The next day, when Xue Bai went to find Yang Guozhong, the right minister was busy with official business.

It is said that Jingzhao Yin Xian Yu Zhongtong found a skilled craftsman to carve a stone tablet of "Quanzong Zhineng" for Yang Guozhong, and prepared to stand outside the gate of Shangshu Province. In this way, the officials of the six ministries can see it when they go to the government and always remember their political achievements.

The inscription was written by Xian Yu Zhongtong himself, but the problem is that the sage was interested in learning about it, read the article himself, and revised a few words. But now that the stele had been carved, they were deliberating what to do.

Xue Bai waited in the side hall for half an hour, and they finally found a solution, and decided to fill and re-engrave those words with gold.

When Xue Bai entered, he met Xian Yu Zhongtong coming out, and after greeting him, he asked: "Jieshuai has been in Sichuan Shu for a long time, can you still get used to it in Chang'an today?" ”

"The weather in Chang'an is too dry."

Xian Yu Zhongtong thought that even if he couldn't be called a famous general, what he did in Sichuan and Shu was also a practical thing, but now he was only a lackey who tended to be a lackey under a mediocre like Yang Guozhong, and he felt unspeakable in his heart, shook his head, and left.

Xue Bai entered alone, and Yang Guozhong smiled when he saw him: "Ah Bai is here, I heard rumors in Chang'an, you have been blessed a lot recently." ”

"Brother, have you heard that Feng Shenwei has returned from Fanyang?"

"Really?"

Yang Guozhong's eyes were puzzled, and he seemed to have forgotten what Feng Shenwei was going to do in Fanyang.

Xue Bai had no choice but to repeat the matter again, but he didn't throw out the method directly like Du Wulang, but threw Yang Guozhong a series of problems.

"In the past, when Li Linfu was there, An Lushan was extremely flattering. Now he is so unruly, it seems that he is not convinced of his brother. The saint will soon inquire about this, how are you going to answer? ”

"Does Bai have a clever plan to teach me?"

"It's just a statement." Xue Bai said casually, "The sage doesn't want to believe that Hu'er will rebel, and he has doubts. Either you insist that he will rebel, or you will follow the holy will to reassure the saint. ”

"Can I still say that he won't be opposed?" Yang Guozhong raised his eyebrows and pondered: "But I have to try to make the saint believe me." ”

Xue Bai still didn't mention a way, and after asking a question, he changed the topic and began to seek an official for himself, saying that he wanted to go further.

"You want to improve again?"

Yang Guozhong was upset, impatiently gave Xue Bai an official, and said, "How long have you been a scholar in the middle school?" I'll give you a piece of news, it's worth a thousand dollars. ”

"Then I'll take it."

"The sage told me earlier that he thought you were too young and embarrassed to hold an important position in the middle school, and wanted to give you some setbacks to sharpen your skills. It's me who has been carrying it for you, otherwise you would have been degraded. Listen to me, now is not the time to be motivated. ”

Since it was not the time to be motivated, Xue Bai lacked interest in government affairs, and his attitude was perfunctory with the naked eye, and he quickly got up and said goodbye.

Yang Guozhong was about to ask him something important, and when he saw him like this, he was also dissatisfied, and looked at his back and snorted secretly.

"Short-sighted and self-interested."

~~

But the problem had to be solved, and one day later, Yang Guozhong was really summoned by the sage and asked him about his opinion on Fan Yang's affairs.

He was, of course, loyal and outspoken.

Unfortunately, the saint was silent and did not say anything about it.

Yang Guozhong was very disappointed, and immediately convened his staff to discuss after returning home, but he failed to discuss the results for several days, but heard some rumors in Chang'an City.

"What?"

"The lower officials heard that the sage intends to summon An Lushan into the court as the prime minister."

Yang Guanghui heard the news from the diners in the private room next to him when he was eating in Qingmen yesterday, and the other party claimed to be an official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the news should be accurate.

"How so?"

As long as there is the possibility of losing phase, no matter how small the risk is, it is something that Yang Guozhong is unwilling to accept, and he immediately shows disgust.

He had never resisted so much in the face of Li Linfu's spit.

Yang Guanghui hurriedly said: "This news was also inquired by the lower officials, it is said that after hearing Feng Shenwei's report, the sage wanted to test An Lushan...... Xia Guan believes that Na Za Hu Ding will not return to the court to serve as prime minister. ”

"He won't? Are you right?! ”

Yang Guozhong snorted angrily and said, "Even if he doesn't return to the court." As long as the saint wills, there will be one more prime minister in the court, how can you let me deal with myself?! ”

This is very reasonable, Yang Guanghui couldn't answer, so he had to retreat.

Yang Guozhong thought about it and became more and more worried. So he sent someone to invite Xue Bai again to inquire about the matter.

"That's it?" After hearing this, Xue Bai deliberately showed a somewhat surprised expression, paced two steps, and asked, "Have you already clarified An Lushan's ambition in front of the sage?" ”

"Not bad." Yang Guozhong annoyed him with his deliberate tone, but he was helpless to take him.

Xue Bai said: "Brother said that Hu'er wanted to rebel, and the saint recalled him back to Beijing to serve as prime minister, if you retreat at this time, don't you have to dislike the saint?" ”

"Huh."

When it comes to his own important interests, Yang Guozhong is not stupid at all. immediately understood that Xue Bai and Yang Guanghui actually meant the same thing.

Of course, the meaning is the same, but the insights shown when he said it were worlds apart, Yang Guozhong did not retreat from Xue Bai, but just waved his hand vigorously and said decisively: "You don't have to say more, I will never let the saint give an edict." ”

Xue Bai knew that it was not so simple to persuade him, and he was too lazy to bother with this matter, so he had his own way, and sneered: "How can it be so simple to issue an edict now?" ”

"What else?"

"If he refuses to summon An Lushan back to worship the prime minister, he will rebel sooner or later. We must prepare for the worst, and when the day comes, will we have enough troops to deal with it? ”

Yang Guozhong asked, "What do you mean?" ”

"Of course, it is to strengthen the power in the army, and I can give you a batch of lists when I go back, and the bento is to introduce talents to the Prime Minister's Office."

Xue Bai had a very important purpose in befriending Li Qi, he knew that Li Heng had been operating in the Northwest Army for many years and had a close relationship with many generals, such as Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi, the two famous generals who quelled the Anshi Rebellion in history.

This is where Xue Bai's thinking differs from Gao Lishi, Gao Lishi wants to prove to Li Longji that An Lushan wants to rebel, but he underestimates An Lushan's strength, and does not realize that it is useless to just prove it; However, Xue Bai wanted to bring a group of generals as soon as possible, and when Yang Guozhong was full of entanglement, he could just take advantage of the power of the right minister to act cheaply.

……

Yang Guozhong thought about it for a while, and decided to listen to one of Xue Bai's two suggestions, and bring a group of talents in the army to them and show them favors.

As for the appointment of An Lushan as prime minister, he thought that it was meaningless, but the edict would only shake the prestige of the imperial court, so he sent people into the palace to ask for an audience, and prepared to oppose the matter to the sage in person.

After entering the palace, he paid close attention to it and found that Li Longji was accompanied by Gao Lishi today, so he secretly applauded and his confidence increased.

After the salute, when Li Longji asked him what he wanted to see, he hesitated slightly and said: "I heard that the sage wants to order An Lushan to be the prime minister, although he has military merits, but he can't read books, how can he be the prime minister?" If the saint makes a book, the ministers are afraid that the four will despise the Tang Dynasty. ”

He had pondered these words for a long time, and said them in response to the sage's thoughts of great joy. The saint has a good face, and he must be able to listen to it.

Unexpectedly, Li Longji had a dumbfounded expression when he heard this, and said: "What Yang Qing said is true, but I still don't know that An Lushan is the prime minister, where did Yang Qing get the news?" ”

Yang Guozhong was stunned for a moment, and said in his heart that he had learned the news from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and only then did he remember that Yang Guanghui had heard the news from the teahouse restaurant.

"There is this rumor in the court, and the minister mistakenly thinks it is true, and the minister is derelict in his duties."

It is ridiculous for a prime minister to make such a mistake. But Li Longji didn't care, but felt more curiosity, so he glanced at Gao Lishi and asked with his eyes.

Gao Lishi said: "Presumably, someone thinks that An Lushan's merits are very high, and he said to the right that An Lushan should be summoned back to Beijing to pay respects." ”

If Li Longji really had this plan, after Yang Guozhong's persuasion, he might have given up, but Yang Guozhong made a mistake first, but he reminded him.

Even if he trusts the fat man who is always willing to make a fool of himself in front of him, and someone has always sworn in front of him, with his suspicious temperament, how can he not doubt it at all?

Li Longji will not discuss with Gao Lishi and Yang Guozhong, these two people have prejudices against An Lushan, and their words are inevitably biased.

As an emperor who was wise enough to refuse advice, when he occasionally made a move, he found that there were fewer and fewer people around him who could discuss.

When Yang Guozhong retreated, he thought about it and ordered Gao Lishi to summon Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan also had a time when he wanted to be motivated, but he was used to it since he was a child, and when he encountered some setbacks, he retreated to live a comfortable life, and he was not as concerned about the government as others.

Therefore, he rarely had a trace of detachment in front of the emperor, standing there listening to Li Longji's inquiry, thinking, and did not give an answer immediately, but first stated his concerns.

"Out of the general into the phase, this is the old custom of the Tang Dynasty. If An Lushan is illiterate, Yang Guozhong's knowledge is not profound. Those who are worried, An Lushan returns to the dynasty, who will His Majesty entrust Fan Yang and Pinglu to? ”

As he spoke, Zhang Yan paused for a moment before analyzing another possibility, and said slowly: "And if he doesn't want to return to the court, what then?" ”

The temptation was easy, but the many problems brought about by the temptation made it difficult for Li Longji.

"According to Zhang Qing's intentions, it is not appropriate for me to summon An Lushan back to worship the prime minister?"

"Dare to ask the saint if he needs to be relieved?"

"Not bad."

Zhang Yan then said: "If An Lushan is willing to enter the pilgrimage to worship the prime minister, it can be seen that he is loyal, then he will be added as the left servant of Shangshu, and still stay in Fanyang, worship the prime minister and not return to Beijing, but his heart can be reassured and his loyalty can be commended." ”

"Yes." Li Longji nodded, this is the result he wants to see the most, the state affairs are not shocked, he can continue to be his saint.

Zhang Yan continued: "As for An Lushan's reluctance to enter the court, the minister thought that he should send people to kill him quickly, and use the generals of the four towns of Hexi, Longyou, Shuofang, and Hedong to Fanyang to quell the rebellion. ”

Compared with Gao Lishi and Feng Shenwei's complaints, and Yang Guozhong's scandal, Zhang Yan's suggestion seemed more appropriate, but Li Longji still had an imperceptible frowning action, and he had a psychological construction for the troubles that this move might bring, so he nodded and said, "Let's do it." ”

"Yes."

There were only Gao Lishi and Zhang Yan in the hall, but Li Longji still added another sentence and said: "What is discussed today must not be divulged." ”

The reason why it cannot be divulged is that it is not allowed to let others know what the consequences will be faced by An Lushan or not.

~~

The next day, the province of Zhongshumen.

Xue Bai also participated in the edict of summoning An Lushan to return to the court. After staying for half an hour, he walked out of the imperial city from the Jingfeng Gate in the east and entered the Yingxiang Temple in Chongrenfang.

A few years ago, the crown prince Li Heng used to secretly meet with courtiers here. But with his loss of power, Yingxiangguan has long lost this role.

Generally speaking, any prince or grandson who wants to secretly meet the courtiers will not choose such a conspicuous place again. However, when Xue Bai walked through the apse, Li Qi was already waiting there.

In fact, their identities are not sensitive, and it is okay for young people to meet in private. The reason why I chose the secret meeting today is because Li Qi got a secret revealed in the palace.

"The saint doesn't plan to let An Lushan return to worship the prime minister."

"I just made an edict under the Zhongshu Gate." Xue Bai said.

Li Qi shook his head and said, "I mean, although there is a summoning, even if An Lushan really returns to the court, the sage plans to let him stay in Fanyang." ”

"There is no more suitable candidate for Fan Yang Jiedu?"

"How could it be? The saint is reluctant to change. Li Qi looked worried and said, "What we want is to stay in An Lushan in Chang'an in order to stop him from rebelling." And the saints only want to be tempted, but what good is the temptation? ”

Xue Bai said: "I don't think it matters. ”

"What do you mean?" Li Qi asked, and seeing that Xue Bai didn't answer, he understood, nodded and said, "If he dares to come, we will kill him." ”

"He's not coming." Xue Bai asked, "If he doesn't come, what will the saint do?" ”

"Send someone to kill him and guard Fan Yang instead of him."

Although this was the attitude that Xue Bai could guess that Li Longji would have, it was extremely important for him to be able to get the most accurate and first-hand information.

He made his decision almost immediately.

"Who to send to kill him? I'll do it. ”

Li Qi was stunned for a moment, his eyes lit up, and he asked, "What are you going to do?" ”

"Hebei's problem is by no means solved by killing an An Lushan, and a general with sufficient ability is needed to replace him. My qualifications are far from sufficient, and I can be a soldier and an interviewer, but I still need a ...... No, it's a candidate for the two knots. ”

"Do you have a candidate?" Li Qi asked, "Who?" ”

"Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi." Xue Bai said: "Let these two people go out of Fanyang and Pinglu to be my backup." In this way, I am willing to send Fan Yang to kill An Lushan. ”

In fact, Xue Bai had proposed to let Gao Xianzhi go to Fanyang and let Guo Ziyi go out of Anxi, he thought it was more in line with their character. But now the situation is more urgent, and a more direct approach is needed.

Li Qi paced a few steps, quickly digested his proposal, and asked, "Let General Gao come forward?" ”

"You don't have to involve him too much. I have asked Yang Guozhong to bring these two generals with me, and I am sure that the saints will be able to notice their names in the recital book recently. ”

"Then, when the saints start to think about the candidates to replace An Lushan, they can be taken into account?"

"Not bad." With the direction, Xue Bai was already a little excited, and asked again: "This matter has begun to prepare?" ”

"Nope." Li Qi's eyes were already shining, but when he heard this question, he took a little break and said, "The sage is probably inclined to An Lushan to return to the court, and he is not in a hurry to send an envoy. ”

"I'll prepare."

Xue Bai walked out of Yingxiangguan, and the wind blowing in late autumn made him sober up a lot.

He thought calmly for a while, but still went to find Du Yan.

"Recall Lao Liang, Jiang Hai, Fan Jiao and the others back......

~~

Changshan County, Zhending County.

This is the Shijiazhuang of the later generations, which is under the jurisdiction of the Fan Yang Jiedu envoy.

At the beginning of October, soldiers were guarding the city gate, identifying passers-by, and a group of men and horses entered the city gate.

The horse's hooves stepped on the rammed earth, and Yang Qixuan frowned slightly because he was a little disgusted with the dilapidated here. turned his head to look at the notice next to him, but was attracted by a sea fishing document.

It was the first time in his life that he had seen such a sea fishing book, and the painting was not the usual bearded guest, but a man who made people feel elegant at a glance, actually leaning sideways, showing three long beards, wearing a long sword at his waist, and standing with his hands in his hands.

Because this document was so special, Yang Qixuan couldn't help but drive forward, leaned over to look at it, and cried out in surprise.

Ji Wen was also attracted over, looked at it, and said, "Li Bai? He is also in Changshan County...... And killed? ”

"If you kill one person in ten steps, you must kill many people."

Yang Qixuan didn't know what he was thinking, and responded casually.

After that, the team passed through Zhending County, and he turned his head from time to time to look around, and finally saw a Fenghui store on the shop at the intersection of the street......

They went all the way into the Taishou Mansion, and when they arrived in the lobby, they met Changshan Taishou Pei Yushu.

He is a fifty-year-old man, with three long beards, and his image is very good, but he is somewhat similar to Li Bai in the sea fishing book.

Because Jiwen was An Lushan's confidant, Pei Yushu treated him very politely, and after a few idle words, he arranged for them to rest in the other courtyard.

In other words, if it is someone else, it is just a matter of being a guest, but Ji Wen is from a family background, and he is used to being hypocritical, and asked: "Pei Taishou, I lived in this Taishou Mansion last time, what's the matter?" I'll go back to Beijing and come back, you can't look down on me anymore? ”

Pei Yushu didn't expect to encounter such a tricky problem, he was stunned for a long time, he didn't know what to say, and at the end, he came back to his senses from surprise and said, "It's me who is rude, Mr. Ji and live in Taishou Mansion." ”

Givan looked at him and was relieved to see that he really didn't look down on himself.

Everyone chatted a few more words while the entourage and guards settled their luggage, and talked about the documents they saw at the city gate, Yang Qixuan asked, "But I don't know who Li Bai killed?" ”

Pei Yushu really couldn't answer, and he shook his hand and didn't know.

Ji Wen then asked, "Isn't Pei Taishou searching for Li Bai?" ”

"It was a general in Fan Yang's army who brought people here and blocked the whole city."

Ji Wen was demoted to Liaodong that year, and it didn't take long for An Lushan to enter the shogunate, and he was familiar with many people in the Fan Yang army, and immediately asked, "Which general?" ”

"Tian Qianzhen."

"Hao?" Ji Wen smiled and said, "I'll see him tomorrow." ”

Pei Yushu was stunned for a moment, and an imperceptible look of worry flashed in his eyes.

The room in the hospitality house was arranged, and Ji Wen and Yang Qixuan went over together. On the way, Gynven looked around and suddenly said something.

"Li Bai is hiding in this Taishou Mansion."

"Huh? How does Ji Gong know? ”

"Heh, have you forgotten what the people of Chang'an call me? I'm a prison officer, and I'm the best at interrogating prisoners. Ji Wen was proud, "Pei Yushu used to like Li Bai's poems, and today he shirked in front of me, and he didn't want to hide it from me at all." ”

"But there's no evidence for it."

"Do I want proof?" Givin pointed to his eyes, "My eyes are proof. ”

Yang Qixuan was also speechless, thinking that a cool official like Ji Wen acted only by intuition, in other words, he was blind, sometimes he was right, sometimes he was wrong.

Of course, it doesn't matter if you are wrong this time, you have been wrong in the past and have ruined countless people.

Although it was still afternoon after settling down, Yang Qixuan went to bed early, he hadn't slept on such a soft and thick futon for a long time, and he slept very soundly. He was woken up in his sleep, and then he smelled the familiar stench.

"I know where Li Bai is hiding." Gwendo.

"No, others haven't found it for half a month, but Ji Gong just came and found it?"

"You don't look at who I am." There was a sinister smile in Jiwen's eyes, and he raised a hand, which was dripping with blood.

Yang Qixuan was surprised and said, "This is?" Who have you tortured? ”

"The two servants of the Taishou Mansion."

"Huh? But if you wronged them......"

"I wasn't wronged this time." Ji Wen said, "Li Bai hid in the firewood room in the west courtyard of the Taishou Mansion, and he only moved there when we came. ”

Yang Qixuan was already a little confused.

Ji Wen said again: "I'll go to Ah Hao and ask him to get someone, you keep an eye on it, don't let him run away." ”

"How do I keep an eye on ......"

Before he could finish speaking, Gwen had already run out in a hurry.

Yang Qixuan was supposed to sleep for a while, but after he woke up, he couldn't sleep at all, so he simply got up, recruited two guards sent to them by the Anqing Sect, and went to the firewood room of the west courtyard.

He thought that what Gwen's so-called staring was probably that.

When I arrived at the Xijin Courtyard, I opened the door of the firewood room and saw that there was no one at all, just that Ji Wen had handled an unjust, false and wrongful case this time.

However, when he turned his head, he caught a glimpse of the soft and thick bedding on the wall, and the ghost sent the god to touch it.

Warm.

Yang Qixuan was surprised that Ji Wen had really guessed correctly, his eyes widened, and he raised his head and glanced at the guards.

The two guards immediately understood, strode out, and went all the way out of the Taishou Mansion, and when they looked around, they saw a figure in the darkness.

"Chase!" They chased after him.

Yang Qixuan chased after him for a while, and was soon left behind, and he had the intention to stop, but he was not familiar with the life of Zhending County, and he couldn't find a way back, so he had to chase desperately.

Circling into an alley, a scream suddenly sounded in front of him, Yang Qixuan thought that they had killed Li Bai, and rushed over to take a look, but saw several figures standing in the darkness, who had killed his guards.

"Huh?"

He didn't expect Li Bai to answer, so he was so frightened that he took a few steps back. Suddenly, a chill broke down his back, and a knife was pressed against his back.

Death was so imminent, Yang Qixuan was so frightened that he couldn't help but say, "Don't kill me." ”

"This is a man of origin, kill?" The man behind him asked.

"Don't kill me! Listen to me, I know who you are, me, me, me...... It's really a ...... with status."

~~

When Ji Wen rushed to arrive with Tian Qianzhen, he saw two corpses lying in a pool of blood.

"Look, I'll just say that Pei Yushu is covering Li Bai."

"I didn't expect Pei Yushu to dare to kill." Tian Qianzhen said: "He likes poetry, but he is still loyal to the prince." ”

"Whether you are loyal or not, I will know if you are satisfied."

escaped Li Bai, Ji Wen didn't care at all, what he cared about was that he could handle the case again.

His eyes flashed with excitement, twisted his beard, and muttered, "There is no infidelity that I can't judge......"

At this moment, in a dark corner in the distance, someone came out from under a broken dustpan and shouted tentatively.

"Ji Gong?"

As soon as he heard the leaky sound, Ji Wen knew that it was Yang Qixuan, and he was a little surprised that he was not dead.

As for how Yang Qixuan survived? Just look at the way he doesn't dare to approach.

……

Yang Qixuan didn't know what happened to Pei Yushu the next day, because he left Changshan the next day and went to Fanyang.

Because he had a "hatred of taking his wife" with Xue Bai and had the experience of sharing hardships with Ji Wen, he was soon accepted by Fan Yang Wenwu.

In the next few days, Yang Qixuan walked around Fanyang City and did not see a branch of Fenghui Bank.

On this day, he was wandering on the cross street of Fanyang City when he suddenly heard a shout from there.

"The envoy is here again."

Yang Qixuan was stunned for a moment, and his heart suddenly became entangled and nervous.

He had a hunch that someone would soon contact him, a "man of status".

(End of chapter)