When Qi Ning mentioned Shen Liangqiu on Haifeng Island, Shen Liangqiu was in front of the Donghai Post House. He was not wearing a military uniform today, just casual clothes. However, after years of military career, even in casual clothes, he still had a sense of style. Power.
Although Shen Liangqiu is the deputy general of the Donghai Navy and holds a high position, he cannot enter the Donghai Inn easily.
The post house is a place where important officials from the capital are entertained. As a military general, Shen Liangqiu cannot directly enter the post house without permission. Fortunately, he was not kept waiting inside for too long. Wei Yujiang had already welcomed him. Come out.
"General Shen has been waiting for a long time!" Wei Yujiang cupped his hands and said, "I wonder what General Shen is doing here?"
Shen Liangqiu also held up his hands and said, "Sishen Wei, I want to see the Marquis. Is it convenient for the Marquis to summon him?"
"Well... General Shen, after the Marquis came back from the sea yesterday, he felt a little unwell." Wei Yujiang said: "I am still recuperating now, and it is indeed inconvenient to see guests. If General Shen has something urgent, you can tell me, my official Convey it to Lord Marquis."
"Wei Sishen, there are some things that we should report to the Marquis face to face. Please also ask Wei Sishen to report it on your behalf." Shen Liangqiu said.
Wei Yujiang shook his head and smiled bitterly: "It's not that I don't want to report it. The Marquis has worked too hard recently, and his body is really uncomfortable due to the bumpy sea trip. He has just fallen asleep, and it's really hard to disturb him at this time. General Shen, why don't you wait like this? After the Marquis wakes up, how about I tell you, sir?"
Shen Liangqiu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "Now we have Lawey to judge, I'll take my leave." He didn't waste any time, got on his horse, and left.
Wei Yujiang looked at Shen Liangqiu's retreating figure with deep eyes.
Shen Liangqiu left the inn, rode two streets, and arrived at a teahouse. He left the horse to the waiter and went straight into the shop. He walked directly through the teahouse to the back door. After going out from the back door, he walked through another In a small alley, we arrived at the back door of a house. First we knocked twice hard, and then three times lightly. The courtyard door opened with a creak. After Shen Liangqiu entered, the back door quickly closed again.
He was obviously familiar with this house. He walked through a flower garden, but there was a small forest in front of him. Shen Liangqiu followed a path into the forest. The trees were densely shaded. In the middle of the small forest, a small bamboo house was built. A young man in green clothes was guarding outside the house. When he saw Shen Liangqiu, he knew the young man well and bowed to salute. However, Shen Liangqiu entered the house without looking.
The furnishings in the house are very simple, but extremely elegant.
Directly opposite the door is a set of bamboo bookshelves with several rows of books on them. There is a small square bamboo table in the middle of the room. Next to the small table are two bamboo futons. On the left and right walls, there are several calligraphy and paintings hanging. .
Sandalwood was burning in the corner of the room, and green smoke curled up.
There were pens, inks, paper and inkstones placed on the bamboo table. Behind the table, a man in a purple robe was holding a langbo and writing on the paper. When he heard the footsteps of Shen Liangqiu coming in, the man raised his head and saw Shen Liangqiu. Qiu showed no sign of surprise. Instead, he continued to write ink on the paper with a slight smile on his lips: "General Shen, am I right?"
Shen Liangqiu sat down opposite the man, with a solemn expression, staring into the man's eyes and said, "Mr. Jiang, it seems that something is indeed wrong."
The purple-robed man turned out to be Jiang Mantian, the head of the Jiang family in the East China Sea.
Jiang Mantian was calm and calm, looking very elegant. He raised his head and said with a smile, "How do you deal with it over there?"
"I'm sick and can't see guests!"
"As expected." Jiang Mantian said with a smile: "This is the answer I least want to hear, but it is the answer. General Shen, what is their purpose of concealing it?"
"What do you think the reason is, Mr. Jiang?"
Jiang Mantian said with a smile: "On the surface, he just doesn't want you to know what he is doing. You are the deputy general of the navy. He came to investigate the cause of Tantai Zhilin's death. He should have relied on you with all his strength. Now since he doesn't want you to know about him, Isn't it self-evident what you are doing?" Jiang Mantian looked into Shen Liangqiu's eyes and said, "In my opinion, this Jin Yihou at least has no trust in you, General Shen."
"What do you mean?"
Jiang Mantian sighed: "General Shen, this matter has been full of flaws from the beginning. Although we try our best to cover it up, it is almost impossible to do such a big thing without leaving any trace."
Shen Liangqiu frowned and said, "Where is Qining now?"
"I also want to know where he is." Jiang Mantian said: "As far as I know, he left the city with Qin Yuege and left quickly. After leaving the city, it is naturally difficult for me to send people to follow him."
Shen Liangqiu stared at Jiang Mantian's eyes with a hint of suspicion, moved his lips, and finally asked: "Mr. Jiang, is that woman named Tian really not done by you?"
Jiang Mantian raised his hand and put Lang Bo aside, sighing: "General Shen still doesn't seem to have enough trust in me today. From the beginning, I said that a thousand-mile embankment was destroyed by an ant nest. Although Qin Ning is young, , but he is not an incompetent person. During this trip to the East China Sea, we must be wary of him at all times. Before he leaves the East China Sea, we must keep our eyes open when sleeping." Staring at Shen Liangqiu's eyes, he said lightly: "The death of Tantai Zhilin , it would have made things very troublesome, but then another thing General Shen did made things even more troublesome."
"You mean...?"
"Mrs. Tantai's matter." Jiang Mantian picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of tea. He ignored Shen Liangqiu and took a sip from the cup: "The general should discuss it with me in advance."
Shen Liangqiu looked stern and said calmly: "There is no need to say more about this matter. Once it is done, it is done."
Jiang Mantian said "Oh" and then said: "General, you should understand that you and I are in the same boat. Once this boat sinks, the general will not be the only one who falls into the water."
"So what if he really finds out?" Shen Liangqiu sneered: "With the military power in hand, I'm afraid it won't be that easy for him to leave the East China Sea."
"Do you have the military power?" Jiang Mantian's expression also turned grim: "General Shen, you know better than me why Xinci came here this time. If it was just Qining, many things would be much simpler, but when Xinci arrived Donghai, this matter has changed."
Shen Liangqiu frowned slightly, and Jiang Mantian said calmly: "If only Qining comes, it only means that Tantaihuang is suspicious of Tantai Zhilin's death, but if Xinci comes, maybe Tantaihuang has already suspected you. "
Shen Liangqiu sneered: "Doubt me?"
"Xin Ci is a veteran of the Donghai Navy. He knows the Donghai Navy very well. Moreover, he was very famous in the Donghai Navy back then. In terms of prestige and qualifications, he is not inferior to you." Jiang Mantian said slowly: "Dan Tai Zhilin died, and the Donghai navy was leaderless. Many people wanted to take advantage of the situation. Of course, the Duke of Zhen would not miss such an opportunity, but the Jindao Dantai family would naturally not give up their trump cards to others. , I am bound to be competing with the Tantai family these days." He pulled a letter from the table and handed it to Shen Liangqiu. Shen Liangqiu reached out and took it, opened it and looked at it, his face quickly became solemn.
"The Zhou commander of Xuanwu Camp has been dismissed from office. The new commander is Qu Yanzhi, who is from Black Blade Camp." Jiang Mantian said lightly: "Xuanwu Camp has been acquired by the Sima family. If I guessed correctly, this is naturally the case. Due to the transaction with the Jindao Tantai family. Jindao Tantai has preserved the Donghai Navy, and the candidate for the Grand Governor is naturally selected by the Jindao Tantai family."
"The news brought by Xin Ci is that the imperial court is ready to issue a decree for me to take over the position of governor." Shen Liangqiu looked coldly: "As long as the decree is issued, the East China Sea Navy will be completely in my hands."
Jiang Mantian sighed: "But the decree has not come down. On the contrary, Xin Ci has come to the Navy first." He drank a cup of tea and said leisurely: "If the imperial court issues the decree, he will take over the position of chief governor." , I wouldn’t be surprised. Xin Ci was in Donghai when he was Tantai Huang’s confidant. You should know why Xin Ci left Donghai Navy. Tantai Zhilin took over the navy, but Tantai Huang was worried that Xin Ci was in Donghai The prestige and qualifications in the division are too high. This may affect Tantai Zhilin's prestige in the navy, so he brought him back to the capital. Xin Ci was a smart man and knew Tantai Huang's worries, so he took the initiative to follow him back. Beijing."
"Of course I know the reason why he returned to Beijing back then." Shen Liangqiu said calmly.
"Xin Ci can stay in the capital for more than ten years without any complaints. With all due respect, with Xin Ci's ability, he can command 300,000 to 50,000 troops, which is more than enough. Even if he is not in the Navy, he can be transferred to other places. Why is he willing to do so? Are you doing nothing next to Tantai Huang?" Jiang Mantian's voice was calm and gentle from beginning to end: "Xin Ci was promoted by Tantai Huang single-handedly. There is no need to doubt his loyalty to Tantai Huang, and he is also a sharp weapon in Tantai Huang's hand. Don’t look down on others, Tantaihuang is holding this sharp sword motionless, naturally he is waiting for the right time to draw his sword and take action!”
Shen Liangqiu frowned and said, "Are you saying that Xin Ci is sent here to show his sword?"
"Xin Ci is above you in terms of qualifications and prestige, and is more trusted by Tantai Huang than you." Jiang Mantian said: "If I were Tantai Huang and wanted to control the navy, The most suitable candidate is not you, but Xinci."
"If that's the case, then why did Tantaihuang recommend me to the imperial court as the governor?" Shen Liangqiu's eyes were sharp and he thought thoughtfully: "What kind of medicine is that old guy selling in his gourd?"
Jiang Mantian smiled calmly and said: "Compared with Tantai Zhilin's death, Tantaihuang is most worried about the unrest in the navy. General Shen, I dare to ask, if the imperial court really decrees that Xin Ci will succeed the governor, After Xin Ci takes office, he will re-adjust the navy. What will you do?" He leaned forward slightly and said with a faint smile: "As an emperor and a courtier, if Xin Ci takes office, the current generals of the navy will inevitably undergo great changes. The confidants you arranged in the navy will most likely be wiped out. In this way, the situation that you have worked hard for many years will disappear. Xinci is not an outsider, and his familiarity with the navy is not inferior to yours. In a short period of time, he will be able to completely control the Navy in his hands. As for you...!" He smiled faintly and said, "You have to look up to him."
"He does have this ability." Shen Liangqiu sneered: "Of course I won't give him this opportunity."
"Yes, no matter what, we cannot let Xin Ci control the Navy." Jiang Mantian smiled and said: "So if Xin Ci takes over the position of Commander-in-Chief, the Navy will naturally be in turmoil, and we must remove this person no matter what. ...!" After a pause, his eyes became deep: "Tantaihuang is so experienced, can't he figure this out? But if I tell you that the imperial court is going to issue a decree for you to take over the position of chief governor, it will naturally appease you. In this way, short-term Within this time, we can at least ensure that the Navy is not in chaos."
Shen Liangqiu's eyes were as cold as daggers, and he said coldly: "If he didn't doubt me, there would be no need to appease me. Since he used this method to appease me, doesn't he really have doubts about me?"