Chongqing Mansion, Chaotian Palace City.
Viewed from the air, this triangular-shaped fortress was originally very cold, with few permanent residents inside. Now it is even more eerily quiet, so much so that Li Laiheng always thinks of the words "lifeless"...
Sitting in the Jinluan Hall of Chaotian Palace, which was as simple as the Juyi Hall of a mountain king, Li Laiheng looked at the twenty or thirty dejected ministers below, and couldn't help but think of Kunming City and Wuhua Palace... ..Kunming is better, it’s like spring all year round, and it’s also bustling and lively. There are many imperial palaces inside and outside Kunming. If you get tired of staying in Wuhua Palace, you can go out for a stroll. How can it be like Chaotian Palace in Chongqing? He's almost like a prisoner and can't go anywhere.
Li Laiheng sighed and was about to announce the dismissal of the court and then go back to the harem to play with the Hu Ji that his son gave him, when he saw Gu Junen, the governor of Chongqing, coming in panting.
This Gu Junen can be regarded as a veteran of the Three Dynasties of Dashun. He has been the Second Military Advisor since the Li Zicheng era. Later, he followed Li Guo to Sichuan. He also had the merit of supporting Li Guo - he found Ada, who was two years younger than Li Guo! Li Guo was not very grateful to him, but Li Laiheng regarded him as a confidant and always allowed him to firmly control the household government. This time Li Laiheng went north to Chongqing and brought him with him, making him the governor of Chongqing. After Tian Jianxiu left Tunluzhou, he was also responsible for organizing the defense of Chongqing Fucheng (excluding Chaotian Palace City).
Seeing Gu Junen running in a hurry, Li Laiheng became a little nervous. Could it be that Can Ming's army was coming? Is it too late to run now?
"Your Majesty, your Majesty is not well!"
Horseback riding is not allowed in Chaotian Palace, so Gu Junen jogged all the way. When he saw Li Dingguo, he panted and reported.
What's wrong with me, the emperor? Li Laiheng's heart was hanging high and his mouth was half-open, waiting for Gu Junen to continue. But Gu Junen was old. After running over in a hurry, he knelt on the ground and began to breathe heavily.
Li Laiheng couldn't wait any longer, so he simply asked: "Gu Qing, are you okay with your breathing?"
Niu Jinxing on the side looked anxious and urged: "Qihou, what are you going to say?"
Gu Junen was almost out of breath. When Niu Jinxing asked, he replied: "Zuo Fu, your son has come to Chongqing!"
"My son? Quan'er?" Niu Jinxing was stunned, "Could it be Kunming..."
The air in the hall became even more tense. Li Laiheng's face turned pale and his brows knitted together. He looked at Gu Junen and couldn't say a word.
"No, it's Niu Jie!" Gu Junen finally breathed smoothly.
Niu Jinxing opened her mouth wide, looking extremely surprised, "He, didn't he die for his country at Niulan Pass?"
The officials in the main hall looked at Niu Jinxing with strange eyes. Yes, he has been martyred for his country! After a glorious funeral, everyone followed suit, how could he be alive again?
"He did not die for his country...the news was wrong. He was captured alive by Can Ming's soldiers!" Gu Junen said, "And he was captured alive as Li Dingguo's adopted son!"
As soon as he said these words, Niu Jinxing's expression changed again.
Li Dingguo's name cannot be called casually...that is the King of Jin who discusses politics! Gu Junen is not the kind of person who speaks openly, and it is impossible to make mistakes in terms of titles.
"Qi Hou, what's going on?" Niu Jinxing asked.
Gu Junen said: "After your son Niu Jie was captured as Li Dingguo's adopted son, Can Ming did not take his life, but kept him in the Jinyi Guard cell. He was not taken out until five days ago. It was said that Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi had taken refuge with Can Ming and had made Wu Zang Jiedu Envoy and Deputy Jiedu Envoy, so they wanted to let him go to Li Dingguo's army in Long'an Mansion. So the son came and took advantage of Can Ming's plan and took Can Ming with him. Emperor Ming took Li Dingguo's handwriting on the road and took the opportunity to escape when he reached Guang'an Prefecture. He ditched the escort of General Can Ming and fled to Chongqing Prefecture with a manager of the Trade Department named Liu Yishi. He was patrolled last night. The soldiers will meet... Now he and Liu Yishi have entered Chaotian Palace and are waiting to be summoned!"
After listening to Gu Junen's words, Li Laiheng already felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
Li Dingguo was the most capable prince in the Dashun Dynasty! If he betrays the enemy, then the Chongqing government will have nothing to defend. Hurry up and escape to Yunnan! And don’t even think about staying in Yunnan for a long time, I’m afraid you’ll have to flee to Myanmar as soon as possible...
"This, is this true?" Niu Jinxing was still in disbelief.
Gu Junen smiled bitterly and said, "Whether it's true or not, we'll find out if we call you here and ask."
Before Niu Jinxing could speak, Li Laiheng had already opened his mouth, "Quickly announce Niu Jie and Liu Yishi!"
Niu Jie and Liu Yishi were quickly brought into the main hall of Chaotian Palace, and Gu Junen handed Li Laiheng the autographed letter written by Zhu Cixiang to Li Dingguo.
There are three main contents in the letter. One is about the gold medal for immunity from death... Zhu Cixi introduced to Li Dingguo that there is no gold medal for immunity from death in the Ming Dynasty, only an edict for immunity from guilt. The edict has been promulgated, and Li Dingguo and Ai Neng Qi and their men were absolved of the rebellion they had committed in the past. But if they commit new crimes in the future, they will still be held accountable, and there is no such thing as immunity from death.
The second is about the great lama. Zhu Cixiang told Li Dingguo that the great lama's status in Uzbekistan is very high and must not be violated. Now that the Great Lama has gone to Anxi Town, he will not be able to return to Us-Zang for a while. However, the Great Lama’s temples, land, and serfs in Us-Zang, as well as the Us-Zang Jiedushi, must be fully protected.
The third one is about a country called Nepal. Zhu Cixiang told Li Dingguo that there is another small country called Nepal south of Uszang and across the Himalayas. It was originally a vassal of Uszang and also believed in Lamaism. Because it is located on the southern slope of the Himalayas, the climate is warm, and it is close to Tianzhu, so it is relatively wealthy. If it's difficult to maintain the Uzang side, you can send troops to Nepal... If that doesn't work, you can also send troops to Tianzhu to get some!
Okay, even the route to grab the money has been planned for Li Dingguo. This Emperor Zhu is really good at winning people's hearts!
Li Laiheng gave the letter to Niu Jinxing and asked him to read it, and then asked Niu Jie personally: "Niu Jie, you told them that you were Li Dingguo's son, and they believed it?"
Niu Jie said: "Your Majesty, I am acting in the name of Mr. Li in Canming territory. Everyone at the top and bottom only knows that I am a nobleman with the surname Li... In Dashun, the surname Li is the national surname, but the surname Li But there are only two noble families, either the royal family or the Li Ding country."
Li Laiheng asked again: "Is it true that no one knows that your name is Niu Jie?"
In fact, there is one, Liu Yishi who came back with Niu Jie...
"No!" Niu Jie said categorically, "This is the rule of the Trade Department. If you reveal your identity, it will be a crime of beheading!"
Li Laiheng said to himself: Because of your fault, we lost Niulan Pass, defeated Wu Ruyi, and allowed Can Ming to break into Dongchuan... Isn't your crime worthy of beheading? Killing the head is easy!
Seeing Li Laiheng's gloomy expression, Niu Jinxing knew that the emperor had murderous intentions, and quickly changed the subject: "Your Majesty, the blind dog emperor is full of tricks, we must guard against his deception!"
As expected, Li Laiheng diverted his attention and asked Niu Jinxing: "Zuo Fu, do you think Emperor Can Ming Dog is using countermeasures?"
"It's very possible!" Niu Jinxing said, "Now that the Dashun Dynasty is in turmoil, it can no longer be divided into two."
Li Laiheng asked: "What if Li Dingguo really rebels against Dashun?"
Niu Jinxing said: "If Li Dingguo really rebels against Dashun... then we must strictly prevent him from entering Yunnan from the Western Sichuan Festival Department! The entire Western Sichuan Festival Department is the old department of Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi!"
After saying this, Niu Jinxing winked at Gu Junen again - now is the time when lives are at stake! Whether he can leave Chongqing Mansion depends on whether Li Dingguo rebels!
"Your Majesty," Gu Jun'en was very smart and immediately followed Niu Jinxing's words, "Only if you personally go to the Western Sichuan Festival Division to take charge, can you ensure that all the departments in the Western Sichuan Festival Division will continue to be loyal to our Dashun Dynasty!"
Li Laiheng's eyes lit up when he heard this, and then asked: "Then how can we determine whether Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi have defected to Canming?"
Niu Jinxing said: "You can send Liu Wenxiu to Long'an Mansion to replace Li Dingguo. If Li Dingguo is willing to follow the imperial edict and come to Chongqing Mansion, then he is loyal to Dashun. If he is not willing..."
