It was the third day of April in the first year of Qiande in the Han Dynasty.
This day was the day when the British Duke led his soldiers and horses to conquer Sichuan and returned to Beijing from Sichuan. At this moment, outside the sacred city, grass grew and orioles flew, and peach blossoms and willows were green.
On top of the majestic city, teams of soldiers with bright helmets and halberds stood on the city head, with majestic faces and piercing eyes.
Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses of the Han Dynasty's expedition to Shu capital marched in slowly, and the flags as bright as fire were flapping and swaying in the wind.
The desolate and distant sound of the horn is ringing between heaven and earth, and has spread throughout the streets and alleys of Shenjing.
The British Duke Xie Zaiyi was wearing a black cloak and a mountain-shaped armor. He was standing on a horse with a high saddle and long reins. His broad-mouthed face was covered with a gloomy look.
The British Duke pressed a scabbard sword on his waist, looked solemn, and said: "Generals, salute King Wei."
The generals and soldiers behind him all held long swords and saluted King Wei on the city wall.
Xie Zaiyi got off his horse, walked a few steps quickly, clasped his fists towards Jia Heng, and said, "I have seen King Wei at last."
Jia Heng came forward, put his hands on Xie Zaiyi's arms, and said in a warm voice: "The British Lord, please get up quickly."
After Xie Zaiyi heard this, he stood up and thanked Jia Heng.
Jia Heng looked at Xie Zaiyi, whose high-spirited face showed a dusty look on his face, and asked: "Master Ying, I have hosted a banquet in the Hanyuan Hall to entertain the meritorious soldiers who conquered Shu. Please come to the hall to share your merits." "
Xie Zaiyi nodded, his face paused slightly, and said, "Thank you, King Wei."
Then, Xie Zaiyi got up and followed Jia Heng into the Hanyuan Hall. At this moment, the hall was crowded with people, including civil and military officials. Looking around, he could see that the civil and military officials were lined up on the left and right.
Cabinet Chief Assistant Qi Kun, Cabinet Second Assistant Lin Ruhai, Cabinet Minister Zhao Yi, Cabinet Minister Liu Zheng and others were among them. They raised their eyes to look at Xie Zaiyi and Jia Heng.
Jia Heng quickly entered the palace and sat down behind a red lacquered wooden table. He looked at Xie Zaiyi with burning eyes and said: "The British Duke has done great work in conquering Bashu this time. He can be said to have wiped out the rebels of the Gao family in Bashu for the Han Dynasty." .”
Xie Zaiyi was silent for a moment and said: "It is the general's responsibility to lead the army and lead the troops on the expedition, but I dare not mention the hard work."
Jia Heng nodded and asked in a deep voice: "Mr. British, what are the Sichuan chieftains thinking?"
Xie Zaiyi said: "To King Wei, under the threat of my brave sword, they naturally surrendered. Several chieftains who wanted to resist the imperial order have been turned into powder."
Jia Heng nodded, his eyes flashing fiercely, and said: "That's good."
After Jiaheng finished the banquet and thanked Zaiyi and other meritorious generals, he finally arrived at the back hall of Hanyuan Hall in Daming Palace, where the two of them took their seats respectively.
Xie Zaiyi whispered: "King Wei is now the auxiliary king, do you have any further ideas?"
While Jia Heng was speaking, he put down the blue and white porcelain tea cup in his hand and asked, "Brother Xie, why did you say this?"
Xie Zaiyi looked surprised for a moment and said warmly: "The prince is now inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people. He is only one step away from the position of dominating the world."
Jia Heng said: "Although I have this idea, the world has never been governed, and there is no great achievement that shocked the world. How can I convince the people in the world?"
After all, he had usurped the throne and seized power, and he had gained the country unfairly. It was not easy to justly succeed to the throne.
Xie Zaiyi raised his eyebrows and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, are you planning to wait a few more years?"
Jia Heng nodded and said: "When the world returns to rule and people all over the world feel the prosperous age after my administration, then everyone in the world will support me from the bottom of their hearts."
Xie Zaiyi thought for a while and asked: "Whether your prince is planning this way, it has been more than a hundred years since the founding of the Chen Han Dynasty. The hearts of the people are what they want, and the loyal ministers and righteous men in the court and the public are watching with cold eyes. If the prince wants to ascend to the throne, he must take them into consideration."
Jia Heng nodded, with a thoughtful look in his eyes, and said, "That's exactly what I mean."
Xie Zaiyi stared at Jia Heng, stood up, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, the only one in the capital camp who follows your lead is your Majesty."
Seeing this, Jia Heng stood up, held Xie Zaiyi's arm, and said with deep affection in his eyes: "Young Lord, you and my brother, I know your heart."
Xie Zaiyi said "hmm" and said, "What the prince said is true."
Jia Heng looked into those trusting tiger eyes, nodded heavily, and said: "Brother Xie has just returned to Beijing, and my sister-in-law at home must be thinking about him very much. It would be better for Brother Xie to go back as soon as possible."
When Xie Zaiyi heard this, he didn't say much else, but just handed it over.
After Xie Zaiyi left, Jia Heng's clear, watery eyes flickered under his sword-shaped brows, and a look of thought appeared on his calm face.
And as Xie Zaiyi led tens of thousands of troops from the capital camp back to the capital, the originally noisy and noisy atmosphere in the capital suddenly became quiet.
Palace Garden, Funing Palace
Imperial Concubine Duanrong was dressed in a vermilion dress and was sitting on a soft couch covered with a mat. Under her exquisite bun, her face as white as snow was covered with worry, and she whispered in a low voice: "Ze'er, outside the room
What exactly do you say?”
Under Chen Zeying's elegant brows, a cloud of gloom could be seen in his clear eyes, and he whispered: "The British Duke Xie Zaiyi is back."
It's no wonder that Chen Ze's temperament has begun to turn towards a sinister temperament. Anyone who misses the position will lose his balance.
After Concubine Duanrong heard this, Chunshan frowned and said warmly: "Xie Zaiyi is your brother-in-law's confidant. Now that he has led the troops from the capital to return to Shenjing, your brother-in-law will probably be even more difficult to shake."
Chen Zejian raised his eyebrows and said in a low voice: "That's not necessarily the case. If we can use a stratagem to alienate each other and make the two of us suspicious of each other, that's not necessarily impossible."
Concubine Duanrong asked: "How can we be suspicious? My brother-in-law used him to quell Gao Zhongping's rebellion and gave him the title of first-class Duke. Then Xie Zaiyi might still want to be a minister of Conglong. How could there be any suspicion between the two?
?”
Chen Ze's face showed a look of thought and he said: "Mother, don't be impatient for now, I will slowly think of ways to do it."
Concubine Duanrong said in a deep voice: "Next, you must not act rashly. There are many spies in the palace now. If you are not careful, you and I, mother and son..."
Although with Xianning's connections, he may not really lose his life, but being completely put under house arrest is not impossible.
Chen Ze's eyes flashed with an inexplicable color and he said: "Mother, I'm awake."
Concubine Duanrong responded softly and said no more.
…
…
Jiangnan, Shenjing City
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye it is June of the first year of Qiande.
The weather has since entered the hot summer, and the chirping of cicadas can be heard in the forest, making the summer more irritable and quiet.
After more than a month of deliberation, Hao Jiru, the Hao family, Shen Fang and others have opened up all the joints, or in other words, the early clique-forming process has been completed.
Liangjiang Governor's Mansion, back hall——
The mountain tiger above the Mingtang plaque is fierce and domineering, and the atmosphere in the hall can be described as solemn and solemn.
Li Shouzhong sat down on a pear-backed chair under the Ming Hall. He was wearing a crimson official robe, with green silk hair tied into a bun on his head. He was not wearing a black gauze hat. The teacup at his hand was steaming.
On Li Shouzhong's elegant face, there was also a look of thought.
Liang An, the chief secretary of Xia Shou, sat down at Xia Shou and said: "Master Taiwan, King Wu and the Hao family have been making frequent moves recently, and they seem to be in secret contact."
Li Shouzhong's fair and elegant face showed a look of contemplation, and he asked: "Is there any movement in Jinyi Mansion recently?"
It is also difficult for him to grasp the news in Jinyi Mansion.
Liang An was silent for a moment and said: "Master Taitai, there is no news from Jinyi Mansion yet."
Li Shouzhong said: "Then let Jinyi Mansion send someone over."
Liang An said: "Jinyi Mansion should always monitor the movements in Jiangnan."
At this moment, a tall servant quickly entered the side room and said: "Master Taitai, Han Qianhu from Jinyi Mansion is here."
Hearing this, Li Shouzhong looked surprised, stretched out his hand to greet you, and said, "Here, please come quickly."
After a while, I saw a young captain wearing a Feiyu uniform with an embroidered spring knife across his waist. He didn't say much else and said, "I've seen Master Tai Tai in this humble position."
Li Shouzhong stood up and bowed to Qianhu surnamed Han, and said: "Han Qianhu doesn't need any more courtesy, please get up quickly."
Qianhu, named Han, stood up, looked at Li Shouzhong, and said, "Master Li, King Wei has the latest urgent delivery."
While talking, he quickly took out an envelope with a light yellow cover from his armhole and handed it over quickly.
Under Li Shouzhong's thick eyebrows, there was a hint of eagerness in his eyes, and he whispered: "Bring it over and let me have a look."
Qianhu, surnamed Han, nodded, walked a few steps quickly, bowed and handed it over.
Li Shouzhong lowered his eyes to take a closer look. There was a look of surprise in his eyes, his face was changing, and there was a look of thinking in his slender eyes.
"Master Taipei." Chief Secretary Liang An said with a searching look in his eyes under his thick eyebrows.
Li Shouzhong nodded, waved his hand, and said in a low voice: "Master Hu, it's nothing to do with me."
On the letter, Jia Heng asked Li Shouzhong to cooperate with Nan'an Marquis Ye Zhen to lure out the Hao family, King Wu and others.
Qianhu, surnamed Han, looked solemn and said loudly: "Master Tai, if you have nothing else to do, I will take my leave first."
Li Shouzhong nodded and said, "Han Qianhu can go and do his work first."
Qianhu, surnamed Han, cupped his hands, said nothing else, and turned to leave.
Jinling, Hao Zhai——
The house occupies a large area and is shaded by trees. Looking around, you will see lush greenery that is eye-catching.
At some point, a light rain began to fall under the misty sky. The rainwater pattered on the jagged rocks in the courtyard, making them wet.
Above the eaves of blue bricks and black tiles, rainwater trickles down and falls on the bricks and stones, showing the verdant greenness.
In the back house, above the attic——
Hao Jiru sat on a red lacquered wood Taishi chair, his skinny hands resting on the armrests of the Taishi chair, his old and thin face looked dazed and lost in thought.
At this moment, you can see the summer rain crackling and beating on the banana trees, and the trickling rainwater flows along the banana leaves.
At this moment, hearing the footsteps approaching from far away, Hao Jiru said, "How is it?"
Not far away, while Hao Huaizhen was talking, he walked quickly and said warmly: "Father, Marquis Annan said that the troops in the capital camp are all ready, and we will wait for a good opportunity to come."
Hao Jiru was silent for a moment and said, "What did the Liangjiang Governor's Yamen say?"
Hao Huaizhen's face surged with anger, and he said in a cold voice: "Father, don't worry, Li Shouzhong is a close associate of King Wei. If something really happens, Marquis Anan will be the first to deal with him."
Hao Jiru nodded and said: "In Jiangnan's officialdom, King Wei's accomplices are either too much or too little. Once the incident breaks out, we should clear out all the accomplices of King Wei as soon as possible to prevent them from leaking information to King Wei."
.”
Hao Huaizhen said: "Father, there is still no clear answer from Tan Jie, the Minister of War."
Hao Jiru's expression paused slightly and he said: "That old fox, no wonder Emperor Shizong had so much faith in him back then. Now that the country is in crisis, it is the time for loyal ministers and righteous men to serve the country. Even if he ignores his old and broken body, he Tan Jie, he will not die even if he is old.
Thief, you really wasted a verse!"
Hao Huaizhen nodded and agreed: "That's what Father said."
Hao Jiru said coldly: "Tell those families to come over and discuss the matter again."
Hearing this, Hao Huaizhen said yes in a loud voice, and then turned around and left without saying anything else.
At this moment, the heavy rain outside the courtyard was falling more and more rapidly, the banana trees were swaying in the wind, and the dark clouds were billowing in the sky, as if a more violent storm was brewing.
…
…
Jinling, Yezhai
Annan Hou Yezhen was also sitting in the courtyard wearing a long green shirt, watching the rain through the curtain, looking at the overlapping rockery in the courtyard.
When Ye Chengxing came closer, he cupped his hands and said, "Marquis Ye, the young master is here."
Ye Zhen's majestic and resolute face had a slight movement in his expression. Under his dark green eyebrows, his bright eyes flickered, and he whispered: "Let him come over."
After a while, I saw Ye Kai climbing up the stairs, walking around the screen of Jinxiu River and Mountain, saluting Ye Kai: "Father."
Ye Zhen asked: "How is it?"
Ye Kai was silent for a moment and said: "Father, everything is settled and we will wait for my father's order."
Ye Zhen's face paused slightly and he said loudly: "I still need to communicate with the Governor's Yamen."
This time, I accompanied the Hao family to perform a "Qin Wang Jingnan" drama, just to lure out the entire opposition forces in Jiangnan.
The soldiers of the Ye family were just like Cao Bianjiao in the Beijing camp, and they also gave the Jiangnan bureaucrats and gentry more confidence.
It is worth mentioning that the secret news about Li Zan presiding over the abolition of Li Li in the sacred city not long ago, and the cooperation and betrayal of the Beijing camp, have not spread to Jiangnan.
In the eyes of the officials and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River, it was more because of Jia Heng's prestige that directly caused the rebellion in the capital, so they did not know that it was a ploy to lure the enemy, so they did not arouse vigilance.
Yangzhou, Jiangbei Daying————
The night rain was heavy and crackling, and only a few lights in the barracks were misty, orange and yellow, shining through.
At this moment, the sound of "click-click" was heard from groups of iron cavalry. On the three-story wooden watchtower, the camp soldiers who were lighting torches looked at the sound.
The general near the gate of the village came to talk to him and asked, "But is it in front of General Cai?"
"It's this general." Cai Quan, dressed in a bamboo hat and raincoat with rainwater pouring down his body, said loudly: "Open the city gate quickly."
As he spoke, he flashed the bronze medal in his hand and waved it to the general guarding the gate of the village.
When the general saw this, his expression suddenly changed, and he quickly ordered the soldiers around him to open the gate of the village with a "squeak" sound.
Then, accompanied by the sound of horse hooves after walking through the mud, Cai Quan led a group of generals who came from the Beijing camp to rush for reinforcements and entered the mountain stronghold with their armor rolled up.
At this moment, in the Chinese army's tent in the Jiangbei camp, Shuiyu, who originally held the military power, was sitting on a pearwood Taishi chair in the middle of the tent. Hearing that the soldiers were approaching, Shuiyu stood up to welcome them.
He looked at Cai Quan, who was still dripping water from his bamboo hat.
Shui Yu looked respectful, cupped his fists and said, "General Cai."
Cai Quan stared at the young man in python suit and said, "General Shui, please read the letter from King Wei."
With that said, he took out a sealed letter from his sleeve and handed it to Shui Yu.
Shui Yu quickly stretched out his hands to take the letter, lowered his eyes to read it, then his expression suddenly changed, he cupped his fists and said, "I will obey the order of the King of Guards."
With that said, Shui Yu took out a bronze tiger talisman from his sleeve, handed it over, and said: "General Cai, this is the tiger talisman for mobilizing troops from the Jiangbei camp."
In fact, when Jia Heng led his troops to the south of the Yangtze River to put down the rebellions of Duduo and others, he had already taken control of the military power of the camps in the south and north of the Yangtze River.
It can be said that the entire Jiangnan and Jiangbei camp were all generals promoted by Jia Heng, while Shuiyu was only the deputy military commander on the surface.
Cai Quan said: "General Shui, these days, in name, General Shui is still commanding the soldiers in the Jiangbei camp. Don't let the news leak to the outside world."
Shui Yu was slightly frightened, his face was thoughtful, he cupped his hands and said, "I will obey your orders."
Cai Quan said: "General Shui, go and summon the generals above Jiangbei Camp. I want to assign tasks."
Shui Yu heard this and said yes.
…
…
Shenjing City, Ningguo Mansion
Jia Heng was sitting in the square courtyard at this moment. He was also looking at the dense rain in the courtyard through the curtains hanging from the eaves. He said to Chen Xiao beside him: "Xiaoxiao, it should be similar over there in the south of the Yangtze River.
Already."
The so-called luring the snake out of its hole and catching it all in one fell swoop.
Chen Xiao heard this and said, "Cai Quan has been gone for less than half a month."
Jia Heng said firmly: "After this incident, there are no hidden dangers in Jiangnan."
Just like when Wu Zetian came to the throne, Xu Jingye and all the important officials of Li and Tang would unite to rebel. After he assisted in the government, there was Jiangnan after Bashu.
If the Bashu Rebellion had not been put down quickly, Jiangnan might have followed closely, resulting in a situation where two ghosts were knocking on the door.
Chen Xiao looked at the young man in the python suit and said, "It's too early to say anything now. Cleansing and winning over are equally important."
"Yes." Jia Heng nodded and said, "Once you are free, time flies so fast."
Summer has entered in the blink of an eye, and half of the first year of Qiande has passed. It really feels like time is flying by, chasing the stars and the moon.
Chen Xiao gently stroked his lower abdomen and said, "Yes, in two months, you should show your pregnancy."
After hearing this, Jia Heng stood up from the pear-backed chair and said with a little gentleness, "What did the imperial doctor say?"
Chen Xiao's face, as white as snow, couldn't help but show a look of happiness, and said softly: "The pulse is stable, there should be no problem with the fetus."
Jia Heng nodded and said softly: "You need to have a good rest recently."
Chen Xiao responded softly, her beautiful eyes sparkling softly, and an indescribable joy could not help but surge up in her heart.
Jia Heng stood up, stretched out his hand and gently hugged Chen Xiao's plump and delicate body, smelled the rich fragrance between the beauty's hair, and said: "Xiao Xiao, I have to take good care of my baby recently. Regarding Jiangnan, I will first
Leave it to Qu Lang to take care of it."
A faint smile appeared on Chen Xiao's jade face as white as snow, and she said warmly: "I'll help you keep an eye on it, but it won't be a big deal."
Jia Heng said "hmm" and said, "This is your first baby, but be careful."
Chen Xiao said angrily: "First child? What, you still want to have a second child?"
Jia Heng gently put his arm around Chen Xiao's shoulders and said, "Don't you want to have one?"
Chen Xiaoyu's face was as red as a drunken face, and her tone was full of anger, and she said: "Huh, we'll see what happens when the time comes."
I didn't persist any longer.
Over here, Jia Heng and Chen Xiaoni stood side by side for a while. Jia Heng didn't stay in the study for too long, and then headed towards the Hengwu Garden in the back house.