The lights in the northwest economic strategy department's hall are bright, and the tables are full of wine and delicacies, but there is no one in the hall. No, there is only one person. Jiang Wenyuan is still sitting on the main seat, under the bright lights.
, his face was frighteningly pale.
Today is his birthday. Although the affairs are complicated and tiring, overall, he is having a smooth life.
He had just received the merit reward, and was about to take off this subtitle. He was confidently called "Jing Lue Envoy", and at the same time, he settled in Zhizhou.
Of course, there will always be dissatisfaction in life, such as the inconsequential but disgusting fight between the brothers from Maoyuan Mountain.
But it was resolved successfully in the end.
Also, just a few days ago, his concubine gave him another son. This is his thirteenth son. For many people who have difficulty raising children, this is really an enviable thing.
Therefore, Jiang Wenyuan was extremely happy to celebrate his forty-sixth birthday, but he did not expect that before the banquet had even started, he would be interrupted by a secret message from the capital.
Zhou! Feng! Xiang!
With a roar, Jiang Wenyuan overturned several tables in front of him, and dishes, cups, wine pots and glasses clattered in the hall with chaotic crisp sounds.
"Kill him! Kill him!"
He shouted and ran out quickly, grabbed the knife from the waist of the attendant standing in the corridor, and ran straight to the door.
"My lord, my lord, no!"
The generals, officials, Qingke, and staff who were accompanying him all rushed over, desperately stopped him, and took away the sword.
"Kill him now, kill him." Jiang Wenyuan shouted with a sinister expression.
"Sir, don't talk about me, there are so many people in the northwest who want to kill him." The staff advised, "Killing him is actually not difficult. On the battlefield, whether the horse is frightened and falls to death or is hit by a stray arrow.
It's okay to say that, but now we are in Longgu City and there is no war, so how can we kill him?"
What's more, just now, after receiving the secret message, they sent someone to find Zhou Fengxiang, only to find that Zhou Fengxiang, who was unable to attend the banquet due to illness, had already taken off his official robes and went to jail himself, saying that he was awaiting punishment for his crimes.
arrival.
"He has to go to jail by himself. What does it matter if a person dies in the cell!" Jiang Wenyuan said with red eyes and gritted his teeth.
If a military attache died, he would die, but Zhou Fengxiang was a civilian official, and this was while he had already pleaded guilty.
"Sir, he cannot die at this time. If he dies, we will really have no idea what to do." The staff member sighed.
How could Jiang Wenyuan not know this?
"Then if he doesn't die now, we can't even tell him!" he shouted.
He was pacing back and forth, like a leaping tiger in a cage.
The moment he received the secret message, he suddenly understood, and the inexplicable uneasiness in his heart for many days was completely settled.
No wonder he always feels like something is wrong!
That’s it! That’s it!
Who spread the news that Xu Sogen was injured in prison? How could those civilian soldiers walking everywhere come to the vicinity so coincidentally? And why Fang Zhonghe was so cleverly stopped by the city gate when he was escaping...
.
All of this was to get them to agree to write a memorial recognizing the Linguanzhai incident, and also to get his seal to be placed on that memorial!
"They're cheating! This is a lie!" Jiang Wenyuan shouted, "This is a frame-up! What's the big deal if you lie about claiming military merit? What do you call lying about claiming military merit? This is just bragging after the war! We just exaggerated and boasted.
There are so many things about killing good people and taking credit..."
The staff hurriedly persuaded him to stop talking.
Yes, it is not uncommon to lie about military achievements. They can guarantee that every battle in the past has been covered up and exaggerated.
But that’s how things are in this world. When you say it’s okay, it’s okay. When you say it’s okay, something happens. It all depends on your mouth.
What's more, the timing of being reported for falsely reporting military exploits is not good.
It happened to be when the Linguanzhai incident of cheating on merit was confirmed, and when the emperor in Beijing was forced to swear an oath by a woman.
"This is a slap in the face of the emperor and a loss of face for the emperor." The staff sighed.
It would be strange if the emperor was not angry.
So Zhou Fengxiang's move is really cruel and poisonous.
Jiang Wenyuan kicked a wooden frame away, and the ceremonial guards and other objects on it fell to the ground.
"Sir, we naturally have to go to the table to defend ourselves." the staff said, "but the key now is that you cannot be summoned to the capital."
Once you go to the capital, you will surely fall into endless arguments and self-defense. Even if you win in the end, you may not be able to return to the northwest.
That's right, he can't leave. If he does leave, it will be irreversible.
"But how can we not leave?" he said through gritted teeth.
Zhou Fengxiang made such a big fuss, and the capital must have tightened its grip. The emperor was furious, so how could he not leave?
"Let's think of a solution before the angel arrives." The staff had no other solution at the moment, so they had to say.
Standing in the courtyard, the night wind blew. Although it was not yet the twelfth lunar month of winter, Jiang Wenyuan still felt chilled to the core.
When it was daylight, the eyes of the people in the official hall were red. Although they had not slept all night, no one was sleepy, or in other words, they were numb.
Countless documents and military reports were scattered on the ground, but they could not find a solution to their urgent needs.
"Sir, there is no need to risk your life for him!"
"Yes, the matter has not been finalized yet. Even if you leave the northwest and go somewhere else, Master Gao will definitely protect you and you will be able to recover in a short time!"
At least they don't say they want to stay here and not go to Beijing like they did last night.
Jiang Wenyuan sneered in his heart and felt a little desperate. He had already lost half the battle...
“….Report…..”
A long-pitched emergency call sounded in the official hall, and soldiers rushed in.
"Qingshan Fort is reporting urgently. There are Western bandits gathering in the southeast. The target is the surrendered Heishan tribe. The Heishan tribe is asking for help!"
Everyone in the official hall was stunned, seemingly in disbelief.
"How many people are there?" Jiang Wenyuan was a veteran, and he was the first to react and asked.
"Twenty thousand!" The soldiers knelt down and reported, holding up a fire seal and a gold medal to prove their identity.
Twenty thousand!
The pale complexions of those present instantly lost all color, but then they thought of something and their complexions suddenly turned red again.
"Well done! Hahahahaha! Well done!"
Deafening laughter instantly exploded in the official hall, only making the emergency soldiers who reported the news dumbfounded with laughter.
Twenty thousand enemy troops, isn't this a very happy thing?
Of course, there are also those who are unhappy. When Zhou Fengxiang, who was sitting in the prison, heard the news, his originally indifferent face suddenly became dull and bloodless. Although his figure was not out of shape, if he stood close, he could be seen.
The hands on his knees were shaking.
"Time is also fate..." he murmured.
Compared with these high-ranking generals who got the news immediately, the lower-level soldiers lagged far behind, especially the soldiers who still lived in prisons.
Of course, they didn't react at all when they heard it.
"...I don't know if we will be allowed to go into battle..."
"...Do you perform meritorious service to atone for your sins?"
Some people are joking.
But Xu Sigan and Liu Kui, who were sitting at the back, couldn't laugh anymore. They looked at each other and saw the despair in their eyes.
It’s over…
Jiang Wenyuan can't leave...
Is God really helping him?
Just like the reactions of everyone here in the northwest, when this urgent military information reached the capital, some people laughed and others turned pale.
Laughter is not a ruthless and cold-blooded response to war, and turning pale is not a fear of war, but a sigh of relief for time and destiny.
The doors of the meeting hall in the palace were closed again, but as always, the news quickly spread in the capital.
"...The war is about to begin. Jiang Wenyuan is fine now..."
"..Yes, changing generals was the most taboo thing before the war. Now the emperor doesn't dare to touch him..."
"...Jiang Wenyuan, this kid is really lucky..."
Although there has been no news from the court, the people and scholars outside have already made the decision for the court.
Mrs. Zhang put down the scissors in his hand, looked at the bonsai in front of him and sighed softly.
"At least it's not all a failure. After all, the name has been rectified," he said.
But his brows were not relaxed.
So what if the name is corrected? The Maoyuan Mountain brothers went from being unknown to competing for fame, so naturally the Northwest Economic and Strategy Department can do the same.
"It's time and destiny. It's helpless, helpless." Mr. Zhang finally shook his head, threw down the scissors, turned around and went into the house.
Although he left Yudai Bridge angrily last time and swore never to come back again, when he heard the news, Saturday Lang rushed over immediately.
But he still came a step too late.
"My wife has gone to Mr. Chen's house." said the boy who stayed behind.
Going to Chen Shao’s house?
What are you looking for? What's the point of looking for him? Not to mention that this time Chen Shao has tricked more than just Gao Lingbo, not to mention that now he himself is still in danger of crossing the river.
The Chen family was also surprised when they heard that Cheng Jiaoniang was visiting.
When Chen Shiba Niang rushed over, she saw the familiar yet unfamiliar figure from a distance, and she couldn't help but stop.
"Ba Niang, aren't you going?" Chen Danniang, who was holding her, asked in confusion.
"She came to see my father for something. Let's go there later." Chen Shiba Niang said, looking at the woman entering her father's study.
I am much taller than I was two years ago...
"Shiba Niang, is that Mrs. Cheng?" Chen Danniang asked.
"Have you forgotten the person closest to her?" Chen Shiba Niang reached out and poked her head.
"It's been too long, I forgot." Chen Danniang said with a pout, looking at the blocked back as she entered the house, she seemed vaguely friendly.
"Let's wait here." Chen Shiba Niang said, looking at the house over there, with a worried look on her eyebrows.
Chen Shao had just returned from the palace, and he looked tired.
"Ms. Cheng, this matter is not urgent, don't worry it will be fine," he said.
Cheng Jiaoniang looked at him and smiled slightly.
"Your Majesty's duty is public, I'm not worried," she said.
This smile fell in Chen Shao's eyes and he couldn't help but froze.
Avenue…
Mr. Chen, the party is united and opposed, regardless of right or wrong, this is the path you should understand now.
These words rang in his ears.
Yes, what he did this time was indeed right or wrong, and he used some means, some of which he considered disgraceful two years ago.
The reason why he was determined to expel Gao Lingbo from the court was because this man was obstructing national affairs and people's livelihood. Such a treacherous villain could never be reused by the court.
He also knew the methods Gao Lingbo and others had used against him, but he never disdained or was unwilling to use the same methods to fight back, because he always believed that what he did was not a party fight, but a way to serve the official and be loyal to the emperor.
But as time went by, he seemed to have changed unintentionally. Especially this time, when his staff and subordinates gathered together to discuss countermeasures, he did not oppose their decision and acquiesced. No, more than acquiesced, he
I even did it myself.
And these methods will inevitably hurt some innocent people, such as...
Chen Shao looked at the woman sitting in front of him, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly. The method he once advocated has now been applied to him. I don't know what she was thinking. This is the time and the destiny.
"...It's just that your luck is not very good."
The voice in my ear continued.
When Chen Shao heard this, he seemed a little ironic.
Sarcasm is not considered rude to this lady.
"Ms. Cheng, I will definitely give you an explanation of this matter. Don't worry, don't be anxious." He sighed softly and said solemnly and pointedly.
"How can you not be in a hurry?" Cheng Jiaoniang looked at Chen Shao and smiled slightly, "Aren't you in a hurry, sir?"
Not in a hurry? If not in a hurry, he will get a mouthful of blisters overnight!
"Ms. Cheng, it's not that I won't help you, but it's just that we can't be in a hurry right now, so we have to take care of it slowly." Chen Shao took a deep breath and sat upright and said.
Cheng Jiaoniang looked at him and said, "Oh."
"In other words," she said, "How about I help you?"
