The winner is the king, the loser is the bandit.
Since Zuo Xiang Yu Yiping had staked his fortune and life on the prince's side, he would naturally not let anyone who could disturb the prince's mind continue to live.
"The prince's heart must be steady, Wan Chong... don't blame me for being cruel!" Zuo Xiangyu Yiping glanced at the study door that had been closed again, and an imperceptible and cold light flashed in his eyes.
As the first assistant of the dynasty.
In addition to knowing the prince's thoughts, Zuo Xiang Yu Yiping also knew the thoughts of the current emperor. Therefore, someone must carry this burden.
Prince Lin Tianrong didn't say anything. He was just the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Of course he didn't care. In fact, as long as he was still in this position, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice could have as many as he wanted.
In his heart, there was only one thing that could truly threaten him, and that was Fang Zhengzheng.
no!
Fang Zhengzheng must die!
The prince has taken such a big risk and endured it for so long, and now he has finally reached this situation. There must be no accidents at this time.
…
The next day, early morning.
Yanjing City Imperial Palace, early morning.
Prince Lin Tianrong handed over a memorial, asking the Holy One to hold the "Thousands of Old Men's Banquet" to show the benevolence of the Holy Heart. He also requested that the Thousands of Olds' Banquet be held by the Shili Lake to comfort the souls of Daxia's army.
All civil and military officials should respond.
The Holy Emperor Lin Mubai praised Prince Lin Tianrong's move as an act of a holy king, and ordered Prince Lin Tianrong to host the event and prepare a list for the Qiansou Banquet.
Duan Wang Lin Xinjue was silent.
After the morning court, all civil and military officials congratulated Prince Lin Tianrong, and each expressed his or her own opinion, listing the most prestigious names for Prince Lin Tianrong to stand for election.
Duan Wang Lin Xinjue remained silent.
In the evening, the night slowly fell, and the city of Yanjing slowly became dark.
In Prince Duan's Mansion, the lights are always bright.
However, compared with the Prince's Palace in the East Palace, in just over a year, this originally bustling and gorgeous Prince Duan's Palace has become obviously too deserted.
Duan Wang Lin Xinjue was sitting behind the desk, wearing a large nightgown. He also had a letter in his hand. However, compared with the letter on the prince's desk yesterday, this letter was intact and even contained too many letters. No wrinkles at all.
In the spacious study room, except for Duan Wang Lin Xinjue, there were only two people sitting there.
One is Mr. Wen, who is wearing a black and white monk's robe and has a few wrinkles on his face, while the other is naturally Mr. Hua, who is dressed as a scholar.
"His Highness summoned us and the two of us here, but for the Thousand Old Man's Banquet that the Crown Prince presented today?" Mr. Hua waited until Prince Duan Lin Xinjue put down the letter in his hand before finally speaking.
"Yes, but in addition to the Thousand Old Man's Banquet, there is also news coming from the Northern Desert." Duan Wang Lin Xinjue nodded, and put a piece of sandalwood on the desk with his own hands.
"Is there a letter from Hou Chi?" Mr. Hua guessed as he gently sniffed the faint fragrance that filled the study room, then looked at the letter on the desk.
"Yes, there is a letter from Chi Hou. Yan Qianli left Xiliang and is now entering Beijing with Chi Hou and others. Fang Zhengzheng is also with them. When Chi Hou was in Beishan Village, he wanted to meet Yan Qianli, but he did not No chance was found." Prince Duan Lin Xinjue quickly told the contents of the letter.
"Have you never met? It seems that Yan Qianli feels that the time is not right." After hearing this, Mr. Hua slowly began to think deeply.
"Sir, what you said is right, but Yan Qianli must be won. Chi Hou means to ask me to go out of the city to meet Yan Qianli. It is best to get there before the prince. But I didn't expect that the prince actually invited Qian Qianli to be held in the morning court. Sou Yan, in this way, not only will he get a head start, but the matter of welcoming Yan Qianli will also fall into the hands of the prince."
"Your Highness's analysis is correct. Even if His Highness goes to invite Yan Qianli now, the Holy Emperor will probably leave this matter to the Crown Prince in the end. After all, Yan Qianli will definitely be ranked first in the Qiansou Banquet. Your Highness is worried. If you bother, I’m afraid I’ll just end up as a foil.”
"Mr. Hua said he was right. That's why I bothered Mr. Wen and Mr. Hua late at night, hoping to get some advice from these two gentlemen."
"We have lost the opportunity in this matter. With the current situation between the DPRK and China, it is almost impossible to confront the prince head-on in the court, so we can only retreat."
"Retreat?! This king has been unable to retreat for more than a year. The six departments of the imperial court are all the prince's people. More than half of the people in each state and government are now the prince's disciples. There are also military sects. The former military This gate is my king’s military gate, but what about now? At least 30% of the generals are loyal to the prince, how do you ask me to retreat?”
"We can only avoid it temporarily." Mr. Hua shook his head gently.
"The battle for power has always been about your death or my death. Once this step is taken, I will have no retreat. I hope you two gentlemen can help...student this time!"
"This... Why should you be too hasty, Your Highness? In the current situation, there is no possibility for us to save the situation?" Mr. Hua looked a little embarrassed.
"Please sir, teach the students!"
"Mr. Wen, what do you think about this matter?" Mr. Hua looked at Duan Wang Lin Xinjue's appearance, the corners of his mouth moved, and finally sighed and looked at Mr. Wen opposite.
"Take a step back, the sea and the sky are brighter." Mr. Wen said calmly.
"What does Mr. Wen mean by retreating?" Mr. Hua's face moved slightly when he heard Mr. Wen's words. He was not disappointed by what Mr. Wen said about retreating, but instead had a touch of surprise.
"Some things become very clear when you take a step back and look at them." Mr. Wen said again.
Duan Wang Lin Xinjue's eyes lit up slightly when he heard this, and he seemed to understand that there was something in Mr. Wen's words. However, he did not interrupt and continued to listen.
"Mr. Wen, please speak." Mr. Hua continued to ask.
"The Banquet of Thousands of Old Men is only superficial. There are not many strategic ministers around the prince, and the chief minister, Zuo Xiang, is the first to bear the brunt. Your Highness, just imagine, with the vision of Zuo Xiang, how can he bother to do something without prioritizing at this time? thing?"
"No distinction between priorities? What does Mr. Wen mean?" Duan Wang Lin Xinjue heard this and asked for advice.
"There are light, heavy, slow and urgent things to do. It is indeed the top priority to disturb Yan Qianli. However, Yan Qianli is so cunning. He has not left Xiliang for twenty years and only stayed in Xiliang. The purpose Naturally, he wants to avoid the fight for the top position, so he won’t make a choice until the last moment. There is almost no possibility of winning Yan Qianli in one fell swoop!”
"What Mr. Wen said is absolutely true, but can he just turn a blind eye and do nothing?"
"Your Highness has not yet retreated from this step."
"Still not retreating?"
"Yes, if His Highness really retreated, then what he saw should be another thing."
"Are you looking at something else?" Duan Wang Lin Xinjue didn't quite understand, but Mr. Wen didn't explain further, so he turned his eyes to Mr. Hua.
At this moment, Mr. Hua had already closed his eyes.
This forced him to calm down.
In the study, it gradually became quiet, so quiet that you could clearly hear the sound of the wind blowing. The lights were blown in the wind, flickering gently.
I don’t know how long it took, but Duan Wang Lin Xinjue’s eyes finally slowly lit up.
"Mr. Wen is talking about Fang Zhengzheng?"
"Your Highness has finally taken this step back!" After hearing this, Mr. Wen slowly stood up and bowed slightly to Prince Duan Lin Xinjue.
"I am ashamed. In fact, I have never thought highly of this person in my heart, so I always ignore his existence. I always feel... Oh, please give me some advice, Mr. Wen!" Prince Duan Lin Xinjue looked at him and bowed. Mr. Wen, who saluted, had a look of shame on his face.
"Well, we understand His Highness's intentions, but now, compared to disturbing Yan Qianli, disturbing Fang Zhengzheng is more important." Mr. Wen persuaded.
"Mr. Wen, do I have to beg that guy?"
"That's right."
"Is there any other way, such as..."
"There is no other way. Only Fang Zhengzheng can make the prince upset now. Only when the prince is upset can His Highness have a chance to make a comeback!"
"Then... what should I do? Now that Fang Zhengzheng is a wanted prisoner, even if my father may not kill him immediately, I can't go out of the city to greet him in public, right?" Duan Wang Lin Xinjue asked.
"If my guess is correct, I'm afraid it won't be so easy for Fang Zhengzheng to enter Beijing this time!" Mr. Wen nodded lightly, and then continued.
"What does Mr. Wen mean?"
"The prince invites you to hold a banquet for thousands of old men. It should be the envoy's plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain!"
"Tune the tiger away from the mountain? Are you moving Yan Qianli away from Fang Zhengzheng? However, once you pass Shili Lake, it is only half a day away from Yanjing City. It is almost impossible for the prince to set an ambush in the middle. Moreover, Chihou is here There shouldn't be any accidents around Fang Zhengzheng." Duan Wang Lin Xinjue was a little confused.
"Well, this is also something I can't figure out. Has Mr. Hua figured it out?" Mr. Wen nodded again, and then he also looked at Mr. Hua, who had been closing his eyes opposite him.
"Haha..." After hearing Mr. Wen's words, Mr. Hua slowly opened his eyes, then smiled softly at the corner of his mouth and shook his head.
…
As the flowers become more and more lush, Yanjing City becomes more and more lively.
The news that the Holy Emperor had ordered a Thousand-Senior Banquet to be held spread throughout the Great Xia Dynasty. Immediately, some elders from countless famous families who had been staying behind closed doors began to step out.
One carriage after another rushed to Yanjing City from all directions.
In addition, the government examination is over and the time for the court examination is approaching. Bright red lists are posted on the official roads of the four states and four prefectures.
After receiving blessings from relatives and friends and having a banquet, countless talented people began to prepare their official duties and embarked on their way to Beijing to take the exam.
As a result, spectacular scenes of young and old walking together were staged on various official roads in the Great Xia Dynasty.
"Grandpa, this time the Holy Emperor held a banquet of thousands of old men. I heard that King Yan was the chief, and it was held at Shili Lake. Didn't grandpa also participate in the battle of Shili Lake? I don't know what this King Yan looks like? Grandpa, does he have it? Have you seen it?" Some young voices sounded from inside the carriage.
"Haha... King Yan, it has been decades. At that time, my grandfather was just a young general in the army, but he could not see the face of King Yan." An old voice responded.
"I heard that King Yan is very domineering, and even the Holy Emperor must treat him with courtesy."
"Well, this is true. In the Battle of Shili Lake, the Yan family made a great contribution. Thirty thousand Yanyunqi rushed from Xiliang to Yanjing City in less than seven days. If not for this, Yanjing City might have It is already dead. It can be said that without the Yan family, there would be no Daxia today!"
"From Xiliang to Yanjing City? Seven days... Isn't this... too fast? Normally, it takes at least one and a half months to travel from Xiliang to Yanjing City. Even if you travel day and night, it will take at least fifteen to twenty days. About, seven days... Is that too exaggerated?" The young voice clearly couldn't believe it.
"Yes, no one thought that Yan Yunqi could arrive at Yanjing City in seven days. The Holy Emperor did not expect it, and the demons also did not expect it. But that battle was really tragic. Thirty thousand Yan Yunqi blocked 150,000 demon soldiers. , actually lasted for three days and three nights. In that battle, the 30,000 Yan Yun Cavalry were almost wiped out. Even the Yan family only left King Yan alone. However, the 150,000 demon soldiers were killed by the Yan Yun Cavalry. After being entangled, in the end, the vitality was also seriously injured, and the number of demon soldiers who actually returned to Blood Shadow City was probably less than 50,000."
"Grandpa, how long will you stay in Yanjing City this time?"
"Haha... If you can pass the imperial examination, grandpa will wait until you complete the imperial examination before going back."
"Really? Grandpa, please rest assured. My grandson will definitely pass the imperial examination this time. Not only must he pass the imperial examination, but he must also win glory for his grandfather and the family in the palace examination!"
"Okay, my grandson has grown up and knows how to bring glory to the family!"
…
Among the countless teams heading to Yanjing City, there was another team that was extremely eye-catching. They passed through the state and countless officials came out of the city to greet them.
And those bright armors also shone with dazzling brilliance under the scorching sun.
Three thousand Yanyun Cavalry and two thousand Red Feather Guards, this is an extremely spectacular scene, even more spectacular than the tens of thousands of troops from the military sect.
Because he is an elite, one of the best in a million.
Countless talents and passers-by were watching on both sides of the road, hoping to see the legendary scene of Yan Yun riding a thousand miles.
But in the end, they were all disappointed.
Because, I don’t know why, this team composed of countless elites is not moving fast, it can even be said to be moving very slowly.
Everywhere they passed, they stopped.
Then, they will settle down in the military camp to rest for a day, and then slowly continue to move towards Yanjing City, feeling as if they are admiring the scenery along the way.
The people didn't quite understand why at first, but after a while, they seemed to understand.
Because, they all saw a person, a person riding a tall war horse walking in the team, and then, they all smiled knowingly.
"Maybe you don't want to die so quickly, right?"
"Yes, whoever it was, wouldn't rush to Yanjing City in a hurry, right?"
"If I had known this today, why would I have done it in the first place? This guy made such a high-profile appearance in Huai'an County. Didn't he expect that he would end up like this?"
"Forget it, after all, he made a contribution in the battle in the Southern Territory. Alas... But this guy is a bit too courageous. He dares to climb into bed with the princess of the Southern Territory? Moreover, the matter was exposed. Later, in order to evade responsibility, he even killed and stabbed the crown prince of the Southern Territory. This... is really audacious!"
"Shh, be careful he hears you!" (To be continued.)