After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 418 Confrontation in the Void
Lu Bainian couldn't explain clearly. Regarding this matter, he mostly heard it from Xie Wenzai, and also heard it from Cao Gengyun's friends.

Xie Wenzai's source of information was naturally the Duke of Zhenguo, and there were also some vague hints given to him by the old military advisor.

Since the old military advisor was once an aide to the old man, the third brother of the Zhou family, and now the third brother of the Zhou family has been involved in the collaborating case, he wants to avoid suspicion and cannot take the initiative to ask about the matter. Therefore, he has been staying at the home of the veteran Zhuangzi recently, immersed in teaching the fourth brother of the Zhou family. Young Master Zhou Yijun. He tried his best not to inquire about relevant information, but before leaving the city, he still sent a letter to his old colleague Xie Wenzai.

In the letter, the old military advisor admitted that he felt a little bad. After Tu Rong arrived in Chang'an, he acted too peaceful and friendly, which actually made people feel uneasy. For more than thirty years, the emperor has always been wary, suspicious and complaining about the Zhou family rather than trusting him. Even though his relationship with the Zhou family has obviously improved in the past two years, the old military advisor cannot believe that the emperor has completely restored his respect for the Zhou family. of trust.

If this were the case, the emperor would not just promote a son of the Zhou family to serve in the Forbidden Army, but would directly appoint Marquis Chengen, the representative of the Zhou family in the capital, to serve as an official. The imperial court's food support for the northwest frontier army will not continue to maintain the 60% amount of previous years, but should be increased to the normal value that it should have.

Since the emperor is still suspicious of the Zhou family, it is impossible for his confidants to be truly friendly to the Zhou family. This time something happened to the third room of the Zhou family, Tu Rong was actually able to keep his composure and just immersed himself in the investigation without making a fuss. He must have another agenda.

The old military advisor was worried that Tu Rong - to be precise, the emperor behind Tu Rong - was not plotting against the third wife of the Zhou family, but the government of Zhenguo. In case the revelation of the third branch of the Zhou family is too harmful to the entire Zhou family, the Zhenguo government has to make concessions to the emperor for the sake of the overall situation and agree to certain conditions of the emperor, which is very likely to be detrimental to the northwest. military stability.

The old military advisor reminded Xie Wenzai in the letter that although he could not explain it too clearly, he also hoped that when he was absent to avoid suspicion, Xie Wenzai could take on the responsibility of reminding the Duke of Zhen and ask him to act with caution and not to worry about family ties. And make impulsive decisions.

After Xie Wenzai read the letter, he became even more worried about the Zhou family's situation. It's just that Duke Zhenguo has made up his mind and refuses to ask Zhou Shigong. Instead, he wants Zhou Shigong to take the initiative to confess the truth to him. Only when he is convinced that Sanfang has not really committed the serious crime of collaborating with the enemy will he be willing to lend a helping hand. Xie Wenzai was worried that Zhou Shigong's delay in taking action would delay the situation to an unsolvable situation, so he wanted to find another way to remind Zhou Shigong.

Xie Wenzai told his old friends in private about his worries, so Lu Bainian came up with a guess from him: "Tu Rong raided the third room of the Zhou family this time and investigated Mrs. Ma's past, but did not make it public. I'm afraid He was just waiting for Princess Zhenguo to come to her door! The third brother of the Zhou family refused to inform the Duke of Zhenguo, so he took the initiative to hint to the Duke of Zhenguo. It was obvious that he had plans for the Duke of Zhenguo, but he did not intend to speak out. , but we have to wait for the Duke of Zhen to come and beg..."

The suspicion of collaboration between the third room of the Zhou family seems to have given Tu Rong a bargaining chip to threaten the Zhenguo government. Once the Duke of Zhen came to sue for peace in order to save his family, he would be forced to agree to certain conditions of Tu Rong, causing the Zhou family to suffer losses. Right now, Duke Zhen Guo and Tu Rong are in a state of empty confrontation. It depends on which side loses its composure first. The Duke of Zhenguo didn't know what Tu Rong wanted to do, so he was more wary and not in a good mood.

Anyone who thought that the relationship between their family and the emperor had eased, and who had shown sincerity in accepting the emperor's confidants, suddenly found out that the other party actually harbored evil intentions and was thinking of plotting against him, would not be in a good mood.

After hearing this, Hai Jiao was in a bad mood: "What on earth is the emperor thinking?! What time is it now, and he wants to scheme against the Zhou family?! It's really because there is no need to fight on the border, so he can just kill the donkey." Has it happened?! He has been suspicious of the Zhou family for decades, and the Zhou family has not done anything to threaten him. He has promoted the Sun family to become the most powerful minister, and they can openly go against his wishes and choose others. He is the heir, but he has been conniving. Is this because the Sun family has no military power and they dare not rebel? That's why the emperor is so relieved!"

Haitang was stunned when he heard this, thinking deeply. Lu Bainian couldn't help but knocked on Hai Jiao's forehead: "Shut up! How did us old men teach you? You really dare to say anything!"

Hai Jiao felt pain in his forehead, groaned, and then said sarcastically: "Isn't this at home... In front of you and my little sister, what do I have to worry about, it's not outside..."

"What's going on outside?" Cao Gengyun walked in from outside at this time, "What are you talking about?"

He reached for a clean cup, poured himself a cup of warm tea, drank it happily, and then continued: "Lao Lu, isn't Lao Cao at home? Where have you been? You two have been all day What are you doing at home? The front yard next door is almost done, but your own house hasn't been sorted out yet. You can't let me make decisions for you today, right? If we delay for one more day, if something happens again tomorrow, and you can’t take care of the new yard, how soon will we be able to move there?”

Xie Wenzai rented the first two courtyards of the Chen family's house next door and is now re-arranging them. Cao Gengyun and Lu Bainian both decided to move there with him and no longer crowded in the front yard of Haijia. They have been busy decorating their new homes these days. It's just that Xie Wenzai has to go to the Zhenguo Palace from time to time to work as a consultant, and at the same time he has to teach two newly admitted students, so he really doesn't have much free time. Cao and Lu are mainly worried about the trivial matters in the new home. Lu Bainian was left at home today, so Cao Gengyun could only take Cui Xiaodao and work next door all afternoon, and he was so tired that he felt dizzy. When he returned home and saw that his old friends were so leisurely, he couldn't help complaining.

Lu Bainian hurriedly made an empty seat beside the kang, let Cao Gengyun sit down, and told him what happened today.

Cao Gengyun suddenly realized: "I see... the matter of the third wife of the Zhou family is a bit troublesome." He paused, "However, if his old lady really did something to collaborate with the enemy, then she deserves to die. His old lady can He has been deceived for decades and is still a confused person. Even if the Duke of Zhen comes forward and Tu Rong lets the third family of the Zhou family go, it will be difficult for his family to gain a foothold in Chang'an City in the future. "

Hai Jiao blinked: "Grandpa Cao, did you hear what others said?"

He knew that Cao Gengyun had a lively personality and had a wide circle of friends. He had made many friends in Chang'an City and was always well-informed. And because Hai Xiya worked in the Shaanxi Dusi, Cao Gengyun got to know many low-level officials and officials at the bottom of the Dusi and their families, and he had a wide network of contacts. Since the news that Tu Rong secretly interrogated Du Boqin in the Dusi Yamen was not concealed from the Zhenguo government, the grassroots staff in the Yamen must also receive the news. Maybe Cao Gengyun can really find out something!

Cao Gengyun did not disappoint Hai Jiao: "Tu Rong had just finished interrogating Du Boqin. Within two days, almost everyone under the Dusi Yamen had heard about it, but no one said it. Last year, the third room of the Zhou family made a fuss about poaching the border troops. , has caused public outrage, and now that there are rumors of collaborating with the enemy, everyone feels very disappointed and no longer wants to tolerate his family. However, there are also old people who worked with the old man of the third house in the past and do not believe that he will allow his wife to act recklessly. Feeling that there is a misunderstanding here, they are secretly paying attention to Tu Rong's activities. There is one thing that they find strange - Tu Rong said that he had sent someone to the capital to deliver the secret package, but in fact... that was not the case at all. Something happened!”

(End of this chapter)