The snow is falling as fast as a feather outside, and the sky is freezing cold, but inside the hall is as warm as spring. Two bronze lamp stands are placed on both sides of the hall, spread out like branches, and there is a lamp on each branch, filled with The lamp oil was inserted into the wick. At this moment, the candlelight was shining brightly, illuminating every detail in the lobby, making it as bright as day.
There were two rows of futons spread on the smooth floor. Perhaps the elders of the Hou Mo and Chen family were discussing matters here just now and had not had time to leave.
At the main seat, an octogenarian man sat cross-legged on a futon. He was thin and his face was covered with age spots. His large cloth robe looked very loose on his body. His frame was rugged and frail.
At this moment, he closed his eyes and sat as steady as a mountain. He held a string of Buddhist beads in one hand and placed the other hand on his lower abdomen. He seemed not to notice Li Jing who walked into the hall, or maybe he was dismissive. He felt as if the mountain was collapsing in front of him. Unchanging detachment and calmness...
Li Jing laughed in his heart.
He took a few steps forward and walked to Hou Mo and Chen Qianhui. He looked at this old man who was the only remaining member of the Guanlong clan, reached out and pulled a futon from the side, and sat down on his own.
"Hundred Cavalry Division" went all out to capture Changsun Chong, and there would be no surprise. He must have been unable to escape. After controlling the Hou Mo Chen Qianhui in front of him, he was the actual conspirator and spirit of the Guanlong clan's planned mutiny. All the leaders were arrested. No matter how strong Guan Long's power was and how well prepared he was, he could only die without a leader.
Without a 60% to 70% certainty, no one dares to risk the lives of the entire clan...
So Li Jing was not in a hurry. He sat on the futon and looked at Hou Mo and Chen Qianhui who were pretending to be calm in front of him with interest. He found it very interesting.
After a long time, Hou Mo and Chen Qian opened a pair of turbid old eyes, held a Buddhist bead in his hand, and said slowly: "The pharmacist is here, and he has the prince's order. He must do his best to eliminate evil and not think about personal affairs. I am waiting for the pharmacist's steel." The sword rests on the neck, but why is it so late?"
"hehe."
Li Jing laughed.
It sounds and looks like he faces life and death indifferently, with a rather valiant air. However, Li Jing has known Hou Mochen Qianhui for many years, and he knows his character very well. He knows that this person seems not to care about anything and is willing to give up everything. In the world of mortals, rich and luxurious, only living in this humble house, chanting sutras, chanting Buddha's name, and paying homage to the loved one in the past... But in fact, he is most narrow-minded and short-tempered.
It may be possible to not be afraid of death, but after living in seclusion for forty years, one day you are tempted to do something big, but before you can raise an army, you are hit with a blow and everything is over. How can you bear this resentment?
He smiled and said: "Buddha said that everything is empty. What does it matter whether a steel sword is placed on the neck or whether the body is dead and the soul is gone? Mr. Wang has devoted himself to Buddhism for forty years. He lives in a shabby room, listens to the bells in the morning and the drums in the evening, and cuts off the world of mortals just for the infatuation in his heart. However, Today, everyone is ignorant and greedy, but they don’t know whether it is because they have not cultivated enough in the past forty years, or because the infatuation in their hearts has long been forgotten?”
Hou Mo and Chen Qian will be silent.
Yes, he has lived here in seclusion for forty years. Is it because the infatuation in his heart failed to completely cut off the mortal world and was willing to decay with the grass and trees? Or is it because the forty years of rotten life has made him tired and regrets these four years? Ten years of self-cultivation were wasted?
Or perhaps, it was the glory of being able to command the wind and clouds, wielding power over hundreds of millions of people, that destroyed this cultivation that had been tempered over the years...
Li Jing looked at his calm expression, but knew that his heart must be fluctuating.
If it were in the past, perhaps forty years of hard training had made him not obsessed with things and made his mind tenacious. However, now, the power has destroyed his cultivation. How can he remain calm about the success or failure of life and death?
Then he sighed and said: "For forty years, I have abandoned my shoes like worn-out shoes. I only wish to pursue my true heart and isolate myself from the world of mortals. However, today, I am willing to fall into the world of mortals and be burdened by power. Isn't it true that forty years have been exhausted?"
Is it all wasted and wasted?"
Finally, Hou Mo and Chen Qianhui's cold face showed a trace of twitching, and he slowly opened his eyes and looked at Li Jing.
The two looked at each other for a long time, before Hou Mo and Chen Qian sighed softly, shook their heads and said: "After forty years of pure heart and few desires, I was finally burdened by power... I regret it so much."
If he was greedy for power, with his talent, ability, and family background, he would have already stood in the court, held the power, and guided the country. Since he chose this quiet path and only prayed silently for the beautiful shadow in his heart, why bother to re-enter the court?
Pick up all the fame and fortune?
Since then, wouldn't it mean that the forty years have been wasted and everything has returned to the beginning?
Li Jing slowly nodded and sighed: "I have never forgotten your demeanor back then. The current situation is unstable. Our soldiers have to serve our country and we cannot take care of personal affairs. Therefore, we will leave soldiers to guard this place to prevent others from doing so."
I hope you will forgive me for disturbing you."
After saying this, he stood up and bowed his hands to the ground. Before Mo Chen Qian could speak, he turned around and walked away in a big stride.
Once people reach a certain state, they will no longer bother to lie, let alone lie. As long as Hou Mo and Chen Qian can say the words "It's too late to regret", Li Jing will know that no one can persuade Hou Mo no matter what.
Chen Qian will return to prepare for this mutiny.
Without Changsun Chong in the middle, without Hou Mo and Chen Qianhui raising his arms, the Guanlong clan is leaderless, what kind of trouble can it cause?
I'm afraid that at this moment, the Guanlong clan should be gathering together to discuss anxiously how to deal with the aftermath...
…
Just as Li Jing thought, the Zhao Guogong Mansion in Chongrenfang was forcibly broken into by the "Baiqisi". Although Changsun Chong got into the secret passage, he was eventually captured and taken to Xingqing Palace to wait for the prince's decision; Li Jing personally led the troops to surround him.
Yongyangfang, isolating the residence of Hou Mo and Chen Qian... As news came out one after another, everyone in the Long family was shocked.
I thought that the combined power of the Guanlong clan would be enough to launch a mutiny, completely defeat the armed forces belonging to the East Palace, and then depose the East Palace and establish a new crown prince. But who would have thought that His Highness the Crown Prince would do nothing if he did not take action, and once he did, he would be tight
They pinched the Guanlong family seven inches, and arrested the two core figures of this plan and put the other under house arrest, making it difficult for the various families to cooperate with each other.
If we continue to launch a mutiny, with unclear leadership and inability to coordinate, it is easy for the group to fail in command without a leader. How can such mistakes be tolerated in a war?
But what if everything dies down and the forces inside and outside the city have secretly gathered? Everything has been learned by Donggong. Even if he is timid at this moment, Donggong will definitely keep it in mind and will never be lenient when it comes to liquidation in the future.
Faced with a dilemma and a dilemma of choice, every family in Guanlong is now secretly complaining, unable to get off the tiger.
*****
Chongrenfang.
Zhao Guogong's Mansion was besieged by the "Hundred Cavalry Division" who rushed into the mansion to capture people. They screamed and screamed and flames shot up into the sky. Liang Guogong's Mansion, which was also in Chongrenfang, had already closed the house on alert. A few days ago, the Fang family was outside the city and in various farms in Lishan Mountain.
Then he mobilized strong soldiers into the city and distributed weapons and armor to prevent accidents.
Among them, Cui Dunli even used his position to mobilize dozens of armors from the Foundry Bureau of the Ministry of War to equip heavy infantry...
There was an uproar at the Changsun family, and the Fang family was ready. Hundreds of soldiers guarded the walls of the courtyard, and troops wearing iron armor were stationed in the middle hall. There were also firearms, countless bows and crossbows, and all the soldiers and slaves
Everyone is fully armed to defend the mansion.
Faced with such a tense situation, Princess Gaoyang not only did not rush to fear, but was also very interested. After all, every daughter of the Li family grew up based on the deeds of Princess Pingyangzhao Li Xiuning, the "third wife", and there is a kind of femininity in her bones.
Domineering!
At this moment, Princess Gaoyang forced Wu Meiniang to help her put on a mountain armor made in her spare time. She wore a crimson cloak, a tall bun and slender eyebrows. She held a sword under her ribs with her delicate hands, sitting on a golden sword.
Sitting on the Grand Master's chair in the hall, his little face as big as a palm was tensed up, and he looked heroic and majestic, quite like a general in the Baihu Yamen Hall...
Wu Meiniang couldn't bear to see it. She covered her face with one hand and complained in a low voice: "Your Highness is really fooling around. You are a rich man with golden branches and leaves. Our family is a hero of Zhenguan and a distinguished relative of the country. Even if the Guanlong clan rebels and wants to depose the East Palace,
How dare you attack our family indiscriminately? Now that the father-in-law and husband are not here, Your Highness, you are the head of the family, so you should be more cautious. I think it's funny that you are so angry, but I will give it to you.
The people below have a sense of urgency of 'life and death'. The so-called master humiliates his ministers to death. If you, the princess, are ready to go into battle in person, all the soldiers and servants below will feel humiliated. If someone is outside the mansion,
If they clamor or even bring troops to test, they can't help but take the initiative and take the initiative, putting themselves in danger."