In the military camp, no one is allowed to move around randomly, and even dinner is delivered into the tent by soldiers. The food in the army is naturally not delicious, but there are pancakes, pickled meat, vegetable soup, and even a little wine... Chen Ke thought this was special treatment, but after asking around, he found that from the marshal to the soldiers, everyone eats the same thing.

  Although there are many reasons, it is convenient for the army to march and supply within the border, but the logistics support of the Song Dynasty army is still impressive. Chen Kui compared vertically, from the nutrition and calories provided, with his later generations as soldiers in the field rations, not much different, and equally unpalatable.

  After dinner, when it got dark, Di Yong came again and asked Chen Xi Liang and his son to go over. Chen Ke was somewhat surprised, not expecting there would be a share for himself.

  Following Di Yong to the central army account, only one head wrapped in black silk scarf, wearing a half-old black Shu brocade battle robe with a lion's mouth belt, tall and broad-shouldered, sword-shaped eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding masculine beauty all over his body, a middle-aged general standing in front of the commander's desk, smiling at them.

  No need to ask, it's clear that this is the famous Di Qingdi Han Chen. Chen Xiliang and his son hastily kowtowed and said: "Commander-in-Chief."

  "No need for formalities." Di Qing's voice was as clear and refreshing as an autumn sky. He supported the two of them, saying: "I should have met with Xian Qiaoju earlier, but I've been busy with military affairs and only now have a chance to see you."

  "The marshal killed my father and son."

  "Please, don't be polite," said Di Qing as he invited Chen Xiliang to sit down, and he also sat down on the stool opposite him. Chen Xiliang stood up and said "I dare not", but was stopped by him raising his hand: "Speaking in a humble position is not as good as being casual." Xiao Liang Ge had no choice but to sit up straight.

  Di Yong ordered the withdrawal and personally led his loyal soldiers to guard the commander's tent.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  In the tent, Di Qing sized up the father and son in front of him. Chen Xiliang's body was weak and his face was slightly swollen after experiencing imprisonment, but he had a high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and a pair of eyes as clear as autumn water, which made him look majestic and commanding without being angry. Chen Ke stood behind his father, tall and stately, with an air of grandeur, indeed a true son of a tiger.

  Only such a father and son would dare to do something that shocks the world. Di Qing couldn't help but secretly admire them. The next moment, Fang smiled and said: "This time, I have to thank Xian Qiaoju for going out to war for the country."

  "The marshal smiled."

  "It's not a joke, someone is serious." Di Qing shook his head and said: "Moreover, if it weren't for your efforts, the officials and various gentlemen would not have agreed to transfer the Western Army southward until now...", sighing as he spoke: "Otherwise, with the situation of the two Guangdong armies, even if Sun Wu were reborn, they would be powerless to change the situation. Let alone Di Qing, an ordinary person."

  "The general is too modest."

  "Don't be so formal." Di Qing glanced at Chen Xiliang and smiled: "I'm speaking to you kindly, not listening to your flattery."

  "Haha", ... Chen Xiliang smiled and said: "Generalissimo, you are the commander-in-chief of the three armies, while I am still a guilty person. To lower yourself to interact with me like this is truly an honor that makes me feel flattered."

  "You are no longer a sinner." Di Qing smiled and handed over a handwritten decree: "This is the draft of today's imperial edict."

  Chen Xiliang got up and took a look, only to see that it was an official document. Except for the tedious language, the main idea was:

  "It has been heard that the case of Chen Xiliang, the magistrate of Hengyang, colluding with bandits, has been investigated for several months without any progress, which shows that the accusations are absurd and fabricated. At a time when the country is using people's talents, it has long been known that Mr. Chen is a man of integrity and ability. The Hunan Provincial Judicial Department immediately released him, restored his original position, and transferred him to the imperial court for use. There is also the large seal of the Two Lakes Pacification Commissioner and the signature of Di Qing."

  Now, all major military and political affairs in the two Hubei provinces and the two Guangdong provinces are controlled by Di Qing alone, and no one can intervene. The Jinghu South Road Procuratorate had to release people honestly.

  "Thanks to the marshal's teachings", Chen Xiliang stood up and sang a fat thank you, but in his heart, he couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy. He would rather use normal procedures to prove his innocence than this kind of "special pardon".

  "Chen Zhixian might feel wronged." Di Qing said seriously: "But this is an official arrangement."

  "Government official..." Chen Xiliang was stunned.

  "Not bad." Di Qing nodded and said: "The official family lets me pass a few words to you." As he spoke, he also stood up.

  "I have heard your sacred teachings." Chen Xiliang bowed and said.

  The official said: "Having a straightforward minister like Chen Xiliang is the country's good fortune. Unfortunately, I'm going to disappoint him." Di Qing repeated in a serious tone, word by word: "The military supply case you're investigating and the corruption case involving officials from Lingnan are interconnected cases. Once the military supply case is clarified, it will inevitably lead to the exposure of the corruption case. Investigating the corruption case will also implicate the interests of all officials in the imperial court, which would be fatal for your father and son, and equally so for me."

  "Believe me, this empire belongs to the Zhao family. I hate these corrupt officials more than anyone," Di Qing continued: "However, such a vast empire and hundreds of millions of people still need to be governed by civil officials. I can only let them be satisfied first, they will work hard for me, let them eat their fill, they won't prey on the common people. But the number of officials is increasing day by day, while the national treasury is drying up. I have no way to satisfy everyone, so I can only turn a blind eye to their not-too-outrageous behavior."

  "I believe your family is also aware that compared to the previous dynasties of Sui and Tang, our Song dynasty's officials are known for their integrity and the people's lives are also"

  It's satisfactory, like the corrupt officials of the Tang Dynasty, they are almost extinct in this dynasty. I can't ask for more." Di Qing repeated: "Yu the Great controlled the flood, saying 'blocking is not as good as dredging'. Governing a country is the same, as long as there are discontented officials, even if we block this hole, they will dig another one elsewhere. Now, they eat from the military, they eat from me, they still have some scruples. If they change their ways and directly extort money from the common people, it would be many times more ugly and harmful."

  Di Qing finally repeated: "I, the humble one, admit these things and truly feel ashamed. But you treat me as a national scholar, so I can only respond with sincerity. I hope that you, as an upright minister, will not abandon the country. Believe me, this is not an era where 'the way does not prevail on the sea', I day and night take 'being close to gentlemen and distant from petty people' as my warning, striving for virtuous ministers to be in office. In the court, with one more consistent upright atmosphere, there will be one less evil spirit, and the common people can also breathe a sigh of relief..."

  After finishing speaking, Di Qing let out a long sigh and looked at Chen Xiliang again. He was already tearfully moved and deeply grateful: "What virtue or ability does this humble subject have to be able to receive the official's heartfelt advice? If he still cannot understand the official's kind intentions, isn't it like being no different from an unfeeling stone?"

  "It's also not in vain for the official family to have a good intention." Di Qing sighed and said.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  In the military camp, candles lit up the tent. After re-seating, Di Qing faced north and cupped his hands: "The officials have the four seas in their hearts, so naturally they consider problems more comprehensively than we subordinates. Therefore, some things, even if we don't understand them for the time being, we must still carry them out."

  "It's all up to General Yu's orders." Chen Xiliang put away the disappointment in his eyes and said in a low voice.

  "Don't be too disappointed." Di Qing said in a cold voice, "There are some things that the imperial court doesn't say, but as a subject, one should do their best to achieve them, otherwise it would be unbecoming of the great power entrusted to me." In fact, Di Qing had originally planned to keep quiet, but he was after all a straightforward and chivalrous warrior, couldn't bear to see Chen Xiliang so disheartened, so he gave a veiled hint.

  "Hmm..." Chen Xiliang nodded slightly, not taking it seriously.

  Di Qing looked at Chen Ke again and said: "In this case, the story of a young hero saving his father from thousands of miles away may not be known to the world. What compensation do you want?"

  "Hey......" Chen Ke thought for a moment and smiled: "Marshal, I want to ask one thing? That is, I don't know if the Marshal can cover it up."

  Di Qing couldn't help but reveal a hint of a smile and said: "As long as it's within the two Hu and two Guang, I can more or less cover them all."

  "Alright, I think I'll go beat someone up."

  "Who?"

  "Yu Jing Yu Wen Shuai."

  "Hu nao......" Chen Xiliang scolded: "Yu Wenshuai is a man of great virtue and prestige, even if he temporarily ignores his father's case, it is also considering the overall situation..."

  "I'm so angry now, if I don't beat him up, my belly will explode." Chen Ke said.

  "Then beat him!" Chen Xiliang was about to scold, but saw Di Qing wave his hand and say: "Beat him a few punches for me, this old thing is really too much, I've been wanting to punch him for a long time!"

  "Ah",... Chen's father and son opened their mouths wide.

  "Do you know what he's done?" Di Qing stood up with a snort, slapping a military newspaper in front of the Chen family and said: "Take a look, is there still such an idiot under heaven!"

  Chen Xiliang took a look and was suddenly enlightened... It was a work report from Yu Wenshuai since his arrival in the south:

  After Yang Zheng's defeat, Yu Jing didn't idle around either. He knew he was clueless about fighting, so he decided to play to his strengths and prepare a clever plan... After thinking for a while, surprisingly, he finally came up with an unusual strategy!

  He heard that Nong Zhigao had a vendetta against the Jiaozhi people for killing his father and had rebelled several times, but was defeated each time. The Jiaozhi were later known as Vietnam, which was part of China before the Song Dynasty. After the Song Taizu conquered the Southern Han, he decided not to expand further south. As a result, a poor and arrogant small country emerged, and Nong Zhigao was bullied by them and could no longer stay in Guangyuan, so he submitted a request to surrender. When he discovered that the Song army was weak, he simply set fire to his old home and moved his family to Bozhou.

  So I can spend money to hire Khmer soldiers to capture and kill you. This way, no need to sacrifice the lives of Great Song Dynasty people, just need to spend some money, it's really a bargain.

  Yu Daren is an impulsive person, he thinks and acts immediately. He gave 20,000 yuan to Li Dezheng, the King of Jiaozhi Prefecture, and asked him to lead his troops to join forces in Bazhou, while also providing food and grass after entering the border...

  What does this mean? Even Chen Ke understood, it means those Vietnamese devils can openly enter the Great Song territory to burn, kill and loot! And it's all on public expense!

  "This kind of pig head, just beating him up once won't be enough to vent our anger!" Chen Ke angrily said: "At the very least, he must be made unable to take care of himself!"

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