Xu Congyang took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said: "Lin Qianhu has been investigating this matter recently, and it is currently judged that Zhao Guangqing should be a person from Tianmen Dao." ”

"People from the Heavenly Gate?" Chu Huan was slightly surprised: "Zhao Guangqing is the governor of a state, how could he be so confused and devote himself to Tianmen Dao?" ”

Xu Congyang sighed: "The old man has never been able to think clearly, but after thinking about it for a while, I am afraid that Zhao Guangqing is unwilling, so he will be taken advantage of by Tianmen Dao and bought the past." ”

"Unwilling?"

Xu Congyang stroked his beard and said: "You have also seen that the conditions in Tongzhou are bad, and it is not as prosperous and rich as the south of the Yangtze River. It's just that the environment of Tongzhou is complicated, seven out of ten years is the year of famine, since the founding of the country, almost every year there will be something, in recent years it has intensified, sitting in Tongzhou, it is really not a good errand, if it is not a real talent, not to mention in Tongzhou for so many years, I am afraid that I will not be able to stay for a few months. ”

Chu Huan is still very familiar with the situation in Tongzhou, every year there is a famine, and there is no business foundation to rely on, it has always been a relatively poor prefecture, sitting in the position of the governor of Tongzhou, not to mention others, the tax pressure faced every year is not trivial, when Zhao Guangqing is in office, he will face the tax urging of the household department every year, and there will be a bullet to impeach Zhao Guangqing every three or five times, saying that his affairs are not good, and he has been delaying tax payment for many years.

Zhao Guangqing is in Tongzhou, although he also wants to pay taxes, but Tongzhou is a poor state, even if it is a bumper harvest year, it may not be able to pay the heavy taxes of the imperial court, not to mention the famine for many years, once it is a little urgent, there will be people in Tongzhou counties immediately, and some people with ulterior motives are even more wantonly inciting the people to fight against the government, if Tongzhou Zhizhou is too lenient, the court can not explain, if it is too strict, the ground in Tongzhou is chaotic and the people are everywhere, causing greater incidents, so Zhao Guangqing's position in Tongzhou Zhizhou seems to be majestic, In fact, he was sitting on the stove and being roasted.

Fortunately, Zhao Guangqing really has some means, both sides of the circle, although Tongzhou is in turmoil, but the chaos has not started, if it is not for Zhao Guangqing to take charge, Tongzhou's current form will never be so stable, I am afraid it has already become one of the birthplaces of civil strife.

But I have to say that Zhao Guangqing has indeed been carrying a big stone on his back, and the impeachment of him has been piled up over the years, if it weren't for the court that this person was available, those charges would have been able to make Zhao Guangqing die ten times or eight times, this, Zhao Guangqing probably also knows it, and now it can be used and stable, if he is a little careless, the charges in front of him will come one after another, that is, the king of heaven Lao Tzu is afraid and can't keep it.

"The imperial court asked him to sit in Tongzhou, and to put it mildly, it didn't depend on the situation that he could control here." Xu Congyang shook his head and sighed: "There are only you and me here, and the old man might as well say something in his heart." Zhao Guangqing betrayed the court and threw himself into the Heavenly Gate Dao, although it is hateful, but when it comes to blame, although he is guilty, it is not entirely his fault! ”

"What do you mean?"

"Zhao Guangqing, who was born in a poor family, was very upright when he was in Beijing before, and he offended many people." Xu Congyang sighed: "He didn't know how to offend An Guogong, and was finally transferred to Tongzhou, and later the people of the Han King Party also wanted to get rid of him, but fortunately, the saint knew that this person was available, so he kept it." Think about it, the crown prince and the henchmen of the king of Han, even if they don't have much talent, can get a good position, Zhao Guangqing is also regarded as a political achievement in Tongzhou, but he has always been pressed in this place, do you think he is willing? Tianmen Dao must have known the reason and grasped Zhao Guangqing's thoughts, so he took advantage of the weakness to enter...... The old man thought about it, Tianmen Dao must have promised Zhao Guangqing great benefits, and Zhao Guangqing had resentment, so he took the wrong path. ”

Chu Huan understood and said, "I see." This day the doorway is really pervasive, not only to bewitch the people, but even the officials of the imperial court, they have been making up their minds! But he thought that Zhao Guangqing took a risk, but there was also a faint shadow of party struggle in the court.

Xu Congyang said: "Tianmen Dao is a big disaster, and now it is making waves in Jianghuai Dao, and I don't know when it will be calmed." But the old man sometimes thinks about it, if it weren't for the last time Lord Chu exposed Zhao Guangqing, the consequences would be really unimaginable. Zhao Guangqing used the stone mines, amassed a large amount of property, and hoarded a lot of weapons and equipment, if he made waves in Tongzhou, Tongzhou would definitely echo the Jianghuai chaos, and the passage to the northwest might even be blocked. ”

Chu Huan asked: "University scholar, Duan Xun, the former commander of the Tongzhou battalion, should be Zhao Guangqing's sworn friend, does this person have any whereabouts?" ”

"I've been looking for it, but there's no whereabouts." Xu Congyang shook his head and said: "The demons of Tianmen Dao are like ghosts, it is difficult to find traces, although Lin Qianhu has found some clues, but often before they can be checked, the clues are destroyed by people, it seems that there are still masters in Tianmen Dao." However, Zhao Guangqing is dead, and his henchmen have been killed by Lin Qianhu and others, even if there are disciples in Tongzhou now, they can only shrink in the cave and dare not act rashly, and they can't afford to make waves in Tongzhou at present. ”

Chu Huan groaned slightly, and then said: "This time to envoy Xiliang, what else do the scholars have to advise?" ”

Xu Congyang's expression became solemn, and he said earnestly: "The old man also passed several letters with General Yu last time, and the current situation in the northwest is not optimistic!" ”

"Oh?"

"Three roads in the northwest, Xiguan, Tianshan, Beishan three roads, now most of the Xiguan Road has been in the hands of the Xiliang people, a large number of refugees poured into the Beishan and Tianshan Road, General Yu Lao in the West Liang Army after the end of the war, arranged an arc defense line, the north of the Tianshan Road Governor Zhu Lingyue led 60,000 remnants of the army stationed in the Tianshan Road Tianbi Mountain, General Yu Lao is in the south of the Ningshan area of the defense, a total of 160,000 troops divided into the corner of the momentum temporarily stabilized the situation." Xu Congyang explained: "Now the morale of our army is low, when the initial defeat and retreat, many soldiers even lost their weapons and armor, and the refugees in the northwest poured into the Beishan Road in large numbers, and there was a shortage of food. ”

Chu Huan's expression was gloomy.

"Chen Yangcang has been exhausted, and now the old man is instructing Qiao Mingtang, the governor of Xishan Road, to lead people to collect food and materials in Anyi and Xishan Provinces, and speed up the transportation to the northwest." Xu Congyang shook his head and sighed: "Jianghuai Tianmen Road Rebellion, the imperial court can no longer completely throw energy to the northwest, I heard that the Jianghuai war is tight, a large number of materials in the imperial court are fainting to the Jianghuai side, and the rest of the Hebei Qingtian King is also ready to move after the Jianghuai chaos...... Anyi and Xishan can hold out for a short time, but after a long time, it will be very difficult and they will not be able to continue to aid the northwest. He stared at Chu Huan and said solemnly: "In fact, this peace discussion, our Great Qin must be negotiated no matter what, there must not be the slightest difference, only the stability of the Northwest can allow the Northwest to resume production, otherwise the Northwest will always be in turmoil, and my Great Qin's treasury is not full, it is difficult to hold on for too long!" ”

Chu Huan nodded and said: "What the scholar means, Xiaguan has already understood, Xiaguan will go to Xiliang this time, and he will definitely welcome back Princess Xiliang and let the Xiliang army withdraw from the northwest!" ”

"This trip is very difficult, Lord Chu should take care of himself." Xu Congyang sighed: "Fortunately, this time the people of Xiliang took the initiative to propose peace, otherwise what my Daqin would look like, the old man really didn't dare to imagine." He shook his head and said, "Don't look at my Great Qin, I seem to be extremely powerful, but I am already weak in my bones and can't withstand the big war!" ”

Chu Huan frowned and said, "Scholar, when the lower official was in the household department, he knew that the empire's finances were already very struggling, and he couldn't make ends meet. Although I negotiated with the Xiliang people this time, it was actually my Daqin who bowed his head to them, and wanted to pay six million taels of silver, and also had to pay a huge amount of grain and other materials, and the lower officials thought that with the current situation of the empire, I am afraid that it would be very difficult, and the lower officials were only afraid of ......! At this point, he paused, and did not continue.

Xu Congyang said: "Lord Chu, if you have anything to say, don't worry. ”

Chu Huan said: "The lower officials are presumptuous, but they just feel that with this huge amount of compensation, the imperial court may want to collect it from the people. The lower officials are stupid, but they also feel that if they continue to increase taxes at this time, the people will be overwhelmed, and I am afraid that there will be even greater disasters, so ......! ”

Xu Congyang nodded and said: "What do you mean, the old man understands, the old man has actually been thinking about this matter, what you said is right, the people are already miserable, if taxes are levied again, the consequences will be unimaginable." The old man has been preparing to go to the past two days to state his interests and disadvantages, and I only hope that the saint will listen to the old man's words and no longer increase taxes! ”

Chu Huan arched his hand and said: "The university is highly respected, your words, the saint will definitely listen!" ”

Xu Congyang shook his head and said with a wry smile: "Lord Chu, you can think of making a living for the common people today, and that is also because King Qi did not see the wrong person, and the old man is very relieved." It's just that...... Now it is not as good as back then, when the old man's words were heard, the saint could listen to it, but now the saint can no longer listen to the words of a few people. He sighed, full of embarrassment.

Chu Huan opened his mouth, and stopped talking, talking about the emperor behind this is always a little disrespectful.

Xu Congyang is such a shrewd person, he knows Chu Huan's thoughts, and said: "The old man will try his best to read this matter." The saint worships the obsessive cultivator, he was born with a character who will not give up until he reaches the goal, and he was like this when he fought the country and leveled the world, and now the same is true for cultivation. In the past few years, his energy has been focused on cultivation, and it is not something that others can easily persuade. However, this time by the Xiliang people so humiliated, the saint is a strong person, may not be able to regain his strength, hard work, as long as the saint has the heart to do this, calm the Tianmen Road, recuperate with the people, develop agriculture and commerce, and make great efforts, my Great Qin can regain its strength, and he will no longer dare to covet my Great Qin towards Xiliang. ”

Chu Huan bowed slightly, he didn't know if the emperor would really be like this, if he could really tell Xu Congyang that this time the emperor was woken up by a stick from the Xiliang people, it would be a blessing for the people of Great Qin.

"Lord Chu, this time I am on an envoy, the old man only hopes that you will have a smooth journey and complete the Holy Lord's entrustment." Xu Congyang said: "Fight for my Daqin to recuperate, for the sake of the saint...... Strive for the time to make great efforts, I Daqin...... There is hope! His last sentence was full of emotion, and he didn't know if he really thought like this.