The trees on both sides of the winding mountain road are prosperous, and the branches and leaves cover the sky. The horse-drawn carriages gallop along, leaving behind a series of horse hoof prints and wheel tracks.
"Sir, we have passed the border of Nanzhili. We are halfway through the journey, and there are only a hundred miles left from your hometown." The honest coachman controlled the reins in front and shouted cheerfully behind him.
"knew."
Li Xuan opened the curtain of the carriage and took a look, sighing: "I have been in the officialdom for more than thirty years. From a small official with a sharp pen, to later becoming a censor of Zuodu and in charge of the Procuratorate, there have been ups and downs during this period. , like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, it can reach a higher level every time it breaks out of its cocoon, but this time, I'm afraid I will never be able to return to the capital."
"Sir, King Qi has gone too far to bully others." The old housekeeper sitting beside him said in defiance of Li Xuan's injustice, "He had a bloody fight with the princelings, and it was you who led the officials of the Han Dynasty to defect to him. Now this Only then could they suppress the fierce offensive of the princelings at that time. If not for this, how could Lu Chaoyang, Yang Rong and others of the Prince Qi Party be as prosperous as they are now? As early as when the Three Divisions Committee reviewed the Ji Gang case, these people were all convicted of treason. The crime! Now that he, King Qi, is in power, he is killing the donkey. Is this something a human being can do?"
"This kind of thing happens all the time in official circles, so it's okay." Li Xuan sighed, "In recent years, I have also bought a lot of property in my hometown. This time I returned to my hometown after serving as an official, it can be regarded as a golden basin to wash my hands and get out of the quagmire. Come out. It is a blessing to be able to escape unscathed in the officialdom."
Li Xuan served as an official twice in the Han Wang Party and the Qi Wang Party. Both the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Qi Wang Party were clean departments, but this was not the case.
The Metropolitan Procuratorate is a constitutional position, and together with the Six Ministers, it is known as the Qiqing. It is in charge of more than trivial matters such as impeachment and swearing.
When it comes to pilgrimages and inspections, the censor of the capital and the head of the civil affairs department confirm whether there are talents or not, and whether officials are promoted or demoted. This is a lucrative job, but it is still just a small job.
Inspecting salt administration, inspecting water transportation, inspecting customs duties, inspecting tea horses, urging transportation, supervising horse branding, and farming, these seven are the big ones. Picking out anything at random will create a terrifying chain of interests behind it. Li Xuan has made a lot of money in these years.
Li Xuan hummed a little tune: "The long song sings in the pines and the wind, the song is scattered across the river and the stars are sparse. I am drunk and you are enjoying the music again, and we are so contented that we forget our memories together..."
Having made enough money and serving as an official, this time it can be said that he is returning to his hometown in fine clothes. Li Xuan has purchased a lot of land and properties in the Metropolitan Procuratorate over the years. Every year, the Metropolitan Procuratorate investigates a large number of officials who annexed land. In the end, the official who annexed the most land was still him, the censor of Zuodu.
There was a clang and the carriage shook violently.
Li Xuan, who was in the car, was jolted so hard that he almost knocked his head. He couldn't help but feel a little angry. Only then did he realize that the carriage suddenly stopped.
Li Xuan frowned slightly: "Go and ask what's going on."
The old housekeeper understood and was about to open the curtain of the carriage. As soon as the curtain was halfway opened, his eyes suddenly became frightened.
Behind the curtain, a sword blade suddenly stabbed in, like a viper coming out of nowhere, swift and precise, heading straight for the throat.
Before the old housekeeper could get angry, his throat had been chopped into pieces by the sword, and blood dripped down his neck and dyed his clothes red. He wanted to shout for help, but it was too late. His voice was stuck in his throat and he couldn't speak. He just choked twice, and his body fell straight back uncontrollably. His hands and feet were curled up, his expression was strange, and his breathing sounded strange. But to.
Li Xuan was startled and shouted: "What, who is this person!"
The sword is a good sword. It kills without staining blood. The sword wielder used the blade to lift the curtain, revealing his true appearance.
It was actually that honest carriage driver!
The coachman looked rough and honest, wearing rough linen clothes, holding a sharp sword, and with a simple smile on his face: "Master, I'm here to take you on your way."
Li Xuan was shocked and angry, his voice trembling: "Old, Old Zheng?"
He couldn't believe that the person who just killed someone with a sword was actually his own coachman!
The coachman named "Old Zheng" said calmly: "Master, I will serve you for five years. Let me see you off on this last stretch of the road."
Li Xuan already understood that the coachman wanted to kill him, but he still had countless doubts in his heart: "Who sent you to kill me? Old Zheng, I have treated you well over the years, why did you turn against me?"
"Master, I have been with you for five years, and I know very well what you are thinking." Old Zheng shook his head and said, "Delaying time is not a good idea. This place is already in the wilderness beyond the border of South Zhili. , the Feng Shui treasure land I specially selected for you, no one will be seen here for two or three months, and no one can save you."
Li Xuan's thoughts were revealed, and his brain was working rapidly, thinking about who wanted to kill him.
Lao Zheng had followed him for five years and had always been loyal. Why did he suddenly turn against him now? The place and time were chosen so carefully and hidden so secretly...
With this way of doing things and careful layout, Li Xuan couldn't help but think of a frightening name.
Li Xuan couldn't help but lost his voice: "Are you a Jin Yiwei?!"
Jinyiwei!
Definitely Jin Yiwei!
This naughty Jin Yiwei likes to put hidden stakes around others and insert tricks around you!
Jinyiwei is under the control of Lu Chaoyang, Lu Chaoyang...
Lu Chaoyang is the dog raised by King Qi, the most loyal and fierce dog!
Li Xuan held his breath and shouted: "It's King Qi! King Qi is instructing you behind the scenes!"
Lao Zheng said with a smile: "Master, you are really smart. You guessed it right at once. No wonder you can become such a big official. Lao Zheng, I can't read, so I admire you as a knowledgeable person. Unlike me, I can't do it all my life." I can only do the dirty work of killing people."
"Okay, that's enough. Master, it's time for Lao Zheng to send you on your way."
…
The carriage stopped in the middle of the mountain road. The blood soaked the wooden floor and dripped on the mud of the road. The pungent smell of blood exuded in the darkness.
Lu Chaoyang stood by the roadside, holding a torch in his hand, looking coldly at the killings in the carriage.
After a while, Lao Zheng jumped out of the car, walked to Lu Chaoyang and bowed: "Sir, I have already dealt with Li Xuan."
"Um."
Lu Chaoyang handed the torch to Lao Zheng, "Let's deal with this place and make it clean. After that, go to the local government office to report the crime. You know what to say."
"I understand your humble position." Old Zheng showed a harmless smile, "Master Li encountered robbers on his way back home. I took advantage of the chaos to escape and rushed to the Yamen to report to the officials for help."
Lu Chaoyang nodded slightly: "After this is done, I will cross out your name from the Jinyiwei roster. From now on, you can change your life. I will give you a sum of money, which is enough for your retirement."
Lao Zheng was carrying the murder case of a second-grade official and could no longer stay in Jinyiwei.
Washing his hands in a golden basin is the best destination for him. Lu Chaoyang will never let down these meritorious deeds. At least he can ensure that these people can enjoy their old age and live a life without worries about food and clothing.
"Thank you, sir."
Lao Zheng saluted Lu Chaoyang who turned to leave, and then walked towards the carriage holding a torch...
When the local officers and soldiers arrived, there was no one on the road except for the remains of a carriage that was burned to black charcoal. Seeing this scene, the officers and soldiers sighed repeatedly.
It is really unlucky for a high-ranking official of the second grade to encounter this problem just after he retired.
Lao Zheng knelt on the ground and cried loudly: "Master! You died so miserably!"
"The bloody robbers are so audacious, they will not die a good death!"
"Master, it's my fault that I came a step too late!"
The officers and soldiers looked at each other, sighing that Lao Zheng was really a loyal servant.
…
Le'an, the Palace of the Prince of Han.
After Prince Zhu Gaoxu of the Han Dynasty came to Shandong, what he did most every day was:
——Funny birds.
The mahogany bird cage is exquisitely crafted, with hooks, covers and ceilings all very particular. This is a typical northern cage among the four famous cages. This cage alone is priceless, and the chirping white sparrow inside is one of a kind. of treasures.
The prince of Han was very happy playing with the sparrows in the cage.
Su Qing, who had returned from a dusty trip to Jinling City, bowed to the King of Han and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, something happened."
Zhu Gaoxu's funny movements paused for a moment, and he said quietly: "In the past two years since I conquered Shandong, I have been thinking about one thing every day, why did I lose to King Qi in the first place. Now I understand, Cheng A great person should be unfazed by being favored or humiliated, and his face will not change even if Mount Tai collapses in front of him. Don't panic, just tell him if you have anything to say."
Su Qing calmed down and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, our line with the Metropolitan Procuratorate is broken!"
"Broken?" Zhu Gaoxu's eyes flickered, "What happened?"
Su Qing explained: "King Qi knew that we had been in contact with Li Xuan, the censor of Zuodu. The next day, Li Xuan resigned from his post. On the way back home, he suddenly encountered robbers and died without a complete body!"
"Robber, huh, I'm afraid King Qi doesn't want Li Xuan to return to his hometown alive."
Zhu Gaoxu snorted coldly and said, "I know my fourth brother very well. He looks harmless to humans and animals, but in fact he is crueler than anyone else. His heart is really dark. Killing people can only be done with a nod, but King Qi wants to do the opposite. In other words, he never plays tricks with you on how to be merciful and merciful, he always does things by cutting off the weeds and eradicating the roots. In terms of cruelty and cruelty, even the old man is not as good as him."
He still can't forget the scene where King Qi's blood spattered the Fengtian Palace. He had clearly defused the offensive of Chen Jin, the censor of Zuodu. However, King Qi refused to show mercy and forcibly killed him with the back of his sword in front of all the civil and military officials. Chen Jin's head was bruised and bloody, and red and white things were splashed all over the floor.
"As soon as Li Xuan dies, will this case be traced to us?" Su Qing asked.
Zhu Gaoxu shook his head: "No, King Qi is a smart man. It will do him no good to fight with me to the end. Once Li Xuan dies, the case is over."
"If he really wants to fight me to the death..."
Zhu Gaoxu's eyes flashed with unnoticeable ferocity, "I can't fight him in the capital. After becoming a vassal in Shandong, his hands won't be able to stretch that long. Let's see who bites who to death."
Su Qing blinked: "Your Majesty, I feel that Prince Qi is not that easy to provoke."
(End of chapter)
