The third emperor of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 621
The icy river wind swept across Xiangyang, the sky and the earth were icy cold, the whole night was pitch black, the dark sky didn't even have a single star, a carriage, guarded by dozens of guards with knives, slowly drove towards the sinus rail. mansion.

The curtain of the horse was opened, and Yu Yun, the Patriarch of Guanlong Yu Clan, stepped down from the carriage. Dou Fengjie, the son of Dou Gui who had been waiting at the door, rushed up to greet him, bowed and said, "My nephew pays homage to my uncle."

"Nephew, you're so polite! Is Prime Minister Dou here?" Yu Yun looked at the vigorous Dou Fengjie, and felt a little bit emotional. The Dou family was full of stars. In comparison, his own Yu family was far behind.He was also a well-known brave general in the past, and he fought with his uncle Yu Zhongwen in the South and North, and made great achievements. Yu Zhongwen saw that he was quite witty, so he asked him to abandon martial arts and follow literature, and train him as the next Patriarch.A few days ago, because of the Dugu case, he was dismissed from his position as Jing Zhaoyin, and he was re-appointed as a servant minister, in charge of the order of chariots and stables in the Tang Dynasty.Tonight, I received an invitation from Dou Gui to come to Dou Mansion to discuss important matters.

"Father is waiting in the study, Uncle Shi please!"

"it is good!"

Yu Yun nodded, walked into the mansion with Dou Fengjie, and went straight to the study.

Under the lantern, Dou Gui and Dou Cong stood side by side, as if they had been waiting for a long time, Yu Yun hurried forward and saluted, "See Prime Minister Dou, General."

"You don't need to be polite, come in!" Dou Gui smiled and welcomed Yu Jun into the study, Dou Cong followed closely, and closed the door smoothly.

The guests and the host were seated, Dou Gui poured a cup of fragrant tea for Yu Yun, and then pondered: "Today's court meeting is over, the Holy Majesty and I talked about a lot of things, I think it is necessary to discuss with the merchants, but it's easy to shirk disputes if we discuss together, so Please let everyone come over separately; I am really sorry to disturb my brother's rest."

"My little brother is fine!" Yu Yun said with a smile: "Since Prime Minister Dou has something important to discuss, how can my little brother not come?"

"My virtuous brother also knows that the Holy Majesty exterminated the Buddha in Bashu and Jingxiang, which added more than 30 hectares of fertile land to the imperial court, and Lou Guandao also agreed to donate 20% of the fertile land to the imperial court, and there are about 50 hectares of land here. The Holy Majesty sent someone urgently Take over, and strive to count and distribute to refugees and meritorious soldiers before spring plowing, so calculated, at least more than [-] hectares of tax revenue will be increased this year."

Seeing Yu Yun and others listening carefully, Dou Gui went on to say: "My dear brother also knows that 120% of the more than [-] million grains were burned in a fire, and the remaining [-]% of the grains are not enough for the army. Your Majesty, please borrow some money and grains from the Guanlong nobles The imperial court will get through the difficulties, and when the tax is in hand, it will be returned to everyone, and at the same time, a five-point profit will be given, and the Holy Majesty will give me three days to discuss with everyone."

Yu Yun didn't express his opinion in a hurry, but drank tea silently and thought.

After Dugu died, the Dugu family only had one Dugu Huai'en in the court, and their decline was a foregone conclusion. Many of the Dugu faction worshiped under the Dou family. Within a few days, the Dou family, who was in full swing, became the nobleman of Guanlong. leader.But the fact that the emperor asked Dou Gui to convey the oral order to borrow food made Yu Yun a little uneasy, because in the past few years, at this time, the emperor would issue a sum, half of which would be borne by the Lonely Sect and Dou Sect, and then each of them would pay half of the amount. This is also a tacit agreement reached between the emperor and the Guanlong nobles, and there has never been any talk of borrowing money and food, let alone interest.The emperor was so easy to talk, but Yu Yun felt that things were not that simple.

After pondering for a while, Yu Yun said in a deep voice, "Mr. Dou, please speak directly."

"This time the amount proposed by the Holy Majesty is one million shi for grain and 50 guan for money." Dou Gui said slowly.

"At the end of last year, we supported the imperial court with a large amount of money and food in the form of commercial taxation. The amount is huge. In such a short period of time, everyone may not be able to get together a million shi of grain and 50 guan. This amount is too much for our current situation. It's too big, and it's already insane to get half of it."

More than 1 families can afford more than 1 stones of grain and more than 40 yuan of money. If it is doubled, the Yu family will definitely not be able to afford it. He did not directly object to the high-ranking officials, but spoke out about the current difficulties. "The food ban in the Sui Dynasty has been lifted for our dynasty. The Holy Lord will form a fleet in the near future to go to Nanjun to buy food urgently in an official form, but the Sui army around us is ready to move. If a war breaks out, Yang Tong may not follow the contract to sell food. Now we can only He said he bought a batch first. In order to prevent the food from being interrupted, the Holy Majesty only considered borrowing money to borrow food, and he also knew everyone’s difficulties, so everyone can claim it according to their own ability, and it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t reach the total amount.” Dou Gui stated Li Yuan's claim.

"What's the attitude of the other families?" If everyone objects, then Yu Yun can also object. If everyone agrees, then he can only follow the public. clicked.

"The Dugu clan claimed 40%, our Dou family and Doulu's family both have Xiangguo, so our two families also claim 20% each, so we still have 32 shi of grain and [-] guan of money. Besides our three families, we Guanlong nobles also have The [-] families, if they are all shared, one family will only have [-] shi of grain and [-] guan of money, and I, Dou, will make up for the rest."

When Yu Yun heard this, he was very surprised. Although the Dugu family used to be the richest man in the world, but the status of the Dugu family in the Tang Dynasty is not what it used to be, but the Dugu family still donated [-]% because the Dugu family was killed. case?Or are you planning to push Dugu Wynn into phase?But this is not the time to think about these questions, because Dou Gui is still waiting for his answer, he quickly withdrew his mind and said, "My Yu family can accept these amounts. To show their loyalty to the imperial court, they should be donated to the imperial court." Court."

Dou Gui happily said: "My brother's loyalty to the imperial court, I will definitely report the truth to the Holy Majesty."

Yu Yun always felt a little uneasy in his heart. After thinking for a while, he couldn't help asking: "Master Dou, has the Holy Majesty made a final decision on the assassination of Dugu's old Patriarch?"

Dou Gui sighed and said, "The Holy Majesty agrees with the theory of Li Mi's assassination. He felt that Li Mi was afraid that we would cease war with the Sui Dynasty, which would cause the Sui Dynasty to attack Wei with all its strength, so he deliberately blamed the Sui Dynasty to anger us. The Holy Majesty has already issued an edict to close the case. "

"I think this kind of argument is very unreasonable." Yu Yun frowned and said, "Because even if Li Mi wants to blame the Sui Dynasty, the target of the assassination should be the relatives of the emperor and important officials in the court. Uncle Dugu is already an 80-year-old man. Old man, what is the point of assassinating him?"

Dou Gui sighed, "Uncle Dugu is a hero who supported the Holy Majesty against the Sui Dynasty, and Dugu's power is actually still in his hands. Although he has been behind the scenes for a long time, his influence is still very important. Who can ignore his old man The presence?"

"Dugu's claiming the [-]% is..."

"Just like my virtuous brother, he donated to the imperial court!" Dou Gui said with a smile: "The Holy One intends to expand the six ministers of the political affairs hall to seven ministers, so that when encountering difficult government affairs, he will use the method of less to win more to vote for one." As a result, in order to stabilize his own status, Dugu is determined to obtain this aspect."

"I see."

At this point, there is no need to continue the conversation. Yu Yun is a member of the Dugu faction, and his friendship with Dou Gui has not reached the level of heart-to-heart communication, so he left immediately.

When he got home, he sorted out what Dou Gui had said. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that the assassination case was full of doubts. It was Li Mi who assassinated Duguzheng, this is too childish.

If it was him who shot, he would never use any obvious murder weapon, nor would he leave any obvious clothes behind, and the location of Dugu Mansion can be known by just asking a passerby, so it can be kept secret.It is very unreasonable for the assassin to ask in the winery where the whereabouts are most likely to be leaked.The so-called leaving luggage in a hurry is more like doing it deliberately.

All in all, it is obvious that someone is framing Li Mi.

The Ministry of Punishment just decided on Li Mi. This conclusion is not only absurd, but also prevarication and fooling the court.

What made Yu Yun even more unbelievable was that the Holy Master actually approved of this statement, and Dou Gui's performance tonight was also quite strange. He seemed to be deliberately avoiding something, and he seemed to be calculating something.And the emperor's decision to borrow money and grain to pay five percent of the profit also reveals a strange atmosphere, which is completely different from his previous style.

The more he thought about it, the more Yu Yun felt that there was something else hidden about Duguzheng's case.He was extremely depressed, he pushed the door out from the study, stood in the cold yard for a long time, quietly exhaled the stagnant breath accumulated in his chest.

He shouldn't be involved in this kind of thing, but the Dugu family is kind to the family. At the beginning, his father, Huang Yu Yi, was a lieutenant during Emperor Wen's period. He had a high position and power. , Later, through Duguzheng, he caught up with Queen Dugu, and the Yu clan was lucky.So he has been closely following Duguzheng and has become one of the core figures of the Dugu faction.Duguzheng is his benefactor, and his wife is the daughter of Duguluo, the eldest son of Duguxin, so Duguzheng is still his uncle-in-law. Now this benefactor and relative died inexplicably, and there are many doubts. , Yu En, and Yu Yun can't sit idly by...

"Fulang, are you still asleep?" In the side corridor, a figure was reflected by the hazy lantern.

"It's Madam." Yu Yun and his wife have a very close relationship, and they have been together for many years, and it has never changed. "The night is very cold, why don't Madam rest?"

"I just came back from paying homage to Dugu Mansion, so I really can't sleep!" Mrs. Yu sighed, and said, "I heard that my uncle's case is full of doubts, and it wasn't Li Mi who did it. Everyone said the words of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. It's too restrictive and unreasonable at all, did Fu Lang hear any news?"

"No. But Ma'am, don't worry, I believe the Holy Majesty will give Uncle Yue justice." Yu Yun said against his will.

"I hope." Mrs. Yu seemed not to have much hope in her tone, she was silent for a while, and asked again: "The Sui army is calling again?"

"It's okay, madam, don't think about it. This is the emperor of the Sui and Tang dynasties. It has nothing to do with me as a horse breeder." Yu Yun laughed at himself. From Jing Zhaoyin to Taifuqing, he seemed to have risen, but There was no horse administration at all in the Tang Dynasty, so he is actually the royal groom now.

It's just that Yu Yun knew what his wife was worried about. The Li and Tang Dynasty was in danger now, and the powerful families left a way for the family to send people to Luoyang to find opportunities. Even the Dugu family was no exception, but his Yu family never took any action. However, once the Li Tang Dynasty was defeated, the situation of the Yu family, who was a loyal member of Li Tang, would be in danger, and a choice had to be made.

Mrs. Yu said again: "My cousin said that Datang's situation is very dangerous..."

"I know that." Yu Yun nodded and asked, "Have you seen Emperor Shengwu?"

"No, Emperor Shengwu is full of opportunities every day. He receives envoys from various countries every day. He has no time at all. Elder brother finally waited for the news of the reception on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. However, my uncle was assassinated and had to return to Xiangyang. By the way..." Yu The madam took out a letter, handed it to her husband, and said softly: "My brother asked me to bring it back, so you must act according to the letter."

"Let me see!" Yu Yun didn't go back to his room, let alone shy away from it, but began to watch by the light of the lantern and candle in his wife's hand.

After reading the letter, the complexions of the husband and wife became extremely strange.

Dugu Cheng asked Yu Yun to go to the brothel to meet Dugu Huai'en, and Dugu Huai'en was Dugu Zheng's eldest son. During his father's filial piety, this guy actually visited the brothel?
"Brother made such an arrangement, there must be some unavoidable difficulties." Yu Yun thought for a while and said, "I'll go to meet Wynn, and you go back to sleep first. Maybe Wynn can solve my confusion."

"Fu Lang put this on!" Mrs. Yu pulled her husband into the study, and then pushed a small bundle in her hand to him.

When I opened it, it turned out to be a crumpled bijia, which seemed to be a hundred years old. It seemed inconspicuous, but Yu Yun knew that it was a defensive treasure of the Dugu Mansion. People know its origin, and no one knows what material it is woven from.

Yu Yun knew that it was not given to him, but worried that he would be killed when he went out at night. Just like this, he also felt the importance and love of Dugu clan for him. At the same time, he also realized that Dugu clan had caused a lot of trouble .Otherwise, Dugu Huai'en, who is the minister of the Ministry of Industry, would not go in and out of the brothel during the filial piety period. The reason why he risked the world's presence was actually because the watchers were caught off guard.

(End of this chapter)