Became a feudal lord in the late Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 48 Soft and Hard
  "How can a small Zhuozhou person deserve to ask for so many things several times in a row?"

Tan Zhen had a fair face and beardless figure, and was wearing a purple official robe. He pressed Cai Jing's autographed letter onto the official documents in Zhuozhou. After a few scoffs, the two documents were torn into pieces. Tan Zhen casually rolled them into balls. Throwing it aside, he sneered:
  "Tell the person who came here that the money, food, troops and horses I have here are only for Guo Pharmacist. Liu Ling is a local garrison. He has hundreds or thousands of soldiers and horses. Now that he has repeatedly asked for so much, what are he leading are state soldiers." Or are we the Imperial Army of the Song Dynasty?

I am not as stupid as some people. I will give him whatever he wants. There are only five hundred stones of food here, and there is no other money, food or equipment. Do you want it?

It's okay for Medical Master Guo to send people to this town every day to ask for things that are so annoying. Who do you think you are? Not to mention this time, Zhuozhou will withhold money and food next time. I want to see how respectable Cai Jing and Liu Ling are, and they will be honest after a few of them starve to death. "

Tan Zhen immediately cursed, and the soldiers standing guard on both sides immediately drove away the angry-looking Zhuozhou envoy.

Next to him, a civil servant came up and laughed in a low voice: "My lord, why bother getting angry with that guy? I have an idea. I wonder if you would like to hear it?"

Tan Zhen was picking up the tea to drink. Hearing this, he put down the cup and glanced at him, "Say."

"Liu Ling has sent people to ask for money and food under clever pretexts several times, which shows that he is a greedy person. But coincidentally, he is also the confidant of Medicine Master Guo."

Zhuozhou used to be the base camp of the Ever Victorious Army, but now it is guarded by Liu Ling. In name, the imperial court appointed people to guard it, but Pharmacist Guo must have contributed some effort.

When the literary official saw Tan Zhen's eyes moving to his face, he was secretly happy and said: "There is no product in the world without a price tag. Since Liu Ling is greedy for money, as long as we give more to show our favor, it doesn't matter whether Liu Ling wants it or not. Yes, once we reveal this news to Yaoshi Guo, how can these two people work together to face you again?
  As soon as Zhang Linghui and Liu Shunren died, the Changsheng Army all followed Guo Yaoshi's orders and dominated Yan's land and grew stronger day and night. Isn't this a good opportunity to provoke them? "

"Besides, it's all money and food allocated by the imperial court anyway. If you give Liu Ling more, you can use Kaguo Pharmacist's money and food as an excuse in the future to let them make trouble among themselves."

Just use the public money and food and make your own connections.

Tan Zhen pondered for a moment, then suddenly slammed the table, "It's ridiculous. As a minister of the imperial court, how can I do such a despicable thing! Come here, drag me down and fight with me!"

I've obviously come up with several strategies, so why do you want to hit me?
  The clerk was dumbfounded. The two soldiers who had just dragged the envoy out came in again and dragged him out. Soon, the clerk's screams could be heard outside.

Tan Zhen snorted angrily. He just picked up the tea cup and took a sip. Suddenly he raised it again and hit the maid next to him on the head with the tea in it. "I've blinded you. You don't know how to change the tea even if it's cold. How can I change it?" Working?"

The maid's smooth forehead was suddenly hit with a wound, and blood dripped down her bangs to the ground. She endured the pain and quickly knelt down and kowtowed to beg for mercy. The two maids next to her helped her change the tea. Tan Zhen was still angry.

Just when he was about to continue scolding, someone happened to bring a case file outside. The man wanted to stay and say a few words to please Tan Zhen, but seeing that the situation was not right, he put down the case file, said a few words, and hurriedly left. .

Tan Zhen casually opened the page and read one or two pages. He waved impatiently to the maids to get out, and then said to the clerks below: "Come and take a look."

Starting from July, Tong Guan was ordered to become an official by the officials. Although he could stay in the court for the time being due to his connections and the persuasion of officials, his favor gradually declined and his favor became cold.

Tan Zhen was still worried. In his opinion, Tong Guan was just an old loser. However, he had some influence in the army of Song Dynasty. There were also some people in the court who did not want to speak out when Tong Guan became an official. Minister, but there are some people among them who have been supported by Tong Guan before. If Tan Zhen presses too hard, these people cannot ignore them.

So Tan Zhen set his sights on Chang Shengjun.

Both Guo Yaoshi and Chang Shengjun were valued by the officials, and they were now guarding Yanshan Mansion. In most eyes, they were Tong Guan's direct descendants in the army in Yanshan. It was also because of this consideration that the officials did not force Tong Guan too much. .

If he could replace their role with a force of soldiers and horses, then Tong Guan would be completely useless.

"My officer, I plan to mobilize a group of capable soldiers from the border troops and the surrendered soldiers of the Liao Kingdom, and build a second military town in Yanshan. Isn't his victorious army always complaining, so I will report to the court. Send some troops to share their pressure."

The things recorded in the book are related to soldiers and horses everywhere, and they reveal some information, but there is nothing confidential.

Thinking of the clerk's plan, Tan Zhen raised a sneer at the corner of his mouth.

Who is Liu Ling, who is worthy of me lowering his worth and personally offering benefits to win him over?
  It would be fine if this thing could be done, but if it could not be done, Pharmacist Guo and Liu Ling were still colluding, and he gave so many things to Liu Ling in vain, wouldn't he be embarrassed?
  Thinking of this, Tan Zhen couldn't help but feel angry. Why was he surrounded by such wastes who failed to succeed but failed more than failed?
  "Mr. Sir, please have tea." The maidservant knelt down in front of Pharmacist Guo, and slowly poured the boiled tea into the blue porcelain cup. Her movements were skillful and elegant. Pharmacist Guo put down the document in his hand, nodded slightly, and took a few sips. , the fragrance of tea lingered in my mouth and tongue, and I felt that my fatigue was relieved a lot.

He put down the tea cup, looked at the maid kneeling in front of him, and said with a smile: "I remember you said the day before yesterday that your mother was sick and asked for leave. Is she feeling better now?"

Hearing Pharmacist Guo's question, the maid's face suddenly showed gratitude:

"Replying to your husband, I would like to thank you for the three ounces of money sent by your husband. This slave has money to buy medicinal materials, and my mother's illness has improved a lot."

"It's just a small thing, no need to thank you."

Spending a few dollars to buy someone's heart is a good deal, and he is not short of money. What's more, Liu Ling sends people to send gold and silver jewelry from time to time. It's a waste to leave it alone. Every day when I go out, I pick up some and go out. As time goes by, the whole Yanjing will say good things about Pharmacist Guo.

Who wouldn't like a man who is rich and powerful, knows how to care for others, and is good-looking?

Pharmacist Guo stretched out and said, "Go and ask me when we can eat outside. I've been busy for a long time and I'm really hungry."

"Here."

The maid stood up, but turned back after a moment.

"My lord, there is a report from outside that General Liu's envoy is asking for an audience."

"General Liu Liu Ling?"

A smile appeared on Pharmacist Guo's face.

"This boy, did you send someone to deliver something to me again?"

The messenger was dressed in black cloth. He bowed and saluted after walking in. Medicine Master Guo nodded and asked, "What did Liu Ling ask you to do?"

"General Liu accidentally got a white jade tiger carved from a whole piece of jade. It is a rare item, so he specially sent a villain to give it to Mr. Guo to play with."

The messenger said, half-kneeling on the ground, holding the wooden box in his hand above his head, and the maid took it and opened it, then placed it in front of Medicine Master Guo.

Pharmacist Guo only focused on admiring the white tiger in front of him without raising his head, "Tell me, what does your general want?"

Seeing the gentle tone of Pharmacist Guo, the envoy knew that something was going on, and he quickly smiled and said: "My general wants to go out of the city to destroy the horse thieves because there are so many horse thieves outside the city, but there are too few horsemen in the army."

"Okay, okay, what nonsense."

Pharmacist Guo played the white tiger and felt even happier when he heard the crisp sound.

"I don't have many troops and horses left here, only four hundred. I just sent someone to buy them from the Kingdom of Jin. I'll give you half of them. If you don't have enough manpower, I'll send more troops and horses to escort you back. Yes. Okay, next time you come, don’t bring such precious things, after all, I am..."

"Since it is Duke Guo's teachings, I must remember it and tell the general when I go back." The messenger smiled apologetically, "This time, General Liu's wife is pregnant. General Liu said that you would always take care of her like an elder brother. If it hadn't been for today With his status, General Liu doesn’t have a stable place for his wife to raise her baby.”

Hearing the word "brother", Medicine Master Guo raised his head and looked at the messenger. After a while, he slowly said: "Since we have younger brothers and sisters, I, the older brother, haven't sent any gifts yet. I'll just give them all four hundred horses." I’ll take it back to you, and you can hold my warrant and ask for three hundred more pieces of armor from the treasury to be brought with you.”

(End of this chapter)