In Tokyo, the sky is blue, the wind is warm, the willows are green, and the flowers are blooming.
Emperor Daojun had just returned from a visit to Genyue. After drinking a few cups of orange in Yiqing Hall, he began to watch the memorial.
He only looked at the urgent ones, and others were handled by Wang Fu and Li Bangyan. Although Wang Fu was responsible for concealing the truth about Fang La, his trust in Wang Fu was not completely lost because of his correct answers.
The memorial was sent by the King of Qin Zhao Tong from his bodyguard and military department. It was rushed from thousands of miles away and sealed with fire paint. It was not an ordinary memorial, but an urgent report of military intelligence.
Emperor Daojun stretched out his hand to pick it up, with an insightful smile on his lips. This second-in-command always liked to exaggerate and bluff, but now Wang Fu dared to conceal the memorial even if it fell into the sect of Zhongshu? What's more, it's just that he didn't leave Zhongshu, but he actually sealed it with fire paint. He didn't have a chariot to fight in person. Wouldn't he be bluffing by doing these things?
"Zhang Di, read!" Emperor Daojun spent the whole morning wandering around the garden. He was a little lazy. He leaned slightly on the dragon chair and threw the zhezi to Zhang Di.
"Yes, Guanjia!" Zhang Di had a smile on his face, hurriedly took it with both hands, and then opened it carefully: "Guanjia, this is an urgent report from His Highness the King of Qin. His Highness the King of Qin said..."
"Huh?!" After a moment, Emperor Daojun suddenly opened his eyes, with a look of shock on his face: "You, will you read it again?"
Zhang Di's voice was also trembling: "The bandit commander Fang Qifu attacked Jiangning at night. His Highness the King of Qin led his army to fight hard and killed 60,000 bandits who entered the city. He also led 15,000 fine cavalry outside Jiangning City. Defeat the bandit army of two hundred thousand, chase the enemy for hundreds of miles, and kill another hundred thousand!"
Emperor Daojun sat up from the dragon chair with a leap, his eyes fixed on Zhang Di, and he groped blankly on the table with one hand, finally grabbed the wine cup, picked it up and poured it into his mouth. The juice flowed down his beard and stained his robe without even realizing it.
"Zhang Di, are you saying that the King of Qin defeated an army of 200,000 thieves with only 15,000 cavalry? And he defeated an army of 100,000 people?" Emperor Daojun held the wine cup, his face was a little red, and he didn't know that he was drunk. Still stimulated by this news.
"Guan family, that's exactly what happened. There were only fifty or sixty thousand defenders in Jiangning City where His Highness the King of Qin was located. After killing the same number of thieves who sneaked into the city in one fell swoop, he personally led fifteen thousand cavalry out of the city and defeated the outsiders. Two hundred thousand thieves, chased for hundreds of miles, beheaded one hundred thousand!" Zhang Di also became excited, with a tremor in his voice.
"Quickly, bring the wine!" Emperor Daojun waved his sleeves and shouted to the maid next to him.
The maid hurriedly went to the back to get another small tangerine, and filled the wine cup of Emperor Daojun. Emperor Daojun said excitedly: "One against ten, no, no, no, this is one against ten, fifteen thousand beats two." One hundred thousand, since the founding of the dynasty by Taizu, there has never been such a feat. We should tell the world, tell the world, let all the foreign countries know about our cultural, political and martial arts in the Song Dynasty. In this way... it is not far away to regain Yanyun. That’s it!”
Zhang Di also said happily: "What the officials said is true. Long live my congratulations, humble slave. Long live my congratulations."
Emperor Daojun nodded and drank another glass of wine. He was not tired at this moment. After sitting down, he looked at Zhang Di and said: "What else did King Qin say in the memorial? Can I take credit? The memorial he sent last time said to lead the troops south. Jiang Ning, guard the natural dangers of the Yangtze River. I thought he was going to do something wrong again, but I didn't expect that Jiang Ning was doing the right thing. The Yangtze River area... is indeed a dangerous place, and this second brother really knows how to fight."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Di hurriedly complimented him and continued to read the memorial. It didn't matter, the joy he had just felt slowly disappeared, and his face suddenly changed.
Emperor Daojun looked at him and said, "But what special reward does the second brother want?"
Zhang Di's hands trembled slightly: "Official, official, King Qin didn't ask for a reward, King Qin asked for forgiveness."
Emperor Daojun wondered: "After such a victorious battle, he did not ask for a reward but asked for a sin. What sin did he ask for?"
Zhang Di fell to his knees with a plop: "An official, a humble slave, a humble slave dare not say anything."
Emperor Daojun was even more surprised: "What is there that you dare not say? Could it be that he killed Wang Hanzhi of Jiangning?"
Zhang Di lay in the tunnel and said: "Guan family, no, not..."
Emperor Daojun frowned and stood up, walked over with the wine cup and reached for the memorial. He glanced at it, his eyes suddenly widened, his mouth opened, and he was stunned on the spot.
A moment later, there was a crisp "snap" sound, and the white jade cup in Emperor Daojun's hand fell to the ground and shattered. His face twitched, his expression changed drastically, and there was a hint of joy in his complicated expression, and he murmured: "Death" Well done, well dead!"
Zhang Di's body trembled and he hurriedly put his head to the ground. At this moment, he wanted to cover his ears with his hands. He didn't hear what the official said, he definitely didn't hear it!
"Not enough deaths, or too few deaths!" Emperor Daojun whispered to himself: "Only more than half died, how can this be enough? Why not all of them died!"
How could Zhang Di dare to answer the conversation? He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, lying on the ground and pretending to be dead.
After more than ten breaths passed, Emperor Daojun suddenly looked sad. He took a few steps back to the table, threw the folded book on it, and roared sadly: "How could such a thing happen? How could such a thing happen? ! How do I deal with all the officials? How do I deal with the world!"
He grabbed the memorials of Wang Hanzhi and Sun Changjie and read them. Finally, he slammed the table and shouted: "Quickly tell King Cai Jing to enter the palace..."
Zhao Tong was sitting in the Xuanfu Department drinking tea. A few days had passed since the war. The aftermath of the war gradually subsided. Half of the eighteen gates in the four cities of Jiangning were open, and people passing by were strictly checked. All residents who were not local residents in Jiangning were Do Not Enter.
That night, he left Yao Pingzhong and Zhang Xian behind and asked them to find a way to transport all the gold and silver money from the noble families, and then took them to Hongjue Temple in Niutoushan to hide them.
The families of the noble families in Xicheng had good luck with their money. After all, there was no evidence of death there. No matter what Yao Pingzhong said, no one could provide any evidence to accuse them even if they were all emptied.
But it was different here in the north city of Dongcheng. Not only were they present here at that time, but many local Jiangning officers were also present. After the Mingjiao Jiangning branch was annihilated, the money in the boxes was sent back to the gentry's mansion for sealing. Outside Guarded by layers of soldiers.
Zhao Tong was sitting in Jiangning, so he could have withdrawn all the money, but after all, many people were watching at the time. All the nobles were dead, and there was no money left at all. This was quite unreasonable.
The great victory reported in Zhao Tong's memorial was that he defeated Fang Qifu's army of more than 200,000 people. Even if the opponent sneaked into the city and killed people, set fire to them, and killed all the nobles, they still couldn't take away all the money.
Therefore, even if the North East City side wants to take some of the noble family wealth, it cannot be all of it, at most half.
But the wealth of this half of the gentry family is already an astronomical figure. Not only is every gentry family rich, but it also has a lot of wealth, but it is not just as simple as having a large amount of land.
This half of the noble family wealth is not easy to get. Even if Zhao Tong is in Jiangning, he can get it directly, but after all, you have to guard against it.
Either this was done without anyone noticing, or he could just sit on the ground and share the spoils. With such a large amount of money, he would be as rich as a country. No one could refuse this temptation.
Zhao Tong asked Yao Pingzhong and Zhang Xian to find a way. Yao Pingzhong had a dark heart and wanted to take it out and take it away, saying that the nobles were all killed by Fang La's people anyway, so if they just took the money, who would dare to say anything? Even if he says it, he is just a greedy man, who can do anything to the two kings!
Zhang Xian advocated asking Jiangning officials to handle this matter together and share the money. When the time comes, everyone will be tricked. Naturally, everyone will hide it. After all, they have also collected it. This so-called collection is better than their officials. The salary will be more for a lifetime!
The two people argued endlessly, but in the end Zhao Tong chose Yao Pingzhong's method. He looked at Zhang Xian and shook his head and said: "I will not use this money to seal those officials, but I will use part of it as military rewards. Now The national treasury is tight, and although military pay can be paid, the rewards may have to be delayed again and again, which is detrimental to the military."
Zhang Xian shook his head and said in confusion: "Your Majesty, my subordinates think that it would be safer for each official to receive a sum of money from the nobles. It is impossible for them to tell this matter. After all, they have also taken it. This will not delay the military." It’s a reward.”
Zhao Tong muttered: "The human heart is unpredictable, and the hearts of one person and two people are unpredictable, let alone so many people? Some of these people are in-laws of noble families, and some rely on noble family connections to get into official positions. Even if they receive a large amount of money, who can How can we guarantee that we will not inform any family members who are officials in the government? Once we inform them, they themselves will be irrefutable evidence. No other evidence is needed to prove that the king has embezzled the wealth of the gentry!"
Zhang Xian said: "Then General Yao's method will not be seen by others..."
Zhao Tong smiled: "As long as I don't admit it, what can anyone do? What's more, what he said was too rough. Naturally, you can't do it like that. You two are listening..."
A few days later, in the evening, Zhao Tong went to the guest room behind the Fusi. Before he entered the room, he heard a sound of banging and banging coming from inside the room.
He stood in front of the door for a moment and frowned when he heard Zhu Xiuniang's crying and the mother-in-law and maid's persuasion.
Ding Da Xie said from the side: "Your Majesty, Madam Zhu has been noisy these days. It is inconvenient for my subordinates to enter the house. I am afraid that she will commit suicide and I have been worried."
Zhao Tong nodded and said: "Open the door, I will go in and take a look."
Ding Daxie opened the door and walked in with his hands behind his back. Zhu Xiuniang was stunned when she saw him, and then rushed over.
Zhao Tong looked at her formerly pure and smooth little face, but now she was extremely thin, and her lively and energetic eyes had become dull, but the deep hatred was almost substantive. He ran to Zhao Tong and held his hand. He hit Zhao Tong on the chest with his fist, crying while beating: "Did you do it? Did you do it?"
Zhao Tong grabbed her hands, but Zhu Xiuniang couldn't break free, so he raised his legs and kicked her. Zhao Tong dodged and said, "Xiuniang, what are you doing? Look what you have become!"
Zhu Xiuniang bit her lip and said nothing, but struggled desperately. Zhao Tao raised his arms and held her in his arms. She couldn't move her hands and legs, so she opened her mouth and bit Zhao Tao's arm.
Zhao Tong had no expression on his face and just let her bite him. Then he carried her to the bed and said coldly: Have you bitten enough? "
When Zhu Xiuniang saw that he didn't respond, she cried and let go. There was blood on her mouth. She cried: "Zhao Tong, you kill me, you kill me!"
Zhao Tong said: "You are my king's commander, what will I do to kill you?"
Zhu Xiuniang moved hard, but still couldn't break free, and said: "Then you let me die by myself, isn't it okay for me to die by myself? Don't let those people stop me, I can just finish it by myself!"
Zhao Tong raised his hand and threw her onto the couch, saying: "Don't say another word of death. I don't want to hear it, let alone hear it from your mouth!"
Zhu Xiuniang curled up on the corner of the couch and said bitterly: "If you don't let me die, aren't you afraid that I will kill you one day?"
Zhao Tong looked at her with surprise: "Xiu Niang wants to kill me?"
Zhu Xiuniang said: "You killed my family and killed so many people. I, I want revenge!"
Zhao Tong shook his head and said: "Your family was killed by Fang La's bandit army. I sent troops to save you but they didn't arrive. Although I feel guilty, this matter has nothing to do with me!"
Zhu Xiuniang cried and said: "Zhao Tong, you did this. Don't make excuses. Even if you didn't personally send someone to do it, you are still killing someone with a borrowed knife and deliberately letting those thieves in!"
Zhao Tong looked at her and raised his eyebrows: "Killing with a borrowed knife? What a shame, Xiu Niang, you can figure it out. How can I borrow the knife of the thief army with my identity? I think you have been too sad these days and are a little confused, or... Take a good rest and rest your mind!"
Zhu Xiuniang looked at Zhao Tao with both eyes and said angrily: "Although I don't know what method you used, you are insidious and cunning. Even the thieves were fooled by you. These people all died in your hands. You, you are the best person in the world." The most vicious person, if I don’t die, I will definitely kill you for revenge!”
Zhao Tong was silent for a long time after hearing this, then slowly shook his head and said, "Xiu Niang, don't you want to pay homage to your family?"
"I..." Zhu Xiuniang was stunned and said, "You will let me pay homage to my family?"
Zhao Tong said: "You are my king's son, and the Zhu family is your natal family. How can I stop you from paying homage to your family!"
Zhu Xiuniang's originally dull eyes suddenly showed a glimmer of light: "I want to go now!"
Hearing this, Zhao Tong sighed softly and said slowly: "But I think Xiu Niang, you are weak and overly stressed at the moment, so it is not suitable for you to go to pay homage!"
"Zhao Tong!" Zhu Xiuniang said angrily, "You are lying to me again!"
Zhao Tong waved his hand: "What I said has always stood true. As long as you eat well, take good care of your body, and keep your spirit good, I will personally take you to pay homage!"
After he finished speaking, he turned around and left. Zhu Xiuniang looked at him blankly for a few seconds. Seeing that he had already arrived in front of the door, she hurriedly ran down from the couch and said, "Zhao Tong, don't leave!"
Zhao Tong turned back and glanced at her: "After you take good care of yourself, you can report it to me. I will keep my word!"
Watching the door open and close, and Zhao Tong gradually go away, Zhu Xiuniang bit her lip and sat there for a while, with a firm look on her face.
She wants revenge. Since Zhao Tong won't kill her or let her die, it gives her a chance to take revenge. She will definitely find a way to kill this evil thief!
Thinking of this, Zhu Xiuniang looked at the maid next to her and said, "I'm hungry, go and prepare something to eat for me."
(End of chapter)
