Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 396 Hanguan Zhuang Emperor’s Residence (5)

Inside the official post in Xijing, Deng Su asked anxiously: "Cao Laojie can't take care of things while lying in bed?"

"At present, the official documents of Daying in Xijing are sent to the mansion for reading. Cao Jieshuai can't come to meet the imperial envoy. Jieshuai specially asked Wansheng to confess his crime to Deng Shilang, and asked Deng Shilang to go to the mansion to announce the decree." Wei Chengji smiled and cupped his hands, " Great labor, at this time the commander-in-chief's small meaning is not a respect."Before joining Cao Di's shogunate, he was also a student of the eunuch, four or five years older than Deng Su.Behind Wei Chengji, two servants held two large wooden trays in their hands, and untied half of the red silk to reveal the precious incense and jade.As the saying goes, no matter how old you are, your official position or your title, Cao Di is far superior to Deng Su, no matter your age, official position or title.

"This...Cao Jieshuai is the pillar of the country," Deng Su hesitated for a moment, and asked, "I suddenly fell ill. If the officials knew about it, they would be very worried. I don't know how the illness is? When will it get better?" There were two people beside him. A guard serves.Li Zhongyi and Liu Huishi were the direct commanders in front of the inner hall.Before leaving Beijing, Zhu Bona, the military commander of the Wuchang Army, vaguely revealed his intention to capture Cao Di.Let them obey Deng Su's orders after they arrive in Xijing.Now both of them have dignified faces.

"Old and frail, with inconvenient legs and feet, and because Deputy Commander Min was assassinated the day before yesterday, the old Marshal Jie was worried about state affairs, and he was a little overworked," Wei Chengji sighed, "Cao Jieshuai always said that he really wanted to unload The position is to disarm and return to the fields. But Xia Guo is eyeing from the west, and the Xijing camp is too big, with 10,000+ soldiers and horses, and there must be a veteran to overwhelm him. Jie Shuai said, holding this sick body, living for a day, will be To be loyal to the imperial court for one day. You must do your best and wrap your body in horse leather, so as to not be in vain for the great grace of the previous emperors to the Cao family."

While Wei Chengji was talking, Deng Su's face gradually became a little moved, and he stood up and said: "Cao Jieshuai is really the pillar of the country, please wait a moment, Mr. Wei, and Wansheng will go to Jieshuai's mansion to announce the decree. "Wei Chengji smiled and nodded his thanks.When Deng Su returned to the backyard, he whispered to General Li and Liu to prepare to play by ear.Hundreds of selected Banzhi warriors all wore iron armor under their military robes and held full imperial guards of honor, meandering all the way to Cao Di's mansion.Because Deng Su came to visit as an imperial envoy, the main door of Cao's mansion was never opened, and the strong servants and maidservants held incense burners, bouquets of flowers and other things, extending from the door to the courtyard.

Deng Su walked all the way, secretly lamenting the wealth of the Cao Mansion. There are hundreds of servants and maidservants on both sides of the Qingshi Road. , He cannot use this as an excuse to impeach Cao Di.Li Zhongyi and Liu Hui walked before the guard of honor holding a golden melon and ax in their hands, and secretly wrote down the roads in the mansion, just in case.Walking from the gate of the Cao Mansion to the main hall, and passing through three moon gates, it took about an incense stick of time before the front suddenly became clear. In front of the main hall of the Cao Mansion, thousands of soldiers with helmets and armor were neatly lined up on both sides. Sunday.In the open space in the middle, dozens of generals surrounded a tiger-skin chair, and a veteran was slowly standing up from the chair.

Seeing this situation, Deng Su stopped immediately, frowned and asked, "Mr. Wei, what is the meaning of this?"

Wei Chengji whispered: "The generals who are not on duty in the camp are all here. Deng Shilang is a nobleman in the capital, and he has an order from the court. They came together to receive the order." He smiled secretly, but his tone was still the same. He said respectfully, "Although Cao Jieshuai's legs and feet are inconvenient, he still came out of the room to receive the imperial edict."

Deng Su's heart sank slightly, he forced himself to calm down, nodded, and said in a deep voice, "Cao Di leads the order."

Two guards stepped forward to spread the bearskin mattress, and then Cao Di slowly knelt down and said: "The old minister leads the order." He never looked at Deng Su directly, and his voice was not loud, but Deng Su could hear him clearly clearly.At the same time, the soldiers of the Xijing camp on both sides were all paying attention to the minister of the Ministry of Rites who announced the decree. Although these soldiers had not fought many battles, Deng Su felt a little cold all over when so many people stared at him. It is the imperial decree that was counter-signed by Prime Minister Zhao Zhifu and the Privy Envoy.There is also a copy of His Majesty's imperial decree hidden in his arms, enumerating Cao Di's various crimes, and he will be escorted to Beijing for interrogation.In this situation, Deng Su couldn't take out this purpose no matter what.He could only slowly recite the sacred decree of the small punishment and the big commandment.

Just finished reading, Deng Su still had to squeeze out a smile, trying to appease this big official in front of the border on behalf of the imperial court.The soldiers of the Xijing camp below shouted. "His 'grandmother', the one surnamed Pan has lost his mind, what's the matter with the general?" , How can we suffer such innocent injustice." Although everyone's voice was not loud, thousands of people broke out at the same time, and immediately became a clamor, and the soldiers in front were all wearing armor and holding sharp knives.The Banzhi guards who accompanied the declaration couldn't help but change their faces. If these people hadn't often walked around the palace and were well-trained, they would almost have faced each other on the spot.

"Presumptuous—" Cao Di stopped shouting, and many soldiers fell silent.The place was full of elegance and tranquility, only to hear Cao Di's awe-inspiring way: "When you join the army to eat food, the top ones will serve the emperor's grace, the middle ones will protect the environment and the people, and the bottom ones will strictly observe military discipline. The imperial court envoys are here, how can they be so loud and make people laugh!" His words were so righteous that all the generals felt ashamed, and someone replied: "What Jie Shuai taught me is that the last general will not dare."

When Deng Suzheng was dumbfounded, Cao Di turned his head, cupped his hands and apologized and said: "They are all rude soldiers, let Deng Shilang laugh at them, and please ask Deng Shilang that they are all rude men who serve the country wholeheartedly in the year of the court. There are many good words for me from the soldiers of the Xijing camp. The old man is full of honor and disgrace, so it’s nothing." There are countless emotions in his words.

Deng Su was dumbfounded for a moment, but she didn't know how to answer, so she nodded with a smile and said, "Cao Jieshuai is serious, you are serious." , although the two sides have been famous for a long time, it is difficult to have much speculative words. After the confession on the scene, Deng Su left.Cao Di looked at his back, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

After Wei Chengji sent Deng Su out of the mansion on Cao Di's behalf, he said with a worried look on his face, "Jie Shuai, why didn't you tell Xia Guo about the assassination?"

"What's the point of talking too much?" Cao Di had already changed out of his purple robe and put back on his loose knit shirt, and said calmly, "One thing is that there is no evidence, and two things, so what if the court knows? Now the Liao Kingdom is sharpening its knives in the north. If those scholars go to war with Xia Guo again in a daze, our dynasty will be confronted with enemies on both sides. Since Zhong Shimin has been assassinated and Ximian has not moved for so many days, then someone is probably deliberately provoking our dynasty and Xia Guo. Now, let’s keep this matter quiet. After a while, report those speculative speculations and the assassin’s nonsense to the court.” Seeing Wei Chengji’s troubled face again, he remembered One thing, asked: "What?"

"Deng Shilang returned all the generous gifts from Jie Shuai. He didn't look at it carefully, but said that he didn't dare to accept it." Wei Chengji hesitated, "It will be difficult to deal with it in this way." Cao Di asked him to give it to Deng Su Su's gift, although it doesn't seem to be much, the incense medicine and jade are the best products from the Western Regions, and the actual value is more than [-] guan.If Deng Su had accepted the great gift, and Cao Di hadn't been captured during this trip, the censor in Beijing would have impeached him, and he would never be reborn in front of the Holy One.

"Deng Shouyi, it's not surprising, he's just behind the impeachment."

Seeing Cao Di unfolding a piece of white paper, Wei Chengji leaned over to take out the inkstone, poured spring water on it, rubbed the smoke and ink, and said hesitantly: "Deng Su is in trouble with the old Jieshuai, so let's forget it?" Cao Cao Di has always been merciless in dealing with opponents, which is also the reason why Zhong Shimin died, and the whole court suspected that Cao Di ordered it.

"A scholar, the whole court is in trouble with the old man, and he is not alone," Cao Di wrote a line, "Three visits and frequent troubles in the world," he straightened up to look at it, and said with emotion, "One in the morning It's not easy for an official who is not greedy for money." He bowed down to his wife and continued to write "The Two Dynasties Relieve the Veteran's Heart".Wei Chengji held his breath and didn't speak any more.

Deng Su returned to the mansion in a daze, but for some reason, he felt sour and incomprehensible.Just like back then when he spoke so boldly in front of His Majesty, Cao Di could be escorted to the palace with only a hundred soldiers accompanying him. Who would have thought that he would be like an embarrassing buffoon on this trip today, being played by Cao Di in his hands? Not to mention, after returning to Beijing in the future, I don't know how to face the Holy Majesty. I'm afraid that from now on, the officials will regard Mr. Deng as a big talker.

The two squad officers are very loyal.Li Zhongyi restrained the guards of Banzhi, and was not allowed to go out of the camp to cause trouble, and took strict precautions. Liu Hui followed Deng Su to prevent him from having trouble.Deng Su's mood was difficult to calm down. Thinking of the fact that he was unable to do business when he returned to Beijing, he was depressed and distressed, and deeply regretted that he had acted frivolously. After thinking about it again, many things that were originally true are full of mistakes and omissions.For a while, I couldn't help but sweat coldly, and I felt cold all over my body.

A bright moon has reached the mid-heaven, and the night wind is blowing, which makes Liu Hui feel very cool.Being on duty in the palace, the rules are very strict, and these guards are also used to being silent.Deng Su woke up from his contemplation. Hearing the slight sound of armor stabilizing behind him, he realized that Liu Hui had been following behind him.

"You've neglected General Liu." The Minister of Rites cupped his hands apologetically.Liu Hui was not used to it. Although Deng Su was amiable in the past, he made people feel noble in his bones. Now it seems to be a little different from before, but Liu Hui couldn't tell for a while.He could only laugh and said: "Deng Shilang killed the last general."

"General Liu is out of sight," Deng Su smiled, patted Liu Hui on the shoulder, and sighed in a low voice, "What's the matter? You're a scholar who is useless." At this moment, a certain former One belief seems to be collapsing, while something else is slowly sprouting.