The news of Emperor Yuning's death finally spread throughout the major capitals. The Son of Heaven was mourned, and in Kyoto, due to the compromise of various forces, a period of mutual restraint entered on the surface.

However, after this battle, Prince Dezhang also knew that it would never work without mastering military power. As soon as he was ready to mourn, he led 400,000 new troops to Shuangfeng Mountain in person. This time, Dezhang's purpose was to completely control the strength of Yan Facheng and Ma Ruzheng's two battalions. After all, his current identity is different, and he is on the front line as a regent, unlike the previous vacant position of supervising the army.

In the Xiangguo Mansion, the doors and windows of the forbidden study were closed, and the guards were strictly guarded around. In the study, Lord Huai, who had not shown up for a long time, sat opposite Xiangguo Yu Ban.

After Dezhang became regent, the Prosecution Division was in a very awkward position. Prince Hong erected a monument of merit to Wei Dong outside the city gate, and their side had apparently listed Lord Huai and the Detective Division as a traitor. But on the side of Prince Dezhang, Lord Huai and the Investigation Division have not officially taken refuge. For a time, the Investigation Division became an abandoned yamen.

Yu Ban looked at Lord Huai, who was covered with a green scarf, and said in a gentle tone, "Lord Huai, the regent is going south to crusade against Zhao Li in the near future, I don't know what you think about?" ”

"Lord Xiangguo, the secret offices of the Investigation Department are all over the world, and this force gathers half of the old man's life. In terms of energy, it is far more powerful than a large battalion of soldiers and horses. Therefore, the old man's conditions remain the same, and if the prince wants to take over completely, he must agree. Lord Huai said tepidly.

"Lord Huai, this condition is a bit high. You must know that even if you are the prime minister, you can't enjoy the treatment of the royal fiefdom to build your own soldiers and horses. Your insistence on this makes the old man a little embarrassed. Yu Ban looked at Lord Huai unhappily.

In the forbidden eyes, this Lord Huai is a little bit aggressive, and he actually wants to ask for a fief to recruit soldiers and horses. You must know that during the entire period of the kings of Great Xia, only Zhao Li, Marquis of Xining, received this treatment. Even Prince Hong does not have the right to recruit his own troops and horses.

Lord Huai looked at Yu Ban, "Lord Xiangguo, the old man is different from you, you important ministers in the court, whether it is the court or the capital, you have your own forces. With these intricate relationships, the family can be guaranteed peace of mind. And the old man has only been loyal to Emperor Yuning over the years, and basically does not interact with any ministers other than that. Therefore, handing over the old man of the Investigation and Defense Division is equivalent to having nothing, and he must save some capital to live. What's more, this time for the sake of the crown prince, he completely offended Prince Hong's side. Let's ask, if the future of Lang has become a big trend, will he let the old man go. ”

"Lord Huai, our enemies are common, so we must ensure that His Royal Highness the Prince Regent ascends the throne smoothly. Otherwise, all the conditions are empty talk. Even if the old man and the regent agree to Your Excellency, I am afraid that Delong will not let you and me go after he ascends the throne. Lord Huai, let's put the conditions aside for the time being, and jointly assist His Highness to ascend the throne is a big deal. ”

"Lord Xiangguo, Prince Dezhang has always been supported by you, and your position will only be more stable after he ascends the throne. But who can guarantee that after the crown prince ascends the throne, he will not unload the mill and kill the donkey? Empty vernacular will say, you and I are not hairy boys, and some things must be implemented before the old man can feel at ease. ”

Seeing that Lord Huai was unmoved, Yu Banxin said that this old guy was the same as Emperor Yuning, he was an old ghost who had become a fine spirit, and he would definitely not contribute if he didn't give some benefits.

Yu Ban frowned slightly, "Lord Huai, what you said is right, we are not hairy boys, so the old man also said something openly." The matter of supporting troops in the fiefdom will definitely not work, let alone His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, even if your Lord Huai takes refuge in Prince Hong, he will never agree. ”

Lord Huai was about to refute, but Yu Ban continued, "Lord Huai, don't worry, please listen to the next word." The old man knows that Lord Huai is concerned about his safety in the future, but I can guarantee that in addition to the fiefdom and the army, the greatest conditions can be given. ”

"Huh." Lord Huai sneered, "In addition to owning soldiers and horses, the old man doesn't know what other way to protect himself." In fact, the old man knows that owning soldiers and horses may not be able to protect himself, but at least the old man has the right to fight. ”

"Lord Huai, in fact, at your age and mine, it is better to retreat to the rivers and lakes than to support the army. The world is so big, wouldn't it be beautiful to travel through the famous rivers and mountains and walk in songs. ”

"What does Lord Xiangguo mean, let the old man retire to the mountains and forests after the matter is completed?"

"Whether you stay in the court or retire to the mountains and forests, you can choose."

Lord Huai looked at Yu Ban and pondered for a moment, "Okay, the old man will take a step back." Fifty million taels of silver, as long as he gets it, the old man will give the whole of the Investigation Division. In addition, the old man will also assist His Highness until the day of his accession to the throne. ”

Yu Ban looked at Lord Huai, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face. He had long seen that Lord Huai's fiefdom was just a disguise, and his true intention was still silver taels. It's just that the sky-high asking price is a bit too high.

"Lord Huai, don't you think this number is a bit too big? You must know that Benxiang only needs to come up with 10 million taels, which is enough to create another investigation division. ”

Lord Huai nodded, "That's right, I believe that Lord Xiangguo has this ability." However, even if you can build it, it won't take five to seven years to reach the point where you can spread all over the capitals of Great Xia. If you are given another ten years, you will not be able to reach the current size of the Division. To put it mildly, the old man can know the major events happening in the world when he sits in Kyoto. Especially now, if Prince Dezhang wants to fight Delong, without the help of the Investigation Division, I am afraid it will be difficult for him to sit on the throne of Great Xia. If it weren't for that, the old man wouldn't dare to offer such a price. ”

Yu Ban secretly gritted his teeth, and this sentence was to the point. Without information from the Division, they are deaf and blind, and they do not know the situation in the western battalion. In the entire Great Xia, if the most difficult thing to deal with in Yu Ban's eyes was Emperor Yuning, then the second was this Huai. Emperor Yuning is in the open, and Yu Ban is still easy to figure out, but this Huai has been hiding in the dark, and Yu Ban still doesn't know his details, which makes it difficult for Yu Ban to figure out his true intentions.

Yu Ban was ruthless, "Since Lord Huai said so, then I will also give you a solid foundation, 20 million taels, no more." ”

Lord Huai looked at Yu Ban with a pair of sharp eyes, "We don't have to go around in circles, 30 million taels, this is the bottom line." ”

Yu Ban shook his head, "The training of the new army has already cost almost enough, and twenty million taels is the number within my reach." ”

Lord Huai smiled slightly, stood up and hugged his fists, "Farewell!" ”

Looking at the figure of Lord Huai walking towards the door, the muscles on Yu Ban's cheeks moved, "Okay! The old man promised you. ”

Lord Huai turned around slowly, with a smile in his eyes, "It's still Yu Xiang's pleasure, but I must get this silver tael within five days." Because the last time you promised you, you never fulfilled it. ”

"Humph! That's because you didn't kill Delong and Duan Lang. Lord Huai, the old man is very strange, why do you need so many silver taels? ”

"Of course, it is reserved for the second half of his life, don't forget that on the day the prince ascends the throne, the old man will retire to the mountains and forests. There is no silver tael, what does the old man do to live. ”

Yu couldn't help but nodded quietly, "Okay, in five days, Benxiang will give you the silver taels." From now on, though, I have to know every move in the capital. ”

"No problem, every five days, I'll have someone send a detailed secret report. Lord-sama, farewell! ”

"Don't send it!"

Watching Lord Huai walk out of the study, Yu Ban's old face was completely gloomy. Thirty million taels is not a small number, and this amount of silver cannot be used in the treasury for the time being. The thought of taking out the silver to Huai himself, Yu Ban's heart ached a little.

Gao Zhizan bowed and walked out of the inner room, and said with an angry face, "Xiangye, this person is definitely not with us, you must be careful." ”

Yu Ban closed his eyes slightly in a depressed manner, "Zhizan, inform Lord Chu that they will take some money from each mansion, and gather this silver first." ”

Gao Zhizan was stunned, "Xiangye, do you really plan to give?" ”

"Nonsense, the top priority is for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince makes a mistake, you and I can't even save our lives, so what kind of money are we talking about. ”

"Then~ this Lord Huai wants such silver, isn't he afraid of the aftermath ~ to settle the account for him?"

"Humph!" Yu Ban showed a sneer, "This person is very shrewd, if the old man's guess is right, he has already started to establish the second investigation division." This silver is the foundation of his future foothold. Because this old thing knows that once His Royal Highness Dezhang ascends the throne, he will definitely uproot the Detective Division. But I'm afraid that at that time, the Investigation and Defense Department was already in vain, and the talents of the secret offices in various places were changed by him. ”

Gao Zhizan was stunned, no wonder Lord Huai needed so much silver, it turned out that he wanted to turn the entire Investigation Division into his own team.

In Kyoto, Prince Hiroshi took control of the castle defense camp, but Yu Ban secretly received the support of the Investigation Division. On the surface, the ministers of the DPRK and China followed the rules, as if nothing had changed after Emperor Yuning left. Secretly, the two forces began to compete, and neither wanted the prince they supported to lose their advantage. Knowing that the crown prince was going to lead 400,000 soldiers and horses to the southern front, Wu Guangguang and others immediately jointly signed a concert, asking the regent and Prince Hong to send another 200,000 troops to the capital.

The crown prince ostensibly agreed, but he did not issue the decree. In Dezhang's view, even if these 200,000 horses were sent to Lidu City, the later the better. Even in terms of weaponry, the military department has begun to be biased.

The secret battle in Kyoto did not affect the joy of the capital city. Although the emperor died and the whole world was sad, the people were not allowed to marry within a year. But the capital city doesn't care about this set, not only do the festive things have to be done, but also come to the whole city to celebrate.

In the past few days, Duan Lang personally took Lu Mo to inspect the various strongholds of the city defense. To be honest, Duan Lang, who hadn't read a book for a few years, was indeed impressed by Lu Mo's knowledge and layout plan. Even in the use of the art of war, Duan Lang has benefited a lot. Therefore, Duan Lang also asked Da Fei to bring over the defense map of the soldiers and horses of Landu City, so that Lu Mo could see what else could be improved.

This time can be regarded as an unexpected surprise for Lu Mu. You must know that the layout of the city defense is a major secret to the enemy camp. The two major gates of Landu City, as well as the left and right sides, where there are heavy archers, where there are secret shield arrays, and even which position at the head of the city is pine oil rolling wood are all marked in detail.

Lu Mu was overjoyed, in the past six or seven days, he had indeed taught Duan Lang a lot of things very seriously. Although these things will be very bad for him in the future, the value in exchange is very great. It is even said that he gradually got the appointment of the generals in the battalion. If he is given another period of time, Lu Mu believes that he will definitely be able to enter the upper echelons of Lidu City.

In Lidu City, in a very inconspicuous grocery store, Lu Mu was talking secretly with the two leaders. This shop was temporarily opened a few days ago, and more than 30 Xiyue camp experts have stayed here. The two people who led the way, one was Han Pingzi's personal guard Chenghe, and the other was Luo Qian, the leader of the Longbow Battalion. Cheng He is extraordinary, he was not present when Duan Lang attacked Han Pingzi last time, but went back to Xiyue to handle Han Pingzi's personal affairs. Luo Qian is extremely powerful, and he is also a well-known strong man in the army. The most important thing is that these two people are very smart, so they were sent to listen to Lu Mu's dispatch.

"Chenghe, immediately ask someone to hand over the letter to Han Shuai. He must arrive within three days and inform Han Shuai that he must attack Landu City according to the agreement in the letter. Lu Mu said, and handed a thick letter to Chenghe, which not only contained the attack plan he wrote, but also the detailed defense map of Landu City.

Cheng He immediately took the letter and went to find someone to send it to the Xiyue camp immediately. Lu Mu looked at Luo Qian and continued to command.

"Three days later, it is the day of Shangguan Xuanwu's great joy, this is the brand of building a villa, you have one for each person, and when the time comes, you will secretly enter the mansion, and you will say that you are going to help install the stage. Once you're in, I'll answer you. ”

"Master Strategist, your safety is the most important thing, or you will leave Lidu City early."

"No, you can't leave yet. I've got the gate token, and we must get out of the city together. As long as that Mrs. Duan is taken away, the capital city will be in chaos. ”

"My lord, if something goes wrong that day, you must promise to leave as soon as you take advantage of the chaos. Otherwise, we will not accept it. Luo Qian said firmly.

Lu Mu nodded, "Okay, I only don't show up behind the scenes, if there is really a change, you can handle it yourself." ”

Seeing that Lu Mu agreed, Luo Qian nodded and began to study the detailed plan. Through these days, Lu Mu found that Mrs. Duan's words in Lidu City carried a lot of weight. Originally, his target was Ah Zhu, but Lu Mu finally decided to take advantage of the chaos in the mansion and kidnap Mrs. Duan first.

Duan Lang, Li Jianshan and others were busy with Shangguan Xuanwu's wedding, but they didn't expect that the middle and senior military officers he had just recruited to join the army were under the idea of Mingyue. And more importantly, the armament of Landu City was leaked by Duan Lang. This mistake caused Landu City to suffer a catastrophe.