"Meng Shanming and the one hundred thousand cavalrymen ran away?"
Long Xiu asked in surprise. Gong Lince and Meng Xuan were also shocked. The execution of this matter was extremely confidential. Those in the know shouldn't have leaked it.
Yan Emperor Shang Jianxiong, who was alarmed by this matter, waved his hand. Tian Yu handed Gamiao Shui's report to Long Xiu.
Long Xiu quickly read it. Gong Lince and Meng Xuan couldn't wait any longer. They quickly crowded around him to read the report.
They couldn't help but be nervous. The commander who could command the troops of Nanzhou and was adept in battle was still here, and the strength of Nanzhou was still intact. If they were not careful, it would be a monstrous disaster. To put it bluntly, they would force Nanzhou to rebel.
At this juncture, Han Song was eyeing them like a tiger watching its prey. There was a rebel army stirring up trouble. If Nanzhou rebelled again, it would be troublesome. How could they not be nervous?
Long Xiu's first thought was that someone leaked the secret. Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental? Just as they decided to move against Shang Chaozong, Shang Chaozong's troops ran away?
This was no small matter. The number of people who knew from the beginning was limited. It was limited to the upper echelons of the imperial court and the three major sects. Even those who were sent to execute the plan wouldn't make it public until the end.
When he saw that Shang Chaozong was still there, Long Xiu was slightly relieved. "Fortunately, as long as we can control Shang Chaozong, with Shang Chaozong as a hostage, Nanzhou won't dare to act rashly."
Shang Jianxiong said, "Palace Lord, are you sure you can make Niu Youdao yield?"
"At this time, he has no choice but to agree!" Long Xiu said with a ferocious expression. He was still a little doubtful. "How could it be so coincidental? Could it be that someone leaked the secret?"
Shang Jianxiong hesitated and said, "That doesn't seem very likely. Those people were the ones who knew about it from the beginning. These people shouldn't have leaked the secret. This matter is indeed a bit of a coincidence. The hundreds of thousands of captives were already captured before they decided to attack the Shang Dynasty Sect. They were arguing about this before, but the Shang Dynasty Sect insisted on his own opinion."
Long Xiu was still doubtful. "Your Majesty, do you think it's reasonable to withdraw your guards just because you insist on your own opinion?"
Shang Jianxiong was uncertain. "Maybe they think that they don't dare to touch him at this time. Logically speaking, it's unlikely that the few people on my side will leak the secret. If there's really a problem, you guys have to investigate it carefully."
The few of them were suspicious and began to ponder over the people who knew the truth.
At this moment, no one dared to rule out the possibility of a leak. It was only when news came that Shang Chaozong had indeed been captured and had been successfully escorted to the capital to be held in custody that they truly gave up on their suspicions. Only then did they finally believe that this matter could indeed be a coincidence.
The reason was very simple. If someone had really leaked the secret and let the enemy know about it, as the commander of the Southern Region, Shang Chaozong couldn't have not taken the risk. How could the commander not be able to escape when his subordinates escaped? He should have thought of a way to escape, so how could he have been captured?
However, this side didn't easily give up on the investigation of this matter. Once Shang Chaozong was captured and thrown into the Heavenly Prison, they immediately began to interrogate him. They asked him why he suddenly withdrew his subordinates.
At first, Shang Chaozong wasn't willing to say anything. Thus, they didn't hold back and used torture on him!
Based on the fact that he had killed an Elder of Xiao Yao Palace and Shang Jianxiong's attitude towards him, they had already captured him. It would be strange if they still held back.
Later, Shang Chaozong gradually realized that something was wrong. He realized that the other side wasn't concerned about why he suddenly withdrew his subordinates. Instead, they suspected that someone had leaked the secret to him before they took action against him.
Thus, Shang Chaozong immediately began to bite randomly. Starting from Shang Yongzhong, he continued on to Tong Mo, Gao Jiancheng, Tian Yu, and even Gamiao Shui. Basically, all the higher-ups of the three major sects were bitten by him.
Indeed, he didn't know if someone had leaked the secret, nor did he know who had leaked it. In any case, those that he could bite were those that he didn't think were good people and those that he didn't think would leak the secret.
The imperial court wasn't stupid. How could they not know that he was biting randomly?
Under the night sky, the stars hung low. The capital city was still brightly lit. A distinguished guest came to the Imperial Prison.
Shang Jianxiong came. As the Emperor, he personally came to the gloomy and gloomy dungeon. Unrelated people left, and only Tian Yu accompanied him.
Tian Yu released the Moon Butterfly, which immediately lit up the dark and gloomy dungeon.
Shang Chaozong, who was lying on a pile of straw in ragged clothes and disheveled hair, was awakened by the light. He pushed aside the disheveled hair in front of his eyes with his shackled hands and saw the person standing outside the dungeon. After seeing clearly who it was, Shang Chaozong climbed up with great difficulty. Dragging the shackles on his legs, he staggered to the front of the dungeon. He grabbed the bars with both hands and looked at the person outside the dungeon.
Shang Jianxiong admired the disheveled appearance of Shang Chaozong. This was a place that he shouldn't have come to, but he couldn't help but come here to see how disheveled the person was and how he felt.
In the end, it was Shang Jianxiong who broke the silence. "Chaozong, are you familiar with this dungeon?"
Shang Chaozong: "Of course I'm familiar with it. How could I not be familiar with the place where I've been locked up for several years? Isn't this what you wanted to see?"
Shang Jianxiong: "Guaren specifically said that since you've returned, you should naturally return to your 'home'. Living there is also peace of mind. Guaren specially came to see you."
Shang Chaozong: "I didn't see you even once when I was locked up for several years. Now that I've come, you've come to visit me. Should I thank you for your kindness?"
Shang Jianxiong shook his head slightly and said with a click of his tongue, "I've heard that you can summon the wind and summon the rain in the Southern Province, commanding thousands of troops and horses on the battlefield. You're insufferably arrogant. Even the elders of the three major sects were killed at your command. What kind of hero are you? Why are you in such a disheveled state now?"
Shang Chaozong smiled, "I'm not disheveled. I've been conspired against. That's all. The real disheveled ones are the people living in the majestic palace. They seem to be living in luxury, but in fact, they're plagued by internal and external troubles. They can't defend against external enemies, can't maintain the stability of the country, can't handle external affairs, and only know how to murder their own people. The common people don't have enough to eat and warm their clothes. They've made a mess of the Yan Dynasty and are cursed by the people day and night as a fatuous ruler. Your Majesty, who's in a more disheveled state? "
Tian Yu's expression changed greatly. She secretly glanced at Shang Jianxiong's expression.
Shang Jianxiong's expression was indeed ugly. His cheeks tightened for a while. He stared at the person in the dungeon. Slowly, he said, "Conspired against? Do you think you can still get out? "
Shang Chaozong sneered, "If you dare to kill me, you wouldn't have waited until now. If you don't kill me, I'll still have a chance. Do you dare to kill me?"
Shang Jianxiong, "Do you think that only when you and your father ascend to the throne can the Yan Dynasty be prosperous and the people at peace?" As he said, he reached out and took off the straw on his dirty hand that was grasping the iron bars. "Your father is smarter than you. He knows where he can do whatever he wants."
After that, he turned around and left, "You still have the energy to bicker. How did you interrogate him?"
Soon, the guards in the dungeon came. As soon as the door opened, they dragged Shang Chaozong to the torture room. The whips kept cracking …
Gao Mansion, Minister Yan's Mansion. After dinner, Gao Jiancheng seemed to be in a good mood. He wandered around the mansion, which was rare.
The servants saluted him when they saw him. His children also saluted him when they saw him. His wives and concubines also saluted him. They were a little surprised.
During this period, his grandchildren who were running and playing bumped into him. They called him grandpa, grandpa and so on. It was lively but they followed the rules of a big family.
With such a big family business, there were no less than a hundred people living in the mansion. It could be said that he had a group of wives and concubines, and many children and grandchildren. Gao Jiancheng smiled and nodded along the way.
When he met his eldest son, Gao Shaoming's wife, his mood was ruined.
His daughter-in-law pulled her eldest grandson to kneel in front of him and wiped her tears. "Father, I heard that the leader of the South Province, Shang Chaozong, was caught and brought to the capital. Father, Shaoming died unjustly. You must avenge him! "
For her, the taste of being a widow was not good. Entering such a family, it was not easy for her to remarry. Gao Jiancheng was in a high position and his son was Gao Jiancheng's eldest grandson. There must be someone who dared to marry her.
His eldest grandson also choked with sobs. "Grandpa, grandson wants to kill the enemy with my own hands!"
"Get up, get up." Gao Jiancheng reached out and pulled his grandson up. He patted his grandson's shoulder and sighed. "You've grown a lot taller. Study well. The Gao family will be counting on you in the future."
After some comforting, Steward Fan Zhuan left with him.
After returning to his own courtyard, Gao Jiancheng suddenly wanted to listen to the zither. Fan Zhuan immediately invited Gao Jiancheng's concubine.
She was nineteen years old and beautiful. Gao Jiancheng was old enough to be her grandfather, but she was indeed Gao Jiancheng's concubine. She had been taught well since childhood and played the zither well.
The woman came over with the zither and bowed. She asked, "What does Master want to listen to?" Her voice was still slightly young.
After a moment of silence, Gao Jiancheng said, "That 'Hidden Death'."
"Yes!" The beautiful woman bowed and went to the pavilion to sit down. Soon, the mournful sound of the zither could be heard.
Immersed in the sound of the zither, Gao Jiancheng looked up at the stars in the sky with his hands behind his back. Finally, he murmured along with the sound of the zither. "Full moon, full moon, blurred eyes …"
Fan Zhuan walked over with a robe in his hand. He gently draped it over Gao Jiancheng's shoulders.
Gao Jiancheng's tone suddenly changed. He sighed, "If I'm gone, what will happen to the hundreds of people in the Gao Clan?"
Fan Zhuan comforted, "Master worries too much."
Gao Jiancheng said, "I was originally a peasant, studying hard for the sake of world peace. Who would have thought that after so many twists and turns, I've long forgotten my original intentions. I've earned riches and honor for my family. In the end, I'm old and tired, but I don't dare to fall."
Fan Zhuan probed, "Master's mood is unstable today. Is it because of Shang Chaozong's capture?"
Gao Jiancheng said, "It's not that my mood is unstable. I'm just deeply moved. Old Fan, I originally thought that the other side would think of a good plan, but I didn't expect it to be like this … That person would rather sacrifice Shang Chaozong to protect me! Thus, he calms my heart and treats me like a scholar of the nation. He's a person who understands righteousness. I have no worries. If there's a future, I can entrust my affairs with peace of mind. Why is my mood unstable? "
Fan Zhuan pondered and nodded slightly. He also didn't expect that in order to protect Master, Niu Youdao would actually let Shang Chaozong take the risk. Someone like Master wouldn't be easily moved. But this time, Master was truly moved.
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