talked secretly with Liu Xuanchu and Wang Shirong late at night, and when they went back to the room to rest after dinner, the time was already after the third watch in the night, although the person was also very tired, Lu Fatzi still did not go back to the room to rest, but just asked Xiao Erlang to pull Zhu Fangdan out of the bed and take him to his room to talk.

"Owner, it's almost the fourth shift, why haven't you slept yet?" Sleepy-eyed into the room, Zhu Fangdan yawned and urged: "Is there anything urgent?" The students are too sleepy, so please tell me if the owner has something. ”

"It's not too big, just delay your rest for a while." Lu Fatzi also yawned and said: "Just two things, one is that I will secretly go to Kunming tomorrow, and I will leave for a few days, I am not in Qujing, and the affairs of the county government will be entrusted to you." ”

"Oh, what do you say to the outside world?" Zhu Fangdan yawned one after another.

"Let's just say that I'm sick and want to rest for a few days, I've already explained to Erlang, and whoever comes will stand in the way." Fat Lu shook his head again, trying to sober himself up, and said: "One more thing, if I remember correctly, we in Yunnan seem to have a tree called the poison dart tree, and the sap of the tree is hugely poisonous, Master Zhu, how much do you know about this poison?" ”

"Poison Dart Tree?" When it came to medical issues, Zhu Fangdan finally came to his senses, but Zhu Fangdan obviously didn't understand the terms from later generations in Lu Fatzi's mouth, and asked suspiciously: "Dongjia, what is the arrow poison tree?" Don't be a Western term you see in Western books, right? Can you elaborate on it, there are so many poisonous plants and trees in Yunnan that I can't think of them at once. ”

"Let me think about it." Lu Fatzi recalled carefully, and said: "It seems to be a very tall tree, the sap is highly poisonous, our ethnic minorities in Yunnan like to paint this poison on the arrow, used to shoot wild beasts, no matter how huge the beast, only one arrow, less than a few arrows will die." ”

"See blood seal your throat!" Zhu Fangdan blurted out: "It must be blood to seal the throat!" There are many of this kind of tree in Pu'er Province, and there are also other places in Yunnan, but the number is smaller, I heard a special Lang Zhong who came to Qujing from Pu'er to study medicine from me, this kind of tree is indeed very poisonous, the leaves, trunk and roots are highly poisonous, cut the sap from the body of the tree and boil some medicinal herbs, it is even more poisonous, even if a needle coated with such poison pierces a person, that person will definitely die! The only antidote is called red-backed bamboo pole grass, but it must be detoxified immediately after poisoning, otherwise once the poisonous blood enters the heart, even the gods will not be able to save it. ”

"A poisoned needle can stab someone to death?" Fat Lu's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, "Then do you know what the symptoms of poisoned people are?" ”

"I haven't seen it with my own eyes." Zhu Fangdan shook his head and said: "But I heard the daughter of Lang Zhong who came to study medicine from me say that if this poison is pierced on the body, in addition to some red and swollen wounds, there are also symptoms like heart emergency, the heart suddenly stops beating, and she suffocates to death." If Lang Zhong doesn't understand this poison, it is easy to misjudge it as a sudden death of heart disease. ”

"Sure enough, as I thought, Wu Liuyi died of the poison of arrow poison wood." Fat Lu was overjoyed in his heart, and asked suspiciously: "Wait, did you listen to that Pu'er Langzhong's daughter?" Isn't that Pu'er Langzhong studying medicine from you? How did it turn out that you asked his daughter for advice? ”

"Boss, why do you know so well?" Zhu Fangdan rarely blushed, and said with a twist: "Although the Langzhong family can speak Chinese, they are not Han, the girl's surname is good, warm and generous, and she sincerely wants to learn the Central Plains medicine from me, and then ......." Alas, the owner knows my temper, anyway, the little girl threatened me that if I didn't marry her as a child, she would let me taste the power of the bloody throat, and then I asked by the way what this bloody throat is. ”

"Heh, no wonder Yungui has a local saying, 'If you want to learn well, you have to sleep with the master', and you have earned it." Fat Lu laughed, "Remember to say to me when you were young, I'll give you Zhang Luo." ”

"Let's talk about it slowly, at least we have to wait for her father to come out of the school, otherwise she may not care, but there is no place for my old face." Zhu Fangdan was even more shy, and quickly changed the topic and asked: "Dongjia, you suddenly called me in the middle of the night and asked what was the purpose of sealing your throat when you saw blood?" ”

"Here's the thing, I received news today that Wu Liuyi, the commander of the Nine Gates in the capital, suddenly fell ill and died." Lu Fatzi didn't hide it from Zhu Fangdan, and directly told Wu Liuyi about the murder, and explained: "I have also heard of the poisonous surname who saw blood and sealed his throat, and after being poisoned, it was very similar to dying of a heart disease, but it took too long to remember it clearly, so I asked you to confirm it and see if Wu Liuyi could die under this poison." ”

"It's possible, but it's impossible to be sure." Zhu Fangdan was embarrassed and said: "It would be good if there was a corpse (ancient autopsy report), as long as the record is quite detailed, I will be able to determine immediately whether Wu Liuyi died of blood throat poisoning." ”

"There's no need to confirm it, it's an opportunity, and even if you guess wrong, you won't have anything to lose." Fat Lu muttered to himself, and then lowered his voice and said: "Master Zhu, after I leave Qujing, you have to get me a little poison and antidote to seal my throat, and send my cousin Qin Yong to the capital as quickly as possible and hand it over to Suo Etu." Also, write another letter for me, tell him about the effect of this poison and the antidote, and tell him by the way, that we know about Wu Liuyi's murder from the Pingxi Palace, and suspect that he died from this poison unique to Yunnan, so send the poison and the antidote for them to distinguish for themselves. ”

"Dongjia, you want to help the court find out the truth about Wu Liuyi's murder?" Zhu Fangdan asked curiously.

"Of course, it's time to show loyalty to the court." Lu Fatzi said with a sneer: "These things are sent to Suo Etu, even if we guess wrong, we are doing our best, and the court still has to remember our love." If we are lucky enough to guess correctly, it will not only make a great achievement, but also have a lot of excitement to watch. ”

"What's the excitement to see?" Zhu Fangdan asked in surprise.

"What do you say?" Fat Lu smiled and asked: "If you are the emperor and find that your most important henchman was poisoned to death, will you be furious and swear to settle accounts with the murderer?" If the murderer accidentally knows the news and knows that his modus operandi has been exposed, will he be dying and struggling, and the dog will jump over the wall in a hurry? ”

"Understood, the owner wants them to play more lively." Zhu Fangdan comprehended, and replied with a smile: "Don't worry, the student will go to Xiao Qingqing tomorrow and ask her to hand over the poison and antidote." ”

"Tell Qin Yong to keep it a secret and not let the people who worship find out." Lu Fatzi admonished, and added with a smile in his heart, "One more point, if Wu Liuyi really died of seeing blood and sealing his throat, I told Xiao Mazi that seeing blood and sealing his throat is unique to Yunnan, and the unique poison of Yunnan is in the hands of Old Man Ao, what will Xiao Mazi think?" Do you think that Wu Lao Hanjian must have something to do with this case? ”

……………………

arranged a poisonous plan to fan the yin and ignite the ghost fire, and in the early morning of the next day, Lu Fatzi, who changed into civilian clothes, only took Liu Zhen and Liu Xu brothers, and rushed to Kunming City with Liu Xuanchu and Wang Shirong. In order to facilitate the act, Liu Xuanchu specially told the palace guards not to communicate to Wu Sangui first, but only led Wang Shirong and Lu Fatzi directly to Hu Guozhu's courtyard to do the work of Wu Sangui's number one henchman.

Hu Guozhu, who was reading the official documents in the study, was startled at first, and just wanted to open his mouth to scold but suddenly saw clearly who the person was, Hu Guozhu couldn't help but turn his anger into joy, got up and said: "It turns out that Mr. Mao Yao and Mr. Liangchen are back, you are also here, Lao Taishan and we have been waiting for you for a long time." Quick, old Tarzan should now practice bows and arrows in the Eastern Courtyard, and I will lead you to meet him. Someone, go and inform Mr. Yanxian (Fang Guangchen) to ....... ”

"Hu Jinwu (Hu Guozhu's official name, equivalent to the general army of the palace), and slow." Liu Xuanchu hurriedly said: "Don't tell the prince that we are back for the time being, just invite Mr. Yanxian here." ”

"Why?" Hu Guozhu said, "Since Old Taishan sent someone to summon you back to Wuhua Mountain, he is anxious to wait for you to come back every day." ”

"General Hu, the reason why the prince urgently summoned us back, we have probably guessed it." Wang Shirong said: "General, you also know the temper of the prince, so before going to meet the prince, we hope to unify our opinions with you, so as not to gossip again when we get it, and make the prince hesitate and delay the big thing." ”

"You've already guessed why?" Hu Guozhu was stunned again, and then quickly came to his senses and said with a smile: "It was Mr. Yanxian who asked his nephew to tell you, right?" He really can't wait, but it's okay, since you already know, then I don't have to waste my tongue, and you are also right, we will unify our opinions and then go to see Lao Taishan, so that he can't make up his mind. ”

After that, Hu Guozhu asked the servant to hurry up and prepare tea and seats, and said while opening up: "You take a little rest, and I will send someone to invite Mr. Yanxian here." ”

"No need, I'm already uninvited." Before the words fell, another person came in outside the door, it was the last of the four strategists under Wu Laohan's command - Fang Guangchen. As soon as he entered the door, Fang Guangchen smiled and said, "When the dog returned to Wuhua Mountain, he immediately went to report to me, and I came over immediately." ”

After that, Fang Guangchen quickly put away his smile again, changed his serious face, and said in a low voice: "General Hu, Mr. Mao Yao, Liangchen Yifeng, the old man thinks that we should not rush to meet the prince first, we should first unify our opinions here, and then go to give the prince ideas." lest when you say a word to me and gossip, our prince will be at a loss, hesitant and indecided, and delay the big thing. ”

After Fang Guangchen finished speaking, Hu Guozhu, Lu Fatzi, Liu Xuanchu and Wang Shirong were already looking at each other, and they laughed together for a while, laughing so much that Fang Guangchen was confused, and asked the reason again and again, until Lu Fatzi explained the reason with a smile, Fang Guangchen laughed loudly, and said with a wry smile: "It seems that you, like the old man, are also scared by the temper of the prince." But it's not surprising that this opportunity is so good, if the opportunity is missed because of the prince's temper, no one can say for sure whether there will be such a good opportunity in the future. ”

After laughing at themselves for a while, the subordinates had already prepared the seats, tea, snacks and other things, Hu Guozhu first let everyone take their seats, and then drove away the subordinates to order secrecy, and then said straight to the point: "Three gentlemen, there is also a peak, since you all know, then I will not waste my tongue and turns, to tell you the truth, Lao Taishan and I have already determined that Wu Liuyi is the black hand of Aobai, and the two parties of Aobai and the emperor in the court have almost openly met each other, but they are not sure of their minds, Should we step in and take a shot out of it? ”

"General Hu, if you don't make a move at such a good opportunity, are we too stupid?" Wang Shirong asked rhetorically: "Let the prince miss this good opportunity, are we sorry for the prince's kindness and kindness?" ”

"I think so too, it would be too stupid to miss such a good opportunity." Hu Guozhu nodded solemnly, and said with a solemn face: "But this matter is too big, so we can't help but think twice." Otherwise, if you stand in the right position, it's easy to say anything, and if you stand in the wrong position and stand on the opposite side of the final winner, who will bear the consequences? ”

"General Hu, if you look ahead and backward in everything, then it's best not to do anything. Because, there are two sides to everything. Wang Shirong said coldly: "Even the current Pingxi Palace, the prince, it is better not to stay, and quickly ask for the dissolution of the feudal domain - because who can take care of it, and the court will not go further in the future to unload the mill and kill the donkey?" Birds are hidden? ”

"Mr. Liangchen, if you have something to say, don't like cynicism at every turn." Liu Xuanchu scolded Wang Shirong, then turned to Hu Guozhu and said: "Jinwu, don't mind, good ministers have always been this habit, but the old man thinks that good ministers' words are still reasonable." Everything is risky, but the greater the risk, the greater the benefit, and if we intervene in this matter, who can guarantee that we will lose? ”

"Liangchen and Mr. Mao Yao are both reasonable." Fang Guangchen took over the conversation and said: "It's like in the previous dynasty, if the prince hadn't tied his head to the belt of his trousers and fought a bloody battle with the Dajin army, would Emperor Chongzhen of the previous dynasty be able to crown the prince as Ping Xibo?" Later, if it weren't for the prince and General Hu, you and Li Chuang's rebels fought bloodily, and the current Qing court would have crowned the prince as the king of Pingxi? General Hu, you also broke out of the sea of swords and fires, and crawled out of the pile of dead people, why are you now famous, and high-ranking officials have to be horses to ride, but you are becoming more and more forward-looking and timid? ”

"That's true, but ......?" Although Liu Xuanchu, Wang Shirong and Fang Guangchen had already spoken very thoroughly and harshly, Hu Guozhu, who inherited his father-in-law's indecisive surname, was still hesitant and did not dare to make up his mind casually.

This is not surprising, since ancient times, barefoot people are not afraid of wearing shoes, there is only one poor life to lose, so naturally dare to gamble on their net worth for the sake of glory and wealth. And now, Wu Sangui and Hu Guozhu have already put on their shoes, and they are already enjoying the glory and wealth that ordinary people can't imagine, so naturally they don't dare to gamble on more glory and wealth and higher power status with their family names. This is common sense, and it is also an eternal truth.

"Yifeng, you have been to the capital a few years ago and have been in contact with the emperor and Aobai, so you are more familiar with the situation." Like his father-in-law, when Hu Guozhu was hesitating, he even remembered to ask Lu Fatzi for advice, and asked, "Tell me, what do you think?" ”

Several Wu Sangui lackeys in the study turned their eyes to Lu Fatzi, but Lu Fatzi, who was usually skillful, suddenly fell silent and didn't say a word, as if he hadn't heard Hu Guozhu's question. Hu Guozhu was a little surprised, and asked with a smile: "Yifeng, I ask you what your opinion, why don't you speak?" Heh, are you still holding my grudge, is it that the last time I was in Qujing City, I slapped you hard? ”

Hu Guozhu made a little joke, Fang Guangchen and Liu Xuanchu both smiled, but Lu Fatzi not only didn't laugh, but tears slowly oozed from the corners of his eyes, and the tears flowed faster and faster, more and more, and finally he cried in front of Hu Guozhu. Hu Guozhu and the others were all taken aback, and hurriedly asked, "Yifeng, what's wrong with you?" What's wrong? Why do you cry so sadly? ”

"General Hu, I'm not crying for myself, I'm crying for you, crying for you and the prince." Fat Lu covered his face with his fat hands and replied in a choked voice.

"Cry for me? What do you mean? Hu Guozhu was dumbfounded.

"General Hu, although you slapped me, it was the lower official who asked you to act." Lu Fatzi sobbed and said: "And since the lower officials have worshiped the prince, the upper and lower levels of the Pingxi Royal Mansion have treated the lower officials as relatives and treated them like brothers and sisters. Last time Li Shuzu incident, General Hu, you were also in order to save the life of the lower official, so you and General Wu personally went to Shengjing Pass to greet Prince Kang, kowtow to Prince Kang and ask for peace, and by his bird anger, the lower official has always been grateful, and he only hated that he could not repay the great kindness ....... ”

"What are you polite? That's what I'm supposed to do. Hu Guozhu didn't blush, and directly admitted that he gave Lu Fatzi this little favor, and asked curiously: "However, what are you crying for me?" ”

"But now, not only is the subordinate still unable to repay the general's great kindness, but he also has to see ...... with his own eyes." The more Lu Fatzi cried, the more sad he became, and suddenly said an earth-shattering sentence, "I have to see with my own eyes that the general is going to be killed by the imperial court and robbed of his house, and the whole door will be destroyed, and the lower officials will feel pain in their hearts, and they have to cry for the general." ”

"What did you say?" Hu Guozhu was furious, stood up and said angrily: "You say it again, I'm about to be killed by the imperial court and exterminated?!" ”

"Yifeng, what nonsense are you talking about?!" Liu Xuanchu was also taken aback, stood up and wanted to drink the students, but he didn't think that Wang Shirong next to him suddenly grabbed Liu Xuanchu's sleeve, pulled it a few times, and made a look, Liu Xuanchu reacted at this time, and quickly closed his mouth, no longer stopping Lu Fatzi, a slippery student who talks about people and ghosts.

"In the seventeenth year of Shunzhi, the imperial court issued an order to disarm half of the prince." I saw Lu Fatzi wiping his tears while sobbing and choking: "At that time, the remnant Ming Yongli was still lingering in Myanmar, and it was the critical moment when he needed to be given a fatal blow, why did the court rush to force the prince to disarm and cut so much in one go?" It's not because the emperor of Yunnan Mountain is far away and difficult to control, in case the prince is like Li Dingguo, and suddenly joins forces with the remnants of the Ming ....... ”

"Zha Rulong's case, the prince has never even seen what Zha Rulong looks like, and as a result, he was ridden on the head by a Wang Ba prefect to shit and pee, who gave him the guts?"

"At the beginning of last year, the power of the prince to manage the civil affairs of Yunnan and Guizhou was taken away, and the right to select and dispatch the generals of the local green camp was also taken away. The prince is so loyal to the court, who has provoked whom? Why did the emperor and the court still treat him like this? ”

"Prince Kang came to Yunnan, secretly checked the topographic maps of the mountains and rivers of Yunnan and Guizhou, and also went deep into the camp of Youzhen several times to inspect the army and record the equipment of the army of Pingxi Wangfu.

"Geng Zhongming, the last king of Jingnan, was found by the imperial court because he took in a house slave who escaped from Bolobele'......s family, and hanged himself in order not to affect his children and grandchildren."

"Beledudu, the eldest grandson of our Great Qing Dynasty Taizu, how much credit has he made to the Great Qing Dynasty Longxing? But why were his five sons deposed from the clan, without clothes and food? ”

"Lord Regent Dorgon, what was the beauty of your life? But after he died, his grave was dug up, and his only daughter was rewarded as a thing, Lord Regent, were you really wronged? ”

"Han Xin, Peng Yue, Yingbu, Xu Da, Lan Yu, the sixth duke of the founding of the country, when I think of the stories of these people, and when I think of all kinds of actions and signs in the past few years of the imperial court, I have to cry! I have to cry for the prince, I have to cry for the eldest son-in-law of the prince, General Hu, you ............. ”

Lu Fatzi cried a few times and said a word, Hu Guozhu's face was ugly when he said a word, and in the end, Hu Guozhu simply yelled with a blue face, "Enough!" Cry again, Lao Tzu will cut you now! ”

"General Hu, then please do it!" Fat Lu took the initiative to stretch out his neck, stared at Hu Guozhu, and said in a choked voice: "General Hu, please." Or you should seize this golden opportunity to make our Pingxi Mansion stronger, strong enough to protect ourselves, so strong that no one dares to have evil intentions towards our Pingxi Palace! ”

"Otherwise, please pull out the knife, and then cut off the head of the rebellious minister and thief, and then take the lower official to show loyalty to the emperor and the court, and then ask the prince to hand over the military power himself, disarm and return to the field, and beg the emperor and the court to give the prince and General Hu a surname!"

"Do you think Lao Tzu really doesn't dare to kill you?!" Hu Guozhu roared angrily, and as soon as he turned around, he pulled out the treasure knife hanging on the wall.

"General Hu, if you want to kill Lord Lu, please kill us first!" Liu Xuanchu, Fang Guangchen and Wang Shirong got up together, knelt down in front of Hu Guozhu together, and said in unison: "General Hu, Lord Lu's words are also in our hearts, if you really want to kill him, a loyal minister of Pingxi Palace, please kill us together!" ”

(To be continued)