In the imperial study, Yang Guang sat in front of the imperial desk with a livid face, and a memorial was thrown on the floor. This was a memorial sent from Qijun.
The Mingyue Army broke through, Jianyin burned and slaughtered, and looted the whole city. Countless civilians were massacred. Xu Yuanfang hurriedly returned to the army and Lu Mingyue ambushed the Sui Army. The Sui Army was defeated. Twenty thousand Sui Army were routed, with more than half of the casualties, and Qi County fell. e
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Everything that happened in Qijun was described in detail in another memorial three days ago. That was Zhang Xutuo's memorial. He had already predicted this ending.
Standing next to them were Yu Wenshu and Yu Shiji, both of whom lowered their heads. Yang Guang's thunderous fury made them feel a little guilty. It was the two of them who took the initiative to replace Zhang Xutuo in the first place.
Yang Guang gave them a cold look, and just as he opened his mouth to reprimand, a eunuch walked into the room and reported, "Your Majesty, Zhang Xutuo has arrived."
"Inform him to come in!" Yang Guang forcefully swallowed the suffocating breath in his chest.
After a moment, Zhang Xutuo hurriedly walked into the court room, bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, Zhang Xutuo, comes to see you!"
"Zhang Aiqing is exempt from the gift!"
Yang Guang sighed, "I have some unfortunate news to tell you. All the worries you expressed in your memorial have come true."
Zhang Xutuo took two steps back in shock, "Your Majesty, has Licheng County... been attacked?"
Yang Guang nodded, "The thieves burned, killed and looted, leaving countless dead. Xu Yuanfang's returning army was ambushed and suffered heavy casualties. The remaining army retreated to Lu County. Qi County has been occupied by the gangster Lu Mingyue."
Zhang Xutuo felt his eyes darken and almost fell down. His two daughters were both married in Licheng County. Can they still survive?
Zhang Xutuo forcibly stabilized his body and slowly knelt down, "Your Majesty, I am willing to join the army in Qi County and swear to kill Thief Lu!"
Yang Guang showed a look of shame on his face and said: "I shouldn't have replaced you. I will appoint you as the general guard of Qijun. I will approve all the troops, money and food required. I only hope that you can take back Qijun for me."
"
"I, Zhang Xutuo, would like to share your majesty's worries. If I don't want to fight alone, I will lead the remnants of Lu County and kill them back!"
"Okay! Take back Qi County, and I will give you a reward. Come! Give Zhang Aiqing a new robe and a collar."
Zhang Xutuo felt ashamed and said, "I have an official robe at home. I just wear this old robe at home. Because time is so urgent, I don't have time to change clothes. I'm being discourteous. Please forgive me."
Yang Guang smiled slightly and said: "I know in my heart that you are an honest and loyal minister, and you are also my last support. I wish you victory."
Zhang Xutuo's eyes turned red and tears almost came out. He slowly knelt down and said in a trembling voice: "Zhang Xutuo is willing to smear your Majesty's heart and soul to repay Your Majesty's kindness in knowing you!"
"Go! I'm waiting for your good news."
Zhang Xutuo kowtowed three times and slowly retreated, watching Zhang Xutuo's back disappear. Yang Guangcai sighed softly, "I have seen people's hearts for a long time, and this statement is true."
Yang Guang then said to Yu Wenshu and Yu Shiji: "All the money and goods I gave him two years ago were used for disaster relief. He is willing to stay in poverty. There are only two old servants in the family. His wife went to the street to buy vegetables in person.
The vegetables are also green vegetables, tofu and the like, and there is rarely meat. If he really colluded with Yang Yuanqing, he should have gone to Fengzhou to enjoy the glory and wealth two years ago."
Yu Shiji said cautiously: "It is true that Zhang Xutuo has no different intentions, but he also has a salary of two hundred and fifty dan a year, and 20 dan a month. How can he be so poor?"
Yang Guang glanced at him and said coldly: "His salary will also be given to the orphans of the fallen soldiers. Yu Aiqing, you and he are not the same kind of people. You can't think of it."
Yu Shiji blushed and did not dare to say anything anymore. Yang Guang felt very tired and waved his hand, "Yu Aiqing, leave! Yuwen Aiqing, stay."
Yu Shiji slowly resigned, and only Yu Wenshu was left in the room. Yu Wenshu had just arrived. He was here to report another matter, but he did not dare to disturb Yang Guang at this time.
Yang Guang didn't know what he was thinking about. After a while, he woke up from his meditation and said to Yuwen: "Go on!"
Yu Wenshu then continued: "I traced the origin of the prophecy and found that this prophecy came from the Guanzhong area, and the first people to spread the prophecy were not children and beggars, but a few Taoist priests."
"Taoist priest?"
Yang Guang asked in confusion: "Where is the Taoist priest from?"
"I have been tracking down the Taoist priests for the past two days, but it is strange. No one knows where they came from or where they went. Even the soldiers guarding the city have not seen them. They just disappeared out of thin air."
After the prophecy "Peaches and plums dominate the world, Yang's family will be destroyed, Li's family will rise" was spread in the capital, Yang Guang attached great importance to it. He secretly ordered Yu Wenshu to investigate the source of the prophecy. At this time, he heard that the prophecy came from Guanzhong and was passed down by Taoist priests.
, he frowned, shook his head, and said to Yu Wenshu: "You continue to investigate, you must find out who is spreading the prophecy, I must know."
"I obey the decree!"
When Yu Wenshu retreated, Yang Guang ordered for the first time, "I will drive back to the palace!"
Penglai Pavilion in Huitongyuan, where Yang Guang Huixian practiced Taoism, was built on an artificial island in Taiye Pond. It is piled with rockeries and is dozens of feet high, just like a real mountain. It is surrounded by lush vegetation and planted with various exotic flowers and exotic grasses.
, dozens of pavilions and pavilions were built in it, with winding paths leading to secluded areas, where cranes often fly over, making it look like a place for gods.
There are more than a dozen alchemists in Penglai Pavilion, all of whom are practicing Taoism. They make alchemy and meditate during the day, observe the sky at night, understand the mysteries of the universe, and find the way to ascend to immortality. They are usually isolated from the outside world and cannot be seen easily.
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At this time, Yang Guang took a boat to Penglai Pavilion, bathed and changed clothes, sat down in the main pavilion, and waited patiently for the alchemist to arrive. After a moment, there was a sound of the cloud plate knocking, and a white-haired and childlike alchemist walked in, wearing a Bagua robe.
With disheveled hair and walking barefoot, this man's name was Anjiatuo. He was originally practicing in Zhongnan Mountain. Zhang Qiu Taiyi introduced him to Yang Guang, saying that he was practicing in Zhongnan Mountain, had no idea how old he was, was very good at observing the astronomical phenomena, and could discern the mysteries of the next hundred years.
Anjiatu walked up to Yang Guang and saluted, "See your majesty!"
Yang Guang bowed slightly and said, "Sir, please sit down. I came to disturb your practice again because I am deeply uneasy."
Yang Guang came here three days ago. He asked Anjiatu to confirm the prophecy. Today he wants to know the result.
When Anjiatu sat down, Yang Guang asked impatiently: "Can the prophecy be true?"
Anjiatu nodded, "The purple is dim, and there are alien stars rushing in from the west. In response to the prophecy, I used the prophecy to calculate three hexagrams. They are all bad signs. The hexagram points to the west, and it is in harmony with the celestial phenomena. I'm afraid the surname is Li.
Your Majesty, please pay more attention to those people."
Yang Guang's eyes flashed fiercely, who could the person named Li be?
Of course, prophecies will not come out without reason. Someone will always spread them. Only Yang Guang never dreamed of who would spread the prophecies.
Yu Wenshu's carriage stopped in front of the mansion, and he ordered, "Anyone who comes to visit will say that I am not here."
He quickly came to his study, and a concubine took off his robe for him. He sat down and said, "Let the eldest young master come to see me!"
After a while, Yu Wenhuaji arrived in a hurry. Yu Wenhuaji had already resumed his official career at the beginning of the year. He was appointed as the General of Youtun Guard, and his third son Yu Wenzhi was also appointed as the Young Supervisor. Yu Wenshu’s original idea was to let Yu Wenhuaji become a vassal town.
It would be best to become the general manager of Youzhou.
However, the death of his brother Yuwence made Yuwenshu not dare to take risks anymore, so he instead appointed his son to a military position, so that he could have the opportunity to command more than 100,000 troops like Yang Yichen. Yang Yichen honestly gave up military power, but once Yu Wenhua and
Once he takes control of the military, he will never give it up again.
"My child meets his father!"
"Let me ask you, how are you handling the people you sent to spread prophecies?"
"Reporting to my father, the three false Taoist children who spread prophecies have been executed. The children who executed the false Taoist priests were also killed. In the end, it was the work of their henchmen. There is no flaw."
Yuwenshu nodded and expressed satisfaction with his son's handling methods. This time the prophecy was indeed spread by Yuwenshu, but the person he wanted to deal with was Li Hun. Li Hun refused to pay back his debts and humiliated him many times. This hatred cannot be ignored.
Yu Wenshu refused to give up, so he ordered his son Yu Wenhuaji to carry out this prophecy secretly.
But Yu Wenshu did not expect that this prophecy would attract Yang Guang's great attention. The degree of importance he attached to it can be seen from Yang Guang's attitude today.
Yu Wenshu also knew that on the surface Yang Guang didn't care about the rebellion of gangsters from various places, but he began to be afraid in his heart. Especially since last year, the new rebels were mostly powerful people from various places and began to attack cities and kill officials. This made Yang Guang realize
The country is in crisis, so he is so afraid of this prophecy.
At this time, Yu Wenhuaji said cautiously: "Father, I heard something again today. I'm afraid the prophecy can be used again."
"Just tell me what's going on, and don't play riddles in front of me." Yu Wenshu said with some displeasure.
"Yes! I heard today that Yang Yuanqing's mother's surname is Li. Can you direct the prophecy to him?"
One sentence reminded Yuwenshu that he knew Yang Yuanqing's mother's surname was Li, but he actually forgot about it. Yuwenshu slapped himself hard on the head, feeling annoyed. If he had known that he would have reminded Yang Guang today,
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But Yu Wenshu had another thought. If he reminded Yang Guang, then Yang Guang's target would be aimed at Yang Yuanqing, and then Li Hun would be ignored by him. This is not possible. He must kill Li Hun first, and then lure the target.
To Yang Yuanqing.
"I know about this. You can't tell anyone. When the time comes, we will turn around and deal with Yang Yuanqing."
"Father, don't worry, the child will not be useful to anyone."
Yu Wenshu was quite satisfied with his son Yu Wenhuaji, so he smiled and said, "I plan to let you lead troops to suppress bandits and increase your qualifications. What do you think?"
Yu Wenhuaji was a little scared, "I'm just afraid that my child is inexperienced in leading troops and will be defeated by the thieves."
Yu Wenshu smiled slightly, "I know. I asked my general Pei Renji to be your deputy to help you suppress the bandits. With him here, you will have no problem suppressing the bandits, and I will only let you deal with some small bandits. Wagangzhai
I won't let you go."
Yu Wenhuaji was taken aback and said quickly: "Father, Pei Xingyan, the son of Pei Renji, is Yang Yuanqing's general. This is inappropriate!"
Yu Wenshu laughed and said, "Don't worry, Yang Yuanqing did not rebel against the Sui Dynasty, nor did the Pei family. Pei Renji will not have any ulterior motives!"