It was already late at night. In the Shenwu Army camp, the sergeants had already fallen asleep after a whole day of training. Only the night soldiers who were walking around and patrolling, still holding the spears in their hands, vigilantly
Scanning around.
The lights in the coach's tent were still bright.
Zhao Hu, the general of the Shenwu Army, sat in front of the case, frowning and silent, his eyelids twitching constantly.
What was placed in front of him was a thin piece of paper with a few words written on it: "The time is coming, waiting for the opportunity to start something."
What made Zhao Hu frown were these words.
Deputy General Zheng Yansong looked at Zhao Hu quietly, waiting for him to speak.
Zhao Hu remained silent. To him, these few words seemed to have magical powers. They might make him prosperous and glorious, or they might make him ruined and miserable.
Zhao Hu was an orphan. When he was five years old, there was a famine in his hometown. The whole family squatted in the fields to dig wild vegetables to satisfy their hunger. It rained all night when the house leaked. His father happened to be seriously ill and passed away after a few months. He was left behind.
Life became even more difficult for his mother and him. Without the backbone of a family, sooner or later a family would collapse. Sure enough, two months after his father's death, my mother couldn't bear it. She starved to death before the weather started to turn spring.
Five-year-old Zhao Hu became an orphan without a father or mother. He followed the hungry people fleeing famine all the way to the capital at a young age. In order to survive, he endured all kinds of hardships and even ate the flesh of the dead.
At that time, Pan Shangshu had just taken charge of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Once when he was walking on the street, among the many hungry people with sallow faces and thin muscles, he spotted this child at the first sight. Although he was dying of hunger, his eyes still shone with a strong desire for survival.
Without hesitation, Pan Shangshu ordered his servants to take him away and raise him in a farmhouse near the capital, and gave him a lively name, Zhao Hu. When he was a little older, Pan Shangshu secretly sent someone to teach him
He literate him, taught him martial arts, and let him pass the martial arts examination without any trace and join the army. Finally, when Zhao Hu was thirty-two years old, he got his wish and became the general of the Shenwu Army, taking charge of a military force.
In a sense, Zhao Hu is the godson adopted by Pan Shangshu, and Pan Shangshu has the kindness to live and raise him. However, after so many years, except for Pan Shangshu's close confidants, no one knows that Zhao Hu and Pan Shangshu
There is such a close relationship between ministers.
The air in the tent seemed to have solidified. After a long time, Zhao Hu breathed a sigh of relief, folded the paper, stretched it out in front of the lamp, and lit it. The two of them stared in silence as the paper gradually burned to ashes.
Holding back the inexplicable fear in his heart, Zhao Hu whispered: "Do you have anything else to say, sir?"
Zheng Yansong looked at his master's expression carefully, and then said: "The boss said that the arrow is on the string and must be fired."
Although he had long known that such a day would come, the muscles on Zhao Hu's face still twitched uncontrollably.
The boss is planning to usurp the throne!
What are his chances of winning? If it's a desperate move, should I blindly follow the boss all the way to the dark side?
In a matter of life and death, no one can die generously without hesitation, even though the boss has a great kindness to him.
Somehow, Zhao Hu's thoughts drifted to that cold winter, when the five-year-old child crawled out of the pile of dead people hungry, unable to care about the fear of the starving corpses all over the ground, which was like a hell on earth.
The scene was like that, with numb and empty eyes open, they followed the hungry people fleeing famine blankly, walking into the capital with one foot high and one foot low. People kept falling down along the way, and then a group of people surrounded them and cut off the flesh of the dead one by one.
, and put it into your mouth bloody...
Then he vaguely saw Pan Shangshu, who was in middle age at the time, with a faint smile, stroking his beard and commanding his servants majestically: "Go quickly! This child is starving to death, hurry up and bring him over."
…………
"Zhao Hu, what do you want to do when you grow up?" Pan Shangshu's face was kind and approachable, just like his deceased father.
"I want to be a majestic general!" Six-year-old Zhao Hu puffed out his thin chest and made his first wish in his life like a little adult.
"Hahaha, okay! I will make you a general!" Pan Shangshu smiled heartily, and the love in his eyes was beyond words.
…………
…………
Zhao Hu rubbed his face and looked up to find that a lone oil lamp in the tent was even dimmer...
Looking at Zheng Yansong who was waiting for him to speak, Zhao Hu gave a bitter smile: "Zhao's life was given by the boss. He has lived for nearly thirty years longer. From an orphan who was about to starve to death, to today he is in charge of the army.
Tens of thousands of generals are enough."
Zheng Yansong was silent for a while, then hesitantly said: "General,... not many people in the world know about your relationship with the boss. In fact, if you ignore it, even if the boss falls, it will not affect the general's future...
…”
"Shut up!" Zhao Hu glared angrily, "I, Zhao Hu, dare not claim to be a loyal minister, but at least I am an upright man! The boss rescued me from the dead and raised me as a human being. Even a dog should know this.
To repay the favor? Now is the time when the boss needs me, how could I do such a heartless and unjust thing?"
Zheng Yansong was frightened by Zhao Hu's anger and took a step back. He knelt down in fear and said: "The last general deserves to die! The last general made a mistake!"
With a tired sigh, Zhao Hu said feebly: "... Go and pass a message and tell the boss that Zhao Hu is willing to die for the boss, and that the Shenwu Army is ready to enter the city at any time - Qingjun's side!"
The last three words, Zhao Hu seemed to have exhausted all his strength, burst out from between his teeth.
Zheng Yansong's eyelids twitched when he heard this, and his body felt an icy chill, and he trembled involuntarily.
"Are you scared?" Zhao Hu suddenly smiled, his smile looking elusive under the dim light.
Zheng Yansong shook his head and said with a firm expression: "General, I am as kind as a mountain to you. I will follow you to the death!"
Zhao Hu sighed and waved his hand. Zheng Yansong did not dare to say anything, bowed and left the tent.
Zhao Hu smiled silently. Qingjun, throughout the ages, many rebellious ministers and traitors have used excuses when they tried to usurp the throne. Some succeeded, and were given yellow robes, while some failed, and the nine tribes were executed. - Which one will the boss be?
What happens? What about me?
Sitting blankly in the big tent, the night wind opened the curtain in front of the tent, and a group of dark clouds quietly covered the bright moon. The night was vast, everything was silent, and Zhao Hu's heart seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds, heavy and heavy.
It was so heavy that he couldn't breathe.
----------------------------------
Inside the Imperial Study Room of the Forbidden Palace.
The emperor's voice was as steady as usual: "...Is your information true?"
Fang Zheng nodded solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, it's absolutely true. This information was obtained by an old brother of Shadow's life..."
"This brother was discovered while eavesdropping on the confidential conversation between Pan Shangshu and his staff. Pan's house was searched for three days and three nights with the door closed. Fortunately, he covered himself with soil in the garden of Pan's house and could not eat.
He was drunk and buried for three days before escaping the search. Unfortunately, when he was about to escape from the house, he was shot in the vital part by an arrow from Pan's guard. He took his last breath and told the news to his escort.
Brother, I just breathed my last..." Fang Zheng's tone was a little sad.
The emperor's face did not change at all, it was still stern and there was no visible change in emotion.
"Your Majesty, did you already know that Pan Shangshu was planning to rebel?" Fang Zheng was curious. Someone was competing with the Emperor to sit there. Why didn't the Emperor show any anger at all?
"I saw it a few years ago. He would take this step sooner or later, but I didn't expect him to be so restless." The emperor sneered.
Fang Zheng secretly rolled his eyes, "Listen, this is such a beautiful afterthought. I knew it a few years ago, so what have you been doing these past few years? Let him develop his power, and wait until he is evenly matched with you."
Take action to deal with him?
"But...for this matter, one of our brothers lost his life...Your Majesty, aren't you touched?" Fang Zheng felt that the Emperor's current expression was very inappropriate. He even lost his life for you. How could he?
No sense of sadness or regret at all? Do others deserve to die for you?
"What moved you?" the emperor asked calmly.
Fang Zheng couldn't help but feel a little excited: "One of my brothers in the shadow died trying to get information for the emperor!"
As the leader of the shadows, Fang Zheng could not accept that after his subordinates sacrificed their lives for the country, the emperor did not even offer a word of comfort. This made Fang Zheng feel that the death of his subordinates was not worth it. Is human life so worthless in the eyes of the emperor?
"It's enough to provide compensation according to the law. What else should I do? Howl and cry?"
Seeing Fang Zheng's expression of being angry but afraid to speak, the emperor sighed.
"Fang Zheng, you are considered to be in a high position now, why do you still show your happiness and anger on the surface? Doesn't happiness or anger have to be reflected on the expression to count? Among the dozens of people left in the shadow, which one
Haven't you been with me for many years? Aren't I really sad? But I am the emperor and the common ruler of the world. If I don't even have this little city, how can I order the officials and educate the people? "...
Fang Zheng was relieved, but still muttered dissatisfied: "When I told you about the split, your emotions got very out of control..."
"What did you say?" The emperor's voice was slightly higher.
Fang Zheng quickly laughed and said: "Ah, I think the emperor is simply the most wise and powerful. Yao, Shun, and Yu are nothing. Compared with you, I can't catch up with you. The emperor has great talents and strategies throughout the ages..."
"Okay, okay, your flattery skills still haven't improved, it's extremely clumsy." The emperor glared at him dissatisfied: "Pan Shangshu is indeed planning to rebel, tell me your opinion, how do you think this matter should be handled?
"
"Uh... How about you tell me first, Your Majesty?" Fang Zheng was not sure for a moment what the Emperor was thinking. If he said something wrong, he would inevitably get scolded again.
"I want to hear your opinion first."
"Oh, Your Majesty, don't you treat me as an outsider? Don't be polite, you should say it first..."
"I tell you to say it, just say it."
"How about we guess the game? Whoever loses will say it first..."
"Fang Zheng! Where did you come from with so much nonsense?" The emperor's face didn't look good.
Fang Zheng shrank his neck and quickly said with a smile: "Your Majesty, don't get angry. Didn't you just teach me that you should keep your joy and anger invisible..."
The emperor snorted angrily.
After sorting out his thoughts, Fang Zheng hesitated and said: "Wei Chen feels that if we arrest Pan Shangshu rashly at this time, we may not be able to solve the matter. Pan Shangshu has been operating in the court for many years and has huge power, both in the court and in the army.
They all have his henchmen. If we catch him, it will be counterproductive and encourage his minions to rebel. So we can only wait for him to show his ferocious face, reveal his bloody fangs, and stretch out his evil and dirty claws...
…”
"Shut up! Get to the point! Stop showing off your poor literary talent to me!" The emperor really couldn't listen anymore.
Fang Zheng still had a lot of adjectives to describe Pan Shangshu's ugly face. When he got to his mouth, he was interrupted by the emperor, feeling a little resentful.
"...Yes, yes, yes, Wei Chen feels that we should seize the time to make arrangements while waiting for the opportunity, especially Pan Shangshu's accomplices lurking in the army, and we must catch them unprepared, otherwise once Pan Shangshu arrives in Tuqiong
When the dagger appears, the military power is in his hands, something bad will happen!"
The emperor was somewhat satisfied with Fang Zheng's opinion. He nodded with a smile and said, "It's true that you did not serve as an official in vain. You do have some insight. Pan Shangshu cannot be caught now. If he is caught, the world will be in chaos. But I have
I have a question for you - I am not worried about Pan Dang’s civil servants in the court. Do you know who Pan Shangshu’s hidden generals are in the army, what positions they hold, and how many soldiers and horses can be mobilized under his command?”
Fang Zheng said honestly: "Wei Chen doesn't know."
The emperor frowned and said: "What a trap! I have been investigating for so many years, but I have never been able to find out who in the army is loyal to him. What I have found are all small fish and shrimps, which have nothing to do with the overall situation. These people are hidden too deeply."
If I can't completely cut off his wings in the army, even if I catch Pan Shangshu and kill him, I will still be stuck in my throat and cannot live in peace. How can I allow others to sleep peacefully on the side of the bed?"
Fang Zheng nodded in understanding. It was indeed difficult. It would be easy to catch Pan Shangshu, but the power behind the old guy was so huge, and he didn't know which generals in the army were loyal to him. If the old guy was caught, those who were loyal to him would
What should we do if the generals rebel? If it doesn’t happen, the world will be in chaos. When the time comes, those who join in the fun, those who are waiting for the autumn wind, and those who add insult to injury will all come. How can the common people live their lives? How can he still be the emperor?
It is unreliable to conduct large-scale arrests and investigations in the military. Even if someone is caught, it is not clear whether others will admit it or not. What if the wrong arrest is made?
For example, someone was walking on the street without provoking anyone, and suddenly a man came out from the side of the street. Without saying a word, he stabbed him in the back. When he looked at the front, he thought, huh? That's not right? He quickly apologized:
"Sorry, I recognized the wrong person..."
Is the one who was stabbed unjust?
His eyes were fixed on Fang Zheng, and there was power in the emperor's eyebrows: "What do you think I should do?"
Fang Zheng wondered: "This humble minister is really in trouble. Your Majesty, matters in the army are very sensitive. You have to make your own decisions."
The emperor smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, I already have an idea, and I just want to hear what you think."
Rolling his eyes, Fang Zheng said: "Wei Chen believes that since we don't know who is loyal to Pan Shangshu, the current plan cannot be to scare the snake. We can only secretly dispatch military generals whom the Emperor trusts in the name of training or moving defenses.
He led his army gradually closer to the capital, and then ordered the border troops to be on alert. Once he found that a certain army was unstable and showed signs of rebellion, he immediately ordered the border troops to go south, and formed an angle with the troops stationed outside the city, attacking from both sides. Such rebellion or
Can be suppressed quickly…”….
The emperor smiled noncommittally.
Fang Zheng was unsure whether what he said was right or wrong. Seeing that the emperor did not express his position, Fang Zheng tried and said: "How about... let's just arrest Pan Shangshu, torture him to extract a confession, and ask him to kill his comrades."
Hand over the list, and the emperor will just follow the diagram and arrest people. How simple, right? Haha..."
The emperor sneered: "You take it too much for granted. Pan Shangshu is getting older and more determined, and he has been in officialdom for many years. Do you think he might admit it? If it were you, what would you do if you were caught?
"
"Hero, spare your life?"
"...You are just a scoundrel!" the emperor said angrily.
After a pause, the emperor said calmly: "Pan Shangshu, if you send more people to keep an eye on it, you must find out the matter more clearly, but you must remember not to alert the snake. I want to see, the emperor and his ministers
For decades, how could this loyal minister have the ability to sit on the throne of the King of Kings!"
After saying this, the emperor's dragon eyes were filled with light, and a chilling murderous aura spurted out.
Fang Zheng was so frightened that he lowered his head and did not dare to say anything for a long time.
What a sharp and domineering spirit! But it’s useless for you to spray it on me. If you spray it on Pan Shangshu, maybe he will burst into tears and bow his head to admit guilt...
For the first time in his life, Fang Zheng felt faintly worried.
The situation is clear at a glance. There is an emperor and a traitor. The two old men are holding back their strength to fight. Whoever wins will sit on the throne. But what if the emperor loses? Based on the previous grudge between me and Pan Shangshu, if the old man gets on the throne,
Well, I'm afraid the first thing he will do is chop off the heads of my whole family to commemorate his new national flag?
Fang Zheng felt that what he could do at the moment was to send all his shadow subordinates out to collect information desperately so as to provide the emperor with strong support. Apart from this matter, the only thing left was to pray to God and pray to Pan Shangshu.
When the otaku was taking a walk at home, he accidentally fell and died. It would have saved him so much trouble.
He looked up at the emperor and saw him staring at him with a half-smiling look. Fang Zheng suddenly felt chills stand on end. The emperor's eyes were so scary! What bad idea could he have if he stared at me like that? Look at his confident look.
It seems that there is already a way to deal with it.
"Your Majesty, let's make an agreement first. Wei Chen is timid and usually only does behind-the-scenes work. Don't ask me about the charge into battle. Besides, Wei Chen's family has only three generations, and there is only one seedling in a thousand hectares of land..." Fang Zheng
I feel that speaking ugly words is actually a virtue passed down from ancient times by the Chinese nation.
"Who said you should charge into battle? With your courage, all you can do is turn around and run away on the battlefield."
Fang Zheng finally felt relieved and thought about it carefully, what did the emperor mean by this?
"Your Majesty, that's not the case. I'm just trying to catch up, but I can barely go into battle to kill the enemy. I'm afraid that Mi'er will become a widow. You don't look down on me..." Fang Zheng said with a smile.
"Qintian Supervisor has calculated your and Mi'er's birthdays. The fifteenth day of next month is an auspicious day, and you and Mi'er will get married on that day." The emperor suddenly said in a confused manner, with a somewhat complicated look in his eyes.