Chapter 1 A Peaceful Night

Yanjing City welcomed a rare night;

Just as the entire Yan needed to recuperate, this capital city was in even more urgent need of rest.

Ever since the two princes entered the capital one after the other, and the late Emperor returned to the palace from the rear garden, the nerves of this capital city had been stretched taut.

The ringing of the death knell, the establishment of the new Emperor, a series of ups and downs;

People were tired,

The city was exhausted,

Fortunately, the sun set and the moon rose,

From high-ranking officials to common vendors,

All could heave a sigh of relief in a similar fashion:

"Ah, let's wash up and go to sleep."

Those who toiled for the empire also needed to rest.

After all, this was not a situation of a young ruler and a suspicious country, nor was it a time of utter chaos;

The late Emperor's arrangements, coupled with the new Emperor's own abilities, made the transition of power exceptionally smooth, and everything was orderly amidst the flurry.

Therefore,

The Chancellor didn't need to say that he would stay in the palace on duty to guard against unforeseen circumstances or anything like that.

When it was time to leave work, he still had to leave work.

To some extent, whether or not the Chancellor left work was also a barometer for the outside world to gauge the health of the central government's operations.

The Chancellor's carriage,

Drove out of the palace gate.

……

Night clothes, put them on;

Inside, everyone added the gold silk soft armor woven by Fourth Sister.

Marquis Zheng touched the Wuyaya Saber, placing it into the specially made scabbard. He stretched his body, confirming that his state had been adjusted to an extremely high level.

In front of him,

The devils were already ready.

The Sword Saint was still leaning against the pillar, he didn't need to do too much preparation.

Zheng Fan waved his hand,

And said:

"Let's go."

Zheng Fan walked in front,

Xue San reached out and thumped Fan Li's knee,

Fan Li understood and began to hum.

Xue San immediately sang:

"A long road accompanies you to roam..."

Under the night,

A group of night travelers, quite a good match.

Xu Chuang was a little surprised,

Was there really someone who sang when going to kill people?

The Sword Saint was not surprised, he knew that these people liked to do this kind of tune.

Marquis Zheng raised his saber,

And said:

"Change it."

"Alright, Master!"

Xue San thumped Fan Li's knee again, and Fan Li changed his tone;

Xue San sang:

"In the rushing wind and rain, unrestrained awakening and drunkenness..."

……

The Chancellor's carriage was very spacious.

Because the Chancellor needed to have an office space in the carriage, it naturally couldn't be cramped.

At this time,

Zhao Jiulang had a quilt covering his legs, holding a black chicken soup, looking at Li Liangshen sitting in front of him.

"Since His Majesty wants you to go to Nanwang City, this Chancellor will naturally not object, but this Chancellor has two points to mention."

"Please speak."

Li Liangshen showed rare patience this time.

"First, the situation in Nanwang City, Zu Zhuming is a stable person, it will be difficult to gain any more advantages from him. After you go, you must also avoid being anxious."

"That's natural."

"Second, the new Emperor has just ascended the throne, and now, at least in the next few years, the main focus is still on consolidating the foundation. It's not like the past few years, rashly starting border conflicts may not be tolerated by the current situation."

"This, I also know."

"That's good then." Zhao Jiulang nodded, and took two more sips of chicken soup.

"So, the Chancellor agrees?"

"After the national mourning, this Chancellor will mention it. At the beginning of the new Emperor's reign, it is normal to change the commander of the Jingji Garrison. Moreover, this Chancellor also heard that your relationship with His Majesty is not very harmonious."

"Those are all things of the past. At that time, His Majesty was just a prince. Now, His Majesty is His Majesty. When I see him, I will kneel. I believe His Majesty will not be a petty person."

Zhao Jiulang put down the chicken soup, picked up the handkerchief next to him and gently wiped the corner of his mouth, and said with a smile:

"Do you really think so?"

"Why would I lie?"

"Do you know what 'a new emperor, a new court' means?" Zhao Jiulang asked.

"Li has also read books."

"No, no, no, this has nothing to do with reading or not. 'A new emperor, a new court' refers not only to the emperor's attitude towards his subjects, but more importantly, to the subjects' attitude towards the emperor.

When the new Emperor ascends the throne, the subjects often cannot view the new Emperor with the same eyes as they viewed the late Emperor.

When the late Emperor was in power, as long as it was useful to Great Yan, it could be tolerated, and if mistakes were made, it didn't matter."

"Is the Chancellor saying that the new Emperor's magnanimity is not as good as the late Emperor's?"

Zhao Jiulang shook his head and said, "It can't be said that way. When the late Emperor trampled on the aristocratic families, his body, in fact, already had hidden problems."

All along,

The first person to know the late Emperor's physical condition best was Wei Zhonghe;

Then the second person was definitely Zhao Jiulang, who helped with the meals.

Throughout history, the Emperor bestowing a meal was a great honor, a great favor, but Zhao Jiulang was fattened by this favor.

"The new Emperor is in his prime, and the new Emperor's methods are no less than the late Emperor's, so the new Emperor is fully capable of pushing away everything he finds an eyesore.

Anyway,

He has the years, the energy, and the ability, and more importantly, the temperament honed by the late Emperor, to reorganize everything.

This is what 'a new emperor, a new court' means,

General Li,

If this Chancellor were you,

Today,

You should actually carry thorns on your back and kneel in the palace to plead guilty."

"Heh heh."

Li Liangshen laughed.

Zhao Jiulang also laughed and said, "Alas, the Zhenbei Army is used to being lawless, but unfortunately, times are different now. General Li, apart from his official position, also has the name of one of the Four Great Swordsmen in the martial world.

But you must not bring the atmosphere of the martial world, the actions of a commoner, into this imperial court.

Yu Huaping has always been in the martial world, while you were born in the imperial court.

As long as Yu Huaping doesn't do anything out of line, or rather, if the Marquis of Pingxi can't suppress that out-of-line thing, then he can always take a step back and continue to enjoy the vastness of the martial world.

You,

Li Liangshen,

Cannot.

You have no martial world."

"What the Chancellor said is a bit alarmist."

"Heh, throughout history, how many people who rely on their talents and are arrogant have had a good ending?

In terms of fighting, what battles have you fought in the Jingji Garrison in recent years?

In terms of officialdom, Prince Zhenbei has long ago revealed his intentions, it is impossible for him to rebel, what else do you have to rely on?

It's just the name of one of the Four Great Swordsmen,

Qian also has Baili Jian, Chu also has a sword maker,

So what?

One of the Four Great Swordsmen,

Your Majesty,

Really doesn't care too much, otherwise, you really underestimate His Majesty too much.

People who hold grudges are not petty;

Daring to hold grudges, daring to take revenge,

Sometimes it is actually a kind of magnanimity.

That's all I have to say,

General Li, do as you see fit."

"Then why does His Majesty want me to go to Nanwang City? It's not possible that he wants to use the hands of the Qian people to kill me, right?"

Qian people,

The Qian Kingdom's border troops,

Are they worthy of killing Li Liangshen?

"This is also something this Chancellor has been thinking about, I can't figure it out." Zhao Jiulang shook his head, "This shouldn't have happened, but now it has. General Li, you once led troops in the desert, do you know what this situation is called?"

"When something is abnormal, there must be a demon."

"Yes, that's right."

At this time, the old coachman driving the Chancellor's carriage opened the curtain and said to Zhao Jiulang:

"Prime Minister, the crows on both sides are gone today."

Zhao Jiulang nodded upon hearing this.

"What are crows?" Li Liangshen asked.

Zhao Jiulang looked at Li Liangshen, and for a moment, he was not sure,

Therefore,

He asked directly:

"General Li, this Chancellor now has something unclear."

"What is it?"

"Why are you in this Chancellor's carriage?"

"This…"

"So, does His Majesty want me to die, or does he want me to live?"

Li Liangshen immediately understood and smiled: "So, someone wants to do something unfavorable to the Chancellor?"

Zhao Jiulang nodded,

"The crows have flown away, so there's no one to warn us."

"His Majesty's people?"

"His Majesty can directly let the crows bite people."

"Then who wants to attack the Chancellor?"

"A person who can let His Majesty know, but also has to bite the bullet and cooperate."

"Zheng Fan."

This name was too easy to guess.

Li Liangshen looked at the Chancellor and said, "Why would Zheng Fan attack you?"

"Because of Du Juan."

"Du Juan?" This name was a bit unfamiliar at first, but Li Liangshen quickly remembered, "Madam Jingnan Marquis?"

"Yes, this Chancellor had someone do it, unfortunately, the child is still alive, still living outside."

"So, Zheng Fan is here to avenge Madam Jingnan Marquis?"

"Yes, if he came, then it must be."

"Why didn't Tian Wujing do it himself? Isn't it easier for Tian Wujing to kill you than this?"

"It's because I was sure that Prince Jingnan would prioritize the overall situation, so I dared to do it."

"What about Zheng Fan?"

"To be honest, this Chancellor has never been able to see through him.

If he's said to be a parvenu, he is exceptionally capable and has made great military achievements;

If he's said to be a person with a deep city,

Then tonight's matter,

Is a bit uncertain.

Perhaps there really is such a person in this world, who sees this world as a game."

"Chancellor, you're digressing."

"Yes."

"I'll just ask the Chancellor one question, do you want to die, or do you want to live?"

"Alas, this is what this Chancellor asked General Li earlier, does His Majesty want me to die, or does he want me to live."

"What's the difference?"

"The crows have been withdrawn, but you came. If His Majesty wants me to live, it's to avoid breaking with Marquis Pingxi, and let you give this Chancellor a way out."

"Then if His Majesty wants you to die?"

"Then General Li, you're just someone who will die along the way, one matter doesn't require two masters. This Chancellor said earlier, our Majesty is young, young, so he holds grudges, and if he holds grudges, he wants to take revenge.

So, General Li, don't ask this Chancellor whether he wants to die or live;

It's us,

Do we want to die, or do we want to live."

"You're wrong, if I leave this carriage now, who can stop me?"

"No, General Li, you're wrong again. If this Chancellor dies, and you live, you won't be able to leave this capital.

The sky in the capital has changed, what is an emperor, what is the Son of Heaven?

When the Son of Heaven doesn't look at you, you are you;

When the Son of Heaven looks at you, especially when the Son of Heaven reveals the slightest intention or inclination to want you to die,

If you don't die,

That is going against the heavens.

One of the Four Great Swordsmen?

Can Wei Zhonghe and Lu Bing's two yamen join forces and suffocate General Li to death in this capital?

If this Chancellor dies, you will definitely die;

If this Chancellor lives, you can also live. This Chancellor is still the Chancellor, you are still the general, and even going to Nanwang City will become a reality because of this.

Even the past and the future can be considered over."

"Is the Chancellor making a deal with the Son of Heaven?"

"It's the most difficult to talk about deals with the Son of Heaven, but it's also very easy to talk about deals, didn't Marquis Pingxi succeed?"

Li Liangshen nodded.

Zhao Jiulang said to the old coachman in front:

"Uncle Xu, hurry up, I'm tired."

"Alright, Prime Minister."

Inside the carriage,

Li Liangshen looked at Zhao Jiulang again and said:

"You still haven't told me, do you want to die, or do you want to live."

"Want to live."

Zhao Jiulang gave the final answer.

"This Chancellor living is the greatest benefit to the Great Yan, and after serving as Chancellor for another five years, whether I retire to old age or simply drink a cup of poisoned wine to relieve the monarch's worries, there's no problem.

Five years,

Is enough for Great Yan to recover and climb out of the mire.

This Chancellor,

Can then go down to find the late Emperor and continue to freeload meals.

So,

This Chancellor still has to live for five years."

"Is this how you live?" Li Liangshen asked with a smile.

"This Chancellor didn't expect that Marquis Pingxi would really take action like this, and I didn't expect it to happen today.

Do you say he's hasty and reckless?

But he has chosen this Chancellor's vital point, and also the current vital point of His Majesty.

After tonight,

This Chancellor will no longer give him a chance, and His Majesty will no longer tolerate him running wild again.

He knows this in his heart.

This is a calamity for this Chancellor, if I survive it, it will pass, if I don't survive it, I'll be gone."

"You see things clearly."

"Just pretending."

Zhao Jiulang touched his stomach,

Looked at Li Liangshen,

And smiled;

"I can't possibly hug General Li's thigh, crying and shouting, 'General Li, save this old man!'"

Dignity,

Dignity,

The dignity of the Great Yan's Chancellor,

Must be maintained."

……

West Peace Street,

Street head,

Street tail,

Five hundred Jingnan cavalrymen drove in from each side.

They were clad in armor, bows in hand, sabers at their sides, and after lining up, apart from the occasional sounds from the warhorses under their crotches, the knights on horseback straightened their backs and looked outside the street.

This street had been blocked by them.

……

On both sides of the street, on the eaves.

One side,

Was where Marquis Zheng was, beside him were Fourth Sister and A Ming;

The other side was Xue San and Fan Li.

The Sword Saint and Xu Chuang,

Were standing on the street.

In the distance,

The shadow of the carriage could already be seen.

There was a coachman, and sixteen guards from the Chancellor's residence.

The guards could be put aside for now, the key issue was the attendants walking with the carriage.

Experts,

Must have the appearance and posture of experts,

People rely on clothing and horses rely on saddles, it's not that the clothes people wear are vulgar, but that most people in this world like to judge people by their appearance.

Of course, unlike the wealthy sons who wear fine clothes and ride angry horses, experts must go the opposite way.

The best situation would be that the Chancellor only had these sixteen guards.

One wave of charge,

Kill them all,

Marquis Zheng felt that he could still chat with the Chancellor.

Although it is often said that villains die from talking too much,

But when killing people, in the end, to talk a few more words with the target you are going to kill, and let them be under your blade, this kind of爽 (shuang - satisfying feeling) is really hard to refuse.

Directly hack people to death in one breath, is that the end?

It always feels like something is missing.

"Oh, right, the coachman." Marquis Zheng reminded.

"Master, the information that Third Brother investigated before is that the Chancellor's coachman is an old coachman, over sixty years old."

"That's right, old age, hunched back, this kind of coachman must be regarded as an expert."

Marquis Zheng gave instructions.

"Yes, Master is wise." A Ming nodded.

"Master, rest assured, those guards can be put aside for now. In Third Brother's plan, the first thing to do is to chop the old coachman, then chop those attendants, and the sixteen guards will be left for the end."

This is based on experience. To assassinate a big figure, you must follow this order to ensure that you don't capsize in the gutter, or rather, to ensure that after the first round of impact, no one will suddenly reach out and flick their hair, shouting "Someone is here, who dares to harm the Prime Minister?"

"Everyone has worked hard, I'm not surprised that Little Sixth Son is willing to give this opportunity, but I don't think he will be willing to give it twice, and I don't think that Zhao Jiulang will give me another chance."

"Yes, Master."

"This subordinate understands."

The carriage was getting closer and closer.

Marquis Zheng slowly drew out the Wuyaya,

And gently stroked the blade with his palm.

Battles on the battlefield and assassinations at night are completely different concepts.

"I'm actually a little nervous." Zheng Fan ridiculed himself.

A Ming comforted, "Master, rest assured, according to the most ideal situation, there are only sixteen guards, it's impossible for a Sword Saint to be hidden in the carriage, right?"

"You can shut your mouth, the more critical the moment, the more you and A Cheng can't speak. Do you two have any idea what you are?

It's more auspicious to have crows cawing at the door than for you two to speak."

One zombie, one vampire, creatures that are so yin and evil that crows and black cats even have a hint of joy compared to them.

"Yes, this subordinate understands."

In the face of advancement, there is no need to explain, no need to refute, only admit mistakes.

"Can we start, by the way, what's the signal?" Zheng Fan asked Fourth Sister.

"Master, the signal arranged by Third Brother is for you to stand up and shout, 'Zhao Jiulang, eat my sword!'"

"Is it so chuunibyou (a Japanese term for someone who has delusions of grandeur)?"

"Because Master you have advanced, so Third Brother temporarily changed it."

The temporary change was to better lick (flatter).

To lick, you have to start with the details, not letting go of any position, not letting go of any gap.

As the chief designer of this assassination, Xue San will definitely not let go of this opportunity.

"Can it be changed?" Zheng Fan asked.

This words were too chuunibyou, and too shameful.

"Master, the blind man is not here, we have no way to communicate with them, and time does not allow it." A Ming reminded.

"Okay, I understand, as long as the Sword Saint doesn't feel ashamed."

Marquis Zheng cleared his throat,

After the Prime Minister's carriage team finally reached the ambush point below,

Marquis Zheng stood up,

And shouted at the bottom:

"Zhao Jiulang, you beast, eat my sword!"

On the street below,

The Sword Saint sighed,

Walked out from behind a gatehouse and drew out the Longyuan Sword.

He was not satisfied with this signal, but he still had to take action.

However,

Before the Sword Saint could draw his sword,

In fact,

Only a few breaths of short time,

Inside the Prime Minister's carriage,

Suddenly a figure flew out,

The rough sword energy rushed straight towards the eaves on one side of the street, bringing amazing power!

Along with the sword energy,

There was also a low roar:

"Good, I'll take your sword!"

"………" Zheng Fan.