Jiuxi

Chapter 54 054 [People are not for themselves]

Ou Zhiqiu didn't know that in the cell next to him, Duan Zuozhang, deputy commander of the Guangling Army, was being held.

Under Lu Chen's instructions, the Sutra Weaving Department treated Duan Zuozhang preferentially and did not put handcuffs on him. Tables and chairs were specially placed in the room, as well as a pot of cold tea.

Apart from being unable to leave this place, Duan Zuozhang's situation is not difficult.

When Lu Chen walked in, the fourth-grade military general had his arms on the armrests, his face dark and deep in thought.

When Lu Chen sat opposite him, Duan Zuozhang raised his eyes slightly and said in a cold voice: "What Ou Zhiqiu said is all slander. I definitely did not collaborate with the enemy and treason. In addition, the fake Yan Xizuo is obviously planning to seize Guangling. You'd better get rid of this matter as soon as possible." Inform Governor Xiao and Commander Qi."

Lu Chen turned over the tureen in front of him, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and said at the same time: "General Duan still refuses to reveal the truth until now?"

Duan Zuozhang fell into silence.

He did not have a deep foundation or connections in the court, and it was not easy for him to climb to the position of deputy commander of the fourth rank. Therefore, it was difficult to make up his mind in the face of the Gu family's subtle wooing.

Huaizhou was, is, and will be the focus of competition among Qi, Yan, and Jing Dynasties. As long as he can gain a firm foothold among the seven armies of Huaizhou and make some contributions, he has a good chance of continuing to advance further.But he also knew that the powerful people in Yongjia City were more concerned about Jingzhou, and naturally did not trust Huaizhou warriors. This step was his end.

For example, Governor Xiao, who was famous for his hard work and hard work, although no one dared to disrespect him on the surface, the important officials in the court always treated him with more fear than respect.

Even the Grand Governor was in this situation, let alone the generals below.

Just because Xiao Wangzhi was tough enough and determined enough to resist Bei Yan and Jing Chao, no strange voices appeared in these years, and even if there was an undercurrent, it could not make waves.

But if there is an opportunity to choose in front of them, many people will hesitate. Duan Zuozhang is like this, and he firmly believes that he is not the only one in the army who thinks this way.

Lu Chen didn't say anything to urge him, because he was also thinking about some issues at the moment.

As Lin Xi said, Ou Zhiqiu's identity determines that he is not that simple, not to mention that before taking action today, Ou Zhiqiu has a chance to escape.

Even if escaping would alert the secret agents of the Sutra Weaving Department outside Gu's residence, Ou Zhiqiu might be caught and even find it difficult to escape in the end, it would be better than being trapped in Gu's residence now.

Relating to the insights he had after meeting Zhan Hui that day, Lu Chen's thinking became clearer. Ou Zhiqiu was more like a dead person who used himself as bait than Zhang Xi.

Thinking along this line of thinking, combined with the prerequisites for the Yan army to attack Guangling by surprise, it is not difficult for Lu Chen to think that Ou Zhiqiu is disturbing the view of the Weaving Department - he is in the light and allows the people hiding in the dark to continue to seize the war. city ​​plan.

But Lu Chen couldn't jump to conclusions because the safety of Guangling City depended on the four thousand defenders.Now that the Weaving Department has captured Duan Zuozhang, if it continues to expand the scope and panic people, I am afraid that before the Yan army can attack the city, the defenders will collapse on their own, and may even cause a mutiny among the soldiers.

Lu Chen doesn't know how to overcomplicate matters like a matryoshka doll, but he is certain that the real battle will begin after Ou Zhiqiu is arrested.

"The Gu family did find a wife."

After a long silence, Duan Zuozhang finally spoke.

"Hold on."

Lu Chen suddenly interrupted him, and then said to the spies in the room: "Everyone, please get out. I don't want the third person to hear the conversation in this room."

"Yes." Everyone led the order to retreat.

Lu Chen turned his head and looked at Duan Zuozhang, nodded and said, "General, please speak."

Duan Zuozhang's gloomy expression suddenly softened a bit, and he said slowly: "Gu Junye's vague words probably mean that Huaizhou will not be able to be defended sooner or later, and he has the means to join the puppet Yan. Naturally, I will not agree, or I will not refuse directly. "

Lu Chen whispered: "General Duan should know that failing to report something is also a serious crime."

Duan Zuozhang laughed at himself and said: "This is the ruthlessness of Gu Junye and Ou Zhiqiu. They didn't come to me directly. Instead, they approached their wife some time ago in the name of a distant relative of the same clan. During that time, I was busy with military affairs and returned home. I have only visited Gu Zisi’s wife a few times, and I have also received some gifts from his family.”

Lu Chen shook his head and said, "If General Duan takes the initiative to find the Weaving Department, these suspicions can actually be cleared."

"Clean up? Haha..."

Duan Zuozhang couldn't help but sneer.

Lu Chen looked at him puzzled.Duan Zuozhang said quietly: "I am a fourth-grade military general. Your Guangling Yamen is not qualified to review theories. At least you have to be personally present by the Su Inspector. Of course, no one expected that you would appear. Even if the Su Inspector is the examiner Now, my case will have to be reviewed by Qin Tiju and reported to the emperor, and then the Zhongshu and the military department will decide how to deal with it. Do you know how many interesting things will happen in this process?"

He emphasized the word "interesting".

As if knowing that Lu Chen could not answer, Duan Zuozhang continued: "I will definitely be accused of collaborating with the enemy and treason, and will be taken to the execution ground and beheaded together with the Gu family and his son. Most of my family will not be spared. This is not the purpose of those in the court, because I am the Governor of Xiao. As a general who was personally promoted, this case will inevitably involve him, but it will be suppressed for the time being until the war in Huaizhou is over."

Lu Chen asked: "Why is this so?"

"It must be so." Duan Zuozhang looked sarcastic, and then said: "If our army is defeated and Huaizhou falls, then nothing will be mentioned. If our army wins, this case will become a stain on Governor Xiao. Stop him. Continuing to get promoted is the so-called strategy of balancing merits and demerits. To do this, I must collaborate with the enemy and treason, and I must die to apologize."

Lu Chen didn't expect Duan Zuozhang to have such thoughts.

He was not aware of the disputes within the Southern Qi court. If Duan Zuozhang had not exaggerated, we could get a glimpse of it from this passage.

"But it's not a good thing for Governor Xiao that the general is so vacillating."

"Do you think I'm thinking about the Governor? No, at least until today, I was just thinking about myself."

Duan Zuozhang looked calm, but his eyes were a bit bitter, and continued: "There is an unwritten rule in the Da Qi army. If you want to be promoted as soon as possible, the best place to go is the Sixth Army of Beiya, followed by the armies of Nanya. The third is the Jingzhou Governor’s Mansion, and the last is the Huaizhou Governor’s Mansion. As for the other four Governor’s Mansions, unless you have connections with the sky, you will have to stay in a remote and difficult place for the rest of your life."

The six armies of Bei Ya protected the palace, and the armies of South Ya guarded the capital.

Lu Chen gradually understood the reason for Duan Zuozhang's vacillation, and revised his previous impression of him - a general who rose through the ranks with military merit without a strong backing should not be so indecisive.

But tonight he did not want to get involved in too deep a topic, and immediately said: "Actually, I am still a little confused as to why the general would tell the truth."

Duan Zuozhang seemed to feel more relaxed after talking about it, and said calmly: "I know very well who the Gu family and his son are. How can they withstand the interrogation of the Sutra Weaving Department? Those things will be revealed anyway. It's better for me to be a bachelor than to hold it in." I feel embarrassed for myself."

Lu Chen nodded, and then said something that made Duan Zuozhang's expression change slightly: "The accusations made by the Gu family and his son about the general are not substantiated. They are just one-sided words. Moreover, the general has already planned to cooperate with the Sutra Weaving Department in advance to arrest all these traitors." Dig it out, so I was lying to them. As for the content of the conversation between the general and me tonight, no third person will know."

Duan Zuozhang looked at him steadily.

At this moment, a heartbreaking howl came over.

Lu Chen said calmly: "Richard is currently inflicting torture on Ou Zhiqiu, general, don't worry."

Duan Zuozhang thought thoughtfully and said slowly: "If I hadn't heard about your father's love for you and I am convinced that he would never let you join an yamen like the Weaving Department early, I would have thought that you were a veteran of the Weaving Department. "

Lu Chen said: "The general is full of praise."

Duan Zuozhang shook his head, remembering the conversation just now, and couldn't help asking solemnly: "What do you want from me?"

Lu Chen said calmly: "If it is true as the general said, your relationship with the Gu family and Ou Zhiqiu is still in the initial stage of contact and has not caused substantial damage, I am willing to help the general."

Duan Zuozhang asked: "What do you want?"

Lu Chen said: "I want to have a good relationship with the general."

Duan Zuozhang was silent for a moment and said slowly: "The reason why I have an ambiguous attitude towards the Gu family and his son is that I don't want to be manipulated by others and become a pawn in the hands of others."

Lu Chen said calmly: "I think this matter will become a secret shared by both of us, rather than a means for me to manipulate the general."

Duan Zuozhang thought for a long time this time. Looking at Lu Shen's calm eyes, he solemnly said: "Okay, I promise you, I will keep Brother Lu's kindness in mind."

Lu Chen stopped being polite, said goodbye, stood up and left.

That night, he sat by the railing and stared at the stars in the sky, listening to Ou Zhiqiu's miserable howl coming from the cell from time to time, from sharp at the beginning to weak at the end, and finally silent.

When a hint of fish belly white appeared on the horizon, Li Chengen's figure appeared in Lu Chen's sight. He did not speak, but nodded imperceptibly to Lu Chen.

(End of this chapter)