The situation was so turbulent that not only were the people in the court in a panic, but even the common people could not live in peace because the Imperial Guards had frantically searched the city for the prostitute who had spoken wildly after the fight with Zhou Mixing and had already wrongly imprisoned several people.
Yan Sikong was not worried about She Jun being caught. This man was good at disguising himself, had great martial arts skills, and had extensive underground power. However, for safety reasons, he temporarily cut off contact with him. Anyway, his goal had basically been achieved. The bigger the next thing, the less control he would have.
In fact, he was quite surprised. If Bao Yunyong had not revolted, the incident of Prince Liang would never have exploded so quickly and gotten out of control within a few months. Either his luck had come or Ge Zhong's fate had come.
On this day, Yan Sikong was reading old official documents in the inner circle of the study. Understanding the affairs of the court was a compulsory course for every Hanlin, especially before entering the officialdom. The cabinet ministers assisted the emperor, and if they were asked about past events, decrees issued, or references to the court etiquette and rules, the Hanlins would answer fluently.
Yan Sikong was watching intently when suddenly, he heard the door creak open. His first reaction was to look for Feng Ye.
Most of the time Feng Ye came to his house secretly. If a civil official and a military general were too close, it would inevitably give people a chance to talk about them. Moreover, Yan Sikong was a candidate for the crown prince, and Feng Ye's identity was even more special. This was good for both of them.
Yan Sikong raised his head and smiled unconsciously, but when he saw the person coming, the smile immediately faded.
She Jun said affectionately, "It's not your little wolf king. I'm very disappointed."
Yan Sikong stood up, with a vigilant look on his face, and asked in a low voice: "Why are you here?"
"I have something important to tell you, and I can't wait for you to come find me." She Jun shrugged, "Besides, you don't dare to come find me now."
"Have you been discovered?"
"Not yet, but I've decided to leave the city to avoid the limelight. I'll leave tonight." She Jun looked around, "Your family is so rich, but you live in such a shabby place. Are you willing to do that?"
"I have no interest in pleasure, so why should I be unwilling or unwilling?" Yan Sikong checked the doors and windows to make sure they were all closed, then said, "She Zhun, what happened?"
She Jun sat down in the chair unceremoniously, his two long legs swaying on Yan Sikong's desk: "After you came to see me that time, I sent people to Jingzhou to keep an eye on Prince Liang. The number of Prince Liang's guards does exceed the quota for a vassal prince, but this person is weak and has only done some bullying and usurping of land in recent years. If you say he has rebellious intentions, I absolutely don't believe it."
"So what?" Yan Sikong sneered, "He has it now, right?"
She Jun narrowed his eyes: "If he doesn't rebel, he will be dead. Now he has indeed taken action."
"Very good." Yan Sikong said, "You said he was petty, but he was also excellent in both civil and military affairs. He was more suitable to be the emperor than Chen Zhao in any way. If that idiot Chen Zhao became a vassal king, he probably wouldn't even be able to bully the land and could only indulge in pleasure all day long."
"Do you really want King Liang to usurp the throne?"
Yan Sikong was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "This is the Chen family's affair."
"I'm asking you if you want the King of Liang to usurp the throne? Why, you have the courage to do it but not the courage to admit it?"
Yan Sikong looked at She Jun with a burning gaze: "Do you want to hear the truth?"
"You are the only one who can tell me the truth in this world."
Yan Sikong said expressionlessly: "Chen Zhao is weak and incompetent, and Prince Liang is cruel and greedy. They are not worthy of being emperor. I not only want revenge, but also help Crown Prince Yu ascend the throne as soon as possible."
"That little prince really wins your heart."
"This child will become a great man."
"What about Feng Ye?" She Jun said coldly.
Yan Sikong frowned: "What does this have to do with Feng Ye?" He was quite displeased by the sarcastic tone in She Jun's voice every time he mentioned Feng Ye.
"I thought..." She Jun grabbed Yan Sikong's brush and played with it in his hand, "Due to your childhood friendship, you would help Prince Jingyuan usurp the throne. If the young prince becomes the emperor in the future, wouldn't you be second only to him and above everyone else?"
"Nonsense!" Yan Sikong said coldly, "The suffering of changing dynasties is still suffered by the people. I want revenge, but I can't ignore the lives of the people in the world. Besides, whether it is Feng Jianping or Feng Ye, they are both military talents, not emperor talents."
"Oh, then I misunderstood you." She Jun's eyes were shining, and he stared at Yan Sikong fiercely like a venomous snake.
"Why, are you testing me?"
She Jun smiled slightly: "Sikong, your thoughts are too deep, I can't test them, I just hope you can take care of yourself and don't make yourself a sinner for all eternity."
Yan Sikong curled his lips and said in a deep voice: "You came to me to tell me that King Liang is going to rebel? Now the whole world knows it."
"More than that, I want to tell you that Ge Zhong's family is all controlled by Xie Zhongren. He can only be loyal to the court and will not rebel with Prince Liang. The military order of the two lakes is in his hands, and Prince Liang is planning a mutiny to seize the military order."
"When did you get the news?"
"It will take at least three days for the news to reach me from the two lakes today."
"Then maybe the King of Liang has already taken action." Yan Sikong pondered, "Does the King of Liang have any dealings with Bao Yunyong?"
"I haven't found out yet. I plan to go to Jingzhou in person this time. What do you think?"
"Once the troops from Luoyang and Huguang gather to suppress the rebellion, it will be difficult for King Liang or Bao Yunyong to survive alone. They are likely to join forces. In fact, if King Liang can seize the military order and control Jingzhou, Bao Yunyong will take the initiative to surrender. Otherwise, he will be trapped between King Liang and the rebels and die." Yan Sikong said solemnly, "When you arrive in Jingzhou, notify me immediately if you have any news."
"I know." She Jun knocked on the table and suddenly changed the subject, "Do you remember that we used to sell smuggled salt together along the coast?"
"…Why do you bring this up all of a sudden?"
"At that time, you and I were both young. The boss gave the most dangerous cargo transportation work to us young kids, thinking that we knew nothing and were obedient." She Jun smiled, "I got in to steal some money. I didn't expect that someone was more ambitious than me and wanted to take everything from him."
Yan Sikong said calmly, "He has been protected by the eunuchs' clique and has been doing evil for many years. It would be better if you give all this ill-gotten wealth to me. I will spend it more meaningfully."
"When I saw you send him to the execution ground, but you escaped unscathed, and emptied his treasury, I knew..." She Jun looked at Yan Sikong deeply, "If there is anyone in this world who can help me avenge, it is only you."
Yan Sikong thought of the past and felt a little emotional. Just as he was about to speak, She Jun said jokingly, "Of course, I have to pay my money. It's a long journey to Jingzhou, and I have to take care of everything..."
"Don't worry, you'll never be missed."
She Zhun's expression suddenly changed. He stood up, made a "huh" gesture with his hands, and mouthed, "Someone is coming."
"But Ali?"
She Jun shook his head.
That can only be Feng Ye... Yan Sikong suddenly felt a little nervous, and his heart skipped a beat.
She Jun looked at Yan Sikong, asking him with his eyes what to do.
People with profound martial arts skills have extremely sharp senses. He can sense Feng Ye's aura, and Feng Ye must have sensed his as well.
Yan Sikong quickly calmed down, asked She Jun to sit in the guest seat, and started talking to him.
Soon, there was a knock on the door, and Yan Sikong said, "Come in."
Feng Ye pushed the door open and walked in, his eyes first looking for something, and then not surprisingly fell on She Jun.
"Feng Ye, you just came back from the camp today?"
Feng Ye nodded: "This person is..." He looked unfriendly and had a natural hostility towards She Zhun.
She Jun stood up and bowed, saying, "It's Prince Jingyuan. Nice to meet you."
Yan Sikong said, "Oh, he is a friend of mine from the past, a man of the Jianghu. He helped me before I came to Beijing. Recently, he was visiting relatives and passed by the capital, so he came to see me specially."
Feng Ye nodded, but still frowned, as if he was not very satisfied with this explanation, but it was also impeccable.
"Sikong, since you have guests, I won't bother you any more. I'll be staying in the capital for a few more days. You must make up for the wine you owe me."
"Hahaha, don't worry, Brother Li. I will thank you very much on a certain day." Yan Sikong walked to the door and called out, "Ali, take Brother Li back to the inn."
Ali quickly ran out of the house. When he saw She Jun, he was slightly stunned, but quickly returned to normal.
Feng Ye saw every subtle reaction.
After She Zhun left, Feng Ye asked suspiciously, "This person seems to have great kung fu skills. How come I didn't know that you knew this 'jianghu person'?"
Yan Sikong smiled bitterly: "After I left Guangning, I wandered around and came into contact with all kinds of people. Brother Li is a chivalrous man. We haven't seen each other for many years. I almost didn't recognize him."
Feng Ye was skeptical: "Since he has helped you, I will host a banquet tomorrow and we will treat each other to a drink."
"No need. Brother Li is a carefree person and doesn't like to associate with people from the imperial court." Yan Sikong stepped forward, helped Feng Ye take off his cape, and said with a smile, "You're not too early to come back. I've already had dinner."
Feng Ye's expression softened: "I came back in a hurry. I have something important to discuss with you."
"Oh? What's that?"
"The Emperor may send us to Kuizhou to quell the rebellion."
Yan Sikong was startled: "Could it be King Liang..."
Feng Ye nodded solemnly: "Prince Liang has launched a mutiny and imprisoned the Governor of the Two Lakes, Ge Zhong. Bao Yunyong will most likely defect to Prince Liang. Our army is short of manpower, so we have to transfer another 8,000 soldiers from the Jingshan Camp."
"But the garrison troops in the suburbs of Beijing are no more than 30,000. If 10,000 are transferred, won't the capital be left empty?"
"The Oirat sent troops to attack the Jin Kingdom. The capital is not worried for the time being. Now the danger in Jingzhou is more urgent."
"But General Zhao leads the troops?"
Feng Ye nodded, his eyes sparkling.
Yan Sikong was surprised and asked, "Does General Zhao want to take you with him?"
Feng Ye nodded again, his emotions clearly fluctuating: "Now is the time to employ someone, Your Majesty has agreed."
Zhao Fuyi is now the deputy general of Shuntian Prefecture and the commander-in-chief of the royal garrison. Although his rank is one level lower than that of the general of Shuntian Prefecture, he is actually the highest commander in charge of protecting the safety of the capital. The emperor has allocated 8,000 of his own guards to him, which shows how much he fears King Liang.
Yan Sikong didn't want Feng Ye to go. Although he was secretly planning the rebellion of King Liang, he never expected Bao Yunyong to start an uprising. King Liang alone was not difficult to deal with, but in the current situation, the two would definitely join forces, which would be a huge test for Da Sheng. From the overall perspective, he hoped to successfully suppress the rebellion, otherwise Chen Yi's position would be in jeopardy. However, even if King Liang really usurped the throne, he had a more far-reaching plan. He just didn't want Feng Ye to get involved too early.
Feng Ye was full of enthusiasm: "Last time, you and I talked about the time when the court would need me. Now this opportunity has come. I finally don't have to be trapped in the capital and be an idle prince."
Yan Sikong sighed, "This journey will definitely be dangerous."
"What are you afraid of? I will definitely be able to assist General Zhao in quelling the rebellion." Feng Ye grabbed Yan Sikong's hand, "Kong'er, come with me."
Yan Sikong asked in surprise: "What?"
"Chief Clerk Liang Guang is currently short of a clerk. Usually, a Hanlin scholar is needed to take on this important task. Lord Liang has a personal relationship with my father. As long as Elder Yan agrees, you can go with the army." Feng Ye said with a smile, "Follow me."
Yan Sikong was a little confused for a moment. He didn't expect that he would have the opportunity to go to the battlefield so soon? Even if he was just a clerk in the army.
"Kong'er, I've always felt that you and I can accomplish something great. It's useless for you to just talk about training troops. Come with me to see a real battlefield!"