Although he said resentful words in his mouth, the sadness in Xu Chengzong's expression could not be concealed at all, and tears even quickly flowed in his eyes. For his brother's death, he was extremely ashamed and guilty, because he knew very well that it was actually Xu Xianzong who killed him.

Over the years, the relationship between his brothers has always been very good, and if he didn't know that his brother would not agree to come this far, Xu Chengzong would not have attacked him. But even so, he still didn't mean to harm his brother's life, at most he just made it impossible for him to get out of bed to watch things, paving the way for himself to seize the military and political power in Nanjing. Even if his brother discovered his conspiracy a few days ago and wanted to let someone take him down, Xu Chengzong only ordered someone to guard him strictly, and still had no intention of killing him.

But who would have thought that his brother was still dead, and he died so miserably, which made Xu Chengzong regret it, and for a moment, he even regretted the decision he made.

At this time, several henchmen had also rushed over after hearing the news, and after seeing this scene, they were also panicked. After a while, Xu Zhangcai whispered: "Second son, the only way to do this now is to hide this matter." Otherwise, I'm afraid there will be some variables. ”

His concerns are not unreasonable, in the past few years, Xu Chengzong has borrowed the name of his brother Xu Xianzong to buy the local generals with troops in Nanjing. It is precisely because these people are afraid of the name of Wei Guogong that they will obey Xu Chengzong's dispatch. But as soon as the news of Wei Guogong's sudden death came out, these guys might regret it. Because in terms of qualifications and prestige, Xu Chengzong, who has always been known as a gentleman in the past, is completely unqualified.

Xu Chengzong fell into silence, and it was difficult to make a decision for a while. He naturally knew the truth in this, but let him not mourn for his brother, and it was not his wish to hide the news of his death, which naturally made him entangled for a while.

"Second son, everything should be focused on the overall situation, otherwise all the hard work of the years will be in vain." Xu Zhang persuaded again.

After weighing it for a while, Xu Chengzong finally nodded: "Tell me to go on, today's matter must not be spread outside!" "Now, for the sake of his ideals and ambitions, Xu Chengzong can only live with his brother again.

However, their reaction was still a little slower after all, how could such a major event be so easy to cover up? Although this Wei Mansion is a prince's mansion thousands of feet deep, it also accounts for a lot of personal problems. In the morning, there was such a big mess in the backyard, as long as you have the heart, you can find out something, and then the news that Wei Guogong finally died after several years of illness quickly spread outside.

In this city of Nanjing, there is no powerful figure who can compare to the Duke of Wei, who guarded this place, and as soon as the news of his sudden death came out, it was immediately scattered all over the city. Soon after, officials of all sizes in the city rushed to inquire about the news after learning of the incident.

If it was an ordinary prefect official, Xu Chengzong could still deal with it casually. But when the bosses of the Sixth Department of Nanjing also came one after another, he was a little overwhelmed. If you deny it as much as you can, and at the same time don't let them see the unharmed Xu Xianzong, I'm afraid that there will be more speculations and statements outside, and even make people have more other bad thoughts.

And Xu Chengzong originally had too many secrets to withstand the scrutiny of others, so in this case, he could only choose to confirm his brother's death. Fortunately, the hands and feet of the family are quite nimble, and they have already covered up the wounds on Xu Xianzong's body one step earlier, and put his body into the coffin.

On the ninth day of the first month, the Duke of Wei finally announced Xu Xianzong's death. As for the reason, of course, it is that he has been suffering from scabies for many years, and he is terminally ill, so that he cannot be treated. The local officials in Nanjing did not have the slightest suspicion of this statement, because the fact that Wei Guogong was seriously ill had been known to everyone several years earlier.

Subsequently, many officials came to the door to worship, and the entire Wei Mansion was busy. Especially Xu Chengzong, who is a younger brother, because his brother has no heirs, all funerals have to be done by him, not only to receive the officials who pay tribute during the day, but also to keep a vigil at night, and there is almost no chance to rest.

As a result, the rebellion that had been in full swing could only be delayed. Now that the people of the city are paying attention to the Wei State Mansion, many of the secret actions on weekdays are not so safe, so they naturally have to stop for safety. The only good thing is that the generals who colluded with him can come to discuss things openly this time, anyway, they are under the banner of worshipping Wei Guogong.

There is another thing that Xu Chengzong will do immediately, that is, to quickly report the news of his brother's death to the imperial court. As a hereditary duke with an extremely prominent position in the court, once he dies, he naturally can't hide it, and this is also something that Xu Chengzong is worried about.

After hearing the news, the imperial court will inevitably send people to worship and canonize the new Duke of Wei according to the rules. And this is another dangerous thing for Xu Chengzong, who is about to move. Once the people who came to Nanjing saw something wrong, they were passive if they were not properly prepared.

But we can't put it off, or it will only make things worse. In the end, Xu Chengzong had to bite his teeth and let people report the funeral to the court on a fast horse. As for what comes next, we can only take it one step at a time. In this matter, the only benefit, according to the consistent habit of the imperial court, under the premise that his brother has no heirs, Xu Chengzong has more than eighty percent chance of inheriting the title of Duke of Wei, so it will be much easier for him to act in the future.

Of course, all this is based on the premise that he can hide from the court.

On the ninth day of the first month, when the Duke of Wei confirmed the news of Xu Xianzong's death to the outside world, a fast horse had already galloped out of the city, and the funeral was urgently reported to the capital in an urgent manner of 600 miles. Two days later, the mourners had come to the city of Beijing.

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Recently, Lu Zhen has felt some troubles again, it's not that someone is thinking of a way to deal with him again, he is used to the impeachment of him for this crime and that crime. What can make our Lord Lu feel uncomfortable is the diametrically opposite attitude of the DPRK and Chinese officials towards him - stammering and currying favor.

Since the Son of Heaven canonized Zhu Jianji as the crown prince a few days ago, a saying has quickly spread in the officialdom - this time he can depose the prince so smoothly, and Lu Zhen can be regarded as a great contributor to it. It was his strategizing and sending people to speak at the court meeting at a critical moment that made the Son of Heaven make up his mind to replace the crown prince.

Then, as if to confirm this statement, the emperor immediately issued an order to confer Lu Jin's official title as the crown prince. This can be regarded as an unsurpassed honor, and the prince in his thirties is really beyond the cognition of many people, and it also makes many people blush.

Although Lu Zhen finally refused this reward, he won the trust of the Son of Heaven, and even the next emperor would be grateful to him was still very loud, which made many officials take refuge.

Subsequently, Cheng Dui and others, who had previously changed the crown prince, were rewarded for leapfrogging their ranks, and as far as they said, they did it after obeying Lord Lu's wishes. As soon as these words spread, everyone felt that it was extremely cost-effective to be able to follow Lu Jin.

As a result, those officials in the court who wanted to be motivated couldn't do it anymore, and they all came to the door of Lu Mansion with a prayer post, and some even wanted to worship him under Lu Jinmen as a student. God is pitiful, now Lu Zhen is just over thirty years old, and the youngest of those officials who want to be his students is almost forty, how can he be embarrassed?

At the beginning, Lu Zhen would invite people into his mansion and say some kind things to send them away. But once there are more people, he is really not very disturbed, so he can only close the door. But the more he did this, the more the courtiers flocked to it, and every day in front of the Lu Mansion was full of people, so it was not lively.

In fact, Lu Zhen also knew that he still had to have a group of his own people to be an official in the court, but what he wanted was not such a person who tended to be inflammatory. No matter how many such guys there are, they are still useless at critical moments. What he wants is someone who can truly be of one heart with him.

For example, at this time, several young officials sitting with him in his study were attracted by him as confidants because they were talented and far-sighted, and at the same time they had helped him in matters such as opening the sea.

"It's a bit of a grievance to let you in through the back door, I hope you don't look weird." Lu Zhen smiled and apologized.

"The adult's words are serious, I can get the attention of the adult, and I am grateful to take the time to meet him." A handsome-looking young official hurriedly clenched his fists and said, and the others nodded in agreement: "Yes, we are too lucky compared to those who are blocked from entering. ”

"Lucky? Not really. Do you know why I invited you in for an interview? Lu Zhen glanced at them before he said: "Because this official knows that you all have the heart to do things for the court on weekdays, and everyone dares to think and dare to do it." And this time there are some things that need to be done by you, I wonder if you are willing to do your part for my Daming? ”

"Please also ask your lord to instruct, as long as you can serve the court, I will not back down."

"Okay." Lu Zhen nodded with satisfaction, and then waved his hand and asked people to give each of them an envelope: "This is what the official wants you to do." If you do it with all your heart, don't dare to say anything else, after the matter is completed, the court's reward will definitely be indispensable to you. ”

"I'll dare not do my best!" Everyone was overjoyed, and hurriedly agreed, and those who were in a hurry quickly opened the envelope and looked at it.

Just as Lu Zhen was smiling at these actions, Han Wutong knocked softly on the door outside the door: "Master......"

This made Lu Zhen a little surprised, didn't he tell the other party not to disturb when he didn't meet these people himself? But knowing that he was still measured, he still got up and came to the door, and asked in a low voice, "Is there anything urgent?" ”

"Suddenly, someone from the Duke of Wei came to Beijing to report the funeral, saying that the Duke of Wei suddenly died......"

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Thanks to the book friend 18672397 and the book friend 56403018 for their tipping and support, as well as the monthly ticket support of the book friend Wuchang, Hubei Wanhu Hou, Huairou Sihai, difficult to give and gentle madman!!!