First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

...

Seeing that Li Gongyan was asking questions knowingly, Wei Shuxie shook his head and smiled. He did not respond directly, but slowly shook the teacup in his hand and asked nonchalantly: "You should be familiar with Gao Jinglue, right? How do you evaluate him?"

Li Gongyan was startled when he heard this, and then said directly: "Gao Jinglue is a versatile man in both civil and military affairs. He is naturally the pillar of my court. Why did Chang Shi ask Gao Jinglue? Could it be...".

Speaking of the latter part, Li Gongyan already had some vague guesses.

"That's right." Wei Shuxie nodded slightly and said with a smile full of admiration: "Gao Jinglue is loyal to the country and does not care about personal fame and fortune. He is really the pillar of the country."

"Previously, Gao Jinglue wrote to the sage, and the Jinglue government's domineering behavior frightened the local tycoons, so the court acted benevolently and comforted them. In this way, the Lingnan officials can fulfill their ambitions."

After listening to Wei Shuxie's words, Li Gongyan finally understood why Li Shimin had a separate oral message to Wei Shuxie. Although this kind of thing was not a conspiracy, it was not good to tell people directly, otherwise it would lose its due role.

One has a red face and the other has a white face. Since they cooperate with each other tacitly, they should look more real.

Otherwise, let Chen Longshu understand. It turns out that Gao Youzhi deliberately suppressed me and then the court pretended to comfort me. This might be self-defeating.

"Gao Jinglue, this... is really high." Li Gongyan couldn't help but marvel, then he glanced at Wei Shuxie and praised directly: "No wonder the saint trusts Gao Jinglue so much."

Regarding this topic, Wei Shuxie did not answer the question, but just said: "So, our mission on this trip is to be gentle and comfort the powerful chiefs from all over the country to show the kindness of the court. If Chen Longshu expresses his kindness to us, I will be the minister." Do you know how to deal with it?"

"Indicate?" Li Gongyan was startled again, and then asked tentatively: "Accept all orders?"

Wei Shuxie smiled and nodded, "This is considered the sage's acquiescence, don't worry."

Li Gongyan immediately agreed, and then he couldn't help but feel funny. Could this be considered corruption under orders?

The reason is easy to see. Angels usually go out of Beijing to carry out orders and announce their work, and some local officials also express their opinions. This is also human nature. Although it is not in line with the law, it is unavoidable.

Of course, there are also special circumstances. For example, if Angel already knows that a certain local official is about to be in disaster, Liu will definitely not accept his advice, because Angel represents the will of the court to a certain extent. They are from the capital and are better informed.

This is the same as the previous temporary notification outside the city. If you notify in advance, it should not be a bad thing, but if you suddenly visit and are caught off guard, without giving local officials any time to prepare, it means that the visitor is evil. This It is also full of knowledge.

During this trip, the two of them represent the court to appease various places in Lingnan. If the local chiefs express their wishes, they should accept all the orders. In this way, the chiefs will have peace of mind. Isn't this a way to maintain stability?

At the same time, in the Longshui County Yamen, the Chen family also gathered together to celebrate their promotion to a new position. Chen Puguang from Yongning also rushed back overnight, and people from the He family in Yunji gathered together, making it very lively.

"Brother-in-law, you are now the governor, how can you be a small county prince?" A strong man on the upper left in the hall raised his glass and drank it down, and said in a loud voice: "The emperor of Chang'an also That’s too stingy.”

"Brother, be careful." Chen Longshu stopped him immediately after hearing the words. Then he looked around and saw that there were no outsiders. He also hurriedly said: "In the future, you must never speak rudely to Chang'an. If you are not careful, you will be killed. end".

The sturdy man's name was He Zhuang. He was Chen Longshu's brother-in-law and the biological uncle of the Chen Puguang brothers. Hearing Chen Longshu's cautious words, he just curled his lips and said, "Brother-in-law, the more you become an official, the more courageous you become." Come smaller and smaller."

Chen Longshu relied on the He family of Yunji in the past, but he was helpless when he saw this. The He family was a local official, and He Zhuang was the leader of Yunjidong of this generation. He could not reprimand him directly.

Chen Jiyuan raised his eyebrows when he saw this, and just said: "Uncle, please don't forget Qinzhou Ning Changzhen. What happened to such a powerful person? He died in a foreign land."

He Zhuang was drinking. He choked when he heard these words. He had to glare at him, but he didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore.

The Yunji He family was once a vassal of the Ning family. He Zhuang knew Ning Changzhen's abilities. When he heard that Ning Changzhen died in central Guizhou, he was shocked for a while. He was a great chief of Lingnan.

Now that I think about it carefully, Ning Changzhen was so powerful in Lingnan for decades, and finally died in a foreign land. They were far inferior to Ning Changzhen, so how dare they disrespect the imperial court.

"Now that Saint Zhenguan has ascended the throne, I heard that he is more cautious about his titles. According to the newspaper, the imperial court has intended to reduce the titles. Many members of the royal family still have no guarantee of their titles. My family is content with having a county prince."

Chen Longshu sighed quietly when he thought about the title.

"Exactly, so what if Ning Chunguan of Qinzhou worships the governor? He has worked hard and made great achievements by following the generals. He is also the classmate of the generals in Chang'an. He is not only a noble man in the county," another member of the Chen family also agreed.

Only Chen Puguang smiled and said nothing, just sipping tea silently. In his opinion, the title is just a name, and there is no practical benefit to the title without Shishiyi. What's more, this time, Longzhou Chen family, from beginning to end, He was very controlled by the manager.

When it comes to rewards for merit, he should be promoted to an official position, and now he has become a consolation for the imperial court. To put it simply, this promotion to an official position and a noble title is a reward he deserves for his active efforts in suppressing the rebellion, but in the end he still has to be grateful to the imperial court. , but also to be in awe of Jinglue.

Seeing his father's high-spirited look, Chen Puguang also shook his head and smiled. He always believed that his father had lowered his status too much and in the end was just a knife in the hands of a manager.

However, this knife still has its uses, and there are corresponding rewards. As long as it is used smoothly, there is no harm. Chen Puguang does not care. As long as the Chen family is safe, Chen Puguang has no pursuit of promotion. He is a serious Buddhist young man.

"Aye, it turns out that the previous military envoy did not deliberately suppress my family's achievements." Chen Jiyuan also sighed with emotion at this time, "I think he also knew that the court had made arrangements."

Chen Longshu slowly put down his wine glass and twitched the corner of his mouth, "But he just didn't say anything, which made us feel uneasy here, and then let the imperial court send envoys to reassure us."

Chen Puguang was a little surprised and looked up at his father. The father and son looked at each other.

Chen Longshu glared at him with some dissatisfaction, "Don't think that just because you read a few Buddhist scriptures every day, you think you have seen everything. You and I are not stupid, how can we not tell this?"

Chen Puguang looked stunned and lowered his head in shame, "That's what Aye taught me."

Chen Jiyuan understood it now, but he had no special thoughts. He just said: "These people in the imperial court are really thoughtful."

"Those who are careless have long since died in the troubled times." Chen Longshu snorted coldly, "It was just a tacit understanding. It would be more respectable and look good to everyone. Why did Ning Changzhen die? He was just old and confused. He turned others upside down. Taken lightly.”

Having said this, Chen Longshu drank the wine in one gulp, threw the glass down heavily, and stared at the two grown men. He was already seven-fold drunk, and the suffocation in his chest spurted out.

"You always think that I am too flattering and lose my identity, but what is our identity? In the eyes of the wealthy families in the Central Plains, we are just Lingnan barbarians. Only you are strong. You have climbed to the same height as them, or even surpassed them. That's called identity, that's what's decent."

"If I didn't recognize the reality and my identity, I would have died more than 20 years ago, and how could I have become the Chen family I am today?"

Hearing his father's angry rebuke, Chen Puguang felt extremely ashamed. He was a little older and had lived in Qinzhou when he was a child. He also knew what it was like to be dependent on others. Now he could deeply understand the sadness in his father's heart.

Chen Jiyuan also lowered his head and lowered his eyebrows. He just listened carefully and clenched his fists, his nails already embedded in his flesh unconsciously.

To revitalize the Chen family and revitalize the lintel, he also knew at this moment that his father had been under a lot of pressure for so many years. It was a helpless act to flatter and flatter. They were not the famous families in the Central Plains. If they wanted to improve their family status, they would have to do it. Based on Lingnan, the only way out is to climb up desperately. "Hey, brother-in-law, today is a great day to celebrate your promotion to a noble rank. Why are you so angry?"He Zhuang stood up and came over, pressing Chen Longshu down on his seat.

He turned around and glared at Chen Puguang, who had red eyes and was in a daze, "Da Lang, I haven't even given you a cup of tea to wake up, you're a Buddhist and a fool."

Chen Puguang responded hurriedly and stepped forward to pour tea.
"He is just stupid!" Chen Longshu swept the tea cup to the ground and angrily scolded Chen Puguang, "Obviously he has a delicate heart and a natural mind, and he insists on studying Buddhism wholeheartedly. If so, just go ahead and learn it."

Having said this, Chen Longshu stood up in confusion, "You all listen, I, Chen Longshu, will be succeeded by my second son, Chen Jiyuan, after my death. Chen Jiyuan will succeed me as the chief and also the head of the Chen clan. All Chen clan members and Shuangzhou officials must not violate this rule." inverse".

Everyone was shocked when they heard this, but Chen Puguang had no objection. He had no interest in succeeding as the chief.

Chen Jiyuan was stunned and hurriedly stood up and declined, "Yeah, no, the eldest brother is the eldest son. This goes against the patriarchal law."

"What kind of eldest son?" Chen Longshu glared and waved, "Do you want him to take the whole family to study Buddhism?"

Chen Jiyuan was stunned and looked at Chen Puguang, "Brother, you...".

Chen Puguang nodded and smiled, "Erlang, don't refuse, just take over this important task. Brother will not complain and will only assist you wholeheartedly."

Seeing Chen Jiyuan's troubled face, Chen Longshu slapped the desk again, "Chen Jiyuan, do you dare to disobey?"

"I don't dare." Chen Jiyuan fell to his knees.

"Erlang, take it," uncle He Zhuang also sighed: "You also know your eldest brother's temper."

Chen Jiyuan looked up and saw everyone looking at him. After hesitating for a long time, he could only say in a deep voice: "My child... obey your order."

Everyone toasted again to celebrate. The Chen family of Longzhou has officially confirmed the next heir to the chief. This is a big event. Not only must the news be spread among the officials in Longxi, but also a grand celebration.

When double happiness comes to Longzhou, in Gaozhou, Gaoliangcheng, and in the backyard of the state government office, Feng Ang has a gloomy look on his face.

"Mr. Mingda, I've left it to you. I hope I can hear good news," Gao Chong said with a smile behind his hands.

"Mr. Feng of Gaozhou would like to thank you for your kindness." Feng Ang got down and bowed and said, "I will try my best."

Gao Chong nodded with a smile, looked at the old man in gray clothes in the hall, and said with a smile but not a smile: "I'm not trying my best. Let's save his life for the time being. It's because of our old friends. If you persist in your obsession, what will happen to you?" Feng also knows."

After finishing speaking, Gao Chong ignored Feng An's stunned expression and turned around to leave.

But soon Feng An understood Gao Chong's intention, his face remained gloomy, he just sat back down and remained silent for a long time.

Feng Ang was sitting. The old man in the hall seemed to be unable to stand. He was exhausted and sneered, "What? What do you, Chief Feng, plan to do with me?"

Feng An's brows twitched when he heard this, and he just sighed, "After so many years, can't you let go?"

The man in the field was Feng An's second brother Feng Xuan.

Hearing this, Feng Xuan waved his sleeves, walked to one side and sat down, and sneered again, "Relieve, Feng San, you are really magnanimous. You have been holding grudges for 30 to [-] years, and you can just say you are relieved." .

With a bang, "If you hadn't missed the opportunity and made friends with bandits, my eldest brother wouldn't have died in Guangzhou. It's been more than 20 years and you still haven't woken up. Do you really think your grandmother just favors me? It's not because you are too ignorant."

Even though Feng Ang was good at cultivating Qi, he couldn't bear it now and couldn't help but slap the case and roar.

When Feng An mentioned his elder brother Feng Hun, Feng Xuan's expression was a little unnatural, and he just snorted coldly.

"How can I save the lives of your family with this attitude of yours? It's so stubborn and unreasonable," Feng Ang said through gritted teeth upon seeing this.

"Then what exactly does Gao Chong want?"

After a long time, Feng Xuan finally asked. In the final analysis, Feng Xuan still didn't want to die. It was not easy to live to be over 60 years old. Now that he had many children and grandchildren, Feng Xuan didn't want to be executed.

In fact, this so-called surrender was just a formality. There was no reason for Feng Xuan to be buried with Ning Daoming.

In fact, Feng Xuan followed Ning Daoming to rebel, but he did not send troops to attack the prefectures and counties. From the beginning to the end, he only accompanied Ning Daoming to a banquet all night in Fengshan City.

Feng Xuan had no ambition to separate his country and establish himself on his own. The reason why he rebelled was actually very complicated and ridiculous.

On the one hand, it was because the Ning family was powerful and was coerced by Ning Daoming, so he had to obey.

On the other hand, Feng Xuan is arrogant and dissatisfied with his third brother Feng An. He has been dissatisfied since Feng An succeeded the chief of the Feng family more than 20 years ago.

When Mrs. Xian passed away, her son Feng Pu had been dead for many years, and her eldest grandson Feng Hun also died early in Guangzhou. Her second grandson Feng Xuan made the old woman very sad, so she passed it on to her younger grandson Feng Ang.

Feng Xuan was very dissatisfied with this. He was the second grandson. After the death of the eldest grandson Feng Hun, it was rational for him, Feng Erlang, to succeed him.

After Feng An took over as the chief of the Feng family, Feng Xuan left home to set up his own business and came to the northwest of Gaozhou to gather officials and became the leader of the party.

Feng Angnian didn't hold him accountable when he was with his brother, and allowed him to develop alone. The two brothers became strangers from then on.

I just didn't expect that Feng Xuan would dare to follow Ning Daoming to rebel.

“First, sincerely repent, write a letter of repentance, and submit it to the Jinglue Mansion.

Secondly, all the officials under your command have gone down the mountain to register and register. They are affiliated with Luozhou. The imperial court also has other appointments for you.

Third, you have a long-standing friendship with Tan Dian, and I want you to go on a mission to check whether Tan Dian is willing to stand on his own feet, and see if you can persuade him to go down the mountain, register a household, and register. If not, cooperate with the Jinglue Mansion to Its annihilation."

"Only these three points", Feng An looked at Feng Xuan, who had white hair and beard, and spoke seriously, "If you can do it, not only will you be exempted from death penalty, but you will also be employed elsewhere. Otherwise... I can't save you."