From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

The next morning, Zhou Yuan got up, washed, and packed everything just after daybreak.

He also put on his Feiyu suit, which was rare, and inspected the tower of Kuixingfang with Xiong Kuohai, Wang Ang, Zhuang Xuansu, Ye Qingying and others.

Zhao Jianjia and Xiaoying also accompanied him. The former had no official position, but just followed Zhou Yuan silently. She just wanted to have a sense of participation.

Zhou Yuan had become the backbone of the group. If he didn't object, then others wouldn't object either.

The so-called secrets were, after all, for outsiders.

As for Xiaoying, she was just idle and was just playing along.

Zhuang Xuansu looked at the morning glow in the east, sighed softly, and said: "Calculating the time, twelve days have passed since the night of attacking the gambling house. The imperial edict has arrived, and our supplies have almost been consumed."

Xiong Kuohai smiled and said: "To be precise, our supplies can last for three and a half days according to the current consumption."

Zhuang Xuansu continued: "In addition, we received intelligence that Cheng Ping's 20,000 troops supporting Lin'an Prefecture are only 70 miles away from Lin'an, and will arrive at noon."

"If this continues, Annan Hou will attack Kuixingfang in three days at most."

"So..."

At this point, she looked at Zhou Yuan and frowned: "You called us all up and said that something big happened today. What exactly is it?"

Everyone was also confused, and their eyes were focused on Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan smiled and said slowly: "Things need to be viewed from a big picture perspective, and only by gradually unraveling the mystery can a solution be found."

"For example, during the Liangjiang Rebellion, Marquis Annan and Cheng Ping rebelled. Since the King of Chu was captured by us, they became an unknown army, which is a fatal weakness."

"We should focus on this fatal weakness and destroy the foundation of Marquis Annan from the perspective of public opinion. This is the best strategy."

"Don't underestimate public opinion. It will play a huge role at the most critical moment."

"When everyone hopes that Marquis Annan will lose, what can they rely on to maintain the morale of hundreds of thousands of troops? Those soldiers are not without relatives and friends, and they are not completely isolated from the world."

"When those soldiers have no fighting spirit, what will Marquis Annan have left? That's when it's time to clean up the country."

At this point, Zhou Yuan pointed to the front and said softly: "Everything before was just a foreshadowing, and it was just slowly accumulating public opinion. Until today, it was the beginning of Marquis Annan's internal collapse."

Everyone was excited and confused when they heard it, mainly because they didn't understand Zhou Yuan's words.

Zhao Jianjia frowned, looking at the high-spirited Zhou Yuan, with an inexplicable feeling in her heart.

Isn't her ideal husband supposed to be this powerful and capable?

Now Zhou Yuan really fits her idea of ​​a real man.

So much so that her eyes became as clear as water, full of tenderness.

"Well, it's pointless for us to chat here, let's just go out and see!"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Disguise yourself and find a loophole to get out."

Zhuang Xuansu changed color and said, "Absolutely not. If we are caught, we will lose everything."

Zhou Yuan said, "No, Annan Hou has something important to do today, and he can't take care of us who are struggling to death."

"In his eyes, we are birds in a cage. We can only live for three or four days at most. Why would he watch us so closely?"

Xiong Kuohai rubbed his hands and smiled, "Okay! Let's go and see the excitement. I want to know what will happen in Lin'an Prefecture today."

Zhou Yuan turned around and said, "Jianjia, are you going?"

Zhao Jianjia blushed slightly and said, "Of course I will go. I want to see it too."

"Okay! Let's go now!"

Zhou Yuan and his friends immediately went back to their rooms to change clothes, then quietly slipped out of Kuixingfang and went to the largest square on the shore of West Lake.

Due to the chaos of more than ten days, there were fewer people on the street, and they all looked hurried. When they saw soldiers patrolling, they immediately retreated far away.

There were also many Confucian scholars in long gowns walking quickly towards West Lake Square.

Xiong Kuohai grabbed a young man and said with a smile: "My friend, what are you Confucian scholars going to do?"

The young man was obviously a person with a bad temper. He frowned and said immediately: "Please let me go and ask again."

Xiong Kuohai quickly let go, clasped his fists and smiled.

The young man then said, "Today, we Confucian scholars gather together to attend the lectures of Qiaoshan Gong and others."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Brother, besides Qiaoshan Gong, are there other people giving lectures?"

"Of course!"

The young scholar said proudly, "In addition to Qiaoshan Gong, there are also Mingde Gong, Hongsou Gong, Cangli Gong and other respected Confucian scholars. In addition, Brother Kong Li and Kong Cunzhen will also give lectures. This is Brother Cunzhen's first lecture."

"This West Lake gathering can be said to be a rare literary and Taoist event in Lin'an Prefecture. Even inIt is quite rare in the history of the entire Jin Dynasty! "

"We must be more active when we go to listen to the holy teachings."

After that, he bowed and said, "If you are interested, you can also go to listen to the lectures. It is also a wise move to cultivate your sentiments and have virtues."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Then shall we go together?"

The young scholar was overjoyed and nodded, "It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Bullshit, your attitude was obviously very bad just now, and suddenly there was a big reversal, just because you saw Jianjia and Zhuang Xuansu behind me.

For young people, beauty is the ultimate killer!

Walking forward, more scholars joined along the way, and everywhere gathered into a mighty torrent.

The densely packed heads filled the square, and it was hard to count how many people there were. Lin'an Prefecture is indeed the capital city, a prosperous city, and there are too many scholars.

"What's your name, girl? How old are you? Are you still unmarried? "

The scholar finally put his head in front of Zhuang Xuansu. This mature lady is very lethal to scholars of this age.

Everyone was holding back their laughter. Zhuang Xuansu's face was also very ugly, so he gently lifted his robe to reveal the hilt of the knife at his waist.

The scholar's face turned pale, and he was so scared that he couldn't speak. He walked forward silently with his head down.

At this moment, the shore of West Lake was also noisy, just because pairs of soldiers ran over quickly and opened a road.

"There are two groups of 600 people in the brigade, totaling 1,200 people. "

Wang Ang had also led the Tiqi, and instantly determined the number of people based on the team's deployment.

Then, Annan Hou Han Tuo and others strode over, followed by Shen Qiaoshan and others.

The wooden platform built in advance was half a foot high, and Annan Hou strode up and overlooked all the scholars in the field.

At this moment, the sun was high in the sky, and the world was bright.

Annan Hou seemed to be in a very happy mood, with a smile on his face, and said loudly: "Confucian scholars, candidates, young and old friends in Lin'an Prefecture."

"I believe everyone knows me. Yes, I am the evil man Annan Hou Han Tuo who likes to eat human brains in the rumor!"

"These days, inexplicable rumors are rampant, and all kinds of false accusations can be seen everywhere. They wish to shape me into a three-headed and six-armed monster from the underworld!"

"Today, while the great scholars are giving lectures, I will come to meet you and let you see if I am a monster! "

Objectively speaking, Han Tuo is tall and strong-looking. Although he is not handsome, he has a masculine look. There is definitely no problem with his image.

But no one responded. After all, the rumors are terrible, and they all know that this person is a traitor.

Han Tuo laughed and said, "There are many rumors. The most ridiculous one is that this marquis wants to abolish the imperial examination system and restart the selection of filial and honest officials. Hahaha, this is a move against the heavens. I really don’t know how the people behind the scenes made it up!"

"Today, this marquis specially invited many great scholars to give lectures to scholars and students, just to break the rumors and let you know that I, Han Tuo, am also a scholar and respect scholars even more."

"Abolishing the imperial examination system is simply impossible. This marquis is the first to oppose it!"

The depressing atmosphere at the scene finally eased, and the scholars around began to discuss.

Xiong Kuohai whispered, "It seems that Han Tuo knows that he can't sit and wait for death. He must quickly restore his reputation in order to be successful. "

Zhuang Xuansu snorted coldly and said in a deep voice: "What reputation does a traitor have? I really want to take the opportunity to draw my sword and chop off his head."

Zhou Yuan chuckled and said: "I suggest you don't do this. Did you notice the middle-aged scholar in white clothes who was closest to him? He was dressed like a scholar, but who would have thought that he was the Great Sun Dharma King, one of the Yin and Yang guardians of the Wusheng Sect."

"Hmm?"

Zhuang Xuansu's face changed slightly.

Zhou Yuan said: "This man's power is comparable to that of nature, and his strength is incredible. Song Shanzi can only hold on to more than a dozen moves in front of him."

"It is precisely because of his existence that I have never proposed a beheading plan, but waited for public opinion to ferment."

Zhuang Xuansu gritted his teeth and said: "A thief is a thief. You must be careful of your life wherever you go."

Zhou Yuan did not speak, but just looked around.

He did not find Li Zhaolu.