Lu Yi recalled what Lu Changhe had told him in private.
"Son, I always have this illusion that Liang Xiao might be General Tian himself..."
The first time he saw Liang Xiao in person, his eyes and build were indeed similar, and Lu Yi's heart skipped a beat.
It was said that General Tian had manifested and protected this young man and his fiancée?
"General, it's time for business." The young supervising officer smiled and reminded him.
Liang Xiao then noticed the supervising officer.
Before coming to Yanzhou, he had already learned about the structure of the northern border defense forces in detail.
This supervising officer was the eldest son of the former Minister of Works, Dugu Liang, and the Vice Minister of War, Dugu Yuncheng. After the Yanzhou campaign, he was installed in the northern border by the civilian officials to restrict Lu Yi!
And the middle-aged adjutant sitting to Lu Yi's left was Zhuo Zifang's eldest son, General Pinglu, Zhuo Wulue.
Among all the soldiers, only Zhuo Wulue and Lu Changhe showed worried expressions, while the others either looked disdainful or angry.
Lu Yi snapped back to his senses, remembered the important matter, stiffened his face, and said in a deep voice, "Liang Xiao, I, your Marshal, ask you, what do you mean by seizing fifty thousand mu of barren land as soon as you arrived in Yanzhou?"
Liang Xiao replied without hesitation, "Junior has the Son of Heaven's permission to buy and sell Yanzhou land at will. Even as the Marshal of the Northern Border, General Piaoqi has no right to interfere in junior's private affairs, does he?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Changhe and Zhuo Wulue's expressions changed drastically, while Dugu Yuncheng sneered.
The other generals frowned, staring at Liang Xiao.
"Slap!"
Lu Yi slammed the table and stood up, shouting, "Disrespectful of your elders! I spared you from being brought to the military camp for interrogation only because your father and uncle died heroically. Yet you dare to speak disrespectfully to me?"
Liang Xiao was confused but still smiled, "General Piaoqi, I am not under the jurisdiction of the Northern Border Army. If you have any dissatisfaction, you can report me to His Majesty."
"Scoundrel!" Lu Yi slammed the table again.
"I originally thought that you, with your 'Man Jiang Hong,' could 'dedicate a loyal heart to repay the country,' understand that 'a general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers,' and that you would be a good official who works for the benefit of the people. I never expected you to return home prosperous and not think of repaying your hometown, but instead engage in the land annexation of aristocratic families!"
"I did not acquire the land at a low price from the common people, but from landlords. How can it be called land annexation?" Liang Xiao said dismissively.
Lu Yi was stunned, never expecting Liang Xiao to dare to retort.
The generals who were still angry were also stunned and slowly calmed down.
In that case, he did not oppress the common people...
But now he had severely offended the Marshal!
"Marquis Anguo!" Zhuo Wulue kept winking at Liang Xiao, but Liang Xiao only returned a smile.
Helpless, Zhuo Wulue turned to Lu Yi and said with a wry smile, "Marshal, Marquis Anguo is young and vigorous, and his words may be a bit abrupt. You..."
"Adjutant Zhuo, you are not acquainted with him. Why are you speaking well of him?"
Dugu Yuncheng finally spoke, staring at Liang Xiao again and saying coldly, "Liang Xiao, you are also from a military family. Now you are relying on the Son of Heaven's favor and have become arrogant and ignorant? Having no fear, is this not the behavior of a treacherous official?"
Liang Xiao's eyes sharpened, and he pointed at Dugu Yuncheng, saying, "This Marquis is a junior of General Piaoqi. It's acceptable for him to reprimand me, but not just any cat or dog can trample on me, understand?"
Dugu Yuncheng narrowed his eyes, staring at Liang Xiao, and said with a cold smile, "You call me a cat or a dog? Do you know who I am?"
Liang Xiao smiled and said, "Aren't you the Vice Minister of War, Dugu Yuncheng?"
Dugu Yuncheng laughed heartily, "I also serve as the Adjutant of the Northern Border and guard the country. It is clear who is a cat or a dog!"
"Oh, Adjutant of the Northern Border? Guarding the country?" Liang Xiao smiled.
"This Marquis has heard that when the barbarians invaded, you, Dugu Yuncheng, only dared to stay in Yanzhou City and propose surrender, ceding territory and paying tribute. The soldiers of the Northern Border were preparing to fight the barbarians, and you were still proposing to negotiate peace with the barbarians with money and livestock!"
"Such a cowardly person, instead of repenting at the graves of the citizens of Yanzhou who perished, dares to shamelessly continue to serve as Vice Minister of War, and now also as Supervising Officer? No matter how unworthy this Marquis is, I can at least share the burden of governing with His Majesty and am a Guanglu Doctor. Are you, a mere cat or dog, qualified to lecture me?"
Liang Xiao's words left everyone stunned, and Dugu Yuncheng's face showed murderous intent.
As the supervising officer, through the machinations of his uncle, Dugu Qun, the Minister of War, he had also gained some power, and he hated people mentioning his disgraceful deeds the most. Ordinary people did not dare to provoke him, yet Liang Xiao had the audacity!
"Marshal, please behead this Liang Xiao first and then report!" Dugu Yuncheng, enraged and ashamed, quickly pleaded.
Jian Qinwan was startled and placed a hand on her sword hilt.
Chen Shaoling whispered to Lu Changhe, "Changhe, why aren't you saying anything to help? This is unlike you!"
"It's a trivial matter." Lu Changhe replied nonchalantly.
Chen Shaoling looked astonished: This was still a "trivial matter"?
"Liang Xiao!" Lu Yi finally spoke, "You are less than twenty years old and still so arrogant and domineering. When the old officials in the court pass away, who will be able to control you!"
Liang Xiao smiled, "My original intention was to be a carefree wanderer, but I was unexpectedly appreciated by His Majesty, so I decided to serve in office. If you have any dissatisfaction with me, you can report me to His Majesty. Why are you publicly attacking me? Do you think I am young and have no pride?"
Jian Qinwan, Chen Shaoling, and Zhuo Wulue almost suffocated.
Did this guy eat the wrong medicine? Would it kill him to be a little accommodating in front of General Piaoqi?
Lu Yi said coldly, "That's what you say, but your move to annex a large amount of land is truly inconsistent with your policy of caring for the country and its people, and your reputation!"
"Marshal, please calm your anger!" Zhuo Wulue quickly pleaded.
"Marshal, you cannot let this person run rampant!" Dugu Yuncheng said angrily.
Lu Yi ignored the two, walked down the steps, and stood face to face with Liang Xiao, scrutinizing him. He lectured non-stop, but said only trivial matters, more like a senior reprimanding a junior with great distress.
Considering his little Shuangzi and Princess Ningshuang, and remembering his past camaraderie with Lu Yi, Liang Xiao endured it.
He sensed that something was wrong with Lu Yi.
The soldiers listened to Lu Yi's reprimand, and the more they listened, the more something felt wrong.
Finally, Lu Yi impatiently waved his hand at everyone, "Adjutant Zhuo, stay. Supervising Officer Dugu, take the generals down to rest. Liang Xiao's two attendants, you may also withdraw."
Liang Xiao's expression changed, and he said sternly, "These two are my relatives and cannot leave!"
Relatives?
Jian Qinwan's heart fluttered, while Chen Shaoling's eyes lit up.
Lu Yi kept his stern face but did not insist further. He only asked Dugu Yuncheng to take the other generals away, leaving Lu Changhe behind.
Liang Xiao said impatiently, "General Piaoqi, let's get straight to the point. No need to beat around the bush with me."
Lu Yi winked at Lu Changhe. Lu Changhe understood, walked to the door, and confirmed that Dugu Yuncheng had already left.
Only then did Lu Yi walk up to Liang Xiao, take his hand, and say with a smile, "Nephew, there were too many people just now. Uncle here apologizes to you!"
Jian Qinwan and Chen Shaoling were speechless.
What was going on?