Tang Dynasty: The poisonous scholar in the Eastern Palace, please abdicate and let the wise one take

Chapter 264: Let them go openly, kill them secretly, and betray them!
Shannan Road.

Cen Mansion.

A ranger came up to Cen Wenzhao with a smile on his face, took out a jade pendant and placed it on the table.

The jade pendant is very well made and there is a word on it.

Cen Wenzhao took a look and nodded with a smile. Sun Meng, who was standing beside him, stood up and walked to the inner hall with a smile.

A tray full of silver ingots appeared in front of the ranger.

"Here are five hundred taels of silver. Please count them."

"No need!"

"Second Master is a man of his word, I admire you!"

After complimenting him, the ranger took out a sack he had prepared and put the silver into it.

The full bag of silver weighed fifty kilograms, but for the ranger, this was not a difficult task.

Even if it's a hundred pounds, he can still run while carrying it.

"Second Master, I'm leaving now."

"Go."

Cen Wenzhao smiled and nodded, "Just be careful these days. If you spend money recklessly and get targeted, don't blame me for not warning you."

"I understand!"

"Farewell!"

The ranger left with fifty kilograms of silver on his back.

Subsequently.

Cen Wenzhao picked up the jade pendant and looked at it with a smile, "The workmanship is quite good."

Sun Meng smiled and said, "After all, this is a waist ornament worn by a member of the Zhang family, so the workmanship is naturally good."

Cen Wenzhao nodded and casually threw it to Sun Meng, "Which one is this?"

Sun Meng raised his hand to catch it and said softly, "Master, this is the seventh one including today's."

"What are the reactions of those noble families now?"

"Of course everyone is in danger."

Sun Meng grinned, "They are all on guard, afraid that they might be beheaded at any time."

"Especially those noble families who secretly colluded with the Lu family. After learning that these people were killed, they now dare not go out."

"We will continue to put pressure on the governor, hoping that he can quickly investigate and find out who is behind the murder."

"The governor also took this very seriously and arranged for a number of patrol officers to investigate the matter, but..."

Sun Meng smiled and said teasingly: "It's just a show."

Cen Wenzhao nodded and stretched his body. "Now that the news of Lu's rebellion has spread, and those who conspired with Lu have been killed one after another, I think other people should think it over carefully."

"That's what the Second Master said."

……

Jiangnan Road.

Suzhou Provincial Government.

Wang Ren looked at his deputy Zhang Tao with a troubled look on his face, then looked at the case that had been submitted to him, and rubbed his head helplessly.

"What number is this?"

"Your Excellency, this is the tenth one."

"Or is he from an aristocratic family?"

"Correct."

"..."

Wang Ren sighed, "What kind of existence should these people from noble families offended?"

"Who knows."

Zhang Tao shrugged and said with a smile, "But I guess it should be the work of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Wang Ren looked over and Zhang Tao smiled and said, "Think about it, sir. The King of Qi is now imprisoned in Fanyang. The elite troops from the four counties have already rushed to Fanyang. A big battle is inevitable next."

Wang Ren nodded, and Zhang Tao continued, "But at this very moment, some people from aristocratic families were found dead on the streets for no apparent reason..."

"I have reason to suspect that these people have already contacted the Lu family privately!"

"Their deaths now are the best proof!"

Because they wanted to conspire with the Lu family and were discovered by the prince, so the prince dealt with these people in advance?

Wang Ren frowned and thought: "But, doesn't this conflict with the prince's strategy of division?"

"No conflict, no conflict, my Lord."

Zhang Tao said with a smile, "Kill these people secretly, and everyone can pretend to be ignorant and blame it on the bandits."

"But if we openly allow them to rebel, then the families behind these people will be implicated."

"Look, even though these people are dead, they only begged you to investigate the murderer thoroughly. Do they dare to implicate the Lu family?"

Wang Ren's eyes lit up, "Release them openly and kill them secretly?"

Zhang Tao nodded, "I think this behavior is also a warning to those noble families who want to collude with the Lu family."

"When they were conspiring, the prince already knew about it, but he only killed those who should be killed!"

"As for the others, they were not implicated!"

Wang Ren: "As long as they are obedient, the prince will not touch them, but if they are disobedient..."

"This is what happens!"

Zhang Tao smiled and knocked on the table.

Wang Ren smiled and nodded, "What you said makes sense."

"Now that this division strategy has been put forward, coupled with this stern warning, I think these noble families will not dare to act rashly."

"Not necessarily."

Zhang Tao shook his head. "Maybe they are just enduring and waiting."

"Waiting for whom, Kong?"

Wang Ren sneered and said, "I still remember that Master Su once said that the name of a traitor for all eternity is really true when I think about it carefully."

"Do they dare to fart when facing the Dali Temple officials led by Sun Fujia? Didn't they just hand over their people obediently?"

Zhang Tao raised his hand and pointed to the northwest. "They may be waiting for news from Songzhou, or the result of Fanyang's encirclement this time."

Wang Ren sneered: "They are bound to lose!"

……

Thirty miles outside Fanyang City, a 10,000-strong army drawn from four counties including Yuyang and Shanggu gathered here.

"General Tian Chong, I pay my respects to Lord Lu."

"General Zhou Yuan, I pay my respects to Lord Lu..."

The four captains who led the troops all bowed and saluted Lu Chengqing.

Lu Chengqing waved his hand and sighed, "I never thought that there would be so many bad apples among the children of my Lu family, to the point of doing such a rebellious thing with the third and fourth rooms."

"I am here under orders to lead four generals, but I don't know much about military affairs, so I have to rely on the four generals this time."

The four of them said in unison, "You are too polite, sir."

Zhou Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and has always worked diligently. We have heard of this a long time ago. Now Lu Jingqing and Lu Jingdao have committed treason and imprisoned His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi and his brother Lu Jingcheng. This is truly a heinous crime, and it has nothing to do with Your Excellency."

Tian Chong: "General Zhou is right. We will definitely help you to eliminate the bad apples in our tribe!"

Lu Chengqing bowed and said, "Thank you, generals."

"As for how to deploy the troops for this trip to Fanyang, you four can discuss it among yourselves, but I have a favor to ask of you."

"Your Excellency, please feel free to speak."

"Don't hurt the people in Fanyang City. They are all innocent."

"Your Excellency is kind-hearted and benevolent. If the people in Fanyang knew about this, they would be grateful to him."

"Ugh……"

Lu Chengqing waved his hand and said, "It's all the fault of my Lu family members."

"Before we take action, I would like to try and see if I can convince them both, okay?"

"This……"

The four of them looked at each other, and then Tian Chong said, "It would be best if you can convince them, but if they ignore it..."

"I'll listen to you then."

"it is good."

……

Led by Tian Chong and his four companions, the elite soldiers from the four counties blocked the four gates of Fanyang City in the southeast, northwest, and northeast.

Outside the East City Gate.

Under the protection of Tian Chong, Lu Chengqing rode his horse and stopped two hundred steps away from the city wall.

"Who is coming?"

"I am Lu Chengqing!"

On the city wall.

Lu Jingqing and the other man poked their heads out at the same time, looking fiercely into the distance. "Lu Chengqing!"

"You deserve to die!"

"Lu Jingqing, Lu Jingdao, Lu Yao!"

Lu Chengqing shouted angrily, pointing at the city wall and cursing, "You three are the sinners of my Lu family!"

"My Lu family has a long history. The three rituals are passed down from generation to generation. People are proficient in classics and become officials. They study classics and history and continue to write the Spring and Autumn Annals! We have been loyal to the emperor and patriotic for generations. How could a traitor like you emerge?"

"Now, the Crown Prince has ordered me to come and quell the rebellion. This is the last chance the Crown Prince has given you. I hope you can turn back from your mistakes and not endanger the lives of my Lu family members in vain!"

"The prince said that as long as you are willing to give up the dark and join the light, only the ringleader of this rebellion will be executed, and the rest will not be held accountable..."

"Hahaha, what a joke!"

Lu Chengqing's words were interrupted by Lu Jingdao, "The Li family was able to sit on the throne because of our family who lifted him up."

"Now that the Tang Dynasty has become prosperous and powerful, the Li family is going to cross the river and demolish the bridge, and then abandon the donkey after it has done its work?"

"How can such a good thing happen!"

"Li Shimin didn't want us Lu clan to survive, so I overthrew his Li Tang empire!"

"presumptuous!"

Tian Chong roared, "Lu Jingdao, now that the royal army has arrived, you are still stubborn and unyielding. I think you are ready to die!"

"Listen, Lu's descendants. As long as you capture Lu Jingqing, Lu Jingdao, and Lu Yao alive, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will pardon you!"

"Even if you don't consider yourselves, you should at least consider your families, right?!"

however.

Faced with Lu Chengqing and Tian Chong's persuasion, the people on the city wall did not take it seriously.

Now that things have come to this, even if they really surrender, will the prince let them go?

How can it be!

What's more, many of them are guilty of murder!

"Ugh……"

Lu Chengqing shook his head. "There's no point in saying more. General Tian Chong, I'll leave the rest to you."

Tian Chong nodded, glanced at Lu Jingqing and others on the city wall, protected Lu Chengqing and rode back to the army, and immediately arranged for his soldiers to build siege equipment.

The trip was hasty, and the soldiers from the four counties traveled lightly, without carrying any siege equipment.

Now that we can’t reach an agreement, we have no choice but to attack and take Fanyang City.

Looking at the people outside the city busy building siege equipment, it is impossible not to be panicked.

Lu Jingqing and the other man looked at each other, then arranged for Lu Yao to stay here and turned and left.

"Third brother, it looks like they are going to do it for real."

"They don't dare."

Lu Jingqing took a deep breath and said, "As long as we pull Qiao Mengzhuo and the others up, we will kill one of them when they attack the city, and we will definitely be able to stop them."

Lu Jingdao's eyes widened. He didn't expect that Lu Jingqing, who was usually gentle and polite, could be so cruel.

But since it concerns my life and property, I can’t care less.

No matter what, we have to drag it on.

The longer it drags on, the better it is for them.

Lu Jingqing: "As long as the King of Qi is still in our hands, they may be able to take over Fanyang City."

"Has there been any news from Songzhou?"

Lu Jingdao shook his head. "I have sent a letter by carrier pigeon to inform Songzhou to start the rebellion as soon as possible. We will help him hold back Li Chengqian."

Lu Jingqing sighed, "I hope they can move faster."

……

Zhao Mansion.

Zhao Zhiqian returned to the mansion looking a little tired. After briefly instructing his personal soldiers, he hurried to the courtyard where Cao Yuan and others were.

"Master Zhao, is there any movement outside the city?"

"Yes."

Zhao Zhiqian said in a deep voice, "The troops from the four counties have already arrived at the city, and this time they are led by Lord Lu Chengqing himself."

Cao Yuan and others: “……?”

Good guy.

The prince's move was really cruel.

Let the first wife of the Lu family deal with the third and fourth wives of the Lu family.

"When are we going to do it?"

Zhao Zhiqian looked at Cao Yuan expectantly, "I can't wait to capture Lu Jingqing and the others and present them to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Cao Yuan: "We don't know where the King of Qi is being held now..."

Zhao Zhiqian said in a deep voice: "I have already found out secretly!"

Cao Yuan was stunned for a moment, and Zhao Zhiqian continued, "When the soldiers from the four counties arrived, the Lu family manor quietly sent the King of Qi into the city. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be in the governor's mansion."

"The governor's mansion?"

"Correct!"

Zhao Zhiqian said in a deep voice, "As long as the King of Qi is in their hands, even if the city is broken, they still have a chance of survival!"

"Now Lu Jingqing and his men are living in the governor's mansion. The entire governor's mansion is surrounded by Lu's assassins. Not even a fly can fly in."

"So, I dare to assert that the King of Qi and his men are being held in the Governor's Mansion!"

Cao Yuan knocked his head and said, "This is troublesome."

If they want to rescue the King of Qi, they will have to face Lu's assassins. With their limited manpower, it is obviously not enough.

but……

Cao Yuan raised his head and looked at Zhao Zhiqian, "Are your subordinates ready to take action at any time?"

"no problem!"

"Then do it tonight!"

Cao Yuan said in a deep voice, "Attack them by surprise!"

"You arrange to open the city gates and send the army in to quell the rebellion. I will contact Mo Yun and the others and find a way to break into the governor's mansion."

"However, before you take action, you need to give me a detailed map of the Governor's Mansion."

"I am ready!"

Without saying a word, Zhao Zhiqian took out a detailed map of the provincial governor's office with an obvious marking on it.

"This should be where King Qi and his men are imprisoned!"

"If you guys take action, I will give you two hundred elite soldiers and try my best to ensure that you can kill them all!"

"it is good!"

Cao Yuan was very satisfied with Zhao Zhiqian's arrangement, and even a little excited.

Once they rescue the King of Qi, unite with the army outside the city, and deal with the Lu family, they will definitely be rewarded heavily!

"Brothers, whether we can succeed tonight depends on you all!"

"Brother Yuan, we have been waiting for a long time!"

Wang Tian and others responded with a smile.

Cao Yuan nodded and looked at Zhao Zhiqian, "You make the arrangements!"

Zhao Zhiqian: "Okay!"

Zhao Zhiqian excitedly explained his ideas in detail. Cao Yuan and others brainstormed, found out the shortcomings and filled them in, and finally finalized the plan.

……

Night falls.

Zhao Zhiqian yawned and patrolled the city wall of the west gate.

In addition to his five hundred elite soldiers, the surrounding soldiers included more than a thousand people including Lu's descendants.

Even though he surrendered and helped Zhang Xiang find the bodies of his family members and gained Lu's approval, Lu was still worried about him.

No, to be exact, he didn't trust any of them except the children of the Lu family!
Even at the South Gate where Zhang Xiang was stationed, there were still more than half of the Lu family members and their men!
This will greatly eliminate the possibility of them suddenly turning against us.

Zhao Zhiqian greeted the sleepy soldiers one by one, especially the children of the Lu family, and comforted them with a smile: "Don't be nervous, Lord Lu and his men are sure to win, and the enemy has no siege equipment, nothing will happen tonight, you rest, we will keep an eye on the outside."

"Thank you, Lord Zhao."

"As it should be, we are all family."

Zhao Zhi's humble and submissive behavior made his elite soldiers increasingly unhappy.

It is obvious that they should rest and let these young soldiers keep an eye on them. Only in this way will they be able to fight when the real fight breaks out.

But Zhao Zhiqian actually let those young soldiers rest?
Seeing the young soldiers gradually falling asleep, Zhao Zhiqian called his soldiers and said, "It's about time."

Some soldiers who didn't understand the situation looked at him suspiciously.

At this time.

A beam of fire shot up into the sky in the direction of the Governor's Mansion, illuminating the dark night sky!
"Lu Jingqing and the other two are courting their own destruction. Brothers, follow me to wipe out the rebels, open the city gates, and welcome the royal division!"

"Do it!"

(End of this chapter)