"It's really intriguing." Guan Yu raised the cup, drank it all, and then spoke in agreement.
"The struggle for the throne has always been taboo, but now, all the vassal states in the world have gathered in the capital, and there is a sense of scrambling for supremacy. This is a rare event that has never happened before."
As soon as he finished speaking, Guan Yu put down the wine bottle, squinted his eyes and continued: "What's more intriguing is that the eunuchs and court officials, who have always been mortal enemies, actually stood together in this incident. It's really incredible."
"Brother Yunchang, what you said is true." As soon as Guan Chang finished speaking, Han Zhi added with a serious face.
Then, he said leisurely: "As far as I know, Henan Zhu Quanzhong, Cangzhou Wang Chucun, Bining Wang Chongying and others all have inextricable ties with several important officials in the court."
"And the newly promoted Jiangnan West Circuit Jiedushi Wang Yueyao, as well as Xichuan Wang Jian, Fuyan Zhu Mei and others, are all eunuchs who were promoted to local officials by their own hands."
"Perhaps in the eyes of ordinary people, this Kunming Lake Hunting World was caused by the struggle between Prince Ji Li Bao and Prince Shou Li Jie for the throne of the crown prince."
"But, in my opinion, this should be a struggle between eunuchs and court officials." Han Zhi looked at Zhu Li and said frankly with a serious face.
The decision to invite the vassal states of the whole country to hunt at Kunming Lake was made simultaneously by the ministers and eunuchs in the court. Han Zhi's speculation was obviously very reasonable.
And his speculation is obviously close to the essence of the facts.
After hearing what Guan and Han said, Zhu Li looked solemn and did not express anything. Instead, he said calmly, "The former Tenth Army Compatibility Envoy Tian Lingzi was once the godfather of Xichuan Wang Jian. As for Fuyan Zhu Mei, I can be sure that the other party is definitely a member of the Secretary General."
Zhu Mei once hunted down Zhu Li on behalf of the Secretary General, so he could naturally be sure of the other party's identity.
"As for Wang Yueyao, she was strongly recommended by the Secretary General to take up the post of Chief of Jiangnan West Road. From this, we can infer that Wang Yueyao's backer in the court must be the Secretary General."
"The Secretary General, headed by Liu Xingshen, summoned the vassal states all over the country. It is very likely that they are gathering their own strength with ill intentions." Before he finished speaking, Zhu Li continued, "Zhu Quanzhong from Henan was born in the Cao army. He rebelled against Qi and surrendered to Tang, and it was Wang Chongrong who accepted him."
"As far as I know, among those present at the time was Yang Fuguang, a eunuch who tried to kill Zhu Quanzhong. Thanks to Wang Chongrong's mediation, Zhu Quanzhong was spared from death."
"In addition, Zhu once tricked Zhu Quanzhong in Wangwu County and forced the eunuch Wang Zhongxian to constantly and deliberately target him. In this way, Zhu Quanzhong would never turn to the eunuchs. The biggest possibility is that he is in collusion with some important officials in the court."
"As for Bining Wang Chongying, his brother Wang Chongrong had a feud with Tian Lingzi. Now, although Wang Chongrong was killed for entering Tongzhou, after all, because of Wang Chongrong's relationship, he had a dirty relationship with the eunuchs. This person had no choice but to side with the court officials."
"As for Wang Chucun of Cangzhou, he was born in an official family and is very likely to be attached to Yang Fugong. He should also be a member of the court officials."
"Now, the eunuchs are divided into two groups. One is the eunuchs headed by Liu Xingshen, who represent the Secretary General and support Prince Ji Li Bao; while the military representatives like Yang Fugong, who are experienced in fighting, support Prince Shou Li Jie."
"Liu Xingshen and Yang Fugong simultaneously sent out invitations to the vassal states across the world. This can only prove one thing: to some extent, these two eunuchs reached some kind of consensus."
"Consensus?" Guan Yu frowned slightly, looking thoughtful.
"Consensus?" Han Zhi also murmured, his expression solemn, "Then what kind of consensus do you think the two of them have reached?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Li glanced at Han Zhi and Guan Yu and said clearly, "At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Yuan Shao wanted to eliminate General He Jin and the eunuchs in the court. He once advised General He Jin to summon the princes of the world and eliminate the eunuch party. This led to the later drama of the 18 princes fighting against Dong Zhuo."
"How similar is this scene to today when you and I gather in Chang'an?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the living room was shocked.
Although Zhu Li did not say it explicitly, the implication of his words clearly pointed out that the twenty-two vassal states gathered in Chang'an, and it was inevitable that
It was the result of someone secretly pushing it.
The person who secretly pushed this matter must have great ambitions; either he wants to bring disaster to the Tang Dynasty, or he wants to take the opportunity to eliminate certain people.
Guan Yu, who had lived two lives, was no stranger to Yuan Shao. Once Zhu Li reminded him, he immediately asked in surprise, "General, from your point of view, can you guess who is behind this?"
Zhu Li frowned when he heard this, but before he could respond, Han Zhi said thoughtfully, "It seems that the person who is secretly making trouble must have a close relationship with Liu Xingshen or Yang Fugong."
"That's right." Zhu Li confirmed seriously.
Then, he turned to Guan Yu and asked, "Brother Guan, does Zhou Ran have a wife named Li Wenyi?"
"Yes, she is the junior sister of the Grand Palace Master Li of Longhu Palace?" Upon hearing this, Guan Yu immediately responded affirmatively, and then he turned his head to look at Li Tianfu.
"Yes, Wen Yi is my junior sister. I wonder why the general thought of my junior sister?" Li Tianfu asked puzzledly.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Li looked straight at Li Tianfu and said solemnly, "According to the investigation by the Ghost Guards, Li Wenyi once worked for a man named Li Fazhu."
"Zhou Ran." Having said this, Zhu Li suddenly looked at Zhou Ran and shouted loudly.
"Uh." Zhou Ran, who was flirting with his young wife Yu Cuiwei, suddenly heard someone calling him. He looked up blankly, with a trace of lingering lust still on his face.
"Is someone calling me?" Zhou Ran looked around and first looked at his master Guan Yu.
"You bastard, what are you doing? The general called you, didn't you hear him?" Upon seeing the confused look on his beloved disciple's face, Guan Yu became furious and shouted at Zhou Ran.
Seeing his master getting angry, Zhou Ran quickly shrank his head. Before Guan Yu could continue to scold him, he immediately looked at Zhu Li with embarrassment on his face and asked, "General, are you calling your subordinates?"
"That's right." Zhu Li's lips curled up into a smile. When he lost his memory, he had spent some time with this guy. He naturally knew his temper, so he was not surprised.
He said directly: "Your wife should be called Yu Cuiwei. If I remember correctly, she also worked for Liu Xingshen, the Secretary General, right?"
When they saw Zhu Li uncovering Yu Cuiwei's past, both Zhou Ran and Yu Cuiwei's expressions changed instantly. Could it be that this was the time for a reckoning
As soon as the thought came to his mind, Zhou Ran quickly said, "General, my wife used to work for that old bastard Liu Xingshen."
"But ever since she came into my Zhou family, she has never left the house."
"Even if there were any mistakes in the past, General, please consider the face of the Buddha instead of the monks. For the sake of me, uh, my little Zhou, can you make a big thing small, a small thing nothing, and let it go?"
Before he could finish his words, Zhou Ran immediately continued without waiting for Zhu Li to respond: "General, what is the relationship between the two? They are comrades who have carried guns together. My wife is your brother's wife. You must show some leniency."
Seeing the other party's anxious look, Zhu Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This relationship was brought to his head, and he was still the same little wheel, he hadn't changed at all.
Although they were comrades-in-arms, Zhou Ran, in the past, even cheated Zhu Li of his candied haws and even instigated Zhu Li to chop off the head of Duan Duan Qiuqian. What kind of friendship was this
In the end, although Zhu Li did not chop off Duan Qiuqian's head, he still killed Zheng Maisi; but after getting Zheng Maisi's head, Zhou Ran immediately took Zheng Maisi's head away and ran to ask for credit from Yuchi Jin, leaving Zhu Li no chance at all.
In a word, this guy Zhou Ran, when fighting, is always like "General, you go ahead." And when scrambling for credit, is always like "General, I'll do it." He really did cheat Zhu Li a lot.
However, although that experience took place during the period when Zhu Li lost his memory, there is no doubt that that period was also the happiest time for Zhu Li since he came to the end of the Tang Dynasty, especially the days he spent with Zhou Ran, which brought him great pleasure.
Thinking of the past scene, Zhu Li couldn't help but smile and said, "Why are you so anxious? Can you let me finish what I'm saying
”
"Uh." Zhu Li's tone obviously surprised Guan Yu and Han Zhi.
Anyone could hear that this was the tone of an equal dialogue; it was obvious that this great Heshuo general was not as difficult to deal with as imagined, which could be seen from his attitude towards Zhou Ran and the tone of his voice.
Zhu Li came from later times and received later education, so even among his subordinates, he seldom acted arrogantly except on official business; although as his subordinates in Heshuo, everyone respected him from the bottom of their hearts, but he seldom put on airs.
As for Zhou Ran, who was very outgoing, and no matter what, the two of them did have a life-and-death friendship, he was naturally more casual.
"Uh, okay, you say." Zhou Ran obviously didn't treat himself as an outsider. He blinked his eyes and said carelessly.
"If I'm not mistaken, this Yu Cuiwei, also known as Madam Zhou San, also worked for Master Li with her life, right?" Zhu Li turned to look at Yu Cuiwei and asked seriously.
Facing Zhu Li's question, Yu Cuiwei looked a little confused, because she had no idea who the Master Li that Zhu Li was talking about.
Guan Yu, who was kneeling beside him, was moved and said immediately: "General, my disciple's wife once worked for a man named Mr. Li in black robes."
"Is the Li Fazhu that the general is talking about the black-robed Li Gong?"
"Yes, Mr. Li in black robe, his real name is Li Fazhu, and he is currently serving under Wang Yueyao of Jiangnan West Road." Zhu Li stated seriously.
"Mr. Li in black robe, Lord Li? Mr. Li in black robe is Lord Li!..." Upon hearing Zhu Li's sure answer, Li Tianfu, who was kneeling beside Guan Yu, immediately became ferocious in expression.
The Grand Palace Master of Longhu Palace kept muttering the name of Master Li with gritted teeth, with a fierce look in his eyes, as if he wanted to engrave the three words "Master Li" firmly in his heart, which shocked everyone around him.
When Cha Shuchen, who was beside Li Tianfu, saw his son Ah Lang so sad and angry, he hurried over, stretched out his slender arms, and gently stroked Li Tianfu's back, looking at this beloved man tenderly to comfort him.
Although Zhu Li was puzzled by Li Tianfu's misbehavior, he did not ask about it. Instead, he continued, "Mrs. Yu, also known as Mrs. Zhou San, used to be a member of the Secretary General, but she unknowingly worked for Master Li."
"In addition, Li Wenyi, also known as Madam Zhou Er, is a palace master of Longhu Palace. She has also been working for Master Li without realizing it."
"Didn't you see anything from these two things?" Zhu Li looked around at everyone and asked seriously.
In fact, there was one thing he didn't say, that is, Master Li actually kidnapped Wang Yueyao, and in the blink of an eye, he promoted her to a high position. This shows how powerful he is.
If his guess was correct, there must be Li Fazhu's men among the Secretariat of the Tang Dynasty; if not, it means that the entire Secretariat has unknowingly become a pawn of Li Fazhu.
This time, all the vassal states gathered in Chang'an. It is very likely that Li Fazhu was the driving force behind the incident.
"General, do you suspect that this Master Li is the driving force behind this spring search?" Han Xin is worthy of being the god of war. His wisdom is extraordinary and he guessed Zhu Li's thoughts in an instant.
"That's right." Although Guan Yu and Han Zhi were military governors, they were, after all, Zhu Li's subordinates. Zhu Li would naturally not hide anything from them.
"The power of the court and the underworld can all be used by Master Li alone. If you say that this incident has nothing to do with him, it would be a joke. Anyway, Zhu doesn't believe it."
Han Zhi, Guan Yu and the others all looked solemn after hearing this. After a while, Han Zhi raised another question: "From the analysis just now by the general, I can conclude that the eunuch party headed by Liu Xingshen must have a close relationship with this person called Li Fazhu."
"If Li Fazhu was the mastermind behind this incident, it would make sense for Liu Xingshen to call on all the vassal states to come to Beijing. However, what puzzles me is why the court officials headed by Yang Fugong would make the same choice."