Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 159 Cutting
Chang'an City is getting colder every day.

Xue Bai dismounted from his horse in front of Yang's house in Xuanyangfang, and immediately a servant came up to hold the umbrella for him.

All the way in, there are Jinwu guards standing on both sides of the stone steps. The courtyard is magnificently decorated, not inferior to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion.

Stepping into the meeting hall, there was a warm feeling in front of him, two beautiful maidservants obediently stepped forward, took off the brocade fur on his body, and led him around the screen.

"Xue Lang is here." Everyone sitting in the hall got up one after another.

Looking at the past, most of these Yang Party officials were wearing light green robes without patterns. There were only a few officials in green robes in the front row, including Du Youlin and Yuan Zai, and the only important official in red robes was Yang Zhao.

Immediately, a loud laugh came from behind the soft wall, Yang Li turned around from behind, and beckoned Xue Bai to sit on the side seat above.

"I heard that Ah Bai is going to take a concubine recently. Congratulations. I have prepared some small gifts for my brother and will send them to the mansion later."

"Thank you brother for being pregnant."

Right now Xue Bai has both a holy family and a role, not to mention taking concubines, even if he stumbles on the road, others can think of reasons to give him gifts.

Today, everyone in Yang's party is not discussing any major issues, they are just discussing how to popularize bamboo paper.

"Winter is spring, and now many tributes from the village have arrived in Chang'an ahead of schedule to prepare for the examination, and some of them are recruits from poor families that we can recruit."

"These are all talents who are likely to become officials, and they should know that they should submit their papers to the uncle's house."

"It is common to form associations and donate books. It is common for children to form poetry clubs. We can guide poor families to gather together and distribute bamboo paper and books. Most of these people from poor backgrounds have been trapped because of expensive paper. Like us Combining ambitions..."

Yuan Zai was born in poverty, and he was very emotional about these things. Most of the time, he was the one who echoed Xue Bai and made substantive suggestions.

Yang Li ignored these small details, and sat there like a statue, waiting for the result of the negotiation to agree.After that, he participated in the more important link of power struggle.

He promised to find Du Youlin a doctor in the Ministry of Officials, so that there would be another red-robed official among the party members. After the spring, it would be convenient to find an official for the Yang Party Jinshi.

Still talking about this matter, Yang Zhao saw the needles and said: "Brother, if I can find a position as a censor Zhongcheng, I can participate in drawing up the list of Jinshi in the spring, and I can do more for my brother."

Yang Teng said: "Yes, Mr. Pei is about to move to Dr. Guanglu, but..."

He pondered and glanced at Xue Bai.

Xue Bai said: "If Wang Chi can vacate the post of Yushi Zhongcheng, it will be a matter of course."

"That's right." Yang Tong said, "If there is a vacancy, I can help you as a brother."

"Thank you, brother." Yang Zhao was overjoyed, obviously planning to give some big gifts.

The brocade fur that Xue Bai was wearing was given by Yang Zhao.

He sometimes thought that if he was surrounded by a treacherous minister like Yang Zhao or a traitorous minister like Yuan Zai, he probably wasn't a loyal minister.

……

At the end of the day, Yang Li only left Xue Bai and Yuan Zai to discuss more confidential matters.

"This time, I'm afraid I've humiliated my mission." Yuan Zai said with a wry smile, "My father-in-law always thinks I'm not pleasing to the eye, so if I persuade him, I'm afraid it will backfire."

Yang Yu actually comforted Yuan Zai first, saying: "The public assistant is both talented and beautiful. Although he was born in a poor family, he is still a sixth-rank official at a young age. He is really a man. What's more, he is very affectionate and considerate to Wang. Such a good son-in-law. There is no reason for a loyal heir to dislike him."

"Uncle Guo is too famous, Yuan Zai is ashamed, after all, he failed to convince his father-in-law, what does Xue Lang think?"

"It doesn't matter." Xue Bai said: "He and Li Heng have been friends for more than [-] years, it is impossible to agree easily, Brother Yuan can let him know the pros and cons."

"Xue Lang still has a backup?" Yuan Zai asked, "Is there anyone I can contribute?"

"How has General Wang reacted recently?"

Although Yuan Zai did not persuade Wang Zhongsi, he had already persuaded Wang Yunxiu, so he knew Wang Zhongsi's whereabouts quite well, and said: "My father-in-law has not been summoned by the saint, but went to the East Palace first. After returning to the mansion, inquire about Fang Guan's whereabouts After learning that Fang Guan has been demoted, Li Mi wants to see him..."

Xue Bai noticed a detail, Wang Zhongsi didn't know the news about Fang Guan's release at first, which showed that he was actually not deeply involved in the affairs of the East Palace.

In other words, it is true that Wang Zhongsi is close to Li Heng, but the reason why they can become righteous brothers is that he is Li Longji's adopted son.

After listening further, Xue Bai nodded when he learned that Wang Zhongsi wanted to see Li Mi, and said, "So, things are going well, let's not move now, and give Donggong a chance to save itself."

When Yuan Zai heard this, he suddenly realized and smiled.

Yang Li was very confused and asked, "What does this mean?"

Xue Bai was silent for a moment, then explained: "This is the same reason as holding a beautiful woman back. If the uncle of the country wants Wang Zhongsi to return, he must first make sure that no other way will work."

"Haha." Yang Li laughed and said, "I understood it when Abai said it like this, it's easy to understand."

This is a simple statement. To make it more complicated, Donggong and Li Heng are actually two concepts.

The scope of the Eastern Palace is very wide, including the influence of the prince's wife and clan, brothers and sisters of the prince's mother, subordinate officials who work in the Eastern Palace, and some people who simply hope that the country will be stable.

Sometimes Li Heng can represent the interests of these people, but sometimes he can't. Occasionally, his personal interests will conflict with those of Donggong.

Why did Li Jingzhong kill Xue Bai?Because the interests of the wife's family have harmed the interests of the prince himself.

The family of wives does not represent the relationship between husband and wife, but a family betting on the crown prince, which belongs to the power of the East Palace; while eunuchs are homeless and jobless, and everything is attached to the prince, which represents the interests of the prince himself.

In the same way, when the prince's own interests harm the interests of the East Palace, there will naturally be someone who will stand up and ask the prince to let go of something.

This is Xue Bai's first revenge for the murder, using the same cause and effect to put the same predicament in front of Donggong.

~~
Chongrenfang, Yingxiang Temple.

Wang Zhongsi sat alone in the verandah, looking at Xiaoxue outside the pavilion, holding the wine bag and drinking by himself.

Li Mi came pacing in a thin Taoist robe.

"Why did Mr. Li invite me here?" Wang Zhongsi sighed, "Wei Jian and Huangfu Weiming met here, so they died."

"It's not that I invited General Wang to come here." Li Mi said, "I was also invited by others."

"That is?"

Suddenly there was a commotion, and the two turned their heads to look, only to see a woman in full dress being ushered into the backyard of the Taoist temple, it was Zhang Ting, Prince Liangdi.

"General Wang, Mr. Li, I'm sorry."

Zhang Ting entered the verandah, bowed profusely, and then got to the point, saying: "Today, I take the liberty to ask you both to save the East Palace in order to stabilize the country."

Over the years, He Zhizhang became an official, Wei Jian, Huangfu Weiming and others died, Li Shizhi, Li Qiwu, Han Chaozong, and Fang Guan were released one after another, Du Wangwang and Xue Hui gradually became ambiguous... There are fewer and fewer people assisting the East Palace.

Among the three people here today, Wang Zhongsi has been in the border town for many years and has no involvement in court disputes; Li Mi is young and has been appointed to the Hanlin;In fact, they were all suddenly placed in the position of bearing the fate of the Eastern Palace.

But interests are involved and cannot be avoided, this time they have to represent the interests of the East Palace.

"His Royal Highness asked General Wang to investigate the truth, can General Wang investigate?" Zhang Ting opened the topic first.

"This old man is a rough man who only knows how to fight, so he can't do such delicate things." Wang Zhongsi said: "What His Highness said is true, but let's ignore the truth of this matter for the time being. Your Highness is too close, there is always something wrong."

Li Mi nodded slightly.

Being able to admit this mistake, it can be seen that Wang Zhongsi knows the will of the saint in his heart and is willing to submit to the saint.

Of course, the prince has his own reasons for refusing to admit his mistakes, because if he admits his mistakes, he will not get any holy relatives, and the saints will only take the opportunity to restrict their power and kill them whenever they want.Li Mi can understand this kind of difficulty, but he can't empathize with it.

"The fault is not with General Wang." Zhang Ting said: "The reason why the sage is suspicious of His Highness is not only because of Brother Nu's framing, but also because some people around His Highness acted without authorization."

As soon as she opened her mouth, both Wang Zhongsi and Li Mi fell silent.

Zhang Ting had no choice but to say: "When Liu Ji's case happened, Li Jingzhong really decided to kill Xue Bai on his own initiative, and forged a grudge against the East Palace. I never thought that Xue Bai would become Mrs. Guo's favorite, and he would go against the East Palace through this matter."

Li Mi pondered and said: "Your Highness is ordered to investigate Pei Mian's case, and only one Li Jingzhong was found, which may not be enough to appease the Holy Wrath."

"I'm also guilty." Wang Zhongsi said: "I will ask Your Majesty for my guilt by introducing the Huihe caravan to earn some money for Your Highness."

"No."

Li Mi walked to the door, peeked out, and said: "Once Bianzhen uses the barbarian's strategy, the Jiedushi of the four towns will definitely not be able to keep the position. But the general should at least secure the post of Jiedushi in Hedong."

Wang Zhongsi was silent.

Zhang Ting asked, "Why?"

"Zhang Liangdi thinks that the right minister should promote general Hu, why?"

"Suo Douji's temperament is narrow, and he fears that a famous minister will appear in the prime minister and replace his phase."

"How about thinking about it a little bit more?"

"What does Mr. Li mean?"

Li Mi frowned slightly, because he didn't want to speculate on people's hearts, but the matter was so important that he had to mention it, and said: "The right minister has offended the prince to the point of irreparable, if ten thousand years later, the prince inherits the great rule, I am afraid that the right minister will intervene Your Highness will be stopped by force."

Zhang Ting's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and he said in surprise, "Mr. Li, you mean... miscellaneous?"

Wang Zhongsi nodded gloomyly.

He said that An Lushan had a different heart. In fact, it was not that like Zhang Jiuling, he would see that "the appearance has been reversed, and the liver and gall are evil", but the reason why Li Linfu supported An Lushan is not difficult to guess.

Since he offended Donggong to death, how could he not hold back?

Li Bidao: "At present, Anlu Mountain is stranded in Chang'an and will not return. On the surface, it is the doctor Yushi who is fighting, but in fact it is the Jiedu envoy of Hedong."

"The saint may not give it to him."

"But once General Wang leaves office, no one will be able to restrain him. The general must not confess his sins to the saint."

Having said that, he turned to Zhang Ting and said, "Your Highness should report this matter to the sage. You blame yourself for not being strict with your subordinates. Please kill Li Jingzhong. Then His Highness will testify against the fact that General Wang sent a caravan back to Ho. The post of the town festival envoy."

"So, the crown prince?"

"Zhang Liangdi don't worry." Li Mi said, "The saint will not abolish the crown prince."

He didn't say a word, if there is a new crown prince, how can he be as easy to control as the prince who lost his prestige at that time.

Zhang Ting asked again: "In this way, the post of Jiedu envoy of Hedong can be kept? Mr. Cai just said that Zahu must not be allowed to get to Hedong."

She is growing rapidly in the intrigue, and learned a lot today... The East Palace may not be entirely controlled by Li Heng; Li Jingzhong and her interests are inconsistent; military power must not be lost;
"If so, can someone help me intercede?" Li Mi asked Wang Zhongsi in a questioning tone.

Wang Zhongsi had a look of embarrassment on his solemn face, and at the end, he nodded, and said: "I guess I'll give it a try, even if it doesn't work, it's okay. If I can recommend candidates for Shuofang and Hedong Jiedu envoys, Zahu will Can't mess up."

"What I'm afraid of is that in the future, with the holy family of Anlu Mountain in his body, he will end up being different from others."

"I'll try my best."

Wang Zhongsi made a promise.

Let Li Heng come to testify against him, he will not have any grievances in his heart, but he can make the illusion of discord, so that Yang Dang can help speak and let the sage dispel suspicion.

"So, now there is only one difficulty."

The two stood up at the same time, and solemnly said to Zhang Ting: "Please Zhang Liangdi persuade Your Highness to report Li Jingzhong's crime to the saint."

~~
At night, Li Jingzhong entered the hall with hot water, and saw Li Heng sitting there with a gloomy expression.

"Why are you sitting up, Your Highness? If someone sees you, you'd better lie down."

Li Heng didn't answer, but stared at the old eunuch with complicated expressions in his eyes.

Li Jingzhong was so stared at by him, he was scared, and had a bad feeling... Recalling that before Wei Shi was shaved and became a nun, the prince also had this look.

"Your Highness? What did this old slave do wrong?"

"What could you do wrong?" Li Heng said lightly.

He knew very well in his heart that if he reconciled with his wife and divorced, others would know that his wife's clan was guilty; but in the eyes of others, if the confidant eunuchs around him were guilty, how could it be possible to make their own decisions?

"The old slave is terrified." Li Jingzhong quickly knelt down and put the basin at Li Heng's feet, shaking his hands, wanting to wash his feet.

Li Heng stopped him, and suddenly asked: "How many years have you served me?"

"The old slave has served His Highness for 33 years since he was ten years old."

Li Heng sighed, and murmured: "I, the crown prince, is weak and incompetent, unable to protect the people around me every time. Now, they force me to get rid of you, what should I do?"

Li Jingzhong was so terrified that he knew he was going to die, so he knelt down and cried loudly, "Your Highness... If this old servant can save His Highness from the evil, I would rather die... Your Highness, please take good care of your body from now on..."

"Get up." Li Heng murmured: "I will never do such a heartless thing. I ask you tonight to let you know that time is running out."

"Your Highness!" Li Jingzhong was still crying, "This old slave wishes to die..."

"Close the case." Li Xiangdao: "I didn't do this case, just close the case."

"Yes, this old slave has found the 'truth'. Your Highness, remember that in early March, Henan Yin Pei Dunfu came back from begging for thieves in the East China Sea. Cao Jian offended Pei Dunfu precisely because of this."

"You mean?"

"Although Cao Jian died, some soldiers under his command fled and killed the Huihe caravan and Pei Mian." Li Jingzhong said, "Maybe this case is that simple?"

It is very sloppy to find such a result in a case, but it is the result that most officials in the DPRK and China want to see. Close the case as soon as possible and let the matter pass.

Those who know the truth and guess the Sacred Heart are often very few people. Li Heng can ignore their opinions. He has already given the best results, and he only needs to win the prestige in the hearts of the majority.

The saint will be angry, so what?Can he win the favor of a saint if he pleads guilty?It will only be caught and banned.

If you don't plead guilty, you won't be abolished. The opponent of the saint has never been Li Heng, but the power given to a country's prince since the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

The sage has long realized that killing the three common people will not change the threat posed by the prince, and it is the wings of the East Palace that need to be cut off.

~~
In the evening, Xue Bai returned home.

"Lang Jun, I have a visitor. I must wait for you to come back."

"is it?"

Xue Bai looked at the footprints in the courtyard. The footprints were already covered with snow, and the visitor must have been waiting for a while.

Some of them have huge footprints, which are not for ordinary people... Sure enough, Guan Chongsi, a big seven-foot-two-inch personal soldier under Wang Zhongsi's command, was standing under the eaves, as if he was leaning against the door frame.

Entering the hall, Wang Zhongsi was sitting there.

"How did General Wang come?"

Wang Zhongsi would rather have a frank talk with Xue Bai than to contact Yang Zhen through Yuan Zai, so he cut to the chase and said, "I heard that Xue Lang has the magic of immortality, so I assert that An Lushan will rebel?"

"This Li Changyuan can't keep a secret."

"Don't worry, this old man is someone who can keep secrets." Wang Zhongsi said, "Can you help this old man to protect the post of Jiedu envoy of Hedong?"

"Others can't save General Wang, you can only save yourself."

Wang Zhongsi said: "We will ask His Highness to plead guilty to the saint and testify that Pei Mian was killed by someone sent by Li Jingzhong. You can breathe a sigh of relief..."

"not my business."

Xue Bai interrupted without hesitation.

What he wanted was for Wang Zhongsi to sue Li Jingzhong, because Li Heng had a grudge against Wang Zhongsi and turned against each other, not because he wanted to give Li Heng a chance.No bargaining possible.

Wang Zhongsi frowned slightly, and said: "I said this not because I love power, but I am really worried about border towns..."

Xue Bai asked, "If General Wang is worried about border towns, why would he care about a vicious eunuch?"

"But what's the truth?" Wang Zhongsi said: "I checked the secrets you mentioned, and I found out that you sent someone to kill Pei Mian."

"Okay, it's me." Xue Bai said indifferently: "No matter what Li Heng said, I can admit that I am the son of Xue Ruo, who recruited the old soldiers from Longyou to kill people. Now that General Wang knows about it, it's okay. Speak to the saint."

He assumed a completely different attitude from Li Heng.

Wang Zhongsi took a deep look at him, not bothering with the so-called truth at all, and said: "The old man can see that Xue Lang has the community in his heart, can you give in a step?"

Xue Bai showed a bit of impatience, and said: "Only this time, if the prince is willing to sin against the saint to show his repentance, I will ask the uncle of the country to take action. But if the prince is unwilling to take responsibility in the end, so what?"

Wang Zhongsi said: "I will state my interests with His Highness, and he will agree."

"Okay." Xue Bai said: "Then we will wait and see."

　"Li Linfu, An Lushan and others are even prepared to use force to prevent the crown prince from ascending to the throne and defend their own vested interests." Got it, this is a way of saying~~ [I wrote very slowly today, and Chapter 2 will not come out in a short time, it will be later than usual, everyone really don’t wait]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)