The spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, but there seems to be a bit of cold wind in the air. At this moment, the Qingyang City Gate is wide open, and the remaining officials of the imperial court are lined up on both sides of the city gate, standing solemnly. The flags of the emperor's honor guard on the east tour are fluttering, which is magnificent.
The first to lead the charge was Lang Wei, who was the emperor's personal bodyguard, dressed in bright silver armor and a black cloak. Some held black military flags in their hands, while others held shining halberds, axes, and axes. So majestic, Lang Wei rode a tall horse in a neat line, with silver armor as the belly and black cloak as the scales. From a distance, it looked like a black dragon winding out of the city gate. Trombones and drums were playing on the top of the city. lively.
After the leading Sanqian Langwei left the city, they were followed by the most elite lion-riding heavy cavalry from the northern camp of the empire. Both men and horses were wearing armor, wearing long spears, and carrying swords around their waists. They slowly walked out of the city. A sense of weight-bearing oppression hit their faces. Come on, this team is not like the security team like Lang Wei, they are just showy. At first glance, they look like elite troops who have been on the battlefield.
After the Lion Cavalry passed, they were followed by the Leopard Cavalry guerrilla light cavalry, wearing fine black leather armor, carrying strong bows and crossbows on their backs, holding long knives, and wearing red cloaks, pouring out of the city gate like a red ocean.
Immediately afterwards, a large group of elite infantrymen in black clothes and light armor came out through the city gate holding black military flags. After the emperor's personal guards left the city with a six-wheeled carriage pulled by six white horses, the common people and officials outside the city knelt down one after another. The mountains on both sides shouted long live the emperor.
After the emperor's chariot passed by, hundreds of extremely gorgeous carriages passed by the crowd. At this time, large groups of heavy armored cavalry holding tiger-head military flags emerged from both sides of the city gate. They were dressed in black, wearing white cloaks, and holding long spears. They filed out, with guards on both sides of the emperor's car. These were the elite tiger-riding heavy armored cavalry of the empire.
The lion cavalry, tiger cavalry, and leopard cavalry that had been wiped out back then were unstoppable. Every time the emperor went on patrol, he naturally had to take them with him to intimidate him. This time, hundreds of thousands of people patrolled the east, and the honor guard looked like a fire from a distance. It was very majestic. People's blood was boiling. This was the emperor's eighth eastward tour after the beginning of spring, which shocked the people.
After the emperor's eastward tour in the spring, Guo Jue secretly sneaked back to Prince Sheng's house. At this time, Guo Jue was reporting to Mu Sheng in the lobby on the current situation between the government and the opposition. Guo Jue lived up to expectations. Within a few months, he had initially established a relationship with Prince Sheng. The intelligence channel between Zhixian County and Liangcheng, the capital.
In fact, it is just a simple inquiry about the macro-level situation between the government and the opposition. Everyone knows the kind of news about the bad streets. This is not difficult. You can find out after a little careful inquiry. It is also far away from Linzhang County than Mu Sheng is now, so he is kept in the dark. Li Qiang.
If you really want to build a detailed intelligence network and find out some very secret things, it will still take time...
At this time Guo Xuan said: "Sir, I heard that after the emperor's eastward tour, he handed over the important task of supervising the country to An Guojun."
Hearing this, Mu Sheng sighed and said, "It seems that my father sincerely wants to cultivate Young Master Xiu as his future successor. When do you think Young Master Xiu will be established as the crown prince?"
Guo Xuan shook his head and said: "Your Majesty will never establish a crown prince after experiencing the Taiji palace change. Even if he does, it will not be now."
Mu Sheng nodded in agreement.
"Sir, because of the matter of establishing a crown prince, now Lao Zhao has been demoted to a local position as a county magistrate."
Mu Sheng said in surprise: "What? My uncle is not doing this because he recommended me to be the prince, right?"
Guo Xuan laughed and said: "No, Lao Zhao recommends Mr. An Guojun to be the crown prince. This will arouse His Majesty's suspicion and demote him from the capital."
Mu Sheng said in surprise: "Why is this? Does my uncle want to support Young Master Xiu to become a leader?"
Guo Xuan also shook his head and said: "To be honest, I don't understand why Lao Zhao is doing this? Logically speaking, he can't help Young Master Xiu to a high position. It turns out that His Majesty sent Lao Zhao to serve as the county guard in Lingqing County."
"I just didn't expect that when Lao Zhao was in office, he kept writing to the court, saying that he would establish a prince early, which made the emperor furious. He even didn't even sit in the county governor's seat. Now he demoted Lao Zhao to Huai'an County to do the job. He became a county magistrate, and now he no longer even has the power to write letters and speak out."
"If Lao Zhao hadn't done a good job in the position of Jiu Qing Shaofu in the past and had outstanding political achievements, and ordinary people like Lao Zhao were so outspoken in admonition, I'm afraid his life would not have been saved..."
Mu Sheng stood up, walked around in circles a few times, and said, "Your Majesty may have a deeper meaning in arranging for my uncle to take office in Huai'an County!"
Guo Xuan said: "Yes! Young Master, the fact that the prince was defeated and captured in Huai'an County may be a disguised reminder to Lao Zhao not to think about establishing a crown prince. At the same time, he was also reminding the officials of the court who dared to write a letter to establish a crown prince. , who will be the fate of Lao Zhao."
Mu Sheng suddenly smiled and said: "I understand, my uncle's political investment can be regarded as quick and accurate! From now on, when Ninth Brother An Guojun comes to power, I am afraid that he will be reused because of this favor."
Hearing this, Guo Xuan suddenly said: "Yes! I have a guess that if Old Zhao establishes himself in the new dynasty, it will be of great benefit to you, the young master. In the future, An Guojun will be the emperor for the sake of Old Zhao's face. I won’t find excuses to target you, Master!”
Mu Sheng nodded in agreement: "You're doing well, but I feel a little aggrieved right now."
Guo Xuan smiled and said: "I know Lao Zhao. On the surface, he seems to be loyal to the country, but in fact, he will take one step at a time and see the leader in ten steps. He will not be aimless. This grievance is nothing at the moment. He must have his own long-term interests in doing so. I think he and Lao Wu are essentially the same kind of people."
After hearing this, Mu Sheng shook his head helplessly and thought, I will definitely be far away by then, so I will just leave a substitute puppet here to enjoy his wealth.
Hey, think about it, this substitute is really cheap, no! The wealth should not flow to outsiders. When the time comes to leave, most of the profits from the fiefdom must be taken back to the mountain puppet's lair.
As for the remaining income from the fiefdom, it is enough for the stand-in to support the appearance. If you really want to enjoy the semi-wealth left by me, it will be enough for the stand-in to live well. If the new king really wants to focus on repairing himself after taking office, he will be stabbed. , I have to stand in to carry it...
Is the wealth in this world so easy to enjoy? How can there be so many cheap and good things picked up for free? All the gifts given by fate have actually been marked with a price in secret!
Thinking of this, Mu Sheng asked Guo Xuan, "By the way, how did your brother go about finding a substitute for me?"
Guo Jue smiled and said: "Although it is difficult to find, luckily it fulfills our mission. We got lucky and found a man who looks about 70% similar to the young master, but he is a little older. He is twenty-seven years old, but it is not a big problem. , after brother brings this person to me for training, a few months will be enough to make him look fake!"
Mu Sheng laughed and said: "Okay! Okay! It's really hard for you two brothers to be so considerate."
Guo Xuan said: "Young Master, what are you talking about? My two brothers are desperate, and it was you who took the risk to help us to save our lives. Your kindness in saving lives will never be forgotten by our two brothers!"
Mu Sheng nodded to express understanding.
Four months later, the county magistrate Meng Shi came to visit again. It was the emperor who arrived here five days after inspecting the honor guard, asking Young Master Sheng to prepare for the reception.
Mu Sheng had been following His Majesty's schedule all the way and had already made preparations. Mu Sheng took his wives and concubines and moved to another prepared mansion in the city. This Anlehou Mansion was reserved exclusively for His Majesty the Emperor's stay.
Today, Guo Xuan came to find Mu Sheng and reported: "Young master's substitute has been brought here. Do you want to take a look?"
When Mu Sheng heard this, he said happily: "Okay! Bring it over and let me see it."
After a cup of tea, Guo Huan led a man wearing a bamboo hat into the lobby. Mu Sheng saw that his figure was slender and slightly shorter than his own, but it didn't look obvious.
At this time, the man took off his bamboo hat at Guo Huan's signal. Mu Sheng was stunned when he saw it. He walked quickly to the stand-in and circled him several times. He couldn't help but marveled, thinking that Guo Jue was really good at this. ah?
Gongzi Sheng looked at the person opposite him as if he were looking in a mirror. If you look closely, you can still see some slight differences. It should be that Guo Jue used some means to improve this person's appearance, but it was just to deceive outsiders. It's definitely enough...
Mu Sheng motioned for the substitute to take a few steps, heart, eh! It's still not perfect, the pace, demeanor, and demeanor are still slightly different from the original product, but it's enough to be able to do it to this extent!
At this time, Guo Huan stepped forward and said: "Sir, this man's name is Cai Gui. His family is innocent. His ancestral home is Guangling County and Guixian County. He is born a commoner. His family used to be a merchant's home. After studying for several years, I first saw it. I just thought he was a good fit.”
Mu Sheng nodded with satisfaction and said: "Okay! Very good! Guo Huan, you did a good job on this matter."
Guo Huan turned his head and glanced at Cai Gui to indicate.
Cai Gui cautiously stepped forward and bowed in greeting, saying, "I have met An Lehou. Cai Gui is the third eldest son in the family."
Mu Sheng hummed and asked, "What kind of business does your family do?"
Cai Gui said respectfully: "Reporting to Marquis Anle, my father's ancestors have been working as merchants and selling silk and silk for several generations. By my father's generation, the family was in decline. My family was well off. After my father passed away, the family Business has plummeted.”
"He couldn't do menial work, so he had to find a job as a clerk in the county government to barely make ends meet. If he hadn't messed up several important businesses and lost his entire family, he wouldn't be in this state of poverty."
Mu Sheng nodded and said: "Yes! How many people are there in your family? My place is big. You can bring your family here to live here. You don't have to worry about the salary, food and accommodation!"
Cai Gui was overjoyed and said, "Thank you so much, Marquis Anle. I have a mother alive and a wife, two sons and a daughter. This is disturbing Marquis Anle."
Mu Sheng chuckled and said: "It doesn't matter! You can just live here with peace of mind from now on."
Cai Gui was grateful, and Mu Sheng waved him off. Substitution was very important, and taking his family over was also a pledge to let him do what he wanted, so that Young Master Sheng could firmly control him.
Mu Sheng told Guo Xuan: "From now on, this puppet substitute will be under your control. When I am not at home, you will be in charge of the Anlehou Mansion."
Guo Xuan nodded in agreement.
Guo Huan stepped forward and said politely: "Master, now that this matter is over, it's time for me to leave. His Majesty is about to patrol eastward here. It will be inconvenient for me to stay here."
Mu Sheng nodded and said: "Yes! Okay, if you have anything to do in the future, just contact Guo Xuan. If you two brothers don't bother me, it's my business!"
Guo Huan was grateful again and again. After thanking him, he turned around and left quickly...
