Su Buwei knew that the emperor had something to say to Fang Jie alone, so he leaned slightly and asked Chen Bo to come and they went out and waited for the Minister of Rites, Huai Qiugong. Several foreign ministers who came to Chang'an City for the first time to enter the palace for the first time to meet His Majesty, walked out of Dongnuan Pavilion timidly and obediently, just like in a dream, and they didn't even know how they got out.
"Okay, don't be obedient."
The emperor pointed to a stool not far away and said, "Pretending to be like this in front of Chen Bolai and the others, did they offend you? I didn't expose you because you have been locked up in a secret prison for these days. I know You have resentment in your heart. Sit down and talk... I have something to ask you."
Fang Jie bowed his head in response, thinking that the emperor could see everything. From the first time he met the emperor, Fang Jie knew that this man had the ability to see everything. Many ministers in the imperial court are known for their intelligence, but compared with the emperor, they seem not to be considered intelligent at all. Or maybe, the emperor is not the kind of person who is born very smart, but has accumulated enough experience and wisdom the day after tomorrow.
Fang Jie didn't sit down, but leaned forward and said, "Before Your Majesty, it's better for me to stand up and talk."
The emperor hummed, picked up the ink brush and reviewed a memorial while saying lightly: "The secret prison where the guards in the palace is not far from my East Nuan Pavilion, if you walk faster, it will only take a stick of incense. I know What kind of virtue did you have in prison? If Mr. Zhuo and Professor Qiu from the Academy of Martial Arts hadn't persuaded you, would you have really given up on yourself like that? If so, what's the use of keeping you?"
Fang Jie didn't answer, he knew there was no need to answer.
The emperor paused for a moment and continued: "Do you feel wronged?"
Fang Xie was silent for a while and replied, "Not wronged, but wronged."
The emperor stopped writing, pondered for a while and said: "Not wronged but wronged, that's a good point. If you really don't have any grievances in your heart, I should really ask someone to lock you in again for a thorough investigation. The Buddhist sect is the enemy of the Sui Dynasty. , is the most powerful enemy... Relatively speaking, Meng Yuan's threat to the Sui Dynasty is nothing compared to that of the Buddhist sect. I set you up as a model for the poor and give you glory and wealth. It is a good thing to inspire the people to strive upwards, so I don’t want to become a target for future generations to ridicule me because of such a good thing.”
He looked up at Fang Jie, smiled and said, "Fortunately, you have nothing to do with the Buddhist sect."
"fortunately."
Fang Jie repeated it, and there seemed to be some injustice in his tone.
The emperor ignored his temper, pointed to the memorial on the table and said: "These things were sent in early this morning. The war in the northwest just started, but it was just a little bit troublesome. There are many civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty. People are urging troops to discuss peace... A group of pigheaded things, I transferred 700,000 troops to the northwest, and negotiated a peace after a battle, they think this is just playing tricks?"
Fang Jie knew that the main topic was coming, so he listened attentively to the emperor's words.
"I have been planning to march to the northwest since the beginning of my ascension to the throne. For twelve years, I have been preparing for this matter all the time. It is certainly one of the reasons for expanding the territory, and there is another deep meaning in it. Do you know ?”
"I'm stupid."
Fang Jie bowed his head and said.
The emperor put down the ink pen, sat up straight and said, "Twelve years ago, your master, my seventh younger brother, the loyal prince of the Sui Dynasty went west to kill a thief, did you know this?"
"I have heard something about it. Luo Weiran, the commander of the Ouchi Guards Department, told me about it."
"Well, I guess he won't hide it from you."
The emperor seemed satisfied with Fang Jie's candor. He paused and continued: "Twelve years ago, Lao Qi took hundreds of Jianghu travelers to the west and killed the Mongolian barbarians outside the gate. But too many people died, and then Even Lao Qi has not been heard from since then. I once thought that he also died in the wilderness of the Northwest... Since then, I have become more determined to send troops to conquer Meng. To avenge Lao Qi and the dead righteous man of the Sui Dynasty Revenge. I later signed a covenant with the Great Khan of Mengyuan, but it was just to better prepare for the Northwest War."
"you understood?"
asked the emperor.
Fang Jie nodded: "I understand His Majesty's painstaking efforts..."
"Few people can understand."
The emperor sighed and said: "How can you allow others to snore and sleep on the side of the couch? Meng Yuan is too strong, and Buddhist sect is stronger. I don't want to wait until the Meng Yuan people attack. If I wait until then, the tormented They are the people of our Great Sui Dynasty. If you want to destroy the country, it is better to destroy others."
"But... some people just don't understand this truth."
The emperor looked at Fang Jie and asked, "What do you think about the first battle in the Northwest that went so badly? After all, you served as a soldier under Li Xiaozong for three years, and it is said that you have a good relationship with him in private."
Fang Jie wanted to avoid this problem with all his heart, but what should come eventually came. Fang Xie knew that His Majesty was not simply asking what he thought, and it would be difficult to deal with ambiguous situations. And Luo Weiran's exhortation was still ringing in his ears, he knew that if he said something wrong, it would be fatal if it was spread out.
"Chen..."
Fang Xie opened his mouth, and swallowed back the words that followed.
The emperor glanced at him, then waved his hand to let the servants in the room go out. Except for Su Buwei, all the court ladies and eunuchs retreated outside the door.
"You're young, very young."
The emperor said indifferently: "After five or ten years, you will have your seat in the imperial court. So now is not the time for you to be intimidated. Young people should have the determination of young people. Say what you want, and say what you have to say." What. Since I said that, don't you understand what it means?"
Fang Jie breathed a long sigh of relief, raised his head and said seriously: "I know your Majesty loves me, but what I worry about is not only my future. Compared to this, my personal honor and disgrace are really nothing..." My knowledge of the war is limited. But I can also see some nasty things from it. Your Majesty's insightful eyes will naturally see it more clearly. Some people in the court do not want the war in the northwest to go smoothly from the beginning. I dare not speculate."
Hearing these words, Su Buwei subconsciously glanced at Fang Jie. The eunuch, who was always silent and low-key, looked at Fang Xie with some worry in his eyes.
"That's why I'm looking for you."
The emperor was silent for a while and said: "After much deliberation, there is something that only you are the most suitable to do. Since you also said just now that your personal honor and disgrace are nothing, then I will entrust this task to you. I was originally I plan to entrust you with important tasks after you come out of the Martial Arts Academy, but since this has already happened, I will let you come out early to meet people."
This was the worst possibility that Fang Jie could think of before entering the palace, but it finally happened.
He seemed to struggle for a while, then looked at the emperor and said sincerely: "I am willing to share your majesty's worries, but please give me a decree. I don't want to be regarded as a traitor when this matter is over."
"You can't trust me?"
The emperor said slightly displeased.
"It's human words that I can't believe, and human words are terrible."
Fang Jie bowed his head.
"Su Buwei."
The emperor pointed at Fang Jie and said, "From today onwards, Fang Jie will be entrusted to you. This matter must be kept secret, so it is inevitable that some people will misunderstand... As for the will, Fang Jie, I will give it to you, but you have to remember, The war in the Northwest has no time to linger on such nasty things, and I will not waver in my determination to launch troops in the Northwest."
"As soon as possible, sir."
Fang Jie leaned over and said, "I will not insult His Majesty's trust."
…
…
Only three people knew what the emperor asked Fang Jie to do. The emperor himself, Fang Jie himself, and Su Buwei who stood behind the emperor all the time. This is a very serious matter, and Fang Xie is the last thing he wants to get involved in this kind of matter. In his opinion, he is not qualified to dive into this deep water. And with his temperament, he was deeply afraid that this pool of water would swallow him in, and he would be lost forever.
Since ancient times, how many people have been drowned by official plots
So when Fang Xie walked out of the East Nuan Pavilion, although Fang Xie's face looked calm, how could he calm down in his heart? When Hong Xiuzhao was drinking with Luo Weiran and the others yesterday, Fang Jie guessed what Luo Weiran said. I met the emperor today, and this guess was confirmed.
The war in the Northwest was far from being as simple as it seemed. The emperor wanted to use this war to expand the territory of the Sui Dynasty again, and also wanted his own name to be famous forever. There are also many people staring at this war and wanting to profit from it, and these people are definitely not just thinking about Tai Sui. These people are not something Fang Jie can afford now.
And the errand entrusted to him by the emperor was like sending him into a tiger's den.
Looking at the gloomy sky again, Fang Xie couldn't help shaking his head and smiling wryly. Originally, Chang'an was to avoid disaster, and to survive in peace and stability. At least in the past three years in Yanwuyuan, he can live a solid life without any suspicion, can sleep with peace of mind and boldness, and doesn't need to be wary of murderous intentions that come at any time.
But where can life be predetermined
Every day is changing, every second is changing. If someone can make life go on according to his settings, then he has already left the category of human beings. He is a god, and anyone who easily controls his own destiny is a god. Of course, Fang Jie didn't see anyone who did this.
What a hassle!
He gave a long sigh, then smiled again.
Let's fight, whose glory is not achieved by fighting
Sitting on the kang, the emperor glanced at the young man who was drifting away outside the window, and he seemed to be talking to himself: "I knew from the very beginning that the most difficult thing in this world is to be an emperor, and I also know The most unfree person in this world is still the emperor. But since I am sitting in this seat, I have already made things difficult for myself, so why would I allow others to make things difficult for me?"
"Your Majesty, maybe I just... want a share of the action."
Su Buwei interjected a rare sentence, and the emperor couldn't help but smiled and said: "You rarely speak, but you can see the root of every word. I'm not afraid that someone wants to share the profit, what I worry about is that someone is thinking about it." That spoon. Of course, I have other intentions for letting Fang Jie meet people so early... Fang Jie is a good seed, I will train him now, and when Chengqian grows up, Fang Jie will come in handy."
"Your Majesty's spring and autumn are at their peak..."
Before Su Buwei finished speaking, he was interrupted by the emperor waving his hand: "It is true that the Spring and Autumn Period is at its peak, but everyone will die. I don't shy away from this, and what should be arranged early should be arranged early. I will not inherit the throne until I am almost forty years old." No matter how long you live, how many years will you have? I hope that what Chengqian takes over from me will be a peaceful and prosperous world. I have done what should be done when I was in power, and he just needs to sit down and sit still Just take the throne."
The emperor coughed a few times, his throat was dry and sore.
"Your Majesty, you have not rested for two days and one night."
Su Buwei reminded.
"Sleep time... I know."
The emperor lay down on the earth kang in Heyi, closed his eyes and said, "The task entrusted to Fang Xie is not difficult, but it is not difficult. It is not difficult because as long as there is a trick, Fang Jie is smart enough to find out these dirty things." The thing is not difficult. The hard part is...whether he can withstand the temptation, sometimes empty promises are beautiful and tempting. Su Buwei...you keep an eye on this matter, don't let Fang Jie be stalked to death in this round Li...but if he's damned, you do it yourself."
"Here."
Su Buwei responded softly, and gently covered the emperor with a quilt.
The emperor seemed to have fallen asleep quickly, but his brows were still tightly wrinkled. Su Buwei sighed very lightly, and the worry between his brows became more intense.
He walked out of the East Nuan Pavilion very lightly and closed the door. When he looked up, he found that the snow had already fallen silently. Soon, the ground became white, covering the footprints of the boy when he left. But Su Buwei knew that Fang Jie didn't walk out of the Tai Chi Palace, but entered into a situation of life and death.