Fang Jie's carriage passed slowly through the street, the wheels crushed the twilight of the morning. It's already February, and the dawn is much earlier than before. But at this time the city gate was not open yet, so few pedestrians could be seen on the street. The stalls selling breakfast have already been set up, and you can smell different aromas after a short walk.
Nie Xiaoju was driving the car, Chen Xiaoru and Hei Zizi sat on both sides of the car shaft. The poor horse pulling the cart seemed to snort a few times in dissatisfaction because it felt that the carriage was too heavy. It started hard with its head down, and then raised its head again after pulling. The crisp sound of horseshoes stepping on the exposed surface of the bluestone slab disturbed many people's dreams.
As soon as Fang Jie and the others went out, there were people in a few small alleys watching. These ghost-like guys have been following from a distance. They know that there are experts around Fang Jie, so they dare not get too close. The carriage drove along the street, and stopped when it turned a corner, and then the spy saw the black boy get out of the car and buy some deep-fried dough sticks and millet porridge. They all seem to be calm, and there is no difference in performance from usual.
Those who watched over Fang Jie were the Snake Guards under Prince Yi. They were the secret spy team formed by Prince Yi in the past year. Their main role is to follow the ambush assassination to find out intelligence. What Fang Jie didn't know was that Zhang Kuang, his good friend in the Academy of Martial Arts, also joined the Snake Guard in order to change his life.
Hei boy who had bought breakfast climbed back into the carriage and handed a portion into the carriage, and he, Chen Xiaoru and Nie Xiaoju shared the rest.
The people from the snake guard had been staring at Fang Jie's shop for the whole night, seeing that they seemed to be eating delicious food, the people from the snake guard couldn't help but licked their lips.
Standing in the corner, poking out half of his head to look at Fang Jie's carriage, Zhang Kuang frowned very tightly. He received an order yesterday to monitor Fang Xie's every move, and his heart tightened when he heard the order. To be honest, he really treats Fang Jie as a friend. The youngest student from the frontier army, I felt a little kind from the first time I saw him. Zhang Kuang also had a younger brother who died of a serious illness when he was fourteen years old.
Maybe it's because Fang Jie and his younger brother have somewhat similar personalities, occasionally mischievous and self-willed, which makes him very willing to make friends with Fang Jie. But yesterday, he suddenly realized that he might be standing opposite Fang Jie, and he would still be holding a sharp knife in his hand. At some point, the knives in each other's hands will pierce each other's lower abdomen.
He tried to resist, but there was nothing he could do.
It was only after he joined the Snake Guard that he realized what a terrifying organization it was, and all those who tried to resist were wiped out. This is a group of killers secretly raised by Prince Yi. Although they haven't done anything against the court yet, Zhang Kuang is convinced that the purpose of Prince Yi's formation of snake guards must be to target the emperor.
Standing at the corner of the street, he watched the carriage slowly disappear from sight.
Someone patted him on the shoulder from behind, Zhang Kuang looked back, and smiled wryly.
"Do we still have a way out?"
he asks.
The person standing behind him was silent for a while, then shook his head: "You and I both thought that we took this path because of the injustice of the court, and told ourselves that this was just to find a way out in the future. But in the final analysis, Or is it because of greed in our hearts. Up to now, I don’t know if there is a way out. Maybe... the next moment we will draw our swords to face our former friends and brothers. If this is the case, why bother to think about whether there is a way out?"
Zhang Kuang sighed: "I am because of greed, but you are indeed because the court is really unfair. Your contribution is so great, and the court has no rewards. Although the emperor asked you to enter the Yanwu Academy without examination, what did you get? With your With your cultivation level, you can definitely enter the Taiji Palace at the New Year’s Eve dinner. Thanks to your contribution, you can completely exchange for a life without worrying about eating and drinking. But you and I are both struggling with money... Why can those children of aristocratic families squander it? The money they get dirty, but we can't sleep and toss and turn because of a few copper coins?"
The person standing behind him was Mo Xidao.
Mo Xidao said slowly: "It is because you and I are dissatisfied and unwilling that we will enter the Snake Guard. Let's go... We must continue to do what we should do. If we really get along with Fang Jie and Yanwuyuan Brothers with swords against each other... let me come, you just stand behind me."
Zhang Kuang was taken aback, not knowing what to say.
"Prince Yi really just wants to return to the court to take power?"
he asks.
Mo Xidao smiled: "Now, you still think this way. If he just wants to return to the court to take power, the Snake Guard doesn't have to exist at all. Just because you and I are already inside, we should have clearly realized that … This is basically a war.”
"Can we really get what we want?"
Zhang Kuang asked again.
Mo Xidao said: "I only know that if we don't really fight once, we will never get what we want. The emperor allows people with military background to enter the Yanwu Academy, but it is a very beautiful sounding It’s just a lie. If you look at the students who have come out of the Academy of Martial Arts over the years, the ones who really stand out are those from aristocratic families. Even if people like us enter the Academy of Martial Arts, it’s just three years of being looked down upon by others. Those who have left the Academy of Martial Arts Gates, back in the army, we'll die when we die, and there won't be a single word in the history books."
"perhaps you're right."
Zhang Kuang nodded, and took a deep breath: "Brother, if Prince Yi wins in the end, can we let Fang Jie out?"
Mo Xidao was silent for a while and then asked back: "If Prince Yi loses, will Fang Jie give us a way out?"
Zhang Kuang thought for a while and realized that he didn't know the answer. Maybe, maybe not. Before entering the Martial Arts Academy, he still regarded Fang Jie and himself as the same people. But later, Fang Jie climbed higher and higher, and gradually walked away from them. When he saw Fang Xie again, what he saw was not only Fang Xie's scenery, but also his own downfall. When he borrowed money from Fang Jie, he felt as painful as a knife cutting his self-esteem. And the more calm Fang Jie is, the more he feels dark about himself.
Sometimes a friend becomes an enemy not because you did something wrong, but because you did something too well.
…
…
The carriage did not stop at the gate of Sanjinhou Mansion, the main gate of Hou Mansion, which had not been opened, was suddenly opened when the carriage arrived, and the carriage drove directly into the courtyard. Immediately after, a few servants closed the gate of the Marquis Mansion, even the side door that was normally open to meet guests was also closed.
At this time, there were more than just snake guards hiding outside Sanjinhou Mansion. Many of the subordinates of the big men in the imperial court were staring at this place, and when they saw the carriage entering the yard, some of them ran back to report the news.
At this time, the adults were all waiting at the gate of Tai Chi Palace to go up.
Tomorrow is the day when the army goes out to fight, and today's court meeting will definitely discuss this matter. But what was unusual was that few of the courtiers waiting at the gate of Taiji Palace gathered together to chat today. From time to time, I could see a certain adult's attendant running over in a hurry, getting into his own adult's carriage, and leaving in a hurry.
When the time came, General Jinwu, who was on duty, called out. The soldiers of the Imperial Army slowly opened the palace gate, the Feiyupao from the two teams of inner guards came out first to change shifts, and the Feiyupao who had been on duty all night lined up to leave. On both sides of the aisle from the palace gate to the Taiji Hall, standing are forbidden soldiers holding long spears and helmets.
A eunuch came out and yelled in a tone of voice, and then led the adults into the Taiji Palace in two rows according to civil and military. The officials of the Ministry of Rites took a notebook and recorded on the side, and they would not let anyone lose their manners. But today, I don't know why many adults look a little dignified. They looked at each other from time to time, and quickly looked away.
Dongnuang Pavilion.
The emperor frowned deeply when he looked at the unconscious man in the costume of Cong Wupin Yajiang. The imperial doctor had been busy all night, but this man was too tired to wake up. This person was hurriedly brought by the postman on the official road yesterday. It is said that he died of exhaustion before reaching the post station. When asked what happened to him, he said a border urgent report, and nothing else. After changing the horse, he fell off without taking a few steps, and has been in a coma until now.
That Yicheng was considerate, he didn't send the person to the Ministry of War, but sent him directly outside the Tai Chi Palace. The Feiyupao on duty didn't dare to delay, and after running in to ask for instructions, he carried the tooth general directly to the East Nuan Pavilion. This person has been in a coma. The emperor sat in the East Nuan Pavilion all night last night, without closing his eyes, with a serious expression on his face.
He seemed to have anticipated something bad, so he lost sleepiness. Or he wants to wait for the tooth general to wake up, and ask what the emergency report is immediately. Su Buwei turned over the Yajiang, but found nothing. So the emperor's heart was tightened, and he didn't even want to sleep.
Seeing that it was almost time for the morning court, Su Buwei reminded the emperor beside him. The emperor nodded after a moment of silence, and then began to change into court clothes under the service of the maid.
At this moment, the Yajiang's Adam's apple moved up and down, and then the man sat up suddenly, and subconsciously touched his waist.
His horizontal knife had already been taken off by Flying Fish Robe, so he wiped it blank. Then he saw the emperor wearing a dragon robe. He was obviously taken aback for a moment, then looked at it carefully in uncertainty, and quickly knelt down after realizing it: "Leader Chen Zuo, Wei Ya, knocks Zhuge Zhan to His Majesty!"
"Left leading guard? Pei Huan's men?"
asked the emperor, frowning.
"Exactly."
The tooth general named Zhuge Zhan kowtowed.
"What happened?"
asked the emperor.
"Your Majesty..."
Zhuge Zhan raised his head and lowered it quickly, as if he didn't dare to look into the emperor's eyes: "Your Majesty... the war in the northwest... has been defeated! My general has died in battle, and the military adviser asked me to return to Chang'an to report the truth! The minister rushed out At that time, the army division rushed up with the last remaining brothers to try to block the torn line of defense. The minister looked back and saw that they were quickly overwhelmed by Meng Yuan's cavalry... General Wei Yu Zhengdong, who was leading the right army, had also died in battle. The Chinese army is in disarray, the whereabouts of Jin Shixiong, the general of Zuo Xiaowei, is unknown, and King Xujun retreats to Qingxia with his troops... "
With a snap, the maid who was holding the crown and was about to bring it to the emperor loosened her hands in fright, and the gorgeous and noble crown fell to the ground and rolled to the emperor's feet.
"Cross out, die with a stick!"
The emperor glanced sideways at the maid who was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, and gave a cold order, his voice seemed to be very calm, without any waves. But no one could see that in the wide sleeves, his fists were clenched tightly, and his veins were exposed.