Le'an Prefecture, the original prefecture government office, is now in the lobby of the General's Mansion.
More than a hundred leaders of the White Lotus Sect, including Liu Jun and below, all gathered here. They listened breathlessly as Wang Xian in the hall read out the imperial edict loudly:
"...The White Lotus Sect has committed many sins, but they can repent, have the intention to cease the war, and surrender to the imperial court. Alas, God has the virtue of good life, and I have the heart to love the people. I can't bear the people to be in trouble, and the people to live in ruins. Special laws are not allowed.
Show mercy, pardon his guilt, and make Liu Xin the Commander-in-Chief of the Shandong Capital, Liu Jun the Commander-in-Chief of the Qingzhou Guard, and Liu Achou the Commander-in-Chief of the Jiaozhou Guard..."
As Wang Xian read out the names one by one, the faces of the leaders whose names were read all lit up with joy. They never expected that the imperial court would really change their gender this time. Not only did they pardon their crimes, but they also made them high-ranking officials! Especially those who were killed by Liu
The leader who had seized the military power originally had nothing, but now he is so happy that he has fallen from the sky, how can he not be overjoyed?
Unexpectedly, after Wang Xian finished reading a long list of names, he changed the subject and read in a deep voice: "However, the chief villain, Tang Sai'er, burned down the three main halls of the Forbidden City and incited the people of the province to rebel, causing millions of lives to be devastated. It is a heinous crime. If I tolerate it, it will be in vain."
Your Majesty! I have specially ordered the imperial envoy to escort him back to the capital for trial. He will set off today without any mistakes. Anyone who blocks his way will be considered treason. Everyone can kill him and get his reward. I admire this."
After Wang Xian finished reciting the long imperial edict, there was silence in the hall... The leaders looked at each other and murmured in their hearts: 'It turns out that this recruitment is conditional, but we have to pay for the life of the Buddha Mother...'
For a while, no one dared to accept the order to express gratitude. Although to be fair, many people felt that this deal was a good deal. Since they had obtained official status, they naturally had to draw a clear line with the White Lotus Sect and screw the Buddha Mother! Anyway, there is no need for a single hair of their own...
…Most of these White Lotus sect leaders are merchants and landlords. They may have some money-making ability, but they cannot get on the stage. The reason why they followed the rebellion is simply to become a high official and make a fortune. Now they can successfully clean up their reputation.
, and being able to become a high official is naturally a dream come true.
But they are also very aware of the high reputation of the Buddha Mother in the White Lotus Sect. If they dare to accept this decree, they may be beaten to pulp by the angry believers when they walk out of this door!
"Why don't you accept the edict?" Wang Xian folded the edict and held it in his hands, with no expression on his face.
"This..." Liu Jun, on behalf of the leaders, asked with a tangled face: "Is there still room for negotiation?"
"Yes, sir, the Mother Buddha has a high status in our religion, and there will be big trouble!" Everyone agreed in agreement.
"This is a golden rule, and no one can change it." Wang Xian only said lightly: "If you don't accept the order, you are resisting the order. There will be no such thing as recruitment in the future."
"This..." Everyone was immediately held back. If you insist on advancing and retreating with the Buddha Mother, the glory and wealth you get will be in vain. If you exchange the Buddha Mother for wealth, you will face the raging anger of the believers. For a while, it will be left and right.
I'm in a dilemma and don't know what to do.
During the stalemate, a cold voice sounded at the entrance of the lobby: "I am going to the court to accept my guilt..."
Everyone looked around and saw the Buddha's Mother coming in from outside the door. They quickly tried to persuade each other: "No way, Buddha's Mother, you can't go to Beijing!" "Yes, Buddha's Mother, we are from the White Lotus Sect."
I won’t let you go!” Regardless of whether they were hypocritical or fake, at this time everyone was determined not to betray the Buddha’s mother.
The Buddha Mother looked at the crowd quietly, and when they calmed down, she slowly said: "You don't need to persuade me anymore. Since you are all willing to accept the recruitment, it is unnecessary for me, the Buddha Mother, to stay in Shandong. I will go to the capital to vent my anger on the emperor, and treat the believers.
Good for you both."
"Buddha Mother, you will never come back!" Everyone was really moved by this.
"Who will go to hell if I don't go to hell." Mother Buddha said coldly, then changed the topic and said with pride in her tone: "What's more, it's not that easy for the emperor to kill me if I'm possessed by a magical power.
.”
After Mother Buddha said this, the leaders didn't want to get off the road. Someone whispered: "Mother Buddha, where are the... believers?"
"I will tell you on my own, you don't need to worry." Mother Buddha was a little too lazy to pay attention to these guys, and waved her sleeves in a half-hearted way: "Please step aside, I have a few words to say to the imperial envoy."
"Yes." The leaders secretly breathed a sigh of relief and dispersed in a blink of an eye...
In the lobby, only Wang Xian and Tang Saier were left.
Tang Sai'er stretched out her green fingers and took off the gauze covering her face, revealing that stunning face. The majestic and solemn identity of the Buddha Mother seemed to have disappeared as the veil was taken off, leaving only a full belly.
Concerned, a weak and beautiful woman appeared in front of Wang Xian.
Wang Xian looked at the lingering love in Tang Saier's autumn eyes, and his heart trembled a few times, but then he exhaled a breath of turbid air, his expression returned to normal and said: "Don't worry, I will protect you."
"I'm not worried about this. My mission has been completed. What's the joy of life? What's the pain of death?" The light in Tang Sai'er's eyes dimmed, but he still asked with concern: "What I'm worried about is you. After all, the emperor still wants to
Let you return to the capital..." The decree was very clear. Wang Xian should escort the Buddha's mother back to the capital without any mistakes.
"Yes. This is expected." Wang Xian nodded and sighed: "Originally, when I returned to Beijing last month, my chances of winning might have been better. But in this month, the emperor used many methods. Now that I have returned to Beijing, I have to
It’s more dangerous.”
Not long after Zhu Di sent someone to stop Wang Xian, a series of decrees came from Xiyuan. First, the prince was sent to Nanjing to guard, and he had to leave as soon as the New Year was over. At the same time, the grandson Zhu Zhanji also left the capital.
He will be sent to patrol the nine border towns and will be able to return to Beijing in at least half a year.
In addition to the prince and grandson, even Zhu Yong, Xue Lu, Zhang Xi and others who had a good relationship with Wang Xian were sent to various provinces to appease the army under various excuses by the emperor. Although the soldiers' pay is poor and their morale is unstable, it is true that
It took a lot of effort to appease, but all the important people who were closely related to Wang Xian were sent out of the capital almost at the same time. The emperor's intention was very clear - to cut off all the reinforcements of Wang Xian and let him arrive.
The capital is isolated and helpless!
What made matters worse was that Zhu Di placed the Jinyiwei under the control of Dongchang and ordered Zhao Ying to return to Beijing immediately to rectify the Jinyiwei. In the past nearly a year when Wang Xian was declared missing, Zhu Di had ordered Zhang Min to temporarily take charge of the Jinyiwei in an attempt to take back the power.
.However, everyone in Jinyiwei was Wang Xian's confidant, coupled with the secretive nature of the secret service, and Zhang Xi's unwillingness to make matters worse, various reasons resulted in Zhang Xi being willing to act as a decoration, while Wang Xian still controlled Jinyiwei.
This time, Zhu Di downgraded Jin Yiwei and sent Zhao Ying to rectify it. Obviously, he wanted to completely destroy Wang Xian's party members! Once Wang Xian had no help from outside and no party members at home, he would have no choice but to be slaughtered by the emperor when he returned to the capital!
Did Zhu Di use this move? Every move was like adding a shackle to Wang Xian's body, trapping him tightly and unable to struggle. To be honest, Wang Xian felt like he was out of breath, but he
He still comforted the worried Tang Sai'er and said, "Don't worry, to borrow what you just said, it's not that easy for the emperor to kill me."
"Do we have sympathy for each other?" Tang Saier suddenly laughed.
Her eyes were wandering, and her face was like a peach blossom. Wang Xian was stunned for a moment, and he quickly looked away, coughing dryly and saying: "Of course, brothers and sisters in need need to work together to help each other."
Seeing that he didn't dare to look directly at her, Tang Saier's heart dropped, but his expression did not change at all. He said lightly: "Who is your brother?" Then he lowered his head and fell into deep thought, as if he was about to do something.
The determination is the same.
Wang Xian waited quietly until Tang Saier raised his head again.
"Before departure..." Tang Saier took a deep breath and said with a trembling voice: "I will take you to meet someone."
"Who?" Wang Xian asked softly.
Tang Saier, however, avoided Wang Xian's gaze and said in a panic: "You'll know when you get there."
Wang Xian then followed Tang Sai'er out of the government office through the back door. He thought he was going somewhere far away, but he turned a corner and was there - the original destination was the Prince of Han's Mansion where Tang Sai'er was temporarily staying.
This was the first time that Wang Xian entered the Han Dynasty Palace. He saw that in the vast palace, there were palaces and pavilions, all filled with ordinary people... Countless tattered clothes and bedding were drying in the yard. There were also
Dozens of children, big and small, were chasing and playing in the original martial arts training ground of the King of Han, and their cheerful laughter was very sweet.
Seeing the figure of the Buddha Mother, the children immediately stopped playing and gathered around, saying hello to the Buddha Mother. The adults were also alarmed, and they put down their work one after another and came out of the house to give birth to the Buddha Mother.
Regards, Mother Buddha.
"Go and do your work. I have told you so many times, don't be formal." In front of the believers, Mother Buddha naturally put back her veil, and her voice was still clear and calm, as if without any emotion. But the eyes of those believers looking at her,
But full of admiration...
After the believers dispersed as ordered, Mother Buddha continued to lead Wang Xian forward and explained softly: "There are too many people in Le'an City and it is too small. A palace takes up most of the place. I have people put them in to live there. At least there will be room in the cold weather."
A place of refuge.”
Wang Xian nodded and said softly: "Obviously you have a long way to go, and it's far from time to give up..."
The Buddha Mother was stunned for a moment, then sighed softly and said: "So you can't die, otherwise I won't be able to carry this burden..."
While the two of them were talking, they came to the back house, and the surroundings suddenly became quiet. Although the Buddha Mother opened the door to let the believers live in her house, the believers still consciously stayed away from the Buddha Mother's residence, so as not to disturb her retreat.
The back house has dense flowers and trees and winding paths, but in the depth of winter, it is inevitably desolate.
The Buddha's Mother fell silent, and Wang Xian did not speak. He followed her along the winding path and through a bamboo forest, and suddenly a small courtyard appeared in front of him.
There was a maid in a white dress guarding the entrance of the courtyard. Seeing that the Buddha Mother had brought a man back, Fu Jing Fubo's face inevitably showed the slightest surprise.
"Buddha Mother..." The maid stepped out of the way.
Tang Saier nodded slightly, took a deep breath and turned back, not daring to look into Wang Xian's eyes and said, "Go in by yourself."
Wang Xian seemed to realize something, his heartbeat skipped half a beat, he nodded with difficulty, and walked slowly into the courtyard.