The night wind whistled outside the window, and several tall sticks of tallow wax reflected the bright lights in the imperial study. The high-spirited ministers were all solemn, and even their conversations became cautious. In just a few days, all of Pei's temples were completely white, and his hair was full.
The silver thread reflects a faint light. The two lakes are not only the southwest barrier, but also the granary of the country. The two lakes fell. As the chief minister, Prime Minister Pei was anxious.
Hu Qing, the prince of the Marquis of Nan'an, is about to lead his troops south, and is currently discussing the allocation of military rations.
The melted wax oil slowly accumulated on the candlestick like rolling tears. At the third watch of the night, the cabinet finally drew up a plan. After Emperor Mu Xuan saw it, he immediately ordered the order to be drawn up. As soon as the city gate opened at the fifth watch, the Ministry of War immediately
Send it out quickly.
Emperor Mu Xuan also had a touch of silver on his temples. He rubbed his eyebrows, his eyes were bloodshot from staying up late, and said, "You guys are tired too, let's take a rest." As soon as he moved his legs to get down, the prince leaned down.
, picked up the boots from the ground, got down on one knee and put them on for Emperor Mu Xuan. Emperor Mu Xuan was a little surprised, and a gentle look flashed in his eyes, "Just let the servants do these things, you are the prince."
The prince helped Emperor Mu Xuan put on his boots, stood up and smiled, "He is also my father's son."
These days, Emperor Mu Xuan has been resting in the imperial study. The ministers have retired one after another, and the prince has to go back to the East Palace. Emperor Mu Xuan said, "It's already here. It takes a while to go to the East Palace. It's cold outside, so Aqi went with him."
Let me rest together in the study."
The relationship between father and son has always been harmonious. The prince said, "It's just that I don't have any clothes to change here."
"You are of the same stature as your father, and you are clothed with the clothes of your father."
"Then the son has exceeded the rules."
Emperor Mu Xuan stretched himself and said, "Normally, the rules in the court are very strict. Don't really listen to those roundabout words, and you won't be able to survive."
At this time, neither father nor son had the heart to take a bath. The servant brought hot water, mixed it with gentle water, and the father and son soaked their feet together. Emperor Mu Xuan asked, "What do you think of this war?"
"It's a bit strange. Neither the Marquis of Nan'an nor the two lakes gave any warning. Now that I think about it, it seems as if they fell suddenly overnight. I don't believe that Zhennan's army is so brave. It's winter now. Zhennan is located in the southwest, a place with warm weather all year round. Nanyi
Fortunately, it is like spring all year round, and the climate is similar to that of Zhennan Kingdom. The land of the two lakes is also icy and snowy in winter. They should be the ones who are not adapted to the climate, but the two lakes were still captured very quickly, which is puzzling." The prince's white jade-like appearance
His feet were a little red from the blisters, "But even if the armies of the two lakes are incompetent, are there not one or two good ones among them? Even if the officials are weak, there must be people who work hard to defend the country. I have never understood this."
Emperor Mu Xuan raised his eyebrows and said, "Wait a little longer, and a scout will definitely send a spy."
"Father."
"Um."
After stepping on the water in the sandalwood barrel twice, the prince said, "I feel that Marquis Lu's confession is sincere." His eyes were lowered, his eyelashes covered his expression, and he looked at the darkness with a vacant look.
The shiny floor tiles made him take a deep breath before speaking out, "Marquis Lu really wants to return to the imperial capital to protect his father."
"Of course Wenjia is sincere, but we can't live without him in Northern Xinjiang." Emperor Mu Xuan turned his head slightly and saw the crown of the prince's drooping hair. The prince had already removed the crown and only used a jade hairpin to tie his hair. He turned around and looked at
Father, his eyes flickered for a moment, then became firm, "There is a third brother in Northern Xinjiang, he can control the troops and horses in Northern Xinjiang."
"The third child is a bit younger after all."
The prince said, "Back then, Marquis Rui took charge of the Northern Xinjiang Army before he was established, and Marquis Lu took charge of the army at a very early age. Although the third brother is young, I see that he is quite decisive and is a good material for commanding the army.
Now that the war in the southwest has resumed, Beiliangguan is not easy to move lightly. With Hu Qing gone, the imperial capital will have one less general. His son always feels that the prestige of General Sui is slightly less than that of General Lin. If the Marquis of Lu returns to the imperial capital, he can definitely determine the imperial capital.
Military spirit.”
Emperor Mu Xuan pondered for a long time, smiled, and asked the prince, "I see that you don't like General Sui very much."
"General Sui has always been loyal, and my son also likes him, but he always feels that he is not as good as being a famous general." The prince showed a close look and leaned into his father's ear, "To be honest, I think he is not as good as Yong'an.
Hou.”
Emperor Mu Xuan did not consult the prince about the general of the Imperial Guard, but the prince's choice was consistent with the cabinet recommendation. Marquis Yong'an had briefly been in charge of the Xuanjia Guard, and the process of taking over was very smooth. No one among the generals of the Xuanjia Guard dared to dissent.
, it can be seen that Marquis Yong'an is capable of leading troops. Now Marquis Yong'an is in charge of nine soldiers and horses, and he is also very effective in envoys.
It was actually a bit presumptuous for the prince to directly discuss the choice of the general of the Imperial Guard. However, this was a private conversation between father and son, and the atmosphere was intimate. Although Emperor Mu Xuan was displeased, he did not blame the prince, but patted him on the back.
"Loyalty is the most important thing in the Imperial Guard. Others, including famous generals and not famous generals, can be let go."
Seeing that his father didn't want to talk anymore, the prince also changed the topic, "I heard that there are heavy snowfalls in northern Xinjiang in autumn and winter. I wonder if Li Shangshu and the others will be able to come back at the end of the year?"
It was difficult for Li Shangshu and others to return to the imperial capital for a while. After all, they were all civil servants and could not withstand the wind and snow in northern Xinjiang. Feng Hou's spies showed strong vitality and brought back the investigation results and a secret letter written by Pei Ruyu.
Of course, as a result of the investigation, the two of them only talked about the inquiry about Xunxiang. The speculations of His Highness Rushan next to them were not revealed at all. It was mainly without proof and evidence. It is so easy to say such fatal things.
Fatal.
Feng Hou said, "Why did you run errands for him to bring back the secret information of Governor Pei?"
The secret agent reported, "After the two of us arrived in Xinyi, His Highness the Third Highness was very helpful. Magistrate Pei said that he had deduced something that might be related to the assassination of General Lin, but he could not tell me two of them for the time being, so he wrote
In order to keep it secret, I and I were brought back to the imperial capital and presented to the Marquis, who asked the Marquis to present it to Your Majesty."
Marquis Feng knocked on the secret folding box between the tables, "You are being rash about this. I don't even know what it is, so I have to hand it over for him. Who is he?"
The secret agent looked ashamed. Marquis Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at the face of his confidant. He crossed his legs and asked quietly, "What's going on? You still won't tell me?"
His spies were not fools. They couldn't even weigh the importance of this. They must have brought it back because they knew it was a very important thing. But now they refused to say it, which made Marquis Feng even more suspicious that these two people were in Northern Xinjiang.
What exactly was learned?
In the cold weather, Marquis Feng had done a lot of work and had never had the habit of setting up a charcoal pot in the study. But in such a cold weather, a layer of fine sweat slowly appeared on the forehead of the secret agent. He kowtowed deeply, his forehead
He leaned against the soft and white woolen blanket on the ground and said, "My subordinates were not paying attention for a moment and heard words they shouldn't have heard. These words are based on the inferences of His Highness the Third Highness and there is no evidence. Once they are said out, I am afraid there will be trouble."
Marquis Feng crossed his long legs, picked up the hot tea on the table and took a sip gracefully, "The third highness's inference is that it will cause trouble? It seems that it has something to do with the East Palace or Duke Lu."
The spy looked at his master in surprise, and Marquis Feng sighed disapprovingly, "Your Highness the Third Highness and the East Palace are not on good terms. If you don't tell the whole world, it is known to the whole world. At least it is not a secret in the court. No matter what Your Highness the Third Highness infers, these words are from
He will discount whatever he says."
"Master Hou, what about this secret fold?"
"Since Magistrate Pei has entrusted you with millions of dollars, and your investigation in Northern Xinjiang went smoothly, it is also because they are willing to cooperate. Besides, they have all been brought back. I will just hand it over for him."
When Marquis Feng handed over the secret document, the intelligence from the two lakes was also quickly delivered to the imperial capital. After seeing it, Emperor Mu Xuan turned livid with anger. He threw the memorial heavily on the case and cursed angrily, "What a despicable thing!"
When the prince picked up the memorial and looked at it, his face became very ugly. He said strangely that he always felt that something was wrong with the fall of the two lakes. The Zhennan Kingdom actually sent the Grand Master Realm State Master to take action. If the generals and officials resisted, the State Master would have to sneak into the army or kill him in the official residence.
Of.
There is indeed such a kind of master among masters in this world. Once he enters this state, it is difficult for others to hurt him. To show respect, he is called the master state.
Masters who can step into the Grandmaster realm are rare, but generally speaking, there is an unwritten tacit agreement between countries. Grandmaster masters will not appear on the battlefield and will not affect the war, especially if both countries have Grandmaster realm masters.
when.
Once someone ignores the agreement, the other country will recruit martial arts masters.
But at the moment, the imperial capital is not willing to send Feng Ning rashly.
Of the two master-level masters who assassinated Lin Cheng that day, one can be identified as the Zhennan Imperial Master, while the identity of the other remains unknown. If Feng Ning is sent to the southwest front, who will guarantee the safety of the royal family.
Putting it aside for now, Emperor Mu Xuan saw Feng Hou and asked, "What's the matter with Feng Qing?"
Marquis Feng held out the investigation documents and the secret box, "The people sent to Northern Xinjiang have returned and brought back the investigation results. Magistrate Pei also wrote a sealed envelope and asked them to bring it to His Majesty."
"Ruyu is quite good at summoning people." Emperor Mu Xuan motioned to Feng Hou to open the secret box and took the investigation documents to read. After seeing this, his face sank. When Feng Hou took out the secret fold in the secret box, Emperor Mu Xuan had already
After waiting and looking at it, Feng Hou quickly handed it over.
Emperor Mu Xuan glanced at it and sneered three times on his originally gloomy face. He folded the secret on the investigation document and patted it, "I'm getting better at arranging it."
The prince didn't know what was written on Pei Ruyu's secret fold, but seeing the king's father describe it like this, he couldn't help but get up from the couch and stand with his hands down. Emperor Mu Xuan looked at him and said, "Don't be so scared. When you were appointed as the prince, all the ministers in the court would do it."
He, Pei Ruyu, cries and fights to defeat everyone's interest, but he can't say a good word to you even if he has the chance."
The prince said warmly, "Ruyu is just closer to his third brother. After all, they grew up together. If he thinks that his son is better than his third brother, then he is not Pei Ruyu."
These words obviously made Emperor Mu Xuan's anger subside. Emperor Mu Xuan was still dissatisfied. He pointed at the documents and secrets on the case and said, "Look at it, it's just nonsense. He's getting better and better at arranging it. I've seen him for several years without using it."
If you want to be an official, you might as well go to the market and write a storybook!"
Since his father gave his permission, the prince picked it up and read it. The investigation document contained the investigation results of the secret agent's trip to northern Xinjiang. Xunxiang, who worked in Xuanyin Pavilion at the time, confirmed that the martial arts they practiced back then were the same as those who assassinated Lin Cheng that day.
One of them seems to be from the same vein.
What shocked the prince was what Pei Ruyu had written. Pei Ruyu told a story.
There are two brothers in the family. The older brother was trained by the killer organization for some reason since he was a child. The younger brother lived with his parents at home. Later, when the older brother grew up, he eliminated the killer organization and started doing business to serve in the army. The family business became more and more prosperous, which led to
People are envious. But in fact, the elder brother and the younger brother are only half-brothers. The elder brother knows many things. For example, the younger brother's biological father and stepfather are not from his country, but the prince of an enemy country, who aliased himself as his country's bodyguard.
During a robbery operation, the elder brother killed the prince and took the family far away from the capital of God. The older brother thought that the younger brother did not know about this, but the younger brother hid it very well. From then on, he practiced martial arts day and night. Finally one day, the older brother was assassinated and died.
Did the younger brother kill the older brother?
That younger brother should be a top expert now.
The prince's hand squeezing Mi Zhe trembled slightly. He had always suspected that the person who assassinated General Lin with the Zhennan Imperial Guard that night was Qin Longhu, but it turned out to be Duke Lu!
No!
Anyone can, he doesn’t want his father to see his life experience!
The prince suddenly felt the coldness of being in the wilderness, his heartbeat accelerated suddenly, and no matter how lightly he breathed, it still felt as heavy as an infinitely magnified bellows...
Emperor Mu Xuan's voice suddenly sounded in his ears, "Bring the brazier."
The red charcoal fire in the yellow copper basin was like a flickering gem. Emperor Mu Xuan took the secret ring from the prince's hand and threw it directly into the brazier. He snorted, "This is getting more and more nonsense."
Following Emperor Mu Xuan's slight sneer, the roaring tongues of fire suddenly engulfed Mi Zhe, and in the blink of an eye, a more brilliant flame arose.
Emperor Mu Xuan ordered, "Instruct all sects to gather their masters and rush to the southwest front."
The prince's suddenly empty fingertips felt a little cold, and he twisted them stiffly. When his father glanced at him, he saw that the prince's eyes were slightly red when reflecting the firelight in the brazier. He composed himself and responded, "Yes.