xymnovel Chapter 22 Far Away Yet Close at Hand
Chapter 22 Far Away Yet Close at Hand
"My name is Wang Jun, and I pay my respects to the old lady."
After capturing Han Tong, Wang Jun naturally went to check on Zhao Kuangyin's mother, Lady Du, as soon as possible.
It has to be said that Han Tong was truly ruthless in his actions. If he was going to sell out, he would sell out completely. While Zhao Kuangyin was carrying out the Chenqiao Mutiny, Han Tong immediately attacked Dingli Temple, intending to capture Zhao Kuangyin's family.
The person in charge of guarding Dingliyuan was Shi Shouxin, one of Zhao Kuangyin's most trusted confidants. With Han Tong already prepared, the number of troops he had was not more than Han Tong's. Although it was not a life-threatening situation, it really frightened Zhao Kuangyin's family members quite a bit.
This is exactly the effect I wanted.
Han Tong brought only his trusted confidants and personal guards, most of whom knew the inside story. It was all a bluff; they shouted loudly and fired a barrage of arrows indiscriminately.
They even arranged for many scoundrels and ruffians through Pan Wu in advance to make a big show of things, but when they actually made contact, they were extremely soft-hearted.
This commotion startled Shi Shouxin. He was under great responsibility and dared not make any mistakes. Instead, he became even more hesitant to engage Han Tong in a direct confrontation, preferring to focus on defense and wait for Zhao Kuangyin's reinforcements. As a result, even he was unaware of Han Tong's true strength or weakness.
A group of orphans, widows, the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled had never seen anything like this before. They were all quite frightened. At this moment, Wang Jun suddenly came up with the idea of "capturing the leader first to catch the thief," which naturally had a hidden meaning of saving the lives of Zhao Kuangyin's entire family.
Why sacrifice yourself to do favors for your son-in-law? If you're going to do it, do it big.
Han Tong, a man of humble origins who joined the army to make a living, has no background whatsoever yet has managed to rise to his current position. He usually acts like a brainless brute, but anyone who actually thinks he's brainless is probably the one who's truly brainless.
The old lady was kind; after all, she came from a prominent family in Dingzhou and was used to the ways of the world. She quickly regained her composure and asked with a smile:
"You're Master Wang? I've heard my eldest and second sons mention you. My eldest son often laments that you're a talented person, but unfortunately, that blockhead Han Dengyan beat him to it and they became in-laws."
"I wouldn't call myself a talent, Madam, you flatter me. I'm relieved that Madam and my family are all safe and sound. Everyone knows that Grand Commandant Zhao is going to be emperor, but my father-in-law is just trying to stop him."
If the old lady were truly harmed in the slightest, how could I, as her son-in-law, remain unscathed? But actually... actually... my father-in-law is also... sigh~"
Grandma Du, however, was very understanding: "You're right. Han Tong's actions, in the end, stemmed from his loyalty and were for the sake of the country. The world has been in turmoil for a hundred years and has never been at peace. Isn't it because there are too few people like him?"
I will persuade my eldest son to let Han Tong go and not pursue today's matter.
After thinking for a moment, he added with a smile, "My son's dynasty has just been established, and he wishes to end the chaos of the world. Therefore, it is natural to establish some models of loyalty and righteousness to set an example for the world."
Now, within this vast city of Kaifeng, it seems that only Han Tong truly possesses loyalty and righteousness. Even if I don't speak up, my eldest son certainly won't make things difficult for him.
"Master Wang, in any case, with the change of dynasties today, there will inevitably be soldiers causing trouble and scoundrels committing evil deeds. If you don't mind, why don't you come into the temple and have a simple meal with our family? Bring your son along too. My eldest son once told me that your son is a child prodigy."
Upon hearing this, Wang Jun was overjoyed and quickly replied, "That is indeed my wish, I dare not ask."
………………
Around noon, Zhao Kuangyin successfully led his troops into the city. Resistance from within the city was virtually nonexistent, and the looting by mutinous soldiers, which the people had feared most, did not occur.
Instead, Zhao Kuangyin even dispatched a small contingent of troops to arrest those scoundrels and ruffians who were trying to take advantage of the chaos to loot and vandalize.
They basically ensured that they did not commit any offenses.
Compared to the massacre of the city by Guo Wei after entering it ten years ago, the stripping of Zhang Yun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, by the mutinous soldiers who stripped him naked and froze to death, and the ransacking of Feng Dao's mansion, there is an even greater sense of unreality.
It should be noted that during the Five Dynasties period, Guo Wei was already known as a benevolent ruler.
However, upon closer reflection, this is understandable. Ten years ago, when Guo Wei entered the city, his main force was the Tianxiong Army, which was originally the Weibo Yabing.
Zhao Kuangyin's army consisted entirely of local Kaifeng imperial guards. They went out of the city for a stroll on the first day of the Lunar New Year and returned on the third day; they were all locals.
Since everyone was from the same hometown and fellow villagers, they didn't really have any intention of massacring the city, so it was easier to control them. This doesn't mean that Zhao Kuangyin was much better than Guo Wei in this respect.
This may also explain why the civil service bureaucracy in Kaifeng lacked loyalty and insisted on pushing Zhao Kuangyin to the throne.
After all, the peaches were ripe for half a year. If Zhao Kuangyin, a local from Kaifeng, didn't pick them soon, and if the Prince of Wei or other regional warlords from other places came to the capital, there might be another round of massacres.
The Tianxiong Army under Fu Yanqing's command is the same group of people that Guo Wei led into the city ten years ago. Guo Wei himself was Fu Yanqing's predecessor as the military governor of the Tianxiong Army.
After entering the city, Zhao Kuangyin did not rush to become emperor. Instead, he went to Dingli Temple to pick up his family.
Although he now knows that his family is safe and sound, he also knows that Han Tong was so audacious as to have the idea of taking his family members hostage, which frightened his family.
He was quite frightened and rushed over to check the situation.
As soon as he entered the temple gate, he heard bursts of hearty laughter from afar, and as he drew closer, he smelled a very peculiar fragrance.
As they got closer, they saw Xiao Wanglu telling jokes to his family, making them all laugh so hard they were doubled over.
Wang Jun wasn't at the table; instead, he was busy cooking in the kitchen. Several dishes were already laid out on the table. Although they were vegetarian, they smelled wonderful, and they were all novelties he had never seen before.
[I never imagined that Master Wang was also an expert in cooking, and Young Master Wang is so eloquent; they are truly an extraordinary pair!]
"Is Dalang back?"
It was Old Lady Du who first saw Zhao Kuangyin return.
When the Zhao family saw Zhao Kuangyin return, they all hurriedly got up, becoming even more excited. After all, this meant that everything had been settled and they were now all true imperial relatives, which put their minds at ease.
"Grand Commandant Zhao," Wang Lu stood up and clasped his hands in greeting, still not addressing him directly as "Your Majesty."
"Sit down. This is a family dinner. Now that you're seated at the table, you're no stranger here, so there's no need for formalities."
As he spoke, Zhao Kuangyin himself found a stool and sat down on the table.
"Grand Commandant."
At this moment, Wang Jun also brought the last dish to the table. He didn't ask him to bow, but instead asked him to sit down and eat with him.
"The Taoist priest actually has such culinary skills? These dishes look like dishes from the immortals."
"It's just some fancy tricks and techniques, not worth mentioning."
Zhao Kuangyin picked up a large steamed bun from the table, squeezed it, and exclaimed in surprise, "How did you make this steamed bun so soft?"
I took a bite, and my eyes lit up.
"I added a little bit of something called bast oil when kneading the dough. I figured it out and made it myself. When the Grand Commandant became emperor, he sent about a hundred catties of it to the palace. As long as you add this, the noodles will become soft."
Zhao Kuangyin nodded, took a bite of the large steamed bun, and said, "To make steamed buns so well, you are truly a master, Daoist! Yes, thank you very much for today's matter, Daoist. Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for Han Dengyan."
On the contrary, I'll appoint him to a high-ranking official position. As for the Taoist priest, you've saved my family; what reward do you want? What official position would you like to be given to you?
"A military general! It must be a military general!" Wang Lu hurriedly said from the side.
"Really? Daoist Master, you don't seem like it... Daoist Master, you really want to be a military general, and you're not joking?"
"Hmm." Wang Jun had no choice but to nod through gritted teeth.
"Grand Commandant, I don't really care what official position I hold. My whole life has been dedicated to my son. I heard that the late emperor stopped the examination for child prodigies. Do you think it can be reinstated? Do you think my son can be called a child prodigy?"
"Dad, we're talking about your own business, why are you bringing me up?"
"I'm talking about your business. Isn't your business more important than mine?"
"Cough cough~, cough cough cough~" Suddenly, Grandma Du at the dinner table started coughing incessantly.
Zhao Kuangyin quickly patted her back gently: "Mother, are you alright?"
"It's alright, it's alright."
"Does the old lady have asthma?"
"It's an old problem, just lots of phlegm and a cough. Haha, I'm getting old, I'm not good for it anymore."
"Does this temple have any medicine?"
Beside him, Zhao Kuangmei said, "Even if we had it, it wouldn't be of any use. A while ago, I heard that a strange man came to Kaifeng and sold a medicine called 'Great Strength Pill.' Mother felt much better after taking it, but then, for some reason, that strange man disappeared."
The family tried every means to collect those powerful pills, but they didn't manage to collect many, and now they've all been consumed.
As he spoke, Zhao Kuangmei's eyes reddened, and he burst into tears: "Without this powerful pill, what will become of my mother's illness?"
Zhao Kuangyin: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, third brother, don't cry. We're about to become emperor, the whole world will be ours. Why would we be afraid of not finding that extraordinary person or that powerful pill?"
Zhao Kuangyin suddenly turned around and looked at the two of them: "I heard that the master is a Taoist, but he doesn't wear Taoist robes and has a son with him. Your Majesty, Master Wang, you..."
"Ah... it's been a long time since I made any Dali Pills. I'll make a batch tonight and bring it to the old lady."