"According to the decree."

There were only Gao Lishi and Zhang Bian in the hall, but Li Longji still added: "What we discussed today must not be revealed."

The reason why it cannot be leaked is that others cannot know what consequences An Lushan will face if he comes or does not come.

~~

The next day, Zhongshu went to the province.

Xue Bai also participated in the preparation of the imperial edict for Zhao'an Lushan to return to the court and serve as prime minister. After half an hour, he left the imperial city through Jingfeng Gate in the east and entered the Yingxiang Temple in Chongrenfang.

A few years ago, Prince Li Heng often secretly met with court officials here. However, as he lost power, Yingxiang Temple has long lost this role.

Generally speaking, any prince or grandson who wants to have a secret meeting with courtiers would not choose such a conspicuous place. However, when Xue Bai passed through the back hall, Li Tan was already waiting there.

In fact, their identities are not sensitive yet, and it is okay for young people to meet often in private. The reason why they chose a secret meeting today is because Li Tan got a secret revealed in the palace.

"The saint has no intention of letting An Lushan return to pay homage to the prime minister."

"I just made an edict under Zhongshu's sect." Xue Bai said.

Li Tan shook his head and said: "What I mean is that even if An Lushan really returns to the court, the saint intends to let him stay in Fan Yang despite the summons."

"Is there no more suitable candidate for Fan Yang Jiedushi?"

"How could it not be possible? The saint just doesn't want to change." Li Tan looked worried and said: "What we want is to keep An Lushan in Chang'an to prevent him from rebelling. The saint only wants to test, but after the temptation, there are others

What’s the benefit?”

Xue Bai said: "I think it doesn't matter."

"What do you mean?" Li Tan asked. When Xue Bai didn't answer, he understood and nodded: "If he dares to come, we will kill him."

"He won't come." Xue Bai asked, "If he doesn't come, what will the saint do?"

"Send someone to kill him and guard Fan Yang in his place."

Although this is what Xue Bai can guess about Li Longji's attitude, it is extremely important for him to get the most accurate and first-hand information.

He made his decision almost immediately.

"Who will you send to kill him? I will do it."

Li Tan was stunned for a moment, his eyes brightened, and he asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Hebei's problems cannot be solved by killing An Lushan. We need a capable veteran to replace him. My qualifications are far from enough. I can serve as a soldier and an interviewer, but I still need a... no,

He is a candidate for the two military governors."

"Do you have a candidate?" Li Tan asked, "Who?"

"Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi." Xue Bai said: "Let these two go out to control Fan Yang and Pinglu to serve as my backup. In this case, I am willing to send an envoy to Fan Yang to kill An Lushan."

In fact, Xue Bai had previously suggested that Gao Xianzhi go to Fan Yang and Guo Ziyi go out to control Anxi. He thought this was more in line with their personalities. But now the situation is more urgent and a more direct approach is needed.

Li Tan took a few steps, quickly digested his proposal, and asked: "Let General Gao come forward?"

"There is no need to let him participate too much. I have asked Yang Guozhong to support these two generals. I think the saint will notice their names in the memorial recently."

"Then, when the saint begins to consider candidates to replace An Lushan, can they be considered?"

"Not bad." With the direction, Xue Bai was already a little excited, and asked again: "Have you started preparing for this?"

"No." Li Tan's eyes were already bright. Hearing this question, he took a break from his excitement and said, "I am afraid that the saint is inclined to An Lushan to return to the court and is not in a hurry to send envoys."

"I'll prepare it."

Xue Bai walked out of Yingxiang Temple, and the late autumn wind blew by, which made him sober up.

He thought calmly for a while and then went to find Du Jin.

"Recall Lao Liang, Jiang Hai, Fan Lao and others..."

~~

Changshan County, Zhending County.

This was Shijiazhuang in later generations, under the jurisdiction of Fan Yang Jiedushi.

At the beginning of October, there were soldiers guarding the city gate, identifying the passers-by, and a group of people entered the city gate.

The horse's hooves stepped on the rammed earth ground. Yang Qixuan frowned slightly because he disliked the shabby place here. He turned to look at the notice board next to him, but his eyes were attracted by a sea fishing document.

This was the first time in his life that he saw such a sea fishing document. The painting was not the usual bearded man, but a man who made people feel elegant at first glance. He turned sideways, showing three long strands of beard.

He wears a long sword on his waist and stands with his hands behind his back.

Because this document was so special, Yang Qixuan couldn't help but drive his horse forward, leaned forward to look at it, and screamed in surprise.

Ji Wensui was also attracted, looked over and said, "Li Bai? He is also in Changshan County... and has killed people?"

"If you kill one person in ten steps, you must have killed many people."

Yang Qixuan didn't know what he was thinking, so he responded casually.

Afterwards, the team passed through Zhending County. From time to time, he turned around and looked around, and finally saw a Fenghui store on a crossroads shop...

They entered the prefect's mansion all the way and met Pei Yushu, the prefect of Changshan, in the lobby.

He is a man in his fifties, with three long beards, and a very good appearance, but he does look a bit like the Li Bai on the sea fishing document.

Because Ji Wen was An Lushan's confidant, Pei Yushu treated him very politely, and after chatting for a few words, arranged for them to rest in another courtyard.

Others would just do as they pleased, but Ji Wen, who was born in a prime minister family and was used to being pretentious, asked: "Prefect Pei, I stayed in this prefect's mansion last time, what's the matter? I'm going back to Beijing.

Come again, will you look down on me?"

Pei Yushu didn't expect to encounter such a tricky question. He was stunned for a long time and didn't know what to say. Finally, he recovered from his surprise and said, "I was rude. Mr. Ji is staying in the prefect's mansion."

Ji Wen looked at his expression and felt relieved when he saw that he really didn't look down on her.

While the entourage and guards were settling their luggage, everyone chatted a little more. They talked about the documents they saw at the city gate. Yang Qixuan asked, "But I don't know who Li Bai killed?"

Pei Yushu really couldn't answer it, so he waved his hands and said he didn't know.

Ji Wen then asked: "Isn't it that Governor Pei is searching for Li Bai?"

"It was a general from Fan Yang's army who came here and blocked the whole city."

Ji Wen was demoted to Liaodong that year, and soon he joined An Lushan in the shogunate. He was familiar with many people in Fan Yang's army, and he immediately asked: "Which general?"

"Tian Qianzhen."

"Ah Hao?" Ji Wen smiled happily and said, "I'll go see him tomorrow."

Pei Yushu was stunned for a moment, and an imperceptible look of worry flashed across his eyes.

The rooms in the guest house were arranged, and Ji Wen and Yang Qixuan went there together. On the way, Ji Wen looked around and suddenly said something.

"Li Bai is hiding in the prefect's mansion."

"Ah? How does Ji Gong know?"

"Oh, have you forgotten what the people of Chang'an call me? I am a prison officer, best at interrogating prisoners." Ji Wen said proudly, "Pei Yushu liked Li Bai's poems before, but today he shirks in front of me, and his expression is not the same.

Don’t even think of hiding it from me.”

"But there is no evidence for this."

"Do I want evidence?" Ji Wen pointed to his eyes, "My eyes are the evidence."

Yang Qixuan was also speechless, thinking that cruel officials like Ji Wen only acted based on intuition, in other words, they were deceiving, sometimes they were right and sometimes they were wrong.

Of course, it doesn't matter if I got it wrong this time. If I got it wrong before, countless people would be ruined.

Although it was still afternoon after settling in, Yang Qixuan went to bed early. He hadn't slept on such a soft and thick bedding for a long time, and he slept soundly. However, he was woken up by someone in his sleep, and then he smelled a familiar stench again.

"I know where Li Bai is hiding," Ji Wen said.

"No, others searched for half a month but couldn't find it, and Mr. Ji found it right after he came?"

"Don't you see who I am?" Jiwen's eyes were filled with a sinister smile, and he raised a hand, which was dripping with blood.

Yang Qixuan was shocked and said: "This is it? Who did you torture?"

"Two servants from the Prefect's Mansion."

"Ah? But what if I wrongly accuse them..."

"There is no injustice this time." Ji Wen said, "Li Bai was hiding in the woodshed in the west entrance courtyard of the prefect's mansion. He moved there when we came."

Yang Qixuan was already a little confused.

Ji Wen added: "I'm going to find Ahao and ask him to come get the person. Keep an eye on him and don't let him run away."

"How do I stare at..."

Before he finished speaking, Ji Wen ran out happily.

Yang Qixuan wanted to sleep for a while, but when he woke up, he couldn't fall asleep. He simply got up, called two guards assigned to them by the Anqing sect, and headed west to the woodshed of the courtyard.

He thought that this was probably what Jiwen meant by staring.

When I arrived at the Xijin Courtyard, I opened the door of the woodshed and saw no one at all. I thought it was Ji Wen who had handled an unjust, false and wrong case again.
To be continued...