Late Tang

"When I entered the Plum Blossom Gate, I felt the warmth. When I was inside the Plum Blossom Gate, I felt the feeling of home. I felt that I was alone." There was a faint trace of warmth on her lips. A smile flashed by, with a hint of tenderness in his eyes.

"This road is not easy." Li Jing sighed, "Is the information you gave me a mistake or intentional?"

Now that Li Jing knew of Aunt Gongsun's resentment towards the imperial court, it was hard to guarantee that the mistake in the intelligence was not intentional on her part.In other words, she would like to see pirates attacking the court's frontier castles just for revenge.

Gongsun did not evade, and said calmly: "I don't know who wanted to kill me, but now I know that the person who did it was from Li Jingmen. You have a good relationship with King Zhao, and the daughter of King Zhao, Princess Xihe, has been with you recently. By your side, and now on this island, right?"

Li Jing had heard of the Six Gates before, and the Plum Blossom Gate just now, and when he heard about the Lijing Gate, he couldn't help being confused for a moment.There are six doors, one of which is the secret espionage organization of the imperial court's Ministry of Punishment, and the other is an intelligence and assassination organization that rebelled against the imperial court.Now there is another Lijingmen, and Li Jing feels that this Lijingmen, which has never been heard of before, may be another secret organization that is unknown.

"I've never heard of Legacy Gate."

"Princess Xihe has been by your side, does she like you?" Aunt Gongsun asked suddenly. "I saw you together. The relationship between her and you is not ordinary."

Both his wives, Wang Guiniang and Wan'er, once asked Li Jing the same question, and he gave Gongsun the same answer, "She is the princess. Although I have not formally worshiped King Zhao as my teacher, it is only because of the status of King Zhao. The princess is me. Just sister. I like her, but only as a brother and sister."

"If you think that way, maybe she doesn't necessarily think that way. Although it looks like nothing now, women's feelings are sometimes so strange, and it is not impossible to have love for a long time."

Li Jing thought to himself that such a thing might indeed be possible in later generations, after all, there were not too many concept constraints at that time.But now, this matter is unlikely. Li Huier is the princess, and he is just a farmer who was born as a garrison general, let alone a man with a wife.Moreover, they are all surnamed Li, and they are not married with the same surname.Even if Li Hui'er really had such an idea one day, not only would Li Rui definitely not agree, but he would also be unable to do the act of divorcing his wife.

"Princess Xihe is the same as Junior Sister Yu, I just treat them as younger sisters."

"Maybe!" Gongsun said lightly, "If that's the case, and there is no relationship problem between you, don't you think it's a bit strange that Princess Xihe has been following you?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Gongsun smiled slightly: "Let me tell you about the Lijingmen. Have you seen the blood-red big red flower? It is the kind of blood-red big red flower that blooms specially in the cemetery. The blood-red big red flower According to legend, the big red flower is a flower that grows on the bank of the Wangchuan River at the Naihe Bridge in the underworld. According to legend, the fragrance of the flower has magical powers and can evoke the memory of the dead."

"This kind of flower is really beautiful. It's incomparably beautiful and poisonous. It seems to be alive. But it's very desolate. The big red flower is so beautiful. Some are as charming as the setting sun like blood, and some are as white as snow. It is pure and beautiful, but after seeing it, I feel inexplicable sadness in my heart! The big red flower is also called the other shore flower."

The plum blossom is the symbol of the Plum Blossom Gate, so is the Bianhua the symbol of the Lijing Gate?Li Jing asked.

"The logo of Lijingmen is a blood-red Bana flower, which is usually embroidered on the left shoulder clothes of members of Lijingmen. In fact, everyone in Lijingmen has a branded Bana flower on their left shoulders, which is kept for life. Legend has it that when Lijingmen When Jingmen members are fighting with others, if the blood splashes on the Bianhua, then this flower will become extremely coquettish, attracting most of the enemy's attention, so that they can easily kill each other."

Li Jing was surprised for a while, why this organization sounded so much like the factory guards of the Ming Dynasty, but the six doors sounded like Jin Yiwei.Is Lijingmen the Tang Dynasty version of Dongchang?

"The Lijing Gate was also founded by Li Shimin. It is two secret organizations founded at the same time as the Six Gates. However, the goal of the Six Gates was to deal with the recklessness in the Jianghu, and it belongs to the Ministry of Justice. The Lijing Gate is even more mysterious. They They all belong directly to the emperor, and they will be loyal to the emperor for life, defend the royal family, and remove people who are inconvenient to remove for the emperor, and the symbol is the blood-red Bana flower."

"Most people in Lijingmen are orphans. They are selected from the best of the various armies and undergo rigorous training. All of them are absolute elites. They kill people invisible, and they are especially good at using hidden weapons. Just make a move, and they will be easy to use." Anything can be turned into a sharp weapon to kill people. They are all loyal to the emperor, and they also protect the people appointed by the emperor wholeheartedly. If the emperor wants to get rid of ministers who are inconvenient to do so, Li Jingmen will become the best choice."

"What you said, what does Li Jingmen have to do with King Zhao and Princess Xihe, and what does it have to do with me?" After making a circle, Li Jing was a little confused.

Gongsun narrowed his eyes suddenly, and said coldly: "Because today's son is young, all affairs in the court are in the hands of the eunuch Tian Lingtian. Li Jingmen, who has always been loyal to the emperor and the royal family, has been hidden. We suspect that now The Li Jings are still operating in secret, but they are not directly loyal to the little emperor, but in the hands of a member of the royal family. According to our prediction, it has only been half a year since Lao Hunjun died, and his sons are generally young, so Li Jing They are most likely under the hands of Lao Hunjun's brother. And King Zhao, Lao Hunjun's eighth younger brother, is very likely to be the one who controls Li Jingmen now."

"Also, we have enough reasons to believe that Princess Xihe is also a high-ranking member of Lijingmen. Even if King Zhao is not the person who controls Lijingmen, Li Huier must be one of the high-level officials of Lijingmen."

Li Huier has a flamboyant personality, she doesn't have the squeamishness and domineeringness of golden branches and jade leaves, but instead shows her face everywhere, and she always speaks and does things with a masculine boldness.When she was in Dengzhou, she was able to provoke Feng Liang and Li Jing to gamble, and even started a Zhuangju bet.In Wangli Village, regardless of his status, he was able to personally appease the refugees and organize a quilt workshop.In yesterday's battle, she even disregarded safety and appeared on the city tower in a heroic manner, beating drums to cheer.Li Jing thought of Li Huier's various performances, she was indeed an extraordinary princess, and Gongsun said that she was a high-ranking member of Lijingmen, he was not too surprised.

"You hate Li Jing Fang for murdering you, and because of this, you lost your unborn child. These are all normal. But you can't hate Wu Ji Wu. Before you find out Li Huier's true identity, because you suspect that she is Li Jing Is the person behind the door going to sell me false information?" Li Jing said strangely: "If this is the case, why did you tell us this information?"

Gongsun raised his head stubbornly: "We really suspect Li Huier and Li Rui's father and daughter." Her tone was a bit complicated, "But in fact, if we want to deal with their father and daughter, we need a shrewd assassin. I appeared on Shamen Island, In fact, it is aimed at you. We suspect that Li Rui has the intention of rebelling and seizing the throne. We have received a lot of information. He is making contacts everywhere to win a relationship and weave a huge relationship. Since he was demoted to Dengzhou, he began to take the initiative He got closer to Cui Yunqing, and even closer to Yu Yu. Now, he is getting closer to Song Wei, and actively wins over the generals of the various ministries in Dengzhou. However, we always feel that these are just his means of winning, and his real ultimate move should be It will be the next step to prepare to build an army that is completely obedient to him and loyal to him."

"We feel that your situation is the most suitable for Li Rui's choice. You have a good relationship, and you come from a farming family without any complicated background forces. Now your two teachers, Yu Yu and Cui Yunqing, are far away from Dengzhou, and you are alone in the Shamen Town is the most powerful and weakest time, if he wins you over, you are likely to join him."

Her analysis of Li Rui made Li Jing chill for a while. He had always guessed that Li Rui was unwilling to be lonely, and it turned out that all this had been confirmed.But when he heard that he might be favored by Li Rui and was about to win him over to create a force for rebellion, he was really shocked.All of this is entirely possible, no wonder Li Rui has been so kind to him, especially the matter of forming the caravan, and Li Huier has been by his side and refused to leave, is there also a reason for this?

"Although Li Rui is also a member of Li Tang's royal family, if he really wants to rebel, our Meihua Sect is very happy to see him, and we are even willing to help." Gongsun sneered, "It is amazing for us to watch the descendants of the Li family kill each other. Everyone in the Plum Blossom Gate is very happy."

"In this case, why do you still give a false information?"

"This is just a test." Gongsun chuckled, "We have to look at Li Rui's eyes. If the rebel general he chose is just a weak boy, then why would we follow this muddy water? I I took the initiative to give you information, but only gave half of the accurate information, just to see your ability. Facts have proved that Li Rui has a good vision. You actually defeated the one-eyed Jiao and one of the Wang family with two thousand recruits who were farmers. The joint attack of 800 people, although the victory was a bit miserable, actually performed quite well. We have decided to secretly support Li Rui's conspiracy. However, we do not plan to contact Li Rui, but directly You cooperate."

"Cooperate with me?" Li Jing suddenly remembered the thorny rose. He felt that the tattoo on Gongsun's arm was not a plum blossom but a rose. This is a surprising woman.

"We cooperate." She took her hand out of Li Jing's palm, but instead of taking it back, she stroked it on his knee. "We are happy to see the descendants of Li's family kill each other, but it doesn't mean that we are willing to see the last one of them win." She gently brushed Li Jing's thigh like a pale jade finger, with the most gentle hint, "That The little emperor is just a puppet of the eunuchs, but Li Rui is a scheming and cunning fox. If Li Rui revolts, we think the chances of success are not small. Once Li Rui really succeeds, we hope that by then You will replace Li Rui. Although your surname is Li, you have nothing to do with the Li family."

Her hand brushed his face and hair, "If Li Rui can use you now, why can't you use him and replace him in the future? If friends can turn enemies into enemies, why can't we turn enemies into friends? I know you You have already married a wife and took a concubine, but your wife is just a peasant girl in the countryside, and your concubine is just a former slave in your family. Li Jing, I know you are not an ordinary mortal, treat me better, and I swear I will never let you regret."

"Are you using your body to seduce me? Could it be that in addition to betraying information and assassinating people, you people from the Plum Blossom Gate also use beauty tricks to exchange sex for what you want? Then what is the difference between you and prostitutes? "

Gongsun's face changed drastically, and he raised his hand and threw it at Li Jing.

Li Jing stretched out his hand to grasp his hand, "Since you have done it, don't allow others to say it. If you can't even do this, then what are you talking about so nicely? If you want to be a bitch, don't set up a memorial archway. "

"Fuck you bitch," she spat, "don't pretend to be sanctimonious to me. Although I have been a dancer in the band, I have kept myself clean. Although I have been raped by a foolish king, it is a matter of necessity. You treat me as a What? I thought you were an informal man with great ambitions. But look at yourself, don’t you also bow to power for the sake of official power? You are a little farmer’s son, and in a short period of time Climb to today's step, what do you think you rely on, is it really your talent and ability? If you don't hold Cui Yunqing's thigh, don't cling to the family, don't curry favor with Li Rui, or even bow to Song Wen, what will you do? Today? As far as I know, Feng Zhang, the original enemy of Cui Yunqing, Li Rui and others, died in your hands. If you hadn't worked so hard to help Cui Yunqing and Li Rui get rid of Feng Zhang, you think, You, a farmer's son, can suddenly become a general? Tell me, Li Jing, what is the difference between you and me, or Song Wei, Li Rui, Cui Yunqing and others, what is the difference?"

"Don't talk about anything else," Li Jing said, "I just want things to be simpler. Madam Gongsun, please listen carefully, I will only say this once. If you really want to cooperate with me, then it is not impossible. But , I hope this cooperation is equal to each other, not for you to control me. If you can put away your tricks of beauty tricks and seduction, and sit down and have a serious talk, I welcome it. But my ugly words are Up front, if after our cooperation, there are so-called temptations and tests like this time, our cooperation will be automatically terminated, and you don't want to blame me for retaliation. I, Li Jing, am Li Jing, and I don't want to get involved Go to those rotten things like Plum Blossom Gate, Lijing Gate, and Six Gates."

"Are you looking down on me?" Gongsun said, "Could it be that you don't like me, Gongsun Lan? Is it because I'm too ugly, or my body is not good enough?"

"You are very beautiful and have a good figure. Although you are older than me, I don't really care about those." Li Jing said lightly, "However, cooperation is cooperation, and feelings are feelings. Confused. If one day, you no longer come with a hidden purpose, then I will be very happy, now, let's put those away."

Gongsun Lan put away her seductive look, and said seriously: "Then you mean that you are willing to cooperate with us, General Li Jing?" She asked softly, staring straight into Li Jing's eyes. "I heard from my subordinates that the Cyclops surrendered to you last night and was willing to serve you, but you still killed him in the end. If you keep him, not only can you immediately obtain a pirate force of thousands of people, but also You still have hundreds of thousands of income, and with the Cyclops in hand, you can directly hold the sharpest weapon against Wang Jin. Such a good opportunity, but you ended up killing the Cyclops and all his subordinates Don't you feel sorry for it?"

"It's a pity." Li Jing said, "But if I really keep the one-eyed dragon, do you think Wang Jin can feel at ease? With such a handle in my hands, will Wang Jin fight me desperately? Killing the one-eyed dragon is actually the In order to give myself a breathing space. Song Wei doesn’t want to fight with the Wang family now, neither does Song Wen, nor does Li Rui. No one supports fighting with the Wang family now. If I insist on my own way, they will just sit and watch me in the end Obliterated by the Wang family. Compared with those small profits in front of me, keeping yourself is the most fundamental thing, so there is no pity for those."

"Oh, the general seems to have seen all this clearly." Gongsun Lan smiled, "At first we were worried that you were too young, sometimes you couldn't see too far ahead and only cared about the momentary gains and losses. You are very Smart, beyond our expectations. In this cruel struggle, it is important to strengthen yourself, but the most important thing is to securely preserve your own strength. You are now on Salmon Island, completely surrounded by Wang Jin and Feng Zhang Among them. If you don’t want to be swallowed, you can only rely on yourself. Don’t think that Song Wei or Cui Yunqing will help you deal with Wang Jin. They are now in Qingzhou controlled by Wang Jingwu’s Yajun. To put it mildly Well, Song Wei and the others are hard to protect themselves. Don’t expect Song Wen, he has to follow Song Wei’s every move. As for Li Rui, this person is very scheming and cannot be trusted.”

"In short, from now on, you can completely trust us in terms of intelligence, and our Plum Blossom Gate will be your eyes and ears in the future. However, you still have to rely on yourself in other areas, although we will not give you false information to test you again, But where you are now is a test, and if you can't get through this on your own, no one can help you."

"Can you help me with some money first?" Now that he had made up his mind to cooperate with Plum Blossom Gate, Li Jing immediately made a request without hesitation.

Gongsun Lan smiled: "We can return you the three thousand coins you gave us last time, and don't think about the extra. Plum Blossom Gate is not Li Jingmen. If you just followed me, maybe, I can give you the private money I have saved over the years. But since you look down on me as a ruined flower, I'd better keep my little money for myself. "

Li Jing was a little unwilling, and continued: "Then you can do two things for me. First, help me investigate the lair of the Cyclops in Duli Town, Liaodong, and give me the detailed information. Second, from now on, Keep an eye on Wang Jin and Feng Zhang's actions, and also pay attention to the every move of the Dengzhou Navy and the soldiers and horses on the islands of Daxie Village, and tell me the news at any time."

"There is no problem with these two requirements, leave them to me. It's getting late, I have to go, and you should go to the luncheon quickly, or they will have to look for you." After finishing speaking, she spoke in front of Li Jing Putting on the soldier's uniform that he took off when he came, he put on the hat again, wrapped the cloak around his body, covering most of his face and body, and left quickly.Only Li Jing was left sitting alone on the grain bag in the warehouse, thinking about sorting out the complicated thoughts in his head, immersed in the silence.

(To be continued)