"So you happily do business with them without even knowing that a spy was planted in the company! Do you just believe in Helian Qingfeng's promise? Is this really the case?" He Qizhou said angrily.
"It is indeed my negligence to have spies, but defense still depends on strength, and I have never relaxed for a moment. When I was young, I wanted to be the best in the world in martial arts. When I found that there was no hope, I wanted to make the Zhang family the best family in the world.
, everything is measured by whether it is beneficial to the family. Regarding Yang Zheng, I was indeed wrong!
At that time, Yang Zheng had no military power, and there was no family in the court to support him. It was obvious that he could not turn the tide on his own. If his life was used in exchange for an important pass, in exchange for the stability of the government, in exchange for me
The long-term peace and stability of the Zhang family is definitely a deal in which the pros outweigh the cons! This was what I thought at the time, so after some hesitation, I agreed to my friend's request.
Yang Zheng's martial arts is indeed outstanding. Those who took action first were about to give up. Since I made the promise, I couldn't help but take action. Helian Qingfeng took advantage of Yang Zheng to attack me and launched a sneak attack.
A peerless dagger pierced Yang Zheng's armor. Before Yang Zheng made his fatal move, he said something to me, which made me change my mind about assassinating him..."
"What did he say?" He Qizhou and Lu Baogen asked at the same time.
Zhang Xingchu said: "He said: 'I don't blame you, remember to protect the land and the people, and retreat quickly!' Then he used that shocking sword move! Helian Qingfeng's martial arts is also extraordinary. After hearing Yang Zheng's warning to me
, hurriedly retreated, except for the two of us, the other people surrounding Yang Zheng suffered.
After the sword move was completed, Helian Qingfeng, who was slightly injured, wanted to summon others to attack again, but saw me blocking their attack, and saw you Lu Baogen coming, so he hurriedly retreated, and our team
People dispersed as soon as they saw me leaving. Yang Zheng’s magnanimity made me feel inferior to him. His death has actually been the deepest thorn in my heart for these years..."
He Qizhou said: "According to what you said, I already know that those who escaped from the Northern Zhou Dynasty were Helian Qingfeng, Chi Yan and Wu Shi. Besides you, one person here in Qi State was killed by the master. Who are the other two?
?”
"One is my friend in the court, and the other is from the Yongquan realm. I really don't know who they are. Those assassins were not recruited by my friends. When I arrived, I found a dozen people ambushing around. Later,
I just found out that they are people from an organization codenamed 'Yueyin', and the leader behind them should be the so-called 'General' who colluded with Helian Qingfeng." Zhang Xingchu said.
"Why don't you tell me your friend's name? What if your judgment is wrong? If the throne is usurped and foreign enemies are attracted, your Zhang family can just go and ask for it?" He Qizhou said angrily.
"For the Yang family, no, for the Qi State, I am already a sinner. Don't worry, I will give an explanation to the world. I have been thinking about this day for a long time, but I have never had the courage to take this step.
But I don't want to be a villain who betrays his friends again. What I can guarantee is that he is definitely not a 'general'! You should go back to Beijing as soon as possible to report the news." Zhang Xingchu said.
Lu Baogen said sincerely to Zhang Xingchu: "To be honest, if it weren't for you that time, my junior brother and I might not have been able to come back alive..."
"Let's go quickly. I know the mistakes I made. Thank you for coming here today. You have removed the thorn in my heart. Uncle Yan! See you off!" Zhang Xingchu said with a sad face.
"Although I still hate you a little, I don't blame you, and I don't want any explanation from you." He Qizhou said again before leaving.
"Xiaoxue saw you right, don't let her down." Zhang Xingchu waved his hand for the two of them to leave quickly.
"Sir, what's going on?" Yan Bo, who was returning from seeing off his guests, saw Zhang Xingchu writing a letter and said worriedly.
Zhang Xingchu didn't even raise his head and said to Yan Bo: "Call those two old men over. I have something to say to them."
"Master?" Uncle Yan was a little worried.
"Go on, it's time to put down this burden."
"oh."
…
Xu Mu climbed over a low hill and found that the Tianju under his crotch was running slower and slower. If he urged it anymore, it would only kill it. After he just ran to the top of the hill, he found that dozens of cavalry pursuers were already within reach of him.
It was several miles away, and those people were one man and two riders. If he continued along the official road, he would be overtaken within ten miles. And when he discovered the pursuers, he would probably be discovered by those pursuers as well.
Xu Mu gritted his teeth, walked down the hill, and ran directly into the dense forest to the west. He might have taken a detour to get to Beijing, but if he was caught, there would be no hope! After passing through the forest, the terrain became more undulating, and he had entered
In a mountainous area, Xu Mu spent the night in the forest. On the second day, he turned south again along the foothills. But when he passed a village, he saw officers and soldiers moving in the village from a distance, and he disguised himself as a woman with a large birthmark on her face.
When I walked into the village, I saw that the portraits of Xu Mu and the horse had been posted everywhere in the village.
Xu Mu didn't want to abandon the horse he borrowed from Urna, so he had no choice but to walk deep into the mountains. Finally, he found a hunter two days later and kept the horse at the hunter's home. He also paid money to buy a horse from them, and then asked
After clearing the route, we decided to cross the river sixty miles west of Luoyang. Although it would take a few more days to walk, the chance of encountering masters and large groups of people was extremely small, and it would be more conducive to delivering the message.
On October 28, the second year of Dingbei, Xu Muxue rushed to the ferry mentioned by Orion and found hundreds of officers and soldiers guarding it. Xu Muxue used the excuse of visiting relatives to abandon his horse and cross the Yellow River.
He forcibly bought two horses and then ran to the capital desperately!
Also running towards the capital were He Qizhou and Lu Baogen. After all, Lu Baogen was quite old, and his fatigue was evident from running around for days. He Qizhou could only slow down slightly and rushed to the capital on October 29th. Entering the city.
After that, the two realized that the atmosphere in the city was obviously not right. Every city gate was heavily guarded, and the main streets were full of imperial guards. People from the Wuchasi could not even enter the imperial city, let alone the palace to meet the saint.
!
He Qizhou was a little relieved, thinking that the emperor knew the news conveyed by Xu Mu and was on guard, so he went to the military equipment hall to inquire about the situation. Lin Chuan and others were overjoyed when they saw He Qizhou coming back. After running around to tell the news, the small courtyard suddenly returned
More than twenty people squeezed in. He Qizhou was eager to know the current situation in the city. He ignored everyone's greetings and instead asked why he couldn't enter the imperial city.
Liu Junzhi had the best information. He lowered his voice and said softly: "The official statement announced to the outside world is that there are spies from the Northern Zhou Dynasty who are causing trouble in the city, and they are now searching the city. But in fact, the Northern Zhou Dynasty is preparing to invade in a large scale. The emperor is seriously ill. Hearing this
He fell down immediately after this news. Chen Dang and the prince are now fighting fiercely, and the whole court is in a state of confusion, so this is the situation."
"It stands to reason that the Northern Zhou Dynasty would send troops sooner or later. Why did the emperor react like this when he heard the news?" He Qizhou did not believe that Jiang Cong, who had been a soldier all his life, was so weak.
"Don't you know yet? General Lin Hu of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty has surrendered to the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Helian Qingfeng named him the new King of Bohai. His future fiefdom will also include Youzhou, and he was even named the leader of the Tianlong Sect! The capital of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Baicheng, has been destroyed. Listen.
It is said that Helian Chenwu only took a few people to flee north, but now a hundred thousand cavalry from the Northern Zhou Dynasty may go south at any time!" Liu Junzhi said.
"There are people in the court who have colluded with the Northern Zhou Dynasty and will take action in the near future. If they want to usurp the throne, I have to go to Beijing as soon as possible to face the emperor. Liu Junzhi, what can you do?" He Qizhou knew that the situation was serious and asked eagerly.
"I can find a way to bring you into the imperial city, but now the palace is no longer allowed. Even the privy envoys and the chief ministers of the cabinet are not allowed to summon people outside the palace," Liu Junzhi said.
"We'll wait until we get to the Imperial City first. I'll go find Yuan Qing to find a solution." Lu Baogen said at the side.
The two of them did not stop, and were led into the imperial city by Liu Junzhi. They originally wanted to find Liu Yan first, but people at home said that Liu Yan had been staying in the palace and had not returned for two days. Lu Baogen could only take He Qizhou to the northeast of the imperial city.
At the Tiandu Temple in Jiaojiao, the Taoist priest at the gate recognized Lu Baogen, who had put on Taoist robes, and brought the two of them into the temple.
Imperial Master Yuan Qing was praying for Jiang Cong and performing rituals. Lu Baogen couldn't help but break into the altar where thirty-six Taoist priests were sitting. He stood next to Yuan Qing behind the incense table in the middle and pretended to dance his sleeves and chant sutras, as if he was accompanying him in the rituals.
.
"Don't make trouble, tell me if you have anything to say?" Yuan Qing said with a headache while dancing with his sword.
"As long as you mean it, I want to go to the palace immediately to meet the saint. Is there anything you can do?" Lu Baogen asked in a low voice.
"The emperor is not in the palace. He is in Jiuzhou Pool. No one can be seen now. It's up to his luck whether he can see him." Yuan Qing said.
"Then what are you waiting for? Close the stall and take us there." Lu Baogen stopped dancing and closed his palms together.
"I've convinced you!" Yuan Qing had no choice but to stop the posture in advance and shouted: "The sky is Lingling, the earth is Lingling, the ancestors of the Sanqing Dynasty show their strength!"
"Master Immortal, thank you for your hard work. With the blessing of the gods, Your Majesty will be safe and sound." A eunuch who was watching from the sidelines came up to Yuan Qing in time and thanked Yuan Qing.
"Senior Brother Yuanbao and I would like to see His Majesty Long Yan again. Please let Eunuch Tang pass the news." Yuan Qing said to the eunuch.
"Then two of you, please come with me and see if your Majesty is willing to summon the immortal now," the eunuch said.
Two carriages went straight to the Jiuzhou Pond in the royal garden. Yuanbao, Yuanqing and He Qizhou rode in the same carriage. Yuanqing heard that He Qizhou said that there was a great traitor who wanted to usurp the throne while the emperor was seriously ill, and he believed it at once. These days, Chen
Concubine, Concubine Xiao tried her best to run to the emperor's palace. The two families who were brothers a month ago were now just a hair away from turning against each other;
The battle between the prince and Chen Dang in the court was even more intense, and many officials with real power were involved in each other's affairs;
The Jin Yiwei also took frequent actions, and within a few days they had arrested dozens of civil and military officials, including people from the three families and the prince's side.
The emperor couldn't bear the disturbance, so he hid in Jiuzhou Pond to recuperate, and saw almost no one. His only action was to order Prince Cheng to assist the prince in governing the country. Although there was one more person involved in politics, the two often had different opinions, and the backlog of
On the contrary, there are more and more memorials.