"Since ancient times, there must be things that ordinary people can't reach for those who commit great crimes!" Wang Bo said with a smile: "But Brother Ling, have you ever thought about hooking up with Zhou Xing? It sounds like this person has a bright future!"
"Forget it! I only have one life!" Ling Jiyou took a sip of water and said with a bitter smile: "Not to mention that this guy is cruel and ungrateful. Even if I work for him, I may not get anything in return. I just say that what he is dealing with is... Wang Wenzuo, behind Wang Wenzuo is His Highness the Crown Prince. The emperor has always been in poor health and has asked the prince to supervise the country. Maybe one day the emperor dies and the prince succeeds to the throne. It would not be surprising if Zhou Xing is cut to pieces by a thousand swords! By the way, Didn’t you go to Prince Pei’s Mansion today? Did Prince Pei see you?”
"No!" Wang Bo smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The gatekeeper said that King Pei and his subordinates from the East Palace went to the Weibei fields to hunt together. He only accepted my famous assassin and promised to report it to King Pei when he comes back!"
Ling Jiyou noticed his old friend's worries and smiled: "Zian, you don't need to worry. With your literary talents, King Pei will definitely not forget you. Besides, there should be some acquaintances of yours in the house, no problem!"
"That was a few years ago!" Wang Bo sighed: "Now and then, King Pei was only eleven or twelve years old at that time, and now he is sixteen. It has been such a long time. Besides, it was because of me in the first place. Writing a memorial made the emperor angry. Not only was I expelled from Chang'an, but King Pei was also implicated and punished. Maybe he still holds a grudge in his heart!"
Ling Jiyou was about to comfort his old friend with a few words, when suddenly an idea came to his mind: "That's not right!"
"What's wrong?"
"Brother Zian, Zhou Xing is busy day and night in the Ministry of Punishment these days, and the target of the attack is Wang Wenzuo, that is, the prince. How can the prince have time to go hunting and having fun in the fields outside the city at this juncture?"
Wang Bo also understood at this time, and he thought for a moment: "Could it be that the prince is pretending to be a hunter, but actually he has other intentions?"
"It's unlikely that you have other plans, right?" Ling Jiyou said: "The East Palace is within the palace city. It is separated from the Daming Palace by a city wall and a palace wall. If it is launched at night, as long as the Xuanwu Gate can be taken down, it will be fine. The Ming palace city is so thin that Nanya's soldiers can't intervene at all. But now that the prince has left Chang'an, even if he issues an edict to summon soldiers from outside the city, there will be more than 100,000 soldiers from Nanya and Beiya in Chang'an City, and there will be more The city wall cannot be taken down in a hurry, not to mention that the emperor is still here. Once he raises the flag, he is a traitor. How could the prince do such a stupid thing!"
"That's true!" Wang Bo nodded. As Ling Jiyou said, the structure of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty was actually very sophisticated. The emperor's residence was at the northernmost end of Chang'an City (after the Daming Palace was built, it was actually in Chang'an). (on the Dragon Head Plain outside the city), and the terrain of Chang'an is high in the north and low in the south, so the commanding height of Chang'an City is at Xuanwu Gate. If the prince wants to stage a military coup, it is naturally most convenient to launch it from the East Palace. Moreover, if a military coup is to be carried out, the first priority for the coup party is to "isolate the inside and outside", that is, to cut off the connection between the emperor and the external army. In this regard, the prince has a natural advantage, because the East Palace is within the palace city, and all palace gates are closed after dark. It is tightly closed, and no door is allowed without special orders. The coup party only needs to deal with the Beiya Imperial Army and the people around the emperor. But if the prince is outside the city, they have to deal with the entire city of Chang'an. The degree of difficulty is obviously very different.
"Is the prince really just going hunting?" Ling Jiyou asked.
"We don't know!" Wang Bo shook his head: "We don't know the inside story, so we can only wait and see what happens!"
——————————————————————————————
Chang'an Weibei Imperial Garden.
"This is the imperial garden, and further north is Genyuan!" The prince raised his whip and said to Wang Wenzuo beside him, and the two stood on the ridge of the hill together.
Different from Pingkuang south of the Wei River, the terrain in the north of Wei is completely different. Except for a flat wilderness not far from the river bank, further to the northwest are mountains and rivers, crisscrossing ditches and mountains, which is very complicated. The Genyuan mentioned by Prince Li Hong has a more familiar name today - "Loess Plateau". There are no villages, no cities, no roads on this royal hunting ground, only endless grasslands, woods, and swamps, with wind and clouds surging, and long grass blades swaying like waves, as if it was an ancient place, the beginning of the world. "The green sea is so vast and magnificent!" Wang Wenzuo said with emotion,
"This season is really green!" Li Hong agreed: "But it is more beautiful in late spring. There are all kinds of flowers all over the mountains and plains, like a sea of flowers. Autumn is also beautiful, with berries everywhere, deer, Roe deer and bison are getting fat, it’s a good time for hunting!”
"Does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince come here often?" Wang Wenzuo asked.
"Yes, according to the rules, I have to come at least twice a year!" Li Hong said with a smile: "I heard that when the late emperor was alive, he came more often!"
Wang Wenzuo nodded. The late emperor's grandfather in Li Hong's mouth was naturally Li Shimin. Compared with the frail and sick Li Zhi, Li Shimin was in much better health and was better at riding and shooting, so he would naturally come here more.
"Brother, brother, wait for me!"
A childish voice came from behind, but it was King Pei who caught up with him. He was still a little clumsy in urging his mount, climbed the ridge of the hill, and said to Li Hong: "Brother, you can ride well." It’s so fast, I can’t even catch up!”
"Second brother, if you practice a few more times, you'll get used to it!" Li Hong said with a smile.
With the sound of people coming, more knights climbed onto the ridge. Wang Wenzuo observed quietly, confirming the riding skills and expressions of the people coming. Of course, riding skills cannot be completely equated with martial arts, but a skilled The knight is certainly more useful in the next action than the noble prince who is immersed in banquets, singing and dancing.
"Your Majesty!" A vigorous knight came over and said, "It's almost time to set up camp. Please give me your instructions on where to set up camp!"
Ever since the Crown Prince issued an edict and appointed Wang Wenzuo as the Crown Prince's guest, there has been no abnormal sound within the tenth palace. Everyone knows what this means. Although Wu Sansi, who had just arrived, was the crown prince's left guard and was theoretically the second-ranked officer among the ten commanders of the East Palace, no one asked him for instructions, inquired, or accepted his orders. It seemed that he did not exist at all.
"You have to go upstream of the stream, high up, and surrounded by forests where you can get firewood, but not too close, so as not to be easily attacked at night!" Wang Wenzuo said: "You guys can discuss the specific location! It's like marching to fight outside. The prince’s safety is entrusted to you, do you understand?”
"Yes, yes, I understand!" The knight looked happy. Wang Wenzuo's meaning was very clear. This field hunting was actually a military exercise. Whether he did well or not, the prince saw it. In the future, he would eat meat or drink soup. , it all depends on you.
The guards of the East Palace began to prepare for the camp, and everything was in accordance with the rules of the Tang Army's camp. Li Bo, Wang Pu, Actun and other Wang Wenzuo's personal guards moved much faster. They quickly set up their own forts, and then looked at the other East Palace guards who were still busy. The prince standing on the top of the hill could see clearly and said with a smile: "Saburo, are your guards over there? Their fortress has been built, and their movements are much faster than my guards!"
"My guards are all the best who have experienced hundreds of battles!" Wang Wenzuo was not humble: "The guards of the East Palace stay in Chang'an and have less experience in fighting. Naturally, they are worse in this regard, but they will be better after a few more experiences!"
"Hmm! That's why you said you wanted to go out to the city to hunt, because you wanted to practice them?" Li Hong asked.
"That's right!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Civil and martial arts must not be neglected. His Royal Highness is kind and intelligent. There is no need to worry about civil affairs. You must practice martial arts and don't forget the hard work of your ancestors in starting a business!"
"That's what Sanlang said!" Li Hong's face showed an eager look: "In this field hunting, I have to kill a few prey with my own hands, so as to live up to the reputation of my ancestors!"
"Yes, I want to shoot a few with my own hands!" Pei Wang Li Xian said: "Roe deer, pheasant, preferably deer!"
The prince laughed at his younger brother's childlike words. During this time in Chang'an, his mind was filled with intrigues and intrigues, which made him extremely uncomfortable. By nature, he is a kind, filial, and humble good man, but the situation cannot be controlled by others. His father, Li Zhi, was in poor health and often fell ill, so he had to assume the responsibility of supervising the country as the prince. Once he supervises the country, he would have to participate in specific political affairs, which would inevitably lead to conflicts with his mother, who assisted in political affairs, because of the struggle for rights. He is a discerning person, and he also knows the purpose of what Helan Minzhi did in Hongwen Hall. Then his fiancée suddenly committed suicide, and his mother asked cruel officials to file cases and arrest people. These things were like a swamp, sinking him deeply into it. Sometimes he also wants to simply take a step back, stop being the prince, and go back to the happy days of the past. But the stories of past dynasties made him understand that the prince is the crown prince of the country, and he does not just do it if he wants to. If he really does this, not to mention his own safety, those who have followed him to this point will surely Those who will be liquidated are not just a few people or dozens of people, but thousands of lives. Once you set foot on this road, there is absolutely no turning back.
"Your Highnesses, it's very windy outside!" Wang Wenzuo said: "Why don't you go to the minister's tent to rest for a while. After the camp is set up, it won't be too late to go back and rest!"
"That's fine!" Li Hong said with a smile, "I'll just bother Sanlang!"
When the Li Hong brothers entered Wang Wenzuo's tent, Wang Wenzuo asked Yijilenbode to play the pipa and Tenzin to play the drums. Xiao Dao, while dividing the meat for the two kings, said with a smile: "The camp is rough and the hospitality is not good, please forgive me!"
"It doesn't matter!" Li Hong looked at the vigorous and powerful dance of Wang Pu Akedun in the tent with some curiosity: "Are these all strong men you recruited from all over the country?"
"That's right!" Wang Wenzuo smiled, pointed to the people below and said: "Li Bo was originally a good man from Chang'an, good at wielding two halberds, and often stayed by my side; Yiji Lianbode was a Japanese who once went to Chang'an as an envoy and later followed me to attack He had great military exploits in Baekje, Wa, and later Songzhou; Wang Pu was a Han from Baekje, and his brother led many people to follow me and put down the rebels in Baekje; Actun was from Mohe and was good at bows and arrows. He and Wang Pu Both of them have made great achievements in Songzhou! Tenzin is a Tubo man who was defeated and surrendered in Songzhou. He is a good walker and can carry a heavy load for more than a hundred miles a day without getting tired. He is also serving in our army."
"Sanlang, why are there so many barbarians in your camp?" Li Xian suddenly asked.
Wang Wenzuo smiled and said: "After I joined the army, I first went to Baekje, and then went to the Japanese country, Liaodong, and Songzhou! Either Hu and Han are mixed, or it is simply a foreign country. If we only use Han soldiers, there will be no one. Besides, Your Majesty Our ancestors came from Daibei Wuchuan, and the people who founded the business together, such as Dugu, Yuwen, Xianyu, Mogan, and Changsun, are also Hu people, so I believe that people should be hired based on loyalty and ability, not Hu Han!"
"Sanlang is right! The second brother made a mistake, don't take it to heart!" The prince smiled. He untied the pocket on his waist, took out the ornaments inside and distributed them to Igilian Bode and others. He smiled and said: "Sanlang is my confidant. , if you do your best for him, it will be like doing your best for me. After I ascend the throne, I will become the emperor and rule the sea, and all the Chinese and barbarians will become my innocent son!"
"Thank you, Your Highness, Prince!" Everyone took the ornaments and bowed down one after another. Li Hong waved his hand to ask him to leave, and then he ate meat and drank wine with Li Xian and Wang Wenzuo, looking very peaceful. It turns out that the Li family originally came from Wuchuan. After the Six Towns Rebellion, they followed Heba Yuexi to enter Guanzhong. After Heba Yue died, Emperor Wei Xiaowu entered Guanzhong from the west. The ancestors of the Li family, Li Hu, Yu Wentai and others supported Emperor Wei Xiaowu and became the emperor. One of the Eight Pillar Kingdoms, it laid the foundation of the Li family for hundreds of years. Therefore, although the Li family claims to be a branch of the Li family in Longxi, the dominant family tradition is that of Wuchuan Daibei, who is strong, resolute, brave and decisive, rather than the Central Plains gentry's emphasis on etiquette and law, and the restrictions on Hu and Han Dynasties.
The three of them ate in the tent for a while. Someone announced outside, but it was the attaché of the East Palace who informed the prince that the tent had been built and asked the prince to return it. Li Hong asked him to step back, stood up, and waved to Wang Wenzuo. The two of them walked out of the tent together and came to a deserted place. Li Hong suddenly sighed: "Sanlang, if I had known that these things would happen, I would have I won’t let you go back to Chang’an!”
"Why did His Highness say that?"
"Don't you understand?" Li Hong turned around and looked into Wang Wenzuo's eyes: "Nowadays, so many things in Chang'an City are caused by a few people. Take He Lan Minzhi for example! Because of his death, Auntie hates you to the core. If you were in Chengdu or Liaodong, where would you have so much trouble?"
"I only know that His Highness has treated me so kindly that it would be hard to repay it with his life!" Wang Wenzuo said solemnly: "A true man should act with openness and magnanimity, so that he can shine upon the sun and the moon. If His Highness is in trouble, even if mountains and rivers stand in his way, he should rush to his aid, right? You don’t come to Chang’an because you think it’s troublesome?”
"Okay, okay!" Li Hong looked moved when he heard this. He sighed: "There is no one around now. Sanlang, please tell me what I should do now to solve the problem!"
"Haha!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Why do you ask, Your Highness? In fact, you should know it very well, why do you need to ask me?"
"Very clear?" Li Hong was stunned: "What does Sanlang mean?"
The climax is coming, I hope you all will support me
(End of chapter)
