At that time, the army had just assembled, and all the military officials under Xiao Huaishuo in Nanling City were present, discussing the matter of discussing the thief.

Knowing that Zhang Guanglai, the assassin of Yongzhou, defected, Xiao Huaishuo personally greeted him and took him under his account.

Zhang Guang only took a few servants and crossed the river overnight in a small boat, without bringing a single soldier. But he can live in a state assassin history, and he is also an old minister with a good reputation and reputation. Many of Xiao Huaishuo's officials recognized him, and no one doubted his identity.

And he entered the tent, and after a few questions and answers, he said, "The old minister has been entrusted by the emperor - Yongzhou City has fallen into the hands of thieves!" ”

The Qiaoyong Prefecture of this dynasty is not the Yongzhou where the imperial capital Chang'an was located in ancient times, but it is also an important town in the world and a place where soldiers must fight - it is set in Xiangyang and Fancheng for a generation, connecting the north and south and running through the east and west. It is the gateway to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River that stifled the Western Wei Dynasty. Zhang Guang said that Yongzhou was lost, and everyone present thought that Xiangyang had fallen into the hands of the Western Wei people, and they all sighed badly.

But Zhang Guang immediately said, "Jiangzhou Assassin Gu Huai led his troops to occupy Yongzhou, saying that he came by edict. The minister didn't know what he meant, so he didn't dare to stop it. However, Gu Huai gathered boats in Xiangyang, intending to attack Yingzhou south. The minister was afraid that he had bad intentions, and asked His Highness to be on guard. ”

The ministers in the tent were still talking in low voices, and they all fell silent when they heard the words.

After the suffocating silence that could be heard by the falling needle, someone finally said to Xiao Huaishuo, "Your Majesty that day...... The first emperor sent someone to recruit Gu Huai into King Jiankang Qin, but Gu Huai did not obey the decree. ”

"Taicheng was besieged for more than three months, and the army sent by the princes of the world to rescue was more than 200,000, but Gu Huai did not send a single soldier."

"His Royal Highness summoned the world to fight the thieves together, but Jiangzhou did not respond......"

The ministers talked a lot, and I don't know who said, "Li Hucai abolished Yingzhou and allocated the two counties of Jingling and Anlu to Yongzhou." He hurriedly went south to capture the ......"

Although some people said for Gu Huai, "General Gu is the most respected in the world, and it is impossible to do such a thing." "Maybe he has something else ...... secret"

But he let Taicheng not go to the rescue, let Li Hu not go to the crusade, let the edict of the Son of Heaven not obey, but Chen Bing forcibly occupied Yongzhou, no matter what the secret is, it is enough to make people vigilant.

And Gu Huaizhi's significance to Jiangnan makes this matter even more extraordinary.

-- No one in the land south of the Yangtze River who knew about Gu Huaiqi wanted to be his enemy.

If the dynasty that was set aside, or if there was no such intimate personal relationship between Gu Huai and the Son of Heaven, Gu Huai would definitely be the person that the emperor would want to dispose of after the establishment of the new dynasty.

The merit is high and the name is shocking the world, and "the king's life will not be affected by the outside"...... These must have enough talent and courage to offend, but if they violate the taboo that there is absolutely no good end, Gu Huai has violated all the things that are not bad, and the Son of Heaven is not bad and all of them are tolerated.

Gu Huaiqi has many problems, which make him miss opportunities and people's hearts every time. Otherwise, with his family background, ability and merits, where will the family in the world get Shen Daolin to hold the bull's ear? Maybe it won't be the turn of the Son of Heaven to sit in the world.

But Gu Huai is Gu Huai. No one can emulate him, and no one dares to emulate him. Even if most of the smart people are reluctant to follow him, they all obey his talent and conduct.

Even if his absence in the first battle of Taicheng stained his reputation, he still stood alone in the world, and no one could match him.

Xiao Huaishuo's current limelight is not ungrand—the Battle of Taicheng may not have made him famous all over the world, but it has indeed made him famous in Gyeonggi and the rebels. Therefore, after the news of his presence in Nanling spread, the military generals of Wenchen who had escaped from Jiankang earlier came to join him, and many of them were highly respected elders.

But the difference between him and Gu Huai is. He didn't defend Taicheng, and everyone in the world thought that he was not at fault. But everyone in the world feels that if Gu Huai is replaced to defend the city, there will be no difficulty today.

It is conceivable how much damage Zhang Guang's sudden revelation of Gu Huai's rebellion was a big blow to the morale of the generals present.

Xiao Huaishuo saw that the generals were arguing and suspicious, and the people's hearts were in turmoil, so he knew that he had to make a statement.

He asked Zhang Guang, "You said that Gu Huai seized the city?" ”

Zhang Guang said calmly, "Yes." ”

Xiao Huaishuo said, "When did you learn that Gu Huai came to Yongzhou?" How many centaurs did he bring in total? How to occupy Yongzhou? Why are you completely unguarded? How did you know that Gu Huai was going south to attack Yingzhou? ”

Zhang Guang was about to answer, but Xiao Huaishuo said, "--You can talk about it after you think about it." ”

The generals fell silent again.

He asked Zhang Guang to think about it and then say, what does it mean?

That's right -- Jiangzhou and Yongzhou are not only separated by a Yangtze River, but also cross Yingzhou. What did Gu Huai do with his heavy troops in Yongzhou? Why was Zhang Guang so defenseless? And why did he insist that Gu Huai gathered boats and ships not to support Yingzhou, but to attack Yingzhou?

If you think about it, there are indeed a lot of impersonal things in this matter.

Zhang Guang couldn't help but pause, and suddenly became angry, "What does Your Highness mean by this?" ”

After all, he was a feudal official, and he came from afar to remind the king of Linchuan to be careful of the fleet coming from the north...... It's just that the king of Linchuan doesn't treat him politely, and this tone of interrogation and questioning seems to be indeed too arrogant and murderous.

However, this is on the territory of Xiao Huaishuo in Nanling, and most of the people present are mainly Xiao Huaishuo. In their opinion, even if Xiao Huaishuo went too far with the Yongzhou Thorn History, so what.

Then there was a humane, "You should really think about it carefully." Then he pointed out the irrationality in Zhang Guang's words, and said, "It's not that I suspect that what the envoy said is untrue, but it's just a matter of importance, and I ask the envoy to make it clear." ”

Zhang Guang said, "After Li Hu crossed the river, the Western Wei army looked at Nanyang. Gu Huai said that he came to support him by order, but the ministers couldn't welcome him, so where would he be on guard. But when Gu Huai came to Yongzhou, he didn't think about fighting against the northern bandits, but he first forcibly occupied Yongzhou and made things difficult for his ministers. The minister was afraid of being harmed by him, so he could only leave overnight. As for Gu Huai wanting to attack Yingzhou, naturally someone told the minister. His Royal Highness is heroic and martial, rebelling and quelling rebellion, and has the ambition to clear the world. Although the minister is not talented, he also has the heart to serve the country. I don't want to make His Highness suspicious, and it is not interesting for the minister to stay longer. Farewell. ”

He bowed his hand and turned to leave. The wide robe and wide sleeves move when the wind blows, and its style is proud. The generals in the account did not know what to do.

Someone was busy persuading Xiao Huaishuo to keep him - after all, this is an important minister and an old minister of the Son of Heaven Dynasty, and it is still not good to treat him slowly.

Xiao Huaishuo said, "Let you stay—"

Zhang Guang's footsteps stopped, but he didn't look back.

Xiao Huaishuo said, "What the envoy said, it is a matter of importance. But Gu Gong is also a major minister of this dynasty, and no matter who he is, he can't judge lightly. The Lonely Self Society sent an envoy to Yongzhou to question Gu Gong about the reason. The soldiers outside are in chaos, so let the king stay in Nanling for refuge. ”

This is actually what he means by placing Zhang Guang under house arrest.

Zhang Guang was also very annoyed in his heart - with his current status and fame, he only needed a letter to deliver it to achieve his goal, so why should he depreciate himself to come in person? Coming is coming—where did he think that he had just crossed the river and his whereabouts had been leaked? This is also helpless.

But it was also he who bullied Xiao Huaishuo when he was young, and he didn't take it to heart, so he would make a hasty attack in public and force him to make a choice. As a result, he put himself in a dilemma.

Man-made swordsman. He could only wave his sleeves and said, "Is Your Highness going to force your ministers to stay in Nanling?" ”

I don't want Xiao Huaishuo to say neatly, "Yes." ”

While he was talking, the commander outside the tent came in and whispered in Xiao Huaishuo's ear.

Xiao Huaishuo lowered his head and pondered for a moment, and finally said, "Please come in, princess." ”

Everyone in the tent whispered again, and Zhang Guang couldn't help but secretly figure it out. I wondered why a princess would come to see me at such a time?

Looking up inadvertently, he saw the commander open the curtain and walk in against the light of a young woman. In the place where the warriors gathered, her figure was very small and graceful, her clothes and hair did not show any gold and silver, and she was dressed in an extremely simple and simple way - even to the point of casualness.

However, she is indeed a princess - although Zhang Guang has never seen her, he can't help but admit that the girlish temperament, appearance, and bearing are all the style of the princess. Even in and out of the current occasion, he is still calm and calm, without restraint and fear.

Zhang Guang himself came from a family of scholars, and his sons were all well-educated, and the Son of Heaven even wanted to marry Princess Miaofa to his family at one point - and eventually his second son married the niece of the Son of Heaven, the county lord of Yongfeng. Therefore, he is very good at grooming his appearance, and he is also quite sensitive to the kind of nobility and elegance that comes out of his bones.

It's Princess Wuyang - he thought, except for Concubine Xu, others are afraid that it will be difficult to raise such a daughter.

The generals in the tent saluted her. Xiao Huaishuo also stepped forward and said, "Sister has something to ask?" ”

Ruyi said, "I have just heard some news, and I can't help but come to ask Zhang Yuanjun for confirmation." She went to Zhang Guang and nodded, "Envoy." ”

Zhang Guang also arched his hand and said, "Her Royal Highness the Princess." He raised his head slightly, and said with a little anger, "Is Your Highness here to ask the old minister Xingshi for his guilt?" When will the princess be able to come to the front of the court and tell the courtiers? ”

He deliberately relied on the old and sold the old to strike first.

Ruyi's tone was flat and his attitude was flat, but he didn't eat him at all. Respond directly, "From the time when the Son of Heaven asked me to help the King of Linchuan to fight against the rebellion." ”

Zhang Guang was choked up, and he didn't answer for a while. Ruyi said again, "The envoy said that Gu Gong forcibly occupied Yongzhou, when did this happen?" ”

Zhang Guangzhi ignored her, but everyone watched, if he was entangled in such an inconsequential small issue, it would only arouse everyone's suspicion.

What's more, when Xiao Huaishuo asked about this before, he had already vaguely brought it once.

He could only say, "In the first month." ”

"Beginning of the month or end of the month?"

“…… Month. ”

Ruyi blinked slowly, and Zhang Guang's heart couldn't help but tighten. I thought to myself, he really made a big mistake this day.

Everyone didn't hear anything, but Ruyi and Zhang Guang's faces changed between this question and answer, and it was clear that they had asked something. They couldn't help but look at Ruyi.

Ruyi then said, "So, when did the envoy come to Yongzhou to take office?" ”

Zhang Guang did not answer.

The first to react was Xiao Huaishuo's secretary, and he immediately said, "Make Jun the first to serve as the assassin of Xiangzhou, in March last year, His Majesty took King Jingling as the assassin of Xiangzhou, and migrated the envoy Jun as the assassin of Yongzhou. King Jingling disliked the remoteness of Xiangzhou and was unwilling to go to his post, so he delayed his departure to Xiangzhou until May. When I arrived in Xiangzhou and completed the handover, it would be at least July. When the envoy arrived in Yongzhou, I am afraid it was close to September. ”

Ruyi said, "It's February this year. It wasn't until February of this year that you arrived in Yongzhou. ”

The soldiers were in an uproar.

Zhang Guang only avoided answering.

Ruyi said, "As far as I know, the king thinks that he is the elder of King Jingling, and despises him. After King Jingling took office, he found that the accounts of the treasury did not match the property, and he forcibly detained the king to count and hand over, but Li Hu besieged Taicheng soon after. It wasn't until the first month of this year that King Jingling left Xiangzhou for King Jiankang Qinwang that you finally found an opportunity to escape from Xiangzhou. When I arrived in Yongzhou, it was already February this year. Yes and no? ”

Zhang Guang did not refute.

He was actually not stupid, but he was troubled and □□ by King Jingling for several months, and his heart was so angry that he acted irritable and paranoid.

After arriving in Yongzhou, he was worried that Xiao Maoyou, the assassin of Yongzhou, would not hand over to him. only to learn that Gu Huai had expelled Xiao Maoyou, and the dove occupied the magpie's nest. He thought that he was friends with Gu Huai, and he was the assassin of Yongzhou personally sealed by the Son of Heaven, Gu Huai would definitely return Yongzhou to him, but who knew that Gu Huai would be unwilling. He was afraid that he would fall to the point where he was in Xiangzhou that day, so he could only flee again.

Thinking that he is a state assassin, because of the troubled times, he has fallen to the point where there is no place for him, how can he be willing?

was carried away by anger for a while, and only then did he want to borrow the hand of the king of Linchuan to recapture Yongzhou.

At this moment, Ruyi broke the hidden illness in his heart, and while hating, he finally came back to it.

The King of Linchuan was about to lead his troops to the battle, and the most taboo thing for him at the moment was to hit morale - his mistake was not to despise the King of Linchuan, but to ignore the weight of Gu Huai's fame.

He was extremely embarrassed, but laughed instead, "Although I have concealed some small things, it is indeed a fact that Gu Huai expelled the assassin and forcibly occupied Yongzhou, he ......"

Xiao Huaishuo interrupted him and said, "Lone will send someone to find out the reason, and I won't let you hear about it." ”

didn't wait for Zhang Guang to say anything more, so he waved his hand and asked people to invite him down and put him under house arrest.

After this incident, Ruyi quickly nodded to the generals in the tent and turned to leave.

At noon, Xiao Huaishuo finally solved many cumbersome matters and walked quickly to the Ruyi room.

I didn't have time to say hello when I entered the house, so I asked directly, "What's going on?" ”

Ruyi brought him tea first-when Zhang Guanglai came, she had actually just gotten the news. originally planned to wait for Xiao Huaiyou to finish his business before suing him, but suddenly learned that Zhang Guang said that Gu Huai was plotting to rebel. She knew that this matter was not trivial, and she could not delay, so she immediately decided to go to the barracks. directly exposed Zhang Guang's false accusations to his face. But-

"Zhang Guang's matter is as I said before. And Gu Changzhou is indeed ......in Yongzhou, "It's still the same sentence, no matter what his reason is, the fact that he has the authority of Yongzhou as the assassin of Jiangzhou is disturbing in itself. Ruyi said again, "However, Xiao Maoyou, the assassin of Yongzhou, defected to the Western Wei Dynasty. Whether it was persecuted by him or because of other reasons, it is not yet known. ”

Xiao Huaishuo did not speak again.

"But I don't think you have to worry -- it's not a consolation." Although Yongzhou has multiple towns, when you go to Yongzhou, you have to directly face the attack that the Western Wei Dynasty may launch at any time. And Yongzhou is narrow and poor, Jiangzhou is wide and rich, no matter how you think about it, if Gu Huai is really ambitious, Jiangzhou is far more suitable than Yongzhou as a place to make a fortune. There was no reason for him to leave Jiangzhou and attack Yongzhou in person. ”

Xiao Huaishuo said, "I know ......"

He knows, but in the past six months, he has seen a lot of people's hearts in danger, and he has seen a lot of despicable greed. He could intellectually deduce that Gu Huai's trip to Yongzhou must have an inside story, but emotionally...... He can't trust Gu Huai.

After all, he is not the Son of Heaven, and he and Gu Huai are not "old friends for a long time", and he doesn't know what kind of person Gu Huai is. And Gu Huai never showed kindness to him, and even led him to be rude in the battle for the throne. And Gu Huai has done a lot of things that damage his reputation and reputation recently. He had no reason to trust Gu Huai.

Ruyi suddenly said, "I'll go to Yongzhou." ”

Xiao Huaishuo couldn't help but be stunned.

Ruyi said, "I'll personally go for you to see what happened in Yongzhou." If Gu Huai had something else to hide, it would be fine. If he has other intentions, I will find a way to deal with it - rest assured, I will be careful about my private activities. Don't show up until you're sure it's safe. ”

Xiao Huaishuo only said, "No." ”

Ruyi argued, "But I can't help you if I stay in Nanling......

Xiao Huaishuo stared at her and said sincerely, "Auntie is in Xuzhou, Daddy is ...... Now you're the only one left by my side. If even you have to leave, I don't know how to hold on. What's more, if it weren't for you by my side today, how could Zhang Guang's matter be solved so smoothly? He paused, and finally slowly called out the title, "Sister, stay and help me." ”

As for Ruyi leaving him to act alone, Xiao Huaishuo had already argued with Ruyi once - the last time was in early February, Xu Mao's envoy came from Huainan and brought back the news that Xu Si and Liuli were safe.

After Ruyi finally relaxed, he once wanted to leave Nanling and go out to raise military funds for Erlang. was persuaded by Erlang on the pretext that her injuries had not healed.

Now that her injuries have almost healed, and since her caravan was broken up by Xiao Huaishuo, the inconveniences of her staying in Nanling have become more and more prominent. She took the opportunity to mention yì again, but Erlang refused again.

Ruyi is not a dull girl.

She could feel that Xiao Huaishuo was different from the past. Even if he kept calling Sister A, she couldn't feel warmth at all. His whole body became gloomy and thoughtful—not that it wasn't normal, after all, they had been through so much, and it would be unusual if they were as innocent as before. What's more, Erlang has been scheming since he was a child - but the relationship between their siblings was not like this in the past. Now stared at by him, Ruyi always has the illusion of being bound.

- He was playing tricks with her, taking advantage of her character weaknesses to force her to do what he wanted.

Ruyi couldn't help but sigh in annoyance. He talked about his father and mother, how could she be ruthless?

However, in the end, he was still uneasy, and couldn't help but raise his hand and rub his head vigorously, complaining, "You grow up quickly!" ”

Xiao Huaishuo only hooked his lips and smiled softly at her.

He was born most like Xu Si, and his beauty is easy to deceive. And that smile was sincere, focused, and gentle enough to make people feel sad from the bottom of their hearts.