Chiwuxing

The fourth and third chapters - Tan Xiang told the secret letter to be delivered, and will reveal the identity of the conspiracy

Ni Congwen stared at the person in front of him, and asked, "Where did you get the news about 'there are barbarians in the army'? Can you tell if it's true or not?"

Fu Chen bowed his head, paused for a moment, and said, "It's a message from a few soldiers in the army."

Ni Congwen was suspicious: "How do you know it's not a rumor? How credible is the tongue of the little soldier?"

"But... After all, when it comes to names and surnames, it's not groundless." Fu Chen replied again.

"Speaking of names?" Ni Congwen raised his eyebrows, "...Who is it?"

"It's Liao Hui and Jiao Shiling, the two lieutenants of the personal guards." Fu Chen said.

Ni Congwen frowned, and asked again: "Didn't you happen to be under Liao Hui's subordinates? Can you see his suspicious behavior?"

"Never before, General Liao has strict requirements on the soldiers. He only pays attention to fixed-point supervision and training on weekdays, and does not let us spy on his whereabouts."

Ni Congwen stroked his beard, and said: "If it really happens, you can pay more attention when you march. After all, this is a major matter related to the peril of Dayan, so you can't be careless."

Fu Chen responded.

Ni Congwen said: "It was hard work for you to follow along the way. Although this battle was not valued by everyone, it still managed to keep the city defense. I heard that the rewards given by His Majesty are very generous, and you deserve them."

Fu Chen's face was indifferent, still pale with lime, he couldn't even squeeze out a perfunctory smile, and said: "The benefactor knows where my mind is, these rewards have nothing to do with me, and Fu Chen can't bear it." rise."

Ni Congwen sighed: "Don't worry, it will happen soon. I know you are eager to take revenge, but you don't have to keep it in your heart every day..."

"Benefactor," Fu Chen said suddenly, "Yanman's old hatred is more important, or my father's murder is more important?"

Ni Congwen looked at the slightly confused look of the young man in front of him, with a weed in his heart, and said, "Why do you ask this question?"

Fu Chen thought of some people, there were brothers who fought together on the battlefield, there were lieutenants who died above him, there was his brother and friend Tang Lan, there was a man who lived with him in the harsh valley for several months... The emotion of responsibility has been quietly magnified since joining the army, but it was also squashed by various sudden accidents and emotions. He just fluctuated under this swing and let it lead.

"If I really kill him... Aren't you worried that Chi Jia will be separated and lost to the barbarians?" Fu Chen looked at Ni Congwen.

Ni Congwen sneered: "Is Chi Jia only because of him? You have been in the army for so long, and the whole army bows to him? I have a lot of talents in Dayan, and he is not the only one in the army. It’s a heavy responsibility. I didn’t know that there are red-armored soldiers all over the country, and he is indispensable.”

Seeing that he was silent, Ni Congwen said again: "What's more, you can say, Yanman's hatred has nothing to do with you? Your father lived and died for the country, and his death itself can be called Yan's disaster. Killing him Eliminate harm for Yan. Sometimes... the sinister human heart has already surpassed the boundaries of Yan and barbarians, which country and place are not like this?"

Ni Congwen sees it clearly, but he is in it, but he is often confused: "... Zijie understands."

"...but there is still one thing to ask."

"You said."

"May I ask whether the self-crime written by the leader of the Jiangdong Army Wang Chuang has a result of a confrontation?" Fu Chen asked.

Ni Congwen raised his eyebrows, and said, "No... that badge has been temporarily withheld."

Fu Chen frowned, and asked: "...Then what do you mean?"

"What I mean," Ni Congwen said gently, "is to teach it to be suppressed first."

"……what?"

Ni Congwen said leisurely: "Do you think there is any benefit in rushing to reveal the dirty things that Jiang Dong has concealed?"

Fu Chen frowned: "Last month, Zijie asked Liao Hui to go to Dongping to capture Wang Chuang's biological father. At that time, he was detained by the Dongping County Guard. Afterwards, Zijie made many inquiries and found out that the Jiangdong area is connected to Shangyanjin, Shangyuan, and Mi. The prefects and magistrates of several cities in the prefecture have secretly united with the eunuchs of the imperial capital in private, so that they can conceal the great events of the common people's righteousness. This time just took the opportunity to tear a hole, why not take Wang Chuang as the first, Then all the eunuchs will be condemned together, so as to imitate others?"

"It's not that simple," Ni Congwen said, "Two years ago when the barbarian army invaded the border, only the eight counties in southern Qiannan were found guilty of corruption and negligence by the county guards. More than 30 officials in the eight counties were dismissed because of His Majesty's anger. If we had to find so many people and find out so many mistakes in a war, wouldn't it make the whole country mess up, and where can we find a suitable person to replace us?"

Fu Chen felt that this reason was unreliable, and said: "Then the benefactor just said that Jia Yun was not responsible for the red armor. At this time, he just eliminated a few stupid officials and generals, how did it affect the overall situation?"

Ni Congwen smiled a little coldly, and said: "In the past two years in the army, you have gained a lot of strength in force, and your eloquence has also improved a lot."

"... Zijie dare not." The young man bowed his head.

"The bribery case of county officials in Qiannan was the work of individual officials, but this time the Jiangdong Army's dereliction of duty, along with war refugees, water conservancy construction, and foreign invasion by barbarians, will affect the whole body. If it is really necessary to liquidate one by one , the imperial court has a lot of entanglements. Not to mention whether it can stabilize the hearts of the people, even Your Majesty does not have the mental strength to shake up the chaos on the entire territory at once." Ni Congwen said.

Fu Chen said: "When Ke Zijie went to Dongping, he still found a lot of scattered red-browed troops gathered in the city, and they still haven't wiped them out. Now the barbarian army on the border has another phenomenon. If there is another riot in Jiangdong in the future, Isn't it out of control?"

"There is a good way to do this," Ni Congwen said, "After this battle, the dams and canals in the upper reaches of the Jin River still need to be built by hand. The scattered homeless people who come and go are helpless and their homes are destroyed. At this time, we will speed up its completion, and strive to completely eradicate coastal floods in the coming year.”

What is the reason for the common people to clean up the mess left behind by the war without return?

Fu Chen suppressed the thoughts in his mind, and said again: "...The benefactor avoids the Jiangdong military, but what other arrangements are there?"

Ni Congwen said: "I think you have taken the wrong direction... I told you from the beginning that if you want to have a happy enmity, you can kill Jia Yun directly in the army. Why bother to get involved in so many troubles. During that year in Gyeonggi, I have seen the methods of eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so I can't help but understand this. Do you know how many years Ji Zhan has been in the Gyeonggi Army?"

"Teacher, as an official of the imperial court, died a strange thing back then. If it wasn't for the fact that he had indeed found a basis for him, and according to his status, who would dare to take such a risk of death? Now, I just want you not to follow your father's old path, "Ni Congwen said, "The result is not satisfactory, and I even put myself in."

The young man was speechless for a while, before he said: "...Then let the benefactor tell you."

At this time, a porter came to report from outside the study: "Master, Mr. Feng is here to look for you."

Fu Chen took advantage of the opportunity and said, "Zi Jie retreated first."

So he walked out of the study, and crossed paths with a square-faced official who hurried in.

Frozen ice branches hung under the eaves, and the snow on the path became dirty under the trampling of people, losing its original whiteness.The few remaining crabapple branches in the yard cannot see the color clearly, and can only see some traces of fallen flowers from the scattered petals.

Fu Chen stood at the entrance of the study for a long time.

Suddenly I heard a voice from inside the room: "Teacher once said that martial arts would hurt the people, but now that wars continue, it should be modified."

Fu Chen recognized that it was Ni Congwen's voice. When it came to martial arts, he couldn't help but stop and listen carefully.

Another voice said: "What Xiangye said is true, but Jia Yun was seriously injured in this battle, and another general was lost in the middle. Although the result was victorious, our army dispatched far more troops than the barbarian army this time, and we won so reluctantly. There is also Jiangdong The corruption of the military has been exposed, so if we expose it at this time, we can also take the opportunity to strip him of his post and let other capable people in the army take over."

"I do have that intention. This time there just happened to be a few top-notch rookies who took the opportunity to cut down the little remnants of the army, and the atmosphere in the army gradually cleared up."

"The Prime Minister's words are very true, the officials of Jiangdong County will protect each other..."

"...This matter needs to be discussed later, the border incidents have resumed, and there should be no chaos in the local army now..."

……

The young man recalled in his heart the face of the person who just rubbed shoulders, and his eyes rippled.

In the afternoon of the next day, Feng Ru came to find Ni Congwen to discuss matters, but after a few failed attempts, he felt depressed.

Fang stepped out of the mansion, but saw an armed young man standing with his back standing quietly outside the Prime Minister's mansion, with a slender figure, he had no intention of speaking, but saw the young man turn around and greet him after hearing his footsteps.

"My lord." The visitor clasped his fists and saluted.

"Are you...?" Feng Ru took a few glances, and vaguely remembered where he had seen it before.

"The villain's name is Fu Chen."

"It turns out that the Prime Minister praised you in private. You are young and willing to serve the country on the battlefield." Feng Ru suddenly said, recalling the incident of being humiliated by eunuchs during the New Year's Eve banquet, he felt some unknown feelings in his heart , "Young people have a promising future and can be rewarded."

"My lord's praise," the young man said neither humble nor overbearing.

Feng Ru saw that although he was a warrior, he knew how to speak and act well, so he felt good about him, and said gently, "Fu Xiaowei came to find the Prime Minister?"

"No, the villain is here to find an adult."

Feng Ru was surprised: "What is the reason?"

The young man said: "The villain has admired the old censor Xie Zhi for a long time, and I heard that the lord is also a student of Mr. Xie, so I come here to pay my respects."

Feng Ru sighed: "Since Mr. Xie passed away, there are not many people in the world who can miss him, and they have the heart."

The young man stopped and asked: "About Mr. Xie, I still have some things to ask. I wonder if you have time today?"

Feng Ru felt vigilant, he was a civil servant, even if he had this kind of connection, he would not meet privately alone, so he said: "Today, the Minister of Shangshu still has official duties, I am afraid there is no time..."

The young man saw his hesitation, so he said: "It's about Mr. Xie's legacy... He left something in his lifetime, but no one claimed it. You are a student of Mr. Xie, so you must know him."

"Then you go back to Shangshu Province with me." I doubted the truth of the young man's words, but seeing his sincere and complicated eyes, Feng Ru couldn't help but complied, but the vigilance in his heart still remained.

The group came to Feng Ru's study.

As soon as he entered the door, the chic and upright cursive came into view:

The husband's ambition is to govern the country, and he hopes to make the world have a feast.

The brushstrokes are full of vigor and vitality, and the large and long scrolls directly set off the entire room.

Feng Rutan: "This is what my teacher did before he was alive, and I will always remember it in my heart."

Fu Chen stared at the calligraphy, he didn't know how to judge the quality of a pair of brush and ink, but when the handwriting was spread on the surface, he instantly felt the sophistication and softness of both square and round, perhaps only a true scholar scholar Only then can you practice such handwriting, which is hidden but not exposed, and has a sharp edge.

The handwriting on the silk cloth used to be more than half wet by rain and sweat as early as in the mountains. He regretted that he didn't take advantage of the short time when he was young to learn a few words with the young master of his master. What are the scattered symbols?

He had never seen what his father looked like when he was a child, and he has not even found a portrait so far. Perhaps this person has been forgotten by others, and he is even happy for his death.The only thing he had ever seen was the filthy torn silk that could prove his identity and was washed by the rain.His mother died because of saving him, and his father became the only remaining fetter in this world, even though this person is strange, invisible, and hidden.

In this life, his lifespan is limited, and he only hopes to give this strange dear relative a gift of reunion and the truth that he once existed here.

Seeing that the young man was in a daze for a long time, staring at the word without making a sound, he couldn't help asking: "Captain Fu?"

The young man came back to his senses and didn't hear what he said. Then he looked closely at the end of the word and asked, "This word... why didn't you sign it with Mr. Xie?"

Feng Rutan: "If you talk about this handwriting, it is not written by my mentor. My mentor has been an upright official all his life. Although he has the title of 'master of running script' among civil servants, he never seeks fame. Don't talk about someone buying a gold photograph... Later, when my teacher passed away, I went to help when the house was taken care of. I also took this picture from the manuscript of my teacher's daily calligraphy practice. Presumably, my teacher is in the spirit of heaven, knowing that I have such a behavior. , but I'm going to blame it..."

Looking at the handwriting, the young man made every stroke and every stroke, all of which were once endowed with souls.He quivered his lips and asked, "I... can I touch it?"

"No." Feng Ru said firmly, feeling the rudeness of his request.

The young man remained silent, and Feng Ru continued, "What exactly is the legacy of Mr. Xie that you just mentioned?"

Seeing that the young man still remained silent, he felt a little annoyed, and said: "Mr. Xie's family belongings were cremated as he wished. Are you going to lie to me about Mr. Xie again?"

Just when he couldn't figure out the situation, he suddenly saw the young man's expression turned cold, as if he was wearing a mask, and turned to face each other: "My lord, I was appointed in the Gyeonggi Army a year ago, and I got some stolen goods secretly. There is a list hidden in it, and seeing the name 'Feng Yuanshan' on it, you must be familiar with it."

"...What do you want to say?" Feng Ru narrowed his eyes, his face serious.

Fu Chen said: "At that time, the villain heard that the lord intends to collect physical evidence in private to reverse the case for the lord Feng Yuanshan."

"Where did you hear that?"

"As long as it is something that has been done, there is naturally a way to inquire about it," Fu Chen said, "It's just that the adults may not understand the inside story, but there is evidence to test the crimes of embezzling gold and stealing silver listed by the inspector that day. Mr. Feng was in such a situation at that time, how could he dare to publicly reveal the bribery of the money supervisor on his own, and other people's comments were secretly instructed by him, but how much he participated in this matter, I think he is much clearer than me."

"You mean that Yuan Shan colluded with the money supervisor Zhong Guan, and revealed the shortfall of money because of resentment in private," Feng Ru said in a deep voice, "You are so convincing, what evidence do you have?"

"It's roughly the same, but it's not complete," Fu Chen said. "I'm afraid that when Mr. Feng was imprisoned, the supervisory department would have given away the specific physical evidence. It's just that the adults don't believe it. If you talk about personal witnesses, it's still unreliable." Now, I'm afraid the adults don't want to see you."

"……Who?"

"He Libao, the former Superintendent He," Fu Chen said, "after the turmoil that day, he was demoted to the inner school as an eunuch, but his life was still saved after all. He knows the inside story, and time must have changed, Mr. Feng If he asked specifically, he might not hide any more."

"What is your purpose in telling me this?"

Fu Chen lowered his eyes and said, "I'm just here to tell you, don't waste your effort here."

"What does this official matter have to do with you?" Feng Ru frowned, wondering.

"If your lord wants to blame the eunuchs, there is one thing in front of you," Fu Chen didn't answer directly, "Jiangdong Yi's guards crossed the sea, privately wiped out more than half of the common people who rebelled and rebelled, and took advantage of the opportunity of foreign troubles to seek revenge and take the blame , is a big case.”

"How about this matter, I have to worry about it slowly with other adults." Feng Ru pondered for a moment, and said, "I just don't know if you came to find me specifically because you want me to help you participate in this matter?"

"Yes." Fu Chen said sharply.

"What if not?" Feng Ru sneered, and said, "You just said so much, could it be that the man from Yuanshan is dead, and you still want to threaten me with old things?"

"Don't dare," the young man said neither humble nor overbearing, "You know people, you know faces, but you don't know your heart. Lord Xiao Feng is really an abandoned son of an eunuch. If you want to eliminate troubles but go in the wrong direction, it will be a waste of effort in the end."

"...Then what you said to thank you at the beginning was just a cover?"

The young man stared: "...Yes."

Feng Ruyin became increasingly angry and lost his patience. He said, "Then you can go back. When it comes to government affairs, I have my own calculations. I don't need to pay the little captain to consult."

He thought in his heart that the young man in front of him had just made a name for himself in the army and urgently wanted to participate in government affairs. Either he was entrusted by someone, his ambition was too deep, or he was overwhelmed.No matter what, just because his words offend the old teacher, we know that he is not enough to have fellowship.

"You go." He waved his hand.

Fu Chen knew that there was no time to rush, so he said: "Since the villain dared to come to pay respects, he knew what the adults were worried about, and he also had ideas to help the adults to tide over the difficulties."

"...Do you have an idea? What idea? Let me hear it?" Feng Ru became impatient.

Fu Chen knew that he had no intention of speaking at this time, so his face darkened, and said: "When the adults are willing to listen, the villains will tell the truth."

After all, he took a few steps back, turned around and left.

Feng Ru glanced at the figure of him going out, and his mind was full of intricacies.

When it was time for lunch break, he went to a place that he thought he would never take the initiative to step into again.

The concierge of Xiantai led him into the main room, brought him a cup of tea, and said with a smile: "Master Han is dealing with official business, and now he has sent someone to inform him...Master Feng, you haven't seen him for a long time..."

Feng Ru was hiding something in his heart, and he didn't intend to be polite, his serious and silent appearance made the porter shy away.

After a while, Han Huaijin entered the door.

Against the light outside the door, his increasingly thin face and stature can be seen, and the cheekbones on his face are faintly revealed.

As soon as he approached, his face was three parts happy, three parts sad, and three parts embarrassed.

"...Master Feng." Han Huaijin said first.

Feng Ru caught a glimpse of the servants closing the door, and said, "Master Han, I don't want to turn around, I only want to ask about one thing. The list of Feng Yuanshan's private corruption and bribery that was picked up by your Xiantai Joint Prosecution Department was somewhat fabricated and somewhat false. real?"

"...After so long, you are still brooding over this matter?" A dark crack appeared on Han Huaijin's face.

Feng Ru looked down: "The answer to my question is, I know you will never forget."

"Four to six points," Feng Ru said wrongly. In his mind, after thinking for too long, it became a blurred and broken memory, like a black hole suddenly sunken in a mountain rock, and he never dared to go down again, " Roughly four are true, and six are forged charges."

Han Huaijin doesn't think that if she entangles the true and the false now, her old friend's grievances will be relieved. As long as many wrong things fall once, the opportunity to redeem them has already been missed.

Framed is true, deception is true.

Feng Ru calmed down after hearing the answer as if he had verified his doubts: "I see, let me go."

Han Huaijin stopped her and said, "You came here just to ask this? Come at this time...can you have lunch? Or..."

"No need, thank you Master Han for your kindness." Feng Ru stepped away, his alienated attitude from beginning to end remained unchanged.

He hurriedly got on the sedan chair and returned to Shangshu Province.

Standing by the window, the bluestone slabs in the courtyard have been worn away and turned into refined blue ash.There is no snow in the sky, only the vast cold fog in winter, which is extremely cold.

The chilly wind blows out his long-accustomed headache symptoms, buzzing in his head, leaving only faded old faces.

The scholarly talents who know each other well, and Changdi Huacai who is young and clear.

It's full of flowers and moons in the mirror, it's hard to think about.

The feather clusters were wiped out, and the fireball-like light cracked like a disturbed meteor, tearing apart the quiet twilight ship smoke scene.

The fire spread to the dragon-like boat in an instant, and there were endless screams and screams in the warship.

All the officers and soldiers on the boat looked miserable, and some simply threw themselves into the river, begging for the last sliver of life amidst the water and fire.Amidst the raging fire, a figure who came ashore from the water climbed to a place where the fire was small in the bow, staggered, dragged his wet coat, and just boarded the board, the man who saw the hatch and sat quietly.

He stepped forward in embarrassment, and saw that the man sitting there did not show any surprise and haste, but just sat quietly as usual, as if he was not on the burning boat, and was still looking down at others from a high place, just like usual.

"It's really you."

Zong Zhengxi's face was calm, neither surprised nor hated.

But in the eyes of the people in front of him, the lingering flames kept flickering and covering his face, as if possessed by thousands of witches and ghosts, and turned into hideous masks one after another.

One of the pair of calm eyes made the person in front of him feel a guilty conscience, and the person held on to the water-soaked clothes, bowed his head and said: "Your Highness, I have been paid by others, and I have done things for others... Now that I have made a start, I will do it for you." There is no possibility of going back.”

There was irony in Zongzheng Xi's eyes, and he said: "If you have done it, stick to it, and find some grandiose reasons for yourself. Do you still want to pretend to be involuntary and beg others for mercy?"

The person in front of him was silent, and then said: "It's not that Yu Chijia has no feelings, but that was also in the past. Now since Chijia assigned Yiwei to go out of Beijing, and now the eight thousand army guards have been laid off, for the private resentment in the army... Although His Highness You can't see it on the surface, but the hearts of the soldiers have long been scattered. Your Highness said about the separation of powers earlier, because you know what our stubborn illnesses and shortcomings are... But if you are as wise as Your Highness, there is no other way. "

Zongzheng Xi said: "So you accepted the favor of the barbarian army as a matter of course?"

The person in front of him was silent again, and then knelt down in front of the man with a "bang".

Zong Zhengxi raised his eyebrows, his face became darker and unfathomable, and a magnetic voice sounded: "I just ask one last question."

The person in front of him moved slightly.

"You were bought after accepting Jia Yun's support and enlisting in the army..." Zong Zhengxi stepped forward, mercilessly beating off the head of the person in front of him, and the hot dark blood flowed to the person in front of him after his right hand was burned by the fire In the eyes, some emotions finally showed in the eyes, "Or did you collude with me before joining the army?"

Lin Ping's pupils dilated suddenly, and he didn't even dare to breathe again. At this moment of horror, he saw the clear and sinister smile of the man in front of him.

Although he didn't say that answer clearly, but with King Yu's mind...he knew that he already knew it.