Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 46

Chapter 46 Shang Yu leaves Xian

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It was late at night after Xie Heng returned to the Danyang government office, and he was the only one left in the check-in room. The candlelight stretched his shadow very long, casting it on the wall full of files, swaying, as if he was unable to settle down at the moment.

Many things that happened in the past few days were running through my mind. These pictures overlapped and emerged, and finally settled on the moment when Xiao Jue knelt down and said that I will bear all the consequences alone.

He pushed aside the dossier in front of him regarding doubts about the Qingjiang water transport deficit, and felt a gloomy air clogging his chest. Not a word of the official document could be read at the moment.

The anger, fear, and deeper regret that had been suppressed in Xiao Jue’s military tent during the day surged up in the silent night.

He stood up suddenly and overturned the armchair without realizing it.Pushing open the door, the night breeze rushed in with a slight chill.The clerk on duty in the corridor was startled and hurriedly stepped forward: “Pu She? What are you…”

“Prepare your horse.” Xie Heng’s voice was a little hoarse, “There is no need to follow.”

The scribe didn’t dare to ask any more questions and left in a hurry.Not long after, a black horse was led to the door.

Xie Heng got on the horse, clamped the horse’s belly and rushed into the thick night like an arrow from the string.The sound of horse hooves beat rapidly on the bluestone road, passing through the sleeping Danyang City and galloping towards the military camp outside the city.

The coolness brought by the cold wind blowing across his cheeks made his chaotic thoughts a little clearer.He remembered that a year ago, Xiao Jue had rushed out to look for him so recklessly, just to explain a misunderstanding.At that time, the moonlight seemed as cold as tonight.

At the gate of the military camp, torches are brightly lit.The soldiers guarding heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance and stepped forward with halberds in their hands. When they saw that the person on the horse was Xie Heng, they were all shocked.

They naturally recognized this important court official who had a close relationship with their general, and they even knew that the general had just been reprimanded by him during the day.

“Thank you Pu She…” The team came forward and hesitated after saluting, “The general has rested. Do you want to allow the general to pass?”

“No need.” Xie Heng reined in his horse, his voice slightly breathy from the gallop. He drove his horse straight through the gate, turning a blind eye to the surprised looks of the soldiers along the way, and went straight to the Chinese army’s tent.

However, when he arrived at the tent, he did not dismount his horse and rush in. He just looked at the lights coming from the tent and was stunned for a moment.Then he turned his horse’s head and headed towards the empty school grounds on the other side of the camp.

He needed calm and a place where no one would disturb him.

The school grounds were deserted, with only the lanterns flickering on and off in the night wind, outlining the vague outlines of the horse racing track and the archery target.The snoring of the distant barracks could be faintly heard, making the place even more silent.

Xie Heng dismounted and let his mount gnaw on dry grass.He stood alone, looking up at the gloomy night sky without stars and moon, and took a deep breath.

I don’t know how long it took, but there were very light footsteps behind me, which were inaudible on the sandy soil.But Xie Heng still heard it, and he didn’t look back.

The footsteps stopped a few steps behind him. The cold night wind separated the two people, and heavier than the night wind was the gap left by the day’s dispute.

After a long time, Xiao Jue’s deep voice sounded, with a hint of imperceptible dryness, breaking the silence: “Why don’t you come in when you are here?”

These words were like a thin needle piercing the calm Xie Heng had maintained.He slowly turned around and saw that Xiao Jue was not wearing armor, only wearing a black uniform with narrow sleeves. His figure was still as tall as a pine in the dim light, but the fatigue and silence between his brows and eyes made Xie Heng’s heart tighten more than any battle wounds.

Xie Heng looked at him without saying a word, but walked closer step by step until there was only one step away between the two, close enough to feel the warmth of the other person’s breath.

He stretched out his hand and grasped Xiao Jue’s wrist with great strength. His fingertips were almost embedded into the other person’s tight flesh and bones, with an almost out-of-control emotion, as if this was the only way to confirm the true existence of the person in front of him.

“I’m very worried about you,” Xie Heng’s voice was very low, but the words were heavy, as if they were squeezed out from the deepest part of his chest. “Xiao Jue, you are more important than any new policy, any situation, or anyone’s criticism.”

Xiao Jue’s whole body shook violently, as if he was burned by these words.He suddenly raised his eyes and looked into Xie Heng’s deep and worried eyes.

All excuses collapsed at this moment. His Adam’s apple rolled, and his other hand suddenly lifted up, covering Xie Heng’s hand that held his wrist tightly, and held it back with the same force.

The two of them just stood in a stalemate, or rather relied on, under the dim lights of the school grounds.There was no apology, no explanation of past quarrels, only the strength and unspeakable exhaustion conveyed through the clasped hands.

The night wind whimpered through the empty school grounds, picking up fine dust, but it could not blow away the heavy and solid connection between the two.

Xie Heng let go of his hand first, but his fingers were still resting on Xiao Jue’s wrist, “Go to your tent.”

His voice returned to its usual calmness, but it was just a little more hoarse, “This matter cannot be settled here. The apology form must be drawn up tonight, and it must be drawn up just right.”

They did not go back to the central military tent, which symbolized the authority of the commander, but went to a side tent where Xiao Jue usually handled military affairs and rested.This place is smaller and simply furnished, with only a couch, a table and a chair, as well as shelves full of military books and maps.

The candlelight in the tent was lit again, Xie Heng sat down on the only chair, closed his eyes and rubbed the throbbing sun.Xiao Jue silently fetched water and grinded the ink with steady movements.

“Write.” Xie Heng opened his eyes, “I said, you write. This is not a simple apology, it is a conclusion for His Majesty to show to the court and everyone.”

Xiao Jue picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, then hung it on the paper and waited attentively.

Xie Heng leaned back slightly, his fingers subconsciously tapping on the hardwood table. The words came out clearly from his lips, as calmly as if he were on a sand table: “Your Majesty, Peking General Xiao Jue, sincerely and frightened, paused. On a certain day of a certain month, I received an urgent report from the local area that there were traitors gathering in Guangling County.As a villager, they besieged the official village with weapons, killed the court officials, and plundered the warehouses.I sent scouts to conduct a close investigation and found that his troops were following the rules. Among the abandoned items, they found several military-style short blades, which showed that it was not an ordinary civil disorder. It was actually a well-disguised banditry that had been planned for a long time…”

He spoke slowly, word by word, completely changing the nature of a conflict that might have involved the New Deal and local powerful people.

Xiao Jue kept writing, painting iron with silver hooks, turning Xie Heng’s calm plans into equally strong words.When he was writing that he was willing to accept the military law without any resentment, his pen paused slightly, and then fell steadily again.

“Is this enough?” After writing, Xiao Jue put down his pen and picked up the piece of paper with still wet ink.The words on the paper are logically logical and appear to be an apology, but in fact they put themselves in a delicate position where despite procedural errors, they are loyal to the people and reveal potential armed threats.

“Not enough.” Xie Heng shook his head, took the piece of paper, and examined it carefully by the candlelight, “This is just the first one. Tomorrow morning, you need to write another brief apology letter. The words must be more sincere and frightening. You only admit the crime of tampering without mentioning the other details.”

He flicked the more detailed copy in his hand and said, “This copy will be handed in half a day later through the channels of the Ministry of Secretariat. Someone in the court will see what needs to be seen.”

This is the twist and turn of politics, one part bright and one part dark.An apology and a petition.An attitude for everyone to see, and a truth for key people to see.

Xiao Jue looked at him deeply: “You are always thoughtful.” But behind this thoughtfulness, there are many nights of exhaustion and careful balancing.

“We have to be careful.” Xie Heng gently put the paper back on the table. “The Wang family will not miss this opportunity. There will be trouble in the court meeting tomorrow. Remember, no matter how they criticize, you only recognize the fault of unauthorized actions, stick to the original intention of suppressing bandits and reassuring the people, and just mention the suspicion of standard weapons. One more sentence would be superfluous.”

The two of them deliberated over the wording of the two documents under the lamp for a long time, until the light in the east turned pale.During this period, the soldiers brought simple porridge, but they only ate a few bites in a hurry.

The next day’s court meeting was just as Xie Heng expected, the wind and waves were high.The censors of the Wang family took the lead in launching an attack. They impeached Xiao Jue for being domineering and tyrannical, and for using troops to abuse the people, which was detrimental to the peace of His Majesty. They even quoted scriptures and alluded to the military generals’ gathering of troops in Kinki, which was a hidden worry for the country.The words were so intense that it seemed that Xiao Jue had committed a heinous crime.

Xiao Jue went out and acted according to the plan, only responding with the content of the brief apology letter. His attitude was extremely low, but he also implicitly expressed the key points of bandits holding weapons and obeying authority in emergencies.

When the two sides were arguing, Xie Heng slowly stepped out.He did not directly refute the fierce words of the censor. Instead, he faced the throne and in a calm and clear tone, began to present a routine report on the security of each county and the resettlement of refugees. Naturally, he mentioned the existence of small groups gathering in certain places, occasional armed fights, and the seizure of ordnance of unknown origin.

Finally, he seemed to inadvertently bring the topic to Xiao Jue’s matter: “…Your Majesty, General Xiao may have been careful in his handling and did not follow the usual rules. This is indeed a fault and should be punished according to the law. However, the people he suppressed were not the villagers shouting and shouting, but the stubborn bandits with sharp blades in formation. There are also records in the Danyang Treasury. Since last year, several counties in the southeast have reported that they have lost control.There are a number of weapons that are missing.This extermination may be a clue to the investigation.The general was ordered to quickly eliminate the hidden dangers and save the place from decay, so that the people can rest in peace. Although the method is not appropriate, his protective intention can be seen.If the harsh procedures weaken the soldiers’ willingness to adapt to the situation and protect the country, it may not be a blessing to the imperial court.”

His tone was calm, and he even admitted that Xiao Jue was wrong, but there was a hidden edge in every word.Characterizing civilians as bandits, linking unauthorized actions to investigating the loss of ordnance, elevating Xiao Jue’s personal actions to the level of soldiers responding to the situation, and implying that if the punishment is too severe, it may affect the morale of the army.

The emperor on the dragon throne half-closed his eyes, listening to the words of both parties.Xie Heng’s words were vaguely consistent with the detailed petition submitted by Xiao Jue through the Shangshu Province, as well as some sporadic information the emperor himself had about the secret military power of the southeastern powers.

Just after the Guangling incident, the emperor was most sensitive to the hidden dangers of local force.Xie Heng did not attack the Wang family directly, but he gently pierced the emperor’s heart like a thorn in the suspicion of hiding weapons and armed bandits.

At this time, an old minister from the Shangshu Province who was not part of Xie Heng’s party but was known for his emphasis on border defense also came out and said that recent border reports in the northern border showed that Hu cavalry activities were frequent and there seemed to be some unusual movements. The border towns needed to strengthen their vigilance, and it was the time to use generals.

A delicate balance formed in the court for a while. One side wanted to severely punish Xiao Jue to attack Xie Heng, while the other side emphasized his merits and the need for border defense.

The emperor’s fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest, and his eyes swept over the angry censor, the calm Xie Heng, and other important ministers who looked down and said nothing.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, “Xiao Jue used troops and horses without permission, which violated the system. He was fined for one year, demoted to one rank, and still held the title of General of Peking. However, he suppressed the bandits and calmed the people, but did not make the situation more serious, and he did a small job. The north is not peaceful, and it really needs generals. From now on, he will go to serve in the army in the north. Since the incident in the southeast has been calmed down, the relevant files have been handed over to the department for verification, and there is no need for further discussion.”

He paused and looked at Xie Heng: “The new policy is related to the foundation of the country, and there are thousands of things involved. General Xie Qing has been responsible for the coordination of all parties, and has done a lot of hard work. The Danyang pilot project has a charter, which can be implemented by his deputy as usual. You will return to Guzang today to take charge of the overall situation. There are many things that the imperial court depends on.”

With the decree, anyone with a discerning eye could clearly see that Xiao Jue was gently put down, but he was transferred away from the center of power and the place of right and wrong, away from the whirlpool of the New Deal, and away from Xie Heng’s side.

Xie Heng was secretly manipulated by Ming Sheng and left Danyang, where he had just established a solid foundation, and returned to the Guzang court where various forces were intertwined and easily constrained.

The emperor not only appeased some of the royal family’s emotions, but also preserved capable ministers, and even handed over possible border troubles and internal affairs problems separately, which can be called a balancing act.

After leaving the court, the atmosphere was sluggish.The Wang family looked hesitant, but could not go any further for the time being.Xie Heng and Xiao Jue briefly exchanged glances outside the palace gate, saying a thousand words without saying anything, and then left each other to prepare for the handover.

Three days later, at Changting outside Danyang City, Xie Heng’s carriage was ready, and Xie Nanqiao sat quietly in the carriage.Bai Ce and Li Yuanjing stood side by side in front of the pavilion, followed by several key officials from the Danyang government office.

“This time around, Gu Zang, the Dragon Pond Tiger, Pu She must be cherished.” Li Yuanjing held up his hands, his gray beard and hair trembling in the wind, his eyes full of worry, “Here in Danyang, Lao Chen and Bai Ce will definitely guard the foundation, collect evidence, and fight steadily. Those monsters and monsters cannot make big waves.”

Bai Ce also said solemnly: “Don’t worry, Pu She. The Guangling fake land deed case, the Qingjiang water transportation accounts, and the ordnance clues left in this attack will be investigated secretly and handled with caution. The villain will not take advantage of the loopholes again.”

Xie Heng looked at these two subordinates who had gone through many turmoils and felt warm in his heart, but more importantly, he felt a heavy responsibility, “Your safety is the first priority.”

He said in a deep voice, “The new policy can be slowed down, and the land can be cultivated slowly. There is no need to fight for the length of time. It is a great achievement to guard the situation in Danyang and clarify the context behind it. When encountering problems, always discuss it with Mr. Li, and be cautious.”

He glanced at the few young scribes who were standing silently aside. There was reluctance and confusion in their eyes. Xie Heng said slowly: “The new policy is not easy, and the road is long and difficult. But for the country and the people, we cannot shake our hearts. You are also practicing this ambition in Danyang. Haosheng assists Bai Ce and Li Lao.”

Everyone bowed in unison: “I will obey Pu She’s teachings!”

Xie Heng said no more and turned around to get on the carriage.The car curtain fell, blocking out the farewell eyes from outside.The carriage started slowly and drove along the official road in the direction of Guzang.

Xie Nanqiao looked at his brother’s profile staring out the window and gently put a cloak on his shoulders.

“Brother, it’s bitterly cold in the north, and the wind and sand are biting.” She said softly, with worry that could not be concealed in her words.

Xie Heng withdrew his gaze, took over the cloak, and unconsciously rubbed the rough fabric with his fingertips.

“He knows.” Xie Heng’s voice was very low, as if he was telling his sister, but also as if he was telling himself, “Right now, it might be a good thing for him to leave the center of this whirlpool.”

It’s just that the new wind and weapons in the north are another kind of danger.What awaits him in Guzang is a more complicated game and a more obscure secret plan, as well as an even more difficult implementation path after losing the Danyang base.

The carriage drove steadily towards the imperial city, and a new chess game was already laid out.Every step needs to be more careful.And the northern border, thousands of miles away, will also become a factor that affects the entire situation.