first minister

Changshan County.

In the captain's mansion, Captain Zhang Hu of Changshan County, who had been awarded a title for his military exploits in defending the city of Changshan County in a bloody battle. After the battle, Captain Zhang Hu of Changshan County, who would be promoted to deputy commander of the Langya Army of Langya Prefecture, leaned his head on his chair, his face flushed red from drinking. Looking at the man sitting opposite him, he let out a loud belch.

"Brother, you are not an ordinary person!"

Opposite him, Xiao Fengshan was still wearing a mask, with a straight back and a condensed demeanor. After hearing this, he silently put down his wine glass and said, "You are not an ordinary person with your ability to drink."

Zhang Hutou ignored Xiao Fengshan's teasing and said: "In the military, there are all rough guys who can go a month without taking a shower. There are only two kinds of people who have your magnanimity."

He held out two fingers and said, "Either you are a scholar who is knowledgeable and courteous, or you are a son of an aristocratic family whose words and deeds have been trained since childhood. Brother, which one are you?"

Xiao Fengshan said calmly: "I am just an ordinary soldier. I fight for the country and am loyal to the country."

Zhang Hutou looked at the mask on Xiao Fengshan's face with a burning gaze. He suddenly stood up and reached out to grab it, but Xiao Fengshan easily dodged it and said, "You are drunk. You have almost finished drinking tonight. Get some rest early."

Zhang Hutou looked at Xiao Fengshan's back as he stood up and said, "I will remember you!"

Xiao Fengshan stopped and was silent for a moment, then said softly: "It doesn't matter if you remember, it's best if you forget."

After saying that, he opened the door and strode away.

It is to truly leave and never come back.

He walked out of the captain's mansion. Outside the gate, a cavalry team of more than a hundred people was waiting calmly.

At the beginning, he led 100 people to the north, subduing bandits and bandits along the way, and grew to a thousand people. Only then, by chance, could he rush to the aid of Changshan County in times of crisis.

However, after many days of bloody fighting in the isolated city, the team was once again reduced to only a hundred people.

Xiao Fengshan got on his horse and led everyone forward slowly.

All the way to the city gate, several people were waiting there.

Xia Yunfei, the Marquis of Xing'an, brought Chen Fugui and Lu Yi to see him off in person because of the great victory at Changshan and the military exploits of killing Murong Hu.

Xiao Fengshan dismounted and Xia Yunfei invited him into the cleared guard room under the city wall.

Chen Fugui and Lu Yize guarded the door together.

On a small table, there are two bowls and a pot of tea.

The two people who had fought each other face to face sat across the table from each other. Xia Yunfei said, "You deserve my respect regarding matters in Changshan County."

Xiao Fengshan was still neither humble nor arrogant, "It's not important."

Xia Yunfei was not angry and looked at him, "Erlang has sent a letter. According to what he said, Beiliang will send envoys to ask for peace, and the imperial court will negotiate with Yuyanzhou as the main condition. You don't need to take risks."

Xiao Fengshan shook his head, "He is indeed smart, but he doesn't understand Dongfang Ping. The Beiliang people may withdraw as promised, but it is impossible to expect them to kill Dongfang Ping or return an intact Yuyanzhou. Dongfang Ping Taking this step, he must be fully prepared in his opinion. Just because he hasn't had a large number of mutinies and flees under his command yet, you know that he is not that simple. I won't go today, but you guys will not go there tomorrow. It will take a long time to fight hard.”

Xia Yunfei also shook his head, "You are wrong. He knows it. He will also have more arrangements. He just doesn't want you to take such a big risk."

Xiao Fengshan smiled mockingly, not questioning whether Xia Jingyun was worried about his safety, but feeling that there was something magical about the impermanence of the world, "For me, I have nothing more to ask for, but to do more for Daxia." If things can help people survive a few more times, it will be considered as atonement. Swift State is so big, maybe I won’t be able to die!"

The mask opposite only revealed a pair of eyes, but Xia Yunfei saw firmness and determination in it.

He silently lifted the teapot on the table, poured a bowl of tea for Xiao Fengshan himself, and handed it over with both hands, "Take care!"

Xiao Fengshan took the tea bowl and said, "Those brothers who died or were injured, please leave."

"rest assured."

Xiao Fengshan drank the tea in one gulp, stood up and walked out. After holding fists with Chen Fugui and Lu Yi, he got on his horse.

The city gate slowly opened a gap, and a team of more than a hundred people quietly walked out, heading in the direction of Yuyan State, and disappeared into the wind and snow.
-
In Zhongjing, Prime Minister's Mansion, Wan Wenbi is sitting in the room, and his eldest son Wan Jingru stands respectfully aside.

Wan Jingru whispered: "Father, the successive great victories at the border have created a large number of military heroes. I am afraid these people will stand on the Xia family's side in the future."

Wan Wenbi nodded slowly, "Looking at the generosity of the Queen Mother in setting the reward, the nobles in the court who were originally killed and did not dare to take the lead must be completely unable to stand up."

"What about us?"

Wan Jingru looked worried. As the heir of the family, although Wan Jingru's ability was far inferior to that of Qin Sichao back then, Wan Wenbi still informed him of such important matters.

Now seeing that the Xia family's momentum is getting bigger and bigger, he really wants to persuade him, "Father, stop it, there are people from the Xia family outside", but he knows that he can't persuade him, so he becomes more and more worried.

Wan Wenbi smiled softly, "Father, I know you are worried, but don't worry, I have a solution."

Wan Jingru looked at his father doubtfully.

Wan Wenbi, who had always been admired, became angry when he saw this look and raised his brows, "Don't believe it?"

"Believe! Believe! Believe!" Wan Jingru also reacted immediately and quickly corrected his attitude.

Wan Wenbi snorted softly, "Throughout the ages, most fortified cities have been attacked from within. Xia Jingyun is indeed powerful. If we force them from outside, we will make them monolithic. But fortunately, they also have hidden dangers."

Wan Jingru quickly asked out of curiosity: "What's the hidden danger?"

Wan Wenbi picked up the tea bowl, gently scraped the foam with the cup lid, and said with a chuckle: "One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers."

"Gentlemen, do you have anything else to do?"

The next morning, during the small court meeting of the important ministers of Qianyuan Hall, after discussing some military and state affairs, Concubine De asked.

Wan Wenbi stepped forward and said, "Queen Mother, Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Concubine De nodded, "What's wrong with Wan Qing?"

"Previously, when the Beiliang envoy came, Huai'an Marquis Baiyunbian and Honglu Temple Minister were ordered to welcome the guests, and the errand was done very well. Now that the Beiliang envoy has left, I thought that the imperial court should reward them for their deeds. "

Wei Yuanzhi's heart moved slightly and he glanced at Xia Jingyun who was standing diagonally opposite him.

Xia Jingyun went directly to the list and said, "Wanxiang's words are very true, and I second my opinion. I heard that the Marquis of Huai'an Su likes to write and calligraphy, so it is better to give him a treasure from the inner court. As for the Minister of Honglu Temple, this is his duty, and he will reward him with some property. Can."

Wan Wenbi turned his head and looked at him deeply, smiled, and said no more.

Concubine De nodded, "Since the ministers have no objections, let's just do it."

At night, when Xia Jingyun returned to Jianninghou Mansion, Wei Yuanzhi came to visit him at night.

"Gao Yang, there is something fishy about what happened today!"

Looking at the worried Wei Yuanzhi, Xia Jingyun hummed, "It seems that this husband wants to recruit reinforcements, and he wants to attack from within us."

He chuckled, "He feels that we are getting stronger and stronger and harder to beat, but if he can directly carve out a large piece of us for his use, he might be able to give us a break."

"Then why did you stop him today and only give Baiyunbian such a small reward? Aren't you afraid that he will actually turn against you?" Xia Jingyun wanted to tell the truth, but he still said: "Brother Lexian is arrogant and frivolous. , now he has become a marquis and a third-rank official in the court. His father is also a governor of a state. If he is granted another title, it may not be a good thing! Mr. Wei's worries are also my worries. It doesn't matter. I will talk about it later. I plan to visit the Marquis Mansion of Huai'an, why don't you come with me, Mr. Wei?"

Wei Yuanzhi sighed, "It's okay, you are best friends and you are in the same year, so just talk about it."

So, soon, the two of them walked out together, got on the carriage, and went to the Huai'an Marquis Mansion.

Compared with the bustling Jianning Hou Mansion, the Huai'an Hou Mansion in Baiyunbian is much more deserted. After all, Baiyunbian and Ye Hongluan are the only current owners.

Oh, no, these two are not officially married yet!
"You said this person named Xia insists on getting married at this time! It makes it difficult for me to get married!"

In the warm room of the Hou Mansion, Bai Yunbian complained to Ye Hongluan with an unhappy look on his face.

Ye Hongluan rolled her eyes at him and said, "Getting married is a matter between the two of us. It is a matter between two families. What does it have to do with him? Why is he bothering you?!"

Bai Yunbian snorted, "I am on par with him. Marriage will inevitably be compared with each other by those ignorant people. He has the support of the Queen Mother, how can I compare! If they are too close, he will marry two at once, Isn’t this self-humiliating?”

After saying that, he muttered again, "Su Yanyan and Qin Li, they are so awesome, I think that's the only way I look at them, but they actually fell in love with him together."

Ye Hongluan rolled his eyes speechlessly, "Isn't it because we've fallen in love with you that we have good taste?"

Bai Yunbian nodded, but before he could speak, a burst of murderous intent rose into the sky, frightening him, "Madam, you don't want to murder your husband!"

Ye Hongluan rolled up his sleeves silently, and was about to give this man who knew nothing about the sky and earth a piece of cake from time to time, when a careful and respectful message from the steward came from outside.

"Sir, Madam, Marquis Jianning and Minister Wei are here to visit. They are waiting in the reception room."

For a person like Xia Jingyun, no one in the entire Zhongjing City would dare to let him wait in the foyer right now, let alone these servants of the Bai Mansion who were trained from the Jiang'an Marquis Mansion.

Ye Hongluan was slightly startled, and Bai Yunbian quickly took the opportunity to run out.

When they arrived at the main hall, the three of them greeted each other. Bai Yunbian looked at this posture and thought of the news he heard today, and he roughly understood what was going on.

And when Xia Jingyun spoke his first words, his attitude for tonight was clear in his mind.

"Brother Lexian, when we were discussing matters in front of the imperial court today, Wan Xiang mentioned the reward for your reception of the envoys from Beiliang. I stopped him. It was finally decided that there would be some rewards in the palace. I was afraid that you might misunderstand, so I specially talked to Mr. Wei. Come and talk to you.”

Bai Yunbian frowned, "Why did you stop me?"

Xia Jingyun explained sincerely: "If you receive too many rewards in such a short period of time, you will easily find people jealous. Besides, the credit can actually be big or small, so a reward like this is the most appropriate."

"Aren't you the same?" Bai Yunbian retorted subconsciously, and then sighed, "Okay, it's settled if you decide, what else can I say!"

Wei Yuanzhi saw that the white clouds seemed to be still emotional, so he said: "Huai'an Marquis, please allow me to say a few words. This matter is indeed big or small. It is enough to decide on the merits and titles. As for other things, is it possible that I can still do it?" Therefore, is it possible to be promoted to an official position? Marquis Jianning's words are all out of public motives, so don't think too much about it. You are still young, and you are already in such a high position. In the future, you will need to cooperate with Gao Yang to jointly support this dynasty! "

Bai Yunbian waved his hand, "Mr. Wei is too worried. It's just a reward. How can I really care about it?"

Xia Jingyun nodded, "I came here just for this matter. Now that we've talked about it, I won't bother you anymore and take my leave."

Bai Yunbian personally sent the two of them to the door, and everything seemed to be settled so peacefully.

At least that's what Wan Jingru felt when the informant sent to the Bai Mansion came back with the information.

But when he expressed his opinion to his father, Wan Wenbi smiled.

"What are you expecting? If you want to alienate such a person, how can this little thing do it?"

He stood up and walked outside, "Go to rest early and wait and see in two days!"

At noon, Bai Yunbian walked out of Yushitai Yamen with a frown on his face.

He was still thinking about his response yesterday, and he now fully understood the intentions of Xia Jingyun and this seemingly useless thing he was doing.

The enemy will always exist. Without Wanxiang, there will still be Prime Minister Li and Prime Minister Zhang. When the nobles fall, there will be new classes coming out. Instead of always being on guard against those who don’t know where they are and how they will act. It is better to raise our own flag in the future and control the main opposition forces within a stable range.

This will not affect the current chaos in the court, Xia Jingyun's strong voice in the court to guide the government to usher in a new life in the reform;

Similarly, after Xia Jingyun actually comes to power in the future, he will gather together those opposition forces that have been harmed during the reform to conduct more rational analysis, win over or attack.

And the current behavior of Wan Wenbi and others taking action upon the slightest hint of rumors also proves the feasibility of their path.

But to really achieve that effect and hide it from those sophisticated foxes, it's not that simple.

Especially when they can only rely on tacit understanding and cannot fully communicate at all times, every step must be "reasonable".

For example, in yesterday's situation, he couldn't show excessive anger, nor could he turn against Xia Jingyun because of this matter. There should be no problem with his decision at that moment.

"Lexian, what are you thinking about?"

Suddenly a voice came from beside him, which almost frightened Bai Yunbian out of his wits as he was pondering the ulterior secret. He turned around to see Yan Songwen with a smile on his face, with confusion on his face. He didn't know that this man had always regarded him as his enemy. What kind of trick is your immediate boss doing?

"Why are you looking so gloomy? That Prince of Northern Liang is gone, have you lost a lot of fun?"

Yan Songwen said with a bit of ridicule.

Bai Yunbian simply borrowed the donkey from the slope and said with a smile: "It makes Master Yan laugh. After all, there are not many good opportunities like this that can both sharpen one's tongue and show off the prestige of our country. What a pity!"

Yan Songwen laughed, "It's not a pity, it's not a pity. Maybe Le Xian will be able to see them again soon."

Bai Yunbian was startled, and Yan Songwen said: "Now that we have taken Phoenix City and Lieyang Pass in Beiliang, Emperor Liang may not be able to sit still for a long time. Naturally, he will send envoys to seek peace. This is also the unanimous guess of the central government, and he will re-send If the messenger is delayed for too long, he will most likely deliver the message directly and then ask the Crown Prince to turn back."

Bai Yunbian's eyes lit up, and Yan Songwen said with a smile: "If you want to come here to receive me this time, it's you, Lexian, who has to do your part!"

Bai Yunbian smiled, "Be loyal to the country and share your worries with the king, hehe!"
-
When the huge Zhongjing City appeared in front of him again like a lingering nightmare, Xue Wenlu's numb heart twitched again like a dying struggle.

In order to survive, he did not dare to disobey Emperor Liang's order, so he had to turn back.

But at this moment, he felt that life was worse than death.

Pei Bingchang, who was sitting opposite him, looked at Xue Wenlu's appearance and secretly felt some contempt in his heart.

This noble prince of Beiliang, who also came from a wealthy family, had gradually learned about the group's experience in Zhongjing City along the way. He felt that everyone was really unlucky, but at the same time he also felt a little disapproval in his heart.

Just a few words of ridicule and ridicule, but with this look, he is simply vulnerable.

If you want to achieve great things, you must be determined, why do you do this?

But after all, Xue Wenlu had a good status and was the official envoy for this trip. He still comforted him: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. After I enter the city, I will immediately submit my credentials and then close the door at Honglu Temple to thank the guests. We just won’t provoke those scoundrels.”

Xue Wenlu nodded numbly, "That's all."

As soon as he finished speaking, a familiar, demonic voice sounded in Xue Wenlu's ears.

"Eh? Isn't this the convoy of His Highness the Crown Prince? His Highness the Crown Prince, are you back? Didn't you agree that it will be indefinite?" (End of Chapter)