The northern suburbs of the capital.

At this time, it was late at night, and in the Shenwu Army barracks, the sergeants had already fallen asleep after a whole day of training, and only the groups of soldiers who kept walking and patrolling at night still held the spears in their hands and looked around vigilantly.

Inside the manager's tent, the lights are still bright.

Zhao Hu, the general of the Shenwu Army, sat in front of the desk, frowning silently, his eyelids fluttering.

In front of him was a thin piece of paper with a few words written on it: "The time is coming, waiting for the opportunity to start something." ”

What made Zhao Hu frown was these words.

Adjutant General Zheng Yansong looked at Zhao Hu quietly, waiting for him to speak.

Zhao Hu remained silent. For him, these words seem to carry magical power, which may make him soar and glorify from now on, or may make him ruined and unlucky.

Zhao Hu is an orphan, when he was five years old, there was a famine in his hometown, the family squatted in the field to dig wild vegetables to satisfy hunger, the house leak happened to rain overnight, his father unfortunately contracted a serious illness, and died after a month, leaving his mother and him, and life was even more difficult. If a family has no pillars, it will collapse sooner or later. Sure enough, two months after my father's death, my mother couldn't survive it, and starved to death before the weather began to spring.

Five-year-old Zhao Hu became a fatherless and motherless orphan, and at a young age, he followed the hungry people fleeing the famine all the way to the capital. In order to survive, he suffered everything, even eating the flesh of the dead.

At that time, Pan Shangshu had just taken charge of the ministry, once walking on the street, among the many hungry people with yellow faces and thin muscles, he found this child at first sight, although he was dying of hunger, but his eyes still flashed with a strong will to survive, Pan Shangshu did not hesitate to order his subordinates to take him away, raised in a farmhouse near the capital, and gave him a vibrant name, Zhao Hu. When he was a little older, Pan Shangshu secretly sent someone to teach him literacy and martial arts, and without a trace, he was caught in the martial arts and joined the army.

In a sense, Zhao Hu is equivalent to Pan Shangshu's adopted godson, and Pan Shangshu has the grace to raise him alive. However, after so many years, except for Pan Shangshu's close cronies, no one knows that Zhao Hu and Pan Shangshu have such a close relationship.

The air in the tent seemed to freeze, and after a long time, Zhao Hu breathed a sigh of relief, folded the paper, stretched it out in front of the lamp, lit it, and the two stared silently at the paper gradually burning into ashes.

Holding back the inexplicable fear in his heart, Zhao Hu said in a low voice: "Does the boss have anything else to say?" ”

Zheng Yansong looked at the master's expression carefully, and then spoke: "The old man said that the arrow is on the string, and he has to send it." ”

Although he had known that there would be such a day, the muscles on Zhao Hu's face still twitched uncontrollably.

The boss is planning to usurp the throne!

What are his odds of winning? If it's a desperate gamble, should I blindly follow the boss all the way to the dark?

When it comes to life and death, no one can die generously without hesitation, although the old man has a kind to him that is as high as the sea and the sea.

Somehow, Zhao Hu's thoughts drifted to that cold winter, the five-year-old child, hungry crawled out of the pile of dead, not caring about the fear of starving corpses all over the ground, like a hell on earth, cannibalistic scenes, with numb and empty eyes, blankly following the hungry people fleeing the famine, one foot high and one foot low into the capital, along the way people kept falling, and then a group of people surrounded them, cutting off the flesh of the deceased one by one, and sending it into the mouth bloody......

Then he vaguely saw Pan Shangshu, who was middle-aged at the time, with a faint smile, stroked his beard and commanded his subordinates majestically: "Go quickly!" This kid is dying of hunger, so bring him over. ”

…………

"Zhao Hu, what do you want to do when you grow up?" Pan Shangshu's face is kind and amiable, just like his deceased father.

"I want to be a majestic general!" Six-year-old Zhao Hu held up his thin little chest, like a little adult, and made his first wish in his life.

"Hahaha, good! The old man will let you be a general! Pan Shangshu smiled heartily, and the love in his eyes was overflowing.

…………

…………

Zhao Hu rubbed his face, looked up and found that a lone oil lamp in the tent was even darker.

Looking at Zheng Yansong, who was waiting for him to speak, Zhao Hu smiled bitterly: "Zhao's life was given by the boss, and he lived for nearly thirty more years, from an orphan who was about to starve to death, to a general who commanded tens of thousands of troops today, which is enough." ”

Zheng Yansong was silent for a while, then hesitated and said, "General,...... Few people in the world know about your relationship with the boss, in fact, if you ignore it, even if the boss falls, it will not affect the general's future......"

"Shut up!" Zhao Hu's eyes widened angrily, "I, Zhao Hu, don't dare to claim to be a loyal minister, but I'm an upright man!" The old man rescued me from the pile of dead people and raised me as an adult, I am a dog, and I should know how to repay the favor, right? Now that the Lord needs me, how can I do such a ruthless and unrighteous thing? ”

Zheng Yansong was frightened by Zhao Hu's anger and took a step back, knelt down in fear and said, "The last general should be damned!" The last will be lost! ”

Sighing tiredly, Zhao Hu said weakly: "...... You go and spread a word and tell the boss that Zhao Hu is willing to serve the boss to the death, and the Shenwu army is ready to enter the city at any time - Qingjun's side! ”

In the last three words, Zhao Hu seemed to use all his strength and burst out from between his teeth.

Zheng Yansong's eyelids jumped when he heard this, and his body felt a cold chill, and he shivered involuntarily.

"Are you scared?" Zhao Hu suddenly smiled, his smile seemed unpredictable under the dim light.

Zheng Yansong shook his head and said with a firm expression: "The general treats me like a mountain, and the last general swears to follow!" ”

Zhao Hu sighed and waved his hand, Zheng Yansong didn't dare to say more, and withdrew from the big tent after saluting.

Zhao Hu smiled silently, Qingjun's side, throughout the ages, how many rebellious ministers and thieves have used excuses when they plotted to usurp the throne, some of them succeeded, the yellow robe was added, some failed, and the nine clans were punished. - What will happen to the Boss? What about me?

Sitting in the big tent in a daze, the night wind lifted the curtain in front of the tent, a dark cloud was quietly covering the bright moon, the night was vast, everything was silent, Zhao Hu's heart was also shrouded in dark clouds, heavy, and he couldn't breathe.

-------------------------------

Inside the Imperial Study of the Forbidden Palace.

The emperor's voice was as steady as usual: "...... Is your information true? ”

Fang Zheng nodded solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, it's true, this information was exchanged for the life of an old brother of the shadow......"

This brother was discovered while eavesdropping on a confidential conversation between Pan Shangshu and his staff, and Pan's house searched the house with the door closed for three days and three nights, but he escaped the search because he covered himself with soil in the garden of Pan's house and buried him for three days without eating or drinking. It's a pity that when he was about to escape from the mansion, he was still shot by an arrow from the guard of the Pan Mansion, and he held his last breath and told the news to the brother who received him, and then he lost ......his breath" Fang Zheng's tone was a little sad.

The emperor's face remained unchanged at all, still tight, and he couldn't see any change in emotion.

"Your Majesty, did you already know that Pan Shangshu was going to rebel?" Fang Zheng was very curious, someone grabbed a chair with the emperor to sit on, why didn't the emperor mean to be angry at all?

"I saw it a few years ago that he would take this step sooner or later, but I didn't expect him to be so breathless." The emperor sneered.

Fang Zheng rolled his eyes secretly, listen, how beautiful people are in this afterthought, they knew it a few years ago, so why have you been there for the past few years? Let him develop his power, and when he is evenly matched with you, you will start to clean him up?

"But...... One of our brothers lost his life for this...... Your Majesty, aren't you moved? Fang Zheng felt that the emperor's current expression was very out of place, people even lost their lives for you, why didn't he have any sense of sadness and regret? Do others deserve to die for you?

"Touched by what?" The emperor asked lightly.

Fang Zheng couldn't help but be a little excited: "The brother in my shadow died in order to find out information for the emperor!" ”

As the leader of the shadows, Fang Zheng couldn't accept that after his subordinates sacrificed their lives for the country, the emperor didn't even owe a word of comfort, which made Fang Zheng feel that his subordinates died a little unworthy, could it be that human life is so cheap in the eyes of the emperor?

"That's it, what else do I have to do? Howling and crying? ”

Seeing Fang Zheng's look of daring to be angry and unspeakable, the emperor sighed.

"Fang Zheng, you are now considered to be a superior, why do you still put your joy and anger on the surface? Does happiness or anger have to be reflected in the expression to count? Of the dozens of people left in the shadows, which one hasn't been with me for years? Aren't I really sad? But I am the emperor and the co-lord of the world, if I don't even have this bit of a city, how can I order the ministers and educate the people? ”

Fang Zheng was relieved, but still muttered dissatisfiedly: "When I told you to divide, your emotions were out of control......

"What did you say?" The emperor's voice was slightly higher.

Fang Zheng hurriedly laughed and said: "Ah, Weichen thinks that the emperor is simply wise and martial, what is Yao Shunyu soup, compared to you, you can't catch up with the horse, the emperor's eloquence is strategic, and it has ...... throughout the ages."

"Okay, okay, your sycophant kung fu still hasn't grown, it's extremely clumsy." The emperor glared at him dissatisfiedly: "Pan Shangshu is really ready to rebel, tell me your opinion, how do you think this matter should be handled?" ”

"Uh...... Or, Your Majesty, you will speak first? Fang Zheng wasn't sure what the emperor was thinking for a while, and if he was wrong, he would inevitably be scolded again.

"I want to hear your opinion first."

"Oh, Your Majesty, aren't you treating me as an outsider? You're welcome, let's talk first......"

"If I tell you to, just say it."

"Why don't we guess the boxing? Whoever loses will say ...... first"

"Fang Zheng! Where did you get so much nonsense? "The emperor's face is not very good-looking.

Fang Zheng shrunk his neck, and hurriedly said with a smile: "Your Majesty, don't be angry, didn't you teach Weichen just now, don't you want to be invisible......

The emperor snorted angrily.

After sorting out his thoughts, Fang Zheng hesitated and said: "Wei Chen thinks that if he recklessly arrests Pan Shangshu at this time, I am afraid that he will not be able to solve this matter, Pan Shangshu has been operating in the court for many years, and his power is huge, and there are his henchmen in the court and the army, and he is afraid that it will backfire if he arrests him, and urges his minions to rebel, so we can only wait for him to show his hideous face, show his bloody fangs, and stretch out his evil and dirty claws......"

"Shut up! Getting to the point! Don't show me your poor literary talent! "The emperor really can't listen to it anymore.

Fang Zheng still didn't say a lot of adjectives to describe Pan Shangshu's ugly face, but when he got to his mouth, he was interrupted by the emperor, and he didn't feel a little stupid.

“…… Yes, yes, Wei Chen thinks that we should seize the time to arrange while waiting for the opportunity, especially Pan Shangshu's comrades lurking in the army, and we must take advantage of their unpreparedness to capture them in one fell swoop, otherwise once Pan Shangshu arrives at the time of the dagger, the military power is in his hands, and the big thing is not good! ”

The emperor was quite satisfied with Fang Zheng's opinion, nodded with a smile and said: "You are not an official in vain, you do have some insight. Pan Shangshu really can't catch it now, and if he catches it, the world will be in chaos. But I have a question for you,—— Wen Chen of the Pan Party in the court is not worried, do you know who the generals in the army are hidden in Pan Shangshu, what positions they hold, and how many soldiers and horses can be mobilized under his command? ”

Fang Zheng said honestly: "Weichen doesn't know. ”

The emperor frowned and said, "Rat-throwing bogey!" I have been investigating for so many years, but I have not been able to find out which people in the army are loyal to him, and what I found out are all small fish and shrimp, which have nothing to do with the overall situation, these people are too deeply hidden. If he can't completely cut off his wings in the army, even if Pan Shangshu is arrested and killed, I will be stuck in my throat and will not be able to live in peace. On the side of the couch, will others be allowed to sleep peacefully? ”

Fang Zheng nodded understandingly, it is indeed not easy to do, it is easy to catch Pan Shangshu, but the power behind that old thing is so huge, and it is not clear which generals in the army are loyal to him, what if the old thing is captured and the generals loyal to him rebel? If the trouble is not good, the world will be in chaos, and when the time comes, those who join in the fun, those who wait for the autumn wind, those who fall into the well, all the brains are here, how can the people live? How can he, the emperor, still be?

It is not reliable to search and investigate in the army, even if someone is caught, others will admit it or not, and what if they are caught wrong?

For example, if someone is walking on the street without recruiting anyone and not provoking anyone, suddenly a person suddenly sprang out from the side of the street, and stabbed him in the back without saying a word, but he looked at the front, huh? Wrong? hurriedly apologized: "I'm sorry, I recognized the wrong person......"

Is the one who was stabbed wronged?

Staring at Fang Zheng, there was a hint of majesty in the emperor's eyebrows: "What do you think I should do?" ”

Fang Zheng was puzzled: "This micro-minister is really not good, Your Majesty, the affairs in the army are very sensitive, and you have to be dictatorial." ”

The emperor smiled, "It's okay, I already have a proposition, so I want to hear what you think." ”

Rolling his eyes, Fang Zheng said: "Wei Chen thinks that in the case of not knowing who is loyal to Pan Shangshu, the current plan is not to startle the snake, but can only secretly dispatch the emperor's trusted generals to lead the army to gradually approach the capital in the name of training or moving defense, and then order the border army to be on guard, once it is found that a certain army is unstable and there are signs of rebellion, immediately order the border army to go south, and the army stationed outside the city is in a horn situation, attacking from both sides, so the rebellion may be quickly suppressed......"

The emperor smiled noncommittally.

Fang Zheng didn't know whether what he said was right or wrong, seeing that the emperor didn't say anything, Fang Zheng said tentatively: "Or ...... Let's just arrest Pan Shangshu, and then torture him to extract a confession, tell him to hand over the list of his comrades, and then the emperor will arrest people according to the map, how simple, right? Hehe......"

The emperor sneered: "You can't help but take it for granted." Pan Shangshu is getting older, determined, and has been in officialdom for many years, do you think he is likely to admit it? If you were him, what would you do if you were caught? ”

"Heroes spare their lives?"

“…… You're a scoundrel! The emperor said angrily.

After a pause, the emperor said lightly: "Pan Shangshu, you send more people to keep an eye on it, and you must find out this matter more clearly, but you have to remember that you must not startle the snake, I want to see if the monarch and the minister have been in the army for decades, how can this loyal courtier be able to sit on the dragon chair of the king of kings!" ”

After speaking, the emperor's dragon eyes shot out with a burst of fine light, and a chilling murderous aura erupted.

Fang Zheng lowered his head in fright, and didn't dare to speak for a long time.

What a sharp king's domineering spirit! But it's useless for you to spray me, spray at Pan Shangshu, maybe he would have cried bitterly and bowed his head to confess......

For the first time in his life, Fang Zheng faintly felt worried.

The situation is already clear at a glance, an emperor, a traitor, the two old men hold their strength and break their wrists, whoever wins will sit on the dragon chair, but what if the emperor loses? Based on the previous grievances between myself and Pan Shangshu, if that old thing ascends the throne, I'm afraid the first thing he will do is to cut off the heads of my whole family to sacrifice his new national flag, right?

Fang Zheng felt that what he could do at present was to send all his shadow subordinates out and ask for information desperately, so as to give the emperor strong support. In addition to this incident, the rest is to pray to God and worship Buddha, hoping that Pan Shangshu's old otaku accidentally fell to his death when he was walking at home, which would save more trouble.

Looking up at the emperor, seeing him staring at him with a smile instead of a smile, Fang Zheng suddenly felt his hair stand on end, the emperor's eyes were too mad! What is the bad idea of staring at me like this? Looking at his confident appearance, it seems that he has already found a way to deal with it.

"Your Majesty, let's say okay first, Weichen is timid, he generally only does behind-the-scenes work, don't look for me when he charges into battle, and then talk about the three generations of Weichen's family, a seedling in a thousand acres of land......" Fang Zheng felt that the ugly words in front were really a virtue passed down from ancient times by the Chinese nation.

"Who said you were going to charge? With your guts, when you go to the battlefield, you only have to turn around and run. ”

Fang Zheng finally put his mind at ease and pondered carefully, what did the emperor mean by this?

"Your Majesty, that's not enough, right? Catch the ducks on the shelves, Weichen can barely go into battle to kill the enemy, I'm afraid that Mi'er will be a widow, you can't bear to look at it, isn't it......" Fang Zheng said with a dry smile.

"Qin Tian has calculated the birthday of you and Mi'er, and the fifteenth day of the next month is an auspicious day for the zodiac, so you and Mi'er will marry on that day." The emperor suddenly said thoughtlessly, and a bit of complexity flashed in his eyes.