Raising Wolves

There is someone behind Fang Xinlu.

This result did not exceed Lu Qingze's expectations.

For so many years, Fang Xinlu has been staying in an unnoticed and inconspicuous position, which is indeed very suitable for inquiring news for others.

The only thing he didn't expect was that after staring at Fang Xinlu for so long, he didn't make any movements, he was cautious, carefully hiding the person behind him.

The people below couldn't make up their minds, and asked Lu Qingze if he wanted to take him away directly, torture him to extract a confession, or continue to stare at him.

Lu Qing thought for a while, and asked Changshun to send an order: "Continue to stare at Fang Xinlu, and find out the people behind him."

After a pause, he said again: "Is there any news from the people in Jingdi?"

In the past few years, Jinyiwei has spread all over the world. Ning Juan has built a complete intelligence organization, and news from all over the country can arrive at the fastest speed. Wait half a month.

Although Prince Jing has never shown any signs of ambition, and is always respectful and respectful in front of Ning Juan, Lu Qing is still not at ease. As soon as Prince Jing leaves the capital, he will be followed secretly, and when he arrives in the fiefdom of King Jing, he will be watched. .

When he saw Duan Lingguang yesterday, he made up for some information gaps, and he felt more and more that Prince Jing was an unstable element.

Duan Lingguang should have seen that Daqi was in a precarious state and worried that Prince Jing would make another change, so he came here to remind him.

However, in the current situation, if Prince Jing cannot be caught, it is not suitable to attack him.

The prince of Shu and Jiaozhi's rebels caused such a big shock in the southwest, and now many vassal kings may start to make trouble again. If they make trouble, Ning Juan will face the enemy near the middle of Shu, and the consequences will be unpredictable.

Changshun shook his head: "Prince Jing is very peaceful in the fief, and never sees any changes."

Lu Qing was both worried that Ning Jing would have some changes, but also disappointed that he hadn't, so he frowned and said, "Please pass the order."

Changshun complied, and before turning around to leave, he couldn't help but look at him again—for the past half month, he had been working on state affairs day and night, scheduling and operating various parties, and wasted energy on keeping an eye on Mobei and Southwest movements. His pale face seemed to be getting weaker and weaker, his eyes were slightly black and blue, his face was slightly tired, and his already thin body seemed to have lost a little weight.

Even though he knew that what he said was useless, Chang Shun couldn't help but said: "Master Lu, you should also take care of yourself and rest earlier. If you fall ill, there will be no one to support the overall situation in Beijing. Your Majesty is here The front line will also be worried."

Lu Qing coughed softly and waved his hands: "It's okay, let's pass the order."

Chang Shun looked at him again worriedly, before hesitating to speak, he bowed and retreated.

The torrential rain fell outside the window, and the candlelight was blown by the wind.

After taking a bath, Lu Qing came back and sat in front of the window to process a few notebooks, and unfolded the good news sent by Ning Juan, carefully read it word by word, and put it away properly.

There are not many palace people serving in Jixuexuan - Lu Qing doesn't like being served by others, and Ning Juan doesn't like too many people close to him, so no one helps to close the window. Hearing that the rain outside is getting heavier and heavier, he He got up and went to close the window, only to find that Ning Juan's gold-woven robe was still hanging on the side of the couch when he turned his head.

I forgot to ask Changshun to take it down and wash it.

A few days ago, he either rested in the study or in the Qianqing Palace, and only returned to Jixuexuan today. It was okay when he didn't pay attention, but it was very difficult to let go of it.

Lu Qing walked to the screen, stared at the gold-woven robe for a long time, and silently picked it up like a thief, and when he lay down on the bed, he covered himself with the robe.

The large robe was like a quilt, properly covering his thin body.

A slightly familiar atmosphere enveloped it, as if being hugged by the owner of the robe.

Lu Qing often has difficulty sleeping these days, always feeling that it is because of too much thinking.

At this moment, he suddenly regained the feeling of sleepiness before. Half asleep and half awake, he thought amusedly: Has he been domesticated by Ning Juan?

In the past, when it came to summer, he hated Ning Juan's body for being too hot and would not let Ning Juan get close to him.

After he came back, no matter how unhappy he was, Ning Juan wanted to be next to him and let him get used to everything.

Now, because of Ning Juan's absence, he would not sleep well.

After agreeing to accept Ning Juan, Lu Qing reconsidered his decision over and over again, and felt that he had more exclusive selfishness for Ning Juan, and a compromise influenced by Ning Juan's deep love.

There are feelings that are different from relatives, teachers and students, but maybe not many at the moment.

But now, he suddenly realized.

So he likes Ning Juan more than he thinks?

Two days later, Mobei also sent a good news.

For some reason, the Mobei garrison persuaded several small neighboring countries to join the Daqi army in resisting the coalition forces of Tatar and Oala.

The guard Shi Xice was extremely brave. He even beheaded the Tatar and Oirat generals. He could vaguely see the shadow of General Shi back then, and immediately cast a shadow on the lives of these people who were frightened by General Shi.

After a month of continuous attack, not even a single city in Daqi was captured.

Lu Qing couldn't help smiling when he saw the first sentence, and guessed whose credit it was.

Who else but Chen Xiaodao?

With Chen Xiaodao's small mouth that can chatter, and his temperament that he can chat with everyone except Ning Juan, it's not unusual to do these things.

Seeing the two battle reports, the ministers under the seat were also very excited: "This battle may not have to be fought for so long!"

"There is little general Shi guarding Mobei, who will dare to invade in the future?"

"Your Majesty's Wenzhi and martial arts are really my luck..."

Lu Qing saw that a small part of them were preparing for a celebration banquet, and gently closed the lid of the tea cup.

With a clear and low sound, the buzzing noise that had just risen below suddenly disappeared, and everyone shut their mouths and looked at Lu Qingze.

"Wulihan is not someone who is waiting for nothing. Ning Cheng has been dormant for many years, so he should not be underestimated."

Lu Qing put aside the powdered tea and took a sip of hot tea: "Don't underestimate the enemy, everyone."

Some people wanted to yell, "Could it be that Mr. Lu is aspiring others to destroy his prestige", but when they touched those clear and moist light-colored eyes, the words froze in their throats, and they didn't dare to speak out.

Lu Qing is not as sick and gentle as he looks.

That's the consensus among officials who have worked with him.

Everyone discussed the situation in Mobei and Southwest, and Lu Qing told about the support of Jiangnan Commercial Bank.

There was another storm underneath, with those who agreed and those who were dissatisfied. They did not dare to attack Lu Qingze.

However, Lu Qing has already decided on this matter, and he does not intend to ask them to agree. The details will be discussed with the cabinet ministers after Ning Juan returns.

Throw this matter to the people below to quarrel for a few days, secretly fueling the flames, and when it is implemented, the resistance will be less.

Another month passed, and the situation of the battle was as expected by Lu Qingze, and it was not as optimistic as others expected.

Central Shu is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and Ulihan is not an idiot.

The battle line was stretched again.

Now the imperial court objected to the opening of sea transport in the future, and the voices of courtiers who supported commercial banks entering the sea gradually weakened.

Most of the opponents are conservatives, who are worried about contact with the outside world and are afraid of changes in the future.

But obviously the present is more important.

Many commercial firms in the south of the Yangtze River were also persuaded by Duan Lingguang.

Naturally, Duan Lingguang couldn't swallow such a big cake by himself, and he was also very happy to divide it appropriately and achieve a win-win outcome.

Rich businessmen took action one after another, and the pressure on the national treasury was not so heavy for a while, and the crumbling hair on the head of the Minister of the Household Department was finally saved, and he no longer came to Lu Qing every day to wash his face with tears.

Lu Qingze's mind finally stopped buzzing.

Hubu Shangshu cried too sadly, it was too much like a ghost asking for his life.

Amid the ups and downs, Lu Qing received another battle report from the Southwest.

Every seven or eight days, Ning Juan would personally write a battle report and send it to Lu Qingze.

This battle report brings good news.

Jiaozhi intended to sneak attack, but Ning Juan reversed the plan and fell into the encirclement. Not to mention the loss of troops, he also captured the little prince Jiaozhi who led the troops himself.

The government and the public were filled with joy again, only Lu Qing frowned.

He found a problem.

The battle reports from the southwest were all written by Ning Juan himself and handed over to him. The letters either told him how the battle was going, or they were good news like this.

But whether he himself was injured, or how his life was during the march, he didn't mention a word.

Ning Juan only reports good news and not bad news.

Just as Lu Qing would not tell Ning Juan in his reply, did he fall ill with a cold and cough.

He looked at every word of Ning Juan, and finally sighed slightly, and didn't ask more about it.

They have a tacit understanding.

After walking far, Ning Juan, who was trapped in the deep palace, also saw many scenery that Lu Qingze had seen when he was outside.

At the end of the short battle report, there will always be a few words about the emperor's personal love.

"This flower was left on the battlefield after the two armies fought."

"Iron hoofs splatter dust, scars everywhere, wars smashed to the ground, bleeding and drifting, there is such a flower that is not stained with dust. The first time I saw it, I thought it looked like you, Huaixue."

"I sent you flowers, how about you?"

Lu Qing saw the corners of his lips curled up, took apart the flowers that came with the battle report, and touched them lightly with his fingertips.

I can't tell what kind it is, and it was sent all the way to the southwest. The snow-white petals have faded a lot, but the fragrance is faint.

He cut off the root of the flower, dipped it into a vase, and then wrote a reply letter, summarizing the recent situation in Beijing in concise language.

Finally, ruthlessly put pen to paper:

"Don't destroy flowers and trees at will."

After writing the reply, Lu Qing recalled Ning Juan's last words, and glanced at the scissors on the table.

After thinking for a moment, he picked up a strand of hair, clicked, and cut off a short section.

Ning Juan gave him fragrant flowers, and he returned a section of hair.

Lu Qing stuffed the lock of hair into a sachet, folded the letter, walked out of the study, and handed it to the Jin Yiwei who was waiting outside: "Please send it to the southwest, and hand it to Your Majesty."

Jin Yiwei bowed, took the sachet and the letter, and left immediately, heading southwest.

Lu Qing looked at the back of the other party leaving quickly, and thought without changing his face, it would not delay anything if he had a little personal affair with his official business.

I don't know what expression Ning Juan will have when he sees the hair in the sachet.

What will he say in his letter next time, and what will he attach?

Wouldn't he also cut a section of his own hair, put it in a sachet and send it back, and give it to him as a gift?

Lu Qing was secretly happy while thinking, and turned back to the study in a good mood.

According to the battle reports from the southwest during this period, the situation is much clearer than that in Mobei.

After Ning Juan captured the little prince of Jiaozhi, he did not behead Liwei, but put forward conditions to King Jiaozhi.

The King of Cochin loves his son eagerly, and wants to agree to Ning Juan's condition of retreating in exchange for his son, but Ning Cheng is naturally not happy, and the spies spread a little more rumors in the army, and the rebels suddenly have a little crack.

Then Ning Juan secretly released the little prince Jiaozhi who was eating and drinking in the Daqi military camp safely.

Rumors spread in the army, and Ning Sheng was already strongly wary of King Jiaozhi, but now, he became more and more suspicious that he had secretly reached an agreement with Ning Juan.

The alliance between the two sides itself was not so strong, and the gap was even bigger. King Jiaozhi couldn't argue with it. Anyway, the youngest son came back safely, so he simply withdrew the army back to Yundian. Take the opportunity to pick up a leak.

In case the Daqi army fails, they will help Ning Cheng fight Ning Juan. If Ning Cheng succeeds in ascending the throne in the future, this can be regarded as "a meritorious service from the dragon".

If Ning Cheng can't beat Ning Juan, then help Ning Juan to beat Ning Cheng.

It is a good thing for Ning Juan that Jiaozhi withdrew with this good plan.

Looking at the situation, Lu Qing felt that it was only a matter of time before Ning Cheng was taken down, and was waiting for Ning Juan's next good news.

Unexpectedly, seven or eight days passed after the letter was sent, and there was no reply from Ning Juan.

Marching and camping was not stable, so Lu Qing didn't send many letters to the southwest, but Ning Juan sent letters to the capital with a constant frequency.

According to Ning Juan's temper, unless something happened.

Lu Qing was waiting, feeling a little uneasy.

what can happen?

Central Shu is difficult to attack, but Ning Juan is not impossible to attack. These days have made some progress.

Although the battle report was only a day late, Lu Qing immediately dialed someone after hesitating for a while to investigate the battle situation in the southwest.

Before the spies came back, the urgent report from Southwest was sent to Lu Qingze's desk at night.

"Report! It has been rainy in the southwest recently. When His Majesty was leading the army through the mountain, he suddenly encountered a mudslide, and the army was washed away by the rocks."

The little soldier who came to report trembled: "After reorganizing the team, I discovered, discovered..."

When Lu Qing heard the first sentence, his mind suddenly went blank.

His fingers were trembling slightly, but he still opened the urgent report.

The soldier's voice came together with the unfamiliar words on the urgent report.

"...His Majesty is missing."

A trace of cold air rushed to the skin along the place where it touched the emergency report, while Lu Qing tried hard to keep calm, but his fingers deviated from his will, allowing the letter to fall to the ground.

The whisk in Changshun's hand next to him fell to the ground with a "snap", and he was stunned for a moment, and his shrill voice became sharper: "How is it possible! Have you found it yet!"

Xiao Bing's tone was difficult: "Zheng commanded everyone to dig up the rolling rocks and dug up many... corpses, but still did not find His Majesty."

Chang Shun trembled uncontrollably, and looked at Lu Qingze in horror: "Lu, Mr. Lu, Your Majesty won't..."

Lu Qingze's face was terribly pale, a little cold sweat appeared on his forehead, his breathing was short, and he propped his hands on the table vigorously to maintain his balance. After a long while, he said calmly: "When the mudslide rushed down, , where is His Majesty?"

The little soldier said dryly: "Your Majesty is in the middle of the team, and the mountain and rock... broke the team from it."

The implication is that Ning Juan is likely to be buried below.

What are the chances of avoiding such a natural disaster?

Lu Qing closed his eyes, his temples throbbed crazily, his eardrums buzzed and vibrated, and his brain throbbed with pain, as if it also affected his heart. The violent contraction caused him to have difficulty breathing, which made him have a heart attack recurrence A suffocating pain.

But it's not the same as the pure physical pain.

It hurts a lot more than that.

Lu Qing took a deep breath and wondered in a daze, was Ning Juan's mood the same when he heard that the post house was flooded when he was in the palace?

His perception of emotions is weak, and he has not experienced too many strong emotions, knowing that he will be painful and sad.

But he didn't know that it would be so painful.

Will not.

It is impossible for Ning Juan to leave because of this kind of thing.

He couldn't be messed up at a time like this.

Lu Qing forced himself to calm down. After repeating the command several times in his heart, he finally calmed down and said in a hoarse voice: "Block the information, continue to send people to dig and investigate, and report any news at any time."

"Yes!"

"Changshun."

Caught off guard by being named, Chang Shun, in despair, trembled inexplicably: "Lord Lu?"

"Immediately order all the cabinet ministers to come to the South Study Room."

Apart from his pale face, Lu Qing couldn't see any sadness or worry or fear on his face, and his voice was slow and deep: "Fang Xinlu may make some movement tonight, and he is ready to catch him at any time."

Changshun was stunned, as if he had regained his backbone, he quickly responded.

When he turned to leave, he recalled His Majesty's reaction when he heard that Master Lu was buried in a sea of ​​flames, and looked at Lu Qingze, who was standing calmly beside the desk with his long eyelashes lowered, and thought blankly: Isn't Master Lu sad?

His Majesty knew that Lord Lu was in such despair and pain when he left, that he even vomited blood from grief, and his heart couldn't help constricting due to the strong emotion.

But Mr. Lu seemed to have no other reaction except for the initial shock.

Sure enough, Mr. Lu still...does he not like His Majesty that much?

After all, this relationship was forced by His Majesty.

Chang Shun had mixed feelings in his heart, he didn't know whether to feel worthless for His Majesty, or dissatisfied with Lord Lu's weakness and indifference.

When there was no one in the study room, Lu Qingze just frowned, clutching his throbbing and aching chest tightly, his body swayed a bit, and he almost fell back on the chair in the throbbing of Qi and blood.

His eyes were flushed, he clutched the urgent report tightly, and called out in a low voice: "Jiwei."

Don't get into trouble.

Several cabinet ministers quickly rushed to the South Study Room.

Such a big movement, it is impossible to hide the news, it should be known to several important ministers.

Lu Qing has returned to his usual attitude, and told the matter in a flat tone.

Immediately, everyone's scalps tightened, and the blood all over their bodies cooled down.

It was clear that the weather was still hot, but everyone couldn't help shivering, and the atmosphere in the study was almost dead silent for a while.

After a long time, someone swallowed, and his voice fluttered: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, with God's blessing, he will definitely not..."

I didn't finish my sentence, and I couldn't finish it myself.

Those who can be elected to the cabinet will not be stupid, and believe in those gods and gods.

About the legends about Lu Qingze outside, half of the people in the court may believe it, and half of them don't believe it, but the few cabinet ministers don't believe it at all, they just turn a blind eye and close their eyes.

Even if there was any secret in it, it was related to the royal family. They knew very well who promoted the rumors behind Lu Qingze.

How long has Daqi been stable?If something really happened to His Majesty in this natural disaster, what would everything be like?

They were suddenly a little confused.

Not to mention how the battle situation in the Southwest will be now, if the news of the emperor's distress spreads to Mobei, the morale of the soldiers of Da Qi will definitely drop.

If the Tatar iron cavalry stepped over the Mobei defense line and came south to plunder, the capital would bear the brunt of the attack.

The three major battalions had been taken to the southwest, and only a few soldiers were left behind in the capital, as well as the [-] elite soldiers that Ning Juan specially set aside for Lu Qingze.

After another moment of silence, Fan Xingyan wiped the sweat off his forehead, his lips trembled slightly: "Lord Lu, what are your plans?"

Lu Qing said surprisingly: "I'm going to go to the southwest."

Now everyone jumped up: "What?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Only you can preside over the overall situation in the capital. If you go to the southwest, then..."

Lu Qing raised his hand to signal them to be calm and calm, and his voice was calm and clear: "Your Majesty is missing, and the Southwest now has no backbone, and the army's morale is weak, and it is bound to be attacked by the sons of the King of Shu. Ann. I am entrusted by His Majesty to bear the responsibility of Daqi, no matter what, I cannot watch this situation happen."

Fan Xingyan knew what he said was right, but seeing his pale face, he still couldn't help persuading him: "But..."

This trip is dangerous.

"Before I leave, I will discuss with you and arrange the follow-up matters. Regarding the possible situation in Beijing, I have written a kit." With a gentle and forceful attitude, Lu Qingze handed the kit to Fan Xingyan and watched quietly. Looking at him, "If I unfortunately die in the southwest, I will leave the rest to you."

He was well aware of the dangers of this trip, but he decided to go anyway.

Fan Xingyan's eye circles suddenly turned red, and he blinked vigorously before holding back his tears, gritted his teeth and gave a long bow to Lu Qing: "I take orders."

The rest of the people also had some lumps in their throats. Following Fan Xingyan, they made a long bow to Lu Qingze.

It is really inconvenient for them to talk about the relationship between the emperor and empress.

But they can feel the sincerity of love.

When Lu Qingze came back, some people speculated whether he was forced by His Majesty or to seize power.

Those dark guesses have collapsed in silence.

Lu Qing smiled at them: "What are you doing so heavy? I was just talking about the worst situation. Maybe it won't be that bad."

Everyone stood up without making a sound, everyone's heart was heavy.

It's hard to be optimistic about this kind of thing.

Lu Qing discussed with them in the study for a long time, and arranged the affairs of the court in an orderly manner, and it was not until the light of day that everything was over.

Chang Shun also brought news: "Lord Lu, you expected it right. Fang Xinlu did take action at night and was captured by the soldiers who stayed behind, but..."

He hesitated for a moment, and lowered his voice: "However, Fang Xinlu was carrying a very poisonous poison with him. When he was arrested, he pricked his finger with the poisonous thorn on the ring. No more."

Lu Qing was silent for a while: "Where is the intercepted thing?"

Changshun hastily presented it.

Fang Xinlu intends to send the letter to Mobei, and the letter contains a string of incomprehensible words.

Fan Xingyan is eager to learn. In recent years, he has also learned Tatar characters by himself, and he has a little understanding. When he saw the words on it, his eyes widened a little: "I know it. It is in Tatar language, which means... the emperor is missing. The master is ready to act."

He murmured: "Who is the master?"

Lu Qing stared at the string of Tatar words, suddenly felt a strange feeling in his heart, and asked Chang Shun: "What is Fang Xinlu's voice like?"

Chang Shun was stunned by the question, and tried hard to think about it: "Master Lu, Fang Xinlu's voice is very young, ten years younger than his appearance, quite clear."

On the night of Qianyuan Festival, the voice Lu Qing heard was not very young.

There was someone else that night.

Lu Qing read the letter again.

...Who is the so-called host family? Actually, it's easy to guess, isn't it?

Prince Jing's mother and Ulihan's mother are biological sisters.

It's just that King Jing never showed the slightest flaw, so he didn't suspect the collusion with the Tatars on Prince Jing.

Prince Jing arranged a pair of inconspicuous eyes in Beijing, and those eyes were Fang Xinlu.

Sure enough, an hour later, the spies arranged in Jingdi sent an urgent message.

"Prince Jing led [-] private soldiers to leave the fief, and headed southwest for the excuse of helping to suppress the rebellion!"

If you want to help counter the rebellion, you have already done so, so why are you leaving now?

I'm afraid Ning Jing has planted eyeliners in the army and has been observing the battle situation.

Even if Zheng Yao sent someone to send a message immediately, Lu Qing ordered someone to block the news, not to disclose the matter of Ning Juan's disappearance to the outside world, and Ning Jing, a caring person, would not be able to hide it.

I can no longer stay in the capital and wait for news from the southwest by luck.

Ning Jing has already been dispatched and must go to the southwest immediately.

Lu Qing took a slight breath, turned around and said solemnly: "Everyone, the capital and the little prince will be handed over to you for the time being."

He actually edited a book, sent it to Jiangnan, and handed it to Duan Lingguang.

If Ning Juan really suffered misfortune, and he also died in the southwest, Duan Lingguang would be able to open the letter.

Ning Siyue was so young that he still couldn't support Da Qi's country.

Lu Qing secretly summoned five thousand elites, went back and changed into neat clothes, left the palace at night and met outside the city.

He rode on the fast horse, looked back at the majestic Yanjing in the night, shook the reins, and rushed to the southwest.

The author has something to say:

Ning Gougou (with flowers in his mouth): Huai Xue...

Lu Qingze: It is forbidden to pick flowers, take care of the environment, everyone is responsible, be more civilized.

Ning Gougou:?