Thousands of Mountains

When the imperial guards from the Nancheng Patrol Battalion came back one after another, they saw Yuan Yuanshan, the commander-in-chief who had been shot at the entrance of the center, kneeling at the gate of the camp.

The rain was still falling, and the night was so deep that we couldn't see people's faces clearly when we faced each other. The soldiers stepped forward to support Yuan Yuanshan, but he was already out of breath. His face was pale, and there were several severe stab wounds all over his body. , even without that gun, I'm afraid I won't be able to survive tomorrow.

The Imperial Army didn't dare to delay, and with such a cruel method, they poked people at the gate of the camp in a humiliating manner. This was a naked declaration of war. They sent people back to the imperial city overnight and reported to the commander Xin Shangyun.

Xin Shangyun was shocked when he heard the words, and rode his horse to the patrol camp in Nancheng. When he saw Yuan Yuanshan's body in the barracks, which had already been completely cold, the sky had already turned pale.

He frowned, the long spear in the center of Yuanyuan Mountain had been pulled out, leaving a black hole, black and red blood coagulated around it, and dozens of exquisite veins pierced the skin and veins on his body, even if he was alive It also makes people unable to practice martial arts with sword wounds, the technique is extremely ingenious.

Xin Shangyun had his own answer in his heart, but the other party was blatant, but concealed his figure and gave him a "return gift" - whatever you send, will be doubled back.

The prince who had always looked weak and had nothing to rely on was so vengeful, far beyond Xin Shangyun's expectations. He calmed down and looked at the cold Yuanyuan Mountain, and his mood was not much better than this cold corpse and the weather.

Although it would not be necessary to kill Yuan Yuanshan again, but since the other party made his attitude clear, he felt that this matter was much more complicated than expected.

Xin Shangyun told the patrol battalion not to say anything about the killing of the general soldier. He wanted to discuss it with Elder Qi Ge after the next court, not to mention that Yuan Yuanshan's father was the commander of the capital, Yuan Ping. For his death, he must give a sufficiently reasonable explanation.

After leaving the patrol camp, at some point, the miserable autumn rain had stopped, a round of thin sun shone faintly on one side, and Xin Shangyun's hair was already grey. The person I was waiting for was now lying in front of his eyes covered in blood, feeling a little dazed for a moment, did he really think he was old?

Unexpectedly, before entering the palace, there was a person waiting for him outside the palace gate.

Zhao Lun did not salute, but asked directly, "Did Yuan Yuanshan die last night?"

Xin Shangyun was slightly taken aback, and said coldly, "Master Zhao is well informed."

"Is it important to be psychic or not? Why did this happen?" Zhao Lun's voice was quite annoyed.

Xin Shangyun didn't want to go back to him, if his teacher Qi Yanzhi, Xin Shangyun might have told him frankly, but for this rude young man, he just snorted coldly and went forward on his own.

Zhao Lun stared at Xin Shangyun's back, flicked the sleeves of his official robe, and followed into the palace.

Chen Ze was still in charge of politics behind the hanging curtain, he seemed to be reclining on a couch, only a silhouette could be seen from a distance.

The ministers talked about the situation in the northwest and the anti-Japanese war in the southeast, and quarreled over whether to raise the tax in the south of the Yangtze River. Xin Shangyun stood silently in the meantime.

When the court was about to leave, Chen Ze suddenly asked for some reason, "How is the defense of the central Beijing patrol now?"

Xin Shangyun hurriedly stepped forward, just as he was about to hand over his hands and say that everything is fine, but saw Taifu Liang Luoshu rushing out, shouting loudly, "Your Majesty, I am waiting to report a miracle!"

Xin Shangyun frowned deeply, what kind of way is this old master blocking?

Liang Luoshu's eyes were wide open, and he spoke righteously, "Last night there was a series of turmoil in Nancheng, murders in gambling houses, street brawls, fires in oil factories... The Nancheng patrol battalion that has just been transferred from Beicheng has just taken over, and it is even more bizarre. The most surprising thing is that Yuan Yuanshan, the chief soldier of the patrol battalion, was assassinated at the gate of the camp. Is it a display for our Daning Imperial Army to patrol?"

Xin Shangyun's heart beat violently, what a villain to sue first!

The person behind the hanging curtain sat up from the couch, and asked sharply, "Xin Shangyun! Why didn't I hear you mention this matter this morning?"

Xin Shangyun hurriedly knelt down on the ground and replied, "Back to the emperor, there has always been a mixed bag of fish and dragons in the Nancheng area. Last night, the patrol battalion only dealt with various disputes overnight after receiving the report. Regarding the assassination and death of the general soldier Yuan Yuanshan, the minister only came to the court before entering the court." Knowing that, I haven't had time to investigate carefully in the future, I thought I would report to the Holy Spirit after the minister's investigation is clear..."

Before the words were finished, a middle-aged military general among the courtiers rushed out. He forgot to salute, and with a trembling voice, he asked Xin Shangyun in disbelief, "Lord Xin, what are you talking about? Yuanshan...is dead!" ?

Xin Shangyun only felt a "buzz" in his head, damn it, Liang Luoshu only said that he was assassinated, but he said that he was killed. In today's court, Yuan Ping will not let him go.

Liang Luoshu played this hand skillfully, Xin Shangyun raised his head and looked at Liang Luoshu with fire in his eyes.

Yuan Ping stumbled towards Xin Shangyun, and asked again, "Master Xin, speak up! Yuan Shan, what happened?!"

Xin Shangyun didn't dare to look Yuan Ping in the eyes. If it wasn't for his best friend, Yuan Ping would not have sent the eldest son to his military camp. Why did such a thing suddenly happen now!

Xin Shangyun finally turned his head and said to Yuan Ping in a hoarse voice, "Brother Yuan, last night, Yuan Shan was assassinated by a traitor...and died."

Yuan Ping staggered back a step, knelt down on his knees with a bang, his whole body was trembling, with tears running down his face, he cupped his hands and said to Chen Ze, "Your Majesty, my son Yuanshan was loyal to the country, and now he was assassinated by an unknown villain. We need to investigate thoroughly!"

Then he pointed to Xin Shangyun, "Master Xin, you and I have been in the same robe for many years. I entrusted Yuanshan to you in the hope that I could get your teaching and support in your army, and not just let him charge when chaos occurs. At the forefront, being a target for others and being assassinated!"

"Crack!" Chen Ze patted the table on the bed, and the hall fell silent.

After hanging the curtain, Chen Ze stood up, pacing back and forth, showing anger.

"You..." He pointed to the two kneeling in the middle, "As the commander of the imperial army, he couldn't manage a Nancheng for so many years, and now the disaster has come to him, and the dignified general died in the chaos. What kind of system! I won the Shulelang Kingdom in the northwest and stopped the pirates in the southeast, but I fell in a mere southern city, Mr. Xin, you made me look good!"

Xin Shangyun was covered in cold sweat, but he still risked his life and said, "I have the courage to report that the death of the commander-in-chief may not be due to the chaos in the southern city, and someone may deliberately assassinate him." Prince Chen Ji.

Chen Ji's expression remained unmoved, Liang Luoshu said again, "Master Xin's remarks are even more strange. Yu Gong, who dares to openly assassinate the imperial army? Yu private, does the commander-in-chief Yuan Yuanshan have such a big personal enmity with anyone?"

Yuan Ping said again at this time, "Master Xin, why do you need to argue, when did Yuan Shan have a personal enmity with others, and he only knows how to study and practice martial arts on weekdays..."

Chen Ze interrupted again, "Yuan Ping, I know that you suddenly heard the news of the death of your son, and your heart is hard to calm down. I also promise you that I will investigate this matter thoroughly, but you must calm down and wait until the truth comes out. Do not interfere with any investigation."

Yuan Ping agreed with tears, and everyone in the court was quite sympathetic. The eldest son of the family died in such an unknown way, and he was told by others above the court, and he would not be able to accept it anyway.

Unexpectedly, Qi Yanzhi came out at this time, cupped his hands and said to Chen Ze, "Your Majesty, Mr. Xin has been with the late emperor and the emperor for more than ten years since the time of the first emperor. I don't take the safety of the emperor and the world as my own responsibility, and I never dare to slack off. Now that Nancheng has been governed for a long time, I think that Mr. Xin will always think of it like a stick in his throat. Today, such a big case, as the commander of the imperial army, naturally bears the crime of dereliction of duty It is hard to shirk the blame, and what I said just now is not to evade, but," he paused, and continued, "whether it is because of the chaos in Nancheng, or because others are seeking revenge, we need to investigate at this time before we can come to a conclusion .”

Xin Shangyun said earnestly to Chen Ze again, "The ministers and my colleagues please submit."

"Okay! I approve of you, Dali Temple Minister Jiang Wansheng, and send someone to assist Mr. Xin to thoroughly investigate this matter."

Jiang Wansheng came out and took the order to thank you.

Both Xin Shangyun and Qi Yanzhi retreated, but Liang Luoshu was still standing in the court hall. Chen Ze sat back on the couch and asked, "Does the Grand Tutor have anything else to report?"

Liang Luoshu was in high spirits today, the ridges on his face seemed to be a few layers shallower, and he said brightly, "Since the Northwest Emergency Military Report that day, when the ministers and the emperor discussed the replacement of the commander of the Northern Battalion at the Yishi Pavilion, they realized that Now that the talents in the court are dying, Li Ningyuan, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, has proposed to the cabinet many times whether the ministers can recommend young talents as a reserve of talents in the court. Mr. Qi Ge has not reported this matter to the emperor, and now it has come out again. The chaos in Nancheng is just at the time of employing people, so I dare to ask the emperor for instructions today, is it feasible?"

Chen Ze closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "This method is feasible, and it is not necessary to pass the palace test to employ people in the court. There are extraordinary methods in extraordinary times." Then he said, "Li Ningyuan, is there a shortage of people now?"

Li Ningyuan, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, came out and said, "Returning to the emperor, there are many vacancies in all the ministries. Whenever there is an emergency, I will ask the minister for someone, and the minister is really embarrassed."

Chen Ze nodded, and asked the ministers, "Do you have any recommendations?"

After this question, Hulala rushed out several people, scrambling to say, "The emperor has it!"

Chen Ze waved his hand and pointed at Liang Luoshu, "Teacher comes first."

Liang Luoshu said calmly, "I wonder if the emperor still remembers the young hero who replaced the crown prince at the engagement ceremony between Prince Yunye and Princess Zhegui?"

Chen Ze raised his eyebrows, "I remember that the prince's guards took the place on stage."

Liang Luoshu nodded and said, "That's true. This person's name is Yin Cen, and his style name is Pingshan. He is not only outstanding in martial arts, but also has a great literary talent. There was a poem saying that singing during the day requires drinking too much, and returning home with youth is still fresh in my memory."

Chen Ze suddenly remembered, "I heard this poem mentioned by the King of Han, and it turned out to be this person."

Liang Luoshu went a step further, "I have been teaching His Highness the Crown Prince's studies for many years, and Yin Cen occasionally attends lectures with him. When talking about national policies and political theories, the old ministers are impressed. Such talents must not be buried."

"There is such a thing? A little bodyguard is so good at both civil and military? Prince, what do you think?" Chen Ze turned his head and asked Chen Ji.

Chen Ji turned around and bowed slightly to Chen Ze, and said, "Returning to my father, what the Taifu said is correct. In fact, the Taifu had intended to recommend him to the court, but Yin Cen has always refused to do so on the grounds that he must take good care of the safety of his sons and ministers." Become an official."

"From this point of view, this person is indifferent, Li Ningyuan, is there a suitable clerical vacancy?" Chen Ze asked again.

Li Ningyuan said, "Back to the emperor, there are quite a lot of vacancies for civil positions. According to my ministers, this person is still young, and it is not appropriate to be too ostentatious when he just entered the official position. It is feasible to be a seventh-rank supervisory censor."

Chen Ze thought for a while, and replied, "Then I'll follow you. Let the supervisor of ceremonies draw up an edict and pass it on later. As the recommended person, Liang Taifu must teach him well and strictly control him. Please let me know how this person actually is." Zhong Aiqing has a judgment after the trial."

He also told Gao Ren that those who were to be recommended by the other courtiers should be brought together to the Ministry of Officials, and then handed over to the Supervisor of Rites and transferred to the cabinet for discussion.

When Grand Tutor Liang and Chen Ji were talking just now, Xin Shangyun looked at Qi Yanzhi silently, and said nothing to the other party. Xin Shangyun felt quite aggrieved in his heart. He is a blade, but he is not willing to be a chess piece. Now he is being beaten up , the resentment in my heart is really hard to dispel.

Today's morning court was extremely long. After the court was over, Chen Ji and Liang Taifu still walked slowly at the end. The two did not talk. After leaving the palace, a young man in black with a knife stood beside an ordinary carriage in the vermilion corner, Chen Ji As soon as he saw someone, he walked over quickly with an unconcealable smile. Behind him, Liang Taifu half-closed his eyes at Yin Cen, stroked his beard, and smiled like a spring breeze.

Chen Ji and Yin Cen turned to get on the carriage, looked back at the Taifu, and the three of them nodded slightly to each other.