The four of them are all men in the army, at the beginning, according to the etiquette, you toast me a cup, I toast you a bowl, and there is still some restraint, after a few bowls of wine, it will gradually let go, the north and the south, the ancient and modern famous generals are all messy, but they all consciously avoid some sensitive topics about the current emperor and Yang Liang.

After the two jars of wine were drunk, the guests and hosts were all happy, and Yang Xuangan and the Zhou brothers agreed that they would visit each other after returning to Daxing another day, so they each made a salute and left.

As soon as he saw off the Zhou brothers and Xiong Kuohai, Yang Xuangan immediately washed his face with cold water, and most of the wine was drunk and the little dizziness in his head was swept away. Yang Xuangan moved over a Hu bed, sat on it and carefully sorted out the thoughts just now:

The Zhou brothers' visit was obviously purposeful, Yang Xuangan would never believe that they were simply here to make friends, otherwise Yang Su and Zhou Luohu had been officials in the same dynasty for more than ten years, and Zhou Luohu himself had also gone on expeditions with Yang Su several times, but he never let his two sons take the initiative to make friends with him.

Yang Xuangan then began to analyze the motives of the two of them for coming here, and from their words, it seemed that they were a little dissatisfied with Zhou Luohu and Xiao Maha's cutting of robes, completely ignoring the friendship of many years.

Yang Xuangan laughed, although the brothers of the Zhou family were very deliberately covering up, and it was even possible that they had done a lot of practice in advance in order to show this, they still couldn't hide the fatal flaw: What is the relationship between the Zhou family and the Yang family? What is the relationship between the Zhou brothers and Yang Xuangan, a person with a mature and normal mind will count his father in front of a stranger who meets for the first time, isn't it?

No, absolutely not! Although the Zhou brothers have a rough appearance, they are still well-educated children. If you are like Zhou Zhongan, you don't choose to say anything for a while. It is possible to criticize the new emperor. But if you make up your mind at the beginning, it is impossible to deliberately say that your father is not a friend in front of an outsider.

So what the Zhou brothers want to hide is exactly what they really think, they are obviously here today on the orders of Zhou Luohu, to intercede for Xiao Maha second, and the most important thing is to quickly clear up the relationship between themselves and Xiao Maha, this guy rebelled with Yang Liang, and wrote letters to himself twice.

Especially this one most recently. That Xiao Maha actually sent someone directly to send the letter to the barracks, you must know that this is not the Zhou Mansion in Daxing City, there are many people in the barracks, presumably Yang Guang has also laid a lot of eyes and ears for monitoring, in case the news leaks and charges people with an adultery and thieves, it is really a disaster to exterminate the clan.

Yang Xuangan suddenly thought of a past event in the Southern History that he had watched, when Heng Xuan, a powerful minister of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, usurped the throne and established a puppet Chu regime, and Liu Yu, the leader of the Northern Army of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, raised troops. Overthrew Hengxuan and restored the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

At that time, Liu Yu was in the army. He also sent a letter to Liu Mai, an old comrade-in-arms in the capital, asking him to join him in the incident and assassinate Hengxuan.

But Liu Mai only accepted the letter, sent the messenger back, and couldn't sleep for the last night, or chose to tell Heng Xuan, Heng Xuan was overjoyed at first, and gave him an official promotion, turned his head and suddenly asked, where is the messenger?

Liu Mai was dumbfounded all of a sudden, and Heng Xuan was immediately furious, scolding Liu Mai for not being loyal to himself at all, but just choosing sides on both sides, so Liu Mai was also beheaded.

That Hengxuan is very similar to Yang Guang, talented and ambitious, he doesn't trust anyone, and he stepped on the corpses of his two sworn brothers to ascend to the throne. Zhou Luohu, who came from the Southern Dynasty, must be familiar with this past, when he rejected Xiao Maha for the first time, he did not detain this messenger and dedicated it to Yang Guang to show his loyalty, maybe he also saved a bit of luck at that time, in case Xiao Maha could successfully rebel, he also left a way back.

As a result, now that the overall situation has been decided, at this time, Xiao Maha actually wrote a letter again, and sent it directly to the barracks, Zhou Luohu can't afford to take this risk even if he has the heart to maintain it. simply did not do anything, and he carried an infamy of sorry for his friend, publicized the letter, and detained the envoy to show his loyalty to the imperial court.

But after doing this, he still can't explain why he didn't take the initiative to inform the court of the matter when Xiao Maha sent someone to deliver the letter last time, because it is likely that the matter of receiving the letter last time could not be concealed, and it would be exposed in the end.

So Zhou Luohu thought about it, so he adopted this method and deliberately let his son leak this matter to Yang Xuangan, which was equivalent to indirectly explaining the matter to Yang Su. Ming's intention to help Xiao Maha's family keep a trace of incense was actually intended to explain that he was out of friendship last time, and he concealed this matter and did not report it, not being disloyal to the court.

Thinking of this, Yang Xuangan's thinking suddenly became extremely clear, this is probably the only reasonable explanation, Yang Xuangan smiled bitterly, it seems that this week Luo Hu does not know too much about the relationship between monarchs and ministers above the court, and he really thinks that Yang Su is high and powerful, and can even monopolize the government like Cao Cao and Huo Guang, and the real power of the monarch.

Yang Xuangan stood up and walked directly to Yang Su's handsome tent, only to see the lights in the tent from a distance, obviously Yang Su had not fallen asleep.

Yang Xuangan walked outside the tent, and was about to report, when there were many people, it seemed that there were two people inside, and he was secretly shocked in his heart, so he was about to turn back, but he heard Yang Su's voice sounding inside: "It's the leader of Xiaoguo, Yang Xuangan of the Pillar Kingdom?" ”

Yang Xuangan replied loudly: "It is the last general, visiting late at night, and there is really something important to ask to see Marshal Yang." ”

An old voice came from inside: "In this case, the last general will take his leave first." ”

Yang Su's voice revealed rare kindness and warmth: "You are so polite, please rest assured that this matter is wrapped up in the old man." ”

During the conversation, the two walked out of the camp, and Yang Xuangan saw it clearly in the firelight, it was Yang Su and the veteran Zhou Luohu, who was dressed in a drape, with a red face and white beard, and hurriedly saluted the juniors of the two.

Zhou Luohu saw Yang Xuangan and smiled: "I'm sorry to disturb the deliberations between General Yang and the marshal, I'm sorry, you can talk slowly." With that, he walked out into the dark night.

Yang Xuan watched Zhou Luohu's figure disappear into the distance, and stepped forward to speak to Yang Su, but was stopped by Yang Su waving his hand, Yang Su glanced around, and said to a few guards: "You guys retreat first, just guard fifty steps away, without my order." No one is allowed to come near. ”

The guards stepped back. Yang Sucai led Yang Xuangan into the big tent. His expression was still stern, and he said, "Brother Zhou has been to you." ”

Yang Xuangan nodded: "Did General Zhou say this?" ”

Yang Su snorted coldly: "Although he only mentioned one sentence, how could such an important reminder be missed by the father." What did the two brothers say? ”

Yang Xuangan carefully recounted the things discussed in the account just now, and reported his thoughts to Yang Su.

After Yang Su listened, he patted Yang Xuangan's shoulder and said with a smile: "You analyzed it very well, it should be like this." Zhou Luohu emphasized the matter of this letter here for his father, and the first letter was only mentioned inadvertently. When his father asked about this, he said that the reason why he did not detain the envoy last time was to respond to Xiao Maha for his determination not to follow the rebellion. This reason is really far-fetched, and I am afraid that the new emperor will be difficult to trust. ”

Yang Xuangan smiled slightly: "He won't confess to you, so let his two sons play a scene with me, wanting to show from their mouths how ruthless and ruthless he is to Xiao Maha, and how loyal he is to the imperial court." Father, you said that General Zhou did this, can he pass this time? ”

Yang Su thought about it carefully and let out a long sigh. said: "It's really hard to say, you know the new emperor's personality." The last thing he can tolerate is the betrayal of others, there are some things you don't know yet, and it's inconvenient for the father to say more, just remember this. From this point of view, Zhou Luohu is a big deal this time, and if he can save his life, he will burn high incense. ”

Yang Xuan couldn't imagine that things could be so strict, so he was slightly stunned and said, "Is it really so strict?" ”

Yang Su nodded seriously: "It's so strict, don't talk about him, it's just for his father, if he hadn't returned to Beijing alone after capturing Puzhou, I'm afraid that this time not to mention being in command of the expedition, even the lives of the whole family may not be saved." ”

Yang Xuan felt angry, and said hatefully: "It is said that a companion is like a companion, but it is not enough to get this kind of Cheng dù, who else dares to serve him like this?" ”

Yang Su waved his hand, stopping Yang Xuangan from continuing, and said: "The so-called son of heaven and a courtier, the first emperor is gone, and there is not much time for his father, in the future, the new emperor will use his own people, and the military power will be handed over to Yuwenshu and Yu Zhongwen in the future, and Yang Yichen, Zhang Xutuo, Li Jing, Shi Xiang, Wang Rengong and others who are excellent in the process of counterinsurgency may also be reused." ”

Yang Xuangan suddenly felt that something was wrong, and asked, "Yang Yichen is not the new emperor, maybe he doesn't look right?" Will he also be reused? ”

Yang Su smiled: "I just said that it is possible, Yang Yichen is a general after all, and his ability to lead troops to fight is above Yuwenshu, if the new emperor wants to conquer the Quartet or quell a possible civil uprising in the country, he is naturally indispensable." Xuangan, people who do great things can't use people based on their own preferences, you have to remember this. ”

Yang Xuangan nodded yes, and then said: "Then if the new emperor can tolerate Yang Yichen, why can't he tolerate our family?" In fact, we really counted, we just rejected his proposal once, and we officially formed an alliance afterwards, and also helped him ascend to the throne, since we have cooperated for so many years, why can't we continue in the future? ”

Yang Su sighed: "That rejection of his proposal was actually a refusal to be loyal to him as a subordinate, and later although it was an alliance, but this alliance is an equal relationship, now he is a king, we are ministers, can we still be equal?" ”

"Over the years, we have helped him do so many shady things, mastered so many secrets of him, and we are not his trusted person, and what is even worse is that we are a supreme minister for our father, if you are him, can you continue to tolerate us?"

Yang Xuan felt sad for a while, and lowered his head and said: "It's all because of the willfulness of the child back then, so that things will be like this." ”

Yang Su waved his hand to stop his son from continuing to be annoyed, and said: "The past is in the past, look to the future, and don't let tomorrow's actions leave regrets." ”

Yang Xuangan raised his head and said, "If the Zhou family is as difficult as you said, is it necessary for us to make friends with them?" ”

Yang Su looked at Yang Xuangan, his expression was cold, and said, "Tell me what you think." ”

Yang Xuangan thought about it carefully and said: "From the child's point of view, it is still necessary to continue to make friends, of course, don't make it too public, the child will continue to keep in touch with the two brothers of the Zhou family, and after returning to Daxing, you can also have some exchanges between ordinary friends, as for the matter of General Zhou, if our family can help." You can also help each other openly and secretly. ”

Yang Su let out a soft "oh". Said: "What kind of helper?" ”

Yang Xuan said: "First of all. If he consults his father, he can bluntly say that General Zhou is loyal to the imperial court, and he is trying his best to quell the rebellion, and there is no collusion with the thief. Not infidelity. ”

Yang Su frowned and said, "But if the new emperor asks why Zhou Luohu didn't report afterwards, how can he explain it to his father?" ”

Yang Xuangan had already planned about this, smiled slightly, and said: "When Xiao Maha sent people to Daxing at that time, it should have been after Yang Liang raised his troops. ”

Yang Su nodded: "Yes, that's exactly the case, otherwise Zhou Luohu wouldn't have been able to refuse." ”

Yang Xuan said: "That's it, let Zhou Luohu say that Xiao Maha didn't get the opportunity to lead troops to raid Puzhou at that time." Knowing that he was not reused by Yang Liang, he already regretted it. The letter was asked by Zhou Luohu to help inquire about his son in Daxing, as far as Xuan Gan knew, his son Xiao Shilian was in Daxing at that time. ”

Yang Sudao: "Yes, at that time, Xiao Shilian was a member of the Ministry of Officials, and Yang Liang was in the army, so he was taken into custody and imprisoned as a family member of the thief." ”

Yang Xuangan slapped his hands suddenly: "That's it, since there is no mention of winning over Zhou Luohu, then this letter is just a private letter, Zhou Luohu replied and scolded Xiao Maha, and then proved that he said such as goodbye to the king next time, when on the battlefield, life and death are destined for heaven and so on, then even if it is the new emperor, it cannot be said that Zhou Luohu collaborated with the enemy and then went to punish him." ”

Yang Su didn't speak for the time being after listening, paced back and forth in the tent for two steps, stroked his beard and said: "It sounds good, but there is one point, that is, Luo Hu's reply from Zhou Zhou, if it reaches the hands of Xiao Maha in Jinyang City and leaves physical evidence, it will be troublesome." When the time comes, not only will Zhou Luohu not be able to escape this catastrophe, but we will also be implicated if we help him speak. ”

Yang Xuangan smiled and said confidently: "Father, now that you are the commander of the army, after capturing Jinyang, you can first send reliable people to search Xiao Maha's mansion, if there is that letter, destroy it first, and then forge a reply letter as we just said and present it to the emperor, isn't this the end?" ”

"Taking a step back, even if this matter is revealed, we only have to return that this is what Zhou Luohu said to us, as for whether it is true or not, it is up to the emperor of Shengming to decide."

Yang Su listened quietly, frowned slightly, and said: "But as long as my father officially explains this matter to Zhou Luohu, then he will really be tied to a rope with him, in case something goes wrong, this will be a fire." ”

Yang Xuangan's expression became resolute: "Father, children don't see it that way, of course, making friends with people is not only the icing on the cake, but also the charcoal in the snow, now that General Zhou is facing such a big difficulty, if we help him at this time, he will be grateful to our Yang family." ”

"Taking a step back, even if it doesn't work, there is no need for him to involve us again, and this meaning will be expressed by the brothers of the Zhou family, and it is impossible to find out what is not substantiated."

Yang Su was silent, sat on the Hu bed, and thought about it intently, after a while, he raised his head and said to Yang Xuan: "This matter is handled by you with full authority, tomorrow you find a chance to reunite with the Zhou brothers, remember, no one else can be present, including Xiong Kuohai." ”

Yang Xuangan nodded: "The child understands." ”

Yang Su sighed and said: "Although your idea is good, but the new emperor is a very smart person, I am afraid that this kind of trick will not be able to hide from him, if Zhou Luohu wants to avoid this catastrophe, I am afraid that he will have to think of other ways." You go back first, and for the sake of the Father, think about it, and if there is a better way, he will find you by tomorrow night. Otherwise, you go as planned. ”

After Yang Xuan sensed "yes", he bowed his head and withdrew from the tent, returned to his camp, and suddenly felt that the strength of the wine had risen, and then he felt the consumption of the body from the march of several days and the fierce battle this morning, and the fatigue hit like a mountain and a sea, and he soon put on his armor and fell asleep.

In Wang Shichong's tent, he was still dressed in armor, sitting on the bed, without any intention of resting, the dim oil lamp on the desk reflected his thin face, cloudy and sunny, the night was late, and he had not fallen asleep yet, just waiting for a news.

Zhang Jincheng's voice sounded quietly outside the tent: "Lord, General Zhou's two sons have just come out of Yang Xuangan's tent, and General Zhou himself is also in Marshal Yang's tent. ”

Wang Shichong put down a volume of military books in his hand and nodded: "Hard work, Jin said, go down first, if there is any contact between General Zhou's father and son and Marshal Yang's father and son, come and report at any time." ”

Zhang Jincheng's footsteps disappeared into the night outside the tent, Wang Shichong sighed, and began to write on a scroll of silk in front of him: "The minister Wang Shichong secretly played my emperor, Zhou Luohu and Xiao Maha came to meet in the camp the day before yesterday, looking at his words and deeds, it seems that there has been an exchange for a long time, and the father and son of Yang Su, the prince of Yueguo, are also related to this matter." The minister is secretly inquiring into further information and presenting it to my emperor as much as possible. Long live my emperor, long live, long live. ”

Putting down the pen in his hand and stuffing the silk into a small bamboo tube, Wang Shichong muttered: "Yang Su, if you are smarter, don't have anything to do with Zhou Luohu now, Yang Xuangan, how can I help you this time?" (To be continued......)