Chapter 122: Winning and Losing

Li Gongde was placed on the corridor outside the study by Sun Fulu, Xu Hun was given a five-fold tie, injured and blood-stained lapel, surrounded by one of Li Gongde’s beloved escorts who was eyeing the spy Xu Hun. This person is the real small master, cultivation is not bad, in the Lingshou Jianghu has been nicknamed with the monkey Liantang gang master, but one in the residence of the Secretary for the still enjoy the glory and wealth, a night full of annihilation, dead, visible when the watchdog of the family dog, compared to when a wild dog without support to be too comfortable. Li Gongde looked quite calm, closed his eyes and stared, just two fists shrunk in the cuffs of the sleeve loosened and clenched, at the end of the corridor leaning against that white horse righteousness from the Hong Shuwen, like a tail of poisonous snakes waiting for an opportunity to move. When Hong Shuwen stood up straight, Li Gongde suddenly opened his eyes, when he saw His Highness the son of the world carrying Xu Beihao returned, and imagined the scene fell too far, inevitably a little confused. Li Gongde in the end is the official field of dye tank rolling knife rolled over, immediately collect his mind, let the personal guards leave first, the old man this time did not take the tone to elder self, but solemnly whisked his clothes and vibrated his sleeve, knelt on the ground, and said in a deep voice: “Li Gongde came to tell His Highness the son of the world to confess his sins, I hope that His Highness will remember in more than twenty years of love, to save a save Li Hanlin! ”

Li Gongde could not see Xu Fengyen’s expression, His Highness the son of the world probably first handed over the drunken Xu Beihao to Hong Shuwen, and then walked quickly, holding the arms of the Lord Minister of Economy and Strategy, trying to assist him to get up, but Li Gongde tried his best to kneel with his head bowed down, and only heard His Highness the son of the world ask anxiously, “Why is Uncle Li acting like this, how can Fengyen afford to do this? And what happened to Hanlin? Uncle Li get up and speak!”

Li Gongde vaguely with a sobbing voice said, “Your Highness, if you do not agree to go save my son Hanlin, Li Gongde is kneeling to death here, will not get up!”

Xu Fengnian, who was full of wine breath, angrily said, “I can not save anyone but Hanlin, how can I just let Hanlin fall into danger? Uncle Li, why do you have to act like this? Could it be that you, as the hallowed Northern Liang Dao’s strategic envoy, are doing something that is not right for the Xu family’s weak heartedness?!”

Li Gongde raised his head and said with tears in his eyes, “Your Highness, Li Gongde has been loyal to Beiliang for twenty years, the heavens can tell, the Great General’s cultivation of the Li family is like the grace of a new creation, Li Gongde recognizes that except for the crime of greed that he does not dare to deny, there is no second thoughts about Beiliang and the Xu family!”

Xu Fengyen squatted in front of the out-of-control ambassador, gently and softly said, “Since this is the case, Uncle Li should get up and speak, first say who the kidnapped person is, why does Hanlin want me to save him, there are no outsiders here, you and I, uncle and nephew, can speak frankly. If I can’t do something, then I will go to beg Xu Snapdragon, I don’t believe in the Northern Liang who can hurt Hanlin! Who can wrong the Li family!”

Li Gongde this only trembling and frightened to get up, take the sleeve to wipe the tears, reach out to point to that Xu Hun, said in a stern voice: “This person’s name is Xu Hun, is that the gold strand weaving Li Xifeng’s close friends, but also the secret agent of the court of the Liyang, some years ago with his family to go out on a spring walk, Li Xifeng, this cunning generation even pretended to meet with me, intentionally mentioning that this person is the descendant of his distant relative’s home, and then this night! This Xu Hun even heartless madness sneaked into the residence, sent that Bieye’s handwritten letter, threatened that as long as I Li Gongde willing to defect to the North Ryang, the status of the future in the court side, compared to Yan Jiexi that bastard old man is only higher than low, and even said that Zhao hook has long been arranged for the retreat of the Li family, Li Gongde how would be so ungrateful, and at once this thief will be taken down, but the pity of my son, ah, has been a piece of paper military order to the North Mangnan Dynasty, and today Has been along the northern border forcibly escorted east, I’m afraid it won’t be long before it will be from Jizhou into the capital, Your Highness, Li Gongde although not half a bit of betrayal of Northern Liang’s intentions, but since it will be Li Xifeng and Xu Hun this group of sinister outlaws stared at, since Li Gongde the Secretary General when the incorrect, only to be they thought that they could take advantage of the situation, Your Highness and the great generals regardless of how to dispose of Li Gongde after the fact, Li Gongde absolutely no half a complaint, but the Hanlin for people how, your highness is the most clear, if he arrived in the capital, surely he will be that infuriated Bieye’s and Zhao’s heavenly son a thousand cuts, your highness, must save back Hanlin ah ……”

Xu Feng Nian exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and smiled, “So it’s this time, Uncle Li don’t worry too much, come, go sit in the study and have a cup of tea, Feng Nian will send a letter to Xu Snapdragon, Chu Lushan, and the Youzhou general Huangfu Scale respectively, and will definitely make sure that he will give back Uncle Li an unharmed and safe Hanlin Li!”

Li Gongde was about to nod his head and thank him for his kindness, then he suddenly stared at his eyes wide open, that His Royal Highness, who had never smiled and laughed in front of him, directly launched a palm to Xu Hun, five fingers into a hook, directly tore half of Xu Hun’s face off, and then it seemed to still dislike too much trouble, an immortal stroked the top, the poor Xu Hun did not say a word and then immediately died on the spot. Xu Fengyen, who had blood on his hands, carelessly wiped it on his sleeve, and then carefully held Lord Jingliu with one hand, pushed the door with one hand, and the two of them crossed the threshold together, Xu Fengyen stopped, leaned back, and laughed at Xu Yanbing: ”Troublesome Uncle Xu, let Hong Shumin send the three secret letters, and the last one is for Huangfu Weighing, saying that this son allows him to mobilize two thousand light cavalry to intercept the border. light cavalry and go out to intercept the pass. By the way, call out to the subordinates again to send a pot of hot tea over.”

Xu Yan Bing nodded.

Li Gongde whispered, “Your Highness, this person Xu Hun is clearly not an ordinary spy, earlier Li Gongde had the intention to set his words, it seems that when Yan Jiexi escaped from Beiliang, he was also personally involved, with him on hand, there is no need to worry about Li Xifeng and the Golden Wisp Weaving Bureau not giving in ah. It seems more prudent to kill them later.”

Xu Fengyen shook his head and laughed: “Uncle Li underestimated the degree of these dead soldiers mouth tight, and then in their own territory of Beilang, I don’t care what Li Xifeng what weaving bureau, even if I add those Zhao hook secret agent, as long as there is a passable reason, want to kill just kill, I’m not related to them, in any case, it is the hostile parties you die, no need to talk about love. Doing this kind of thing, depending on who is ruthless, the falcon eagle in the north of Liang outside the hands of Zhao hook, the same is this end, otherwise how to call the dead soldier, dead soldier is not called for nothing.”

Li Gongde listened to His Highness the World Son’s extraordinarily idle and bland wording, looked at the young man’s out-of-place gray head as he took his seat, and did not speak.

Xu Fengnian smiled and comforted, “If Uncle Li feels that Huangfu Scales and 2,000 elite riders are not enough, he can still send an additional 200 traveling crossbowmen and 1,000 riders.”

Li Gongde hurriedly concurred, “Good good. Alas, this messy business has really made things difficult for Your Highness.”

Xu Fenian waved his hand, Xu Yanbing personally brought tea, Xu Fenian then told him again about the order to add men and horses to urgently leave the gate.

Xu Fengyen sneered: “Good a Li Xifeng, really do not sound a stunning, in Beiliang when the head of the turtle for more than ten years, to do to specialize in doing big business, digging Xu family’s feet digging on the addiction, to give the Zhao family master an in-laws still do not know to satisfy, and now even uncle Li also refused to let go, and so on after tonight, I’m going to go to meet with a bit of this gold stranded weaving, by then he will not have Xu Hun This good life.”

Li Gongde sighed, looked towards Xu Fengnian, sincerely said: “Your Highness, in this case, although not Li Gongde’s own sins, but also self-confessed is the body of a broken name, already have no face and no desire to serve as an official, I hope that Your Highness will let Li Gongde to return to his hometown, to go to the Huangnan County to be a field house owner. In fact, in His Majesty’s down to Lingzhou, Li Gongde has already had this thought, the waves of the river pushed the waves of the front, the hearts of the people of Northern Liang, there has been a scholar into the forest of the meteorological, Li Gongde knows that the talent is shallow, the reputation is even worse than the poor, not to say that the second grade of the Secretary, that is, at that time concurrently with the post of the assassin of Lingzhou, it is difficult to convince the public. At the beginning of His Highness as a general of Lingzhou, Li Gongde thought of retiring before, at least to give His Highness to play a hand for a year or two time, but also counted in the Northern Liang two dynasties as a pile of wish, is the public heart, but also does hide a private heart, did not want His Highness just live into the general’s mansion, under the noses of the Lingzhou officialdom Li Gongde surprisingly immediately chaotic and unbearable, at that time, Li Gongde know that he is ultimately old, the ability to be too small, the seniority is also shallow, but also to be a good person to be a good person. Instead of dying and being scolded away, it would be better to implore Your Highness to be gracious today and release Li Gongde to return to his hometown to spend his days.”

Xu Fengyen gently lowered his head and blew the tea mist, smiling without saying a word.

Study room lights dim, Li Gongde hands cupped tea cups to warm, the fog steam, a small face expression of the old and young look blurred.

Li Gongde word by word, slowly said: “Your Highness, Li Gongde resigned and retired, not just to avoid suspicion, is indeed self-aware that it is difficult to be a big job, when this Beiliang Road, the first strategic ambassador adults, that is, catching the duck on the shelf, to say that Li Gongde that the world is known to all of the official addiction, but also almost addicted to it, and now the pattern of Beiliang expansion, the weather is brand-new, Li Gongde do not read much, compared to Wang Xihua these Readers are even worse than a hundred thousand miles, but a few days ago, I watched the negative true in a door on the new peach for the old charm, and figured out a previously unintelligible reasoning, the old Spring Festival couplets written again, can be a year down the wind and sun, old and unbearable, not to mention the other, just look at the lack of festivities, much less than the new couplets pleasing to the eye, and now the Beiliang vibrant, talented people in abundance, His Royal Highness has the intention of fixing the officialdom, the officialdom learning In the end, it is just to move the position of the three word essence, so as long as Li Gongde a go, not to say that the entire Beiliang officialdom can be everyone official to rise a level, the least of which His Highness in the full scholar, can be the trend to move up a move, this is when Li Gongde last for the Beiliang to do something within his power ……”

Xu Fengyen interrupted, “Let’s not talk about this first, uncle Li is still young, now say what to retire from his post and swim in the forest, it’s too early.”

Li Gongde wanted to speak again.

Xu Fengyen had an expression that he could not help but say, “I guess, Zhang Julu talked to the court to give uncle Li a minister and a university scholar title, otherwise it would be too petty.”

Li Gongde laughed, “Li Gongde did not open the secret letter, so I don’t know the content.”

Then Lord Warlord placed the secret letter in his arms on the table. Xu Fengyen casually glanced at it, and heard Li Gongde laugh for the first time tonight, “For Li Gongde to say, with the same rank as the Secretary of the Secretary’s Department of the rank of the Secretary, coupled with a silver can’t be changed to the Temple Cabinet of the University, can’t look at it, how to let Tantan Weng Huan Wen’s position to Li Gongde is more or less the same, of course, if the Chief Minister of the Lord is happy to give way to the virtuous, Li Gongde does not mind to accept, really so then, let’s let Tantan Weng Huan Wen’s position to Li Gongde. Really so then, allow Li Gongde regret once, your highness can not stop Li Gongde ah, tomorrow’s rush to the office to go.”

Xu Fengyen sipped his tea and laughed: “If Zhao family prince has this kind of vigor, hey, I really don’t stop uncle Li, we cultivate officials in Beiliang, the result is to be the chief minister of the imperial court, it is also good to hear that in the future there will not be countless scholars flocking to Beiliang to become an official? Because Beiliang is a piece of Dragon Xing blessing ah, this son is happy to them one by one in Beiliang fight for two or three decades, accumulate enough hard work, and then run to let the court politely accept the old age, comfortably enjoy the ten years of high official pay, after death, each was given by the emperor of the United States posthumously, what a good thing, the Xu family in Beiliang to benefit the Zhao family of the court to get the name, all happy well.”

Li Gongde smiled heartily.

Xu Fengyen collected his smile and said, “Uncle Li, you still feel at ease doing your strategy envoy, and Hanlin, I guarantee to help you return to Lingzhou unharmed.”

Li Gongde still wanted to speak, Xu Fengyen closed the lid of the cup and rested it on the table, with a face that could not be refused, said, “Uncle Li, it’s a deal, everything will wait for Hanlin to come back!”

Li Gongde could only stand up and bid farewell, silently leaving the study.

Xu Fengnian sent to the entrance of the study, sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

This secret matter that was enough to shake the dynasty and the countryside once it was rumored, he was the one who planned the whole situation, Xu Weixiong and Wutong Yuan were responsible for pushing through every detail. Gold Witch Weaver Li Xifeng did a business with the Northern Liang, his children and grandchildren as hostages are left in the capital, he wanted to be able to leave the Northern Liang alive, but also to let the court or the emperor is not suspicious, it is imperative to come up with a watertight solution, pulling one hair and moving the whole body, therefore, Xu Hun is a conscientious and diligent Zhao Hook big secret agent is true, Li Xifeng with the court to ask for Zhang Julu two hand-written letters are also true, Li Xifeng was transferred to the Northern Liang, the court is not a good idea, he is not a good idea. Li Hanlin was deployed to the North Mang South Dynasty is still true. True and false, intricate and complex, during the interests of the intertwined, each of the size of the action is enough to dazzle people, especially on the side of the northern Liang can not have a bad step, away from the sun loss, northern Liang can not afford to lose, win, the golden strand weaving by the court into the private property of the northern Liang, a large number of spies lurking in the north and around the north of the north of the Liang are going to be tracked down, and even many of the borders penetrate the military spies of the away from the sun, but also to be uprooted. In this way, the Beiliang mud pond sludge, can be cleaned up a bit. Xu Fengyen when this Lingshou general, the beginning of the ambition is not in the Lingshou state military affairs, but to make the Northern Liang officialdom completely free of worries, in order to let those scholars feel at ease to put down roots. If Li Gongde resisted the temptation, then Xu Fengyen said to himself from before, will let this Li uncle over the official addiction, in case not, into the worst situation, even if there is a Yan family mutiny in the first, Xu Fengyen as well did not want to let the Li family destroyed intention, will only nominally let Li Gongde excuse ill health resignation to return to his hometown, peacefully as a rich man in Huangnan County, such as the Secretary General of the adults said this evening, he retired, the official field of Beilang will do its best to maximize the number of people, but also to make the official field of Beilang, the official field of Beilang will not have to worry about the military. The officialdom of Beiliang will do its best to move according to the wishes of His Highness, the son of the world. What Xu Hun does is Li Xifeng’s will, and Li Xifeng’s guidance to Xu Hun is Xu Fengnian’s secret will. As for the crossbowmen standard Li Hanlin, secretly there has long been a large number of Northern Liang’s most elite eagle soldiers follow the stalking, but also the six small masters of the Royal Household retainers intermingled with them, those who are responsible for the introduction of Zhao Hook deaths outside the pass are doomed to die. Only Xu Fengyen knows that, in this way, back then, the four grew up together together with the greenhouse together with the back of the darkness of the fox and dog friends, four brothers, one is not left.

Lord Jingliu Envoy slowly walked out of the general’s residence with that beloved escort.

Li Gongde turned his head to look at the slightly eerie official residence in the night and asked with a smile, “What do you think of His Highness the World Son?”

The young patriarch hesitated for a moment and said, “A master.”

Li Gongde laughed, and did not force this jianghu master who was cautious, and said to himself, “Although there is no man without poison, but there may not be no hero with love.”

The escort did not dare to talk too much.

Li Gongde walked to the front of his own house, only to step on the steps, suddenly retracted his foot and laughed: “Let’s walk the apricot street which is not easy to clear and clean.”

Li Gongde walked to the empty and lonely street, for no reason lamented: “All beings are suffering, depending on how to be happy in the midst of suffering. Others look at you with all kinds of pity, but you don’t know that your own bitterness is bitterness, that’s the real skill.”

“I, like the Great General, am old. No matter what I do nowadays, it’s all for the sake of my children and grandchildren.”

Study room.

Xu Fengnian reached out and held the teacup.

The white porcelain cup shattered with a bang.

Half a cup of tea splashed all over.

It was set to be the third day of the first month to arrive at the general’s residence in Lingzhou, and only arrived on the fourth day of the first month.

Three secret letters were intentionally mentioned in the corridor.

Xu Fengyen had given the Li family the opportunity again and again.

At this time, only a lone secret letter was still placed on the table.

Playing this game of chess, occupying the geographical location and people’s harmony of the Northern Liang how will not lose, only win more win less.

But for him, Xu Fengyen, how is a loss.

It is he who asked to be alone!

Xu Beihao said it really well.