There were many onlookers on the Imperial Street, and it was very noisy. People were looking at the prisoner's car surrounded by iron cavalry on the road. The person in the prisoner's car had dishevelled hair and looked very embarrassed. There was a sign on his back: Traitor Zhou Duan.
As the prison van passed by, some people threw rotten vegetable leaves at Zhou Duan's head, spitted, cursed him, and made a lot of noise. As for what direct harm Zhou Duan had caused to ordinary people, it was unknown, and many of the people who hit him didn't even know who Zhou Duan was. Anyway, the person who was detained in the prison van must have committed a heinous crime.
There was a big man in a cloth robe in the crowd, it was Yang Ye. He had been in Hedong for many years, and most of the people in Dongjing did not recognize him.
Yang Ye looked carefully for a while, then turned and left the crowd, with only one follower by his side.
He hurriedly ran into a side street and headed straight for the carriage and horse shop. He found the shopkeeper and said, "Rent two fast horses." Then he took out his money bag and poured out brass coins and a few silver coins.
Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper said: "Sir, your money is not enough. You have to pay a full deposit to rent a horse, otherwise if the customer doesn't return the horse, we will lose money."
Upon hearing this, Yang Ye felt around and took out a jade pendant: How is this
The shopkeeper picked it up to examine it.
Seeing this, the attendants around Yang Ye couldn't help but say: Alang, don't we have horses? Why rent horses
Yang Ye turned around and glared at him, and the servant shut up.
Cheng Zhangshang said.
Yang Ye said: Please arrange it quickly, boss.
The two men got horses from the carriage and horse company, went straight out of the city, and then hurried north along the post road.
Zhou Duan was convicted and imprisoned, his life was in danger, and his entire family was implicated.
The court found that Zhou Duan, the chief officer of Xuzhou, was threatened by the rebels and bribed by them. He was bribed by a large amount of money and took bribes many times, and assisted the rebels in Xuzhou. His actions have been identified as treason.
In the Dali Temple office, Luo Yanhuan was forbidden to leave the suite, and the number of soldiers and clerks guarding him day and night increased to more than 20 people.
Luo Yanhuan sat in the living room for a long time without saying a word. The servant who came in to clean up the dishes saw the untouched food and wine on the table and couldn't help saying: "Mr. Luo hasn't eaten yet, and it's all cold."
Go and tell them that I want to see your official, Luo Yanhuan said.
The servant glared and said: "I only work and never see the official. Do you still want to eat these wine and food?"
Luo Yanhuan waved his hand: "There are guards outside. Tell any small leader what I said and someone will help you pass the message."
After waiting for a long time, the Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple came in person. Luo Yanhuan was a duke after all, so even though he was trapped in a small room, the officials still dared not be rude.
The Duke of Huguo has good food and lodging, said the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, clasping his fists and bowing.
Luo Yanhuan said directly: "We have dealt with all the cases of treason a while ago. Why did Zhou Duan, the chief of Xuzhou, take action only now?"
The Junior Official of the Dali Temple was in a dilemma, and he shook his head and said bitterly: How did this subordinate know? Maybe he had not been found before.
Luo Yanhuan said in a muffled voice: Zhou Duan failed to live up to the important task entrusted by the court and did nothing in Xuzhou. He deserves the crime of corruption and dereliction of duty. How come he suddenly became a traitor? What is he rebelling against
The Shaoqing of Dali Temple showed an innocent expression: I really know nothing.
Luo Yanhuan was a little annoyed and said: You are the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, aren't you responsible for criminal law? How can you not know anything about it
The Dali Temple's Shaoqing said: It is said that Zhou Duan was caught by the rebels because he had evidence against him.
Forget it, forget it. Luo Yanhuan slammed the chapter on the table and said, "I want to see the left assistant government."
this
Luo Yanhuan said: I will write a letter by myself, please help me give it to Zuo You.
The Dali Temple Shaoqing thought for a while and said: I have to report to the court first, and then see if the court agrees or not. This is the only way for me to help the Protector of the Country.
Luo Yanhuan said unhappily: Do whatever you want, you people are irresponsible and unwilling to take even a little bit of responsibility.
The Dali Temple Shaoqing said: "I dare not be arrogant. This black hat really cannot bear much responsibility. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
Luo Yanhuan got up and went to the study. He picked up the brush but didn't know what to write. He threw the brush directly on the rice paper, got up and paced around the room. His brows were furrowed, and he felt very bad. The situation was too simple. Zhou Duan became a traitor who was plotting rebellion. How should he be punished for colluding with Zhou Duan
Damn it, Luo Yanhuan cursed.
This is a hell of a fire pit. Why did the government make me jump into a fire pit? Luo Yanhuan stamped his feet and shook his head from time to time. He couldn't believe it. The government even deceived his old brother.
I have made so many contributions to the government. If I had not seized the west gate in time during the Tokyo mutiny, the entire Xu State Central Committee might still be alive.
In the afternoon, someone suddenly said, "Duke Protector of the Country, the Left Assistant Minister has arrived."
Luo Yanhuan hurriedly said: Please
Soon Zuo You, wearing an official robe, came in and bowed, saying, "Duke Protector of the Country, how are you?"
Luo Yanhuan pointed at the chair and said: Zuo Gong, please sit down and talk.
Zuo You bowed slightly and sat down on a chair next to the coffee table. Luo Yanhuan also came over and sat down on the other side. The two looked at each other in silence.
Luo Yanhuan asked again the question in his mind: How did Zhou Duan become a traitor
Zuo You sighed and said: "Didn't I tell Luo Gong about this? Xuzhou is the place where the government is born. Such a serious thing happened in Xuzhou. As the chief of Xuzhou, Zhou Duan could survive." He whispered that the matter was a conspiracy to kill the king, not something else.
Luo Yanhuan frowned, with three vertical lines between his eyebrows. Why did the government ask me to admit that the secret letter was written to Zhou Duan? Isn't that a betrayal to my brother
Zuo You said: Brother Luo won’t survive either.
Luo Yanhuan stood there in a daze.
Zuo You whispered: Li Chuyun's behavior is understandable. He was pushed into the fire without any choice. He was panicking and trying to protect himself. In the end, he still did nothing and returned to Beijing to hand over the military power. His performance was not very satisfactory, but his loyalty was barely acceptable. Moreover, Li Chuyun was the grandfather of the eldest prince. If the emperor killed Li Chuyun, it would be a disloyalty. How would Concubine Li be dealt with
Luo Gong is different. Even if Li Chuyun is your brother, who forced you to do what you did? It is obvious that your brotherhood exceeds your loyalty to the government.
Mr. Luo, no one forced you to do this. You just walked into the knife's edge yourself.
Luo Yanhuan's forehead was covered with sweat. All I did was deliver a letter, nothing else.
Zuo You shook his head and sighed: You have asked me to form an alliance many times, how could I dare to do so? But you forced me to do so and blocked my way in the streets.
Luo Yanhuan said: I really have no intention of harming Zuo Gong.
Zuo You said: I believe this, otherwise it is not certain who will harm whom.
Luo Yanhuan's eyes were red, and he looked at Zuo You with a complicated expression: But the government must torture me to death because of this.
Zuo You said: Lord Luo, you may think you have not done anything serious, but it is actually very serious. He bowed and said in a low voice, "When the emperor was in Songzhou, the generals wore yellow robes, and it has only been a few years. If Li Chuyun really has a chance, Lord Luo will definitely be one of the generals who gave him the yellow robe; or if someone reaches that position in the future, Lord Luo will also be one of the generals."
Luo Yanhuan's face turned red and he kept shaking his head.
Zuo You said again: "Mr. Luo has indeed made great contributions to the emperor, but the emperor treats you poorly. The emperor shares the wealth of the world with his brothers, but he is not raised to become a threat to the imperial power. In my opinion, the emperor values friendship and loyalty, and it is not easy for him to do this, so much so that he fainted. Alas.
Luo Yanhuan trembled and said: I have always been wrong, this place of power is really... Why is Zuo Gong okay
Zuo You glared and said: "Why should I be in trouble? I didn't do anything. Did I want to meet Luo Gong?"
He thought for a moment and said, "Lord Luo must have asked him about me when he came to the palace to see the emperor that day. From the fact that the emperor later sent me to participate in the interrogation of Zhou Duan, it seems that Lord Luo told the truth that day and did not harm me. This is why I am willing to come to see Lord Luo today and say so much. Zuo has been with the emperor for many years and has learned a lot, including the distinction between gratitude and resentment."
Luo Yanhuan was sweating profusely, his facial features were almost wrinkled together, he lowered his head and pondered: The other day the emperor said that someone had told the emperor something in advance, I thought that person was Zuo Gong, was he trying to alienate us, to prevent me from protecting Zuo Gong
Zuo You said: The emperor didn’t quite believe that I would be in a hurry to collude with Lord Luo, but he still took one more step and confirmed the matter from Lord Luo.
The meridians on Luo Yanhuan's face bulged, and he raised his thumb and smiled: Gao Zuogong is indeed a great
Zuo You shook his head and said: I am still too immature and short-sighted. Compared with people like Wang Pu and Wei Renpu, I am lacking in realm.
Luo Yanhuan laughed so hard that tears came out: I have always believed that brotherhood is as great as the sky, but you are trying to play this trick on me.
Zuo You said: Everyone is sentimental, but also reasonable.
Luo Yanhuan said: Damn it, whoever dares to disobey the emperor's decree will be killed immediately, but you have to use this trick to trick me. Why did the emperor let me recognize that the letter was for Zhou Duan
Zuo You glared and said: "Lord Luo is a duke after all. It is not a good thing for him to die in an unclear way. The government is not the market. There must be an explanation for everything. You admitted it in front of all the civil and military officials. It was a case of treason. Isn't the cause of death sufficient?"
Luo Yanhuan said angrily: That is a lie, I will change my statement
Zuo You said calmly: "The letter was written by you yourself, right?"
Luo Yanhuandao: It's not for Zhou Duan
Zuo You asked: Who should it be given to
Luo Yanhuan was stunned by his words.
Zuo You said in a deep voice: "If the emperor wants you to die, you must die sooner or later. If you continue to tarnish the reputation of Li Chuyun, the founding duke, what good will it do and how can you bear it?"
Zuo You spoke in a low voice, but his tone was slightly aggressive: Lord Luo, do you want to leave some room for your family
Luo Yanhuan then remembered Guo Shao's meaningful words: I have lived and died with my brothers in the bloody storm. Li Chuyun is already dead, and I don't want to tarnish his reputation. More importantly, I have to take care of everyone's relatives and families. General Luo, go back and think about it carefully.