"There's such a thing?"
After listening to Hu Yuanli's explanation, Yang Fan had a strange expression on his face.
Chen Dong smiled and said to Hu Yuanli, "Hu Qianxian, congratulations!"
Hu Yuanli was surprised and asked, "Why are you congratulating me?"
Chen Dong said, "What we did to implicate the entire officialdom of Guanzhong might seem to others to be making a mountain out of a molehill. If it wasn't for the Emperor's westward migration, there would be people in court who would accuse us of imitating Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen of being ruthless. With this accusation in hand, who would dare to say that you, Hu Qianxian, are wrong? With this contribution, the position of Minister of Defense will be yours in the future. I congratulate you in advance. "
Hu Yuanli hadn't thought of this at first. Hearing this, he felt his heart heat up and immediately looked at Yang Fan with fervent eyes. Yang Fan smiled and said, "This matter, whether it's public or private, we have no reason to ignore it. However, we can't step in."
Hu Yuanli and Chen Dong were both surprised. Yang Fan said, "I cannot show up. Although you two can participate, you have to give up the credit. This credit has to be given to Zhang Changzong."
Hu Yuanli and Chen Dong thought carefully and nodded. Chen Dong smiled and said, "Good! With Zhang Fengchen taking the credit, the Empress will not be stingy with her rewards. It's a pity for Erlang. Such a great credit has to be given to someone else. "
Yang Fan said meaningfully, "Sometimes, to suffer a loss is to gain an advantage! The storm in Chang 'an is too big. I don't have a lover of the Empress to support me. At the heart of the storm, it's better to ask Zhang Fengchen to take the lead! "
Yang Fan thought for a moment and said, "The Chang 'an officials and officials from the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works are very close to Zhang Changzong. Your actions are too eye-catching. It's not a good idea to show up. Have Procurator Wen contact Zhang Changzong!"
Hu Yuanli nodded. Ever since they learned that Zhang Changzong was coming to Chang 'an, they had Wen Ao welcome him two hundred miles away. Zhang Changzong had not even arrived but he already knew the situation here like the back of his hand. What was Zhang Changzong's goal? It was power, which the Chang 'an officials could not give him.
If he could make a great contribution in Chang 'an, he would gain more power. What was this great merit? Naturally, it was the great merit that Yang Fan and the others had given him for purging the corrupt officials of Guanzhong. In this kind of situation, how could the noble of Guanzhong's attempts to rope them in be effective? Zhang Changzong had long since viewed them as stepping stones.
Yang Fan and the others had sent Wen Ao to meet Zhang Changzong. After the matter was completed, they could have left quietly. The reason why they had allowed him to appear in public in front of the Chang 'an officials who were receiving the imperial envoy was that they had already gathered all the necessary witnesses and material evidence. They were not afraid of being seen by them. On the contrary, it could cause them to panic.
Who knew that most of those officials did not know Wen Ao. As an attendant of Yang Fan and his entourage, Wen Ao had long been ignored by the officials of Chang 'an. Only the County Magistrate of Chang' an recognized him. However, the County Magistrate of Chang 'an did not make it public. After careful consideration, he chose to be a tainted witness and revealed such a big secret.
…
"Drive them away!"
Zhang Changzong had just returned from Wu Yizong's banquet. Today, he had officially handed over the military seal and arrow to Wu Yizong. Tomorrow, he would hold a farewell party for Wu Yizong and send him back to Luoyang. Unexpectedly, as soon as he returned, he saw many beauties sent by a certain Chang 'an aristocrat. Zhang Changzong waved his hand in disgust and strode into the hall.
There were more than ten beauties in the courtyard. They were wearing colorful and fashionable clothes. Their snow-white skin was faintly discernible, and their bodies were graceful and attractive. Each of their faces was bright and beautiful, and each had their own characteristics. However, the eyes of all the beauties were as clear as autumn water. Obviously, they were all young and beautiful virgins.
Next to him stood a steward of some mansion. Seeing that Zhang Fengchen did not even look at these beauties, he could only wave his hand awkwardly and leave with these beauties.
Zhang Changzong strode into the hall and cursed inwardly.
In fact, how could he not like youthful and beautiful girls? However, everything he had came from the Empress. The Empress regarded him as her exclusive property. He did not dare to do anything out of line.
Those idiots thought that he was far away from the Emperor after he arrived in Chang 'an. They did not think that he had so many entourages around him. Who knew how many of them were the Emperor's spies? Just his personal bodyguards alone had eight internal guards. If he dared to touch even a finger of those women today, he wouldn't be able to keep that finger of his later.
"What a group of idiots who should be killed!"
Zhang Changzong was aroused by those enchanting and charming beauties, but he did not dare to touch them. Therefore, he hated the Chang 'an aristocrats even more. As soon as he scolded them, a guard appeared at the entrance of the hall and said, "Zhang Fengchen, Wen Ao, the High Judge of the Censorate, is here to see you!"
"Oh? Invite him in! "
Zhang Changzong's face cleared up. Wen Ao was good at observing people's words and expressions. He was very good at flattering people. Since the Tongguan Pass, Zhang Changzong had a good impression of this ordinary-looking petty official.
"I am Wen Ao. Nice to meet you, Zhang Fengchen!"
A greeting came from the entrance of the hall. His tone was full of surprise and admiration. It was like a traveler who had been away from his hometown for many years and suddenly returned to his hometown to meet his relatives and elders.
As soon as Zhang Changzong turned around, he saw Wen Ao, with her chin tucked in, her triangular eyes drooping, and her moustache swaying, tiptoeing as if she was afraid of stepping on an ant. She smiled and bowed deeply to him. Her back was so deep that she almost fell to the ground.
Zhang Changzong was annoyed and amused at the same time. He glared at him and said, "Don't make such a disgusting look. What are you doing here? My invitation has been lined up for half a month. Did the Censorate just remember to invite me to the banquet now? "
Wen Ao said with a smile, "Zhang Fengchen has arrived in Chang 'an. The Censorate can be considered as half a master. We have to show our courtesy. We have to invite him to the banquet and give him gifts."
Zhang Changzong waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright. I don't want to go to the banquet anymore. You don't have to give me any gifts. I am not interested."
Wen Ao looked around sneakily and said in a low voice, "Zhang Fengchen will definitely be interested in this big gift."
Zhang Changzong glanced at him and said, "What kind of gift is so mysterious?"
Wen Ao took out a book from his sleeve. With a solemn expression, he respectfully held the book with both hands and said, "Please have a look!"
Zhang Changzong took the book with a face full of suspicion. He opened it and read three lines. His body shook and he looked at Wen Ao in surprise. "Is this real?"
Wen Ao nodded. Holding the belt, he said proudly, "Zhang Fengchen, do you like this big gift?"
"I like it! I like it! Hahaha, this big gift suits me! "
Wen Ao winked and said, "Then … will Zhang Fengchen be willing to attend the celebration banquet?"
"Definitely! Definitely! Such a banquet … "
Wen Ao said flatteringly, "How can you, Zhang Fengchen, be absent?"
"Hahahaha …"
…
Taozhou controlled foreign armies to the west, Huanglong to the east, Shiling to the north, and was a stronghold for the Tang Dynasty to defend against the Tubo.
Surrounded by four mountains, there was a city built during the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The city walls were built along the mountain ridges and wound around the peaks of Donglong Mountain like a giant dragon coiling between the mountains. For more than two hundred years, the people of Taozhou had lived and multiplied in this place.
The Tang dynasty's contact with the Western Region, other than the Silk Road, was through the Tangfan Ancient Road. During the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty made peace with the Tubo. Princess Wencheng entered the Western Region through this road. Later, the Tubo and the Tang dynasty became increasingly hostile. They often sent troops to harass the border and plunder the Tang dynasty's border residents. This road was then closed.
However, only the official road was truly closed. The smuggling among the people had never stopped. Later, some greedy officials joined in and the scale of smuggling grew larger and larger. An unofficial trade market was formed here.
Southwest of the ancient city, at the foot of the Yandun Mountain.
Zhang Dawei, with his hands behind his back, walked slowly in the bustling valley with four guards. Those who saw him would respectfully retreat to the side and bow to him. Zhang Dawei was happy and at ease, as if he was the emperor of this place.
Zhang Dawei was a legendary figure. At the beginning, he only brought six brothers to Tubo. After many hardships, he started a small business with people carrying mules. With the help of the prosperous trade between the Central Plains and Tubo, he quickly became rich and accumulated a huge fortune. Zhang Dawei also bought five hundred looms in the nearby provinces to weave silk brocades and sell them to Tubo. In one fell swoop, he became the richest man in Taozhou.
Unfortunately, Tubo then started a war and the trade between the Central Plains and Tubo was stopped. He expanded too quickly and invested all of his family's fortune into it. As a result, he was penniless.
When he was destitute, the founding duke, Chen Kaixun, took a fancy to him and set up a private trade market. With him as his agent, Zhang Dawei made a comeback and once again became the richest man in Taozhou. Moreover, because this was a private market, he needed to build his own armed forces to maintain order here. His authority was even greater than before.
Zhang Dawei, who had experienced great ups and downs, treasured everything he had now. Although the trade market here was already on track and he didn't need to be respectful, he still looked like a king inspecting his territory every day, patrolling the valley used for trade.
"This is my empire!"
Zhang Dawei stopped on a low slope and looked around at the bustling trade market. He stroked his beard and smiled.
Thunder suddenly rumbled, rolling over. There were birds that flew out of the forest in fright, covering the sky and covering the sun. Zhang Dawei looked at the clear sky in confusion, and then looked into the distance. At the end of the valley, he saw a black tide rolling towards him. It was getting closer and closer. In the valley, there was a winding dragon, and it was clearly a team of black riders.
Zhang Dawei turned pale with fright and hurriedly turned his head to look at the other side of the valley. Because he used too much strength, his neck made a cracking sound. On the other side of the valley, a group of swift and fierce knights had already blocked the mountain pass. War flags fluttered in the wind, swords and spears flashed with cold light, vigorous and strict horse team …
This wasn't the Tubo people, nor was it the border army. This was …
Zhang Dawei felt the world was spinning and the sun was piercing his eyes.
His empire … collapsed!
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