Chapter 363 Talented People Join Us
Xiao Xia went straight back to the military camp. His military camp for 30,000 recruits was located in the south of the old city of Chang’an. The army had received money and had three days off in the past two days, so the soldiers all went to the old city of Chang’an to spend money.

Everyone knows that although the consumption level of Chang’an Old City is slightly lower, the prices are much lower than those of Chang’an New City and are very affordable.

The soldiers didn’t have much money and their demands were not high. As long as they had plenty of wine and meat and young women, that was enough. Plus, the barracks were very close to the old city, so most of the soldiers went to the old city to play.

Of course, it is not ruled out that some soldiers wanted to try high-end prostitutes and went to Pingkangfang.

Xiao Xia returned to the military camp and asked the soldiers to bring a bowl of noodles and two side dishes. He left the Wanhuhou Restaurant without even having lunch.

At this time, Liu Wenjing came and smiled to Xiao Xia, “This morning I went to visit my classmates and friends in the Ministry of War and got some news.”

“Tell me, what’s the news?”

“Yuwen Chengdu was defeated in his attack on Nanyang County, with a loss of nearly 10,000 people.”

Xiao Xia was stunned for a moment. There was such a thing. “Then what?”

“Then the court sent Shi Wansui to lead an army of 30,000 to provide support. They will set out this afternoon.”

“I knew nothing about this matter. After all, I am the Inspector of the Ministry of War. Is the court deliberately hiding it from me?” Xiao Xia was a little depressed.

Liu Wenjing smiled slightly and said, “Perhaps His Highness is about to get married, and the Emperor is worried that His Highness will take the initiative to ask for it.”

Xiao Xia waved his hand, “That’s not the case. I’m not really interested in the civil war. Forget it, let’s not talk about it. Has the gentleman returned home?”

Liu Wenjing nodded. “I am in the military camp during the day, and Pei Wen’an and I take turns on duty at night. Oh, there is one more thing I almost forgot.”

“what’s up?”

“A scribe came to see Your Highness yesterday. He didn’t sign up, but said Your Highness knew him. He might come again today.”

As soon as Liu Wenjing finished speaking, a soldier ran over and said, “Your Highness, the scholar from yesterday is here again!”

Xiao Xia nodded, “Please let him in!”

Soon, a middle-aged scholar was brought in. Xiao Xia was startled, and quickly clasped his fists and said with a smile: “It turns out to be Mr. Zhang!”

The man who came was Zhang Yunqiu, Yang Yong’s trusted aide. He had previously served as the Minister of Revenue. After Yang Guang ascended the throne, he dismissed a group of people promoted by Yang Yong, and Zhang Yunqiu was among them.

Zhang Yunqiu said with some shame: “Zhang is now in a state of poverty, so I have come to seek refuge with Your Highness, and I beg Your Highness to accept me!”

“Sir, please come into the account first!”

Xiao Xia led Zhang Yunqiu into the big tent and sat him down, and Liu Wenjing tactfully left.

Xiao Xia asked his personal guards to serve tea again. He smiled and said, “I thought the master also went to the Taiping Palace.”

“I did go to the Taiping Palace, but Prince Yong asked me to leave. He recommended Your Highness to me. This is a letter from him to Your Highness.”

Zhang Yunqiu took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Xiao Xia.

It was indeed a letter from Yang Yong. Xiao Xia opened it and read it. In the letter, Yang Yong praised Zhang Yunqiu as an excellent strategist. Unfortunately, he did not listen to his advice and insisted on letting Yang Jun lead the troops, which led to the final defeat and sowed the seeds of defeat.

Yang Yong suggested that Xiao Xia use Zhang Yunqiu as a counselor to prevent future turmoil in the Sui Dynasty and prevent the revival of the Li family.

In the letter, Yang Yong lamented that he was too obsessed with the novel, and was indecisive and missed many opportunities. He advised Xiao Xia to kill people decisively and not let the Li family revive.

After reading the letter, Xiao Xia put it directly on the charcoal stove and burned it. He understood what Yang Yong meant and wanted to kill Li Yuan decisively to prevent the rise of Li Tang.

But the general trend of history cannot be determined by one person. Even if there is no Li Tang, there will be a revival of the Yuan Wei, or some other dynasty. The rise of the Li Tang is actually a rebellion of the entire Guanlong Group against the Yang family. Li Yuan is just a representative of the board of directors. Xiao Xia smiled and said to Zhang Yunqiu: “I can use you, but there is only one condition. You must completely break with the past. If you are in Cao’s camp but your heart is in Han, I will never tolerate it.”

Zhang Yunqiu bowed quickly and said, “I don’t live for others, but for my own future. Even if King Yong rises again, it has nothing to do with me. I have done my best for him and I don’t owe him anything.”

Xiao Xia nodded, “I will hire you as a first-level staff member, with a monthly salary of 100 strings of cash, in charge of government affairs. My other two first-level staff members, Liu Wenjing, are in charge of finance and supplies, and Pei Wen’an, is in charge of military affairs. I just happen to be short of a staff member in charge of government affairs, and you’ve come just in time.”

Zhang Yunqiu wanted to work in finance, and of course he was good at government affairs, but now he had no choice. Zhang Yunqiu quickly stood up and saluted, saying, “I am willing to serve Your Highness at my service!”

Xiao Xia immediately sent someone to find Liu Wenjing and gave him a few instructions. Liu Wenjing bowed and took Zhang Yunqiu to the staff tent.

After arranging a big tent for Zhang Yunqiu, Liu Wenjing smiled and said, “Brother Zhang, please come with me here.”

They came to a large tent nearby, which was filled with various memorials, maps and the like, and many people were cleaning them up.

Liu Wenjing waved to the two young men, “Xuanling, Wenhua, please come this way!”

The two young men were Fang Xuanling and Zhang Liang. They hurriedly stepped forward and saluted, “Greetings, Mr. Liu!”

Liu Wenjing introduced them, “This is your highness’s newest staff member, Mr. Zhang Yunqiu. He was previously the chief staff member of Prince Yong and once served as the Minister of Revenue. Now he works for your highness and will be in charge of government affairs in the future.”

When the two heard that he was the former emperor’s chief strategist, they did not dare to neglect him and bowed together, “Meet Mr. Zhang!”

Liu Wenjing introduced Fang Xuanling and Zhang Liang to Zhang Yunqiu. Zhang Yunqiu smiled and said, “Please take good care of me in the future!”

Although Fang Xuanling and Zhang Liang arrived early, they were still young after all, had not seen much of the world, and lacked experience, so Xiao Xia placed them at the second level of staff.

With Zhang Yunqiu, a shrewd and experienced strategist leading the way, the two of them will grow faster, including Wei Zheng, who needs to be tempered.

Liu Wenjing left, and he was now very troubled. He had to go to Hexi soon. They had a large amount of money, food and supplies, and he didn’t know how to transport them. He also had to find a means of transportation.

Zhang Yunqiu pointed at the full account book and asked with a smile: “What are these?”

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, “These are the archives of the Jinzouyuan in Hexi, Longyou and Shuofang over the past decade or so. We have borrowed them. Your Highness asked us to sort out these documents so that we can understand the people’s livelihood, government affairs and geography of the three regions of Hexi, Longyou and Shuofang.”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s sort it out together! I’m not familiar with Hexi either.”

Zhang Yunqiu obviously knew very well how to integrate into the group, which was to work with everyone and become familiar with them quickly.

…….
Coming and going, people gather because of fate and disperse when fate ends. Just as Xiao Xia got Zhang Yunqiu, Du Wen came to Xiao Xia to resign. His mother was seriously ill and would not live long. He had to go home to take care of his mother and observe mourning for her for three years. He had to resign from his position as a staff member.

Xiao Xia approved Du Wen’s resignation and asked his personal soldiers to fetch five hundred taels of silver to give to Du Wen as money for firewood and rice. Xiao Xia knew that although Du Wen came from the famous Du family in Jingzhao, he was a concubine’s son and his family was poor. Before following him, he had been copying books for others. With these five hundred taels of silver, he and his wife and children would have a better life.

Du Wen was really touched and choked up, saying, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. After I finish my mourning, I will definitely come back to serve Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will accept me!”

Xiao Xia smiled slightly and said, “Look at what I said on the resignation letter I gave you?”

Du Wen quickly glanced at the resignation letter and saw the words “three years of unpaid leave” written on it. He burst into tears of gratitude and said, “Your Highness, I will never be able to repay your kindness!”

Xiao Xia smiled and said, “Your Du family has talents, you can recommend them to me!”

“Of course! Of course! I will definitely ask about it when I get back. Your Highness, if you have nothing else to say, I will take my leave now.”

Du Wen did not just leave like that. He had to go to Liu Wenjing to register and hand over his position before he could leave. Liu Wenjing was not only in charge of finance, but also personnel. He was responsible for the recruitment and resignation of staff.

When he reached the door of the tent, Du Wen remembered something and hurried back to say, “I do have a very talented nephew that I can recommend to Your Highness!”

(End of this chapter)