The person stationed at Zhending in Changshan County was none other than Zhen Yan, the grandfather of the current queen and the biological brother of Empress Wenzhao Zhen Mi.
The Zhen family produced two generations of queens in the royal family of Cao Wei, but they did not fare as well as the Empress Dowager Guo's family. The Zhen family's highest position was General Fubo, who was dismissed from the general title after only three months; now the veteran Zhen Yan is almost
The person with the highest official position in the Zhen family, the county guard.
Zhen Yan is over sixty years old. He is of medium height, and his figure is not strong enough. He is thin. At this age and with such a figure, it seems that he is not good at leading troops to fight. After all, the generals who can fight are usually big and round.
However, Zhen Yan's figure is quite upright. Despite his age, he is neither bent nor hunched. His posture when standing at the top of the city is stretched, and his sparse beard, which is mostly white, is somewhat elegant in the wind.
Soldiers gathered on the city and hunted with flags. Zhen Yan had gathered most of the soldiers from Changshan County in Zhending. He paced back and forth on the city tower, but could not see any movement at this time. It was very calm outside the city, only the wind
The dust was blown up and surged over the earth like mist.
Just like the situation at the moment, the war has not started yet, but all parties are moving around.
At this moment, several riders came from the main road to the east of the city, holding a flag. A man in front shouted to the tower, claiming to be Guan Qiucheng, and wanted to see General Zhen, the governor of Changshan County.
Zhen Yan saw them shouting in front of everyone, so he said to the general beside him: "Lower the suspension bridge and bring them to the county mansion to meet."
After giving the order, Zhen Yan also turned around and walked towards the inclined staircase.
Zhen Yan's official position was not very big, and he had only been a county magistrate for a long time. However, the Zhen family was first in-law to Yuan Shao of Hebei, and then to Cao Wei, and had always been in contact with high-level officials. Zhen Yan had lived for such a long time, and he did not know much about the northern gentry.
The younger one. This Guan Qiucheng should be the nephew of Guan Qiu Jian, the son of Guan Qiu Xiu.
Zhen Yan, who had been almost ignored in the past, suddenly became popular. This can be seen from the fact that Guanqiu Jian, the number one general in Youzhou, sent his own family here.
The two met in the county mansion. After the formalities were over, Guan Qiucheng immediately presented Guan Qiu Jian's silk letter.
Zhen Yan unfolded it and looked at it, but didn't say anything for a while.
Guan Qiucheng choked up and said: "Your Majesty cut his own fingertips, wrote the edict in blood, and secretly sent it to his uncle. He sincerely hoped that his uncle would lead his troops and rescue him from the hands of tigers and wolves. He was filled with grief and indignation, and even Bachierlang shed tears for it.
Therefore, I, the Guanqiu family, no longer care about the safety of our own family, and vow to lead one hundred thousand soldiers to the south to eradicate the powerful and traitors. King Qin will rescue them and help the country!
The grandson of the general is the current queen. How can he see his family members being harmed and remain indifferent? I sincerely ask the general to distinguish between loyalty and traitor, decisively raise the flag of righteousness, join our army, and work together to achieve great things."
While listening to him speaking, Zhen Yan had finished reading the text on the silk book. He gently folded the cloth twice, then put his hand on it, and lowered his eyes to look at the silk book. His eyes were round, and his gaze was like a torch when he lowered his eyes.
Seeing this, Guan Qiucheng asked: "There is a difference between closeness and distance. Why does the general hesitate?"
Zhen Yan said: "I am just a county guard, and I only have some troops under my command. I'm afraid it will be difficult to help General Guanqiu."
Guan Qiucheng shook his head and said: "The Tianyu army in Bingzhou must go to Jingxing. As long as Zhending obeys the imperial edict, his uncle's reinforcements will arrive and block the mountain pass, which will prevent the Tianyu army from leaving Taihang. After Zhending is defended, the north and south of the Hutuo River will be exhausted.
It’s in the hands of our army! The general has made a great contribution, and he should be King Qin’s first contributor.”
Zhen Yan still didn't answer right away. Even though it was just a sentence, there was only one "yes" or "no", but Zhen Yan understood that this was a very critical decision, which would affect more than one person's fate, and it would not only affect more than one year or two.
future.
Things like this often happen suddenly in life, and people are unprepared, but after making a split-second decision, they have to live in the shadow of that moment for the rest of their lives.
Guan Qiucheng's voice first said decisively: "The corruption of powerful traitors is obvious, and their destruction is in sight!"
Then he continued: "The armies of Yang, Xu, and Yan were newly defeated and suffered heavy casualties; Wang Ling's soldiers were exhausted and had low morale, and they were far away in Jingzhou. He used troops indiscriminately to stop the country's corruption, internal and external difficulties, and was despised by both the officials and the common people.
However, Qin Liang's character was corrupt and he acted recklessly in Luoyang. People and gods were indignant. His relatives, officials and people were all indignant. Although his loyal minister Li Feng and Xu Yun's assassination attempt failed, everyone had the intention to kill the powerful traitor! Luoyang's powerful traitor was heartbroken and would definitely be defeated. !”
Guan Qiucheng then persuaded: "At this time, General Zuo Youzhou Governor has raised one hundred thousand elite troops to serve the king diligently. This is exactly what is in line with the people's hearts and the general trend. Strong and weak, right and wrong are right in front of you. General, don't miss the opportunity."
Zhen Yan thought for a while and said: "General, I am staying in the official temple for a short time. This matter is not only related to my life and death. I must discuss it with my family before replying to the general."
"General!" Guan Qiucheng looked at Zhen Yan, his eyes still full of expectation.
But Zhen Yan had already decided, so he called his close associates and asked Guan Qiucheng to leave.
Zhen Yan was still in the front hall of the county government. Not long after, someone reported that the messenger from General Qin Liang had arrived. The official asked Zhen Yan, "Have you seen him?"
Sure enough, both sides are fighting for Zhen Yan! Some of what Guan Qiucheng said before was indeed correct, which was to explain the importance of Changshan County at this time. It seems that both Qin Liang and Guan Qiu Jian have discovered the role of this place.
Anyway, you can listen to what both sides said, so Zhen Yan personally received Qin Liang's envoy.
However, the person sent by Qin Liang was just a low-level military attache! It can be seen from his clothes and demeanor that most of the people who came here could not even read much.
Compared to his own family members sent by Guanqiu Jian, did General Qin Liang of Wei not take Zhen Yan seriously?
Such a messenger obviously cannot be a lobbyist, and the reason may not be clear. Zhen Yan only took a look at it and thought to himself, in fact, there is no need to meet the person in person, just ask someone to bring in the letter.
But when Zhen Yan squinted his eyes and took the letter absentmindedly, his eyes opened a little and became quite round. Because the words on the envelope were written by his granddaughter Zhen Yao!
Zhen Yan's sitting posture became a little straighter, and she picked it up expectantly.
What he loves most is this granddaughter. Zhen Yao looks a bit like Zhen Yan's sister Zhen Mi. When he sees his granddaughter, he can remember his lost sister. Zhen Yao is also very good to others and has always been well-behaved and sensible.
The main reason is that Zhen Yao lost her father in her early years and was helpless. Zhen Yan, the grandfather, naturally had to take on the responsibility of raising her. Later, Zhen Yan discussed with Cao Shuang, Queen Mother Guo and others, and then let Zhen Yao be chosen as the emperor. Finally, she finally found a glorious home.
However, due to the high palace walls and the fact that Zhen Yan was working as a local official away from home all year round, he could not see his granddaughter. The grandfather and grandson had not seen each other again for several years.
Zhen Yan turned over the envelope and looked at it. There was a lacquer seal on it, which was very tight and showed no signs of being opened. Then he tore open the envelope and took out the letter inside to read. Sure enough, it was a letter written by Zhen Yao to his grandfather. Everything from the cover to the content is in my granddaughter's handwriting.
Obviously, General Qin Liang of the Guard was just delivering the letter, not sending someone to lobby. After all, there were officers and soldiers everywhere in the south of Jizhou. Only through Qin Liang, it would be easier for the letter to reach Changshan County smoothly.
As soon as Zhen Yan read the content, his expression changed, and his eyes were very complicated. There were anger, heartache, and some helplessness, and all kinds of emotions were changing on his old face.
The Queen wrote at the beginning that she held a banquet at Zhaoyang Palace on New Year's Eve last year and His Majesty suspected her of poisoning. Fortunately, Queen Mother Guo protected her, but because of this, His Majesty's beloved Yu Wan died accidentally. His Majesty's hatred for her became even deeper.
Zhen Yao's letter further stated that she was seriously ill not long ago and almost died. His Majesty did not take care of her. It was only Empress Dowager Guo who cared about her day and night and sought medical advice that she was lucky enough to save her life. She relied entirely on her in the palace. Queen Mother Guo protected her, otherwise she would have died long ago.
Zhen Yao's letter was very simple, just briefly describing the process, and the words were very plain.
But her aunt, Empress Wen Zhao, was sentenced to death by the emperor. How could Zhen Yan not know the dangers of Luoyang Palace? Zhen Yan could tell from between the lines that without the protection of Empress Dowager Guo, Zhen Yao would have to follow the same path as her aunt sooner or later!
Queen Mother Guo actually has no blood relationship with the Zhen family. The two families are relatives, mainly in name only.
When Emperor Ming's daughter, Princess Pingyuan, died young, Emperor Ming was afraid that there would be no one to worship her, so he chose a deceased person from the Zhen family, Zhen Huang, to have a ghost marriage with Princess Pingyuan. Both of them were dead, so of course they could not give birth to offspring. So Guo De was chosen from the Guo family to be adopted by Zhen Huang and his wife, and his name was changed to Zhen De. This is how the kinship relationship came about.
However, Queen Mother Guo also lost her father at an early age, so she really regarded the Zhen family as her natal family.
Zhen Yan put down the letter, and there was Guan Qiu Jian's silk book next to the case. He stood up, walked back and forth a few steps, and then suddenly shouted: "Here comes someone!"
The subordinate officials came in to pay their respects.
Zhen Yan immediately picked up the silk book and ordered: "Behead Guan Qiucheng! Then put the head and the silk book into the box and send someone to General Wei's army."
The subordinate officer was stunned for a moment, but what Zhen Yan said was loud and clear, so the subordinate official took the silk book, bowed and said, "Here!"
After a while, Guanqiu Cheng was escorted out of the official temple by the soldiers. Although he resisted a little, he had no choice but to ask the soldiers what happened.
When Guan Qiucheng saw the wooden pier that had been split into an arc-shaped guillotine under the flag outside the county government, he struggled fiercely, turned to look at the gate of the county government, and shouted: "General Zhen, I want to see you." General Zhen!"
"Let's go." The general behind him gave him a push.
The big man carrying a machete walked to the wooden pier and prepared things as if he were about to kill a pig! Such a terrifying scene made Guan Qiucheng fully understand the situation. He was angry, frightened and anxious, and shouted loudly: "Zhen Yan! Are you old and fatuous? If you kill me, the Guanqiu family will not let you go. The Guanqiu family will fight against the Zhen family until death, and they will become a world feud!"
The soldiers only followed orders and turned a deaf ear to Guan Qiucheng's scoldings and remained unmoved. Zhen Yan did not show up at all.
Guan Qiucheng's face turned pale with fear, and he was very angry at the same time. As he was forced to move forward, he turned to the door and cursed loudly, "Zhen Yan, you are His Majesty's in-law, but you are good at killing His Majesty's loyal ministers. You don't distinguish between right and wrong, and you betray your in-laws." , It’s really shameful for everyone in the world!”