"Yan Pingzhang, let me ask you, if a house is dilapidated, the pillars are rotten, the rafters are rotten, and the bricks and tiles are corroded. The wind is leaking, the rain is leaking, and it is already crumbling. The people who live in it are suffering from wind and rain, and they have to worry about the house collapsing and being stoned to death, what do you say? Wang Yuan asked.

"This ...... You can change the pillars, the tiles, and the rafters. If you can fix it, why not? Yan Zhenqing said.

Wang Yuan said: "Today's repair tomorrow's repair, tinkering is still difficult to resist the wind and rain." And all the energy is spent on repairing the house, and you can't go to the land to farm, how can the people living in it live? If you're like that, why do you have to fall in love with this old house? Why don't you tear it down all at once, build a new house together, and then live in it with peace of mind? It doesn't cost much more than you tinker with. ”

Yan Zhenqing frowned and said, "It's naturally okay to tear down and rebuild, but does the owner of the house agree?" If the owner of the house does not agree, how can he tear it down and rebuild it? It's out of line. ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "The owner of the house disagrees? Then everyone has to endure the wind and rain because of his disagreement? Which is more important, the selfishness of one person or the benefit of all? ”

Yan Zhenqing frowned and said, "This ...... I can't answer you. After all, this house has an owner, it is his property, he does not agree, and the rest of the people cannot force it to come, they can discuss it with him. Or you can tell him that the new house is still his, and he may agree. ”

"A new house is a new house, an old house is an old house, and a new house naturally has a new owner, how can it still be his? He had to agree and agree, and he had to agree if he didn't, because he didn't maintain the house well, and those who lived in the house didn't live in vain, they worked and worked for him to eat and drink, and he should have provided a good house for everyone to live in. Now that the house is in tatters, and he refuses to agree, is that the truth? ”

Yan Zhenqing smacked his lips and said, "This ...... Forgive me for sticking to my own opinion, Xiangguo, I don't deny that what you said makes sense, but it doesn't make sense to me. ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "So, it's not our problem, it's your problem alone." It's that you can't figure it out, but it's not that others can't figure it out. But it is unlikely that you want to make everyone listen to you with your own thoughts. What Yan Pingzhang has to do is to abandon your ideas and follow everyone. ”

Yan Zhenqing shook his head and said, "I'm afraid I can't do this." What I firmly believe in is what I believe, and I can't agree with Xiangguo's set of rhetoric. Xiangguo, Yan finally advises you again......"

Wang Yuan waved his hand and smiled: "This last sentence is still forgiven, I can't convince you, and you can't convince me." I think the topic of reading and building a house or not building a house will stop here. I don't force you, and you don't force me. ”

Yan Zhenqing looked at Wang Yuan in a daze, and let out a long sigh after a long time. There was a deathly silence in the room, and in the midst of the flickering candle flames, a moth flew in at some point and flew around the candle flames. Suddenly, it plunged into the fire, and suddenly the candle flame dimmed, and a scorching smell rose, and the charred moth fell on the desk with a pop, and it struggled endlessly. Wang Yuan stretched out his finger and flicked it, and the dying moth was bounced down in the darkness.

Yan Zhenqing slowly spoke again: "Xiangguo, have you already decided to send the Emperor Taishang back to the capital tomorrow?" ”

Wang Yuan nodded and said, "Yes, tomorrow morning, I will send a thousand cavalry to escort the Emperor Taishang back to Beijing." ”

Yan Zhenqing said slowly: "Is there no room for this matter anymore?" ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "Yan Pingzhang, what do you want to say?" Isn't it a matter of course for the Emperor Taishang to return to Beijing? The Emperor is unwilling to leave, so am I going to be saddled with the infamy of restricting the Emperor's freedom? ”

Yan Zhenqing frowned and said, "But Pang Long's confession is already clear. The Emperor Taishang returned to Beijing this time. may not be able to return to Chang'an. Your Majesty...... Your Majesty......"

Wang Yuan smiled: "Don't you don't believe Pang Long's confession?" Why are you worried again? Yan Pingzhang, let me tell you, in fact, I don't believe Pang Long's confession either. Your Majesty will happily welcome the Emperor Taishang into Beijing. ”

Yan Zhenqing smiled bitterly: "Xiangguo, why do you lie to me, I, Yan Zhenqing, am not a fool, I can still see the situation clearly." What Xiang Guo thinks in his heart, I can also guess eight or nine. ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "Then there is no need to say more, you just know my intentions." You and I have this kind of thing in our hearts. ”

Yan Zhenqing nodded and said, "Yes, it's better to keep it in your heart." It's not good to say it. However, I have a request, and I ask Xiangguo to grant it. ”

Wang Yuan said: "That's right." ”

"Yan came to see Xiangguo tonight, but he actually bid farewell to Xiangguo. The previous words were just Yan Mou out of admiration for Xiang Guo, and I knew that Xiang Guo would not listen to me. Resignation is Yan's purpose. ”

"Resignation? Where are you going? Wang Yuan was surprised.

"The Emperor Taishang is back in Beijing, and Yan plans to go along." Yan Zhenqing said in a deep voice.

Wang Yuan frowned and was silent.

Yan Zhenqing said: "Xiangguo, don't worry, Yan just wants to do the righteousness of the monarch and minister, and has no other intentions." I stayed in Chengdu because the Emperor Taishang was here. As soon as the Emperor Taishang left, there would be no political affairs hall in Chengdu, and it was useless for me to keep the political affairs of Pingzhang, so I had to follow the Emperor Taishang. ”

Wang Yuancheng said in a deep voice: "With all due respect, when you arrive in Chang'an, you actually have no place. Chang'an is no longer the Chang'an it used to be. ”

"I understand, I understand. I'm not actually doing it for this official position. On the one hand, I want to follow the Emperor Taishang, and on the other hand, I also want to ask Your Majesty in person what he thinks about cutting the land and splitting the city in order to borrow back the soldiers and horses. There is also the poisoning of the Emperor Taishang this time, and I also want to ask him in person. Yan Zhenqing said in a deep voice.

Wang Yuan smiled bitterly: "Yan Pingzhang is joking? You're going to ask Li Mao these questions? Are you crazy? ”

Yan Zhenqing shook his head and said, "I'm not crazy, this is my true thought." ”

Wang Yuan sighed, put away the smile on his face and said, "Yan Pingzhang, you and I are old friends, I can't let you go to death." Let me tell you, with Li Mao's character, when he ascended the throne, the officials who chose to stay in Chengdu had already become his enemies in his heart. This time, the Emperor Taishang returned to Beijing, and dozens of people wanted to follow him back to the capital, with all due respect, it was too late to return to Beijing at the moment. Not only will it not be reused, but it may be killed. Especially for you, a high-ranking official appointed during the reign of Emperor Taishang, and you didn't go to Lingzhou to be loyal to him for the first time, your return to Chang'an will mean ** annoyance. It's ridiculous that you still expect to see Li Mao and ask him those questions in person. If you don't even see each other, you'll be in prison. I can't watch you go to your death, I don't agree. ”

Yan Zhenqing got up and arched his hand: "Xiangguo, you can't stop me." I know what you're saying, and I know what I'm going to do, but I can't help it. Xiangguo, you and I are two kinds of people, you can't understand my feelings. This is my last chance, since the general trend is inviolable, it is useless for me Yan Zhenqing to keep this body, let me use this as the righteousness of the whole monarch and the minister, and the virtue of my Yan Zhenqing. It's not fear for me, it's fulfillment. I begged Sangkook not to stop me. ”

Wang Yuan didn't know what to say, and he couldn't say anything. At this moment, it is no longer possible to use Yuzhong to describe Yan Zhenqing, and the word Yuzhong is actually a huge insult to Yan Zhenqing. Wang Yuan seemed to be able to understand Yan Zhenqing's mood at this time, and Yan Zhenqing must have great pain in his heart at this moment. The belief in his heart collapsed with one fact after another, and the ideas he adhered to were also broken and trampled on one by one, once the pillar that supported his spirit began to collapse, as a person who had read poetry and books and had his own direction in life, it would collapse. He knew that the future was uncertain, but perhaps only this would keep him firm in his faith and maintain the ultimate consummation before it collapsed completely. Maybe like the moth, he knew it was dead, and he had to go. Otherwise, he would be a walking corpse alive.

"Xiangguo, my Yan Zhenqing's life is a failed life, and I actually live a very painful life. I have no one to talk to. I thought you and I were the same people, but then I realized that you and I are never on the same path. I dare not dictate your actions and actions, nor do I expect you to understand my actions and actions. But this time, I want you to agree to my request from the side of a friend and not to stand in my way. You're a different person, and even though I know what you're trying to do, it's strange that I can't be hostile to you. That's not because you once saved me, but a strange feeling. I don't know what the future holds, but I hope he will get better. The world is peaceful, the people live and work in peace and contentment, the king is like a king, the minister is like a minister, everything has his proper order, that is a prosperous era. That's how simple my thinking is. Yan Zhenqing said in a low voice.

Wang Yuan sighed, nodded slightly, and said, "That's it, I won't stop you, I hope you get inner peace." ”

Yan Zhenqing bowed and said in a low voice, "Thank you." Then, Yan took his leave. ”

Wang Yuan nodded slightly and said, "No, Mr. Yan." I won't send you tomorrow, you have a good trip. ”

Yan Zhenqing nodded, then turned around and walked out, Wang Yuan looked up at his back and walked away, and disappeared into the darkness under the corridor after a while. For some reason, Wang Yuan's heart seemed to be pressed against a huge stone, heavy, and he couldn't breathe.

……

On the morning of the sixth day of the fifth month, Xuanzong's car returning to Beijing formed a long queue in front of the Sanhualou. Even the Emperor Taishang, who has abdicated the throne, is still amazing in terms of the scale of his accompaniment. Dozens of concubines who escaped from Chang'an with Xuanzong, as well as a team of more than 200 chamberlains and palace maids, occupied nearly 70 carts. There were also several princesses and horses still in Chengdu, chariots and servants, as well as chariots loaded with gold and silver. These alone formed a queue of more than 100 carts.

And that's not all. In addition to Xuanzong's car and the car of the emperor's relatives, dozens of ministers also drove back to Beijing with their companions. Dozens of their chauffeurs will also follow Xuanzong's chauffeur back to Beijing.

When Li Mao ascended the throne in Lingzhou, many officials defected to the new emperor. But more than half of the civil and military officials still chose to stay in Chengdu. In the days that followed, they scolded the ministers who had rushed to their new masters, but they regretted it in their hearts. Because they missed the opportunity to occupy a place in the new court for the first time, and staying in Chengdu, in addition to the moral benefits, they have actually lost their political lives.

As time passed, the new emperor's court became more and more stable, and there were fewer and fewer important official positions. One news after another from the capital showed that the ministers who went to Lingzhou to follow Li Mao for the first time were like fish in water, on the other hand, these people had nothing to do in Chengdu all day long, and could only gather together to talk nonsense and complain. Who is not anxious, jealous and regretful.

Fortunately, this time the Emperor Taishang is finally going back to Beijing, and Wang Yuan also made it clear that all those who are willing to go to the capital can accompany them, and of course these people can't ask for it. Because in this way, they have enough reasons to return to Chang'an in a grand manner and not offend Wang Yuan, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

At the beginning of the hour, under the expectant eyes of all the concubines, emperors, relatives and ministers, Xuanzong was half-lying on a soft chair and was carried out of the south courtyard of the Sanhua Building by several attendants. Xuanzong's face was as pale as snow, and the skin on his face was wrinkled, like a mummy that had weathered for many years. But his clothes were neatly dressed, his hair was meticulously combed, and his slightly open eyes were still shining with cold light. It was as if all his life force was in these eyes that were still majestic.

"Congratulations to the Emperor Taishang on his return to Beijing!"

The ministers, concubines, princesses, and horses knelt on the ground and saluted together, shouting in unison. Among them are Wang Yuan and Wei Jiansu and others.

Xuanzong slowly raised his head, looked at the blue and clear sky, and then slowly moved down, looking at the crowd of people kneeling down around him, and finally his eyes fell on Wang Yuan, who was kneeling on the ground, with complicated emotions in his eyes, his eyes were like sharp swords, and he almost pierced Wang Yuan.

"Flatten, flatten." Xuanzong said slowly.

Amid the sound of the ropes, everyone got up. Xuanzong whispered a few words to Zhang Dequan beside him. Zhang Dequan nodded again and again, and walked straight towards Wang Yuan.

"Wang Xiangguo, the Emperor wants to say a few words to you." Zhang Dequan came to Wang Yuan and said with a smile.

Wang Yuan frowned, thought about it, and walked towards Xuanzong. Xuanzong stared at Wang Yuan, and Wang Yuan also stared at Xuanzong, and the two looked at each other, like swords clashing.

"Emperor Taishang, do you have anything to say to your ministers?" Wang Yuan stood beside Xuanzong and said in a deep voice.

Xuanzong waved his hand, and the attendants around him only retreated into the distance. Xuanzong then said in a low voice: "Wang Yuan, are you really so decisive? Are you really going to push me to a dead end? ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said in a deep voice: "Emperor Taishang, at this time, do you still need to ask this question?" That night, the minister had already said everything in his heart, and the minister didn't need to explain it again. ”

Xuanzong sighed slightly, nodded and said, "I know, I just want to persuade you to think clearly." Have you thought about that proposal I made that night? I swear to heaven that I will keep my promise, and my world can be shared with you. If you promise me, I will hand over Li Mao to you, how about it? ”

Wang Yuan was disdainful in his heart, Xuanzong was still unwilling to give up all this, he was still fooling himself at this moment, and he was still making the last struggle. Even if this person is in such a situation, he still does not forget to play tricks and yearn for power, which is really scary to think about.

"The Emperor, the ministers can't obey their orders." Wang Yuan said in a low voice and firmly.

Xuanzong was stunned, and then gritted his teeth and said, "Wang Yuan, do you really think that you can take away my Tang Dynasty?" If you think about An Lushan's fate, your fate will be worse than his. Think about it, don't be dizzy, how can my Tang Dynasty be seized by others? You're dreaming. Look, if you dare to rebel, everyone in the world will be your enemy. And even if you succeed, what will you do? You will be reinstilled for ten thousand years, and you will be reviled for all generations. ”

Xuanzong gasped violently with excitement, and an unhealthy flush appeared on his face.

Wang Yuan frowned and looked at him quietly, and after he finished speaking, he said softly: "Emperor Taishang, are you finished?" If you finish speaking, you will respectfully invite the Emperor to board the car and Qichen, it is not too early. ”

Xuanzong stared at Wang Yuan stunned for a long time, and suddenly sighed and said, "That's it, I won't say anything." Wang Yuan, I have one last request, I hope you can grant me. ”

Wang Yuan said lightly: "Please speak." ”

Xuanzong said: "My request is that I want you to see that I used to be kind to you...... What if ...... in the future If there is such a day, I mean that if there is such a day, the descendants of my Li family will fall into your hands. Not...... I hope ...... I hope you can leave them alive. Don't kill them all, let my Li family cut off their children and grandchildren. Can you promise me? Just as I begged you one last time. ”

After Xuanzong finished speaking, he looked at Wang Yuan with expectant eyes.

Wang Yuan frowned and thought for a while, and said in a deep voice: "Emperor Taishang, you shouldn't tell me about this, because their life and death are not up to me, but to themselves." Sow melons and get melons, plant beans and get beans, everything has a cause and effect. If you don't sow the consequences, you won't swallow the consequences. If you plant a good flower, you will reap good intentions. That's all I can say to Your Majesty. ”

Xuanzong was stunned, and suddenly opened his mouth and smiled: "I understand, I shouldn't beg you, you are a vicious wolf, you are more vicious than everyone in the world, I beg you, that is asking the wrong person." I don't ask you anymore, I curse you. I curse you for being ruined, curse you for being ruined, and disgusted with it. I curse you to bear infamy forever,