Dafeng royal hunting ground, fertile fields for thousands of miles, endless, cattle and sheep running in the wilderness, like stars dotted in the night sky, beautiful and natural.

The young man in a brocade hat casually threw away the hard bow in his hand, tightened the reins and galloped forward, and the Imperial Forest Army behind him moved.

Soon the group came to the place where the Son of Heaven dropped the arrow, and an adult buck was lying on the ground with an arrow stuck in his belly, and every violent breath would be accompanied by the violent shaking of the arrow in his chest.

The soldiers of the Imperial Forest Army around him quickly turned over and dismounted, and carried the stag that was not yet dead to the horse, after all, this was the prey of the Son of Heaven, and it was to be shared with the ministers when it was time for dinner.

Gao Yuan fixed his eyes and looked behind him, three deer, a cow, five sheep, the harvest is not very much, at this time the eagle above his head circled, screamed again, and Yuan Haibei next to him arched his hand, "Your Majesty, there are cattle gathering in the river ahead, I don't know if Your Majesty is going." ”

Gao Yuan said while drinking water, "I am a little tired, you see which of the courtiers wants to go, let them go, and the prey obtained can be distributed to the people." ”

Yuan Haibei said, "The last general understands." ”

In order to show his holy grace, Gao Yuan allowed his courtiers to hunt freely on the hunting ground, but this kind of hunting was of no interest to Ning Xiaochuan, as long as he was willing, he could make these hundreds of cattle and sheep transform into the people's plate with a wave of his hand.

Ning Xiaochuan, Yu Gongming, Wei Zhengol, Hu Shangyi, the four of them rode away in the hunting ground, and the first time the four of them were in the same frame was actually on the hunting ground of the Son of Heaven, which made people laugh a little bit.

However, Wei Zhengol and Hu Shangyi's faces were a little unsightly, and Ning Xiaochuan was still surprised at first, until Yu Gongming told him that the two had a disagreement on the selection of the national eunuchs.

Wei Zhengol felt that the power of the state must be unified, and the centralized power and the government and the implementation of integrated management can ensure the operation of the country, so it is necessary to promote a group of students with centralized power as the core.

Hu Shangyi, on the other hand, did not think so, believing that excessive centralization of power would lead to the phenomenon of autocratic power in the state, which would breed a large number of powerful ministers, and would not be conducive to flexible management by the localities.

The two argued endlessly, knowing that there was no result today, Ning Xiaochuan looked at the silent two people beside him, coughed and said, "This is a good day to come out to hunt, it's not appropriate for someone to always pull a face." ”

Yu Gongming hurriedly took advantage of the situation to play haha, "Yes, although we don't know how to dance knives and guns, it's great to be able to come here to enjoy the beautiful scenery, right." ”

"The beautiful scenery is good, but I care about national affairs and dare not slack off." Hu Shangyi said in a deep voice.

Ning Xiaochuan smiled, after all, the young Wuling had become a good general who was worried about the country and the people, and he still had some feelings in his heart, "Your Majesty has said it, go out today, don't talk about state affairs, Shang Yi, Lao Wei, you have something to do and wait until you return to the ministry and then talk slowly, no one is allowed to mention it here today." ”

Wei Zhengol shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Okay, then listen to Ning Wushao, don't mention it." ”

"The gentleman is harmonious and different, both of them are for the sake of Dafeng, there is nothing wrong with this matter itself, it can only be said that it is suitable and unsuitable." Yu Gongming saw it very thoroughly.

Wei Zhengol looked up at Yu Gongming, "Although Shang Yi and I have different political views, we still have the same views on some major rights and wrongs, in Ning Wushao's words, we just talk about things, and we only talk about things and don't care about people." ”

"Hahaha." Ning Xiaochuan laughed loudly after hearing this, "I really didn't expect that one day my words could come out of the mouths of several ministers, I am really lucky." ”

The four of them laughed at the same time, Le Ma stopped on the slope of the mountain, overlooking the hundred officials pulling bows and arrows, and the soldiers of the Imperial Forest Army galloping wildly, Ning Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief, took off the squire cinnabar hat on his head, and said in a deep voice, "Brothers, it's not easy for me, a bastard squire, to wear this hat for a whole year, don't hide it from you, this hat is really heavy for me, and I can't wear it anymore." ”

Yu Gongming breathed a long sigh of relief, "Ning Wushao, if you don't stay in Yindu, where do you want to go the most?" ”

If someone asked him this question, he would smile and say that it would be good to be a lazy cook, but in front of Gongming, he would not say that.

Ning Xiaochuan looked in the northwest direction and smiled slightly, "Go to Xiangzhou, take my father and mother to Xiangzhou for the elderly, and have a peaceful birthday in a few days." ”

Wei Zhengol stepped forward and stood beside Ning Xiaochuan, "The world is making trouble, the big one is the king's affairs, the five less, thanks to the emperor's grace, how can you not be loyal to the country?" ”

Ning Xiaochuan smiled and stretched his waist, "It's just a little person, if it weren't for this surname Ning, who would know me......"

"Hey, everyone has their own ambitions, five less, if one day you can really leave Yindu, then I, Hu Shangyi, will definitely be the first to support you and see you off, since you are not happy to live in Yindu, then why stay here? There is no better way to live a life than the word leisure. Hu Shangyi said happily.

Listening to Hu Shangyi's words, Ning Xiaochuan couldn't help laughing, and then silently put on his official hat, "There will definitely be a day." ”

This day will come, but much later than Ning Xiaochuan imagined.

……

The royal camp tent sat high on the mountainside, overlooking the cattle and sheep galloping below, and he was in a good mood at the moment, but he was extremely uneasy.

The breeze blew on Gao Yuan's face, clear and slightly cool, Gao Yuan handed the secret letter in his hand to Han Zhongxuan next to him, and said in a low voice, "Father-in-law Han, what do you think about this matter?" ”

"Huh?"

Han Zhongxuan was stunned for a moment, and then arched his hand, "This matter needs to be started as soon as possible, and Beiban must not be allowed to get this thing." ”

"How many people can the Zhongfu send out......" Gao Yuan said with a deep brow.

Han Zhongxuan frowned, leaned over and said, "Back to Your Majesty, three of you." ”

Of the seven masters of Zhongfu, one and six died, and it was already Han Zhongxuan's limit to be able to send three people.

Gao Yuan didn't embarrass him, but sighed and said, "I'm afraid that just three people are not enough, Gonggong Han, there are recommended candidates." ”

Gao Yuan pondered slightly, and then looked at the ministers who were hunting under the hillside, but there were a few familiar figures missing from this group of people, and finally Han Zhongxuan suddenly gave up his hand and said, "Your Majesty really has a suitable candidate." ”

"Who?"

"Waiter of the Ministry of Rites, Ning Xiaochuan."

……

When night came, the hunt was over, the royal forest army distributed a large amount of prey to the people around it, and the people knocked on the leader's meat outside the hunting ground, and thanked the emperor at the same time, at this time Gao Yuan and a group of ministers sat by the campfire, eating game cakes and drinking spirits, particularly leisurely.

The bright moon was hanging high, and the hunting was over, just as Ning Xiaochuan was about to leave for Yindu, Han Zhongxuan suddenly came over and shouted, "Lord Ning, Lord Ning, please stay......"

Ning Xiaochuan looked at Han Zhongxuan, who ran over with small steps, with a disgusted expression, and said helplessly, "Father-in-law Han, what are you doing." ”

"Lord Ning, don't get me wrong, it's Your Majesty looking for you, and please move to the imperial tent." Han Zhongxuan said very politely.

Since it was Gao Yuan looking for him, Ning Xiaochuan had to dismount, turn around and walk towards Gao Yuan's tent.

Gao Yuan in the camp tent quietly leaned on the dragon chair and closed his eyes to recuperate, Ning Xiaochuan walked into the camp tent quickly and arched his hand, "Ning Yan, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, greets Your Majesty." ”

"Oh, you're here." Gao Yuan smiled slightly, then waved his hand and said, "Gonggong Han, you take them to guard outside, and no one is allowed to come in without my order." ”

"Yes." After Han Zhongxuan retreated with the eunuchs and palace maids in the camp, only Gao Yuan and Ning Xiaochuan were left in the royal camp.

"Sit down, it's just you and me here, don't be restrained, we should be old acquaintances." Gao Yuan chuckled softly.

Ning Xiaochuan sat straight on the embroidery pier next to him, and arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty, from the beginning of today's hunting, I will see that you are absent-minded, is something wrong?" ”

Gao Yuan got up from the dragon chair and sat opposite Ning Yan like an ordinary person, such a scene scared Ning Xiaochuan a lot, Ning Xiaochuan was about to get up immediately, but was held down by Gao Yuan's hand, "Don't be nervous, it's just you and me here." ”

"Your Majesty, what are you ......" Ning Xiaochuan said puzzled.

Gao Yuan sighed slowly and said, "Ning Xiaochuan, I know that you don't want to be an official in the court, and the reason why you succumbed here is to protect the Ning family, and now that I have succeeded to the throne, I can guarantee you that nothing will happen to the Ning family."

The reason why I am here today is because there is one thing that I need you to help me do, but this matter is very dangerous, and I cannot order you by the order of the Son of Heaven, I can only use my identity as a friend to consult with you. ”

Ning Xiaochuan, who said Gao Yuan's words, was very uncomfortable, "Your Majesty, you are a monarch and I am a minister, you can just say anything directly." ”

"Just now, I received a secret report that the Northern Barbarian Elders were very dissatisfied with the matter of the contract between the two barbarian gates, and the Northern Barbarian Khan Yelu Rongguang was also angry after learning the content of the contract, not only beheading the King of Hui Hu to show the public, but also sending people to the north to find the twelve national weapons that were sealed by the eight masters of the Central Plains.

It is said that these twelve national weapons are infinitely powerful, when my eight masters in the Central Plains were desperate to leave it before sealing these twelve murder weapons in the north, if they are found by the Northern Barbarians, once they come out, then my Dafeng will be in trouble. Gao Yuan's expression was serious, and he was not alarmist from the expression.

It is not a secret that there are ten famous swords in the Central Plains, there are twelve national weapons in the Northern Barbarians, and there are nine wild beasts in Xiqiang, but with the passage of time, the whereabouts of the ten famous swords in the Central Plains are unknown, and there are only a few in the world.

The twelve national weapons were sealed in the extreme northern ice field by the eight masters, and their whereabouts are unknown, and the nine desolate beasts of Xiqiang have also disappeared because of the ups and downs of the regime.

Ning Xiaochuan could be regarded as hearing Gao Yuan's meaning, this was to let him go to the Northern Barbarians to prevent them from finding the Twelve Kingdoms, but in terms of heart, didn't he let him go to death?

Gao Yuan also saw Ning Xiaochuan's doubts, and immediately said, "Don't worry, I have arranged for people to act with you, but their identities cannot be told to you, and I am only discussing this matter with you, and I will not strengthen it, if you refuse, I will not blame you." ”

Ning Xiaochuan smiled and looked at Gao Yuan, "Your Majesty's abacus is good, I have said that, how can I refuse, but here I still want to borrow someone from Your Majesty, I hope Your Majesty agrees." ”

"Who?"

"The new general of the Imperial Forest Army, Yuan Haibei."