Chapter 104 Zhai Rang
Although it was only a conquest of a small country, the effect was still very good. After witnessing the Sui army's overwhelming strength, the surrounding countries all sent envoys with treasures to pay tribute to the emperor.

With the double happiness coming, the emperor happily set up a Taoist temple in the Western Garden. The two new favorites Xiao Ju and Yuwen Hao and the old minister Li Jiancheng accompanied them. The emperor ordered them to sit at one table with the concubines of the previous emperor, monks, nuns, Taoists and female Taoists at another table, and Emperor Yang and his favorite concubine Ji sat at another table.

It was fine at the beginning, but when they got drunk, things became chaotic and they did all kinds of things at the table.

The emperor saw that Li Jiancheng was a little embarrassed, so he laughed and said, "People often say that you are a gentleman of banquets, why are you so out of place? Have you never seen it before?"

Li Jiancheng said: "I remember your majesty's previous instructions, and I dare not be dissolute before I have a legitimate son."

Yang Guang was in a good mood: "Forget it, go ahead."

Li Jiancheng paid his respects and left. He requested to return to Zhuo County again yesterday, but was stopped by the emperor again. It was unclear what his plans were.

Just as he was in a daze, he saw a man wearing official uniform but with a face that clearly resembled a Hu man standing not far away. When he saw Li Jiancheng coming out, he hurried forward and said, "Your humble servant, Wang Shichong, the prefect of Jiangdu, greets Mr. Li."

Li Jiancheng raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and looked at him carefully for a moment and said with a smile: "So it's Wang Juncheng. I have heard of your name before. I have admired you for a long time."

Wang Shichong smiled and said, "How dare I call you brother, sir? Just call me humble official by my given name, and I will use my given name as my humble name."

"Brother Xingman, you must want to see His Majesty, but I'm afraid His Majesty cannot receive you at this moment. Why don't you move on and have a casual chat? I'll have the eunuch report to you later."

There is no need to say much about the scenery of the Western Garden. The two of them did not dare to go too deep, but just strolled and chatted along the river bank. It turned out that he came for the position of Jiangdu Palace Supervisor.

Implicitly, he wanted Li Jiancheng to say something good for him in front of the emperor. This man's ambition to climb the social ladder was barely concealed at all.

Wang Shichong was born in the Western Regions and was a member of the Wang family. After his grandfather died early, his father lived with his grandmother who remarried to the Wang family in Bacheng, so he changed his surname to Wang and later became the Chief Secretary of Bianzhou.

"Oh? Brother Xingman turned out to be a disciple of Lord Wenyuan, so he and Lord Pushan Li Mi were from the same school."

"How dare I compare myself with Lord Pushan? It's just that we have both received guidance from Lord Wenyuan."

"Brother Xingman is an extraordinary person. He will become famous sooner or later."

Wang Shichong thought that Li Jiancheng intended to become his backer, and hurriedly said: "If that day comes, I will definitely repay the kindness."

Li Jiancheng smiled and nodded, saying, "I heard from Your Majesty yesterday that although the West Garden is beautiful, the jade carvings and landscape paintings have not been changed for two or three years."

Wang Shichong's eyes lit up and he bowed. Li Jiancheng returned the greeting and then called Wang Yi to bring Wang Shichong to the emperor later.

Li Jiancheng left the West Garden and looked up at the sky for a while. More and more familiar names popped up.

After leaving Xiyuan, they went straight to the prison of the Ministry of Justice in Dongdu. The jailers, who used to squeeze the blood out of everyone, forced themselves to smile and kowtowed to them like hounds wanting to be petted by their master.

Li Jiancheng walked into the prison and sat down in a bright and clean room. The leading jailer brought up a wine bowl and unopened wine: "We dare not offend you, sir. The wine and the wine bowl are all newly bought and unused."

Li Jiancheng smiled and said, "I am so thoughtful. Are you all happy here?"

"Thanks to your kindness, we brothers have enough food and clothing, but we always hope to repay you one day."

"That day will come. Bring the person here first."

"Yes."

After a while, a tall and thin man was brought in. His face was gray and black, and his lips were chapped. It seemed that he had not eaten or drunk for a long time. After he came in, his eyes never left the jar of wine.

Li Jiancheng turned around and ordered, "Go buy some Hu pancakes, and bring back a few roast chickens and two lamb legs." "Yes."

Li Jin stepped forward to open the jar of wine, then poured it into the bowl. Li Jiancheng smiled at the man and said, "Zhai Facao, please take a seat."

Zhai Rang managed to squeeze out a little saliva to moisten his throat, and then coughed a few times before speaking hoarsely, "Who are you?"

"Li Jiancheng, I'm here to ask Brother Zhai for a favor."

Zhai Rang coughed a few more times and smiled bitterly, "Mr. Li, you are joking. Not to mention that I am just a prisoner now, even if I am still a judge, I am not qualified to help you with anything."

"There are some things I would rather trust to people I know well."

"I have never met you, young master, and I don't remember ever being familiar with you."

The jailer next to him couldn't help but stepped forward and grabbed Zhai Rang's hair. There were a few slight crackling sounds, and it was obvious that a lot of fleas were crushed to death.

"Zhai Rang, you are a lowly prisoner on death row. My husband thinks highly of you and came here specially. Instead of thanking you profusely, you are still talking nonsense here. You deserve to die!"

Then he turned to Li Jiancheng and said, "Sir, I am willing to do anything for you, even if it means death!"

Among the people Li Jiancheng had helped over the years, some were suitable for going to the battlefield, so they were kept and trained in separate halls; some were not suitable, so they were arranged to serve as officials in various places.

The cost of maintaining an army is too high, so we have to select them carefully.

Most of the time they are not needed, and people's hearts are changeable over time, but there are always some loyal and righteous people, and he usually arranges such people in Chang'an, Luoyang and Jinyang.

Li Jiancheng appeased the jailer, and then said to Zhai Rang: "You are a righteous man, but you released the rebel privately, which is an unpardonable crime."

Zhai Rang nodded and said, "I originally thought that life and death were trivial matters, but I have been in prison for these days and I really don't want to die. If you can give me a way out, I will do my best to help you."

"It's not that dangerous. I have already arranged for those people you rescued to go to Wagang. There are also some old friends of mine who are also not tolerated by the court, but they are fighting among themselves. Now you have to appease them and tell them not to act rashly."

Zhai Rang was somewhat puzzled after hearing this, but he quickly agreed and said, "In that case, I am willing to obey your command. I will never forget your kindness in saving my life. If you order me to do so in the future, I will go through fire and water to fulfill your orders."

At Li Jiancheng's signal, Zhai Rang wolfed down his food and drink, and when he finally caught his breath, he said, "Then I'll go back and wait for you."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Well, after you make all the arrangements, I will be executed in a few days. Should I find a dead body to replace him, or..."

Li Jiancheng stood up and said with a smile: "No need to do that, just go."

Zhai Rang followed Li Jiancheng carefully, and indeed the journey was smooth, even though he was still wearing prisoner clothes.

When he was released from prison and saw the light of day again, he was about to sigh, but he saw his former boss leading a group of people to escort new prisoners. It was his report that led to the exposure of the crime and he was thrown into prison and became a death row prisoner.

Zhai Rang subconsciously lowered his head and turned his back, but he was sure that the other party had seen him. When he was anxiously thinking about it, he suddenly found that they bowed respectfully to Li Langjun, and then walked around them into the prison.

...............

(End of this chapter)