Chapter 539 The prosperous age reappears

In the middle of winter, roads are blocked by heavy snow, and thousands of miles of mountains and rivers in the north turn into a snowfield.

The cold wind is so strong that it can scratch people's faces.

However, Feng Changqing rushed to Fan Yang. He brought dozens of knights with him. When he arrived at the gate of Fan Yang, his armor was already covered with thick ice.

He raised his head and glanced around Fan Yangcheng's defense, a look of vigilance flashing in his eyes.

In the city gate, Xue Bai came out with a few followers. He was not wearing armor, but was wearing a big cloak, looking casual and calm.

Feng Changqing came here this time because Xue Bai wrote a letter saying that he planned to resign and return to Beijing, and asked him to explain some affairs after leaving.

However, his generals reminded him that he might fall into a trap when he came to Fanyang. They believed that King Yong would die if he returned to the capital and would raise his troops to rebel, so he set up the Hongmen Banquet.

Feng Changqing believed this, so he gathered dozens of his most elite confidants, mentally preparing to suppress the rebellion for the imperial court.

When he arrived at Fanyang, Xue Bai treated him warmly and ordered someone to bring him ginger soup that was boiled by the city gate.

"It's really hard for you to come here in such weather. Please hurry up and get rid of the cold."

"They are all doing things for the imperial court, as a minister should."

Feng Changqing took the hot bowl, but did not drink it immediately. Instead, he held it to warm his cold hands.

Xue Bai seemed not to notice this small detail and continued to order people to distribute the ginger soup to the soldiers brought by Feng Changqing.

"Give me a bowl too." Finally, he stretched out his hand to ask for a bowl and gulped it down.

When Feng Changqing saw this, he smiled bitterly in his heart, thinking that he was too nervous. Even if Xue Bai wanted to poison him, how much could this small bowl of ginger soup contain?

He then raised his head and drank a bowl of soup. A warmth immediately arose in his stomach, dispelling the cold, as if the hair follicles all over his body were stretched.

"It would be better if there was wine." He thought to himself.

But even if Xue Bai gave him wine, he might not dare to drink it.

Everyone walked into the city and entered the government office lobby. Feng Changqing's guards followed them all the way. Xue Bai seemed to have not seen him and started talking about business in front of them.

"Most of the things in Hebei have just started, and some have not even started yet. I am very reluctant to let me step down at this time."

After Feng Changqing heard this, he guessed that Xue Bai wanted to impress him with words first and persuade him to join in the rebellion.

Unfortunately, I made the wrong calculation.

He had made up his mind, and no matter how much Xue Bai tried to persuade him, he could not waver in the slightest. His loyalty to the court was stronger than a rock.

But Xue Bai did not continue to complain about the court, but changed the topic and said: "But fortunately, the plans for various affairs have been made, and officials have been appointed. There is no need for me to keep an eye on Fan Yang. Only border defense and military affairs

Regarding the affairs of the village, Fengjie Commander needs to pay more attention."

He actually started talking about what he needed Feng Changqing to do after he left.

Feng Changqing didn't pay attention at first, always wondering how Xue Bai was going to get rid of him, but it didn't seem like there were swordsmen around the lobby. Gradually, his attention finally turned to what Xue Bai was telling him.

In practice.

After discussing the matter, Xue Bai personally sent Feng Changqing to the post house.

"I know that Fengjie Commander is always frugal and doesn't like extravagance, so I won't have a banquet."

He actually said that if there is no banquet, there will be no banquet. They had a simple meal in the government office, and Xue Bai asked him to rest early because he would continue to discuss official matters tomorrow.

At night, the post house.

Feng Changqing carefully checked the yard to make sure that no one was waiting, then returned to the house and took off his armor.

He quickly lay down on the couch and placed his saber within easy reach of the bedside.

Just when I closed my eyes, suddenly, there was a "pop" sound from the courtyard, like a tile falling to the ground and breaking.

Feng Changqing quickly picked up the saber and stood up, pushed open the door, and first leaned against the door frame to peek out, fearing that there was an arrow coming from behind.

After waiting for a while, his guards also rushed out of the house.

He then strode out and looked up. There was snow piled on the roof ridge. Under the moonlight, a black cat walking on the roof was frightened and disappeared.

Feng Changqing's guards were still worried and quickly rushed out to search.

After searching carefully, they came back and reported: "Jie Shuai, there is no one."

It seems that Xue Bai really didn't arrange anyone to assassinate him.

Feng Changqing raised his head and looked at the moonlight, wondering in his heart, wondering if Xue Bai could really relinquish military power and return to Chang'an? That would be just for the sake of others, and for me.

Can't figure it out.

After a night of vigilance, I didn't sleep well. When I woke up the next day, Xue Bai had sent someone to ask Feng Changqing to continue the discussion.

After Feng Changqing hesitated, he put on his armor and went.

In addition to being heavy and harsh, iron armor is stuffy to wear in the summer, cold to wear in the winter, and hot when sitting next to the stove and being roasted by the fire.

When discussing matters, he felt cold and hot. It was just like this when he was in the army, but in this lobby, when others watched Xue Bai talking calmly, and then looked at the firelight reflected on Feng Changqing's breastplate, there was always an inexplicable feeling.

He felt so incongruous that he wanted to peel off his armor.

The specific implementation plan was decided, and Xue Bai introduced various officials to Feng Changqing.

He first attracted Yan Gaoqing, Yuan Luqian and others.

"This is my father-in-law. He is also responsible for the military affairs in Hebei Province. Others say that I let people marry me, but I know my father-in-law's talents, so I have no choice but to avoid relatives."

Everyone laughed, and amidst laughter, Xue Bai introduced Feng Changqing to Yan Gaoqing, telling him that if he had any trouble in matters, he could go to Feng Changqing to resolve it.

Feng Changqing and Yan Gaoqing quickly became close friends. Their behavior and upright character were indeed similar. But on the other hand, Feng Changqing also wondered whether Xue Bai wanted Yan Gaoqing to be a lobbyist and persuade others.

He rebelled with Xue Bai.

But after getting along for a few days, when all matters were discussed, Xue Bai was ready to leave for Chang'an, but Yan Gaoqing didn't say anything to persuade him.

After the farewell practice, a banquet was finally held.

Before going to the banquet, the armor was placed on the desk. Feng Changqing looked at it with thoughtful eyes, hesitating whether to wear the armor to the banquet.

Then some soldiers analyzed the matter for him.

"I'm afraid King Yong did this on purpose. He wants Commander Ji to relax his vigilance. The killing move will come tonight."

Feng Changqing thinks it makes sense.

But there was another voice in his heart telling him that in the past few days, King Yong had been honest with him, but he had always been vigilant, fearing that others would laugh at him if he lost his temper as a general.

Rarely, Feng Changqing put on an old coat and went to practice for Xue Bai with only a few guards.

He knew it was dangerous, but he still believed in his own judgment.

It was a night of drinking, and Xue Bai felt tipsy after drinking two glasses. This was quite refreshing for him, but facing Feng Changqing who had returned from the Western Regions, this little wine was not enough to rinse his mouth.

Facing the urge to drink, Xue Bai waved his hand and said: "I can't drink anymore. I have to get up early tomorrow and ride on horseback."

Feng Changqing said: "It's as if I have never drunk and ridden a horse."

Xue Bai's cheeks were slightly flushed, and he said through drunkenness: "If there is poison in the wine, it doesn't matter if I drink a little. If you drink more, you will be poisoned."

In one sentence, several of Feng Changqing's guards changed their expressions.

Feng Changqing laughed loudly, with a hint of self-deprecation in his smile.

"Prince Yong is laughing at my carefree attitude these days. It's so disrespectful."

"It's human nature."

As Xue Bai spoke, he moved his body and leaned against the pillar, showing a rare dejection. He sighed drunkenly: "Those who know me say that I am worried; those who don't know me say that I am worried."

Feng Changqing could actually feel Xue Bai's efforts in working for the Tang Dynasty. This time he also misunderstood that he was trying to tamper with others, and he realized how deeply the world misunderstood him.

"When King Yong returned to Chang'an this time, did he worry about his wealth and life?"

"It doesn't matter." Xue Bai waved his hand calmly and said, "As long as the world can be stable."

These words were spoken very naturally and there was no trace of performance.

At least Feng Changqing didn't notice anything. He sighed in his heart and raised his head to drink a bowl of wine.

Xue Bai turned to look at him and said, "Don't worry, I still remember what I promised you."

After getting drunk, nothing really happened.

Before dawn, Xue Bai set off south.

The team heading south consisted of only a few dozen people. After bidding farewell to many officials in Fan Yang, they walked into the wind and snow.

Feng Changqing stopped and looked into the distance, feeling a little emotional. He thought that a major hidden danger in the country had finally passed.

King Yong decentralized power. From now on, the emperor should work hard to revive the Tang Dynasty.

It would be better not to reuse eunuchs again...

~~

Diao Bing turned around, glanced into the wind and snow, and said, "Mr. Lang, Fanyang City can no longer be seen."

"Let the team move slowly, don't be in a hurry."
To be continued...