Fang Linyuan met him in the side hall of Emperor Hongyou's bedroom.

Benzoin burned in the bronze beast smoker, the golden curtain hung low, and the palace lights outside the window were shining.

Emperor Hongyou should have fallen asleep at this hour, and he was wearing an open dragon robe outside his bedclothes. The chamberlain beside him brought him tea, and he frowned and put it back without taking two sips.

"I just met the city defense general and the commander of the sixteen guards, and they all told me that they didn't know anything, that is, the whereabouts of these bandits were unknown." Emperor Hongyou's expression was gloomy. "Someone came to report just now, saying that Aiqing was on the spot, and I urgently summoned you to the palace, there is really no other way."

"It happened suddenly, I'm afraid neither of the two adults expected it." Fang Linyuan bowed down and said when he heard this. "Please also ask Your Majesty to take care of the dragon body, you must relax first."

Emperor Hongyou shook his head.

"Fortunately, you were there, and I was able to let go of my distractions." He said. "Can you see that these people have no clues?"

"They were all bearded people, who set fire to people in the market, but they did not loot." Fang Linyuan said. "There was negligence in the minister's attention, and he could not arrive at the first time, and about five or six people were killed."

Emperor Hongyou shook his head: "I know that Aiqing has done her best. If it weren't for Aiqing's presence, I don't know how much chaos would have been made tonight. ”

Fang Linyuan pondered for a moment: "Your Majesty, these people are fully prepared, and the main messenger behind the scenes is by no means simple, but Wei Chen always feels a little strange. If this matter is indeed Turkic......"

He frowned and thought again.

"It should be involved with the Turkic royal court. However, not long after Naren Timur entered the capital, the peace talks were extremely smooth, and the minister really couldn't think of the purpose of his move. ”

Emperor Hongyou pondered for a moment.

"Is it possible that they are infighting?" He asked.

Fang Linyuan said truthfully: "This minister can't assert it. ”

Emperor Hongyou fell silent.

After a long time, he sighed slowly and sat back on the dragon chair.

"Last year's drought, the DPRK and China were not rich in money and food, and the people always had famine and banditry, and now it has just subsided temporarily, but a group of rebels with lotus necks have emerged in the south of the Yangtze River. Now that the war in the north has been calmed down, Turkic bandits have been born to revolt in Beijing. He said.

“…… Now that Daxuan is uneven, could it be that my virtue has been at a loss and angered the heavens? ”

Fang Linyuan hurriedly knelt down: "Your Majesty, don't be presumptuous. ”

"Hurry up." Emperor Hongyou waved his hand weakly. "Sit down."

Fang Linyuan got up and sat down on the chair brought by the eunuch.

When he raised his head, he saw the emperor sitting on the dragon chair tired, reclining on the dragon chair, his eyebrows lowered, and his hands were rubbing his frowning brows tiredly.

He is really old, and silver threads have grown on his sideburns and between his eyebrows, so he looks like an ordinary person who is gradually aging and supports a dynasty with his body.

Fang Linyuan's heart was also a little uncomfortable for a while.

Then, he saw Emperor Hongyou raise his eyes, looking at him with one last bit of hope in his eyes.

"Aiqing, now I can only rely on you." He said.

"Your Majesty......?" Fang Linyuan was stunned.

I saw Emperor Hongyou sitting up with the armrest, picking up the strong tea on the side of the desk and taking two sips, forcing the fatigue below.

"I have stepped up the patrols of the city defenders to prevent this from happening again." Emperor Hongyou said. "But Aiqing also knows that if this matter is not settled, I will not be able to explain to the people of Shangjing, and it will be difficult for me to continue to fulfill the contract with the Turks by pretending to be deaf and dumb."

Fang Linyuan nodded thoughtfully: "Then, what does Your Majesty mean ......"

"Jinyiwei has a heavy workload, and the East Factory is overwhelmed." Emperor Hongyou said. "Today's Sixteen Guards Commander is really a straw bale. What's more, they have been in the capital all the year round and don't know anything about the Turks. ”

As he spoke, he raised his head and looked at Fang Linyuan.

"Aiqing, I will appoint you as the general of the Sixteen Guards today, to command the Sixteen Garrisons of Shangjing, and find out the ins and outs of tonight's case for me, so as to defend the peace of my great declaration for a hundred years."

——

When Fang Linyuan left the imperial city, everyone was in a trance.

Just now, the emperor issued a holy decree on the spot, appointing him as the general of the Sixteen Guards, and temporarily handed over the position of the guard of the Yumen Pass to Zhuo Fangyou.

He had bought all the saddles, but he couldn't go.

But he didn't think about it at the moment. Tonight's incident is too strange, and now that the emperor has entrusted him with a heavy task, if he can't find out the results, when the Turks enter the capital next year to pay tribute and make peace, how should Daxuan deal with it?

This matter must be settled, otherwise with Naren Timur's temperament, even if he did not do it this time, he will become more and more emboldened because of this. Refusing to pay tribute and re-offending the border is only a matter of time before he is concerned.

He didn't say anything all the way.

However, the little eunuch who sent him out of the imperial city next to him was very attentive.

The sixteen guards who garrisoned Shangjing have always only had commanders, and the position of the general of the sixteen guards only exists in legends. The last one to be the general of the Sixteenth Guard was Lou Shu, a famous general who accompanied Tai-Zu to open the country, and it has been more than 200 years, this is the second.

What a holy grace!

It's just that Fang Linyuan has something on his mind, and he hasn't talked much about it. It wasn't until he got into the car that he remembered something and asked the little eunuch: "What did Your Majesty say today, what happened to the bandits with the Jiangnan neck pattern lotus?" ”

The little eunuch knew everything: "The general doesn't know anything. Two months ago, a Holy Lotus Sect appeared in Jiangnan, and it is said that the followers will tattoo lotus flowers here for identification. ”

As he spoke, he gestured to the spot between his two collarbones.

"They're powerful?" Fang Linyuan asked.

"In the past two months, it has become more and more powerful, and it is said that the flag has been raised in the south of Huzhou, saying that a new imperial court will be built." The little eunuch lowered his voice. "But it can't make any waves. The emperor has already sent Lord Chu Youchu of the military department to quell the rebellion, presumably in another month or two, there will be good news. ”

Fang Linyuan nodded, said thank you, and sat back in the car.

The carriage turned around and drove up the wide Suzaku Street. The lights outside the car curtain blown by the evening breeze were shining, but Fang Linyuan looked up and saw the red sky in the dark night.

It was gloomy, like it was going to rain.

——

The subordinates of Huaiyu Pavilion came to report that Hou Ye had entered the study since he returned to the house and never came out.

The canonization envoy will not come to the palace until early tomorrow morning to announce the decree, but Zhao Pu already knew the news just now. Hearing the words of his subordinates, he was silent for a moment, not knowing what he was thinking.

Silk Su put the soothing soup in his hand.

Zhao Pu used to drink soothing soup to sleep when he came to Hai, so that he could get up and tidy up before dawn the next day. But at this time, it was already the third watch, and he had no intention of resting.

Zhao Pu turned his eyes sideways, glanced at the soothing soup, but said, "Prepare some supper." ”

Juan Su was stunned: "Your Highness wants to have a supper at this hour?" ”

Zhao Pu only raised his eyes to look at her faintly.

Knowing that she had lost her words, she hurriedly bowed down and retreated, and it didn't take long to bring the cakes and fruits made in the small kitchen.

As soon as the food box was put on the table, before he could open it, he saw Zhao Pu stand up and lift the food box.

"Your Highness......"

"You don't have to." Zhao Pu only said lightly.

Juan Su had to wait in place, watching Zhao Pu lift the food box and go out of Huaiyu Pavilion alone, I don't know where to go.

However, there is no need to guess.

There are not a few people in the house, and the night is heavy, so it won't be sent to the eldest lady, right?

Juan Su picked up the soothing soup on the table again, and prepared to reheat it and send it back after His Royal Highness the Fifth Highness returned.

She turned, her gaze scanning over the basket of gardenias resting on the table.

The princess had never liked such fragrant flowers, but tonight she did not know that she was still resting on the table in the bedroom in order to carry such a large basket, and the whole room was about to be incensed.

Something was wrong, and she couldn't help but look twice.

&nbs

p; Then I saw that among the baskets of flowers, there were two dark red things falling on my head, and I don't know what they were.

She stared intently.

I saw a pair of silk knots lying quietly between the green and heavy flowers and leaves. Looking at the system of weaving and winding, it is clearly a concentric knot.

Silk eyes were shocked.

His Royal Highness brought a basket of flowers home today, and brought a pair of concentric knots, and in the middle of the night, he went to Fuguangxuan to send supper to Anping Hou.

Your Highness won't ......

Juan Su turned her head in shock and looked in the direction of Fuguangxuan.

The fake show was really done, right?

——

When Yan Ting came to report that the princess was coming, the candle flame on Fang Linyuan's desk was swaying quietly.

He placed the letter on the table, which had just been full, and said, "Let him in." ”

After a while, Zhao Pu's footsteps sounded in front of his door.

There is no need for him to say, presumably Zhao Pu already knows what the emperor's will is. Fang Linyuan didn't take the initiative to mention it to him, and he was concentrating on checking the content of the letter that Fang had just written.

"Sit down." He said casually.

saw Zhao Pu put a box on his desk and asked, "What are you writing?" ”

Fang Linyuan casually handed the letter to Zhao Pu, and turned his head to look at the box he brought: "What is this?" ”

Zhao Pu was speechless, and lowered his eyes to look at the letter in his hand.

"Thirteen Strategies for Dingbian." He read.

Fang Linyuan nodded and opened the box.

But seeing Zhao Pu coming at night, he was still alone and looked mysterious, but in the box he sent was a few plates of pastries and fruits, as well as two plates of side dishes, which smelled very fragrant.

Fang Linyuan raised his eyes to look at him suspiciously.

saw Zhao Pu slowly flipping through the letter and asking, "Who are you going to give this to?" ”

"Zhuo Fangyou will leave Beijing in two days, and I am going to hand it over to him along with my father's codex." Fang Linyuan replied. "...... are you?"

He pointed to the food box sent by Zhao Pu.

"It's almost three shifts, aren't you hungry?" Zhao Pu raised his eyes and looked calm.

“…… Is it food? Fang Linyuan asked again.

Then, he ushered in Zhao Pu's flat gaze, as if asking what else he could be.

Fang Linyuan turned his gaze away, took out a shortbread and took a bite.

"You didn't come here in the middle of the night just to bring me supper, did you?" He asked. "Zhao Pu, if you have something to say, you should just say it."

When Zhao Pu heard this, his hand turning the letter paused slightly.

The letter has not been written much, and the thirteen strategies have only been written to the fourth policy at this time. But these alone already include the detailed rules of the Yumen Pass garrison, the details of the generals and officials in the current pass, and the military preferences and weaknesses of several generals under Naren Timur's account.

Zhao Pu really didn't expect Fang Linyuan to be doing this at this time.

He desperately wanted to leave Shangjing, but now that a sudden change had left him behind, he should not be very happy to come. But when he thought about it, Fang Linyuan had always regarded the soldiers and people of Yumen Pass very seriously, and it was all reasonable for him to write letters overnight.

It's just that......

Although it was true that he was not here to deliver supper to Fang Linyuan, but when Fang Linyuan asked this, he didn't know how to answer for a while.

"Did the emperor say that you should go to the border after dealing with this matter?" Zhao Pu paused and said. "If that's the case, I'm afraid you don't need to write this letter."

Fang Linyuan shook his head: "Be prepared." Zhuo Fangyou is very good at defending the city, as long as the Turks don't make much moves, he can easily deal with it. It's just that the eighteen cities of Longxi have just been recovered, and all kinds of ruins are waiting to be rebuilt, and the guards must be complicated. He can't get there and send thousands of miles of letters to me about everything, right? ”

Speaking of this, he paused, and sadness gradually crept up on his eyebrows: "The Thirteen Strategies for Dingbian was conceived long before I returned to Beijing, and it is not difficult to write it now. But ......"

He sighed slowly: "Tonight's matter, I only have a little thought now. ”

"You say."

"Not only are there dozens of them today, but there are also machetes and horses. With such a huge amount and unified deployment, it must be secretly hoarded, and a stronghold is needed. Fang Linyuan said.

"If you want to check, you can start here. They had a good plan, but they fled in a hurry. If you want to erase all the traces in the capital, either there are accomplices staying here, or it will never be possible. ”

"You're right." Zhao Pu said.

"However, His Majesty wants me to find out the ins and outs, these are not enough, I must find out the mastermind behind the scenes." Fang Linyuan said. "It's just that the garrison of the capital is lax, and they have already done it, I'm afraid they won't be able to find the head of the main envoy in a short time."

"Are you ready to stay in the capital for a long time?"

Fang Linyuan lowered his eyes and looked at the unfinished letters on the table.

"I really can't imagine any benefit from the Turks' actions." He said. "But what I can do right now is to keep the border solid when I'm not at Yumen Pass. If the eighteen cities of Longxi fall into their hands again......"

Zhao Xuan raised his eyes to look at him.

I saw the candle flame jumping, which was reflected in Fang Linyuan's dark and firm eyes.

"That is the rebellion, and I will also lead the troops to fight him to the immortal heaven."

——

Zhao Pu didn't say anything for a while.

He could only hear his own heartbeat, which seemed to follow the blood all the way to his ears, one after the other, some of the clamour, like the rough sea under the moon hanging high in the middle of the night.

I think he is too glorious, even if it is this muddy and dirty Shangjing City, he is reluctant to leave.

Yes, such a filthy, vile, and dark realm sometimes gives rise to unrealistic delusions.

Zhao Xuan thought to himself.

The sound of the tide kept him silent for a moment, and it wasn't until a moment later that he slowly reached out and took something out of his sleeve.

"I'm afraid that the sixteen guards are useless, if you need anything in the future, just look for me." He said, placing the thing on the table.

Fang Linyuan turned his head to look and saw that there was a gadget wrapped in silk on the table.

He reached out and picked it up: "What is this, token?" ”

saw Zhao Pu looking at him lightly, his lips moved slightly, but he didn't make a sound.

Fang Linyuan took out the object, but saw that it was a copper bell. The bell handle is carved with spring flowers, and the vines are entwined down, which looks very dexterous.

With a slight flicker, there is a melodious and crisp ringtone, which comes into the ears thinly.

It seems that he saw the bell in the market just now, and he was going to buy it for the flowing fire?

The situation was so urgent that he almost forgot about it.

Two surprises flashed in Fang Linyuan's eyes: "It was originally given to me, how do you know that I have taken a crush on this?" ”

saw Zhao Pu's eyes pause slightly, and then turned his eyes away.

"It's a token." Zhao Pu said.

“…… Yes? ”

Fang Linyuan was stunned for a moment, and then saw Zhao Pu, who looked indifferent, turn around and leave.

"A copper bell can be worth twenty Dongchang battles." Before leaving, Zhao Pu said lightly.

What a token......

But did he see it in the market just now? Isn't it that Zhao Pu even bought the token now, which is too hasty, right?

Fang Linyuan turned over and over, but he didn't see any token marks from the bell.

He looked up suspiciously and looked at Zhao Pu's back.

It's just that Zhao Pu turned around, and Fang Linyuan couldn't see his slightly nervous eyes.

And his cloud-like sideburns were also covered, so that Fang Linyuan didn't see it, some people who hurriedly made excuses and covered up their inexplicable behavior, even if they were an old fox who had cultivated for thousands of years, would quietly turn red. ：，，.