This joint letter between Wang Gong and Pei Xu describes the whole incident in great detail, even more than the book sent by Xun Di to recall the ancestor - because when Pei Pi was killed, the two were at the scene.

However, the text has a deep meaning, pointing the finger at the court and even the emperor Sima Ye everywhere. First of all, he introduced Mingda's origin and origin in detail, saying that he was Sima Ye's closest eunuch, and he was also the link between the inner court and the outer court; Then he expressed strong disgust and skepticism towards Xun Dili, and even sent Xun to the Xun group and belonged to the five schools as eunuchs.

Regarding Pei Pizhi's murder, as far as the letter goes, it was completely an order given by Mingda, and as for whether there is anyone behind Mingda...... Although the language is unknown, it is pointing to the Xun family and even Sima Ye.

The letter also repeatedly stated that the recent arrangements of the Xun family and the Zu family in Luozhong were clearly to prevent the great Sima, and the emperor was also influenced by them, and would rather ignore the righteousness of the imperial family, but also recall the ancestor and guard Luo on behalf of Pei Pi. When Pei Pi heard that the thieves were approaching Chenggao, in order to unify the military order and strictly guard Luoyang, and went to receive the five schools in accordance with the system, he became a thorn in the side and a thorn in the flesh of some people - his murder was by no means an accident, but must have been premeditated!

However, after reading this letter, the first thing Pei Cai asked was: "Why is the prince in Luozhong?" ”

Pei Wei naturally thought of an explanation a long time ago, he said: "If the ancestor can break the karma, then it will be enough, otherwise our army should also fight with the thieves, and we must first familiarize ourselves with the situation - the minister is to summon the king to return to the west, in case Sima and the cardinal department consult." I think it's just passing through Luoyang......"

Pei should have asked knowingly, and Pei Wei didn't have to be strict with words, just perfunctory, asking for a tacit understanding. So his words can't be pursued deep at all, if Wang Gong wants to return to Chang'an, he must bypass the Xingyang battlefield, then he will have to go straight to Hongnong from Yuyuan Pass, why go to Luoyang to go around? Besides, as a county guard, leaving the defense ground without permission is not in line with the system, so do you dare to go to the capital on purpose? If someone finds out, he will be impeached.

Pei Gai's eyes were fixed on Pei Wei, and he said word by word: "However, this incident happened, how should I deal with it?" ”

The word "ran" shows that he instinctively realized that this matter was inseparable from Wang Gong's entry into Luo. Of course, it is impossible to directly prove that Pei Pi was assassinated by Wang Gong, and then blamed Mingda; But Pei Pizhi's attempt to seize the military power of the five schools was mostly instigated by Wang Gong, and he couldn't run away!

Pei Wei looked at Pei Gai without fear, and slowly responded: "The imperial court is really harmful, how can Ming Gong turn a deaf ear?" Immediately return to Luo to find out the truth and severely punish the murderer. ”

Pei Gai pondered for a while, and then said: "Let's keep it a secret first, and see how the court handles it." ”

Pei Wei immediately answered: "I'm afraid it's hard to keep it secret, I have already informed Brother Gongyan of Sheng Gong's death before I came - Sheng Gong is his own nephew, how can I not let me hear it?" ”

Pei Pi is Pei Bao's second son and Pei Cui's nephew; His brother Pei Zhen is the county guard of Shangluo, and his brother Pei Bin once guarded Shang Shulang, who was also in the customs not long ago, and was not in Chang'an City. So how could he not notify his closest uncle of his death as soon as possible?

Sure enough, as he was talking, the door suddenly reported that Pei Yuanjun asked to see him, and then without waiting for Pei Cai's summons, Pei Cui lined up everyone, rushed into the lobby, and then knelt down in front of Pei Cai's case with a "plop", crying loudly, and said in his mouth: "My brother is in trouble, leaving these three sons to me, I don't want to be harmed by the court...... Wen Yue, but you must avenge Sheng Gong! ”

This really made Pei Cai at a loss - although he was in the lobby, Pei Cui called him "Wenyue", and as an uncle and nephew, he knelt down and bowed again, so how could Pei should bear it. Quickly pulled Pei Cui up, so that he could comfort him, and occasionally glanced at Pei Wei, with a hint of anger in his eyes. Pei Wei pretended not to see it, but just helped to comfort Pei Cui together, and said repeatedly: "I belong to the same clan, Wen Yue will avenge his brother, why not brother Lao?" ”

Pei Caixin said that you are trying to force me - listening to Pei Cui's cry softened a little, he ordered someone to help him down so that he could rest. However, Pei Cui's grief is definitely not fake, thinking that when he went to Liangzhou to attach to the Zhang family, he left all his sons behind - Pei Xu, Pei Xuan is at Sima Bao's place, and Pei Tong is in Chang'an - but he took the three posthumous sons of his deceased brother with him, and he must have a good relationship with Pei Pi.

When Pei Cui was helped out, Pei Cai ordered: "Summoning Tao Sima and Xun Gong." "Since Pei Cui already knows, then he can't hide this matter, he has to respond, he doesn't plan to discuss with the martial artists - most of the vote guys will make noise and wave their teachers to Shangluo to avenge Pei Pi - so they have to call Tao Kan, Xun Song, plus Pei Wei, and the four of them have a small meeting first.

After reading the letters from Wang Gong and Pei Xu, Tao Shixing was silent for a long time before saying: "Although there is a hidden secret, I am afraid it is not the intention of the imperial court or the Son of Heaven......

Xun Song said: "That is, if it is not the intention of the imperial court and the Son of Heaven, but the general is killed in the capital, then the ancestor is childish, Xun Taiwei is too old to be a director, and Dao Xuan and others are really incompetent and cannot control the situation." At this time, only the great Sima returns to Luo Bingzheng, so that the ancestors have no worries. ”

This made so much sense that even Tao Kan had to nod. Pei Gai is still insisting: "Things may be accidental, and they are also hasty, so they may not be able to blame Xun Daoxuan and others, it is better to look at the movements of the court first, and then act accordingly." Tao Kan agreed.

Pei Wei and Xun Song insisted on the invitation, Pei Gai felt a little pain in his brain, and couldn't help waving his hand and said: "When I hear the great changes, my heart is also chaotic, and it will not be a good plan to make a decision in chaos." Wait and retreat, let me think about it. So without waiting for the ministers to leave, he turned around and retreated to the inner chamber.

Chang'an Dasima Mansion, covering an area of quite large, the front hall and the back bedroom, separated by a high wall. Pei Gai had just stepped through the middle gate and returned to his home, when he saw three-year-old Pei Jian waving a bamboo wooden horse with both hands, beating a jujube tree in the courtyard in the "ping pong".

Pei Gaizheng was bored, and when he saw this, he couldn't help but scold: "What are you doing when you have nothing to do to hit the tree?!" ”

Pei Jian suddenly heard this loud shout behind him, and his small body was slightly shocked, and he immediately turned his head. Pei Gai saw it very clearly, and the little guy's face was originally full of anger, as if to say, "Who dares to scare me?" When he saw clearly that it was his father who spoke, he immediately squeezed his eyes and his mouth deflated, and then he howled miserably.

Pei Caixin said What do you mean, cry to me? It seems that I am too arrogant to this child! was not angry in his heart, but a smile appeared on his face almost instinctively, bent down slightly, opened his hands to hug, and said in his mouth: "Don't cry, don't cry, it's Daddy who scared Baoda, right?" Don't cry ......"

Pei Jian angrily threw the wooden horse in his hand to the ground, and the two little black hands raised to rub their eyes, but their mouths opened wider, and the howl was louder. Pei Gai hurriedly ran over and pulled his son's little hand: "Don't rub your eyes, don't rub your eyes, be careful...... Dirt hurts your eyes! ”

Although Pei Jian's hands were torn off, his eyes were still closed, and he refused to stop howling. Suddenly, not far away, there was another reprimand: "Don't cry!" It was Xun Guanniang's voice.

Pei Jian was shocked, his cry was as if a silk thread had been twisted from it, and it stopped instantly, and then he plunged his head into Pei Gai's arms, sobbing and choking: "Daddy hugs ......"

Pei Cai picked up Pei Jian, hugged him tightly, and touched his head to comfort him. Xun Guanniang stepped forward and said coldly to her son: "Come down, don't pester your father - I don't understand the rules at all!" Pei Jian let out an "oh", and then struggled slightly, and slipped from Pei Gai's arms and fell to the ground. Xun Guanniang stretched out her hand to support her shoulder, and gently pushed it to the side, and the nanny hurriedly came over and took Pei Jian away.

Pei Gai watched his son lie on the nanny's shoulder, grimacing, and being carried away, and asked Xun Guanniang: "My son is still young, why are there too many rules?" Xun Guanniang replied: "Duyun is strict and his father is kind to his mother, and his husband does not want to be a strict father and spoil him day and night, so I am the only one who teaches him the rules." After a pause, he asked again: "It's still early, but my husband is back to bed, is he tired, or is there another reason?" ”

When Pei Cai heard the question, he couldn't help but worry about the clouds and raised his eyebrows a little, and immediately sighed lightly, grabbed his wife's arm, and walked to the side corner. Xun Guanniang shook her sleeves slightly, and the servants, slaves and maids understood, and hurriedly bowed and retreated a few feet away.

Immediately, Pei Gai told Xun Guanniang about the bad news he had just gotten, and then said: "Except for Tao Shixing, Uncle Wen Ji persuaded me to lead my troops back to Luo and avenge Brother Sheng Gong." I hesitated, so I went to bed and pondered ...... alone."

When Xun Guanniang first heard about this, she couldn't help but be shocked, but after all, she had lived in the boudoir for a long time, and she had only met Pei Pi a few times, and she was not familiar with her, so she quickly calmed down. That is, he asked Pei Gai: "This is a political matter, Tao Gong has always only been in charge of military affairs, but when he asks about political affairs, he should listen to what his uncle and father said, why is the husband hesitant?" ”

Pei Gai stared at his wife's face and asked word by word: "What are the plans of the father-in-law and the uncle, I have also revealed one or two things to Qing in the past, Qing will not be ignorant, right?" ”

Xun Guanniang smiled slightly and replied, "I naturally know that they want their husbands to be the sons of heaven. ”

When Pei Gai heard this, he couldn't help but be shocked. Of course, Pei Wei, Xun Song and others meant this, but no one could say it so bluntly, and this was the first time he had heard the words of "being the Son of Heaven" clearly, and he was inevitably surprised. But thinking that the husband and wife are one and they are at home, no matter how straightforward Xun Guanniang's words are, there is no need for her to pretend to be shocked, or even scold her immediately. So he just smiled bitterly: "That's true......"

Xun Guanniang asked: "But doesn't the husband want to be the son of heaven?" ”

Pei Gai asked rhetorically: "What are the benefits of being the Son of Heaven?" ”

"The Son of Heaven is rich in the four seas, ruling all the people, the heavens are above, and the hundred bureaucrats are below, not to mention the dignity, and can be dethroned from the heart. When the husband governs in Guanzhong, he often laments that the bureaucrats are shallow and ill-informed, and the old system and customs are deep-rooted, and they are hindered in many ways, making it difficult for them to spread to their heart's content, so if he is the son of heaven, he will receive less resistance. ”

Pei Gai asked again: "Then I will now set up the dynasty as the great Sima and govern the country, and the Son of Heaven is only hanging down - since the real power is in hand, why should I be greedy for fame?" ”

Xun Guanniang said with a smile: "Husband's words are absurd, a minister is a minister after all, and a king is a king after all." And there are no three generations of Jiangmen, the family has ups and downs, and only the Son of Heaven can hope that his descendants will inherit forever. In addition, the so-called 'general ruling of the country' is nothing more than a lie, the husband is in charge, and the political ear of the Kansai Xingtai - the army of the ancestor can be dispatched but not edicted; When Liu Dalian came to vote, he could only be contained and could not be rehabilitated. Even if he is not the Son of Heaven for the time being, he should take the opportunity to return to Luoyang and take charge of the country's affairs, so as to clear up the old evils and avenge Brother Shenggong. Why hesitate? ”

Pei Cai waved his hand to stop his wife from continuing. He pondered for a moment, sorted out his thoughts, and then said, "Wouldn't I want to return to Luo?" But it's not the right time. ”

"Why not?"

"Zu Shizhi is in Xingyang Yujiao, if I return to Luo at this time, I will think that I have selfish intentions, and if his heart is chaotic, I am afraid that the war will be unfavorable. Then I have harmed the country and lost the goodness of the child......"

Xun Guanniang explained: "The husband thinks too much. Jun is the great Sima, ordered to stay in Taiwan Guanzhong, and supervise the Chinese and foreign armies, and now the Guanxi is quiet, the recovery of Taiyuan, the main force of the thieves, and they are all in Xingyang, then Luo is in power, the overall situation of the president, it is logical, who is not suitable? Even if the grandfather is not necessarily suspicious of his husband because of this. Moreover, the more stable Luoyang is, the more the ancestors will have no worries about the use of soldiers, and I will ask whether it is better for Uncle Daoxuan and other mediocre people to be in Luo, or is it better for the husband to be in Luo?

"I know that my uncle and others have taken the opportunity to restrain my grandfather, not to win, and to annex the Chinese army with the army of Xingtai, and monopolize the great merit of defeat. However, if you don't act so recklessly, but return to Luoyang, assign duties, make the dispatch appropriate, and the grain and straw resources continue to be transported to Xingyang, and after the heavy troops are combined, guard the Gaoguan Pass, then the ancestor will be a husband, how can there be a reason for resentment? ”

Pei Cai twisted his beard, bowed his head slightly, and said: "Qingyan is also reasonable...... then he turned around, and said: "If I think that the ancestor is the backing of the royal caravan, it will be just a matter of returning to Luo, and this chaos will occur in Luo, then returning to Luo at this time will cause trouble - and I am afraid that the father-in-law and others will take the opportunity to ask me to be the Son of Heaven!" ”

"What about being the Son of Heaven?"

"As soon as I become the Son of Heaven, the country will inevitably be divided. Zhang Anxun was in Liangzhou, Liu Yueshi was in Pingzhou, and Zhou Shida was in Hanzhong, and they may not be willing to join the new dynasty, and most of them are still in Jinshuo...... As for Jiankang, not to mention. Even if the ancestor is childish, he should be a strong enemy, no matter whether he is attached or not, the army's morale will be chaotic, and chaos will lead to defeat! ”

Xun Guanniang took Pei Gai's hand and said with relief: "Husband, I want to return to Luo immediately, as for whether to be the Son of Heaven or not, I can discuss it again in response to the situation in Xingyang." As for Zhang Liangzhou, Liu Sikong, etc., although they were originally serving one country, it was equivalent to splitting, and their momentum was weak, how could they dare to face each other with swords? Even if he was on the river, how could Wang Chuzhong dare to release the boat and go north to compete with the Central Plains cavalry?

The husband also thought that once the thieves were wiped out and the Central Plains was decided, he was afraid that Jiangnan would not obey the order, and it would be inconvenient to take responsibility for it, and it would be difficult for the country to be unified. Wouldn't it be good if only the husband is the son of heaven, then he will be famous? ”

Pei Gai still waved his hand and said, "My heart is very confused, but I want to inquire about the movements of Xun Daoxuan and others first, and then make a decision...... It is only about three or five days, so there is no need to rush...... Let's prepare a mourning dress for me first. ”