Plan to cut off the nine states

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Zhang Shiyu came out to greet her in person, informally holding his "brother-in-law"'s hand and leading him into the hall, "My sister was exhausted from the journey and refused to get up. Brother-in-law, don't mind."

"She is still young and should get more rest."

Zhang Shiyu is not very young yet. He accepted the banquet hosted by Governor Zhou last night, but he seemed to be in high spirits and not tired at all. The hard work on the road was really washed away.

"Where is my brother-in-law running around these days? I thought you would be far away."

"The prince asked Qiao Zhisu to keep me, didn't he expect that I would be in Yecheng?"

Zhang Shiyu was slightly stunned and said with a smile: "I just made a wild guess. I said to Qiao Zhisu, 'If my brother-in-law is in Yecheng, I will stay here for a while.'"

Xu Chu also smiled and roughly recounted his experiences after escaping from Dongdu. He did not mention the content of his private conversations and did not hide anything about where he went.

"The boss of the Shen family actually betrayed his brother-in-law!" Zhang Shiyu was most concerned about this matter and showed an angry look, "When I was in Dongdu, I didn't like Boss Shen. He looked very stern, but in fact he had no independent opinion. He's just a loser. Not only me, but everyone else doesn't like him either. Emperor Wanwu once said in front of everyone that if all the sons of the Shen family were like this, he would have nothing to worry about in Bingzhou. "

Shen Cong has served the emperor for many years, but he has not even become a sycophant. He only has a sinecure in the Ministry of Industry, which is indeed a failure.

Xu Chu smiled and said: "He was very polite to me now and asked me to bring a message to the crown prince and a gift."

Zhang Shiyu looked at the small box on the table, "Isn't this my brother-in-law's?"

"My gifts are all dim compared to them, so I didn't dare to bring them."

Zhang Shiyu started to open the box. When he saw the Buddha statue inside, his movements immediately became cautious. He gently took it out with both hands and slowly turned it. He admired it for a long time and said, "It is quite old. It should not be from China."

"It is said that it came from the Western Regions. I don't know much about it."

"The Shen family really has a treasure." Zhang Shiyu put the Buddha statue back into the box. "This is indeed a precious gift, but it can only be given to the Empress Dowager. Others do not have this blessing."

"Shen Cong hopes to prove his loyalty to the court."

After placing the Buddha statue, Zhang Shiyu became casual again and said with a smile: "The Shen family has made it clear that they are about to fight the officers and soldiers, but does Shen Da want to 'surrender' to the imperial court?"

"It's considered surrender, and he is willing to do anything for the court, he said it is anything."

"Including killing the rebellious father and younger brother?" Zhang Shiyu always said what he had in mind directly.

"That's right. To him, this is considered a righteous act of annihilation."

"Hey, what a righteous man who kills relatives just to see the officers and soldiers win, and the future of the Shen family is bleak, so he wants to leave a way out for himself. Brother-in-law, do you think the court can want such a shameless person?"

"This kind of thing can only be decided by the court."

"Haha, I guess I will. Anyway, there are quite a few shameless people in the court. Everyone has the same temperament, so there is no need to blush when you see anyone. Oh, why are we talking about him? Has my brother-in-law passed the news?"

"Well, that's probably what Shen Cong said. There are still some people who want to surrender to the imperial court, but I didn't remember their names. Others asked me to persuade the crown prince and the King of Jibei to stand on their own."

"What's the point of being independent?"

"Become an emperor on your own."

"Haha, do people outside look at everyone like an emperor now?"

"In short, everyone dislikes the past and present emperors."

Zhang Shiyu thought for a moment, "In order to avenge the assassination, my brother-in-law knows how many people have been killed in Dongdu so far?"

Xu Chu shook his head. He rarely heard news about Dongdu in Hebei.

"Eight thousand people."

"Eight thousand people!" Xu Chu knew that the young emperor was a bit bloodthirsty, but he was still surprised by this number.

"At least 8,000 people were killed. Nearly a thousand of King Guangling's family members, servants, and former subordinates were killed, and countless others were implicated."

"Little Emperor, this is..."

"Revenge for the Emperor of All Things is just a name. His Majesty likes to watch people kill. The Liang family will do as he pleases and take the opportunity to get rid of their opponents in the court."

"The Lou family..."

Taifu Liang had a grudge against the general, but Xu Chu still couldn't remain indifferent to the Lou family.

"The fact that the general handed over his brother-in-law did not allow the Lou family to regain the trust of the court. All the children were recalled, and the general has also entered the city. He said he was for use, but in fact he was under house arrest. The Liang family did not attack the general. I’m afraid of triggering a mutiny outside, but it’s a matter of time.”

Xu Chu didn't know what to say.

"What my brother-in-law saw outside was chaos in the world, but what I saw in Dongdu was that the imperial court dug its own grave. Now everyone is in danger, either keeping silent or going to other places, and only a few people are left. They are trying their best to save the imperial court, but they also have their own evil intentions and do not really want to save the Zhang family. "

Xu Chu looked at Zhang Shiyu.

"What's wrong, brother-in-law?" Zhang Shiyu lowered his head and looked at himself, but found no problem.

"After three days of separation, you should look at each other with admiration. The prince's eloquence and knowledge have greatly improved."

"Really?" Zhang Shiyu's smile was still childish, "Maybe it's because too many things have happened recently..."

"Why don't you invite Princess Huanyan to come out? Let's talk face to face and save the trouble of sending messages."

Zhang Shiyu was stunned for a moment, then smiled awkwardly, "Brother-in-law, does he know?"

Xu Chu nodded, "When did Princess Huanyan arrive? Earlier than the Crown Prince, right?"

Zhang Shiyu was even more embarrassed, "It turns out that my brother-in-law knows everything, so I said I couldn't hide it from you. Huanyan came here half a month ago... I'll ask her to come out."

Zhang Shiyu stood up and ran out, bouncing around like a child. Suddenly he stopped and turned around, "One of my brother-in-law's younger brothers came with me. Do you want to see him?"

"Which one?" Xu Chu was worried that he didn't know this brother at all.

"That's the one Huanyan wants to marry."

"Oh, Twenty-three Floors."

"Yes, Captain Lou Ji of the Valiant Cavalry School. Something happened to the Lou family, and his marriage was also delayed..."

"I have changed my surname and don't want to see the Lou family again." Xu Chu simply refused.

Zhang Shiyu smiled and said, "It's up to you."

Zhang Shiyu left as quickly as he came back. He was still alone, and his smile was even more embarrassing than when he left. "He was not happy, and he scolded me, saying that I was deceived by my brother-in-law. Brother-in-law, you were deceiving just now." My words?”

"I'm just...saying my guess."

"Haha, you are indeed deceiving me. Well, when it comes to this kind of thing, I can't compare to you two. But she refused to come out, so I had to pass on the message."

"Please tell me."

Zhang Shiyu sat down, adjusted his expression, and tried to be more serious, "Brother-in-law's charges can be washed away."

"The charge of stabbing a driver?"

"right."

Xu Chu looked at his hands and still clearly remembered the scene when he stabbed the dagger at the Emperor of All Things.

"I'm fine, and so is my brother-in-law." Zhang Shiyu still remembers clearly that at that time, three people stabbed him, Shao Junqian was dead, and he was the only two left.

"What about the conditions?" Xu Chu did not think that assassination was a "crime", but he did not argue.

"Returning to the imperial court is neither surrender nor surrender. It is returning to your rightful position. There is no charge or imprisonment. You can use your fists and kicks to your heart's content, make achievements, stabilize the world, and fulfill your ambition."

"Can Princess Huanyan promise these?"

"She just suggested that it was my father and I who made the promise." Zhang Shiyu raised his head slightly.

Xu Chu said nothing.

"Brother-in-law, don't you believe me?" Zhang Shiyu did not remain calm.

"What are the ambitions of the King of Jibei and the Crown Prince?"

"I regard my brother-in-law as one of my own, and I believe that my brother-in-law will not reveal at will that my father will establish a new king in Yecheng, grant amnesty to the world, and exempt all previous tyranny and chaos, including imprisonment orders."

"Who will be appointed as the new king?"

"The Emperor of All Things has eleven sons. The crown prince has ascended the throne. The whereabouts of the others are unknown in the palace, but one was protected by the Empress Dowager and secretly sent to his father. Then I took him to Yecheng."

"Still a kid, right?"

"Well, not very old. A little over three years old. He can walk and talk."

It turns out that the person hidden in the team is not the little emperor, but an even younger prince.

Xu Chu sighed.

Zhang Shiyu said in surprise: "My brother-in-law refuses to accept it? Isn't this my brother-in-law's long-standing ambition to free himself from imprisonment and bring order to the world?"

"Please tell Huanyan... Princess, I don't know what is good or bad, but judging from outsiders, the plan to establish a new king will be difficult to succeed."

"How could it be? I have brought the little prince, and soon my father will come with the Queen Mother. The Jizhou soldiers have also agreed to support the new dynasty. Everything is ready, so why worry?"

"Let me think about it." Xu Chu didn't want to speak too clearly.

Zhang Shiyu was greatly disappointed, "I thought my brother-in-law would definitely... Just think about it. When the new king comes to the throne, you will have time to change your mind."

Xu Chu stood up and said goodbye.

"Brother-in-law, let's stay and have a meal together. Don't talk about government affairs and concentrate on drinking."

"It's true that I haven't had any wine from Dongdu in a long time."

The food and wine were simple but exquisite, and the two of them drank to their heart's content. Zhang Shiyu tried to persuade Xu Chu to "return to the court" several times, but he had to give up after receiving no response.

After the meal, Xu Chu went to see the governor Zhou Guan. This was the meeting he had arranged yesterday, but he was declined. Zhou Guan was not seen because of his illness. It was said that he had just caught a cold last night.

More than a dozen envoys were fighting overtly and covertly in Nanzhongfang. They didn't know that the generals in Yecheng and Jizhou had already chosen their master, but they kept it secret.

Xu Chu left the house under the guidance of his servants, and kept wondering in his mind, what role did Huanyan play in establishing a new king? Did she see the huge flaw in this plan?

Someone greets you from the front, smiling and giving your hand.

Xu Chu looked familiar, so he returned the courtesy without stopping.

The man smiled and said, "Brother Seventeen, you're fine."

Xu Chu stopped and said, "Twenty-third brother, long time no see."

Not far from the mansion gate, the servants resigned, and Lou Ji came closer, "Brother Seventeen is living in the world. Everyone in the family is very worried, and my father and mother are even more concerned."

There is nothing more false than this. Xu Chu smiled and said, "I am unfilial. I have changed my mother's surname so that I don't have to worry about my family."

"Seventeenth brother is more ruthless. I don't blame you. It was the Lou family who were the first to be ruthless."

Xu Chu handed over his hand and said, "Everyone has his own ambitions, and it doesn't matter whether he is ruthless or not. Please Mr. Lou, please send my regards to the General and Mrs. Lan on my behalf."

"Brother Seventeen... Master Xu, stay here. I still have something to say."

"Please tell me."

Lou Ji asked Xu Chu to take a few steps, observed that there was no one nearby, and whispered: "Father is not as ruthless as you think. He is willing to protect the new king, but he has set a condition. The King of Jibei and the King of Xiangdong must recall you to the court. , he is willing to come out again and lead the army for the new dynasty. "

Xu Chu didn't know what to say, but in his heart he no longer dared to trust anyone.