Chapter 419

Wang Yang's face showed worry:

"Tao Rui colluded with the enemy, then wouldn't Yingzhou know all our army's reality?"

The Prince of Badong hummed after a slight pause, and followed Wang Yang's worry:

"Although the letters of this traitor leaking military secrets have not been found yet, he dared to collude with the enemy and alienate, what else would he not dare to do? Must be guarded against..."

While speaking, he looked at Wang Yang's expression.

Seeing Wang Yang silent, his brow furrowed, he hesitated slightly, then held Wang Yang's hand, holding it tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, the person would disappear. His voice suppressed the anxiety, even with a bit of almost humble pleading:

"Zhiyan, the previous matter was the Prince's fault, don't resent the Prince—"

"I have never resented the Prince—"

The Prince of Badong's palm was tighter, his expression more urgent:

"Zi—"

"Prince, listen to me—"

Wang Yang held the Prince of Badong's hand back, looking at the Prince of Badong, his eyes sincere and earnest:

"I said I don't resent the Prince, it's the truth. The great army is the Prince's great army, the power is the Prince's power, I can participate in it and display what I have learned, this is the Prince's grace of trusting and using me; once I leave the position, it is just returning the object to its owner.

For example, if a master has a house and entrusts it to a steward, building, repairing, managing, and accounting, it is just acting on his behalf. The owner of the house is still the master. One day the master wants to take charge of the keys himself, this is a matter of course! Why resent it?

Besides, there is no matter in the world that can reach perfection without grinding. A good instrument must be sharpened before it is strong, and a plain zither must be tuned before it rings.

For new clothes, the sleeves are tight at first, and the waist and collar are raw, but after wearing them for a long time, the body and clothes get used to each other, and they are comfortable.

For a newly opened path, at first, grass and thorns hinder the feet, and stones make walking difficult, but after walking for a long time, it becomes a smooth and wide road.

The relationship between monarch and minister is also like this.

The Prince leads the six armies for the first time, specializing in conquest, it is the first time to be a monarch. Being a monarch for the first time, managing all kinds of affairs, it is easy to be unstable;

Wang Yang enters the tent for the first time, standing as a strategist, it is the first time to be a minister. Being a minister for the first time, advancing and retreating, it is hard to avoid mistakes.

We are both monarch and minister for the first time, having some friction and disputes is also common in human feelings, what kind of matter is it?

The reason why I slept peacefully after being dismissed is because what I rely on is not a temporary union, but a long-term understanding.

A long road knows the strength of a horse, and a long time sees the heart of a person.

Since the Prince can use me, he will never abandon me;

Since I have pledged my allegiance to the Prince, I will never fail the Prince.

Between us monarch and minister, there are long days ahead, how could I mind this little thing..."

Li Jingxuan and others were stunned!

Xue Shao looked at Tao Rui's corpse, thinking that if Old Tao had three percent of Wang Yang's ability, he wouldn't have ended up like this!

The Prince of Badong had been a bit shadowed by Wang Yang's cold arrogance these days, and was originally worried, afraid that Wang Yang would not cooperate. Now hearing such words, he was truly ashamed! Regretful and hateful!

Such a good Zhiyan I didn't use, woo woo woo, I really deserve to die!!!

Li Jingxuan deserves to die even more!!!!

The Prince of Badong couldn't suppress it, tears brushed down:

"Zhiyan! The days are not long, Jingzhou is lost..."

"What!!!"

Wang Yang was shocked.

"... The rebel Xiao Zixiang, ambitious and fierce, with the heart of an owl, abandoned the heavenly laws, to peek at the divine artifacts.

Heaven and earth cannot tolerate, people and gods are equally angry.

I rule over ten thousand states, focusing on settling the people,

How can I allow a brat to mess up the territory?

Order the Guardian Hu Xiezhi (Commander of the Palace Forbidden Guard), the Guerrilla General Yin Lue (Forbidden Army General, in charge of the Guerrilla Camp soldiers, one of the Son of Heaven's six armies), and the Secretariat Drafter Ru Faliang (the Secretariat Drafter mentioned before, internal supervisor), to lead the royal army to sweep away the rebels.

The Forbidden Army is prepared, and the orders must be followed. Those who violate the order will be killed, and those who disrupt the line will be executed.

To make it clear that anyone who dares to shake the foundation of the country and disrupt the discipline of the world will be crushed like an egg, and there will be no mercy..."

Golden curtains surrounded, the Eastern Palace was deep and secluded.

A general was guided through layers of curtains. The surroundings were silent, and even the internal officials standing by were hidden behind the curtains, not hearing the sound of footsteps. He didn't look sideways, not knowing how many steps he had taken, when the leading internal official suddenly stopped and whispered:

"General, stop."

Only heard a voice coming from behind the magnificent curtain ahead:

"General Yin has arrived?"

Yin Lue bowed solemnly in his military uniform, not daring to raise his head:

"Subject Yin Lue, see His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"General, no need for etiquette. I caught a cold the day before yesterday, so I won't come out to meet you. General, don't think I'm slow."

Yin Lue hurriedly said:

"Dare not, dare not! Your Highness's health is the most important!"

The opposite side suddenly had no sound.

Yin Lue became even more uneasy. This meeting was likely related to his future and destiny. He didn't know if he had said something wrong. Just as he was thinking urgently, a voice spoke from behind the curtain:

"General, going on this trip, what is the most important?"

Yin Lue dared not answer recklessly:

"Subject is stupid, please give instructions, Your Highness."

The opposite side laughed:

"General, don't be too restrained, just idle talk."

Yin Lue thought for a while, chose an answer that could advance or retreat, and said carefully:

"Subject thinks that loyalty is the most important."

"Well said. 'The so-called righteousness is loyalty as a minister and filial piety as a son.' A person as a minister in the world, if not loyal, is rebellious. I have never heard of anyone who lives in between. Rebellious people are the great thieves of loyalty. Since ancient times, loyalty must eliminate rebellion, and rebellion must eliminate loyalty. Loyalty and rebellion cannot stand together."

Yin Lue felt more and more that the Crown Prince's words had hidden meanings. Just as he was realizing it, the opposite side suddenly said:

"General, do you think I'm right?"

Yin Lue felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly replied:

"Your Highness's words are extremely correct!"

Yin Lue felt that the voice on the opposite side seemed to relax slightly, as if satisfied with the answer just now? Of course, Yin Lue didn't know if this was his illusion:

"General, just understand this truth. I have always heard that the General is loyal and brave. Between the battle lines, swords have no eyes, but as long as the General achieves this loyalty, then 'heaven will bless you, and there will be no disadvantage'."

Yin Lue pierced through the Crown Prince's words before and after, pondering the four words "swords have no eyes," and seemed to realize something, tentatively asking:

"Your Highness means..."

"I don't mean anything. But thinking of the sentence 'crush like an egg, there will be no mercy' in the edict, I have some feelings."

Yin Lue completely understood the spirit. He had already shown his respect and fear for this future master of the world, and now, it was time to show his decisiveness and courage—

He clasped his fists, his armor clanking, his voice resonant:

"Subject understands! Subject will definitely put loyalty first on this trip!"

Manor on the outskirts of the capital, the moon is shallow and the lamps are collected.

Wang Chen, the Chief Clerk of the Forbidden Army (High Advisor, appeared before, see Chapter 139), sent Guardian Hu Xiezhi all the way out of the manor.

Hu Xiezhi had drunk a lot tonight, his face was full of red light, his steps were still steady, but his tongue was a bit big, plus he had Xi ethnic blood—unlike Xinyi who grew up in the Han land since childhood, his whole family were Xi people, his accent was not correct, and after drinking, the tone was even more floating:

"Don't send, don't send! Chief Clerk is too polite! How can you send so far!"

Wang Chen held Hu Xiezhi's arm, and there was a bit of drunkenness in his gestures:

"This is not my politeness, it's the Prince's special instruction, telling me to send the Guardian to the car! If the Guardian is lost in my hands today, can the Prince spare me?"

Hu Xiezhi patted the back of Wang Chen's hand, patting it with a slapping sound:

"Your Prince is good at everything, just too good to people, too good to people!"

Wang Chen smiled and leaned closer, the smell of alcohol spraying on Hu Xiezhi's shoulder:

"I don't know if the Prince is good to others. But to the Guardian, he is really good."

He waved to the side, and two servants brought up a brocade box. As soon as the box opened, golden light filled his eyes!

Only to see layers of brocade spread out in the box, and a pure gold statue was embedded in it. This statue had a snake body and a human head, a bead between the eyebrows, wearing a Tongtian crown, holding a large sun wheel, with a three-legged crow inside, the face solemn, eyes slightly drooping, vaguely having a kind of ancient and vast atmosphere. Under the reflection of the lanterns, the whole body flowed with gold, and the divine light floated!

(Two pictures above)

Han Fuxi portrait stone collected by Xiao County Museum

This is a collection of the Suzhou City Museum, also from the Han Dynasty

Hu Xiezhi's pair of bull eyes shone brightly!

Wang Chen introduced from the side:

"This statue was cast by Wei Xiao, originally a pair, later presented to Emperor Guangwu, and has been hidden in the Han Palace. Later, the two statues were passed down to Fu Jian. Fu Jian was defeated in the Battle of Feishui, this statue was obtained by Liu Laozi, and the other one's whereabouts are unknown. The Prince spent a lot of effort to find it, and heard that the Guardian devoutly believes in the Xi Emperor, so he specifically ordered me to give it to the Guardian..."

Hu Xiezhi's eyeballs were almost stuck to the gold statue. As soon as he heard Wang Chen wanted to give it to him, he waved his hands repeatedly:

"Not appropriate, not appropriate, not appropriate! This is too precious! How can this be appropriate—"

"What's inappropriate about this? The Prince said, the Guardian is going on an expedition for the country, with merit to the country, preparing a thin gift to see you off, just to express his heart..."

"Not appropriate, not appropriate, not appropriate, how can this be appropriate..."

The two pulled for a while, Wang Chen changed several excuses, Hu Xiezhi just kept saying it was inappropriate:

"Oh, this is too inappropriate! Too inappropriate—"

"Sent to which car?"

"The second car—eh, not appropriate, not appropriate, it's really inappropriate!"

Hu Xiezhi went up to stop Wang Chen. The military general used a little strength, Wang Chen couldn't advance a step, those who didn't know thought the thing was on Wang Chen.

Wang Chen directly ordered the servants:

"Send the gold statue to the second car."

Hu Xiezhi stopped Wang Chen even harder, the red light on his face even brighter:

"No, no! How is this appropriate! Quickly call them back!"

Seeing the servants send the gold statue to the car, Hu Xiezhi patted his leg and sighed:

"The Prince is so thick with love, how can I bear it!"

"If the Guardian can't bear it, who can?! With the Guardian's grace and talent, the position of Leader and Protector (Leader General, Protector General, one is the Chief of Internal Army, one is the Chief of External Army, rank Zheng Guo, the same level as Xiao Luan's Minister of the Secretariat, but the ranking is slightly later), is just around the corner!"

"Oh, oh, oh, don't dare to say that! Even if you put me on a board and worship me, I can't be a Leader or Protector!"

"Look, look, still don't believe it! I'll put these words here today..."

The two held each other's arms and chatted intimately. When they were about to part, Wang Chen pulled Hu Xiezhi's sleeve:

"By the way, there is one more thing I want to trouble the Guardian with—"

Hu Xiezhi's drunk face was full of righteousness:

"Say it! Your business is my business!"

"The Prince had a subordinate in Jingzhou before, who later betrayed his master and rebelled, and joined the rebel Prince, which is really hateful—"

Hu Xiezhi's drunk eyes slanted:

"What official position before joining the rebellion?"

"Water Cao Military Advisor, surname Liu, name—"

Hu Xiezhi's neck stiffened, his fingers flew, his tone was rhythmic like a song:

"Execute him!"

"This person's heart is evil and dangerous, maybe he will slander randomly, delaying time—"

"Can't delay, can't delay! The Emperor has ordered, this time, whatever needs to be done must be done! A small Water Cao even joined the rebellion, don't even ask, execute him directly!"

Wang Chen said happily:

"Then thank you, Guardian! There is another person, also joined the rebellion, this person is even more hateful than this Liu Yin—"

Hu Xiezhi's drunk eyes slanted again:

"What official position before joining the rebellion?"

"No official position—"

"Execute him together!"

Hu Xiezhi's big fingers flew again, heroic and cloud-like!

Wang Chen was even happier:

"If the Guardian can execute Wang Yang—"

"Eh? Wang Yang? Which Wang Yang?"

"It's a side branch of the Langya Wang clan—"

"Langya Wang Yang? The one who caused the school chaos in Jingzhou last time?" Hu Xiezhi's eyes became a bit clearer.

"It's him. The Guardian won't have any scruples, right?"

Hu Xiezhi waved his big hand:

"What scruples are there!

Rest assured!

Execute him after deliberation!"

Wang Chen was happy thinking it was done, when he was suddenly stunned:

"Eh? Why did this become execute after deliberation?"

Hu Xiezhi hugged Wang Chen's shoulder, looking like brothers:

"Oh, execute after deliberation is also execution..."