When the Wei delegation left Pingcheng, there were secret guards who detected it and reported it to Yang Anxuan.
At this time, Yang Anxuan was stationed in Zhangshan and had a stalemate with Liu Yu, and ordered Ding Quan to pay attention to the matter. Ding Quan was following Yang Anxuan at this time. The war was tight and it was inconvenient to leave, so he asked Luo Guang to take charge of the matter.
Luo Guang's meritorious service rose to the next level during Ding Haoshan's assassination last time. This time, he personally led people to follow Ji Ba secretly, from Luoyang City, Songshan Taoist Temple to Jiankang City.
Ji Ba and others stayed at Honglu Temple, and Luo Guang found an inn nearby. By the way, he also visited the Qinhuai River and Goulan, a brothel.
Luo Guang knew that he wanted to find out the content of the peace talks between Ji Ba and others and the imperial court. He could not do it on his own, so he secretly sent someone to contact Shi Zeng'an of the Langya Palace and agreed to deliver the news through the Mingwei Tea House in Changqianli.
There are already twenty-two noodle restaurants, large and small, in Jiankang City. The four noodle restaurants opened by the Yang family have long been targeted by Shen Tianzi. Even the house next to Xiao Changqian's residence was bought by Shen Tianzi. Day and night, Someone is watching.
It was already difficult for the noodle shop to deliver the news, so Yang Anxuan asked Yang Huai and Xu to leave Jiankang and return to Xiangyang or open a noodle shop elsewhere. However, Yang Huai only asked his son Yang Fan to leave with his family, while he stayed to take care of Zeng An.
Xu, who has been running a noodle shop in Jiankang for many years, has become very good at it. He has accumulated a lot of contacts and earned a lot of savings. He bought a house and is unwilling to leave. Yang Anxuan didn't force it, he just stopped passing news through the noodle shop and let the noodle shop simply do business.
The secret guards have established three new locations in Jiankang City, and the Mingwei Tea House in Changqianli is one of them. The tea-making process has spread, and teas from all over the world are competing to appear first. There are more than 20 types of tea in Mingwei teahouses, ranging from the common Bichun tea to the rare Wujingxin tea, and the tea has celadon, white and so on. , colored porcelain and glazed lamps from the Western Regions, attracted many literati to come here to drink tea.
Zeng An knew that this place was set up by secret guards. He and his colleagues would come here several times a month to have tea. If there was any urgent information, they would pass it on through the teahouse.
Knowing that his lord wanted to inquire about the content of the peace talks between the imperial court and the Wei envoys, Zeng An quickly found out about the three covenants on the surface. As for the secret agreement with Wei to exchange horses for food and 600 steel knives in exchange for Wei to send troops. Zeng An naturally didn't know.
…………
Chang'an City, Prince's Mansion.
Wang Zhene received a letter from Yang Anxuan and saw Yang Anxuan's arrangements for him and the Wang family. At the end of the letter were the words "Celebrate the New Year with peace of mind", and a wry smile appeared on his lips. Although the lord is lenient and does not excessively hold himself and the Wang family accountable for their crimes, he really can't feel at ease. It's been a difficult year.
Soon, Meng Longfu brought the news that Wang Hong planned to release Wang Zun privately but was captured by Li Qiang. Wang Zhene was shocked and angry. The third brother's move made the Wang family in danger even worse. The lord originally wanted Wang Hong to go to Jiangzhou City to take up his post. Governor of Bajun, it would be a good idea not to kill him now.
And if Wang Hong doesn't listen to him, will his lord reconsider the harsh treatment of himself and the Wang family? Wang Zhen'e deeply regretted that he had indulged his brothers so much that he had fostered their arrogance in doing whatever they wanted. He repeatedly told his third brother to detain Wang Zun and escort him to Chang'an City to await his fate, but the third brother still wanted to release the fourth brother privately.
Originally, he wanted to show his loyalty by imprisoning himself, but after arriving in Xiangyang, he begged the lord, maybe the lord could spare the life of the fourth brother, but the third brother's doing so ruined the fourth brother's last chance of life.
Wang Zhene's face was ashen and he said nothing. He hated Li Qiang deeply in his heart. Li Qiang cultivated him by himself, but he didn't expect to stab himself at the critical moment. If he hadn't secretly caused trouble, the third brother might have sent the fourth brother away.
It was said that the third brother mistrusted Li Qiang because of himself. Wang Zhen was filled with shame, anger and shame, and his face became even more ugly. Meng Longfu said a few words of comfort and then stood up to leave.
After sending Meng Longfu away, Wang Zhene returned to the hall, raised his legs and kicked over the table. The celadon tea cup rolled to the ground and broke into several pieces.
Wang Ji, Wang Yuan and others came one after another, looking at the broken tea cups on the ground, their faces were ashen.
After a while, Wang Ji said: "Second brother, what should we do now?"
"What should we do? Wait for death." Wang Zhene roared: "I want you to be more peaceful, let's see what you have done on a daily basis? Asking for bribes, collecting money to settle matters, taking advantage of others, and finding any charges. It’s enough to make you lose your head.”
Wang Ji and others thought that this was not your acquiescence. Seeing Wang Zhene's rage, no one dared to speak up to tell the difference.
Wang Yuan said softly: "Second brother, let's find a way to go to the Kingdom of Wei and escape from the sixth brother. With the talent of the second brother, we will definitely be put to great use by Emperor Wei."
Wang Zhen'e scolded him unceremoniously: "Idiot, don't you think you'll die soon? You can try to leave the house. If you can walk a hundred steps, I will go to Wei with you."
Wang Yuan shrank his neck and did not dare to say anything.
Wang Zhene paced back and forth quickly in the hall, and everyone's eyes followed his figure.
After a stick of incense, Wang Zhene stood still and sighed: "The only plan now is to resign oneself to fate. When Wang Hong and the others return to Chang'an, they will immediately set off to Xiangyang to accept the crime. I hope the lord can spare the Wang family out of past kindness."
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Wang Hong and others were taken to Chang'an City. Wang Hong and Wang Zun were awaiting punishment and could not live in the palace, so they were imprisoned. After hearing the news, Wang Zhene asked Meng Longfu to go to Xiangyang City as soon as possible. Meng Longfu was also afraid of long nights and long dreams, so he sent four hundred soldiers to "escort" Wang Zhenye and his tribe to Xiangyang.
On the 22nd of the first lunar month, Wang Zhene and others entered Xiangyang City. The sky was filled with broken snow, which could not block the bustle of the city. The red lanterns of the shops on both sides of the streets were still swaying in the wind, and the bustling crowds made the city noisy.
Everyone watched hundreds of soldiers escorting the long convoy towards Yonggong's Mansion, and they all talked about which prince was returning to Xiangyang. The escort of hundreds of people was so grand.
The sound of instructions and discussions reached the carriage. Wang Zhene's face turned pale. He was about to see Yang Anxuan. The life and death of the Wang family only depended on his thoughts.
Along the way, Wang Zhen had a lot of evil thoughts. He was rich as a child, homeless as a boy, and studying in seclusion as a young man. Later, he was noticed by Yang An Xuanhui, who trusted him and leaned on him as his arm, and he was proud of himself ever since.
The hardships in his youth made him accumulate wealth. The lord warned him about his behavior and gave the Wang family three shops in the West Market. However, Wang Zhene still liked to accept bribes from the family to open the door for their sons and nephews to enter the officialdom.
When he led his troops to garrison in Jingling, Wang Zhen'e engaged in looting and looting, and gained a lot of money, which made him appreciate the benefits of leading troops in war. After occupying Chang'an, he was amazed by the treasures in Yao Qin's palace. The gems, jade, and luminous pearls stripped from Yao Xing's chariot were worth more than a thousand gold. Afterwards, Yang Anxuan only scolded him lightly, but Wang Zhene didn't take it to heart.
When he was appointed as the governor of Beiyong Prefecture to guard Chang'an, Wang Zhen'e went on a plundering spree. His brothers and clansmen took the opportunity to embezzle the assets of Yao and Qin officials. Wang Zhen'e didn't know how much money he had plundered. There was a row of warehouses in the house, including treasures, calligraphy and paintings, etc. Five rooms were filled with antiques and other valuables.
Wang Zhene remembered that when he left Chang'an, all the treasure collections were sealed by the Menglong Talisman, and all the belongings he had worked so hard to collect were in vain. With a wry smile on his lips, Wang Zhen thought to himself in disgust that he was so complacent. No wonder Wang Hong and Wang Zun dared to have rebellious intentions. The root cause was himself.
The carriages and horses paused, and a soldier shouted outside: "Master Marquis, Duke Yong's Mansion has arrived."
Wang Zhene's heart was beating wildly. He took a few deep breaths, straightened the three-beam crown on his head, stood up and got out of the carriage. A gust of cold wind blew snowflakes, and Wang Zhene shivered. It turned out that the snow was heavy, and there was a thin layer of white on the ground.
Pulling the cotton robe on his body, Wang Zhene raised his head and looked at the tall Yonggong Mansion, and said respectfully: "Please tell me, my lord, that Wang Zhene is here to accept the crime."
After saying that, Wang Zhene stood solemnly and bowed his hands toward the door of the mansion, waiting for Yang Anxuan's disposal. Snowflakes fell one after another, and in a moment, my beard and hair turned white, and the green cotton-padded clothes changed their color due to the snow.
Wang Ji, Wang Yuan and others looked pale, and imitated Wang Zhene's way of bowing and standing, feeling uneasy in their hearts. Wang Hong and Wang Zun knelt on the cold ground to await their punishment.
The children of the Wang family in the carriage were also asked to get off the carriage and stand in the snow. The north wind blew like a knife and hurt their little faces. Some people cried "Wow" and a woman in the carriage sobbed softly.
In the last bullock cart, Wang Yi had her hands tied behind her back, her mouth gagged with linen, her hair disheveled, and two stout servants looking at her.
After learning that he had arrived in Xiangyang, Wang Yi knew that he would die. His crazy eyes finally showed a look of despair, and tears rolled down his face.
Yang Anxuan was reviewing official documents in the lobby. A clerk rushed into the lobby and reported, "Mr. Yong, Marquis Longyang is outside the gate asking for an audience."
The pen in Yang Anxuan's hand paused, and then he finished writing the remaining words, carefully placed the pen on the pen holder, and said to everyone in the hall: "Long Yanghou has come from afar, please follow me to greet him." .”
It became gradually known that Wang Zun led his army to rebel, and everyone secretly speculated on how the lord would deal with the Wang family. Those who were promoted to official positions because of Wang's suppression of evil were panicked, and they used the New Year's excuse to complain to Xin He, Xi Pijiang, and Zhao Tian and others gave gifts in the hope that the Wang family would not be implicated.
Yang Anxuan stood up and strode out, and everyone followed him in panic. The officials in the mansion heard that their lord was going to see Wang Zhene, and many people followed curiously to watch the excitement. They walked from the lobby to the front door of the mansion. , Yang Anxuan was followed by sixty or seventy people.
Wang Zhene stared at the door of the mansion and felt relieved when he saw Yang Anxuan walking out of the mansion. He was very familiar with the Governor's Mansion and knew how long it took to get from the gate to the lobby. It seemed that the Lord came to see him immediately after being notified.
His legs went weak, and Wang Zhene knelt down on the ground, shouting loudly: "Wang Zhene has seen my lord, and his foolish disciple did not know what to do, causing a catastrophe. Please punish me, lord."
Seeing Wang Zhene kneel down, Wang Ji and others knelt down behind him. The children were also forcibly pulled down, like trees blown down by a hurricane, and there was a loud cry.
Yang Anxuan frowned, quickly stepped forward to help Wang Zhene, and said: "Suppressing evil is not a big mistake, why do you need to do this? Get up. You all get up quickly."
After taking a look at the Wang family, Yang Anxuan said: "Temporarily imprison Wang Zun and Wang Yuan, and let everyone else go back to their homes."
After that, Yang Anxuan and Wang Zhene entered the mansion hand in hand. The Wang family had a mansion in Xiangyang, and everyone except Wang Zun and Wang Yuan returned to the mansion.
Arriving at the lobby, Yang Anxuan ordered someone to serve hot tea and said: "It's freezing cold and freezing, so why come here at this time to suppress the evil? Didn't I send you a letter asking you to come back after the spring warms up?"
Wang Zhene bowed his hands respectfully and said: "My lord, I know the seriousness of my crime. I am in fear day and night in Chang'an. It would be better to come to my lord earlier to plead guilty and feel at ease."
Yang Anxuan waved his hand and said: "Suppress evil and be gentle. Yu said that you did not do anything serious, it was just negligence, and you will be fined half a year's salary. This time you are asked to return to Xiangyang because Yu is preparing to set up a staff. This matter must be suppressed." "
Wang Zhen'e said dully: "Don't you dare not do the hard work of a dog or a horse."
In Wang Zhen'e's view, Yang Anxuan took away his position as the governor of Beiyong Province and casually used the title of General Staff to appease himself. From now on, he might not be able to be reused again.
Seeing that Wang Zhene looked tired, Yang Anxuan said: "Zhene, you have been tired all the way. Please go home and rest for a few days before coming back. I will talk to you in detail when you are stupid enough."
Wang Zhene stood up and saluted, and was about to turn around and leave.
Yang Anxuan stood up and said, "Go and take Wang Hong home and discipline him strictly. As for Wang Zun, send him on his way."
Wang Zhene's eyes flashed with pain, and he bowed and said, "Wei."
Yang Anxuan took a few steps forward and came to Wang Zhene, saying: "Zhene, Yu once said, 'If the king does not rebel, Yang will not raise the sword.' This Bazi Yu reiterated that he would carve it on an iron plate and give it to him in the future. Suppress evil.”
This was the first time for Xin He and others in the hall to hear these eight words, and they all looked at Wang Zhene in shock. It seemed that Wang Zhene had an extraordinary status in the eyes of the lord.
Many officials originally planned to take advantage of the Wang family's loss of power to get some benefits, but now it seems that Duke Yong still trusts Wang Zhene.
Wang Zhen'e was shocked when he heard this. He immediately knelt down and cried bitterly: "I am so stupid to thank my lord for your great kindness. I can only repay you in love."
After coming out of the lobby, Wang Zhene sent someone to take Wang Hong out of the prison to the east, and led him to the mansion in a carriage.
Seeing Wang Zhene leading Wang Hong back, Wang Ji and others were all happy. Wang Ji asked: "Second brother, didn't my lord make things difficult for you? Is the third brother okay? Where is the fourth brother? Can my lord spare his life?" "
"The third brother is fine, but the fourth brother can't be saved." Wang Zhene sat down on the table and said with a tired look on his face.
Wang Yuan shouted: "Second brother has made outstanding achievements in battle, why doesn't Duke Yong spare his life and spare the life of fourth brother?"
Wang Zhene slapped the case hard and shouted: "Shut up. From now on, you will all be fools with your tail between your legs. There are countless people in Xiangyang City who are staring at you, wanting to pounce on you to drink your blood and eat your flesh." , if we cause trouble again, the Wang family will be doomed."
Two days later, Wang Zhene appeared in the government prison with food and wine. Wang Zun saw his second brother and said excitedly: "Second brother, you are here to pick up Yu from prison, right? Yu knew that second brother would save me. "
In the corner, Wang Yi sat on the haystack with unkempt hair, "Haha" and sneered: "Idiot, your brother came to deliver the guillotine and didn't even know that death is imminent."
Wang Zun watched in horror as the food and wine were placed on the table, and cried, "Second brother, please tell me, are you going to take Yu out?"
Wang Zhen'e looked at his fourth brother in pain and choked out: "After this meal, you can go on your way in peace. I will bury this woman with you."
"Bah," Wang Yi spat and cursed, "Whoever wants to be buried with this idiot is just using him to let Yang Anxuan kill your Wang family."
Wang Zun turned around and looked at Wang Yi in shock and said, "Yier, you, you, what did you say?"
Wang Yi stood up and dragged his shackles to the desk, and said coldly to Wang Zhene: "The wine is here, I have to go on the road early to see my child."
Wang Zhene signaled his entourage to hand over a small bottle of Jiu wine. Wang Yi took it and drank it down without hesitation. He endured the abdominal pain and slowly returned to the corner to sit down. Blood seeped out from the corner of his mouth, and Wang Yi looked miserable. He smiled softly and murmured: "Poor child, mother is here."
Seeing Wang Yi bleeding to death from his seven orifices, Wang Zun stepped forward and hugged Wang Zhene's feet, crying: "Second brother saved the servant, but it was Wang Yi who harmed the servant. Second brother begged the lord for mercy, spare the servant's life." .”
Wang Zhene signaled his followers to pull Wang Zun away, slowly walked out of the prison door, and stood waiting where Wang Zun couldn't see him.
The wails finally became quieter and turned into sobs. Half an hour later, the attendant came over and whispered softly: "Fourth Master is on his way."
Wang Zhene closed his eyes, tears rolled down his face, and he covered his face with his sleeves and said, "Order someone to wash them, put them into new clothes, and bury them in one place."
Some people died, but not completely...
