Pihanjin - Chapter 38

The next day, Mu Fulan left Yuecheng under the **** of Yuan Handing, and the group went south to Liancheng. After arriving, after settling Xier, he joined Sanmiao and started to work.

When she was busy, Zhang Ban, who was far away in Shangjing, received a reply from Changsha that night. After reading it, I knew that I had jumped into Mu’s daughter’s trap. Now, her attitude clearly shows that she has nothing to fear, and it is entirely up to her to help her collect evidence of Xie Changgeng’s rebellion. I just blame myself for being too impatient. I couldn’t hold my breath for a while, and I was confused by the beauty. I was so dumb, but I was soft-handed. Now I just want to have an attack.

Zhang Ban was feeling sullen when his servant knocked on the door of the study and handed him a salutation letter, saying that there were visitors who came to see him at night.

Zhang Ban thought it was someone who came to ask him to do something at night again, and said angrily, “No!”

The servant said in a low voice, “That person claims to have come from a long way and was dispatched by someone. He has important business to see you, so he can’t be delayed.”

Zhang Ban paused, took the invitation, and glanced at it with a look of surprise on his face.

After a while, he heard the footsteps of the servants coming in from outside the door, and he immediately looked solemn and sat behind the case.

The visitor was of medium stature, with a hat and hat on his head, and his appearance was nothing special, but Zhang Ban glanced at him and felt that his face was familiar, as if he had seen it before, but he couldn’t remember it for a while.

He suppressed the doubts in his heart, ordered his servants to step back, and said in an official tone: “Xie Jiedu is far away in Hexi, but he sent you to Beijing to privately meet with the officials. If it is a public business, it seems to be against the system of the dynasty. If it is a private matter, it is fine. Seeing me during the day and coming to the door all night, what’s the matter?”

The man bowed to him and said, “This matter is both a public and private matter. Because it is special, Envoy Xie Jiedu is afraid to handle it improperly, and if it will damage your relationship with the adults, out of prudence, the villain is sent first. Come see your lord.”

“What’s the matter?” Zhang Ban frowned.

“To be honest, Lord Neishi, a few days ago, envoy Xie Jiedu successively arrested several meticulous works in Hexi for spying on the military situation. The detailed confessions were made by you, Lord Neishi. If something like this happened, I would naturally have to sue Empress Liu. .”

Zhang Ban was taken aback and stood up abruptly: “Nonsense! This is framed! This official has no idea about this!”

The man said, “Envoy Xie Jiedu didn’t believe it either, so he personally investigated it, and only then did he find out. The fine work was originally sent by the King of Qi.”

Zhang Ban breathed a sigh of relief, took the handkerchief, printed the fine sweat oozing from his forehead, and said bitterly: “I have never had anything to do with King Qi, he just spied on it himself, but he even framed me and tried to divide us. Master Xie and I. Fortunately, Master Xie was very aware of the situation, so he didn’t let his tricks succeed!”

The reason why Zhang Ban is so nervous is because of this kind of crime, which can be big or small. When he met Xie Changgeng, if he insisted that it was himself and sue Empress Liu, with his current appearance, he would definitely not be able to please him.

The man continued: “Master Zhang, Jiedushi has something else to say, please tell the villain. Your lord, you usually take precautions against Jiedushi, but in fact you used the wrong force and stared at the wrong person.”

Zhang Ban’s sweat-wiping hand suddenly stopped in front of his forehead, paused for a moment, slowly let it go, and forced a smile: “What do you mean by this? This official doesn’t understand.”

The man smiled slightly: “Jiedu Envoy is frank with Lord Neishi, so you don’t have to pretend to be confused. Lord Jiedushi said that he has no interest in the imperial court, and he will not compete with Lord Neishi for the imperial court. Your real opponent, Lord Nei Shi, is not Jiedushi, but King Qi. Lord, think that once King Qi succeeds in fabricating the accusation and bringing down Jiedushi, he will definitely replace Jiedushi and receive the empress dowager. Reuse. How can the King of Qi release it? He will stay in the court. One mountain can’t hold two tigers. At that time, Lord Neishi, you will really have no place to stand!”

Zhang Ban thought about it, and the more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. He looked at the other party and said, “Why did the envoy Xie Jiedu tell you to tell me this?”

The man didn’t answer him immediately, but took a few steps forward, stopped near the candlelight, raised his hand to take the hat on his head, and said with a smile: “Master Neishi, you are indeed a noble person who forgets things a lot. Can’t I?”

Zhang Ban lit the candle, looked at each other carefully, suddenly remembered a person, and blurted out: “It’s you!”

He finally recognized it, and the person in front of him who was looking at him with a smile was actually a little official named Liu Guan who was under the official’s subordinate back then. Because he was extremely capable, he still had an impression. I remember that man was later distributed as if he had offended Shangguan.

It’s no wonder that his face was familiar at first glance, but after so many years, his face has changed, and he didn’t pay much attention to it, so he didn’t recognize it for a while.

“Thanks, your lord still remembers me. Liu Guan has seen your lord.”

Zhang Ban was stunned: “You, how could you…”

He wanted to ask how he got back to Xie Changgeng, but when he remembered Xie Changgeng’s origin, he understood in his heart and stopped immediately.

Liu Guan said with a smile: “Xie Jiedu said that in the future, Lord Nei Shi will be in charge of the internal court, and Xie Jiedu will be in charge of foreign affairs. They will each perform their duties and serve the Queen Mother together. Isn’t it better than being suspicious of each other in the past?”

Zhang Ban’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t say anything at first.

Liu Guan lowered his voice.

“To be honest, not to mention the fact that Lord Neishi had secretly communicated with Changsha to lobby on behalf of the Mu family, Jiedu Envoy knew it well, even if it was a long time ago, Lord Jiedu has also heard about other old things about you. It’s just that you have always known that you are talented and willing to make friends with Neishi, so what is this?”

Zhang Ban was taken aback.

He never imagined that Xie Changgeng had already discovered the fact that he accepted bribes. He must have secretly attacked him in the past, and he was well aware of it, but he couldn’t bear it.

A layer of cold sweat quickly broke out on his back, embarrassed and frightened, and he was speechless for a while.

Liu Guan looked at Zhang Ban, whose face was gray and defeated, and smiled slightly.

“Lord Nei Shi, since Xie Jiedu sent me to see your lord, how much trust does your lord still have doubts?”

Without any hesitation, Zhang Ban stepped forward and grabbed Liu Guan’s hand and said with a smile, “Ashamed! I didn’t know Xie Jiedushi was such a hero in the past. Please go back and tell him that from now on, Jiedushi and I will be of one mind. , I would like to jointly support the court and serve the Queen Mother! Xie Jiedu, whenever you can use it to get your official position, feel free to open your mouth.”

Liu Guan whispered a few words to him.

Zhang Ban agreed immediately, pondered for a while, suddenly remembered something, told Liu Guan to wait a moment, went to the case, picked up a pen and wrote a letter, sealed it and handed it over, saying, “Excuse me, please forward this letter to the Jiedu envoy. .”

Liu Guan put away the letter, said goodbye to Zhang Ban, and then turned away.

After Guan Liu left, Zhang Ban was alone in the study, slowly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, and was fascinated for a long time.

…

Five days later, a decree from Empress Liu was taken by a messenger from Shangjing, and traveled day and night all the way for 800 miles to the Hexi Jiedu envoy’s residence.

Empress Liu said in the decree that she was very angry when she received Xie Changgeng’s detailed confession. Listening to the slander, I was confused and did something wrong for a while, and this time I will punish the crime.

Empress Liu comforted Xie Changgeng that if something like this happens again next time, no matter who it is, no matter who it is, she will sternly admonish the ministers at the court meeting, telling Xie Changgeng not to be disheartened by this. The reward for him is already on his way, and it will be delivered in a few days. The letter of resignation that had previously been accompanied by the memorial was returned in its original form, and Empress Liu ordered him to perform his duties faithfully and continue to serve in the imperial court.

After the Yizhi was delivered, a few days later, Liu Guan also secretly returned to Guzang. This night, when he saw Xie Changgeng in the study of Jiedu’s envoy, regardless of the tiredness of the journey, he was busy in the wind and dust. I told you about the journey to Shangjing.

After Zhang Ban met with him, the next day, Empress Liu received a memorial from Xie Changgeng from Hexi.

This is also a petition.

He said that a few days ago, he had successively captured several fine works in Guzang. He thought they were sent by people from the north, but he didn’t pay attention at first, but later he traced it and revealed clues. I have a mind of being chaotic. He was deeply bewildered, and in order to avoid more suspicion in the future, he had already taken a printed letter in the Jiedu envoy’s residence, asking for his resignation.

After Liu Hou received the letter, he called Zhang Ban into the palace to discuss matters on the spot, and then there was a scene where King Qi confessed his guilt.

Speaking of this, Liu Guanji was very excited.

“My lord, we have long been eyeing King Qi’s detailed work, but you didn’t move before, and I’m still a little puzzled. It turns out that it came in handy at this time. It can be said that it kills two birds with one stone. Both eyes are only focused on King Qi, and King Qi will not worry about it in the future.”

Xie Changgeng smiled, his eyes flickered slightly, and then asked, “What do you say about Zhao Xitai in Changsha?”

Liu Guan immediately said: “I mentioned Zhang Ban. When Zhang Ban was speaking in front of Liu Hou, he specifically mentioned that the Prince of Qi is now in Changsha, or he has other plans. Liu Hou was very unhappy and asked at that time. King Qi, if Dao was only treating the disease, why didn’t he invite the genius doctor to the palace of King Qi, but asked the prince to drag the sick body thousands of miles to seek medical treatment in person? King Qi was extremely frightened and explained in various ways. The son is recalled.”

Liu Guan recounted what he heard from Zhang Ban later, but he was still a little puzzled. I don’t know why Jiedushi was so focused on Zhao Xitai and did not allow him to stay in Changsha for treatment.

After he finished speaking, he looked at Jiedu Shi, and saw that his expression was flat, he just nodded and smiled: “It’s been hard for you these days, it’s not too late, I’m fine here, you go to rest first.”

Before Liu Guan resigned, he took out the letter Zhang Ban asked him to forward that night and handed it over.

Xie Changgeng stayed in the study alone, opened the letter, and glanced at it, his face suddenly became extremely ugly, the originally reluctantly happy mood suddenly turned bad.

He read it again, slowly folded the letter, put it away, suppressed the anger in his heart, concentrated for a moment, got up and left the study.

He returned to the bedroom, but his heart was still extremely stuffy, and it was difficult to relieve him. Knowing that he was afraid that he would not be able to sleep that night, he simply came out, ordered his entourage to prepare horses, and set off for Xiu Tucheng overnight.

The next day, when he arrived at Xiu Tu City, the deputy general Liu An learned that the Jiedu envoy was coming, and brought people out of the city to welcome him.

Xie Changgeng rode his horse to the border, climbed a high hill, and looked into the distance.

He opened his mouth and asked the Beiren’s recent movements.

Liu An said: “The last commander has something to do, and I want to send a letter to the adults to discuss it. It’s a coincidence that the adults themselves are here today. The northerners have not been doing much recently, but the last commander is a little worried about the Mahe Valley. There is also a settlement of the natives. This place is a place of hidden dangers. In my humble opinion, it is best to relocate all the natives there and build a garrison as soon as possible, otherwise, if the war starts in the future, if the northerners think of using the Mahe Valley as a breakthrough point and bribing the natives to pass through, the iron cavalry will be destroyed. It will be driven directly, which is extremely disadvantageous to the defenders here.”

“Have you tried contacting them?”

Xie Changgeng asked the direction of the river valley in the distance at the end of his line of sight.

Liu An nodded, then shook his head again.

“The end will go there in person, and won’t even let you in at the intersection.”

He glanced at Jiedushi, saw that his brows were slightly frowned, and whispered: “It’s been a while since Madam left? Why didn’t Jiedushi bring Madam back…”

Xie Changgeng glanced at him. He hurriedly shut up.

“Let’s go, go to Mahe Valley and see.”

Xie Changgeng stopped for a moment, then drove his horse forward.

The next day, he returned to his aunt and sat for a while in the study of the Jiedu envoy’s mansion. Without any hesitation, he took a pen and wrote a letter, sealed it, called the steward, and ordered him to send a messenger as soon as possible. Hit the road quickly, send the letter to Changsha, and give it to Mu Fulan.

The steward hurriedly took the letter, handed another letter he had just received, and turned away.

When Xie Changgeng looked at the special seal on the seal, he recognized that Zhu Liuhu, who was staying in Yuecheng, came from the special path he told him.

He’s been waiting. But it took so long before another letter came.

Feeling slightly unhappy, he opened the letter.

Zhu Liuhu said in the letter that there is still nothing special about Changsha recently. Only a few days ago, the land of the Sanmiao in the south was famine and malaria, and came to ask for help. Mu Xuanqing borrowed food to help them overcome the disaster. He went to Liancheng in the south for medical treatment. At that time, he was caught in the crowd and witnessed the scene of Weng Zhu’s departure.

Lord Weng was accompanied by a boy of about four years old. He inquired extensively and found that the boy’s name was Xi’er, who was the adopted son recognized by Lord Weng. According to the time, she should have met him on the way back from Hexi.

On the same day, he also saw Yuan Handing set off with Lord Weng, and he should be the one who accompanied him.

Xie Changgeng’s eyes stopped on the last few lines of the letter, he narrowed his eyes and concentrated for a long time, the letter paper was squeezed into a ball in his hand.

He stood up slowly, walked out, and instructed the servant girl outside, “Call the steward back for me! Prepare for me, I’m going to a long trip!”