Chapter 373 The Most Gentleman

Fang Xuanling, who was worried alone in the inner hall, was slightly stunned to hear that Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang were visiting. Recently, the court has been in many events, and there are many civil and military generals who have come to visit. But Qin Mubai will come in person at this time, and Fang Xuanling still felt a little surprised.

While dressing up and changing clothes, Fang Xuanling ordered his family to tear down the mourning hall to clean up the main hall for guests. Mrs. Fang Lu refused to splash. She heard that Qin Mubai was coming and cried to find him desperately. Fang Xuanling, who was rarely angry once in ten years, was furious and forced several servants and maidservants to lock her up in the backyard and not let her go, and the mourning hall was quickly demolished.

Qin Mubai and others waited patiently at the door and were not in a hurry. They had to give Fang Xuanling some time and space to adapt, so as not to embarrass each other.

The hands and feet of the people in the Fang family are quite sharp, and they can take care of it clearly without a cup of tea. Fang Xuanling, dressed in formal clothes, took his eldest son Fang Zhizhi to the door to greet him and saluted him as a minister.

"Your Highness the princess and the emperor's son-in-law are here. Weichen has lost a long way to welcome him. I hope you can forgive me!"

"Gong, please get up quickly." Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang came forward to help each other and return the gift. Qin Mubai said, "We are all uninvited guests. I take the liberty to disturb you. Please don't be surprised."

Fang Xuanling's slightly tired trendy red face can't see any sadness and joy. He is calm and indifferent, as usual, silent and humble. He led the way and invited Qin Mubai and others to enter. The etiquette was quite sufficient, which made Qin Mubai feel a little uncomfortable.

After entering the main hall and sitting down, although it was very clean, there was still the smell of burning candles and paper money in the air. Qin Mubai leaned sideways and arched his hand and said, "The father-in-law's heart is as elegant as the sea, and he is ashamed and admired. Today, I didn't invite myself to go to your house, but I came here specially to plead guilty and punished. In the past, there are many reckless gains and sins in the past. Today, with the father-in-law, there is no complaint at the bottom.

"The son-in-law's words are heavy." Fang Xuanling seemed to have expected that Qin Mubai would say this. He smiled and bowed his hand and saluted, "Mr. Fang's adopted son is unfilial and violates the national law, and both father and son should be guilty. The former evil son have often committed evil and killed and injured people first. Fang can also understand the behavior in self-defense. Let him go through the past! Unfortunately, Fang's family is unlucky, just think he hasn't had this son!"

"Five-in-law... We are so ashamed to say this!" Princess Gaoyang whispered, "At the beginning..."

"Your Highness, don't mention the past anymore." Fang Xuanling waved her hand to interrupt her words, and shook her head helplessly and smiled bitterly, "There is a predetermined number of things. In the past few years, my family's misfortunes and blessings have been ups and downs, and I have seen through it. People are not as good as God. In the final analysis, no one is to blame. Your Highness, your son-in-law, if you two come to make amends today, Fang can say that you have come for nothing. On the one hand, you are innocent; on the other hand, Fang has never hated you two.

Qin Mubai shook his head with real shame, arched his hand and sighed, "The more generous Fang Gong is, the more ashamed Qin and the princess are. If the father-in-law and his wife can beat us up and scold us, they will feel more comfortable.

Fang Xuanling smiled lonelyly and said, "Presumably the two of them came to the door, but I heard that Fang Xuanling has a powerful wife, right? As you said, my wife has always spoiled evil people, and if it hadn't been for this, he wouldn't have come to where he is today. Now Fang finally understands that he can't rely on this tough woman for everything. The end of the evil son is the best example.

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "This is a family matter. It's not convenient for me to ask more questions. In fact, Qin has no deep intention to come here today. One is to apologize to the housekeeper, and the other is to thank him. Third, Qin is brazen, and there is still a small matter to ask the house for help.

Fang Xuanling was still as calm as water and nodded gently and said, "The first two things were born out of nothing. Please ask the son-in-law to talk about the third thing!"

"Thank you, Mr. Fang." Qin Mubai arched his hand and said, "Mr. Fang was ordered by Your Majesty to be responsible for the transfer of troops in the First World War of Lanzhou. Qin will soon go to Lanzhou to preside over the overall military and political situation. Qin wants to know what soldiers and horses the court is going to call me? So that I can prepare early in my mind. Of course, if it's inconvenient to talk about secrets, just think that Qin hasn't asked.

"What can't be said about this?" Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "You are the main general war. In fact, I have to discuss this matter with you. It's just that Fang didn't have time to inform his son-in-law. In the Lanzhou war, after discussing with the dignitaries of the imperial cabinet, it was decided to allocate 10,000 cavalry to you from Chang'an and increase the original 30 hundred-horse private guards of the son-in-law to 100. There are 6,000 people preparing for food and grass, and they can go all the way in the future.

"Is that all?" Princess Gaoyang was surprised and said, "There are so few soldiers, horses, money and food!"

"If the princess doesn't understand, don't interrupt." Qin Mubai turned his head and said something to Fang Xuanling and said, "Qin knows."

Fang Xuanling bowed back and said to Princess Gaoyang, "Your Highness feels that it is natural that soldiers and horses have less money and food. To be honest, in such a big battle situation in Lanzhou, more than 10,000 soldiers and 100,000 yuan of grain and fodder are really a drop in the bucket. However, the recent turmoil in the imperial court has been unstable, and it is understandable that it is difficult to transfer troops for a while. In addition, now is an important time when spring farming is busy, and when it is green and yellow, there is not much grain in the imperial warehouse, and even if there is a lot of grain and fodder, it is difficult to collect many people for a while. Therefore, 100,000 food and fodder and 6,000 people are already the limit of the ability of the court.

"I don't think so?" Wu Mei Niang, who had been sitting aside without interrupting, smiled and saluted Fang Xuanling, "Fang Fang, please forgive me for your rudeness."

"The girl has something to say, but it's okay to talk." Fang Xuanling said politely.

Wu Meiniang thanked and said, "As far as I know, Guanzhong was very familiar last year, and Jiangnan, Shannan and Shuzhong were even better. The tax grain collected by the imperial court in the early autumn and early winter should have filled the warehouse. Even the price of Chang'an rice, the most expensive in the world, has fallen by 30%. Many of my grain sellers have lost their capital. In addition, the King of Wei raised funds to prepare for the construction of the Great Mercy Temple. Before the construction started, he has already collected more than 7,000 people carrying flowers, stones and grass, prefabricated Buddha's golden body and so on. The three armies did not move the grain and fodder first. Even if they did not allocate more soldiers and horses to Lanzhou, they should give more grain and fodder. After all, once the war begins, the local agricultural and animal husbandry production in Lanzhou will be greatly affected. In addition, it is difficult to buy grain and rice even if you have money when it is located in a remote location. I wonder, is the war of the empire not as serious as a temple? How could the court not take out the food and recruit the people's husbands?

"Mei Niang, don't have to say more!" Qin Mubai shouted softly and said, "How can you talk about military affairs?"

Wu Mei Niang bowed her head and admitted her mistake very cooperatively and whispered, "Mr. Fang, please forgive me. The people's women are shallow-sighted, and naturally think of something and say."

"Ha ha... I've heard for a long time that Wu Mei Niang is smart and meticulous, but the woman is a hero. Today, she really lives up to her reputation!" Fang Xuanling shook his head and smiled helplessly and said, "Your knowledge is not shallow at all. Your words are to the point. In fact, the son-in-law also understands, and Fang doesn't talk about it. Taicang has food and fodder, and it is not a big problem to recruit people's husbands, but the court has to prepare a large number of dowries for Princess Wencheng, who is about to marry Tubo. This is not easier than dealing with a war, so it is too busy for a while. First, second, since last year, Lanzhou has not asked the court for a penny for a grain of grain. Everything can be self-sufficient. Therefore, some people in the court insisted that since Lanzhou can be self-sufficient, the court does not have to support food and fodder for the time being. After all, it takes a lot of manpower and material resources to transport more than a thousand miles.

"That is to say, it is obviously to hold Lanzhou's neck, let's stick to it, and the expedition is weak, right?" Qin Mubai sneered softly and said.

Fang Xuanling smiled helplessly and said, "Your son-in-law, since you know the reason, you don't have to say more. Differences in position cannot be made clear in one or two sentences. Fang has tried his best to allocate 10,000 soldiers and horses, 100,000 grain and fodder!"

"Well, Changsun Wuji is in the way again, isn't it?" Princess Gaoyang was straightforward and said hatefully, "Why does he have to quarrel with Mu Bai and Lanzhou? This court is not his family, and the money and food of soldiers and horses are not taken out of his pocket. Why is he in a hurry? Really!"

"Okay, don't say a few words." Qin Mubai dissuaded her with a smile, and then arched his hand to Fang Xuanling, "Qin knows that Fang Gong has always done his best to serve the country impartially. At present, there can be such a situation. Whether Fang Gong needs it or not, Qin is really grateful to you! When Qin went to Lanzhou, he would definitely do a good job, and it would not waste the housekeeper's heart for the country and the people!"

"Ha ha, it's heavy!" Fang Xuanling waved his hand and smiled, "Mr. Fang is plotting in his position, and he dares not be selfish."

"Famicomer-in-law, the people have something to say again." Wu Mei Niang suddenly said again.

"Ha ha, you can say it!"

Wu Mei Niang smiled and said politely, "Since the court can't allocate food and grass to recruit the people's husband, can the people's women organize a private volunteer business team by themselves to spontaneously supply grain and rice supplies for Lanzhou?"

"Oh?" Fang Xuanling was very surprised and said, "Although the country has the sponsorship of righteous businessmen, this matter is not new, but such a matter of thousands of miles of soldiers is really rare. Wu Mei Niang, if you want to subsidize the imperial army in the name of a private person, this is naturally allowed. However, Lanzhou is thousands of miles away, and it goes without saying that the transshipment is difficult. There may be risks. Moreover, the cost of transporting one catty of grain from Chang'an to Lanzhou is at least three catties. Have you calculated this account?

"It doesn't have to be counted." Wu Mei Niang smiled faintly and said, "Even if he is bankrupt, Wu Zhao must do this!"

"Mei Niang, this is not a joke. You'd better not get involved." Qin Mubai was also a little surprised and said to her, "From Chang'an to Lanzhou, it's not as easy as running Xiangyang. This journey has been thousands of miles, and many of them are Gobi wind and sand, and the transportation is unspeakable. Lanzhou is like hanging overseas. How can you, a weak woman, lead more than ten thousand people on a long journey?

"Mu Bai, you don't have to worry about this. Am I such a reckless person? As long as you and the prime minister agree to let me transport food, I can do it and ensure safety!" Wu Mei Niang smiled confidently and said, "The court only gives you 100,000 grain and grass, 6,000 people. I will transport you 500,000 stone grain and grass, and 30,000 people - how about it? Can you use it for a long time!"

This said made Fang Xuanling, who was deeply in the way of money and grain, gasped. He was shocked and said, "This is a huge handwriting!" Even if the court wants to make a branch, it will cost a lot of manpower and material resources. Wu Mei Niang, can you really do it?"

"No problem!" Wu Mei Niang smiled confidently and said, "Fang Fang, just agree! Anyway, we don't want the court to worry about anything! As long as you have a piece of approval, Wu Zhao will transport the grain and fodder military resources to Lanzhou to ensure that the soldiers will not be hungry!"

"Of course, Mr. Fang is very happy... It's just..." Fang Xuanling twisted her eyebrows and twisted her beard and shook her head gently.

"If there is something difficult to say, why don't you say it?" Qin Mubai asked.

Fang Xuanling nodded and said with a wry smile, "In this way, the court will accept Wu's great kindness. How can Fang Xuanling represent the emperor and the imperial court? If you agree, Fang'd better ask His Majesty the Emperor!"

After hearing this, Qin Mubai smiled and secretly said: Fang Xuanling is indeed resourceful and old-fashioned, but his personality is indeed a little soft and lacks a little courage. Otherwise, he is a perfect counselor. What's the use of Du Ruhui, who is 'good at making a decision'?

At this time, Wu Mei Niang smiled and said, "Fang Fang, don't go and tell His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Why?" Fang Xuanling was surprised.

Wu Meiniang smiled mysteriously and whispered, "If the prime minister goes to tell the emperor that the court can't give money to the people and let Wu Zhao personally sponsor it, isn't it to make the emperor's face ashamed? Is it possible that a big Tang court is not as rich as a people's woman? Of course, this is not the truth. Because of this, if Fang Xianggong goes to talk to the emperor, he will naturally know that there are some people in the court who deliberately embarrass Qin Mubai and Lanzhou soldiers... In this way, it will have to stimulate contradictions again, and Fang Xianggong will also have a bad reputation for suing.

"Oh? It really makes sense!" Fang Xuanling was surprised and said, "I can't see that a young woman is actually proficient in the art of power, which is really amazing! ... Having said that, Mr. Fang will not give birth to you hundreds of thousands of grain and fodder like this, will he? This is a wealth that is extremely rich!"

"It doesn't matter. I'll give it to my man." Wu Meiniang said with a smile, "How can a man have nothing to eat when he is fighting outside? Not only can he not live without food, but also the soldiers around him can't be hungry. Otherwise, what if you don't have the strength to fight and can't win on the battlefield? Fang Xianggong, just be decisive. Wu Zhao is a businesswoman who never does things without rewards, but this time it's really an exception - I'm for my man, and I don't mean anything else! I don't need the court to owe me anything, and I don't even need the emperor and Changsun Wuji to know - just think that I am, sell food in Lanzhou privately, and give me a white fish order!"

"Okay!" Fang Xuanling finally made a decision and nod affirmatively, "I'll give you the token to go out of the customs and write a handwritten letter to you in my personal name. It's also a little convenient to pass through some Guanka Prefectures and counties along the way."

"Thank you, Fang Fang!" Wu Meiniang saluted happily and said with a smile, "Fang Xianggong, the daughter of the people still has something to ask for!"

"Ha ha, you can say it!" Fang Xuanling seemed to like Wu Mei Niang very much. She said with a smile, and her tone and expression were much more relaxed.

"The people know that Mu Bai has a brother who is very proficient in the art of war. His name is Su Lie's character Dingfang, and he is usually called Su Dingfang." Wu Mei Niang said, "Mu Bai has a deep relationship with him. The day before yesterday, Su Dingfang came to ask Mu Bai to take him to Lanzhou to use troops. Mu Bai is not easy to push, but he doesn't dare to ask for it openly. So... hey hey, the girl said it for him. Please ask the father-in-law to agree!"

"Haha!" Fang Xuanling laughed, "You are really a strange and smart woman!" Let Fang owe you a favor first, and then beg me to do something... All right! Su Lie and Su Dingfang, right? Although Fang is not very familiar with him, he also knows that he is a rare talent. It's really a waste of Qu Cai to guard the door of the imperial city - well, let him go to Lanzhou with Chunhe to make contributions for the country!"

Qin Mubai and Wu Mei Niang bowed their hands to thank each other. Qin Mubai said, "Mr. Fang, in this way, a large number of generals have gathered in Lanzhou. Will some people worry that we can't lose the end of our own faction?"

"Whh if they are worried, it's their business." Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "Xingzheng is not afraid of shadows. As long as you have a clear conscience, you don't have to think so much. Besides, are you people together? Is there any difference? Ha ha..."

"It's true." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Now, some people are worried about the generals who are taking out. They wish they could recall all the soldiers and horses to Guanzhong, and all the generals were transferred back to the court for his control. But in this way, who will guard the border of the Tang Dynasty to resist foreign enemies? The overall situation is the most important thing, and we don't bother to pay attention to it! - Fortunately, there is His Majesty the Emperor above. He has a clear mind and insight into everything, which can save us from worries for us.

"Well... it's good to know." Fang Xuanling nodded gently and said, "The wind and clouds are surging in the court. It is actually a kind of relief to lead troops outside. Son-in-law, if you go to Lanzhou, you don't have to think about the court for the time being. Just concentrate on leading the soldiers to heal the people and do your part. As for the follow-up soldiers and horses, Fang will try his best to support it. Please rest assured.

"Good! With Fang Gong's words, Qin really has the confidence and can gallop boldly!" Qin Mubai hugged his fist and said, "Qin, thank you again!"

"Don't be polite. It's all about the government of the country, and Mr. Fang should do his best!"

......

Until she left the Fang family, the famous woman, Mrs. Lu, did not show up. Qin Mubai and the three of them all breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly felt relaxed!

The three passers-by talking about Fang Xuanling coincidentally had a feeling - a loyal and kind old man!

Loyalty and kindness, these four words are easy to say, but not easy to do. Qin Mubai thought that if he were Fang Xuanling, no matter who killed his own son for what reason, it was a great blessing not to mention abandoning his previous suspicions and not killing his whole family and digging his ancestral grave!

"Fuan Xuanling is the most gentleman I've ever met!" Qin Mubai sighed, "In contrast, I'm really a villain."

"Do you still need to compare?" Princess Gaoyang smiled and said, "You have admitted it a hundred times. You are a real villain!"

"That's better than a hypocrite!" Qin Mubai said angrily.

"Yes, yes, yes." Princess Gaoyang and Wu Meiniang laughed together and said, "If you are not a villain, we are really not used to it!"