turmoil

Thousands of miles away, the capital was in turmoil, but the Northwest camp was rarely at leisure.Not long ago, Ding Ru'an led Huihe reinforcements deep into the grasslands to assist Marquis Dingbian in defeating the King's Court of Beile, and achieved great feats throughout the world.After the war, he rewarded the Huihe people for his meritorious service, and distributed the salary and cattle and sheep promised in advance to the Huihe people exactly.

Huihe guarded the important points of the Silk Road and earned a lot of money every year, but most of the oil and water went into the pockets of high-ranking officials and nobles, and ordinary soldiers and ordinary people could get very little.Seeing that the benefits of this expedition are almost worth the hard work of the past few years, the Huihe people were happy, and they inevitably moved their minds to choose another high branch.

When Ding Ru'an sent people to negotiate with the Huihe cavalry and planned to send them back to Gaochang, the Huihe people made up their minds. They made it clear to the people that they didn't want to go back to Gaochang, and would rather stay in the Central Plains, as long as Ding Ru'an could pay enough money and cattle as before. Sheep, not to mention dealing with Beile, even if they were asked to turn around, they would be fine.

It should be said that the reaction of the Huihe people did not exceed Ding Ruan's expectations. He even calculated the current situation early in the morning. After all, no one would refuse the money, grain, cattle and sheep delivered to their door.But the Huihe people turned their backs so simply that they even sold their homeland directly... Ding Ru'an was still a little surprised.

He couldn't make up his mind for a while, and remembered Zhang Jingche's order before he left, so he informed Dingbianhou of the matter.After listening to the whole story, Yang Fan didn't change his face: "It's okay, there are only a few thousand people in total, if you can afford it, you can stay."

Ding Ru'an carefully looked at Yang Houye's face: "Your Hou is not afraid that some people with ulterior motives will take the opportunity to spy on the military situation in the Central Plains?"

Yang Fan asked calmly: "Your master didn't consider this in advance? Didn't he teach you how to deal with it?"

Ding Ru'an: "..."

taught.

Zhang Jingche's attitude towards these foreign thugs is very clear - to use both kindness and force, to comfort and suppress, to give enough benefits, and to give enough oil and water. At the same time, he did not forget to break up the original troops and silently mix them with "sand ".Most of the people who acted as sand were the barbarians who followed him in the early years. They were capable and loyal. If they tipped off the news, Zhang Jingche would naturally be able to grasp the movements of the Huihe cavalry in his hands. .

As for Zhihui Dingbianhou, it was just to express his attitude to Yang Fan. Although these people are private soldiers, they have no hidden worries of causing trouble for the country. Whether they stay or not is just a matter of Yang Fan's words.

And Dingbianhou's attitude is also clear: "Since he has considered everything, I can trust him, and naturally I can trust you... If there are really people with ulterior motives, it doesn't matter. It's time for training."

Ding Ru'an heaved a sigh of relief and wanted Weiwei to resign.

Yang Fan stopped him at this moment: "Wait!"

Ding Ru'an turned around and looked at him in surprise.

Yang Fan was brushing his horse by the river, and the water stains splashed half of his body. The weather in the northwest was getting colder in October, and the wind was already awe-inspiring. He fixedly looked at Ding Ru'an, his eyes were more piercing than the sound of the wind: "Is there news from the capital?" ?”

Ding Ru'an could read forbearance and irritability from his eyes. Hou Dingbian's patience was running out, but he had to restrain his temper.He didn't know what Zhang Jingche's plan was, and he was willing to force himself because he was afraid that acting rashly would ruin Zhang's layout.

"The latest news report came yesterday," Ding Ru'an said, "Master has arrived in the capital, and the hidden guards in the capital have also contacted him. But in the future, the master is likely to be sent to the palace. If this is the case, in the future It might be harder to deliver the message later."

"Some dark lines that have been planted for many years may have to be moved."

Zhang Jingche did enter the capital, but he didn't enter the palace immediately.He lived in an outhouse for two days, and took the opportunity to get in touch with the old man in Youyunwei—after all, it was a sharp weapon he polished with his own hands. Apart from the confidants who left Beijing with him back then, there were also many people who stayed in Beijing In the center, he acts as his eyes and ears to inquire about the movements of the DPRK.According to these people, it was a troubled time in the imperial court, Liu Yanzhao was not in a hurry to announce him into the palace, to some extent he meant to protect him, and did not intend to let him get involved in this troubled water.

In fact, the chaos in Beijing was caused by Zhang Jingche. He planned for many years and painstakingly collected these criminal evidences in order to expose the shady undercurrents under the table in broad daylight.Emperor Xinglong's reaction did not exceed Zhang Jingche's expectations. The emperor was not a boy who had just ascended the throne four years ago. He no longer needed the support of his family and relatives. Whoever dared to obstruct the implementation of state affairs would be the emperor's enemy.

The princes of the court gradually saw clearly that the thorough investigation of the traitor was just a cover on the surface, and the real purpose of the emperor was to completely remove the stones blocking the way.In recent years, the imperial court has promoted the measurement of acres of land and the return of yellow books to households in the local area, but due to the obstruction of powerful families, everything goes wrong. Jian's family is one of them.After all, Jian Sihui was a veteran of the two dynasties, with a high position and power, and countless acres of fields under his command. The emperor ordered You Yunwei to conduct strict investigations, so he had the intention of killing chickens and monkeys: even his father-in-law can be ruthless, who else in the court? Can it stop the emperor's determination to get rid of the ills?

Empress Dowager Wu could see this thought clearly, so she didn't say a word from the beginning to the end.Empress Jian couldn't understand, so she knelt and begged outside the Palace of Qinzheng every day, knocking her forehead red.

There are many discerning people in the court, and at this juncture when the storm is about to come, no one dares to provoke the upper body.Even Emperor Xinglong issued a decree of commendation to the Northwest, generously rewarding them with silver, and the elders who disliked the Northwest turned a blind eye and closed their eyes, and dared not let a fart go.

It’s really impossible to speak, anyone who wants to fight against the emperor at this time is a sure-fire "Bei Le spy", half of his life's honor and wealth will be wasted, and he will have to put on a hat of "communication with foreign countries" and be caught. People poked their spines and cursed "national traitors".

Isn't it just looking for trouble? !

So it was rare for the princes in the court to reach an agreement, and they kept their mouths shut under the thunderous anger of the emperor, resolutely not to be the rafter in the head.No one jumped up and down, and the decree was approved by the cabinet smoothly, and it was sent to the northwest on the same day.

So far, the name of Marquis Dingbian has left a strong mark in the history books. A hundred years later, the mention of Yang Fan by many people will definitely be associated with this great victory.

And on this day, Emperor Xinglong finally issued a decree, announcing Zhang Jingche to enter the palace to have an audience.

Foreign ministers need to wear court clothes when they meet, but Zhang Jingche is in a special situation - he was imprisoned for a crime and escaped by feigning death, so the official post of commander of Jinyiwei was naturally lost.This time when he entered the palace, he was not wearing court clothes or casual clothes. Xiao Heshan hadn't made up his mind yet, Zhang Jingche had already pushed the door out after receiving the order, still wearing plain clothes.

"Didn't you say that the Holy Majesty summoned you?" He said lightly, "Let's go."

Xiao Heshan hesitated: "Master Zhang...won't you change your clothes?"

Zhang Jingche gave him a cold look: "What if you change your clothes, and what if you don't change your clothes? Is there any difference?"

Xiao Heshan was inconvenient to force him, let alone force him to change his clothes, hesitated again and again, still pinched his nose and sent him into the palace.

Jin Yiwei's carriage stopped at the gate of the palace, and was replaced by a warm sedan chair to be carried all the way into the Palace of Qinzheng.Zhang Jingche got out of the sedan chair and found that the person who came to greet him was Liu Yanzhao's most useful eunuch Yuezhao. He did not enter the palace in a hurry, but turned his head around, taking in the blue tiles, flying scorpions and beautiful faces of the Nine Palaces one by one.

Yuezhao waited for a while, but didn't see him move for a long time, so she couldn't help asking: "Master Zhang, what are you looking at?"

Zhang Jingche said, "I'm looking at the general situation."

Yuezhao: "..."

At this time, it was afternoon, the sky was full of light, and the eyes were full of blazing, and the autumn wind passing by brought the chill of winter.At that moment, Zhang Jingche vaguely felt that he had touched a faint vein, and the boundless water was rushing by, and no one could resist it, and no one could stop it.

"Even if the palace is closed and opened by the Nine Heavens, I can't escape the coldness and frostiness of the mandarin ducks..." Zhang Jingche sighed leisurely, and picked up the steps, "It's nothing, let's go."

After many years, the Hall of Qinzheng is still the same. Emperor Xinglong didn't like luxury. Since he became the throne, he ordered people to clean up all the gaudy decorations. Except for the blue and white study room and the purple sand tea set on the case, only the wall hangings He wrote a picture of "Snow Mountain and Xiao Temple".

Liu Yanzhao was not in the main hall, but was sitting on the Maitreya couch in Xinuang Pavilion, slowly pouring out a cup of tea.Zhang Jingche smelled ambergris and knew that he should kneel down to salute, but he had traveled all over the world for many years and was used to being unrestrained, so he felt uncomfortable when he thought of bending his knees.

Liu Yanzhao heard the footsteps, but he didn't raise his head, and said calmly: "There are no rules! Have you forgotten the etiquette of meeting the emperor after all these years outside?"

Zhang Jingche sighed silently, and repeatedly warned himself "If you can't bear it, you will make a big conspiracy", and then bowed down in front of the imperial power: "...the grass people kowtow to His Majesty."

He has no official position now, and calling himself a "grassman" should be punished, but Liu Yanzhao aroused a lot of resentment from these two words, stared at him for a long time, and then said coldly: "Excuse me! Commander Zhang has a big idea." Very much, even I, the Ninth Five-Year Supreme, is being manipulated by you, and I dare not accept your gift, lest I be tricked by you someday."

If this person had eyesight, he would have slapped him wildly and repeatedly apologized, but Zhang Jingche had never put Hehe Tianwei in his eyes.Hearing this, he smiled sarcastically, ignored the sarcasm in Liu Yanzhao's words, and stood up straight away.

"Your Majesty praised me, how can the grassroots have this ability?" He stood with his hands down, and said calmly, "What the grasslanders want is for their families to be safe and their lives safe, but it's a pity that even the only relatives they have are buried in this deep palace. ! It can be seen that the cruel and calculating people in the world should not come out of the nine palace bans!"

His tone was cold and sarcastic, he was actually even more mean than Liu Yanzhao, Emperor Xinglong had a noble status, how could he have been confronted like this in these years?All of a sudden, old and new grudges surged into my heart, no matter how well-bred I was, I pushed the teacups and teapots on the desk to the ground: "You have the nerve to say that? You lied to me for so long, you lied to me It's been so long... I haven't pursued your crime of deceiving the emperor, and you've become more and more mad!"

Hearing this familiar reprimand, Zhang Jingche lost the bitterness and anger of the past in his heart. He knew that he was well-prepared and could withdraw at any time. At this time, dealing with Liu Yanzhao was just playing around the corner, so if he had patience, he would say a few more perfunctory words. If you're impatient, it's okay to walk away.

He didn't say a word, but Liu Yanzhao became more and more angry.He was not blind, so he could tell that Zhang Jingche was handsome and ruddy, his brows were no longer as gloomy and pale as before, and he was obviously living a good life.He thought of his remorse and tossing and turning all these years, his sincere pleading in front of the tombstone, his ecstasy when he first heard that Zhang Jingche was still alive, and his secret determination to treat him well and make up for the past...

Who knows that this person is not rare at all!

I don't care about going back to the palace, I don't care about serving by my side, and I don't care about his grace and guilt.

For a moment, Liu Yanzhao really wanted to drag him out and punish the [-]th boss, so he could talk after he calmed down.But the last sliver of reason he had left stopped him. In the dark, Liu Yanzhao vaguely realized that if he really did this, it would be tantamount to cutting off his last chance to meet Zhang Jingche.

"You... I thought you committed suicide in prison, so you were full of depression and had trouble sleeping and eating, but in the end, you were enjoying yourself outside!" Liu Yanzhao gritted his teeth, "You...you are really capable!"

Zhang Jingche was expressionless: "Otherwise?"

His understated rhetorical question almost made Emperor Xinglong so angry that one Buddha was born and two Buddhas ascended to heaven. He couldn't hold back, he rushed forward three steps at a time, and grabbed Zhang Jingche's wrist: "You...you are out there After all these years, it is really against the sky!"

Zhang Jingche looked at him coldly, barely restraining his murderous intent: "Don't make me say it a second time, let go!"

Liu Yanzhao looked at him incredulously, and was shocked by this man's audacity for a moment.He has always known that Zhang Jingche has an unruly temperament and doesn't like to be low-key, but he never thought that he has only been in the wild for a few years, and he is so rebellious that he doesn't even pay attention to the Ninth Five-Year Supreme.

"You..." Liu Yanzhao's throat was blocked by a breath of depression, and he was trembling when he spoke: "You are presumptuous!"

Zhang Jingche didn't bother to talk to him, and directly showed the "sharp weapon" between his fingers - it was a small needle as thin as a beard and hair, stuck between his fingers, the guards and eunuchs who searched him couldn't see it at all.At this time, he patted down quickly with his eyes and hands, and the small needle sank into the key point on his wrist, and half of his arm suddenly turned numb.

Liu Yanzhao was so shocked and angry that he forgot to call someone in: "Zhang Minghuang, you are crazy! How dare you plot to assassinate the emperor!"

Zhang Jingche looked at him coldly: "If I want to assassinate, do you think you still have life to talk to me here?"

Liu Yanzhao: "..."

"Also, to correct what you said just now, I'm not presumptuous or rebellious, but I have no constraints!" Zhang Jingche sneered, "Thanks to the blessings of the emperor and the queen mother, my sister died in this nine-fold palace ban...she He is my only family member, and also my biggest constraint, now that this weakness has been broken by the emperor himself, do you still expect me to make a fool of you like I did back then?"

He paused for a moment, endured it again and again, and finally couldn't suppress the hostility surging from his heart, and blurted out a mocking sentence in every possible way: "Dear Emperor, is it Liang Jingru who gave you the courage?"

Liu Yanzhao didn't know who Liang Jingru was, but he realized one thing like never before, that is, Zhang Jingche really didn't have any nostalgia for the imperial palace, and his admiration and admiration for the Ninth Five Supreme Being were all pretended.As he himself said, without the constraints of Zhang Jingsu, he no longer has any worries about walking in the world, so he simply tore off the painting skin, and unscrupulously exposed the long-hidden fangs and rebellious bones in front of others.

Liu Yanzhao was only fighting hand to hand, and had already been stabbed by the disdain and coldness at the corners of his eyes and eyebrows. For the first time in his life, he felt humbled in front of someone, and was crushed into the dust by his indifferent and arrogant eyes.