turmoil

Although Marquis Dingbian ordered to block the news, Zhang Jingche, who was far away in Gaochang, still heard the news. When Ding Ruan pushed the door and entered, he saw Zhang Jingche leaning alone on the soft couch, looking at the letter in his hand, silently lost in thought.

Ding Ru'an didn't dare to disturb him, and waited at the door for a while before Zhang Jingche noticed him: "What's the matter?"

Ding Ru'an lowered his hand and said: "Mei Niya sent a carrier pigeon, and she rushed to the northern border of Huihe with You Yunwei, and will arrive at the camp of the Huihe army in a few days."

Zhang Jingche let out a "huh", thought for a while, and said, "Remember to light a fire in the territory of Kucha, lest the king of Kucha is greedy, and his existing one-acre land is not enough to toss, and he has to extend his hand to the neighbors." within the country."

Ding Ru'an smiled and said: "This is still under the command of the master? It will be done early! The concubine next to the king of Qiuci is ours. The old king has been taking the medicine that prolongs life and nourishes the body. He looks radiant, but he has already lost money inside." .The left and right sides are both smart people, and they are their own masters. How can there be no reason for not seeing the stitches?"

Zhang Jingche smiled: "I'm at ease if I handle things safely."

Ding Ru'an looked at his expression, and said cautiously: "Master...why doesn't he seem very happy? Is there any omission?"

Zhang Jingche shook his head, and said in a deep voice, "It's nothing, I'm just a little worried... Send a message to He Ling to ask him to collect medicinal materials and doctors in Shaanxi Mansion and send them to Northwest Camp as soon as possible."

Ding Ru'an couldn't help being surprised.

He Ling is the person in charge behind the Qidal exchange market. Over the years, he has secretly communicated with Beile, and has often engaged in reselling military rations and eating inside and outside.Yang Fan wanted to punish him on the spot, but was stopped by Zhang Jingche, who only thought that this person was useful.

"Since the army rations have been swallowed up by him, Lord Hou might as well ask him to pay off his merits and help raise food for the Northwest camp," Zhang Jingche said at the time, "Make the best use of everything. The He family in Baoji is one of the most famous families in Gansu and Shanxi. Xing took out the food and grass to support the [-] army, and it could only fall on He Ling."

Marquis Dingbian weighed it over and over again, but he still listened to Zhang Jingche's persuasion.

"Why are the medicinal materials and doctors suddenly summoned?" Ding Ru'an tentatively asked, "Could it be...there is a change in the Northwest Camp?"

Zhang Jingche didn't intend to hide it from him: "There was an epidemic in the Northwest Army. Judging from the description of the symptoms, it looks like malaria... There are limited good doctors and medicinal materials in the army, and the capital is so high that the emperor is far away. Yuanzhou is now writing a book to ask for help. The court does not know when Only in order to deliver the supplies, it is better to prepare early."

Ding Ru'an has no objection to "preparing early", but this job falls on He Ling's head. No matter what he thinks, he can't feel at ease: "This He Ling has been in collusion with the Beile people for many years. If he bites back, the medicine and military rations What should we do if we make a move or tip off Bei Le?"

Zhang Jingche didn't take it seriously, folded the letter paper carefully, and carefully put it in his purse: "He Ling has people from us by his side, and his whole clan is in the hands of Yuan Zhou, so he dare not turn his back easily. Besides, after passing Qi Da Regarding Le, Beile Khan will not trust He Ling anymore, it would be even better if he is willing to report the news, we just need to push the boat along the way, make a little trick, and the people of Beile will definitely not be able to eat and walk around."

Ding Ru'an was amazed: "Master, how did your head grow? People say that your heart has nine openings, so your mind is like a hornet's nest, right?"

Zhang Jingche picked up the tea cover and threw it over casually: "How do you arrange for your master? Hurry up and arrange things in Gaochang City, I'm in a hurry to go back, and I don't have the heart to mess with these Huihe people!"

Ding Ru'an agreed, and muttered, "Sure enough, I don't see you in a day, it's like three autumns", and slipped out with oil on the soles of his feet.

For several days in a row, Gaochang City seemed to be calm, but in fact, an invisible undercurrent was brewing.The old officials who were forcibly suppressed by the second prince did not dare to say anything on the surface, but secretly connected with each other secretly.

The second prince was well aware of the actions of the veterans, and soon began a more severe purge and suppression. He thought it would be able to deter everyone powerfully, but he never thought that he would push the wave of resistance to the peak.

Soon, news came from the northern border of Huihe that General Pei Luo had been assassinated, and the murderer was suspected to be from Kucha.The second prince was terrified for several days, and finally heaved a sigh of relief. According to the original plan, he sent envoys in the name of the old king to the northern border to take over the military power.At the same time, Princess Beile, who had been the Queen Mother of Huihe, sent a letter to invite the second prince to meet him.

The Huihe royal palace is not as magnificent as the Central Plains, but in the Western Regions, it is already one of the most luxurious.The desk censer burns ambergris worth thousands of dollars, and the curtains are made of strings of finger-sized pearls.The graceful and luxurious Princess Beile was sitting on the futon. Elder Miaofeng turned over a page of classics and was explaining the Manichae teachings to her.

Huihe believes in Manichaeism, and Princess Beile has been married for decades, and she has also been subtly affected.The second prince stood at the door and listened for a while, then stepped forward to salute, Princess Beile waved her hand, and Miaofeng led the Manichaeists back out.

The second prince approached, and his face couldn't hide his joy: "Mother, Miao Shui and Miao Huo have won, as long as the military power is in hand, we don't have to look at the faces of those old things anymore!"

Princess Beile held her son's hand and stood up slowly.In fact, she is not very old, about thirty at most, and her facial features can vaguely show the elegance and demeanor of that year, but her youthful vigor has been exhausted by decades of court life, leaving only endless meanness and scheming.

"I married back to Hehe for my mother, and endured humiliation for many years, just for this day," Princess Beile said sadly, "When I get back my military power, my mother will throw that bitch Konnain into a silkworm pot, and his body will be broken into pieces. !"

Ke Nayin is the official wife of the old Huihe king and the biological mother of the Huihe prince.Princess Beile and the wife of the royal family have been fighting for decades, and their hatred for each other is as deep as the sea, and there is absolutely no reason to turn the fighting into friendship.

What the second prince was worried about was another thing: "But Nayin is only a girl, so there is no hindrance to her life, but Chi Leshu, if he lives for a day, those old foxes in the court will always have hope! Now that Pei Luo is dead, the military power It's at your fingertips, you have to get rid of him as soon as possible!"

Princess Beile thought for a while, and also showed a happy expression: "That's good! Ke Nayin is most proud of this son, I just want to stop her thoughts, and let her taste the feeling of not being able to live but not being able to die!"

The second prince helped Princess Beile to sit down, and said with emotion: "These years, I have worked hard for my mother... It is also because the father is confused, mixed with those people from the Central Plains, and failed the value of his grandfather and uncle. Don't worry, wait for the child to master it." Once you have the military power, you must send troops to Hetao, and you will definitely not make those Central Plains people proud!"

Princess Beile patted her son on the shoulder and sighed in relief.

"After the death of Father Khan, the only thing Mother can count on is you," she said meaningfully. "In the future, you and your uncle will rule the Central Plains and divide the world. Let's see who dares to bully you, mother and son!"

Zhang Jingche doesn't care about the infighting in Huihe's harem, but if he wants to push Mei Niya to the top, he must remove the obstacles that stand in his way.Two days later, following the sudden death of the old king, the prince of Huihe also died suddenly under house arrest. It was like a spark falling on a pile of pyre, instantly setting off a prairie fire.

The old minister who had endured for a long time was completely angry. The sudden death of the prince not only did not extinguish their dissent, but caused endless troubles.What's more terrible is that there are rumors in the city of Gaochang, saying that Daobeile will gather troops and will soon send troops to the northwest to annex Huihe.For a while, everyone from the princes and nobles to the traffickers and pawns was frightened, lest the second prince who had the blood of Beile would lead the wolf into the house and let the prairie wolf from the east into the house.

Zhang Jingche, who released the news, didn't care about the reaction of the Huihe subjects. He muddied the water with one hand, but he didn't worry at all that the intensified fire would burn himself.The hidden stakes planted over the years have worked. Countless pairs of eyes lurked in the dark, sending a steady stream of reports to Zhang Jingche—the Huihe ministers secretly communicated the news in private, and would rather support the youngest son who was underage than Willing to hand over the throne to the second prince added a straw that overwhelmed the camel's camel to the precarious situation in Gaochang City.

Zhang Jingche twisted the note into a roll and threw it into the incense burner casually: "The ministers of Huihe want to add fuel to the flames, so we don't want to watch... Find a way to pass the news to Prince Teller. He is too busy recently, so I have to find someone for him." Do something."

Ding Ru'an always obeyed Zhang Jingche's advice, but this time he stood where he was and didn't move.

Zhang Jingche glanced at him: "What's wrong?"

Ding Ru'an hesitated: "Teller has always been ruthless...Master, if you do this, it is tantamount to pushing the few young sons left by the old king into the fire pit."

Sparks burst out from the censer, swallowing the note into ashes, Zhang Jingche turned around, and said coldly, "You pity them?"

Ding Ru'an stopped talking.

"You pity them, who pity the people who were massacred in the northwest border?" Zhang Jingche asked calmly, "Six years ago, Beile sent his troops to the south, and Huihe also deliberately took advantage of the fire to loot... If Marquis Yang hadn't led the army to repel Beile, the land of Guanlong would have fallen Into the hands of Huihe! You talk about benevolence and righteousness to them? Benevolence and righteousness are the charity of the strong, and all pity and sympathy are playing the piano to the cow before occupying an overwhelming advantage!"

Ding Ru'an took a deep breath and lowered his head under Zhang Jingche's icy gaze: "Yes...the subordinate thought about it."

"Didn't you think it was wrong, you didn't understand your position," Zhang Jingche said lightly, "Ru'an, you are just an outsider, and the real son is the second prince of Huihe! If he didn't have this thought, it would be useless for you and me to do anything." ,Understand?"

Ding Ru'an closed his eyes, and the last trace of hesitation disappeared: "Yes, this subordinate knows."

He turned and left, his footsteps almost decisive, Zhang Jingche looked at his hands repeatedly facing the sunlight that penetrated the window, always feeling that they were covered with a layer of blood that couldn't be washed off.

"How dirty!" he thought, almost indifferently.

Zhang Jingche knew what the weak were like, they were like cattle and sheep in a pen, life and death were beyond their control.He doesn't want to be dominated by others, and he doesn't want the people he cares about to tremble under the knife of a foreign race, so he can only get bloody hands and carry sin karma.

The net that You Yunwei set up in the early years is very useful. It can not only sniff out news, but also release information.It didn't take long for the second prince in the Huihe palace to know the plans of the Huihe officials.It may be that the eldest son had just died, and it was inconvenient for him to attack his brother immediately, so he took the other sons of the old king into the palace under the pretext of "the sons are young", and handed them over to the queen mother to raise them.At the same time, the mansions of Huihe officials were attacked by thieves one after another. If you pay more attention, you will find that the officials who were assassinated and killed were all opponents of Prince Teller.

So far, the powder keg has been laid, and only the final fuse remains.

At the same time, Zhuo Jiusi hurried into the handsome tent with a tray in the Northwest camp thousands of miles away.A screen blocked his way, and Yang Fan's voice came from behind the screen: "Okay, don't come in... If you have something to talk about, get out if you have nothing to do!"

Zhuo Jiusi tiptoed and looked in from the top of the screen: "Marshal, how are you feeling today? Are you still cold? Do you have any symptoms of fever?"

There was a moment of silence behind the screen, and Dingbianhou's impatient voice came out: "It's neither hot nor cold, but it's noisy! What, are there any soldiers in the army who are sick these two days?"

Zhuo Jiusi showed worry: "Yesterday, more than a hundred soldiers fell ill again, but the number and symptoms were much less than before. According to your instructions, the subordinates moved them to separate isolation tents, and let them The military doctor looked after..."

Yang Fan let out a "huh" and asked, "Didn't you say that there were not enough doctors and medicinal materials before? Why, can you free up your hands again?"

Zhuo Jiusi said: "Originally it wasn't enough. The person we sent to the Shaanxi-Gansu Chief Political Envoy hasn't sent back the news... It was the Baoji He family who somehow heard the news and rushed to raise a batch of medicinal materials and good doctors. , ordered someone to send it to the Northwest Camp, and this solved the urgent need."

Yang Fan was taken aback: "The He family in Baoji? Isn't it He Ling's family?"

"Exactly!" Zhuo Jiusi said, "It seems that the Qidal matter has given He Ling a wake-up call. Seeing that the people in Beile can't believe him, and the nobles in Beijing also regard him as an abandoned son, He Ling wants to find a new one for himself." As a backer, I can only hold on to the handsome thigh with one heart and one mind."

Yang Fan was not as optimistic as him: "The commander-in-chief has ordered the news to be blocked. How did He Ling know that there was an epidemic in the army? Who tipped him off?"

Zhuo Jiusi looked at no one around, and said in a low voice: "My subordinates tried the He family's tone, they seemed to be unaware of the epidemic, they only said that the northwest was bitterly cold, and the generals in the army had a cold, so they rushed to show their hospitality. ...The subordinates guessed that someone should have instructed He Ling, but they were guarding against him and did not tell the truth."

There was a channel to learn about the situation in the Northwest camp, and he instructed He Ling to send charcoal in the snow, and he always wanted to be ahead of them, caring and considerate-all the conditions combined, Yang Fan could only think of one person.

The tight corners of Hou Dingbian's mouth relaxed a little, and there was a soft smile in the corner of his eyes: "I see...Since the He family has good intentions, I might as well accept their favor."

Zhuo Jiusi was not worried that the He family had ulterior motives, as long as He Ling had no intention of defecting to Beile, Yang Fan had a hundred ways to deal with him.In his opinion, nothing is more important than Marquis Dingbian's body right now: "Marshal, drink the medicine first... By the way, Mr. Zhang sent Miss Wang by his side for some reason. The good doctor sent by the family is more reliable, how about letting her show you?"

Yang Fan didn't hesitate: "No way!"

Zhuo Jiusi knew it was the answer, but he was still a little unwilling: "Marshal..."

"Miss Wang belongs to him. If she knows my current situation, how can she not tell him?" Yang Fan said in a deep voice, "He is walking back to the royal court, and every step is like walking a tightrope. There is no room for distraction! Worrying in vain, why don't you just hide it from him, and when he comes back, my illness will almost heal..."

Zhuo Jiusi couldn't help but smile wryly, and said to himself: Marshal, where did you get your confidence?