The King of Yue was horrified. No matter what the situation was, Yuan Shutong was exposed.
King Han also realized this and shouted: "Then why didn't Wu Chengsi take action against Yuan Shutong?"
Yang Xuan was silent for a while and said: "Yuan Shutong may have been exposed a long time ago."
The King of Yue stood up suddenly and said: "When?"
Yang Xuan asked: "Why didn't Wu Chengsi become suspicious when He Lan Minzhi fled?"
"Didn't Yuan Shutong say that he is one of Wang Fangyi's subordinates..."
King Han suddenly couldn't speak anymore.
Wu Chengsi snubbed Wang Fangyi for this reason. If his snubbing Wang Fangyi was false, then the sergeant's leak of information could not be true.
King Han gritted his teeth and said: "So, he suspected Yuan Shutong at that time, but why didn't he take action against Yuan Shutong?"
The King of Yue took a deep breath and said, "He wants to use Yuan Shutong to convey the message he wants to convey to us."
"Then what happened yesterday..." King Han suddenly woke up.
The King of Yue sat back in his chair again, sighed, and said: "He deliberately asked Yuan Shutong to tell us that he brought the gold medal to Mingde Temple just to induce me to bring the gold medal there too."
King Han said bitterly: "Then he can break into your house unscrupulously to save people!"
Chen Shuozhen suddenly said: "His Royal Highness the King of Yue, if there is a problem with Yuan Shutong, I am afraid that the story about Ouyang Chong will also be false."
The King of Yue's eyes flashed slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, the news about Ouyang Chong came from Yuan Shutong. So Wu Chengsi doesn't know about our plan."
King Han was startled, and most of his anger dissipated immediately. He laughed and said, "No wonder he wanted to save Xu Wenqing. Damn it, he made me worry for several days."
At this moment, Shen Guogong Li Wen entered the hall, cupped his hands and said: "Father, Wang Shugong, and Yuan Jishi sent people to deliver the news."
The King of Yue and the King of Han looked at each other and said with a smile: "Oh, what news did he send again?"
Li Wen was stunned for a moment, wondering why his father's mood suddenly improved.
"He said that Li Duozuo really betrayed Wu Chengsi and knew a secret. That's why Wu Chengsi sent someone to kill him to silence him."
King Han laughed: "What a cunning Wu Chengsi, who deliberately let Yuan Shutong tell us this kind of news so that we could let Li Duozuo go."
"Is this news false?" Li Wen asked in surprise.
The King of Yue smiled and said: "Tell me first, what secret did Li Duozuo know that Wu Chengsi wanted to kill him to silence?"
Li Wen replied: "Yuan Shutong said that Wu Chengsi came to Yangzhou this time to help the queen handle a secret matter, and Li Duozuo knew about it."
King Han picked up the tea cup, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "He thought that after we knew about this matter, he would definitely ask Li Duozuo for details. It was a good plan."
Chen Shuozhen suddenly said coldly: "Your Highness, King Han, we have been led by each other for so long, and only now do we realize that I don't think this is something to be happy about."
The smile on King Han's face froze and he hummed: "At least Wu Chengsi doesn't know our plan. When Mount Tai is enshrined, the Wu family will be destroyed."
Chen Shuozhen said coldly: "If he doesn't know now, it doesn't mean he won't know in the future."
The King of Yue knew that Chen Shuozhen had been wronged for so long, so it was normal for her to feel dissatisfied, so she hurriedly spoke out to smooth things over.
"Now that we have finally exposed each other's conspiracy, how can we take advantage of this? Do you have any good ideas?"
He said "you", but his eyes only looked at Yang Xuan.
Yang Xuan's words just now made him more and more attracted to this person.
It's a pity that Yang Xuan closed his mouth and turned into a statue again.
When he didn't want to speak, the King of Yue couldn't make him speak, so he had to look at others again.
King Han narrowed his eyes and said: "Wu Chengsi still doesn't know that we have figured out his scheme, and we can just take advantage of this."
"How to use it?" asked the King of Yue.
King Han rubbed his hands and said, "We can find a handwriting master to forge a letter from Li Duozuo."
"What letter?"
"Let Li Duozuo tell him that we already believe Li Duozuo, and Li Duozuo has discovered He Lan Minzhi's location."
The King of Yue smiled and said: "That place is on the island?"
"Yes, it's on the island. If he wants to save people, he has to go to sea!" King Han said with a smile on his face.
Chen Shuozhen reminded: "If you just write a letter, it may arouse their suspicion. It is better to let Li Duozuo go and let him deliver the news to Wu Chengsi personally."
King Han said displeased: "If we really let Li Duozuo go, what if he never comes back?"
Chen Shuozhen wanted to say something more, but the King of Yue raised his hand and said, "Okay, Uncle Wang's method is more secure. There is no risk on our side, so let's do it this way."
Not long after, Yang Sijian came with his people, and the three of them immediately worked together to plan a proper plan.
As long as Wu Chengsi goes to sea, he will never be able to return to the shore!
At noon the next day, a secret letter was brought to the military camp by a beggar.
The letter soon reached Wu Chengsi's hands.
After reading it, he said nothing and handed it to Zhuge Sanyuan. After Zhuge Sanyuan read it, Zhuge Nan, Han Cheng and Hei Te Changzhi also read it respectively.
"There is no code, Your Highness, this letter is fake." Zhuge Nan said in a deep voice.
Hei Te Changzhi said harshly: "Did they see through our intention?" After saying that, he looked at Zhuge Sanyuan.
Zhuge Sanyuan remained calm and silent.
Wu Chengsi walked a few steps in the tent and suddenly said: "There is no problem with Zhuge Gong's plan. The problem should lie with Yuan Shutong."
Zhuge Nan was surprised and said: "Yuan Shutong has been exposed?"
Han Cheng corrected: "It should be that they know that we already know that Yuan Shutong is one of theirs."
Zhugenan said angrily: "Don't you mean the same thing?"
Hei Te Changzhi said loudly: "Your Highness, should we take action against Yuan Shutong immediately?"
"General Han, how is the progress with General Wang?" Wu Chengsi asked.
"There's still a little time left."
Wu Chengsi nodded and said: "Then let's buy some time for him. General Han, you should immediately prepare to control Yuan Shutong. General Black Teeth, please pass on the order and ask the sergeants to recruit ships and prepare the illusion of going to sea."
Both of them agreed.
Zhuge Nan added: "Your Highness, I have been walking around Yangzhou City these days and found that someone is spreading rumors that are not good for us. It must be the Palace of the Prince of Yue."
"Then what do you want to do?"
"Tit for tat!"
Wu Chengsi smiled slightly. Although Zhugenan was usually careless, he was actually very smart. He was one of the few people who could understand the power of public opinion.
"Well, I allow you to select some people in the army, and you can train them. When the time comes, we will fight back."
"yes!"
Wu Chengsi turned to Zhuge Sanyuan and said: "Mr. Zhuge, go and inform General Wang and ask him to speed up the action."
After everyone was ordered to go out, Wu Chengsi sat alone behind the handsome desk, tapping his fingers on the table, thinking back and forth about whether there were any omissions in his arrangement.
From the beginning, he had no intention of letting Wang Fangyi put himself in danger and get close to the King of Yue.
Xu Wenqing and Li Duozuo fell into traps because of his poor thinking. These two lessons are profound enough.
But not letting Wang Fangyi take risks doesn't mean that he can't be allowed to do other things.
He deliberately snubbed Wang Fangyi just to make the King of Yue think that Wang Fangyi might be attracted to him.
Not only Wang Fangyi, but also the Qianniu Guards under his command will all try to win over him.
The opponent's mentality of trying to win over Qianniuwei will become Qianniuwei's cover.
Originally, the Qianniu Guard, like the Zuowu Guard, would inevitably arouse the vigilance of the King of Yue as long as they entered the city.
But with such a factor, when the Qianniu Guards entered the city again, the people on the Yue King's side were not wary of them, but wanted to win over them.
Those who are good at dealing with soldiers are naturally soldiers, and those who win over the Qian Niuwei officers are also likely to be officers from the navy commander's office.
When they win over Qianniu Guard, it becomes an opportunity for Qianniu Guard to rebel against them!
…
The sun sets in the west, the sunset becomes dusk.
Qianniu Guards School Lieutenant Ma Zhanyuan finished his day's training and rode into the city, arriving at a restaurant in the east of the city.
Qi Ming has been waiting in a private room in the restaurant for a long time.
Ma Zhanyuan noticed that there were two more soldiers outside the private room today, but there were none in the past few days.
He smiled imperceptibly and entered the private room.
In the room, an officer in his thirties was sitting upright on a chair, with a straight back and a stern expression on his face, looking like a hard-core soldier.
Ma Zhanyuan was moved by his image.
There were many officers who came to win over Ma Zhanyuan. Although Qi Ming was among them, he rarely spoke. It was Ma Zhanyuan who took the initiative to find him.
The reason why Ma Zhanyuan sought him out was simple. Qi Ming's temperament was somewhat similar to his.
If Ma Zhanyuan was allowed to stay under Yang Sijian, he felt that he would definitely be dissatisfied. Qi Minghe was more like him, so he was probably already dissatisfied with Yang Sijian.
In the first few days, Ma Zhanyuan never raised the issue of the positions of both sides, and only discussed several major battles on the Liaodong battlefield with Qi Ming.
The two talked happily, and Qi Ming was full of admiration for Wu Chengsi in his words. It was precisely because of this that Ma Zhanyuan was confident of persuading Qi Ming.
As soon as Ma Zhanyuan sat down, Qi Ming said: "Brother Ma, today I want to continue discussing the Battle of Laoha River with you. Yesterday you said that this battle had certain accidental factors. I thought otherwise, for example..."
"Brother Qi, we won't talk about this today." Ma Zhanyuan waved his hand to interrupt.
Qi Ming's eyes narrowed: "Then what do you want to talk about?"
Ma Zhanyuan was silent for a while and said leisurely: "Brother Qi, do you know that just last year, my immediate superior Li Duozuo and the current Zuowuwei General Hei Te Changzhi were on the same level."
Qi Ming nodded and said, "I know that Black Teeth Changzhi participated in the Liaodong Campaign and rose from a sixth-grade general to a third-grade general."
Ma Zhanyuan said solemnly: "I won't hide it from you. I actually have a mission when I go to the city these days."
Qi Ming said: "I can see it."
Ma Zhanyuan took a deep breath and said: "Brother Qi, General Wu is going to fight a big war soon. I will also participate in this war. You can come too."
Qi Ming's eyes instantly glowed: "Who to hit?"
Ma Zhanyuan stretched out a hand and pointed to the east.
Qi Ming suddenly raised his head and smiled, raised his glass, drank the wine in one gulp, and said with a smile: "Brother Ma, do you know what I have been doing since I returned to the Governor's Mansion these days?"
Ma Zhanyuan shook his head.
"I have been inquiring about the whereabouts of Li Duozuo and He Lan Minzhi."
Ma Zhanyuan was delighted and said, "Have you found out?"
Qi Ming stood up suddenly and said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow at noon, you and your people will meet me at Caishigou in the east of the city. If I don't arrive on time, it means I failed. You can go find someone else."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Ming led the people out of the private room.
The Yamen of the Navy Governor's Mansion is located in the east of the city, only two blocks away from the restaurant where the two men were talking.
Qi Ming was a senior general in the Dudu Mansion and could enter and leave the Dudu Mansion very freely. He went straight through the Dudu Mansion and came to the Linjiang Camp connected to the Dudu Mansion.
Originally, the camps of the Navy Commander's Mansion were all set up on the river, either built with wooden planks or directly surrounded by small boats.
However, Yang Sijian felt that such a camp was not impressive at all, so he changed it to a camp near the river.
The river in front of us is connected to the Yangtze River. There are dozens of ships of various sizes parked on the river. These are all the ships of the Navy Commander's Mansion.
Qi Ming ordered two of his confidants to gather people and have everyone gather at the street corner outside the Governor's Mansion so as not to attract anyone's attention.
Then he returned to his tent, organized all the things he needed in the tent, then strode out of the tent with a package on his back.
After returning to the Dudu's Mansion, he walked along the corridor towards the gate.
Suddenly, a tall figure appeared in front of him, blocking his way.
Qi Ming's expression remained unchanged and he said: "Brother Zhang, what are you doing here?"
The tall man said solemnly: "I'm waiting for you."
Qi Ming raised his eyebrows and stopped talking. He was not a talkative person to begin with.
The tall man gritted his teeth and said, "Where do you plan to go?"
Qi Ming said coldly: "This has nothing to do with you."
"I know, you want to go to Huangshui Town."
Qi Ming's face changed slightly.
The tall man continued: "You have been drinking with that Qianniuwei general every day these days. Others think you are trying to win over him, but I know you are not."
"Oh?" Qi Ming sneered.
The tall man smiled bitterly and said: "No one else knows you, but I know your character very well. With your arrogance and arrogance, it is impossible for you to do such a thing."
Qi Ming said calmly: "Zhang He, people can change."
"But you are not someone who changes easily." The tall man insisted: "Let me ask you, what did you do yesterday when you quietly sneaked into the deputy governor's room?
Qi Ming's expression changed again and he said, "Are you following me?"
Zhang He gritted his teeth and said, "I'm worried about you, Brother Qi. You saved my life when we suppressed the pirates. I can't let you go the wrong way."
Qi Ming said coldly: "You also saved my life later, you don't owe me anything."
Zhang He showed a painful expression and said: "Brother Qi, although Governor Yang is indeed a civil servant, he has always thought highly of you. Why did you betray him?"
Qi Ming lowered his head and sighed: "The matter has come to this, it is useless to talk more, you go and ask someone to arrest me."
"No, as long as you promise me not to go to Huangshui Town, I can pretend that I didn't see this." Zhang He said slowly but firmly.
Qi Ming stared at him and said: "You...are you really willing to let me go?"
Zhang He nodded and said: "I said, you saved my life, I will never push you to death."
Qi Ming looked at him steadily for a moment and said softly: "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Zhang He said happily: "Well, you go and put the deputy governor's token back first, and I will help you guard it."
Qi Ming nodded and walked towards the backyard with him. When passing a corner, Qi Ming suddenly slowed down.
When Zhang He walked in front of him, he stretched out his left hand quickly and covered Zhang He's mouth. At the same time, there was a dagger in his right hand, which was placed on Zhang He's neck.
"Woo!" Zhang He was shocked and angry, struggling violently.
Qi Ming said coldly: "Brother Zhang, since we have chosen to join the army, our purpose is naturally to seek a future. I hope you don't blame me."
With a swipe of the dagger, Zhang He trembled all over. As blood flowed out of his body, his strength in struggling became smaller and smaller, and he finally stopped moving.
Qi Ming dragged his body to a rockery and left the Governor's Mansion as if nothing happened.
When he came to the street corner, a dozen sergeants were waiting for him.
Qi Ming looked around and said in a deep voice: "Brothers, I will give you one last chance. It's still too late to regret now."
A sergeant said: "Brother Qi, you don't need to say more. Yang Sijian colluded with pirates and is not worthy of being our general!" The rest of the people agreed.
Qi Ming said: "Have your family members been settled?"
"Brother Qi, don't worry, everyone has already made arrangements and is waiting to do big things with you." said the sergeant who spoke earlier.
Qi Ming nodded slightly, said no more, and led everyone to turn around and rush out of the east gate.
…
Quarry ditch.
Ma Zhanyuan and a dozen of his sergeants were sitting on the big rock next to the ravine.
A soldier looked up at the sky and frowned: "Captain, it's almost noon, why haven't they come yet?"
Ma Zhanyuan stared silently, looking quietly at the end of the path.
There is a kind of person in this world who, even though you have just met him, can make you trust him.
In Ma Zhanyuan's mind, Qi Ming is this kind of person.
When the sun reaches its highest point, dust is flying in front and the sound of horse hooves is heard.
Ma Zhanyuan stood up abruptly and stared at the direction he came from.
Not long after, I saw five horses galloping towards me, two of them were Li Duozuo and Qi Ming.
"General Li Lang, you are finally back!" Ma Zhanyuan couldn't help shouting.
After Li Duozuo came closer, Ma Zhanyuan discovered that there was a person lying in front of him. The person's hands and feet were tied, and he had delicate features and an angry look on his face. It was He Lan Minzhi.
Li Duozuo did not dismount and said: "I will go back to the military camp to find His Highness first to prevent Yang Sijian from escaping. Please greet Captain Qi well."
As soon as he finished speaking, he whipped his horse whip and hurried towards Guanyin Mountain.
Wu Chengsi met He Lan Minzhi again.
Different from the previous times, He Lan Minzhi seemed to have resigned himself to his fate this time, lowering his head and not saying a word.
Wu Chengsi actually had nothing to say to him, and now he was eager to deal with Yang Sijian, so he waved his hand and had people take him away.
Just when He Lan Minzhi was about to be taken out of the commander's tent, he suddenly turned around and said: "Wu Chengsi, can you tell me, is the order given by my aunt to you to take me back alive, or... to kill me directly?
I?"
Wu Chengsi was silent for a while and said, "She didn't ask me to kill you."
A smile appeared on Helan Minzhi's face, he whispered something, and was taken out by the sergeant.
Wu Chengsi looked around. Wang Fangyi, Hei Te Changzhi, Han Cheng, Li Duozuo, Zhuge Sanyuan and Zhuge Nan were all staring at him, waiting for his military orders.
"General Li Lang, you have been imprisoned for so long, do you need to take a rest?" Wu Chengsi said with a smile.
"Your Highness, the general's spirit has never been so good. Please let me participate in this operation!" Li Duozuo said brightly.
Wu Chengsi nodded and said: "Generals, listen to the order!"
"Here!" everyone said in unison.
"It's just past noon now. I hope that before Youshi, all four gates of Yangzhou City will be under our control. Then we will seal the four gates and never let Yang Sijian escape!"