First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

...

After the words fell, the atmosphere in the tent became stagnant again.

Gao Chong returned to his seat and just looked at Ning Changzhen with a smile. Everyone lined up on both sides with lowered eyebrows and said nothing.

Only Young Master Tian stood in the middle with his head held high and his chest proudly looking at Ning Changzhen.

After a long time, Ning Changzhen laughed twice, his voice hoarse and harsh as a knife.

"Gao Jinglue, I'm sorry I didn't make it clear just now. My eldest son, Huizao, was ordered by me to lead the troops to Yuezhou to suppress the rebellion. However, there was no news after being there for several days.

Yesterday, news came from Hepu that my son, Huizao, has died. I am old and have lost a son. I am in unspeakable pain, so I asked you."

"Oh?" Gao Chong frowned, grasped the key point keenly, stared at Ning Changzhen and asked: "There is news from Hepu? Who sent the news?"

Tian Yangming also reacted, "Hepu is the headquarters of the rebel Ning Daoming, and the army's suppression of the rebellion is also top secret. Who can give you the news?"

As for what Ning Changzhen said, Ning Huizao went to Yuezhou to quell the rebellion under his order. This is understandable, and Gao Chong cannot use this to question him.

Because Ning Changzhen was the governor of Qinzhou and supervised the military affairs of eight states including Qinzhou, Yuezhou, Nanhezhou, and Baizhou. Yuezhou was subordinate to the Qinzhou Governor's Office. If there was a rebellion in Yuezhou, as the governor, Ning Changzhen could naturally mobilize troops. Conduct counterinsurgency.

So from this point of view, Ning Changzhen cannot be blamed. This is within his rights and responsibilities.

It's just that Ning Changzhen accidentally revealed that someone in Hepu sent him a message. In fact, the Ning family is so powerful that there must be people from them in every state and county. There is no doubt about it.

But at this juncture, as long as Ning Changzhen didn't give a reasonable explanation, Gao Chong could label him as a traitor to the party.

Ning Changzhen's face darkened, and he said without any fluctuations in his tone: "The Ning family has been rooted in Qinzhou for more than a hundred years, and its industries are spread all over the states and counties. It is natural that there are channels to get the news."

Gao Chong also had a bad expression and actually scolded the case: "Since you are so well-informed, why did Ning Daoming rebel in the city? As the head of the family and the governor of Qinzhou, why did you allow him to invade Jiangzhou? Or, in other words, Ning Daoming was ordered by you?"

This sudden attack caught everyone off guard and they all looked at Ning Changzhen.

Ning Changzhen paused for a moment, but he didn't expect that Gao Chong didn't give him any face. As Gao Chong slapped the table and scolded him, he could see people behind the tent, and it seemed like someone was moving around. Ning Changzhen suddenly thought: Gao Chong, kid , How dare you ambush the swordsman.

In this way, Ning Changzhen did not dare to make a mistake. He knew this person's temperament and his status. Even if he was ambushed here as a traitor, he would only be praised by the court and would not receive any punishment. punishment.

"Gao Jing's brief words are too serious."

Ning Changzhen felt a little regretful in his heart. After all, he underestimated Gao Chong's determination and really shouldn't have gone out of the city to meet him alone.

He originally thought that Gao Chong had shown extraordinary courage by beating Ning Huizao and his two men to death as traitors, but he did not expect that Gao Chong actually dared to have murderous intentions towards him, the great chief of Lingnan.

"I have not been strict in running the family. I have since written a letter to the court to apologize. It's just that I didn't know about Ning Daoming's rebellion, let alone what the two traitors did in Hepu. I have been entrusted by the saint and caused chaos in Yuezhou, so I deserve the blame. I'll die."

Ning Changzhen bowed deeply with a sad expression. At this moment, he had completely abandoned the dignity and arrogance of the Lingnan chief, because he could clearly see the figure behind the tent, holding a knife and armor, and not concealing his murderous intention at all.

Seeing that Ning Changzhen was so easily convinced, Pang Xiaotai and others were overwhelmed with emotion. Ning... seemed to be nothing more than that.

Looking at Gao Chong again, he was still calm and gentle, with a slight smile on his lips, "Captain Ning, you and I have no right to define right and wrong."

"What does Jinglue mean?" Ning Changzhen's eyes narrowed, and he had a keen sense that something was not good.

"Gao Chong has been ordered to manage the eight prefectures in Lingnan and patrol for hunting on behalf of the sky. In the administration of the eight prefectures, he can act expediently and accept orders." Gao Chong stood up slowly and looked at Ning Changzhen. "Has Governor Ning ever received any instructions?" Di newspaper?"

"Already, received", Ning Changzhen suddenly understood, his face changed suddenly, "Jin Lue, I am the governor of Qinzhou...".

But before he finished speaking, Gao Chong shouted in a deep voice: "Where is Ning Changzhen, the governor of Qinzhou?"

Ning Changzhen couldn't bear it any longer, pointed at Gao Chong and shouted: "How dare you, Shuzi? I am the chief of the Liao people, and I have my own way of restraining myself. You have no right to depose me."

"Where is Ning Changzhen?" Gao Chong ignored him and just stared at Ning Changzhen's eyes and shouted again.

Pang Xiaotai and others could no longer sit still and stood up one after another. Tian Yangming's hand had already put his hand on the waist knife. The sergeant behind the tent took a step forward. The atmosphere in the tent suddenly felt like falling into an ice cave.

"What's the crime if you resist and disobey the decree?" Tian Yangming looked at Pei Xingjian who was standing behind Gao Chong.

"Follow the law and kill." Pei Xingjian said these three words quietly with no expression on his face.

Ning Changzhen suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed, his voice was dry and harsh, and there was no concealed hatred in Gao Chong's eyes.

"Okay, I'm a good manager. Today, I, Ning Changzhen, threw myself into a trap just to make people laugh. However, everything has a cause and effect. If you don't leave any room, then be prepared to bear the consequences. Lingnan slang has been stable for many years... ".

"Noisy", Gao Chong sneered, interrupted Ning Changzhen's words, and spat without any manners: "Where is Ning Changzhen?"

"I... am here," Ning Changzhen said with a meaningful smile.

Gao Chong arched his hands toward the north.

"Today, the Lingnan Economic Envoy Gao Chong took the place of Tian Xunxun. The Ning family, Ning Daoming, rebelled against the city. Ning Changzhen, as the chief of the Ning family and the governor of Qinzhou, was not strict in running the family and was even suspected of being indulgent. Now he is deported according to the system. Ning Changzhen entered the court to defend himself."

"Enter the court to defend yourself?"

Ning Changzhen's eyes widened and he shouted angrily: "Without me in charge of Qinzhou, are you really not afraid of the chaos caused by the officials from dozens of states?"

Feng Zhiyu and others looked at it with horrified expressions and felt uneasy in their hearts.

Jing Lue was so bold that he sent Ning Changzhen directly to the capital. On the surface, he entered the court to defend himself. However, once he left Qinzhou, Ning Changzhen lost his biggest support and could not control his life or death.

As Ning Changzhen said, as the chief of the Ning clan, once he is sent to the capital, there will really be no one to comfort those scumbags, and there may be a big turmoil. This is Ning Changzhen's biggest trump card.

Gao Chong just sneered at this, then looked serious, faced the north, and bowed again: "Ning Chun, the governor of Nanhe Prefecture, has made meritorious service in quelling the rebellion. He has been temporarily appointed as the governor of Qinzhou Governor's Office. Chen Longshu, the governor of Longzhou, has made meritorious service in the war." , and also served as the governor of Qinzhou."

Chen Longshu was slightly startled, and Tian Yangming poked him gently.

Chen Longshu reacted immediately, glanced at the pale Ning Changzhen, and bowed to the north, saying, "I accept the decree, Chen Longshu."

Ning Changzhen's lips trembled, his face turned from white to green, he pointed straight at Gao Chong, his whole body trembling with anger, "Shu Zi, you will surely suffer the consequences."

"Come here," Gao Chong shrugged nonchalantly, returned to his seat, and Xue Rengui immediately poured tea.

The curtain opened and two soldiers came in.

"Captain Funing went down to rest for a while. After dawn, Gao Yi led a group of troops to escort Governor Ning into the court to defend himself. From Qianzhong, he transferred to Shannan and entered Beijing. It is only half a month and there is no delay."Gao Chong looked at the two personal guards who came in and ordered.

The leader was the second year of high school, his name was Gaoyi, and he was also a son of the Gao family. Hearing the words, he solemnly agreed without hesitation.

There are about 250 people in a group.

The current military mansion is divided into three levels: upper, middle and lower. Each mansion has one chief officer to command the army, two adjutants and generals, and one person each for chief historian, soldier cao and army officer.

There are regiments under the generals. Each regiment has about 400 to 50 people. The chief officer of the regiment is the school captain.Under the captain, there is a brigade commander, with each brigade having about a hundred people.There are teams under the brigade commander, each team has about [-] people.There is a group leader under the team leader, and each group has about ten people.

Ning Chang's face was ashen, and he looked at Gao Chong blankly, never expecting that he would never come back.

In half a month, he rushed to the capital.His old bones will most likely die on the road, let alone if he takes the road through central Guizhou.

If he enters Beijing from other places, relying on the power of the Ning family, Ning Changzhen may be able to find an opportunity to escape. At the worst, he may also receive courtesy from the local states and counties.

Central Guizhou is the sphere of influence of the Tian family. The Tian family is loyal to the court. Tian Yangming is now Gao Chong's arm. The Tian family will not take care of him in the slightest.

As for the Qinzhou officials, Gao Chong adopted a strategy of differentiation and made Ning Chun the governor of Qinzhou to appease the Qinzhou officials.

Ning Chun is a direct descendant of the Ning family. His father, Ning Xuan, is the younger brother of the former chief Ning Mengli, and he is also quite prestigious.

There is also Chen Longshu, although he is the chief of the Liao people in Longzhou, since the death of his father Chen Fozhi, he has lived in Qinzhou and been raised and cared for by Ning Mengli. He is Ning Changzhen's sworn brother.

When Chen Longshu became an adult, he accepted the favor of the Ning family and served as the governor of Qinzhou for a time. He was also somewhat famous in Qinzhou. Now that he is also the governor of Qinzhou again, he can naturally be qualified for the job easily.

Now Ning Chun and Chen Longshu are in charge of Qinzhou. Ning Changzhen will leave for Beijing at dawn. This Qinzhou official can really not mess up.

Ning Changzhen's biggest reliance is on those officials. He feels that as long as the court dares to touch him, he can raise his arms and call on many officials to rebel. When the time comes, the court will try its best to maintain stability and will compromise. This is what happened for thousands of years. The imperial court of the Central Plains adopted a policy of restraint on the border areas.

It's just that Gao Chong is not gentle. He upholds righteousness along the way, uses righteousness to drive Ning Chun and others to serve, adopts the strategy of differentiation, and continues to appease the slang officials.

Although Ning Changzhen has prestige, he is not indispensable. In Gao Chong's view, the prerequisite for the strategy of restraining the emperor is to be obedient and obey the court's orders. Since you are disobedient, just support another obedient person.

Gao Yi took Ning Changzhen away and the tent was silent again.

"We will enter Qinjiang City tomorrow," Gao Chong glanced at him, "I will write a letter to thank you for your great help over the past few days."

"Xie Jinglue".

Everyone stood up and thanked him, which was really respectful.

Early the next morning, a fish-belly white light appeared in the east. Gao Yi fully and faithfully carried out Gao Chong's order, dragging the sleeping Ning Changzhen up and saying, "Captain Ning, please mount your horse."

Ning Changzhen took a closer look and saw that it was a weak draft horse. He immediately became furious and said, "How dare you bully me like this? Come and drive me."

He is a majestic chief of the Ning family. He is greeted by people in front and behind him when he goes out. His spacious and luxurious car is like a small mobile palace. He has never traveled on a pack horse.

Facing Ning Changzhen's angry scolding, Gao Yi just looked gloomy and said nothing.

Ning Changzhen knew that he was Gao Chong's confidant, so he was afraid of using excuses to commit murder, so he had to take a deep breath and climb on the horse with difficulty.

As soon as they left the camp gate, Ning Changzhen stopped moving forward and said angrily: "How dare you starve me to death before I eat my breakfast?"

Gao Yi paused and looked at the guard on the side, "Lao Qi, didn't you give him food?"

Lao Qi, also known as Gao Qi, whose name is Gao Liang, heard this and just scratched his head, grinned, and "forgot".

Gao Yi kicked him over, then pulled out a biscuit from the cloth pocket on the side of the horse and handed it to Ning Changzhen, "Here."

The corners of Ning Changzhen's mouth twitched, and he was on the verge of rage.

"Aren't you hungry?" Gao Yi said in surprise.

Ning Changzhen took a deep breath again and took the cake.

"Let's eat while walking." Gao Yi looked at the sky, "It's half a month, but it's a bit busy."

On the official road, Ning Changzhen looked back at the direction of Qinjiang City, feeling extremely sad in his heart.

He chewed the dry and hard biscuits with difficulty, and felt extremely regretful in his heart: Gao Chong'er was so despicable. If he had known it, he would have defended the city. Then he raised his arms and the officials gathered in Qinjiang City. Gao Chong'er could not help it. What am I?

At the same time, outside Qinjiang City, tens of thousands of troops formed a formation, and their momentum soared into the sky.

Flags were hung in front of the formation, and a large banner with the word "Tang" was erected at the front.

Below it is the handsome flag with the word "Gao" of the Lingnan Economic Envoy and the Governor of Guangzhou. There are several large flags on the left and right to protect the Chinese army.

On Qinjiang City, Ning Daowen's face was solemn.

"Gao Chong of Guangzhou, Feng Zhiyu of Lianzhou, Chen Longshu of Longzhou, Pang Xiaotai of Baizhou...".

"Old man, could it be that he has already..." Ning Jing, the captain of the city gate school beside him, also said in panic.

"no, I can not".

Ning Daowu shook his head with dull eyes, "He doesn't dare. If he kills Aweng, the Qinzhou officials will be in chaos...".

What Ning Daowu said was true, but he never expected that Gao Chong would not kill Ning Changzhen, but just send him to the capital.

If Ning Changzhen was killed directly in Qinzhou, the impact would be really bad and it would be difficult to deal with the aftermath.

At this moment, a large number of people came running from a distance, and the sky was overwhelmingly black. There were about 4000 to [-] people, and two big flags were erected in front.

"Ning Chun of South Hezhou, Mo Zhongwen of Yuezhou...".

Ning Daowu stared at them, gritted his teeth and said with hatred: "Uncle Wu, they are so grand."

Ning Jing's face was solemn, and before he could speak, he saw a horse running towards him from the formation. He was wearing dazzling light armor and was high-spirited. It was Tian Yangming.

"The Lingnan Economic Envoy has arrived, and you haven't opened the city yet?" Tian Yangming shouted loudly.

"May I ask, where is my Governor Ning?"

Ning Daowen winked, and the Qinjiang County magistrate did not dare to disobey, so he had to step forward and ask.

"Governor Ning has left for Beijing, and the new Governor Shi and the governor of Qinzhou have arrived outside the city. Why don't you open the city yet? What do you want?" Tian Yangming glared and shouted angrily.

Daowu Ning looked horrified.

I saw two riders coming out of the formation, it was Ning Chun and Chen Longshu.

"Is there Weiqing in the city?" Ning Chun came out and shouted: "I am Ning Chun."

"Fourth uncle..." Ning Daowen saw Ning Chun coming out. At this time, he didn't care about Ning Chun's loyalty to the court and sent troops to Ning Daoming instead. He hurriedly asked: "Where is my old man?"

"Ning Daoming rebelled, causing the Ning family to suffer humiliation. However, the old man has already left for Beijing to plead his innocence."Ning Chun shouted sternly: "Lao Dao was not harmed. I just want you to open the city quickly and don't be confused."

Daowu Ning looked at Ning Jing, hesitantly, "Fifth uncle, look...".

Ning Jing's face was gloomy, then he saw Chen Longshu behind Ning Chun, and suddenly asked: "Uncle Chen family, you are the sworn brother of the old man, can you swear to the gods and Buddhas in the sky to ensure the safety of my family, the old man?"

Chen Longshu cursed in his heart when he heard this. Looking at Ning Chun's face, he had to step forward and said, "Everyone, I am Chen Longshu. My brother is indeed safe and has set off for Beijing. Ning Weiqing, why don't you open the city yet?"

Chen Longshu was the adopted brother of Ning Changzhen. He had lived in Qinjiang for many years and served as the governor of Qinzhou for two years. There were many people who knew him. It was also well known that the Chen family in Longzhou believed in Buddhism.