The fox minister in the late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 365

Zhenming three years.

Bianzhou, Kaifeng.

The weather in April is already warm, the sun hangs in the blue sky, white clouds drift slowly across people's field of vision, the city below, tall buildings and low houses spread out row after row, the streets and alleys are bustling with people.

This is the capital that Geng Qing has never been to, and it is also the No. 11 year since he left the Central Plains. Although there are often letters and interests, but after all, time has passed here, and many old friends have also passed away and perished in a long time.

Ge Congzhou, who used to follow Huang Chao across the north and south, and then abandoned his secrets to serve Daliang, died of illness at home the year before last after five years in Qianhua. The friendship between Hebei and Khitan is rare.

But to Geng Qing's comfort, Naige took over from Zhou Yizi Xie Yanzhang. He was very good at cavalry, and he and He Gui, the commander of the Zuolonghu Army, were the leader of the Liang Liang. He won many battles with Li Cunxu from the North, forming a barrier to the north of Bianzhou.

The old commander Yang Shihou has guarded Wei Bozhou for these years, and his silver guns have made many military exploits in the past ten years. Li Cunxu is afraid and dare not offend, but there is no chance of promotion.

It was also five years of Qianhua, due to hard work, and died in office. Zhu Youzhen wanted to divide his army with silver guns, and the persecution was too much, causing the whole army to defect to Li Cunxu, so that the whole of Hebei fell into the enemy's hands.

As Geng Qing said in front of Zhu Wen's tomb back then: Zhu Youzhen became a dragon and became a worm, all on his own.

After knowing this, Geng Qing stood in the backyard and yelled at that day, such a good general did not make good use of it, so that he died in office and did not support his confidants in the army after his death, but wanted to divide the family property, he deserved to be picked peaches and other ugly words .

Fortunately, in Liang Guozhong, those old generals like Liu Wei and Zhang Quanyi are still holding up the overall situation, but in the letters sent to Chang'an these years, the two of them also poured bitter water.

In these years, the emperor's ability has not improved, and his obsession with power has gone too far. Not long ago, he even imprisoned Zhu Youliang, king of Heng, Zhu Youneng, king of Hui, and Zhu Youhui, king of Shao, and was not allowed to have any contact with the outside world.

After that, Jing Xiang, who was imprisoned for ten years, was released and brought up to become a prime minister, pretending to be public and selfish, often suppressing the old officials, and the emperor even reused incompetent slanderers like Zhao Yan.

In the harem.

Zhu Youzhen favored Concubine Zhang De, and together with her brothers Zhang Handing, Zhang Hanjie, Zhang Hanlun, Zhang Hanrong, etc., they climbed up to power, domineering and reckless in the court, even some of the taxes delivered by Chang'an were also withheld by him use.

There was even an act of selling officials. After being exposed, the memorial was concealed by Zhao Yan, and the generals who were far away dared not speak out.

A day in mid-April.

On the second day after the letter arrived, Zhu Youzhen just came down from the court meeting and went to the long corridor of the side hall, followed by Zhao Yan, Jing Xiang, Zhang Hanjie and others.

His eyes swept across the court ladies and eunuchs who were bowing their heads, and they stopped for a while, then continued to walk forward, and there were words in their mouths.

"Yesterday, the one from Chang'an sent me a letter and copied it to you, did you read all of it?"

"Looked."

As a confidant and close minister, Zhao Yan responded first, "King Yong is really aggressive, don't take it to heart, Your Majesty."

"Hmph, I just dare to be a domineering power over Chang'an."

The one who followed up was Zhang Hanjie, who favored his younger sister Concubine De. Over the years, his status and status have jumped again and again. From the time he first entered Kaifeng with trepidation, the journey has been smooth and smooth. Gradually, he and his brothers, apart from the emperor, The rest of the court officials were not in their eyes, even Prime Minister Jing Xiang, who was right next to him, dared to elbow the other party, and raised his chin quite frivolously.

"Does the Prime Minister agree?"

On one side, Jing Xiang, with a thin body and white hair, has changed greatly. Compared with ten years ago, he has aged a lot in prison, and he has become more restrained.

When he was asked about it, he just lowered his face slightly and said in a low voice: "What the military envoy said is correct." He stopped talking.

Just one letter made the dignified emperor, the military envoy of You Xiaowei, and the servant of Zhongshu get together to discuss it. He thought it was ridiculous when he thought about it. He knew that King Yong best. If he really wanted to come to Kaifeng, how could he just send a letter? The letter was so simple, and by the time it was impossible to deliver the letter, the person had already arrived near Luoyang.

But thinking of this person, Jingxiang felt mixed feelings. He was the one who sent him to prison for ten years, and his family was ruined. Later, he also found out that his mother-in-law Liu also went to Chang'an with him. A few years ago, He also asked someone to send a letter. After all, they were husband and wife, and they still want to know if the other party is doing well.

Later, the letter was conveyed back, and it was indeed written by Mrs. Liu, stating that she had a good life in the palace, and now she has a son and a daughter under her knees, and warned not to send any more letters, lest King Yong misunderstand this.

Every time he thinks of this, Jingxiang's heart feels like a knife has been cut, but during these years in prison, he has also reflected on how he would have ended up like this if he hadn't participated in the conspiracy.

After becoming a prime minister again, he became more restrained, and it was hard for him to think about how to get ahead as before.

At this time, the countermeasures discussed earlier are still going on, and the three of them still have some brains after all. They probably think that a letter is just a letter, and it can’t be taken seriously. The emperor already has his own team and soldiers, so there is no need to worry about it.

Of course, if the other party enters Kaifeng, it might be a great happy event. From then on, this problem will be solved, and Chang'an, Fengxiang, and Longzhou will be taken into their hands.

"I heard that half of the Shannan West Road has also entered the hands of King Yong recently, and it will be taken together at that time, without a single soldier." Zhao Yan twisted his beard and thought beautifully, "It just makes up for the lost Hebei. If King Yong doesn't come, His Majesty can issue an order to transfer him back to Kaifeng, hehe."

"Are you teaching me how to do things?"

Zhu Youzhen glanced at him, and then smiled, "This method is not impossible, but I didn't say it, but I thought there was someone in the palace. I heard that I was not clear with that person a few years ago, so I can't say it." Forcing her, made that King Yong feel pity, and came to Kaifeng stupidly, after all, our King Yong has the same preferences as the late emperor."

"Hehehe."

Zhao Yan and Zhang Hanjie blinked and then laughed.

Soon, after walking through the side hall, they discussed the trend of the Northland again. Zhu Youzhen wanted to prove herself too much these years, and she was obsessed with Li Cunxu.

More than a hundred battles were fought back and forth, with more losses than wins.

After the beginning of spring, he began to prepare for a new round of war. Chuanlu and Ze prefectures pretended to attack Taiyuan, but actually took back Weibo and regained the land of Hebei.

The sun streaked across the sky.

In Taiyuan in the far north, soldiers and horses were also frequently mobilized and rectified after the beginning of spring. On the barracks and school grounds, soldiers were practicing. Li Cunxu sat on a high platform with his fists on his knees, listening to the sound of "huho".

Soon, a fast horse galloped into the gate, and the guard listened to the news, walked quickly up to the high platform, and whispered something in his ear.

On the majestic face, the eyes were opened, revealing some doubts.

"Go and verify."

After the fast horse left, he sat for a while, then got up and walked off the high platform, turned on the horse, and rushed to Taiyuan with his personal guards, but he couldn't hold his breath after all.

The news came: Li Siyuan and Shi Jingtang returned to Jin.

(End of this chapter)