After listening to Hei Te Changzhi's suggestion, Murong Miao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how vicious and harsh Hei Te Changzhi's suggestion was, it was still much better than burning down the Cao Ship Cao Grain Gate Workshop. At least it would not As a result, the Tubo troops came to Chang'an City. As for how Pei Judao and King Pei would respond, he didn't care. After all, he was on Wang Wenzuo's side. He was afraid that Yiji Lianbod would object, so he hurriedly smiled and said: "I think Brother Black Tooth's idea is very good. The grain is in our hands, so we can't help but Pei Judao and the others don't agree to it. With the current prince in hand, no matter what the next step is. It’s convenient for anything!”
"Brother Black Tooth's method is good, but who should be sent to Chang'an to see Pei Judao?" Yiji Lianbod asked: "This is very dangerous. Pei Judao may kill him when he becomes angry!"
"Let me go!" Murong Mu hurriedly said: "Brother Yiji knows the situation of the granary, wharf, workshop, and gate in Shaanzhou best, so he definitely can't go; General Cui is the leader among us, and he wants to stay and preside over it. The overall situation cannot be ignored; Brother Black Teeth doesn’t know the situation in Chang’an as well as I do, so in the end I am the most suitable!”
"Brother Murong!" Seeing that Murong Miao was so proactive, Cui Hongdu was also a little moved: "This matter is really dangerous. How about choosing another person to go? At most, you can give more money to settle down. Under the heavy reward, there will be someone What a brave man!"
"No!" Murong Miao shook his head: "This time I went to Chang'an not only to send a letter, but also to bargain with Pei Judao. If I send someone casually, something will definitely go wrong, and it can only be one of the four of us. You too Don’t worry too much, after all, as long as the grain transshipment channel in Shaanzhou is controlled by us, Pei Judao will not kill me, nor will he dare to kill me.”
"Not bad!" Yiji Lianbode nodded: "What Brother Murong said is, General Cui, let's discuss how to arrange things in Shaanzhou first. This is the most important thing!"
"Yes!" Hei Te Changzhi nodded: "If I were Pei Judao, my first reaction after receiving the news would be to detain Brother Murong first, and then send troops to attack Shaanzhou. Only if he loses, he will He will really talk to us!”
"Yes, then Pei Judao will definitely do this!" Yiji Lianbod said with his palms in his hands: "Some fighting can lead to negotiation. If it collapses at the first touch, then there will be nothing to talk about!"
The four people in the house, except Murong Miao, all followed Wang Wenzuo to climb out of the dead body. Even Murong Miao also participated in supporting Li Hong's ascension to the throne. Although they have different personalities, they are all decisive people. Now that the discussion has been decided, Murong Miao packed up and prepared to return to Chang'an. Some of the other three men repaired the city wall and prepared armor; some placed ballistas on the water wheel. , fire tube, prepare for water battle, don't mention each preparation.
At this time, there was a different scene in Chang'an City. Through Pei Judao's efforts, at least the court's apparent calm was maintained. To put it bluntly, the emperor's health has not been very good since the beginning of autumn, and the only royal family member who is capable and has the closest blood relationship is King Pei Li Xian. Therefore, although most of the courtiers were a little surprised that the emperor was recuperating in the palace and Li Xian, the king of Pei, issued an edict to supervise the country, they thought it was expected. Only a very small number of people at the core of power could realize through a series of personnel changes in key positions that this was by no means as simple as it seemed. However, because this change did not touch their vital interests, and there was no one with the intention to organize them. Therefore, almost everyone adopted the strategy of not opposing, not supporting, not taking a stand, and waiting to see what happens.
Political Hall, verandah.
It was noon, and the waiters placed the white porcelain basins on the copper racks with small charcoal stoves to ensure that the dishes inside would not quickly become cold due to the cold air outside. The princes in the political hall were in groups as usual, holding tableware and choosing their favorite dishes while chatting.
"Liu Shilang, have you heard about the news in the palace these days?" Hu Youcheng said: "This water basin mutton is good, would you like a piece, and these milk persimmons, this year's persimmons are particularly sweet, and the goat milk is Cook it and eat it to warm your stomach in winter!"
The weather was indeed very cold. Even though he was wearing a sea dragon leather jacket, Liu Peiji could still feel the biting chill outside through the screen and the hanging bamboo curtain. He took a chopstick of mutton and half a spoonful of milky persimmon. He sat down next to the brazier and said, "All kinds of news about the palace have been flying around in the past few days. Which one are you talking about?"
"Who else can there be? Of course it's about that one!" Hu Youcheng picked up his chopsticks and pointed at the sky, winking at his friend: "That's appalling!"
"It's too sweet!" Liu Peiji took a bite of the milky persimmon and curled his lips: "That's why you are so short-sighted that you are making such a fuss. There is nothing to worry about. If the sky falls, there will be tall people holding it up. Why should we be anxious?"
"Really? Then I'm definitely not as courageous as you!" Hu Youcheng smiled: "I heard that yesterday Shizhong Pei asked you to pick up the transfer envoy at the stall, but you pushed him directly. You are so courageous! Even what Shizhong Pei said You dare not accept it! Also, this fortune-teller is extremely wealthy, but you actually push it away, it’s incredible, it’s incredible!”
Liu Peiji waved to the waiter and asked him to bring him a bowl of tea soup. Then he crossed his fingers and put them on his belly: "Brother, do you know what this messenger does? Who is the great god behind him?" You only see the wealth, silk, grain, and rice rolling in the Cao River, but you don't see the hard work of the people. Let's put it this way! As long as the Cao River is cut off, it can take three months at most or one and a half months at least, and the city of Chang'an will be without food. The army in Longyou will starve, and the Tibetan army may approach Yanzhou and Ganzhou. By then, I won’t be able to chop off the eighteen heads on my neck!”
"Is this transfer envoy so difficult to handle?" Hu Youcheng asked.
"Hmph! It's not difficult to do, so why didn't anyone else do it before?" Liu Peiji sneered: "The former emperor Wen must have made everything prosperous, and it has been sixty or seventy years now, right? Why is the world's grain and rice wealth transferred? Why are the riches piled up in Henan instead of simply transported to Guanzhong? Do you think the emperors of this dynasty like to take tens of thousands of people to Luoyang every three days to 'get food'?"
"So that's it!" Hu Youcheng twirled the beard under his chin: "I think you are Wang Wenzuo's man, so you deliberately found an excuse to shirk it!"
"Wang Wenzuo's people?" Liu Peiji sneered: "Brother, how much benefit do you think he gave me, so much so that our family doesn't even give up our own heads for others? People like us can be used by everyone in high positions. , Is it worth trying to get ahead? It’s up to Mr. Pei to risk his wealth and life, but I won’t!”
"That's right!" Hu Youcheng said with a smile: "Old Liu, you are indeed a smart man. Let's take care of our own one-third of an acre of land, and it's not our turn to worry about anything else!"
While the two were talking, a scarlet-robed official hurriedly ran in from outside, and even kept pushing away his colleagues who were dining. This caused complaints along the way, and the official did not care about this reckless behavior at all. He rushed straight to Pei Judao and whispered a few words in his ear. Pei Judao, who was having a meal, turned visibly red. Suddenly, he spat out the food in his mouth and cursed angrily: "You are so brave, you dare to do this!" After that, he stood up and left without caring, leaving a group of people behind. Colleagues looked at each other in disbelief.
"How is it? You see, even though Shizhong Pei has great power, his life is not easy, right?" Liu Peiji said with a smile. Across the table, Hu Youcheng raised his thumbs up, looking full of admiration.
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"Who are you taking me to see?" Murong Mu asked.
The person leading the way didn't say a word, just like a puppet. Murong Miao shut his mouth knowingly and followed the person leading the way. He passed through two courtyards, a garden, a long and winding corridor, and finally came to a two-story building. In front of a small building, Murong Mu felt that his shoulders and legs had almost lost all feeling, and the heavy shackles squeezed out his remaining strength.
"Untie his shackles!" A clerk stood at the door of the small building. His voice sounded like the voice of heaven to Murong Mu. He quickly thanked the clerk, and the clerk sneered: "Don't be happy. It's too early, if you annoy the servant later, I will put the shackles on you again, twice as heavy as this!"
"I know!" Murong Miao was not stupid enough to ask for trouble. He followed the clerk up the stairs obediently and saw Pei Judao sitting behind a desk, looking at him fiercely. He hurriedly clumsy He knelt down and said, "General, I will pay my respects to you!"
Pei Judao did not let Murong Miao stand up, but looked at the man kneeling on the ground from head to toe several times, as if he wanted to remember who made such an arrogant request. After a few minutes, he asked: "Did you bring the letter?"
"That's right! It's what the general brought here!" Murong Miao replied.
"Do you know what was written in the letter?" Pei Judao asked.
"Know a thing or two?" Murong Parrot replied.
"Aren't you afraid of death?" Pei Judao's eyebrows rose dangerously.
"I'm afraid, but I think the waiter won't kill me!"
"Huh -?" Pei Judao stood up, his eyes immediately filled with anger: "Are you threatening me?"
"Servant, I am not a threat, I just believe in your wisdom!" Murong Miao tried his best to keep his voice from trembling: "The general is just an ant in front of you. Compared with the hundreds of thousands in Chang'an City, Human rations, supplies for the Longyou war, and the villain’s life are not as good as a feather. So the villain believes that the servant should put state affairs first!”
"State affairs are the most important thing?" Pei Judao snorted coldly: "Then you are also a minister of the Tang Dynasty and have received the Tang Dynasty's salary. Why don't you put the state affairs first and threaten this minister with water transportation?"
"Reporting to the servants, the first person to make the decision was not the last general, but Cui Hongdu and Igilian Bode. Secondly, I am eating the salary of the Holy Emperor. This is also a repayment of the Holy Emperor's kindness!"
"Repay the favor of the Holy Emperor?" Pei Judao stared at Murong Miao kneeling on the ground, his eyes flashing with cold fire, as if he was thinking about how to deal with the ant kneeling in front of him. At this moment, there was a rapid sound of stamping on the stairs below. He turned around and saw the scarlet-robed official coming up, looking panicked.
"What happened again?" Pei Judao asked.
"Shizhong, it's not good!" said the scarlet-robed official: "Many of the cannons anchored at Guangyuntan outside the city weighed anchor and fled. Rumors also spread in Chang'an City, saying that the emperor was under house arrest, and that Pei Shizhong and King Pei colluded to monopolize the government. Shaanxi Rebels rose up in the prefecture and cut off the water transportation to Chang'an. The granary in the city was only enough for one month. Everyone in the city, rich or poor, took to the streets to buy food. The price of food in the east and west markets has risen to 400 yuan per pound of rice!"
"What? Four hundred coins for a pound of rice?" Pei Judao was frightened by the astonishing price of rice. He suddenly turned his head and stared at Murong Miao who was kneeling on the ground: "You did it, right?"
"That's right!" Murong Mu said calmly: "My subordinates sent people to spread the news before entering the city, telling the crew of the canal that as long as they can take the ship back to Shaanzhou, they can receive double their salary and the grain, cloth and silk on the ship. It belongs to him too!”
"Then what's going on in Chang'an City?"
"It must have been told to the merchants and shops by the Guangyun Lake when the boat left, and then they spread the news to the city, and that was it!"
"You -" Pei Judao stared fiercely at Murong Miao who was kneeling on the ground. He had never hated a person so much in his life. This guy, who was just an ant in his eyes, actually played a trick on himself like this.
"Servant, servant!" the scarlet-robed official asked: "Chang'an City is now full of people fighting for food. This is not the way to go. Do you think we should -"
"The order is passed and a curfew is imposed on the streets of Chang'an. No one is allowed to leave the shop without permission. Also, the price of rice cannot exceed twenty cents per meter. Stores that exceed this price will confiscate the grain and rice. The merchants of the stores will be exiled to Longyou!"
"Follow your orders!" The scarlet-robed official quickly went downstairs. Pei Judao stared at Murong Miao: "Are you feeling proud after hearing what happened just now? Don't forget, your life is still in my hands. As long as I give the order, you will be dead, and so will your nine tribes. Destroyed by the clan!"
"Young man understands that everything is at the discretion of the servant!" Murong Miao said.
Pei Judao stared at Murong Miao, and after a while he said: "Come here, take him into the cell and guard him tightly. Don't let him get away!"
As soon as Murong Miao was taken away, Pei Judao sat down on the desk, his whole body limp. He never expected that he would be severely manipulated by these ant-like little people. According to his previous predictions, as long as the emperor could be placed under house arrest and King Pei's supervision of the country was settled, the major issue would be 70% successful. After all, his biggest enemy Wang Wenzuo is still thousands of miles away. It will take him three to four months to rush back to Chang'an. At that time, he will have enough time to slowly replace people and replace all the key departments in the government with his own party members. . At that time, I was the master and Wang Wenzuo was the minister. Even if the other party had great abilities, they could not do anything to me.
But what I didn't expect was that King Pei would make such a big fuss just two days after he became the supervisor. What he had done was already known to everyone in the city. Those who either didn't care or didn't know the whole story at all. The ministers and nobles of the country cannot continue to pretend to be deaf and mute and wait and see what happens. He had to come up with an explanation to deal with the past. Compared with the food problem, this was the problem that troubled Pei Judao more.
Routinely begging for votes, rewards, and subscriptions.
The plot of the book has changed quite a lot lately, right?
