Since Yuan Xi appointed himself a general and opened the government, the Prefecture Mufu has set aside a front courtyard to handle important military and political affairs. The study room in the backyard became a place for Yuan Xi and his wife and concubines to study and practice calligraphy. Another front study room was opened in the front yard for office work for the civil servants who were on duty. Yuan Xi brought Feng Ji, Shen Pei, and Xu Chu, a guard, to the front study.
When several people arrived at the front study, Liu Ye, who was on duty, nodded to them and said, "Third Young Master has been waiting in the inner room for a long time."
After Yuan Xi heard this, he nodded slightly and didn't say much.
After speaking, Liu Ye asked the two housekeepers to go out with him and closed the door. These two Shiren were recruited by Liu Ye himself, one was Liu Fang and the other was Sun Zi.
After a few people sat down, Shen Pei asked with a smile: "It's such a cold weather. My lord asked me to wait. Could it be that there is something confidential?"
"There is indeed something confidential." Yuan Xi looked at a few people quietly and ordered: "Zhongkang, go and make the fire bigger."
Xu Chu responded and immediately stepped forward to fiddle with the fire.
Yuan Xi looked at Yuan Shang again. He asked casually, "Third brother seems to have lost a lot of weight recently. Is it because of heavy military duties? Or?"
"Ah! I only hold the title of idle school captain, and there is nothing to be busy with. It's just that after moving here, I'm not used to the winter in Hebei, which makes my second brother worried." Yuan Shang replied with a smile.
"Yeah, I haven't stayed in my hometown for long. Of the three brothers, we both grew up in Luoyang. It's been more than 20 years in a flash." Yuan Xi raised his head and couldn't help but sigh.
"It's a pity that my father's business collapsed half way through his business. Now we are the only two brothers left." Yuan Shang's voice was choked with sobs.
"Eldest Brother, Third Brother, do you think I did too much for Second Brother?" Yuan Xi couldn't help but ask.
Feng Ji, Shen Pei, and Yuan Shang changed their expressions slightly, and could not answer for a while. This issue is not generally sensitive.
"My eldest brother is too greedy. How could he give up after fighting for so many years?" Yuan Shang couldn't help but shake his head and sighed.
"Well, the third brother said it well!" Yuan Xi took out a piece of cloth and began to raise his voice, "It's not that I want to kill everyone, second brother, but someone is forcing me! This power is really tempting. , Lost one's true nature, the struggle for power between father, son and brother has been around since ancient times. I never thought that our Yuan family would also stage this kind of thing."
Xu Chu understood. He took the cloth and handed it to Feng Ji and the others to look at. It doesn't matter. At first glance, the three of them were terrified.
"Who did this? How dare you do this? General, this is none of my business..." Feng Ji was so angry that his whole body was shaking.
"Where did you get the general?" Shen Pei asked in shock.
"General Zilong, I found it on the body of my eldest brother." Yuan Xi turned his back to the three of them and said calmly.
"I didn't expect that there would be internal affairs in Jizhou. This must be thoroughly investigated." Shen Pei said sternly, but as he spoke, his face suddenly became ugly.
"Yeah, tell me, who will do it?" Yuan Xi asked calmly, with a cold and cold tone.
Feng Ji suddenly kept a close eye on Shen Pei and Yuan Shang. But after a while, he immediately replied: "General, we cannot speculate on this, but we must investigate thoroughly and we cannot condone such bad behavior."
"Well, third brother, what do you think?" Yuan Xi turned around and asked.
Yuan Shang lowered his head slightly and said in a deep voice: "Well, what Mr. Yuan Tu said is that we must investigate thoroughly!"
Yuan Xi sat down slowly and sighed: "You are so greedy, no one can escape. If that person can stand up and bear the responsibility, I may be able to deal with him leniently. Otherwise, that's it."
Seeing no one answered, Yuan Xi took out another piece of paper. Said: "There are only a few people who know the marching route of the army, but there are probably a few who know the marching route of the army. The secret letter does not mention the marching route of the army, which means that it is not a few subordinates of the General's Mansion."
Seeing that no one answered, Yuan Xi said to himself: "The day before the army set out for the expedition, a servant named Li Li took leave and returned home. There are also two hundred people in the south camp of Yecheng who will take leave and return home. What a coincidence."
Hear this. The three of them all understood that Yuan Xi had already found out clearly that he was here to ask for guilt. They all admired the secret power in Yuan Xi's hands at the same time. There was another chill in my heart.
"Yes, I was the one who tipped off the news!" Yuan Shang suddenly said loudly, a little hysterical and crazy.
Xu Chu, Zhu Gongdao and other guards immediately became alert. They glared at Yuan Shang. As long as Yuan Xi gave the order, they would immediately go up and kill the murderer who murdered tens of thousands of soldiers, even if he was Yuan Xi's younger brother.
"It's good for you!" Yuan Xi said coldly. He and Jia Xu had long suspected that because Yuan Tan died in battle and left no heirs, there would be only one heir in Jizhou. The third eldest brother, Yuan Shang, and the fifth brother, Yuan Mai, are not legitimate sons, so they are excluded.
"Am I greedy?" Yuan Shang couldn't help but sneered, and said with trembling tears, "Hahaha, greedy? What qualifications do you have to criticize me? None of our three brothers is the same, but you, the second brother, had the last laugh, haha Ha ha."
"If Ju Yi hadn't landed in Liaodong by sea and launched a sneak attack, the outcome of this battle would have been unpredictable. And your actions undoubtedly murdered tens of thousands of soldiers!" Yuan Xi looked at the crazy Yuan Shang and said coldly.
"So what? Aren't you able to kill your eldest brother? Why can't I?" Yuan Shang said with a ferocious expression on his face.
Shen Pei and Feng Ji were both frightened and went crazy with Yuan Shang. They never thought that Yuan Shang had such a sinister side.
"General, I really don't know about this, otherwise I wouldn't have let him make such a big mistake." Shen Pei cried.
"Fortunately, you didn't get involved directly. Otherwise, the Shen family would have been wiped out from now on!" Yuan Xi said coldly.
Shen Pei didn't want his son-in-law to die, but firstly it was against his nature, and secondly it was really difficult to plead with Yuan Xi, so he knelt aside and remained silent.
"Mr. Yuan Tu, what is the crime of collaborating with the enemy?" Yuan Xi asked.
"The whole family will be executed!" Feng Jiqiang said calmly. As soon as he said it, he realized something was wrong and immediately added: "Well, um, we can also execute the first offender as appropriate."
Hearing this, Yuan Shang collapsed. Not everyone can face death calmly.
Yuan Xi felt uncomfortable in his heart. After reading the secret letter, he immediately guessed that it was Yuan Shang. At that time, he completely despaired of the so-called brotherhood, and also brought his anger to Yuan Tan's family.
Not to mention Yuan Tan, who has been his enemy since childhood, Yuan Shang has always had a good relationship with him, at least on the surface. Therefore, he was particularly saddened by Yuan Shang's betrayal. After all, he was a compatriot from the same mother.
"My father was buried in a hurry. It's time to build a better tomb for him. The three-year period of mourning has not passed, so you can go and guard the tomb." Yuan Xi turned his back and stopped looking at him. ===
It's not that he didn't want to kill Yuan Shang, but that his eldest brother Yuan Tan had just died and he would kill his third brother Yuan Shang. This would have a great impact on Yuan Xi's reputation, and his father Yuan Shao's last words were to be kind to brothers.
Yuan Shang raised his head in disbelief and looked at Yuan Xi with his back to them, while Shen Pei couldn't help but kowtow.
"Go down, I don't want to see you again!" Yuan Xi said coldly.
In the end, Shen Pei left with Yuan Shang, and after Feng Ji explained some things, he also left.
Liu Ye entered the study and looked at Yuan Shang who was putting away the silk books. He asked: "The young general is right not to kill him at this time, but we must be careful!"
"I have a greedy heart. The only blame I have to blame is that I was born into a wealthy family! I didn't expect that the third brother would be so crazy. Some people live for rights. Even if there is a little hope, he will continue. I'm afraid the same is true for the third brother. ." Yuan Xi said quietly.
However, Yuan Xi himself was not like this. He walked step by step towards Emperor Taizong and Li Shimin. Such a path of glory was full of blood. At the same time, it also laid the foundation for the subsequent fight for the succession between Emperor Xuanwu and his sons. After all, there was a car ahead. It is not the case later.
"Since the general believes that he is still evil, why not take the opportunity to eliminate him and avoid future troubles?" Liu Ye asked in confusion.
"Let's give him a chance, and if he controls it well, it might be a clever move." Yuan Xi said lightly.
Liu Ye was shocked. Guessing Yuan Xi's intentions.
"Zi Yang, if you know yourself and the enemy, you will be able to fight a hundred battles. In the future, when making military plans, you will also need to rely on knowing the enemy's situation. The black ice shadow guards and teacher Zhang Hong's secret guards are particularly important. The hard work is on you and the teacher." Yuan Xi ordered.
"Here!" Liu Ye replied respectfully.
In just half a year, Jizhou's senior officials experienced drastic changes one after another. After the collapse of the Xin family and the Guo family, Shen Pei resigned from the post of chief official of Fa Cao.
Yuan Xi promised to order Cui Yan to take over as the chief official of Fa Cao and appoint him as Fa Cao. For a time, there was a lot of noise, and the entire Shen family stayed behind closed doors and rarely went out, acting in an extremely low-key manner.
Yecheng, Yuan Mansion.
"Xianyi." Yuan Xi had just dismounted, and a girl hurriedly walked out of the door. Yuan Xi looked like who could she be if she wasn't Princess Wannian?
Yuan Xi threw the reins to his servant, stepped forward, hugged Liu Yan, and said with a smile: "Why don't you follow Zhen Mi's example and hide behind the door."
Liu Yan had a reddish complexion and a pair of tender eyes. She looked at him crazily and said softly: "This princess knew you were coming back, so she couldn't help but wait here. Xianyi won't laugh at others, right?"
"It's too late for me to like you, so how can I make fun of you." Yuan Xi kissed her on the face, "Let's go in, there are not many people in the house today."
Liu Yan blushed and nodded, holding Yuan Xi's clothes tightly with her little hands, and followed him slowly towards the house.
Now his women have their own things to do. Yuan Xi can do whatever he wants, but no one will say anything.
However, he also knew that he would not be free for long in days like this, so he should enjoy it while he could.
Now the two of them seemed to be in love. They were tired of being together, but there were times when they were short of words no matter how much they talked about love. After talking for a long time, they took advantage and ate the secret fruit. Yuan Xi felt that he could Find a bed and let the two of you have sex directly.
The spring breeze was picking up outside the pavilion. Seeing that many plants in the back garden were sprouting new buds, Yuan Xi said, "Spring has arrived. It won't be long before the back garden will be filled with green."
Liu Yan squeezed her body tightly into Yuan Xi's arms. After hearing this, she raised her head and said softly: "Yes, the weather in spring is just right, and I can stay in bed. I think it's pretty good."
Yuan Xi suddenly thought of what Gao Yue had said today that Liu Yan liked to stay in bed, and couldn't help but joked: "My good Yan'er, when do you usually get up?"
Liu Yan didn't expect that he would ask such an embarrassing question, her face suddenly turned red with embarrassment, her eyes turned rapidly, and she suddenly saw fallen leaves falling outside the pavilion, so she quickly changed the subject and said, "Xianyi, how about I give you a sword dance?"
"Oh," Yuan Xi said in surprise: "You can also dance a sword?"
"Of course, didn't we, Master Wang, learn swordsmanship in Luoyang?" Liu Yan said with a hint of pride: "Although she is just playing around, she is much more powerful than ordinary women. You have to watch Xianyi."
Liu Yan stood up from Yuan Xi's arms and then remembered that her long sword was still in the house. "Xianyi, I'll go back to the house to get the sword first. Just wait for me and I'll be back soon."
"Go." Yuan Xi said with a smile. It was Yuan Xi's first time to watch a woman dance a sword, and she thought it would be very interesting. When Wang Yue taught Yuan Xi the killing sword in Luoyang, the Wannian Princess Liu Yan did it purely for looks.
Not long after Liu Yan left, a pretty figure came over from behind and whispered to him: "Where is Her Royal Highness the Princess?"
Yuan Xi looked back and was stunned for a moment, then realized that the person coming was really his beloved concubine Tang Ji.
Recalling that he teased Tang Ji that day, Yuan Xi remained calm at the moment and just said: "Yan'er said to get the sword and show me the sword dance later."
"Dance the sword," Tang Ji seemed to be moving.
Yuan Xi laughed and said, "Don't you know how to dance with a sword? How about you and Wannian dance together later?"
"Husband, you have a beautiful idea," Tang Ji turned around and hummed: "You are not satisfied with Her Highness the Princess dancing the sword to you, and you want me, Princess Hongnong, to dance the sword with you. You are really not satisfied."
Yuan Xi's heart trembled and itched in his heart. Tang Ji named his princess, which made Yuan Xi have an inexplicable feeling. He got up from the pavilion and walked two steps forward: "Tang Ji, the one who greeted me that night was Not you?"
"Ah," Tang Ji rolled her eyes and said stupidly, "Ah, what did you say? Oops, my head hurts so much. It seems I've caught a cold. I have to go back and rest..."
"It doesn't seem to be the case. I'll ask Yan'er later," Yuan Xi deliberately joked, suppressing a smile.
It turned out that Yuan Xi was looking for Princess Wannian that day, but the person on the bed was indeed Tang Ji, so he gave her to Tang Ji in confusion. You must have entered the wrong room. This made Princess Wannian and Yuan Xi very embarrassed.
Tang Ji stopped, turned her head angrily, and said, "Husband, are you threatening Tang Ji?"
Yuan Xi laughed loudly and said: "How dare I threaten you? I'm just curious. Why did you pretend to be Wan Nian that day when you were so good that I thought you were her."
"You are wrong, there is one difference between us," said Tang Ji, her cheeks turned red, and she said in a sweet voice, "But I won't tell you, I'm leaving. Haha..."
"Husband, do you really want to see my sword dance?" Tang Ji, who was halfway through, suddenly stopped and asked Yuan Xi.
"Think about it," Yuan Xi immediately replied loudly. How can one person dance with a sword as well as a pair of beautiful people dancing with a sword?
"You beg me," Tang Ji laughed and said, "If you beg me, I will dance the sword with the princess to show you."
Yuan Xi: "..." This Tang Ji will have to be well trained in the future. Since Tang Ji and Princess Wannian reunited, Tang Ji seems to have become a different person, much more lively and cheerful.
It seems that after he abducted her from Luoyang, Tang Ji's heart was closed for a period of time. After the arrival of Wannian Princess Liu Yan, Tang Ji untied her heart. This can be regarded as an unexpected blessing.
Yuan Xi was thinking in his mind when he heard the sound of footsteps. When he looked up, he saw two girls in tight red clothes walking towards this side with swords in their hands.
Seeing the two people coming side by side, Yuan Xi was in a daze.
"Husband!" The two women came to Yuan Xi and shouted to him together.
"Gulu." Yuan Xi swallowed. Farewell My Concubine, Yu Ji is also so touching.
In order to cover up his embarrassment, Yuan Xi pretended to say: "The two ladies are indeed stunning, but you two will dance with the sword first, and then I will comment."
Liu Yan and Tang Ji looked at each other with some doubts in their eyes, but they had already agreed to show him the sword dance together, so they didn't refuse.
The two of them bent slightly with their swords in hand, each took a step back, and were about to start the sword dance.
