The cargo ship I want to take starts from Zhenze Lake and goes north to Jingkou along the Jiangnan Canal. This is a ship that transports grain and grass from Wuxi to Huaidong. The battle in Huaidong last autumn was just when the autumn harvest was approaching, because Yong Jun invaded the border, so that no grain was harvested. After Huaidong was recaptured by Southern Chu, the two armies faced off, and food and grass were urgently needed. At least before the summer harvest, Huaidong's food and grass must be dispatched by Jiangnan. Therefore, since the end of last year, there have been an endless stream of grain ships from Wuyue to Huaidong, both official and private, and more than 60% of them are from Wuxi. Businesses like grain stores are mostly under the control of aristocratic families, but this does not prevent the companies controlled by Tianji Pavilion from running a trick, buying ten ships and eight ships of grain in Wuyue and transporting them to Huaidong for sale. This is a very common thing. The thing is, there is an endless stream of ships like this on the canal, and naturally no one knows that there are several stowaways that should not exist in one of the specially made cargo ships.
On the surface, this cargo ship is the same as ordinary cargo ships, but it has moved its hands and feet in the design. A secret room is added in the cabin, which can carry some valuable private goods. Now, I am the one who was entrained. People, Xiao Shunzi became the servant next to the steward of the grain boat (Shanzi). He only needs to change his appearance. There are only a few people in the world who can see his depth, so there is no need to worry that someone will see through his identity. As for Huyanshou and the other four guards, Xiao Shunzi conferred 70% to 80% of their martial arts skills, and then they were thrown onto the ship to do coolies. Anyway, after changing into the boatman's coarse clothes, his eyes dimmed, except that he was taller, and he couldn't tell that he was a soldier in martial arts. As the East China Sea navy went south, these people had already passed the difficulty of seasickness. This time, I specially sent someone to train them how to sail for a long time. As long as they don’t talk nonsense, they can barely be the boatman’s handyman. These guards are all dedicated, shrewd and capable sergeants, otherwise they would not have been selected as Hu Ben guards. If they worked hard, when they disembarked, they would definitely be one of the best boatmen. Actually, I didn't disregard Hu Yanshou's face, so I asked him to be a boatman too, but the secret room on the boat is a little smaller, so it's okay to live in one person, if you add another one, it will be too crowded.
This secret room is only two feet in diameter. There is only one bed, one table and one chair in the room. In addition, there is only a small open space for people to exercise their muscles and bones. Although the ventilation is not bad, there is even a small room that communicates with each other. Washing, but after all, it is not comfortable enough, especially for someone like me who is used to enjoying it. But I was helpless. Huaidong was no better than Wu Yue. If I made a mistake, I couldn’t escape if I wanted to, so I could only feel wronged and hide in the secret room. This is also the condition that Xiao Shunzi promised me to sneak into Southern Chu . Thinking that I need to be bored here for ten days and a half months, I’m complaining endlessly. Although Huyanshou and the others are a little pitiful, at least they can still see the sun, and Xiao Shunzi can wander freely outside. If you walk around on the shore and come back, you will not be noticed. Such a strong contrast is really depressing.
Looking at the night pearl embedded in the bulkhead, there is a hint of happiness in my heart. Although this kind of secret room ventilation is not bad, if the lights are lit for a long time, it is unbearable, but there is no skylight here. Five fingers, if someone else hides it, naturally they can only endure it for a while. However, Shanzi is very clever. A small mechanism was temporarily added to the wall to embed a few night pearls. In this way, the indoor pearls are bright, although not as bright as the sky, but the sight is not obstructed. Even if you want to read a book, you will not feel too much light. Dark, if this is not the case, how can I suffer these ten days
Putting down the scroll, I sighed lightly again, I am really lonely, maybe it is a habit, I used to like quietness the most, but now I feel that loneliness is extremely unbearable. Xiao Shunzi is also true. He left me to go away alone. It’s strange to say that if he is by my side, even if he doesn’t say a word for a day, I don’t feel lonely. I stayed, jumped out of bed and paced on the ground. After turning around a few times, I felt more and more suffocated. I wished to go out to get some air. Just when I was extremely troubled, the small door of the secret room slid open silently, and Xiao Shunzi bowed and got in, holding a food box in his hand.
I was overjoyed. When Xiao Shunzi put the food box on the table and was about to go out, he pulled him and said, "Eat with me. It's not too late to go out after eating." Xiao Shunzi glanced at me, but He ignored me and just took out the dishes and tableware from the food box. When I saw it, I was overjoyed. There were actually two pairs of tableware. Xiao Shunzi was really loyal and knew that I was bored, so he specially accompanies me to dinner. , Thinking of this, he hurriedly took two teacups and put them on the table, and then he diligently raised the pot and poured tea, ready to please him, not paying attention to the smile that flashed in Xiao Shunzi's eyes.
After eating, I saw Xiao Shunzi clearing the dishes, thinking that he was going to hang out again, but I was cocooning myself, and a strong feeling of depression surged in my heart, I lay down on the couch, turned inward, and stared at the wall in a daze. . After a while, he heard Xiao Shunzi leaving, and his heart became more and more sullen. If he wanted to leave, he could definitely do it silently. Why did he make such a noise? It wasn't because he was angry with me, but think about me. He was not allowed to kill Ding Ming, but he didn't tell him the reason. No wonder he was so angry with me. While thinking wildly, Xiao Shunzi said indifferently behind him, "How about the next game of chess?"
Overjoyed, I hurriedly rolled over and sat up. I even forgot about the last time Xiao Shunzi was sweating and swore never to play chess with him again, and hurriedly said, "No regrets, at least three games."
Xiao Shunzi smiled slightly, and a warm expression appeared on her beautiful face that had returned to her true appearance. This was a rare expression these days.
I was only halfway through the game, and I frowned again, looking at the board who was killed by Xiao Shunzi with a wry smile, raised my head, and seeing Xiao Shunzi's peaceful expression, I boldly said: " Playing chess is also not interesting, shall we just chat?" Xiao Shunzi's eyes flashed and he said lightly, "What do you say?"
I smiled and said: "Anything is fine, you can ask whatever you want, or whatever you want to say, it's rare to be so leisurely, and there are no outsiders around."
I thought in my heart that as long as Xiao Shunzi asked, I could explain to him the reason for his reckless behavior these days, so that he would not feel unhappy. Who would have thought that Xiao Shunzi thought for a moment and said, "Young master proposed to the emperor to go south with the navy army, the emperor asked him why, and he only said that he wanted to make the Chu army misunderstand that our army's main attack direction was Wuyue, and today I think about it, the real master The reason is not only that, one is to reconcile with the Jing family, and the other is to share the pressure of Jiang Hou?"
I picked up a chess piece, played with it in my hand and said with a smile: "It's true that I want to reconcile with the Jing family. Even if someone else comes, I can show mercy to the Jing family, but unfortunately I know that my uncle is stubborn and tough. Resolving the knot with my uncle, the Jing family can never be used by our army, but the emperor will not trust me to return to Jiaxing, so I did not mention it. As for sharing the pressure on Haitao, how can I say this?"
Xiao Shunzi said lightly: "This is the first time the East Sea Navy has fought since it returned to Dayong, and the outcome of the battle is very important. Wuyue is the essence of Southern Chu. The teacher, the strategy of the sea bandits, I am afraid that it is easy to be attacked. Even if no one says anything now, when it happens in the future, it will be a serious crime. The son went south with him, and first proposed the strategy of robbing Wu and Yue. If you want to make this accusation, you must take into account the position of the young master. Isn't the son doing this to share the pressure for Jiang Hou?"
I smiled without saying a word, and Xiao Shunzi continued: "In fact, if the East China Sea navy is not the best at landing robberies and kidnappings, even if your son has made a plan and prepared an accurate map of Wu and Yue, it is impossible to complete such a task in just over ten days. Zhan policy, if Jiang Hou was not prepared to do this, he would not have prepared so many offshore warships, and the process of robbery and captivity would not have been so clean. Now, although the young master has obtained the merit of offering a policy, Jiang Hou has implemented Zhan policy like this. Perfection is already an indescribable achievement, but the young master has taken possible attacks on himself, and he doesn't know whether it will be a blessing or a curse in the future."
Glancing at me, Xiao Shunzi said again: "Young Master naturally also considered the consequences of doing so, if you lose your emperor's heart in the future, it is inevitable that someone will attack you, but you will naturally not take these things to heart. On the contrary, it is Jiang Hou. He is young and vigorous. If he is separated from Dayong because of this, it will be a pity for this navy that runs across the sea. Moreover, as long as Jiang Hou is safe, Hai's shipping will not be affected, and we will have a way back. You can retire, so the son does not care about his reputation, but instead takes the responsibility of making suggestions."
Hearing this, I couldn't help but smile and said, "Three caves of the cunning rabbit, this is also the way of self-improvement."
Xiao Shunzi smiled slightly and said again: "If the son just wants to leave a way back, he can stay in Dinghai and return to the Central Plains in the north when the weather is calm. However, the son is determined to cross the Chu border alone and head to Huaidong."
I blushed and said, "Didn't I explain this before?"
Xiao Shunzi said: "Young Master did explain to me that Jiangnan Xingyuan will be built in March this year, and your son still needs to take up his post. Once the Nanchu Army knows that Young Master is in Dinghai, Ninghai Camp will definitely block the way to the north. Within time, the young master could not go north. Even if he was escorted by the navy, he would inevitably encounter a surprise attack from Ninghai. If the young master stayed in Dinghai, it would inevitably delay the military aircraft and make the emperor dissatisfied with the son's decision to go south. In order to hurry up and be safe, it is better to Walking from the land, under the cover of Tianji Pavilion, it is safer."
I laughed: "That's it, I'm not lying."
Xiao Shunzi glanced at me and said, "Young Master didn't lie, he just avoided the key points. You are leaving Dinghai not for military affairs in Jiangnan, but for Jiang Hou. When you are in Dinghai for one day, Jiang Hou's credit is all due. It is inevitable to make a discount. Jiang Hou and the son are called master and apprentice, but they serve the son like a father and a brother. The son naturally does not want to damage Jiang Hou’s prestige, so he left Dinghai in a hurry. The false appearance in Dinghai, secondly, let Young Master Cong assist Jiang Hou. Although Young Master Cong is young, he has a calm temperament. Although Jiang Hou is brave and good at fighting, he is somewhat aggressive. Compared with Lu Can, I am afraid that it is not as good, but with Young Master Cong The assistance will definitely stabilize the situation in Dinghai, and even if there is a small setback, it will not suffer major damage."
I sighed lightly and said, "There is another reason that you haven't guessed."
Xiao Shunzi raised his eyebrows and said, "Young Master, did you mean that this time is also to test Young Master Cong?"
I was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Have you thought of this too?"
Xiao Shunzi said, "Young Master Cong's background is unknown, but he is most loved by him, so he can't bear to force him to ask questions, but in recent years, Young Master Cong has been highly regarded by the Crown Prince and the King of Jia Jun, and he will surely become a great minister of Dayong in the future. The son's ability and talent means that it is not difficult for him to have power and power. This is nothing at all, but the son is worried that he will have a gap with Dayong. This time, he deliberately left him alone in Dinghai. Being restrained by his side, he was suddenly free, and it was inevitable that he would reveal what he was thinking. Young Master must have left a secret son in Hu Benwei to monitor Young Master Cong's behavior. If he finds anything unusual, he can ask Jiang Hou to put him under house arrest. Dinghai is isolated from overseas, even if Mr. Cong does something inappropriate, it is difficult to affect the overall situation, and even if something happens, he can help Jiang Hou to cover up the truth and prevent it from leaking. Mr. Cong is doing this to test Cong. Young Master, it is also to protect Young Master Cong in the event of an emergency. I just hope Young Master Cong can be considerate of Young Master’s heart and refrain from doing things that hurt him.”
I sighed after hearing this. I have been delaying the matter of Cong'er for many years, but now I can't continue to ignore it. The prince has already begun to get involved in the military and politics. If there is something wrong with Cong'er, I will reuse it in the prince. He had to figure it out before.
However, Xiao Shunzi said in an astonishing way: "These things are easy to understand, it's just the matter that the young master, Ding Ming and Ku Zhuzi met, but I was puzzled, but I suddenly figured it out today, So I also want to ask if your son is right?"
Hearing this, I was very interested. These days, I thought Xiao Shunzi was angry about this, but he was thinking of reasons for me. I wanted to hear if he understood my intentions and sat up straight. His body and face showed a look of listening intently.
Xiao Shunzi said indifferently: "In the beginning, the young master was just happy to see the hunter and wanted to spend a while with the talented people. Who would have thought that after the two of them got on the boat, the young master knew their identities, and he deliberately borrowed them. I was worried about a person like the young master. It is rare in the world. If they think about it carefully, they will inevitably think of the true identity of the son, so they advocate killing two people, but the son does not allow me to do it, just implying that I added the drug in the boiling water for the third tea, and then The pro-formal water, stunned the two, and left a token, implying the identity of the master of the Tianji Pavilion. Only then did I understand the deep meaning of the master. The master of the Tianji Pavilion is mysterious and legendary. They know that the son is the master of the Tianji Pavilion. After that, no matter what the flaws are, they can all be explained, and naturally they will not think of the true identity of the son. The son's pro-formal procedures are to make them mistakenly believe that the son has poisoned himself, but they naturally can't see it. As soon as the clue comes out, you will think that the son is hidden. In this way, he will not think that the son is Jiang Zhe and Jiang Suiyun. Everyone in the world knows that the son is a weak scholar. But I don't understand why the son bothered to keep them. Could it be because of Ding Ming's heartfelt words?"
I smiled lightly, with a hint of cunning in my eyes. I was proud of the strategy I came up with when I had an idea, and I also secretly laughed that Xiao Shunzi had only read the superficial article. Who knows, Xiao Shunzi also smiled slightly and continued: "So I have been thinking hard for the past few days, and I finally figured out the whole thing, just because what they are going to do is also what the son is going to do, and they do Coming is more effective, so the son would rather risk revealing his identities to let the two of them go. It’s just that although the means are the same, the purpose is worlds apart. In order to weaken and eradicate the Wu Yue family.
The son was born in Jiaxing, and 40% of the Tianji Pavilion industry is in Wuyue. Although the son is displaced, he has never forgotten his hometown. This time the son offered a strategy to kidnap Wuyue. I am afraid that some people will criticize the son for not reciting his hometown, but he does not know the son. A pain.
In the son's mind, the Wuyue family is really the biggest obstacle. One of the main reasons for the decline of Nanchu is the competition between the royal family and the family. For the son, the power of the family is harmful and not beneficial. Nowadays, most of the families in other parts of Nanchu are withering. There is only Wuyue, but because it is far away from war and ocean trade, the power of the family is growing. Since the young master voted for Dayong, he naturally does not want Dayong to repeat the same mistakes in the future, so the Wu Yue family must be purged. But after Dayong dominates the world, the Wuyue family will definitely follow the wind. Whether it is true or false, if it is cleaned up again at that time, I am afraid that the people in Jiangnan will be unstable. Provoking civil upheaval, in this way, the splendid rivers and mountains will surely become blood sea slaughterhouses, dance pavilions and songtais, and will become ruins. Therefore, after thinking hard, the son decided to rob Wu Yue of the battle strategy.
This strategy, on the surface, is only to weaken Wu Yue's resistance, but also to allow Dinghai to confront Wu Yue for a long time. There are actually three benefits. First, in order to fear that the Yong army would land again, the Wu Yue family would eventually organize private soldiers to fight against the Yong army, so that the Wu Yue family could be eliminated in the battle. It was tragic, and the casualties were piled up. After Dayong went south, they could use the reason that the Wuyue family resisted Master Wang to clean it up. Under the nest, there would be no eggs left. This move was just and aboveboard. It will also not get the support of civilians who are tired of war; thirdly, the son kidnaps the Jiaxing family to Putuo, which can destroy the family system within a few years, making it a force that meets Dayong's needs, and waits until Dayong dominates the world. , and moved these people back to Wuyue, and they became the foundation and assistance for Dayong to rule Wuyue. In this way, the son can not only achieve the purpose of purging the Wu Yue family, but also save the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Wu Yue.
It was the son who intended to let Huyanshou see the power of Tianji Pavilion, and also to warn the emperor through him. The people of Wu Yue, although their temperament is gentle and docile, have the essence of being light-hearted and daring to die. Since ancient times, the most assassin swordsman, Dayong Zong has destroyed Southern Chu, but if you want Jiangnan to be stable, it is impossible to appease and suppress it without ten years of repression. Yes, the son must be worried that the emperor will adopt a tough policy because of Wu Yue's undercurrent of resistance, so he warned the emperor intentionally or unintentionally. It's just like this, didn't the son give himself another charge of accusing the dead, and reveal his hidden strength, which made me feel a little uneasy. If the emperor intends to hide everything, how can the son deal with it. "
I just feel that my heart is very happy. Although I have thought about these thoughts thousands of times in my mind, I can't tell the heaven and earth, my father, my wife, relatives and friends, and I can't tell the ghosts and gods. I can only work hard by myself. , Although Xiao Shunzi is close, I don't want to disturb his mind. These days, it has been really bitter and unspeakable. All the way up north, although I didn't see many outsiders, I also heard faintly some people talking about the Yong Army's robbery and kidnapping of Wu Yue. , the heart is also miserable. I never imagined that Xiao Shunzi could know my thoughts without me saying it clearly. He has never cared about world affairs except martial arts. This time, he must have noticed the distress in my heart, so he exposed my distress and used it to comfort him. to me.
Suppressing the turbulence in my heart, I tried my best to calmly say: "It's nothing, after the world is unified, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion should become the yellow flower of yesterday. In fact, those industries have already been distributed to the secret camp disciples, but the sign of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion is still hanging. It doesn't matter if these powers are known to the emperor. After Dayong dominates the world, no matter how strong I am, will I still be able to surpass the imperial court? It won't cause suspicion of the royal family. Besides, the emperor's temperament is not so mean and unkind, so don't say it again in the future."
Standing up and looking up, under the radiance of pearls, I only felt that my mood was gradually calming down, thinking that there was someone in the world who knew my deep heart, and this person was with me every day and night. Joy, even this small and dark secret room, seems to me to be a pearl in the palace. The corner of my mouth couldn't help showing a smile, and I said, "Okay, you go out. If people find out that you are always missing, there is no way for Shanzi to cover up for you."
Xiao Shunzi's eyes flashed, he lowered his eyes, turned and left the secret room. Before closing the secret door, he heard a chuckle from behind him. Seeing that the gloominess of the son was gone, he was also happy in his heart. He wanted to come to the next day, son. It won't be difficult. Thinking of this, he couldn't hide the smile on his lips, and walked briskly to the outside of the cabin.