The performance officially began, and the heads of each troupe performed their best programs.
As an artist, I will not hold back when I encounter such a big scene.
If Zhang Shixun was not there, the relationship between them would be more competitive than cooperative.
This principle also applies to later generations.
The market is so small. If your popularity increases, my popularity will decrease.
This is how the saying "competitors are enemies" came about.
Therefore, all the artists present tried their best to perform.
No one slacked off just because the performance was for ordinary people.
Zhang Shixun was very satisfied.
Li Gang showed no interest in the performance. He pulled Zhang Shixun backstage and asked solemnly, "Zhang Shixun, are you a citizen of the Song Dynasty?"
"Needless to say?" Zhang Shixun looked at him warily. "I am a descendant of the late emperor. The passion flowing in my veins is no different from yours."
"Don't interrupt me. What I'm asking now is whether you are a citizen of the Song Dynasty."
"Certainly at the moment."
"at present?"
Li Gang was not one to be fooled. He pressed on, "Are you saying that after a while, you will no longer recognize us as subjects of the Song Dynasty?"
Zhang Shixun's face turned serious. "Mr. Li, how long do you think the foundation of the Song Dynasty can last?"
"Ten thousand years."
Zhang Shixun sneered and looked at him without saying anything.
Li Gang said awkwardly, "The Great Song Dynasty has been established for over a hundred years, working hard to govern the country and benefit the people..."
"Mr. Li, can you please be honest with a commoner?" Zhang Shixun interrupted him. "I'm afraid you know the current situation of the Song Dynasty better than I do. It can be said that it is plagued by internal and external troubles. The empire is on the verge of collapse. The remaining time is just around the corner."
Li Gang was furious and grabbed his collar, "Shut up, you brat!"
Zhang Shixun stretched out a finger, touched his cheek, and said calmly, "Mr. Li, your saliva is spraying on my face."
Li Gang then realized that he had lost his composure and let go of his hand, saying, "Boy, you are too arrogant. That's why I got angry."
Zhang Shixun shook his sleeves and said teasingly, "If you can't stand the truth, don't blame those who dare to speak it... Lord Li, in my mind, you are one of the few gentlemen in the Song Dynasty who dares to speak the truth. I didn't expect that after meeting you today, you are just so-so. It's so disappointing."
Li Gang had calmed down and turned a deaf ear to Zhang Shixun's sarcasm. "You are exaggerating, as if the Song Dynasty will perish tomorrow after defeating the Jin people. I am not happy with what you say."
Zhang Shixun sneered, "Mr. Li, if I said that the Song Dynasty was peaceful and prosperous, would you slap me?"
Li Gang's expression froze, and after a moment of thought, he said, "I'm afraid he will. Not only will he slap you, he'll also kick you a few times."
Zhang Shixun nodded and said, "To be honest, you are probably the only official in the Song Dynasty who can speak normally."
After saying that, he actually reached out and patted Li Gang on the shoulder, and said in a condescending tone: "Take care of yourself. If there is still any hope for the Song Dynasty today, it depends on people like you, but..."
Li Gang was both angry and amused, and asked, "But what?"
Zhang Shixun didn't answer. Instead, he leaned closer to him and asked in a low voice, "Has anyone in the court recently suggested that you replace Zhong Shidao as the envoy?"
Li Gang was stunned and asked hurriedly: "How do you know?"
"I know everything about astronomy and geography. No matter what the situation is, I can calculate it with just a few fingers..."
"Shut up!" Li Gang immediately stopped him and said sternly, "Boy, since you came to the Song Dynasty, you have been able to get whatever you want. You have been doing very well. Fanlou rescued the emperor, Tianwu trained the troops, and wiped out the Wei clan. You chased Yang Tianwang to the point where he had no way to go to heaven or to enter the earth, and finally caught them all in one fell swoop. When the Jin soldiers invaded, you hid in Zhang Xiaozhuang. In name, you were avoiding the war, but secretly took advantage of the arrival of the Jin soldiers to sweep away all the horses and food in Moutuogang, and burned down what could not be transported away..."
Zhang Shixun heard this and asked with a smile, "Mr. Li, it sounds like you are recounting my achievements."
"What you've done is truly meritorious, especially the incident at Moutuogang, which had a huge impact on the war situation... Did you know that when the Jin soldiers marched into Kaifeng this time, following Master Guo's strategy, their first target was Moutuogang, hoping to seize the horses and food there? Unexpectedly, you got there first and burned it to the ground."
"Well... Mr. Li, is your information wrong? I didn't do the Moutuogang incident."
Zhang Shixun looked innocent.
"I knew you wouldn't admit it." Li Gang tapped his nose. "If you admit it, those horses and food will have to be handed over to the court. It's fine if you don't admit it."
"Mr. Li, let me emphasize again that I have always been a law-abiding person. If I had not received an order from the court, I would not have done this."
Li Gang didn't want to argue with him, so he waved his hand and said, "Let's put aside the Moutuogang incident for now. Let me ask you, did you go to Shanxi some time ago?"
Zhang Shixun nodded in agreement, "Mr. Li is very perceptive. I did go to Shanxi some time ago."
"What are you going to do in Shanxi?"
"I felt suffocated watching the Jin soldiers besieging the city, so I went to Shanxi in a fit of rage. Out of sight, out of mind."
"So, you went to Shanxi just to relax?"
"I guess so."
Li Gang sneered: "Besides relaxing, did you do anything else?"
"Oh! I did something."
Zhang Shixun knew he couldn't hide it from him, so he said casually, "There's a stronghold called Magedang at the exit of Baijing. Does Li Xianggong know about it?"
"I know. Magedang is located on the Baijing trail, and its geographical location is very important."
"There were several hundred Jin soldiers stationed in Magedang. They were tyrannical and overbearing. In a fit of rage, I wiped them out."
"You destroyed it alone?"
"Of course not." Zhang Shixun smiled and explained, "There are quite a few rebel forces in the Taihang Mountains... Oh! I almost forgot, the government calls these people bandits."
"Yes! There are indeed quite a few bandits in the Taihang Mountains. They often extort money and beat people with clubs."
"Although I am extremely bold, I still know my own limitations. I alone cannot defeat the Jin soldiers in Magedang. So, I found these bandits, explained the righteousness of the cause, and finally persuaded them to join me in attacking the Jin soldiers in Magedang with my persuasion."
Li Gang nodded. "As a result, Zhang Tianshi was invincible. He completely wiped out the group of gold thieves and captured their leader alive."
"Exactly!" Zhang Shixun clapped his hands and laughed, "A scholar knows everything about the world without leaving home. Mr. Li is a scholar among scholars. Even such a small matter can't be hidden from your eyes. I admire you!"
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