The soldiers all breathed a sigh of relief, with joy on their faces. This was the best destination for them. After all, who would do anything wrong unless they had to?
They threw the weapons in their hands to the ground and took off the armor on their bodies. With the help of his own soldiers, Cui Ning took off the heavy Mingguang Armor with difficulty, and the burden on his heart was also lifted. He was about to take action
Staggeringly abandoning the horse and walking, Zhang Xiancheng ordered someone to bring the horse over and said: "Since ancient times, it has been said that punishment is not worthy of a doctor. Regardless of whether Doctor Cui has any fault or innocence, he must have the dignity he deserves.
Cui Ning said nothing, just sighed lightly, followed Guo Xiancheng slowly on his horse, and headed back towards Chengdu.
A few days later, Zhang Xiancheng returned to Chengdu with his troops and horses. Cui Ning, who was following him, wore a white linen uniform in order to show that he had a good attitude in pleading guilty. He abandoned his horses and walked to the door of the Jieduzheng's residence.
Zang Xiyan stood proudly on the steps, looking down at Cui Ning who was kneeling on the ground, and asked proudly: "Is that Cui Ning standing below?"
"It's the guilty general."
"Come here, take him to death row."
As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen soldiers came forward. Cui Ning's face turned pale, and Cui Mi behind him glared at Zhang Xiancheng.
Zhang Xiancheng knew something was wrong, so he hurriedly stepped forward and crossed his hands and said: "General Zang, although Cui Ning seeks to be independent, he deserves to be punished for his crime, but in the hope that he can return astray and return with me, I ask the general to spare his life.
Zang Xiyan laughed loudly and asked contemptuously: "May I ask your general's surname?"
This first question was obviously meant to ridicule Zhang Xiancheng for not knowing how much he weighed.
Although he knew that his arms could not twist his thighs, and offending Zang Xiyan might ruin his future, he still crossed his hands and said: "The last general Zhang Xiancheng knows that he is a man of low words and should not plead for Cui Ning, but the last general promised him with his life."
To save his life and that of his descendants, I hope General Zang will understand the feelings of his subordinates."
"How many lives do you have, Zhang Xiancheng, if you dare to protect Cui Ning? This person has committed a serious crime of rebellion! After I read you as a loyal and good man, I advise you not to let your anger ruin your bright future because of a rebel! You
Think carefully for yourself!"
Zang Xiyan waved his robe, snorted and turned around. Zhang Xiancheng could not fail to see that Zang Xiyan did not want to spare Cui Ning at all, but he still stubbornly stepped forward and crossed his hands: "I humbly ask the general to forgive Dr. Cui Ning."
Zang Xiyan turned around angrily and asked angrily: "Do you also want to learn from Su Dingfang? Obliterate the laws of the court in exchange for your personal loyalty and favor? If so, I really want to put you and Cui Ning on death row!
"
Zhang Xiancheng was speechless for a moment and stood half-footed on the steps with a frozen expression.
At this moment, it happened that Yan Zhuang and Wei Yingwu, the chiefs of staff sent by Li Siye to Sichuan, came outside the Jiedushi residence. Seeing this scene, Yan Zhuang laughed and said: "General Zang is so angry."
Although Zang Xiyan didn't think highly of job-hopping experts like Yan Zhuang, he had no choice but to have a higher official rank than him, so he could only soften his expression and crossed his arms at him: "Mr. Yan, I didn't expect that your chief of staff would come so quickly.
Good, you won’t have to worry about this mess in Shuzhong anymore.”
Seeing Yan Zhuang's penetration, Zhang Xiancheng keenly felt that there was an opportunity to turn things around. He quickly stepped forward and crossed his hands and said: "Mr. Yan, Dr. Cui Ning rebelled because he was confused for a moment. Now he has repented.
I beg you to be kind and let him live."
Zang Xiyan chuckled beside him. He knew that Yan Zhuang did not have such great power, nor was he so bold to let go of a rebellious sinner. What's more, to forgive Brother Cui Ning would be to openly contradict himself, and he couldn't do it for a little Zhang Xiancheng.
Offend yourself.
Yan Zhuang twirled his beard and thought for a moment, then turned to Zang Xiyan and discussed: "Since this letter sincerely pleads for Cui Ning, I think it is better to write a memorial below and send someone to escort them to Chang'an and hand them over to the Lord.
How is it going?"
Zang Xiyan originally wanted to say why bother the lord with such a thing, but then he thought about it and thought that the lord did not explicitly explain how to deal with Cui Ning. If he really didn't do it well, wouldn't it be like shooting himself in the foot? It's better to just listen.
Yan Zhuang said to hand over the conflict to the Lord to handle it.
"In this case, please take Zhang Xiancheng and Cui Ning brothers first, and escort them to Chang'an to wait for the master's fate."
"Here!"
Zhang Xiancheng was overjoyed and hurriedly stepped forward to thank Yan Zhuang and Zang Xiyan. The two brothers Cui Ning and Cui Mi also kowtowed and thanked them. After experiencing the threat of death, the remaining noble arrogance in their bodies had long since disappeared. They only thought about
How to save your own life.
…
After Yan Zhuang took control of Chengdu, Zang Xiye, who was responsible for countering the rebellion, withdrew from Shuzhong and continued to return to Hanzhong as a new force in the northwest of Xiangyang.
On the one hand, Yan Zhuang and Wei Yingwu appeased the military and civilians in central Shu, and at the same time began to implement Li Siye's policy of separation of military and political affairs, regularizing the four armies in central Shu according to military codes. In accordance with the imperial edict promulgated by the imperial court under Li Siye's order, Guo Yingyi was appointed as the military governor of Jiannan, but
This Jiannan Jiedushi has become a real civilian, only in charge of the provincial governors, and all military affairs are handed over to the staff. Decisions such as promotion and transfer in the army are jointly decided by the five members of the staff. The separation of military and political affairs is
This fundamentally prevented the emergence of feudal towns.
Yan Zhuang ordered Cui Ning and Cui to be escorted to Chang'an, but he did not use a torture car to escort them. He only tied chains on their hands and feet and allowed them to ride horses. Cui Ning's fear was somewhat lucky, because Yan Zhuang
Zhuang was a shrewd and observant person, and his attitude probably reflected Li Siye's attitude. He had a high chance of survival.
Zhang Xiancheng was also full of confidence. He himself didn't know where this confidence came from. Maybe it was because he only had a relationship with Li Siye.
They were marching slowly on the rugged Shu road. At this time, Cui Ning was very grateful to Zhang Xiancheng. Just because he was not afraid of life and death to stand up and speak for him, he could be sure that this man was an upright man. There was no door between the two.
There is no barrier between superiors and subordinates. They talk to each other every day when resting at the post station, and call them Brother Zhang.
Half a month later, they were escorted to Chang'an and imprisoned in the Dali Temple Prison first. I thought that King Yong was busy with everything, and waiting for his summons would definitely be next month.
Unexpectedly, six days after they entered the Dali Temple Prison, a group of soldiers from Captain An Yulinwei suddenly entered the prison, escorted them out, and locked them directly into a closed ink cart.
The rumbling sound of vehicles echoed on the street, just like their uneasy hearts. After opening the door, they were pulled and pushed down by the soldiers, and stood in the square of a gorgeous palace garden.
At this time, the imperial guards stopped pushing and stood on both sides of the road. However, a eunuch-like man came forward and said calmly: "You come with our family."
They were ushered into the palace, and the eunuch just said, "Wait here," and then turned and left.
After waiting for nearly a cup of tea, Li Siye, wearing a purple and gold robe, walked out from behind the screen. The three of them quickly knelt down and touched their heads to the ground, even more pious than when they saw the emperor.
Li Siye sat on the bed in front of the screen, staring coldly at the three people below, and suddenly asked: "Cui Ning, Cui Mi, when I led the troops into Shu in the past, I was fortunate to have your help, and I was able to quickly pacify Central Sichuan.
You are not a weak person, so why did you suddenly rebel? It makes Guhan heartbroken."
At this point, no matter what Cui Ning said, it would have no effect. He could only lower his head and sigh: "It's the humble minister who is confused. Please punish me, your Majesty."
Li Siye turned his attention to Zhang Xiancheng on the other side, and his tone was a bit softer: "Yan Zhuang's letter to me said that a young general, regardless of life and death, personally led 6,000 cavalry to the Tubo border to intercept Cui Ning's defection. Zhang Xiancheng is you, right?
."
"It's the last general."
Li Siye's expression became a little warmer, and he nodded and said: "Yan Zhuang's letter also said that according to the court's law, the two Cui brothers should have been executed on the spot, but you stood up to stop them and said that you had agreed to let them live.
, and asked for mercy to exempt them from the death penalty. Do you know how many people will follow the example of a capital criminal who lives because of your begging for mercy? People who are corrupt, pervert the law, kill people and get goods, and have no conscience, if someone pleads for mercy, should they also be released?