Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 183 Means

"Zhuzi is so courageous. He goes against my will, manipulates public opinion, gathers people to rob officials, and uses ruthless methods. He should be punished."

"Sage calm down and go and kill Xue Bai."

Chen Xuanli, who came to the Liyuan to report, felt the saint's murderous intention and immediately prepared to kill Xue Bai.

An opera was being rehearsed on the stage. There was a young actor who didn't seem to notice the movement of the saint. When the orchestra stopped, he sang a cappella. His voice was not soft and graceful.

"Falling flowers and flowing water are full of idle sorrows. I have feelings for the night moon, but I have no words to complain about the east wind."

That was Xie Aman, singing and dancing at the same time, with long sleeves swaying, forming a very beautiful picture, like a romantic scene in the sky.

Only then did she realize that everyone else had stopped, so she hurriedly stopped and retreated.

Chen Xuanli waited for a while, but did not wait for the saint's answer. Although the emperor's anger and murderous intent were still there, he seemed to be holding back.

"Zhang Bian!"

Suddenly, Li Longji shouted angrily.

Today, Zhang Bian was leading Yuan Zai to meet the emperor. As soon as he elaborated on the bamboo paper incident, Chen Xuanli came to report the chaos in the Ministry of Rites. He knew something was wrong as he listened.

Xue Bai said "honest", then turned around and used all kinds of tricks to fight for the top prize. He chose such an opportunity, as if he had made an appointment with him in advance, one would complain and the other would make trouble, and they cooperated tacitly.

But Xue Baizhen didn't get along with him.

It turns out that this is the so-called "favors must be repaid and debts must be paid", just like Cui Qiao named a taboo number one scholar and was called "high righteousness" in an instant.

"My lord is guilty!"

Zhang Bian did not dare to give any explanation, and immediately admitted his mistake in panic, and responded: "I really have a bias in my heart, please forgive me from the saint."

No matter what reason he gives at this time, the saint will think that he is rebellious, "Did I make a mistake in scolding you?"

Finally, his sincere attitude made the saint a little less angry.

"Go down."

"I'm waiting to retire."

Li Longji sat there with a sullen face, picked up the evidence submitted by Yuan Zai and looked at it again.

One is the pricing of various grades of bamboo paper; the other is a gift list, the gift Li Tan gave to Yuan Zai is estimated at one thousand guan; the other is a book list, which revised the book that Jiang Zuosuo is currently publishing on the engraving plate, " "Praise to Baotu", "Collection of Li Zhaogong", "Collection of Cui Dingzhou", "Collection of Wang Jinyang", "Complete Poems of Bingzhou", "Collected Notes of Wei Wenzhen" and so on.

If Xue Bai didn't cause trouble, Li Longji had planned to hit eighty points each, and everyone should be punished. However, at this time, he felt that Xue Bai's methods were too much, and he was unhappy.

"Lawlessness."

"Saint." Gao Lishi asked, "Has he been executed?"

"After Taizhen begs for mercy and gives him a chance to perform, then send him away. I'm tired of it too."

Li Longji is still lenient. No matter how much trouble a kitten or puppy like Xue Bai makes, the emperor will not order them to be killed. But since he was tired of it and sent people far away, he would not care if anyone wanted to kill Xue Bai.

"I am troubled by the thought that I will encourage the Yang sisters to plead for you again. There will be no end to it."

……

But in the blink of an eye, three days later, Li Longji waited and waited, but Yang Yuhuan did not ask for mercy, and Yang Yuyao did not even enter the palace.

More and more ministers in the court requested that Xue Bai be deposed as the champion and punished severely. Xue Bai did not move out of the Holy Family as before.

It's like a small boat is being hit by big waves in the wind and rain, and may capsize at any time.

~~

After the riots in Sendai, Xue Bai saw people off every day.

The first person to leave was Zheng Qian, who was renamed Taizhou Governor.

Taizhou now belongs to Zhongzhou, and Changshi is the assistant officer of the governor, second only to the governor. His rank has not changed, and he is still at the sixth rank. But after all, it was still a foreign derogation, but the method seemed a little gentler.

When Ba Qiao said goodbye, Xue Bai saluted and said, "I am the one who has caused trouble for Dr. Zheng."

"No, no." Zheng Qian himself didn't care, he seemed quite free and easy, and said with a smile: "It may not be a bad thing for me to leave Chang'an and become an official somewhere."

He waved his hand and boarded the boat. The green shirt quickly disappeared.

Only one poem was left behind, which inspired a group of frustrated young people from poor families.

"The bamboo shoots pressed against the stone emerge at an angle, and the flowers bloom in the shade of the valley."

~~

The next day, it was Yan Zhenqing who left Chang'an in a hurry.

"The Yushitai is urging me hard. I can't do anything if I don't leave."

Yan Zhenqing had actually delayed it for two days, otherwise he would have to leave Chang'an before Zheng Qian.

But the departure was still very sudden. He didn't even bother to take his wife and children with him. He only took two old servants with him, carrying their luggage and leading their horses to Longyou.

"Don't worry about it." Yan Zhenqing glanced at Xue Bai and said, "For me, it's just a difference of leaving two days earlier or two days later. However, the princes in the court couldn't wait to send me away, obviously to do you harm. Now, just take care of yourself."

"Teacher, don't worry." Xue Bai said: "In the worst case, I will become a son-in-law for Brother Nu, but it won't kill me."

This is the change brought about by all the hard work. In the past, if you lost, you would be tricked and killed, but now you have a way out if you lose.

"Don't be kidding." Yan Zhenqing frowned and scolded, "The Holy Will is unpredictable and cannot be relied on for a long time, especially this time you have violated a big taboo. If you are awarded an official, don't covet high officials. Even a county captain is better than a minister of the emperor. .”

“Students understand.”

"That's something to talk about later. You should protect yourself first."

There was a sound of Hujia, which was Cen Shen playing.

Cen Shen felt that there was still an upright official like Yan Zhenqing in Tianbao's officialdom, so he wrote a poem "Hu Jia Ge to Send Yan Zhenqing's Envoy to Helong" to send him off.

"Don't you hear the saddest sound of the Hujia? People with purple beards and green eyes play it."

"The song has not ended yet, I am worried about killing Loulan to conquer the garrison..."

The singing swept away the sadness of parting and made the atmosphere suddenly grand.

Yan Zhenqing bid farewell to his wife and children amidst such singing and got on his horse.

When his back disappeared from the sky, everyone looked up and saw only the stretching Qin Mountain.

"Hu Jia is resentful and will send you off. Qinshan looks at the clouds of Longshan in the distance."

~~

"I have to leave in the next two days."

Cen Shen put down the bamboo slipper, smiled bitterly at Xue Bai, and said, "I have to go to Anxi with several judges. The trip was originally scheduled for next month. But now it seems that I can't watch the drama you arranged at the Qujiang Banquet."

"It doesn't matter, there will be a chance to see it in the future."

Cen Shen lowered his voice, whispered in Xue Bai's ear: "I have made arrangements. If something unexpected happens to you and you go to my home to find my old servant, he will take you to Anxi to see me..."

"Okay, thank you."

"You and I are talking about whether to thank you or not." Cen Shen smiled heartily.

In the blink of an eye, two days have passed. In the same place, with the same smile, Cen Shen waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please stay."

"Cen Erqi, have a smooth journey, you must make great achievements when you get to Anxi!" Du Wulang shouted loudly.

"Hahaha, I borrowed Wu Lang's good words." Cen Shen got on his horse and said, "Thirty-five years old, give me a poem!"

"it is good!"

Gao Shi wrote poetry when he said he wanted to. He took the wine bag and took a sip. He looked at Cen Shen's horse bag with some envy and started to recite.

"The line points to Fei Peng, the golden whip points to the iron Cong."

"The fame is thousands of miles away, and the thoughts are in the cup."

"The Yan branch is blocked in the north, and the Qin city is in the east of Taibai."

"Don't feel melancholy when you are away from your soul. Look for the sword hero."

Cen Shen was very satisfied and repeatedly called Gao Shi a confidant. Needless to say, he was sad about parting, but what he wanted was to be generous and high-spirited. What is there to be sad about when a man from the Tang Dynasty goes to the frontier to make contributions?

"Xue Lang, it's your turn."

Xue Bai first shook his head, pondered, and said reluctantly: "The wind blows and the white grass breaks, and in August there is flying snow."

"Pooh!"

Cen Shen said: "The situation is wrong. If you don't want to give me a farewell poem, just say so."

"Then I don't want to."

"Okay, then I'll do it!"

It is another long poem, both Cen and Gao Shi have a vigorous poetic style.

The sound of horse hooves faded away, and the world returned to silence. Only Cen Shen's poems still echoed.

"I hope you will look up to Qingming. It's hard to fly with a short feather."

"Cangran Xijiao Road, how generous is the handshake."

~~

Xuanyangfang, side yard of Xue's house.

When they were discussing how to besiege the Ministry of Rites, the lobby was still very lively. Within a few days, there were already fewer people.

"They're all gone."

Du Wulang felt melancholy and murmured: "I remember when I was involved in the 'Ye Wu Yi Xian' case, Ge Nu didn't react so quickly."

"Ge Nu is just a treacherous prime minister, but now 90% of the officials in the central government are descendants of aristocratic families. If everyone contributes, they can transfer us all out of Chang'an."

A scholar named Qiao Lin smiled with a generous attitude: "Then I also need to have an official position before he can transfer me."

Qiao Lin was born into a poor family, a descendant of the Huns who had been Chineseized. She was unruly by nature and spoke jokingly, but she was very diligent and studious. She knew how to climb for power at a very young age and read through books collected by famous disciples.

He failed in this subject and followed Xue Bai to cause trouble. Because of his outstanding talents, he became the backbone of these poor families in just a few days.

All joking aside, he is the one who knows the powerful methods of those aristocratic families who control the examination room. He changed the topic and said: "Of course, if you can read and write, who doesn't have relatives and friends who hold official positions? But we haven't dealt with them yet. We are just humble people, sooner or later we will be beaten repeatedly."

There was a hint of hope in this "beating and beating" tone.

Du Wulang didn't like Qiao Lin very much, because he could sense that what Qiao Lin wanted was not to open the way for poor children to take the imperial examination, but to be recruited by aristocratic families by making trouble.

"So what?" Du Wulang said: "The left prime minister called my grandfather over and scolded me. He wanted to teach me a lesson, but I am not afraid."

"Wulang was born in the Jingzhao Du family, so he is not afraid."

Qiao Lin said, turned to look at Xue Bai, and asked in a curious tone: "Xue Lang, the family is so powerful, why not invite the Holy Inquisition?"

"Holy Judge?"

"Yes." Qiao Lin said: "With our strength alone, dealing with the aristocratic family is like a worm shaking a tree. Only by going directly to Shengting can the matter be turned around. But for some reason, Xue Lang still hasn't responded after so many days?"

"I have no face." Xue Bai shook his head.

"Huh?" Qiao Lin always spoke harshly and asked, "I am waiting for a poor scholar to sacrifice his career to fight for Xue Lang's first prize, but Xue Lang refuses to come forward to invite the Holy Inquisitor?"

This sentence had a huge impact on morale.

Xue Bai had no choice but to sigh and said, "Okay, I'll tell you the truth."

"Appreciate further details."

Just listen to Xue Bai slowly say: "There is nothing the saint can do about this matter."

Qiao Lin was surprised and turned to look at the other two scholars in the seat.

Xue Bai said: "The saint has been a wise king for thousands of years, but the family tree in the world has deep roots and cannot be shaken overnight. From Taizong, Gaozong, Empress Wu... Although the imperial examination has been improved bit by bit, the family still controls the examination room. You see, the saint has appointed I am the top pick, and now I am about to be deposed by them."

"Yes." Gao Shi said: "Li Jiayou and we were good friends, but now because of the pressure from his family, he said that Yang Yu is more suitable to be the number one scholar. The world is like this, which makes people sigh."

"It's not that Yang Yu is capable, but the Li family, Yang family, and Cui family have already agreed on the quota for several years."

"So even a saint can't change the outcome." Xue Bai said: "I concealed my life experience and deserved to lose the top prize. But I can't swallow this. I must give Cui Qiao a blow and give Han Shi a little change, even if it's just a little bit."

He saw the Tang Dynasty more clearly than many people in the world.

There were no remonstrating ministers in the dynasty, so Li Longji regarded himself as a wise king.

The Tang Dynasty had accumulated many ills and was in urgent need of reform. The world needs a truly wise king who will work hard to govern so that various systems can adapt to this unprecedented peak of prosperity.

Xue Bai never saw Li Longji and Li Linfu touching the long-standing shortcomings of the Tang Dynasty. The so-called famous kings, names and appearances are just hammering away every day, indulging in the prosperity and enjoying themselves.

Li Longji can also suppress those sycophants and deal with some small intrigues. I really don't have the ability to deal with such a major matter that involves the interests of the family.

~~

"Shu Zi really said that? I can't change the outcome?"

"Back to the saint...yes."

Zhang Bian's voice was a little frightened, and he bowed and responded: "The three scholars bribed by me said the same thing. In addition, Xue Bai and others also said the same thing."

There was a hint of anger in Li Longji's eyes.

He actually asked Yang Yuhuan why the third sister didn't go to the palace to plead for mercy? The answer he got made him a little embarrassed.

——"Third sister doesn't want to cause trouble to the saint. It's no longer a shame for her if Xue Bai survives."

No one said it clearly, but everyone seemed to be sure that the saint could not prevent the aristocratic family from controlling the examination room, and they were cautious when mentioning this matter, for fear of getting into trouble.

Li Longji likes novelty, and he has been enjoying it for more than ten years. Occasionally getting involved in state affairs is still new, but he is quite concerned about it.

"What do you mean by Zhu Zi? He deceived the emperor and lost the top prize. He thought it was persecution by the family? Or is he resentful of me?!"

"I really don't know about this matter."

Li Longji was unhappy and waved Zhang Bian away. He had no intention of singing or dancing and got up and walked around.

Seeing that it was rare for a saint to be so upset, Gao Lishi couldn't help but said with relief: "Is the saint upset because of the urging of Zhongshu's disciples? It's just a small matter. Xue Bai is the champion and Cui Qiao is demoted, so the matter is over."

"They urge us, so we have to end it? I entrust the affairs of the state to the right minister, and my envoys will do things according to my wishes, not everything they want!"

"Sage, calm down."

Gao Lishi actually knew why the saint was angry.

This time Chunwei gradually allowed the saint to see the family's control over the examination room, and their domineering attitude that would not allow their interests to be touched in the slightest. Ninety percent of the officials in the DPRK came from aristocratic families, but they had a tacit understanding when something went wrong. They did not need to connect with each other, and they had already taken measures to offset the impact of Xue Bai's riot in the Ministry of Rites.

As a member of the clan, Li Linfu usually fought for personal grudges like a cockfight, but he did not want to provoke public anger when big things happened. If the saint hadn't stopped him, he would have already approved the memorial to depose the champion.

Forgetting the number one scholar and demoting Cui Qiao seems fair, but in fact the family wins. Moreover, the matter has become so big that others who don’t know the details will say that the emperor cannot even decide on the number one scholar.

Li Longji became angry when he thought about losing face. He hated Xue Bai. He walked a few steps and asked, "General Gao, what do you think, how about just paying a little money to become the number one scholar?"

After all, he only had this way of treating the symptoms rather than the root cause. He neither wanted to protect Xue Bai, nor did he want to point Yang Yu as the number one scholar and beat up all the relevant people.

Gao Lishi knew that the saint wanted to earn back some face, so he reminded: "Sage, Qian was the first to take the imperial examination. There are stains on the paper. Although the poem is good, it has wrong rhyme. And although the Qian family is not a prominent family, it is also a Wuxing family. In addition, bamboo paper How to deal with the matter? I wonder who the saint can use to handle it according to his wishes?"

Li Longji frowned.

Even if Yang Yu is not selected as the number one scholar, there is no other poor scholar in Jinke who can do it; if others do not have enough willpower and means, Zhuzhi will still be controlled by the aristocratic family to publicize how noble they are.

In the end, nothing changed.

……

"Xue Bai still has some tricks up his sleeve."

After thinking for a long time, Li Longji finally said: "This Zhuzi can't just play cards and sing."

He had been disgusted with Xue Bai's aggressive methods, but this was the first time he saw that Xue Bai had the ability to consolidate imperial power for him in the officialdom.

　Chapter 2 will take a while, please vote for me, please vote for me~~

　　

　

(End of this chapter)