Chang Suining looked at everyone and said, "My Lords, please sit down and talk."
Everyone responded "yes" and sat down on the chairs on both sides.
At this point, except for Anzhou and Huangzhou, the governors of the other ten states were all here. Although their actions occurred in different orders, in the end, none of them were absent.
Chang Suining looked at the oldest among them and asked with concern, "Is Lord Shen's illness completely healed?"
Upon hearing this, Chuzhou Governor Shen Wenshuang quickly lifted his buttocks from the chair and stood up, saying politely, "Thank you for your concern, envoy... I have recovered!"
Chang Suining nodded with peace of mind: "I had thought that after the matter in Anzhou was over, I would bring the famous doctors from Jiangdu to visit Lord Shen. Now that Lord Shen has recovered from his illness, it couldn't be better."
Shen Wenshuang's heart trembled, and he bowed deeply again: "How dare I! How dare I trouble the envoy!"
If he really waits until the other party comes to his door, he will probably die!
Shen Wenshuang regretted his decision.
Before this, of the six states that had not expressed their willingness to obey Chang Suining, except for Shuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhou who pulled back from the brink, and Anzhou and Huangzhou who fell off the cliff and were smashed to pieces, the only one left was his Chuzhou.
For this reason, when Shen Wenshuang introduced his name just now, his voice was the least confident, revealing a sense of uneasiness and guilt.
Shen Wenshuang is over fifty years old, with gray hair on his temples and no great ambitions. He has devoted his life to observing the direction of the wind so that he can be a competent fence-sitter and make a living in the cracks of the fence.
So, strictly speaking, he had no hostility towards Chang Suining, he was just keen on taking a cautious stance.
From the beginning, Shen Wenshuang closely followed the movements of various states. After the attitudes of various places became clearer, he calculated again and again. It was known that the existing five states were unwilling to recognize Chang Suining as the new master. Except for Hezhou, the other states were not so convinced. Shenzhou and the others still had some chances of winning...
So he decided to try playing deaf and dumb.
But it is different from Shenzhou and other places. In terms of geographical location, compared with Shenzhou and other places located on the western edge of Huainan Road, Chuzhou is located in the northeast of Jiangdu. Jiangdu is less than 200 miles away. It is backed by the Huai River and faces the Huangshui Ocean to the east. The retreat route is very narrow, and it is truly trying to survive in the cracks.
Therefore, Shen Wenshuang did not dare to be careless and presumptuous. When faced with Chang Suining's letter summoning him, he did not refuse outright or continue to pretend to be deaf and dumb. Instead, he chose to close his eyes and lie on the couch with dignity and caution, pretending to be sick.
Because he heard that Chang Suining secretly sent spies to various states to investigate the situation, in order to act realistically enough to deceive possible spies, Shen Wenshuang often stayed in bed all day. After lying in bed for three days, he gradually went from pretending to be sick to being really sick, which was also a kind of wish come true.
He asked people to frequently report to Jiangdu. On the first day, the report said "he was ill", two days later, the report said "the illness had not yet healed", and two days later, the report said "the illness was getting worse" - he tried to show his sincerity by sending messages frequently, so that he could attack or defend and stabilize his position as a fence-sitter before the situation became clear.
When Shen Wenshuang was about to send the fourth letter to Jiangdu, he suddenly heard urgent news from Anzhou, which was a mixture of sorrow and joy - the sorrow was that Cao Hongxuan and Sheng Baoming's heads had been moved, and the joy was that the person who had moved their heads was none other than Jiangdu's Chang Jieshi.
Shen Wenshuang shuddered suddenly.
Then I heard that the governors of Shuzhou and Guangzhou were about to arrive in Jiangdu City... Although Ding Su of Shenzhou did not come, he was not idle either. He was helping to pass the knife to Envoy Changjie! In this case, he was the only one left!
Shen Wenshuang sat up in shock from his dying illness and rushed to Jiangdu city day and night.
Previously, he thought Chuzhou was too close to Jiangdu, and felt that the distance was like a knife hanging over his head; now he hated that the two places were too far apart and could not allow him to arrive immediately! Shen Wenshuang traveled day and night and arrived in Jiangdu early yesterday morning, only one day faster than Chang Suining.
At this moment, he stood there, bowing and salutation, with cold sweat on his forehead. He was not sure about the attitude of the girl at the top. Should he kneel down and apologize? Say that he was really sick? Take out the prepared prescription to play the victim? Or bring up his 80-year-old mother to plead for mercy? While Shen Wenshuang was sweating, the governors of Guangzhou and Shuzhou also felt a little restless. After the previous behavior, should they say something to make up for it? Thinking of this, the governor of Guangzhou subconsciously turned his head and secretly glanced at his long-time neighbor, the governor of Shenzhou, Ding Su, but saw that the other party was sitting upright with a calm face, as if he was not the one who took the lead in scolding Chang Suining before.
Ding Su was very confident. After all, he had done something to atone for his sins on the banks of the Han River, unlike the governor of Guangzhou and others.
Ding Su felt superior, and when he recalled how he had “abandoned the dark and joined the light”, he felt sad and fortunate.
He had known Anzhou Governor Cao Hongxuan for many years and had close contacts. Since Chang Suining took over as Jiedushi, Cao Hongxuan expressed his dissatisfaction with Chang Suining and the court to him... The two hit it off and secretly contacted several surrounding states to accomplish things together.
The initial plans went well, but when Ding Su learned that Cao Hongxuan had hooked up with Bian Chunliang, he hesitated. He thought it was too risky to try to get the skin of this evil tiger, but Cao Hongxuan didn't care and was determined to do it.
When Ding Su was feeling uncertain, his advisers suddenly persuaded him to surrender to Chang Suining.
Ding Su felt that he had heard a huge joke - he had just torn up Chang Suining's letter! He thought the counselor was crazy, but the counselor suddenly analyzed the pros and cons with him, and told him that now not only the governor of Guangzhou, but also the governor of Shuzhou had rushed to Jiangdu, and the governor of Chuzhou could not be relied on at all... Now Anzhou was weak and wanted to take a risky move, so it was really unacceptable to conspire with him.
After Ding Su calmed down, he fell into deep thought.
After the counselor had been repeating this in his ear for two days, Ding Su finally said, "Even if we put everything aside, Brother Hongxuan and I have been friends for many years. How can I turn against him so easily? Isn't that unkind and unjust..."
Strategist: I understand. I need a step.
That night, five beautiful concubines in Ding Su's mansion were kidnapped.
It was obvious that Chang Suining had instigated this matter, and it was obvious that there must be a traitor in the Shenzhou Governor's mansion. Ding Su's eyes were red with anger: [...Women have the most vicious hearts! ]
As everyone knows, Ding Su is famous for being lustful... no, he is kind to women! Taking away his five concubines would be like asking for his life! After a struggle, Ding Su clenched his fist and pounded on the table: [But if I, Ding Su, give in like this... how will the world and Brother Hongxuan look at me! ]
Strategist: I understand, there are not enough steps.
Half an hour later, another maid came crying and reported that the old lady was missing too.
Ding Su was shocked and angry, and after a fit of rage, he gradually became depressed.
The other party forced him to make a choice before dawn, otherwise they would kill his mother and concubine.
He could abandon his beautiful concubine, but if he ignored his mother who gave birth to him and raised him, how could he be worthy of being a human being? Since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and filial. Brother Hongxuan, I'm sorry!
Furthermore, taking a step back...it was Brother Hongxuan who asked him to be the first to come forward, which caused him to be harassed by someone now. In this matter...doesn't Brother Hongxuan himself have any responsibility at all?
Ding Su was heartbroken and finally nodded.
But he waited anxiously in the mansion for half a day, but still did not see the other party release the person. Instead, he asked him to go and meet him... The meeting place was actually in an inn somewhere in his Shenzhou city.
When Ding Su arrived, he first saw his mother and concubines. They were sitting or standing in a guest room, playing mahjong with great noise. It was very lively. When he came, one of the concubines waved at him: "My dear, the distinguished guest is next door."
Ding Su opened his mouth but forgot what to say, and moved forward in silence.
He met the "distinguished guest" in the guest room next door. To his surprise, it was Chang Suining herself... She actually came to Shenzhou in person, and swaggered into his Shenzhou City, and he knew nothing about it! Chang Suining sat in a large chair by the window, with a casual attitude, and spoke to him: "I have heard that Governor Ding cursed me every day, but when I saw you today, you looked like an upright scholar. 】
Ding Su's lips trembled slightly.
Then, the other party said: [What Governor Dante said was wrong - the saying that women have the most vicious hearts is a misleading saying. The word "woman" here originally means "a person who betrays others", which is not suitable to be used to scold women.]
Ding Su's face turned even paler.
He certainly wasn't stupid enough to think that the other party was correcting his mistakes...
So, the words he cursed out last night were heard by her right after! Ding Su thought a lot in an instant. Yesterday, he was sure that there was a traitor in the governor's mansion, and on the way he was still wondering who the traitor was... But at this moment, he should think more about who is not the traitor?
Shuzhou and Guangzhou would not change their minds without reason. There must be someone behind the scenes instigating a rebellion... Now his Shenzhou City is probably full of loopholes, otherwise how could Chang Suining dare to take the risk alone and provoke him like this on his territory?
As expected, as if to confirm his guess, the military officer from Shenzhou who came with him came in, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and said to him: [Sir, please put the overall situation first! ]
The girl in green robe sitting by the window was smiling.
Ding Su was silent for a moment, and finally raised his hand to salute: [I hope the envoy will give me some advice...]
After taking this step, during the conversation, Ding Su's attitude gradually became docile - a real man can bend and stretch, if you want to do it, then do it to the extreme!
The counselors and soldiers at his side recalled their master's previous arrogant attitude. Looking at his current appearance, they felt that the difference was no less than the one who angrily called the other party "old thief" in the previous moment and knelt down and shouted "adoptive father" in the next moment. Before they met, he held a knife at his side, ambitious: [I must let that little girl see clearly who is the master in this Huainan Road! ]
After meeting, he laughed and waved his hand with a respectful smile: [Anyway, it’s not just me…]
As for what happened later, Ding Su naturally followed Chang Suining's arrangements, and it was natural for the subsequent "internal and external cooperation" to take place.
For Yu Dingsu, it was undoubtedly worth it to back down once in exchange for the peace of mind at this moment.
In comparison, the situation of the Chuzhou governor at this time is not easy to describe.
Everyone's thoughts lasted only a few breaths, but for Chuzhou Governor Shen Wenshuang, these few breaths were particularly long and torturous.
Just as he was about to kneel down and plead guilty, he heard a voice from above: "Someone—"
Shen Wenshuang was shocked - is this going to be delayed?! The other officials also immediately tensed up.
"Sir..." Shen Wenshuang was about to speak, but the girl above him said to the clerk who came in, "Bring a cushion for Sir Shen."
As he spoke, he smiled at Shen Wenshuang: "Lord Shen has just recovered from a serious illness and is in a hurry to travel. He must be very tired. Today's meeting will definitely take a long time. If Lord Shen feels unwell during the trip, please let me know in time."
Shen Wenshuang came back to his senses and quickly saluted, flattered: "Thank you, sir!"
There was a hint of hoarseness in her voice, as if she was crying for joy—not for a cushion, but for escaping a disaster!
Shen Wenshuang sat down on the cushioned chair, feeling as if he was sitting on a golden medal of immunity from death.
Little did he know that Chang Suining had no intention of touching him from the beginning to the end. Chuzhou was adjacent to Jiangdu, and Chang Suining had already known his character and style very well - this man was a serious scholar with considerable talent and learning, but he lacked the means to suppress the officials under his rule.
The Chuzhou naval commander who escaped from the battlefield during the previous battle against the Japanese army was a subordinate of Shen Wenshuang.
Chuzhou is close to Jiangdu and is a coastal city, so Chang Suining must make good use of it. In this way, it is imperative to clean up and rectify the order of officials under Chuzhou.
Although Shen Wenshuang lacks in means, he only seeks stability and is easy to control. Later, she will send several officials to Chuzhou, and this Governor Shen only needs to be an auspicious ornament.
As for getting rid of the other party, firstly, it was unnecessary, and secondly, if she got rid of him, Chuzhou would need to select a new governor, and the governor's position was unusual, and she could not appoint him at will. At that time, it would just be an opportunity for the court to send someone over, which would save her troubles. Chuzhou was like this, and so were other states. If she really went on a killing spree, the result would only be to make wedding clothes for the court.
Since it is still useful, you only need to hit it lightly without scaring people to death.
Chang Suining feels that he still respects the elderly and loves the young.
As Shen Wenshuang sat down in the cushioned chair, the servants served him a cup of fragrant tea, and the tense atmosphere in the hall quietly eased a lot.
Chang Suining opened his mouth and got to the point: "I have invited you all to Jiangdu this time because there are many things that need to be discussed in detail, but in summary, there are only eight words -"
All the provincial governors listened attentively and looked up at the woman in the scarlet wide-sleeved robe.
I only heard her say each word clearly and seriously: "The way to keep the people alive is the strategy to keep the country safe."
After a brief silence in the hall, voices of response and even praise were immediately heard.
Yun Hui bowed his hands, his eyes firm: "We are willing to be sent by the envoy Chang Jie!"
He knew that more than half of these people were just speaking for show, but he knew that Chang Suining was not lying and he sincerely wanted to follow her footsteps.
Shao Shantong, the governor of Guangzhou, looked at the demeanor of the envoy at the top and couldn't help but exclaimed in his heart - don't say it, the acting is quite convincing. At first glance, it doesn't look like he is preparing to rebel at all! If he hadn't known that his adviser was instigated by Mr. Qian Shen and that the envoy had the intention to rebel, he would have been unsure at this moment.
She is indeed a good candidate for rebellion. She is so patient and her appearance is so lifelike. If she doesn't win the support of the people, who will?
Shao Shantong sighed in his heart and was distracted. The counselor behind him coughed lightly, signaling him to listen carefully.
Shao Shantong came to his senses, Oh, you have to listen carefully, this is all laying the foundation for rebellion! (End of this chapter)
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