turmoil

When Yang Fan led his family back to Suzhou City, Lu Xun, the chief soldier of Zhejiang Province, had already captured Li Wenbin, the governor of Jiangnan. Together with his staff, they pulled out radishes and took them out of the mud to catch a bunch of them.

Yang Fan went south under the emperor's order. Although he was an imperial envoy, he did not have the real power to punish him.Then Li Wenbin saw this point and killed himself without knowing it. Even though he was suspected of seeing things unknown and eating a vegetarian meal in his corpse, he definitely did not dare to collude with Japanese pirates and communicate with foreign countries.

However, this person is a great official in the frontier, with a special status, and without a solid confession, even the Marquis of Dingbian can't rashly convict him.

"Then Li Wenbin probably felt that his death was imminent, and beheading him would be better than dragging his whole family to be buried with him. It has nothing to do with those Japanese people who killed him." Lu Xun was tortured by Li Wenbin for two days, and his hair fell out in handfuls. , Mentioning this errand, he frowns, "This old boy is very stubborn, no matter what I say, I won't let go. From my humble position, I'm afraid I can't smell anything."

Yang Fan didn't take it seriously: "I didn't expect this old boy to say anything... Didn't he have a lot of masters and staff in his house? After going through the hall one by one, I don't believe it. Their mouths are also made of steel and iron?"

Lu Xun was not as optimistic as Yang Fan: "These staff members are all in the hands of Li Wenbin, and they will all be prosperous and all will suffer. If Li Wenbin is killed, their family will not be able to please, I am afraid..."

Yang Fan sneered slightly: "The human body is made of flesh, no matter how hard the mouth is, it is harder than the torture tools in the prison? I heard that there are many tricks in the Governor's Mansion, and this Marquis should be an experienced man."

Lu Xun was taken aback: "Punishment? Lord Hou, you are an imperial envoy. Although you have the power to interrogate, you have no right to use severe punishment... If it is passed back to Beijing, those talkative officials will still be eaten alive." you?"

Yang Fan didn't care much: "What's the matter? Whoever likes talking can just talk...as long as they can live until then!"

Lu Xun could hear the extremely dangerous meaning from his understatement, and the sweat that had just been dried by the breeze appeared for a second time.

Yang Fan and You Yunwei walked together all the way, and learned a few methods of torture. The master Li Wenbin raised in the mansion was not as brave as the Japanese in Japan. After being warmly greeted by the generals of the Hou's mansion, it didn't take long to pour beans out of the bamboo tube, and recruited a gangster. clean.

What Yang Fan didn't expect was that there really was a strong bone in the master, even though the generals tried all kinds of methods, they only insisted on one sentence: only when they saw Dingbianhou would they speak.

"Want to see Benhou?" Dingbianhou sneered, "He thinks Benhou is a radish sold in the street market, so he will see you? Tell him, if you like to talk about it, don't talk about it, don't talk about it, and Benhou will listen to it! "

It was the first time that Mr. Lu heard someone describe himself with such a fresh and refined metaphor, and he couldn't help but be silent for a moment: "Master Hou, as far as I know, this Kong Yihang is Li Wenbin's confidant, and he helped Li Wenbin to advise on many things, not an ordinary master. Comparable... If he wants to see you, he probably has something important to tell, and from the perspective of his humble position, it doesn't matter if you go and see him."

Yang Fan is the most impatient to deal with old oily people in the officialdom, and he gets a headache when he thinks about it. Hearing what Lu Xun said, and having to see him again, is really boring.

"Okay, Ben Hou knows!" He stretched, and stood up reluctantly, "I'll see you when I see you, Ben Hou is still afraid that he won't succeed?"

Marquis Dingbian assumed the power of a first-rank military marquis, and walked leisurely through the courtyard with square steps.As soon as he arrived under the eaves, a person hurriedly walked towards him, his footsteps were too fast to stop the car, and he bumped into Yang Fan.

"You..." Yang Fan was about to get angry, saw this person's appearance clearly, and felt a little familiar. After thinking for a while, he remembered that this person is Zhang Jingche's personal guard. He has followed him since he was lurking in Beile, and Zhang Jingche has won Zhang Jingche's trust. , "Is it you? Are you all still alive? Where have you been these few days?"

This person's surname is Xu, and his single name is Shen. He has met with Dingbian Hou several times, so he is familiar with him.Right now, his expression was unusual, he neither answered nor greeted, he came up and said: "Master Hou, I have something important to report for my humble position!"

Yang Fan was a little surprised: "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Xu Shen didn't speak, just looked around, with anxiety in his brows.

Yang Fan understood, and gestured to the left and right, the family's generals and guards all retreated, and there was no third person around, Yang Fan said: "There are no outsiders here, so it's okay to talk if you have something to say."

Xu Shen suddenly said: "Master Hou, may I ask how your friendship with Zhang Tongzhi is?"

Yang Fan couldn't help being stunned when he asked him straight at the head, he was stunned for a while before asking: "What's wrong with Zhang Tongzhi?"

Xu Shen gritted his teeth, suddenly lifted up the hem of his clothes, and knelt down on the ground: "I am so humble, I beg you to save Zhang Tongzhi!"

Yang Fan was startled.

Lu Xun knew that You Yunwei had something to report, so he deliberately avoided it. He stood at the corner of the veranda, seeing that Yang Fan didn't say a few words, he didn't know what was wrong, and he caught You Yunwei by surprise and went straight out the door.

"What's the situation?" Lu Xun was shocked, "Master Hou... what are you going to do?"

A group of generals looked at each other in blank dismay, all in a daze.

The place where Xu Shen took Yang Fan was not far away, it was thirty miles southwest of Suzhou city, and they arrived in about half an hour at a fast pace.A group of people got off their horses and walked up the mountain along the path, only to see a corner of a flying bird behind the dense forest, and mottled thieves hanging from the eaves.

"What kind of place is that?" Yang Fan asked in surprise, "It looks like an ancient temple...Why didn't Ben Hou know that there was such a place outside Suzhou City?"

Xu Shen said: "This place is indeed an ancient temple. Due to the lack of incense, it was gradually abandoned, and later it became a stronghold of Youyunwei..."

Yang Fan paused: "You Yunwei has a stronghold near Suzhou City? When did it happen?"

Xu Shen knew that he would tell the truth, so he would definitely come to calm the Marquis of Marquis' fear, but he had no choice but to say: "It existed as early as 20 years after Taiping. Transfer here..."

Yang Fan climbed up the steps without touching the ground, and quickly connected the cause and effect: "Zhang Tongzhi built a hidden stake here to keep an eye on Li Wenbin, right? He started to be wary of Li Wenbin early in the morning?"

Xu Shen looked hesitant, so Yang Fan sneered lightly: "That's right... Li Wenbin used to be a member of Liu An, the king of Huainan, and later he followed King Ping. No matter what, he is the confidant of the East Palace. Zhang Tongzhi's long-term mind is also the answer to the question." There is meaning."

Xu Shen smiled apologetically, while perfunctory Ding Bianhou, while trying to hide the worry between his brows.

A group of people reached the gate of the ancient temple, and Yang Fan's footsteps were caught by something. The next moment, the wire rope touched the copper bell hanging on the treetop.

The expressions of the servants at the side changed drastically, and they pulled out their sabers at the same time, only to hear the sound of hurried footsteps in the temple, a dozen Youyun Guards came out with their sabers in their hands, the leader, Yang Fan, recognized him as You Yunwei Zhong A small commander, always cautious and alert, although he never followed Zhang Jingche to the north, he was quite relied on.

"If I remember correctly...you are the commander of You Yunwei, and your surname is Yan?" Yang Fan put one hand behind his back, posing as a Marquis of Dingbian, "Do you recognize me?"

Commander Yan naturally recognized Marquis Dingbian, and knew better the prestige of Lord Marquis Yang among the troops stationed in the Four Realms. What's more, he and Donggong had a childhood friendship, and he was so favored by the present day that even Zhaoyang Palace had to pay three respects. point.

"The Marquis of Dingbian is here, and I have lost my humble position. Please forgive me, Marquis Yang!" Commander Yang clasped his fists and saluted with a respectful gesture, "Why did Marquis Yang come here suddenly?"

Yang Fan stepped forward slowly, and looked down at Commander Yan condescendingly: "You Yunwei is a confidant of the Eastern Palace, and he suffered for no reason. This Marquis must find out what happened. In order to track down the whereabouts of you and others, this Marquis almost turned over the entire mountain... ...They were all ready to plead guilty to the East Palace and Zhaoyang Palace, but never thought that Commander Yan would hide here and enjoy himself, it is really easy to find this Marquis."

Commander Yan knew Yang Fan's temper, and he was afraid of offending this fierce god, so he hurriedly said: "How dare you be a humble official...The humble official is actually ordered by the empress to arrest the traitor who escaped, and there was a delay, so I didn't have time to report to the Marquis. "

Yang Fan had a calculation in his heart, but he wanted to ask knowingly: "A traitor? Who is a traitor?"

Commander Yan was not sure what Yang Fan meant. Thinking of the rumors in Beijing that Marquis Dingbian had always been displeased with Zhang Jingche, he became more courageous: "Mr. Hou, traitors are the ones who have received the grace of the Holy Spirit. They don't want to be loyal and serve them. Zhang Jingche, who is full of calculations and only cares about planning for himself!"

Yang Fan raised his head suddenly, his gaze was as sharp as a blade.

Commander Yan was so stared at him that his whole body turned cold, and he took half a step back silently, only to hear Yang Fan chuckle: "It turned out to be the one surnamed Zhang... So, he has been arrested by you?"

Commander Yan bit the bullet and nodded, trying to cover up and repeated: "Yes... Lord Hou, this is what the empress means!"

Yang Fan narrowed his eyes slightly: "You mean... the empress arranged you by Zhang's side early in the morning to keep an eye on his every move, and if he ever tries to defect, you, the nail you planted in advance, will immediately turn against you. , bite him back?"

Commander Yan could hear the sarcasm in his words, so he dared not speak.

Yang Fan took two steps forward, lifted Commander Yan's chin with the scabbard, and forced the man to look directly into his eyes: "Since you have brought him back, what are you going to do with him? Just kill him?"

Commander Yan hurriedly said: "That's not the case... The empress only ordered that if this person intends to defect, he will be arrested and returned to the capital to wait for the East Palace to deal with him."

Yang Fan stared at him meaningfully, and then said after a long while: "You Yunwei was founded by Zhang. Although you are not his confidant, you have been relied on a lot these years... He is just trying to get out of his body, you followed him After so long, even this little wish can’t be fulfilled?”

Marquis Dingbian was tall and tall. When he looked down, the shadows covered the sky and the sun covered the sky. Commander Yan had the illusion that he was being watched by a beast for no reason, and he could hardly breathe.He swallowed, and said a little dryly: "The humble position... The humble position has been greatly favored by the empress, so I should be loyal to the emperor."

Yang Fan smiled lightly: "I can't see it, but you are a loyal character. Benhou really underestimates you on weekdays..."

Commander Yan hurriedly said: "I don't dare to be humble, I am humble..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly opened his eyes wide and lowered his head in disbelief, only to see Yang Fan expressionlessly pulling out a blood-stained dagger from his heart.

Commander Yan said with blood in his mouth, "Hou, Lord Hou..."

"I'm not afraid to tell you that the Marquis hates two things the most in my life." Yang Fan cut off a piece of fabric from his robe, and slowly wiped off the blood on the blade. The commander committed two crimes, but happened to be under Ben Hou's nose, tell me, how can Ben Hou swallow this breath?"

Commander Yan couldn't answer, his lean body fell to the ground straight, blood pooled into pools.

Marquis Dingbian put away the dagger, and raised his eyes casually, the two rows of Youyun Guards lowered their heads involuntarily, and the back of their necks felt cold from being stared at by him, and Marquis Dingbian said indifferently: "Commander Yan was hit by a mountain torrent and unfortunately died... When I can return to Beijing, I will definitely play the performance to ask for a reward for him, so that the bones of the loyal people will not be left cold."

His tone was not sharp, and he even had a casual smile, but the two rows of You Yunwei were a little frightened for no reason.

"I know that the original intention of You Yunwei was to be loyal to the East Palace and support the orthodoxy," Yang Fan smiled and said lightly, "Anyone who thinks that this Marquis has handled it inappropriately can send a letter to Beijing. stop."

You Yunwei is a person with a clear mind, how can he not hear the implication of Marquis Dingbian's words?Hearing the words, he hurriedly said: "I dare not in a lowly position."

Regardless of whether they were sincerely afraid or pretending to flatter them, Yang Fan stepped past Commander Yan's corpse as if nothing had happened, and went straight into the ruined temple.

The queen guarded against Zhang Jingche, which did not surprise Yang Fan. The surname Zhang was a sharp knife. Although it was sharp and easy to use, it would inevitably scratch his hands. Anyone would put more shackles on it.Fortunately, Zhaoyang Palace still remembered Zhang Jingche's hard work as an ox and a horse, so he didn't intend to do everything. When Yang Fan walked into the ruined temple, he saw Zhang Jingche tied to the pillars. He described it as a bit embarrassed, but his eyes were still cold Bright.

He probably didn't expect that it would be Yang Fan who walked in. When Xunsheng raised his head, he was obviously stunned, and he said after a while: "Yang... Marquis Yang?"

Yang Fan made a quick move, only to see the light of the knife flash, and the rope snapped.Zhang Jingche was tied up for half a day, his blood circulation was impeded, and the soles of his feet staggered involuntarily. Yang Fan quickly supported him, his fingertips rubbed somewhere, and the tentacles felt slippery and greasy. Ken forgives: "Let me explain, Huang, why do you have the ability to make yourself such a mess every time I see you?"

Zhang Jingche probably suffered a lot under Commander Yan, and spoke weakly: "Why... are you here?"

Yang Fan said angrily: "If I don't come, how do you plan to end up? Just be escorted back to Beijing? Even if the East Palace and Zhaoyang Palace miss your old relationship and don't want your life, your future will be ruined... You said you are so shrewd People, why don't you know how to leave yourself a way out?"

Zhang Jingche smiled wryly.

He wanted to leave a way out for himself, but in the whole world, could it be that the king is the land, as long as the emperor Liu is still sitting on the dragon chair, even if he has no plans, he can still count as the omniscient and pervasive Hehe Tianwei ?

Yang Fan asked a few times without answering. He lowered his head and saw Zhang Jingche's expression, so he knew that there was no need to ask anything.He sighed. Seeing that Zhang Jingche couldn't stand still, he simply hugged him horizontally. Zhang Jingche was startled, and quickly said in a low voice, "What are you doing? Let go!"

Yang Fan winked at him: "Are you able to stand now, or can you walk? If I let go, why don't you throw yourself into a shit?"

Zhang Jingche gasped for breath, and said again: "The Commander Yan is from Zhaoyang Palace..."

Yang Fan interrupted him: "I know, I have dealt with him."

Zhang Jingche was really taken aback this time: "Commander Yan is a member of Zhaoyang Palace, so you just deal with it like this? If Donggong and Zhaoyang Palace ask for a crime..."

Yang Fan said as if nothing had happened: "Don't worry, I have made arrangements. Commander Yan was unfortunately killed in a flash flood... Later, you will make a list. Among the surviving people in Youyunwei, who are available and who are untrustworthy, list them one by one. , this Marquis can also follow the map and clean up the first and last."

Zhang Jingche didn't speak, but frowned at him.

Yang Fan was surprised: "Why, the Marquis didn't handle it properly?"

Zhang Jingche was silent for a long time, then sighed: "Master Hou... You don't really need to go through this muddy water."