Sent an envoy to Anfeng, there was a ready-made candidate,—— Liu Futong's uncle and younger brother Liu Shijiu.

He had earlier been ordered to come to Yidu and ask to go south to fight Xuzhou, but he was subdued by Deng She. Of course, his "being accepted" is by no means "convincing", it is nothing more than seeing that Haidong is now more powerful than An Feng, so he changed his court. It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter if he is "unconvinced", or let his "interests" dictate, as long as he can help Haidong, he is a competent courtier.

This is called "call it a black cat and a white cat, as long as you catch a mouse, you are a good cat".

However, it is not enough to send him alone, he is not Deng She's confidant in the end, and he needs to send another person to accompany him.

But the question arises, who should be chosen for this "other person"? Luo Guoqi, Fang Buzhen, Yang Xingjian, Ju Sheng, Fang Congzhe and other people who are used to it are not in Yidu now, or on the front-line battlefield, or on the way back from the envoy. Among the ministers who stayed in Yidu, Hong Jixun, Wu Henian, Luo Lilang and others had their own responsibilities and couldn't leave. Wang Zongzhe, Zhang Yu, Zhao Zhong, and He Guangxiu are idle, but they are either not confidants, or they are not capable, but they are all unbearable to be sent out.

Just when Deng She was in trouble, a good news came: Ju Sheng had returned.

But it turned out that after quelling the rebellion in Hanyang Mansion, Yao Haogu thought that this was a major event, and he couldn't simply submit a military report to settle the matter, and he had to have an important minister personally meet Deng She and report in detail. Therefore, I invited Ju Sheng back.

Someone asked: Why did you call Ju Sheng back and not Fang Buzhen back? In the middle, there is a layer of Yao Haogu's thoughts.

First of all, the first person to discover the chaos was Ju Sheng, who had the first merit; Secondly, meeting Deng She and reporting the process of quelling the chaos is a big difference. Isn't there a saying that "there are people in the court who are good officials"? The credit that is spoken in person is naturally different from the credit written on paper. Yao Haogu and Fang Buzhen had a close relationship, so they invited Ju Sheng to go back to Yidu. One is to show favor and win, and the other is to show humility and not take credit.

Yao Haogu is the well-deserved No. 2 person in Haidong Wenchen, why did he deliberately show favor and win? It is not only Ju Sheng who values Ju Sheng, but also a "courtier", who usually follows Deng She; What he values is more Ju Sheng's identity as a "Yidu person". Showing goodwill to Ju Sheng is equivalent to showing goodwill to the ministers of the Yidu faction.

From this point, it can be seen that Yao Haogu is well versed in the way of being an official.

Although he was far away in South Korea, he seized the opportunity and quietly gave a good impression to the ministers of Yidu. Compared to Hong Jixun, it is simply too strong. Hong Jixun was in Yidu all day long, and he didn't see him have any good friendships with Ju Sheng, Li Yi, Guoyongan, etc., who were the ministers of Yidu.

Regarding the suppression of the unrest in South Korea, a good news report had been sent to Yidu before, and Deng She knew a little. Seeing Ju Sheng's return, he immediately summoned him to the palace and asked in detail: "The good news said that this chaos is very involved. Not only Hanyang Province, but also many surrounding prefectures and counties. What's going on now? ”

"By the Lord's decree, the first evil has been punished. Liangshan Jun was beheaded all over the house, and those involved in the case and the circumstances were serious, they were also beheaded, and all the cities of South Korea were sent to set an example. 'Thunder, rain and dew, all are Jun's grace. By the time the minister set out from Hanyang Province to Yidu, the situation had gradually stabilized. ”

"Did the black man behind the scenes find out?"

"Liangshan-kun really doesn't know. Asked his two sons, both of whom were soft-eyed. didn't ask a few words, and before the punishment was moved, he confessed it all. As expected, the people behind the scenes were Chakhan Timur and the Tartar Empress Qi. Yao Pingzhang has made a list of the towns and publicized the conspiracy of the Tartars. And according to the lord's instructions, the content of the list was written in Wang Qi's tone. ”

The banner played by the sons of Liangshan Jun was "Feng Wang Qi's edict", declaring that they would "restore the Li Dynasty", which was an unfavorable public opinion and must be reversed.

How to twist it? Using Wang Qi's tone to write an example of South Korea, explaining that they were actually colluding with the Mongols, so the focus of the contradiction was shifted. There are all kinds of oppression of the Koreans by the Mongols, as long as the words are written beautifully, it can completely arouse the indignation and spurning of the beauties.

Ju Sheng added: "It was really wise for the lord not to kill Wang Qi at the beginning! What is the so-called 'far-sighted'? Sure enough, people have no long-term worries, but they must have near-term worries. ”

Deng She smiled and said, "In my palindrome to Lao Yao, I specifically pointed out that although the first evil must be punished, it must not be killed too ruthlessly. ......, can Lao Yao do this? ”

"Please rest assured. Yao Pingzhang is in power, which is a combination of leniency and fierceness. He carried out your instructions very well. Ju Sheng's answer is indeed the truth, but there is also a sense of Yao Haogu's "peach reciprocation".

Deng She bowed slightly, didn't ask any more, changed the topic, and when it came to the moment, he first explained the ins and outs of sending people to Anfeng in a few words, and then said: "Big eyes, I know that you have traveled thousands of miles, and it is easy to come back to Yidu, and you are very tired." I should have given you a vacation, let you go home and rest, and spend more time with your old parents, wife, son and daughter, but the military situation is like fire, and time waits for no one. You will work hard again, so go to Anfeng with Liu Shijiu! How is it? Okay? ”

Ju Sheng didn't say a word, knelt on the ground, and said angrily: "The king has a life, how dare the minister resign!" ”

Seeing that it was nearly noon, Deng Sheliu had dinner. At the dinner, he explained the significance of the envoy to Ju Sheng in detail, and asked some about the results of Ju Sheng's tour around the country. Previously, Ju Sheng was ordered by Deng She to travel around the country to transmit the order of "Ling Haidong Xiucai to learn to ride and shoot". The results are good. In a word.

After the meal, Liu Shijiu was summoned again and explained like this.

In the afternoon, the two of them set off for Anfeng.

At the same time, Deng She wrote another order, and selected capable people to rush to Liaoyang to send Chen Hu, teach him to reorganize his armaments, and send him to Liaoxi within three days. This is not mentioned, only said that Ju Sheng and Liu Shijiu, and did not bring many followers, day and night, riding lightly, within a few days, has arrived in Anfeng.

Just outside the gate of Anfeng City, I met another group of messengers.

Looking at it from a distance, Liu Shijiu recognized the banner, grabbed the reins, stopped his mount, and said to Ju Sheng: "Oh, my lord, please look, those people are from Jinling." ”

- "Pull the tiger skin to make a banner", not only Deng She thought of it, but Zhu Yuanzhang also thought of it.

Ju Sheng put his hand on the pergola, looked at it for a moment, snorted, and did not answer Liu Shijiu, but said: "Let's go into the city." ”

The people urged the horses to hurry up, rushed in front of the Jinling envoy, and entered the city first. At the city gate, the talisman was shown, and someone led them to the hotel to rest first, while reporting layer by layer, telling Liu Futong.

Anfeng is not a big city. The area is not extensive, and the residential buildings in the city are also rudimentary, and the streets are rugged. The drainage system is also not good, it rains, there is standing water everywhere and it is muddy. Not to mention that compared with Bianliang, even the benefits are far inferior. There is really no "imperial capital" atmosphere, if there are guests from famous cities such as Dadu, Jinling, Songjiang, maybe they will think that this is a small county town. If I had to find one thing that was different from other places, it might be that there was only one: the streets were full of people with red scarves on their heads.

Because the city is small, Liu Futong's mansion is not far from the State Guest House.

Not long after Ju Sheng, Liu Shijiu and the Jinling envoys arrived, the news had reached Liu Futong's ears. He was forty years old, and when he was said to be strong and in the prime of life, his sideburns had gray hair, and he had just returned from dispersal, sitting in a chair, and was closing his eyes to recuperate, and after hearing the news, he did not respond for a long time.

The messenger knelt down in the hall, bowed his head and did not dare to move, peeked in, and saw that he seemed to be asleep, so he became bold and said again, "Master, both Yidu and Jinling have suddenly had messengers coming. ”

It seemed like a long time, and it seemed like only a moment, when a hoarse voice sounded, "I heard it." ”

"Dare to ask the master, see them or not?"

"Who's from Jinling?"

"Wanghe."

"Where's Yidu?"

"Liu Nineteen and Ju Sheng."

"Ju Sheng?" Liu Futong opened his eyes slightly, then closed them again, and said, "Nineteen is back?" ”

"Yes."

The hall fell silent again.

"Master, do you see it?"

"......, send someone to invite Luo Wensu, Wang Xianzhong, Liu Liu, and Ding Guozhen to come."

Those who rebelled with Han Shantong that year included Liu Futong, Du Zundao, Luo Wensu, Sheng Wenyu, Wang Xianzhong, Han Yan'er and others. After years of conquest and struggle for power, Han Shantong was killed first; Then Han Yan'er was captured, and after being sent to Dadu, he was beheaded; Subsequently, Du Zundao was killed by Liu Futong; Sheng Wenyu lost his position and was released to Caozhou, but later died. Among these old ministers, there are still some powerful ones, except for Liu Futong, there are Luo Wensu and Wang Xianzhong.

Liu Liu, Liu Futong's younger brother, is now the Privy Council of the Anfeng Imperial Court. Ding Guozhen, a native of Hezhong, is now the superintendent of the Anfeng Imperial Court, has literary and military talents, and is known as Liu Fu's communication, which can be called a confidant.

A short time later, four people arrived.

- It didn't take long, the city was small, the mansions were next to each other, out of this mansion gate, I couldn't walk a few steps, and I arrived at the mansion gate.

Liu Futong got up to greet him and sat down.

Liu Liu asked, "I don't know what happened when my brother summoned him?" ”

"Nineteen is back."

"Old Nineteen?"

"Those who came with him are also beneficial to the envoys and envoys of Jinling."

Luo Wensu, Wang Xianzhong, Liu Liu, and Ding Guozhen looked at each other.

Wang Xianzhong was a rough man, he didn't have any heart, and said inexplicably: "It's not yet the lord's birthday, why are there envoys from Yidu and Jinling?" "King Xiaoming's birthday is next month, so when Wang Xianzhong heard it, he thought that the envoy was here for this matter. Otherwise, what else could have caused the envoys of the two places to come at the same time?

Luo Wensu read the book, was stunned, suddenly remembered something, and said tentatively: "The envoys from the two places are coming together, it is indeed strange!" My lord, I wonder if you've seen them? But for that? ”

Wang Xianzhong was still confused and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Ding Guozhen frowned and said, "Yidu is at war with Chahan, and I heard that Fang Congzhe went to Jinling a while ago. Within a few days, messengers from both places came one after another. Liu Gong, it seems that your previous guess was very correct. ”

"Stop playing dumb riddles, okay? What the hell is going on? Lao Liu, what speculation have you had again? ”

Liu Liu replied for Liu Futong: "Brother Wang, you don't know anything. Some time ago, you were out inspecting the three armies, and then you learned about Fang Congzhe's trip to Jinling in the city. At that time, my brother said that Fang Congzhe must go to Jinling to find an alliance. If the alliance between Jinling and Yidu is not formed, if it is formed, Deng She and Zhu Yuanzhang will definitely send envoys to my Anfeng. Now it seems that the alliance between his two families has been formed. ”

"Why is the alliance formed, and the two of them will definitely send someone to my Anfeng?"

"It is for the sake of seeking the holy decree and knowing the priority."

"Ming primary and secondary?" Wang Xianzhong suddenly realized, spit, and said hatefully, "Dog's day! I can't think of us when I eat and drink spicy food, and I can't think of us, but one by one will come faster than the other! ”

"Knowing the priority and priority" is actually to grab land more conveniently. Wang Xianzhong is rude to rudeness, but what he said is to the point. His face was full of anger, and he said to Liu Futong: "Xiao Deng is cunning, unsentimental, and not a good person!" Guan Duo, Pan Cheng, and Wang Shicheng all died under his hands, Lao Liu, at that time, you said that the overall situation was the most important, and we were 'not to blame for the past', how much support did you give him? But earlier, he was ordered to go south to fight Xuzhou to relieve Zhang Shicheng's threat to our Anfeng, but he pushed and blocked, and there was no food and no soldiers, but in a blink of an eye, he had a lively fight with Chahan! Ming plays us like monkeys! Now that you can use us, you think of us, and you run to ask for the holy decree? Lao Liu! Don't promise him. ”

For Haidong and Deng She, Wang Xianzhong was full of resentment.

Liu Liu asked, "Then promise Zhu Yuanzhang?" ”

"Lao Zhu is not a good person! I still remember that last year he sent someone to coax us to give up Anfeng and go to Jinling. Phew! At first glance, it is uneasy and kind! Lao Ding, what did you say then, what is his name? ”

"Coerce the Son of Heaven to order the princes."

"That's right! Take the Son of Heaven and order the monkeys. Obviously want us to be puppets. ”

Liu Liu asked again: "As my brother said, don't promise Deng She, and don't promise Zhu Yuanzhang?" ”

Wang Xianzhong's eyes widened and he shouted: "My old king loves and hates clearly!" ”

Rao is Liu Futong always had a straight face, and when he heard Wang Xianzhong's words, he couldn't help but smile. Honest people have the cuteness of honest people. However, this opinion must not be followed. Ding Guozhen said: "What Wang Pingzhang said is very true, but from the point of view of humble duty, this matter is very important, and it is better to discuss it in the long run." ”

Luo Wensu said: "How to think in the long run? ”

"Since the defeat of Bianliang and the retreat of our army to Anfeng, there are Chahan in the north and Zhang Shicheng in the east, and strong enemies on both sides have trapped the lonely city. First, there is no risk to rely on; Second, there is a shortage of military rations. Even if you can hold on for a while, if you continue like this, I am afraid that it will inevitably perish. Liu Gong, it just so happened that the envoys from Yidu and Jinling came, why not listen to their words first? There is a saying: 'Take the left and right to meet the source', I have a heavy treasure in my hand....... ”

"What do we have to lose?"

"They are here to seek the Holy Decree and to know the Lord's Priority, and this Divine Decree is our great treasure. To put it bluntly, whoever gives the conditions is good, and the holy decree will be given to whom! ......, Liu Gong, this is an opportunity! We must grasp it, use it well, and it will not be difficult to make a comeback. ”

From the beginning of Ding Guozhen and the others, Liu Futong only said two words when they met, and laughed once in the middle, and the others were all Ding Guozhen and the other four talking to each other, and at this time, the opinions of the four of them had gradually reached the same level, and they all closed their mouths, and looked at Liu Futong at the same time, waiting for him to make a decision.

Liu Futong opened his eyes and was full of light.

He said: "It depends on the conditions, but I have already decided who the Holy Decree will give to." ”

Ding Guozhen was stunned for a moment and said, "Has it been decided?" ”

"To Haidong."

As soon as the words came out, everyone in the hall looked at each other again, looking at each other, no one knew why Liu Futong made this decision, Liu Liu asked: "May I ask my brother, why is this?" ”