During the month of fasting, the weather was calm. No one would touch the emperor during the national mourning. Everyone kept to themselves.
But on the last day of fasting, something big happened.
That night, there was heavy rain, thunder and lightning, one after another thunder flashed like a sharp sword piercing the sky, showing off the entire night sky, and the muffled thunder sounded more like the descending of gods and ghosts. Sitting in the room, they all shivered.
The rain was like a leak in the sky, it fell for most of the night, Yan Sikong and Ali didn't sleep all night, because water gathered in the low-lying places of the house, if they didn't guide it outside, they might enter the house.
The next day, he dragged his tired body to the yamen and heard a disturbing news.
The lightning flash last night split a hundred-year-old tree on the mountain in the northern suburbs. The place where the old tree fell was impartial, and it happened to be the tomb where the Empress Dowager was newly buried.
So Emperor Zhaowu stopped the court this morning and summoned the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Honglu Temple to be accountable.
Since ancient times, Tianlei has been regarded as the power of the gods, and it has the meaning of punishing evil and misconduct. Now the empress dowager has just been buried, and the tree that was struck to death by Tianlei crushed the mausoleum. What a bad omen.
There was a lot of discussion in the court, most of which were worrying words, and many sensational rumors had spread to Yan Sikong's ears, but he just listened to it and kept silent about it. Talk nonsense, especially at this very time.
Although Yan Sikong doesn't believe in those Taoist priests who burn incense with a pinch of soil, nor does he believe that falling down a mere tree will bring disaster to the country, but he knows that the seriousness of this matter will definitely implicate many people, and the first to bear the brunt are the Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple , most of these are Yan Zilian's people, and the eunuchs will take the opportunity to attack them.
Later that day, the Taoist who chose the site for the Empress Dowager's Mausoleum was imprisoned. Yan Zilian entered the palace urgently to intercede for the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Honglu Temple. It is not yet known what punishment they will receive.
In the early morning of the next day, memorials flew out like snowflakes, half impeaching, half explaining God's will, trying to calm people's hearts.
Facing the holy wrath, the aged minister of Honglu Temple implored him to resign and return to his hometown, while the minister of the Ministry of Rites was relegated to the local magistrate. Throughout his life, he might have no hope of returning to Beijing. If this is not the case, Emperor Zhaowu ordered that all those who participated in the preparations for the empress dowager's funeral be tracked down and severely punished.
So in just one month, more than a dozen officials were demoted or dismissed, and the Taoist priest was also beheaded.
If the matter was just demotion, punishment, and the killing of one or two Taoist priests, it would be considered a "good death". Although he lost the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Honglu Temple one after another, Yan Zilian still has the ability to push his own people up, at most with Xie Zhongren saw and saw for a while.
But when Yan Zilian asked for a secret meeting, Yan Sikong had an ominous premonition.
When seeing Yan Zilian in the teahouse, both Yan Sikong and Feng Ye sensed something from his dignified expression.
"The teacher is for Xu Shangshu..."
"No." Yan Zilian's tone was urgent, and Yan Sikong didn't even let Yan Sikong finish a sentence, "He left as soon as he left, there is no harm to the general."
Yan Sikong and Feng Ye looked at each other the same way, because Yan Zilian's appearance was too unusual.
Yan Zilian took a deep breath: "Today, Xie Zhongren found a master who was said to be unborn from nowhere, saying that thunderstorms are an ominous omen, because the empress dowager's ominous ceremony is not well-mannered, and the wrath of heaven may cause Hurt Guozuo."
"It's just nonsense." Yan Sikong said coldly, "Master Lao Shizi is flattering, so he should be dragged out and beheaded!"
Feng Ye frowned and said, "Your Majesty...do you believe me?"
Yan Zilian said solemnly: "It's hard to say."
Both of them waited for Yan Zilian to continue, because they knew that the next thing was the main topic.
"Whether your majesty believes it or not, your majesty has decided to elevate the empress dowager's funeral to a national funeral." Yan Zilian looked at the two of them with a serious tone, "tomorrow will make an order, one is to move the tomb, and two, all the vassal princes within a thousand miles , immediately return to Beijing to express condolences."
The two of them stared at each other suddenly, a chill rushed into their bodies, and their faces turned pale instantly.
Yan Zilian closed his eyes, as if he had aged a lot: "I'm afraid this is a plan set up by His Majesty and Xie Zhongren. Using this matter, King Zhao Jingyuan returned to Beijing."
Feng Ye clenched his fists and argued weakly: "My father is a king with a different surname."
"A king with a different surname is also a king." Yan Zilian said solemnly, "I didn't expect to escape the Jingcha and receive condolences again. If General Feng refuses to return to Beijing this time, it will be the third time. I'm afraid..."
Yan Sikong only felt that his mind went blank for a while, and his heart was flustered.
That's right, if he refuses to return to Beijing this time, it will be the third time. The first time was a celebration banquet, and Emperor Zhaowu made a decree secretly. Even if there are thousands of excuses, no matter how weak and stupid Emperor Zhaowu is, it is impossible to tolerate a courtier who is obviously rebellious and even more rebellious, with a knife on his neck, who can deal with it safely
What's more, even if Emperor Zhaowu could bear it, the officials couldn't bear it, and the people of the world would criticize him verbally. If they refused to return to the court with heavy soldiers in their hands, they must be planning to rebel!
Feng Ye clasped his hands and said, "Master Ge, what should we do now?"
Yan Zilian shook his head: "The decree will be made tomorrow, His Majesty has made up his mind, it is impossible to take it back."
"If my father returns to Beijing, I don't know what will happen..."
"Don't panic now." Yan Zilian said, "As long as General Feng returns and shows his loyalty to His Majesty, His Majesty will not be too embarrassed. After all, Datong still relies on General Feng, but Datong's armament must be reduced."
Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes: "Teacher, if King Jingyuan returns to the capital, is it really just a reduction in armaments? I'm worried..."
Yan Zilian raised his hand to stop him from continuing: "Your Majesty is not a cruel person, and he will not discriminate between right and wrong. Besides, General Feng is a famous general with meritorious service. Your Majesty's move is to reduce Datong's armament and regain some military power."
Feng Ye gritted his teeth and said, "The 300,000 soldiers raised by Datong were not raised for nothing. Without them, how could they have been able to defend the border for more than 20 years? Reducing armaments would mean self-destructing the Great Wall?"
Yan Zilian shook his head and said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty won't think about these things, he only knows that Wala's vitality is seriously injured, Datong is not as nervous as before, how can he continue to raise so many soldiers and horses?"
Feng Ye's face was gloomy.
Yan Sikong cupped his hands and begged: "Teacher, can you go and persuade Your Majesty again? King Zhaofan's entry into Beijing is really mobilizing teachers and mobilizing people."
Yan Zilian shook his head: "The holy will has been decided. It is useless for me to say anything. Your Majesty's move is aimed at King Jingyuan." He looked at Feng Ye and sighed, "Your Majesty, let General Feng return to Beijing. The plan is to reassure His Majesty only by handing over part of the military power, is it true that General Feng really wants to disobey the imperial decree?"
Feng Ye pursed his lips and did not speak, but the veins on his forehead were protruding, obviously very disturbed.
Yan Zilian stood up, and said earnestly: "As the chief assistant of the cabinet, I only want the country to be peaceful and the people safe. General Feng is my number one hero in Dasheng, and the Feng family will assist the new master in the future. If General Feng returns to Beijing, I will use this I swear by fate, I will definitely defend General Feng, and I will fight for General Feng in the matter of reducing armaments."
Yan Sikong watched Yan Zilian and Feng Ye face each other across the air, it was a silent contest, and the hearts of the two were surging. He understood and understood Yan Zilian's position, but a voice in his heart told him very clearly that Feng Jianping must not come back.
After saying that, Yan Zilian took his leave first.
As soon as he left, Yan Sikong said in a trembling voice: "If Your Highness returns to the capital, it may be a disaster."
Feng Ye looked down at the ground: "How?"
"You understand in your heart that from the moment His Highness defeated Wala, His Majesty has been unable to tolerate him. The rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked, the bird is hidden, and the history is endless."
Feng Ye's eyes became gloomy and cold: "But Yan Zilian swears by it."
"Since His Majesty has made up his mind, the teacher will definitely persuade His Majesty to return to court. It is impossible for him to watch the generals rebel! But once His Majesty returns, if something happens, the teacher may not be able to save him."
Feng Ye raised his head and said in a deep voice: "I don't want my father to come back either, and I'm also worried about accidents, but I can't publicly resist the order. Do you have a good plan?"
Yan Sikong paced back and forth. On a cold and rainy night in late autumn, he was so anxious that sweat broke out on his forehead: "There is no other way. His Highness either returns or not, but these are the two ways."
"If you go back..."
"If you go back." Yan Sikong nailed his footsteps, staring at Feng Ye with a strange expression, "It's possible that we won't be able to go back."
Feng Ye's breathing became heavy: "If you don't return, wouldn't it be treason?"
Yan Sikong walked up to Feng Ye in a few steps, squatted down slowly, and clasped his knees with both hands, his eyes were shining with piercing light, and the silence was louder than the sound.
Feng Ye stared blankly at Yan Sikong for a while, and after understanding what he meant, he suddenly said in a trembling voice, "You're crazy."
Yan Sikong grabbed Feng Ye's hand, held it tightly, and said sharply: "Am I crazy? Don't you have any idea in your heart? A master with great achievements, famous all over the world, with 300,000 soldiers in his hand, It’s only six hundred miles away from Beijing, who refused to return to the court twice, if you were the emperor, would you tolerate it?”
Feng Ye's eyes were wide open, his face was disheveled.
Yan Sikong was also trembling all over. Before today, he has done many things enough to kill him a hundred times, and he has been thinking about these things for more than ten years, but he has never, never dared to think about those two words—rebellion.
It's not that he's not brave enough, it's just that he has self-knowledge. Killing a few traitors is not the same as subverting a dynasty. However, at this moment, when he suddenly realized that the Feng family might be desperate, this thought appeared in his mind. He instinctively feared the two words, and trembled violently because the Feng family had such strength that these two words might come true.
The two stared at each other without blinking, neither of them willing to admit defeat, as if a blink of an eye's hesitation would never summon such courage again.
In the end, Feng Ye looked away, the line of his jaw was extremely stiff, and his Adam's apple was rolling hard. Although he said something like "I will seal the family and change the world's surname" more than once, he never thought about it. Really do it.
The word "rebellion" is as heavy as Mount Tai.
Yan Sikong also calmed down a little, he said in a hoarse voice: "Fengye, I am not alarmist. Everything is decided by King Jingyuan, but if the Feng family decides... to cause trouble, I will follow life and death."
Feng Ye stood up and pulled Yan Sikong up, but he didn't dare to look him in the eyes: "I, I'm a little messed up."
Yan Sikong held Feng Ye's arms tightly, giving him support.
Feng Ye took a deep breath and calmed down a lot: "Even if I agree, my father will not agree."
"Not necessarily." Who doesn't want to sit on the world
Feng Ye finally looked at Yan Sikong squarely: "Let me think about it, after thinking about it, I will send a letter to my father."
"Hurry up." Yan Sikong emphasized his tone.
Feng Ye nodded heavily.