The three words Zhu Shengfei reminded Chen Qing of many unpleasant memories. However, every disadvantage must have its advantages. If it weren't for Zhu Shengfei's misbehavior in Sichuan and Shaanxi, how could Wang Yan, Liu Ziyu, Wu Jie, and Wu Lin have been transferred successively?
Sichuan and Shaanxi finally gave themselves a chance.
Therefore, the person Chen Qing wants to thank the most is precisely this Zhu Shengfei.
Chen Qing thought for a while and said to Zhou Kuan: "Don't rush into the negotiation. First, arrange a meeting between the emperor and the late emperor, and then go to pay homage to the emperor's tomb together. Finally, the Beijing News will publish a special issue to heighten the atmosphere of the negotiation."
stand up."
Zhou Kuan said with a smile: "Don't the prince see Zhu Shengfei?"
"I won't see him anymore. Let him see the late emperor. That's the key point!"
"I understand my humble position!" Zhou Kuan stood up and went out.
Chen Qing smiled at Zhao Yingluo who was sitting beside him compiling the memorial catalogue: "Yingluo, do you want to meet the emperor?"
Zhao Yingluo shook her head, "If possible, I would like to pay homage to my father's tomb, and forget about the rest."
"Okay, I'll accompany you later. How about we go to the West Lake for a walk now?"
Zhao Yingluo was overjoyed and said, "Wait for me then, I'll go change into a dress."
She stood up and went to her sleeping tent like a gust of wind.
Zhu Shengfei never thought that the officials would leave the negotiation with Chen Qing to him, and also deal with the late emperor's affairs. Thinking about it frightened him, and if he didn't handle it well, he would be miserable.
But the officials had already talked with him, so he had no choice but to come and meet Chen Qing. He was really afraid of meeting Chen Qing, because he was afraid that Chen Qing would remember his past grudges and make things difficult for him.
After waiting for a moment at the gate of the camp, Zhou Kuan came out with a smile and said, "Keep Mr. Zhu waiting!"
Zhu Shengfei had already dealt with Zhou Kuan yesterday. Zhou Kuan was gentle, generous, and always had a smile on his face, which made Zhu Shengfei feel very comfortable. Even a bad person is willing to associate with an honest person!
"It turns out to be Duke Zhou. Is the prince here?"
Zhou Kuan chuckled and said, "The prince is not in the camp. I can fully represent the prince. If Mr. Zhu has anything to do, just tell me."
When he heard that Chen Qing was not here, Zhu Shengfei was relieved. He smiled and said: "I was also entrusted by the emperor to come and have a talk!"
"Then please enter the military camp! I will take Mr. Zhu to see the late emperor first."
Zhu Shengfei hesitated and asked in a low voice: "What do you call the late emperor?"
"We call him the Emperor. Please rest assured, Mr. Zhu, the Emperor is very reasonable and will not embarrass you."
"That's good, please ask Duke Zhou to lead the way."
Zhu Shengfei followed Zhou Kuan to the big tent where Zhao Huan lived. It was surrounded by barracks and heavily guarded. It covered an area of about ten acres and had more than a dozen big tents. Zhao Huan and his son, his wives and concubines, and seven or eight envoys
The woman lives here.
Zhou Kuan walked into the tent and said a few words, then came out and said with a smile: "Please, Mr. Zhu!"
Zhu Shengfei walked into the tent and saw the late emperor Zhao Huan sitting on the couch at a glance. He recognized it immediately, his nose was sore, and he knelt down and cried: "The humble minister Zhu Shengfei is here to see your majesty!"
"Ah! You are Zhu Aiqing."
"It's Wei Chen!"
The monarch and his ministers hugged each other and cried. At this moment, Zhu Shengfei completely forgot the strict order given to him by Emperor Zhao Gou: he was not allowed to address the late emperor or your majesty.
Zhou Kuan was waiting outside the tent. After a while, Zhu Shengfei came out with red eyes and tears on his face. He sighed and said, "When we met, I couldn't help but make Zhou Gong laugh."
"It doesn't matter, nostalgia is human nature!"
The two came to the big tent again, and the guests and hosts were seated. An entourage came in to serve tea. Zhou Kuan smiled and said: "The emperor wants to meet the emperor. After all, they are brothers. And the emperor also wants to pay homage to the emperor's mausoleum. Let's see how we can arrange it."
suitable?"
Zhu Shengfei hesitated and said: "It's okay to pay homage to the Emperor's mausoleum, just make arrangements, but Tian Wuerjun, it's a bit difficult to decide who is the king and who is the minister when they meet!"
"I suggest that instead of talking about monarchs and ministers, it is just a meeting between brothers to reminisce about old friendships. It doesn't take many people. I have a plan. Mr. Zhu can see if it's suitable?"
"Please speak, Duke Zhou!"
Zhou Kuan smiled slightly and said: "Arrange a big boat on the West Lake, and then the two brothers will meet on the big boat, and we will just escort them on the boat next to them."
"You mean, they are the only two brothers on the big ship?"
Zhou Kuan nodded, "On the first floor of the big ship, we can put a few palace maids and eunuchs to serve at any time. On the second floor, there are only their brothers. They can drink tea, enjoy the scenery, and talk about the love of brothers."
Zhu Shengfei thought about it and felt that the problem was not big, so he said: "I will go back and report to the emperor. If the emperor thinks it is feasible, I will make arrangements immediately."
"Then it will be hard work for Mr. Zhu."
"But. I still want to have a good talk with the prince. This is the emperor's request. I believe you have already prepared the list. We might as well make it honest."
Zhou Kuan said calmly: "Let's meet first, and then we can have a good talk after they meet. I believe the prince's requirements are not high."
Zhu Shengfei understood that the meeting between the emperor and the late emperor was a prerequisite, and the conversation could continue only after meeting.
He nodded, "Then I will leave first and go back to report to the emperor!"
After Zhao Gou listened to Zhu Shengfei's report with a sullen face, he sneered and said: "It turns out that they are not willing to call the emperor your majesty. They actually call him emperor. You can imagine, but this title is not bad!"
"Wei Chen has also met the emperor. He has not changed much. He just looks much older and his hair is half white. He is only forty years old!"
Zhao Gou snorted, "So you also cried bitterly?"
Zhu Shengfei was so frightened that he quickly said: "Wei Chen didn't dare. Wei Chen specifically asked them in advance before calling them emperor."
Zhao Gou asked Xu Xiantu next to him again, "What does Mr. Xu think?"
Xu Xiantu stroked his beard and said: "The other party regards the meeting as a prerequisite for the negotiation. It is not enough if His Majesty does not meet. However, the minister also understands what Chen Qing means. Chen Qing wants to solidify the reason for leading the army to come to An this time. It has nothing to do with him. It is just
His Majesty meets with the royal brother."
"Ai Qing, you mean that I still want to see you?"
"Actually, it's not bad for His Majesty and the Emperor to meet each other in the name of brothers. It means that His Majesty attaches great importance to the Emperor and regards brotherhood as the most important thing. It can stop some people's mouths. The other party's arrangement suggestions are also good. On the West Lake ship, only
Your Majesty and the Imperial Brother, no one knows what you are talking about."
Zhao Gou said bitterly: "He also treats me as a puppet."
Xu Xiantu advised: "In order to let this plague god leave Lin'an as soon as possible, your Majesty just agrees to one condition."
"Okay! I just want to meet the emperor brother. After so many years of separation, I also want to meet him."
Zhao Gou said to Zhu Shengfei: "Xiangong Zhu will be responsible for arranging the big ship. All kinds of guards will be discussed with the other party first. Every detail must be implemented. I never want any accidents to happen."
"I obey the order!"
Zhou Kuan did not live in Daying. He still lived in a VIP hotel in the city, so as to facilitate contact with people in the court.
Zhong Huan deployed more than twenty internal guard soldiers around the VIP hotel to form a tight guard.
Zhong Huan then took two of his men to the Ruyi Teahouse located near Dawazi. The Ruyi Teahouse is only above average among the hundreds of teahouses in the city and is very inconspicuous. However, its location is good. It is in the busiest Dawazi in Lin'an.
Nearby.
Ruyi Tea House is the intelligence headquarters of the Western Army Intelligence Department in Lin'an. It also has shops, restaurants, martial arts halls, etc.
The intelligence chief was the teahouse shopkeeper named Dong An. The few scout soldiers who had previously protected Zhou Kuan were the martial arts instructors. Wei Yanzong was the martial arts master instructor.
Zhong Huan showed off his inner guard silver medal, and shopkeeper Dong An quickly invited him to the backyard and sent someone to find Wei Yanzong.
The martial arts hall was very close, and Wei Yanzong arrived in a hurry not long after.
Zhong Huan cupped his fists and said, "I am Zhong Huan, the commander of the 10th Battalion of the Internal Guard, who is involved in protecting the safety of the prince. Today I am here to find you two on the order of the prince."
"But because of the assassination of Counselor Zhou the night before yesterday?" Wei Yanzong asked.
Zhong Huan nodded, "It is for this reason that the prince asked us to find the assassin."