Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 98 Making things difficult
Liu Daogui and Xiao Yuanzhi chatted for a long time.

Although Wang Chen was a member of Sima Daozi's party, he was quite capable and skillful.

He held the posts of Envoy with Special Powers, General Jianwu, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Jing, Yi and Ning Provinces, and Governor of Jing Province. During his tenure, he made things difficult for the Huan family, forcing them to move.

Now that the huge stone hanging over the Huan family's head has been removed, the court structure and the situation in Jiangzuo will change again.

The newly appointed Yin Zhongkan was from Wang Gong's faction. Almost all the military power of the Jin Dynasty was in their hands, and Sima Daozi's power was also restricted.

However, given the Sima family's character, the internal strife will definitely not stop, but will only intensify...

The autumn harvest was over and the three-month deadline was up, so Liu Daogui prepared to return to Guangling.

Liu Guangzhi guarded Qingguang Village, Liu Zhong guarded Lushui Pond, Zhao Yuan led the red and black buildings back to Chishan Village for reclamation, and Liu Heipi led the white and green buildings to guard the city.

With the addition of servants, each building has now expanded to about 150 households.

The number of soldiers in each group was increased to 800, all of whom were carefully selected brave men. Each group had 100 men, and the leaders of the groups were all Liu Daogui's subordinates.

Mao Dezuo followed Liu Daogui back to Guangling, and later found a position for him in the military government, making him his right-hand man.

Carrying the remaining 8,000 coins from the bronze Buddha, Liu Daogui set out on his journey back to Guangling.

The harvest this year was not good, and they could only barely protect themselves. However, now the entire Lanling is basically in their hands, the powerful people are obedient, and they have a close relationship with the Cao family. Everything will get better after this year.

The soldiers were already eager to return home, and they pushed the carts without feeling tired. They had very little time to rest on the way, and as long as they were awake, they hurried on their way.

As soon as he returned to Guangling, he immediately caused a sensation.

This time, the soldiers earned more than the last time.

The soldiers on the left and right came over, clamoring and cursing with envy and jealousy.

However, there was a hint of respect and hope in his eyes when he looked at Liu Daogui.

Liu Daogui knew that he had become the God of Wealth in their eyes.

"If you do it twice more, I'm afraid all the soldiers in the military will focus on you." Gao Xun said half-jokingly.

Liu Daogui spoke frankly, "Brother Gao, aren't you teasing me? Lanling has already run out of fish. I'm afraid we won't be able to get this much money in the future."

Desire is insatiable. The soldiers' appetites are getting bigger and bigger, and no amount of money can satisfy them.

However, as the eight buildings grow in the future, there will be no need for the middle soldier.

Gao Xun's expression grew serious as he leaned forward and whispered, "The news of Dao Ze defeating the bandits has reached the ears of Yuan He and Xun Xinzhi."

Liu Daogui wanted to keep a low profile, but there is no wall that is impenetrable.

Logically speaking, defeating the bandits should be considered a credit, but in those days, nothing can be said. Zhu Xu repelled the attacks of Western Yan and Zhai Liao, intimidated the northern kingdom, and saved Luoyang, but the court still did not give him any reward.

Not only will Liu Daogui's contribution not be appreciated by them, but he may also be involved in their internal strife.

The last time Liu Yi took active action to recover the stolen food and supplies, he was still tricked by Xun Xinzhi.

"Thank you." Liu Daogui bowed and stepped into the general's mansion.

Huan Hong is still nowhere to be seen.

There were only Yuan He and Xun Xinzhi in the mansion. Both of them were buried in bamboo slips. When they saw Liu Daogui enter, they didn't even raise their heads.

"I, Liu Daogui, pay my respects to Sima Changshi."

"Well, Daozhe is back. I have submitted a memorial to the court to request credit for you in repelling the bandits this time." Yuan He had a faint smile on his face, looking quite friendly.

Xun Xinzhi raised his eyes. "How many casualties were there in this round of suppression? How much loot was seized?"

Liu Daogui quickly handed over the prepared documents, "Seven men were killed and forty were injured. I have already provided compensation to the soldiers' families."

Xun Xinzhi didn't even bother to look at them. "The soldiers we fought against were the blood and sweat of the imperial court. You went north twice to suppress the bandits, and suffered 217 casualties. According to the old military regulations, you should be compensated."

This time, his greed for money became known throughout Guangling City.

The soldiers were making a lot of money, and he had long been jealous. If he didn't come to extort some money, it would be a shame to his reputation of plucking the feathers of passing geese. Yuan He offered help: "Since we are suppressing bandits, casualties are inevitable. We can fill the vacancies in the central troops later."

"Laws are laws. They were set by Envoy Huan. Does Sima Yuan want to disobey?" Xun Xinzhi directly brought up Huan Hong.

The General's Mansion was built by Huan Chong and inherited by Huan Hong. The soldiers in the General's Mansion were equivalent to the Huan family's troops, and the laws and rules of the army were all set by Huan Hong.

Whatever Xun Xinzhi says is what it is.

Liu Daogui was mentally prepared, and since he was serving the Huan family, he could only swallow this humiliation.

Yuan He laughed dryly twice and had nothing to say.

Xun Xinzhi rolled his eyes, took out his abacus, and began to tick. "One hundred and twenty-five strings of cash are awarded for each person killed in action, and one hundred strings of cash are awarded for each person injured or disabled. The total is twenty-four thousand nine hundred and fifty-one strings of cash."

Suddenly, the sound of Luo needles could be heard in the hall.

Even the clerks nearby couldn't stand it anymore.

Yuan He frowned, "Isn't that a bit too high? This time, the military operation has greatly enhanced the prestige of our General's Office, and the military office should be rewarded."

"How to increase the reward will be decided by Envoy Huan, so Sima Yuan doesn't have to worry about it. Do you want to pay it now or keep a record of it?" Xun Xinzhi lay lazily on the couch.

"Keep accounts." Liu Daogui's psychological endurance had been trained long ago.

All in all, this is all he has.

If water comes, earth will cover it; if an enemy comes, a general will stop it. Having failed to kill Liu Yi back then, he certainly couldn't bring down Liu Daogui now. Now that he had the Eight Pillars in his hands, his strength had greatly increased, and he wasn't afraid of his tactics.

"Three years, 50% interest."

"Just do as Xun Changshi said."

Xun Xinzhi was a little surprised that Liu Daogui was so straightforward and didn't even argue, and he glanced around.

Yuan He was also surprised, staring at Liu Daogui thoughtfully, "The military is looking for a candidate for Lanling Duwei, and I intend to recommend Daoze."

The officials of a county include the prefect, the county magistrate, and the commander. The commander is directly responsible for the military affairs of the county.

Especially in border counties, there will be multiple commanders.

Lanling had just been stabilized when the military government started to make plans, saying that they were looking for candidates for the position of captain, but in fact they were here to pick peaches.

This group of people are simply sucking the marrow out of people's bones.

However, Liu Daogui had married into the Cao family and had eased relations with the Xiao family. He also had eight garrisons guarding one side. Lanling was now a united front, and Liu Daogui had the final say. It was useless for the military to send anyone there.

It's your own thing, no one can take it away.

Lanling is not Guangling, and Liu Daogui has many ways to deal with them.

"I am young and have been in the military office for less than a year. I dare not have such unreasonable thoughts." Liu Daogui bowed, and Yuan He's words sounded more like a test.

One of them plays the good cop and the other plays the bad cop, trying to squeeze more benefits out of him.

"Hmph, you are self-aware. People from poor families have their own fate. Don't be delusional." Xun Xinzhi snorted coldly, his dead fish eyes rolling up and down.

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

Liu Daogui sneered in his heart. He was the one who had no self-awareness. The Huan family was now being attacked from both sides by Wang Gong and Sima Daozi, and even the military power of the General of Conquering the Enemy had been lost. He didn't know where his confidence and sense of superiority came from.

Discrimination is everywhere. There is a huge gap between the gentry and the poor. It is nothing new that the poor have always been looked down upon.

Yuan He nodded.

Liu Daogui bowed and left the yamen.

Gao Xun, who was waiting outside the door, came over and asked, "So soon? Didn't Xun Xinzhi give you any trouble?"

"How can there be no difficulties? It's just a small matter." If you want to survive in the officialdom, you will never be able to do it without some psychological endurance.

(End of this chapter)