The mountain breeze blew in from the window, and the sound of water was faint in the distance. It was cool and refreshing, but it could not dispel the gloom in the minds of several Guanlong bosses in the hall.
No matter how strong the desire to control Guan Long is in his heart, any of his disciples have to admit that it is precisely because of the existence of Changsun Wuji that Guanlong became so brilliant and powerful after Zhenguan. Without Changsun Wuji,
Who dares to say that this true leader is confident that he can bring the Guanlong Clan to such heights, maintain its foundation in a future surrounded by wolves, and even make a comeback?
It is no exaggeration to say that Changsun Wuji is not only the leader of Guan Long, but also the backbone of Guan Long.
Once this backbone is broken, the once majestic Guanlong clan will probably sink and fall into the dust...
However, the current situation is like this, who can do anything?
The reason why the Guanlong clan is in its current state is all caused by Changsun Wuji. Now if someone has to stand up and take responsibility, it has to be him. No matter how much others feel sorry for Guanlong or worry about Guanlong's future, they will never do it.
Maybe I'll take my own life instead.
Fortunately, Changsun Wuji was also a prominent figure in the world. He had already seen things in the world clearly. He was not disappointed by everyone's silence. Instead, he smiled, sipped his tea cup, and said slowly: "Since we first planned to start the incident,
On that day, I had already planned to fail. As the saying goes, everything depends on people and success depends on God. How can anything be perfect in this world? Now that I have failed, I feel guilty that all the families have been implicated. If I can die, I will die.
In the current critical situation, death is a worthy death."
Several people looked at each other and wanted to say some comforting words, but the words came to their lips but could not come out.
The mutiny was indeed planned by Changsun Wuji, but when he approached various families and asked them to send troops to invade Chang'an, who didn't have luck in their hearts and try to seek more benefits? If he succeeds, everyone will move up together.
, it is unfair to have Changsun Wuji bear the blame for failure alone.
Of course, everyone knows that this is unfair, but no one will stand up and take responsibility for Changsun Wuji at this time.
So, it’s better not to say anything…
*****
There is Baling Pavilion outside Chunming Gate, not far to the west of Baqiao, with Bashui on the left and overlooking Baling in the distance. Under the clouds and drizzle, the grass is green in the distance, the mountains are like black, and the Han family mausoleum can be vaguely seen.
In front of the pavilion, the officers and soldiers of Zuo Wuwei took three steps to one post and five steps to one sentry. They made the guards within a few tens of feet in the vicinity watertight. In the distance, there were even light cavalry patrolling back and forth. No one was allowed to approach.
Regardless of the East Palace or Guanlong, both sides have the idea of putting the other party to death. Cheng Yaojin does not want to be responsible for the assassination of a big shot on both sides when he is ordered to broker a truce, thus causing an uproar...
In the slanting wind and drizzle, a motorcade came from the south. The scouts saw the emblem of the Yuwen family on the carriage early, and reported to Cheng Yaojin on horseback. Therefore, Cheng Yaojin wore a raincoat and walked out of the pavilion to the south.
The father-in-law stood by the road to greet him personally. When the carriage approached, he stepped forward and saluted. Yu Wenshi greeted him informally, smiled and invited him to board the carriage, and they arrived at Baling Pavilion together.
Cheng Yaojin had already expected that Yu Wenshi and his representative Guan Long would come instead of Changsun Wuji, and he didn't take it seriously. Changsun Wuji's fate was almost doomed. No matter whether the negotiations could be reached or what the final result would be, there would always be
Someone is responsible for this mutiny, and no one else is qualified except Changsun Wuji.
As the Yuwen family is second only to the Changsun family in terms of strength among the Guanlong clan, it is conceivable that after the death of Changsun Wuji, they will inevitably take over his position as the leader of the Guanlong clan and be the leader of the Guanlong clan. With him participating in the negotiations, In fact, he is more suitable than Changsun Wuji.
When they arrived at the Baling Pavilion, the two got off the car together. Just as they were about to enter and talk for a while, they saw a scout galloping towards him on horseback: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived at Chunming Gate, please prepare to greet him, Marshal!"
Cheng Yaojin and Yu Wenshiji were both startled. They looked at each other and saw each other's surprise: The prince actually came in person?!
The current situation in Chang'an seems to have been settled, but due to the strong intervention of the army led by Li Ji whose position is unclear, everything is full of unpredictable risks. Especially for the prince, going out of the city to participate in negotiations is tantamount to exposing himself to everyone. At present, the Sixth Prince of the East Palace can guard the city of Chang'an, but it is difficult to ensure the safety of the prince outside the city of Chang'an.
Cheng Yaojin glared at Yuwen Shiji and warned: "Now the outside of the city is my territory. Duke Ying must not risk the disdain of the world, otherwise don't blame me for being unkind!"
The Guanlong Gate Clan has been entrenched in Guanzhong for more than a hundred years. It is deeply rooted and intertwined with all forces. Although on the surface it is completely defeated and its life and death are in danger, no one is sure how much hidden strength it has secretly.
Even if there was a nail planted by Guan Longan in the Zuowuwei he built, he himself could not guarantee it. If he assassinated the prince while he was out of the city to participate in negotiations... Just thinking about it, Cheng Yaojin was filled with risk. Sweating, frightened.
At the same time, I secretly admired the prince's courage. Even Changsun Wuji, a man who was destined to die, did not dare to come. Why did the prince take such a risk?
Yu Wenshiji shook his head and sighed, and said helplessly: "Gong Lu has worried too much. The failure of this military remonstrance is already certain. Everyone in Guanlong is ready to accept failure and is willing to pay all costs. How can they be lucky enough to make this happen?" The situation is in turmoil and there are more changes?"
Unless he was loyal and patriotic, and couldn't bear to hurt His Highness the Crown Prince, the overall situation was already decided. Even if the assassination was successful, what benefit would it have to the situation? In order to subdue Guanlong and use it as a knife against the powerful families in Jiangnan and Shandong, Li Ji They will still suppress Guanlong to the end, severely weakening Guanlong's foundation, leaving only one breath for each Guanlong family to survive...
On the contrary, both Dong Gong and Li Ji tried to control the court, not only to prepare strength to fight against the powerful families in Jiangnan and Shandong, but also to prepare for and confront each other. Under such a confrontational situation, Guan Long could obtain relatively better conditions. Yuwen Shiji was stupid to assassinate the prince at this time.
Cheng Yaojin felt relieved and sighed: "It's not my fault, but the prince's safety is really important. I dare not ignore it in the slightest."
Yu Wenshiji said nothing and nodded to express his understanding.
Li Ji's position is unclear to this day, but in fact all the measures are not conducive to the East Palace. As the person who organized the negotiation, Cheng Yaojin is also controlled by Li Ji. Once the prince is harmed outside the Chunming Gate, it will be difficult for him to escape suspicion. If you don't do it, you will be saddled with a big blame, and you will carry it for eternity, and you will never be able to get rid of it...
The two stood in front of the pavilion, looking at the tall and majestic tower of Chunming Gate not far away.
At this time, the city gate opened. Under the gentle breeze and drizzle, Li Chengqian, wearing a raincoat and a bamboo hat, led the way out of the city gate. Li Junxian and Li Daozong were guarding the left and right, followed by dozens of forbidden troops. The group of people and horses Galloping across the suspension bridge, the horse's hooves trampled on the bridge board with a "rumbling" sound, like rolling thunder, and its momentum was rapid. While the flags were flying, an unconcealable spirit surged out.
In a moment, they arrived in front of Ba Ling Pavilion like wind and lingering clouds.
Cheng Yaojin and Yu Wenshiji stood in front of the pavilion. When they saw the prince in front, they didn't mind putting his noble body within the possible range of bows and arrows. Obviously, they were expressing their great trust in him, so they happily
He burst out laughing, and when Li Chengqian rode his horse up to him, he reined in his horse and stood still. He quickly trotted up and reached out to hold the reins of his horse, helping the prince to dismount. Then he knelt down on one knee and performed a military salute: "General, I will see your highness the prince!"
"
Yuwen Shiji on the side also quickly bowed his head to the ground: "I have seen His Highness."
Li Chengqian took a step forward, helped him up with both hands, and said with a gentle smile: "No need to be polite, get up quickly! There was something to deal with before leaving, so it was delayed for some time. I hope you don't blame me."
"I don't dare."
The two of them hurriedly said in unison, looking up at Li Chengqian's face. They saw that his formerly fair and fat face had long since lost weight, and his cheeks were even somewhat sunken, making his round face longer. The dark bags under his eyes showed an unconcealable look of haggardness.
, but his eyes are extremely bright, and his smile is still warm and generous.
Li Chengqian raised his eyes and looked at the Zuowu guards standing around, and said with a smile: "The soldiers under Lu Guogong are all strong and brave, and they are all the meritorious service of the East Palace. I am very happy in my heart."
Cheng Yaojin was a little embarrassed. Although this Eastern Expedition was a complete victory and he himself had made great contributions, the overall situation was finally determined. It was the navy that had been excluded before that captured Pingrang City. This made hundreds of thousands of Dong
The entire army was disgraced, and His Majesty even fell from his horse in the army...
He was not sure for a moment whether the prince's words were comforting or sarcastic, but fortunately he did not answer, bowed slightly and said: "The storm is getting worse, your highness, please come into the pavilion."
Li Chengqian nodded, walked in the middle, and entered Ba Ling Pavilion.
It is said to be a "pavilion", but it is actually a very large post station on the east side of Chang'an. In addition to the pavilion on the bank of the Ba River, there are dozens of continuous houses with all kinds of accommodation and food, and the scale is not small.
A monastery facing the river behind the pavilion was the main venue for this meeting. The interior furnishings were exquisite and not luxurious. A small red clay stove had already lit a charcoal fire to boil a pot of spring water, which was gurgling with white steam.
Cheng Yaojin dismissed the waiters in the room, leaving only three people present.
Yu Wenshiji then asked the prince to sit on the throne and knelt down beside him, fetching water and making tea.
There was a breeze blowing outside the open window, raindrops fell in the river, and the Ba River was rushing and flowing, and there was a faint roaring sound.
Li Chengqian looked at the surging Ba River and sighed, his eyes full of sorrow: "The weather has been bad in the past two years, with heavy snowfalls in winter and frequent floods in summer. The people in Guanzhong are living a miserable life. Now the military change has delayed this year's spring plowing. At present, the people
We are already starved of food. If winter comes and spring comes next year, how will we survive? Prosperity and prosperity cannot withstand a military disaster. We must all bear this in mind and not do it again."
Yu Wenshiji did not expect that the prince would attack so directly. He started to attack as soon as he sat down, which caught him off guard. His tea-making hand paused slightly, and he couldn't find the right words for a while.
After all, as the initiator of this mutiny, the entire Guanlong must bear responsibility for the current situation of the people in Guanzhong...
After a moment of silence, he placed the brewed tea in front of Li Chengqian and said in a deep voice: "Guan Long is naturally willing to take responsibility for Guan Long's fault."
The situation has developed to this point, and it is not enough to shirk responsibility or admit mistakes. Moreover, the life and death of the Guanlong clan now does not all depend on whether or how much responsibility should be shouldered, but on the game between Donggong and Li Ji.
Having made Guan Long's attitude clear early, he could just sit back and watch Dong Gong and Li Ji bickering and fighting back and forth.
However, the prince obviously did not intend to let him stay out of the matter, and immediately said: "Responsibility cannot be shouldered in just one sentence. Empty words are the most useless. There must be some sincerity."
Yu Wenshiji was puzzled: "What does Your Highness mean..."
Li Chengqian had some free time and said calmly: "Guanlong's wealth has attracted the attention of the world. Even the national treasury is not as good as it is. What's more, after the series of eastern expeditions and mutinies, the national treasury is destitute... It is better to sell off 80% of the properties of Guanlong families to use To relieve disasters and help the people, since Guanlong originated from Guanzhong, we should also benefit Guanzhong, so that the people of Li can appreciate Guanlong's kindness, and they can also wash away the sin of mutiny, killing two birds with one stone."
Yu Wenshiji's expression changed, and his heart skipped a beat.
Such a sharp and uncompromising style is very different from the prince's previous temperament, which shows the attitude of the East Palace towards Guan Long.
He glanced at Cheng Yaojin from the corner of his eye and saw that this guy seemed to be turning a deaf ear to the prince's words. He picked up the teacup and sipped the tea slowly...
His heart suddenly sank.
Before coming here, Guan Long was indeed prepared to pay a huge price, such as giving up the central power, promising that a group of nobles would no longer participate in court affairs, such as introducing a few Guan Long disciples with a certain status to shoulder the responsibility...
But it definitely does not include handing over the family property of Guanlongmen.