Capital·Imperial City
On the side of the corridor, a soldier stood every five steps. Officials lined up neatly and entered the main hall solemnly. Incense was burned on the bronze tripod and dispersed.
There were many officials in the palace, but there was only the rustling of clothes and no words. After a while, the door of the pavilion suddenly opened, and a eunuch fired his whip three times, and suddenly there was loud music.
The emperor came out, went to the throne, and sat down upright.
"Long live Long live Long live!"
The emperor stretched out his hand to show his displeasure and said to the prince: "Give the prince a seat."
The emperor's face was a little pale, and he stopped talking. With a wave of his hand, the eunuch took out the imperial edict that the emperor had already prepared, and stepped forward to declare: "By the destiny of heaven, the emperor declares that Wu Shunbo and the Marquis of Jibei indulged in misconduct, invaded military supplies, and cut off an entire palace. I'm fined with half a year's salary, I appreciate this."
After the eunuch finished reading, all the officials discussed it for a while.
Qilin Lake
Located on the west side, the pavilions are hidden in the forest. As the frost falls, the maple leaves turn red and are reflected in the lake. This is a scene in the capital.
Hua Fang was swimming in the lake, and the singing and playing of geisha could be heard from time to time. Many beauties were traveling with them. They had a small boat and a bottle of sake, playing the piano, playing the flute, fishing, and enjoying the beautiful scenery of the lake. It was a blessing. pieces.
At this time, a Taoist was fishing on the shore. A man hurriedly came over, took a quick look, and lowered his voice when he got in front of him: "The emperor has cut the town, and the imperial edict has been sent out of the capital."
After saying that, he handed over a note, glanced around and put it in his sleeve.
She took shelter in the uninhabited place in the maple forest. The terrain here was slightly higher, and the wind brought water mist to her face. The coolness soaked into her bones. She took out the talisman and opened it. In the aura, Xie Chengdong's figure appeared. The Taoist said: "Senior brother, the emperor has another batch." The list of vassal reductions has come out, and they are Wu Shunbo and Jibei Marquis."
Jibei Houfu
There were also several maple trees planted on the side of the lake in the mansion. As the frost fell, the maple leaves were already red. Wei Ang stood under the tree. The housekeeper of the mansion led a Taoist priest passing by. Wei Ang raised his head and only glanced at it without saying anything else. Look, I lowered my head and saw the figure reflected in the lake.
But he was blind.
study
The Marquis of Jibei sat upright, half-closed his eyes, and pondered silently for a long time before he said: "Send that Taoist to come in."
When the Taoist came in, he was startled and bowed his head when he saw the serious face of the Marquis of Jibei: "See you, Lord Marquis!"
The Taoist hurriedly took out a secret folder from his sleeve and handed it over: "Master Marquis, His Majesty has decided to cut down the vassalage, and you are among them. This is the news coming from the capital. My prince ordered me to pass the news to Master Hou. "
"The angel from the capital has set off. According to the land route, he will reach Yingzhou in one month." The Taoist said: "Look carefully at the fold. Please take a look."
"Please take a seat." The Marquis of Jibei accepted: "Tea!"
The Taoist was about fifty years old and seemed to have no wrinkles. He sat down after listening, took the tea offered by the maid on a tray, and placed it on the table.
After the Marquis of Jibei read it, he sat upright without changing his position. For a moment, there was some coldness on his face. The matter of cutting down the vassal was still coming. He felt a little desperate in his heart, and with some determination, he sneered, took a sip of tea, and then Looking carefully at the blue and white porcelain cup, he didn't say anything for a moment, and then there was silence.
The Taoist looked at the Marquis of Jibei. The Marquis of Jibei seemed to be thinking. The Taoist did not dare to disturb him. He just waited and was secretly surprised.
"The most valuable thing is that it is so quick that it can cover your ears."
"According to logic, once the imperial edict is issued, the Marquis of Jibei will definitely collapse. Why can't we see it now? Is it possible that the Marquis of Jibei has cultivated his Qi so deeply?"
As soon as the Taoist saw him, he felt that he was worthy of being a Marquis, and he had some foundation.
"The metaphor of King Lu's message is self-evident. If he wants to echo it secretly, it seems that King Lu's thoughts are already obvious." The Marquis of Jibei thought to himself.
However, it was not appropriate to explain it thoroughly. The Marquis of Jibei figured it out. He stood up and said with a straight face: "King Lu knows our hearts well. If King Lu has an edict, I will respond to it."
The Marquis of Jibei made a gesture to look up to King Lu, and the Taoist immediately laughed, not daring to be proud, and saluted the Marquis of Jibei: "I will convey your heart to King Lu."
"Okay, does the envoy have anything else to do?" the Marquis of Jibei asked.
"It's nothing," the Taoist replied, and the Marquis of Jibei said a few more words. When he went out, Shen Zhi followed him, handed over the banknote, and sent the Taoist away.
Shen Zhi turned back to the room and saw that the Marquis of Jibei was no longer in the room. After asking, he found out that he had gone to the lakeside. He immediately walked through the corridor and arrived there.
Looking from a distance, I saw a stone bridge running through it, a water corridor surrounded by white marble railings, a row of weeping willows with all their leaves gone, some red and yellow leaves on the stone table and bamboo chairs, the Marquis of Jibei was talking to Wei Ang, he was getting closer. Later, seeing Wei Ang's serious expression and talking about his suggestions, he secretly sighed in his heart: "If only the Third Young Master had woken up a few years earlier?"
Feeling sad in his heart, he kept walking, and then Shen Zhi came closer. A gust of wind blew up, and the maple leaves on the trees rose with the wind.
The Marquis of Jibei stretched out his hand, and a leaf fell into his hand. He said nothing for a while and looked into the distance.
The wind blows on the lake surface, making the waves sparkle, and the fallen leaves fall into the lake, scattering some waves. The koi carps in the lake are attracted by the maple leaves, thinking they are feeding, and rise up.
The Marquis of Jibei was silent for a long time, then let go of his hand. A maple leaf blew away and landed in the middle of the lake. He sighed: "The wind is blowing."
After listening to the words of the Marquis, Shen Zhi trembled and stood beside the Marquis of Jibei. He looked along the green water in the lake and said nothing for a while.
When he moved, Shen Zhi let out a long sigh: "Your Majesty, I see that Prince Lu is very disobedient, and the world will not be peaceful."
The Marquis of Jibei smiled coldly: "Prince Lu has long been disobedient, but he didn't expect to lose to the crown prince in the capital. It seems that he is now preparing for military remonstrance."
The Marquis of Jibei said this, and the expression on his face was unclear.
Shen Zhi looked at the Marquis of Jibei, and an idea came to his mind. The Marquis was not ignorant, he just didn't want to bear the infamy. He bowed immediately: "Master Marquis, although we knew it in advance through Taoism, it has only been a month since the imperial envoy arrived here. If there is an imperial edict and the military power is stripped away, everything will be over."
"You are a person who has been in the military for a long time. It is common for generals and captains to be transferred. Once you are transferred and removed, no matter how great your prestige and friendship are, they will fall apart in just three years."
"You have to make up your mind. If you don't stop, you will be disturbed."
The Marquis of Jibei didn't speak for a while, and Wei Ang stood on one side, also listening quietly without speaking.
"Mr. Shen!" After a long time, the Marquis of Jibei looked at the green lake and walked leisurely, asking: "We are the only ones here. Do you think we have a chance of winning?"
Shen Zhi squinted his eyes and said, "The world is in chaos. The emperor wields a three-foot sword and cuts down all the heroes. Who dares to disobey?"
"The only flaw is time. The world has only been at peace for ten years. We are all people who came from the previous dynasty, and people's hearts have not yet surrendered."
"Of course, if the emperor's health is good, there is no chance of winning. But the emperor's health is not good, so it is impossible to conquer in person."
"Furthermore, the emperor has repeatedly cut down the vassal vassal, which has made all the generals feel disheartened. Who will be serious about crusading against him?"
"If we can delay the emperor's death and we haven't been captured yet, the prince will not be able to ascend the throne without military skills, or there will be a chance - this chance is only a small chance!"
A gust of autumn wind swept over the lake. The pavilions, terraces and corridors in the distance were twisting and turning, and the half-withered lotus leaves were blown by the waves. The wind brought a chill to the bones.
The Marquis of Jibei stood, looking at the lake, and said after a long time: "I know this is a difficult matter, and it's thanks to you that you spoke frankly. But at this time, I want to say something from my heart."
"I am the Marquis of Jibei, and my title and salary are only 1,200 shi. You also know that in the south, one wheat and one rice can yield two shi, and wheat can yield one shi, which adds up to three shi per year."
"One thousand two hundred stones is only four hundred acres of land."
"The price of rice is one tael or two stones, which is only 600 taels a year. This is a great favor from the imperial court." The Marquis of Jibei said unhurriedly, with a contemptuous sneer.
"But the civil servants ignored this, why?"
"It's very simple. When the peaches are ripe and the civil servants want to pick them, but the Lord doesn't go, how can they stay in power?"
"Therefore, no official will help the hero to complain about his injustice. Who told you to be stupid enough to sacrifice your life to found the country?"
Shen Zhi stood aside and listened quietly. He knew that officials were for the public and private. Serving the public would bring peace to the world, and there was no need for heroes. Although killing them was a bit cruel, they could be removed for the sake of the country. The cause of the disaster is selfishness, which is what the Marquis of Jibei said about seizing power—the nobles will not die, but the civil servants will not!
The common people don't even care about this. They will only shout "Hello" when a distinguished noble dies. In fact, the common people will shout "Hello" when any minister or official dies. When they see the head of a noble lord, they will go all over the city and streets to look at it.
Crying for injustice for a dead loyal minister can only be found in dramas.
But from the standpoint of a hero, this voice is very confident: I have been through life and death and fought for decades just for this mere 1,200 stones
Even 1,200 stones are not safe
Just as he was thinking about it, Hou Tu of Jibei calmed down. For some reason, his mind became clear and he showed enthusiasm: "Some people say that the country has wronged you, but thousands of people will live. I just don't accept this."
"If you want to wrong me, I will wrong the country!"
He took a few steps for a while, turned to look at Wei Ang and asked suddenly: "How is the situation on Gongba Island?"
Wei Ang was dumbfounded. Hearing his father's sudden question, he thought for a moment and answered: "Father, Gongba Island has been cleared under our control. It is about the size of a county and has 800 households. Between land and fuso.”
"Eight hundred households, one county, is enough." The Marquis of Jibei said coldly, smiling evilly: "Eight hundred households, almost the land of ancient feudal lords, I have made up my mind and will immediately send a caravan to this island."
"Formally establish the system, set up the government, organize households and govern the people, and turn these into people under the rule of our marquis."
"Yes, father." Wei Ang had no objection. After the Marquis of Jibei finished speaking, he quickly responded with an excited expression.
The Marquis of Jibei sneered: "Originally, we turned the army into business, but now we have turned business into the army and rebuilt the banner. They have not been regular soldiers for more than a year, so they resumed their organization on Gongba Island. Also, all our people and family members have been relocated. Go to Miyahachi Island.”
"The caravan itself is still maintained, using ordinary sailors and merchants to buy food, copper and iron from various places to Gongyachi Island."
"Contact the people in Fuso and launch another pirate attack. Tell the people in Fuso that they don't need to fight, just attract them."
"Yes!" Shen Zhi said loudly, suddenly feeling his blood boiling.
The Marquis of Jibei issued a series of orders and then smiled ferociously: "If you are unkind, I will be unjust. Even if I fail, I will seize the county treasury and retreat to the island. See if you can pursue me?"
"Even if everything fails, I will make a big wave in the south, shake the foundation of your country, millions of people will die, and your country will be destroyed, ho ho..."
(End of chapter)