The Grandmaster Strategist

I frowned slightly and looked at the battle report in front of me. This was the news from King Yong's intelligence network. It would take a few days for the official military report to arrive.

"On July 16th, the King of Qi patrolled the border to Zhenzhou, and the Northern Han army knocked on the pass. The King of Qi led the army to fight, and won the first battle. On the 21st of July, General Feihu Shi Ying's troops arrived, and the King of Qi could not hold out. Shi Ying's troops retreated, and the king went out to attack the enemy. He was ambushed by the ghost-faced general Tan Ji and was defeated. On July 26, Shi Ying knocked on the pass. Wang showed weakness and lured some of the enemy troops to attack the city and annihilate them. In August On the third day, the two armies fought at the city gate. Ling Yu from Fengyi Gate disguised himself as an enemy general's guard and assassinated Tan Ji. Tan Ji was seriously injured and the Northern Han Dynasty was defeated. On August 14, it was confirmed that the Northern Han Dynasty had withdrawn its troops, and the King of Qi wrote a letter reporting victory. .”

I put down the information and said worriedly: "I didn't expect His Highness King Qi to stabilize the border so quickly. It seems that he will be back soon."

King Yong and Shi Ziyou, who had just returned to Chang'an yesterday, looked at each other. Shi Yu said, "Your Highness can ask King Qi not to return to the capital for the time being. Why is Sui Yun so worried?"

I sighed: "King Qi calmed down the situation at the border so quickly. Fengyimen spent a lot of thought on it. Assassinating a general in the army is such a dangerous thing. Now the two countries are hostile, unlike the past when they fought for hegemony in the Central Plains. As long as the general dies, Most of the soldiers have surrendered, and the officers of both armies are willing to die. If the general is injured, he must attack desperately. Even if this disciple of Fengyi Sect can escape, he will probably escape death. Fengyi Sect urgently needs King Qi to come back and participate in the mutiny."

Shi Yu frowned and said, "Sui Yun is saying that if His Highness prevents King Qi from coming back, they will take risks."

I smiled bitterly and said, "That's all if they take the risk. The problem is that they are afraid that they will suspect that the emperor has not made up his mind to depose the prince. There is one thing that both of us know. Although King Qi is a supporter of His Highness the prince, if it is not the emperor's intention, In this way, King Qi will not firmly support the prince. In a sense, King Qi is even more of a loyal minister. This is also one of the reasons why the emperor went to Huangling this time to take King Qi to escort him. Although there is no King of Qi It is more convenient for us, but if we get the support of the emperor, then King Qi will not cause us too much trouble, so if we resolutely prevent King Qi from returning to the capital, Fengyi Sect Master will never think of this matter of."

King Yong frowned deeply and said: "I predict that within a few days, King Qi will ride back to the capital. If we cannot stop him, the situation in the capital will be out of control, and the military will suffer heavy losses." "

I picked up another piece of paper and said, "One more thing. Ye Tianxiu reported to His Highness Prince Qing that he was safe through His Highness's channels, but His Highness Prince Qing was furious and had already sent some of his subordinates to the capital."

King Yong sighed and said: "It's really troublesome. King Qing is always so impulsive. If he wasn't so impulsive in the first place, how could he be demoted to Dongchuan?"

I smiled lightly and said: "From my perspective, Prince Qing is a smart man. If he stays in the capital, Fengyi Sect will be in trouble everywhere. It would be better to fly far away and guard the princes."

King Yong and Shi Yu looked at each other, showing a hint of embarrassment and apology. My heart moved and I said, "But there is something that Zhe doesn't understand."

King Yong glanced at Shi Yu, who smiled bitterly and said, "There is one thing that Your Highness and I have long suspected. King Qing's martial arts are somewhat similar to those of the Demon Sect."

I was shocked and said, "Could it be the Demon Sect of the Northern Han Dynasty?"

King Yong replied: "In fact, the Demon Sect is not a whole. It is said that when Jing Wuji left the Central Plains, many Demon Sect disciples left the Demon Sect and stayed in the Central Plains. They are good at hiding, and we don't want to push the Demon Sect too hard to avoid anger. Jing Wuji.”

I smiled lightly and said, "This may be the reason why the Emperor and His Highness dare not trust Prince Qing."

King Yong smiled bitterly and said: "That's right. I'm not sure how far he can go for revenge."

I asked doubtfully: "If that's the case, Dongchuan is an important place. Aren't the Emperor and His Highness worried?"

King Yong smiled slightly and said: "If King Qing doesn't want to rebel,

Of course you can do whatever you want in Dongchuan, but if you have any objections..."

King Yong smiled and said nothing, and I was wise enough not to ask any more questions. It seemed that there was someone monitoring and controlling King Qing. This was probably a secret that few people in the royal family knew, but the problem still existed. I asked: "Your Highness Can we dissuade Prince Qing from coming to Beijing?"

King Yong thought for a while and said: "I will write a letter and ask Gou Lian to stop him. He must have a way to persuade King Qing not to come to the capital."

I sighed: "It's a pity that King Qi is not so easy to dismiss."

A few days later, at the suggestion of the prince and some ministers, King Qi was ordered to return to Beijing to report on his duties. This was already expected, so King Yong did not stop him. However, His Highness King Yong had already made up his mind, even if Fengyi was aroused. The sect leader's suspicion also prevents King Qi from entering the capital. I am already planning an assassination in my mind. This will prevent King Qi from intervening in the crown prince dispute for the time being. Even if there are some suspicions, it is still unreasonable. It is better than letting King Qi's army and Yong Yong. The king's army went to war much better.

While King Yong and Shi Yu were discussing how to arrange the assassination, a guard came in and reported: "Your Highness, the King of Qi has sent a secret envoy to ask for an audience with Your Highness." We were all stunned after hearing this. How could the King of Qi send a secret envoy? Anyway, King Qi’s envoy had to meet him. King Yong met him in the study room, with Shi Yu and me standing around.

After a moment, a brave guard of the King of Qi came in. After seeing the ceremony, he handed over a letter. King Yong looked at it and his expression changed, and handed the letter to me. When I saw it, it was King Qi who invited His Highness King Yong to come to the capital in August. On the second day, there was a secret meeting at a Buddhist temple a hundred miles away from Chang'an. King Yong said calmly: "Please tell King Qi that I will definitely attend the meeting."

After the messenger left, Shi Yu said hesitantly: "His Royal Highness King Qi's behavior is too unusual. Does Your Highness really want to go?"

King Yong said: "If there is an opportunity to make my sixth brother change his stance, it would be worthwhile for me to take some risks."

But I waved my folding fan and said, "Your Highness, Prince Qi is not a person who retreats when difficulties arise. I'm afraid he won't change his position, but this is a good opportunity. If the Crown Prince's people know that His Highness has a private meeting with Prince Qi, then they will If we don’t dare to completely trust King Qi, then at least we can reduce our pressure.”

King Yong hesitated for a moment and said: "This tactic of alienation is useful, but I'm worried that my sixth brother will hold a grudge against me."

I smiled and said, "The King of Qi is originally against His Highness, so it doesn't matter if he has more hatred. However, the Crown Prince and the King of Qi already have a rift. This is a good way to benefit oneself at the expense of others."

King Yong was moved and said: "But the news must be spread secretly to the prince."

I smiled faintly and said: "With the ability of Fengyi Sect, as long as His Highness deliberately pretends to be very cautious, someone will definitely be watching. When the time comes, we can let them see it from a distance, because we can't know what happened. Naturally, I thought of the worst."

King Yong smiled lightly and said: "If we can keep the sixth brother out of the matter, then everything will be worth it. The sixth brother is a general."

On September 2nd, at dusk, King Yong left Chang'an in a light carriage. In addition to more than a hundred guards who had gone out of the city to meet up, there were also Xiao Shunzi and I. I insisted on accompanying because I was really curious about King Qi's intention, and Responding to situations also requires my decision-making. As for Xiao Shunzi, without his protection, how can I safely travel such a long distance? In this case, except for the personal action of Fengyi Sect Master, I believe safety can be ensured.

The meeting place designated by King Qi was a very desolate ruined temple. There was no one to host it. It was already dawn when we arrived. King Qi’s guards had already taken care of the place. The surrounding area was heavily guarded, but there were no people there. The people were dressed in casual clothes, and nothing attracted any attention except for a carriage parked next to the temple.

After King Yong's guards arrived, they quickly set up a defense line. The hostile confrontation between the two sides just formed a balance of power, and the place was completely surrounded. I glanced at Xiao Shunzi, and he stood up knowingly and could block the small temple. All are received from the position of the eyes, so that no one can intrude into the position where they can see the scene in the temple. I walked into the small temple with King Yong. In the clean and spotless temple, in front of the dilapidated Buddha statue, a man in brocade clothes stood with his hands behind his back, proudly looking up at the Buddha statue. I stopped in my tracks. The current King of Qi is different from what I have seen before. Four years ago, when we met for the first time in Nanchu, he was the domineering Prince of Dayong. He was full of murderous aura and made people shun him. The second The first time we met, he was poisoned and dying, but he showed his generous side. The third time we met in Yongdu, he was full of enthusiasm. If I wasn't a little moved, how could I be prepared to let him escape. In the days that followed, I fought fiercely with the prince in Prince Yong's Mansion. Although King Qi was on the prince's side, he was suppressed and could not return to the army. Even though he was arrogant and domineering, he was still a bit frustrated. , the former domineering power gradually faded away, and seeing him today, maybe it was the baptism of the border war. His Royal Highness, King Qi, who was already in his thirties, also had a kind of implicit and graceful domineering power, which was a bit like King Yong back then.

I was thinking wildly here, but King Yong had already stepped forward and said, "Sixth brother, I'm here. What do you want to say to me?"

Li Xian slowly turned around, with a faint smile on his face and said: "Second brother is already ready to shoot, right?"

Li Zhi looked stern and said nothing.

Li Xian turned his back and said: "Who wouldn't want this ninth-five position? Now that the eldest brother has committed his own sins and is now suspicious, it seems that the throne will be yours sooner or later, the second brother."

Li Zhi said slowly: "If you are willing to obey me sincerely, I will treat you as before."

"It was like before?" Li Xian laughed and said, "I admired you when I was a boy and entered the army. Without the guidance of my second brother, I'm afraid I wouldn't have lived for a few days. But I always wanted to get rid of my second brother's shadow, so I I did not follow my second brother closely, but became the King of Qi today. But second brother, I may be dissolute, maybe stupid, but I am not a person of Qin and Muchu. Since I have protected the prince, I will not betray him even if I die. "

Li Zhi couldn't suppress his anger and said: "If the eldest brother conspires to rebel, will you follow him and do whatever he wants?"

Li Xian looked stunned, then suddenly said: "So, second brother, you want to force the eldest brother to rebel, so that you can legitimately become the crown prince."

Li Zhi sighed and said, "Sixth brother, you have always been very smart. I admire you very much, but why don't you want to cover up a little bit? Now that the arrow is on the string, I'm afraid I won't be able to let you enter Beijing."

King Qi smiled faintly and said: "Second brother, don't worry, I'm not a fool. I know the current situation very well. I won't stop you from doing what you want to do, and I won't tell the eldest brother. But unless the eldest brother really wants to cause trouble, I will I won't betray him. If the second brother doesn't believe it, there is a person in the carriage outside. When the second brother sees him, he will believe that I won't tell what happened today."

King Yong's expression changed and he glanced at me. I withdrew without saying a word. I walked to the front of the carriage and opened the curtain. I saw two people sitting and sleeping in the carriage. The one sitting there was a fifty-year-old man. A middle-aged man of many years has a respectful expression, and lying there is a handsome young man with a slightly dark complexion. Although he is sleeping, he looks uneasy. The middle-aged man whispered: "This is my young master Jiang Haitao." I was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "I am Jiang Zhe."

The middle-aged man said happily: "You are Mr. Jiang. General Fang brought back your medicine. My young master's injury has been much more stable."

I comforted myself and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Your Highness, King Yong, is still inside waiting to report back. Please wait a moment."

Back in the temple, I glanced at King Qi with admiration, walked into King Yong's side and whispered, "He is the son of Lord Jiang." King Yong's expression changed drastically, and he looked at Li Xian in surprise. Li Xian looked cold and arrogant, but It was without saying a word. King Yong's expression softened and he said: "Do you know that since you have intervened in this matter, you have the handle in my hands. I will just repay this matter if it gets out. The prince and Fengyimen will not let it go." your."

Li Xian said coldly: "I don't care what they think. This child calls me cousin. If I just sit back and watch, it would be too ruthless. I don't know if my second brother has the courage to take over this matter."

King Yong suddenly gave a slight salute and said: "Sixth brother, I am ashamed of your chivalrous heart. Don't worry, since this child has arrived in Chang'an, I will definitely do my best."

Li Xian turned around and said, "Okay, you can take him away. After his poisonous injuries heal, if it is inconvenient for you to send him back, just come and tell me."

Li Zhi took a deep look at King Qi and said, "Are you really unwilling to change your mind? Do you know that once the overall situation is decided, you and I will meet in life or death."

Li Xian smiled slightly, his smile full of sarcasm, and said coldly: "Thank you, second brother, for your kindness. I voted for you. Do you really trust me?"

King Yong was speechless and speechless. He really wanted to say that he could trust King Qi, but when he thought about how King Qi had been against him many times over the years, and when he thought about Princess Qin Zheng, he finally said weakly: "I believe that my sixth brother will find a way to express his feelings." My own sincerity.”

Li Xian turned sideways and whispered: "Although Zheng'er has her faults, she will always be my wife and the mother of my children. Li Xian is not talented, and he cannot kill his wife to gain wealth."

Li Zhi sighed deeply and said, "Then, Sixth Brother, you can take care of yourself." After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the temple. I glanced at King Qi and saluted: "In the past, Zhe only said that Your Highness was bold, but today I know that you dare to do something bold. I also ask Your Highness to be careful in the future. The prince is fatuous and the Fengyi clan is ambitious. Why should Your Highness be buried for them."

Li Xian glanced at me and said calmly: "Suiyun's talent is unparalleled in the world. If I had killed him cruelly back then, I'm afraid I wouldn't have ended up like today."

Hearing this, I felt a little sad. Just listening to these words, I knew that this proud prince had given up the opportunity to control his destiny and was willing to die in this bloody battle for his inheritance. But there is nothing I can do. At this time, no matter what kind of person King Qi is, King Yong and I cannot let go. If it were not that our meeting today could drive a wedge between King Qi and the Crown Prince, I would never have allowed King Qi to return to Chang'an.

He said goodbye and left, and got on the carriage. King Yong's face was as cold as frost. The carriage started, but he didn't speak. After a long time, he said calmly: "It's a pity, King Qi."

I knew in my heart that Li Zhi had murderous intentions, but I could also hear the deep regret in his tone, which was not present when we discussed the assassination a few days ago, so I said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, it seems that King Qi will not As the prince has rebelled, at least His Highness doesn’t have to worry about King Qi’s army launching an attack.”

King Yong shook his head and said: "I'm not afraid of ten thousand, I'm just afraid of the worst. If I can't control Lao Liu for sure, I can't rest assured. Is there anything Suiyun can do?"

I had thousands of thoughts running through my mind, and finally shook my head with regret and said, "Unless I kill King Qi, I have no way to control him."

King Yong sighed softly and stopped talking. Then I said again: "Unless King Qi is temporarily seriously ill, an army without King Qi personally commanding is like a pack of wolves without a leader."

King Yong's expression changed and he said: "Take a look first, but you have to be prepared. You can't sharpen your guns in the face of battle."

I smiled slightly and said, "I wonder what the Fengyi Sect would think?"

After King Yong's chariot drove away, the leader of King Qi's guards came in and reported: "Your Highness, it's time for us to leave. If this matter is known to the prince, I'm afraid the prince will be suspicious."

Li Xian nodded and said, "I can't care less about that. I have fulfilled my duty as a minister and brother. If the prince becomes suspicious, there is nothing I can do."

The guard suddenly said: "Your Highness, I dare not question His Highness's decision, but is that person really worthy of your loyalty?"

King Qi looked cold and said, "This is not what you should say."

The guard looked frightened, but his stubborn eyes did not change at all. Li Xian glanced at him and sighed: "The prince's true nature has been revealed, and I am also very disappointed. But now I am already riding a tiger and cannot get off. Even if he is ruthless, I can't." Wuyi, no matter what, without the support of the prince in the past, I would never have achieved what I have today."

Not long after King Qi's chariot set off, a woman in commoner clothes stood up on a small hill not far away. Although she was wearing a Jingchai cloth skirt, she was very bright and beautiful. She looked at King Qi's figure coldly. A smile, but even though it was such a cold smile, it looked so moving on her face that was as bright and dazzling as the rising sun.