Although Jiangning Mansion was occupied by the Ningyuan Army of the Daning Kingdom, it was still not much different from other cities of this era. It had become quiet as soon as it got dark, and all the people returned to their homes to rest.
, of course there is also a night culture that belongs to this era.
At this time, after accepting the warm hospitality of King Ning's banquet, Mr. Shen Daxiang had returned to the residence arranged for him by King Ning. He immediately went to his desk to write down what he had seen and heard today, and then quickly used a small roll of kraft paper to write down what he had seen and heard today.
He got up, then took the carrier pigeon handed by the Imperial City Sergeant, tied the small paper roll directly to the carrier pigeon's leg, and finally walked to the open window sill and released the carrier pigeon directly.
"Liu Yasi, how was your Imperial City Department's observation in Yangzhou and Jiangning Mansion today?" After watching the homing pigeon fly away with his own eyes, Mr. Shen looked at Liu Yasi and asked.
"Replying to the Grand Prime Minister, what we saw and heard today is horrifying. Not only did King Ning tax the merchants under Jiangnan, but all officials and gentry were also forced to pay taxes. Agricultural taxes were also paid based on the amount of land. It can be said that
It is to make the land south of the Yangtze River full of complaints." Then Liu Yasi briefly and concisely talked about the key point. In the thinking of the Song people, this was cruel and unkind.
"What? Pay taxes based on the amount of land?" At this time, Grand Prime Minister Shen was also shocked. He did not expect that Ning Yuanjun would be so thorough and decisive. As a Grand Prime Minister, of course he understood what this meant.
"Yes! All merchants in Jiangning Mansion are taxed at a rate of 2 out of 10. Any merchants who fail to pay will be ordered to close down. For this reason, Prince Ning also specially involved a tax department called the Tax Bureau."
"Hmph! It seems that our King Ning really has big plans!" Shen Daxianggong knew that if Ning Yuan's army was allowed to complete these policies in the south of the Yangtze River, then the Song Dynasty would never be able to return to the south of the Yangtze River.
"Grand Prime Minister, what should we, the Imperial City Division, do next?" Immediately afterwards, Imperial City Division Liu Yasi looked at the Grand Prime Minister Shen in front of him in confusion and asked.
"Continue to conduct in-depth investigations, and then report all details to the officials and the Privy Council. In addition, send people to other areas in the south of the Yangtze River controlled by Ningyuan Army to check, and be sure to demand that everything investigated is true and reliable." Shen Da Xianggong suddenly said.
They realized that they knew too little about the Ningyuan Army, and they were not the ordinary rebels they imagined. All they wanted to do was to overthrow their Song Dynasty court.
"Yes! Mr. Grand Master."
After the Imperial City Chief had left here, Mr. Shen didn't feel sleepy at all. He looked out the window at the quiet Jiangnan night in front of him, but in his mind, he thought of what Suning said just now: "God's gift."
", I can't help but suspect that Suning really received the so-called "God's gift", because many objects here in Jiangnan are beyond the reach of today's manpower.
In the temporary Prince Ning's Mansion in Jiangning Mansion south of the Yangtze River, Su Yi, commander of the Jinyi Guards, walked straight into Suning's study, then looked at Suning in front of him and reported, "Master, Mr. Shen just released a homing pigeon, and the people from the Imperial City Department also
I have left Jiangning Mansion and gone to other places. Do you want someone to knock down the carrier pigeons?"
"No need! We have already opened the bug, so naturally we have to have some confidence." Suning waved his hand nonchalantly, feeling that things were becoming more and more interesting.
"Yes! Master, in addition, the Imperial City Division has been active in my Jiangnan area recently. It seems that they want to investigate something."
"Well, the unknown is often the scariest thing, but as their understanding deepens, they become more afraid of us." At this time, Suning showed a smirk on his face. As their understanding deepens, they will find that
There are more mysteries to come.
"Master, in addition, according to internal reports from the Bianjing Palace, the officials and the queen have decided to marry Princess Huirou to the master."
"Oh? Princess Huirou? Is she the daughter who is known as the most miserable daughter of Song Renzong?" Suning couldn't help showing a surprised expression for the first time, realizing that the emperor of Bianjing was going to spend a lot of money. You must know the various restrictions on the consort of the Song Dynasty.
This does not apply to Suning.
"Exactly."
"Haha, it seems that our official is really willing to spend a lot of money in order to win over our Ningyuan Army."
"Master, according to more detailed reports from insiders, Song Renzong was initially planning to marry the daughter of King Yong, the Princess of Jiacheng County, to the Master. He was just worried that the Princess of Jiacheng County had just been knocked into the water by Ning Yuan's army, so he had no choice but to make the choice.
Princess Huirou, the biological daughter of the official family."
"Well, you Jin Yiwei have done a very good job. In addition, you should pay more attention to Zhao Zongquan in Yuzhou. This master is the one who hides the deepest. He is definitely more powerful than ordinary people imagine."
"Yes! Master."
...
Yuzhou.
At this moment, Zhao Zongquan was worried about the affairs of the Song Dynasty. In his understanding, although there were constant rebellions in the Song Dynasty, large and small, no one dared to propose to rule across the river from the Song Dynasty.
Therefore, both father and son Zhao Zongquan and Zhao Yingce believed that Ning Yuanjun and Prince Ning were the most serious thorns in the Song Dynasty, and there was no need to compromise or recruit peace.
"Father, this King Ning wants to split with me, the Song Dynasty. We have to kill this King Ning ourselves as soon as possible!" Zhao Zongquan and Zhao Yingce, father and son, have been hiding their power, just to prepare for one at the most appropriate time.
A sure hit.
"Well, have you found the person you were looking for?" Naturally, he was reluctant to use his hidden power. Then Zhao Zongquan looked at the eldest son in front of him and asked.
"Found it! This person's name is Zhao Ling'er, and he opened a teahouse in Yuzhou. His father, Zhao Nianfan, was a well-known scholar. After repeatedly failing in the imperial examination, he opened a private school in Yuzhou out of frustration.
On weekdays, I just make a living by teaching and educating people." Then Zhao Yingce introduced it briefly and comprehensively, and at the same time he roughly guessed Zhao Zongquan's assassination plan.
"Oh? He is from a scholarly family, why would his own daughter want to show up to sell tea?" At this time, Zhao Zongquan was a little confused. After all, doing business was not a decent thing in the Song Dynasty.
"Father, it's mainly because Zhao Ling'er's grandmother Zhao Pan'er is the wife of Gu Qianfan, a distant relative of Ningyuan Hou Gu's family." Zhao Zongquan had long expected this question, so Zhao Yingce left early and prepared a detailed introduction. In the final analysis, it was
The injustice committed by the Gu family, "During the reign of Zhenzong, Zhao Pan'er, who was originally the daughter of an official, fell into poverty and worked as a musician in the Jiaofangsi when she was nine years old. Later, she was lucky enough to collect the ransom to redeem her life, and then lived in Qiantang County in the south of the Yangtze River.
After opening a tea shop, she met Gu Qianfan, the deputy commander of the Imperial City Division who went south to investigate the case. After the two got married, they were not accepted by the Gu family of Ningyuan Marquis. After Gu Qianfan, the deputy commander of the Imperial City Division, died in battle, Zhao Paner
Gu Nianfan, the orphan of Gu Qianfan, was kicked out by the Gu family. Later, the stubborn Zhao Paner neither stayed in Bianjing nor returned to Qiantang County in the south of the Yangtze River. Instead, he came to the remote Yuzhou incognito and opened a teahouse.
"
"Humph! It's these stupid people from the Gu family again." At this time, Zhao Zongquan was also feeling depressed about these idiots from the Gu family. It was rare for an "eating family" to go to such a crazy level.
"Father, are you really going to let this Zhao Ling'er get close to Prince Ning and wait for an opportunity to assassinate this traitor?" Since Zhao Yingce saw this Zhao Ling'er, he was a little reluctant to let such a beautiful woman die soon.
"It is rumored that this young and frivolous Prince Ning is extremely lustful. The so-called Prince Ning's palace does not want a eunuch to serve him. All the weak beauties from the Jiangnan water town must naturally have no resistance to this stunning beauty Zhao Ling'er. As long as we control Zhao Ling'er's family, we don't believe it.
Zhao Ling'er didn't follow our instructions." At this time, Zhao Zongquan did not realize that something was wrong with his eldest son, but instead looked at Zhao Yingce with utter mockery and explained.
"Yes! Father, then I will ask people to train Zhao Linger more intensively." Thinking that the Zhao family's imperial hegemony was more important, Zhao Yingce decisively rejected the evil thoughts in his heart.
"Well, Yingce, although the official family has abandoned us father and son, we are still the descendants of the royal family of Zhao and Song Dynasties. Naturally, we cannot ignore the traitors and harm our country of Song Dynasty."
"Yes! Father."
Zhao Zongquan and his father Zhao Yuanrang were actually quite miserable. When Song Zhenzong was in power and had no children, they were forced to adopt Zhao Yuanrang, the son of the clan, as a stepson in the palace. Later, Song Zhenzong had his own biological son Zhao Jian. Naturally,
He drove his stepson Zhao Yuanrang out of the palace, and then consecrated Zhao Yuanrang as King of Puyang of the Song Dynasty. Later, when Zhao Jian ascended the throne and became emperor, he was naturally wary of Zhao Yuanrang.
Later, Song Renzong's Zhao frame also had no heirs and was still forced to bring Zhao Yuanrang's son Zhao Zongquan to the palace. Poor Zhao Zongquan also repeated the tragic fate of his father Zhao Yuanrang and became one of the most tragic "preparations" of the Zhao family royal family.
"Fetus", and was finally driven to the remote Yuzhou by Song Renzong Zhao Jian, who had a biological son.
But if you think that Zhao Yuanrang and Zhao Zongquan, the father and son, are the ones who accept their fate, it is a big mistake. You must know how it is possible to sit on the throne of the emperor. In the original drama, even if there is no protection and encouragement from the male protagonist Gu Tingye
, Zhao Zongquan was still able to successfully ascend to the throne of emperor.
So after seeing Suning's delusion and the Zhao and Song court in Bianjing to divide the river and rule, Zhao Zongquan and his son, who were far away in Yuzhou pretending to be stupid, started to take action. The first thing they did was to investigate the secrets of the Gu family of Ningyuan Hou. They must have
Zhao Ling'er, who had the same tragic experience as Suning, will definitely be able to get close to Suning. Then all he has to do is wait for the right moment and give Suning a one-hit kill.
...
The old emperor who was far away in Bianjing soon received the flying pigeon message sent by Mr. Shen from Jiangning Mansion. After seeing what Mr. Shen saw and heard along the way in Jiangning Mansion and his evaluation of Prince Ning, the old emperor
For a moment, he was a little stunned, because Prince Ning was very different from the playboy in his impression.
As a noble son, Suning was naturally known to the old emperor at a very young age. The old emperor also liked this tiger-headed general very much, but later I heard that Suning often liked to hang out in the fireworks and willow alleys, so the old emperor naturally also
He just believed in the external criticism and comments, and then slowly alienated himself from this devilish king who was hated by everyone.
"Dong Liang, are the Gu family still imprisoned in the sky prison?" Knowing that Suning's reputation was the pride of the Gu family, the angry old emperor looked at the deputy commander of the Imperial City Division and asked.
"Yes! Your Majesty."
"The decree is to deprive Marquis Ningyuan of his title and gold medal for immunity from death. All three members of the Gu family will be demoted to common people. They will not be allowed to take part in the imperial examination or become generals for three generations." The angry old emperor immediately announced the punishment for the Gu family of Marquis Ningyuan, which could be said to make the entire family
The Gu family has become worse than death.
"Yes! Your Majesty, should we drive them out of Bianjing?"
"Hey! Forget it! Since the Gu family has been loyal and patriotic for generations, it's better to leave the original mansion to them." In the end, the angry old emperor chose not to kill them all, but still left a mansion for the Gu family.
"Your Majesty is merciful."
Thinking of the content of the letter sent by Shen DaXiangong Fei Ge, the old emperor's face was full of emotion and melancholy. When Suning said "God's gift" to Shen DaXiangong, the old emperor was determined to kill him.
Suning, the King of Ning, just thought about the actual situation of weakness on his side, so he could only temporarily allow Ning Yuan's army to march directly to Dali and Jiaozhi. This would also quickly weaken the strength of Ning Yuan's army, but he thought of the southwestern Dali Kingdom.
The old emperor who was hiding his trump card now smiled sinisterly.
As for Suning's request to be fully responsible for all military affairs south of the Yangtze River, in the eyes of the old emperor, it was just another way of saying "ruling across the river", but it sounded better than "ruling across the river" in name. However, at this time
The old emperor no longer had the capital to refuse, so he could only continue to condone and praise the arrogant and domineering Ning Yuan Army, hoping that the Ning Yuan Army would lead to self-destruction more quickly.
"Draft the decree." The old emperor had made a decision and showed an attitude of no hesitation.
"Yes! Your Majesty." Secretary Lang immediately came out to enter the imperial edict information.
"Give Princess Huirou the title of Princess Fukang and the consort of Zhao Ning, Prince Ning of Jiangning Prefecture. Prince Ning is ordered to take full charge of military affairs south of the Yangtze River. After three months, he will attack the puppet states of Dali and Jiaozhi."
At this time, the Gu family finally walked out alive from the dark prison, but their identities have become common people with nothing. In fact, it can be said to be a situation worse than death. Gu Yankai looked at the situation in front of him.
Xiao Qin, who had not seen her for almost half a year, was very sad, "Madam, I have made you feel wronged."
"Master Hou, I am not wronged." I saw Xiao Qin wiping the tears on her face with pity.
"Madam, I'm no longer a Marquis, you'd better call me an official from now on." Gu Yankai explained to his wife with tears on his face when he heard that Xiao Qin still called him Lao Marquis.
"Hou... Guanren, Tingye is currently serving as Prince Ning in Jiangning Mansion. Why don't our whole family go and join him." Then Xiao Qin looked at Gu Yankai and said what he wanted.
I suggested that there is no need for them to stay in Bianjing now.
"Humph! I, Gu Yankai, do not have such a wicked son, and he is not from my Gu family." Gu Yankai immediately angrily rejected Xiao Qin's proposal. Anyway, he would not make any compromise with his son.
"Official, why are you so stubborn? The official family has already married the eldest princess to Ting Ye as the princess, which means that the official family has recognized Ting Ye as Prince Ning." At this time, Xiao Qin couldn't understand Gu.
Yan Kai's stubbornness and the emperor's canonization have already explained a lot of things.
"Hmph! Unless I, Gu Yankai, die, I will never recognize Gu Tingye as my son." Although he knew that Xiao Qin's proposal was the only way to survive, Gu Yankai still refused it outright.
"this......"
"Mom, let's go home quickly! Fortunately, the officials were kind and left us a house so that we won't have to live on the streets in the future." Gu Tingyu, who was standing next to him, clearly knew his father's stubbornness and quickly spoke up to stop him from continuing to chatter.