Wei Shutong's pupils shrank, his eyes became sharp, and he whispered: "Master Hou, I will immediately send someone to check out what is weird about these temples." As soon as the words came out, he immediately shook his head and said: "No, We can't investigate them openly. If there are really weird things about the temples donated by Li Hongxin, we must be very careful. If we rush to investigate, we may not be able to find out anything."
Qi Ning nodded and said, "Master Wei just said that these donated temples are not big, so naturally they cannot be used to station troops."
"Absolutely impossible." Wei Shutong sneered: "How many people can be stationed in a small temple? And if it is really stationing troops, even if hundreds of people gather there, the official will also notice it."
"Master Wei, what do you think is weird about these temples?" Qining stared at Wei Shutong and asked.
Wei Shutong thought for a while, frowned and said, "Master Marquis, do you think...are there weapons or anything like that hidden in those temples?"
Qi Ning smiled and said: "Master Wei, we all see the same thing. After much thought, these temples are most likely to hide weapons."
Wei Shutong looked solemn: "But in order to prevent the riots in Xichuan, the late emperor had already issued a ban on weapons. The private manufacturing of weapons was never allowed. Many Miao people in the Miao villages made a living by hunting in the mountains. In this case, each village The number of weapons among them is also extremely limited. The government has strict restrictions. The lower official will send people to the Miao village to inspect every year." After a pause, he continued: "The main target of the military ban is actually Li Hongxin. The Jin Guanwei under Li Hongxin are all equipped with weapons by the imperial court, and they must not make weapons privately."
"Li Hongxin is a local snake in Xichuan." Qi Ning said calmly: "The Li family has been based in Xichuan for a hundred years. They are more familiar with Xichuan than you, Master Wei. If they really want to make some small moves in private, they will be hard to guard against."
Wei Shutong nodded and said: "What the Marquis said is absolutely true. I will immediately send people to sneak into those temples secretly to see what is wrong. If I still can't find out what's wrong, I will find an excuse to demolish a temple." , I have to dig three feet into the ground to find something.”
Qi Ning did not speak immediately. He pondered for a moment and then asked: "Master Wei, in your opinion, is it possible for Li Hongxin to rebel at this time?"
Wei Shutong thought for a moment, shook his head and said: "I thought it was almost impossible. The current Li Hongxin is not like the Li Hongxin of the past. Back then, Li Hongxin was in charge of Xichuan's money and materials, and the Li family had a close relationship with the local gentry and wealthy families in Xichuan. Close and intertwined. In addition, this person fooled the people of Xichuan in the past and won the hearts of the people, so he dared to be an enemy of the imperial court." After a pause, he sneered and said: "Now nearly half of the officials in Xichuan are The imperial court sent us here, and Xichuan's taxes, money, food, troops and horses are all in the hands of the imperial court, so Li Hongxin has no guts to rebel at this time."
Qi Ning frowned, stared at Wei Shutong, and asked, "Master Wei is sure that Li Hongxin has no possibility of rebellion?"
"Maybe he has the intention to rebel, but he doesn't have the power to rebel." Wei Shutong said with certainty.
Qi Ning sighed: "Master Wei, if you are hesitant and unsure, I would be more relieved, but you are so sure, which makes me uneasy."
"What does the Marquis mean?"
"You are the governor of Xichuan, and you should know Li Hongxin quite well. Even you are sure that Li Hongxin is incapable of treason. Then everyone in the world will probably think so." Qi Ning said solemnly: "But this is exactly the case. Once Li Hongxin really A sudden rebellion will definitely catch everyone off guard."
Wei Shutong had a stern look on his face and frowned thoughtfully.
Suddenly I heard a voice coming from outside: "Report to your lord, the King of Shu has sent someone to invite you and the Marquis!"
The two of them looked outside, only to find that the dawn had already appeared before they knew it. After talking for a long time all night long, it was already dawn.
"King Shu knows that the Marquis is here?" Wei Shutong frowned and approached the door.
The voice from outside said: "The visitor only said that if the Marquis is here, please ask the Marquis and your Excellency to go together. The Prince said that the assassin's whereabouts have been found."
Wei Shutong and Qi Ning looked at each other and said solemnly: "Tell the person who came here that I will go to the palace later."
"Sir, the visitor said that the prince is not in the palace, but waiting at Baofeng Tower." The voice outside replied: "The prince sent someone to say that in addition to discussing the assassination with the Lord, he also wanted to invite the Lord and the Marquis to come to Baofeng Tower. Eat breakfast."
"Well, I understand, you go down first!" Wei Shutong ordered, then came back and whispered: "Master Marquis, Li Hongxin knows that you have come to the Governor's Mansion."
Qi Ning smiled lightly and said: "This is not surprising."
Wei Shutong sneered and said: "It must be that witch Hua Xiangrong. She is in the same party as Li Hongxin. She escaped last night and must have gone to Li Hongxin's side. That's why Li Hongxin knew that the Marquis was here. If the Marquis hadn't If you are willing to see him, I will go alone and tell you that I invited the Marquis to have a drink last night. The Marquis was too drunk and went back to Guanyi to rest."
Qi Ning shook his head and said with a smile: "Your Majesty invited us to have breakfast, why should we be polite? If we don't eat, it will be free. And if we don't eat this breakfast, Li Hong's confidence will not be at peace." After a pause, he said: "Wei Sir, since there are assassins running rampant in the city, I think it is better to be safer. You must mobilize a team of people who must be loyal and reliable to accompany us to Baofeng Tower."
Wei Shutong was startled, but he quickly understood the meaning and immediately said: "Don't worry, Mr. Marquis, I will select the best for my subordinates immediately."
When Qi Ning arrived at Debaofeng Tower, the sun had just peeked out from the horizon, and the light of morning light made the ancient city of Chengdu slowly wake up from its silence.
Wei Shutong selected 300 elite officers and soldiers of the Governor's Office, fully armed, and escorted the two to Baofeng Tower.
When he arrived at Baofeng Tower, Qining realized that it was the restaurant he passed by the night he first arrived in Chengdu. At that time, he didn't pay much attention to the name of the restaurant. Only then did he realize that this building was called Baofeng Tower.
Outside the Baofeng Building, the guards were already heavily guarded. Surrounding the entire restaurant, there were fully armed Jinguan guards, numbering no less than a hundred in total.
With such a battle, ordinary people have long been far away and dare not approach.
Wei Shutong and Qi Ning looked at each other, then waved their hands, and the three hundred officers and soldiers immediately dispersed and surrounded the restaurant. There were at least two officers and soldiers fighting beside each Jinguan guard.
The soldiers on both sides pressed their hands on the hilts of their swords and stood ready.
More than a dozen officers and soldiers followed Qi Ning and Wei Shutong into the restaurant. They only saw Shi Ximen Hengye, the head of the Prince of Shu's palace in black robes, standing in the hall. When he saw Qi Ning coming in, he came forward to greet him, cupped his hands and said, "Hou Lord, Lord Governor!"
He looked solemn and unsmiling.
"Chief Ximen, is the prince upstairs?" Wei Shutong glanced towards the stairs.
Ximen Hengye nodded and said, "The prince is waiting for you two to have breakfast alone upstairs...!" He looked at the dozen or so officers and soldiers behind Wei Shutong, frowned slightly and said, "Master Governor, is this...?"
"The Marquis was assassinated in Jianjia Hall. I was negligent in my duties and almost caused a huge disaster." Wei Shutong said calmly: "How can I dare to be negligent again until the murderer is caught?"
Ximen Hengye sighed and said: "My lord, it is true. However, the prince invited you two to have a meal and asked no one to disturb you. This...!"
When Wei Shutong was about to speak, Qi Ning already smiled and said: "Since the prince has given this order, you should obey it." He said to Wei Shutong: "Master Wei, the prince is waiting, let's go up!"
Wei Shutong hesitated and finally nodded.
The two of them went upstairs and saw only one table in the huge hall. Li Hongxin was sitting alone at the table with a bandage on his shoulder. The breakfast on the table was also very simple. Li Hongxin held his hand. He held a spoon inside and was eating the gruel in the bowl spoon by spoon.
He seemed to have aged ten years in just one night. He looked extremely old. When he heard the footsteps, he looked up but did not get up.
Qi Ning and Wei Shu came to the table together, both slightly arched their hands and sat down at the table.
"The Li family has been in Xichuan for hundreds of years, and their blood and bones have been integrated into this land." Li Hongxin held a small spoon, without raising his head, and his voice was a little hoarse: "When I was a child, I often listened to his grandfather's knees and listened to his stories. , what I hear most is the continuation of blood. I remember him saying that the blood of the Li family is the river of Xichuan, and the bones of the Li family are the mountains of Xichuan. At that time, I didn’t understand what he meant...!"
Qi Ning and Wei Shutong both looked calm, did not speak, and listened carefully.
"Later, when I got older, I realized that my grandfather meant that our Li family should be like the mountains and rivers of Xichuan, continuing from generation to generation." Li Hongxin said slowly: "Although the Li family is not thin, it is The direct bloodline has never been prosperous. My father and two brothers, but my second uncle died in the battle to put down the unrest when he was young. In my generation, my father gave birth to three children. Unfortunately, the eldest brother died young, so I inherited Having lost his father's position, the third brother indulges in pleasure, and at such a young age, he cannot afford to fall ill."
Having said this, Li Hongxin still didn't raise his head and ate a spoonful of porridge before continuing: "I have given birth to two sons. I originally had high hopes for the eldest son, but the Li family seems to be cursed, even at such a young age. Because of the injury, I asked the white-haired man to send the black-haired man away."
Wei Shutong's lips moved slightly, but in the end he said nothing. It was not easy to answer at this time.
"Although Li Yuan is the second son, after the death of the eldest son, I have always wanted to place the hope of the continuation of the Li family on him, and I have indulged him a lot for this reason." Li Hongxin's hands were already shaking at this time, The porridge spoon in his hand shook, as if he could not hold it firmly. He slowly raised his head, his expression extremely haggard, but his eyes still seemed quite calm: "He has done a lot of wrong things, and I have neglected to discipline him. But I never thought that one day, I would give away my second son!" He let out a strange laugh, looking extremely sad: "I, Li Hongxin, have no descendants!"