In this life, people will not grow old with three ups and downs.

In this life, only after experiencing ups and downs can people truly appreciate the meaning of life, or in other words, see more through and see more thoroughly.

A catastrophe is enough to change a person's life and even his original appearance.

Zhu Youzhen is a living example.

Looking at Zhu Youzhen in front of him, Fan Sheng was full of emotion.

Lost in the east, harvested mulberry elm, used to describe Zhu Youzhen in front of him, Fan Sheng felt that it was more suitable.

Without a strong physique and outstanding martial arts, Zhu Youzhen could only go another way. Or, this is the reason why Jing Xiang really looks at this tribulated third prince differently.

Fan Sheng suddenly understood that he and Zhu Youzhen did not meet by chance today, but a deliberate arrangement by Jing Xiang.

Jing Xiang knew that he would definitely come to him after receiving the news from An Sui, so he notified Zhu Youzhen and asked the other party to come over today.

And the meaning of this is self-explanatory.

Looking at Jing Xiang on the other side, Fan Sheng really couldn't understand it in his heart.

What he didn't understand was why Xiangye showed his tendencies so quickly, which was not a good thing for him or Zhu Youzhen. You must know that His Majesty the Emperor is only in his fifties in front of him, and his health has always been very good. And Jing Xiang's position is really too sensitive, isn't he afraid that His Majesty has something to think about it?

Fan Sheng, who was thinking about his thoughts, didn't notice that the Kabuki had retreated at some point, and only the three of them were left in the huge courtyard, so even the servants and guards retreated far away.

"Fan Sheng, you weren't very familiar with the Third Highness before, right?" Jing Xiang asked with a smile.

Fan Sheng nodded, "Yes, the previous duties of the lower officials did not have much overlap with the Third Highness. ”

"Let's get to know each other officially!" Jing Xiang said with a smile.

Zhu Youzhen smiled and clenched her fists: "In the future, I will ask Master Fan to take care of me." ”

"Your Highness is serious." Fan Sheng hurriedly returned the salute.

Jing Xiang picked up the wine glass, and Zhu Youzhen on the side hurriedly lifted the wine jug and poured wine into Jing Xiang's cup, seeing that Fan Sheng's eyes were jumping.

"Fan Sheng, I think about this time, you also understand what I mean." Jing Xiang took a sip of wine, "You're right, the three brothers of the Zhu family, what I support is the Third Highness." ”

Fan Sheng took a deep breath: "Xiangye, isn't it too early?" ”

"If it was before, I was naturally not in a hurry, but now, I have to be in a hurry, there are some things that you don't know, don't ask. If you trust me, then believe that my choice will not be wrong. Jing Xiang said leisurely.

Fan Sheng said: "I naturally trust Xiangye, my life is given by Xiangye, and naturally only Xiangye's life is followed." But because of this, please forgive me, Your Royal Highness, if you offend your words, please forgive Your Highness. ”

"Just say it." Zhu Youzhen said with a smile.

"At the moment, military strength is still the decisive factor, who has the stronger military and who has more say. And the Great Highness and the Second Highness are now indistinguishable from Xuanyuan, and the Third Highness is the weakest of the three Highnesses because of the loss of the headquarters in Luzhou. The courtiers of the Great Liang and the local subordinates are afraid that there are not many people who are optimistic about the Third Highness. Fan Shengdao.

"This question, let's ask the Third Highness to say it yourself!"

Zhu Youzhen nodded: "Master Fan is right. So, that's why I need money so badly. Don't hide it from Master Fan, oh, in fact, Master Fan should also know that I am behind the biggest smuggling in Chang'an. I frantically smuggled controlled goods from the north to my girder to sell, amassing a great deal of wealth, not for personal enjoyment, but for all this money, I spent all of it. ”

"Third Highness, it is difficult to buy loyalty with money." Fan Sheng shook his head and said.

"How to spend money is an art, and how to spend money correctly is an extremely difficult job." Jing Xiang, who was slowly swinging the red wine in his glass, said with a smile: "So in this regard, I have given His Royal Highness a lot of ideas. ”

Zhu Youzhen arched his hand at Jing Xiang and said: "At first, I did spend the money in the wrong place, but under the guidance of Xiangye, I quickly changed my course, let me tell you this, Master Fan, now among the forbidden troops stationed in Chang'an, about one-third of them have supported me, none of these people have been able to go to the hall of elegance, and the highest official position is only a captain." ”

Hearing Zhu Youzhen say it easily, Fan Sheng gasped. What is the concept of a third? If you can control one-third of the forbidden army in Chang'an, you can launch a military coup with a very high success rate.

For example, 10,000 forbidden troops, although only 3,000 people can be directly controlled, but here, at least 3,000 people are centrists, and the other 3,000 people are determined loyal parties.

Looking at Fan Sheng's somewhat pale face, Zhu Youzhen smiled and said, "Master Fan, you think about things to the left, I didn't think about rebellion." I just hope that at a certain point, I won't be alone, and if there is something that I can do right, I will have the strength to do the right thing. ”

Hearing this, Fan Sheng was slightly relieved.

"In that case, why did the Third Highness go to Pinglu? Just stay in Chang'an, once something happens, wouldn't it be the first to get the moon near the water? Fan Sheng asked.

"It's still the same old problem, I need to regroup my troops." Zhu Youzhen said.

"But Pinglu is not a good place." Fan Sheng shook his head and said: "Li Ze has settled the affairs of the northeast and northwest, and he will inevitably turn against us next." And whether it is Xiangye's judgment or our intelligence display, Pinglu must be the first place Li Ze wants to make a move. ”

"No way, now I don't have a way to have my own army through normal channels." Zhu Youzhen sighed: "I can only take risks, and Pinglu is the place that Xiangye recommended to me." ”

"Why Pinglu?" Fan Sheng looked at Jing Xiang in bewilderment.

"Pinglu Hou Xiyi, in order to deal with the persecution of Qin Zhao and others in the past few years, Pinglu has made the people miserable, once Li Ze starts fighting, Hou Xiyi will not last long." Jing Xiang said: "So Your Majesty decided where to send a force to support Hou Xiyi, cheer Hou Xiyi, and hope that Hou Xiyi can last longer." ”

"Until we take Shannan East Road and Shannan West Road?" Fan Sheng asked, "Or more?" ”

"That's what Your Majesty meant. When we take Shannan East Road, Shannan West Road, and further take Eyue, then Pinglu will be lost, and it will not hinder the overall situation. ”

"So the troops that go to support are going to die." Fan Sheng changed color. "Why are the three highnesses going?"

"Only in this way can the Third Highness have a force that truly belongs to him." Jing Xiang said: "The Third Highness automatically invited Sakura to go, the reason is that if a prince goes, it will make this army more combative, and they will not think that they are the ones who have been abandoned, and it will also give Hou Xiyi more hope." ”

"But the truth doesn't change just because His Highness is down?"

"Of course there will be changes!" Jing Xiang smiled and said: "Don't forget, Your Highness is very rich now, and money can do a lot of things, for example, to make this army better equipped and pay more money." Your Highness and I can give him help in all aspects, both openly and secretly, and Your Highness and you can give him strong support in terms of intelligence. ”

Fan Sheng took a deep breath.

"Of course, danger exists everywhere, but wealth is in danger, if you want to do a big business, how can you do it without taking risks? Besides, this time the great is a failure, even if the Third Highness comes back with nothing, we have a chance to start again! Jing Xiang said.

Fan Sheng has already had some aftertaste.

"Actually, Your Highness, you still want to seek Hou Xiyi's Pinglu Army."

Jing Xiang laughed, looked at Zhu Youzhen and said, "How about the Third Highness, I just said that Master Fan is a smart person, right?" ”

"Of course, if this is not the case, how can Chief Fan be in charge of my foreign intelligence work?" Zhu Youzhen said with a smile.

"The Third Highness is here, where is the identity, and there is a large amount of silver money by his side, those officers in Pinglu actually know very well that they are precarious, and they are eager to find a new backer, obviously the Third Highness is much stronger than Hou Xiyi. Therefore, as long as the Third Highness gives a slight signal, there will inevitably be a large number of Pinglu officers who will defect to the Third Highness, and what the Third Highness has to do is how to integrate these armies into shape, and then when Pinglu fails, he can safely withdraw the troops that belong to him. As for Hou Xiyi, let him make a sacrifice for the great affairs of His Royal Highness! ”

Fan Sheng nodded in realization. It seems that the strategic abandonment of Pinglu has been calculated by Xiangye a long time ago, bring out the living force of Pinglu, and then change them with a master.

"Xiangye, I want to ask one more question, what exactly is the anxious thing you said earlier?"

"Don't say it now, don't say it, after you take charge of my intelligence affairs, there are some things that you can get in touch with and understand."

"How is that possible?" Fan Sheng said with a smile: "Zhu Sheng, who is in charge of domestic intelligence affairs, is a person who is deeply trusted by His Majesty. ”

"Soon, he won't." Jing Xiang said.

"Why?"

"Because Zhu Sheng has just renewed, his new wife looks better than a fairy, and she is really a rare beauty." The corners of Jing Xiang's mouth twitched slightly: "I have already arranged it, and then Your Majesty and this Madam Zhu will have a chance encounter." ”

Fan Sheng suddenly understood.

Their Emperor His Majesty is a person who sees his life as his life, if Zhu Sheng's newlywed wife is really as good as Jing Xiang said, he is afraid that Zhu Sheng's little life will be worried.

"Your Majesty's habit, cough, cough ......" Fan Sheng shook his head helplessly.