Xu Qiu stood there, holding his head up and said with great momentum: "I am naturally upright... I am not afraid of the shadow slanting!"

At first, he was quite confident, but after saying this, his tone softened slightly. When Chen Xi looked at him, Xu Qi looked away with guilt and did not dare to look at Chen Xi.

Chen Xidao: "I think Duke Wei can say such words, but I will not deliberately investigate anything. If someone falsely accuses, Duke Wei might as well think about how to deal with these slutty people."

Xu Qi nodded: "You have to shut up those gossiping guys!"

Speaking of this, he seemed to think of something, looking at Chen Xidao, "Zhihou, you must help me. Zhang Yong and Qian Ning are both popular people in front of His Majesty. They slandered in front of His Majesty, for fear that His Majesty would believe it. After all, I am in Jiangnan, and it is difficult for me to listen to what I say."

Chen Xi nodded slightly: "Does Duke of Wei believe it?"

"Believe, of course!"

Xu Qi hurriedly said, "We are both honorary ministers and we are all in harmony. If you have any words, just give me instructions. As long as I can do it, I will do my best."

Chen Xi was a little unbelievable: "I'm afraid that Duke Wei would just say it and would not really obey the instructions."

Xu Qi sighed, "Zhihou, if it were yesterday, maybe I still have the confidence. Now I can only obey you... Who in the court can compete with a sinister villain like Zhang Yong and Qian Ning? If they want to frame me, the next step may be to slander you..."

No matter what happened, Xu Qi would take Chen Xi and ride on the same boat with him.

It's so convincing, but it's actually unreasonable, or it can't stand careful consideration.

Chen Xi thought to himself: "Duke Wei, you are a local snake in Nanjing. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away. Naturally, you are worried that Zhang Yong and Qian Ning will join forces to frame him... But you don't think about who is closer to the emperor. How could Zhang Yong and Qian Ning frame me thanklessly? If you say such words and want to pull me onto your ship, you are just a clever one, and it will only backfire."

Chen Xi did not reveal Xu Qi's intentions, and nodded and smiled, "If the Duke of Wei was willing to listen to his orders, then this matter would be easier."

"Listen, everything is listened to you." Xu Qi seemed to have finally found a breakthrough, and looked at Chen Xi with a burning look, waiting for Chen Xi to give orders.

...

...

At this time, Tang Yin, Zhang Lun and others were waiting for Chen Xi to leave the city.

Originally, Chen Xi had promised to leave the city early the next morning, but he never thought that the sun was rising by the river, but there was still no news of Chen Xi leaving the city.

The army lacked the backbone and began to worry about something happening to Chen Xi in the city.

Many generals gathered outside the central army's tent, including Hu Songyue, Zhang Lun, Song Shu, Liu Xu and others.

"...Mr. Tang, I heard that there are many Japanese pirates hidden in Nanjing, which is not good for adults. After the adults enter the city, there is no news. Will people send them to the city to ask what's going on?" Song Shu asked anxiously.

Originally, Tang Yin followed Shen Xi to do odd jobs, but after being cultivated by Chen Xi, the army now treats him as the deputy commander.

Tang Yin is just a seventh-rank civil servant. In terms of rank, he cannot be on par with the big men in the military in front of him, but now he is following his leader.

Tang Yin said cautiously: "Shangshu Chen just said he would leave the city as soon as possible, but he didn't say he would come out in the morning. It's still early now, and he didn't hear anything happened in the city. What's the matter in the city? Nanjing City is not our territory. There are seventeen personal guards stationed in it. If we rashly enter the city, we may have a conflict with it and the court will hold it accountable."

Zhang Lun said: "But yesterday, Lord Shen only brought a few people into the city. If there is any trouble, I am afraid that we will not be able to respond. If Lord Shen has a few shortcomings, our trip to Jiangnan will be ineffective."

Hu Songyue said angrily: "Mr. Shen just has no news, it's not like that. Why are we talking about despair here? I clearly can't enter the city, so we should send someone to inquire, it's best to ask the adults to reply... Lao Jiu is the same. Why don't he send someone to spread the news earlier when he comes to the city?"

Tang Yin looked around and thought to himself: "These guys usually look very independent. One or two are capable enough, but now they are blind! Humph, without Shen Zhihou's backbone, they are not even bullshit."

Tang Yin said seriously: "Since Shangshu Chen has not returned to the camp and no further news has been heard, you should stick to your respective posts, train troops, and patrols, even if this is the territory of Nanjing, it may be attacked by Japanese pirates. We cannot be slackened at all."

Liu Xu sighed: "I want to work hard now, but the adults are not here, and I don't even know what to do. I might as well send someone to the city to inquire about the truth and reality... What does Mr. Tang think?"

In the end, everyone looked at Tang Yin.

Now it is no longer asking for advice from Tang Yin, but it is more like a group of people forcing Tang Yin to express their opinions and instigating Tang Yin to obey their opinions.

But Tang Yin was a rebellious and stubborn donkey. He didn't really look down on the group of stupid generals in front of him. At this time, he showed a demeanor to do big things, as if he was already the deputy commander of the army, and even made the decision for the entire army after Shen Xi left.

Tang Yin said with a stern face: "What you should do in the past, what you should do now, each performs your duties. This is what you must do... Secretary Chen has always been sensible in his actions, and there is no need for you to worry. In such a dangerous place on the grassland, Secretary Chen is also free to come and go. Why are you worried that something will happen to him in Nanjing? He is two ministers, the Duke and the uncle, and has a great reputation in the court and the country. Who do you think dares to be unfavorable to him?"

The generals looked ashamed. After hearing what Tang Yin said, they felt that they were a little worried.

What the superiors need to do is not something that the reckless men in the army can control. Chen Xi does not need their guidance at all. As for when Chen Xi will come back, it is not within the controllable range.

"Go to do things!"

Tang Yin urged loudly, and the generals looked at each other and finally took the order and left.

As for Tang Yin himself, he began to find ways to obtain the situation of Chen Xi in the city in time. He thought: "Before Shen Zhihou entered the city, he expected that the infighting in the city was fierce, and the assassination of Japanese pirates was not dangerous. The biggest threat was the heroes and officials who wanted to compete for fame and fortune, eunuchs!"

...

...

After Chen Hou, the city of Nanjing was basically calmed down.

Zhang Yongdong hid in the middle of the night. At this time, he finally escaped from the pursuit. Before he could completely relax, he quickly sent someone to inform Qian Ning about his situation.

Next, Zhang Yong was preparing to sneak into the imperial city and find a place to settle down at the inner palace supervisors. While taking over military power, he submitted a report to the court to impeach Xu Qi, Duke of Wei.

Zhang Yong thought to himself: "You Xu Qi dares to do something wrong with our family, so our family will report your bad deeds in the local area together. You are arbitrary, suppress dissidents, form cliques and private affairs, and collude with Wang Zhuo, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War of Nanjing, intending to push Wang Zhuo to the position of Minister of War of Nanjing, so that you can control the authority of Nanjing. What is this not a illegitimate plan? You are also colluding with Japanese pirates, buying and selling people and weapons, and harming the country and the people..."

With extreme thoughts, Zhang Yongke only knew that he would let out the anger in his heart, regardless of whether the news was true or not.

While the streets had been lifted, he was preparing to mingle around the imperial city first and enter the imperial city with the cooperation of the adopted son who was a member of the Yulin Guard, but he had to put on makeup before.

Zhang Yong dressed himself up as an old scholar who failed the exam. He wore a white straight body, had a few strands of beard under his jaw, and went out wearing a square flat towel. As a result, he had just walked a few steps and found someone guarding the street. He quickly realized that he might have been targeted and was hesitating, and someone had already walked towards him.

"Eunuch Zhang."

The person who came was very polite, and he revealed Zhang Yong's identity in one sentence, "Mr. Shen, please invite him."

Zhang Yong shouted, "What Lord Shen? Are you from the Duke of Wei's Mansion? What benefits did he give you? Do you know who our family is? Our family is a garrison eunuch in Nanjing, so we will all get out of our family!"

Perhaps Zhang Yong felt that he might be targeted by Xu Qi, so he deliberately slandered him. He seemed to show off his power when shouting, but in fact he didn't know how scared he was.

The visitor didn't care what Zhang Yong said at all, standing there like a wooden stake, and said with a stern face: "Mr. Shen is waiting for Eunuch Zhang at the Nanjing Military Department's Office... Eunuch Zhang please move."

Zhang Yong looked around. In order to avoid revealing his identity, he took too few guards out, but there were dozens of them. There were still people looking inside at the intersection of the street. Obviously, these people would not give up until they reach their goals, and it would be futile to struggle any longer.

Zhang Yong thought to himself: "Even if it was sent by Old Man Xu, he would not do anything to me. After all, he hadn't had a face-to-face conversation yet. He knew what I was thinking? After all, this was in broad daylight!"

"Is there a carriage?" Zhang Yong asked.

The person came to the house and said, "There is no carriage, but the sedan chair has been prepared for Eunuch Zhang... Eunuch Zhang please move."

Zhang Yong was worried and walked forward a few steps. After passing the crowd, he finally saw the sedan chair parked by the roadside, with four sedan chairmen waiting there. Zhang Yong leaned over and crawled into the sedan chair. The follower next to him was very nervous: "Brother-in-law, what should I do?"

"I am a fish and meat when I am a knife. What else can our family do when it's in this situation? Let's see what's going on first." After Zhang Yong said that, he got into the sedan chair and then went to the imperial city.

...

...

Zhang Yong was worried all the way. When the sedan chair stopped, he came out safely, looked up at the plaque in front of the yamen. After confirming that it was the Nanjing Ministry of War, he felt much more relieved.

Then he looked around. On the left was the Nanjing Works Department Office and on the right was the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. When he looked back, he found it was the Nanjing Imperial Hospital. This should be the most famous Qinglong Street in Nanjing.

Although I haven't seen Shen Xi yet, Zhang Yong has determined that this is Shen Xi's style of acting.

He thought to himself: "The people in Duke Wei's mansion arrested me for a night but failed. No matter how much time they give them, they can't do anything to me... Who is Duke Wei? How can he compare to Lord Shen? It seems that my whereabouts have not been hidden from Lord Shen. This time, I can successfully avoid the pursuit of people in Duke Wei's mansion. It may be that Lord Shen secretly helped him."

After thinking about it, Zhang Yong faintly understood the purpose of Shen Xi's invitation, "Is Mr. Shen trying to tell me about the conflict with me and Old Man Xu? Sitting face to face to start the matter?"

He was full of confusion. At this time, someone had come out to greet him. He was very familiar with this person. It was Ma Jiu, a trusted general around Shen Xi.

"General Ma?"

Zhang Yong was a little excited when he saw Ma Jiu, at least it was proved that he was invited to come because of Chen Xi, and not Xu Qiu arrested him under the name of Chen Xi.

Also coming out with Ma Jiu was Wang Zhuo, the right assistant minister of the Nanjing Ministry of War.

Wang Zhuo greeted Zhang Yong first and informed him of his origin and name. Zhang Yong became a little disgusted with Wang Zhuo. He knew that Wang Zhuo had a close relationship with Xu Qiu, and this person stood opposite him.

In the power struggle in Nanjing, as long as it is either an ally or an enemy.

"Is Lord Shen inside?" Zhang Yong asked.

Wang Zhuo did not know Zhang Yong's disgust towards him in his heart, and replied with a smile: "Not only Lord Shen is here, but Duke Wei is here too. I'm waiting for you to discuss major events."

Zhang Yong entered the Ministry of War and found that he was rushing at five steps and ten steps. He was on guard. He couldn't help but feel slammed: "Shen Zhihou was not under house arrest by Duke Wei, right? Duke Wei is very ambitious. Yesterday, he dared to send troops to search the whole city, which shows that he dared to do whatever he wanted when he was forced to do something."

Although Ma Jiu is by his side, Zhang Yong is not convenient for him to ask about the situation.

After entering the main hall of the Ministry of War, he saw that several seats had been placed in front of him. Chen Xi was sitting in the main seat in the middle. At this time, Chen Xi was holding a teacup and his expression seemed very calm. Several guards stood behind him.

As for the guest head position on the right, Xu Qi, Duke of Wei.

Zhang Yong recognized Xu Qi, but did not come forward to say hello.

And behind Xu Qi stood several subordinates, including Xu Qi's chief aide Xu Cheng.

In addition, Wang Zuo, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing, was also attended. Obviously, Wang Zuo was invited to come as a witness, and in addition to this, he was an official of the Ministry of War in Nanjing.

At this time, everything was done by the Right Assistant Minister of Nanjing, Wang Zhuo, and therefore the reception of guests was completed by Wang Zhuo.

"Eunuch Zhang? It's been a long time since." Xu Qi stood up to greet him, with a smile of He Xi on his face, but in Zhang Yong's eyes, this smile was very sinister.

Then everyone present, including Chen Xi, stood up and greeted Zhang Yong.

After Zhang Yong's eyes circled everyone's faces, he returned to Chen Xi. He did not greet anyone. He came up and asked, "Mr. Shen, what do you mean? We were invited here as soon as we left the house and talked to people. Why didn't we send someone to inform us in advance?"

Zhang Yong seemed very domineering and became aggressive when he came, but this was a sign of his guilt.

Although Zhang Yong was higher than the Nanjing garrison minister, Xu Qi, and had a greater say, he understood that Xu Qi was a real local snake. Even if he had the help of his adopted son, he could not control the situation before he could implement his identity as an eunuch in Nanjing. At this time, his appearance may put him in danger.

The people present basically didn't understand why Zhang Yong was so angry, and even Xu Qi himself didn't quite understand where he committed the crime.
To be continued...