The moonlight was like water. Li Xuan stood on the bow of the ship, with his hands behind his back, looking at the mountains and rivers of Weihan on both sides, and the bright moon reflected in the water, and whispered: "The high pavilion of King Teng is near the river, and the jade-wearing Luan is singing. The painted building is flying towards the sky. There are clouds in Nanpu, and the bead curtain rolls into the west mountain rain at dusk.
The shadows in Xianyuntan Lake are long, and things change and the stars move several autumns. Where is the emperor's son in the pavilion now? Outside the threshold, the Yangtze River flows freely. "
The emperor's son in the pavilion, Li Xuan's twenty-second uncle, the youngest son of Emperor Gaozu, Prince Teng Li Yuanying.
In the second year of Longshuo, the year when Li Xuan was awarded the title of King of Nanchang, King Teng Li Yuanying was transferred from the governor of Hongzhou to the governor of Longzhou, and built the third pavilion of Prince Teng in Langzhong.
At the funeral of Prince Li Hong who died of illness, Li Xuan met his Uncle Wang, who was just forty years old.
There was a sound of slight footsteps behind him. Li Xuan turned around and saw Yu Ze already standing behind him.
Li Xuan nodded slightly to Yu Ze and asked in a low voice: "Uncle Yu! Are everything arranged properly?"
"All the ministers have been arranged." Yu Ze breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Fortunately, the ministers are not arrogant, otherwise it would be difficult to arrange."
They were traveling in such a hurry that many of them were selected overnight and without even saying goodbye to their families properly, they boarded the ship and headed eastward.
But there is no other way. The war on the East Island is urgent. The earlier reinforcements arrive, the earlier the frontline can be relaxed.
"These people are willing to be quiet now because they have just left Chang'an. If anyone is unwilling, it is too late to return to Chang'an." Li Xuan's eyes were sharp. Although he, the deputy envoy for troop preparation, did not have much power, he still had time to return to Chang'an. He still has the ability to drive a person off the ship and drive him back to Chang'an. "
"Speaking of which, we are really working hard. We have just finished solving the Tianyin Sect's affairs, and we have to prepare to rush to the East Island to fight." Yu Ze had a wry smile on his face. What happened in Silla was really beyond their expectations. outside.
Originally, they planned to return to Wuzhou after Li Xuan's wedding in Chang'an and run Wuzhou well.
Even if it only lasts for half a year, it is enough for Li Xuan to lay a solid foundation in Wuzhou. But now, it is really unlucky to be inexplicably involved in the East Island matter.
"When Your Majesty ordered the inspection of the young minister of Honglu Temple, he probably already had some calculations, but no one thought that the Tang Dynasty was already about to withdraw its troops, and Silla actually dared to stand up and pounce on it. This is how it is now situation." When Li Xuan said this, she stopped talking.
This time, except for Li Xuan, no one else on the entire ship knew the truth about the Tang Dynasty's aid to Dongdao.
Even Yu Ze and Li Xuan didn't tell him.
The emperor had a strict decree on this point, and Li Xuan only told Liu Jinyu the truth of the whole matter.
Li Xuan would not tell Dou Xuande until he arrived.
After that, Li Xuan would choose the opportunity to tell Yu Ze.
It's not that Li Xuan doesn't trust him, but he is worried that if the news leaks out, Yu Ze will immediately be suspected. Things in Yangzhou are not that easy.
Li Xuan raised his head and looked in the direction of the King of Nanchang under the bright moon, and sighed softly: "Mr. Zian should have left Nanchang by now and rushed to Jiaozhi."
Wang Bo finally caught up with the poetry gathering that had been rebuilt in Prince Teng's Pavilion. Poor Yan Boyu originally held a feast for his own son-in-law, but in the end Wang Bo took advantage of it.
"My subordinates have written to Li Yan, and the Nanchang Palace will send someone to escort Mr. Zian to Guangzhou."
"Let people keep an eye on it. When Mr. Zian goes to Jiaozhi, his boat must not be tampered with." Li Xuan had to remind him again that Wang Bo's death was an eternal mystery.
Historically, Wang Bo accidentally fell into the water and died when he returned from Jiaozhi, but no one knew where he fell into the water.
But if someone wanted to kill Wang Bo, it would be easiest to do something on the boat.
"Here!" Yu Ze immediately handed over his hand, and then he said again: "Your Majesty, how should we behave when we arrive in Yangzhou?"
"Recruiting soldiers, repairing ships, and traveling are all Dou Changshi's business. What we need to do is to communicate with the Japanese country and attack Silla from the north and the south." Li Xuan's eyes were stern.
Yu Ze frowned subconsciously
Wrinkling, he always felt that something was wrong, and then asked: "Then how should we march after arriving at East Island?"
"This matter needs to be discussed after we go to Yangzhou and see Captain Zhechong of Hanjiang Prefecture. After all, we have never been to the East Island. How to fight on this trip depends on Captain Zhechong's order. This time, I will go to the southeast. Although He is a deputy envoy, but more importantly, he still holds the position of Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, the inspection school. The specific powers and responsibilities are not in my hands."
Li Xuan briefly explained the inside story.
During this trip to the southeast, Dou Xuande was in charge of everything, and even Li Xuan had to obey orders.
"This time is different from Wuzhou. The situation in Wuzhou changes from time to time, so we have convenient opportunities. This time, the enemy is far away on the other side of the sea. Moreover, even after landing on the island, we must obey the orders of Ambassador Anton. Li Xuan looked at Yu Ze and said seriously: "Uncle Yu, I will just do my duty this time."
Yu Ze vaguely understood the meaning of Li Xuan's words, and finally nodded and said: "Tianyin's matter is a trivial matter after all, but fighting Silla is a national war."
Li Xuan nodded: "Yes, the Tianyin Sect is just a rebellion involving several states at most. In the end, the imperial court mobilized troops, but only 3,000 soldiers were killed. But the East Island is different. Now there are more than 30,000 in our dynasty alone. , Silla has the power of a country, and I want to destroy a country, but the central government will not give me this opportunity."
Li Xuan's words almost directly stated that he would not be on the front line of the battlefield in person.
But Yu Ze completely understood the mystery behind this.
After all, Li Xuan was the current king of the county. No matter how much he did in Wuzhou, it was just to suppress the rebellion. He only had 300 soldiers, 700 soldiers, plus a team of Qianniu guards. Just a team of Nanchang palace guards.
But now, there are tens of thousands of soldiers at every turn. In the battle to destroy the country, Li Xuan's status as the prince is a help in Wuzhou, but in East Island Silla, it is a complete burden.
Seeing Yu Ze nodding, Li Xuan said seriously: "In addition to contacting the Japanese country for this matter, the key is to dig out the Donghai King's informants in Yangzhou."
Speaking of the King of East China Sea, Li Xuan's expression suddenly became serious.
The King of the East China Sea and the Tianyin Sect are two completely different lines. If the power of the Tianyin Sect in Yangzhou is equal to that of the King of the East China Sea, it would be completely ignorant of death.
Although the Tianyin Sect's strength in Yangzhou was almost uprooted by Li Xuan, it is very likely that the Donghai King's power in Yangzhou was not damaged at all.
"There is also the Silla envoy who rushed to Yangzhou this time. The most important thing we need to be careful about is to prevent him from being assassinated by the Donghai King's people." Li Xuan suddenly glanced at Yu Ze, with a look of dismay in his eyes. Meaningful and profound.
Although Yu Ze didn't fully understand, he still vaguely felt that Li Xuan was planning something again.
He must not be assassinated by the King of East China Sea, what if it were someone else?
Yu Ze raised his eyebrows and nodded slightly.
Li Xuan turned around, looked in the direction of Yangzhou, and said softly: "This trip south, the situation may be worse than we imagined."
Li Xuan's heart was solemn. Even he, before returning to Chang'an this time, did not expect that King Donghai was actually a descendant of Prince Yin Jiancheng. This news changed too many things.
Especially since Crown Princess Zheng Guanyin is still alive, there is no telling how many people are involved.
On this trip to Yangzhou, it would be okay if Li Xuan didn't find anything. If he really found something and found evidence, maybe the whole Yangzhou would be killed and blood would flow like a river.
Yu Ze stood behind Li Xuan and could feel the heaviness of his heart. He could vaguely feel that Li Xuan had something he wanted to say to him, but he couldn't.
Yu Ze is also a smart man, and he quickly figured out the lingering meaning behind Li Xuan's words.
Secret edict, Li Xuan carries the emperor's secret edict.
The weather was getting colder, so Li Xuan and his fleet did not dare to delay at all, and headed towards Yangzhou day and night.
After leaving Hangu Pass, we headed straight to Luoyang.
After stopping in Luoyang for supplies, they immediately headed south along the canal.
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The last time Xuan went south, the wind was from the southeast, but now it is a cold northwest wind.
Once we passed Xuzhou, the cold was already biting, and few people on the boat were willing to move.
Fortunately, everyone was from the north and had brought enough winter clothes, but even so, several people caught colds, including Laisui, who had never been to the south.
Fortunately, Yangzhou was the focus of this trip. When the ship arrived in Yangzhou, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The three official ships entered Yangzhou City from the canal, and finally headed towards the largest dock in Yangzhou City.
Standing at the bow of the ship and looking at the crowd of Yangzhou officials waiting on the dock, Li Xuan's expression suddenly became solemn.
Li Xuan looked back, and behind him stood Xue Zhongzhang, Laisui and other officials from various ministries, Cui Ding and Zhou Qian each with a team of Jinwu guards, and a team of Qianniu guards on both sides.
Behind everyone, it was none other than Silla's envoy Qin Yujiagang.
He originally landed in Dengzhou, and then was ordered to transfer to Yangzhou. Finally, he wrote a letter of apology before arriving in Chang'an. However, within a few months of arriving in Chang'an, Silla seduced an old Baekje general and attacked the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. .
Now he was brought back to Yangzhou.
Glancing at the trembling penis in a single piece of clothing among the crowd, Li Xuan revealed a sneer at the corner of her mouth.
Then, his eyes fell on the crowd in the distance, and he didn't know who among them was the Donghai King's subordinate.
Three official ships docked one after another, Qianniu Guard went down first and Jinwu Guard came last.
Li Xuan brought Sui, Xue Zhongzhang and others down from the ship quickly, followed by many officials from the six ministries behind them. They will all be working in Yangzhou in the next few days, and many of them will go to Dongdao later.
Dou Xuande, who was wearing a red official robe and with white beard and hair, stepped forward steadily, cupped his hands in front of Li Xuan and said, "Dou Xuande, the governor of Yangzhou and the governor of Yangzhou, has met the envoy."
"Li Xuan has met Dou Weng." Looking back at Xue Zhongzhang, Li Xuan turned around and said, "Dou Weng, the world is extremely cold. Please return to the Yamen and announce the imperial edict."
"Follow the order." Dou Xuande immediately handed over and moved out of the way. Sima Changyu and others behind him also moved out of the way.
Li Xuan, with a gentle face, nodded in greeting to Lu Yuanfang, Sima of Yangzhou Governor's Office, Wang Zhe, a soldier Cao who joined the army, Shen Zhuang, a Hu Cao who joined the army, Shen Yuqing, a doctor in the household department, Shi Jin, the captain of the Xinlin Prefecture, and Lan Zhe, the captain of the Hanjiang Prefecture.
Everyone bowed and saluted Li Xuan.
The last time Li Xuan went to Yangzhou, he just passed by Wuzhou Biejia where he was working in Yangzhou. Even among the four major families in Yangzhou, there were only a few younger generations who, under the leadership of Lu Yuanfang, took over for him.
Other family elders did not show up at all, and Li Xuan even had conflicts with the Shen family in Yangzhou.
It had only been a few months since they last met, but when Li Xuan came back, he was already the deputy envoy in charge of recruiting troops in Jiangnan Province, and a Shangguan with the power of life and death over the officials of the entire Yangzhou Prefecture.
Sitting in the gorgeous carriage, Li Xuan took out a yellow book from his sleeve and handed it to Dou Xuande. At the same time, he said in a deep voice: "Dou Weng, this is your Majesty's secret order."
Dou Xuande took it as if he had expected it. After nodding solemnly, he took it with both hands and began to read it carefully.
