Chapter 557: Return

A few days later, the officials who came from Jicheng to welcome the soldiers and generals who had returned from Donghu arrived belatedly. This official named Deng Gongming, who had been unknown before, seemed to be involved in the civil strife of Yan. beneficiary.

Deng Gongming was extremely polite to Zhou Yuan, the former Taiwei of Dayan, and said, "Lieutenant, I humbly accept my duty to welcome the Taiwei back to the court. Zhou Yu, Taiwei Zhou, asked me to apologize to you, because the Qi army has been making frequent moves recently. Lieutenant Zhou Yu suspected that they might invade Dayan and had to deal with it, so he could not come to greet him in person and asked the lieutenant to forgive him. "

Zhou Yuan curled up his lips slightly. Zhou Yu was from the Zhou family. Even if he was just a branch of the family, he was still a member of the Zhou family. Therefore, when he showed his military talents, Zhou Yuan used all his strength to Support, without Zhou Yuan's full support, how could Zhou Yu reach his current position in the army at this age? But what he never expected was that at the most critical moment, it was this person who His distant nephew, whom he regarded as his direct lineage, gave himself a severe blow.

At this point, there is nothing more to say. In any case, he can be regarded as a member of the Zhou family. The direct family of his own lineage may not be able to escape disaster this time, but at least the Zhou family will not decline because of this. Without him and Zhou Yu, the Zhou family would not be as defeated and helpless as the Ning family.

This can be considered a blessing among misfortunes!

"State affairs are of paramount importance. I am a defeated general and retired official, and I dare not work like a grand captain to come to greet him." Zhou Yuan said calmly.

Deng Gongming was a little frightened. He had just been promoted not long ago, and he still had a kind of fear in his bones for this previously famous lieutenant.

"The Lieutenant's words are serious. The Lieutenant has detained Donghu, and the Lieutenant Zhou Yu is worried day and night."

Zhou Yuan chuckled, but was noncommittal. Deng Gongming did not dare to face him again, so he turned to Meng Chong who was beside Zhou Yuan and said, "I have to thank you, General Meng. I would like to pay my respects to General Gao Yuangao."

Meng Chong waved his hand carelessly, "My governor has left here a long time ago. The governor has many things to do every day. He has accumulated so many official documents when he comes to see Captain Zhou. He has no time to wait for you here. Someone, give the military register to this man. Mr. Deng.”

After listening to Meng Chong's words. Deng Gongming was ashamed and annoyed. The meaning of Meng Chong's words was very clear. Gao Yuan came to see Zhou Yuan, but he won't see you because you are not qualified. Although he was frightened and timid in front of Zhou Yuan, in front of Meng Chong, he felt that his status was much higher. After all, he is now one of Dayan's senior officials, and you are a lowly general. He actually dared to speak nonsense. He straightened his waist and was about to have an attack. Zhou Yuan on the side said calmly, "Master Deng. This is western Liaoning."

Zhou Yuan's words suddenly made Deng Gongming realize the current situation of the Eastern Expeditionary Army and the imperial court. Gao Yuan did not care about Jicheng at all, and had even established a hostile stance.

If he is ignorant and offends these big-headed soldiers, he will chop off his head with a knife. Jicheng's reaction was probably to send another official instead of avenging his own grievances.

He swallowed this breath abruptly and took the Yan Army's military register. When he looked at the total number in his head, he couldn't help but look at the color. The total number of the Yan Army was five thousand. It had been changed to the number of four thousand five hundred by an extremely crude ink stick. The ink stick that wildly scratched out the original number made Deng Gongming almost furious.

"General Meng, the Donghu people should have released five thousand people, but why are there hundreds less?" He raised the military register in front of Meng Chong. Asked loudly.

Meng Chong raised his eyelids, glanced at it, and said disapprovingly: "What's wrong? He's dead!"

"How is this possible?" Deng Gongming roared loudly, "When the Donghu people released them, there were still five thousand people. Just a few days later, hundreds of people died? How did they die?"

Meng Chong coughed and gargled, and with a pop, a mouthful of thick phlegm fell directly to the ground. Deng Gongming's eyes twitched wildly, "How did he die? He died of swelling!"

"What did you say?" Deng Gongming could hardly believe his ears. "How did you die?"

"I said they were bloated to death!" Meng Chong raised his voice, "Master Deng, you don't know. Each of these soldiers is so hungry that they are skin and bones. They have obviously never had enough to eat. When our governor saw this, My son, I felt compassion, these are all Yan people, they are all our robes, how could they be like this because of hunger? So they ordered us to kill pigs and sheep, and the meat was served in basins. Ah, the white flour steamed buns were carried up one by one, just to let these poor soldiers have a full meal, but who knew that these hundreds of people might be very hungry and eat too much , it’s so swollen to death!”

Meng Chong said it seriously, but Deng Gongming was so angry that he went crazy. When he opened the military register, his eyes went black. Most of the names that were crossed out on the roster inside were junior officers. There were dozens of people at the rank of captain, and most of them were other sentry commanders and soldiers. Those who were swollen to death were obviously detained by the Eastern Expeditionary Army.

He gasped and looked at Meng Chong. Meng Chong also looked at him with an innocent face and spread his hands, "Master Deng, we made a mistake in this matter, but we have good intentions. If you feel sorry for these people, If you die, you might as well go to their graves and pay homage!”

Deng Gongming glared at Meng Chong: "These people have their families here. I wonder if I can take their ashes back?"

"Of course!" Meng Chong waved his hand, "Come here, dig out the Yan Army soldiers who were buried a few days ago, burn the bodies, and pick up some ashes for Master Deng to take back."

A loud response came from outside, and Deng Gongming was stunned. If these people were really dead and buried, he would be cursed for his ancestors if he was dug out again.

"Enough!" Zhou Yuan on the side growled. Meng Chong was shameless, and Deng Gongming was incompetent. Since he knew in his heart that these people were intercepted by Gao Yuan, could he still get them back? The wisest way was to pretend that he didn't know and be confused. In this way, he could save his face. There were only a few hundred people. If Gao Yuan was really annoyed, he would be arrested all at once. What could you do to him?

"Let's go!" He flicked his sleeves and walked out of the house. Deng Gongming's face turned purple. He followed Zhou Yuan and walked out quickly. Obviously, he also figured out the trick, but he understood it a little late.

Nearly 5,000 Yan troops began to march out from the Niulanshan camp. Unlike when they were just released, Gao Yuan gave each of them a winter coat in the Niulanshan camp. These things were originally prepared by the Yan army for the Eastern Expedition. Now giving them some back, Gao Yuan didn't feel sorry. At least he could gain the gratitude of these big soldiers. These people went back, whether they returned to the barracks to serve as soldiers or retired and went home to farm, and it would be good to spread his reputation for kindness.

The accompanying Eastern Expedition Army was led by Helan Jie, a general under Helan Xiong. These 1,000 cavalrymen were both for protection and escort. After all, it was a team of thousands of people. If something went wrong in the middle of the journey, it would be very troublesome.

Although the weather was cold and the roads were covered with snow, fortunately, they were frozen solid. The soldiers who had finally returned to their homeland were eager to go home, so they walked fast. In one day, they walked nearly a hundred miles. They could see the city wall of Fufeng in the distance. Seeing that it was almost dark, Deng Gongming ordered the whole army to set up camp.

The army could not be allowed into Fufeng City, but a big man like Zhou Yuan would naturally not endure the bitter cold outside the city. Liu Xin, the new county magistrate of Fufeng, who had already received the news, had already brought officials at all levels in the county to greet them and personally invited a group of senior officials to rest in the city.

In the city, in the long-emptied post house, all supplies were ready. After a hot bath and a sumptuous banquet, Deng Gongming returned to his room contentedly. The floor heating in the room was burning very vigorously. As soon as he entered the room, a wave of hot air hit him. Deng Gongming, who had just drunk a lot of wine, suddenly felt dry all over. He took off his cotton robe, sat at the table, took a cup of tea, drank it in one gulp, and drank a cup of cold tea. The dryness was relieved a little.

This Fufeng County Magistrate Liu Xin is a man who knows what's good for him. He is much more polite than the general Meng Chong. Deng Gongming said to himself in his heart that there are not many polite soldiers.

There was a gentle knock on the door outside.

"Who is it?" Deng Gongming asked.

"Sir Deng, I am a postman of the post house. I brought you hot water." A humble voice came from outside.

"Well, come in!" Deng Gongming was very satisfied. The service of this posthouse was much more thoughtful than those in Jicheng. He knew that the master was very tired after riding a horse all day. At this time, he could have a good foot bath to relieve his fatigue and have a good sleep. Tomorrow, he would be energetic again.

This time when he left the capital, it was Lord Tan who personally appointed him to welcome Zhou Yuan, the Grand Commandant. Oh, it should be the former Grand Commandant. He had to be careful and must not learn from Chen Maoyan, who escorted the Ye couple to the capital, and ended up killing the Ye couple in the car. From the king to Lord Tan, they were almost unable to step down. Although Xu Maoyan saved his life, his official position was completely demoted. Now he has become the most ordinary spy of Yanlingwei. Decades of achievements have gone down the drain.

Deng Gongming was also very clear about the fact that it was said to be a welcome, but in fact it was an escort. How to deal with this Zhou Taiwei had not yet been decided in the court. Taiwei Zhou Yuzhou and Lord Tan remained silent, and the king did not make it clear. Instead, other people in the court quarreled, and no one had come to a conclusion yet.

But no matter what, he had to carefully serve this former Taiwei. Even if he had stepped down, even if he was guilty, Taiwei Zhou Yuzhou was also a member of the Zhou family. Now he and Zhou Yuan had become strangers, but they could not write two Zhou characters in one stroke. If something went wrong, he was afraid that Taiwei Zhou Yuzhou would take the opportunity to cause trouble for him so as to give an explanation to the Zhou family, and then he would die unjustly.