Start with detective Li Yuanfang

Dali Temple Prison.

Gao Qiu was heavily shackled, leaning against the wall, feeling sluggish.

The physical burden of torture is one aspect, and more importantly, Zhao Ji's ruthlessness in putting him to death.

"I should have thought of it a long time ago. Your Majesty is the Ninth Five-Year Lord. If I disobey him, I will no longer have the old friendship..."

"I knew I would listen to Judge Ding's advice and stay in Yanyun. As long as the strength of the township army is not damaged, then the imperial court would not dare to do anything to me, and would not even openly question me. What kind of hero am I?"

Gao Qiu sighed, feeling very regretful.

It's just that after regaining Yanyun, he was so happy that he took the lead for a while, thinking that no matter what the court would kill him, he came back arrogantly, but now he ended up like this.

"Fortunately, Mr. Lin and Judge Ding will protect my family..."

"But I'm still so young... I'm either on official business or tutoring, and I don't even have a wife..."

"I really don't want to die!!"

He was weeping silently, when the sound of footsteps came suddenly, Gao Qiu sniffed and raised his head.

I saw two jailers standing not far away whispering, their eyes were clearly looking towards me, and their expressions couldn't help changing.

"Wang Yushi has an order to take him directly to the Storm Pavilion, and it will be settled tonight!"

"However, regarding the life and death of Gao Qiu, even the Prime Minister was very hesitant. We really have to do it. If there is a recurrence in the future, I am afraid that we will be the ones to bear the blame!"

"Wang Yushi got what he wanted, so what's wrong with us obeying? What's more, if you really want to give an order, you and I still can't avoid it. Instead, you offended the powerful officials. This person will definitely end badly in my Song Dynasty. Let's do it!"

Gao Qiu's worry was justified. The two guards talked for a while, and then their eyes showed a fierce light, and they walked towards this side.

However, they didn't notice that there was a vague silhouette standing in the shadows, and a Taoist robe was faintly swaying. Seeing that the two were about to make a move, they also floated over.

However, before the jailer opened the cell door, hurried footsteps came from a distance. This time, a group of people arrived, and the leader was Prime Minister He Zhizhong.

The old man ran almost regardless of his manners. When he came to the cell and saw that Gao Lian was not in danger, nor was he dying, he heaved a sigh of relief and scolded: "Who gave Gao Tien the upper hand?" Such a heavy shackle? Quick! Untie it!"

The faces of the two guards changed dramatically. One hurried to get the key, the other opened the cell door, and came to Gao Li and tried to put on a smile: "Gao Tiju, these days the little ones have offended you, it's all..."

Gao Qiu didn't hear what was said later, and didn't bother to listen, but just looked at He Zhizhong blankly.

Gao Qiu didn't understand why the prime minister came here late at night, and his attitude changed drastically. Not far behind him was rippling, but Dong Yunzi, who was dressed in a Taoist robe, smiled slightly: "It must be the handwriting of senior 'Zuo Ming', poor Daoist." The task of protecting Gao Qingtian is coming to an end!"

The jailer who took the key returned quickly, untied the wooden shackle around his neck with a pensive smile, Gao Li moved his stiff hands and shoulders, and stared at He Zhizhong: "For me, the guilty minister, please speak frankly if Mr. He has something to say." !"

He Zhizhong originally thought that he would not have any strange emotions because of his experience in the officialdom, but at this moment, he still couldn't help showing a bit of embarrassment, waved his hands and said, "Go down first!"

It wasn't until the two guards left that he asked the guards outside the door to stand a little further away, and then said in a low voice, "Gao Tiju has suffered. Regarding your conviction, the old man just disagreed at that time..."

Gao Qiu couldn't help but sarcastically said: "It turns out that He Xianggong is above the court and is fighting for me. It seems that my information was wrong, so that he misunderstood He Xianggong!"

He Zhizhong had already adjusted his mood, and he didn't blush: "Gao Tiju complained in his heart, this is a very normal thing, no matter which hero is charged with unwarranted charges, he will be furious, and the old man also felt righteous indignation at the time, It’s just that His Majesty can’t stand down at that time, and this old man can’t speak nonsense…”

Gao Qiu snorted.

He Zhizhong began to sigh: "Gao Tiju is His Majesty's former minister, and should know His Majesty's difficulties."

"The Liao Kingdom aggressively invaded, and with such an absurd reputation, the subjects of the world are facing the threat of northern captives. How many people know the sadness in your Majesty's heart?"

"Out of consideration for the safety of the people in Bianjing, avoiding misfortune in the south of the Yangtze River has been repeatedly criticized. How many people can know the grievances in your majesty's heart?"

"The purpose of negotiating a peace agreement is to end the war as soon as possible and restore peace to the world. Marching Yanmen is also a choice of trusting Gao Tiju. How many people can know the benevolence in His Majesty's heart?"

These three parallel sentences made Gao Qiu completely confused: "So, Your Majesty knew that I would reject the entry of the Liao army. The twelve gold medals are just a cover?"

He Zhizhong firmly said: "That's exactly the case, this is the overall situation of His Majesty!"

Gao Qiu had a strange expression and wanted to believe it, but felt it was ridiculous: "Then I would like to ask, how did Your Majesty arrange the situation?"

He Zhizhong had just entered the inner city through the side door, and saw Zhao Ji, who was in a state of panic all day long. It was no surprise that he did not get any meaningful decisions from this official, only cursing and crying, which was even more serious. Firmly determined to come to see Gao Qiu, together with Zhao Ji, the monarch and his ministers also made a confession, and at this time began to coax:
"Your Majesty, even the most holy, pure and filial king, has absolutely no intention of harming the Queen Mother. The rumors of mother-killing rumors spread among the people are all fabricated by spies from the Liao people. Master is famous!"

"The more shocking it is, the more it spreads. Your Majesty has identified it several times, but was instigated by someone with a heart. The Imperial City Secretary where Gao Tiju is located is also worried about this matter. It must be I have a deep understanding!"

"Therefore, one of the key purposes of your Majesty's peace and alliance with the Liao Emperor is to force the Liao Emperor to admit his sinister intentions and wash away his charge of killing his mother. This is understandable. No one wants to bear such infamy, let alone my Song Dynasty. The official family, the monarch father of countless people!"

"In addition to self-proving innocence, it also has another function, which is to paralyze the Liao people, making the Liao people think that my compromise in the Song Dynasty is only because they succeeded in their previous tricks, and they will not be attacked again, and they can even go back to the Liao Kingdom through Yanmen Pass. There must be a lot of slack on the way, and the army is scattered..."

"Once the main force of the Liao Army is frustrated outside the Yanmen Pass, Your Majesty will rush to return the Northern Army and the Western Army to attack back and forth, and you will be able to wipe out the Liao people in our Great Song Dynasty. With the Yanyun barrier, the people will no longer have to suffer from aliens. The suffering of harassment!"

"Your Majesty even does not hesitate to bear infamy for the country and the people. Can't Gao Tiju be considerate?"

Gao Qiu nodded unconsciously in front of him, but at the end, he looked at He Zhizhong and couldn't help but said: "He Xianggong, the military deployment you mentioned last, is His Majesty thinking alone, or should he discuss it with Chao Zhongwen Wu?" The result after that?"

He Zhizhong said without hesitation: "Such a major event is naturally the result of discussion!"

Gao Qiu's expression turned cold: "You don't know much about military affairs, do you?"

He Zhi thought inwardly that something was wrong: "What does Gao Tiju mean by that?"

Gao Qiu said: "Although I didn't fight in front of the battle, but during the whole process of recovering Yanyun, I saw with my own eyes how Lin Yiyong and the generals of the township army dispatched troops. If you have experienced me, maybe Go and discuss with those senior generals in the army, and you should know that most of the [-] main force of the Liao Army are cavalry. You are too ignorant to let the Northern Army and the Western Army deploy to encircle and suppress, and those who know the soldiers will never approve... ..."

He Zhizhong's face darkened, while Dong Yunzi not far away laughed silently.

This group of scholar-bureaucrats who talk about military affairs on paper think that they can appease a subject who is actually fighting with the army by telling a lie. They are not only ignorant, but naive!

He Zhizhong's face changed slightly, knowing that the rift could not be repaired, but he did not give up, and began to follow the old line of kindness: "Perhaps the transfer of the two armies is indeed somewhat inappropriate, but your Majesty's kindness to Gao Tiju will never be forgotten. Bar?"

"Gao Tiju has neither fame nor military merit. He only has His Majesty's appreciation, but he can become the imperial city secretary's nomination. He is appointed to official affairs and has great power. Later, even the eunuchs in the palace were killed, and His Majesty did not blame him..."

"Such kinds of kindness are probably the reason for Gao Tiju's disobedience and disobedience to the gold medal. How could another courtier be so bold without His Majesty's love and protection?"

Gao Qiu shook his head: "You're wrong again, I didn't rely on His Majesty's favor to resist the decree, but the great opportunity to recover Yanyun is in front of me, and no general will be willing to miss this opportunity!"

"Your Majesty has never really been to the battlefield after all. I don't know how hard the bloody battles were. Countless soldiers have achieved those results. How can they be destroyed because of the ridiculous orders from the rear?"

Speaking of this, he looked at the skylight of the cell, and showed a sad expression again: "If I hadn't thought of His Majesty's favor to me, how could I have come back to Jinling? It is nothing to say that I have blatantly disobeyed the order and disobeyed the order. It can be said, but you gave me the unreasonable crime of colluding with 'Zuo Ming' and intending to rebel, I will never admit it!"

He Zhizhong was already terrified when he heard this sentence, but he quickly grasped the words: "But now the great rebel 'Zuo Ming' took advantage of Gao Tiju's reputation and gathered a group of rebels to attack the imperial city and disturb His Majesty. Even inciting the people of Jinling, if it causes chaos, it will definitely do a huge damage to Gao Tiju's Qingtian name!"

Gao Qiu was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly said: "So that's it! I said that Mr. Tang, why did you suddenly come to see me tonight and make up those things with me... I didn't expect it to be because of 'Zuo Ming'. When I first took over the Imperial City Secretary, It is to arrest this person, and now it is because of him to live, it is really unpredictable!"

He Zhizhong's complexion changed slightly, and his voice was already a little exasperated: "Gao Tiju, you are definitely not living because of 'Zuo Ming', on the contrary, your reputation will also be ruined by 'Zuo Ming', if you don't stop What the other party did, you will become a traitor and a traitor, and you will be reviled by everyone!"

Gao Qiu looked at him intently: "Mr. He is here to prevent me from becoming a traitor, so may I ask, what am I who is locked up in the prison of Dali Temple?"

He Zhizhong pursed his lips, knowing that he could no longer argue, and simply said: "Does Gao Tiju want to be exonerated? Your Majesty has already agreed, as long as you come forward to let the thief retreat and prove your innocence, all previous charges will naturally be cancelled. Reinstatement, and a great reward for recovering Yanyun!"

"Does Your Majesty want me, a rebellious minister and traitor imprisoned in Dali Temple Prison, to come forward to make the rebel 'Zuo Ming' retreat and save Da Song?"

Gao Qiu muttered to himself and opened his hands: "Where's the imperial decree from the government? Show me!"

He Zhizhong said: "There is no imperial decree, only oral instructions!"

Gao Qiu understood: "Yes, how can there be an imperial edict for such a loss of face, it can only be an oral order... But since it is an oral order, what if the officials go back on their word afterwards?"

He Zhizhong changed color: "You are not joking, what do you think of Your Majesty?"

Gao Qiu said: "I have to think this way, if I can really make 'Zuo Ming' retreat, then in Yu Shi's mouth, it must be an irrefutable proof of collusion with the Great Rebellion, and I will not be able to say clearly by then, Without an imperial decree, how can I come forward?"

He Zhizhong gritted his teeth: "Okay, I'm going to ask for the imperial decree!"

He didn't dare to neglect and immediately turned around and got out of the cage, but he heard laughter from behind.

"Haha! Hahahaha!"

In that laughter, there was a heartfelt joy of surviving a near-death, but also a deep disappointment with the Song court.

In the end, the disappointment even overwhelmed the joy, reverberating in the prison of Dali Temple and lingering for a long time.