Sure enough, the person who came was none other than Wanqi Yushi's 'old friend from northern Shaanxi', Qu Duan, who had made outstanding contributions in the Battle of Yaoshan not long ago.

When the two met, Qu Duan started to curl his lips: "Censor Wanqi, are you here to Guanxi this time to imitate Yang Zhen and become a gentleman of four knowledges? Why don't you look at yourself in a bronze mirror? Do you really think you can become a minister for three generations?"

Wanqi Xie said nothing in front of him, and returned to the small courtyard where he was staying. He twirled his beard and sneered, "Who cares if he is the fourth or fifth magistrate? At this juncture, it's a good thing that you, Qu Da, have fallen into the army. If you had really been transferred to a civilian position and dared to bother me, I would have shouted in public that there was a thief first..."

The two exchanged a few sarcastic remarks before sitting down in the courtyard. Qu Duan then became serious: "If that's the case, then Wanqi Yushi is not afraid of military generals, but is afraid of civil officials instead? What's the reason for this?"

"What's the reason?" It was hot in July, and the daytime was scorching, but the night gradually became cooler. Wanqi Xie sat with his hands clasped together, and did not hide it. "After this battle, the emperor has a firm grasp on all of you military leaders. The emperor wants to reorganize the Western Army here. Liu Xi rebuked him with one word. The remaining three major military leaders, one of you Qu Da, one Wu Da, and one Liu Er, do you really dare to argue?"

"According to the system of this dynasty, the emperor can control the military generals at will." Qu Duan shook his head and sighed. "It's just that this official is a horseman who can shoot arrows, so he is particularly conspicuous... But if that's the case, if you don't mind the military generals, why should you mind the civil officials? First, reorganize the army, transfer tens of thousands of Western troops to the imperial camp, deploy the troops, and keep tens of thousands of brave soldiers in place, then go and reward the idle land in Guanzhong, who dares to cause trouble? Who can cause trouble?"

Wanqi Xie sneered and said nothing.

Qu Duan was stunned for a moment, then realized it, and he also sneered: "I understand... Minister Wang died for his country, and Minister Lu was just promoted to minister, the provincial government and the Privy Council are both vacant, and the ministers and officials below are like black-eyed chickens. You are determined to be a sycophantic official, and you don't want to be regarded as a minister's man."

Wanqi Xie shook his head repeatedly: "Qu Da, Qu Da, you are a man of both literary and martial abilities, but it's a pity that you have a big mouth."

"So what if I have a big mouth? The commander of the imperial cavalry is still mine." Qu Duan said proudly. "The decree came down a few days ago!"

"Really?" Wanqi Xie was slightly startled, then shook his head. "Then why are you here? Are you really here to argue with me?"

"There is indeed something going on." Qu Duan finally became serious. "I'm involved in a lawsuit...Does the Imperial Censor Wanqi know Guo Cheng?"

"Of course I know about General Guo Cheng. He was already a famous general during the Shenzong Dynasty's campaign against the Western Xia." Wanqi Xie seemed to be thinking. "For many years, he has been transferred to Huanqing and Jingyuan, that is, the northern Shaanxi area... and northern Shaanxi is also where you and the Wu brothers started their careers. I can guess that there is a lawsuit between you without you saying it. It's nothing more than you snatching away their military power or ostracizing their descendants, right?"

"If we can't gather the troops from these rubbish at that time, how can we do anything?" Qu Duan frowned and simply admitted it.

"Then you can just tell the emperor like this..." Wanqi Xie disagreed. "Since the emperor has made the appointment, he still values ​​you in his heart."

"The key is that Guo Cheng is going to die." Qu Duan frowned more and more. "He is a veteran general who has served four dynasties and has always had military achievements. After the departure of old Taiwei Yang, he is the most senior person in the Western Army. However, I have been in poor health for these years and have been waiting to die in the fortress of Huanqing Road. I have been fighting with his son Guo Hao for many years. I took advantage of the chaos in the past two years and gained power. It was mostly because of the face of this old general that I did not kill him. As a result, I did not expect that he would suddenly appear in person today... Two days after the decree to appoint me as the commander-in-chief of the imperial camp cavalry came down, Guo Chengren was still recovering from his injuries in the fortress on the border of Jingyuan Road waiting to die, but the letter had already been sent to the emperor, which publicly impeached me for ten major crimes in northern Shaanxi two years ago."

"Only ten deadly sins?"

"In fact, I committed more than twenty serious crimes back then, but what's the point?" Qu Duan said disapprovingly. "If we really want to talk about the crimes, that poem and the matter with Wang Shu are enough to kill me, how can it be Guo Cheng or Guo Hao's turn?"

"That's true, then what are you afraid of?"

"Isn't it that the emperor is about to change the entire Western Army into the Imperial Camp Rear Army? Since the army is to be reorganized, it is reasonable to appease the Western Army generals. If the emperor wants to give face to the dying old general and relax my Imperial Camp Cavalry Commander, what will happen?" Qu Duan finally got to the point. "And I won't hide it from you. Guo Cheng and Guo Hao are from the same hometown as the Wu brothers. I am also afraid that the two villains Wu Da and Wu Er are also involved in this matter. I was getting irritated and happened to hear that you were coming, so I personally rode the Iron Elephant to meet you, and I also wanted to consult you on this matter."

Wanqi Xie finally smiled again: "You are too concerned..."

"What do you mean?" Qu Da finally cheered up.

"Let me ask you." Wanqi Yuanzhong twisted his beard and looked at you. "Guo Cheng is dying, why did he impeach you before he died? Doesn't he know that you are the emperor's favorite candidate? Isn't he afraid that you will wait for him to die and take revenge on his son? Such a senior veteran, risking his last dignity and his son's future, just to vent his anger? If you were Guo Cheng, would you do the same?"

Qu Da sneered: "If it were me, I would naturally do the same."

Wanqi Xie's face darkened for a moment.

But Qu Duan continued to smile and said, "But I understand what you mean... Guo Hao has not made any achievements this time, and the Western Army is about to reorganize, so his father sacrificed his face to remind the emperor not to forget that the Guo family has been loyal for two generations and four dynasties, and he wants the emperor to give his son a future for his sake... As long as Guo Hao is given a position, these things will disappear."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!