Chapter 506: Fishing in troubled waters and taking over
Several imperial doctors were talking in low voices outside the palace, and more than a dozen guards were scattered around, alert as if an assassin could sneak in from underground at any time.
"…It should be fine."
"Yes, but I don't know why he didn't wake up."
"Duke Chengguo is here." An imperial physician whispered.
Zhu Xizhong was sent by the Taoist priest to visit the tomb of the late crown prince a few days ago. After returning, he wanted to go home first, but after learning that Yan Song and his son had been assassinated, he hurried to Zhilu.
"How is Yan Siqing?" Zhu Xizhong asked.
The imperial doctors were familiar with this guy, and one of them had been to Duke Cheng's mansion many times to treat his family. Upon hearing this, he whispered, "That guy... shouldn't die."
Zhu Xizhong laughed, "That's good."
Because the Taoist priest had a reversed work and rest schedule, Yan Song and his son followed suit. Therefore, there were simple beds in the duty room for them to rest.
Yan Shifan was lying on the bed. Two imperial doctors who were good at external injuries had just treated his wounds. Yan Song asked, "How is the child?"
An imperial physician said, "The doctors in the army are the best at treating external injuries."
This is just a pretext, but it is also a prerequisite: Why don't you ask two military doctors to take a look? Otherwise...if anything happens to the patient, it will not be my responsibility.
"Military Doctor..." Yan Song hesitated.
"Xin'an Lane also has its own way of doing things." Another imperial physician said, "It is said that they use some kind of wine to kill poisons and are immune to all poisons."
Yan Song said calmly, "I understand."
"Motosuke!"
Zhu Xizhong came in and saw Yan Song's cold eyes. He was startled and asked, "How is the East Tower?"
"Not bad." Yan Song said.
Until this moment, Yan Song's mind was filled with the sword light he saw at that time, his son's terrified eyes, and his determination to pounce on him.
"That's good." Zhu Xizhong left immediately. Cui Yuan came and sneered, "You are so hypocritical."
Zhu Xizhong glared, "Old dog, who are you talking about?"
Cui Yuan thought that this fellow had a similar temperament to Jiang Qingzhi, who would beat him up at any time, so he stepped back and said, "Wasn't this Jiang Qingzhi's doing? Is Duke Chengguo here to visit or to ask for directions for him?"
"Fuck you!" Zhu Xizhong cursed and prepared to roll up his sleeves, but Cui Yuan reacted faster and rushed into the duty room before he finished speaking.
Zhu Xizhong left Xiyuan angrily.
"Ask where Qingzhi is."
"The second master teaches outside the city."
"It's already this late!" Zhu Xizhong shook his head, "Go home and tell my wife that the mansion will send 30 guards, veterans, to meet up at the construction site outside the city."
"Duke, you..."
Zhu Xizhong said in a deep voice: "Although Qingzhi has the motive to do it, I know his character very well. If he really wants to do it, he must do it secretly, how can he do it in broad daylight?!
Yan Song is at a loss at the moment, his heart filled with hatred. If someone instigates him, he is afraid that this old dog will take risks. "
"He wouldn't dare!" Yan Song was good at political tactics, not conquests.
"He doesn't dare, but who knows what will happen in the heat of the moment! If I were Qingzhi's opponent, I would send someone to kill him and muddy the waters."
Zhu Xizhong mounted his horse and looked at the guards who were confused by the conspiracy and darkness in his words, "Go quickly!"
"Yes."
Zhu Xizhong galloped all the way.
At the same time, Rui Jingxian also rode out of the West Garden on horseback.
"Hurry to the Mohist construction site outside the city."
"Supervisor, it's too dusty there..."
"Big? As big as your head or mine?" Rui Jingxian got on the horse, "Your Majesty has ordered the guard captain Wilbur."
"Will Prime Minister Yan ask someone to take action?"
No one thought Yan Song would take this step.
Jiang Qingzhi didn't think so either.
After the class, it was almost lunch time.
The children watched the cook busying himself. The bones were tumbling in the big pot, and the thick tendons on top looked mouth-watering. Even Jiang Qingzhi felt a little greedy.
"Master." Xu Wei had been busy all the time, making the guards run around exhausted. "I found something wrong."
"Speak." Jiang Qingzhi held a large bowl and stood at the back of the line.
"Two riders were spying nearby, and they rode back to the city a moment later..."
"Muddy waters?"
"possible."
Jiang Qingzhi brought four guards today, and only Mo Zhan was by his side at the moment.
"Call him back."
"Yes."
When the three guards came back, Jiang Qingzhi had already prepared the meal and had a corn bone in his hand, which he chewed deliciously.
"There are only laborers and craftsmen around, no one is annoying." Sun Bu Tong said confidently: "Even if a fly comes, it will have to ask us."
Jiang Qingzhi took a sip of the broth and felt it was too salty, so he quickly took a bite of the steamed bun.
"Whose people could it be?" Sun Chonglou muttered, "Could it be old dog Yan Song's?"
"Yan Song would not do such a thing." Xu Wei said, "He is the dog of your majesty. If someone were to kill Lord Bo at this moment, it would be a backlash against his master. If your majesty is furious, the Yan family will be wiped out in an instant."
This place is close to residential areas. It is noon and many people are going home to rest or eat. Most people have two meals a day, so at most they can just get some dry food to fill their stomachs.
According to Jiang Qingzhi's instructions, the Mohist base had to be built to last for a hundred years or even thousands of years, so Guo Xing also had to think hard about the wall.
"Uncle, the foundation has been laid." Guo Xing had never seen such a host who was willing to spend money. As long as he said that it was an expense that would help preserve the building for a long time, Jiang Qingzhi nodded almost without blinking.
"Okay." Jiang Qingzhi was cheered up.
After dinner, Jiang Qingzhi prepared to go back.
"Remember to keep an eye on the bricks and stones at night." "Don't worry, sir." Guo Xing said with a smile, "Most of these civilians live nearby. A few days ago, someone tried to steal bricks and stones and was caught by them. They beat him up and sent him to the government on their own initiative."
Jiang Qing got on the horse. The four guards seemed to be relaxed, but they were actually observing the surroundings vigilantly.
The houses outside the city were built spontaneously. When the houses were being constructed, no one needed to guide them, and streets were formed spontaneously.
Jiang Qingzhi rode his horse slowly and saw the shops on both sides crowded with people. He couldn't help but think of the southward march of Altan Khan's army that was supposed to happen this year.
Now it is early autumn, and Altan has still not made any move, which shows that he has truly changed history.
Without this catastrophe, he could devote all his energy to researching firearms and laying the foundation for the Mohist school.
I remember that when Altan Khan's army marched south, tens of thousands of people outside the city were in panic and didn't know where to go. They gathered outside the city and cried, but many people opposed opening the city gates to let them in. In the end, it was Lu Bing who made the suggestion, which prevented those tens of thousands of people from being abducted by Altan Khan and taken to the outside of the Great Wall as slaves.
Jiang Qingzhi suddenly had a feeling that the reason why Lu Bing had a good ending was probably not because he was fence-sitting and good at dancing with the long sleeves, nor because most of his in-laws were powerful and high-ranking officials.
"The fate of tens of thousands of people..." Jiang Qingzhi felt that this was the reason.
There was a man and a woman walking side by side in front of us. The woman pretended to be casually holding the man's arm, but she looked around uneasily, worried that she would be seen.
She turned around and glanced at Jiang Qingzhi.
A shy smile.
Then he swung his right hand back violently.
A shield was raised in front of Jiang Qingzhi, and Sun Bu Tong shouted, "There's an assassin!"
Sun Chonglou has already pounced over.
The heavy sword was unsheathed, and Sun Chonglou roared, "Kill!"
The woman suddenly bent backwards, and it turned out to be Tiebanqiao. Then she took out a short knife from under her skirt with her right hand and threw it at Sun Chonglou.
The man turned around, pulled out a long narrow knife from the umbrella in his hand, and slashed it diagonally.
Sun Chonglou swung his sword to smash the short knife away, then twisted his huge body and avoided the man's sword with an impossible move. He turned his body sideways to the ground, pressed his left hand hard on the ground, and rolled to the right.
The man's swords missed several times in succession. At this time, someone outside howled and the man shouted, "Retreat!"
The light of a knife suddenly flashed above his head.
The woman screamed, "Boss!"
The man suddenly raised his sword, and with a clang, the long and narrow sword could not withstand such a huge force and broke into countless pieces.
Then the knife flashed across his neck.
"The boss!"
The woman screamed and ran away quickly, looking back at the flying head.
Sun Chonglou caught the head with a grim smile, "Young Master Sun Chonglou, remember, if you want revenge, just come!"
The assassination came quickly and went away quickly.
Jiang Qingzhi felt that only a moment had passed and the crisis was over.
"He shouldn't have chased after the stone." Jiang Qingzhi took out the medicinal cigarette, and Xu Wei nodded, "The main target was mistaken, so it's obvious that he didn't intend to assassinate the uncle, it's more like a gesture."
“This is muddying the waters!”
……
"How is Yan Shifan?"
Chen Zhan entered the study. It was rare that Yang Qing and Han Yu did not have a handshake today, but were waiting for news.
Chen Zhan shook his head. "Zhilu is heavily guarded. Our people don't have enough status, so we can't get any information from the outside."
"If Yan Shifan dies, our chess game will unexpectedly survive." Yang Qing said: "Yan Shifan is the core figure of the Yan Party. Once he dies, Yan Song will be unable to support the Yan Party alone, and the Yan Party will fall apart. Jiang Qingzhi will be unable to support the Yan Party alone..."
"No, you forgot that if Your Majesty can build up a Yan Party, he can also launch a Jiang Party." Han Yu said lightly.
"Yes, I was so excited that I lost my mind." Yang Qing covered his forehead, "This is also one of Jiang Qingzhi's motivations for taking action."
The two smiled at each other.
"Jiang Qingzhi is now unable to defend himself..."
"Gentlemen." An attendant came in, "Jiang Qingzhi was assassinated outside the city just now."
Han Yu stood up suddenly and asked, "Is he dead?"
Yang Qing also lost his calm composure and crumpled the scroll in his hand.
"He's not dead. The assassin was killed by Sun Chonglou before he even got close."
"That Asura!" Yang Qing closed his eyes, "No, who could assassinate Jiang Qingzhi at this moment?"
"Yan Song? No, Yan Song doesn't dare to offend Your Majesty at this moment, unless Yan Shifan is confirmed dead. He will take the risk for his beloved son." Han Yu looked at Chen Zhan.
Chen Zhan lowered his head, "Yes...someone planned this and said that it could muddy the waters."
"And you chose to cover it up." Yang Qing narrowed his eyes, "Not a bad idea."
Chen Zhan took a deep breath, "I just learned that the man said... you two gentlemen will definitely object. This matter has already started, and it's too late to stop it..."
"You go now."
Chen Zhan left. There was silence for a long time in the room. Han Yu said, "These people! It's too early to take action now."
"We should wait until Yan Shifan's news is confirmed."
……
Before Jiang Qingzhi entered the city, he met the old playboy.
"Sure enough, they started taking action." Seeing Sun Chonglou holding the head, Zhu Xizhong's eyes became gloomy.
"It's not Yan Song."
"It better be."
Jiang Qingzhi: “…”
Zhu Xizhong's eyes were filled with a ruthlessness that was unfamiliar to him. "Since it's in chaos, then let's go with the flow and pull down the Yan Party. I, your brother, will do my utmost to help you. Together with the efforts of His Majesty, we can replace the Yan Party!"
Xu Wei's eyes lit up, "Duke, what you said is very true. Lord... this is a rare opportunity!"
(End of this chapter)
