Jiangnan, Jinling City.

Recently, rumors have spread all over the south of the Yangtze River, first only the streets and alleys on the ground floor, and then there are people talking about restaurants and tea shops, and later, even the government and local gentry believe in this.

The content of the rumors is very simple, but it is also appalling - His Majesty the current emperor has had an accident half a year ago, and he has long been unknown about life and death!

For ordinary people, this kind of rumor is just a rumor, just a conversation after dinner, but for those who really hold considerable power, especially those who are closely related to the imperial court, this rumor becomes extremely important.

For example, the officials and people in the Dayue Dynasty, such as the generals and soldiers of various armies, and for example, the Jiangnan wealthy families who have suffered great losses and have long been subdued by the imperial court.

The Gu family in Jinling, although their vitality was greatly damaged because of the frequent blows before, but fortunately, the family foundation was thick enough, and they were quick enough to submit to the court, and finally saved the family.

Even for the sake of stability on the ground in Jinling, the imperial court also left the two capable young generations of the Gu family, Gu Yaotian and Gu Yaowu, as officials in the court, so that the Gu family is still a big family in Jinling.

For such an arrangement of the imperial court, the Gu family is naturally grateful to Dade on the surface, but in fact, what they think, whether they have grievances or not, outsiders do not know.

But at least one thing is in everyone's eyes, the Gu family is much more low-key today than it was at the beginning, and there are few children and other outsiders, and even the guests who come to the door are rarely invited in by them to entertain them.

Obviously, the Gu family wanted to show an attitude to everyone, especially the imperial court, that is, they would never intervene in any Jinling or Jiangnan affairs again.

But tonight's Gu family has obviously made an exception.

After the second watch, a guest from afar was secretly welcomed into the house by them through the back door, and let him see Gu Tang, who had already invited himself to remove the position of head of the family.

The old head of the Gu family didn't look much different from two years ago, but the wrinkles on his face were a little deeper, and his demeanor and tone still maintained the bearing that a wealthy family in Jiangnan should have. He smiled and invited the guests to sit down, and asked people to bring the best refreshments, and then asked with a smile: "Your Excellency has taken a lot of risks when you come to Jinling this time." ”

"Coming to Jinling is actually not a risk, although my Liangzhou has a lot of friction with the Dayue court, but the business and trade between the two sides has never been severed. It is not a problem to come to Jinling as an ordinary businessman. The visitor also replied with a smile, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Oh? What is it that is a dangerous act for you? Spreading rumors? Gu Tang's face suddenly sank, staring at the other party's eyes and asked, with a momentum on his body.

The visitor still didn't react at all, only raised his glass and took a sip of tea, and nodded lightly: "Good tea, only Jiangnan, can still come up with such good tea in this early winter season." Only a wealthy family like your Gu family can treat guests with good tea. ”

As he spoke, he sighed softly: "It's a pity, I'm afraid it's difficult to maintain the good life of your Gu family." After all, winter has arrived, and the tea season has long passed. ”

Gu Tang snorted: "You haven't answered the old man's question yet." ”

"What the Gu family master said is right, compared to entering Jinling, it is indeed much more dangerous for people to spread certain things. Still, you're wrong about one thing. ”

"What?"

"It's never rumors that are spread in the world, it's facts. Sun Ning is no longer in Jinling, not in the palace. I think many people in the court should already know this, but they have controlled the spread and concealed it from the generals and people below. ”

The visitor chuckled lightly, and raised his eyes to look at him: "And I also believe that with your Gu family's ears and eyes in Jiangnan, it is impossible not to know this fact." Otherwise, I'm afraid it will be impossible for me to see you so easily. ”33

"You're really frank." Gu Tang closed his gaze, as if smiling.

"Since you are looking for cooperation, you should have nothing to hide. I also know that whether it is your Gu family or the few remaining families in Jiangnan, you are actually quite dissatisfied with the suppression of the imperial court during this period of time.

"It's just because the strength is inferior that I can only choose to compromise and choose to keep a low profile for self-preservation."

As he spoke, he glanced at Gu Tang again, and when he saw his silence, he knew that he had said it, so he said in a more sincere tone: "Master Gu, since we have a common enemy, why don't we join forces?"

"And now the Dayue Imperial Court is in the midst of the biggest crisis, their real backbone Sun Ning is probably dead, as long as he makes a move at this time, it will be easy to overthrow them."

"Overthrow the Imperial Court...... Rely on me to take care of my family? You really look up to us...... Gu Tang immediately shook his head, "To tell you the truth, the current Jinling is loose on the outside and tight on the inside, how can it be so easy to act."

"As for the matter of His Majesty the Emperor, it has indeed been rumored that he had an accident in the Northern Expedition before, and he has not been found for half a year. But that doesn't mean that the court will be in chaos, and it doesn't mean that he really can't come back......"

"Then what if I tell you that he really can't come back, he will definitely die in Luoyang?" The visitor said to himself.

This sentence made Gu Tang's expression change: "You mean, you have found the whereabouts of the emperor?" ”

"Yes, he was in Luoyang, and we targeted him early. We are ready to deal with him and will not let him return to Jiangnan alive. ”

Glancing at Gu Tang, who fell silent again, he continued to talk eloquently: "I don't hide it from the Gu family master, our Liangzhou army has already been strong, and is ready to take this opportunity to go south." This time, we will not only recapture the land of Lianghuai, but also take the opportunity to cross the river and go straight to the south of the Yangtze River!

"The current Dayue Imperial Court has long been strong and strong, and the people are panicking, as long as our army is killed, it will not take a few months, their defense line will collapse, and all parts of the south of the Yangtze River will naturally be at your fingertips!

"You also know that the Dayue Imperial Court can support itself to this day because of the existence of the emperor Sun Ning, but now that the news of his death has spread throughout Jiangnan, do you think those soldiers below will still work hard?"

Gu Tang's heart suddenly fell into a tangle, he knew the real purpose of the other party's coming to see him tonight, but should he agree to this request?

"It is said that those who know the times are Junjie, and the original Gu family made the choice of knowing the most current affairs according to the situation, so today's Gu family should not make a wrong decision." As he spoke, the guest said the most weighty sentence: "I came here on the orders of Guo Shuai, not to ask you Gu Jia to really raise troops, but just to let you expand the influence of this truth."

"In addition, when the two armies are really fighting, your Gu family contacts other forces to put pressure on the Dayue Imperial Court to force them to withdraw their troops and truce!

"As long as this is done, when my army enters the south of the Yangtze River, Jinling City will still be dominated by your family!"

The last promise made it difficult for Gu Tang to refuse......

Some people died, but not completely......