Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 157
In late October, there is light snow in Chang'an, and the vegetation is covered with frost.

Yanshoufang, Wang Zhongsi's residence.

The married Wang Yunxiu came back today and arranged for the servants to sweep the courtyard in case Wang Zhongsi returned to Beijing to report his meritorious service later.

The reason why she has been anxious recently is that Yang Zhen deliberately asked Yuan Zai to scare her, "General Wang may be implicated in the Pei Mian case, so hurry up and go to Yang Dang to save his life."

The news of the capture of Shibao City made her feel a little relieved, and hoped that things were true as Li Jingzhong said, and that Bianzhen used the tactics of Hu people only to motivate Hu generals and urge the war.

Since the war is going well, everything will be fine.

Suddenly, there was a sound of horseshoes.

Wang Yunxiu could hear that there were dozens of riders there, and the speed of riding through the alleys was very fast, which was not something ordinary people could do.

The heavy door that hadn't been opened for a long time was slowly pushed open, raising dust.

The neighing of the horse and the sound of footsteps came, Wang Yunxiu turned her head and saw the dusty figure, she was so surprised that she shouted with tears in her voice.

"Grandpa!"

She quickly ran in front of Wang Zhongsi, clasped her fists, gave a military salute, suppressed her crying, and said, "Why is Grandpa back?"

As expected of a general's daughter, she moves neatly and does not look like a little girl.

"The saint called urgently, so he rushed back overnight."

Wang Zhongsi's face was serious, his eyes were black, his body was still wearing armor, the blood on the armor was glued together with the dust on the road, and it was completely dry.It is conceivable that he should have been in Shibao City when he received the imperial edict, and rushed back from Longxi before changing his armor.

Most people don't know that he is going back to Beijing.

Chang'an City is still preparing for the event that Gao Xianzhi, Feng Changqing and other Anxi generals will report their meritorious deeds next month.At that time, King Bolu and Princess Tubo will be imprisoned and presented to the emperor. What kind of national prestige is that?

In comparison, the battle to break the Stone Fortress City, which was originally expected to be broken, lost expectations due to procrastination, and did not cause much waves.

"Grandfather has gone to face the saint?" Wang Yunxiu asked.

"No." Wang Zhongsi stepped into the courtyard and settled his war horse himself. "The saint understands my long journey and allows me to rest for two days."

Wang Yunxiu felt uneasy again, opened her mouth several times, but stopped talking.

The soldiers who accompanied them back to Beijing began to move things, and they had no other luggage, fodder for horses, more detailed military exploits, and the ashes of soldiers from Jingzhao Prefecture.

If the posthumous affairs of these war dead are not handled properly, the imperial court will still collect rent from their families in the future. Therefore, Wang Zhongsi attaches great importance to this matter and counted it again himself. There are no ashes and relics.

"I will do it tomorrow, and I must see the government officials cancel their registrations with my own eyes... The armor is unloaded and returned to the Ministry of War. You should return home first. I haven't seen my wife and children for a long time."

"Here!"

Tian Shenyu took off the armor on her body, and found that the wound had opened again, and the blood stuck to the underwear, and it hurt when she pulled it apart.

"You're still baring your teeth, are you afraid of pain now?" Tian Shengong stepped forward and slapped his younger brother lightly, helping to remove his armor.

"There are only a few people here, and the armor has to be sent to the Ministry of War?"

"I heard that an old soldier of the frontier army killed someone a while ago. Something like this happened at the feet of the emperor. Take precautions, it should be."

Tian Shenyu said disdainfully: "Under Miscellaneous Hu's command, the military discipline is naturally not as strict as ours."

"Shut up, misfortune comes out of your mouth." Tian Shengong seemed to know more about the inside story, and his eyes were full of thought.

The two brothers limped and helped each other out of the palace, Tian Shenyu looked up at the sky, and whispered: "Brother, there is still time before the curfew, to visit the Lord and let him know that we are back?"

"Do you need to tell me?" Tian Shengong scolded, turned his head and glanced back, "Go back to see your mother-in-law, I should know and let you know."

~~
Wang Yunxiu supported Wang Zhongsi to sit down in the lobby. Looking at her, this tall and mighty grandpa had many wrinkles on her face, as if carved by a knife, and her beard was also gray.

"Grandfather, do you know something happened in Chang'an?"

Wang Zhongsi said: "Tianbao has been in existence for six years, and there are few things."

Thinking about it, Huangfu Weiming was convicted at the beginning of the fifth year, and he survived from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, capturing Shibao City with as few casualties as possible. There is no regret... I thought there would be no regret.

"Yuan Zai inquired about some news, fearing that my elder brother's slave would be unfavorable to Grandpa." Wang Yunxiu said in a low voice.

Wang Zhongsi closed his eyes and meditated, as if he had fallen asleep.

Hearing his daughter finish talking about Chang'an City, he thought for a while, and asked first, "Has Yang Li added the title 'Tong Zhong Shu Men Xia Ping Zhang Shi'? How about his political achievements?"

"Do you want Yuan Lang to talk to Grandpa?"

"Ugh."

Wang Zhongsi didn't seem to like this son-in-law very much, and when Yuan Zai came, he would definitely persuade him to switch to Yang Zhen.

He thought for a while and asked: "Since you have been to Shaoyang Courtyard, do you know what His Highness thinks about Yang Li's worship?"

Shaoyang means the east, and because the prince cannot live in the East Palace, those who respect the prince often use "Shaoyang courtyard" to refer to the residence of the prince.

What Wang Zhongsi asked was a question that was very important to him, whether Yang Dang would cooperate with Donggong to deal with the crisis, or he just wanted to win him over.

Wang Yunxiu really knew about this issue, and replied: "His Royal Highness hopes that Yang Zhen can support the East Palace, but Yang Zhen is unwilling to express his opinion. Yuan Lang said that Guojiu wants to entertain Grandpa alone."

Wang Zhongsi waved his hand and didn't answer.He has received a letter from his daughter before, but has never expressed his opinion.

Not long after, Yuan Zai hurried over, wearing a light green official robe.

In just half a year, he has jumped to a high-ranking official from the sixth rank, and is no longer the poor kid who had nothing but was despised by his father-in-law's family.

However, Wang Zhongsi's attitude towards him was still somewhat indifferent.

"You don't need to be too polite. Let me first say that you are talking to this old man as the son-in-law of the Wang family or as a confidant of Yang Zhen?"

Yuan Zai said: "Don't blame my father-in-law. How can there be absolutes in the world? The son-in-law is naturally the son-in-law of the royal family, and it will not prevent him from cooperating with Yang Xiang in dealing with state affairs. My father-in-law may have some prejudice against Yang Xiang, but in fact, since Yang Xiang came to power, he has two political achievements. One is to promote the questioning of salt, so as to alleviate the disadvantages of rent and mediocrity, and the other is to popularize bamboo paper to solve the shortage of paper in the world. Although the matter is small, it will benefit the people of the world..."

Wang Zhongsi was impatient, raised his hand to interrupt Yuan Zai's eloquence, and asked, "What does Uncle Guo want me to do?"

Yuan Zai was silent for a while, a little disappointed.

What he expected was that, with a brilliant tongue and a lotus flower, he would talk about Yang Ting's goodness and the crown prince's weakness, so he kindly invited Wang Zhongsi to a banquet in the other house in Qujiangchi, where both the host and the guest enjoyed the banquet, and then they would discuss terms.In this way, it is completely different from saying it now.

But Wang Zhongsi obviously had a decision in his heart, and he didn't want to accept this kind of solicitation and corruption.

"If you don't want to say it, it's okay." Wang Zhongsi said: "The old man is tired, you and Twelve Niangs can go back."

"My father-in-law, please listen to my son-in-law."

Yuan Zai walked to the door first, waved his hands to let the little guy guard, and then paced and continued to talk.

"Tianbao five years ago, Huangfu Weiming returned to Beijing to report on his duties, and secretly brought dozens of dead men, waiting for him to be convicted and relegated. These dead men have been kept by the East Palace..."

Hearing this, Wang Zhongsi's eyes were filled with anger, and his fists were clenched tightly.

"Father-in-law, don't worry, what my son-in-law said is the truth." Yuan Zai approached a little more calmly, and said, "Li Jingzhong once ordered the dead to kill Xue Bai, and the case of Yang Shenjin was the case of Donggong's confidant Pei Mian. Concocted to cover up the dead. Doesn’t my father-in-law know about this?”

Wang Zhongsi's face was ugly, he shook his head and said, "I won't believe you."

But Wang Yunxiu had already believed it, and she felt a chill down her spine for a moment, realizing that Li Jingzhong was lying when she said that she was worrying unfoundedly, and this matter was far more serious than she expected.

"The case of Wei Jian and the case of Huangfu Weiming, brother slave did not wrong the East Palace, the crown prince has ulterior motives, the sage is very clear about this, but the impact of the case of the three common people has not disappeared, the sage is generous and unwilling to abolish the reserve, he gives the prince a chance again and again, only hope The prince repented, and he could blame the world. But how did the prince do it? Once again he ordered the dead to kill Pei Mian to silence him!"

Yuan Zai suddenly became agitated, pointed to the sky, and asked: "My father-in-law still doesn't understand? Where did the suspicion come from? The prince coveted the artifact, and the emperor couldn't be at ease. I still want to give you another chance to express your opinion with generosity. Uncle worshiped the prime minister, and was appointed at a critical moment, in order to eliminate this disaster, how to eliminate it? Father-in-law, you should give the saint a reassurance."

While speaking, although he was a son-in-law, he dared to look Wang Zhongsi directly in the eyes.

"My father-in-law did not participate in these plots in the East Palace, and he will not cooperate with the crown prince to usurp the throne. Now that things have happened, we must show our determination to be loyal to the emperor and the country!"

Wang Zhongsi stared at Yuan Zai calmly, with no shame in his eyes.

After that, his majesty made Yuan Zai gradually suffocate.

"Who told you to frame the prince like this?"

"My son-in-law does not." Yuan Zai said: "Uncle Guo is not a brother's slave. Uncle Guo sees through this matter and is determined to maintain the stability of the country..."

"He's trying to win over the border towns, and you're trying to gain an official position. As an old man, I can't see it."

"no!"

But when Wang Zhongsi's eyes suddenly showed a murderous look, Yuan Zai was still a little guilty, and suddenly made a movement of shrinking his neck.

"no!"

Yuan Zai yelled again, looked at Wang Yunxiu, and said in a sincere tone: "My son-in-law only wishes to preserve the Wang family. It is from the bottom of my heart, and the world can learn from it. Everything I said is true."

"Grandpa, just listen to Yuan Lang's persuasion." Wang Yunxiu urged: "Yuan Lang, tell me, what should I do?"

"My father-in-law, please come forward and report on the East Palace raising dead men..."

"Snapped!"

Wang Zhongsi slapped Yuan Zai directly, and said, "You might as well just say it straight, let me hand in a nomination certificate to Yang Zhen."

"My son-in-law..."

Yuan Zai lowered his head, his voice became calmer, and he said slowly: "My father-in-law can discuss it with my uncle. If you don't want the society to be in turmoil, you can also point out that everything is done by Li Jingzhong. As long as you kill one Li Jingzhong, the uncle will take action." The guarantor."

When he finished speaking, his tone seemed very demagogic.

Wang Zhongsi said: "You can write a letter to punish Li Jingzhong yourself."

"Do not."

After Yuan Zai was slapped, he seemed to be business-like, saying: "My father-in-law must personally write a letter to kill Li Jingzhong. Uncle Guo doesn't care about an eunuch, as long as my father-in-law has an attitude."

The hall was quiet for a long time.

Wang Yunxiu looked at Yuan Zai for a while, and then at Wang Zhongsi.

"Grandpa, my daughter thinks..."

"You go back."

~~
Now Yuan Zai does not have a mansion in Chang'an, and rents a small courtyard with two entrances in Yanfufang.

The husband and wife returned to the small house from the huge king's house, only to see a big hole in the old and dilapidated roof.

Yuan Zai stopped in front of the door, raised his head, lost in thought.

"It's okay." Wang Yunxiu comforted softly, "I'll fix it tomorrow."

"Yunniang." Yuan Zai took her hand and said, "There is no need to repair it, I wanted to tell you later... Actually, Uncle Guo said he would give us a house in Anrenfang."

"So generous?"

Wang Yunxiu came to understand after thinking about it, and asked: "He wants grandpa to switch to his sect, and he wants you to do it?"

"This is also the only way to protect the father-in-law."

"The matter is so serious, why didn't you tell me?" Wang Yunxiu withdrew her hand, a little displeased, "You still coaxed me that the imperial court is not here for Grandpa."

"I'm afraid you're worried." Yuan Zai said with a gentle tone, "So what can you do if you know in advance? If it is leaked in the letter, people will make preparations early, and you and I are also in danger."

"What's the danger? Who can do anything to us?"

Yuan Zai didn't answer, first bolted the courtyard door vigilantly, dragged Wang Yunxiu back to the house, and said in a low voice: "I didn't tell my father-in-law a lie, it's true that the East Palace kept the dead, and it's also true that Xue Lang was murdered."

Wang Yunxiu's heart trembled, and after thinking about it again, she suddenly understood why Li Jingzhong was so secretive and refused to let the prince meet.

"I heard that the sage ordered the crown prince to investigate Pei Mian's case, but is it true?"

"Yes." Yuan Zai lowered his voice and said, "You shouldn't go to the prince, it's too dangerous. You and I just need to persuade my father-in-law."

These roles have been assigned to the core members of the Yang Party.Although the Wang family wanted to disappoint the East Palace, Yuan Zai, the husband, could not trick Wang Yunxiu to the East Palace to intercede, so Xue Bai said.

Wang Yunxiu was simple-minded, but not completely stupid. At this moment, she thought about it and asked: "These things are secret, you have never been involved in them, and the uncle of the country is not a powerful minister, how can he know such details? Xue Bai is deeply involved in it, no wonder the prince , Right Prime Minister wants to kill him, is it his idea for you?"

"That's right, he told me the secrets of the Eastern Palace, and I persuaded Uncle Guo to help." Yuan Zai said: "Xue Bai revealed the truth and pointed out a way to save his life; Uncle Guo agreed, and my father-in-law made his statement. It's the end of benevolence. Do you understand?"

"Would they be willing to help you only if Grandpa expresses his opinion?"

"It's the same sentence. They can help, but they can't help in vain; and the father-in-law has to save himself and draw a clear line with the East Palace, otherwise the help will not be able to help."

Yuan Zai said, and sighed: "I am the son-in-law of the Wang family, and I will die for this matter. They are different, they are outsiders, and the father-in-law refuses to express his opinion, what can we do to outsiders?"

Only then did Wang Yunxiu fully understand why Xue Bai kept aloof from the matter.

Thinking about Dong Gong's ulterior motives and grandpa's foolish loyalty, the balance in her heart finally completely tilted to Yang Dang's side.

"Yuenlang, let's persuade Grandpa together."

~~
Wang Zhongsi was obviously tired, but he still couldn't sleep well that night.Xu Shi hasn't been back to Chang'an for too long, and he's not used to the soft bed in the mansion.

The next day, after much deliberation, he actually sent someone to invite Xue Bai to the mansion to meet him first.

There is fine snow floating outside the window, and it can be expected that there will be a heavy snowstorm in the deep winter.

The fine snow fell slowly, and after a long time, Xue Bai came braving the snowflakes, showing the temperament of a noble son more and more.

"I haven't seen you for several months. Xue Lang has grown taller and stronger."

Wang Zhongsi stood up, with a faint smile on his face, as if looking at a nephew.

His attitude towards Xue Bai was indeed better than towards Yuan Zai. After all, he had different requirements for an outsider who offered to help him than for his son-in-law.

"Congratulations to General Wang for capturing Shibao City." Xue Bai Zhili asked, "I wonder if the boulder cannon and the stone fat fireball can help?"

"Yes, yes." Reminiscence flashed in Wang Zhongsi's eyes, "For the Fan army, this battle was like hell. The boulder cannons threw fireballs out of their range, and when they hit them, they would be full of flames. If you use water to destroy them , the city wall is cracked, if the fire is blazing, it can still burn the city wall at night... The Japanese army mend it while fighting, but they can't mend the cracked city wall after all, beware every night, haha, let the Tang soldiers find a chance to enter the city, The one who leads one of the death squads is the Tian family brother recommended by you, he is a good man!"

Xue Bai was not too surprised, as if he already knew the situation of this battle.

"I don't know the number of casualties?"

Wang Zhongsi did not answer in detail, but said: "Nearly ten thousand casualties."

Xue Bai nodded, unable to tell whether he was disappointed or pleased, and he didn't know how much the boulder cannon had played.

Wang Zhongsi stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, saying: "I have kept my promise and written the name you gave me on the registration booklet. The result must be coming soon."

"Thank you, General Wang."

"I invite you here today, and I have something to ask." Wang Zhongsi asked, "Do you know about the Pei Mian case?"

"It seems that Brother Gongfu has told General Wang." Xue Bai knew that Wang Zhongsi could guess that he was planning for Yang Zhen behind his back, so he didn't hide too much, and said, "Some secrets were indeed told by me."

Wang Zhongsi listened patiently, as if he wanted to see how Xue Bai could persuade him differently than Yuan Zai, but Xue Bai didn't persuade him at all.

"Does Xue Lang have evidence to prove that everything was ordered by His Highness?"

"No."

Xue Bai didn't intend to let Lao Liang and Jiang Hai testify, and once he presented any evidence, Li Heng would bite back instead.

Speaking of which, he is just an outsider, there is no need to be too concerned, it is enough to put on a cold-eyed attitude.Yuan Zai is a son-in-law, and he can persuade him earnestly, but he will not persuade him.

"How dare you say that you didn't slander Your Highness out of selfishness?"

"I only said what I know, please feel at ease."

Xue Bai was not suppressed by Wang Zhongsi's aura like Yuan Zai, but showed some impatience, saying: "If you talk about selfishness, I am busy with the imperial examination to become an official, so I shouldn't get involved in this matter. If the general doesn't believe it, forget it." .”

Wang Zhongsi had a lot of things to test out, but seeing his reaction so flat, he realized that things might not be as complicated as expected.

Yang Dang didn't deliberately try to alienate him, it was more like he reached out to give him a hand at random, but he didn't force it.In this way, the credibility of Xue Bai's words was slightly higher.

"This old man has caused people to dislike me once." Wang Zhongsi said, "Can I be a peacemaker..."

"No need."

Xue Bai got up immediately and said: "General, don't worry, even if the general rejects the uncle's kindness, the uncle will not report the East Palace. I risked my words to say more, but because I have a relationship with the general. How to choose is the general's private matter, and I will not let you know." Nothing to do, farewell."

He was resolute and refused to give Wang Zhongsi and Si Ni a chance.If you don't draw a clear line with Donggong, you don't need to talk about anything.

When he left the palace, he remembered that he had promised Wang Zhongsi to present him with a poem when he returned from victory, but today he forgot.

Forget it, forget it, the other party is not in the mood to talk about poetry and songs at this moment.

As for the future?I have tried my best to do what should be done, if there is really no chance, I don't want to send it.

(End of this chapter)