Huan Rong

Taiyuan six years, January

Nandi celebrates the new year, and the people in Jiankang City are jubilant and firecrackers are sounding.

On the Qinhuai River, the merchant ships disappeared, the pleasure boats were connected end to end, the music was flowing on the river, and the dancers in colorful skirts were spinning around the bow.

A girl with a light figure jumped up, and the colorful silk spread like wings, just like a colorful phoenix rising with wings.

"it is good!"

The crowd applauded loudly, no matter the gentry or the common people, at this moment, they were all immersed in the ocean of joy.

In contrast, although the northern land has a festive atmosphere, it is far less lively than the southern land.Even within the city of Chang'an, due to the rebellion of the Qing, Bing, and You prefectures, a cloud has been shrouded for a long time, which has not dissipated for a long time.

In the Guangming Palace, the palace banquet was as usual.

The drums are rumbling and the music is ringing around the beam.The voice of the singer is crisp, and the figure of the dancer is delicate.

Amidst the music, the ministers offered gifts and toasted the birthday wine to congratulate the Son of Heaven.

It was supposed to be a banquet to celebrate the New Year, but there was no joy on the faces of the people, but an inexplicable sense of depression.

The reason is that the face of the emperor who sits high on the head is always sinking, so how can His Highness' civil servants and generals be happy.

The palace banquet begins with depression and ends with depression.

After the banquet, all the ministers withdrew from the Hall of Light one after another, stood under the stone steps, looked back, no less than a dozen people frowned, feeling uneasy.

"The officials behaved like this, are they worried about Qingzhou?"

"It's not just Qingzhou. Jizhou and Bingzhou have also rebelled. So far, they have not been suppressed. Grain tax relief, commercial tax is limited, food is insufficient, and the treasury is stretched. How can the officials not worry about it?"

"And those rumors in the city, it's really... Sigh!"

The reasons for Tang Gongluo's rebellion are well known throughout the court.

Qin Ce was put on the fire, and his wisdom was wiped out for the rest of his life.Even if he is not accused of being a tyrant or a faint king, in fact he is not much different.

The few companies that did it at the beginning have all died down now, and they dare not make mistakes in front of the imperial court.Every time at the court meeting, facing Qin Ce's murderous gaze, he always bowed his head and said nothing, as if he had become a wooden statue.

The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty saw it, and felt extremely complicated.

There were disgust and regrets, but no one came forward to intercede, let alone find excuses to justify the evil deeds of these few families.

The reason is very simple. There are thousands of ways to take revenge on Tang Gongluo, and it is absolutely unreasonable to kill his relatives and destroy his ancestral hall.

This kind of behavior goes beyond the bottom line, and when the truth is revealed, people will naturally be reviled.

All the courts are counting one by one, and they are estranged from several families intentionally or unintentionally, and even their in-laws and old friends do not stay with each other, for fear of being involved.

After the banquet, Qin Ce sat alone in the hall for a while, drank the hangover soup, and drove to the Jiaofang Hall.

According to the rules, after the first month palace banquet, the emperor and empress should sleep together.

Unexpectedly, Empress Liu didn't see him at all, and she didn't even want to save face.Concubine Liu Shu stood in front of the palace gate, smiling happily, and asked Qin Ce to move to Jiuhua Palace on the pretext that the queen's old illness had relapsed and she wanted to take care of her in front of her body.

Seeing Qin Ce's frown and gloomy face, Concubine Liu Shu didn't care at all, let alone fear.The smile remained the same, and the voice was as soft as ever.

"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, so it is rare for him to be free. Naturally, he should be accompanied by a girl who is knowledgeable and interested."

The words were heartbreaking, but Qin Ce couldn't get angry.In the end, he could only suppress his anger, and said in a deep voice, after the first day, invite a good doctor into the palace to diagnose Empress Liu's pulse.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Concubine Liu Shu responded with a smile, and watched Qin Ce turn and leave. Looking at the direction, [-]% of them were heading for the Guangming Palace.

"Close the door." Concubine Liu Shu stood up straight, her long sleeves vibrated lightly, covering her side like feathers, "No one will come again tonight."

"promise!"

The eunuch respectfully agreed and closed the palace gates from both sides.

With the creaking sound of the door hinge, the wooden door closed.

There was a blunt sound, and the front of the hall returned to silence.

Concubine Liu Shu walked through the palace road and stepped onto the corridor. The windows beside her were carved with auspicious animals and rare birds, with majestic posture and vivid colors.

In the inner hall, Empress Liu was reclining in front of the couch, her bun had been untied by the maidservants, her long hair was like a waterfall, tied lightly with a piece of silk cloth.The long skirt spread out, flowing like water waves.The gold thread embroidery on the hem of the skirt shimmers in the light, making people unable to move their eyes away.

Hearing the sound, Empress Liu raised her head, and without accident, she only saw Concubine Liu Shu.

"Sent away?" Empress Liu asked.

"Sister predicts things like a god." Concubine Liu Shu smiled slightly.

Empress Liu shook her head, snorted, and said, "He still wants Ah Zheng to do some work, how could he be angry at this time. Let's see, within three days, he will come to Jiaofang Palace again. Jiuhua Palace and Lan Lin The beauties in the palace are afraid to be left out for a while."

Concubine Liu Shu smiled and walked two steps quickly, and sat beside Empress Liu.Glancing at the silk cloth in Empress Liu's hand, she asked, "What's written in Mr. Lang's letter?"

"There is something wrong with Shuofang City, and we will go south in half a month."

"Your Majesty really wants to follow the order to put down the rebellion?" Concubine Liu Shu frowned.

The Tang family was expelled and slaughtered, and the ancestral hall was leveled and burned, which is now known to all.

There are many sympathetic words in the world for Tang Gongluo's rebellion.The people of Qingzhou even supported him as king, and they did not hesitate to fight against the imperial army.

Qin Jing's reputation will be damaged no matter whether he wins or loses when he leads troops south.

If he killed Tang Gongluo, the voices accusing Qin Ce before would all be transferred to him.

Qin Ce played this trick very smoothly.

It can be said that killing two birds with one stone can not only quell the rebellion, but also take the opportunity to suppress the son who has become famous.If he is more ruthless, and puts on a good show after suppressing the rebellion, and uses his parents and children as stepping stones, he may be able to win back some of the hearts of the people.

"Sister, sir, must you go to Qingzhou?"

Understanding Concubine Liu Shu's worry, Empress Liu sighed and raised her hand to order the eunuch and maids to retreat.

"The imperial decree has been issued, and the court officials delivering the decree have arrived in Shuofang. Ah Zheng can't resist the decree in the open anyway."

Before Qin Jing was in the grassland, the officials who delivered the decree could not be found, so naturally he could not be accused of crime.Now that troops are stationed in Shuofang City, it is not so easy to find excuses.

"According to the wishes of the officials, Mr. Lang will definitely be in danger." Concubine Liu Shu continued, "There is no success in victory, but there is something wrong with defeat. Sister, how can you see Mr. Lang in such a situation?"

"Don't worry, sister, Ah Zheng is not a schemer." Empress Liu took Concubine Liu Shu's hand and patted it lightly.

"Sister, what do you mean?"

"No matter how detailed the plan is, it also depends on who is doing it." Empress Liu spoke cryptically, but Concubine Liu Shu understood everything.

"Sister, you mean, Mr. Lang has countermeasures?"

"Yes." Empress Liu nodded, "A Zheng's letter reassures me that he will not act recklessly. As for how to do it, there is no clear statement in the letter. However, there is no more than [-]% certainty in A Zheng's actions in the past. will say this."

Concubine Liu Shu let out a long breath.

"That being the case, I'm relieved."

"A-mei's heart was too early." Empress Liu tightened her fingers and said in a deep voice, "A-Zheng is not in the set, and there are A-Qi, A-Rong and A-Yan. The whip is out of reach. Ah Qi is in Pingzhou, adjacent to Youzhou, and Ayan is in Xuzhou, right between Qingzhou and Huanhan."

Speaking of this, Empress Liu's voice paused slightly, and her expression became more serious.

"Ah Zheng decided to go south, so why not take everything on his shoulders."

If Qin Jing wanted to stay in Shuofang, all he had to do was make a statement and say that Mobei would go south, and the matter would be resolved.Even if the resistance order is not complied with, it is to protect the stability of the border and can completely stop the court's mouth.

But he didn't do that.

Because he knew very well that if he didn't go to Qingzhou, more than [-]% would be other brothers.In this way, what Concubine Liu Shu worried about will definitely happen.

"Ah Zheng's letter said that Tang Gongluo rebelled, but he rarely committed injustice. From all over Qingzhou, all the officials and officials who did not want to follow him were let go, along with their families."

"The rebel army was short of food, Tang Gongluo didn't forcefully conscript the people, but scattered all his wealth and bought food from the caravan."

"Market food?" Liu Shufei asked in surprise, "Is there still a caravan going to Qingzhou at this time?"

Aren't you afraid of being affected by the flames of war?

"Why not?" Empress Liu smiled, "There is no way to go by land, but there are sea ships to the south."

Sea ship?

After the ending sound fell, Empress Liu seemed to think of something, picked up Qin Jing's letter and read it carefully, her eyes sparkled brightly.

"Sister?" Concubine Liu Shu was puzzled and asked, "What did sister think of?"

"Not sure." Empress Liu said in a low voice, "My sister, do you still remember that when Tang Gongluo raised the flag, he once said that he wanted to join the Huan Han?"

"This..." Concubine Liu Shu pondered for a moment, her beautiful eyes widened in an instant, "Sister, do you mean that the Lord will borrow the power of Huan Han?"

"Nine times out of ten." Empress Liu nodded, considered for a moment, and continued, "If I guessed right, Ah Zheng will not really attack Qingzhou. Even if he sends troops, he will not kill Tang Gongluo. As for Youzhou and Bingzhou Most of the traitors will be used by Ah Zheng."

Concubine Liu Shu frowned slightly, suddenly thought of something, raised her head to look at Empress Liu, hesitated to speak.

"A-mei, do you want to say that if you and I are not in Chang'an, Ah-zheng doesn't need to worry too much, but can take the opportunity to stand on his own?"

"I do have this idea." Concubine Liu Shu sighed, "The officials are becoming more and more confused in their actions. In the long run, the tyrants who were intimidated before may have a different heart."

Not to mention anything else, just looking at the matter of Tang Gongluo, it can be seen that Qin Ce is suspicious, and there are signs that the birds are hiding their bows and the rabbits are dead.

Even if he didn't do it himself, there is suspicion of connivance.

It's just that he didn't expect that the few families who took action would go too far and force Tang Gongluo to rebel.

"I know." Empress Liu stared at the silk cloth, fascinated by the writing on it, "Unfortunately, Ah Zheng has no such plan."

Concubine Liu Shu was silent.

"However," Empress Liu changed the subject, "It's fine if you don't stand on your own feet, so as not to be caught by others."

"Sister is right, I didn't think carefully."

Empress Liu didn't answer, but drew closer to Concubine Liu Shu, and whispered in her ear: "During January, the officials will not go to Jiuhua Hall and Lanlin Hall and tell Ah Ying to replace the incense in Guangming Hall."

Concubine Liu Shu's eyes dimmed, and she nodded slightly.

In the sixth year of Taiyuan, the dark day of the first month

Drums sounded in Shuofang City.

The horns at the top of the city sounded together, and a big flag was erected in front of the stage, and the banners under the stage were fierce, and there were spears and spears like a forest.

The war horse stomped its front hooves and snorted impatiently.The hot air from the mouth and nose condensed in the wind, forming a white mist.

In the sound of the horn, Qin Jing, wearing armor and holding a sword in his hand, climbed onto the high stone platform.

The moment he appeared, the soldiers shouted in unison, and their spears fell to the ground.

The jumping soldiers raised their long knives and tapped the round shield one after another; the cavalrymen drew out their scimitars, and the sharp blades reflected the sunlight, piercing people's eyes.

"Long live Your Highness!"

"Khan King Wansheng!"

The roar of the soldiers was higher than the wave, like a mountain roaring and a tsunami.

Swords and shields collided, spears and spears struck the ground, and the sound of drums and horns continued.

An invisible evil spirit gathers in the school grounds, tearing apart the wind, galloping and roaring, like a gigantic beast awakened in ancient times, dangerous and terrifying, ready to show its fangs at any time, and devour anyone it chooses.

The officials who delivered the decree did not leave, but stayed in Shuofang according to Qin Ce's decree, and set off with the army to suppress the rebellion.

At this moment, standing on the high platform with Qin Jing, facing the journey of Xiong Wei, hearing the sound of the mountains, feeling the evil and murderous aura lingering around the body, the courageous one is still calm, while the timid one is already pale as paper and sweating profusely.Being blown by the cold wind, I shivered on the spot, from the soles of my feet to the bottom of my heart.

Zhang Hao was on the stage together, seeing the performance of his colleagues, he couldn't help laughing secretly.

With such courage, he dared to fight the rebellion with the army, and even set up the idea of ​​Shuofang City and military power.

Qin Jing pressed the sword with his left hand, raised and lowered his right arm, and the mountain cry gradually weakened and finally stopped.

In the school grounds, there was only the bitter roar of the new wind, and no human voice was heard.

Seeing this scene, the officials from Chang'an didn't feel relaxed at all. Instead, their hearts sank, as if a ten-thousand-jin boulder was pressed down, and their brains buzzed.

More than one person has doubts whether this trip is worth it.Some even felt remorse on the spot, wishing they could slap themselves hard.

Why can't I remember so many lessons before?

The blood in Chang'an City has not yet dried, and the smoke from the fire has not completely dissipated. How can you turn a blind eye, forget everything, and take the initiative to provoke the killing god in front of you?

Regardless of what others thought, Qin Jing unfolded the imperial edict and raised his voice to read the will of the emperor.

From beginning to end, word for word.

After the ending sound fell, Qin Jing put away the imperial edict and directly ordered to set off.

There are no words to reprimand rebellion and encourage the morale of the army, and they refuse to make any appearances.This move inevitably makes people suspicious. Sending troops is a last resort. As far as he is concerned, he does not want to participate in this war.

However, after thinking about it, there is no real evidence after all.

According to the scriptures, Qin Jing was not at fault, and he cannot be accused of passively sending troops and disrespecting the court for no reason.

If you really dare to have this idea, if you can't get out of the school field 100%, you will be ordered to tear the soldiers in the audience to pieces with your bare hands.

"set off!"

The army went out, the team stretched for several miles, the flags covered the sky, and the drums and horns faced each other.

Qin Jing rode his horse in front, ignoring the accompanying courtiers, completely treating them as air.

Zhang Lian gave some face anyway, and would nod his head when passing by, showing some "goodwill".

Xia Houyan's temperament is straightforward, even somewhat arrogant.Passing by the official, he lashed his horsewhip.Amidst the crisp sound, the horse spread its four hooves, splashing snow all over the ground.

The officials were not on guard and were almost thrown to the ground by the war horses.Regardless of the image, he hugged the horse's neck, his face pale with fright.

Seeing this, Xia Houyan laughed out loud, and the soldiers on both sides also showed sarcasm.

This is the official of Chang'an?

It really has gained a lot of knowledge.

The official's face was flushed, but he couldn't attack.I can only give up riding, return to the car honestly, never show up unless necessary, let alone show any "courage".

Zhang Lian and Xia Houyan looked at each other, the former shook his head and said, "This is over."

The latter laughed more recklessly, waved his horsewhip again, and said with a smile: "Looking at the trouble, just let it go, at least it can change to a quiet place."

At this moment, the eagle's cry pierced the sky.

Qin Jing pulled the reins, slowed down, and looked up into the sky.

A vigorous figure appeared behind the cloud, it was the goshawk returning from the south.