Another hall in Zhenxi General's Mansion was overcrowded at this time.
Among them were many officials in Xianyang City, as well as many officials from around Xianyang.
Qu Manbao followed Daosheng's suggestion and recruited many officials from around Xianyang. These officials did not dare to delay and hurried to Xianyang. However, before they could see Mr. Qu, the Chu army entered the city and a large group of officials were immediately captured. The Chu army took control.
The Chu army was not rude to any official. They just gathered these people into the post house in Xianyang City. No one knew what fate they would face next.
The officials in Xianyang City were also centrally controlled by the Chu army. Until today, hundreds of officials were brought to the Zhenxi General's Mansion. The hall was full of people, and even the courtyard was overcrowded.
Xianyang City became the possession of the Chu people overnight, which is really incredible.
Many people still can't figure out how the people of Chu got out of the narrow passage of Qinling Mountains.
Everyone knows that within the six narrow passages of the Qinling Mountains, the Northwest Army has set up checkpoints for defense. According to the above statement, unless the Chu people have wings, they must not cross the Qinling Mountains even half a step. But now a large Chu army is almost They entered Xianyang City without any bloodshed. Could it be that these Chu soldiers all flew here from Tianshan Mountain
"The Lord Protector has arrived!"
The loud sound silenced the whispering officials. They looked around and saw a young man in casual clothes appearing in front of them. The officials in the hospital were surprised, but they still made way.
Some people were a little surprised when they saw Qi Ning coming in alone. They thought that this young man was really brave and dared to come alone without a guard. If any of these officials had evil intentions or a group of officials came swarming, this person would go to Where to escape
Entering the hall, all the officials looked at Qi Ning, but they were all silent.
Qi Ning looked around and then said with a smile: "I am Qi Ning. I believe some of you have heard of me."
Everyone looked at each other, a few people took the lead in saluting Qi Ning, and others also saluted Qi Ning one after another.
"Tongguan has been captured by us." Qi Ning said with a smile: "So even if General Qu wants to return to the northwest, it seems that he will not be able to do so."
All the officials were shocked again.
"I'm here with you today. I don't have anything else to do. I just want to ask about your whereabouts." Qining said: "I know that most of you are natives of the northwest. Of course, some of you have been deployed from Luoyang. Tongguan has been blocked. , without my warrant, no one can enter the customs at present." After a pause, he said: "When I came, the emperor gave me instructions. These officials in the northwest are all familiar with the situation in the northwest. When they arrive in the northwest, Try to keep your original official position unchanged as much as possible, and those who are willing to serve our great Chu will be registered in our great Chu and sent to the Ministry of Officials. If there are other ambitions, we will not be embarrassed. Those who want to enter the customs and return to Luoyang will resume their duties. , you can submit documents to me, and I will issue an order and send someone to escort you to Tongguan."
The officials were even more stunned. One of them raised his hand and said cautiously: "Sir, do you mean that the original official positions will remain unchanged?"
"There has been peace and quiet in the northwest over the past few years. The credit may not be attributed to Qu Yuangu, but to the dedication of officials at all levels." Qi Ning said with a smile: "In this case, why bother to go to war and transfer officials? Officials who can serve the people are good Officer, the emperor's purpose of unifying the world is to let the people live and work in peace and contentment. Since everyone has the same goal, there is no need to mess around."
The officials didn't know how to respond.
"When everyone goes out later, there will be a special official record." Qining said: "Those who are willing to stay should return to their original posts and do their own things. If you want to enter the customs, you can also make a record. I I will give you two days to think about it. If you want to change your mind after making the record, you can re-register within two days. If you want to leave after two days, I will send someone to take you to Tongguan. You can return to Luoyang to resume your life. The remaining From now on, he will be an official of my Da Chu."
After a period of silence, an official finally said: "Sir, you...are you really going to put down your official position and enter the customs? The official's family members are in the customs, we cannot leave them behind."
"Don't worry, I want to settle the scores." Qi Ning shook his head and said: "I just give you a chance to choose. From now on, those who leave will still be ministers of the enemy country, and those who stay will be loyal to our Great Chu Empire. Some words are but Speaking of being in the head, if you stay but are half-hearted or even betray me, Dachu, don’t blame me for being ruthless, I have a smile for you, and I also have a knife in my waist."
Amid everyone's discussion, Qi Ning didn't stay long and left.
When they arrived at an elegant hall, Duan Canghai was already waiting. He came up and said: "Sir, we have found the man named Daosheng. He is an aide beside Qu Manbao. It is said that this man was once a Taoist priest. Later he traveled around and arrived in the northwest. Later, he was recommended to Qu Manbao. Qu Manbao didn't care about him at first. Qu Manbao liked to keep his disciples, and there were many roosters, dogs, and thieves under his disciples. As long as there were some small tricks that could attract Qu Manbao's attention, Qu Manbao would stay as his disciple. "
"What ability does this Taoist have?"
"He knows how to make elixirs." Duan Canghai whispered: "The elixirs he made are all nourishing yin and yang. Qu Manbao indulged in excessive sexual desire. This Taoist offered the elixirs to Qu Manbao, and Qu Manbao became a dragon and a tiger. It is said that After taking Daosheng's elixir, it was no problem to deal with three or five women in one night. For this reason, Daosheng gained the respect of Qu Manbao with his elixir and often brought it with him. Later, he became Qu Manbao's confidant and gained Qu Manbao's trust."
Qi Ning frowned, thinking to himself that the so-called miracle medicine was nothing more than overdrafting Qu Manbao's life in advance. If he kept taking it, Qu Manbao would be dead in less than two years. That Taoist was following a crooked path and was not an upright person. .
But having said that, Qu Manbao is not a gentleman to begin with. If he wants to get close to this person, he really has to use some strange and deceitful techniques to get close to him. Qu Manbao was greedy for money and lust, so it was a good idea to use Yang-tonifying drugs to get close to him and even gain his trust.
"Where is that stranger?"
"My subordinate has already made people look at him." Duan Canghai whispered: "Do you want to see him, Sir?"
Qi Ning thought for a moment and said, "Bring him here, and I'll see what kind of person he is."
After Duan Canghai retreated, it didn't take long before he brought Daosheng over.
Daosheng was nearly forty years old. He had an unattractive appearance and was the most inconspicuous among the crowd. He was very ordinary. He was wearing a gray gown. When he entered the elegant hall, his expression remained unchanged and he bowed deeply to Qining.
Qi Ning looked at it for a few times before saying, "Do you know the crime?"
Daosheng raised his head, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it passed away in an instant, and he cupped his hands and said: "Guilty or not, it all depends on the Lord."
"I heard that Qu Manbao left Xianyang because you told him slanderous words." Qining sneered: "If it weren't for you, Qu Manbao wouldn't have left Xianyang, and Tongguan wouldn't be so easy to miss. This Xianyang only I was afraid and didn’t capture it.”
Daosheng smiled slightly and said: "In the eyes of the Northern Han people, the villain is naturally heinous, but in the eyes of the Lord, the villain is not only innocent, but even meritorious."
"Oh?" Qi Ning said coldly: "Qu Manbao thinks highly of you, but you make slanderous remarks. This is a great sycophant. I have no merit for such a character."
Daosheng shook his head and said: "If Qu Manbao is the villain's master, the villain should naturally be despised for doing this, but the villain's master is not Qu Manbao."
"Isn't it Qu Manbao?"
Daosheng looked around and saw that there was no one else except Duan Canghai standing not far away. Then he took a step forward, knelt down on the ground and said respectfully: "Hong Mendao, Lieutenant of the Lianzhen School of the Shenhou Mansion, pay your respects to the lord!" In the meantime, he had taken out a sign from his arms and worshiped it in front of Qi Ning with both hands.
This person claimed to be Captain Lian Zhen of Shenhou Mansion. Not only Qining was shocked, Duan Canghai also suddenly changed his expression.
Qi Ning took the sign. On the front was engraved the word "Shenhou Mansion", but on the back was the word "Lian Zhen".
"Are you from the Shenhou Mansion?" Qining was surprised.
Daosheng said solemnly: "Your Majesty must have received a secret letter. There is also a layout map of Xianyang City in the secret letter. It was the villain who sent someone to secretly deliver it."
Qi Ning frowned and said, "So, do you know that I came to Xichuan with a secret order to attack Xichuan?"
Daosheng thought for a moment and then said: "The villain already knew that Da Chu would look for opportunities to attack the northwest four years ago. It was also four years ago that the villain came to the northwest and spent a lot of effort to get close to Qu Manbao."
Qi Ning was surprised and said: "Four years ago? You...!" The plan to attack the northwest was still Jindaohou Tantaihuang's deathbed. He told himself that according to Tantaihuang's plan, the Chu army would not only look for opportunities to attack Dongqi , and if there is a chance, he will capture the northwest. Qi Ning never thought that Lieutenant Lian Zhen, whose pseudonym was Daosheng, already knew this secret four years ago.
"My lordship is unaware that the plan to attack the northwest is a military strategy secretly reported to the late emperor by the old Marquis Jin Dao." Hongmendao said solemnly: "But it is extremely difficult to attack the northwest. You must always wait for the best opportunity. Such an opportunity may never appear, but if it does, we must seize it immediately. Only three people knew about this secret at that time. Apart from the late emperor and Jin Daohou, only Shenhou knew about it. Shenhou was prepared for a rainy day and knew that there was such a thing. After the plan, Constipation sent a villain into the northwest. He must get close to the Qu family and his son, and gain the trust of the Qu family and his son. In this way, when the opportunity arises, we can assist the army in conquering the northwest. "
"So that's it." Qi Ning understood and sighed in his heart, thinking that Chu State had already made a strategy many years ago.
"The villain has been active in Luoyang before. He was sent by the gods to come to the northwest. He made arrangements in advance and appeared as a member of the Taoist sect." Hongmendao explained: "Qu Manbao likes to keep guests. The villain sees In this way, I spent a lot of effort to sneak in, and then used the magic of elixirs to get close to Qu Manbao. According to the instructions of the god, the only thing I have to do in the past few years is to win Qu Manbao's trust and let him regard the villain as his confidant. Only in this way can the villain's words be trusted at the critical moment."
"Can you make pills?"
Hong Mendao shook his head and said with a smile: "I know some pharmacology, but I don't know how to make elixirs. There are many spies from the Shenhou Mansion in the northwest. It's not difficult for me to get a Yang-tonifying elixir."