Compared with a gifted child like Yang Cha, the gap is still too far.
The group quickly entered the city.
Zhao Wenzuo had already prepared a banquet at a restaurant in the city.
Yang Cha was exhausted from the journey and was indeed hungry. He also had a lot to discuss at the dinner table, so he did not refuse.
The restaurants in Yongzhou were not as good as those in Bianliang. The most luxurious restaurant was only two stories high. Looking around, the whole city was full of bungalows, and even two-story buildings could be counted on one hand.
Zhao Wenzuo entertained Yang Cha and said guiltily, "Commander-in-Chief, the southwest is remote and not as prosperous as the capital. Please bear with me."
"No problem."
Yang Cha nodded slightly, then sat down and said, "Everyone, please sit down."
"yes."
Everyone took their seats.
While waiting for the food to be served, Yang Cha said in a deep voice, "Where is the Tongzhi of Yongzhou?"
Nong Zhigao hurriedly said, "I am here."
Yang Cha turned his head and looked him up and down. He found that the man was only about twenty years old. He was quite surprised and asked, "I wonder how old he is?"
"Reporting to the Commander, this humble official has just turned twenty this year."
Nong Zhigao was a little uneasy, as he was afraid that the other party would look down on him because of his young age.
"Tongzhi is young and promising."
Yang Cha laughed and said, "I heard that as early as four or five years ago, the Tongzhi couldn't stand the excessive greed of the Yue Dynasty and took up arms to rebel. Doesn't that mean that the Tongzhi was only fifteen or sixteen years old at that time?"
Nong Zhigao smiled bitterly and said, "Guangyuan Prefecture is originally the territory of the imperial court, but Li Yue is extorting border residents and plundering the people. This humble official can no longer tolerate this."
"good."
Yang Cha praised: "The Song Dynasty needs young men like Tongzhi."
He then looked around and said, "The prefect has already mentioned the associate prefect, saying that he has such courage and is a future pillar of the Song Dynasty."
"I've long seen that Tongzhi is extraordinary and has a bright future."
"Hahaha, to be able to catch the eye of the Magistrate, you will surely have smooth sailing as the Magistrate. If you get promoted in the future, don't forget us."
"So the Tongzhi started a rebellion at the age of fifteen. He was truly a young man with courage. He played an indispensable role in the success of this event."
When everyone saw that Yang Cha thought highly of Nong Zhigao, they began to praise him.
This is how the officialdom works. When someone is praised by someone above them, the people below them can only flatter him, besides being envious, jealous and resentful.
Nong Zhigao was indeed somewhat flattered by the flattery and quickly returned the gift. In the Song Dynasty, the status of these border people was not high. People like Huang Wei and Huang Shimi were even Jinshi graduates.
Because the identity of border residents has never been valued, they are not even assigned to positions during selection and can only serve as redundant and idle officials.
As a failed juren, not even a jinshi, he was naturally looked down upon by officials in Yongzhou.
Now that I'm treated like this, it feels like I'm living in a dream.
Yang Cha smiled when he saw how flattered he was. Zhao Jun asked him to comfort Nong Zhigao. After all, the Song Dynasty had treated him unfairly before.
It is clear that Nong Zhigao wrote many letters requesting to surrender, but the court did not get any information because of the selfish desires of the prefect of Yongzhou.
Not only did it dishearten the border residents, but it also caused the Song Dynasty to be invaded by scoundrels without knowing it, which was a real shame.
But after a moment, Yang Cha straightened his expression and said, "But Nong, the deputy governor, before the governor comes, I have something to remind you."
Nong Zhigao hurriedly said, "Please let the commander-in-chief reprimand me."
"The prefect said that the Great Song is a nation that embraces the world. Regardless of ethnicity, whether Han or Yi, as long as you are willing to become a citizen of the Great Song, you will be treated equally and there will be no discrimination."
Yang Cha said sternly, "Since you are willing to submit to the Great Song and become an official of the Great Song, you should be loyal to the emperor and serve him faithfully. You must never act like your father, presumptuously establishing a country and usurping the throne. Do you understand?"
Nong Zhigao was forgiven this time because, firstly, he had repeatedly submitted memorials explaining the reasons for establishing the state, and secondly, he had repeatedly expressed his willingness to submit and had not attempted to usurp the throne.
He founded the country in order to raise a banner and call on ethnic minorities in the border areas to submit to his banner.
At present, it is to establish a kingdom.
It was not until later in history that he rebelled and conquered Yongzhou, established the Great Southern Kingdom, and proclaimed himself emperor.
So judging from his behavior, at least at the moment, Nong Zhigao was a bit like Li Yuanhao, who was wholeheartedly loyal to the Song Dynasty, and had not yet rebelled and tried to establish himself as he did later.
Now his power is not strong, he has only a few thousand men under him, and his ambition has not expanded with the growth of his power. The fact that the court gave him the same Jinshi degree and the position of Tongzhi of Yongzhou has already made Nong Zhigao very excited. How could he dare to presumptuously act?
Therefore, upon hearing Yang Cha's words, Nong Zhigao was so frightened that he quickly stood up and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Commander-in-Chief, the court must investigate this matter. I established this country to win the allegiance of the border people and to rally them to fight against the Li Yue. Otherwise, the Li Yue would invade the border and claim that it was their land. Without the protection of the country, how would the border people dare to fight them?"
"Well, the court is naturally aware of this. If not, how could you sit here in peace? It is naturally up to His Majesty and the Supreme Court to see clearly."
Yang Cha bowed towards Beifang, then smiled and said, "Don't panic, Tongzhi. The court is rewarding you because of your contributions. This time, you just need to do your best and cooperate with the court to eliminate Li Yue. That will be a great achievement."
He then looked at the other officials around him and said, "The court will not forget its meritorious officials. Meritorious service will be rewarded, and faults will be punished. This is the rule set by the Constitutional Council, and it applies to everyone as well. So, I would like to state my position here. As long as there are any meritorious officials this time, I will report them truthfully, and you will all be generously rewarded."
"Thank you, Commander!"
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