I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 170: Meeting Fan Zhongyan for the first time, a top-notch figure in the world, it must be like this!

That night.

Su Liang stayed at the inn and wrote a letter to Fan Zhongyan.

On the one hand, he informed about the situation of "returning veterans forming the Shabo Society"; on the other hand, he informed that he would arrive in Gyeongju in five days.

In the second year of Qingli, when Su Liang took the provincial examination in Bianjing, Fan Zhongyan was in the northwest; from the third to fourth year of Qingli, when Fan Zhongyan was deputy prime minister, Su Liang was serving in the local area.

Since Su Liang became the supervisory censor, he has exchanged hundreds of letters with Fan Zhongyan, but they have never met.

Su Liang had long admired this model scholar-bureaucrat who "does not rejoice in things and does not grieve in himself".

……

April 27, night.

Su Liang is still nearly sixty miles away from the capital city of Gyeongju and is expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon.

And this time.

He got another piece of news from Shafan Society.

This group of veterans was not at all the "thousands" that Qin Feng Road garrison commander Qi Fei called them.

Instead, nearly 5000 people have gathered.

And they also have a loud slogan: exchange life for life, kill Tibetan thieves!

This slogan made Su Liang's hair stand on end.

He could also understand the mood of these veterans. Most of them chose to join the army because their families were killed by Xixia soldiers, hoping to one day take revenge.

As long as they stay in the military camp, they will have the opportunity to go into battle and kill the enemy.

But with the implementation of the disarmament order, the faith that had sustained their lives over the years collapsed.

They have been in the military camp for many years, and they have long been far away from the ordinary days of farming, farming and chopping firewood, and they have no family members.

There will be no more worries in life.

They then thought of exchanging their lives for revenge.

Do not persuade others to be kind without suffering others.

Su Liang admired these veterans from the bottom of his heart, but he didn't want them to ruin the overall situation and die in vain.

If these people are not properly placed during this northwest troop reduction, it will be a huge hidden danger.

……

April 28, afternoon.

Su Liang and his party finally arrived in Gyeongju City.

As soon as Su Liang arrived at the city gate, he heard the shouts of the vendors in the city, and even smelled the strong smell of roasted lamb, which made him feel hungry.

He had just entered the city.

A young man in a green shirt, about 20 years old, walked up to the carriage.

He cupped his hands and said, "Is this Su Yushi in the car?"

Su Liang opened the door curtain and asked doubtfully: "It's Su Liang, who is the young master?"

"Chunren came here to greet Mr. Su on my father's orders!" The young man handed over his hand again.

"It turns out to be Yao Fu, you're welcome, you're welcome!" Su Liang said with a smile and quickly walked out of the carriage.

This young man is Fan Chunren, the second son of Fan Zhongyan.

His cousin name is Yao Fu, he is 21 years old.

He once studied under great scholars such as Hu Yuan and Sun Fu, and now he is with Fan Zhongyan, preparing for next year's Jinshi examination.

"Yaofu, I'm not much older than you. If you want to call me sir, just call me Jingming!" Su Liang said with a smile.

"No, no, Mr. Su is so talented that Chunren should be respected as his teacher." Fan Chunren was humble and polite, as if he was the true successor of Fan Zhongyan.

"It doesn't matter! You can shout as much as you want, and the carriage won't sit. Let's take a walk on the street, and then go to visit Mr. Fan."

"Yeah, okay." Fan Chunren smiled and nodded.

Although Fan Chunren is in the northwest, he has heard many legends about Su Liang.

The tongue is a knife and the lips are a sword. He battles wits with two government officials and three officials time and time again, and makes suggestions for the court time and time again.

Laughing and cursing are all beautiful articles.

His father said more than once: During the New Deal, if Su Jingming had been there to advise him, he would have been defeated.

This kind of evaluation made Fan Chunren admire Su Liang.

After reading Su Liang’s article, I benefited a lot and kept saying: Taiwan’s admonishing officer should be like Su Jingming!
This also made Fan Chunren always think that Su Liang should be the kind of person with sharp words and serious words.

Who would have thought that she would be as graceful as jade, free and unrestrained.

Just like a contemporary Li Taibai.

After a while.The two walked on the street, watching and chatting.

At first, Fan Chunren was a little nervous when chatting with Su Liang.

But after seeing Su Liang buying a bunch of candied haws on the street and eating them, he completely relaxed.

The two chatted happily.

Su Liang also learned that Fan Zhongyan was in poor health recently, suffering from lung disease and cold.

If Northwest didn't need him, he would have even considered resigning.

After half an hour.

Fan Chunren first arranged a residence for Su Liang and others, and asked everyone to wash up, and then brought Su Liang to Fan's house.

At this moment, it's time for dinner.

in the hall.

Fan Zhongyan, who was wearing a dark blue robe, ran quickly towards the front yard when he heard the servant's report.

At this time, Su Liang happened to come over.

"Su Liang meets Mr. Fan, we are in the northwest, thank you for your hard work!" Su Liang said with a heavy hand.

Su Liang was very aware of the pressure Fan Zhongyan faced in governing the northwest after the failure of the New Deal. He was able to govern the northwest like an iron wall. He was truly a Confucian commander.

Fan Zhongyan's eyes shone with tears.

He excitedly took Su Liang's hand and said: "Su Jingming, you make me look forward to it! Come on, sit down in the room. I knew you were coming and had stewed the mutton two hours ago!"

"Haha, Mr. Fan, that boy is in a good mood today. I am quite good at eating!"

"Enough is enough, you can eat as much as you want!"

……

When Fan Zhongyan and Su Jingming met for the first time, they were like old friends who had known each other for a long time. The conversation was smooth and there was no sense of alienation.

When the two exchanged letters, they were basically close friends.

Fan Zhongyan's regret is that when the new coup law was introduced, he did not meet such a Taiwanese remonstrator who could turn the tide.

Su Liang's regret is that if he served as an admonishment officer in Taiwan, Fan Zhongyan would be the father-in-law of the two governments and three departments, and the Song Dynasty would definitely develop better than it does now.

After a while, the lamb was served.

Fan Chunren sat aside and quickly poured wine for Su Liang.

Fan Zhongyan picked up the wine glass, looked at Fan Chunren, and said, "I am happy for my father today, so I can make an exception and have a small drink. If I don't drink, all our wine will be taken away by that General Di!"

Fan Chunren had no choice but to pour him a glass.

Next.

The three of them chatted while eating mutton.

Fan Zhongyan and Su Liang were very happy to meet each other. Unknowingly, they drank five glasses of wine. Finally, Fan Chunren took away the glass and started drinking tea.

Finished meal.

The three went to the study.

Fan Zhongyan knew that the reform movement in the Song Dynasty was unstoppable, and Su Liang would be the main force.

Then he talked about the details of Fan and Fu’s New Deal, things to pay attention to, and pitfalls that are easy to step on.

Fan Chunren listened with great interest. His father had never told him this before.

After a while.

Fan Zhongyan and Su Liang sat opposite each other, chatting from the imperial examination to official administration, from troop reduction to Liao and Xia, from Qizhou to people's livelihood...

The two chatted very quickly and covered a wide range of topics, and Fan Chunren could not keep up with their thoughts.

What surprised Fan Chunren the most was——

Su Liang's knowledge and understanding are no less than those of his father, and sometimes he can even answer his father's questions.

Moreover, Fan Zhongyan couldn't help but applaud some of Su Liang's novel ideas.

Fan Chunren was even more impressed.

Su Jingming at this moment.

Su Jingming, who was eating candied haws on the street and could even swallow two candied haws in one mouthful, looked like a completely different person.

And Su Liang also benefited a lot.

Fan Zhongyan's foresight in Qizhou's reform, his prediction of the current layout of the two governments and three divisions, and his prediction of the Liao-Xia war all made Su Liang find everything new and fresh.

By chatting with him, Su Liang not only broadened his horizons, but also saw a pure heart that was devoted to Song Dynasty.

This made Su Liang couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart: He must be the first-class person in the world!

(End of this chapter)