The surprise in Yuwen's heart was no less than that of Yuwen Chengchao.
Shopkeeper Bai was sitting at the teacher's table, cupping his hands to the old Marquis, smiling but saying nothing.
"Jingzhai, you are indeed hiding your secrets." The old Marquis said calmly: "You have been in the Yuwen family for twenty-one years, and I never thought that you were from the Fan family."
Shopkeeper Bai sighed: "The Bai family in Tai'an has always been greatly favored by the Yuwen family. I made friends with the Marquis when I was young, and I also gained the respect of the Marquis. I ran errands for the Yuwen family." After a pause, he said calmly: "If there weren't ten
Six years ago, the Wutuo people broke through the border and entered, so I should be the marquis's pawn for the rest of my life."
The old Marquis said "Oh" with a look of disdain on his face.
"In the Wutuo Rebellion, Xiling was brutally poisoned, and countless people died under the swords of the Wutuo people." Shopkeeper Bai said slowly: "Before the Wutuo people entered the customs, I had already opened up trade outside the customs for the Yuwen family, and I also
I met many Wutuo nobles outside the customs. I learned about the Wutuo people’s plan to advance eastward in advance and reported it to the Marquis immediately. The Marquis should still remember it.”
Old Marquis said: "So what?"
"I remember that I rushed back to Xiling from outside the customs and suggested to the Marquis that we must quickly gather the strength of the major families in Xiling to strengthen the city defense, hoard food and grass, and recruit soldiers as quickly as possible to fully support the protective army and strengthen
Xiling's defense." Shopkeeper Bai looked at Old Marquis and said, "If I remember correctly, there was still half a year before the Wutuo people entered the pass. Time is indeed very tight, but if mobilized immediately, half a year would be enough.
, it is also enough to make some necessary preparations, such as allowing the people of Fan County to quickly move eastward. If this is really done, many people will not become the grudges of the Wutuo people."
The old marquis snorted coldly and said: "Wutuo has one hundred thousand cavalry. The Tang army was already at war with southern Xinjiang, and the Tusun people had also gone south. There was no way to support them in the pass. We relied on the several thousand troops of the protective army. Even if we provide money and men,
, what’s the use?”
"Now that things have come to this, why does the Marquis have to cover it up?" Shopkeeper Bai sighed: "The three big clans discussed secretly. If I remember correctly, the Fan family requested that all the people in Fan County be evacuated eastward, and then recruit
The strong men strengthened Heiyang City and asked the major families to spend money to store grain in Heiyang City. In half a year, if they really go all out, with the financial resources of the major families in Xiling, Heiyang City will naturally be built into a strong city.
, it is not difficult to recruit 10,000 or 20,000 strong men. In this way, when the protective army is stationed in Heiyang City, not only will there be a strong city to defend, but there will also be enough food in the city, and there will be another 20,000 strong men to assist, plus Wu Tuo
People are not good at attacking cities, and it may not be impossible to defend them for a year and a half."
The corners of Lao Houye's eyes twitched slightly, but he said nothing.
"The imperial court is unable to support Xiling, so the people of Xiling should protect Xiling by themselves." Shopkeeper Bai said slowly: "But you not only rejected the people's suggestion to move eastward, but you were also worried that Xiling would fall into chaos, and even concealed the news that the Wutuo people were going to attack Xiling.
.For half a year, you did nothing, until the Wutuo people came and the Guards Army fought to the death in Heiyang City. They were short of soldiers and food. You were still indifferent. Mr. Marquis, I know that at that time you thought that the Tang army would be defeated.
We wanted to make peace with the Wutuo people, but at that time did you think about the tens of thousands of people in Xiling?"
The old Marquis looked at Shopkeeper Bai and sneered: "Because you resented me for not following your advice back then, so you took refuge in the Fan family?" He glanced at Fan Ziqi and said calmly: "Don't forget, back then, Fan
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When the family was in crisis, they took the prepared family property and fled secretly to Turtle City, leaving the people in Zhen County behind. Do you think the Fan family did better than the Yuwen family?"
Fan Ziqi smiled bitterly and said: "I didn't have the courage to do the right thing back then. After the war, I returned to Zhen County and saw the devastation, and then I realized how big a mistake I had made. A person always has to make up for his mistakes."
"In the past ten years, I have been in Wutuo. I have watched them become stronger day by day, and I feel anxious." Shopkeeper Bai said: "Looking back at Xiling, the Xiling family is like a leech attached to this land, greedily absorbing
The blood of Xiling has made this land weaker and weaker." He shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Compared to sixteen years ago, Xiling is getting weaker and weaker." Staring at the old Marquis Yuwen, he said calmly: "Master Marquis, Xiling is the largest
Our enemies have never been foreigners, but precisely these wealthy families in Xiling."
The corners of Mr. Yuwen's eyes twitched and he finally said: "So you are secretly colluding with the Fan family?"
"Master Hou thinks I have taken refuge in the Fan family?" Shopkeeper Bai shook his head and said: "Master Hou is wrong, I am only loyal to the Tang Dynasty, the real Tang Dynasty!"
"You...are you from the imperial court?" Old Marquis Yuwen was even more surprised.
If Shopkeeper Bai is from the imperial court, then when he appears here tonight, he is not just following the Fan family, but also has the power of the imperial court behind him.
The plan to annihilate the Zhen family started with those two secret letters.
Two secret letters proved the Zhen family's act of surrendering to the enemy and treason, and the old Marquis saw the opportunity in this, and discussed with Shopkeeper Bai to use this opportunity to annihilate the Zhen family for the imperial court, thus freeing the Yuwen family from crisis.
Shopkeeper Bai was involved in this plan from beginning to end.
Even from a certain perspective, without Shopkeeper Bai, the Yuwen family might not have acted rashly.
Old Marquis Yuwen had a stern look on his face. At this moment, he finally understood that the so-called opportunity of the Yuwen family was just a means of use by shopkeeper Bai. The Yuwen family actually became a tool for the imperial court to destroy the Zhen family.
Fan Ziqi finally said: "Brother, do you understand now that you think you are the one in control of the chess game, but you have just entered the chess game and become a pawn in it."
"Even if you become a chess piece, you are still a chess piece of the imperial court." Old Marquis said solemnly: "The Yuwen family works for the imperial court to hoe traitors, what's wrong with that?"
Shopkeeper Bai smiled lightly and said: "Why is the old Marquis so sure that the one he got rid of must be a traitor? Whether the Zhen family is loyal or traitorous only depends on whether the two secret letters are true or false. In the opinion of the Marquis, those two secret letters
Is it true or false?”
Old Marquis Yuwen's pupils shrank slightly.
"I know what the Marquis is thinking." Shopkeeper Bai sighed: "When the eldest son presented the two secret letters to you, you no longer cared about the authenticity of the secret letters. As long as you use this as evidence to get rid of the Zhen family, you can
I thought that the court would definitely believe that the evidence was true when the time came, but... I can only have the final say on whether the secret letter is true or false."
Old Marquis Yuwen's heart sank.
He had realized that there was a huge flaw in his painstaking plan, and this flaw was none other than Shopkeeper Bai.
"These two secret letters were found in Qifushan's underground secret room." Shopkeeper Bai said, "The people who found these two secret letters were Qin Xiao and Tang Rong." He picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea.
, then slowly said: "If you want
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To prove the authenticity of these two secret letters, his two confessions plus my testimony will make it clear to the court."
Fan Ziqi said: "Brother, I just said that if the secret letter is true, the imperial court will naturally regard the Yuwen family as a great contributor. But if the secret letter is false and the Yuwen family kills innocent people indiscriminately, and they are also marquises of the imperial court, then
Naturally, the Yuwen family will be in disaster."
"Although Tang Rong is my adopted daughter, there is another master behind her." Shopkeeper Bai said: "I can't be sure who that person is, but if the prediction is correct, it must be someone from the imperial court, so Tang Rong will send the secret letter to
The truth will be told to the person behind the scenes, and the person behind the scenes will most likely inform the court about the secret letter." Looking at the old Marquis, he said: "So the confession of this first witness must be very detrimental to the Yuwen family.
"
Old Marquis Yuwen tried his best to appear calm, but his hand when he went to pick up the teacup was already shaking slightly, not just because of fear but also because of anger.
"The second witness is myself." Shopkeeper Bai said: "Since I am loyal to the imperial court, I will not hide anything from the imperial court. I forged those two secret letters myself, and then asked Tang Rong to find an opportunity to put them in Qifushan.
The purpose of the underground secret room is naturally to frame the Zhen family for surrendering to the enemy and treason." He said very calmly. The old Marquis glanced at him and said calmly: "It turns out that it was really you who did it. Since you admit it, that's fine.
If the imperial court wants to investigate the authenticity of the secret letter, you will not be able to escape the crime of forging the secret letter."
"Master Hou has forgotten, everyone in the world knows that I am the confidant of Master Hou." Shopkeeper Bai sighed: "For the Yuwen family, I stayed in Wutuo for nearly twenty years. For this reason, I even gave the Yuwen family a pair of legs. If
My prediction was correct. In the files of the Ziyi Prison, I will definitely be recorded as the number one lackey of the Yuwen family, and I must also be the confidant of Mr. Hou. If I confess that Mr. Hou asked me to forge secret letters to frame the Zhen family,
If we find this opportunity to destroy the Zhen family to please the imperial court, I believe no one will doubt it."
Old Marquis Yuwen was furious and said sternly: "Bai Jingzhai, you...!" He coughed violently, but Fan Ziqi had already stood up and came over, caressing Old Marquis Yuwen's back.
"As for the third witness Qin Xiao, I know that he is on good terms with the eldest young master." Shopkeeper Bai said slowly: "But compared to the eldest young master, there is someone he cares more about in this world, and that person has saved his life.
, and treat him like a son, that person can risk his life for him, and Qin Xiao can also risk his life for that person, they are true life and death friends." After a pause, he looked towards Yu Wencheng.
Coming over, he vaguely saw Qin Xiao next to Yuwen Chengchao, and sighed: "So as long as that person comes forward, he will not protect the Yuwen family, but will only tell the truth about the matter. Tang Rong did not hide the secret letter from Qin Xiao
It is a forged fact, and Qin Xiao knows the truth. He has a life-and-death feud with the Zhen family, so this time he also used the Yuwen family to eradicate the Zhen family."
Old Marquis Yuwen's breath became smoother, and Shopkeeper Bai said: "So as long as the confessions of the three of us are known to the court, the Yuwen family will become the culprits of the massacre of Changxin Hou Zhen's family. No matter what the motive is, such a serious crime is enough to cause the Yuwen family to suffer
A devastating disaster."
Old Marquis Yuwen stared at shopkeeper Bai's eyes, his body trembled slightly, and suddenly his throat made a "gurgling" sound, and then with a "pop" sound, a mouthful of blood spurted out from his mouth, splattering on the table, and a lot of it.
It splashed on Shopkeeper Bai's clothes.
Shopkeeper Bai remained motionless, just looking at Mr. Yuwen calmly, motionless as a mountain.