"Yes! There was such a thing? The court's report should have arrived long ago. Why didn't they prepare in advance?”Li Jian's expression darkened.
"Your Highness, I don't know what's going on.”
Li Jian looked at the leader and asked,""What's your name? What level?"
"Your Highness, I am Xu Feng, a lieutenant from Rao Prefecture in Jiangnan.”the leader said.
"Go to the Provincial Governor's Office and tell the Provincial Governor Rao Dacang to bring the officials of Bing Province above the seventh rank to see me.”Li Jian said in a low voice.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll go and convey the message now.”
Xu Feng bowed and hurriedly led his two subordinates to get on their horses and leave.
About two hours later, the governor of Bing Province, Rao Dacang, led more than 50 officials of all sizes to this simple military camp.
"This subordinate Rao Dacang greets Your Highness.”Under Xu Feng's guidance, Rao Dacang came before Li Jian and bowed slightly.
Li Jian had his hands behind his back and turned around slowly when he heard Rao Dacang's voice. His face was as cold as ice as he said coldly,""Provincial Governor Rao, you have such great authority! This king was ordered to patrol the north, but you actually pretended to turn a deaf ear to it. What are your intentions?”
"Why do you say that, Your Highness? I am busy with government affairs and really can't come to welcome Your Highness. Please forgive me.”Rao Dacang said calmly.
At the same time, he no longer bowed, but smiled contemptuously.
He used his expression to tell his subordinates that they did not have to be afraid of this little prince. Their master was more noble and powerful than this prince in front of them.
The chief historian bowed to Li Jian and said,""Your Highness, the Provincial Governor is busy with state affairs. This lowly official can confirm that Your Highness 'matters are handled by this lowly official.”
The other officials chimed in,
"Yes, yes, Lord Rao is busy every day. There are too many things to deal with.
"Lord Rao has to deal with the matters that the Emperor has given him. The Crown Prince's matter, Lord Zhangsun's matter, Tuyuhun's matter, Xue Yantuo's matter…The people of Bing Province are blessed to have Lord Rao work so hard.”
They treated Li Jian as air and fawned over Zhangsun Wuji's trusted aide, Rao Dacang.
Seeing this, Li Jian wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he said calmly without losing his dignity,""It seems like this is Zhangsun Wuji's territory. Continue, I'm listening.”
The smug Rao Dacang couldn't help but feel shocked when he heard this. He thought to himself that the current Emperor didn't value the acting king, a mere child.
However, he exuded a rare calmness.
This kind of calm and confidence was definitely not seen on Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Yue King Li Tai.
Rao Dacang was not only familiar with Li Chengqian, but also had a secret relationship with Li Tai.
Just like Zhangsun Wuji, he didn't want to put all his eggs in one basket.
He decided to lower himself and try to find out Li Jian's background. After all, this was Bingzhou, far from the palace.
"Your Highness, I am indeed busy with state affairs and am not shirking my responsibilities. I have not been disrespectful to Your Highness.”
Li Jian laughed coldly and said casually,""Provincial Governor Rao, I can see that your tone is very forced. I'm afraid you don't mean what you say, right?”
"This…I won't force you.”
Rao Dacang was surprised to find that the Acting King in front of him didn't look like a twelve-year-old youth.
He clearly had a deep shrewdness and was perceptive.
His gaze was so sharp that it seemed to be able to pierce into the deepest part of the other party's heart.
Rao Dacang had been avoiding Li Jian's gaze. He was afraid that Li Jian would see through his dirty thoughts.
Seeing that Rao Dacang was suddenly so respectful to Li Jian, the officials who had been flattering Rao Dacang all felt awkward.
Instinctively, they also adjusted their attitude toward Li Jian. A complicated smile appeared on their faces.
At this moment, a servant from the Provincial Governor's Estate ran in with his head covered in sweat.
He quickly ran to Rao Dacang's side and whispered a few words into his ear. Rao Dacang's expression immediately changed.
"I didn't know that Your Highness was ordered to control Bingzhou. I'm guilty, please forgive me.”
Rao Dacang only knew that Li Jian's trip to Bingzhou wasn't for sightseeing after hearing the servant's whisper.
Instead, they had real power, controlling all the military, horses, money, food, generals, and civil servants in Bingzhou.
Instantly, he felt the corners of his mouth twitch unconsciously, and a cold chill silently rose in his heart.
When Li Jian saw Rao Dacang's reaction, he knew that his subordinates had already received information from Li Chengqian or Zhangsun Wuji. His expression made Li Jian feel very amused.
These people appeared fierce but were cowardly inside. If he did not have the authority to come this time, it was hard to imagine how much they would neglect him.
The summer breeze blew Li Jian's round-collared robe.
It was currently the middle of summer, and this crude camp had been built a few years ago to deal with the Turks. It was so crude that there wasn't even a decent house. The officials who had come with Rao Dacang had already noticed the change in the situation from his actions.
They were all drenched in sweat. Not only were they embarrassed, but they were also afraid.
Li Jian saw their reactions clearly. He said calmly,""You treat this place as this king's encampment. One can imagine how loyal you are to the Imperial Court.”
"If this king reports to Imperial Father, I guarantee that all of you will be beheaded!”
Boom!
All of a sudden, those officials subconsciously knelt down in front of Li Jian as if they had agreed on it.
It was a spectacular sight.
Kneeling was not popular in the imperial court and officialdom of the Great Tang. This was the first time they had felt a collective guilt.
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