Bianliang City is worthy of being the capital of the Song Dynasty. The people's concern for current affairs far exceeds that of any other city in the world. Not only are the dignitaries well-informed, but even the men who drive the carriages can talk about world affairs and palace secrets.
Countless treasures.
The news that Wang Shu, a political advisor and counselor, had been assassinated outside the city spread throughout the streets that evening.
Some people were shocked, some were confused, and some felt their scalps were numb. They suddenly remembered the night many years ago when the young emperor Liu Chengyou of the Later Han Dynasty killed the auxiliary minister.
That night, human blood flowed from West Water Gate all the way to East Water Gate.
Three of the four auxiliary ministers were ordered by the little emperor to kill their entire clan. The entire Bianliang River turned red, and the smell of blood did not dissipate until the later Han Dynasty was overthrown!
Before the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, similar situations occurred in Bianliang every three or two years. From the emperor to the peddler and the pawn, it all depended on luck.
That is, Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, in view of the previous short-lived dynasties, the monarchs and ministers often drew their swords against each other, and proposed a suggestion to the leading generals at the wine table to "exchange wealth and glory for military power", which finally made Bianliang City not easily
Blood will flow like a river again.
But how many days have passed since these peaceful days? How could someone be so forgetful and start sending dead soldiers to assassinate political opponents again?!
As for Wang Shu, although he has been assisting Kou Zhun in Kaifeng in recent years, his temper is far less upright than Kou Zhun, and he has never offended anyone. How come some vicious guys can't tolerate him and insist on it?
Get rid of him before he officially takes office?!
"I'm afraid this world is really going to be in chaos!" Some people sighed and shook their heads, recalling the rumors about "reincarnations that rob people" that had spread in Bianliang City a while ago.
As long as the reincarnated person appears, the world will be in chaos. Even if it is not caused by the reincarnated person, God will bring disasters to the world and cause disasters one after another.
When the deputy prime minister of the dynasty was assassinated outside Bianliang City, this was probably just the beginning. A bigger and more intense storm is yet to come.
Therefore, that evening, long queues formed at all the gates of Bianliang City for people leaving the city to visit relatives in the countryside.
In the end, the captain of the city gate was forced to dispatch troops to maintain order, and he reluctantly closed the city gate on time.
However, the inn near the city gate was still crowded with people.
Many people would rather stay in a room with strangers in an inn and smell the smell of stinky feet than go home to rest.
I just hope that after the city gate reopens tomorrow, I can stay away from Bianliang as soon as possible.
This is the first time this has happened in the past twenty years.
A while ago, neither the news that the Liao army had reached the edge of the Yellow River nor the news that the official imperial commanders were marching in person made the people of Bianliang feel so panicked.
The captain of the city gate noticed that something was wrong, so he quickly wrote down the situation and sent it to the desks of Yong Wang Zhao Yuanfen and Kaifeng Prefecture Yin who were ordered to stay in Bianliang.
However, King Yong Zhao Yuanfen just sent someone to reply, "I understand," and nothing more happened.
As for the Kaifeng Prefecture Yin, the original Prefecture Yin Kou Zhun accompanied the official imperial chariot on the expedition, and was not in Bianliang at all. The new Prefecture Yin, Wang Shu, who was just assassinated, will not be officially accepted until tomorrow morning at the earliest. Of course,
It is impossible to come up with any charter.
However, it was Zhe Weizhong, the judge of the North Court of Kaifeng Prefecture, who had the courage to take on the responsibility and timely arranged for the right patrol envoy Yang Wenguang, the left patrol envoy Wang Yan and others to lead separate inspections. This prevented the beggar gang, boat gang and other folk "heroes" from taking advantage of the situation and robbing everyone.
The people who planned to leave, or were unable to leave Bianliang, found peace overnight.
However, not everyone in Bianliang City was frightened and thrown into chaos by the news of Wang Shu's assassination.
Especially the area between the Inner City and the Imperial City, near Donghua Gate and Xihua Gate, is quiet as usual from afternoon to late at night.
The old ministers and old generals in the high-walled compound have never seen anything in their lives? How could they follow the common people out of the city in a hurry to "visit relatives"? Instead of rushing to clean up their petty affairs, each of them calmly became an official
His children and grandchildren were called together and told them to calm down and wait and see what happens, and never let the wind turn into rain!
"Which fool arranged it? Didn't my lord tell me not to rush but to be patient and never to act impulsively?" There was a sinister voice in a high-walled compound covering an area of more than six acres on the north side of Donghua Gate.
question.
This mansion originally belonged to Zhao Kuangyin’s fourth son, Prince Qi Zhao Defang.
Because Zhao Defang died suddenly in his sleep more than 20 years ago, without any illness or disaster. And his young son claimed to have seen ghosts at night. Therefore, the house was completely empty.
It was only in the past two years that it was given to Li Hanbin, the Chongyi envoy who had made great contributions to the court, by the official Zhao Heng.
But Li Hanbin didn't like the weather in Bianliang City, so he lived in the house for less than half a year before begging for the bones and returning to his hometown. Therefore, the house fell into the hands of his son, Yuhou Li Shu, the capital of the Divine Guard Army.
Li Shu was successful as a young man and was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He liked luxury and luxury. Therefore, the house was made more and more luxurious, and almost every night it was packed with guests.
Tonight, the banquet ended a little early. Most of the guests returned home with great joy. Only seven or eight acquaintances who had known Li Shu since childhood and had an extremely close relationship clamored to stay all night.
"Playing with leaves". (Note: Playing with leaves, that is, leaf play. Ancient mahjong.)
However, when the leaf cards were brought and everyone sat down at different tables, there was still no start. Instead, Li Shu held several golden bamboo cards in brocade boxes and carried out the instructions one by one.
The first instruction is about the assassination of Wang Shu. It can be seen that the "lord" in his mouth is very dissatisfied with this, and even plans to hold those who made the decision without authorization accountable!
"The person who reported to the Marquis of Yu was Liu Canjun. His target was not Wang Shu at all, but Han Qing, the judge of the South Court." Someone immediately stood up and responded with cupped hands, "Li Jihe protected Han Qing in the past.
And the grace of recommendation. After hearing that Han Qing was transferred back to Bianliang, Liu Canjun was worried that he would join forces with Li Jihe and ruin the Lord's important affairs. Therefore, he planned to send the remnants of Chunyang Cult to kill him on the way!"
"Then he didn't even touch the hem of Han Qing's clothes, but he knocked down Wang Shu, the political counselor. Where is Liu Shenjun, why didn't he come tonight?" Li Shu glared and asked sternly.
"Reporting to the Duke of Yu, Liu Canjun didn't expect that Wang Shu, as a political advisor, didn't like cars, but he rode with Han Qing and Yang Xu." The man who handed over the hand was trembling in fright, but he gritted his teeth.
He argued, "Liu Canjun knows that he has done something wrong with good intentions. He has resigned from his duties and is waiting behind closed doors to be dealt with. I also ask Du Yuhou Nian to explain something to him in front of the lord because he has followed you for many years."
"Liu Canjun's wife is from the Yang family in Qingzhou, right?" Li Shu curled his lips and suddenly asked with a sneer. "I remember that when the Yang family's rebellion occurred, Liu Canjun also begged the Lord because his wife was already married.
For the sake of many years, tell the people below to pick out her wife."
"This, this..." The person who handed over suddenly felt sweat on his forehead and was speechless.
The other people present quickly looked at each other with their eyes, and everyone's expressions became very ugly.
When Liu Canjun arranged for Han Qing to be assassinated, he must have selfish motives. However, it cannot be said that he did not consider his lord at all.
Li Shu exposed the secret that Liu Canjun's wife was born in the Yang family of Qingzhou. Obviously, he attributed Liu Canjun's actions to venting his personal anger. In this way, Liu Canjun's subsequent treatment may not be too light.
.
"Idiot! Do you think that when Han was transferred back to Bianliang, he fell out of favor with the officials?" Seeing everyone's performance, Li Shu curled his lips again and slapped the table with his hand, "You think,
Kill him, and the officials don't bother to pursue him? They even admire the person who did it? This is simply stupid! If the officials want to kill someone, how can they use such a simple method?"
Chu Gou, the person who surrendered, and several officials of similar age lowered their heads. No one knew how to respond.
"Avenging private vengeance is also involved in the political affairs of the current dynasty. If the officials hear that Wang Shu has been assassinated, give up their personal expedition, and drive back to Bianliang, who among you can afford it!" Upon seeing this, Li Shu yelled louder and louder,
"If you are stupid and not afraid, you are stupid and selfish, how can you have the face to ask Li to intercede for him in front of the Lord?!"
Everyone trembled in their hearts and became more and more speechless.
"Cao Quan, since Liu Canjun asked you to plead for him, I'll leave this matter to you!" Li Shu suddenly changed his tone to a softer tone and told the person who handed him over, "Let Liu Canjun die of illness tonight.
The Lord will take care of his son, go to Shangxian County to serve as county magistrate, and then slowly be transferred back to the capital!"
"This..." The person who handed over his hand immediately turned red and wanted to defend Liu's joining the army. He opened his mouth again and again, but in the end, not a word came out.
"It's not that Li is mean." Knowing that many people are saddened by the death of rabbits, Li Shu sighed and added quietly, "Changing the day is not a child's play. If you and I are not careful, we will be shattered. Liu Canjun, for his own selfishness, regardless of
The Lord's arrangement was to arouse the enemy. If Kaifeng Mansion were to catch him, would he keep the secret strictly because of his personal friendship with you? At that time, the officials would give up their personal expedition and hurriedly returned with Kou Zhun and others with the other three guards of the Forbidden Army.
Bianliang, plus Kaifeng Prefecture's Fengtian and Chengtian armies, and Li Jihe's Suppression Army, how can you and I resist them?"
"I understand, I will make arrangements now!" Cao Quan, the man who handed over the hand, had a stern look on his face and accepted the order with tears in his eyes.
"Tell Liu Canjun that my lord will live up to his sacrifice today!" Li Shu sighed again and whispered, "Besides, there are 500 acres of unclaimed land on the edge of the Yellow River. Go to Hu Sicang to get it.
After obtaining the land deed, Li gave it to Liu Canjun in person and told him that these 500 acres of prime land would be in his son's name, and Li did what he said."
"Thank you, General Li!" Cao Quan cried again and bowed his head deeply.
He waved his hand, indicating that Cao Quan could resign. Li Shu lowered his head and took out the second instruction from the brocade box, frowned and asked, "Li Jianyi, Han Qing is your junior brother, and I remember that I have a good relationship with you. My lord asks you,
When I saw him today, could I feel that he was disappointed or dissatisfied with the imperial court? Can this person be brought over and used by the Lord?"
"Returning to my lord, I had a quick meeting with him today and didn't have time to talk in depth." Li Sheng, who had been hiding in the shadow of the lamp, stood up quickly, with a sickly pale look on his fat face, "Wang Shu was by his side at that time. I'm afraid of arousing Wang Shu's suspicion, so I don't dare to test too deliberately. According to the speculation of my subordinates, Han Qing should already feel a little chilled. It's just that he is a deep-seated person, and even if he has dissatisfaction, he will not show it to the public."
"Can I win him over and use him for my lord's use?" Li Shu frowned, very dissatisfied with Li Sheng's verbosity.
"I will try my best!" Li Sheng raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and continued to respond in a low voice, "General Li, please tell the lord that a conclusion will be reached within three days."
"Yes! Got it, I will report to the Lord truthfully." Li Shu nodded, and then turned his attention to another civil servant, "Mr. Sun, is there any news from the officials? Why hasn't the army crossed yet? Crossing the Yellow River?"
"Autumn, autumn floods!" A civil servant working in the Privy Council quickly stood up and responded with cupped hands, "The autumn floods broke the pontoon bridge. Wang Qinruo tried to prevent the officials from boarding the boat to cross the river on the grounds that the officials and their families were in danger!"
"Damn Wang Qinruo!" Li Shu frowned and cursed in a low voice.
Bianliang City is too close to the Yellow River. As long as the officials' chariots do not cross the river, their plans will not be carried out.
And long nights are bound to lead to more dreams. Who can guarantee that other changes will occur one day in the future, making all previous efforts come to nothing?
"Where's Kou Zhun? Didn't Kou Laoxi keep shouting that only when the officials arrived at the front line could he frighten Yelu Longxu? Didn't he urge the officials?" Just as anxious as him was Li Sheng, the admonishing doctor. I saw this person. He quickly turned his head and asked the doctor surnamed Sun.
"Kou Zhun kept urging, but Wang Qinruo and Ding Wei united to refute him." The doctor surnamed Sun did not have a high official position, but his position was extremely critical and he had access to various confidential documents. "In addition, the imperial censor doctor Chen Yaozi also said that if he wanted to allow the officials to cross the river, they had to wait until the autumn floods were over, or wait for Han Chonggui to send a large ship with hundreds of materials to escort him. Otherwise, he would never allow the officials to easily board the ship and take risks!"
"Damn Chen Yaozi!" Li Shu heard this and cursed in a low voice again.
However, he knew that even if Chen Yaozi did not stand up and object, Wang Qinruo and Ding Wei alone would be enough to make the naturally cautious official Zhao Heng hesitate.
Therefore, after venting his dissatisfaction, he immediately put away his angry face and added in a low voice, "The Lord's important affairs must not be delayed! Everyone, if you have any way to get the officials to rush to Chanzhou as soon as possible, you must tell them. .The Lord will make every effort to arrange manpower to realize your strategy."
"There is a way, but it's just too risky!" As soon as he finished speaking, the commander of the left wing of the Divine Guards, Yuhou Chugou, stood up and responded.
"Just tell me if it's feasible or not, my lord will naturally make the decision!" Li Shu's eyes lit up and he immediately encouraged with a smile.
"The officials are delaying crossing the river because the Chanzhou side, under the command of Li Jilong, can still hold on for the time being!" Chu Gou smiled slightly, and his weird-looking nose immediately twisted upward into a hook. "If there is an emergency military situation in Chanzhou, or if Li Jilong is suddenly shot with a poisonous arrow by the Liao people and is seriously injured. Even if the officials hesitate again, Kou Zhun will personally lead the three armies of Pengri, Tianwu, and Longwei, immediately Forced to cross the Yellow River!"
