As early as when he knew that Chen Ping was going to Mulu Tusi's place, Pixiu had actually made two preparations.
While he asked Master Tu to take the money and go back to find other chieftains to intercept Chen Ping, he also made preparation plans for the unlikely interception failure at the time.
Although this kind of preparation seemed a bit redundant at the time, Qingzhou's lesson was not in vain. He issued orders to the people lurking in Congxing Mansion City to do everything possible not to be exposed, in order to prepare for the future.
For emergencies.
Now it is proved that Pixiu made this choice very correctly.
However, as the final moment came to an end, Pi Xiu felt more and more uncertain, because when he thought about it carefully, he found that his proud plan had been repeatedly frustrated after arriving in Lingzhou, as if Chen Ping could see through his own mind.
It was nothing before, but now he only felt a chill spreading from the bottom of his heart, and he was even more doubtful about the next final push.
Is it possible?
......
"Is it possible?"
Capital City, Cheng Mansion.
Cheng Yuanjian looked at the letter in his hand, clenched it tightly with his fingers and crumpled it into a ball. The expression on his face changed accordingly, making him look very melancholy.
"Father, is there any new news from the palace?"
Cheng Kaiji rubbed his hands after hearing this and sighed: "It's still the same as before. I heard that the adults above have tried it, but it seems that there is no gain."
Is this so? This is true in Lingzhou, and it is also true in Beijing. Could it be that the time has not yet come?
The higher-ups are still too anxious. If things in Lingzhou don't turn around, wouldn't they be in a passive position?
Cheng Yuanjian thought of this, and at the same time he was dissatisfied with the superiors for appointing Pixiu to go to Lingzhou to handle this important matter. Pixiu has always been stubborn and radical, so there is no one who can take on this important task.
Now, in order to cooperate with Pixiu, Lingzhou's neighboring states not only contributed manpower but also risked being exposed. With such efforts, it stands to reason that Pixiu should be able to succeed easily.
In fact, the situation is exactly the opposite!
Cheng Yuanjian didn't like Pi Xiu, but he was even more annoyed that Pi Xiu was incompetent and had to pretend to be a fat man to take over the big things in Lingzhou. This has now put the organization in a dilemma!
"The situation in Lingzhou is very pessimistic. This matter must be reported immediately. Lingzhou should be abandoned when necessary to avoid implicating other states."
"And that Chen Ping... I didn't expect that an accident ten years ago would sow such a thunder for us, haha!"
Cheng Yuanjian licked his lips, and there was a bit of self-mockery in his laughter, thinking that the Cheng family had been working as cattle and horses for the adults for so many years, but he still couldn't trust himself when it came to such a big thing, and instead left it to someone like Pi Xiu.<
/p>
Now that Lingzhou has been messed up by Pixiu, why don't we ask him to wipe the butt?
"I'll contact the higher ups right now, Yuan Jian, let's just do our own thing. We're afraid of our father..."
"I understand, father, I am sensible."
At the same time, in the palace.
The palace maid carefully retrieved the medicine from the imperial hospital, sent it to the imperial kitchen for cooking and disposal, and then sent it to the emperor's palace.
"Your Majesty, the medicine is here."
"Let them go down."
Emperor Tianqi waved his hand, dismissed all the palace people, and then opened the curtain to reveal his face.
Compared with when he was seriously ill before, his complexion looks much better. Although it is not rosy and energetic, it is not sallow and dull.
"How is the situation in Lingzhou?"
"Back to Your Majesty, I just received the news this morning that the price of grain in Lingzhou has soared to three or four taels of silver per stone. The smuggling case has not yet been solved, and the smuggling thieves have not been brought to justice yet."
The movements of Emperor Tianqi's hand stopped, and he silently pulled out a small red box from the bedside. After opening it, there was a delicate pill inside.
He stared at the pill for a long time. When the eunuch serving him noticed the movement and looked up, he immediately put on a bitter look and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, this is the medicine of tiger and wolf. You can't take it anymore."
, eat again, eat again..."
"Tiger and wolf medicine is the best. My reputation has been suffering for a long time, and I am suffering from serious illness. How can I be saved without the tiger and wolf medicine?"
Emperor Tianqi curled his lips, showed an intriguing smile, then took the pill, and continued to drink the soup.
I don’t know if it was the effect of the decoction or the pills, but within two sticks of incense, Emperor Tianqi’s complexion actually improved a little, and even if he were walking on the street, he wouldn’t be able to tell that he was seriously ill.
"Wang Daban, go and invite me the Minister of War, Su Shilang, the Censor of the Ming Dynasty from the Imperial Academy, and Xu Ji from the Hanlin Academy. I have something to say to them."
After taking the pill, Emperor Tianqi looked good but extremely serious, and said to the old eunuch.
He knows his own body best. Although this tiger and wolf medicine can restore his energy, it also comes at a huge cost.
After taking the medicine, he first takes it every three days, then two days, then one day, and finally needs to take it several times a day, and the effect of the medicine will become weaker and weaker, which means that there is not much time left for him.
We must take advantage of this period of time to arrange funeral arrangements and pass on the legacy of Dayu as safely as possible.
Looking at the old eunuch crawling out of the palace, the loneliness in Emperor Tianqi's eyes suddenly emerged. He smiled bitterly twice and then coughed.
"Royal brother, why are you doing this just for the dragon chair?"
"Brothers fight against each other, uncles and nephews kill each other. It's not enough for me to let you live for half your life, but Dayu can't stand such a torment anymore."
Emperor Tianqi murmured alone, the faint voice only he could hear.
The huge palace was extremely empty. Except for Emperor Tianqi, who was sitting on the dragon bed alone and feeling lost, there was no one else. The faint scent of medicine came out of the palace and floated into the distance.
......
Is Pixiu here? Tathagata.
The boring wait made Chen Ping a little anxious. He even suspected that Pi Xiu had run away from Lingzhou. After all, it had been almost ten days, and all the places that could hide people within hundreds of miles of Congxing Mansion were searched.
However, there was still no sign of Pixiu.
Then there are only two possibilities. One is that Pixiu escaped from Tang Hao's search and escaped from Lingzhou, and the other is that Pixiu is in the city!
"Where is it? It's such a big place in the city...Does he plan to keep spending it like this? Hiss, I can't afford it."
"No, Pi Xiu has been frustrated by me so many times. How can a guy like him keep his composure? Besides, I am in a hurry to return to Beijing and he is in a hurry to complete the task, right! It's almost just the past few days, right? Pi Xiu
Hugh!"
Chen Ping's eyes curled into crescents and he chuckled at a map of Congxing Fucheng.
At this time, in the city, Pixiu, who was making final preparations before the operation, suddenly shivered. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva to calm down, telling himself that this was just a psychological effect and just his own random thoughts.
"Are you all ready? We'll set off in an hour and a half!"
Pixiu opened the window a crack and found that there was only a faint moonlight outside, and whispered to his men.
These people are the old subordinates he brought over from Qingzhou. They are absolutely trustworthy and have extraordinary skills. Coupled with equipment such as hand crossbows and soft armor, even if there are only a few dozen people, they can still survive even when faced with the encirclement of hundreds of officers and soldiers.
Fight your way out!
"There are two masters around the target, but we are outnumbered. As long as we act quickly, we can kill them before the officers and soldiers support us!"
"When the time comes, we will retreat to the east of the city and someone will meet us!"
Pixiu glanced at the dozens of men who were ready to go, making the final mobilization before the battle.
The stars were turning, and an hour and a half passed quickly. Pixiu suddenly opened his eyes in the dark room.