Coming by order? Yang Zhizhong lay down on the couch again, and said jokingly: "No wonder I told my second brother that someone will take the initiative to come to the door soon, could it be that he has a heart with the emperor?" I said, why did you disperse so early today, why didn't the emperor summon me to the palace if he had something? But let you, a busy man, come and preach the message? Tell me what the old man of the emperor has to say to me? ”

Whether it is the holy decree of the Eight Classics or the emperor's dictation, if it is not really necessary to go through the motions to deal with it, Yang Zhi has never taken it seriously, and Xu Wenhan does not care about it.

After serving tea and sitting down, Xu Wenhan said: "This morning, after the emperor listened to the ministers' affairs, he did not shy away from asking me bluntly how the prince's rebellion case was going, and I must close the case within three days." Later, in front of the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, I praised you for your loyalty, courage and excellence, and said that if I have any difficulties, I can consult you at any time. Just a moment after I left the palace, I'm afraid that the entire Chang'an City will know that I have come to discuss with you by order. ”

Qin Kongyun sneered and said, "The third brother is now in the ascendancy of the Holy Family, and the emperor trusts you very much, and his grace cannot be increased. I was whetted by you in the morning, and my heart was really anxious. Staying in the house is restless, so I simply went to the palace gate to wait for the eldest brother to disperse, so as to invite him to come to your mansion directly, and I didn't want to wait for the eldest brother for less than an hour. ”

"Trust? Grace? Yang Zhi said disdainfully: "I'm afraid it may not be." Who doesn't know that we brothers are united and righteous are deeply angry? Even the emperor had to admit that we all had our own strengths, and even a pig could think that we would meet and discuss when we got into trouble. The emperor knew that he couldn't stop him if he wanted to, so he openly ordered his eldest brother to come to consult, which was not only intended to disgust us, but also a warning. What do you think he's kind about? ”

Xu Wenhan nodded in agreement: "The third brother is reasonable, I'm afraid it's not all. Now that the situation is delicate, the emperor highlights the close relationship between our brothers and the ability of the third brother, which is obviously intended to be seen by others. In the eyes of outsiders, our brothers, like the old captain Chen Wenyuan, the first auxiliary university scholar Wang Yunong, and the general of the forbidden army Zhou Ting, are all loyal to the emperor. However, the emperor knew very well in his heart that there was a difference between us and those old ministers. The Emperor's true intention in doing this is to use our power to deter the rest of the forces and ensure the stability of the imperial power at this juncture. ”

Yang Zhi said confusedly: "In addition to helping ourselves and the emperor now, we haven't hooked up with anyone else?" Isn't this a louse on a bald man's head, an obvious thing? After the collapse of the prince's group, the two generations of relatives of the Li family and the Wei family, as well as the powerful forces of the Guan sergeant clan, were hit hard, and several generals with heavy troops were the emperor's hardcore descendants, so why should the emperor worry about the stability of the imperial power? Isn't that unfounded? As for how to deal with the case of the prince's rebellion, the scapegoats are all ready-made, Zhao Tianyang is the dead, and Pei Xianzhong is alive, it won't be so tricky, right? ”

After thinking for a while, he frowned and looked at Qin Kongyun with eyes like knives: "Second brother, the emperor knows about the wordless letterhead sent by Feiyang, maybe earlier than me, right?" Otherwise, why do you need to be nervous and suddenly come to such a hand today? You father and son sold Feiyang so quickly, and you didn't say a word in front of me to hide it, I don't think the emperor will necessarily accept your Qin family's affection."

Qin Kongyun blushed and defended: "The words of the third brother are really ugly, even if I Qin lose my life, I will never do the shameless thing of betraying my brother, my father clearly said that the matter is very important, the emperor is the party, not to mention that you also said that there is no worry about giving people authority, whether it is for my Qin family, or for the emperor, or for Feiyang, I should keep this matter to the emperor in time so that the decision can be made as soon as possible, so that the situation will not get out of control." If you didn't ask, I didn't say it, and I didn't mean to deceive you. ”

Xu Wenhan said indifferently: "There is nothing wrong with Duke Qin's move, the words of the third brother are indeed a little too radical. The magic of flying letterhead is that there is no word, and different positions will have different perspectives, and the information interpreted will naturally be different. Why did the emperor acquiesce to the Qin clan giving millions of taels worth of grain to the third brother? The emperor appreciates you Yang Zhi so much, why hasn't he let you lead the army to fight? Comparatively speaking, the emperor regards Feiyang as a short-term trouble, and you as a long-term dark worry, which must be used and prevented. It's one thing for the letterhead to be empty, it's another thing for the Qin clan to hide it and not report it. It must be known that in the future, the emperor will be able to destroy the Qin clan with this excuse alone, not to mention thinking deeply, maybe this letterhead is simply Feiyang's intention to convey to the emperor through the hands of the Qin clan. If our brothers quarrel for no reason, the happiest person is probably the emperor. Two virtuous brothers, please be calm for a while. ”

The Duke of Qin and the Emperor are simply all the way, and in the final analysis, they are still for the interests of the Qin family. Xu Wenhan's round was quite convincing, Yang Zhi shook his fists at Qin Kongyun, and smiled without skin and face: "Isn't it okay to count me wrong?" I can't compensate my second brother. Let's not talk too far, big brother, you go on. ”

The atmosphere between the three brothers eased greatly, and Xu Wenhan continued: "On my way out of the palace to the Hou Mansion, the second brother has already explained the reason why Feiyang brought the letter. It's a long story, and it's not as simple as you think. ”

"I just mentioned that the situation in the DPRK is delicate, not for nothing. On the 16th day of the first lunar month, the emperor issued an edict to summon Zhao Dang, the king of Ning, and Zhao Dang, the king of Kang, to surrender their military power and return to Beijing to report on their duties, and the two holy decrees were sent to Xiangyang and Youzhou respectively with an expedited 800 li. The crown prince was deposed, and the two kings were hopeful, so why didn't they gladly receive the decree day and night? Yesterday, the Tongguan guard will Ye Chuang play secretly, and the two kings have entered Tongguan, and they can enter Beijing to meet in these three or four days. As long as the two kings step into Chang'an, they will be like tigers, no matter what chaos happens in Daxia, the emperor will never worry about the two kings raising troops to make chaos. No matter how the two kings toss in Chang'an in the future, they can't afford to set off a three-foot-high wave. Of course, that's all for later. As the third brother said, Shuofang's captive general Zeng Yingming, Jiangnan's Wuwei general Geng Jin, the forbidden army general Zhou Ting, Ye Chuang, who guarded Tongguan, and Yang Yao, who replaced Ningwang Zhao Dang in Xiangyang, and Luo Huizu, who replaced Kangwang Zhao Kang in Youzhou, are all the emperor's henchmen. ”

Qin Kongyun frowned and said: "In other words, except for the 30,000 soldiers and horses commanded by Feiyang in Jinling, there are still unpredictable variables, and the military power of the million Xia army is in the emperor's hands. ”

"Exactly." Xu Wenhan nodded and said: "In this way, in the matter of military equipment, even if Feiyang has variables in Jinling, the emperor is also sure to win." Yesterday, when the emperor was discussing politics with four of us and other scholars, he also made corresponding adjustments to the personnel of the DPRK and China. Guo Ziguang, the former secretary of the Criminal Department, Yu Shijie, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, and Zhang Qian, the secretary of the Ministry of Households, were promoted to the rank of university scholar and entered the cabinet, and Liu Bingde, the former secretary of the Ministry of War, was promoted to the deputy envoy of the Privy Council. The vacancies of the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Household were filled by the former ministers, and Li Zikuan, the former prefect of Jinan, was promoted to the secretary of the Criminal Department. It should be in these two days, the emperor will make an appointment. ”

Qin Kongyun said puzzledly: "So, in a few days, there will be as many as seven prime ministers in the Great Xia Dynasty?" Chang'an Mansion Yin Jiang Bi is not bad and has been in office for three years, why was he promoted by Li Zikuan, the prefect of Jinan, two levels in a row? ”

The official system of Bactria did not have provinces, but only prefectures, prefectures, and counties, and there was no governor, and the prefect was a local governor who was directly responsible to the emperor.

Xu Wenhan explained: "This is what I said earlier about the emperor to ensure the stability of the imperial power. The establishment of more prime ministers is not only to divide power, but also to collect power, so as to prevent powerful ministers from controlling the government. Since then, the emperor has monopolized power, and the prime minister only has the right to do things. The three new scholars are all past the age of knowing the destiny of heaven, and they are all veterans with great experience and a long time in the sea, which is enough to ensure the smooth operation of the administrative department. Yin Jiangbi of Chang'an Mansion is less than forty years old, and he is afraid that he will not have a chance to be promoted in the future? In the long run, the emperor's arrangement is also paving the way for the successor. ”

"Li Zikuan, the prefect of Jinan, is a distant relative of the queen's clan, and now the emperor can't completely put aside the powerful forces of the old scholars in Jincheng and Guanzhong, and promoted Li Zikuan to Beijing and appointed him as the secretary of the criminal department, which is undoubtedly a little appeasement to the Li family. Didn't the emperor promise his third brother a governor of the Great Xia Customs? As far as I know, Li Zikuan is not incompetent, and has been the prefect of Jinan for many years. This time, he was transferred out of Shandong, also to avoid the third brother's worries about being constrained in the future. ”

Yang Zhi and Qin Kongyun both thought so. Yang Zhi interjected: "There may be more than seven Prime Ministers of Great Xia in the future. Being able to be a great general who can fight well does not necessarily mean that he can be a good emperor. The two princes were transferred back to Beijing, and the emperor inevitably had to cultivate and study their ability to control the overall situation, and he always had to find something for them to do, right? ”

Xu Wenhan echoed: "That's exactly the case. The crown prince has been acting for trivial civil affairs for more than ten years and is already very familiar with it, but the two princes have never set foot in it. For the emperor, after the military and civil affairs can be ensured without worry, he can free up his hands to deal with Feiyang calmly. Therefore, it is urgent to conclude the case of the prince's rebellion. ――Third brother, I just said on the road that you have a way to do it, I don't know what you think? ”

Yang Zhi smiled bitterly: "Where do I have any high opinions? Judging the situation and sizing up the situation, the only feasible way can only persuade the emperor not to force Feiyang to turn his face and persuade Feiyang to surrender. Feiyang can only surrender completely, or surrender in disguise. What I'm most worried about is that I'm afraid that Feiyang won't be able to stop the emperor's name."

Xu Wenhan said with a heavy face: "As long as you completely turn your face, there is no way out, and you will definitely have a few more chances of winning if you support the army and stand on your own, this truth is not difficult to understand." The emperor is scheming and takes the initiative, and the disparity in strength between the two sides is obviously obvious. Feiyang has been taught by Wei Su to be loyal to the king and love the people since he was a child, and I believe that he is extremely reluctant to come to the step of rebelling against Xia in his bones. Feiyang will not fail to understand that once the war in the hometown of the Southern Tang Dynasty resumes, it will be a dead end for both sides. And Great Xia was the former dynasty Jincheng Domain after decades of killing and conquest, and the emperor would definitely not do anything stupid to tolerate anyone named as a vassal of Great Xia, but in fact it was a division of the land. At this point, we need not doubt the emperor's determination and courage at all costs. If Feiyang surrenders completely, he may be able to keep the Wei clan safe. Surrender in disguise is absolutely impossible, and even if it can make the emperor temporarily compromise, it will definitely lay the foundation for the future. ”

"However, there is one key sticking point that makes it difficult for Feiyang to make up his mind to surrender completely: there has been a loss of trust between the emperor and Feiyang, and Feiyang is especially important to the emperor."

"From Feiyang's standpoint, even if the emperor temporarily treats Wei Su lightly, it will still be a heavy blow to the Wei family and Feiyang himself. Regardless of this, how should the emperor settle Wei's father and son after this incident? How should Wei's father and son deal with themselves? Who dares to guarantee that the emperor will not settle accounts after the autumn? Who dares to guarantee that the Wei clan will be safe? In case of change, what does the Wei clan rely on to protect themselves? Even if the emperor can swallow this breath and tolerate Wei's father and son in his lifetime, who dares to guarantee that the successor can also? ”

Yang Zhi sneered: "Not bad. Throughout the ages, at least nine out of ten people who have done the most, the most neat, and the most famous things like crossing bridges and drawing boards are emperors."

Xu Wenhan said worriedly: "So the foolish brother thinks that the only way to do this now is for the third brother to come forward and be a middleman who guarantees both parties." ”

Yang Zhiying said: "I have been thinking about it for a long time, and this is what it means. However, this is an implicit threat to the emperor, I don't know if he will buy my account, and I don't know if Feiyang can trust me. ”

Xu Wenhan sighed: "On the one hand, there are the kings and ministers, and on the other hand, the Jinlan brothers, in a small way, to protect the safety of the clan, and in a big way, to protect the Great Xia from falling into turmoil, and to save thousands of Li people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang from being devastated by the war, we must do our best." Without further ado, you will enter the palace tomorrow to face the saint. Third brother, this matter is a big blow to the emperor's face, your words have always been sharp, you must think about what to say tonight, and don't make the emperor angry and embarrassed, so that he can't get off the stage. When I return home tonight, I will also write a letter to Feiyang in the name of the three of us brothers, picking out the stakes and disadvantages, and I hope he will listen to the advice. Tomorrow, if you get the emperor's assurance, you will immediately send someone to send the letter to Jinling. ”

Qin Kongyun said: "If the third brother of hard work goes to Jinling to persuade Feiyang in person, wouldn't he have a greater grasp?" ”

Xu Wenhan said coldly: "Feiyang is too tender." The change in Chang'an shook the whole country, how could he not know the reason? He could have submitted a petition at the first time, which could not only make a stand clear, but also take the initiative to test the emperor's attitude. He actually pretended to be smart and missed the opportunity, pretending to be unresponsive from beginning to end, and people's hearts are the most unpredictable, who knows what Feiyang thinks in his heart? I dare to say that the most uneasy and annoyed thing about the emperor is this, if you are the emperor, how would you feel? It was said that Feiyang was just a little wasted in the emperor's lifetime, but now it seems that before the emperor dies, he will secretly order the new monarch to take strict precautions against him, and Feiyang may not have a bright future in this life."

"The emperor knows the third brother's ability and temperament well, in case Feiyang has the heart to establish himself as the king, what will be the consequences of letting the third brother go to Jinling? Before the emperor's arrangements for military and civil affairs are not all in place and stable operation, he will never let the third brother go out of Beijing for half a step, so to speak, Feiyang does not return to Chang'an for a day, and the third brother cannot leave Beijing for a day, so the customs governor will not be able to do it for a day, how to deal with the prince's rebellion, the emperor has already made up his mind in his heart, why should I ask the third brother for consultation in front of the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty? In fact, he also secretly warned the third brother to take a stand as soon as possible and draw a line with Feiyang."

Xu Wenhan's words pondered the emperor's yin thoughts to the point that they were silent, and the three brothers were silent for a while.

Yang Zhi felt that kind of déjà vu and loneliness in his heart, and after being silent for a long time, he said: "Then let's act separately according to the will of the eldest brother for the time being, the emperor ordered you to close the case within three days, what are you going to do with this superficial article that is very important?" Hehe, he's really tired as an emperor."