After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Looking at Zheng Tong, Pei Jiaoran smiled. He flicked his sleeves with his fingers, walked slowly to Li Xiujing's side, and leaned over to look at her.

"Zheng Tong, do you still remember me?" Pei Jiaoran smiled on his lips.

Hearing the sound, Zheng Tong raised his head and saw Pei Jiaoran's face. He screamed and stepped back, "Fairy, please spare your life."

"Immortal? That's not true. My surname is Pei." Pei Jiaoran leaned down and grabbed Zheng Tong's neck, raising his lips, "The governor has a good temper, but I don't have a bad temper. If you don't say anything, I will cut your tongue."

After hearing what Chu You said about Pei Jiaoran's torture methods, Li Xiujing stepped aside consciously.

After Pei Jiaoran reported his name, Zheng Tong's eyes were filled with more fear than before.

"Pei Mingfu, the lower officials really don't know anything. The lower officials are older and younger..." Zheng Tong immediately kowtowed.

Slightly loosening his hand, Pei Jiaoran lowered his eyes, "Who doesn't have relatives? The lives of the people of Guazhou are not life, but the lives of your relatives are life? Zheng Tong, are you the one who conspired with Gao Bin? He is greedy for profit, and Dugu I also wish you a generous salary."

Pei Jiaoran's eyes were sharp and insightful. After the recruitment system, the army was different from before. Most of these people have no other goal than to obey military orders. It can even be said that they will listen to whoever can make them prosperous. Even if there is a disaster, they will always consider themselves first.

For the low-level sergeants who have no clear goals, the turmoil and turmoil, whether overt or covert, have nothing to do with them. Although they are in the middle of the situation, they cannot see the ripples on the lake and cannot judge the situation.

Driven by a strong desire to survive, they are more concerned about whether they can survive. Once generous rewards are given, and the benefits seem to be in line with their demands. Then you can put aside the shackles of loyalty to the court and the king without hesitation.

And Zheng Tong is like this. He didn't know whose head the butcher's knife would fall on, and he didn't care about it. What he cares more about is whether he can get a lot of money to support his family.

Seeing that Zheng Tong still didn't answer, Pei Jiaoran's eyes suddenly turned cold. But he still changed his mind and said: "Gao Bin is the general guarding the capture camp after all, and you are just a fire chief. Is it worth risking your life for them and even your family's life by risking your life for them?" betraying his comrades and attracting the enemy Immigration nuisance. Then take advantage of the chaos to counterattack Tibet, and use this opportunity to pick up the slack, and the military exploits of Po Tian will be within reach. Such good things should naturally be given to one's own people, while others are just pawns that can be sacrificed at any time.

This is Gao Bin and Dugu Chen's plan.

Zheng Tong shook his head after hearing this, "That's not the case. General Gao Zhen just asked me to spread rumors and slander the governor. I really haven't found the Tibetan people. By the way, General Gao Zhen had previously ordered that if he could get it this time, If you take the enemy general's head, you will get a lot of bounty."

Pei Jiaoran and Li Xiujing exchanged glances. Apart from Dugu Chen's approval, Gao Bin may have other selfish motives for this matter. He was afraid that someone would pursue the matter later, so he simply found a scapegoat who was in urgent need of money.

Gao Bin gave generous rewards to induce others to act as stolen gloves for him. This amount of money is enough to enable a low-level sergeant to escape his poverty and become a local squire. Whatever the consequences, they don't care. The temptation is in front of you, so don’t worry about anything else.

They turned against Duguchen because of Wang Shizhao's incident. And Duguchen knew that it was not easy to shake them. It would be better to conspire with foreign enemies and each get what they want.

If the city of Guazhou falls under the iron hoof of Tubo. As officials in charge, they could not escape punishment whether they died in battle or were captured alive.

If you are captured alive, your family will suffer, and if you die in battle, you will not have a good reputation. Dugu Chen, who was watching the fire from the side, would launch a fierce attack on Guazhou afterwards and make great achievements. Then rely on this to enter the center.

Li Xiujing closed her eyes and clenched her hands hanging by her sides into fists.

It’s not that I don’t know the central point’s cold-blooded calculations, but I still can’t help but feel angry when I understand the link. Perhaps those in the center once had passion and ambition, thinking about benefiting the country and the people. But this passion was eventually annihilated in the sea of ​​power, and everything he did became cold to the bone.

The night wind blows, and the chill on my body becomes heavier.

At this time, Pei Jiaoran had already stepped aside. After learning that Zheng Tong was just a scapegoat, she knew that she would never be able to ask anything more from him.

"Take him back and tie him up." Li Xiujing looked solemn and said to Pei Jiaoran, "It seems that you and I must capture Xuanquan."

Pei Jiaoran nodded when he heard this. Zheng Tong was not worth mentioning. But if you kill him easily, it will only chill the hearts of the lower-level sergeants. After all, without conclusive evidence, any move will become a loophole and a flaw in the hands of others.

Nowadays, there are undercurrents of rumors in the city. Even if Dugu Chen and Gao Bin do not take action, once the rumors spread to Chang'an, the only thing waiting for Li Xiujing is punishment. She has a rich family background and has learned a lot. Although she has read books and understood the words of sages, what she has known since childhood is different from others. It is normal for ordinary people to read and learn doctrines, but her family requires them to annotate themselves, because it is better to have no books than to believe in books. When you stand at the pinnacle of power, you will know that the winner has the power to rewrite the facts and distort the truth.

He tied Zheng Tong back to the ruined temple and arranged for his personal guards to keep an eye on him. Li Xiujing turned around and returned to the main hall.

Pei Jiaoran sat cross-legged on the shrine again.

The Buddha statue behind him is covered with cobwebs, and the paintings on it are also mottled.

"Today we believe deeply in Buddhism, and various places are vying to build temples first. People worship temples, but monks and nuns are exempted from labor and taxes, and can also keep slaves." Li Xiujing said solemnly.

Looking at Li Xiujing, Pei Jiaoran looked as usual, "The governor must be very sad. The generals are guarding the city to defend against the enemy, but every calculation in Chang'an City will fall on the lower-level sergeants. The cold arrows shot by those in high positions are even more powerful than those of the lower level soldiers." The arrows from foreign enemies are more painful. Perhaps it is just their understatement, but the invisible edge of the struggle can easily determine the life or death of tens of thousands of soldiers."

The voice is like jade knocking on ice, without any emotional ups and downs.

Meeting Pei Jiaoran's gaze, Li Xiujing's eyes deepened. Sure enough, she can quickly and clearly understand the calculations of all parties at any time.

"Are you trying to say that only by being in charge of the center can you have enough say?"

"Yes." Pei Jiaoran did not deny it.

Although she also hated the cold-blooded calculations in the center, she had to admit the beauty of having power in one's hands.

Li Xiujing looked at Pei Jiaoran, who was sitting on the shrine. There was no compassion on his face, only endless coldness. With his blood-red lips and teeth opening and closing, the words he spat out were like sharp blades. When she made suggestions for him, she also plotted to include him in the scheme. But she didn't include the soldiers who defended the country like others. This is probably the only kindness and sincerity she retains while walking in this dark sea of ​​power.

"Don't worry, I will let you get what you want. I know all your demands." Li Xiujing's eyes were deep.

Pei Jiaoran smiled, "I will also give the governor a satisfactory answer."