Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

The guards in the Metropolitan Procuratorate Prison are tight, but the environment is obviously much better than that in the Criminal Department Prison. At least the air does not have that toilet-like smell.

Dongfang Wudao's Taoist robe was in tatters, but the advantage was that it was still warm when he wore it, and he was also a free and easy person who could take things as they came.

He walked into the well-lit cell, threw the support he brought over into the corner, then went straight to the fresh haystack in the corner and lay down.

I don't know whether it was because I didn't sleep well last night or because the environment here was so good. After a big yawn, I quickly fell asleep.

After Hu Jun settled Dongfang Wudao, he also dutifully went inside to inspect the prisoners in the cell.

He has grown from a country boy in a remote mountain village to become a member of an important government office in the empire. He has always cherished his current life and position, so he did not dare to make any mistakes.

The secret investigation about Cheng Si was still going on, but Dongfang Wudao's words still made him take it to heart. When he came out, he stood in front of Dongfang Wudao's cell.

"Hu Qianhu, don't we all imprison officials in the Metropolitan Procuratorate's prison? Who is this Taoist priest?" Gou Huowang is now in charge of the Metropolitan Procuratorate's prison, so he stepped forward to inquire seriously.

Hu Jun looked at Dongfang Wudao, who was already sleeping in the haystack, and lowered his voice and warned: "This person is Dongfang Wudao, known as the Eastern God. The crime has not been determined yet, but he is a prisoner appointed by the emperor. , be sure not to make any mistakes!”

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him, I promise everything will be fine!" Gou Huowang also cherished this hard-won job and solemnly promised.

Dongfang Wudao vaguely heard this conversation and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly. The environment and people in this cell gave him an unprecedented sense of security, but he murmured like a dream: "It seems pretty good here!"

Two days passed quietly, and it turned out that Dongfang Wudao seemed to have been forgotten by Wang Yue, and no one ever tried him.

However, during this period, the Metropolitan Procuratorate was actually not idle, and even concentrated a large number of personnel to investigate Dongfang Wudao, investigating Dongfang Wudao's interpersonal relationships and whether he was acting as a pawn for others.

The main reason why Dongfang Wudao was not brought to trial was that Wang Yue had always been a very disciplined person and never chose to torture prisoners without serious suspicions to extract confessions.

"This man often gives silver to beggars and often asks beggars for money!"

"This person often goes to high-end restaurants to enjoy delicious food and often goes without food!"

"This person often goes to the flower market to enjoy flowers and lives in a dilapidated house without flowers!"

…

As the Metropolitan Procuratorate conducted a comprehensive investigation of Dongfang Wudao, everyone found that Dongfang Wudao basically had no friends, and it didn't seem like he was being hired. He gave people the impression that he was a weirdo.

There are even contradictions in his various actions. He is both a spendthrift and a poor man. Even his name was changed from Dongfangdao to Dongfangwudao.

But judging from the current investigation results, Dongfang Wudao's actions seem to have nothing to do with the conspiracy.

On the fourth day, things went as Dongfang Wudao predicted. Soon a distinguished guest arrived, and this distinguished guest turned out to be an official wearing a second-grade official uniform.

"Get up!" The entourage brought a master's chair and placed it in front of the cell, and scolded Dongfang Wudao, who was lying on the haystack with his legs crossed.

Dongfang Wudao didn't get up. He was still chewing a piece of grass in his mouth. He turned to look at the visitor and said, "Who is it?"

"Can't you see through the secrets? Can't you even know my identity?" The official who appeared on the master's chair said with a bit of joking in his eyes, but he was deliberately testing.

Dongfang Wudao took a serious look at this pampered high-ranking official and gave a direct answer: "Liu Xuan, Minister of War?"

"Bold, are you allowed to call my lord by his first name?" the accompanying guard immediately scolded him sharply.

But as soon as these words came out, it was undoubtedly confirmed that Dongfang Wudao was right.

"I have never met you, how did you guess my identity?" Liu Xuan raised his hand to stop his men and asked with interest.

Liu Xuan was originally the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but the latest promotion rules of this dynasty required that the Sixth Ministries Shilang should go to the local area to serve as governor, so Liu Xuan took the initiative to request an order to manage salt in Liaodong.

Although Liu Xuan was not a talented leader who led troops on an expedition, so he did not lead the expedition against the Jurchens in Jianzhou last time, he performed well in the position of governor of Liaodong and played an indispensable role in the development and construction of Jianzhou.

Because of this, when he was recalled to the capital by the imperial court, Zhu Youtang was awarded the post of Minister of War.

The status of the Minister of War among the six ministers was already high. Now that the Ming Dynasty has put forward the slogan of strengthening the country and the army, the status has naturally increased.

Dongfang Wudao sensed the official authority of the Minister of War, but he confidently made a small request: "Do you have wine?"

Liu Xuan directly agreed to this request without waiting for his guard to get angry.

Dongfang Wudao saw a small wine jar brought to him, and immediately took a sip happily, wiped off the wine stains on his gray beard, and said two words: "Boots!"

"I'm wearing uniform official boots. Are you trying to deceive me?" When Liu Xuan heard the answer, he raised one of his feet and said.

Dongfang Wudao poured another sip of wine into his mouth and said with a clear wisdom: "Since the Hongzhi Dynasty, the officials of the Ministry of War have paid more attention to military merit and military training. I am afraid that you have been used to patrolling camps on horseback in Liaodong, and now you are afraid of returning to the capital. It is difficult to get rid of this habit for a while, so I often ride horses to patrol the camp outside the city. Take a good look at your official boots to see if they are more damaged than the official boots of several other ministers. There are clear marks on the front of your official boots. It’s what’s left on the ring of a horse that is often trampled on!”

this……

Just now he was a hot-tempered guard, but now after some analysis by Dongfang Wudao, and taking a closer look at the official boots Liu Xuan wore, it seems that this is really the case.

"You have good eyesight!" Liu Xuan couldn't help but praise when he heard the other party's succinct analysis.

Dongfang Wudao wiped his mouth with his dirty sleeve and seemed disapproving: "The old Taoist's eyes are not blind, this is just a trail!"

"If you are so miraculous, do you know why I am here?" Liu Xuan realized that the old Taoist priest in front of him was an arrogant person, and immediately asked with a straight face.

Dongfang Wudao seemed to have seen through everything a long time ago, and he said leisurely: "If God did not give birth to me, Dongfang Dao, my art would be like a long night. That day, Pindao was supporting the shackles in Changfu. From beginning to end, it was God's will. Pindao only conveyed it truthfully! What if? Up to now, adults still think that Pindao is a charlatan, so it’s useless to say so much!”

"If God had not given birth to me as the Eastern Dao, my art would be like the eternal night? Don't pretend to be a ghost in front of me. This time, you are clearly using Fuji to cause trouble in the government. Who is instructing you? Hurry up and recruit me truthfully!" Liu Xuan has gone through military training in Liaodong over the years. , asked with a stern look.

Dongfang Wudao shook the small jar of wine that he had half-drunk, and asked in a serious tone: "After so many days, has Pindao been instigated by someone? Haven't you investigated clearly yet?"

"There are no problems in the investigation, but it doesn't mean that you really have no problems. If you don't confess obediently, Mr. Wangge won't punish you, but I will!" Liu Xuan stared at Dongfang Wudao, threatening as if he meant what he said.

Although the investigation by the Metropolitan Procuratorate did not find any problems, it only related to the emperor's affairs and the future of the court, so he did not mind punishing this charlatan at all.

As for "If heaven had not given me the Eastern Way, my art would be as long as the night forever", just take it as a joke.

There have been many sorcerers throughout the ages, but only a few can truly understand the Tao. Therefore, he would rather kill the wrong person than let him go. He must make this person pay the price of causing trouble to the emperor.

Dongfang Wudao sighed secretly in his heart, knowing that "a scholar cannot explain clearly when he encounters a soldier." Now this Minister of War, who had returned from Liaodong, was already half a soldier: "In this way, if I don't show some real skills, , I’m afraid there’s really no way to escape this punishment. Liu Shangshu, have you been plotting something big recently?”

Huh?

When Hu Jun, who had been accompanying him, heard this, he vaguely felt that the matter was related to court secrets, and couldn't help turning his head to look at Liu Xuan on the master's chair.

"I hold a high position and have your majesty's trust. I am responsible for the military affairs of the Ming Dynasty. I have more than one important thing in mind." Liu Xuan was able to sit in his current position. Naturally, he was a person who could express his emotions and anger.

During this question and answer, Liu Xuan directly had the upper hand, and his answer was watertight.

Dongfang Wudao took another sip of wine and nodded gently: "Although there is nothing wrong in saying this, we both know in our hearts that there is only one extremely important thing you are planning, and this one... …north!"

"Aren't you talking nonsense? Who in the capital now knows that that small tribe contradicted His Majesty at the New Year's Day meeting, and their leader has not yet come to Shanhaiguan to plead guilty. Naturally, I have to plot a battle plan now!" Liu Xuan rolled his eyes and immediately Do a lot of talking.

Hu Jun couldn't help but nodded gently. Now even those who don't pay much attention to the court know that the Ming Dynasty is going to send troops to the north. This is also the most important thing for the Ministry of War at the moment.

Dongfang Wudao's current prediction can be said to be something that everyone knows, and it is indeed impossible to count.

"Liu Shangshu, you still didn't tell the truth, and Pindao didn't dare to say it!" Dongfang Wudao put the small wine jar on the ground and shook his head gently.

Liu Xuan's heart thumped, but he still said calmly: "I am telling the truth. Otherwise, what else do you think there is?"

Huh?

When Hu Jun heard Liu Xuan's tone, although he still maintained an aggressive posture, he vaguely felt that there seemed to be another hidden agenda in this matter.

"If you have to ask an old Taoist to say it, then just say - Xiu Dao openly, secretly save Chencang!" Dongfang Wudao put his hands behind his head, looking inscrutable and authentic.

Liu Xuan was secretly surprised, but he still pretended to be calm and said: "What do you mean?"

"It's meaningless to say this so bluntly! It's just that there are variables in this matter, and the variables lie in the people!" Dongfang Wudao's eyes fell on the wall in front of him, then he turned to look at Liu Xuan and said seriously.

No one present could understand, but Liu Xuan understood: "Who is it?"

"The Overlord of Chu won a great victory by sinking everything. Now if you really want to achieve great things, you have to use a little more tricks!" Dongfang Wudao put away his cynicism and became very serious in a very rare way.

Liu Xuan was completely unaware that the initiative had fallen into Dongfang Wudao's hands, and he didn't even realize that he was no longer aggressive. He asked seriously: "What method?"

"Only when there is no retreat can we move forward bravely, so just don't...have half-hearted intentions!" Dongfang Wudao sat up from the haystack, seeming to mean something.

Others were confused and had no idea what the two men were talking about.

Liu Xuan nodded with understanding, and the next moment his eyes became very sharp and asked: "Where did you learn about such a confidential matter?"

this……

Hu Jun listened silently. Although he didn't know what the two of them were discussing, he vaguely felt that Dongfang Wudao was very powerful.

I just didn't expect that Liu Xuan was asking Dongfang Wudao for advice one moment, and then turned his back on him the next moment. The Minister of War in front of him seemed very unkind.

At this moment, even though Dongfang Wudao had just said something very exciting, the pressure was now on him again.

"If God had not given birth to me, Dongfang Dao, my art would be like a long night! The ordinary people of Dongfang Dao are just accomplished in their studies. Fortunately, they got a glimpse of the secrets of heaven. They did not intend to cause trouble to Your Majesty. Please tell Your Majesty." Dongfang Wudao stood up from the haystack. Suddenly, He knelt down and said loudly.

this……

After hearing Dongfang Wudao's sudden statement, which meant that the emperor was here, he couldn't help but look at each other.

Is it wrong?

Dongfang Wudao, who was kneeling on the ground, found that the surroundings were terribly quiet. There was no movement for a long time, and he couldn't help but feel shaken.

The place became deathly silent, and then everyone knelt on the ground facing east, including Liu Xuan, Minister of War, who had just been sitting on the Grand Master's chair.

"How did you know that I was here to listen?" Zhu Youtang appeared in front of the cell and looked down at Dongfang Wudao who was kneeling on the ground.

He originally did not intend to come forward in person, so he chose Liu Xuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, to be responsible for the interrogation, and he just stayed in the dark to listen and see how this veteran defended himself.

But I never expected that this ordinary-looking old Taoist priest not only knew about the recent major conspiracy of the Ministry of War, but also knew about his own presence here.

This person finally aroused his interest, so he decided to meet this old Taoist priest in person.

"Liu Shangshu obviously restrained his questioning of Cao Min, and repeatedly asked Cao Min to self-examine. In addition, there was no sound at all from the next door, so Cao Min knew that either the First Assistant or His Majesty was listening, and Cao Min guessed that it was His Majesty!" Dongfang Wudao borrowed Taking the opportunity to salute, he glanced at the emperor and then stated the basis for his judgment.

When Zhu Youtang heard Dongfang Wudao's succinct analysis, he knew that this person was a rare talent even if he didn't understand Fuji: "Since you are so clever and clever, how can you count on me... You will never abandon the queen, nor will you. Allow such evil words to appear!"

"The common people are just conveying the secret of heaven to your majesty truthfully, please forgive me!" Dongfang Wudao felt that the emperor in front of him had a firm will, so he pleaded seriously.

The reason why Zhu Youtang came here this time was because he had some intention. He said slowly: "If you can find a way for me to have children without abolishing the queen, not only will I not punish you, but I will also Great reward!”