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Chapter 157
Hearing the news, Huo Donglai, the newly appointed secretary of the Criminal Department, almost jumped from his seat out of excessive shock.
Even if heard that Nanchen was out of balance and defeated, it was not such a surprise.
Ren Jinglei is the head of Nanchen's spy, the person code-named Yaoguang.
How could it be possible that he was born in a great Zhou family, and even the family and Nanchen had an homicide!
He hurriedly led people to the jail.
In the deepest part of the dark prison, the familiar young man was sitting on the bluestone ground behind the solid iron fence. One slender leg rests on the ground, the other is bent, arms resting on the knees.
Watching Huo Donglai who rushed to the door of the prison. With a sloppy smile on Junxiu's face, she greeted familiarly: "Huo Shangshu, I've seen you for a long time."
Huo Donglai lowered his face: "Why?"
"Why does everyone have to ask why?" Ren Jinglei was a little helpless.
"Is General Pei secretly instigating?" Huo Donglai first thought of the possibility that Pei Ling raised the bandit himself out of conspiracy theory.
If you want to continue to have greater authority and an unbreakable position in the army, a stalemate in war is the best way.
Beishuo's soldier is too dangerous, and Nanchen, a half-dead thief, can keep him safe and secure his future position.
Ren Jinglei closed his eyes and opened them again. He smiled and said, "If I admit it, then your Dazhou military will be in a situation of mutual suspicion and even killing each other, right?"
Huo Donglai narrowed his eyes.
"But I still don't want to admit it, it's not that I don't want to hurt him, I just don't bother to tell a lie that can be seen at a glance."
"At least in front of the emperor. He will not fall into this stupid strategy, nor will he do such self-destructive things."
"Well, Pei Ling, just a fool who was deceived by me."
...
***********
In the palace, Qin Nuo flipped through the newspaper in his hand.
There is no useful information, although punishment has been used. Think about it, too, if you are in such a dangerous position, if you are not fortitude and far better than ordinary people, it is impossible to hide for so long, especially around that person.
During Huo Donglai's interrogation, he obviously wanted to connect this matter with Pei Ling.
In all fairness, this is indeed the best time to limit Pei Ling's authority.
Since the imperial coup d'etat, the rights of the Pei clan have indeed been excessive. Huo Donglai can be considered considerate, but...
There was still an unhappy feeling in my heart.
Until Xu Mincai came to report, Wen Miao begged to see you.
Qin Nuo put down the memorial, "Send him in."
You just grabbed someone the day before yesterday, so you can't sit still today? This Master Wen, the news is more informed than he thought, but he is also more uncomfortable than expected.
Entering the hall, Wen Miao was straight to the point: "Our country originally intended to use the remaining 20,000 prisoners and the life of General Yuwen to change his life."
"Wen Qing's news is wise." Qin Nuo smiled. Ren Jinglei fell into his hands, only a day or two nights, and it was a secret arrest, the news did not leak.
"As a person of Nanchen, he has his own means of communication. If he has no news, the minister will know that something must have happened." Wen Miao smiled bitterly. "Actually, the minister had persuaded him before, and he immediately set off to return."
"This exchange, is this what you meant, or did you mean it?" Qin Nuo asked in a deep voice.
In a short period of time, Wen Miao couldn't have time to pass the information back to Jianye City and exchange Ren Jinglei with a captive in his hand. Was it his own opinion, or he had discussed this possibility with Chen Xuan before he came.
"It's the minister's own idea, but if it is passed back to China, the lord of our country must also agree to it." Wen Miao replied calmly.
After a pause, he continued: "Ren Jinglei's real name is Chen Li, who is the Ninth Prince for me."
One sentence explained almost all the doubts.
Qin Nuo couldn't help showing a look of surprise, "Taking the prince as a meticulous work, the ruler of your country is really..."
Wen Miao felt calm about Qin Nuo's emotions: "The country is ruined and the family is destroyed. His Highness Nine has lived more safely and with dignity than the other elders for at least these years."
Qin Nuo stopped talking. Except for Chen Xuan, Nanchen's other princes and grandchildren, except for the prince and the third prince who committed suicide in the past, several other princes, and dozens of grandchildren have all become Da Zhou's. captive. Some of them have died of illness on the way to Beijing, and the rest of the others have had a very difficult life in the past ten years in Beijing. Not to mention being trampled on every day, there are even those who have become the favorite playthings of the powerful, let others play with them. The immediate royal family was treated like this, not to mention other collateral family princes and county princes.
These are all things in the years of Emperor Jingyao. Because of the death of his younger sister-in-law, Emperor Jingyao hated the Nanchen clan. Naturally, these people who died of the country did not have a good life.
Compared to their experience, Ren Jinglei stayed by Pei Ling over the years is indeed a hundred times more respectable.
"The emperor is a benevolent emperor, and half of my Nanchen clan blood line is on his body. People who subjugate the country are always involuntary. I hope the emperor will be considerate." Wen Miao's voice was low and helpless.
Qin Nuo was stunned for a moment. Calculated by pedigree, he and Ren Jinglei were really cousins...
But this distracting thought only flashed by. Before the major events of the country, there was no room for compromise and sentiment. What's more, Ren Jinglei's previous work killed countless people in the capital, and he did not even show any mercy when he got Pei Ling. , Leaked the mechanism drawings of the Kaitian Crossbow to Nanchen.
Later, in order to hide his behavior, when he revealed the secret of Consort Chen's life experience to the Queen Mother Huo party, he deliberately asked for a copy of Queen Mother Huo, which made many people mistakenly believe that Nanchen was obtained from Queen Mother Huo. Qin Nuo is really impressed by the depth and meticulousness of the drawings.
To such a dangerous enemy, Qin Nuo would never let the tiger go.
Use him in exchange for Southern Ar prisoners and Yuwen che... Hehe, Qin Nuo don't know how to deal with these trash snacks. wish Nanchen would clean them up for him. How could he agree.
"The emperor...before he came, he had already told several adults he met." Wen Miao said flatly.
"You..." A trace of anger flashed between Qin Nuo's eyebrows. Wen Miao's move clearly understood his thoughts a long time ago, knowing that he did not put the captives of the Southern Army in his eyes, and even how disgusted he was. So simply spread the news in advance. The middle and high-ranking officers of the Southern Army involved many noble families in the capital, as well as low-ranking soldiers, and they were all brothers and sons of the people of Dazhou. If there is a glimmer of hope for return, of course everyone is looking forward to it. Qin Nuo couldn't completely disregard the hearts of these people.
Qin Nuo quickly controlled his mind, anyway, the dominant power was in his hands, and it was impossible to reverse the situation with a little so-called small trick.
"What Ren Jinglei has done over the years has been extremely heinous, leaving aside the affairs of the military. The epidemic has murdered countless people. Is there anything worthy of my forgiveness?"
Wen Mian whispered: "At the beginning of the epidemic, His Royal Highness Nine also strongly opposed it, thinking that the strategy of seeking the country should not be done in this way, killing the people, but ... the minister insists on it."
"It's not you, Mr. Wen, who insists, but the monarch of your country." Qin Nuo sneered. This reason couldn't shake his jealousy of Ren Jinglei.
Even if he did not approve of this plan, Ren Jinglei was more efficient than anyone else in its implementation. He killed Lord Golden Sect, burned the Temple of the City God, and fastened the vein of the court step by step.
He didn't want to argue more about this matter, and asked directly: "The same is a prisoner. Compared with Ren Jinglei, shouldn't Wen Qing care more about the lives of other people who fell into our army?"
In Wen Mian's surprised gaze, he ordered Xu Mincai to pass the report of the Kang City battle to Wen Mian.
Because it was a carrier pigeon, it has only been three or four days now, and the news from Nanchen hasn't reached Wen Mian.
Wen Mian took the report and scanned it in a glance, his face turned pale, but he quickly stabilized.
He is a wise man. Knowing that Ren Jinglei was arrested, he knew that the Zhou court had already locked Yaoguang's true identity. So for the last secret report from Yaoguang, there are probably problems with the layout of the Kang City strategy.
He expected that this battle would be defeated, but he did not expect it would be so terribly defeated.
Forty thousand were killed and ten thousand were captured.
According to the strategic layout of this battle, most of these dead were soldiers of Nanchen's lineage!
After this battle, Nanchen's remaining elite soldiers were less than 30,000. Although there are still a lot of soldiers and horses recruited by the Nanbans, their combat power is not bad, but these walls have always been profitable, and they rush faster than anyone else. Once the situation reverses, they will definitely give birth to cowardice. , It is impossible to fight for Nanchen's interests.
Wen Mian closed her eyes, her body trembling slightly.
The affairs of the country are difficult, and we have been through thorns and thorns, and we have moved forward. Have we finally come to an end?
Qin Nuo did not rush, waiting for him to calm down.
"What is the emperor's intention?" Wen Mian opened his eyes, his gaze has returned to coldness.
"Twenty thousand Southern Army, do you want to change these ten thousand prisoners? Or Ren Jinglei?" Qin Nuo asked.
Wen Mian shook his head bitterly, "The emperor, is there any choice for the ministers? The emperor is willing to release the 10,000 prisoners?"
Qin Nuo smiled, did not speak, it is indeed impossible to return these ten thousand prisoners.
The two countries had fought for many years, and they had exchanged prisoners several times, but that was when the battle lines were long and there was no harm in comparison of strength.
The battle is now at the most critical moment, Nanchen's forces have been weakened to the extreme. It was when the Great Zhou took advantage of the vacancy to enter, these ten thousand elite soldiers are of great importance, and it is absolutely impossible to release them to increase their vitality.
But Ren Jinglei, Qin Nuo didn't want to let it go.
Qin Nuo smiled: "Twenty thousand southern troops are not enough to compensate Yaoguang this person. If you want to change, bring the navy fleet."
This is his most greedy purpose, and even allows a certain range of bargaining. For Nan Chen's navy, he is bound to win, which is related to the overall situation of his subsequent opening of sea trade, and even his attention to the fleet is still higher than Chen Xuan, the emperor of Nanchen.
Wen Miao's figure trembled. The navy fleet was the last life-saving talisman of the Nanchen little court. In fact, he was trapped in the six counties of the south before, and on several occasions of dangerous military affairs, he relied on this fleet to escape, or The Jedi fought back. This fleet is indispensable for being able to sustain it under the Southern Army for so long.
Qin Nuo was not in a hurry, "You can send a message to Jianye about this matter and discuss it with your lord."
"Wen Qing is a wise man in the world, focusing on the overall situation of the world. After knowing this battle, the situation on the southern battlefield will be difficult to restore. I am the prince who loves talents, and I also know the hardships of the southern people. I hope that I can give up peace as soon as possible."
"At this moment, if the Lord had originally intended to surrender, I will hold him and wait for it, and keep the wealth forever."
Qin Nuo added one last sentence.
He is indeed not in a hurry, he already has enough chips in his hand, and the chips will be more and more visible to the naked eye, of course Qin Nuo is calm and calm.
Even compared to Ren Jinglei, he has a more important trick. This time, during the attack of the eastern camp, he specifically ordered that something to be brought. Presumably the good news will come soon.
When news of Jianye City's fall comes, can Wen Miao maintain such a calm posture?
Qin Nuo thought a little bit evilly.
After sending away the heavy walking Wen Miao, before Qin Nuo could take a breath, Xu Mincai hurried in and reported, "Pei Ling, please see you."
It also came earlier than I thought.
A Ren Jinglei affects how many situations converge.
Qin Nuo immediately summoned the general to enter.
Pei Ling walked slowly into the hall, his steps were still calm, his expression still calm.
Qin Nuo was even a little bit confused. He came to discern for himself, or asked for follow-up?
He stared at Pei Ling, waiting for him to speak.
However, Pei Ling did not speak, but knelt down.
"The minister originally intended to change his life with his duties and military power in Gyeonggi."
He leaned down and bent down until his forehead touched the cold golden brick ground.
"Minister Pei!" Qin Nuo stood up suddenly and looked at Pei Ling kneeling on the ground in shock.
The monarch and his subjects are separated. Since he became the emperor, Pei Ling has also knelt down in front of him many times, but there has never been such a time, begging for the posture completely and completely.
Before this scene happened, Qin Nuo couldn't even imagine that such a humble posture would appear on this proud person.
"General, get up," Qin Nuo said quickly, his tone trembling.
"Chen... I beg the emperor for forgiveness." Pei Ling did not get up, with a bitter expression, "Everything is the fault of the minister and the retribution of the minister."
His tone was plain, but with unspeakable loss, as if he had already confessed his fate, to this cruel reality.
"General..." Qin Nuo suddenly felt a heartache, as if a noble man fell into the dust, a chivalrous man lost his reputation, and a sense of guilt that nearly perfect pure white porcelain was broken by his own life surged.
Since it was determined that Ren Jinglei was Yaoguang, he set up such a complicated situation, even risking being betrayed by Fang Yuan, just to maximize this secret benefit.
Now, relying on this lurking chess piece, he has calculated Nanchen severely, successfully regained Kang City and annihilated Nanchen's main force. He successfully forced Pei Ling to lower his head and cut his authority. After the Huo family was suppressed, the power of the Pei family grew too fast and dangerous.
He tried his best to comfort himself, he was not trying to do anything to Pei Ling, but a normal means of suppression and checks and balances by a king on his courtiers. Only when he was truly restrained could he and Pei Ling be in peace with the king and his subjects for a long time.
But now, looking at this person's painful appearance. The temptation and suspicion that were once disappeared in an instant, and Qin Nuo even regretted it. This game is so cruel, for the person in front of it.
Although it was not himself who was truly cruel, it was Ren Jinglei who had deceived the person in front of him for 13 years.
"General!" Without any hesitation or refusal, Qin Nuo took a long breath, "General, get up."
"I allow you and spare his life."