I frowned slightly and looked at the battle report in front of me. This is the news from King Yong's intelligence network. The official military report will take a few days to arrive.
"On the 16th day of the seventh month, the King of Qi visited Zhenzhou, the Northern Han army knocked on the pass, the King of Qi led the army to fight, and the first battle was victorious. On the 21st of the seventh month, General Quartz of the Flying Tiger arrived. Quartz soldiers retreated, Wang went out to attack the enemy, was ambushed by the ghost-faced general Tan Ji, and was defeated. On the 26th of July, Quartz knocked on the pass. Wang showed weakness before, and lured a part of the enemy army into the city and gathered and annihilated it. On the third day, the two armies fought at Chengguan. Ling Yu of Fengyi Gate disguised as an enemy general's bodyguard and violently assassinated Tan Ji. Tan Ji was seriously injured, and the Northern Han was defeated. On August 14, it was confirmed that the Northern Han had withdrawn its troops, and the King of Qi sent a letter to report the victory. ."
I put down the information and said worriedly: "I didn't expect His Royal Highness King Qi to stabilize the border so quickly. It seems that he will be back soon."
King Yong and Shi Yu, who had just returned to Chang'an yesterday, looked at each other and Shi Ziyou said, "Your Highness can go up and ask King Qi not to return to the capital for the time being. Why is Suiyun so worried?"
I sighed: "King Qi has calmed down the border situation so quickly. Fengyimen put a lot of thought into it. It's such a dangerous thing to assassinate a general in the army. Now the two countries are hostile, not like the previous hegemony in the Central Plains, as long as the general dies, Most of the soldiers surrendered, and the soldiers of the two armies were all willing to die, and the general was injured, so it must be a desperate attack, even if the disciple of Fengyi Sect can escape, I am afraid that he will die, and Fengyi Sect already urgently needs King Qi to come back and participate in the mutiny."
Shi Yu frowned and said, "Suiyun means that if His Highness prevents King Qi from coming back, they will take the risk."
I smiled bitterly: "It's fine if they take the risk. The problem is that they are afraid that they suspect that the emperor has not made up his mind to depose the prince at all. There is one thing we both know. Although King Qi is a supporter of His Royal Highness, if it is not the emperor's will In this way, King Qi will not be determined to support the crown prince. King Qi, in a sense, is even more a loyal minister, which is also one of the reasons why the emperor went to Huangling to escort King Qi. Although there is no King Qi It is more convenient for us, but if we have the support of the emperor, then King Qi will not cause us too much trouble, so if we firmly prevent King Qi from returning to Beijing, the master of Fengyi will never think of this. of."
King Yong frowned deeply and said: "This king expects that within a few days, King Qi will lightly ride back to Beijing. If we can't stop it, then the situation in Beijing will be out of control, and I am afraid that the military will suffer heavy losses. "
I picked up another piece of paper and said, "One more thing, Ye Tianxiu reported to His Royal Highness King Qing that he was safe through His Highness' channels, but His Royal Highness King Qing was furious and had already sent some of his subordinates to the capital."
King Yong sighed and said, "It's really troublesome. King Qing is always so impulsive. If it wasn't for being so impulsive at the beginning, how could he have been relegated to Dongchuan."
I smiled lightly and said: "From the minister's point of view, King Qing is a wise man. If he stays in the capital, Fengyi Sect will be in trouble everywhere. It's better to fly away and guard for one of the princes."
King Yong and Shi Yu looked at each other, showing a hint of embarrassment and apology. I moved in my heart and said, "But there is something that Zhe doesn't understand."
King Yong glanced at Shi Yu, and Shi Yu smiled wryly: "There is one thing, Your Highness and I have long suspected that King Qing's martial arts are somewhat similar to those of the Demon Sect."
I was shocked and said, "Could it be the Northern Han Demon Sect?"
King Yong replied: "In fact, the Demon Sect is not a whole. It is said that when Jing Wuji left the Central Plains, many Demon Sect disciples left the Demon Sect and stayed in the Central Plains. They are good at concealment, and we don't want to push the Demon Sect too much, so as not to provoke anger. Kyoto Promise."
I smiled lightly and said, "This is also the reason why the Emperor and His Highness dare not trust King Qing."
King Yong smiled bitterly and said, "That's right, this king is not sure what he can do for revenge."
I wondered: "If that's the case, Dongchuan is an important land, aren't the Emperor and His Highness worried?"
King Yong smiled slightly and said, "If King Qing doesn't want to rebel, he can do whatever he wants in Dongchuan, but if he wants to rebel..."
King Yong smiled and didn’t say anything, and I didn’t ask any more questions. It seemed that there was someone monitoring and controlling around King Qing. This was probably a secret that few people in the royal family knew about, but the problem still existed. I asked, “His Royal Highness. Can you dissuade King Qing from coming to Beijing?"
King Yong thought for a while, and said, "This king writes a letter and asks Gou Lian to stop him. He must have a way to persuade King Qing not to enter the capital."
I sighed: "It's a pity that King Qi is not so easy to spend."
After a few days, at the suggestion of the prince and some ministers, King Qi returned to Beijing to report his duties. The suspicion of the sect master will also prevent King Qi from entering the capital. I have already planned an assassination in my heart. In this way, King Qi can be temporarily prevented from intervening in the battle of the crown prince. Even if there are some suspicions, it is impossible to say. It is better than letting King Qi's army and Yong The king's army went to war much better.
While I was discussing with King Yong and Shi Yu how to arrange the assassination, a guard came in and reported, "Your Highness, King Qi has sent an emissary to ask to see His Highness." See, no matter what, King Qi's messenger cannot be seen. King Yong met him in the study room, and Shi Yu and I stood at the left and right sides.
But a moment later, a valiant King Qi's personal guard walked in. After seeing the ceremony, he handed a letter. After King Yong looked at it, he moved the letter and handed it to me. When I saw it, it was King Qi who invited His Royal Highness King Yong to meet him in August. On the second day, they had a secret meeting at a Buddhist temple a hundred miles away from Chang'an. King Yong said lightly: "Please tell King Qi, this king will definitely attend the meeting."
After the messenger left, Shi Yu said hesitantly, "His Royal Highness King Qi's actions are too unusual, does His Highness really want to go?"
King Yong said: "If there is a chance to make the sixth brother change his position, it is worthwhile for this king to take some risks."
I shook my fan and said, "Your Highness, Prince Qi is not someone who retreats when faced with difficulties, I am afraid he will not change his position, but this is a good opportunity. If the Prince's people know that His Royal Highness and Prince Qi have a private meeting, then they will If we don’t dare to trust King Qi completely, then at least our pressure can be relieved.”
King Yong hesitated for a moment, then said: "This strategy of alienation is useful, but I'm worried that the sixth brother will hold grudges against this king."
I smiled and said, "King Qi was originally against His Highness, and there is nothing to hate, but the prince and King Qi have a feud. In this way, it is a good way to harm others and benefit oneself."
King Yong said: "But we have to secretly spread the news to the prince."
I smiled lightly and said: "With the ability of Fengyimen, as long as His Highness deliberately pretends to be very cautious, someone will definitely watch, and we can let them see from a distance, because we can't know the matter, then Naturally, it's a bad idea."
King Yong smiled lightly and said, "If the sixth brother can be kept out of the way, then everything is worth it. The sixth brother is a general."
On September 2, at dusk, King Yong left Chang'an in a light car, and in addition to the more than 100 guards who had left the city to meet, there were also Xiao Shunzi and I. I was a little curious about King Qi's intentions by insisting on accompanying him. Immediate response also requires my decision. As for Xiao Shunzi, if there is no protection from him, how can I rest assured of such a long trip? In this case, except for Fengyi's personal action, I believe that safety can be ensured.
The meeting place designated by King Qi was a very desolate and ruined temple. There was no one to preside over it. When we arrived, it was already dawn. King Qi's guards had already cleaned up the place. People dressed in casual clothes, with the exception of a horse-drawn carriage parked next to the temple, did not attract attention.
After King Yong's guards arrived, they quickly set up a defense line. The two sides confronted each other with hostility, which happened to form a balance of power, and the place was surrounded by water. I glanced at Xiao Shunzi. All received the position of the fundus, so that no one can invade the position where they can see the scene in the temple. I followed King Yong into the small temple. In the clean and spotless temple, in front of the dilapidated Buddha statue, a man in brocade clothes stood with his hands behind his back, raised his head proudly, and stared at the Buddha statue. I stopped, the current King Qi is different from what I have seen before. Four years ago, the first time Nan Chu met, he was the domineering Prince Dayong, full of murderous aura, which made people shy away. Second The first time we met, he was poisoned and was dying, but he showed his bold side. The third time we met Yongdu, he was enthusiastic. If I wasn't touched, how could I prepare to let him get away. In the days that followed, I fought with the crown prince in the Yongwang mansion. Although the king of Qi was on the side of the crown prince, he was depressed and could not return to the army. , The domineering in the past has gradually subsided. When I see it today, it may be the baptism of the border war. His Royal Highness King Qi, who has reached his thirties, also has a kind of reserved and graceful domineering.
I'm thinking wildly here, and King Yong has already stepped forward and said: "Sixth brother, I'm here, I don't know what you want to say to me?"
Li Xian turned around slowly, with a faint smile on his face, said: "Second brother has to send the arrow on the string now, isn't it?"
Li Zhi's expression froze, but he didn't speak.
Li Xian turned his back and said, "Who doesn't want this position of ninety-five? Now the eldest brother has committed sins himself, and now he is suspicious. It seems that this throne will be yours sooner or later."
Li Zhi said slowly: "If you are willing to sincerely obey, I will treat you as before."
"In the past?" Li Xian laughed and said: "I admired you when I was young and entered the military. If there was no second brother to teach me, I'm afraid I don't have a few days, but I always want to get rid of the second brother's shadow, so I I did not follow the second brother, but became the king of Qi today, but the second brother, I may be dissolute or stupid, but I am not someone who is courting Qin Muchu. Since I have protected the prince, I will not betray even if I die. "
Li Zhi couldn't hold back his anger and said, "If Big Brother is plotting a rebellion, do you want to follow him to do something wrong?"
Li Xian looked stunned, and then suddenly said: "So it is, second brother, you want to force the eldest brother to rebel, so that you can justifiably become the prince."
Li Zhi sighed and said, "Sixth brother, you've always been smart, I admire it, but why didn't you try to cover it up a little? Now that the arrow is on the line, I'm afraid I won't be able to let you go to Beijing."
King Qi said with a faint smile: "Second brother, don't worry, I'm not a fool, I know the current situation very well, what you want to do, I won't stop it, and I won't tell the elder brother, but unless the elder brother really wants to make trouble, I will I won't betray him, if the second brother doesn't believe it, there is a person in the carriage outside, the second brother will believe that I won't tell what happened today when he sees him."
King Yong's expression changed, he glanced at me, and I retreated without saying a word, walked to the front of the carriage, opened the curtain, and saw that there were two people sitting in the carriage, one sleeping, and one fifty. The multi-year-old middle-aged man had a respectful expression, while lying there was a handsome young man with a slightly dark complexion. Although he was in a drowsiness, he looked uneasy. The middle-aged man said in a low voice, "This is Jiang Haitao, the young master of my family." I froze for a while, then smiled: "It's Jiang Zhe."
The middle-aged man said happily: "You are Mr. Jiang. General Fang brought back your medicine. My family's young master's injury is much more stable."
I reassured: "Don't worry, Your Highness, His Royal Highness is still inside waiting for the next report, Your Excellency please wait for a while."
Back in the temple, I glanced at King Qi admiringly, walked into King Yong and whispered, "It's the son of Lord Jiang." King Yong's expression changed greatly, and he looked at Li Xian in surprise. Li Xian looked cold and arrogant, but is silent. King Yong's expression softened and said, "You know that since you have already intervened in this matter, then I have the handle in my hands. I will not let this matter pass out, but the Crown Prince and Fengyimen will not let it go. yours."
Li Xian said indifferently: "I don't care what they think, this child calls me cousin. If I stand by and watch, I would be too ruthless. I wonder if the second brother has the courage to take over this matter."
King Yong suddenly gave a light salute and said: "Sixth brother, your chivalrous heart is ashamed of this king. Don't worry, since this child has arrived in Chang'an, I will definitely do my best."
Li Xian turned around and said, "Okay, take him away. After his poisonous wound has healed, if it is inconvenient for you to send him back, come and tell me."
Li Zhi took a deep look at King Qi and said, "Are you really unwilling to change your mind? You know that once the overall situation is settled, you and I will meet in life and death."
Li Xian smiled slightly, full of sarcasm, and said coldly: "Thank you second brother for your kindness, I voted for you, can you really trust me?"
King Yong was stagnant, unable to speak, he really wanted to say that he trusted King Qi, but thinking that King Qi had been against him many times over the years, thinking of Queen Qi's concubine Qin Zheng, he finally said weakly: "I believe that the sixth brother will have a way to express it. sincerity."
Li Xian turned sideways and said in a low voice, "Although Zheng'er has her faults, she is always my wife and the mother of my child. Li Xian is not talented and cannot kill his wife for wealth."
Li Zhi took a deep sigh and said, "Then sixth brother, you can do it yourself." After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the temple. I glanced at King Qi and saluted: "In the past, Zhe only said that His Highness was bold, but today I know that you dare to act. Please be careful in the future. The prince is stupid and Fengyimen is very ambitious. Why should His Highness be buried for them?"
Li Xian glanced at me and said indifferently: "The talent of Suiyun is unparalleled in the world. If I killed him with a ruthless heart, I'm afraid I won't end up today."
Hearing this, I felt a little sad in my heart. Just listening to this sentence, I knew that this arrogant prince had given up the opportunity to control his destiny, and would rather be killed in this bloody battle for succession. But I can't do anything about it. At this time, no matter what kind of person King Qi is, King Yong and I can't let go. If it wasn't for the fact that we met today, the king and the prince could be separated, I would never let the king of Qi return to Chang'an.
After saying goodbye and leaving, he got into the carriage. King Yong's face was frosty. The carriage started. He didn't speak. After a long time, he said lightly, "It's a pity for King Qi."
I knew in my heart that Li Zhi had already made plans to kill, but I could hear the deep regret in his tone, which was missing when we discussed the assassination a few days ago, so I said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, King Qi doesn't seem to know that. With the Prince's rebellion, at least His Highness doesn't have to worry that King Qi's army will attack."
King Yong shook his head and said, "I'm not afraid of ten thousand, just in case, if I can't control the sixth, I can't rest assured, what can Suiyun do?"
Thousands of thoughts went through my mind, and finally I shook my head regretfully and said, "Unless I kill King Qi, there is no way I can control him."
King Yong sighed softly and stopped talking. Then I said again: "Unless King Qi is temporarily seriously ill, an army without King Qi's personal command is like a pack of wolves without a leader."
King Yong's expression changed, and he said, "Let's take a look first, but you have to be prepared, and you can't be ready to sharpen your spear."
I smiled slightly and said, "I wonder what Fengyimen will think?"
After King Yong's car drove away, the leader of King Qi's guards walked in and reported, "His Royal Highness, we should go too. If this matter is known to the prince, I'm afraid the prince will be suspicious."
Li Xian nodded and said, "I can't take it anymore. I have done my best as a courtier and brother. If the prince is suspicious, I have nothing to do."
The guard suddenly said: "His Royal Highness, this subordinate dare not doubt His Highness's decision, but is that person really worthy of your loyalty?"
King Qi looked cold and said, "This is not what you should say."
The guard looked terrified, but his stubborn eyes didn't change at all, Li Xian glanced at him and sighed: "The prince's nature is revealed, and I am also very disappointed, but now I am already riding a tiger, even if he is ruthless, I can't No righteousness, no matter what, without the help of the prince in the past, I would never have achieved what I am today."
Not long after King Qi's car set off, on a small earthy mountain not far away, a woman in plain clothes stood up. Although she was wearing a jingchai cloth skirt, she was very bright. She looked at the figure of King Qi, coldly. A smile, but even though such a cold smile, on top of her dazzling flower face like the rising sun, it looks so moving.