National color raw owl

The courtyard was covered with a thick layer of snow, and the rockery trails were all buried by the heavy snow. The entire courtyard was completely white.

This is the back garden of Xiguan Governor's Mansion. Originally, the servants in the mansion would clean up the snow in the mansion, but this back garden does not need to be cleaned according to Chu Huan's order.

Chu Huan was in the back garden at this time, staring at a rockery covered in snow in a daze.

The sound of "click, click" was heard, and the sound of stepping on the snow was very clear. Chu Huan did not turn his head. When the sound stopped behind him, Chu Huan turned around and looked at Qi Hong who had just walked over. Qi Hong has already said respectfully: "Chu Governor, Jiazhou is here to report, Danyang has added thousands of troops a few days ago, and now there are nearly [-] people in Danyang. The Qingzhou road has been blocked, and the salt road to Beishan, It's been blocked."

"Where is the Tianshan Mountain?"

"Zhu Lingyue didn't make any movement." Qi Hong said, "However, according to the news, all the salt in our salt shop in Tianshan has been purchased by someone, and there is someone over there who has signed a big contract with the salt shop to purchase a large amount of salt." According to the quantity purchased, at least half of the new salt in our inventory must be shipped over."

"What does the salt shop say?" Chu Huan asked softly, "Who is the buyer?"

"They are all rich businessmen from Tianshan." Qi Hong said: "The shopkeeper in charge of Tianshan Salt Company was very happy when he saw the big order. He signed the contract without thinking too much, but after signing, he felt that something was wrong, so he reported come up."

"How was the contract signed?"

"Within one month, deliver all the new salt needed over there." Qi Hong said: "If the delivery cannot be made on time, the Salt Company will have to compensate a large amount of losses."

Chu Huan sneered and said, "Of course Zhu Lingyue ordered it from behind. The soldiers and horses of Tianshan Mountain haven't moved yet, but they are already making preparations."

"Chu Du, our new salt can no longer be sold to Beishan, and the salt shops on Beishan have been controlled by the local government." Qi Hong said solemnly, "Qingzhou is blocked, and it is impossible to sell salt in the pass. , now the new salt can only be sold in Xiguan and Tianshan... We have recently added eight salt farms, and the speed of making new salt has been greatly accelerated, and inventory is not a problem, but if this continues, the more we produce, the more inventory we will have. Not for silver."

Chu Huan pondered for a while, and finally said: "There is no need to stop them, the saltworks will continue to produce."

"Yes." Qi Hong cupped his hands and said, "Chu Du, look at this, Xiao Huanzhang's side is really ready to fight. I heard that at the junction, although Xiao Huanzhang's cavalry did not dare to cross the border for the time being, there will be several cavalry every day. Units of cavalry patrol the border."

Chu Huan didn't speak, he was thoughtful.

"Lu Cunxiao's soldiers and horses have also been stationed in Qingtang, and they have been handed over to General Xuanyuan." Qi Hong said: "I heard that Lu Cunxiao led 8000 troops and they were in order along the way. It seems that Lu Cunxiao has some skills in leading troops. .”

Chu Huan smiled faintly, and said: "When he was in Calabash Village, he commanded thousands of soldiers and horses. He has experienced actual combat and knows everything. He is much better than those who just sit and talk."

"By the way, Fan Xuanfan from the Ministry of Rites is coming back soon." Qi Hong said, "Chu Du, he has a letter. Is there any gain from this trip to Beishan?"

Chu Huan shook his head and said, "He didn't see Xiao Huanzhang."

"Xiao Huanzhang didn't see him?"

Chu Huan nodded, "Principal Fan waited there for a few days, Xiao Huanzhang closed the door to thank the guests, and went up and down the north, no one paid attention to Fan Xuan, so he had to come back."

"It seems that Xiao Huanzhang is determined to be our enemy." Qi Hong clenched his fists and frowned.

"Qiu Ruxue and the others have been away for half a month, right?" Chu Huan pondered for a moment before finally asking.

Qi Hong said: "It's been eighteen days, and if there are no accidents, we will soon arrive in the capital." Qi Hong said softly: "Chu Du, are you worried about King Qi?"

Chu Huan sighed: "King Qi is not a stupid person, but he has been growing up in the deep palace. Although he is protected in the deep palace, it is not harmful to him, and he cannot see through the sinister people."

"Chu Du said so." Qi Hong said: "King Qi grew up with a golden key in his mouth. What he saw was splendor and luxury, and the people around him were all flattering and flattering. This will fascinate his eyes. It's just... the prince. Will it really be unfavorable to King Qi?"

Chu Huan walked to the edge of the rockery with his hands behind his back, and Qi Hong followed beside him. Then Chu Huan said softly, "King Qi is the last obstacle for the crown prince. For the sake of being the crown prince, there is no room for King Qi."

"Chu Du, the Qi Royal Party is not small." Qi Hong knew that Chu Huan was worried about Qi King's safety, so he comforted him, "And with the support of Grand Master Xu, the princelings may not be able to do anything to Qi Wang."

Chu Huan shook his head and said, "The King of Qi Party is just a mess, and most of them followed the King of Han at the beginning. The reason why the Party of King Han was so powerful at that time was because King Han himself was a powerful figure, and he There are people like An Guogong around, so they can give full play to the abilities of the Hanwang party. Qi Wang party members are like a knife. Whether the knife is used well or not does not care how sharp the knife itself is, only cares whether the person who uses the knife is good or not. He really knows how to use a sword."

Qi Hong was also a smart person, so he said cautiously: "Chu Du, you mean, the King of Han knows how to use a knife, but the King of Qi...can't?"

"The king of Han came out of the palace very early, and was born before the founding of the country. He was educated on the battlefield when he was a baby." Chu Huan said: "Whether you know how to use a knife, you don't care if you know the knife. Knowing the knife is to understand people's hearts. Knowing how to use a knife is only when you know people’s hearts. Hanwang understands people’s hearts, and Huang Ju understands people’s hearts even more. Therefore, the Hanwang Party was flourishing in their hands. They knew how to use Hanwang Party members to suppress princelings. But now this knife In the hands of King Qi, King Qi has a youthful heart and a straightforward temperament. How can he compare with King Han and Huang Ju? There are some things that you have to go through your own experience and comprehend by yourself. If you can’t learn it, it’s like knowing people’s hearts. It’s undeniable. , King Qi is far from King Han on this point."

Qi Hong nodded slightly, and his expression became serious, "Chu Du means that the King of Qi didn't know how to use the King of Qi's party that was originally transformed from the King of Han Party?" Scholar, wouldn’t Master Xu help the King of Qi? Isn’t there Lang Wuxu, the minister of the household department, by King Qi’s side?”

Chu Huan smiled lightly: "If Master Xu and Lang Wuxu try their best to help King Qi, and King Qi can restrain his temper, maybe he can also resist the princelings, I'm afraid they will have problems."

"Is something wrong?"

"Master Xu is now in Zhongshu Province, and state affairs are piled up in Zhongshu Province. It is when the world is in turmoil, and the affairs of Zhongshu Province are even more serious." Chu Huan said slowly: "The prince is the supervisor of the country, but not He has the right to manage the Zhongshu Ministry, so all the state affairs will be piled up on Master Xu. I am afraid that it will be difficult for Master Xu to withdraw. This is the problem of Master Xu. If the crown prince really wants to be unfavorable to the king , he will definitely separate Grand Master Xu and King Qi, making Grand Master Xu powerless to look around."

Qi Hong frowned and said: "What about Lang Wuxu Lang's servant? He is also a shrewd person...!"

"Lang Wuxu is indeed very shrewd." Chu Huan said: "But sometimes, he is too shrewd...!" The corners of his eyes twitched slightly, and he muttered to himself: "Lang Wuxu...!"

"Chu Du, what's the matter with you?" Qi Hong asked softly seeing that Chu Huan's expression was not right.

Chu Huan shook his head, "Nothing." Turning to the eastern sky, he suddenly asked after a while, "Qi Hong, do you think King Qi would like to go to the northwest?"

Qi Hong thought for a while, and said: "If it's not a last resort, I probably won't. The northwest is a bitterly cold place, and King Qi is the auxiliary state, so it's impossible to leave the capital easily."

Chu Huan nodded thoughtfully.

"But the crown prince is really aggressive, and King Qi can't resist, then King Qi will also feel that staying in the capital is dangerous, and he will definitely think of leaving the capital." Qi Hong said softly: "Just leave the capital, where to go, I don't dare to speak nonsense for a lowly position. Maybe I will go to the north to find the Holy One...!"

Chu Huan squinted his eyes and said softly: "He has no choice but to leave the capital...Leave the capital...!" At this point, the corners of Chu Huan's eyes suddenly twitched, his pupils dilated slightly, and he said in a voiceless voice: "That's not right. ...!"

"Chu Du, what's wrong?"

Chu Huan's eyes showed seriousness, "It's too late... If it really happens...!" He clenched his fists and sighed: "I'm afraid I really miscalculated, I hope...it won't happen... ...!"

Chu Huan was worried about King Qi, but King Qi was also thinking about Chu Huan at the moment.

The crown prince ordered that King Qi be placed under house arrest, and King Qi had nothing to say. He did not expect such a result. When he got the news that Lang Wuxu had died in prison, King Qi was even more horrified.

Lang Wuxu planned a conspiracy to bribe an actor to falsely accuse the son of the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. The Dongchuang incident was revealed and he was imprisoned, but committed suicide in prison. However, Lang Wuxu definitely did not commit suicide in fear of crime, it is very likely that he was killed in prison.

But he has no evidence, and in the current situation, if he waits to be grounded, he will not be able to leave the gate of Prince Qi's Mansion.

The crown prince dispatched soldiers and horses, nominally to protect King Qi, but actually to trap King Qi in Prince Qi's mansion, and all the guards of Prince Qi's mansion were also transferred away, leaving only the polished commander Ma Zhongheng.

Ma Zhongheng was the commander of the guards of Prince Qi's Mansion. When the crown prince sent someone to transfer the guards of Prince Qi's mansion, the two sides almost went to war.

Although Ma Zhongheng behaved very loyally and bravely, many people felt that Ma Zhongheng was too stupid. King Qi was obviously at sunset, and following King Qi at such a time would have no future at all, let alone offend the prince because of King Qi. But Ma Zhongheng was just like this. Except for a few people who thought Ma Zhongheng was chivalrous and brave, most people thought that Ma Zhongheng would end well sooner or later.

The servants in the palace, although the crown prince did not order to transfer them away, but in the following days, some people sneaked out of the palace. After a few days in a row, half of the servants in the palace had already left. King Qi didn't care about these things at all. Let them leave, according to the imperial decree, if the servants are lost, the government will go out to recover them, and the servants who are caught will be severely punished, let alone the servants of the palace.

Although the Kyoto government did send people to search for it, but in the end no one came back, and King Qi was not in a hurry, so the Kyoto government turned a blind eye. Regarding this matter, in the end, only a dozen or so old and weak people were left in the Palace of Han, and only Ma Zhongheng and Palace Chief Shi Lu Haosheng were left.

As far as King Ruoqi's daily life is concerned, only Ling Shuang is by his side to take care of it.

The Prince Qi's Mansion, which used to be prosperous for a while, is not only desolate and deserted, but also truly lonely and desolate. From day to night, the Prince Qi's Mansion is like snow accumulated in the yard, which is extremely cold. In the courtyard, no one will be seen.