Shen Lie sneered: "I'm afraid Marquis Fengyang's problem is not small. Most of him didn't expect Shi Xun to be my pseudonym, and he didn't guess that you would come to me for verification, so he showed his feet. I estimate that this kid may have been influenced by Lao Jianhua's demagoguery when he was a teenager, and thus joined the camp of the rebels. Of course, these are just speculations and not empirical evidence. ”

Yudra nodded: "It doesn't matter if there is evidence or not, in our business, it is enough to have doubts." Lord Shen, in your opinion, how should we deal with Yan Qiuping? After all, he is an officer selected by the imperial court and a marquis, and at the moment, we have a tense relationship with the imperial capital, and we need to carefully grasp the proportions, otherwise we will cause trouble for the capital again. ”

Shen Lie already knew about Cheng Xi, and said, "I don't think, I don't have to be in a hurry to deal with Yan Qiuping." If he is really Lao Jianhua's eyeliner, maybe he can make good use of it. ”

"I see what you mean, anti-intriguing, right?" Yudra laughed.

Shen Lie stood up and stretched his muscles: "Speaking of which, Shen's injury has healed, and it's time to go out for activities." Since the emperor intends to protect the military and the capital, I can't stand idly by no matter what. ”

He sat down and started his deeds, immediately packed his bags, went down the mountain with Yudra, and hurried to Luzhou City.

Li Jiangyao and Xiahou Ninghan saw that Shen Lie had recovered as before, and he had regained his former demeanor, and they were also happy for him from the bottom of their hearts. And since Shen Lie said goodbye to Xiahou Ninghan in Youzhou, this is the first time in several years that he has reunited, so he is also very happy. Everyone sat around the table in the Dadu Mansion, drank heartily, and recounted the old friendship.

After three rounds of drinking, everyone talked about the situation today, Shen Lie couldn't help but say: "I have been in Jiangnan for nearly two years, and I have witnessed all kinds of perverse deeds of Lao Jianhua and Li Jiong, and I really feel sorry for the people in the south. If Wang Shi can cross the river one day earlier, the people will be able to get out of the sea of suffering one day sooner, and everyone is looking forward to it. ”

Li Jiangyao also heard a lot of reports from his subordinates about the situation in the south, and nodded in agreement: "Lao Jianhua raised military expenses, levied and extorted violently, and forced the state capitals to force and strengthen the people to increase their combat strength, which really caused the people to complain. I've heard that Di Xian ...... Oh, now it's called King Li Jiong, that guy is even more exaggerated, there are more than 30 concubines and beauties in every day, singing and dancing every day, drinking and having fun, and it is definitely not what the outside world has propagated to make the country prosperous and avenge his father. ”

Shen Lie sneered: "Li Zhi's origin is unknown, who knows if he is a descendant of Li Chengxing?" If you want me to see it, this is probably a trick made by Lao Jianhua again, in a vain attempt to make waves in the name of the royal family. According to the brothers of the Intelligence Department in the Jin Palace, Lao Jianhua and Li Zhi are not as they appear to the outside world. They are called master and apprentice, but in fact they are more like father and son, and Lao Jianhua is in charge of military and civil affairs and finance, and it seems that he intends to set up Li Jiong. ”

Xu You said: "This is inevitable! When Li Jiong was in the Xuanjia Army, I worked with him for a while. Although this person is shrewd and wise, he is not brave enough, he is good at forbearance and has little ambition, and it is impossible for him to control Lao Jianhua in turn. ”

Shen Lie nodded: "Youchang's evaluation is right. Li Bing has always looked forward to Lao Jianhua and listened to him in everything, this was the case when he served Xie Guang before, and now he is still the king of the puppet Jin. Within the rebels, it is still Lao Jianhua who has the final say. ”

Xiahou Ninghan continued: "Lao Jianhua's methods are endless, and every blow will hit the vital point of the imperial court, which is much more terrifying than Bao Yuchun. This time Cheng Xi's incident, I was blamed for being too reckless, forcing Lord Yudra to make a move, and falling for Lao Jianhua's trick. ”

"I can't blame you for this," Xu Youchang hurriedly said: "It's obviously my idea, Ning Han, don't take it for me." ”

Li Jiangyao smiled: "Come on, the matter has come to this, you don't have to rush to admit your mistakes." is still the same sentence, everything looks forward, and the sky can't fall. Whether you kill Cheng Xi or not, the imperial court will eventually put its hand into the army, which is the heart disease of our emperor, and sooner or later it will be used. ”

"I agree with Jiang Yao's words," Shen Lie bowed slightly: "Li Bing is suspicious by nature, and it is impossible to let go of the military, it is nothing more than the difference between early or late." As soon as Cheng Xi died, he immediately moved his mind to strengthen control over the army, and Wei Zixuan and his ilk just catered to his ideas. ”

Xu Youchang asked, "Brother Shen, you have lived in the court for a long time, do you have any countermeasures?" ”

Shen Lie smiled: "Countermeasures, it depends on what kind of position you hold." If you make up your mind to be the second Xie Guang, there are a lot of ways, but if you still think that you are a soldier loyal to the Holy Tang, I am afraid that the only way to go is to obey. Look at it, Ma Hongjie, Murong Xue, and Chang Tao, don't they all honestly accept the aristocratic officers selected by the imperial court? ”

Xu Youchang first glanced at Li Jiangyao, and then said, "Isn't there a third way to go?" Don't be a thief Xie Guang, and don't be a soft egg that can be rubbed by others. ”

"Brother You, the most important issue at the moment is not here." Shen Lie also turned to Li Jiangyao and said in a deep voice: "I have been in the Reverse Scale Division for many years, and I have seen the relationship between the emperor and the army very thoroughly. Whoever is in that position is eager to grasp the hilt of the sword of the army, and there is nothing else to think about. The first emperor had suffered a great loss in this regard, and Li Bing categorically did not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. ”

Li Jiangyao nodded and said, "You're right. This hurdle has never been overcome. ”

Shen Lie continued: "So I said, the problem is not here, but the changes in the situation in the undercurrent surging. Cheng Wen became the queen, and the noble forces represented by the Zhenguo Mansion took the opportunity to re-emerge and form an alliance with Wei Zixuan for political purposes, which was the most dangerous. ”

Li Jiangyao saw that Xu Youchang and the others were still a little puzzled, so he explained for Shen Lie: "The Holy Tang Dynasty has experienced many years of internal and external troubles, and even the first emperor sacrificed his life to martyrdom, and the traditional aristocratic forces have suffered varying degrees of blows and weakening, they have not only lost many talents, but also lost a lot of land, wealth and power. At the same time, because of internal and external wars, soldiers like us continued to grow and gradually became an important support of the imperial court. In this way, a contradiction between the old and new forces has been formed. ”

Hearing him say this, Xu Youchang suddenly understood: "That's true. The old nobles were reluctant to withdraw from the core of the court, but they couldn't provoke the new forces of the military, so Wei Zixuan seized the opportunity and deliberately co-opted them, so that the two sides joined forces, and took advantage of Li Bing's desire to control the army to squeeze us out in every possible way. ”

"You're on point." Shen Lie sneered: "All of this is actually manipulated by Lao Jianhua behind his back. He knows Li Bing too well, and he also knows too well the traditional nobles such as the Zhenguo Mansion and the Fengyang Marquis Mansion, so he will let Wei Zixuan promote the post-election event and make waves. ”

Xu Youchang slapped the table and said angrily: "These beasts who only care about glory and wealth!" Our Xu family forgot to die for the saint Tang and the whole clan died, but what about them? Worthy of my grandfather?! ”

Li Jiangyao sighed and gently patted Xu Youchang on the shoulder: "Grandpa is not for them, we can't afford to be angry with these young people, let's listen to what Brother Shen has to say first." ”

Shen Lie nodded and continued, "Chief, Jiang Yao is right. Old Man Xu has been innocent all his life, and what he has in his heart is only the Jiangshan Sheji of the first emperor and the Holy Tang Dynasty. Those noble gatekeepers are not worth his attention. Let's put it back again, once the old nobles form an alliance with Wei Zixuan, their influence on Li Binghe and the imperial court will be very great, and they can even directly influence the process of counterinsurgency. ”

Xiahou Ninghan asked, "Lord Changshi, how should we solve this problem?" ”

"This is the main reason why I came to see you," Shen Lie smiled faintly, "I want to give advice to the Protector of the Majority." ”

Li Jiangyao laughed when he heard this: "Brother Shen, you have walked around the ghost gate, and people have become funny. At this time, I was still in the mood to be amused. What is the advice for the Metropolitan Protector? What's a good way, hurry up! ”

Shen Lie stroked his beard: "My method is called to treat others in the way of others." ”

Xiahou Ninghan pondered for a moment, and said curiously: "What does Lord Changshi mean, is it to find another group of allies in the court?" ”

"Ning Han guessed right." Shen Lie said solemnly: "Shengtang has both the old nobles who are greedy for power, and the loyal martyrs like the Xu family. Wei Zixuan can pull people, and we can also pull people. It's just that we're pulling those loyal and decent nobles, let them go to the ring with the likes of the Zhenguo Mansion! ”

Xu Youchang said happily when he heard this: "I think this method is feasible!" Take our Lord Dong as an example, with his support in the military department, he blocked Wei Zixuan's Yin Chengyi's many ghost ideas. It's a pity that Lao Dong has always been lonely, and it is time for him to have more helpers. ”

Li Jiangyao bowed slightly, and humbly asked: "Brother Shen, what are the specific methods?" How do you need our cooperation? ”

Shen Lie replied: "The first thing is to investigate the group of noble officers in front of you clearly, and have a bottom in your heart. Among them, some are desperately inclined to the emperor, some are the eyes and ears of traitors planted by Lao Jianhua, and some sincerely hope to be loyal to the country. Let's start with the aristocratic officers who are loyal to the Holy Tang, not only the Zhenjiang Army, but also Murong Xue, Ma Hongjie and Chang Tao, everyone should cultivate and reuse those people well, and let them understand who is really for the good of the country. ”

"I raise my hands in approval." Li Jiangyao said with a smile: "As long as these decent nobles can distinguish between right and wrong, and in turn can affect their families, I am not alone." ”

Shen Lie nodded, and continued: "The second thing is for me to secretly go to the imperial capital to talk to some trusted old friends, and by the way, help them return to the court and fight with Wei Zixuan and his allies." I'm afraid you won't be able to help you with this layout, I have to find the Seventh Princess. ”