The grass grows and the warbler flies.
After Su Shiyu left Beijing for a hunting tour, the Chu Party unexpectedly did nothing. The affairs of the ministries are the same as before, and the DPRK is safe and sound. While the ministers breathed a sigh of relief, because they felt strange and secretly sighed, it was quite difficult. They have been working hard to maintain this state for nearly a month. After the Huainan incident and the news that the doctor was preparing to return, they suddenly realized that Chu Mingyun had really been keeping his own feet for so long, and his decisions were fair and orderly. There's nothing to blame - it's just that the Captain has always looked a little irritable in his appearance these days.
Chu Mingyun supported his forehead with one hand, and placed the letter on the desk. Hearing the footsteps approaching, he said without raising his eyes, "Is there any news from Su Shiyu?"
"...Senior brother." The footsteps suddenly stopped, Qin Zhao's voice was slightly subtle.
Chu Mingyun lifted his eyes and looked, "Huh?"
Qin Zhao looked at him strangely, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "...You have asked seven times in the past two days."
"Is there?" Chu Mingyun frowned slightly, and then said without changing his face: "I have asked seven times, why is there no new news?"
"Su Shiyu is already on the way back. There is no accident, and of course there is no news."
Chu Mingyun nodded expressionlessly, Qin Zhao stepped forward and put down the document, "Zhou Yi wrote it after he took office, saying that the situation in the Western Region is already under control."
"Um."
Qin Zhao suddenly stopped, took a deep breath, and then looked at the auspicious beast incense burner at the corner of the table. He said in surprise: "Senior brother, have you changed the spices?"
"Well, Anshenxiang," Chu Mingyun glanced, "how is it?"
"good."
"Oh—?" Su Bai's fingertips tapped on the head of the gold-drawn beast, making a slight sound, Chu Mingyun said, "Why do I think this is missing, it's too cold and tasteless."
"An Shenxiang is the original flavor." Qin Zhao said.
"But nothing I smelled like this before." Chu Mingyun stared at the incense burner and replied subconsciously.
"Where did you smell it before?"
There was a name between his teeth, and he was about to stop talking. Chu Mingyun was stunned, and suddenly came back to his senses, withdrew his hand, and said a few words perfunctory.
After simply reporting the matter, Qin Zhao left.
The spring rain pattered outside the house, and the phoenix trees were clear. The fragrant mist and warm smoke in the room are entangled, quietly entangling the unidentified mind.
Chu Mingyun idly leaned back on the chair, and after a while, he picked up the letterhead on the side, and casually read every word.
This is the last report. The shadow guard who followed him wrote that Su Shiyu had left Huainan and everything went well.
all the best.
Everything in the past month, including the case of King Huainan, has been so smooth and unexpectedly smooth.
When Su Shiyu first arrived, the King of Huainan refused to meet him at the border, the city gate was closed, his attitude was so strong, and then he even placed a lot of armour in the city, forming a confrontation with the southern soldiers transferred by Su Shiyu, and the situation was like a string. Being tensed by both sides, it is pressing day by day, and it means that it is on the verge of breaking out.
But it turned abruptly overnight.
Tens of thousands of elite soldiers disarmed in unison, the scarlet city gate opened, and a man came out barefoot under the wet and cold moonlight, holding a letter in his hand, and came to offer his surrender.
The man claimed to be the counselor of the King of Huainan. He had been forced by him to help the Zhou and commit rebellion. His heart was suffering. Now, seeing that the King of Huainan was not only rebellious, but also brought disaster to the people of the country, he resolutely conspired with others to assassinate the King of Huainan, and then He kept coming to Kaesong to meet the censor doctor.
He knelt under the towering city and confessed his crimes as follows: using poppies to restrain Tan Jing, setting up the Bliss Tower in Chang'an, sending Su Xing to assassinate officials, coercing Ji Heng to ambush Mu Lahe, and helping the King of Huainan to stir up the situation.
He said that it was a sinister plan to use his own hands, and he knew that he could not escape the death penalty, and that killing people should be paid for his life.
His words were sonorous and forceful, and he made a long kowtow.
There were soldiers behind him with red eyes, which also caused a few sighs from the patrolling entourage.
And Su Shiyu looked at the head of King Huainan calmly, his blood-stained face was full of rage and unwillingness, which was terrifying in the dim light and shadow.
After a long time, Su Shiyu said lightly, "Why did I say that I want the head of the King of Huainan?"
The advisor raised his head and opened his mouth to list the ten sins of the King of Huainan. They were unforgivable, but they were unfaithful and unkind, and the conscience of the heavens was completely lost.
Su Shiyu looked at him silently for a moment, smiled lightly, and said nothing.
Huainan was temporarily taken over by the southern border guards. After Su Shiyu collected the evidence, he was not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he ordered people to visit the whole territory, found hundreds of acres of poppy fields, and then personally monitored them and put them to the torch. , all destroyed.
On the last day, the counselor suddenly came to ask for a meeting. He bowed heavily to Su Shiyu, and repeated his plea for forgiveness of the innocent. Then he jumped into the flaming poppy fire next to him. Ash.
In Huainan City, people sighed and said that the counselor was really not a villain, but a kind and righteous man.
Chu Mingyun sneered when he heard the words.
In the chaotic scene at that time, the shadow guard paid special attention to Su Shiyu's reaction. The doctor who was surrounded by the snatched squire was only slightly stunned, frowned, and then lowered his eyes and chuckled, not knowing what it meant.
Others don't know what Su Shiyu means, but Chu Mingyun just understands:
He died before he could contact the King of Huainan, cutting off the opportunity for careful interrogation. There was no way to tell whether the counselor's words were true or false, and he committed suicide before returning to Beijing.
Another deadly drama.
The case seemed to be going well, and there were even a bit of righteous and moving decorations, but in fact, they found nothing but a human head and a handful of ashes. Su Shiyu did not encounter a dangerous situation, so he did not invite you to enter the urn as expected. The conflict between the conclusive evidence in the King Huainan's case and the dubious motive is deeper, but it is completely impossible to start.
If it wasn't for them being over-hearted, then it could only be that things were not as simple and clear as they were revealed to the world.
Doubt is reborn, and I can't figure it out.
Chu Mingyun stared at the snow-white letterhead in a trance, his eyes fell on the person's name unconsciously, the ink marks outline the thin strokes, and there is warmth in the horizontal twists and turns.
He could imagine the moist and soft wind from the south passing through his fingers, and there was a slight smile between his sleeves, like fire-colored poppies burning in front of him, turning into butterfly wings and flying with the wind, and the mountain fire stretched for dozens of miles. Absolutely, scorching immortal.
It is boundless elegance.
-Then Master Su, remember to come back early, lest I fall ill from lovesickness.
It was clearly a joke that came out of his mouth.
The spring rain outside the window is getting heavier, knocking on the Wuye, and falling under the eaves.
Chu Mingyun suddenly extinguished the incense burner with a cup of cold tea, threw the letter on the table, raised his hand and pressed his eyebrows.
Lovesick, what a joke.
... who would really miss him.
A few days later, Chang'an did not wait for Doctor Censor, but an unprecedented visitor.
The Huns sent envoys to visit, and the envoy was the ninth prince Yuwen Falcon.
Since the beginning of the dynasty, Daxia and the Xiongnu have been at constant wars. I don't know how many loyal souls have been lost in the desert Huchen, and the Wuding River is full of Daxia's bones. Women, children, young and old, when it comes to the Huns, they all gnash their teeth.
Even in the past few years, because of Chu Mingyun, the Xiongnu did not act rashly because of the taboos of Chu Mingyun. Both sides of the border were still strictly guarded, and they never communicated with each other.
Now that the Xiongnu suddenly sent the prince to come, the court was shocked, and quickly greeted him with courtesy, but he did not lose his demeanor.
The ninth prince Yuwen Falcon's Chinese was surprisingly accurate and fluent, and he gave a simple ceremony in the golden hall, and he clearly stated his intention:
He wanted Daxia to cede five cities in the northwest to the Xiongnu.
The Xiongnu's attitude was rather arrogant.
And this Xiongnu prince is even more adept at rhetoric.
There was a strange silence in the hall, and the courtiers looked at each other.
After a while, Li Yanzhen said, "According to what the ninth prince said, after the five cities are ceded, the Huns can guarantee that they will not come again?"
"Of course." Yuwen Falcon said with a smile, "Actually, we don't have any hatred for Daxia, and we went south many times just to find a way to survive. You also know that we have been nomadic and nomadic for generations. There are so many people in the tribe who can’t starve to death. So many people died in the war in the south, and they only grab a little food. It’s really not worth it, but there is no other way.” He paused and said: I heard that Emperor Daxia was generous and that Father Khan was unwilling to fight again, so he sent me to make peace with you."
Before Li Yanzhen could answer, Chu Mingyun said coldly: "Since it is about peace, the status is naturally equal, why should the Huns want us to cede land?"
"Didn't I just say that we are fighting a war as a last resort, and we are forced to live. The land of Daxia is vast and fertile. If you divide a little bit, it will not cause you much loss. It will prevent us from starving to death, and both sides will be spared. There is no harm in fighting." Yuwen Falcon added, "Besides, we have also heard that before Loulan only lost one woman, His Majesty the Emperor is willing to compensate ten cities, and we can avoid tens of thousands of deaths, just think It's really not too much to ask for five cities, right?"
At the same time, the words imply that Loulan has indeed had contact with the Xiongnu.
Chu Mingyun's face was ugly, Li Yanzhen quickly raised his hand to stop his words, and said to Yuwen Falcon: "The prince's words are reasonable, but this matter is no trivial matter, I can't answer you right now. You have been running all the way, it is better to rest for a few days and wait for the negotiation. result."
Yuwen Falcon smiled, responded readily, retreated from the court, and was led by Gong E to the residence.
Here, Li Yanzhen summoned several important officials and moved them to the Xuan chamber hall for secret talks. After being seated, Li Yanzhen looked around with a complicated expression, and Fang said, "...What do you think?"
"Is it necessary to consider this?" Chu Mingyun sneered.
Li Yanzhen looked away from the sharp edge, "How about the other Aiqings?"
After a little hesitation, Wei Song, the minister of households, whose hair was more than half-white on the temples, came out and saluted deeply, "From the point of view of the old minister... it can be considered."
Chu Mingyun looked sideways.
"Aiqing may wish to elaborate." Li Yanzhen said.
Wei Song thought slowly and said, "The Huns' account is really good. Moreover, the northwest has suffered from disasters for many years, and countless silver and grain reliefs have to be allocated every year, and the national treasury is really not very rich. If it is ceded to the Huns, it can be Without the trouble of dealing with disasters, and the land is barren and barren, there are not many Huns to support, and it is a hot potato to keep, if we don’t keep it… we won’t lose much.”
"Master Wei is too troublesome to throw away the people of several cities?" Chu Mingyun said coldly.
"How can this be said to have been thrown away?" Wei Song sighed, "The country is powerful in Daxia, and there are guards at the border, and the Huns dare not do anything to the people. Besides, the borders of the past few years, like In Liangzhou, the merchants and the Xiongnu also have a lot of contacts in private, and they get along with each other more harmoniously than they think."
There was a stern look in the deep eyes, Chu Mingyun said: "I fought to the death on the battlefield, and sacrificed countless soldiers to recover the place that I let you send out for nothing?"
The other courtiers whispered from time to time, and upon seeing this, someone could not help but sigh: "Master Chu is not easy, but after all, this time is different from the past, the two countries are in harmony, and it is always good to communicate with each other. No more sacrifices..."
"How do you know that they will keep their promises?" Chu Mingyun glanced at it, and the other party stepped back, bowing his head and saying nothing.
Wei Song shook his head and said, "But if you don't give it a try, how will you know if it's true or false? It's rare to have a chance to break the ice with the Xiongnu. What if you can't show any trust."
"Master Wei has a long-term vision, I really don't understand." Chu Mingyun laughed without emotion.
Wei Song glanced at Chu Mingyun and sighed helplessly.
Li Yanzhen also pondered: "Since the Xiongnu has already come, and the prince has also been sent, sincerity can be seen that there is indeed, so rejecting it like this, I am afraid that it will completely cut off the way of friends."
Hearing the words, Chu Mingyun raised his eyes slowly, looked directly at the Ninety-five Supreme who was sitting in the upper position in the hall, and smiled coldly, "Your Majesty is so affectionate, but I didn't expect to be so ruthless to the world."
"What does Chu Aiqing mean?"
Chu Mingyun looked away, "Your Majesty naturally understands."
Li Yanzhen didn't look good on her face, but she didn't get angry. She just looked at the others and said hesitantly, "It seems like this, it's still..."
"Your Majesty," Lu Shi came out to salute, "I think that what Captain Chu said is reasonable, and the Huns cannot be trusted!"
"This..." Li Yanzhen looked at him.
"This minister will never agree," Chu Mingyun said slowly with a slight smile, "Your Majesty is cautious."
Li Yanzhen stopped talking.
Wei Song bowed deeply and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, the overall situation is the most important thing!" Before he finished speaking, a few echoes followed closely behind him.
Li Yanzhen was in a difficult situation. Seeing Chu Mingyun's back straight and staring at him without giving way, his heart trembled, and he couldn't help looking at the empty right head.
Chu Mingyun followed him to look over, his face became slightly stunned, and he was speechless for a while.
Li Yanzhen waved her hand and said, "Forget it, this is not something that can be decided in a while. Su Aiqing is already on her way back to Beijing, and it will not be too late to discuss when he returns."
There are many civil servants and the Soviet Party, so naturally they have no objection. After answering, they all look at Chu Mingyun.
Only then did Chu Mingyun withdraw his gaze and said casually, "Alright."
In the palace corridor, Wei Song's footsteps gradually slowed down, and then stopped.
A voice suddenly sounded beside him, "Master Wei is still worried about the Xiongnu?"
Wei Song turned his head and found that it was Yue Yuxuan, Minister of Industry. After Tan Jing was executed, he was elected as the minister of the Ministry of Industry. Wei Song nodded slowly, paused, and said, "Although Master Chu is a warrior, he is short-sighted and doesn't understand the overall situation, but what he said... has some truth in the end."
"How to say?"
"The people of the five cities, after all, are the people of Daxia, and they were abandoned to the Xiongnu. It may indeed be..."
"Master Wei was originally worrying about this," Yue Yuxuan smiled, "Master Chu is just an excuse for selfishness, you don't need to pay too much attention to his words."
Wei Song looked at him in amazement. This person has acted in a low-key manner since he took up his post. The boundary between the Chu Party and the Su Party is unclear. No one can be offended. "Why do you say that?"
Yue Yuxuan opened his mouth but paused again, looked around, leaned in and lowered his voice, "Master Chu is from Liangzhou, and now he wants to cede his homeland to the Xiongnu, he must not be happy, how can he care about the overall situation."
"That's it," Wei Song nodded. "I said why he suddenly cared about the suffering of the people. It seems... he still thinks highly of him."
Yue Yuxuan said with a smile, "As the lord said, those generals are heroic for a while and have no long-term vision. What's more, since we have made good friends with the Huns, how can Taiwei Chu still have the current status? Just listen to what he has to say. "
Wei Song pondered, Yue Yuxuan took a step back, and said: "Master Wei has worked hard, most of us understand that, no matter what Master Su thinks later, I will definitely support you."
Wei Song's heart moved, and he patted him on the shoulder, and without further ado, walked out with him.