The donkey cart went all the way, turning left and right, and finally arrived in front of Lu Xiangguo's residence and presented a greeting card.
The guard guarding the gate took it, looked at it, and immediately handed it back and said, "The prime minister is busy with political affairs today and is too tired to see guests. Please come back."
Xue Yunfei thought of trying to please him, so he stuffed a few taels of silver into his hand. He looked at it, weighed it in his hands, and immediately handed it back.
Lu Yijian, the Prime Minister of the country, is inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people. How can Bai Yutian, a little-known Jianghu Baiyi, see him if he wants to? Bai Yutian actually should have thought of it earlier, but the matter was urgent and of great importance, so it was not appropriate to involve others. Moreover, it was my first time arriving in the capital, so I didn’t know where to turn for help, so I just came here with hope.
Xue Yunfei saw that it was difficult to use civil and military skills, so he pulled Bai Yutian back and thought of another strategy.
But he said that he was not as powerful as a quick arrester in Jingzhao Yin Mansion. If he was not on official business, he would be a lowly person in front of the Zaifu's mansion. He could think of no good ideas at the moment. I just wanted to plan for tomorrow and see if I could get a favor from Mr. Yin of Kaifeng Prefecture, a letter of recommendation or something.
Bai Yutian felt that Xue Yunfei's idea was too naive and should not be implemented. After some persuasion, Xue Yunfei gave up the idea.
Xue Yunfei felt that he had no way to ask for help, so he had no choice but to lose face, say goodbye to Bai Yutian, and left in discomfort.
Bai Yutian sent Xue Yunfei away, and after wandering outside the Lu Mansion for half an hour, he calmed down and found a remote place to climb over the wall. Unfortunately, the prime minister's palace was heavily guarded, and as soon as his front feet touched the ground, he was greeted by the sound of dogs barking on his back feet.
After a shout of "There are assassins", the soldiers and slaves guarding the Lu Mansion came into battle and surrounded Bai Yutian in a battle circle, with their swords facing each other.
At first, the soldiers of the government wanted to capture him and fought hand to hand. After several battles, they found something was wrong and turned to thinking of driving them away. After a shower of arrows passed by, Bai Yutian was not hurt at all. Seeing that Bai Yutian was moving forward, it was difficult to resist, so he unconsciously shouted "Protect the Prime Minister".
now it's right. Bai Yutian didn't know Lu Yijian, and he didn't know where Lu Yijian's bedroom and study were, so he had no choice but to follow the panicked slave and run away. At the door of a separate house, he met an elder in his sixties wearing "ceremony clothes". He was guarded by a dozen soldiers and slaves.
The elder saw that a strong man broke into the mansion at night, but no one around him showed any signs of injury. After wondering, he calmly asked Bai Yutian: "Who is coming? What is the purpose of breaking into the prime minister's mansion at night?"
When Bai Yutian heard the word "true face", he was very happy. He put the peach wood into the sheath, stepped forward and bowed and said: "Bai Yutian, a common man, walked through the front door in a gentleman's way to see the Prime Minister, but could not get what he wanted, so he had to march in danger and turn over. It's broken through the wall. I'm guilty of disturbing the prime minister. I'm guilty."
Lu Yijian pushed aside the few soldiers who were guarding him, took a few steps forward, and said coldly: "Bai Yutian, if you know you are guilty, why do you have to climb over the wall and break in at night? In the laws of the Song Dynasty, the lightest punishment is exile and the worst is death. Haven’t you heard of the head-to-head questioning?”
Bai Yutian bowed and replied: "I've heard of it. However, the common people can still weigh clearly whether the head of one person is more important than the heads of dozens of people."
Lu Yijian said: "The idea of one person's head or the heads of dozens of people is nonsense."
Bai Yutian said: "The palace was stolen last night. Someone came to Kaifeng Mansion early in the morning and falsely accused people from Longwei Escort Bureau. Dozens of people from Longwei Escort Bureau were all arrested by Kaifeng Mansion and put in jail. They said they couldn't hand it over. What was stolen from the palace last night will be the heads of dozens of people tomorrow. If ordinary people break into the prime minister's mansion at night and are caught by the soldiers, they will be punished as bandits. Isn't it the heads of one person?"
Lu Yijian said: "If you have any grievances, go to Kaifeng Prefecture Yin to complain. What kind of business is it to break into the prime minister's residence at night?"
Bai Yutian said: "The person who made the false accusation claimed to be a subordinate of the prime minister. The common people knew that the prime minister had been in power for more than ten years and worked hard for the country of the Song Dynasty. It was impossible to have such a subordinate. So they made their own decisions and came here. Let the Prime Minister know so that the bad guys who want to ruin the Prime Minister's reputation will have no chance."
Lu Yijian said: "Since I came with good intentions, let's go to the study to talk."
A slave of the family said: "Master Xiang, you can't do it."
Lu Yijian said: "Everyone retreat, no one else is allowed to come near."
"No!" The soldiers of the family slaves retreated.
Lu Yijian opened the door and walked in. Bai Yutian followed and closed the door. Lu Yijian sat down and said softly: "Bai Yutian, just say what you want to say."
Bai Yutian bowed and said: "Xiangye, in Zhuxian Town, I didn't know that Ren Wuji and Shui Buwen were the intermediaries arranged by the Xiangye in the Dragon Slaying Club. During the competition, they made a mistake and innocently lost their lives. They still looked at each other. Forgive me."
Lu Yijian was very surprised, took a good look at Bai Yutian, and said softly: "Why do you think those two people are government servants?"
Bai Yutian said: "The prime minister's hands and eyes are astute. He slayed the dragon and collaborated with the enemy to punish the Song Dynasty. He took refuge with Li Yuanhao in the northwest. How could the prime minister not know about it? If you want to eradicate the Dragon Slaying Society, you must naturally obtain evidence and arrange for one or two people to join the Dragon Slaying Society. It is reasonable. middle."
Lu Yijian said angrily: "Since you already know their identities, why did you kill them both without hurting anyone?"
Bai Yutian said: "Master Prime Minister, if they are not dead, how can you easily eradicate the Dragon Slayer Society and eliminate harm for the imperial court."
Lu Yijian was silent for a moment and whispered: "According to your opinion, did you kill the right person?"
Bai Yutian said: "Prime Minister, the Zhengyuan Escort Bureau is embarrassing the Longwei Escort Agency in Zhuxian Town. On the surface, Tu Long wants to cause trouble to the Longwei Escort Agency, but secretly, it is Tu Long who wants to use the sword to kill people and use the Longwei Escort Agency to eliminate the government. An informant placed in the Dragon Slaying Society. The Dragon Slaying Society relied on assisting the court to eradicate those chivalrous heroes who used force to break the ban. They have done all kinds of bad things and will become a serious problem for the court in the future. How can they not be on guard against the court at all times? Ren Wuji and Shui Buwen They are simple-minded and smart. Their identity has been exposed a long time ago. It is more beneficial to the overall situation to die than to live. I have no choice but to kill them. It is all for the sake of the overall situation. I hope the Prime Minister will do something about it."
Lu Yijian said: "Slaying the Dragon sent people to steal His Majesty's jade seal and ask the Prime Minister for the heads of those in the Longwei Escort. The Prime Minister had no choice but to instruct the Kaifeng Prefecture to do this for the sake of the court's face and the country."
Bai Yutian said: "Master Prime Minister, as long as you forgive Longwei Escort for its past mistakes, the common people are willing to assist Xue Baotou of Kaifeng Mansion to recover the sacred treasure and atone for the wrongful killing of Ren Wuji and Shui Buwen. "
Lu Yijian said: "Bai Yutian, you are somewhat capable of escorting the tribute silver from Quzhou Prefecture to Beijing safely. However, the matter of recovering the jade seal is related to the country and cannot tolerate any mistakes. I'm afraid it won't work with empty words."
Bai Yutian bowed and said: "Master Xiang, although the common people come from a humble background, they never tell lies. They always keep their words true and their deeds must bear fruit."
Lu Yijian said: "How many days is the limit?"
Bai Yutian said: "Send the jade seal to the prime minister's house tomorrow night."
Lu Yijian said: "What will I say if I can't see Yu Xi tomorrow night?"
Bai Yutian said: "If the Prime Minister cannot see the jade seal tomorrow night, the common people are willing to offer the Prime Minister's head as a football to let the Prime Minister vent his anger."
Lu Yijian stood up and said loudly: "I will trust you just once."
Bai Yutian said: "Master Xiang, where are those people from Longwei Escort Agency?"
Lu Yijian said: "Since the Dragon Slaying Society has threatened the imperial court, there is nothing to hide. As long as the people from the Longwei Escort Bureau are willing to work with the government to deal with the Dragon Slaying Society, I will forgive you for the mistakes you have committed in the past and treat you as Not guilty."
Bai Yutian said: "Thank you so much, Mr. Xiang!"
Lu Yijian coughed slightly and said, "It's too early to say thank you. If the Prime Minister doesn't see Yuxi tomorrow night, you should arrange someone in advance to help them collect the bodies. Thousands of soldiers in the northwest frontier are fighting for the country, and we can't lose. For morale, just think that the people in the Longwei Escort Bureau are sacrificing blood to the flag, and they are also sacrificing their lives for the country."
Bai Yutian said: "Master Xiang is ill?"
Lu Yijian sighed: "I am over sixty, I am already old, my body is no longer useful, and I get cold and heat at every turn."
Bai Yutian said: "Master Xiang is an old man in planning for the country. The Song Dynasty cannot do without you. You must take good care of yourself."
Lu Yijian felt very comfortable hearing these words, and said warmly: "Go and recover the jade seal. Everything can be said easily."
"The common people retire." Bai Yutian bowed warmly to Lu Yijian and turned away.
Lu Yijian stepped out of the threshold and saw Bai Yutian trying to cross the wall, so he quickly said: "Go to the main entrance."
Bai Yutian turned around and saluted, "Thank you!" He turned around and stepped away.
Lu Yijian watched Bai Yutian's back go away and looked towards the moon in the sky. He saw an eagle spreading its wings and soaring upward, gradually submerging into it and coexisting with the moon. I can't help but sigh with emotion, thinking of myself when I was young. It can be said that I was talented, prudent and diligent, and had the reputation of "honest and capable". When he learned about Binzhou, he went to the imperial court to ask for an exemption from the tax on agricultural tools, and the late emperor (Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty) approved it and issued it to the world. When he was appointed as the Minister of Rites, Wai Lang, he advised the late emperor that building palaces and temples was a waste of money and people, so he asked him to stop transporting wood and stone by river in winter. The late emperor not only performed accurately, but also praised him for his "love for the country and the people" and entrusted him with important tasks several times. He once sent an envoy to Khitan to discuss peace and delimitation, and fought for every inch of territory to protect the territory of the Song Dynasty. After returning to the court, he was promoted to the post of Zhizhigao and became a close minister of the former emperor. Thinking of this, I smiled knowingly: "It's good to be young!"
Bai Yutian came out of Prime Minister Lu's mansion. It was already dark. Thinking about the people waiting for news at the Bafang Inn, he did not bother to watch the prosperous scene in the market. If he could fly, he would fly. If he could not fly, he would run. If he could not run, he would walk quickly. Hurry back to Bafang Inn.
When Xiao Ruoyun learned that Bai Yutian was back, he quickly came to Bai Yutian's bedroom to ask what happened. Knowing that as long as Prime Minister Lu recovers the jade seal, everything will be fine. The hard-to-break boulder in his heart was shattered into pieces and scattered all over the place, never to be put back together again.
Bai Yutian saw everyone's smiles, and his mind suddenly became smart, and said: "Mr. Li, Gu Gu, this junior wants to make good use of this jade stone, blackmail the Zhengyuan Escort Bureau, and let Liu Gaosheng correct his evil ways and deal with the Dragon Slaying Society together."
Master Mingzhi said: "The idea is good, as long as it doesn't make it self-defeating."
Bai Yutian smiled and said, "It will be done soon."
