Huan Rong

Chapter 54

The loyal servant set off from Yandu, took a horse-drawn carriage and then a boat, traveled day and night, and finally arrived at Jiankang City on the day of the Cold Food Festival.

At that time, fireworks were banned in every household in the city, and every meal was eaten with millet porridge and mellow cheese, and willows were planted in front of the door to perform field sacrifices.

The restaurants, shops and restaurants in the city are all closed, and the Qinhuai River is not as lively as it used to be.

Along the north bank of the river, three or two ox carts can be seen parked in one place, and a gentleman of the noble family stands beside the river, playing the harp and xun in mourning for the good ministers of ancient times.The long and simple ancient tune flows into the wind, making people weep.

In Qingxi, the gate of the Yu family's mansion was closed tightly, and the weeping willows in front of the gate were broken, showing a faint look of depression.

In the same neighborhood, Yin Kang's house is busier than ever.

A few days ago, Yin Kai was appraised by Dazhong Zhengzheng, selected officials and writers, and worked in the Ministry of Zhongshu, responsible for compiling the history of the country.After the imperial decree was issued, most of the dark clouds surrounding Yin's mansion dispersed, and Yin Kang's heart finally fell back when he raised his throat.

"Since he was appointed as the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, he worked day and night and did his best to live up to what he had learned."

Yin Kang taught diligently, and Yin Kai listened to the training.

"I was worried before that my elder brother's affairs would affect my son. Looking at it now, it is really unfounded worry."

There was no one else in the room, so Yin Kang had less scruples when speaking.

He both pitied and hated Yin Juan who was in prison.

Poor Yin Juan, as the patriarch of the gentry family, is now imprisoned. Even if he can save his life, he will be demoted to a commoner, and there is no chance of recovery within three generations.

He hated him for being obstinate, stubborn, ignorant of people, not to mention offending Sima Huan, even Xi Yin disliked him, and finally fell into a mess and became a victim of the struggle between the two.

"Father, there is really no room for change in the matter of uncle?"

Yin Kang shook his head, let out a long sigh, and said, "Huan Yuanzi will not let go, and neither will Xi Fanghui."

"My aunt heard that Xi Fanghui wanted to resign and hand over military power. I don't quite understand why Xi Fanghui would do this." Yin Kai hesitated.

"Xi Fang Huixiang has the ambition to assist the Jin family, and there is absolutely no reason to back down in the face of the great cause of the Northern Expedition." Yin Kai frowned.

"Father is saying that there is something strange in it?"

"Nine times out of ten." Yin Kang pondered for a moment, and said, "Gu Shu Biao handed over the letter, but there was no movement in the Ministry of Education and the Palace, but someone from the Prime Minister's Mansion left the city that day, and it seems to be delivering a letter to Jingkou."

Yin Kai didn't make a sound, thinking deeply along Yin Kang's words, his expression changed slightly.

"This matter involves the Jiankang portal and the military power of the Beifu. If there is a slight carelessness, there may be a catastrophe in the court. At that time, stop talking about the Northern Expedition, and there will be chaos in Jin."

All officials of the DPRK and China, as long as they are not confused, can guess that there must be tricks in this matter.Frightened by Huan Da Sima's majesty, no one dared to announce it easily.

"Let's see how Xi Fanghui responds."

If handled properly, Huan Da Sima's plan fell through, and the forces between the DPRK and China could barely balance for a period of time.

If not, I am afraid that not only the Xi family will be in trouble, but also the noble families in Jiankang and the emperors of the Jin family in Taicheng will all be reduced to fish on the chopping board and be slaughtered by Huan Wen.

Yin Kang's brows were tightly furrowed, unable to hide his worry.Yin Kai clenched his fingers tightly, feeling deeply powerless.

Both father and son are worried about the fate of the family, but they don't know that a letter from Yandu is about to break the deadlock, change the direction of history, and just deceive Sima Huan once.

In the Huan Mansion, Princess Nankang read the letter, her brows stood on end, her silver teeth clenched.

"I really let this old slave fulfill his wish, how can my son have a way out!"

Extremely angry, Princess Nankang waved her sleeves and swept all the cups on the table to the ground.

The tea splashed out, casting a shadow in an instant.

Mrs. Li walked into the inner room, and seeing Princess Nankang's angry face, she glanced at the loyal servant kneeling on the ground, with a look of suspicion flashing across her expression.

"The letter from Gua'er, sister, let's have a look."

Mrs. Li took the letter and briefly read the contents of the letter, her eyes couldn't help being filled with anger.

"Sister, this matter must not follow the Lord's will."

"Naturally." Princess Nankang said with deep anger, "I will enter Taicheng now and tell the Queen Mother the truth. If she is not confused, she should issue an order immediately!"

After the words fell, Princess Nankang was about to get up and leave.

"Sister, wait a minute." Mrs. Li grabbed Princess Nankang's sleeve and said, "Sister's dress is stained with tea, it's better to change it."

Princess Nankang lowered her head, and sure enough, she saw two tea stains splashed on the hem of the skirt, frowned, turned around the screen in the inner room, and ordered the servants to unpack the silk jacket and long skirt.

Mrs. Li got up and walked to the door, and said to her personal servant: "Take someone to watch over the residence of Mr. Sanlang and Princess Yuyao County. In these two or three days, any letters sent to the aunt must be intercepted halfway. Send it to His Majesty."

"No!" The maidservant responded, and went to arrange the staff in person.

Princess Nankang turned out of the screen, and Mrs. Li knelt down behind the princess, picked out the golden hairpin herself, and inserted it into the princess's black hair.

"Sister, don't worry, I'm watching in the mansion. Before the dust settles, I will never let my aunt get the slightest word."

Princess Nankang stroked her bun, patted the back of Mrs. Li's hand, and ordered Ah Mai to fetch a delicate wooden box, and put two phoenix hairpins from Yandu into it.

"It's a pity for Gua'er's intentions."

"Sister, if you don't want to part with it, just choose two from the treasury."

Princess Nankang shook her head, closed the lid of the box, and said, "You must let the Queen Mother know that Gua'er did not rely on my protection to achieve today."

It is not enough to simply ask for a decree.

She had to let Empress Dowager Chu understand that Huan Rong's reputation for talent was not false.Give him a little help today, and he will be rewarded in the future.

"I am the princess of the Jin family, and Gua'er is my only son."

Huan Rong has the blood of the Jin family, and faces the same enemy as the Jin family. The Empress Dowager Chu needs to be clear that keeping Huan Rong is to win a hole card for the Jin family and win a boost.

"After I entered Taicheng, the house will be handed over to my sister." Princess Nankang firmly held Mrs. Li's hand, and said in a deep voice, "If anyone dares to spy on the news or send a letter, sister can handle it by herself!"

It doesn't matter who dares to oppose her in this matter, one counts as one, and none of them can escape the anger of Princess Nankang.

"Sister, don't worry."

Huan Xin was seriously injured, so it's hard to guarantee that he won't have any thoughts.Sima Daofu wished he could avoid Gu Shu forever, but there were a few dishonest nails around her.

Before Ma and Murong collided inexplicably, Ah Mai realized that something was wrong, and suspected that it was the servants around Sima Daofu who did it.

Princess Nankang didn't do it right away, but let people observe secretly, trying to find out whether these people were bought by the concubine, or if they were nails planted by Sima Huan.

Looking at it now, it looks more like what Huan Ji did.

There is no need for Sima Huan to kill his concubine and concubine, the matter is over, and only Huanxi and Huanji can benefit.But with Huanxi's ability, it is simply a fantasy to place people beside Sima Daofu.

After the matter was properly arranged, Princess Nankang boarded the bullock cart and left the mansion for Taicheng.

Not long after the bullock cart left, there were servants who were probing nearby, and Ah Mai caught him on the spot, gagged them all, tied them up, and sent them to the darkroom where the criminals were held.

Because the few people were not personal servants, Sima Daofu didn't pay attention to the situation at all.Sima Daofu was taken aback for a moment until the maidservant reported back that there were three missing maidservants with Gushu.

"When did this happen?"

"Not long after the eldest princess left the mansion."

Sima Daofu put down the gold hairpin, his expression changed slightly, and he said sharply: "What did you say?!"

The maidservant swallowed carefully, and said: "Yandu came today, and the eldest princess left the mansion after seeing it. I asked them to go and check to see if there was any news. But the man never left. back to..."

Facing Sima Daofu's increasingly severe expression, the servant's voice became lower and lower, until finally it was too low to be heard.

"Okay, really good, very good!"

"Your Highness, slave..."

"Shut up! Take me for a fool!" Sima Daofu grabbed the gold hairpin and threw it at the servant.The sharp hairpin tail scratched the servant's forehead, leaving a slender bloodstain.

"Alan!"

"Your Highness." A slightly stout maidservant walked in from outside the door.Seeing her, the injured servant couldn't help shivering.

"Tie her up, send her to Grandmother's place, and hand it over to Ah Mai directly. Tell her to do whatever she wants!" Sima Daofu said in a deep voice.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, please forgive me!" The maidservant knelt down on the ground, begging for mercy repeatedly, "Your Highness, this slave is all for Your Highness, Your Highness, please spare me!"

"For me?" Sima Daofu sneered, grabbed another gold hairpin, and when he was about to throw it away, he found that it was his favorite gold butterfly hairpin, he put it down reluctantly, replaced it with a ring pendant and threw it at it.

The servant did not dare to hide, another bruise appeared on his forehead.

"For my own good? I think you think I'm too good and want to make trouble for me!"

Not wanting to listen to the servant's excuses, Sima Daofu turned his head with a cold face, Alan pulled out a piece of cloth handkerchief, stuffed it into the servant's mouth on the spot, joined forces with another thick servant, and dragged her out of the inner room .

"Can't keep me happy for two days!"

Sitting in front of the bronze mirror, Sima Daofu looked at the other servants and sneered in his heart, yes, she is willful and domineering, and her actions are not in the eyes of the nobles, but she is not a fool!

"This is Jiankang, not my aunt. You are my servants, not Huanji." Sima Daofu sneered, and called Huanji by his name without any taboo at all. "Now that he is useless, some people still want to Hope? I don’t care what happened in the past. You can decide for yourself what to do in the future.”

The maids and servants kept silent, and those with ghosts in their hearts turned pale, regretting that they should not have listened to Mr. Erlang's words, now they really can't advance or retreat, sooner or later they will die.

In Taicheng, Empress Dowager Chu was worrying about her aunt's appearance, when the eunuch reported to Princess Nankang to see her, she couldn't help pinching her forehead.

"please come in."

"promise!"

Princess Nankang walked into the inner hall without saying much, and asked Empress Dowager Chu to step back and take out the letter from Huan Rong.

"Is this Gua'er's idea?" After reading the letter, Mrs. Chu was surprised.Trying to recall the impressions of Huan Rong, but unfortunately they are all about him before he was ten years old.

"Gua'er came up with the idea, but in terms of origin, it's still that old slave." Princess Nankang said.

"It wasn't that old slave who wanted to seize Jingkou and the Beifu army. Xi Fanghui would not be forced to this point. Don't be afraid to tell the queen mother that if that old slave succeeds, Xi Fanghui will be kicked out of Jingkou, and the Jin family will become a victim on the chopping block." Fish and meat can only be slaughtered by others."

"Let me think about it." The Empress Dowager Chu knew that the matter was serious, but she still couldn't make up her mind.

With this decree, if he clearly sided with Xi Min, he would offend Huan Wen in [-]%.Wouldn't it be self-defeating if Huan Wen gave up the Northern Expedition in a fit of anger and directly raised troops to attack Jiankang?

"Is the queen mother still thinking about the hexagram of the warlock?"

"Nankang!"

"Queen Mother, Hu Qian is indeed a capable person, but he is not a god after all!" Princess Nankang said, "He may be considered as the heir of Langya Palace, but he may not be considered as the emperor's fortune!"

Queen Mother Chu was silent.

"Don't mention the current dynasty, but go back to the Qin and Han Dynasties, there are more than a thousand capable people?" Seeing the empress dowager's expression loosened, Princess Nankang said emphatically, "The empress dowager is familiar with history books, so she should remember that Zhang Jiao, who was in chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty, cited What kind of flag, what kind of guise is it flying!"

With a word that awakened the dreamer, Empress Dowager Chu's expression suddenly changed.

The sky is dead, and the yellow sky should be established. The year is Jiazi, and the world will be happy.

If the world is really auspicious, how can there be such a war that has lasted for more than 100 years?

"Queen Mother, that old slave cares about reputation. If not, the emperor's surname should have been changed as early as four years after Shengping."

Princess Nankang knew Huan Wen better than anyone else.

If Huan Da Sima intends to raise troops to seize power, he will never wait until today.The method he is best at using is "coercion", forcing the opponent to mess up and give everything he asks for.

Xi Chao repeatedly persuaded Huan Wen to seize the throne, but he did not wait for success, but he did not grasp the pulse of Da Sima Huan.

Princess Nankang was able to see him through at a glance, and told Queen Mother Chu that before the Northern Expedition failed, Huan Wen would not easily raise troops.

If possible, she would rather not have this ability.

The more you look at it, the more you will understand how stupid you were back then, so stupid that you feel pitiful.

After some persuasion by Princess Nankang and weighing the pros and cons, Empress Dowager Chu finally issued a decree to retain Xi Min in the court.

"A'Ne, go invite the Son of Heaven." Empress Dowager Chu paused, with a look of impatience on her face, "Well, don't invite him over, just pass on my words. All the virtuous ministers of the past dynasties have asked to resign, and the Son of Heaven has always begged to stay. The family has made great contributions to the country, and Xi Fanghui is actually a minister who bears the tripod. Now that the Northern Expedition is imminent, the country must not lose good ministers, and the army must not lose good generals. We must decree to retain them, so that the country will not lose the tripod ministers, and the court will not lose pillars."

"promise!"

The eunuch was ordered to withdraw from the inner hall. Princess Nankang knew that most of the things were done, and her expression was slightly relaxed. She ordered the servants outside the hall to come in, took out the wooden box containing the golden hairpin, and sent it to the Empress Dowager Chu.

"In the past, they were carried out, but today is the sun coming out from the west?" Queen Mother Chu looked at the wooden box, making a rare joke.

"Look at what the Queen Mother said." Princess Nankang opened the lid of the box, intentionally ignoring Queen Mother Chu's expression, and said, "This is from Guaer, what does the Queen Mother think?"

The Empress Dowager Chu sat upright, picked up a gold hairpin, looked at the colorful treasures shining on the head of the hairpin, and said with a smile, "It's extremely rare to see the craftsmanship of the master craftsman of the previous dynasty."

"The Queen Mother has good eyesight."

Princess Nankang pushed the wooden box in front of the Empress Dowager, leaned closer, and said in a low voice: "Gua'er wrote to me, saying that besides the salt boat every year, you can also donate to the palace... Besides, there are also merchants in the north. Road, can get..."

Listening to Princess Nankang's words, Queen Mother Chu's eyes widened.

"Is this true?"

"Indeed." Princess Nankang said solemnly, "Gua'er is my son, and there is blood from the Jin family in his body. The queen mother can rest assured that if he can win Qiaozhou, he will definitely help the Jin family in the future."

Huan Rong would never have imagined that when he planned to use one mu of land in Yandu, his mother would directly expand the area, and wanted to include all the overseas Chinese prefectures established by the Jin family.

"Nankang, if Gua'er wants to take Qiaozhou, what should Xi Fang do when he goes back there?"

"Is the Queen Mother pretending to be confused on purpose?" Princess Nankang asked with a slight smile.

"Xi Fang returned to his sixtieth year. After the Northern Expedition, it will take at least five years and at most ten years. He must let the virtuous. The eldest son, Xi Jingxing, is under the tent of the old slave. After the recent events, there is no difference. The remaining two sons are not unified. Talented in military administration, at that time, who will own Xuzhou and Yanzhou, and who will control Jingkou?"

In other words, after the Eight Kings Rebellion, the imperial court was worried about handing over the military power to the princes and kings, and both the Xifu Army and the Beifu Army were under the command of the state assassins.

There are very few people in the court who can be trusted, even Xie An and Wang Tanzhi, Empress Dowager Chu is not completely at ease.

Who can guarantee that there will be no second Wang Dun and Huan Wen?

Huan Rong has the blood of the Jin Dynasty, and he is not on good terms with Huan Wen, and has little relationship with the nobles in the same dynasty. He only has friends with a few people such as Xie Xuan and Yu Xuan, and his friendship is not irresistible.

After several comparisons, Empress Dowager Chu found that there was indeed no more suitable candidate than him.

"No wonder my lord said that it's a pity that Nankang is not the prince."

Princess Nankang smiled, but didn't take these words to heart.

The sister-in-law and sister-in-law finished discussing the business, and after a few gossips, the eunuch entered the palace holding the imperial decree.

Seeing the crooked handwriting on the imperial decree and smelling the smell of alcohol rushing towards her face, Queen Mother Chu looked very angry, and Princess Nankang couldn't help frowning.

It is rumored that the emperor does not go to the court, ignores government affairs, drinks and has fun with concubines and concubines all day long, and looks like a fool.Now it seems that things are more serious than imagined.

The imperial decree and Yi decree were sent to Jingkou on the same day.At the same time, Huan Rong held Huan Da Sima's handwriting and recruited conscripts in Qiao County, and the news of recruiting refugees spread to Gushu.

Hearing the news, Da Sima Huan was first stunned, then furious.

"Ni Zi An Dare!"

At this moment, Sima Huan and Xi Tingshi were in exactly the same mood, Nizi, cheating!

Xi Chao sat by the side, and waited for Sima Huan to finish his anger, and said strangely: "Minggong, I have never heard that there is such a capable person around the fifth prince."

Huan Wen shook his head, Nizi was not around, and Xi Fang Hui had no shortage of men!

Unintentionally, Huan Rong pretends to be a pig and eats a tiger, and Xi Ting blames friendship.

"There is news from Jiankang that the officials and the Queen Mother have decreed to keep Xi Fang back." Sima Huan said in a deep voice, "The decree will come to Jingkou soon."

As long as Xi Fang returns to the table, the plan to seize Jingkou and the Beifu army will die.

Originally, the news should not have been kept so tightly, there was no chance for Huan Wen to react.It's only because Huan Rong made too much noise, which aroused the vigilance of the local government and the central government.

Especially the emissaries of the various states who were not Huan Wen's diehard envoys were vigilant, for fear that Xi Fanghui would fall, and their one-acre three-point land would immediately become the target of Sima Huan.

"Xi Fanghui was still alive, and Huan Yuanzi ordered his son to fight in Qiaojun. If Jingkou changes hands and the Beifu army is changed to be controlled by the Huan family, how can we survive?"

This is the case in the local area, and it is also the same in the DPRK and China.

The noble families represented by Wang Xie communicated with each other, and worked together to stare at the aunt to ensure that no news was leaked before the decree came out.

The central government exerted all their strength, and even the two eunuchs under Huan Wen secretly gave a push, and it was difficult for Sima Huan to escape the trap.

"My son has no news to send back?"

"No."

Thinking of Huan Xin who was recuperating in Jiankang, Sima Huan pondered for a moment, and said: "Send someone back to the mansion. If his injury improves, I will report to the court and keep him in Jiankang."

Xi Chao agreed and asked, "Duke Ming, what about the Beifu Army?"

"This matter is temporarily unavailable."

Princess Nankang was right, Sima Huan did not intend to raise troops.

"Everything will be left after the Northern Expedition. In addition, choose two people to go to Yandu to watch that Nizi, if there is a chance..." Huanda Sima sneered, "Since the world knows that he is following my order, Xi Fang will sit back and sit firmly at Jingkou. It is reasonable to take my son for surgery."

"promise!"

Xi Chao's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately understood Huan Da Sima's intentions.

The murder of the son must be avenged.

It's just to pick up the previously interrupted plan. As long as the timing is right, the Beifu Army will still fall into the hands of Da Sima.

Yandu County

Huan Rong ate cold food for three days in a row, and finally had hot porridge, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

Gongshu Chang and Xiangli brothers were invited for the first time to have a meal in the county government office. Seeing Huan Rong's appetite, the seven big men opened their eyes wide and dislocated their jaws.

Shi Shao calmly picked up a piece of pickled vegetables and put it in his mouth with millet porridge.Another piece of roasted meat was picked up, wrapped in sauce and eaten.Then he raised his eyes and glanced at the seven big men, and couldn't help shaking his head.

Little knowledge!

After the meal was finished, Master Gongshu and Brother Xiangli left the government office together, their bellies bulging and their eyes fluttering.

Eating with Huan Rong, if you don't pay attention, you will eat too much.Shi Shao has already learned to count rice grains without any trace, and the seven of them have not yet mastered this skill.

The goshawk circled the sky for two weeks and dropped a large bird that looked like a swan.

Huan Rong walked to the corridor, looked up at the sky, and found another larger black eagle in the sky.

"Hey——"

Seeing Huan Rong, the goshawk flew down to wipe its claws as usual.The black eagle then flew down and occupied the wooden frame set up in the courtyard.

"Acquaintance?" Huan Rong poked Goshawk's stomach, and the reward was that the Ge scarf that bound his hair was pecked off.

Hei Ying tilted his head to look for a while, flapped his wings twice, and stretched out his right paw in the direction of Huan Rong.

Huan Rong approached carefully, and slowly stretched out his hand.Even though the black eagle was impatient, he pecked without opening his mouth.

He untied the bamboo tube from the eagle's leg and took out the letter in the tube. Huan Rong opened his mouth wide, then rolled his eyes with a smile, and finally raised his eyebrows, almost flying over the hairline.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Qin's boat will arrive in the middle of the month." Huan Rong coughed, folded the silk cloth casually, and didn't mean to hand it over to Shi Shao, "When the number of ship craftsmen increases to a hundred, half of the boat workers will be more. Jingde needs to do it in advance. Good arrangement."

"promise!"

Shi Shao left the back hall and continued with his daily duties.

Huan Rong unfolded the silk cloth again, looking at the content on it, he couldn't help laughing out loud.

In Yandu, he shoveled the land for the powerful and the powerful, and released the private slaves to the private households, and he received a lot of praise.Murong Xianbei didn't eradicate the tyrants, but only adjusted the school's household registration, and dismissed the shaded households, causing great chaos.

Guangxin Gong, who was in charge of this matter, was dedicated to the country and forcibly tracked down the tenants and shady households. In just three months, more than [-] tenants left their households, which angered the rich and powerful.The ruler of the country, Murong Wei, was young after all, unable to withstand the opposition of his officials, and failed to hold on to his position. Guangxin Gong became ill with worry and anger, and died.

The dignitaries in the DPRK and China began to counterattack, and Murong Chui, who was leading the army abroad, was affected. Some people accused him of secretly communicating with Guang Xingong, agreeing to the policy of "disaster for the country".Da Sima, who had long been dissatisfied with him, forced Lord Yan to make an order to take back his military power and order him to return to the court immediately.

Qin Jing wrote in the letter that if Murongchui returned to the court, the Di people would attack aggressively, and if he disobeyed, the country of Yan might suffer civil strife.

Huan Rong was not interested in the chaos of Yan State, and whoever won between Di Ren and Murong Xianbei also had little to do with him.What makes him happy is that Murong Chui is full of troubles, and 100% has no time to trouble himself!

Holding up the silk cloth, Huan Rong smiled more and more heartily when thinking of the Grand Sima of Yan State who had done this "righteous act".

What a nice guy!