Xu Tao then presented the letter brought by Zhang He, the content of which was written by Lu Zhen, the secretary of the Criminal Department, and signed and signed by him.

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu mention the word "wait for others", Zhang He bowed and said: "Lu Butang is exactly what he meant. ”

Zhu Gaoxu put down the letter paper and said directly: "This matter is a matter that the king has a heart to deal. However, the eldest brother wants to change Guo Zi, in addition to Qian Xun, the left chief of the Han Palace, he also has to send all the family members of Sheng Yong and Ping'an. ”

Regarding Zhu Gaoxu's lion mouth, Zhang He had no surprise on his face.

When the imperial court started this transaction, the princes may have a number in their hearts: Qian Xun, the chief historian, and Guo Zi, the secretary of the household department, are not at the same level at all, so it is reasonable to add the word "others"; And which people Zhu Gaoxu needs can be guessed.

Zhang He quickly replied: "King Han wants too many people. The family members of Ping An or Sheng Yong can only choose one, and this matter can still be discussed. ”

When Zhu Gaoxu heard this, his eyes looked back and forth on Zhang He's face several times. He suddenly felt some kind of malice! Zhang He, a principal, said that it definitely doesn't count, he put forward this condition, maybe someone in the court meant, this is deliberate? !

If Sheng Yong and Ping'an's family can only choose one, who will Zhu Gaoxu choose? No matter whose family members are chosen, it is not conducive to the relationship within the Han Palace, and the so-called bowl of water is uneven.

"Both of them." Zhu Gaoxu repeated.

Zhang He said: "The lower officials can't decide this matter, and the king of Han can persuade the lower officials, and the court will not agree to such an unfair thing." The road from Beijing to Yunnan is inconvenient, and it takes a lot of time to go back and forth, so please make a decision to the king of Han to avoid more troubles. ”

When Zhu Gaoxu heard this, he was even more sure that the person who came up with this idea had bad intentions! It's been calculated.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu often cares about the malicious intentions of others. People with malicious intentions are like this, even if it is useless for him to keep Sheng Yong's peaceful family, as long as he can make Zhu Gaoxu unhappy, he will be happy! And if you are a person who has no grievances, she usually only thinks about her own interests and does not care about the gains and losses of others; People with good intentions are willing to protect the interests of the other party as much as possible......

When Xu Tao, Zhang He and others arrived at the Han Palace, it was almost noon. By this time it had passed noon, and the deliberations had reached an impasse for the time being. Zhu Gaoxu said: "General Xu and Master Zhang will go to lunch in advance and discuss it in the afternoon." ”

Zhang He arched his hand and said: "After His Royal Highness the King of Wanghan thinks about it properly, just inform the lower officials." ”

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand.

Eunuch Wang Gui gestured and said, "Two of you, please come here." ”

The study room in the front hall is very spacious, and the eunuch maid sent the meals prepared in the kitchen here. Zhu Gaoxu had lunch in the study.

At this time, "Mr. Li" went outside the door to ask for a meeting. Zhu Gaoxu said a few words, and Mr. Li had already eaten. He then talked about Xu Tao, Zhang He and others with Mr. Li for a while.

Not long after, the general Sheng Yong'an and the right chief of the palace, Shi Houhai, also came to the study of the front hall. Zhu Gaoxu was full, slapped his thighs with both hands, stood up, walked to the chair behind the bookcase and sat down to drink tea.

The exchange of hostages cannot be hidden from the general. So Zhu Gaoxu was also very happy, and asked Mr. Li to tell Sheng Yong's peace.

Several people were talking in the study, but only Zhu Gaoxu was silent. While drinking tea, he buried his head in the water with tea leaves, thinking about something.

Ping'an's voice was loud, even if Zhu Gaoxu didn't deliberately listen to what he said, Ping'an's voice still came into his ears clearly: "My family and the royal family are relatives, how can the puppet emperor have to look at some affection, so that the six relatives don't recognize him and kill my whole family!" In my opinion, I will change the family of my brother. The people of my family first asked the puppet emperor to give him good food and drink. ”

Zhu Gaoxu raised his head after hearing this, and when he saw Sheng Yong's calm face, he gradually became a little moved.

Hou Hai faced Zhu Gaoxu and said in a deep voice: "That chief Zhang toasts and doesn't eat and drink, please give the prince an order, and the lower officials will arrest him and torture him!" ”

At this time, Wang Gui walked into the study, and Zhu Gaoxu said: "Wang Gui, you go and call Director Zhang and General Xu to come over." ”

"The slave obeys."

After Zhang He and Xu Tao came, the deliberations resumed. At this time, there were a few more people in the room, Zhang He looked back left and right, only recognized Ping'an, and stepped forward to greet him. Ping An is five big and three thick, and on his arms as thick as his thighs, his muscles are about to support his robe, and his appearance and figure are very special, which is very recognizable.

"His Royal Highness the King of Han." Zhang He stepped forward to speak, and there seemed to be an inquiring tone in his tone.

Zhu Gaoxu and this strange civil official had nothing else to say, so he said directly: "This king has changed his mind. ”

Zhang He raised his head and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said, "The lower official is willing to hear the details." ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Qian Changshi, as well as the families of Ping An and Sheng Yong!" In addition, there are four more people, Guo Ming's wife Xu, son Guo Cong Guo Xuan, and Jianwen Queen Ma. ”

"What?" Zhang He's face was incredulous, and he was suddenly a little out of honor in shock. It took him a while to calm down, take a deep breath and say, "What does King Han mean by his words, he doesn't want to change people with the imperial court?" ”

The other people in the room were a little surprised, and they all looked at Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu said very seriously: "Of course I want to change, so I didn't make excessive requests." ”

Zhang He shook his head and said, "The Guo family collaborated with the enemy and has been convicted. If Ma leaves Fengyang, he will lose the royal system. Isn't it too much? ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Director Zhang only needs to bring the letter of this king back to the court, if the court is unwilling, then forget it!" That's right......" he beckoned, "Master Zhang is coming. ”

Zhang He walked to the front of the bookcase, Zhu Gaoxu leaned closer, and whispered: "You bring another message to my eldest brother, Guo Zi has confessed, and my father has collapsed in poison!" At this time, I have my hands free, and I will continue to interrogate him, and I will definitely find out the truth. ”

"Huh?" Zhang He was stunned, his eyes widened, "Impossible!" ”

Zhu Gaoxu frowned and said, "This king just said, you just need to bring the words back." ”

Zhang He had no choice but to bow his hand helplessly, speechless.

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head to look at Xu Tao: "General Xu, Director Zhang has handed it over to you." The meaning of this king is very clear, you bring him back to the capital of Sichuan, and this matter will be handled by the Marquis of Xiping. ”

Xu Tao hugged his fists and said: "The last general will be ordered." ”

Zhang He suddenly looked disappointed, and glanced at Zhu Gaoxu with some uneasiness.

Shi Houhai, the right chief standing next to him, also glanced at Zhu Gaoxu. Zhu Gaoxu pretended not to know, Hou Hai couldn't hold his breath, and finally spoke: "The prince let Zhang He go like this?" ”

Zhang He also seemed to have this intention, standing there silently waiting.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhang He, his face showed a sneer that was not easy to be noticed, and said in his heart: Lao Tzu didn't let you go like this, and dared to ask how you separated me and Mu Sheng?

What if you ask the inside story? Whether to arrest Mu Sheng, or to tell Mu Sheng in a hurry: I really don't suspect you!

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand to Hou Hai, and said seriously: "The two armies are fighting, if you don't kill the envoys, if the eldest brother realizes his mistake and wants to send someone to surrender, we can also discuss." Besides, if you don't let Zhang He go now, how to trade? Sichuan is close to Huguang, and it is just right to ask Xipinghou to do this. ”

Zhang He wanted to speak again and again, but never spoke...... If he took the initiative to tell the King of Han the secret in front of Xu Tao without interrogation; Mu Sheng is not stupid, can he not know what the imperial court means?

Xu Tao presented a dossier in his hand with both hands, "The Marquis of Xiping sent the last general to present this thing to the King of Han." The last general's errand was completed, please leave, and Keri went north to Sichuan to return to Xipinghou. ”

Zhang He also arched his hand with a frustrated face: "The lower official Xie Han Wang is tolerant and farewell!" ”

"Okay, I'll not send it far." Zhu Gaoxu nodded.

Hou Hai walked up and took the file.

Wait for Wang Gui to send the guests out. Zhu Gaoxu said to the confused people: "A few days ago, a housekeeper and slave of the princess's maiden family fled to Kunming. He met with the princess and reported that Guo Fu had been imprisoned on the charge of being convicted. One of them mentioned one thing, Guo Ming once got a silver krait, and sent the snake gall bladder into the palace after medicine to treat Zhan Kai's children's convulsions. Soon after, my father died, and the silver snake was highly poisonous, and Mrs. Xu was afraid of being implicated, so she persuaded Guo Ming to escape. Guo Ming did not listen, so it can be seen that this matter should not be related to him. ”

Zhu Gaoxu took a breath of change, and then said: "I guess that my father may have collapsed from poisoning, so the association is indeed far-fetched, so I have never been sure. But today I thought again: my father was in the prime of life and in good health, but he suddenly died without explanation, and it seems very likely that he was poisoned. I decided to cheat the Emperor once!

During the Jianwen Dynasty, Guo Zi assisted my eldest brother to guard Beiping, and had a close relationship for several years. When Taizong was in power, Guo Zi must have been a henchman of the East Palace, and he spoke for my eldest brother in the court many times. Last year, I was in the palace, and Guo Zi also designed to harm me! This person participated in the conspiracy of the East Palace throughout the whole process and knew a lot of things.

If the guess is correct, my eldest brother will believe it and think that Guo Zi has leaked the secret; In order not to let Guo Zi say more, my eldest brother must be willing to pay a certain price. If my guess is wrong, then we will send someone to continue the negotiation with the imperial court.

We are not afraid of delaying time, the biggest secret of the Han Palace's Mansion is that it once secretly hid the generals. Now the world knows, what can Qian Xun provide? ”

Mr. Li nodded and said, "I see!" When the prince saw it, he admired it. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "There are people in the court who want to divide our brothers!" Come and don't be rude, I won't beat him up? ”

Sheng Yong said: "Lord Wang, can't Mu Sheng in Sichuan let Guo Zi confess first?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu frowned and said, "It's difficult, unless you are tortured to confess." I also weighed that Guo Zi had a very prestigious reputation in Shilin, and if he was tortured to death, I was afraid that those landlords and scholars would be jealous of me, which would not be conducive to occupying the territory. What's more, the testimony of Guo Zi alone cannot win the trust of the world, it is just that the two sides are just looking for someone to write articles and scold each other. In the end, we have to see the real chapter on the battlefield! ”