In the Inner Palace Maolong Garden, Spirit Emperor Liu Hong was holding a roll of bamboo slips in his hand, but he did not open it for correction, but gently knocked on the stone table in front of him.

Zhang Rang stood not far away, not daring to speak.

On his side, there was standing Lu Qiang, a regular servant who had never dealt with him.

Today, he came to serve in the garden early, in order to end Cai Yong's matter, so as not to delay it for a long time and cause some trouble.

It's just that I don't want Lu Qiang to come earlier than him, and now His Majesty seems to be in a bad mood, so he just ordered him to stand on the side and wait.

Emperor Ling didn't say anything to him, just slapped the stone table while humming a tune at will. The tune was tactful, he had never heard His Majesty hum it before, and he thought it was a new tune made by His Majesty.

Emperor Ling's words and music are all comprehensible, even a little stronger than those students in Hongdu literature, if it weren't for the emperor's body, I think he would be a good person who can rely on lyrics and music to leave a name in the annals of history.

However, he was flawless at this time, he had followed the Spirit Emperor for many years, and when he knew that the Spirit Emperor had this kind of expression, he was often in an extremely bad mood.

Just when he had some guesses in his heart about why the Spirit Emperor was angry, Zhao Zhong also entered from the outside.

Emperor Ling just glanced at Zhao Zhong and said with a smile: "Today is a good day, you all came here one by one, could it be that the appointment was not made?" ”

He pointed to Zhang Rang's side, Zhao Zhong is also a person who has served the Spirit Emperor for a long time, so naturally he didn't need the Spirit Emperor's words, and consciously came together with the two.

Emperor Ling stood up, threw the bamboo slip in his hand on the table, and said with a smile: "Now that the people have arrived, I will not go to summon you one by one." ”

The three of them didn't know what the Spirit Emperor was referring to, so they naturally didn't dare to speak at will.

"I remember that you said before that you had written to Lang Cai Yong to ask for a private request, and now there is a result?" Liu Hong looked at Zhang Rang.

Zhang Rang took a step forward and said respectfully: "Back to Your Majesty, this matter is now under trial." No results yet. ”

Now that Cai Yong is in prison, as for what crime to convict, they naturally have the final say.

Under torture, Cai Yong, a scholar, can hold on for a long time, and it doesn't matter what the truth is, in the end, it's nothing more than a trick.

Now he jumped out to answer, naturally because he couldn't figure out what Emperor Ling meant.

"No results yet? It's been a few days since you captured Cai Yong. There has been no result today, if I hadn't asked, would it have to wait for him Cai Yong to die in prison? Liu Hong slapped the table heavily.

Zhang Rang first secretly glanced at Lu Qiang on the side, and seeing that he was calm, he hurriedly spoke: "Your Majesty is angry." The slave and maid should die, the slave and maid remembered, the slave and maid had already sent the results before they came today, saying that the evidence was true, but Cai Yong refused to admit his guilt. Thinking that he is a great Confucian in the world, the death penalty can be avoided, and the living crime cannot be escaped. The agreed outcome was that he would be sent to Shuofang. ”

At this time, he turned his head to look at Lu Qiang again, and saw that Lu Qiang showed some disappointment on his face, so he let out a sigh.

He and Lu Qiang are in the same fire, and now that Lu Qiang came earlier than him, and seeing this person's expression, he must have persuaded Emperor Ling in advance.

And listening to the meaning of Emperor Ling's words, he didn't want Cai Yong to die, but taking Cai Yong into Luoyang Prison that day was also a matter of His Majesty's consent.

Therefore, even if His Majesty has changed his mind now, he is afraid that he will not pardon Cai Yong, and this can be regarded as a clever answer, and this answer was in their original plan.

I didn't want Emperor Ling to pick up the bamboo slip on the table, and then threw it on him, "Take a closer look!" ”

Zhang Rang unfolded the bamboo slip in his hand, which turned out to be Liu Bei's book.

It stands to reason that Liu Bei's letter naturally cannot be directly sent to Emperor Ling, but now that Lu Qiang is by his side, it is naturally obvious how this letter came to Emperor Ling.

The words on it were sprinkled, and there were not many grievances for Cai Yong. It is more about Cai Yong's literary attainments and achievements, and as for the ending sentence, he even used a sentence that he was willing to exchange Cai Yong's life for the merits of the Northern War.

Zhang Rang couldn't speak for a while after reading it.

At this time, he had come to his senses, and it seemed that he had underestimated this Liu family.

He was already a master of using deceitful ways, and after reading the bamboo slips in his hand, he already understood Liu Bei's intentions.

First, Emperor Ling wanted to clean up Cai Yong this time, which was nothing more than because after the defeat of the Han army in the north, the scholars in the court had the appearance of raising their heads again.

Even if Cai Yong was outspoken this time, he still made a pawn for those scholars to test His Majesty's bottom line. His Majesty's move is to set an example for the chickens. If Liu Bei defended him in the letter, he said that Cai Yong was not wrong. That would most likely anger the Spirit Emperor even more. Not only can't Cai Yong be saved, but it can't be said that it will speed up Cai Yong's death.

And Liu Bei's cleverness lies here.

Emperor Ling has always been fond of resignation, and Liu Bei emphasized Cai Yong's literary talent in the bamboo slips, which naturally hit Liu Hong's mind.

Emperor Ling may not be afraid to leave a notoriety of killing the so-called "Zhongliang" in the future history books. But he never wanted to leave a mark in the history books for killing a world-famous talented man.

Second, Liu Bei's letter mentioned that he was willing to atone for Cai Yong's sins with his previous battlefield exploits, which was even more accurate to Emperor Ling's thoughts.

These people are often by the side of Emperor Ling, and they often hear Emperor Ling praise Liu Bei, so Liu Bei's guess that day was actually not bad at all, Emperor Ling has never rewarded him so far, naturally he doesn't want to abandon him, but he doesn't know where to use this sharp blade of the Liu family.

Nowadays, there is actually no shortage of talents among the Han clan relatives, and Liu Yu, Liu Yan and others are all good at governing the people.

It's just that their ages are all above the Spirit Emperor, and they are from the main lineage of the Liu family, so the Spirit Emperor must be extra cautious in using them. Second, these people's talents are only in governing the country, and there are many omissions in military affairs.

Liu Bei is different, first, this person is a person from the borderlands, even if there is the so-called Zhuoxian Liu family, but its power is at most similar to the local Haoqiang, and it may not even be compared to the local Haoqiang. Second, Liu Bei's age is under Emperor Ling, and he is orderly and easier to control.

In this northern expedition, its military strategy can be seen.

Such a character is a good character suitable for Emperor Ling's own use.

Naturally, he wouldn't let him go like this, and this was a good opportunity to get this person in hand.

Zhang Rang glanced left and right, and he had already guessed the mind of the Spirit Emperor now. It's just that he is the person who organized this matter, and if Cai Yong is let go so easily, he will naturally be a little unwilling.

Therefore, he still spoke in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Cai Yong's matter has been verified in the end, even if Your Majesty is gracious, this person's death crime can be avoided, and the living crime cannot be escaped." The slave maid thought that he should still send this person to Shuofang, let this person suffer some hardships, and give those scholars some warnings, otherwise they were afraid that those scholars would not know what else would happen in the future. ”

Emperor Ling smiled when he heard this, just glanced at him, and after a while, he looked at Zhao Zhong again, "What does Zhao Changshi think?" ”

Zhao Zhong took a step forward when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Slaves and maids don't like to read, such things for scholars, slaves and maids are only afraid that they will not be able to say much, and they want to come to Your Majesty with their own plans." ”

Zhang Rang secretly glanced sideways at Zhao Zhong, and realized something in his heart.

At the beginning, Cai Yong's matter involved many eunuchs in the palace, and he naturally looked for Zhao Zhong, but Zhao Zhong was full of words at that time.

It's just that now it seems that this person is still on Lu Qiang's side.

At this time, Emperor Ling looked at Lu Qiang again, "What does Lu Changshi think about this matter?" ”

Lu Qiang was already an enemy of Zhang Rang and others, so he was not as perfunctory as Zhao Zhong, but directly said, "The slave maid thought that Cai Yilang was famous all over the world, and when the stone carvings written in the past were completed, Taixue was empty." This time, even if there is really a mistake in the first place, a small punishment is sufficient. Shuofang is a remote place, and there are many thieves and aliens in it, if something happens to Cai Yilang on the way. Wouldn't it have cost the country a generation of Confucianism? ”

"The slave and maid say a word that is not good to hear, people like the slave and the maid and Zhang Changshou in the world, and even many ministers in the court, even if they are the third duke, they will die if they die, and there will naturally be a replacement person in the future."

"But Cai Gong is different, he Cai Yong died today, I am afraid that in the world, thousands of years and hundreds of years, there may not be another person like Cai Yong."

"To die as a person, and to make the world mourn, the slave maid thinks that His Majesty is not desirable. If you want a small punishment, if Shuo Fang can't, it is better to send Cai Yilang to Youzhou. ”

The Spirit Emperor, who had already stood up in front of the stone table, was silent at first when he heard this, and then suddenly burst out laughing, "I don't think Lu Changshi still has a sharp mouth hidden. ”

He looked at Zhang Rang, whose face was already pale, "Zhang Changshi, can you hear what Lu Changshi said clearly?" ”

"Hear clearly, slave maid hear clearly." Zhang Rang leaned down and bowed. Bow again and again.

Up to now, how could he still not understand the meaning of Emperor Ling, and now Emperor Ling is obviously on Lu Qiang's side.

Liu Hong nodded. Turning around and sitting down, "Now that you know how to do it." Such a trivial matter, don't bother me again in the future. ”

"Yes." The three of them responded in unison.

………………………………

A few days later, Cai Yong will be exiled to Youzhou.

Although it is inevitable to be exiled, the land of Youzhou is much stronger than the land of Shuofang.

said that it was exiled, but he was not exiled to Shuofang but exiled to Youzhou, and people with a discerning eye could naturally see the attitude of Emperor Ling.

Therefore, the people in Luoyang Prison did not dare to embarrass Cai Yong, and it seemed that he was exiled, but in fact, he was just sending Cai Yong to Youzhou and letting him live there for some time.

Cai Yong is a famous man in the world, and now he should travel far away, and there are naturally many people who come to see him off, and most of them set up banquets at the city gate.

Liu Bei and Cao Cao were reluctant to join in the excitement, so they set up a banquet a few miles outside the city.

At this time, the men and horses escorting Cai Yong had arrived, and dozens of knights were escorting a carriage.

Immediately, the knight saw Cao Liu and the others standing aside, and immediately stopped.

The old servant of the Cai family, who was driving in the carriage, immediately turned around and said to the carriage, and a moment later, Cai Yong unveiled the curtain from the carriage.

"This time, the old man was able to escape with his life, thanks to the two of you." Cai Yong looked at the two and sighed.

Who would have thought that it would be two young people who saved his life.

"Gong Cai doesn't have to be polite, Xuande still contributes more to this matter. However, Xuande is also to save his future father-in-law, and it is incumbent on him to take some risks. In the future, when Cai Gong returns to Luoyang, he will definitely teach me those treasured qin songs. Cao Cao laughed.

"Okay, I'll teach you then." Cai Yong smiled and took the wine handed over by Cao Cao.

Liu Bei ignored Cao Cao's ridiculous words and said: "When Cai Gong arrives in Youzhou, he can go to Zhuo County, and if he has a little foundation here, he will definitely not let Cai Gong be wronged." Youzhou is a place with high mountains and long roads, and Liu Youzhou is also a famous Confucian in the world, so he will naturally not be embarrassed by Cai Gong, so Cai Gong only thinks that this trip is to see the scenery, and there is no need to worry too much. ”

Cai Yong nodded, it was already a blessing for him to be able to avoid the disaster of killing himself this time, and now he was even more happy to be able to go to Shuofang, he and Liu Yu were old acquaintances, but they were not worried about their future days in Youzhou.

"It's easy to talk about everything else, but you can't rest assured about one thing." Cai Yong drank all the wine in the cup, with a sad look between his eyebrows, "I have worked hard in the first half of my life, and I have saved up a collection of 10,000 books. It's just that now that it is a derogatory appearance, it is natural that he can't carry these books with him, and he doesn't know what to do with these books for a while. ”

"This matter is also simple, then hand over the ten thousand volumes of books to Xuande and take them to the Gui Clan. Now that Xuande is the son-in-law of Duke Cai, and there is Duke Lu on the mountain, even if the people of the family in the city have any thoughts, they will not dare to act easily. Cao Cao said with a smile.

"Meng De really has a lot of ideas, this is a good idea." Cai Yong said with a smile.

That's what he meant.

It's just that now that he and Liu Bei are Weng's son-in-law, it is naturally difficult to open this mouth, otherwise it seems that he has a request for Liu Bei.

The father-in-law in the world always wants to be superior to his son-in-law.

Liu Bei nodded immediately when he heard this, "Cai Xin is safe and prepared, and he will definitely protect those books." ”

"Speaking of which, isn't it time to change the title of Xuande?"

Cao Cao joked on the side, followed by Liu Bei's head-on punch, but fortunately, Cao Cao had already prepared and flashed sideways.

"It's not too early, and I'm supposed to go." Cai Yong put down the wine bowl in his hand, turned around and walked back into the carriage.

The carriage and horses were far away, and when the smoke and dust were billowing, it seemed that someone had quietly lifted the curtain on the car.

The dust settled, and the carriages and horses were far away.

Cao Cao poured himself a glass of wine and looked at Liu Bei on the side, "Xuande is magnanimous, don't blame Cao for the previous temptation." ”

What he said was naturally the heroic theory of the day.

"Meng De is also for Cai Gong's business, so he naturally doesn't care. What's more, Mengde's so-called is actually not very wrong, but he is unscrupulous. Liu Bei also poured himself a glass of wine, "In order to achieve the goal, unscrupulous means." In this way, even if the real thing is done, I am afraid that it will be criticized by others. ”

"As far as Cao is concerned, things can only be achieved or not achieved, and what is sought is only a temporary benefit. Life is 100 years old, how can things be as good as possible? Cao has been fed up with the infamy of eunuchs since he was a child, and as for the infamy behind him, who can take care of it? Cao Cao laughed and drank.

"Meng De thinks so much that he will not have real friends." Liu Bei said with a smile.

"It's better to have no friends than to be gullible, and in the end you are stabbed in the back by a so-called friend, what does Xuande think?"

Liu Bei smiled and was speechless.

The wine glasses in the hands of the two touched each other, and all the words were silent.

In the distance, there was even a person looking at the smoke and dust of Cai Yong's carriage and horse, and reached out to touch the long sword on his waist.

This person is the yang ball that Liu Bei and Guan Yu saw that day.

……………………

It was the year old, and Emperor Ling issued an edict to make a picture of 32 people including Hongdu Literature and Le Song to persuade scholars.

The book ordered Yangqiu to write a book, persuading the Emperor Ling to abandon Hongdu literature and attach importance to Taixue and Dongguan learning.

Book, unconscious.

Today, Liu Bei is leading his horse to walk in the city of Luoyang, these days he has rarely come to Luoyang except for going to Cai Yong's Mansion to transport the 10,000 volumes of books to the Wushi Mountain.

Cai Yong's incident made him almost offend all the eunuchs, even if these people dare not do anything to him now, they can look at each other, and he naturally does not want to come to the city to find trouble.

It is said that when he moved Cai Yong's collection of books to the Wushi Mountain that day, he also caused a lot of sensation in Luoyang City.

The so-called poetry and book heirloom, ordinary people want to ask for a book but can't get it, and now the collection of thousands of books has been moved to the Wushi Mountain like this, not to mention those small families in Luoyang City, even those families who have been inherited for a long time, seeing this scene is inevitably some thoughts.

It's just that as Cao Cao said that day, Liu Bei's identity is enough to make them jealous, not to mention that there is still a Lu Zhi on the Wushi Mountain.

Although Lu Zhi's official position in the court is not high, this person is also a prominent scholar in the Kanto and Kansai regions, and he is also a pivotal figure in the literary world, so even a behemoth like the Yuan family can only think about it.

When Liu Bei took the carriage to move the books that day, it attracted onlookers in half the city, but it made him in the limelight again.

At this time, Liu Bei was thinking about things in his heart, and suddenly someone stopped in front of his horse.

He stopped and looked up, but he knew the man.

It is now the Shangshu Lingyang Ball.

"It's not easy to meet Liu Jun in the city, Liu Jun has some leisure, why don't you have a few drinks together?" Yang Qiu smiled, but Xu didn't smile often, so the smile on his face at this time was extremely unnatural.

"Since Yang Jun invited, Bei naturally has to respond. It just so happens that there are some things to ask Yang Jun about. Liu Bei also smiled, "I just don't know where Yangjun wants to go?" ”

"I often hear that the daughter of Liu Jun's family is not bad, but the ball has always been shy, so she is only famous and has never drunk it. Now that the opportunity is rare, the ball has to be thick-skinned, please ask Liu Jun to invite it. "Yang Qiu is not polite at all.

"Yangjun invited me to drink, but he asked me to have a treat, which is really a good calculation." Liu Bei smiled, "If Yang Jun is really shy, why don't you keep accounts?" Yangjun's credit is still trustworthy. ”

Yang Qiu first showed a stunned look, and then nodded slowly, "Okay." ”

……………………

In the winehouse, the two of them found a table and sat facing each other.

Yang Qiu opened the mud seal of the wine on the table, first took a sip of it by himself, sighed, and sighed, "People in the world often have things that do not match their names. I originally thought that the wine you sold in Luoyang City was the same, but I didn't want to taste it in person now, only to realize that the price was indeed more expensive, but compared to those other oligopoly wines, it was a rare good wine. ”

"There are many people in the world who are not worthy of the name, what about Yang Jun?" Liu Bei said with a smile, "In the past, you and I also met for the first time in the wine house, and at that time, Bei Shang thought that although Yang Jun acted a little violent, he was a rare hero in the world after all. It's just that now it seems that Bei is really a little disappointed. ”

"Since Liu Jun mentioned this, I have something to ask." Yang Qiu took a sip of wine, "The assassins I sent out to deal with Cai Yong died at the hands of Liu Jun?" ”

On that day, Yang Qiu had sent many assassins to hunt down Cai Yong, but no one had returned to this day, and most of them were folded outside.

Liu Bei didn't hide it, and said with a smile: "It's really prepared." ”

Although Cai Yong's sentence was changed to Youzhou, Liu Bei still asked Shi A to send someone to follow him in secret. As for those escorts, some of them were manpower arranged by Cao Cao.

"Sure enough, it's Liu Jun's manpower." Yang Qiu smiled, "As for the matter between me and Cai Yong, it is a personal grudge. It's not a public business, and now that it's a failure, it's a defeat. I won't seek revenge on him again. ”

Liu Bei just smiled and shook his head, whether Yang Qiu would continue to go to Cai Yong to seek revenge, he actually didn't care at all.

If he Yang Qiu can hurt Cai Yong on the Youzhou territory, he will also call Yang Qiu a good person.

"I don't mention the matter of Cai Gong, I remember that when I first met that day, Yang Jun hated the eunuch between his words, why did he have a relationship with the eunuch now?" Liu Bei said with a smile, "Could it be that what Yang Jun said in the past was just to invite names?" And you, Yang Qiu, are you really just a fly camp dog who succumbs to power? ”

At this time, Yang Qiu had already drunk several bowls in a row, he poured the last bowl of wine in the wine jar into the bowl, and pulled the corners of his mouth, "Liu Jun, the first time you and I met that day, it was when I first came to Luoyang, and I was depressed and poor. At that time, no one knew that the world was turbulent, and the eunuch family was reluctant to jackals. It's just that I didn't think at the time that the land of the sun at the feet of the Son of Heaven seemed to be peaceful, but in fact, it was not half a point better than other places. ”

Liu Bei took a sip of wine and said nothing.

"Now Liu Jun asks me why I have to be involved with the eunuchs, I want to ask Liu Jun, if I have never been involved with the eunuchs, there will still be today's Shangshu Lingyangqiu."

Yang Qiu asked himself, "I don't think it will be anymore." ”

"Now Liu Jun asks me what kind of person I am." Yang Qiu smiled, "I can only say now that Liu Jun will naturally know it in the future." ”

Liu Bei looked at Xiang Yangqiu and suddenly asked, "Yang Jun invited me to drink today, I don't think it's just for words. ”

Yang Qiu smiled, "Although I have a grudge against Cai Yong, I can also see Liu Jun's personality clearly in Cai Yong's matter." Therefore, inviting Liu Jun to drink today is actually asking for something. ”

"Yang Jun is sure that I will respond?" Liu Bei said with a smile.

"You will." Yang Qiu raised his hand and drank the last sip of wine in the bowl.

"The money for the drinks is recorded in the account first, and I hope that I will be able to repay it in the future."