The imperial court finally selected, in addition to Prime Minister Liu Zhennian and Prime Minister Niu Yuan, Ye Yongjia, the minister of war, Cai Xianqing, the chief minister, and more than a dozen ministers from each department were sent to travel to Denglai with the holy driver. Rong Qing volunteered to join the four
Five memorials were issued, so he was allowed to lead the imperial guards to accompany him. Yan Wen was in Beijing to assist the prince in governing the country and respectfully saw off this group of people on their journey.
Ye Yongjia was drowsy along the way and slept in the car for four or five days. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in Laizhou. The governor took officials of all sizes out of the city to pick him up. While playing music, he opened the way with a guard of honor. After talking for a long time, he finally sent the emperor
Welcome into the mansion.
The emperor said a few words in the hall, and gave all the courtiers who came to meet him. After everyone shouted long live, they retreated, and the eunuchs carried the emperor to a separate room to rest. Only the governor and Liu Zhennian were left.
People sit down here.
"General Liu has only been Prime Minister for one year, and he has brought peace and prosperity to the sea. Who doesn't admire him? If you want to conduct a large naval parade on the sea, I will use all my wealth to help it, and make sure it is on a grand scale, so that the general will not have any regrets."
The governor handed him the tea.
Liu Zhennian smiled and said: "Your Excellency really has the heart to serve the imperial court. This is the blessing of the country."
"I wonder if the location for this parade has been chosen?" the governor asked closer.
"Either Laizhou or Dengzhou is fine. You'd better ask Governor Zhang to do the calculation." Liu Zhennian lowered his head and drank tea.
"I'm in Laizhou..." the governor smiled awkwardly, "There is really no place suitable for viewing. Governor Zhang is in Dengzhou and it is really inconvenient to call him around. Why don't you let the emperor settle here for a few days?
Immediately go to Dengzhou and discuss with him in person."
Liu Zhennian saw that he was trying to pass the buck, and he felt dissatisfied: "What's wrong with you in Laizhou? Are you afraid of taking responsibility?"
The governor panicked and replied: "I am taking care of both houses. It is just because the Yamen is opened here. If something happens in Dengzhou, the lower officials will also be blamed together. How can there be any talk of favoritism? I just put important things first, and I am deeply aware of the situation in Laizhou's offshore area."
There are many islands and reefs in this place, so it is not suitable to conduct a large-scale parade."
"Well, that makes sense. You don't have to worry about it. I will discuss it with Zhang Longlu." Liu Zhennian said this and then asked: "How has the situation been since Governor Zhang took office?"
The governor reported: "Governor Zhang has always been in charge of his own affairs, but because Denglai has been at peace for a long time and rarely uses troops, he seems to be very leisurely and lives a leisurely life."
After hearing this, Liu Zhennian gradually felt relieved and laughed: "He is getting older and it is time for him to spend his old age in peace."
Rong Qing was wandering in the corner of the inner courtyard. He looked up at the emperor's residence and kept rubbing his sword with his fingers. He was still not sure whether he wanted to take the first step of his plan - to confide in the emperor himself.
Although Lan Yuan and others told him not to inform the emperor of the plot too early, although he promised to do so, he always believed in his heart that the emperor was a member of his family after all. Even if he had other considerations, his elbow was still
Can you turn outside?
Rong Qing thought about it, gritted his teeth, and strode to the front of the house. He looked at the guards on both sides, and they all looked at a loss. They were still blocking the door, and said angrily: "Even your
Don’t you even recognize me? I have an official meeting with the emperor, please get out of the way!"
As he said that, he actually pushed away the soldiers blocking the way and rushed straight in.
The emperor was eating snacks in the back room when he heard someone knocking on the door gently and saying "It's me". He quickly took the dagger he had with him from under the couch and fastened it tightly to his waist. Then he ordered the eunuch to open the door: "Who's here?
Me?"
As soon as the door opened, Rong Qing stumbled two steps, then pressed his knees heavily, and knelt down in front of the emperor: "Your Majesty, Rong Qing, pays homage to you!"
Seeing that he was so excited, the emperor expected that he must have something on his mind, so he coughed a few times and winked at the eunuch, who consciously closed the door and retreated.
"Please get up." As usual, he was extremely stingy with his words.
But Rong Qing's blood was still boiling, and tears gradually filled his eyes: "I didn't dare to get up before I said anything important."
"What do you mean, my brother?"
"The Liu thief has been bullying my royal family for many years. He has made many rebellions and murdered the crown prince, which has made your majesty lose all authority as a king. I all see it in my eyes and remember it in my heart..." He slowly swallowed more, "My brother, I am sorry.
I can't bear this national humiliation, so I made an appointment with the prince, hoping to take advantage of this eastward trip to kill the power thief. I am telling your majesty specifically, hoping that he can make a decision and regain the power!"
"You..." The emperor held the dagger tighter, "What do you want to do?"
Rong Qing put his head on the ground, and his tone became more and more excited: "The Governor of Denglai, Zhang Longlu, has a personal grudge against Liu Zhennian, and he is willing to help us get rid of the national traitors. As soon as your majesty goes to Dengzhou, and the grand parade begins, you must obey
Plan to capture him."
"Then you can do what you want and I won't interfere." The emperor gently raised his hand and motioned for him to stand up again.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Rong Qing kowtowed with gratitude and stood up quickly, "I will send someone to Dengzhou right now. I will contact Zhang Longlu first and then think of countermeasures."
During the few days in Laizhou, Liu Zhennian gradually began to let down his guard. In his eyes, Zhang Longlu was not a threat, but just a drunkard who was eating, drinking and having fun without doing his job. Rong Qing therefore seized the opportunity and secretly sent a guard to go
Contact Governor Zhang in Dengzhou.
Ever since Zhang Longlu heard that Prime Minister Liu had entered Laizhou, he had not thought about food or food for several days in a row, and he was no longer in a hurry to accept the concubine. He just listened to the news every day and had no other choice, fearing that the current situation would escape his control.
The arrival of envoy Rong Qing was a savior for him. He received Rong Qing's letter, opened his eyes wide and looked at it, and saw the words clearly written: "Governor Governor. I have discussed it with your Majesty and vowed to
shovel
Get rid of the culprit and save our country. The general can make preparations in advance and listen to my instructions for his actions. After the completion of the task, the general will be rewarded as the Duke of the country, with food for ten thousand households, and a court official of three grades or above, and he will be able to claim it.' There was another big seal at the end of the letter.
.
Zhang Longlu laughed loudly after reading. His wife asked why. Longlu said: "In the past few days, I was afraid that no one could rely on me, so I was afraid of thieves. Today, I have received the trust of the emperor, and I can act on his trust without any scruples! Wait until
On the day of the Grand Parade, I must avenge the death of my son!"
His wife just stared at the conditions stipulated in the letter, her eyes widened: "Look at the treatment given by the court, it is really good!"
Unexpectedly, Zhang Longlu curled his lips and took back the letter: "It's worthless! If I kill Liu Zhennian, the emperor will be in my hands. I can do whatever I want, but do I still need his reward?"
"This... means he will be beheaded!" His wife's face turned pale with fright, and she hurriedly covered his mouth.
"No, it's not our turn to be beheaded," Zhang Longlu smiled coldly, "The emperor's brother is really confused. Instead of passing on a verbal message, he handed such a letter into my hands. Then I will do the emperor's will.