First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 349 The He Ran Controversy
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In the inner room, Gao Chong looked at the seamless, white and dynamic fonts on the handkerchief, and couldn't help but praise: "It's a flying font."

"I'm ashamed, it can't compare to the master's high-style regular script," Huan Fasi bowed and said humbly.

"You don't need to be too modest, your Feibai body is really good, Qin Wang also loves Feibai body, I will recommend it to you later," Gao Chong said casually, and then focused on the content of the silk cloth.

Little did he know that Huan Fasi, who was standing next to him, had a flash of light in his eyes when he heard these words.

"As expected," Gao Chong looked at the content on the silk cloth and said angrily, "This Tian Zongxian is so courageous, he really said this, how did you find out, can you verify it?"

Huan Fasi hurriedly said: "It's absolutely true. Pindao found the steward in the governor's mansion and tortured him overnight. Tian Zongxian and He Junda were like brothers and went in and out of Lianqi. This kind of words was indeed heard by the steward.

Tian Zongxian promised more than once in public that the He family would succeed him as governor in the future, and there are not a few people who have heard this.”

After finishing speaking, Huan Fasi added, "He Junda is the father of He Zhongde, who died of illness in June of the third year of Wude."

"Torture overnight?" Gao Chong raised his eyebrows and asked.

"Yes, for the sake of speed, we did use some tricks," Huan Fasi said truthfully, "But Pingdao has been dealt with cleanly, and there will never be any doubts left."

Gao Chong nodded, he only wanted the result of the matter, as for the process, it didn't matter.

"In April of the third year of Wude, after Tian Shikang succeeded Qianzhou Inspector, He Junda died of illness in June, which seemed really mad.

At the end of last year, the two brothers of the Ran family became officials at the same time, both as county lieutenants.

This is a rare thing, they all rushed together," Gao Chong said coldly.

In the six counties of Qianzhou, the county lieutenants of the two counties were directly given to the Ran family, and they were given at the same time. Tian Zongxian was generous, and he really gave and accepted the official position of Qianzhou privately.

All this is in line with what He Zhongde said.

"It's no wonder that the [-] acres of paddy fields were seized, and He Zhongde became so angry. It turned out that the fields belonged to his younger brother."

The more he looked down, the more angry Gao Chong felt. These Qianzhou officials are really moths, they only fight for the family, and don't care about the life and death of the people.

"My lord, that fellow He Shuxing is not a good guy." Huan Fasi was actually a little indignant.

"When I was investigating, I heard that Uncle He was robbing and plundering. The land under his name exceeded a thousand mu. Three out of ten of the fields in Hongshe belonged to his name, and the people suffered unspeakably."

"Bo Zhong Shu Ji..." Gao Chong muttered, "Where is He Zhongde's elder brother?"

"His elder brother died early, and He Zhongde is the eldest in his family," Huan Fasi replied.

Holding the handkerchief in his hand, Gao Chong stood up and paced back and forth thinking. The three points He Zhongde said last night have now been verified to be true, which shows that He Zhongde should be credible.

It's just that Gao Chong was a little undecided. Once there was a fraud, or if Huan Fasi made a mistake in his investigation, he would fall into the trap. After all, the situation in Qianzhou is really complicated.

At this time, Jiang Baoyi strode in, "Yuzhi, the Ran's family in Qianjiang sent someone here."

"Ran's family?" Gao Chong was a little curious, "Why did the Ran's family send someone here, let him in."

"Wait, let the Ran's family come from the front hall and come in in front of He Zhongde," Gao Chong suddenly called to Jiang Baoyi, "Also, Baoyi, you take Daoist Huan to meet the Ran's family, pay attention to He Zhongde's expression" .

Jiang Baoyi didn't know why, so he just responded, while Huan Fasi was thoughtful, looking at Gao Chong with a little admiration in his eyes.

"I was promoted in the lower Qianjiang River and met the ambassador."

Not long after, a young man in his twenties was ushered in, with the demeanor of a handsome young man, and when meeting each other, he bowed with dignity.

Gao Chong nodded lightly, "Ran Sheng? What is the position of the official worship?"

Ran Sheng was a little embarrassed, and said directly: "I have not yet become an official, and I have no official position. My father Tian is the county magistrate of Qianjiang."

"Oh, so you are the son of Ran Tai." Gao Chong seemed to have just realized, nodded and said, "Sit down, what do you want from me?"

Ran Sheng felt a little angry in his heart, this Mr. Gao was really arrogant, not only had no manners, he even called his father by his first name.

Although Gao Chong has a high official position, generally speaking, it is very rude to call his father by his name in front of the Son of Man. If it is not good enough, he should call him county magistrate Ran.

"My father has long admired the name of the Gao family in Bohai. He heard that the ambassador has arrived in Qianzhou and has prepared some thin wine in Qianjiang. I specially invited the ambassador to Qianjiang to show the friendship of the landlord."

Despite the anger in his heart, Ran Sheng still puts the family mission first, and his attitude is very respectful.

"Go to Qianjiang?" Gao Chong didn't quite understand, "I eat and drink here, why should I go to Qianjiang?"

Ran Sheng suddenly felt contempt in his heart, but his face was still respectful, "Qianjiang also has delicious food and wine, far better than this remote Hongshe, and the preservation satisfies the ambassador."

After finishing speaking, Ran Sheng took a step forward, bowed his head and said in a low voice, "The Qianjiang beauty is even more unique, why don't the ambassador go and have a look?"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Gao Chong's eyes lit up, and he sat up straight, "I am ordered by the Holy Order to patrol all parts of central Guizhou, and I should do my duty faithfully. It is not beautiful to stay here in Hongshe for a long time. Since the Ran family has kindly invited me, I It doesn’t hurt to go to Qianjiang to have a look.”

Ran Sheng was overjoyed, he cupped his hands and said with a smile, "The ambassador is satisfied with safekeeping."

At this time, the personal guard came to report: He County Magistrate asked to see him.

Gao Chong's heart moved, "Let him in", and sure enough, when he heard He Zhongde's name, Ran Sheng's face darkened.

"Ambassador, I must have been tired and hungry last night. The little girl, Si Niang, has prepared thin wine outside. Why don't you sit down and taste it?" He Zhongde ignored Ran Sheng when he came in, and bowed deeply to Gao Chong, very pleased Flattering smile.

Hearing these words, Gao Chong coughed straight away. What does it mean to be tired last night? This is easy to be misunderstood. He glanced at Ran Sheng, and sure enough he misunderstood.

But Ran Sheng knew that the fourth lady of the He family was quite beautiful and had already been valued by Tian Dalang. Did He Zhongde mean that the fourth lady of the He family had already been acquired by this licentious and shameless Ambassador Gao?Thinking of this, Ran Sheng's face suddenly changed.

"Ambassador, Hongshe has very good wine. My father has prepared aged fine wine in Qianjiang. Please move to Qianjiang to taste it." Ran Sheng immediately bowed.

"Zhuzi of the Ran family, what do you mean by this? Ambassador, this man is a dissolute son of the Ran family. He has bad conduct and is really an eyesore in front of his lord. Please cross him out from the left and right." He Zhongde ignored Ran at first. Sheng, but Ran Sheng's words immediately angered He Zhongde, and immediately reprimanded him angrily.

Gao Chong looked at it with great interest, Jiang Baoyi stepped forward and whispered in his ear: "He Zhongde couldn't sit still when he saw Ran Sheng entered, and after asking me many times to no avail, he forced him to see him."

Hearing this, Gao Chong was overjoyed from the bottom of his heart, and nodded slightly without changing his face.

"He Zhongde, you, how dare you insult me ​​like this." He Zhongde's personal attack made Ran Shengqi's face blush and his neck thickened.

(End of this chapter)