Chapter 540: Brave Ma Fang
The autumn atmosphere becomes more and more intense. The withered and yellow leaves tremble in the autumn wind, falling from time to time, swirling down in the wind.
A few riders arrived at the Suzhou government office, spoke a few words to the doorman, and were then taken in.
The leading man saw Yang Changhe in the duty room. He took off his bamboo hat and said with a smile, "Brother Yang, long time no see."
"Brother Chang!" Yang Changhe was overjoyed to see the man. "We have not seen each other for many years. I thought we would never meet again. I didn't expect... where are you from?"
The man was called Chang Shuo, a good friend of Yang Changhe from many years ago.
Chang Shuo put his bamboo hat on the table and said with a smile, "Why, we haven't seen each other for many years, why don't you treat me to a cup of tea first?"
"Look at me, serve the tea!"
Chang Shuo sat down, looked at Yang Changhe, nodded and said: "I haven't seen you for many years. You were so young back then, but now you have become more stable. It can be seen that the political world is a good place to hone people."
"The political world is so difficult!" When Yang Changhe saw his old friend from long time ago, he couldn't help but complain and told him about the difficulties he had experienced in the political world over the years.
"The sea of suffering is endless, and it is the same for all of us." Chang Shuo said with a smile: "But now you are about to achieve the right result."
"What do you mean?" Yang Changhe pretended to be confused, "Could it be..."
"Someone in the capital asked me to tell them that the positions of assistant ministers of the six ministries are vacant and waiting for them!"
Chang Shuo stared at Yang Changhe. He was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes sparkled. He couldn't help but smile and asked, "How is it? Is it good news?"
Yang Changhe couldn't hide his excitement, "After many years of being a daughter-in-law, I finally became a mother-in-law!"
"But the capital said that everything depends on how Suzhou Prefecture responds this time." Chang Shuo said in a deep voice: "After Jiang Qingzhi left Beijing, the capital also took action against the Mohist School..."
"Since Jiang Qingzhi is not here, I think it will be easy to capture him! Unless Your Majesty intervenes." Yang Changhe said with a smile.
Chang Shuo shook his head. "They thought so at first, but they were forced to retreat step by step. All kinds of tricks were used one by one, but they were all resolved by the other side..."
"Huh!" Yang Changhe was surprised. "Xu Wei, the most outstanding strategist beside Jiang Qingzhi, is also traveling with him this time. Who in the Mohist School in the capital is so outstanding?"
"Xia Yan!" Chang Shuo sighed, "After this man stayed in Xin'an Lane, many people said that he was retiring. Who would have thought that he would be in charge of the central command this time and resolve the offensive of the Confucianists in the capital one by one. He is still strong despite his age. His methods... are worthy of being a famous minister who once ruled the Ming Dynasty. There is also Hu Zongxian, who seems inconspicuous, but it is said that he is calm and generous, and should not be underestimated."
"No wonder Jiang Qingzhi dared to leave Beijing." Yang Changhe said. At this time, the servant brought tea. Yang Changhe waved his hand and waited for the servant to leave before saying, "My brother came here this time..."
Chang Shuo took a sip of tea and said, "In addition to bringing you this good news, I have been asked by someone to ask you something. Are you willing and dare to do it?"
"What's the matter?" Yang Changhe's eyes flickered.
If Jiang Qingzhi could be promoted to the Minister of the Six Ministries after returning home in defeat, and Chang Shuo could be asked to make a special trip from the capital, wouldn't it be...
A philosopher in later generations once said that human desires are endless. If the desires you are pursuing are not satisfied, you will become anxious and uneasy. After they are satisfied, you will become bored. Then, in order to continue to obtain the stimulation and pleasure of success, you will pursue higher and more desires...
It's like a pendulum, swinging back and forth, and I won't be able to see through anything until the moment I die... I have become a slave to desire.
Chang Shuo looked outside the door, and Yang Changhe said, "Don't worry, the people outside the door are mine, no one can get close."
The attendant who came with Chang Shuo nodded slightly outside the door, and Chang Shuo lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty is not young anymore, and he loves to make elixirs and take medicine, which are all death warrants. According to the life span of emperors in previous dynasties, he is already very old."
An emperor in his forties can really be considered to have a long life.
"Yes." Yang Changhe nodded. This was also the reason why he dared to cooperate with Yang Bai.
"Once the mausoleum collapses, one of the two princes will definitely succeed to the throne. But no matter who it is... he is closely related to Jiang Qingzhi." There was a look of inquiry in Chang Shuo's eyes.
Do you want to listen to the following?
Yang Changhe hesitated for a moment, "If the mountain and tomb collapse, the new emperor will definitely rely on Jiang Qingzhi. In this way, Jiang Qingzhi and the Mohist School will become even more powerful..."
You are willing to listen and take the initiative to speak... Chang Shuo smiled and said: "By then, my reputation will be in danger. So someone in the capital asked me to pass on a message, can I..."
Chang Shuo raised his hand, and his fingers were like knives, gently cutting on the table.
The teacup remained motionless, but the tea in the water was rippling slightly.
Yang Changhe took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"This is something that the whole world is watching. If it succeeds, this person will be a great contributor to our religion, and will still be praised by future generations a thousand years later. And... once it succeeds, you can just throw a few people out to take the blame. Even if His Majesty is furious, he won't have any evidence, and at most he will demote you or even remove you from office. But if it succeeds, you will be a hero admired by the whole world, and you will be surrounded by people wherever you go..."
The voice seemed to have magical power, making Yang Changhe's heart beat fast.
Recorded in history books, praised for thousands of years, and admired by many stars...
"Why do people live? Isn't it just for these?"
Chang Shuo picked up the teacup and took a sip, but his eyes never left Yang Changhe.
Yang Changhe took a deep breath, his face twisted... as if he was struggling.
"Done!"
"it is good!"
Chang Shuo put the teacup down heavily, "My brother is straightforward!"
Yang Changhe opened his eyes. "The local nobles have already taken action. The key figure in the biogas tank incident, the coroner, is under my protection. Jiang Qingzhi can't find a reason to take action, so we are stuck in a stalemate."
"Jiang Qingzhi is a famous general, he will definitely not sit back and wait for death."
"Yes, he sent people to pursue the coroner's wife, but it was in vain." Yang Changhe laughed and said, "Those local tyrants will definitely rush to take the woman away as soon as they hear the news. If he can't get the woman, Jiang Qingzhi will no longer have any chance. But we have to take action..."
"Shh!" Chang Shuo put his index finger on his lips, indicating that someone was coming.
Yang Changhe had just made an important decision and was so excited that he didn't hear it. At this moment, he was concentrating and heard hurried footsteps coming from the front.
What he values most is rules. He has made instructions at the government office that unless the sky is falling, one should be steady and calm in doing things and not be frivolous.
Thinking of this, Yang Changhe's eyes became more angry and he looked outside the door.
The person who came was Tongzhi Huang Jing.
"Your Excellency, this is..." Huang Jing stopped talking after seeing Chang Shuo.
"You are one of us from the capital, go ahead and speak!" Yang Changhe pointed out Chang Shuo's identity.
Huang Jing glanced at Chang Shuo, his body relaxed, and then he said anxiously: "Someone from Yang's side returned to the city, and just now he sent someone to find me and said...the woman was captured by Jiang Qingzhi's people."
"what?"
Yang Changhe stood up suddenly and said in a daze, "Didn't Yang Bai say it was foolproof?" Huang Jing smiled bitterly, "Your Excellency, this is not the time to worry about who is right or wrong. Now those soldiers are escorting the carriage back. Once they return to the city, the coroner will definitely turn against us."
"Wait!" Chang Shuo stood up, "How could that woman make the coroner turn against us?"
Yang Changhe smiled bitterly, "In order to conceal the truth, we ordered the coroner to perform an autopsy according to the rules."
"Why not silence him?" Chang Shuo asked.
"If we kill the coroner, it would be telling everyone that this matter was done by the Suzhou government, and they have confessed without being asked." Yang Changhe smiled bitterly, "Two people have already been killed for this matter."
Chang Shuo's eyes were fierce, "It's not too late to take action now."
Huang Jing shook his head. "Jiang Qingzhi's men are following the coroner now. They go wherever he goes. We can't find an opportunity to take action."
"Intercept them!" Chang Shuo barely hesitated. "Stop them at all costs!"
……
"Stop them at all costs!"
Yang Bai's face turned pale, "Go, invite those people."
Later, more than a dozen local tyrants... no, celebrities came to Yang's house.
"... Jiang Qingzhi's people got the woman first. Once the woman comes back, the coroner who loves his wife so much will definitely go back on his word." Yang Bai snorted.
"What about the people that Yang was escorting?" someone asked, "Were they also captured?"
Yang Bai nodded angrily.
When everyone saw his grim expression, they knew that this was true.
"If the Yang family falls, you will not be able to escape!" Yang Bai threatened: "Over the years, our families have done many things that cost us our lives. Jiang Qingzhi is ruthless and cruel. He went south this time to establish his authority and promote the Mohist school. Do you think he will let this opportunity go?"
After a secret discussion, everyone was arguing, and Yang Bai made the decision, "Everyone should use their best skills. Three to five hundred people should go to intercept those dozens of riders. Can we still lose?"
"That's all, that's it!"
"Gather the troops as soon as you get home."
The woman was seriously ill and could not travel quickly, which gave the Suzhou government time to respond.
On that day, hundreds of cavalrymen left the city from various places and headed north.
Jiang Qingzhi received Ye Bushou's report earlier than Yang Bai and Yang Changhe.
"The woman refused to say anything, which shows that the couple is deeply in love. But after seeing the coroner, all of this is no longer a problem." Xu Wei was greatly encouraged, "The most important thing right now is to get the woman back safely."
"The woman is terminally ill. Even if I don't know medicine, Chen Ji has said that she may not live long. So we can't delay." Jiang Qingzhi thought for a moment, "Let Ma Fang come."
"Yes."
After a moment, Ma Fang came in and said, "Teacher."
"Take a hundred horses and ride out of the city, defeat the troops and horses that intercept you along the way, and then return quickly."
"Yes."
Hundreds of cavalrymen left the city and the news quickly spread everywhere.
"Jiang Qingzhi sent a hundred cavalrymen out of the city and headed north. They must be going to meet that group of people."
Yang Bai was in the government office at the moment, discussing the matter in secret with Yang Changhe and Chang Shuo.
"How are those powerful families and their troops?" Yang Changhe asked.
"They are all well-fed and fearless." Yang Bai said in a deep voice: "Hundreds of cavalrymen have gathered outside the city. Just now, I sent people to chase them. Let them ambush these hundred cavalrymen halfway!"
"It's a good plan, good!" Chang Shuo looked at Yang Bai with admiration, "Mr. Yang is a great talent... What a pity."
Yang Bai said calmly: "Whether in government or opposition, we are all working for the country."
……
Ma Fang led a hundred cavalrymen out of Suzhou City and galloped northward.
That afternoon, when they were passing a path with dense forests on both sides, hundreds of riders suddenly rushed out from both sides.
"Kill!" the leader of the guards cheered, "Watch out for them to flee!"
In the eyes of these people, Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers were not even as good as watchdogs. Therefore, when the Japanese pirates attacked, the powerful people trained their own servants to protect themselves and did not count on those useless officers and soldiers at all.
But Ma Fang was not angry but happy. He drew his sword and shouted, "Follow me!"
He rushed forward alone, shouting loudly, and his speed was astonishing... He actually rushed into the middle of the enemy alone, and even though he was surrounded and attacked, he was still brave...
"Kill him!" shouted the guard leader.
The sword light enveloped Ma Fang, and the opponents kept rushing around him.
The leader of the guards was overjoyed, "As long as we kill the general leading the team, the soldiers will be defeated in an instant."
There was constant shouting and killing, and from time to time someone was stabbed and fell off his horse, screaming in pain.
"Hasn't he been killed yet?" the guard leader said dissatisfiedly.
More than ten cavalrymen were fighting hard to rescue Ma Fang.
When a bloody man broke through the encirclement, the leader of the guards was stunned. Just as he was about to turn his horse around, the knife light came down...
The bloody man held up his head and shouted, "Get off your horse and kneel down to save your life!"
"Captain Ma actually killed all the enemies by himself!"
Looking at the bloody man, his subordinates couldn't help but feel ashamed of their earlier contempt.
Then they raised their arms and shouted:
"Wan Sheng!"
(End of this chapter)
