Chapter 2 first quarter

One morning in mid-November, Liu Kai, the commander of the four chambers of the Longshenwei who was on duty at Ma Junsi's guards, was urgently announced that he would immediately enter the palace to wait for His Majesty to see him. It was an awkward hour, neither too early nor too late.The sun has not yet been in a straight line, so it can be considered morning, but for the working people at the bottom of society in Tokyo (Kaifeng), most of them have already eaten something, so they regard it as afternoon. But for the upper class in Tokyo, this time is still a long night of dreams!It will take several more hours for them to start the beautiful and splendid day called "today".They fear neither the day that comes too early to disturb their dreams, nor the day that goes too quickly to prevent them from feasting.Some of their homes are thick and fine curtains, which can isolate the rising dawn from the doors and windows, and some are brilliant lamps and candles, which can extend the remaining sunset glow into the hall and bedrooms.For them, morning and night, morning and afternoon, day and night... There is no clear boundary.

Liu Kai is naturally also a figure in that class. He is a son of nobles, a senior officer in the Imperial Guard, and the kind of close attendant that officials prefer to regard him as a confidant.Officials often send him to do this and other errands.Therefore, he has long been used to this sudden summons, and he doesn't think there is anything unusual about it.But today he was still surprised that the summoning time was too early and different from usual.He entered the inner court with this riddle he was eager to unravel. The inner court is still in a deep dream, and there is no sound everywhere.The little eunuch on duty saw Liu Kai being brought in, and gently raised the bead curtain with cat-like soft movements to let Liu Kai in. A strong fragrance sprayed out from the beast furnace, filling the air. in the whole hall.Through this dense screen, Liu Kai could clearly see the huge Ruisi Hall. Apart from the official himself, there were only two maids serving from a distance at the side of the imperial case, which seemed extremely empty.

The little inner supervisor led Liu Kai to the front of the imperial court, and sang in a low voice: "Liu Kai is here!" He moved his chin to express "understand", and then went to write his imperial edict. That morning, the official family casually wore a high-tipped Dongpo scarf, a household towel that was very popular among taxis at that time, and the official family also liked to wear it in the palace.He casually put on a silk half-arm over the light yellow casual robe, trying his best to appear chic in terms of clothing.But his pensive expression did exactly the opposite. Instead of being unrestrained, it looked very heavy and troubled, as if he was so distracted by the work in hand that he forgot for a long time. The presence of Liu Qi beside him.He started drafting several times, but every time he felt dissatisfied, he twisted the manuscript paper into balls, and then tore it apart, tearing it into strips.This is an action that poets, calligraphers, and painters often do in failed ideas.Suddenly, his wandering eyes met Liu Kai's intelligent and respectful eyes, his face suddenly brightened, and he smiled the kind of smile that he often makes to people he likes, and then with an intimate as if He asked Liu Kai in a homely tone:

"Can you recognize Ma Zheng, who is under the jurisdiction of Dengzhou Bingmaqian?" Liu Qi made an affirmative answer. "Where did you know him?" "Ma Zheng was originally a member of the Western Army. When I was in the Xihe Army, I was under his command, and I have been trained and educated by him." The official nodded and asked again: "Is Qing familiar with his son Ma Kuo?" Liu Kai never expected that the names of these two estranged military officers would suddenly be mentioned by the officials themselves at this very moment.Liu Kai is familiar with them and has an unusually close friendship.As soon as these two names were mentioned by the officials, it was like a spark lighting up his chest, arousing his fond memories.As a result, his thoughts became more active, and he thought of many past events related to them. His expression became more radiant, and his playing became more fluent.

"The Ma family is loyal and righteous. They lived in the western frontier, defending the territory for the officials, father, son, grandson, and four who died in the king's affairs. Ma Kuo and his ministers are especially irresistible. Back then, they went to Xige City to be..." "Is that the time when Qing went to be a hostage?" The official asked in a tone that seemed to be very familiar with everything in Liu Kai's life. "It was at that time that Ma Kuo and his minister swore to live and die together. They ventured there, but fortunately they survived the mission. In dealing with each other, Ma Kuo made most of his contributions. It's just that since I served in the capital, I heard that he The father and son have other errands, and they haven't seen each other for several years."

"Don't say anything, madam—" the official first picks up the mouse hair jade tube pen resting on the grid, points to himself with the tip of the pen, then turns his head around, shakes it lightly, and then points forcefully in the air, saying After the second half of the sentence, "Speaking must be in the middle." The beat of the last movement happened to fall on the word "Zhong", so it seemed very dramatic. He used this twists and turns and this tricky sentence to show his insight Faint, far and wide.Then he said triumphantly, "I have already guessed that Ma Kuo and Qing are old, and this guess really hit Qing's heart. Ma Kuo will return to Beijing to report on his duties in the near future. With this karma, Qing can be with him. It’s just a painful recounting of the old relationship. It’s just that you know the details of what his father and son have been doing for the past two years?”

"I have heard about the traces of Ma Zheng and others." This is a question that is quite discrepant. Liu Kai hesitated for a while, and answered truthfully, "It's just a matter of state secrets, and I don't dare to ask in advance. Ma Zheng and others have not reported this, so I don't know the details." The official gave him a deep look, then frowned, and asked slightly dissatisfied: "Ma Zheng's responsibilities are very important, so it's fine if he doesn't come to see Qing. Didn't Wang Fu and Cai You discuss this matter?" Say you know?"

"Neither Wang Fu nor Cai You discussed this matter with the minister." "This is where Wang Wei and Cai You are confused." Condemning ministers in power is a gesture of intimacy to cronies.The officials did not miss this opportunity to express their goodwill to Liu Kai again, "My confidant is like Qing, how many people can there be in the court? If you don't let Qing know about such a big event, who will know?" So he once again Picking up a pen, pointing to the unwritten edict on the desk, he said, "This edict has a lot to do with the whereabouts of Ma Zheng and Ma Kuo Nian. Now I am very upset about this matter. May you share my worries and write with me?" Did it go to Weizhou for a walk?"

Just like how they treat Liu Qi on weekdays, whenever the officials are assigned, they always talk about it from a distance, and then get to the point, very euphemistically.Just like the usual answers, Liu Kai fully understands and can feel the euphemistic meaning of the officials, and always answers respectfully: "Your Majesty's order, I dare not take my life!" "The day when Qing returns to Beijing is the time to meet Ma Kuo. Reminiscing about the past is not a great joy in life. It's just the New Year at the end of the year, and the Lantern Festival is just around the corner. It's time for couples to reunite and have fun, but Qing is asked to stay away from the capital. , thousands of miles galloped in the wind and snow, but it made me really feel bad."

Having said so many heartfelt words, now it is time to get down to business, the officials put down their pens and dictated their will in detail. It turns out that due to the foreign affairs of Ma Zheng and others, the imperial court will use troops in Hebei soon.The officials want Liu Kai to go on a business trip to Weizhou immediately to control all the roads in Shaanxi——Zhong Shidao, the commander of the Northwest Frontier Defense Army, conveyed this edict, and asked Zhong Shidao to follow the order and go to Taiyuan Mansion on Hedong Road to meet with the generals sent by the imperial court. The members discussed the military affairs of the Northern Expedition together.

There is no doubt that Zhong Shidao could not defy the imperial edict and refuse to attend the military meeting.However, due to the importance of this military operation, the officials also considered it very carefully.He considered: Zhong Shidao had been designated as the military commander of this campaign by default, and all the Northwest Frontier Guards under his command would be transferred to the Hebei battlefield.It is necessary for this dynasty to thoroughly understand his thinking and make him fully understand the secret diplomatic activities that Ma Zheng and others have so far only known to a few people and the ensuing war that will involve the rise and fall of three dynasties. For the most important military and political action since the founding of the People's Republic of China, it is not an easy task to give Zhong Shidao a considerable amount of time to prepare and mobilize the entire army to go to war.Zhongshi has always had his own views on military affairs, and sometimes he is stubborn. For example, in the battle of Zhejiang and Zhejiang last year, he was not able to mobilize himself and his brothers Zhongshi to go to the battle.In order to eliminate possible obstacles, the officials do not want to adopt a blunt official form, where the government formally issues an order to force him to attend the military meeting, but prefer to adopt a more intimate and private form, sending a cronies to accompany him. His edicts are twists and turns, and they are smooth and smooth, in order to ensure success.This is a method often used by officials when they feel that they are not absolutely confident in their power. ——Now the officials entrust this arduous task to Liu Kai, thinking that he is the most suitable person to be sent to Zhong Shidao.This is not only because of his personal talent, the tasks entrusted to him over the years have all been done properly and satisfactorily, but also because Liu Kai is his confidant on the one hand, and on the other hand, he came from the Western Army. There are close relationships and deep feelings.The officials were convinced that he would be able to complete the tasks that Wang Fu, Tong Guan and others could not, and they returned with satisfaction.It can be said that it was precisely because the officials had such a suitable candidate in their minds beforehand that they considered adopting this form of euphemism. This is the reason why the officials woke up very early today, wrote the edict by themselves, and broke the rules, and announced Liu Qi into the palace so early. After dictating the decree, the official himself suddenly felt relieved. He drafted the decree in a simple and calm manner, transcribed it in his unique thin muscle font, and stamped "Xuanhe Tianzi Treasure" and "Royal Book" with his own hands. Zhixi" two jade seals, I read it twice, and appreciated my calligraphy and seals, so I was satisfied to give it to Liu Kai, and solemnly said: "Since the 'Alliance on the Sea', this matter has been discussed for three or two years, and now it is on the verge of death, and it has to be announced. This time, you will go to Weizhou to make a proposal, which has a lot to do with the imperial court's plans. I hope that you will go as soon as possible. Come back, for this great achievement, I am looking forward to good news day and night in the palace." Liu Kai had never participated in this so-called "Sea Alliance" diplomatic activity in the past, but with his status as a trusted official, and with his wit and sensitivity, he had already heard a lot of news from the side.Because of his self-respect (he was not allowed to participate in the secrecy), and because he expected that something of great importance was about to be started, he was far from being in a position to estimate the full consequences of this action, so he treated it with caution. Remain cool and silent.He just listened to the secrets that flowed to his ears naturally, without inquiring and questioning others.He has expressed no definite opinion on anyone.Now it is the official who has clarified this secret personally. The task assigned to him by the official shows that the official not only allows him to participate in the secret, but also urgently hopes that he will promote this war. No matter what he thinks about this war, first of all Thank you for your trust in me.From his respectful expression, it shows that he can fully understand the complicated and subtle intentions of the officials, and he will do his best to complete it, and once again live up to the expectations of the officials. The official nodded happily, and signaled to the maids standing with a habitual gesture.They immediately took the jasper wine note and agate wine cup that had been prepared in advance, walked to the front of the imperial case, the official poured a full cup of wine with his own hands, handed it to Liu Kai, and said: "This is the small cup that I drink every day. Pouring real pearl red', poured into this agate wine cup, the color and taste are not bad. If you drink this cup, I will give you a special gift, so as to strengthen your demeanor." Liu Kai drank it all in one gulp, thank you for your kindness, at this moment, Zhang Di, who was in charge of the Introspection Department of the Inner Prison, seemed to come out of a hole—Liu Kai didn’t notice when he came in—and suddenly waited behind the throne .The official turned his head and called him with a voice like calling a dog: "Zhang Di, you can accompany Liu Kai to the Tiansi Prison, and let him choose a royal horse, and give it to Liu Kai together with the eight-treasure saddle and bridle I used the day before. You must be careful in serving it!" Although it is common for the emperor to bestow pommel horses, it is an exceptional gift for the recipient to go to the imperial stables to choose horses.The officials were also afraid that Liu Kai would not know how much he had received, so they recalled the past in particular, saying that forty years ago, along the Qinfeng Road, Wang Shao, the appeasement envoy along the Qinfeng Road, recovered Tao and Hezhou (that was indeed a special honor for a time), and Kai returned to the capital. At that time, Emperor Shenzong asked him to go to the Tianshang to choose horses by himself. Since then, no one else has cited this special case. Although he is a confidant of the official family and is often treated with a lack of courtesy, Liu Qi would rather the official family keep a certain distance from him.He doesn't want to claim to be a first-class person, and he doesn't want to be mistaken for the first-class. He thinks that only this kind of person will covet undivided rewards and extraordinary favors.He, Liu Qi, was unwilling to accept this.He thanked him subtly and said, he has not made any efforts or done any merits yet, how dare he receive such an exorbitant reward compared with the ministers of the previous dynasty.But the official's grace is a kind of greater and gentle pressure, and he will never allow Liu Kai to have any objection to his grace.He kept urging Liu Kai to choose horses quickly, but Hugh refused, saying: "All the fine horses in the world are gathered in my stables, and you must choose one carefully," and then said with a meaningful smile, "Whether you are going west today, or you have something to do in the future, you will save money." Don’t lose a good horse. I give it to you with deep intentions. You must not disappoint my intention.” Before Liu Kai could refuse, he suddenly understood his hint from the official's smile, and an abnormal brilliance suddenly radiated from his piercing eyes.The official was happy to see that Liu Kai had already understood his hint, and thought to himself: "Liu Kai is really cute, he can guess my implication in just a few words. It's ridiculous that Cai Jing is still slandering me in front of me, saying that Liu Kai is a warrior, and he will never give up. How does he know that the people I use have been trained by me for many years, How can there be weak soldiers under strong generals?" Officials like to deal with smart people, and they prefer to defeat Cai Jing and his like who claim to be smart in a small battle of wits.Therefore, at this moment, he loves Liu Kai even more, and simply further satisfied Liu Kai's wish: "I have known for a long time that Qing has a feeling of 'resurrecting the flesh and blood' in the capital. He has to wait to be released several times, but the ministers remonstrated. This time, the North Dao used troops. I am determined to send Qing to go with the same teacher. His deputy, this is terrible. I have fulfilled your lifelong wish." The officials once again guessed what Liu Qi was thinking, so that he no longer had any reason to refuse the reward. With a very grateful heart, he and Zhang Di left the Ruisi Hall and went to Tiansi Prison to choose horses.