Three thousand miles in exile

What happened in the court soon spread throughout the capital. Emperor Xuan's pardon of the Song family seemed to be a signal. All the families were ready to move, and they all thought it was an opportunity to pull the Zhou family down.

Especially the camp that supports the second and fourth princes, if the prime minister can't afford to be ill, these aristocratic families will definitely explode and eat the Zhou family.

Three days later, the Prime Minister woke up, and the imperial doctor said that it was nothing serious to be angry, and the old man, who was nearly seventy years old, became even older after experiencing this incident.

"Go write a letter...let Chan'er come back as soon as possible, old man...I'm afraid this old man won't last long."

The internal prime minister began to clear the obstacles for his son's succession, while the external prime minister led the Zhou family to hibernate. Recently, the court has rarely been calm.

Ten days after Zhou Chan received his father's reply, his plan to frame Liu Zhan failed, as did his test of the aristocratic family and Emperor Xuan. The Zhou family seemed to have encountered a bottleneck.

Not only that, the letter also mentioned the prime minister's physical condition, and repeatedly asked Zhou Chan to return to Beijing as soon as possible.

If something unexpected happened to the Prime Minister, Zhou Chan would not be able to come back even if he wanted to, and the families would definitely do everything possible to prevent him from returning to Beijing to preside over the overall affairs of the Zhou family.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Zhou family is facing the biggest crisis at this moment.

Zhou Chan, uncharacteristically, did not get angry. He burned the letter and saw the letter in his hand burst into flames, and he was about to burn his hand, so he suddenly let go.

Northern Xinjiang is only a link in the huge power of the Zhou family. How about Jinyang City, Qiyun Mountain, and Baoshan? To put it bluntly, it can't hurt Zhou's hair.

Zhou Sui has [-] northern soldiers who can compete with Liu Zhan, Liu Zhan will consider Baoshan if he wants to attack, and he will not be afraid if it is exposed, Baoshan did not leave any accounts about Zhou's, so Zhou can't be blamed.

"Zhou Chan asked to resign?"

At that time Qi Yunshan was in autumn harvest, Liu Zhan accompanied Song Fenglin to inspect the autumn harvest in several new villages, Zhang Xiaoman rushed over to report the latest news without stopping.

"It is said that they will leave for Beijing in the next few days. The Northern Army does not have a general, but Zhou Sui will be promoted to the top general to lead the Northern Army."

Liu Zhan folded his arms and leaned against an old tree. "Hey, they're gone all at once, isn't our Northern Xinjiang fragrant?"

At this time Song Fenglin came back holding a bunch of rice ears, and he heard Zhang Xiaoman's loud voice from a distance. "Zhou Chan is in a hurry to go back. Is the Prime Minister not in good health?"

Besides, Song Fenglin couldn't think of any reason for Zhou Chan to resolutely give up his hegemony in northern Xinjiang.

Zhang Xiaoman immediately said: "Mr. Song is really amazing, there are rumors in Jinyang City that the Prime Minister fainted in the court."

This news was released by Zhou Chan on purpose, he didn't want people to think that he left in despair because of Liu Zhan's anger.

On the night Zhang Xiaoman told Liu Zhan and Zhou Chan to resign, Zhao Hengfu's letter also arrived.

After reading the letter, Song Fenglin remained silent for a long time. The past was over and the past was not to blame. His heart was filled with anger and sorrow.

Emperor Xuan said that the past is over and the past is over, and the Song family lost hundreds of lives, and they were tortured for unwarranted charges.

Seeing Song Fenglin not moving for a long time, Liu Zhan raised his chin with his hand and saw that his eyes were full of water marks. Liu Zhan took his hand and pulled him into his embrace.

"This is just the beginning, trust me."

Those executioners back then will pay the price!

Just before and after the end of the autumn harvest, Zhou Chan led his relatives, guards and entourage and hundreds of people left Jinyang City and set off for Beijing.

As Prince Rui and Zhou Chan left Jinyang City one after another, Jinyang City, which had always been at the center of the power struggle in Northern Xinjiang, suddenly became quiet.

When Zhou Chan left, he handed over everything in northern Xinjiang to Zhou Sui.

Zhou Suizu was a family slave of the Zhou family. In the generation of Zhou Sui's grandfather, Zhou Sui began to be reused by the Zhou family. Now Zhou Sui is even an important member of one party, taking over Zhou Chan's burden in northern Xinjiang. Zhou Sui has expanded unprecedentedly.

The headquarters of the Northern Army Camp was still stationed outside Jinyang City, and Zhou Sui moved into Zhou Chan's General's Mansion and changed its name to the General's Mansion.

Zhang Taining was assigned to guard Yangguan, while Zhou Sui lived the life of Zhou Chan in the General's Mansion.

He asked the officials of Jinyang City to report to him on a regular basis every day, and whoever refused to come would be beaten up by sending soldiers to catch them.

As for Liu Zhan?Zhou Sui ignored it.

He made up his mind to stay in Jinyang City, so what can Liu Zhan do against him?

No matter what kind of General Qi Yun he is, he has more soldiers than Liu Zhan. In Zhou Sui's eyes, whoever has more soldiers has the final say.

It would be fine if Zhou Sui just stayed in Jinyang City to show off his prestige, and he openly demanded filial piety from the big and small business houses in Jinyang City, even the Yan family was not spared.

He has to take care of the affairs of the yamen, he has to intervene in whoever does business with whom in the commercial bank, and he has to be given a share of the business in Jinyang City. If he doesn't send a team of soldiers to smash the shop directly.

Things like this and that spread to Liu Zhan like jokes every day.

The autumn harvest in Qiyun Mountain had just ended, and taxes, food and salaries had been collected. Song Fenglin brought a few officials to Cenzhou to settle accounts, and Liu Zhan was bored in the barracks of Tiancang Village all by himself, relying on these jokes to pass the time.

Liu Zhan was not in a hurry, but he was anxious to the people below.

"General, are you going to let that jumping clown occupy the magpie's nest?"

"General, give me five thousand soldiers, and I will drive that clown out of Qiyun Mountain!"

"General!"

Liu Zhan picked out his ears. "Okay, don't worry, the good show hasn't played yet."

These firms and stores are the foundation of the Yan family, how could Zhou Sui be allowed to act like this?

Sure enough, conflicts broke out in Jinyang City on the first day of October.

The first day of every month is the filial piety date set by Zhou Sui for the merchants. When Zhou Sui's personal soldiers went door-to-door to collect income, Yan's army suddenly rushed out and beat anyone wearing the uniform of the Northern Army.

In the beginning, it was just a small-scale weapon fight. The soldiers of the Northern Army reported to Zhou Sui. How could Zhou Sui allow Yan to step on his head and act wildly? Immediately, more soldiers were called into the city. The small-scale weapon fight developed into a large-scale one.

Yan Qiliang, who led the Yan's army, saw that the northern army was continuously entering the city, and immediately ordered the gates to be closed. Anyone who came would step on Yan's foot. Difficult to part.

At this time, no one was killed. After all, they were Chu people, and neither side showed their weapons until Zhou Sui wanted to kill chickens and monkeys and ordered his personal guards to kill a head of a hundred households in Yan's army.

This matter was serious, and the nature of the fighting changed suddenly. Yan Qiliang immediately ordered the whole army to unleash their weapons, and the northern army in the city must be wiped out. This ignited the flames of war in Jinyang City, and the situation was out of control.

The northern army outside the city saw the thick smoke billowing in the city, shouting and killing, and Zhou Sui's deputy general immediately led troops to surround the front gate of Jinyang City, clamoring for Yan's army to open the city gate.

The guards guarding the city gate had already received Yan Qiliang's order, so naturally they would not open the gate.

For a moment, arrows flew over the city gate, and those who didn't know it thought it was the Yan army.

Most of Yan's army fought with the Northern Army in the city, and only about 400 people were stationed at the city gate.

The northern army was numerous and well-equipped to attack the city. About two o'clock in the morning, the northern army successfully climbed the city wall using ladders and seized control of the city gate of Jinyang.

At this time, a total of [-] northern troops entered Jinyang City. However, the northern army did not take Jinyang in one fell swoop but aroused more resistance.

Hao Qiang organizes guards and Yan's army to jointly besiege the Northern Army. Zhou Sui becomes angry and orders his soldiers to capture the thief first and capture the king to besiege Yan's Mansion. Yan Qiliang leads the Yan's Army to fight fiercely with the Northern Army on the street outside Yan's Mansion.

In the second half of the night, due to the intensified fighting with weapons, the people fled and crowded in the streets and alleys, and the city of Jinyang was in chaos.

It is extremely ironic that the Yan people did not destroy the city when they came, but let the Chu people mess up this border city by their own internal strife.

After a night of fierce fighting, corpses littered the inside and outside of the Yan Mansion. Half of the buildings were engulfed in flames. Yan Qiliang and Yan Qirong were captured alive by Zhou Sui.

"Zhou Sui! You exceeded your authority and interfered in Jinyang's internal affairs, and you allowed the soldiers to burn, kill, and loot. I will not be afraid of you even before the emperor! You have the guts to kill me! You bastard!" Yan Qiliang cursed.

"A mere slave of the Zhou family dares to climb on the head of the lord and act wildly. Wait for me to write to the Yue family in Jingzhong to ask His Majesty to make the decision, and see if your dog master can protect you!"

"Today's enmity with Lao Tzu will never end with you!"

Zhou Sui's face was extremely ugly. He intended to teach Yan and Jinyang local tycoons a lesson, but he never wanted to make it worse. Now it's hard to get off the horse, but it's not easy to end it.

Seeing that Zhou Sui didn't dare to make any more moves, Yan Qiliang became even more arrogant, clamoring and threatening to let Zhou Sui release everyone immediately.

Zhou Sui knew very well that he would be punished if this matter was brought to the imperial court, but he was the general of the Northern Army who did not concurrently serve as a local official, and he would not be in charge of affairs other than the Northern Army camp.

This time, he also thought that Zhou Chan's remaining power was still there, so he hurried to take Jinyang into his pocket while the iron was hot.

However, he underestimated the power of the Yan family and the local tyrants. Although the Northern Army finally won with a large number of people, the cause and effect of this matter are not tenable.

After all, Zhou Sui also followed Zhou Chan for many years, and was more or less immersed in some stratagems. He was determined not to let the Yan family stay, only dead people would not talk nonsense.

After Yan's death, he will fabricate several charges and submit them. As long as the reasons are sufficient, Zhou will be responsible for other matters.

In the twilight of the morning, Qi Yun's military flag fluttered in the wind, and [-] Qi Yun cavalrymen came unhurriedly outside Jinyang City.

Behind the cavalry were [-] infantry, uniformly dressed in light armor, holding a round shield in their left hand and an iron rod like a baton in the right.

These iron sticks are semi-finished products of Mo Dao. Liu Zhan let the infantry have one, and tied a cloth belt on one end of the stick to prevent slipping, and it immediately became a sharp weapon for wounding people and treating all kinds of injustice.

After the city gate of Jinyang was breached last night, no one was guarding it. Soldiers from both sides fought in the city, and people escaped from the city gate in an endless stream.

Liu Zhan, dressed in military uniform, stepped forward on his horse. He made a gesture, and immediately a group of cavalry stepped forward to open the way to divert the people.

Li Xiaolian, Guo Donghu and Zheng Fengtian immediately rushed into the city with [-] infantrymen from the Right Army Battalion. When they saw people fighting, they beat them.

Qi Yun's soldiers swept along the long street, everywhere they went was full of people crying in pain.

At first the common people were very panicked, but seeing that Qi Yun's soldiers only picked up fights and beat them, and then left without beating or smashing or provoking troubles, the common people gradually stopped fleeing.

Liu Zhan ordered Jiang Changlin to lead 2000 people each to control the front and rear gates of Jinyang City at Huangwu, and to close the gates and prohibit entry and exit.

After explaining all this, Liu Zhan led [-] cavalry into Jinyang City and rushed directly to Yan's Mansion.

When he arrived, Yan Qiliang and Yan Qirong had been killed, Yan's relatives died in the fire, and the century-old clan was destroyed.

Liu Zhan, who has always been as immovable as a mountain, couldn't help but feel a sinking heart. Zhou Sui is so cruel.

Qi Yunjun's cavalry outflanked the northern army outside Yan's mansion in the middle of the street. Liu Zhan rode forward with a casual posture, but his eyes were as cold as ice.

"General Zhou is so majestic." Liu Zhan snorted coldly.

Zhou Sui was stunned for a moment, he probably didn't expect Liu Zhan to come so quickly.

"What's the matter, General Zhou privately led troops into Jinyang City under the jurisdiction of the general, and burned, killed and looted like swallows. Is this treason?" Liu Zhan rode on the horse and looked down at Zhou Sui, who was covered in blood. .

Zhou Sui looked calm on the face, but he was shocked.

Seeing that the cavalry brought by Liu Zhan were all elite, the strange long knives in their hands were all ready to attack, as long as Liu Zhan gave an order, these cavalry would swarm up and kill them.

"The Yan family rebelled. This general received the news and entered the city early to control the Yan family." Zhou Suiqiang calmed down.

"Oh." Liu Zhan suddenly realized. "I wonder if General Zhou has evidence of Yan's rebellion?"

"No, the leader of the thief has committed suicide in fear of crime." Zhou Sui stiffened his neck, he had made up his mind to pretend to be stupid.

Liu Zhan's next words completely shattered Zhou Sui's pretended calmness. "But what General Ben saw was that General Zhou was collaborating with the enemy and treasoning the country. Killing the Yan family is the evidence of your treason."

"Nonsense, nonsense!" Zhou Sui panicked.

"This general is the governor of Qiyunshan, and all internal affairs within Qiyunshan are under the supervision of this general. Not only have you crossed the border and set up a government and violated your authority to meddle in Jinyang's internal affairs, but you have also allowed the soldiers to bully and dominate the city, single-handedly leading the civil strife in Jinyang, and now you are even accusing the Yan family of treason."

Liu Zhan scolded him loudly. "The Yan family has been stationed in Jinyang for a hundred years and has guarded the gates of the country for generations. How can you let you fabricate things casually? Even if you sue the emperor, you can just see if His Majesty believes you or not!"

The dark horse of Shen Jun kept pacing and panting, as if he was dissatisfied with why Liu Zhan didn't rush to kill.

"Over the years, every battle has been fought by other generals, but Zhou Chan has credited you with the military exploits. All the military exploits of this general along the way have come from fighting with a knife and a gun. Why do you rely on it? Your dog master?"

Liu Zhan condensed Zhou Sui's every word to punish his heart.

"Zhou Chan is Prince Rui's uncle, coercing Prince Rui to order Beijiang, that's all. You are just a servant of the Zhou family. Whoever gives you the confidence to bully others, burns, kills, smashes, and who gives you the confidence to frame the Yan family and force Yan to death Clan!"

Liu Zhan scolded to the hearts of the people, Zhou Sui was ashamed and angry but could not refute.

"Today's matter, this general will announce to His Majesty. Zhou Chan has a dog who loves and hates, so he will try his best to protect you. I don't have time and don't want to care about the future. But now! Get out of Jinyang immediately! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless under Qi Yun’s saber!”

When Liu Zhan's words fell, tens of thousands of cavalry immediately raised their swords and roared, and the formation was astonishing.

After last night's scuffle with many casualties to the Northern Army, Zhou Sui knew that the situation was over and his reasoning was untenable, he had no choice.

That day, Zhou Sui led the rest of the Northern Army out of the Jinyang border in despair, and Cao Zhuang led the cavalry to follow them all the way until it was confirmed that the entire Northern Army camp had left the Jinyang border.

In fact, Liu Zhan could have killed Zhou Sui, but because he forced Yan Qiliang to death, Liu Zhan killed him justifiably.

But now there are only two generals left in the Northern Army, Zhou Sui and Zhang Taining. If Zhou Sui dies, Zhang Taining is most likely to take the top.

Liu Zhan didn't want the Northern Army to become stronger and make him an enemy. It would be more beneficial for him to be led by an idiot.

In addition, killing Zhou Sui might become an excuse for Zhou Chan to bite back. It is better to keep this man to respond to Emperor Xuan. This matter will definitely cause another disturbance before the imperial court.

The Zhou family will definitely insist that the Yan family is treasonous. Has the Zhou family used less tricks to frame their opponents for treason these years?When is there any evidence?The more this happened, the more Emperor Xuan hated the Zhou family.

After expelling the Northern Army from the Jinyang territory, Liu Zhan immediately commanded his subordinates to take over Jinyang City with full authority.

Liu Zhan sat in the high hall of the yamen with a big horse and a golden sword, and issued a series of military orders.

"Gather the Yan's army and drive them all out of the city to set up camp at the former site of the Northern Army camp. The Jinyang City barracks will be taken over by Qi Yun's army!"

"Send another [-] soldiers to help the people put out the fire, collect the corpses, clean the streets in the city, and restore order in the city as soon as possible."

"Xiao Man, send someone to pick up Mr. Song immediately. Mr. Song has to preside over the internal affairs of the city."

"Also, send someone to Wuyuan County to call Wen Qingshan."

The fighting with weapons severely damaged the vitality of the powerful in the city, and at the same time, half of the Yan clan was killed by Zhou Sui, which also frightened the powerful. Liu Zhan directly led people to take over Jinyang City, and no one dared to take the lead.

"Brother!!" Yan Qixiu was so filthy that he threw himself on Liu Zhan and cried bitterly as soon as he stepped into the yamen. "Brother!! Woohoo!!"

"I'm not your elder brother." Liu Zhan slapped him away angrily.

Yan Qixiu hiccupped from crying.

"Yan Qiliang and Yan Qirong were all killed, where did you hide to escape?" Liu Zhan asked.

It turned out that Yan Qixiu hid in the brothel in a panic, and Zhou Sui sent people to search for Yan Qixiu throughout the city, trying to eradicate him, but Yan Qixiu's old friends were kind enough to hide him in the back kitchen of the brothel to escape disaster.

"My three children are gone, and my wife and concubine are gone too, woo woo... The Zhou family is too deceitful!" Yan Qixiu was heartbroken.

This time, the Yan family was truly ruined.

Liu Zhan didn't have the heart to reprimand him, he just said: "What's the use of crying, hurry up and write a memorial and send someone eight hundred miles to rush it to Beijing. I will testify for you, and the rest will depend on your Majesty's decision."

Yan Qixiu's memorial and Zhou Chan's memorial arrived in the capital almost at the same time, which immediately caused an uproar, not less than the previous time when the Prime Minister mentioned the old case of the Song family.

These two memorials insist on their own words, and the contents are completely opposite.

Zhou Sui killed dozens of members of the Yan family, and the Yan family's Yue family, the Chen family and the Lu family criticized the Zhou family verbally and in writing.

The Zhou family is not afraid of boiling water, no matter how the Chen family and the Lu family attack, they only insist that the Yan family is treasonous, and the Zhou family is too powerful.

After half a month of arguing and attacking, the Chen family and the Lu family were finally defeated. Both sides had insufficient evidence and it was difficult for Emperor Xuan to draw a conclusion.

The Zhou family made things easier for the Chen family and the Lu family in this year's official evaluation, but in the end the matter was left alone.

It's just that after this incident, Emperor Xuan's boredom with Zhou was beyond words.

The author has something to say: When Zhou Chan goes back, there will be chaos in Beijing and China. I will make another update in two days, and then I will save more manuscripts.