There is light snow in Liyang, and the lead-colored sky seems like a huge lid pressing heavily on the sky of Liyang City.
Han Qian, wearing a green coat and coat, squatted by the pond covered with thin ice, watching the koi carp swimming under the ice.
Wang Jun walked in with Wen Cong in his arms. When he saw that he had walked to the pond, Han Qian didn't even notice. He sighed slightly in his heart and took Wen Cong's young hand to play with Han Qian's hair.
"Why did you come here with Wen Cong in your arms? I thought Wang Yuan and his family were here, and you had to have dinner with them before coming back." Han Qian smiled, took his youngest son Wen Cong over, and asked.
He has been supervising the war in the north for the past few months and only returned to Liyang a month ago. His youngest son Wen Cong regarded him as a stranger. He held him in his arms for the past two days and stopped crying, but he still pushed his bearded child away with his little hands.
Stubble's chin struggled to return to Wang Jun's arms.
Han Qian deliberately pressed his chin against the younger son's hand, and gently rubbed his little hand with the stubble.
"My cousin was always thinking about meeting you, and he looked very nervous and uneasy. I was also upset when he saw it, so he brought Cong'er back with Wang Zhe and Huo Xiao to accompany them." Wang Zhe said.
Jun saw Cong'er's face slumped, and when she asked Han Qian to tease her, she started crying again, so she quickly took over and took her back, and said.
"How many people are still guarding outside?" Han Qian asked.
"Still guarding in the front yard. I was pestered by them just now to talk. They didn't talk to me and didn't say much, but it seems that he has sent someone to find Ting'er." Wang Jun said.
Han Qian patted his forehead in distress and said with a wry smile: "It's not easy for me to make such a decision. They can really mess with it..."
Just as he was about to say something, he heard footsteps outside the courtyard. Han Qian turned his head and saw Guo Rong, Gao Shao, Xi Chang, Feng Liao, Zhao Laoguan and others who had been rejected by him before walking in with Zhao Ting'er.
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In addition to Han Laoshan, there were six old soldiers of the Han family who had retired and were retiring in Liyang. They all followed him in aggressively this time, wanting to argue with him.
"Han Qian, if you allow me to live in my old age for a while today, please send someone to Chaozhou to take back my life. We don't want to do anything to eradicate the roots. We don't want to cut the body into pieces with five horses or cut into pieces with thousands of swords. We just give you a pot of dove wine."
The thief queen drank it with the thieves who killed the old master, and then sent the emperor's grandson Yang Fen to Jinling - no one in the world would say that you messed up the laws of Dachu, and would only praise you for your clear distinction between grudges and grudges..." Mr. Han
Shan came over tremblingly, and Han Qian motioned for others to bring a chair, but he did not sit down and said with trembling hands and feet.
"Did you really order Huo Li to take people to escort Empress Xu and Duke Yang Fen of Chu to Jinling this morning?" Zhao Ting'er came over and asked in a low voice.
"You think it's not chaotic enough?" Han Qian glared at Zhao Ting'er and asked.
"Uncle Han came to see me. Seeing him like this, how dare I ignore him?" Zhao Ting'er said aggrievedly.
She could understand that it was not easy for Han Qian to make this decision. In the past two days, everyone in Lianyuan deliberately avoided mentioning this matter. However, Han Laoshan came to her with a group of old people, and there was nothing she could do to shut them out.
Han Qian sighed and said patiently to Han Laoshan: "I dare not forget the revenge of killing my father. However, Empress Xu and Zhang Xinchun conspired to rebel, kill the late emperor, and indiscriminately kill loyal and innocent people. They are all serious crimes. Send them
Going to Jinling to be tried and then beheaded is also to clarify the canon and highlight the national law."
"Although I, Han Laoshan, have never been a smart person in my life, but now you do not avenge the murder of my father, but you send the thief empress, Zhang Xinchun and others to Jinling alive, what if these old men like Shen Yang, Yang Zhitang, and Zheng Yu What are you going to do if you make a fuss about them and even deliberately raise them? If this is the case, everyone in Jianghuai will laugh at you for your filial piety," Han Laoshan said excitedly, "If you don't like it Even if your hands are dirty, we old slaves can still use knives. When we go to Chaozhou, you just need to order that boy Huo Li to stay out of our way."
"With my order, thousands of people's heads rolled to the ground, and their hands were covered with blood. It's too hypocritical and hypocritical to say whether your hands are dirty or not," Han Qian said, "I just picked up a sharp knife and killed like a warrior." The world, Hehuai, Heshuo, Jianghuai, I don’t know how many people have been missing for more than a hundred years, and I, Han Qian, will not be missing. This world has already been filled with blood, but it is not easy to end this world where warriors are rampant. Maybe Shen Shen Yang Zhitang, Yang Zhitang and others will make a fuss about Empress Xu, Zhang Xinchun and others to accuse me of being unfilial, but this is just a guess after all. I will send Empress Xu and Zhang Xinchun to Jinling now. If Shen Yang, Yang Zhitang and others are really bastards, It is just to target me, instead of punishing the big thieves according to the national law. In the future, I will definitely bring Xu Hou, Zhang Xinchun and others to enforce the law, and govern them openly and rebelliously, destroy the army and the people, and make the Jianghuai land flow into rivers of blood. It is a serious crime, and it is definitely not an unjustified killing or assassination at this time. Uncle Han, you have been with my father for so many years. If you think about my father under Jiuquan, he would really hope that I would send a few Assassin, would you brutally cut off the heads of Empress Xu, Zhang Xinchun and others, and then tell the world that they died suddenly in the road? If you really do this, how can I openly and honestly show my father's sincerity and steadfastness in serving the people? , written in the history books, so that future generations will remember it?"
"...Am I an old fool?" Han Laoshan murmured to himself.
He couldn't figure out whether it was right or wrong to kill or not to kill at this time. He was stunned for a long time, tears fell down on his cheeks that were as skinny as old tree bark, and he staggered back with a cane.
Han Qian signaled to Xi Chang, and Zhao Laoguan took his people and personally brought Han Laoshan and several other hometown soldiers back to the house. He saw that Guo Rong, Yang Qin, Feng Liao, and Feng Yi were still disobedient, and they were also upset. , asked: "What else do you have to do?"
"It's true that Emperor Liang Zhu Yu had to send these two hot-tempered tigers to Huaixi. Didn't he know that he shouldn't have taken them out of Bianjing alive in the first place?" Feng Yi complained.
"If you don't have anything to do, don't get in my way and go about your business." Han Qian drove these people away for peace and quiet.
"What Feng Yi just said makes sense. Why did Emperor Liang send Empress Xu, Zhang Xinchun and the emperor's grandson Yang Fen to Huaixi? Did he really want his husband to kill Empress Xu in retaliation for killing his father? Hatred?" Zhao Ting'er asked.
"Logically speaking, Emperor Liang Zhu Yu should have thought that no matter how difficult his husband was, he would still make such a decision. Maybe it was because other people in the Liang Kingdom insisted on this?" Wang Jun guessed hesitantly...
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During the Jingxiang War, the father of the Du family brothers and sisters was a medical officer in Yingzhou. When the city fell, he was coerced into following the enemy and was executed by beheading. The Du family's children were also demoted to slaves.
Du Qiniang and Du Jiuniang were given by Emperor Yanyou Yang Yuanpu to serve Han Qian, and Du Yijun, Du Yiming brothers and other Du family members were lucky enough to escape from the sea of suffering.
Du Yiming was only fourteen years old at the time. Although he had only served as a slave for more than three months, the profound traces left behind were unforgettable for his whole life. Twelve years had passed in the blink of an eye, and now, as a son of the Han family soldier, he served as the governor of Chaozhou Prefecture and County.
Ling can be said to be the backbone general of Tangyi.
Du Yiming had always practiced swords and bows hard, and had listened to Han Qian's lectures on military management. However, in the past few years, he had been mainly involved in government affairs, but he was also used to carrying swords and bows with him. When someone reported him, he would bring a few government servants with him.
Arrive at Chengbei Station.
Seeing that the person who came from East Lake to deliver the order was General Huo Li, the guard and cavalry commander, Du Yiming knew that he was Mrs. Jun's uncle and cousin. He had gone north to Heshuo to scout the enemy and had done great service. There would be no problem with him, and he also checked that the order letter was correct.
, although he was also confused in his heart, he still followed the order letter and arranged for people to contact Shuiying in the west of the city. Shuiying arranged several warships and asked Huo Li to take people to accompany the Liang Army cavalry and move more than a hundred people.
The rebels were sent to Jinling for trial.
Perhaps the escorted criminals were very confused that they could pass through Huaixi without incident. Many of them looked numb and turned around frequently when boarding the ship, showing a bit of surprise, as if they were worried that after they boarded the ship, there would be countless
Hundreds of fierce soldiers rushed out of the cabin, chopped them into meat paste with random blades, and threw them into the lake to feed the fish and crabs.
Not all the soldiers and horses escorted by Liang Jun boarded the ship to Jinling, but more than 200 people stayed behind.
Du Yiming didn't think there was anything strange.
Previously, more than 160 prisoners were escorted southward by land. They might encounter small groups of enemy soldiers infiltrating along the way. Liang Jun needed to send out enough elite soldiers and horses to guard them in order to avoid going astray along the way.
Taking a boat directly from Chaozhou to Jinling, not to mention being escorted by the Tangyi navy along the way, it would take two days at the latest to reach Jinling. After that, the Dachu Central Department would take over. There was really no need for so many Liangjun escorts.
It would be enough for them all to go with the ship and send seventy or eighty people willingly; if Tangyi was really unwilling to take over directly, it would be enough for them to throw the prisoners directly to Tangyi.
"By the way, according to His Majesty's decree, we want to take Princess Yunhe back to Luoyang this time." Watching several sails disappear into the lake waves and the heavy snow, the person in charge of Liang Jun's escort of troops and horses, Xuanqi Colonel Jing Tan
Standing in front of the pier, he said to Du Yiming.
"It's getting late. I'll send someone to Liyang tomorrow to report this matter. You guys need to rest for two more days in Chaozhou. Maybe Liyang will ask General Jing and his entourage to stay until after the New Year..." Du Yiming said
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Du Yiming is the magistrate of Xiang'an County in Chaozhou Prefecture. He is not qualified to question Jing Tan's request, but he will not directly send them more than two hundred elite black armor cavalry to Liyang to pick up people; he is not in a hurry thinking about this matter, and now
It's getting dark. We'll send someone to Liyang tomorrow to report this matter.
Regardless of whether he agrees with Jingtan taking Princess Yunhe away this time, Liyang will make appropriate arrangements, so he doesn't need to worry about it.
Besides, today is already the New Year's Eve. Even if Liyang won't prevent Princess Yun and Princess from returning to the country, they may keep them from leaving until the new year, otherwise they will have to celebrate the New Year on their way back to Luoyang north.
Jing Tan did not rush, and took the troops back to the north station of the city to wait for the news.
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At dusk on the third day, a group of cavalry came from the east post road surrounded by two carriages.
At this time, the setting sun shines on the white snow covering the earth, making the sky and earth magnificent.
The carriage stopped in front of the inn. Princess Yunhe couldn't wait to open the curtain and stepped out of the carriage. She looked at the Chaozhou City (Xiang'an County) Tower in the distance with a sense of sadness and excitement; although Liyang wanted to keep her for the New Year.
She didn't want to be alone on the way during the Chinese New Year, but she couldn't wait to rush to Luoyang to reunite with her family.
Although in the eyes of many people, the overall situation in the world is turbulent, in her eyes, Luoyang, where she was born and spent her childhood, is her true hometown.
Wang Che also climbed down from the carriage at this time. He didn't recognize Jing Tan, but he saw that he was wearing Liang Jun's armor and standing side by side with Du Yiming. He walked over and cupped his hands and said, "But General Jing Tan, the commander of Daliang Xuan Cavalry School? Bei Division joined the army."
Wang Che is polite..."
Wang Che did not recognize Jing Tan, but he knew that Jing Tan's identity was the son of Jing Zhen, who had served as the commander of the Chengtian Division in Daliang. At this time, he led his elite troops to station in Huazhou, Tongguan and other cities on the west flank of Heluo to resist the enemy.
It was Wang Che, Huo Li, Han Bao and others who brought Shen Peng, Zhao Ci, Yun He and Princess back to Tangyi. Since Liang Emperor Zhu Yu wanted to take Yun He Gongyi back to Luoyang, Han Qian wanted to
He asked his old friend Wang Che to send him out of Huaixi on his behalf.
The guard cavalry battalion that accompanied Wang Che with a group of cavalry all waved stones like a sea, and they were also old friends who had gathered together in Heshuo.
"Does Emperor Liang have any instructions from General Jing to bring back Princess Yunhe?" Wang Che asked.
Wang Che didn't think there was anything suspicious about Jing Tan's statement that he was taking Princess Yunhe back to Luoyang for a reunion this time according to Emperor Liang's order. However, as a formal handover procedure, Jing Tan also had to produce the edict from Emperor Liang Zhu Yu or other official documents.
The letter was not just said casually, they just sent Yun and Princess out casually.
There was a trace of hesitation in Jing Tan's eyes. Wang Che's eyes narrowed and he moved his hand back, signaling Shi Ruhai to be on guard. He stared at Jing Tan and asked, "What's wrong? Could it be that General Jing manipulated your majesty's hand?"
Is it lost?"
"Please invite the king to join the army, and Magistrate Du will come to the court to discuss matters." Jing Tan narrowed his eyes and said.
Wang Tan glanced at Du Yiming suspiciously. Seeing that Du Yiming was also surprised and suspicious at this moment, he ordered Shi Ruhai: "You must protect the princess. Mr. Du and I will follow General Jing into the courtyard to see if we can find the edict from Emperor Liang."
."
Princess Yunhe stood there blankly, not knowing where the trouble was again. She opened her mouth to ask Jingtan, but in the end she held back her words.
"Wang Shenjun, General Jing, is there anything he can't say here?"
The two armies were on good terms, and Du Yiming specially handed over the west courtyard of the city's north post station to Jing Tan and his Xuanjia cavalry to be stationed there. However, Shi Ruhai was worried about what would happen if Wang Che and Du Yiming walked in unprepared.
"It's okay." Wang Che motioned to Shi Ruhai to just stay outside.
Although things were strange, he did not think that Jing Tan would really do anything detrimental to them in the hinterland of Tangyi. Together with Du Yiming, who was not weak in courage, he followed Jing Tan into the cross-yard where Xuan Jiaqi was stationed entirely.
The post station in the north of the city was rebuilt on the basis of a barracks. The west courtyard is extremely open, with hundreds of large and small barracks, and five yards in front and back. In the cold winter, there are no other green plants and trees. There are a few wintersweet trees in the corners of the yard.
The stamens and snowflakes rustling down, contrasting with the white walls and black tiles, are very eye-catching.
Wang Che walked into the depths of the courtyard and saw a rare clump of thin bamboo growing in the corner of the eaves. There were several people standing in the pavilion in the courtyard. Although they were all wearing ordinary coats, their demeanor was extraordinary.
Although Wang Che had never seen these people before, but after carefully analyzing their appearance and comparing it with the intelligence collected by the Military Intelligence Staff Department, he was stunned like lightning. He never thought that these characters would borrow money from them.
The opportunity to escort the rebels came to Tangyi quietly.
"Old man Lei Jiuyuan has seen Wang Canjun, Du Zhi County." Deep across the courtyard, Lei Jiuyuan, with gray hair and wearing a green robe, stood under the pavilion. When he saw Wang Che, Du Yiming walked in with Jing Tan, held his hand over his, and
He introduced several people around him and said, "These four are Zhu Juezhong, the minister of Liang Guozong, Gu Qian, the minister, Chen Youtong, the minister of rites, and Jing Hao, the commander of the guards and cavalry in front of the palace. We are here with the secret order of my majesty.
I want to have a secret audience with the Marquis of Han, and also invite the king to join the army. Du Zhi County will make arrangements on my behalf..."
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Wen Muqiao, Feng Liao, Gao Shao, Zhao Wuji, Guo Que, Xi Chang, Ji Xiyao, Du Yijun, Chen Jitang, Zhao Qi, Feng Zhang, Lin Zongjing, Han Donghu, Huo Xiao and other senior generals received an emergency notice early in the morning and were waiting for them to walk in
In the meeting hall of the West Courtyard of Lianyuan, I saw Lei Jiuyuan, the regular attendant of Daliang Sanqi, Zhu Juezhong, the minister of Zongzheng, Gu Qian, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, Chen Youtong, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Jing Hao, the guards and horses in front of the palace, all sitting in the hall.
, could not suppress the shock in their hearts.
For a moment, I didn't know what terrible thing happened in Heluo, and the five of them were actually asked to sneak to Liyang secretly at this time.
Lei Jiuyuan was initially a secret adviser to Emperor Liang Zhu Yu, and he was in charge of the Chengtian Division in the early stage. After Emperor Zhu Yu usurped the throne and ascended the throne, Lei Jiuyuan was a little old, and he only had the false title of a casual knight.
But there is no doubt that he is one of the most core ministers of the Liang Kingdom.
Zong Zhengqing Zhu Yuzhong was the cousin of Liang Gaozu Zhu Wen. He was also one of the few elders in the Zhu clan who firmly stood on Zhu Yu's side. He has always been the representative of the Zhu clan.
Gu Qian was Zhu Yu's mentor when he was a boy. He also became famous at a young age. He was selected by Zhu Wen, the late Emperor of Daliang, as the minister of Prince Yong's Mansion before he was thirty. He served Zhu Yu for many years and served as the magistrate of Henan Prefecture (Heluo).
After Zhu Yu usurped the throne, he became the Minister of the Ministry, and he was the head of the civil servants of the Liang Kingdom.
Chen Youtong, Minister of Rites, is the father of Zhu Yu's late concubine, the eldest son of Princess Yunhe and Emperor Zhu Yu of Liang Dynasty, and the grandfather of Luo King Zhu Zhen.
The guards and horsemen in front of the palace commanded Jing Hao, his brother Jing Zhen, Han Yuanqi, Chen Kun and others, who were Zhu Yu's most trusted generals.
"Everyone, please sit down," Han Qian gestured to Gao Shao, and Feng Liao and the others sat down to talk, "Lei and Gu Zhugong escorted the rebel team south and have entered Huaixi for several days. Yesterday Wang Che and Shi Ruhai escorted Yun He
The princess learned about this when she went to Xiang'an, so she escorted them to Liyang overnight..."
Hearing what Han Qian said, everyone was even more surprised:
Lei Jiuyuan, Gu Qian and others entered Tangyi along with the escort team of rebels. They did not come to Liyang immediately or even show up. They stayed outside Chaozhou City for five or six days, but Han Qian finally
After deciding to send Xu Hou, Zhang Xinchun and other rebels went to Jinling for trial. At the request of Emperor Liang Zhu Yu, they sent Princess Yunhe to Xiang'an and planned to ask them to escort her back to Luoyang before deciding to come to Liyang?
"What happened?" Gao Shao looked at Wang Jun and Zhao Ting'er and sat behind Han Qian. He didn't bother to give in to Wen Muqiao, Feng Liao, and Guo Rong, and sat directly on the right side of Han Qian behind the first case.
Unable to suppress the surprise in his heart, he asked in a low voice.
"Let Mr. Gu explain it in detail to everyone," Han Qian said.
Gu Qian and others sat behind the tables on the left and said: "After ten months, my Majesty Daliang, his body could no longer withstand the wind and cold, and he even fainted twice. The Mongol people led Liang Shixiong to withdraw troops from Heluo and other places, which may have been foreseen.
From this point of view, I think that after His Majesty's death, Heluo and other places can be taken by themselves without attacking, so there is no need to waste troops at this time..."
"ah?"
When Emperor Zhu Yu of the Liang Dynasty returned to Caizhou from Tangyi, he met Han Qian on the east bank of Chaohu Lake. Feng Liao, Gao Shao, Wen Muqiao, Guo Rong, Wang Che and others were all present at that time, and they could see
Emperor Liang Zhu Yu had a sick look on his face at that time.
However, such a long time has passed, and Emperor Liang has been personally leading the troops in battles. Everyone in Tangyi did not think of other things. They thought that Emperor Zhu Yu of Liang was ill at that time, and there were many famous doctors with outstanding medical skills around him.
A minor ailment would have been cured long ago.
Who would have thought that Zhu Yu, who was in his prime, was already terminally ill?
"Master Gu, are you worried that if something bad happens to Emperor Liang, the Mongol people will attack Heluo again, so you came to Liyang specially?" Guo Rong asked, but after blurting out this question, he felt something was wrong and thought to Gu Qian
If they really came to seek assistance from Tangyi, why would Gu Qian and others need to show up again in Xiang'an for five or six days? Besides, this request for assistance is crucial, but there is no need for Lei Jiuyuan, Gu Qian and the others.
Come together!
"Yes, we are worried that if something unfortunate happens to His Majesty, the Mongol people will attack Heluo again, and Heluo is difficult to resist and needs Tangyi's assistance - but how to ask for Tangyi's assistance? We and
Your Majesty has great differences." Gu Qian said.
Feng Liao had a thought in his mind, glanced at Han Qian, and couldn't help but ask Gu Qian: "Isn't it that Emperor Liang wants to entrust my family with the matters after his death?"
When Guo Rong, Gao Shao, Wen Muqiao and others heard Feng Liao ask this question, they couldn't help but press the long case in shock.
Although Feng Liao's guess can explain why five important people from the Liang Kingdom came to Liyang at this time, it cannot explain why the five of them delayed their appearance for several days after arriving in Xiang'an?! Could it be that this is the Liang Kingdom?
Is this the result of the great disagreement between the emperor and his ministers on this matter?