Huan Rong

"Min is old, and his beard and hair are all white. He has been sick for a long time in the past few months, and is unbearable for the army. Please resign from the assassins of Xu and Yanzhou, and pay all the soldiers in Jingkou to the chief Sima..."

The letter tampered with by Xi Chao was read out in public, and the room suddenly fell into silence.

In addition to Huan Wen's subordinates, there were also envoys sent by Jiangzhou Governor Huan Chong, Yuzhou Governor Yuan Zhen and Jingzhou Governor Huan Huo.Hearing the content of the letter, everyone was shocked.

The assassins of the states are not in Jiankang, but the news is not blocked.

The Yu family was accused by King Xincai of treason, and Yin Juan and Yurou brothers were imprisoned together. Everyone knew what was going on behind the scenes.

Xi Yin held the Beifu army in his hand and dared to wrestle with Huan Wen, which was admired by all his colleagues.

Now that the victory or defeat has not yet been decided, it is totally unreasonable for Xi Yin to beg for retirement with his old illness and hand over the military power of the Beifu.But the letter was indeed written in Xi Yin's handwriting, and people who were familiar with it glanced at it, and their expressions became more and more puzzled.

Could it be that Xi Fanghui was caught by some reason and was threatened by Huan Yuanzi before he did this?Otherwise, the matter would not make sense anyway.

Not only the envoys from Yuzhou thought so, but also the envoys from Jiangzhou and Jingzhou were thinking about it, planning to find someone to inquire about it later and send a letter to their envoys as soon as possible.

Xi Chao sat down and carefully observed everyone's expressions.Seeing that most of them were surprised by the content of the letter and did not doubt the handwriting on the letter, they were relieved.Exchanging glances with another soldier, in order to ensure that there will be no mistakes, we should draw up a form as soon as possible and send it to Jiankang with the letter.

Sitting in Jingkou, the envoy Xi Ting has an extraordinary status in the court, and his words carry a lot of weight.Only one letter cannot directly obtain the military power of Beifu. The emperor's decree must be issued before the matter can be finally concluded.

Xi Chao discussed with Sima Huan, and the matter must be resolved quickly.When the Xiji envoy finds out that something is wrong and comes up with a countermeasure, his side will be very passive, and even fall into the infamy of forging letters and framing his colleagues.

"My servant has a question." After circulating the letter, the envoy from Yuzhou asked, "Where is the envoy from Jingkou now? Why is there no envoy Xiji's private seal on the letter?"

If it is not a formal official document, it may not be stamped with a stamp.However, it is a bit strange that there is no signature and no private seal from the beginning to the end.

It's okay if he doesn't mention it, but if he asks such a question, everyone is stunned.

That's right, they are all here, why isn't the envoy from Jingkou here?Even private letters should be signed and stamped with a private seal!

Someone had doubts, and unconsciously looked at Xi Chao, frowning.

Although Xi Chao is under Huan Wen's tent, he is Xi Min's parent and son.Given how much the world attaches importance to the family, they shouldn't join forces with outsiders to harm their own father, right?

Didn't he know that when Xi Yin fell, he would lose an important support.

It's okay for Huan Yuanzi to believe him, but one day he becomes suspicious of him, not only will his official position be lost, but even his life may be lost.

A person who can frame his own father, who dares to use it with confidence?

Xi Chao was taken aback, he knew that there would always be loopholes in things, and it would be difficult to keep things tight, but he never expected that someone would find something wrong so quickly.

Seeing that Xi Chao was silent and his eyes were a little dodgy, the doubts in everyone's hearts deepened.

The envoy from Yuzhou was about to continue asking, when he heard a blunt sound from above. It turned out that Sima Huan took off his sword and put it heavily on the table.

Everyone was puzzled when there was a sudden sound of heavy footsteps outside.From the shadows reflected by the window, it can be easily deduced that there are government soldiers in armor standing outside the door.

The expressions of the envoys from various states changed slightly, and their hearts were filled with surprise and doubt.

In ancient times, there was a throwing cup as a sign, and the swordsmen and axes under the tent rushed out together.Does Sima Huan want to follow suit, and if he doesn't follow suit, he will draw his sword to face each other and leave his head?

The Yuzhou envoy's complexion changed a few times, and he became more and more sure that the letter was tricky.However, the situation is pressing, if he dares to continue to pursue, he may die here today.

Huan Wen glanced at the crowd, saw that most of them were pale, and their eyes were averted. Knowing that the effect had been achieved, he immediately asked people to fetch the bamboo slips, and engraved Xi Yin's resignation and handing over the military power on the slips in front of everyone. After the bag was packed, it was sent to Jiankang on the same day.

When the sender left, the envoys from the various states understood that if Xi Fanghui was able to make a statement in time to defend himself, there might be room for improvement in the matter, otherwise, the Jingkou and Beifu troops would surely fall into Huan Wen's hands.

At that time, looking at the entire imperial court, who else can contend with it?

As the matter was settled, the envoys from all states said goodbye and left one after another.

Huanda Sima put away his sword, waved away the idlers and others, and said to Xi Chao: "Jing Xing has made such a great contribution, and Wen Dang will thank you very much."

"I can only do my best, and I dare not take the words of Duke Ming." Xi Chao laughed, "The letter is handed over to Jiankang, and the emperor will allow Duke Ming to ask for it. At that time, Duke Ming will hold the military power of the two prefectures, guard Gushu, and go far away." Controlling Jingkou, why worry about the failure of major events?"

Huan Wen laughed out loud, and the laughter spread outside, showing that he was in a happy mood.

"Duke Ming, Chao has something to say. Please think twice about the Northern Expedition."

Xi Chao is not optimistic about this year's Northern Expedition.

Fu Jian was ambitious, and with the help of Wang Meng, he had the ambition to unify the north.Murong Xianbei has been in conflict for many years, but he is a centipede who is dead but not stiff. Although there are few kings, he can use Wu Wang Murongchui, which shows that he is not blind.

Last year, the two sides fought each other because of the battle in Shancheng.There will be two months of free fighting in winter, and the warm snow will melt this spring, and a decisive battle will surely be ushered in.

It is not very wise to get involved at this time.

Both Wang Meng and Murong Chui are opponents that should not be underestimated.After the decisive battle, no matter whether it was the Di people or Murong Xianbei who lost, it was by no means so easy to take advantage of their defeat and send troops to take back the lost land of the Jin Dynasty.If you are a little careless, you will steal the chicken and lose the rice, and the big event will be ruined.

Xi Chao always had hope, hoping that Sima Huan would change his mind, give up the idea of ​​​​winning the Northern Expedition, and instead seize the throne first.

It's a pity that Huan Wen didn't listen to persuasion.

In fact, he is not without reason.

Regardless of whether Cao Wei replaced the Han or the Jin Dynasty replaced the Wei, they were always criticized by the world.Directly forcing Sima Yi to abdicate will surely be condemned by the people of the world. With the prestige of victory in the Northern Expedition, he can at least gain some confidence and win some public opinion.

"Jing Xing doesn't need to say too much, I have made up my mind, and there will be no change in this matter."

Xi Chao couldn't persuade him any more, so he could only hand in his promise, and sighed secretly, hoping that the Northern Expedition would go smoothly, and don't make extra troubles and end in defeat.

In the fourth year of Taihe, in the second month of Jiashen, Huan Da Sima's Biao Shu arrived in Jiankang, causing an uproar in the court.

Prime Minister Sima Yu was the one who recommended Xi Yin, and after reading the letter attached to the form, he almost passed out on the spot.

"How could Xi Fanghui be so confused!"

Sima Yu didn't believe that Xi Min would do this.

He even corresponded with him a few days ago, vowing to show off with Sima Huan, and then resigned in a blink of an eye and surrendered his military power?

It's simply a horror of slipping the world!

"This letter must be forged!"

Sima Yu spoke with certainty, Xie An and Wang Tanzhi sat at each other and smiled wryly.

What is true and what is false?

Now that the matter has come to this point, it is impossible for the imperial court to directly reject the above statement, so it can only try to delay it, and send someone to Jingkou to ask for clarification and see what is going on.

"I'll write a letter right away and send someone to Jingkou," Sima Yu said.

Xie An nodded, and after discussing with Wang Tanzhi, he copied the above form intact and delivered it to the Empress Dowager Chu.

At that time, Empress Dowager Chu was reading Taoism scriptures in the hall.

Since Sima Yi began to give up on himself, the relationship between the aunt and nephew of the Tian family has become more and more indifferent, and they don't speak unless necessary.

Huan Wen's upper form was sent to Taicheng, and directly passed the emperor to the empress dowager.After Sima Yi knew about it, he sneered a few times, pushed away the wine cup, picked up the spoon and drank it down in one gulp.The slightly turbid wine flowed down the corner of his mouth, soaking a large area of ​​his clothes.

Concubines and concubines tried to persuade them, but they were directly kicked away.

"Get out, get out!" Sima Yi's eyes were red, his clothes were open, his expression was full of madness, "Others look down on me, treat me like an abandoned child, how dare you look down on me!"

"Your Majesty, I dare not, I don't have any!"

The concubine lay down on the ground and begged, but the concubine boldly stepped forward, but was kicked away by Sima Yi, accidentally stepped on the falling cup, fell to the sky, hit the back of her head on the ground, and didn't even utter a scream Just passed out.

"Get out, get out all for me!"

Sima Yi became more and more crazy, he grabbed a lacquer plate and threw it at the maids and eunuchs in the palace.

"You all want to harm me!"

"I won't let you get what you want!"

"roll!"

"Get out!"

Empress Yu stood outside the hall, listening to the movement in the hall, her dull expression turned into a sneer.

The Yu family is in turmoil, and Queen Yu can't really let it go after all.Hearing that Sima Huan had repeatedly appeared on the table, Yu Rou and Yu Qian were afraid of losing their lives. She went to the Queen Mother with her last hope, but she was turned away and came to see the emperor, but she encountered such a scene.

Empress Yu suddenly felt too tired to live.

How did I survive the serious illness in October of the first year of Taihe?It would have been nice if he had died then.

"Let's go back."

Without waiting for the maid to agree, Empress Yu turned and left.

The hem of the long skirt sweeps across the ground, the gold and silver threads on the skirt are still dazzling, and the flowers and birds woven are still vivid, as if singing the spring day.

"Your Highness, it's windy and it might rain."

"Yes, it's windy."

Empress Yu stopped and looked up at the sky where the dark clouds gathered. Her thin face was so white that it was almost transparent. The long sleeved dress danced wildly with the wind. She stood motionless in the rain, as if she had condensed into a statue, without any vitality.

In the fourth year of Taihe, in the second month of Ji Chou, Sima Yu's letter arrived in Jingkou. After reading the letter, Xi Min's face changed suddenly, his hands clenched the letter paper tightly, his knuckles turned white, and his lips trembled with anger.

"Rebel! Rebel!"

He can understand the inside story that others can't understand without thinking deeply.It's only because he didn't take precautions that a letter was taken advantage of.

"Ming Gong, what should we do now?"

Several soldiers and counselors sat at the bottom, all with worried expressions on their faces.

Envoys from all states gathered in Gushu, why didn't there be any news?

Jingkou also sent an envoy, who was sent back early after sending the letter. The news brought back was that Sima Huan promised to help the Jin Dynasty together, recover the lost land, and restore the royal mausoleum.

Xi Yin knew that Huan Wen's words must be insincere, but he never expected that Huan Wen would be so vicious that he wanted to seize Jingkou and take away the military power of Beifu in one fell swoop!

"Duke Ming, this letter..."

"Nizi can imitate my handwriting." Xi Yin sat down slumped, and suddenly seemed ten years older.

"Duke Ming," Liu Laozhi stood up and said in a deep voice, "I think that Duke Ming should write back to the prime minister immediately, stating that this is not what Duke Ming intended!"

"Yes!" A counselor continued, "The emperor has not made a decree, and things can still be turned around!"

"There is a rule in ancient times that if a virtuous minister resigns, the emperor must retain it." Liu Jianzhi continued, "Ming Gong may as well tell the prime minister, please ask the emperor to decree to retain him, and Ming Gong will follow the trend. He has devoted himself to the Jin family since Chen Chen, so that the military power can be guaranteed. Lost. No matter how tough Huan Yuanzi is, there is nothing to criticize here. Afterwards, the servants should be careful and guard against it, and no one will take advantage of it!"

The so-called you have Zhang Liangji, I have a wall ladder.

Sima Huan concealed the news and did not give Xi Ting a chance to react, intending to create established facts and seize the military power in Beifu.Naturally, the envoy Xi Ji could not sit still and hand over all the power in his hands.He is willing, and his subordinates will not agree.

Xi Chao could imitate Xi Yin's handwriting, but he could not predict the court's reaction.

Now that Sima Yu is sending a letter to Jingkou, Wang Xie and other gentry will stand by Xi Yin's side.If the emperor can be persuaded to issue a decree to retain him as soon as possible, the Xiji envoy will have a chance to come back.

"good!"

Xi Yin rubbed his back molars, and his slumped look disappeared.

Clay figurines still have three parts of soil nature, not to mention the "vassals" who are in charge of one side's military administration.

Using the Yu family to fight against Huan Wen before was just a small fight.Now, Huan Wen wants to dig out his foundation, completely marginalize the Xi family, and drive him out of the center of power. It's no wonder Xi Yin is not furious.

"If I had known today would come, I shouldn't have let the traitor go away!"

After arranging everything, Xi Yin left Liu Laozhi behind and ordered him to leave for Yandu as soon as possible and inform Huan Rong of the matter.

"Ming Gong's meaning, servants don't quite understand."

"Huan Yuanzi wants to break my foundation. Once the Beifu army changes hands, he will lead the governors of Xu and Yanzhou himself." After a blow, Xi Min became wiser.

"The two prefectures fell into the hands of Huan Yuanzi, and all overseas Chinese counties and counties were inevitable. Even though Yandu was designated as a county public food town and surrounded by siege, it was difficult for him to survive alone."

"Duke Ming meant to convince him to send a letter to Jiankang?"

Xi Yin nodded and said: "I heard that officials ignore government affairs and drink and have fun all day long, which is becoming more and more indulgent and absurd. In order to be safe, we need to ask Yi's decree in addition to the imperial decree."

If you want to persuade the Queen Mother, Princess Nankang is the best candidate.

If Yandu fell into the hands of Huan Wen, Huan Rong would have no chance of survival. Princess Nankang would not sit idly by and watch her parents and children die.

"It should be sooner rather than later, you leave immediately."

"promise!"

In Yandu County, Huan Rong was immersed in the joy of picking up leaks. He was smiling all over his face for several days, which aroused the enthusiasm of the servants in the county government.

After the first month, the number of refugees who went to the county government to re-register their household registrations increased exponentially. Shi Shao and several officials were too busy, so Huan Rong rolled up his sleeves and went to battle in person.

In less than two days, Mr. Huan's reputation became more and more famous, and he was about to be blocked when he went out.The west city is fine, but when it comes to the east city and the north city, it is completely impenetrable and difficult to move. The grand occasion is no less than that of Jiankang city.

Gongshu Chang and the six Xiangli brothers have moved to Xicheng.

At first, the Xiangli brothers were unwilling to leave the forest, and after several persuasions from Gong Shuchang, they reluctantly nodded.

After arriving in Xicheng, they knew that the rumors were true, that Huan Rong was not doing superficial feats to gain fame for himself, but that he truly loved the people. The six of them abandoned their prejudices and were willing to contribute to the construction of Mr. Huanfu and do their best.

"The servants and others have little knowledge. I misunderstood the Fujun earlier, so please don't blame the Fujun!"

He is also a craftsman, Gongshu Chang has a strong body, and his hands are especially powerful, which looks like craftsman's material.Brother Xiangli, on the other hand, is tall, thin and handsome, and even wearing cloth clothes and straw sandals can't hide his bookish air.

Huan Rong couldn't help suspecting that it was true that these six people were able to create traps, and their combat effectiveness would probably be compromised.

Unexpectedly, he was slapped by reality that day.

"It's not easy to build a wooden house here, you should use rocks as the foundation."

Xiang Lisong was the elder among the six, and when he saw the newly built houses in Xicheng, he nodded and shook his head from time to time. After turning around, he selected two buildings near the county government, and declared that they would be demolished and rebuilt.

"What do you think?" Xiang Lisong said, holding up a stone as big as a millstone and weighing it, saying that in the future, stones should be taken according to this standard to build the strongest house.

Huan Rong swallowed, and asked: "Is this going to be troublesome?"

"No trouble." Xiang Libai's character is blunt, interjected, "Looking from a high place, these two houses are next to the county government office. They can be imitated by the Wengcheng City to build a wall, and they are horns with the county government office. They can resist hundreds of thieves and bandits. .”

Wengcheng?stone wall?horn?Thieves?

Huan Rong was stunned on the spot, he just wanted to build a house, not a military base.He knows that the Mo family is good at defending the city, but he needs to use his strengths now?

"need."

The six Xiangli brothers nodded together, and at the same time said that the area around the county government office is only the first step, including the west city, east city, north city and south city. As long as there is enough time, manpower and materials, further reconstruction will be done.

"Your Majesty trusts us, and I will repay you wholeheartedly!" Xiang Lisong threw away the millstone.

"Your Majesty, don't worry, there are wheel axles and wooden carts made by the company, and it will not be a problem to transport stones." Xiang Libai grinned and showed his white teeth.

"After the city is built, the servants will bury pottery urns around the city, set up traps to connect the rivers and waterways in the city, and make sure everything is safe." Xiangli Liu picked up a log as thick as an arm, and tapped it against the wall. Very satisfied with this hardness.

"The river flows outside, so we should set up fences to prevent bandits." Xiang Licong observed the stone pit made by the wood, and nodded to his brother.

"Good!" Xianglizao nodded repeatedly.

The six people were drawing while discussing, and in less than half an hour, a rough city defense map was already on the paper.

Huan Rong wanted to speak several times, but found that he didn't know what to say, so he finally chose to keep his mouth shut, quietly watching several people draw pictures.

A military fortress is a military fortress, he does not lack manpower and materials, let alone money!However, such a city defense map, no matter how you look at it, looks like the northern Wubao mentioned by Xi Chao.

"To tell you the truth, the Qin family's Wubao in the north was built by the Xiangli family."

"I heard from Gong Shulang that your ancestors are from Xihe County." The other party took the initiative to mention the Wubao of the Qin family. The Qin family has a good relationship, why did you want to go south?"

The six Xiangli brothers looked at each other in blank dismay, and in the end, it was the youngest Xianglizao who explained.

"Pu's great-grandfather competed with others in the early years. He accidentally lost, and he was always worried about it. The father and the father swore to avenge their shame, but they failed to do so until they died. The six servants inherited their father's will and learned that their descendants appeared in the Southland , so I searched all the way, hoping to avenge the shame of my great-grandfather."

"Have you ever found it?"

"I found it." Xianglizao nodded and said, "It's Brother Gongshu."

Huan Rong: "..."

Is this what Master Gongshu said he couldn't explain in a single word?

It's probably because Gong Shuchang's great-grandfather didn't take this matter to heart at all, and naturally he wouldn't tell his descendants.The six people searched all the way, and he probably was still in the fog, not understanding what was going on.

Huan Rong was speechless for a long time.

He thought that the six people had something to hide about leaving the Northland, or there was some epic story, but he didn't expect it to be so.Sure enough, after traveling for a long time, he also started to be good at brain supplementation?

Just as he was thinking, there was a loud eagle cry in the air.

Huan Rong raised his head, immediately smiled and raised his right arm.

After a while, a black-brown goshawk swooped down, landed on Huan Rong's forearm, then quickly moved to Huan Rong's shoulder, and brushed his cheek with its wings, as if to say hello.

"You're finally back." Huan Rong brushed the goshawk's back feathers and said with a smile, "I thought you were going to stay in Beidi and didn't plan to come back."

Goshawk stared at Huan Rong dissatisfied, and raised the bamboo tube on his leg, as if protesting: Is Lao Tzu such an irresponsible eagle? !

Xianglizao looked at Goshawk and felt very familiar.Looking at the five elder brothers, they were all staring at the goshawk and frowning just like him.

Why is this eagle so similar to the one raised by Mr. Qin Silang?