Xinyang City.

The seat of the Liaodong Protectorate of the Silk Country. Not long ago, the Metropolitan Protectorate here had just changed owners. Cheng Yun, a fifty-year-old veteran, has been in the army since he joined the army at the age of seventeen, and finally climbed to the position of commander at the age of thirty-nine. However, in the following ten years, bad luck was not good, and he was never promoted again. In the face of Liaodong, the land where he has stayed for most of his life, he has been protected several times, and his official position has always remained unchanged, this pain is not understandable to ordinary people.

However, Cheng Yun has thus become the most powerful person in the entire Liaodong, his network resources are deep and extensive, the chiefs of various tribes in Liaodong have friendships with him, and most of the officers who control the army in Liaodong are his protégés. This terrible holder of real power also aroused serious dissatisfaction with the new Du Hu Mucheng.

In the face of Cheng Yun's various measures, Mu Cheng fought-for-tat, pressing step by step. Finally, at the end of last year, it was discovered that Cheng Yun had secretly sold weapons to neighboring Goryeo for profit. It's a pity that Mu Cheng didn't act secretly this time, and the rumor spread into Cheng Yun's ears. Cheng Yun had a hot brain, and immediately decided to send troops to attack the Duhu Mansion before Mu Cheng handed the impeachment note to the imperial court, killing Mu Cheng.

As a result, the crime of self-theft, which was originally a foreign country, became a major crime of rebellion. Cheng Yun knew in his heart that he was taking a big risk by doing so, and his only hope was to use his prestige to control the army of Liaodong, and then plead guilty, so that the court could not act rashly and had to accept the fact that he had become the protector of Liaodong. For this reason, he sent his two sons to contact the chiefs of various departments in Liaodong and the officers of the garrisons in various places in the past few days, stating that Mu Cheng intended treason and had to kill him; At the same time, he also drew up a seal to play the court to ask for guilt, expressing his willingness to wait for the court to condemn Yunyun, intending to stabilize the court; The third was to secretly send envoys to Goryeo to ask for assistance.

The arrival of Yang Lian, the imperial court's envoy, surprised Cheng Yun. The reason is very simple, it has been less than half a month since Cheng Yun handed over the seal of the guilt, and the imperial court may have just received it, how could it be that Qin had already been appointed here?

It seems that the imperial court's intelligence system is much more developed than he expected. Cheng Yun said secretly in his heart. Now that the imperial court has learned about this, it can only take one step at a time. At that moment, Chengyun ordered thirty miles out of the city to meet Qincha.

The holy decree read by Yang Lian made Cheng Yun feel a lot more at ease. Because the emperor only questioned why he killed the prefect Mu Cheng, he ordered to find out the cause of the matter, and did not mention the rebellion, nor did he mention the crime of selling weapons he committed. This shows that either the imperial court did not know the truth of the matter, or it had already learned about it but was unwilling to publicize the matter and wanted to calm the matter. Neither of these situations is too bad for Cheng Yun - as long as he doesn't tear his face with the court, this matter will turn around. At that moment, Cheng Yun respectfully welcomed Yang Lian into the Xinyang City Protectorate, asked Yang Lian to be in the right position, and stood aside with his head bowed.

Yang Lian motioned for him to retreat. Cheng Yun waved his hand to retreat left and right, not to mention that he had already arranged for twenty sword and axe men to ambush in both compartments, and he could take Yang Lian firmly by himself.

Seeing that the left and right had receded, Yang Lian hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Cheng Yun's hand and said, "Uncle Cheng, I haven't seen you for many years, and my nephew misses me very much." Now that the business is over, Uncle Cheng doesn't have to be polite, please sit down. ”

Cheng Yun breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, at that moment just now, he almost thought that Yang Lian was an assassin sent by the emperor, but fortunately, he didn't overreact. Hurriedly put on a smile and said: "Virtuous nephew, I haven't seen you for more than ten years, and now I have become a minister, which is gratifying." When I saw you, I was still a half-old child, and time flies, and I am old. ”

Yang Lian said with a smile: "Where did Uncle Cheng say it, my nephew is ashamed." ”

The two sat down hand in hand and continued their parting. Yang Lian changed the topic and said, "Uncle Cheng's trouble this time is really not small, and it made my nephew bear the heart all the way." ”

Cheng Yun's face changed, and he said: "Mu Cheng intends to rebel against the imperial court, if he reports to the imperial court, I am afraid that it will be protracted and eventually become a big disaster. ”

Yang Lian said with a look of surprise: "But when the little nephew entered the city, he saw a forest of military flags and soldiers patrolling back and forth, but why?" ”

Cheng Yun waved his hand again and again: "Don't misunderstand, it's just because Mu Cheng is rebellious and the henchmen have not been eliminated, so the old man has strengthened his vigilance in case of accidents." ”

Yang Lian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's the best." Uncle Wangcheng swept away the rebellious party as soon as possible and removed these vigilant soldiers, so as not to be misunderstood by the imperial court. ”

"That's natural, don't worry." Cheng Yun was secretly proud.

Yang Lian looked left and right, and said in a low voice: "Uncle Cheng, do you know why the imperial court appointed the little nephew as the minister of the Qin Mission this time?" ”

"Oh? What does Your Majesty mean? ”

Yang Lian pretended to be mysterious and said: "The emperor deliberately downplayed this matter, and didn't want the situation to be too big. Since Uncle Cheng is for the court, he immediately decided to cut off the rebellion. Why don't you go to Beijing with your little nephew to face the saint and explain the merits of the matter clearly, the emperor will be able to understand his uncle's painstaking efforts. ”

"Into Beijing?" Cheng Yun squinted at Yang Lian, and a large dark cloud rose in his heart. But from the sincerity on Yang Lian's face, he only saw the concern and urgency for himself, so Cheng Yun put his mind at ease and said: "Of course, this is the best, but unfortunately the situation has not stabilized now, if the old man leaves rashly, I am afraid that it will give the traitor a chance to take advantage of it." ”

Yang Lian was so anxious that she stood up and rubbed her hands and walked back and forth: "What should I do?" If you don't go, uncle, it will inevitably arouse the suspicion of the imperial court, but Liaodong is a very important matter, and there is no room for failure・・・・・・"

Yang Lian suddenly said after turning around a few times: "Uncle Cheng, Mu Cheng is rebellious, uncle must have ironclad evidence in his hands, it is better for you to hand over the evidence to the little nephew, and the little nephew will run this trip for you, and immediately enter the capital to clarify the facts for your uncle." Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds? ”

Cheng Yun was secretly happy when he heard this: with this stupid boy speaking for himself, even if he didn't succeed in convincing the emperor, he could buy himself a lot of time to prepare. Immediately, he took out the evidence that had been forged from his sleeve, handed it to Yang Lian and said, "In this way, there is a nephew of Lao Xian." Please be sure to make it clear to the emperor for the old man that Cheng Yun has no objection and is only for the court. ”

Yang Lian held Cheng Yun's hand tightly and said, "Uncle, don't worry, you have a nephew who is angry, and you will never let your uncle suffer wrongs!" ”

Looking at the tears in the corners of Yang Lian's eyes, Cheng Yun also pretended to shed a few tears. After that, Yang Lian temporarily stayed in the Imperial Protectorate's Mansion, and in the following days, he continued to visit various places in Xinyang City to appease the soldiers, indicating that the imperial court would definitely investigate this matter, so that everyone did not have to worry about Yunyun. Cheng Yun could only stop preparing for the war and accompany Yang Lian around. Five days later, Yang Lian returned to the capital with a few retinues to report to the emperor.

sent Yang Lian away, Cheng Yun was overjoyed in his heart: The emperor is unknown, and with Yang Lian, a kid like this, it will take at least a month for the court to react. Even if the news leaks in the end, there is a Yang Lian who helps to mix it, and it can muddy the water. I have more than a month to prepare, and when the time comes, the imperial court just wants to send troops to conscript, and it will not be able to fight in the short term.

Cheng Yun was wishful thinking, and a subordinate came down to report: The envoy sent by Goryeo has arrived. Hearing this, Cheng Yun hurriedly tidied up his clothes and prepared to go out to greet him.