It was already midnight, but the lights in Dongnuange were still on. Luo Weiran who walked to the door hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should go in. The emperor has only slept for about an hour a day since these days, not only the white hair on his head has become more and more, but also the wrinkles on his face are so many that it makes people feel distressed.
What happened one after another made the emperor feel very resentful and distressed. The Northwest War, which had already been settled, was suddenly defeated, and the 700,000 troops disappeared in smoke. The life and death of Xu Jun Wang Yang Kai and the Ministry of War Minister Mou Liangbi were unknown. Disregarding the emperor's order, the rebels even wanted to use the banner of the Qing emperor to march into the hinterland of the Central Plains. Behind the rebels, there were hundreds of thousands of Mongolian yuan's elite cavalry ready to go.
Although Prince Yi's rebellion was suppressed in an instant by the talented and generous emperor, it had a great impact on the court. If the incident in the Northwest meant that a piece of Sui's body was gouged out, then the civil strife in the capital would be tantamount to stabbing this huge body with a knife.
Neither of these two wounds can be healed in a short while.
The emperor has been thinking about the personal conquest for a while, and officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Households are coming in and out of the Tai Chi Palace every day. Luo Weiran knew that although judging from the figures reported by the Ministry of Household Affairs, it would not be too difficult for the treasury to support another million-strong army's western expedition, but once the war lasted for more than half a year, the treasury would be wiped out.
Also, where did the millions of troops come from
The 700,000 troops of the first Western Expedition have almost completely mobilized the troops that can be mobilized at will. If you want to mobilize troops again, in addition to using the soldiers guarding the Quartet, you must also mobilize a large number of county soldiers. But these county soldiers are far worse than soldiers in terms of combat effectiveness.
Nothing goes well, it's no wonder the emperor doesn't have many wrinkles.
Luo Weiran hesitated outside for a long time, and finally walked into Dongnuan Pavilion.
The emperor didn't sleep, so Su Buwei, who was standing behind him all the time, naturally wouldn't go to sleep either. Working with the emperor, the old eunuch's face was somewhat tired these days. Hearing the little eunuch's announcement that Luo Weiran, the commander of the Ouchi Guards Department, asked to see him, the emperor hesitated a little and nodded, "Let him in."
Luo Weiran entered the door and saluted meticulously.
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Why are you coming here so late, but what's the rush?"
Luo Weiran bowed his head and said: "It's not too urgent, but His Majesty has been summoning the adults of various ministries during the day, and I didn't dare to come in to disturb."
"Speak."
The emperor glanced at him and said lightly.
"Chen... I just came to His Majesty because I was so frightened that I couldn't help it."
Luo Weiran paused and said: "The Ouchi Guards Department has indeed disappointed His Majesty these days. As the commander of the Ouchi Bodyguards Department, I cannot escape the responsibility. But Your Majesty Long En, did not punish the minister for his negligence. I'm grateful. It's just... I haven't had a single day that I haven't been worried about, and I haven't been able to sleep peacefully at all."
"Afraid that I will abolish the Ouchi Guard Office?"
The emperor immediately understood what Luo Weiran meant, he put down the strategy drawn up by the Ministry of War in his hand, got off the kang, stretched his body and said: "I know your temperament, so I guess you will come to tell me sooner or later Tell me from the bottom of your heart. You are different from those courtiers from aristocratic families. You don’t have so much flirtatiousness. From the very beginning, you are the kind of person who doesn’t hold back anything in your heart, and you haven’t changed much after being an official for so many years. Well, I also don't like people around me who dare not say anything."
"The minister has been with Ouchi's bodyguard for more than ten years."
Luo Weiran bowed his head and said: "For the sake of the Ouchi Guards Department, I have devoted my heart and soul. These days, the people in the Ouchi Bodyguards Office are in panic, lest they will be laid off one day. Your Majesty also knows that the people in the Ouchi Bodyguards Office usually The lieutenant has offended the courtiers all over the place. If they are really laid off, none of them will have a good end. The minister walked in the guard's office, seeing the panic on the faces of everyone under him, and the minister felt even more uneasy .”
The emperor waved his hand and said: "In the future, you don't have to feel so uncomfortable in your heart. If you have anything to do, you should come directly to me and talk to me. I can tell you directly and definitely that the guards in the palace will not cut you off. Send Qingya from the palace. The division of the bodyguard office was also because of something unavoidable after Hou Wenji's defection. Qing Ya... I don't know if I can believe them or not. Su Buwei is now reorganizing Qing Ya, but it doesn't mean that his subordinates will replace Da Nei in the future Guard's office."
"on the contrary… "
The emperor paused for a moment and continued: "I have been considering for the past few days whether I should expand the Office of the Ouchi Guards. One year at the latest, half a year at the earliest, I will personally conquer Meng Yuan, and the Ouchi Guards Office will be requisitioned westward with the army. There are many people who come to your place. When I left Chang'an, the queen assisted the prince to stay behind, and the people from the Ouchi Guard Office were also indispensable. Just keep your heart in your stomach. The Ouchi Guard Office was built by Taizu. I have made a lot of contributions to the Great Sui, it is impossible for me to dismiss this yamen just because of a single incident."
"Thank you, Your Majesty Long En."
Luo Weiran fell to his knees and kowtowed three times.
The emperor walked over, stretched out his hand to help him up and said in a gentle tone: "I know that you are suffering these days, but there is something wrong with the guards in the palace, and I can't let it go. Your seat is very secure, and I still believe in you. suspect."
These few words warmed Luo Weiran's heart immediately.
"It's the incompetence of the minister, which hurts His Majesty."
"It's not your fault, you don't have to blame yourself."
The emperor breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Since you are here today, I happen to have a few errands for you to do."
"First, Fang Jie will set off for Yongzhou tomorrow... I can trust him, but he is a person on the surface, and it may not be easy to investigate many things. So you choose some capable people and go to Yongzhou secretly. Firstly, I can spy on the left front guard in secret, and secondly, I can also assist Fang Jiang when he needs help. I will leave this matter to Zhuo Buyi and lead someone to do it. He is loyal. But you must remember that unless it is absolutely necessary, the people from the Ouchi guards are not allowed to show up easily!"
"Second, send all the spies in the Ouchi Guard Office and Qingya to the northwest, as many people as there are. I will give you half a year. Within half a year, the troops of the three rebels in the northwest will be deployed. , the thoughts of the common people, where is the army of the Mongols, and where the rebels plan to attack, these things have to be investigated clearly. This matter is done, and sooner or later I will give you a day at the Ouchi Guards Office Great honor!"
"Thirdly, recruit elites. You don't need many people, but you must be loyal to me. Let these people set off immediately and go to the garrisons of the guards. As for what they are going to do...you should understand."
Hearing these three instructions, Luo Weiran's eyes lit up immediately!
The emperor still trusts the Ouchi Guards Office, and still attaches great importance to the Ouchi Guards Office!
"I will do it immediately, and I will never disappoint His Majesty's trust!"
The emperor hummed and stretched his waist: "Go back first, I'm tired too... Go back and tell your people that I won't give up on them."
Luo Weiran saluted again, and bowed out of Dongnuan Pavilion.
Before going out, he suddenly paused again, hesitated for a while and finally said: "Thief Ni Yang Yin has not eaten for three days, please see His Majesty."
The emperor was slightly taken aback, then waved his hand: "Then let him starve."
Luo Weiran nodded, backed out of Dongnuan Pavilion and strode away. When I walked, my steps became much easier, and my chest stood up again.
The emperor looked at Luo Weiran's leaving back through the window, and after a moment of silence, he ordered: "Let your people leave Beijing early in the morning, and keep an eye on Fang Jie secretly. I want to use him, but I can't trust him at all." How far... I intend to leave him to Chengqian, so I have to observe for a while now."
"Here."
Su Buwei bowed his head in response, and then asked tentatively, "Chen Hun and Chen Han, did you get rid of them on the way?"
The emperor nodded, and said a little tiredly: "You can figure it out. I don't want to see these two people again... No matter whether Fang Jie or Fang Jie can surrender, it will not be good for the court, do you understand?"
Su Buwei said: "Your servant understands that if the two of them are not tamed by Fang Xie, it is a hidden danger that cannot be kept. If the two of them are tamed by Fang Jie and only listen to Fang Xie's words, it is also a hidden danger. In short, they cannot be kept. "
…
…
Before dawn, Fang Jie got up. Instead of going to practice, he changed into a first-class countryman's dress and got into the carriage driven by Nie Xiaoju to the Taiji Palace. The emperor bid farewell. This trip would take five months, even if it was quick, Fang Jie was not at ease at all.
He wanted to go to Yongzhou because he wanted to uncover the mystery of his life experience.
He was also afraid of going to Yongzhou because of what Zhuo Buyi said to him. If Luo Yao really turned his back on him, once he acted, the harm would be much greater than that of Li Yuanshan! It will take a lot of effort for Li Yuanshan to rule the three Northwest realms, and it is almost impossible for him to dominate alone, because the rebellious governors of the three Northwest realms are not inferior to him in terms of status. But Luo Yao is different, in the southwest, Luo Yao is a figure like the Tu Emperor.
If he rebelled, who would dare to oppose him
The left front guard has enough food, and the southwest is still a suitable place for rebellion. The people had no respect for the imperial court, but they were full of fear for Luo Yao.
What Fang Jie was worried about was that once Luo Yao rebelled after arriving in Yongzhou, how could he be able to stop the thousands of troops even if he had many experts around him
When the carriage arrived outside the gate of Taiji Palace, the gate hadn't opened yet, Fang Jie got off the carriage and stretched his body. The viscount's dress was too cumbersome and stiff, so it was uncomfortable to wear. But since it is an imperial envoy, you have to follow the rules.
Just as Fang Jie got out of the car, he suddenly saw a familiar person not far away smiling silly at him.
"Huh? God has no eyes, why haven't you been hacked to death yet?"
Fang Jie couldn't help asking.
The other party walked over, wriggling his fat body and swaying on his short legs. He glared at Fang Jie and said, "Didn't go to the latrine early in the morning and shit came out of your mouth? It stinks!"
Fang Jie pouted at his face and said, "Come, I'll give you a fresh taste."
The fat man was naturally Xiang Qingniu, he tugged on Fang Jie's clothes and sighed: "This man has changed his clothes, but he is different. Looking at him from a distance, I thought he was the grandson of some family."
"That's so fucking sour."
Fang Jie kicked the fat man's ass and asked, "Leaving Beijing?"
Fatty Xiang Qingniu sighed: "I have to go, I'm here to bid farewell to His Majesty... The disciples and grandchildren in Qingle Mountain Yiqi Temple are waiting for me to go back, and they are all as pitiful as children who have lost their mothers. Most of them are not Knowing the stupid thing that senior brother did, it's quite innocent."
Fang Jie patted him on the shoulder: "It's okay. In the future, the Taoist people of Qingle Mountain will firmly center on you and hold high the banner of rejuvenation, and they will definitely regain their glory. I have no doubts about your ability... But think of a fat man It's quite a joy to bring hundreds of Taoists down the mountain to collectively tell the fortunes of the common people in exchange for food... "
"Get out!"
The fat man sighed, looked towards the sky and murmured: "Many years ago, Master said that sooner or later I would become the head teacher of Yiqiguan, and Yiqiguan would truly become the leader of the Jianghu in my hands... I believed it at first, I think the reason why Master said that is because he also firmly believes that Xiao Yijiu will not live as long as I do. After all, he is dozens of years older than me. When I exhaust Xiao Yijiu to death, I will naturally take over the master of Ren Qiguan teach."
"Who thought...it would be like this?"
Xiang Qingniu shook his head, and there was a strong trace of sadness in his eyes, which was fleeting.