Shizhou's jurisdiction was limited to the Jiange area. Due to the mountainous terrain and sparse cultivated land, the governor himself did not have much to gain. However, the life of the governor Cui Ning was still comfortable. The mansion was full of flowers and the pavilions were quite quiet and beautiful.
.
Governor Cui was chatting and laughing with two or three concubines in the garden in the backyard, playing with flowers and plants.
The steward at home suddenly came to report: "Alang, there is a guest outside the door named Wei Yingwu, who claims to be your old friend."
Cui Ning recalled carefully and remembered that when he was serving as a captain in the Jiannan Army Unity Camp, one of the guards who followed the Supreme Emperor into the Pass for refuge was a man named Wei Yingwu. He often went to the city's wine shops to drink and met him. Because this man
He is a descendant of Wei's family in Jingzhao Prefecture. He is a little less frivolous and a little more arrogant than ordinary wealthy children. He has become acquainted with this person, but he is not close to the point of being a good friend. Just because the two of them are
People's knowledge and character are not like those of others.
Cui Ning shook his head decisively: "No!"
Just as the steward was about to leave, Cui Ning suddenly stopped him again: "Forget it, let's meet and invite the guests here."
Under the guidance of the steward, Wei Yingwu led several people to pick up a lot of items and went to the pavilion next to the flower garden. Cui Ning just glanced at it and saw that the load was heavy. There must be a lot of valuable things in it.
Wei Yingwu stood at the edge of the pavilion, clasped his hands and bowed to Cui Ning: "Brother Cui, I haven't seen you for many years. How are you?"
Cui Ning did not return the gift to him, but asked in a nonchalant manner: "Brother Wei, didn't you go back to Chang'an with the Supreme Emperor? Guanzhong has experienced many changes of ownership, so you should follow the royal family to the south of the Yangtze River, so you can come here
Come to this dangerous and remote sword pavilion?"
Wei Yingwu heard the implication behind his words, which was that he was insinuating that he had betrayed the royal family and surrendered to the rebels.
He simply stopped pretending and said directly: "To be honest, I was sent by King Yong to persuade Brother Cui to surrender to our lord, to help the army achieve the extraordinary feat of Xichuan, and to ensure that Brother Cui was granted the title of Marquis.
Mutually."
Cui Ning raised his eyebrows with a strange expression, snorted and said: "Li Siye is a rebellious rebel. Although he supported Li Jixuan, the Heng King, as the puppet emperor after he invaded Chang'an, he could not change his rebel nature after all.
If His Majesty fights back from Jiangdong and regains the north, he will eventually be ruined."
Wei Yingwu observed the tone and demeanor of his words and knew that this man was hesitating and waiting, fearing that standing in the wrong team would end his political life.
He cupped his hands towards Cui Ning, walked slowly around the flower garden, and started talking loudly: "King Yong is a man of great talent and far-sightedness. He is a wise master who has not been seen in a century. He has the world in mind and is dedicated to calming down the chaos. He also cooperates with An Lushan
There is an essential difference between Shi Siming and his like. I think back when An Lushan rebelled and just went south to capture Luoyang, he was eager to proclaim himself emperor. After Shi Siming monopolized Youzhou, he couldn't wait to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor. But now our lord owns the fertile fields of Guanzhong and Long.
On the right, Hexi and Hedong are still willing to continue to respect the Li royal family as orthodox, which shows that our Lord’s vision is far beyond the reach of ordinary people.”
"As for you saying that the old emperor Li Heng led his court to withdraw to Jiangdong, you speculate that he may send his troops north to the Central Plains to retake the world in the future. This is completely impossible. Since ancient times, the kings who have settled in the south have never succeeded in the northern expedition. The world is full of dragon energy.
In the north, it declined in the south. Although the south of the Yangtze River is rich in fish and rice, there are no brave warriors. Once our lord takes the center of Shu, Shi Siming will not last long like the bones in the grave. When he unifies the north, he will march south.
At this time, why should Governor Cui worry about others?"
Cui Ning chuckled: "I didn't expect Mr. Wei to have such a sharp tongue. I really admire you. Since your lord Li Siye has great talent and great vision, why is he blocked behind this sword gate and unable to move even an inch?"
, the Golden Bull Road is not the only way to enter Sichuan, so why couldn’t he choose another one? He failed to anticipate the obstruction before the pass, how can such a lord be called a powerful and wise lord?"
Wei Yingwu answered fluently: "Everything in the world is always smooth sailing. People in the world never predict the enemy's first opportunity. In the past, Qin Shihuang also mistakenly believed that Li Xin's 200,000 yuan attack on Chu was defeated. Han Gaozu also had Bai Bai.
As for the siege of Deng, my lord is blocked in front of the sword pavilion. He needs the help of people like the governor to accomplish extraordinary feats. Don't you want to achieve the same feats as Chen Ping of the Han Dynasty and Li Ji of the Tang Dynasty?"
The two people Wei Yingwu cited were famous officials who changed jobs or found other ways out after the company went bankrupt. He used this to make it clear that Cui Ning would definitely have a bright future when he switched to Li Siye. In this era, information was limited, so he had never heard of Huang Baojie.
Story and ending, otherwise Cui Ning would have to think more about it.
At this moment, this man with a strong desire for power was already moved, and said with a smile: "The so-called title of prince and prime minister is just a false name. If I turn to Mingzhu, I still want to do something practical under King Yong. Now I have an insight into the situation in central Sichuan.
Hearts and relationships are like countless family treasures. If my lord is entrusted with a big responsibility in Shu, I will dedicate myself to it."
Wei Yingwu's eyelids jumped with fright. This man had such a big appetite. He was just a small governor of Shizhou, but he wanted to be the Jiannan Jiedushi in charge of Shuzhong. He didn't know if Li Siye could agree to this man's offer.
Open your mouth.
He quickly raised his hands and said, "I don't dare to agree to this matter, but I can only give you an answer after I go back and report it to the lord."
Cui Ning smiled proudly: "I knew you couldn't be this master. It doesn't matter. You can go back and ask your master. Anyway, I have plenty of time to wait."
Seeing Cui Ning's expression of needing a beating, Wei Yingwu just curled his lips, clasped his fists, turned around and said, "Just wait for the good news from me, Governor Cui."
"Put the gifts down and let's go."
As soon as the guests left, Cui Ning's concubines no longer behaved themselves, and ran to the gifts one after another, opened the boxes and looked at them one by one, with indescribable excitement.
"Wow, it's pure gold! Take a look at this piece of sandalwood. You can tell it was sold from Tianzhu as soon as you smell it."
"And this! A glass cup! The workmanship is so exquisite!"
Cui Ning was sitting in the pavilion, looking at these silly girls with disdain. What's the point of just money? When I become the master of Shu, won't I get whatever I want?
…
Li Siye sat in a simple tent built under the cliff, with his generals Tian Zhen and Duan Xiushi sitting on the left and right. Wei Yingwu stood below with his hands crossed and reported: "Cui Ning revealed that he intends to govern Shuzhong for the lord, and wants to take charge of Jiannan.
Jiedushi.
Tian Zhen immediately accused angrily: "This bastard has a very good idea. He is just a small provincial governor who has not yet made any achievements, and he wants to covet the position of Jiedushi!"
Duan Xiushi also expressed disgust and opposition: "Our army went south to attack Shu in order to take the governance of Shu into our hands. Jiannan Jiedushi can only choose from our own people. How can we let him know nothing about it?"
An outsider?"
Li Siye smiled jokingly and said: "Whoever can lead the army to fly over Jiange, I will give the Jiannan Jiedushi to the person you like."
The two people hurriedly came forward to accuse him, and Li Siye waved his hands and said, "I was just joking, don't take it seriously."
Wei Yingwu sincerely suggested: "My lord, if you are not willing to give him the military envoy, it is better to pretend to agree to him first. After entering Jiannan, appoint him as the military envoy to Jiannan first, and then move him to the economic envoy of the five Lingnan prefectures."
, even if he complains then, I’m afraid he won’t be able to say anything.”
Li Siye shook his head and said: "How can a person who is greedy for power not be suspicious? If I just promise him verbally, I'm afraid I won't be able to convince him. Go get my seal, write a handwritten letter to give my promise, and then send someone to deliver the letter to Chang'an.
Let Zhongshu order Xu Bin to issue an imperial edict appointing him as the Jiedushi of Jiannan, and then issue the talisman, the leopard tail gate banner, and the six banners, so that he can be the legitimate envoy of Jiannan."
"As long as we can enter Shu through the sword pavilion as we wish, what's wrong with conferring officials and delegating power?"
His soldiers had already obtained the seal, and Li Siye immediately wrote in handwriting, calling him brother Cui. In fact, Li Siye was more than ten years older than him. When he promised to meet Cui Ning at Jianmen Pass, the court
The imperial edict will definitely come as promised.
He handed the letter to Wei Yingwu and said, "I have to trouble you to make another trip and bring Gu's sincerity to Cui Ning."