cold hearted son-in-law

Chu Yunxi didn't care whether Li Mo followed or not, but the further to the northwest, the heavier the snowstorm, the travel of Chu Yunxi and his party naturally slowed down.In March of Yangchun, the willows are green and pink in the south, but the northwest border is ice and snow, and the north wind is like a knife.

Chinese history records: Xia Renzong Jianwen 11 years from February, the western wind and snow hailstorm, as big as eggs, three feet on the ground, birds and animals are dead, cattle and horses are curled up like hedgehogs, people freeze to death in two or three out of ten, the disaster area spread across the border six Zhou, You, Hu, Yong, Jia, Qing, Jing, etc. are more than a thousand miles away, and tens of thousands of pedestrians and animals died.Trees were destroyed and crops were gone.

At the beginning of March, Chu Yunxi, the governor's envoy, encountered an assassin on the way to inspect the disaster situation. He was stabbed several times and wounded to the official post sixty miles away from Huzhou. He was seriously injured and could not continue westward.

In mid-March, when the snowstorm and hailstorm on the border were severe, the Hu people in the west invaded from Xiyangguan, and they were like tigers pouncing on their food, plundering money, food, women, cattle and sheep, but instead of fleeing as before, they attacked the city. The garrison has the potential to march eastward to conquer China.Within ten days, the border lost three cities in a row. The court held the Bai family accountable, and ordered the troops stationed in the six border states to stand ready to defend against foreign enemies.

At the end of March, tens of thousands of disaster victims rioted in Huzhou and Jiazhou. King Liang, who was investigating the case in Huzhou, died in the riots.And the border fell to the second city, and a hundred thousand soldiers of the Hu people approached the city of Youzhou.

The border was in turmoil, the prince died suddenly, the emperor was furious, and the government and the public were shaken.

The emperor ordered the other five states to gather troops to assist Youzhou in the battle, and they must not let the foreigners go southeast and enter the hinterland of China.He dispatched his clan relative, King Qi, to lead [-] Jingwei troops to the border to suppress the rebellion and subdue King Liang, and sent the second prince, Huangfu Ze, to supervise the army on the front line.

However, after the Huzhou massacre in the ninth year of Jianwen, the imperial court did not appoint a new Jiedu envoy. Judges, push officials, etc., and generals include Yaya, Marquis of Yu, envoys of soldiers and horses, etc.Although he didn't dare to continue the investigation, the case was still pending, but the old family members in Huzhou were still in prison, so there was no one in charge in Huzhou.After the emperor sent Liang Wang to go, he failed to clean up Huzhou, but let the neighboring Youjia two prefectures take the opportunity to cross the border and occupy several counties and towns.

The day after the news of King Liang's death came out, Chu Yunxi took Qingzhu and other followers, and held the token given by the eldest princess, and took over the chaotic Huzhou forcefully.Order officials and soldiers who are still in the future and flee to maintain law and order, and the rich and wealthy gentry send clothes and food.

A few days later, Shi Ze, who had been missing for a long time, brought the Youzhou garrison to help. Chu Yunxi recruited and resettled the victims as an imperial envoy, the son-in-law of the eldest princess, and the orphan of the former Huzhou Jiedu envoy, and detained several slanderers and murderers. , so that people help Liang Wang's coffin back to Beijing.Together with Jiazhou Jiedu envoys, within ten days, they not only rectified the civil strife in Huzhou and Jiazhou, but also recruited young and strong victims of the disaster and gathered soldiers from the three states. A total of [-] troops were ready to go.

It was already the beginning of April, and King Qi's army had not yet reached the border.When the news that the civil strife had subsided quickly spread to the capital, there was also a letter of invitation bearing the official seals of the other five prefectures.The above is to ask for an order to confer the title of the Jiedu envoy of the six states, so that his father will be succeeded by his son, the official position will be hereditary, and he will be independent in appointing officials and collecting taxes.

The emperor was overjoyed when he heard that the turmoil had calmed down, and when he saw the memorial, he scolded angrily: "Rebellious ministers and thieves, who don't think about serving the country, actually took advantage of the fire to rob."All the court officials heard the news, but they were unanimously silent.

After the prince retired from court, he hurried to the consort's mansion without even changing his court clothes.

"Sister Huang, what happened to Zhezi in Huzhou? The emperor is furious, what should I do?" The prince was at a loss, and instinctively came to ask the eldest princess.

"If Chu Yunxi can lead the six border states, it will be beneficial to us." The eldest princess was sitting in the study, holding the manuscript of Chu Yunxi's "Strange Tales from a Liaozhai Studio" in her hand, and was flipping through it. Seeing the prince coming in a hurry, she was indifferent response.

"But this can't be sealed! Sealing it is equivalent to setting up six vassal kings with different surnames on the border. In the future..." There is no way to take it back. The prince swallowed the following words, frowning.The matter is of great importance, and the court ministers are most likely to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, and keep silent on this matter.Mrs. Hua's position on this matter is not clear, it depends on how the eldest princess makes a decision.

"Is there any choice now?" The eldest princess asked indifferently, her eyes were calm, and she touched the cyan bag tied on her belt with one hand.

"But... it's sealed, what about Miss Huang?" The prince sat aside, his expression calmed down a little.I also understand that this matter involves the survival of the country, and we need to be cautious.

Although Huaxia claims to have a million soldiers, only 70 are actually registered. The rest are recruits with varying combat power, local officials, and princes of the palace. They will only gather during wartime.While the official army is only 70, the four battalions of the Jingwei Battalion in the capital have a strength of 20, the imperial forest army is 12, and the imperial imperial army is [-].While Huaxia is facing enemies all around, the standing border guards have [-] troops from the Bai family in the west to guard the Hu people outside the pass, and [-] Wuning troops in the north to guard against the northern Qiang in the desert.There are [-] Weiyuan troops in the east to prevent the constant harassment of the Xi State on the island, and [-] Anning troops in the south to guard the ten-thousand-mile border with Nanzhao Kingdom. Neither side can be easily mobilized.

Now the six prefectures have become a trend, with [-] vassals and towns occupying the border.When the Hu people entered the customs, the Bai family army in the west was held back, and the imperial court was stretched and unable to attack.But if it is sealed now, the imperial court will lose control of the six states, and there will be endless troubles.

If it is not sealed, the Bai family army is now retreating steadily, with heavy casualties, and it is difficult to retreat from the enemy.The Jiedu envoys of the six border states resented the imperial court because of this, and let the barbarians in the west break through Youzhou, endangering China.But now only by conferring six prefectures and defending against the enemy together can China be stable.

But what about the eldest princess?Chu Yunxi seized the title of Huzhou Jiedu envoy, and followed him?Although one state and several prefectures and counties can be gained, it is not worthwhile to lose the momentum in the middle of Beijing.Won't it be sealed?Offending the Jiedu envoys of the five states will affect the stability of the country.In addition to the Bai family army on the border, the military power belongs to Mrs. Hua and the second prince.Today, the military power in the world has fallen, and the crown prince sits on the throne, without military power in his hands, and the country is unstable.

The prince asked: How should it be?The eldest princess did not answer.Holding the kit tightly in his hands, he remained silent.

"Miss Huang?" the prince called her, with a disturbed expression.

"Wait for the news." The eldest princess said calmly, seeing the puzzled look on the prince's face, she added: "Trust Chu Yunxi first, and there are Shi Ze and Qingzhu over there."

"The high-ranking official and power are too tempting, why does the emperor believe him and not turn back? The emperor said that he is brilliant, superb medical skills, and he is not someone who has been under others for a long time. How can Shi Ze and Qingzhu influence him? And my aunt also wanted to disturb him at the beginning. As for him, his attitude has always been unclear. Why don't you order him to return to Beijing first, and then crusade against the border town army, once and for all, to solve the six states?" The prince's voice became lower and lower under the eyes of the eldest princess.The Queen's funeral, Chu Yunxi went to Huzhou before the filial piety, disturbing the affairs of the six states, the prince felt dissatisfied.

"Crusade? Solve the six states once and for all? Who is listening to this nonsense? I don't think about it carefully." The eldest princess shouted angrily. Seeing the crown prince's cowardice and silence, she shook her head helplessly and said: "The army of the six states was ordered by the late emperor. Having operated the border for decades, it has been deeply rooted, and has mutual in-laws with the officials of the DPRK and China. Who is willing to lead the army to attack? Do you have generals or heavy soldiers under your command? If this word is spread, will you know the consequences?"

After hearing this, the prince bowed his head and remained silent. The eldest princess finally said: "Chu Yunxi is different from others. Chengqian, you are the prince and the prince of the country. If you think twice, you should make up your own mind and judge everything. If you still believe in sister in your heart, you should believe in Chu Yunxi. There is no need to say anything else, just go back."

"Sister Huang said that Chengqian will remember, Chengqian will go back to the palace to visit his father and leave." The crown prince agreed, feeling a little unwilling.The imperial sister he relied on married the daughter of the Jiedu envoy of Huzhou, and his trusted cousin Qin Jue married the daughter of the Jiedu envoy of Qingzhou, but those two states did not obey him. I can only follow suit, how can I be willing?But she had no soldiers and no power in her hands, and the eldest princess also chose to trust Chu Yunxi, so she had no choice but to go back to the palace.

"Qingmei, send the prince off. I'm tired, so don't let others bother you." The princess sat on the chair and watched the prince go out. Qingmei closed the door, then untied the bag and held it in her hand, watching Qingqing carefully. The kit whispered: "Secrets about life and death? About life and death?" He grabbed the rope on the lock of the kit and was about to open it when there were two knocks on the door, and Qingmei said: Your Royal Highness, Huzhou Feige sent a message.

The eldest princess seemed to be relieved, she relaxed her expression, put away the kit and said: "Send it in."

"Your Highness, it was written by the son-in-law." Qingmei entered the room and said respectfully presenting a narrow note.

"Pass down the order and do everything possible to help the son-in-law at all costs. Then send a team of secret guards to the Zhuangyuan Mansion to protect Xiao Wei and Doctor Xiao Yu. Also, if there is any trouble with Mrs. Hua, report immediately." The eldest princess looked at the message on the paper and said .

Qingmei nodded and wrote it down, but did not leave, but lowered her head and said: "Your Highness, the spies sent back news, but Li Mo was not found. Also, Qingzhu sent news that the son-in-law was on the way to Huzhou. He dug up a carrion corpse and burned it to ashes and took it back to Huzhou to be buried with his parents. However, people in Huzhou said that Mrs. Hua sent people to repair the cemetery of the Chu family, but the son-in-law never sent anyone after he came to Beijing. When you go back to Huzhou, do you want the spies to investigate?"

"I haven't found any living ones, how can I investigate the ashes?" The eldest princess raised her eyebrows and looked at Qingmei.

"My servant made a slip of the tongue, Your Highness, please forgive me." Qing Mei immediately knelt down and pleaded guilty.

"Go down." The eldest princess waved her hand expressionlessly, returned to the desk and sat down.

"Yes" Qingmei didn't dare to look at the eldest princess, and stepped back.

The eldest princess watched her go out, put down the pen, stared at the word "Chu" on the paper in a daze, her heart was churning, but she resisted not to open the kit.