It was the fifth day of the first lunar month in the sixteenth year of Jian'an.
Chang'an, Prime Minister's Mansion.
A white horse rushed to the gate of the palace. The knight dismounted and galloped into the prime minister's palace. Some soldiers stepped forward to stop him, but when they saw the red flag held high in his hand, they all retreated.
This kind of red flag means there is an emergency. Although it is not the most serious, it is still serious and must be reported immediately without delay.
The knight rushed to the backyard and to Zhuge Liang's bedroom before he stopped and gasped: "Prime Minister, Chengdu... urgent report, General Zhao... is here."
In the bedroom, Zhuge Liang, who had been sleeping with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes and turned over to sit up. This sudden movement immediately made him dizzy and his eyes were filled with stars. He stroked his forehead in pain and whispered: "Bring it up."
The soldier at the door immediately handed the official document to him. Zhuge Liang opened the envelope and brought it to his eyes, but his hands were shaking, and the paper clattered in his hand. When the soldier saw it, his nose felt sour, and he quickly took it.
He took a look and said, "Prime Minister, the sealing mud is complete."
Zhuge Liang responded feebly: "Yeah."
The soldier took another look: "Prime Minister, the seal is confirmed to be correct."
"Open it!" Zhuge Liang shouted, and the soldier quickly opened the envelope and handed the official document inside to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang took it and brought it close to his eyes, but sighed again: "Let Jiang Wan come!"
"Here." The soldier quickly turned around and went out, asking someone to invite Jiang Wan. Zhuge Liang's eyesight was severely reduced and he could no longer see the handwriting clearly. He, a guard, was not qualified to access such important official documents. He could only ask the minister to order Jiang Wan to come.
Reading on behalf of others, researching by the way. However, both Zhuge Liang and the soldiers ignored one person intentionally or unintentionally: Deputy Prime Minister Yang Yi.
When Jiang Wan arrived, Yang Yi had already received the news, but he did not move. He just sat in his mansion and waited quietly with cold eyes.
Jiang Wan hurried into Zhuge Liang's bedroom, picked up the official document and took a look at it. He couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief: "Prime Minister, it was General Zhao Yun who passed away. It was not an accident in Chengdu."
Zhuge Liang was stunned for a moment and murmured: "If something happens in Chengdu, something will happen in the world."
Jiang Wan was puzzled. Zhao Yun was eighty-one after the New Year, and he died at the end of his life. What could happen?
Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly and shook his head. He repeated what Zhao Yun had said to him. He finally said: "Zhao Yun once said that he and I are the two last pillars. I hope I take care of myself, otherwise he will be unable to support himself. I never thought
. He still walked ahead of me. Now, I am the only one left, and I will soon... follow him."
Jiang Wan changed his expression in shock. This was the first time he had heard of these things. According to this, wouldn't Wei Ba be rebellious? No wonder the prime minister was so anxious and must put Wei Ba to death before he died.
"Then...what should we do?"
"It might as well." Zhuge Liang squinted his eyes and looked at the foggy scene outside. His voice was very low, almost mumbling. "It will take more than 20 days to get from Chengdu to Qingzhou no matter how fast it is. I think Liu Min and the others should be the first to get there."
.”
"What if I can't catch up?"
"If you can't catch up, it's only because of the strength of a big man." Zhuge Liang shook his head gently, his scattered white hair flickering, which made Jiang Wan feel sad. He thought of Liu Min. Liu Min was his cousin, but he and his biological brother
one
So close. His other cousin Pan Jun is now a confidant of Wei Ba's command, and the two have long since severed contact. Now Liu Min went to Qingzhou to declare the imperial edict and narrowly escaped death. He didn't know if he would have a chance to see Liu Min again.
Zhao Yun is gone, and the prime minister has only a few days left. The obstacles in front of Wei Ba will soon disappear. Who can stop Wei Ba in the future. Jiang Wei, or Zhuge Ke? It can't be Deputy Prime Minister Yang Yi, right?
.Yang Yi and Wei Ba don't get along, but his temper...
"Prime Minister, General Zhao has passed away, and the Zhao family still has Zhao Tong to support him. If the Prime Minister has something to say..."
Zhuge Liang smiled silently: "Don't worry, I have already made arrangements. His Majesty will announce it at that time. Gongyan, do you still remember the letter I wrote before the first Northern Expedition?"
Jiang Wan nodded: "The Prime Minister's instructions will be passed down through the ages, and Wan will remember them every word."
"Like His Majesty, you also have the shortcoming of belittling yourself." Zhuge Liang patted the back of Jiang Wan's hand: "You have to have more confidence in yourself."
Jiang Wan was so shocked that he didn't say anything for a long time.
Zhuge Liang smiled.
…
Zhao Tong hurriedly came to Wei Ba.
Wei Ba showed Zhao Tong an urgent document. Zhao Tong only took one look and burst into tears.
Wei Ba walked to Zhao Tong and put his hand on Zhao Tong's shoulder. Zhao Tong's shoulders stiffened and his muscles bulged, then slowly relaxed. He raised his head and looked at Wei Ba with tearful eyes.
"Senior brother, my master is over eighty years old and has passed away. Although your brother is not here, he has his grandson by his side, which is considered a fulfillment of his wish. This is a happy funeral, so don't be too sad."
Zhao Tong slightly chinned his head and lowered his head.
"I invited you here because I want to ask you a question." Wei Ba rubbed his nose and his voice was muffled. "Do you want to rush back to Chengdu immediately to mourn, or do you want to wait until things here are over before going back to mourn?
"
Zhao Tong sighed: "What do you think?"
Wei Ba shrugged and did not answer Zhao Tong. Instead, he asked: "Do you know that I have a promise to Master?"
Zhao Tong nodded: "I know, my father told me when I left Chengdu."
"Then you still come to Qingzhou?" Wei Ba said with a smile: "Don't trust me? Have I ever broken my promise to you?"
Zhao Tong shook his head: "Ziyu, father believes that you will keep your promise, even more than he believes in me."
"and you……"
"It's better for me to come than for others to come." Zhao Tong looked at Wei Ba helplessly: "If it had been someone else, I might have been killed by you on the road, right?"
Wei Ba blinked his eyes and laughed awkwardly. As Zhao Tong said, if someone else were to supervise the army, he would be killed on the way without being able to see his face. But in that case, he would
This is tantamount to breaking up with Zhuge Liang. Whether he admits it or not, this matter will become his crime. Although he doesn't care, he has to say that killing the supervisor sent by the imperial court is completely different from killing Wang Ping in the first place.
"Even if he doesn't kill, can he cooperate with your actions? No matter what you do, he will consider the opposite. Sooner or later, your conflict will turn into killing each other. Killing the supervisor in vain, no matter how good the reason, you can't
To convince the public."
Wei Ba was stunned for a moment, took a step back, and bowed: "Thank you, senior brother."
…
At the end of the first month, the envoys from Chang'an finally arrived in Linzi after traveling thousands of miles.
The atmosphere of the New Year has not yet dissipated, and the city of Linzi is full of joy. Last year, Wei Ba captured Qingxu almost without bloodshed and forced Xiahou Ba back. He not only showed his strong strength, but also showed his demeanor as a benevolent teacher. He
When the army entered Linzi, autumn did not occur. The people lived as usual. Those who should do business continued to do business, and those who should work continued to work. Even Wang Ji, who often appeared in the big city, continued to work as usual.
He stayed in his post and did not follow Wang Ling out of Qingzhou, but stayed. He had already resigned and returned home, but was stopped by Yu Si at the gate of the city. Yu Si said that General Chariot and Cavalry had an order and he must invite Wang Jun
Please stay in office to appease the people. Please consider the people of Qingzhou and the people of Linzi and work hard for a few more days.
Neither party said anything unpleasant. Wang Ji stayed and took charge of the work as a Biejia until the new governor of Qingzhou, Bu Zhi, took office. Although Bu Zhi was appointed as the governor of Qingzhou, he didn't take care of things very much. Most things were still in charge.
Handing it over to Wang Ji showed extraordinary trust. For this trust, Wang Ji must work conscientiously and never mention resignation.
If there has been a change, it is that after Qingzhou returned to Wei Ba's control, some of the original taxes were exempted, and businessmen enjoyed obvious benefits. They reciprocated the favor and lowered the prices of goods as appropriate, so that more people could
Experience the riding of generals
The benefits of coming. As a result, some products that are unlikely to enter ordinary households have also entered some homes. Even those households that are not well-off and cannot afford luxury goods can cut two more pounds of meat and sell more this year.
Drink a lot of wine and have a slightly more substantial New Year.
Although the master has just been changed, this year is going better than usual.
The people are the easiest to be satisfied. Even if it is a trivial favor, they will burst into tears with gratitude. When Bu Zhi, the governor of Qingzhou, announced that under the order of the general of chariots and cavalry, the taxes of the people of Qingzhou would be reduced or exempted for one year to compensate for the losses in last year's war.
They even supported it enthusiastically and shouted long live the mountain.
The people all over the city expressed their warmest welcome to the arrival of the cavalry general Wei Ba. Some people even had the opportunity to meet Wei Ba and said incoherently: "General, why are you here?"
It was in this atmosphere that the envoys came to Linzi City.
Looking at the smiles of the people and listening to the words that occasionally floated past his ears, the leader Liu Min felt very heavy. He knew what kind of important task he was shouldering. If he succeeded, he and his cousin Jiang would be rewarded.
What kind of benefits does Wan bring, and what kind of disaster will it bring to them if it fails. Now, he has one foot on the cliff and may fall to pieces at any time.
After Liu Min arrived at the post house, he immediately closed the door and thanked the guests without seeing anyone. He only sent a deputy envoy to visit the cavalry general Wei Ba.
There was no need for the emperor's envoy to do this. Logically speaking, Liu Min should go straight to Wei Ba's mansion as soon as he arrived in Linzi, take out the edict and read it out in a grand manner, and then act in accordance with the edict. But Liu Min knew that now
The situation was very tense, and he could not enjoy that kind of treatment, so he had to compromise and send people to talk to Wei Ba first.
When Liu Min and others checked into the inn, he didn't notice that there was a person on the roadside who had been watching the team beside him. Before he could check in, the person left in a hurry.
This person is Guo Xiu.
.(To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novels will be better and updated faster!