Tibet.

Chapter 304 Forced to Accept
Li Linfu retired and Yang Guozhong was promoted to the right minister. The decree had not yet been issued, but the news spread, and immediately some prophets took action.

It was just getting dark, and horses and chariots gathered in front of Yang Guozhong's mansion, and there was an endless stream of officials who came to give gifts, forming a long line at the gate.

Giving gifts has been a science since ancient times, especially in official circles. Behind the giving of gifts, there is actually a meaning of standing in line or humiliating. For example, if a rich and powerful person sends someone to send a few baskets of agricultural products, this is more perfunctory, or even a kind of humiliation.

Another example is that an official with an average family background sent an expensive gift. This is standing in line, and the subtext is that I will give you my wealth and life.

Of course, officials who have never had any contact with each other would not be so reckless. Maybe someone accepts a heavy gift but doesn’t take it seriously, and it will be a chicken and egg fight. Usually, familiar officials give gifts like this, standing in line to show loyalty.

There are also some details, such as the time of gift giving, of course, the sooner the better, the earlier the gift is given, the deeper the impression on the other party, and when there are too many gift givers, there will be gift receiving fatigue, which is the same thing as aesthetic fatigue. Don't take the gift giver seriously.

Then there is the person who comes to give the gift, generally do not come in person, otherwise the other party will not receive it, and it will not be good if the other party does not receive it. In this case, just hand over a list of gifts.

At present, housekeepers from various houses come to give gifts in front of the gate of the Yang Mansion. The eldest son Yang Xuan personally receives the gifts in front of the door. Of course, this is not a birthday gift, so it cannot be announced publicly, let alone the name of the person.

Two staff members were registering the list of gifts. At this moment, Yang Xuan got a list of congratulatory gifts and couldn't help being stunned for a moment.

He asked his third younger brother Yang Xiao to replace him, and Yang Xuan hurried to the back house by himself.

Although Yang Guozhong was promoted to the right chancellor, he was not happy because the case of his son Yang Xi had already been closed by the court. The real mastermind, An Lushan, was let go, but he took the accomplice Wu family as the principal criminal. Who is he fooling? ?
In fact, the relationship between Yang Guozhong and Wu Xin was not bad, he knew that it was impossible for Wu Xin to do it, it was too late for Wu Xin to curry favor with him, how dare he attack the Yang family behind his back?
In the heart of the emperor, is the Yang family inferior to Anlu Mountain?

At this time, the eldest son Yang Xuan rushed over, bowed and said, "Father!"

"How's the gift going?"

"Reporting to my father, there is still a queue outside. It is estimated that there will be no less than [-] gifts. There are still many theaters outside who are rushing to give gifts."

Yang Guozhong frowned, "Why don't you join in the fun by entering the concert hall? There are not many gifts, and I still owe them favors."

"Father doesn't need to consider favors, just treat it as a normal congratulatory gift. It's normal to give gifts in the Zouyuan. If you don't give them, you will offend your father."

"Makes sense!"

Yang Guozhong nodded, "Then accept it!"

"Father, look at this gift."

Yang Xuan handed a gift list to his father, Yang Guozhong took a look at it, and couldn't help being startled, it turned out to be Li Linfu's eldest son Li Xiu's gift list, the gift was not light, four pairs of white jade, a copper incense burner with animal heads, and 2000 silver two.

What does it mean?Did Li Linfu give him gifts in disguise, or did Li Xiu do it himself?
Yang Guozhong thought about it, it should not be Li Linfu, Li Linfu said, this gift is a little too light, it should be Li Xiu who gave the gift himself, and in all likelihood, he still carried his father behind his back, Yang Zhongguo snorted coldly in his heart.

"Father, do you want to accept this gift?"

Yang Guozhong waved his hand, "Throw it out!"

"My son obeys!"

Just as Yang Xuan was about to leave, Yang Guozhong called him back, "Forget it, accept it first, the prime minister can hold a boat in his belly, don't let others say that we have no courage, receiving gifts is one thing, and dealing with Li Linfu is another."

Yang Xuan nodded and turned to go out. Suddenly, the third son Yang Xiao rushed in, "Father, Gao Lishi is coming soon!"

Yang Guozhong jumped up in fright, and hurriedly said: "Hurry up and send the gift givers away, let them come back tomorrow, open the gate, and I will greet them in person!"

A large carriage slowly stopped in front of Yang's mansion, and there were still many gift givers in the distance, who stretched their necks to see who was visiting, and Yang Xiangguo greeted him at the gate in person.

"It's Eunuch Gao!"

Someone with sharp eyes recognized Gao Lishi at a glance, blurted out, and was immediately hit by several old punches.

"You kid is tired of work, dare to call Gao Gonggong, get out of here! Don't implicate us."

A group of officials who entered the Zouyuan angrily scolded the colleagues who had just shouted like hell, and everyone knew that it was impossible to give gifts today, so they all left with their gifts.

Yang Guozhong respectfully invited Gao Lishi to your guest room, and Gao Lishi naturally came to appease Yang Guozhong.

Although the assassination case was closed and the Wu family was blamed, Li Longji also knew that this could only fool ordinary officials, not high-ranking officials, let alone the Yang family, so Gao Lishi was needed to comfort Yang Guozhong for him.

The two sat down separately in the VIP room, and a maid served tea. Gao Lishi held up the teacup and pondered for a while and said, "The Holy Majesty asked me to come, in fact, he said two things. One thing is to look forward. Li Linfu's side, The emperor has reached an agreement with him to retire from office, so you should stop staring at him, the imperial doctor said he won't live for two years, let him go!"

Yang Guozhong said with a smile: "Li Xiangguo is my old boss, and I have always respected him. Since he has retired for retirement, I will naturally not bother him anymore, but the rules of the court will not change!"

"What do you mean?"

"The people he promoted took up so many pitfalls and blocked the way for others to make progress."

What Yang Guozhong meant was that he could not move Li Linfu, but he would liquidate the people promoted by Li Linfu.

One emperor and one courtier, one prime minister and one court, this is also the rule.

Gao Lishi said indifferently: "The direct descendants are not allowed to move. Those who are above the fifth rank must report to the emperor for approval. Others can be done in moderation!"

In fact, the emperor basically only cares about the third rank and above, the third rank and the fifth rank and above, that is the scope of Gao Lishi's power, and Gao Lishi does not allow Yang Guozhong to get involved.

Yang Zhongguo also knew it well, and quickly said: "Just as Gao Weng said!"

Gao Lishi nodded and said: "The second thing is to look forward. The case between Yang Xi and Yang Xuangui has been closed. The Holy One hopes that this matter will not be mentioned again, let go of hatred, and unite sincerely."

Yang Guozhong bowed his head in silence, he couldn't even let go of his hatred, let alone unite with sincerity.

Gao Lishi stared at him and said: "It's really hard to let go of the revenge of killing your son, and the Holy One understands, but at least on the surface, you have to live well and pretend to be very harmonious."

Yang Guozhong sighed and said: "I know he is the envoy of Fan Yang Jiedu. Youzhou and Liaodong need him to control the place. The emperor doesn't want to touch him for the time being. No matter what, I will put the overall situation first, at least on the surface."

"For the sake of the overall situation, the emperor wants to hear these four words."

Gao Lishi nodded gratifiedly, and then slowly said: "In return for your consideration of the overall situation, your three sons will receive high-ranking officials and generous salaries, and your wife, Mrs. Pei, will also be named First-Class Lady. In a word, the Son of Heaven will not sorry for you."

Yang Guozhong gave a wry smile, and asked again: "What about the other criminals involved in the case?"

"The chief criminal, Quan Furong, was sentenced to death by the emperor and beheaded in prison. Wu Xin was actually quite innocent. He didn't know about it, but the world still decreed that he should be dismissed from his official title and exiled to the south of the Five Ridges. His eldest son Wu Ying also Similarly, the culprit is the second son Wu Gui, who is the mastermind, the emperor designated him as the chief criminal, took the head in prison, and exposed his corpse in the wilderness for wild dogs to eat."

"Then the other father and son didn't lose anything?"

"Yes! The Son of Heaven originally considered making him King of Dongping County, but now it is cancelled. His son will be dismissed from his position and reduced to a commoner. If he dares to act recklessly again, he will be executed!"

This punishment was too light, and Yang Guozhong had no choice but to admit it while pinching his nose.

(End of this chapter)