Qi Ning's heart trembled, but his expression was calm. Fortunately, the little emperor had changed the subject and said, "I have called you here because I have something to discuss with you." He rummaged around on the table and handed over a booklet. Ning took it, glanced at it a few times, frowned and said, "Your Majesty, is this the booklet that was just sent to you?"
The little emperor nodded and said, "For the time being, only I and Marquis Zhongyi have seen the booklet sent by Marquis Zhongyi last night."
"This document says that Heiyan Cave attacked the barracks and killed dozens of officers and soldiers. Is it true or false?" Qi Ning folded the document and said solemnly: "Didn't it say that Wei Shutong just sent troops to block the roads in Heiyan Ridge a year ago? , sealing them in the mountains without attacking?"
The little emperor said: "There is no detailed explanation in the brochure. You have seen it. It only said that the Miao people from Heiyan Cave attacked the officers and soldiers' barracks at night and killed dozens of people. Qining, do you think this brochure contains all the details?" The words are true or false.”
"This is the information Wei Shutong sent over. It must have happened." Qi Ning said thoughtfully: "The barracks must have been attacked by someone, and people did die, but... Your Majesty, the Black Rock Cave is under siege. Blocked in the mountains and outnumbered, do they really dare to take the lead?"
The little emperor said: "I am also surprised about this matter. I have asked Zhongyi Hou to draw up a decree years ago and sent people to negotiate with Heiyan Cave first, but there has been no report. Now a report has come, but it is Heiyan Cave. Breaking into the camp and killing people.”
"If it is really Heiyandong, then Heiyandong is really rebelling." Qining said: "They attacked the barracks and killed dozens of people. Could it be that they escaped with all their bodies? Wei Shutong's officers and soldiers , not even a single survivor was caught? If they are caught alive, in order to confirm this matter, they should be escorted to Beijing and handed over to the court for interrogation." After a pause, he asked: "Your Majesty, what does Zhongyihou mean?"
"Zhongyi Hou only said that this matter is full of doubts." The little emperor said: "From beginning to end, it was just a report sent by them, and no one was captured alive and sent to the capital... Qining, I felt that it was black. The cave incident may not be as simple as it seems. The Miao people in Heiyan Cave are not fools. Don’t they know that once they kill the officials, the court will definitely punish them severely? How can a mere Heiyan Cave fight against the court? But they just chose to do so. After doing that, and even breaking into the camp to kill people this time, isn’t this pushing myself towards death?”
Qi Ning nodded and said: "What the Emperor said is absolutely true." After a pause, he whispered: "Your Majesty, is it possible that someone is pretending to be someone else?"
"Impersonation?"
"Someone pretended to be from Heiyandong, deliberately broke into the camp and killed people, and then blamed Heiyandong." Qining said: "Although Wei Shutong sent troops to blockade Heiyanling, he has not attacked since last year. , made some people anxious, worried that the imperial court would not attack Black Rock Ridge, so this time they broke into the camp and killed people, just to throw a gourd of oil on the flames and stimulate the imperial court."
The little emperor thought for a while and then said: "I don't know exactly what it is." After a pause, he said: "But when my father was still alive, he once said that Xichuan is extraordinary, and I must always be careful. If Xichuan ever happens, If chaos breaks out, the consequences will be disastrous. As soon as I ascended the throne, strange things happened in Xichuan one after another. However, I was sitting in the palace and knew nothing about the truth of these things in Xichuan. Qining, I thought about it all night last night. I couldn't leave the capital. I can let you go through this for me."
Qi Ning was stunned and could not recover for a moment: "Your Majesty, you mean...!"
"I know that Heiyan Cave was on good terms with your Qi family back then. To find out what happened in Xichuan, we must contact Hei Cao Cave." There was a hint of hope in the little emperor's eyes: "I have thought about it over and over again. No matter who I send, I'm not worried. They may not be able to talk to Heiyan Cave, and...!" With a slightly cold face, he sneered: "And even if they go, what they bring back may not be the truth. Only you, Only then can I know what happened over there.”
Qi Ning thought that the little emperor specially summoned him to the palace to discuss the matter today. He had been thinking about it all night last night, and he had obviously made up his mind. Even if he refused, it would be useless, and it would make the little emperor unhappy.
After the two recognized each other in the palace, the little emperor was quite interested in him, allowing him to inherit the title, and creating opportunities for himself to win the position of leader of the Black Scale Battalion. So far, he has not really established a position for the little emperor. He hesitated for a moment and saw the little emperor looking directly at him before sighing: "If the emperor lets me go, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."
The little emperor Longtai raised his eyebrows, clapped his hands and said with a smile, "I knew you wouldn't let me down."
"Your Majesty, there is no problem for me to go to Xichuan, but over there at Blackscale Camp...!"
Although Duan Canghai and Zhao Wushang recalled the old Black Scale Battalion, and he was planning to temporarily hand over the Black Scale Battalion to Duan Canghai and others to attack, there were too many things involved in rebuilding the Black Scale Battalion, whether it was money, food, equipment, etc. It's still a military establishment, and there are a lot of things to deal with. Duan Canghai and others can train soldiers and horses to make themselves worry-free, but other things are probably beyond the coordination of Duan Canghai and others. After all, they have to deal with the six yamen. Duan Canghai's status is too low, and he will definitely not be able to speak in the Sixth Department.
The young Emperor Longtai had obviously considered it for a long time and said: "Don't worry, I am concerned about the reconstruction of the Black Scale Camp. I will send someone to help you later. If you need anything, I will try my best to satisfy you. You don't have to worry."
Qi Ning thought that since even the emperor said this, he had nothing to worry about. Moreover, the young emperor wanted to rebuild the Black Scale Camp to train his direct soldiers, so there was no need to worry that the emperor would treat the Black Scale Camp badly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qining bowed his hand and said, "Your Majesty, when I go to Xichuan, is it mainly to find out whether Heiyan Cave is really going to rebel?"
Longtai nodded and said: "This is the top priority. The information sent by Xichuan is evasive. During your trip to Xichuan, you will naturally want to find out why Heiyan Cave killed the court officials and whether it was really just because of tax issues." Leaning forward, he lowered his voice and said, "The late emperor once said to me that the stability of Xichuan is related to the stability of Chu, and whether the Miao people are honest is related to whether Xichuan is peaceful." At this point, Zhu Pi was mentioned suddenly. After writing four words on the paper, he put down the Zhu Pi, picked up the paper, and showed it in front of Qi Ning.
Qi Ning saw the four words "attacking the heart first" written on it. Before he could say anything, the young Emperor Longtai already said: "This is the four-character magic weapon that the late emperor taught me to deal with Xichuan."
"magic weapon?"
"The Li family of Xichuan has been operating in Bashu for many years, and their relationship with the locals is intricately linked. Although the Li family had no choice but to submit to the imperial court, their prestige in Xichuan still exists." Longtai said slowly with a stern expression: "The late emperor said that we should let Nishikawa has completely surrendered to the imperial court. Only using military force will not help, but will make Nishikawa even more resistant to the imperial court. Only by truly regaining their hearts can they be of the same mind as the imperial court."
Qi Ning said: "The late emperor's reprimand was a wise saying. Your Majesty, it is easy to say, but not easy to do, to attack the heart first. But once you can really do it, people will be convinced."
Longtai nodded and said: "Yes, so when the late emperor was still alive, he always treated Xichuan lightly, especially the Miao people in Xichuan. He also tried his best to protect the Miao people. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he must not use troops against the Miao people. Miao people seven The Black Rock Cave is one of the twelve caves. Regardless of whether the Black Rock Cave has a harmonious relationship with other Miao caves, as long as the imperial court uses troops against any Miao cave, the other Miao caves will definitely be wary and even hostile to the court... !”
"Is the emperor worried that if he easily uses troops against the Black Rock Cave this time, the achievements that the late emperor has worked so hard to achieve will be ruined?" Qining asked softly.
Longtai smiled faintly and said: "I am worried that someone deliberately wants to destroy the late emperor's hard work." After thinking for a while, he said: "The most important thing is to attack the Miao people's hearts, but it does not mean that we cannot use force against them. If some Miao people have their own intentions, If they want to have trouble with the court, the court will naturally kill them for their arrogance, but there must be conclusive evidence that can be used to give an explanation to the Miao people in the Seventy-Two Holes, so that they can scare the monkeys."
Qi Ning thought that the little emperor was young, but he was thinking more and more thoughtfully. He smiled and said: "So the emperor sent me to Xichuan this time to find conclusive evidence."
"If Heiyan Cave is really not in the eyes of the imperial court, it will naturally be beaten." Longtai said: "Go and find out the ins and outs of this matter for me. If you can't find conclusive evidence, or there is even a hidden secret in it, We must not easily mobilize troops against Heiyan Cave. I don’t want all the Miao people to regard the imperial court as their enemy because of this matter.” After a pause, he lowered his voice and said, “Also, go to Xichuan and take a look. What the hell is Wei Shutong doing?"
"Wei Shutong?"
"Wei Shutong is a border official sent by the late emperor to Xichuan, just to stabilize Xichuan." The young emperor Longtai frowned and said: "Since the late emperor valued this person, he should have some talents, but... this time in the Black Rock Cave The incident, reported by Wei Shutong, is very covert and unusual. I want to see what this person is up to. The governor of Xichuan has a high position and is related to the safety of Chu. If this person is not qualified... !" He snorted coldly, with a sharp light in his clear eyes, clenching his fists and saying: "Then he doesn't have to sit in that seat."
Wei Shutong's several memorials were unclear, and even the young emperor is still unclear about the situation in Xichuan. As the court's eyes and ears in Xichuan, Wei Shutong's actions obviously made the young emperor extremely dissatisfied.
Qi Ning felt in his heart that as a high official, Wei Shutong certainly understood his responsibilities, but his behavior was abnormal and there was something fishy about it.