That year, that cicada, that sword

Chapter 798
The most famous place for fireworks in the imperial city is of course the famous Qiutai. It is far from the usual Goulan Chu Pavilion, and it never just goes back and forth. There is a unique cave in it, the courtyard is deep, quiet and elegant, and there are not only skinny businessmen. For women, there are also nobles who perform arts but do not sell themselves. In addition, there are thugs, helpers, musicians, dancers, cooks, and even tailors, craftsmen, actors, storytellers and so on.Many high-ranking officials and dignitaries rent a courtyard here to groom a good friend. It is a first-class enjoyment to come here to live here for three or two days occasionally, to get quiet in the middle of the noise, but the cost is naturally expensive. A fan, at least a year, would spend 8 to [-] taels of silver, let alone an ordinary family of small nobles, even a concubine from a wealthy family would not dare to be so extravagant.

It's no wonder that Qiutai claims that the first floor is better than the ten-mile Qinhuai in Jiangdu.

Wei Wuji is Qiutai's great benefactor, and he has recruited a popular oiran here, and has rented a Tianziziyuan courtyard in Qiutai for many years, with an annual expenditure of more than one hundred thousand taels. Today he is in the East Flower Hall of the main building of Qiutai The people who set up a banquet, entertain distinguished guests, and receive invitations are all dignified people in the imperial capital.Although the emperor is no better than the other places, he is at the feet of the emperor. As the saying goes, the clan walks all over the place, and there are as many nobles as dogs. If he can have a three-point reputation in the eastern capital, he would be an indescribable person in other places, but today's Wei Wuji is also Unlike usual, as the so-called emperor and courtier, he is the new emperor's close minister, so he has a lot of limelight, and no one dares not to sell his face.

Among the people attending the banquet this time were Fu Zhongtian, the governor of the Dark Guard Mansion, Li Zhenji, a scholar of the cabinet, Li Xuansong who had just been promoted to the censor of Zuodu, Huangfu Zhen, the envoy of the general government, and Xiao Wang, the most distinguished king of Yan. scribe.

Since Zhao Wang Xiao Qi died in the Circular Hill Altar Change, the originally few family members of the Xiao family became weaker and weaker. In addition, the original Qi Wang Xiao Bai had already ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, and now only Xiao Mohe, King of Lingwu County, Xiao Quji, King of Liangwu County, and Xiao Li, King of Yan, are three clan vassal kings. Zhao Wang Xiaoqi was still in charge of the Zongzheng position of the clan mansion before his death, so after the new king ascended the throne, he called the King of Yan Xiao Li came to Beijing to take over the position of Zongzheng in the clan's mansion.

As for why King Xiao Li of Yan was chosen instead of Xiao Mohe, King of Lingwu County, who was older, it was because King Yan Xiao Lin was the only prince with the highest title, and because Xiao Mohe was the elder of the three dynasties. The late emperor's confidant, on the contrary, Xiao Li had always had a grudge with Xiao Bai, who was still the king of Qi. It is reasonable for Xiao Bai to take the opportunity to take away his fief this time when he ascends the throne.

In addition to Xiao Li, the most distinguished person, there were also several high-ranking officials who held key positions in the imperial court, or relatives of off-line clans.

Originally, Zhao Wuji, the left governor of the Chinese army, was also invited to come, but because of urgent business, he didn't show up. For Wei Wuji, it was quite a pity.After all, Zao Wou-ki used to be the governor of Tiance Mansion, and now he is the head of the five left governors in the palm of the Chinese army. He has the duty of defending the imperial capital.

Looking up and down the court, there are only a handful of people who can truly be called "Gonggun Zhugong".Civil officials have six divisions and nine ministers, namely the Minister of Officials, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of War, the Minister of Households, the Minister of Punishment, the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Dali Temple, the Zuodu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Minister of Tongzheng.The reason why the few great scholars in the cabinet are not listed is because most of the great scholars also serve as a minister or Jiuqing.The military officers include the hall officials of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, Tiance Mansion, and Dark Guard Mansion, as well as the Zuo Dudu of the five major guards.

At this banquet, although the military officers were unable to come because they guarded various places, half of the six ministers and nine ministers of the civil servants came, which was almost worth half of the small court meeting.

This side is brightly lit and full of guests, while the other side is more and more lonely with few people and few guests.

Han Xuan stood on the balcony of the West Flower Hall, leaning on the railing, and said to the people beside him, "I haven't been here for many years. Back then, the autumn terrace was owned by Emperor Taizu, but it was not easy to show it to the outside world." Under the name of Taizu, plus it was originally an unclear account between Emperor Wuzu and Mudan when he was in charge of the Dark Guard Mansion. At that time, I had no official position and my reputation was not obvious, so it was hung in my name. Under my name, people called me Han Dongzhu at the time, but now many years have passed, things are different."

The old man standing beside Han Xuan smiled and said, "This happened before Emperor Taizu entered the customs?"

Han Xuan nodded and said: "Yes, at that time Xu Yan and Duanmu Ruisheng were both sons of aristocratic families, only I was a commoner from a poor family, there is no way, I can only do these dirty jobs, then again In the blink of an eye, both Xu Yan and Duanmu Ruisheng have already gone, leaving only me, an old man, alive."

The old man laughed it off.

Han Xuan looked at the bright lights of the East Flower Hall, and said, "In the fourth year of Jianwen Dazheng, the old county king Xiao Gongyu forced the palace, forcing Emperor Ai of Dazheng to appoint Emperor Taizu as the regent to train the government. It was decided at the Autumn Terrace, and I met Wen Shuai here again today, so I still want to ask, why Wen Shuai didn’t go to that brightly lit place, but came to my deserted and lonely place.”

The old man was Wei Jin, the governor of the dynasty. He also looked at the East Flower Hall, and said with a faint smile: "People have great ingenuity and great clumsiness. I don't seem to be able to count both, so I have to follow the golden mean left by the sages." , It is better to sit on the sidelines and wait for the rabbit than to run for your life in panic."

Han Xuan asked, "Wait for the rabbit, what if the rabbit doesn't come?"

Wei Jin said flatly: "If the rabbit doesn't come, I don't have a good idea."

Han Xuan rubbed his temples and smiled, "If I remember correctly, Wei Wuji served under your command back then, and you single-handedly picked him up."

Wei Jin shook his head and said: "Thunder, rain and dew are all the favor of the king. Whether Wei Wuji is promoted or not is the intention of Emperor Taizu. He just borrowed the hand of someone from me, Wei."

Han Xuan said, "Is there really no way?"

Wei Jin was about to speak, but suddenly stopped talking and asked, "What's the matter?"

A hoarse voice came from the darkness, "Reporting to the Governor, there is an urgent military report."

Wei Jin and Han Xuan looked at each other, and said in a deep voice, "Submit it."

At the same time, in the East Flower Hall, while the guests were mingling with each other, a dark guard dressed in a black brocade robe rushed in from outside the hall. Come to Fu Zhongtian's side and whisper in his ear for a while.

The wine glass that Fu Zhongtian brought to his lips shook suddenly, and a little liquid spilled onto his beard.

Fu Zhongtian gently put down his wine glass, raised his hand to signal the hidden guard to retreat, his face was gloomy, and he didn't say a word.

Not long after, another soldier from Tiance Mansion came to the side of Wei Wuji, the host of the banquet.

Whether it's the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, or the Tiance Mansion and the Dark Guard Mansion, the message is the same.

A piece of news that shocked the world: Wei Wang Xiaojin rebelled and led an army into the river and locked the river.Lin Han, Khan of the Grassland, also rebelled, and his troops came to the northwest, and the Dayi Mansion was in a hurry.

This night in the imperial capital is destined to be a sleepless night.

Wave after wave of hidden guards, soldiers, and postmen returned to the imperial capital full of travel and dust, and one after another the military situation was passed upwards, from the three mansions to the cabinet, and finally sent to the chief of staff in the imperial city at midnight. After passing through the hands of Zhang Bao, the eunuch of Bingbi, the supervisor of ceremonies, it was handed over to the imperial case of the new emperor Xiao Bai.

Xiao Bai held an imperial military meeting overnight.

The next day, the news spread throughout the court, shaking the court.

(End of this chapter)