First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

...

There was silence in the cubicle of the wine shop.

Ma Si coughed, looked at everyone, and was the first to express his position, "I agree."

Everyone was startled, looked at each other, and suddenly became restless.

Hou Da sneered at the corner of his mouth and said with an unabashed threat: "If you don't agree, there are only two ways."

Two or three people immediately looked at Hou Da, "First, die in the hands of the government."

"Second", Hou Da glanced at Ma Si, who nodded and slowly put his hand on the waist knife, with a ruthless look in his eyes.

"Die here".

"what?"

"How dare you, Hou Da?"

With a growl, Ma Si took the lead in drawing out his knife and stabbed it on the desk with a ferocious look on his face, "You have learned all about our plan. Either join or die."

"Join, join, we will definitely join."

"When I joined, I saw that the government was not going well with me. Those bird people bullied me too much. It's better to go to the grassland and live freely."

The other people also nodded in response.

Ma Si and Hou Da nodded with satisfaction upon seeing this.

Everyone immediately got together to discuss, and finally decided to express their attitude directly to Li Youliang when he went out for hunting in the city. If Li Youliang was willing to defect to the Turks, that would be the best. If he was not willing to do that, then they would have to use violence.

Li Youliang only has the fewest guards around him when he goes out for hunting. He doesn't like to have his guards around him every step of the way when hunting, as that doesn't reflect his abilities.

But what everyone didn't expect was that in the next few days, Li Youliang would just stay in the Governor's Mansion and not go out.

In the Governor's Mansion, there is a post every three steps and a sentry every five steps. There are constant comings and goings of patrol soldiers. Ma Si and others have no chance at all.

"Your Majesty, the weather is refreshing today. I heard that Hou Da found a good horse. How about going out for a horse race?" Ma Si finally couldn't bear it anymore and took the initiative to find Li Youliang and said with a flattering face.

"Since when are you still racing?" Li Youliang scolded angrily: "Yu Wenren's guy will arrive tomorrow. I am worried, but you still have fun?"

The scolding made Ma Si feel a bit at a loss.

"A bunch of peasants don't know how to share my worries with this king." Li Youliang became more and more angry as he watched.

"Your Majesty, we also saw that you have been depressed in your house for many days..." Ma Si said with a smile on his face.

Li Youliang insulted them, but he didn't dare to be angry at all.

"Get out." Li Youliang became even more angry when he saw this, and smashed the luminous cup in his hand to pieces.

Ma Si was shocked and retreated hastily.

Outside the Governor's Mansion, seeing Ma Si coming out in a hurry, everyone immediately gathered around him.

"How is it? Your Majesty, would you like to come out?" Hou Da asked quickly, but seeing Ma Si's gloomy face, he already had a bad premonition in his heart.

Ma Si looked back at the Governor's Mansion, gritted his teeth and said, "Go back and talk."

Returning to everyone's secret stronghold, that is, the wine shop, Ma Si picked up the kettle and drank heavily, then smashed the kettle.

The crowd was stunned.

"The straight mother-in-law, if he doesn't come out, he will give you a good scolding," Ma Si said in a hateful voice through gritted teeth, and then said in a deep voice, "The new governor's name is Yu Wenren, and he will arrive tomorrow."

"Arrived tomorrow?" Hou Da's expression changed. He couldn't sit still anymore and kept pacing in the field. "What should I do?"

"Yuwen? Shiro, you mean Yuwen Renren?" one of them said in surprise.

"What? Do you know him?" Ma Si was also surprised. This man is from a wealthy family in Guzang. He is good at flying eagles and lackeys. He is a real playboy.

The man shook his head, "I don't know the name, but I know the Yuwen clan. Could it be that the new governor is from the Yuwen clan? I heard my Aye and the others often mention that there was a General Yuwen in Liangzhou. Liangzhou has done great things, and after so many years, I, Aye, and the others still mention it often."

"General Yuwen?" Another person was slightly surprised and said: "I have also heard my elders mention it. He is really a powerful person."

"Then this Governor Yuwen may really be a member of the Yuwen clan."

Everyone was chatting away, becoming more and more panicked about their future.

"Silence," Ma Si frowned and reprimanded, "Why are you panicking? No one has come yet."

Then he looked at Hou Da, "What do you think?"

Hou Da looked gloomy, "No matter who this Governor Yuwen is, we can't delay it any longer."

"We'll do it tonight," Hou Da punched the desk. "If we delay it any longer, we will all die."

"But if he doesn't leave the house, how can he act?" Ma Si asked with a frown.

"Fraud", Hou Da rolled his eyes, and he had a plan in mind.

"Fraud?" Ma Si and others looked doubtful.

"Since he is so nervous, it means that he is also very afraid of Governor Yuwen." Hou Da said slowly: "Tonight we will be outside the east gate. Then, Shiro, go to the Governor's Mansion and falsely claim that Governor Yuwen has arrived outside the city. In a panic "In the meantime, he will definitely not have time to arrange his chariots and entourage, and will definitely leave the city immediately to greet him. As long as he leaves the city, we will put the knife on his neck as a hostage, and we can escape from Guzang City safely."

After hearing Hou Da's words, everyone in the dog days let out a sigh of relief.

"Isn't this too risky?" Someone said timidly.

"If you don't take risks, you will die tomorrow." Hou Da glared at him fiercely.

Ma Si also struggled in his heart for a long time. He thought about it but couldn't find a better way. He cursed and said, "Let's do it."

"Done it," everyone responded in unison with a cruel heart.

After discussing again for a long time, they dispersed, preparing to pack their bags and recharge their batteries, waiting until nightfall before they were ready to accomplish this big thing.

It's just that this group of people has limited knowledge after all, and they don't know the truth that things can be accomplished through secrets and failure can be revealed through words. More than ten people are plotting here, including bandits and dandies, and they are destined to fail in accomplishing great things.

That night, the dandy returned home feeling uneasy.

In the dining hall, there was only a bang, and the rich-looking old man slapped the food table hard.

"Get out if you don't want to eat," the old man glared and scolded: "You are distracted when you eat. Look at the food scattered on the floor. You don't know how to save food. After I die, you won't even be able to eat coarse grains."

The young man was so frightened that he looked at his angry old father and then at his bewildered mother. The old woman quickly advised her, "Why are you yelling at your child if you don't discipline him before meals?"

"Child, you are going to be thirty soon, are you still a child?" The old man was even more angry, "You are used to it. Sooner or later, this family business will be defeated by him, and you will not do anything serious day by day...".

The young man's face changed, but he did not dare to refute after all. He put down the bowl and chopsticks, bowed and went out.Seeing this, the old woman covered her face and burst into tears. She didn't care to blame the old man and was busy catching up with the young man.

"Son, don't blame Aye. He is also upset. I heard that the caravan was robbed yesterday and the losses were huge." The old woman was in a dilemma and just held the young man's arm and said.

"The caravan was robbed?" The young man was stunned, then became angry, "Who did it?"

"Who else could it be?" The old woman lamented, her face full of sadness: "They are all those damn Turks."

The young man looked startled,
Back in the house, the young man was struggling. The Turks had robbed his caravan. Now he was going to join the Turks?
No, if he defected to the Turks, what would happen to his parents?The government will definitely not let his family go.

Thinking of this, the young man suddenly realized that he lived a prosperous life and had parents. He was completely different from Ma Si and others. There was no need for him to accompany them to the end of the world.

The young man sat up awkwardly, dressed neatly and went straight to the Governor's Mansion.

After a moment, Li Youliang looked furious, "Do you really mean what you said?"

The young man lay on the ground, trembling, "dare not to deceive the king."

"Okay", Li Youliang gritted his teeth and nodded, and said with a sinister smile: "Kiddling this king to treason... is really brave."

"Come here." Li Youliang was filled with rage.

"Your Majesty," the commander of the personal guards pushed open the door and entered.

"Hurry up and bring people together to arrest Ma Si, Hou Da and others. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed on the spot," Li Youliang ordered bitterly.

The commander of the personal guards was stunned for a moment, and then he readily agreed. He was unhappy with those rogues.

Seeing the trembling young man on the ground, Li Youliang nodded, "You are very good, would you like to go to Chang'an with me? I will protect your wealth for the rest of your life."

The young man was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked him.

An hour later, the commander of the personal guards came back and said, "Report to the king that Ma Si and Hou Da have been captured and two of them are dead."

"Bring him up," Li Youliang commanded in a deep voice.

Ma Si and others came to the front and finally reacted when they saw the young man standing beside them.

"Zhang Dalang!" Ma Si yelled, "Bitch thief, it turns out you were the snitch."

"Ma Si", Li Youliang slapped the table with a bang, "I treat you well, how dare you plot evil?"

"Not thin?" Ma Si's arms were dripping with blood. At this time, he also knew that he would definitely die. He just smiled and said: "Every farm slave beats and scolds him at will. Is this what you call not thin?"

Hou Da's eyes rolled when he saw this, and he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this is all threatened by Ma Si. I am loyal to your Majesty. I am trying to persuade your Majesty to escape from Guzang City. I have absolutely no intention of kidnapping your Majesty." ah".

"Ah, Hou Da, you..." Ma Si's eyes widened, with a look of shock and anger on his face, "So shameless, you thief, it's you...".

However, before he could finish his words, Hou Dao spat at him, "You ungrateful thief, you are a horse thief. Your Majesty has rewarded us with countless gold and silver, and brought us happiness and joy. How dare you plot something against your Majesty."

Everyone on the side, including Zhang Dalang, all had dull faces. Watching Hou Dayi angrily scolding Ma Si, the admiration in their hearts was like the water of a river, flowing endlessly.

Several smart people reacted and agreed.

"That's right, Your Majesty, we were wronged. It was Ma Si who threatened us."

"That's right, Your Majesty, you are so kind to us. No matter how bad we are, we will never dare to misbehave with you."

"Yes, Your Majesty, you know I am the most timid and honest Qi Lang."

Li Youliang looked at Zhang Dalang with a look of astonishment and asked, "Is that so?"

Zhang Dalang looked blank, looked at Ma Si, and then at Hou Da, who nodded vigorously, "Uh, this... it should be so."

Li Youliang glared at him and stared at Hou Da, "What did you just say? Advise me to flee Guzang City? Say it again."

Hou Da was shocked, his thoughts changed rapidly, and he hurriedly organized his words and said: "Your Majesty, during the years you have been in Liangzhou, many ignorant people have offended you. When the new governor takes office, they will definitely add insult to injury. The new governor is trying to speak ill of you. They may know some unknown things and use this to frame you. Yes, it is a frame-up. They use this to frame the king. When the time comes, the new governor will report it to the emperor. Can you, my king? What should I do?"

Although what Hou Da said was very cryptic, Li Youliang, as the person involved, also understood clearly that he had committed misdeeds in Liangzhou over the years and left a lot of evidence in the hands of others. If these things were leaked, it would be extremely harmful to him. unfavorable.

Seeing Li Youliang's solemn expression, Hou Da glanced at Ma Si, a stern look flashed in his eyes, "Your Majesty, there is also this Ma Si. He tricked the King into smuggling and sold contraband to the Tuyuhun tribes. He knew a lot about the King, and his skills There should be a lot of evidence in it. If he is left alive, the evidence will be leaked and the king will be in danger."

Li Youliang was shocked and immediately snorted: "Come here, behead Ma Si."

Ma Si was shocked, and in fear of death, he finally began to beg for mercy frantically, but the guards ignored him and dragged him out and beheaded him.

Hearing the screams, Hou Da and others felt relieved, and they even poured dirty water on Ma Si.

Everyone was quarreling so loudly that Li Youliang was dizzy and said, "Shut up, someone is coming and take them all into custody."

Hou Da felt relieved when he heard this. He thought he had saved his life. He thanked him and shouted: "Your Majesty, you must think carefully. If Governor Yuwen intends to collect evidence, Your Majesty will be in danger."

Li Youliang had just stood up. Hearing these words, he paused in his steps, then snorted coldly and turned around to leave.

Zhang Dalang looked left and right, and the dandy scratched his head in confusion.

The next day, Li Youliang, who always slept until he woke up naturally, got dressed early and ordered Guzang City to clear the streets while anxiously waiting for the messenger.

He kept thinking about what Hou Da said before leaving last night, which made Li Youliang feel very heavy.

When the attendants saw this, they did not dare to disturb him. They just lowered their heads and lowered their eyebrows, not daring to speak.

I don't know how long it took, but there were rapid footsteps outside. Li Youliang stood up and stared at the person who came.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty." Seeing Li Youliang's expression, the messenger was also stunned on the spot.

"But Yu Wenren is here?" Li Youliang asked with a frown.

"Ah, yes, that's right. Governor Yuwen's car has arrived three miles east of the city." The messenger nodded hurriedly.

"Officials from the state and county will follow my king out of the city to greet him." Li Youliang walked straight out.

Without further ado, Li Youliang saw a mighty convoy of hundreds of people at the city gate.

"What a grand pomp," Li Youliang groaned. If it were in the past, he wouldn't have to give Yuwen Shiji any face, but now Yuwenshiji has been ordered to take over the post of governor of Liangzhou and thoroughly investigate the smuggling matter. It can also be said that Yuwen Shiji Shiji was holding Li Youliang's fate. At this time, Li Youliang didn't dare to act recklessly.

The carriage stopped slowly, and the general of the guard came to the carriage and bowed and said: "Captain, the Prince of Changle County is waiting at the city gate."

"Keep going," a deep voice came from inside the car.

The guard general was startled, and then he had to respond.

According to etiquette, since they were already a hundred steps away, Yuwen Shiji should get off the car in advance and meet him on foot to show respect for the Changle County Prince. However, Yuwen Shiji did not get off the car now. He meant to take the car directly to the city. At the door, the attitude can be described as quite arrogant.

When Li Youliang saw the carriage stopped, the corners of his mouth raised. He was about to straighten his clothes and step forward to greet him. However, he saw the carriage pause for a moment and then continue to move forward. The smile on Li Youliang's lips froze on his face, and his face gradually turned livid.

The subordinate officials behind him were also talking in low voices. Li Youliang turned around and glared, then fell silent for an instant.