fake prince

Chapter 1428 Loyalty
Capital
Dusk is approaching and the evening sky is orange and red.

The flow of people is as dense as swimming carp, swimming through the streets and alleys.

Cao Yiyan raised his hand to reveal his wide-sleeved square scarf, and his bamboo cloth gown was so washed that it looked white.

This is not my regular attire.

The scholar who failed the imperial examinations many times and stayed in Beijing to study hard looked very poor in his spare clothes.

He paced back and forth, looking in this direction.

The shops and houses were all open and bustling with people, but there was not much sign of panic.

His eyes swept across the Yu River. The willows by the river had not yet completely withered. Their long silk threads hung down to the shoulders, bringing a slight coolness.

At the back door of a nearby store, I could hear a few guys chatting.

It was very noisy and ordinary people couldn't hear clearly.

However, his profound martial arts skills enabled him to hear clearly if he tried to distinguish them.

"Hey, did you hear?"

The waiter was carrying a lame coffee table and whispered, "The Prince of Shu's Mansion was ordered to confiscate the property yesterday."

"Didn't you copy it?"

"Confiscation of property is different from confiscation of property. I heard that this is treason. Not only will he be deposed as a commoner, but the whole family will also be held accountable."

"When I went to check, there were a lot of pretty young girls and wives inside, and they were all taken away..."

As he said this, the guy swallowed his saliva.

The shopkeeper looked at the account book without even raising his head. He just smiled and tapped the clerk on the head with the account book in his hand: "Then forget it!"

"The family members of criminal officials are sent to the Jiaofangsi to serve as official prostitutes. If you work hard to earn money, you might be able to get a taste of it."

"But the family of the Heavenly Family would rather be sentenced to death than to do so. Forget it... But if they are not deeply involved elsewhere, maybe they can be redeemed."

"Oh, boss, you know so much," someone quickly flattered the boss.

"I've lived in the old capital for hundreds of years. Who doesn't have an official ancestor? My Hao family has also had a minister, and now we just run a store - who doesn't understand this?"

"Yes, my great-grandfather was a sixth-rank official in Beijing!"

Cao Yiyan didn't say anything after hearing this.

The capital city gathers the world's elites. If you meet an ordinary citizen, you might find that he is the descendant of an official or even a noble.

Nature is different from anywhere else.

To some extent, I have been influenced by it.

But that's the extent of my experience.

"Ji Zizong, you are so decisive."

My heart is drifting away unknowingly.

In fact, he admitted that after Ji Zizon succeeded to the throne, he was not harsh in dealing with the royal family and was lenient.

The King of Qi was sentenced to death for treason, and his descendants were imprisoned.

Apart from this, there is no offense.

However, the King of Shu not only rebelled, but also occupied prefectures and counties and proclaimed himself emperor.

When the news came, the house was searched immediately, and this time it was a real search and punishment.

However, if this were not the case, how could the King of Shu be determined to follow me?

This treatment was expected and is not a problem, it is a good thing.

only……

"The army is only 300 miles away from the capital, but the capital is still stable. Why is it like this? Do you have such confidence in him?"

During this period of time, he recalled what he had known in the past and became more and more frightened.

What abilities does Ji Zizong have that he can govern the country to such an extent?

Walking slowly, neither hurried nor hurried, we came to the fourth or fifth street. Under a jujube tree, there was a butcher's shop with three storefronts. Fresh meat and braised meat just out of the pot were placed on the table. A man was cutting the braised meat carefully.

"Hey, scholar, do you want to cut some braised meat?"

"Hey...how much is six taels of braised pork?" Cao Yiyan hesitated, his eyes hesitant.

The man looked at her and was slightly startled. He then changed his tone and smiled, "Six taels? That's too little. It's not easy for you. Didn't you get the prize for passing the exam?"

"Hmm..." Cao Yiyan responded in a low voice.

"Don't worry, the emperor will hold a special examination when he ascends the throne. It's almost time, it will be within these ten days!"

A nameless anger was burning.

Cao Yiyan slowly clenched his hands in his sleeves.

My army is approaching the capital, and you still have the leisure to hold an imperial examination. Do you think I am nothing?

"How much do you sell the six taels for?"

"Six taels is too little, no need to buy it!" The man was enthusiastic.

"I'll treat you today. There's wine and meat here. It's free to eat!"

"Why is this so embarrassing?"

The man laughed heartily: "Well deserved, well deserved! Just don't be disgusted!"

"The scholar is down and out now, but he might become a Hanlin in a few months. It will be a good omen to tell others about it later!"

As he said that, he shouted to the shop owner across the street: "I cut a piece of braised meat, you get some wine, let's have a feast!"

The innkeeper across the street also said loudly: "Okay, it's rare that you are so generous. I happen to be hungry. Bring a few more steamed buns over!"

"I'm ashamed... I'm really short of money, so I just accepted it shamelessly."

"It's not easy to live in the capital."

Cao Yiyan did not refuse, but just kept muttering.

"I have now spent all the money that the elders in my hometown collected before I left, and I have even borrowed another 300 taels!"

"What's there to be ashamed of? Thousands of candidates came to Beijing, but how many of them rode horses through the streets? The rest are all like you, who will endure for a few years before returning."

"If you can really pass the imperial examination and write a name for our store, it will be worth it..."

A few people were eating and drinking and talking, and before they knew it, a bag had passed from Cao Yiyan to the shop owner.

And a creature that was either a cat or a dog passed by without even glancing at them.

In the blink of an eye, night fell, and by the second watch (21:), the streets had gradually become quiet. Soldiers stood at the entrance of each block, checking the occasional passers-by.

That's the curfew.

However, the curfew did not mean a ban on going out on the streets, but it meant severing the connections between each block. People were still able to move around and do business in the 500-acre block, so the lights in small households were either dim or completely off, but the wine shops, inns, and brothels were still brightly lit.

Especially in the brothels, the sounds of stringed instruments and singing girls seemed to be there and not there, lingering continuously until the lights in the outer buildings were turned off at three o'clock in the morning (23:).

The curfew in each neighborhood is also to cut off the inside and outside, isn’t it also a protection for the safety of those who are interested?

After all, without an imperial decree or a curfew, even many government offices cannot be entered or left at will.

After waiting for the sound of raindrops hitting the roof tiles, the inner door of the high-walled courtyard opened and a man rushed in.

The person inside stood up and looked squintingly, then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the person clearly.

The room was dark and silent. After a long while, someone spoke in a slightly hoarse voice: "Old Jin, you are late."

Old Jin, wearing a gray robe, bowed slightly and said, "Captain, when I came here, Zhang Jia Erlang entangled me for a while, and I had to work hard to get rid of him."

The room is not small, but the windows are even smaller, making the room seem dark and gloomy.

There were two tables, one big and one small. The big table had wine and food, and six or seven people were sitting on it.

There were four people around, blocking the door intentionally or unintentionally.

"Please sit down!" said the person at the host seat.

Lao Jin walked straight to the empty seat on the left and sat down. The host coughed lightly and spoke.

"Everyone!"

"It has been exactly thirty-three years since the Lord went on the hunt."

"Originally, thanks to our precautions, we have quite a few hidden men in the capital, all of whom have clean backgrounds."

"But times have changed. Among the 100 households among us, only one in ten still lives in this house."

"Fortunately, we finally got the good news."

"Your Majesty has led a large army to attack the capital, which is only 300 miles away."

“It’s time to return to orthodoxy.”

Everyone looked at each other, and many of them had sweat on their foreheads.

"Why didn't you say anything?" The captain smiled grimly: "If it were an ordinary brother, I wouldn't mind if he quit."

"But you not only owe Shien's grace, but also Jinen's grace. You can't let go of the chain at this time."

Everyone's heart sank. In fact, it would be a lie to say that they "didn't care". The emperor had just gone on a hunting trip, and those who stayed behind were still strictly followed.

Giving orders, forcing people to do things, assassinating, or inciting, it goes without saying that there will be losses in the process.

But to get back to the basics, although successive generations have emphasized that "loyalty is not absolute, it is absolutely disloyal", loyalty is only because of power and interests, not justice.

Without the power and unable to pay for one’s life, who would do it?
Throughout the dynasties, many countries have been destroyed. In the thousands of years of history, can you find a few countries that remained loyal after their destruction?

In the fourth year of the Qingwu period, those who stayed behind were all undercover personnel who had been "long-tested and had received the country's favor for a long time." However, after several operations, someone finally couldn't stand it and reported them.

Even everyone vaguely knew that the informant had signed a blood pact with many people, saying "I will die if I report, and you will take care of my son"...

Although the informant was also a "remnant of the previous dynasty" and would not get away with it, the organization was severely damaged by the large-scale hunt by the pseudo-Zheng. From then on, no one dared to force him, and gradually more people wanted to leave.

But "Jin En" is indeed the key point.

Ying State was not the imperial court, and could not give much silver every year, so it gave it to its "loyal" old subordinates, and more.

Although the Undercover Division suffered a severe blow in the fourth year of Qingwu, from the sixth year of Qingwu onwards, relying on money, connections, operations and original plans, they continued to infiltrate the new court little by little. Although most of them were clerks, many of them were in sensitive positions.

This is actually a handle. If they really don't obey orders and just report it, just infiltrating these positions will be an unforgivable crime and they will definitely be beheaded and their property will be confiscated.

To some extent, it still conforms to the path of loyalty - a weak version of power and interests.

After a moment of silence, Lao Jin stood up and said, "Captain, we have received the grace of the Emperor of Wei for a long time, and we should die for him."

"We will die for you," everyone responded.

"Good, good," the centurion chuckled, "once the army arrives, the capital will be in chaos. If it doesn't move, there will be chaos. Once it moves, there will be chaos. Once chaos occurs, we will be the heroes who will recreate the world."

"Come, drink this bowl, and win a good future for your descendants."

As the captain said this, he waved his hand and someone behind him poured wine.

Lao Jin stared at the wine bowl. The color of the wine was dazzling red under the light.

Suddenly, all kinds of ancestral legends about the Imperial City came to mind.

He couldn't help but tremble all over and wanted to run away, but when he looked around, he saw people staring at him with eager eyes, so he could only smile bitterly.

"Cheers!" He raised the bowl and drank it all in one gulp. With a "bang", the bowl broke into pieces.

"Bang, bang, bang" six or seven wine bowls were also smashed to pieces.

The centurion was not angry.

He naturally knew that this persecution would inevitably cause trouble and hurt many people's hearts.

However, let alone now, even when the dynasty was at its peak, it was still like this - contrary to what many people think, a thousand days of teaching is only used in one moment.

Justice can never last a lifetime, but it can be used to make people obey it at the critical moment.

As for the future? Can people who have been on the battlefield have a future? Is this a storybook novel?
Even he himself did not have such extravagant thoughts.

It's really just to win a bright future for my descendants...

Suddenly, Bai Hu's eyes flashed coldly and he threw the dagger out.

"Meow." A nimble shadow rushed out from the door. Looking at the figure, is it a cat?

I can’t see clearly, but as long as it’s not a person, it’s fine.

"What's the mission?"

After drinking, someone was silent for a while and asked.

"Sure enough." If I went over there, how could I not chase the cat?

He straightened his body, sighed inwardly, but remained calm and composed.

"Don't worry, I will explain it to you slowly. Our business is dangerous, but if we act quickly, it may not be dangerous."

These words are like the spring breeze in March, bringing a little warmth.

However, everyone is still waiting.

"The deployment above is very simple. The people we have placed there include servants in the minister's house!"

"However, the key targets are only three people!"

"Zhao Xu, He Yuduan, Qian Wei"

After hearing these three names, everyone changed color, especially Zhao Xu, who was the prime minister of the time.

"Any minister who is fed leprosy powder will appear to have suffered a stroke and will die within three days!"

It turned out to be poison!
This is really a relief.

"According to the imperial system, if a minister is critically ill and cannot be saved, the emperor will come to visit him in person." The centurion lowered his voice and said, "Our mission is to get the emperor to come out of the palace to visit him!"

"understand!"

The others all nodded quietly, and seeing that they had nothing to say, they left in the blink of an eye and disappeared.

The captain stood in the room with an inexplicable expression.

"In addition to this mission, the higher-ups also instructed us to contact the prince of the fake Zheng... After assassinating the emperor, we can make him cause chaos in the capital."

"The false emperor already has a prince, so it will still be a fight between uncle and nephew."

“The people of the capital will be even more panicked. By then—ha, hahahaha…”