The Third Highness rushed to Qingxu Temple and told Zhan Qiao the details of Ma's arrest. After hearing this, Zhan Qiao's eyes brightened and asked him to say it again. The Third Highness then said it again. Looking at Zhan Qiao again, his eyes were as dark as
A snake slowly crawled out of its slough. His Highness suddenly felt a chill running down his spine.
Zhan Qiao said: "Feng Ziying was also reckless when he was young. Since he started working in this industry, he has become more cautious every day. The fact that he rashly went to the prince's house to rob the female family members is not like what he did. There must be other reasons here. Have you asked?
Did Feng Ziying find any evidence about the people who served Ma?"
The Third Highness was stunned. He forgot to ask about this in his anger, and Qingxuguan came straight from the door of the mansion. He had to blush and bow to admit his mistake: "I didn't check it out in a hurry. It's all my fault."
Zhan Qiao looked at him for a while and said: "As a master, the most important thing is to be impetuous and hasty." His Highness bowed again. Zhan Qiao thought for a moment, "Whether someone planted stolen goods in her courtyard, or that little girl really let Maitreya...
If Feng Ziying dares to arrest her and take her away blatantly because of the deception of her disciples, the evidence must be irrefutable. Don’t go and make trouble in front of King Yan.”
His Highness the Third Prince covered his forehead: "Sir, I don't know what to do anymore. I can't just endure it. Mr. Ma is now in the Penal Department Prison."
Zhan Qiao snorted: "What's wrong with that promising idea and being put in jail? How dare the Ministry of Punishment really treat the female family members of the prince's house? I think that girl is a backbone, and this idea can't overwhelm her."
His Highness the Third Prince smiled bitterly: "I feel pain in my heart."
Zhan Qiao heard this and thought for a while: "In that case, you should still go to trouble with King Yan." His Highness the Third Highness was stunned again. Zhan Qiao said, "Feng Ziying must have asked for permission from King Yan before he dared to do anything rude. If my hexagram didn't work out,
Wrong, I'm afraid he just complained to King Yan, saying that he had gone to your house several times before but couldn't catch anyone."
His Highness the Third Prince frowned: "How dare he tell such a lie? Ma is just a backyard woman, not worthy of it."
Zhan Qiao said: "You also know that a woman in the backyard is not worthy of his lies. How can the prince not know? Therefore, the prince will not suspect that what he said is not true." The third prince did not understand. Zhan Qiao explained, "He was raped for no reason.
Will Your Highness give up on taking Ai Ji by force?"
"Of course not."
"Therefore, you must not go messing around in front of the prince. It should be noted that in the past, King Yan's favorite was the second child. Unfortunately, the princess was so spoiled that she couldn't figure out her own identity, and then died. Now she may not like the prince. It's just that she doesn't like him anymore.
I don't necessarily like the rest of you." Zhan Qiao stroked his beard and said, "Fathers all hope that their sons will be like themselves. None of the sons of King Yan are like him. For example, he is smart, while the prince's talent is mediocre; he concentrates on his career and doesn't care much about the backyard.
, Your Highness, you are addicted to women. The more you value the Ma family, the less King Yan will like you and think you have no ambition."
His Highness the Third Highness thought for a long time: "Then Sir just asked me to make trouble?"
Zhan Qiao said: "Now Feng Ziying has surrendered to the throne. Once the son of Jarvis arrives in Beijing, His Highness will have no chance of winning. He will either flee overseas or wait for death." He waved his hand and pushed, and the chess pieces in the case fell down and hit the green bricks.
The voice was sweet. "The only way is to give it a try." She looked at him steadily and said, "You decide for yourself. Are you willing to leave, are you willing to die, are you willing to gamble."
The Third Prince's body was trembling slightly, his fists were clenched, his teeth were clenched, and his eyes were red. "I'm willing to bet!"
Zhan Qiao nodded: "If you want to bet, you must first be looked down upon by others. Both infatuated men and losers will be looked down upon by the world."
"...I understand." His Highness the Third Highness said, "Not only do I have to make a fuss, I also have to make a big fuss."
"There's no need to make a fuss," Zhan Qiao said, "You have to make a fool of yourself, even to the point of showing weakness in front of your dead son. If you can exchange for the Ma family, you are willing to surrender. I only want to stay with her forever in this life, and nothing else matters."
"Thank you, sir."
Zhan Qiao turned his head and looked at the yard outside: "I have been idle for so many years, and my old bones are not falling apart. If your highness doesn't dislike it, I can still move around."
His Highness the Third Highness was overjoyed and bowed to the ground: "The little king has won your husband, just like Liu Xuande and Zhuge Kongming."
"Don't be too happy too early." Zhan Qiao said, "Now it's a last-ditch battle. If you succeed, you will be king, if you fail, you will die."
"It all depends on Sir's guidance." His Highness bowed again.
Zhan Qiao then formally surrendered to him, packed his things and went back home with him. Then he carried his baggage and went to say goodbye to Qingxu Guan Guan and become a Taoist priest. After hearing this, Taoist Zhang was so shocked that he could not speak for a long time. The little Taoist priest shouted twice, and then he
He sighed: "That's all, Taoist brother chose the path himself."
Zhan Qiao said: "I know what I am doing."
Because he was afraid that someone still remembered the name "Zhan Qiao", he changed his pseudonym to "Fan Yao". His Highness the Third Highness's house did not hide anything. If anyone came to inquire, they would say that their master invited a Taoist priest from the Taoist temple. Ask this question
What is the purpose of the Taoist priest? The people in the house said that the master has not been doing well recently. This Taoist Master Fan once warned him, so it seems that he is a man with a good background. When King Yan heard this, he smiled and said: "I don't know who has deceived me. A serious man with a good history."
, never willing to admit that he has an origin." This is something to be said later.
Back at the mansion, Fan Yao accompanied His Highness the Third Prince to the Ma Family Courtyard to inquire in person. Sure enough, Feng Ziying found a lot of evidence, including a note that said "Dragon eyes and phoenix eyes, the appearance of the queen" and a small wooden statue of Maitreya Buddha.
. There is a full cabinet full of other correspondence. The serving maid cried: "The queen never allows us to touch that cabinet, saying that it contains the memorial tablet of her biological mother."
Fan Yao said: "Since it is something that is not allowed to be touched, it is indeed possible that the birth mother's memorial tablet is placed there." As he said this, he looked at the cabinet carefully, "If you frame something, it must be done without leaving any flaws. If you place it casually, you won't be able to find it even if you search it.
People believe that King Yan has not been framed by others in his early years."
His Highness the Third Highness wondered: "Since it is the birth mother's tablet, why is it covered up and not displayed for serious worship?"
Fan Yao straightened up: "Everyone has a story that they don't want to tell others. Maybe her mother's identity is not very honorable? The more rural the place, the more broken down the etiquette and music. I believe what Ma said." He pointed to the cabinet.
She said at the end, "There are traces of incense ash here. I think it was stained on the base of the tablet when she secretly worshiped."
Ma's personal maid said bitterly: "Your Majesty is indeed unjust."
Another said: "How can they put it in? The key to this cabinet is only in the hands of the queen."
Fan Yao said calmly: "A poor Taoist can break open the big warehouse in your house without damaging the lock, replace the items and then lock it back again. Do you believe it?" Several maids all stared. "Okay, Your Highness can do it.
He cried, made trouble, and hanged himself."
His Highness the Third Prince then returned to Prince Yan's Mansion with the cabinet and burst into tears, accusing Feng Ziying of framed Ma. The evidence was the trace of incense ash in the cabinet. Prince Yan thought he was being ridiculous, scolded him and sent him away. He was not convinced and ran away again.
He went to Feng Ziying's house to make a big fuss. After going back and forth, everyone in the capital knew that His Highness was infatuated with Ai Ji, a Maitreya sect, and had become half crazy. A few days later, he actually broke into the prince's house alone to ask for an audience, and shouted to the prince:
"I only want her! I don't want anything else!" The prince made him unable to do anything. He specifically asked to see King Yan and asked if he could let the third child, the dumb concubine, go back. Zuo was just a woman and could not make any waves. King Yan was cold.
After looking at him for a long time, the prince was so frightened that he did not dare to say anything and slipped back.
In April of that year, the country was peaceful and the people were safe, and the weather was smooth. That evening, King Yan finished handling official affairs in the palace as usual, leaving Feng Ziying, Luo Man and other close friends to discuss matters. Suddenly someone came in and reported urgently: "Your Majesty, there is a group of people outside the east gate of the city, gatekeepers.
We were unprepared, and they had already captured the city gate, and now they were heading towards the city to kill them. Their number is unknown, but at least 50,000."
King Yan was shocked: "What flag was given?"
"We didn't raise any flags," the messenger said, "we used muskets."
Feng Ziying hurriedly said: "Fireguns are not as good as swords. They can shoot from very far away and are difficult to guard against. Your lord, no matter who comes, you should stay away for a while."
King Yan waved his hand: "He has a musket, doesn't the lonely king?" He ordered Sun Shaozu, the commander of the Beijing camp, to lead his troops to meet the enemy.
Not long after, someone came to report again: "Master Sun Shaozu went to the western suburbs today to train troops, and he hasn't come back yet."
Only then did King Yan become anxious. The Prince of Yan's palace was closest to the east gate, and Sun Shaozu, a reckless man, actually chose this day to train in the western suburbs. If the enemy soldiers used firearms, they would fight much faster than swords, and ordinary guards might not be able to stop them.
Stay. Feng Ziying advised again: "Please, Your Majesty, move."
While King Yan was hesitating, the messenger came again: "The visitor claimed to be the Emperor's men. The man leading the troops claimed to be the son of Concubine Hu who was left by the Emperor in Huashan. The imperial army did not dare to move without the Tiger Talisman."
King Yan and all his confidants were shocked: "What!" A counselor shouted, "Please ask the prince to get the tiger talisman to mobilize the imperial guards!"
Feng Ziying hurriedly said: "According to the news sent by the Qin State, the mother is indeed the concubine Hu of the Supreme Emperor. He sent her to hide in Huashan before he ascended the throne."
Roman also advised: "Your Majesty, don't hesitate. If you are really the Supreme Emperor, the people under him will be familiar with the roads in the middle of the capital and know the location of the palace. Since Mr. Sun is in the western suburbs, let's retreat to the western suburbs to meet Mr. Sun and order people.
Guard the west gate of the city. Mr. Sun is brave and good at fighting, and his men are also elite soldiers. He is not afraid of not being able to recapture the capital. Besides, even if he is really the one who has nothing, what is the use of just occupying the capital?"
Just now the counselor shouted again: "Just mobilize the imperial forest army."
Roman said angrily: "If that person is really back, the Royal Forest Army may not dare to come forward."
King Yan then regretted: "The Royal Forest Army has transferred a lot of troops to North America. There are not many left in the capital." He no longer hesitated and said, "Let's go to the western suburbs to find Sun Shaozu."
There were elite soldiers in the palace to protect King Yan and a group of confidants hurriedly left the palace when they heard the faint sound of gunfire in the distance. King Yan said angrily: "What's the use of raising these wastes!"
Feng Ziying murmured: "It's strange. There are many soldiers and horses in the capital, and the place is not small. Are they allowed to attack the palace for no reason? Even if Sun Shaozu went to the western suburbs for training, where are the other generals?"
As Roman mounted his horse, he shouted: "My Lord Feng! Now is not the time to think about these things, let's go quickly."
There were five thousand musketeers left in Prince Yan's palace, which could not be more sophisticated. At this moment, he didn't care about the others around him, and rushed to the west of the city first. Fortunately, the emperor's people were all in the east; most of the people in the capital hid after hearing the news, and the streets
There was no one in sight, and the horse was running fast and steadily. It was not long before they were out of the city gate.
Just after running along the road outside the west gate for a while, two horses came running towards us. The soldiers on the horses were all wearing Yan army uniforms. General Li, the leader of the guard camp, shouted: "Who is coming——"
The soldiers on the opposite side said: "We are General Sun Shaozu's people! Who are you!"
"We are the royal guard camp!"
The visitor reined in the horse. It turned out that they were the scouts under Sun Shaozu's command. Just now, the soldiers guarding the camp came over on flying horses to report that there were soldiers and horses outside the east gate of the city who didn't know where they came from. However, the messenger was vague.
, asked three questions and didn’t know. Sun Shaozu didn’t know what was going on, so he ordered the two of them to go back to the city to check. Roman heard this and breathed a sigh of relief: “It would be good if we knew where General Sun is.”
Feng Ziying frowned and said: "What else are we investigating? Since there is an enemy attack, we should just lead troops to rescue them."
Luo Man said: "General Sun is a general and he does not dare to act rashly."
Feng Ziying was still about to argue, but King Yan waved his hand: "Today's matter is unexpected and strange. It would be good for General Sun to be more cautious." Then he asked the two scouts, "How many troops did he bring out today?"
The scout said: "Today the general held a field combat drill at Cuiwei Mountain in the western suburbs, with a total of 80,000 troops dispatched."
Feng Ziying scolded: "How many troops are there in the capital? How can so many people be mobilized for one military training?"
Roman said helplessly: "Master Feng... General Sun is a military commander, so he has his own ideas. Besides, wouldn't it be better if he has more people in his hands now?"
Feng Ziying said: "If he hadn't acted recklessly, how could the enemy have entered the city so easily?"
King Yan thought: "I'm afraid there are other reasons. That's all. Let's not mention this for now. It's more important to meet with Sun Shaozu."
The scout hurriedly said: "Your Majesty and all the lords are coming with us."
The two of them led the way, and everyone followed. After running for half an hour, they finally found Sun Shaozu's camp on Cuiwei Mountain in the western suburbs. Sun Shaozu took him out of the camp, knelt down and kowtowed: "The prince is in danger, and the general will not know it, and he will die."
Take the blame!"
King Yan waved his hand and said: "This matter is strange. I don't know what's going on. Let's go back and investigate more carefully." Then he stepped into the big tent. Sun Shaozu, Feng Ziying, Luo Man and others accompanied him. It was not until this moment that everyone felt at ease.
Feng Ziying first asked: "General Sun, why did you mobilize so many troops and horses for training? The official is not suspicious of anything else, but whether the general has been tricked into something."
Sun Shaozu said: "It's just because I read a military book a few days ago, called "New Rules for Military Training in the Age of Firearms", which was written by Wei Ruoheng, the general of Wu State. It mentioned in it that today is different from the past. In ancient times, battles were mostly fought in formations.
Fighting in front, with bows and arrows at a distance and swords and spears at close range, all you need to train your troops is to fight each other in the camp. Artillery and guns have a very long range, which cannot be practiced in a small camp." As he said, he pointed to the desk, "Well, that's it.
Book."
King Yan picked it up and took a look. The title of the book was indeed what he said, and the signature was indeed "Wei Ruoheng". There was also a line of small characters printed: Wu Guo Shanghai Bookstore. Feng Ziying frowned: "Shanghai Port has not been built yet, how can it be there?"
The bookstore?" He thought for a moment and said, "The official is suspicious, even this book is a trap."
Luo Man said: "There are so many bookstores in the world. If Mr. Feng has never heard of them, there may not be any."
Feng Ziying asked: "If Mr. Luo wanted to publish a book, which bookstore would he go to?"
Roman thought for a while: "The best in Beijing is probably Jia's Zhonghua Bookstore."
Feng Ziying clapped her hands and said: "But here we go again! Wei Ruoheng is the leader of the generals of the Wu State. If he wants to publish a book, will he find a bookstore that no one has heard of? Wu State has Xizi Bookstore, Wuyue Bookstore, Jinling Bookstore, which one is better than this one?
powerful?"
Everyone looked at each other in shock. King Yan couldn't help but nodded: "Ai Qing's words are reasonable. This time, we are afraid that someone will set up a big trap and fall in."