Mo Yi met the emperor and hurriedly asked the car to avoid making way for the emperor. Xiao Yunhe thought that he hadn't been close to Moyi for some days, so he asked the eunuchs around him to invite Concubine Shu. Mo Yi got out of the car and walked towards the emperor. On her body, she was wearing a very neat concubine court dress. Xiao Yunhe secretly had some doubts: where are you going to go if you are dressed so formally and with such a grand pomp?

Mo Yi was naturally very happy to see the emperor. After seeing the ceremony, he was invited by the emperor to sit in the royal car and went to the Liangyi Hall together.

Xiao Yunhe looked at a dignified and dressed ink robe and asked, "Why are you dressed so formally today? Are you going to do something important?"

"Yes!" Mo Yi said with a little pride, "Your Majesty has issued an order to let the palace reduce the palace maids and eunuchs." With such a major event, how could the concubines not take responsibility to share the worries of His Majesty? The concubines were in the court all day today, personally presiding over the affairs of those palace maids and eunuchs leaving the palace. ”

"Hehe, you're interested. The concubine didn't seem to be involved in this matter. "The affairs in the harem were originally in the hands of the queen's concubines. Now there is no queen, and it is also within the duty of Mo Yi to come forward to take care of it.

Mo Yi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, don't blame the noble concubine for not caring about the affairs of the palace. About the dismissal of palace maids and eunuchs...... It's not easy for her to interfere with the concubine. ”

"Oh, what do you say?" Xiao Yunhe didn't figure it out for a while.

Mo Yi covered his mouth and smiled, leaned into Xiao Yunhe's ear and whispered: "With His Majesty's wisdom and experience, can't you still figure out why?"

Xiao Yunhe blinked his eyes a few times, thought for a moment in his heart, and suddenly smiled with a realized smile: "I understand!"

Wu Yuelin was born in the national capital, and the Guo family and the Wu family were in the national capital and even in the palace, and they were both very well-connected and had a lot of friendships. The harem wants to get rid of the palace maids and eunuchs, which is a big deal. For many palace ladies and eunuchs, being able to leave the towering imperial city from now on is tantamount to an opportunity to be reborn as a human being. Therefore, there will definitely be many people who want to trust people to be trusted by relationships, talk about favors, and want to entrust people. Wu Yuelin, the concubine, is involved in too wide interpersonal relationships, so no one can be offended, and no one dares to accept it. Rather than that, she simply didn't interfere. Mo Yi was just a stranger who entered Beijing from a small southwestern country. With her presiding over this matter, it will not be easy for others to see the stitches again. Naturally, it is easy to be just and fair. Thinking about this, Xiao Yunhe couldn't help laughing: "It seems that you two sisters have taken care of the affairs in the harem quite clearly." The harem is stable, and I can handle the government with peace of mind. Thank you very much. ”

"It's also a matter for the concubines to share their worries, what is there to thank for Your Majesty?" Mo Yi smiled lightly, "Today, the concubine also went to visit the chief manager Ju Wenzhen, who was beaten by His Majesty!"

Xiao Yunhe glanced at Mo Yi and just smiled.

Mo Yi leaned close to him and whispered: "The concubine rewarded Ju Wenzhen with some ointment to heal injuries, and said a few words of comfort. The concubine sued him, and it was precisely because he was close to His Majesty that His Majesty beat him. It's not close, and he's too lazy to fight! It makes him kowtow and cry bitterly. Ju Wenzhen has followed His Majesty for many years, although it is a little slippery, but it is still relatively capable and loyal. There are many things in the harem that he still has to do. His majesty uses power, and the concubine uses grace. This little eunuch has been loyal to His Majesty since then, and he has no ambition. ”

Xiao Yunhe patted Moyi's shoulder to show his appreciation, and said secretly in his heart: It seems that the affairs of the harem are indeed nothing worth worrying about.

Concubine Shufei Moyi also followed the emperor to the Liangyi Palace, which was unexpected by Wu Yuelin. When she saw her for the first time, her cheeks turned red, and she thought that the emperor was interested in sharing a bed with three people. Mo Yi pulled her aside, and the second daughter whispered with a grin, Wu Yuelin was relieved, but she felt more embarrassed.

The three of them had lunch together, and Moyi drove to the Manna Palace. Although there is no queen now, Wu Yuelin's status is still slightly higher than that of Moyi. The palace where he lived was also closer to the Taiji Palace. Fortunately for Xiao Yunhe, the relationship between Moyi and Wu Yuelin is very harmonious, and the two have been like sisters since Xichuan. There wasn't too much fighting and intrigue in the harem, which made him feel very comfortable. It's just that there has never been a shortage of open and secret battles in the palace. Now the situation is quite good, and if there are more children in the future, will it be so calm?

At night, Xiao Yunhe hugged Wu Yuelin and slept on the dragon bed. The two of them were about to warm up for a while, when they suddenly heard Ju Wenzhen's voice from outside the hall: "Your Majesty xià ......"

Xiao Yunhe's brows furrowed in his heart, and he said to himself: When did this Ju Wenzhen become so uninteresting? I was about to sleep with my concubine...... Is there something important?

Xiao Yunhe tore down the curtain at the head of the bed and called outside, "Come in and talk." ”

Ju Wenzhen gently pushed open the door, walked in with broken steps, knelt down in front of the imperial bed and said, "Your Majesty...... Just now, Li Mian was ordered to send his eldest son to the palace to report that Li Mian was seriously ill and in danger. ”

"What?" Xiao Yunhe sat up suddenly, shook off the thin silk quilt covering him and Wu Yuelin, and got out of bed in a hurry. Wu Yuelin Chu Yan's naked body was exposed, and she was so frightened that she was frightened.

"Dressing. I want to go to Li Mian's mansion immediately. Ju Wenzhen took the other two close eunuchs and quickly brought the clothes to change for Xiao Yunhe. After quickly tidying up his clothes, Xiao Yunhe glanced back at Wu Yuelin apologetically and strode out of the palace.

Wu Yuelin lay down on the bed and sighed softly. I pulled on the quilt and slept alone.

Out of the Liangyi Palace, the emperor's chariot slowly drove through the side door. Xiao Yunhe's heart burned like fire, and he couldn't wait for the car to be completed, and said to Ju Wenzhen: "Bring my green horse." I'm going to gallop on horseback. The preparation of the car was cumbersome and the action was slow, and I was worried that I would not be able to see Xuan Qinggong for the last time. ”

"Yes!" Ju Wenzhen hurriedly sent someone to bring the horse, Xiao Yunhe jumped on the horse, and shouted. The horse rode alone towards the Suzaku Gate. The guards around him were a little unexpectedly half a beat slower, and only Dugu Fan rode up alone.

In the solemn and silent imperial city, the iron hooves of Xiao Yunhe and Dugu Fan trampled on the bluestone slabs. The soldiers on patrol were shocked and angry, and they didn't know where the fanatics dared to ride their horses in the imperial city in the middle of the night. Xiao Yunhe was afraid of delaying time, so he shouted all the way: "Make way for me and open the door!"

Hear this familiar and majestic voice. The Wyverceon soldiers in charge of guarding the Imperial City did not dare to delay for a moment. Running all the way, the doors of the imperial city were wide open, and the soldiers of the Imperial Forest Army bowed down along the streets.

In an instant, Xiao Yunhe had already left the imperial city and rushed to the front of Li Mian's house in Guangdefang. There was only an old man guarding the door. Didn't recognize the emperor. He saw the second horse rushing forward, and was about to step forward to inquire, but Xiao Yunhe had already strode past him. I went straight into the hospital. The old man stopped Dugu Fan, and when he raised his eyes, he saw that it was an iron-masked general with a golden mask on his face, and he was shocked in his heart, and flashed to the side again. Dugu Fan quickly followed the emperor and entered the courtyard together.

In the courtyard, nearly 100 people were already kneeling in front of the main hall, and no one said a word. These people. It is probably Li Miandi's relatives, protégés and deceased officials. Xiao Yunhe quickly walked among the people here and walked straight into the main hall. The group of people who fell to the ground only felt a gust of wind passing by their ears, and when they looked up, they saw a yellow figure flashing. In their hearts, they were all shocked: Yellow robe, the emperor is here?!

"Xuan Qinggong!" Xiao Yunhe called out when he entered the main hall. He saw that he was already preparing for the filial piety seat in the mourning hall, and his heart was anxious and worried.

As soon as the words fell. A person flashed out of the side room on the side, and knelt down when he saw Xiao Yunhe. Xiao Yunhe looked at him with a calm expression. I thought that Li Mian was probably in this room, and this person was one of Li Mian's nephews. Ask, and sure enough. So he went straight into the room.

A few thick candles were lit in the room, and some close relatives and nephews knelt down in front of Li Mian's couch. After the emperor came in, these people wanted to turn their heads and bow to him again, Xiao Yunhe called for all exemptions, walked quickly to Li Mian's couch, and sat down.

Li Miandi's face was already a little gray, his lips were closed, and his eyes were closed. There is only a trace of breath in the seclusion. It seems that he is indeed going to run out of oil and die of the lamp.

Xiao Yunhe held his hand and leaned into his ear and called, "Duke Xuanqing, Duke Shuqing, student Li Mo has come to see you." ”

Li Mian, who was still like a dead man just now, suddenly opened his eyes and clenched Xiao Yunhe's hand.

Everyone here knows that this is his last return.

There are already some female dependents, and they can't help crying.

Li Mian glanced at the emperor with his Chu Yanhuang eyes, raised his other hand with difficulty, and waved it to his family. Then he said with great difficulty: "You guys, all stand down." I have something to say to the emperor alone. ”

Li Mian's family members all reluctantly withdrew from the door. In the room, only Xiao Yunhe and Li Mian were left.

"Xuanqing Gong...... Do you have something to tell the students?" At this time, Xiao Yunhe didn't need to say any words of comfort.

Li Mian's throat slid hard, his lips trembled slightly, and then he said in a low and hoarse voice: "Your Majesty...... Old minister, the day is not a holiday, and you can't serve Your Majesty. Only in the next life, I will do my best for His Majesty, and then die. ”

Xiao Yunhe frowned deeply and nodded slowly.

"陛xià...... The old minister heard that the imperial court was about to rectify the rule of officials. Li Mian was very struggling, his eyes were about to close, and he said in a vague voice, "The old minister thinks that if you want to eliminate officials and rectify the officialdom, you must first ......."

"Must ...... first" Li Mian's voice became lower and lower, and Xiao Yunhe put his ear to his mouth. It's hard to hear.

Finally, Li Mian spit out those two words: "Cut the king!"

Xiao Yunhe's heart moved: If you want to govern the officials, you must first cut the king!

After Li Mian finished saying these two words, it seemed that he had used up the strength of Chu Yan's body, and he rested for a long time. If it weren't for Xiao Yunhe feeling that he still had a trace of breath in his nose, I am afraid that he would have thought that he was dead.

After a long time, Li Mian opened his eyes for the last time. looked at the emperor in a daze, and said: "Your Majesty, there is one thing that the old minister has always been puzzled about. When he was dying, Lao Chen wanted to figure out this matter. I don't know what to ...... Can you tell me the truth?"

Xiao Yunhe nodded: "Duke Xuanqing, please ask." Students must know everything. ”

Li Mian showed a relieved expression and said, "What the old minister can't figure out is ...... After Fengtian, why did His Majesty be reborn and be friendly with the previous generals, judging the two of them?"

Xiao Yunhe was slightly stunned. A smile followed. He leaned into Li Mian's ear and said two words softly.

After Li Mian listened, he suddenly stared at Xiao Yunhe with wide eyes. His mouth opened wide in panic, not knowing what to say.

Xiao Yunhe looked at him with a smile: "It's true, Li Mian." ”

Li Mian's breathing suddenly intensified, his chest began to rise and fall, and his lips trembled and shouted out a word: "Too ......" Then, his expression was frozen forever. Those dim eyes were also staring at Xiao Yunhe, and it seemed that they would never want to close.

Xiao Yunhe let out a long sigh. Stretched out his hand to brush his eyelids, and said softly, "Look at it, Li Mian." I, Xiao Yunhe, the dragon son and the dragon grandson, it is rare to have a character like you that satisfies me. ”

When I looked at Li Mian again, I saw that his eyes were closed. The expression on his face was as if he was asleep, without a trace of pain. Instead, it was like with a smile.

Xiao Yunhe stood up from the couch. walked to the door and looked at the descendants of Li Miandi who were kneeling outside the door, and said, "Duke Xuanqing, go." Raise your sorrows. ”

The room was full of people, and the mourning music and firecrackers suddenly rang out.

Xiao Yunhe walked out of the main hall, his steps a little heavy. Li Mian's relatives and protégés knelt down in panic and didn't dare to get up, and Xiao Yunhe forgot to tell them to calm down. It wasn't until he left the courtyard of the Li family that Xiao Yunhe came back to his senses. He looked back at the wall of the Li family's courtyard in grief, shook his head, sighed lightly, and muttered, "I have lost a very valuable person." ”

"Let's go, Dugu Fan. Let's go back to the palace. Xiao Yunhe got on his horse and whipped towards the palace.

Back in the imperial city, Xiao Yunhe couldn't sleep anymore, and it was not good to go to meet Wu Yuelin with this mood. So I simply went to the imperial study of the Wude Palace, read at night, and reviewed some folds.

Dugu Fan has been quietly following him, without saying a word. As the emperor's closest confidant and bodyguard, Dugu Fan's silence made everyone unable to understand him. It's just that everyone knows that the iron-masked general who is closely following the emperor is a peerless master.

Xiao Yunhe watched the twists and turns for a while, and he was always a little heavy and bored in his heart. There was no one else around, so he called Dugu Fan to his side.

"Dugu Fan, have all the cold poisons on your body been cleared?"

"It's clear. When there was no one else, Dugu Fan's attitude towards Xiao Yunhedi was still as tepid as before. In his eyes, there is no distinction between emperors and commoners.

"Then ...... you" Xiao Yunhe hesitated for a moment, and said with a chuckle, "Is it feasible?" Xiao Yunhe asked vaguely, meaning nothing more than that: Is your male function restored?

Dugu Fan was a little annoyed, snorted coldly, and didn't know how to answer. After staying for a while, he said, "In the palace, there are medicinal herbs and supplements that are not available outside, and the best doctors. My sister takes good care of me. ”

Xiao Yunhe smiled: "So, you can also marry a relative?"

Dugu Fan said indifferently: "I'm not interested." ”

"How's that going to work? Xiao Yunhe said, "Now, you are also a national relative." How can a dignified relative be alone? Moreover, you alone cannot be left alone. After a while, I will arrange a few girls for you to choose from. If there is something that can be seen, you will become a family. It's also good to let Moyi have a heart. ”

"I said, not interested. After Dugu Fan finished speaking, he shook his head a little helplessly, and said in a compromise, "Don't force me." Give me a moment. ”

"Okay. Xiao Yunhe looked at Dugu Fan with blazing eyes and nodded slowly. He could see that Dugu Fan seemed to have a little bit on his mind.

After dawn, the news of Li Mian's death had spread everywhere. Xiao Yunhe announced above the court that Li Mian would be posthumously crowned as Situ and Wu Guogong. The court mourned for it and abolished the dynasty for three days. Then, Xiao Yunhe was dressed in the emperor's grand costume and took hundreds of civil and military officials to Li Mian's mansion to mourn. The scholars of the Hanlin Academy also wrote several memorial texts for Li Mian, praising and remembering this famous Xuanqing Duke of the dynasty.

Li Mian's funeral was going on lively, Xiao Yunhe was the emperor after all, and it was impossible to stay there for a long time. So after showing up for a while, he sent Ju Wenzhen to take a group of eunuchs and palace maids to preside over the funeral of Zhang Luo and Li Mian. But he returned to the Wude Hall in the imperial city.

He wanted to be alone.

As the saying goes, when a person is about to die, his words are also good. Li Mian's words to him on his deathbed have always been entangled in his heart - if you want to govern officials, you must first cut the king.

Except for Li Mian, who was about to die, it is estimated that no one dared to propose this advice to him. This can also be regarded as Li Mian's only political will.

In fact, Xiao Yunhe also thought of this a long time ago. Now, the king of Daqi is really worthless, and he is everywhere. If only it were a title. However, as long as they are crowned kings, they must be treated as kings. It is not only necessary to give acres of land, but also to keep private soldiers and slaves. The imperial court not only did not collect their taxes, but also allocated money to support them. And now, in addition to the prince's relatives of the Li family, it is not uncommon for people with the surname to be crowned kings. The metaphor says that Li Sheng, Ma Sui, Li Huaiguang and Chu Yan, all four of them are county kings.

A simple estimate shows that raising a county king is at least more difficult than raising an army of 3,000. Moreover, there are many hidden dangers.

It is imperative to cut the king.

However, Xiao Yunhe knew better that the difficulties faced by the king were extremely huge. Therefore, even Li Mian only dared to put forward this opinion before he died.

A few days later, the plan for rectifying the rule of officials discussed by Wu Yuanheng and others was submitted. The first of these is the reduction of inspectors and non-staff officers. The inspector was originally an honorary title, and he didn't do anything with a salary. When the old man was in power, in order to appease the envoys from other places, a large number of inspectors were sealed. These festivals not only made efforts to work in the court, but also asked the court to allocate salaries to support them. The situation of non-staff officers is somewhat similar to that of inspectors, most of whom are exceptionally promoted officials and belong to outside the normal establishment. There were even many favored eunuchs who were appointed to such positions as Wailang, a member of the Sanpin Minister's Department. is at the same level as Wu Yuanheng, but he does not perform any public duties, but he enjoys the same treatment.

The reduction of school inspectors and foreign officials can greatly reduce the expenses of the imperial court and streamline the establishment. For this, everyone in the court did not have any doubts, and they were unanimous.

Another key point in the plan was to reduce the normal establishment of the three provinces and six ministries of the imperial court and each department. Taking the Ministry of Officials as an example, after the reduction, only one Shangshu was left, two waiters, two servants, two directors, and fifteen officials. In addition, there are one person each in Si Feng Lang Zhong, Si Xun Lang Zhong, and Kao Gong Lang, as well as some officials under these three branches. On the whole, the number of people in the normal establishment has been reduced.

As soon as this opinion was announced, it immediately caused a huge controversy in the court. Half of the normal establishment has been cut off, which means that half of the people who are now standing above the court will have to take off their robes and go home. Naturally, these people are not happy. The controversy in the court was boiling for a while.

Xiao Yunhe looked at each other coldly, and was not in a hurry to attack and make a decision. Looking at these troublesome officials, he secretly thought to himself: Whenever it comes to his own vital interests, everyone will be eager to refute. These officials are still like this, and if I order the king to be cut, will the princes give up?

Since the emperor did not come forward to make a decision, the matter of reducing the normal establishment of the imperial court was put on hold for a while. But. The inspectors and the foreign officials were eliminated in accordance with the rules. In the national capital alone, more than 300 foreign officials who took money and did not do things were dismissed. In the entire world of Daqi, a total of more than 2,000 school inspectors and foreign officials will be laid off. Just to pay these people's salaries is enough to arm an army of 10,000 people. When the retrenchment order was issued, there were naturally some voices of resentment and dissatisfaction in various parts of Daqi. But the procurators and foreign officials, after all, are just fictitious positions that add rewards to some people, and these people may not care too much. So. There was not much difficulty in implementation.

As for the reduction of the normal establishment of the imperial court, Xiao Yunhe was not in a hurry to make a decision. Step by step, we must work steadily and steadily, and we must not let the current situation fall into too much chaos. After the layoffs of foreign officials and school inspectors are completed, everyone will adapt to it for a period of time. Let's do it again.

In the evening of this day, Xiao Yunhe had just returned to the Wude Hall from Hongwen Hall after completing official business. Guo Gang, the general of the Imperial City Prison Gate, came to report and said that Jingzhao Yin Zhang had entered the palace to ask for a meeting. Xiao Yunhe announced his entry.

Xiao Yunhe met Zhang in the imperial study. Not seen for many days. Zhang's body seemed to be much better, and he knelt down energetically and bowed, and Xiao Yunhe gave the four-grade master a seat.

Zhang's expression. It seems to be a little nervous. He glanced around and said, "Your Majesty, beg to retreat." Wechen has something important to do. ”

Xiao Yunhe was slightly surprised, and let the eunuchs and palace maids who were waiting on the left and right retreat, and said, "What's the important matter?"

Zhang stood up from his seat, took out a letter, handed it to the emperor's imperial table in person, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, please take a look." ”

Xiao Yunhe suspiciously picked up the fold and looked at it. Immediately, his eyes widened and he whispered, "There is such a thing!"

Zhang's expression was solemn: "Your Majesty, this is a secret report that Weichen has just received." Weichen thought that this matter was extremely serious, so he immediately went to Beijing and reported the matter to His Majesty. ”

"Well done. Xiao Yunhe secretly took a long breath and said to Zhang, "This matter." Be sure to keep your mouth shut and don't let anyone know. After going back. It's like nothing happened, and you do whatever you have to do. ”

Wechen understood. Zhang bowed his hand and solemnly accepted the order.

"Did you bring the messenger?" Just outside the Wude Palace. ”

"Pass him in. ”

Zhang personally went out and called one of the people who accompanied him in. The man was about forty years old, and although he was wearing the ordinary clothes of ordinary people, Xiao Yunhe, who was well mixed in the army, could still see at a glance that this person must have been born in the army and was a soldier.

After the people came to bow and salute, Xiao Yunhe asked him: "What is your surname, and what is your official position?"

"Back to Majesty. The last general, Dong Shuang, was the Zhonghou general in front of the tent of General Lu Sigong Road, the commander of the Eastern Capital Qi Defense Army. The person said, "General Lu secretly sent the last general to enter Beijing as a civilian, and be sure to hand over a secret report to Lord Jingzhao Yin Zhang." ”

Xiao Yunhe said quietly: "How much do you know about the things in the secret report?"

Dong Shuang replied: "The last general is General Lu's henchman, and he also knows a little about what was said in the secret report. ”

"Good. Xiao Yunhe said, "Zhang, you step back first." When you go back, someone will present you with a secret report, and you must keep it in your mouth and not leak it. On another day, I will reward you. ”

Zhang Baipour: "Weichen only wants to do his best for His Majesty, not to be rewarded." Wechen retired. ”

After Zhang left, Xiao Yunhe asked Ju Wenzhen to leave the palace in person and invited Li Sheng into the Wude Palace. He didn't want too many people to know about the things in the secret report for the time being.

Li Sheng entered the imperial study, and Xiao Yunhe directly showed him the secret report. Li Sheng's reaction was also extremely surprised: "There is such a thing!"

"I was also shocked, but now it seems that the truth of this is very large. Xiao Yunhe said, "The person who sent the letter is here, we might as well listen to what he has to say." Dong Shuang, tell me everything you know. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. "Dong Shuang is a delicate person, otherwise he would not have shouldered such a heavy mission. He said unhurriedly: "General Lu Sigong Lu, the envoy of the Eastern Capital Qi Defense Army, and Han Quanyi, who stayed in the Eastern Capital, are comrades and friends. Five days ago, Han Quanyi secretly invited General Lu into Luoyang to discuss major matters. After General Lu returned, he was restless. Originally. Han Quanyi invited General Lu to enter the Eastern Capital in order to discuss the rebellion with several other princes and county kings!"

Li Sheng was suddenly stunned: "There are also princes and county kings?!"

Xiao Yunhe's face was calm, but there was a hint of anger in his eyes: "There are no outsiders here. Dong Shuang, which princes and county kings participated in this matter, you can tell me one by one. ”

"Yes. Dong Shuang bowed his hand and said, "For the sake of safety." General Lu did not write the list of people and places participating in the pre-examination in the memoir, but stabbed the last general in the back with a knife. Therefore, I don't know who they are. Dare to love this adult to peel off the lichen and check it, and then report it to His Majesty. "Then go and undress yourself.

Li Sheng stepped forward and untied his shirt. Sure enough, I saw that there were a lot of blood marks on his back. Xiao Yunhe also stepped forward in person, and together with Li Sheng, his eyes widened and he carefully recognized, and they were all taken aback: the leading prince was actually Li Xun, the king of Sui, and Li Xuan, the king of Jing. These two. They are all the old man's younger brothers, the emperor's own uncles. There were also some of their sons and nephews, about seven or eight county kings.

Xiao Yunhe gritted his teeth with hatred: "These bastard things." It's all the other way around!"

Li Sheng hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this is also a misfortune in the middle of the earth. Fortunately, the Eastern Capital of Dongdu Qi Defense Soldiers and Horses made Lu Sigong Lu Zhongjun patriotic and reported the matter to His Majesty. For this reason, it is to take advantage of the fact that they have not yet rebelled, and to put an end to this calamity as soon as possible. Weichen is not talented, and is willing to lead a group of men and horses into the eastern capital, arrest Li Xun, the king of Sui, Li Xuan, the king of Jing, and Han Quanyi, who stayed in the eastern capital, and dedicate them to His Majesty. ”

Xiao Yunhe frowned, and thought quickly in his heart. He waved his hand and said, "No hurry." Dong Shuang, from today onwards, you will stay by my side as a guard, and don't go anywhere. Later I will send someone to give you some medicine. The scars on your back, apply your own medicine. Understood?"

"The last will understand. "Dong Shuang knelt down and fell. Kowtow thanksgiving. A small middle marquis tent official was instantly promoted to the emperor's side guard. It can be said that it is on the rise.

Xiao Yunhe asked Dong Shuang to retreat, leaving Li Sheng in the imperial study. "What I feared the most was happening. Xiao Yunhe said angrily and hatefully, "Those royal families in the gate have been dissatisfied with me for a long time. When I was only the king of Han, they colluded to resist and suppress me. When I ascended the throne, these people were terrified, and they were always worried that I would settle accounts with them. Now I finally can't bear it anymore and wants to take risks. Didn't they think about leaving the game if they lost?"

Li Sheng said cautiously: "Your Majesty...... People who have always plotted rebellion have all thought about the benefits of success. Otherwise, they wouldn't have taken the risk. The royal family in the Guannai has always been very supportive of His Majesty. In their opinion, His Majesty may still be an unfilial descendant who usurped it...... Moreover, because they had been sorry for their majesty before, although their majesty was tolerant of them and did not remember their past grudges, they might not think so. So, they have been suppressing fear in their hearts. After a long time, I couldn't help it, and it broke out. ”

Xiao Yunhe looked angry and said hatefully: "The royal nobles who planted me together back then must be more than just King Jia and King Shao. Before I ascended the throne, in order to solve the problem of food shortage in the army, I once rectified King Jia and King Shao. And forced them to agree, and when they carried out farmland renovation in the future, they took the initiative to hand over the acres of land they had gathered. This frightened the rest of the world. So, they wanted to do it before I started to clean up the royal family and farmland. It seems that this war between me and the imperial family in Kannai is inevitable. ”

"Inevitably?" Li Sheng repeated in astonishment.

"Yes, inevitably. Xiao Yunhe said, "Liangqi is not an outsider, and I won't hide it from you." When Xuanqing ascended to the immortal, he left me the only will in person: if you want to govern officials, you must cut it first

Li Sheng's body was shocked, and he hurriedly bowed down: "Your Majesty, Weichen is willing to give up the prince and lower his diet!"

Xiao Yunhe stepped forward to help Li Sheng up, and said with a smile: "What are you doing here, Liangqi? I am not insinuating against you when I say this to you. You are highly meritorious, and it is reasonable to enjoy this prince. I and Xuanqing Gong are targeting those who are born in the royal family, but they have not contributed to the country's society, but they have to add to the trouble. Now you have also seen that it is not enough for those wastes to guard the mountains of gold and silver, but they also want to seek my country and bring disasters to the world. Such a prince, what is the use of me keeping him?"

A trace of sweat flowed from the corner of Li Sheng's forehead, and he arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty is wise...... However, Weichen is indeed willing to give up the prince. As long as he can serve the country for the benefit of His Majesty, even if it is a cloth cloth, Weichen has no regrets. The title of the county king on Weichen was given by the emperor, and it was nothing more than to win over Weichen at that time. If you need it, you can take it back at any time. Wechen had no complaints and was at ease. ”

"Let's not talk about this for now. Xiao Yunhe said with a smile, "Let's think of a way to solve the problem in the Eastern Capital first." Li Xun, the king of Sui, and Li Xuan, the king of Jing, united seven or eight sons and nephews of the county kings, and planned to plot a judgment in the eastern capital, which was tantamount to making the court of Daqi suffer in the elbows and armpits, and the disasters were endless. Moreover, we don't know for the time being, whether they have eyeliner and response in the country. I estimate that this is also more likely. If I were them, I would definitely find a way to control the emperor first, and then make a move in Luoyang. It's much easier to succeed that way. ”

Li Sheng said: "But the country has the most loyal troops and horses guarding the palace, and the imperial city is even more heavily guarded. How can they possibly succeed?"

Xiao Yunhe smiled slightly: "What if they want to target me alone, not my thousands of troops?"

Li Sheng frowned: "What does His Majesty mean--they may want to assassinate?!"

Xiao Yunhe raised the corners of his mouth lightly, and smiled disdainfully: "Those people, in places like the national capital and Guannei, there are no soldiers and horses that can control them. Is there any other way to deal with me than to use some despicable and shameless means? I imagined that if I could be assassinated, the situation in the national capital would be in chaos. Only then will they be able to fish in troubled waters. ”

"Your Majesty!" Li Sheng said a little anxiously, "Since we have expected that the traitors will take extraordinary measures to assassinate the driver, we should have prepared in advance." From now on, Weichen personally led the guards to protect His Majesty's safety day and night. ”

"No, no. Not at all. Xiao Yunhe smiled and said, "I can still come and go freely in the rain of thousands of swords, guns and swords, will I still be afraid of those little assassins? As long as the assassin is captured, and then the melon is touched, it is not difficult to find out the culprits lurking behind the scenes of the national capital. ”

"Your Majesty, it's easy to dodge with an open gun, but it's hard to hide from a hidden arrow!" Li Sheng said hurriedly, "The enemy is dark and I am clear, if there is a mistake, how can it be good?" Then he mobilized troops and horses to guard against a rebellion in the eastern capital of Kannai. ”

"I can't defend against the enemy, so I simply don't defend it, just raise my vigilance. Xiao Yunhe said lightly, "Don't worry, my life is tied to the sky, how can a few little assassins solve it? ”

Li Sheng bowed his hand: "Weichen is willing to hear the details." ”

Xiao Yunhe smiled slightly and said, "Although we have Lu Sigong's report and the list on Dong Shuang's back, this is one side of the story after all. When the time comes, those traitors can resist death and deny it, or bite Lu Sigong and say that he was framed. If you want to really uproot these people, you have to let them show their traces and catch thieves and stolen goods. I've figured it out. After a while, it will be Qingming. I want to drive Taiyuan. Go to worship the ancestors and sweep the tombs. Pass through the Eastern Capital and give them a chance to get their hands dirty. ”

"This ...... It's too risky, isn't it?!" Li Sheng frowned and said, "The assassin lurking around His Majesty has not yet been resolved, isn't it too unwise for His Majesty to throw himself into the tiger's mouth like this?"

"Don't worry, there won't be a problem. Xiao Yunhe said confidently. "I'll arrange everything in one place. I don't joke with my life. Speaking of which, it is actually a matter of time before they rebel or rebel. Instead of dragging it out, it has now erupted. It's good to solve these big problems. I have irreconcilable contradictions with those royal gentry. They had to jump out at this time to make trouble, but they also gave me an excuse to clean them up. I want them to understand a truth: forgetting one's own duty is a very dangerous thing. ”

Li Sheng was slightly stunned and said no more. Xiao Yunhe chatted with him again. Li Sheng withdrew.

After leaving the Martial Arts Palace, Li Sheng suddenly felt an invisible pressure in his chest, making him feel a little dull. I spent an hour with the Emperor today. It didn't feel like anything I'd ever been with before. He had a vague feeling that the emperor seemed to have changed. The emperor is no longer the young hero who killed the enemy with his enemies in the past, but an emperor who has a ruthless heart and can make people feel a trace of fear. He will cut down kings, he will rule officials, and he will do many great things against the will of many. In order to achieve the goal, do not compromise the means. Whether it was to subdue people with virtue or to suppress them by force, in order to achieve his goal, he did not hesitate to step on the royal relatives who stood in his direction.

Li Sheng shuddered lightly and said to himself: It seems. I didn't know him all along...... He is an iron-blooded emperor, a hot-blooded hero, and a cold-blooded butcher. With him, Daqi is destined to undergo earth-shaking drastic changes from now on!

After Li Sheng left, Xiao Yunhe sat quietly in the imperial study alone for a while, and wrote down a few secret decrees with a pen. Then called Dugu Fan in.