"In the past few days, the young man has been at home most of the time as usual. Some people have come to visit, but there are also some on weekdays. When it comes to going out, he has only gone out twice. Once he went to Qingcheng Mountain with Mr. Fan Changan and Mr. Fan. After visiting Tianshi Cave, the other time was to go to Wuhou Temple to offer incense! Nothing else!"
"Go to Tianshi Cave in Mount Qingcheng with Fan Changan?" Zhuge Wen frowned. Of course he knew the inextricable connection between Fan Changan and Tianshi Tao, as well as the special status of Tianshi Cave in Qingcheng Mountain in Tianshi Tao. Linked to Wang Ence's sudden death, he had to think about it.
"Okay, tell me the situation in detail, don't miss anything!"
The man in green also knew that the matter was of great importance. Looking back carefully, by the time he had finished all the bits and pieces he had said, it had already been half an hour.
"That's probably it!"
"Okay, remember it carefully after you go back. If you remember anything again, you can come directly to me or Dongzhu Cai!" Zhuge Wen said.
As soon as he dismissed the man in green, Cai Dingshan hurried back from outside. As soon as he saw Zhuge Wen, he said anxiously: "Brother Zhuge, I heard that something happened to Xiao Langjun. What happened?"
"It's not convenient to talk here, let's go inside!" Zhuge Wen took Cai Dingshan into the inner courtyard and asked everyone else to retreat. Only he and Cai Dingshan were left. Then he said in a deep voice: "The young man is dead. I suspect it has something to do with Fan Chang'an?"
"Fan Chang'an?" Cai Dingshan was already very anxious, and he paused and said, "Brother Xian, can you finish what you want to say in one go? Brother Fool, my heart feels like a cat's claws scratching me right now, I can't stand it!"
Zhuge Wen told the story from beginning to end, and finally said: "Xiao Langjun went to Wang Jinglue's house today, and then he said that there were no people with emergencies. Before that, he only went to Wang Jinglue's house with Fan Chang'an." Qingcheng Mountain, and then go to Wuhou Temple to offer incense, and the rest is at home, how do you explain this?"
"Yes!" Cai Dingshan nodded: "It is indeed very suspicious. By the way, has anyone come to visit Xiaolangjun at home these days?"
"I have sent someone to inquire, and there should be a reply later!" Zhuge Wen said: "The most important thing for us right now is not to act rashly, and to take care of the business first. This is our foundation, Xiao Langjun's We just need to investigate the matter secretly, and don’t do anything on the surface to avoid getting into trouble!”
"Well!" Cai Dingshan nodded slowly: "I am in a state of chaos right now, and everything depends on you, my dear brother. Hey, I thought this was a good opportunity to make a career, but I didn't want it to end up like this. Seriously I’m too embarrassed to see anyone!”
"Brother Cai, there is no need to say this. Although the young man is gone, everyone can see the benefits in business. For this reason alone, everyone will miss you!" Zhuge Wen said with a smile: "The most important thing right now is The most important thing is actually patience. No one knows what will happen to many things until the last moment!"
Facts have proved that Zhuge Wen's judgment was accurate. Less than twenty days after Wang Ence's death, the Chang'an court sent an envoy to remove Wang Wenzuo from his official position as the Governor of Songzhou Dudu Mansion and the Military and Horse Manager of Jiannan Zhidu Yingtian. , summoned back to Chang'an. The reason was that the Shu brocade sent to Chang'an not long ago had quality problems, which led to a mutiny. Cai Dingshan couldn't help but sigh in admiration after hearing the news.
"Brother Zhuge, dear brother Zhuge, I really have to say something. You are really good at calculating. It was Fan Changan, an old man, who gave me the idea to blend fine linen into Shu brocade. As expected, young man Because of this, even Wang Jinglue was implicated. Hey, you are really a living god!"
"Hahaha, it's just a coincidence!" Zhuge Wen laughed and said: "How did I know that Shu brocade mixed with linen thread would cause such a big thing as a mutiny? I heard from guests from Guanzhong that this mutiny was so big that even Chang'an City Everyone here was alarmed, so the emperor was furious, and even Wang Jinglue was in trouble!"
"Then, what will happen to Wang Jinglue after this time?"
"It's not clear yet!" Zhuge Wen said: "But it shouldn't be a big problem, and there will be a chance of recovery soon!"
"Oh? Why do you say that?" Cai Dingshan asked.
"It's very simple. The reason why Wang Jinglue was dismissed this time was actually a bit reluctant. The quality of the Shu brocade he paid tribute was not good. How could he know about this? As for the mutiny that later caused it, it was even more impossible to deal with. To put it bluntly, he was dismissed because the emperor was frightened and took out his anger on him. But let's vent his anger, his ability to lead troops to fight is still no problem. When the anger is over and he is useful, the emperor will naturally use him He's back!"
"Then we should give him a generous gift?" Cai Dingshan asked.
"That's natural. No matter what, they have given us a lot of benefits. If Xiao Langjun dies and Wang Jinglue is dismissed, we will stay far away. What will people outside say? Our reputation will be ruined. !”
"That's true!" Cai Dingshan nodded: "Then I will call everyone here to discuss and raise a sum of money to send to Wang Jinglue as payment. As for Fan Changan!" Cai Dingshan said this, his face He showed a stern look: "If it weren't for this old guy's bad idea, the young man would not have died, Wang Jinglue would not have been dismissed from office, and our matter would not have been lost. Sooner or later, we must give him some color!"
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"Is Wang Ence dead? Because of the Shu brocade blending incident? Wang Jinglue was also dismissed from office?"
Because he was out on business, Fan Changan learned the news much later than Cai Dingshan and the others. However, his surprise was quickly replaced by suspicion: "This is really strange. This is not a big deal? Why should we avoid it?" Go to Wang Jinglue's official position? Did he offend the big shot above? Impossible, if that were the case he wouldn't be able to sit in that position!"
"That's what happened. The Chang'an court used those Shu brocades to reward the soldiers, but when the soldiers discovered that something was wrong, they started a mutiny. Guanzhong was shaken. The emperor was probably frightened, so he dismissed Wang Jinglue from his official position!"
"So that's what happened?" Fan Chang'an shook his head and laughed: "So, Wang Jinglue is really unlucky. He is really unlucky to have such a once-in-a-century bad luck happen to him!"
"Then Wang Jinglue returns to Chengdu, what should we do?" the steward asked.
"Prepare a generous gift to send!" Fan Changan patted his knee: "Forget it, you prepare the gift list first, or I will go there in person!"
"As you command!"
As soon as the housekeeper left the house, Fan Changan stood up excitedly. As a "fundamentalist Taoist" believer, he instinctively felt disgusted with the Li Tang Dynasty who regarded me as his ancestor. From the perspective of personal interests, he would definitely not like it. Shu's place as a cash cow in the imperial political landscape. The political appeal of a person like him must be to change the status quo. After Wang Wenzuo came to Shuzhong, he was certainly happy to open up trade routes and engage in tea and horse trade. However, capable officials like Wang Wenzuo were transferred away by the central government of the empire and replaced by Fan Changan may not be happy to see a successor who is likely to be far inferior to him. Especially the military change that just broke out in the hinterland of Guanzhong allowed Fan Changan to glimpse the weak nature hidden under the strong appearance of the Tang Empire. This made him extremely happy. Perhaps the idea of recreating the ancestral separation of one side and having one's own blessings and misfortunes is not A delusion.
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Jiannan Branch Du Yingtian handles military affairs and horse management, and the envoy's mansion.
"These are the military government's seals!" Wang Wenzuo pointed to a few boxes on the case: "The next thing is for your officials to worry about!"
"Don't dare! I am really uneasy because I have been ordered by the court to temporarily take over the responsibility of the prince. I just hope that the court will send someone to take over this important task as soon as possible!" The speaker, Wei Zhaosheng, is a middle-aged man in his early forties with a long beard. He was tall and slender, and by the standards of the Tang Dynasty, he was a handsome man. According to the unspoken political rules at that time, local scholars in central Shu must serve as officials in other places. Officials above the prefecture in central Shu came from other places, mainly from the gentry in Guanzhong, Hedong, and Longyou areas. Wei Zhaosheng was no exception. He was born in Weishi, Guanzhong . This time Wang Wenzuo was dismissed from his post and summoned back to Chang'an. As the chief historian, he had to temporarily take over Wang Wenzuo's responsibilities until his successor arrived.
"Wei Changshi doesn't have to worry too much!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "It's already November now, and it has already snowed heavily in Songzhou. Even if the Tubo people intend to invade the border, they will have to wait until the next spring, when the successor will have already arrive."
"I hope it goes as good as your Majesty's words!" Wei Zhaosheng had obviously thought of this. He smiled and pulled Wang Wenzuo aside: "My lord, I heard some rumors a few days ago that you will dismiss all the heroes under your command. Isn't this true? Are you in trouble?"
"It's true!" Wang Wenzuo looked as usual: "Wei Changshi, I didn't mean to embarrass you, I just prepared for a rainy day. I didn't want to harm you or myself!"
"how do I say this?"
"Wei Changshi, you should also know that the soldiers under my command are not from the Shuzhong Military Mansion, nor are they soldiers from other places. They are all old troops recruited during the campaigns in Baekje, Goguryeo, and the Japanese Kingdom. Most of them are difficult to tame. They are willing to take orders from me. Firstly, it is due to our friendship over the years; secondly, I have paid them salaries so that they can have enough food, clothing and warmth so that they can concentrate on killing thieves. This time I was recruited to Chang'an, and there is no one to succeed me. Enxin, and they may not be able to provide money and food for them. If we treat them in the same way as we usually treat the soldiers, I'm afraid it will trigger a mutiny. You also know why I was dismissed from office this time. No matter how empty the military equipment in Guanzhong is, it will be worse than Shuzhong is much stronger, if this happens in Guanzhong, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Wei Zhaosheng's brows jumped when he heard Wang Wenzuo mention the reason why he was dismissed. When Li Jin was in office, due to his old age and frailty, he almost decided all matters within the yamen. But after Wang Wenzuo took over, he was marginalized invisibly, and he was naturally quite unconvinced with Wang Wenzuo. That's why during the handover, Wang Wenzuo was mentioned as having dismissed his private soldiers. He wanted to take advantage of Wang Wenzuo, but he didn't want Wang Wenzuo to directly use the mutiny that had just broken out in Guanzhong as an example, pointing out that if he kept his tiger and wolf soldiers, he would probably cause trouble. Big trouble is coming.
He snorted coldly: "What the prince said is too disrespectful! The laws in the army are nothing more than rewards and punishments. You can command these Yi and Di soldiers as usual, how do you know that others can't do it? For such a big thing, I will definitely If you want to write to the imperial court, let’s make it clear one by one!”
Wang Wenzuo glanced at Wei Zhaosheng coldly, and he could tell that the other party was looking for trouble: "Where are the guards?"
Following Wang Wenzuo's shout, the guards on duty from outside swarmed in and surrounded Wei Zhaosheng's people. The leader, Wang Pu, raised his hands to Wang Wenzuo and said, "What are your orders, Your Majesty!"
"Wei Changshi wants to see your martial arts skills, so you will raise your bows, stop your spears, and practice for Wei Changshi!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile.
Wang Pu was stunned when he heard this, and then he understood and shouted: "You listen to the order, spread out the two sides, raise the spear and draw the bow!"
All the guards responded in unison. They divided into two teams and stood on both sides. They leveled their spears, nocked arrows and drew their bows. Wei Zhaosheng was shocked when he saw this and hurriedly said: "What are you doing, Your Majesty? You have something to say!"
Wang Wenzuo smiled, stepped forward and grabbed Wei Zhaosheng's arm, and walked along the path lined with spears and bows on both sides. Wei Zhaosheng wanted to curse, but dozens of sharp two-foot spear points and long bows and arrows on both sides were pinched. , those bad words came to his lips and he could no longer say them, and his knees were as sore as mud. After walking a few steps, he collapsed to the ground. Wang Wenzuo had to half pull and half drag him over.
"Wei Changshi! Just now the spear was not stabbed, and the bow was full but not fired, and you were like this. You said you could command those soldiers as usual, but I don't believe it!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "You want to write to the court, then It's your business, and I can't stop you. But the Emperor Mingrui will definitely know that I am also considering my country and understand my painstaking efforts!"
Wei Zhaosheng was already sweating all over his body and his muscles and bones were limp. He couldn't speak anymore and could only nod his head in silence.
After handing over the seal, Wang Wenzuo left the yamen. Yijilianbode stepped forward and whispered: "My lord, if you do this, this guy must have a grudge!"
"I know!" Wang Wenzuo nodded: "The emperor knows where my soldiers and horses are coming from, and he won't blame me!"
Igilian Bod hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "I heard that there is a saying: I would rather be the head of a chicken than the queen of an ox. The Lord is originally the body of a dragon and a tiger. He could be in charge of a country of ten thousand chariots, so why bother to be a human being? Where's next?"
Wang Wenzuo glanced at Ijilenbod: "Since I joined the army, I have killed countless people with my hands, but all the people I killed were rebels and put an end to the chaos. Now that the world is rough and peaceful, the people are peaceful, and the late emperor has great virtues in the world. The prince treats me with sincerity, and the people's hearts are with Li. If I start an uprising, it will be a violation of morality, and it belongs to me! Moreover, if the war breaks out, the Tang Dynasty will become an enemy country. There will be no peace in the world. The people will be displaced, and there will be corpses everywhere. The hearts of the people will be rebellious. It’s impossible to know! How can we know that we will win if we explore the divine weapon? It’s better to return to Chang’an first and live in peace to wait for the weather!”
"Waiting for the right time?" Yijilianbod's eyes lit up: "What does the Lord mean?"
"The heaven has a destiny, it cannot be obtained by intelligence!" Wang Wenzuo said: "If the destiny is mine, I will naturally have the opportunity to return to Haidong. Just wait patiently!"
"Yes!" Yijirenbod bowed his head and said: "When the time comes, please never forget what I said today!" (End of this chapter)
