Gu Family Village is located at the foot of Tianchi.
Zhou Yi When we arrived at the entrance of the village, we saw only a few broken walls, buried in the wind and snow, and overgrown with grass. It looked like it had not been inhabited for at least several years.
"Where are the people?"
Seeing this situation, I can't help but wonder whether it has been a hundred years of seclusion and the changes in the world have changed.
Zhou Yi circulated his true energy and used Qinggong to gallop through the snow to the southwest, covering more than a hundred miles in less than half an hour.
There were shouts and curses in the distance. He jumped up and landed on the treetop. No matter how steady the branches were, they were as steady as a mountain. Following the sound, he saw hundreds or even thousands of people.
More than a hundred soldiers wielded whips, cursed and beat the people, urging them to work faster.
The people wailed in pain, endured hunger and cold, and wielded hoes and hammers to dig.
"Northern Garrison Army?"
Zhou Yi recognized the dress of his old rival at a glance. He flew forward, his toes passing over several treetops, and landed next to the captain who was drinking and eating meat.
"Where did it come from..."
The captain's eyesight dimmed and he cursed subconsciously. He felt a chill on his neck. When he lowered his head and saw the sharp blade condensed with true energy, he suddenly turned pale with fear and his hands and feet became weak.
"Uncle, what are you looking for?"
The soldiers nearby crowded around, and the captain quickly waved his hand to move away, lest the deputy use his knife to kill someone.
"What year is it now? What month is it?"
Zhou Yi has not spoken for many years, his voice is a bit weird and dull, and with his long hair shawl, beard two or three feet long, and his clothes almost turned into strips of cloth, he looks like a savage who ran out of the mountains.
The school captain quickly replied, "It was October 22nd, the 16th year of Taichang."
Sixteen years!
This retreat took longer than expected, but I have perfected many martial arts, my own strength has greatly improved, and my enemies are getting older, so it is a good time to kill them.
Zhou Yi asked again, "Do you know where Gu Family Village moved? How did Northern Garrison Army come here?"
"I've never heard of Gu Family Village."
The lieutenant became more and more convinced that he was seeing an unknown old man in front of him, and he answered honestly, "Two years ago, the prince destroyed the imperial army, and this land became the prince's new fiefdom."
A soldier nearby said, "Uncle, I am from Kaoshan Village, not far from Gu Family Village. I heard that someone from the Gu family has become a high official and the whole family has moved to the capital."
"Beijing..."
Zhou Yi looked faintly, soared into the air for more than ten feet, then disappeared after a few ups and downs.
The lieutenant rubbed his head but it was still there, called the soldiers to speak, and asked about the Gujia Village. Suddenly, a great master who could condense Qi appeared, and he had to report it to the palace.
The soldiers recounted all the rumors they had heard, and one of them mentioned Tianchi Diaosou.
"The grave of Diaosou is still on the mountain!"
"The man named Xie is dead!"
Zhou Yi All the way south from Tianchi, he inquired about the news when passing through towns and found out the major events that had happened in the past sixteen years.
"But thanks to the fact that my family is still here, our family can give you everything, and we can also take everything back!"
Since entering the palace, Zhou Yi has learned that revenge must be retaliated. Even if the target of revenge dies, the debt must be transferred to the nine clans, without missing a penny.
If not, it would be difficult to convince the servants under his command!
Along the way, I asked about Martial Grandmaster back then, but everyone hid their secrets and no useful information was obtained.
All the way to the capital, it was already approaching the end of the year.
Zhou Yi did not contact the secret agent Eastern Depot. After so many years, no matter how deeply buried the spy is, he will change his mind. Instead, he took advantage of the night to get in touch with Heavenly Prison.
Zishi.
Everything was quiet, and the jailer on duty was dozing against the wall.
A black shadow followed the corner of the wall and escaped into Heavenly Prison. The forbidden area in the eyes of ordinary experts was nothing to Innate Grandmaster.
Going around left and right, we came to the deepest part of Heavenly Prison.
A specially built cell is divided into two rooms, inside and outside. Inside there is a carved sandalwood bed, a blue silk curtain and brocade quilt, and outside there are bookshelves, tables and chairs, pens, ink, paper, inkstones, etc.
Six candles as thick as arms burned brightly, illuminating the cell.
The old man with white beard and hair sat at the desk, sometimes frowning and thinking, sometimes writing and drawing in the book.
Zhou Yi hid in the dark and observed for a moment, then slowly revealed his figure and knocked on the fence. "Master Tang, it's time to eat..."
I originally wanted to say long time no see, but for some reason the words came out of my mouth.
"Huh?"
Tang Mingyuan felt that the voice sounded familiar. He looked up and saw a strange-looking old man. After observing carefully for a moment, he saw that his little finger was slightly raised and he said in surprise.
"Could it be the Governor?"
Zhou Yi said with a hint of yin and yang, "How did the all-powerful Master Chancellor Tang end up in such a situation? Which god helped our family say this!"
Tang Mingyuan said helplessly, "Can the Governor still not guess it?"
"Jiejiejie..."
Zhou Yi laughed strangely, "The person with such ability in the world must be a disciple of Mr. Tang, your Majesty Emperor Taichang!"
Two years ago, the Northern Patrol was defeated, and the court ceded territory and paid compensation.
At that time, Tang Mingyuan was in charge of court affairs, signed the peace treaty with his own hand, and assumed all responsibilities afterwards.
Aristocratic Clan and scholars were already offended because of the reform. They took this opportunity to counterattack and promoted Tang Mingyuan as a treacherous and powerful official who was greedy for military pay and ruined the country.
Emperor Taichang ordered Eastern Depot to conduct a thorough investigation of the Tang Mansion, and as expected, he discovered mountains of gold and silver, and was subsequently imprisoned for corruption.
The first level of Heavenly Prison lasted for two years. He was not beheaded according to the rules, but was served with delicious food and drink.
Emperor Taichang claimed that he missed the relationship between master and apprentice and was grateful to Chancellor Tang for his contribution to the country. Such a kind and filial emperor was highly sought after by the people of Daqing.
Zhou Yi I heard about this on the way, and the first thing I did when I came to Beijing was to visit my old friend.
A bit proud, but also a bit sad!
"It's good that I'm alive."
Tang Mingyuan sighed, "The death of more than 100,000 young men in Daqing from the Northern Patrol had a lot to do with me. Every time I close my eyes now, it seems that countless parents, wives and children are cursing in my ears!"
Zhou Yi After thinking for a moment, he understood the key.
After the death of Empress Dowager, Emperor Taichang, who first took over the throne, was by no means a match for Tang Mingyuan, and he was even less able to mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops to patrol the north.
Therefore, it was Tang Mingyuan who took the initiative to assist and support the Northern Patrol, or felt guilty or connived, which ultimately led to Snow Wolf Valley's defeat.
"A woman's kindness!"
Zhou Yi said coldly, "We have long said that you are not a material for big things, and sure enough, you let a little brat scheme against you."
The victory of the Northern Patrol goes to Emperor Taichang, who can use this to intervene in the military power.
If it fails, the blame falls on Tang Mingyuan, which weakens the power of powerful ministers and relatives, and Emperor Taichang also makes a lot of money.
Zhou Yi uses himself to save others, and it is speculated that the subsequent land cession and compensation are also ordered by Emperor Taichang. Ten million taels of silver is not much for the court, and the ceded area does not have much population. It is just a good way to completely blackmail Tang Mingyuan.
Tang Mingyuan, who lost military power during the Northern Patrol, and whose reputation among the people plummeted due to the peace talks, was imprisoned in just a matter of Emperor Taichang's words.
Among them, Zhou Yi sorted out the twists and turns, and I became somewhat interested in Emperor Taichang.
Did he ascend to the throne due to his talent, intelligence and luck, or did anyone who ascended the throne learn how to fight without a teacher?
"Duke, I have a favor to ask of you."
Tang Mingyuan said, "If you have time, go to the harem to have a look and find out the quality of Tong Tong's real life. Don't let me, the father, get involved."
Zhou Yi nodded and said, "I have met Tong Tong a few times before. He is barely an elder, so our family agreed."
"Thank you."
Tang Mingyuan didn't mention that he had rescued him back then. Due to the Duke's temperament, he would only take revenge but not repay kindness. Fortunately, he would usually do what he promised.
Zhou Yi asked curiously, "If Tong Tong lives well and is in love with His Majesty, how about Mr. Tang?"
Tang Mingyuan said, "Then there will be no regrets in dying."
Zhou Yi asked again, "What if life is worse than death?"
"..."
Tang Mingyuan's face was as calm as water, without any change. However, the pounding of his heartbeat a few times faster told Zhou Yi that he was not as calm as he appeared.
Zhou Yi changed his voice and asked, "Did Emperor Taichang carry out Empress Dowager's death?"
There are no rumors about Empress Dowager's death. However, Zhou Yi has seen many harem struggles, and it is almost certain that Emperor Taichang has something to do with it, or even did it himself.
Tang Mingyuan continued to remain silent. He was vaguely aware of the matter and did not investigate it in depth. Instead, he helped cover it up afterwards.
"I thought you were just being soft-hearted, but you turned out to be a loser!"
Zhou Yi spat, not knowing that he had guessed correctly, and scolded, "Your Majesty dares to kill even your mother, let alone a mere relative Empress, if Mr. Tang dies, your daughter will die soon."
"Why do you become ill due to worries, why do you occasionally feel cold, or do you slip and fall into the water? Don't you hear enough about those things in the palace, Mr. Tang?"
"He dares!"
Tang Mingyuan raised his eyebrows and raised his beard and hair, and said in a deep voice, "Emperor Taichang swore that after I return the power, I will keep Tong Tong stable and happy throughout his life."
"Master Tang, don't deceive yourself. You should know better than anyone else..."
Zhou Yi said word by word, "This is not a treat, but a life-and-death struggle!"
Tang Mingyuan's majestic aura suddenly dropped, as if he had aged dozens of years in an instant. After a long pause, he looked up again and saw several jailers coming to patrol, but Zhou Yi had disappeared.
"Yun'er, I promised you that I would protect Tong Tong for the rest of my life..."
Tang Mingyuan murmured to himself, the gentleness and peace in his eyes disappeared, and turned into fierceness and determination. He stood up and took out a book from the bookshelf, flipping through the pages for comprehension.
There are five simple seal characters written on the cover: Ghost Immortal Longevity Sutra.
Tang Mingyuan doesn't care about power or wealth. Emperor Taichang can take it if he wants it. He is just a lonely soul from a foreign land. How can a person who has died once be afraid of death.
There is only one bottom line that no one can touch as a father!