The door of the study room was tightly closed, like the mouth that people with lofty ideals would never open in the face of torture.
Dang Xiaobo and the admiral's confidantes were being tortured in the back garden, but their mouths had already been stuffed with stinky rags, so they didn't scream.
Hong Changqing watched the surrounding night vigilantly, and led several yamen servants sent by the magistrate of Jiaozhou to scatter around the study, preventing anyone from approaching that room.
The study room fell into a deathly silence. They didn't know what Fan Xian and Xu Maocai were talking about, discussing, arguing about, or arguing about.
Looking in along the faint candlelight, you can see the increasingly serious expressions of these two people and the chill in their eyes.
Fan Xian lowered his head slightly, the shadows on both sides of the bridge of his nose were very conspicuous, he said softly: "This matter is here, it is here."
Xu Maocai thought for a while, then nodded: "Yes, my lord."
The conversation between the two of them about that year and the future came to an end for the time being. Xu Maocai, while suppressing his excitement, also restored the calmness of these years, and changed the address from young master to adult. He knew how rebellious his conversation with Fan Xian was. If someone else found out what he had said to Fan Xian, he would definitely die, and Fan Xian would definitely not have a good life.
"We'll talk about the future." Fan Xian said calmly, "How to deal with this problem now?"
Xu Maocai has been in the Jiaozhou Navy for 20 years. He has worked his way up from a low-level soldier to an important general. He naturally has a prestige and network in the Navy that is hard for others to match. Fan Xian's handling of the Jiaozhou Navy would have been much easier with his help.
"I will contact people in the army." Xu Maocai said after thinking for a while, "If your lord needs someone to come forward, I can try."
Fan Xian frowned and thought for a while. If he could subdue a large number of mid- and lower-level officers in the navy, it would be much smoother. Since the general of the old Qin family refused to come forward, Xu Maocai was willing to come out to help him. The effect must be similar. . But after thinking for a while, he shook his head and said, "Don't come out in person."
Xu Maocai looked at Fan Xian in surprise.
Fan Xian said: "I don't want people to be able to notice the slightest problem... After all, you are from the Quanzhou Navy. Since you have been quiet all these years, you will not come out today."
It's not a critical moment, so Fan Xian's chess piece in the army can't be exposed, but to deal with such a deformed arm as the Jiaozhou Navy, he definitely won't use the Li Feng kitchen knife he finally picked up on the roadside.
"However... the middle and lower ranks in the army, help me think of a way." Fan Xian continued: "Influence some people you can influence, at least let them settle down a bit, and I will go to the navy to announce the decree after dawn. I don't want that time Tens of thousands of soldiers came to besiege me."
Xu Maocai smiled, saluted and said: "My lord, don't worry, in fact, tonight, I feel that you seem to think this matter is too difficult."
"Oh, how do you say it?" Fan Xian raised his brows with interest.
"You underestimated the army's loyalty to the imperial court, and your majesty's influence on the soldiers." Xu Maocai said calmly, "Maybe Chang Kun can control a part of the army, or maybe his confidants can incite soldiers who don't know the truth to riot ... But the current situation is that Chang Kun is dead, and Dang Xiaobo and others have also been arrested and imprisoned by you. Whether you are a soldier or a commoner, if you have the courage to attack the imperial envoy, you must take the lead."
Xu Maocai finally said: "If the sheep dare to rebel against the wolves, there must be a wolf hiding among the sheep."
Fan Xian's eyes lit up, he looked at Xu Maocai and didn't speak for a while. It was only at this time that I discovered that this lucky child left behind by his mother really had a bit of a unique way of looking at things.
"But I'm a wolf from other places." He said with a smile: "These old wolves in the navy cherish their feathers."
Xu Maocai said indifferently: "You escort them, they have to go... There is no need for them to say anything, as long as they stand in the camp, the navy officers and soldiers will naturally know their position. If there are still troubles in the army, my lord Might as well kill it."
"Killing to gain prestige?" Fan Xian frowned. "What I'm afraid of is a mutiny. The smell of blood is very pungent, and it's easy to make people dizzy."
Xu Maocai looked at him and smiled, and said in a harmonious voice: "My lord, the smell of blood can easily make people timid, especially the lower class people who are not very timid."
The words were plain, but there was a trace of weirdness and resentment. It must have been twenty years ago when the Ye family and the Quanzhou navy were purged, this cowardly person who had seen too much blood was frightened and kept silent and dared not move.
Fan Xian thought for a while and nodded.
Xu Maocai saw that the worry on his brows was still intact, and knew what he was worried about. After thinking for a while, he tentatively said, "Even if I don't show up today, I can try it later."
what to try Naturally, it was an attempt to control the Jiaozhou Navy in Fan Xian's hands. With Xu Maocai's current qualifications and status, as long as he is more prominent in the imperial court's investigation of the case of the Jiaozhou Navy, and his loyalty to His Majesty is more pure, even if Fan Xian does not help, he must have a great chance of being promoted to be the Admiral of the Navy .
For Xu Maocai, this proposal was not for the sake of his own career, but because he could help Fan Xian get a powerful boost.
But Fan Xian just shook his head.
"I know it's too late for you." He said: "Therefore, no arrangements have been made in advance. The affairs of the Jiaozhou Navy have already been decided in Kyoto. After ten days, people from the Privy Council will take over. As for you... I I will find a way to keep you from being implicated and stay in Jiaozhou, but there is no way for the position of admiral."
Xu Maocai nodded, knowing that the palace must have already made plans for the navy's follow-up arrangements. Since Fan Xian didn't know his background, of course he didn't make any arrangements in advance.
"Who is the next admiral?"
"Qin Yi." Fan Xian said slowly, "Qin Heng's cousin."
Qin Heng is today's defender of the capital, the leader of the second generation of the old Qin family, and he had a good relationship with Fan Xian when he was in Beijing.
But when Xu Maocai heard the name, his expression was a little strange.
"What's the matter?" Fan Xian saw his worry and asked curiously.
"Why did Your Majesty let the old Qin family take over?" Xu Maocai frowned and said, "Even if the Ye family has fallen out of favor, there are more than two of them in the army. Location."
"I don't really understand." Fan Xian replied with a smile, but he thought in his heart that for such an important place as Jiaozhou, the emperor must choose his confidants to control it, so as to avoid things like Chang Kun from happening again.
Xu Maocai looked at Fan Xian and hesitated to speak. After a while, he made up his mind and said, "Old Qin's family is not simple."
"What's the meaning?"
"I don't have any evidence, but I always feel that the old Qin's family is not simple." Xu Maocai frowned and said, "You also know that the third person in the navy is from the Qin family. Chang Kun has done so many tricks in the navy." , led thousands of soldiers south, how could it be possible to hide it from him...why didn't he report to the court? If he had told the old Qin's family, but the old Qin's family hadn't told His Majesty...it would be a bit weird. "
Fan Xian calmed down, carefully calculated the details in his mind, and then said: "So you have to stay in Jiaozhou and watch the admiral who is coming soon. I believe that the old Qin family will not betray His Majesty. Because no matter how you look at it, it's not doing any good."
Xu Maocai thought to himself that this was indeed the case. His Majesty is now in charge of the Imperial Army. The Ye family was so scolded by His Majesty that they did not dare to make a sound, so they had to hide in Dingzhou to raise horses. The Qing Dynasty's military is now the most powerful, of course, is the old Qin family. If they betray His Majesty, they will not dare Possibly gain a higher status and glory again.
Political choices are the same as doing business. No one wants to do things that are not beneficial.
"You go to work." Fan Xian said with a gentle smile, "Pay attention to your own safety. In the days to come, as long as I don't take the initiative to find you, don't do anything for me."
Xu Maocai also laughed, walked up to him and knelt down, kowtowed respectfully, turned and left without saying anything.
Seeing the leaving figure of the general in his early forties, Fan Xian put his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew that the other party kowtowed willingly, and he must have been extremely happy. What happened 20 years ago is 20 years later, and there are not many 20 years in life, but this person has been waiting for such a long time, it is really not easy.
A trace of indifferent white floated on the far horizon. Fan Xian squinted his eyes and looked at it, his thoughts drifting away, and his brows were furrowed tightly. He felt a little more pressure in his heart, and a little more excitement. He would not do such things as rebellion, just like what Ye Qingmei said in her letter back then. Dominate the world? She disdains to do it, and Fan Xian doesn't like to play this kind of game, but in the years to come, besides rebelling, there are always many meaningful things to do.
For example, to live well, such as to let the person who just left live well, such as to let some people live very unhappy.
At this time, there was no hustle and bustle in the Admiral's Mansion, only a piece of tranquility surrounded, many people were not asleep, and it was just dawn.
※※※
When the morning light was getting stronger, the closed Jiaozhou city gate was slowly opened, and the state army that had been tightly sealed for a whole night closed the team tiredly, standing weakly on both sides of the city gate, and sent the team out with their eyes. After leaving Jiaozhou City, we drove to the navy camp not far away.
In the middle of the team was Fan Xian. He had already changed into an official uniform while riding a horse. He was extraordinarily luxurious and majestic. Hong Changqing on the left holds the Tianzi Sword bestowed by the emperor indifferently, while the Overwatch Council official on the right holds a golden imperial decree.
In front of them, officers and soldiers who opened the way were panting and carrying a sign, and then there was a golden umbrella with a crank.
Jiaozhou did not know where to come up with a silk and bamboo troupe, blowing and beating, beating gongs and drums, and there was a lot of excitement.
It is a somewhat crude imperial guard of honor. Fan Xian looked at it coldly, and couldn't help but feel funny in his heart. The magistrate of Jiaozhou really had two brushes, but in the middle of the night, he actually made all these things. It's just that why the silk and bamboo team smells so heavy? Could it be borrowed from a brothel
He has been staying in Suzhou as the imperial envoy of honor, and never thought that he would use it at the seaside. But since he was going to the navy to announce the decree, it would be beneficial to put on such a ostentation, but Fan Xian was a little worried for Wu Gefei, would such falsification make those old scholars in the capital unhappy
The officials from Jiaozhou and the unconvicted naval generals followed Fan Xian obediently. From the expressions alone, it was impossible to tell whether these people were happy or sad. They just tossed all night, and few of them were in good spirits.
The citizens of Jiaozhou who got up in the morning had already vaguely known what happened last night at the breakfast stalls, and they flocked outside the city gate to watch this scene. The girl-like young dignitary is the rumored Master Xiao Fan.
Fan Xian's reputation among the people is really too loud.
However, the reputation of the Jiaozhou Navy in the city is really not much better.
I don't know who started it, thousands of people inside and outside the city gate shouted, wishing the imperial envoy a well-being, then knelt down and saluted in different ways.
Fan Xian was startled, looking at the black mass of heads, he couldn't help feeling a little dazed. Thinking of what Xu Maocai said in the early morning, I realized that the people at the bottom of the society do have an instinctive fear and admiration for the angels above.
This kind of understanding made Fan Xian feel uncomfortable. He subconsciously glanced at Xu Maocai.
Xu Maocai smiled flatteringly.
As a last resort, Fan Xian stopped the procession with a wave of his hand. With a gentle smile on his face, he dismounted under the guard of the officials and walked lightly to the people outside the line. The old man exchanged a few more pleasantries and said some nonsense such as Sheng'an and Tianshun before returning to his horse and starting the team.
…
…
On the navy's playground, Fan Xian sat calmly on the chair, looking at the officers and soldiers below from the high platform. The faces of the officers and soldiers were different, some were agitated, resentful or fearful, but those eyes were all twinkling at the imperial envoy and officials on the stage.
Most of the navy officers and soldiers already knew what happened last night, but because time was too tight, those Chang Kun's confidantes among the middle-level generals did not have the opportunity to stir up the emotions of the entire camp, but just led the sergeants along the way with the intention of advancing. State to save people, but the team suddenly disappeared into the darkness.
So at this moment, the officers and soldiers of the navy were a little scared. They didn't know why the imperial court suddenly sent an imperial envoy over, and they didn't understand why Admiral Chang Kun and the party general were not on the stage. Could it be that the rumors in the army were true
Fan Xian squinted at the crowds of people in the audience, and found that the crowds were lined up all the way to the port.
Until now, he didn't feel a trace of fear. He had seen the imperial army before, and the black cavalry was always by his side, but when he suddenly saw tens of thousands of soldiers standing neatly in front of him, he felt the sense of oppression brought by the numbers. If these ten thousand soldiers were his enemies, then he might not be able to sit on this table anymore.
Fan Xian laughed at himself with the corners of his lips curled up, and he didn't listen to the No. 3 general of the navy very seriously. He thought that his luck was really good. He actually found Xu Maocai inside the navy. Although the mood is slightly unstable, there should be no major problems. I think Xu Maocai must have done a lot of secret work after midnight.
But Chang Kun is dead, Dang Xiaobo is dead, and no one takes the lead, no matter how bloody these soldiers are, it is impossible. Xu Maocai was right, he overestimated the danger of the situation.
Fan Xian touched the thin paper in his bosom. This was the confession written by the generals involved in the East China Sea incident. Dang Xiaobo was indeed hard-pressed. Even if he was beaten unconscious, he would refuse to speak. Such a tough guy, under the torture of the Overwatch Council to extract a confession, was finally recruited.
With a confession, he has a reputation in righteousness. Fan Xian no longer worried about anything, and listened attentively to the general's disinterested speech.
This general is the one from the old Qin's family. He didn't want to stand out at first, but Fan Xian listened to Xu Maocai's suggestion and didn't give him this chance at all. , At the same time, he also gave him the difficult task of announcing Dang Xiaobo's guilt.
Sure enough, as Fan Xian expected, when the general mentioned Dang Xiaobo's three major crimes of colluding with foreign enemies, colluding with pirates, and disobeying orders to transfer troops, the officers and soldiers in the audience were all in a commotion, especially those middle-level colonels. There are even some bad signs among the officials.
Watching this scene, Fan Xian left his chair slowly, walked to the front of the stage, looked at the tens of thousands of officers and soldiers in the audience, and said gently, "This officer is Fan Xian, and he came here by order."
He is not a god, and he does not have the ability to make the audience fall into silence with his eyes, but his words contained a hint of domineering energy in his body, which spread quickly and rang through the entire playground, making those officers and soldiers stunned I was taken aback.
It was in this gap that Fan Xian started his article titled: "Admiral Chang Kun Chang, he was assassinated last night."
There was an uproar in the audience, full of unbelievable comments and shocking voices.
Wu Gefei, the magistrate of Jiaozhou, glanced worriedly at Mr. Fan in front of the stage. He initially disapproved of the proclamation of the whole army gathering. It should be discussed in separate battalions. I don't know what Mr. Fan thinks.
Fan Xian looked at the officers and soldiers under the stage, and said slowly: "Admiral Chang has been stationed in Jiaozhou all the year round, defending one side for the country, willing to be in a difficult place, he is indeed a pillar of the country, every time His Majesty discusses it, he will praise Admiral Chang for his achievements in the country, Loyalty is commendable."
The few people on the stage who knew the inside story were silent. They had already received the result announced by Fan Xian on behalf of the court, while the rest of the officials and generals were dumbfounded when they heard this. Didn't Mr. Fan come to check on Admiral Chang?
The officers and soldiers in the audience also gradually quieted down, looking at the stage full of doubts, none of them understood what the imperial envoy said.
With a trace of heaviness on Fan Xian's face, he said quietly: "The sky has no eyes, unexpectedly Admiral Chang died young... who are the vicious people who dare to commit such evil deeds!"
His voice gradually became higher, full of anger, and his eyes were full of sternness, as if he wanted to find the so-called real culprit among the tens of thousands of officers and soldiers in the audience.