistrate for three years in Jinjiang County. Last year, I fought with Nanzhao, and Jinjiang County also participated in several battles. A sneak attack on the border was defeated by a subordinate officer.”

    The prime ministers discussed something in a low voice, Yuan Xiang shook his head and said: “Jiannan is mostly a jungle, how can it be the same as the northwest? Being able to win a battle in the south does not mean that you can adapt to the plains. War! No, no.”

    Rong Ke spoke at this time, she asked, “How much do you know about the plain cavalry?”

    She looked forward with her dark and clear eyes, from which she could clearly see Xiao Jingduo’s reflection. Xiao Jingduo, as the center of the discussion, was not at all flustered at the moment, but said in a logical manner: “In my spare time, I have studied many military books and know a little about the Northwest…”

    Rong Ke and Xiao Jingduo talked about this topic a few days ago, and sure enough, a few days later, the conflict between the Turks broke out. At that time, Xiao Jingduo sent Rong Ke back to the palace, and Rong Ke gave the example of Zhao Kuo.

    Zhao Kuo, a representative on paper.

    Xiao Jingduo didn’t say anything at the time, he just read many books on the art of war after returning home, and moved back to some northwest local annals, reading it again and again.

    When I ask this question again, Xiao Jingduo said it perfectly. He knows everything about how to march, how to set up an army, how to fight the enemy, and even the local climate and climate. No one can question his military skills. attainments.

    Sure enough, when Xiao Jingduo finished speaking, many people shut up, and even old General Geng, who had always disliked Rong Ke, had to admit: “It’s still a bit of a posture.”

    General Geng is a master in the army. Yuan and others were speechless for a while, Rong Ke took advantage of the victory to pursue and asked, “Since you are a good talent, why do you have to refuse?”

    “How old is he, he has only experienced a few small battles, how can he go out with the army and serve as the chief of the first army?”

    “Old General Geng admits that he is right. If according to Yuan Xiang’s statement, people who have not experienced actual combat cannot go to the battlefield, doesn’t it mean that all the younger generation don’t have to join the army?” Rong Ke Slowly looking around, his voice suddenly turned cold, “Or, as long as it is the person recommended by this hall, you will all deny it!”

    As soon as these words came out, everyone’s expressions changed: “What the princess said, the old minister would not dare.”

    Prime Minister Duan, the good man, came out and said, “Since His Highness strongly recommended it, let Xiao Jingduo be the general manager and lead the right wing army.”

    The battle is generally divided into seven armies, with a central army of 4,000, directly under the generals, one army each for the left and right Yuhou, and two left and right wing armies for a total of four armies. General Geng Rui was in charge of the Central Army and the other six armies. According to Prime Minister Duan, Xiao Jingduo could try the right wing army. Geng Rui was watching from above. If he could not command, he could immediately regain military power.

    There are 2,600 people in the right wing army, 2,000 people say more or less, but it is enough to test the level of the generals. Rong Ke was quite satisfied with the result, so he took a step back and stopped talking, while Xiao Jingduo bowed his head and thanked him: “Thank you to the ministers, General Xie Geng.”

    “Thank me for what I did.” Geng Rui snorted, “No one in the army can protect you. If you don’t do well, I will immediately fire you.”

    “It’s natural, please listen to it.”

    Seeing that Xiao Jingduo hadn’t gone too wild, Geng Rui felt a little more at ease, snorted heavily, and stopped talking.

    The Great General has been decided, and the Sixth Army is commanded except for Xiao Jingduo, and there are still five places to be discussed. Xiao Jingduo has nothing to do with these, he can retire, and Rong Ke and several prime ministers will stay in the Liangyi Hall to discuss.

        Xiao Jingduo didn’t want to disturb others, so he quietly left the palace and returned to the palace for lunch.

    Qiu Ju and the others were both surprised and delighted when they saw Xiao Jingduo coming back. They hurriedly prepared lunch and tea for Xiao Jingduo, not knowing what was brewing in the mansion of Dingyong Hou.

    Sure enough, Xiao Jingduo didn’t move a few chopsticks when he heard the servants running over to announce: “Darlangjun, Marquis is looking for him.”

    “Ah?” Qiu Ju was puzzled, “Master Dalang has just returned, and he hasn’t eaten a few bites of food. Can’t he go after a while?”

    “Master Hou asked Dalangjun to come immediately.”

      “

    He put down the tableware and stood up calmly: “Let’s go.”

    In the study, Xiao Ying was already full of anger, and when she saw Xiao Jingduo, she scolded: “What’s going on with you today, how dare you say such a thing!”

    Xiao Jingduo was too lazy to talk to Xiao Ying, and had no desire to explain at this moment.

    And Xiao Ying is still gushing furiously: “You will be appointed as a member of foreign affairs on the 21st, and after a few years, you will be able to go to another state to be the prefect, and put it in a few places, and you will return to the DPRK. When you are young, you may be able to be promoted to the fifth rank. As long as you work hard, when you are forty, you may be able to be promoted to the fifth rank or above. A good career, you just don’t cherish it, why should you go to work? Princess Ning Chang? Do you think you can take shortcuts by relying on the princess? Let me tell you, you are self-destructing your future, and you will only make people look down on you. Maybe you won’t be able to keep your officials in a few years!”

    Can’t even keep an official in a few years? Xiao Jingduo smiled and asked, “I don’t understand this, what does Lord Hou mean?”

      Maybe the one on the Dragon Throne will be replaced, let alone a princess. But everyone knows this kind of truth, but no one dares to say it. Because of this, the talents in the court desperately draw a clear line with Princess Gan Ning, for fear of being stigmatized by nepotism, and for fear of being held accountable by the new emperor in the future.

    Xiao Jingduo asked so clearly, Xiao Ying was at a loss for words and couldn’t say why. When he saw Xiao Jingduo’s half-smiling eyes, he became more and more annoyed: “Nizi, are you deliberately embarrassing me?”

    “Didn’t you say this yourself? You dare to say it, why don’t you let people ask.”

      With such a hat that is enough to ruin Xiao Jingduo’s official career, Xiao Jingduo did not feel panic, but smiled sarcastically: “After all, you can only threaten me with these few things. If mother is still there, you can still use it. She came to threaten me, and now she’s not there anymore, over and over again, all you can figure out is my unfilial piety and career. Thinking about it this way, is it a pity that you forced your mother to death early?”

    “I know what I’m doing. What I want to do, what will happen in the future, these are my business. You don’t have to worry about me, and I don’t want you to worry about it. Hou is afraid that I will implicate you, so please separate me from the Xiao family.”

    “Extremely daring!” Xiao Ying sneered, “You were expelled from the family, do you know what you are talking about?”

    “Do you think I’m joking?” Xiao Jingduo’s voice was indifferent and calm, “If possible, I wish I didn’t have your biological father.”

      “Look, you are only a rank six now, and you dare to say such words, and you may not be able to do anything in the future.”

    He didn’t take two steps when he heard Xiao Ying ask in a puzzled way: “I always thought you were rebellious, but at least you knew the importance. Even if you hated me again, you shouldn’t do anything. Such self-destructing things. Why on earth are you doing this?”

    Why?

    Xiao Jingduo didn’t turn around, he didn’t even stop his footsteps, he continued to walk out, and he walked resolutely and went his own way.

    Because he has found someone worthy of allegiance and someone he wants to protect.

    She deserves it.

    His master is also his sweetheart.

    It took a few days for the old lady to know what Xiao Jingduo had done, but it was still Xiao Yumang and Xiao Yuli who went back to their parents’ house to cry, and the old lady realized it later.

     “What, Duo is actually in the courtroom, standing in front of everyone in the princess’ team? Is he crazy!”

    No matter how the old lady chattered, how the few married cousins ​​went back to their parents’ house to make trouble, Xiao Jingduo didn’t take it to heart.

    All he cares about is the expedition in a few days.

    Rong Ke needs military exploits and the confidence to speak in the courtroom. Let him do it for her.