In August, the sweet-scented osmanthus blooms, filling the city with a subtle fragrance.
At this time, people from high-ranking officials to common people in Jinling, the capital, would gather for friends, have a wine party, and enjoy begonias and jade hairpins. The emperor would also reward his officials with osmanthus cakes, and the emperor and his ministers would enjoy themselves together, showing the atmosphere of peace.
However, this year there is not much peace in the capital. Firstly, the emperor visited the north and no one gave him sweet-scented osmanthus cake. Secondly, the golden wind has come early and white frost has appeared. The third is the tense atmosphere in the capital, which has reached the point where ordinary people can feel it.
At this point, naturally there is nothing to be happy about.
However, the Han Palace, as well as the palaces of the Marquis and Counts, held much more banquets this year than in previous years. They were packed with guests almost every day. Sometimes after lunch, the banquets would be held again in the evening, as if eight lifetimes of banquets were being served at once.
It's the same. It's just that the drinking guests can't get out of the circle of military commanders, which makes the whole capital even more uneasy.
As the commander of the left guard of the government army and the commander of the Xicheng troops and horses, I don’t know how many princes and uncles have invited Xu Yelu to have a drink these days. Xu Yelu was originally a Mongolian from the Wuliangha tribe among the three guards of Duoyan. He was Emperor Yongle at that time.
When he raised troops to suppress the Jing Dynasty, he borrowed troops from King Ning, and they borrowed the Duoyan Three Guards. From then on, they followed Zhu Di in the north and south, and made great contributions. After Zhu Di ascended to the throne, he organized them into the Three Thousand Battalion, the Shenji Battalion, and the Five Military Battalion.
, also known as the Three Battalions, are the most elite troops under the direct command of the emperor.
Zhu Di also had great trust in these Tartar officials. Xu Yelu was single-handedly promoted by the emperor to become a powerful court official today. Xu Yelu was also grateful and loyal to the emperor.
Although Xu Yelu is a Tartar official, he also knows why those nobles invite him to drink, so he refuses them all. But he dare not not go to today's invitation, because the one who invited him is His Highness the King of Han... Xu Yelu of course
He knew that the King of Han was the source of everything, but the other party could not refuse at all.
During the day, Xu Yeluo was in a state of disbelief, and all he could think about was whether he should go to Hanwang's Mansion at night. If he didn't go, Hanwang would definitely punish himself. The Niu and Ma people were still watching covetously, and they would really be doomed by then.
. But if you go, what should you do if the King of Han makes any unreasonable demands? You certainly can’t refuse in front of him. Wouldn’t that mean you got on his pirate ship? Even if you jump into the Yellow River in the future, you won’t be able to clean yourself up...
Just like this, the day was full of confusion. Xu Yelu went home at the end of the day and was about to change into casual clothes and go to the Han Dynasty. Some things cannot be avoided, so he finally decided to go to the banquet...
Xu Yelu's residence is on Xufu Street, right next to the famous Wei Guogong's Palace. Although the regulations are not as good as those of the Duke's Palace, the tall courtyard with a large black plaque and stone lions on the door exudes the aura of a nouveau riche.
Compared with the slightly dilapidated public mansion next to it, it is not much inferior.
As soon as he saw the master coming back, the doorman hurriedly held the horse, and the servant opened the door and welcomed Xu Yelu into the house.
"Master, did you come back so early today?" The maid brought Xu Yelu water to wash his face, and helped him take off his official uniform and put on his casual robe. Mrs. Xu also stood with her hands down.
"Well, I'm going to have a drink at Prince Han's Mansion today." Xu Yelu said, rubbing his temples: "I've been in a daze this day, so I'm afraid I'll lose my etiquette. I'll sleep for an hour first to recuperate."
"Then master, go to bed quickly. I will call you when the time comes." Xu Yelu's wife is a Korean woman. She looks soft and gentle. Standing with Xu Yelu, who is tall and thick, with a curly beard, she looks like a
Cow chews peonies.
"Hmm." Xu Yelu took the bird's nest offered by his wife, swallowed it down, then got up and walked to the study. Perhaps for the illiterate General Xu, it would be more appropriate to call the study a sleeping room.
Entering the study, Xu Yelu closed the door and walked into the inner room. As soon as he turned around the screen and was about to lie down on the bed, the hair all over his body suddenly stood up because he saw someone lying on the bed.
The man had his hands behind his head, lying leisurely on his bed, smiling charmingly at him. But this kind of behavior of breaking into and invading other people's beds cannot be related to kindness in any way, right?
But Xu Yelu didn't shout a warning, nor did he step forward to catch the thief, because he knew this person. However, he never expected that Wang Xian, the governor of Fusi Town in Beizhen, who should have been kidnapped by the gangsters, would appear here.
.
"Brother Xu, are you okay?" Wang Xian sat up with a smile and said, "It's a sin to come here without permission."
"Master Wang..." Xu Yelu's throat trembled several times before he said in a solemn voice: "Which song are you singing?"
"I have no choice." Wang Xian said apologetically: "No one knows that I have returned to Beijing yet, so I can only meet my brothers in this way." It sounds like Xu Yelu is a reliable person, but
These words can really bring the two people closer.
"My lord and I, we can't have much of a friendship..." Xu Yelu didn't appreciate it, and his expression changed from shock to displeasure. He did have a reason for displeasure. No one would be happy if someone broke into his home.
chat.
"But our future friendship will be very good, the kind of life-and-death friendship." Wang Xian said boldly: "Brother Xu, one of my wives is also a Mongolian, so I can be considered a half-Mongolian man. According to us Mongolians,
Temper, open the skylight and speak frankly."
Xu Yelu couldn't understand why Wang Xian could call himself a Mongolian just because he married a Mongolian old woman, but he agreed with the point of saying, "Speak directly if you have something to say." I'm all ears.
"I heard that my brother has received many invitations to invite you to have a drink?" Wang Xian asked.
"Not bad." Xu Yelu nodded.
"But you rejected them all, brother?" Wang Xian said one brother at a time, calling him affectionate.
"No." Xu Yelu shook his head and said, "I'm going to a banquet tonight."
"Whose host?" Wang Xian asked.
"King of Han." Xu Yelu didn't hide anything from him, took two steps back, sat down on the chair and said, "Why, do you have any opinion, sir?"
"I don't have any opinion, I just want to give my brother a sincere suggestion." Wang Xiandao.
"What's your suggestion?" Xu Yelu asked with a gloomy expression.
"It's better to be on the shore, don't swim in this muddy water." Wang Xian said slowly.
"To put it lightly, how can I not get my shoes wet when I'm always by the river?" Xu Yelu did not change his character and said directly: "What's more, Mr. Wang came here to drag me into the water?"
"No, I just beg you to be pulled over by the King of Han. As for whether you want to help His Highness the Crown Prince, the choice is yours. If you don't help, the Crown Prince and I will feel deeply about it." Wang Xian shook his head. He was now very cunning, almost every sentence
There are traps in the words. What do you mean, as long as you don't side with the King of Han? If Xu Yelu doesn't help the King of Han, he will definitely side with the prince. The so-called strict neutrality actually means offending both sides. Although Xu Yelu is a rough man.
He is a man, but he is also a well-informed rough man, and he will not fail to understand this truth.
"Sure enough, it's time to choose a side?" Xu Yelu said with a serious look on his face.
"This was initiated by the King of Han, and the prince had no choice but to respond," Wang Xian said.
"The prince can report this to the emperor." Xu Yelu said.
"The King of Han has done nothing but invited guests to eat and drink. How can the prince report this to the emperor? It's just a joke." Wang Xian shook his head.
"I am loyal to the Emperor." Xu Yelu raised his eyebrows and said, "I only obey the Emperor's will."
"How dare you say the same thing to the King of Han?" Wang Xian asked sarcastically.
"Why...don't you dare." Xu Yelu muttered.
"As far as I know, my brother's two lieutenants are eyeing your position." Wang Xian said with a smile: "They are all old subordinates of the King of Han." He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was very clear. If you dare to stand before the King of Han,
Just say 'no' in front of him, and he can immediately replace him with one of the two people. Even if the commander of the direct guard is appointed by the emperor, but the commander accidentally dies or becomes disabled, the deputy general takes over his position.
But it is logical.
"First of all, the King of Han does not have to ask me to express my position. Then, even if I am forced to express my position, I can agree to it first and talk about it later." Xu Yelu seemed to be a bit aggressive.
"It's boring to say that." Wang Xian shook his head, smiled, and said seriously: "To be honest, without your help, the prince would be dead this time."
"So, I have to go to Prince Han's Mansion to express my loyalty." Xu Yelu crossed his legs, showing no intention of leaving.
"Okay, go ahead." Wang Xian smiled and said, "When the king of Han loses his crown prince, what's the next step?"
"This is not something I have to worry about anymore." Xu Yelu said with sweat on his forehead. He obviously didn't mean what he said, because he also understood that if the King of Han killed the prince, the emperor would definitely not tolerate him. If he went with the King of Han, the next step would be to create trouble.
The emperor has rebelled.
"You know the result," Wang Xian said, patting his chest: "We Mongolian men always say what we say and do what we say. Just now, brother, did you say that you are only loyal to the emperor?"
"yes……"
"Then you follow the King of Han to get rid of the emperor's prince. Is this considered loyal to the emperor?" Wang Xian sneered: "Not to mention the next step, directly going to war with the emperor."
"This..." Xu Yelu realized that Wang Xian's mouth was so powerful that he had already been bypassed by him.
"Let's take a step back." Wang Xiandao: "Even if the King of Han shows his power and even defeats the emperor..."
"That's impossible." Generals like Xu Yelu, who followed the emperor on his expeditions to the north and south, knew best who was the most powerful god of war in the Ming Dynasty.
"Right, then why are you messing around with King Han?" Wang Xian spread his hands and said: "But let's assume that even if King Han succeeds, what will you get? How many people are in front of you? It's your turn
When the time comes, what leftovers...are there any leftovers?"
"Yes." Xu Yelu agreed with this point and said: "I am not from the King of Han. The brothers and subordinates of the King of Han, not to mention hundreds of people, are all in front of me.
"So from any point of view, brothers should not get involved in his muddy water." Wang Xianda nodded and said: "Look at this beautiful big house, as well as the charming wives and concubines, and the clouds of servants. Brother, this is