Chapter 120 secret letter from the capital

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, no matter whether it is an emperor, a public official or a peddler, every household has to be idle, even the New Year’s greetings have to start tomorrow, but two carriages have already quietly left Liangzhou, and rushed to Lingshou in the dust. On one carriage, in addition to nominally serving Xu Fenian’s food, clothing, housing and transportation Huyan Guanyin, there is also a woman who said she wanted to leave the royal residence to get a breath of fresh air, two women of comparable stature, the literati light women are jealous of each other is the nature of, but Xu Fenian went to discuss the affairs of Lingshou with Xu Beihao, did not pay attention to them, so it does not matter whether they are cordial and amicable or rivalry between them. According to the agreement, several official documents of the Northern Liang Dao will reach Huangnan County on the sixth day of the first month, in addition to the promotion of the governor Song Yan to the “small assassin” Lingshou Farewell, Zijin Wang Wang Luting is also going to be appointed as a weaver of the Golden Witch Hazel, and the two family disciples of the Lingsu Wang Clan are going to serve as a magistrate of the lower and the upper counties of the Youliang County, respectively, together with the lieutenant Jiao Wuyi to enter Lingshou! General House, high rise for the third hand of the military officers of Lingzhou smoke Xia lieutenant, by then fools can also see that the new general of Lingzhou, this is the iron will to be part of the assassin of Lingzhou, the Secretary General of the Lord to give a slow braised old king of the fire.

The second day of the first month, Lingzhou lively, some according to common sense that the road is far, can be a few days later to pay a visit to the Lord Li’s dignitaries, are coincidentally crowded on the same day hurriedly came, by the strategic make the residence of the traffic, the Li House steward and concierge has been counted especially for the eight-faced cleverness of the goods, but still not to be overly entertained, one hated to be born out of the three-headed six-armed, Li Gongde from the early morning without a moment’s rest, busy to the dusk, the Lord Li’s generals, and his friends and friends, and his friends and friends. A lot of old friends and friends and beloved disciples of the old officials, can only mean to drink a mouth of wine even if to deal with the past, otherwise Li Gongde even if the amount of sea, but also can not carry the guests of the rounds of the array, Li Hanlin this year did not go home to celebrate the New Year, wrote a letter of neat handwriting and deep foundation to look at it is written by someone else’s family letter back, said it is to go to the North Mangnan dynasty side of the game, look at the Li Negative really jumped with fright, and could not wait to carry this younger brother’s ears to pull him! Dragged home, the family book put down to pick up and put down, Li Negative really some grudges, she did as her father said, do not understand what they men in the end, why obviously can be peaceful and stable, enjoy the shade of the father’s generation of work in the field of smooth sailing, but also have to go to their own risk to earn a reputation. Li Negative true in her father was not easy to catch his breath, served a cup of tea to relieve alcohol, help him rub his shoulders, softly asked: “Father, why came so many people? Is it because you’ve become a big official that they all had to compete to be the first? Afraid to come late and get your shoes worn?”

Li Gongde smiled bitterly and shook his head, “Didn’t you see that the old scholar Yuan Deqing came today, with his big frame of mind, even if your father became the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who has now become the head of the six ministries, this old man would still be the last to come to the door slowly and slowly in order to appear to be high-minded enough. The reason why all rushed together, is to take advantage of our neighbors that mansion owner is not in, afraid of His Highness returned to Lingzhou general residence in two days, they show up again, not afraid of ten thousand is afraid of the eventuality ah, in case the new official to the Lingzhou general coincidentally bumped into, is not asking for boredom? Your father to wear small shoes, but is a pressure on their career climb, but the neighbor that, can directly let them lose their official hat.”

Li Neg Zhen sneered, “He really can do this kind of rude and unreasonable thing.”

Li Gongde laughed: “Wrong ah, very wrong, Zhen Er, father knows that you never take father’s words seriously, this time, since father has let Guo Fufeng into the family on your face, then you this time will seriously listen to father say a few words from the bottom of his heart, how?”

Li Negative Zhen gave a hmmm.

Li Gongde drank a mouthful of tea, slowed down the breath, only then leisurely said: “Dad as the North Liang Road Secretary, is the head of the civil officials, according to the law of the assassin of Lingzhou must be someone else, but why dad dead face all want to concurrently with this official position? Dad has an official addiction of course not false, but the other son of His Highness has come next door to our home as a general of Lingzhou, according to reason, dad even more thick skin, should take over the ladder downstairs is wise, but dad really do not feel at ease ah, nearly 1,000 scholars to enter the Northern Liang, and the majority of the Lingzhou, and the future of the Northern Liang civil and military division, the two sides are clearly distinguish between the two sides is the general trend, dad if not the post of assassins of the Lingzhou, the talk of the usefulness of the usefulness of the work is still quite useful, but surely to Great discount, dad himself shallow, not compared to the stream of Wang Xihua that has the advantage, if you miss this cultivation of cronies of a great opportunity, in the future, such as Xu Bei Hoven or whoever replaced the father’s position of the Secretary of the position, the Li family may have to quickly be ridden on the head of the shit and urine, not afraid of tree down rats Sun Sasa, afraid of the wall down the people push, when the Hanlin want to hold up our family, it will be very tired. Your brother has a force, dad does not doubt that he can be a lieutenant or even a general, but dad is his son, he can not be on the border all his life licking blood from the mouth, back to the local, and then it is a strange officialdom, Hanlin a used to killing martial arts, may not be able to come around the bend, so dad is thinking of while they still have the weight of the words, hurry up to Hanlin’s future paved the way to build good bridges, and in the future! The future of the Hanlin, regardless of the mountain is water, the Hanlin go up to the smooth. But dad at this time no lingshou assassin, you think those mercenary people will not be in the heart of the snobbish? So father even if the great general personally came to the house, personally give his highness backing, is still forcing himself to eat bear heart and leopard guts, is to be shy face to be the assassin for another year or two, at least to be mixed with the gang of scholars and scholars a familiar face, only to vacate this chair. And his highness, unexpectedly, really can also endure, in fact, if he really want to tear his face, open the door with your father to this Lingshou assassin, dad dare not hand over, either deliberately playful, with your dad half-true and half-false that he when the Lingshou general is not addicted to, want to get another assassin when when, dad as well as have to be hands on. But he did not do anything, dad began to think that finally over the pass, is dad think too simple, when you tell dad he appeared in the home of Song Yan, the two also talk happily, dad will know bad, funny, when dad and Yan Jiexi has been in the dark fight, each betting on his luck, betting on Chen Zhi Bao, dad unique eyes, betting on His Highness the son of the world, Yan Jiexi a look at the situation is not right, immediately! The first time he saw the situation is not right, immediately, he rolled his own store and rolled away, but this guy is lucky, he escaped from Beilang, or else dad even if he kneels for three days and three nights to give him a plea, but also do not help. At that time, I told him that our son’s highness is not so supportive, and privately I always like to slander Yan Jiexi’s lack of eyesight, and as a result, I realized that I was only laughing at 50 paces, and that his highness had gone to Huangnan County this time, and had abducted the three masters of the Huangnan County family, plus Song Yan, who is estimated to become the assassin of Lingshou County, so he is very powerful. Zhen’er, you always think that Hanlin has gone to the border, it’s His Highness who has scourged him, but have you ever wondered why Hanlin, such a stubborn bull’s-eye kind of guy, has suddenly changed into a different person? The reason is not complicated, you know in your heart, just not willing to admit it. You talk to your mother that your brother felt that went to the capital Yan Ji Ji and that Kong family boy have become an official, have a bright future, Hanlin feel lost face, so a bite to get stronger. You really don’t know the former Hanlin, can’t wait for the three brothers to get ahead of the lawlessness, he was a light dabbling in food, and then he can be a natural mixed food and drink, this life is a mess even if it’s free to go by. For him at that time, his brother made good, more proud than he himself made good. Why will go to the border, why will become a crossbowman, no it, it is Hanlin know the three brothers, his closest admiration of His Highness, are already can be alone, Hanlin is that time only began to wake up, plus he has been in the learning of His Highness, His Highness fooling around, he fooled around, since His Highness is not fooling around, he naturally have to feel boring, so he became his father and his sister do not know Li Hanlin. I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to get a good deal on this. Zhen’er, you dare to say that today’s Li Hanlin, did not let you feel pleased? Don’t you feel honored? So ah, you have what to blame His Highness, in the end, or so many years in your heart …….”

Li Negative true said flatly: “Father, tea is cold, I help you change a cup.”

Li Gongde handed over the cup of tea, gently sighed, the strong twisted melon is not sweet, then their own twisted melon? Li Gongde retracted his thoughts, muttered: “Forget it, things have come to this, not this Lingshou assassin or good, hurry to let out, but also be remembered by the Xu family a favor. It’s time to return a peaceful and stable officialdom to Lingzhou.”

The old steward He Chang face indignation stood outside the door, knocked on the door, wait until Li Gongde turned his head, said: “Master, there is a door certificate on the self-proclaimed to be the master of the late life of the guy who live to see on the master on the side of the first shot to give the small twenty two gold, put the small scared, if it is usual, this gold will be given to the master to earn, but today, where is the turn to his turn to bother the master ah, a There is no merit and no family only some money of the scholar, also worthy of showing off in our Li House, really do not know what is good and bad, today, but even the sixth grade official can not say two words.”

Li Gongde waved his hand, He Chang also turned to leave, then Yo let out a sound, woke up and said, “By the way, master, that thirty-something year old young man said that he is called Xu Hun, is our Lingzhou Danyang County, also swore that he has no shame and said that as long as he said this, the master will definitely see him.”

Li Gongde was absentmindedly sipping tea with his head bowed, his fingers trembled, and just as the old steward He Chang was about to drive the unknowing scion out of the residence, he didn’t realize that the Lord of the Jingliu Envoy raised his head and calmly said, “Lead him here.”

The old steward let out an oh and dared not say anything more, pulling his legs up and turning around, and then he heard Li Gongde ask softly, “The Lingshu General’s Mansion is still empty?”

He Chang nodded and said, “It’s empty, that General Lingzhou hasn’t returned yet.”

Li Gongde nodded, waiting for the loyal old steward to leave, put the teacup on the table, stood up to Li Negative Zhen joked and laughed: “Father still has to greet guests, you are not always disgusted with father’s dog-eyed look down on the humble Guo Fufeng, take him to see your mother. The woman is not in the middle, father turned a blind eye, when the pain of this pot of water you splashed out of the family.”

Put aside in the usual, Li Negative true sure to be happy to show on the face, at this time by intuition, asked in a low voice: “Father, this is called Xu Hun Danyang County guests?”

Li Gongde smiled blandly and said, “The son and brother of an old friend, had to see.”

Li Negative True was skeptical and left the house worriedly. The old steward quickly brought Xu Hun, who did not look like a nobleman at all, and Lord Jingliu Envoy, who had already sat back in his chair, narrowed his eyes and looked carefully, hesitated for a moment, and held the lid of the cup with both fingers, shaking the tea, which was already slightly cold.

The old steward wisely walked away, and the normal-looking Xu Hun gently stepped into the room, closed the door of his own accord, and smiled, “Xu Hun thanks Uncle Shih.”

Li Gongde did not speak from start to finish, drinking tea with his head bowed. Inside has long been turbulent, this Xu Hun is very strange to the whole Lingzhou, I’m afraid that not many people recognize, even if they have seen one side, no one will remember, but Li Gongde is different from the general public, when the Northern Liang set up the Golden Witch Weaving Bureau, located in Danyang County, according to the court’s original intention, the Golden Witch Weaving Li Xifeng should have been to the capital Royal Secretariat, no matter how small, on time and secret folding of the military situation in the territory of the Northern Liang, officials and money, food and impeachment, as well as scholars, recommendations and customs. As well as all the dynamics of the scholars recommendations and customs, but Li Xifeng is probably a fence, and know that Xu Snapdragon is not to be messed with, has been doing nothing, hard to a power gloomy weaving bureau into a door can be sparrows of the Qing Shui Yamen, but it is the New Year’s festivals, symbolic pay a visit to the Yan Jiexi Li Kung Tak, these local bigwigs, Li Xifeng often traveled in Beiliang mountains and rivers, and never intentionally hiding, once with the then Li Xifeng often traveled in the mountains and rivers of Northern Liang, and never intentionally hide, and once met with Li Gongde, who was still the governor of Fengzhou, Li Xifeng had a horseman show up for no reason, and intentionally or unintentionally named him, introducing him as a descendant of his distant relative’s family, called Xu Hun. Li Gongde was silent for a long time and finally raised his head, locking eyes with Xu Hun as the man handed something to the Lord Minister of Jingliu, “It’s the personal handwriting of the Chief Minister Zhang Julu, and Huan Wen of the Gate Province has also attached a message.”

Xu Hun saw that Li Gongde showed no signs of taking it over at all, smiled, carefully placed it on the table, and calmly said, “If Lord Secretary General cannot trust the secret letter, there is no rush, you can find a way to privately verify the handwriting and seal. If you don’t trust Li Xifeng, you can take down Xu Hun and send him to the general’s residence in Lingzhou next door. If you don’t trust Xu Hun, you can send him to the Golden Wisp Weaving Bureau and then send him to Chu Lushan. If you can’t trust the imperial court, Lord Jingliu can read the secret letter before making a decision.”

Li Gongde chimed in with a cold smile.

Xu Hun took it in stride.

A tea hot and cold, Li Gongde glanced at the desk, blandly asked: “Why are there two secret letters? And what is written inside?”

Xu Hun laughed, “Xu Hun is just a messenger, even if he dies, he won’t know what is written in the letter, and Li Xifeng has never touched the secret letter from beginning to end. As for why there are two secret letters, since Lord Jingliu asked about it, it shows that there is sincerity, so Xu Hun will have to die.”

Li Gongde frowned, “What do you mean by that?”

Xu Hun calmly said, “Xu Hun has avoided all the spies from Qingzhou on this trip, please rest assured, Your Excellency. I might as well tell you the truth, the Lu Family in Qingzhou was attacked, the Northern Liang Peregrine Falcons suffered heavy deaths and injuries, and Zhao Hook was even more so. In fact, the main reason was not to stop the Lu Family from going to Liang, but to attract the attention of Lingshou, so that Xu Hun’s trip would be foolproof. But this is not enough, the court let me in the adults you intend to accept the secret letter before telling why the secret letter has two. One is real and the other is fake. Vermilion red clay seal color is heavy for true, light for false. That fake letter is used as a strategy to make the Lord sent to the hand of the Prince of Northern Liang, of course, in addition to a secret letter is not enough to let the Lord cleared of suspicion, so Xu Hun to die, the gold strand weaving Li Xifeng also to die, and even the entire gold strand weaving bureau from now on will cease to exist. But Li Xifeng has suffered, a weaving bureau, let the court more a temple pillar, at the same time let the Northern Liang less a Secretary General, worth it!”

Xu Hun spat out a giant poisonous pill used as a temporary self-execution from his mouth, peeled it off to reveal a small ball of paper, shattered the pill and hid it in his sleeve, read what was written on the paper, stuffed the ball of paper into his mouth, swallowed it down into his stomach, and said with an expressionless face, “The day after tomorrow.”

Li Gongde did not speak.

Xu Hun explained, “The day after tomorrow the Prince of Northern Liang arrives in Lingshou, Xu Hun will quietly leave today and come back the day after tomorrow, Lord Jingliang Envoy will tie up and send Xu Hun forward to the General’s Mansion in Lingshou at that time, after Xu Hun’s death, the Golden Wisp Weaving Bureau will have a batch of residual dead soldiers, as well as a batch of elite Zhao Hooks, to take Lord Jingliang Envoy out of Northern Liang. But only a maximum of eighteen people can be brought along. In order to leave smoothly, Lord Li will have to cooperate with us and give up his official position as the Assassin of Lingzhou first, then stay in Lingzhou for at least half a year, and go out more often during this period of time to loosen the surveillance of Northern Liang spies. When exactly Zhao Hook is suitable to strike, someone will naturally inform Lord Li at that time.”

Li Gongde sneered, “It seems that the court has accidentally forgotten about my son, Li Hanlin!”

Xu Hun laughed, “Sir Li has already received military orders to travel to the Southern Dynasty to act in secret, and will first stop in Gusei Prefecture, then travel east along the northern border of Youliang all the way into Jizhou, and ultimately rendezvous with Sir Li in the capital.”

Li Gongde closed his eyes, the lid of his cup gently tapping on the rim of his teacup, and said with a slight self-deprecation, “Last time, Yan Jiexi only brought out sixteen people, the court cares a lot about this official na.”

Xu Hun was silent.

Li Gongde laughed: “Let this official calculate, now I Li Gongde has been a second grade official, and then go up, as early as Beiliang is not to think about, but there are not a few positions in the capital side, in which the six ministries of the Ministry in addition to the Ministry of the Ministry of Justice recently elevated by half a grade, the other can not be handled, well, I think that the fake secret letter should be held up to the Ministry of Justice, and perhaps even more! Li Gongde’s official addiction in his life is small, but he really didn’t think that one day he would be able to get a high position alongside the big shots like Biyeye’er Sun Xizi.”

Xu Hun didn’t say a word when he shouldn’t have.

Li Gongde laughed and asked, “Aren’t you afraid that this official will send you to His Highness the Prince with a letter right now?”

Xu Hun blandly said, “It’s all death, so what’s the harm in Xu Hun dying two days earlier?”

Li Gongde stared deathly at his face for a moment and nodded.

“Thank you, Lord Li for letting Xu Hun die as he deserves.”

Xu Hun made a deep bow, gently opened and closed the door, and quietly left this Jingliu Envoy’s residence.

Li Gongde stood up, walked over to the table, stretched out a hand, scalded it and quickly retracted it once, then slowly reached out again, only always stopping a few inches above the two secret letters, his face obscure.