Chapter 195 The War Begins

Half a month ago, at the Duke's Mansion in Chang'an.

The situation was getting more and more tense. At first, the palace soldiers were stationed in the city, but now the city gates were also sealed. Ming Yuji quietly watched Queen Wei and Princess Anle making trouble. The heroes of the Shenlong coup were demoted or expelled by them. Now, the people who hold power in Chang'an are all the Wei family and Princess Anle's lovers. If they continue to be so rampant, they will sooner or later destroy themselves.

But before that, Ming Yuji had to maintain the livelihood of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. With Queen Wei and Princess Anle around, the chaos in Chang'an would only get worse. Ming Yuji had people stock up on food, meat and poultry when there were signs of trouble, but now it seemed that she had not stocked enough.

At this time, the benefits of growing up in the countryside became apparent. In the huge Zhenguo Mansion, no one knew more about food than her. Ming Yuji made a list and ordered his confidants to go out to buy. Half a day later, the team came back. Ming Yuji went to check it out in person and asked, "Why did you take so long? Did you choose the rice according to the method I told you?"

After she asked the question, she felt that something was wrong with the servant escorting the car. Just as she was about to take a closer look, the man raised his head and revealed a face that she was very familiar with: "Madam Ming, it's me."

Ming Yuji was startled when she saw the newcomers, but she told the others to leave without saying anything. Ming Yuji had not been idle in the past six months, and she had sent away all the people who had second thoughts from the Duke of Zhen's mansion, leaving only her people, so she was not worried about Su Xingzhi being seen by others.

After not seeing each other for a long time, Ming Yuji didn't know what expression to use to face him, so he could only say coldly: "Why are you here?"

"I'm sorry, it's urgent. There are too many people following outside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. I can only meet you in this way." Su Xingzhi looked at her and also avoided her eyes. "I was entrusted by someone to tell you...something to the Duke of Zhenguo."

It turned out that he was not here to see her. Ming Yuji's face turned cold and he said, "My father is in the front hall. I'll have someone take you there."

"No thanks." Duke Zhen appeared from behind the bushes without anyone noticing, and walked over slowly with his hands behind his back. "I came to see how much food was left in the mansion, and I didn't expect to see you. Lord Laosu is here, please come in quickly."

Su Xingzhi hurriedly bowed to the Duke of Zhen and said, "I don't deserve it. I have been suspended from the Procuratorate and I am free now. Please just call me by my name. I won't say much. I will just finish what I have to say here."

Duke Zhenguo was still polite and couldn't help asking about the whole story of Su Xingzhi's suspension. He learned that he was dismissed for impeaching Princess Anle for selling official positions and titles. He could only sigh and pat Su Xingzhi on the shoulder. Ming Yuji felt uncomfortable and said coldly: "I asked you to meddle in other people's business. You deserve it now."

"Madam, please don't be rude." Duke Zhenguo gently sneered at Ming Yuji and asked, "Lord Su, who asked you to pass on the message?"

"It's the Marquis of Pingnan." Su Xingzhi said seriously, "Today she found me and said that Queen Wei wanted to send troops to garrison Junzhou. She advised the Queen, but the Queen insisted on sending troops to Junzhou. She could only take the initiative to ask for permission and lead the troops to Junzhou in person. The military order was very urgent. The Queen asked her to leave tomorrow. In addition, her identity is sensitive and she cannot contact the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. She can only ask me to explain to you that it is difficult to disobey the Queen's order, but she will never harm Prince Yong and Ming Erniang."

"Garden Junzhou?" Ming Yuji's face turned cold and he said angrily, "The Queen is trying to force Prince Qiao to rebel. Prince Yong and Second Lady are not far away in Shangzhou. If Junzhou rebels, what will they do?"

As a censor, Su Xingzhi shouldn't make irresponsible comments on state affairs, but he couldn't help but remind Ming Yuji: "Perhaps, this is what the queen intended. When the snipe and the clam quarrel, the fisherman benefits."

Ming Yuji sneered, "They are getting more and more shameless. Without Li Huazhang, could they return to Chang'an safely? It was Li Huazhang who forced Empress Wu Zetian to abdicate, and it was Li Huazhang who sent Empress Wu Zetian on her last journey. They have borrowed so much from Li Huazhang, and they still have the nerve to profit from it?"

She was still so outspoken and unyielding. Su Xingzhi looked helpless and said, "Madam Yu...Ming, be careful with your words and don't be disrespectful to the queen. Maybe, she will soon become the queen mother."

Ming Yuji's eyebrows jumped. He ignored the vague disagreement between the two of them and looked straight at Su Xingzhi: "What do you mean?"

After all, Su Xingzhi was a member of the Shitai clan. Even if he was dismissed by Princess Anle, he was more informed than the Zhenguogong Mansion, which had been under surveillance for a long time. It would be disobedient to say any more. Su Xingzhi lowered his eyes, but the meaning was very clear. Zhenguogong put away his relaxed expression, looked at the sky that was as gray and depressing as a lead block, and sighed: "When she was alive, everyone hated her; when she finally fell, everyone wanted to be her. The world is so unpredictable."

Su Xingzhi didn't know what to say, so he could only say comfortingly, "Don't worry, Duke Zhenguo. The one leading the troops is Marquis Pingnan. Prince Yong and his wife will definitely return safely."

"I have never doubted the Marquis of Pingnan. I have met that child. She is a kind and strong-willed woman. She is just like my aunt, who is tough on the outside but soft on the inside. I believe she is not that kind of person." The Duke of Zhenguo sighed, "However, the battlefield changes rapidly. Once the fighting starts, how can human power control it?"

Ming Yuji was extremely anxious. She certainly believed that Ren Yao would not harm Li Huazhang and Ming Huashang, but what about the other people in the army? Ren Yao led the infantry and marched slowly. When she entered the territory of Junzhou, Prince Qiao must have received the news. Li Huazhang was caught between the two and was attacked from all sides. Ming Yuji certainly didn't care about Li Huazhang's life or death, but Ming Huashang was stubborn and would definitely not abandon Li Huazhang and leave by herself.

Ming Yu Ji also knew that Ming Huashang and Li Huazhang had the Xuanxiao Guards, so they would not be completely ignorant of Chang'an. However, the city was sealed off a few days ago, and even the Xuanxiao Guards' channels were cut off. What if they didn't know that the emperor had died suddenly and Queen Wei was about to take action against them?

Who dares to bet on that one?

The more Ming Yuji thought about it, the more anxious she became. She wanted to fly to Shangzhou immediately. The war was coming, and the earlier she got the news, the better her chances of winning. If those two people were still unwilling to leave after knowing the news, she could at least help them kill a few people when the fight started. But if she left, what would happen to the Duke of Zhenguo?

The Duke of Zhenguo is old, and his leg disease has become more and more serious in recent years, making it difficult for him to even walk. During the Chongjun coup, the King of Liang was hacked to death by the chaotic soldiers who rushed into the mansion. The Ming family and the King of Yong are closely connected. Will Weihou take the risk and take the Duke of Zhenguo as a hostage?

What if something really happened and she was not in the mansion... Ming Yuji's heart seemed to be in agony. On the one hand, there was a war that was about to break out and her sister who was alone outside. On the other hand, there was her elderly father and the mansion that was in danger. She was torn and didn't know what to do.

Duke Zhenguo saw what Ming Yuji was worried about and said, "Madam, do whatever you want. The chaos is coming and the world is difficult, but it is also a time for heroes to emerge. You and Second Madam are already in the game, and only by taking the initiative can you break the situation."

Ming Yuji looked at the Duke of Zhenguo, pursed his lips, and gritted his teeth and said, "I'll send someone I trust to give them a message, Second Lady will understand. Li Huazhang is quite smart and should be able to get through this crisis safely. If he can't solve it, it will be useless for me to go. I'd better stay in the Duke's Mansion and do my job well."

But Ming Yuji also knew that messengers were also human beings, they would get tired, they would be bribed, they would be greedy and afraid of death, so it was the safest choice for her to go. She knew the price of rice and grain in the capital, the actions of the various families in Chang'an in the past six months, and every tree and grass in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. No matter how long the message was, it would not be enough to describe all these things.

Su Xingzhi knew Ming Yuji was in trouble, so he took the initiative to say, "If Duke Zheng trusts me, I am willing to go to Shangzhou for you and inform Prince Yong and Princess Yong."

Ming Yuji glared at Su Xingzhi unhappily: "What does the Ming family's affairs have to do with you?"

Su Xingzhi knew that Ming Yuji was telling the truth, but he was still hurt by the words "what does it have to do with you?" The Duke of Zhen frowned and said in a serious tone: "Auntie, please don't be rude."

Ming Yuji realized she had said something harsh the moment she opened her mouth. She clearly didn't mean it that way. She pursed her lips and refused to say a word stubbornly, but her eyes turned red unconsciously. Duke Zhenguo sighed and said to Su Xingzhi first: "I appreciate Mr. Su's kindness. But you are also the only son of the Su family. I can't let you take such a risk."

Su Xingzhi couldn't help but say, "But it's more dangerous for Yuji to go. It can't be that she should take the risk just because she is the elder sister, right?"

Su Xingzhi's words were offensive, but he still said them. It was understandable that the Duke of Zhenguo preferred his little daughter who grew up by his side and the Prince of Yong who he raised himself, but Ming Yuji was also made of flesh and blood, and there was no reason to let Ming Yuji sacrifice forever for Li Huazhang and Ming Huashang.

But the Duke of Zhenguo did not take it as an offense, instead he said: "You are right, I have already let my aunt down a lot, in my heart, I wish she would never leave the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and be held in the palm of someone's hand for the rest of her life, without being exposed to the slightest wind and rain. But my daughter is not only my child, a girl, but also an independent person. If they want to be a mistress, I will protect them from the wind and rain for the rest of their lives; if they want to be an eagle in the sky, I, as a father, should let go and let them find their own piece of sky."

Duke Zhenguo walked slowly to Ming Yuji, patted Ming Yuji on the shoulder like a friend, and said seriously: "Yuji, your mother gave you this name because she hoped that you would be like water, which can soften the hard, and will be everlasting, and the sun will always come out after the rain. Just do what you should do. I will take care of you in the mansion, and no one will find out that you are missing."

Ming Yuji has been back for so long, and although she has slowly accepted the Duke of Zhenguo as her father, she also feels in her heart that her father loves Ming Huashang and Li Huazhang more than her. She silently accepted this knowledge, trying not to care about it and doing what a daughter should do. But now, she looks into the Duke of Zhenguo's eyes and realizes that her father actually loves her just as much.

That was the love that she longed for even though she had lived under someone else's roof since she was a child and was worried about everything. She was not good at expressing it, but she was very eager for it.

明雨霁突然眼眶發酸，她有些無措地低下頭，鼻子發塞：“我不是擔心這些。韋皇後和安樂公主得位不正，我擔心她們被逼急了，拉着所有人玉石俱焚。”

鎮國公一怔，哈哈大笑。這些年他回歸家庭，每天就在家裏侍弄花草、琢磨菜譜，再不過問朝政，看起來就像一個普通老頭子。此刻他仰着頭大笑，眉宇間那股豁達堅毅撼人心魄，這才讓人想起，他年輕時也是太子近臣，經歷過偷龍轉鳳、武後臨朝，挺過一輪輪血腥的酷吏清洗，一直挺到李唐複國。能活到現在的永徽舊臣，哪一個會是普通人？

鎮國公笑罷，看向自己流散多年的大女兒，鄭重了神色說：“我雖白活了這麽些年歲，但還不至于被人欺負了去。當年我們經歷的陣仗可比這兇險多了，但哪一次不是化險為夷。我對付這些有經驗，你放心出去，就算到了最壞的情況，我明懷淵還能提刀殺人，絕不會任人宰割。反倒是他和你妹妹，一步錯則步步錯，你去商州，好歹多一個人給他們出謀劃策。你們三個孩子安好，我才能真正安心。”

明雨霁看着鎮國公，幾次欲言又止，鎮國公眼神包容平和，像是一座永不熄滅的燈塔，無論發生什麽，他永遠在岸邊為他們指引方向。明雨霁無法用語言表述自己的心情，只能深深下拜：“女兒不孝，危機時分不能侍奉在父親身邊，還要牢您幫我遮掩。望父親保重身體，我一定，帶他們平安回來。”

蘇行止也面露慚色。他怕明雨霁回府受委屈，見鎮國公讓明雨霁千裏迢迢去商州，下意識覺得是鎮國公偏心，殊不知他才是那個片面的人。真情流露無法騙人，蘇行止看得出剛才那些話是鎮國公真心所想，這樣一來，他反而成了惡人。

蘇行止對鎮國公行禮，致歉道：“國公恕罪，方才我以小人之心度君子之腹，誤會國公了。大娘子說得對，這本就是鎮國公府家事，我不該多嘴。”

鎮國公道：“蘇郎君不要這樣說。你能說出那些話，說明真心為大娘好，我心甚慰。大娘說話直，其實都出于好心，若有冒犯之處，還請郎君海涵。”

蘇行止心中自嘲，如今，他已經成了明雨霁需要客套的人了嗎？他怎麽可能怪罪雨霁呢？

她在明家過得好，有一個真心愛她的父親，有一對明理寬厚的妹妹妹婿，他該替她高興。正因如此，他越發不能讓鎮國公府、讓雍王出事。

蘇行止下定決心，道：“謝國公寬宏。在下告辭，望大娘子路上保重，平安歸來。”

蘇行止一一給鎮國公、明雨霁行了禮，就恢複下人裝扮，從角門出去了。鎮國公看到明雨霁臉上意外、生氣夾雜着失落，嘆了聲，道：“既然不舍得，為何不和他說？”

說起這個，明雨霁更氣了。她用不在意掩飾着心底的委屈，道：“他都不關心我怎麽走，只讓我路上保重，和他還有什麽好說的？我要回去收拾行李，今夜就得出發，我先走了。”

鎮國公看着快步走遠的大女兒，心裏長嘆。女兒大了，煩惱也多了，像明華裳那樣主動跟着男郎跑的讓人發愁，像明雨霁這樣什麽話都憋在心裏，不願正視感情的，也讓人發愁。

其實，他覺得蘇行止還不錯，為官正直，做事踏實，私底下又十足耐心，任雨霁怎麽發火都不愠不惱，前程也不錯。最重要的是，對雨霁是真心的。

罷了，兒孫自有兒孫福。兒女的事，就讓他們自己操心吧。

·

明華裳聽明雨霁說鎮國公沒事，這才放下心。她看向床上還在發高燒的蘇行止，問：“那蘇兄的傷是怎麽回事？”

明雨霁幽幽嘆了聲，說：“他是為了掩護我，才受的傷。我辭別父親後，立即着手出城。我得知那天夜裏有一輛運糧車要出城，就打暈了一個士兵，換上他的衣服混入押糧隊伍裏。途中我遇到了巡查隊，差點被發現，幸好他們被街上的動靜吸引走，我才有驚無險離開城門。之後我尋了個機會逃走，我原本擔心等暈倒的士兵醒來後會有追兵，但一路都安安靜靜，我以為是我運氣好，沒被人發現，誰知……”

明雨霁看着蘇行止，心情複雜：“是他跟在我身後，替我解決了追兵。在城門時也是他故意制造動靜，吸引走巡查隊。他在擺脫巡查隊時本來就受了傷，後來還一路掩護我，傷勢越來越重。要不是我察覺有人跟蹤，殺了個回馬槍，他不知道要瞞我到什麽時候。”

蘇行止隐約聽到明雨霁的聲音，硬是從高燒中醒來，掙紮着起身：“這是我自己決定的，和你沒關系……”

明雨霁吓了一跳，趕緊扶住他：“別動，你的傷口剛包紮過，不能再撕裂了。”

衆人忙了一通，好容易把蘇行止安置好。李華章十分過意不去，道：“怪我，拖累你們至此。要不是我，你們何必冒着生命危險來商州，蘇行止也不至于傷成這樣。”

明雨霁拿濕帕子給蘇行止降溫，淡淡瞟了李華章一眼，道：“別給自己貼金，我是為了二娘來的，和你沒關系。你要是真過意不去，穩定好商州局勢，別讓父親擔心才是真的。”

明華裳握住明雨霁的手，柔聲道：“姐姐你別急，蘇兄不會有事的，商州也不會有事，我們一起想辦法。二兄，姐姐話說得比較沖，但她也是好意。”

李華章當然不會介意，道：“我明白。”

認識一個人不能看他說了什麽，而要看他做了什麽。就憑明雨霁冒着生命危險千裏送信的情誼，李華章就不會在意明雨霁的口是心非。

謝濟川冷眼看着明華裳在幾人之間穿針引線，調合轉圜，很快明雨霁和李華章都被哄得服服帖帖。謝濟川心中暗嘆，他早就知道明華裳會說話，今日作為局外人，才直觀感受到明華裳處事技巧之高超。

乍一看明華裳是他們之中最平庸的人，然而，就是因為和她相處沒有壓力，每個人都願意和她說心裏話，每個人也都覺得自己和明華裳的感情更好一點，不知不覺，她就成了團隊中最沒存在感，卻最離不開的人。

韓颉說得不錯，明華裳才是最好的玄枭衛，不聲不響間，所有人都已為她所用。

明華

裳等蘇行止的傷情平穩後，移步外間，仔細詢問起鎮國公府的事情。她得知國公府除了行動不自由，其餘一切都好，委實長長松了口氣。之後她才問起京城局勢，雖然謝濟川已經說過一遍，但搜集情報總不嫌多。

明雨霁說長安各勢力的動向，和謝濟川的差不多，詳略側重不同而已。不過，明華裳卻注意到一點：“你說，萬騎官兵似乎并不服韋家人？”

“是啊。”明雨霁說，“我出城時僞裝成押糧士兵，和他們走了一段路，無意聽到許多內情。他們對韋家人意見頗多，韋元等人都是空降到萬騎營的，這些人吃住不在兵營，沒有從軍經歷，卻處處擺長官的譜，想讓士兵如臂使指，士兵做不到他們就命人打。不止是底下的小兵，連中層士官都苦不堪言。”

韋皇後一昧照搬則天皇帝的經歷，顯然不明白，并不是将大将軍換成自己人，這只軍隊就為她所用了。

明華裳突然想到則天皇帝曾漫不經心說，學她者生，似她者死。當時不覺得什麽，如今回想，才覺膽戰心驚。

現在這些事情，是不是她早就預料到了？她身體死了，靈魂卻依然籠罩在大唐上空，無形影響着政局變幻。

明華裳嘆了口氣，打起精神說：“長安鞭長莫及，我們現在先想想近的。谯王沒收到封家的回信，遲早都會猜到我們識破了他的意圖，商州之圍近在咫尺。我們要怎麽辦？”

明雨霁來之前就知道，明華裳和李華章不會抛下一城百姓自己走的。她壓根也沒有勸明華裳，直接問：“商州有多少兵力？”

李華章聲音冷靜清晰，道：“兩千府兵。除去空饷、老弱病殘、兵籍流失，能上戰場的不到一千，而這些人久疏訓練，實際戰鬥力還要再打折扣。”

明雨霁皺了皺眉，只能指望援兵：“還有任遙，她帶來多少人？”

謝濟川輕嗤一聲，說：“五百，我很确定。”

任遙帶的兵是天子親軍，訓練良好，裝備齊全，各個都是精英。明雨霁猜到援兵數量不會很多，但這也太少了。

明雨霁沉默了，片刻後問：“那均州有多少人呢？”

這是明華裳的業務範疇，她道：“有一個好消息和一個壞消息，你們想先聽哪個？”

謝濟川毫不猶豫：“壞的。”

"Okay. The good news is that not only Shangzhou's military preparations are slack, but Junzhou's soldiers are also very lax. But the bad news is that after Prince Qiao came to Junzhou, he knew that Queen Wei would not let him go, and he has been secretly contacting various military governors over the years. Now, the military governor of Jiannan has defected to Prince Qiao and will transfer 20,000 troops from Chuzhou to help Prince Qiao regain the throne."

Now everyone was speechless. Xie Jichuan smiled and nodded, "Yes, as long as every soldier can defeat 20 enemies with one, Shangzhou will win."

Ming Yuji tried to think of a solution: "What if we urgently dispatch troops from the surrounding areas?"

Ming Huashang shook her head: "We have thought about it, but the government troops are exhausted, and the elite troops are in the hands of the Jiedushi, and the one closest to us is the Jiedushi of Jiannan."

The military strength was too different, the imperial court would not send reinforcements, and there was no water nearby to put out the fire. It looked like this was a war with no suspense. Ming Yuji was in a heavy mood, and was already thinking about the success rate of assassinating Prince Qiao and the governor of Jiannan. At this time, Li Huazhang suddenly spoke up: "I have a plan. Maybe only a few people are needed to disintegrate this rebellion from within."

Xie Jichuan raised his eyebrows, very suspicious: "Do you want to defeat an army of 20,000 with just a few Xuanxiao Guards?"

Li Huazhang was neither anxious nor impatient, his expression confident, calm and composed: "No matter how many soldiers there are, there are only a few people who make decisions. If we can use intelligence to make them make wrong judgments, it will be fine."