In the first year of Qingtai in the last emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty, Li Congke, the world was full of wilderness, and various rebel troops were surging. For a while, the Central Plains land was full of smoke. The Khitan, in the north of the Tang Dynasty, was also stationed a large army outside the suburbs of Daizhou on the border, and was eyeing the Central Plains.

Daizhou Governor Du Chongwei fought unfavorably and repeatedly lost troops and generals. The Khitan army had approached Daizhou Prefecture City. If Daizhou was lost, the Khitan army could march straight into Taiyuan, threatening Taiyuan, the capital of the Hedong Army Jiedushi, and then crossing the Taihang Mountains and besieging Kaifeng, the capital of the Tang Dynasty.

Seeing that the Khitan troops were coming in a fierce manner, Li Congke did not dare to relax his vigilance, and immediately asked General Le Yuan, the Anxi general stationed in Luzhou east of Taihang Mountain to dispatch 50,000 troops to support Daizhou. General Le Yuan was 32 years old at the time, and his wife Lin Hanyan was less than 21 years old. The imperial edict arrived at the Anxi general's mansion in Dingluzhou. Le Yuan immediately took his wife Lin Hanyan and his son who had just turned two to go to Daizhou.

Le Yuan had defeated the attack of the Khitan army several times in just over three months in Daizhou. Li Congke expressed his feelings very much and specially appointed him as Marquis of Anxi. After Le Yuan received the order and thanked him, he personally sent the imperial envoy who had sent the order outside the city. The imperial envoy was Li Congke's confidant. In addition to coming to announce the order, there was another secret matter to be conveyed to Le Yuan. He signaled his followers to avoid it, and then quietly attached it to Le Yuan's ear and said, "Marty, the emperor has noticed that the Hedong Jiedushi Shi Jingtang had an affair with the Khitan. Daizhou Governor Du Chongwei was his brother-in-law. Now he is guarding the important border town of our Tang Dynasty. You must beware of them."

Le Yuan was shocked. Although his friendship with Du Chongwei was weak, he was fighting against the Khitan in Daizhou at this time. He never expected that he would make a mistake. Before leaving, the imperial envoy repeatedly told him to be extra careful and not to let the emperor down. Le Yuan nodded silently, watched him leave, and then came to the city without saying a word.

Du Chongwei's eyeliner was everywhere inside and outside Daizhou City. At this time, someone had already informed him of the conversation. Du Chongwei was frightened and asked someone to let Shi Jingtang, who was from Taiyuan overnight, came up with another poisonous plan to escape.

Shi Jingtang was determined to be the emperor and was about to use the power of the Khitans to replace Li Congke, but he only took the army of General Anxi Le Ai, and refused to take action. Now that the plan was about to be leaked, Shi Jingtang immediately ordered the Hedong Army to be martial law in Taiyuan and no one was allowed to leave.

The imperial envoy had just left Daizhou and was intercepted and killed by Du Chongwei's men. The next morning, Du Chongwei ordered to surround the Anxi Marquis Mansion. Le Yuan was about to go out when he saw a team of soldiers coming hurriedly with weapons, so he asked, "Who are you?" One of the people riding a horse stepped forward and said, "Marty, offended! We are the assassins who were murdering the imperial envoy on the order of the governor."

Le Yuan was stunned and asked in a voice: "Has the Imperial Commander been killed?" The man said: "Yesterday someone saw him entering the mansion through the back door, and someone witnessed it." After that, a man in short-sleeved came out. Seeing that the man was kind-hearted, Le Yuan should not lie, and thought to himself: "I don't know about the assassination of the Imperial Commander in the Marquis' Mansion. Could it be that someone wanted to harm me?"

He turned back to the house and summoned the people in his family to ask them one by one, but only his deputy general, Le Tianzang. He asked everyone if they had seen Le Tianzang in the past two days, and everyone shook their heads and denied them. After they dispersed, Le Yuan sat alone in the tea hall, allowing the soldiers to search in the yard.

The group of soldiers walked into the mansion and searched every corner carefully. Finally, they found a bloody dagger on the flower pot in the yard. Le Yuan was shocked when he saw it and didn't know when this thing would appear in the mansion. At this time, Du Chongwei walked into the Marquis' Mansion. Le Yuan greeted him and saluted, but he deliberately looked up and avoided Le Yuan's gaze and walked straight to the soldier.

The soldier handed the thing in his hand to Du Chongwei. After seeing it, Du Chongwei turned around and said to Le Yuan: "Le Yuan, you are so bold! I didn't expect you to commit the murder of the imperial envoy."

Le Yuan didn't know that the person who framed the blame was right in front of him and said loudly: "Governor Du, the imperial envoy is here to pass the order, how could Le harm him?" Du Chongwei snorted and went out. The soldiers immediately took Le Yuan out. Seeing that things had come to this point, Le Yuan knew that he could not escape the misfortune, but was concerned about Lin Hanyan and Le Yiyang. Du Chongwei thought of his previous friendship and did not make things difficult for his family. After capturing Le Yuan, he withdrew the soldiers surrounding the Marquis' Mansion.

Lin Hanyan was lying on the bed in the backyard at this time, not knowing what was happening outside. After the soldiers left, Qiaoniang, the maid with her, ran into the room in panic and told her what had happened just now. When Lin Hanyan heard it, she felt dizzy aggravated. Qiaoniang was at a loss and hurried to the military camp to invite Ma Ruhai.

After Ma Ruhai came over, he carefully finished Lin Hanyan's pulse and prescribed several medicines for her to condition her body. Lin Hanyan asked, "How is my husband now?" Ma Ruhai was suddenly confused when he asked, and hurriedly comforted him: "Madam, don't worry, the marquis is auspicious. Madam, be careful of his health and don't worry too much."

Lin Hanyan was relieved after hearing this and asked the maid Qiaoniang to see her off.

Ma Ruhai left the Marquis' Mansion and headed straight for the west of the city. Le Yuan was currently being locked in the Daizhou prison. Ma Ruhai often went to the prison to see the prisoners, and all the joints had already been opened. At this time, he followed a jailer who was usually good at entering the cell, but he saw that it was still dark inside. After walking about 180 meters inside, he arrived at a small door. Two lazy soldiers were drinking wine on the small table at the door. At this time, the prisoner who was with Ma Ruhai said, "Open the door quickly, someone is going to see Anxi Hou." The two looked at Ma Ruhai, slowly stood up, took out the long list of keys hanging around their waists, and searched for it for a long time before finding the small key.

Ma Ruhai usually treats prisoners in the cell, but has never been to this door. When he walked in, he found that the cell inside was empty and quiet, as if he walked into a cave. Only a winding step connected to the ground, each step was about one foot long and less than one-third of a foot wide, but a height of half a foot. Ma Ruhai looked at both sides of the steps and found that there were pools below. The prison guard said, "I won't go down. Be careful, have you seen the pool next to you? The deepest part of this pool is ten feet long. If you fall in, I'm afraid I can do nothing."

After hearing this, Ma Ruhai broke out in cold sweat on his head. He moved slowly step by step and tried to walk in the middle of the steps. After walking half a stick of incense, he reached the flat ground below. Ma Ruhai walked towards the place with lights and found that there were four chaotic rooms below. At the deepest place, he finally saw Le Yuan locked by iron chains.

Le Yuan's hair was scattered on his shoulders, and he was resting with his head down. He heard the footsteps and raised his head suddenly. The two of them looked at each other. Ma Ruhai hurriedly said, "Don't be surprised, Ma Ruhai is below." Le Yuan said weakly, "So it's Mr. Ma. What's wrong with my wife?"

Ma Ruhai told Lin Hanyan about the matter, and Le Yuan sighed, "It's all my fault. We shouldn't have brought their mother and son to Daizhou at the beginning." Ma Ruhai said, "Don't be surprised, there must be something strange at this time, and we will definitely find out the true image."

Le Yuan asked him to approach and said in his ear: "Mr. Ma, there is no need to do this. The court rushed forward to Shi Jingtang, and the Khitan was in danger again. Our Tang Dynasty was already in danger. The most urgent task is to stop the Khitan from moving south. Mr. Ma, it is not suitable to stay here for a long time, so you should go back first." Ma Ruhai bowed to Le Yuan three times before getting up and leaving.

Du Chongwei came to the prison that night to inquire about the result of the interrogation. The prison officer replied, "Report to the master, Le Yuan has been refusing to confess." Du Chongwei asked, "Have you used to torture?" The prison officer replied, "I have used all the forty-eight sets of torture instruments in the prison, but Le Yuan still refused to confess." Du Chongwei shook his head and sighed, "It's over, he has to die, so why bother to defend such a strong man."

Le Tianzang returned to the Marquis' Mansion that night. After hearing what the people in the mansion said, he was shocked. Unexpectedly, Le Yuan was framed and imprisoned, so he went to the military camp to find Ma Ruhai to find a solution. Le Tianzang said, "I want to go to the prison tonight to see the general. I wonder if the sir can arrange it with me." Seeing Ma Ruhai's face looked distressed, he immediately knelt down on the ground and asked, "I hope Mr. Ma will help me." Seeing this, Ma Ruhai immediately stepped forward and helped him up and said, "What is the purpose of the military supervisor? Let's make arrangements here, let's make arrangements here, let's wait for a moment."

After an hour, Ma Ruhai returned and said, "Now the Marquis is a serious offender. Du Chongwei instructed him not to allow anyone to come to see him. Fortunately, I gave some money and they agreed to go in and visit him for a quarter of an hour." Letianzang was overjoyed and hurried to go to the prison with Ma Ruhai.

When they saw Le Yuan, both of them were in a heavy mood. At this time, Le Yuan only had a faint breath, and the tortures these days were beyond recognition. Seeing someone coming, Le Yuan lowered his head and said intermittently: "You don't... don't need to come again, go back... and tell Du Chongwei that if you want to commit a crime, I... will not confess."

Seeing that he was already unconscious, Ma Ruhai went forward and said softly, "Marty, I am Ma Ruhai, we are here to see you." Le Yuan raised his head vigorously, looked at Ma Ruhai, and his eyes stopped on Le Tianzang's face. Le Tianzang hurriedly stepped forward and held his hand and said, "General, I have heard about your experience. You have suffered."

Le Yuan endured the pain and smiled and said, "Tianzang, I finally waited for you." Le Tianzang turned around and looked at Ma Ruhai. Ma Ruhai understood and said, "You guys talk first, I'll go up and try my best to get some time." After that, he stepped down.

Le Yuan looked at him and praised, "Little brother, was it yours to assassinate the imperial envoy?" Letian hid his head and said after a long time, "The general has always treated me more kind than the mountain. How can I do these things?" Le Yuan said, "I will feel relieved if you didn't do it." Letian Zang said, "General, will Du Chongwei intentionally frame this matter?" Le Yuan smiled upwards and said, "Even if it is him, we can't do anything."

Letianzang looked around and said, "General, I heard that the army of the court has surrounded Taiyuan. Shi Jingtang has sent someone to Daizhou to meet the Khitan secretly. Does he want to ask the Khitan to send troops?" Le Yuan sighed, "Shi Jingtang is insidious and cunning, and it is not surprising that he has this move." At this time, Ma Ruhai urged him on the top, and the two had to say goodbye. Le Yuan said, "Tianzang, Du Chongwei may not let my family go, and I hope you can let them leave Daizhou as soon as possible." Letianzang nodded and responded, "Don't worry, General, I will remember it."

Letianzang returned to the Hou Mansion and told Lin Hanyan truthfully what he said in the prison. Lin Hanyan cried bitterly after hearing this, and refused to believe it was true. Letianzang looked at Lin Hanyan and said caringly: "Madam, please take care of your health." Lin Hanyan knew her husband's character. After Letianzang hid out, she hid in the quilt and cried alone.

The next day, Letianzang went to the military camp to discuss rescue measures with Ma Ruhai. Ma Ruhai sighed helplessly and said, "It's time for this, I'm afraid we are powerless to turn the world back." Letianzang remained silent after hearing this. Seeing that he was worried, Ma Ruhai patted his shoulder and said, "The Marquis has taken life and death lightly. At this time, what he is most worried about is the safety of his wife and the young master. Since Du Chongwei wants to kill the Marquis, how can he guarantee that he will not harm the Marquis' family? Junior General, if you really want to help the Marquis, just take the wife and the young master out of this place of trouble."

Le Tianzang remained silent, and Ma Ruhai said again: "Mr. Supervisor, the matter is critical, please do not hesitate anymore." Le Tianzang gritted his teeth and agreed with difficulty, and then hurriedly left the military camp.

When he returned to the Marquis' Mansion, Letianzang told Lin Hanyan the original words, and Lin Hanyan firmly disagreed with leaving. Seeing that the matter was urgent, Letianzang knelt on the ground and said, "Madam, you and the young master are the only concerns of the general. Even if you try your best, you will tell me that you will send it to Daizhou safely. Please think twice!" Lin Hanyan saw Letian hiding on the ground and begging hard, and looked at her sleeping son, remembering the smiles she usually had with her husband, her eyes were filled with tears, and she agreed helplessly.

The next day, Le Tianzang pretended to be a groom, and waited for Lin Hanyan and Le Yiyang to leave the city in a broken carriage. After fifty miles out of the city, Le Tianzang stopped the carriage and asked Lin Hanyan to come out. He waited at the door for a while, and saw that there was no sound inside, worried that something might happen to his wife, so he lifted up the green cloth hanging at the door with his hand and found that only Le Yiyang was inside.

Letianzang walked back several miles with the child in his arms, but he did not find Lin Hanyan. It turned out that Lin Hanyan couldn't bear to see Le Yuan alone and secretly got off the carriage when he left the city gate. Letianzang did not dare to take Le Yiyang back to the city, and walked forward for more than a hundred miles to a village, and the two of them lived temporarily.
Chapter completed!