We meet temporarily in front of flowers and under the moon. Bitterness and hatred prevent us from taking it easy. What’s more, when we wake up from drinking, our dreams are broken, and the flowers fade and the moon is hazy.
The flowers are endless and the moon is endless. The two hearts are united. At this time, I am willing to do it, like the thousands of willow threads, tripping up the spring breeze.
——"Revelation of Heartfelt Love: Temporary Meeting Before the Flowers and Under the Moon" Zhang Xian (Song Dynasty)
…
The imperial eunuch Ai Dong was overjoyed as he held the list of trophies presented by Bai Fuxian in his hand. He squinted his eyes and checked each item one by one.
Eunuch Ai Dong thought to himself: "This is the right thing to do. Not only did Bai Fu repent and admit his mistakes, he also brought shame on himself, and he also made countless gold and silver treasures. He gained a lot both publicly and privately."
As long as we find out the whereabouts of Yin Fenglan, we can go back to Chang'an to meet the Queen and the Prince."
Xing Yanen, the supervisor of the army and the constant servant of the inner left, saw Ai Dong's thoughts and asked Ai Dong: "Little Aizi, are you satisfied? Have you ever thought that once you return to Chang'an, you will just be a little servant of the inner servant's house?"
Huangmen, watch the faces of the empress and other concubines in the palace every day.
Why not stay in Jianghuai and serve as a military supervisor? Not only can you be rich and powerful, but you can also be as powerful as a feudal official.
Take the Zajia family as an example. The Zajia family and Li Fuguo were both eunuchs of the same rank. Although he was said to be able to dominate and dominate the inner chamberlain, when he met the royal family members and powerful officials of the aristocratic families, he had to nod, bow, and smile.
It is not the case when he is sent out to serve as a military supervisor. I remember when Bian Lingcheng was a military supervisor in Anxi. He was popular and drank hot food. He controlled the wind and rain in the Western Regions and covered the sky with one hand.
Which of Fumeng Lingcha, Gao Xianzhi, and Feng Changqing is not a famous general? It all depends on Bian Lingcheng's face.
That year, An Lushan's army marched into Tongguan. The imperial court needed Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing to lead the troops to put down the rebellion. Relying on this, the two of them were unruly and refused many requests from the prison general Bian Lingcheng.
After Bian Lingcheng was annoyed by Gao Xianzhi, he beheaded Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing in front of the Tongguan defenders on the charge of withholding rewards and military rations to intimidate the three armies!
How majestic this is!
Now His Majesty is weak and sick, and his position as Crown Prince and Crown Prince is in jeopardy. It is not certain who will sit on the throne in the future. The battle to seize the throne is extremely bloody. If you make a slight mistake and stand in the wrong team, your head will be lost.
As slaves, we all rely on our masters for food. Once a new master comes to the throne and has no connection with us, we will soon be abandoned to the Feilong Gallery and become servants cleaning stables.
It is better to be a feudal official, not to participate in the battle to seize the direct palace, and to change the court at any time.
Nowadays, the world is in chaos, and the emperor is worried about the generals who hold military power, fearing that their arrogant and powerful generals will become the second An Lushan. Only those who come out of the palace have no backers and no children, can the masters be reassured
.
By then, even if there are others sitting on the dragon throne, we will not be easily replaced.
Speaking of having a quick brain, you should learn from Yu Chaoen, the general of the Zuojian gatekeeper. In the Battle of Yecheng, he asked for the job of "watching the army, Xuan Wei and deposing the envoy", commanding 200,000 infantry and cavalry, and controlling Shuofang Guo Ziyi.
How majestic are the nine military envoys such as Li Guangbi of Hedong and Wang Sili of Guan Nei?
Yecheng was defeated, and the blame fell on Guo Ziyi. If he had won, wouldn't this world-class military achievement belong to him, Yu Chaoen?!
What is a smart person? This is a smart person!
In my opinion, Li Fuguo, who knew how to save troubles, was too close to His Majesty and favored His Majesty too much, and helped His Majesty do many unethical things. Once the new monarch succeeds to the throne, he will inevitably die, and sooner or later his head will be lost.
Therefore, the Za family advises you to make plans early, force Bai Fu away, take the opportunity to take the Jianghuai military power in your hands, and find an obedient Jiedushi to be your puppet..."
Xing Yanen was good at seducing and spoke with certainty, and the eunuch Ai Dongshen believed it. The two of them put their arms around each other and discussed the next strategy.
…
Soon, Bai Fu received the imperial edict, which ordered him to return to Beijing immediately to report on his duties. During his return to Beijing, major military affairs were decided by the imperial eunuch Ai Dong.
Before leaving, Bai Fu summoned his trusted generals for a secret discussion.
Bai Fu said to the generals: "After I leave, Ai Dong will definitely try every means to make things difficult for everyone. You must hold back. Don't be reckless with big things. Everything will be handled until I come back."
Yuchi Hussar asked: "What if the situation is urgent and we can't wait until the general comes back?"
Bai Fu said: "In urgent matters, you can do things cheaply. But you need to discuss it with the two generals Ye Duzuo (a scholar) and Tang Kui. If you are still undecided, you can ask Lord Changsun for advice."
After finishing the explanation, Bai Fu took Zi Cheshang, Lone Wolf and others, galloping towards Chang'an under the starry night.
…
Letting Bai Fu return to Beijing was Ai Dong's plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain.
In the early morning of this day, the cold wind was biting, the wind was swirling, mixed with rain and snow, and it was overwhelming and freezing.
Outside the large tent where the imperial envoy was traveling, the generals of the Yuehu Bamboo Department stood solemnly outside the tent, wearing helmets and armor, waiting for the summons of the imperial envoy and eunuch.
In the big tent of the tent, the fire is blazing, and it is as warm as spring.
Eunuch Ai Dong, wearing a mink fur coat, pacing back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his back, completely ignoring the generals standing in the ice rain.
An hour passed, and eunuch Ai Dong finally got angry.
"Pah", he threw Yue Huzhu's account on the carpet and roared to his attendants: "How is it? It's not as expected, right? Look at these generals, withholding military pay, drinking soldiers' blood, and pretending to receive military merit.
How much money were you greedy for?!
Otherwise, the rebels like An Lushan and Shi Siming have always been difficult to eradicate. The root cause lies in this! If it weren't for these moths, the war would have been put down long ago!
Come on, call Yue Huzhu in. The Zajia family wants to ask him properly on behalf of His Majesty. Your Majesty treats him badly, and his conscience is eaten by dogs!"
Ai Dong's voice was very loud, and he deliberately told the generals outside the tent to listen.
Yue Huzhu's face was ashen. If Bai Fu hadn't repeatedly warned him before leaving, he might have turned against him today.
Yue Huzhu entered the tent without saying a word.
Ai Dong narrowed his eyes, looked at Yue Huzhu, and said with a smile: "The Za family knows that you are General Bai's favorite general, and your subordinates are all brave and capable Shaanxi soldiers."
Having said this, Ai Dong raised his hands in the direction of Chang'an and said loudly: "However, the Za family acts according to the decree and only has the king's law in their eyes. They will never engage in favoritism, malpractice, or tolerate traitors just because you are powerful generals in the army.
The Zajia family is ordered to punish rape and eradicate evil, and we will never show mercy!"
Ai Dongyan's jabs were sonorous and powerful, as if he was the greatest incarnation of justice.
Yue Huzhu sneered and said to himself: "General Bai and we have already confessed their guilt and repented, and have disgraced themselves. What else do you want? You have almost finished the drama, so just stop it when you are done."
The contempt in Yue Huzhu's eyes angered Ai Dong. What he hated most was being looked down upon by others, especially by normal men.
In his eyes, Yue Huzhu was just a country bumpkin from Shaanzhou. He was lucky enough to catch up with the war years and achieve the prosperity and wealth he has today. In the end, Yue Huzhu, like himself, was at the bottom of the grassroots.
Ai Dong slapped the crowd and said angrily: "What are you looking at, Kuangni!
Come on, take Yue Huzhu down for me and interrogate him strictly. I want to see if there are any important clues that have not been revealed!"
The soldiers on both sides of Ai Dong rushed forward like wolves and tigers, and took off Yue Huzhu's helmet and sword.
When Yue Huzhu's subordinates saw that their general had been humiliated, they were filled with indignation and were about to rush forward and take action.
Yue Hu and Zhu Hu were stunned and said angrily to the soldiers: "Back off!"
This time the generals retreated angrily and returned to the queue.
Ai Dong stood on the high platform of the training ground, with great righteousness and awe-inspiring words. He lectured these generals and conveyed the holy parables to everyone's ears.
At the same time, Ai Dong's soldiers cut Yue Huzhu's hands behind his back, tied them behind his back, and took him into a torture room filled with torture instruments.
Entering the house, Ai Dong's personal entourage tied Yue Huzhu with five flowers and tied him tightly to the torture chair.
"Sit tight! Put your legs together and straighten your body!" A follower who was less than twenty years old scolded Yue Huzhu loudly while blowing his beard and glaring at him.
Seeing that Yue Huzhu was disapproving, he slapped Yue Huzhu on the face, causing stars to pop out of Yue Huzhu's eyes.
"What are you looking at? Are you dissatisfied?" Seeing Yue Huzhu glaring angrily, the primary school teacher got furious, slapped the case and slapped him again.
"Pah!" The slap was crisp and the corners of Yue Huzhu's mouth were filled with blood.
Since Yue Huzhu defected to Baifu, he has made great achievements in battle and is deeply respected by the soldiers of the three armies. He did not expect to be so humiliated by a small official with a sword and pen today.
Yue Huzhu had never been insulted like this before. In shame and anger, veins popped up on his forehead and his whole body was shaking with anger.
"How can you treat General Yue like this? Why don't you let go quickly!"
The curtain was raised, and Xing Yanen, the military supervisor, walked in. He raised his eyebrows, and without any explanation, gave the beating soldier a slap in the face and kicked him out of the torture room. Then, he ordered people to quickly untie Yue Huzhu.
"General Yue, the Za family is late, and the general has been wronged."
Xing Yanen handed a cup of warm water to Yue Huzhu and said kindly: "General, I am different from the imperial envoy and his party. We fought side by side when Jianghuai suppressed the rebellion. I personally participated and felt the same. If it weren't for General Bai and you, Jianghuai would have died many times."
Li people.
Don't worry, I will tell Eunuch Ai. I won't let them wrong the general again."
Yue Huzhu burst into tears with gratitude, and a trace of tears flashed in his eyes.
Xing Yanen, the military supervisor, sighed: "Talk to the Jianghuai generals. This is the decree of the imperial court and a routine matter for the imperial envoy. We hope General Yue will understand and cooperate. We don't want to embarrass General Yue, let alone General Bai."
Yue Huzhu moved his hands and feet, took a deep breath, nodded and said: "What do you want to know? As long as it is not a false accusation against General Bai, I am willing to cooperate."
When Xing Yanen, the military supervisor, saw that Yue Huzhu had relaxed his guard, he began to chat in a casual manner...
Xing Yanen, the supervisor of the army, made some calculations but did not intend to. He quickly figured out that Bai Fu refused to accept the surrender of the Japanese pirates and killed them on the spot.
"Kill prisoners on the battlefield?"
Xing Yanen, the supervisor of the army, rolled his eyes and thought secretly: "This is a good excuse. With the reason of 'organizing the Tang army to kill innocent people indiscriminately', Ai Dong can serve as the supervisor of the army and stay in the Beiting camp in Anxi to control everything.
Will."
From Yue Huzhu's mouth, Xing Yanen, the supervisor of the army, found out many secrets. However, he still did not find out the whereabouts of Yin Fenglan.
In this regard, the military supervisor Xing Yanen had already planned. He walked out of the torture room and whispered a few words to Ai Dong.
Ai Dong laughed evilly and ordered Yue Suigong, the son of Yue Huzhu, to be summoned to the imperial envoy's office.
Yue Suigong was Bai Fu's personal soldier. When the Yijianmen assassins assassinated Bai Fu in Jiacheng, Chang'an, Yue Suigong was seriously injured and lost one arm.
This time back to Beijing, Bai Fu had a long journey and a lot of fatigue, so he did not take him with him and left him in the army under the care of Yue Huzhu.
It was still the same routine. Ai Dong and Xing Yanen were both good and bad, showing both grace and power. Xing Yanen soon deceived Yue Suigong's trust, pried open the young general's mouth, and took out Yin Fenglan's detained
Secret location.
Ai Dong was overjoyed and hurriedly reported the news to Chang'an via pigeon letter.