In the dark of the night, many figures jumped over the wall and sneaked into the garden.
He Mingchi had many loyal subordinates in the South School of Haotian Taoism and the Imperial Center Administration over the years. Although there were not many of them, the lethality they caused was terrible.
Li Huiyuan was enraged by the assassination, so he gave him the waist token of the Imperial Center Administration and told him to do whatever he wanted. That night, at least a dozen officials fell in pools of blood, and more innocent people died in the chaos.
The officials and soldiers sent by the imperial court to guard the guild hall of Qinghe County were also in a mess. They did not notice that many descendants of the warlords of Qinghe County had taken advantage of the chaos to escape.
After these people left the guild hall, they quickly met with the officials secretly supported by the warlords of Qinghe County. According to the investigation, the chaos in Chang 'an that night had something to do with these people.
…
…
Zeng Jing and his family were taken to the Chao Mansion on the Second Street of Spring Breeze Pavilion. The servants had their own arrangements, and the injured were treated by the doctors of the Fish-dragon Gang. Zeng Jing brought his wife to visit Old Master Chao.
The main hall of the Chao Mansion was brightly lit.
Before Zeng Jing could sincerely express his gratitude, Old Master Chao waved his hand to stop him.
The old man, who usually only liked to listen to dramas and tease his grandson, looked at the worried Linzi and said impatiently, "Daughter-in-law, don't worry. As long as your man is alive, no one will dare to make trouble in the mansion. Those who have the guts to attack our house have already gone to the Imperial Palace."
Zeng Jing listened to the old man's words and could not help but shiver. He thought that the old man must have retired from the battlefield. When someone next to him saluted, he realized that there was someone else in the hall.
Old Master Chao looked at Chang Siwei and scolded, "The brother and sister in the Imperial Palace are idiots. Are you an idiot too? If you don't go with the Yulin Royal Guards to fight against the barbarians, then you have to protect Chang 'an! What are you hesitating for? Kill anyone who dares to be on the street at this time! Kill any cultivator who dares to show his face! "
Chang Siwei accepted the order and left in a hurry.
Mr. Qi was also in the hall.
The Fish-dragon Gang was the local tyrant of Chang 'an. No matter how chaotic the situation was, they could handle it easily. His brothers in the gang did not suffer any losses tonight. Only a few of them were killed by cultivators at the gate of the Zeng Mansion.
Mr. Qi was very angry, but he didn't dare to show it in front of Old Master Chao. He asked, "Er Ba, what did the brothers in the gang do? The brothers in the gang have to do something, right? "
Old Master Chao gently stroked his beard. Before he could give any advice, he heard the steward's voice coming from outside the hall, saying that the prefectural magistrate of Chang 'an City, Lord Shangguan, had come to visit Old Master Chao. Old Master Chao's eyes lit up.
"Here's what you need to do."
Lord Shangguan Yangyu hurriedly walked into the main hall of the Chao Mansion and bowed to Old Master Chao as his nephew. Then he found that Zeng Jing was also there, and his expression turned serious.
"Your Excellency, you are more cunning than this old man. I don't think you have anything to ask me. If you are looking for Qi IV, you can go and talk to him. I will bring Your Excellency Zeng to the back garden."
After saying this, Old Master Chao walked out of the hall with Zeng Jing.
Shangguan Yangyu looked at the back of Old Master Chao, and his wretched triangular eyes lit up. Then he bowed again with great respect and said, "Old Master Chao, you are too polite."
Old Master Chao didn't look back and said, "Your Excellency is the one who is too polite."
…
…
When Old Master Chao and Zeng Jing completely disappeared, Shangguan Yangyu straightened up and looked at Mr. Qi. After a moment of silence, he asked, "It seems that you are ready to side with Her Majesty?"
Mr. Qi said with a smile, "Your Excellency, what are you talking about? We are poor people in Jianghu. How can we be qualified to make a choice on such an important matter? We will do whatever the imperial court says. "
Shangguan Yangyu sneered and thought that these people were not ordinary people in Jianghu. But he didn't bother to point it out. Thinking that time was tight, he said directly, "Grand Master Qi, I am here to borrow people from you."
Mr. Qi was slightly stunned and didn't understand what he meant. He said tentatively, "Your Excellency, you are joking. You are in charge of the Chang 'an Local Government …"
"At this moment, I don't want to say those secretive words to you."
Shangguan Yangyu looked serious and said, "The Yulin Royal Guards have to suppress the chaos. The bodyguards have to protect the safety of the palace. My runners and supervisors have to deal with the aftermath and murder cases and maintain public order. I really don't have the manpower, so I want to borrow people from you. Are you going to give them to me or not?"
Mr. Qi had been dealing with Shangguan Yangyu for a long time, but it was the first time that he saw Shangguan Yangyu being so serious. His wretched face actually showed some sense of righteousness, so he couldn't help but become serious.
"It is my duty to serve the imperial court. But I want to know why you want to borrow people."
"Many people ran away from the guild hall of Qinghe Prefecture."
Two cold lights flashed in Shangguan Yangyu's triangular eyes. He said, "The temples of these long-haired monks are in the south. If they run away, everything will be over. Fortunately, there are enemies invading and the city gate of Chang 'an will be closed at night. They can't run out for the time being. But now there are only six hours left before the city gate is opened."
Mr. Qi understood what Shangguan Yangyu meant. He thought for a while and said, "No problem. The Fish-dragon Gang can provide as many people as you want. If we don't have enough brothers, I can also send some boys."
"It's better to see living people. If it doesn't work … dead people will also count."
Shangguan Yangyu said, "And it's better to find more boys for this matter. Those under you who are armed and dare to kill people have to do another important thing for me."
Mr. Qi asked, "Your Excellency, please tell me."
Shangguan Yangyu said after a moment of silence, "The chaos in Chang 'an tonight is mainly caused by those cultivators. Even if the Yulin Royal Guards can suppress the street, they can't find those cultivators."
Hearing this, Mr. Qi was shocked and said, "My brothers in the gang are no match for those cultivators."
Shangguan Yangyu said, "I don't need your men to kill or capture those cultivators. I just need your men to stop those cultivators from attacking ordinary people."
Mr. Qi frowned and said, "The cultivators are either in the Imperial Center Administration or the Southern Gate Temple. Not to mention the Fish-dragon Gang, even if Your Excellency signed the government order and sent the yamen runners there, it wouldn't work."
"There are many things that the Chang 'an Local Government can't do, but the Fish-dragon Gang can."
"I got these papers from the Military Ministry last year. They are the home addresses of the officials and deacons of the Imperial Center Administration, as well as the married Taoists of the Southern Gate Temple. Their old parents, weak wives, and young children should still be at home."
Shangguan Yangyu took out a thick stack of papers from his arms with a kind expression and said, "The Fish-dragon Gang is the local tyrant of Chang 'an. It's easy to find these places and to invite these women and children to a secret place."
Mr. Qi took the addresses and came to himself after a while. He felt a little cold. Looking at the loving face of his Excellency, he said in a trembling voice, "This … is too cruel."
Shangguan Yangyu sighed and said, "Actually, I don't want to do this, but the most important thing is to be cruel."
Mr. Qi recalled the conversation between Old Master Chao and Shangguan Yangyu before he left the main hall. He finally understood the real meaning and could not help admiring Shangguan Yangyu, but also feeling a little uneasy.
"Whether it's the Qinghe County Guild Hall or the Imperial Center Administration or the Southern Gate Temple … they are not your duty."
Mr. Qi asked confusedly, "Why did you take such a big risk to do this?"
Shangguan Yangyu stroked his beard and was about to say something.
Mr. Qi saw his expression and knew what he wanted to say. He said, "No one in the imperial court will believe that you are a selfless person. So please don't use this reason."
"I am indeed timid and greedy for money. It's unreasonable to say that I love the Tang Empire. However, if there is no Tang Empire, how can an ugly person like me be an official? How can I be the prefectural magistrate of the capital city? "
Shangguan Yangyu sighed and said, "If the Tang Empire is really destroyed? Where can I go to be greedy for money? It's not complicated, so I understand. But it's strange that many people don't understand. "
…
…
Li Yu walked slowly into the hall.
She looked very tired, and so were her steps. The news of Qinghe County's rebellion and independence made her feel like a sudden hailstorm after more than ten days of heavy rain.
What she had just learned was like a bolt of lightning falling from a hailstorm.
She walked to the bed and looked at her pale brother, who was obviously still in a state of panic. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Then she laughed at herself and asked gently, "Was it Your Majesty who did it?"
Li Huiyuan saw that her tone was still as gentle as usual and immediately felt relieved. He said with a smile, "Yes, those traitors wanted to kill me, so I killed them all."
Li Yu sat beside the bed and said after a moment of silence, "General Xu Shi also wanted to kill you?"
The smile on Li Huiyuan's face suddenly became a little stiff. He said, "What are you talking about, sister?"
Li Yu said softly, "Wang Jinglue entered Chang 'an yesterday. After he went to the Military Ministry to find out the news, he came to the palace to see me tonight. That's why I thought of asking you."
Li Huiyuan's voice was slightly trembling. He forced a smile and said, "What do you want to ask me, sister?"
Li Yu's expression was still very calm. She said lightly, "Qinghe County has rebelled. The Hierarch Lord of the Divine Hall went around Xiao Mountain and entered the Tang Empire. It's understandable that the Imperial Center Administration, the secret guards, and the spies of the Military Ministry did not find out. But how did the Hierarch Lord know that the General was stationed at the foot of Xiao Mountain?"
"I didn't even know that the General was staying at Xiao Mountain that night. How did the Divine Hall know?"
Li Yu looked into his eyes and continued to ask, "The General is a confident and proud person, but he has always been cautious on the battlefield. So I really want to know, how did you know?"
The smile on Li Huiyuan's face became more and more stiff, and even more like he was crying.
At this time, a calm voice sounded outside the quiet palace door.
"Over the years, many cultivators of the South School of Haotian Taoism have joined the army. Now that I am the South School Lord, those people will naturally not think of hiding it from me. The Imperial Center Administration and the Military Ministry have a closer relationship, and I happen to be in charge of the Imperial Center Administration under His Majesty's orders. So I was very lucky to get the General's return route."
The palace door opened and He Mingchi walked in.
He held the yellow oiled-paper umbrella, which had been somewhat deformed, and bowed slightly to the siblings beside the bed.
…
(To be continued … If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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